Container assembly with electronic transaction component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11375833-B2
Application number	US-202016856877-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 23, 2020
Priority date	Apr 23, 2020
Publication date	Jul 5, 2022
Grant date	Jul 5, 2022

Abstract

A container assembly includes a container, e.g., configured for containing a beverage, where the container has a connecting structure, and a carrier assembly that includes a carrier having an engagement structure configured for releasable connection to the connecting structure of the beverage container to releasably connect the beverage container to the carrier assembly. The carrier assembly also includes a chip engaged with the carrier such that the chip is carried by the carrier, where the chip stores electronic payment information and is configured for transmitting the electronic payment information to an external computer for authorizing payment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a first carrier comprising a first base configured to rest on a first horizontal supporting surface, a first receptacle connected to the first base, and a first engagement structure configured for releasable connection to a first beverage container, wherein the first engagement structure comprises a first engagement member connected to the first base and releasably connected to a first connecting structure of the first beverage container to connect the first beverage container to the first base, such that the first base is configured to support the first beverage container on the first horizontal supporting surface;
a second carrier comprising a second base configured to rest on a second horizontal supporting surface, a second receptacle connected to the second base, and a second engagement structure configured for releasable connection to the first connection structure of the first beverage container, wherein the second engagement structure comprises a second engagement member connected to the second base and releasably connected to the first beverage container to connect the first beverage container to the second base, such that the second base is configured to support the first beverage container on the second horizontal supporting surface;
a first chip engaged with the first receptacle such that the first chip is carried by the first carrier, the first chip storing first electronic payment information, wherein the first chip is configured for transmitting the first electronic payment information to an external computer for authorizing payment; and
a second chip engaged with the second receptacle such that the second chip is carried by the second carrier, the second chip storing second electronic payment information, wherein the second chip is configured for transmitting the second electronic payment information to the external computer for authorizing payment,
wherein the first carrier and the second carrier are interchangeable with each other for connection to the first beverage container,
wherein the first carrier and the second carrier are interchangeable with each other for connection to a second beverage container which has a different structure from the first beverage container, the second beverage container having a second connection structure, and
wherein the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure are configured for releasable connection to the second connecting structure of the second beverage container such that the first carrier and the second carrier are interchangeable with each other for connection to the second beverage container.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first chip comprises at least one of a radio-frequency identification tag or a near-field communication chip.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first engagement member is configured for releasably engaging a complementary engagement member on the first beverage container to connect the first carrier to the first beverage container, and wherein the first engagement member is configured for releasably engaging a complementary engagement member on the second beverage container to connect the first carrier to the second beverage container.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first engagement member is a threaded member configured to engage the complementary engagement member on the first beverage container by a threading connection, and wherein the first engagement member is a threaded member configured to engage the complementary engagement member on the second beverage container by a threading connection.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first engagement member is a tab configured to engage the complementary engagement member.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first engagement member is a slot configured to receive the complementary engagement member.

7. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first engagement member is configured to engage the complementary engagement member by rotation between a locked position, where the first engagement member is configured to engage the complementary engagement member to connect the first carrier to the first beverage container, and an unlocked position, where the first engagement member is configured to disengage from the complementary engagement member to permit removal of the first carrier from the first beverage container.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first carrier comprises a cover that is moveable to open and close the first receptacle, and wherein the first chip is removable from and insertable into the first receptacle when the cover is moved such that the first receptacle is open.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first chip is non-removably engaged with the first receptacle.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first base is configured to support the first beverage container on the first horizontal supporting surface such that no portion of the first beverage container contacts the first horizontal supporting surface.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first electronic payment information comprises a first unique identifier associated with the first chip, and the second electronic payment information comprises a second unique identifier associated with the second chip.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first carrier and the second carrier include visible information indicating a financial institution or vendor, wherein the visible information indicated by the first carrier is different from the visible information indicated by the second carrier.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first chip comprises a radio-frequency identification tag and the second chip comprises a near-field communication chip.

14. A system comprising:
a first beverage container configured for containing a beverage, the first beverage container having a connecting structure;
a first attachment comprising:
a first carrier having a first engagement structure configured for releasable connection to the connecting structure of the first beverage container to releasably connect the first beverage container to the first attachment; and
a first chip engaged with the first carrier such that the first chip is carried by the first carrier, the first chip storing first electronic payment information, wherein the first chip is configured for transmitting the first electronic payment information to an external computer for authorizing payment;

a second attachment comprising:
a second carrier having a second engagement structure configured for releasable connection to the connecting structure of the first beverage container to releasably connect the first beverage container to the second attachment; and
a second chip engaged with the second carrier such that the second chip is carried by the second carrier, the second chip storing second electronic payment information, wherein the second chip is configured for transmitting the second electronic payment information to the external computer for authorizing payment; and

a second beverage container having a different structure from the first beverage container, the second beverage container having a second connecting structure,
wherein the first attachment and the second attachment are interchangeable with each other for connection to the first beverage container,
wherein the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure are configured for releasable connection to the second connecting structure of the second beverage container such that the first attachment and the second attachment are interchangeable with each other for connection to the second beverage container,

Assignees

• Capital One Services Llc

Inventors

• Barker Calvin
• Anderson Andrew
• Nuckols William

Classifications

• G06Q20/3278

  RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices · CPC title

• G06Q20/102

  Bill distribution or payments · CPC title

• G06Q20/40

  Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists · CPC title

• G06Q20/352

  Contactless payments by cards · CPC title

• G06Q20/405

  Establishing or using transaction specific rules · CPC title