Patent Publication Number: US-2019191902-A1

Title: Animated cup 5

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is in the field of electronic novelties devices, more particularly, drinking cups with electronic lighting displays. 
     Plastic drinking cups were among the first utilities of plastic. With the advent of cheap electronics and LED lighting, it is an innovative leap to combine the two to create a cup capable of displaying lighted patterns that are both interesting and fun. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In its present embodiment the invention is an animated waterproof cup, or drinking vessel that can hold a liquid or powder or a slurry or suspension or anything that can be held in a normal cup, and the exterior and/or layers comprising the exterior of this cup can produce patterns of light and/or images that can switch from at least one image to at least one other image. This can be accomplished by employing edge lit technology wherein a light source in one location is coupled to a layer of plastic, and the light passes through the material whereupon it strikes a rough surface or a different surface which can cause the transmitted light to scatter in another location, thus producing a visible pattern if one layer is positioned over another layer, and each layer can be independently illuminated, then one pattern can be illuminated, then another can be illuminated, and this can give the appearance that one image is either replacing another, or that one image can blend into another image by fading or dimming one out while fading or dimming the next image up. Alternatively, at least one image or at least one another image and/or both or more images can be displayed. This can be accomplished in a number of ways. It can be abruptly switched from one image to the next, or gradually faded, or any combination. The patterns can overlap in time, wherein each is illuminated in some proportion to the maximum brightness, or one image can be completely switched off and the other completely switched on with no overlap in time. This is an aesthetic call as to how any particular commercial product would be implemented. There can also be three, four, five, or more layers, each of which can be independently illuminated, with one image fading and/or switching into the next fading and/or switching into the next and so on, or multiple images can be simultaneously displayed in any combination. This could take the form of a cup within a cup within a cup and so on, with each cup independently illuminatable, and this would also give a three-dimensional effect wherein one image is in front of or behind another image, and this can produce any number of pleasing patterns. 
     In at least one embodiment an animated cup comprising: a central axis; at least one of: at least one first shell, centered and/or revolving about said central axis and at a locus of first distances from said central axis, said at least one first shell capable of transmitting and radiating light and at least one first means of edge lighting said at least one first shell and at least one microprocessor and/or electronic controller capable of generating at least one lighting sequence controlling at least one first output that controls said at least one first means of edge lighting to said at least one first shell; or at least one first shell, centered and/or revolving about said central axis and at a locus of first distances from said central rax is, said at least one first shell capable of transmitting and radiating light and at least one second shell, centered and/or revolving about said central axis and at a locus of second distances from said central axis which is greater than said locus of first distances from said central axis, said at least one second shell capable of transmitting and radiating light; and at least one first means of edge lighting said at least one first shell and at least one second means of edge lighting said at least one second shell and at least one microprocessor and/or electronic controller capable of generating at least one lighting sequence controlling at least one first output that controls said at least one first means of edge lighting to said at least one first shell and at least one second output that controls said at least one second means of edge lighting to said at least one second shell; or at least one first shell, centered and/or revolving about said central axis and at a locus of first distances from said central axis, said at least one first shell capable of transmitting and radiating light and at least one second shell, centered and/or revolving about said central axis and at a locus of second distances from said central axis which is greater than said locus of first distances from said central axis, said at least one second shell capable of transmitting and radiating light and at least one third shell, centered and/or revolving about said central axis and at a locus of third distances from said central axis which is greater than said locus of second distances from said central axis, said at least one third shell capable of transmitting and radiating light and at least one first means of edge lighting said at least one first shell and at least one second means of edge lighting said at least one second shell and at least one third means of edge lighting said at least one third shell and at least one microprocessor and/or electronic controller capable of generating at least one lighting sequence controlling at least one first output that controls said at least one first means of edge lighting to said at least one first shell and at least one second output that controls said at least one second means of edge lighting to said at least one second shell and at least one third output that controls said at least one third means of edge lighting said to at least one third shell; and at least one source of power; at least one activating device. 
     The Animated Cup can be waterproof. 
     The Animated Cup can be at least one of: waterproof, sealed, water sealed, water resistant. 
     Said at least one microprocessor and/or electronic controller can be housed within at least one waterproof compartment and/or imbedded and/or hermetically sealed within at least one portion of said waterproof animated cup. 
     The animated cup can be wherein said at least one first shell is made from at least one transparent and/or translucent material and further comprises at least one first light radiating portions and said at least one second shell if present is made from at least one transparent and/or translucent material and further comprises at least one second light radiating portion; and 
     said at least one third shell if present is made from at least one transparent and/or translucent material and further comprises at least one third light radiating portion. 
     The animated cup may be wherein said at least one first light radiating portion and said at least one second light radiating portion if present and said at least one third light radiating portion if present is at least one of an irregular and/or rough surface, etched, sandblasted, molded, engraved, imprinted, ingrained, cut, impressed and/or outlined into said at least one transparent and/or translucent material, an inclusion in said at least one transparent and/or translucent material, at least one refractive element, at least one reflective element, at least one bubble, at least one volume of material that is a different density than said at least one transparent and/or translucent material. 
     The animated cup may be wherein at least one said radiating portion contains at least one of images, text, logos, slogans, characters, other visual materials, and/or other visual content. 
     The animated cup may have wherein said at least one first output that controls said at least one first means of edge lighting fades and/or switches off either before and/or during and/or after said at least one second output that controls said at least one second means of edge lighting if present and/or said at least one third output that controls said at least one third means of edge lighting if present fades and/or switches on and if present at least one second output that controls said at least one second means of edge lighting fades and/or switches off either before and/or during and/or after said at least one first output that controls said at least one first means of edge lighting and/or said at least one third output that controls said at least one third means of edge lighting fades and/or switches on and if present at least one third output that controls said at least one third means of edge lighting fades and/or switches off either before and/or during and/or after said at least one first output that controls said at least one first means of edge lighting and/or said at least one second output that controls said at least one second means of edge lighting fades and/or switches on. 
     The animated cup may further comprise at least one external trigger or switch and/or input that causes the execution of said at least one lighting sequence. 
     The animated cup may have wherein said at least one activating device has as a component in whole or in part at least one sensor and/or means of making mechanical connection with and electrical connection to at least one electrical contact. 
     The animated cup may have wherein said at least one sensor is at least one of a microphone, a light and/or optical sensor, accelerometer, switch, ball switch, level activated switch, thermocouple and/or thermistor and/or at least one thermal sensing element, coil and/or inductive element, at least one pressure sensing element, hall effect sensor, capacitive sensor and/or capacitive switch, touch sensitive element, resistive sensing element, at least one means of receiving at least one radio signal and/or electromagnetic radiation, and/or associated circuitry and electronics associated with any of the above. 
     The animated cup may further comprise at least one of at least one speaker, piezoelectric element, at least one other LED in the visible and/or infrared band, coil and/ or inductive element, means of producing at least one radio signal and/or electromagnetic radiation. 
     The animated cup may have wherein said at least one first shell and if present said at least one second shell and if present said at least one third shell is made from at least one of glass, Plexiglas, acrylic, resin, clear food-safe plastic, and/or transparent and/or translucent material. 
     The animated cup may have that wherein said at least one lighting sequence is at least one of a chaser pattern, a blinking pattern, a fixed illumination of at least one brightness level that remains constant for at least one period of time, at least one variable illumination pattern, at least one lighting sequence that remains on for at least one fixed period of time, at least one lighting sequence that remains on for at least one fixed period of time that is variable, at least one lighting sequence that remains on for at least one fixed period of time since receiving at least one input to at least one I/O port and/or pin on said at least one microprocessor and/or electronic controller. 
     The animated cup may have that wherein said at least one source of power is housed within a waterproof battery compartment and/or has at least one gasket and/or seal. 
     The animated cup may further comprise at least one of RFID, GPS circuitry, at least one communication receiver device and/or the at least one communication transmitter device and/or the at least one communication transmitter/receiver device employing at least one of Wi-Fi, radio wave and/or electromagnetic radiation. Bluetooth. 
     The animated cup may further comprise at least one lens capable of projecting at least one image on at least one external surface and/or at least one object and/or said at least one first shell and/or at least one interior surface of said animated cup. 
     The animated cup may also include that said waterproof compartment further comprises at least one LED and/or source of light and at least one lens capable of projecting at least one image radially outward from and/or beneath said waterproof compartment. 
     One embodiment is an animated cup comprising three plastic layers forming a first inner cup within a second middle cup within a third outer cup, said first inner cup illuminated by at least one first LED, said second middle cup illuminated by at least one second LED, said third outer cup illuminated by at least one third LED. This embodiment of Animated Cup may be waterproof and all three said plastic layers may be waterproof or may be at least one of: waterproof, sealed, water sealed, water resistant. 
     At least one embodiment of a waterproof animated cup may comprise a multiplicity of waterproof plastic layers, with each plastic layer placed in contact with at least one other plastic layer, with each said plastic layer independently illuminatable with at least one source of light, each said at least one source of light controllable electronically by at least one controller and/or microprocessor to produce at least one pattern of illumination, with said at least one pattern of illumination initiated by at least one trigger or switch that produces at least one input to said at least one controller and/or microprocessor. 
     The invention can further comprise a removably attached cover or lid or a removably cover or lid and a removably attached straw. 
     The invention can further comprise that said removably attached cover or lid is wearable and/or has an attaching device or male and/or female section of said attaching device, so it can be attached to a necklace, pin, bracelet, or other wearable jewelry or another accessory. 
     The invention can further comprise: at least one of at least one first layer capable of transmitting and radiating light and at least one first means of edge lighting said at least one first layer and at least one microprocessor and/or electronic controller capable of generating at least one lighting sequence controlling at least one first output that controls said at least one first means of edge lighting to said at least one first layer; at least one first layer capable of transmitting and radiating light arid at least one second layer capable of transmitting and radiating light; and at least one first means of edge lighting said at least one first layer and at least one second means of edge lighting said at least one second layer and at least one microprocessor and/or electronic controller capable of generating at least one lighting sequence controlling at least one first output that controls said at least one first means of edge lighting to said at least one first layer and at least one second output that controls said at least one second means of edge lighting to said at least one second layer; at least one first layer capable of transmitting and radiating light and at least one second layer capable of transmitting and radiating light and at least one third layer capable of transmitting and radiating light and at least one first means of edge lighting said at least one first layer and at least one second means of edge lighting said at least one second layer and at least one third means of edge lighting said at least one third layer and at least one microprocessor and/or electronic controller capable of generating at least one lighting sequence controlling at least one first output that controls said at least one first means of edge lighting to said at least one first layer and at least one second output that controls said at least one second means of edge lighting to said at least one second layer and at least one third output that controls said at least one third means of edge lighting said to at least one third layer; and the said third layer if present distances from top of the said cover or lid is greater than distance of said second layer if present which second layer if present is greater than distance of said first layer from the top of the said cover or lid; at least one source of power at least one activating device; is the said cover or lid is waterproof or is at least one of: waterproof, sealed, water sealed, water resistant. 
     Said least one microprocessor and/or electronic controller can be housed within at least one waterproof compartment and/or embedded and/or hermetically sealed within at least one portion of said cover or lid. 
     Said at least one first layer can be made from at least one transparent and/or translucent material and further comprises at least one first light radiating portion; said at least one second layer if present is made from at least one transparent and/or translucent material and further comprises at least one second light radiating portion; and said at least one third layer if present can be made from at least one transparent and/or translucent material and further comprises at least one third light radiating portion. 
     Said at least one first light radiating portion and said at least one second light radiating portion if present and said at least one third light radiating portion if present can be at least one of an irregular and/or rough surface, etched, sandblasted, molded, engraved, imprinted, ingrained, cut, impressed and/or outlined into said at least one transparent and/or translucent material, an inclusion in said at least one transparent and/or translucent material, at least one refractive element, at least one reflective element, at least one bubble, at least one volume of material that is a different density than said at least one transparent and/or translucent material. 
     At least one said radiating portion can contain at least one of images, text, logos, slogans, characters, other visual materials, and/or other visual content. 
     The animated cup may have said at least one first output that controls said at least one first means of edge lighting fades and/or switches off either before and/or during and/or after said at least one second output that controls said at least one second means of edge lighting if present and/or said at least one third output that controls said at least one third means of edge lighting if present fades and/or switches on; if present at least one second output that controls said at least one second means of edge lighting fades and/or switches off either before and/or during and/or after said at least one first output that controls said at least one first means of edge lighting and/or said at least one third output that controls said at least one third means of edge lighting fades and/or switches on; and if present at least one third output that controls said at least one third means of edge lighting fades and/or switches off either before and/or during and/or after said at least one first output that controls said at least one first means of edge lighting and/or said at least one second output that controls said at least one second means of edge lighting fades and/or switches on, 
     At least one external trigger or switch and/or input can cause the execution of said at least one lighting sequence. 
     Said at least one activating device can have as a component in whole or in part having at least one sensor and/or means of making mechanical connection with and electrical connection to at least one electrical contact. 
     Said at least one sensor can be at least one of a microphone, a light and/or optical sensor, accelerometer, switch, ball switch, level activated switch, thermocouple and/or thermistor and/or at least one thermal sensing element, coil and/or inductive element, at least one pressure sensing element, hall effect sensor, capacitive sensor and/or capacitive switch, touch sensitive element, resistive sensing element, at least one means of receiving at least one radio signal and/or electromagnetic radiation, and/or associated circuitry and electronics associated with any of the above. 
     The invention and the cover or lid can be at least one of at least one speaker, piezoelectric element, at least one other LED in the visible and/or infrared band, coil and/or inductive element, means of producing at least one radio signal and/or electromagnetic radiation. 
     The animated cup can further comprising at least one of sound, audio, sound device, and speaker(s). 
     Said at least one first layer and if present said at least one second layer and ii present said at least one third layer can be made from at least one of glass, Plexiglas, acrylic, resin, clear food safe plastic, and/or transparent and/or translucent material. 
     Said at least one lighting sequence can be at least one of a chaser pattern, a blinking pattern, a fixed illumination of at least one brightness level that remains constant for at least one period of time, at least one variable illumination pattern, at least one lighting sequence that remains on for at least one fixed period of time, at least one lighting sequence that remains on for at least one fixed period of time that is variable, at least one lighting sequence that remains on for at least one fixed period of time since receiving at least one input to at least one I/O port and/or pin on said at least one microprocessor and/or electronic controller. 
     Said at least one source of power is housed within a waterproof battery compartment and/or has at least one gasket and/or seal. 
     Said at least one source of power is housed within a battery compartment. 
     The invention or the cover or lid can further comprise at least one of RFID, UPS circuitry, at least one communication receiver device and/or the at least one communication transmitter device and/or the at least one communication transmitter/receiver device employing at least one of radio wave and/or electromagnetic radiation, Bluetooth. 
     The invention or the cover or lid can further comprise at least one lens capable of projecting at least one image on at least one external surface and/or at least one object and/or said at least one first layer and/or at least one interior surface of said animated cup. 
     Said waterproof compartment further comprises at least one LED and/or source of light and at least one lens capable of projecting at least one image radially outward from and/or beneath said waterproof compartment. 
     A waterproof wearable device comprising a multiplicity of waterproof plastic layers, with each plastic layer placed in contact with at least one other plastic layer, with each said plastic layer independently illuminatable or illuminated with at least one source of light, each said at least one source of light controllable electronically by at least one controller and/or microprocessor to produce at least one pattern of illumination, with said at least one pattern of illumination initiated by at least one trigger or switch that produces at least one input to said at least one controller and/or microprocessor, having a means to connect as a cup cover or lid and a means for attaching to a surface or person to be wearable. 
     The cover or lid may further comprise edge lit technology and remote source light acti vation. 
     Following are some key features of the present invention. The refracting/reflecting animation image technology of the present invention creates animation through specially prepared plastic projecting an imagine combined with other layers. All layers independently controlled in various sequences together creating animation and multi sequences which works with character images. Logos, and any other type of images. The project mechanism projects images and the projection technology has images projected out of the base of the cup onto any surface or projected inward at a diameter. 
     Another key feature of the present invention is the edge lit technology. A light source in one location is coupled to a layer of plastic, and the light passes through the material whereupon it strikes a rough surface or a different surface which can cause the transmitted light to scatter in another location, thus producing a visible pattern. One way the light source is integrated into the invention is by cutting a hole into the plastic so the led fits into the hole by sliding it into the hole and then covering the sides with non-transparent material leaving only the inserted end or side facing the majority of the plastic open for the light to go primarily in one direction facing toward the majority of the plastic a second way which is used in at least one embodiment of the Animated Cup is to make, by injection molding or other method, hole(s) in a base portion positioned at least one interval from central axis and if more than one layer or shell then the LEDs are separately positioned at different distances from cup center and/or central axis and then they can be covered as described in process one above. In both cases the use of calibration points which are small dots or lines that are used to make sure the different layers of animation are in the correct spot on the material and to make sure the different layers are lined up with each other correctly is sometimes used. If one layer is positioned over another layer, and each layers can be independently illuminated, then one pattern can be illuminated, then another can be illuminated, and this can give the appearance that one image is either replacing another, or that one image can blend into another image by fading or dimming one out while fading or dimming the next image up. Alternatively, at least one image or at least one another image and/or both or more images can be displayed. It can be abruptly switched from one image to the next, or gradually faded, or any combination. The patterns can overlap in time. Wherein each is illuminated in some proportion to the maximum brightness, or one image can be completely switched off and the other completely switched on with no overlap in time. There can also be three, four, five, or more layers, each of which can be independently illuminated, with one image fading and/or switching into the next fading and/or switching into the next and so on, or multiple images can be simultaneously displayed in any combination. 
     The edge lit technology can also have remote source light activation. Each edge lit layer of product can be separately controlled via a third-party control center, so images can be turned on or off from the third-party control center in real time and can even be controlled in unison with other units used by others so that a grouping of users all have changing images in unison. In fact, small group kits can be sold for family and other small groups to join together in sync which can be controlled by the third-party venue. For example, a themed character in a live setting can control the whole families viewing experience. The image can be at least one of images, text, logos, slogans, characters, other visual materials, and/or other visual content. The product contains at least one communication transmitter/receiver device. 
     Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention should not be limited to the described preferred embodiments. Rather, various changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     All of the material in this patent document issue subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  depicts the cross-section of a multi-layered animated cup. 
         FIG. 2  shows one embodiment of the present invention with layers that have indentations for the LEDs. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of an embodiment of an animated cup with a cover removed and internal electrical components shown. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of an animated cup in an inverted position. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of an animated cup in an upright position. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an animated cup. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an animated cup showing a waterproofing material protecting a trigger that executes a lighting sequence. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an animated cup showing a trigger to execute a lighting sequence. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of various components of an embodiments of an animated cup. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of various components of an embodiments of an animated cup. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Detailed descriptions of embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. There, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. 
       FIG. 1  depicts the cross-section of a multi-layered animated cup  1 , showing the first inner plastic layer  2 , second middle plastic layer  3 , third outer plastic layer  4 , the area of housed electronics  5 , the area where liquid goes  6 , and the lid  7 . 
       FIG. 2  shows one embodiment of the present invention with layers that have indentations for the LEDs. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of an embodiment of an animated cup with a cover removed arid internal electrical components shown. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of an animated cup in an inverted position. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of an animated cup in an upright position. 
     While the instant invention has been shown and described in accordance with preferred and practical embodiments thereof, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the true scope of the invention should not be limited since other modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a study of the claims, drawings, descriptions, explanations, and specifications herein. 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material to which a claim for copyright is made. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but reserves all other copyright rights whatsoever. 
     COMPONENT LIST FOR DRAWINGS 
     Following is a partial list of the components depicted in the drawings: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Component Number 
                 Component Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 1 
                 Animated cup 
               
               
                 2 
                 First inner plastic layer 
               
               
                 3 
                 Second middle plastic layer 
               
               
                 4 
                 Third outer plastic layer 
               
               
                 5 
                 Area of housed electronics 
               
               
                 6 
                 Area where liquid goes 
               
               
                 7 
                 Lid 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     DEFINITIONS 
     These definitions are in addition to the words and phrases specifically defined in the body of this application. 
     As used herein, the term “and/or,” when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if a device is described as containing components A, B, and/or C, the composition can contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.