权利要求：
CLAIMS
1. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container, the system
comprising:
a dispensing container comprising a vessel, the vessel having: a formation and/or a
discreet element in or on the vessel which causes the centre of gravity of liquid
contents of the vessel to be positioned differently, when oriented in a lain-on-side
attitude, from its notional position, in the absence of the formation and/or discreet
element, and an indicator configured to indicate a change of the liquid contents of the
vessel;
a gauge, separate to the dispensing container, configured to be co-operable with the
indicator of the dispensing container, the gauge comprising an interface between the
gauge and the dispensing container and a scale which, in co-operation with the
indicator of the dispensing container, signifies to a user the approximate liquid
contents of the vessel.
2. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to claim
1, wherein the gauge is defined by a reference card.
3. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to claim
2, wherein the interface is an aperture through the reference card.
4. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to any of
claims 1 to 3, wherein the indicator comprises a marker configured to change position
in accordance with the change of liquid contents of the vessel.
5. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to claim
4, wherein the visual scale of the gauge comprises a first coloured segment and a
second coloured segment, different to the first, wherein alignment of the indicator with
the first coloured segment signifies to a user that the dispensing container contains
contents and alignment of the indicator with the second coloured segment signifies to
the user that the dispensing container is empty of contents, or nearly so.
6. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to any of
claims 3 to 5, wherein the aperture through the reference card is located centrally in at
least one dimension.
7. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to any of
claims 3 to 6, wherein the aperture through the reference card is located proximate to
an edge of the reference card.
8. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to claim
4, wherein the indicator comprises an arrow provided on a proximal or distal end of the
dispensing container.
9. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to any of
claims 2 to 8, wherein the reference card has at least one substantially straight edge.
10. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to claim
9, wherein the aperture through the reference card is positioned proximate a
substantially straight edge.
11. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to claim 9
or claim 10, wherein the first coloured segment is arranged substantially parallel to a
substantially straight edge of the reference card and the second coloured segment is
arranged about the aperture through the reference card.
12. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to claim 9
or claim 10, wherein both the first coloured segment and the second coloured
segments are arranged substantially parallel to a substantially straight edge of the
reference card.
13. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to claim 9
or claim 10, wherein both the first coloured segment and the second coloured segment
are arranged about the aperture through the reference card.
14. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to any of
claims 5 to 13, wherein the visual scale further comprises a third coloured segment.
15. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to claim
14, wherein the third coloured segment is arranged substantially parallel to a
substantially straight edge of the reference card.
16. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to claim
14, wherein the third coloured segment is arranged about the aperture through the
reference card.
17. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to claim
1, wherein the gauge is defined by a display on a visual display unit.
18. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to claim
17, wherein the interface is defined by a surface of the visual display unit.
19. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to claim
17 or claim 18, further comprising a memory for storing a plurality of images depicting
a dispensing container having varying levels of liquid content.
20. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to claim
19, further comprising an image capture device for capturing an image of the
dispensing container, a processing unit for comparing a captured image to a stored
image, and output means for displaying an output on the visual display unit to indicate
to a user whether the dispensing container contains content or is empty, or nearly so.
21. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to claim
18, wherein the surface of the visual display unit is configured to permit the dispensing
container to roll across the surface of the visual display unit, wherein the distance the
dispensing container rolls across the surface of the visual display unit is measured to
determine the level of contents of the dispensing container.
22. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container according to any of
claims 1 to 21, wherein the dispensing container comprises a vessel having a valve
crimped on at a neck in the vessel, wherein, the vessel is circularly cylindrical and
formed with a groove within its circular cylindrical envelope, extending parallel with the
length of the vessel giving it an inflected cylindrical sidewall.
23. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container as shown in, or
described with reference to, the drawings.
24. A device for determining the contents of a dispensing container, the device comprising:
an input for receiving information relating to the position of a dispensing container
relative to a surface;
a memory for storing information received by the input and pre-stored information;
a processing unit for comparing information received by the input with the pre-stored
information and determining the level of liquid content of the dispensing container
based on the position of a part of said dispensing container relative to a surface; and
an output for indicating the liquid contents of the dispensing container to a user.
25. A device for determining the contents of a dispensing container according to claim 24,
wherein the device is a smartphone running a software application.
26. A device for determining the contents of a dispensing container according to claim 25
or claim 26, wherein the output is audible, visual or tactile.
27. A device for determining the contents of a dispensing container according to any of
claims 24 to 26, wherein the input is a camera or a touch screen.
28. A method of determining the contents of a dispensing container, the method
comprising:
a) positioning a dispensing container, comprising a vessel having a valve, wherein, the
vessel is circularly cylindrical and formed with a groove within its circular cylindrical
envelope, extending parallel with the length of the vessel giving it an inflected
cylindrical sidewall, in a lain-on-side orientation;
b) comparing the notional position of the dispensing container with a gauge to indicate
the level of liquid content of the dispensing container.
29. A method of determining the contents of a dispensing container according to claim 28,
wherein the gauge is a reference card.
30. A method of determining the contents of a dispensing container according to claim 28,
wherein the gauge is displayed on a smartphone application.
31. A method of determining the contents of a dispensing container according to claim 30,
wherein the gauge is a plurality of pre-stored images depicting a dispensing container
in a range of positions according to the liquid content therein.
32. A dispensing container comprising a vessel, the vessel having: a formation and/or a
discreet element in or on the vessel which causes the centre of gravity of liquid
contents of the vessel to be positioned differently, when oriented in a lain-on-side
attitude, from its notional position, in the absence of the formation and/or discreet
element, and an indicator configured to indicate a change of the liquid contents of the
vessel.
33. A dispensing container according to claim 32, wherein the indicator is in the form of a
marker on a surface of the vessel and which rotates with the dispensing container
upon change of the centre of gravity of liquid contents contained in the vessel.
34. A dispensing container according to claim 33, wherein the marker is an arrow.
35. A gauge for approximating the level of liquid content of a dispensing container, the
gauge comprising: an interface for interfacing with a dispensing container according to
any of claims 32 to 34 and a scale, wherein when the dispensing container is a lain-on-
side attitude, rotation of the dispensing container relative to the interface of the gauge
changes the position of the marker relative to the scale of the gauge to indicate to a
user an approximation of the level of liquid content of the dispensing container.
36. A method of interpreting a characteristic of a dispensing container, the method
comprising:
i) taking an image of a portion of the dispensing container on a portable device;
ii) sending the image to a remote processing device;
iii) extracting a pre-determined segment of data from the image;
iv) comparing said segment of data to a reference data set;
Vv) determining a result based on step iv);
vi) sending said result to the portable device; and
vii) displaying said result on the portable device.
37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the portion of a dispensing container is a QR
code.
38. A method according to claim 36, wherein the portion of the dispensing container is a
dispensing counter.
39. A method according to claim 36, wherein the portion of the dispensing container is a
contents indicator.
40. A method according to any of claims 36 to 39, wherein the portable device is a smart phone, tablet computer, camera, smart watch or smart glasses.
41. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the segment of data extracted from the image corresponds to a QR code, barcode, dispensing counter or contents indicator.
42. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the reference data set comprises a plurality of images.
43. A method according to any of claims 36 to 41, wherein the reference data set comprises a plurality of database entries.
44. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the result corresponds to identification of a particular dispensing container.
45. A method according to any of claims 36 to 43, wherein the result corresponds to the level of content of a dispensing container.
46. A method of interpreting a characteristic of a dispensing container, the method comprising:
i) taking an image of a portion of the dispensing container on a portable device:
iM) sending the image to a remote processing device;
iii) receiving an identifying characteristic from the remote processing device; and
iv) displaying the identifying characteristic on the portable device.
47. A method of interpreting a characteristic of a dispensing container, the method comprising:
i) receiving an image from a portable device;
ii) extracting a pre-determined segment of data from the image;
iii) comparing said segment of data to a reference data set;
iv) determining a result based on step iii); and
Vv) sending the result to the portable device.
48. A method of interpreting a characteristic of a dispensing container, the method comprising:
i) taking an image of a portion of the dispensing container on a portable device;
ii) extracting a pre-determined segment of data from the image;
iii) comparing said segment of data to a reference data set;
iv) determining a result based on step iii); and
Vv) displaying the result on the portable device.
49. A method of interpreting a characteristic of a dispensing container, the method comprising:
i) taking an image of a portion of the dispensing container on a portable device;
ii) displaying the image on the portable device;
fii) displaying one or more reference images on the portable device adjacent to the image;
iv) requesting a user to select a reference image closest to the image; and
Vv) displaying a result on the portable device.
50. A method of interpreting a characteristic of a dispensing container, the method
comprising:
i) taking an image of a portion of the dispensing container on a portable device;
ii) sending the image to a remote processing device;
iii) extracting a pre-determined segment of data from the image;
iv) comparing said segment of data to a reference data set;
Vv) determining a result based on step iv); and
vi) sending said result to a data storage device.
51. A system for approximating the contents of a dispensing container, the system
comprising:
a dispensing container comprising a vessel, the vessel having: a formation and/or a
discreet element in or on the vessel which causes the centre of gravity of liquid
contents of the vessel to be positioned differently, when oriented in a lain-on-side
attitude, from its notional position, in the absence of the formation and/or discreet
element, and a gauge comprising a scale;
an indicator, separate to the dispensing container, configured to be co-operable with
the gauge of the dispensing container, the indicator comprising an interface between
the indicator and the dispensing container which, in co-operation with the gauge of the
dispensing container, signifies to a user the approximate liquid contents of the vessel.