SG184598A1 - Beverage packaging system - Google Patents

Abstract

BEVERAGE PACKAGING SYSTEM AbstractPackaging for a beverage that includes a container storing a liquid and a compartment that stores a supplement to be mixed with the liquid to form a beverage prior to consumption.Figure 1

Description

BEVERAGE PACKAGING SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to packaging for a beverage. More particularly, this invention relates to packaging for a beverage that includes a main liquid stored in a container and a supplement stored in a separate compartment that is mixed into the liquid in the container at the time of consumption.

Summary of the Prior Art

Beverage producers are constantly striving to provide consumers with new products. Recently, producers have begun to add supplements to the beverages. For purposes of this discussion, supplements may be any of, but not limited fo, vitamins, herbal remedies, medicines, or additional flavouring in the form of liquid, powders, granules, tablets, or any other form. in the past, the supplements have been added to the liquid at the time of manufacture to make the beverage. Alternatively, supplements have been sold separately and were mixed into a liquid by consumer at the time of consumption.

It is a problem that when a supplement is added to a liquid at the time of manufacture of a beverage that the resulting mixture must undergo a series of heating processes to sterilize the beverage. Often times, these heating processes may change the chemical composition of the supplement. The change in the chemical composition may reduce and/or negate the benefits derived from the supplement. The change in chemical composition of the supplement may also lessen the shelf-life or “freshness” of the supplement. Furthermore, producers may sometimes add preservatives to lengthen the shelf-life of beverage. Some consumers may consider preservatives unhealthy and prefer beverages that do not have added preservatives.

Summary of the Invention

The above and other problems are solved and an advance in the art is made by a beverage packaging system in accordance with this invention. One advantage of this invention is that since the supplement is added at the time of consumption, preservatives are not needed to prolong the shelf-life or “freshness” of the beverage.

In accordance with this invention, a beverage packaging system is configured in the following manner. The system includes a container that stores a liquid. The container is a housing having a base, a sidewall and a top side enclosing a storage area for the liquid. A cap covers an opening defined through the housing. A compartment for storing the supplement is also provided. The compartment is affixed to either the container or the cap. 5 .

In some embodiments, the compartment is provided by a packet that stores the supplement and an indenture on the outer surface of the container that is configured to allow the packet to securely fit into the enclosure. At the time of consumption, the packet is removed from the indenture. The packet is then opened and the supplement is poured from the packet into the opening of the container. For convenience of the user, the packet may include a sealed opening configured to facilitate pouring of the supplement into the container when the packet is removed from the indenture and the seal is removed.

In one particular embodiment, the packet is a cylindrical housing with an opening on one end. A covering seal is then affixed over the opening. The covering seal may then be removed when a user wants to pour the supplement into the container.

In some embodiments, the container includes a neck surrounding the opening through the housing. The neck is cylindrical with a sidewall that extends outward from the container surrounding the opening. In these embodiments, the cap is cylindrical shaped and has a base and a sidewall that extends outward from the base to surround the neck of the container. The outer surface of the sidewall of the neck and the inner sidewall of the cap may then have mated threadings to secure the cap to the neck and facilitate securing and removing the cap from the neck.

Some of these embodiments may include a compartment that is a cylindrical compartment. The cylindrical compartment has a top side, a bottom side, and a cylindrical sidewall. The cylindrical compartment has either a top side or bottom side that rests on the opening of the neck.

In some of the embodiments having a cylindrical compartment, the compartment has a top side made of malleable material that is easily punctured. The cylindrical compartment also had an opening through the bottom side of the compartment. A covering seal is affixed over the opening to seal the opening. Preferably, this seal is made of foil.

In these embodiments, a cap includes a protrusion that extends outward from an inner surface of the base of the cap towards the neck of the container when the cap is affixed to the neck. The protrusion is configured to puncture the malleable top surface of the cylindrical compartment and either extends through and puncture the covering seal over the bottom opening or force the supplement in the compartment to tear open the covering seal over the bottom opening when the cap is forced downward over the neck.

Once the covering seal is opened, the supplement may pour into the liquid in the container.

In other embodiments, the cylindrical compartment may only include an opening on the bottom side with the covering seal over the opening. In some of these embodiments, the top side of the cylindrical compartment may be affixed or integral to the base of the cap. The cylindrical compartment is secured in an enclosure formed by the neck of the container and the cap and is in movable communication with the cap. in these embodiments, the neck includes a ledge around an inside sidewall of the neck. A fin extends upward in the neck from the ledge. This fin is configured to open the first covering seal to allow the supplement to pour into said liquid when the cylindrical compartment is forced against the fin as the cap is forced downward on the neck.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above described and other features and advantages of this invention are described in the following detailed description and are shown in the following drawings:

Figure 1 illustrating a beverage packaging system in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 illustrating the embodiment of the beverage packaging system shown in

Figure 1 with a cap and a supplement packet removed;

Figure 3 illustrating a process for providing a beverage from the beverage packaging system shown in Figures 1 and 2 in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of this invention; -

Figure 4 illustrating beverage packaging system in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of this invention;

Figure 5 illustrating a bottom view of a container for a supplement inside a neck of a bottle in accordance with the embodiment shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 illustrating a cross-sectional view of a cap along line A-A’ in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 4;

Figure 7 illustrating a process for providing a beverage from the beverage packaging system shown in Figures 4 to 6 in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of this invention;

Figure 8 illustrating beverage packaging system in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of this invention;

Figure 9 illustrating a bottom view of a container for a supplement inside a cap in accordance with the third exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 illustrating a cross-sectional view of a bottle neck along line B-B’ in accordance with the third exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 8; and

Figure 11 illustrating a process for providing a beverage from the beverage packaging system shown in Figures 8 to 10 in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of this invention.

Detailed Description

This invention relates to packaging for a beverage. More particularly, this invention relates to packaging for a beverage that includes a main liquid and a supplement to be mixed into the liquid at the time of consumption. Still more particularly, this invention is related to packaging for a beverage having a container storing the liquid and a compartment that stores the supplement until the supplement is mixed into the liquid.

This invention is described in reference to three exemplary embodiments.

Although the embodiments are shown as bottles, one skilled in the art will recognized that this invention may be incorporated into any type of container including cardboard cartons, cardboard of plastic boxes, bottles, bags, and other type of housing for enclosing a liquid for storage. Furthermore, this invention relates to providing a supplement to a beverage.

For purposes of this discussion, a beverage is any fype of liquid intended for a user's consumption. Supplements may include a flavouring; vitamin; herb; and any other liquid, solid, or solution that can be added to a beverage.

Figure 1 illustrates beverage packaging system 100 in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment in accordance with the invention. Beverage packaging system 100 includes cap 110, bottle 120, indenture 130, and packet 140. In this embodiment, a separate packet 140 stores the supplement. To make the beverage, packet 140 is opened and the supplement is poured into bottle 120 and mixed with the liquid stored in bottle 120. One skilled in the art will recognize that although a bottle is described, any type of container may be used in accordance with this embodiment.

Bottle 120 is made of glass, plastics, PET, aluminium or any other substance that can be formed into a rigid structure. Bottle 120 has a substantially cylindrical body 126 with a smaller cylindrical neck 122 on a top surface of body 126. Opening 128 into body 126 passes through neck 122. One skilled in the art will recognize the opening/neck arrangement can be used in conjunction with any number of different structures including, but not limited to, cartons and bags. Neck 122 includes threadings 124 for mating with cap 110 to allow cap 110 to be fastened securely onto neck 122 over opening 128. In some embodiments, a ring 125 may be included on neck 122 to prevent cap 110 from being forced further down than the end of threadings 124.

Cap 110 has a circular base with an inner and outer surface. A cylindrical sidewall extends substantially perpendicularly from the perimeter of the base to enclose the inner surface. The inside of the sidewall has threadings (not shown) that are mated to threadings 124 to secure cap 110 to bottle 120 over opening 128. Furthermore, a seal (not shown) may be affixed over opening 128 to prevent spillage of the liquid during transportation. Preferably, the seal is a foil. However, other types of materials including, but not limited to, plastics may be used to form the seal. in these embodiments, the packet may be affixed to a top side of cap 110 orto a side of bottle 120. As shown in this embodiment, bottle 120 includes indenture 130.

Indenture 130 is shaped to allow packet 140 to insert into indenture 130. Indenture 130 is formed in the shape of a semi-cylinder configured to fit at least half of cylindrically shaped packet 140 inside the indenture. One skilled in the art will recognize the exact shape and dimensions of indenture 130 are dependent upon the shape and dimensions of packet 140.

As shown, packet 140 is cylindrically shaped. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that packet 140 may be any shape. Packet 140 is made of plastic, paper, wax or some other suitable materials. Preferably, packet 140 has an opening on one end that has a covering seal affixed over the opening. Alternatively, packet 140 may be made ofa semi-rigid material that allows a user to easily tear an opening through packet 140. In storage, packet 140 is secured into indenture 130 by means of epoxy, rigid brackets, or in some other manner. When a user wants to make the beverage, the user removes packet

140 from indenture 130. Packet 140 is then opened and the supplement 205 contained in packet 140 is poured into opening 128 of bottle 120 after cap 110 has been removed as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 3 illustrates a method for making the beverage using beverage packaging system 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2. Process 300 begins in step 305 by removing packet 140 from indenture 130. In step 310, cap 110 is removed from bottle 120. Packet 140, being free from indenture 130, is then opened in step 315. Supplement 205 is then poured from packet 140 into opening 128 in step 320. Cap 110 is securely fastened over opening 128 be being threaded back onto neck 120 in step 325. Process 300 then ends in step 330 by shaking the bottle to mix the liquid and supplement 205 to make the beverage for drinking.

Figure 4 illustrates a second beverage packaging system 400 in accordance with a second embodiment of this invention. Beverage packaging system 400 includes cap 410, bottle 420, ring seal 430, and compartment 440. In this embodiment, compartment 440 stores the supplement inside sealed cap 410. To make the beverage, a top side of compartment 440 is pierced and a seal over an opening through bottom side of compartment 440 is also pierced. When the seal over the bottom opening is pierced, the supplement pours into bottle 420 and mixed with the liquid stored in bottle 420. One skilled in the art will recognize that although a bottle is described, any type of container may be used in accordance with this embodiment.

Bottle 420 is made of glass, plastics, PET, aluminium or any other substance that can be formed into a rigid structure. Bottle 420 has a substantially cylindrical body 426 with a smaller cylindrical neck 422 on a top surface of the body. Opening 428 into body 426 passes through neck 422. One skilled in the art will recognize the opening/neck arrangement can be used in conjunction with any number of different structures including, but not limited to, cartons and bags. Neck 422 includes threadings 424 for mating with cap 410 to allow cap 410 to be fastened securely onto neck 422 over opening 428. In some embodiments, a ring 425 may be included on neck 422 to prevent cap 410 from . being forced further down than the end of threadings 424.

Cap 410 has a circular base with an inner and outer surface. A cylindrical sidewall extends substantially perpendicularly from the perimeter of the base to enclose the inner surface. The inside of the sidewall has threadings (not shown) that are mated to threadings 424 to secure cap 410 to bottle 420 over opening 428. Furthermore, seal 490 may be affixed over opening 428 to prevent spillage of the liquid during transportation.

Preferably, seal 490 is a foil. However, other types of materials including, but not limited to, plastics may be used to form seal 490.

During packaging, ring seal 430 is wrapped around the outside of a bottom end of cap 410 that fastened onto neck 422. Ring seal 430 prevents cap 410 from being moved during transport and storage.

Compartment 440 stores the supplement. Compartment 440 is configured to rest inside an enclosure formed by cap 410. One skilled in the art will recognize that a portion of compartment 440 may extend into neck 422 in other embodiments. In the shown embodiment, compartment 440 has a circular base 445 sized to have a perimeter that rest upon the lip 423 of neck 422 around opening 428. Cylindrical compartment 447 extends outward from base 445 and has a slightly smaller diameter than base 445 to allow cylinder compartment 447 to extend either upward into cap 410 or downward into neck 422.

Compartment 440 has an opening through a bottom surface of base 445. In some embodiments, the top surface of cylinder compartment 447 is made of rigid material to prevent breakage during piercing of compartment 440 as described below. In other embodiments, a top surface of cylinder compartment 447 is made of a malleable material that is easily pierced. Although one skilled in the art will recognize that the top surface of cylinder compartment 447 may have an opening covered with a seal in still other embodiments.

Figure 5 illustrates a cross sectional top view of compartment 440. Base 445 has an opening 510 through the bottom surface. In this embodiment, opening 510 is shown as having a smaller diameter than the surface of base 445 enclosed by cylinder compartment 447. Preferably, opening 510 is circular shaped. Although, one skilled in the art will recognize opening 510 may have other shapes. In the shown embodiment, opening 510 is covered by covering seal 505 (shown in Figure 4) which is made of foil, plastic, paper or any other material that may be easily punctured. In this embodiment, covering seal 505 has a slightly larger diameter than cylinder compartment 447 and is affixed to the bottom surface of base 445 around a perimeter of opening 510.

Figure 6 illustrates a cross-section of cap 410 along line A-A’ shown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 6, base 605 of cap 410 has a protrusion 610. Protrusion 610 extends outward from the inside surface of base 605 towards opening 428 in neck 422.

Protrusion 610 is shown as substantially cylindrical with a slanted end at the bottom surface having one side of the surface lower than the first side. Preferably, protrusion 610 is blunt with a slanted edge to cause pressure exerted on the top surface of compartment 440 to be localized to cause pressure that will rupture covering seal 505.

As shown, a substantially cylindrical shape is preferable to exert a force on a top surface of the compartment which in turn forces the supplement against covering seal 505 to cause a rupture of covering seal 505. However, one skilled in the art can recognize that a protrusion 610 with a point or sharp end may be used to puncture the top surface and covering seal 505 of compartment 440.

As further shown in Figure 6, the inner surface of cylindrical sidewall 615 includes threadings 624 that mate with threadings 424 on neck 422 to allow cap 410 to be tightened and loosened over opening 428. To open compartment 440, cap 410 is screwed downwards. The downward screwing forces protrusion 610 through the top surface of compartment 440 and causes an opening through covering seal 505 due to force exerted by pressing the supplement against covering seal 505. This allows the supplement to pour out of compartment 440 into the liquid in bottle 420.

Figure 7 illustrates a flow chart for a method for making the beverage using beverage packaging system 400 shown in Figures 4 to 6. Process 700 begins in step 705 by removing ring seal 430 from around the end of cap 410. In step 710, cap 410 is twisted downward around neck 422. The downward movement forces protrusion 610 through the top surface of the compartment 447 and causes a rupture of covering seal 505 in step 715. The supplement then pours into bottle 420 in step 720. Process 700 then ends in step 725 by shaking the bottle to mix the liquid and supplement to make the beverage for drinking.

Figure 8 illustrates a third beverage packaging system 800 in accordance with a third embodiment of this invention. Beverage packaging system 800 includes cap 810, bottle 820, ring seal 830, and compartment 840. In this embodiment, compartment 840 stores the supplement inside bottle 820. To make the beverage, compartment 840 is pierced and the supplement pours into bottle 820 and mixed with the liquid stored in bottle 820. One skilled in the art will recognize that although a bottle is described, any type of container may be used in accordance with this embodiment.

Bottle 820 is made of glass, plastics, PET, aluminium or any other substance that can be formed into a rigid structure. Bottle 820 has a substantially cylindrical body with a smaller cylindrical neck 822 on a top surface of body 826. Opening 828 into body 826 passes through neck 822. One skilled in the art will recognize the opening/neck arrangement can be used in conjunction with any number of different structures including, but not limited to, cartons and bags. Neck 822 includes threadings 824 for mating with cap 810 to allow cap 810 to be fastened securely onto neck 822 over opening 828. In some embodiments, a ring 825 may be included on neck 822 to prevent cap 810 from being forced further down than the end of threadings 824.

Cap 810 has a circular base with an inner and outer surface. A cylindrical sidewall extends substantially perpendicularly from the perimeter of the base to enclose the inner surface. The inside of the sidewall has threadings (not shown) that are mated to threadings 824 to secure cap 810 to bottle 820 over opening 828. During packaging, ring seal 830 is wrapped around the outside of a bottom end of cap 810 that fastened onto neck 822. Ring seal 830 prevents cap 810 from being moved during transport and storage.

Compartment 840 stores the supplement. Compartment 840 is configured to rest inside an enclosure formed by cap 810 and neck 822. In this embodiment, compartment 840 is cylindrical shaped and has a first end that is either affixed to or integral with the inner surface of the base of cap 810 and a substantially cylindrical sidewall that exiends outward from the first end into neck 822 of bottle 820. The second end of compartment 840 has an opening that is covered to store the supplement in compartment 840.

Figure 9 is a bottom view of compartment 840 inside cap 810. Compartment 840 has a bottom surface 925. Opening 920 is defined through bottom surface 925.

Covering seal 930 fits over bottom surface 925 and is affixed to bottom surface 925 around the perimeter of opening 920 and seals opening 920. Covering seal 930 is made of foil, plastic, paper or any other material that may be easily punctured. In addition, padding 923 may be attached to the exposed inner base of cap 810 around compartment 840 to act as a seal and prevent leakage of the liquid from bottle 820. Preferably,

padding 923 is made of rubber or other compressive material. However, it is envisioned that other materials may be used to fit the needs of a particular embodiment.

Figure 10 illustrates a cross-section of neck 822 along line B-B’ shown in Figure 8.

Ledge 1010 is defined along an inner wall 1005 of neck 822. Preferably, ledge 1010 is located such that covering seal 930 over opening 920 on bottom surface 925 of compartment 840 comes into contact with ledge 1010 when cap 810 is completely tightened on threadings 824. Fin 1015, extends outward from a top surface of ledge 1010 towards opening 828. Preferably, fin 1015 has a sharp top side for puncturing covering seal 930. In some embodiments, fin 1015 may not completely encircle the inside of neck 822. Instead, fin 1015 may have tapered ends to facilitate puncturing of covering seal 930. When cap 810 forces compartment 840 down, fin 1015 punctures covering seal 930 releasing the supplement from compartment 840 into the liquid.

Figure 11 illustrates a flow chart for a method for making the beverage using beverage packaging system 800 shown in Figures 8 to 10. Process 1100 begins in step 1105 by removing ring seal 830 from around the end of cap 810. In step 1110, cap 810 is twisted downward around neck 822. The downward movement forces fin 1015 through covering seal 930 puncturing an opening through the covering seal 930 in step 1115.

The supplement pours into bottle 820 in step 1120. Process 1100 then ends in step 1125 by shaking the bottle to mix the liquid and supplement to make the beverage.

The above are descriptions of exemplary embodiments in accordance with this invention. It is envisioned from the descriptions of the above embodiments that one skilled in the art can make and use a beverage packaging system as set forth in the following claims.

Claims (22)

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage packaging system for providing a liquid and a separate supplement comprising: a container that stores said liquid, said container having a base, a sidewall and a top side enclosing a storage area for said liquid; a cap covering an opening defined through said container, a compartment affixed to one of said container and said cap for storing said supplement.

2. The beverage packaging system of claim 1 wherein said compartment comprises: a packet for storing said supplement.

3. The beverage packaging system of claim 2 wherein said packet is affixed to said cap.

4, The beverage packaging system of claim 2 wherein said packet is affixed to said container.

5. The beverage packaging system of claim 4 further comprising: an indenture on an outer surface of said container configured to receive said packet wherein said packet is configured to fit into said indenture and is removable from said indenture.

6. The beverage packaging system of claim 5 wherein said packet comprises: a sealed opening configured to facilitate pouring of said supplement into said container responsive to said packet being removed from said indenture.

7. The beverage packaging system of claim 5 wherein said packet comprises: a cylindrical housing having an opening through one end; and a covering seal affixed to said housing to cover said opening through said one end of said housing.

8. The beverage package system of claim 1 further comprising: a neck surrounding said opening through said container having a sidewall that extend outwards from said container surrounding said opening defined in said container.

9. The beverage packaging system of claim 8 wherein said neck is cylindrical.

10. The beverage packaging system of claim 9 wherein said cap is cylindrical with a base and sidewall extending outward from said base to form an enclosure and further comprises: threading around an inner side of said sidewall that mates with threading on an outer sidewall of said neck to allow said cap to be secured io said neck.

11. The beverage packaging system of claim 10 wherein said compartment comprises: a cylindrical compartment having a top side, a cylindrical sidewall, a bottom side, and a first opening through said bottom side of said cylindrical compartment wherein said cylindrical compartment is secured in an enclosure formed by said neck of said container and said cap; a first covering seal affixed over said first opening to seal said first opening closed, a protrusion that extends outward from an inner surface of said base of said cap into said neck when said cap is affixed to said neck and is configured contact said top side and cause a rupture of said first covering seal over said first opening in said cylindrical compartment to allow said supplement to pour into said liquid in said container responsive to said cap being forced downward over said neck.

12. The beverage packaging of claim 11 wherein one of said top side and said bottom side of said cylindrical compartment are sized to rest upon a lip of said neck on an outer surface of said neck around said opening to hold said cylindrical compartment in place in said enclosure.

13. The beverage packaging system of claim 10 further comprising a removable ring seal that fits securely around a bottom portion of said cap to prevent said cap from being moved prior to use.

14. The beverage packaging system of claim 10 further comprising: a cylindrical compartment having a top side, a bottom side, a cylindrical sidewall, a first opening through said bottom wherein said cylindrical compartment is secured in an enclosure formed by said neck of said container and said cap; a first covering seal affixed over said first opening to seal said first opening closed; a ledge around an inside sidewall of said neck; and a fin the extends upward in said neck from said ledge wherein said fin is configured to open said first covering seal fo allow said supplement to pour into said liquid responsive to said cylindrical compartment being forced against said fin as said cap is forced downward on said neck.

156. The beverage packaging system of claim 14 wherein said top side of said cylindrical compartment is affixed to an inner surface of said base of said cap.

16. A method for adding a supplement to a liquid of a beverage for consumption comprising: opening a compartment storing said supplement; causing said supplement to pour from said compartment into a liquid stored inside a container; and mixing said supplement and said liquid to form said beverage.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein opening said compartment comprises: removing a packet affixed to an outside of one of said container and said cap; and opening said packet.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said causing said supplement to pour into said container comprises: removing a cap covering an opening into said container; pouring said supplement into said container through said opening; and securing said cap over said opening responsive to said supplement being poured.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said supplement is stored in a compartment in a neck of said container surrounding said opening of said container wherein said compartment includes a top side and a first opening on a bottom side of said compartment, a first covering seal affixed over said first opening, and said step of opening of said compartment comprising: forcing a cap covering said opening of said neck downward to cause a protrusion on an inside surface of said cap downward into said neck; and puncturing said first covering seal and second covering seal to open said compartment and allow said supplement to pour into said liquid.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said supplement is stored in a compartment in a neck of said container surrounding said opening of said container wherein said compartment includes a first opening on a bottom side of said compartment, and a first covering seal affixed over said first opening, said opening of said compartment comprising: forcing a cap covering said opening of said neck downward to cause a fin extending upward from a ledge on an inside surface of said neck; and puncturing said first covering seal with said fin to open said compartment and allow said supplement to pour into said liquid.

21. The method of claim 13 further comprising: removing a ring seal around a cap over an opening in said container to allow said cap fo move.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of mixing comprises: shaking said container to cause said supplement and liquid to mix.