Foodware System Having Visual-Stimulating, Sensing, Heating, And Wireless-Communication Components
Patent No. US11375853 (titled "Foodware System Having Visual-Stimulating, Sensing, Heating, And Wireless-Communication Components") was filed by Illumidine Inc on Jan 4, 2021.
What is this patent about?
’853 is related to the field of food presentation and consumption, particularly dishware, utensils, and containers. Traditional dishware primarily serves the function of holding and presenting food. However, there is a growing interest in enhancing the dining experience through additional sensory stimuli, especially for solo diners or to encourage children to eat. Existing solutions, such as television or static plate designs, lack user control and dynamic adaptability.
The underlying idea behind ’853 is to integrate active components into foodware to provide sensory feedback and communication capabilities. This involves embedding heating elements, temperature sensors, wireless communication modules, and visual displays within the structure of a plate or other food-related item. The key insight is to create a dynamic and interactive dining experience where the foodware itself becomes a source of entertainment, information, or encouragement.
The claims of ’853 focus on an active foodware system comprising a mechanical structure supporting a recessed food surface, a heating element for warming the food, and a wireless communication module for transmitting data. Claim 4 adds a temperature sensor to control the heating element and a visual display for providing visual stimulation. The claims emphasize the integration of these components within the mechanical structure of the foodware.
In practice, the invention could work by using the heating element to keep food at an optimal temperature, while the temperature sensor ensures that the food doesn't overheat. The wireless communication module could transmit data about the food's temperature or the diner's eating habits to a remote device. The visual display could show entertaining content or provide feedback based on the diner's progress, such as encouraging messages for children.
This approach differs from prior art by actively engaging the diner through multiple senses and providing real-time feedback. Unlike simple food scales or static designs, ’853 creates a programmable and interactive dining environment . The wireless communication aspect also allows for remote monitoring and control, potentially enabling personalized dining experiences or dietary management.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the mid-2000s when '853 was filed, food presentation devices were typically implemented using static designs or simple labels. At a time when systems commonly relied on dedicated hardware for specific tasks, integrating data processing and sensory feedback into dishware was non-trivial. When hardware or software constraints made wireless communication and complex sensory integration relatively difficult to achieve in low-cost consumer products.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the applicant disclosed an active foodware system that includes a mechanical structure, a food surface with a recessed area for receiving solid food, a component for heating the solid food, and a wireless communication component included in the mechanical structure for wirelessly sending data. Although active foodware systems with wireless data transmission were known, the examiner found no prior art that taught or suggested all the features of the claimed invention in combination, specifically the inclusion of a wireless data sending component within a mechanical structure configured as claimed, along with the other structural limitations.
Claims
This patent contains 25 claims, with independent claims 1, 4, and 21. The independent claims are directed to an active foodware system and a method of using it, focusing on a food surface with spill prevention, heating, wireless communication, and in some cases, sensing and visual stimulation. The dependent claims generally elaborate on the components, features, and functionalities of the active foodware system and method described in the independent claims.
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Date
Description
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US11375853
- Application Number
- US17140795
- Filing Date
- Jan 4, 2021
- Status
- Expired
- Expiry Date
- Oct 22, 2024
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents