An active foodware system includes a visual-stimulating component for displaying information related to a plurality of sensing components, such as load cells, sensing weight of food on respective dining surfaces of supporting dining plates. A mechanical structure supports and positions the dining plates in a constrained relationship to each other, and cavities in the mechanical structure may unattachedly mate with the dining plates. A wireless communication component wirelessly sends weight data to the visual-stimulating component, such as a mobile phone or tablet computer. The system is configured to determine calories of the food, and the system may include a camera for sensing the food or a diner. The visual-stimulating component may display information other than information provided by a scale, and auditory and haptic stimuli may also be provided.

A bottle holder with a body includes an upper portion; a base; a cup seat disposed in the upper portion; and one or more lighting elements, at least one of the lighting elements being disposed below the cup seat and oriented to direct light upward. The bottle holder further includes a cup removably positioned in the cup seat, the cup being constructed to support a bottle. The bottle holder may include a control system configured to control the one or more lighting elements and other electronic components that may optionally be included. A system for illuminating a container includes a bottle holder and a remote control unit constructed to communicate with a control unit of the bottle holder.

A dining plate unit includes a visual stimulating component to provide light emanating from the dining plate unit, means for sensing various conditions related to the dining plate, and/or means for wirelessly communicating the sensed data, means for wirelessly transferring power, or means for generating sound. The dining plate unit can be a single component where the device and related circuitry are all contained in the unit, or it can be at least two components: an upper translucent dining plate, and a mating underplate including the devices and circuitry for directing light through the upper translucent dining plate.

In a set of light-emitting devices, each capable of being attached to a respective container and each comprising lights, associated circuitry and a housing therefor having a surface capable of attachment to the container, a first device (12) comprises a transmission circuit (22) and a tilt switch (20) for actuating the transmission circuit to generate a respective transmitted signal, and second devices (14) each comprise a receiver circuit (32) capable of receiving the transmitted signal and illuminating the lights (36) of the device. The lights (26) of first device (12) are also arranged to illuminate simultaneously with the generation of the transmitted signal, and the device further comprises an on-off push switch (28). The devices may be part of an illumination system (50) comprising a transmitter unit (60) which also generates signals to illuminate lights (36). The signals transmitted by the unit (60) are encoded differently from those transmitted by first device (12) so as to produce different illumination effects. A further system (80) comprises a bottle-supporting unit (90) incorporating illuminated bottle placement areas (94).

A luminous base includes a base body, a light guide structure, a light emitting module and a power supply module. The base body has a cover with a light outlet; the light guide structure is installed at the base body and configured to be corresponsive to the light outlet; the light emitting module is installed in the base body for projecting light towards the light guide structure; the power supply module is electrically connected to the light emitting module. Therefore, light can be illuminated upwardly from the bottom of a cup and/or a beverage bottle in a surface emitting manner, and the existence of the cup and/or the beverage bottle can be highlighted to provide a glare effect in a dark environment, and the light can be illuminated uniformly upward from the bottom of the cup and/or the beverage bottle to provide a light staining effect.

A battery-powered light can be installed in a punt of a bottle during manufacture and then turned on at use. The battery-powered light includes a skid pad that is free of adhesive. A battery insulator pull tab overlies the skid pad and can be removed even after adhering the light assembly to the bottle. The battery insulator pull tab prevents the battery of the light assembly from discharging before being needed. The skid pad prevents adhesive from sticking to the insulator pull tab, thereby making it otherwise unremovable.

A lighting device includes a storage member provided with a receiving opening for an object to be stored, and a support bottom portion for supporting the received object to be stored; a light source; and a loop-shaped light guide member including an incident portion for a light from the light source and a light emission surface formed along an edge of the receiving opening. The incident portion is positioned on an outer peripheral portion side of the light guide member, and a shielding wall along the receiving opening is positioned between the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion. Also, the light guide member includes a gradually-reduced portion reducing a distance between the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion as leaving from the incident portion.

An apparatus for communicating the status of a consumable includes a sleeve with a tubular housing. The tubular housing has a lumen with a proximal section and a distal section separated by an internal flange. The sleeve includes a battery case or power module with a coaster coupled on the proximal side of the internal flange, an electronic module and a power supply module coupled to the distal side of the internal flange. A sensor in the form of a spring-loaded switch is located on the coaster to trigger and enable a status indicator based on a predetermined weight of a beverage container. The status indicator is an LED light source or wireless signal coupled to the sensor through the electronic module.

A digital drink coaster device patent is provided. The device is comprised of a body, a display screen, a charging dock, and a mobile application. The charging dock allows the device to be easily stored while recharging the battery. Once the device is powered on, a display screen displays content in any form, such as images, text, videos, designs, etc. The content that is displayed on the display screen may be customized by a user by accessing the mobile application from where content may be uploaded and sequenced in any way the user prefers.

A beverage container coaster with a coaster housing having a substantially horizontal palm portion that contains a beverage area for supporting a beverage container in a substantially level fashion. At least one finger extension is attached to said coaster housing. The finger extension may be removably attachable to the beverage container coaster housing and may also be rotatably attached and moveable and pliable for changing their position and shape. Sound and/or light generators may also be incorporated into the beverage container coaster and used under the control of an electronic controller contained within the coaster housing.