Buoyant-capable beverage and food content-sensor
AssigneesNeil C. Oronsky, John W. Sliwa, Bryan T. Oronsky, Hebert L. Berman
InventorsJohn W. Sliwa, Bryan T. Oronsky, Herbert L. Berman, Neil C. Oronsky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A buoyant-capable sensor system device is disclosed for use alone or on an apparatus such as a straw, stirrer, mixer, stick or utensil which detects the presence or absence of one or more substances in a beverage or liquid food such as soup comprising a sensing element(s) which is either in direct or indirect contact with the beverage or food and a buoyant sensor body to assure user-visibility of the sensing element(s).
Claims27
A visually readable sensor system for detecting at least one of a presence of, absence of, or concentration of a species of interest or concern in a consumable beverage or food item comprising:
- a sensor body which can be presented to or placed upon a surface of the beverage or food item and which is capable of at least one of floatably or buoyantly retaining, maintaining or recovering that location or a similar surface location;
- a sensing material, composition or element capable of changing visual appearance in response to the detection of at least one of the presence, absence-of or concentration of the species in the beverage or food item;
- the sensing material composition or element being situated one or more of upon, within, or coupled to the sensor body or comprising the sensor body;
- a transport path for at least one food or beverage-related constituent or species to reach the sensor material from the beverage or food item;
- said surface placement of the sensor system allowing for flow-communication, wetting or diffusive transport of at least one beverage or food constituent or species along the transport path to, upon or into the sensing material, composition or element;
- and
- said sensing material, composition or element thereby changing an aspect of visual appearance in accordance with a state or degree of presence or absence of the species of interest in said beverage or food item.
A method of detecting a species of interest or concern in a beverage or food-item, comprising:
- providing a buoyant capable species sensor capable of providing a visual indication of at least one of the specie's presence, absence or concentration in the beverage or food item while situated in a floated or buoyant state in or on the beverage or food item;
- providing a beverage or food item which a user may or will ingest or may or will provide to another human or animal for their ingestion;
- and
- causing the sensor to become situated at or in a surface of the beverage or food item whereat, after a period, it provides the visual indication to the user or ingester.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.