# US 11,077,997 B2 · Secure beverage container with locking feature and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,997 B2 - Document ID: US11077997B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/136,223 - Filed: 2020-12-29 - Published: 2021-04-22 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-15 - Assignees: Secure Cup Enterprises, LLC - Applicants: Rhett C. Leary; Brett C. Leary - Inventors: Rhett C. Leary; Brett C. Leary - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077997B2 ## CPC - B65D 55/14: Applications of locks, e.g. of permutation or key-controlled locks - A47G 19/22: Drinking vessels or saucers used for table service (glass or drinking-vessel underlays A47G23/03 {; cups as travelling or camp articles A45F3/16; collapsible cups A45F3/20; cups made of plastics B65D1/265, made of paper B65D3/06; measuring cups G01F9/00}) - A47G 19/2227: {with means for amusing or giving information to the user (A47G23/16 takes precedence)} - A47G 19/2272: {from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers} - A47G 2200/103: Non-permanent, e.g. electric - A47G 2400/123: Anti-spiking - B65D 50/00: Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures - B65D 2213/00: Safety means - B65D 2555/02: Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure - E05B 41/00: Locks with visible indication as to whether the lock is locked or unlocked {(indicator lights E05B17/10)} - E05B 47/026: {the bolt moving rectilinearly} - E05B 65/00: Locks {or fastenings} for special use - E05Y 2400/612: Batteries - E05Y 2400/66: Wireless transmission - E05Y 2400/8505: User authentication, e.g. biometric - E05Y 2400/858: by body parts, e.g. by feet - E05Y 2999/00: Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B) - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract A secure beverage container may include a body having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a first longitudinal side extending between the first end and the second end, and a second longitudinal side opposing the first longitudinal side and extending between the first end and the second end, the first end being closed, the second end being open. The body may define a cavity to receive a beverage fluid. The secure beverage container may include a lid to be received by the second end to seal the cavity in the body, and a powered locking device. The secure beverage container may include an access control device coupled to the powered locking device and configured to cause the powered locking device to switch between the locked state and the unlocked state based upon a security token. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A secure beverage container comprising: a body comprising a first end, a second end opposing said first end, a first longitudinal side extending between said first end and said second end, and a second longitudinal side opposing said first longitudinal side and extending between said first end and said second end, said first end being closed, said second end being open, said body defining a cavity therein to receive a beverage fluid; a lid to be received by said second end to seal the cavity in said body and comprising a sipping opening; a powered locking device carried by said lid and comprising a latch mechanism configured to selectively latch to adjacent portions of said body; said powered locking device configured to operate in one of a locked state where said lid is secured to the second end of said body, and an unlocked state when said lid can be removed from the second end of said body; and an access control device coupled to said powered locking device and configured to cause said powered locking device to switch between the locked state and the unlocked state based upon a security token. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The secure beverage container of claim 1 wherein said body defines a recess; and wherein said latch mechanism is configured to extend into the recess in the locked state, and retract from the recess in the unlocked state. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The secure beverage container of claim 2 wherein said body defines the recess on an interior surface of said body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The secure beverage container of claim 1 wherein said access control device comprises a biometric scanner device carried by said lid; and wherein the security token comprises a biometric characteristic of a user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The secure beverage container of claim 1 further comprising a battery power source carried by said lid and being coupled to said powered locking device and said access control device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The secure beverage container of claim 5 further comprising a visual indicator carried by said lid, coupled to said access control device, and configured to generate a visual indication when said powered locking device is in the unlocked state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The secure beverage container of claim 6 further comprising a motor coupled to said latch mechanism. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The secure beverage container of claim 6 wherein said visual indicator is configured to generate a visual indication for a low battery state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The secure beverage container of claim 1 wherein said access control device comprises a wireless access control device configured to receive the security token wirelessly from a wireless communications device. ### Claim 10 A secure beverage container comprising: a body comprising a first end, a second end opposing said first end, a first longitudinal side extending between said first end and said second end, and a second longitudinal side opposing said first longitudinal side and extending between said first end and said second end, said first end being closed, said second end being open, said body defining a cavity therein to receive a beverage fluid, said body defining a recess; a lid to be received by said second end to seal the cavity in said body and comprising a sipping opening; a powered locking device carried by said lid and comprising a latch mechanism configured to selectively latch to adjacent portions of said body; said powered locking device configured to operate in one of a locked state where said lid is secured to the second end of said body, and an unlocked state when said lid can be removed from the second end of said body, said latch mechanism configured to extend into the recess in the locked state, and retract from the recess in the unlocked state; an access control device coupled to said powered locking device and configured to cause said powered locking device to switch between the locked state and the unlocked state based upon a security token; and a battery power source carried by said lid and being coupled to said powered locking device and said access control device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The secure beverage container of claim 10 wherein said body defines the recess on an interior surface of said body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The secure beverage container of claim 10 wherein said access control device comprises a biometric scanner device carried by said lid; and wherein the security token comprises a biometric characteristic of a user. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The secure beverage container of claim 10 further comprising a visual indicator carried by said lid, coupled to said access control device, and configured to generate a visual indication when said powered locking device is in the unlocked state. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The secure beverage container of claim 13 further comprising a motor coupled to said latch mechanism. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The secure beverage container of claim 13 wherein said visual indicator is configured to generate a visual indication for a low battery state. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The secure beverage container of claim 10 wherein said access control device comprises a wireless access control device configured to receive the security token wirelessly from a wireless communications device. ### Claim 17 A method of making a secure beverage container, the method comprising: forming a body comprising a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a first longitudinal side extending between the first end and the second end, and a second longitudinal side opposing the first longitudinal side and extending between the first end and the second end, the first end being closed, the second end being open, the body defining a cavity therein to receive a beverage fluid; forming a lid to be received by the second end to seal the cavity in the body and comprising a sipping opening; coupling a powered locking device to be carried by the lid and comprising a latch mechanism configured to selectively latch to adjacent portions of the body; the powered locking device configured to operate in one of a locked state where the lid is secured to the second end of the body, and an unlocked state when the lid can be removed from the second end of the body; and coupling an access control device to the powered locking device and configured to cause the powered locking device to switch between the locked state and the unlocked state based upon a security token. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the body defines a recess; and wherein the latch mechanism is configured to extend into the recess in the locked state, and retract from the recess in the unlocked state. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the body defines the recess on an interior surface of the body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the access control device comprises a biometric scanner device carried by the lid; and wherein the security token comprises a biometric characteristic of a user.