Patent Publication Number: US-7217434-B1

Title: Condiment dispenser for beverage container

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to condiment packages and particularly to a package that engages the top of a beverage container. 
     BACKGROUND AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 
     Beer and nuts have long been associated with one another like doughnuts and coffee, peanut butter and jelly, bacon and eggs. However, a unique problem exists with dispensing beer and nuts in that beer and nuts are often eaten when the eater is “on the move” such as through a crowd, shaking hands at a party. 
     Another scenario is where the eater is in the company of a number of people, such as at a bar or around a pool. Nuts are not “ladled out” to individuals like mash potatoes or slices of beef. The nuts are placed in an open dish and the eater is invited to ‘grab a handful”. Oftentimes the eater&#39;s hand is not quite big enough to grab as many nuts as he would like to satisfy his appetite. Then the dispensing of nuts becomes a “polite” contest as to where the dish containing the nuts will finally reside. 
     Another problem with the “open dish” method of dispensing nuts is that, in the minds of many, the practice of many hands dipping into a common container can result in spreading bacteria. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a combination dispenser of nuts and beverage that enables the user to hold the combination dispenser in one hand while eating/drinking, leaving the other hand free to answer a cell phone or shaking a hand or operating a steering wheel. 
     It is another object that the dispenser includes a “serving size package” of nuts. 
     It is another object that the dispenser be sealed so that the nuts are protected from contamination until the time when the user is ready to eat the nuts. 
     It is another object that the dispenser of nuts be configured to engage a can of beverage wherein the can is a “standard” can so that the dispenser of nuts can be displayed and sold as an item separate from the can of beverage. 
     This invention is directed toward a package of nuts that is engaged with the top of a beverage container. 
     In one embodiment, the beverage container is a standard can known to the public as one of a “six Pack.” 
     The package of nuts includes a cylindrical section having a closed bottom and a lid that seals the open top of the cylindrical section until the user desires access to the nuts. 
     In one embodiment, the lid comprises two laminates. The first laminate covers the entire open end of the cylinder. The second laminate covers part of the first laminate and extends around and is sealed to about three quarters of the rim of the cylinder. 
     In use, the user tears off the first laminate so that the top of the cylinder is partly covered leaving an opening to access nuts that are stored inside the cylinder. The user eats these nuts by pouring them into his mouth or he pours them into his open hand. 
     Tearing off the first laminate also uncovers a small (straw-size) hole in the second laminate uncovering a channel formed in the side of cylinder through which the user can insert a straw extending down to the beverage stored in the can/cup. 
     In another embodiment, the bottom in the lower end of the cylinder is displaced from the lower edge of the channel. The lower edge of the cylinder is a skirt. The skirt is dimensioned to fit snugly around the top of the can. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is an assembly view of the container poised for attachment to the can. 
         FIG. 2A  is a sectional view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2B  is the same as  2 A but also showing a drinking straw positioned inside the cylinder and can. 
         FIGS. 3A , B, C are views of the container joined to the cup/can where the means of joining is a sleeve. 
         FIG. 4  shows the container having grooved bottom for engaging the cup/can. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view showing a sealed nut container inserted into a cup filled with beverage. 
         FIG. 6  is a version of  FIG. 2  showing a seal adhered to the top edge of the container. 
         FIG. 7  shows the container of nuts mounted on a peg for retail display. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A BEST MODE 
     Turning now to a description of the drawings,  FIGS. 1-5  show versions of the invention being a container  10  for nuts  11  configured for mounting on the top end  19  of a standard beverage cup or can  12 . 
     The standard beverage can/cup  12 , presently on the market has an outside ridge  19  around the upper edge of the cup/can  12 . 
     In each version, the container  10  comprises an integrally formed (molded) cylinder  14  and may have a partial lid  24  that extends over about two thirds of the container  10  opening. 
       FIG. 1  shows one version of the container in which a bottom side  16  (in phantom) is displaced from the lower edge  18  of the cylinder  14  so that a short skirt  20  is formed which includes the lower edge  18 . 
       FIG. 2A  is a sectional view of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 2B  is the same as  FIG. 2A  but shows a drinking straw  31  extending down through the cylinder  14  into the beverage  40 . 
     The lower edge  18  of skirt  20  has an inside lip  21  dimensioned so that the lip  21  “snaps” onto the ridge  19  around the top edge of the cup/can  12 . 
       FIG. 3A  is an exploded view of another version for mounting the container  10  on the can  12  in which the means for mounting the container  10  on the can/cup  12  is a sleeve  40 . 
       FIG. 3B  is an assembly view showing the can  12  inserted into one end of sleeve  40  and the container  10  inserted into the opposite end of sleeve  40 . 
       FIG. 3C  is a sectional view of  FIG. 3B  showing nuts in the container  10  and drinking straw  31  extending through the container  10  into the beverage  40 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of a third version for mounting the container  10  on the can  12  in which the container  10  has a bottom side  42  with a molded groove  44  that mates with the ridge  19  on the top edge of can  12 . 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a fifth version in which the container is supported inside the can/cup by a flange  44  extending from the top edge of container  10  is supported on the top edge of cup  12 . 
     In each version,  FIGS. 1-5 , but shown to best advantage in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , the molded cylinder  14  has a partial lid  24  that extends over part of the open top of the cylinder  14 . The partial lid  24  provides better control when pouring nuts from container  12 . 
     In another embodiment of each version, there is no partial lid. 
     In each version but shown to best advantage in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a cover  26 , being a thin foil or paper, is adhesively adhered to the top edge of the cylinder  12  and the partial lid  24  and extends over the top opening of the cylinder  14 . This feature provides a complete enclosure for the nuts before sale of the nuts occurs. 
     For access to the nuts  11 , the cover  26  is peeled from off the partial lid  24  by grasping a tab  29  attached to this section of the cover and peeling back the cover  26 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing cylinder  14  with flange  13  covered by cover  26 . The side of cylinder  14  has a channel  30  extending from top edge to bottom edge of the container  14 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3C ,  4 . and  5  when the container  10  of  FIG. 6  is mounted on the can/cup  12 , the channel  30  provides a guide for positioning drinking straw  31  through hole  32 , along channel  30 , and through opening  23  in the can  12  down into the beverage  40  stored into the can  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the hole  32  in the tab  29  also provides an opening for displaying a plurality of the containers  10  on a peg  36  for commercial display. 
     In use, the user selects his container  10  of favorite condiments from a peg  36  and places the container onto the top of a beverage can or cup. Then he peels off the cover  26  and inserts a straw  31  through the channel  30  and hole  23  so that the lower end of the straw extends into the beverage  40  in the can (cup)  12 . 
     The ability to peel off the cover (leaving the partial lid attached to the container) and pour the condiments directly into the mouth is a more dependable method of partaking the condiments than the present method for dispensing condiments (usually peanuts) which is to rip open a cellophane bag and try to empty the nuts directly in the mouth from the bag because a few of the nuts are invariably stuck in the bottom of the bag. 
     This construction provides several practicalities for the consuming public. 
     One convenience is that the beverage and/or condiments can be dispensed while holding the container/can in one hand. 
     Another convenience is that the condiments may be packaged (and sold) separately from the beverage so that the buyer may select any one of a number of condiments. 
     In the context of this invention, the word, “condiments”, is any confection including nuts, mints, chocolates, etc. that are dispensed as “pea-sized” nuggets and as such, are well known to the public. 
     Variations and modifications of this invention may be contemplated after reading the specification and studying the drawings which are within the scope of the invention. 
     By following the disclosure of this invention, the nuts and beverage are fully protected from contamination until the consumer is ready to consume the condiments and beverage. 
     These versions demonstrate the range of scope of the invention. 
     It is therefore wished to define the scope of the invention by the appended claims.