U.S. patent application number 13/195062 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-02 for water bottle with multiple drink dosage device.
Invention is credited to Philip Andrew Underwood.
Application Number | 20120024812 13/195062 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45525648 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120024812 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Underwood; Philip Andrew |
February 2, 2012 |
WATER BOTTLE WITH MULTIPLE DRINK DOSAGE DEVICE
Abstract
The present invention discloses a water bottle with a self
dosage compartment for adding drink mix and the like to water in
the bottle consisting of a bottom compartment with a circular
rotatable lid, a dose is kept in the compartment till user is ready
to mix with water.
Inventors: |
Underwood; Philip Andrew;
(Hope Mills, NC) |
Family ID: |
45525648 |
Appl. No.: |
13/195062 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61400718 |
Aug 2, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
215/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/6 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/04 20060101
B65D001/04 |
Claims
1. A water bottle for containing water and a powder for dissolving
in the water the bottle having an elongated body with an interior
space and an exterior surface, a neck portion, a cap covering a
bottle opening and a bottom portion of the interior space
comprising: a) a compartment for containing the powder fitted in
the bottom portion of the bottle interior space having one or more
sub-compartments within the compartment; and b) a rotatable lid
positioned on top of the compartment wherein the lid is rotatable
from the exterior surface of the bottle and wherein there are
openings in the lid positioned such that upon rotating the lid the
sub-compartments can be either sealed from liquid communication
from the rest of the interior space or can be in fluid
communication with the rest of the interior space.
2. The water bottle according to claim 1 wherein the compartment
can be removed from the remainder of the water bottle.
3. The water bottle according to claim 1 wherein the elongated body
of the bottle is cylindrical and the lid is round.
4. The water bottle according to claim 1 wherein there are two or
more sub-compartments.
5. The water bottle according to claim 4 wherein all but one of the
sub-compartments has powder in the sub-compartment.
6. The water bottle according to claim 1 wherein the lid comprises
two planer surfaces which can rotate relative to one another each
having holes therein such that there is a closed position or an
open position to one of the compartments.
7. The water bottle according to claim 1 wherein the bottle
contains water and powder in at least one of the sub-compartments.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority of US provisional
application number 61/400,718 filed on Aug. 2, 2010 and is
incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material
that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no
objection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document or
the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark
Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all
copyright rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to a water bottle. In
particular, the present invention relates to a water bottle with a
flavor power dosage device located at the bottom for flavoring
water in the bottle.
[0005] 2. Description of Related Art
[0006] The use of flavor, energy, vitamins, medicine, or the like
for the addition to bottle or other water has become increasingly
popular. Easy to dissolve powdered additives are added to the water
rather than a premixed drink purchased at the store such as a cola
or other soda type drink. In many cases a powder is premeasured and
added to a water bottle or purchased bottle of water.
[0007] Addition of a powder of some kind adds to the shelf life of
virtually all products, but where a product is unstable in water,
it is practically necessary. Many products degrade over some period
of time in water to the point where they lose potency, taste, or
the ability to do the job they were intended for. When adding a
powder to a bottle of water, one either has to measure it out or
carry a separate premeasured packet. If one is in the middle of an
activity that can cause a delay or unwanted interruption in the
activity.
[0008] Solid dosage preparations placed on the exterior recessed
bottom of open-topped drinking cups or tumblers are known in the
art. U.S. Patent Application 2004/0149598 to Scarla, for example,
attaches a breath freshener to the bottom of a disposable cup, such
as a STARBUCKS..TM.. coffee cup. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,798,339 to
Soulis, a tablet, or a powder composition in a pouch is attached to
the raised bottom of a paper cup. These containers, however, while
temporarily filled for drinking, do not contain the liquid product,
in the sense of put-up packaging. Even if they were to be
transformed into a shelf package by means of filling and applying a
sealing closure, they provide little physical and no safety
protection for the solid dosage component, not to mention failing
to provide self-stability for the liquid component.
[0009] Sealed-closure bottled liquid products, where an adjunct
component is conveyed therewith, at or near the bottom, are also
known. In U.S. Patent Application 2005/0284792 to Gopinathan, a
multi-component migraine kit is stored in a separate container
comprising a false bottom to a water bottle. In U.S. Patent
Application 2004/0262173 to Buesching, a medication is provided in
an end-cap which is press-fit to the posterior of a bottle
containing a liquid, such as water. An additional container is
required, however, in each of these cases. The additional container
represents increased cost and assembly complication. Furthermore,
the accompanying product is unprotected with regard to tampering.
Still furthermore, the product, in its location underneath the
bottle, is not always visible to the consumer of the product.
[0010] In US patent application 2010/0181275 to Gruenwald there is
a solid dosage preparation with a bottle of water. The solid dosage
preparation is contained within a cavity at the bottom of the
bottle and held there by a heat sealed lidding. The device is
tamper resistant and intended for single use.
[0011] The art is silent on the availability of a reusable water
bottle for dosage of a dissolvable powder in to water within the
bottle.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present difficulties and problems with the present
bottles and the like (including the availability of utilizing a
reusable bottle and having a plurality of drink dosages in a single
bottle) are achieved by the present invention. The present
invention includes a bottom compartment with one or more
sub-compartments (for one or more drink doses) wherein once the
first dosage is utilized and the drink consumed, a second bolus of
water can be added and the second compartment contents released to
provide a second drink and so on depending on the number of
sub-compartments.
[0013] Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention
there is disclosed a water bottle for containing water and a powder
for dissolving in the water the bottle having an elongated body
with an interior space and an exterior surface, a neck portion, a
cap and a bottom portion of the interior space comprising: [0014]
a) a compartment for containing the powder fitted in the bottom
portion of the bottle interior space having one or more
sub-compartments within the compartment; and [0015] b) a rotatable
lid positioned on top of the compartment wherein the lid is
rotatable from the exterior surface of the bottle and wherein there
are openings in the lid positioned such that upon rotating the lid
the sub-compartments can be either sealed from liquid communication
from the rest of the interior space or can be in fluid
communication with the rest of the interior space.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a view of a detachable dosage compartment.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a view of a water bottle with a compartment of
FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a view of an alternate embodiment of a water
bottle with a single compartment.
[0019] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the compartment of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be
described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding
that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered
as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the
invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the
description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the
same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the
drawings. This detailed description defines the meaning of the
terms used herein and specifically describes embodiments in order
for those skilled in the art to practice the invention.
[0021] The terms "a" or "an", as used herein, are defined as one or
as more than one. The term "plurality", as used herein, is defined
as two or as more than two. The term "another", as used herein, is
defined as at least a second or more. The terms "including" and/or
"having", as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open
language). The term "coupled", as used herein, is defined as
connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily
mechanically.
[0022] Reference throughout this document to "one embodiment",
"certain embodiments", and "an embodiment" or similar terms means
that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described
in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one
embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such
phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not
necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the
particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined
in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without
limitation.
[0023] The term "or" as used herein is to be interpreted as an
inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, "A, B
or C" means any of the following: "A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and
C; A, B and C". An exception to this definition will occur only
when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in
some way inherently mutually exclusive.
[0024] As used herein the term "substantially" refers to
.+-.10%.
[0025] As used herein the term "about refers to .+-.30%.
[0026] The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of
illustrating certain convenient embodiments of the present
invention, and are not to be considered as limitation thereto. Term
"means" preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a
desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e.,
one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the
desired function and that one skilled in the art could select from
these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein and use
of the term "means" is not intended to be limiting.
[0027] As used herein the term "water bottle" refers to a container
for containing water which has an elongated body with an interior
space for placing the water. The water bottle will also have an
exterior surface and a neck portion which can be narrower or not
than the elongated body. The bottle will also have a cap portion
covering a top opening where water can be added to the bottle and
there will be a bottom portion of the interior space. In general
water bottles, whether for cycling, exercising, just drinking water
and the like, come primarily in polymeric versions made from
materials that are safe to store both water and liquid drink mixes
in. That is, the use of "food grade" material is useful. While
metal food grade containers such as stainless can also be utilized
when cost is an issue polymeric containers will be the embodiment
normally utilized. Typically water bottles are utilized just for
containing water and if a drink powder is to be used with the water
bottle, a dosage of the drink powder is added through the top
opening of the bottle.
[0028] The use of very inexpensive plastics are utilized in the
construction of disposable water bottles that are thin and designed
not to be reused, though most can for a small number of refills. On
the other hand, reusable water bottles are made of thicker
materials and designed to be washed and reused, for example, can be
placed in the dishwasher for cleaning and sterilizing. Those
skilled in the art of water bottles can select the most appropriate
plastics and construction materials for constructing a water bottle
of any kind.
[0029] The "compartment" of the present invention is an area large
enough to contain a dosage of powder to flavor or dose water placed
in the remainder of the compartment of the water bottle. The
compartment occupies the bottom most portion of the water bottled
wherein the space above the compartment is designed for the water.
In general the top of the compartment will be substantially
horizontal but other configurations could be determined from the
disclosure and description herein.
[0030] The compartment of the present invention can contain one
sub-compartment or two or more compartments. Each sub-compartment
would contain enough powder to flavor or dose the water in the
bottle. Where 2 or more sub-compartments are positioned therein,
the number of drink doses equals the number of drinks capable of
being made before the sub-compartments need refilling.
[0031] As used herein a "circumferentially rotatable lid" refers to
positioning a lid at the top most part of the compartment to seal
it from the water compartment of the bottle. The circumferential
lid can rotate around a fixed point in either clockwise or counter
clockwise direction. There are openings in the lid such that there
is an open position and a closed position. The open position is
where an opening is positioned over a sub-compartment with a dose
inside or over an empty compartment or over a second planar lid
such that opening(s) in the lid can be positioned over closed areas
of the inner planer surface to seal a sub-compartment from water
entry. One can clearly see examples of this in the Figures and
other embodiments of this concept are clear from the description
and drawings herein. In one embodiment the lid is circular and in
another a scone planer surface can also rotate, and/or has
openings, and/or is also circular. Clearly by lining up openings
one can have access to the sub-compartments. In one embodiment the
lid can be rotated circumferentially from outside the bottle. That
is there is a means of rotating the lid from outside the bottle.
For example, a sealed ring attached to the lid wherein the body of
the bottle attaches to the compartment allows for such adjustment
see for example FIG. 1. In other embodiments the compartment of any
kind can be removed from the rest of the bottle for example by
screwing it into the bottom of the bottle, such as shown in the
figures.
[0032] In the practice of the present invention powder is placed in
each of the one or more or two or more sub-compartments. Water is
added to the bottle and the lid adjusted to position the holes over
the dose and with shaking the dose is added to the water. Where
there are 2 or more doses (sub-compartments) upon finishing the
first drink more water is added to the bottle and the lid holes
positioned over the second sub-compartment shook and the water
drank. This can be repeated till there are no more sub-compartments
with a dose inside.
[0033] Now referring to the drawings FIG. 1 depicts a removable
compartment for containing dissolvable powder and attaching to the
bottom of the elongated body of a water bottle in liquid
communication thereof. The bottom compartment 1 of the present
invention in this embodiment shows two sub compartments sub
compartments 2 and 3. Positioned on top of compartment 1 is lid 5
with opening 6. In this embodiment the lid is circular and travels
in a circumferential manner around center point 7. The lid 5 can be
made to move by grabbing ring 10 or tab 11 and rotating clockwise
or counterclockwise. This embodiment depicts two sub-compartments 3
and 4 and thus, has room for 2 doses of powder, one in each
sub-compartment. By moving lid 5 such that the opening 6 is
positioned over a sub-compartment liquid from an attached bottle
comes in contact with the powder for dissolution in the liquid
(water). In this view circular threads 12 can be used to attach the
compartment to a bottle with an open bottom and matching circular
threads. FIG. 2 depicts the compartment 1 of FIG. 1 attached to a
bottle as the present invention bottle. Water bottle body 20 has
open bottom 21 which has threads crewed into threads 12 of the
bottom compartment 1. The bottle has elongated body 22, with water
24 being poured into the interior space 25 through open top 26. A
water bottle cap (not shown) could be screwed onto the top of the
water bottle.
[0034] FIG. 3 depicts and alternate embodiment of the present
invention with one sub-compartment and a second planer surface
beneath the lid. Water bottle 30 having neck 31, cap 32, and
elongated body 33 is shown. Compartment 34 is positioned in the
bottom of the water bottle 30 and in this embodiment is attached
permanently to the bottle. Lid 35 with holes 36 is shown which
circumferentially rotates just as in the other embodiment with ring
37. Shown is second planer surface 38 with holes 39. By
circumferentially rotating lid 35 the holes can be positioned over
one another or in a closed non-overlapping position. Since there is
only one sub-compartment, only one
[0035] FIG. 4 depicts an exploded view of the embodiment in FIG. 3
showing the positioning of the lid.
[0036] Those skilled in the art to which the present invention
pertains may make modifications resulting in other embodiments
employing principles of the present invention without departing
from its spirit or characteristics, particularly upon considering
the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the described embodiments are
to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not
restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is, therefore,
indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing
description or drawings. Consequently, while the present invention
has been described with reference to particular embodiments,
modifications of structure, sequence, materials and the like
apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope of
the invention as claimed by the applicant.
* * * * *