Abstract:
A drinking vessel is provided with a nesting reservoir system for containing and dispensing metered amounts of liquid beverage enhancer. Multiple metered doses can be dispensed, with multiple refilling of the drinking vessel. The concentrated enhancer is metered by the rotation of a knob that rotates a plunger mechanism into a reservoir volume chamber, with one rotation being calibrated to deliver a single dosage of liquid enhancer. All parts can be easily removed, cleaned and then re-used.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the field of beverage containers and, more particularly, to a reusable and portable beverage bottle adapted for the metering and blending of dosages of beverage mix therein. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Bottled water has become widely available and of dramatically increasing popularity over the past several decades. Recent estimates have a valuation of global bottle water sales of around $60 billion and a volume of more than 115,000,000 cubic meters (3.0×10 10  US gal) in 2006. Sales in the United States alone have reached around 30 billion bottles of water in 2008, with the rate of consumption having more than quadrupled between 1990 and 2005. By one estimate, approximately 50 billion bottles of water are consumed per annum in the U.S. and around 200 billion bottles globally. 
     With such popularity has come some controversy about the potential health effects of bottled water. In the United States, bottled water and tap water are regulated by different federal agencies: the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the quality of tap water. 
     Issues surrounding tap water can exist that although the Safe Drinking Water Act regulates a set maximum contaminant levels for approximately 90 contaminants that might be found in drinking water and 15 secondary maximum contaminant levels, the addition of fluoride treatment to tap water to prevent tooth decay has been a main target of controversy used to encourage bottled water distribution. Since bottled water processed with distillation or reverse osmosis lacks fluoride ions which are present in some natural ground water. In contrast, the drinking of distilled water may increase the risk of tooth decay due to a lack of this element now added to many water supplies. 
     Similarly, issues surrounding bottled water also exist. According to a 1999 NRDC study, roughly 22 percent of brands were tested in which at least one sample of bottled drinking water contained chemical contaminants at levels above strict state health limits. Some of the contaminants found in the study could pose health risks if consumed over a long period of time. The NRDC report conceded that “most waters contained no detectable bacteria, however, and the level of synthetic organic chemicals and inorganic chemicals of concern for which [they] were tested were either below detection limits or well below all applicable standards.” 1    1 Natural Resources Defense Counsel: http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/bw/bwinx.asp 
     Another rapidly growing concern evolving around bottled water is the non-sustainability surrounding the use of the plastic containers themselves in that a high percentage of the bottled water contained in plastic containers land filled after use. Additionally, although some bottled water is contained in glass, researchers believe some water in the plastic containers may leach chemicals into the water from the plastic containers. 2  Leaching of chemicals into the water is felt to be related to the plastic bottles being exposed to either low or high temperatures.  2 UPI.com “Heath News”: http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/03/27/Estrogenic-chemicals-in-bottled-water/UPI-85521238211685/?feature=global_water 
     In addition, a new trend in the bottled or tap water beverage market is the emergence of a new product category of “liquid water enhancers”. Typical of such products is the MiO™ liquid drink enhancer provided by Kraft Food Group Inc. MiO™ is a zero calorie liquid beverage mix that offers artificially sweetened beverage options in multiple flavors. Originally released by Kraft Foods in March 2011, new products, such as MiO Energy™ have been launched in 2012, and MiO FIT™ being launched this year. 
     The use of liquid water enhancers require the purchased of bottled water, or the use of tap water into reusable drinking containers. However, to date there have been no containers that have been specifically adapted such effective and efficient use. 
     Some containers are known that incorporate various mechanisms for mixing or metering a solution into a common liquid container. For example: 
     PCT International Phase Publication WO 97/16101, published in the name of Scudder, describes a container that has both a liquid and a solid, separated in different cavities. A breakable diaphragm dividing the two causes mixing when broken. This structure is designed for a self heating, or self cooling liquid container. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D649,883, issued in the name of Foster, discloses a container in which a secondary chamber is located within the base and internal to the primary contained fluid volume. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,850,043, also issued in the name of Foster, discloses a self contained mixing and dispensing container having a secondary metering chamber that dispense a metered amount of liquid through a diaphragm. 
     U.S. Patent Publication US2008/0289976, published in the name of Henry, describes a secondary mixing chamber that is attachable to the mouth of a water (or milk) bottle. Mixing is accomplished by pouring through the secondary chamber. 
     U.S. Patent Publication US2006/0113201, published in the name of Micic et al., described a drinking bottle having a flavor concentrate container. A metering means activated by a thumb screw portions concentrate into the main fluid chamber. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,066,323, issued in the name of Reisman, describes interlocking beverage mixing containers in which a mouth of a second container is threaded into the bottom of the first and forces open a seal, thereby allowing mixing between the two chambers. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,404,811, issued in the name of Cernei, discloses a similar dual threaded container. However, in this version the two chambers are separately designed units, intended to be connected as a unit and separated by a spacer until broken to use. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,368, issued in the name of Frutin, discloses a device for metering an additive into a liquid package in which a plunger releases a concentrated through a syringe like dip tube into the main liquid container. 
     U.S. Patent Publication US2002/0066679, published in the name of Moscovitz, discloses a secondary container, attachable to the mouth of a bottle, holding a flavoring concentrate through the use of a breakable barrier. A plunging mechanism breaks the barrier after connected and sealed. 
     And, U.S. Pat. No. 7,992,735, issued in the name of Bullard et al., discloses a storage and mixing container that inserts coanularly within a main chamber and releases contents when depressing a plunger mechanism. 
     It is preferable that a beverage container that is adapted and configured for the blending of liquid water enhancer into a beverage volume of water would provide for: a removable, cleanable and refillable reservoir for adding concentrated liquid to water; a system for the measured metering of multiple doses of such concentrated, thereby allowing for the main bottle to be refilled several times with water without need for refilling the reservoir; and allow for all parts to be easily removed, cleaned and reused. Consequently, a need has been felt for providing an apparatus and method which provides an improved water bottle adapted for the metering and blending of dosages of beverage mix therein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved beverage bottle 
     It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved water bottle adapted for the metering and blending of dosages of beverage mix therein. 
     Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, a beverage bottle is provided that is adapted for the metering and blending of dosages of beverage within a container such as a water bottle. A storage and metering assembly that integrates with a sealing lid of the water bottle is formed of three basic components formed to nest within the water bottle. These are a reservoir cup; a removable plunger assembly; and a main lid assembly. The assembly receives liquid beverage enhancer in a multiple dose volume. The plunger assembly is formed to be nestingly received within the reservoir cup such that a sealing stopper terminating at a lower end by a plunger head is pulled into the reservoir every time an upper plunger knob is turned. The plunger head is designed to be sealingly received within the inner volume and against the inner sidewall of the reservoir cup. Upon one direction of rotation the sealing stopper is drawn down into the reservoir cup and thereby causes displacement of this metered volume through a diaphragm valve or other type of one way valving mechanism. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a for a beverage container that allows for metering of multiple doses of liquid water enhancer into a drinking water reservoir. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide for such a metering and mixing container that can deliver measured, multiple doses of concentrate, thereby allowing the main drinking volume to be refilled with water several times. 
     It is another object to provide a container having a drinking straw that is integrated into the container as a cap at the top of the container is removed from its closed position. 
     It is yet another object to provide a container having a removable, cleanable and refillable reservoir for adding concentrated liquid to a volume of beverage. 
     A further feature of this invention is to provide a mechanism that can be easily removed, cleaned and then reused. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to enable such a mechanism that is adaptable to be incorporated in existing bottled water bottles for disposable use. 
     Further features of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a right side elevation of a water bottle straw cap according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is front elevational view thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a left side elevational view thereof; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view thereof; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view thereof; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional elevational view taken along line VI-VI of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded cross sectional view of  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 8 a    through  FIG. 8 d    are partial exploded schematic views illustrating steps  1  though  4  of the operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures. 
     1. Detailed Description of the Figures 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1-6 , a portable beverage container, generally noted as  10 , is provided for the reusable metering and blending of dosages of beverage mix into a volume of drinking beverage according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As should be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the relevant art, in hindsight light of the present teachings, that the preferred embodiment as shown is utilized in a water bottle configuration having a water bottle  12  sealingly closed by a cap  14  incorporation a drinking spout  16  and draw tube or straw  18  intended for multiple, refilled use. However, such a skilled person, in light of the present teachings, should also understand that such a selection of design merely supports the intended use, and that the teachings and innovations provided herein may also be adapted for use with other types of beverage containers including, but not limited to, to those disposable water bottled provided with prepackaged, retail bottled water. In light of these examples, the water bottle  18  is shown for receiving a volume of beverage liquid such as water (not shown). The dip tube or straw  18  are intended to provide fluid communication to the spout  16  and allow access by the user by creating suction, rather than by inverting the entire assembly  10 . Such a means and mechanism are in way intended to be limiting, and in such a configuration the spout  16  is incorporated within the cab assembly  16 , along with a beverage enhancer storage and metering assembly  20 . 
     The storage and metering assembly  20  is intended for containing a liquid water enhancer such as, for example, the MiO™ liquid drink enhancer as provided by Kraft Food Group Inc., or other functionally similar or equivalent products or product line extension of the type intended to be mixed or blended with a separately metered volume of a beverage fluid. It is assumed that the separately metered volume of beverage fluid could be refilled with a beverage fluid such as, for example, water several times without refilling the storage and metering assembly  20 . As such, it is assumed that the volume for storage of beverage enhancer is smaller than the volume of the beverage fluid. 
     As shown in greater detail in  FIG. 6  and in conjunction with  FIG. 7 , the storage and metering assembly  20  if formed of three basic components formed to nest within the water bottle  12 : a reservoir cup  22 ; a removable plunger assembly  30 ; and a main lid assembly  40 . The assembly  20  is adapted for receiving a volume liquid beverage enhancer capable of multiple doses with a reservoir cup  22 . The reservoir cup  22  has an inner sidewall forming a threading  26 , as well as a vertically linear guide  28 . The plunger assembly  30  is formed to be nestingly received within the reservoir cup  22  and has a sealing stopper  32  terminating at a lower end by a plunger head  34 . The plunger head  34  is designed to be sealingly received within the inner volume and against the inner sidewall of the reservoir cup  22 . The outer circumferential edge  36  of the plunger head  34  is received between adjacent threads  26  when the sealing stopper  32  is rotated. Further, upon one direction of rotation the sealing stopper  32  is drawn down into the reservoir cup  22  and thereby causes displacement of any fluid volume therein through a diaphragm valve  29  or other type of one way valving mechanism. An index guide  38 , formed into and protruding from the sidewalls of the sealing stopper  32 , nests into and is guided by the vertically linear guide  28 . In such a configuration, the rotation of the sealing stopper  32  by a knob  39  terminating the upper end of the stopper  32  is used to meter a displaced volume of contained liquid from the reservoir cup  22 . 
     The reservoir cup  22  fits down within the main lid assembly  40 . Similarly, the removable plunger assembly  30  is retained by the upper end of the main lid assembly  40 . 
     It is envisioned that the ease of installation and subsequent removal of the entire storage and metering assembly  20  and its component reservoir cup  22 , plunger assembly  30  and a main lid assembly  40  will allow for all parts to be easily removed, cleaned and re-used. 
     2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
     By way of example, and not as a limitation, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, rotation of the knob  39  relative to the bottle  12  is used to meter liquid beverage enhancer into a beverage fluid. In this manner the multi-use volume of concentrate is ejected in measured amounts, allowing for incremental infusion to be administered directly by the user. Such a method of use of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is best described in conjunction with  FIG. 8 a  through 8 d   , in which water received and retained within the bottle  12  can be enhanced for flavor or contents. To accomplish this, the main lid assembly  40  is first inserted into the lid  14  and the reservoir cup  22  is inserted into the main lid assembly  40 . See  FIG. 8 a   , Step  1 . The reservoir cup is then filled with a volume of liquid beverage enhancer. By way of example, and not as a limitation, the use of a volume of liquid beverage enhancer intended for multiple portions of beverage is envisioned and described. 
     As show in  FIG. 8 b    (Step  2 ), the removable plunger assembly  30  is then snapped onto the main lid assembly  40  with the sealing stopper  32  inserted within the reservoir cup  22 . The device is now primed and ready for operation. Rotation fo the knob  39  one full rotation causes displacement of one metered dose of contents within the reservoir cup  22  to be discharged through the diaphragm valve  29  and into the bottle  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 c    (Step  3 ), the drinking spout  16  of this particular design selection is pivotally affixed to the lid  14 , and so the spout  16  is pivoted closed to further nest within the knob  39  to thereby function as a “lock” and otherwise prevent unintended additional rotation of the knob  39  (and subsequent release of additional fluid concentrate). 
     As finally shown in  FIG. 8 d    (Step  4 ), each time the water bottle  12  is refilled the knob can be turned one additional rotation in order to release a subsequent metered amount of beverage enhancer contents. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.