Abstract:
The present invention is a drink mixing device generally characterized as having a ball assembly in wireless communication with a base assembly. The base assembly comprises a casing for storing a first battery, a transmitter that receives power from the first battery, a base assembly wireless coil, a power port receiving for external power and host or peripheral connection, a button located along the casing wherein the button is electronically connected to the transmitter. The ball assembly comprises a casing for storing a second battery, a motor, a ball assembly wireless coil, and a receiver. The motor turns a propeller external to but affixed to the exterior of the ball assembly when the motor is powered and turned on. The propeller is protected by a metal spiral.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/356,025, filed Jun. 29, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
       [0003]    The present invention relates generally to mixing potable liquids. 
       2. Description of the Related Art 
       [0004]    Familiar mixing devices exhibit problems relating to one or more of the following: size, mobility, durability, awkwardness, effectiveness, etc. The present invention reduces these problems. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention is a drink mixing device generally characterized as having a ball assembly in wireless communication with a base assembly. The base assembly comprises a casing for storing a first battery, a transmitter that receives power from the first battery, a base assembly wireless coil, a power port receiving for external power and host or peripheral connection, a button located along the casing wherein the button is electronically connected to the transmitter. The ball assembly comprises a casing for storing a second battery, a motor, a ball assembly wireless coil, and a receiver. The motor turns a propeller external to but affixed to the exterior of the ball assembly when the motor is powered and turned on. The propeller is protected by a metal spiral. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view thereof. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in proximity to an external power source. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention receiving power from an external power source. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention receiving power from an external power source. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a block diagram illustrating the process steps of one embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment  40  of the present invention, which comprises a base assembly  42 , a bottle  44 , and a ball assembly  46 . In this particular embodiment, the ball assembly  46  is used to mix potable fluids in the bottle  44 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of the embodiment  40 . The ball assembly  46  may be engaged by directly pushing a button  48  located on the ball assembly  46  and lowering the ball assembly  46  into the bottle  44 . In this embodiment, the ball assembly  46  is programmable with a time delay when engaged in this manner. Alternatively, the ball assembly  46  is engaged when a button  66  located on the base assembly  42 . When engaged in this manner, the ball assembly  46  is usually already located in the bottle  44 . 
         [0018]    As suggested, the ball assembly  46  is movable within the bottle  44  and is removable from the bottle  44 . In fact, it is anticipated that the ball assembly  46  can be used to mix fluids and other substances in other containers, including but not limited to punch bowls, pots, cauldrons, or even another bottle. 
         [0019]    The base assembly  42  is attachable to the external bottom of the bottle  44  and is removable, as well. The ability to attach the base assembly  42  to the bottle  44  is useful for keeping all components of the embodiment  40  together (e.g., organization) and it also allows for efficient charging (e.g., energy transfer) between the base assembly  42  and the ball assembly  46 . The process of charging (e.g., energy transfer) is discussed in greater detail below. 
         [0020]    The benefit of removing or otherwise detaching the base assembly  42  from the bottle  44  are equally apparent. First, removal of the base assembly  42  allows for easier cleaning of the bottle  44  in between uses. Second, removal of the base assembly  42  allows for wireless use of the bottle  44  and ball assembly  46  for mixing fluids and other substances. 
         [0021]    Although other means are available (e.g., adhesives, Velcro, other mechanical engagements), the base assembly  42  is attachable/detachable from the bottle  44  via locking threads  51   a  on the base assembly  42  and locking threads  51   b  on the exterior bottom face of the bottle  44 . 
         [0022]    The locking threads  51   a  of this embodiment are located on the casing top  52  of the base assembly  42 . The exterior components of the base assembly  42  include the casing top  52 , the casing bottom  54 , and an over mold  56 . More specifically, the casing top  52  and the casing bottom  54  are mechanically connected and are made of plastic in this embodiment. The casing top  52  and the casing bottom  54  provide for an opening or interstitial space when connected. This opening allows for storage and placement of additional base assembly  42  components, discussed below. Several of the base assembly  42  components are electronica or delicate, and therefore the over mold  56 , which is made of rubber, is used to provide additional durability and shielding from elements. It is not unlikely that a drinking bottle (whether the bottle  44  or a nearby bottle) might sweat or otherwise allow fluid to escape. In that event, fluid might rest on a table or surface. The over mold  56  is intended to reduce exposure by the components of the base assembly  42  to such fluids. In this embodiment, the casing bottom  54  is rigid and the over mold  56  is a flexible rubber that stretches over the casing bottom  54  and remains in place along the exterior of the casing bottom  54 . The bottom of the bottle  44  is elevated above the exterior wall of the bottle such that the bottle may receive the base assembly  42 , and in particular, the casing top  52  and the locking threads  51   a  when the base assembly  42  is attached to the bottle  44 . To that end, the over mold  56  provides a flush surface between the bottle  44  and the base assembly  42  when attached. 
         [0023]    As mentioned above, the base assembly  42  comprises several interior components, including a battery  58 , a printed circuit board (PCB) with transmitter  60 , a base assembly wireless coil  62 , a power port  64 , and a button  66 . 
         [0024]    In this particular embodiment, the battery  58  is used to power the transmitter  60 . The battery may be of a variety of types known in the art, such as a 3 volt or CR2032 battery. The transmitter  60  communicates with a receiver  68  located on a second PCB in the ball assembly  46 . 
         [0025]    The button  66  is a rubberized indentation in the over mold  56 , which communicates with the transmitter  60 . In particular, a user presses the button  66 , either when the base assembly  42  is connected to the bottle  44  or detached and located across a room. Because the button  66  provides a signal to the transmitter  60  and the transmitter  60  is in communication with the receiver  68 , the ball assembly  46  starts or stops. In certain embodiments, the button  66  and transmitter  60  may have several settings (e.g, distinguished through a “first click,” “second click,” “third click,” etc.) for manipulating the speed or cadence of the ball assembly  46 . In further alternative embodiments, the button  66  might be replaced with a dial or other means (e.g., a switch) for engaging/disengaging or adjusting the ball assembly. If a dial or similar means is used instead of a button, manipulation would presumably become more continuous and less discrete. 
         [0026]    The wireless coil  62  receives power from and is connected to the power port  64 . When a power cable, such as a Micro-USB connector, receives power from an external power source (e.g., Computer) (not shown) and is connected to the power port  64 , the base assembly  42  receives energy/power. In the present embodiment, the power received by the base assembly is transferred from the external source through the power cable, and through the power port  64  to the wireless coil  62 . The wireless coil  62  then transfers energy via induction to a ball assembly wireless coil  70  located in the ball assembly  46 , as described in greater detail below. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates the base assembly  42  and a power port  64  in proximity to a power cable, with the power cable connected to an external power source.  FIG. 4  illustrates the base assembly  42  connected to the external power source—via the power cable—and the ball assembly  46  is positioned above the base assembly  42 . 
         [0028]    In this particular embodiment, the induction described above may occur when the ball assembly  46  is positioned directly on top of the base assembly  42  (and the ball assembly  46  is not mixing fluids) as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The induction may also occur when the ball assembly  46  is located in the bottle  44  (or other container) and the base assembly  42  is located underneath the bottle  44  (or other container); or the ball assembly  46  is otherwise in close proximity to the base assembly  42  as required for electrical induction. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the base assembly  42  also stores power in a battery contained within the base assembly. In those embodiments, the base assembly  42  could transfer power to the ball assembly  46  without direct connection to an external power source. Such an embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0030]    Like the base assembly  42 , the ball assembly  46  comprises an outer shell and mold, which contain several electrical and mechanical components. That shell and mold may be characterized as a ball base  72 , a ball top  74 , and an over mold  76 . The over mold  76  functions much like the over mold  56  composing part of the base assembly  42 . 
         [0031]    The button  48  is a rubberized indentation in the over mold  76 , which communicates with the circuit board  68  and the circuit board communicates with a motor  80 . In particular, a user presses the button  48  and the ball assembly  46  starts or stops. Namely, a propeller  82  connected to the motor  80  begins to rotate or stops. 
         [0032]    In certain embodiments, the button  48  coupled with the circuit board  68  may have several settings (e.g, distinguished through a “first click,” “second click,” “third click,” etc.) for manipulating the speed or cadence of the propeller  82 . In further alternative embodiments, the button  48  might be replaced with a dial or other means (e.g., a switch) for engaging/disengaging or adjusting the propeller. If a dial or similar means is used instead of a button, manipulation would presumably become more continuous and less discrete. 
         [0033]    Operation of the motor  80 , and accordingly the propeller  82 , requires sufficient power in the ball assembly  46 . As described above, the wireless coil  70  receives energy from the base assembly  42  via induction. Induction can be improved if the wireless coil  70  is around the lower regions of the ball assembly  46 , and the ball base  72 . 
         [0034]    As the wireless coil  70  receives energy via induction, energy is subsequently transferred from the wireless coil  70  to an energy circuit board (not illustrated) located on the circuit board  68 , and then a charging circuit (not illustrated) located on the circuit board  68 . From the charging circuit, energy is transferred to a rechargeable battery  84 . Although not limiting, the present embodiment uses a 250 mAH rechargeable battery  84  to power an 8 mm×20 mm motor  80 . 
         [0035]    In this embodiment, the battery is secured in place with a battery holder  86  fixed in position within the ball assembly  46 . 
         [0036]    In this embodiment, a ball spiral  88  is secured to ball top  74  such that a user may shake the bottle  44  and accordingly the ball assembly  46  without compromising the propeller  82  and such that the bottle may be shaken while the ball assembly is powered on. The ball spiral  88  of this embodiment is designed in such a way that the curvature is somewhat similar to that of protein ball shakers known in the art. However, this ball spiral is closer to a hemi-sphere than a complete sphere (as seen in the art). 
         [0037]    The base assembly  42  is also capable of charging a smart phone or other, similar wireless devices by electric induction. This process is illustrated by  FIG. 6 . And as mentioned above, in certain embodiments, the base assembly  42  comprises a rechargeable battery that allows the base assembly  42  to charge the ball assembly or a smart phone without a direct connection to an external power source.  FIG. 7  illustrates such an embodiment. 
         [0038]    In certain embodiments, the rotation of the fans/blades will create a vortex or other phenomenon associated with turbulent flow, which may or may not be visually appealing to the user. 
         [0039]    In certain embodiments, the ball spiral may rotate about a central access of the ball assembly. In other embodiments it may rotate or move or translate across other accesses or directions. Although the ball spiral is illustrated as a spiral in this particular embodiment, the cage may appear to resemble a nest, a web, a spiral, a honeycomb or any other number of shapes and patterns, but would allow for liquid to enter the cage and access the fan/blades. In other embodiments, a cage may not exist and the fans or blades may be exposed directly to the liquid. In other embodiments, there may not be fans or blades, but the cage itself may move or create agitation and mix the fluids. Although the present invention is generally illustrated and characterized as a sphere like structure, the invention may appear or exist in other shapes including cube, oblate spheroid, prism, frustum, etc. 
         [0040]    A different aspect of the present embodiment of this invention, including a light, which in some embodiments might be one or more LED lights, at the center of the fan/blades such that the vortex when induced may be illuminated. 
         [0041]    In some embodiments, the ball assembly will comprise a magnet or a weighted sinker to maintain a consistent orientation and direction of the device if intended to remain fixed when in the bottle. Of course, the magnet and weighted sinker should not be construed as limiting. Certain embodiments will not include a magnet or a sinker. 
         [0042]      FIG. 8  illustrates the device without a ball spiral. In some embodiments where the ball assembly does not comprise a ball spiral, the ball spiral might be replaced with a wire mesh or alternative shapes such as weaves, chains, honey comb. Alternatively, the ball spiral or other cage like barrier might not be rounded. Instead it might be rectangular or triangular, etc. 
         [0043]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 10  illustrates the process of certain embodiments. A USB Micro B input connector supplies 5V power to a lithium polymer (LiPo) battery charger. The LiPo battery charger controls charging of the LiPo battery in the base assembly. The LiPo battery supplies the main power for the base assembly to transmit a battery charge to the ball unit, or any other compatible device. The LiPo battery supplies power to a signal transmitter (RF TX) and microcontroller (MCU) processor (UUID Serial Code) circuits. Power is supplied to a wireless charger transmitter through a boost circuit, booster, to increase the 3.7V battery voltage to 5.0V. The wireless charger transmitter transmits power to a wireless charger receiver and receives communication from the wireless charger receiver in order to adjust output power, as needed by the wireless charger receiver. Power is supplied to a signal transmitter through a low-dropout voltage regulator that limits the voltage to the transmitter to 3.3V. When the push button single pole single thrown (SPST) switch is pressed the MCU powers the RF TX (transmitter) and modulates the transmitter with a unique code so that only one receiver will respond to the signal from the transmitter. After the signal is sent the MCU removes power from the transmitter and places itself, the MCU, in a low power state until the push button switch is pressed again. 
         [0045]    In those embodiments, The wireless charger receiver receives power from the wireless charger transmitter and provides signal feedback to the wireless charger transmitter for power control. The wireless charger receiver includes a battery charger circuit for charging a LiPo Battery in the ball assembly. The LiPo Battery supplies power to an RF RX (receiver), an MCU processor circuit, and a transistor switch (Motor Driver) that spins a mixing propeller. Power to the receiver is limited to 3.3 volts by a low-dropout voltage regulator. The motor driver is activated for 25 seconds (or some other period of time) when one of two things happens in the ball assembly: either a signal is received by the receiver that contains a matching UUID serial code or the push button SPST switch on the ball assembly is pressed. Another function of the push button switch is to pair the ball assembly the base assembly. This is achieved by pressing and holding the push button switch on the ball assembly while also pressing the push button switch on the base assembly, at the same time. The pairing can be confirmed in several ways, including the motor drive spinning the motor for one second or another fixed unit of time. 
         [0046]    Also, and in other embodiments the fans/blades may exist in various numbers in the particular environment the fans/blades appear to be in a group of ten. In other embodiments, there may be one blade or more. In some embodiments, the fans may be oriented in different directions. 
         [0047]    By using a delayed timer, a user may engage the timer; place the device in the desired fluid and after the desired period of time has elapsed, the device begins to mix the fluid. 
         [0048]    As indicated above, the first section of the ball assembly  42  in certain embodiments may be turned on or off or otherwise adjusted using remote devices such as a smart phone—using Bluetooth or other related technology. In addition to turning the device on or off, and lighting features may be adjusted on or off or change of color, etc. The remote features also allow for the fans to change direction or speed. 
         [0049]    In other alternative embodiments, the ball assembly  46  may be constructed in three or more sections while maintaining the spirit of the invention disclosed herein. To that end, in certain embodiments, a multi-purpose scooper could be added to the first section opposite the second section. Additionally, the ball assembly in certain embodiments may not be in the shape of a ball. Rather, the ball assembly may be in the shape of an obloid, an oblate spheroid, a prism, a frustum, among other shapes. 
         [0050]    Other alternative embodiments may allow for wireless communication via mobile application 
         [0051]    In some embodiments, the invention may comprise a storage compartment for items such as capsules, powders, batteries, etc. 
         [0052]    In certain embodiments, this invention is made of thorough material which may include metal, plastic, fiberglass, or a number of other materials. Metal can come from machined aluminum welding or casting, or similar steel or alloy. Molded or machined plastic can be used with recommended strengthening and features like ribs and other sectioning techniques. In a preferred embodiment, the materials would be very light weight. The particular thickness or the dimensions of the materials are not critical so long as the pieces are necessarily durable to allow sufficient mixing and induction of a vortex when desired. In most embodiments, the invention will include various nuts, bolts, screws, etc. for securing the pieces together. The length and width of the rods and pieces may be a varying dimension. 
         [0053]    It will be appreciated by persons in the art and numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are therefore, to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. Other features and aspects of this invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art upon reading and comprehending the disclosure. Such features, aspects, and variations and modifications of the reported results are examples clearly within the scope of the invention where the invention is limited solely by the scope of the following claims. 
         [0054]    Some embodiments will not comprise a bottle; or a transmitter.