Activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system

• US 9,320,375 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2015
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US14/741,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20150359364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 220/703, 220/711, 220/714, 220/202, 220/203.01, 220/203.04, 220/212, 220/303, 215/387, 215/260, 215/311, 206/217, 702/154
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2227 with means for amusing or giving information to the user A47G23/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2019/2238 with illumination means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2019/2244 with sound emitting means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2019/225 vessels with thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/18 Time
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/1644 the element being a valve B65D51/1661 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0093 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0051 dispensing by tilting
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0077 Electronic circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0093 Level indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/006 measuring volume in function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/008 taps comprising counting- and recording means counting devices, counting of objects in general G06M
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 17/00 Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/00 Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm

Abstract

An activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system for a beverage container including a cap that couples with the beverage container, a processor, a timer and at least one activity level sensor, such as an inclinometer, coupled with the processor. The activity level sensor detects container orientation. When the container is tilted, the timer measures an amount of time in an orientation. Based on the current and previous orientation and the amount of time the container is in different orientations, the processor determines an amount of time of activity of the user, and a level of activity of the user, such as number of steps or moves per time. The inclinometer is also sued to determine the amount of volume dispensed from the container when tilted over a threshold indicative of drinking. Thus one inclinometer may be utilized as both to determine activity level and volume of fluid dispensed.

Claims

1. An activity and 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;

a timer coupled with said processor;

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 wherein said at least one tilt angle comprises a current tilt angle and a previous tilt angle;

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; and

,

an activity level when said current tilt angle is over a predetermined difference between said previous tilt angle.

2. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 1 wherein said at least one inclinometer is a contact switch or accelerometer or gyro.

3. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 1 wherein said activity level comprises one or more of a number of steps, a number of moves per time, a time duration of activity.

4. The activity and 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.

5. The activity and 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.

6. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 1, further comprising a button, wherein said cap comprises a base element and a 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.

7. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 1, further comprising a button, wherein said processor determines said 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 and also based on a duration of time that said button is asserted.

8. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 6, 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.

9. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 4, 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 closed said slit to open and close said flexible seal valve.

10. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 6, 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.

11. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 6, 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.

12. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 1, wherein said cap comprises a base element and top element 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 an electronics assembly configured to fit within said at least one compartment.

13. The activity and 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.

14. The activity and 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.

15. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 1, wherein based on said amount of time of activity and said level of activity of said user, said processor

further determines

an amount of fluid said user should consume, and

a time interval between one or more time periods to consume said fluid as determined by said timer.

16. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 10, wherein said processor measures said at least one activity level from said at least one inclinometer or further comprises 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 or obtains said at least one activity level wirelessly 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.

17. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 16, wherein said display device comprises an LED that illuminates some or all of the electronics assembly to remind or alert a user of the beverage container, or other user, or a guardian, or a caretaker, or any combination thereof, that the user needs to drink fluid in said beverage container.

18. The activity and 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.

19. The activity and 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.

20. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 10, 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.

21. The activity and 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.

22. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 12, 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.

23. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 22, wherein said at least one communication device transfers information to and from a remote device or a service center to remotely inform another entity of hydration information associated with an individual.

24. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 22, 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.

25. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 22, 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.

26. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 22, 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.

27. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 26 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.

28. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 22, 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.

29. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 28 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.

30. The activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system of claim 22, 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.