WO2011049534A2

WO2011049534A2 - Container containing separated liquids

Info

Publication number: WO2011049534A2
Application number: PCT/TH2010/000027
Authority: WO
Inventors: Romchat Sangkavatana
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-10-20
Filing date: 2010-08-03
Publication date: 2011-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-20
Also published as: WO2011049534A3

Abstract

A container containing various liquids, which will mix after opening. The following invention has a hollow tube (inner container) fixed to the outer container. The hollow tube contains the second liquid, which is separated from the first liquid in the outer container. When opening the container, the second liquid in the hollow tube will be dispensed and mix with the first liquid in the outer container. After removing the hollow tube, users may also consume the mixed liquid by using the hollow tube as a straw.

Description

CONTAINER CONTAINING SEPARATED LIQUIDS

A container which contains two types of liquid which is separate, and will mix once the container has been opened. The outer container holds a first liquid (such as a still or carbonated mixer) and hollow tube inner container holds a second liquid (such as alcoholic or a flavored concentrate).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention related to containers; in particular beverage containers for containing different liquids which is separate, and will mixed once the container has been opened. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The liquid container which is used wisely nowadays have similar appearance and utility to my invention, for instance:

The U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,564 given to Cohen Joel and Cohen Esther R, reveals a baby bottle with nipple and flexible straw (FIG.4). This invention has a flexible straw mounted to the bottle, which is connected to the nipple. The only function of the straw is to help with fluid consumption.

The U.S. Pat. No. 4,153,170 given to Aquarian Star T, reveals an apparatus for weaning children (FIG.5). This invention has a straw mounted to the nipple, which can then be inserted into the bottle. The function of the straw is to help with fluid consumption, as well as teaching the child to ingest liquids through a straw.

The U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,785 given to Turner JR., Dan B and Doucet, JR., Richard, reveals a beverage bottle (FIG.6). This invention has a mini-buoyant chamber in which it is to be placed is on the exterior of the straw. The function of this buoyant is for advertising message to be placed on the exterior of the mini-container.

The appearances of these containers are similar to my new invention.

However, the main difference is that that the new container contains two types of liquids. Containers in past inventions only contain one type of liquid. The tube embodied inside the container only has one role to help users with easier

consumption. From the past inventions, I have invented a new container, where two types of liquid are separate by a tube. The liquid will both mix once the user open the container. The U.S. Pat No. 7,299,936 given to Daljit C N G Singh reveals beverage bottle having inner and outer containers for holding separate liquids (FIG. 7). The inner container holds a first liquid and the space between the outer container and the inner container holds a second liquid. The inner container is twisted along its length to resist the flow of the first liquid to ensure that if the contents are consumed directly from the beverage bottle. The invention has been designed especially for alcohol beverages which serves the purpose of the alcoholic spirit and the mixer, that are kept separate until the contents of the beverage bottle are poured or dispensed. The resultant "alcopop" beverage will taste like it has just been freshly mixed.

The difference of this invention to my new invention is that the existed invention consist of a built-in container with a twisted function to separate liquids, whereas the new invention has a hollow tube container (like straw) to separate liquids. Furthermore, the only role of the inner container is to dispense the liquid into the outer container. In the new invention, the hollow tube may also be removed from the container, and use as a straw to consume the liquid.

BACKGROUND ART

Beverage bottles containing straws attached to or within the bottle contents have been know at least since the following patents:

DE Pat. No. 102,007,050,000 T. LE

U.S. Pat. No. 2,007,029,334 P. S. BAGLEY

CN Pat. No. 201,136,659 B. LU

U.S. Pat. No. 2,006,060,556 J. LEE

JP Pat. No. 2,005,067,658 H. DATE

JP Pat. No. 2,005,015,043 T. TAKAHASHI

JP Pat. No. 2,004,238,024 K. SEP Δ

JP Pat. No. 2,003,205,974 M. WA ³ ABE

JP Pat. No. 2,002,046,777 S. SUZUKI

CN Pat. No. 2,452,941 C. LINGAO

G.B. Pat. No. 2,350,598 J. R. GODDIN, J. R. J. GODDIN, D. J. C. GODDIN

JP Pat. No. 2,001,061,630 H. AKAZAWA

KR Pat. No. 20,040,007,361 BAIK, K. IN, CHOE, S. JUNG

CN Pat. No. 2,390,834 Z. XIAOHONG

CN Pat. No. 2,397,063 L. GAN CN Pat. No. 237,558 L. JIANHUI

Beverage bottles containing containers or compartments attached and will mix together have been know at least since the following patents:

JP Pat. No. 2,010,018,281 T. TSURU

U.S. Pat. No. 2010,044,254 J. ROMEO

Container which contains two different substances have been know at least since the following patents:

JP Pat. No. 2,008,150,101 M. UEDA

Container for dispensing contents into another container have been known at least the following patents:

U.S. Pat. No. 2,009,120,528 J. M. FISHER, D. R. BROCK DANIEL

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a liquid container containing separated liquids, and will mix once the container has been opened. The aim of the invention is to introduce a container with new utility design; a container containing two types of liquids separated by a hollow tube (inner container). The outer container contains a first liquid and the hollow tube holds a second liquid embodied in the outer container. When user opens the container cap and remove the hollow tube, the second liquid will be dispensed and mix with the first liquid in the outer container. The advantage of this invention that is that the hollow tube can be used as a straw to consume the mixed liquid as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the front elevation view a container contains various liquids showing my new design thereof;

FIG. 2 is a close-up view of the liquid container thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cap of the liquid container thereof;

FIG. 4 is a container which has already been invented

FIG. 5 is a container which has already been invented

FIG. 6 is a container which has already been invented

FIG.7 is a container which has already been invented DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. Without departing from the generality of the invention disclosed herein and without limiting the scope of the invention, the discussion that follows will refer to the invention as depicted in the drawings. An embodiment of a hollow tube (4) containing the first liquid (5), in a standard beverage container (1) containing the second liquid (2), with the principles of the present invention is shown in FIG 1, 2 and 3. The container cap (3) is secured to the outer container (1). The container cap (3) includes a centre hole (8) to fit the top base of the hollow tube (inner container). The base of the outer container (6) includes a bulge (7) to fit the bottom base of the hollow tube. Therefore, the hollow tube (4) will be fixed between the cap (3) and the bottom of the outer container in FIG. 2 and will not slip out during transportation.

The detail of the container cap (3) is defined in FIG. 3 and the detail of the bottom of the outer container (6) is defined in FIG. 2.

The hollow tube (4) contained a predetermined quantity of soluble material (5). The soluble material (5) can be provided as a dry or powdered mix or a liquid concentrate, or any desired concentrate to be mixed with a potable beverage such as water, milk, juice, or alcohol, which is contained in the main container (1). The soluble material (5) can be provided any substance capable of being dissolved or mixed with a liquid for consumption. Examples of such substances include, but are not limited to, flavorings such as drink mix or chocolate milk concentrate, vitamins or energy supplements, and medicaments.

The hollow tube (4) is secured to the container cap (3). In the illustrated example, the top of the hollow tube is connected to the centre hole of the cap (8) via snap-fit connection. The snap-fit connection prevents leaking of liquid inside outer container and separates the first liquid (5) from second liquid (2), while the cap is closed.

The bottom of the hollow tube (6) is secured to the bulge of the container(7) via rotatable or snap-fit method. The bulge is sufficiently rigid to withstand tightening of the cap (3) onto the outer container (1) within normal limits.

When the container cap (3) is removed, the hollow tube (4) containing the second liquid (5), would sit tightly on the bulge (7) at the bottom of the outer container. By removing the hollow tube (4), the second liquid (5) will be dispensed and mixed with the first liquid (2). Once the liquid has been mixed, the hollow tube (4) may also be used as a straw. The second liquid (5) will not leak from the hollow tube (4) while the cap is closed (3) with the outer container (1). The user can shake the container (1) as necessary or desirable to ensure mixing of soluble material (5) with the liquid in the outer container (2), and resultant mixed liquid can be consumed as usual.

The hollow tube has approximately the same length as the container (1). It may be produced in different measurements to correspond with dimension of the container of different content sizes.

The cap in FIG.3 is different from controversial bottle cap design as it has a hole (8) to fit the top base of the hollow tube (4). The outer container (1 ) is different from a controversial bottle design as it has a bulge (7) at the middle bottom end of the container, designed to fit the bottom end of the hollow tube.

The outer container (1) maybe made of conventional glass bottle material known in the art of producing container for beverages. The hollow tube (4) may be made of a hard plastic. These elements may also be fabricated from other material to suit specific purposes. However, it is contemplated that fabricating both containers from conventional glass or plastic material will provide particular advantage.

While this invention has been described in connection with the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out his invention, the preferred embodiments described and shown are for purposes of illustration only, and are not to be construed as constituting any limitations of the invention. Modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and all modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims to be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the particular combinations of some or all of them herein disclosed and claimed and it is 0

distinguished from the prior art in these particular combinations of some or all of its structures for the functions specified.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, that would be deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIM What I claim as my invention:

1. The container, which appear to look like beverage bottles, comprising of an outer container (1) to hold the first liquid, and a hollow tube (4) within the outer container (2) for holding a second liquid (5), such that the first and second liquids are kept separate until they are dispensed.

2. The container according to claim 1, where the hollow tube (4) is fixed between the top container cap (3) and the bottom of the container (6).

3. The container according to claim 2, when the hollow tube (4) has been removed, will allow the second liquid (5) to be dispensed and mixed with the first liquid (2).

4. A container according to claim 3, where the top and the bottom base of the hollow tube (4) is sealed to keep the first and second liquids separate, until the hollow tube has been removed.

5. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the hollow tube (4) is secured to the container cap (3).

6. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the hollow tube (4) is secured to the base of the outer container (6).

7. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the hollow tube (4) is secured to the base of the outer container (6) by means of a bulge or supporting collar (6) via rotatable, non-rotatable or snap-fit locking method.

8. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the hollow tube (4) has approximately the same length as the outer container (1).

9. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the hollow tube (4) has a circular, rectangular, square or triangular cross-section.

10. A container according to any preceding claim, where the outer container (1) is formed of glass or a plastics material.

11. A container according to any preceding claim, where the hollow tube (4) is formed of glass or a plastics material.

12. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer and inner containers (1,4) are transparent.