# US 9,516,968 B2 · Water heater > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,516,968 B2 - Document ID: US9516968B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/413,052 - Filed: 2013-07-03 - Published: 2015-06-18 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-03 - Applicants: Appkettle Limited - Inventors: Robert Hill - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9516968B2 ## CPC - A47J 27/21091: {of electronic type} - A47J 27/21008: {electrically heated} - A47J 27/21083: {with variable operating parameters, e.g. temperature or boiling period} - A47J 27/212: with signaling means, e.g. whistling kettles - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES ## Abstract The present invention provides a water heater capable of heating fluid to boiling point, wherein said heater includes a heating element, a water level gauge, a temperature measure, and a transceiver; wherein control of at least the element is provided by a mobile communication device communicating with the transceiver. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A water heater comprising: a heating element; a level gauge which senses when the water heater is empty and switches off the water heater; a transceiver wherein remote switching of the heating element is achieved by a user transmitting a command, from a mobile communication device, via a wireless network to the transceiver, wherein a time at which boiling of the contents is to be reached is determined either: from data specified by the user, or using data and a predetermined formula; and wherein the mobile communication device includes means for identifying the position of said mobile communication device and the position of the heater and measuring the distance therebetween and wherein the time at which boiling of the contents is reached is determined by the predetermined formula based upon the distance between the water heater and the mobile communication device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The water heater according to claim 1, further including insulation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The water heater according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature measuring means configured to measure the temperature of water in the water heater and to communicate the measured temperature data to the mobile communication device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The water heater according to claim 3, wherein the temperature measuring means is configured to measure incremental temperature levels and/or that the water heater has boiled. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The water heater according to claim 1, wherein the level gauge is configured to gauge the amount of water present in the water heater. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The water heater according to claim 1, further comprising data calculation software, the data calculation software included in the water heater and/or accessible by the mobile communication device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The water heater according to claim 6, wherein the time at which boiling of the contents of the water heater is reached is determined by the data calculation software according to temperature measured by the water temperature measuring means and level gauge data. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The water heater according to claim 1, wherein heating element is adapted to deliver heat to the water at different intensities. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) A water heater according to claim 6, wherein the data calculation software is accessible on the mobile communication device through an application. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A water heating according to claim 1, wherein the water heater includes a compartment for separating a defined quantity of water from a main body of water in the water heater and wherein the heating element is configured to heat the defined quantity of water to a temperature that differs from the temperature of the main body of water. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A water heater according to claim 1 wherein the water heater includes water release valves. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A water heater according to claim 1 wherein the release valves are adapted to deliver a defined volume of heated water or water for heating. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The water heater according to claim 1, further comprising a communication device configured to control the water heater as defined in claim 1. ### Claim 14 A kettle comprising a heating element, a level gauge which senses when the kettle is empty and switches off the kettle; and a transceiver wherein remote switching of the heating element is achieved by a user transmitting a command, from a mobile communication device, via a wireless network to the transceiver, wherein a time at which boiling of the contents is to be reached is determined either: from data specified by the user, or using data and a predetermined formula; and wherein the mobile communication device includes means for identifying the position of said mobile communication device and the position of the heater and measuring the distance therebetween and wherein the time at which boiling of the contents is reached is determined by the predetermined formula based upon the distance between the kettle and the mobile communication device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A kettle according to claim 14 which is insulated. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A kettle according to claim 14, comprising a temperature measuring means configured to measure the temperature of water in the kettle and to communicate measured temperature data to the mobile communication device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A kettle according to claim 16, wherein the temperature measuring means is configured to measure incremental temperature levels and/or that the kettle has boiled. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A kettle according to claim 14, wherein the level gauge is configured to gauge the amount of water present in the water heater. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) A kettle according to claim 14, comprising data calculation software included in the water heater and/or accessible by the mobile communication device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A kettle according to claim 19, wherein the time at which boiling of the contents of the kettle is reached is determined by the data calculation software according to temperature measured by the water temperature measuring means and level gauge data. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) A kettle according to claim 19, wherein the data calculation software is accessible on the mobile communication device through an application. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) A kettle according to claim 14, wherein heating element is adapted to deliver heat to the water at different intensities. ### Claim 23 A water heater comprising: a heating element; a level gauge which senses when the water heater is empty and switches off the water heater; a transceiver wherein remote switching of the heating element is achieved by a user transmitting a command, from a mobile communication device, via a wireless network to the transceiver, wherein a time at which boiling of the contents is to be reached is determined either: from data specified by the user, or using data and a predetermined formula; further comprising data calculation software, the data calculation software included in the water heater and/or accessible by the mobile communication device; and wherein the time at which boiling of the contents of the water heater is reached is determined by the data calculation software according to temperature measured by the water temperature measuring means and level gauge data. ### Claim 24 A kettle comprising a heating element, a level gauge which senses when the kettle is empty and switches off the kettle; and a transceiver wherein remote switching of the heating element is achieved by a user transmitting a command, from a mobile communication device, via a wireless network to the transceiver, wherein a time at which boiling of the contents is to be reached is determined either: from data specified by the user, or using data and a predetermined formula; comprising data calculation software included in the water heater and/or accessible by the mobile communication device; and wherein the time at which boiling of the contents of the kettle is reached is determined by the data calculation software according to temperature measured by the water temperature measuring means and level gauge data.