container

Abstract

To provide a container which reduces the risk of unauthorized unlocking. [Solution] The container 1 is a container for storing food and beverages, and comprises a body part 10 having an opening through which food and beverages are stored inside, a lid part 11 attached to the body part 10 and capable of sealing the opening, and a locking part 12 that locks the lid part 11 and unlocks the lid part 11 by authenticating information linked to the user of the container 1.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a container. [Background technology]

[0002] Containers for storing food and drink have been known for some time. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a mechanism for locking a lid of a container for storing food and drink with a combination lock using a secret code type locking mechanism. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-119488 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with the technology described in Patent Document 1, the combination used to unlock the dial lock is easily visible to a third party when unlocking the door, posing a risk of unauthorized unlocking.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a container that reduces the risk of unauthorized unlocking. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided the following container: The container is a container for containing food and drink, and includes a body part having an opening and for containing food and drink through the opening, a lid part attached to the body part and capable of sealing the opening, and a lock part for locking the lid part and unlocking the lid part by authenticating information linked to a user of the container.

[0007] In addition, in a container according to a second aspect of the present invention, the locking section can automatically lock the lid section when the electronic terminal held by the user and the container are separated by a predetermined distance or more, or when the lid section remains unlocked for a certain period of time.

[0008] In addition, in the container according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to switch between a state in which the lid portion is automatically locked and a state in which the lid portion is not automatically locked by authenticating information linked to the user. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, a container can be provided that reduces the risk of unauthorized unlocking. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view showing a container according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a container according to a modified example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to facilitate understanding of the description, the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same components in each drawing as much as possible, and duplicated description will be omitted.

[0012] <Embodiment> First, a container 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0013] <Overall composition> FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, a container 1 is configured so that electronic devices 2 can communicate with each other via a communication line NT.

[0015] The container 1 is a container for storing food and drink, such as a water bottle, etc. The container 1 may store food such as miso soup, jelly, etc., in addition to beverages such as water and tea.

[0016] The electronic device 2 is a terminal owned by a user, such as a smartphone, and receives various operations from a user via a touch panel or buttons, for example, and executes processes.

[0017] It should be noted that there may be a plurality of containers 1 or electronic devices 2. For example, the container 1 may be configured to be capable of communicating with a plurality of electronic devices 2 via a communication line NT.

[0018] <Configuration details> FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a container 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the container 1 includes a body portion 10 , a lid portion 11 , and a lock portion 12 .

[0020] The body part 10 has an opening. The opening is provided in the upper part of the body part 10, and food and drink can be placed inside the body part 10 through the opening. A screw-shaped groove is formed on the periphery of the opening.

[0021] The lid portion 11 is attached to the upper portion of the body portion 10 and is capable of sealing the opening. The lid portion 11 includes an upper lid portion 111 and a lower lid portion 112. The top lid part 111 is provided on the top of the bottom lid part 112 and is provided so as to be openable and closable. When the top lid part 111 is in a closed state, the opening of the body part 10 is sealed. When the top lid part 111 is in a normally open state, for example, a user of the container 1 can take food or drink out of the opening of the body part 10 and eat it. The lower lid part 112 is provided below the upper lid part 111. A screw-like groove is formed inside the lower lid part 112. The screw-like groove of the lower lid part 112 and a screw-like groove formed on the periphery of the opening of the body part 10 fit together, whereby the lid part 11 is fixed to the body part 10.

[0022] The lock unit 12 is provided on the side of the lid unit 11. The lock unit 12 can lock the lid unit 11 so that no one other than the user of the container 1 can access the food and drink contained in the container 1. The lock unit 12 can lock or unlock the lid unit 11 by authenticating information associated with the user of the container 1. The information associated with the user may be, for example, information of a unique ID associated with the electronic device 2 owned by the user, or may be biometric information such as a fingerprint, voiceprint, iris, or face of the user. Specifically, the lock unit 12 locks or unlocks the lid unit 11 by an electronic lock system. For example, the electronic device 2 owned by the user and the container 1 may be linked in advance, so that the lid unit 11 may be locked or unlocked by an operation input to the electronic device 2. In addition, information on whether the lid unit 11 is currently locked or unlocked may be confirmed by the electronic device 2. Furthermore, the lid unit 11 may be unlocked by inputting an initial setting or a PIN number set in advance by the user to the electronic device 2. At this time, the password may be changeable at will. The lock unit 12 can automatically lock the lid unit 11 when the electronic device 2 and the container 1 are separated by a predetermined distance or more, or when the lid unit 11 has remained unlocked for a certain period of time. Specifically, the container 1 or the electronic device 2 may recognize the distance between the container 1 and the electronic device 2, and the lock unit 12 may automatically unlock the lid unit 11 when the distance becomes closer, and automatically lock the lid unit 11 when the distance becomes farther. Also, the time that the container 1 is in an unlocked state may be recorded, and the lid unit 11 may be automatically locked when the time continues for 5 minutes or more. Furthermore, the lock unit 12 can switch between a state in which the lid unit 11 is automatically locked and a state in which the lid unit 11 is not automatically locked by authenticating information linked to the user. For example, when the container 1 is lent to a person other than the user, the lid unit 11 may be set to a state in which the lid unit 11 is not automatically locked by inputting information from the electronic device 2. In addition, the lock portion 12 can also be configured to open the top cover portion 111 by the user pressing down a part of the lock portion 12.

[0023] <Effects> As described above, the container 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a container 1 for storing food and beverages, and comprises a body portion 10 having an opening through which food and beverages are stored, a lid portion 11 attached to the body portion 10 and capable of sealing the opening, and a locking portion 12 that locks the lid portion 11 and unlocks the lid portion 11 by authenticating information linked to the user of the container 1.

[0024] According to this configuration, the risk of unauthorized unlocking, in which the lid portion 11 is unlocked by someone other than the user of the container 1, can be reduced.

[0025] In addition, in the container 1, the locking section 12 can automatically lock the lid section 11 when the electronic device 2 owned by the user and the container 1 are separated by a predetermined distance or more, or when the lid section 11 remains unlocked for a certain period of time.

[0026] According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the risk that people other than the user of the container 1 may access the food and drink contained inside the container 1 due to forgetting to lock the container 1.

[0027] Furthermore, in the container 1, by authenticating information linked to a user, it is possible to switch between a state in which the lid portion 11 is automatically locked and a state in which the lid portion 11 is not automatically locked.

[0028] According to this configuration, it is possible to set the container 1 not to lock automatically when the container 1 is lent to someone other than the user of the container 1, thereby improving the convenience of the container 1 compared to a case in which the above switching is not possible.

[0029] <Modification> The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. In other words, the above-mentioned specific example may be modified by a person skilled in the art as appropriate, and the modifications may be included in the scope of the present invention as long as they have the characteristics of the present invention. In addition, the elements of the above-mentioned embodiment and the following modifications may be combined to the extent technically possible, and the combination of these may be included in the scope of the present invention as long as they have the characteristics of the present invention.

[0030] For example, container 1 may be a food storage container, a seasoning container, a cosmetic container, a lunch box, or the like, in addition to a water bottle.

[0031] Furthermore, the electronic device 2 may be, for example, a tablet terminal, a computer, a smart watch, an e-book reader, a game console, or the like.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a container 1A according to a modified example of the present invention.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, a container 1A according to the modified example further includes a fingerprint authentication unit 13.

[0034] The fingerprint authentication unit 13 reads the fingerprint of the user. The fingerprint authentication unit 13 is provided on the outer surface of the body unit 10, and when the user touches the fingerprint to the fingerprint authentication unit 13, the fingerprint is read and fingerprint authentication is performed by comparing the read fingerprint data with pre-registered fingerprint data. If the read fingerprint data matches the pre-registered fingerprint data, the user is authenticated as a legitimate user, and the cover unit 11 can be locked or unlocked.

[0035] In this way, the container 1A according to the modified example can lock or unlock the lid 11 by fingerprint authentication even when the user does not have a device such as the electronic device 2. This makes the container 1A more convenient than a case in which a separate electronic device 2 is required to unlock the lid 11.

[0036] The container 1 may also have a voice acquisition unit such as a microphone to acquire the user's voice and perform authentication. The container 1 may also have an image acquisition unit such as a camera to acquire an image of the user's face or iris and perform authentication. In other words, the lock unit 12 may lock or unlock the lid unit 11 by any biometric authentication.

[0037] The lock unit 12 may be a touch-type electronic lock. For example, a touch panel may be provided in the lock unit 12, and a PIN code or a specific touch gesture may be registered as an input pattern, and the authentication operation may be performed by inputting the input pattern on the panel.

[0038] Furthermore, the locking portion 12 may be provided on a case for the container 1, rather than on the container 1. For example, the locking portion 12 may be provided on a case for carrying the container 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1: container, 10: body, 11: lid, 12: lock

Claims

1. A container for containing food and drink, a body portion having an opening and configured to accommodate food and drink therein through the opening; a cover portion attached to the body portion and capable of sealing the opening; A lock unit that locks the lid and unlocks the lid by authenticating information associated with a user of the container; A container comprising:

2. The lock unit is capable of automatically locking the lid unit when the electronic terminal of the user and the container are separated by a predetermined distance or more, or when the lid unit remains unlocked for a certain period of time.

2. The container of claim 1.

3. By authenticating information associated with the user, it is possible to switch between a state in which the lid unit is automatically locked and a state in which the lid unit is not automatically locked.

3. The container of claim 2.

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