US 11,807,978 B2
Apparatus, system, and method of providing a liquid level monitor
Amanda Williams, St. Petersburg, FL (US); Julio Danel Oropeza, St. Petersburg, FL (US); Yu-Chang Lee, St. Petersburg, FL (US); Ying Hao Lee, St. Petersburg, FL (US); Martin Johnson, St. Petersburg, FL (US); Marc Theeuwes, St. Petersburg, FL (US); Stefan Vaes, St. Petersburg, FL (US); and Toon Diels, St. Petersburg, FL (US)
Assigned to Nypro Inc., Clinton, MA (US)
Filed by Nypro Inc., Clinton, MA (US)
Filed on Mar. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/700,445.
Application 17/700,445 is a continuation of application No. 15/970,795, filed on May 3, 2018, granted, now 11,280,042.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/666,608, filed on May 3, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/666,605, filed on May 3, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/592,955, filed on Nov. 30, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/500,916, filed on May 3, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0282421 A1, Sep. 8, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. D06F 39/02 (2006.01); G01F 23/00 (2022.01); A47L 15/44 (2006.01); B67D 3/00 (2006.01); B65D 83/00 (2006.01); B60K 15/00 (2006.01); G01F 23/80 (2022.01); D06F 105/60 (2020.01); D06F 33/37 (2020.01)
CPC D06F 39/022 (2013.01) [A47L 15/449 (2013.01); A47L 15/4418 (2013.01); A47L 15/4463 (2013.01); B60K 15/00 (2013.01); B65D 83/00 (2013.01); B67D 3/0077 (2013.01); B67D 3/0093 (2013.01); G01F 23/0007 (2013.01); G01F 23/804 (2022.01); D06F 33/37 (2020.02); D06F 2105/60 (2020.02); G01F 23/00 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A liquid level monitoring dispenser for association with a liquid filled consumable, comprising:
a durable receiver that is permanent or semi-permanent in its durability as compared to the liquid-filled consumable and that is for receiving the liquid-filled consumable upon inversion thereof and insertion thereto;
a flexible electrical connector at least partially around a first internal circumference within the receiver for electrically communicative association with printed conductive strips within product labeling on the consumable, the first internal circumference being positioned sufficiently far along an exit flow pathway of the liquid so as to prevent leakage of the liquid and so as to be capable of contacting the printed conductive strips, the flexible electrical connector maintaining the electrically communicative association with the printed conductive strips at multiple prospective rotational and angular insertion positions of the liquid-filled consumable;
a sensing module within the receiver communicative with the at least one flexible electrical connector and having associated therewith firmware for converting signals associated with the conductive strips, as actuated by the sensing module and responsively received at the flexible electrical connector, to an indication of the liquid level within the liquid-filled consumable, and further capable of sensing upon the insertion of a foil cap associated with the consumable, wherein the sensing of the foil cap is indicative of characteristics of the consumable;
a communications module for communicating the liquid level and the characteristics over at least one network;
a power module for powering at least the sensing module and the communications module; and
at least one dispensing output in fluid communication with the liquid-filled consumable and capable of dispensing the liquid from the consumable to modify the liquid level.