US20150056332A1

US20150056332A1 - Beverage Packaging Configuration with a Short Fill Level for Mixed Drinks

Info

Publication number: US20150056332A1
Application number: US13/973,933
Authority: US
Inventors: Scott D. Gold
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-08-22
Filing date: 2013-08-22
Publication date: 2015-02-26
Also published as: WO2015025288A3; WO2015025288A2

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a beverage packaging configuration whereby mix and base beverages are packaged in a single package, and the base beverage containers are not filled completely with the base beverage. The space within each base beverage container remaining above the base beverage volume provides space in the base container for the correct proportion of at least one mix beverage to be poured into the base beverage container to create a reproducible mixed drink. One exemplary embodiment provides for a single mix beverage container which contains a volume of mix beverage equally divisible between the volume remaining in a plurality of base beverage containers. Another exemplary embodiment includes more than one mix beverage container which may contain different mix beverages. This invention removes the necessity of transporting a dispensing apparatus, such as a shot glass or volumetric dispenser or measuring glass, and also removes the need for a separate cup or glass in which to mix the base and mix beverages together, as provided in U.S. Pat. No. 8,181,781.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to the packaging of beverage containers, and in particular to the packaging of multiple beverage containers in a single package, such as alcohol and base beverage, wherein the different beverages are packaged separately, to be mixed together and consumed as a reproducible mixed drink.

BACKGROUND

It is known at the present time to package, sell, and store beverages containers as used in the invention herein. The field of relevant of art includes the packaging of alcoholic beverages, carbonated beverages, natural fruit drinks, and other drinks that may or may not be carbonated or perishable. Also relevant to this invention is the packaging and storage of multiple beverages and the transporting of those beverages together. Consumers of mixed drinks commonly purchase two or more items separately, such as a 2 L bottle of cola and a 750 mL bottle of liquor, transport the separate items in separate packages, and then consume the beverages either separately or mixed. When making a mixed drink, the consumer mixes the beverages according to taste, and may or may not create the correct mixed ratio of beverages to create the mixed drink. U.S. Pat. No. 8,181,781, issued May 22, 2012, describes a single packaging configuration for multiple mixed drinks along with a volumetric dispenser to proportionally distribute the mix beverage to be consumed with the base beverage in a reproducible mixed drink. That invention also helped to avoid loss of carbonation and the spoiling of perishable beverages that can occur when a consumer purchases large quantities of beverages to combine and make several mixed drinks. A base beverage that is carbonated will eventually lose carbonation if not consumed immediately, and a base beverage that is perishable will eventually spoil.
As described in that patent, it is relevant to the invention that beverages be packaged and stored separately in separate containers, and then mixed at a later time. U.S. Pat. No. 8,181,781 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The present invention includes aspects of the configuration of U.S. Pat. No. 8,181,781, including: the duplication of a mixed-drink experience; the materials used for the package that houses the individual beverage modules; the various possible numbers of base beverage containers and mix beverage containers.
Other inventions, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,368, issued Jan. 18, 2005, describe a device for introducing a pre-determined dose of additive, such as a second liquid, into a packaged first liquid. U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,368 discusses two containers designed to hold different beverages or substances for mixing together to create a mixed drink; however, that invention discloses the second beverage container positioned within the first beverage container. Inventions, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,368, illustrate the importance of creating a reproducible mixed beverage on the go.
The present invention is a useful and convenient improvement over U.S. Pat. No. 8,181,781, because it does not require the use of a volumetric dispenser to proportionally distribute the mix beverage to create a reproducible mixed drink and it allows for more than one mix beverage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a beverage packaging configuration whereby mix and base beverages are packaged in a single package, and the base beverage containers are not filled completely with the base beverage. The space within each base beverage container remaining above the base beverage volume provides space in the base container for the correct proportion of the mix beverage or mix beverages to be poured into the base beverage container to create a reproducible mixed drink. One exemplary embodiment provides for a single mix beverage container which contains a volume of mix beverage equally divisible between the volume remaining in a plurality of base beverage containers. Another exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of mix beverage containers which may contain different mix beverages. The mix beverage containers can be different sizes and contain different mix beverages from the other mix beverage container or containers, so long as each mix beverage is substantially proportionally distributed among the base beverage containers to create a reproducible mixed drink.
This invention removes the necessity of transporting a dispensing apparatus, such as a shot glass or volumetric dispenser or measuring glass, and also removes the need for a separate cup or glass in which to mix the base and mix beverages together, as provided in U.S. Pat. No. 8,181,781. Furthermore, where the mix beverage containers vary in volume, the volumetric dispenser disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,181,781 would not allow for proper measurement and distribution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention, showing an exterior view of the package.

FIG. 2 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a top perspective view into the interior of the package.

FIG. 3 a is a first illustration of an embodiment of the shapes of the base and mix beverage containers for use in the inventive configuration.

FIG. 3 b is a second illustration of an embodiment of the shapes of the base and mix beverage containers for use in the inventive configuration.

FIG. 4 a illustrates the base beverage containers and mix beverage container of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 in their initial state, before any mixing of the mix beverage and the base beverage has taken place.

FIG. 4 b illustrates the base beverage containers and mix beverage container of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 after adding mix beverage to the first base beverage container.

FIG. 4 c illustrates the base beverage containers and mix beverage container of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 after adding mix beverage to the first and second base beverage containers.

FIG. 4 d illustrates the base beverage containers and mix beverage container of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 after adding mix beverage to the first, second, and third base beverage containers.

FIG. 4 e illustrates the base beverage containers and mix beverage container of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 after adding mix beverage to the first, second, third, and fourth base beverage containers.

FIG. 5 a is a first illustration of a second embodiment of base and mix beverage containers for use in the inventive configuration.

FIG. 5 b is a second illustration of the second embodiment of FIG. 5 a after adding mix beverage to the first base beverage container.

FIG. 6 a is a first illustration of a third embodiment of base and mix beverage containers for use in the inventive configuration.

FIG. 6 b is a second illustration of the third embodiment of FIG. 6 a after adding mix beverage from the first mix beverage into the second mix beverage container.

FIG. 6 c is a third illustration of the third embodiment of FIG. 6 a after adding mix beverage from the second mix beverage container into the first base beverage container.

FIG. 6 d is a fourth illustration of the third embodiment of FIG. 6 a after adding mix beverage from the second mix beverage container into to the first, second, and third base beverage containers.

FIG. 7 a is a first illustration of a fourth embodiment of base and mix beverage containers for use in the inventive configuration.

FIG. 7 b is a second illustration of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 7 a after adding mix beverage from the first mix beverage container to the first base beverage container.

FIG. 7 c is a third illustration of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 7 a after adding mix beverage from the first and second mix beverage containers to the first base beverage container.

FIG. 7 d is a fourth illustration of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 7 a after adding mix beverage from the first and second mix beverage containers to the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth base beverage containers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention, showing an exterior view of package 100. Note that in the embodiment used to illustrate the invention, there are four base beverage containers 105, and one mix beverage container 110. These numbers are exemplary and not limiting, other numbers of base beverage containers and mix beverage containers may be used. Note that in the embodiment used to illustrate the invention, external packaging 115 substantially encloses the base beverage containers and mix beverage containers, although container tops 120 may optionally protrude through openings 125 in packaging 115. Packaging 115 not only provides convenience in transporting groups of beverage containers, but also holds the containers substantially immobile within package 100, thus reducing the risk of breakage. This external packaging is exemplary and not limiting, other types of packaging can be used that hold the beverage containers together, including, by way of example, boxes, cardboard boxes, carriers, trays, shrinkwrap, plastic rings, clear plastic containers, or any other material used to hold the beverage containers together.
FIG. 2 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a top perspective view of a portion of the interior of package 100. In this embodiment, four base beverage containers 105 are arranged around mix beverage container 110. The containers are shaped so as to permit a close packed configuration, where mix beverage container 110 fits into the space between the four base beverage containers 105. An embodiment of the shapes of the base and mix beverage containers is illustrated in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b. In this embodiment, mix beverage container 110 has indented regions 305 on each face, and protruding regions 310 at each corner. Base beverage containers 105 have convex sides 315, and are larger at top edge 320 than at bottom edge 325. Convex sides 315 of base beverage containers 105 fit into indented regions 305 of mix beverage container 110. Protruding regions 310 of mix beverage container 110 fit into spaces between bottom portions 330 of base beverage containers 105. Note that, depending on the sizes and numbers of base beverage containers and mix beverage containers, their shapes may be different than in the embodiment shown. For example, a packaging container may have one mix beverage and five base beverages. The invention is not limited to beverage containers that fit together. The mix and base beverages may be in standard-shaped bottles or cans, or other shaped containers, so long as they are packaged together as a packed configuration. A package may be rectangular or other shape. The packaging materials may be rigid, such as cardboard, aluminum, or hard plastic, or may be flexible, such as paper, a plastic-wrap, plastic rings, or other materials that could hold the beverages together.
The close-packed configuration as described above has the advantage of resulting in a smaller footprint for the package, but other embodiments are possible that do not fill the space as completely. A possible advantage of such other embodiments would be to have standard container shapes, in contrast to the unique specialized shapes of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, which would likely need to be custom manufactured. Another possible advantage to a standard packaging shape is the ease of placement in standardized store shelving units, as well as during travel, whereby the standardized package sizes may best utilize the space used for shelving, storage, or travel.
FIGS. 4 a-4 e show the different stages of usage of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. Note that the specifics of the usage are dependent on the relative volumes of the base beverage containers, the volume of each base beverage within each base beverage container, and the volume of the mix beverage, as well as the numbers of base beverage containers and mix beverage containers. The inventive configuration requires that the total volume of mix beverage in the mix beverage container(s) is selected so that it is substantially equally divided by the number of base beverage containers to fill the space within the base beverage containers between the base beverage top surface 425 (also termed the “short fill” surface) and a top fill surface 427, so as to provide the desired proportions for a plurality of mixed drinks within the base beverage containers from the base beverages and the at least one mix beverage. The mix beverage is distributed equally to the base beverage containers so as to be consumed with the base beverage in a reproducible mixed drink without requiring a volumetric dispenser or a separate cup or container in which to mix the beverages together to create the mixed drinksFor example, if a mixed drink were composed of one part mix beverage to four parts base beverage and the volume of each base beverage container is equal to the volume of the mix beverage container, a possible packaging configuration containing six total beverage containers would be to combine one mix beverage container with five base beverage containers, whereby each base beverage container would be filled with base beverage volume approximately ⅘ of the way, and the user would pour ⅕ of the mix beverage volume from the mix beverage container into each of the five base beverage containers. These numbers and relative volumes would be modified according to the desired proportions of mix beverage and base beverage. Using the aforementioned example of one mix and five base beverage containers, if the mix beverage container is smaller, then the space within each base beverage container remaining above the base beverage volume will be smaller. The packaging configuration could contain more than one type of base beverage. For example, the mix beverage could be rum, while the base beverages could be types of sodas, such as cola and diet cola.
FIG. 4 a illustrates the base beverage containers and mix beverage container of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 in their initial state, before any mixing of the mix beverage and the base beverage has taken place. Mix beverage container 400 is full with mix beverage in this embodiment. The mix beverage is indicated by lines up-and-down. Base beverage containers 405, 410, 415, and 420 are each filled up to short fill level 425 (which may be marked with a short fill line or other marking on the container but a physical line, mark, indent, or demarcation is not required and not shown in FIG. 4), leaving region 430 between short fill level 425 and top fill boundary 427 (which may be marked with a top fill line or other indicator on the container) unfilled. The base beverage is indicated by lines side-to-side. The marking can be a line, mark, indent or demarcation or other indication to indicate how much mix beverage to pour into each base beverage container to make a reproducible mixed drink. A marking is not required. An alternative to marking the base beverage is to add a marking to the mix beverage container. This is illustrated in FIG. 4. A further alternative to marking the base beverage container or mix beverage container, when there is more than one mix beverage, is to have a first mix beverage container not filled to the top with space remaining for the other mix beverage(s) to be poured into the first mix beverage container, referred to herein as a region, and mixed together to ensure the correct proportions prior to being poured into the base beverage containers. This alternative is illustrated in FIG. 6
The top fill boundary in the base beverage container represents the surface within the container corresponding to the top of the filled volume once the mix beverage has been added to the base beverage. Note that for this configuration shown in 4 a, the volume of mix beverage within the mix beverage container 400 is four times the volume of region 430 which correlates to the number of base beverage containers. If there are five base beverage containers, then the volume of mix beverage within the mix beverage container 400 will be five times the volume of region 430. Also note that top fill boundary 427 may correspond with the top 435 of base beverage containers, as shown in FIG. 5 a, or it may be lower than top 435.
FIG. 4 b illustrates the base beverage containers and mix beverage container of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 after adding mix beverage to the first base beverage container 405. The mixed drink in the first base beverage container is indicated by lines up-and-down and lines side-to-side. Base beverage container 405 is now filled to top fill boundary 427, and mix beverage container is filled to level 440. There may be a line on the mix beverage container corresponding to level 440 to indicate how much mix beverage to pour into each base beverage container, but this is not necessary. A line is not required if top fill boundary 427 corresponds with top 435 of base beverage containers or if the top fill boundary 427 has a marking to indicate how much mix beverage to pour into each base beverage container. In some embodiments the mix beverage is simply poured until the base beverage containers are completely full, and the ratio of base beverage to mix beverage is automatically correct. Alternately it may not be necessary to have a line on the mix beverage container is there is a top fill marking on the base beverage containers corresponding to the top fill boundary. The region 450 between the surface corresponding to level 440, and top 445 has a volume equal to the volume of region 430 of base beverage container. Note that in this configuration mix beverage container is comprised of four volumetric regions 450, 455, 460, and 465, each of which has a volume equal to the volume of region 430. Note that the numbers and volumes of the equal volumetric regions of the mix beverage container depend on the number of mix beverage containers and base beverage containers, the volume of mix beverage and base beverage within each container, and the desired proportions of mix beverage and base beverage.
FIG. 4 c illustrates the base beverage containers and mix beverage container of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 after adding mix beverage to the first and second base beverage containers 405 and 410. Base beverage containers 405 and 410 are now filled to top fill boundaries 427, and mix beverage container is filled to level 470.
FIG. 4 d illustrates the base beverage containers and mix beverage container of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 after adding mix beverage to the first, second, and third base beverage containers 405, 410, and 415. Base beverage containers 405, 410, and 415 are now filled to top fill boundaries 427, and mix beverage container is filled to level 475.
FIG. 4 e illustrates the base beverage containers and mix beverage container of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 after adding mix beverage to the first, second, third, and fourth base beverage containers 405, 410, 415, and 420. Base beverage containers 405, 410, 415, and 420 are now filled to top fill boundaries 427, and mix beverage container 400 contains no mix beverage. All four base beverage containers now contain a mixed drink, as indicated by lines up-and-down and lines side-to-side.
FIG. 5 a illustrates a second embodiment of base and mix beverage containers for use in the inventive configuration, whereby there is one mix beverage container 500 and two base beverage containers 505, 510. The mix beverage is indicated by lines up-and-down. Base beverage containers 505, 510 are each filled up to short fill level 555 (which may be marked with a short fill line or marking, but a marking is not required), leaving region 550 between short fill level 555 and top fill boundary 527 (which may be marked with a top fill line or other indicator on the container) unfilled. The base beverage is indicated by lines side-to-side. In this embodiment, there are no markings on any of the mix beverage containers and base beverage containers.
FIG. 5 b is a second illustration of the second embodiment of FIG. 5 a after adding mix beverage from the mix beverage container 500 to the first base beverage container 505. The mixed drink in the first base beverage container is indicated by lines up-and-down and lines side-to-side. In this embodiment, the fill boundary 527 of the base beverage containers 505, 510 corresponds with the top 535 of the base beverage containers. Note that for this configuration, the volume of mix beverage within the mix beverage container 500 is two times the volume of region 530 which correlates to the number of base beverage containers 505, 510.
FIG. 6 a illustrates a third embodiment of base and mix beverage containers for use in the inventive configuration, whereby there are two mix beverage containers 600 601 and six base beverage containers 605, 610, 615, 620, 625, 630. This embodiment illustrates an example of a package that contains more than one mix beverage container 600 601 that are poured into the base beverage containers, without requiring a marking on any of the mix beverage containers or base beverage containers 605, 610, 615, 620, 625, 630. As shown in FIGS. 6 b-6 d, the first mix beverage 602 is simply poured from the first mix beverage container 601 into the second mix beverage container 600 so that the ratio of the first mix beverage to the second mix beverage is automatically correct, before the mixture of mix beverages is poured into each of the base beverage containers 605, 610, 615, 620, 625, 630 to create a proportional and reproducible mixed drink without requiring any markings for measuring.
The mix beverage is indicated by lines up-and-down. This embodiment illustrates that there can be more than one mix beverage container in the packaging configuration, and that there need not be any markings on any of the beverage containers to indicate how much of each beverage should be in each mixed drink. Base beverage containers 605, 610, 615, 620, 625, 630 are each filled up to short fill level 655 (which may be marked with a short fill line or marking, but a marking is not required), leaving region 640 between short fill level 655 and top fill boundary 627 (which may be marked with a top fill line or other indicator on the container) unfilled. The base beverage is indicated by lines side-to-side. In this embodiment, the mix beverage containers are different sizes, with the first mix beverage container 601 being smaller than the second mix beverage container 600. The mix beverage containers may be the same size or different sizes, and the mix beverage containers may contain the same mix beverage or different mix beverages.
In this embodiment, the first mix beverage container 601 is full, as indicated by the lines diagonal, and the second mix beverage container 600 is not full, as indicated by the lines up-and-down. In this embodiment, the second mix beverage is not filled all the way to the top of the mix beverage container 607 or to the mix beverage container top fill boundary 606. The mix beverage container top fill boundary 606 may be at the top of the mix beverage container 607 or at some point lower. The second mix beverage is filled to a mix beverage short-fill level 603. The region 604 between the mix beverage short-fill level 603 and the mix beverage top fill boundary 606 is equal to the amount of mix beverage 602 in the first mix beverage container 601. The number of mix beverage containers and different mix beverages is not limited to two. There can be three or more mix beverage containers. For example, a mixed drink called a “Long Island Iced Tea” contains several mix beverages, such as vodka, gin, tequila, and rum. Depending on the recipe of the mixed drink, the short fill level may be lower and the corresponding volume of base beverage within the base beverage container may be less. A lower short fill level would provide more room in the base beverage container for the mix beverages to be poured in. If there are more than two mix beverage containers, then the region 604 within the second mix beverage container may be equal to the total volume of mix beverage in the remaining mix beverage containers.
FIG. 6 b is a second illustration of the third embodiment of FIG. 6 a after adding mix beverage from the first mix beverage container 601 into the second mix beverage container. This mixture of first and second mix beverages is indicated by lines diagonal and lines up-and-down in the second mix beverage container 600.
FIG. 6 c is a third illustration of the third embodiment of FIG. 6 a 600 to the first base beverage container 605. In this embodiment, the base beverage fill boundary 627 corresponds with the top 635 of the base beverage containers. This mixed drink is indicated by lines diagonal, lines side-to-side, and lines up-and-down in the first base beverage container 605.
FIG. 6 d is a fourth illustration of the third embodiment of FIG. 6 a after adding mix beverage from the first and second mix beverage containers 600 601 to the first, second, and third base beverage containers 605, 610, 615. Note that for this configuration, the volume of mix beverage within the mix beverage container 600 is six times the volume of region 640 which correlates to the number of base beverage containers 605, 610, 615, 620, 625, 630. These mixed drinks are indicated by lines diagonal, lines side-to-side, and lines up-and-down in the first, second, and third base beverage containers 605, 610, 615.
FIG. 7 a illustrates a fourth embodiment of base and mix beverage containers for use in the inventive configuration, whereby there are two mix beverage containers 700, 701 which may contain different mix beverages, and six base beverage containers 705, 710, 715, 720, 725, 730. The base beverage is indicated by lines side-to-side. The first mix beverage container 701 is full, as indicated by the lines diagonal. The second mix beverage container 700 is full, as indicated by the lines up-and-down. This embodiment is another example of having more than one mix beverage container in the packaging configuration. The mix beverage containers can be different sizes and contain different mix beverages from the other mix beverage container or containers, so long as each mix beverage is substantially proportionally distributed among the base beverage containers to create a reproducible mixed drink. For example, if there are five base beverage containers and two mix beverage containers, the first being a 200 mL bottle of one liquor and the second being a 100 mL bottle of a cream liqueur, then each base beverage container will have room so that the consumer can pour 40 mL from the first bottle of liquor and 20 mL from the second bottle of cream liqueur into each base beverage container to mix with the base beverage to create a reproducible mixed drink. In this example, 60 mL of volume remains in the base beverage container above the base beverage. The 200 mL of the first mix beverage is divided substantially equally between the five base beverages (40 mL), and the 100 mL of the second mix beverage is divided substantially equally between the five base beverages (20 mL). Another example of a mixed drink with more than one mix beverage is known as an “Irish Car Bomb;” this drink contains a base beverage of beer, such as a Guinness® Irish stout, and two mix beverages: one of whiskey, such as Jamesons® Irish whiskey, and one of cream liquor, such as Baileys® Irish Cream. In this example, both mix beverages (the whiskey and cream liquor) are poured into a base beverage container of beer, and then consumed as a mixed drink within the base beverage container. It is common for the three beverages to be combined by dropping a shot glass of whiskey and cream liqueur into a glass of beer. However, in this packaging configuration, the beverages could be mixed together within the base beverage containers. Other embodiments may only have a single mix beverage, while other embodiments may have two or more mix beverage containers containing the same type and quantity of mix beverage. For example, one package may include two mix beverage containers, each of which contains the same volume of liquor. The mix beverage containers do not have to be the same size as the other mix beverage containers or hold the same volume of mix beverage.
The mix beverage containers can contain various alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, carbonated or non-carbonated beverages. Base beverage containers 705, 710, 715, 720, 725, 730 are each filled up to short fill level 755 (which may be marked with a short fill line or marking, but a marking is not required), leaving at least two regions 740 and 741 between short fill level 755 and top fill boundary 727 (which may be marked with a top fill line or other indicator on the container) unfilled. The base beverage is indicated by lines side-to-side. The top fill boundary 727 may be at the top of the base beverage container 735 or it may be lower. The level between the two regions 740 and 741 may be marked with a measurement line 743, a marking, or other indicator on the container to indicate the end of one region 740 and the beginning of another region 741, but a physical line or marking is not required on the base beverage container, so long as there is another means for measuring the amount of mix beverage to be poured from each mix beverage container into the base beverage container, such as a line or marking or other indicator on at least one of the mix beverage containers 700, 701. In this embodiment, the mix beverage containers do not contain the same volume. The mix beverage in the first mix beverage container 701 is indicated by diagonal lines, while the mix beverage in the second container 700 is indicated by lines up-and-down.
The mix beverage containers 700 701 do not have to have the same volume, nor contain the same mix beverage. For example, in this embodiment, assuming the first mix beverage container 701 is smaller and contains 60 mL of first mix beverage, then the first region 740 between the short fill level 755 and the measurement line 743 would contain 10 mL of that first mix beverage—so that the 60 mL first mix beverage container 700 was substantially equally distributed between the six base beverage containers 705, 710, 715, 720, 725, and 730. Further in this example, if the second mix beverage container 701 was larger and contained 300 mL of a second mix beverage, then the second region 741 between the measurement line 743 and the top fill boundary 727 would contain 50 mL of that second mix beverage, so that the 300 mL second mix beverage container 700 was substantially equally distributed between the six base beverage containers 705, 710, 715, 720, 725, and 730. The top fill boundary 727 may be at the top 735 of the base beverage container or it may be lower. The total volume of mix beverage from the mix beverage containers 700 and 701 is substantially equivalent to the total volume of the at least two regions 740 and 741 between short fill level 755 and top fill boundary 727 of the plurality of base beverage containers 705, 710, 715, 720, 725, and 730. Using the above example, the volume of the at least two regions 740 and 741 of the base beverage containers would be 60 mL for each of the six base beverage containers. In that example, the total volume of the at least two regions 740 and 741 for the six base beverages combined would be 360 mL, which is equal to the volume of the first mix beverage container 700 (60 mL) plus the volume of the second mix beverage container 700 (300 mL).
FIG. 7 b is a second illustration of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 7 a after adding mix beverage from the first mix beverage container 701 to the first base beverage container 705. In this embodiment, first mix beverage (indicated by lines diagonal) is poured into the first base beverage 705, mixing with the base beverage (indicated by lines side-to-side) until the mixture of first mix beverage and base beverage (indicated by lines diagonal and lines side-to-side) fills the first region 740 and reaches the measurement line 743. A physical line or marking is not required on the base beverage container to indicate the measurement line 743, so long as there is another means for measuring the amount of first mix beverage to be poured from the first mix beverage container 701 into the base beverage container, such as a line, a marking, or other indicator on at least one of the mix beverage containers 700, 701.
FIG. 7 c is a third illustration of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 7 a after adding mix beverage from the first and second mix beverage containers 700, 701 to the first base beverage container 705. In this embodiment, the second mix beverage (indicated by lines up-and-down) is poured into the first base beverage container 705, mixing with the mixture of first base beverage and base beverage (indicated by lines diagonal and side-to-side) until the mixture of first mix beverage, second mix beverage, and base beverage creates a proportional and reproducible mixed drink (indicated by lines up-and-down, lines diagonal, and lines side-to-side) fills the first region 740 and the second region 741, and reaches the top fill boundary 727. The top fill boundary 727 may correspond with the top 735 of the base beverage containers 705, 710, 715, 720, 725, 730, or it may be lower than top 435. In this embodiment, the top fill boundary 727 does not correspond with the top 735 of the base beverage containers 705. The top fill boundary 727 may be marked with a top fill line or other indicator on the container, but a physical line or marking is not required on the base beverage container, so long as there is another means for measuring the amount of mix beverage to be poured from each mix beverage container into the base beverage container, such as a line, a marking, or other indicator on at least one of the mix beverage containers 700, 701.
FIG. 7 d is a fourth illustration of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 7 a after adding mix beverage from the first and second mix beverage containers 700, 701 to the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth base beverage containers 705, 710, 715, 720, 725. The first, second, third, fourth, and fifth base beverage containers 705, 710, 715, 720, 725 contain a mixture of first mix beverage, second mix beverage, and base beverage, creating a proportional and reproducible mixed drink (indicated by lines up-and-down, lines diagonal, and lines side-to-side). The remaining combined mix beverage volume in the first and second mix beverage containers 700, 701 is equal to the volume remaining in the sixth base beverage container 730 in the two regions 740, 741 between short fill level 755 and top fill boundary 727.
The inventive beverage packing configuration provides added convenience to dispensing mixed drinks by packing all components separately with the ability of producing reproducible mixed drinks of the correct proportions, without the necessity of using a separate volumetric dispenser, cup, or container for measuring, mixing, or serving.
It is not expected that the invention be restricted to the exact embodiments disclosed herein. Modifications can be made without departing from the invented concept. For example, other numbers and relative volumes or mix percentages than those listed can be used. The scope of the invention should be construed in view of the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A product configuration comprising:

a number being a plurality of base beverage containers, each containing a base beverage, each said base beverage container having a top surface;

a mix beverage container, containing a mix beverage;

a package designed to contain said plurality of base beverage containers and said mix beverage container;

wherein;

the base beverage containers are filled with base beverage up to a short-fill level, wherein the short-fill level is not at the top surface of the base beverage container;

the base beverage container has a top fill boundary above the short-fill level; and

volume V1 of space between the short-fill level and the top fill boundary in each base beverage container is equal to volume of mix beverage in the mix beverage container divided substantially equally by the number of base beverage containers

2. The product configuration of claim 1, wherein said top fill boundary corresponds with said top surface of said base beverage containers.

3. The product configuration of claim 1, wherein said top fill boundary is lower than said top surface of said base beverage containers.

4. The product configuration of claim 3, wherein said mix beverage container has a plurality of markings thereon, wherein said volumetric space between each two adjacent said markings is substantially equal to V1.

5. The product configuration of claim 1, wherein said mix beverage container and said plurality of base beverage containers are in a close packed configuration.

6. The product configuration of claim 5, wherein said mix beverage container and said plurality of base beverage containers are enclosed within external packaging.

7. The product configuration of claim 1, wherein the base beverage containers contain at least two different types of base beverages.

8. A product configuration comprising:

two mix beverage containers, each containing the same mix beverage a package designed to contain said plurality of base beverage containers and said plurality of mix beverage containers;

wherein;

volume of the space between the short-fill level and the top fill boundary in each base beverage container is equal to total volume of mix beverage in the plurality of mix beverage containers divided substantially equally by the number of base beverage containers.

9. The product configuration of claim 8, wherein said top fill boundary corresponds with said top surface of said base beverage containers.

10. The product configuration of claim 8, wherein said top fill boundary is lower than said top surface of said base beverage containers.

11. The product configuration of claim 8, wherein said plurality of mix beverage containers have at least one marking thereon to indicate quantity of mix beverage to pour into each base beverage.

12. The product configuration of claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of mix beverage containers contains an equal volume of mix beverage.

13. A product configuration comprising:

a first mix beverage container containing a first mix beverage,

a second mix beverage container containing a second mix beverage, said second mix beverage container having a top surface;

a package designed to contain said plurality of base beverage containers and said two mix beverage containers;

wherein;

the second mix beverage container is filled with a second mix beverage up to a short-fill level, wherein the short-fill level is not at the top surface of the mix beverage container;

the volume of space between the short-fill level and the top fill boundary in the second mix beverage container is equal to the volume of first mix beverage in the first mix beverage container, wherein the entire first mix beverage can be poured into the second mix beverage container to create a mixture of first and second mix beverage which has a total volume of mixture equal to the combined volume of first mix beverage in the first mix beverage container and second mix beverage in the second mix beverage container;

the volume of space between the short-fill level and the top fill boundary in each of the base beverage containers is equal to said total volume of said mixture of first and second mix beverage divided substantially equally by the number of base beverage containers; such that said mixture of first and second mix beverages can be poured into the space remaining in each of the base beverage containers, to create a proportional and reproducible mixed drink in each base beverage container.

14. The product configuration of claim 13, wherein said plurality of base beverage containers have at least one marking thereon to indicate the quantity of mix beverage to pour into each base beverage.

15. The product configuration of claim 13, wherein said plurality of mix beverage containers have at least one marking thereon to indicate the quantity of mix beverage to pour into each base beverage.

16. A product configuration comprising:

a plurality of mix beverage containers each containing a different mix beverage, wherein the different mix beverages have a total combined volume;

a package designed to contain said plurality of base beverage containers and said plurality of mix beverage containers;

wherein;

the base beverage containers have a top fill boundary above the short-fill level; and

the volume of space between the short-fill level and the top fill boundary in each of the base beverage containers is equal to the total combined volume of mix beverages divided substantially equally by the number of base beverage containers; such that the total combined volume of mix beverages can be poured into the space remaining in each of the base beverage containers, to create a proportional and reproducible mixed drink in each base beverage container.

17. The product configuration of claim 16, wherein said plurality of base beverage containers have at least one marking thereon to indicate the quantity of mix beverage to pour into each base beverage.

18. The product configuration of claim 16, wherein said plurality of mix beverage containers have at least one marking thereon to indicate the quantity of mix beverage to pour into each base beverage.

19. The product configuration of claim 16, wherein said top fill boundary corresponds with said top surface of said base beverage containers.

20. The product configuration of claim 16, wherein said top fill boundary is lower than said top surface of said base beverage containers.

21. The product configuration of claim 16, wherein the plurality of mix beverage containers is equal to two.