CONTAINER WITH A DEVICE FOR SETTING AND DISPLAYING A DISPLAY VALUE

Abstract

A container, in some cases a drink container, with a device for setting and displaying a display value, comprises a marking element, a metal or magnetic strip, and a housing for the marking element. The marking element can be moved by a setting magnet located outside of the interior space of the container. A device for setting and displaying a total fluid intake is also described. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a method for setting and displaying a display value on a container.

Claims

1. A container having a device for setting and displaying a display value, comprising at least one container wall with an inner side and an outer side, a container floor and a container opening, as well as a metal or magnetic element and a marking element, wherein the metal or magnetic element comprises magnetic material and/or metallic material, and wherein the marking element is supported in and/or under a housing and is movable by a setting magnet by magnetic force.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the metal or magnetic element is a metal or magnetic strip on which the marking element is movably supported in the housing.

3. The container according to claim 1, further comprising a scale that is attached to the at least one container wall, to the metal element and/or to the housing.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the housing is configured by a closed housing with an interior space for the marking element and/or by a cover with an interior space for the marking element.

5. The container according to claim 4, wherein the housing or the cover has at least one housing wall comprising an inspection window and/or wherein the housing or the cover is at least partially transparent.

6. The container according to claim 4, wherein the closed housing or the cover configures an interior space that extends from the direction of the container floor in the direction of the container opening.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the metal or magnetic element is arranged externally on the container wall, and the marking element is supported so that it can slide on the metal or magnetic element and is covered by the housing.

8. The container according to claim 1, in the form of a drink container having a device for setting and displaying a display value, further comprising a scale, wherein the marking element comprises magnetic material or a magnet, and the metal or magnetic element is a metal or magnetic strip with which the marking element is connected by magnetic force, wherein the marking element is movable along the metal or magnetic strip, wherein the housing encloses an interior space in which the marking element and the metal or magnetic strip are located, and wherein the marking element is movable by the setting magnet located outside the housing.

9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the metal or magnetic element is a non-magnetic metal strip.

10. The container according to claim 1, wherein said container is drink container.

11. The container according to claim 1, wherein the metal or magnetic element extends along the at least one container wall of the container.

12. The container according to claim 3, wherein the scale extends from the direction of the container floor in the direction of the container opening, and/or is designed and aligned to display a consumed total fluid intake.

13. The container according to claim 5, wherein the cover is affixed to side walls (14), configured as one piece of the container wall.

14. The container according to claim 6, wherein the closed housing or the cover configures an interior space on the container wall that extends from the direction of the container floor in the direction of the container opening along the outer side.

15. The container according to claim 7, wherein the metal or magnetic element is secured externally on the container wall, and the marking element is supported so that it can slide on the metal or magnetic element and is enclosed in the housing.

16. The container according to claim 8, wherein the display value is a total fluid intake.

17. The container according to claim 8, wherein the setting magnet exerts a greater magnetic force on the marking element than the metal or magnetic strip.

18. A device for setting and displaying a display value, having a scale, a marking element consisting of magnetic material or a magnet, and a metal or magnetic strip with which the marking element is connected by magnetic force, wherein the marking element is movable along the metal or magnetic strip, wherein the device further has a housing enclosing an interior space in which the marking element and the metal or magnetic strip are located, and wherein the marking element is movable by a setting magnet located outside the housing.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the setting magnet exerts a greater magnetic force on the marking element than the metal or magnetic strip.

20. The device according to claim 18, wherein the scale runs parallel to the metal or magnetic strip.

21. A fluid intake monitoring system for setting and displaying a display value comprising a container according to claim 1 and a setting tool.

22. The fluid intake monitoring system according to claim 21, wherein the setting tool is a setting magnet.

23. A method for setting and displaying a display value on a container according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the following steps in this order: a. securing the marking element in a starting position in the housing by a first magnetic force acting between the marking element and the metal or magnetic element; b. disengaging the marking element through action of a second magnetic force of a setting tool; c. transporting the marking element within the housing by movement of the setting tool through action of the second magnetic force from the starting position to an end position; and d. securing the marking element in the housing in an end position by the first magnetic force acting between the marking element and the metal or magnetic element, by removing the setting tool.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the second magnetic force is greater than the first magnetic force.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the setting tool is guided in step c. along a housing wall in the form of an inspection window and/or wherein the marking element is transported in step c. along the metal or magnetic element.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the marking element comprises or constitutes a magnet.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein the setting tool is applied in the form of a setting magnet to the housing.

28. The method according to claim 23, wherein the first magnetic force is also effective during the transporting in step c.

29. The method according to claim 23, wherein transporting the marking element within the housing in step c. takes place by movement of the setting tool through action of the first and second magnetic force.

30. The method according to claim 23, wherein the second magnetic force is also effective during the transporting in step c.

31. The method according to claim 25, wherein the marking element is transported in step c. along the metal or magnetic element so that contact between the marking element and the metal or magnetic element exists during said transporting.

32. A method for setting and displaying a display value on a container with a device according to claim 18, wherein the method comprises the following steps in this order: a. securing the marking element in a starting position in the housing by a first magnetic force acting between the marking element and the metal or magnetic element; b. disengaging the marking element through action of a second magnetic force of a setting tool; c. transporting the marking element within the housing by movement of the setting tool through action of the second magnetic force from the starting position to an end position; and d. securing the marking element in the housing in an end position by the first magnetic force acting between the marking element and the metal or magnetic element, by removing the setting tool.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] The device for setting and displaying a display value is explained below using exemplary embodiments. These show as follows:

[0062] FIG. 1a is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the drink container according to the present disclosure;

[0063] FIG. 1b is a schematic representation of a cross-section of the first embodiment from FIG. 1a;

[0064] FIG. 2a is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the drink container according to the present disclosure;

[0065] FIG. 2b is a schematic representation of a cross-section of the second embodiment from FIG. 2a;

[0066] FIG. 3a is a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the drink container according to the present disclosure;

[0067] FIG. 3b is a schematic representation of a cross-section of the third embodiment from FIG. 3a;

[0068] FIG. 4a is a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of the drink container according to the present disclosure;

[0069] FIG. 4b is a schematic representation of a cross-section of the fourth embodiment from FIG. 4a;

[0070] FIG. 5a is a schematic representation of a fifth embodiment of the drink container according to the present disclosure;

[0071] FIG. 5b is a schematic representation of the fifth embodiment of the drink container according to the present disclosure with the use of a separate module;

[0072] FIG. 6a is a schematic representation of a sixth embodiment of the drink container according to the present disclosure;

[0073] FIG. 6b is a schematic representation of the opposite side of the sixth embodiment of the drink container according to the present disclosure; and

[0074] FIG. 6c is a schematic representation of a cross-section of the sixth embodiment from FIGS. 6a and 6b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0075] A first embodiment of the drink container with a device for setting and displaying a total drink quantity is represented in FIGS. 1a and 1b.

[0076] FIG. 1a is a schematic representation of the first embodiment of the drink container 6, provided with a total fluid intake scale 7 and fill marks 5. The drink container 6 is optionally equipped with a sealing cover 8, which can be pushed or screwed on and is in some cases provided with a leak-proof mouthpiece. Parallel to the total fluid intake scale 7, a device for setting and displaying a total fluid intake is attached, the length of which corresponds to at least the length of the total fluid intake scale 7. The marking element is not represented.

[0077] FIG. 1b is a schematic representation of the device of the first embodiment in cross-section. It has a metal or magnetic strip 1, an open housing in the form of a cover 3 and a marking element 2, comprising magnetic material or a magnet. As shown in FIG. 1b, the open housing can be implemented in the form of a cover 3 as a bulged U-profile. If the strip 1 consists of magnetic strip or film, the marking element 2 can consist of a magnet or a magnetic material, adhering by magnetic force to the strip 1. If the strip 1 consists of sheet metal, the marking element 2 consists of a magnet, adhering by magnetic force to the strip 1. The device also has a separate setting magnet 4 for moving the marking element 2.

[0078] The strip 1 is applied to the drink container 6. The housing or the cover 3 is attached to the strip 1 so that an interior space is formed, in which the marking element 2 is located. The interior space is dimensioned such that in the present case a marking element 2 having a circular basic form has enough play to allow it to be moved along the strip 1. There is a slight air gap between the marking element 2 and the cover 3. The cover 3 is transparent and adapted to the form of the drink container 6 such that the interior space is closed on all sides.

[0079] The movement of the marking element 2 takes place by way of the setting magnet 4. The magnetic forces of the setting magnet 4 and the marking element 2 or the strip 1 are matched to one another such that when the setting magnet 4 is placed on the cover 3 directly over the marking element 2 this is, if necessary, detached from the strip 1 and can be moved by moving the setting magnet 4 along the total fluid intake scale 7. The magnetic force between the setting magnet 4 and the marking element 2 must therefore be greater than the magnetic force between the strip 1 and the marking element 2. If the setting magnet 4 is then removed at the desired point, the marking element 2 will reattach magnetically to the strip 1 at that point.

[0080] FIG. 2a is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the drink container 6, provided with a total fluid intake scale 7 and fill mark 5 at 0.25 l. The drink container 6 is equipped with a sealing cover 8, which can be pushed on and is provided with a leak-proof mouthpiece 9. Parallel to the total fluid intake scale 7, a device with a metal or magnetic strip 1, in some cases a magnetizable metal strip, and a magnetic marking element 2 for setting and displaying a total fluid intake and a housing in the form of a cover 3, are attached. The length of the device corresponds at least to the length of the total fluid intake scale 7. The container has a container floor 10 and an opposite container opening 11. The strip extends from the direction of the container floor 10 from a first strip end 12 in the direction of the container opening 11 as far as a second strip end 13. The container 6 has a container wall 15.

[0081] FIG. 2b is a schematic representation of the second embodiment of the drink container 6 in cross-section. The device for setting and displaying the total fluid intake has a metal or magnetic strip 1, an open housing in the form of a cover 3 and a marking element 2, comprising magnetic material or a magnet. As shown in FIG. 2b, here the open housing can also be implemented in the form of a cover 3 as a bulged U-profile. The device further has a separate setting tool 4 for moving the marking element 2. The cover 3 is attached to the outer wall 15 such that an interior space is formed, in which the metal or magnetic strip 1 and the marking element 2 are located. The cover 3 and the drink container consist primarily of plastic, wherein the cover is secured by gluing or welding to the container wall 15. In the case of welding, ultrasound, friction or laser welding is in some cases used. The interior space is dimensioned such that the marking element 2 has enough play to allow it to be moved along the metal or magnetic strip 1. There may be a slight air gap between the marking element 2 and the cover 3. The cover 3 is transparent and adapted to the shape of the drink container 6 such that the interior space is closed on all sides. The metal or magnetic strip 1 is connected with the outer wall 15, in some cases glued or welded.

[0082] FIG. 3a is a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the drink container 6 with a device for setting and displaying the total fluid intake. The essential elements of this schematic view correspond to those of FIG. 2a, wherein here the marking element 2 has a rectangular shape and further differences are shown in FIG. 3b. The drink container 6 in this embodiment also has a closed housing 19 instead of a cover 3.

[0083] FIG. 3b is a schematic representation of the third embodiment of the drink container 6 in cross-section, wherein the differences from the second embodiment are clear. The device has a metal or magnetic strip 1 and a magnetic marking element 2, located in a closed housing 19. Instead of the covers used in the embodiments up to now, which in the direction of the container wall 15 have no wall, the housing 19 completely encloses the metal or magnetic strip 1 and the marking element 2, wherein the housing walls configure a tunnel-shaped interior space. Despite the one-piece closed housing here, a movement of the marking element 2 through contactless force by way of the magnetic force of the setting magnet 4 is possible. It is provided here that the closed housing configures a tunnel-shaped or tubular interior space, wherein this interior space can have a rectangular cross-section, matched to the dimensions of the metal or magnetic elements. The closed housing 19 is secured to the container wall 15, wherein the metal or magnetic strip 1 and the marking element 2 are located in the closed housing. The securing is performed by gluing or welding, in some cases ultrasound welding, friction welding or laser welding. The housing can essentially have a two- or multi-part configuration. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3b, the housing has a one-piece configuration.

[0084] The one-piece, closed housing 19 has a first housing wall 21 in the direction of the container wall 15 and an opposite, second, housing wall 20, turned away from the container wall, with a one-piece configuration, wherein the latter is transparent. Here the first housing wall 21 is curved such that it rests directly against a similarly curved container wall 15.

[0085] FIG. 4a is a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of the drink container 6. The essential elements of this schematic view correspond to those of FIG. 2a, wherein the differences are clear from FIG. 4b.

[0086] FIG. 4b is a schematic representation of the fourth embodiment of the drink container 6 in cross-section. The device for setting and displaying the total fluid intake has a metal or magnetic strip 1, in some cases a metal strip, and a marking element 2. The marking element 2 is supported between the metal or magnetic strip 1 and the front part of the housing in the form of cover 3 such that it can slide. The device also has a separate setting tool 4 for moving the marking element 2. The housing or the cover 3 also comprises side walls 14, configured extending from the outer wall 15, and a frontal closing. Here, the side walls 14 and the outer wall 15 or the drink container 6 can have a one-piece configuration by injection molding. The connection between this frontal closing, by way of example in the form of a panel, and the side walls 14 in some cases takes place by gluing or welding, in some further cases by ultrasound, friction or laser welding, and in some other cases by ultrasound welding.

[0087] The outer wall with the formed side walls 14 and the frontal closing of the housing in the form of the cover 3 form an interior space for the metal or magnetic strip 1 and the marking element 2. Here, in the embodiment represented, the side walls 14 are configured as an integral component of the outer wall 15, in some cases obtained by injection molding from a hollow form for the outer wall 15 with recesses for the side walls 14. The interior space must be dimensioned such that the marking element 2 has enough play to allow it to be moved along the metal or magnetic strip 1. There may be a slight air gap between the marking element 2 and the cover 3. The magnetic forces of the setting tool 4 and the marking element 2 or the metal or magnetic strip 1 are matched to one another such that, when the setting tool 4 is placed on the frontal closing of the cover 3 directly over the marking element 2, the marking element 2 follows a movement of the setting tool 4 along the scale 7. The magnetic force between the setting tool 4 and the marking element 2 is generally greater than the magnetic force between the strip 1 and the marking element 2. If the setting tool 4 is removed at the desired point, the marking element 2 is secured magnetically to the metal or magnetic strip 1.

[0088] FIG. 5a is a schematic representation of a fifth embodiment of the drink container 6 with a device for setting and displaying the total fluid intake, wherein the essential elements of this schematic representation correspond to those of FIG. 3a and the differences are shown in FIG. 5b.

[0089] FIG. 5b is a schematic representation of the fifth embodiment of the drink container 6 in cross-section, wherein the differences from the third embodiment are clear. Instead of the one-piece closed housing of the third embodiment, it now refers to a two-piece closed housing 19, wherein a first housing part 21 in the direction of the container wall 15, and an opposite, separate, frontal housing part 20, turned away from the container wall is present, and which is connected with the first housing part 21, in some cases glued or welded. The two-piece housing encloses the metal or magnetic strip and the marking element 2 completely, wherein a tunnel-shaped interior space is configured by the housing walls. Here it is provided that the two-piece closed housing configures a tunnel-shaped interior space, wherein this interior space has a rectangular cross-section, matched to the dimensions of the metal or magnetic element. The device has a metal or magnetic strip 1 and a magnetic marking element 2, located in a two-piece closed housing 19. Despite the closed housing, a movement of the marking element 2 by contactless force through magnetic force of the setting magnet 4 continues to be possible. The closed housing 19 is secured via the housing wall 21 to the container wall 15, wherein the metal or magnetic strip 1 is located in the two-piece closed housing. The securing is performed by gluing or welding, in some cases by ultrasound, friction or laser welding.

[0090] FIG. 6a is a schematic representation of a sixth embodiment of the drink container 6 with a device for setting and displaying the total fluid intake. The essential elements of this schematic representation correspond with regard to the device for setting and displaying the total fluid intake, FIG. 2a, wherein here the marking element 2 is moved to a slightly different position.

[0091] FIG. 6b is a schematic representation of the sixth embodiment of the drink container 6 in side view, containing three devices arranged one on top of the other for setting and displaying of three pieces of user-related information. These three devices are arranged opposite the device for setting and displaying the total fluid intake according to FIG. 6a. These three devices for setting and displaying three pieces of user-related information are based on a metal or magnetic strip, which is broken down by stop elements 16 into strip segments 1′, 1″ and 1′″ each with its own magnetic marking element 2′, 2″ or 2′″. The respective stop elements limit the range of motion of the respective marking elements. In the embodiment represented, the stop elements 16 are inwardly protruding components of the continuous frontal boundary or panel of the housing or the cover 3. The metal or magnetic strip 1 similarly has a continuous configuration, as does device 1 on the opposite side. Through such an arrangement different information can be represented by each of the marking elements 2′, 2″ or 2′″. In the embodiment variants represented, the metal or magnetic strips on the opposite sides of the drink container in each case have an independent and continuous implementation. Here, segments 1′, 1″ and 1′″ represent stages or segments of the strip as a whole.

[0092] FIG. 6c is a schematic representation of the sixth embodiment of the drink container 6 in cross-section. Here the cross-section follows the line 17 of FIG. 6b, so that only elements of the metal or magnetic strip 1 and 1′ and the marking elements 2 and 2′ are visible. The metal or magnetic strip 1, as in FIG. 2b, is connected to the container wall 15, in some cases glued or welded to this. The metal or magnetic strips 1 and 1′ and the housing in the form of covers 3 and 3′ are secured to the container wall 15. The covers 3 or 3′ in each case with the container wall 15 form an interior space. In a first interior space formed by the first cover 3, a first metal or magnetic strip 1 and a first marking element 2 are housed and in an opposite second interior space formed by the second cover 3′ a second metal or magnetic strip 1′ and a second marking element 2′ are housed.

[0093] The drinking containers shown in FIGS. 1-5 can naturally be equipped with a further device for setting and displaying user-related information, as shown in FIG. 6b and as explained above.

[0094] The features of the present disclosure disclosed in the above description, the claims and the drawings can be of material importance for carrying out the present disclosure in various embodiments both individually and in any combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0095] 1 Metal or magnetic strip

[0096] 2 Marking element

[0097] 3 Cover

[0098] 4 Setting magnet

[0099] 5 Fill marks

[0100] 6 Drink container

[0101] 7 Total fluid intake scale

[0102] 8 Sealing cover

[0103] 9 Mouthpiece

[0104] 10 Container floor

[0105] 11 Container opening

[0106] 12 Lower strip end of the metal or magnetic strip

[0107] 13 Upper strip end of the metal or magnetic strip

[0108] 14 Side walls

[0109] 15 Container wall

[0110] 16 Stop elements

[0111] 17 Position for the cross-sectional representation of FIG. 6c

[0112] 19 Closed housing

[0113] 20 Second housing wall

[0114] 21 First housing wall

[0115] The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified and other changes can be made in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.