Vortex Spirit Bottle

Abstract

A liquid container configured to stimulate visual interest. In one embodiment, the container is a bottle configured to generate a vortex of the liquid within the bottle. In another embodiment, the bottle includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to illuminate the bottle and / or the vortex. The bottle includes an agitator configured to generate a vortex of the liquid. The agitator generally includes a magnetic stirring bar disposed within the bottle. The agitator further includes a stylized blade configured to cover the stirring bar. The bottle is further configured to operate with a mobile application. The app is configured to connect to the bottle by scanning a barcode and / or a quick response (QR) code located on the bottle. The application allows a user to change the size and / or shape of the vortex, the speed of the rotor, and / or the color and / or brightness of the LED light.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 661,204, filed April 28, 2022, which is incorporated by reference herein. U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 661,204, filed April 28, 2022, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 29 / 829,644, filed March 7, 2022, which is incorporated by reference herein. [Background technology]

[0002] In the food and beverage industry, various brands are constantly competing for the attention of potential consumers. Nightclubs, bars, restaurants, liquor stores, etc. usually have a large number of liquor, wine, beer, and other beverage bottles on display, and various brands can get lost among many others. Even if consumers choose a particular brand, maintaining brand loyalty is always a concern. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Thus, improvements in this area are needed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] A unique system has been developed to draw attention and increase brand loyalty to various products, such as liquor bottles and other beverage containers. The system visually draws the attention of potential consumers by creating a swirl of the liquid contained within the bottle and / or shining a monochromatic or multi-colored light pattern in the liquid. This increased visual interest can help draw attention in nightclubs and bars that are typically low or dramatic lighting environments. The system is also designed to be highly portable and self-powered. Additionally, the system allows for easy pouring of the liquid from the bottle. In one variation, the system includes a bottle having a stopper, a base coupled to the bottle, and a stirrer or agitator located inside the bottle that is actuated by the base to generate the swirl. To allow for easy replacement of the bottle, the base is configured to indirectly rotate the stirrer within the bottle. In other words, the base is not directly connected to the stirrer in a mechanical sense to rotate the stirrer. In one form, the base and the stirrer are in the form of a magnetic stirrer or magnetic mixer. The stirrer is designed to flex to fit through the narrow neck and mouth of the bottle during insertion into the bottle, and the stirrer and base are designed to create a vortex even when the mouth of the bottle is closed by a stopper or cap.

[0005] The system is designed to give the bottle and base a one-piece appearance. In other words, the base is integrated with the bottle so that the base appears to be part of the bottle. In one form, a shroud that wraps around the base-bottle interface is used to create this illusion of one-piece appearance. The bottle and base are removably connected to each other so that the bottle can be replaced with a new one after it is emptied. The bottle is typically designed to be disposable and / or recyclable. The base, on the other hand, is not designed to be disposable and is used repeatedly. The bottle and base are removably connected so that they do not separate during normal use, such as when pouring liquid. In one variant, the bottle and base are connected by a threaded connection, and in another variant, the bottle and base are connected by a snap-fit ​​type connection. The base-bottle assembly is configured to be stable when stored on a shelf. The base is typically heavier than a full bottle to reduce the risk of tipping. At the same time, the weight of the base and bottle is balanced so as not to interfere with pouring even when the bottle is nearly empty.

[0006] At least a portion of the bottle is transparent or translucent (i.e., not opaque), and in one form, the bottle is made of transparent or translucent glass. The base has a light source configured to shine one or more lights through the bottom wall of the bottle into the liquid so that the liquid in the bottle appears to glow. The pattern and color of the light may change depending on several factors. For example, the pattern, brightness, and / or color of the light may change as the rotation speed of the stirrer changes and / or the level of the liquid changes. The illumination may change depending on the color and / or type of liquid contained in the bottle. For clear liquids such as gin or vodka, the base may shine a more vibrant color compared to darker liquids such as whiskey. The resulting illumination and the concomitant swirls generated in the liquid may be quite appealing to consumers.

[0007] Additionally, the system is designed to track usage patterns and brand loyalty. The base is configured to be wirelessly controlled by a mobile device, such as a smartphone. For example, via the mobile device, a user can change the swirl and / or illumination of the liquid in the bottle. The mobile device can be paired with the bottle by scanning a barcode or other machine-readable identifier on the bottle. Once paired, this information can be transmitted by the mobile device and / or the base to a database, which can collect and use this information to track usage and other patterns. Based on the current and / or voltage drawn by the base as it rotates the stirrer, the volume of the liquid in the bottle can be estimated. The level of the liquid in the bottle can also be estimated based on the characteristics of the light from the base reflected off the surface of the liquid in the bottle. These liquid volume estimates can be communicated to a database to automatically refill the product when it is low.

[0008] Again, in the food and beverage industry, visual stimuli and / or entertainment value are important when selecting food and / or beverages. For example, many consumers are naturally drawn to beverages that are stylized to be entertaining and / or engaging. As can be appreciated, it can be difficult to generate visual interest with spirit bottles. Typically, visual interest is generated based on the shape and / or font of the bottle. However, consumers may quickly tire of and / or lose interest in bottles that are placed on the shelf without visually stimulating and / or engaging features.

[0009] Again, this unique bottle system was developed to stimulate visual interest. In one embodiment, the bottle is configured to generate a swirl of the liquid within the bottle to generate interest. In another embodiment, the bottle includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to illuminate the bottle and / or the swirl. The bottle includes a vortex generator and / or agitator configured to generate a vortex of the liquid. The vortex generator typically includes a magnetic stirring bar disposed within the bottle. In one example, the stirring bar is packaged with the liquid. The vortex generator further includes a stylized blade configured to cover the stirring bar. Both the stirring bar and the blade are contained within the bottle and configured to generate a vortex of the liquid. In another example, the stirring bar and the blade form an integral vortex generator for aesthetic appeal.

[0010] The bottle further includes a removable base portion. The base is typically screwed onto the bottle by one or more screw threads. As will be appreciated, the base is completely separate from the bottle, with the vortex generator and the base being separated by the bottom of the bottle. In one example, the base is designed to be unobtrusive when attached to the bottle. In another example, the base is covered by a stylized shroud configured to hide the base. The base is configured to hold one or more visual enhancement components. In one example, the visual enhancement components include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). In another example, the visual enhancement components include a power source configured to power the vortex. In one embodiment, the power source is a rotor configured to generate a rotating magnetic field. As will be appreciated, the rotating magnetic field interacts with the magnetic field of the stirrer bar described above to induce rotation of the vortex generator. In other words, the vortex generator and the power source are not mechanically connected.

[0011] In one example, the rotor is powered by one or more batteries. For example, the rotor is powered by one or more rechargeable batteries. The rechargeable batteries are configured to cooperate with a wireless charging pad to enable wireless charging. In another example, the rotor is powered by a directly connected alternating current (AC) and / or direct current (DC) power source. The rotor includes one or more speed settings configured to adjust the rotational speed of the motor. As will be appreciated, adjusting the rotational speed of the rotor causes the vortex generator to change the size and / or shape of the vortex.

[0012] Additionally, the bottle is configured to work with a mobile application (app). The app is configured to connect to the bottle by scanning a barcode and / or a quick response (QR) code on the bottle. In one example, the app connects to the bottle via Bluetooth low energy (BLE). The app allows the user to change the size and / or shape of the vortex, the speed of the rotor, and / or the color and / or brightness of the LED light. In another example, the app indicates the battery level of the base.

[0013] The systems and techniques described and illustrated herein are directed to many unique and inventive aspects, some (but not all) of which are summarized below. Aspect 1 generally relates to a system.

[0014] Aspect 2 generally relates to a system according to any of the above aspects, further comprising a bottle. Aspect 3 generally relates to the system of any of the above aspects, wherein the bottle is configured to contain a liquid.

[0015] Aspect 4 generally relates to a system of any of the above aspects, further comprising a base. Aspect 5 generally relates to a system according to any of the above aspects, wherein the base is coupled to the bottle.

[0016] A sixth aspect generally relates to the system of any of the above aspects, wherein the base is configured to generate a vortex in the liquid in the bottle. Aspect 7 generally relates to the system of any of the above aspects, wherein the base has an illumination device configured to illuminate the liquid in the bottle.

[0017] Example 8 generally relates to a system according to any of the previous examples, wherein the lighting device is positioned to shine light through an underside of the bottle. A ninth embodiment generally relates to a system according to any of the above embodiments, wherein the lighting device includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).

[0018] A tenth embodiment generally relates to a system according to any of the above embodiments, further comprising a base on which the bottle is supported. Example 11 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, wherein the base is configured to indirectly generate a vortex without a direct mechanical connection to an interior of the bottle.

[0019] Example 12 generally relates to the system of any of the above examples, wherein the base includes a rotor configured to generate a rotating magnetic field to rotate a magnetic stirrer within the bottle.

[0020] Example 13 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, wherein the base includes one or more batteries configured to power the rotor. Example 14 generally relates to the system of any of the above examples, wherein the battery includes a rechargeable battery configured to be charged by wireless charging.

[0021] Example 15 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, where the rotor is configured to operate at variable speeds to vary the size and / or shape of the vortex. Example 16 generally relates to the system of any of the above examples, wherein the base is removably connected to the bottle by a threaded connection.

[0022] Example 17 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, wherein the base includes a shroud into which an end of the bottle is received to give the bottle and base a unified appearance.

[0023] Example 18 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, wherein the base includes a light source configured to illuminate the vortex. Example 19 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, wherein the light source includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to generate multiple colors.

[0024] Aspect 20 generally relates to the system of any of the above aspects, where the base includes a wireless personal area network (WPAN) transceiver configured to communicate with the mobile device.

[0025] Aspect 21 generally relates to a system according to any of the preceding aspects, in which the WPAN transceiver includes a Bluetooth® low energy (BLE) type transceiver.

[0026] Aspect 22 generally relates to a system of any of the above aspects, further including a mobile device including a sensor configured to scan a code on the bottle to pair the bottle with the base.

[0027] Example 23 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, wherein a mobile device is configured to wirelessly control the color, size, and / or shape of the vortex. Example 24 generally relates to a system according to any of the above examples, further comprising an agitator or stirrer.

[0028] Example 25 generally relates to a system according to any of the above examples, wherein the agitator is disposed within the bottle. Example 26 generally relates to the system of any of the above examples, wherein the base is configured to rotate the agitator within the bottle.

[0029] Example 27 generally relates to the system of any of the above examples, wherein the base includes an electromagnetic stirrer. Example 28 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, wherein the agitator comprises a magnet.

[0030] Example 29 generally relates to the system of any of the above examples, wherein the base is configured to magnetically couple to a magnet of the agitator. Example 30 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, wherein the agitator includes a platform, a blade, and a stem connecting the blade to the platform.

[0031] Example 31 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, wherein the stem is configured to bend to mount the stirrer within a bottle. Example 32 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, wherein the base is removably connected to the bottle via a mechanical connection.

[0032] Example 33 generally relates to a system according to any of the above examples, further comprising a shroud. Example 34 generally relates to a system according to any of the above examples, wherein a shroud covers the mechanical connection and conceals the mechanical connection between the base and the bottle.

[0033] Example 35 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, further including a network. Example 36 generally relates to a system according to any of the above examples, further comprising a mobile device.

[0034] Aspect 37 generally relates to a system according to any of the preceding aspects, in which the mobile device is in operative communication with the base over a network. Aspect 38 generally relates to the system of any of the above aspects, wherein the mobile device is configured to control the operation of the base.

[0035] Example 39 generally relates to the system of any of the above examples, wherein the mobile device is configured to control the vortex. Example 40 generally relates to a system according to any of the previous examples, wherein the mobile device is configured to control the size and / or shape of the vortex.

[0036] Example 41 generally relates to a system according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the mobile device is configured to control the lighting device. Example 42 generally relates to the system of any of the above examples, wherein the mobile device is configured to control the color of light emitted by the lighting device.

[0037] Example 43 generally relates to the system of any of the above examples, wherein the mobile device is configured to control the brightness of the light emitted by the lighting device. Aspect 44 generally relates to the system of any of the above aspects, where the network includes a wireless personal area network (WPAN).

[0038] Example 45 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, wherein the mobile device is configured to pair the bottle with the mobile device. Example 46 generally relates to the system of any of the above examples, wherein the mobile device is configured to pair the base with the mobile device.

[0039] Example 47 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, wherein the mobile device is configured to pair the bottle with the base. Example 48 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, wherein the bottle has a machine-readable identifier.

[0040] Example 49 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, wherein the mobile device is configured to read a machine-readable identifier on the bottle. An embodiment 50 generally relates to a system according to any of the above embodiments, wherein the base has a machine-readable identifier.

[0041] Aspect 51 generally relates to a system according to any of the above aspects, wherein the mobile device is configured to read a machine-readable identifier on the base. Example 52 generally relates to a system according to any of the above examples, wherein the bottle is configured to stimulate visual interest.

[0042] Example 53 generally relates to the system of any of the above examples, wherein the bottle includes a vortex generator configured to generate a vortex of a liquid contained within the bottle. Example 54 generally relates to the system of any of the above examples, wherein the vortex generator includes a magnetic stirrer positioned within the bottle to generate the vortex.

[0043] Example 55 generally relates to the system of any of the above examples, wherein the vortex generator includes a blade attached to a stirrer configured to generate a vortex. Example 56 generally relates to a system according to any of the above examples, wherein the blade has a stylized appearance configured to stimulate visual interest.

[0044] Example 57 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, wherein the liquid in the bottle comprises alcohol. Example 58 generally relates to a system according to any of the above examples, wherein the bottle and / or base have a machine-readable identifier.

[0045] Example 59 generally relates to a system of any of the above examples, wherein the mobile device has a sensor for reading a machine-readable identifier to pair with the bottle and / or base.

[0046] An embodiment 60 generally relates to a method of operating a system according to any of the above embodiments. Example 61 generally relates to a method of any of the above examples, further comprising creating a vortex in the liquid held in the bottle.

[0047] Example 62 generally relates to a method of any of the above examples, wherein the generating a vortex includes generating a vortex with a base. Example 63 generally relates to a method according to any of the above examples, further comprising modifying the swirl in the bottle via a mobile device.

[0048] Aspect 64 generally relates to a method as described in any of the above aspects, further comprising controlling one or more settings of the base via the mobile device. Example 65 generally relates to a method of any of the above examples, wherein the generating a vortex includes magnetically spinning an agitator within the bottle by the base.

[0049] Example 66 generally relates to a method of any of the above examples, further comprising illuminating the liquid in the bottle with a lighting device in the base. Example 67 generally relates to a method according to any of the above examples, further comprising adjusting the illumination of the liquid in the bottle via the mobile device.

[0050] Example 68 generally relates to a method of any of the above examples, further comprising reading an identifier of the bottle with a mobile device. Aspect 69 generally relates to a method of any of the above aspects, further comprising pairing the bottle with a mobile device.

[0051] Aspect 70 generally relates to a method of any of the above aspects, further comprising reading the identifier of the base by the mobile device. Aspect 71 generally relates to a method according to any of the aspects above, further comprising pairing the base to the mobile device.

[0052] Aspect 72 generally relates to a method according to any of the above aspects, further comprising transmitting data about the bottle from the mobile device to a server. Further forms, objects, features, aspects, benefits, advantages, and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description and drawings provided herein. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0053] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vortex generation system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vortex generating system of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a seal of the vortex generating system of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view of the vortex generating system of FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vortex generating system of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a side view of a vessel of the vortex generating system of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an agitator of the vortex generating system of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side view of the agitator of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the base of the vortex generating system of FIG. [Figure 10]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base of the vortex generating system of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the base of the vortex generating system of FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a housing of the base of FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the housing of FIG. 12. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the shroud of the base of FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a side view of another embodiment of the vessel of the vortex generating system of FIG. [Figure 16] 1 is a flow diagram of a pairing process for a vortex generating system. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a mobile application on a mobile device. [Figure 18] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another example of an agitator. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a side view of the agitator of FIG. [Figure 20] FIG. 19 is an exploded view of the stirrer bar of the stirrer of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0054] In order to better understand the principles of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe those embodiments. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is intended thereby. Any changes and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the present invention as described herein, are expected to occur normally to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. Although one embodiment of the present invention is shown in great detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, for the sake of clarity, some features not relevant to the present invention may not be shown.

[0055] The reference numbers in the following description are organized to aid the reader in quickly identifying the drawing in which various components first appear. In particular, the drawing in which an element first appears is typically indicated by the leftmost digit(s) of the corresponding reference number. For example, elements identified with a "100" series reference number are likely to first appear in Figure 1, elements identified with a "200" series reference number are likely to first appear in Figure 2, and so on.

[0056] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a vortex generating system 100 configured to generate visual interest for a consumer. The vortex generating system 100 includes a container 105 configured to hold a liquid. In one example, the container 105 is in the form of a bottle. The container 105 is configured to hold a liquid, such as water, alcohol, and / or other liquids. The container 105 is configured to exhibit a vortex and / or swirl effect in the liquid in the container 105. As will be appreciated, the vortex is configured to generate visual interest in the container 105. The container 105 typically includes a removable base 110 configured to manipulate and / or generate the vortex. In some examples, the container 105 includes a seal 115 and / or a stopper configured to seal the container 105 to prevent the liquid from spilling and / or leaking from the container 105. Additionally, the seal 115 is configured to generate optimal pressure within the container 105 to generate the vortex. In other examples, the container 105 does not include a seal 115, and thus the container 105 is open to the atmosphere. In another example, the container 105 includes an aerator, instead of the seal 115, configured to allow for controlled gas release.

[0057] The base 110 includes a controller 120 configured to control the components of the base 110. For example, the controller 120 is configured to control a motor 125. In one example, the motor 125 is an electric motor configured to rotate one or more magnets to generate a variable magnetic field. The motor 125 is magnetically connected to an agitator 130 and / or a vortex generator. The agitator 130 is housed within the vessel 105 and configured to rotate and / or spin to generate vortexes within the vessel 105. As will be appreciated, the motor 125 and the agitator 130 are separated by the bottom of the vessel 105, and thus the motor 125 and the agitator 130 are not mechanically connected. The base 110 further includes one or more lighting devices 135 configured to illuminate the vessel 105 to enhance visual interest. In one example, the lighting device 135 includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). In another example, the lighting device 135 includes other lighting devices.

[0058] The base 110 is powered by a power source 140. In one example, the power source 140 is in the form of one or more batteries. In another example, the power source 140 is wired and / or directly connected to the base 110 via an alternating current (AC) and / or direct current (DC) power source. In yet another example, the battery is a rechargeable battery that is charged by inductive charging. For example, the vortex generating system 100 and / or the base 110 are configured to rest on a wireless charging pad in an extended use case.

[0059] In one embodiment, the base 110 includes at least one input / output device (I / O device) 145. In some examples, the I / O device 145 includes a speaker, a microphone, a light, a button, and / or other devices. The base 110 further includes a memory 150 configured to store information. In one example, the memory 150 stores information related to the liquid remaining in the container 105, a battery life of the base 110, a unique identifier for the swirl generating system 100, past order dates for the container 105 and / or a stop keeping unit (SKU), and / or other information. The base 110 includes a wireless transceiver 155 configured to communicate with a wireless or mobile device 160. The wireless transceiver 155 and the mobile device 160 form a wireless personal area network (WPAN) 162. In one example, the wireless transceiver 155 establishes communication between the base 110 and a mobile application (app) of the mobile device. In another example, base 110 includes a network interface 165 configured to exchange information with a network 170. In one example, network 170 is connected to a server 175. In one embodiment, base 110 transfers data to network 170 via network interface 165. The data is then transferred from network 170 to server 175 for storage.

[0060] FIG. 2 illustrates one example of a vortex generating system 100. The container 105 of FIG. 2 is in the form of a bottle 205. The bottle 205 includes a body 207 that connects to a neck 220. As will be appreciated, various styles and / or shapes of the body 207 can be used to enhance visual interest. In other examples, the bottle 205 may be made from opaque, translucent, and / or transparent materials depending on the contents of the bottle 205. The neck 220 defines a mouth 225 configured to allow a user to empty and / or fill the bottle 205 with liquid. In one example, the bottle 205 is filled with spirits and / or alcohol. For example, the bottle 205 is filled with beer, wine, gin, vodka, rum, whiskey, tequila, brandy, liqueurs, and / or other alcohols. In yet another example, the bottle 205 is filled with soft drinks and / or other liquids, such as water.

[0061] The seal 115 is configured to seal the mouth 225 to prevent the escape and / or undesired leakage of gas from the bottle 205. As will be appreciated, the release of undesired gas can result in a "flat" and / or unappealing beverage. In one embodiment, the bottle 205 includes one or more decorations configured to stimulate visual interest. For example, the bottle 205 includes a shroud 210. The shroud 210 is configured to provide a stylized and / or visually interesting cover for a portion of the body 207. In some embodiments, the shroud 210 leads to a wrap 215 configured to enhance the appearance of the bottle 205.

[0062] 3, the seal 115 is shown to include a head 305 and a corkscrew 310. The head 305 leads to a lip 315 configured to rest against the mouth 225 of the bottle 205. The lip 315 is further configured to prevent the seal 115 from falling into the bottle 205. Between the head 305 and the lip 315 is a groove 320. The groove 320 allows a user to grasp and / or grip the seal 115 to remove and / or insert the seal 115 from the mouth 225.

[0063] The head 305 is configured to protrude outwardly (away from the bottle 205) from the bottle 205 and the corkscrew 310 is configured to protrude into the bottle 205. The corkscrew 310 includes a spiral pattern 325 configured to seal the mouth 225 of the bottle 205 and prevent gas and / or liquid from escaping. As will be appreciated, the seal 115 may have a variety of designs and / or stylized shapes depending on the application.

[0064] Another embodiment of the container 105 is shown in FIG. 4, where the container 105 has a bottle 405 with various stylistic components and / or designs. The bottle 405 has a body 410 leading to a neck 415 that defines a mouth 420. As can be seen, the bottle 405 provides the user with more options for customizing the visual components of the vortex generating system 100. The neck 415 is narrower than the body 410. Between the body 410 and the neck 415, the bottle 405 has a shoulder 425. The shoulder 425 forms a transition between the different sizes of the body 410 and the neck 415.

[0065] FIG. 5 shows another view of the container 105 including the underside 505 and / or bottom of the bottle 405. The bottle 405 has a heel 507 that forms a transition between the body 410 and the underside 505. As can be seen, the agitator 130 is configured to rest on the underside 505 and is mechanically isolated from the motor 125 of the base 110. In other words, the agitator 130 and the motor 125 do not have direct mechanical contact with each other. The base 110 is removably attached to the container 105 via a threaded connection 510. As will be appreciated, the threaded connection 510 allows a user to install the base 110 on the underside 505 and / or remove it from the underside 505 as desired. Housed within the base 110 is an illumination device 135. In one example, the illumination device 135 is in the form of one or more light emitting diodes 515. As previously mentioned, the light emitting diodes 515 are configured to illuminate the container 105 to stimulate visual interest.

[0066] As previously described, the container 105 is configured to contain a liquid 520, such as a liqueur or other beverage. When the base 110 rotates the agitator 130, a vortex 525 is generated in the liquid 520. Depending on the rotation speed of the agitator 130, the size and shape of the vortex 525 in the liquid 520 may vary. The light emitting diode 515 may be further configured to receive light reflected from the surface of the liquid 520 and the vortex 525 to sense the level of the liquid 520 remaining in the bottle 405.

[0067] At least the underside 505 is translucent or transparent, allowing light from the lighting device 135 to shine through the bottle 405 and illuminate the liquid 520 and / or the swirls 525. All or a portion of the body 410 of the bottle 405 is made of a transparent or translucent material, such that the swirls 525 in the liquid 520 and the illumination from the lighting device 135 are visible to the consumer. In one form, the entire bottle 405 is made of clear or translucent glass or plastic. In another form, only a portion of the bottle 405 is made of a translucent or transparent material.

[0068] 6, an example of a bottle 405 is shown. The bottle 405 further includes a shank 610 having one or more threads 605. As can be seen, the shank 610 and the threads 605 are configured to interact with the base 110 to form a threaded connection 510.

[0069] In the illustrated example, the bottle 405 has a machine readable identifier 615 located beneath the threads 605 and proximal to the heel 507. In one form, the machine readable identifier 615 is in the form of a barcode 620, but can take other forms, such as in the form of an RFID tag. The machine readable identifier 615 is read by the mobile device 160 to pair the bottle 405 with the base 110 and provide the information to the server 175. With the machine readable identifier 615 located proximal to the heel 507 or on the underside 505, the machine readable identifier 615 is hidden when the bottle 405 is affixed to the base 110.

[0070] 7 and 8 show different views of the agitator 130. As can be seen, the agitator 130 includes a platform 705 that defines a platform cavity 710. The platform 705 is configured to rest against the lower surface 505 and / or bottom of the vessel 105 separate from the base 110. The platform cavity 710 is configured to receive a stirrer bar 715. In one example, the stirrer bar 715 is magnetic. For example, the stirrer bar 715 is made of a magnet 717, such as a permanent magnet. In yet another example, the magnet 717 is surrounded by a personnel protection cover to prevent contamination of the liquid in the vessel 105. The stirrer bar 715 is configured to magnetically interact with the motor 125 of the base 110 to generate a vortex and / or swirling effect. The stirrer bar 715 includes a detent 720 configured to retain the stirrer bar 715 within the platform cavity 710. The agitator 130 further includes a blade 725. The blades 725 are configured to generate drag and generate vortices in the liquid of the vessel 105. As will be appreciated, blades 725 with a larger surface area will generate more drag and larger vortices, and blades 725 with a smaller surface area will generate less drag and smaller vortices. In one example, the blades 725 are stylized and designed to enhance the visual appeal of the vortex generating system 100.

[0071] The blade 725 is connected to the platform 705 via a stem 730. Again, the blade 725 is generally sized as large as possible, but the agitator 130 must still be small enough to pass through the mouth 420 and neck 415 of the bottle 405. To address this, in one form, the agitator 130 is designed to fold. The stem 730 is made of a flexible material, such as a flexible metal and / or plastic material, so that the stem 730 can bend when the agitator 130 is inserted through the mouth 420 of the bottle 405. For example, the stem 730 bends when the blade 725 is bent towards the platform cavity 710, allowing the agitator 130 to be inserted into the bottle 405. In one form, the stem 730 is in the form of a spring.

[0072] 9 illustrates an exploded view of the base 110. The base 110 includes a shroud 905 configured to surround and cover a housing 910. The housing 910 has a first housing component 915 and a second housing component 920. The first housing component 915 and the second housing component 920 are configured to combine to form the housing 910. The housing 910 is configured to mount within the shroud 905 by fasteners 925. The first housing component 915 and the second housing component 920 are secured to one another by one or more fasteners 930. In one example, the shroud 905 is configured to surround the housing 910 to provide a uniform and / or visually appealing appearance.

[0073] One or more batteries 935 are held within the housing 910. In one example, the batteries 935 are in the form of alkaline batteries, lithium ion batteries, carbon zinc batteries, silver oxide batteries, zinc air batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, nickel metal hydride batteries, and / or other battery types. As will be appreciated, the batteries 935 can be rechargeable and / or disposable batteries. In one embodiment, the batteries 935 are configured to charge via a wireless charging pad. For example, a user places the base 110 on a wireless charging pad with the vortex generating system 100 on display to charge the batteries 935. In other examples, the power source 140 is instead an AC and / or DC power source. The batteries 935 are held by one or more battery terminals 940. In some examples, the batteries 935 are removable and / or replaceable within the battery terminals 940 by a user. The battery terminals 940 are attached to a chassis 945 configured to retain the circuit board 950 via one or more clips 955.

[0074] A motor mount 960 is attached to the chassis 945 by one or more fasteners 965. As can be appreciated, the motor mount 960 is configured to hold a motor 970. In one example, the motor 970 is an electric motor. In another example, the motor 970 is a permanent magnet synchronous motor. In yet another example, the motor 970 is an AC induction motor. The motor 970 receives power from a battery 935 and generates rotation of a rotor 975. The rotor 975 includes one or more trays 1015 (shown in FIG. 10 ) configured to hold one or more magnets 980. In one example, the magnets 980 are permanent magnets. In another example, the magnets 980 are electromagnets. As can be appreciated, the rotation of the magnets 980 generates a rotating magnetic field. The rotating magnetic field is configured to interact with the magnetic field of the stirrer 715 to generate rotation of the stirrer 130. As previously discussed, the rotation of the stirrer 130 generates a vortex within the vessel 105. Due to the magnetic interaction between the magnet 980 and the stirrer bar 715, the stirrer 130 is configured to rotate without a direct mechanical connection to the motor 970. As will be appreciated, this configuration prevents liquid from contacting the electrical components of the base 110, thus extending the life of the base 110.

[0075] The base 110 further has a machine-readable identifier 985 that is used to identify the base 110. In the illustrated example, the machine-readable identifier 985 includes a barcode 990, but can include other types. The machine-readable identifier 985 can be used to pair the base 110 with the mobile device 160. By reading the machine-readable identifier 615 of the bottle 405 and the machine-readable identifier 985 of the base 110, the mobile device 160 can pair the bottle 405 and the base 110 with the mobile device 160, which can be used by the server 175 for tracking or other purposes. In the illustrated example, the machine-readable identifier 985 is located on the shroud 905, but it can also be located elsewhere on the base 110, such as the bottom of the base 110, for aesthetic purposes.

[0076] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 , the housing 910 includes one or more threads 1005 configured to interact with the threads 605 of the bottle 405 to form the threaded connection 510. In other embodiments, the base 110 is attached to the container 105 in various ways, for example, by fasteners, adhesives, and / or other methods. In another embodiment, the base 110 is integral with the container 105, and the container 105 and the base 110 form a unitary component. The housing 910 further includes a ridge 1010 configured to abut the lower surface 505 and / or bottom of the container 105. In one example, the ridge 1010 is configured to abut the lower surface 505 when the threaded connection 510 is sufficiently tightened. This configuration prevents over-tightening of the container 105 and the base 110. In yet another example, the ridge 1010 is configured to abut the lower surface 505 when a predetermined threshold distance between the magnet 980 and the stirring bar 715 is met. As can be appreciated, this configuration can allow for consistent spacing between magnet 980 and stir bar 715 to ensure proper functioning of stirrer 130.

[0077] 12 and 13 show multiple views of the housing 910. The housing 910 is shown to include a port 1205 configured to accept a plug and / or connector. In one example, the port 1205 is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port configured to accept a USB plug. In one example, the USB port is used to download data to the base 110 and / or upload data from the base 110. In another example, the port 1205 is another electronic port, such as a charging port, a display port, an Ethernet port, a digital video interface (DVI) port, a video graphics array (VGA) port, and / or other types of ports. The first housing component 915 is separated from the second housing component 920 by a seam 1210. In one example, the housing 910 further includes one or more apertures 1215 configured to allow the connection and / or use of one or more accessories. In one example, the apertures 1215 allow a user to insert a USB port, a charging cable, and / or other accessories into the housing 910.

[0078] In some examples, the housing 910 further includes a channel 1220 configured to allow insertion and / or removal of components of the base 110 without separating the housing 910. In another embodiment, the aperture 1215 and the channel 1220 are configured to reduce the amount of material required to manufacture the housing 910. In yet another embodiment, the aperture 1215 and the channel 1220 are configured to reduce the weight of the housing 910. The first housing component 915 and the second housing component 920 are held together by a fastener 930 disposed through one or more holes 1305. Located at the bottom 1310 of the housing 910 is an aperture 1315 configured to receive a fastener 925. As previously described, the fastener 925 secures the shroud 905 to the housing 910. In one example, the housing 910 has a window 1320 configured to hold a battery light (not shown). The battery light is configured to illuminate based on the charge value of the battery 935. For example, the window 1320 is configured to illuminate red when the battery 935 has a low charge and / or less than 50 percent charge remaining. In another example, the window 1320 is configured to illuminate green when the battery 935 has a full charge and / or more than 50 percent charge remaining.

[0079] 14, an example of a shroud 905 is shown. The shroud 905 includes an aperture 1405 configured to receive a housing 910. As previously described, the shroud 905 is configured to surround the housing 910 to provide a uniform and / or visually appealing appearance to the vortex generating system 100. The shroud 905 further includes a sidewall 1410 and a bottom 1415 that define the opening 1405. In one example, the bottom 1415 defines an aperture 1420 configured to receive a fastener 925 to secure the shroud 905 to the housing 910.

[0080] 15 illustrates another embodiment of a container 105 in the form of a bottle 1502. In one embodiment, the body 1505 of the bottle 1502 includes a cutout 1510. The cutout 1510 is configured to receive the wrap 215 of the shroud 210. In one example, the cutout 1510 is cut and / or molded into the bottle 1502 such that the wrap 215 is flush with the exterior surface of the body 1505. In another example, the bottle 1502 includes one or more designs 1515 configured to create additional visual interest in the vortex generating system 100.

[0081] FIG. 16 illustrates a process flow diagram 1600 for pairing a mobile device 160 with a base 110 of a vortex generating system 100. At stage 1605, a user uses a sensor to scan a machine-readable identifier 615 on the vortex generating system 100. In one example, the sensor is a camera on the mobile device. In another example, the machine-readable identifier 615 is a barcode 620 and / or a quick response (QR) code located on the vortex generating system 100. At stage 1610, after the user scans the vortex generating system 100, the user receives a pairing invitation from the vortex generating system 100. In one example, the pairing invitation is a notification and / or an alert on the mobile device. In another example, the invitation is a notification and / or an alert sent via a mobile application (app) on the mobile device.

[0082] At stage 1615, the user may change and / or view settings of the vortex generating system 100. In one example, the user may change the rotational speed of the motor 125. As will be appreciated, adjusting the rotational speed of the motor 125 affects the vortex in the vessel 105. For example, the faster the motor 125 rotates, the larger and / or more intense the vortex becomes. In another example, the user may reduce the rotational speed of the motor 125 to reduce the vortex. In another example, the user may adjust the brightness and / or color settings of the lighting device 135. In one embodiment, the user may change the color of the lighting device 135 to match the ambient lighting or color palette of the location of use. In yet another example, the user may set a timer for the lighting device 135. For example, the lighting device 135 may be configured to be on during a set range of times and off during another range of times. In yet another example, the user may view the remaining battery life of the base 110.

[0083] At stage 1620, the bottle information stored in memory 150 is transmitted to server 175 over network 170 via wireless connection. In one example, the information from base 110 includes the amount of liquid 520 remaining in container 105, the battery life of base 110, a unique identifier for vortex generating system 100, past order dates for container 105 and / or stock keeping unit (SKU), and / or other information. Based on the current and / or power drawn by motor 125, controller 120 can estimate the volume of liquid 520 remaining in container 105. Alternatively or additionally, controller 120 estimates the amount of liquid 520 remaining in container 105 based on the intensity, angle, and / or polarity of light reflected from the surface of liquid 520 (or vortex 525). As will be appreciated, this information is useful to assist with SKU tracking, inventory, consumer demographic data, automated ordering processes, and / or other applications.

[0084] FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a mobile application 1700 residing on a mobile device 160. In one example, the mobile device 160 is a mobile device such as a mobile phone, a tablet, and / or a computer. The mobile application 1700 is configured to allow a user to change and / or view settings of the vortex generating system 100. For example, the mobile application 1700 includes a camera 1705 configured to scan a unique identifier of the vortex generating system 100. As previously described, scanning the unique identifier is configured to wirelessly connect the vortex generating system 100 to the mobile device 160. The mobile application 1700 further includes one or more connection settings 1710 configured to allow a user to pair and / or unpair with the vortex generating system 100. In another example, the connection settings 1710 are used to reference previously connected vortex generating systems 100. The connection settings 1710 also indicate to the user the connection status of the vortex generating system 100.

[0085] The mobile application 1700 further includes one or more vortex settings 1715 configured to allow a user to change the visual characteristics of the vortex. In one example, the vortex settings 1715 allow a user to generate larger and / or smaller vortices based on their needs. In another example, the vortex settings 1715 allow a user to change the pattern and / or shape of the vortex. To further enhance the visual characteristics of the vortex generating system 100, the mobile application 1700 includes one or more lighting settings 1720. The lighting settings 1720 allow a user to adjust the brightness and / or color of the lighting device 135. The lighting settings 1720 also allow a user to set the auto on / off time of the lighting device 135. In one example, the lighting device 135 is one or more light emitting diodes 515 located on the base 110.

[0086] Additionally, the mobile application 1700 allows a user to change one or more motor settings 1730. The motor settings 1730 allow a user to monitor the operating and / or stationary characteristics of the motor 125. In one example, the user slows and / or speeds up the rotation of the motor 125 based on the remaining battery life of the base 110. In another example, the user sets a threshold for the power consumption of the motor 125 to conserve battery life. Use of the one or more battery life settings 1725 allows a user to monitor the remaining battery life of the base 110. In some embodiments, the battery life settings 1725 further allow a user to set the vortex generating system 100 in a low power mode to conserve battery life. In yet another example, the mobile application 1700 is configured to send a low battery alert to the mobile device 160 when the battery charge falls below 25%.

[0087] FIG. 18 shows an example of an agitator 1800. The agitator 1800 is designed as an integral component. In other words, the blade 725 and the agitator rod 1802 are one piece. The agitator 1800 includes the blade 725 connected to a stem 730. The stem 730 further connects to a receptacle 1805. The receptacle 1805 is integral with the blade 725, and the receptacle 1805 and the blade 725 form an integral component. The receptacle 1805 is configured to receive and hold one or more magnets 1810. In one example, the magnet 1810 is removable from the receptacle 1805. In another example, the magnet 1810 is fixed to the receptacle 1805 by one or more fasteners, such as an adhesive. The magnet 1810 is configured to magnetically interact with the motor 125 of the base 110 to generate a vortex and / or swirling effect.

[0088] 19 shows another view of the stirrer 1800. As can be seen, the magnets 1810 are separated from one another by the ribs 1905 of the receptacle 1805. In one example, the stirrer bar 1802 includes a first magnet 1910 and a second magnet 1915 separated by the ribs 1905. In one embodiment, the first magnet 1910 and the second magnet 1915 form a magnetic connection via the ribs 1905, securing the first magnet 1910 and the second magnet 1915 within the receptacle 1805.

[0089] FIG. 20 shows an exploded view of the stir bar 1802. The stir bar 1802 includes a receptacle 1805 and a magnet 1810. The receptacle 1805 is shown to include one or more faces 2005 configured to mate with the magnet 1810. In one example, the magnet 1810 is attached to the face 2005 of the receptacle 1805 by an adhesive. In another example, the receptacle 1805 is made from a magnetic material and the magnet 1810 is attached to the face 2005 of the receptacle 1805 by magnetic forces. In another example, the receptacle 1805 is made from a polymer and / or a non-magnetic material and the magnet 1810 is secured by an adhesive. The magnet 1810 is further secured to the receptacle 1805 by a protrusion 2010. In one example, the protrusion 2010 is configured to surround a portion of the magnet 1810 to securely retain the magnet 1810 within the receptacle 1805 . Glossary Terms used in the claims and this specification shall have only their plain and ordinary meanings, unless expressly defined below. Words in these definitions shall have only their plain and ordinary meanings. Such plain and ordinary meanings include all consistent dictionary definitions from the most recent editions of Webster's Dictionary and Random House Dictionary. As used in this specification and claims, the following definitions apply to those terms and their common variations identified below.

[0090] "About" when referring to a numerical value generally refers to plus or minus 10% of the stated value. For example, if the stated value is 4.375, use of the term "about 4.375" generally means a range of 3.9375 to 4.8125.

[0091] "And / or" generally refers to a grammatical conjunction indicating that one or more of the things it connects may occur. For example, it can indicate that one or both of the two things listed may occur. In general, "and / or" includes any combination of the listed elements. For example, "X, Y, and / or Z" encompasses any one letter individually (e.g., {X}, {Y}, {Z}), any combination of two of the letters (e.g., {X, Y}, {X, Z}, {Y, Z}), and all three letters (e.g., {X, Y, Z}). Such combinations may also include other elements not listed.

[0092] A "barcode" generally refers to a visual arrangement of shapes, colors, lines, dots, or symbols that are fixed to some medium and arranged on the medium in a pattern configured to encode data. Examples include an optical machine-readable representation of data about an object to which the barcode is affixed, such as a Universal Produced Code (UPC), or any visual pattern associated with any type of automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) system. Another example of a barcode is a Quick Response Code (QR Code), which arranges various light and dark shapes to encode data. Any suitable medium is contemplated. Examples include an adhesive label, a physical page, a display device configured to display a barcode, or any other object, such as a box, machine, or other physical structure on which a barcode is affixed or printed. For example, a barcode may be etched into metal, machined into plastic, or formed by organizing visual three-dimensional shapes into a pattern. A barcode may be invisible to humans, but may be fixed using a substance or device that makes the barcode visible to a sensor in a machine configured to read wavelengths of light outside the wavelengths of light detectable by the human eye. Examples of this type of barcode include barcodes printed with ink that is only visible under ultraviolet light (or "black light") and barcodes that are displayed using infrared light.

[0093] A "bottle" generally refers to a container having a narrow neck made of an impermeable material that stores a liquid. For example, bottles can be made from a variety of generally liquid-impermeable materials, such as glass, plastic, and / or aluminum, and can be formed in a variety of shapes and sizes. Bottles can take the form of rigid or semi-rigid containers. A typical bottle does not have a handle. A bottle typically includes a bottom, which is usually called the base or underside. Some bottles, such as wine bottles, have a recess or punt at the bottom. Typically, a bottle has a body extending from the bottom, and in most cases, the body is generally cylindrical. A curved or angled transition between the bottom and the body may be called a heel or insweep. Bottles also have a neck that is narrower than the body. For example, when the body and neck have a generally cylindrical shape, the neck has a radius or diameter that is significantly smaller than the radius or diameter of the body. Bottles usually have a shoulder between the body and the neck, which generally corresponds to the transition in size between the body and the neck. In some cases, the shoulder is angled and / or curved between the body and the neck. Typically, the end of the neck opposite the bottom of the bottle has a mouth or hole through which the liquid contained within the bottle pours. Around the mouth, the neck may further include a lip or other finishing structure. At the mouth, the bottle may be sealed with an internal stopper, an external bottle cap, a closure, and / or an induction seal, to name a few.

[0094] A "cellular device" generally refers to a device that transmits or receives data and / or transmits or receives telephone calls using a cellular network. Thus, a cellular device may be characterized as a node in a communication link that acts as an originating and / or final receiving node. A cellular device transmits and receives signals to a cellular transceiver located within a cell (e.g., at a base unit or "cell tower"). Generally, radio waves are used to transfer signals to and from the cellular device at frequencies that are specific (but not necessarily unique) to each cell. Cellular devices may include a computer with memory, a processor, a display device, input / output devices, etc., and thus may be used as and referred to as a personal computing device.

[0095] A "cellular network" or "mobile network" generally refers to a communication link or network in which the final communication link to an originating transmitting node or an ultimate receiving node in the network is via a wireless link. A cellular network is distributed over a land area ("cell"), with each cell being served by at least one fixed transceiver, called a cell site, base station, or collectively a "cell tower." The base station provides the cell with network coverage that can be used for the transmission of voice, data, and other types of communication. In a cellular network, each cell uses a different set of frequencies than adjacent cells to avoid interference and provide guaranteed bandwidth within each cell. In a cellular network, as various mobile devices (i.e., originating or ultimate receiving nodes) equipped with transceivers configured to communicate with the network move from cell to cell during ongoing, continuous communication, the switching from one cell frequency to another is done electronically without interruption, all without the need for a base station operator or manual switching. This is called a "handover" or "handoff." Typically, a new channel is automatically selected for the mobile device at the new base station, which serves the mobile device as it moves about within the cell. The mobile unit then automatically switches from its current channel to the new channel, and communication continues. The most common example of a cellular network is the mobile telephone (cell phone) network.

[0096] A "channel" generally refers to a long, narrow groove in the surface of an object. "Chassis" generally refers to the internal frame and / or support structure that supports the external body, body, and / or housing of a vehicle and / or electronic device. In one form, the chassis can further provide protection for the internal components of the vehicle and / or electronic device. In a non-limiting example, the chassis can include the underside of a vehicle, including the frame to which the body is attached. In an electronic device, the chassis can include, for example, the frame and / or other internal support structure to which one or more circuit boards and / or other electronic circuits are attached.

[0097] "Transparent" means substantially colorless and capable of transmitting substantially white light. Transparent here includes colorless, transparent materials as well as milky white materials. Transparent here includes transparent materials as well as translucent materials. Transparent also includes materials with or without lenses, ridges, and prisms.

[0098] A "cloud-based application" generally refers to a program that is stored on a remote server or group of servers and is accessible over a network, such as the Internet. The program can be designed to perform any desired function and can be accessible by any device capable of accessing the network.

[0099] A "communication link" or "communication channel" generally refers to a connection between two or more communicating entities, and may or may not include a communication channel between the communicating entities. The communication between the communicating entities may occur by any suitable means. For example, the connection may be implemented as an actual physical link, an electrical link, an electromagnetic link, a logical link, or any other suitable linking mechanism that facilitates communication. In the case of an actual physical link, the communication may occur by multiple components in the communication link configured to respond to each other by one element physically moving relative to another. In the case of an electrical link, the communication link may be composed of multiple electrical conductors electrically connected to form the communication link. In the case of an electromagnetic link, the elements of the connection may be implemented by transmitting or receiving electromagnetic energy at any suitable frequency, thereby allowing the communication to propagate as electromagnetic waves. These electromagnetic waves may or may not pass through a physical medium, such as an optical fiber, or free space, or any combination thereof. Electromagnetic waves may pass at any suitable frequency, including any frequency in the electromagnetic spectrum. In the case of a logical link, the communication link may be a conceptual linking mechanism between a sender and a receiver, such as a transmitting station in a receiving station. Logical links may include any combination of physical, electrical, electromagnetic, or other types of communication links.

[0100] "Conductor" or "conductive material" generally refers to a material and / or object that permits the free flow of electric charge in one or more directions, and under normal operating conditions, a relatively large current will flow through the material under the influence of an electric field. By way of non-limiting example, conductors include materials with low resistivity, such as most metals (e.g., copper, gold, aluminum, etc.), graphite, and conductive polymers.

[0101] A "container" generally refers to an object that creates a partially or completely enclosed space that can be used to contain, store, and transport objects, items, and / or materials. In other words, a container can include an object that can be used to hold or transport something. In non-limiting examples, containers can include boxes, cartons, plastic packaging, totes, bags, jars, envelopes, barrels, cans, bottles, drums, and / or packages.

[0102] A "controller" generally refers to a device that uses mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electronic techniques, and / or a microprocessor or computer to monitor and physically change the operating state of a given dynamic system. In one non-limiting example, a controller may include an Allen Bradley programmable logic controller (PLC). A controller may include a processor to perform calculations to process inputs or outputs. A controller may include a memory to store values ​​to be processed by the processor or to store results of previous processing. A controller may also be configured to accept inputs and outputs from various input and output devices to receive or transmit values. Such devices include other computers, keyboards, mice, visual displays, printers, industrial equipment, and systems or machinery of all types and sizes. For example, a controller may control a network or network interface to perform various network communications as required. A network interface may be part of the controller or may be characterized as being independent and remote from the controller. The controller may be a single physical computing device, such as a desktop or laptop computer, or may consist of multiple devices of the same type, such as a group of servers acting as one device in a networked cluster, or may consist of a heterogeneous combination of different computing devices acting as one controller and linked together by a communications network. The communications network connected to the controller may be connected to a wider network, such as the Internet. Thus, the controller may include one or more physical processors or other computing devices or circuitry, and may include any suitable type of memory. The controller may be a virtual computing platform with an unknown or varying number of physical processors and memories or memory devices.Thus, the controller may be physically located in one geographic location or may be physically spread across multiple widely distributed locations, with multiple processors linked together by a communication network to operate as a single controller. Multiple controllers or computing devices may be configured to communicate with each other or with other devices via wired or wireless communication links to form a network. Network communications may pass through various controllers operating as network appliances such as switches, routers, firewalls, or other network devices or interfaces, and then propagate through other larger computer networks, such as the Internet. Communications may also propagate through the network as wireless data transmissions carried on electromagnetic waves through transmission lines or free space. Such communications include transferring data using Wi-Fi or other wireless local area networks (WLANs) or cellular transmitters / receivers.

[0103] "Coupled" or "coupled" generally refers to an indirect and / or direct connection between identified elements, components, and / or objects. Often, the manner of coupling is specifically related to the manner in which the two elements being coupled interact.

[0104] "Data" generally refers to one or more values ​​of a qualitative or quantitative variable that is usually the result of a measurement. Data may be considered "atomic" because it is a finite, discrete unit of specific information. Data may also be considered a value or a set of values, including a frame of reference that indicates some meaning associated with the value. For example, the number "2" alone is merely a meaningless symbol without context. The number "2" may be considered "data" when it is understood to indicate, for example, the number of items produced in an hour. Data may be organized and represented in a structured format. Some examples include tabular representations using rows and columns, tree representations with a set of nodes considered to have parent-child relationships, or graph representations as a set of connected nodes. The term "data" may also refer to unprocessed data or "raw data," such as a collection of numbers, letters, or other symbols that represent individual facts or opinions. Data may be collected by sensors in controlled or uncontrolled environments, or generated by observation, recording, or processing of other data. The word "data" may be used in the plural or singular. The archaic plural "datum" is sometimes used.

[0105] A "database," "knowledge base," "data store," or "data repository" generally refers to an organized collection of data. The data is typically organized to model aspects of the real world to support the process of deriving information about the world from the data. Access to the data is generally provided by a "database management system" (DBMS), which consists of an individual computer software program or an organized set of software programs that allow users to interact with one or more databases to access the data stored in the databases (although user access restrictions may be in place to restrict access to some of the data). A DBMS provides a variety of functions that allow the entry, storage, and retrieval of large amounts of information, as well as methods for managing how that information is organized. Databases are generally not portable across different DBMSs, but different DBMSs interoperate by using standardized protocols and languages ​​such as Structured Query Language (SQL), Open Database Connectivity (ODBC), Java Database Connectivity (JDBC), and Extensible Markup Language (XML), allowing a single application to work with multiple DBMSs. Databases and their corresponding database management systems are often classified according to the particular database model they support. Examples include DBMSs that rely on a "relational model" for storing data, and are usually referred to as relational database management systems (RDBMS). Such systems typically use some variation of SQL to perform functions including querying, formatting, managing, and updating the RDBMS. Other examples of database models include the "object" model, the "object-relational" model, the "file", "indexed file", or "flat file" model, the "hierarchical" model, the "network" model, the "document" model, the "XML" model that uses some variation of XML, the "entity-attribute-value" model, and so on.Examples of commercially available database management systems include PostgreSQL from the PostgreSQL Global Development Group, Microsoft SQL Server from Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, Washington, USA), MySQL® and various versions of the Oracle DBMS (often simply referred to as "Oracle") separately offered by Oracle Corporation (Redwood City, California, USA), the DBMS commonly referred to as "SAP" from SAP SE (Walldorf, Germany), and DB2 DBMS from International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) (Armonk, New York, USA). Databases and DBMS software are sometimes collectively referred to as "databases." Similarly, the term "database" may collectively refer to a database, the corresponding DBMS software, and a physical computer or collection of computers. Thus, the term "database" may refer to the data, the software for managing the data, and / or the physical computer that contains some or all of the data and / or the software for managing the data.

[0106] A "detent" or "detent mechanism" generally refers to a device configured to position and hold one mechanical part relative to another such that a force applied to one of the parts can release the device. Some non-limiting examples of detents include catches, dogs, or spring-loaded balls.

[0107] An "electric motor" generally refers to an electric machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Usually, but not always, an electric motor operates by the interaction of one or more magnetic fields within the motor with winding currents to generate force in the form of rotation. An electric motor may be powered by a direct current (DC) source, such as a battery, an automobile, and / or a rectifier, or an alternating current (AC) source, such as a power grid, an inverter, and / or a generator. A generator may (but is not always) mechanically identical to an electric motor, but operates in the opposite direction, i.e., it receives mechanical energy and converts that mechanical energy into electrical energy.

[0108] A "fastener" generally refers to a hardware device that mechanically joins or otherwise secures two or more objects. Fasteners include bolts, dowels, nails, nuts, pegs, pins, rivets, screws, buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners, and snap fasteners, to name just a few non-limiting examples.

[0109] "Glass" generally refers to an amorphous material formed by cooling a melt to harden without crystallizing. Glass is usually a hard and brittle substance. Typically, but not always, glass is transparent or translucent. Glass is usually made by fusing sand with soda, lime, and possibly other ingredients and cooling rapidly. Glass may occur synthetically or naturally. For example, glass may occur naturally as obsidian, which is produced by the rapid cooling of magma.

[0110] A "hole" generally refers to a hollow portion through a solid, wall, or surface. A hole can be of any shape. For example, but not limited to, a hole can be circular, triangular, or rectangular. Holes can also have various depths and can extend completely through a solid or surface or only through one side of a solid.

[0111] "Housing" generally refers to a component that covers, protects, and / or supports another. A housing can have a unitary construction or can be formed from multiple components. A housing can be made from the same material or a combination of different materials. A housing can include a protective cover designed to contain and / or support one or more mechanical components. Some non-limiting examples of housings include cases, enclosures, coverings, bodies, and shells.

[0112] "Inductive charging" generally refers to a type of wireless power transfer (WPT) that uses an electromagnetic field to transfer energy between two objects by electromagnetic induction. Typically, but not always, inductive charging is performed via a charging station. Energy is sent to an electric device via inductive coupling, and the transferred energy is then used, for example, to charge a battery and / or to run the device. Inductive chargers typically use a primary inductive coil at the power transmitter to generate an alternating electromagnetic field from within a charging base, and a secondary inductive coil at the power receiver of the portable device or other electric load receives power from the electromagnetic field and converts the electromagnetic energy back into an electric current to charge a battery and / or power the electric load. In essence, two inductive coils in close proximity combine to form an electric transformer. When a wireless charging system uses resonant inductive coupling, a larger distance between the coils can be achieved. In the case of stationary chargers, inductive charging is performed while the electric load is stationary relative to the primary coil. Other forms of inductive charging can be performed while the vehicle or electric load is moving relative to the primary coil.

[0113] An "input / output (I / O) device" generally refers to any device or collection of devices coupled to a computing device configured to receive input and deliver the input to a processor, memory, or other portions of the computing device, and / or controlled by the computing device to generate output. An I / O device may include physically separate input and output devices, or input and output devices may be combined with each other to form a single physical unit. Such input devices of an I / O device may include a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a touch-sensitive pointing device such as a touchpad or touchscreen, and also any sensor or array of sensors for detecting environmental conditions such as temperature, light, noise, vibration, humidity, and the like. Examples of output devices for an I / O device include, but are not limited to, a screen or monitor that displays graphical output, a projection device that projects a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image, or any type of printer, plotter, or similar device that generates a two-dimensional or three-dimensional representation of the output fixed in any tangible medium (e.g., a laser printer that prints on paper, a lathe controlled to machine a piece of metal, or a three-dimensional printer that generates an object). An output device may also generate intangible output, such as, for example, data stored in a database, or electromagnetic energy transmitted through a medium or free space, such as audio produced by a speaker controlled by a computer, a radio signal transmitted through free space, or pulses of light passing through a fiber optic cable.

[0114] "Insulator" or "insulating material" generally refers to a material and / or object that does not allow internal electric charges to flow freely and that, under normal operating conditions, allows little or no electrical current to flow through the material under the influence of an electric field. Non-limiting examples of insulating materials include materials with high resistivity, such as glass, paper, ceramics, rubber, and plastics.

[0115] A "lamp" generally refers to an electrical device configured to generate light using electrical power. The light generated may be in the visible range, ultraviolet, infrared, or other light. Exemplary lighting technologies that may be employed in a lamp include, but are not limited to, incandescent, halogen, LED, fluorescent, carbon arc, xenon arc, metal halide, mercury vapor, sulfur, neon, sodium vapor, and the like.

[0116] "Light Emitting Diode" or "LED" generally refers to a semiconductor diode made from certain materials that emits light in response to the application of electric current. The various materials in LEDs can produce a variety of colors. The color of the light (corresponding to the energy of the photon) is determined by the energy required for an electron to cross the band gap of the semiconductor. Typically, but not always, white light is obtained by using multiple semiconductors, or layers of light emitting phosphors on a semiconductor device. LEDs can come in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and designs, including with or without heat sinks, lenses, or reflectors built into the package.

[0117] "Light" means light visible to the naked human eye. "Color of light" means the primary colors of light visible to the naked human eye (e.g., red, amber, white, blue, green, yellow, purple, etc.), even though they may be mixed with some minor light waves or frequencies of light.

[0118] "Light-transmitting" means transparent (with or without coloring), translucent, and / or otherwise capable of allowing visible, infrared, or ultraviolet light to pass therethrough. "Liquid" generally refers to a fluid that has no independent shape but has a finite volume, does not expand infinitely, and is only slightly compressible.

[0119] "Liqueur" or "spirit" generally refers to an alcoholic beverage produced by distillation of grains, fruits, vegetables, and / or sugars that have already undergone alcoholic fermentation. Liqueurs include vodka, gin, whiskey, bourbon, scotch, and tequila, to name just a few.

[0120] A "machine-readable identifier" generally refers to a mark, structure, and / or device that is readable by an electronic device, such as a computer equipped with an optical and / or electromagnetic scanner. Typically, but not always, a machine-readable identifier identifies an object and / or some characteristic of an object with which the machine-readable identifier is associated. Machine-readable identifiers are not easily readable and / or understandable by humans unless significant effort is exerted. Some examples of machine-readable identifiers include bar codes, quick response (QR) codes, and / or radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, to name just a few.

[0121] A "magnet" generally refers to a material or object that generates an external magnetic field. Types of magnets include permanent magnets and electromagnets. In a non-limiting example, a magnet can attract (or repel) objects, such as objects made of iron or steel, under certain circumstances.

[0122] "Memory" generally refers to any storage system or device configured to retain data or information. Each memory may include one or more types of solid-state electronic memory, magnetic memory, or optical memory, to name just a few. The memories may use any suitable storage technology or combination of storage technologies and may be volatile, non-volatile, or a hybrid combination of volatile and non-volatile. In non-limiting examples, each memory may include solid-state electronic random access memory (RAM), sequential access memory (SAM) (e.g., first-in-first-out (FIFO) or last-in-first-out (LIFO) types), programmable read-only memory (PROM), electronically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

[0123] Memory may represent dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or any variation such as static random access memory (SRAM), burst SRAM or synchronous burst SRAM (BSRAM), fast page mode DRAM (FPM DRAM), enhanced DRAM (EDRAM), enhanced data output RAM (EDO RAM), extended data output DRAM (EDO DRAM), burst extended data output DRAM (BEDO DRAM), single data rate synchronous DRAM (SDR SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), direct Rambus DRAM (DRDRAM), or extreme data rate DRAM (XDR DRAM).

[0124] Memory may also refer to non-volatile storage technologies such as non-volatile read access memory (NVRAM), flash memory, non-volatile static RAM (nvSRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM), phase change RAM (PRAM), conductive bridge RAM (CBRAM), silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS), resistive RAM (RRAM), domain wall memory (DWM) or "racetrack" memory, nanoRAM (NRAM), or millipede memory. Other non-volatile types of memory include optical disk memory (such as DVD or CD ROM), magnetically encoded hard disk or hard disk platter, floppy disk, tape, or cartridge media. The concept of "memory" includes the use of any suitable storage technology or any combination of storage technologies.

[0125] "Mobile communications" generally refers to any form of communication using cellular network standards to communicate between mobile devices, including 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, or 6G. A network standard may qualify as 1G, 2G, etc., by meeting a specification or standard, such as those administered by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). For example, a network may be referred to as a "3G network" if it meets the criteria of the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specification, among other designations. A network may be referred to as a "4G network" if it meets the requirements of the International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced (IMTAdvanced) specification. Examples of cellular networks or other wireless standards include AMPS, GSM, GPRS, UMTS, LTE, LTE Advanced, Mobile WiMAX, and WiMAX-Advanced. Cellular network standards may use various channel access methods, such as FDMA, TDMA, CDMA, or SDMA. Different types of data may be transmitted over different links and standards, or the same type of data may be transmitted over different links and standards.

[0126] A "mobile device" generally refers to a portable electronic device that can connect to a network, such as a wireless network, a mobile network, and / or the Internet. For example, a mobile device may include a smartphone or a tablet computer.

[0127] A "motor" generally refers to a machine that provides motive power for a device with moving parts. Motors can include rotor-type motors and linear-type motors. Motors can be powered in a variety of ways, such as by electricity, internal combustion engines, pneumatic mechanisms, and / or hydraulic power sources. In non-limiting examples, motors can include servo motors, air motors, hydraulic motors, steam engines, pneumatic pistons, hydraulic pistons, and / or internal combustion engines.

[0128] A "network" or "computer network" generally refers to a telecommunications network that allows computers to exchange data. Computers can pass data to each other along a data connection by converting the data into a collection of datagrams or packets. The connection between a computer and a network can be established using cables, optical fibers, or via electromagnetic transmission, for example, for wireless network devices. Computers coupled to a network may be called "nodes" or "hosts" and can originate, broadcast, route, or receive data from the network. Nodes may include any computing device, such as personal computers, telephones, and servers, as well as specialized computers called "network devices" that operate to manage the flow of data across the network. Two nodes may be considered to be "networked together" when one device can exchange information with another device, regardless of whether they are directly connected to each other. Examples of wired network connections may include digital subscriber lines (DSL), coaxial cable lines, or fiber optic lines. The wireless connection may include BLUETOOTH, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), infrared channels or satellite bands, or any wireless local area network (Wi-Fi), such as those implemented using the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) 802.11 standard (e.g., 802.11(a), 802.11(b), 802.11(g), or 802.11(n), to name a few). The wireless link may also include or use any cellular network standard used to communicate between mobile devices, including 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G.A network standard may qualify as 1G, 2G, etc., by meeting a specification or standard, such as those administered by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). For example, a network may be referred to as a "3G network" if it meets the criteria of the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specification, among other designations. A network may be referred to as a "4G network" if it meets the requirements of the International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced (IMTAdvanced) specification. Examples of cellular networks or other wireless standards include AMPS, GSM, GPRS, UMTS, LTE, LTE Advanced, Mobile WiMAX, and WiMAX-Advanced. Cellular network standards may use various channel access methods, such as FDMA, TDMA, CDMA, or SDMA. Different types of data may be transmitted over different links and standards, or the same type of data may be transmitted over different links and standards. The geographic coverage of a network may vary widely. Examples include a body area network (BAN), a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), or the Internet. A network may have any suitable network topology that defines the number and use of network connections. The network topology may be of any suitable form and may include point-to-point, bus, star, ring, mesh, or tree. A network may be an overlay network, being virtual and configured as one or more layers that use or "sit on top of" other networks. A network may utilize a variety of communication protocols or messaging techniques, including layers or stacks of protocols.Examples include the Ethernet protocol, the Internet Protocol Suite (TCP / IP), ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) technology, the SONET (Synchronous Optical Networking) protocol, or the SDE1 (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) protocol. The TCP / IP Internet Protocol Suite may include the application layer, the transport layer, the Internet layer (including, for example, IPv6), or the link layer.

[0129] "Opaque" generally describes materials and / or articles that have physical properties that prevent light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation from passing through the material. The material may be in solid, liquid, or gas form. Opaque materials are neither transparent nor translucent. Whether a material is opaque typically depends on the wavelength of light and the nature of the material. For example, some types of glass are transparent in the visible light range but are nearly opaque to ultraviolet light.

[0130] "Plastic" generally refers to synthetic or semi-synthetic materials made from a wide range of organic polymers, such as polyethylene, PVC, nylon, etc. Typically, but not always, plastics are often high molecular weight thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers that can be formed into objects, films, or filaments. In some cases, plastics can be molded in a soft state and then hardened into a rigid or slightly elastic form.

[0131] A "power source" or "power source" generally refers to an electrical device that provides power to an electrical load, such as an electric machine and / or an electronic circuit. "Remote" generally refers to any physical, logical, or other separation between two things. The separation may be relatively large, such as thousands or millions of miles or kilometers, or small, such as a few nanometers or millionths of an inch. Two things that are "remote" from one another may also be logically or physically coupled or connected to one another.

[0132] "Rotor" generally refers to a part or portion of a machine that rotates in or around a stationary part, commonly referred to as the stator. A rotor is a moving or rotating part of a rotating system such as found in generators, electric motors, sirens, mud motors, turbines, and / or biological rotors. In one specific, non-limiting example, rotors include the rotating portions of generators and / or motors, particularly induction motors.

[0133] A "server" generally refers to a computer or group of computers that provides data to other computers. A server may provide data to systems on a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) over the Internet.

[0134] A "shroud" generally refers to an object that envelops or hides another object. In one example, a shroud includes a length of cloth or enveloping clothing that covers an object or person. A "snap-fit ​​connector" or "snap-fit ​​connection" generally refers to a type of attachment device that includes at least two parts, at least one of which is flexible, that are connected together by forcing the parts together. The term "snap-fit ​​connector" may refer to only one of the parts, e.g., either the protruding part or the mating part, or it may refer to both parts when they are joined together. Typically, but not always, a snap-fit ​​connector includes a protrusion of one part, such as a hook, stud, and / or bead, that is deflected for a short period of time during the joining operation and latches into a recess and / or undercut in the mating part. After the parts are joined, the flexible snap-fit ​​part returns to its unstressed state. The resulting joint may or may not be separable depending on the shape of the undercut. The force required to separate the components may vary depending on the design. In a non-limiting example, the flexible part is made of a flexible material, such as plastic, metal, and / or carbon fiber composite. Snap-fit ​​connectors can include cantilever, torsion, and / or annular type snap-fit ​​connectors. In an annular snap-fit ​​type connector, the connector uses a hoop-stress type part to hold the other part in place. In one form, the hoop-stress part is made of an elastic material and has a stretchable circumference. In one example, the elastic hoop-stress part is pressed against a more rigid part to secure the two parts together. A cantilever snap-fit ​​type connector can form a permanent type connection or may be temporary so that the parts can be connected and disconnected multiple times. A multiple-use type snap-fit ​​connector typically, but not always, has a lever or pin that is pressed to release the snap-fit ​​connection. In the case of a torsion snap-fit ​​connector, a protruding edge of one part is pushed out of the target insertion area and then the other part slides between the protruding edges until the desired distance is reached. Once the desired distance is reached, the edge is released and the part is held in place.

[0135] A "spring" generally refers to an elastic object that stores mechanical energy. A spring can include a resilient device that can be pushed, pulled, and / or twisted, but returns to its previous shape when released. Springs can be made from resilient or elastic materials, such as metal and / or plastic. Springs can oppose or resist loads in many forms and exert force at constant or variable levels. For example, springs can include extension springs, compression springs, torsion springs, constant force springs, and / or variable force springs. Springs can take many forms, such as flat springs, machined springs, and / or serpentine springs. As only a few non-limiting examples, springs can include various coil springs, pocket springs, bonnell coils, offset coils, continuous coils, cantilever springs, spiral springs, hairsprings, leaf springs, V-springs, gas springs, leaf springs, torsion springs, rubber bands, spring washers, and / or wave springs.

[0136] "Stator" generally refers to a stationary part or portion within a machine in or around which a rotating part, commonly referred to as a rotor, rotates. A stator is a stationary part of a rotating system such as found in generators, electric motors, sirens, mud motors, turbines, and / or biological rotors. In one specific, non-limiting example, a stator includes the stationary portion of a generator and / or motor, particularly an induction motor.

[0137] A "SKU" (SKU) or "item" generally refers to an individual article or thing. A SKU can take any form and can be packaged or unpackaged. For example, a SKU can be packaged in a case, carton, bag, drum, container, bottle, can, pallet, and / or pouch, to name just a few. A SKU is not limited to a particular state of matter, and items can typically have a solid, liquid, and / or gas form, for example.

[0138] "Stopper" generally refers to a plug for sealing a hole, especially at the mouth of a bottle or other container. A "transceiver" generally refers to a device that includes both a transmitter and a receiver that share common circuitry and / or a single housing. Transceivers are typically, but not always, designed to transmit and receive electronic signals, such as analog and / or digital radio signals.

[0139] "Semitransparent" generally describes a material and / or article that has physical properties that allow light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation to pass through the material, but scatters the light significantly, thus obscuring the clear view of underlying objects. The material may be in solid, liquid, or gas form. Transparent materials are generally composed of components that have different refractive indices. Whether a material is translucent typically depends on the wavelength of the light and the nature of the material. Some examples of translucent materials include some forms of glass and plastic.

[0140] "Transparent" generally describes materials and / or articles that have physical properties that allow light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation to pass through the material without significant scattering of the light. The material may be in solid, liquid, or gas form. Transparent materials are generally composed of components that have a uniform index of refraction. Transparent materials are visible through out and may be one color entirely or any combination up to a vibrant spectrum of colors. Whether a material is transparent typically depends on the wavelength of the light and the properties of the material. Some examples of transparent materials include some forms of glass and plastic, as well as air, and liquid water.

[0141] A "vortex" generally describes a region within a fluid where the fluid flow rotates about an axis, which may be straight or curved. A vortex has a body of fluid, such as a liquid or gas, with a swirling or circular motion that tends to create a cavity or vacuum at the center of the circle, and the vortex action tends to draw the fluid toward this cavity or vacuum.

[0142] "Wireless Personal Area Network" or "WPAN" generally refers to a low-power electromagnetic network used to transfer data between devices such as computers, phones, electronic devices, and / or portable devices, where the data is carried over short distances using networking technologies ranging from a few centimeters to a few meters. WPANs are based in part on the IEEE 802.15 standard. Two types of wireless technologies are typically used in WPANs: BLUETOOTH technology and Infrared Data Association (IrDA) technology. BLUETOOTH technology typically uses short-range radio waves and in some instances can form longer-range mesh networks. IrDA technology typically uses infrared rays for communication. Non-limiting examples of WPANs include INSTEON, IrDA, Wireless USB, BLUETOOTH, Z-Wave, and ZigBee wireless communication protocols and technologies.

[0143] It should be noted that, as used in the specification and / or claims, the singular forms "a," "an," "the," etc., include the plural forms unless expressly discussed otherwise. For example, when the specification and / or claims refer to "a device" or "the device," one or more of such devices are included.

[0144] It should be noted that directional terms such as "upper," "lower," "top," "bottom," "lateral," "longitudinal," "radial," "circumferential," "horizontal," "vertical," etc. are used herein solely as a convenience to the reader to aid the reader in understanding the illustrated embodiments, and that use of these directional terms is in no way intended to limit the features described, illustrated, and / or claimed to any particular direction and / or orientation.

[0145] The present invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, which are to be considered as illustrative in nature and not limiting. It is to be understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described, and that all changes, equivalents, and modifications that are within the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims are desired to be protected by patent. All publications, patents, and patent applications cited in this specification are incorporated by reference herein as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference and set forth in its entirety. [Explanation of symbols]

[0146] 100 Vortex Generator System 105 Container 110 Base 115 Seal 120 Controller 125 Motor 130 Mixer 135 Lighting Devices 140 Power supply 145 I / O Devices 150 Memory 155 Wireless Transceiver 160 Mobile Devices 162 WPAN 165 Network Interface 170 Network 175 Servers 205 Bottles 207 Main Body 210 Shroud 215 Lap 220 Neck 225 Mouth 305 Head 310 Corkscrew 315 Lip 320 Groove 325 Spiral Pattern 405 Bottles 410 Main unit 415 Neck 420 Mouth 425 Shoulder 505 Bottom surface 507 Heel 510 Threaded Connection 515 Light Emitting Diode 520 liquid 525 Whirlpool 605 thread 610 Shank 615 Machine Readable Identifiers 620 Barcode 705 Platform 710 Platform Cavity 715 Stirring rod 717 Magnet 720 Detent 725 Blade 730 stem 905 Shroud 910 Housing 915 First Housing Component 920 Second housing component 925 Fixtures 930 Fixtures 935 battery 940 battery terminal 945 Chassis 950 Circuit Board 955 clips 960 Motor Mount 965 Fixtures 970 Motor 975 Rotor 980 Magnet 985 Machine Readable Identifiers 990 Barcode 1005 thread 1010 Ridge 1015 Tray Port 1205 1210 Seam 1215 Aperture 1220 Channel 1305 Hole 1310 Bottom 1315 Aperture 1320 Window 1405 Opening 1410 Side wall 1415 Bottom 1420 Aperture 1502 Bottle 1505 Main unit 1510 Cutout 1515 Design 1600 Flow Chart 1605 Stage 1610 Stage 1615 Stage 1620 Stage 1700 Mobile Applications 1705 Camera 1710 Connection Settings 1715 Vortex Settings 1720 Lighting Settings 1725 Battery life settings 1730 Motor Settings 1800 Mixer 1802 Stirring rod 1805 Receptacle 1810 Magnet 1905 Rib 1910 The first magnet 1915 Second Magnet 2005 page 2010 Protrusion

Claims

1. a bottle configured to contain a liquid; a base coupled to the bottle; A system comprising: the base is configured to generate a vortex in the liquid within the bottle; the base having an illumination device configured to illuminate the liquid in the bottle; system.

2. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the base is configured to indirectly form the vortex without a direct mechanical connection to an interior of the bottle.

3. The bottle further includes an agitator disposed within the bottle. the agitator includes a magnet; the base includes an electromagnetic stirrer; the base is configured to rotate the agitator within the bottle; The system of claim 2.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the agitator comprises a platform, a blade, and a stem connecting the blade to the platform.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the stem is configured to bend to mount the stirrer within the bottle.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the blade has a stylized appearance configured to stimulate visual interest.

7. the base includes a rotor configured to generate a rotating magnetic field to rotate a magnetic stirrer within the bottle; the rotor is configured to operate at variable speeds to vary the size and / or shape of the vortex; The system of claim 1 .

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the base is removably connected to the bottle via a mechanical connection.

9. a shroud covering the mechanical connection between the base and the bottle to conceal the mechanical connection; The system of claim 8 further comprising:

10. Network and a mobile device in operative communication with the base via the network; The system of claim 1 further comprising:

11. a mobile device configured to control an operation of the base The system of claim 1 further comprising:

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the mobile device is configured to control the vortex.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the mobile device is configured to control the lighting device.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the mobile device is configured to pair the bottle with the mobile device.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the mobile device is configured to pair the base with the mobile device.

16. a shroud that wraps around an interface between the base and the bottle to provide a unified appearance between the base and the bottle; the bottle having a body; the body of the bottle defines a cutout; the shroud has a wrap that is received in the cutout of the bottle; the wrap is flush with the exterior surface of the body of the bottle; The system of claim 1 .

17. The bottle further includes an agitator disposed inside the bottle. the base is configured to rotate the agitator within the bottle; the base includes an electromagnetic stirrer; The system of claim 1 .

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the base includes one or more batteries configured to power the rotor.

19. the agitator includes a blade and a stem connecting the blade to the magnet; the stem is configured to bend to mount the stirrer within the bottle; 20. The system of claim 17.

20. the cutout extends in a helical direction around the bottle; the wrap extends in the helical direction around the bottle; The system of claim 1 .

21. the bottle having a bottle machine readable identifier; the base having a base machine-readable identifier; the system further comprising a mobile device having a sensor configured to read the bottle machine readable identifier and the base machine readable identifier; the bottle machine-readable identifier and the base machine-readable identifier are used to pair the bottle and the base for usage tracking purposes. The system of claim 1 .

22. 22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the mobile device is configured to control the vortex.

23. The system of claim 21 , wherein the mobile device is configured to control the lighting device.

24. The bottle further includes an agitator disposed inside the bottle. the agitator includes a magnet, a blade, and a stem connecting the blade to the magnet; the blade has a larger surface area than the stem to create a drag force in the liquid to generate the vortex; the blade extends transversely to the magnet when the stem is in an unbent state within the bottle; the stem including a spring; the bottle has a neck with a mouth; the stem is configured to bend to fit the stirrer through the mouth and neck of the bottle; The system of claim 1 .

25. a bottle configured to contain a liquid; a base coupled to the bottle; A system comprising: the base is configured to generate a vortex in the liquid within the bottle; the bottle and / or the base having a machine readable identifier; the mobile device has a sensor for reading the machine-readable identifier to pair with the bottle and / or the base; system.

26. 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the mobile device is configured to control the vortex.

27. the base having an illumination device configured to illuminate the liquid in the bottle; the mobile device is configured to control the lighting device; 26. The system of claim 25.

28. the base is removably connected to the bottle via a mechanical connection; the mechanical connection holds the bottle and the base together to prevent separation during pouring of the liquid; the bottle having a bottle machine readable identifier; the base having a base machine-readable identifier; the system comprising a mobile device having a sensor configured to read the bottle machine-readable identifier and the base machine-readable identifier; the bottle machine-readable identifier and the base machine-readable identifier are used to pair the bottle and the base for usage tracking purposes.

26. The system of claim 25.

29. 30. The system of claim 28, wherein the base comprises an illumination device configured to illuminate the liquid in the bottle.

30. creating a vortex in a liquid held in the bottle; modifying the swirl in the bottle via a mobile device; The method includes:

31. illuminating the liquid in the bottle with an illumination device in a base; adjusting the illumination of the liquid in the bottle via the mobile device; 31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

32. transmitting data about the bottle from the mobile device to a server.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

33. illuminating the liquid in the bottle with an illumination device in a base; adjusting the illumination of the liquid in the bottle via the mobile device; connecting the bottle to the base via a removable mechanical connection to provide a unified appearance; Further comprising: the connecting step includes inserting the bottle into a shroud that creates the integrated appearance between the base and the bottle; The method further comprising: creating a vortex in a liquid held in the bottle; pouring the liquid from the bottle with the base attached to the bottle; Further comprising: the generating step includes magnetically spinning an agitator within the bottle via the base; The method further comprising: powering the base with a battery housed in the base; monitoring a charge of the battery at the mobile device; removing the bottle from the base; Further comprising: the removing step occurs after the pouring step.

31. The method of claim 30.

34. powering the base with a battery housed in the base; the generating step includes magnetically spinning an agitator within the bottle via the base.

31. The method of claim 30.

35. monitoring the charging of the battery with the mobile device 35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

36. illuminating the liquid in the bottle with an illumination device in a base; adjusting the illumination of the liquid in the bottle via the mobile device; 31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

37. further comprising connecting the bottle to the base via a removable mechanical connection to provide a unitary appearance; said connecting includes inserting said bottle into a shroud that creates said integrated appearance between said base and said bottle; 31. The method of claim 30.

38. pouring the liquid from the bottle with the base attached to the bottle; removing the bottle from the base; Further comprising: the removing step occurs after the pouring step.

38. The method of claim 37.

39. 39. The system or method of any one of claims 1 to 38, wherein the base is configured to indirectly form the vortex without a direct mechanical connection to an interior of the bottle.

40. The bottle further includes an agitator disposed within the bottle. the agitator includes a magnet; the base includes an electromagnetic stirrer; the base is configured to rotate the agitator within the bottle; 40. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 39.

41. 41. The system or method of any one of claims 1 to 40, wherein the agitator comprises a platform, a blade, and a stem connecting the blade to the platform.

42. 42. The system or method of any one of claims 1 to 41, wherein the stem is configured to bend to fit the stirrer within the bottle.

43. 43. The system or method of any one of claims 1 to 42, wherein the blade has a stylized appearance configured to stimulate visual interest.

44. the base includes a rotor configured to generate a rotating magnetic field to rotate a magnetic stirrer within the bottle; the rotor is configured to operate at variable speeds to vary the size and / or shape of the vortex; 44. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 43.

45. 45. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 44, wherein the base is removably connected to the bottle via a mechanical connection.

46. a shroud covering the mechanical connection between the base and the bottle to conceal the mechanical connection.

46. ​​A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 45.

47. Network and a mobile device in operative communication with the base via the network; 47. The system or method of any one of claims 1 to 46, further comprising:

48. a mobile device configured to control an operation of the base 48. The system or method of any one of claims 1 to 47, further comprising:

49. 49. The system or method of any one of claims 1 to 48, wherein the mobile device is configured to control the vortex.

50. 50. The system or method of any one of claims 1 to 49, wherein the mobile device is configured to control the lighting device.

51. 51. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 50, wherein the mobile device is configured to pair the bottle with the mobile device.

52. 52. The system or method of any one of claims 1 to 51, wherein the mobile device is configured to pair the base with the mobile device.

53. a shroud that wraps around an interface between the base and the bottle to provide a unified appearance between the base and the bottle; the bottle having a body; the body of the bottle defines a cutout; the shroud has a wrap that is received in the cutout of the bottle; the wrap is flush with the exterior surface of the body of the bottle; 53. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 52.

54. The bottle further includes an agitator disposed within the bottle. the base is configured to rotate the agitator within the bottle; the base includes an electromagnetic stirrer; 54. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 53.

55. 55. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 54, wherein the base includes one or more batteries configured to power the rotor.

56. the agitator includes a blade and a stem connecting the blade to the magnet; the stem is configured to bend to mount the stirrer within the bottle; 56. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 55.

57. the cutout extends in a helical direction around the bottle; the wrap extends in the helical direction around the bottle; 57. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 56.

58. the bottle having a bottle machine readable identifier; the base having a base machine-readable identifier; the system or method further comprising a mobile device having a sensor configured to read the bottle machine readable identifier and the base machine readable identifier; the bottle machine-readable identifier and the base machine-readable identifier are used to pair the bottle and the base for usage tracking purposes.

58. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 57.

59. 59. The system or method of any one of claims 1 to 58, wherein the mobile device is configured to control the vortex.

60. 60. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 59, wherein the mobile device is configured to control the lighting device.

61. The bottle further includes an agitator disposed within the bottle. the agitator includes a magnet, a blade, and a stem connecting the blade to the magnet; the blade has a larger surface area than the stem to create a drag force in the liquid to generate the vortex; the blade extends transversely to the magnet when the stem is in an unbent state within the bottle; the stem including a spring; the bottle has a neck with a mouth; the stem is configured to bend to fit the stirrer through the mouth and neck of the bottle; 61. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 60.

62. 62. The system or method of any one of claims 1 to 61, wherein the mobile device is configured to control the vortex.

63. the base having an illumination device configured to illuminate the liquid in the bottle; the mobile device is configured to control the lighting device; 63. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 62.

64. the base is removably connected to the bottle via a mechanical connection; the mechanical connection holds the bottle and the base together to prevent separation during pouring of the liquid; the bottle having a bottle machine readable identifier; the base having a base machine-readable identifier; the system or method comprising a mobile device having a sensor configured to read the bottle machine-readable identifier and the base machine-readable identifier; the bottle machine-readable identifier and the base machine-readable identifier are used to pair the bottle and the base for usage tracking purposes.

64. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 63.

65. 65. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 64, wherein the base comprises an illumination device configured to illuminate the liquid in the bottle.

66. illuminating the liquid in the bottle with an illumination device in the base; adjusting the illumination of the liquid in the bottle via the mobile device; 66. The system or method of any one of claims 1 to 65, further comprising:

67. and transmitting data about the bottle from the mobile device to a server.

67. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 66.

68. illuminating the liquid in the bottle with an illumination device in the base; adjusting the illumination of the liquid in the bottle via the mobile device; connecting the bottle to the base via a removable mechanical connection to provide a uniform appearance; Further comprising: the connecting step includes inserting the bottle into a shroud that creates the integrated appearance between the base and the bottle; The method further comprising: creating a vortex in a liquid held in the bottle; pouring the liquid from the bottle with the base attached to the bottle; Further comprising: the generating step includes magnetically spinning an agitator within the bottle via the base; The method further comprising: powering the base with a battery housed in the base; monitoring a charge of the battery at the mobile device; removing the bottle from the base; Further comprising: the removing step occurs after the pouring step.

68. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 67.

69. powering the base with a battery housed in the base; the generating step includes magnetically spinning an agitator within the bottle via the base.

69. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 68.

70. monitoring the charging of the battery with the mobile device 70. The system or method of any one of claims 1 to 69, further comprising:

71. illuminating the liquid in the bottle with an illumination device in the base; adjusting the illumination of the liquid in the bottle via the mobile device; 71. The system or method of any one of claims 1 to 70, further comprising:

72. further comprising connecting the bottle to the base via a removable mechanical connection to provide a unitary appearance; the connecting step includes inserting the bottle into a shroud that creates the integrated appearance between the base and the bottle.

72. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 71.

73. pouring the liquid from the bottle with the base attached to the bottle; removing the bottle from the base; Further comprising: the removing step occurs after the pouring step.

73. A system or method according to any one of claims 1 to 72.

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