Granted Patent B2

US 12,467,777 · App. 18/606,506 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Inventor: Santhosh William (Louisville, KY)

Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.

G01F3/38A47G19/2205B65D23/006B65D25/04G01F15/063G01F15/125B65D2201/00

Abstract

Claims (64)

1 . A method of tracking liquid consumption for a bottle assembly, the bottle assembly comprising a body and a flow assembly provided within a liquid reservoir of the body, the method comprising:

sensing a dispensing operation of an external liquid dispenser;

determining an identity of the external liquid dispenser based on sensing the dispensing operation of the external liquid dispenser;

adjusting the flow assembly in response to determining the identity of the external liquid dispenser, wherein the flow assembly defines a filter position and a bypass position; and

measuring liquid data of the liquid reservoir following adjusting the flow assembly.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bottle assembly further comprises a sensor assembly disposed at a bottom end of the body, wherein sensing the dispensing operation of the external liquid dispenser comprises:

detecting, via the sensor assembly, an initial volume of liquid has entered the liquid reservoir.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein measuring liquid data of the liquid reservoir comprises:

determining, via the sensor assembly, a volume of liquid dispensed into the liquid reservoir by the external liquid dispenser; and

transmitting a signal indicative of the volume of liquid dispensed to an external device registered to the bottle assembly.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the sensor assembly comprises a weight sensor, and wherein measuring liquid data of the liquid reservoir comprises measuring a weight of liquid within the liquid reservoir.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the bottle assembly further comprises a near field communication module provided therein, wherein determining the identity of the external liquid dispenser comprises:

searching, via the near field communication module, for a connectable liquid source in response to detecting the initial volume of liquid has entered the liquid reservoir.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the bottle assembly further comprises a bottle filter, wherein the flow assembly comprises a dividing plate that separates the liquid reservoir into a pre-filter reservoir and a main reservoir, wherein the dividing plate includes a channel defining a flow path therethrough, wherein the bottle filter is positioned within the main reservoir to filter water entering the main reservoir.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein determining the identity of the external liquid dispenser comprises:

failing to establish a connection with the connectable liquid source;

determining the external liquid dispenser is a non-connectable liquid source following failing to establish the connection with the connectable liquid source; and

setting the flow assembly to the filter position in response to determining the external liquid dispenser is the non-connectable liquid source, wherein pre-filter reservoir is fluidly coupled to the bottle filter via the channel in the filter position.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein determining the identity of the external liquid dispenser comprises:

establishing a connection between the bottle assembly and the connectable liquid source via the near field communication module; and

determining a filter expiration time for a filter of the connectable liquid source.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein adjusting the flow assembly comprises:

determining the filter expiration time for the filter of the connectable liquid source is expired; and

rotating the dividing plate to the bypass position in response to determining the filter expiration time for the filter of the external liquid dispenser is expired, wherein the pre-filter reservoir is directly fluidly coupled to the main reservoir via the channel in the bypass position.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein adjusting the flow assembly comprises:

determining the filter expiration time for the filter of the connectable liquid source is not expired; and

setting the flow assembly to the filter position in response to determining the filter expiration time for the filter of the external liquid dispenser is not expired, wherein pre-filter reservoir is fluidly coupled to the bottle filter via the channel in the filter position.

11 . A bottle assembly for tracking liquid consumption, the bottle assembly comprising:

a body defining a liquid reservoir;

a flow assembly provided within the liquid reservoir; and

a controller operable for:

sensing a dispensing operation of an external liquid dispenser;

determining an identity of the external liquid dispenser based on sensing the dispensing operation of the external liquid dispenser;

adjusting the flow assembly in response to determining the identity of the external liquid dispenser, wherein the flow assembly defines a filter position and a bypass position; and

measuring liquid data of the liquid reservoir following adjusting the flow assembly.

12 . The bottle assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:

a sensor assembly disposed at a bottom end of the body,

wherein sensing the dispensing operation of the external liquid dispenser comprises detecting, via the sensor assembly, an initial volume of liquid has entered the liquid reservoir.

13 . The bottle assembly of claim 12 , wherein measuring liquid data of the liquid reservoir comprises:

determining, via the sensor assembly, a volume of liquid dispensed into the liquid reservoir by the external liquid dispenser; and

transmitting a signal indicative of the volume of liquid dispensed to an external device registered to the bottle assembly.

14 . The bottle assembly of claim 12 , wherein the sensor assembly comprises a weight sensor, and wherein measuring liquid data of the liquid reservoir comprises measuring a weight of liquid within the liquid reservoir.

15 . The bottle assembly of claim 12 , further comprising:

a near field communication module provided therein,

wherein determining the identity of the external liquid dispenser comprises:

searching, via the near field communication module, for a connectable liquid source in response to detecting the initial volume of liquid has entered the liquid reservoir.

16 . The bottle assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:

a bottle filter for removing unwanted substances from liquid,

wherein the flow assembly comprises a dividing plate that separates the liquid reservoir into a pre-filter reservoir and a main reservoir,

wherein the dividing plate includes a channel defining a flow path therethrough, and

wherein the bottle filter is positioned within the main reservoir to filter water entering the main reservoir.

17 . The bottle assembly of claim 16 , wherein determining the identity of the external liquid dispenser comprises:

failing to establish a connection with the connectable liquid source;

determining the external liquid dispenser is a non-connectable liquid source following failing to establish the connection with the connectable liquid source; and

setting the flow assembly to the filter position in response to determining the external liquid dispenser is the non-connectable liquid source, wherein pre-filter reservoir is fluidly coupled to the bottle filter via the channel in the filter position.

18 . The bottle assembly of claim 16 , wherein determining the identity of the external liquid dispenser comprises:

establishing a connection between the bottle assembly and the connectable liquid source via the near field communication module; and

determining a filter expiration time for a filter of the connectable liquid source.

19 . The bottle assembly of claim 18 , wherein adjusting the flow assembly comprises:

determining the filter expiration time for the filter of the connectable liquid source is expired; and

rotating the dividing plate to the bypass position in response to determining the filter expiration time for the filter of the external liquid dispenser is expired, wherein the pre-filter reservoir is directly fluidly coupled to the main reservoir via the channel in the bypass position.

20 . The bottle assembly of claim 18 , wherein adjusting the flow assembly comprises:

determining the filter expiration time for the filter of the connectable liquid source is not expired; and

setting the flow assembly to the filter position in response to determining the filter expiration time for the filter of the external liquid dispenser is not expired, wherein pre-filter reservoir is fluidly coupled to the bottle filter via the channel in the filter position.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (12)