Abstract:
An apparatus and method are provided for storing and dispensing into a liquid a soluble substance, such as a flavoring, a body fuel, a nutritional supplement, a stimulant, a relaxant, an alcohol neutralizer, or a medical drug. A useful application of the subject invention includes a lime flavoring held by a gelatinous artificial lime wedge stored with a beer bottle or can, or attached to a 6-pack or 12-pack carton. The artificial lime wedge may be retrieved from a protective covering and acted upon so it mixes the lime flavoring into the beer when it is inserted into the beer bottle or can. Rather than needing to buy and store a perishable natural lime, and cut it up, an artificial lime wedge may be stored for an extended period of time with a beer vessel and placed in functional contact with the beer at time of consumption.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The field of this invention is devices associated with flavoring a bottled beverage. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    One often wishes to use another liquid or flavoring with their beverage, where it is undesirable or inconvenient to premix the liquid or flavoring with the beverage. As examples, there is lemon or milk with tea, citrus fruit flavored liquids with beer, juices with alcoholic beverages, alcohol with soft drinks, sugar with coffee or tea, salt with tequila, etc. In many cases, particularly with prepackaged beverages, the purchaser of the prepackaged beverage is not located at a place where the other liquid or flavoring is conveniently accessible. 
         [0003]    Many popular beverages are served in a bottle. For example, when certain brands of beer, especially Mexican beers, are served it is common to add a flavoring, such as a wedge or slice of lime. For instance, when a patron at a bar orders a Corona Extra® (www.corona.com), a Pacifico® beer (www.gmodelo.com.nmx/eng/marcas/pacifico.html) or a Dos Equis® beer (www.dosxx.com), the beer is frequently served with a natural lime slice inserted into the neck of the opened bottle. This scenario is adequate when one has easy access to natural limes. However, as is often the case, one buys a bottle of beer in a store or gets one from their refrigerator and does not have a natural lime handy. For such situations it would be convenient to have the lime or an equivalent packaged with the bottle. Since natural limes do not store indefinitely, an alternative is to package an artificial lime containing lime-flavored liquid, optionally from concentrate and optionally with preservatives, with the bottle of beer. Another popular American beer, Widmer Hefeweizen® (www.widmer.com), is often consumed with lemon. In this case, it would be convenient to have an artificial lemon containing lemon-flavored liquid packaged with the beer. 
       RELEVANT LITERATURE 
       [0004]    Luzenberg, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,012, describes a porous plastic dispensing article. Luzenberg, U.S. Pat. No. 6,541,055, describes a porous plastic dispensing article. Gibler, U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,141, describes a beverage storage and mixing device. Anderson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,686, describes a dispensing capsule for a liquid container. Anderson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,471, describes a dispensing capsule for a liquid container. DiPalma, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,142, describes a device for storing two products separately and subsequently mixing them. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The subject invention provides a combination of a beverage liquid in a sealed vessel and a flavoring, such as an ancillary liquid or soluble substance, accompanying the vessel in a convenient form for admixing the flavoring with the beverage liquid upon opening the vessel. In a useful embodiment, the flavoring is insoluble and forms a suspension when mixed with the beverage liquid. Typically the flavoring is stored with or in relation to the vessel and used in conjunction with the beverage liquid contained therein. When the flavoring is an ancillary liquid typically it is stored in a container, that may be frangible or breachable, that is connected to and separable from the support for the container. The support is removably in contact with the vessel. Conveniently, the container is housed in a foam housing, desirably in the image or form of a portion of a fruit, including but not limited to a citrus fruit, including but not limited to a lime or lemon wedge or slice. Using the image (such as the size, shape, texture and color) of a portion of a fruit, a desired organoleptic response is typically generated similar to that generated by a natural portion of a fruit. The housing may also be comprised of rubber, plastic, fabric or other convenient material. The housing may comprise pores, valves, channels, holes, mesh passageways or any convenient means for controlling or regulating the rate whereby the flavoring may escape and mix with the beverage liquid. When the flavoring comprises a soluble substance it may comprise elastic or foam properties. Typically it is pressed through a vessel opening so it makes contact with the beverage liquid and the soluble substance may begin to dissolve. Such a flavoring may be stored in a protective covering that may be transparent or opaque. The protective covering may comprise foil, film, paper, plastic, glass or any convenient sanitizable covering material. 
         [0006]    When a fruit portion comprises a soluble material, the fruit portion may be made entirely of soluble material or it may be made from non-soluble foam, rubber, plastic, fabric and the like and contain the soluble material along with pores, valves, holes, mesh passageways, and the like to allow beverage liquid to flow over and/or otherwise mix with the soluble material. The soluble or insoluble fruit portion may be coated with a substance that fizzes, foams, effervesces, and the like, when it comes into contact with a beverage liquid or air. Typically, the fruit portion is stored in a protective covering comprising foil, plastic, fabric, glass, paper, cardboard, and the like, or any other convenient sanitizable, breachable material. The protective covering may be transparent, opaque or translucent. A convenient embodiment comprises a non-soluble foam or mesh fruit wedge, including but not limited to a lime wedge or slice, comprising soluble material, including but not limited to impregnated soluble flavoring beads or granules, and stored in a tearable foil protective covering adhered or attached to a beverage bottle or can. The tearable foil protective covering may comprise a hole through it so it can be hung on the neck of a bottle of beverage liquid. The non-soluble foam or mesh fruit wedge may also form a housing into which one or more soluble flavoring tablets or capsules is inserted. In general, the non-soluble foam or mesh fruit wedge may take the form of any fruit portion. The non-soluble foam or mesh fruit portion may be steam sanitized and injected with soluble gel or powder. The housing may be elastic. The housing may be a sack or pouch. The housing may comprise one or more pockets for inserting flavored soluble tablets, beads or granules. The tearable foil protective covering may comprise a perforation to facilitate breaching. Typically, the tearable foil protective covering is torn open, and the non-soluble foam or mesh fruit wedge containing the one or more soluble tablets is removed from the tearable foil protective covering and dropped into, or otherwise introduced into, a beverage bottle or can. As the consumer consumes the beverage liquid, the beverage liquid passes through the non-soluble foam or mesh fruit wedge and over the one or more soluble tablets, thus dissolving a portion of the one or more soluble tablets and thereby mixing the intended flavoring with the beverage liquid during consumption. The size, surface area and number of tablets may be selected based on their dissolution rate and the amount of flavoring desired. 
         [0007]    In general, a flavoring can stored in a tearable foil protective covering, where the tearable foil protective covering comprises a hole through a portion of it through which the neck of a beverage vessel can pass, so the tearable foil protective covering can be placed over and hung on the beverage vessel neck. In general, a protective covering for a flavoring may comprise a loop or loop-like structure for hanging on a beverage vessel neck. When the loop-like structure is a hole in a tearable foil protective covering, the perimeter of the hole is typically sealed such that the flavoring is not exposed to air or moisture. The tearable foil protective covering may be sealed around the flavoring and the perimeter of the hole using heat-activated adhesive. The hole, edges and one or more perforations for breaching the tearable foil protective covering may be die cut. 
         [0008]    The tearable foil protective covering may start form a single piece of foil that is folder around the flavoring and then sealed, or it may start from two or more pieces of foil that are sealed around the flavoring. The tearable foil protective covering may start from a single long strip of foil on a roll, then be rolled out, then have flavorings spaced near one side edge the strip, then the other edge of the strip folded over the flavorings, then the two edges of the foil heat sealed together, then this “tube” of foil containing flavorings may be heat sealed between neighboring flavorings to provide flavoring compartments along the foil tube, then a region for a perforation may be fused, then a circular shape may optionally be heat fused near the end of each compartment, then a perforation may be cut on the fused perforation region, then the center portion of the optional heat-fused circular shapes may be die cut out, then the tube of compartments may be die cut to separate the compartments. 
         [0009]    A single tearable foil protective covering may include multiple and/or different flavorings, such as a soluble lime portion flavoring in one sealed region and salt flavoring in another sealed region. The protective covering may also comprise a “blister pack” or “bubble pack” where one side of the protective covering is durable clear plastic and the other side is breachable, including tearable and pealable away from the plastic side. The tearable side may comprise any convenient sterilizable material, such as paper, foil, film, and the like. 
         [0010]    In general, when the flavoring is a soluble portion, it can be manufactured to be elastic, porous and foam-like, similar to a marshmallow. The flavoring may represent a fruit portion. The flavoring may comprise a structure or substance that causes it to expand when it comes into contact with the beverage liquid. The flavoring may comprise, including being impregnated or coated with, a substance to produce a fizz, produce effervescence, produce a popping or crackling sound, release a gas, including CO 2 , produce a foaming action, and the like, when the substance comes into contact with the beverage liquid or air. The flavoring may comprise, but is not limited to a tablet, gelatin, powder, capsule, liquid, paste, pellet, crystal or thixotropic substance. 
         [0011]    In general, a flavoring may comprise an insoluble porous foam housing that houses a soluble flavoring. The insoluble porous foam housing and/or the soluble flavoring may be hydrophilic. When the housing is compressible and comprises a size and shape that requires it to be compressed to pass in through the neck of a beverage vessel, it will not pass out through the beverage vessel neck while drinking; however, it typically will flow to the neck while the beverage liquid is being consumed until it can&#39;t pass further due to its size and shape. At that position, the beverage liquid flows through the pores of the housing during consumption causing forced liquid convection over the soluble flavoring, increasing the dissolution rate. The insoluble porous foam housing may be steam sanitized. The insoluble porous foam housing may be injected with soluble flavoring. An insoluble porous foam housing may comprise (a) a dense foam or non-foam outer region for structure and which corresponds visually to a fruit pealing, and (b) an insoluble less dense foam inner portion, optionally of a different color than the outer region, that contains the soluble flavoring and more readily allows the beverage liquid to pass to dissolve the soluble flavoring. 
         [0012]    A useful embodiment comprises a soluble flavoring in the shape of a fruit portion stored in a tearable foil protective covering, where the tearable foil protective covering has a hole though a portion of it through which the neck of a beverage vessel can pass so the tearable foil protective covering can be placed over and hung on the beverage vessel neck. The perimeter of the hole is sealed such that the soluble flavoring is not exposed to air and moisture. The soluble flavoring is manufactured to comprise an elastic, porous and foam-like structure, similar to a marshmallow. The marshmallow-like structure also may be impregnated with a soluble flavoring. The soluble flavoring may comprise, including coated with, a substance to produce effervescence when it comes into contact with the beverage liquid. The soluble flavoring may expand when it comes into contact with the beverage liquid. The tearable foil protective covering is sealed around the soluble flavoring and sealed around the perimeter of the hole using heat-activated adhesive, and then the hole, edges and one or more perforations for breaching are die cut. 
         [0013]    An apparatus is employed for storing a soluble substance, usually fruit flavored, and typically citrus flavored, with a beverage vessel containing a liquid and for mixing the soluble substance with the liquid. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a dispensing unit having a breachable container for containing the soluble substance, usually a condensed fluid, and a foam enclosure enclosing at least a portion of the breachable container, wherein the foam enclosure controls the rate of release of the soluble substance upon breaching of the breachable container. The soluble substance may be non-perishable or contain a preservative. Desirably, the dispensing unit is in the form of a portion of a citrus fruit. Another embodiment has as the dispensing unit an elastic entity in the shape of a portion of a citrus fruit enclosed in a protective covering. The elastic entity includes the soluble substance for introduction and dissolution into the liquid. The dispensing unit may be inside or outside the beverage vessel. In a useful embodiment the dispensing unit includes a connector for connecting to the beverage vessel, beverage vessel cap or beverage vessel carrier or holder, or uses pressure for holding the dispensing unit in place in the beverage vessel. 
         [0014]    Commonly, the vessel will be a bottle having a narrow neck. Since the bottle will be paradigmatic of the vessel employed in this invention, unless otherwise indicated, whenever using the term “bottle” it is intended to exemplify vessels generally, except when the term bottle is used in the claims. In a common embodiment, the liquid in the vessel will be directly imbibed from the vessel. 
         [0015]    The subject invention provides systems for packaging a flavoring in a convenient manner to accompany a bottled beverage, where it is desirable to mix the flavoring with a sealed bottled beverage after the bottle is opened. When the flavoring is an ancillary liquid stored in a container, the container may be supported in an upper portion of the bottle, so as to be readily accessible either before or after the bottle is opened. The container may be attached to an attachment member that serves to attach the container to the bottle. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, using beer or other appropriate beverage as exemplary, an artificial lime wedge or lime slice is suspended in the neck of a beverage bottle above or partially or wholly immersed in the liquid contents. The liquid contents may be beer, and typically a Mexican beer. The artificial lime wedge is typically accessible from an upper portion of the bottle by an attachment member attached to the artificial lime. The attachment member may be connected to the cap of the bottle or the neck of the bottle. One end of the artificial lime attachment member may comprise a cap attachment which may be held between the bottle cap and top of the bottle, such that it is resting on the top of the bottle when the cap is removed. The artificial lime attachment member may also be positioned in the neck of the bottle so it can be reached when the bottle cap is removed. On the end opposite of the artificial lime, the attachment member may have a cap attachment comprising a loop to make it easy to retrieve the artificial lime from the bottle using a single finger. The artificial lime may also be packaged outside the bottle, typically removably attached to the bottle cap, side of the bottle, or bottle carrier or holder. 
         [0017]    In another embodiment, the liquid is tea and the artificial lime wedge is replaced by an artificial lemon wedge containing lemon juice or lemon flavoring. In general, the artificial lime wedge may be replaced by a portion of any artificial fruit, including but not limited to citrus fruit, or portion thereof and contain any liquid or flavoring. The artificial lime wedge may also be replaced by any artificial semblance or natural food or portion thereof and contain any liquid, including alcohol or flavoring. The artificial lime wedge may also be replaced by a real lime, lemon or other food that is packaged in a removable container or covering. The natural lime, lemon, fruit or other food may be “dehydrated” or “dried,” e.g., freeze-dried. The artificial or natural lime may be coated or impregnated with artificial or natural lime flavoring. In general, the artificial or natural lime may be any artificial or natural fruit portion. It may be non-perishable or optionally contain a preservative. It may be optionally supplemented with a container of flavored liquid. It may optionally contain fruit juice from concentrate. Examples of removable coverings include a plastic container; vacuum-sealed plastic, which may optionally include a tear cord; a Ziploc® plastic bag; and the like. The liquid contents of the bottle may be beer, a soft drink, tea, coffee, milk, water, a sports drink, fruit juice, an alcoholic beverage and the like. A natural lime may also be packaged outside the bottle, typically removably attached to the bottle cap, side of the bottle or bottle carrier. Other typical liquid contents and flavoring pairings include Guinness® beer with chocolate flavoring, European beers with soft drink flavorings, sparkling wine with strawberry flavoring, tequila with salt and tea with sugar. Other fruit flavorings include but aren&#39;t limited to orange and kiwi. 
         [0018]    A useful embodiment of the subject invention includes an apparatus used in conjunction with a beverage vessel containing a liquid with which a soluble substance is mixed, where the beverage vessel has a narrow opening for drinking the liquid. Typically, the narrow opening is the opening at the top of a glass beer or soda bottle, the opening at the top of a beer or soda can, or the opening at the top of a plastic water bottle. Typically, the apparatus includes a gelatinous elastic entity that may be the semblance of a fruit portion, where the elastic entity includes the soluble substance for introduction and dissolution into the liquid. Typically the elastic entity is larger than the narrow opening and not for fitting uncompressed through a 0.7-inch diameter circular narrow opening, such as the opening in the top of a glass drink bottle, and for passing completely through the narrow opening when compressed, and for uncompressing and remaining unsecured inside the liquid past the narrow opening. In a useful variant, the elastic entity is larger than the narrow opening and not for fitting uncompressed through a 0.4-inch by 0.95-inch oblong narrow opening, such as the opening in the top of an aluminum drink can. In another useful variant, the elastic entity is larger than the narrow opening and not for fitting uncompressed through a 0.39-inch by 0.65-inch oblong narrow opening, such as the opening in the top of a small aluminum drink can. Typically, the elastic entity is not for dissolving during consumption. 
         [0019]    In a useful variant of the useful embodiment just described, the elastic entity may include, including being impregnated or coated with, a soluble substance to produce a fizz, produce effervescence, produce a popping or crackling sound, release a gas, including CO 2 , produce a bubbling or foaming action, and the like, when the soluble substance comes into contact with the beverage liquid or air. The elastic entity may include a structure or soluble substance that causes it to expand when it comes into contact with the beverage liquid. 
         [0020]    A useful chemical reaction for releasing CO 2  is to add citric acid to baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in the presence of water. The chemical reaction equation is 3NaHCO 3  (sodium bicarbonate)+C 6 H 8 O 7  (citric acid)-&gt;Na 3 C 6 H 5 O 7  (tri-sodium citrate)+3H 2 O (water)+3CO 2  (carbon dioxide gas). Another useful chemical reaction for releasing CO 2  is to add citric acid to calcium carbonate in the presence of water. The chemical reaction equation is 3CaCO 3  (calcium carbonate)+2(C 6 H 8 O 7 ) (citric acid)-&gt;Ca 3 (C 6 H 5 O 7 ) 2  (tri-calcium citrate)+3H 2 O (water)+3CO 2  (carbon dioxide gas). Therefore, adding either baking soda or calcium carbonate to a citrus flavoring containing citric acid, when in a beverage containing water, such as beer, a soft drink, a sports drink, or bottled water, will produce effervescing that gives off carbon dioxide. 
         [0021]    When the soluble substance expands or releases a gas, the expansion or release of gas may be used to propel or otherwise move the elastic entity in the liquid. When the soluble substance releases a gas, the release may cause the elastic entity to propel, translate, rotate, articulate, change shape, transform, and the like. The release may generate propulsion using fluid dynamic principles, including transfer of momentum. When the soluble substance expands or releases a gas, the buoyancy of the elastic entity may change, thus changing whether the elastic entity floats or sinks, or the elevation of the elastic entity in the liquid. A released gas may be colored, or change colors as it comes into contact with the liquid or air. 
         [0022]    An expanding gas, bubbles, or foam may exit a portion of the elastic entity to cause movement or structural change. Such an elastic entity may be in the image of, or otherwise shaped like, all or a portion of a flying vehicle, a water vehicle, a road vehicle, a mechanical structure, or a creature. An example of a flying vehicle or portion includes, but is not limited to, an airplane, a jet, a rocket, an alien spacecraft, a propeller, and the like, where expanding gas, bubbles, foam, and the like may exit an elastic entity shaped like a flying vehicle causing it to appear to fly in the liquid. An example of a water vehicle or portion includes, but is not limited to, a boat, a submarine, a jet ski, a surfboard, and the like, where expanding gas, bubbles, foam, and the like may exit an elastic entity shaped like a water vehicle causing it to appear to cruise around in the liquid. An example of a road vehicle or portion includes, but is not limited to, a car, a truck, a racecar, a skateboard, and the like, where expanding gas, bubbles, foam, and the like may exit an elastic entity shaped like a road vehicle causing it to appear to drive in the liquid. An example of a mechanical structure or portion includes, but is not limited to, a robot, an articulated structure, a rotating structure, a windmill, a fan, a waterwheel, and the like, where expanding gas, bubbles, foam, and the like may exit an elastic entity shaped like a mechanical structure causing it to appear to move, including in an articulated manner, in the liquid. An example of a creature or portion includes, but is not limited to, a man, a woman, a child, a superhero, a villain, Superman, a bird, a dinosaur, a mythical monster, a ghost, a Transformer toy, and the like, where expanding gas, bubbles, foam, and the like may exit an elastic entity shaped like a creature causing it to appear to walk, move arms, fly in the liquid, and the like. 
         [0023]    The elastic entity typically won&#39;t fit uncompressed through the narrow opening in the beverage vessel. Accordingly, when the elastic entity is an airplane with a wingspan wider than the width of the narrow opening, the wings would need to be flexed, bent, or otherwise compressed in order to fit the elastic airplane through the narrow opening of the beverage vessel. When the elastic entity is a rocket with fins wider than the width of the narrow opening, the fins would need to be flexed, bent, or otherwise compressed in order to fit the elastic rocket through the narrow opening of the beverage vessel. When the elastic entity is a creature with arms wider than the width of the narrow opening, the arms would need to be flexed, bent, or otherwise compressed in order to fit the elastic creature through the narrow opening of the beverage vessel. 
         [0024]    In another useful variant of the useful embodiment, the apparatus may include a cavity for holding a soluble substance, where the elastic entity includes all or a portion of the cavity for controlling the rate of mixing of the soluble substance with the liquid in the beverage vessel. The cavity may include a tube made of licorice, an edible-film container, a reverse-spherification container, a wax container, and the like, for holding the soluble substance. The elastic entity may have holes, channels, slots, slits, grooves, and the like, that may be molded or cut, into the elastic entity for holding a soluble substance so it may quickly contact the liquid, and typically quickly dissolve or mix with the liquid, when the elastic entity is introduced into the beverage vessel. Portions of an elastic entity may be adhered together using gelatin. 
         [0025]    When the soluble substance includes citric acid, such as when the elastic entity is shaped like a lime, lemon, or orange wedge or slice, it may be preferred that the citric acid be added to liquid in a plastic or aluminum beverage vessel a short time before drinking; otherwise, the citric acid can cause a plastic vessel to leach into the liquid, and the citric acid can chemically react with an aluminum vessel. 
         [0026]    The elastic entity may take on, or otherwise be in, the image of any portion of any fruit. Typical and convenient elastic entity fruit portions for use to flavor beverages include slices, wedges, chunks, spheres, cubes, and the like. When the soluble substance includes citric acid, the elastic entity typically may be a lime wedge or slice, or a lemon wedge or slice, or an orange wedge or slice. When the elastic entity is for taking on the image of a portion of a fruit that is substantially round, such as a lime, lemon, or orange, the elastic entity is typically a spherical wedge. When the elastic entity is for taking on the image of a portion of a fruit that is substantially elongated or cylindrical, such as a banana or cucumber, the elastic entity is typically a cylindrical wedge. For manufacturing convenience, an elastic entity for taking on the image of a portion of a fruit that is substantially round, may also be manufactured as a cylindrical wedge, since it is convenient to cut slices from a long roll of gelatinous elastic material to provide the elastic entity similar to the image of a lime, lemon, or orange wedge. 
         [0027]    When the apparatus includes a manufactured fruit portion in the image of a natural fruit, the apparatus may include an outer layer, an optional intermediate layer, and an inner region, where each layer and region may have similarities to the corresponding portions of a natural fruit. In the case where the fruit portion is in the image of a natural lime, the fruit portion may be a gelatinous elastic lime wedge or slice, where the outer layer is gelatinous and dark green. The optional intermediate layer may also be gelatinous but typically a lighter shade of green, or even a yellow color. The inner layer may also be gelatinous but typically a lighter shade of green than the outer layer, but a darker shade of green than the intermediate layer, and may include a porous foam-like gelatinous structure similar to a marshmallow. Typically, making a marshmallow includes whipping, beating, vigorously stirring, or explicitly injecting air into a warm gelatinous and sugar batter to trap air in the batter and create a porous or foam-like structure. Such a porous foam-like structure is good for holding a soluble substance, and in particular, for holding a crystallized lime flavoring, crystal, powder, tablet, bead, granule, pellet, capsule, liquid, paste, gelatin, thixotropic soluble substance, and the like. Typically only the soluble substance is for dissolving in the liquid during consumption; whereas, the layers and regions typically are not for substantially dissolving while the liquid is being consumed, and they may have molded or cut textures similar to the corresponding portions of a natural lime. While the example above relates to a case where the manufactured fruit portion is in the image of a natural lime, the same description also applies to other cases, such as where the manufactured fruit portion is in the image of a natural lemon, orange, kiwi, tangerine, watermelon, and the like, where colors, textures, structures, and the like may be altered so the manufactured fruit portions have similarities to the corresponding portions of the desired natural fruit. 
         [0028]    The soluble substance may include flavoring such as citrus flavoring like lime, lemon, orange, and the like. The soluble substance may include other fruit flavoring like grape, strawberry, blueberry, cherry, and the like. In general, soluble substance flavorings may be sweet, sour, bitter, salty, or savory. Such flavorings may include natural flavoring agents like fruit, nut, seafood, spice blends, vegetables, and wine, or chemical flavors that imitate natural flavors. The soluble substance may include fuel for the body, such as carbohydrates, fats, protein, calories, and sugars. The soluble substance may include nutritional supplements, such as vitamins, electrolytes, minerals, weight-loss supplements, dietary supplements, body-building supplements, and protein. The soluble substance may include stimulants such as caffeine, coffee, tea, Red Bull®, Monster®, and other energy drink contents. The soluble substance may include relaxants such as liquid or powdered alcohol, or Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The soluble substance may include an alcohol neutralizer, or a medical drug. A useful embodiment includes a gelatinous elastic entity in the shape of a lime wedge or slice with soluble substances that includes one or more of powdered alcohol, such as powdered tequila, crystallized lime flavoring, an electrolyte, salt, and the like. 
         [0029]    Drinking water with electrolytes helps to reduce the effects of dehydration and alcohol hangovers often associated with reduced levels of electrolytes. Lemon, lime, tangerine, grapefruit, and orange juice have necessary minerals for electrolyte replenishment. An elastic entity of the subject invention in the shape of a lime wedge, lime slice, or other fruit portion that includes a soluble substance including one or more of citric acid flavoring, electrolytes, caffeine, salt, sugar, and the like, may reduce drowsiness and symptoms of a hangover associated with drinking alcohol. 
         [0030]    Elements such as elastic entities, soluble substances, fruits, flavorings, structures, and the like, described for a particular embodiment, variant, or apparatus throughout this application, are described relative to an embodiment for exemplary purposes only, and such elements may be interchanged and combined as convenient to provide myriad other useful embodiments all contemplated by the subject invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a bottled beverage with a fruit portion suspended inside the neck of the bottle from the bottle cap. The fruit portion may include an artificial citrus portion, including but not limited to an artificial lime wedge or slice containing lime-flavored liquid or other flavored soluble substance including but not limited to a lime-flavored soluble substance. The fruit portion may include a natural citrus portion, including but not limited to a natural lime wedge or slice, which may be dehydrated or otherwise preserved. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is a cross section of an assembly comprising an artificial fruit portion attached to a bottle cap by an attachment member, where the artificial fruit portion is a wedge and comprises an elastic foam body and a container containing fruit-flavored liquid. 
           [0033]      FIG. 3A  is a cross section of a container, an attachment member and disk-shaped cap attachment, where the container may be filled through a small opening in the disk-shaped cap attachment.  FIG. 3B  is a top view of the disk-shaped cap attachment. 
           [0034]      FIG. 4A  is a cross section of a container, a separable attachment member and a loop-shaped cap attachment.  FIG. 4B  is a side view of the loop-shaped cap attachment and a portion of the attachment member. 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a bottled beverage with a fruit portion suspended outside the bottle by an external fastener with a ring at one end. The fruit portion may include an artificial citrus portion, including but not limited to an artificial lime wedge or slice containing lime-flavored liquid or other flavored soluble substance including but not limited to a lime-flavored soluble substance. The fruit portion may include a natural citrus portion, including but not limited to a natural lime wedge or slice, which may be dehydrated or otherwise preserved. 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a fruit portion packaged in a removable protective covering including but not limited to vacuum-sealed plastic, which, as shown, includes a tear cord. 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  is a cross section of an assembly comprising an artificial fruit portion attached to a bottle cap by an attachment member, where the artificial fruit portion is shown here as a wedge, including but not limited to a lime or lemon wedge, and comprises an elastic foam body and a container containing fruit-flavored liquid, including but not limited to lime- or lemon-flavored liquid. 
           [0038]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are cross sections of a mold for forming an artificial fruit portion, including but not limited to a wedge. In  FIG. 8A  two pieces of the mold are separated, and in  FIG. 8B  two pieces of the mold are pressed together. 
           [0039]      FIG. 9  is a cross section of the top portion of a beverage vessel comprising a fruit portion, including but not limited to a lime wedge, that is suspended in the beverage vessel by a suspending member attached to a support member, including but not limited to a piece of foam, cork, rubber, plastic and the like. 
           [0040]      FIG. 10  is a cross section of the top portion of a beverage vessel comprising a fruit portion, including but not limited to a lime wedge, that is suspended in the beverage vessel using contact between the fruit portion and the beverage vessel. 
           [0041]      FIG. 11A  is a cross section of a beverage vessel comprising a beverage and an artificial fruit portion, including but not limited to an artificial lime. Inside the artificial fruit portion is a liquid container that releases its liquid contents, including but not limited to fruit-flavored liquid, into the beverage when the artificial fruit portion is lowered into the beverage, as shown in  FIG. 11B . 
           [0042]      FIG. 12A  is a side view of one embodiment of the liquid container of  FIGS. 11A and 11B .  FIG. 12B  is a cross section of the liquid container of  FIG. 12A  taken at section A-A of  FIG. 12A . 
           [0043]      FIG. 13A  is a front view of a bottled beverage with a fruit portion, including but not limited to a lime wedge, packaged in a removable protective covering and suspended outside the bottle by an external fastener.  FIG. 13B  is a cross section plan view of the embodiment taken through section A-A in  FIG. 13A . 
           [0044]      FIG. 14A  is a front view of a bottled beverage with a fruit portion, including but not limited to a lime wedge, packaged in a removable protective covering and suspended outside the bottle by an external fastener.  FIG. 14B  is a cross section of the embodiment taken through section A-A in  FIG. 14A . 
           [0045]      FIG. 15A  is a perspective view of an apparatus for holding one or more fruit portions in convenient proximity to one or more beverage vessels.  FIG. 15B  is a perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 15A  placed in functional relationship to a beverage vessel carrier carrying beverage vessels, including bottles. In this figure, the apparatus is placed over the handle portion of the beverage vessel carrier. 
           [0046]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an apparatus for holding one or more fruit portions in convenient proximity to one or more beverage vessels, including but not limited to cans. 
           [0047]      FIG. 17A  is a perspective view of a fruit portion in a protective covering not in contact with a beverage vessel.  FIG. 17B  is a perspective view of a fruit portion in a protective covering secured to a beverage vessel. 
           [0048]      FIG. 18A  is a perspective view of a fruit portion inside a protective covering.  FIG. 18B  is a perspective view of one or more fruit portions inside a protective covering and secured to a first embodiment of a beverage vessel carrier.  FIG. 18C  is a perspective view of one or more fruit portions inside a protective covering and secured to a second embodiment of a beverage vessel carrier.  FIG. 18D  is a perspective view of one or more fruit portions inside a protective covering and secured to a beverage vessel. 
           [0049]      FIG. 19A  is a cross section of a beverage vessel in an unactivated configuration where a first fluid is separated from a second fluid.  FIG. 19B  is a cross section of the beverage vessel in an activated configuration for mixing the first fluid with the second fluid. 
           [0050]      FIG. 20A  is a cross section of a beverage vessel in an unactivated configuration where a first fluid is separated from a second fluid.  FIG. 20B  is a cross section of the beverage vessel in an activated configuration for mixing the first fluid with the second fluid. 
           [0051]      FIG. 21  is a non-soluble housing in the image of a fruit portion with a retaining region for retaining a soluble substance. The fruit portion is stored in a protective covering which may be attached to, or otherwise associated with, a beverage vessel comprising beverage liquid with which the soluble substance is to be dissolved and mixed prior to consumption. 
           [0052]      FIG. 22  is a flavoring stored in a tearable foil protective covering, where the tearable foil protective covering comprises a hole through a portion of it through which the neck of a beverage vessel can pass, so the tearable foil protective covering can be placed over and hung on the beverage vessel neck. 
           [0053]      FIG. 23  is a flavoring stored in a tearable foil protective covering placed over and hung on a beverage vessel neck. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0054]    The subject invention is further described in detail hereunder referring to the embodiments provided in the drawings. 
         [0055]      FIG. 1  is a beverage bottle  100  containing a beverage  101 , including but not limited to beer, with a fruit portion  103 , including but not limited to a lime portion, attached to and suspended from the cap  102  of the bottle  100  by an attachment member  104 . The fruit portion  103  is typically only a portion of a fruit, including but not limited to a triangular lime wedge or slice. When the cap  102  is on the beverage bottle  100  and the bottle  100  is sitting upright on a horizontal surface, the fruit portion  103  is typically suspended in the space  105  above the beverage  101 . When the cap  102  is removed from the bottle  100  the fruit portion  103  may also be removed because it may be attached to the cap  102  by the attachment member  104 . When the fruit portion  103  is removed from the bottle  100  it may be discarded or used as further described in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0056]    The attachment member  104  may comprise a rod or tube and may be flexible or rigid, or may comprise combinations thereof. The attachment member  104  generally has a maximum diameter of about 0.25 inches, where the minimum diameter is typically chosen to provide the required strength. Generally, the vertical portion of the attachment member  104  when in the bottle  100  will be not more than about 2 inches and may be as short as 0.1 inches. Portions of the attachment member  104  may be of different dimensions and characteristics, typically where an upper portion of the attachment member  104  (near the cap) is flexible and a lower portion (adjacent to the fruit portion  103 ) is more rigid. The attachment member  104  may have a concavity or protuberance for connecting to an artificial fruit liquid container, may serve as a stopper in the artificial fruit liquid container, or may possess another means of attachment to the artificial fruit liquid container. The portion of the attachment member  104  distal from the fruit portion  103  is joined to means for retaining the fruit portion  103  in the upper portion of the bottle  100 . The attachment member  104  may be flexibly attached to the cap  102  or attached to a circular disc that fits into the cap  102  and extends over the bottle top. In the latter case, the attachment member  104  may be flexible or rigid at the end distal from the fruit portion  103 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 2  is a cross section of an assembly  200  comprising a portion of an artificial fruit  216  (including but not limited to an artificial lime or lemon), a container  202 , an attachment member  205  and a bottle cap  204 . The attachment member  205  is comprised of a connecting link  206  that connects the bottle top covering member  210  and the container connector  207 , where the container connector  207  is in turn attached to the container  202 . The assembly  200  comprises a foam body  201  enclosing all or a portion of the container  202 . The artificial fruit  216  typically represents only a portion of the artificial fruit, including but not limited to a triangular lime wedge or lemon slice. In this example, the container liquid  203  in the container  202  may be real fruit juice (including but not limited to real lime juice), artificial fruit juice (including but not limited to artificial lime juice), fruit flavored liquid (including but not limited to lime flavored liquid) or another desired liquid. The container  202  is attached to the bottle cap  204  by the attachment member  205 . The attachment member  205  typically comprises a connecting link  206  that is conveniently flexible and at one end has a bottle top covering member  210  in contact with the bottle cap  204 . The bottle top covering member  210  may be permanently attached to the bottle cap  204 , typically by adhesive or molding, or separable from the bottle cap  204 . When the connecting link  206  is flexible, the container connector  207  is typically more rigid. The container connector  207  may comprise a score  208  to allow the container  202  to be easily separated from the attachment member  205  by snapping it off. 
         [0058]    The attachment member  205  may be molded to provide the desired shape and treated to provide the desired physical properties. Various plastic materials can be used to be shaped into the various forms comprising the attachment member  205 , treating portions differently to be rigid or flexible, as required. 
         [0059]    In one embodiment, the container cavity  217  containing the container liquid  203  extends beyond the score  208  of the container connector  207  of the attachment member  205  by means of channel  209 . Accordingly, when the container  202  is separated from the attachment member  205 , container liquid  203  can escape from the container  202  through the channel  209 . Typically, the container liquid  203  escapes from the container  202  by pouring or squeezing the container  202 . For example, after the bottle cap  204  (and  102  in  FIG. 1 ) is removed from a bottle (including but not limited to the bottle  100  in  FIG. 1 ), the bottle cap  204  is separated from the artificial fruit  216  by snapping at the score  208 , and fruit juice can be poured or squeezed into the beverage (including but not limited to the beverage  101  in  FIG. 1 ) from the container  202  inside the artificial fruit  216 . 
         [0060]    The container  202  can be further made to release the container liquid  203 , typically by snapping the container  202 , or otherwise breaching, breaking, crushing, puncturing, unscrewing, pulling apart and the like. In  FIG. 2 , the container  202  comprises a score  213  to facilitate separating the container  202  by snapping it into two pieces: a bottom container piece  214  and a top container piece  215 . When the container  202  is separated, the container liquid  203  is released and enters the surrounding foam body  201 . If desired, the artificial fruit  216  can then be re-inserted into the bottle (including but not limited to bottle  100  in  FIG. 1 ) and dropped into the beverage (including but not limited to the beverage  101  in  FIG. 1 ). The foam body  201  of the artificial fruit  216  regulates the rate at which the released container liquid  203  is allowed to mix with the beverage ( 101 ). The density and type of pores in the foam body  201  are selected to obtain a desired mixing rate. Different densities and types of foam may be selected according to the container liquid  203 . For instance, a container liquid  203  with high surface tension may use a foam body  201  with less dense foam or foam with larger pores. 
         [0061]    To enhance the realism of the artificial fruit  216 , the foam body  201  is typically textured and colored to resemble a real fruit. In addition to visual properties, the foam body  201  can also be selected to approximate the mechanical properties of a real fruit, including its compliance and damping. For instance, for the case where the artificial fruit  216  is an artificial lime, the circular perimeter  212  is typically a dark lime green color and denser than the rest of the artificial fruit  216 ; the middle layer  211  is typically a light yellow color; and the inner portion  217  is typically textured like the pulp of a real lime and is a darker yellow color than the light yellow color of the middle layer  211 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 3A  is a cross section of a container  300 , as may be used in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , an attachment member  301  and disk-shaped bottle top covering member  305 . The container  300  may be filled through a small opening  306  in the disk-shaped bottle top covering member  305 . The container  300  as shown may have one or more scores  302  to make it easier to breach by bending or twisting so liquid stored inside the container cavity  303  may be released into foam typically surrounding it (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). The one or more scores may extend part way or the entire way around the container  300 . The one or more scores may also extend longitudinally or diagonally along a portion of the length of the container  300 . The one or more scores may form any convenient design to facilitate a desired breach of the container  300 . The container may also be breached by breaking, crushing, puncturing, unscrewing, pulling apart and the like. Similarly, the attachment member  301  as shown may also have a score  307  to make it easier to break by bending or twisting to separate the attachment member  301  from the container  300 . At least a portion of the attachment member  301  is typically flexible, long and narrow. 
         [0063]    The container  300  may be filled with liquid using a syringe (not shown), or other needle-like device, by inserting the syringe into the opening  306  in the disk-shaped bottle top covering member  305 . Liquid inserted by the syringe passes through the channel  304  in the attachment member  301  on the way to the container cavity  303 . The disk-shaped bottle top covering member  305  is typically positioned between the top of the bottle (including but not limited to bottle  100  in  FIG. 1 ) and the bottle cap (including but not limited to  102  and  204  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and held in place there by the bottle cap ( 102  and  204 ). The disk-shaped bottle top covering member  305  may be adhered or otherwise attached to the bottle cap ( 102  and  204 ). When the bottle cap ( 102  and  204 ) is secured to the bottle ( 100 ) over the disk-shaped bottle top covering member  305 , or if the disk-shaped bottle top covering member  305  is adhered or otherwise attached to the bottle cap ( 102  and  204 ), the opening  306  is covered, preventing liquid from escaping from the container  300 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 3B  is a top view of the disk-shaped bottle top covering member  305  with opening  306 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 4A  is a cross section of a container  400 , a separable attachment member  411  (comprising a container-attachment member  401  and a bottle top covering attachment member  409 ), and loop-shaped bottle top covering  405 , where the container  400  may be filled through a small opening  410  in the bottle top covering attachment member  409 . The container  400  as shown may have one or more scores  402  to make it easier to breach by bending or twisting so liquid stored inside the container cavity  403  may be released into foam typically surrounding it (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). The one or more scores may extend part way or the entire way around the container  400 . The one or more scores may also extend longitudinally or diagonally along a portion of the length of the container  400 . The one or more scores may form any convenient design to facilitate a desired breach of the container  400 . The container may also be breached by breaking, crushing, puncturing, unscrewing, pulling apart and the like. 
         [0066]    The container-attachment member  401  is typically flexible, long and narrow. The container-attachment member  401  and bottle top covering attachment member  409  may be connected by any convenient method. As shown, they are snapped together, where the container-attachment member  401  has one or more protuberances  407  that mate with one or more cavities, indentations, channels or grooves  408  in the bottle top covering attachment member  409 . The bottle top covering attachment member  409  may also be threaded with the container attachment member  401  having a complementary thread. Depending on the materials and tolerances of the container-attachment member  401  and bottle top covering attachment member  409 , a gasket, washer, sealant, and the like, may be used to ensure a water-tight seal so liquid doesn&#39;t leak from the container  400  until the separable attachment member  411  is intentionally separated. 
         [0067]    The container  400  may be filled with liquid using a syringe (not shown), or other needle-like device, by inserting the syringe into the opening  410  in the container attachment member  401 . Liquid inserted by the syringe passes through the channel  404  in the container attachment member  401  on the way to the container cavity  403 . The loop-shaped bottle top covering  405  is shown “flipped up,” but in typical operation is rotated 90 degrees about point  412  into the page (as shown in  FIG. 4B ). The loop-shaped bottle top covering  405  is typically positioned between the top of the bottle ( 100 ) and bottle cap ( 102  and  204 ) and held in place there by the bottle cap ( 102  and  204 ). The loop-shaped bottle top covering  405  may be adhered or otherwise attached to the bottle cap ( 102  and  204 ). The loop-shaped bottle top covering  405  has a hole  406  where a finger may be placed to make it easy to grab and affect movement of the separable attachment member  411 . 
         [0068]      FIG. 4B  is a side view of the loop-shaped bottle top covering  405  attached at a point  412  to the bottle top covering attachment member  409  of the separable attachment member  411 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a beverage bottle  500  filled with liquid  501  and associated with a fruit portion  503 . The fruit portion  503  may be any convenient fruit portion, including but not limited to a lime or lemon wedge or portion. In this embodiment, a fruit portion  503  is shown suspended outside the bottle  500  by an attachment member  504  with a loop  505  at one end. The fruit portion  503  may be an artificial or natural fruit portion, including but not limited to the fruit wedges described herein. The attachment member  504  may be suspended outside the bottle  500  by any convenient method, including a loop  505  encircling the neck of the bottle  500  or located under the bottle cap  502 . The attachment member  504  may also be adhered or otherwise connected to the bottle  500 , bottle cap  502  or bottle label  506  using any convenient method. The attachment member  504  may be separated from the fruit portion  503  using any convenient method, including the methods described in  FIGS. 3A and 4A . 
         [0070]    The fruit portion  503  may also be fastened to the outside of the bottle  500  or bottle cap  502  using a plastic wrap (including but not limited to Saran Wrap®), shrink wrap, cling wrap, plastic film, tape, glue, adhesive, a clip, snap, Velcro®, cable tie, a mating member and the like. 
         [0071]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a fruit portion  600 , including but not limited to a lime or lemon wedge, packaged in a removable covering  601 . The fruit portion  600  may be a portion of a natural fruit or an artificial fruit. If the fruit is a natural fruit, it may be dehydrated or otherwise “dried” before packaging and optionally accompanied by a container of fruit-flavored liquid. If the fruit portion  600  is an artificial fruit, it may be made from non-dissolving foam. An artificial fruit may also be made from dissolving foam, gel, semi-solid, paste, lozenge, tablet and the like. If a portion of the artificial fruit dissolves, the removable covering is typically a watertight covering to prevent the portion of the artificial fruit from dissolving prior to the time the consumer wishes it to dissolve in the liquid, including but not limited to the liquid  501  in  FIG. 5 . The fruit portion  600  may comprise a non-soluble foam or mesh housing containing a soluble flavoring entity, such as a flavored tablet, bead or granule. 
         [0072]    The removable covering  601  may be made of any convenient material including but not limited to clear, translucent or opaque plastic. Such plastic  601  may be rigid or flexible. Such plastic  601  may be vacuum-sealed plastic and may include a tear cord, Zip Lok® zipper, or any other convenient opening or sealing device or technique. In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the semi-rigid member  602  is used as a tear cord, where in  FIG. 6  it separates from the plastic covering  601  at a point  603 . When the semi-rigid member  602  separates from the plastic covering  601  the natural fruit or artificial fruit portion  600  can be removed from the plastic covering  601  from the opening created. The semi-rigid member  602  optionally has a ring  605  at one end (shown in  FIG. 6 ) which may encircle the neck of the bottle  500  or may be placed under the bottle cap  502 ; although, the semi-rigid member  602  may be connected in any convenient manner to the bottle  500 , bottle cap  502  or label  506 . If the plastic covering were vacuum sealed, the gap  604  shown may not exist. 
         [0073]      FIG. 7  is a cross section of an assembly  700  comprising an artificial fruit  710 , including but not limited to an artificial lime or lemon, a container  702 , an attachment member  705  and a bottle cap  704 . The attachment member  705  is comprised of a bottle top covering end  706  and a container-connecting end  707 , where the container-connecting end  707  has a protuberance  708  that fits into a mating opening  709  in the container  702  and seals the container liquid  703  therein. The assembly  700  comprises a foam body  701  enclosing all or a portion of the container  702 . The artificial fruit  710  typically represents only a portion of a fruit, including but not limited to a triangular fruit wedge. In this example, the container liquid  703  in the container  702  may be real fruit juice, artificial fruit juice, fruit flavored liquid or another desired liquid. In this example, the container  702  is attached to the bottle cap  704  by the bottle top covering end  706 . The attachment member  705  typically is flexible. The bottle top covering end  706  may be permanently attached to the bottle cap  704 , typically by adhesive or molding, or separable from the bottle cap  704 . When the connecting link  705  is flexible, the container connecting end  707  is typically more rigid. The container connecting end  707  may be press fit into the opening  709  in the container  702 . The container connecting end  707  may also be snap fit in, screwed in, or connected to the container  702  using any other convenient sealable, yet separable, method. 
         [0074]    The attachment member  705  may be molded to provide the desired shape and treated to provide the desired physical properties. Various plastic materials can be used to be shaped into the various forms comprising the attachment member  705 , treating portions differently to be rigid or flexible, as required. 
         [0075]    Typically, when the container  702  is separated from the attachment member  705 , container liquid  703  can escape from the container  702  through the opening  709 . Typically, the container liquid  703  escapes from the container  702  by pouring or squeezing the container  702 . For example, after the bottle cap  704 / 102  is removed from the bottle  100 , the bottle cap  704  is separated from the artificial fruit  710  by snapping the container connecting end  707  out of the opening  709 , and fruit juice can be poured or squeezed into the beverage  101  from the container  702  inside the artificial fruit  710 . 
         [0076]    The container  702  can be further made to release the container liquid  703 , typically by snapping the container  702 , or otherwise breaking, crushing, puncturing, unscrewing, pulling apart, and the like. Although not shown in  FIG. 7 , the container  702  may comprise a score, like the score  213  in  FIG. 2 , to facilitate separating the container  702  by snapping it into two pieces. When the container  702  is separated, the container liquid  703  is released and enters the surrounding foam body  701 . If desired, the artificial fruit  710  can then be re-inserted into the bottle  100  and dropped into the beverage  101 . The foam body  701  of the artificial fruit  710  regulates the rate at which the released container liquid  703  is allowed to mix with the beverage  101 . The density and type of pores in the foam body  701  are selected to obtain a desired mixing rate. Different densities and types of foam may be selected according to the container liquid  703 . For instance, a container liquid  703  with high surface tension may use a foam body  201  with less dense foam or foam with larger pores. 
         [0077]    To enhance the realism of the artificial fruit  710 , the foam body  701  is typically textured and colored to resemble a real fruit. In addition to visual properties, the foam body  701  can also be selected to approximate the mechanical properties of a real fruit, including its compliance and damping. For instance, in the case where the artificial fruit  710  is an artificial lime, the circular perimeter  712  is typically a dark lime green color and denser than the rest of the artificial fruit  710 ; the middle layer  711  is typically a light yellow color; and the inner portion  713  is typically textured like the pulp of a real lime and is a darker yellow color than the light yellow color of the middle layer  711 . 
         [0078]      FIG. 8A  is a cross section of a mold for forming an artificial fruit portion, including but not limited to an artificial lime or lemon wedge. As shown in  FIG. 8A , the mold is open.  FIG. 8B  shows the mold closed.  800  is a first side of the mold and  801  is a second side of the mold. In general, there may be any number of pieces to the mold. The mold may separate along any convenient parting line of the artificial fruit portion such that the artificial fruit portion may be removed after forming. As shown, the molded artificial fruit portion must be compliant to be removed from the second side of the mold  801 . Alternately choosing a parting line in the plane of the cross section may make the artificial fruit portion easier to remove when the two sides of the mold  800  and  801  are opened. 
         [0079]    As shown, the two mold pieces come together around a liquid container spacer  802  with stem spacer  803 , where the liquid container spacer  802  and stem spacer  803  create a molded cavity inside the artificial fruit portion into which a liquid container may later be inserted. Alternately, the two mold pieces may come together around a liquid container such that the liquid container is never removed from the artificial fruit portion. The first side of the mold  800  contains a first fruit portion cavity  804  and a first stem cavity  807 . The second side of the mold  801  contains a second fruit portion cavity  805  and a second stem cavity  808 . The two fruit portion cavities  804  and  805  enclose the liquid container spacer  802 , whereas the two stem cavities  807  and  808  enclose the stem spacer  803  when the two sides of the fruit portion mold  800  and  801  come together, as shown in  FIG. 8B . The passage  806  shown on the second side of the mold  801  permits injection of the desired molding material to form the artificial fruit portion around the liquid container spacer  802  by filling the cavity which is sealed by bringing together of the first and second sides of the mold  800  and  801 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 9  is a cross section of the top portion of a beverage container  906  comprising an artificial fruit portion  900 , including but not limited to an artificial lime or lemon wedge, that is suspended in the beverage container by a suspending member  903  comprising a support member  901 , including but not limited to a piece of foam, cork and the like, at one end and attached to the artificial fruit portion  900  at the other end. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the support member  901  is positioned through contact with the inside wall  902  of the beverage container  906 . Typically the support member  901  is supported by press fitting, snap fitting, screwing and the like. The support member  901  is typically attached to the bottle cap  904  by a removal member  905  including but not limited to a cord, string, rubber band, thread, wire, spring, and the like. The removal member  905  may also not be attached to the bottle cap  904  and simply comprise a tab, loop or other means by which the support member  901  may be removed by the beverage consumer after removal of the bottle cap  904 . 
         [0081]      FIG. 10  is a cross section of the top portion of a beverage container  1004  comprising an artificial fruit portion  1000 , including but not limited to an artificial lime or lemon wedge, that is suspended in the beverage container  1004  using contact  1005  between the artificial fruit portion  1000  and the inside surface  1001  of the beverage container  1004 . The artificial fruit portion  1000  may be removed from the beverage container  1004  using a removal member  1003  which may be a cord, string, rubber band, thread, wire, spring, tab, loop, and the like. The removal member  1003  may be handled directly for removal of the artificial fruit portion  1000  or the removal member  1003  may be attached to the bottle cap  1002 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 11A  is a cross section of a beverage container  1106  comprising a beverage  1105  and an artificial fruit portion  1100 , including but not limited to an artificial lime or lemon wedge. Inside the artificial fruit portion is a liquid container  1107  comprising a first member  1102  and a second member  1103 . The liquid container  1107  releases its liquid contents inside the artificial fruit portion  1100  where the liquid contents then diffuse through at least a portion of the artificial fruit portion  1100  into the beverage  1105  when the artificial fruit portion  1100  is lowered into the beverage  1105 , as shown in  FIG. 11B . As shown, the artificial fruit portion  1100  is typically initially in contact with the inner surface  1101  of the beverage container  1106 , and the artificial fruit portion  1100  is typically compressed to keep the first member  1102  in sealed contact with the second member  1103  to prevent the liquid contents from escaping. 
         [0083]    In  FIG. 11B , the artificial fruit portion  1100  has been lowered into the liquid  1105 , thereby releasing the pressure keeping the first member  1102  in sealed contact with the second member  1103 , and allowing the first member  1102  to separate from the second member  1103 . Typically, such separation is induced by a separating pressure between the first member  1102  and the second member  1103 . Such separating pressure may be provided by any convenient method, including a spring, including but not limited to a compression spring or extension spring, a living hinge, and the like. 
         [0084]    The first member  1102  and second member  1103  may be hinged, such as by the hinge  1104 . When hinged, the hinge may comprise a pin by which the sides rotate relative to each other. The hinge may also be a living hinge or any other hinging means. 
         [0085]      FIG. 12A  is a side view of one embodiment of the liquid container  1204 , corresponding to the liquid container  1107  of  FIGS. 11A and 11B . In this embodiment, the liquid container  1204  has a first member  1200  and a second member  1201  joined by a pinned hinge  1202 . Not shown in the figure is a spring for applying a separating pressure between the first member  1200  and second member  1201 . Such a spring may be associated with the pinned hinge  1202 . There may also be a compression spring between the first member  1200  and second member  1201 . 
         [0086]      FIG. 12B  is a cross section of the liquid container  1204  of  FIG. 12A  taken at section A-A of  FIG. 12A . In this embodiment of the liquid container  1204 , there is a first member  1200  and second member  1201  that mate together to form a liquid seal to contain the liquid contents of the liquid container  1204 . In this embodiment, to form a liquid seal, the second member  1201  has a channel protuberance  1203  along its entire perimeter that fits into a mating channel valley  1202  along the entire perimeter of the first member  1200 . 
         [0087]      FIG. 13A  is a front view of a bottled beverage with a fruit portion  1300 , including but not limited to an artificial or natural lime or lemon wedge, packaged in a removable protective covering  1301  and suspended outside the bottle  1302  by an external fastener  1303 . The protective covering  1301  may be comprised of transparent, opaque or semi-translucent material, and it may be made from any convenient, typically sanitizable, material including but not limited to plastic, foil, glass, foam, and the like. The external fastener  1303  may comprise a clip, plastic wrap, shrink wrap, cling wrap, plastic film, tape, glue, adhesive, snap, Velcro, cable tie, wire, a mating member, and the like. In this embodiment, the protective covering  1301  has a tear cord  1304  for breaching the protective covering  1301  and allowing removal of the fruit portion  1300 . The tear cord  1304  may have a portion for grasping, such as the tab  1305 . The tear cord  1304  may permanently sever the protective covering  1301  or it may serve to separate to portions of the protective covering  1301  such as achieved by a zipper or Zip Lok connector. The protective covering  1301  is connected to the external fastener  1303  at location  1306 . Such connection may be achieved by any convenient method including the use of glue, clipping, mating portions, adhesive, tape, Velcro, and the like. The fruit portion  1300  may comprise a non-soluble foam or mesh housing containing a soluble flavoring entity, such as a flavored tablet, bead or granule. 
         [0088]      FIG. 13B  is a cross section plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 13A  taken through section A-A. The fruit portion  1300  is shown in the removable protective covering  1301 . The protective covering  1301  is connected to the external fastener  1303  at location  1306 . A convenient external fastener  1303  is double-stick tape or other adhesive. Another convenient external fastener  1303  is a plastic or metal clip. The external fastener  1303  holds the fruit portion with or in convenient relation to the beverage vessel  1302  including but not limited to a bottle neck. The tear cord  1304  is moved to provide an opening in the protective covering  1301  for removing at least a portion of the fruit portion or flavored fluid associated with the fruit portion. 
         [0089]      FIG. 14A  is a front view of a bottled beverage with a fruit portion  1400 , including but not limited to an artificial or natural lime or lemon wedge, packaged in a removable protective covering  1401  and suspended outside the bottle  1402  by an external fastener  1403 . The protective covering  1401  may be comprised of transparent, opaque or semi-translucent material, and it may be made from any convenient, typically sanitizable, material including but not limited to plastic, foil, glass, foam, and the like. The external fastener  1403  may comprise a clip, plastic wrap, shrink wrap, cling wrap, plastic film, tape, glue, adhesive, snap, Velcro, cable tie, wire, a mating member, and the like. In this embodiment, the protective covering  1401  may be breached by pulling its flanged base  1404  away from the external fastener  1403  and allowing removal of the fruit portion  1400 . The protective covering  1401  may also comprise a tear cord (not shown) to separate to portions of the protective covering  1401 . The protective covering  1401  is connected to the external fastener  1403  by a flanged base  1404 . Such connection may be achieved by any convenient method including the use of glue, clipping, mating portions, adhesive, tape, Velcro, and the like. The fruit portion  1400  may comprise a non-soluble foam or mesh housing containing a soluble flavoring entity, such as a flavored tablet, bead or granule. 
         [0090]      FIG. 14B  is a cross section plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 14A  taken through section A-A. The fruit portion  1400  is shown in the removable protective covering  1401 . The protective covering  1401  is connected to the external fastener  1403  by its flanged base  1404 . A convenient external fastener  1403  is double-stick tape or other adhesive. The external fastener  1403  may be the beverage vessel label. Another convenient external fastener  1403  is a plastic or metal clip. The external fastener  1403  holds the fruit portion with or in convenient relation to the beverage vessel  1402  including but not limited to a bottle neck. 
         [0091]      FIG. 15A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus  1500  for holding one or more fruit portions  1506  in convenient proximity to one or more beverage vessels. In this embodiment, the apparatus  1500  is a “hanging” apparatus comprising a first side  1502  and a second side  1503  and a bends  1504 . Typically the apparatus  1500  is made of cardboard, paper, plastic or wood, but may be made from any convenient material. The bend  1504  is typically a fold or crease that creates two parallel sides,  1502  and  1503 , from a single sheet of material. The bends  1504  are typically used to support the apparatus  1500  on the handle portion of a beverage vessel carrier, including but not limited to a 6-pack bottle carton. 
         [0092]    In this embodiment, fruit portions  1506  are contained in protective coverings  1505  that are attached to the sides  1502  and  1503  of the apparatus  1500 . Each of the fruit portions  1506  may include an artificial citrus portion, including but not limited to an artificial lime wedge or slice containing lime-flavored liquid or other flavored soluble substance including but not limited to a lime-flavored soluble substance. Each of the fruit portions  1506  may include a natural citrus portion, including but not limited to a natural lime wedge or slice, which may be dehydrated or otherwise preserved. The protective coverings  1505  may be comprised of transparent, opaque or semi-translucent material, and may be made from any convenient, typically sanitizable, material including but not limited to plastic, foil, glass, foam, and the like. In a convenient embodiment, a portion of the protective coverings  1505  comprises translucent plastic and another portion comprises foil which can be breached to release one of the fruit portions  1506 . The protective coverings  1505  may be attached to any portion of the apparatus  1500 , such as the sides  1502  and  1503 . Such attachment may include a clip, plastic wrap, shrink wrap, cling wrap, plastic film, tape, glue, adhesive, snap, Velcro, cable tie, wire, mating members, and the like. Any of the fruit portions  1506  may comprise a non-soluble foam or mesh housing containing a soluble flavoring entity, such as a flavored tablet, bead or granule. 
         [0093]      FIG. 15B  is a perspective view of the apparatus  1500  of  FIG. 15A  placed in functional relationship to a beverage vessel carrier  1501  carrying beverage vessels  1509 , including but not limited to bottles. In this figure, the apparatus  1500  is placed over the handle portion  1507  with handle hole  1508  of the beverage vessel carrier  1501 . The apparatus  1500  may be attached to the handle portion  1507  by clips, glue, tape, staples, snaps, Velcro, mating members, and the like. In this embodiment, when the apparatus  1500  is placed over the handle portion  1507 , the protective coverings  1505  reside between the vessels  1509  and the beverage vessel carrier  1501 . Typically the protective coverings  1505  reside between the vessels  1509  and the sides  1511  or separators  1510  of the beverage vessel carrier  1501 . 
         [0094]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an apparatus  1600  for holding one or more fruit portions, such as portions  1604 ,  1606 ,  1608  and  1610 , with or in convenient proximity to one or more beverage vessels  1601 , including cans. In this embodiment, the apparatus  1600  also holds the beverage vessels  1601  together for carrying and storing. Typically the apparatus  1600  is made of cardboard, paper, plastic or wood, but may be made from any convenient material. Any of the fruit portions  1604 ,  1606 ,  1608  and  1610  may comprise a non-soluble foam or mesh housing containing a soluble flavoring entity, such as a flavored tablet, bead or granule. 
         [0095]    In this embodiment, fruit portions  1604 ,  1606 ,  1608  and  1610 , are contained in protective coverings  1603 ,  1605 ,  1607  and  1609 , respectively, that are attached to the apparatus  1600 . Each of the fruit portions  1604 ,  1606 ,  1608  and  1610  may include an artificial citrus portion, including but not limited to an artificial lime wedge or slice containing lime-flavored liquid or other flavored soluble substance including but not limited to a lime-flavored soluble substance. Each of the fruit portions  1604 ,  1606 ,  1608  and  1610  may include a natural citrus portion, including but not limited to a natural lime wedge or slice, which may be dehydrated or otherwise preserved. The protective coverings  1603 ,  1605 ,  1607  and  1609  may be comprised of transparent, opaque or semi-translucent material, and may be made from any convenient, typically sanitizable, material including but not limited to plastic, foil, glass, foam, and the like. In a convenient embodiment, a portion of the protective coverings  1603 ,  1605 ,  1607  and  1609  comprises translucent plastic and another portion comprises foil which can be breached to release one of the fruit portions  1604 ,  1606 ,  1608  and  1610 . The protective coverings  1603 ,  1605 ,  1607  and  1609  may be attached to any portion of the apparatus  1600 , such as on the top  1603  and  1607  or the bottom  1605  and  1609 . The protective coverings  1603 ,  1605 ,  1607  and  1609  may also be attached to the edge of the apparatus  1600 . Such attachment may comprise a clip, plastic wrap, shrink wrap, cling wrap, plastic film, tape, glue, adhesive, snap, Velcro, cable tie, wire, mating members, and the like. 
         [0096]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the apparatus  1600  also serving as a beverage vessel carrier carrying beverage vessels  1601 , including but not limited to cans. In this figure, the apparatus  1600  includes handle holes  1602  for carrying. In this embodiment, the protective coverings  1605  and  1609  reside between the vessels  1601 , and protective coverings  1603  and  1607  reside on the top of the apparatus  1600 . 
         [0097]      FIG. 17A  is a perspective view of a fruit portion  1702  in a protective covering  1701  in a first position not in contact with a beverage vessel  1700 .  FIG. 17B  is a perspective view of the fruit portion  1702  in the protective covering  1701  in a second position  1703  secured to the beverage vessel  1700 .  FIG. 17A  is a perspective view of a protective covering  1701  for holding a fruit portion  1702  in convenient proximity to a beverage vessel  1700 , including a can. The fruit portion  1702  may include an artificial citrus portion, including but not limited to an artificial lime wedge or slice containing lime-flavored liquid or other flavored soluble substance including but not limited to a lime-flavored soluble substance. The fruit portion  1702  may include a natural citrus portion, including but not limited to a natural lime wedge or slice, which may be dehydrated or otherwise preserved. The fruit portion  1702  may comprise a non-soluble foam or mesh housing containing a soluble flavoring entity, such as a flavored tablet, bead or granule. 
         [0098]    The protective covering  1701  may comprise transparent, opaque or semi-translucent material, and may be made from any convenient, typically sanitizable, material including but not limited to plastic, foil, glass, foam, and the like. In a convenient embodiment, a portion of the protective covering  1701  comprises translucent plastic and another portion comprises foil which can be breached to release the fruit portion  1702 . 
         [0099]    In  FIG. 17B , the protective covering  1701  is shown in a second position attached to the top of beverage vessel  1700 . Such attachment may comprise a clip, plastic wrap, shrink wrap, cling wrap, plastic film, tape, glue, adhesive, snap, Velcro, cable tie, wire, mating or overlapping members, compressive force, friction, and the like. For example, the protective covering  1701  may snap onto the top of a beverage can. 
         [0100]      FIG. 18A  is a perspective view of a fruit portion  1800  inside a protective covering  1801 . The protective covering  1801  may comprise transparent, opaque or semi-translucent material, the material may be rigid or flexible, and may be made from any convenient, typically sanitizable, material including but not limited to plastic, foil, glass, foam, paper, cardboard, metal, and the like. The protective covering  1801  may be vacuum-sealed plastic and may include a perforation, tear cord, Zip Lok® zipper, or any other convenient opening or sealing device or technique. In  FIG. 18A , the protective covering  1801  comprises a Zip Lok zipper with a sliding member  1803  and mating tracks  1802  which are separated when the sliding member  1803  is moved in one direction, and are fastened together when the sliding member  1803  is moved in the other direction. In a convenient embodiment, a portion of the protective covering  1801  comprises translucent plastic and another portion comprises foil which can be breached to release the fruit portion  1800 . The fruit portion  1800  may comprise any of the artificial or natural fruit portions described throughout this subject invention disclosure. The fruit portion  1800  may comprise a non-soluble foam or mesh housing containing a soluble flavoring entity, such as a flavored tablet, bead or granule. 
         [0101]      FIG. 18B  is a perspective view of one or more fruit portions  1807  inside a protective covering  1805  and attached to a first embodiment  1804  of a beverage vessel carrier. In  FIG. 18B , the protective covering  1805  comprises a Zip Lok zipper with a sliding member  1811  and mating tracks  1810 . The first embodiment  1804  has holes  1806  to facilitate carrying. Such a first embodiment  1804  may be used to store and carry twelve beverage vessels, including but not limited to beverage bottles or cans. In  FIG. 18B  the protective covering  1805  is shown attached to the first embodiment  1804  of the beverage vessel carrier. Such attachment may comprise a clip, plastic wrap, shrink wrap, cling wrap, plastic film, tape, glue, adhesive, snap, Velcro, cable tie, wire, mating members, and the like. Any of the fruit portions  1807  may comprise a non-soluble foam or mesh housing containing a soluble flavoring entity, such as a flavored tablet, bead or granule. 
         [0102]      FIG. 18C  is a perspective view of one or more fruit portions  1814  inside a protective covering  1809  and attached to a second embodiment  1808  of a beverage vessel carrier. In  FIG. 18C , the protective covering  1809  comprises a Zip Lok zipper with a sliding member  1813  and mating tracks  1812 . Such a second embodiment  1808  may be used to store and carry six beverage vessels, including but not limited to beverage bottles or cans. In  FIG. 18C  the protective covering  1809  is shown attached to the second embodiment  1808  of the beverage vessel carrier. Such attachment may comprise a clip, plastic wrap, shrink wrap, cling wrap, plastic film, tape, glue, adhesive, snap, Velcro, cable tie, wire, mating members, and the like. Any of the fruit portions  1814  may comprise a non-soluble foam or mesh housing containing a soluble flavoring entity, such as a flavored tablet, bead or granule. 
         [0103]      FIG. 18D  is a perspective view of one or more fruit portions  1819  inside a protective covering  1816  and attached to a beverage vessel  1815 . In  FIG. 18D , the protective covering  1816  comprises a Zip Lok zipper with a sliding member  1818  and mating tracks  1817 . In  FIG. 18D  the protective covering  1816  is shown attached to the beverage vessel  1815 , including but not limited to a beverage bottle or can. Such attachment may comprise a clip, plastic wrap, shrink wrap, cling wrap, plastic film, tape, glue, adhesive, snap, Velcro, cable tie, wire, mating members, and the like. Any of the fruit portions  1819  may comprise a non-soluble foam or mesh housing containing a soluble flavoring entity, such as a flavored tablet, bead or granule. 
         [0104]    As stated in the Summary Of The Invention, a protective covering may comprise foil, plastic, fabric, glass, paper, cardboard, and the like, or any other convenient sanitizable, breachable material. The protective covering may be transparent, opaque or translucent. When a fruit portion comprises a soluble material, the fruit portion may be made entirely of soluble material or it may be made from non-soluble foam, rubber, plastic, fabric and the like and contain the soluble material along with pores, valves, holes, mesh passageways, and the like to allow beverage vessel fluid to flow over and/or otherwise mix with the soluble material. A convenient embodiment comprises a non-soluble foam or mesh fruit wedge, including but not limited to a lime wedge or slice, comprising soluble material, including but not limited to impregnated soluble flavoring beads or granules, and stored in a tearable foil protective covering adhered to a beverage bottle or can. The non-soluble foam or mesh fruit wedge may also form a housing into which one or more soluble flavoring tablets is inserted. The housing may be elastic. The housing may be a sack or pouch. The housing may comprise one or more pockets for inserting flavored soluble tablets, beads or granules. The tearable foil protective covering may have a perforation to facilitate breaching. Typically, the tearable foil protective covering is torn open, and the non-soluble foam or mesh fruit wedge containing the one or more soluble tablets is removed from the tearable foil protective covering and dropped into, or otherwise introduced into, a beverage bottle or can. As the consumer consumes the beverage liquid, the beverage liquid passes through the non-soluble foam or mesh fruit wedge and over the one or more soluble tablets, thus dissolving a portion of the one or more soluble tablets and thereby mixing the intended flavoring with the beverage liquid during consumption. The size, surface area and number of tablets may be selected based on their dissolution rate and the amount of flavoring desired. 
         [0105]      FIG. 19A  is a cross section of an embodiment of a beverage vessel  1900  in an unactivated configuration where a first fluid  1901  is separated from a second fluid  1902 . The beverage vessel  1900  may be a beverage can. The first fluid  1901  may be a primary beverage liquid to be consumed, including but not limited to beer or a soft drink, and the second fluid  1902  may be a liquid flavoring or other additive, including but not limited to a fruit flavoring or a shot of alcohol. In the beverage vessel  1900 , the second fluid  1902  is contained in a container comprising a first surface  1904  and a second surface  1903 . In the beverage vessel  1900 , the first surface  1904  comprises a portion of the top of the beverage vessel. In the beverage vessel  1900  the second surface  1903  is connected to the first surface  1904  and the second surface  1903  comprises a portion which is breachable. The second surface  1903  may comprise any convenient breachable material, including but not limited to plastic, foil, metal, and the like. 
         [0106]    As shown in this embodiment of the beverage vessel  1900 , a portion of the second surface  1903  is connected to a portion of the first surface  1904  at a connection location  1905 . The connection may comprise friction, pressure, mating members, locking members, adhesive, crimping, and the like. The connection may comprise one or more connection points. The connection may comprise a continuous connection region or line of connection. 
         [0107]    As shown in  FIG. 19A , the first surface  1904  of the embodiment of the beverage vessel  1900  comprises a tab  1906  for breaching the beverage vessel. Such tabs are known to those skilled in the art of breaching beverage containers such as soft drink and beer cans. Tab  1906  is connected to the first surface  1904  by tab connector  1907 . Such a tab connector  1907  may comprise a rivet, post, screw, or any convenient connection means. When the tab  1906  is lifted away from the first surface  1904 , tab end  1908  presses against a breachable portion  1909  of the first surface  1904  causing a breach in the first surface  1904  where the breachable portion  1909  includes the breach point  1910 . The breach point  1910  may comprise a score that facilitates the breach. 
         [0108]      FIG. 19B  is a cross section of the embodiment of the beverage vessel  1900  of  FIG. 19A  which is now in an activated configuration for mixing the first fluid  1901  with the second fluid  1902 . In  FIG. 19B  the tab is now in an activated tab configuration  1911  where the tab connector is in an activated tab-connector configuration  1912 , and the tab end  1908  is in contact with the breachable portion which is now in an activated breachable-portion configuration  1913 . This activated breachable-portion configuration  1913  causes the breachable portion to breach the second surface, producing a third surface  1916  and a fourth surface  1915  and a gap between them where the second fluid  1902  may pass into and mix with the first fluid  1901  at a mixing location  1914 . 
         [0109]    Thus, when a consumer desires to consume the first fluid  1901  and second fluid  1902  and breaches the beverage vessel  1900  using the tab  1906 , the second surface  1903  of the container comprising the second fluid  1902  is also breached, allowing the first fluid  1901  and second fluid  1902  to mix prior to consumption. 
         [0110]      FIG. 20A  is a cross section of an embodiment of a beverage vessel  2000  in an unactivated configuration where a first fluid  2001  is separated from a second fluid  2002 . The beverage vessel  2000  may be a beverage can. The first fluid  2001  may be a primary beverage liquid to be consumed, including but not limited to beer or a soft drink, and the second fluid  2002  may be a liquid flavoring or other additive, including but not limited to a fruit flavoring or a shot of alcohol. In the beverage vessel  2000 , the second fluid  2002  is contained in a container comprising a first surface  2006 , a second surface  2005  and a side surface  2003 . In the beverage vessel  2000 , the first surface  2006  comprises a portion of the top of the beverage vessel. In the beverage vessel  2000  the second surface  2005  is connected to the side surface  2003  which is attached to the first surface  2006 . The second surface  2005  comprises a portion which is breachable. The second surface  2005  may comprise any convenient breachable material, including but not limited to plastic, foil, metal, and the like. The side surface  2003  may be a circular ring to which a circular second surface  2005  is attached. 
         [0111]    As shown in this embodiment of the beverage vessel  2000 , a portion of the side surface  2003  is connected to a portion of the first surface  2006  at a connection location  2011 . The connection may comprise friction, pressure, mating members, locking members, adhesive, crimping, and the like. The connection may comprise one or more connection points. The connection may comprise a continuous connection region or line of connection. 
         [0112]    Between the first surface  2006  and second surface  2005  is a breaching member  2012  with a breaching member contact point  2014  and a breaching surface  2013 . The breaching surface  2013  may comprise a pointed end, a sharp edge, and the like for breaching the second surface  2005 . A breaching-member mount  2004  of the breaching member  2012  may be connected to the beverage vessel  2000  at connection location  2011  in a similar manner as the first surface  2006  and side surface  2003  are connected at connection location  2011 . Typically, the breaching member  2012  is capable of flexing relative to the breaching-member mount  2004 . When the side surface  2003  is a circular ring, it may comprise the breaching-member mount  2004 . 
         [0113]    As shown in  FIG. 20A , the first surface  2006  of the embodiment of the beverage vessel  2000  comprises a tab  2007  for breaching the beverage vessel. Such tabs are known to those skilled in the art of breaching beverage containers such as soft drink and beer cans. Tab  2007  is connected to the first surface  2006  by tab connector  2008 . Such a tab connector  2008  may comprise a rivet, post, screw, or any convenient connection means. When the tab  2007  is lifted away from the first surface  2006 , tab end  2015  presses against a breachable portion  2009  of the first surface  2006  causing a breach in the first surface  2006  where the breachable portion  2009  includes the breach point  2010 . The breach point  2010  may comprise a score that facilitates the breach. 
         [0114]      FIG. 20B  is a cross section of the embodiment of the beverage vessel  2000  of  FIG. 20A  which is now in an activated configuration for mixing the first fluid  2001  with the second fluid  2002 . In  FIG. 20B  the tab is now in an activated tab configuration  2016  where the tab connector is in an activated tab-connector configuration  2022 , and the tab end  2015  is in contact with the breachable portion which is now in an activated breachable-portion configuration  2017 . This activated breachable-portion configuration  2017  causes the breachable portion to press against the breaching member contact point  2014  causing the breaching member to take on an activated breaching-member configuration  2018  where the breaching surface takes on an activated breaching-surface configuration  2013  and breaches the second surface, producing a third surface  2020  and a fourth surface  2019  and a gap between them where the second fluid  2002  may pass into and mix with the first fluid  2001  at a mixing location  2021 . 
         [0115]    Thus, when a consumer desires to consume the first fluid  2001  and second fluid  2002  and breaches the beverage vessel  2000  using the tab  2007 , the second surface  2005  of the container comprising the second fluid  2002  is also breached, allowing the first fluid  2001  and second fluid  2002  to mix prior to consumption. 
         [0116]      FIG. 21  is a cross section plan view of a fruit portion comprising a non-soluble housing  2100  containing a soluble flavoring entity  2105 , including but not limited to one or more flavored tablets, beads, granules, and the like, where the non-soluble housing  2100  is stored in a protective covering  2106 . The non-soluble housing  2100  may be elastic. In general, the non-soluble housing  2100  may comprise non-soluble foam, rubber, plastic, fabric, and the like. The non-soluble housing  2100  may comprise pores  2108 , valves, holes, mesh passageways, and the like to allow beverage liquid from a beverage vessel to flow over and/or otherwise mix with the soluble flavoring entity  2105 . In general, the protective covering  2106  may comprise foil, plastic, metalized plastic, fabric, glass, paper, cardboard, and the like, or any other convenient sanitizable, breachable material. The protective covering  2106  may be transparent, opaque or translucent. 
         [0117]      FIG. 21  presents a convenient embodiment of a fruit portion comprising a non-soluble housing  2100  which is a non-soluble foam or mesh housing in the image of a fruit wedge, including but not limited to a lime wedge or slice. In this embodiment, to help the fruit portion take on the image of a natural lime, the non-soluble housing  2100  comprises an outer layer  2102 , an intermediate layer  2103  and an inner region  2101 , where each layer and region has similarities to the corresponding portions of a natural lime. 
         [0118]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 21 , the inner region  2101  of the non-soluble housing  2100  comprises a retaining region  2104  for retaining the soluble flavoring entity  2105 , including but not limited to one or more soluble flavoring tablets, beads, granules, and the like. Alternately, the flavoring entity  2105  may comprise flavored granules impregnated into the non-soluble housing  2100 . The retaining region  2104  may comprise a sack, pouch, cavity, one or more pockets, and the like for inserting the soluble flavoring entity  2105 . 
         [0119]    The non-soluble housing  2100  is stored in a protective covering  2106 , which in the embodiment of  FIG. 21 , is a tearable protective covering comprising foil and/or plastic. The protective covering  2106  may be adhered to, or otherwise associated with, the beverage vessel, including but not limited to a beverage bottle or can. In this embodiment, the protective covering  2106  comprises a perforation  2107  to facilitate breaching. Typically, the protective covering  2106  is torn open, and the non-soluble housing  2100  containing the soluble flavoring entity  2105  is removed from the protective covering  2106  and dropped into, pushed into, inserted into, or otherwise introduced into, a beverage vessel, including but not limited to a bottle or can. The non-soluble housing  2100  is typically larger in dimension than the opening in the beverage vessel from which the beverage liquid is consumed. If the non-soluble housing  2100  is elastic, it can be compressed during insertion into the beverage vessel. Once inside the beverage vessel, an elastic non-soluble housing  2100  will return to its uncompressed dimension, thus preventing it from leaving the beverage vessel during consumption of the beverage liquid. 
         [0120]    As the consumer consumes the beverage liquid from the beverage vessel, the beverage liquid passes through the non-soluble housing  2100  and over the soluble flavoring entity  2105 , thus dissolving a portion of the soluble flavoring entity  2105  and thereby mixing the intended flavoring with the beverage liquid during consumption. When the soluble flavoring entity  2105  comprises one or more flavored tablets, beads or granules, the size, surface area, shape, texture and number of the flavored tablets, beads or granules may be selected based on their dissolution rate, the amount of flavoring desired, and the like. 
         [0121]    The useful embodiment of  FIG. 22  comprises a soluble portion  2200  with flavoring, shown here in the shape of a fruit portion, stored in a tearable foil protective covering  2201 . The soluble portion may comprise, but is not limited to a tablet, gelatin, powder, capsule, liquid, paste, pellet, crystal or thixotropic substance. The tearable foil protective covering  2201  has a hole  2202  through a portion of it through which the neck of a beverage vessel can pass, where the hole  2202  serves as an external fastener for attaching to a beverage vessel by placing the hole  2202  of the tearable foil protective covering  2201  over, and hanging it on, the beverage vessel neck. The perimeter  2203  of the hole  2202  is sealed such that the soluble portion  2200  is not exposed to air and moisture. The soluble portion  2200  is manufactured to comprise an elastic, porous and foam-like structure, similar to a marshmallow. The marshmallow-like structure additionally may be impregnated with a soluble flavoring. A useful alternative is where the flavoring source is a non-soluble, elastomeric, porous structure with a soluble flavoring added, where the soluble flavoring is added by such techniques including but not limited to being added by impregnation, coating, injecting and placing the soluble flavoring in an interior cavity. The soluble portion may comprise, including coated with, a substance to produce effervescence when it comes into contact with the beverage liquid. The soluble portion  2200  may expand when it comes into contact with the beverage liquid. Such expansion may be the result of a porous structure hydrating. The tearable foil protective covering  2201  is sealed  2204  around the edges  2205  and sealed around the perimeter  2203  of the hole  2202 , typically using heat-activated adhesive and a heat press, and then the hole  2202 , edges  2205  and one or more perforations  2206  for breaching are die cut. The edges  2205  of  FIG. 22  are shown to meet with square corners. 
         [0122]      FIG. 23  illustrates a tearable foil protective covering  2300  with a hole  2301  placed over the neck  2302  of a beverage vessel  2303 , where the tearable foil protective covering  2300  with the hole  2301  serves as an external fastener for attaching the tearable foil protective covering  2300  to the neck  2302  of the beverage vessel  2303 . The tearable foil protective covering  2300  of  FIG. 23  has a rounded edge  2304  around the hole  2301 . The tearable foil protective covering  2300  encloses a flavoring source, typically a fruit flavoring, and typically a soluble fruit flavoring with a structure in the shape of a portion of a fruit. The flavoring source may also comprise a natural fruit portion. Except for  FIGS. 19A, 19B, 20A and 20B , any of the earlier embodiments for a flavoring source may be used to substitute for the flavoring source in  FIGS. 23 and 22 . 
         [0123]    Except for  FIGS. 19A, 19B, 20A and 20B , it should be understood that for the most part, the various flavoring sources described throughout are fungible and can be used interchangeably in the various structures described throughout. 
         [0124]    All publications and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
         [0125]    Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings of this invention that certain changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.