Volume sensing beverage container cap system

• US 9,327,960 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2014
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerald W. Sweeney
• Original Assignee: Iqhydr8, LLC
• Inventors: Sweeney, Gerald, McCluskey, Cory, Pfeiffer, James William
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, KAREEN KAY
• Application Number:
  US14/555,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20150360927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 220/703, 220/711, 220/714, 220/202, 220/203.01, 220/203.23, 220/203.04, 220/212, 220/303, 220/710.5, 220/713, 215/387, 215/260, 215/311, 215/315, 215/307, 206/217, 702/154, 340/573.1, 340/686.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2019/225 vessels with thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/18 Time
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/16 combined with drinking vessels or with lids therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/04 Multi-cavity bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/24 combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0051 dispensing by tilting
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0061 of liquid containers, e.g. filling, emptying, closing or opening means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0077 Electronic circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/22 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/006 measuring volume in function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 22/00 Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A volume sensing beverage container cap system for a beverage container including a cap that couples with the beverage container, a processor, flexible seal valve with a slit, handle, timer and an inclinometer. The inclinometer detects a tilt angle of the container when the container is tilted, and when tilted at the detected tilt angle, the timer measures an amount of time the container is tilted, and the processor determines a volume of fluid dispensed from the container based on the tilt angle and the amount of time the container is tilted. The handle rotatably couples with the cap and moves from a first closed position, to a second carrying position, and to a third open position. In the first closed position, the handle moves to cover the slit of flexible seal valve, and in the second carrying position and the third open position the handle uncovers the slit.

Claims

1. A volume sensing beverage container cap system for a beverage container comprising:

a cap that couples with a beverage container;

a processor coupled with said cap;

at least one inclinometer coupled with said processor,

wherein said at least one inclinometer detects at least one tilt angle of said beverage container when said beverage container is tilted; and

,

a timer coupled with said processor;

wherein when said beverage container is tilted at said at least one tilt angle, said timer measures an amount of time said beverage container is tilted, and

wherein said processor determines a volume of fluid dispensed from said beverage container based on said at least one tilt angle and said amount of time said beverage container is tilted.

2. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 1 further comprising:

a button comprising at least one arm;

wherein said cap is moveably coupled with said button; and

, a flexible seal valve comprising a slit;

wherein said flexible seal valve is coupled with said cap, and,

wherein said at least one arm is coupled with said flexible seal valve to operatively

open and close said slit in said flexible seal valve when said button is moved in a first and second direction respectively.

3. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 1 further comprising:

a handle rotatably coupled with said cap;

wherein said handle moves from a first closed position on a front end of said cap to a second carrying position, and further moves to a third open position on a back end of said cap, wherein said back end is on an opposite end of said cap relative to said front end;

wherein in said first closed position said handle moves to operatively cover said slit in said flexible seal valve; and

wherein in said second carrying position and said third open position said handle uncovers said slit.

4. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 1, further comprising a button, wherein said cap comprises a base element and top element coupled with said flexible seal valve, wherein said top element covers said button and at least a portion of said flexible seal valve.

5. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 4, wherein said button slides in and out of one or more of said top element and said base element, and wherein said top element comprises a hole that said flexible seal valve is situated within.

6. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 1, wherein said at least one arm comprises a wishbone shaped arm that extends from a horizontal orientation to a perpendicular orientation, such that said at least one arm is attached on an opposing side of said flexible seal valve in order to pull open and close said slit to open and close said flexible seal valve.

7. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 4, further comprising a clip element and wherein said base element comprises a base element outer surface, such that said clip element attaches to said base element on said base element outer surface.

8. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 4, wherein said base element comprises a first partially enclosed inner portion and said top element comprises a second partially enclosed inner portion, such that said flexible seal valve extends through and couples with said base element via said first partially enclosed inner portion and extends through and couples with said top element via said second partially enclosed inner portion.

9. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 4, wherein said top element comprises

a top element outer surface and at least one compartment formed on said top element outer surface, and

at least one electronic element situated in said at least one compartment.

10. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 1, wherein said cap comprises at least one display device and wherein said processor indicates on said at least one display device said volume of fluid dispensed from said beverage container.

11. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 10, further comprising at least one activity level input that obtains at least one activity level of a user of said beverage container to determine an amount of fluid a user of said beverage container should consume and indicates said amount of fluid on said at least one display device.

12. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 10, further comprising at least one sensor that senses one or more signals, wherein said at least one sensor comprises at least one activity level input sensor that measures said at least one activity level based on motion of a user of said beverage container to determine an amount of fluid a user of said beverage container should consume and indicates said amount of fluid on said at least one display device.

13. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 10, further comprising at least one sensor that senses one or more signals, wherein said at least one sensor comprises at least one thermometer that measures an external temperature, such that said at least one display device indicates an amount of fluid a user of said beverage container should consume based on said external temperature.

14. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 10, further comprising at least one sensor that senses one or more signals, wherein said at least one sensor comprises

at least one activity level input that obtains at least one activity level or a sensor that measures said at least one activity level of a user of said beverage container to determine an amount of fluid a user of said beverage container should consume and indicates said amount of fluid on said at least one display device;

and,

at least one thermometer that measures an external temperature, such that said at least one display device indicates an amount of fluid a user of said beverage container should consume based on said external temperature.

15. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 4, further comprising at least one sensor that senses one or more signals;

at least one display device;

one or more of a clip element and a handle coupled with said top element;

wherein said base element comprises a base element outer surface,

wherein said clip element attaches to said base element on said base element outer surface,

wherein said at least one sensor comprises at least one weight sensor coupled between said clip element and said base element or coupled between said handle and said top element, and

wherein said processor determines a weight of said beverage container to determine an amount of fluid a user of said beverage container has consumed based on said weight, and indicates said amount of fluid that should be consumed on said at least one display device.

16. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 10,

wherein said processor accepts a weight of a user of said beverage container to determine an amount of fluid a user of said beverage container should consume based on said weight, and indicates said amount of fluid that should be consumed on said at least one display device.

17. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 9, wherein said at least one electronic element comprises at least one communication device that communicates with at least one external device to relay one or more signals.

18. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 17, wherein said at least one communication device accepts information from said external device and passes said information to said processor and wherein

said processor is configured to determine or wherein said external device is configured to determine

an amount of fluid a user of said beverage container should consume based on an age of said user, weight of said user, temperature, humidity, sunny or cloudy value, activity level, time of day or time since last drink, activity level, motion, altitude, medical needs, number of steps, heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen level, hydration value obtain from the user, or any combination thereof.

19. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 17, wherein said at least one communication device accepts information from said processor and passes said information to said external device to display said information and wherein said information includes at least information related to an amount of fluid.

20. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 9, further comprising at least one sensor that senses one or more signals and at least one display device, wherein said at least one electronic element further comprises a start button and said timer,

wherein said at least one display device comprises at least one light-emitting diode (LED) coupled with said timer and said at least one sensor, wherein said at least one LED flashes to indicate one or more time periods to consume said fluid as determined by said timer and whether enough fluid has been consumed by the user as determined by said at least one sensor,

wherein said at least one LED remains to flash until enough fluid has been consumed by the user at said one or more time periods as determined by said timer and said at least one sensor, and,

wherein said start button is pressed to restart said timer to determine said one or more time periods.

21. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 20 wherein said at least one LED flashes to indicate said time to consume a first amount of said fluid at a first time period of said one or more time periods and remains to flash until said first amount of said fluid has been consumed by said user, and after a pre-determined amount of time after said first amount of fluid has been consumed, said at least one LED flashes to indicate said time to consume a second amount of said fluid at a second time period after said first time period and remains to flash until said second amount of said fluid has been consumed by said user.

22. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 9, further comprising at least one sensor that senses one or more signals, wherein said at least one electronic element further comprises a start button, a timer and at least one sound emitting device coupled with said timer and said at least one sensor,

wherein said at least one sound emitting device beeps to indicate one or more time periods to consume said fluid as determined by said timer and whether enough fluid has been consumed by the user as determined by said at least one sensor,

wherein said at least one sound emitting device remains to beep until enough fluid has been consumed by the user at said one or more time periods as determined by said timer and said at least one sensor, and,

wherein said start button is pressed to restart said timer to determine said one or more time periods.

23. The valve cap system of claim 22 wherein said at least one sound emitting device beeps to indicate said time to consume a first amount of said fluid at a first time period of said one or more time periods and remains to beep until said first amount of said fluid has been consumed by said user, and after a pre-determined amount of time after said first amount of fluid has been consumed, said at least one sound emitting device beeps to indicate said time to consume a second amount of said fluid at a second time period after said first time period and remains to beep until said second amount of said fluid has been consumed by said user.

24. The volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 9, further comprising at least one sensor that senses one or more signals and at least one display device, wherein said at least one electronic element further comprises a start button, a timer, and at least one sound emitting device coupled with said timer and said at least one sensor;

wherein said at least one display device comprises at least one light-emitting diode (LED) coupled with said timer and said at least one sensor;

wherein said at least one LED flashes and said at least one sound emitting device beeps to indicate one or more time periods to consume said fluid as determined by said timer and whether enough fluid has been consumed by the user as determined by said at least one sensor,

wherein said at least one LED flashes and said at least one sound emitting device beeps to indicate said time to consume a first amount of said fluid at a first time period of said one or more time periods, and remain to flash and beep until said first amount of said fluid has been consumed by said user as determined by said timer and said at least one sensor,

wherein after a pre-determined amount of time after said first amount of fluid has been consumed, said at least one LED flashes and said at least one sound emitting device beeps to indicate said time to consume a second amount of said fluid at a second time period after said first time period, and remain to flash and beep until said second amount of said fluid has been consumed by said user, and,

wherein said start button is pressed to restart said timer to determine said one or more time periods.

25. A volume sensing beverage container cap system for a beverage container comprising:

a cap that couples with a beverage container;

a processor coupled with said cap;

at least one inclinometer coupled with said processor,

wherein said at least one inclinometer detects at least one tilt angle of said beverage container when said beverage container is tilted;

a timer coupled with said processor;

wherein when said beverage container is tilted at said at least one tilt angle, said timer measures an amount of time said beverage container is tilted, and

wherein said processor determines a volume of fluid dispensed from said beverage container based on said at least one tilt angle and said amount of time said beverage container is tilted;

a button comprising at least one arm;

wherein said cap is moveably coupled with said button; and

,

a flexible seal valve comprising a slit;

wherein said flexible seal valve is coupled with said cap, and,

wherein said at least one arm is coupled with said flexible seal valve to operatively

open and close said slit in said flexible seal valve when said button is moved in a first and second direction respectively; and

,

a handle rotatably coupled with said cap;

wherein said handle moves from a first closed position on a front end of said cap to a second carrying position, and further moves to a third open position on a back end of said cap, wherein said back end is on an opposite end of said cap relative to said front end;

wherein in said first closed position said handle moves to operatively cover said slit in said flexible seal valve; and

wherein in said second carrying position and said third open position said handle uncovers said slit.