WO2000010887A1

WO2000010887A1 - Method and apparatus for combining an additive with a liquid

Info

Publication number: WO2000010887A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/016020
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jerry Iggulden
Original assignee: Jerry Iggulden
Priority date: 1998-08-21
Filing date: 1999-07-14
Publication date: 2000-03-02
Also published as: AU5103799A

Abstract

A container (12) for a liquid has a cap or lid (14) with a compartment (16) for storing a liquid-soluble additive (20). The contents of the compartment may be selectively mixed with the liquid to a desired degree of concentration by a consumer. As provided to the consumer, the contents of the compartment are separated from the liquid with a seal (26). When the consumer wishes to mix the liquid and the additive, the seal is removed to expose the contents of the compartment to the liquid. The container is agitated until the desired amount of additive has been dissolved.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMBINING AN ADDITIVE WITH A LIQUID

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of containers for liquids. More particularly, the invention relates to a container having a selectively openable compartment for an additive to be combined with the liquid.

2. PRIOR ART

It is well-known that there is great diversity in the taste preferences of humans. This can be observed, for example, in the context of sweetened beverages, such as iced tea. Some people prefer iced tea unsweetened, whereas others prefer a very sweet drink. This poses a dilemma for manufacturers of bottled beverages, since any degree of sweetness in the bottled beverage will inevitably prove to be too sweet for some and not sweet enough for others. Since one of the principal reasons for purchasing a bottled beverage is convenience, consumers will frequently not have a supply of sweetener readily available to add to a bottled beverage in order to achieve a desired degree of sweetness.

One prior art approach for adding a desired amount of sweetener to a beverage involves the use of sugar or other sweetener in the form of a stick that is used to stir the beverage. The more the beverage is stirred, the more sweetener is dissolved. A variation on this approach is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,440,976 issued to Giuliano, et al. This patent discloses a stirring stick that stores granulated sugar or artificial sweetener within a plurality of perforated compartments. The stick is extended from a protective sleeve to expose the desired number of compartments. When the beverage is stirred, the sweetener within the exposed compartments is dissolved in the beverage.

Various types of compartmented containers are known for separately storing ingredients that are later mixed within the container and consumed. For example, U.S. Patent No. 3,779,372 issued to de Lloret discloses a dual container for separately storing two components of a mixed drink. The container has a main compartment containing a first beverage and a hollow cap for the main compartment which contains a second beverage. A pointed lever attached to a pull ring is used to rupture the hollow cap and dispense the second beverage into the first.

U.S. Patent No. 5,529,179 issued to Hanson discloses a dispensing lid for a beverage container, such as a Styrofoam coffee cup. The lid incorporates a plurality of frangible vessels containing condiments which are ordinarily added to popular beverages. Application of finger pressure to the top of the vessel ruptures the underside and dispenses the contents into the beverage container.

U.S. Patent No. 5,052,553 issued to De Sanctis discloses a container for a food, such as yogurt, having a cover with a plurality of frangible compartments. The compartments contain an additive, such as gelatin, which is intended to be added to the food in the container. As the cover is removed from the container, the compartments are ruptured and the contents thereof are automatically dispensed into the container.

U.S. Patent No. 4,195,730 issued to Hunt discloses a cap for a bottle- shaped beverage container. The cap includes a compartment that holds a material to be added to the beverage, such as a flavoring. As the cap is removed, the compartment is automatically opened and the contents are dispensed into the beverage container.

U.S. Patent No. 5,772,017 issued to Kang discloses a beverage container and cap somewhat similar to that of Hunt. The cap of Kang's device includes a plunger that can be screwed down or pressed down to open a pop-out lid on the bottom of a compartment that holds an ingredient to be added to the beverage.

All of the known prior art container designs for separately storing a beverage or the like and an ingredient to be added thereto automatically dispense the entire amount of the ingredient. None of these container designs permits a consumer to mix the ingredients in proportions other than that established at the time the ingredients were packaged in the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a container for storing both a liquid and a liquid-soluble additive that may be selectively mixed to a desired degree of concentration by a consumer. An exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a beverage container for storing an unsweetened and/or unflavored beverage. A lid for the container has a compartment for storing a beverage sweetener and/or flavoring disposed on the underside thereof The compartment has a plurality of small holes or equivalent means for admitting the beverage into the interior of the compartment. The beverage sweetener and/or flavoring is contained within the compartment in the form of a pellet or relatively large granules that will not pass through the holes. The holes in the compartment are sealed with a peel-off cover. Prior to the time of consumption, the consumer removes the lid from the beverage container and removes the peel-off cover. The lid is then replaced and the container is shaken until a desired quantity of the beverage sweetener and/or flavoring has been dissolved in the beverage. Separate compartments may be provided for different beverage additives.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the compartment is sealed with a movable cover. The cover has one or more apertures that can be moved into alignment with apertures in the wall of the compartment, thereby exposing the contents of the compartment. The cover can be moved to regulate the degree of such exposure and can also be moved to re-seal the compartment.

In another alternative embodiment of the invention, the lid is offered to the consumer separate from the beverage itself. Still other alternative embodiments provide individual storage compartments for a plurality of additives, dispense liquid additives, and are integrally molded within a wall of the container. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the present invention having multiple storage compartments.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention wherein storage compartments are molded into a container wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known methods and devices are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.

Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention for use with a beverage container, such as bottle 12. A lid 14 forms a leak-resistant seal against the neck of bottle 12 and is held in place by a threaded coupling, snap- on fitting or equivalent means. A storage compartment 16 is secured to the underside of lid 14 with a suitable adhesive or other equivalent means. Compartment 16 contains a beverage additive such as sweetener 20 in the form of a tablet or large granules. Wall 22 of compartment 16, which faces towards the interior of bottle 12, is perforated with holes 24. These holes are sealed by a peel- off cover 26.

The beverage in bottle 12 is provided to the consumer in an unsweetened form. If the consumer wishes to add sweetener, the consumer removes lid 14 and peels off cover 26 to expose holes 24. Lid 14 is then replaced on bottle 12 and tightened to reestablish a leak-resistant seal. Bottle 12 is then gently shaken, allowing the beverage to enter compartment 16 and mix with sweetener 20. Agitation of the beverage allows sweetener 20 to dissolve therein, the amount dissolved being roughly proportional to the amount of agitation. The consumer can thus add any desired amount of sweetener prior to consuming the beverage in bottle 12.

Figure 2 illustrates a modification of the above-described embodiment. The storage compartment is substantially identical to that of the previously described embodiment, but is not sealed with a peel-off cover. Instead, cover 30 is rotatably attached to the compartment. Cover 30 has a plurality of apertures 32, which may be selectively aligned with the underlying holes 24 in the storage compartment. Preferably, the apertures 32 and/or holes 24 are configured so that the area of the openings into the interior of the storage compartment may be varied by rotation of cover 30. Cover 30 also permits holes 24 to be resealed once the desired amount of sweetener 20 or other beverage additive has been dissolved. Thus, if the beverage container is subsequently transported or otherwise subjected to agitation, additional sweetener will not be inadvertently dissolved in the beverage.

Figure 3 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, lid or cap 50 is intended for use as an accessory to a separately bottled beverage. For example, cap 50 may contain a flavoring that is added to an unflavored beverage, such as bottled water. Cap 50 may also be used to add an additional flavoring to a flavored beverage, such as a cola or the like. A display of caps 50 containing a variety of flavorings may thus be advantageously placed in retail establishments in proximity to bottled waters and other beverages.

Cap 50 preferably has a plurality of internally threaded portions, such as 52 and 54, to permit cap 50 to be applied to a variety of beverage containers. A compartment 56 contains a flavoring or other beverage additive 60. Compartment 56 includes a plurality of openings 58. As in the previously described embodiment, additive 60 is preferably in the form of a tablet or large granules which will not readily pass through openings 58.

To use cap 50, the consumer first removes the cap with which the beverage container is sealed. Cap 50 is then applied to the top of the beverage container. In the case of non-carbonated beverages, the container may be gently shaken to dissolve a portion of additive 60 into the beverage. In the case of a carbonated beverage, the container may be simply inverted to permit additive 60 to mix with the beverage. In either case, the amount of additive 60 that is dissolved is readily controlled by the consumer.

Since cap 50 is not supplied to the consumer as part of a beverage container, the sealing requirements for compartment 56 are not as severe as the previously described embodiments. For example, cap 50 could be offered in a "blister" package which would protect the contents of compartment 56. Alternatively, a protective cover could be retained by threaded portions 52 or 54.

Figure 4 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention. Lid 70, the underside of which is shown, is generally similar to lid 14 described above. A storage compartment 72 is secured to the underside of lid 70 with a suitable adhesive or other equivalent means. Compartment 72 is divided into a plurality of individual compartments 74. These individual compartments may be used to store portions of a single additive or may be advantageously used to store a plurality of additives. For example, some of compartments 74 may be used to store a sweetener, whereas others may be used to store a flavoring. Alternatively, some of compartments 74 may be used to store a natural sweetener, whereas others may be used to store an artificial sweetener. Storage compartments 74 are sealed with a peel-off cover 76 as in the embodiment first described above. Cover 76 includes perforations 78 which align with the individual storage compartments 74 so that the cover may be selectively removed from any one or more of the individual storage compartments. Since there are a plurality of individual compartments 74, the additive stored therein may be in the form of a powder or a liquid, all of which will be dispensed into the container when the corresponding portion of cover 76 is removed. The user can regulate the amount of additive used by selectively exposing some or all of the individual compartments 74.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 5. Lid 80 is particularly adapted for storing an additive 84 in the form of a liquid or viscous gel. Additive 84 is contained in a pliable capsule 82 which is secured to lid 80. A portion 86 of the capsule wall on the underside of lid 80 is thinned and/or provided with a pinhole opening. Application of finger pressure to the top of capsule 82 forces a portion of additive 84 into container 12. Repeated or extended pressure on the top of capsule 82 increases the amount of additive 84 dispensed, and thus the amount may be readily controlled by the user.

Referring to Figure 6, another embodiment of the present invention is shown. Container 90 for a beverage or other liquid is molded of a suitable plastic material. One or more storage compartments 92 are molded into the container wall in a suitable location. For example, storage compartments 92 may be molded into the "feet" that are commonly provided on larger bottles of soda and other beverages. As with the last-described embodiment, a portion 96 of the wall of storage compartment 92 is thinned and/or provided with a pinhole for dispensing additive 94. Finger pressure applied to the bottom or sides of storage compartment 92 forces a portion of additive 94 to be dispensed into the main volume of container 90.

The foregoing embodiments of the invention have been generally described in the context of sweetener and/or flavoring additives for beverages. However, the invention is not limited in this regard. The invention may also be utilized in other applications requiring the mixture of a liquid and a liquid-soluble additive. Such other applications may include, without limitation, other types of food products, food colorings, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, paints, etc.

It will be recognized that the above described invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the disclosure. Thus, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing illustrative details, but rather is to be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A lid for a liquid container comprising: means for establishing a leak-resistant seal with a liquid container; a compartment having an outer wall with at least one aperture therein; an additive stored within the compartment, at least a portion of the additive having dimensions to prevent passage through the aperture.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one aperture is one of a plurality of apertures perforating the outer wall.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for at least partially sealing the aperture.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the means for at least partially sealing the aperture comprises a peel-off cover.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the means for at least partially sealing the aperture comprises a movable cover.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the additive is granulated.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the additive comprises a tablet.

The device of claim 1 wherein the liquid is a beverage.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the additive is a sweetener.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the sweetener is a natural sweetener.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the sweetener is an artificial sweetener.

12. The device of claim 8 wherein the additive is a flavoring.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for establishing a leak- resistant seal comprises means for engaging threads on a neck of a liquid container.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the compartment is one of a plurality of compartments, each containing an additive.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein one of the plurality of compartments contains an additive different from the additive contained in another of the plurality of compartments.

16. A method of combining a beverage and a beverage additive comprising the steps of: providing a container for the beverage; providing a lid for the container, said lid having means for establishing a substantially leak-proof seal with the container, said lid further having a compartment; providing a beverage additive stored in the compartment; removing the lid from the container; exposing the beverage additive stored in the compartment; replacing the lid on the container;

agitating the container to place the exposed beverage additive in contact with the beverage, thereby dissolving a portion of the beverage additive in the beverage.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of exposing the additive comprises removing a peel-off cover from the compartment.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of exposing the additive comprises moving a cover that is movably coupled to the compartment.

19. A lid for a liquid container comprising: means for establishing a leak-resistant seal with a liquid container; a plurality of compartments, each of the compartments containing an additive; means for sealing each of the plurality of compartments, said means for sealing being selectively removable from selected ones of the plurality of compartments.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the means for sealing comprises a peel-off cover.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the peel-off cover is perforated between adjacent ones of the plurality of compartments.

22. A lid for liquid container comprising: means for establishing a leak-resistant seal with a liquid container; a pliable capsule secured to the lid, said capsule containing an additive and having a wall portion adapted to dispense the additive into the liquid container upon application of pressure to the capsule.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the additive is a liquid.

24. The device of claim 22 wherein the additive is a gel.

25. The device of claim 22 wherein the capsule has a pressure- application surface disposed above an upper surface of the lid and wherein the wall portion adapted to dispense the additive is disposed below a lower surface of the lid.

26. The device of claim 22 wherein the wall portion adapted to dispense the additive contains a pinhole.

27. A liquid container comprising: a container wall defining a main volume; at least one compartment integral with the container wall; an additive stored within the compartment; said container wall having a portion adapted to dispense the additive into the main volume upon application of external pressure to the compartment.