System and apparatus for optimizing hydration and for the contextual dispensing of additives

• US 9,932,217 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2015
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirkul, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lifefuels Inc. (Infuze, LLC)
• Inventors: Perrelli, Jonathon E., Wheatley, David J., Metlen, Todd, Wheatley, Maxim D., Bacon, Connor J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/960,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20160159632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 700231-244
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/16 Water-bottles; Mess-tins; Cups
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00046 Drinking-through lids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0857 made separately from the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2807 the closure presenting means for placing the additional articles or materials in contact with the main contents by acting on a part of the closure without removing the closure, e.g. by pushing down, pulling up, rotating or turning a part of the closure, or upon initial opening of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3216 Rigid containers disposed one within the other
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0015 the beverage being prepared by mixing at least two liquid components
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0081 Dispensing valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0882 Devices for controlling the dispensing conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0093 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0096 Means for pressurizing liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets

Abstract

Provided are systems, methods, and apparatuses for a portable hydration system including a mechanical or electromechanical mechanism for dispensing additives into a liquid or other solute in a portable container. Such additives include solids, liquid, powders, and gases, and include vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, pharmaceuticals, and other consumables. Additives are introduced into the hydration device via closed vessels equipped with RFID tags or similar, capable of transferring data about the vessels'"'"' contents to the device. Dispensing is initiated manually by direct user action, automatically by the device, and/or externally through an associated application on a user device. Dispensing is adjustable by contextual factors such as a user'"'"'s preferences, location, activity, physiologic status, and the like, obtained via APIs to third party applications or through more direct measurements or inputs. Consumption of additives and consumable liquids in the container is measured and monitored, and the data used to generate recommendations.

Claims

1. A portable container for retaining a liquid, the portable container comprising:

a hydration container;

an additive vessel containing an additive;

an actuator assembly; and

a dispensing module mounted to and removably secured to the hydration container, the dispensing module including at least one aperture, and the at least one aperture including a first aperture;

the first aperture receives the additive vessel containing the additive to be dispensed into the liquid;

the actuator assembly dispenses variable quantities of the additive contained in the additive vessel that is received in the first aperture;

the dispenses, performed by the actuator assembly, performed based on data associated with the portable container;

the actuator assembly supported, within the portable container, adjacent the additive vessel; and

wherein the portable container includes at least one processor configured to adaptively control the actuator assembly to dispense the variable quantities of the additive based on the data associated with the portable container.

2. The portable container of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

control timing of dispensing of the additive from the additive vessel into the liquid;

control an amount of pressure applied to the additive vessel by the actuator assembly; and

control duration of the application of pressure.

3. The portable container of claim 1, the data associated with the device is constituted by use data, the use data associated with use of the portable container and wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

collect the use data associated with use of the portable container; and

adjust the dispensing of the additive based on the collected use data,

wherein the collected use data includes one or more selected from the group consisting of;

an amount of the liquid retained in the portable container;

a physical characteristic of the additive to be dispensed;

a consumption activity associated with the user of the portable container;

a preference of the user of the portable container; and

a context of use of the portable container by the user.

4. The portable container of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

transmit the collected use data from the portable container to a remote server in communication with the portable container via a communications network, to a user device associated with the user of the portable container, or both.

5. The portable container of claim 4, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

receive at the portable container from the server, from the user device, or from both the server and user device, one or more recommendations for the user of the portable container,

wherein the one or more recommendations are based on the collected data transmitted from the portable container; and

provide the one or more recommendations to the user of the portable container.

6. The portable container of claim 5, wherein the one or more recommendations provided to the user include a recommendation about one or more additives to be purchased for future dispensing by the portable container.

7. The portable container of claim 6, wherein the recommendation about one or more additives to be purchased for future dispensing is based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

quantities and dates of previous additive purchases by the user;

rate of dispensing of additives into the portable container of the user; and

rate of consumption of the liquid retained in the portable container of the user.

8. The portable container of claim 1, further comprising:

a pressure applicator within the actuator assembly;

wherein the pressure applicator is moveable into a position adjacent to a surface of the additive vessel received in the first aperture; and

wherein the pressure applicator is configured to apply pressure to the surface of the additive vessel to at least partially release the additive contained in the additive vessel.

9. The portable container of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

monitor an amount of the liquid retained in the portable container;

determine a type of the liquid retained in the portable container;

monitor a rate of consumption of the liquid retained in the portable container; and

detect when the amount of the liquid retained in the portable container has increased or decreased.

10. The portable container of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

process sensor data about the amount, type, and/or rate of consumption of the liquid retained in the portable container;

store the sensor data about the amount, type, and/or rate of consumption of the liquid retained in the portable container;

communicate the sensor data about the amount, type, and/or rate of consumption of the liquid retained in the portable container over a communication network; and

receive data indicating a recommended amount, a recommended type, and/or a recommended rate of consumption of the liquid retained in the portable container.

11. The portable container of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

present, to the user of the portable container, the received data indicating the recommended amount, the recommended type, and/or the recommended rate of consumption of the liquid retained in the portable container.

12. The portable container of claim 1, wherein the additive vessel received in the first aperture of the portable container includes:

a form factor enabling the additive vessel to recover shape after a dispensing event;

a dispensing valve permitting the dispensing of variable quantities of the additive contained in the additive vessel into the liquid; and

a valve mechanism enabling the additive vessel to be removed from the actuator assembly and stored, replaced, or transferred to a second actuator assembly.

13. The portable container of claim 1, further including a lid, the lid received upon the hydration container, and the lid enclosing the additive vessel containing the additive, the actuator assembly, and the dispensing module.

14. The portable container of claim 13, the actuator assembly supported, at least in part, by the lid.

15. The portable container of claim 14, the lid disposed at an open end of the hydration container, and the lid serving to enclose an interior of the hydration container.

16. The portable container of claim 1, further including a drinking channel, the drinking channel providing a channel whereby a user may consume the liquid with the additive in conjunction with holding the portable container.

17. The portable container of claim 16, further including a lid, the lid received upon the hydration container, and the lid enclosing the additive vessel containing the additive, the actuator assembly, and the dispensing module, and

the lid including a lid aperture, and the drinking channel passing through the lid aperture.