Abstract:
A handheld cup counter is disclosed. The cup counter may have a mechanical or optical sensor used to count the number of brim portions within a stack of cups. In order to properly position the optical or mechanical sensor, the sensor is disposed in relation to a ridge plate that helps the user to properly align the sensor to the stack of cups so that the sensor may accurately sense the number of brim portions within the stack of cups. The cup sensor may also have additional calculator functionality that works in conjunction with the sensed number of cups in order to more efficiently add and subtract the sensed number of cups of a plurality of stack of cups.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefits of U.S. Prov. App. Ser. No. 61/857,118, filed on Jul. 22, 2013, the entire contents of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     The various embodiments and aspects described herein are directed to a cup counter for counting a stack of cups. 
     Restaurants and movie theaters count cups in order to provide a check and balance as to whether their employees are stealing money or giving away free product to their friends and family. Accordingly, it is important to accurately and efficiently count the number of cups at a location. Unfortunately, the process of counting cups is inaccurate and tedious. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a device and method for counting cups in an accurate and efficient manner. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     A cup counter for counting a stack of cups is shown. The cup counter may have a body sized and configured to be held in one hand so that the user can operate the cup counter with one hand while steadying the stack of cups with a second hand. The cup counter may have a mechanical or optical sensor for sensing brim portions of the stack of cups. The sensor is positioned on a ridge plate that helps the user to properly position the sensor to the stack of cups and ensure that the sensor remains properly positioned as the cup counter is swiped along the length of the stack of cups. 
     More particularly, a portable counter for counting cups stacked upon each other is disclosed. The counter may comprise a handle, a means for sensing a brim portion of each of the cups stacked upon each other, a processor, memory and a battery. The handle is used to traverse the counter along the stacked cups. The means for sensing may be a mechanical sensor or an optical sensor. The display is used to show a number representative of the sensed brim portions of the cups stacked upon each other. The processor and memory are in communication with the means for sensing and the display for processing and storing data related to the sensed brim portions of the cups stacked upon each other. The battery is in communication with the processor and memory for powering the processor and memory. 
     The means for sensing may be a mechanical clicker. Alternatively, the means for sensing may be a proximity sensor. As a further alternative, the means for sensing may be an optical sensor. 
     The counter may further comprise a ridge plate sufficiently long to contact at least two brim portions of adjacent cups stacked upon each other. The ridge plate may be flat in a direction of travel and convex transverse to the direction of travel of the counter. 
     The counter may further comprise a plurality of buttons for activating and deactivating the means for sensing, storing and/or recalling first and second counted cups into respective first memory and second memory. 
     The means for sensing may include a protrusion extending out of the ridge plate. The protrusion may be biased outward and depressable one time to count one cup. The protrusion may have opposed wedge surfaces so that the counter is traversable bi-directionally. 
     In another aspect, a method of counting cups stacked upon each other is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of positioning a means for sensing of a cup counter prior to a brim portion of a first cup of the cups stacked upon each other; and traversing the means for sensing along a length of the cups stacked upon each other from the first cup to the last cup. 
     The method may further comprise a step of contacting a ridge plate against brim portions of at least the first two cups stacked upon each other. 
     In the method, the traversing step is accomplished while maintaining contact between the ridge plate and the brim portions of at least two adjacent cups. 
     The method may further comprise the step of depressing a protrusion of the means for sensing with each of the brim portions of the cups stacked upon each other. 
     The method may further comprise the steps of positioning the means for sensing of the cup counter prior to the brim portion of the first cup of the cups of a first size stacked upon each other; traversing the means for sensing along a length of the cups of the first size stacked upon each other from the first cup to the last cup; pressing a first memory button on the cup counter to store a number of counted cups of the first size; positioning the means for sensing of the cup counter prior to the brim portion of the first cup of the cups of a second size stacked upon each other; traversing the means for sensing along a length of the cups of the second size stacked upon each other from the first cup to the last cup; and pressing a second memory button on the cup counter to store a number of counted cups of the second size. 
     The method may further comprise the steps of positioning the means for sensing of the cup counter prior to the brim portion of the first cup of the cups of the first size of a second stack; traversing the means for sensing along the length of the cups of the first size stacked upon each other from the first cup to the last cup of the second stack; and pressing the first memory button on the cup counter to add a number of counted cups of the first size of the second stack to the number of counted cups of the first size of the first stack. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a cup counter; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the cup counter, shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a keypad and displays of the cup counter shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the cup counter shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the cup counter illustrating a proper positioning of the cup counter to a stack of cups; and 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the cup counter and stack of cups shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, a cup counter  10  is shown and described which permits a user to efficiently and accurately count a plurality of cups  12  that are stacked upon each other (see  FIG. 5 ). With the cups  12  stacked upon each other, the user may position the sensor  14  of the cup counter  10  at the bottom or the top of the stack of cups  12  and run the sensor  14  along the brim portions  16  of the stack of cups  12  to efficiently and accurately count the number of cups  12  in the stack of cups  12 . The sensor  14  of the cup counter  10  counts the number of brim portions  16  (i.e., cups  12 ) and displays the number of brim portions  16  on a display  18 . The cup counter  10  may also have other functionalities, such as memory functions so that the user may count different size cups  12  in any order and a calculator function. 
     More particularly, the cup counter  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The cup counter  10  is portable so that the user can take the cup counter  10  from location to location to count cups  12  at different locations. Also, the user is not limited to one area once at the location. To this end, the cup counter  10  may be battery-operated so that the user is not limited to a certain location or to a certain range of an electrical outlet at the location. The battery pack may be accessed from a back panel  20  that can be slid off of the body  22  to replace the battery of the cup counter  10 . Also, the battery may be rechargeable. 
     The body  22  of the cup counter  10  may have grip pads  24  on opposed sides of the body  22  so that the user can easily grip and operate the cup counter  10  with one hand to count the stack of cups  12 . The thumb and index finger may grip the grip pads  24  to hold the cup counter  10 . The body  22  of the cup counter  10  may be sized and configured to fit within one hand so that the user can operate the cup counter  10  with one hand while steadying the stack of cups  12  with the other hand. 
     The front side of the cup counter  10  may have the display  18  and a calculator user interface  26  which includes its own display  28  and a calculator control panel such as a keypad  30 . The keypad  30  may include numbers and math functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. During use of the cup counter  10 , the calculator may be used to calculate the number of cups  12 . The front side of the cup counter  10  may additionally have one or more memory buttons  32 . To use the memory buttons  32 , the number of sensed cups  12  is shown on display  18  which may be stored into memory cells by depressing a corresponding memory button  32 . Display  28  is used in conjunction with the calculator.  FIG. 3  illustrates the display  18  for displaying the number of cups  12  counted by the cup counter  10 . The display  28  used in conjunction with the keypad  30  and the memory buttons  32 . 
     The cup counter  10  may be powered on or off by way of power button  34  which may be located at the top of the body  22  of the cup counter  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the backside of the cup counter  10  may have a ridge plate  36 . The ridge plate  36  has a flat middle portion  40  and generally convex exterior surface  38 . The flat middle portion  40  may be placed against the stack of cups  12  so that the flat middle portion  40  contacts at least two of the brim portions  16  of adjacent cups  12 . In this position, the sensor  42  should be visible to the user when the sensor  42  is disposed between adjacent brim portions  16  of adjacent cups  12 . If the user is unable to see the sensor  42 , then the cup counter  10  should be adjusted until the user can see the sensor  42  between adjacent brim portions  16  of adjacent cups  12 . By doing this, the user is able to physically determine whether the cup counter  10  is in proper position to count the stack of cups  12 . 
     The sensor  42  may be a mechanical counter that sends an electrical signal to a processor. As the mechanical counter passes over each of the brim portions  16 , the brim portion  16  deflects a protrusion of the mechanical counter. The protrusion extends and is normally biased past the flat middle portion  40 . After the mechanical counter traverses over the brim portion  16  and the protrusion is disposed between adjacent brim portions  16 , the mechanical counter is biased outward again. For each cycle, the mechanical counter sends the electrical signal to the processor to indicate that one cup has been counted. The electrical signal may be sent when the protrusion is depressed or traversed outward. As the user traverses up or down the stack of cups  12 , the brim portions  16  deflect the protrusion of the mechanical counter inward and the protrusion is extended back outward. For each cycle, a single cup is counted. The biasing of the protrusion may be accomplished with a spring. The spring pushes the protrusion back outward as the protrusion passes into the gap between the brim portions  16 . 
     The protrusion may have a wedge-shaped configuration so that the brim portion  16  can ride along the angled surface of the protrusion to push the protrusion inward in a gradual manner. The angled surface may be on opposed upper and lower sides of the protrusion so that the user may run the cup counter  10  up or down the stack of cups  12 , as desired. 
     The sensor  42  may alternatively be an electronic sensor such as a proximity sensor. The proximity sensor may be calibrated to sense the brim portions  16  and sense an absence of material when the proximity sensor is disposed between the brim portions  16 . The proximity sensor may send an electronic signal to the processor each time that the proximity sensor traverses over a brim portion  16 . 
     During use, the user may utilize the memory buttons  32  to count different size cups  12  in different order. By way of example and not limitation, the user may be presented with a plurality of stacks of cups  12  for counting. The stack of cups  12  may be different sizes such as small, medium and large. It may be inconvenient to count all of the small stacks of cups  12  at once. Rather, it may be more convenient to count each stack in the order presented instead of by size. The cup counter  10  allows the user to count the stack of cups  12  in the order presented. The user may be presented with a stack of small cups  12 , then a stack of medium cups  12  and then a stack of small cups  12 . The cup counter  10  allows the user to retrieve the number of cups  12  in the first stack of small cups  12  and allows the user to add on to such number when counting the third stack of small cups  12 . 
     In particular, the user may carry the counter  10  into a store location (e.g., movie theater, restaurant or other location that needs to have its cups  12  counted for inventory purposes). The cup counter  10  which may be battery operated is turned on by pressing the power button  34  at the top of the cup counter  10 . In operation, the user positions the sensor  42  of the cup counter  10  below the lowest brim portion  16  or above the highest brim portion  16  within a first stack of cups  12 . Additionally, the flat middle portion  40  of the ridge plate  36  of the cup counter  10  is positioned to contact at least two brim portions  16  within the stack of cups  12  to be counted. Additionally, the user should be able to see the sensor  42  from the side of the cup counter  10 . The ridge plate  36  extends convexly beyond the flat middle portion  40  so as to not block the user&#39;s view of the sensor  42  from the side view. 
     If the sensor  42  is placed below the lowest brim portion  16  of the stack of cups  12 , then the user runs the sensor  42  up until the sensor  42  passes the uppermost brim portion  16  of the stacks of cups  12 . The display  18  displays the number of brim portions  16  sensed by the sensor  42 . If the next stack of cups  12  is of the same size as the previously counted stack of cups  12 , then the user need only repeat the process above to count the number of cups  12  in the second stack of cups  12 . The sensed number of cups  12  of the second stack is automatically added to the sensed number of cups  12  of the first stack. However, if the second stack of cups  12  is of a different size compared to the first stack of cups  12  then the number of sensed cups  12  of the first stack is placed into memory by depressing one of the memory buttons  32 . Upon depressing one of the memory buttons  32 , the number of sensed cups  12  of the first stack is placed into such memory location. The display  18  is reset for counting of the number of cups  12  in the second stack. The user then may proceed to count the number of cups  12  in the second stack. If the third stack of cups  12  is the same size as the second stack of cups  12 , then the user may continue to count the number of cups  12  in the second stack. However, if the third stack of cups  12  is of a different size or is the same size as the first stack of cups  12 , the user may store the number of sensed cups  12  of the second stack in a new memory location by depressing a different memory button  32 . If the third stack of cups  12  is the same size as the first stack, then the user may depress the first memory button  32  to recall the number of sensed cups  12  in the first stack. This number may be displayed in display  28 . The user then counts the number of cups  12  in the third stack wherein the sensed number of cups  12  is displayed in display  18 . To add the number of sensed cups  12  shown in display  18  to the number of sensed cups  12  shown in display  28 , the user presses the addition sign on the keypad  30 . 
     If a user counts a stack of cups  12  and adds the number of sensed cups  12  to the wrong memory location, then the user can simply subtract the number of cups  12  by recounting the stack of cups  12  and pressing the subtraction sign. 
     The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including various ways of configuring the body of the cup counter  10 . Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.