Patent Application
20250160550
This application includes an Appendix of circuit diagram information which pertains to an illustrative implementation of the disclosed technology and which is incorporated into the present disclosure.
The inventions described herein generally pertain to, inter alia, the field of dishware, drinkware, and serverware and to the manner of making and using the same and/or components thereof.
So as to reduce the complexity and length of this specification, the materials identified in the following paragraphs in this section are herein expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. The incorporated material is believed to be non-essential in accordance with 37 CFR 1.57 because it is referred to for purposes of providing general support, background, or information relating to the inventions. However, if any such material is deemed essential under Rule 1.57, any such text will be expressly added herein pursuant by the applicable rules.
Unless specifically noted, words and phrases in this specification and the claims are to be given their relevant plain and ordinary English meaning. Thus, except where this specification uses the exact phrase “[word or phrase] is hereby defined to mean [definition],” the inventor expressly elects, as lexicographer, to use the plain and ordinary meaning of words in the specification and claims rather than special definitions. Absent such specific statement to apply a special definition, the plain and ordinary meaning applies to the terms used in the specification and claims.
The inventor is also aware of the normal precepts of English grammar. Thus, if a noun, term, or phrase is intended to be characterized, specified, limited, broadened, modified or narrowed in some way, then such noun, term, or phrase will expressly include any desired or intended adjectives, descriptive terms, or other modifiers in accordance with the normal precepts of English grammar. Absent the use of such adjectives, descriptive terms, or modifiers in the claim language, it is intended that such nouns, terms, or phrases be given their ordinary and customary meaning as set forth above.
Further, the inventor is aware of the availability and limits of functional claiming under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). As used herein or in the claims, the words “function,” “means” or “step” do not indicate an intent to invoke the special provisions 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) to define the inventions. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are sought to be invoked to define the inventions, the claims will specifically and expressly recite the exact phrase “means for” and will also expressly recite the word “function” followed by a description of the function (i.e., will state: “means for performing the function of [insert function]”), without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material or act in support of the function. Thus, even if a claim recites a “means for performing the function of . . . ” if a claim also recites any supporting structure, material or acts then it is the clear intention of the inventor not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). If the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are invoked to define the claimed inventions (using the technique defined above), it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in any specific embodiment, but in addition, include any equivalent structures, materials, or acts that perform the claimed function, or any structures, materials, or acts described in any alternative situations or forms of the inventions, or that are within the appropriate limits of claim scope and construction and that are reasonably described and reasonably enabled by this specification.
The inventions described in this specification and recited in the claims are not directed to laws of nature, natural phenomena, or abstract ideas, but instead, are directed to one or more of the expressly permitted statutory categories of inventions, i.e., processes, machines, manufactures, or compositions of matter. Nor are the inventions claimed herein directed to any prohibited examples of abstract ideas such as fundamental economic practices, methods of organizing human activity, an idea itself, or any mathematical relationships/formulas. The claimed inventions are directed to significantly more than any abstract idea by itself and include specifically claimed inventive concepts so as to not preempt any fundamental building blocks of human ingenuity.
Numerous possible or potential aspects, objects, modifications, features, uses, or advantages of various inventions described herein will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from this specification, drawings, and claims. However, without characterizing or limiting the scope of the various inventions as they are claimed, some of the possible or potential aspects, objects, features, uses, or advantages of various inventions are summarized below. None of the following possible or potential aspects, objects, features, uses, or advantages are a disavowal, disclaimer, characterization, or interpretation of any aspects of any of the claims. These possible or potential aspects, objects, features, uses, or advantages might apply to any or none of the claimed inventions.
The invention is directed to dishwasher safe dishware, drinkware, and serverware, such as plates and mugs, and more particularly to actively heated or cooled dishwasher safe dishware, drinkware, and serverware. A unique feature of this invention is the inclusion of a food safety system to ensure that food is kept at the proper temperature for food safety (for example, to prevent the overgrowth of bacteria in the heated food) and to turn off the heat after some period.
One variation of the invention is a wireless heated plate that will keep food warm while the user is not actively attending to it. This invention is useful to people who are multitasking while eating, such as video game players and people who are working and whose food would otherwise get cold due to their distraction.
The present invention is different from other heated or cooled dishware in that it comprises a device with a built-in food safety feature, magnetic alignment for wireless contact charging, stackable charging for multiple dishware pieces, and weight-sensitive base to detect whether food is present or not. These new features make the invention unique from others within the same category because it is safer, easier to use, more reliable, and more convenient.
Technology for actively heating or cooling dishwasher safe (wireless) dishware or drinkware is not readily available with food safety features.
The present invention is characterized over US 2008/041859, which discloses a portable foodstuffs container that is of a modular design and that has an in-built heating arrangement, but does not have a food safety feature.
The present invention is also characterized over EP3582362B1, which discloses a portable heated or cooled plate that is of modular design and has a built in control system and heating system, which also does not have a food safety feature.
According to the first aspect, the present invention provides an actively heated or cooled dishware, drinkware, or serverware device as disclosed herein.
In accordance with one embodiment, a plate, mug, cup or serving dish can be provided, comprising a dishwasher-safe body having a receiving portion for holding solid or liquid food and a heating or cooling system. The heating or cooling system has a heating or cooling element configured to heat or cool the receiving portion of the body. A power storage element is electrically connected to the main control unit, which is a control unit then connected to the heating or cooling element, the power storage element configured to supply the heating or cooling element with electricity for a desired period of time, and/or at a given power setting. The heating or cooling element is operable to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the body to maintain the solid or liquid food in a heated or cooled state for an extended period of time. A charging receiver in the device is configured to receive power from a power source known as the charging base, the charging receiver being in communication with the energy storage device and configured to charge the energy storage device.
Additional understanding of the inventions may be derived by referring to the description when considered in connection with the figures. In the figures, like reference numbers refer to like elements or acts. While the figures provide several examples of aspects, elements, modifications, or components that may or may not be variously involved with the systems, methods, and devices described herein, the figures are not provided to define, limit, or affect the scope of the inventions claimed or described herein. Rather, the words of the claims are intended to define and control the scope of the inventions claimed herein. The figures are to assist the reader in understanding aspects of the various inventions disclosed and claimed herein.
Elements and acts in the figures are illustrated for simplicity, may not be to scale, and have not been rendered according to any particular embodiment or example and are not to depict any essential or required limitations.
Consistent with aspects of the disclosed technology, exemplary devices herein may have a top and a bottom with components placed inside. In some embodiments, the interior may hold various components necessary to operate the device, including for example, the power storage unit, the heating (or cooling) unit, the insulation unit, the charging unit, sensors, the user interface, the main control unit and other components necessary to run the device. Adjacent to the heating (or cooling) unit is the food or liquid surface; in one iteration, an aluminum disc may be installed on top of the heating unit to transfer heat from the heating unit to the food placed on top of the disc. In some iterations, this food or liquid surface may be coated; for example, the surface may be anodized to make it food safe or prevent any scratching or staining, or allow food to be cleaned off easily. In another iteration, a thin film may be placed on the opposite side of the food surface, either directly or in near adjacency, to facilitate heat transfer from (or to) the heating (or cooling) unit but preventing electrical power transfer (e.g. a short circuit) to the food surface. External to the device, there may in some iterations be handles or other features to allow easy manipulation of the device by the user.
The device may be manufactured by creating multiple parts, such as for example two exterior pieces, which enclose electronic and other elements, from materials such as plastic an aluminum. The exterior pieces may be sealed shut with, for example, glue. This glue may be designed to withstand heat and to be flexible during heat expansion in the surrounding materials. This glue may also be waterproof and ensure a watertight seal. In another iteration, the charging contacts may be sealed from inside the plate. In such iterations, the device may be capable of full submersion in water or, for example, being placed in a dishwasher, without damage to the device or risk to the user's safety.
The power storage unit stores the power needed to operate the device. In some iterations, this power storage unit could consist of one or more batteries. In some iterations, these batteries could be rechargeable.
The heating (or cooling) unit converts power from the power storage unit into heat (or the elimination of heat) to change (or hold) the temperature of the device. In one iteration of the heating unit, 34 AWG nichrome wire is stretched across the device adjacent to where the food or liquid will be contained. In this iteration, the nichrome wires are powered from wires connected to the power storage or main control unit. The heating unit in this iteration is controlled by the main control unit and when the temperature of the device needs to be increased, the main control unit allows power to flow from the power storage unit to the nichrome wires in the heating unit. In this iteration, when the current temperature reaches the set temperature (as monitored by a temperature sensing system), the main control unit will stop the flow of electricity to the nichrome wires.
The insulation unit protects the device from the effects of the heating (or cooling) unit. In one iteration, this insulation unit may consist of a layer of PC plastic or other material that is a poor conductor of heat. This insulation unit may sit between the heating (or cooling) unit and sensitive components of the device, such as, for example, the main control unit or the areas where a user may hold the device (for example, a handle).
The charging unit may, in some iterations, consist of a direct electrical connection that supplies the power storage unit, or it may consist of a wireless charging system. For example, in a direct connection iteration, the dishware or drinkware may connect directly to the external power supply. In another variation, there may be a separate charging base unit that is directly connected to the external power supply; this unit could have exposed electrical contacts that, when physically connected to dishware or drinkware with corresponding exposed electrical contacts, allows direct electrical power transfer to the device's power storage unit. Alternatively, in a wireless charging iteration, the charging unit may consist of a separate charging base that is directly connected to the electrical supply, which when placed in close proximity to the dishware or drinkware, transfers electricity to a charging coil in the dishware or drinkware through inductive coupling; this charging coil in the dishware or drinkware then delivers power to the power storage unit. In still further iterations, these charging units may allow multiple units of the device to be charged together; for example, multiple plates may be stacked on a charging base and electricity may be transferred from that charging base through the multiple devices to charge all of them.
In another iteration, the charging unit may be configured to allow a mobile device or cellular telephone to be placed on top of the device, in a similar manner to the iteration that allows multiple devices to be stacked and electricity transferred through multiple devices, and electricity may be transferred to the mobile device through wireless charging.
The device may contain one or more sensors necessary for operation of the device. For example, a temperature sensor may be placed on the bottom of the heating control unit to monitor the temperature of the device, providing input to the user or to the main control unit about the current temperature.
In another example, a tilt sensor may be placed inside the device and connected to the heating control unit such that when the device is tilted on its side or upside down, all power to the heating element may be shut off to improve user safety.
The user interface may contain one or more buttons, sensors, or display elements needed to operate the device, monitor the device, or change the device's performance (for example, changing the desired temperature of the device). The user interface may be physical (for example, buttons on the device), or it may be digital (for example, an application on a phone), or a combination.
The main control unit consists of multiple systems that operate the device, including, for example, controlling the user display system, the heating control system, the food safety system, the power monitoring system, the power charging system, or other systems necessary to the device's function. The control unit, and the systems that it operates, may consist of firmware (control circuitry) and software as needed to operate the device. The software may be, in some iterations, modifiable by the user or through installation of new code (for example, a downloadable update) to change the operation of the device. The control unit may consist of a single integrated module of firmware and/or software, or as multiple modules of firmware and/or software that collectively comprise the operating system of the device.
The food safety system operated by the control unit may consist of one or more firmware elements (e.g. sensors) and/or software routines that monitor the device and perform a safety related operation, as needed. In one iteration, a safety system could entail a time-based shut off routine, where after, for example, 1 hour of the food being heated the device would automatically turn off and the food would no longer be safe to eat. In another iteration, the device may have a sensor for the presence of food or liquid that determines when the device is empty and turns off the power to the heating or cooling element.
The power monitoring system may, in one iteration, detect the power level of the device's batteries, and display the average life between them on the user display (e.g. an LCD screen). This system, in a further iteration, could change the user display based on the power level—for example, the color of a battery icon on the display could turn red once the power level drops below, for example, 20% of the overall capacity, and stays that color until the system turns off or is charged to, for example, over 20%.
The heating (or cooling) control system controls the temperature of the device. This system may, in some iterations, accept input from the user (e.g. allowing the user to set the desired temperature) or may follow a prescribed routine (e.g. heat to a specified temperature when powered on). This heating (or cooling) system controls the application of power from the power storage unit to the heating (or cooling) unit. In some iterations, this heating (or cooling) control system may include input from other parts of the device, for example from a temperature sensing system that monitors the temperature of the device and provides feedback to the heating (or cooling) control system.
The power charging system controls the charging of the power storage unit. This system may, in some iterations, take input from the power monitoring system to control the intake of power from the charging unit. This system may, for example, turn off power intake from the charging unit once the power storage units are at capacity. Alternatively, in some iterations this system may shift power intake to charging an adjacent device once the power storage unit in the device is at capacity. In some iterations, this power charging system may include input from other parts of the device, for example a temperature sensor for the power storage unit such that if it starts to overheat, it will stop charging.
There can be a lid that fits over the top of the device to prevent spills, and to better affect the heating or cooling of the device. Among other implementations, this lid can be attached via magnets to ensure attachment is secure or accurate. This lid, when removed, can be placed or attached under the device to create a more stable base upon which the device can sit.
In the foregoing description, numerous examples and details are set forth to provide a clear understanding of various aspects of various inventions together with a written description of the claimed subject matter and to enable a person of ordinary skill in this field to make and use the same. It will also be understood, by those skilled in the relevant arts, that the present inventions may be practiced without, or with various alternatives, modifications, and/or equivalents of various of these details. In other instances, structures and devices are omitted or shown or discussed more generally in order to avoid obscuring or unduly limiting the inventions. In many cases, a description of operations is sufficient to enable one to implement the various forms of the inventions. It should be noted that there are many different, alternative, or equivalent configurations, devices, and technologies to which the disclosed inventions may be applied. The full scope of the inventions is not limited to the examples that are described herein.
This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/519,543, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63519543 | Aug 2023 | US |
