Patent Application
20180078087
The disclosure relates to cup assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new cup assembly capable of heating the contents of the cup.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a shell that has an inner layer and an outer layer that define an internal space. The shell is cup shaped, defining a reservoir. A power module is coupled to the shell and positioned in the internal space. A plurality of heating elements is operationally coupled to the power module and positioned in the internal space. A charging unit is reversibly and operationally couplable to the power module. The inner layer and the outer layer of the shell are configured to provide a thermal barrier such that contents positioned in the reservoir are insulated. The heating elements are coupled to the power module and positioned in the internal space such that the heating elements are configured to heat the contents of the reservoir.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A power module 28 is coupled to the shell 12 and positioned in the internal space 18. In one embodiment, the power module 28 is configured for wireless charging. The power module 28 comprises at least one rechargeable battery 30. The power module 28 is disc shaped. The power module 28 is positioned proximate to the bottom 24 of the shell 12.
A plurality of heating elements 32 is operationally coupled to the power module 28. The heating elements 32 are positioned in the internal space 18. Each heating element 32 extends from proximate to the bottom 24 to proximate to the top 22 of the shell 12. The plurality of heating elements 32 is substantially evenly spaced around a circumference 34 of the shell 12. In one embodiment, the plurality of heating elements 32 comprises four heating elements 32.
A charging unit 36 is reversibly and operationally couplable to the power module 28. In one embodiment, the charging unit 36 comprises a wireless charger 38. The wireless charger 38 comprises a housing 40 that is substantially disc shaped. A recess 42 that is positioned in an upper face 44 of the housing 40 is complementary to the bottom 24 of the shell 12. An inductive charger 46 is positioned in an interior space 48 of the housing 40 adjacent to the recess 42. A connector 50 is operationally coupled to the inductive charger 46. The connector 50 is configured to couple the inductive charger 46 to a power source. In one embodiment, the connector 50 comprises a universal serial bus port 52.
The wireless charger 38 also comprises a power cord 54 that is complementary to the connector 50. The power cord 54 is positioned to couple to the connector 50 such that the inductive charger 46 is couplable to the power source. In one embodiment, the power cord 54 comprises a universal serial bus plug 56. The recess 42 is positioned in the housing 40 such that the housing 40 is positioned to insert the bottom 24 of the shell 12 into the recess 42. The inductive charger 46 is positioned adjacent to the recess 42 such that the inductive charger 46 is positioned to wirelessly charge the power module 28.
The assembly 10 comprises a lid 58 that is reversibly couplable to the top 22. The lid 58 is positioned to couple to the top 22 to cover the top 22, such that contents positioned in the reservoir 20 are retained in the reservoir 20. In one embodiment, the rim 26 and the lid 58 are complementarily threaded, such that the lid 58 is threadedly couplable to the top 22.
A penetration 60 is positioned through the lid 58. The penetration 60 is positioned in the lid 58 such that the penetration 60 is adjacent to the rim 26 when the lid 58 is coupled to the top 22. A cover 62 is slidably coupled to the lid 58. The cover 62 is positioned to open and close the penetration 60.
In one embodiment, a handle 64 is coupled to and extends from an exterior surface 66 of the shell 12. The handle 64 is configured to grasp in a hand of the user. In another embodiment, the handle 64 comprises an arm 68 that is coupled to and extends substantially perpendicularly from the shell 12 proximate to the top 22. A vertical 70 is coupled to the arm 68 distal from the shell 12. The vertical 70 extends toward the bottom 24. The arm 68, the vertical 70 and the shell 12 define a slot 72 that is configured to insert one or more of the fingers of the user.
A controller 74 is coupled to the shell 12 and operationally coupled to the power module 28. The controller 74 is positioned to electrically couple the power module 28 to the heating elements 32. In one embodiment, the controller 74 comprises a display 76 that is configured to present temperature and time to the user. The display 76 is selectively backlit. The controller 74 comprises a Plus button 78 and a Minus button 80. The Plus button 78 and the Minus button 80 are configured to be depressed simultaneously a first time by the user for a first preset period of time to electrically couple the power module 28 to the heating elements 32. The Plus button 78 and the Minus button 80 are configured to be depressed simultaneously a second time by the user for the first preset time to decouple the power module 28 from the heating elements 32.
The Plus button 78 and the Minus button 80 also are configured to be depressed simultaneously by the user to a second preset period of time to toggle between temperature and time presentation. The Plus button 78 and the Minus button 80 are configured to be depressed individually and selectively by the user to adjust the time and target temperature. The controller 74 is positioned to selectively compel the heating elements 32 to heat the contents of the reservoir 20.
The display 76 also comprises an indicator 82. The indicator 82 is configured to present the degree of charge for the power module 28. The indicator 82 also is configured to blink when the power module 28 is receiving charge from the inductive charger 46. The indicator 82 also is configured to cease blinking when the power module 28 is fully charged.
The display 76 is configured to remain on when the power module 28 is coupled to the heating elements 32. The display 76 also is configured to remain on when the inductive charger 46 is positioned to wirelessly charge the power module 28. The display 76 also is configured to enter a non-backlit state after a third preset time of non-use.
In one embodiment, the shell 12 is watertight, such that the shell 12 is machine washable.
The present invention also anticipates the controller 76 being configured to set a heating level. The heating level would set an amount of power to be supplied by the power module 28 to the heating elements 32. The display 76 would be configured to present the heating level to the user.
In use, the inner layer 14 and the outer layer 16 of the shell 12 are configured to provide a thermal barrier such that contents positioned in the reservoir 20 are insulated. The heating elements 32 are coupled to the power module 28 and positioned in the internal space 18 such that the heating elements 32 are configured to heat the contents of the reservoir 20.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
