Patent Publication Number: US-8985324-B2

Title: Drink mix container

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS 
     Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/666,677 filed Jun. 29, 2012 entitled Drink Mix Container. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to drink mix containers and, in particular, concerns container designs that are adapted to be sold for use with commercially-available water bottles or suitable drink bottles and can function as both a receptacle for a drink mix and also provide a cap for existing drink bottles or containers. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Drink mixes for use with water or other beverages sold in containers such as bottles are well known. Examples of such mixes include nutritional supplements and flavor supplements as well as other mixes that can be used to enhance a drink. As a further example, an energy drink mix can be formulated for use with water bottles. 
     Nutritional, energy, and/or medical ingredients found in pre-mixed liquid beverages are well known in the marketplace. Powdered mixes of similar nutritional, energy and medical ingredients are less known and less available in the commercial marketplace. One reason for this is the inconvenience of using such powdered mixtures and adding them to commercial water bottles. The process of adding powdered ingredients to water bottles involves removing some of the water from the water bottle to make room for the addition of the powdered mixture. Subsequently, the powder must be dispensed into the water bottle. 
     Drink mixes offer several advantages over pre-mixed drinks, one of which is that if the drink mix is in a dry form, its shelf life can be considerably longer than the life of a pre-mixed drink. Moreover, drink mixes can allow a consumer to customize a particular beverage, such as water, to achieve a desired taste, nutritional supplement or other supplement. 
     Powders are usually stored in thick, flexible rectangular or square-shaped “packets” lined with aluminum foil, in other appropriate material or in more rigid plastic, tubular containers. The process of adding powder from the package to the water bottle most often occurs with spillage of some of the powder over the edge of the bottle opening, onto the sides of the bottle and onto the surface on which the bottle is resting. As such, the procedure of adding the powdered mixture to the bottle is an inconvenient and messy process that often requires cleaning of the bottle and other surfaces. Additionally, for some mixes that are attempting to achieve a specific desired nutritional or medicinal benefit, the spilling of the mix can lessen the benefit as the specific desired proportion of the mix in the drink is lost when spilled. 
     Nevertheless, despite these difficulties and inconvenience, there are advantages to using powdered substances as ingredients and/or supplements for nutritional, energy and medical products. One advantage is that, since the powered drink in the mix is in a dry form, its shelf life can be considerably longer than the life of a pre-mixed liquid drink. Moreover, powdered drink mixes can allow a consumer to customize a particular beverage by adding different quantities of the powdered mix to a bottle filled with a liquid such as water to achieve a desired taste and/or nutritional supplement concentration. 
     Further, for most, if not all, pre-made liquid beverages, preservatives such as EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate and other chemicals must be used to prevent the growth of bacteria, mold and fungi. Most such chemical agents are active only at acidic pH values below 3.5 or 3.0. Commercially available pre-mixed liquid drinks, regardless of their content of nutritional, supplement and/or medical ingredients are maintained at or below this pH level. Using powdered mixes is advantageous because they can be prepared without such chemical preservatives and the pH value can be adjusted to be in the biologically neutral range of pH 7.0. This is beneficial for most consumers, particularly children who already consume an excess of extraneous and deleterious chemicals contained within the hundreds of pre-mixed liquid drinks which they currently consume. 
     From the foregoing it will be appreciated that what is needed is a drink mix container that can store a powdered substance, which can be subsequently added to a liquid within a commercially-available water bottle (or to a liquid such as mild juice, flavored water beverage, etc. within a suitable container in a simple clean efficient and quantitative manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aforementioned needs are satisfied, in one implementation, by a Drink Mix Container (DMC) that defines a central receptacle that receives the drink mix which can be a dry, powdered mix or even a liquid mix. The receptacle includes a first and a second opening. The first opening (which can be positioned towards the bottom of the receptacle) and the second opening (positioned towards the top of the receptacle) each project from the receptacle through an extended “neck” region. The first opening is sized and configured to be positioned onto the opening of a commercially available water bottle or suitable drink container. The first opening also preferably includes a first cap that seals the first opening so the first opening may be threaded on both the interior and the exterior. In one non-limiting implementation, the exterior (outer) threads on the neck region of the first opening permit a “threaded” lid or cap to be affixed, which seals the first opening. The interior neck of this first opening is divided into a proximal (joining the receptacle) and a distal region. When this cap is removed, the interior threads on the distal region the neck of the first opening permit the DMC to be firmly attached to a commercial water bottle or other suitable drink container. The proximal region of the inner side of the neck of the first opening is either threaded or smooth in nature. 
     The second opening is preferably sized and positioned so that when the DMC is positioned on the water bottle or suitable drink container, via the first opening, the second opening functions as the opening of the water bottle or drink container so that mixed drink flows from the water bottle or drink container through the receptacle of the DMC and out of the second opening, to be consumed. 
     The second opening towards the top of the DMC is, in one non-limiting example, sized and configured with threads along only the outer surface of the neck region to permit a “threaded” lid or cap to be affixed to it, which thus seals the opening. The second opening is preferably sized and positioned so that when the DMC is attached to the commercial water bottle or drink container, via the first opening, as described in the above paragraph, the second opening then functions as the opening through which the drink mixture is consumed. 
     As such, after the release of the powder from the DMC into the water bottle or suitable container and the powder is mixed with the liquid content of a water bottle, the mixed liquid can then be consumed directly through the second opening, without removal of the DMC from the water bottle. 
     In one specific non-limiting implementation there is a removable plug that extends through the receptacle and seals the first opening (from the inside) so that the powdered (or liquid) mix is retained within the receptacle when the cap is removed from the first opening and the drink mix container is positioned on the water bottle or suitable drink container. After attachment of the DMC to the water bottle, the plug can be removed from the inside through the top opening of the DMC, so as to release the mix from the receptacle allowing it to fall into the liquid content of the water bottle or suitable drink container. 
     In one non-limiting application the inner surface of the proximal region of the first opening (toward the bottom region of the DMC) is either threaded or is smooth (without threads). In one implementation, the inner proximal surface of the neck region of the first opening is smooth and the removable plug comprises a “push-pull” plug that is positioned within the neck region of the first opening. The “push-pull” plug can be spherical, elliptical, oval, or formed in some other three-dimensional shape. It can be “rigid” (either solid or hollow in construction) so that it is tightly “juxtaposed” against an appropriate “complementary surface” within the neck region of the first opening, or it can be “flexible” (either solid or hollow in construction) so that it is “friction fit,” “squeezed” or “pushed” into the neck region of the first opening. In this configuration, the “push-pull” plug may be slightly deformed as it is “positioned” (friction-fit, pushed, or squeezed) to form the seal within the neck region of the first opening. 
     In another implementation, the inner proximal surface of the neck region of the first opening is “threaded” and the removable plug comprises a “threaded-twist” plug that is positioned within the neck region of the first opening, so as to permit a “threated engagement.” This “threaded-twist” plug may have a flexible, encompassing (surrounding or circumscribing) “flap” attached to the upper edge which projects onto the inner surface of the inner receptacle wall to help provide an effective seal to prevent the loss of the powdered mix. 
     In either of these implementations, the plugs can be attached to the second cap and can be removed by removal of the second cap; the connection of the plug to the second cap may be a fixed connection or a threaded connection. The attachment may be by a stem that is sufficiently flexible to permit the second cap to be displaced laterally to permit the drink mix to be deposited into the DMC receptacle during the filling process by moving the second cap aside. The stem must be sufficiently long enough so that when the second cap is not threaded to the second (top) opening, the plug is still positioned in the proximal neck region of the first (bottom) opening to prevent the drink mix from into the water or drink bottle. 
     Alternatively, in either of these implementations, the plugs (“push-pull” plug or the “threaded-twist” plug) can be attached to the second cap by a rigid or flexible “stem” (or rod) that extends from the plug, upwards through the receptacle space, and is attached to the second cap by a “fixed” or a “threaded” connection. Removal of the second cap has the effect of “removing” the “plug” from the neck region of the first opening (by lifting it “upwards” and out of the neck region of the first opening) so that the ingredients within the receptacle are thereby released into the water of the commercial water bottle or into the liquid contents of any suitable container. 
     The plug may also have flexible flaps to retain the drink mix by forming a seal. These seals may extend diagonally outward from the top of the plug. 
     To facilitate the filling process, in another implementation, the receptacle can have a separate opening for adding the mix into the receptacle which means the stem can be shorter. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevation view of one embodiment of a drink mix container; 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the container of  FIG. 1  having a push-pull plug; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the drink mix container of  FIG. 1  having a threaded-twist plug; 
         FIGS. 4A-4C  are cross-sectional views of another embodiment of the drink mix container of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are cross-sectional views of another embodiment of the drink mix container of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are cross-sectional views of the drink mix container positioned on a drink container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a drink mix container (DMC)  100  is shown. The DMC  100  has a receptacle  102  where the drink mix is stored and a first and a second opening  104   a ,  104   b . The receptacle  102  is shown to be spherical in  FIG. 1 , however, a person of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that the shape of the receptacle can vary without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Other optional shapes can be cuboidal, elliptical, oval and any other different type of geometric shape. 
     As shown, the openings  104   a ,  104   b  are covered by caps  106   a ,  106   b . In one specific implementation, necks  105   a ,  105   b  of the openings  104   a ,  104   b  are covered with threads  107  (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) that receive threads along the inner sides of the caps  106   a ,  106   b  (shown for cap  106   b  in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). It will be appreciated however, that the caps  106   a ,  106   b  can be attached to the necks  105   a ,  105   b  in any manner known in the art. 
     As is also shown, the openings  104   a  and  104   b  are positioned at the bottom and top of the DMC respectively, and are generally aligned with each other. As will be discussed below, the openings  104   a  and  104   b  allow for the introduction of the drink mix into any commercially-available water bottle or suitable drink container and also optionally allow a person to consume the drink with the mix deposited in the water bottle or suitable drink container through the neck region  105   b  of the DMC  100 . Hereinafter, the term “water bottle” will be used to designate any commercially-available water bottle or any suitable drink container that may or may not contain water or other liquid beverages. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the DMC  100  will be further described. In this embodiment, the cap  106   b  includes a “push-pull” plug  108  that is attached to the cap via a stem  110 . Advantageously, the stem  110  is sized so that when the cap  106   b  is threaded onto the neck  105   b  of the opening  104   b  via the threads  107 , the plug  108  is positioned within the neck region  105   a  of the opening  104   a  so as to prevent the drink mix in the receptacle  102  from being deposited into the water bottle or drink container. This permits a user to position the DMC  100  onto the water bottle in a manner that will be described in greater detail below. Once the drink mix container  100  is positioned on the drink container, the user can then remove the cap  106   b  which removes the plug  108  from the neck region  105   a  opening  104   a  causing the drink mix to fall into the water bottle without any spillage of the drink mix. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , another embodiment of the DMC  100  will be described. In this embodiment, there is a “threaded-twist” plug  112  that is formed on (or affixed to) a stem  110  that is attached to the cap  106   b . The twist or threaded plug  112  has threads  113  that engage with threads  125  on the interior surface of the proximal neck region  105   a  of the opening  104   a  (shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C ) in the manner that will be described in greater detail below. Like the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the plug  112  closes the neck region  105   a  of the opening  104   a  and allows the DMC  100  to be positioned on the water bottle without allowing the drink mix to fall into the water bottle until the top cap  106   b  is removed. 
     In each of these embodiments, the inner walls caps  106   a  and  106   b  preferably have threads  109  (shown for the cap  106   a  in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) that engage with the threads  107  on the distal outside regions of the necks  105   a ,  105   b  of the openings  104   a ,  105   b  that permit the DMC  100  to be sealed. It will be appreciated that the caps  106   a  and  106   b  may either both be attached via threads or they can be attached in any of a number of different manners known in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  illustrates different embodiments of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  which seal the second or lower opening  104   a  in different manners. As shown in  FIG. 4A , the plug  108  can be sized to fit within the neck region  105   b  of the opening  104   a  in an un-deformed state. The proximal neck region of the opening  104   a  may also include seating members  117  that are sized and positioned so that when the plug  108  is positioned against the sealing member  117 , the receptacle  102  is sealed and the drink mix in the receptacle does not fall into a water bottle  120 . The seating members  117  may comprise an annular ring that is curved so as to match the curvature of plug  108 . In this embodiment, the plug  108  may be formed of a rigid material that is substantially non-deformable or can alternatively comprise a deformable member. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4B and 4C , in an alternate design, the plug  108  can be larger than the inner region of the neck  105   a  of the opening  104   a  but can be formed of a deformable material such that when the cap  106   b  is screwed onto the outer region of the neck  105   b  of the opening  104   b , the plug  108  is forced into the proximal neck region of the opening  104   b  and is deformed therein so as to also inhibit the drink mix from falling through the opening  104   a  into the water bottle below. A soft plastic or other suitable material can be used to form this embodiment of the plug  108 . 
     As is also shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C , the distal portion of the inner surface neck region  105   a  of the opening  104   a  is also threaded with threads  121 . Preferably, these threads  121  are sized so as to match the size of threads  123  of the water bottle  120  to thereby permit the user to thread (or twist) the DMC  100  onto the water bottle  120  after removal of the bottom cap  106   a  from the DMC  100 . Once the DMC  100  is correctly installed onto the water bottle  120 , removal of the top cap  106   b  results in the plug  108  being removed from the neck region  105   a  of the opening  104   a  which thereby allows the drink mix in the receptacle  102  to fall into the water bottle  120  without any spillage of the drink mix. 
     As is also shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C , the opening  104   b  has a larger diameter than the opening  104   a  to permit easy installation and removal of the plug  108  (and the plug  112 ) through the opening  104   b . The openings  104   a  and  104   b  are preferably axially aligned so that the user can consume the drink through the opening  104   b  once the mix from the receptacle  102  has been released into the water bottle  120 . 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate the manner in which the embodiment of  FIG. 3  can be installed and used on the water bottle  120 . As shown, the proximal inner neck region  105   a  of the opening  104   a  includes a set of threads  125  that are sized to receive the threads  113  on the “threaded-twist” plug  112 . The “threaded-twist” plug  112  is then threaded into proximal inner neck region of the opening  104   a  thereby sealing the receptacle  102  and preventing the drink mix from falling though the opening into the water bottle  120 . The distal inner neck region of the opening  104   a  also includes threads  121  that are sized to engage with the threads  123  of the water bottle  120  (See, also,  FIG. 4A ). 
     As is also shown, there can be a flexible flange  122  (e.g., an annular flange) that extends outward from the threaded plug  112  (see, also  FIG. 3 ). The flexible flange would help to block the mix from falling into the threads  113  during the filling process and when it is partially inserted into the neck region  105   a  of the first opening  104   a  (see  FIG. 5B ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , in use, the user will remove the cap  106   a  and then thread the DMC  100  onto the water bottle  120  in the same manner as described above. The user can then remove the cap  106   b  (align with the attached stem  110  and plug  108  or plug  112 ) and discard them. The process of removing the cap  106   b  essentially “unplugs” the proximally neck region of the opening  104   a , thereby releasing the drink mix contents of the receptacle  102  into the water bottle  120 . The user then adds (twists) the cap  106   a  onto the top opening  104   b  to effectively seal the DMC  100  attached to the water bottle  120  to allow the user to shake and mix the contents of the drink mix with the water in the water bottle (or other liquid in any suitable drink container to which the DMC has been attached. After mixing, the user can remove the cap  106   a  and consume the mixed drink (beverage) through the opening  104   b . As is also shown in  FIG. 6B , the receptacle  102  can optionally include a separate port  131  that can be used to fill the receptacle  102  with the mix (which can be a powder or a liquid). 
     In the embodiments illustrated and described, a DMC  100  with two openings  104   a ,  104   b  that are capped with caps  106   a ,  106   b  can retain a specific quantity of drink mix. The DMCs  100  can be sold separately from the drink bottles. The user can then screw them onto the water bottle (or suitable drink container) when they want to add the drink mix to the water of a commercially-available water bottle or any other liquid in any suitable drink container. The top cap  106   b  with the plug  108  or plug  112  is initially retained on the top opening  104   a  which thereby prevents the drink mix from falling through the opening  104   a  when the cap  106   a  is removed. Removal of the top cap  106   b  removes the plug  108  or  112  which then allows the drink mix to fall into the drink container  120  without spillage. Thus, a specific metered amount of the drink mix can be accurately transferred into the drink container  120 . 
     It will be appreciated that while the foregoing description has shown and described embodiments of the present invention, various changes to the form and use of the described embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the foregoing discussion, but should be defined by the appended claims.