Abstract:
Exemplary beverage containers with compartments and methods of making and using such bottles are disclosed. Some embodiments of an exemplary beverage container may include a body formed of a thermoplastic resin, the body forming a liquid container, and a compartment formed in the base of the container. The compartment may have an illumination element to illuminate the beverage container and its contents.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This application relates generally to beverage containers. In particular, this application relates to flask-shaped beverage containers with a secondary compartment for holding illuminating elements. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In recent years, sales for bottled water and flavored beverages have exploded. Special events and nightclubs represent a very large share of the bottled water market. 
         [0003]    Several additives and accessories for bottled water are also being marketed to capitalize on the availability and convenience of bottled water. Some efforts have been made to include additives and accessories with the bottle, hut none have been particularly well-received by the market or cost-effective to produce. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Exemplary beverage containers with compartments and methods of making and using such bottles are disclosed. Some embodiments of an exemplary beverage container may include a body formed of a thermoplastic resin, the body being translucent; an opening in the body for accessing the interior of the body; a compartment formed in a base of the body; an illumination element held within the compartment; and wherein the illumination element provides lighting to the interior of the body. In some embodiments, the illumination element may be a chemical light. In some embodiments, the body may be transparent. The body may also be flask-shaped. The opening may be selectively closable to provide selective access to beverage within the body. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments, the compartment may include an access tab. The container may also include a cover, the cover providing access to the illumination element within the compartment. The cover may be a sticker. The cover may extend over only a portion of the compartment. Similarly, the cover may be formed as a cap covering the entire base of the container. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, the beverage container may be displayed by providing a beverage container, the beverage container including, a translucent body, the body forming a liquid container, a compartment formed in a base of the body, and placing an illumination element within the compartment, where in the illumination element illuminates the translucent body and any liquid within the liquid container. The illumination element may be an electronic illumination element. Similarly, the illumination element may be a chemical illumination element. The transparent body may be formed from PET, and may include a single opening opposite the compartment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The following description can be better understood in light of Figures, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary beverage container with compartment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom view of the exemplary beverage container with compartment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary beverage container with compartment and illuminating element; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom view of the exemplary beverage container with compartment and illuminating element of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary beverage container with compartment and illuminating element; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of an exemplary beverage container with compartment and illuminating element; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates an orthogonal view of an exemplary beverage container with compartment and illuminating element; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary beverage container with compartment and base cap. 
       
    
    
       [0016]    Together with the following description, the Figures demonstrate and explain the principles of exemplary beverage containers with compartment and methods for making and using the exemplary beverage containers with compartment. In the Figures, the thickness and configuration of components may be exaggerated for clarity. The same reference numerals in different Figures represent the same component. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The following description supplies specific details in order to provide a thorough understanding. Nevertheless, the skilled artisan would understand that the apparatus and associated methods of using the apparatus can be implemented and used without employing these specific details. Indeed, the apparatus and associated methods can be placed into practice by modifying the illustrated apparatus and associated methods and can be used in conjunction with any other apparatus and techniques conventionally used in the industry. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 1-7  illustrate exemplary beverage containers with compartment  100 . Beverage container  100  may include a translucent or transparent body  110  and an illumination element  150  held within a compartment  134  in the base  130  of the container with a cover  140 . Illumination element  150  may provide illumination to body  110 , or to any contents of container  100 . The illumination may provide a pleasing aesthetic feature to container  100  for sale or during use. Similarly, a color of illumination may be selected to help users differentiate their beverage from others&#39; in a group setting. 
         [0019]    Beverage container  100  may include body  110 , top  120 , and base  130 . Container  100  may further include opening  128  in top  120 . Opening  128  may be any conventional bottle opening, such as for personal consumption, or much larger for bulk delivery. Some embodiments may include threads that correspond to a cap to make container  100  resealable. Base  130  may include compartment  134 . Compartment  134  may be configured to accommodate illumination element  150 . Cover  140  may hold illumination element  150  within compartment  134 . 
         [0020]    In various embodiments, body  110  may be formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate, glycol modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), polymethlamethacrylate (acrylic), glass, or other suitable translucent or transparent material. Such materials may be used to form all or part of container  100 . In some embodiments, plastics, aluminum, steel, or any other suitable material for all or parts of beverage container  100 . Beverage container  100  may be suitable for holding various types of beverages, such as water, soft drink, energy drink, sports drink, etc. 
         [0021]    For example, body  110  may be formed of polycarbonate, and may include a cap formed of high-density polyethylene, and compartment cap  130  may be formed of aluminum. Or, in another example, body  110  may be formed of transparent PETG, and a cap may be formed with black PET. In another embodiment, all components may be formed from PET and each may be translucent, transparent, colored, opaque, etc., as desired. Container  100  may be formed using blow molding, other thermoforming, or any other manufacturing technique used to form beverage containers. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, container  100  may formed such that it has a substantially flask-shaped with a closed bottom  130  and top  120 , top  120  may include opening  128  and a cap, and bottom  130  having compartment  134 . In other embodiments, container  100  may be any suitable shape for holding and providing beverages to individuals. Compartment  134  may be at least partially covered with cover  140 . Compartment  134  may be formed to accommodate illumination element  150 . Compartment  134  may further include tab access  136  to provide easy access to open compartment  134 . Compartment  134  may be formed such that illumination element  150  snaps into compartment  134  and cover  140  may then be redundant. Similarly, tab  136  may also provide a place for fingers to pull illumination element  150  out of compartment  134 . 
         [0023]    Cover  140  may be included to secure illumination element  150  within compartment  134 . Cover  140  may be a sticker formed of a plastic or paper material, may be a plastic plate, or may be any other form or design to hold illumination element  150  within compartment  134 . In some embodiments, cover  140  may include features to cooperatively engage with compartment  134  to hold illumination element  150  in place. Cover  140  may by any suitable shape and size to secure illumination element  150  within compartment  134 . For example, cover  140  may be a square sticker, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , covering only a portion of compartment  134 . In such embodiments, a portion of tab  136  may be left uncovered to allow for a user to easily grab and remove cover  140 . 
         [0024]    Illumination element  150  may be a miniature chemical light, such as Cyalume® mini chemlights, which have a length of about 1.5″ and about a ¼″ diameter. In other embodiments, illumination element  150  may be an electronic illuminator using LED or other lights, and may be any shape and size sufficient to provide some amount of lighting to the contents of container  100 . Of course, the shape of compartment  134  may be formed to coordinate with the shape and size of illumination element  150 . 
         [0025]    Container  100  may be packaged and sold with water or other beverage with unactivated illumination element  150  stored in compartment  134  and held in place by cover  140 . A user may then open cover  140 , remove illumination element  150  from compartment  134 , activate illumination element  150 , replace illumination element  150  in compartment  134 , and then replace cover  140  to hold illumination element  150  in place. In other embodiments, multiple illumination elements  150  may be included so that the user may select a particular color, or change colors during use. Similarly, illumination element  150  may be able to change colors, patterns, or other features, such as with electronic LED devices commonly used in toys and other applications. 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, container  100  may be intended for single-use and illumination element  150  may be reusable with different containers. In other embodiments, container  100  may be intended to be reusable and illumination element  150  may be single-use and replaceable. Similarly, both container  100  and illumination element  150  may be single use or both may be reusable. In other embodiments illumination element  150  may be replaced with anything that is useful in cooperation with a beverage container. For example, a blister pack of powder for mixing into the contents of body  110  may be included, or may be tablets to provide carbonation, or medicament. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, sales of container  100  at a sporting event may be enhanced by including illumination elements in compartment  134  that would illuminate container  100  in the color or colors of a home team. Similarly, a night-club owner may create a design using containers  100  illuminated with various colors to encourage a desired ambiance and to improve sales. In other embodiments, different colors may be used to distinguish which container belongs to which person in a group of persons. For example, one person may have a red illuminated container and another in the same group may have a blue illuminated bottle to distinguish which container belongs to whom. 
         [0028]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary beverage container with compartment  200 . Beverage container  200  may be substantially similar, with similar components, with cover  240  being a base cap covering the entire base  230  of container  200 . Container  200  may include a translucent or transparent body  210  and an illumination element  250  held within a compartment  234  in the base  230  of the container with a cover  240 . Illumination element  250  may provide illumination to body  210 , or to any contents of container  200 . Cover  240  may be formed of a different color or different material than body  210 . For example, cover  240  may have a differing degree of translucense than body  210  to provide a particular effect when container  200  is illuminated by illumination element  250 . Similarly, cover  240  may be formed of aluminum or a plastic with a metalized finish as in contrast to a transparent body  210 . 
         [0029]    In addition to any previously indicated modification, numerous other variations and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this description, and appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the information has been described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred aspects, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, form, function, manner of operation and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein. Also, as used herein, examples are meant to be illustrative only and should not be construed to be limiting in any manner.