HEATED OR COOLED DISHWARE AND DRINKWARE

• US 20150245723A1
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Published: 09/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ember Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ember Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Alexander, Clayton
• Granted Patent: US 9,814,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. (canceled)

2. An actively heated or cooled portable container, comprising:

a portable body having a receiving portion defined by an inner sidewall and inner bottom wall for receiving and holding a liquid; and

a temperature control system housed in the portable body, comprising

a phase change material in thermal communication with at least a portion of the inner sidewall of the portable body, the phase change material configured to transition from one phase to a second phase at a predetermined temperature,

a heating element in thermal communication with at least a portion of one or both of the inner sidewall and the inner bottom wall of the portable body,

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,

wherein the phase change material removes heat from a liquid disposed in the receiving portion that has a temperature above a predetermined temperature to lower the temperature of the liquid toward the predetermined temperature, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the heating element to add heat to the liquid in the receiving portion to maintain the temperature of the liquid at approximately said predetermined temperature or increase the temperature of the liquid above said predetermined temperature.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the heating element is disposed below the inner bottom wall to be in indirect thermal communication with the liquid in the receiving portion of the portable body.

4. The container of claim 2, wherein the heating element is disposed circumferentially about at least a portion of the inner sidewall such that it is in thermal communication with at least a portion of the inner sidewall of the portable body.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the heating element extends around an entire circumference of the inner sidewall of the portable body.

6. The container of claim 2, further comprising one or more electrical contacts on an outer surface of the portable body configured to contact one or more electrical contacts on a charging base.

7. An actively heated or cooled portable container, comprising:

a portable body having a receiving portion defined by an inner sidewall and inner bottom wall for receiving and holding a liquid; and

a temperature control system housed in the portable body, comprising

means for passively cooling at least a portion of the inner sidewall of the portable body,

a heating element in thermal communication with at least a portion of one or both of the inner sidewall and the inner bottom wall of the portable body,

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,

wherein said means removes heat from a liquid disposed in the receiving portion that has a temperature above a predetermined temperature to lower the temperature of the liquid toward the predetermined temperature, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the heating element to add heat to the liquid in the receiving portion to maintain the temperature of the liquid at approximately said predetermined temperature or increase the temperature of the liquid above said predetermined temperature.

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 7, wherein the heating element is disposed below the inner bottom wall to be in indirect thermal communication with the liquid in the receiving portion of the portable body.

10. The container of claim 7, wherein the heating element is disposed circumferentially about at least a portion of the inner sidewall such that it is in thermal communication with at least a portion of the inner sidewall of the portable body.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the heating element extends around an entire circumference of the inner sidewall of the portable body.

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