The present invention relates to the field of electronic device holders. More specifically, the present invention relates to electronic device holders incorporated drinkware.
Smart devices are gaining extreme popularity and have become a necessity for many people in the modern everyday life. The portability of the smart devices makes them very convenient for people to carry and use the smart devices anywhere and everywhere. Nonetheless, smart devices intrinsically lack a stand or support that provides and maintains a comfortable viewing angle. Moreover, many users want to take photographs of themselves with their companions using their smart device. Conventional smart devices lack a stand or support that can hold the smart device at a convenient angle and attitude for capturing such images. Likewise, persons now stream content on their smart devices. Conventional smart devices lack a stand or support that can hold the smart device at a convenient angle and attitude for viewing such content. Many persons choose to carry water for drinking as a healthy choice. Many such persons prefer to carry a reusable, durable water bottle as a green or eco-friendly choice to avoid using disposable plastic water bottles that have become ubiquitous and a blight on the landscape and waterways owing to improper disposal. Chronic diseases due to improper postures of using smart devices have become major concerns in modern medicine. Many users complain about a variety of symptoms, including headaches, hand tremors, and finger discomfort. There are many reports stating that these hand-held smart devices cause discomfort in at least one area of the upper extremities, upper back, or neck. Due to improper support and viewing angles, long-term use of the smart devices causes continuous mechanical stress on the tendons, muscles, and perimetric tissues, which can induce musculoskeletal symptoms of visual display terminal syndrome.
A drinkware cap (e.g., a drinking bottle cap) for a drinking vessel contains a support structure configured to support and host one or more consumer, portable electronic devices. The consumer, portable electronic devices can be a smart phone, cellular phone with a camera, tablet computer also known collectively as smart devices. The drinkware cap as a supporting structure that forms a stand for smart devices, such that the smart devices mounted on the drinkware cap is supported by the supporting structure of the cap. The drinkware cap is configured to hold the smart device in an attitude such that the center of gravity of the smart device is located over the drinking vessel. In this way, the structures and materials of the drinkware cap coupled with the drinking vessel form a stable support for the smart devices, which prevents the drinkware and the electronic devices from falling whether the drinkware is full, filled at a predetermined level (e.g., 10%, 30%, 20-50%, or 80% of fluids), or empty. In some embodiments, the drinkware cap contains a loop structure, which can be sized or structured as a finger holding hole or lanyard hole for portable transportation.
In an aspect, a drinking vessel comprises a body structured to contain an amount of fluid. The drinkware cap includes a smart device supporting structure on the drinkware. In some embodiments, the body comprises a cap and a fluid container, wherein the portable electronic device supporting structure is on the cap. In the preferred embodiment, the cap including a supporting structure against which the bottom of the smart device is pressed and an upstanding portion against which the smart device is leaned are integrally formed. In some other embodiments, such as for after-market applications, a flexible band which includes the supporting structure is stretchably mounted on the cap. This composite assembly operates in a manner similar to the integrally formed structure of the preferred embodiment. In other embodiments, the upstanding portion of the cap comprises a finger hole having a size and shape configured for user to carry the drinkware.
In another aspect, a method of displaying media content on a drinkware comprises wirelessly coupling a portable electronic device with a signal processing member on the drinkware and playing the media content from the portable electronic device through a video player, audio player, or both on a media displaying member of the drinkware. In some embodiments, the method further comprises physically placing the portable electronic device on the drinkware, such that the drinkware forms a stand for the portable electronic device. In other embodiments, the method comprises providing an amount of energy from a power source located at the drinkware. In some other embodiments, the power source is located at a bottom portion of the drinkware. In some embodiments, the power source provides weight for balancing the weight of the portable electronic device. In some embodiments, the method comprises supporting the portable electronic device by using a supporting structure on a cap of the drinkware. In other embodiments, the supporting structure comprises a loud speaker.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after reviewing the detailed description of the embodiments set forth below.
Embodiments will now be described by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting. For all figures mentioned herein, like numbered elements refer to like elements throughout.
Reference is made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention is described in conjunction with the embodiments below, it is understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments and examples. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which can be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to more fully illustrate the present invention. However, it is apparent to one of ordinary skill in the prior art having the benefit of this disclosure that the present invention can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods and procedures, components and processes have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention. It is, of course, appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made in order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with application and business related constraints, and that these specific goals vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it is appreciated that such a development effort can be complex and time-consuming, but is nevertheless a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
In some embodiments, the cap includes one or more inwardly concave or parabolic recesses 324 on top of the cap, so that the relative hosting position of the electronic device is able to be adjusted to be within a range of stable zones 312 and 322. Similar principles of designing/constructing the structure can be applied to host different sizes and weights of electronic devices, such as touch pads 318 (e.g., IPAD®). As shown, the touch pad 318 has a larger body size than the body of the smart phones disclosed above. The center of gravity 318A of the touch pad 318 is configured/structured to fall at/around the center line 320 of water bottle 316 or within the stable zone 322, which can be within the body covering surface of the water bottle 316. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the water bottle 316 can be designed to have various predetermined types of electronic devices' centers of gravity fall anywhere within the range of support (e.g., the stable zone 322 and 312). In some embodiments, the water bottle contains a weighting/heavy object at the bottom of the water bottle 316 to provide a stable balance force for stabling/countering the weight of the electronic devices.
A power source (e.g., rechargeable battery or disposable battery) and/or electronic controlling circuits and units (not shown) are able to be structured/placed at the base 420 of the stand 400. The base 420 functions as a weight for stabilizing, countering, or balancing the weight of the electronic device on the cap portion 404, so that the stand 400 is not tipped over without extreme external forces. In some embodiments, the weight of the base (e.g., position, location, shape of heavier materials such as metal) is designed/constructed to make the center of gravity at the lower half of the stand.
In some embodiments, the base 420, containing batteries, supplies continuous energy to power the speaker 408A and/or transmits electronic signals to the speaker 408A, such that the speaker 408s plays predetermined sounds (e.g., music). In some embodiments, an insulation separator 422 is used to separate/isolate the base from the water filling area 406A. In such an example, the insulation separator 422 can be at the bottom of the water bottle, and the stand 400 can function as a standalone water bottle without the base 420.
In some embodiments, the base 420 is constructed to be instantly attachable and/or detachable. For example, the base 420 can contain a screw structure, such that the base can be screwed onto the body of the stand 400. Any other structure that can be used to couple or attach the base 420 to the body of the stand 400 are within the scope of the present disclosure.
In operation, the electronic devices are positioned on the water bottle and the relative position of the electronic devices to the water bottle is adjusted for a balanced supporting position.
The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of principles of construction and operation of the invention. Such reference herein to specific embodiments and details thereof is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It is readily apparent to one skilled in the art that other various modifications can be made in the embodiment chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Features in various examples or embodiments are applicable throughout the Present Specification.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/633,407, filed Feb. 21, 2018 and titled, “SMART DEVICE BOTTLE CAP,” which is also hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
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