Fluid-controlled electronic games and measurement devices

• US 9,261,392 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2013
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharpshooter LLC
• Original Assignee: Sharpshooter LLC
• Inventors: Grumbles, Ernest W., Bachman, Timothy A., Ahern, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Harshad R
• Application Number:
  US14/041,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20140190249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/208 adapted to determine urine quantity, e.g. flow, volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 13/005 Accessories specially adapted for urinals
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/075 with magnetic or electromagnetic coupling to the indicating device
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/28 by drag-force, e.g. vane type or impact flowmeter
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/74 Devices for measuring flow of a fluid or flow of a fluent solid material in suspension in another fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/06 Indicating or recording devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/075 using electrically-operated integrating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 22/00 Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A device for estimating a stream of urine entering a toilet or urinal includes a measuring unit configured to estimate an amount of the stream of urine, and an indicator to provide an indication to an individual of the amount of the stream of urine.

Claims

1. A device for estimating a stream of urine, the device comprising:

a sealed, watertight container;

a measuring unit configured to measure a characteristic of the stream of urine, wherein the measuring unit is an accelerometer and is positioned within the container;

a power source positioned within the container; and

an indicator to provide an indication of the characteristic of the stream of urine;

wherein the device remains in a lower-power setting when not in use; and

wherein the device wakes and measures a duration of the stream of urine when the accelerometer senses the stream.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a compressible portion positioned within the container.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the compressible portion is a ring.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the characteristic of the stream of urine sensed by the accelerometer is the pressure of the stream.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the characteristic of the stream of urine sensed by the accelerometer is the amount of the stream.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the indicator comprises a numerical display.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the indicator comprises one or more lights.

8. A device for sensing a stream of urine, the device comprising:

a container that provides a watertight environment within the container;

a measuring unit comprising an accelerometer, the measuring unit sensing the stream of urine;

a power source positioned within the container;

a display to provide an indication of a characteristic of the stream of urine sensed by the measuring unit.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the characteristic of the stream of urine sensed by the measuring unit is the duration of the stream.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein the characteristic of the stream of urine sensed by the measuring unit is the pressure of the stream.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein the characteristic of the stream of urine sensed by the measuring unit is amount of the stream.

12. The device of claim 8 wherein the display comprises a numerical display.

13. The device of claim 8 wherein the display comprises one or more lights.