Abstract:
A disposable (or recyclable) beverage container includes two or more liquid-tight subsections, each subsection adapted to hold a different beverage. The container can carry liquids to be mixed at a point of consumption, or the contents of each subsection can be consumed separately, at different times.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to liquid containers. More specifically, the invention relates to disposable, single-serving beverage containers that can store (without mixing) more than one liquid. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Disposable (or recyclable) single-serving beverage containers are commonplace. They are frequently made of aluminum, although other metals and materials are also used, and contain between perhaps 200 ml and 500 ml (6 oz.˜16 oz.) of liquid. “Cans,” and particularly aluminum cans of 350 ml or 355 ml, are well-accepted by consumers for holding carbonated beverages (including alcoholic beverages), fruit juices and other liquids. 
         [0003]    In addition, a significant infrastructure has developed to support the use of this form factor. From automatic vending machines to polyethylene “six-pack” carrying rings to can-sized “cup holders” in vehicles, a new product that fits physically in a cylindrical space approximately 6.5 cm in diameter and 12 cm in height (2.5″×4.75″) can benefit from a wide variety of auxiliary products and services. 
         [0004]    Current single-use beverage containers have several drawbacks: since they are generally not recloseable, their contents must be consumed at once (opened cans may spill, or their contents may go stale or flat). Also, because of the ubiquity of the standard-size can, it is inconvenient to sell, store and carry volumes of liquid other than integral multiples of the standard size. Containers that address some of these issues may find acceptance in the marketplace. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Embodiments of the invention are containers with multiple separate compartments to contain liquids. The containers are similar in size, shape and total capacity to prior-art beverage containers known colloquially as aluminum cans. They may be used to contain two (or more) different beverages (e.g., different flavors) or two (or more) different liquids that are intended to be mixed before consumption or use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.” 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  shows the exterior of an oval, cylindrical embodiment of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a cutaway view of a circular, two-compartment container according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a two-piece embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows a three-compartment container according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  shows a two-compartment embodiment and a straw apparatus adapted to permit the user to drink from the compartments simultaneously. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Embodiments of the invention permit two or more liquids to be carried conveniently and consumed at the same time or at different times. Consumers are familiar with the size and shape of prior-art beverage containers, and infrastructure to support the manufacture, transport, use and recycling of such containers is widespread. Embodiments take advantage of this same infrastructure by using a similar shape (roughly cylindrical), size (355 ml) and material (aluminum). 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a typical embodiment of the invention. This container is generally in the form of an elliptical cylinder  100 , and is covered at the upper end by a lid  110  containing a plurality of non-recloseable openings or spouts operated by lever tabs  120  and  130 . In this Figure, one spout  140  is shown already opened (tab  120  has been lifted to displace the spout cover [not shown] into the interior of the can). Tab  130  is shown in its pre-opening position; its corresponding spout cover is not visible in this perspective view. Inset view  160  shows the top of can  100  from a higher elevation. In this view, lid  110 , tabs  120  and  130 , and spout  140  are visible, as is (unopened) spout cover  150 , which can be displaced using tab  130 . 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows a cutaway view of a circular, cylindrical embodiment of the invention. Here, the container comprises a close-ended cylindrical shell  200  with a partition  210  disposed inside. Partition  210  is sealed to the inside of shell  200  along the vertical walls (see, e.g., at  240 ) and across the bottom (not visible in this view). Partition  210  divides shell  200  into two separate liquid-tight compartments  220  and  230 . The partition may be substantially planar, as depicted here, or may be, for example, a reflexively-curved plane, dividing the interior into two compartments similar in shape to those of the embodiment described below in reference to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0015]    After filling, the container is capped with a lid  250 . In this embodiment, peel-off spout covers  260  and  270  are used to provide access to the liquid in the compartments. 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  shows another embodiment of the invention. Container  300  comprises two substantially identical, but separately formed, sub-units  310   a  and  310   b  (the top of sub-unit  310   a  has been sliced away along line  320  and removed, to expose to view surface  330 , where the sub-units touch when the container is assembled. The sub-units may be joined by an adhesive applied generally to surface  330 , or they may be held in physical contact by a shrink-wrap sleeve (not shown) placed around them. The spout  340  of sub-unit  310   b  is visible in this Figure. In contrast to the lever-tab openings shown in  FIG. 1  and the peel-off spout covers of  FIG. 2 , in this embodiment, spout  330  is a portion of the top surface of the sub-unit that can be pierced (e.g., by a stiff, slash-cut straw) to reach the liquid inside. 
         [0017]    It is appreciated that the prior art contains a number of different opening mechanisms for beverage containers. Embodiments can use many different openers (a single embodiment may even use different openings on each of its compartments. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  shows another cylindrical embodiment  400  comprising an outer aluminum shell  410  and three thin aluminum partitions  420 ,  430  and  440 , which sub-divide the container into compartments  450 ,  460  and  470 . As shown in this Figure, the compartments need not be equally sized. However, in all the embodiments shown, the height of each compartment is roughly the same, and differences in volume are the result of displacement of the partitioning planes or surfaces. 
         [0019]    Multi-compartment beverage containers according to embodiments of the invention are useful in a number of applications. First, their novelty may attract consumers. Bottlers and beverage manufacturers can use them to distribute samples of new flavors. For example, a main compartment of a two-compartment can might contain an existing, popular flavor, with a smaller compartment holding a new flavor to permit side-by-side comparison. 
         [0020]    Multi-compartment containers are also suitable for distributing liquids to be mixed at the point of use. For example, a three-compartment can might contain gin, lemon juice and soda, in appropriate volumes to be mixed into a Tom Collins cocktail. (This example illustrates an application for variably-sized compartments; the proper ratio for gin, lemon juice and soda in a Tom Collins is approximately 2:1:3.) More generally speaking, a mix-it-yourself cocktail product may consist of a multi-compartment beverage container according to an embodiment of the invention, with a first compartment containing an appropriate quantity of a first ingredient, a second compartment containing an appropriate quantity of a second ingredient, and so on; the product to be used by opening each compartment in turn and pouring the contents into a suitable glass or cup, mixing and serving. 
         [0021]    In another novelty application, the multiple compartments of an embodiment may be filled with complementary-flavored beverages, such as lemon and lime or cola and cherry or vanilla; or flavors which give rise to a distinct, different flavor when mixed. The appeal of this embodiment may be enhanced through the use of a multi-compartment straw, as shown in  FIG. 5 : a two-channel straw  510  divides partway down its length. When paired with a two-compartment beverage container  520  such as those as described above, the user can drink from the separate compartments  530  and  540  via straw-portions  550  and  560 . Thus, the liquids in the respective compartments are not mixed until they reach the drinker&#39;s mouth. With this embodiment, the beverage&#39;s effervescence can be provided by a chemical reaction between the two different liquids (rather than by dissolved carbon dioxide, as in an ordinary carbonated beverage). Here, either liquid consumed alone is flat (not effervescent or sparkling), but the mixture is fizzy With an embodiment like this, mixing ratios between the different compartments can be (roughly) controlled by using straw channels of varying diameters. For example, a 2:1 ratio of one beverage or flavor to another could be achieved by consuming the beverages through a straw where one channel is twice as large as the other. An appropriately-sized three-channel straw could permit the consumption of a mixed drink such as a Tom Collins directly from a multi-compartment container, without intermediate mixing in a glass as described above. 
         [0022]    The foregoing description has focused generally on roughly cylindrical embodiments having two or three separate compartments, but it will be clear to those of skill in the relevant arts that containers having four or more compartments are a straight-forward extension of the ideas presented. Furthermore, although many preferred embodiments will have an aggregate capacity of about 350 ml, and will resemble in size and shape the typical single-compartment disposable beverage can, embodiments may be larger or smaller, and may be round, square, elliptical, triangular or some other shape. Likewise, container opening mechanisms can be mixed and matched: lever tabs, peel-off tabs and pierceable spouts can be used with most embodiments. This flexibility in selecting features and configuration is understood to be limited only according to the following claims.