WO2020016448A1

WO2020016448A1 - Reusable water bottle and a refill system therefore

Info

Publication number: WO2020016448A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/069601
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jon Grant; Jim Grant
Original assignee: Bw Technologies Ltd
Priority date: 2018-07-19
Filing date: 2019-07-19
Publication date: 2020-01-23
Also published as: GB201811837D0

Abstract

A system and method for locating and delivering drinking water to refill a reusable water bottle, comprising, a water container with an individual identifier; means to recognise the identifier; means to identify the user of the water container; means to provide the location of the user; means to connect the system to the internet; means to compare and/or match the user with a set of predetermined parameters; means to identify a water source in accordance with the parameters; means to provide the location of the water source for a refill; means to provide directions to the water source; a server for acquiring and processing data required by the system. A water bottle having NFC tag identifier secured to its base, for use with the system.

Description

REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE AND A REFILL SYSTEM THEREFORE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system and method of locating and delivering drinking water to refill a reusable water bottle or water container. More specifically the invention relates to a GPS based location service for locating refill stations, which are made available once authorisation and matching parameters are met. Background to the invention

In today’s world bottled water is the most consumed packaged drink. The drink is in the greatest majority of cases packaged in single use plastic bottles, which can be of various size, from 200ml to 21 bottles or more. The majority of bottles for personal consumption on the move are usually 500ml bottles, but 250ml or 750ml bottles are also common. These bottles can be normally found in almost every fast food shop or convenience store. Until the environmental impact of plastic became a globally recognised problem, plastic bottles were viewed as a quick and convenient way of getting a drink.

However, their success and convenience has also turned them into an environmental disaster. Plastic bottles can only be single use and need to be disposed of once the liquid inside them is consumed. However, proper disposal of the bottles sadly does not happen. In addition to bins and landfills also roadsides, beaches, rivers, oceans and forests are littered by them. Even though properly disposed plastic bottles may be recycled, this requires extra energy, in addition to the energy required for producing them in the first place. Producing and proving 1 litre of bottled water requires 10.2 million joules of energy, which is around 2000 times the amount of energy required for treating and proving 1 litre of tap water.

Unfortunately, plastic water bottles may not be safely used as refillable bottles, e.g. like a glass bottle, due to particular care required in cleaning them with non-aggressive cleaning agents or scouring which may lead to micro plastic residue in the bottle and ultimately their ingestion by the user. These ingestions may be detrimental to the health of the user. On the other hand improper cleaning would allow the growth of bacteria and algae in the bottle that again will be ingested by a user, which again might cause sickness to the user. Therefore, apart from convenience, single use water bottles are an environmental disaster for humans and nature, are expensive, derive from hydrocarbon fossil fuels, and will lead to many more socio-environmental problems as their usage continues to grow. The present invention seeks to provide a solution that fulfils the convenience requirement of a single use water bottle but that it is also cheaper for the user and environmentally friendly, with virtually no waste.

Summary of the Invention

A first aspect of the invention provides a system for locating and delivering drinking water to refill a reusable water bottle, the system comprising: a water container with an individual identifier;

means to recognise the identifier;

means to identify the user of the water container;

means to provide the location of the user;

means to connect the system to the internet;

means to compare and/or match the user with a set of predetermined parameters;

means to identify a water source in accordance with the parameters;

means to provide the location of the water source for a refill;

means to provide directions to the water source;

a server for acquiring and processing data required by the system

The system may further comprise means to provide monetary exchange for the refill service.

The system may further comprise means to provide authorisation to the water source to release water to the user.

The system may further comprise means to log the travelling path of the user to the water source.

The system may further comprise means to provide rewards for the use of the water source. The system may further comprise means to share the location of the water source.

The system may further comprise means to bookmark the location of the water source. The system may further comprise means to store data relating to the system.

The system may further comprise means to log the usage time of a water source.

The system may further comprise to control the functions and features of the water source from a smart device.

The system may further comprise means to log the number of usages of the bottle.

The system may further comprise means to log the number of usages of a water source.

The system may further comprise means to locate the water container if located in a nearby vicinity, i.e. within indoor distances.

The system may further comprise means to alert the user of a required time, such as a refill time or time to have a sip for personal hydration purposes.

A further aspect of the invention provides a system water bottle having NFC tag identifier secured to its base, for use with the system above.

A further aspect of the invention provides a method of locating and delivering drinking water to refill a reusable water bottle in accordance with claim 15. Brief Description of the Drawings

There will now be described, by way of example only, one embodiment of the invention that utilises a water bottle as the physical means to access the system described by the invention. The embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is perspective view of a bottle constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the base of the bottle; and

Figure 3 is the plan view of Figure 2 with the base pad removed. Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to a reusable bottle and system for re-filling the bottle and promoting the environmental benefits in reducing plastic waste. The bottle may be of any size but is preferably the same convenient carrying size as that of common single person water bottles, i.e. 350ml, 500ml, 660ml, etc.

As well as being available through standard retail commerce, the bottle may be sold, or otherwise distributed by companies seeking to promote their positive environmental efforts and beliefs to their clientele. As will be described later, each bottle has a means to provide continued communication between the supplier of that bottle and the individual consumer, through online marketing and direct and indirect communication. The present invention also provides a system and method of locating convenient locations with drinkable water to refill a reusable water bottle or other such water containers.

Reference is made to a“bottle” or“water bottle” however the invention is equally applicable to any fluid receptacle, such as a cup, mug or flask that is re-usable and used instead of single use plastic receptacle.

To this end, a system is provided in accordance with the invention, which system comprises a number of, any combinations of, or all of the features below:

• a water container (also referred to as bottle, water bottle, or liquid container) with an individual identifier;

• means to identify and recognise the water container;

• means to identify the user;

• means to provide the location of the user, e.g. via GPS, long range NFC, Wi Fi location, etc.;

• means to match the user with a set of parameters or requisites - the user may be an individual having a subscription, or part of a group with particular authorisation or such other requisites;

• means to identify a water source in accordance with the parameters or requisites - different water sources may offer different services, from simple water fountains to sparkling or flavoured water, or in some occasions juice or coffee on tap; • means to provide the location of the water source - the location would normally be provided by e.g. GPS coordinates, and in some instances also 3D coordinates, e.g. if the source is in a multi-storey building. Also coordinates may be provided for locations within the building;

• means to provide navigation and/or directions to the water source;

• means to provide monetary exchange for the refill service - this can be via online payments via a mobile smart device or on the spot at the source;

• means to provide authorisation to the water source to release water to the user;

• means to log the travelling path of the user to the water source;

• means to provide rewards for the use of the water source;

• means to share the location of the water source;

• means to provide a feedback, review and/or score of the water source;

• means to bookmark the location of the water source;

• means to log the usage time of a water source;

• means to provide data in the form of graph or trend of the usage of a water source as function of time of the day;

• means to control the functions and features of the water source from a smart device - the water source may be fully controlled from the user’s mobile smart device, the user may exchange information with the water source;

• means to log the number of usages of the bottle - this may count the litres dispensed, times and durations of refills;

• means to log the number of usages of a water source;

• means to connect the system to the internet;

• a server for acquiring and processing data required by the system;

• means to locate the water container if located in a nearby vicinity, i.e. within indoor distances; • a smart personal device such as a smartphone may handle a number of the features above;

• means to alert the user of a required time, such as a refill time or time to have a sip for personal hydration purposes;

• means to store data relating to the system;

• means to administrative control or troubleshoot the system.

For the purpose of this application, the water container hereafter may also be referred to as a reusable bottle.

The means to identify the water container may be for example a lines barcodes on the bottle, or any 2D matrix barcodes such as QR Codes. Additionally or alternatively the means may be NFC based (long and short range), or visually hidden codes, which are only machine readable such as pattern or colour pattern reader in the visible light spectrum and or infrared.

The smartphone may provide the sensors and facilities for a number of means above described by the invention. Furthermore a software application (“APP”) further provides the platform in which data and means are organised, communicate and interrelate in order to achieve correct functioning of the system.

A method of locating convenient locations with drinkable water to refill a reusable water bottle or other such water containers is provided in accordance with the invention. The method comprises a number of, any combinations of, or all of the steps below:

• identify the ID of a water container

· identify the user

• provide the location of the user, e.g. via GPS

• match the user with a set of parameters or requisites • identify a water source in accordance with the parameters or requisites

• provide the location of the water source

• provide direction to the water source

• provide monetary exchange for the refill service

· provide authorisation to the water source to release water to the user

• log the travelling path of the user to the water source

• provide rewards for the use of the water source

• share the location of the water source

• provide a feedback, review and/or score of the water source

· bookmark the location of the water source

• log the usage time of a water source

• provide data in the form of graph or trend of the usage of a water source as function of time of the day

• control the functions and features of the water source from a smart device · log the number of usages of the bottle

• log the number of usages of a water source

• connect to the system to the internet

• a server for acquiring and processing data required by the system

• locate the water container if located in a nearby vicinity, i.e. within indoor distances

a smart personal device such as a smartphone

alert the user of a required time, such as a refill time or time to have a sip for personal hydration purposes

store data relating to the system

administrative control or troubleshoot the system There will now be described, by way of example only, an embodiment of the invention that utilises a water bottle as the physical means to access the system described above.

Referring to Figure 1 , the bottle 2 is formed with a double-skinned metallic casing, preferably of high grade steel, so to be robust and reusable. The bottle casing is generally cylindrical with a side wall 4 curved along its length. The base 6 of the bottle 2 is recessed to form a rim 8 around its periphery. The outer face of the base 6 has a non-metallic coating. An NFC (Near-Field Communication) and RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) microchip or tag 10 is secured to the outer (bottom) face of the base 6. The tag 10 and base is overlaid with a hydrophilic polymer coating. To this end, the tag 10 sits in a centrally located generally circular recess 12. Only the recessed area 12 is covered by the polymer coating avoiding the need to coat the entire base 6.

A rubber pad 14 is then fitted and secured over the outer face of the base 6, overlaying the tag, to fit within the confines of the inner walls of the rim 8 so to sit flush with the bottom of the bottle casing. The outer (bottom) surface of the pad 14 may be formed with ridges or protrusions to provide grip to a surface on which the bottle is placed. The ridges or protrusions may be in the form of product information or branding.

The fact that the body of the bottle is made from metal, preferably high grade stainless steel, and the NFC tag 10 is adhered to the underside of the bottle base 6 i.e. outside the bottle, ensures that the magnetic field is concentrated and directed downwardly and from the bottle to allow the NFC tag 10 to be readily and efficiently by simply placing a reading device, for example, a smart phone under the base 6 - the area being easily identifiable as being the circular rubber pad 14 visually separate to the bottle structure, or by“scanning” the base 6 of the bottle over a reading device available at“water station” or water source.

By“water station” it is meant a location, generally in a public place, where drinking water is accessible in which to fill or re-fill the bottle.

The NFC tag and reader provide a means for communication to the individual consumer to provide that consumer, through their smartphone, to access all the information they would require to a desired water station in their vicinity.

The NFC tag and reader also provide a means to collate data concerning the use of the water fill stations by the consumer. The data is transferred securely to the system platform.

To provide a simple statistical analysis of the effects of the invention within the social environment, the system described equates one fill or re-fill of the bottle to be equivalent to, what would otherwise be, one purchase of a plastic, single-use, bottle.

Therefore, every NFC reading at a water station, signalling a re-fill, is recorded as a plastic saving. The water station may include a visual indicator, for example a ticker clock that displays to the public the number of plastic water bottles saved by people using that water station.

Moreover, the use of an NFC tag within the body of the bottle, allows the consumer to access marketing information, for example, promotional videos, from the supplier of the water bottle using their smart phone. The internet links, accessible by tapping the base 6 of the bottle to activate the NFC tag can be changed and updated at any time within the system by personnel having authorised access, allowing specific targeted promotional material, for example providing a loyalty or reward scheme to the individual consumer, by the chosen supplier of that water bottle.

Each NFC reading at a water station, signalling a re-fill, can be attributed to the supplier of that water bottle to that consumer allowing that supplier, for them to use real time data records to promote their efforts in stopping plastic pollution.

All records of re-fills across the country, or globally, can be amalgamated to provide real time statistical data concerning the environmental impact of the present invention as a whole. A smart mobile device may also read the NFC of the water bottle. Upon reading the NFC, the smart mobile device may be directed to a URL or a video link and action the opening of a web browser or video app. The URL of the NFC may be programable and/or the direction ore redirections may also be programable. Loyalty counters may be associated with the NFC and provide the user of the bottle with further services, rewards etc.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the NFC of the water bottle may provide access to a server and the via other means to a website on the internet. When the bottle is placed at the water source, the NFC may trigger a display to show media content relating to the refill or of interest to the user.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A system for locating and delivering drinking water to refill a reusable water bottle, the system comprising:

a water container with an individual identifier;

means to recognise the identifier;

means to identify the user of the water container;

means to provide the location of the user;

means to connect the system to the internet;

means to compare and/or match the user with a set of predetermined parameters;

means to identify a water source in accordance with the parameters;

means to provide the location of the water source for a refill;

means to provide directions to the water source;

a server for acquiring and processing data required by the system.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising means to provide monetary exchange for the refill service.

3. The system of claims 1 or 2, further comprising means to provide authorisation to the water source to release water to the user.

4. The system of any of the preceding claims, additionally comprising means to log the travelling path of the user to the water source.

5. The system of any of the preceding claims, further comprising means to provide rewards for the use of the water source.

6. The system of any of the preceding claims, further comprising means to share the location of the water source.

7. The system of any of the preceding claims, further comprising means to bookmark the location of the water source.

8. The system of any of the preceding claims, further comprising means to store data relating to the system.

9. The system of any of the preceding claims, further comprising means to log the usage time of a water source.

10. The system of any of the preceding claims, further comprising means to control the functions and features of the water source from a smart device.

1 1. The system of any of the preceding claims, further comprising means to log the number of usages of the bottle.

12. The system of any of the preceding claims, further comprising means to log the number of usages of a water source.

13. The system of any of the preceding claims, further comprising means to locate the water container if located in a nearby vicinity, i.e. within indoor distances.

14. The system of any of the preceding claims, further comprising means to alert the user of a required time, such as a refill time or time to have a sip for personal hydration purposes.

15. A method of locating and delivering drinking water to refill a reusable water bottle comprising the steps described in claims 1 to 14.

16. A water bottle having NFC tag identifier secured to its base, for use with the system according to any preceding claim.