Abstract:
A multiple chamber bottle has an outer bottle having a body and a mouth and at least one inner bottle having a body contained within the body of the outer bottle with a mouth accessible within the circumference of the mouth of the outer bottle. The inner and outer bottle mouths are sealed with means for selectively accessing the contents of the inner bottle and outer bottle through the associated mouth.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/627,877 filed on Nov. 15, 2004 entitled COAXIAL DUAL CAVITY BOTTLE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME. This application is co-pending with U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 10/942,332 filed on Sep. 15, 2004 entitled MULTIPLE CAVITY BOTTLE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME and U.S. Design patent application serial no. 29/229152 filed on May 4, 2005 entitled A NECK AND CAP ARRANGEMENT AND ASSOCIATED NESTED BOTTLE BOTTOM FOR A BOTTLE IN A BOTTLE and having a common inventor with the present application. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention generally relates to liquids containers, and more specifically to a bottle having multiple separated elements for containing different commodities.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
       [0003]     Liquid storage containers have been provided in numerous sizes and shapes for various liquid commodities. The most ubiquitous containers are presently plastic and provide multiple sizes and shapes with mass production capability and recyclable materials.  
         [0004]     In many endeavors, individuals use multiple commodities in combination. Sports enthusiasts are typically becoming aware of the benefits of combining the use of electrolyte replacing sports drinks with water for ultimate performance enhancement and refreshment. Children often desire to purchase more than a single flavor of soft drink or juices or combine a soft drink or juice with other liquid refreshment such as water or milk. Those who consume caffeinated energy drinks frequently purchase bottled water to compliment the energy drink in order to quench their thirst. Scientists are generally aware that one side effect of caffeine and sugar consumption is thirstiness and such consumers are predisposed to purchase an energy drink that is co-packaged with water.  
         [0005]     Beverage companies frequently launch new product flavors and have the need to inform customers that the new flavors are associated with their existing well-known brand and comprise part of their product portfolio. Currently, these companies are limited to arranging single-cavity bottles containing the new flavors in close proximity to other single-cavity bottles containing the well-known brand at the point of purchase.  
         [0006]     Connected bottles for containing common use or multipart commodities such as shampoo and conditioner, glue and hardener and similar products have been available. However, such connected bottles are not appropriate for consumable commodities and typically do not provide an integrated, visually pleasing container, which minimizes manufacturing complexity.  
         [0007]     It is therefore desirable to provide a single container having multiple elements for storage of different commodities and a means for selecting between them during consumption. It is further desirable that such a container be easily manufactured, filled and assembled.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     A multiple chamber bottle embodying the present invention has an outer bottle having a body and a mouth and at least one inner bottle having a body contained within the body of the outer bottle with a mouth accessible within the circumference of the mouth of the outer bottle. The invention further provides means for sealing the inner and outer bottle mouths including means for selectively accessing the contents of the inner bottle and outer bottle through the associated mouth.  
         [0009]     In one exemplary embodiment, a coaxial dual chamber bottle is created using an inner bottle element with a cavity having a generally round neck and outer dimension of any shape and an outer bottle element with a cavity having a generally round neck of a sufficiently large inside dimension that allows the outside dimension of the inner bottle element to pass through the neck to create a coaxial “bottle inside a bottle” assembly. Further, the outer bottle element can have an outer dimension of any shape. For an exemplary embodiment, the present invention is advantageous when compared to other modalities of dual cavity bottles in that both inner and outer bottle elements can be easily formed using injection molding and blow molding techniques that are well known to those skilled in the art of manufacturing bottles such as beverage bottles from the injection-stretch blow molding process. More precisely, there are no special requirements imposed on either the inner or outer bottle elements of the present invention other than the outside dimension of the inner bottle must fit through the inside dimension of the outer bottle&#39;s neck. The cap arrangement has the unique function of fastenably arranging both bottles in the correct relationship to each other while sealably containing both beverage commodities and simultaneously allowing a user to select between either bottle cavity or an “off” position by adjusting the cap.  
         [0010]     In one embodiment, inner and outer bottle elements have round outer shapes and round necks. A bottle cap seals the necks of both inner and outer bottle elements. In one embodiment, the bottle cap is comprised of two portions, an intermediate cap portion that has two sets of female screw threads for receiving the male screw threads of the inner and outer bottle elements and an additional feature designed to receive a second portion such as a rotatable plug that allows one practicing the invention to switch between the contents of the inner or outer bottle elements or to select a closed “off” position.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a side section view of a first embodiment of the invention demonstrating the general relationship of the outer and inner bottles;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side section exploded view of an embodiment of the invention providing a supplemental engagement means for the inner and outer bottles and details of an exemplary cap assembly;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side section partially exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  showing the initial filling of the inner bottle and the assembled cap;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a is a side section partially exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  showing the initial filling of the outer bottle;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a side section view of a partially assembled inner and outer bottle combination with the cap mounted on and sealing the inner bottle;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6   a  is a side section view of the fully assembled bottle of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  with the installed cap in positioned for selection of flow of product from the inner bottle;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6   b  is a side section view of the fully assembled bottle of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  with the installed cap in positioned for selection of flow of product from the outer bottle;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6   c  is a side section view of the fully assembled bottle of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  with the installed cap positioned in the off or closed position;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6   d  is a side section view of an alternative embodiment of the bottle with individual caps and supplemental engagement means for the inner and outer bottles;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 7   a - 7   d  are top, first side section, first side and second side views of the rotatable upper cap portion;  
         [0022]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  are top and side section views of the fixed intermediate cap portion;  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a side section view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in a horizontal position;  
         [0024]      FIG. 10   a  is a side section view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  showing details of the indexing feature for support and alignment of the bottle;  
         [0025]      FIG. 10   b  is a partial side section view of a second embodiment of the assembled bottle with an alternative indexing feature;  
         [0026]      FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b . are a side section view and top section view of an alternative embodiment showing indented undulations in the outer bottle for support and alignment of the inner bottle;  
         [0027]      FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b  are partial side section views of alternative embodiments demonstrating neck support and alignment elements intermediate the inner and outer bottle;  
         [0028]      FIG. 13  demonstrates an embodiment of the invention as disclosed in  FIG. 1  wherein 
    the necks of the inner and outer bottles terminate in a common plane;      
         [0030]      FIGS. 14   a  and  14   b  demonstrate alternative embodiments of the invention wherein the neck of the inner bottle terminates within or exterior to the neck of the outer bottle;  
         [0031]      FIG. 15  is a side section view of an additional alternative embodiment showing the inner bottle with a reduced volume;  
         [0032]      FIG. 16  is a top view of a neck support flange applicable to the embodiments of  FIGS. 12   a ,  12   b , and  15 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 17  is a side section view of an alternative embodiment of the invention with multiple inner bottles supported within the outer bottle; and,  
         [0034]      FIGS. 18   a  and  18   b  are side section and a top view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention with a simplified pierceable cap arrangement;  
         [0035]      FIGS. 18   c  and  18   d  are side section and top view of a modified embodiment wherein a foil seal with pierceable targets is employed under a blank cap arrangement; and  
         [0036]      FIG. 19  is a side view of an additional alternative embodiment of the invention with inner bottles having alternative non-coaxial configurations. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0037]     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a side section view of a bottle assembly  10  incorporating the present invention. The assembly includes an outer bottle  12 , at least one inner bottle  14  providing multiple fluid containment chambers and a cap assembly  15 . The inner bottle may be employed for a sports or energy drink while the outer bottle is provided for a base beverage such as water. The bottle assembly may comprise more or fewer components than those of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , which illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention the individual components of which are shown and described with greater particularity in subsequent figures. For the embodiment shown, the cap incorporates an intermediate cap  16  and an upper cap  18  allowing a user to select between the contents of the inner bottle, the contents of the outer bottle, and an “off” position, as may be desired. In alternative embodiments additional positions for mixing of the contents of the inner and outer bottle for simultaneous consumption from the inner and outer bottle are provided.  
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is an exploded side section view of one embodiment of the bottle assembly. A phantom assembly line  106  illustrates how the inner bottle  14  and outer bottle  12  are assembled coaxially with one another and held in place by a cap, and in certain embodiments by other locating features described hereinafter. An upper cap  18 , shown with more particularity in  FIGS. 7   a - 7   d , has an attachment feature such as a female groove  48 , which runs radially around the upper cap  18  and, which receives a corresponding feature such as a male bead  46 , which is formed as part of an intermediate cap  16 . In one embodiment, upper cap  18  is generally round in its outer shape and has provisions for being rotated by the user in order to select between bottle contents and an “off” position. Intermediate cap  16 , shown with more particularity in  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b , has two sets of female screw threads or snap features to receive, connect and seal the contents of outer bottle  12  and inner bottle  14 . In the embodiment shown in the drawings, an inner bottle seal  42  incorporates a smaller diameter female screw thread and an outer bottle seal  44  is comprised of a larger diameter female screw thread.  
         [0039]     Inner bottle  14  has a top aperture  30 , which is open for receiving contents such as a beverage, and a bottom  32 , which is closed in order to contain the beverage and can be formed in a variety of shapes. Inner bottle  14  can be formed in a variety of shapes and sizes and the shape shown in  FIG. 2  is cylindrical, having an outside diameter  28 . Inner bottle  14  also has a neck portion  38 , which contains provisions such as a snap or a thread for sealing the contents contained therein. For the embodiment shown in the drawings, the neck portion  38  is formed with screw threads  34 .  
         [0040]     Outer bottle  12  has a top aperture  20 , which is open for receiving contents such as a beverage, and a bottom  22 , which is closed in order to contain the beverage. The outer bottle bottom provides a base for standing the bottle assembly  10  upright, and can be formed in a variety of shapes to serve these purposes. Mating indexing features  84   a  and  84   b  which will be described in greater detail with respect to  FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  are provided in the inner and outer bottle. While the shape shown in  FIG. 2  is cylindrical, outer bottle  12  can be formed in a variety of shapes and sizes. Outer bottle  12  also has a neck portion  36 , which contains provisions such as a snap or a thread for sealing the contents contained therein. For the embodiment in the drawings, the neck portion  36  is formed with screw threads  24 . The neck portion  36  has an inside diameter  26 . For the embodiments disclosed herein, inside diameter  26  is formed with a sufficient dimension to allow outside diameter  28  of inner bottle  14  to pass through during assembly.  
         [0041]      FIG. 3  is an exploded side section view of the bottle assembly shown in  FIG. 2 . Upper cap  18  has been snapped or screwed into place within intermediate cap  16 , forming cap assembly  15 . The position of upper cap  18  relative in its rotation to intermediate cap  16  determines which beverage, if any, is dispensed through a drinking outlet  66 . In  FIG. 3 , the position of upper cap  18  is aligned to allow a beverage contained in inner bottle  14  to be dispensed via drinking outlet  66 . Prior to filling the inner bottle  14 , cap assembly  15  is desirably set in a closed position by rotating upper cap  18  relative to intermediate cap  16  such that no beverage from inner bottle  14  or outer bottle  12  can be dispensed via drinking outlet  66 .  
         [0042]     In an exemplary method for practicing the present invention inner bottle  14  is filled with a desired liquid to a desired level such as liquid fill line  58  and then cap assembly is fastened to inner bottle  14  by aligning and rotating the screw threads of inner bottle seal  42  to engage threads  34  until an inner sealing surface  52  becomes engaged with neck sealing surface  54  to a tightness sufficient to resist leakage of the contents of inner bottle  14 .  
         [0043]     Continuing with an exemplary method of filling the embodiment of the invention,  FIG. 4  shows an additional exploded side section view of bottle assembly. An inner bottle assembly  56  is shown, which includes inner bottle  14 , intermediate cap  16 , and upper cap  18 . At this level of assembly, outer bottle  12  is filled with a desired beverage to a predetermined level shown as liquid partial fill line  60 . The predetermined fill level of the outer bottle is based on anticipation of the liquid displacement that will occur when inner bottle assembly  56  is inserted into outer bottle  12 . Inner bottle assembly  56  is next inserted through top end  20  of outer bottle  12 , with outside diameter  28  passing with clearance through inside diameter  26  of the outer bottle  12 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  shows inner bottle assembly  56  partially inserted through the top end  20  of outer bottle  12 . It is apparent that the submersion of inner bottle assembly  56  has caused the liquid level of outer bottle  12  to rise to a liquid fill line  60 . To complete the assembly, one practicing the present invention would completely insert inner bottle assembly  56  into outer bottle  12  and then fasten the threads of intermediate cap  16  to outer bottle  12  by aligning and rotating the entire inner bottle assembly  56 , and thereby causing the screw threads of outer bottle seal  44  to engage threads  24  until an outer sealing surface  62  engages neck sealing surface  64  to a tightness sufficient to resist leakage of the contents of outer bottle  12 .  
         [0045]      FIGS. 6   a  through  6   c  are a series of side section views of the bottle assembly  10  following the filling of both inner bottle  14  and outer bottle  12  with desired beverages and following the assembly steps described and shown in  FIGS. 2-5 . The final beverage liquid fill lines are shown by  58  and  60  and may vary based on application, carbonation and other factors in the filling process.  
         [0046]     The shape and features of upper cap  18  and intermediate cap  16  as discussed in detail subsequently with respect to  FIGS. 7   a - 7   d  and  8   a  and  8   b  incorporate the operational elements of cap assembly  15 . In the embodiment shown, upper cap  18  has two cylindrical passageways providing a means of fluid communication from the bottom of the upper cap, through the interior of the upper cap and out the top of the upper cap at drinking outlet  66 . Outer passageway  66 ( a ), when rotatably aligned with outer orifice  74  of intermediate cap  16 , allows a means of fluid communication between outer bottle  12  and drinking outlet  66 . In the bottle assembly  10  of  FIG. 6   a , such outer passageway  66 ( a ) is shown as being blocked, and in the bottle assembly shown in  FIG. 6   b , such outer passageway  66 ( a ) is shown as being open, due to the 180° rotation of upper cap  18  relative to intermediate cap  16 , and accordingly, an outer flow arrow  70  indicates that the beverage contained in the outer bottle  12  is free to flow through the orifice  74  of intermediate cap  16 , through outer passageway  66 ( a ) of upper cap  18  and exiting bottle assembly  10  via drinking outlet  66 .  
         [0047]     Similarly, inner passageway  66 ( b ), when rotatably aligned with inner orifice  72  of intermediate cap  16 , allows a means of fluid communication between inner bottle  14  and drinking outlet  66  illustrated by inner flow arrow  68 . In the bottle assembly shown in  FIG. 6   a , such inner passageway  66 ( b ) is shown as being open, and in the bottle assembly  10  of  FIG. 6   b , such inner passageway  66 ( b ) is shown as being blocked due to the 180° rotation of upper cap  18  relative to intermediate cap  16 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 6   c  shows inner passageway  66 ( b ) blocked when the upper cap  18  is rotated 90° relative to intermediate cap  16  when measured from a 0° starting point of the upper cap&#39;s position shown in either  FIG. 6   a  or  FIG. 6   b . The outer passageway  66 ( a ) is also blocked in this position but not shown in the drawing. In practicing the present invention if the upper cap is aligned in such a way as to be able to drink from either inner bottle  14  or outer bottle  12 , and then rotated through 90° in either direction, both inner bottle  14  and outer bottle  12  is re-sealed and the cap is considered to be in an “off” position. Those skilled in the art will recognize alternative configurations of selectable cap assemblies allowing such selectable means of beverage dispensing, of which the rotatable design shown is but one embodiment.  
         [0049]      FIGS. 7   a - 7   d  show upper cap  18  in more detail. To facilitate the rotation of upper cap  18 , two parallel flat sides  76  are formed into the generally conically-shaped upper cap for the embodiment shown. The flat sides of the upper cap are grasped using the fingers in order to more easily rotate the cap between the three desired positions of: 1) off position, 2) drinking the beverage in the outer bottle and 3) drinking the beverage in the inner bottle. Printed or molded—in lettering and directional indicia  73 ( a ),  73 ( b ) and  73 ( c ) may be used on upper cap  18  to align with a corresponding mark  73 ( d ) on intermediate cap  16  to indicate to the user which position the cap is in. An outlet  66  provides the selected contents to the user being provided by channel  66   a  from the outer bottle when appropriately aligned for communication with the outer bottle and through channel  66   b  from the inner bottle when properly aligned.  
         [0050]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  are top view and side section view taken through plane  8   b - 8   b  that show intermediate cap  16  in more detail. It is apparent from the top view that the embodiment shown features cylindrically-shaped orifices, inner orifice  72  and outer orifice  74 . The orifices may be any shape a person practicing the invention desires. The orifices are positioned for access to the inner and outer bottles as previously discussed with respect to  FIGS. 6   a - 6   c  with orifice  72  accessing contents of the inner bottle and orifice  74  accessing the contents of the outer bottle. Outer passageway  66 ( a ) and inner passageway  66 ( b ) of upper cap  18  align with orifices  72  and  74  respectively when the upper cap is rotated to the respective alignment position. When neither orifice is aligned, the cap seals both the inner and outer bottle. Referring to  FIGS. 7   a  and  8   a , an arrow  73 ( d ) or other position indicating mark can be used on intermediate cap  16  to align with a corresponding mark  73 ( b ),  73 ( c ) or  73 ( d ) on upper cap  18  to indicate to the user which position the cap is in. In the example shown in the drawings, a high energy drink is contained in the inner bottle with the appropriate arrow  73 ( b ) labeled “ENERGY”. The outer bottle contains water and label  73 ( a ) provides the appropriate reference. The “off” position is identified by label  73 ( c ). In an alternate embodiment, a detent feature is used to allow upper cap  18  to “click” into place as it is rotated relative to intermediate cap  16  into positions such as 1) off, 2) inner bottle contents, and 3) outer bottle contents. For the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7   a - 7   d  and  8   a  and  8   b , the rotatable engagement between the upper and intermediate cap is accomplished by ridge  46  on the inner diameter of the intermediate cap engaging groove  48  in the circumference of the upper cap. The intermediate cap is secured to the neck of the inner bottle by threads  42  and secured to the outer bottle with threads  44 . In alternative embodiments, a snap fit or alternative engagement mechanism is employed.  
         [0051]      FIG. 6   d  is a side section view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the outer bottle incorporates a cap  15   a  and the inner bottle incorporates a separate cap  15   b . The separate cap on the inner bottle in the embodiment shown is received within an optional concentric recess  17  when the cap on the outer bottle is secured to seal to the outer bottle. An alternative indexing element is also shown in this embodiment wherein the inner bottle requires no separate indexing element while the outer bottle incorporates a circular pyramidal shaped ridge  84 ( e ). Configurations such as this embodiment are particularly desirable if the commodity contained by the inner bottle may be a granular or solid material  
         [0052]      FIG. 9  is a side section view of the bottle assembly of  FIG. 1  shown lying on its side. For the embodiment shown, inner bottle  14  is restrained adjacent the top aperture by the engagement of threaded sealing moiety  42 . In certain applications, inner bottle  14  is not restrained at its bottom end  32  and in this horizontal position, the forces of gravity will pull the bottom end  32  of inner bottle  14  downward in the direction indicated by droop arrow  78 . This drooping condition may cause the threaded seal to flex, possibly allowing leakage of the beverages between the moieties of seal marked as a potential leak path  80  and contained in either bottle through the seal between the intermediate cap  16  and upper cap  18 , which is marked as potential leak area  82 . Alternative embodiments of the present invention provide restraint of the bottom end  32  of inner bottle  14  relative to the axial position of outer bottle  12  in order to prevent such a droop condition and thereby eliminate the attendant risk of beverage leakage during shipping, handling, storage or use.  
         [0053]      FIG. 10   a  is a side section view of inner bottle  14  and outer bottle  12  in a semi-assembled state (i.e. shown with no cap). Inner bottle  14  has been formed with a first indexing feature  84 ( a ), and outer bottle  12  has been formed with a corresponding second indexing feature  84 ( b ). In one embodiment, the first indexing feature  84 ( a ) is a conically-shaped female feature and second indexing feature  84 ( b ) is a conically-shaped male feature.  FIG. 10   b  shows in partial side section an alternative geometry of the indexing features employing male and female hemispherical shapes,  84 ( c ) and  84 ( d ). A relief  85  is shown in the female shape to accommodate flexing and to receive mold flashing that may be present at the apex of the male or female shapes. Other shapes and geometries may be employed in practicing the present invention to effect the same indexing result. This indexing feature axially restrains the bottom end  32  of inner bottle  14  thereby preventing the droop condition described previously. Additionally, the indexing features provide alignment for the inner and outer bottles during filling and assembly operations as will be described in greater detail subsequently.  
         [0054]      FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b  are a side section view and a top section view taken through plane  11   b - 11   b  of a bottle assembly in a semi-assembled state. In this embodiment, outer bottle  12  is formed with a series of inward undulations  86 , which serve the purpose of restraining inner bottle  14  in a coaxial position with outer bottle  12  for the purpose of preventing a droop condition and potential leakage of the beverage contained in either bottle. Additionally the centering of the inner bottle provided by the undulations provides alignment for filling and assembly operations. Inward undulations  86  may be formed in any configuration desired and are also advantageous in “hot-filling” applications such as for filling juice or tea because they provide additional rigidity to the bottle during the elevated temperatures commonly employed in “hot-filling” that can cause normal bottles without such inward undulations  86  to distort or collapse. In an exemplary embodiment, three radially located inward undulations capture inner bottle  14  and prevent axial movement. The top section view of  FIG. 11   b  shows four inward undulations  86 . A beverage contained in outer bottle  12  is free to flow around and through the inward undulations  86  via clear areas  104 .  
         [0055]      FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b  are two side section views of inner bottle  14  and outer bottle  12  in a semi-assembled state. Inner bottle  14  incorporates a flange  88  formed as an integral part of the neck of inner bottle  14  for the purpose of providing coaxial support to restrain inner bottle  14  relative to outer bottle  12  in order to prevent a droop condition. The geometry of flange  88  allows a beverage contained in outer bottle  12  to pass through as shown for an exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 16 . As shown for an alternative embodiment in  FIG. 12   b , the inside of the neck of outer bottle  12  is formed with complimentary features to locate and capture the flange  88  of inner bottle  14 . An inwardly protruding radial boss  90  is formed as part of outer bottle  12 , which is complimented in certain embodiments by a inwardly protruding radial snap  92 . Snap  92  is shaped such that flange  88  may pass over and then be permanently fixed into place between snap  92  and boss  90 .  
         [0056]     In one embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 , inner bottle  14  and outer bottle  12  are designed and proportioned such that their respective necks are both flush at the same plane indicated by  94 . Other arrangements of varying neck elevations in relation to each other are possible in alternate embodiments.  
         [0057]      FIGS. 14   a - 14   b  are side section views of inner bottle  14  and outer bottle  12  in a semi-assembled state. In  FIG. 14   a , inner bottle  14  is formed at a shorter overall length than inner bottle  14  in  FIG. 13  and a recessed neck dimension  96  is created. This recessed neck dimension  96  is advantageous in certain embodiments to accommodate a more complicated and/or space consuming cap assembly than has been previously disclosed in herein.  FIG. 14   b  shows inner bottle  14  formed at a longer length than the inner bottle in  FIG. 13  and accordingly, a protruding neck dimension  98  is created. This arrangement may be advantageous to increase the volume of the inner bottle  14  and/or allow for a more complicated cap assembly than has been previously disclosed herein. In both embodiments, the mouth of the inner bottle is within the circumference of the mouth of the outer bottle including the cylindrical extension above and below the plane of the mouth.  
         [0058]      FIG. 15  shows an embodiment of the invention wherein inner bottle  14  is formed at a much shorter length than in previous figures and in this embodiment the closed bottom end is formed in a hemispherically rounded bottom  100 .  
         [0059]      FIG. 16 , shows an integral flange  88 , which has alternating inward undulations that form open areas  102  to be employed with the various embodiments of inner bottle  14 . These open areas  102  allow for the beverage contained in outer bottle  12  to pass through the flange  88  and out through the cap assembly. Flange  88  also has an outer dimension sufficient to engage an optional protruding boss  90  and be captured into place by an optional protruding snap  92 . In alternative embodiments, a smaller inner bottle  14  such as that shown in  FIG. 15  is used without a flange  88 , boss  90 , or snap  92  and is held in place only by the cap assembly as previously described for other embodiments, which would keep it sealed and correctly located relative to outer bottle  12 .  
         [0060]     The present invention also is embodied with multiple inner bottles as shown in  FIG. 17 . This configuration allows the consumer to choose between multiple beverages within the same container or provides multiple servings of a single beverage in the inner bottles while providing water or other base beverage in the outer bottle. For the embodiment shown, filling of the inner bottles is accomplished as described for the prior embodiments and sealing of the inner bottles with cap  108 , as subsequently described with respect to  FIGS. 18   a  and  18   b , is accomplished using rotational attachment of each of the bottles to a respective threaded moiety  114  in the cap or a snap fit boss receiving the neck of each inner bottle. Engagement of the cap with the outer bottle is also accomplished in alternative embodiments with a threaded engagement  116  as previously described or a snap fit over the neck portion of the outer bottle. For the snap fit embodiment of the outer bottle, individual indexes for the inner bottle bottoms may be employed as previously described with respect to  FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  while in the threaded engagement, a circular pyramidal ridge  118  or groove in the outer bottle bottom is employed to receive a mating moiety on the bottom of each inner bottle. A rotating cap as described with respect to  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b ,  8   a  and  8   b  is employed in certain embodiments of bottles as shown in  FIG. 18   a  with rotation of the outer channel  66 ( a ) to two orifices for communication with the inner bottles and a third orifice for communication with the outer bottle.  
         [0061]     An embodiment with a simplified cap  108  is shown in  FIGS. 18   a  and  18   b  which provides sealing engagement of the inner and outer bottles of the assembly. A piercable foil or plastic orifice  110  centered over the neck and mouth of each inner bottle and a central orifice  112  for access to the outer bottle are provided for use with conventional piercing straws or other drinking devices. The orifices can be pierced individually for access to the separate bottles or simultaneously for combined or consecutive access to contents of different bottles.  
         [0062]     An alternative embodiment of the simplified cap arrangement is shown in  FIGS. 18   c  and  18   d . A securing flange  114  similar to that described with respect to  FIG. 16  is employed to index and secure the inner bottles within the mouth of the outer bottle. A foil closure  116  is employed to seal the mouths of the individual inner bottles and the outer bottle. A closed cap  118  is then employed to cover and secure the outer bottle.  FIG. 18   d  shows foil closure  116  with three targets  120  located at predetermined points over the mouths of the inner and outer bottle to allow piercing with a straw by the user to access the contents of the various bottles. A single straw may be employed for sequential access to the bottles or multiple straws for mixed consumption of the contents of the bottles.  
         [0063]     While shown in  FIGS. 1 and 17  with substantially vertical orientation of the inner bottle or bottles with axes parallel to the outer bottle, alternative embodiments of the present invention employ off-set or angular shaped inner bottles which provide added novelty in appearance for the combined bottle. One exemplary embodiment in shown in  FIG. 19 .  
         [0064]     Having now described the invention in detail as required by the patent statutes, those skilled in the art will recognize modifications and substitutions to the specific embodiments disclosed herein. Such modifications are within the scope and intent of the present invention as defined in the following claims.