BEVERAGE CONTAINERS WITH MULTIPLE COMPARTMENTS AND INDEPENDENT OPENINGS

Abstract

A multi-compartment beverage container includes a first compartment, a second compartment, and a partition separating the first compartment from the second compartment. A first closure such as a seal, flip tab, or cap, is configured for selectively enabling access to the first compartment, and a second closure is configured for selectively enabling access to the second compartment. In one embodiment the container is a drink box with a first compartment, second compartment and partition formed from an integral blank. In another drink box embodiment, the partition is a separate structure that is bonded within the container to form the compartments. In yet another embodiment, the container is formed of a plastic.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application 60/662,299, filed Mar. 16, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to beverage containers, and more particularly, to containers having a plurality of compartments and an opening for each compartment.

BACKGROUND

Beverage containers with a plurality of separate chambers are known in the art. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,170, Semersky, et al., discloses a multi-chamber container. Unfortunately, however, such containers do not provide independent side-by-side openings and drinking passages. Instead, an internal divider segregates a shared bottleneck. While such a design may be particularly useful for storing liquids in separate chambers and consuming them simultaneously, it does not provide optimum ergonomics. The design is inconvenient for drinking the liquid from only one chamber at a time, because the divider within the bottleneck creates small conduits and interferes with placement of a consumer's upper lip.

Additionally, a shared bottleneck limits one's ability to seal access to a chamber. When a cap is removed, the shared bottleneck is exposed. Although a removable seal (e.g., a paper seal) may be placed over each segregated section of the bottleneck, any unremoved seal has a tendency to interfere with normal drinking. Furthermore, once a seal is removed, that section of the bottleneck cannot be closed without closing the entire bottleneck. Thus, such containers lack independent openings.

Another prior art embodiment features separate top and bottom compartments with independent openings, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,738, Burleigh. While such a design avoids problems associated with a shared bottleneck, it has other shortcomings such as a limitation in standing such a bottle upright. To provide a broad, stable bottom surface, a separate removable cover must be provided for the bottom, as in Burleigh. This approach is inconvenient and increases manufacturing costs. Alternatively, the bottleneck may be recessed as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,812, Riordan. This approach interferes with normal drinking.

Concomitantly, while drink boxes have exploded in popularity in recent years, they are generally limited to single compartment containers with single entrances. Additionally, most conventional drink boxes feature penetrable seals, through which a straw may be inserted. Once penetrated, the seal cannot conveniently be resealed.

The invention is directed to fulfilling one or more of the needs and overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve one or more of the problems set forth above, in an exemplary implementation of the invention, a multi-compartment beverage container is provided. The container includes a first compartment, a second compartment, and a partition separating the first compartment from the second compartment. A first closure, such as a seal, flip tab, or cap, is configured for selectively enabling access to the first compartment. A second closure is configured for selectively enabling access to the second compartment. In one embodiment the container is a drink box with a first compartment, second compartment and partition formed from an integral blank. In another drink box embodiment, the partition is a separate structure that is bonded within the container to form the compartments. In yet another embodiment, the container is formed of a plastic in the form of a plastic bottle with an interior partition.

In one aspect of the invention, a drink-box embodiment of a beverage container includes a first compartment, a second compartment, and a partition separating the first compartment from the second compartment. A first closure is configured for selectively enabling access to the first compartment. A second closure is configured for selectively enabling access to the second compartment. The first compartment, second compartment and partition are formed from an integral blank. A liquid-impervious flaccid bag may be provided within each compartment to contain liquid. The integral blank may be a laminate comprised of a cardboard layer and a liquid impervious layer and featuring a plurality of panels, a plurality of fold lines and a plurality of glue flaps for interlocking the panels. The first and second closures may be comprised of penetrable seals adapted for penetration by piercing with a straw; threaded caps and threaded necks; and flip tabs.

In another aspect of the invention, a drink bottle embodiment of a beverage container includes a first compartment having a top end and a bottom end, a second compartment having a top end and a bottom end, and a partition separating the first compartment from the second compartment. A first closure is disposed at the top end of the first compartment and configured for selectively enabling access to the first compartment. A second closure disposed at the top end of the second compartment and configured for selectively enabling access to the second compartment. The container is formed of a plastic material. The first closure and second closure are preferably comprised of divergent first and second necks and first and second resealable closing means, the first neck being in fluid communication with the first compartment and the second neck being in fluid communication with the second compartment. In one implementation, the first compartment may be formed from blow molding a first parison in a bottle mold, and the second compartment may be formed from blow molding a second parison in the bottle mold. In another implementation, the first compartment has a first partition side and the second compartment has a second partition side, and the first and second partition sides are bonded together (e.g., thermally or chemically) to form the partition. In yet another implementation, the first compartment and the second compartment are adjoined together with a heat shrink sleeve wrapped around a portion of the first compartment and the second compartment.

In another aspect of the invention, a flexible drink pouch includes a first compartment, a second compartment, and a partition separating the first compartment from the second compartment. A first closure selectively enables access to the first compartment. A second closure selectively enables access to the second compartment. The first compartment further includes a first bottom base gusset and a first side gusset; and, likewise, the second compartment further comprises a second bottom base gusset and a second side gusset. The first and second closures may be a penetrable seal adapted for penetration by piercing with a straw; a threaded cap and threaded neck or a flip tab.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1 conceptually shows an exemplary drink box with two drink compartments and penetrable seals according to principles of the invention; and

FIGS. 2A-2C conceptually show cross-sectional arrangements of an exemplary drink box with two drink compartments according to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 3 conceptually shows an exemplary drink box with two drink compartments and flip tab closures according to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 4 conceptually shows an exemplary drink box with two drink compartments, pitched top panels, and threaded cap closures according to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 5 conceptually shows an exemplary drink bottle with two drink compartments, divergent bottlenecks and threaded cap closures according to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 6 conceptually shows an exemplary drink pouch with two drink compartments, and a separate penetrable opening for each compartment according to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 7 conceptually shows exemplary mold segments and parisons 720, 725 for forming a drink bottle with two drink compartments, divergent bottlenecks and threaded necks according to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 8 conceptually shows exemplary bottle halves and shrink wrap sleeve for forming a drink bottle with two drink compartments, divergent bottlenecks and threaded necks according to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 9 conceptually shows exemplary bottle halves joined together by a perforated shrink wrap sleeve according to principles of the invention.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the figures or the shapes, relative sizes, proportions or materials shown in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary drink box 100 with two drink compartments 105 and 110 according to principles of the invention is shown. The drink box 100 may be comprised of a cardboard blank (not shown) configured for assembly into a drink carton as conceptually shown in FIG. 1. One side of cardboard may include a coating or layer impervious to stored liquid, as known in the art. The blank may also include glue flaps for interlocking panels and fold lines for facilitating formation of panels of the drink box.

Unlike conventional drink boxes, the drink box 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of compartments 105, 110 separated by a partition 115. The top 135, 140 of each compartment has a penetrable seal 120, 125, through which a straw 130 may be inserted to access the contents of a compartment.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A through 2C, exemplary cross sections of folded integral blanks according to principles of the invention are shown. The integral blank may include one or more panels to form a partition that divides the drink box into two compartments. For example, in FIG. 2A, glue flap 240 has one free edge and one edge attached to first partition panel 215, which has one edge attached to first back panel 200, which has one edge attached to first side panel 205, which has one edge attached to first front panel 210, which has one edge attached to second front panel 230, which has one edge attached to second side panel 235, which has one edge attached to second back panel 220, which has one edge attached to second partition panel 225, which has one edge attached to glue flap 250, which has one free edge. The glue flaps 240 and 250 may be bonded to the interior walls of front panels 210 and 230, respectively. Additionally, the first and second partitions 215 and 225 may be bonded together. Thus, a drink box with two separate compartments may be formed from an integral blank.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other multi-compartment formations may be achieved and come within the scope of the invention. By way of example and not limitation, in FIG. 2C, glue flap 240 has one free edge and one edge attached to first back panel 200, which has one edge attached to first side panel 205, which has one edge attached to first front panel 210, which has one edge attached to second front panel 230, which has one edge attached to second side panel 235, which has one edge attached to second back panel 220, which has one edge attached to second partition panel 225, which has one edge attached to glue flap 250, which has one free edge. The glue flaps 240 and 250 may be bonded to the interior walls of back panels 200 and front panel 230, respectively. Thus, a drink box with two separate compartments may be formed from an integral blank without a dual layer partition.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that a drink box according to the invention may be formed by attaching a partition 215 with glue flaps 240 and 250 in the compartment of a conventional drink box, as conceptually illustrated in FIG. 2B. A plurality of flaccid bags 220, 225 may be provided in the drink box to contain liquid. Each flaccid bag 220, 225 may be provided in a separate compartment. Alternatively, the flaccid bags 220, 225 may be provided in one compartment without a partition. The flaccid bags 220, 225 are attached at the closures to the drink box, so that the contents of a flaccid bag 220, 225 may be accessed upon opening a closure to a corresponding compartment.

Various closures may be utilized in conjunction with a multi-compartment drink box according to the invention. By way of example and not limitation, flip tab openings 320 (closed) and 325 (opened) as shown in FIG. 3 may be utilized in addition to or in lieu of seals 120, 125 as shown in FIG. 1. As another option, twist-off caps 420, 430 as shown in FIG. 4 may be utilized in addition to or in lieu of seals 120, 125 as shown in FIG. 1, and/or in addition to or in lieu of the flip tab opening 320, 325 of FIG. 3.

Furthermore, the shape of the drink box may vary without departing from the scope of the invention. Illustratively, without limitation, pitched top panels 135, 140 may be provided as shown in FIG. 4. Additionally, cross sectional configurations other than rectangular may be utilized within the scope of the invention.

In another embodiment, a bottle 500 with to compartments 505, 520 separated by a central partition 535 is provided, as conceptually shown in FIG. 5. Each compartment 505, 520 has a distinct bottleneck 510, 525 with threads 515, 530 for receiving a conventional bottle cap (not shown). The partition 535 is disposed within the interior of the bottle 500 and is adapted to extend upwardly from the bottom base, traversing the sidewalls, and ending at a top neckline. The partition thus divides the interior into two separate compartments.

Advantageously, the bottlenecks 510, 525 are positioned and angled apart. Thus, a consumer may drink directly from one bottleneck in a conventional drinking manner and tilt the bottle without interference from the other bottleneck.

The exemplary bottle 500 according to principles of the invention may be comprised of plastic materials now known or later developed that are suitable for use with drink containers, such as polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile, styrene or copolymers thereof, polyethylene naphthalate and polybutylene terephthalate.

Additionally, the bottle and partition may be formed from a plurality of parts bonded together, or from an integral bottle and partition structure. The bottle can be made via a number of various processes known in the art, such as blow molding, injection molding, and the like. Preferred bottles of the present invention are made of HDPE or PP via an extrusion blow molding process, or PET via an injection blow molding process. An exemplary blow molding process is described below.

A bottle according to principles of the invention can be provided in a variety of forms or shapes. While the principles of the invention are particularly useful for beverage containers, bottles suitable for other purposes may be formed using such principles and come within the scope of the invention.

In yet another embodiment, a stand-up flexible pouch with a plurality of compartments is provided, as conceptually shown in FIG. 6. Each compartment 605 and 620 has a distinct a penetrable seal 620, 625, through which a straw 630 may be inserted to access the contents of a compartment. The flexible pouch construction includes first and second opposed panel sections and a bottom or base gusset, and side gussets, secured together to form a stand-up flexible pouch which can be used to contain liquid. A partition 635 disposed within the interior of the pouch 600 is adapted to extend upwardly from the bottom base, traversing the sidewalls, and ending at a top. The partition thus divides the interior into two separate compartments 605, 620.

Advantageously, the penetrable seals 620, 625 are positioned apart. Thus, a consumer may drink directly from one opened seal in a conventional drinking manner and tilt the pouch without risk of spillage from the unopened seal. In a particular preferred embodiment, the seals are positioned so that each may be opened without risk of spilling liquid contents contained in the pouch. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other closures, such as threaded caps and threaded necks, flip tabs and the like may be employed on the pouch in addition to, or in lieu of, penetrable seals.

Pouch constructions according to the principles of the invention are readily attained using existing high speed manufacturing equipment. Gussets, a partition and two elongate webs forming the front and rear panels may be adjoined by heat sealing. Heat seal bars and cutters, can be used to form the particular configuration of pouch construction chosen, including for example the design conceptually shown in FIG. 6.

A drink packager may then receive such pouches, dispense liquid into the pouches through an unsealed portion; i.e. through an open unsealed perimeter edge portion. The drink packager would then seal the opening.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the configuration of the partition is not particularly important, so long as it divides the pouch into two equally accessible compartments. Side by side (as shown) and front and back compartments come within the scope of the invention.

Additionally, the relative sizes of the compartments are not important. The compartments may be equal in size, or one may provide a greater volume than the other.

Referring now to FIG. 7 conceptually illustrates an exemplary bottle forming process according to one embodiment of the present invention. The bottle is blow molded using a pair of polymer tubes or parisons 720, 725 within a bottle mold. The parisons 720, 725 are preformed blanks made by injection molding, extrusion, blowing or the like. The parisons 720, 725 have cylindrical tubular shapes, generally resembling plastic test tubes, with a preformed collar and threads for the neck. A pair of parisons 720, 725 are used to form a bottle according to this embodiment of the invention. The parisons 720, 725 are thermally treated to raise the their temperature to facilitate shaping by blowing. Each thermally treated parison is positioned on a blow pin 710, 715. A three part mold 700, 705, 730 provides a form with a cavity corresponding to a portion of the outside contour of the liquid storage bottle. The mold includes two sides and a head. The parts of the mold 700, 705, 730 are pressed together uniformly, defining the contour of the bottle. Then, the bottle with two separate compartments is formed. Air is blown into each parison 720, 725 to expand their internal dimensions uniformly and simultaneously in controlled low-pressure stages. Because the stretching is performed evenly, the plastic remains uniformly thin and strong, and each compartment is formed of equal size and shape. The abutting surfaces that separate one chamber from the other become fused together, defining an integrated partition. The bottle assumes the shape of the mold 700, 705, 730 and is dropped out of the blow molding machine as the mold pieces separate. A new pair of parisons 720, 725 may then be loaded and the entire blow molding process begins again. The actual manufacture of a bottle may take only a few seconds according to the process described above.

A cap for a bottle according to principles of the invention can be provided in a variety of forms or shapes, such as a flip-top, threaded top, or other dispensing cap. The cap may be made of a plastic material, including those materials discussed above which are suitable for making the bottle of the present invention. The cap will typically mate with a neck having an opening through which the container contents can be dispensed.

In another alternative embodiment, a bottle according to principles of the invention can be formed in two halves 800, 810, each half defining a separate independent compartment, as shown in FIG. 8. The two halves 800, 810 may be joined together by thermal or chemical bonding, shrink wrap sleeve 820, or adhesive label. Illustratively, a plastic sleeve 820, which, when heated, shrinks to conform to the contour of the container comprised of the adjoined halves is utilized. The shrink wrap sleeve 820 is generally sized such that the diameter of the sleeve 820 opening is great enough to slip over the abutting halves of the bottle. The sleeve 820 is preferably long enough to cover at least a substantial portion of the bottle. Once the shrink wrap sleeve 820 is slipped over the bottle, heat is applied to shrink the sleeve 820 to the bottle.

The shrink wrap sleeve 820 may be made of an oriented film material having the greatest shrinkage in a defined direction, usually the transverse direction in a shrink wrap sleeve 820 and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the shrink wrap sleeve 820. Non-limiting examples of suitable film materials include polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, other polyolefins and copolymers, polyesters, polystyrene, and combinations thereof (e.g. a laminated film material). The thickness of the film material for the shrink wrap sleeve 820 may vary from about 50 to about 200 microns, preferably from about 50 to about 100 microns. The film material for the shrink wrap sleeve 820 can be pre-printed with graphics, text, etc. at any desired location on the film material. A variety of printing methods can be utilized to print graphics onto the shrink wrap sleeve 820, including gravure (or rotogravure) printing and flexographic printing.

In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the shrink wrap sleeve can be perforated. This embodiment facilitates separating the halves of the bottle by tearing along the perforation 910. Separated portions may then be stored and/or used separately. An empty portion may be discarded, while a portion with contents therein may be stored.

To apply a shrink wrap sleeve 820 to a bottle according to principles of the invention, the shrink wrap sleeve 820 label is placed loosely around the abutting aligned halves 800, 810 of the bottle. The shrink wrap sleeve 820 label is sized just large enough to allow it to be placed over the length of the aligned halves 800, 810 of the bottle, either manually or by automated high-speed application machinery. The film material of the shrink wrap sleeve 820 shrinks as the wrapped aligned halves 800, 810 of the bottle pass through a heat tunnel, where heat is applied via, for example, hot air or steam or other similar method (e.g., radiant heat). In the heat tunnel, the film material softens, causing it to seek its original, smaller dimensions, and, in the process, to shrink tightly around the aligned halves 800, 810 of the bottle. Different time and temperature profiles are required for different shrink film materials, thicknesses, and bottle and cap shapes and materials. The heat tunnels may have several “zones” where heat (e.g., hot air or steam) is directed sequentially to different parts of the container at different times and temperatures in order to effectively apply the shrink wrap sleeve 820 label to the bottle and cap.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited two-compartment configurations. Other configurations comprised of uneven divisions, 3 thirds or 4 quarters of a bottle may also be utilized within the scope of the invention.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form can be changed in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. The physical embodiments described above merely exemplify the invention, which may be embodied in other specific structure within spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto.

While an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum relationships for the components and steps of the invention, to include variations in form, function and manner of operation, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent 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 are intended to fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A beverage container comprising a first compartment, a second compartment, and a partition separating the first compartment from the second compartment; and a first closure configured for selectively enabling access to the first compartment, and a second closure configured for selectively enabling access to the second compartment; and wherein the first compartment, second compartment and partition are formed from an integral blank.

2. A beverage container according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid-impervious flaccid bag within each compartment said flaccid bag being adapted to contain liquid.

3. A beverage container according to claim 1, wherein said integral blank is a laminate comprised of a cardboard layer and a liquid impervious layer.

4. A beverage container according to claim 3, wherein said integral blank includes a plurality of panels, a plurality of fold lines and a plurality of glue flaps for interlocking panels.

5. A beverage container according to claim 4, wherein the first closure and the second closure are comprised of a closure from the group consisting of a penetrable seal adapted for penetration by piercing with a straw; a threaded cap and threaded neck, said threaded neck being disposed to provide access to one of the first compartment or second compartment, said threaded cap being adapted to threadedly engage the threaded neck; and a flip tab.

6. A beverage container comprising a first compartment having a top end and a bottom end, a second compartment having a top end and a bottom end, and a partition separating the first compartment from the second compartment; and a first closure disposed at the top end of the first compartment and configured for selectively enabling access to the first compartment, and a second closure disposed at the top end of the second compartment and configured for selectively enabling access to the second compartment, said top end of the first compartment being adjacent to said top end of the second compartment; and wherein the container is formed of a plastic material.

7. A beverage container according to claim 6, wherein the first closures and second closure are comprised of divergent first and second necks and first and second resealable closing means, the first neck being in fluid communication with the first compartment and the second neck being in fluid communication with the scond compartment.

8. A beverage container according to claim 6, said first compartment being formed from blow molding a first parison in a bottle mold, and said second compartment being formed from blow molding a second parison in the bottle mold.

9. A beverage container according to claim 6, wherein the first compartment has a first partition side and the second compartment has a second partition side, and said first and second partition sides are bonded together to form the partition.

10. A beverage container according to claim 6, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment adjoined together with a heat shrink sleeve, said heat shrink sleeve wrapping around a portion of the first compartment and the second compartment.

11. A beverage container according to claim 6, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment adjoined together with a heat shrink sleeve, said heat shrink sleeve wrapping around a portion of the first compartment and the second compartment, and said heat shrink sleeve including a perforation adapted to facilitate removal of the heat shrink sleeve.

12. A flexible drink pouch comprising a first compartment, a second compartment, and a partition separating the first compartment from the second compartment; and a first closure configured for selectively enabling access to the first compartment, and a second closure configured for selectively enabling access to the second compartment.

13. A flexible drink pouch according to claim 12, wherein said first compartment further comprises a first bottom base gusset and a first side gusset; and said second compartment further comprises a second bottom base gusset and a second side gusset.

14. A flexible drink pouch according to claim 13, wherein the first closure and the second closure are comprised of a closure from the group consisting of a penetrable seal adapted for penetration by piercing with a straw; a threaded cap and threaded neck, said threaded neck being disposed to provide access to one of the first compartment or second compartment, said threaded cap being adapted to threadedly engage the threaded neck; and a flip tab.

15. A flexible drink pouch according to claim 14, wherein the first compartment has a top end and a bottom end, the second compartment has a top end and a bottom end, and the first closure is disposed near the top end of the first compartment, and the second closure is disposed near the top end of the second compartment.