Abstract:
There is described a bottle for containing liquid beverages. The bottle has a body, a bottle closure which engages the body, and one or more storage compartments. The storage compartments are for containing a powder or other ingredient for mixing with or dissolving in the liquid beverage. The contents of the storage compartments may be released independently. Thus several types and/or amounts of a powder and/or other ingredient can be stored in one bottle, allowing a user to prepare a particular type and/or amount of a particular beverage at a particular point in a training or exercise program.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. EP11166085.8 filed on May 13, 2011, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to beverage bottles, and in one example finds application in drinking bottles used in association with sporting past-times. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Sports bottles have become popular with all segments of the public interested in a healthy life style and particularly those dedicated to fitness and training. Typically, such sports bottles are made simply of a plastic container and a detachable closure. A straw or other mouthpiece is often provided in the closure. Bottles of this type are suitable for housing a beverage which may be an energy drink or the like, for example suited to adding electrolytes or other liquids for hydration. 
         [0004]    A particular type of sports bottle is often called a “shaker” or “shaker cup”. The name is derived from the practice of using the cup to mix a liquid beverage such as water or milk with a powder or other soluble. The powder is mixed with, or dissolved in, the liquid by the user shaking the components together while both are held in the shaker, and while the closure is appropriately secured. 
         [0005]    In sporting applications, and particularly for those intended for body building, the powder may be a nutritional supplement, such as whey protein or the like. 
         [0006]    Whey protein is a rich source of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), containing the highest known levels of any natural food source. BCAAs are important for athletes, since, unlike the other essential amino acids, they are metabolized directly into muscle tissue and are the first amino acids used during periods of exercise and resistance training. Whey protein is available in several forms, and whilst it may be provided in an aqueous form (created by the removal of casein) more typically it is provided in a dry, highly soluble form, such as whey protein extract, whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, and so on. 
         [0007]    A disadvantage associated with sports bottles known heretofore, is that they are designed to hold only one beverage at a time. This is not entirely satisfactory to athletes and body builders who may desire a few different beverages over the course of a training schedule. For example, a weightlifter may desire a drink containing ingredients most suited to hydration at one point in a program and a drink composed for recovery at another point during or just after an exercise program. This consequentially requires the use of two such bottles, if the drinks are prepared beforehand. 
         [0008]    Alternatively, in the past when only one bottle is available, the sportsperson had to store the various powder supplements separately from the bottle. However, storage apparatus dedicated for this purpose, and which is suitable for use at a gym or other sporting facility, is not commonly known. In fact, most tubs in which such supplements are sold are large and bulky. 
         [0009]    In order to prepare a drink mid-workout, a user might typically require returning to the locker room, which is both time consuming and inconvenient. 
         [0010]    Further, in some situations, it is believed that some of the nutritional value of a beverage can be lost if the powder or other soluble element is mixed or dissolved into the liquid for too great a duration prior to being consumed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    Thus, the present invention recognises that it would be advantageous to provide apparatus that provides for storing several powders or nutritional supplements in dedicated and appropriately sized compartments which might conveniently be accessed before, during and shortly after exercising, and mixed with or dissolved into a liquid beverage. 
         [0012]    According to the present invention there is provided a bottle comprising a body portion for containing a liquid beverage, a closure sealingly engageable with the body portion, a housing locatable inside the body portion and removable there-from having at least one storage compartment, wherein the or each storage compartment is adapted for containing a powder or other ingredient intended for mixing with or dissolving in the liquid beverage. 
         [0013]    Preferably there are at least three storage compartments. 
         [0014]    The body portion may be formed or moulded so as to comprise a socket formed in an internal wall thereof, wherein the socket is sized to support or nest the housing. 
         [0015]    The storage compartments would suitably be adapted to prevent ingress of the liquid beverage, so as to keep the powder or other ingredient contained therein dry. 
         [0016]    Each storage compartment would preferably have a lid or removeable seal for permitting access to, adding or releasing of the powder or ingredient contained therein. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the bottle includes biasing means for maintaining the doors in a closed state. 
         [0018]    Preferably a strainer is provided and is integral with the housing. The strainer is adapted to assist in the mixing of the beverage when the bottle is shaken or inverted. 
         [0019]    The housing may be provided with a flat side that acts as a stable base upon which the housing may rest. This is advantageous when the storage compartments are being filled. 
         [0020]    Typically, the closure will include an integral mouth piece for permitting consumption of the beverage directly from the bottle. Alternatively, the closure may incorporate a pouring spout. 
         [0021]    The bottle closure may be configured such that when engaged with the body, a seal is formed over the dry compartment, isolating it from the remainder of the bottle by way of a water-tight seal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    In order to better portray the invention, a number of example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial representation of a bottle in accordance with the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a pictorial representation of a bottle closure, engaged with the body of the bottle shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  illustrates the closure of  FIG. 2 , removed from the bottle body and revealing a housing internally within the bottle body; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the aforesaid housing; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of the three components collectively comprising a bottle in accordance with the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a housing; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative body portion having a dry pocket. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    Referring firstly to  FIG. 1 , a drinking bottle as may be used by sportspersons is illustrated. The bottle, generally depicted as  10 , includes a bottle body  11  and a bottle closure  12 . 
         [0031]    The bottle  10  of the present invention may be constructed of any one of various types of plastics and preferably is moulded of high density polyethylene. 
         [0032]    The body  11  is generally cylindrical and adapted to contain a liquid beverage. Typically, the beverage may be water or milk, but need not be limited to these. 
         [0033]    The closure  12 , also shown in  FIG. 2 , is threadably engageable with the body  11  so to provide a leak-proof seal. This is advantageous as the bottle is suitable for carrying in a gym bag or the like, and leaking would be detrimental. Yet further, the bottle also acts as a so-called shaker cup, whereby the beverage may be intentionally shaken for the purpose of mixing the drink contained within it. The male thread  13  moulded into the external upper wall of the body  11  is more clearly illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The closure  12  has a drinking spout  20  associated with a lid  21  connected to the closure  12  by a strap  22 . 
         [0034]    Also in  FIG. 3  may be seen the upper surface of a housing  14 . The housing  14  nests on a shoulder (not shown) moulded into the inner surface of the generally cylindrical wall of the body  11 . 
         [0035]    Various alternative methods and devices, known to those skilled in the art, will be readily apparent which are suitable for holding the housing  14  in place within the internal confines of the bottle  10 . For example the housing  14  may have mouldings or dogs that engage with receptive members in the bottle body. Alternatively, the housing itself may be threadably engageable with the body. Preferably though, the housing is detachable from the bottle body. 
         [0036]    The housing  14  is more clearly represented in  FIG. 4 . The housing  14  is sized and shaped across its cross-section to correspond to the internal ize and shape of the bottle body  11 . The cross-section of the housing  14  is, in this example embodiment, divided between a compartment section  15  and a perforated section  16 . 
         [0037]    The compartment section  15  comprises of three discrete compartments  17   a,    17   b  and  17   c,  each adapted to store an appropriate measure of powder or other ingredient for mixing with or dissolving into the liquid beverage when desired. It will be understood that as the compartments are separate, they may each hold a different ingredient. Alternatively, some or all of them may hold the same ingredient, but each in a suitable measure for preparing a beverage in the quantity that might ideally be taken at a particular point in a training or exercise program. 
         [0038]    While the embodiment described herein, by way of example, has three such compartments  17 , the housing  14  may be designed to incorporate more or less such compartments. Moreover, each compartment need not be the same size. 
         [0039]    The compartments  17  are each provided with an access means for enabling filling or emptying the respective compartments with a powder or other ingredient. In the example embodiment illustrated, the access means  18  is formed as a hinged door comprising a latch  19  for the opening and closing thereof. The door  18  sealingly engages with the housing when closed, thereby preventing the undesirable ingress of the liquid beverage into the compartments. 
         [0040]    The body  11  is provided with splines or other means that apply pressure against the doors  18  to maintain them in a closed position when the housing  14  is located in its intended position within the bottle  10 . Measuring guides may be moulded or marked on the internal walls of the compartments  17 . Alternatively, a seal may be achieved using rubber beads placed around the perimeter of the doors  18 , and which engage corresponding channels located around the perimeter of the opening of the compartments  17 . 
         [0041]    In one embodiment, the doors  18  are completely detachable from the housing  14 , either independently or as a single unit. The doors  18  may be held in placed by an abutment member (not shown) located on the bottle closure  12 . The abutment member may be a longitudinal member located such that when the bottle closure  12  is attached to the body  11 , the abutment member abuts the doors  18 , holding them closed. In this embodiment, the doors  18  are held closed when the bottle closure  12  is in place, but can be freely moved when the bottle closure  12  is detached from the body  11 . 
         [0042]    The perforated section  16  is adapted to enable passage of the liquid from below the housing  14  to the upper side of the housing  14 , as may be required when drinking the beverage from the spout  20 . Yet further, it incorporates the additional advantageous function of filtering or straining any congealed or non-dissolved clumps of powder that might otherwise be consumed through the spout  20 . 
         [0043]    The housing  14  further includes a handle  24 . The handle  24  provides a gripping means for ease of lifting the housing  14  out of the bottle body  11  (with the closure  12  removed). Similarly, the handle allows the housing  14  to be easily manipulated when filling the compartments  17  with powder, capsules, granules and or other ingredients. 
         [0044]    In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, and with reference to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a housing  14  having a perforated section  16  and a compartment section  15 , having three compartments  17   a,    17   b,    17   c . The three compartments  17   a,    17   b,    17   c  have a first opening (upper opening) and a second opening (lower opening). The second opening is covered by a release door  30  (or series of doors), which can be selectively operated to enable the solids in the compartments  17   a,    17   b,    17   c  to be released therefrom. In this embodiment, the release door  30  is attached to a spindle  32 , which can be rotated to enable selective release of solids from one or more of the compartments  17   a,    17   b,    17   c.  Doors  18  can be applied to the first opening (top opening) to provide a seal for the compartments  17   a,    17   b,    17   c.    
         [0045]    In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, and with reference to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a bottle  10  having a bottle closure  12  and a body portion  11 . Moulded into the body portion is a dry compartment  34 , which can be further compartmentalised to form compartments for solids. The dry compartment is integral to the body  11 , and defines a cavity which is kept dry from any beverage or liquid contained in the remainder of the body. At least a portion of the housing (not shown) may nest in the dry compartment  34 . The bottle closure is configured such that when engaged with the body  11 , a seal is formed over the dry compartment  34 , isolating it from the remainder of the bottle  10 . For example, the bottle closure  12  may have a flange or seal that forms a water-tight seal over the dry compartment  34 , 
         [0046]    In use, a sportsperson may arrange to provide for a plurality of drinks to be taken at different times when exercising or thereafter, wherein a plurality of key ingredients may be stored in the same bottle. For example, prior to attending a gymnasium, a user may fill one of the compartments with an appropriate measure of a pre-workout supplement, a second of the compartments with whey protein for “carb” loading and a third of the compartments with recovery supplement to assist in the prevention of DOMS “delayed onset muscular soreness”. 
         [0047]    Then, at desired times, the user may fill the shaker cup with water and empty the contents of one of the compartments into the water. The mixing of the powders with the liquid may then be carried out at an appropriate time and in appropriate measures, most conveniently. 
         [0048]    Once the housing  14  and closure  12  have been replaced, the bottle  10  may be shaken to aid in the mixing and or dissolving of the powder with the water. The resultant beverage may then be consumed via the spout  20 . 
         [0049]    This may be repeated at a later point in an exercise program, using the contents of an alternative compartment. 
         [0050]    An advantage of the invention therefore is that it permits the storage and carrying of a plurality of powders in the same utensil but nevertheless separate from water or other liquid. The need for a user to carry multiple powders separately in bags, tubs, or to purchase inferior products behind the gym bar are negated. A bodybuilder or athlete would have the ability to have, in a convenient manner, their own chosen personal nutrition on them when working out. 
         [0051]    It should be appreciated that further modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention herein intended. Yet further, it should be understood that the invention herein need not be limited to a sporting application, but may also find utility in other applications—for example, outdoor dining or camping, infant bottles and so on.