DUAL COMPARTMENT BOTTLE WITH DUAL DELIVERY SYSTEMS

Abstract

A dual compartment bottle with a dual delivery system comprising of at least two fluid retentive compartments. A top compartment and a bottom compartment, the top compartment is bind with the second compartment. On top of the dual-chambered bottle are sip holes and a valve configuration. One sip hole is in fluid communication with the top compartment and another sip hole is in fluid communication with the bottom compartment. The valve configuration provides a means of selectively dispensing fluid out of the two compartments.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent applications application No. 61/934,583 filed on Jan. 31, 2014 and patent No. 62/044,220, filed on 30 Aug. 2014 by the present inventor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to bottles. More particularly, it is related, to bottle having dual or multiple compartments or chambers for separately dispensing liquids through a single or multiple openings. These opening are usually covered with lids.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dual and Multiple chamber or compartment bottles have always existed. These multiple compartment or chamber bottles give consumers access to plurality of liquids. These multiple chamber bottles can contain dissimilar liquids for example pre-workout drinks or energy drinks in one chamber and electrolyte drinks for rehydration in the other. This enables the consumer to have access to energy drink to boost their workout or exercise and access to post workout or recovery drink such as electrolyte drink or a post-workout drink to help them rehydrate. These recovery drinks could contain vitamins, minerals, protein supplements and electrolytes.

The traditional sport, drink bottles do not offer the customer access to plurality of drinks. Most only carry one type of drink. Existing double chamber sport bottles do not provide an effective means of separating the liquids during consumption. Other dual chamber sport drinks that exists are not compact the are too bulky to carry due to their design.

Multiple chamber bottles or containers have been constructed in the past. One example can be found in the Kountotsis Patent publication US20120248055 A1, where a bottle including a body portion having a dividing wall extending from a base portion to the lid region; a first chamber for holding a first liquid; a second chamber for holding a second liquid; and a removable oblique cap; wherein a height of the dividing wall is less than an overall height of the body portion and the connection region is configured to be a maximum height of the dividing wall. This container can be referred to as the “side-by-side” chamber type. The chambers are vertical and opposite each other and they share the same dividing wall.

The Goncalez U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,977 B2, teaches a dual container having an outer container with an inner container aligned centrally within the outer container with the base of the inner container retained by the base of the outer container, each container having it separate access port. The inner container and the outer container each have a base plate with some form of indentation and protrusion the base plates. This can be referred to as “tube-in-a-tube” chamber type.

The Riordan patent publication U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,812 A, defines a centrally positioned cone shaped divider separates the volume of the container into two equal sections so as to better preserve beverage carbonation and therefore beverage flavor over a longer period of time. The unique shape and placement of the divider within the container also distributes the weight of the contents so as to prevent “top heaviness”. The container is cylindrical in shape with parallel symmetrical ends for stability when standing upright at either end. A centrally positioned spout with threaded cap is situated at both ends within a well area formed by extensions of the cylindrical wall portion of the container. A convenient pour arch and two finger carry aperture is formed within the walls at the well area at both ends. Bottle stability is increased together with spill protection, easy pouring, and convenient portability.

In these respects, the dual compartment bottle with dual delivery systems according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior arts, and in so doing provides a device primarily developed for the purpose of providing an enhanced drinking experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment dual compartment bottle with a dual delivery system comprising of a top compartment and a bottom compartment. The top compartment and the bottom compartments have separate outlets for dispensing liquids and a valve configuration.

ADVANTAGES

Accordingly several advantages of one or more aspects are as follows: to provide a compact and durable dual compartment bottle, that is easy to manufacture, easy to handle and carry around arid with more aesthetics. Other advantages of one or more aspects will be apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the second container.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the container connector and the connecting tube.

FIG. 3 shows a bottom perspective view of the container connector and the connecting tube.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the first container.

FIG. 5 shows an underside view of the first container showing two sip holes and a circular grip.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the assembly of the second container and the connector.

FIG. 7 show a perspective view of the assembly of the first container, connector and second container.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the flow control valve showing the valve aperture.

FIG. 9 shows the bottom view of the valve.

FIG. 10 shows perspective view of the rubber seal.

FIG. 11 shows the perspective view of the valve and the rubber seal.

FIG. 12 shows the perspective view of the connecting cap.

FIG. 13 shows the bottom view of the connecting cap.

FIG. 14 shows perspective view of the bottle lid.

FIG. 15 shows exploded view of the complete assembly of the apparatus.

FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of the complete assembly of the dual-compartment bottle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMERALS

10 Second container

12 Rim of the second container

20 Connector

22 Second rim on container connector

24 First rim of the first container

26 Connecting tube

28 compartment partition

30 First opening on the connecting tube

32 Second opening on the connecting tube

34 Connecting tube supports

40 First container

42 The rim of the first container

44 Neck ring

46 First sip hole

48 Second sip hole

50 Pinhead guides

52 Curved Guide

54 Circular grip

56 Bottle neck

58 Bottle Top

60 Bottom compartment

66 Top compartment

70 Assemblage of first container, connector and the second container

80 Flow control Valve

82 Valve opening

84 Tab

86 Valve aperture

88 Valve bottom

90 Rubber seal

92 Aperture on rubber seal

100 Flow control valve and rubber seal

110 Connecting cap

112 Opening

114 Guide rail

120 Bottle cap

130 Exploded view of the assembly

140 Complete assembly of the dual compartment bottle with a dual delivery system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the dual-compartment bottle with a dual delivery system is represented in FIG. 17. This dual compartment bottle can be molded from polyethylene or polypropylene, but not limited to those materials alone. The bottom container 10 is a retentive container having it rim 12 (FIG. 1). The connector 20 (FIG. 2) is used in connecting bottom container 10 and top container 40 and it also has a partition 28 that keeps the fluid in both chambers from mixing together. The circumference of rim 12 on bottom container 10 is slightly relatively larger than the circumference of rim 22 on connector 20. The connector 20 is mounted on the bottom container 10 so that the rim 12 on the bottom container 10 slightly overlaps and tightly mates with the second rim 22 on connector 20 and bind together the two rims using ultrasonic welding although, other biding or sealing processes can be used. The biding of the bottom container 10 and connector 20 forms the bottom compartment 60. The top container has a first sip hole 46, a second sip hole 48, pinhead guides 50, a curved guide 52, circular grip 54, a neck ring 44 and a rim 42 (FIG. 4). The circumference of rim 42 on top chamber 40 is also slightly relatively larger than the circumference of rim 24 on connector 20. The connector 20 is prefabricated with a connecting hollow tube 26, hollow tube supports 34 and the connecting hollow tube 26 has a first opening 40 and a second opening 32 and these openings are adapted to receive fluids. The top container 40 is mounted on bottom compartment 60 b fitting rim 24 into rim 42. The rim 42 slightly overlaps and tightly mates with rim 24 on bottom bottle 60 and simultaneously, circular grip 54 holds connecting tube 26 tightly at opening 30 thus keeping opening 30 tightly fitted with first sip hole 46. The top container 40 is bind with the bottom compartment 60 at the overlapping rim 42 and 24 to from top compartment 66. The bind makes the dual chamber bottle to be leak proof and the binding process is accomplished using the ultrasonic welding although other binding processes may be used. The assembly 70 of the bottom chamber 10, the chamber connector 20 and the top chamber 40 is illustrated in FIG. 7.

Flow control valve 80 has a circular cross sectional area relative to the bottle top 58 and it provides a selective dispensing of fluid. The rubber seal 90 is placed on the bottom 88 of the flow control valve 80 in a manner that the aperture 92 on rubber seal 90 is aligned with the valve aperture 86 and then sealed together. The rubber seal 90 prevents leakage from the sip holes. The dual compartment bottle is then filled with two different liquids through the first sip hole 46 the top compartment 40 can be filled with a pre-workout drink and through the second sip hole 48 the bottom compartment can be filled with a post-workout drink. The flow control valve 80 is then placed on the bottle top 58 and it is held in position by clamping it with connecting cap 110. The valve opening 82 is protrudes through the opening 112 on the connecting cap 110. The bottle neck 56 of the bottle has a neck ring 44 that is snapped into and fitted into the circular guide rail 114 on the connecting cap. The guide rail 114 and the neck ring 44 keeps the connecting cap 110 and flow control valve 80 tightly fastened to the bottle top 58 and bottle neck 56.

To consume the liquid in the top compartment 66 or the bottom compartment 50 the flow control valve 80 is turned at 82 until valve aperture 86 is completely aligned with the first sip hole 46 or second sip hole 48 and the user drinks by applying oral suction on the dual chamber bottle at the valve opening 82. The pinhead guides 50 and the curved guide 52 keep the flow control valve 80 in alignment when the user applies rotational force to turn the flow control valve 80. The curved guide 52 also performs another function; it prevents the flow control valve from making a 360 degree rotation. The rotation is obstructed when the tab 84 on flow control valve 80 is intercepted by the edges of the curved guide 52. This mechanism that brings about the interception makes the valve aperture 86 register accurate alignments with sip hole 46 and 48. When the dual compartments bottle is not in use, to prevent leakage or accidental discharge through the sip holes, the flow control valve is turned completely out of alignment from the first sip hole 46 and the second sip hole 48 and the valve opening 82 is covered with cap 120.

Alternative Embodiment

There are various possibilities to the type of lidded configuration that can be used to selectively dispense fluid through the sip holes. The first sip hole 46 and the second sip hole 48 can be sealed with pierceable thin sheet of material such as aluminum foil and lidded. To use consume fluid, the user will have to remove the thin sheet or pierce the sheet with a drinking straw and consume the fluid from the dual compartment bottle by using a drinking straw.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed to be within the expertise of those skilled in the art, and all equivalent structural variations and relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention and the scope should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A dual compartment bottle

(a) a dual compartment bottle with predetermined dimensions having a top compartment and a bottom compartment, said top compartment is bind with said bottom compartment whereby the top of said bottom compartment is an elongated hollow tubular top extending upward through the said top compartment.

(b) a valve for selectively dispensing fluid from said chambers.

(c) means of guiding and operating the said valve.

2. The dual compartment bottle of claim 1 wherein top of said bottom compartment is an elongated hollow tubular top has a predetermined cross-section area and length and an opening, said elongated hollow tubular top conveys fluid from said bottom compartment to the valve before ingestion.

3. The dual compartment bottle of claim 1 wherein said top compartment is bind with the said bottom compartment whereby the said elongated hollow tubular top of said bottom compartment extending through the top compartment.

4. The dual compartment bottle of claim 1 wherein said top compartment has two sip holes at the top, one sip hole dispenses fluid from said top compartment and the other sip dispenses fluid from said bottom compartment.

5. The dual compartment bottle of claim 4 wherein said sip hole for dispensing fluid from bottom compartment is tightly mated with said opening on said elongated hollow tubular top on said bottom compartment.

6. The dual compartment bottle of claim 1 wherein said valve is a rotary valve and said valve has a sip hole at the bottom.

7. The dual compartment bottle of claim 1 wherein a seal material is provided at the interface between the bottom of said valve and the top of the said top compartment so as to prevent leakage.

8. The dual compartment bottle of claim 1 wherein said means for guiding and operating said valve at the top of said dual compartment bottle comprises of a connecting cap with an internal guide rail, adapted to mount said valve to the top of said double compartment bottle by coupling said internal guide to neck ring on said double compartment bottle, a plurality of pinhead guides and a curved guide for maintaining the rotational alignment of said valve.

9. A dual compartment bottle, comprising;

(a) a double compartment bottle with predetermined dimensions having a top compartment and a bottom compartment, said top compartment is bind with said bottom compartment whereby the top of said bottom compartment has an elongated hollow tubular top elongated upward through said top compartment.

(b) a valve for selectively dispensing fluid from said compartment.

(c) means for guiding and coupling the said valve to the top of said dual compartment bottle.

10. The dual compartment bottle of claim 9 wherein top of said bottom compartment is an elongated hollow tubular top has a predetermined cross-section area and length and an opening, said elongated hollow tubular top conveys fluid from said bottom compartment to the valve before ingestion.

11. The dual compartment bottle of claim 9 wherein said top compartment is bind with the said bottom compartment whereby the said elongated hollow tubular top of said bottom compartment extending through the top compartment.

12. The dual compartment bottle of claim 9 wherein said top compartment has two sip holes at the top, one sip hole dispenses fluid from said top compartment and the other sip dispenses fluid from said bottom compartment.

13. The dual compartment bottle of claim 12 wherein said sip hole for dispensing fluid from bottom compartment is tightly fitted with said opening on said elongated hollow tubular top on said bottom compartment.

14. The dual compartment bottle of claim 9 wherein said valve is a rotary valve and said valve has a valve aperture.

15. The dual compartment bottle of claim 9 wherein a seal material is provided at the interface between the bottom of said valve and the top of the said dual compartment bottle so as to prevent leakage.

16. The dual compartment bottle of claim 9 wherein said means for guiding and coupling said valve to the top of said dual compartment bottle comprises of a connecting cap with an internal guide rail adapted to mount said valve to the top of said double chamber bottle by coupling said internal guide to neck ring on said double chamber bottle, a plurality of pinhead guides and a curved guide for maintaining the rotational alignment of said valve.

17. A method of using the dual compartment bottle, comprising;

(a) providing a dual compartment bottle with predetermined dimensions and it is adapted to hold fluid, having a top compartment and a bottom compartment, said top compartment is bind with said bottom compartment whereby the top of said bottom compartment is an elongated hollow tubular top extending upward through the said top compartment,

(b) providing a valve for selectively dispensing fluid from said chambers,

(c) rotating said valve until said valve aperture is in complete alignment with either said sip holes on said compartments.

(d) dispensing fluid through said sip holes and through a valve opening.

18. The dual compartment bottle of claim 17 wherein said valve rotation is guided by a plurality of pinhead guides and a curved guide and a connecting cap.

19. The dual compartment bottle of claim 17 wherein said valve is covered with a bottle cap.