PRIORITY/CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61920990, filed December 26, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The presently disclosed and claimed technology generally relates to beverage holding vessels, and more particularly to a vessel with a powered display.

BACKGROUND

[0003] There are a number of devices which provide an illuminated cup holder, typically in automobiles or theater seating, which aid in using the cup holder in low light situations. There are also various cups that bear a logo or utilize an illuminated or powered graphic, in which the illumination is typically an LED (light emitting diode) or backlit LCD (liquid crystal display) that is powered by a battery. There is a strong market for promotional materials for any particular brand, such as coffee, beer, tea, sports teams, cities, sporting equipment, and many other articles. Each of these entities produces products in which their insignia may be displayed. The products can be pennants, shot glasses, collectible spoons, enameled pins, travel mugs, coffee cups, can openers, decals, and many other articles. Sometimes these are given away or sold inexpensively as a memento of a trip.

[0004] A cup which is illuminated, or bears a powered graphic display, which does not require a battery would be very desirable in this product field. Having it be powered by solar power is one option, but solar power is only available when the product is in the sunshine. A novel way of powering the display would be to use the heat or cold from the product itself, such as heat from a hot cup of coffee or the chill of an ice-cold beer, to power the display. The display could be a logo, an interesting phrase, the trademark of a sports team or a company, or other graphics which are typically used in promotional products.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0005] The purpose of the Abstract is to enable the public, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the inventive concept(s) of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the inventive concept(s) in any way.

[0006] The disclosed self-powered logo cup is a vessel with a powered display, and can operate using either hot or cold beverages or food. It uses the temperature difference between the beverage and the environment to generate electricity using a thermoelectric generator (TEG). The electricity generated passes through an optional DC to DC voltage step up, and is then used to power a light emitting diode LED, organic light emitting diode OLED, flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) or other light producing unit (such as luminous tubing or light transmitting fibers) in the wall of the cup that bears an image, such as a business logo, sports team logo, words, phrase, geographic designation, or other graphic image. The thermoelectric device can be sandwiched between the cup and a heat sink for more efficient heat transfer. The heat sink is optional, as is a heat radiator. A second embodiment is identical to the first except instead of having an LED the cup has an LCD or other electrically powered device bearing a message or logo. The intention is that the electricity generated from the TEG would illuminate or power some design, logo, trademark, word, phrase, or other artistic representation, or visually convey status information about the temperature in the cup, quantitatively or qualitatively. Another embodiment transitions from one color while hot to another when cold. One embodiment might show a digital indicator of temperature, another might show an analog indicator of temperature such as a series of sequentialing blinking LED's that blink faster the more heat is generated.

[0007] Still other features and advantages of the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description describing preferred embodiments of the inventive concept(s), simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out the inventive concept(s). As will be realized, the inventive concept(s) is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the inventive concept(s). Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a powered vessel of the disclosed technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0009] While the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the inventive concept(s) to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) is to cover all

modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the inventive concept(s) as defined in the claims.

[0010] A preferred embodiment of the disclosed technology is shown Figure 1. Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the represents an expanded depiction of the self-powered logo cup. Liquid containment vessel 101 has a powered display 115 energized by electricity. The vessel 101 has a top edge 111, a bottom side 107, and a circumvolving sidewall 116 which connects the top edge and the bottom side. Vessel 101 would typical be made of plastic or metal, and may be double walled to reduce radiation of heat through the sidewall. Electrical connection 105 is typically wires, and connect display 115 electrically to junction 106 which connects electrically to voltage stepper 110, which can include hot-cold selection functions. Voltage stepper 110 receives electrical current from thermoelectric device 102 which is attached to base 108. The TEG has a first side 112 in direct physical contact with bottom of vessel 107, which may be a heat transfer plate 107, which a llows heat to flow to or from liquid in cup 101. The bottom of cup 101 comprises a heat transfer plate 107 a nd is in direct contact with the liquid in cup 101 on one side and the first side of the TEG 102 on the other side. The TEG 102 has a second side 113, which is in direct physica l contact with heat sink 103. Heat sink 103 can include a radiator 114. Both surfaces of TEG 102 may be bonded with silver epoxy or other means of bonding that allows for heat transfer.

[0011] The TEG 102 used can be any model of available TEG, with a TEG made by VKTech, model number TECl-12706, of 40mm by 40mm being one example.

[0012] The powered display 115 can include a combination of printed or LCD graphics, and lighted portion, with the lighted portions being LEDs 104, OLEDs, flexible OLEDs, luminous tubing, or fiber optics displays.

[0013] The three essential components include the containment vessel 101, the thermoelectric generator 102, and the powered display 115. Greater efficiency is had by insulating the containment vessel with a double wall or other means. The device as a whole will operate briefly without heat sink 103 which also serves as a heat dissipator or radiator. Electricity is produced by the flow of heat, which occurs only there is a difference in

temperature between one side of the thermoelectric generator and the other.

[0014] A DC to DC voltage stepper or booster 110 has been beneficial in the function of the device. Many off the shelf LED's require a minimum voltage of 2.5 volts while some

thermoelectric generators produce less than 0.5 volts for the temperature differences of 100 degrees F or less. The DC booster helps in situations where there is voltage mismatch. A typical temperature range for the liquid in the vessel to successfully generate electricity would be 150 to 212 degrees F.

[0015] While certain exemplary embodiments are shown in the figures and described in this disclosure, it is to be distinctly understood that the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims.