Spout for dispensing liquid from a liquid container

Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention provide a system for monitoring liquid consumption at one or more establishments. At each establishment, the system includes one or more spouts and a local computer. Each spout is mounted on a liquid container. Also, each spout generates data regarding the amount of liquid poured from the spout's container. The local computer at each establishment collects data generated by the spouts at the establishment. In some embodiments, a wireless network links the local computer and the spouts at each establishment. The system also includes an external computer that gathers the data collected by the local computers of the establishments monitored by the system. In some embodiments, the external computer is located outside of all the establishments, while in other embodiments this computer is located within one of the establishments. Some embodiments of the invention provide a free-pour spout. This spout mounts on an open orifice of a liquid container and measures the amount of liquid poured from the liquid container. This spout has a housing and a passageway defined within the housing. It also has a detection circuit that detects fluid flow through the passageway. In addition, this spout has a measuring circuit that generates data relating to fluid flow when the detection circuit detects fluid flow through the passageway.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A spout for mounting on an open orifice of a liquid container and for measuring the amount of liquid poured from the liquid container, the spout comprising: 
 a) a housing;    b) a passageway defined within the housing;    c) a detection circuit that detects a pour event;    d) a measuring circuit that generates data relating to fluid flow through the passageway when the detection circuit detects a pour event.    
     
     
         22 . The spout of  claim 21 , wherein the detection circuit includes a motion circuit that detects when the spout is tilted by at least a first angle.  
     
     
         23 . The spout of  claim 22 , wherein after the motion circuit detects that the spout is tilted by at least the first angle, the measuring circuit generates a time measurement when the spout remains tilted by at least the first angle for a threshold time period, wherein the time measurement represents an estimate of the time that liquid flows through the passageway.  
     
     
         24 . The spout of  claim 23 , wherein before generating the time measurement, the measuring circuit determines whether the spout has remained tilted by at least the first angle for the threshold period.  
     
     
         25 . The spout of  claim 23  further comprising a transmitter that transmits time measurements generated by the measuring circuit.  
     
     
         26 . The spout of  claim 25 , wherein with each time measurement, the transmitter also transmits an identifier that uniquely specifies the pouring event associated with the time measurement.  
     
     
         27 . The spout of  claim 26 , wherein the identifier is a sequence number.  
     
     
         28 . The spout of  claim 26 , wherein with each time measurement, the transmitter further transmits a spout identifier that identifies the spout.  
     
     
         29 . The spout of  claim 22 , wherein the time measurement is derived from at least two time intervals relating to fluid flow.  
     
     
         30 . The spout of  claim 29 , wherein the time measurement is the sum of the two time intervals relating to fluid flow.  
     
     
         31 . The spout of  claim 29 , wherein the time measurement is the weighted sum of the two time intervals relating to fluid flow.  
     
     
         32 . The spout of  claim 29 , wherein one time interval is a pour-initiation period during which fluid begins to pour through the spout's passageway, and another time interval is a full-pour period during which fluid freely pours through the spout's passageway.  
     
     
         33 . The spout of  claim 32 , wherein during the full-pour period the fluid flow is laminar.  
     
     
         34 . The spout of  claim 33 , wherein the passageway has several dimensional attributes, wherein the dimensional attributes of the passageway ensure laminar fluid flow when the spout is rotated by a second angle.  
     
     
         35 . The spout of  claim 34 , wherein the passageway has a length and a diameter, and the ratio of the length and the diameter is no more than a particular value.  
     
     
         36 . The spout of  claim 35 , wherein the particular value is 20.  
     
     
         37 . The spout of  claim 33 , wherein another time interval is a pour-completion period during which fluid flow through the spout's passageway is not laminar.  
     
     
         38 . The spout of  claim 22 , wherein the motion circuit generates a first signal that is active when the spout is tilted by at least the first angle.  
     
     
         39 . The spout of  claim 38 , wherein the motion circuit includes a tilt switch that outputs the first signal and that closes when the spout is tilted by at least a first angle, wherein the closing of the tilt switch makes the first signal active and the opening of the tilt switch makes the first signal inactive.  
     
     
         40 - 58 . (canceled)