Abstract:
A closure element for a beverage container is in the form of a sports cap, or other closer, or initially closed straw and provides a chamber or reservoir for containing colorant in the form of liquids, gels, granules, powders, tablets or other solid bodies. Closures such as valves, rupturable membranes, hinged doors or clamps provide closer structure for initially keeping the chambers closed. Upon opening the bottom ends of the chambers, colorants flow into beverages in the containers which are see-through/clear or partially see-through/clear. Coloration of the beverage is voluntarily initiated by the consumer and the thus colored beverages are then consumed by passage through the closure element. In one embodiment of the invention, the colorant is a medicinal agent which can be colored or may be clear. The medicinal agent is released into liquid, which may be water, for ingestion by a patient.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention is directed to self contained additive reservoirs for use with beverage containers, and more particularly the present invention is directed to additive reservoirs wherein the additives are colorants that are disposed in passageways through which beverages in the container are withdrawn for consumption.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In order to enhance the experience of drinking a beverage, additives are added to beverages for many purposes. For example, sugar, sweeteners and/or cream is added to coffee or tea. Flavorings of various sorts are also added to other beverages. Color is a readily apparent characteristic of any beverage and food coloring is frequently added to beverages in order to make them more appealing. Many beverages are clear and would be more marketable if they could be of various colors.  
           [0003]    Visual stimulation increases the interest in using and consuming food items, but to date that visual stimulation has not been at the discretion of the consumer in a convenient configuration. There are arrangements for providing color additives to beverages, but these arrangements require the consumer to remove a top or cap. None of the arrangements incorporate in a sports-cap, a self contained colorant reservoir or a colorant cylinder inside of a cap, nor do any arrangements employ a colorant straw with a pouch to provide visual stimulation in a contained beverage. Moreover, mixing techniques currently available are very complicated to use, too costly to produce and employ complicated structures. Consequently, no present marketing item efficiently and cost-effectively allows a coloring agent to be mixed with a clear or neutral beverage for visual entertainment while consuming the beverage.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention is directed to a self contained additive reservoir which is configured for attachment to a beverage container for adding to a beverage in the container, additives such as, but not limited to, coloring agents. Agents could also include vitamins, minerals or other consumable agents that in some respect enhance the beverage consumed.  
           [0005]    In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a color additive is introduced to a beverage by a customer from a closure element is which is also used as a conduit to consume the beverage.  
           [0006]    The closure element is configured for attachment to a dispensing opening of the beverage container, the closure element comprising a coupling for attaching the closure element to the dispensing opening of the beverage container.  
           [0007]    In the first embodiment, a chamber is positioned within the closure element, the chamber containing a colorant agent and having a first end and a second end. The first end is in communication though the dispensing opening of the beverage container with a beverage within the container, and the second end is configured to dispense the beverage as the beverage passes through the chamber. A first closer is provided for closing the first end of the closure element; and a second closer is provided for closing the second end of the closure element. An opener opens at least the first closer to let the colorant flow therethrough into the beverage, and means is provided for allowing opening of the second closer to dispense the beverage, mixed with the colorant, therethrough to the consumer.  
           [0008]    According to a first embodiment of the invention, the closure element is a screw cap having threads which provide a coupling to the dispensing opening of the beverage container. Also according to the first embodiment of the invention, the screw threads are on a first cylindrical member and thread onto the dispensing opening of the beverage container. A chamber initially containing the colorant is in a second cylindrical member mounted on the first cylindrical member. The first closer is comprised of a wall on the first cylindrical member which faces a floor on the second cylindrical member, with both the wall and floor having initially unaligned openings therethrough. The opener is a rotatable connection disposed between the first and second cylindrical members which allows a customer to twist the second cylindrical member with respect to the first cylindrical member to align an opening in the floor of the colorant agent chamber with the opening through the wall of the first cylindrical member. This allows the colorant to flow into the beverage; and with the colorant therein, to flow to the second closer. The second closer is preferably a sports cap valve mounted on the closure element to provide a means for allowing opening of the second closer.  
           [0009]    In a further aspect of the invention, the closure element has at least one detent on either the first or second cylindrical member which engages an indentation in the other cylindrical member to temporarily hold the members in a fixed position with respect to one another, until the second cylindrical member is rotated with respect to the first cylindrical member.  
           [0010]    In still a further aspect of the invention the closure element, the colorant in the closure element is in the form of a liquid, a gel, granules, powder or a solid body such as a tablet.  
           [0011]    In an additional aspect of the invention the colorant chamber is divided into a plurality of compartments wherein the compartments each contain a different colorant.  
           [0012]    In another embodiment of the invention, the closure element has a colorant chamber disposed within the screw cap, wherein a first closer seals a bottom end of the chamber adjacent to the beverage within the beverage container, and a second closer seals an outlet end of the chamber, through which outlet end the beverage is consumed. A tube (or drinking straw) is provided for cooperating with the closure, wherein upon inserting the tube through the outlet end of the chamber, the second seal is opened, and upon continuing insertion of the tube through the bottom end of the chamber, the first seal is opened thus allowing colorant in the chamber to flow into the beverage. Upon the tube being immersed therein, the beverage is consumable through the tube.  
           [0013]    In a third aspect of the aforementioned embodiment, the tube or drinking straw is coupled to a dispensing opening of a clear beverage pouch by a unitary or integral joint. The tube or drinking straw contains a colorant or colorants, and is sealed above by a closer seal and below by a clamp. The beverage pouch and colorant drinking straw or tube are unitary, and when the first closer in the form of a clamp disposed between the dispensing opening of the pouch and the free end of the tube is intentionally moved to an open position, the colorant in the drinking straw mixes with the beverage in the clear pouch. The second closer is a removable seal at the free end of the tube. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    Various other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a an exploded perspective view, partially in section, of a first embodiment of the present invention showing a sports cap with its components not aligned;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a side perspective view, with portions in phantom, showing components of sports cap of FIG. 1 aligned with the top of a beverage container;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the sports cap of FIGS. 1 and 2;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 4A and 4B are top views of a first embodiment of operating valve portions of the cap;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 4C and 4D are top views of a second embodiment of operating valve portions of the cap;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 4E and 4F are top views of a third embodiment of valve portions of the cap, the valve portion being configured as capillaries;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view, partially in section, showing second embodiment of a sports cap which contains multiple colorant agents;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a side exploded view, with portions in phantom, showing components of FIG. 5 in alignment with a sports bottle for assembly thereon;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 7A and 7B are top views of a valve arrangement for two coloring agents used with the arrangements of FIGS. 5 and 6;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIGS. 7C and 7D are top views of a valve arrangement for three coloring agents used with the sports cap of FIGS. 5 and 6;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 8 is a perspective side view showing a third embodiment of the invention, with portions in phantom, wherein a straw is utilized to initiate deposit of a color additive to a beverage;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 9 has a view showing a colorant containing chamber used in FIG. 8;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 10 is a side view showing a portion of a straw extending through the colorant chamber wherein the straw has a diameter slightly smaller than that of the chamber;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 11 is a top view of the beverage container cap of FIGS.  8 - 10 ;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 12 is side elevation of the cap and beverage container;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 13A is a side view of a first embodiment of the colorant chamber using two foil membranes as seals;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 13B is a side view of a second embodiment of the colorant chamber using a foil membrane at its top end and hinged valve at its bottom end;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 14 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of the invention in which a straw contains a colorant agent;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 15 is a top view of a slidable valve element used with the straw of FIG. 14;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the slidable valve element of FIG. 15 shown holding the straw closed with the colorant agent therein;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 17 is a side view similar to FIG. 16 but with the slideable valve element positioned to let the colorant agent flow into the beverage, and  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a closer used with the straw of FIGS. 14, 16 and  17 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0037]    Referring now to FIGS.  1 ,  4 A-F, there is shown a first embodiment of a closure element configured in accordance with the present invention as a sports cap  20 , wherein a single colorant agent is contained within and dispensed from a colorant containing assembly  22  into a clear or colored beverage  23  in a beverage container  24 . The sports cap  20  is attached to the beverage container  24 , which beverage container is preferably of a pre-existing design and configuration and includes beverage containing portion  25  and an externally threaded neck  26  on which the sports cap  20  is mounted. Manipulation of the colorant container  22  by a consumer releases colorant into the beverage  23  packaged by the beverage container  24 . In other words, a consumer initiates coloration of the beverage  23 , rather than the packager of the beverage  23  coloring the beverage during manufacture and prior to sale.  
         [0038]    The colorant dispenser  22  has a first cylindrical member  30  with internal threads  31  that thread onto the externally threaded neck  26  of the beverage container  24 . The first member  30  has an exterior groove  32  and one or more longitudinally extending exterior ribs  33 . Extending radially with respect to the axis  34  of the first cylindrical member  30  is a top wall  36  having an apertured area or opening  37  which may be one or more holes through the wall  36 , which holes may also be capillaries.  
         [0039]    Integral with the first cylindrical member  30  is a second cylindrical member  40 . The second cylindrical member  40  has adjacent its bottom edge  41  a circular internal rib  42  which is received in the exterior groove  32  of the first cylindrical member  30  so as to rotatably mount the second cylindrical member  40  on the first cylindrical member  30 . The circular rib  42  can also be in the form of a gasket in order to seal the second member  40  with respect to the first member  30 . Alternatively, a separate gasket  43  may be provided to accomplish or enhance sealing. The second cylinder member  40  has longitudinally extending groove  45  which receives the longitudinally extending rib  33  on the first member  30  to hold the second cylindrical member  40  in specific rotational position relative to the first cylindrical member. Disposed above the longitudinal groove  45  is a floor  48  which has an opening  50  therethrough. Opening  50  may be a single opening, a plurality of openings or an array of perforations or capillaries.  
         [0040]    Above the floor  48 , there is a top wall  52  which forms the top surface of the cap forming the sports cap  20 , the top wall  52  having an opening  54  therethrough which is in communication with a neck  58 . The neck  58  cooperates with a conventional sports cap spout  59 , such as the spout of a sports bottle which allows the consumer to drink directly from the beverage container  24 .  
         [0041]    In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the space  62  between the floor  48  and top wall  52  of the second cylindrical member  40  contains a coloring agent  63  which may in the form of a liquid, the liquid being either free flowing or initially a gel, or in solid form such as granules, a powder a mixture of powders, or even in the form relatively large bodies such as tablets. In other words, the colorant  63  can be in any form which suspends or dissolves to a greater or lesser extent in the beverage  23  retained within the beverage container  24 . The colorant  63  is retained within the space  62  by misalignment of the openings  50  and  37  in the cylindrical members  40  and  30 , respectively. As long as the opening  37  in the first cylinder member  30  is covered by the closed portion  64  of the floor  48  of the second cylindrical member  40 , and the aperture  50  of the second cylindrical member  40  is closed by the closed portion  66  of the top wall  36  of the first cylindrical member  30 , the colorant  63  is held within the space  62 .  
         [0042]    In order to dispense the colorant  63  from the space  62  to the beverage  23 , the second member  40  is rotated so that the opening  50  aligns with the opening  37  which allows the colorant  63  to drain from the space  62 , through the cylindrical member  30  and into the beverage container  24  containing the beverage  23 . When the beverage is consumed, the beverage flows through the first opening  37  in cylindrical member  30 , into the space  62  in the second cylindrical member  40  and through the spout  59  of the sports cap  20 .  
         [0043]    Referring now to FIGS.  4 A- 4 F, it is seen that the openings  37  in the first cylindrical member  30  and  50  in the second cylindrical member  40  may have a number of configurations, such as but not limited to: the semicircular valve configurations  37 ′ and  50 ′ of FIGS. 4A and 4B; the pie shaped apertures  50 ″ and  37 ″ of FIGS. 4C and 4D, and the capillaries  50 ′″ and  37 ′″ of FIGS. 4E and 4F. When the perforations  50  align with the perforations  37 , the colorant in chamber  62  flows through the floor  48  and top wall  36  into the beverage container  24 .  
         [0044]    Referring now to FIGS.  5 - 7 D, there is shown a second configuration of the first embodiment of the invention wherein the closure element in the form of a sports cap  80  has a plurality of colorant additive compartments  81 ,  82  and  83  instead of the single compartment  62  of the first embodiment of FIGS.  1 - 4 . With the sports cap  80 , the second cylindrical  40 ′ member has a floor  48 ′ with a single opening  86  therethrough and a ceiling  87  with a single opening  88  therethrough which is aligned with the opening  86  in the floor  48 ′ of the second cylindrical member  40 ′. When the openings  88  and  86  are aligned, the beverage  23  in the container  24  can flow through both the first cylindrical member  30 ′ and the second cylindrical member  40 ′ for consumption by the customer.  
         [0045]    In order to color the beverage  23 , the second member  40 ′ is rotated about its axis to align one of the compartments  81 ,  82  or  83  with the opening  90  in the top wall  91  of the first member  30 ′. As with the arrangement of FIGS.  1 - 4 , a rib-in-slot latching arrangement is used to position the second cylindrical member  40 ′ with respect to the first cylindrical member  30 ′, only there are three or four ribs and cooperating slots on the cylindrical members instead of one or two ribs or slots on each member. For example, if there are three colorants to be dispensed, then there are three or four ribs  95  in the first cylindrical member  30 ′ and three or four grooves  96  in the second cylindrical member  40 ′; positioned for example at 90°, 180° and 270°.  
         [0046]    If there are only two colorants, then there are two or three ribs  95  in the first cylindrical member  30 ′ and two or three grooves  96  in the second cylindrical member  40 ′. In each case, the ribs  95  and the grooves  96  are preferably disposed at  90 ° intervals, although other angular intervals, may be employed.  
         [0047]    Referring now to FIGS. 7A and 7B, it is seen that the opening  90 ′ through the wall  91 ′ of the first cylindrical member  30 ′ is almost semicircular in order to align with one of the colorant compartments  81  and  82 , with respective openings  81 ′ and  82 ′, or possibly with both colorant compartments  81  and  82 , so that two colorants can be dispensed simultaneously. After the colorants have been dispensed from the compartments  81  and  82  into the beverage  23  in the container  24 , the opening  88  that is aligned with the opening  86  is then aligned with the opening  90 ′ so that the opening  88  is also aligned with the opening  90 ′. The beverage  23  which has been colored by colorants  97  or  98  in compartments  81  or  82  (or in both compartments) is then available for drinking through the spout  70 .  
         [0048]    Referring now to FIGS. 7C and 7D, it is seen that the opening  90  in the top wall  91  of the first cylindrical member  30 ′ is a cord portion of one quarter of a circle. When either of the three colorant containing compartments  81 ,  82  or  83  is aligned with the opening  90 , the respective colorant flows through the opening  90  into the beverage  23  in the beverage container  24 . If desired, colors can be mixed by sequentially aligning the colorant chambers  81 ,  82  and  83  in the second cylindrical member  40 ′ with the opening  90  in the first cylindrical member  30 ′. The colorant in the chamber  83  may be released through very small openings such as capillaries  99  so as to have a particular pattern of dispersal in the beverage  23 . When the customer desires to consume the beverage, the opening  86  is then aligned with the opening  90  which automatically aligns the opening  88  with the opening  90 , since the opening  88  is aligned with the opening  86 . The beverage  23  is then consumed through the spout  59 ′ of the sports cap  80 .  
         [0049]    FIGS.  8 - 13 B: Threaded Cap with Central Colorant Cylinder:  
         [0050]    Referring now to FIG. 8 there is shown a second embodiment of the invention wherein a sports bottle  100 , or other container containing a beverage  102 , has a neck  104  with a mouth  106  which is closed by a closure element in the form of a screw cap  108  which is threaded onto the neck  104  of the bottle  100  by threads  112 . The threaded cap  108  has a container  114  therein which contains a colorant material  115 , such as a colorant liquid, gel or a solid in the form of powders, granules or even a tablet or tablets. Colorant container  114  has an upper membrane  116  and a lower membrane  118 . Preferably, the upper membrane  116  and lower membrane  118  are made of foil which can be penetrated sequentially by a relatively stiff tube, such as a straw  122 . When the straw  122  is pushed through the lower membrane  118 , the colorant  115  within the chamber  114  is released and flows into the beverage  102 . Instead of having a lower foil  118  as is seen in FIG. 13A, a hinged plastic floor  124  may be used, which hinged floor is pivoted away from the bottom of the chamber  114  by the straw  122 . The lower membrane  118  or hinge  124  form a first closer while the upper membrane  116  forms a second closer.  
         [0051]    The axial length of the chamber  114  may be equal to, greater than or shorter than the axial length of the screw cap  108 . The straw  122  may have a diameter which is substantially smaller than the diameter of the chamber  114 , or as is seen in FIG. 10, may be only marginally smaller so that it has clearance to slide through the container  114  to open the first closer by either rupturing the foil  118 , or pushing the hinged plastic floor  124  open. The tinted beverage is then drawn through the closure element in the form of the screw cap  108  by virtue of being pulled or sucked through the straw  122 .  
         [0052]    FIGS.  14 - 18 —Pouch with Colorant Straw:  
         [0053]    Referring now to FIG. 14 there is shown a pouch  150  containing a beverage  152 , the pouch  150  having a top portion  154  with which a closure element in the form of a straw  160  is integral. The pouch  150  is relatively flexible, whereas the straw  160  is relatively stiff and contains a colorant  162 . In order to keep the colorant  162  within the straw  160 , a clamp  166  forms a first closer which closes the straw  160  adjacent its bottom end  168  and a cap  170  forms a second closer which closes the mouth  172  of the straw. The cap  170  is preferably in the form of a removable foil but may be another sealing structure.  
         [0054]    The coupling  173  of the straw  160  with the cap  170  may be unitary, with the straw formed simultaneously with the pouch, or may be integral with the straw attached to the pouch after one or the other is formed.  
         [0055]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the clamp  166 , the clamp  166  has a slot  180  therein a relatively narrow, longitudinally extending portion  182  which is sufficiently narrow to squeeze the straw  160  shut and seal the colorant  162  within the straw. Narrow portion  182  expands into a relatively wide portion  184  which has a diameter greater than the diameter of the straw  160  and allows the straw to expand outwardly so that the colorant  162  drains into the beverage  152  within the pouch  150 . Preferably, the pouch  150  is transparent so that the consumer sees the colorant  162  flow into the beverage  152 .  
         [0056]    If the colorant  162  is a liquid, the cap  170  (preferably in the form of aluminum foil or another seal) is opened to remove any vacuum which might retain the colorant within the straw  160 , the straw thereafter providing a drinking straw for the consumer after the colorant  162  has flowed down into the beverage  152 . While the colorant  162  is preferably in a liquid form, it can also be in the form of a powder, granules, capsule or a gel so as to have various effects upon passing into and through the beverage  152 .  
         [0057]    In accordance another embodiment of the invention described herein, and especially in accordance with the pouch configurations of FIGS.  14 - 18 , the pouch  150  is transparent or translucent and the beverage may optionally be water or another consumable liquid suitable for dissolving or suspending a medical agent  162  which is dispensed from the straw  160 . In this embodiment of the invention, the medical agent  162  may be clear or colored since the primary purpose is to medicate a patient. Such an arrangement is especially useful for patients who have difficulty in swallowing pills or capsules. While the pouch  150  of FIGS.  14 - 17  is a preferred arrangement for such a device, the concept is applicable to other structures such as the bottle-type containers  24  and  100  and their associated closure elements  20 ,  20 ′ and  108 , respectively.  
         [0058]    From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.