Abstract:
A sports bottle blender is disclosed for use with a mixing apparatus to blend mixed drinks. The sports bottle has a top with a closable opening therein such as a spout. A blade assembly is positioned at the bottom of the sports bottle extending into the sports bottle cavity. When the sports bottle is positioned on a mixing apparatus, such as a blender, the blade assembly operatively engages the blender such that operation of the blender causes the blade assembly to rotate. The rotation of the blade assembly mixes the ingredients in the sports bottle. The lower portion of the sports bottle is preferably detachable from the upper portion to provide easy access to the blade assembly for cleaning.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/490,124, entitled “DRINK BOTTLE WITH INTEGRATED MIXING BLADES,” filed on Jul. 25, 2003. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a beverage container and more particularly to a beverage container having integrated mixing blades adapted for use with a blender apparatus.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     It is generally known to integrate fixed mixing blades inside a beverage container. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,965,274 to Brillis shows stationary mixing blades mounted within coffee cup. It is also known to use magnetic forces to rotate a metal rod placed loosely within a mixing container, typically for mixing chemicals. Examples of such mixers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,466,468 to Neal and U.S. Pat. No. 3,245,665 to Steel.  
         [0004]     The prior art also includes pitchers and cups with stirrers mounted inside the containers and actuated by self-contained motors, typically located at the bottom of the container. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,084 to Calhoun for stirring coffee and U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,579 to Sampson for stirring the contents of a pitcher. The patent to Calhoun also teaches a cup having a blade that can be manually actuated by inserting one&#39;s finger into an opening in a disk located underneath the cup and rotating the disk. The disk is connected by a shaft to the mixing blades, which causes the mixing blades to rotate when the disk is rotated.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,692,830 and 5,885,431, both to Costanzo, are directed to similar mixing devices comprising a tumbler-type container with a whisk rotatably mounted inside a container. The tumbler-type container is placed on a motor housing unit that is then placed on a tray, which provides electrical power to the motor housing unit. The motor disposed in the motor housing unit is actuated by a pressure switch when the container is placed on the motor housing unit. However, this design requires a special device for actuating the mixing blades. In addition, both patents teach the placement of the container in a recess on the top surface of the motor housing unit so the container will actuate the motor using a pressure switch.  
       SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0006]     A sports bottle blender is disclosed for use with a mixing apparatus to blend mixed drinks. The sports bottle has a top with a closable opening therein such as a spout. A blade assembly is positioned at the bottom of the sports bottle extending into the sports bottle cavity. When the sports bottle is positioned on a mixing apparatus, such as a blender, the blade assembly operatively engages the blender such that operation of the blender causes the blade assembly to rotate. The rotation of the blade assembly mixes the ingredients in the sports bottle. The lower portion of the sports bottle is preferably detachable from the upper portion to provide easy access to the blade assembly for cleaning. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a partial cut-away view of a preferred embodiment of the drinking bottle of the present;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 ′- 2 ′ of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a drinking bottle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention as placed on a blender apparatus. 
     
    
       [0010]     Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the specification.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]     The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.  
         [0012]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the present invention is a rigid or semi-rigid plastic drink bottle  10 , also known as a sports bottle, for use in drinking water, juice, shakes or the like. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drink bottle  10  includes a lid  12  having a nozzle  14  through which the contents of the drink bottle can be ejected by squeezing the bottle. In another preferred embodiment, the nozzle  14  can be replaced with a straw inserted through an aperture in the lid  12 . The lid can be integrally attached to the drink bottle body  15  or can be removably attached thereto. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drink bottle is composed of high-density polyethylene plastic material.  
         [0013]     The mixing blade assembly  16  is preferably incorporated into the interior cavity of the drink bottle. In the illustrated embodiment, the blade assembly  16  is rotatably mounted to the bottom of the bottle with a substantially watertight seal, such as utilized with blender containers or other similar devices. However, the blade assembly  16  can be located on a side or top of the drink bottle if desired. When rotated, the mixing blade assembly  16  is designed to mix the contents of the drink bottle  10 , much like a blender.  
         [0014]     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a household kitchen appliance, such as a blender or food processor  18 , actuates the mixing blade assembly  16  of the drink bottle  10 . With certain appliances, an adapter may be required to hold the drink bottle  10  in place during mixing. For example, the adapter may be securely mounted to the appliance  18  and configured to create a receptacle for receiving and holding the drink bottle  10  while being actuated by the appliance. In certain configurations, the drink bottle  10  may include outward protrusions designed to be urged against the adapter or a portion of the appliance to prevent rotational movement of the bottle when the appliance is actuated. Such protrusions may take the form of a notched pattern (or any other suitable pattern), disposed on the bottom of the drink bottle, similar to the bottom of a typical blender container.  
         [0015]     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the blade assembly  16  is adapted to operatively engage the spindle of the motor of a known blender apparatus. With reference to  FIG. 2 , the blade assembly  16  preferably comprises shaft  22  having a first end  21  and a second end  23 . A plurality of blades  20  are attached at the first end  21  of shaft  22 . A cap  24  is attached at the second end  23  of shaft  22 . The cap  24  is dimensioned and shaped to receive the spindle of the blender apparatus. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cap  24  includes fins  26  with a recess  27  for engaging the spindle.  
         [0016]     The shaft  22  of the mixing blade assembly extends through an aperture in the bottom of the drink bottle, which is sealed by a rubber gasket that surrounds the shaft  22 . The blade assembly is preferably made of a lightweight material such as plastic. The size and configuration of the individual blades  20  may be based, at least in part, on the size and shape of the drink bottle. In addition, the blade assembly may have any suitable number of individual blades  20 .  
         [0017]     The blade assembly  16  is preferably configured for use in mixing powdered drinks and shakes. In this regard, once the constituents of the powdered drink or shake are placed within the drink bottle  10 , the drink bottle is placed on the appliance  18  so that the blade assembly  16  couples to the spindle  32 . When the blade assembly  16  engages spindle  32 , the actuation of the appliance  18  causes the rotation of the blade assembly  16 . Once the appliance is turned off, then the drink bottle  10  can be removed from the mixing appliance and the contents immediately consumed without transfer to another container.  
         [0018]     Advantageously, a drink mixed within the drink bottle  10  can be mixed within and consumed from a single container. This reduces the number of items that must be cleaned in association with the preparation of a powder drink or shake, which not only reduces the time and effort required to prepare the drink and then clean up, it also conserves energy because fewer dishes need to be washed.  
         [0019]     To facilitate the cleaning of the drink bottle after the contents have been drunk, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the body  15  of the drink bottle  10  comprises a lower portion  40  that is detachable from the upper portion  42 . The lower portion  40  preferably houses the mixing blade assembly  16 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the upper edge  44  of the lower portion is externally threaded. The external threads correspond to and engage internal threads on the upper portion  42  of the drink bottle body  15 . The upper portion  42  and lower portion  40  sealingly mate so that liquid does not seep out during the blending process. When the blending process is finished, the drink bottle  10  is removed from the appliance  18  and the contents of the drink bottle  10  are consumed directly from the bottle  10 . To clean the bottle  10 , the lower portion  40  is rotated with respect to the upper portion  42 , to unthread and disengage the lower portion  40  from the upper portion  42 . Separating the lower portion  40  from the upper portion  42  provides easier access to the mixing blade assembly  16  and thus. enables the user to better clean the blade assembly  16 . Although the lower portion  40  is described as threadingly engaged with the upper portion  42 , it is envisioned that the lower portion  40  can engage the upper portion  42  using any known interlocking device.  
         [0020]     A preferred method of blending and consuming a mixed a beverage in accordance with the present invention is now described. To blend a desired mixed drink, the lower portion  40  of the drink bottle body  10  is removed. The drink bottle  10  is turned upside down such that the nozzle  14  is positioned at the bottom, closest to the floor. The drink ingredients are placed into the drink bottle cavity. The nozzle should be closed to prevent the beverage ingredients from leaking out.  
         [0021]     After the drink ingredients have been placed in the drink bottle cavity, the lower portion  40  is refastened to the upper portion  42 . The drink bottle  10  is then turned right side up such that the nozzle  14  is positioned at the top of the drink bottle  10  and the drink bottle is positioned on the appliance  18  for mixing. The mixing blade assembly  16  engages the spindle  32  of the appliance  18  and the actuation of the appliance  18  causes the mixing blade assembly to blend the ingredients in the drink bottle together to form a mixed drink.  
         [0022]     After the blended drink has been consumed, to clean the drink bottle, the drink bottle is turned upside down to prevent any remaining contents from spilling out during the removal of the lower portion  40 . The lower portion  40  is then unfastened from the upper portion  42  of the drink bottle  10 . The lower portion  40  and upper portion  42  can be cleaned separately. By separating the lower portion  40  from the upper portion  42 , direct access is provided to the mixing blade assembly  16 , which is typically the component that needs the most attention during cleaning. If the lower portion  40  is not separable from the upper portion  42 , the drink bottle would need a removable top (not shown). During the cleaning process, the user would have to reach the mixing blade assembly  16  by removing the top and accessing the blade assembly  16  through the opening at the top of the drink bottle  10 . Because the blade assembly  16  is positioned at the opposite end, the user would probably need a long-handled brush or other tool to effectively clean the blade assembly  16 . By providing the removable lower portion  40 , the present invention enables the user to clean the blade assembly  16  without the need for a long-handled brush or other tool.  
         [0023]     When the upper portion  42  of the drink bottle  10  is cleaned, the nozzle  14  on the lid  12  can be opened to allow water to run through the nozzle  14  and thus, clean the nozzle.  
         [0024]     Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.