Abstract:
The present invention provides a container for drinking fluids wherein the container has an integrated interior compartment for storing solid elements used for treating drinking fluids. The interior compartment includes a plurality of perforations that allow the fluid found in the container to flow through the interior compartment to allow such fluid to interact with the contents of the interior chamber. The interior chamber may include a compound for treating the fluid and for forming, for example, alkaline water. The treatment compound is compressed into solid beads that will interact with the drinking fluid but will not substantially dissolve. In one embodiment the treatment compound comprises of Tourmaline, Kaoline, Magnesium, Magnesium Oxide, Silicone Dioxide and Calcium Oxide.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to drinking fluid containers, and more particularly to a combination fluid container and water treatment system integrated within a portable stainless steel water vessel. A treatment compound is positioned within the vessel in an interior perforated chamber located in and fixed to the container to interact with a drinking fluid. For example, the container and treatment compound may be used to form alkaline water. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Personal hydration includes the need for portable drinking fluid containers and bottles. Because of the sustainability and environmental issues associated with plastic and single use water bottles, consumers are attracted to reusable containers as such as stainless steel water bottles. Also stainless steel bottles can be formed to be free of BPA, lead or other toxins making for a healthier container. In addition, consumers have recognized the health benefits of treated drinking fluids such as alkaline water. In this regard, there is a need in the art for combining the benefits of reusable containers in combination with the easy availability of treated fluids such as alkaline water. 
     Alkaline water is understood to be beneficial to health for maintaining physical stability and helping to deal with acid buildup in the body in both healthy individuals and those with conditions that cause acidification of the blood. Alkaline water is said to aid in digestion, neutralize acidity, and to also assist in reducing free radicals. In addition, in most instances alkaline water has the characteristic of smaller water clusters, and a pH above 7.0 that has also been identified as allowing the body to more easily absorb the water. Generally, alkaline water is obtained by water electrolysis and/or through chemical treatment by mineral agents. In many prior art devices for creating alkaline water, electricity is used in association with an apparatus, or otherwise have complex structures that are not conducive for treating drinkable fluids in a portable manner. A discussion of the types and systems for creating alkaline water are described in Chung, U.S. Publication No. 2007/0221556, published Sep. 27, 2007, the substance of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     Prior art devices also disclose the use of mineral agents in fluid vessels, to allow untreated water to come in contact with the agents to form alkaline water. Such prior art devices however include multi-part structures that are not user friendly and may not remain fixed in a vessel, as intended, or otherwise use an undesirable amount of volume within a vessel and do not facilitate the flow of water around the mineral agents. As such there is a need in the art for the worry free use of a reactive agent in a portable fluid vessel, that will not overtake the functional use of the vessel and use an undesirable amount of volume of the bottle. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a container for drinking fluids wherein the container has an integrated interior compartment for storing solid elements used for treating drinking fluids. The interior compartment includes a plurality of perforations that allow the fluid found in the container to flow through the interior compartment to allow such fluid to interact with the contents of the interior chamber. The interior chamber may include a compound for treating the fluid and for forming, for example, alkaline water. The treatment compound is compressed into solid beads that will interact with the drinking fluid but will not substantially dissolve. In one embodiment the treatment compound comprises of Tourmaline, Kaolinite, Magnesium, Magnesium Oxide, Silicone Dioxide and Calcium Oxide. 
     The present invention provides a stainless steel container for drinking fluids. The container of the present invention includes an integrated interior compartment for storing solid elements and allowing fluid to flow through the interior compartment. In an embodiment of the invention container includes a vessel body having an opening for receiving a drinking fluid. A threaded neck and matching threaded cap is provided to open and close the container. The vessel body has a sidewall portion and base portion that forming an inner surface and an outer surface of the container. Located at the base of vessel, a stainless steel inner chamber attached to the inner surface of the vessel. The inner chamber includes a plurality of openings to enable the flow of the fluid through the chamber. 
     The configuration of the inner chamber allows fluid treatment agent, such as a mineral agent to be captured within the chamber. The mineral agent is captured and is not permitted to migrate from the inner chamber to the vessel chamber to prevent the user of the vessel to consume the agent. However, the inner chamber includes perforations to allow for the water or fluid to interact with the agent, such that the agent is able to interact with the water or fluid and provide treatment. The inner chamber is inserted and attached through the mouth or opening of the container, and is releasably secured therein so that the inner chamber can be removed and the fluid treatment agent replaced. The mineral agent, is formed into spherical solid beads to be inserted into the chamber. 
     The container is of a generally cylindrical shape, with circular cross section. The circular cross section of the vessel can have an increased diameter toward the top of the container as shown in the figures to provide additional volume to the container, since the inner chamber may use some of the vessel volume. The inner chamber structure and the mineral agent contained within the chamber provides a weight offset to allow the container to have a larger diameter toward the top of the vessel. The weight of the inner chamber provides a counter weight to the larger volume are toward the top of the container, a container which increases stability and assist the container from being too top heavy. 
     The present invention additionally contemplates a method of forming a container for drinking fluids capable of forming treated fluids. The steps of the method include providing an elongated, hollow vessel comprising an integral side wall and a base wall with an opening formed at a top end. Attaching cylindrical well to the bottom interior base of the container. The cylindrical well has an open top and side walls with a formed annular rim. A cylinder, that is capped with a circular insert, and a mineral agent contained therein and is inserted into the cylindrical well that has a diameter slightly larger than the cylinder insert. Deformable tabs attached to the sides of cylinder engage the annular rim to secure said cylinder to said cylindrical base to form a cylindrical inner chamber. The steps can also include populating the inner chamber with a fluid treatment compound such as a mineral agent. The mineral agent can be formed from the compound of the following components Tourmaline, Kaoline, Magnesium, Magnesium Oxide, Silicone Dioxide and Calcium Oxide. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the container of the present invention showing the container cap in an exploded view; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the container of the present invention with the cap threaded into a closed position; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the base of the container of the present invention, additionally showing the detail of the inner chamber; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the base of the container of the present invention with the inner chamber shown in exploded view; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the inner chamber of the container of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the circular insert that is used within the inner chamber of the container of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective exterior view of the container of the present invention  10 . The container  10  comprises a vessel body  12  is shown in exploded relationship with the container cap  14 . The container cap  14  includes a cap head  16  interconnected to a threaded insert  18 . The cap head  16  includes a cap D ring  20  that is pivotally connected to the cap head  16  at pivot inserts  16   a  and  16   b . The D ring can move laterally and pivot about inserts  16   a  and  16   b  to enable the bottle to be handled by the D ring  20 . Although it is contemplated that the cap  14  if formed from a unibody stainless steel structure, the cap  14  in combination with the cap head  16  could additionally be formed of natural material such wood or bamboo. 
     The vessel body  12  is formed from an elongate stainless steel sidewall  22  that is tapered to a neck portion  24 . The neck portion  24  is threaded, sized and adapted to interface with the threaded insert  18  of the cap  14 . A user can selectively open and close the vessel  12  by securing the cap  14  to the vessel body  12  at the neck portion  24  by rotating the cap  14  in the threaded grooves to form a fluid tight seal to prevent fluid escaping form the vessel  12  when closed. A silicone o-ring may be employed on the underside of the cap head  16  to assist in forming a fluid tight seal. The rigid stainless steel sidewalls  22  can either remain as unfinished stainless steel or can be painted, decaled and/or dyed to create different appearances for the container. Furthermore, the sidewalls  22  can accommodate a silicone cover  26  as shown in  FIG. 1  or other such surface covering, such as neoprene, as an example. The cover  26  can be included for decorative purposes, or for including brand information. Also the cover  26  can serve the purpose of providing a more secure grip of the container  10  and can also assist in minimizing a wet surface caused by a cool liquid inside the container  10  contributing to surface sweating. Also, in the case of warm beverages the cover  26  can serve to provide a gripping surface that will have a temperature lower than the uncovered stainless steel surface. 
     It is contemplated that the stainless steel vessel  12  can be formed from high quality food-grade stainless steel which is safe, non-toxic and is resistant to absorbing smells and materials placed in the container that could create unwanted flavor to the drinking fluids as might be present in plastics or other materials and surfaces. Stainless steel is otherwise inert to avoid affecting the taste of the drinking fluid or water and is additionally resistant to the elements and corrosion is minimized. The neck portion  24  provides opening for which fluid can be inserted or extracted from the vessel  12  and is wide enough to promote drinking directly from the bottle. Additionally, the wide neck portion  24  facilitates easy cleaning by allowing the insertion of cleaning devices into the vessel  12 , as well as permitting access to the base of the vessel  12  to access the insertion and removal of an inner chamber (not shown) which is discussed in greater detail which respect to  FIGS. 2-6 . If seals used around the mouth of the neck portion  24  and opening  28  when interfacing with the cap  14 , food-grade silicone o-ring or similar structure may be used to create a fluid tight seal. 
     The container  10  is of a generally cylindrical shape, with circular cross section. The circular cross section of the vessel as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  show the sidewalls  22  have an increased diameter toward the top of the container to provide additional volume to the container, since the inner chamber  32  may use some of the vessel  10  volume. The inner chamber  32  structure and the mineral agent  34  contained within the chamber  32  provides a weight offset to allow the container to have a larger diameter or cross section toward the top of the vessel and to provide greater stability and to help avoid the container toppling over when the vessel includes an amount of fluid that reaches the enlarged portion of the container. 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 2  there is shown a cross-section of the container  10  wherein the vessel body  12  and the cap  14  are engaged in the closed position. The stainless steel sidewalls  22  are welded to a circular base  30  to form a water tight vessel  12 . Although present invention constructs the vessel body  12  of the two components of the sidewalls  22  and base  30 , it is contemplated by the present invention that the vessel body  12  can be constructed from a unitary piece formed in the vessel body shape to avoid the step of welding the base  30  to the sidewalls  22 . An inner chamber  32  is affixed to the base  30  as described more particularly in  FIGS. 3-4 . The inner chamber  32  is generally cylindrical in shape and is adapted to receive mineral agent beads  34  or other materials that can interact with and treat a fluid contained within the vessel. The mineral agent beads  34  are fixedly secured within the inner chamber  32  so not to escape from the inner chamber into the void of the vessel  12 . The inner chamber  32  is shown in more detail in  FIG. 3 . Although the inner chamber is formed into a cylindrical shape, other shapes are equally capable of containing the mineral beads  34  including but not limited to a spherical shape, or a cube shape or any other shapes. Also, although the chamber  32  shows perforations  36  formed equally spaced and set in rows and columns, it is submitted that any type of openings in any pattern which are small enough to keep the beads in the inner chamber is contemplated. The beads  34  are contemplated to be 4-5 mm in diameter, and of a spherical shape, however different sizes and shapes of the beads are contemplated. Also a mesh or wire frame cage is contemplated to keep the beads  34  in the inner chamber  32 . 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a cross sectional view of the vessel  12  with side wall  22  and base  30 . Also, the inner chamber  32  is shown in cross sectional view incorporating mineral agent beads  34 . The mineral agent beads  34  are trapped within the chamber  32  so as to not migrate in the void of the vessel  12 . In order to allow the drinkable fluid to interact with the beads  34 , side wall perforations  36  are provided in the side wall of the inner chamber  32  to permit fluid to flow through the chamber and for the fluid to interact with the mineral agent beads  34 . A circular insert  38  is provided within the chamber  32  to enclose the chamber  32  and trap the beads  34  within the chamber, and to support the mineral agent beads  34  above the base  30  to permit water flow at the base of the chamber  32  through base perforations  40  and up through perforations in the insert  38  (not shown) described in more detail in  FIG. 6 . The bottom portion of the chamber  32  is welded to the base  30  at weld points  42  formed in the base  30  for purposes of accepting a rigid connection with the chamber  32 . Although the weld points  42  are shown in  FIG. 4 , the invention contemplates additional patterns of welding the chamber  32  to the base. 
     The beads  34  are formed from mineral agents bound together in solid form, of a size large enough to avoid migrating through the perforations  36 , or other perforations of the chamber  32 . The beads interact with the drinkable fluid or water to form alkaline fluid that has certain health benefits described in the background of the invention. The beads  34  are formed from at least one or more of the following components Tourmaline, Kaolinite (Al 2 Si 2 O 5 (OH) 4 ), Magnesium (Mg), Magnesium Oxide (MgO), Silicone Dioxide (SiO2) and Calcium Oxide (CaO). Although the present invention contemplates the forgoing mineral agents, it is submitted that the invention contemplates the use of other mineral agents or compounds that are reactive to fluids in the formulation of the beads  34 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown an exploded view of the components of the chamber  32 . The components of the chamber  32  include a top cylinder  44 , circular insert  38  and base well  46 . The base well  46  is interconnected to base  30 . During assembly of the container  10  of the present invention, the base  30  is welded to the sidewalls  22 . The base well  46  is then connected to the base  30  by welding or other means. Of the three components of the chamber  32 , the base well  46  has the largest diameter, large enough to receive the top cylinder  44  and the insert  38  has the smallest diameter to be received in top cylinder  44 . The circular insert  38  is sized to be received and frictionally fit within the top cylinder  44 . It is contemplated by the present invention that the beads  34  would be placed in top cylinder  44 , and the cylinder is capped by the circular insert  38  to trap the beads in the cylinder  44 , and then the cylinder  44  with the insert  38  is releasably received into the base well  46 . The cylinder  44 , with the combination of the insert  38  and internal beads  34  is introduced into the vessel  10  through the opening  28  to engage with the base well  46 . Likewise the cylinder  44  with the combination of the insert  38  and internal beads  34  can be removed through the opening  28  of vessel  10 . 
     The insert  38  has a perforated flat top surface  48 , shown in  FIG. 6  and curved perimeter  50 . The curved perimeter  50  is inserted into the top cylinder  44  and rests against bottom of the base well  46 , as best shown in  FIG. 3 . Lower perforations  41  are formed at the base of the top cylinder  44 . Because the perimeter  50  is curved it provides clearance to permit fluid flow through the lower perforations  40  of the base well  46  when the top cylinder  44  is inserted into the base well  46  such that the lower perforations  40  are in fluid communication with the lower perforations  41  of the top cylinder  44 . 
     The top cylinder  44  has a closed top  52  with perforations  60  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The lower portion of the cylinder  44  has an opening  54  that will be placed over the insert  38 . The top cylinder  44  has a lesser diameter than the base well  46 , and is sized to be received into the base well  46 . In addition four tabs  56  are provided in spaced relation about the side wall of the upper cylinder  44 . The tabs  56  are sized and configured to engage an annular recess  58  formed in the sidewalls of the base well  46 , to engage the tabs  56  of the top cylinder  44 . The tabs  56  are designed to deform back into the sidewall of the top cylinder  44  upon striking the annular recess  58 , and then when the cylinder  44  pushed past the annular recess  58 , the tabs  56  flay outwardly as shown in  FIG. 3 , such that the top cylinder  44  is locked into place within the base well  46 . It is contemplated that the beads  34  will be placed within the cylinder  44  capped with the insert  38 , prior to engaging the base well  46 , so that the beads  34  will trapped within the inner chamber  32  once the top cylinder  44  is locked into place with the well base  46 . 
     The top cylinder  44  is releasably secured into the base well  46  with the insert  38  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The top cylinder  44  is held in place by friction and engagement of the tabs  56  with the rim  58 . The top cylinder  44  is held in place in secure enough fashion to avoid the cylinder  44  becoming dislodged during normal use of the container  10  of the present invention. The rim  58  shaped such that tabs  56  are not permanently locked into the base well  46 , and facilitates the removal of the cylinder  44 . The cylinder  44  can be removed by supplying enough pulling force to the cylinder  44  to disengage with the base well  46  and removed from the container  10  through opening  28 . As such, the user of the container  10  of the present invention could introduce fresh beads  34  for fluid treatment by either inserting a new top cylinder  44  with insert  38 , or the same cylinder  44  with insert  38  after replacing the beads  34 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown the top surface  52  of the top cylinder  44  along the view  5 - 5  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The top surface  52  includes a plurality of perforations  60  to permit fluid flow through the inner chamber  32 . Tabs  56  are shown extending outwardly from the sidewalls of the top cylinder  44 . Likewise, as shown in  FIG. 6 , there is shown the top surface  48  of the insert  38  which also includes perforations  62  formed in the surface  48  to promote fluid flow between the vessel  22  and the inner chamber  32 . 
     The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combinations described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.