WO2005092718A1

WO2005092718A1 - Multi chamber vessel

Info

Publication number: WO2005092718A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/001167
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernard Russel Jones
Original assignee: Bernard Russel Jones
Priority date: 2004-03-24
Filing date: 2005-03-24
Publication date: 2005-10-06
Also published as: GB2412291B; GB2412291A; GB0406680D0

Abstract

A vessel which includes a base portion and a wall portion upstanding from the base portion, at least one disk member having a rupturable inner portion, wherein the wall portion has an internal surface having at least one support member arranged therein to receive the removable disk.

Description

Multi Chamber Vessel

The present invention is concerned with a vessel which is suitable for transporting and/or serving more than one liquid, such as a beverage or the like.

Many drinks, in particular alcoholic drinks, are served as a blend of two or more ingredients. For example, cocktails may contain two or more alcoholic components which may be mixed with a non-alcoholic element, for example, lime cordial, lemonade, fruit juice etc. Mixing during transportation or storage may, however, affect the quality or appearance of the cocktail in some circumstances. It may therefore be preferable, in some instances, to keep each individual component separate up until the point of consumption. This is particularly advantageous for aesthetic and flavour separation purposes during transportation and/or storage.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to alleviate at least some of the disadvantages identified above .

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a vessel which permits liquid or semi-solid substance to be stored, prior to consumption, in distinct layers.

Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided a vessel which includes: a base portion and a wall portion upstanding from the base portion, at least one disk member having a rupturable inner portion, wherein the wall portion has an internal surface having at least one support member arranged therein to receive the removable disk. According to a first embodiment of the present invention, the support member is in the form of a groove which extends substantially circu ferentially around an internal surface of the wall portion.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the support member includes a plurality of distinct identations or lugs. The indentations or lugs are typically circumferentially spaced around an internal surface of the wall portion.

Accordingly, it is particularly preferred that there are three or more (such as four or more) indentations or lugs present; each indentation or lug typically being substantially equally spaced apart around the internal surface of the wall portion. Typically, the vessel is arranged such that an annular disk may clip or attach to the indentations or lug, thereby forming a fluid-tight seal with the wall portion of the vessel.

According to a third embodiment of the invention, the support member is in the form of a shoulder arranged on an internal surface of the wall portion. The shoulder may extend substantially circumferentially around an internal surface of the wall portion, or may be in the form of three or more distinct shoulders each being arranged in substantially the same place. In this embodiment, it is envisaged that the disk member rests on the shoulder member and that the disk member is fixed to the shoulder member by food-grade adhesive or preferably ultra sonic welding or the like.

It is particularly preferred that the wall portion has two or more support members, each support member being arranged to receive a removable disk. Advantageously, the disk, the wall portion and the base portion define a storage area. The storage area is arranged to receive a liquid or semi-

^■ solid substance. An edible liquid is preferred. Suitable liquids may include alcoholic drinks, fruit juices, cordials and/or ice creams or sorbets or the like.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the disk is non-edible. It is particularly preferable that the wall portion includes three or more support members. Advantageously, each support member is arranged to receive a removable disk. Preferably, during use, when a disk is arranged in the groove member, a substantially tight seal is achieved.

The present invention is particularly advantageous for the storage and transportation of drinks that require mixing shortly before consumption, or different drinks that are to be displayed in a single vessel. The present invention may be used to transport and display alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.

It is envisaged that the vessel may be in the form of a truncated cone or a cylinder; however, it is envisaged that the vessel may be rectangular or the like. A truncated cone is particularly preferred as it is both aesthetically pleasing and permits ease of insertion of each disk into the groove member . It is envisaged that the wall portion may be transparent or opaque. However, it is particularly preferred that at least a portion of the wall is transparent so that the contents of the vessel (when it is in use) are visible. The vessel may be manufactured from glass or a suitable plastics material, such as polycarbonate or a styrene, such as crystal styrene. It is particularly preferred that the vessel is manufactured from polycarbonate. When the vessel is manufactured from plastics, it may be manufactured by a blown plastics method or an extrusion method. It is therefore envisaged that the groove member may be visible, or protrudes through, the wall portion.

The disk may be manufactured from the same material as the vessel, however, it is also envisaged that it may be manufactured from a different material (which is preferred) . It is preferred that at least a portion of the disk is flexible; this aids insertion of the disk into the groove in the vessel.

It is particularly preferred that the disk has an inner portion which is rupturable. The inner portion may be of a different material with respect to the remainder of the disk, or it may be the same material but have a smaller thickness .

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the disk may comprise a substantially annular disk or ^Λo' ring having a rupturable covering arranged over the disk or ^Λo^r ring. The rupturable covering may be aluminium foil or the like. The annular disk or ^Λo' ring is typically manufactured from a plastics material, such as polypropylene .

Advantageously, during use, the inner portion of the disk is ruptured or punctured, thereby permitting the contents of the vessel to be mixed or to combine.

It is therefore preferred that the vessel further includes a puncture device. The puncture device being removably connected to the vessel. Advantageously, the puncture device may be used to mix or blend the individual contents of the vessel. It is also envisaged that a straw may be removably attached to an outside portion of the vessel. The straw may be used to puncture or rupture a disk, however, the straw may be used simply to remove the contents of the vessel for consumption.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures, wherein:

FIGURE 1 represents a cross section of a vessel according to the present invention, prior to use;

FIGURE 2 represents a cross section of a vessel according to the present invention, in use; and

FIGURE 3 represents a cross section of a portion of the vessel, in use.

Figure 4 represents a cross section of a portion of a vessel according to a second embodiment of the present invention .

Figure 5 represents a cross section of a portion of a vessel according to a third embodiment of the present invention

Referring to Figure 1, there is provided a vessel according to the present invention, generally represented by the numeral 1. The vessel 1 comprises a base portion 2 and a wall portion 3. The internal surface of the wall portion 3 has three groove members 4a, 4b and 4c extending circumferentially around the internal surface of the wall portion 3. Each groove member 4a, 4b and 4c are arranged to receive respective disks (not shown in Figure 1) .

Referring to Figure 2, where like numerals have been used to represent like parts identified on Figure 1, the vessel 1 includes a three disks 5a, 5b and 5c which have been inserted into grooves 4a, 4b and 4c. The disks 5a, 5b and 5c are manufactured from a plastics material and in the form of an annulus; the central portion of the annulus being covered with a plastics or foil film.

Referring,, to Figure 3, where like numerals have been used to represent like parts with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the vessel 1 contains disks 6 and 7. Disk 6 is manufactured in a similar manner to the disks 5a, 5b and 5c, which comprises an annulus having a film covering the central portion. Disk 7 is formed as a unitary disk of plastics, having a central portion which is substantially thinner than its periphery.

In use, a first liquid is poured into vessel 1 until it reaches a level just below grove 4a. Disk 4a is then placed into grove 4a to substantially contain first liquid in storage area A which is defined by wall 3, base 2 and disk 5a. A second liquid is then poured into vessel 1 on top of disk 5a until it reaches a level just below grove 4b. Disk 5b is then inserted into groove 4b to obtain a substantially liquid tight seal, thereby containing the second liquid in storage area B which is defined by walls 3, disk 5a and disk 5b. The process is repeated again by pouring the liquid into vessel 1 on top of disk 5b until it reaches a level just below grove 4c. Disk 5c is then inserted into grove 4c, thereby sealing the third liquid in storage area C which is defined by walls 3, disk 5b and disk 5c. The vessel is subsequently transported or stored whilst permitting separation of the first, second and third liquids. To access the liquids and/or mix the liquids to obtain a "cocktail", a rupture means (not shown) is pushed into a central portion of disk 5c thereby rupturing it and permitting access to the third liquid. In a similar manner disks 5b and 5a are ruptured thereby permitting the liquids to mix. Mixing can be achieved using rupture means or a straw or the like.

Referring to figure 4, there is provided a vessel 101 having four indentations 102 (only one indentation shown in figure 4) in the form of a substantially right angle slot. The disk 103 is in the form of a halo having a rupturable aluminium foil film over the central portion. The disk 103 includes an upturned shoulder 105 which engages with indentation 102 in a snap fit arrangement to form a liquid tight seal. The vessel shown in Figure 4 is used in the same manner as the vessel shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Referring to figure 5 there is provided a vessel 201 having a shoulder member 202 arranged on an inner surface of the vessel 201. The plastic rupturable disk 203 is attached to shoulder 202 by ultra-sonic welding so as to form a liquid tight seal.

Referring to figure 6 there is provided a disk member generally indicated by the number 301, according to the one embodiment of the present invention. ^' The disk member 301 includes an o'ring 302 having an angled upstanding with 303 which is shaped and dimensioned to fit against an internal surface of a vessel (not shown) . The disk member 301 further includes a rupturable aluminium film 304 which covers the hole in the middle of the o'ring.

Claims

1. A vessel which includes a base portion and a wall portion upstanding from the base portion, At least one disk member having a rupturable inner portion, wherein the wall portion has an internal surface having at least one support member arranged therein to receive the removable disk.

2. A vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the support member is in the form of a groove member which extends substantially circumferentially around an internal surface of the wall portion.

3. A vessel according to claim 1, wherein the support member includes a plurality of distinct indentations or lugs .

4. A vessel according to claim 3, wherein the indentations or lugs are circumferentially spaced around an internal surface of the wall portion.

5. A vessel according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the support member includes at least three indentations or lugs, each indentation or lug being substantially equally spaced around the internal surface of the wall portion, each indentation or lug being in the same place.

6. A vessel according to claim 1, wherein the support member is in the form of a shoulder arranged on an internal surface of the wall.

7. A vessel according to claim 6, where the shoulder extends circumferentially around an internal surface of the wall portion, or in the form of three or more distinct shoulders, each shoulder being arranged in substantially the same place.

8. A vessel according to claim 7, wherein the disk member is fixed to the shoulder by a food-grade adhesive, by ultrasonic welding, or by use of a chip member .

9. A vessel according to any preceding claim, wherein the wall portion includes two or more support members, each support member being arranged to receive a removable disk.

10. A vessel according to claim 9, wherein the wall portion includes three or more support members .

11. A vessel according to any preceding claim which is in the form of a truncated cone or a cylinder.

12. A vessel according to any preceding claim which is transparent or has a portion which is substantially transparent .

13. A vessel according to any of claims 1 to 11, which is substantially opaque.

14. A vessel according to any preceding claim which is manufactured from plastics material.

15. A vessel according to any of claims 1 to 13 which is manufactured from glass.

16. A vessel according to any preceding claim, wherein at least a portion of the disk is flexible.

17. A vessel according to claim 16, wherein the rupturable inner portion is of a different material to the remainder of the disk.

18. A vessel according to any preceding claim, which further includes rupture means arranged to rupture or fracture at least a portion of a disk present in the groove .

19. A vessel according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the disk comprises a substantially annular disk or ^Λo' ring having a rupturable covering arranged thereon

20. A vessel according to claim 19, wherein the rupturable covering is a foil such as aluminium foil .

21. A vessel according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the annular disk or ^Λo' ring is manufactured from a plastics material, such as polypropylene.