BOTTLE DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHODS THEREOF

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a bottle delivery system and a method of utilizing the same. In one embodiment, a container comprises an interior volume for storing a first material, defined by at least a sidewall and a removable seal for accessing the interior volume, a plate integrally formed with the sidewall, comprising at least an aperture passing through the plate, and a side-cap rotatably connected to the plate on an outer surface of the sidewall, having an aperture on a surface of the side-cap adjacent to the plate, and containing a second material, wherein the second material may be introduced to the interior volume by rotating the side-cap and aligning the aperture in the surface of the side-cap with the aperture of the plate.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority to pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/001,761, filed Nov. 5, 2007, entitled “Bottle Delivery System,” the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to bottle delivery system and a method of utilizing the same. Embodiments of the present invention more specifically relate to a mixing and dispensing container having separable compartments for storing different materials to be selectively blended and dispensed at a time just before intended use.

2. Description of Related Art

Closure caps for containers which allow two substances to be mixed to form a single composite product are known. As is understood, the composite product is subsequently dispensed by unscrewing the closure cap. As is also known, containers of this type are frequently employed for storing mixed drinks, where the ingredients are stored in two separate compartments separated by a partition which is ruptured by a punch prior to consumption. Oftentimes, one of the ingredients includes such dry or concentrated materials as vitamins, drink mixes and other flavors, to be blended together, predominantly with water in providing one of many fluid based products. The designs are common such that the ingredients are mixed, the water-soluble drink is shaken so that the completed beverage is created moments before consumption.

A major problem with these prior designs is that the ingredients of the one is entirely mixed with the ingredients of the other, with no means to control just how much one ingredient is mixed with the other. For example, once the rupture is made, or other separation between the two is defeated, all the ingredients become mixed together. Frequently, the resultant water-soluble drink is too sweet, or too strong, even where measured amounts are initially packaged in the individual sections prior to their being joined together at the time of consumption. The same can be especially true where the mix is to be of two differing alcoholic products.

Thus, there is a need for an improved bottle delivery system and methods of utilizing the same.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to bottle delivery system and a method of utilizing the same. Embodiments of the present invention provide a means of tailoring the mix of ingredients to individual taste desires through the controlled alignment of apertures included within one compartment with apertures in the second compartment through a simple twisting motion of the one against the other. As explained herein, the degree of “twist” imparted allows for a full opening between the adjacent apertures, to a lesser opening, or to almost a full closure to meet the customer's preference. Although many different shapes and style bottle containers may be utilized in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, each embodiment of the present invention allows for a degree a control as to the extent of mixing between compartments of the container.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a container comprises an interior volume for storing a first material, defined by at least a sidewall and a removable seal for accessing the interior volume, a plate integrally formed with the sidewall, comprising at least an aperture passing through the plate, and a side-cap rotatably connected to the plate on an outer surface of the sidewall, having an aperture on a surface of the side-cap adjacent to the plate, and containing a second material, wherein the second material may be introduced to the interior volume by rotating the side-cap and aligning the aperture in the surface of the side-cap with the aperture of the plate.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a container comprises a sidewall, at least partially defining an interior volume for storing a first material, having a accessible opening, a cap rotatably connected over the accessible opening, the cap comprises a first compartment for storing a second material, a seal positioned against the first compartment, having at least an aperture passing therethrough, and at least a threaded section for mating to a threaded section of the sidewall, and a plate positioned between the accessible opening and the seal of the cap, having at least an aperture passing therethrough, wherein the second material may be introduced to the interior volume by rotating the cap and aligning the aperture in the seal with the aperture of the plate.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a container comprises a first compartment comprising an interior volume for storing a first material, and a second compartment formed above an opening of the first compartment, the second compartment comprises a sidewall, at least partially defining an interior volume for storing a second material, a bottom wall, at least partially defining an interior volume for storing the second material, a plate, rotatably positioned about the bottom wall and against the opening of the first compartment, the plate comprising at least an aperture passing therethrough, wherein the second material may be introduced to the interior volume of the first compartment by rotating the plate about the bottom wall and aligning the aperture of the plate with the aperture of the bottom wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of embodiments of the present invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, several of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of embodiments encompassed within the scope of the present invention, and, therefore, are not to be considered limiting, for the present invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments, wherein:

FIGS. 1a-1c depict an first exemplary bottle delivery system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2a-2c depict a second exemplary bottle delivery system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3a-3c depict a third exemplary bottle delivery system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4a-4c depict a fourth exemplary bottle delivery system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 5a-5b depict a fifth exemplary bottle delivery system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 6a-6d depict a sixth exemplary bottle delivery system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 7a-7b depict a seventh exemplary bottle delivery system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 8a-8c depict an eighth exemplary bottle delivery system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and

FIGS. 9a-9c depict an ninth exemplary bottle delivery system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word “may” is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to bottle delivery system and a method of utilizing the same. Embodiments of the present invention more specifically relate to a mixing and dispensing container having separable compartments for storing different materials to be selectively blended and dispensed at a time just before intended use.

FIGS. 1a-1c show a bottle design 10 having a side-mount area 12 in which a granular-mix of liquid in a first compartment 14 is part of a cap 16. The cap 16 is non-removable although overlying an aperture 18, with the cap 16 being twisted in a counterclockwise direction 100 to open. A plate 20 formed in the bottle 10 includes a plurality of apertures 22 through which the ingredients in the compartment 14 can pass into the bottle once the cap 16 is twisted to align the apertures 18 and 22. A stop 24 limits the extent to which the cap 16 can be rotated open from its closed position.

In FIGS. 2a-2c, the cap 30 will be appreciated to be removable from the bottle 32. The cap is filled with a tablet or granular mix type ingredient, such that when the cap 30 is twisted counterclockwise, the aperture 34 increasingly opens until the stop 36 is reached. This aligns increasing portions of the aperture 34 with the apertures 36 in plate 38 to allow the granular ingredient to drop through the apertures 36 into a liquid below. A break-away ring 39 permits the twisting of the cap 30 to begin, and to be removed from the bottle 32. The plate 38 may have a double bottom, with the aperture 34 in the top 35, and the apertures 36 in the bottom 37.

In FIGS. 3a and 3b the compartment containing the powder, granular mix or liquid is shown at 40, a twist band is shown at 42 and the break-away safety ring is shown at 44. When the twist band 42 is rotated, the safety ring loosens to allow the apertures 46 in the base of the bottle 48 to align in allowing the mix to occur. With the mix being carbonated or colored to create an interesting effect, the mixing takes place by inverting the bottle 48, so that once the cap 47 is removed, the mixed liquid can be consumed. The stop to insure the full line up of the apertures 46 is shown at 49.

In FIGS. 4a-4c a similar operation as with FIGS. 3a and 3b is shown. The twist ring 50 is itself provided with a series of apertures 52, which upon twisting in a counterclockwise direction 102 serves to align the apertures 52 with alignable apertures 54 in an upper section of the bottle 56. Rotating the twist band 50 increasingly opens the apertures 52 to allow the powder, granular mix or liquid in the upper section of the cap 58 to then flow through the apertures 54 into the liquid container itself. The liquid in the container then passes back up through both sets of apertures in order to be sipped through the top when opening the closure cap 58. As will be appreciated, the apertures 52 in the twist ring could be replaced by a configuration having one large opening 59 (FIG. 4c), rather than the circular apertures 52 of FIG. 4b.

FIGS. 5a and 5b show the bottle 60 with hand grip indentations for holding at 62 and a breakaway seal at 64. Twisting the cap 66 counterclockwise in the direction 104 aligns the apertures 68 in the twist band so that the ingredients in the cap 66 can mix together with the liquid in the bottle 60. A further cap 69 is provided at the side of the bottle 60 through which the user sips the mixed drink. In this configuration, the cap 66 can be provided with a “stop” position so that it does not have to be removed from the bottle when drinking occurs.

In FIG. 6a-6d the powder, granular mix or liquid is enclosed within a twisted cone 70 inside the bottle 72 containing the liquid which is to be ingested. As the base of the bottle 74 is twisted to the “stop position” the apertures 76 in the spiral shape increasingly align with apertures of the twisted cone allowing the two materials to mix. The cap 78 can then be twisted off and the liquid sipped. As will be appreciated, the general principles illustrated by FIG. 6a can be carried out in a variety of different shapes inside the bottle, as shown in FIGS. 6b, 6c and 6d. FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate the insertion of the powder, granular mix or liquid containing compartment 80 to fit within the cone 70 in the bottle 72 to seat within as shown in FIG. 7b. Twisting the bottom of the compartment 80 in the direction 106, for example, allows the liquid in the bottle to mix with the powder, granular mix or liquid through the apertures 76, to be sipped after removing or loosening the cap 78 and inverting the bottle 72.

In FIGS. 8a-8c, a dome 90 contains the powder, granular mix or liquid ingredient for blending with the liquid in the bottom section of the bottle 92. Twisting the band 94 increasingly aligns and opens the apertures 96 until reaching the “stop position” 98 to allow the ingredients to mix through the apertures 96. With the lower drinking section 92 available to be any size, further twisting of the band 94 will allow the dome top section 90 to be removed—leaving, essentially, a plastic drinking cup below (and of any configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 7c).

As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, once the twist band in each of the described configurations is rotated to begin to align the apertures together, the mixing begins. If the concentration turns out to be too sweet, or too strong, or taste becomes undesirable, the twist rotation could be stopped, or reversed, to close off the aperture before the entire compartment ingredients of powder, granular mix or liquid is transferred. The end result will be that no matter what the ingredients are that are being mixed, that no matter what the design and shape of the bottle container may be, the second ingredient can be mixed into the primary liquid/drink for mixing in a manner that meets the user's preference, in a controllable, simple manner.

Examples of embodiments of the present invention include: 1) Mixing alcohol into a cocktail, such as: Vodka and Tomato Juice; Rum and Cola; or Gin and Tonic Water; 2) Health Beverages, such as: Vitamins and vegetable/fruit juice; or Effervescent and water; 3) Sports Drinks, such as those mixing in vitamins; 4) Soft Drinks, such as those adding color or flavor into a soda for special effects; 5) Children's Drinks, such as those adding carbonation to apple juice for “sparkling” apple juice; and 6) Food Products, such as: Blending ingredients for salad dressing; Mixing oil and vinegar; or Adding cheese granules to a sauce.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. It is understood that various embodiments described herein may be utilized in combination with any other embodiment described, without departing from the scope contained herein.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

an interior volume for storing a first material, defined by at least a sidewall and a removable seal for accessing the interior volume;

a plate integrally formed with the sidewall, comprising at least an aperture passing through the plate; and

a side-cap rotatably connected to the plate on an outer surface of the sidewall, having an aperture on a surface of the side-cap adjacent to the plate, and containing a second material;

wherein the second material may be introduced to the interior volume by rotating the side-cap and aligning the aperture in the surface of the side-cap with the aperture of the plate.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the removable seal for accessing the interior volume comprises a threaded bottle cap.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the plate is integrally formed with the sidewall at a portion substantially near the removable seal.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the plate is integrally formed with the bottom of the sidewall.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the plate extends into the interior volume.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein the plate is shaped substantially like one of at least an animal, a tree, a decoration, a person, a toy, or a figure.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the first material comprises a liquid and the second material comprises a powder.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the side-cap is rotatably connected to the plate via standard bottle cap threads.

9. The container of claim 8, further comprising at least a stop on the threads to either prevent over-rotation of the side-cap or to align the aperture of the side-cap with the aperture of the plate.

10. A container comprising:

a sidewall, at least partially defining an interior volume for storing a first material, having a accessible opening;

a cap rotatably connected over the accessible opening, the cap comprising: a first compartment for storing a second material; a seal positioned against the first compartment, having at least an aperture passing therethrough; and at least a threaded section for mating to a threaded section of the sidewall; and

a plate positioned between the accessible opening and the seal of the cap, having at least an aperture passing therethrough;

wherein the second material may be introduced to the interior volume by rotating the cap and aligning the aperture in the seal with the aperture of the plate.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the first material comprises a liquid and the second material comprises a powder.

12. The container of claim 10, further comprising at least a stop on the threaded section of the sidewall to align the aperture of the seal with the aperture of the plate.

13. The container of claim 12, wherein the stop is breakable, and wherein the cap may be removed from the container by rotating the threaded section of the cap beyond the stop.

14. A container comprising:

a first compartment comprising an interior volume for storing a first material; and

a second compartment formed above an opening of the first compartment, the second compartment comprising: a sidewall, at least partially defining an interior volume for storing a second material; a bottom wall, at least partially defining an interior volume for storing the second material; a plate, rotatably positioned about the bottom wall and against the opening of the first compartment, the plate comprising at least an aperture passing therethrough;

wherein the second material may be introduced to the interior volume of the first compartment by rotating the plate about the bottom wall and aligning the aperture of the plate with the aperture of the bottom wall.

15. The container of claim 14, further comprising an accessible opening on a top portion of the second compartment.

16. The container of claim 14, wherein the first material comprises a liquid and the second material comprises a powder.

17. The container of claim 14, wherein the second compartment is removably formed above the opening of the first compartment.

18. The container of claim 17, wherein the second compartment is removably formed to above the opening of the first compartment by a mated threaded section between the plate and a portion of an exterior sidewall of the first compartment.

19. The container of claim 18, further comprising at least a stop on the threaded section to align the aperture of the bottom wall with the aperture of the plate.

20. The bottle of claim 19, wherein the stop is breakable, and wherein the second compartment may be removed by rotating the plate beyond the stop.