WO2022268528A1

WO2022268528A1 - Beverage container

Info

Publication number: WO2022268528A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/065803
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dmitry Ganzha
Original assignee: Starflow GmbH
Priority date: 2021-06-24
Filing date: 2022-06-10
Publication date: 2022-12-29
Also published as: EP4108138B1; EP4154771A1; EP4108138A1; EP4108139A1; EP4154771B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a beverage container (2) having: - a cup (4) with an inner wall (6) which delimits a receiving space (8) for liquids which is open at a top side (O) of the cup (4), wherein the cup (4) further has an outer wall (10), wherein an intermediate space (12) which is open at the top side (O) is formed between the inner wall (6) and the outer wall (10), and also - a cover (14) which is removably arranged on the top side (O) of the cup (4) in such a way that it closes a receiving space opening (16) and an intermediate space opening (18) in a fluid-tight manner, wherein a sensor unit (20) is arranged in the cover (14) for the purpose of detecting a quantity of liquid removed from the cup (4) by a user, and the cover (14) has a wireless communication unit (26) which is designed in such a way as to form a data link with a mobile user terminal (28) and to transmit the detected quantity of liquid to the mobile user terminal (28) for evaluation purposes.

Description

BEVERAGE CONTAINER

description

[1] The invention relates to a beverage container.

[2] Beverage containers, particularly reusable beverage containers, are becoming increasingly popular.

[3] Nowadays such beverage containers are available and can be used in many configurations, in many colors and also personalized. They also make it possible to take both hot drinks, such as coffee or tea, and cold drinks, such as water or soft drinks, leak-proof and consume them almost anywhere.

[4] Such a beverage container usually has a cup with a wall that delimits an interior space. The interior is used to hold the drink. Furthermore, known beverage containers have a lid that is removably arranged on an opening of the cup.

[5] Due to the age of so-called fitness health apps and so-called sports tracking, there is an increasing need for collected fitness or "health" data in order to provide a user of such apps with a detailed evaluation of his lifestyle, in particular his to enable nutritional style.Fitness data can be used in addition to vital signs such as Heart rate, blood pressure or oxygen saturation can also be an amount of liquid consumed over a certain period of time.

[6] Especially with regard to the last-mentioned aspect, the user often has to manually enter the amount of liquid drunk before the applications determine whether enough or too little liquid has been consumed.

[7] Proceeding from this, the invention is based on the object of specifying a beverage container with the aid of which a user is able to record the amount of liquid consumed in a simple and, in particular, automated manner.

[8] The object is achieved according to the invention by a beverage container with the features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements, further developments and variants are the subject of claims 2 to 11.

[9] Specifically, the problem is solved by a beverage container that has a cup and a lid. In this case, the cup has an inner wall which delimits an open receiving space for liquid at a top side of the cup. The cup also has an outer wall, with an intermediate space which is also open at the top being formed between the inner wall and the outer wall. In other words, the cup is double-walled.

[10] The lid is removable net angeord on the top of the cup that it fluid-tightly closes an interior opening and an intermediate space opening so that no liquid can escape during transport or if the filled beverage container falls over.

[11] For the purposes of this application, the term "liquid" can be understood to mean general beverages and, for example, the industrious or cold beverages mentioned above, but without limitation.

[12] According to the invention, a sensor unit is arranged in the cover. The sensor unit is used to record the amount of liquid removed from the cup by a user. In other words, the sensor unit detects the amount of liquid drunk by the user.

[13] Furthermore, the beverage container according to the invention on a wireless communication unit that is set up with a mobile To form a data connection on the user's terminal device and to transmit the detected amount of liquid to the user's mobile device for evaluation.

[14] Here, the mobile terminal can generally be understood as an electronic communication device or a (portable) computer. Specifically, the mobile terminal is, for example, a mobile phone (smartphone), a tablet or a personal digital assistant (PDA). The data connection can be, for example, a known short-range data connection, such as Bluetooth. This enables the greatest possible compatibility of the beverage container and the user's mobile end devices.

[15] The evaluation can be carried out, for example, by a fitness or health app, which puts the recorded value in relation to a recommended amount of liquid and informs the user accordingly whether and/or if he has drunk enough. The user thus always knows how much liquid he has already consumed per unit of time, for example per day, and how much he should possibly still be drinking. Furthermore, the evaluation can also be designed in such a way that the user is reminded to drink by notification. This detection and evaluation takes place fully automatically while the user is drinking from the beverage container, since the amount of liquid drunk flows through the sensor unit beforehand. The user therefore does not have to record or enter the amount drunk manually.

[16] In one embodiment, the sensor unit is also set up to detect organic pollutants, in particular bacteria and/or viruses and/or at least one vital sign that can be derived from the user's saliva. In this context, the wireless communication unit is also set up to transmit this recorded data to the user's mobile terminal device for evaluation.

[17] The idea of recording such organic pollutants is to warn the user if the saliva contains an increased level of pollutants (eg an increased number of bacteria and/or viruses). This can be a sign of an impending illness, for example. The evaluation and warning of the user can here for example, by means of and through the fitness health app already mentioned, which is stored on the user's mobile device.

[18] The at least one vital sign can, for example, not be limited to the (blood) sugar level, the detection and evaluation of which is very relevant for diabetics in particular. Rather, however, other similarly derivable vital values can also be recorded.

[19] The advantage of this embodiment lies in the expanded detection of parameters that enable the user to easily obtain information about his state of health and/or his diet.

[20] In a further embodiment, the cup and/or the lid has an electrical energy store. The electrical energy store, which is preferably in the form of a rechargeable battery, is used to supply the sensor unit and/or the wireless communication unit with electrical energy.

[21] According to a further embodiment, the cup has a charging element for wired and/or wireless charging of the electrical energy store. The term "wireless charging" can be understood here, for example, as inductive charging. The charging element can be arranged in the bottom of the cup, for example, so that the beverage container is placed on an inductive charging station for charging, similar to the inductive charging of today's smartphones .

[22] As an alternative or in addition to this, the charging element is designed for wired charging of the electrical energy store.

[23] This allows for easy charging of the electrical energy store.

[24] In order to visualize a current state of charge of the electrical energy store, the cover has a display element for displaying the state of charge of the electrical energy store. In the simplest case, this can be an LED that lights up green, for example, when the state of charge of the electrical energy store is still sufficient. For example, if the LED is red, this is an indication of a low charge condition and the beverage container should be charged according to the options above. [25] Alternatively or in addition to this, the state of charge of the electrical energy store can also be transmitted by the wireless communication unit to the user's mobile device, so that the user can check the state of charge of the electrical energy store on the mobile device.

[26] Furthermore, as an alternative or in addition, the established data connection can also be visualized by the display element, ie when the beverage container has been successfully connected to the mobile terminal device. For this purpose, the display element can light up in another color, for example blue.

[27] In one embodiment, the cover has a tubular mouthpiece in which the sensor unit is arranged. The mouthpiece makes it easier to drink from the beverage container and to record the amount of liquid drunk.

[28] Furthermore, in a further embodiment, the cover has a cover flap and a folding mechanism. In the simplest configuration, the folding mechanism is a hinge. The cover flap is pivotally mounted on the folding mechanism from a closed position to an open position and vice versa. For example, by "folding up" the lid flap, the mouthpiece becomes accessible so that the user can drink through it. Furthermore, the mouthpiece is protected from dirt by the lid flap being folded down, e.g. when transporting the beverage container.

[29] According to a further development, the folding mechanism and the communication unit are designed in such a way that the data connection with the user's mobile terminal device is established when the cover flap is pivoted from the closed position into the open position. On the one hand, this means that the data connection is only established if it is also intended to transmit recorded values, and on the other hand, the service life per charge of the electrical energy storage device is extended, since the data connection is not permanently active.

[30] In one embodiment, the sensor unit has a turbine sensor or an ultrasonic sensor for detecting the amount of liquid removed. In a turbine sensor, the fluid flows through a turbulent NEN-like component that is rotatably mounted. As the liquid flows through, the turbine-like component rotates and activates a counter that uses the number of revolutions to determine the amount of liquid that has flowed through the sensor. Flow sensors of this type for detecting amounts of liquid are available on the open market in various variants and configurations, which simplifies the design and configuration of the beverage container.

[31] In order to reuse the beverage container and to be able to transport it more easily, the cup and/or the lid has a plastic or the cup and/or the lid is made of a plastic. This can be a plastic that is customary in the beverage industry and specifically in the production of beverage containers. By using plastic, the beverage container is also better protected against damage (e.g. by hitting the ground) than fragile materials such as porcelain.

[32] In order to also be able to transport the beverage container more easily and conveniently, the cup has a volume with a value in the range from 0.21 to 1.51, preferably in the range between 0.51 and II and in particular with a value of 0.751 .

[33] Furthermore, within the scope of this application, a beverage cup is claimed and disclosed, which has: a cup with an inner wall that delimits a receiving space for liquid that is open at an upper side of the cup, the cup also having an outer wall, wherein between the inner wall and the outer wall, an intermediate space is formed which is open at the top, as well as a lid which is arranged on the upper side of the cup in a removable manner in such a way that it closes a receiving space opening and an intermediate space opening in a fluid-tight manner, with a filling liquid and removable filling elements in the intermediate space are arranged. [34] The filling liquid can be, for example, a liquid that insulates against heat and/or cold, so that liquids filled into the cup are kept warm or cold.

[35] The filling elements are, for example, visually appealing figures that the user can use to customize the beverage container. The filling elements are interchangeably arranged in the filling liquid. In this case, the density of the filling elements preferably has a value through which they neither drift to the surface, ie in the direction of the opening, nor to the bottom of the cup. In other words, the filling elements “float” in the filling liquid.

[36] Furthermore, the outer wall of the cup is transparent in one embodiment, so that the filling elements are visible from the outside.

[37] In one embodiment, the filling elements are designed differently in terms of their shape and/or their size, which leads to a greater possibility of variation for the user.

[38] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. These show in a partially greatly simplified representation:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a drink according to the invention kebehälter with the lid closed and

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through a beverage container according to the invention with the cover flap open.

[39] In the figures, identical components are always shown with the same reference characters.

1 shows a longitudinal section through an embodiment of the beverage container 2 according to the invention. The beverage container 2 has a cup 4 with an inner wall 6 . The inner wall 6 limits ei NEN at a top O of the cup 4 open receiving space 8 for liq fluid.

[41] Furthermore, the cup 4 has an outer wall 10 . Between the inner wall 6 and the outer wall 10 is also an open space 12 at the top O is formed. [42] Furthermore, the beverage container 2 has a lid 14 which is arranged on the upper side of the cup 4 so that it can be removed in such a way that it closes a receiving space opening 16 and a space opening 18 .

[43] A sensor unit 20 is arranged in the cover 14 for detecting the amount of liquid removed from the cup 4 by a user.

[44] FIG. 1 also shows the cover 14 in a closed position. For closing and opening, i.e. transferring the cover 14 from a closed position to an open position, the cover 14 has a cover flap 22 and a folding mechanism 24 (which is only shown in greatly simplified form as a hinge in the figures), with the cover flap 22 , Is pivotally mounted on the folding mechanism 24 in order to be able to assume the aforementioned positions.

[45] Furthermore, the cover 14 has a wireless communication unit 26, which is shown simply as a rectangle for the sake of simplicity. The wireless communication unit 26 is set up in such a way that it forms a data connection with a mobile terminal device 28 (likewise only shown in simplified form as a rectangle) of the user. The data connection is shown or indicated schematically in the figures by the dashed arrow. The wireless communication unit 26 and the data connection formed by it are also used to transmit the detected, removed quantity of liquid to the user's mobile terminal device 28 for evaluation.

[46] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the cover 14 has an electrical energy storage device 30, which is also shown in simplified form as a rectangle. The electrical energy store 30 serves to supply the sensor unit 20 and/or the wireless communication unit 26 with electrical energy.

[47] In order to charge the electrical energy storage device 30, the cup 4 has a charging element 32, which in this exemplary embodiment is designed as a wireless charging element for inductive charging of the electrical energy storage device 30. In addition or as an alternative to this, the cup 4 or the lid 14 can also have a charging element 32 for wired charging of the electrical energy store 30 . In the exemplary embodiment, the charging element 32 is arranged in the bottom of the cup 4 so that it enough to place the cup 4 for charging the electrical energy store 30 single Lich on an inductive charging station provided for this purpose.

[48] In order to display a state of charge of the electrical energy store 30, the cover also has a display element 34 designed as an LED in the exemplary embodiment.

Furthermore, and with reference to a further aspect of the present invention, a filling liquid (not shown in the figures) is arranged in the intermediate space 12, in which filling elements 36 that can be removed are arranged. The filling elements 36 are visualized in the figures as crescents. The filling elements 36 are used to individualize the beverage container 2 and are visible due to the fact that the outer wall 10 is preferably transparent, that is to say transparent. When the cover 14 is completely removed, the filling elements 36 can be removed from the filling liquid and replaced, for example, by other filling elements 36 in order to enable the above-mentioned individualization.

[50] FIG. 2 also shows the longitudinal section through the embodiment of the beverage container 2 according to the invention as shown in FIG. Essentially, this representation corresponds to the illustration already described above, so that in the following, to avoid repetition, only the differences are referred to.

[51] As can be seen from FIG. 2, the cover 14 and in particular the cover flap 22 are in the open position. In other words, the cover flap 22 is folded upwards in the illustration according to FIG.

[52] As a result, a mouthpiece 38 is visible, which is arranged on the cover 14 is. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the sensor unit 20 is arranged in the mouthpiece 38 .

[53] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above. On the contrary, other variants of the invention can also be derived from this by a person skilled in the art without departing from the subject matter of the invention. In particular, all individual features described in connection with the exemplary embodiments are also included other ways combined with each other without leaving the subject matter of the inventions.

Reference list Bezuaszeichen list beverage container cup inner wall receiving space outer wall intermediate space cover receiving space opening intermediate space opening sensor unit cover flap folding mechanism wireless communication unit mobile terminal electrical energy store charging element display element filling element mouthpiece

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Claims

Expectations

1. Beverage container (2) comprising:

- A cup (4) with an inner wall (6) which delimits a receiving space (8) open to a top (O) of the cup (4) for liquid, the cup (4) further having an outer wall (10), wherein between the inner wall (6) and the outer wall (10) there is an intermediate space (12) open at the top (O) and

- A lid (14) which is arranged on the top (O) of the cup (4) so that it can be removed in such a way that it closes a receiving space opening (16) and an intermediate space opening (18) in a fluid-tight manner, wherein

- A sensor unit (20) is arranged in the cover (14) for detecting a quantity of liquid removed from the cup (4) by a user, and

- The cover (14) has a wireless communication unit (26) which is set up in such a way that it forms a data connection with a mobile terminal device (28) of the user and transmits the detected amount of liquid to the mobile terminal device (28) of the user for evaluation.

2. Beverage cup (2) according to claim 1 wherein the sensor unit (20) is also set up to detect organic pollutants, in particular bacteria and/or viruses in the saliva of the user and/or at least one vital value that can be derived from the saliva of the user.

3. Beverage container (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cup (4) and / or the lid (14) has an electrical energy store (30).

4. beverage container (2) according to claim 3, wherein the cup (4) has a charging element (32) for wired and / or wireless charging of the electrical energy store (30).

5. beverage container (2) according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the cover (14) has a display element (34) for displaying a state of charge of the electrical energy store (30).

6. beverage container (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid (14) has a mouthpiece (38) in which the sensor unit (20) is arranged.

7. Beverage container (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid (14) has a lid flap (22) and a folding mechanism (24) on which the lid flap (22) is pivotably mounted from a closed position to an open position and vice versa is.

8. Beverage container (2) according to claim 7, wherein the folding mechanism (24) and the wireless communication unit (26) are designed such that the data connection with the mobile terminal (28) when pivoting the lid flap (22) from the closed position to the open to form a position.

9. beverage container (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor unit (20) has a turbine sensor or an ultrasonic sensor for detecting the amount of liquid removed.

10. Beverage container (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cup (4) and / or the lid (14) comprise a plastic.

11. Beverage container (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving space (8) has a volume with a value in the range from 0.21 to 1.51, preferably in the range between 0.51 and II and in particular with a value of 0.751 having.

12. Beverage container (2) comprising:

- a lid (14) which is arranged on the upper side (O) of the cup (4) so that it can be removed in such a way that it closes a receiving space opening (16) and an intermediate space opening (18) in a fluid-tight manner, with a filling liquid and removable filling elements (36) are arranged.

13. Drinks container according to claim 12, wherein the outer wall (10) is transparent.

14. Beverage container according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the filling elements (36) are designed differently in terms of their shape and/or size.