GB2501745A

GB2501745A - Disc for illuminating drinking vessels

Info

Publication number: GB2501745A
Application number: GB1207791.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jon Duncan; Bryn Griffiths
Original assignee: Benmore Ventures Ltd
Current assignee: Benmore Ventures Ltd
Priority date: 2012-05-03
Filing date: 2012-05-03
Publication date: 2013-11-06
Also published as: GB201207791D0; WO2013164641A1

Abstract

A generally disc-shaped device 10, having light-emitting elements for illuminating the contents of a container 60 to which the device attaches. A first rigid housing part 12 and a second housing part 14 which cooperate to form a sealed enclosure. The device is attached to the container by adhesive tape 52 or by claw members. The second housing part may be rigid and may be screwed to the first housing part. The second housing part 14 may be flexible and may be adhered to the first housing part 12. The first housing part 12 may have windows adjacent the light emitting elements. The flexibility of the second housing part may allow activation of a switch without breaking the seal.

Description

Devices for Illuminating Containers Light-emitting devices, such as those disclosed in international patent applications WO 2004/110892, and WO 2011/007113 are designed to fit into the recess of a container such as the recess found in the base of a bottle. Once fitted, the devices can illuminate the contents of the container. Not all containers, however, have a recess of the desired shape which would allow the direct use of such a light-emitting device.

Aspects of the present invention seek to provide a way to bridge the shape requirements of the device to the actual shape of the recesses of these other containers.

Aspects of the present invention seek to provide a physical unit designed to mate with a product container and to encompass a light-emitting device whilst allowing the light-emitting device to illuminate the contents of the container.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a light-emitting device for attachment to a container for drinks, the device comprising a housing of disc-like configuration comprising a first rigid housing part, which accommodates one or more light-emitting elements and associated circuits and components, and a second housing part which co-operates with the first housing part to form a sealed enclosure.

The first housing part, which is preferably of plastic material, can be provided with means for attaching the device to a container. The attaching means may comprise adhesive tape. The attaching means may comprise shaped formations, such as claws, to engage a matching formation on the drinks container.

The second housing part can be also of rigid material, in which case it can be screwed to the first housing part. In this case, the assembled housing resembles a puck. Alternatively the second housing part may comprise a piece of flexible material which can be adhered to the first housing part, eg by means of adhesive tape.

The first housing part may be provided with one or more transparent openings located corresponding to the light-emitting elements.

Devices in accordance with the present invention can be attached to the bases of flat bottomed drinks glasses and other containers where before the shape of the container may have prohibited or hindered the use of devices as disclosed in WO 201 1/007113. This has the further advantage of allowing the use of devices with containers without any modification to the container or its manufacturing process. This is important when considering, for example, the cost of creating new glass moulds.

Devices according to the present invention can be glued to many materials such as glass and plastics and the glue for bonding these two surfaces together may be specific for plastic to glass or plastic to plastic, etc. The term "rigid" as used herein does not mean completely rigid. It is used as a relative term, ie a rigid material is one which generally retains its shape as opposed to a sheet of flexible material.

The term "top" and "bottom" as used herein denote the portions of the various components and surfaces when the device is in normal use on a drinks container in a normal configuration thereof.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will also be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a top view of a device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the device of Fig. 1 with parts of its interior exposed to view; Fig. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the device of Figs 1 and 2, and a glass to which it is about to be applied; Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, after application of the device to the glass; Fig. 5 is a top view of a device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the device of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the device of Figs 5 and 6 applied to the bottom of an octagonal-shape glass; Fig. 8 is a top view of a device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the device of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the device of Figs 8 and 9 attached to the bottom of a glass having a generally conically-shaped base; Fig. 11 is a bottom view of a top housing part of a device in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 12 isatop view ofa bottom housing part for attachment to the part shown in Fig. 11 to form a complete sealed housing.

Referring to the drawings, Figs 1 and 2 show a light-emitting device 10 comprising a first housing part 12, which is of a relatively rigid plastic material and a second part 14, which is in the form of a flexible cover of sheet material.

Housing part 12 is of injection-moulded material and has a substantially disc-like configuration. It has a generally cylindrical wall 16 surrounding a compartment which accommodates a printed circuit board 20 upon which are mounted four LED elements and associated circuitry, and components including one or more battery cells and a switch device. The circuitry is similar to that disclosed in WO 201 1/007113, from which further details can be obtained.

The compartment with the circuit board 20 inside is sealed by the cover 14, which is in the form of a PVC sticker. The sticker is pre-printed with a brand, logo, image and/or other graphic material on its surface 24. Housing part 12 is provided with reinforcing internal partitions 32 and the sticker 14 adheres firmly to the top surface 18 of wall 16 and of partitions 32 in liquid-tight manner.

The top of housing part 12 is provided with four holes 36 located above the four LED elements on the circuit board. The holes allow light to pass from the device 10 through the transparent base of a drinking vessel to which the device is attached in use, to illuminate the contents of the drinking vessel. The holes are dish-shaped with sloping sides to allow the light to spread out. A clear or coloured resin 38 is poured into the holes 36 to provide a hermetic seal against the ingress of liquid.

To attach the device lOto the base of the drinking vessel, it is provided with a peripheral, flat radially extending flange 40 which is moulded with the first housing part 12. The skirt extends radially outwardly from the wall 16 and is substantially coplanar with the top surface 50 of housing part 12. It will thus be seen that the shape of the device resembles that of a hat, in particular a top hat, or a boater.

A further skirt 52 comprising a strip of flexible PVC material is adhered to the bottom of flange 40. The radial extent of skirt 52 is approximately twice that of flange 40 so that a portion 54 protrudes radially beyond flange 40. During assembly of device 10, the upper surface of portion 54, which is adhesive, is covered with a ring of release paper 56.

Fig. 3 shows the device 10 of Figs 1 and 2 about to be attached to the base 62 of a beer glass 60. It will be seen that base 62 is recessed so as to form an outer annular surface 64, an upwardly and inwardly sloping surface 66 and a central substantially planar region 68. The dimensions of housing part 12 are arranged to substantially correspond to the dimensions of the central region 68.

To apply device 10 to the base 62, the release paper 56 is removed from portion 54, and the thus-exposed adhesive surface of portion 54 is securely attached to the surface 66, as shown in Fig. 4. Because of the slope of the surface 66, there is a tendency for the portion 54 to crease or wrinkle during this attachment process, so the outer edge of portion 54 is provided with a plurality of regularly-spaced incisions 58; this allows adjacent regions of the material of portion 54 to move towards each other (but without overlapping) to prevent such wrinkling. This helps to maintain liquid tightness.

When the attachment process is completed, the only part of the device 10 visible to a casual observer is cover 14 and this can conveniently bear a brand or other graphic designs. The light from the LEDs on the circuit board passes through holes 36 into the interior of glass 60.

To produce a device 10, the cover 14 is first prepared from a printed circular piece of PVC sheet material and a correspondingly shaped piece of double-sided adhesive tape. The non-printed side of the PVC material is adhered to one side of the tape, with release paper still being left covering the other side of the tape. The cover is transferred in this state to the assembler of the rest of the device.

A preferred tape for use in this connection is a double coated acrylic adhesive on a non-woven tissue carrier. Typical thicknesses are 0.160mm for the tape itself and 0.016mm for polycoated release paper giving an overall thickness of 0.320 mm.

To assemble the device 10, the circuit board 20 and its associated components are attached to a central adhesive region of the cover 14. At this stage the device resembles the devices disclosed in WO 2011/007113. The combination of circuit board 20 and cover 14 is then presented to the compartment in housing part 12 and sealed therein. The cover 14 is applied to the bottom of the device, and in particular to the surfaces of wall 16 and partitions 32 as shown in Fig. 2.

The above-described device has numerous advantages. It provides fully-sealed protection for the circuit board and its electronic components, while still providing good illumination to the interior of the drinking glass. The device is relatively thin and unobtrusive. It is lightweight and provides an attractive feature which can exploit cover 14 to match the aesthetics of a brand or other promotional design.

A further advantage of the device 10 is that it can be readily recycled. The recycling process of a practical embodiment of the device 10 proceeds as follows: 1. Peel the unit 10 away from the glass 60.

2. Peel off the PVC backing 14 printed with the logo.

3. Lift out the circuit board, which is now exposed.

4. The circuit board carriers two cells under retaining clips.

Remove the cells by sliding them out from under the retaining clips.

5. Recycle Lithium Manganese Dioxide cells in accordance with local regulations.

6. The circuit can be recycled in accordance with the Waste Electrical and Electrical Equipment Directive or the local equivalent.

7. The remaining plastic materials can be recycled. The sticky backed PVC complies with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive. The remaining hard plastic is ABS.

The various component parts of the device 10 are capable of numerous modifications. The basic circuitry is as disclosed in WO 2011/007113.

Typically a motion activated switch can be used such that contents of the glass are illuminated for a few seconds each time the glass is picked up or moved.

Other activation methods could be used. For example, the device 10 may be vibration activated, music activated, light activated, temperature activated or RF (wireless activated), etc. There can be an additional manual on/off switch allowing the device 10 to be off in transit but thereafter allowing the user to turn the device on; the motion switch trigger then acts as the primary activation method. The motion switch can be omitted so that solely a manual switch is provided. It can be possible to use larger coin cell batteries than in WO 2011/007113, to increase the lifetime of the device. It is possible to achieve many months of useful lifetime based on normal in-bar use of the glass.

If the cells are not user-replaceable, then when the cells have expired the device 10 can be removed from the container 60 and responsibly disposed of.

Alternatively, the cells can be replaced by detaching and subsequently re-attaching the cover 14.

In a modification the battery cells may be charged from the exterior in a contactless manner.

The shape of a the housing part 12 can be rnoulded according to a number of key requirements such as the shape of the container 60 with which it must mate, the best contact points between the container and the device 10 for attachment purposes, whether being glued to the container or otherwise attached, the shape of the electronic circuit board and its components such that the assembled board can be contained within the device and sit flush to the outside edge or be recessed, as required.

Different types of plastic have been tested, including polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and PC + ABS compounds. Advantageously, ABS (in some physical shapes) and a PC + ABS combination and PC can remain stable, when placed in boiling water. Testing at above 100°C confirms that the plastic remains stable when placed into an industrial dishwasher. ABS and the PC+ABS combination also allow colouring of the plastic material to produce attractive designs. These materials can also be injection moulded allowing for fast and cost effective mass production. It is also possible to print or paint onto the material -for example brand names and logos.

PVC (in combination with a glue and glue release paper) can be used as cover 14 to seal the electronic circuit board inside the compartment 20 to form a secure and watertight covering over the circuit board. It may also be used as skirt 52 to attach the device 10 to the container 60. An advantage of the PVC material is that it is soft, flexible and malleable so it can easily follow the contours of the container. It should also be strong, printable and able to accept a glue substrate.

Instead of being pre-attached to the cover 14, circuit board 20 may be first inserted in the compartment in housing part 12, with cover 14 then being attached over the already installed circuit board.

Figs 5 and 6 show top and bottom views respectively of a device 110 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. In this case the device comprises an octagonal housing part 112 with a circuit board 120 in an interior compartment. Once the circuit board 120 and its components has been inserted in the compartment, it is sealed in liquid-tight manner by a circular cover 114 in the same way as cover 14 in the first embodiment. Also similarly, the top of the housing part 112 is provided with four light transmitting holes 136.

As shown in Fig. 7 device 110 is attached to the flat bottom of an octagonal drinking glass 160. Instead of using a surrounding strip, the flat top surface 150 of the device is adhered directly to the bottom of the glass. In this embodiment, a double sided glue sheet is employed. A first side of the glue sheet adheres to the surface 150 with holes in the sheet corresponding to holes 136 since the sheet itself would absorb at least some of the light.

To attach the thus coated device 110, a release paper is removed from its top surface and the device is stuck to the glass.

An advantage of the second embodiment is that it matches the contours of the associated glass in an unobtrusive manner. The glass is advantageously provided with its own platform.

The glass 160 and the device 110 may have any desired cross-sectional shape. It may be polygonal with other than eight sides; in particular it can be hexagonal.

Alternatively, it may have a circular cross-section. The cross-section shape may vary over the height of the glass.

One glue which has been found to be successful in providing a strong bond between glass and solid plastics is an acrylic adhesive, which can resist the temperatures and other conditions within dishwashing machines, such as hot and cold water and its resistance to detergents, allowing the devices 10, 110 to be used in commercial bars on drinks glasses without coming away from the glass.

Turning now to Figs 8 and 9, there are shown top and bottom views of a device 210 in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. The device comprises a first relatively rigid plastics part 212 and a flexible PVC cover part 214 attached to the bottom thereof to seal circuit board 220 in its compartment. The top surface 250 of housing pad 212 has four light-transmitting holes 236.

The housing pad 212 has an outer wall portion 270 which extends above the surface 250. The wall is moulded with six recesses in 272 which have six regions there between defining claw members 274. The claw members are capable of flexing slightly and are dimensional such that, when they are attached to the bottom of a suitably shaped glass 260 Fig 10, they flex radially slightly outwardly and then inwardly to grip the side walls 262 of the glass, which have a slightly smaller diameter than the glass base itself.

Thus no adhesive is involved in the attachment of device 210 to the glass.

An advantage of this is that the device 210 can be rapidly and repeatedly attached and detached from the glass 260. It can even be removed while the glass is being washed.

Device 210 can be used with glasses having a wide range of shapes.

Glasses are particularly suitable in which the lower part of the glass base has a wide cross-section, in the fashion of hips, below a narrower waist portion. Such a glass can snap-fit into the device and be retained by the claw members.

Any desired number of claw members can be provided, including two, three, four, five or more than six.

If desired, the claw attachment can be supplemented by providing adhesive between the top surface 250 and the bottom of the glass 260, as in the second embodiment.

The circuit boards in the devices 10, 110 and 210 can incorporate motion sensitive switches for the LED elements. Alternatively, or in addition, a manually-operated switch can be incorporated. This is preferably a touch switch located adjacent to the centre of cover 14, 114, 214. To assist the user a small bump can be felt where the switch is located. The switch is pressed once to turn it on and then once to turn it off.

Turning now to Figs 11 and 12, these show top and bottom housing parts respectively of a device in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment both bottom housing parts 314 and top housing parts 312 are made of relatively rigid plastic material.

Top housing part 312 comprising a radially outer wall 370 and two radially inner walls 316 and 316', which define between them a U-shaped channel 380, at the base of which sits a rubber "0" ring (not shown).

The innermost wall 316 defies a circular compartment 320 for a circuit board (not shown) with four LED elements.

The top of the top housing part 312 is provided with four light transmitting holes 336 to illuminate the interior of an attached glass (not shown). Located in the annular space between walls 316 and 370 are four raised bosses defining equally-spaced bores 386.

Bottom housing part or cover 314 is circular and substantially planar with a raised circular wall 390. The wall is surrounded by an annular skirt 392 provided with four equally spaced holes 388. The wall surrounds a circular area 394 which, after assembly, forms the bottom of compartment 320.

The bottom surface of housing part 314, as shown in Fig. 12, may bear branding or other graphic material.

The housing of the fourth embodiment is assembled by inverting one of the two parts and fitting them together. The width, height and diameter of wall 390 is such that it fits snugly in the U-shaped channel 380 against the rubber 0-ring.

Screws are passed through holes 288 into bores 386 and tightened so as to seal compartment 320 tightly against liquid ingress.

The top surface (not shown) of the top section 312 is then adhered to the bottom of a suitably-sized and -shaped glass by adhesive or by a double-sided adhesive tape.

Although the device in accordance with the fourth embodiment is more expensive to manufacture, it is robust and provides good protection for the components on the circuit board contained therein.

The circuit board may have a switch which is motion sensitive.

Alternatively, if a manually-operated switch is to be employed, a central region of the area 394 may be provided with a movable portion or a through hole to facilitate actuation of an adjacent switch.

The battery cells of the fourth embodiment may easily be replaced by unscrewing the screws, separating the housing parts 312, 314, exchanging the battery cells, and re-assembling the housing parts. Deformation of the 0-ring at the bottom of the channel 380 serves to restore an effective seal.

Instead of screws, the housing parts 312, 314 can be interconnected by other means, such as by clips, or by a twist and lock action, or by mutually interlocking threads on the housing parts themselves.

Instead of four there may be provided one, two, three, or more than four LED elements. Other light-emitting devices can be employed if desired.

The angle and depth of holes 36, 136, 236, 336 may be varied as required. Instead of using resin 38 to seal the holes, transparent solid plugs can be designed to fit into and seal the holes. The plugs may be further designed to act as optical lenses and/or colour filters to provide a range of improved lighting effects.

The top surface of the device can be made of light dispersing or transparent material, in which case holes 36, 136, 236, 336 can be omitted.

An advantage of making housing parts by injection moulding plastics is that this allows mass production.

Alternatively, the housing parts of the device may be made of other materials such as metal or wood.

Although described for use with transparent glasses for drinks, devices in accordance with the present invention can be used for containers of other liquids and for bottles. The container may be partly opaque, provided that transparent panels are provided adjacent the light-transmitting holes of the devices.

As with the devices in the previously-mentioned international applications, the devices 10, 110, 210, 310 may be configured to emit sound in addition to, or instead of, a lighting effect.

The features and modifications of each of the above-described embodiments can be combined or interchanged as desired. In particular the first, second and third embodiments may, comprise, instead of a rigid part and a flexible part, two rigid parts as in the fourth embodiment.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A light-emitting device for attachment to a container for drinks, the device comprising a housing of disc-like configuration comprising a first rigid housing part, which accommodates one or more light-emitting elements and associated circuits and components, and a second housing part which co-operates with the first housing part to form a sealed enclosure.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first housing part is provided with one or more transparent openings located corresponding to the light-emitting elements.
3. A device accordingly to claim 1 or 2 wherein the first housing part, is provided with means for attaching the device to a container.o
4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the attaching means comprises claw in members.
5. A device accordingly to claim 3, wherein the attaching means comprises adhesive tape.
6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the second housing parts is of rigid material.
7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the first and second housing parts are screwed together.
8. A device according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the components include a touch switch and the second housing part has an adjacent movable wall portion to facilitate actuation of the switch.
9. A device according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second housing part comprises flexible material.
10. A device according to claim 9 wherein the first and second housing parts are adhered together.
11. A device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, Figures 5 to 7, Figures 8 to 10 or to Figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.
12. The combination of a device according to any preceding claim and a container.
13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the first housing part is provided with (I attaching means comprising shaped formations which engage a matching o formation on the container.LU(\J
14. The combination of claim 12, wherein the device is attached to the container by means of a peripheral strip of adhesive tape.
15. The combination of claim 12, wherein a top surface of the device is adhered to a bottom surface of the container.
16. The combination of a light-emitting device and a container substantially as herein described until reference to Figures 3 and 4, Figure 7 or Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings.