Bottle/stick pack combination

Abstract

A drink bottle and stick pack combination includes a generally elongated, cylindrical container having an elongated recess located along the outer wall of the container. The recess extends axially along a portion of the height of the container. An elongated package is releasably held within the recess by the container label that normally surrounds the same. The package may contain a natural or artificial flavoring, a medicament, or an edible substance.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a drink bottle and more particularly, toward a drink bottle with a stick pack releasably attached thereto.

Today more than ever, there are many situations where a disposable drink bottle, such as a water bottle, is used by a person. For example, a person may use a water bottle at home, at work, while exercising, while camping, during recreation, or while traveling. Water bottles allow a person to have a supply of clean water readily available at all times.

Also, a person finds that an additive for a drink, such as a natural or artificial flavoring, may be enjoyable but may not have access to a flavoring to add to a drink while away from home. Or, the means to transport the flavoring and use as needed may be not convenient, especially during travel.

Furthermore, many people need to take various types of medications throughout the day. It would be convenient to have a water bottle readily available along with the medication, especially when the person is traveling or away from home.

In another situation, athletes, such as runners, often carry a water bottle and/or some type of snack bar with them in order to provide them with energy and to prevent dehydration. However, a runner attempts to carry or hold as few items as possible while running.

It would be beneficial to have available a convenient packaging that includes the combination of a bottle housing a consumable liquid, such as water, and a container for holding an edible substance or a substance that may be added to the liquid to enhance the liquid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is designed to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art discussed above. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bottle with a stick pack releasably secured thereto.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bottle with consumable liquid contained therein and a stick pack where the stick pack may contain a medicament, a flavoring to be added to the liquid, or some type of food substance and which is conveniently carried by the bottle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a drink bottle having a recess formed along the outer wall of the bottle within which the stick pack may be releasably secured.

In accordance with the illustrative embodiments, demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a drink bottle and stick pack combination including a generally elongated, cylindrical container having a recess located along the outer wall of the container, an elongated package releasably secured within the recess, and means for releasably securing the package within the recess. The package may contain an artificial flavoring, a medicament, or an edible substance. The securing means may include the drink bottle label or a removable holder secured to said container.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings one form that is presently preferred; it being understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the drink bottle of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the bottle and stick pack of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the invention taken through line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the invention taken through line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken through the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the various figures to designate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a bottle and stick pack combination constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally as 10.

The bottle and stick pack combination of the present invention essentially includes a generally elongated, cylindrical container 12 having an elongated recess 14 located along the outer wall 16 of the container 12, an elongated package 18 (commonly referred to as a stick pack) releasably secured or retained within the recess 14, and means 20 for releasably securing the package 18 within the recess 14. The securing means 20 is preferably simply the paper or plastic label normally found on bottles of water or soft drinks and the like. As is well known, such labels are usually an elongated length of plastic, paper or material that fits around the circumference of the container 12. The ends of the label are normally glued to each other and portions of the inner surface of the label are glued to the container. Product information and the like are, of course, printed on the label. The label 20 and the recess 14 essentially form a pocket for the stick pack 18.

The stick pack package 18 can be released from the securing means 20 when desired as will be described below. The container 12 may be made from glass, plastic or similar material well known and used in the art. The container 12 also includes a cap 22 that may be removed and replaced as needed.

The package 18 may contain a natural or artificial flavoring, a medicament, or an edible substance. A liquid 24 is housed within the container 12 and may be water or some other type of ingestible liquid. The substance contained within the package 18 may be added to the liquid 24 once it has been released form the securing means 20 or may be directly ingested by a person.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the recess 14 is elongated and formed in the outer wall of the container 12 when the container is being molded. As shown, the recess 14 extends axially. It is open at the top 26 but includes a lower wall portion 28 at the bottom thereof as best seen in FIG. 5. The inner surface 30 of the recess 14 is preferably rounded but is less than 180 degrees (see FIG. 4). This allows for ease of molding using simple molds as there are no undercut portions.

In order to use the present invention, the stick pack package 18 is removed from the recess 14 of the container 12. This may be done simply by lifting the package upwardly. If, however, the stick pack package 18 is glued in place or otherwise cannot be easily lifted vertically, it can be removed by tearing the label 20 in the vicinity of the recess 14 to release the package 18. The top of the package 18 may then be opened by tearing the top thereof in the known manner and either added to the liquid 24 in the container 12 and mixed therein or directly ingested. In this manner there is always provided a source of natural or artificial flavoring, medicament, or other some other type of ingestible substance readily and conveniently available with a water bottle.

As is known in the art, stick pack packages such as package 18 are made from a thin sheet like plastic or paper material and are frangible so that they can be torn open without the use of utensils. A notch or weakened area 32 is frequently formed adjacent the top thereof to aid in opening the same.

Although the invention has been described with the container 12 having a single recess 14 for holding a single stick pack or similar package 18, it should be understood that this is by way for example only. If desired, two or more substantially identical recesses could be formed in the outer wall of the container. Preferably, these would be angularly spaced apart around the periphery of the container. Different stick packs or similar packages could then be carried in the different recesses.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A drink bottle and stick pack combination comprising:

a generally elongated, cylindrical container having an elongated recess located along the outer wall of said container;

an elongated frangible package releasably secured within said recess; and

means for releasably securing said package within said recess.

2. The drink bottle of claim 1 wherein said package contains a flavoring.

3. The drink bottle of claim 1 wherein said package contains a medicament.

4. The drink bottle of claim 1 wherein said package contains an edible substance.

5. The drink bottle of claim 1 wherein said securing means includes a label surrounding said container.

6. A drink bottle having the ability to carry a stick pack comprising:

a generally elongated, cylindrical container having an elongated recess located along the outer wall of said container, said recess having a bottom wall but being open at the top thereof, and

a label surrounding said container and at least a portion of said recess, said label and said recess forming a pocket for temporarily containing a stick pack.