Beverage container

Abstract

Disclosed is a beverage container (2) having a cup (4) with a wall (6) defining a receiving space (8) opening at an upper side (O) of the cup (4) for liquid, and a cover (10) removably arranged on the upper side (O) of the cup (4) to close in a fluid-tight manner a receiving space opening (12) of said receiving space (8), wherein a sensor unit (14) for detecting an amount of liquid removed from the cup (4) by a user is arranged in said cover (10), said cover (10) having a light element (40) configured to light up in different colors depending on the amount of liquid removed by the user, and wherein the cover (10) further comprises a wireless communication unit (20) configured to communicate with a mobile terminal device of a user so that the amount of liquid removed by the user is detected, and wherein the cover further comprises a wireless communication unit (20) configured to establish a data connection with the mobile terminal device of the user and to transmit the detected amount of liquid to the mobile terminal device of the user for evaluation.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a beverage container.

[0002] Beverage containers, especially reusable beverage containers, are becoming increasingly popular.

[0003] Today, such beverage containers are available in many designs, colors, can be personalized, and allow both hot beverages, such as coffee or tea, and cold beverages, such as water or soft drinks, to be consumed almost anywhere without spilling.

[0004] Typically, this type of beverage container comprises a cup having a wall defining an interior space, which serves as a container for the beverage. Furthermore, known beverage containers comprise a cover that is removably placed over the opening of the cup.

[0005] In the era of fitness health apps and sports tracking, there is an increasing need to collect fitness or "health" data to provide users of such apps with a detailed assessment of their lifestyle, especially their diet. In addition to vital signs such as pulse, blood pressure, or oxygen saturation, fitness data can also include the amount of fluid consumed over a particular time interval.

[0006] With particular regard to the latter aspect, it is often necessary for the user to manually input the amount of liquid consumed before the application can determine whether enough or too little liquid has been consumed.

[0007] Based on the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage container which allows a user to easily and in particular automatically record the amount of liquid consumed.

[0008] This object is solved according to the invention by a beverage container having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments, further embodiments and variants are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0009] In particular, this object is solved by a beverage container comprising a cup and a cover, the cup having a wall defining an open receiving space for the liquid on one upper side of the cup.

[0010] The cover is removably positioned over the cup and fluid-tightly closes the receiving opening of the receiving space to prevent liquid from spilling when the filled beverage container is transported or tipped over.

[0011] For the purposes of this application, the term "liquid" is generally understood to mean a beverage, for example but not limited to the hot or cold beverages mentioned at the beginning.

[0012] According to the invention, a sensor unit is arranged in the cover, the sensor unit being used to detect the amount of liquid removed from the cup by the user, i.e. the sensor unit detects the amount of liquid drunk by the user.

[0013] Furthermore, the cover has light elements configured to light up in different colors depending on the amount of liquid removed by the user. This is particularly useful to indicate to the user in a simple way whether a certain amount of liquid has already been drunk. This means that the light elements can light up, for example, red if a certain amount of liquid has not yet been removed, i.e. drunk, and light up, for example, green when a certain amount of liquid has been reached. Furthermore, other color and / or light combinations are also conceivable.

[0014] Further, according to the invention, the beverage container has a wireless communication unit configured to establish a data connection with a mobile terminal device of the user and to transmit the detected amount of liquid to the mobile terminal device of the user for evaluation.

[0015] A mobile terminal can generally be understood as an electronic communication device or a (portable) computer. In particular, a mobile terminal device is a mobile phone (smartphone), a tablet, a smartwatch or a personal digital assistant (PDA). The data connection may be, for example, a known short-range data connection such as Bluetooth. This ensures maximum compatibility between the beverage container and the user's mobile terminal. Alternatively, the mobile terminal may be a doctor's analysis device, which can use the recorded values ​​for diagnosis in this situation. Furthermore, it is conceivable to use some mobile terminal devices to record vital values. For example, headphones connected wirelessly or by wire to the user's mobile phone can be used to record the user's body temperature and transmit this information to the above-mentioned health app for further processing.

[0016] Furthermore, the light element can alternatively or additionally make visible the established data connection, i.e. when the beverage container has been successfully connected to the mobile terminal. For this purpose, the light element can light up in another colour, for example blue.

[0017] The evaluation is performed, for example, by a fitness or health app, which relates the recorded values ​​to a recommended amount of fluid and accordingly informs the user if and / or when he has drunk enough. Thus, the user always knows how much liquid he has already consumed per unit of time, e.g. per day, and how much more he should consume, if necessary. Notifications can also be designed to remind the user to drink. This recording and evaluation is fully automated, since when the user drinks from the beverage container, the amount of liquid to be drunk flows in advance through the sensor unit. This means that the user does not have to manually record or enter the amount he has drunk.

[0018] In one embodiment, the sensor unit is further configured to detect organic contaminants, in particular bacteria and / or viruses, and / or at least one vital value that can be derived from the user's saliva. In this context, the wireless communication unit is also configured to transmit this recorded data to the user's mobile terminal for evaluation.

[0019] The idea behind the detection of such organic contaminants is to alert the user if they have an increased level of contaminants (e.g. increased numbers of bacteria and / or viruses) in their saliva. This may be, for example, a sign of impending illness and / or infection. Furthermore, for example, the user's blood glucose level may be determined. The user may be assessed and alerted, for example, by and through the above-mentioned health app stored in the user's mobile terminal device.

[0020] However, the at least one vital value can be, for example, a (blood) sugar value, the recording and evaluation of which is particularly relevant for diabetic patients, but also other equally derivable vital values ​​can be recorded.

[0021] The advantage of this design therefore lies in the extended recording of parameters that allow the user to easily obtain information about his / her health status and / or diet.

[0022] In a further embodiment, the cup and / or the cover comprises an electrical energy store, which is preferably designed as a rechargeable battery, and is used to supply electrical energy to the sensor unit and / or the wireless communication unit.

[0023] Alternatively or additionally, the light element can also be used to indicate the charge state, so that it lights up, for example green, when the charge state of the electrical energy storage is still sufficient, and when the light element lights up, for example red, this indicates that the charge level is low and the beverage container should be charged.

[0024] Alternatively or additionally, the charging status of the electrical energy storage unit can also be transmitted by the wireless communication unit to the user's mobile terminal device so that the user can check the charging status of the electrical energy storage unit on the mobile terminal device.

[0025] According to further embodiments, the cup and / or cover have a charging element for wired and / or wireless charging of the electric energy storage. The term "wireless charging" can be understood to mean, for example, inductive charging. The charging element may, for example, be arranged at the bottom of the cup, so that the beverage container is placed in an inductive charging station for charging, similar to the inductive charging of smartphones today. If the charging element is arranged in the cover, it can, for example, be removed (for example, unscrewed) from the cup and placed in an inductive charging station in a manner similar to the above example, for charging the energy storage device.

[0026] Alternatively or additionally, the charging element 24 is designed for cabled charging of the electrical energy store.

[0027] This allows for easy recharging of the electrical energy storage.

[0028] In one embodiment, the sensor unit is arranged in the cover. In a further development, the cover has a tubular mouthpiece in which the sensor unit is arranged. The mouthpiece makes it easier to drink from the drinking container and to record the amount of liquid drunk.

[0029] In one embodiment, the light elements are designed as light rings, in particular as LED light rings, and are arranged on the upper side of the cover. Here, the light rings are arranged on the outside of the cover, in other words they are completely visible "from the outside", on the upper side of the cover. This ensures that the illuminated light elements, in particular the colors with which they are illuminated, can be easily and quickly seen.

[0030] Furthermore, in another embodiment, the cover has a cover flap and a folding mechanism. In its simplest form, the folding mechanism is a hinge. The cover flap is pivoted on the folding mechanism from a closed position to an open position and vice versa. By "flipping" the cover flap, for example, the mouthpiece becomes accessible so that a user can drink through it. Furthermore, the mouthpiece is protected from contamination by the folded cover flap, for example, when transporting the beverage container.

[0031] In one embodiment, the cover has a locking unit for locking the folding mechanism, the locking unit having a latch element for locking the folding mechanism and an unlocking element for unlocking the latch element. The latch element is disposed on the cover flap and establishes a latch connection with a corresponding element on the cover to lock the cover. The unlocking element allows the latch connection to be released to open the cover flap.

[0032] In a further development, the unlocking element is held in the locked position by at least one pair of magnets. Here, the term "locked position" can be understood to mean a position of the unlocking element in which the cover flap can be locked by the above-mentioned latching element. For this purpose, a first magnet of the at least one pair of magnets is arranged in the unlocking element and a second magnet of the at least one pair of magnets is arranged on or in the cover. The application of a magnetic force ensures a secure positioning of the unlocking element and allows a secure latching and thus a locking of the cover. Furthermore, the unlocking element has a threshold safety device. For the purposes of the present application, the term "threshold safety device" can be understood to mean that in order to unlock the cover flap, the unlocking element must be moved successively or simultaneously in two axial directions relative to the beverage container. For example, the unlocking element must be moved "diagonally upwards" (i.e. along the longitudinal and transverse axes of the container) in order to release the latch connection between the cover flap and the cover. This prevents the cover from opening, for example, if the unlocking element is "pushed" accidentally. The threshold safety device described above ensures that simply "pushing" the unlocking element is not sufficient to unlock it: instead, the unlocking element must be moved in a further direction, i.e. along a further axis relative to the beverage container.

[0033] According to a further development, the folding mechanism and the communication unit are designed to establish a data connection with the user's mobile terminal when the cover flap is pivoted from the closed position to the open position. This means, on the one hand, that the data connection is only established when transmitting the recorded values, and, on the other hand, that the service life of the electrical energy storage unit per charge is extended, since the data connection is not permanently active.

[0034] In one embodiment, the sensor unit has a turbine sensor, a laser sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor for detecting the amount of liquid removed. In a turbine sensor, the liquid flows through a rotatably mounted turbine-like component. As the liquid flows, the turbine-like component rotates and activates a counter that determines the amount of liquid that has flowed through the sensor system based on the number of revolutions. A laser sensor is used to determine the current fill level in the cup after the liquid has been dispensed and to determine the amount of liquid dispensed. These types of flow sensors for detecting the amount of liquid are available on the open market in various variations and designs, thereby simplifying the design and construction of beverage containers.

[0035] To allow the beverage container to be reused and to be easily transported, the cup and / or cover has or is formed from a plastic material. This may be a plastic commonly used in the beverage industry, particularly in the manufacture of beverage containers. The use of plastic also means that the beverage container is better protected against damage (e.g. from impact with the ground) than a fragile material such as porcelain.

[0036] In order to make the beverage container even easier and more convenient to transport, the cup has a volume ranging from 0.2 l to 1.5 l, preferably from 0.5 l to 1 l, in particular 0.75 l.

[0037] According to one embodiment, a carrying loop is arranged on the cover. The carrying strap facilitates gripping and carrying the beverage container and can be customized by the user, especially with regard to color. Alternatively, the carrying loop is reversible, i.e. removable from the cover, and thus can be replaced with another carrying loop, for example of a different color. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0038] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, which show partly simplified representations. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a beverage container according to the invention with the cover flap open. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a beverage container according to the invention with the cover flap closed. FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of a beverage container according to the invention with the cover flap open.

[0039] In the figures, components having the same effect are always designated by the same reference numbers.

[0040] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a beverage container 2 according to the invention. The beverage container 2 comprises a cup 4 having a wall 6. The wall 6 defines a receiving space 8 for liquid (see Figure 3) which is open at the upper side O of the cup 4.

[0041] Furthermore, the beverage container 2 has a cover 10, which is removably arranged on the upper side O of the cup 4 so as to close the opening 12 (covered by the arranged cover) of the receiving space 8. For example, the cover 10 is screwed onto the upper side O of the cup 4 for this purpose.

[0042] A sensor unit 14 is disposed within the cover 10 for detecting the amount of liquid removed from the cup 4 by a user.

[0043] In Fig. 1, the cover 10 is further shown in an open position. To open and close the cover 10, i.e. to move the cover 10 from a closed position to an open position, the cover 10 has a cover flap 16 and a folding mechanism 18, to which the cover flap 16 is pivotally attached so as to be able to assume said positions. In the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 1, the sensor unit 14 is arranged in the cover flap 16.

[0044] The cover 10 also comprises a wireless communication unit 20. The wireless communication unit 20 is configured to establish a data connection with a mobile terminal device (not shown) of a user. The wireless communication unit 20 and the data connection established thereby also serve to transmit the detected and withdrawn amount of liquid to the mobile terminal device of the user for evaluation.

[0045] In the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 1, the cover 10 also comprises an electrical energy storage 22, which for simplicity is shown only as a rectangle. The electrical energy storage 22 is used to supply electrical energy to the sensor unit 14 and / or the wireless communication unit 20.

[0046] For charging the electric energy store 22, the cover 10 has a charging element 24, which in this exemplary embodiment is also only shown as a rectangle. The charging element 24 can be designed as a wireless charging element 24 for inductive charging of the electric energy store 22. Additionally or alternatively, the cover 10 or the cup 4 may have a charging element 24 for charging the electric energy store 22 by means of a cable.

[0047] The beverage container 2 further comprises a carrying loop 28 which comprises silicone, in particular made of silicone.

[0048] According to the invention, the cover 10 has a locking unit 30, which has as its part a latching element 32 for locking the folding mechanism 18 and an unlocking element 34 for unlocking the latching element 32. The latching element 32 is designed as a latching tab which engages in a complementary retaining tab 36 for closing the cover 10. To release this latching tab, the unlocking element 34 is moved in two axes, for example "diagonally upwards", in order to push the latching tab out of the retaining tab 36 and thus release the locking mechanism. The unlocking element 34 thus forms a threshold safety device.

[0049] To ensure easy and reliable latching of the latch tabs within the latch tabs during closure and to prevent the unlocking element 34 from interfering with the establishment of the latch connection, at least one pair of magnets 38, four pairs of magnets (only three are visible in FIG. 1 ), hold the unlocking element 34 in the locked position (position of the unlocking element 34 represented in FIG. 1 ), where the unlocking element 34 lies flat on the surface of the cover 10.

[0050] In Fig. 2 the beverage container 2 is shown according to Fig. 1, but with the cover 10 closed. This figure substantially corresponds to the previous figures, so that, to avoid repetition, only the differences will be referred to below. In this figure, a light element 40 designed as an LED ring can be seen, which is arranged on the upper side of the cover 10, in particular on the upper side of the cover flap 16.

[0051] In the top view of the drinking container 2 according to the invention shown in FIG. 3 with the cover flap 16 open, the receiving space 8 of the cup 4, marked by the mouthpiece 42, is particularly visible.

[0052] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above. Rather, other variants of the invention can be derived therefrom by those 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 can be further combined with one another in other ways without departing from the subject matter of the invention. Explanation of symbols 2 Beverage containers 4 cups 6. Wall 8. Storage Space 10. Cover 12 Containment space opening 14 Sensor unit 16 Cover flap 18 Folding mechanism 20 Wireless communication unit 22 Electrical Energy Storage Unit 24 Charging elements 20 Wireless Communication Department 28 Carrying loop 30 Lock Unit 32 Latching elements 34 Unlockable Elements 36 Latch tab 38 Pair of Magnets 40 Optical elements 42 Mouthpiece O Upper

Claims

1. A cup (4) having a wall (6) defining a receiving space (8) for a liquid that opens upward (O), A cover (10) removably disposed on the upper side (O) of the cup (4) so as to fluid-tightly close the receiving space opening (12) of the receiving space (8), comprising A sensor unit (14) for detecting the amount of liquid removed from the cup (4) by the user is disposed within the cover (10), The cover (10) has a light element (40) configured to light up in different colors according to the amount of liquid removed by the user, The cover (10) further has a wireless communication unit (20) configured to establish a data connection with the user's mobile terminal device and transmit the detected amount of liquid to the user's mobile terminal device for evaluation, A beverage container (2).

2. The sensor unit (14) is further configured to detect organic contaminants, in particular bacteria and / or viruses, in the user's saliva, and / or at least one vital value derivable from the user's saliva, The beverage container (2) according to claim 1.

3. The cup (4) and / or the cover (10) has an electrical energy storage unit (22), The beverage container (2) according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The cup (4) and / or the cover (10) has a charging element (24) for charging the electrical energy storage unit (22) wired and / or wirelessly, The beverage container (2) according to claim 3.

5. The sensor unit (14) is disposed within the cover (10), The beverage container (2) according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The optical element (40) is designed as an optical ring, in particular an LED optical ring, which is arranged above the cover (10). The beverage container (2) according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The cover (10) has a cover flap (16) and a folding mechanism (18) to which the cover flap (16) is pivotably attached from a closed position to an open position and vice versa. The beverage container (2) according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The cover (10) has a locking unit (30) for locking the folding mechanism (18), and the locking unit (30) has a latch element (32) for locking the folding mechanism (18) and a release element (34) for unlocking the latch element (32). The beverage container (2) according to claim 7.

9. The release element (34) is held in the locked position by at least one pair of magnets (38). The beverage container (2) according to claim 8.

10. The folding mechanism (18) and the wireless communication unit (20) are designed to establish the data connection with the mobile terminal device when the cover flap (16) is pivoted from the closed position to the open position. The beverage container (2) according to claim 7.

11. The sensor unit (14) has a turbine sensor, a laser sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor for detecting the amount of liquid removed. The beverage container (2) according to claim 1 or 2.

12. The cup (4) and / or the cover (10) have a plastic material, the beverage container (2) according to claim 1 or 2.

13. The accommodation space (8) has a volume with a value in the range of 0.2 L to 1.5 L, preferably a value in the range of 0.5 L to 1 L, and particularly a value of 0.75 L. The beverage container (2) according to claim 1 or 2.

14. A carrying wheel portion (28) is disposed on the cover (10). The beverage container (2) according to claim 1 or 2.

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