A teething spoon may include a feeding end with a concave, textured surface configured to retain soft food and stimulate a tongue, mouth, or gums of a teething toddler; a base having a base diameter at its greatest extent and at least one aperture capable of receiving a removable tether; a handle coupling the feeding end to the base; and a safety guard adjacent the feeding end that extends perpendicularly. The safety guard may have a perpendicular reach of about 50 mm and may include a first loop and second loop opposite and in plane with the first loop. The first and second loops may allow a cylinder of about 10 mm or about 13 mm to pass through unobstructed. The base may comprise a generally hemispherical structure that enables the teething spoon to be disposed vertically. A slot in the base may be configured to accommodate a removable tether.

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 device is provided for reducing the influence, on a drinking vessel (240), of linear and/or rotational motions of a surface on which the drinking vessel is placed, for example for use on a marine vessel. The device comprises a pliable structure and is provided with a plurality of slits (120) arranged between a plurality of cooperating portions (102) to accommodate a plurality of drinking vessels, in particular drinking vessels having a base and a stem, such as wine glasses. The cooperating portions are adapted to accept a drinking vessel, and are operable to at least partially envelop the drinking vessel by conforming to at least a part of the upper surface of the base of the drinking vessel.

The present invention concerns a drinks coaster comprising a housing which is so designed that a drinking vessel can be placed thereon, and a wireless electronic communication device arranged in the housing, wherein the communication device is of such a configuration and design that a first wireless communication connection with an interface can be provided by the communication device in operation of the drinks coaster, wherein data can be transmitted at least from the communication device to the interface. In comparison the object of the present invention is to provide a drinks coaster which in a simple fashion makes it possible to also acquire and/or process information about a drinking vessel placed on the drinks coaster and/or about a drink in the drinking vessel. To attain that object it is proposed that the drinks coaster is further developed in such a way that the communication device is further configured and designed that a second wireless communication connection with a contactlessly readable electronic information carrier mounted on a drinking vessel can be provided by the communication device in operation of the drinks coaster, wherein data can be read at least out of the electronic information carrier and transmitted to the communication device.

A system having a beverage coaster with a receiving coil that can be magnetically coupled or decoupled from a driving coil in a counter, table, bar, and the like. The coaster may be magnetically coupled to the table by moving the coaster into an area where the driving coil generates a magnetic field of sufficient strength. The coaster also includes a switch that activated or deactivated based on its proximity to a magnet in the table. The coaster has a metallic plate on which may be positioned a beverage container. The plate is thermally and mechanically coupled to a Peltier cell that either cools or heats the plate, depending on the state of the switch. A thermostat prevents beverage overheating. A second magnetic switch powers the driving coil only if the coaster is present and aligned with the driving coil.

In some embodiments, a method includes providing a flexible mat; wrapping the flexible mat around a crossbar of an infant or toddler seat; affixing at least two of a plurality of suction cups; providing a tether configured to secure an object; and coupling the tether to an anchor block by disposing an anchor terminus through an aperture, forming a compression fit. The flexible mat may have a mat body characterized by a front side, back side and thickness; and a plurality of anchors. Each anchor may include an anchor block having an aperture configured to receive a tether, and a suction cup. Each anchor may be disposed through the thickness, such that its anchor block is on the front side and its suction cup extends from the back side. The back side may be adjacent a surface of the crossbar. The method may include securing an object to the tether.

An active foodware system includes a mechanical structure supporting a food surface recessed in relation to an area surrounding the food surface; a heating component for heating food received by the food surface; a sensing component for maintaining the heating component at a desired temperature; a wireless communication component; and a visual stimulating component responsive to data from the sensing component or the wireless communication component.

A drink holder assembly is disclosed. In one embodiment, the drink holder assembly includes a drink holder, a ring insert, and at least one lighting device. The ring insert is configured to be inserted into the drink holder. The lighting device(s) are mounted to the ring insert. In this manner, the lighting device provides the light needed so that the user can place a beverage container in the drink holder appropriately when in a poorly lit environment.

A decorative lighted cover for water jugs has an outer cover traversing between a top and a bottom end, with a design cutout traversing laterally through the outer cover and a light source located interior to the outer cover. The light source illuminates the interior of the outer cover, and the illumination is visible through the design cutout. An upper cover obstructs the top end of the outer cover and supports the light source near the top end. The outer cover is affixed around a water cooler's reservoir, and the illuminated design cutout provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

In some embodiments, a system comprises a mat body characterized by a front side, a back side and a thickness; a plurality of anchors, each anchor comprising an anchor block having an aperture characterized by an aperture diameter, a suction cup having a sealing surface and an outer surface, and a stem that is coaxial with the suction cup and connects the suction cup to the anchor block. Each anchor may be disposed through the thickness, such that its anchor block is on the front side and its suction cup extends from the back side. The system may further comprise an elongated tether that is removably coupleable to one of the plurality of anchors, and the elongated tether may comprise an anchor end having a generally spherical anchor terminus characterized by an anchor diameter that is greater than the aperture diameter.