System and methods for managing a container or its contents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beverage containers lack the ability to track and communicate information about the contents, such as temperature, and often fail to prevent spills, requiring users to physically interact with the container to assess conditions, which can be unsafe and unsanitary.
Innovation Solution
A container management system equipped with sensors and computer elements that detect and track temperature, orientation, and other conditions, and can communicate with external systems to provide information and automatically adjust lid openings to prevent spills.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a basic container is used to store beverage, then the container is simple and inexpensive, but the consumer cannot obtain information about the current status of the beverage without physically manipulating the container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a computer system as an intermediary between the beverage container and the consumer. The computer system receives data from sensors in the container (temperature, volume, orientation) and provides this information to the consumer through a remote interface, eliminating the need for the consumer to physically interact with the container while still providing comprehensive status information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical interaction (physically touching or opening the container to check status) with electronic sensing and communication systems. Sensors electronically detect temperature, volume, and orientation, while a computer system transmits this data remotely, substituting mechanical checking methods with electronic information gathering.
2Loss of information
If the consumer physically manipulates the container to test temperature or contents, then the consumer can obtain information about the beverage, but the consumer risks burn or contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The computer system acts as an intermediary that gathers information from the beverage through sensors without requiring the consumer to physically contact the beverage. The consumer receives temperature and status information remotely through the computer interface, completely avoiding burn risk and contamination while still obtaining full information about the beverage state.
Solution Approach 2:
The container system performs self-monitoring through integrated sensors that continuously track temperature, volume, and orientation. The system automatically detects and reports its own status conditions without needing consumer intervention, eliminating the need for physical manipulation while providing comprehensive information.
3Reliability
If a removable barrier lid is used to prevent spilling, then the lid can minimize spillage when in place, but the lid does not effectively prevent spillage if the barrier is not in place when the container tips over
Solution Approach 1:
The computer system continuously monitors container orientation through sensors and is pre-programmed with spill-prevention logic. When the sensor detects a tipping motion or orientation that could lead to spilling, the system automatically activates the lid barrier mechanism in advance, closing the lid before the spill can occur. This preliminary automated action ensures reliable spill prevention without requiring manual consumer intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses orientation sensors to provide continuous feedback about container position and motion. This feedback loop allows the computer system to detect tipping conditions and automatically respond by activating the lid barrier, creating a closed-loop control system that reliably prevents spills based on real-time sensor data.
4Loss of information
If advanced containers with integrated thermometers are used, then the consumer can view temperature readings from the thermometer, but the consumer cannot track temperature readings over time or access temperature remotely
Solution Approach 1:
The computer system serves as an intermediary that receives temperature data from container sensors and stores it in a database. The consumer can access this temperature information remotely through the computer interface at any time, and the system tracks temperature readings over time, providing historical data and trends without requiring the consumer to be physically present with the container.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces simple mechanical thermometers with electronic sensing and digital communication systems. Electronic sensors continuously measure temperature and transmit data to a computer system that stores and displays historical temperature records remotely, substituting basic mechanical temperature display with comprehensive digital temperature monitoring and analysis capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain embodiments of the present invention include a retainer, a lid, and a sensor, where the sensor is configured to detect information about the retainer, the lid, or the contents in the retainer. The sensor also may be configured to communicate with an internal or external computer system, thereby facilitating showing the detected information as a representation via a display element. In certain embodiments, the system may include an action element such as an open/close lid opening assembly configured to permit automatically or manually opening or closing a drink aperture or another type of dispensing aperture.