Heated or cooled dishware and drinkware

• US 9,814,331 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ember Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ember Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Alexander, Clayton
• Primary Examiner(s): STAPLETON, ERIC S
• Application Number:
  US14/712,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20150245723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 99483, 219387, 2194501
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/027 with means for keeping food cool or hot
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2288 with means for keeping liquid cool or hot
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2202/00 Devices having temperature indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/21041 with heating elements arranged outside the water vessel A47J27/2105 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/2105 of the cordless type, i.e. whereby the water vessel can be plugged into an electrically-powered base element
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/21083 with variable operating parameters, e.g. temperature or boiling period
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4417 with heating means for pre-heating the empty beverage containers, e.g. cup-warmers
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4425 Supports for beverage containers when filled or while being filled supports allowing to adapt the beverage making apparatus to the size of the beverage container A47J31/4482
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4457 Water-level indicators
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2416 with a heat storage element or material
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2466 with integral heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2472 of the cordless type, i.e. whereby the cup can be plugged into an electrically-powered base element
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2494 using heat storage elements or materials, e.g. lava stones
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/321 the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 39/025 for warming dishes without food before use
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 41/0044 comprising heat or cold storing elements or material, i.e. energy transfer within the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 41/0094 Indicating means, e.g. for level or temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/24 Storage receiver heat
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/808 Glasses
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 : Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/16 : Sensors measuring the temperature of products

Abstract

An actively heated mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container is provided. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can include a body that receives a liquid therein and a heating or cooling system at least partially disposed in the body. The heating or cooling system can include one or more heating or cooling elements that heat a surface of the receiving portion of the body and one or more energy storage devices. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can include a wireless power receiver that wirelessly receives power from a power source and control circuitry configured to charge one or more power storage elements and to control the delivery of electricity from the one or more power storage elements to the one or more heating or cooling elements. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container also can have one or more sensors that sense a parameter of the liquid or sense a parameter of the heating or cooling system and communicates the sensed information to the control circuitry. The control circuitry can turn on, turn off, and/or operate the heating or cooling element to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the body to maintain the liquid in a heated or cooled state generally at a user selected temperature setting based at least in part on the sensed parameter information. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can also be paired with a remote device or mobile electronic device to send or receive communications or commands.

Claims

1. An actively heated or cooled food or beverage container, comprising:

a body having a chamber configured to receive and hold a food or beverage; and

a temperature control system, comprising

a phase change material positioned about at least a portion of the chamber, the phase change material configured to transition from one phase to a second phase at a predetermined temperature,

a heating element positioned about a different portion of the chamber than the phase change material,

control circuitry configured to control the operation of the heating element, and

one or more power storage elements configured to provide electrical energy to one or both of the heating element and control circuitry; and

a ring rotatably coupled to the body, the ring being coaxial with the body about a central axis of the body such that an outer circumferential surface of the ring substantially aligns with an outer surface of the body, the ring configured to communicate with the control circuitry, the control circuitry being configured to translate an incremental rotation of the ring into an incremental change in a user selected temperature setpoint,

wherein the phase change material removes heat from the food or beverage disposed in the chamber that has a temperature above the predetermined temperature, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control operation of the heating element to add heat to the food or beverage in the chamber to maintain a temperature of the food or beverage at approximately said user selected temperature setpoint or to increase the temperature of the food or beverage to said user selected temperature setpoint based upon the rotation of the ring by a user.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the heating element is disposed below a base of the chamber.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the heating element is disposed circumferentially about at least a portion of the chamber at a location below the phase change material.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein the heating element extends around an entire circumference of the chamber.

5. The container of claim 1, further comprising one or more electrical contacts on an outer surface of the body configured to contact one or more electrical contacts on a charging base.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to communicate wirelessly with a smartphone and to receive instructions from the smartphone including the user selected temperature setpoint.

7. An actively heated or cooled food or beverage container, comprising:

a body chosen from a group consisting of a mug, a cup, a baby bottle, a carafe, a plate, serving dish and a bowl, the body having a chamber configured to receive and hold a food or beverage therein; and

a temperature control system, comprising

means for passively cooling at least a portion of the chamber,

a heating element positioned at least partially about a different portion of the chamber than said means, and

control circuitry configured to control the operation of the heating element; and

a ring rotatably coupled to the body, the ring being coaxial with the body about a central axis of the body such that an outer circumferential surface of the ring substantially aligns with an outer surface of the body, the ring configured to communicate with the control circuitry, the control circuitry being configured to translate an incremental rotation of the ring into an incremental change in a user selected temperature setpoint,

wherein said means removes heat from the food or beverage disposed in the chamber that has a temperature above a predetermined temperature, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control operation of the heating element to add heat to the food or beverage in the chamber to maintain the temperature of the food or beverage at approximately said user selected temperature setpoint or to increase the temperature of the food or beverage to said user selected temperature setpoint based upon the rotation of the ring by a user.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein said means comprises a phase change material that transitions from one phase to another phase at said predetermined temperature.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the heating element is disposed circumferentially about at least a portion of the chamber at a location below the phase change material.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein the heating element extends around an entire circumference of the chamber.

11. The container of claim 7, wherein the heating element is disposed below a base of the chamber.

12. The container of claim 7, further comprising one or more electrical contacts on an outer surface of the body configured to contact one or more electrical contacts on a charging base.

13. The container of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry is configured to communicate wirelessly with a smartphone and to receive instructions from the smartphone including the user selected temperature setpoint.

14. The container of claim 7, wherein the temperature control system further comprises one or more power storage elements configured to provide electrical energy to one or both of the heating element and control circuitry.

15. The container of claim 7, wherein the means for passively cooling at least a portion of the chamber comprises a lid selectively rotated to uncover one or more openings to vent the chamber to thereby cool said at least a portion of the chamber.

16. An actively heated or cooled food or beverage container, comprising:

a body chosen from a group consisting of a mug, a cup, a baby bottle, a carafe, a plate, serving dish and a bowl, the body having a chamber configured to receive and hold a food or beverage therein; and

a temperature control system, comprising

a phase change material positioned about at least a portion of the chamber, the phase change material configured to transition from one phase to a second phase at a predetermined temperature,

a heating element positioned about a different portion of the chamber than the phase change material,

control circuitry configured to control the operation of the heating element, and

one or more power storage elements configured to provide electrical energy to one or both of the heating element and control circuitry; and

a ring rotatably coupled to the body, the ring being coaxial with the body about a central axis of the body such that an outer circumferential surface of the ring substantially aligns with an outer surface of the body, the ring configured to communicate with the control circuitry, the control circuitry being configured to translate an incremental rotation of the ring into an incremental change in a user selected temperature setpoint,

wherein the phase change material removes heat from the food or beverage disposed in the chamber that has a temperature above the predetermined temperature, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control operation of the heating element to add heat to the food or beverage in the chamber to maintain a temperature of the food or beverage at approximately said user selected temperature setpoint or to increase the temperature of the food or beverage to said user selected temperature setpoint based upon the rotation of the ring by a user.

17. The container of claim 16, wherein the heating element is disposed below a base of the chamber.

18. The container of claim 16, wherein the heating element is disposed circumferentially about at least a portion of the chamber at a location below the phase change material.

19. The container of claim 18, wherein the heating element extends around an entire circumference of the chamber.

20. The container of claim 16, further comprising one or more electrical contacts on an outer surface of the body configured to contact one or more electrical contacts on a charging base.

21. The container of claim 16, wherein the control circuitry is configured to communicate wirelessly with a smartphone and to receive instructions from the smartphone including the user selected temperature setpoint.

22. An actively heated or cooled food or beverage container, comprising:

a body having a chamber configured to receive and hold a food or beverage therein; and

a temperature control system, comprising

a heating element disposed in thermal communication with at least a portion of the chamber,

control circuitry configured to control the operation of the heating element, and

a ring rotatably coupled to the body, the ring configured to rotate about a central axis of the container relative to the body such that a circumferential surface of the ring substantially aligns with an outer surface of the body about a circumference of the body, the ring configured to communicate with the control circuitry, the control circuitry being configured to translate an incremental rotation of the ring into an incremental change in a user selected temperature setpoint,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to control operation of the heating element to add heat to the food or beverage in the chamber to maintain the temperature of the food or beverage at approximately said user selected temperature setpoint or to increase the temperature of the food or beverage to said user selected temperature setpoint based upon the rotation of the ring by a user.

23. The container of claim 22, wherein the temperature control system further comprises one or more power storage elements configured to provide electrical energy to one or both of the heating element and control circuitry.

24. The container of claim 22, wherein the heating element is disposed at least partially between the chamber and an outer wall.

25. The container of claim 22, further comprising one or more electrical contacts on an outer surface of the body configured to contact one or more electrical contacts on a charging base.

26. The container of claim 22, wherein the temperature control system further comprises a passive cooling mechanism including a lid coupleable to a proximal end of the body, the lid being selectively rotated to uncover one or more openings to vent the chamber to thereby cool said at least a portion of the chamber.

27. The container of claim 22, wherein the control circuitry is configured to communicate wirelessly with a smartphone and to receive instructions from the smartphone including the user selected temperature setpoint.