Self funnel drink flavor pack

Abstract

The self funnel drink additive pack has two surfaces connected at a perimeter to enclose a volume which contains drink additive, the volume being substantially flat for storage; and has an acute angle portion of the perimeter, so that the drink additive is funneled through the acute angle portion into a vessel opening when the perimeter is opened along an optimal cut line at the acute angle portion.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0001] The pack for holding drink additive is substantially flat for storage, and has an acute angle portion which, when cut open at a predetermined optimal cut line, funnels drink additive into a narrow opening of a vessel.

[0002] The pack provides progress over prior art shown for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,182,449 by Booth, 2,688,914 by Eckler, 3,112,047 by Weinreich, 3,125,258 by Watts, 3,275,448 by Sommer, 3,601,252 by Sager, 4,813,862 by Bowers, and 4,825,915 by Hess.

[0003] FIG. 1 shows the product in use.

[0004] FIG. 2 is a view across line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

[0005] FIG. 3 shows another form of the product.

[0006] The product is a self funnel drink additive pack which is used in combination with drink additive 61 and with a vessel 81 which has a vessel opening 82.

[0007] The pack comprises a first surface 11 which has first perimeter portions 12, 13, 14. The pack also comprises a second surface 21 which has second perimeter portions 22, 23, 24. The first perimeter portions and the second perimeter portions are congruent, superimposed, and together comprise a perimeter.

[0008] The second surface is connected to the first surface at the perimeter to enclose a volume which contains the drink additive 61. The volume is substantially flat for storage.

[0009] The perimeter has an angle 31 where portions 12 and 13 join, an angle 32 where portions 13 and 14 join, and an angle 33 where portions 14 and 12 join. Angle 33 forms an acute angle portion of the perimeter.

[0010] The acute angle portion makes the pack a funnel when the perimeter is cut open adjacent to the acute angle 33 as depicted in FIG. 1. Drink additive 61 is funneled through the acute angle portion into the vessel opening 82 when the perimeter is opened at cut 41 near where the acute angle portion terminates the perimeter and the acute angle portion is at the vessel opening.

[0011] Geometry provides that, for a given length cut, the acute angle portion will be more within the vessel opening than a right or oblique angle portion would be within the vessel opening. Thus it is easier to funnel the drink additive into the vessel via the acute angle portion than via a right or oblique angle portion.

[0012] Slip-stick granule motion dynamics provide that granules will flow more easily from the acute angle portion than from a right or oblique angle portion. Again this makes it easier to funnel the drink additive into the vessel via the acute angle portion than via a right or oblique angle portion.

[0013] Since the geometry and the dynamics provided by the acute angle portion make it easy to funnel drink additive into a vessel, vessels will be reused to make flavored drinks by adding drink flavoring to water in the vessel instead of being discarded and replaced by a new vessel pre-filled with a flavored drink. A great reduction in discarded flavored drink vessel waste results.

[0014] Similar results obtain when the drink additive is liquid. The drink additive can be any thing which can be added to a drink, such as flavorings, nutrients, and medicines.

[0015] The invention—made to save money by making flavored drinks by adding drink additive to water in a reusable vessel—works unexpectedly well and leads to unexpected waste reduction.

[0016] FIG. 2 depicts the drink additive 61 in the volume enclosed by the first surface 11 and the second surface 21 which are sealed—by sealant 51 for example—at the perimeter portions 13, 23 and 12, 22. The perimeter portions constrain the pack to be substantially flat. “Substantially flat” means here that the longest distance along a perimeter portion is about five, and more, times the distance between the surfaces. This allows packs to be stored easily with packs layered.

[0017] FIG. 3 shows another form of the pack with a first surface 11A having perimeter portions 12A, 13A, and 14A and with a second surface having perimeter portions 22A, 23A, and 24A. Here the first surface and the second surface are contiguous and folded at the contiguous perimeter portions 14A, 24A with the other perimeter portions being sealed as shown in FIG. 2.

[0018] FIG. 3 shows that the perimeter need not be straight and can have curvilinear portions such as the portion 13A, 23A. FIG. 3 shows the continuity of the perimeter before the acute angle is cut at the cut line 41A.

[0019] The location of the cut line which will allow the best flow of drink additive depends on specific geometric and physical properties such as the acute angle itself, the drink additive granule size, granule-granule interactions, and granule-surface interactions. For a given set of specific geometric and physical properties, a preferred cut line can be predetermined and a mark 41, 41A can be provided on the pack to show the location of this preferred cut line.

Claims

1. A self funnel drink additive pack product used with drink additive and with a vessel having a vessel opening, the product comprising:

1 a first surface having a perimeter;

2 a second surface connected to the first surface at the perimeter to enclose a volume which contains the drink additive, the volume being substantially flat for storage; and

3 an acute angle portion of the perimeter, the drink additive being funneled through the acute angle portion into the vessel opening when the perimeter is opened where the acute angle portion terminates the perimeter and the acute angle portion is at the vessel opening.

2. The product of claim 1 wherein the second surface is connected to the first surface by being sealed at the perimeter.

3. The product of claim 1 wherein the second surface is contiguous with the first surface at a portion of the perimeter and is sealed to the first surface at the remainder of the perimeter.

4. The product of claim 1 wherein there is a mark on the first surface indicating a preferred cut line predetermined from specific geometric and physical properties.

5. The product of claim 1 wherein a portion of the perimeter is curvilinear.

6. A self funnel drink additive pack product used with drink additive and with a vessel having a vessel opening, the product comprising:

1 a first surface having a perimeter;

2 a second surface connected to the first surface by being sealed at the perimeter to enclose a volume which contains the drink additive, the volume being substantially flat for storage;

3 an acute angle portion of the perimeter, the drink additive being funneled through the acute angle portion into the vessel opening when the perimeter is opened where the acute angle portion terminates the perimeter and the acute angle portion is at the vessel opening; and

4 a mark on the first surface indicating a preferred cut line predetermined from specific geometric and physical properties.

7. A self funnel drink additive pack product used with drink additive and with a vessel having a vessel opening, the product comprising:

1 a first surface having a perimeter;

2 a second surface, the second surface being contiguous with the first surface at a portion of the perimeter and being sealed to the first surface at the remainder of the perimeter to enclose a volume which contains the drink additive, the volume being substantially flat for storage;

3 an acute angle portion of the perimeter, the drink additive being funneled through the acute angle portion into the vessel opening when the perimeter is opened where the acute angle portion terminates the perimeter and the acute angle portion is at the vessel opening; and

4 a mark on the first surface indicating a preferred cut line predetermined from specific geometric and physical properties.