Wireless heated or cooled dishware, drinkware, or serverware with safety system

Abstract

The disclosed technology relates to heated or cooled dishware, drinkware, or serverware that may include, among other features, a food safety system that indicates through a user interface when food or liquid in the device is no longer safe to consume. In one example, the device may be controlled by the user to achieve different temperatures, and may have other safety features such as auto-shut off when food or liquid is no longer present, or when the device is tilted or upside down. In certain implementations, the device may be charged directly, or wirelessly via inductive coupling. Further, according to some aspects, multiple devices may be charged at once through the charging system.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An actively heated or cooled dishware, drinkware, or serverware device, comprising:
 a body having a receiving portion configured to hold food or liquid; and   a heating or cooling system, comprising:
 a heating or cooling element configured to heat or cool the receiving portion of the body, wherein the heating or cooling element is operable to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the body to maintain the food in a heated or cooled state, 
 control circuitry, 
 one or more energy storage devices electrically connected to the heating or cooling element through the control circuitry, the control circuitry configured to manage the power delivered to the heating or cooling element, 
 a charging unit configured to receive power physically from a power source, the charging unit being in communication with the one or more energy storage devices and configured to charge the one or more energy storage devices; and 
 a safety system that determines when food is no longer safe to eat and will indicate the status to the user through a user interface and communicates the safety status through the control circuitry to the main control unit configured to discontinue power to the heating or cooling element when the safety system determines the food has been heated or cooled for too long and is no longer safe to eat. 
   
     
     
         2 . The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a sensor that detects the weight of food or liquid to know when there is or is not food or liquid in the receiving portion for food or liquid, such that the sensor can indicate such status through the control circuitry and the control unit can turn off the device after a certain amount of time when food or liquid is no longer present. 
     
     
         3 . The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of  claim 1 , wherein the heating or cooling system is housed in the body. 
     
     
         4 . The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more energy storage devices are rechargeable batteries. 
     
     
         5 . The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of  claim 1 , further comprising a charging base configured to contact at least a portion of the body of the device to transmit an electrical charge. 
     
     
         6 . The charging base of  claim 5 , wherein the charging base is configured to wirelessly transmit power via inductive coupling to the dishware, drinkware, or serverware to charge an electrical storage device or to power the heating or cooling element. 
     
     
         7 . The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface electrically connected to a control circuit, the user interface actuatable by a user to control the operation of the heating or cooling element. 
     
     
         8 . The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a plate. 
     
     
         9 . The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a serving dish or bowl. 
     
     
         10 . The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a mug or cup. 
     
     
         11 . The dishware, drinkware, or serverware of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless power receiver configured to wirelessly receive power from a power source, the wireless power receiver being in communication with the one or more energy storage devices and configured to charge the one or more energy storage devices. 
     
     
         12 . The dishware, drinkware, or serverware of  claim 11  wherein multiple dishware, drinkware, or serverware devices can be stacked below or above and charged simultaneously or in sequence through each other using electrical contacts or wireless charging. 
     
     
         13 . The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of  claim 12 , wherein a magnetic locking mechanism positions the device to align one or more electrical contacts with corresponding electrical contacts on a surface of a charging base or on the surface of similar devices stacked below or above the device. 
     
     
         14 . The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of  claim 12 , wherein the device is configured to transmit power to a mobile device using wireless charging. 
     
     
         15 . The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of  claim 1 , further comprising a tilt sensor determines the orientation of the device and initiates a protocol, including actions such as turning off power to the device. 
     
     
         16 . The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of  any preceding claim  where the device is water-resistant or waterproof. 
     
     
         17 . The waterproof dishware, drinkware, or serverware of  claim 16  where the device is waterproofed with a sealing glue between all separate parts that is flexible under heat expansion. 
     
     
         18 . The dishware, drinkware, or serverware device of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid that attaches to the dishware, drinkware, or serverware device such that the heating or cooling of the contents is more effective, including more thorough temperature distribution, lower power usage, or faster heating or cooling. 
     
     
         19 . The lid of  claim 18 , further comprising magnetic attachment to the dishware, drinkware, or serverware device for improved sealing or retention. 
     
     
         20 . The lid of  claim 18  wherein the lid, when removed, attaches to the base of the dishware, drinkware, or serverware device to provide a more stable surface upon which the device can sit.