Safety lid and method for use of same
A safety lid is disclosed for use in combination with a drinking cup. In one embodiment, a body of integrally molded construction is provided that is shaped to fit a lip of the drinking cup. A fluid passageway traverses the body to permit a liquid in the drinking cup to be sipped therethrough. Microcomponents are embedded in the body and operably connected for measuring a temperature of the liquid and if the measured temperature is outside of a temperature range closing the fluid passageway.
1. A method for monitoring temperature, the method comprising:
securing a safety lid to a drinking cup having a liquid therein, the safety lid having a fluid passageway therethrough that permits the liquid to be sipped;
measuring a temperature of the liquid with a thermometer embedded in the safety lid;
comparing the measured temperature to at least one stored temperature value;
responsive to comparing the measured temperature to at least one stored temperature value, closing the fluid passageway if the measured temperature exceeds a temperature threshold; and
providing a visual indication of the temperature on a visual display embedded within the safety lid.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising opening the fluid passageway if the measured temperature is within the temperature threshold.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising providing an audio alert if the measured temperature exceeds the temperature threshold.
4. A system for monitoring a temperature of a liquid, the system comprising:
a safety lid secured to a drinking cup having the liquid therein, the safety lid having a fluid passageway therethrough that permits the liquid to be sipped;
means for measuring the temperature of the liquid with a thermometer embedded in the safety lid;
means for comparing the measured temperature to at least one stored temperature value;
means for closing the fluid passageway if the measured temperature exceeds a temperature threshold following the temperature comparison; and
means for providing a visual indication of the temperature on the safety lid.
5. The system as recited in claim 4 , further comprising means for opening the fluid passageway if the measured temperature is within the temperature threshold.
6. The system as recited in claim 4 , further comprising means for providing an audio alert if the measured temperature exceeds the temperature threshold.
7. A safety lid for use in combination with a drinking cup, the safety lid comprising:
a body of integrally molded construction that is shaped to fit a lip of the drinking cup;
a fluid passageway traversing the body, the fluid passageway permitting a liquid in the drinking cup to be sipped therethrough;
a valve positioned in the fluid passageway;
a thermometer embedded in the body, the thermometer for measuring the temperature of the liquid and driving a temperature signal;
a microcontroller embedded in the body, the microcontroller responsive to the temperature signal, for evaluating the temperature signal and driving first and second control signals;
a visual display embedded in the body, the visual display responsive to the first control signal, for displaying the temperature; and
a valve actuator, responsive to the second control signal, for actuating the valve if the measured temperature exceeds a temperature threshold.