BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a smart beverage vessel or a smart carafe for monitoring the water consumption of a user of the beverage vessel and for ensuring that a beverage of reasonable quality is provided to the user. Further, germ formation can be avoided.

2. Description of the Related Art

Depending on the physical activity of the user a user has to drink a certain amount of water comprising certain types and amounts of minerals.

Generally, water is consumed by humans increasingly from bottles, since tab water is not considered to be tasty or is more or less polluted. These circumstances cause negative effects. A big share of the bottles is plastic bottles. Such plastic bottles emit substances hazardous to health. Further, the environment is polluted by plastic bottles.

In the heat of the summer the plastic bottle may get very hot, even during delivering the bottle to a customer. Thereby, even more substances hazardous to health can be emitted from the plastic to the water. Plastic is a nutrient medium for bacteria multiplying in the heat in the bottle. Accordingly, the quality of water in the bottle is unknown.

Drinking vessels of the prior art do not monitor quality of the beverage stored in the drinking vessel.

Carafes are used when a group of persons wishes to drink the same beverage, such as during breakfast, lunch, dinning or during a meeting.

Carafes of the prior art face the problem that portions of a closure element over which water flows have to be touched by hand. This is not desired under hygienic considerations.

Further, closure elements of carafes of the prior art comprise plastics that may get into contact with the beverage. This is also not desired under hygienic considerations.

Further, the quality of the water in the carafe has to be monitored and the user has to be informed, if the quality of the water in the beverage vessel is too low.

WO 2016/090235 A1 relates to a portable vessel, wherein additives located in containers can be added to water in the vessel. This system has the disadvantage that the quality of the water cannot be monitored and that it is intricate for the user to carry a comparably bulky beverage vessel with a plurality of containers throughout their working days and leisure days.

WO 2016/155538 A1 discloses a vessel that can monitor drinking events.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved beverage vessel that solves the problems of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A beverage vessel according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a beverage container, a closure element, a light distributor element and a light emitter. In the beverage container beverage may be stored. The beverage container has an upper opening through which beverage may be poured in and poured out of the beverage container and a wall extending from the opening at the top to the bottom of the beverage container. The beverage container may be rotational symmetric along the vertical axis of the beverage container. The closure element is adapted to be releasably positioned in the upper opening of the beverage container. The light distribution element is arranged at the closure element. The light emitter is positioned such that the light emitted by the light emitter passes at least a part of the volume of the beverage container before entering the light distribution element. The light distribution element is adapted to distribute the light entering from the light emitter in the periphery of the beverage vessel.

The inventive configuration allows combining design aspects and functional aspects. The light emitter may be positioned at a location close to a controller and an accumulator. The light distribution element may be positioned remote and spaced apart from the light emitter and integrated into the design of the beverage vessel, such as a smart carafe, smart bottle or the like. The light emitter may display at least one information relating to the beverage in the beverage container by an optical signal. The light distribution element distributes the light emitted by the light emitter in the periphery of the beverage vessel. Thereby, the user of the beverage vessel or service staff can recognize that action is required, such as refilling the beverage vessel, replacing the beverage in the beverage vessel.

The light distributor element may have opaque optical properties, scattering optical properties and/or diffracting optical properties for appropriate light distribution around the beverage vessel, such that the light and the information about the beverage may be recognized by the user and service staff in the periphery of the beverage vessel.

In one embodiment, the light distribution element may be positioned atop of the closure element.

The closure element may comprise a light guide, a hollow portion or the like for passing light emitted by the light emitter to the light distribution element after it has passed through the beverage container and/or the beverage in the beverage container.

The light emitter may transmit light in a plurality of different colors. The light emitter may transmit continuous light, flashing light or light periodically changing color, e.g. for transmitting information.

In one embodiment the light emitter is positioned at the bottom of the beverage container. The light may pass through the beverage.

The beverage vessel according to a second aspect may comprise a closure element comprising a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises at least three locking arms extending in radial direction of the beverage container to the beverage container. At least one arm of the locking element comprises an elastic portion being elastic in the radial direction of the beverage container.

In one embodiment, the locking element may only be elastic in the radial direction. However, the locking element may also be elastic in another direction.

The beverage container may comprise at least one concave portion in the wall, wherein the concave portion extends in the radial direction of the beverage container. The concave portion extends in the radial a direction from the inner to the outer of the beverage container. The concave portion forms a recess directed to the middle axis of the beverage container. The arms releasably engage the concave portion in the wall for releasably locking the closure element to the beverage container.

The closure element can be pushed by a user into the beverage container through the upper opening. The locking arms are retracted by the outward tapper of the beverage container next to the opening. In other words, around the opening a portion inclined in the radial direction providing the outward tapper is provided for conveniently pouring beverage out of the beverage container. Below the outward tapper the concave portion is provided that extends radially from the inner of the beverage container to the outer of the beverage container.

As soon as the locking arms are pushed downward in the direction of the concave portion, the locking arms extend radially and engage in the concave portion, such that the locking mechanism locks the closure element to the beverage container that closure element cannot be moved downward or upward.

In one embodiment the locking mechanism can only be moved outward (upward), if the mechanical resistance caused by the locking arms engaging into the concave portion is surmounted. The mechanical resistance is caused by the locking arms that are pushed radially inward to the elastic portion of the locking arms. As soon as the locking arms have been pressed inwardly by the boarder or edge of the concave portion, the locking mechanism and closure element can be moved upwardly and the locking arms are released as soon as they are in contact with the inclined portion of the upper tapper at the opening.

The locking arms engage into the concave portion extending radially outward in the container in a snap/fit manner. Operation of such snap/fit mechanism is known by the person skilling the art.

In one embodiment the beverage container may comprise a plurality of concave portions, such as one concave portion for each locking arm.

In a preferred embodiment the concave portion extends in the circumferential direction along the wall of the beverage container. In the cross section direction the concave portion of the container extends radially outward. The concave portion may extend around the beverage container.

The locking arm may comprise at the radially outer tip a contact element elastically accommodated by the booking arm. The contact element may comprises a round shape at the radially outer portion. The round shape may include a partial sphere, a sphere, a partial ellipsoid, an ellipsoid or the like.

The locking arm may comprise an opening extending in the radially direction. The contact element may move into the opening of the locking arm, if a force is exerted on the contact element, such as by the beverage container and particularly from the tapered outlet portion and the concave portion. In the opening of the locking arm an elastic element can be provided, such as a spring that contacts the contact element and the inner end of the opening in the locking arm.

In one embodiment the contact element may comprise at its radially outer portion a partial spherical shape. The contact element may comprise in its radially inner portion a rod shaped portion that is surrounded by the walls of the opening, wherein the rod shaped portion of the contact element is accommodated movably in the radial direction of the locking arm within the opening. The rod shaped portion may comprise a circular or rectangular cross-section.

The closure element may comprise a grip element extending from the grip element in vertical direction of the beverage vessel and/or perpendicular to the locking arms. The grip element extends upward in the vertical direction of the beverage vessel and does not enter the beverage vessel, when the locking arms are engaged in the concave portion. The user can hold the closure element at the grip element and does not have to touch any surface of the closure element or the beverage container that is also contacted by the beverage in the beverage container. Thereby, a beverage vessel and a closure element can be provided that can fulfill ambitious hygienic standards.

The closure element may comprise an actuation element movably mounted on the closure element. The actuation element can be moved in a first position, in which the locking arms are movable in the horizontal direction and in a second position, in which the locking arms are not movable. The actuation element may be movable in the vertical direction. The actuation element can be the grip element or part of the grip element.

In one embodiment the light distribution element is arranged at the actuation element and/or grip element. Preferably, the light distribution element is arranged at the top of the actuation element and/or grip element.

The light distribution element may be a partial sphere positioned at the top of the actuation element.

The beverage vessel may comprise a lid positioned under the grip element and above the locking mechanism. The lid is movable with respect to the locking mechanism. Since the lid is mounted on the locking mechanism, the user does not touch the lid when pressing the closure element into the upper opening of the beverage container. Thereby, high hygienic standards can be provided.

In one embodiment the lid is mounted to the locking mechanism.

In one embodiment the lid is mounted to the locking mechanism by at least one rod extending through an opening in the locking arms. The rod may extend perpendicular to the lid, i.e. in the vertical direction. The opening in the locking arm extends in the vertical direction.

As soon as the beverage vessel is rotated around the horizontal axis, the lid remains in the horizontal position and opens the closure element such that the beverage can be poured out of the beverage vessel without any need of touching a surface that is in contact with the beverage in the beverage container.

In one embodiment the beverage vessel may comprise a stop means that is mounted to at least one of the rods at a position opposite to the lid and restricts the pivoting angle range of the lid.

In one embodiment the closure element further comprises a counter weight that is mounted to at least one of the rods at the position opposite to the lid. The counter weight supports the lid in keeping its essentially horizontal position to the environment of the beverage vessel, if the beverage vessel is rotated around the horizontal axis for pouring beverage out of the beverage container. The counter weight may act as a stop means.

The light emitter is positioned at the bottom of the beverage container and the light emitted by the light emitter may pass through the beverage before entering in the light distribution element. The light emitter may comprise a single light source, such as LED, a laser diode or the like. The light emitter may comprise a plurality of light sources, wherein the light sources emit light with different colors (wavelength).

The closure element of the beverage vessel may further comprise a light conducting section. The light conducting section may be formed by a hollow portion extending particularly in the grip element.

The beverage vessel may further comprise a rechargeable battery and a controller located below the beverage container.

The beverage vessel may be a carafe or the like.

The beverage vessel may comprise a first temperature sensor adapted to measure the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container. The first temperature sensor may be arranged at the bottom of the beverage container. The beverage vessel may further comprise a fill level sensor adapted to measure the fill level of the beverage in the beverage container. In one embodiment the fill level sensor may be a weight sensor that measures the weight of the beverage container and the beverage therein. In one embodiment the fill level sensor may be a capacitive sensor formed by a transparent layer around the beverage container. The beverage vessel may have a transmitter for transmitting information and a receiver for receiving information. The transmitter and the receiver may implement any near field communication protocol or any other protocol such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID or the like.

The light emitter may be implemented by a light emitting diode, a laser diode or the like. The beverage vessel may also comprise a controller adapted to control the first temperature sensor, the fill level sensor, the transmitter, the receiver and/or the light emitter.

In one embodiment the controller may be adapted to determine the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container and to control the light emitter depending on the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container. Thereby, the user may be informed, if the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container exceeds a predetermined threshold.

In one embodiment the controller may determine the fill level of the beverage in the beverage container and to control the light emitter depending on the fill level of the beverage in the beverage container. Thereby, the user of the beverage vessel or a service staff, such as restaurants staff, hotel staff, nursing staff or the like, may be informed that the beverage vessel has to be refilled.

In one embodiment the controller may determine the time span, during which the beverage has been in the beverage container. The controller may control the light emitter depending on the time span during which the beverage is in the beverage container. Thereby, the user and/or a service staff are informed that the beverage in the beverage container has to be replaced.

The controller may also be adapted to receive information about the ingredients of the beverage in the beverage container and to control the light emitter depending on the ingredients of the beverage in the beverage container. The term “ingredients of the beverage” also includes the type of beverage. Thereby, the user and the service staff are informed which type of beverage is in the beverage vessel and the user can drink his preferred beverage and the service staff can refill of the beverage vessel with the appropriate beverage. The information about the ingredients of the beverage may be transmitted by a beverage dispenser.

The controller may be adapted to determine the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container and to output a signal depending on the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container. The outputted signal may be an audio signal output by a loudspeaker and/or a message transmitted by the transmitter. By the message transmitted by the transmitter service staff, such as restaurants staff, hotel staff, hospital staff or the like can be informed that the beverage in the beverage vessel has to be replaced.

In one embodiment the controller can determine the fill level of the beverage in the beverage container and can output a signal depending on the fill level of the beverage in the vessel. Also in this embodiment, the signal may be an audio signal and/or a message transmitted by the transmitter to an electronic device associated to service staff, such as restaurants staff, hotel staff, hospital staff, nursing staff or the like.

In one embodiment the controller may determine the time span during which the beverage has been in the beverage container, and output a signal depending on the time span, during which the beverage has been in the beverage container. Also in this embodiment the outputted signal may be an audio signal outputted by a loudspeaker and/or a message transmitted by the transmitter to an electronic device associated to service staff. Thereby, the service staff and/or the user can be informed that the beverage in the beverage container has to be replaced.

The controller may be adapted to determine the amount of beverage the user has drunken in a pre-defined time span and to control the light emitter depending on the amount of beverage the user has drunken in the predefined time span. Thereby, the user can be requested to drink beverage until the predefined amount of beverage has been drunken by the user. The controller can also be adapted to determine the amount of beverage the user has drunken in a predefined time span and to output a signal depending on the amount of beverage the user has drunken in a predefined time span. The outputted signal can be an audio signal outputted by a loudspeaker and/or a message transmitted by the transmitter. The message may be transmitted to an electronic device associated to the service staff mentioned before, particularly hospital staff or other nursing staff to enable the staff to monitor the hydration of a patient and prevent dehydration.

In one embodiment the controller may be adapted to transmit the message indicating the amount of beverage the user has drunken in a predefined time span after receipt of a message by the receiver. The received message may be a message received from an electronic device associated to service staff and/or nursing staff that monitors the water consumption of a patient.

The beverage vessel may comprise a first temperature sensor adapted to measure the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container. The first temperature sensor may be arranged at the bottom of the beverage container. The beverage vessel may further comprise a fill level sensor adapted to measure the fill level of the beverage in the beverage container. In one embodiment the fill level sensor may be a capacitive sensor formed by a transparent layer around the beverage container. The beverage vessel may have a transmitter for transmitting information and a receiver for receiving information. The transmitter and the receiver may implement any near field communication protocol or any other protocol such as RFID, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or the like.

The light emitter may be implemented by a light emitting diode, a laser diode or the like. The beverage vessel may also comprise a controller adapted to control the first temperature sensor, the fill level sensor, the transmitter, the receiver and/or the light emitter.

In one embodiment the controller may be adapted to determine the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container and to control the light emitter depending on the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container. Thereby, the user may be informed, if the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container exceeds a predetermined threshold.

In one embodiment the controller may determine the fill level of the beverage in the beverage container and to control the light emitter depending on the fill level of the beverage in the beverage container. Thereby, the user of the beverage vessel or a service staff, such as restaurants staff, hotel staff, nursing staff or the like, may be informed that the beverage vessel has to be refilled.

In one embodiment the controller may determine the time span, during which the beverage has been in the beverage container. The controller may control the light emitter depending on the time span during which the beverage is in the beverage container. Thereby, the user and/or a service staff are informed that the beverage in the beverage container has to be replaced.

The controller may also be adapted to receive information about the ingredients of the beverage in the beverage container and to control the light emitter depending on the ingredients of the beverage in the beverage container. The term ingredients of the beverage also includes the type of beverage. Thereby, the user and the service staff are informed which type of beverage is in the beverage vessel and the user can drink his preferred beverage and the service staff can refill the beverage vessel with the appropriate beverage. The information about the ingredients of the beverage may be transmitted by a beverage dispenser.

The controller may be adapted to determine the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container and to output a signal depending on the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container. The outputted signal may be an audio signal outputted by a loudspeaker and/or a message transmitted by the transmitter. By the message transmitted by the transmitter service staff, such as restaurants staff, hotel staff, hospital staff or the like can be informed that the beverage in the beverage vessel has to be replaced.

In one embodiment the controller can determine the fill level of the beverage in the beverage container and can output a signal depending on the fill level of the beverage in the vessel. Also in this embodiment, the signal may be an audio signal and/or a message transmitted by the transmitter to an electronic device associated to service staff, such as restaurants staff, hotel staff, hospital staff, nursing staff or the like.

In one embodiment the controller may determine the time span during which the beverage has been in the beverage container, and output a signal depending on the time span, during which the beverage has been in the beverage container. Also in this embodiment the outputted signal may be an audio signal output by a loudspeaker and/or a message transmitted by the transmitter to an electronic device associated to service staff. Thereby, the service staff and/or the user can be informed that the beverage in the beverage container has to be replaced.

The controller may be adapted to determine the amount of beverage the user has drunken in a pre-defined time span and to control the light emitter depending on the amount of beverage the user has drunken in the predefined time span. Thereby, the user can be requested to drink beverage until the predefined amount of beverage has been drunken by the user. The controller can also be adapted to determine the amount of beverage the user has drunken in a predefined time span and to output a signal depending on the amount of beverage the user has drunken in a predefined time span. The output signal can be an audio signal output by a loudspeaker and/or a message transmitted by the transmitter. The message may be transmitted to an electronic device associated to the service staff mentioned before, particularly hospital staff or other nursing staff to enable the staff to monitor the hydration of a patient and prevent dehydration.

In one embodiment the controller may be adapted to transmit the message indicating the amount of beverage the user has drunken in a predefined time span after receipt of a message by the receiver. The received message may be a message received from an electronic device associated to service staff and/or nursing staff that monitors the water consumption of a patient.

In one embodiment the beverage vessel may comprise a humidity sensor adapted to determine the humidity in the environment of the beverage vessel. Additionally or alternatively, the beverage vessel may comprise a second temperature sensor adapted to determine the temperature of the environment of the beverage vessel.

The vessel controller may be adapted to transmit by the transmitter of the portable beverage vessel a message representing at least one temperature value temperature value determined by the second temperature sensor. Additionally or alternatively, the vessel controller may be adapted to transmit by the transmitter of the portable beverage vessel a message representing at least one humidity value determined by the humidity sensor.

The invention also discloses a method of monitoring a beverage consumption and/or a consumption of minerals in the beverage of a user of a beverage vessel. The beverage vessel can be the beverage vessel disclosed above.

The method determines the physical activity of a user. The method determines the amount of beverage to be supplied to the user of the beverage vessel. Further, the method determines the type of minerals to be supplied to the user by the beverage vessel. The method also determines the amount of minerals to be supplied to the user of the beverage vessel. The method determines the amount of beverage, the type of minerals and the amount of minerals drunken by the user of the beverage vessel. Further, the method determines the amount of beverage to be drunken by the user of the beverage vessel based on the amount of beverage to be supplied to the user and the amount of beverage drunken by the user. The method may determine the type of minerals to be drunken by the user of the beverage vessel based on the type of minerals to be supplied to the user and the type of minerals drunken by the user. Further, the method determines the amount of minerals to be drunken by the user of the beverage vessel based on the amount of minerals to be supplied to the user and the amount of minerals drunken by the user. The method indicates to the user of the beverage vessel and the user of the user device the amount of beverage to be drunk. Further, the method may indicate to the user of the beverage vessel and the user of the user device the type of minerals to be drunk. The method further indicates to the user of the beverage vessel and the user of user device the amount of minerals to be drunk. Thereby, the method ensures that the user drinks the type of minerals and the amount of minerals that correspond to the physical activity of the user. It is to be understood that the method may also determine the amount and type of minerals that are consumed by the user by food and to adapt the type and/or the amount of minerals to be drunken by the user.

In one embodiment the steps of determining the physical activity of a user, the step of determining the amount of beverage to be supplied to the user of the beverage vessel, the step of determining the type of minerals to be supplied to the user of the beverage vessel and the step of determining the amount of minerals to be supplied to the user of the beverage vessel may be executed by a user device. A user device may be a personal electronic device, such as a smart phone, a smart watch, a tablet computer, a wearable computer or the like. In one embodiment the step of determining the amount of beverage, the type of minerals and the amount of minerals drunken by the user of the beverage vessel is executed by the beverage vessel. The smart beverage vessel can cooperate with software running on the personal device, such as an app.

The step of indicating to the user of the beverage vessel and/or the user of the user device the type of minerals to be drunken, and the step of indicating the amount of minerals to be drunken to the user of the beverage vessel and the user of the user device the amount of minerals to be drunken can be executed by a beverage dispenser adapted to fill the beverage vessel. In this embodiment the user can select on an input device of the beverage dispenser whether he agrees to drink the suggested type and amount of minerals. The beverage having the suggested type and amount of minerals can be automatically filled into the beverage vessel after the user has confirmed the suggestion displayed by the beverage dispenser.

In another embodiment the step of indicating to the user of the beverage vessel and/or the user of the user device the type of minerals to be drunken, and the step of indicating to the user of the beverage vessel and/or the user of the user device the amount of minerals to be drunken can be executed alternatively or additionally on the user device. The proposed selection of beverage having the proposed type and amount of minerals is displayed on the user device.

In another embodiment the step of indicating to the user of the beverage vessel and/or the user of the user device the type of minerals to be drunken, and the step of indicating to the user of the beverage vessel and/or the user of the user device the amount of minerals to be drunken can be executed by the beverage vessel. The proposed beverage having the proposed type of minerals and the proposed amount of minerals can be displayed on the display of the beverage vessel.

The method further comprises the steps of identifying the user, who intends to refill the beverage vessel with the beverage dispenser. The step of identifying the user may comprise the step of communicating between the beverage dispenser and the user device. Alternatively or additionally the step of identifying the user may comprise the step of communicating with the beverage dispenser and the beverage vessel.

The method may further comprise the step of proposing the user the type of minerals and amount of minerals. The step of proposing the user the type of minerals and amount of minerals may comprise the step of displaying on the beverage dispenser the proposed minerals and amount of minerals and/or displaying on the user device the proposed minerals and amount of minerals and/or displaying on the display of the beverage vessel the proposed minerals and amount of minerals.

The step of proposing the user the type of minerals and the amount of minerals may include the step of displaying a symbol indicating the type of minerals and amount of minerals in the beverage. The symbols may comprise text or a graphical symbol relating to a type of mineral water that comprises the proposed type of mineral and amount of minerals.

The method may comprise the steps of monitoring the temperature of the air around the portable beverage vessel and estimating the temperature of the beverage in the beverage vessel based on the temperature of the air around the portable beverage vessel.

The method may comprise the steps of monitoring the temperature of the air around the portable beverage vessel and determining the demand of a user for beverage and/or minerals based on the temperature of the air around the portable beverage vessel.

The method may comprise the steps of monitoring the humidity of the air around the portable beverage vessel and determining the demand of a user for beverage and/or minerals based on the humidity of the air around the portable beverage vessel. In one embodiment the method may determine the demand of the user for beverage and/or for minerals based on combining the temperature of the air around the portable beverage vessel determined by the beverage vessel and/or the humidity of the air around the portable beverage vessel determined by the beverage vessel.

In one embodiment the method may transmit the temperature of the air around the portable beverage vessel and/or the humidity of the air around the portable beverage vessel to the beverage dispenser and/or monitoring unit. Based on the transmitted temperature of the air around the portable beverage vessel and/or humidity of the air around the portable beverage vessel, the beverage dispenser and/or the monitoring unit can determine the amount of beverage and/or amount and type of minerals the user has to drink.

The invention also discloses a beverage dispenser adapted to dispense a beverage into a beverage vessel. The beverage vessel may be the beverage vessel described above. The beverage dispenser comprises a communication device, a controller and a display device. The communication device is adapted to communicate with the beverage vessel and/or a user device associated to a user of the beverage vessel. The controller is adapted to receive and/or determine data about a type of mineral and an amount of minerals to be drunken by the user. The display device is adapted to display a proposed type of minerals and a proposed amount of minerals to the user. If the user confirms the proposed types of minerals and the proposed amount of minerals, the beverage vessel is filled with a beverage, such as mineral water, that comprises the proposed type of minerals and the proposed amount of minerals. The mineral water may be filtered demineralized water that has been remineralized by mineral solutions stored in a plurality of solution tanks. The water dispenser may transmit the types of minerals, amount of minerals and/or amount of the beverage filled into the beverage vessel to the user device and/or beverage vessel.

The beverage dispenser and its components may be configured to execute the method disclosed above.

The invention also discloses a set comprising the above dispenser described above.

The invention also discloses a computer program product that is adapted to execute the steps of the method disclosed above, if loaded into a computer comprising a processor and a memory.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings. As would be obvious to one skilled in the art, many variations and modifications of the invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.

