Abstract:
A system and method is claimed for dispensing scent into a consumable material. The system involves bottling a volume of consumable material and sealing the bottle with a cap assembly. The cap assembly can have many different configurations. However, regardless of its configuration, the cap assembly includes at least one section of scented plastic that is left exposed to the contents of the bottle after the bottle is sealed with the cap assembly. The scented plastic contains a scented compound. As the scented plastic is left exposed to the contents of the bottle, scent from the scented compound leaches out of the plastic in into the consumable material. As such, the liquid passively acquires the scent of the scented plastic.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    In general, the present invention relates to systems and methods of adding scent and/or flavoring to consumable material. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods that add scent and/or flavoring to a consumable material by placing that material into a unique environment that leaches the scent and/or flavoring into the consumable material.  
           [0003]    2. Prior Art Statement  
           [0004]    Leaching is the process when oils or other compounds from a first material dissolve into a second material that contacts the first material. The adding of flavoring to consumable products through leaching has been in existence for thousands of years. Many wines are aged in barrels of different woods, wherein flavoring from the wood leaches into the wine and imparts a subtle flavor to the wine. Many fine liquors, such as scotch, brandy, whisky and the like also receive flavoring from the barrels in which they are stored and aged.  
           [0005]    However, not all flavoring due to leaching is good. In modern manufacturing, many food and drink containers are made of molded plastic. Such containers include soda bottles, water bottles, milk bottles, juice containers, chewing tobacco containers and the like. When plastic is first molded, it goes through a period of degassing, where the molded plastic emits a strong scent. It is the degassing of plastic that provides a newly manufactured car with its “new car” smell. The period of degassing can last from several minutes to several years, depending upon the type of plastic being molded and the mass of the plastic present. Furthermore, as plastic ages and is exposed to light, air, moisture and environmental pollutants, the plastic degrades. As plastic degrades, the plastic emits, oils, gas and other compounds.  
           [0006]    When a liquid or moist solid is stored in a plastic container, the emissions from the plastic caused by degassing and degradation are dissolved and/or mixed with the contents of the container. The emissions from the plastic provide have an adverse affect on the flavor of the container&#39;s contents, often causing liquids and solid consumables to taste “like plastic” or “stale”. If the contents of a container are flavored and the contents are stored in a cold environment for a relatively short period of time, such as with soda in a soda bottle, then emissions from the plastic are usually not noticeable by a person consuming the stored product. However, if the stored product is not flavored and is not refrigerated, the adverse effects of the plastic leaching becomes more noticeable. For example, if plastic bottle is used to hold water and is carried by a hiker on a hot day, there is a good chance that the flavor of the water will be adversely affected by plastic leaching when the water is drunk.  
           [0007]    In the prior art, there have been many different plastic compounds formulated to reduce the leaching properties of the plastic. Many of these compounds are expensive, brittle or have some other characteristic that makes them undesirable. As such, if a manufacturer wants to eliminate the adverse effects of plastic leaching to prolong the shelf life of the product, a manufacture commonly bottles its product in glass.  
           [0008]    Another problem that exists in the prior art, is the problem of flavor degradation during processing. Often flavoring is added to beverages or consumable material prior to that material being heated. Many beverages and consumables are heated prior to packaging to prevent bacterial contamination that might spoil the beverage of consumable. However, as beverage and consumables are heated, some of the stronger flavor aspects, called “high notes” in the industry, are degraded. As such, the beverage or food does not taste as good after heat processing as it did prior to heat processing.  
           [0009]    A need therefore exists for a system and method to reduce the adverse effects of plastic leaching without adding significantly to the cost of a plastic container. A need also exists for a method of replacing high note flavoring lost during heat processing. These needs are met by the present invention as described and claimed below.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention is a system and method of dispensing scent into a consumable product. The system involves packaging a volume of a consumable product in a container and sealing the container with a cap assembly. The cap assembly can have many different configurations. However, regardless of its configuration, the cap assembly includes at least one section of scented plastic that is left exposed to the contents of the container after the container is sealed with the cap assembly. The scented plastic contains a scented compound. As the scented plastic is left exposed to the contents of the container, scent from the scented compound leaches out of the plastic and into the contents of the container. As such, the consumable product held in the container passively acquires the scent of the scented plastic. The dispensing of scent into the consumable product can be used to scent water, reinforce naturally scented products or counteract the adverse effects of leaching from non-scented plastics used in the same container. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a side view of a bottle and cap assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a bottle, a cap and an insert in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a bottle, a cap and a neck extension in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an assembly containing a bottle, a cap, an insert, a cap liner and a neck extension. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    Although the present invention system and method can be applied to any type of container having a removable cap, such as a paperboard orange juice container, a chewing tobacco container, a wine aging tank or the like, the present invention is particularly well suited for use on plastic bottles having threaded necks. As such, by way of example, the technology of the present invention is primarily illustrated and described as being configured as part of a plastic water bottle having a threaded neck in order to set forth one of the best modes contemplated for the invention. However, it should be understood that the described technology can be applied to different types of containers that store different types of consumable materials.  
         [0018]    Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a bottle  10  is shown. The bottle  10  is molded of plastic and has a threaded neck  12 . Such bottles are commonly used as containers for soda and bottled water. The threaded neck  12  of the bottle  10  is configured to receive a cap assembly  14 . The cap assembly  14  is also made of molded plastic and is internally threaded. The cap assembly  14  is threaded onto the neck  12  of the bottle  10 , and is used to selectively open and close the bottle  10 .  
         [0019]    The bottle  10  is made of traditional container plastic. As such, the plastic leaches and causes adverse affects on the flavoring of the consumable product stored in the bottle  10 . The amount of leaching is dependent upon the plastic type used, the temperature of the liquid, storage duration and environmental factors, such as exposure to sunlight.  
         [0020]    The cap assembly  14  is molded from a plastic composition that contains a scented compound. The scented compound can be a scented resin or scented oils mixed into traditional polymer resins. The amount of scented compound contained in the plastic of the cap assembly  14  varies between ¼ of one percent and twenty five percent by weight, as will later be explained. Scented compounds that can be mixed into molded plastic are available in a large variety of different scents. Many of those scents correspond to common flavorings, such as lemon, orange, coffee, cola, root beer, watermelon and the like. As such, the cap assembly  14  has a strong scent. In the composition of the plastic for the cap assembly  14 , the scented compounds can be added to the plastic composition in amounts that supersaturate the plastic composition. As the cap assembly  14  is molded and cooled, the saturation point of the plastic lowers and the scented compounds will slowly migrate to the external surfaces of the cap assembly  14  and bloom onto the exposed surfaces of the cap assembly  14 .  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the cap assembly  14  is comprised of a cap plate  16 . A cylindrical wall  18  extends downwardly from the cap plate  16 , thereby creating the cap structure. The interior of the cylindrical wall  18  is threaded in order to engage the threaded neck  12  on the plastic bottle  10 . When fully threaded onto a bottle  10 , the brim of the bottle&#39;s neck  12  contacts the cap plate  16  of the cap assembly  14 , thereby sealing the bottle  10 .  
         [0022]    A plurality of rib projections  20  are shown on the interior of the cap assembly  14 . The rib projections  20  pass into the neck  12  of the bottle  10  as the cap assembly  14  is threaded onto the bottle  10 . In the shown embodiment, the rib projections  20  have a length about half that of the cylindrical wall  18 . Such an embodiment is merely exemplary, and it should be understood that the rib projections  20  can have any length, even a length that substantially exceeds the length of the cylindrical wall  18 . Furthermore, in the shown embodiment, the rib projections  20  are aligned in parallel rows. This arrangement is also merely exemplary. The rib projections  20  can be arranged in any configuration, such as concentric circles, or can intersect each other to form complex patterns.  
         [0023]    The purpose of the rib projections  20  is to increase the surface area of the cap assembly  14  that is exposed to the contents of the bottle  10  when the cap assembly  14  is used to seal the bottle  10 . The use of rib projections  20  is efficient for this purpose. However, it will be understood that projections of any configuration will serve the same purpose.  
         [0024]    When the cap assembly  14  is used to seal the bottle  10 , the rib projections  20  extending below the cap assembly  14  are exposed to the pocket of gas in the bottle  10  above the consumable material. If the consumable material is water or a moist food product, the pocket of gas is mostly air and water vapor. If the consumable material is carbonated soda, much of the gas in the pocket is carbon dioxide. As the cap assembly  14  creates a gas impervious seal with the bottle  10 , the vapor and gas pocket within the bottle  10  comes to an equilibrium. Vapor and gas dissolves out of the consumable material just as vapor and gas condensates and dissolves back into the consumable material.  
         [0025]    The gas and vapor in the pocket directly contacts the rib projections  20  extending from the underside of the cap assembly  14 . As the gas and vapor passes the rib projections  20 , the gas and vapor pick up the scent of the scented compounds that are leaching out of the plastic material. As the gas and vapor condensate and return to the consumable material, the leached scented compounds dissolve into the consumable material. Furthermore, as the bottle  10  is handled, the consumable material in the bottle  10  splashes around and directly contacts the rib projections  20  extending from the cap assembly  14 . As consumable material directly contacts the rib projections  20 , scented compounds leach directly into the consumable material.  
         [0026]    As leached scented compounds dissolve within, or mixes with, the consumable material, the consumable material begins to acquire the taste and smell of the scented compound. The amount of scented compounds that leaches into the consumable material will be minuscule. As such, the flavoring adds no calories to the consumable material. The leached scented compounds can therefore be used to either flavor the consumable material with a new flavor or supplement a flavored liquid with a complimentary flavor. For example, if a cherry flavored scented compound is used in a cap assembly that seals a bottle of water, the water will acquire a faint cherry taste and smell. This faint taste and smell will mask any adverse taste and smell created by the plastic of the bottle leaching into the water. Another example is a coffee scented compound can be used in a cap that seals a cold coffee drink. The cap assembly adds a coffee flavor and smell to the drink that partially compensates for the loss of natural taste and smell that occurs as the drink ages. Since the degree of flavor added by the cap assembly is proportional to the amount of time the cap assembly is exposed to a liquid, the present invention system is perfect for use in compensating for staleness. As a beverage gets stale over time, it loses it flavor. However, in this same period of time, the taste and smell added by the cap assembly increases. To some extent, these two occurrences cancel each other out and provide for a product with a longer shelf life.  
         [0027]    The degree of flavor and aroma added to a consumable material is a function of the potency of the scented compounds used, the temperature of the consumable material and the length of time the consumable material is exposed to the cap assembly. In the manufacture of scented plastic, the amount of scented compound used in the plastic composition can vary from one percent to twenty five percent. In the various commercially available formulations of scented compounds, the scented compounds may contain various percentages of scented oils. The percentages of scented oil in the compounds and the percentage of compounds in the plastic formulation can both be varied to control the amount of leaching per unit time that is desired.  
         [0028]    Referring to FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment of the present invention system is shown. In this embodiment, a typical prior art plastic bottle  30  is shown and a typical prior art cap  32  is shown. However, a sleeve insert  34  is shown that is inserted between the cap  32  and the bottle  30 . The insert  34  is made of the scented plastic previously described. The plastic insert  34  has a cylindrical outer shape with a flanged top end  36 . The flanged top end  36  can be threaded into the cap  32 . As such, the plastic insert  34  can be attached to the cap  32  so that it extends down from the center of the cap  32 . When the assembly of the cap  32  and the insert  34  are connected to the bottle  30 , the plastic insert  34  is exposed to the contents of the bottle  30  and leaches scent into the contents of the bottle  30  in the same manner as has previously been explained.  
         [0029]    The interior of the plastic insert  34  can have rib projections, vanes, concentric structures or any other configuration that maximizes the surface area of the insert  34  that is exposed to the contents of the bottle  30 .  
         [0030]    Referring now to FIG. 4, another embodiment of the present invention system in shown. In this embodiment, a neck extension  40  is shown in conjunction with a plastic bottle  42  and a cap  44 . The neck extension  40  is tubular in structure. On its bottom end, the interior of the neck extension  40  has threads  46  so that the neck extension  40  can be threaded onto the neck of a bottle. The exterior of the neck extension  40  has threads  48  near its top end. This enables a standard plastic cap  44  to be threaded over the neck extension  40 .  
         [0031]    The neck extension  40  is manufactured from scented plastic of the type previously described. As such, an area  49  on the interior of the neck extension remains exposed to the contents of a bottle  42  when the neck extension  40 , and cap  44  are attached to the bottle  42 . The area  49  of the neck extension  40  left exposed to the contents of the bottle  42  leaches scent to the contents of the bottle  42  in the same manner as has previously been explained.  
         [0032]    The interior of the neck extension  40  can have rib projections, vanes, concentric structures or any other configuration that maximizes the surface area of the neck extension  40  that is left exposed to the contents of the bottle  42 .  
         [0033]    Referring to FIG. 5, an embodiment of the present invention system is shown that contains a cap assembly  14 , such as that described in FIG. 1, a plastic sleeve insert  34 , such as that described in FIG. 3, and a neck extension  40 , such as that described in FIG. 4. Additionally, a cap liner  50  is shown. The purpose of this embodiment is to illustrate that the previous configurations of the present invention can be used individually or can be selectively combined as desired. FIG. 5 also shows the bottle containing a solid consumable material. Water vapor from moist solid consumable material evaporates and condenses in the same manner as vapor from liquid consumables. Accordingly, scent can be added to a solid material in the same manner as it is added to a liquid material.  
         [0034]    Cap liners, such as the cap liner  50  shown, are commonly used with plastic caps  14  to help create an air impervious seal between a cap and a container. In accordance with the present invention, the cap liner  50  is made of scented plastic of the type previously described. The cap liner  50  is placed between a cap and a container. As such, the bottom of the cap liner  50  remains exposed to the contents of a container when the cap liner  50  and cap  14  are attached to the container. The area of the cap liner  50  left exposed to the contents of the container leaches scent to the contents of the container in the same manner as has previously been explained.  
         [0035]    It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention described and illustrated herein are merely exemplary and a person skilled in the art can make many variations to the embodiments shown without departing from the scope of the present invention. All such variations, modifications and alternate embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.