EP2096046B1 - Drink bottle and system for creating a mixed drink - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a beverage bottle with a pourable sealing means, in particular a film section, tightly closed pouring opening, wherein a bottle closure is provided with opening element arranged in extension of the pouring opening, which for sealing the opening of the beverage bottle by means of the axial pressurization in the direction of the pouring opening a piercing means penetrates, wherein the piercing means is provided on the side facing the sealing means of the opening element. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system and a method for producing a mixed beverage.

Soft drinks of various kinds as well as mixed drinks, preferably consisting of juices and alcoholic drinks, are becoming increasingly popular with a young public. Therefore, a variety of mixed drinks consisting of fruit juices or soft drinks mixed with other juices or with alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine or spirits are available on the market. Insofar as these drinks are sold in disposable beverage packaging, in short: disposable bottles, they are all subject to the compulsory deposit. The current version of the Packaging Ordinance provides for an exemption from the compulsory deposit solely for fruit juices, fruit nectars with a fruit content> 50%, wine, spirits and milk in disposable bottles. In addition, only drinks in so-called "ecologically advantageous" disposable packaging (beverage cartons, polyethylene tube bags, foil stand-up pouches, and dietary drinks in the sense of diet regulation) exempted from the deposit.

In order to be able to enjoy a mixed drink according to one's own taste, without having to pay one-way deposit for the purchase, it makes sense to buy single-use liberated components, such as fruit juices or spirits, and then mix them. This also offers the advantage that the single purchase of the desired mixing components a large variety of potential mixed drinks is available, which can produce the consumer itself. A disadvantage of this approach, however, is that the consumer must separately purchase two bottles, the content of which he must mix in a third vessel, such as a jug or a glass.

In the US 5,853,109 Disclosing the features of the preamble of claim 1, a container is described with a pouring unit having a channel-like opening which is closed with a membrane. The pouring out unit comprises a convex surface surrounding the opening channel, which abruptly changes into a concave position upon axial pressurization. In this case, a cutting arranged at the inner end of the opening channel pierces the membrane, whereby the container is opened.

Proceeding from this, the present invention seeks to provide suitable bottles and a system and a method for producing a mixed drink, which the Generating a wide variety of mixed drinks comfortably and with the least technical effort possible.

The problem is solved according to the invention with a beverage bottle according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that on the At least one elastic latching lug for latching receiving a pouring or drinking nozzle of another bottle is provided by means of push-through means facing away from the opening element.

The opening element provided on the bottle according to the invention makes it possible to open the initially hygienically sealed bottle with the least technical effort. Since a simple axial movement is required for the opening, this can be done for example with the pouring or drinking nozzle of another bottle or even with the mouth or with the help of another object.

The opening element is equipped with the piercing means for piercing the sealing means - in practice this is usually a foil section. The piercing means may be shaped differently. The shape of a spike is just as possible as the shape of a linear cutting edge. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, however, the piercing means is designed as a substantially circular peripheral cutting edge. As a result, an accurate cut along the cutting edge is generated on the one hand, on the other hand, a large area is cut out by the circular peripheral edge, so that the bottle has a large usable opening after piercing. Preferably, the circular peripheral cutting edge forms no full circle, but spans an angle of only about 270 °, so that a part of the sealing means, in particular the film, is not punched out. This has the advantage that the sealing means does not completely detach from the bottle and may fall into it.

The locking lug on the side facing away from the piercing means of the opening element may for example be formed as an extension of the annular shoulder. By "snapping" the drinking nozzle of the other bottle a secure connection between the two bottles is made especially for the purpose of generating a mixed drink. The clearly audible as "click" locking the pouring or drinking nozzle of the other bottle signals to the user in an advantageous manner that he is correctly connected to the bottles. Especially with the connection of both bottles for the purpose of creating a mixed drink, the click increases the "fun factor" for the younger clientele.

In order to allow a particularly precise piercing of the sealing means, it is further preferred that the height of the cutting edge is not constant over its circular extent, but preferably grows continuously from one end of the cutting edge to the other end.

The opening element itself can assume different geometries. Conveniently, it is designed as a substantially disc-shaped with a substantially centrally disposed opening, wherein the piercing means is provided on the side facing the sealing means. As a result, it has a simple and inexpensive to produce geometry. If the puncture means is designed as a circumferential cutting edge, then it preferably surrounds the essentially centrally arranged opening of the disc-shaped Opening element, so that the contents contained in the bottle can escape from the bottle after piercing the sealing means through the opening. Furthermore, the disc-shaped opening element can have at least one axially aligned spring element supported on the outer edge of the pouring opening of the bottle. This ensures that the opening element returns to its initial position after piercing the sealing means. The at least one spring element itself may be formed, for example, as a partially bent web, which bends more at axial pressurization and relaxes after relieving the disk-shaped opening element again.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the disk-shaped opening element on the side facing away from the piercing means on a ring approach, which in turn may have a partially tapered outer surface. The outwardly facing annular projection allows, for example, the penetration of the sealing means via an introduced into the ring approach object, for example, the Ausgießstutzen another bottle, which then acts on the opening element with axial pressure to trigger precisely.

In order to precisely guide the axially movable orifice member and also to protect the orifice means and the bottle orifice from contamination and to give the bottle a more aesthetic appearance overall, it may be provided that the bottle comprises a guide sleeve surrounding the pouring orifice which controls the axial relative movement between the opening element and the pouring opening of the bottle, wherein the sealing means is pierced.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention is also provided that the inventively provided at least one elastic locking lug comprises a supported on the inner surface of the guide sleeve spring element to allow a better spring back of the locking lug.

The guide sleeve may further comprise an inner shoulder for supporting the opening element. A further embodiment provides that the guide sleeve has a conically inwardly tapering edge region at its end facing away from the bottle. Furthermore, the guide sleeve can preferably be closed at its end facing away from the bottle for reasons of hygiene with a protective film.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a system for producing a mixed beverage, comprising a first closable beverage bottle for a first mixing component with a pouring or drinking nozzle and at least one second closable beverage bottle for a further mixing component according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein an outwardly sealed connection between the first beverage bottle and the at least one second beverage bottle can be produced such that the content of the at least one second beverage bottle in the first beverage bottle can be filled to produce the mixed beverage, wherein the sealed outward connection between the first beverage bottle and the at least one second Beverage bottle by coupling the neck of the first Beverage bottle to the opening element of the at least one second beverage bottle under axial pressure is such that the provided on the opening element piercing means pierces the sealing means and thus opens the at least one further beverage bottle.

The particular advantage of the system according to the invention is that a mixed beverage, which is usually offered in ready-mixed form in a single-use bottle subject to a deposit, can now be produced by the consumer in a comfortable manner, wherein the individual mixing components, for example fruit juices / nectars and spirits , each in deposit-free non-returnable bottles are available. Due to the sealed-off connection between the first bottle and the at least one second bottle, the production of the mixed beverage in the first bottle, which is correspondingly only partially filled with a mixing component, is simple and clean.

The first beverage bottle may contain a fruit juice and the at least one second beverage bottle an alcoholic beverage, especially spirits or wine, or a fruit syrup.

Fig. 1

ein System zur Erzeugung eines Mischgetränks mit einer ersten Flasche für eine erste Mischkomponente und einer zweiten Flasche für eine zweite Mischkomponente in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 2

das System aus Fig. 1 in Draufsicht,

Fig. 3

den Trinkstutzen der ersten Flasche des Systems aus Fig. 1 in teilweise geschnittener Ansicht,

Fig. 4

den Verschluss der zweiten Flasche des Systems aus Fig. 1 in seitlicher Schnittansicht,

Fig. 5

die Herstellung einer nach außen abgedichteten flüssigkeitsleitenden Verbindung zwischen der ersten Flasche und der zweiten Flasche des Systems aus Fig. 1 in einem ersten Schritt,

Fig. 6

die Herstellung der Verbindung zwischen der ersten und der zweiten Flasche in einem zweiten Schritt und

Fig. 7

die Herstellung der Verbindung zwischen der ersten Flasche und der zweiten Flasche des Systems aus Fig. 1 in einem dritten und letzten Schritt.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing illustrating an embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1

a system for producing a mixed beverage with a first bottle for a first mixing component and a second bottle for a second mixing component in a perspective view,

Fig. 2

the system off Fig. 1 in plan view,

Fig. 3

the drinking spout of the first bottle of the system Fig. 1 in a partially sectioned view,

Fig. 4

the closure of the second bottle of the system Fig. 1 in lateral sectional view,

Fig. 5

the preparation of an outwardly sealed liquid-conducting connection between the first bottle and the second bottle of the system Fig. 1 in a first step,

Fig. 6

the preparation of the connection between the first and the second bottle in a second step and

Fig. 7

making the connection between the first bottle and the second bottle of the system Fig. 1 in a third and final step.

In Fig. 1 a system for producing a mixed beverage with a first bottle 1 for a first mixing component I and a second bottle 2 for a second mixing component II is shown in perspective view. The first bottle 1 is designed as a drinking bottle and comprises a bottle body 1a and a closure 2, which in the present case is designed as a drinking closure with a drinking nozzle 21. In the bottle body 1 a of the drinking bottle 1, a recess 3 is formed, which in the present case is axially aligned to the bottle 1 and is shaped so that the second bottle 6, in which the second mixing component II is contained, can be easily inserted into this, so that the first bottle 1 and the second bottle 6 can be conveniently transported and stored together. Furthermore, 3 projections 3a are provided on the edge of the recess, which ensure that the inserted into the recess 3 bottle 6, for example, during transport neither in the radial direction (projections 3a) or in the axial direction (projection 3b) of the bottle 1 can slip out , In the present case, the preferably blow-molded bottle 1 is filled with a fruit juice or alternatively a fruit nectar. The shape of the bottle body 1a is adapted to the type of fruit. In the present case, it is orange juice, so that the bottle body 1a accordingly assumes the shape of an orange having a corresponding texture of the surface of the bottle body 1a. The bottle body 1a may be made of a transparent material, such as PET, but also possible is an opaque or completely opaque material. If a juice of another type of fruit, for example pineapple juice or grapefruit juice, is filled in the bottle body 1a, then the bottle body is in terms of its shape, preferably adapted to these types of fruit.

The drinking bottle 1 further comprises a cooling element 5 which is in area contact with the bottle body 1a at its bottom area. In the present case, the cooling element is filled with two substances which undergo an endothermic reaction when they come into contact by activation of the cooling element 5, so that they withdraw heat from the content I of the bottle body 1a and cool it down accordingly.

The inserted into the recess 3 of the bottle 1 second bottle 6 also includes a bottle body and a closure 7, which in connection with Fig. 4 will be described in detail. The bottle body of the second bottle 6 is filled with a second mixed component II, in the present case a high-percentage alcoholic beverage, for example vodka. The content of the second bottle 6 is about 50 to 100 ml, while the large bottle is filled, for example, with about 250 ml of fruit juice. As will be explained in more detail below, the mixed beverage can then be produced by producing an outwardly sealed liquid-conducting connection between the first bottle 1 and the second bottle 6, the contents of the second bottle 6 being introduced into the only partially filled first bottle 1 becomes. In order to be able to enjoy the mixed drink, for example with a straw 4, such is attached to the second bottle 6 in the present embodiment. After producing the mixed beverage, the cooling element 5 can be activated, so that the Mixed drink is cooled down to the desired temperature.

In Fig. 2 the system consisting of the drinking bottle 1 and the second bottle 6 is shown in plan view. Here, the shape of the molded into the bottle body 1 a of the bottle 1 recess 3 is clearly visible. To produce the mixed beverage, the second bottle 6 is taken out of the recess and introduced its contents in the manner described below in the first bottle 1, after which the emptied second bottle 6 can then be disposed of. Then, the recess 3 is available as a recessed grip, so that the bottle 1 containing the now completed mixed drink can be conveniently held.

Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of the drinking cap 2 of the first bottle 1. The closure 2 is a screw cap with thread 22, which includes a drinking spout 21. The drinking spout 21 can be tightly closed via a cap 25, which is connected via a flexible portion 25a with the threaded portion of the closure 2, wherein in the opening of the drinking nozzle 21 engages a provided on the inner top of the cap 25 annular projection 25b. The spout 21 itself is cylindrically shaped and comprises at its free end a first circumferential collar 24 having a substantially rectangular to semicircular cross-section and spaced from the first collar 24 further down a second collar 23 with a trapezoidal cross-section. The function of these collars 23, 24 will be explained in more detail below.

In Fig. 4 now the closure 7 of the second bottle 6 is shown in a longitudinal sectional view in detail. The bottle 6 initially comprises a pour spout 6a, which is sealed with a sealing means in the form of a film section 71. In extension of the pouring spout 6a forming the pouring opening of the bottle 6 there is a disc-shaped opening element 72, which comprises a central opening 74 for pouring out the contents of the bottle 6. Furthermore, the opening element 72 on its side facing the pouring opening of the bottle 6 on a piercing means for piercing the film portion 71, which in the present case as a central opening 74 surrounding circular cutting edge 73 is formed. The cutting edge 73 is presently not fully circular, but spans an angle of about 270 °, wherein the height of the cutting edge 73 over the circular extent thereof is not constant, but continuously increases from one end of the blade to the other end. This allows a particularly clean cut through the film section 71 and at the same time ensures that the film section 71 is not fully punched out and thus can fall into the bottle. It is understood that in addition to a, as selected here, continuous increase in the height of the sheath 73, other shapes, such as a saw tooth can be provided. Several, preferably three or four, supported on the edge of the pouring opening of the bottle 6, axially aligned spring elements 72a are provided around the peripheral cutting edge 73, each of which takes the form of a bent web. By these spring members 72a, a restoring force is generated when the disc-shaped opening means 72 and the bottle opening 6 for piercing the film 71 to move toward each other.

On the side facing away from the bottle opening, the disk-shaped opening means 72 further comprises a ring projection 76 which has a tapered edge portion 76a at its outer end. In the extension of the annular shoulder, the disk-shaped opening element 72 further comprises a number of locking lugs 77, preferably three or four, which each have a trapezoidal shape and are provided with rear spring elements 77a respectively, located on the inner surface of the pouring spout 6a of the bottle 6 and the opening element Support 72 surrounding guide sleeve 75.

The guide sleeve 75 in turn is provided at its lower end with an inwardly facing collar 75b, which rests against an outer collar of the pouring spout 6a of the bottle 6, so that the guide sleeve 75 is axially movably connected to the bottle 6 and accordingly not easily withdrawn can. Furthermore, the guide sleeve 75 has on its cylindrical inner surface a circumferential shoulder 75a, on which the disc-shaped opening element 72 is supported in its initial position. Through its cylindrical inner surface, the guide sleeve 75 facilitates a precise relative movement between the opening element 72 and the pouring opening of the bottle 6, wherein the film 71 is pierced by the peripheral cutting edge 73.

At its upper end, the guide sleeve 75 still has a conical edge region 75c, which is closed on the upper side with a further film 78, so that the opening element 72 is protected from the ingress of dirt.

In the FIGS. 5 to 7 will now be explained in detail how a sealed to the outside connection between the two bottles 1, 6 is produced, so that in the first bottle 1, a mixed beverage consisting of the present in bottle 1 fruit juice I and the alcohol contained in bottle II II produced can be.

The consumer has first purchased both bottles 1, 6 separately, and a combination of its taste contained in the bottle 1 fruit juice and contained in the smaller bottle 6 alcoholic beverage or a non-alcoholic beverage, such as a fruit syrup or a fruit juice or nectar other variety, selected. Both bottles, as far as they are designed as one-way bottles, are not subject to the deposit obligation. For transport and storage, the consumer can now insert the second bottle 6 into the recess 3 of the first bottle 1. If he wishes to produce the mixed beverage, he takes the second bottle 6 from the recess 3 of the first bottle 1 and pulls off the protective film 78 located on the conical edge region 75c of the guide sleeve 75 of the closure 7. He then opens the drinking cap 2 of the bottle 1 by removing the cap 25. As an alternative to a sealing cap 25, a film may also be provided on the outer edge of the drinking nozzle 21 which could be provided by a second sheath on the side facing away from the cutting edge 73 (inside the annular shoulder 76) of the opening element 72 (not shown).

After removing the film 78 from the closure 7 of the bottle 6 and opening the bottle 1, the consumer now turns the bottle 6 around 180 ° and introduces the spout 21 from below into the guide sleeve 75 of the second bottle 6, wherein the tapered edge 75c of the guide sleeve 75 facilitates centering. In this case, the consumer pushes the collar 24 arranged on the outermost edge of the drinking nozzle 21 against the latching lugs 77 of the opening element 72, whereby they bend outwards until the first collar 24 has passed the latching lugs 77. In the in Fig. 5 shown position, the drinking spout 21 is sealed against the annular shoulder 76 of the opening element 72, since the first collar 24 rests tightly against the inner surface of the annular shoulder 76. However, no axial relative movement between opening element 72 and pouring opening of the bottle 6 has yet taken place, so that the sealing film 78 is still intact.

In Fig. 6 Now, the second step for the preparation of the connection between the first and the second bottle 1, 6 is shown. Here, the second trapezoidal collar 23 of the drinking nozzle 21 of the drinking bottle 1 was moved by applying an axial force to the locking lugs 77, which then snap back to their rest position, ie with a vocal "click" and record the nozzle 21, since the outer diameter of the Drinking nozzle below the second collar 23 preferably corresponds exactly to the smallest distance between the locking lugs to each other. The trapezoidal shapes of the detents 77 and the second collar 23 of the drinking nozzle 21 are preferably selected such that the detents 77 fit positively against the collar. As in Fig. 6 Furthermore, it can be seen, there is no direct contact between the outer annular edge of the drinking nozzle 21 and the ring surface facing him disc-shaped opening element 72, so that no axial relative movement between the opening element 72 and pouring spout 6a has taken place. The remaining between the spout 21 and the opening element 72 gap is in Fig. 6 marked with an X. In the absence of axial relative movement between opening element 72 and pouring spout 6a, the sealing film 78 is still completely closed. By the plant of the trapezoidal second collar 23 at an outer end portion of the annular shoulder 76 of the opening element 72, the tight connection between the nozzle 21 and opening element 72 and thus between the bottles 1 and 6 is made in two respects.

In Fig. 7 is now shown how in a third and final step, the connection between the first bottle 1 and the second bottle 6 is finally made, so that the liquid contained in the bottle 6 can flow into the volume of the bottle 1. Thus, in the context of the third step, by axially pressurizing the bottle 6, the pouring spout 6a of the bottle 6 is moved in the direction of the first bottle 1, the opening element 72 being supported on the shoulder 75a of the guide sleeve 75 resting on the closure of the first bottle , Is only so far moved until it comes to rest on the outer edge of the drinking tube 21 of the bottle 1. In this case, the circular peripheral cutting edge 73 pierces through the sealing film 78 of the bottle 6. In a further axial movement of the bottle 6 in the direction of the bottle 1, the spring elements 72a of the opening element 72 are compressed and the film 78 along the entire extent of the cutting edge 73 of the opening element 72nd pierced, causing the bottle 6 is opened. Then, the axial pressure exerted on the bottle 6 can be reduced again, as a result of which the spring elements 72a relax and the cutting edge 73 is moved out of the extraction nozzle 6a of the bottle 6 again. However, since the film 78 is pierced, the content of the bottle 6 can now flow through the spout 6a and the central opening 74 in the bottle 1, whereby the mixed drink is produced. Subsequently, the closure 7 of the second bottle 6 can be withdrawn from the drinking spout 21 of the first bottle 1 and the bottle 6 disposed of at will.

After completion of the mixed beverage in the bottle 1, the cooling element 5 can be activated there in order to cool down the mixed beverage to the desired temperature.

With the system according to the invention for producing a mixed drink, wherein the system consists of a first and at least one further bottle, a mixed drink can be produced according to the wishes of the consumer in a simple, hygienic and fun way, and then further stored or consumed.

Claims (11)

1. A beverage bottle (6) comprising a pour opening tightly sealed by a penetrable sealing means (71), in particular a film section, wherein a bottle closure (7) with an opening element (72) provided in extension of the pour opening is provided, which opening element penetrates the sealing means (71) by means of a penetrating means (73) for the purpose of opening the beverage bottle (6) when pressure is applied axially in the direction of the pour opening, the penetrating means (73) being provided on the side of the opening element (72) facing the sealing means (71),
   characterized in that at least one elastic latch (77) for locking reception of a pour or drinking spout (21) of another bottle (1) is provided on the side of the opening element facing away from the penetrating means (73).
2. The beverage bottle according to claim 1,
   characterized in that the opening element (72) is substantially disc-shaped comprising an opening (74) arranged substantially centrally.
3. The beverage bottle (6) according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that the penetrating means is formed as a substantially circular circumferential cutting edge (73).
4. The beverage bottle (6) according to claim 3,
   characterized in that the height increases continuously from one end of the cutting edge (73) to the other end.
5. The beverage bottle (6) according to claim 2 and 3,
   characterized in that the circumferential cutting edge (73) encompasses the opening (74) of the disc-shaped opening element (72) which is arranged substantially centrally.
6. The beverage bottle according to one of claims 2 to 5,
   characterized in that the disc-shaped opening element (72) comprises at least one spring element (72a) which is axially aligned and supported by the outer edge of the pour opening of the bottle (6).
7. The beverage bottle according to one of claims 2 to 6,
   characterized in that the disc-shaped opening element (72) comprises an annular attachment (76) on its side facing away from the penetrating means (73).
8. The beverage bottle according to one of claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in that the bottle (6) comprises a guide bushing (75) encompassing the pour opening, which bushing guides the axial relative movement between the opening element (72) and the pour opening of the bottle (6) penetrating the sealing means (71), whereby the sealing means (71) is penetrated.
9. The beverage bottle (6) according to claim 8,
   characterized in that said at least one elastic latch (77) comprises a spring element (77a) supported by the inner surface of the guide bushing (75).
10. A system for producing a mixed beverage, comprising a first sealable beverage bottle (1) for a first mixing component (I) with a pour or drinking spout (21) and at least one second sealable beverage bottle (6) according to one of claims 1 to 9 for another mixing component (II), wherein an outwardly sealed connection between the first beverage bottle (1) and said at least one second beverage bottle (6) can be established in such a way that for producing the mixed beverage the contents of said at least one second beverage bottle (6) can be filled into the first beverage bottle (1), wherein the outwardly sealed connection between the first beverage bottle (1) and said at least one second beverage bottle (6) is achieved by coupling the drinking spout (21) of the first beverage bottle (1) with the opening element (72) of said at least one second beverage bottle (6) while applying axial pressure and locking said at least one latch (77) in such a way that the penetrating means (73) provided on the opening element (72) penetrates the sealing means (71) thus opening said at least one additional beverage bottle (6).
11. The system according to claim 10,
    characterized in that the first beverage bottle (1) contains a fruit juice (I) and said at least one second beverage bottle (6) contains an alcoholic beverage (II), in particular spirits or wine, or a fruit syrup.

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