Apparatus, system, and method of providing a liquid level monitor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11280042-B2
Application number	US-201815970795-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2018
Priority date	May 3, 2017
Publication date	Mar 22, 2022
Grant date	Mar 22, 2022

Abstract

The embodiments are and include an apparatus, system and method for a liquid level monitoring dispenser for association with a liquid filled consumable. The apparatus, system and method may include: a receiver for receiving the consumable upon inversion thereof; at least one electrical contact within the receiver for communicative association with conductive strips on the consumable; a sensing module communicative with the at least one electrical contact and having associated therewith firmware for converting signals associated with the conductive strips and received at the electrical contact to an indication of the liquid level; a communications module for communicating the liquid level to at least a user display and over at least one network; a power module for powering at least the sensing module and the communications module; and at least one dispensing output in fluid communication with the consumable and capable of dispensing the liquid from the consumable to modify the liquid level.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid level monitoring dispenser for association with a liquid filled consumable, comprising:
a receiver for receiving the consumable upon inversion thereof;
at least one flexible electrical connector at least partially around a first internal circumference within the receiver for communicative association with printed conductive strips within product labeling of the consumable, the first internal circumference being sufficiently far along an exit flow pathway of the liquid so as to prevent leakage of the liquid but positioned so as to be capable of contacting the printed conductive strips, and the flexible electrical connector being suitable for the communicative association with the printed conductive strips at multiple rotational and angular insertion positions of the consumable;
a sensing module within the receiver communicative with the at least one flexible electrical connector and having associated therewith firmware for converting signals associated with the conductive strips, as actuated by the sensing module and responsively received at the flexible electrical connector, to an indication of the liquid level, and further capable of sensing a foil cap associated with the consumable, wherein the sensing of the foil cap is indicative of characteristics of the consumable;
a communications module for communicating the liquid level and the characteristics to at least a user display and over at least one network;
a power module for powering at least the sensing module and the communications module; and
at least one dispensing output in fluid communication with the consumable and capable of dispensing the liquid from the consumable to modify the liquid level.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the receiver comprises a leak seal.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the leak seal comprises an o-ring.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is cone-shaped and the consumable is a bottle.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the liquid level is additionally communicated to a consumable provider by the communications module.

6. The dispenser of claim 5 , wherein, upon a predetermined level of the liquid level, the consumable provider provides an automatic replenishment of the liquid.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising an app integrated to the communications module.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the at least one dispensing output comprises a spigot.

9. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the conductive strips are printed.

10. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the conductive strips comprise one or more tabs for electrical association with the at least one flexible electrical connector.

11. The dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical adjustment to snug the consumable to the receiver.

12. The dispenser of claim 11 , wherein the mechanical adjustment is spring-loaded.

13. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the conductive strips comprise capacitive sensors.

14. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the sensor module comprises a sensor printed circuit board.

15. The dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a liquid level indicator.

16. The dispenser of claim 15 , wherein the liquid level indicator comprises LED lights.

17. The dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a dosage indicator.

18. The dispenser of claim 17 , wherein the dosage indicator comprises LED lights.

19. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the power module comprises at least one battery.

Assignees

• Williams Amanda
• Oropeza Julio Danel
• Lee Yu Chang
• Lee Ying Hao
• Johnson Martin
• Theeuwes Marc
• Vaes Stefan
• Diels Toon
• Nypro Inc

Inventors

• Williams Amanda
• Oropeza Julio Danel
• Lee Yu-Chang
• Lee Ying Hao
• Johnson Martin
• Theeuwes Marc
• Vaes Stefan
• Diels Toon

Classifications

• B67D3/0077

  Electronic circuitry · CPC title

• A47L15/4418

  in the form of liquids (A47L15/4409, A47L15/4436, A47L15/4445 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D2203/10

  Transponders · CPC title

• D06F39/022 Primary

  in a liquid state (D06F39/024 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D83/00

  Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents (dispensing means incorporated in closures B65D47/00) · CPC title