US 12,642,248 B2Granted

Temperature-regulated liquid container

OwnerLarry James Wilkersoninventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A temperature regulation system including a first body forming a first interior cavity and a second body forming a second interior cavity. The first body includes a first opening defined in a wall of the first body. The first interior cavity is in fluidic communication with the first opening and the first interior cavity is configured to contain a liquid. The second body includes a second opening defined within a wall of the second body. A first temperature control module can be disposed within the second body and can include a fan. The first temperature control module is in fluidic communication of a fluid comprising air with the first interior cavity via the first and second openings. The fan is configured to direct a flow of air from the second interior cavity to the first interior cavity at a location adjacent the liquid.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A temperature-regulated liquid container comprising:

(a) a container body forming a first cavity;
(b) a bowl body forming a second cavity, the bowl body being disposed within the first cavity and the second cavity being externally accessible from the container body;
(c) a bowl heating element coupled to an exterior surface of the bowl body;
(d) an electrical control module disposed on a surface of the container body;
(e) a temperature regulation system body;
(f) a temperature regulation system disposed on the temperature regulation system body, the temperature regulation system comprising:
(i) a cavity heating element;
(ii) a fan adjacent the cavity heating element, the fan being configured to move air adjacent the cavity heating element;
(iii) a first temperature sensor configured to generate a first signal;
(iv) a second temperature sensor configured to generate a second signal;
(v) a first temperature control device having a first high temperature threshold and first low temperature threshold, the first temperature control device being in electrical communication with the first temperature sensor and the cavity heating element such that the first temperature control device receives the first signal;
and
(vi) a second temperature control device having a second high temperature threshold and second low temperature threshold, the second temperature control device being in electrical communication with the bowl heating element and the second temperature sensor such that the second temperature control device receives the second signal;
and
(g) a liquid distribution system disposed within the first cavity, the liquid distribution system comprising:
(i) a liquid level container comprising a liquid level sensor;
(ii) a pump configured to pump liquid to the liquid level container;
and
(iii) a liquid distribution tube configured to direct a liquid from the liquid level container to the bowl body,
wherein the fan, the first and second temperature control devices, and heating elements are each in electrical communication with the electrical control module.

17 more elements

A temperature regulated liquid container comprising:

(a) a container body forming a cavity;
(b) a temperature control system body;
(c) an electrical control module;
and
(d) a temperature regulation system disposed on the temperature control system body, the temperature regulation system comprising:
(i) a cavity heating element;
(ii) a fan adjacent the cavity heating element, the fan being configured to move air adjacent the cavity heating element;
(iii) a temperature sensor configured to generate a signal;
(iv) a temperature control device having a high temperature threshold and low temperature threshold, the temperature control device being in electrical communication with the cavity heating element and the temperature sensor such that the temperature control device receives the signal,
(e) a liquid distribution system disposed within the cavity, the liquid distribution system comprising:
(i) a liquid level container comprising a liquid level sensor;
(ii) a pump configured to pump liquid from the liquid level container;
and
(iii) a liquid distribution tube configured to direct a liquid from the liquid level container;
wherein the fan, the temperature control device, and cavity heating element are each in electrical communication with the electrical control module.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 19/081,571Filed 17 Mar 2025 · continuation in part
Priority: 1 Dec 2021
Published: US 2025/0204486 A126 Jun 2025
Granted: 2 Jun 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A01K 7/027
Automatic devices: drinking equipment with water heaters, coolers or means for preventing freezing
H05B 3/22
Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional [2D] plane, e.g. plate-heater: non-flexible
A01K 7/022
Automatic devices: pumps actuated by the drinking animal
A01K 7/04
Automatic devices: actuated by float

Family

Application63/285,037Us provisional application · filed 1 Dec 2021
Application18/060,923Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 1 Dec 2022
US 2025/0204486 A1Pre-grant publication · published 26 Jun 2025
US 12,250,933 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2023/0165215 A1Published application
US 12,642,248 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.