GB2424410A

GB2424410A - Stackable bottle

Info

Publication number: GB2424410A
Application number: GB0505681A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rephael Hof; Amir Pelag; Yuval Hanan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-21
Filing date: 2005-03-21
Publication date: 2006-09-27
Also published as: GB0505681D0

Abstract

A stackable container, which may be in the form of a bottle (1), is provided with means for attaching to another container (10, 11) and for mixing the contents of the containers when so attached. The containers may be provided with a coupling means (10, 11) for mechanically attaching the containers together. Preferably the coupling means takes the form of a screw thread formed in the base of a first bottle (11), and a screw thread formed in the neck of a second bottle (10). Upon connecting the screw threads (10, 11), a seal (12) in the first bottle is broken, and the contents of two bottles may mix. Further inventions are described which include a bottle containing an inner container the contents of which may be released by twisting the bottle. Preferably the bottles contain a drink or medicine.

Description

- -1- - 24244j 0 Bottle This invention relates to devices for mixing

drinks, and more particularly to such devices for mixing two or more drinks within one or more bottles.

At present, cans or bottles of drinks are either sold with one drink or as a fixed mixture of drinks.

If the buyer wishes to mix two or more drinks, it cannot be done within the bottle, as the bottle is full.

Mixing the bottles in a glass or in a jar requires additional accessories.

This is probably practical only at home or at work, and even then the process is messy.

People may desire to enjoy new drinks and different mixtures of drinks, but also tend to dislike specific drinks or mixtures.

This poses a big dilemma for manufacturers - either to manufacture a simple, basic drink lacking in tastes diversity, or to combine several basic tastes or drinks, making a more sophisticated drink.

In the former case, they avoid the danger of the drink being rejected by part of the people, however its taste might be boring; in the latter case, the offer is more daring and interesting, however they take the risk that more people will not like it, since they may dislike one or more of the ts components.

Since mixing several drinks is not practical, manufacturers tend to invent new tastes and keep trying to offer new and various fixed mixtures. The constant process of inventing, developing and promoting new drinks is expensive, causing the buyer eventually to pay more for the drink and the manufacturer to earn less.

In conclusion, it may be desirable to find a way to mix two or more drinks together in a simple manner, to create more new tastes, to allow the buyer to try new mixtures.

The buyer can easily avoid unwanted components and at the same time can choose from a large number of possible combinations.

Manufacturers can save money by manufacturing a smaller number of basic tastes or components, and also allow the buyer to decide what is best for him/her.

Summary of the Invention

The invention presents new possibilities regarding drinks mixing within one or more bottles or cans.

Two main approaches will be detailed here regarding this invention: A. Mixing two or more drinks, by physically connecting externally two or more novel bottles or cans, and then shaking the assembly. Each can is stackable, or includes means for connecting to another.

B. Mixing two or more drinks, by creating a mixture internally within the bottle or can. This can also be implemented with regular bottles or cans.

The present bottle invention is usable not only in drinks but also in medicine and/or in all fluids.

Thus, whereas the word "drink" may be used by way of example, it should be understood that it may also apply to other fluids.

Moreover, one of the components may be a solid (possibly in powder form) or a gel, rather than a fluid.

The new invention has many advantages to manufacturers, distributors and to the customers as well, including for example: 1. In case the buyer wishes to mix two or more drinks, it can be done easily and instantly by simply connecting two or more bottles or cans together, and shaking the assembly.

2. The process is not messy, does not require any additional accessories and can be done anywhere, anytime, such as during a jaunt.

3. The buyer can easily mix specific drinks or components, and at the same time, by combining several basic tastes or drinks, make a more sophisticated drink.

Manufacturers can save expenses by reducing their investment in various drinks and different advertising approaches, and concentrate on a smaller number of different tastes and still offer a bigger variety of drinks, since more possibilities for mixing will be available.

5. Distributors can deliver more drinks, because a smaller number of basic tastes will be needed. At the same time, the basic tastes will be better sold, since each customer can buy specific components and avoid only limited number of basic components. Thus, the supply and demand dilemma will be better addressed.

6. Savings in storage and/or manufacturing resources may be achieved, since a smaller variety of drinks will be manufactured.

The invention may be used with various fluids such as drinks or medicine, a gel and/or a solid.

Throughout the present disclosure, it should be understood that a description referring to one of the above (such as drink) also may apply to other types of materials (such as fluid, gel, solid, powder, etc.).

Brief Descriptipn of the Drawings Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a novel container, which can be connected to other containers externally Fig. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a container with another container contained therewithin Fig. 3 details another embodiment of the novel container Fig. L details yet another embodiment of a novel container

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The container may contain any kind of drinks or medicine. This may include for example: wine, fruit juice, vodka, coffee, etc. The container bottle or can, as referred herein, may be made of any material, or from a combination of several materials, such as: glass, aluminum, plastic, tin, cardboard, etc. Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a novel container 1, which can be connected to other containers externally. Actually, two containers 1 are illustrated, in a configuration ready for connection and mixing.

In this embodiment, the container 1 may have a similar cover cap 2 to that of regular bottles, as known in the art, which is connected to a thread 10.

The opening of the bottle 13 is the same as of regular bottles, however the thread 10 may be longer than the one of prior art bottles.

After the bottle is opened, and the cover 2 is removed, the bottle 1 may be connected to another bottle with a thread 11 at its bottom part.

When connecting two bottles together by screwing the thread 10 at the top of one bottle into the thread 11 at the bottom of a second bottle, the bottles are then connected and are sealed from the outside.

As one bottle is twisted into the second bottle, and after the opening between the bottles is sealed because of the threads connection, the opening 12 is broken by the opening 13 of the bottle at the bottom.

Opening 12 may be made of different material that is weaker, it may be designed in such a way to be strong enough as to not be opened accidentally but also to be opened by not too much force when connecting two bottles as described.

After the two bottles are connected and the opening 12 is broken, it is possible to mix the liquids by shaking the assembly to create a mixture. - -5-

Fig. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a container with another container 3 included therewithin. The internal container may have a different content.

In this embodiment, the container 1 may have a similar cover cap 2 to that of regular bottles, as known in the art.

In this embodiment, the bottle is made of a flexible material, such as plastic, in order to allow applying a pressure thereto from the outside on the second bottle 3.

The bottle 3 is inside the bottle 1. Thus, it is possible, while manufacturing to insert a second narrow bottle through the opening of the bottle. In this way, the two different liquids in each of the bottles are separated, but can be combined together as the user chooses to do so.

The contents may be easily mixed by applying a force 4 from the outside on the outer bottle 1, which will break or puncture the inner bottle 3, then again by shaking the device, a new mixture will be easily created.

Fig. 3 details another embodiment of the novel container 1, having a dividing partition 5 therein. The partition 5 creates two separate volumes, which may be filled with two different liquids (or a liquid and a solid/gel, for example). By twisting the container 1 or otherwise applying a force thereto, the partition 5 may be broken to allow mixing that which is in the two partitions.

In yet another embodiment, two or more partitions 5 may be included, to mix two or more components as desired.

Fig. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a novel container, which can be connected to other containers externally.

In this embodiment, two containers can connect to each other without a thread, by simply pushing one container into the other from the bottom.

The container has a safety opening 14, which may only be opened by making some pressure. Inside the space 16 between the opening 14 and the container 1, there is a sharper and/or resisting part 15, which can punch and open the container which is connected from the bottom.

An optional twisting of either one of the containers may cause the punch or enlarge the opening, in order to allow better mixing of the contents of the two containers.

Cutting and/or punching means may be on the sides of the internal part at the bottom of the container, in order to make sharp parts inaccessible for access by the user.

It should be stressed that, as the containers are connected to each other by using some force, they may be strongly connected. Additional optional parts may be included to tighten the grasp between the two containers.

This may help prevent liquid from inadvertently spilling out.

In another embodiment, one or more containers may include a bright or glowing liquid, which can add an interesting appearance to the containers and their content before, during and after their mixing.

In yet another embodiment, while combining two containers, the drink is warmed either by the mechanical operation, such as by twisting, or by any kind of chemical mixtures, which are combined to create heat, either as part or separately of the drink itself.

Various means for thermal manipulation may be used as well.

It will be recognized that the foregoing is but one example of an apparatus and method within the scope of the present invention, and that various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon

reading the disclosure set forth hereinbefore.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is: 1. A stackable container with means for

attaching to another container for mixing their contents when so attached.
2. The stackable container according to claim 1, wherein each container contains a fluid, solid or gel.
3. The stackable container according to claim 1, wherein each container contains a drink or a medicine.
4. The stackable container according to claim 1, wherein each container includes means for attaching to one or two other containers, to achieve a mixture of the contents of two or more such containers.
5. The stackable container according to claim 1, wherein each container includes coupling means for mechanically attaching to at least another container and for opening a passage between two containers thus attached to one another.
6. The stackable container according to claim 5, wherein a fluid from one container may flow through the passage to the other container so as to obtain a mixture of the contents of the two containers.
7. The stackable container according to claim 1, wherein the attaching means include a thread on one container and a complementary thread on the other.
8. The container according to claim 1 wherein, while combining two containers, the drink is warmed either by the mechanical operation, such as by twisting, or by chemical mixtures, which are combined to create heat.
9. A container comprising two or more separate volumes therein and means for bringing said volumes together upon exerting an external action by a user upon the container.
10. The container according to claim 9, wherein the two volumes comprise the contents of an external container and that of an inner container held within the external container, and the external action comprises applying an external force on the external container or twisting it.
11. The container according to claim 9, further including an internal partition for creating two volumes within the container, and the external action comprises applying an external force on the external container or twisting it.
12. The container according to claim 9, further including two or more internal partitions for creating three or more volumes within the container, and the external action comprises applying an external force on the external container or twisting it.
13. The stackable container according to claim 9, wherein each container contains a fluid, solid or gel.

1L. The stackable container according to claim 9, wherein each container contains a drink or a medicine.