Abstract:
A powdered drink shaker bottle is provided with a rigid, disposable liner to minimize clean up and eliminate residual odors. The liner is shaped to fit inside the cup of the bottle, and includes a plurality of projections to facilitate mixing of a powdered drink in the bottle. The projections eliminate the need for a separate, removable mixing device, such as a ball or grate. An optional cap liner may also be provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to previously filed provisional application, U.S. Ser. No. 62/350,384, filed Jun. 15, 2016, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS 
       [0002]    Drink bottles of various types are well-known for various users. The bottles are generally either disposable or re-usable. Re-usable bottles require cleaning to maintain proper sanitary conditions. Depending upon the bottle design, cleaning may be difficult. Also, if the bottle is not cleaned immediately after consumption of the beverage, undesirable smells due to presence of bacteria may be imparted to the bottle, particularly for plastic bottles, wherein such odor build-up may be difficult to remove. For example, protein drinks wherein powdered protein is mixed with water in the bottle, are prone to odor contamination of the bottle if liquid is left in the bottle too long, or if the bottle is not washed immediately after consumption. Also, the powder sometimes does not fully mix with the water due to insufficient shaking or clumping. Prior art solutions to improve mixing include a wire ball which is free to move within the bottle during shaking, or a screen or grate normally positioned adjacent the cap to facilitate mixing. However, the ball and grate must also be cleaned to maintain proper sanitization and avoid odors. Cleaning of the bottle and the mixing aids is often difficult or incomplete. 
         [0003]    Plastic disposable bottle liners have been used in bottles, such as baby bottles, to minimize the cleaning and odor problems. 
         [0004]    Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved shaker bottle having a disposable liner which eliminates cleaning of the bottle and the cap, and prevents odor problems inside the bottle and the cap. 
         [0005]    Another objective of the present invention is the provision of the shaker bottle having a liner which is easy to install and remove for enhanced sanitation of the bottle. 
         [0006]    A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a rigid, disposable liner for use in a shaker bottle to minimize cleaning up after consumption of a powdered beverage made in the bottle. 
         [0007]    Yet another objective of the present invention is a provision of a liner for a sport drink or shaker bottle having projections to facilitate mixing of a powdered drink in the liner. 
         [0008]    Another objective of the present invention is a provision of a shaker bottle liner which allows for complete mixing of a powdered beverage without need for a separate mixing mechanism, such as a ball or grate. 
         [0009]    A further objective of the present invention is a provision of rigid disposable liners for use in shaker bottles wherein the liners can be packaged in a nested condition. 
         [0010]    A further objective of the present invention is a provision of a rigid liner to matedly fit within a shaker bottle to eliminate residual odors in the bottle. 
         [0011]    Still another objective of the present invention is a provision of rigid, disposable liners for use in a shaker bottle, wherein the liners can be economically manufactured, and easy and safe to use. 
         [0012]    These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the present invention showing the bottle components, including a disposable bag liner for the outer container or cup. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention with the bag-pipe liner positioned within the cup. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention utilizing a rigid, disposable liner. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the second embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the second embodiment, taken along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the rigid liner of the second embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  shows another embodiment with a bottle liner and a cap liner. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is an elevation view of the cap liner. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a lower perspective view of the cap liner. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The sport or shaker bottle of the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral  10  in the drawings. The bottle can include a base or cup  12  with a removable cap  14 . The cap includes an opening  16  which forms a mouthpiece. A lid  18  is pivotally mounted to the cap  14  and can be moved between a closed sealed position on the mouthpiece  16  and an open position to allow drinking from the mouthpiece  16 . The cup  12  and the cap  14  can be coupled using mating threads, friction fit, a sealing ring, or any other convenient manner which provides a leak-proof assembly. 
         [0023]    It is understood that the cup  12  and the cap  14  can take various shapes or configurations, and that the cap  14  can be mounted to the cup  12  in any convenient manner, such as by mating threads  13 ,  15 . 
         [0024]    The present invention is directed to a disposable liner  20  which fits within the cup  12 . In a first embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the liner  20  is in the form of a soft or pliable plastic bag having an upper end, and which extends outwardly through the mouthpiece opening  16 . The liner  20  can be installed in the cup  12  through the mouthpiece opening  16 , with the cap  14  in place on the cup  12 . Alternatively, the cap  14  can be removed from the cup  12  so the liner  20  can be inserted through the open upper end of the cup and then the cap  14  is replaced on the cup  12 . 
         [0025]    The upper end of the liner  20  extends outwardly through the mouthpiece opening  16 , and is secured by a ring  22 . The ring  22  can be mounted on the exterior of the mouthpiece  16  by press fit, threads, twist lock, or any other convenient manner. Thus, the bag liner  20  is sandwiched, or clamped, between the outer wall of the mouthpiece  16  and the ring  22 . 
         [0026]    A powdered drink mix, such as protein powder, can be added into the liner  20  either through the mouthpiece opening  16  or by removing the cap  14 . Water, milk or another liquid can then be added into the liner  20 . The cap  14  is threaded or sealed onto the cup  12  and the lid  18  is closed over the mouthpiece opening  16 , such that the bottle  10  can be shaken to mix and/or dissolve the powder in the water, milk or other liquid. The consumer can then open the lid  18  and drink through the mouthpiece opening  16 . When the beverage is consumed, the ring  22  can be removed to allow the liner  20  to be pulled out of the mouthpiece opening  16  for disposal. Since the beverage is fully contained within the liner  20 , and does not touch the inside of the cup  12  or the cap  14 , it is unnecessary to wash or clean the inside of the cup or cap. Furthermore, by precluding contact between the liquid and the inside of the bottle  10 , odors in the bottle are eliminated. 
         [0027]    The liner  20  can take various shapes and configurations. For example, the liner may be cylindrical, with an upper end, or alternatively, the liner may have a reduced diameter neck, as shown in  FIG. 1 , for extending through the mouthpiece opening. In  FIG. 1 , the liner neck is offset from center to match the non-centered position of the cap opening  16 . 
         [0028]    The liner  20  may also be flavored so as to impart flavoring to liquid added to the liner  20 . For example, the liner may have a fruit or mint flavor, which would transfer to the drink within the liner. As another example, if a consumer has a chocolate protein drink, the liner can have a peanut-butter flavor, which would mix with the chocolate flavor. Flavoring of the liner  20  can be accomplished in various ways, including a film coating, impregnation, powder dusting, or any other convenient means. 
         [0029]    In an alternative embodiment  10 A, shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , the liner  20 A is rigid and has a shape which preferably matingly nests within the cup  12 A. The liner  20 A has a bottom with one or more projections  24  extending upwardly. The projections  24  may take various shapes, such as conical (with a round, square, triangular, or hexagonal base), or other geometric configurations. The projections can also have different heights or shapes. The projections  24  facilitate mixing of the powdered drink, and eliminates the need for a separate mixing device, such as a mixing ball or grate, as in the prior art. 
         [0030]    Another option is to provide projections  26  extending upwardly from the bottom of the cup  12 A. The projections  26  are positioned and sized so as to fit within the projections  24  of the liner  20 A. Thus, the liner  20 A and the projections  24  nest within the cup  12 A and on the projections  26 . Such a nesting arrangement prevents the liner  20 A from rotating within the cup  12 A. 
         [0031]    The liner  20 A has an upper perimeter lip  28  which overlaps the top of the cup  12 A when the liner and cup are assembled to prevent leakage of liquid between the cup  12 A and the liner  20 A. 
         [0032]    Preferably, the liner  20 A extends the full height of the cup  12 A, or may extend over the top edge of the cup, without interfering with the cap  14 . 
         [0033]    Preferably, the sidewall  30  of the liner  20 A is tapered from top to bottom, and the projections  24  are tapered from top to bottom, such that multiple liners can be stacked one within the other for packaging and shipping. 
         [0034]    The liner  20 A is disposable after the drink is consumed from the sport or shaker bottle  10 A. The liner  20 A eliminates the need to wash the cup  12 A, or simplifies the cleaning process since powdered material does not contact or otherwise inadvertently stick to the inside of the cup  12 A. The liner  20 A also prevents odor contamination of the cup  12 A, since the drink does not engage the walls of the cup  12 A. The liner  20 A may be flavored, such as by impregnation to import a flavor to the drink in the bottle  10 A. 
         [0035]    The liners  20 A are disposable, and preferably recyclable. While the liners  20 A may be washed, the preferred use is to throw out each liner after the beverage is consumed, and use a new liner for each new drink mix. 
         [0036]    The liner  20 A may be impregnated with a flavor, which can leach or pass to the beverage in the liner 
         [0037]    Another alternative is a disposable cap liner  40 , which sits on top of the liner  20 A and lines the inside of the cap  14 . The cap liner  40  eliminates the need to wash the cap, and eliminates potential odors in an unwashed cap. 
         [0038]    The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.