GB2386358A

GB2386358A - Container for dispensing flavouring to bottled water product

Info

Publication number: GB2386358A
Application number: GB0205442A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Mason
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-08
Filing date: 2002-03-08
Publication date: 2003-09-17
Also published as: GB0205442D0

Abstract

A bottled water or water products flavour dispenser is used for the purpose of flavouring bottled water The dispenser can allow the consumer to add flavour to their bottled water or water products with their favoured flavour without creating flavour residual around the outside diameter of the neck of bottled water or water products. The end 1 of the dispenser from which the flavouring is dispensed can have a nozzle or a portion to be torn or cut off, and be 20mm to 50mm in diameter. The dispenser can be of any suitable construction and shape, eg. circular or triangular.

Description

BWAWP Dispenser This invention relates to a flavouring dispenser for

bottled water and water products and alcoholic beverages.

In the decade from 1990 to the year 2000, the UK bottled water market (now worth ú600 million) has grown from 420 million litres to 1.4 billion litres. Similarly the UK Water Cooler Industry has gone from strength to strength in recent years. In 1999, 195 million litres of water was consumed via water coolers in the UK. 98% of this was consumed in commercial outlets, predominantly offices. Indeed the water cooler has now become a focal point in many offices across the UK.

Water has become a very healthy beverage in an increasingly health conscious trends. Water can be very bland and so there is a gap in the market for products to add flavour and additional nutrients (such as vitamins and additional minerals). This product must be convenient and add the flavour without mess. The flavour may be in the form of a powder, granulated powder or liquid. From here on the contents of the dispenser will be described as 'flavour'.

According to the present invention there is provided a volumetric dispenser that is closed at the top and bottom containing the flavour. The dispenser can be manufactured in many materials, glass, rigid plastic, flexible plastic or laminates, paper and card, wax based paper and card. This material construction can come in many cross sectional shapes, oval, triangle, square, circle, hexagonal etc. The flavour compartment of the dispenser can form any shape and diameter. However the diameter of the flavour-dispensing end must be limited to the internal aperture of bottled water within world markets. This diameter can range from 1 5mm to 40mm. The dispensing end may be formed from a nozzle to the same diameter range. The dispenser can have a range of differing openings to make it easy for the consumer to open the dispenser.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by the way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows the end of the dispenser.

Figure 2 shows the main volumetric body of the dispenser.

Figure 3 shows the bottom end of the dispenser.

Referring to the drawing the bottle water and water products flavour dispenser comprises of a volumetric container, which allows the addition of flavour into a water beverage container.

The dispenser is sealed at both ends to retain the flavour contents within the dispenser. This seal is dependent on dispenser material used. Food grade polymer or polymer and foil barrier laminate would be heat- sealed. The end is easily opened using a cut tear notch or can be manually cut by the consumer. If the dispenser were made from a rigid material a cap would be used to retain the contents. The receiving bottle aperture determines the diameter of the end. Ranging from 20mm to 50 mm.

The main volumetric body of the dispenser can be manufactured from a range of materials and determines the end closure technique; if polymer laminate the ends would be heat sealed. If rigid food grade polymers only the dispensing end would be capped or plugged.

Claims

1 A bottled water or water products flavour dispenser comprising of a main volumetric body or flavour compartment to retain the required quantity of flavour. The main volumetric body can be of any shape as long as it retains the required quantity of flavour required to flavour the required quantity of bottled water or water products. The main body can be constructed from many food grade materials such as flexible polymer, polymer foil laminates, rigid polymer, glass, wax based paper or any material that provides enough barrier properties to protect the flavour from degradation.

2 A bottled water or water products flavour dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the diameter of the dispenser end is between 20mm and 50 mm to allow the addition of the flavour contents of the bottled water or water products dispenser to be inserted into the container of bottled water or water products ensuring that the flavour is added to the bottled water or water products without leaving flavour around the external circumference aperture of the bottled water or water products container. This dispenser end can be formed from a nozzle to the same diameter range.

3 A bottled water or water products flavour dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the main volumetric body and the flavour dispenser forms a single unit or two separate units such as the main volumetric body and a dispensing end that can be combined together to form a bottled water or water products dispenser.

4 A bottled water or water dispensing flavour dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the shape of the main volumetric body of the dispenser automatically generates dispenser end such as a triangle. In this example the corner can be cut or torn to allow the flavour to be poured into the bottled water or water products.

5 A bottled water or water products flavour dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the contents of the flavour dispenser for the purpose of flavouring bottled water or water products can be in the form of powder, granulated powder or varying strengths of concentrated liquid flavour.

6 A bottled water or water products dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the flavour dispenser is used for flavouring liquid food products in a bottled container.

7 A bottled water or water products dispenser substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawing.