WO2005070774A1

WO2005070774A1 - Dispensing cap for mixing two liquids

Info

Publication number: WO2005070774A1
Application number: PCT/US2004/000849
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antoine Azar
Original assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
Priority date: 2004-01-14
Filing date: 2004-01-14
Publication date: 2005-08-04

Abstract

A secondary fluid container (100) with a secondary fluid (105) for use with a primary fluid container (10) with a primary fluid (50) and a spout flange. The secondary fluid container may include a container wall sized to be mounted on the primary fluid container. The container wall (130) may define an aperture (145) for insertion of the primary fluid container therethrough. A spout rib (150) may be positioned about the container wall so as to mate with the spout flange (40) of the primary fluid container.

Description

CAP DISPENSER

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to a dispenser for use with a beverage container and more particularly relates to a device that dispenses a secondary fluid, such as an alcohol or a flavoring, to a primary fluid stream during poring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Consumers often desire to add a measure of a secondary fluid, flavor, or substance to a beverage or other type of primary fluid. By "primary" fluid and "secondary" fluid, we simply mean that, generally, the primary fluid is larger in volume than the secondary fluid. For example, it is common to add a measure of an alcoholic beverage or a flavoring to a "mixer" of some sort, such as soft drinks, juices, or waters. The mixed beverage generally requires the appropriate amounts of both the primary and the secondary fluid. The appropriate amount and mixture of the primary and secondary fluids are often desired to achieve the appropriate taste for the final beverage and to limit waste. There is a desire, therefore, for a method and an apparatus for providing the appropriate amounts of both the primary and the secondary fluids. The method and the apparatus may provide both the primary and the secondary fluids and a means to mix the fluids. The method and the apparatus preferably should be easy to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention thus provides a secondary fluid container with a secondary fluid for use with a primary fluid container with a primary fluid and a spout flange. The secondary fluid container may include a container wall sized to be mounted on the primary fluid container. The container wall may define an aperture for insertion of the primary fluid container therethrough. A spout rib may be positioned about the container wall so as to mate with the spout flange of the primary fluid container. The secondary fluid container may include a first element and a second element. The second element may define the container wall and may include a toroidal shape defining the aperture. The container wall substantially conforms to the primarily fluid container. The primary fluid container includes a lip and the container wall may include a flange so as to mate with the lip. The spout rib may be positioned about the container wall so as to mate with the spout flange of the primary fluid container in a snap fit. The second element may include a storage wall extending from the container wall. The storage wall and the container wall may define a storage area. The second element may include a sealing rib positioned thereon and the first element may include a flange for mating with the sealing rib. The first element may include a number of spacer ribs positioned thereon such that the spacer ribs define a passageway adjacent to the aperture. The secondary fluid container further may include a mixing area adjacent to the passageway. The secondary fluid may be coloring, flavoring, nutrients, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, alcohol, carbonation, or sweetener. A further embodiment of the present invention may provide a secondary fluid container for use with a secondary fluid and a primary fluid container. The secondary fluid container may include a first element with a first aperture therein and sized to accommodate the primary fluid container. A second element may be positioned about the first element. The second element may include a second aperture therein and sized to accommodate the primary fluid container. The first element and the second element may define a passageway positioned about the apertures such that the secondary fluid may flow therethrough. The first element may include a first mating element and the second element may include a second mating element for joinder with the first mating element. The primary fluid container may include a spout flange and the first element may include a rib positioned thereon so as to mate with the spout flange of the primary fluid container. The first element may include a number of spacer ribs positioned thereon such that the number of spacer ribs defines the passageway. The secondary fluid may be coloring, flavoring, nutrients, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, alcohol, carbonation, or

sweetener. A method of the present invention may provide for adding a secondary fluid from a secondary fluid container with a first element and a second element to a primary fluid from a primary fluid container. The method may include pouring the secondary fluid into the first element of the secondary fluid container, closing the secondary fluid container by placing the second element on the first element, placing the secondary fluid container on the primary fluid container, fixing the secondary fluid container on the primary fluid container in a snap fit, and rotating the primary fluid container such that the primary fluid and the secondary fluid flow together. The secondary fluid may include an alcohol and may flow via a partial Nenturi effect. These and other features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a primary fluid container. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a secondary fluid container of the present invention. Fig 3 is an exploded view of the secondary fluid container of Fig.

2. Fig. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the secondary fluid container of Fig. 2 taken along line 4-4. Fig. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the side seal of the secondary fluid container of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a secondary fluid container of the present invention mounted onto a primary fluid container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like elements throughout the several view, Fig. 1 shows a primary fluid container 10 for use with the present invention. The primary fluid container 10 may be any type of standard beverage bottle or any other type of fluid receptacle. The container 10 may be made out of plastics, glass, or any other type of conventional materials. In this example, the primary fluid container 10 may have a spout 20. The spout 20 may include a lip 30 and a support ring 40. The lip 30 may be flared outward somewhat so as to accommodate a conventional bottle cap. The support ring 40 may be in the fonn of a curved flange as is shown. The support ring 40 may be used to support the container 10 during the filling or the vending process. Alternatively, standard bottle threads may be used for a screw-on type bottle cap. As described above, the primary fluid 50 may be a carbonated soft drink, juices, waters, coffees, teas, isotonic beverages, or any other fluid. Flowable rigid or other non-fluid materials also may be used herein. The present invention is not limited to any particular embodiment of the primary fluid container 10 or the primary fluid 50. Figs. 2-5 show an embodiment of a secondary fluid container 100 of the present invention. The secondary fluid container 100 is designed to mate with the primary fluid container 10. As described above, the secondary fluid 105 may be a beverage enhancer such as coloring, flavoring, nutrients, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, alcohol, carbonation, sweetener (natural or artificial), or any other type of additive intended to be mixed with the primary fluid 50. Flowable rigid or other non- fluid materials also may be used herein. The secondary fluid container 100 may be a single or a multi-piece device. The secondary fluid container 100 may be made out of Polyethylene Terephtha ("PET"), Polyethylene Naphthalate ("PEN"), High Density Polyethylene ("HDPE"), Low Density Polyethylene ("LDPE"), Polypropylene, or similar types of plastics. Glass, metals, foils, or other types of rigid or somewhat rigid materials also may be used. The material is of food grade quality. In this example, the secondary fluid container 100 may include two elements, an inner element 110 and a top element 120. The terms "inner" and "top" merely signify relative positions with respect to each other. Any other configuration may be used. The inner element 110 is designed to mate with the top element 120. Any number of elements may be used herein. The inner element 110 may have a substantially toroidal or doughnut-like shape. The inner element 110 may have a container wall 130 that substantially conforms to the shape of the primary fluid container 10 and the spout 20 in particular. The container wall 130 may extend into a curved flange 140. The flange 140 may be configured to sit on or adjacent to the lip 30 of the primary fluid container 10. The container wall 130 and the flange 140 may define an aperture 145 for the primary fluid container 10. The container wall 130 also may have a circular rib 150. The circular rib 150 may be positioned so as to cooperate with the support ring 140 of the primary fluid container 10. The circular rib 150 may completely surround the support ring 40 or the circular rib 150 may be intermittent. The circular rib 150 preferably mates with the support ring 140 in a snap fit. Alternatively, other types of mating means, such as threads, friction fit, interference fit, or other means may be used to mount the secondary fluid container 100 to the primary fluid container 10. The container wall 130 may continue into a storage wall 160. The container wall and the storage wall 130, 160 may define a storage area 170. The storage area 170 may be substantially U or N shaped. The secondary fluid 105 may be place within the storage area 170. The storage wall 160 may have a sealing rib 190 positioned thereon. The sealing rib 190 may completely surround the storage wall 160 and the inner compartment 110 or the sealing rib 190 may be intermittent thereon. The top element 120 also may be largely toroidal or doughnut-like in shape. The element wall 120 may include a mating flange 200 that cooperates with the sealing rib 190 to prevent the leakage of the secondary fluid 105. The top element 120 also may include a spacer rib 210 positioned near the flange 140 of the inner element 110. Any number of spacer ribs 210 may be used. In this example, three (3) ribs 210 may be used. The flange 140 of the inner element and the spacer ribs 210 of the top element 120 may define a passageway 220 from the storage area 170. The passageway 220 may be relatively narrow as compared to the storage area. The top element 120 further may continue into a mixing area 230. The mixing area 230 may be largely circular in shape and may have an outer wall 240 that may extend upwards or away from the lip 30 of the primary fluid container 10. The mixing area 230 allows the secondary fluid 105 as it exits the passageway 220 to mix with the primary fluid 50 as it exits the lip 30 of the primary fluid container 10. A cap or other type of closure device may cover the mixing area 230. Given a primary fluid container 10 with about 200 to about 300 milliliters of the primary fluid 50, a spout 20 with a diameter of about seventeen (17) to about twenty-three (23) millimeters, and a support ring 40 with a depth of about 1.5 to about 2.5 millimeters, the storage area 170 of the secondary fluid container 100 may hold about thirty (30) to about forty (40) milliliters of the secondary fluid 105. More specifically, the container wall 130 may have a length of about 50 to about 100 millimeters. The flange 140 may have a length of about four (4) to about eight (8) millimeters. The aperture 145 may have a diameter of about seventeen (17) to about twenty-three (23) millimeters. The storage wall 160 may have a length of about 40 to about 80 millimeters. The container wall 130 and the storage wall 160 may be separated by a width of about five (5) to about fifteen (15) millimeters. The circular rib 150 may extend about one (1) to about three (3) millimeters in depth so as to mate with the support ring 40 of the primary fluid container 100. The sealing rib 190 may have a depth of about one (1) to about two (2) millimeters. The spacer ribs 210 and the passageway 210 preferably have a height of about 0.7 to about 1.3 millimeters. The outer wall 240 of the mixing area 230 may extend upward for about eight (8) to about fifteen (15) millimeters. These dimensions are for the purpose of example only. Any desired dimension or configuration may be used In use as is shown in Fig. 6, the storage area 170 may be filled with the secondary fluid 105. The top element 120 then may be placed on the inner element 110. The sealing flange 200 of the top element 120 may mate with the sealing rib 190 of the inner element 110 so as to maintain the secondary fluid 105 within the secondary fluid container 100. The secondary fluid container 100 then may be placed on the primary fluid container 10. Specifically, the circular rib 150 of the inner element 110 mates with the sealing rib 40 of the primary fluid container 10 in a snap fit. Other types of mating means, such as a screw-fit, also may be used. The flange 140 of the imier element 110 may rest upon the lip 30 of the primary fluid container 10. When the primary fluid container 10 is lifted and poured, the primary fluid 50 flows through the spout 20. The secondary fluid 105 flows through the passageway 220 and mixes with the primary fluid 50 in the mixing area 230. The primary fluid 50 tends to pull or absorb an appropriate amount of the secondary fluid 105 out of the secondary fluid container 10. Further, the relatively nanow passageway 220 of the secondary fluid container 10 may force the second fluid 105 out of the secondary fluid container 10 via at least a partial Nenturi effect. Specifically, as the secondary fluid 105 flows from the relatively broad storage area 170 into the relatively narrow passageway 220, the Nenturi effect may provide that the pressure of the secondary fluid 105 may be reduced as the velocity of the fluid 105 increases. Pouring all of the primary fluid 50 out of the primary fluid container 10 and all of the secondary fluid 105 out of the secondary fluid container 100 preferably ensures that the final beverage is appropriately mixed and in the correct proportions. All or only part of the primary fluid 50 and the secondary fluid 105 may be poured at one time. The secondary fluid container 100 may be reusable and or recyclable. It should be apparent that the foregoing detailed description relates only to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention and that numerous changes and modification may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

CLAIMSWe claim:

1. A secondary fluid container with a secondary fluid for use with a primary fluid container with a primary fluid and a spout flange, comprising: a container wall sized to be mounted on the primary fluid container; the container wall defining an aperture for insertion of the primary fluid container therethrough; and a spout rib positioned about the container wall so as to mate with the spout flange of the primary fluid container.

2. The secondary fluid container of claim 1, further comprising a first element and a second element and wherein the second element defines the container wall.

3. The secondary fluid container of claim 2, wherein the second element comprises a toroidal shape defining the aperture.

4. The secondary fluid container of claim 1, wherein the container wall substantially conforms to the primarily fluid container.

5. The secondary fluid container of claim 1, wherein the primary fluid container includes a lip and wherein the container wall comprises a flange so as to mate with the lip.

6. The secondary fluid container of claim 1, wherein the spout rib is positioned about the container wall so as to mate with the spout flange of the primary fluid container in a snap fit.

7. The secondary fluid container of claim 2, wherein the second element comprises a storage wall extending from the container wall.

8. The secondary fluid container of claim 7, wherein the storage wall and the container wall define a storage area.

9. The secondary fluid container of claim 2, wherein the second element comprises a sealing rib positioned thereon and wherein the first element comprises a flange for mating with the sealing rib.

10. The secondary fluid container of claim 2, wherein the first element comprises a plurality of spacer ribs positioned thereon such that the plurality of spacer ribs define a passageway positioned adjacent to the aperture.

11. The secondary fluid container of claim 1, further comprising a mixing area adjacent to the passageway.

12. The secondary fluid container of claim 1, wherein the secondary fluid comprises a fluid selected from the group consisting of: coloring, flavoring, nutrients, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, alcohol, carbonation, and sweetener.

13. A secondary fluid container for use with a secondary fluid and a primary fluid container, comprising: a first element; the first element comprising a first aperture therein; the first aperture sized to accommodate the primary fluid container; a second element positioned about the first element; the second element comprising a second aperture therein; the second aperture sized to accommodate the primary fluid container; and the first element and the second element defining a passageway positioned about the first aperture and the second aperture such that the secondary fluid may flow therethrough.

14. The secondary fluid container of claim 13, wherein the first element comprises a first mating element and wherein the second element comprises a second mating element for joinder with the first mating element.

15. The secondary fluid container of claim 13, wherein the primary fluid container comprises a spout flange and wherein the first element comprises a rib positioned thereon so as to mate with the spout flange of the primary fluid container.

16. The secondary fluid container of claim 13, wherein the first element comprises a plurality of spacer ribs positioned thereon such that the plurality of spacer ribs defines the passageway.

17. The secondary fluid container of claim 13, wherein the secondary fluid comprises a fluid selected from the group consisting of: coloring, flavoring, nutrients, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, alcohol, carbonation, and sweetener.

18. A method of adding a secondary fluid from a secondary fluid container with a first element and a second element to a primary fluid from a primary fluid container, comprising: pouring the secondary fluid into the first element of the secondary fluid container; closing the secondary fluid container by placing the second element on the first element; placing the secondary fluid container on the primary fluid container; fixing the secondary fluid container on the primary fluid container in a snap fit; and rotating the primary fluid container such that the primary fluid and the secondary fluid flow together.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the secondary fluid comprises an alcohol.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the secondary fluid flows via a partial Nenturi effect.