REUSABLE POD FOR STORAGE, TRANSPORT, AND MIXING OF POWDERS

Abstract

A pod for holding a powder to be mixed with a liquid, the pod comprising a body having an opening for loading the powder into the body and a detachable lid that covers the opening, the lid comprising one or more holes, and one or more movable hole covers that, when repositioned, expose the holes.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/382,859, filed Nov. 8, 2022.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention described herein relates to an apparatus for storage, transportation, and mixing of a powder with a liquid.

Background Art

Currently protein powders, protein powder blends, and other powdered nutritional supplements are packaged and sold in large bags or tubs. Sold with the powders are specifically sized measuring cups or scoops buried in the loose powder. One serving size is typically one or two “heaping scoops” of the powder. This serving is then dumped by the user into a vessel such as a shaker bottle containing a mixing liquid such as water, juice, or milk. A blending tool such as a metal whisk ball may be present in the vessel. The whole vessel is shaken by hand to blend the powder with the liquid. The contents can then be consumed by the user.

This process can be done anywhere, at any time, e.g., the gym, the airport, the kitchen, the car, etc. This process can also be performed several times a day depending on the level and frequency at which the user partakes in fitness activities and how busy his/her/their lifestyle is. However, this process does not allow for an easy and effective way to store powders throughout the day until they are needed. Current solutions, such as carrying the original large bulk bag or tub, are cumbersome, and the tub may take up a lot of space in gym bags or work bags. A user may instead measure a single serving into a single-use plastic bag. Such bags and pre-packaged single servings are unfriendly to the environment however, since the plastic bags end up in landfills. These current processes can also lead to loss of product during travel due to a break or leak in the packaging, accidental opening of the container, or during transfer of the powder from the packaging to the shaker bottle. In addition to being messy, losing product equates to a loss in money as well as a reduced and inaccurate serving of the powder.

The bulky packaging in which these powders are typically sold, stored, and transported is problematic. Users bring powdered nutritional supplements with them to use anywhere, at any time. Some users travel with the original bag or tub that the product comes in, which can be a two-pound bag with a zip-top type closure or a three-pound rigid tub with a screw-on lid. The package takes up significant space and includes the additional weight of the many servings that will not be used in the immediate future. In addition, the closures risk coming undone or the package may rupture, causing the contents to be spilled. Further, the user may accidentally lose product during the transfer of loose powder from the original packaging to the shaker bottle. A user may choose to carry more servings than what is needed in a typical day or week, but this adds unnecessary weight and takes up unnecessary space in gym bags, backpacks, etc. The collective risk and inconvenience of using a product in a conventional manner can discourage users from using such supplements altogether.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

Embodiments, features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as the operation of the various embodiments of the present invention, are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A illustrates a pod in a fill configuration, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 1B illustrates a pod in a store configuration, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 1C illustrates a pod in a release configuration, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 1D illustrates a pod that has holes in its base, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a pod being stored in a variety of secondary storage containers, according to embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates placement of a pod into a vessel, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates use of a pod, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to the figures, where like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Also in the figures, the leftmost digit of each reference number corresponds to the figure in which the reference number is first used. While specific configurations and arrangements are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustrative purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other configurations and arrangements can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that this invention can also be employed in a variety of other systems and applications.

The issues of inconvenient transportation of powders, accurate serving size, and loss of product during transport or transfer can all be solved as described herein, by having a reusable pod that contains a single serving of the powder supplement. Any powder can be placed in a pod and multiple pods can be placed in the user's bag for the day or week. In a “fill” configuration the pod can easily be filled with powder through a wide mouthed opening. In a “store” configuration the pod is sealed, safely holding the powder during travel. In a “release” configuration the pod is partially open and can be dropped in the vessel or shaker bottle, the pod still containing the powder. The user's liquid of choice is then added. Alternatively, the liquid may be poured into the vessel first and the pod then placed in the vessel. Either way, the vessel is then sealed and shaken just as the user typically would, except without requiring a blending tool such as wire whisk ball.

FIG. 1A illustrates a pod 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The pod 100 includes a hollow body 110 and is shown in a fill position, i.e., a lid 120 of the pod 100 is positioned to expose an opening 115 at the top of the body 110. In the illustrated embodiment, pod 100 includes a flat base 150. This allows a user to place the pod 100 on a flat surface in a stable manner to allow for filling of the pod with a powder of choice. In the illustrated embodiment, lid 120 is attached to body 110 by a hinge 130. This allows the lid 120 to swing away from the body 110 to expose the opening 115. To facilitate the opening of the lid 120, the lid may include a tab 125, which allows a user to push the lid 120 away from the opening 115. To close the lid 120 the user may swing the lid back over the opening 115 and snap the lid shut using a snap closure. In an alternative embodiment, the lid 120 may instead be screwed onto the body 110. In this case no hinge would be required, but a tether may be present to prevent loss or misplacement of lid 120.

FIG. 1B illustrates pod 100 with the lid 120 in a store position. Affixed to the lid 120 is a hole cover 140. The hole cover 140 may be rotatable about a pivot point 145 so that the hole cover is moveable over the surface of lid 120. The rotation of the hole cover 140 allows for the exposure of holes in the lid 120, openings that will allow liquid to pass into the body 120 and mix with a powder that is held in the pod 100 as discussed below.

The rotation of the whole cover 140 and the exposure of the holes is illustrated in FIG. 1C. This figure shows pod 100 in a release position that allows for release of the powder when the pod is immersed in a liquid. Here, hole cover 140 has been rotated about the pivot point 145, exposing one or more holes 160. When a powder has been loaded into the pod 100 and the hole cover 140 has been rotated in a way that exposes the holes 160, the pod 100 may be placed into a vessel containing a liquid chosen by the user. Because the holes 160 are open, the liquid may pass into pod 100 and the powder therein may pass out of the pod 100 into the liquid, allowing for mixing of the powder in the liquid. The mixing process may be enhanced by agitation of the sealed vessel. This will be discussed further with respect to FIG. 3. The user may alternatively elect to place the loaded pod 100 into the vessel first and then add the liquid.

The holes 160 as illustrated here are oblong and are oriented circumferentially about the lid. In alternative embodiments, the holes may be different in number, shape and/or orientation. Moreover, the hole cover may take an alternative form as well. The hole cover may, for example, take the form of one or more plugs that seal the holes when placed appropriately. The hole cover may alternatively take the form of a secondary lid that covers the entirety of the lid 120 (not shown).

In an embodiment, it may be helpful for the base 150 to have openings as well. This is shown in FIG. 1D. Here, the underside of pod 100 is shown, where the base 150 includes one or more base openings 170. In the fill configuration, a base cap 180 is affixed to base 150. The base cap 180 may attach by screwing on to base 150 or may snap on, so that the base openings are coverable. After the pod 100 is loaded and once the user is ready to mix the contents with a liquid, the base cap 180 may be removed to expose base openings 170. If the hole cover 140 has also been oriented to expose holes 160, then placing the pod 100 into the liquid will allow liquid to enter from both the holes 160 at the top of pod 100 and from base openings 170. The powder may likewise spill into the liquid via the holes 160 and the base openings 170. This embodiment may allow faster and more thorough mixing during agitation, given that liquid may flow through the body 110.

Four base openings 170 are shown in FIG. 1D and they are essentially round or oval in the example shown. In other embodiments the base openings 170 may be different in number and/or shape. Moreover, in the embodiment of FIG. 1d, the base 150 and base cap 180 are essentially flat, to permit pod 100 to sit stably on a counter or other flat surface during filling of the pod.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown) an integrated rotatable base cover may be used instead of a base cap, where the rotatable base cover has openings of its own. When rotated about the center of the base 150, the openings of the rotatable base cover may align with and expose the base openings 170; the rotatable base cover may be rotated further to close the base openings 170. In this embodiment the base openings are therefore likewise coverable.

In some situations, a user may wish to transport a loaded pod 100 to a gym or track, for mixing at the workout location. In this case, the user may want to transport the pod 100 in a purse, gym bag, or backpack for example. It may be convenient in this situation to store the loaded pod 100 in a secondary storage container. This is illustrated in FIG. 2A. Here, a storage container 210 is shown, where a loaded pod 100 may be placed in the storage container. The storage container 210 may then be closed and the storage container 210 may then be placed in the user's gym bag or other luggage. The use of a storage container 210 serves the purpose of keeping the pod 100 clean during transportation and mitigating the effects of any leakage of powder. In an embodiment, secondary storage container 210 is only slightly larger than pod 100, to minimize space requirements.

In other embodiments, a storage container may take other forms. In the embodiment of FIG. 2B, storage container 260a is essentially rectangular and has a closable container lid 280a attached at 270a.

In some use cases, a user may have more than one type of powder that he/she/they wish to mix into a liquid. A user may have a protein supplement as well as vitamin supplement, for example. In this case the user may want to carry two or more pods, in which case two or more respective storage containers may be desired. This is illustrated in FIG. 2B, where the storage container 260a is shown alongside a second storage container (260b). In this illustration, container 260b is largely identical to container 260a, i.e., container 260b comprises a closable container lid 280b, etc.

In an embodiment, two or more such storage containers may be physically attachable. The storage containers may snap together side-by-side for example, creating a modular multi-chamber storage device. Here, the lids may or may not be connectable to each other. In another embodiment, the device may be a single multi-chamber storage device where the individual compartments are not detachable. In such an embodiment, there may be a single lid spanning all the chambers; alternatively, each chamber may have its own independently operable lid.

FIG. 3 illustrates pod 100 as it is being placed in a vessel 310. Pod 100 is in the release position, in that the hole cover 140 has been rotated to expose holes 160, thereby allowing liquid 320 to mix with the powder inside the pod 100 when the pod is placed into the vessel 310. Once pod 100, in the release position, is placed into liquid 320, the vessel 310 may be closed using lid 325 and the user may then shake the vessel 310 to allow for mixing of the powder with the liquid 320. In an alternative process, pod 100 with its powder may be placed in vessel 310 before liquid 320 is added.

The presence of pod 100 in the release configuration, with its holes 160 open, may improve the agitation when the vessel is shaken, facilitating mixing of the powder with the liquid.

To enhance ease of use, vessel 310 may include one or more horizontal lines 330 that are raised, etched, or otherwise marked on its interior or exterior. These lines 330 may be labeled to indicate the amount of liquid present when the liquid's level reaches a particular line.

The powder to be dissolved may be whatever the user wishes to consume, such as creatine or other energy supplement, a protein powder, an electrolyte, or a nutritional supplement. Moreover, a user may choose to combine one or more of these powders in pod 100. Liquid 320 may be any liquid desired by the user, such as water, milk, or juice. These substances are presented here as possibilities and are not meant to be limiting. In another use case, the powder may be infant formula and liquid 320 may be water. In this case, vessel 310 may be a baby bottle.

There are several types of plastic that could be used for pod 100, its components, and vessel 310. One option is High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) which is currently used for most shaker bottle lids. Another option is Polypropylene (PP) which is currently used for the cup portion of most shaker bottles. Another option is Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) which is commonly used for food storage. All three materials are used commonly as food packaging and storage materials, are durable, food safe, and dishwasher safe. Other materials may be used as would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

The dimensions of a pod may vary in different embodiments. If, for example, a typical serving is a scoop of powder that is two tablespoons, the interior volume would have to accommodate this. In this example embodiment, the interior volume of the pod would be at least two tablespoons, or approximately 1.8 cubic inches. If the interior volume of the pod is essentially cylindrical, the interior height may be one inch or more, and the interior diameter may be at least 1.5 inches to accommodate 1.8 cubic inches of powder. Note however that in an embodiment, the interior volume may exceed the volume of powder, and a larger volume that leaves extra space after loading may allow for faster and more efficient mixing.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a process 400 for using a pod as described herein. At 410, the lid of the pod may be opened so that the pod is in the fill configuration. At 420, an appropriate amount of powder may be placed into the pod. At 430, the lid may be closed so that the pod is now in the storage configuration. The pod may be stored in a secondary storage container for transportation purposes if desired, as discussed above. At 440, water or another liquid may be placed in the vessel. At 450, the hole cover of the pod may be reconfigured in a manner that reveals the holes in the lid, putting the pod in the release configuration. At 460 the pod may be placed in the vessel and at 470 the vessel may be sealed. At 480 the vessel may be shaken to mix or dissolve the powder. The pod serves as an agitator during this step to facilitate mixing of the powder in the liquid.

Note that in the process of FIG. 4, the liquid is placed in the vessel before the pod. In an alternative process, the pod (in the release configuration) may be placed in the vessel before the liquid is added.

Further, in some situations a user may simultaneously use more than one pod, where the pods may contain different powders that are then mixed in the liquid in the vessel.

It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and not the Abstract section, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Abstract section may set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventors, and thus, is not intended to limit the present invention and the appended claims in any way.

The present invention has been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein.

It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance.

The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments but should be defined only in accordance with the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A pod for holding a powder to be mixed with a liquid, the pod comprising:

a body having an opening for loading the powder into the body; and

a detachable lid that covers the opening, the lid comprising: one or more holes; and one or more movable hole covers that, when repositioned, expose the holes.

2. The pod of claim 1, wherein the body is cylindrical.

3. The pod of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a base that is flat.

4. The pod of claim 3, wherein the base comprises one or more coverable base openings.

5. The pod of claim 1, wherein one or more of the body, the lid, and the one or more hole covers are a food grade material that is dishwasher safe.

6. The pod of claim 5, wherein the food grade material comprises one or more of:

high density polyethylene (HDP);

polypropylene (PPE); and

polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

7. The pod of claim 1, wherein the lid is attachable to the body at the opening of the body by a snap closure.

8. The pod of claim 7, further comprising a hinge connecting the lid to the body at the opening.