Foodware System Having Visual-Stimulating, Sensing, Heating, And Wireless-Communication Components
Patent No. US10881249 (titled "Foodware System Having Visual-Stimulating, Sensing, Heating, And Wireless-Communication Components") was filed by Illumidine Inc on Sep 27, 2018.
What is this patent about?
’249 is related to the field of food presentation and consumption, specifically addressing the problem of enhancing the dining experience, especially when eating alone or encouraging children to eat. Traditional approaches offer limited, static stimuli, and lack user control or adaptability. The patent aims to overcome these limitations by integrating sensory stimulation and communication capabilities into foodware.
The underlying idea behind ’249 is to create an "active foodware system" that provides dynamic sensory feedback, particularly visual, auditory, and haptic, related to the food being presented. This is achieved by embedding electronic components, such as heating elements, temperature sensors, wireless communication modules, and visual displays , into foodware items like plates, utensils, and containers. The system can respond to user input, food characteristics (e.g., temperature, weight), or external data sources, creating a more engaging and interactive dining experience.
The claims of ’249 focus on an active foodware system comprising a mechanical structure that is wider than tall, a food surface with a recessed area to prevent spillage, a heating component, a sensing component to maintain a desired temperature, a wireless communication component, and a visual stimulating component. The independent claims emphasize the integration of heating, sensing, wireless communication, and visual stimulation within the foodware, allowing for dynamic control and feedback based on food temperature and external data.
In practice, the invention envisions a plate with a heating element to keep food warm, a temperature sensor to regulate the heating, and a wireless module to communicate temperature data or receive external data like recipes or entertainment content. A visual display, such as an LED array or LCD screen, would then provide visual feedback based on the temperature or the received data, perhaps showing a cartoon character that encourages a child to eat or displaying cooking instructions.
The differentiation from prior art lies in the active and integrated nature of the system. Unlike simple food scales or static graphic designs, ’249 provides a dynamic, interactive experience where the foodware itself responds to the food and the user. The wireless communication aspect also allows for integration with external data sources and control systems, enabling features like remote monitoring of a child's eating habits or automatic adjustment of the plate's temperature based on the type of food being served.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the mid-2000s when ’249 was filed, devices were commonly designed with specific functionalities, and combining multiple functions into a single device, particularly in the context of dining, was not typical. At a time when embedded systems were less prevalent and wireless communication was still maturing, integrating sensors, processors, and communication capabilities directly into foodware would have presented non-trivial hardware and software challenges. Furthermore, the idea of dynamically altering the dining experience through sensory feedback and programmable interactions was not yet a widely adopted practice.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner allowed the claims because the applicant disclosed an apparatus that includes a body with a wireless sending component, a surface with a raised edge to prevent spillage, a heating element, a sensor to control the heating element, a wireless communication component to communicate data related to the temperature, and a visual stimulation component. The examiner stated that while devices with reservoirs and sensor-controlled heating were known, no prior art taught or suggested combining all these features, especially the wireless sending and communication components, along with the structural limitations of the claimed device.
Claims
This patent includes 24 claims, with independent claims 1, 2, and 10. The independent claims are generally directed to an active foodware system comprising a mechanical structure, food surface, heating component, sensing component, wireless communication component, and visual stimulating component. The dependent claims generally elaborate on and add features to the active foodware system and describe a method of using the system.
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Date
Description
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US10881249
- Application Number
- US16144938
- Filing Date
- Sep 27, 2018
- Status
- Expired
- Expiry Date
- Oct 22, 2024
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents