Abstract:
An aqueous beverage for a dog made from fruit, vegetable, and/or meat juices combined with premeasured quantities of electrolytes. In some embodiments, the beverage includes premeasured quantities of sugars and/or water soluble vitamins and minerals. The beverage is stored and served in an improved container having a concave shaped lid hingeably affixed to the container. When the lid is in an open position, the beverage is poured into the lid, whose interior side is a bowl, raised above the ground by the container, from which the dog drinks the beverage.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    Reference is made to and priority claimed from U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/968,656 filed on 21 Mar. 2014. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention pertains to the field of pet nutrition and accessories. More particularly, the present invention pertains to liquid nutritional supplements for dogs in the form of bottled beverages and an improved reusable bottle and bowl for the bottled beverage. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Nutritionists have long known that dogs, like humans, benefit from nutritionally complete diets. Essential vitamins for dogs include vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are stored in a dog&#39;s body fat, and water soluble B vitamins. Water soluble vitamin C is also beneficial to dogs, but can be manufactured by a healthy dog&#39;s own body. Essential minerals include calcium and phosphorus for bone formation and strength, magnesium for healthy metabolic, cardiovascular, muscle, and nervous system functioning, and salts such as sodium chloride and potassium for proper cellular functioning. Dog foods are commonly fortified with the aforesaid vitamins and minerals, but to varying degrees, and additionally some dogs require special or supplemental vitamins and minerals in their diets due to underlying medical conditions, an inability to absorb nutrients from food due to age, or to supplement an otherwise healthy dog&#39;s normal food and drink due to the dog&#39;s increased physical activity. 
         [0004]    Currently, dog owners provide their dogs with supplements in pill or concentrated liquid form. Both types of supplements are normally added to the dog&#39;s food, or forced down the dog&#39;s throat. The inventor is a dog owner, and has experienced his dog rejecting food altered by the addition of a supplement not normally found in the food, as well as the unpleasant struggle of forcing his dog to swallow pills or other necessary supplements. 
         [0005]    What is needed is a simple way to improve or enhance the diet of a dog using tasty drinks fortified with vitamins and minerals needed by the dog, for the purpose of treating a medical condition, or just for enhancing a healthy dog&#39;s diet. 
         [0006]    The inventor also regularly walks his dog, and dislikes the inconvenience of carrying both a water bottle and a bowl in order to provide his dog with liquids while away from home. Dogs can learn to drink out of water bottles, but the process is messy and wastes a great deal of water. 
         [0007]    What is also needed is a convenient liquid container capable of both storing and then serving the liquid contained therein. 
       DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invention of the first part is a flavored beverage for dogs fortified with a mix of desired vitamins, minerals, and other supplements to aid in dog nutrition and health. The flavored beverage is administered to the dog in addition to, or in lieu of, water, and in one embodiment, the flavored beverage is administered to the dog according to the dog&#39;s weight, and in another embodiment, the flavored beverage can be given in lieu of water and without restriction. 
         [0009]    The invention of the second part is a portable container with a hinged domed lid, the lid forming a serving bowl into which the liquid stored inside the portable container can be dispensed and then conveniently served to the dog. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection with accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a chart showing a typical ingredient composition of one embodiment of an aqueous beverage for a dog. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1   a  is a chart showing an electrolyte composition in a blood sample from a healthy dog (PRIOR ART). 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  are side elevation, cross-sectional views of a portable container for holding and serving liquids,  FIG. 2   a  showing the container with a lid in an open or serving position, and  FIG. 2   b  showing the container with the lid in a closed or storage position. 
       
    
    
     DRAWINGS LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0014]    The following is a list of reference labels used in the drawings to label components of different embodiments of the invention, and the names of the indicated components. 
         [0015]      10  pet beverage 
         [0016]      12  fruit and/or vegetable 
         [0017]      14  water and/or other liquid 
         [0018]      20  container 
         [0019]      22  container portion 
         [0020]      24  hollow interior portion 
         [0021]      26  top end 
         [0022]      28  neck 
         [0023]      30  lid 
         [0024]      32  storage or closed position 
         [0025]      34  interior side of lid 
         [0026]      36  serving position 
         [0027]      38  hinge 
         [0028]      40  cap 
         [0029]      41  tab 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    A beverage according to the invention is an aqueous beverage  10  shown in a typical formulation in  FIG. 1 , and as compared to an electrolyte composition of a sample of blood taken from a healthy dog shown in  FIG. 1   a . In a typical recipe, using the formulation shown in  FIG. 1 , the beverage  10  is formulated using 0.5L of pulverized apples mixed with 0.5L of water to create a total liquid volume of 1L. Water soluble vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, and vitamins B and C are added up to 10 mg/L. An electrolyte solution of 45 mEq sodium, 20 mEq of potassium, 35 mEq of chloride, and 8 mg of zinc is added. In an advantageous embodiment, a measured quantity of sugar appropriate for dogs in the form of glucose, dextrose, or fructose is added to the beverage  10 , such as 25-30mg of glucose. 
         [0031]    In the formulation described in  FIG. 1  it should be noted that other suitable fruits and vegetables can be substituted for the apples, or added in addition to the quantity of apples. Bananas, watermelon, oranges, carrots, green beans, zucchini, and cucumbers may be used. Some, but not all fruits and vegetables, can be safely ingested by a plurality of dogs despite the fact that dogs are normally carnivorous and not normally adapted to ingesting foods other than meat and liquids other than water. The ratio of fruit/vegetables to water is typically 1:1 however in other embodiments, the ratio of fruit/vegetables to water can vary considerably, depending on whether the beverage is provided as a liquid or as a frozen concentrate to which water is later added after thawing. In some cases, a partially thawed concentrate can be provided to the dog as a slush-like treat on a hot day, much like a snow cone for a dog, and in these cases, the fruit/vegetable to water ratio may range from 1:1 to 3:1. For a healthy dog with no known medical conditions requiring supplements, a fruit and/or vegetable based beverage such as the one described in  FIG. 1  can be safely provided to the dog to enhance the dog&#39;s health by introducing vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and simple sugars to the dog in a pleasant and natural manner by substituting the beverage for plain water. As the vitamins and minerals are water soluble, the beverage can be safely provided on demand, and it should be noted that the beverage  10  can be made with just electrolytes without glucose or added vitamins and minerals, or other variations, such as electrolytes with vitamins but no minerals and no glucose, or electrolytes with glucose but no added vitamins and minerals. For active dogs in particular, the beverage  10  can safely and quickly replenish glucose levels in a tired dog. 
         [0032]    The inventor also notes that dogs enjoy meat flavors, and meat broths may be substituted or used in addition to fruits and/or vegetables. In particular, one formulation of the beverage  10  shown is made without added sugars and uses a meat and/or vegetable flavored broth for a savory beverage. 
         [0033]    In the case of fat-soluble essential vitamins A, D, E, and K, these can also be added to the beverage  10  in amounts appropriate for dogs however the quantity of beverage provided that the dog&#39;s ingestion is monitored and the beverage  10  is provided according to the dog&#39;s weight, age and general health. As these vitamins are stored in the body, allowing the dog unrestricted access to the beverage  10  enhanced with these vitamins may be dangerous. 
         [0034]    The inventor also notes that the beverage  10  could also be provided as a frozen concentrate that is then mixed with an appropriate amount of water before providing the beverage  10  to the dog. As a frozen concentrate, the vitamins and antioxidants present in the fresh fruit/vegetables would not be lost by heat processing, and additionally, the dog would be treated with a nice cool refreshing beverage! In yet another advantageous embodiment, the frozen concentrate could be mixed with ice cubes in a blender, to make a frozen slushy treat for the dog with no known ailments or dietary restrictions. 
         [0035]    A container according to the invention  20  is described in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b . The container portion  22  is provided typically as generally cylindrical, with a hollow interior portion  24  for storing a quantity of potable liquid, ideally such as the beverage described in  FIGS. 1  and/or  1   a  or some other potable liquid such as water. A top end  26  of the container is formed with an annular neck  28  leading to the interior hollow portion  24  of the container portion  22 . A removable cap  40  is fitted to insert into the neck  28  or alternatively, to fit over the neck  28  so as to securely seal the inner portion  24 . A lid  30  is hingeably affixed to the top end  26  of the container portion  22  by a hinge  38 , typically comprised of a flexible piece of silicone, plastic or other suitable material that is attached to the container at one end and to the lid at an other end. The lid  30  formed as a convex or domed shape such that when the lid  30  is in a closed or storage position  32 , as shown in  FIG. 2   b , the lid  30  fits over the cap  40  and neck  28 . A tab  41  is formed on the lid so as to allow easy opening and closing of the lid. When the lid  30  is removed by pivoting the lid away from the neck  28  (by grasping the tab  41 ), as shown in  FIG. 2   a , the interior side  34  of the lid  30  is now in a serving position  36 , forming a bowl. In a preferred embodiment, measuring lines are formed or printed on the inside of the lid to allow a user to accurately measure a desired amount of liquid poured into the lid  30 . 
         [0036]    In use, a desired quantity of liquid is poured into the container according to the invention  20  and the neck  28  is sealed by the cap  40 . The lid  30  is pivoted to cover the cap  40 . In some embodiments, the lid  30  rests against the top end  26  of the container portion  22 , in other embodiments, the lid in the closed position  32  is secured to the container portion by a variety of securing means, such as tabs or with mating members formed into the lid and the container portion. When a user wants to provide a beverage to a dog, the user holds the container portion  22  in one hand, pivots the lid  30  into an open or serving position, removes the cap  40 , and tilts the container portion  22  until a desired quantity of beverage pours into the opened lid  30 . The user then either holds the container or positions the container on a level surface, and the dog drinks from the opened lid that is now serving as a bowl. 
         [0037]    The container according to the invention  20  has many ergonomic benefits for the dog, including raising the level of the drinking bowl so the dog does not have to lower its neck all the way to the ground. This is known to be helpful for large dogs, as well as older dogs who may have arthritis or other conditions and find elevated drinking bowls to be more comfortable. The combined container-bowl according to the invention  20  is also convenient for the user, who has a single, dual use container that is sleeker and easier to carry and stow. All the necessary pieces cannot be lost or misplaced because they are attached to the container  20 . In some embodiments, the container  20  includes a strap or other means for hands free carrying. In some embodiments, the container portion  22  is provided as a wide cylinder, such that the diameter of the cylinder is greater than the height, so as to prevent the container from tipping over when the lid is in serving position  36 , and also to provide a larger serving bowl suitable for a larger dog, or to allow multiple dogs to drink from a single bowl at the same time. 
         [0038]    It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present inventions. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For instance, the dog beverage described in  FIG. 1  can be made in multiple ways, for instance, by blending vegetables and fruit with meat-flavors to create refreshing and tasty beverages that resemble thin soups for dogs. Fruit/vegetable to water ratios can also be changed to incorporate more fruit/vegetable or more water, as desired, and water can be added to make up the beverage volume to 1L. In cases where the beverage is designed to treat dogs with specific dietary needs, the ratio of supplements to fruit/vegetable to water is measured according to the dog&#39;s age and weight. In these cases, fat soluble essential vitamins A, D, E, and K are added in measured amounts and the beverage is provided to the dog in amounts relating to the dog&#39;s weight and age.