WO2025237505A1 - Drinking attachment for connection to a drinking container, drinking device comprising the drinking attachment, and flavour unit for a drinking attachment - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) for connection to a drinking container (50), the attachment having a flavour unit (200, 201, 202) for the retronasal perception of flavours. The present invention further relates to a drinking device (300, 301) comprising the drinking attachment (100, 101) and a drinking container (50). The invention also relates to a flavour unit (200, 201, 202) for a drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) for the retronasal perception of flavours.

Description

Drinking attachment for connection to a drinking container, drinking device comprising the drinking attachment and aroma unit for a drinking attachment

[0001] The present invention relates to a drinking spout for connection with a drinking container with an aroma unit for the retronasal absorption of aromas. The present invention further relates to a drinking device comprising the drinking spout and a drinking container. The invention also relates to an aroma unit for a drinking spout for the retronasal absorption of aromas.

State of the art

[0002] Drinking devices are known from the prior art which, when drinking water, provide an aroma for orthonasal or retronasal absorption to improve the taste. In orthonasal absorption, the aroma substances are released directly in front of the nose, inhaled during drinking, and thus smelled. In retronasal absorption, the aroma substances are ingested with the liquid in the mouth and from there pass through the pharynx into the nasal cavity, where they are then smelled.

[0003] From DE 10 2018 003 669 A1 and EP 3 944 792 A1, drinking devices are known which each include an aroma unit for the retronasal absorption of aromas. The drinking devices always have a drinking straw through which, when sucked, the aroma substances are drawn from an aroma unit and thus absorbed into the oral cavity along with the liquid. The drinking straw is essential for generating the necessary negative pressure required for the absorption of the aroma substances from the aroma unit.

[0004] However, such drinking devices with a straw suffer from several disadvantages. On the one hand, the straw is difficult to clean, or cleaning is associated with considerable effort, and thus poses a potential health hazard with frequent use, as bacteria and germs can accumulate in the straw. For example, frequent use (e.g., by different people) with inadequate hygiene can promote the development of tooth decay.

[0005] Furthermore, such drinking devices with a straw are not flexible in their use. The length of the straw must always be precisely adapted to the size or height of the drinking container in order to ensure correct function. Using such drinking devices as drinking attachments with standard glass or PET bottles of various sizes and shapes is therefore not possible. Instead, these drinking devices are always used in conjunction with a specially adapted drinking container or as part of a pre-assembled system, which in turn requires the production of these containers and thus places an additional burden on the environment.

[0006] In addition, the aroma units presented in the prior art, which generally contain volatile aroma substances in the form of a powder, gel, liquid, etc., all suffer from the problem that the aroma release is not constant over the entire lifetime of the aroma unit, but decreases sharply with increasing use, even though residues of aroma substances are still present in the aroma unit.

Disclosure of the invention

[0007] The present invention therefore aims to provide a drinking attachment which is flexible - especially in conjunction with a variety of drinking containers - and which also allows for easier and better cleaning.

[0008] The invention solves the stated problem by means of the drinking attachment according to independent claim 1.

[0009] According to one aspect, the drinking attachment according to the invention has an inner and an outer surface. The drinking attachment according to the invention is designed for use with a drinking container, and can therefore be connected to and detached from it. The drinking attachment serves to enable the drinking of fluids or liquids from the drinking container and to enrich the liquid with an aroma. For this purpose, the drinking attachment has an aroma unit which contains, in particular, a volatile aroma substance and releases this substance to the mouth during drinking when the drinking attachment is in operation, and is then absorbed retronasally.

[0010] The inside of the drinking spout refers to those parts of the drinking container that face the inside of the drinking container (in the case that the drinking spout is connected to a drinking container) and can therefore come into contact with a liquid in the drinking container. The outside, on the other hand, refers to the parts of the drinking container that face the outside of the drinking container and therefore cannot come into contact with a liquid inside the drinking container. [0011] According to one aspect of the invention, the drinking attachment has a drinking section, an inner section and a connecting section.

[0012] The drinking section has a mouthpiece opening which is designed to dispense liquid and/or flavoring into the mouth. In particular, the drinking section has a mouthpiece which includes the mouthpiece opening.

[0013] The inner section is arranged on the inside of the drinking spout and has a drinking container opening and an air outlet opening. The drinking container opening is designed to draw liquid from the area on the inside of the drinking spout (for example, from a drinking container if it is connected to the drinking spout). The air outlet opening, in turn, is designed to supply air to the area on the inside of the drinking spout.

[0014] Finally, the connecting section is designed to establish a connection with a drinking container, such that when the drinking spout is connected to a drinking container, the inner section comes into contact with the contents of the drinking container (i.e., the inner section is exposed to the liquid in the drinking container). Furthermore, the connecting section is designed to seal the drinking container with the drinking spout against the outside when connected to a drinking container, thus creating a tight connection between the drinking container and the drinking spout.

[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, the drinking attachment has a first fluid channel which connects the mouthpiece opening to the drinking container opening. The liquid taken in from the inside of the drinking container opening can thus be introduced into the first fluid channel during drinking and dispensed through the mouthpiece opening to a mouth.

[0016] According to one aspect of the invention, the drinking spout has a first air channel and an air inlet opening on the outside, wherein the air inlet opening is connected to the air outlet opening in the inner section via the first air channel. An airflow entering through the air inlet opening can therefore be guided via the first air channel to the air outlet opening in the inner section and exit again from it. This can be particularly helpful when dispensing liquid via the first fluid channel, since, especially in the case of a tightly sealed drinking container, the dispensed volume must be compensated for to counteract the resulting negative pressure, and this can be easily achieved by supplying an airflow. Thus, a simple and reliable extraction of liquid through the mouthpiece opening is ensured.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, the aroma unit is permeable to air and has an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening. In a first operating state, the aroma unit is coupled to the drinking spout in such a way that an airflow exiting the aroma unit via the air outlet opening flows at least partially through the air inlet opening on the outside of the drinking spout into the first air channel. Thus, if, for example, air is drawn in through the air outlet opening on the inside by a resulting negative pressure, this drawn-in air can be guided through the aroma unit via the coupling between the aroma unit and the drinking spout and absorb flavoring substances there. The air thus enriched with flavoring substances can then enter the mouth together with the liquid and be absorbed retronasally to improve the taste of the liquid.

[0018] If the drinking attachment has a membrane on the inner section which, when the mouthpiece opening (and thus, among other things, the first fluid line) is subjected to negative pressure, allows fluid to enter the drinking container opening and, when the mouthpiece opening is subjected to ambient pressure, seals the drinking container opening against the inside, a technically simple, flexibly usable drinking attachment can be created which does not require the use of a drinking straw.

[0019] Therefore, active sucking at the mouthpiece opening is required to dispense liquid; otherwise, the membrane seals the drinking container opening from the inside, preventing any liquid from leaking out. This also has the advantage of reliably preventing unintentional leakage, whereas with drinking devices known from the prior art that use a straw, liquid can always leak from the straw, for example, when tilting. Active sucking at the mouthpiece opening creates a vacuum, which on the one hand draws liquid from the drinking container opening into the first fluid channel, and on the other hand is transmitted to the air outlet opening on the inside of the drinking attachment, allowing air enriched with flavorings to be drawn in from the flavoring unit during operation. The complete elimination of a straw also makes the drinking attachment easy to clean.

[0020] In general, it is agreed that a drinking container within the meaning of the present invention is any form of vessel or bottle which can be tightly closed with some kind of closure. The inventive The drinking spout can represent or replace the closure of the drinking container, whereby the connection between the drinking spout and the drinking container can be either fixed and permanent or detachable.

[0021] In general, it is further mentioned that the drinking attachment according to the invention is suitable for use with any liquids that are commonly consumed as beverages. In particular, the drinking attachment is suitable for flavoring water or carbonated water.

[0022] Further embodiments of the drinking spout result from the dependent patent claims and the features and embodiment variants described below.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the membrane can be an impermeable membrane which has at least one slit in the area of the drinking container opening. The membrane can be made of a flexible, liquid-impermeable material, such as an elastomer, and create permeability under pressure through the slit. The slit is preferably closed at ambient pressure, so that the parts of the membrane opposite each other at the slit touch and seal against each other. When the membrane is subjected to pressure or vacuum, it opens or deforms in the area of the slit and can thus allow liquid to pass through. A structurally simple and reliable drinking spout can therefore be created.

[0024] According to a further embodiment, the slot is designed as a cross slot. This creates four adjacent corners in the membrane, which can reliably deflect in the direction of flow in front of the liquid under pressure, thus making the membrane permeable. A particularly controlled dispensing of liquid during suction at the mouthpiece opening can thus be achieved.

[0025] According to a further embodiment, the membrane in the area of the drinking container opening can also be semipermeable, or permeable under pressure.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the membrane can extend over the entire inner section of the drinking spout, or seal it against the inside (i.e., also against a possibly connected drinking container).

[0027] According to one embodiment, the drinking attachment can have a second air channel which is designed to direct at least part of the airflow exiting the air outlet opening on the inner section to the mouthpiece opening. This second air channel allows at least some of the flavor-enriched air to be directed straight to the mouthpiece opening, without it first entering the interior of the drinking spout – or, if the spout is connected to a drinking container, the interior of the container. By directly supplying flavored air to the mouthpiece opening, the concentration of flavorings can be increased, thus enhancing the taste experience.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the second air channel can be routed parallel to the first fluid channel and, in particular, open into the first fluid channel before the mouthpiece opening. The routing of the second air channel together with the first fluid channel can thus be structurally simple, for example, by designing both channels as parts of a larger tube, whereby both channels can merge into the first fluid channel before the mouthpiece opening. A user therefore sees only a single channel in a mouthpiece, which in particular allows for the creation of a drinking attachment with an appealing appearance.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the membrane can have a recess in the area of the air outlet opening in the inner section. This recess ensures that an airflow exiting the air outlet opening on the inner section at least partially reaches the inside of the drinking spout—that is, in the case of the drinking spout being connected to a drinking container, the interior of the drinking container, where the air can compensate for the volume loss caused by the removal of liquid. This allows for the creation of a drinking spout with a comfortable and consistent suction resistance, which facilitates easy drinking while simultaneously ensuring the reliable delivery of flavor-enriched air to the mouth.

[0030] According to a further embodiment, the recess in the membrane can be arranged congruently with the air outlet opening. This ensures that the airflow passing through the air outlet opening is reliably (partially) guided through the recess in the membrane, thereby further optimizing the suction resistance.

[0031] According to a further embodiment, the recess in the membrane can have a smaller cross-sectional area than the air outlet opening in the inner section. This allows for a reliable division of the airflow entering through the air outlet opening at the membrane. [0032] According to a further embodiment, the membrane can have a slit in the area of the air outlet opening in the inner section, which can open when pressure is applied. This also ensures that no liquid can enter the first air channel or further into the aroma unit.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the connecting section can include connecting means for permanently attaching the drinking spout to the drinking container. This allows for the creation of a particularly flexible drinking spout that can be detachably connected to a drinking container.

[0034] According to a further embodiment, the connecting means are designed as screw threads, in particular as PCO 28 threads. This allows the drinking spout to be connected particularly easily and flexibly to any commercially available bottle, e.g., a PET or glass bottle, as a drinking container. The screw thread also allows the drinking spout to be designed compactly and to be particularly lightweight and portable.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the membrane can also extend into the area of the screw thread in the connection section and simultaneously serve as a seal for the screw thread or the drinking container. A structurally simple and reliable seal between the drinking spout and the drinking container can thus be achieved.

[0036] According to one embodiment, a contact surface for the aroma unit can be formed on the outside of the drinking spout between the connecting section and the drinking section. This contact surface can be designed to simply define a position for the aroma unit so that it can be coupled to the drinking spout.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the air inlet opening can be provided on the outside of the drinking spout in the contact surface. This in turn enables a structurally simple coupling and airflow guidance between the aroma unit and the drinking spout.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the drinking section can extend cylindrically from the base. This allows for a structurally simple and intuitive design of a cylindrically projecting mouthpiece through the drinking section.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the aroma unit can be designed as a hollow cylinder and rotatably mounted on the cylindrical drinking section. The hollow cylinder shape of the aroma unit can be precisely matched to the cylindrical drinking section. The drinking section must be adapted in diameter so that it is rotatably mounted on the drinking section, but at the same time holds securely and reliably and does not unintentionally slip or fall off.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the air inlet opening of the aroma unit can be arranged on its outer hollow cylinder shell surface and the air outlet opening of the aroma unit on its hollow cylinder base surface. This allows for an airflow path through the aroma unit with particularly advantageous flow characteristics. Preferably, the air inlet opening and air outlet opening of the aroma unit are arranged radially opposite each other on the hollow cylinder, so that the longest possible airflow path within the aroma unit is achieved, which improves the contact time between the air and the flavorings and thus the enrichment of the air with the flavorings.

[0041] According to one embodiment, in the first operating state, the aroma unit can have a first rotational position and rest with its hollow cylinder base on the support surface in the first rotational position. In the first rotational position of the aroma unit, the air outlet opening of the aroma unit and the air inlet opening in the support surface overlap at least partially, thereby ensuring that the aromatized airflow from the aroma unit is introduced into the air inlet opening on the outside / in the support surface.

[0042] According to one embodiment, in a non-operating state, the aroma unit can have a second rotational position in which the aroma unit is rotated around the cylindrical drinking section relative to the first rotational position, and in which the air outlet opening of the aroma unit and the air inlet opening in the contact surface do not overlap. Due to the rotation of the aroma unit in the non-operating state, no air is drawn out of the aroma unit, and thus the airflow entering the air inlet opening on the outside is not enriched with flavorings. This creates a particularly versatile drinking spout that can easily switch between an operating state in which flavorings are delivered to the mouth and a non-operating state in which no flavorings are delivered. Furthermore, the ability to change the operating states by simply rotating the aroma unit allows for a very ergonomic drinking spout.

[0043] According to a further embodiment, in the non-operating state, the air inlet opening in the support surface can be arranged opposite the air outlet opening in the aroma unit in such a way that essentially no airflow from the The aroma unit can flow into the air inlet opening in the contact surface. This creates a non-operating state in which no aromatization occurs when liquid is drawn in through the mouthpiece opening.

[0044] For this purpose, the air outlet opening of the aroma unit can be closed in the non-operating state. This creates a non-operating state in which no aromatized air can flow out of the air outlet opening of the aroma unit.

[0045] According to a further embodiment, the air inlet opening in the contact surface can also be closed in the non-operating state, and thus no liquid can be drawn out by sucking at the mouthpiece opening. This also prevents any liquid from unintentionally escaping, thus providing a particularly ergonomic drinking attachment.

[0046] According to a further embodiment, in a second operating state, the aroma unit can have a third rotational position in which the aroma unit is rotated around the cylindrical drinking section relative to the first and second rotational positions, and in which an airflow entering the air inlet opening in the contact surface originates at most partially from the air outlet opening of the aroma unit. This can advantageously be achieved, for example, by reducing the cross-section between the aroma unit and the drinking spout through which air enriched with flavorings can flow, so that a smaller volume flow of flavoring-enriched air flows from the aroma unit into the air inlet opening in the contact surface. A particularly versatile and ergonomic drinking spout can thus be created, which can be easily switched between several operating states by rotating the aroma unit, in which different amounts of flavorings are delivered to the mouth.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the drinking spout can have a groove in its contact surface, which at one end encompasses the air inlet opening and is designed to receive a projection, in particular a hollow cylindrical one, that surrounds the air outlet opening of the aroma unit. The groove is preferably arranged (partially) circularly around the drinking section. The projection in the aroma unit can thus engage in the groove and move within the groove when the rotational position of the aroma unit changes.

[0048] According to a further embodiment, the groove can have a variable depth, with the groove having a greater depth at the end with the air inlet opening. exhibits a groove whose depth decreases from the end with the air intake opening.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the groove in the contact surface can be designed such that it closes the air outlet opening of the aroma unit in the non-operating state, in particular by the projection around the air outlet opening of the aroma unit resting on the bottom of the groove. In this way, a non-operating state can be created technically simply, in which no aromatization of the air in the drinking spout takes place.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the groove in the contact surface can be designed such that the cross-section formed between the projection around the air outlet opening of the aroma unit and the bottom of the groove is smaller than the cross-section of the air outlet opening of the aroma unit. In this way, a second operating state can be created technically easily, in which a lower degree of aromatization of the air in the drinking spout occurs than in the first operating state.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the aroma unit in the drinking attachment can be an aroma unit with a heating element according to one of claims 21 to 31.

[0052] The invention also solves the problem by means of a drinking device comprising a drinking container and a drinking attachment connected to the drinking container according to one of claims 1 to 19, or according to one of the previously described embodiments.

[0053] Insofar as the above description of the embodiment variants of the drinking attachment refers to a drinking container which can be connected to the drinking attachment, this drinking container is to be understood as part of the drinking device in the sense of the drinking device according to the invention.

[0054] The present invention also aims to provide an aroma unit for a drinking spout which enables a more reliable and constant release of flavorings over its entire lifespan.

[0055] The invention solves the stated problem by means of an aroma unit according to independent claim 21.

[0056] According to one aspect of the invention, the aroma unit has a body with an internal absorption volume which contains a volatile aroma substance. [0057] According to one aspect, the aroma unit has an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening, wherein the air inlet opening allows air to flow into the receiving volume and the air outlet opening allows air to flow out of the receiving volume. An airflow can thus be guided through the air inlet opening into the aroma unit, enriched there with flavorings, and exit the aroma unit again through the air outlet opening.

[0058] If the aroma unit also has a heating element that is thermally coupled to the aroma substance, heating the aroma substance can achieve a targeted increase in the enrichment of the air with aroma substances, thereby ensuring reliable aroma release from the aroma unit even when the fill level of aroma substances in the aroma unit is already reduced. This results in a more constant and reliable aroma release.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the heating element can be an electric heating element, and the aroma unit can have an electrical energy storage device which is connected to the electric heating element via an electrical circuit. The electrical energy storage device can be, for example, a battery, capacitor, etc. The electric heating element also enables particularly fast and reliable heating of the aroma substance. In this way, a structurally simple and cost-effective aroma unit can be created.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the aroma unit can have a switch for closing and interrupting the electrical circuit. In this way, the heating element can be controlled in a structurally simple manner and switched on and off selectively.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the switch can be electronically and/or mechanically actuated. In the case of an electronic switch, the heating element can be controlled, for example, by an electronic circuit, while a mechanically actuated switch can be operated by the user as needed. This allows for the creation of a particularly versatile aroma unit.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the aroma unit can have a control device connected to the switch, which is programmed to activate or deactivate the electrical heating element depending on control signals. Such control signals can originate from sensors or external sources and be processed by the control device. [0063] According to one embodiment, the aroma unit can have a sensor connected to the control unit, which, upon detecting an airflow in the aroma unit, sends a control signal to the control unit to activate the heating element. This creates an aroma unit that reliably and automatically activates the heating element as soon as someone requests flavored air from the aroma unit—for example, by drawing on the mouthpiece opening of a drinking device to which the aroma unit is attached. According to one embodiment, the control unit can activate the heating element for as long as the airflow continues.

[0064] According to one embodiment, the sensor can be a microphone installed in the aroma unit. The microphone can reliably record air movements in the aroma unit and transmit them to the control unit, which can be programmed to activate the heating element when air movement is detected. This can occur, for example, when a certain noise level is exceeded.

[0065] According to a further embodiment, the sensor can be a piezoelectric element installed in the aroma unit. The piezoelectric element can reliably detect pressure changes and thus air movements in the aroma unit and transmit this information to the control unit, which can be programmed to activate the heating element when air movement is detected. This can occur, for example, when a pressure change exceeds a certain level.

[0066] According to one embodiment, the aroma unit can have a fill level sensor in the intake volume, which is connected to the control unit. The control unit can also be programmed to control the amount of electrical energy supplied to the heating element depending on the fill level. Thus, at a high fill level, it can supply no or only a small amount of electrical energy to the heating element (when the control unit receives a control signal to activate the heating element). Conversely, at a low fill level, it can supply more electrical energy to the heating element to compensate for the loss of concentration in the enrichment of the air flowing through the aroma unit.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the aroma unit can have electrical contacts on the outside of the body. Through these contacts, the aroma unit can, for example, be easily connected to mating contacts on a drinking spout or drinking device and thus draw energy from it or be connected to a sensor. [0068] According to a further embodiment, the contacts can be electrically connected to the energy storage device. For example, the aroma unit can be connected to corresponding mating contacts of a charging station to charge the energy storage device.

[0069] According to one embodiment, the aroma unit can have an induction coil in its body, which is electrically connected to the energy storage device. This allows the energy storage device to be charged inductively, for example, when the aroma unit is coupled to an inductive charging unit. This charging unit can be included, for example, in a drinking spout or a drinking device.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the body of the aroma unit can be designed as a hollow cylinder. The body can also have an air inlet opening on its outer surface and an air outlet opening on the base of the hollow cylinder. This allows for an airflow pattern through the aroma unit with particularly advantageous flow characteristics. Preferably, the air inlet and air outlet openings of the aroma unit are arranged radially opposite each other on the hollow cylinder, so that the longest possible airflow path within the aroma unit is achieved, which improves the contact time between the air and the flavorings and thus the enrichment of the air with the flavorings.

[0071] According to one embodiment, an inner hollow cylinder shell surface of the body can be designed such that the body can be rotatably mounted on a cylindrical drinking section of a drinking spout, particularly in at least two rotational positions. The shape and diameter of the inner cylinder can be precisely adapted to a corresponding cylindrical counterpart in a drinking spout or drinking device, so that the aroma unit is rotatably mounted, but at the same time is held securely and reliably and does not unintentionally slip or fall off. Furthermore, it is possible for the aroma unit to be attached to the drinking spout in several defined rotational positions, thus enabling a simple and reliable change between different operating states.

[0072] According to one embodiment, the rotation positions can be formed by locking elements which are arranged on the inner hollow cylinder shell surface of the body and are designed to interact with a counter-locking element on the drinking spout or drinking device to select the rotation position. The locking elements ensure, on the one hand, a reliable selection of the rotation positions and, on the other hand, prevent the aroma unit from slipping on the drinking spout. This can be counteracted. By selecting suitable locking elements, the aroma unit can be clicked onto the drinking spout and thus held reliably.

Brief description of the characters

[0073] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. They show:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a drinking attachment and a drinking device according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a drinking attachment and a drinking device according to a second embodiment variant.

Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of a drinking spout according to a third embodiment variant,

Fig. 4 is an axonometric view of the cut-through drinking spout from Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the drinking spout from Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 shows an aroma unit according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Ways to implement the invention

[0074] The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures.

[0075] Fig. 1 shows a schematic sectional view through a drinking attachment 100 according to a first embodiment of the invention, and through a drinking device 300 according to a first embodiment of the invention comprising the drinking attachment 100.

[0076] It should be noted that for the sake of clarity and simplicity, certain details have been omitted from the schematic view. In particular, some features have been slightly modified to improve understanding.

[0077] The drinking attachment 100 is connected to a drinking container 50 as shown in Fig. 1, wherein the inside 1 of the drinking attachment 100 faces the inside of the drinking container 50, so that a liquid located in the drinking container 50 can come into fluid contact with the inside 1 of the drinking attachment 100.

[0078] The outer surface 2 of the drinking attachment 100, in turn, faces the environment and does not come into contact with the contents of the drinking container 50. [0079] The drinking attachment 100 has a drinking section 3, an inner section 4 and a connecting section 5, which connect to each other in the drinking attachment 100.

[0080] The drinking attachment 100 and the drinking container 50 are firmly connected to each other via connecting means in the connecting section 5 and the drinking container 50 forms a tight connection with the drinking attachment 100 towards the outside 2 (at least watertight at ambient pressure), which, however, has not been shown in more detail in the figures.

[0081] The drinking section 3 forms a mouthpiece with a mouthpiece opening 6 and is designed as a cylindrical tube that terminates at the mouthpiece opening 6. The mouthpiece opening is connected via a first fluid channel 8 to a drinking container opening 7, which is provided in the inner section 4 on the inside 1 of the drinking attachment 100. The first fluid channel 8 is formed by the cylindrical tube of the drinking section 3.

[0082] Furthermore, the inner section 4 also has an air outlet opening 9 through which air can flow into the drinking device 300 towards the inner side 1. The air outlet opening 9 is connected to an air inlet opening 10 on the outer side 2 of the drinking attachment 100 via a first air channel 11.

[0083] The drinking attachment 100, or the drinking device 300, has an aroma unit 200, which is permeable to air and contains a volatile flavoring agent in a receiving volume 24 inside. When air flows through the aroma unit 200, the air absorbs the volatile flavoring agent and transports it via the drinking attachment 100 into the mouth of a user, where this flavoring agent is absorbed retronasally and leads to an improvement or change in the taste of the liquid consumed from the drinking container 50.

[0084] The aroma unit 200 has an air inlet opening 12 and an air outlet opening 13, which open into the receiving volume 24 of the aroma unit 200. An airflow entering the aroma unit 200 through the air inlet opening 12 thus flows through the receiving volume 24 and exits the aroma unit 200 enriched with aroma substances through the air outlet opening 13.

[0085] In order for the flavored airflow from the flavoring unit 200 to reach the mouthpiece opening 6 and into the mouth, the flavoring unit 200 is coupled to the drinking spout 100 in such a way that the airflow exiting through the air outlet opening 13 of the flavoring unit 200 can at least partially flow in through the air inlet opening 10 on the outside 2 of the drinking spout 100. For this purpose, the flavoring unit 200 rests on a The contact surface 19 is located on the outside 2 of the drinking attachment 100, in which contact surface 19 the air inlet opening 10 is also provided.

[0086] The aroma unit 200 is also designed in a hollow cylindrical shape and rests with its hollow cylindrical base 21 on the support surface 19 and is rotatably mounted with its inner hollow cylindrical shell surface 26 on the cylindrical drinking section 3. In a first operating state, the aroma unit 200 is arranged in a first rotational position in which the air outlet opening 13 of the aroma unit 200 is located above the air inlet opening 10 in the support surface 19 – in particular, the air outlet opening 13 of the aroma unit 200 and the air inlet opening 10 in the support surface 19 are arranged congruently. The airflow exiting the aroma unit 200 can thus be reliably directed towards the inner surface 1 in the operating state.

[0087] The aroma unit 200 can also include a heating element 25 in the receiving volume 24, as well as sensors and a control unit for activating the heating element 25. Reference is made to the description of the aroma unit 201 below, which is also applicable to the aroma unit 200 unless otherwise stated herein.

[0088] A membrane 14 is provided above the inner section 4 of the drinking attachment 100, which covers the drinking container opening 7, so that no liquid can escape from the drinking container 50 into the first fluid channel 8 without applying negative pressure to the mouthpiece opening 6 – for example, by a user sucking on the mouthpiece. If the user sucks on the mouthpiece opening 6, the membrane 14 opens in the area of the drinking container opening 7 and releases liquid into the first fluid channel 8, allowing it to flow through the mouthpiece opening 6 into the user's mouth.

[0089] For this purpose, a cross-shaped slot 15 is provided in the membrane 14, in which the material ends of the membrane 14 in the area of the cross-shaped slot 15 can deform in the direction of the mouthpiece opening 6 when a vacuum is applied, thus enabling the transport of liquid through the membrane 14. The membrane 14 is made of elastomeric material and can therefore also serve as a seal between the drinking container 50 and the connecting section 5 of the drinking attachment (which, however, is only shown schematically in Fig. 1).

[0090] The membrane 14 also has a recess 17 in the area of the air outlet opening 9 on the inside 1 of the drinking spout 100, through which the air from the Air outlet opening 9 allows (aromatized) air to flow to the inside 1 or into the drinking container 50.

[0091] When liquid is drawn from the drinking container 50 by suction at the mouthpiece opening 6, a negative pressure is created on the inside 1 of the drinking attachment 100 or in the drinking container 50, which is equalized by drawing in air from the air outlet opening 9 on the inside 1. Via the air path described above in the first operating state, the air is enriched with flavoring substances by the flavoring unit 200 and the flavored air is directed into the drinking container 50. When drinking, the air with the flavoring substances then enters the mouth together with the liquid and is absorbed retronasally, thus producing the taste sensation when drinking the liquid.

[0092] Fig. 2 shows a schematic sectional view through a drinking attachment 101 according to a second embodiment of the invention, and through a drinking device 301 according to a second embodiment of the invention comprising the drinking attachment 101.

[0093] For a description of the features of the embodiment of the drinking attachment 101 and the drinking device 301 shown in Fig. 2, reference is made to the above description of the drinking attachment 100 and the drinking device 300 according to the first embodiment, which are also applicable to the drinking attachment 101 and the drinking device 301, unless otherwise stated below.

[0094] The drinking spout 101 according to the second embodiment differs from the drinking spout 100 in that the recess 17 in the membrane 14 in the area of the air outlet opening 9 on the inner side 1 has a smaller cross-sectional area than the air outlet opening 9. In addition, a second air channel 16 is provided in the drinking spout 101, which allows a portion of the airflow exiting through the air outlet opening 9 on the inner side 1 to be transported directly to the mouthpiece opening 6 without first reaching the inner side 1 of the drinking spout 101 or the interior of the drinking container 50.

[0095] This is achieved in particular by the recess 17 with reduced cross-section in the membrane 14, since part of the airflow is reflected at the membrane 14 and can thus be transported directly to the mouthpiece opening 6.

[0096] The second air channel 16 is guided parallel to the first fluid channel 8 and ends in it shortly before the mouthpiece opening 6. This allows for a reliable supply of air enriched with flavorings to the mouth of a user. [0097] Figures 3, 4 and 5 show a drinking spout 102 according to a third embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the drinking spout 102, Figure 4 an axonometric view of the drinking spout 102 cut in half, and Figure 5 a sectional view through the drinking spout 102. The drinking spout 102 includes an aroma unit 201 according to a second embodiment.

[0098] For a description of the features of the third embodiment of the drinking spout 102 shown in Figures 3 to 5, reference is made to the above description of the drinking spout 100 according to the first embodiment, which is also applicable to the drinking spout 102 unless otherwise stated below.

[0099] For a description of the features of the aroma unit 201 according to the second embodiment, reference is made to the description given below.

[0100] The drinking attachment 102 is modular in design and has an internal screw thread 18 on its connecting section 5 as a connecting means, with which the drinking attachment 102 can be attached to conventional PET or glass bottles as a drinking container 50 instead of the closure.

[0101] The membrane 14 is designed as a sealing element with a slot 15 in the area of the drinking container opening 7 and a recess in the area of the air outlet opening 9 on the inner side 1. This element is provided between the drinking attachment 102 and a drinking container 50 (e.g., a threaded PET or glass bottle) to seal them against each other. The membrane 14 has a hat-shaped protrusion 31 in the area of the drinking container opening 7, the diameter of which is adapted to the first fluid channel 8, so that it is held in an interference fit.

[0102] On its outer surface 2, the drinking spout 102 has an external thread 30, via which the drinking spout 102 can be connected to a lid 28. The lid 28 can thus be screwed onto the drinking spout 102 and protect it when not in use.

[0103] The lid 28 also has a removable handle 29. The handle 29 can therefore be replaced as desired and its appearance (color, shape, etc.) can be adapted, thus creating an individualized drinking spout 102. [0104] The lid 28 also has a receptacle 32 in which a second flavor unit 202 can be received and held as a replacement for the flavor unit 202. The flavor unit 201 on the drinking spout 102 can thus be replaced by the second flavor unit 202 if necessary, for example if the flavor unit 201 no longer contains enough flavoring agent, or if a different flavor is desired.

[0105] The drinking spout 102 has a counter-locking element 35 on the cylindrical drinking section 3, which interacts with locking elements 27 of the aroma unit 201 to hold the aroma unit on the drinking spout 102 on the one hand and to enable different rotational positions of the aroma unit 201 on the other.

[0106] Furthermore, the drinking spout 102 has a groove 33 in the contact surface 19, into which a corresponding projection 34 of the aroma unit 201 can engage. The groove 19 has different depths at various points and includes the air inlet opening 10 at one end.

[0107] In a first rotational position, in which the counter-locking element 35 interacts with a first locking element 27, the air outlet opening 13 of the aroma unit 201 is arranged congruently with the air inlet opening 10 and thus enables the first operating state in which the airflow enriched with aroma substances can flow essentially unhindered from the aroma unit 201 into the drinking attachment 102.

[0108] In a second rotation position, which is rotated relative to the first rotation position and in which the counter-locking element 35 interacts with a second locking element 27 and enables a second operating state, the air outlet opening 13 of the aroma unit 201 is now offset relative to the air inlet opening 10 and ends in the groove 33. The cross-sectional area remaining between the groove 33 and the projection 34 of the aroma unit 201 is reduced compared to the cross-sectional area of the air inlet opening 10, which in the second operating state results in a reduction of the airflow enriched with flavorings from the aroma unit 201 into the drinking spout 102.

[0109] In a non-operating state, the aroma unit 201 can also assume a rotational position where the projection 34 rests completely against the bottom of the groove 33 and the air outlet opening 13 of the aroma unit 201 is closed. This prevents air enriched with flavorings from entering the drinking spout 102 in the non-operating state.

[0110] In this context, it is noted that the aroma unit 201 does not rest tightly on the contact surface 19 of the drinking spout 102, so that (unflavored) air from outside can always flow into the air inlet opening 10. In the first In this operating state, however, the airflow through the aroma unit 201 encounters less resistance, so that the air essentially flows through the aroma unit 201. In other operating states, the air can enter partially or completely from the outside.

[0111] In Fig. 6, an aroma unit 201 according to a second embodiment is further shown.

[0112] The aroma unit 201 has a hollow cylindrical body 23 which forms an internal receiving volume 23 and contains a volatile aroma substance.

[0113] The aroma unit 201 has an air inlet opening 12 and an air outlet opening 13, which open into the receiving volume 24 of the aroma unit 201. An airflow entering the aroma unit 201 through the air inlet opening 12 thus flows through the receiving volume 24 and exits the aroma unit 201 again through the air outlet opening 13, enriched with aroma substances.

[0114] In order for the aromatized airflow from the aroma unit 201 to be directed into a drinking spout 100, 101 , 102, the aroma unit 201 can be coupled to a drinking spout 100, 101 , 102 in such a way that the airflow flowing out through the air outlet opening 13 of the aroma unit 200 can at least partially flow in through the air inlet opening 10 on the outside 2 of a drinking spout 100, 101 , 102.

[0115] Due to the hollow cylindrical shape of the aroma unit 201, it can rest with its hollow cylindrical base 21 on the support surface 19 of a drinking attachment 100, 102, 103 and be rotatably mounted with its inner hollow cylindrical shell surface 26 on the cylindrical drinking section 3 of a drinking attachment 100, 102, 103 and assume several rotational positions there.

[0116] In a first operating state, the aroma unit 201 can be arranged in a first rotational position on the drinking spout 100, 101, 102, such that the air outlet opening 13 of the aroma unit 201 is located above the air inlet opening 10 in the support surface 19 – in particular, the air outlet opening 13 of the aroma unit 201 and the air inlet opening 10 in the support surface 19 can be arranged congruently. The airflow exiting the aroma unit 201 can thus be reliably directed into the drinking spout 100, 102, 103 in the operating state.

[0117] A second rotation position can correspond to a second operating state, where the air outlet opening 13 of the aroma unit 201 and the The air inlet opening 10 in the contact surface 19 does not overlap or overlaps less, so that a smaller supply of flavored air to a drinking spout 100, 101, 102 occurs.

[0118] To secure the rotational positions, the aroma unit 201 has locking elements 27 which can interact with a corresponding counter-locking element 35 on the drinking spout 100, 101, 102. The aroma unit 201 can thus be reliably held on a drinking spout 100, 101, 102 and can also assume precisely defined rotational positions for selecting different operating states.

[0119] The aroma unit 201 has a hollow cylindrical projection 34 on its hollow cylindrical base 21, which encompasses the air outlet opening 13. This projection can engage in a corresponding groove 33 in the support surface 19 of a drinking spout 100, 101, 102, as described above. Through the interaction between the projection 34 and the groove 33, a different amount of aromatized air can be supplied to the drinking spout 100, 101, 102 at different rotational positions, for example by having a different depth in the groove 33 in different rotational positions, thus reducing the effective cross-sectional area through which the aromatized airflow can pass.

[0120] The aroma unit 201 also has an electric heating element 25, which is thermally coupled to the flavoring substance, although this is not shown in Fig. 6. The heating element 25 is shown schematically in Figs. 1 and 2 in the receiving volume 24 of the aroma unit 202 according to a first embodiment, which also applies mutatis mutandis to the aroma unit 201 according to the second embodiment.

[0121] The electric heating element 25 can be supplied with energy via an electrical energy storage device and can be activated or deactivated by means of a control unit via an electronic switch, which, however, is not shown in detail in the figures. The aroma unit 201 can also have a sensor connected to the control unit, which can detect whether an airflow is flowing through the aroma unit 201. Preferably, the sensor is designed as a microphone and the control unit is programmed to reliably detect such an airflow and to activate or deactivate the electric heating element 25 depending on the airflow.

[0122] Thus, a fully automatic aroma unit 201 is created which – when coupled with a drinking attachment 100, 101, 102 – detects an airflow through the aroma unit 202 when suction is applied to the mouthpiece opening 6 and activates the electric heating element 25. The thermal coupling of the heating element 25 with the flavoring agent ensures that This heats up and can thus be released into the airflow in a controlled quantity. This can be particularly advantageous if the fill level of the flavoring agent in the flavoring unit 201 decreases, and the flavoring of the airflow would therefore also decrease.

[0123] Furthermore, the aroma unit 201 can have a fill level sensor connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is programmed to determine the fill level of aroma substance in the aroma unit 201 and to determine the amount of energy supplied to the heating element 25 as a function of the fill level. In this way, constant aromatization of the air can be achieved at all times, regardless of the fill level.

[0124] Furthermore, the aroma unit 201 can have electrical contacts on the outside of the body 23 which are electrically connected to the energy storage device in order to charge or supply energy to the aroma unit 202.

[0125] It is also conceivable that the aroma unit 201 has a coil for inductively charging the aroma unit 201, which is electrically connected to the energy storage device.

[0126] Charging or energy supply of the aroma unit 201 can take place, for example, during use on a drinking device 100, 101, 102, if the latter is equipped with an energy storage device.

Reference symbol list

1 inside

2 Outside

3 Drinking section

4 Interior section

5 Connection section

6 Mouthpiece opening

7 Drinking container opening

8 first fluid channel

9 Air outlet opening on the inside of the drinking spout or in the inner section

10 Air inlet opening on the outside of the drinking spout

11 first air duct

12 Air inlet opening of the aroma unit

13 Air outlet opening of the aroma unit

14 Membran 15 slots

16 second air duct

17 recess

18 screw threads

19 contact surfaces

20 outer hollow cylinder shell surface

21 Hollow cylinder base area

22 first rotation position

23 bodies

24 recording volume

25 heating element

26 inner hollow cylinder shell surface

27 locking elements

28 lids

29 Henkel

30 external threads

31 hat-shaped protrusions

32 recording

33 Nut

34 lead

35 Counter-locking element

50 drinking containers

100 drinking spouts

101 Drinking attachment

102 Drinking attachment

200 aroma units

201 second aroma unit

202 Aroma unit

300 drinking device

301 Drinking device

Claims

Patent claims 1. Drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) for connection with a drinking container (50), comprising an inner surface (1) and an outer surface (2), a drinking section (3) with a mouthpiece opening (6), an inner section (4) on the inner surface (1) with a drinking container opening (7) and an air outlet opening (9), a connecting section (5) by means of which the drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) can be connected to the drinking container (50) in such a way that the inner section (4) can be brought into fluid contact with the contents of the drinking container (50) and the drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) seals the drinking container (50) against the outer surface (2), a first fluid channel (8) which connects the mouthpiece opening (6) with the drinking container opening (7), a first air channel (11) which connects an air inlet opening (10) on the outer surface (2) of the drinking spout (100, 101, 102) connects to the air outlet opening (9) in the inner section (4), and an aroma unit (200, 201, 202) through which air flows, with an air inlet opening (12) and an air outlet opening (13), which aroma unit (200) is coupled to the drinking spout (100, 101, 102) in an operating state such that an airflow exiting via the air outlet opening (13) of the aroma unit (200, 201, 202) flows at least partially through the air inlet opening (10) on the outside (2) of the drinking spout (100, 101, 102) into the first air channel (11), characterized in that the drinking spout (100, 101, 102) has a The membrane (14) has a feature which, when the mouthpiece opening (6) is subjected to negative pressure, allows fluid to enter the drinking container opening (7) and, when the mouthpiece opening (6) is subjected to ambient pressure, seals the drinking container opening (7) against the inside (1). 2. Drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane (14) is an impermeable membrane which has at least one slit (15), in particular a cross slit, in the area of the drinking container opening (7). 3. Drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) has a second air channel (16) which is designed to direct an air from the air outlet opening (9) in the to direct the outflowing airflow from the inner section (4) at least partially to the mouthpiece opening (6). 4. Drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) according to claim 3, characterized in that the second air channel (16) is guided parallel to the first fluid channel (8) and in particular opens into the first fluid channel (8) in front of the mouthpiece opening (6). 5. Drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the membrane (14) has a recess (17) in the area of the air outlet opening (9) in the inner section (4), wherein in particular the recess (17) is arranged congruently with the air outlet opening (9). 6. Drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) according to claim 5, characterized in that the recess (17) in the membrane (14) has a smaller cross-sectional area than the air outlet opening (9) in the inner section (4). 7. Drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the connecting section (5) has connecting means, in particular a screw thread (18), for firmly connecting the drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) to the drinking container (50). 8. Drinking attachment (100, 101 , 102) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a contact surface (19) for the aroma unit (200, 201 , 202) is formed between connecting section (5) and drinking section (3). 9. Drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) according to claim 8, characterized in that the air inlet opening (10) is provided on the outside (2) of the drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) in the support surface (19). 10. Drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the drinking section (3) extends cylindrically from the support surface (19). 11. Drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) according to claim 10, characterized in that the aroma unit (200, 201, 202) is designed as a hollow cylinder and is rotatably mounted on the cylindrical drinking section (3). 12. Drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) according to claim 11, characterized in that the air inlet opening (12) of the aroma unit (200) is arranged on its outer hollow cylinder shell surface (20) and the air outlet opening (13) of the aroma unit (200, 201, 202) is arranged on its hollow cylinder base surface (21). 13. Drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) according to claim 12, characterized in that in the first operating state the aroma unit (200, 201, 202) with the hollow cylinder base (21) rests on the support surface (19) and has a first rotational position (22) in which the air outlet opening (13) of the aroma unit (200, 201, 202) and the air inlet opening (10) in the support surface (19) at least partially overlap. 14. Drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that in a non-operating state the aroma unit (200, 201, 202) has a second rotation position in which the aroma unit (200, 201, 202) is rotated about the cylindrical drinking section (3) relative to the first rotation position (22), and in which the air outlet opening (13) of the aroma unit (200, 201, 202) and the air inlet opening (10) in the contact surface (19) do not overlap. 15. Drinking attachment (100, 101 , 102) according to claim 14, characterized in that in the non-operating state the air outlet opening (13) of the aroma unit (200, 201 , 202) is closed. 16. Drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that in a second operating state the aroma unit (200, 201, 202) has a third rotation position in which the aroma unit (200) is rotated about the cylindrical drinking section (3) relative to the first rotation position (22) and relative to the second rotation position, and in which an airflow entering the air inlet opening (10) in the support surface (19) originates at most partially from the air outlet opening (13) of the aroma unit (200, 201, 202). 17. Drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) has a lid (28). 18. Drinking spout (100, 101, 102) according to claim 17, characterized in that the lid (28) has a removable handle (29) which is adapted in shape and color to a desired appearance. 19. Drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the lid (28) has a receptacle (32) for an aroma unit (200, 201, 202) in which the aroma unit can be held in the lid (28). 20. Drinking device (300, 301) comprising a drinking container (50) and a drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) connected to the drinking container (50) according to one of claims 1 to 19. 21. Aroma unit (200) for a drinking spout (100, 101, 102), comprising a body (23) with a receiving volume (24) inside the body (23) which contains a volatile flavoring substance, an air inlet opening (12) and an air outlet opening (13), wherein the air inlet opening (12) allows air to flow into the receiving volume (24) and the air outlet opening (13) allows air to flow out of the receiving volume (24) enables, characterized in that the aroma unit (200) includes a heating element (25) exhibits which is thermally coupled to the flavoring substance. 22. Aroma unit (200) according to claim 21, characterized in that the heating element (25) is an electric heating element, and that the aroma unit (200) has an electrical energy storage device which is connected to the electric heating element (25) via an electrical circuit. 23. Aroma unit (200) according to claim 22, characterized in that the aroma unit (200) has a switch for closing and interrupting the circuit. 24. Aroma unit (200) according to claim 23, characterized in that the switch is an electronically and/or mechanically actuated switch. 25. Aroma unit (200) according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that the aroma unit (200) has a control device connected to the switch which activates or deactivates the electrical heating element (25) depending on control signals. 26. Aroma unit (200) according to claim 25, characterized in that the aroma unit (200) has a sensor connected to the control unit which, upon detection of an airflow in the aroma unit (200), sends a control signal to the control unit. 27. Aroma unit (200) according to one of claims 22 to 26, characterized in that the aroma unit (200) has electrical contacts on the outside of the body (23) which are electrically connected to the energy storage device. 28. Aroma unit (200) according to one of claims 22 to 26, characterized in that the aroma unit (200) has an induction coil in the body (23) which is electrically connected to the energy storage device. 29. Aroma unit (200) according to one of claims 21 to 28, characterized in that the body (23) is designed as a hollow cylinder and the Air inlet opening (12) is provided in an outer hollow cylinder shell surface (20) of the body (23) and the air outlet opening (13) is provided in a hollow cylinder base surface (21) of the body (23). 30. Aroma unit (200) according to claim 29, characterized in that an inner hollow cylinder shell surface (26) of the body (23) is designed in such a way that a rotatable mounting of the body (23) on a cylindrical drinking section (3) of a drinking attachment (100, 101, 102) is enabled, in particular in at least two rotational positions. 31. Aroma unit according to claim 30, characterized in that the rotation positions are formed by detent elements (27) which are attached to the inner The hollow cylinder shell surface (26) of the body (23) is arranged and is designed to interact with a counter-locking element on the drinking spout (100, 101, 102) to select the rotational position. These elements are arranged on the hollow cylinder shell surface (26) of the body (23) and are designed to interact with a counter-locking element on the drinking spout (100, 101, 102).