Abstract:
A container that comprises a first compartment for containing a first component, and a second compartment for containing a second component, the second compartment maintained inside the first compartment; and a cap assembly configured to couple and seal the first compartment and the second compartment in a first position and configured to release the second compartment inside the first compartment in a second position, the first position separating the first component from the second component, and the second position releasing the second compartment to allow the first component to mix with the second component.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/407,140, filed Oct. 27, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present patent document relates to apparatuses and methods for serving beverages to consumers. In particular, the present patent document relates to a multiple compartment container for maintaining separation between different consumable components until the time of consumption. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Many consumable beverages are a mixture of a plurality of different components. This is especially true in the alcoholic beverage world. Consumers often like to mix an alcoholic beverage with a non-alcoholic beverage. For example, consumers often order Jack Daniels® and Coke®, gin and tonic, or vodka and Red Bull®, just to name a few. 
         [0004]    Buying a plurality of components individually and mixing them together in a third container has disadvantages. The different components are typically made by different manufactures and are not sold together. Furthermore, consumers are often required to purchase large quantities of each, way more than they would need for an individual drink. Having to purchase large quantities of each beverage may be detrimental to both the consumer and the manufacturer. If the consumer decides to make the purchase, the consumer is forced to spend more money than he or she would like to spend and may often waste much of the excess that is unused. In the alternative scenario, the consumer may decide not to purchase either of the products because of the excess cost and subsequent waste and therefore, the manufacturers may lose a sale. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In view of the foregoing, one aspect of the various disclosed embodiments in the present patent document is to provide a multiple compartment container. In another aspect, the multiple compartment container is used in various methods to maintain separation between different consumable components until the time of consumption. Preferably the methods and apparatuses address, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the problems described above. To this end, multiple compartment containers and methods related to the use of the multiple compartment containers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a container comprises: a first compartment for containing a first component; a second compartment for containing a second component, the second compartment maintained inside the first compartment; and a cap assembly configured to couple and seal the first compartment and the second compartment in a first position and configured to release the second compartment inside the first compartment in a second position, the first position separating the first component from the second component, and the second position releasing the second compartment to allow the first component to mix with the second component. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, the first position is a first axial position and the second position is a second axial position. In other embodiments, other positions may be used. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the cap assembly further comprises a cover, an outer lip and a diaphragm. In certain embodiments that include a diaphragm, the diaphragm holds and seals the second compartment, and the cover is movable from the first position to the second position to apply pressure against the diaphragm to release the second compartment. 
         [0008]    In yet another embodiment, the cap assembly further comprises a cover, an outer lip and at least two contacts. In certain embodiments that include at least two contacts, the at least two contacts holds the second compartment in the first position and releases the second compartment in the second position. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the container further comprises a safety mechanism. The safety mechanism prevents the multiple compartment container from accidently transitioning from a first state or position to a second state or position. In some embodiments, the safety mechanism is a pull away ring. In other embodiments, it may be a button or tab. 
         [0010]    In yet another aspect of the embodiments disclosed herein, a container is provided that comprises a first compartment for containing a first component; a second compartment for containing a second component, the second compartment maintained inside the first compartment; and a cap assembly configured to seal the first compartment and the second compartment separately from each other in a first position, wherein the cap assembly includes a retaining part configured to retain the second compartment in the first position, and an interfering part configured to interfere with the second compartment when moved relative to the retaining part wherein the interference causes the second compartment to be released by the retaining part inside the first compartment in a second position to allow the first component to mix with the second component. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, the first compartment and the second compartment are separated by a diaphragm. In certain embodiments including a diaphragm, the diaphragm holds and seals the second compartment, and the interfering part is movable from the first position to the second position to apply pressure against the diaphragm to release the second compartment. 
         [0012]    In another aspect of the embodiments of the present patent document, a method of providing multiple consumable components to a consumer is provided. The method comprises storing a first consumable component in a first compartment of a multiple compartment container; storing a second consumable component in a second compartment of a multiple compartment container; and installing a cap assembly to the first compartment and the second compartment in a first position, wherein the cap assembly prevents the first consumable component from mixing with the second consumable component in the first position and wherein the cap assembly includes an interfering part designed to move relative to a retaining part in order to force the second compartment into a second position in which the first component and the second component can mix within the first compartment. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments of the method, the cap assembly further includes a safety mechanism that prevents the interfering part from moving relative to the retaining part 
         [0014]    The multiple compartment containers and methods of separating different components until the time of consumption described herein provide benefits over other containers and methods. Further aspects, objects, desirable features, and advantages of the devices and methods disclosed herein will be better understood from the detailed description and drawings that follow in which various embodiments are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the claimed embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric view of one embodiment of a multiple compartment container. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a bottom view of one embodiment of a retaining part. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a top view of the embodiment of the retaining part of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0018]      FIG. 2C  illustrates a bottom view of an interfering part configured to mate with the retaining part of  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates an isometric view of one embodiment of a multiple compartment container. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a side view one embodiment of a multiple compartment container. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4B  illustrates an exploded view of the multiple compartment container of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0022]      FIG. 4C  illustrates a cross sectional view of the cover portion of the cap assembly of the multiple compartment container of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0023]      FIG. 4D  illustrates a cross sectional view of the retaining part of the cap assembly of the multiple compartment container of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of a cap assembly. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cross section of the cap assembly of  FIG. 5  assembled on a multiple compartment container. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of a multiple compartment container including a safety ring. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    The present disclosure is directed to a multiple compartment container. Expressly, incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, are U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,620,444, 6,786,330, 6,513,650, 6,113,257, and 4,315,570. Applicant respectfully requests the Examiner to consider all art of record in those prior patents and make it of record in this application. Accordingly, Applicant respectfully refers the Examiner to all of the Information Disclosure Statements and Forms 1449 of record in the above prior patents, which are incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of multiple compartment container  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the container  10  comprises a first compartment  12  and a second compartment  14 . The second compartment  14  may be suspended inside the first compartment  12  via a cap assembly  16 . At a first state/position, the cap assembly  16  holds the second compartment  14  in place. At a second state/position, the cap assembly  16  releases the second compartment  14  to fall inside the first compartment  12  allowing the components of each container to mix. Through different exemplary mechanisms described below, the cap assembly  16  may be transitioned from the first state/position to the second state/position to release the second compartment  14  inside the first compartment  12 . 
         [0029]    In one embodiment, the first compartment  12  may hold a first component, and the second compartment  14  may hold a second component. The component may be a dry particulate matter or a liquid. The dry particulate matter in one compartment  12  or  14  may be mixed with a liquid in another compartment  14  or  12  to form a liquid formulation shortly before consumption. 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, the first compartment  12  may contain a first liquid and the second compartment  14  may contain a second liquid. This can be used to mix alcohol with soft drinks or juices before consumption. For example, the first compartment  12  may contain Coca-cola while the second compartment  14  may contain rum. Another example includes where the first compartment  12  contains tonic water and the second compartment  14  contains gin. By releasing the second compartment  14  to drop inside the first compartment  12 , the liquids are mixed together prior to consumption. 
         [0031]    In one embodiment, the first compartment  12  and the second compartment  14  both contain alcohol. For example, the first compartment  12  may contain beer while the second compartment  14  may contain saki. By releasing the second compartment  14  to drop inside the first compartment  12 , the liquids are mixed together to make a “saki bomb” drink prior to consumption. 
         [0032]    The cap assembly  16  may be transitioned from the first state/position to the second state/position to release the second compartment  14  inside the first compartment  12 . In one embodiment, the cap assembly  16  may release the second compartment  14  upon twisting the cap assembly  16 , pressing the cap assembly  16  or pulling the cap assembly  16 . As can be appreciated, other releasing mechanisms may implemented with the present disclosure. 
         [0033]    The different compartments that comprise the multiple compartment container  10  may be composed of any type of material. For example, containers  12  and  14  may be made of glass, rubber, plastic, acrylic, metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, or any other type of material. In a preferred embodiment, the containers  12  and  14  are made of transparent material such as glass or a clear plastic or acrylic such that the different components of containers  12  and  14  may be visible from the outside of the multiple compartment container  10 . 
         [0034]    Cap assembly  16  may also be made from a wide variety of materials including glass, plastic, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Polypropylene, rubber, silicone, acrylic, metal or any other type of material. In addition, the different parts of the cap assembly  16  may be made from different materials. In a preferred embodiment, parts of the cap assembly  16  that interface with the second container  14  may be made from a material that grips the second container  14  such as rubber, silicone, or a similar tacky material. In other embodiments, a rubber seal or o-ring may be used to serve a similar function. 
         [0035]    In some embodiments, the cap assembly  16  may be composed of multiple parts. As may be seen by the cross sectioned cap assembly  16  of  FIG. 1 , cap assembly  16  may include a cover  18 , an outer lip  20 , and a diaphragm  22 . 
         [0036]    In some embodiments, the diaphragm  22  and the outer lip  18  may be comprised by a single piece while in other embodiments they may be separate pieces. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the diaphragm  22  and outer lip  18  comprise a retaining part  13 . A “retaining part” as used herein refers to a part or parts of the cap assembly  16  responsible for retaining a compartment of the multiple compartment container  10  in a first position or state such as shown in  FIG. 1 . As just one example, the retaining part  13  in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , retains the second compartment  14  suspended in a first state or position within the top part of the first container  12 . In other embodiments, other retaining locations and positions may be used. 
         [0037]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , cover  18  may be referred to as an “interfering part.” As used herein, an “interfering part” is a part that when moved relative to a retaining part by a consumer causes an interference with a portion of one compartment of the multiple compartment container  10  and causes the compartment to advance to a second state or position. The motion only needs to be relative and either the retaining part or the interfering part may be moved relative to the other. The interference may be a direct interference or may be an indirect interference. For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the interference is an indirect interference. The cover  18  pushes on the diaphragm  22  at the top rim of the second compartment  14  causing it to be released by the retaining part  13  into the second state or position. In some embodiments, the retaining part  13  or a portion thereof may be made of a flexible material to transfer the force of the interference part to the second compartment  14 . In other embodiments, the interference part may push directly on a portion of the second compartment  14 . 
         [0038]    In various embodiments, the interfering part may be caused to interfere with a portion of the second compartment  14  by various different activation methods. For example, the interfering part may moved relative to the retaining part via rotation, pulling, or pushing to create an interference with the second compartment  14  and cause the second compartment  14  to be transitioned into a second state or position. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the cover  18  may have one or more threads that slide through opposite grooves on the outer lip  20  allowing the cover  18  to rotate and translate with respect to the retaining part  13 . As the cover rotates and translates with respect to the retaining part  13 , the cover  18  creates and interference with the second compartment  14 . 
         [0039]    In some embodiments, the outer lip  20  may also be used to secure the cap assembly  16  to the first compartment  12 . In such embodiments, the outer lip  20  may be preferably made from a stiffer material than the diaphragm  22 . 
         [0040]    The diaphragm  22  may be used to hold and/or seal the second compartment  14 . This prevents the contents of the second compartment  14  from mixing with the first compartment  12  in the first state/position. By turning the cover  18  in one direction, for example clockwise, to a second state/position, the cover  18  pushes on the diaphragm  22 . In one embodiment, the diaphragm  22  may be manufactured out of soft rubber material, which when pressed upon by the cover  18  through twisting/rotating mechanism, releases the second compartment  14 . The cover  18  and the outer lip  20  may then be removed to allow the user to drink from the first compartment  12 . 
         [0041]    In various embodiments, the compartments may be of different volumes. In a preferred embodiment, the first compartment  12  is the size of a mixed drink glass while the second compartment  14  is the size of a shot glass. In other embodiments, other sizes may be used. In a preferred embodiment, second compartment  14  is styled and shaped to look like a shot glass. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 2A-2C  illustrate an embodiment of a cap assembly  16  that may be used to cause a multiple compartment container  10  to enter a second state/position using rotation.  FIG. 2A  illustrates a bottom view of one embodiment of a retaining part  13 . In the embodiment of the retaining part  13  shown in  FIG. 2A , a channel  32  is configured to mate with the top rim of the first compartment  12 . A gasket  34  is provided around a through hole  42  in order to interface with the second compartment  14 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2A , the through hole  42  and gasket  34  are designed to allow the second compartment  14  to pass through the through hole  42  but interfere with the gasket  34 . The interference fit with the gasket  34  prevents the second compartment  14  from passing through the through hole  42  and retains the second compartment  14  in the first state/position. 
         [0043]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a top view of the embodiment of the retaining part of  FIG. 2A . The through hole  42  and gasket  34  may be seen in  FIG. 2B . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2B , the top side of the retaining part includes a thread interface  36  configured to mate with corresponding threads on an interference part. In an assembled position, the top rim of the second compartment  14  would protrude above the gasket  34  in the through hole  42  when the multiple compartment container is in the first state/position. 
         [0044]      FIG. 2C  illustrates a bottom view of an interfering part configured to mate with the retaining part  13  of  FIGS. 2A and 2B . The embodiment of the interfering part shown in  FIG. 2C  includes threads  38  designed to mate with the thread interface  36  of the retaining part  13 . Protrusion  40  is designed to extend down and sit just above or flush with the top rim of the second compartment  14  when the multiple compartment container is in a first state/position. 
         [0045]    A consumer may cause an embodiment of a multiple compartment container  10  including the cap assembly  16  embodied in  FIGS. 2A-2C  to enter the second state/position by rotating the interference part relative to the retaining part  13 . The threads  38  of the interference part turn within the thread interface  36  of the retaining part and pull the interference part down such that the protrusion  40  interferes with the top rim of the second compartment and forces the second compartment past the interference fit with the gasket  34  of the retaining part  13 . Once the second compartment is forced past the gasket  34  by the protrusion  40 , the second compartment is free to fall into the first compartment allowing the respective components of each compartment to mix. 
         [0046]      FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of a multiple compartment container  10  including a cap assembly  16 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the cap assembly  16  may release the second compartment  14  by pressing on the cover  18 . By pressing on the cover  18  in one direction, for example in an axial direction, to a second state/position, the cover  18  pushes on the diaphragm  22 , which releases the second compartment  14 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a side view one embodiment of a multiple compartment container  10 . Multiple compartment container  10  includes a first compartment  12 , a second compartment  14  (not shown), and a cap assembly  16 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 4B  illustrates an exploded view of the multiple compartment container of  FIG. 4A .  FIG. 4B  illustrates the second compartment  14  in an exploded state. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4B , the second compartment  14  is located inside the first compartment  12  when assembled with cap assembly  16   
         [0049]    As may be seen in  FIG. 4B , in some embodiments, cap assembly  16  is comprised of multiple parts. The cap assembly  16  shown in  FIG. 4B  is comprised of a retaining part  13  and a cover  18 . The retaining part  13  secures the second compartment  14  in a relative position to the first compartment  12  when the multiple compartment container  10  is in a first state/position. The cover may then be moved relative to the second compartment  14  to cause an interference with the second compartment  14 . The interference forces the second compartment to be released by the retaining part  13  and transfers the multiple compartment container  10  into the second position or state. Once in the multiple compartment container  10  is in a second position or state, the components of the first and second compartments  12  and  14  may mix together. 
         [0050]      FIG. 4C  illustrates a cross section of the cover portion of the cap assembly of the multiple compartment container of  FIG. 4A .  FIG. 4D  illustrates a cross section of the retaining part of the cap assembly of the multiple compartment container of  FIG. 4A . Retaining part  13  includes a diaphragm  22  and an outer lip  20 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of a cap assembly  16  including a plurality of contacts  24 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the cap assembly  16  may comprise an outer cover  18 , an outer lip  20 , and at least two contacts  24 . The at least two contacts  24  may be coupled to the cover  18 . The at least two contacts  24  may be used to hold the second compartment  14 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cross section of the cap assembly  16  assembled on a multiple compartment container  10 . The outer lip  20  may be coupled to an inner cover assembly  26  that may be used to enclose and seal the second compartment  14 . In one embodiment, the inner cover assembly  26  may include a sealant cover  28 , such as an aluminum foil, to seal the second compartment  14 . When the cover  18  is pulled from a first position to a second position, for example in an axial direction, the at least two contacts  24  are displaced up. In one embodiment, the inner cover assembly  26  may be in a fixed state that does not get displaced up with the movement of the cover  18  and the at least two contacts  24  upwards. This causes the inner cover assembly  26  to push against the outer rim of the second compartment  14  as it moves up with the at least two contacts  24 , causing the second compartment  14  to release and fall in the first compartment  12 . The inner cover assembly  26  may also cut through the perimeter of the sealant cover  28  on the second compartment  14  and engage the sealant cover  28 . The cover  18  and the outer lip  20  may then be removed to allow the user to drink from the first compartment  12 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of a multiple compartment container including a safety mechanism  25 . Safety mechanism  25  may be a pull away tab, ring or other device that prevents the multiple compartment container from transitioning to a second state or position while the safety mechanism  25  is in place. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the safety mechanism  25  prevents the cover  18  from moving relative to the retaining part  13  while the safety mechanism  25  is in place. Thus, the multiple compartment container can not transition to a second state or position while the safety mechanism  25  is place. 
         [0054]    In the embodiments described above only two compartments have been illustrated, however, more than two compartments may be used. In one embodiment, the interior of the second compartment  14  may be separated into a plurality of compartments. In another embodiment, a third compartment may be suspended inside the second compartment  14  such that the third compartment transitions into the second compartment  14  and then both the second and third compartments transition into the first compartment  12  when activated by a consumer. In such a manner, any number of compartments may be used. 
         [0055]    In the foregoing specification and the following appended documents, the disclosure has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evident that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope as set forth in the following claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense. 
         [0056]    In this description, use of the term “include” or the like herein means an inclusive listing, rather than an exclusive listing, that may contain items in addition to or instead of those expressly identified. 
         [0057]    While the methods and apparatuses have been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and all embodiments of the following claims. 
         [0058]    It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the essence of the invention. Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. They still fall within the scope of this invention. It should be understood that this disclosure is intended to yield a patent covering numerous aspects of the invention, both independently and as an overall system, and in both method and apparatus modes. 
         [0059]    Further, each of the various elements of the invention and claims may also be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of an embodiment of any apparatus embodiment, a method or process embodiment, or even merely a variation of any element of these. 
         [0060]    In this regard it should be understood that for practical reasons, and so as to avoid adding potentially hundreds of claims, the applicant has presented claims with initial dependencies only. 
         [0061]    Further, the use of the transitional phrase “comprising” is used to maintain the “open-end” claims herein, according to traditional claim interpretation. Thus, unless the context requires otherwise, it should be understood that the term “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, are intended to imply the inclusion of a stated element or step or group of elements or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element or step or group of elements or steps. Such terms should be interpreted in their most expansive forms so as to afford the applicant the broadest coverage legally permissible in accordance with the following claims