Abstract:
A compact filtering and additive delivery system which is readily adaptable to a portable container, such as a sports bottle, and receives a modular additive container for the metered delivery of additive, such as flavor concentrate, to a stream of base liquid as the base liquid is drawn or dispensed from the container. The modular additive container configuration on the delivery system allows a consumer/user to experience different additives, such as different flavors or supplement compositions, for a given supply of base liquid, such as water, stored in the container. The system may be readily used with off-the-shelf containers, such as disposable water bottles. An additive container configuration provides modular additive delivery system as described herein.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/764,861 titled “BOTTLE WITH REMOVABLE FLAVOR CARTRIDGE IN WHICH FLAVOR CONCENTRATE MIXES WITH WATER AS USER DRINKS,” filed on Feb. 14, 2013, the specification of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The disclosure relates to dispensing and delivery systems for beverages and other products. More specifically, the disclosure relates to dispensing and delivery systems for providing an additive, such as flavoring or supplements, to a base liquid, such as water, as the base liquid is dispensed from a container. The disclosure also relates to containers for containing and storing an additive to be used in additive delivery systems. 
     2. Prior Art 
     The prior art includes various devices for providing additives to a base liquid. Such devices include pre-mix systems, such as those exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 7,306,117, in which a predetermined amount of additive is dispensed into a base liquid within the container and mixed therewith prior to consumption. 
     Prior art systems also include additive delivery systems in which an additive is dispensed as a base fluid is dispensed from a container. Such delivery systems are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 8,230,777, which describes a dispensing system in which a base liquid flows through a supplement area containing solid supplements, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,413,844, which describes a water dispenser (pitcher) having a filter and an additive chamber in which the additive is dispensed as water is poured from the dispenser. 
     Such prior art systems, however, suffer from the drawbacks of requiring rather elaborate and relatively expensive dispensing systems and fail to combine filtration and additive delivery functionality in a manner that is readily adapted to portable, compact, portable containers, such as sports bottles. There is thus a need for additive delivery systems and additive containers that are readily adaptable to portable base liquid containers and which address the aforementioned and other needs in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the invention provides a compact filtering and additive delivery system, which is readily adaptable to a portable container, such as a sports bottle. The additive delivery system provides filtration and additive delivery to a base liquid while maintaining a generally consistent flow direction of the base liquid. The additive delivery system may receive a modular additive container selected by the user and provides for the metered delivery of additive, such as flavor concentrate, to a stream of base liquid as the base liquid is drawn or dispensed from the bottle. The modular additive container configuration on the delivery system allows a consumer/user to experience different additives, such as different flavors or supplement compositions, for a given supply of base liquid, such as water, stored in the container. 
     Another aspect of the invention provides a compact filtering and additive delivery system that may be used with off-the-shelf containers, such as disposable water bottles. 
     Yet another aspect of the invention provides a container configuration that is suitable for a modular additive delivery system as described herein. 
     Yet another aspect of the invention provides for uniform mixing of additive to a base liquid as the mixture is consumed, as well as a substantially uni-directional flow of base liquid and mixed additive/base liquid composition from the container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other attendant advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like elements throughout. It will be understood that the description and embodiments are intended as illustrative examples and are not intended to be limiting to the scope of invention, which is set forth in the claims appended hereto. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded isometric view of an additive delivery system, combined with a sports bottle and filtration system according to an aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed exploded isometric view of an additive delivery system according to an aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional exploded view of the additive delivery system of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of an additive container according to an aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an assembled additive delivery system according to an aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing flow paths of an additive delivery system according to an aspect of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an additive delivery system  100  according to an aspect of the invention includes an upper cap assembly  120  and a lower cap assembly  140 , in combination with a sports bottle  10 . Sports bottle  10  may include an inner volume for containing a base fluid, such as water, and a threaded mouth  12  for receiving and sealingly engaging the lower cap assembly  140 . As will be described in more detail below, upper cap assembly  120  and lower cap assembly  140  cooperate to house a removable additive module  200 . 
     Referring additionally to  FIG. 2 , upper cap assembly  120  may include a spout  121  and a re-sealable spout closure  122  that cooperates therewith in a known manner. Upper cap assembly may also include a cap portion  123  having threaded interior wall  125  and an additive module enclosing wall  127  defining an additive module receiving space  128  for receiving additive module  200 . 
     Lower cap assembly  140  may include a lower cap  141  having a container engaging female threaded portion  143  and an outer surface with gripping recesses formed therein. A lower additive module enclosure  150  cooperates with the lower cap  141  and upper cap assembly  120  to house and enclose additive module  200 , as will be described below. Lower cap assembly  140  may include a filter assembly  17 , which houses a filter for filtering the base liquid. A delivery tube  155  extends to the bottom of the base liquid container and provides for the travel of base liquid through the filter assembly  170 , lower cap assembly  140 , additive module  200  and, ultimately, to spout  121 , as will be described in more detail below. 
     Referring additionally to the cross-sectional exploded view in  FIG. 3 , the additive module enclosing wall  127  of upper cap assembly  120  may include a retaining lip formed therein for engaging a retaining groove  214  on additive module  200 . Lower cap assembly  140  may include an upper cap engaging male threaded portion  142  for engaging the female threads  125  on the upper cap  123 . As will be recognized, this configuration allows easy removal and replacement of the additive module by the consumer as the upper cap assembly  120  may be unscrewed and removed with the additive module  200  remaining secured on the upper cap assembly  120  by way of the retaining lip  129  and retaining groove  214 , which provide a snap fitting of the additive module  200  to the upper cap assembly. In addition, during removal of upper cap assembly  120 , the lower cap  141  may remain secure on the container, preventing contamination or spillage of the base liquid. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, for safety and sanitary purposes, the additive module  200  may be provided with a transparent safety enclosure cap, which may engage the cap threads  125 , and enclosed the additive module  200 . In this configuration, the spout  121 , spout closure  122  and safety enclosure cap (and thus the additive module, snap fit within the cap) may be sealed within a frangible thermoplastic membrane for consumer safety and product freshness. The transparent safety cap allows consumers to view the details/branding of the additive module before purchase, for example. 
     Lower cap  141  may also be provided with an annular wall  144  for engaging and fitting within a correspondingly-shaped upper annular wall  151  on the lower additive module enclosure assembly  150 . Annular wall  144  may be provided with a retaining groove  145  for receiving a cooperating retaining lip  154  formed on the interior of upper annular wall  151  of the lower additive module enclosure assembly  150 . A lower annular wall  152  and bottom wall  153  define a space for receiving a lower portion of the additive module  200 . One or more additive module membrane piercing projections  180  may extend upward from the bottom wall  153  to pierce a frangible membrane  212 . 
     Tube  155  extends upward through the lower module enclosure assembly  150  to permit flow of the base liquid. One or more metering ports  157  may be formed in the tube  155  near the bottom wall  153  to permit flow of additive concentrate from the interior of lower additive module enclosure  150  to the interior of tube  155  by venturi effect as the base liquid is drawn through tube  155 . One or more mixing projections  156  may extend within the interior of tube  156  to induce turbulent flow and thereby mix the additive concentrate with the base fluid. 
     Filter assembly  170  may include a filter housing  172 , which is snapped in place on a corresponding filter housing top  174  using a lip and groove retainer. A one-way check or flapper valve  176  formed of silicone rubber may be provided at the inlet of tube  155  from the interior of filter housing  172  to prevent backflow of the base fluid into the filter housing  172 . An active carbon filter element (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) may be provided on the interior of filter housing  172 , as will be described in more detail below. 
     Referring additionally to  FIG. 4 , an additive module  200  according to aspects of the invention may include a generally cylindrical shape having an outer wall  204  provided with a retaining groove  214  formed therein and extending to a top wall  205  having a conical sealing surface  208 . Conical surface  208  is adapted to sealingly engage a correspondingly shaped flexible seal  130  ( FIG. 3 ), which may be made of silicone rubber or other material, and provided in upper cap assembly  120 . An interior annular wall  206  defines, with upper wall  205  and outer wall  204 , an interior additive containing space  210  for containing an additive, such as flavor or supplement concentrate. A frangible lower membrane  212 , which may be made of foil or other material, forms a lower wall to contain and seal the additive within the module. As will be recognized, the module configuration provides for a consumer to carry and preserve a number of different additives for use with the additive delivery system and a single supply of base liquid in a container, such as a sports bottle. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-section of an assembled additive delivery system according to an aspect of the invention. Spout closure  122  is shown in a closed position. Upper cap  123  is shown in an engaged position (i.e., screwed on) on the male threaded portion  142  of the lower cap  141 , with the additive module enclosing wall  127  of the upper cap assembly  120  extending downward into the annular opening of the lower cap  141  and securing the additive module  200  therein. The upper annular wall  151  of lower additive enclosure assembly  150  engages the module holder receiving wall  144  of the lower cap assembly  140  via lip  154  and groove  145  to provide a snap fitting. Upper cap assembly  120 , lower cap assembly  140  and lower additive module enclosure assembly thereby cooperate to provide a sealed containing space for the additive module  200 . 
     Tube  155  extends upward within the inner tube formed by inner wall  206  of additive module  200 . The conical sealing surface  208  is engaged by a correspondingly shaped silicone seal  130  secured within the upper cap assembly  120 . In this position, the frangible membrane  212  of additive module  200  would be pierced or ruptured by piercing projections  180  ( FIG. 3 ) and additive concentrate stored within additive module  200  would flow into the space  158 .  FIG. 5  also shows a cylindrical active carbon filter element  175  housed within the filter housing  172  to filter the base fluid. 
     Referring additionally to  FIG. 6 , the base fluid is filtered as it flows from the lower portion of tube  155  to an interior space  178  defined by filter element  172 , through the check valve  160 , and upward into the upper portion of tube  155 . Owing to a venturi effect, additive concentrate, represented by arrows “A” is drawn from the space  158 , through metering ports  157  and into the interior of tube  155  where additive is mixed with the base fluid. Applicants have discovered that metering ports having a diameter of approximately 0.03 inches provide for suitable metering of additive liquid, while permitting the retention (non-leakage) of additive liquid from the additive module when flow of the base liquid is not occurring. As will be recognized, the diameter of metering ports may be varied depending on the viscosity of the additive liquid and other parameters such that flow occurs when needed but not when the base liquid is not flowing in the delivery tube. Mixing projection  156  enhances the mixing and uniform dilution of the additive within the base fluid. The mixed additive and base fluid composition continues up the tube  155  through the spout 
     As will be recognized, the flow of fluid through the system may be facilitated by suction provided by the consumer or by the squeezing of the container, which may be made of a suitably flexible material, or by both. As will also be recognized, flow from the base liquid container, through the filter assembly, delivery tube and additive module is substantially in a single, linear direction, without diversion, thereby providing for efficient flow of base liquid and mixed additive/base-liquid composition from the container and providing a configuration that is particularly adaptable to a sports bottle or other compact, portable, handheld container. 
     As will also be recognized, the additive delivery system may be used with standard, disposable water or beverage bottles through suitable adaptation of the fastening implements on the lower cap assembly. 
     As will also be recognized, suitable thermoplastic polymers may be used to form the various aforementioned elements, including polyethylene terepthalate (PET), polycarbonate, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and others. 
     It should be understood that implementation of other variations and modifications of the invention in its various aspects may be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and that the invention is not limited by the specific embodiments described herein. It is therefore contemplated to cover, by the present invention any and all modifications, variations or equivalents that fall within the spirit and scope of the claims that follow.