Beverage system including a removable piercer

Apparatuses related to a beverage system. The system includes a piercing apparatus that includes an inner ring composed of a rigid material and an outer ring composed of a flexible material that encompasses the inner ring. The outer ring has an upper portion disposed above the inner ring that has a greater range of motion than the outer ring that encompasses the inner ring. The piercing apparatus further includes a piercer composed of a rigid material that is connected to the inner ring by a plurality of arms that radially extend from the piercer to the inner ring. The plurality of arms define a plurality of openings between the arms. The outer ring includes a protrusion that circumferentially protrudes outward from an outer surface of the outer ring.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to beverage dispensers and more particularly to post-mix beverage systems.

Background Art

Beverages are often marketed, delivered and sold in a variety of different types of containers.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects described herein. This summary is not an extensive overview, and is not intended to identify key or critical elements or to delineate the scope of the claims. The following summary merely presents various described aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below.

Aspects of the disclosure include a piercing apparatus for a beverage container. The piercing apparatus includes an inner ring composed of a rigid material and an outer ring composed of a flexible material that encompasses the inner ring. The outer ring has an upper portion disposed above the inner ring that has a greater range of motion than the outer ring that encompasses the inner ring. The piercing apparatus further includes a piercer composed of a rigid material that is connected to the inner ring by a plurality of arms that radially extend from the piercer to the inner ring. The plurality of arms define a plurality of openings between the arms. The outer ring includes a protrusion that circumferentially protrudes outward from an outer surface of the outer ring.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a beverage system is provided with a container and a piercing apparatus detachably attachable into a neck of the container, the piercing apparatus having a piercer composed of a rigid material located in a center of the piercing apparatus, and when attached to the neck of the container the piercing apparatus is located in the center of the neck of the container. A neck cover that attaches to an outer rim of the neck of the container, wherein the neck cover defines an upper opening, a cap that seals the upper opening on the neck cover, and a strap that connects the neck portion to the cap.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a beverage system is provided with a container a neck cover that attaches to an outer rim of a neck of the container, wherein the neck cover defines an upper opening, a cap that seals the opening on the neck cover, and a strap with a first end and a second end, the first end is attachably detachable to the cap and the second end is attachably detachable to the neck cover. The connection of the first end of the strap to the cap enables the cap to rotate freely about the first end of the strap. The second end of the strap has a connector that corresponds to a connection component of the neck cover. Further the connection and disconnection of the second end of the strap to the neck component is only enabled when the neck cover is not attached to the outer rim of the neck of the container.

The summary here is not an exhaustive listing of the novel features described herein, and are not limiting of the claims. These and other features are described in greater detail below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The type of container used for a beverage may depend on several factors, including for example, the consumer for which the beverage is being marketed towards, the distribution channel(s), and/or the quantity of beverage being sold. In this regard, beverages marketed towards consumers may be distributed in plastic bottles. Such bottles take up valuable space and other resources, for example in transit, in the retail environment and at end-users' locations, such as their homes. Some systems may address some of these drawbacks by selling concentrated beverage syrups designed to be diluted with liquid, such as water. They may reduce waste associated with other delivery mechanisms, such as plastic bottles, but they require large, expensive systems that are too complicated and cumbersome for use by consumers other than retail establishments that sell large quantities of beverages. Even for such establishments, the knowledge and costs required to maintain conventional post-mix systems is inconvenient. They may require calibration on a regular basis to ensure that the correct amount of syrup is properly combined with the liquid. Any miscalibration or failure of the machine is often only discovered after customers complain about the taste of the beverage and further time is required to check and fix the ratio of syrup to liquid.

FIGS. 1-4illustrate an example of a post-mix beverage system100. In some embodiments the system includes a container or bottle200, a neck cover300, a cap400, a strap500that connects cap400and neck cover300, and a piercing apparatus600. Container200may hold a mixing solution or liquid, such as water, to be mixed with the contents of a cartridge700(see, e.g.,FIG. 5) in order to create a desired beverage in container200. Container200may generally be in the shape of a bottle, however, the present disclosure is not so limited and the container may have a variety of other shapes. Beverage system100and cartridge700, along with their component elements, may have the features of similar elements described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/342,550 filed Jan. 3, 2012, titled Post-mix beverage system, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.

In some embodiments, cap400may be removed from neck cover300(seeFIG. 2). Neck cover300defines an opening302that is defined at the upper end of neck cover300. A user may drink the beverage from container200through opening302of neck cover300. When cap400is attached to neck cover300, cap400seals opening302, thus preventing the beverage inside the container from leaking or spilling. The sealing between cap400and neck cover300may be accomplished in a variety of different manners. For example, neck cover300may have screw threads304within opening302and cap400may have corresponding screw threads402on a projection404within cap400.

Cap400may be secured to container200when cap400is removed from neck cover300by way of a magnet406(seeFIG. 8) that is embedded within a projection404of cap400. Container200may include a corresponding magnet or metallic insert204that is secured to container200. When cap400is removed from neck cover300, the location of magnet or metallic insert204and magnet406in cap400are aligned to enable cap400to be secured to the container200by magnetic attraction between magnet or metallic insert204and magnet406. By securing cap400to container200, cap400does not flop around during use by the user.

Neck cover300may be removed from container200(seeFIG. 3, which illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of beverage system100in which neck cover300is removed from container200). When neck cover300is removed from container200, its attached cap400and strap500are also removed. The attachment of neck cover300and container200may be accomplished in a variety of different manners. For example, a neck202of container200may include screw threads which correspond to screw threads located within neck cover300.

In some embodiments, a piercing apparatus600may be secured in neck202of container200. Piercing apparatus600may easily be inserted and removed from neck202of container200. Piercing apparatus600may be removed from container200to facilitate ease of use of beverage system100. For example, piercing apparatus600is removable in order to allow ease of cleaning piercing apparatus600, or for using piercing apparatus600independently of container200(e.g., with a different container). Each component of beverage system100is composed of a material that is dishwasher safe, thereby enabling the user to wash the components in the dishwasher. Also, since piercing apparatus600is removable, it may be used independently of container200, for example piercing apparatus600may be used with one or more different containers. Thus piercing apparatus600may be interchangeable with a number of different containers.

FIG. 4illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of beverage system100and how the various components of beverage system100interact with each other. In some embodiments, piercing apparatus600is inserted into neck202of container200to sealably engage therewith about an exterior side of piercing apparatus600. After piercing apparatus600is inserted into and engaged with the neck202of container200, neck cover300may be attached to container200. Strap500may be attached to cap400and neck cover300, and cap400may be attached to neck cover300.

In some embodiments, piercing apparatus600includes a piercer602for engaging with cartridge700and opening cartridge700to release contents of cartridge700into container200.FIG. 5illustrates container200with piercing apparatus600inserted into container200and cartridge700located above container200. The cartridge700may hold one or more beverage ingredients, which may be, for example, syrup, paste, powder, granules, or other compositions, or any other combination of ingredients. Additionally, cartridge700may hold other ingredients or flavors, such as nutrients or vitamins. The contents of cartridge700may be mixed with contents of container200, such as water.

FIGS. 6 and 7illustrate a top perspective view and a bottom perspective view of piercing apparatus600, respectively, and illustrate further details of piercing apparatus600.FIG. 8illustrates a cross-sectional view of an upper portion of beverage system100. In some embodiments piercing apparatus600includes a piercer602that is adapted to engage with cartridge700to release contents of cartridge700into container200by opening cartridge700. Piercer602may be fabricated from a rigid material to enable piercer602to open cartridge700. For example, piercer602may be made of a hard thermoplastic polymer, such as, for example, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

In some embodiments piercer602may be centered in the middle of piercing apparatus600, and when piercing apparatus600is inserted into neck202of the container200, piercer602is centered in neck202of container200. Piercer602may have a variety of different shapes to engage with cartridge700.

Piercing apparatus600may include an inner ring610, which in some embodiments is fabricated from a rigid material. For example, inner ring610may be made of a hard thermoplastic polymer, such as, for example, PBT or ABS. In some embodiments, inner ring610is made of the same material as piercer602.

Piercing apparatus600may include an outer ring620that is fabricated from a flexible material. For example, outer ring620may be made of a flexible synthetic polymer such as silicone. Outer ring620may encompass portions of inner ring610, but may leave other portions of inner ring610exposed. For example, an inner surface of the inner ring610above an inner rib628, discussed below, may be exposed. Alternatively, the entire inner ring610may be completely encompassed by the outer ring620.

Inner ring610and outer ring620may be manufactured to be one integral component. While made of different materials, in some embodiments inner ring610and outer ring620are not separable after their manufacture (e.g., inner ring610and outer ring620cannot be separated by the user). The piercing apparatus600may be manufactured by molding (including co-molding), casting, machining, 3-D printing or combinations of these and similar techniques.

In some embodiments piercer602is connected to inner ring610by a plurality of arms604. Arms604may be monolithic with the inner ring610or otherwise integrally attached to the inner ring610. The number of arms604that connect piercer602to inner ring610may vary. In some embodiments, the number of arms is four, which secures the piercer602to the inner ring610and contributes to the structural integrity of piercing apparatus600by helping support and maintain the shape of inner ring610. Arms604may be spaced an equal distance apart (e.g., forming a cross). However, the present disclosure is not so limited to the illustrated embodiment and the number of arms604and the spacing of arms604may be varied. For example, arms604may also be intermediately spaced in a number of different patterns in order to provide structural integrity to piercing apparatus600.

In some embodiments, arms604define openings606between adjacent arms604. Openings606enable liquid or other beverage ingredients that are within cartridge700to flow into container200once cartridge700has been opened (e.g., by piercer602). The flow of liquid can also be reversed. For example, the liquid within the container200(e.g., a beverage that may have been created with beverage ingredients from cartridge700) can flow from container200through openings606to opening302of neck cover300to enable the user to drink from container200. This bi-directional flow is illustrated by the bi-directional arrows shown inFIG. 8.

Piercer602may have a variety of different shapes to engage with cartridge700. According to some embodiments, piercer602may have plurality of vertical members608(e.g., each vertical member608aligning with an arm604). Alternatively, vertical members608may be offset from arms604. In some embodiments, each vertical member608connects to the others at the center of piercing apparatus600, thus providing a contact point to contact cartridge700. In some embodiments, piercer602is surrounded by a base ring607to which arms604are attached to connect piercer602to inner ring610. Vertical members608may extend above base ring607but may not extend beyond an upper edge of a cartridge retainer632of piercing apparatus600which enables cartridge700to be inserted and secured by piercing apparatus600before piercer602opens cartridge700.

The number of vertical members608may vary. For example, in some embodiments there may be four vertical members608that are equally spaced from each other and align with a corresponding arm604to connect to the inner ring610, thus creating a cross.

Further, in some embodiments piercer602may define openings609between adjacent vertical members608. The flow of the liquid through openings609of vertical members608may also be bi-directional, similar to openings606located between arms604

Inner ring610may further include a lip612that projects from an outer surface614of inner ring610. Lip612may be encompassed by outer ring620.FIG. 8illustrates lip612protruding from a top of inner ring610, and also shows outer ring620encompassing lip612, forming a lip622on outer ring620. Lip622interacts with neck202of container200to secure piercing apparatus600in neck202of container200and to help keep piecing apparatus600from completely entering the container200.

In some embodiments outer ring620may further include a rib624that protrudes circumferentially from an outer surface626of the outer ring620. Rib624may seal piercing apparatus600to neck202of container200when piercing apparatus600is inserted in neck202of container200, thus allowing liquid to flow only through openings606and609, not between neck202and rib624.FIG. 8illustrates that when piercing apparatus600is inserted in neck202of the container200, rib624is compressed against neck202of container200, in a press-fit configuration.

In some embodiments outer ring620further includes inner rib628that protrudes circumferentially from an inner surface630of outer ring620toward piercer602.

In some embodiments outer ring620further includes a cartridge retainer632. Cartridge retainer632may be disposed above inner ring610. Cartridge retainer632may extend vertically at an inward angle from the top of inner ring610. In some embodiments cartridge retainer632does not encompass any portion of inner ring610or any other rigid material. By not encompassing rigid material, cartridge retainer632has greater flexibility than the rest of outer ring620that encompasses inner ring610. This flexibility enables cartridge retainer632to have a greater range of motion than the rest of outer ring620. For example, cartridge retainer632may flex outward, away from piercer602. In some embodiments cartridge retainer632secures cartridge700in place by flexing outward when cartridge700is inserted into piercing apparatus600. As illustrated inFIG. 10, inner rib628and cartridge retainer632seal cartridge700that is inserted into piercing apparatus600to ensure that liquid does not flow outside container200and cartridge700.

In some embodiments cartridge retainer632further includes a plurality of vertical slots634that are positioned on an inner surface636of cartridge retainer632. Slots634may extend from substantially the bottom of inner surface636to the top of inner surface636of cartridge retainer632. In some embodiments, the number of slots634is four and slots634are equally spaced form each other. However, the present disclosure is not so limited. The number of slots634and the spacing between slots634in cartridge retainer632may be varied. In some embodiments, slots634may be located directly above arms604that secure piercer602to inner ring610.

FIGS. 9 and 10illustrate an exemplary process of mixing the contents of cartridge700with the contents of container200. Cartridge700may engage with piercing apparatus600by a user inserting cartridge700into piercing apparatus600when neck cover300is removed from container200. Cartridge700may include a pod710and a cap720which are connected to each other. The connection between pod710and cap720may, for example, use a snap structure, corresponding threads, or other connection mechanism. Cartridge700may hold one or more beverage ingredients, which may be, for example, syrup, paste, powder, granules, or other compositions, or any other combination of ingredients. Additionally, cartridge700may hold other ingredients or flavors, such as nutrients or vitamins.

Pod710may be a vessel capable of holding the syrup, paste, powder, granules, or other compositions, or combination of ingredients. Pod710may have a circular cross-section and may include a chamber712, an opening714, and a cover716. Cover716may be located over opening714of pod710. Cover716may be a seal sealing in contents of cartridge700. For example, cover716may be a foil seal located over opening714of pod710.

In some embodiments cap720includes a lid722with teeth724. Lid722may be attached to cap720by a hinge726that enables lid722to rotate about hinge726to cause teeth724on lid722to open cover716of pod710(e.g., by tearing through or otherwise puncturing cover716).

When lid722of the cap720is pressed against piercer602with a sufficient force, piercer breaks lid722free from the rest of cap720except for at its connection to the rest of cap720at hinge726. Lid722rotates about hinge726and teeth724of the lid722open cover716of pod710, thereby releasing the contents of cartridge700into the contents of container200, where they mix together to form a beverage. The contents of cartridge700pass through openings606and609. While cartridge700is inserted into piercing apparatus600, cartridge retainer632flexes outward to grip and provide inward force to secure cartridge700in piercing apparatus600. In addition, when cartridge700is inserted into piercing apparatus600, air from inside container200is released by way of vertical slots634that are positioned on inner surface636of cartridge retainer632. This release of air is illustrated by the arrows inFIG. 10. Releasing air through slots634inhibits a pressure build-up that could otherwise occur as cartridge700is forced downward by a user within piercing apparatus600. This pressure build-up could cause cartridge700to pop off of piercing apparatus, thus reducing the effectiveness of the seal therebetween. If the pressure buildup was overcome (e.g., by “burping” air past cartridge retainer632), cartridge700could become stuck on piercing apparatus600by suction between cartridge700and container200. Slots634relieve any pressure differences by allowing airflow with the outside atmosphere. This promotes easy insertion and removal of cartridge700into and from piercing apparatus600.

After the contents of cartridge700are released into container200and while cartridge700is secured to the piercing apparatus600, the user may mix the contents of container200and the contents formerly inside cartridge700. This helps wash out the cartridge700and help ensure that cartridge700is empty. Cartridge700may then be removed from piercing apparatus600and the user may reattach neck cover300to neck202of container200. The user may further mix the contents of container200and the contents formerly of cartridge700by shaking container200. After the beverage is mixed, the user may remove cap400and drink the mixed beverage.

Piercing apparatus600may be used independently of container200and other elements of beverage system100. For example, piercing apparatus600may be used with a cartridge700in the same manner as described above to release the contents of cartridge700into any other sort of container, such as a cup of water or a general-purpose water bottle. In this way a user can easily take just piercing apparatus600and a cartridge700on the go (e.g., in a user's pocket), and can acquire a cup and water at any desired location to conveniently create their preferred beverage in the manner described above.

FIGS. 11 and 12illustrate neck cover300. Neck cover300is a separate component from cap400and strap500.FIGS. 13 and 14illustrate strap500. Strap500may be attached to neck cover300and cap400. Strap500includes a first end510, a second end520, and a middle portion540. First end510and second end520are composed of a rigid material such as a hard thermoplastic polymer, for example, PBT or ABS. The middle portion540is composed of a flexible material such as a flexible synthetic polymer, for example, silicone.

A ring512is disposed at first end510. Ring512is not separable from the rest of strap500. Ring512snaps into cap400(e.g., within an interior recess of a sidewall of cap400) and enables cap400to freely rotate about ring512of strap500. In this manner, when cap400is attached to neck cover300, cap400may be twisted onto neck cover300without rotating strap500.

Two legs522are disposed at second end520. Legs522may connect to a lateral bridge piece532that extends laterally beyond both legs522. The legs522and lateral bridge piece532define a central opening524and opposing side notches526and528. A snap-fit protrusion530protrudes from the inner surface of the second end520into the opening524.

In some embodiments neck cover300includes a strap connector306. Strap connector306may be a snap-fit type connector that connects second end520of strap500to neck cover300. In some embodiments strap connector306has three protrusions that connect to the corresponding central opening524and opposing side notches526and528in second end520of strap500. Center protrusion310may have a snap-fit connection that snaps onto snap-fit protrusion530.

In some embodiments second end520of strap500is only attached to strap connector306of neck cover300by an upward force on second end520of strap500forcing second end520into strap connector306. Similarly, second end520of the strap500can only be detached from strap connector306of the neck cover by a downward force on second end520of strap500forcing second end520away from strap connector306. Since second end520of strap500can only be attached by an upward force, strap500can only be attached to neck cover300when neck cover300is removed from container200(since otherwise container200would be in the way). Similarly, since second end520of strap500can only be detached by a downward force, strap500can only be detached from neck cover300when neck cover300is removed from container200. Therefore, when neck cover300is attached to container200, container200prevents second end520of strap500from being disconnected from strap connector306of neck cover300. Container200thereby acts as a locking mechanism and keeps strap500in place when attached to neck cover300.

Since neck cover300, cap400, and strap500are separate components, each piece may be customizable by the user of beverage system100. For example, the user may select from a variety of different neck covers, caps, and straps to design a personalized beverage system100.

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.