# US 10,244,892 B2 · Liquid container and module for adjusting temperature of liquid in container > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,244,892 B2 - Document ID: US10244892B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/442,304 - Filed: 2017-02-24 - Published: 2017-08-31 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-29 - Assignees: Ember Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Ember Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Clayton Alexander; Christopher Thomas Wakeham; Daren John Leith; Mikko Juhani Timperi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10244892B2 ## CPC - A47J 36/2411: {Baby bottle warmers; Devices for warming baby food in jars} - A47G 23/04: Containers with means for keeping food cool or hot ({A47G19/027, A47G19/127, A47G19/2288, A47G19/285, A47G23/0313 take precedence; } for butter or cheese A47G19/26 {; thermally insulated vessels A47J41/00}) - A47J 36/2416: {with a heat storage element or material} - A47J 36/2433: {with electrical heating means} - A61J 9/00: Feeding-bottles in general - A61J 11/008: {Protecting caps} - F25D 3/08: portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally - H05B 3/78: Heating arrangements specially adapted for immersion heating - F25D 2303/0842: inside the beverage contained in a bottle, can, drinking glass, pitcher or dispenser - F25D 2331/803: Bottles - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES - A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B) - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A module for adjusting a temperature of a liquid in a container can include an elongate portion sized for insertion into the container, the elongate portion having an outer surface that contacts the liquid in the container about its circumference, the elongate portion housing therein one or more heating or cooling elements operable to facilitate heat transfer between at least a portion of the elongate portion and the liquid in the container. An adaptor attached to a proximal end of the elongate portion has a rim and a circumferential wall that have an outer circumference greater than an outer circumference of the elongate portion, the adaptor defining one or more passages between the circumferential wall and the outer surface of the elongate portion. The adaptor can be coupled to an opening of the container such that the elongate portion is suspended in the container and so that at least a portion of the elongate portion is submerged in the liquid in the container. The one or more passages allow the liquid to exit the vessel while the elongate portion is disposed in the container, allowing a user to consume the liquid in the container while the module is disposed in the container. A plurality of adaptors of varying sizes can be provided to allow use of the module with containers of varying sizes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A module for adjusting a temperature of a liquid in a container, comprising: an elongate portion sized for insertion into a container configured to hold a liquid, the elongate portion having an outer surface configured to contact the liquid in the container about the circumference of the elongate portion, the elongate portion housing therein one or more heating or cooling elements configured to facilitate heat transfer between at least a portion of the elongate portion and the liquid in the container; and an adaptor removably coupleable to a proximal end of the elongate portion, the adaptor having an inner circumferential wall that defines a central opening of the adaptor into which the proximal end of the elongate portion at least partially extends when coupled to the adaptor so that the inner circumferential wall is disposed about an outer circumferential wall of the elongate portion, the adaptor further comprising an outer circumferential wall spaced apart from the inner circumferential wall so as to define one or more passages therebetween that extend linearly along an entire length of the adaptor and that allow a fluid to pass therethrough, the adaptor further comprising a rim at a proximal end of the outer circumferential wall, the rim extending radially outward from the outer circumferential wall, wherein the adaptor is configured to couple to an opening of the container such that the rim of the adaptor contacts a rim of the container that defines the opening of the container and so that the outer circumferential wall of the adaptor is disposed in the opening of the container against an inner wall of the container that defines the opening of the container so that the elongate portion extends into the container so that at least a portion of the elongate portion is submerged in the liquid in the container, the one or more passages configured to allow the liquid to exit the vessel while the module is disposed in the container, thereby allowing a user to consume the liquid in the container while the module is disposed in the container. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the adaptor comprises a plurality of adaptors of varying outer circumferences, each being removably coupleable to the proximal end of the elongate portion and configured to fit a plurality of containers having openings of varying outer circumferences. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the elongate portion further comprises control circuitry configured to control the operation of the one or more heating or cooling elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The module of claim 3, wherein the elongate portion further comprises one or more power storage devices configured to deliver power to one or both of the control circuitry and one or more heating or cooling elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The module of claim 3, wherein the elongate portion comprises one or more sensors configured to sense a parameter of the liquid in the container, the control circuitry configured to operate the one or more heating or cooling elements based at least in part on the sensed parameter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the elongate portion further comprises a transceiver configured to transmit information to, and receive information from, a remote electronic device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the one or more heating or cooling elements comprise a resistive heater operable to heat the liquid in the container. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the elongate portion is hermetically sealed. ### Claim 9 In combination, a container configured to hold a liquid and a module for adjusting a temperature of a liquid in a container, the module comprising: an elongate portion sized for insertion into the container such that the elongate portion is suspended in a cavity of the container, the elongate portion having an outer surface configured to contact the liquid in the container about the circumference of the elongate portion, the elongate portion housing therein one or more heating or cooling elements configured to facilitate heat transfer between at least a portion of the elongate portion and the liquid in the container; and an adaptor removably coupleable to a proximal end of the elongate portion, the adaptor having an inner circumferential wall that defines a central opening of the adaptor into which the proximal end of the elongate portion at least partially extends when coupled to the adaptor so that the inner circumferential wall is disposed about an outer circumferential wall of the elongate portion, the adaptor further comprising an outer circumferential wall spaced apart from the inner circumferential wall so as to define one or more passages therebetween that extend linearly along an entire length of the adaptor and that allow a fluid to pass therethrough, the adaptor further comprising a rim at a proximal end of the outer circumferential wall, the rim extending radially outward from the outer circumferential wall, wherein the adaptor is configured to couple to an opening of the container such that the rim of the adaptor contacts a rim of the container that defines the opening of the container and so that the outer circumferential wall of the adaptor is disposed in the opening of the container against an inner wall of the container that defines the opening of the container so that the elongate portion extends into the container so that at least a portion of the elongate portion is submerged in the liquid in the container, the one or more passages configured to allow the liquid to exit the vessel while the module is disposed in the container, thereby allowing a user to consume the liquid in the container while the module is disposed in the container. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The combination of claim 9, wherein the adaptor comprises a plurality of adaptors of varying outer circumferences, each being removably coupleable to the proximal end of the elongate portion and configured to fit a plurality of containers having openings of varying outer circumferences. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The combination of claim 9, wherein the elongate portion further comprises control circuitry configured to control the operation of the one or more heating or cooling elements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The combination of claim 11, wherein the elongate portion further comprises one or more power storage devices configured to deliver power to one or both of the control circuitry and one or more heating or cooling elements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The combination of claim 11, wherein the elongate portion comprises one or more sensors configured to sense a parameter of the liquid in the container, the control circuitry configured to operate the one or more heating or cooling elements based at least in part on the sensed parameter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The combination of claim 9, wherein the elongate portion further comprises a transceiver configured to transmit information to, and receive information from, a remote electronic device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The combination of claim 9, wherein the one or more heating or cooling elements comprise a resistive heater operable to heat the liquid in the container. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The combination of claim 9, wherein the elongate portion is hermetically sealed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The combination of claim 9, wherein the container is a baby bottle. ### Claim 18 A kit for heating or cooling a liquid in a container, comprising: an elongate portion sized for insertion into a container, the elongate portion having an outer surface configured to contact the liquid in the container about the circumference of the elongate portion, the elongate portion housing therein one or more heating or cooling elements configured to facilitate heat transfer between at least a portion of the elongate portion and the liquid in the container; and one or more adaptors removably coupleable to a proximal end of the elongate portion, the adaptor having an inner circumferential wall that defines a central opening of the adaptor into which the proximal end of the elongate portion at least partially extends when coupled to the adaptor so that the inner circumferential wall is disposed about an outer circumferential wall of the elongate portion, the adaptor further comprising an outer circumferential wall spaced apart from the inner circumferential wall so as to define one or more passages therebetween that extend linearly along an entire length of the adaptor and that allow a fluid to pass therethrough, the adaptor further comprising a rim at a proximal end of the outer circumferential wall, the rim extending radially outward from the outer circumferential wall and configured to contact a rim of the container that defines the opening of the container and so that the outer circumferential wall of the adaptor is disposed in the opening of the container against an inner wall of the container that defines the opening of the container, the adaptor allowing the liquid in the container to exit via said one or more passages while the elongate portion is disposed in the container during consumption of the liquid by the user. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The kit of claim 18, wherein the one or more adaptors comprises a plurality of adaptors of varying outer circumferences, each being removably coupleable to the proximal end of the elongate portion and configured to fit a plurality of containers having openings of varying outer circumferences. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The kit of claim 18, wherein the elongate portion further comprises control circuitry configured to control the operation of the one or more heating or cooling elements. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The kit of claim 20, wherein the elongate portion further comprises one or more power storage devices configured to deliver power to one or both of the control circuitry and one or more heating or cooling elements. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The kit of claim 20, wherein the elongate portion comprises one or more sensors configured to sense a parameter of the liquid in the container, the control circuitry configured to operate the one or more heating or cooling elements based at least in part on the sensed parameter. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The kit of claim 18, wherein the elongate portion further comprises a transceiver configured to transmit information to, and receive information from, a remote electronic device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The kit of claim 18, further comprising a storage unit configured to removably receive at least a portion of the elongate portion therein, the storage unit comprising electronics configured to control one or more operating functions of the elongate portion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The kit of claim 24, wherein the electronics are configured to control a charging operation of one or more power storage elements in the elongate portion. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The kit of claim 24, wherein the electronics are configured to control a reset operation of software stored in the elongate portion for operation of the one or more heating or cooling elements. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The kit of claim 24, wherein the storage unit comprises one or more electrical contacts through which the storage unit receives power. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The kit of claim 24, further comprising a charging base configured to receive at least a portion of the storage unit thereof, the charging base configured to receive power from a power source and to transmit power to the storage unit while the storage unit is disposed on the charging base. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The kit of claim 28, wherein the charging base comprises one or more electrical contacts configured to contact one more electrical contacts on a surface of the storage unit, the charging base configured to transmit power to the storage unit via the one or more electrical contacts on the charging base and storage unit.