Abstract:
The present invention is an improved device used for storing, dispensing, and stirring beverage additives. The improved tubular shaped dispenser greatly reduces the chance for additive spillage and eliminates the need for additional utensils for transferring and stirring the additive in a beverage. The invention comprises a tubular shaped dispenser body with an internal longitudinal aperture for storing the additive, a dispenser cap, an end cap, a longitudinal top half and bottom half for the dispenser body, and a plurality of perforations on not more than one of said top half and said bottom half of said dispenser body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/626,552 filed on Sep. 28, 2011 which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an improved device used for storing, dispensing, and stirring beverage additives in drinks More particularly, the present invention is a tubular perforated device, one of many possible cross sectional shapes, containing a predisposed beverage additive within the device which is placed within a beverage or other liquid to introduce the additive into the beverage. The present invention allows for the storage, transportation, introduction, and stirring of the additive without the need for additional utensils (including spoons and stirrers) with less chance for additive spillage outside of the beverage. The invention is also a novel beverage additive intended to be used in conjunction with, but need not be, the improved dispenser and stirrer. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Beverage additives, such as for example, sweeteners and/or flavorings, are extremely popular among consumers, particularly for coffees and teas. Most if not all additives are formulated to change the taste of the beverage, such as for example when iced tea powder mix is added to a glass of water or when sugar is added to coffee. Some additives are formulated to add certain nutritional value to the beverage, such as for example energy powders that are added to shakes or milks to increase protein or carbohydrate intake. Such energy drink additive are often flavored to make the resulting beverage taste better. 
         [0004]    Additives often come in different forms, including granular, powders, pellets, tablets, pills, liquids, and syrups (e.g. honey). The additives are typically sold and stored in some type of container, such as a can, a bottle, a box or a packets. When a user wants to introduce the additive into a beverage, he/she measures out the desired quantity using either a spoon or other utensil and then introduces the additive into the beverage and stirs or mixes the beverage with another device such as a spoon or blender to dissolve the additive before consumption. Often times when transferring the additive from its original container or housing, whether transferring the additive directly or using a utensil such as a spoon, some of the additive is undesirably spilled or dropped. 
         [0005]    Other types of additive dispensers are known. There are sleeved dispensers with an additive housed within an inner sleeve such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,102,465, U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,976, and U.S. Application Publication No. 2008/0259718. One of the main drawbacks with these devices is the chance for spillage of the additive outside the beverage through the openings around the tubular shaped inner sleeve after the inner sleeve is exposed. The dispenser and stirrer of the current invention is designed to eliminate this unintentional spillage outside of the beverage. Another drawback to these types of devices is that they do not provide the flexibility to controllably dispense the additive into the beverage without the need to submerge the device within the beverage. This drawback is primarily due to the fact that the openings in those devices are situated about/around the entire perimeter of the cross sectional shape of the sleeves, especially for powdered substances that easily fit through the openings. 
         [0006]    Another similar type of dispenser is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,185 which utilizes a soluble sealing coating on the outer surface of a tube to cover the openings. The coating acts like an outer sleeve and dissolves once placed into the beverage exposing the openings for the introduction of additive. Some of the drawbacks with this configuration is the need to dissolve the outer coating within the beverage in order to expose the opening reducing the controllability of the amount of additive used and the user cannot dispense the additive without submerging the device within the beverage which eliminates the ability to add a specified amount of additive to the beverage. 
         [0007]    There is a need for an improved dispenser and stirrer that functions as a storage device, provides the user the ability to selectively dispense some or all of an additive within the device into a beverage, and also functions as a stirring device. There is a particular need for such a device for powdered substances that fit through openings in the device and can easily spill out once the openings are exposed. 
         [0008]    In addition to an improved storage device, dispenser and stirrer, the present invention also includes a novel substance intended to be used within such device. The use and consumption of energy drinks and powders is extremely popular and still increasing. People consume them before workouts or sporting events, during long work days, and sometimes even at social events such as night clubs and at bars. More and more new drinks are mixed comprising combinations of long known drinks, e.g. club soda, and an energy beverage, such as a Red Bull. While some people may enjoy the taste of the combined drinks, others would much prefer to retain the taste of the base drink yet receive the benefit of the energy additive. The novel additive of the present invention address this need. It is an additive containing caffeine and other vitamins and minerals that is substantially colorless and tasteless. The desired effects of an energy drink or powder are realizable without separately consuming another drink and without significantly altering the appearance or taste of the beverage it is added to. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention is an improved storage, dispensing and stirring device for beverage additives. The present invention is also a novel, substantially colorless and tasteless additive. While the invention will be described in connection with certain embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to those embodiments. To the contrary, the invention includes all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0010]    The dispenser and stirrer of the present invention is comprised of a tubular shaped dispenser body having perforations/opening on most preferably, only one half or side of the cross sectional shape of the tubular body. More particularly, in the preferred embodiment with a triangular cross sectional shape and three about flat sides, the device comprises perforations/openings on only one of the three sides of the dispenser&#39;s tubular body. In other embodiments with other cross sectional shapes, such as for example, circular, oval, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc., the perforations/openings are most preferably configured on less than about half of the cross sectional shape, most preferably, on one of the sides of the geometric shape. Alternatively, for geometric shapes with more than four sides, the openings/perforations may be configured on more than one side of the cross sectional shape but no more than one half of the number of sides, provided those sides with perforations/openings are contiguous. 
         [0011]    The tubular shaped dispenser body includes an internal cavity/aperture used for storing the additive. A dispenser cap is attached to the dispenser body at the proximal end of the dispenser body. The dispenser cap may be removably fixed or fixedly attached to the dispenser body. The dispenser cap and/or the dispenser body function as a handle for the device. The device has an end cap attached, either fixedly or removably, to the dispenser body on the end opposite the dispenser cap, the distal end of the dispenser body 
         [0012]    In one embodiment having a triangular cross-sectional area for the tubular shaped dispenser body, the dispenser body is configured with one region of a plurality of perforations on one of its three about flat sides. Preferably, the plurality of perforations region is configured towards the distal end of the dispenser body. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment having a pentagonal cross-sectional area for the tubular shaped dispenser body, the dispenser body is configured with a plurality of perforations on at least one but no more than two of its about flat sides. Preferably, the plurality of perforations are located towards the distal end of the dispenser body. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment having a hexagonal cross-sectional area for the tubular shaped dispenser body, the dispenser body is configured with a plurality of perforations on at least one but no more than three of its about flat sides. Preferably, the plurality of perforations are located towards the distal end of the dispenser body. 
         [0015]    Preferably, in order to help avoid additive from spilling out of the device with the plurality of perforations exposed, the plurality of perforations are located on only one side of the two longitudinal halves of the device formed by a horizontal plane formed through the middle of the cross sectional shape of the tubular dispenser body. 
         [0016]    The tubular shaped dispenser body may be of uniform cross section throughout the longitudinal length of the dispenser body, it may be tapered with one end smaller in cross sectional size than the other, or the cross sectional size may vary increasing and decreasing from one end to the other. 
         [0017]    The present invention also includes tubular dispenser bodies of varying cross sectional shapes along its longitudinal axis. For example, the tubular body may be round at the proximal end and triangular at the distal end. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment of the invention, the device also comprises a removable sealing tape that securely attaches to at least one side of the device and covers the plurality of perforations. Most preferably, the tape is an FDA approved adhesive, allowing the device&#39;s plurality of perforations to remain covered thereby maintaining the additive in the device until the user wants to expose the perforations. 
         [0019]    According to the present invention, when the device is held with the longitudinal axis of the tubular dispenser body held horizontally with none of the plurality of perforations below a perpendicular horizontal cross-sectional plane, even with the plurality of perforations exposed, the device will maintain the additive within the device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of an embodiment given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. Similar components of the devices are similarly numbered for simplicity. 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view from the distal end of one embodiment of the dispenser in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view from the proximal end of the assembled dispenser shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the dispenser showing the perforated region. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a back elevation view of the dispenser. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the dispenser, the opposite side being identical. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a view of the dispenser&#39;s top, the dispenser&#39;s proximal end. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a view of the dispenser&#39;s bottom, the dispenser&#39;s distal end. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser. 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is another exploded perspective view of the dispenser. 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of the perforated region. 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a perspective of the invention shown with a sealing tape over on one side of the device over the perforations. 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is a perspective of the invention shown with a sealing tape over on one side of the device over the perforations and the sealing tape partially removed. 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view from the distal end of another embodiment of the dispenser in accordance with the principles of the present invention with a dividing wall in the dispenser body. 
           [0034]      FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of  FIG. 13  from the proximal side. 
           [0036]      FIGS. 16-18  are alternative embodiments of the invention with a square, a hexagonal and a circular cross sectional shape, respectively, identifying the longitudinal axis L-L and the two halves formed by horizontal plane H-H. 
           [0037]      FIGS. 19A-19C  shows a front, a back, and a top view of the circular dispenser body shown in  FIG. 18  identifying the longitudinal axis L-L and the two halves formed by horizontal plane H-H. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0038]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of an embodiment given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. Similar components of the devices are similarly numbered for simplicity. 
         [0039]    Referring to the Figures, one embodiment of the dispenser and stirrer invention  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1-10 . The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-10  is a dispenser and stirrer  10  having a proximal end  13  and distal end  14  comprising dispenser body  11  having longitudinal axis L-L, dispenser cap  15 , end cap  17 , and a plurality of perforations  19 . The invention also includes sealing tape  12  with an adhesive (not shown) on one side of the sealing tape  12  to attach the sealing tape  12  to the dispenser body  11  over the plurality of perforations  19 . 
         [0040]    The dispenser cap  15  is generally elongated with a triangular cross sectional shape tapered being wider toward its proximal end and narrower at its distal end. Dispenser cap  15  may be made so that the dispenser cap&#39;s cross sectional size is constant along its longitudinal length, or so that its cross sectional size varies along its length. The dispenser cap  15 , because of its about triangular shape, has three approximately flat rectangular sides walls. The dispenser cap  15  side walls each have an outer surface  25  and an inner surface  35 . The combined inner surfaces  35  of the dispenser cap side walls together create a hollowed internal cavity/aperture that extends approximately the entire longitudinal length of the dispenser cap  15 . The dispenser cap internal cavity may be used to store any compound or substance, including but not limited to a powder, liquid, gel, gas, or solid, or any combination thereof within dispenser cap  15  when a cover (not shown) is included. The dispenser cap  15  internal cavity may also be used to store and conceal a light source, such as for example a bulb, battery, a switch, wires and possibly some circuitry that may be integrated into dispenser cap  15 . The light source switch may be part of the structure of dispenser cap  15  or may be a separate component. Additionally the light source may be engaged by a moisture-activated switch that would turn the light on when the device is introduced into a liquid. Dispenser cap  15  can also be configured to include a longitudinal aperture that extends through the entire longitudinal length of dispenser cap  15 , so that dispenser cap  15  and dispenser body  11  may collectively be used as a straw when dispenser cap  15  is secured upon dispenser body  11  and the assembled dispenser  10  is submerged, distal end  14  first, into a liquid with or without end cap  17  on the device. Dispenser cap  15  can also be made so as to be completely, or partially solid, having a smaller or no internal cavity/aperture. Dispenser cap  15  may also be made to include or incorporate a whistle or other components, allowing the user to blow into one or both ends of dispenser cap  15  to create a sound. The proximal end of dispenser cap  15  can also be made to include a cover (not shown) that can be removably secured to dispenser cap  15  by friction, threading, or by any other means that will allow the cover to securely stay in place within and/or upon dispenser cap  15  until the user decides to remove the cover. Alternatively, the proximal end of dispenser cap  15  can be made to fixedly seal to dispenser body  11 . The distal end of dispenser cap  15  is shown without an opening in  FIGS. 1-10  but it is understood that the distal end of the dispenser cap could also be configured with an aperture to create a longitudinal aperture through the length of the dispenser cap  15 . The size of dispenser cap  15 , including its length, width and diameter may be varied. The shape of dispenser cap  15  may also be varied so as to be cylindrical, round, square, hexagonal, octagonal, or any other geometric shape or combinations thereof. Although the shapes may be varied, a dispenser cap having at least one flat side is preferred so that when assembled on the device  10 , the dispenser cap  15  will help prevent the device  10  from rolling on a flat surface. 
         [0041]    In  FIGS. 1-10 , dispenser cap  15 , at its distal end, includes an elongated cap wedge  16 . The dispenser cap wedge  16  is about triangular in shape and is tapered being wider towards the proximal end of the dispenser cap  15  and smaller at the distal end. The dispenser cap wedge  16  is so dimensioned as to securely, yet removably, fit within the proximal end of the dispenser body  11 . A friction fit between the dispenser cap wedge  16  and the inner surfaces of the dispenser body  11  sidewalls are preferred to keep dispenser cap  15  secured on dispenser body  11  thereby securely storing additive within the dispenser. Although the length and shape of the dispenser cap wedge  16  can be varied, it is preferred that the shape of the wedge be complementary to the shape of the internal dispenser body cavity/aperture. The dispenser cap wedge  16  may also include ridges, tabs and/or protrusions to more securely fasten dispenser cap  15  on dispenser body  11 . 
         [0042]    Alternatively, or in addition to the dispenser cap wedge  16 , dispenser cap  15  at its distal end may include tabs located along the inner edge of the dispenser cap  15  side walls, on the outer surface of dispenser cap  15  at its distal end and/or on dispenser cap wedge  16 . The tabs would be complementarily shaped so as to fit within or upon a recessed ridge located on the outer surface and/or inner surface of the dispenser body  11  side walls along the dispenser body  11  proximal end. The exact positioning of the tabs on the dispenser cap  15  and/or dispenser cap wedge  16  may be varied. The configuration of the dispenser cap  15  tabs and dispenser body  11  ridge may also be reversed so that the dispenser cap  15  and dispenser cap wedge  16  include the recessed ridge and the dispenser body  11  includes the tabs. Threads or other fastening means may also be used in place of or in addition to the ridge(s) and tab(s) as a means of securing dispenser cap  15  to dispenser body  11 . The dispenser cap  15  threads could be located on dispenser cap  15 , on dispenser cap wedge  16  or both and would be complementary to the threads located on the outer and/or inner surfaces of the dispenser body  11  side walls. Rather than being removable, dispenser cap  15  may also be fixedly attached to dispenser body  11  using either an adhesive, a pressure fit, or by chemically and/or thermally fusing dispenser cap  15  to dispenser body  11 , or by any combination of these or other methods that will allow dispenser cap  15  to fixedly attach to dispenser body  11 . 
         [0043]    Dispenser cap  15  may also include an aeration hole(s) (not shown) with or without a removable hole cover. The aeration hole(s) can be positioned on one or more of the dispenser cap  15  side walls and extend completely through the dispenser cap  15  side wall(s) from the side wall&#39;s outer surface to its inner surface. The aeration holes would allow air to exit (and enter) the dispenser body  11  aperture when the device is submerged (e.g., placed in a beverage). 
         [0044]    Since the invention is intended for use with substances and compounds that will ultimately be consumed by humans, the methods and materials used in the manufacturing and assembly of the dispenser and its various components should all be in strict compliance with the standards and regulations established by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dispenser  10  and its components may be constructed using any material approved by the FDA including but not limited to glass, metal, plastics and synthetic polymers, or any other material that is non-toxic, rigid and impermeable to solids, gases and liquids. The material used may be clear, opaque, and/or solid in color. The thickness of the material may also be varied to reduce the invention&#39;s overall weight and/or to increase its structural rigidity. A photoluminescent thermoplastic material may also be used so that the device will glow-in-the-dark. The outer surfaces and/or inner surfaces of the device may be smooth, coarse or textured. The outer surfaces, or portions thereof, particularly near the proximal end  4 , may include a gripping means, such as, for example, knurling, grooves, notches, ridges or the like, for a better grip. The outer surfaces may also include text and designs that are printed and/or engraved directly on the inner and/or outer surfaces or applied thereto as labels and/or stickers. 
         [0045]    Dispenser body  11  is tubular shaped, shown in  FIGS. 1-10  with a triangular cross sectional shape. Dispenser body  11  has a proximal end  3  and a distal end  4 . Dispenser body  11  may be tapered, being wider toward its proximal end  3  and narrower at its distal end  4 , vice versa, or of constant cross sectional shape as shown in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-10 . Dispenser body  11 , because of its triangular cross sectional shape, has three approximately flat rectangular sides walls. The dispenser body  11  side walls each have an outer surface  45  and an inner surface  55 . The combined inner surfaces  45  of the dispenser body  11  side walls together create a hollowed internal aperture that extends the entire longitudinal length of dispenser body  11  long longitudinal axis L-L. The dispenser body internal aperture may be used to store any compound or substance, including but not limited to a powder, liquid, gel, gas, granules, or any combination thereof within dispenser body  11 . The size of dispenser body  11 , including its length and cross sectional shape and size, may be varied. The shape of dispenser body  11  may also be varied so as to be cylindrical with a round cross sectional shape or the cross sectional shape may be square, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, or any other geometric shape or combination thereof. Although the shape may be varied, a dispenser body  11  having at least one flat side is preferred so that when the dispenser  10  is laid horizontally on a flat surface it would be less prone to roll. Although it is not necessary, it is preferred that the shape of dispenser body  11  be complementary to that of dispenser cap  15 . Increasing the overall dimensions of dispenser body  11  will about proportionally increase the storage capacity of the dispenser body aperture, thereby allowing the invention to store and ultimately dispense a larger amount of additive. 
         [0046]    The distal end  4  of dispenser body  11  is sealed using end cap  17 . End cap  17  is triangular in shape and is so dimensioned so as to completely cover the distal end of the aperture in dispenser body  11 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-10 , end cap  17  comprises a protrusion that fits securely within the aperture of dispenser body  11 . End cap  17  can be permanently secured to dispenser body  11  using either an adhesive, using pressure or by chemically and/or thermally fusing it to dispenser body  11  or by any combination of these or other methods that will allow end cap  17  to fixedly secure to dispenser body  11 . Alternatively, end cap  17  may be removably fixed to dispenser body  11 . As an alternative, dispenser body  11  may be made as a unitary structure, so as to be closed at its distal end  3  without a separate end cap. 
         [0047]    Dispenser body  11  further includes a plurality of perforations. Preferably, the plurality of perforations are located on one of the dispenser  10  side walls, collectively referred to as the perforation region  19 . Perforation region  19  includes a plurality of perforations which could be all similarly shaped or could vary in shapes and sizes. The plurality of perforations extend completely through the dispenser body  11  side wall from the side wall&#39;s outer surface to its inner surface. The perforations are sized so as to allow the additive and/or the liquid to freely enter and exit the dispenser  10 . Depending on the particle size of the substance stored in the dispenser body internal cavity, the holes may be sized accordingly so as to allow the substance to exit in its original form (e.g. as a powder, gel, etc.), or only after the additive dissolves into solution, or both. The configuration of the plurality of perforations, including their total number, size, shape and arrangement, may be varied according to preference, to the desired dispersion rate, and/or according to the substance that is to be dispensed. The size, shape and total number of perforations may be increased or decreased in order to vary the rate the additive dissolves and is added to the beverage. 
         [0048]    Dispenser body  11  may also include an aeration hole(s) toward its proximal end  4 . The aeration hole(s) can be positioned in one or more of the dispenser body side walls and extend completely through the dispenser body side wall from the side wall&#39;s outer surface to its inner surface. 
         [0049]    In one embodiment, the invention additionally includes a sealing tape  12  with adhesive used to cover perforated region  19  of dispenser body  11 . The sealing tape is sized accordingly so as to completely cover at least the entire perforated region  19  of dispenser body  11 . The length, width and shape of the sealing tape may be varied so that the sealing tape extends beyond the perforated region  19  of dispenser body  11  and covers more of the dispenser  10  including any aeration holes on the dispenser body  11  and/or dispenser cap  15 . Preferably, the inner surface  18  of the sealing tape comprises an FDA approved adhesive that may be applied to the entire inner surface of the sealing tape or to some part thereof. The non-treated surface of the sealing tape (the outer surface) provides a tab from which the tape can be held and/or pulled when the sealing tape is being installed and/or removed from the dispenser. The adhesive allows the sealing tape to securely, but removably, attach to the outer surface of the dispenser body  11 . The sealing tape is removably secured to the dispenser body over the perforated region by placing the inner surface  18  of the sealing tape in contact with the outer surface  45  of dispenser body  11  across perforated region  19 . When affixed to the dispenser  10 , the sealing tape  12  covers and conceals perforated region  19 , thereby preventing any substance stored within the dispenser body internal cavity from escaping. The sealing tape  12  and adhesive may be constructed using any material approved by the FDA including but not limited to a natural or synthetic fabric, synthetic polymers, metal or any other material that is non-toxic, malleable and impermeable to solids, gases and liquids. 
         [0050]    As an alternative to sealing tape, the dispenser body  11  could be sealed within a shrink wrap/band. A shrink wrap/band round the outside of the dispenser body  11  would keep the additive inside the dispenser until ready for use and it will also provide a tamper proof seal on the device. If the shrink wrap/band also covers the end cap  17 , it will also help avoid contamination of the dispenser, particularly those parts of it intended to be submerged into a beverage prior to consumption. The shrink wrap/band could extend up to the dispenser cap  15  or it could also cover the exterior of the dispenser cap  15  thereby providing further protections against tampering with the device and the additive therein. 
         [0051]    In another embodiment of the product shown in  FIGS. 13-15 , the dispenser body  11  includes a dividing wall  22  inside the dispenser body  11 . The dividing wall  22  is most preferably located just beneath the point in the dispenser body  11  where the dispenser cap wedge  16  is located when the dispenser cap  15  is on dispenser body  11 . Inclusion of the dividing wall  22  provides additional protections against tampering with the device and product. In this embodiment, the dispenser body  11  is filled with the additive from the distal end  4  before the end cap  17  is secured in place. 
         [0052]    In yet another embodiment of the invention, the perforations and holes are not limited to less than one half of the sides of the device. Rather, the plurality of perforations may be located on all sides and/or all round the dispenser. 
         [0053]    Alternative geometric shapes for the cross sectional shape for the tubular body of the invention are shown in  FIGS. 16 through 19C . 
         [0054]    While the present invention has been illustrated by description of various embodiments and while those embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of Applicants&#39; invention.