The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 14, 2010
Filed:
Sep. 29, 2006
Reed Wasson Hoyt, Framingham, MA (US);
Scott James Montain, Holliston, MA (US);
Michael H. Wollowitz, Chatham, NY (US);
Matthew Stevens Hickcox, Groton, MA (US);
Reed Wasson Hoyt, Framingham, MA (US);
Scott James Montain, Holliston, MA (US);
Michael H. Wollowitz, Chatham, NY (US);
Matthew Stevens Hickcox, Groton, MA (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for monitoring the consumption of fluid by a user, particularly fluids being drank from a container. The apparatus may be used with wide variety of container types. The fluid monitoring unit uses a pair of gears in rotational engagement with each other such that fluid passes around them and rotation of at least one gear is indicative of fluid consumption. The gears in at least one exemplary embodiment are arranged to have low frictional resistance with respect to each other and their respective axles such that the gears quickly and easily rotate and over a wide fluid flow range. This allows the apparatus to accurately and consistently monitor fluid flow from very low flow rates to high flow rates and therefore provide very reliable consumption information. The apparatus in one exemplary embodiment includes an electromagnetic drinking straw embodiment that allows a user to monitor the consumption of fluids from virtually any container type.