WIRELESS HEATED OR COOLED DISHWARE, DRINKWARE, OR SERVERWARE WITH SAFETY SYSTEM

Abstract

The disclosed technology relates to heated or cooled dishware, drinkware, or serverware that may include, among other features, a food safety system that indicates through a user interface when food or liquid in the device is no longer safe to consume. In one example, the device may be controlled by the user to achieve different temperatures, and may have other safety features such as auto-shut off when food or liquid is no longer present, or when the device is tilted or upside down. In certain implementations, the device may be charged directly, or wirelessly via inductive coupling. Further, according to some aspects, multiple devices may be charged at once through the charging system.

Claims

1. An actively heated or cooled dishware, drinkware, or serverware device, comprising: a body having a receiving portion configured to hold food or liquid; and a heating or cooling system, comprising: a heating or cooling element configured to heat or cool the receiving portion of the body, wherein the heating or cooling element is operable to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the body to maintain the food in a heated or cooled state, control circuitry, one or more energy storage devices electrically connected to the heating or cooling element through the control circuitry, the control circuitry configured to manage the power delivered to the heating or cooling element, a charging unit configured to receive power physically from a power source, the charging unit being in communication with the one or more energy storage devices and configured to charge the one or more energy storage devices; and a safety system that determines when food is no longer safe to eat and will indicate the status to the user through a user interface and communicates the safety status through the control circuitry to the main control unit configured to discontinue power to the heating or cooling element when the safety system determines the food has been heated or cooled for too long and is no longer safe to eat.

2. The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of claim 1, wherein the device includes a sensor that detects the weight of food or liquid to know when there is or is not food or liquid in the receiving portion for food or liquid, such that the sensor can indicate such status through the control circuitry and the control unit can turn off the device after a certain amount of time when food or liquid is no longer present.

3. The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of claim 1, wherein the heating or cooling system is housed in the body.

4. The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of claim 1, wherein the one or more energy storage devices are rechargeable batteries.

5. The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of claim 1, further comprising a charging base configured to contact at least a portion of the body of the device to transmit an electrical charge.

6. The charging base of claim 5, wherein the charging base is configured to wirelessly transmit power via inductive coupling to the dishware, drinkware, or serverware to charge an electrical storage device or to power the heating or cooling element.

7. The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface electrically connected to a control circuit, the user interface actuatable by a user to control the operation of the heating or cooling element.

8. The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of claim 1, wherein the device is a plate.

9. The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of claim 1, wherein the device is a serving dish or bowl.

10. The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of claim 1, wherein the device is a mug or cup.

11. The dishware, drinkware, or serverware of claim 1, further comprising a wireless power receiver configured to wirelessly receive power from a power source, the wireless power receiver being in communication with the one or more energy storage devices and configured to charge the one or more energy storage devices.

12. The dishware, drinkware, or serverware of claim 11 wherein multiple dishware, drinkware, or serverware devices can be stacked below or above and charged simultaneously or in sequence through each other using electrical contacts or wireless charging.

13. The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of claim 12, wherein a magnetic locking mechanism positions the device to align one or more electrical contacts with corresponding electrical contacts on a surface of a charging base or on the surface of similar devices stacked below or above the device.

14. The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of claim 12, wherein the device is configured to transmit power to a mobile device using wireless charging.

15. The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of claim 1, further comprising a tilt sensor determines the orientation of the device and initiates a protocol, including actions such as turning off power to the device.

16. The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of any preceding claim where the device is water-resistant or waterproof.

17. The waterproof dishware, drinkware, or serverware of claim 16 where the device is waterproofed with a sealing glue between all separate parts that is flexible under heat expansion.

18. The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of claim 1, further comprising a lid that attaches to the dishware, drinkware, or serverware device such that the heating or cooling of the contents is more effective, including more thorough temperature distribution, lower power usage, or faster heating or cooling.

19. The lid of claim 18, further comprising magnetic attachment to the dishware, drinkware, or serverware device for improved sealing or retention.

20. The lid of claim 18 wherein the lid, when removed, attaches to the base of the dishware, drinkware, or serverware device to provide a more stable surface upon which the device can sit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] 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.

[0019] FIG. 1 generally represents a top view of one embodiment of the heated or cooled plate showing possible components inside.

[0020] FIG. 2 generally represents a top view of one embodiment of the charging base for the heated or cooled plate showing possible layout.

[0021] FIG. 3 generally represents a side view of one embodiment of the heated or cooled plate.

[0022] FIG. 4 generally represents a side view of one embodiment of the charging base and stacked heated or cooled plates.

[0023] 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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE IMPLEMENTATIONS

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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).

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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 levelfor 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%.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.