An active foodware system includes dining plates having visual stimulating, sensing, and wireless communication components. A visual stimulating component emits light to provide information or entertainment. The sensing component detects characteristics of the food received in the dining plate, such as weight or temperature. Data related to the food may be displayed on the visual stimulating component, or sent by the wireless communication component to a computer or mobile communication device. Computer software may display nutrition information on the visual stimulating component before, during, and after dining, or provide visual and auditory encouragement for children to eat.

A wireless drink container can monitor a person's hydration and prompt him or her to drink more if appropriate. The drink containers as described herein can monitor liquid levels and communicate with external devices about the liquid levels and rate of consumption. One or more sensors in the drink container monitor the liquid level within the container. A processor coupled to the sensor(s) estimates how much liquid has been removed from the container from changes in the liquid level and transmits a signal representing the change in liquid level to a smartphone or other external device. It also triggers an audio or visual indicator, such as an LED, that prompts the user to drink more based on the user's estimated liquid consumption and on the user's liquid consumption goals, which may be based on the user's physiology, activity level, and location.

A lighting apparatus used within a bottle opening, the apparatus including a portion having an outer circumference interference fit into the bottle opening and allowing flow of a liquid from the bottle. A control and power mechanism is included and operably connected to a lighting element of a variety of shapes located within the bottle and controllable by a user to selectively activate the lighting element. The portion fit into the bottle opening may include a cylindrical sidewall and centrally located button including a toggle switch forming the control and power mechanism retained and distanced from the sidewall by at least two radial extensions wherein spaces located between the radial extensions form passages for flow of the fluid.

An illuminable container device, comprising a housing for containing a liquid; a recess configured within a base area of said housing, with said recess extending upwardly into said housing and in a substantially cylindrical shape; a light device, comprising a light housing with a substantially cylindrical shape, said light housing comprising a plurality of ridges, which are positioned vertically around a circumference of said light housing; said light device configured to fit into and substantially fill said recess being held therein by a pressurized fit.

A drinking vessel or container equipped with a mechanism or module configured to determine the number of drinking events during a drinking session is provided. The drinking vessel includes an orientation sensor configured to determine an orientation of the drinking vessel, a visual indicator operatively coupled to the drinking vessel, and a controller that is configured to receive signals from the orientation sensor. The controller is configured to determine whether the sensed orientation is indicative of a drinking event and provide a control signal to the visual indicator representative of the number of sensed drinking events during a given period.

An activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system for a beverage container including a cap that couples with the beverage container, a processor, a timer and at least one activity level sensor, such as an inclinometer, coupled with the processor. The activity level sensor detects container orientation. When the container is tilted, the timer measures an amount of time in an orientation. Based on the current and previous orientation and the amount of time the container is in different orientations, the processor determines an amount of time of activity of the user, and a level of activity of the user, such as number of steps or moves per time. The inclinometer is also used to determine the amount of volume dispensed from the container when tilted over a threshold indicative of drinking. Thus one inclinometer may be utilized as both to determine activity level and volume of fluid dispensed.

The invention relates to a set of interaction techniques for obtaining input to a computer system based on methods and apparatus for detecting properties of the shape, location and orientation of flexible display surfaces, as determined through manual or gestural interactions of a user with said display surfaces. Such input may be used to alter graphical content and functionality displayed on said surfaces or some other display or computing system. The invention also relates to interactive food or beverage container with associated computing apparatus inside its body, and a curved multitouch display on its surface, associated interaction techniques for curved multitouch displays, methods of use, and apparatus for refilling said electronic food or beverage container.

A drinking vessel monitor in the form of a lid with a protective disc of rigid material and a depending skirt. A key operated mechanical linkage is connected to contact members underlying the protective disc. Springs cause the contact members to pivot outwardly upon removal of the lid from a drinking vessel. Without the key to operate the mechanical linkage, the contact members hidden within the skirt cannot be retracted sufficiently to place the lid back on the drinking vessel. Optionally, an electrical circuit can be added with a signal generator which generates a visual or audible signal if tampering has occurred.

In a general aspect, an illumination assembly includes an article including a body having a first magnetic element with at least one electrically conductive surface. The illumination assembly also includes a light assembly including a housing, a second magnetic element, a light source, and a power source. A first terminal of the light source is electrically connected with a first terminal of the power source. The light assembly also includes a first electrical contact disposed on the housing and electrically coupled with a second terminal of the light source. The light assembly also includes a second electrical contact disposed on the housing and electrically coupled with a second terminal of the power source. Magnetically coupling the light assembly with the article, via the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element, electrically couples the first electrical contact with the second electrical contact to energize the light source.

A candle cover for a beverage container can include a base portion having a top surface and a bottom surface, a candle-receiving portion extending upward from the top surface of the base portion, and one or more protrusions extending inward from a circumferential edge of the base portion. The candle-receiving portion can have at least one opening sized to receive a candle. Alternatively, a lower surface of the base portion can be substantially flat to be positioned on a rim of a beverage container.