System and methods for managing a container or its contents

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present invention include a retainer, a lid, and a sensor, where the sensor is configured to detect information about the retainer, the lid, or the contents in the retainer. The sensor also may be configured to communicate with an internal or external computer system, thereby facilitating showing the detected information as a representation via a display element. In certain embodiments, the system may include an action element such as an open/close lid opening assembly configured to permit automatically or manually opening or closing a drink aperture or another type of dispensing aperture.

Claims

1. A container management system, comprising: a lid configured to removably connect to a retainer, the lid including: a lid shell element having a dispensing aperture, and a lid support element having a lid support opening, each of which are configured to be securable together using securement elements; an interior lid compartment formed between the lid shell element and the lid support element when the lid shell element and the lid support element are secured together; internal computer elements, including at least a processor and system memory, positioned in the interior lid compartment; a first sensor to: detect information about the lid, the retainer, or contents of the retainer; and communicate with at least one of the computer elements, wherein the lid support element supports the first sensor; and, the retainer defines a retainer space configured to receive a beverage; wherein at least some portion of the lid support element is sized and shaped to extend into the retainer space when the lid is removably connected to the retainer, thereby permitting the first sensor to be exposed directly or indirectly to the contents of the retainer while simultaneously being supported by the lid support element.

2. The container management system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is a volume sensor.

3. The container management system of claim 2, wherein the volume sensor is an indirect capacitance volume sensor configured to measure volume of liquid in the retainer.

4. The container management system of claim 1, further comprising a second sensor in operable communication with at least one of the computer elements and positioned in the interior lid compartment or physically attached to the lid, wherein the second sensor is configured to measure a second characteristic which is different than any characteristic measured by the first sensor.

5. The container management system of claim 4, wherein the second characteristic is a characteristic selected from at least one of temperature of retainer contents, volume of liquid in retainer, orientation of retainer, and status of whether lid opening is open or closed.

6. The container management system of claim 1, wherein the internal computer elements are configured to communicate with application software executable on one or more external computer elements and wherein the application software is configured to display information detected by the first sensor and transmitted by the internal computer elements.

7. The container management system of claim 6, wherein the external computer elements are not configured to be physically integrated with the lid or the retainer.

8. The container management system of claim 6, wherein the transmitted information is provided for display on an external display element.

9. The container management system of claim 8, wherein the transmitted information is a volume representation configured to show volume of liquid in the retainer and the volume representation is updated periodically or generally in real time upon the external computer elements receiving updated detected information.

10. The container management system of claim 8, wherein the external computer elements includes a memory configured to store detected information received from the internal computer elements, and wherein the information is collected over time.

11. The container management system of claim 1, further comprising an open/close lid opening assembly configured to block or unblock the dispensing aperture based on receiving certain detected information.

12. The container management system of claim 11, wherein the open/close lid opening assembly is comprised of: a motor; a crank powered by the motor and in mechanical communication with an actuator element; the actuator element disposed to cause movement of a lever arm assembly; and the lever arm assembly disposed to block or unblock the dispensing aperture or block or unblock an entrance to a product tube leading to the dispensing aperture, upon movement caused by the actuator element.

13. The container management system of claim 12, wherein the crank includes one or more magnets positioned to permit a magnet sensor to detect the orientation of the crank.

14. The container management system of claim 1, wherein the lid shell element includes a lid shell element having a lid base and a lid base cover.

15. The container management system of claim 14, wherein: the lid base includes a mechanical push button assembly including: a button having a front button surface and a button latch element, a button biasing element configured to bias the button in a certain direction, a button fulcrum against which the button may be biased and which connects the button to the lid base; and the lid base cover includes a lid catch element configured to accept the button latch element and thereby removably secure the lid base cover in a generally closed position and whereby pushing the button releases the button latch element from the lid catch element such that the lid base cover transitions to a generally open position.

16. The container management system of claim 15, wherein the mechanical push button assembly further includes a button lock configured to prohibit release of the lid base cover from the lid base when the button lock is engaged.

17. A container management system, comprising: a lid configured to removably connect to a retainer, the lid including: a lid shell element having a dispensing aperture, and a lid support element, each of which are configured to be securable together using securement elements; an interior lid compartment formed between the lid shell element and the lid support element when the lid shell element and the lid support element are secured together; internal computer elements, including at least a processor and system memory, positioned in the interior lid compartment; and a first sensor to: detect information about the lid, the retainer, or contents of the retainer; and communicate with at least one of the computer elements, wherein the lid support element supports the first sensor; wherein the lid support element includes an inner frame element and an outer frame element; and, wherein the outer frame element includes a generally disc-shaped upper outer frame element and a lower outer frame element configured to extend almost to a bottom or to a bottom of a retainer space.

18. The container management system of claim 17, wherein the outer frame element includes a generally cup-shaped upper outer frame element and a lower outer frame element configured to extend almost to the bottom or to the bottom of a retainer space.

19. An advanced container management system, comprising: a lid configured to removably connect to a retainer defining a retainer space, the lid including a dispensing aperture, internal computer elements, and a lid support element, the lid support element includes an inner frame element and an outer frame element; and, wherein the outer frame element includes a generally disc-shaped upper outer frame element and a lower outer frame element, the outer frame element generally surrounding at least part of the inner frame element, the inner frame element supporting a portion of the internal computer elements, the lower outer frame element is sized and shaped to extend into the retainer space when the lid is removably connected to the retainer, thereby permitting a first sensor to be exposed directly or indirectly to the contents of the retainer while simultaneously being supported by the lid support element; the first sensor to detect information about the lid, the retainer, or contents of the retainer and configured to communicate with an external computer system, wherein the first sensor is positioned in the lid support element.

20. The advanced container management system of claim 19, further comprising the retainer configured to receive and hold a beverage in the retainer space.

21. The advanced container management system of claim 19, wherein the lower outer frame element is generally parabolic-shaped.

22. The advanced container management system of claim 19, wherein the lower outer frame element is configured to extend through at least three-quarters of the retainer space by height.

23. The advanced container management system of claim 19, wherein the lower outer frame element is configured to extend through at least half of the retainer space by height.

24. The advanced container management system of claim 19, further comprising a second sensor configured to communicate with certain computer elements and positioned in or on the lid support element, wherein the second sensor is configured to measure a second characteristic which is different than any characteristic measured by the first sensor.

25. The advanced container management system of claim 19, wherein the internal computer elements are configured to communicate with application software executable on the external computer system, and wherein the internal computer elements transmit the information detected by the first sensor to the application software for display as a representation.

26. The advanced container management system of claim 25, wherein the external computer system is not configured to be physically integrated with the lid or the retainer.

27. The advanced container management system of claim 19, further comprising an open/close lid opening assembly configured to block or unblock the dispensing aperture based on receiving certain detected information.

28. An upgraded container management system, comprising: a lid having a dispensing aperture, wherein the lid is configured to removably connect to a retainer, the retainer defines a retainer space configured to receive a beverage, the lid having a lid support element having a lid support opening, a sensor to detect information about the lid, the retainer, or contents of the retainer and configured to communicate with one or more internal computer elements; the one or more internal computer elements, including at least a processor, positioned in a compartment within the lid or a compartment within the retainer and configured to communicate with the sensor and with an application software executed by the processor or an external computer system; wherein at least some portion of the lid support element is sized and shaped to extend into the retainer space when the lid is removably connected to the retainer, thereby permitting the first sensor to be exposed directly or indirectly to the contents of the retainer while simultaneously being supported by the lid support element.

29. The upgraded container management system of claim 28, where the application software, which includes one or more pages of a user interface configured to show detected information as a representation at the external computer system further comprising at least one external display element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to the limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1A illustrates a general depiction of an embodiment of a container management system;

(3) FIG. 1B illustrates a general depiction of another embodiment of a container management system;

(4) FIG. 1C illustrates a general depiction of an additional of a container management system;

(5) FIG. 1D illustrates a general depiction of yet another embodiment of a container management system;

(6) FIG. 1E illustrates a general depiction of an additional embodiment of a container management system;

(7) FIG. 2A illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of a container management system including a lid and a retainer;

(8) FIG. 2B illustrates a side perspective view of another embodiment of a container management system including a lid and a retainer;

(9) FIG. 2C illustrates a side perspective view of an additional embodiment of a container management system including a lid and a retainer;

(10) FIG. 3A illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of a retainer;

(11) FIG. 3B illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of portions of a retainer;

(12) FIG. 4A illustrates an exploded isometric view from below of an embodiment of a lid;

(13) FIG. 4B illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of an inner frame element;

(14) FIG. 4C illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of an inner frame element, a lid shell element, and certain additional components of a container management system;

(15) FIG. 4D illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of an inner frame element, a lever arm assembly, and various other components of a container management system;

(16) FIG. 5A illustrates a top perspective view of an embodiment of an outer frame element;

(17) FIG. 5B illustrates a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an outer frame element;

(18) FIG. 5C illustrates a top perspective view of an embodiment of part of an outer frame element;

(19) FIG. 6A illustrates a side view of an embodiment of an open/close lid opening assembly;

(20) FIG. 6B illustrates a bottom view of an embodiment of an open/close lid opening assembly;

(21) FIG. 7 illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of a lid, outer frame element, and lever arm assembly of a container management system;

(22) FIG. 8A illustrates a profile perspective view of an embodiment of a crank;

(23) FIG. 8B illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of a crank;

(24) FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a computer system;

(25) FIG. 10A illustrates a flowchart showing a method embodiment of the present invention;

(26) FIG. 10B illustrates a flowchart showing another method embodiment of the present invention;

(27) FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a user interface according to the present invention;

(28) FIG. 12A-FIG. 12M illustrate various examples of a user interface page according to the present invention;

(29) FIG. 13A illustrates another embodiment of a container management system;

(30) FIG. 13B illustrates another embodiment of a retainer;

(31) FIG. 13C illustrates a partial perspective view of a lid;

(32) FIG. 13D illustrates a partial back view of a lid;

(33) FIG. 13E illustrates a bottom perspective view of a lid;

(34) FIG. 13F illustrates a top perspective view of an outer frame element and certain computer elements;

(35) FIG. 13G illustrates a top perspective view of an outer frame element;

(36) FIG. 13H illustrates a side perspective view of an inner frame element;

(37) FIG. 13I illustrates a bottom perspective view of an inner frame element;

(38) FIG. 14A illustrates a top perspective view of a lid having a lid shell element including a lid base and a lid base cover configured to be released by a mechanical push button assembly;

(39) FIG. 14B illustrates a cross section view of a lid shell element and part of a lid support element;

(40) FIG. 14C illustrates a side perspective view of part of a lid support element and a lid shell element having a mechanical button assembly in which the button is removed;

(41) FIG. 14D illustrates a side view of a lid base cover and a button;

(42) FIG. 15A illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a container management system in which the retainer is a creamer carafe;

(43) FIG. 15B illustrates an bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a lid for the retainer illustrated in FIG. 15A;

(44) FIG. 15C illustrates an top perspective view of an embodiment of part of a lid for the retainer illustrated in FIG. 15A;

(45) FIG. 16A illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a container management system in which the retainer is a coffee carafe;

(46) FIG. 16B illustrates a close-up view of a lid and portion of a retainer for the container management system illustrated in FIG. 16A;

(47) FIG. 17A illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a container management system in which the retainer is an insulated hydration bottle and the lid includes a lid shell element having a lid base and a lid base cover;

(48) FIG. 17B illustrates the container management system of FIG. 17A in which the lid base cover is released from the lid base such that a user can drink from the lid opening;

(49) FIG. 17C illustrates the upper base surface on the lid base in the container management system of FIG. 17A;

(50) FIG. 18A illustrates a side perspective view of another embodiment of a container system in which the retainer is a carafe;

(51) FIG. 18B illustrates a close-up view of part of the embodiment of a container system illustrated in FIG. 18A;

(52) FIG. 18C illustrates a top perspective view of the embodiment of a container system illustrated in FIG. 18A;

(53) FIG. 18D illustrates a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of a container system illustrated in FIG. 18A;

(54) FIG. 19A illustrates a lid configured for use at least with the retainer illustrated in FIG. 18A;

(55) FIG. 19B illustrates the lid of FIG. 19A without the handle and handle collar elements;

(56) FIG. 19C illustrates the lid of FIG. 19B without the lid shell element;

(57) FIG. 19D illustrates a top perspective view of an outer frame element of the lid of FIG. 19A;

(58) FIG. 19E illustrates a side perspective view of the inner frame element, a display element, USB port, integrated circuit board, a filler element, and a sensor of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 19A; and

(59) FIG. 19F illustrates a side perspective view of the inner frame element, display element, integrated circuit board, and a sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(60) For purposes of this application, certain embodiments of the present invention described and illustrated herein are directed to container systems configured specifically to contain beverages, but the discussion is merely exemplary. The present invention is applicable to any type of container system known in the art.

(61) Also for purposes of this application, any terms that describe relative position (e.g., upper, middle lower, outer, inner, above, below, bottom, top, etc.) refer to an embodiment of the invention as illustrated, but those terms do not limit the orientation in which the embodiments can be used.

(62) FIG. 1A-FIG. 1C include simplified illustrations of certain general system embodiments of the present invention. Such embodiments include a container management system 50 having a container system 100 and a computer system 500. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A, the container system 100 is a retainer 200. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1B, the container system 100 is a lid 300. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1C, the container system 100 is comprised of a retainer 200 and a lid 300. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1D includes one or more computer elements 502 rather than an entire computer system 500. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1E includes computer system 500, a first container system 100A (having a first retainer 200A and a first lid 300A) and a second container system 100B (having a second retainer 200B and a second lid 300B).

(63) FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B illustrates a container system 100 including a retainer 200 and a lid 300. FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B illustrate a retainer 200 without a lid. The retainer 200 includes a retainer body 202 configured to receive a product. With general reference now to FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3B and initially FIG. 2A, the illustrated retainer body 202 includes an outer retainer body 202A, an inner retainer body 202B, and a base retainer body 202C. The retainer body 202 may terminate at a retainer edge 204, which generally defines a retainer opening 206. A retainer opening 206 may be sized and shaped to permit inserting or pouring a product into the retainer space 208. The illustrated retainer 200 is configured to removably connect to a lid 300 via a set of complementary retainer threads 210 corresponding to a set of complementary lid threads 310, but embodiments of the retainer 200 may have any complementary elements configured to facilitate a removable connection between the retainer 200 and the lid 300.

(64) The lid 300 is configured to permit dispensing or releasing the product out of the retainer space 208 without removing the lid 300 from the retainer 200. The lid 300 includes a lid body 302 having a lid shell element 304 and a lid support element 306. (An embodiment of a lid support element is shown in FIG. 4A, and is discussed in more detail below.) The lid shell element 304 has a first lid edge 301 defining a first lid opening 303 configured as a drink aperture. The lid shell element 304 also has a second lid edge 305 defining a second lid opening 307 configured as a computer element aperture, specifically, a USB port aperture sized and shaped to fit a USB port 309. The lid shell 304 also may include a third lid edge 311A or 311B defining a third lid opening configured as a display element aperture. The display element aperture may be sized and shaped to fit a first display element 312A such as a light emitting diode (LED) shown in FIG. 2B or a second display element 312B such as a display screen shown in FIG. 2C.

(65) The lid shell element 304 generally forms the uppermost or outermost part of the lid 300. A lid shell element 304 may include a lid side wall 314, a lid rim wall 316, and a lid top wall 318. The lid side wall 314 may include a lid input element 308 configured as a touch surface. The lid top wall 318 may have a generally frustoconical shape or a funnel shape in which the lid opening 303 is off-center and generally at the bottom of the funnel shape.

(66) As shown in FIG. 4A, a lid support element 306 is configured to provide structural support for certain other elements of the system, if present, such as sensors, action elements, or computer elements. The illustrated lid support element 306 includes an inner frame element 322 (shown in FIG. 4B in isolation and shown in FIG. 4C and FIG. 4D with certain other components) and an outer frame element 324 (shown from a top perspective view in FIG. 5A and a bottom perspective view in FIG. 5B). When the components are positioned for use, the outer frame element 324 generally surrounds the inner frame element 322.

(67) In the illustrated embodiment, the upper inner frame element 322A is configured to support one or more components of an open/close lid opening assembly 315. The illustrated embodiment of an open/close lid opening assembly 315 (also shown apart from the upper inner frame element 322A in FIG. 6A) includes a motor 326 configured to rotate a crank 328, which is in mechanical communication with an actuator element 330. The actuator element 330 is configured to cause movement of a lever arm assembly 332, which is disposed to block or unblock the drink aperture or other lid opening. Upon activation of the motor 326, the crank 328 rotates, causing the actuator element 330 to move, for example, downward. The downward movement of the actuator element 330 causes the actuated side 334 of the lever arm assembly 332 to also move downward. Because the lever arm assembly 332 is mounted on one or more fulcrum ridges 336 on the outer frame element 324 (see FIG. 7), moving the actuated side 334 downward causes the opposite sidethat is, the aperture blocking side 338to move upward and block the drink aperture itself or block the entrance to the product tube 350 leading to the drink aperture. The aperture blocking side 338 may include an aperture blocking configuration 339, for example, a sealing element 339A (e.g., a rubberized or flexible stopper unit).

(68) To unblock the drink aperture (or other lid opening), the motor 326 is activated (e.g., by a lid input element, push button, or computer system) to rotate the crank 328, causing the actuator element 330 to move, for example, upward. The upward movement of the actuator element 330 causes the actuated side 334 of the lever arm assembly to also move upward. When the actuated side 334 moves upward, the aperture blocking side 338 is lowered such that it is no longer physically blocking the drink aperture or the entrance to the product tube 350 leading to the drink aperture. In addition, the body of the illustrated actuator element 330 is sized and shaped, possibly with a vent indentation 333, such that when the actuator element 330 is positioned to unblock the drink aperture, a vent path is open to permit release of pressure from the retainer space during drinking or pouring.

(69) In certain embodiments, the crank 328 includes one or more crank magnets 329 shown in FIG. 8A, which permit a magnet sensor to detect the status or orientation of the crank (and therefore, calculate the orientation of the other components in the open/close lid opening assembly 315). For example, if a crank magnet 329 is close by the magnet sensor, the lid opening may be known to be blocked/closed. If the crank magnet is rotated away from the magnet sensor, the lid opening may be known to be unblocked/open. The crank 328 may include a motor interface element 327A and an actuator interface element 327B. As shown in FIG. 8B, the motor interface element 327A may include a stop configuration element 331 to impede the crank 328 from rotating past a certain point.

(70) In certain embodiments, the open/close lid opening assembly 315 may be configured to partially block the lid opening such that the flow rate of the beverage may be controlled or to completely block the lid opening such that beverage is generally completely impeded from passing through the lid opening.

(71) As shown in FIG. 4B, the upper inner frame element 322A may include a cut-out section 325 to permit a product tube 350 to pass therethrough. Also, the upper inner frame element 322A may provide support for a power source 340 such as the battery as illustrated in FIG. 4C. In addition, the upper inner frame element 322A may provide support for a small computer system 500 or various computer elements 502. As shown in FIG. 4D, an integrated circuit board 342 (which may contain at least a processor and system memory) may be secured to the upper inner frame element 322A via securement elements 319 shown as screws in the illustrated embodiment. However, other examples of securement elements include nails, bolts, staples, complementary hook and loop components, adhesive, and other known in the art. The upper inner frame element 322A may include one or more securement element holders 321.

(72) Also, adjacent to or affixed to the integrated circuit board 342 is a user input receiver 344, which is disposed to sense any input from the lid input element 308 on the lid side wall 314. In the illustrated embodiment, the user input receiver 344 is an upper portion of a flexible printed circuit board. In addition, a light pipe element 345 may be disposed to enclose or position a display element such as an LED such that the user can see, for example, whether the LED is on or off or a certain color from outside of the lid 300. The color or on/off/blinking status of an LED may indicate: whether the container management system is on or off; whether the lid opening is blocked or unblocked; whether any information is being detected by a sensor; whether certain information has been detected by a sensor (e.g., low volume of liquid in retainer or temperature is out of the comfort/safety zone for consumption); whether the open/close lid opening assembly is locked (e.g., cannot change position) or unlocked (e.g., can change position automatically upon detecting spill conditions or drinking conditions); whether there is a notification present (e.g., near a water fountain, met or near meeting a goal, reminder to refill or consume more/less); whether there is a warning (e.g., too hot to consume, bad weather approaching); whether the container system is has sufficient power or low battery; whether the container system is connected to an external computer system; or some other information.

(73) The lower inner frame element 322B supports a lower portion of the flexible printed circuit board which may be configured to operate as a volume sensor 346. The lower inner frame element 322B and the volume sensor 346 are sized and shaped such that when the lid 300 is connected to the retainer 200, at least some portion of the volume sensor 346 extends into the retainer space 208. In certain embodiments, the volume sensor 346, lower inner frame element 322B and lower outer frame element 324B may be configured to extend into the bottommost portion of the retainer space 208 or may be configured to extend only into the middle or upper portions of the retainer space 208. More specifically, the lower inner frame element 322B or lower outer frame element 324B may be configured to extend through one quarter, one half, three-quarters, five-sixths, or the entire retainer space 208 by height.

(74) FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B illustrate an outer frame element 324. The interior surface 323 of the outer frame element 324 together with the bottom surface 313 of the lid shell element 304 defines an interior lid compartment 348. The interior lid compartment 348 is configured such that minimal or no liquid (or other product) enters the interior lid compartment 348. To permit a user to drink liquid from the retainer, the upper outer frame element 324A may include a product tube 350, which is configured to permit the product to flow from the retainer to the drink aperture or other lid opening without coming into contact with the components within the interior lid compartment 348. The upper outer frame element 324A may be generally cup shaped. As illustrated in FIG. 5C, there may be a sealing grommet, sealing gasket, or other tube sealing element 349A positioned around or inside the upper edge of the product tube 350 to minimize or prevent liquid or other product from entering the interior lid compartment 348. The upper outer frame element 324A also may include an actuator element tube 352 configured to permit an actuator element 330 to pass therethrough. A second sealing grommet, sealing gasket, or other tube sealing element 349B may be positioned around or inside the actuator element 330 or the actuator element tube 352 to minimize or prevent liquid or other product from entering the interior lid compartment 348.

(75) In the illustrated embodiment, the interior lid compartment 348 is generally formed by two pieces secured together, but in other embodiments, an interior lid compartment may be formed by a single piece construction (which may possibly include a closeable opening to permit items to be inserted into the interior lid compartment, but the compartment still sealed or generally water-tight); a three-piece construction or alternative construction. Alternatively, a retainer may include an interior retainer compartment (not shown) configured to store internal computer elements, a sensor, or other components and possibly may be configured to be water-tight.

(76) Also shown in FIG. 5C, a third sealing grommet, sealing gasket, or other sealing frame element 351 may be positioned around the bottom frame edge 355 of the upper outer frame element 324A. The frame sealing element 351 is configured to minimize liquid in the thread space between the complementary threads 210, 310 when the complementary retainer threads 210 are connected to the complementary lid threads 310. Accordingly, when a user tips the container system to drink from it, no or minimal liquid leaks out between the retainer 200 and the lid 300.

(77) As shown in FIG. 5B and FIG. 7, the lower outer frame element 324B includes a first fulcrum ridge 336 on a first side and is a second fulcrum ridge on the second side (not shown). The lever arm assembly 332 can be mounted on the respective ridges. Also shown in FIG. 5B and FIG. 7 is a temperature sensor 354 configured to detect the temperature of a product (e.g., a beverage) contained in the retainer while the lid 300 is connected to the retainer 200. The lower outer frame element 324B may be generally cylindrical, generally parabolic-shaped, generally cubical, or generally triangular, to name a few. The lower outer frame element 324B generally extends from the center of the upper outer frame element 322B in the illustrated embodiment, but the lower outer frame element 324B also may extend from the edge, the side, or just a little off-center as well.

(78) The system and methods of the present invention may include one or more additional sensors, each configured to detect a characteristic or event related to the retainer, lid, or contents of the retainer. For example, an orientation sensor, such as an accelerometer, may be incorporated in or by the flexible printed circuit board or the integrated circuit board 342.

(79) The container management system 50 also may include a location sensor configured to detect the geographic location of the container system. Examples of a location sensor include a global positioning system (GPS), other satellite navigation system, other triangulation systems, compass, or magnetic field sensor. In certain embodiments such location sensor may be a system application run by the computer system 500 rather than a separable component. A location sensor may permit the system 50 to detect (and alert the user) if and when the container system 100 is being carried away or left behind relative to a computer system 500 (e.g., a smartphone). A location sensor also may permit a user to identify a location of their container system 100 possibly via a map element in the user interface.

(80) Certain embodiments of the system and methods of the present invention include one or more computer elements 502 that may or may not form a full computer system 500. An example of a computer system 500 according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 9. The computer system 500 may be a part of the described container management system 50 or may be used to implement related methods. The example hardware and operating environment of FIG. 9 for implementing the described technology includes a computing device, such as a computing device in the form of a processing device, such as a computer, server, or other type of processing device. The computer system 500 illustrated in FIG. 9 includes a processor 510, a cache 560, a system memory 520, and a system bus 590 that operatively couples various system components including the cache 560 and the system memory 520 to the processor 510. There may be only one or there may be more than one processor 510, such that the processor of the computer system 500 comprises a single central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, or a plurality of processing units, commonly referred to as a parallel processing environment. The computer system 500 may be a conventional computer, a distributed computer, or any other type of computer; the disclosure included herein is not so limited.

(81) The system bus 590 may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, a switched fabric, point-to-point connections, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. The system memory 520 may also be referred to as simply the memory, and includes read only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM). A basic input/output system (BIOS) 572, which may contain basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the computer system 500 such as during start-up may be stored in ROM. The computer system 500 may include a hard disk drive 520A for reading from and writing to a persistent memory such as a hard disk (not shown) and an optical disk drive 530 for reading from or writing to a removable optical disk such as a CD ROM, DVD, or other optical medium.

(82) The hard disk drive 520A and optical disk drive 530 are connected to the system bus 590. The drives and their associated computer-readable medium provide nonvolatile storage of computer-readable instructions, data structures, program engines, and other data for the computer system 500. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any type of transitory and non-transitory computer-readable medium, which can store data that is accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories (ROMs), and the like, may be used in the example operating environment. In various embodiments, the system memory 520 or hard drive disk 520A store threshold data for various parameters, states, or conditions of the container system 100. By way of example, the threshold data may relate to the pressure, temperature, angle of rotation, and position, among others, of the container system 100 and any contents therein. The threshold data may be retrieved and/or modified by one or more processor(s) 510 of the computer system 500.

(83) The computer system 500 also may include a network interface element 550 such that it can send and receive information via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Infrared, ZigBee, Near Field Communication, ANT+, Wireless USB, Z-wave, IEEE Standard 802.15.4, IEEE Standard 802.22, RFID), local area networks, wide area networks, intranets, or other short-range wireless communication technology or long-range wireless communication technology. More specifically, a network interface 550 may provide a two-way data communication coupling via a network link. For example, a network interface 550 may be an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card or a modem, a local area network (LAN) card, or a cable modem or wireless interface. In any such implementation, the network interface 550 sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic, or optical signals which carry digital data streams representing various types of information.

(84) A number of program engines may be stored on the hard disk, optical disk, or elsewhere, including an operating system 582, a system application 584, and one or more other application program modules 586. A user may enter commands and information into the computer system 500 through input devices such as a keyboard and pointing device (e.g., mouse, mini-mouse, mole, trackball, touchpad, trackpoint, touchscreen, stylus, dance pad, remote controller, etc.), any of which may be connected to the USB or Serial Port 540 or may be communicate wirelessly. These and other input devices are often connected to the processor 510 through the USB or serial port interface 540 that is coupled to the system bus 590, but may be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port. A monitor, touchscreen, LED device, or other type of display element may also be connected to the system bus 590 via an interface (not shown). In addition to the monitor, computers may include other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, facsimile machines, game controller (e.g., joystick, wand, etc.), microphone, web camera, other type of camera, etc.

(85) FIG. 10A illustrates a method embodiment 600A of the present invention. Specifically, a user may place a product (such as a beverage) in a retainer 602. Then, the user may removably connect a lid having at least one or more sensors to the retainer 604. The system may then detect information about the lid, the retainer, or any contents in the retainer 606. Then, the system may activate an action element in response to the detected information 608. An action representation may be generated to show a status of the action element retainer, lid, or lid contents 610. The action representation may be shown or displayed via a display element 612.

(86) FIG. 10B illustrates another method embodiment 600B of the present invention. Specifically, a user may place a product (such as a beverage) in a retainer 602. Then, the user may removably connect a lid having at least one or more sensors to the retainer 604. The system may then detect information about the lid, the retainer, or any contents in the retainer 606. Next, the system may produce a detected information representation to illustrate certain of the detected information 614. The detected information representation may be shown or displayed via a display element 616.

(87) The display element may be configured to show or display one or more user interfaces 700, an example of which is illustrated in FIG. 11. The user interfaces 700 may include graphical user interfaces, text-based user interfaces, or combinations thereof. A page of a user interface refers to one or more user interfaces 700 of a series of user interfaces. The pages may be linked or otherwise retrieved from a database and displayed in response to a user action on another user interface in the series. The user interface 700 shown in FIG. 11 includes a user interface menu 702, a representation 704 configured as a drawing of the container system with a fill line 705A that shows the approximate volume of liquid 705 in the retainer that was detected by a sensor, and a system identification symbol 706 configured to identify which container system the representation is referencing.

(88) FIG. 12A-FIG. 12J illustrate additional embodiments of a page 701 of a user interface 700. A user may navigate the user interface by selecting various icon elements 703. Examples of an icon element 703 include a menu icon 703A (selecting causes display of an extended user interface menu 702A), a container system icon 703B (selecting causes display of information or fields about a container system), or a user icon 703C (selecting causes display of information or fields about a user). Other components of the user interface, e.g., representations, may be a type of icon element 703 such that selecting that icon element causes display of different information.

(89) Certain of the illustrations in FIG. 12A-FIG. 12K show a variety of representations 704 including a time that product has been in the retainer representation 704A, how many times the user has sipped from the retainer representation 704B, temperature change over period of time representation 704C, progress toward goal representation 704D, a refill information representation 704E, a time frame representation 704F, combined time frame and consumption amount representation 704G, average calculation over a period of time representation 704H, temperature status representation 704I, weather representation 704K, an ounces in most recent sip representation 704L, and an ounces per sip representation 704M. Each page 701 of a user interface 700 may include any combination of representations.

(90) The user interface 700 also may include a system identification symbol 706. The system identification symbol 706 may include a temperature reading element 706A, an ounces dispensed or consumed element 706B, or other elements. The system identification symbol 706 also may be configured as a volume representation 704J, such that the fill line 705A represents the relative amount of liquid in the retainer.

(91) FIG. 12C illustrates an extended user interface menu 702A.

(92) FIG. 12G-FIG. 12I illustrate various pages 701 configured to permit a user to set up alarms or notifications, for example, when a beverage has reached the user's preferred temperature for consumption or a temperature at which consumption is considered safe (e.g., not likely to cause burn).

(93) FIG. 12L and FIG. 12M illustrate various pages 701 configured to permit entry of goals about hydration (e.g., drink certain number of ounces of water per day) or caffeine reduction (e.g., limit amount of coffee/tea consumed per day). A user interface page 701 may also be configured to permit entry of goal-determining information (e.g., age, weight, sex, weight loss plans, diet, lifestyle activity level, exercise activity level, home location, altitude, weather, current hydration level), which may permit the system to estimate an appropriate goal (e.g., hydration goal) for the user.

(94) FIG. 13A-FIG. 13I illustrate another embodiment of a container system 100 including a retainer 200 and a lid 300. As shown in FIG. 13B, the retainer 200 includes a retainer body 202 configured to receive a product. The illustrated retainer body 202 includes an inner body surface 203A and an outer body surface 203B. The retainer body 202 may terminate at a retainer edge 204, which generally defines a retainer opening 206. A retainer opening 206 may be sized and shaped to permit inserting or pouring a product into the retainer space 208. The illustrated retainer 200 is configured to removably connect to a lid 300 via a set of complementary retainer threads 210 corresponding to a set of complementary lid threads 310, but embodiments of the retainer 200 may have any complementary elements configured to facilitate a removable connection between the retainer 200 and the lid 300.

(95) As illustrated in FIG. 13A, the lid 300 includes a lid body 302 having a lid shell element 304 and a lid support element 306. (Other views of the lid support element 306 are shown in FIG. 13E-FIG. 13I, and is discussed in more detail below.)

(96) FIG. 13C illustrates an embodiment of a lid shell element 304 having a first lid edge 301 defining a first lid opening 303 configured as a drink aperture. The drink aperture in this embodiment is elevated via a drink spout 320. FIG. 13D illustrates lid shell element 304 having a second lid edge 305 defining a second lid opening 307 configured as a computer element aperture, specifically, a USB port aperture sized and shaped to fit a USB port 309. The lid shell 304 also may include another lid edge defining another lid opening configured as a securement element aperture 311C.

(97) A lid shell element 304 may include a lid side wall 314, a lid base cover receiving wall 380, and a lid top wall 318. The lid side wall 314 may include an indented section 382 configured to protect the USB port 309. The lid top wall 318 may have a generally linear shape.

(98) The lid shell element 304 may include a hinged lid base cover 370 and a lid base 372. Such embodiments may include a pivot element 371 configured to pass through a cover pivot element 371A of the hinged base cover 370 and a base pivot element 371B of the lid base 372. A pivot element 371 may be, for example, a pin. The hinge also may include a cover biasing element, such as an o-ring, configured to bias the lid base cover toward an open position if it is not latched to the lid base 372. In addition, the hinge also may be the axis connection for a handle 373.

(99) The hinged lid base cover 370 may be configured to be released into an open position or latched into a closed position by a mechanical push button assembly 360. As shown in FIG. 14A, FIG. 14C, and FIG. 14D, the mechanical push button assembly 360 may include button 368, a button biasing element 362 configured to bias the button 368 in a certain direction, button fulcrum 363 against which the button 368 may be biased and which connects the button 368 to the lid shell. A button biasing element 362 may include a spring. As illustrated in FIG. 14D, the button 368 may include a front button surface 361, fulcrum receiving opening 364, button latch element 367, and a bias contact element 369. Also shown in FIG. 14D, the lid base cover 370 may include a lid catch element 374 configured to accept the button latch element 367 and thereby secure the lid base cover 370 in a generally closed position. Then, pushing the button typically releases the button latch element 367 from the lid catch element 374 such that the lid base cover 370 transitions to a generally open position. As discussed above, the hinge between the lid base cover 370 and the lid base 372 may have a cover biasing element, such as an o-ring, configured to bias the lid base cover 370 toward an open position if it is not latched to the lid base 372.

(100) The mechanical push button assembly 360 optionally may include a button lock 365 configured to prohibit the button 368 from releasing the lid base cover 370 from the lid base 372 when in the engaged position as shown in FIG. 13A and FIG. 14A. When not engaged, the button lock does not affect the relationship between the lid base cover and the lid base.

(101) As shown in FIG. 13F, a lid support element 306 is configured to provide structural support for certain other elements of the system, if present, such as sensors, action elements, or computer elements 502. The illustrated lid support element 306 includes an inner frame element 322 (shown from a side perspective view in FIG. 13H and a bottom perspective view in FIG. 13I) and an outer frame element 324 (shown in FIG. 13G in isolation). When the components are positioned for use, the outer frame element 324 generally surrounds at least part of the inner frame element 322.

(102) The inner frame element 322 may support a lower portion of the flexible printed circuit board which may be configured to operate as a volume sensor (not shown). The inner frame element 322 and the volume sensor 346 are sized and shaped such that when the lid 300 is connected to the retainer 200, at least some portion of the volume sensor extends into the retainer space 208. In certain embodiments, the volume sensor 346 may be configured to extend into the bottommost portion of the retainer space 208 or may be configured to extend only into the middle or upper portions of the retainer space 208.

(103) The upper outer frame element 324A may be generally disc shaped as shown in FIG. 13G. An upper surface 390 of the upper outer frame element 324A together with the bottom surface (not shown for this embodiment) of the lid shell element 304 defines an interior lid compartment. The interior lid compartment is configured such that minimal or no liquid (or other product) enters the interior lid compartment. To permit a user to drink liquid from the retainer, the upper outer frame element 324A includes a product tube opening 347 sized and shaped to receive a product tube 350 (which may include a drink spout 320). The product tube 350 is which is configured to permit the product to flow from the retainer to the drink aperture or other lid opening without coming into contact with the components within the interior lid compartment. There may be one or more sealing grommet, sealing gasket, or other tube sealing element positioned around or near the lower tube edge of the product tube 350 to minimize or prevent liquid or other product from entering the interior lid compartment. A sealing elementsuch as a sealing frame elementmay be positioned around the bottom frame edge of the upper outer frame element 324A. The frame sealing element is configured to minimize liquid in the thread space between the complementary threads 210, 310 when the complementary retainer threads 210 are connected to the complementary lid threads 310. Accordingly, when a user tips the container system to drink from it, no or minimal liquid leaks out between the retainer 200 and the lid 300.

(104) Certain embodiments of the lid base cover 370 may include a sealing element opening configured to receive an aperture sealing element 392 shaped like a mushroom and positioned to completely or partially seal the drink aperture when the lid base cover 370 is latched to the lid base 372. The aperture sealing element 392 may be suspended from a sealing element opening of the lid base cover 370.

(105) FIG. 15A-FIG. 15C illustrate perspective views of a container system and its components in which the retainer is a creamer carafe. In the illustrated embodiment, the internal user interface is configured to display the temperature of the liquid inside the carafe and the time since the carafe was last filled.

(106) FIG. 16A-FIG. 16B illustrate perspective views of an embodiment of a container management system in which the retainer is a coffee carafe.

(107) FIG. 17A-FIG. 17C illustrate perspective views of an embodiment of a container management system or components thereof in which the retainer is an insulated hydration bottle and the lid includes a lid shell element 304 having a lid base 372 and a lid base cover 370. Also, the lid base 370 includes a display element configured to display certain detected information.

(108) FIG. 18A-FIG. 18D illustrates various views of another embodiment of a container system in which the retainer is a carafe. As illustrated in FIG. 18D, the base of the carafe includes a vent aperture 250.

(109) FIG. 19A-FIG. 19F illustrates various components of a lid configured for use at least with the retainer illustrated in FIG. 18A. The illustrated embodiment (and other embodiments) may be configured to detect and report only information about temperature and volume or only temperature or only volume of the beverage in the container. The illustrated embodiment does not include an open/close lid opening assembly. A filler element (e.g., foam or plastic block section) may be used to fill certain space between the inner frame element and the outer frame element 383.

(110) Certain embodiments of the present invention may be configured to quickly signal the user about the contents of the retainer. For example, a certain representation may be displayed or a certain component may be different (e.g., different color or shape) to designate whether the retainer is carrying decaffeinated or caffeinated coffee.

(111) While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.