WO2015167403A1

WO2015167403A1 - A hand mixer for preparing drinks, particularly cocktails and slammers

Info

Publication number: WO2015167403A1
Application number: PCT/SI2015/000014
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luka SUHADOLNIK; Mitja LUNDER
Original assignee: Suhadolnik Luka; Lunder Mitja
Priority date: 2014-04-30
Filing date: 2015-03-31
Publication date: 2015-11-05
Also published as: SI24710A

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the field of containers for packaging and storing at least two beverages, more precisely it belongs to the field of containers and mixers for preparing drinks, in particular cocktails and slammers. The essence of the hand mixer for preparing drinks, particularly cocktails and slammers, according to the invention is that it essentially comprises two receptacles, which are preferably designed in the shape of a truncated cone with equal or different heights and with two ring-like parts, of which equidistantly arranged supplementary parts allow closing of the bottom receptacle with the upper receptacle, which is at the same time the cover. The cover is characterized by its flexible wall, which has in its inner, hollow part an integrated accessory with a blade for piercing of a barrier located on the wall at the passage of the upper receptacle to the ring-like part of the cover. The sealing in the cover and equidistantly arranged supplementary parts on the outer circumference of the bottom receptacle and on the inner circumference of the cover allow good sealing and fast opening of the mixer. For safe storage of the pre-filled mixer a protection is placed on the cover, which protects the flexible upper wall of the cover from unwanted movement in the direction towards the bottom receptacle, which would cause barrier piercing. The protection also prevents unwanted opening of the hand mixer. Consumption of a cocktail or a slammer directly from bottom receptacle, which is at the same time a glass, is enabled with a press to the upper flexible wall, of which the accessory with a blade pierces the barrier, consequently leading the upper beverage to flow into the bottom receptacle, which contains a second beverage, wherein the slam against a hard surface causes foaming and mixing of the drink.

Description

A hand mixer for preparing drinks, particularly cocktails and slammers

Field of the invention

The present invention belongs to the field of containers for packaging and storing at least two beverages, more precisely it belongs to the field of containers and mixers for preparing drinks, in particular cocktails and slammers.

The technical problem

The purpose of the invention is to design a simple container composed of up to two pieces, which will enable separate storage of two beverages as well as mixing thereof, in particular with the aim of preparing a mixed drink such as a cocktail or a slammer, and will be useful for wide consumption.

The technical problem, which is solved by the present invention, is a constructional design of a multi-space container, a mixer and a glass for single filling of ingredients as well as storage of the latter for preparation of cocktails or slammers. The design of the container must allow separate storage of at least two beverages, filled in a bottling station, reliable sealing of the cover, simple piercing of sealing membranes, good sealing of the bottom receptacle and cover, as well as easy and quick opening. The constructional design of the mixer must also allow storage of ingredients in the mixer itself with the aim of selling the pre-prepared ingredients for mixing a drink, particularly cocktails and/or slammers, and consumption at any time.

The design and the shape of the cover of the mixer for storing different beverages should enable storage of two, three or four beverages, which may be released to the bottom part of the mixer, which already contains a beverage, with the aim of mixing a cocktail.

When preparing cocktails, particularly stammers, a specified quantity of a carbonated beverage is poured in a glass, to which a specified quantity of an alcoholic beverage, usually tequila or vodka, is added. Subsequently, the glass is covered with a cloth and then slammed against a hard surface, which leads to a turbulent reaction, namely foaming. After this, the cloth is removed and the prepared drink is quickly consumed. When hitting a hard surface, at least a part of the prepared drink is spilled, while a part of the drink is absorbed by the cloth. Therefore, the container should enable filling of different beverages into at least two divided receptacles, in which a drink can be mixed without opening of the container, and the container may be exposed to hitting against a hard surface, which in presence of one carbonated beverages leads to a change in the physical characteristics of the contents, in particular to foaming. When the drink is mixed, the container must allow simple and quick opening and should have a glass-like shape allowing quick consumption of the drink.

State of the art

Patent documents describe solutions of containers, which enable storage of liquids in the bottom part and powder contents in the upper part, as well as mixing of the mentioned powder contents with liquids. These solutions have in common that they are adapted to have a first content, namely beverage, in the bottom part, while the cover is adapted to store a second content, which may be powder or liquid and/or other substances. The first and the second substance are, during storage in the container, divided by a barrier, which is usually an impermeable membrane, most commonly a foil. The barrier may be located in the cover or on the bottom part of the container, which is usually in the shape of a bottle. The cover further contains into the barrier projected accessory, which is usually designed as a blade and is adapted to pierce the said barrier, consequently leading to mixing of the first and the second substance in the said bottom part of the container.

From the available literature different solutions are known, which describe different containers for two different beverages or combinations of a beverage and a powder that solve the movement of a piercing accessory in the direction towards a barrier, when the user wants to mix both contents. The container according to document SI 23798 A or according to EP 1 795 457 B1 has a lid, which has two compartments connected with a thread, wherein one of the compartments, similarly as any of the classic stoppers, attached to the container, which has the shape of a bottle, while the remaining compartment is equipped with the piercing accessory and is attached to the containers with the thread. Turning the second compartment of the lid in regard to the first compartment leads to the movement of the accessory in the axial direction of the container, namely in the direction towards the barrier, which is pierced by the accessory.

For preparing a cocktail, particularly a slammer, such containers are not appropriate, as on one hand the first beverage is in a bottle, which cannot be emptied in an instant. On the other hand the second content is stored in the lid, which is attached to the bottle with a thread; therefore removal of the lid requires too much time. Another downside of this solution is the high number of parts, production of which requires vast technological equipment. In addition, there is a problem of sealing between both compartments of the lid after mixing of the contents or after shaking or hitting the hard surface just before the user removes the lid.

In the context of the technical problem solved by the present invention, in particular regarding preparation of slammers, a solution disclosed in patent application US 2003/0089627 A1 is more appropriate. This solution is better because this container composed of a receptacle in the shape of a bottle and a lid, the upper wall of the lid, with which a piercing accessory is connected, is designed deformedly. The barrier is located in the neck of the said receptacle, which is practically hardly feasible. Additionally, pierced barrier significantly hampers and slows the liquid flow from the tank. Because the receptacle is in the shape of a bottle, it is impossible to quickly consume the prepared beverage. The lid is attached to the said receptacle with a standard thread, therefore in case of preparing cocktails, particularly slammers, in addition to hampered liquid flow also a sealing problem is created in the moment of the reaction after mixing of both beverages and shaking or slamming, wherein the lid removal is gradual and slow, while lid removal leads to leakage and therefore causes loss of the contents from the container at the contact site between the container and the lid.

Document US 2003/0002385 A1 discloses a device, which combines a drink mixer and a glass for drinking. It is composed of three parts, namely, of a bottom part, which in the container of the beverage, a colander and a lid of the mixer. After the drink is mixed, the container becomes a glass for drinking, while the colander may be used as a coaster for the glass. The device is not appropriate for beverage storage, as it has no compartments divided by an impermeable membrane and does not ensure sufficient sealing of the device. Therefore, this device is only appropriate for preparation of cocktails, for which ingredients should be added by the user and then a cocktail should be prepared immediately after the addition of ingredients.

Document US 201348536 A1 also discloses a device for mixing drinks, which combines a mixer and a glass for drinking. This device does not allow pre-filling and storage of all ingredients for a cocktail and/or a slammer, as it is intended only for mixing drinks and not as a combination of a mixer and container.

None of the above mentioned containers and/or mixers allow separate storage of two or more beverages, which are pre-filled and which may be stored in a shop, bar and/or at home, and which can be quickly and easily mixed into a cocktail or a slammer for immediate consumption. Description of the invention The essence of the hand mixer for preparing drinks, particularly cocktails and stammers, according to the invention is that it essentially comprises two receptacles, which are preferably designed in the shape of a truncated cone with equal or different heights and with two ring-like parts, of which equidistantly arranged supplementary parts allow closing of the bottom receptacle with the upper receptacle, which is at the same time the cover. The cover is characterized by its flexible wall, which has in its inner, hollow part an integrated accessory with a blade for piercing a barrier located on the wall at the passage of the upper receptacle to the ring-like part of the cover. The sealing in the cover and equidistantly arranged supplementary parts on the outer circumference of the bottom receptacle and on the inner circumference of the cover allow good sealing and fast opening of the mixer. For safe storage of the pre-filled mixer a protection is placed on the cover, which protects the flexible upper wall of the cover from unwanted movement in the direction towards the bottom receptacle, which would cause barrier piercing. The protection also prevents unwanted opening of the hand mixer. Consumption of a cocktail or a slammer directly from bottom receptacle, which is at the same time a glass, is enabled with a press to the upper flexible wall, of which the accessory with a blade pierces the barrier, consequently leading the upper beverage to flow into the bottom receptacle, which contains a second beverage, wherein the slam against a hard surface causes foaming and mixing of the drink. The hand mixer for preparing drinks, particularly cocktails and slammers, will- be further described based on figures, which show:

Figure 1 Assembly of the hand mixer according to the invention

Figure 2 Assembly of the hand mixer according to the invention at a different angle

Figure 3 Frontal view of the hand mixer Figure 4 Cross-section of the hand mixer in the plane I - I denoted in Figure 3

Figure 5 Detail A from Figure 4

The hand mixer for preparing drinks, particularly cocktails and slammers, according to the invention, essentially comprises a receptacle 1 , which is designed in the shape of a truncated cone 11 with a ring-like part 12 having at least three equidistantly arranged supplementary parts 13 and a bottom 14 on its bottom side. The diameter of the bottom 14 of the receptacle 1 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the ring-like part 12. Supplementary part 13, which is bulged as a wedge from the outer circumference of the ring-part, is composed of a part 131 , which continues to part 132 with a semi-circular surface 32' and a flat surface 132". The bottom 14 may be flat or concave.

A receptacle 2, which is at the same time a cover, is designed in the shape of a truncated cone 21 with a ring-like part 22 having at least three equidistantly arranged supplementary parts 23 in the inner circumference of the part 22 and a flexible wall 213 on the upper side. The diameter of the upper part 21 of the receptacle 2 is slightly smaller than the diameter at the passage to the ring-like part 22, but may be also the same or even wider. Part 23, which is bulged as a wedge from the basic line of the inner circumference of the ring-like part 22, has a flat surface 232, at the end of which a semi-circular bulge 231 is located.

As shown in figures 4 and 5, the cover 2 has a groove between an inner wall 25 and the part 22 intended for placing a sealing 4. In the interior of an elongated wall 25 is a groove for placing a barrier 3. The elongated wall 25 and the ring-like part 22 are joined into a wall 21 1 of the part 21. At the top of the part 21 the wall 21 1 is curved sideways to a wall 212, which ends as a flexible upper wall 213. The upper wall 213 is concave and is lower than the upper horizontal plane of the cover. In middle of the inner part of the cover 2 an accessory 24 with a blade 241 for barrier 3 piercing is located. During filling a beverage is filled into the part 21 or the cover, which is tightly closed with the barrier 3, which is mounted on the inner edge of the wall 25. For safe storage of the pre-filled mixer a protection 5, having a similar shape to the cover 2, is placed on the cover 2, wherein the upper wall of the protection is flat. The protection 5 protects the flexible wall 213 from unwanted movements towards the bottom receptacle 1. When the cover 2 is filled with a beverage and tightly closed with the barrier 3, the receptacle 1 is filled with a beverage. After this the mixer is tightly closed with at least three pairs of equidistantly arranged supplementary parts 13 and 23 on parts 12 and 22 and with a right turn of the ring-like part 22 of the cover 2. Sealing of the receptacle 1 and the cover 2 is achieved with a sealing 4 and the contact between surfaces 132', 132" on the part 13 and surfaces 231 , 232 of the upper part of the part 23 of the part 22.

The hand mixer may have four, five or six equidistantly arranged supplementary parts depending on the size of the mixer, the required sealing level and expected speed of mixer opening. In case a smaller sealing level or lower speed of opening is required, the number of supplementary parts may be adjusted to meet the need.

The hand mixer for preparing drinks, particularly cocktails and slammers, according to the invention comprises the receptacle 1 adapted to store the first substance and the cover 2 adapted to store the second substance. In case the container is needed in preparation of a slammer, the first substance is a carbonated non-alcoholic drink, for example Schweppes® or cola, while the second substance is a strong alcoholic drink, for example tequila or vodka.

The barrier 3 may be made of any material, which is appropriate in food industry, preferably of an aluminium foil. The barrier 3 is placed at a specified distance from the said upper wall 213 and defines the space for storing the second beverage separate from the first beverage. The cover 2 further comprises a suitably rigid and suitably designed accessory 24, which enables piercing of the barrier 3, after which the first beverage flows into the receptacle 1 and consequently leads to mixing of the first and the second beverage.

The accessory 24 projects from the said flexible upper wall 213 of the cover 2 in the direction towards the barrier 3 and is in a non-deformed state of the upper wall 213 removed from the said barrier 21 1. In case of deformation of the said upper wall 213, and particularly when pressing towards the barrier 3 or the receptacle 1 , the accessory 24 reaches the barrier 3 and pierces it with the blade 241 of the accessory 24.

The receptacle 1 has the shape of a cup with the diameter of the ring-like part 1 is at least the same as the diameter of the bottom 14. This is intended for simple preparation of a drink, namely good mixing of both beverages as well as fast consumption of the prepared drink.

During placement of the cover 2 on the receptacle 1 , namely closing of the receptacle 1 , each of the said equidistantly arranged supplementary parts 13 with surfaces 132', 132" is in contact with surfaces 231 and 232 of the part 23 due to the right-sided turn of the part 22 of the cover 2 on the receptacle 1 . Opening of the receptacle 1 is achieved by turning the cover 2 counter-clockwise, wherein opening or closing of the receptacle 1 is achieved by the turn in any direction at a relatively small angle, which is in the shown example approximately 40°.

The protection 5 preferably extends over the ring-like part of the cover 2 and at least a part of the circumference of the container 1 . During transport and storage the protection 5 disables access to the upper wall 213 of the cover 2, thereby preventing unwanted mixing of beverages inside the container.

The sealing 4 enables the hand mixer to remain tightly closed even after mixing of the beverages and after the turbulent reaction, until the cover 2 has been turned. The sealing 4 is removably or irremovably placed on the cover 2. In the case of the sealing being placed on the cover irremovably, this may be achieved by inserting the sealing or if the number of parts is sufficient by two-component injection of thermoplastic polymers.

Before each preparation of a cocktail, preferably a slammer, the container 1 is tightly closed with the cover 2 and the first beverage is in the receptacle 1 , while the second beverage is in the cover 2, namely in the compartment between the upper wall 213 and the barrier 3. After removal of the protection 5 made of a protective foil, the user presses the upper wall 213 of the cover 2 and therefore pushes the accessory 24 towards the barrier 3, so the blade 241 of the accessory 24 pierces the barrier 3 and consequently causes the second beverage to flow into receptacle 1 and to mix with the first beverage. When the user slams the closed hand mixer against a hard surface, the mix of first and second beverage vigorously foams. This is followed by quick opening of the container 1 by turning the cover 2 and the contents may be consumed.

The hand mixer according to variant I essentially comprises two receptacles, which may be designed in the shape of a taller and a smaller cone with a ring-like part, which due to equidistantly arranged supplementary parts enables closure of the bottom receptacle with the upper receptacle, which is at the same time a cover.

The hand mixer according to variant II essentially comprises two receptacles, which may be designed in the shape of a glass with a ring-like part and a cover, which is shaped as a part of a sphere with a flexible upper wall and a ring-like part having equidistantly arranged supplementary parts, which correspond to equidistantly arranged supplementary parts on the ring-like part of the glass.

The hand mixer according to variant III essentially comprises two receptacles, which may be designed in the shape of a glass with a ring-like part having equidistantly arranged supplementary parts, which correspond to equidistantly arranged supplementary parts on the ring-like part of the cover, which is shaped as a part of a sphere with a flexible upper wall. The hand mixer according to variant IV essentially comprises two receptacles, which may be designed in the shape of a taller and a smaller cone, truncated cone or pyramid with a ring-like part, which due to equidistantly arranged supplementary parts enables closure of the bottom receptacle with the upper receptacle, which is at the same time a cover. The cover may have internal walls in order to gain two, three or four receptacles with corresponding piercing accessories. The cover with multiple compartments allows pre-preparation of contents for differently composed cocktails.

The receptacle 1 according to any variant may be made of glass, plastic and/or ceramics. The hand mixer may be used for filling any combination of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as combinations of for example milk and liquid chocolate and other dietary combinations.

The mixer according to the invention preferably allows preparation of different cocktails and slammers for wide consumption, storage, cooling and the possibility of mixing of the liquid inside the mixer before consumption, as well as triggering of foaming of the carbonated beverage after the impact of the mixer with a hard surface. The costs for production of the mixer are minimal due to its simple construction. The mixer may be machine filled and may be stored in shops, bars and/or at home.

Claims

Patent claims

1 . A hand mixer for preparing drinks, particularly cocktails and stammers, characterized in that it essentially comprises two receptacles, which are preferably designed in the shape of a truncated cone with equal or different heights and with ring-like parts having equidistantly arranged supplementary parts for enabling closure of the bottom receptacle with the upper receptacle, which is at the same time a cover; that the cover has an upper flexible wall, which has in its internal hollow part an integrated accessory with a blade for piercing of a barrier, which is placed in the wall at the passage from the upper receptacle to the ring-like part of the cover; that for safe storage of the p re-filled mixer a protection is placed on the cover, which protects the flexible upper wall of the cover from unwanted bending in the direction towards the bottom receptacle, which would lead to barrier piercing; that applying pressure to the upper flexible wall, of which the accessory with the blade pierces the barrier, results in releasing the beverage from the cover to the bottom receptacle with the corresponding beverage; that slamming the mixer against a hard surface causes mixing and foaming of the drink; that equidistantly arranged supplementary parts on the outer circumferences of the bottom receptacle allow quick opening of the mixer; that after opening the prepared cocktail and/or slammer remains in the bottom receptacle, which is at the same time a glass for drinking.

2. The hand mixer for preparing drinks according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a receptacle (1 ), which is designed in the shape of a truncated cone (1 1) with a ring-like part (12), which has at least three equidistantly arranged supplementary parts (13) and a bottom (14) on its bottom side; the diameter of the bottom (14) of the receptacle (1 ) is slightly smaller than the diameter of the ringlike part (12); that the supplementary part (13), which is bulged as a wedge from the outer circumference of the ring-like part, is composed of a part (131 ), which continues into a part (132) with a semi-circular surface (132') and a flat surface (132"); that the bottom (14) of the receptacle may be flat or convex; that a receptacle (2), which is at the same time a cover, is designed in the shape of a truncated cone (21 ) with a ring-like part (22), which has at least three equidistantly arranged supplementary parts (23) on the inner circumference of the part (22) and a flexible wall (213) on its upper side; that the diameter of the upper part (21 ) of the receptacle (2) is slightly smaller than the diameter in the passage to the ringlike part (22), that the part (23), which is bulged as a wedge from the basic line of the inner circumference of the ring-like part (22) has a flat surface (232), at the end of which a semi-circular bulge (231 ) is located; that the cover (2) has a groove between an inner elongated wall (25) and the part (22) for placing a sealing (4); that the interior of the elongated wall (25) has a groove for placing a barrier (3); that the elongated wall (25) and the ring-like part (22) are joined into a wall (21 1 ) of the part (21 ); that the wall (21 1 ) on the top of the part (21 ) is curved sideways into a wall (212), which ends as the flexible upper wall (213); that the upper wall (213) is concave and lower that the upper horizontal plane of the cover; that in the interior of the cover (2) is an accessory (24) with a blade (241 ) for piercing the barrier (3); that the part (21) is tightly closed with the barrier

(3) attached to the inner edge of the wall (25); that the receptacle (1 ) is tightly closed with a turn of the ring-like part (22) of the cover (2) into the right due to at least three pairs of equidistantly arranged supplementary parts (13 and 23) on the parts (12 and 22) and the sealing (4); that sealing of the receptacle (1) and the cover (2) is achieved by the sealing

(4) and the contact of surfaces (132', 132") on the part (13) and surfaces (231 , 232) of the upper part of the part (23) of the part (22).

The hand mixer for preparing drinks according to claim 2, characterized in that after filling of the first beverage into the receptacle (1) and the second beverage into the cover (2) in the space between the barrier (3) and the upper wall (213) and after establishment of a dismentable connection between the cover (2) and the receptacle (1 ) with mentioned supplementary parts (23) on the cover (2) and supplementary parts (13) on the receptacle (1 ) a protection (5) is placed over the whole outer area of the cover (2), the shape of the protection (5) being similar to the shape of the cover (2), wherein the upper wall of the protection is flat and the flexible upper wall (213) of the cover (2) is removed from the protection (5).

The hand mixer for preparing drinks according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the mixer may have four, five or six equidistantly arranged supplementary parts depending on the size of the mixer, the required sealing level and the expected speed of mixer opening.

5. The hand mixer for preparing drinks according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that it essentially contains two receptacles, which may be in the shape of a taller and a smaller cone with a ring-like part, which due to the equidistantly arranged supplementary parts allows closing of the bottom receptacle with the upper receptacle, which is at the same time the cover.

6. The hand mixer for preparing drinks according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that is essentially contains two receptacles, which may be in the shape of a glass with a ring-like part and a cover, which is shaped as a part of a sphere with a flexible upper wall and with a ring-like part with equidistantly arranged supplementary parts, which correspond to equidistantly arranged supplementary parts on the glass.

7. The hand mixer for preparing drinks according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that it essentially contains two receptacles, which may be in the shape of a truncated sphere with a ring-like part having equidistantly arranged supplementary parts, which correspond to equidistantly arranged supplementary parts on the ring-like part of the cover, which is shaped as a part of a sphere with a flexible upper wall.

8. The hand mixer for preparing drinks according to claims 1 , 4, 5, 6, and 7, characterized in that the cover may have internal walls in order to gain two, three or four receptacles with corresponding piercing accessories.

9. The hand mixer for preparing drinks according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing (4) is removably or irremovably placed on the cover (2).

10. The hand mixer for preparing drinks according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing (4) is placed onto the cover (2) with two- component injection of thermoplastic polymers.

1 . Procedure for filling the hand mixer for preparing drinks according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that during filling a beverage is filled into the cover or into the part (21 ), respectively, which is then tightly closed with the barrier (3) attached to the inner edge of the wall (25); that this is followed by filling of the receptacle (1), which is tightly closed with a turn of the ring-like part (22) of the cover (2) into the right due to at least three pairs of equidistantly arranged supplementary parts (13 and 23) on the parts (12 and 22) and the sealing (4); that sealing of the receptacle (1) and the cover (2) is achieved by the sealing (4) and the contact of surfaces (132', 132") on the part (13) and surfaces (231 , 232) of the upper part of the part (23) of the part (22); that the protection (5) with the shape similar to the shape of the cover (2), is placed on the assembled mixer, wherein the upper wall is flat.

12. Use of the hand mixer for preparing drinks according to any of the preceding claims in preparation of mixed drinks, particularly cocktails, slammers, other drinks and liquid mixes appropriate for wide consumption.