Abstract:
An apparatus comprises a stick for stirring a liquid. The apparatus also comprises an ingredient that is coupled to the stick for at least a partial dissolution in the liquid.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application relates to, and claims the benefit of the filing date of, co-pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/047,375 entitled BEVERAGE STIRRING AND SWEETENING STICK, filed Apr. 23, 2008, and co-pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/073,312 entitled BEVERAGE STIRRING AND SWEETENING STICK WITH U-NECK, filed Jun. 17, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to, generally, a sweetener stick to insert into a beverage for stirring, and, more specifically, to a sweetener stick with a u-neck to insert into a beverage for stirring. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Lollipops and hard candy of different flavors, mounted on a wooden, compressed paper or plastic stick, are well known. However, such sugar-covered sticks have limited utility in sweetening beverages, such as in conventional “to-go” cups having covers. Furthermore, lollipops are made to be sucked on, and are not easily dissolved. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is therefore an object of the invention to overcome at least some of the foregoing disadvantages of the prior art. 
         [0005]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a system that makes it more convenient, cleaner and quicker to add dissolvable sweeteners such as sugar, low calorie sweeteners, different flavorings and/or creamer to a cup of coffee, tea or other beverages. One embodiment of the present invention caters especially to the popular “to go” cups of coffee and other beverages presently bought from locations like Starbucks™, Seattle Coffee™ and other retail outlets that offer these beverages. The present invention offers a new way to add and dissolve the sweeteners to these and other beverages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In accordance with one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a stick for stirring a liquid. The apparatus further comprises an ingredient that is coupled to the stick for at least a partial dissolution in the liquid. 
         [0007]    In accordance with another embodiment, a system comprises a lid for substantially sealing a top of a beverage cup, wherein the lid is configured accept a sweetener stick. The sweetener stick includes a stick for stirring a liquid; and an ingredient that is coupled to the sweetener stick for at least a partial dissolution in the liquid. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0008]    The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the detailed description herein, with reference to the drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  depict embodiments of stages of coupling a sweetener stick to a device; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  depicts an embodiment of an adjustable device to be used with a sweetener stick; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3A-3D  depicts an embodiments and positions of an adjustable device that can be used with a sweetener stick; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4A  depicts an embodiment of a hook on an end of a sweetener stick; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 4C  depict an embodiment of a device having a cross slit that can either slide from the top or a side of a sweetener stick; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4D  depicts an alternative embodiment of a sweetener stick having an alternative device integral to the sweetener stick; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  depicts an embodiment of a sweetener stick having compressed sweeteners wrapped in a protective wrapping; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrates a cross cut slit opening that is situated on a lid of a beverage for use with a sweetener stick; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 7A-7E  illustrate a sweetener stick with a neck, and an insertion into various beverages of the sweetener stick with the neck; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8A  illustrates another embodiment of an adjustable device that can be coupled and adjusted up and down a sweetener stick; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8B  illustrates a sweetener stick of  FIG. 4C  combined with a wrapping that then has the wrapping removed; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8C  illustrates various embodiments of sweeteners coupled to an end of a sweetener stick having a fixed device; and 
           [0021]      FIGS. 9A-9D  illustrate a dissolution of sweeteners that are coupled into an end of a sweetener stick of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]    In conventional systems, sugar-covered sticks have a limited utility in sweetening beverages, such as in conventional “to-go” beverage cups having covers, because the size and shape of the candy-covered end does not readily fit through slots or openings in the covers. Furthermore, even if the opening in the cover was modified to be large enough to accept the sugar-covered end, the other end of the stick would simply fall into the cup, rather than remaining extended so that the other end of the stick could be used as an adjusting and stirring device. The present invention addresses at least some of these problems. 
         [0023]    Generally, the present invention is directed towards a stick made out of wood, compressed paper, plastics, or other similar materials containing or coupled to compressed sweeteners such as low calorie sweeteners, sugar, flavorings, or dairy powder formed onto at least one end of the stick. For convenience, but not for limitation, the following will generally refer to the stick as a “sweetener stick” although it is to be expressly understood that the stick may have flavors, creamers and other edible substances placed on it that are not necessarily sugar or necessarily even sweet. 
         [0024]    Again, generally, the sweetener stick has compressed dissolvable sweeteners containing a mass of sugar, dairy powder or different kind of flavorings that are mounted or formed around one end of the stick. The stick can have, for example, an adjustable device made out of wood, compressed paper, plastic or similar material that either clips or slides onto the opposing end for adjustments, or a stick with a formed hook at the opposing end. The device, such as an adjustable, device allows: a controlled insertion of the sweetener stick into the beverage, including insertion depth; a stirring of the beverage, or both. In one embodiment, the stick carrying the compressed dissolvable sweeteners will be inserted to mix with the cold or hot beverage in a cup when used in conjunction with a beverage cup made of plastic, paper or foam and having a fitting lid comprising a cut slot or opening. 
         [0025]    Turning now to  FIGS. 1A-3D , in various embodiments of the present invention, a compressed mass of sweeteners/sugar granulates/dairy/flavorings  101  is formed and mounted on one end of a cylinder-shaped stick  102  (“sweetener stick”) made of compressed paper, wood or plastic. 
         [0026]    In further embodiments, an adjustable device can be provided to be used with the sweetener stick  102 . In one embodiment, an adjustable device  103 A of  FIG. 1A  clips onto the sweetener stick  102  and slides down an outside of the sweetener stick  102 . In another embodiment, an adjustable device  108 B of  FIG. 1B  slides over the stick  101 . In the illustrated embodiments, both adjustable devices  103 A and  108 B act as: a controlled insertion of the sweetener stick into a beverage, a stirring of the beverage, or both. 
         [0027]    Turning briefly to  FIG. 2 , illustrated is another embodiment of a device  203 A that is used as part of adjustable devices  300  and  301 , to be described in more detail below. Generally, device  203 A is used as an internal part of a clip. 
         [0028]    Turning now to  FIGS. 3A-3D , in one embodiment, the device  203 A can be part of a clip  300  or a clip  301  that quickly clips on the sweetener stick  102  and can be adjusted easily up and down on the stick  102 . This can also be used with or without the adjustable device  108 B. 
         [0029]    The clip may include metal springs  303 A a,  such as illustrated in  FIG. 3A , or plastic springs  308 A b,  such as illustrated in  FIG. 3B . As is illustrated in  FIGS. 3C through 3D , the clip  301  is opened and then adjusted to grip the sweetener stick  102 . The clip  300  and  301  can be formed or made out of plastic, wood or any other material and may include both different shapes, forms, sizes or even advertising materials for brands and logos. 
         [0030]    Turning now briefly to  FIG. 4A , in one embodiment of the present invention, the sweetener stick  102  can be formed to have or include a hook  402 A for added safety and control that can be used with or without the adjustable device clips  300  and  301 . 
         [0031]    Turning now to  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 4C , in one embodiment, an adjustable device  405  has a cross cut slit  406  that can either slide from the top or the side onto the stick  102  for adjusting a depth of insertion into a beverage. 
         [0032]    Turning now to  FIG. 4D , illustrated is a sweetener stick  102  having a device  403 C that is substantially round, and used for stirring. The sweetener stick  102  and the device  403 C can be an integral device. The device  403 C can be fixed and not adjustable. The sweetener stick  102  can have sweeteners  101  (not illustrated) added to the stick. The device  403  can be grasped by a user to stir a beverage to stir the sweetener stick  102 , or otherwise act as a stop. 
         [0033]    Generally, the sugar stick  102 , as an invention, serves a purpose of making it easier, quicker, cleaner and more enjoyable to insert and dissolve sweeteners in one&#39;s beverage. For example, all devices  103 A,  108 B, and the various clips of  FIGS. 3A-4C  serve a purpose of stirring control, placement, and safety while dissolving, and then drinking. All of these devices may be used jointly or independently of each other. 
         [0034]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , illustrated is an embodiment of the sweetener stick  102  wherein a mass of compressed sweeteners  101  may be wrapped in a protective paper or plastic wrapping  506  comprising an area at the bottom of the wrapping  507  large enough to enable a thumb and forefinger to pull the wrapping for easy removal. 
         [0035]    Turning now to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , illustrated is an alternative aspect of the present invention. A lid  608  used to seal a top of a beverage cup  609  and designed to accept the sweetener stick  102 . A cross cut slit opening  610  is situated at or near the edge of the lid  608  and on the opposing end of a sipping vent  611 . 
         [0036]    The slit  610  is made to allow for the insertion by pressure of the sweetener stick  102  with the sweeteners  101 . The slit  610  will also, at the same time, act as a resister for the stick  102 . In  FIG. 6A , the stick  102  has a hook  402 A on the opposing end of the stick  102  to prevent the stick  102  from falling into the cup  609 . In an alternative embodiment of  FIG. 6B , the stick  102  has an adjustable device  405  with a cross slit  406  on the opposing end of the stick  102  to prevent the stick  102  from falling into the cup  609 . The lid  608  may be made out of transparent or nontransparent substrate or any foam, plastic or paper substrate of any color. When the compressed mass of sweeteners  101  is either completely or partially dissolved, the stick  102  can then safely be removed and recycled or thrown away. 
         [0037]    Generally, the amount of sugar or dairy mass mounted on the stick  102  can vary. The sugar stick  102  will replace or be an addition to the small sugar paper bags and otherwise different sweeteners or flavorings added into the beverages. The sugar or dairy mass may have different shapes, sizes, colors or forms such as cylinder, round, square, flat or any shape. The sugar or dairy mass may have one or two or more servings depending on size of sugar or dairy mass and may be able to be mixed internally. 
         [0038]    Turning now to  FIG. 7A , illustrated is another embodiment of a sweetener stick  102 . In this embodiment, a “u” neck  705 A, or other shape bend, is provided in the stick, such as in  FIG. 7A . In the illustrated embodiment, the sweetener stick  102  also has a ball  713  on the end of the sweetener stick  102 , but the ball  713  is not necessary to a practice of the invention of the u neck  705 A. 
         [0039]    Turning now to  FIG. 7B , a plurality of sweetener sticks having u-necks  705 A are disclosed in  FIG. 7B , each sweetener stick  102  with its own type of sweetener  101 . A ball  713  can be used on the end of a sweetener stick  102 , as illustrated, but is not essential where a neck  705 A is provided in the sweetener stick  102 . The neck  705 A provides novelty to the stick and has purpose as well in terms of use, such as those described above. 
         [0040]    In one aspect, when used in a conventional coffee mug or cup, such as illustrated in  FIG. 7C , without a cap, the neck  705 A acts as a stopping/resting place for the sweetener stick  102  and helps keep the sweetener stick  102  out of the way. 
         [0041]    In another aspect, in a “to go” type cup with a cover, such as illustrated in  FIG. 7D , or in another cup with a cover and a hole or other opening in the cover through which the stick can extends, the neck  705 A holds the stick  102  up, to keep the sweetener part of the stick suspended above the bottom of the cup. Furthermore, the neck  705 A keeps the entire stick from falling through the hole in the cap into the cup. The neck  705 A, which holds the sweetener stick  102  in place, also provides stirring control, because it can pivot against the hole in the cap it is placed in while stirring takes place, such as is illustrated in  FIG. 7D . As is also shown in  FIG. 7D , a ball can be replaced with another shape, such as a logo  719 , for advertising or other purposes. 
         [0042]    Turning now to  FIG. 8A , illustrated is another embodiment of an adjustable device that can be adjusted up and down the sweetener stick  102 . The adjustable device  103 A is illustrated first as coupling to the sweetener stick  102 , then traversing the sweetener stick  102 . 
         [0043]    Turning now to  FIG. 8B , illustrated is a sweetener stick  102  of  FIG. 4C  combined with a wrapping  806 . The wrapping  806  has grooves  807  that are used to help unwrap and expose the sweeteners  101  when it is desired to remove the wrapper  806 . 
         [0044]    Turning now to  FIG. 8C , illustrated are a plurality of sweetener sticks  102  of  FIG. 4C , each one having differing sweeteners  101 . 
         [0045]    Turning now to  FIGS. 9A-9D , illustrated is a dissolution of a sweetener  101  of a sweetener stick  102  with a device  403 C. In  FIG. 9A , the sweetener stick has two separate types of sweeteners  101  attached. In  FIG. 9B , the sweetener stick  102  is about to be inserted into a beverage. In a  FIG. 9C , the sweetener stick  102  is mixed in a beverage. In a  FIG. 9D , it is seen that the sweetener  101  has dissolved from the sweetener stick  102 , and the stick  102  may therefore be disposed. 
         [0046]    Generally, the present invention can also be used in a traditional coffee or tea cup and therefore replace or improve upon the traditional way of adding sugar to a cup of coffee with a teaspoon or simply replacing the teaspoon as a stirring tool to any kind of sugar or additives added. The sugar or dairy may have different shapes, sizes, colors or forms such as cylinder, round, square, flat or any shape. The sugar or dairy may have one or two or more servings depending on size of sugar or dairy and may be able to be mixed internally. The present invention therefore merges two aspects into one. The present invention includes the ingredients and the carrying and stirring component. 
         [0047]    Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, these descriptions are not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments that fall within the true scope and spirit of the invention.