Beverage Additives and Delivery Systems

Abstract

Beverage additives and additive delivery systems are disclosed that include additives with relatively low pH, specific gravity, and / or viscosity that can aid in mixing or other flow performance with a base liquid while producing a suitably soured or otherwise flavored beverage. Methods of mixing and forming beverages are disclosed that include water, additives, acidulants, and flavor systems.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (Related Applications) This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 402,694, filed August 31, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The disclosed embodiments relate to beverage additives. [Background technology]

[0003] Beverage additives are used to provide flavor or nutritional properties to beverages. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Beverage additives and additive delivery systems as described herein and / or as claimed below.

[0005] In some embodiments, the beverage additive comprises water in a proportion of about 40% to about 85% by weight of the additive, an acidulant in a total proportion of about 1% to about 20% by weight of the additive, the acidulant comprising phosphoric acid in a proportion of about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of the additive, and a flavor system in a proportion of about 10% to about 40% by weight of the additive.

[0006] In some embodiments, a beverage additive for use in an additive delivery system includes water in a proportion of about 40% to about 85% by weight of the additive, an acidulant in a proportion of about 1% to about 20% by weight of the additive, and a flavor system in a proportion of about 10% to about 40% by weight of the additive. In some cases, the beverage additive may have a viscosity and / or specific gravity selected to facilitate mixing of the beverage additive with a base fluid within a mixing space of the additive delivery system. The mixing space, in some embodiments, may fluidly couple the additive reservoir and the base fluid container to an outlet of the delivery system. The additive delivery system may be configured to dispense the beverage additive from the additive reservoir and the base fluid from the base fluid container into the mixing space in response to a user drawing fluid through the outlet of the delivery system.

[0007] In some embodiments, a beverage additive for use in an additive delivery system includes water in a proportion of about 40% to about 85% by weight of the additive, an acidulant in a proportion of about 1% to about 20% by weight of the additive, and a flavor system in a proportion of about 10% to about 40% by weight of the additive, wherein the beverage additive has a viscosity of about 3 square millimeters per second (mm 2 / sec) ~ approx. 7mm 2 / sec.

[0008] In some embodiments, a beverage additive for use in an additive delivery system comprises water in a proportion of about 40% to about 85% by weight of the additive, an acidulant in a proportion of about 1% to about 20% by weight of the additive, and a flavor system in a proportion of about 10% to about 40% by weight of the additive, wherein the beverage additive has a specific gravity of about 0.9 to about 1.3.

[0009] In some further embodiments, a beverage additive for use in the additive delivery system comprises water in a proportion of about 40% to about 85% by weight of the additive, an acidulant in a proportion of about 1% to about 20% by weight of the additive, the acidulant comprising citric acid in a proportion of about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the additive, lactic acid in a proportion of about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the additive, and / or phosphoric acid in a proportion of about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of the additive, and a flavor system in a proportion of about 10% to about 40% by weight of the additive.

[0010] In some embodiments, the additive delivery system comprises an additive reservoir and a beverage additive contained within the additive reservoir, the additive comprising water in a proportion of about 40% to about 85% by weight of the additive, an acidulant in a proportion of about 1% to about 20% by weight of the additive, and a flavor system in a proportion of about 10% to about 40% by weight of the additive, the additive being transported at a rate of about 3 square millimeters per second (mm 2 / sec) ~ approx. 7mm 2 The additive delivery system may be configured to dispense the beverage additive from the additive reservoir and the base fluid from the base fluid container into the mixing nozzle in response to a user drawing fluid through the delivery system outlet.

[0011] In some embodiments, a method of mixing a beverage includes passing a beverage additive from an additive reservoir of an additive delivery system through a mixing space of the additive delivery system, the additive comprising water in a proportion of about 40% to about 85% by weight of the additive, an acidulant in a proportion of about 1% to about 20% by weight of the additive, and a flavor system in a proportion of about 10% to about 40% by weight of the additive, and the additive is mixed at a flow rate of about 3 square millimeters per second (mm 2 / sec) ~ approx. 7mm 2Passing through and having at least one selected from the group consisting of kinematic viscosity per second and specific gravity of about 0.9 to about 1.3; passing a base fluid from a base fluid container of an additive delivery system to a mixing nozzle; mixing an additive and the base fluid together in a mixing space to form a beverage; and passing the beverage from the mixing space to an outlet of the delivery system.

[0012] In some embodiments, a method of mixing a beverage comprises passing a beverage additive from an additive reservoir of an additive delivery system to a mixing nozzle of the additive delivery system, wherein the additive comprises water at a ratio of about 40 wt% to about 85 wt% of the additive, an acidulant at a ratio of about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the additive, the acidulant comprising citric acid at a ratio of about 0.1 wt% to about 10 wt% of the additive, lactic acid at a ratio of about 0.1 wt% to about 10 wt% of the additive, and phosphoric acid at a ratio of about 0.1 wt% to about 2 wt% of the additive, a flavor system at a ratio of about 10 wt% to about 40 wt% of the additive, passing a base fluid from a base fluid container of the additive delivery system to the mixing nozzle, mixing the additive and the base fluid together at the mixing nozzle to form a beverage within a mixing space of the additive delivery system, and passing the beverage from the mixing nozzle to an outlet of the delivery system.

[0013] In some embodiments, a method of forming a beverage additive comprises providing water at a ratio of about 40 wt% to about 85 wt% of the additive, providing a flavor system at a ratio of about 10 wt% to about 40 wt% of the additive, providing citric acid at a ratio of about 0.1 wt% to about 10 wt% of the additive, providing lactic acid at a ratio of about 0.1 wt% to about 10 wt% of the additive, and phosphoric acid at a ratio of about 0.1 wt% to about 2 wt% of the additive, wherein the ratio of phosphoric acid is the total ratio of acid of about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the additive, a pH of the additive of about 2.0 to about 3.3, and a specific gravity of the additive of about 0.9 to 1.3, and kinematic viscosity of about 3 square millimeters per second (mm 2 / s) to about 7 mm 2providing phosphoric acid sufficient to maintain at least one of a kinematic viscosity of the additive of 1 / 2 s / sec; and mixing the water, flavor system, citric acid, lactic acid, and phosphoric acid to form the beverage additive.

[0014] It should be understood that the foregoing concepts, and additional concepts described below, may be arranged in any suitable combination, as the disclosure is not limited in this respect. Furthermore, other advantages and novel features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of various non-limiting embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0015] In the event that the present specification and a document incorporated by reference include conflicting and / or inconsistent disclosure, the present specification shall control. If two or more documents incorporated by reference include conflicting and / or inconsistent disclosure with respect to each other, the document having the later effective date shall control. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each of the identical or nearly identical components shown in various figures may be represented by a like numeral. For clarity, not every component may be numbered in every drawing. The drawings are as follows: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of an additive delivery system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a cartridge assembly of the additive delivery system of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an additive reservoir of the cartridge assembly of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a top view of the additive reservoir of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of an additive delivery system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Beverage additives may be added to or mixed with a beverage or other base fluid to modify and / or introduce properties into the base fluid. For example, some additives may modify or introduce flavor into the beverage or base fluid. Other additives may modify or introduce new nutritional properties, for example, using vitamins, minerals, or other nutrients. Some additives may modify or introduce a stimulating effect into the beverage, for example, using a stimulant such as caffeine or another compound such as taurine.

[0018] Beverage additives may be used in conjunction with additive delivery systems, such as those configured to mix the additive with a base fluid, such as water. Some additive delivery systems, referred to herein as "point-of-use" systems, may hold a volume of additive and a volume of base fluid in separate containers or reservoirs and may be configured to mix the additive and base fluid immediately prior to consumption or other dispensing of the mixture. Some point-of-use systems, referred to herein as "flow-through" systems, may be configured to perform this mixing within one or more flow paths coupled between the volume of base fluid and / or the volume of additive and the system's dispensing outlet. Mixing of the additive and base fluid may be performed without introducing the additive to the volume of base fluid or without introducing the base fluid to the volume of additive. Rather, the additive and base fluid may be provided from their respective containers or reservoirs, mixed together, and dispensed.

[0019] Some point-of-use or flow-through systems may store the additive and base fluid in separate containers or reservoirs until a user dispenses (e.g., drinks, pours, draws, squeezes, or otherwise dispenses) the fluid from the system. For example, some flow-through systems may be configured to dispense the additive from the additive reservoir and the base fluid from the base fluid container along a flow path in response to a user dispensing the fluid from the system. Additionally or alternatively, some point-of-use or flow-through systems may include a metering mechanism or other configuration configured to allow a user to control the proportions of the additive and / or base fluid that are mixed together. For example, a flow-through system may include an adjustable metering chamber whose size or other characteristics can be adjusted to increase or decrease the flow rate of the additive through the system. Additionally or alternatively, some point-of-use or flow-through systems may include a mechanism, flow path, or other configuration configured to facilitate, enhance, or otherwise control mixing of the additive and base fluid. For example, some flow-through systems may include a mixing section or space along the flow path that may be configured to improve the homogeneity of the beverage mix or to increase the mixing rate.

[0020] The performance of the additive delivery systems described herein, including point-of-use or flow-through systems, when used in conjunction with beverage additives according to the present disclosure may be improved in various ways. In some embodiments, the viscosity, density, specific gravity, and / or other properties of the additive may be configured to facilitate or otherwise improve various processes within the additive delivery system, including dispensing the additive from the system's additive reservoir, metering the additive from the additive reservoir, and / or mixing the additive with the base fluid.

[0021] For example, a first additive having a lower viscosity, density, or specific gravity than a second additive may dispense from the additive reservoir more quickly, e.g., at a higher flow rate, or may begin to dispense more easily in response to a user withdrawing fluid from the additive delivery system, e.g., begin to flow in response to a smaller flow-inducing force than the second additive. In other examples, the first additive may flow at a different flow rate, through a smaller minimum metering space, or have a flow rate that is more sensitive or responsive to changes in metering space than the second additive. In yet further examples, the first additive may mix with the base fluid more quickly than the second additive, e.g., resulting in a more homogeneous beverage mix being delivered from the system. One or more of these properties of the first additive may be present, all while providing a flavor or other modification of the base fluid properties similar to the second additive. Thus, for example, an additive delivery system using a first additive may dispense a beverage that tastes the same or similar to one that uses a second additive, while providing improved flow, metering, mixing, or other characteristics of the first additive.

[0022] As will be appreciated, some additive delivery systems may be required to mix additives and base fluids in a very short time and / or within a very small space or length within the mixing channel. This may be particularly true for some point-of-use or flow-through systems that may be configured to deliver beverage mixtures on demand from systems that can approximate the size, weight, and / or portability of a typical bottle or other drinking container. Thus, achieving a desired concentration, mixture uniformity, or other characteristics in a beverage mixture delivered from an additive delivery system may require significant optimization of various parameters, given the time and space constraints present in some such systems, and additives according to the present disclosure may aid in such optimization.

[0023] In view of the above, the inventors have recognized that the concentration of a beverage mix, the homogeneity of a beverage mix, the mixing rate of an additive with a base fluid, or other mixing or metering performance qualities of an additive delivery system can be affected by one or more properties of an additive. For example, one or more properties of an additive can be selected to optimize the mixing and / or metering performance of the additive within a system having a known design. Accordingly, the inventors have recognized and appreciated the benefits of tailoring one or more properties of an additive to optimize the mixing or metering performance of the additive within a particular additive delivery system (including a point-of-use system or a flow-through system, or components thereof, such as a mixing segment, mixing nozzle, metering segment, metering space, outlet, or other component).

[0024] For example, the inventors have recognized and appreciated the benefits of beverage additives having at least one property configured to improve mixing and / or metering in an additive delivery system. In some embodiments, the viscosity, density, and / or specific gravity may be configured to improve the mixing and / or metering performance of the additive in the additive delivery system. For example, in some embodiments, the viscosity, density, and / or specific gravity may be configured (e.g., to have a relatively low value) to increase the mixing rate in the additive delivery system, improve the homogeneity of the beverage mix delivered from the additive delivery system, increase the dispensing rate of the additive from the additive reservoir, or increase the metering accuracy of the additive in the additive delivery system. For example, a viscosity of 7 mm 2 Additives with low kinematic viscosities of less than 1 / sec and / or specific gravities approaching 1 have been found to provide improved mixing, metering and flow in point-of-use systems.

[0025] In addition to the above, the inventors have recognized that the components, subcomponents, or ingredients used in a beverage additive can affect the additive's properties. For example, in various embodiments, the additive may include any of a water component, an acidulant component including one or more acids, a flavor component including one or more flavoring agents, a salt or buffer component including one or more salts or buffering agents, a stimulant component including one or more stimulants such as caffeine or taurine, and / or any other suitable components. (For example, in some embodiments, a preservative may or may not be added to prevent microbial growth in the additive and / or in the mixing chamber or other flow path containing the additive and / or base liquid, such as water.) In some embodiments, the beverage additive includes at least water, an acidulant, and a flavor component. The inventors have recognized that the various components or subcomponents can be adjusted to produce desired properties in the beverage additive. For example, in embodiments where it may be desirable to produce an additive with a relatively low pH and a specific gravity close to 1, the proportions of water and acidulant, along with the type of acidulant used, may be configured to provide an additive with a low pH and a specific gravity close to 1.

[0026] Furthermore, the inventors have recognized that various alternative subcomponents can be utilized to achieve a desired property or combination of properties in a beverage additive. For example, it may be desirable to produce a water-based beverage additive having both a pH of about 3 (e.g., for flavoring purposes) and a specific gravity of about 1 (e.g., to improve mixing and / or metering performance in an additive delivery system). While a desired pH of about 3 may require a substantial acidulant component, it is understood that the relatively high density of many acids may increase the specific gravity significantly above the desired range. The inventors have recognized that in some such cases, it may be beneficial to configure one or more subcomponents of the acidulant component (or another component) to achieve both the desired pH and the desired specific gravity. In the above non-limiting example, a particular acid subcomponent may be used to reduce the total volume or mass of acid required to reduce the pH to the desired range, thereby reducing the effect of the acidulant component on the specific gravity of the additive. For example, in some embodiments, a phosphate subcomponent may be used in the acidulant component to reduce the total mass of acid required to achieve a desired pH of about 3, thereby allowing the specific gravity to remain close to 1, which may improve additive mixing and / or metering performance in the additive delivery system.

[0027] In some embodiments, the acidulant component may include one or more additional acids in addition to phosphoric acid, as phosphoric acid may disrupt the desired flavor profile of the additive. For example, various embodiments may include one or more of citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, or others along with phosphoric acid to provide the desired taste profile, pH, and density of the additive.

[0028] In some embodiments, the beverage additive may include water in a proportion of about 40% to about 95% by weight of the additive (e.g., about 45% to about 75% by weight), an acidulant in a proportion of about 1% to about 20% by weight of the additive (e.g., about 6% to about 15% by weight), and a flavor system in a proportion of about 0.5% to about 50% by weight of the additive (e.g., about 10% to about 40% by weight, or about 12% to about 35% by weight). In some embodiments, the additive may have at least one property selected to facilitate dispensing, metering, and / or mixing with the base fluid in the additive delivery system. For example, in some embodiments, the additive may have a flow rate of about 1 square millimeter per second (mm 2 / sec) ~ approx. 10mm 2 / sec, for example, about 3 mm 2 / sec ~ approx. 7mm 2 / sec. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the additive may have a specific gravity of about 0.9 to 1.3 (specific gravity, in some embodiments, is taken relative to water). Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the additive may have a kinematic viscosity of about 0.85 grams per cubic centimeter (g / cm 3 ) ~ approx. 1.3g / cm 3 The density may be

[0029] In some embodiments, the acidulant may comprise one or more of the following, including any combination of the following: phosphoric acid in a proportion of about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of the additive, citric acid in a proportion of about 1% to about 10% by weight of the additive, and / or lactic acid in a proportion of about 1% to about 10% by weight of the additive. The acidulant may be configured to provide the additive with a pH (and other properties) of about 2 to 3.5, about 2.3 to 3.2, about 2.4 to 3, about 2.6 to 3, or other desired pH. In some cases, the acidulant may comprise about 6% to about 15% by weight of the additive, with phosphoric acid comprising about 0.6% to about 1.3% by weight of the additive, and the remainder of the acidulant comprising citric acid (about 3.5% to about 8.5% by weight) and lactic acid (about 2% to about 8% by weight). Such additives may have a specific gravity of about 0.95 to about 1.24 and a kinematic viscosity of about 3 mm2 / sec to 7 mm2 / sec.

[0030] In some embodiments, the flavor system may include a sweetener and / or at least one natural flavor. The sweetener may include one or more natural sweeteners such as fructose, glucose, sucrose, or the like, one or more artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, aspartame, saccharin, stevia (including any combination of steviol glycosides, such as stevioside, rebaudioside A, rebaudioside D, and / or any other suitable steviol glycoside), and / or one or more sugar alcohols such as erythritol, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, or the like. Raw flavors may include one or more natural flavors (e.g., an essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extract, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating, or enzymatic degradation containing flavor components derived from spices, fruits or fruit juices, vegetables or vegetable juices, edible yeast, herbs, bark, sprouts, roots, leaves, or similar plant materials, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose important function in foods is flavoring rather than nutrition), and / or one or more artificial flavors (e.g., one or more substances not derived from spices, fruits or fruit juices, vegetables or vegetable juices, edible yeast, herbs, bark, sprouts, roots, leaves, or similar plant materials, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose function is to impart flavor).

[0031] In some embodiments, the additive may further comprise a buffering agent, such as a salt buffer or other buffering agent, to maintain a desired acidity or pH level. For example, in some embodiments, the salt buffer may comprise sodium citrate dihydrate, monopotassium phosphate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium citrate monohydrate, sodium chloride, or any other suitable buffer salt or agent. In some embodiments, the additive may comprise about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the additive of the salt buffer.

[0032] Some additive delivery systems may include certain structural or functional features that may be particularly well suited for use with beverage additives according to the present disclosure (although these features are discussed for purposes of illustrating and understanding the advantages of the additives disclosed herein, with the understanding that these advantages may also be realized in conjunction with any other suitable structure or system). Some of these features will now be described, along with the beneficial interactions between the features and fluid properties achieved by the teachings of the present disclosure.

[0033] In some embodiments, a flow-through system may include a base fluid container, such as a bottle, cup, or another drinking vessel, and an additive reservoir or volume of additive that may be attachable to or at least partially positioned within the base fluid container. In one example, the system may include an additive reservoir or volume of additive associated with a straw or other conduit that may be immersed within the container of base fluid. In this example, the additive may be dispensed into an internal flow path defined within the straw in response to a user taking a sip of fluid through the straw. The additive may be mixed with the base fluid within the internal flow path, and the beverage mixture may be delivered through the open end of the straw.

[0034] In another example, the additive delivery system may include a cartridge system that may be defined by or supported by a container lid of a base fluid container. In some such embodiments, the base fluid container may be a bottle, and the container lid or bottle top may be attachable to the bottle. The cartridge system may include an additive reservoir assembly and be attachable to the bottle top. In this example, the additive may be dispensed from the additive reservoir assembly in response to a user taking a sip or otherwise dispensing fluid from the bottle through an outlet of the cartridge system. The additive may be mixed with the base fluid within a flow path defined by the cartridge system, and the beverage mix may be delivered through an outlet of the cartridge system.

[0035] In some such embodiments, the cartridge system may provide one or more flow paths or flow geometries that may enhance mixing of the additive and base fluid as they flow through the cartridge system. Such flow geometries may include, for example, one or more convergence zones or mixing spaces where the additive and base fluid may mix. Such flow geometries may also be used in conjunction with one or more stirring or turbulence-creating elements incorporated into the mixing space or another portion of the cartridge assembly to further enhance mixing of the additive and base fluid prior to use or consumption. Such flow geometries and stirring or turbulence-creating elements may improve the mixing performance of the additive delivery system by providing faster or more thorough mixing of the additive and base fluid.

[0036] The inventors have recognized that the extent to which such flow geometries (e.g., mixing spaces, stirring elements, turbulence-generating elements) can improve mixing performance can be influenced by one or more properties of the additive. For example, mixing performance can be related to turbulence induced by turbulence-generating elements in the flow configuration. Turbulence can be related to the Reynolds number of the configuration, which in turn can be related to at least the density and / or viscosity of the fluid in the configuration. Thus, mixing performance resulting from a particular flow geometry can be related to at least the density and / or viscosity of the additive in the configuration.

[0037] In some embodiments, the cartridge system may include an additive reservoir assembly comprising a flexible additive reservoir, such as a pouch, bag, bladder, or similar compliant structure. In some embodiments, the flexible additive reservoir may provide improved flow, metering, and / or mixing performance by allowing a volume of additive to be dispensed therefrom without having to replace the dispensed volume with a volume of air. This may allow for smoother, more uniform, and / or more consistent dispensing of the additive from the reservoir. In some such embodiments, pressure may be applied to the flexible additive reservoir when a user squeezes, pours, draws, or otherwise dispenses fluid from a container (e.g., a bottle) in which the system or cartridge is housed.

[0038] The inventors have recognized that the extent to which such flexible reservoirs can facilitate additive dispensing can be influenced by one or more additive properties. In one non-limiting example, a first additive having a first viscosity can be placed in a first flexible reservoir, and a second additive having a second viscosity lower than the first can be placed in a second flexible reservoir identical to the first. In this example, if equal external pressure is applied to both the first and second flexible reservoirs, the first additive having a higher viscosity can be less responsive to pressure than the second additive. As a result of its lower viscosity, the second additive can be dispensed more quickly than the first additive. Viscosity is not the only property the inventors have recognized that affects additive flow from a flexible reservoir, and it will be understood that similar examples can be envisioned using differences in various properties, including density, specific gravity, or others.

[0039] In some embodiments, the cartridge system may provide an adjustable flow of additive from the additive reservoir. In some embodiments, an adjustment actuator may be movable by a user to adjust the size of a metering space within the cartridge system. Adjusting the metering space may correspondingly increase or decrease the flow of additive that occurs when fluid is dispensed through the cartridge. This feature allows a user to achieve a desired, repeatable ratio of additive to base fluid within a beverage mix. The inventors have recognized that the accuracy or effectiveness of control of the additive flow configuration may be affected by one or more properties of the additive. For example, an adjustable flow configuration may achieve more precise control or metering of a first additive having a lower viscosity or density than a second additive having a higher viscosity or density.

[0040] While the adjustable flow configuration, flexible additive reservoir, and flow geometry described above are described in connection with a cartridge system, it will be understood that these structural and functional features may be utilized in conjunction with any suitable additive delivery system, including any suitable point-of-use or flow-through system. Additionally, it will be understood that these features represent examples of structural and functional features that may have beneficial interactions with the beverage additives of the present disclosure, and that the beverage additives of the present disclosure may have beneficial interactions with any other suitable structural or functional features of any suitable additive delivery system, including any suitable point-of-use or flow-through system.

[0041] Certain non-limiting embodiments will now be described in further detail with reference to the figures, with the understanding that the various systems, components, features, and methods described for these embodiments may be used either individually and / or in any desired combination, as the disclosure is not limited to only the specific embodiments described herein.

[0042] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a flow-through system provided as an example of one additive delivery system that may be used in conjunction with a beverage additive according to the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the beverage additives described herein have been found to be particularly effective when used with the Cirkul additive delivery system (hereinafter, the Cirkul product), currently available at www.drinkcirkul.com. Accordingly, some embodiments of the present invention include any of the beverage additives described herein in combination with an additive delivery system, such as the Cirkul product. Such embodiments of the present invention may include specific additive delivery components, as well as specific component sizes and / or shapes, flow path lengths, and any other selected details of the Cirkul product. While one specific embodiment of an additive delivery system is shown and described below, it will be understood that beverage additives according to the present disclosure may be used in conjunction with many other additive delivery systems, including various point-of-use systems, flow-through systems, and other additive delivery systems, as the disclosure is not limited in this respect.

[0043] In the illustrated embodiment, the bottle 10 may include a bottle top 20 for sealing the interior space of the bottle 10. Threads, which may be integrally formed on the bottle 10, may cooperate with internal threads formed on the bottle top 20 to provide a sealed fit between the bottle 10 and the bottle top 20. A handle 24 may be formed on the bottle top 20, and an umbrella check valve or vent (not shown in FIG. 1 ) may be provided on the bottle top 20 in a known manner to reduce or eliminate a vacuum inside the bottle and prevent base fluid from leaking through the vent when the base fluid or beverage mix is ​​dispensed. In some embodiments, the bottle top 20 may include a cartridge receiving port 22 having a threaded fastener formed on its exterior surface for receiving the cartridge assembly 100. In some embodiments, the cartridge assembly 100 may engage directly with the bottle 20, for example, via a threaded engagement, eliminating the need for a top 20.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of one embodiment of a cartridge assembly for a flow-through system for use with a beverage additive according to the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the cartridge assembly 100 may include multiple components assembled in a generally stacked configuration using snap-fit, press-fit, threaded connections, or similar known joining mechanisms. The components may include a cartridge cap, which in some embodiments may include an additive flow adjustment actuator 200 cooperating with a cartridge cap base 250 and mounted for limited rotational movement relative thereto. The additive flow adjustment actuator 200 may include a push-pull closure 230 having a dispensing outlet, which is attached to the additive flow adjustment actuator 200 to selectively permit and prevent fluid flow from the cartridge. In some embodiments, an additive flow metering component, or metering insert 300 and mixing nozzle 350, may be disposed between the additive flow adjustment actuator 200 and the cartridge cap base 250. In some embodiments, the metering insert 300 and mixing nozzle 350 may cooperate to control the flow rate of the additive through the cartridge assembly, as described further below. In some embodiments, an annular one-way base fluid flow sealing element 320 may be included to provide one-way flow of base fluid through the cartridge and prevent backflow of the base fluid and / or beverage mixture.

[0045] In some embodiments, the cartridge assembly may include a reservoir assembly including a reservoir outlet 400, an additive reservoir (see, e.g., FIG. 3 ), and a protective outer housing 500 that may be securely fastened to the mixing nozzle 350 and thus to the cap base 250. In some embodiments, the reservoir assembly may be securely fastened within the cartridge cap base 250 using a snap fitting or other fastening element, such as a threaded fastener or a friction fastener. In some embodiments, the reservoir assembly may be fitted onto the mixing nozzle 350. In some embodiments, the reservoir protective housing 500, which may be formed as a cage, a solid wall cover, or any other suitable geometric shape, may be snap-fit ​​onto a flange of the pouch reservoir outlet 400 to protect the additive reservoir or flexible pouch.

[0046] 3-4 show details of an additive reservoir and reservoir spout for use with a beverage additive according to the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the spout 400 may include a stem portion 402 defining an internal additive flow path. A first flange 404 may be provided with a slot for receiving the reservoir retention arm 374 of the mixing nozzle 300. A snap-fit ​​ridge or ring may be formed on the bottom of the stem 402 and cooperate with an internal ridge on the bottom of the mixing nozzle 350. In some embodiments, as shown, a second flange 406 and a third flange 408 may extend from the stem 402 for use with automated filling equipment. A bottom flange 410 may provide a snap fit with the housing 500.

[0047] In some embodiments, the additive reservoir may comprise a flexible pouch reservoir 420 configured to contain a volume of additive. The pouch reservoir 420 may be secured in sealing engagement with the reservoir spout 400. In various embodiments, the pouch reservoir 420 may be secured to the securement adapter portion 412 of the reservoir spout 400 by heat welding or other fastening techniques to seal the pouch walls to the pouch reservoir spout 400. In FIGS. 3-4, the pouch reservoir 420 is shown in a flat, unfilled state. As will be appreciated, once filled with additive, the pouch reservoir 420 may assume a different shape to fit within the housing 500.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of one example of an assembled additive delivery system as an example of one additive delivery system that may be used in conjunction with a beverage additive according to the present disclosure. During operation, a user may draw, suck, pour, squeeze, or otherwise dispense from the system in a manner that generates a change in the pressure of the base fluid and / or the volume of air within the system's bottle or container (not shown). In response to a user dispensing fluid from the system, the base fluid may travel along base fluid flow path B. Base fluid flow path B may begin within the space between bottle 10 (see FIG. 1 ) or other container and / or reservoir 420 and housing 500; for example, base fluid may enter and exit an opening in housing 500, e.g., near the bottom of housing 500 and / or where housing 500 engages spout 400. Flow from the container or housing 500 may, in some embodiments, travel through one or more base fluid ports 358 formed in mixing nozzle 350. In some embodiments, as shown, base fluid flow path B may further travel between the annular one-way base fluid flow seal 320 and the annular seat 272 of the cap base 250. While Figure 5 shows the annular one-way base fluid flow seal 320 in a closed position, it will be understood that the compliant nature of the seal 320 may open to allow the base fluid to flow substantially as shown by the base fluid flow path B.

[0049] Thus, in some embodiments, base fluid flow path B may travel through an annular space defined between the inner surface of the additive adjustment actuator 200 (see FIG. 2 ) and the outer surfaces of both the mixing nozzle 350 and the metering insert 300. Thus, in some embodiments, base fluid flow path B may travel into a mixing space 600 cooperatively defined by the metering insert 300, the mixing nozzle 350, and the additive adjustment actuator 200. In the mixing space 600, the base fluid traveling along base fluid flow path B may meet and mix with the additive traveling along additive flow path A, as described further below. The base fluid and additive may mix to form a beverage mixture. The beverage mixture may exit the mixing space 600 along beverage mixture flow path C, which, in some embodiments, may travel from the mixing space 600 into the push-pull cap 230 and be dispensed via a dispensing outlet located on the push-pull cap 230.

[0050] Additionally, in some embodiments, a user dispensing (e.g., drawing, sucking, pouring, squeezing, etc.) from the system may apply pressure P to the additive reservoir or pouch reservoir 420. Pressure P may be applied via a volume of air surrounding the base fluid (not shown) or pouch reservoir 420, which may experience pressure changes resulting from the user drawing, sucking, pouring, squeezing, or otherwise dispensing from the system. In response to pressure P, additive may be dispensed from the additive reservoir or pouch reservoir 420 and may flow along additive flow path A. In some embodiments, additive flow path A may travel through a metering space between the metering insert 300 and the mixing nozzle 350 and merge with base fluid flow path B in the mixing space 600 to form a beverage mix, as described further below. The beverage mix may be dispensed from the system through a dispensing outlet of the push-pull cap 230 along beverage mix flow path C, as described above. In this regard, the mixing space 600 may fluidly couple both the additive reservoir (via additive flow path A) and the base fluid container (via additive flow path B) to the outlet of the delivery system.

[0051] In some embodiments, the metering space between the metering insert 300 and the mixing nozzle 350 may be adjustable. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the additive flow adjustment actuator 200 (see FIG. 2 ) may be rotated relative to the cap base 250. Such rotation may additionally cause rotation of the metering insert 300 relative to the mixing nozzle 350. The cooperating threads between the metering insert 300 and the mixing nozzle 350 may cause axial movement of the insert 300 (in other words, rotation of the metering insert 300 on the threads may cause the metering insert 300 to move upward or downward relative to the mixing nozzle 350 as viewed on the page, although it will be understood that the axis or direction of movement may be in any vertical or non-vertical orientation depending on the orientation of the system at a given time). The axial movement of the metering insert 300 may change the spacing between the metering insert 300 and the mixing nozzle 350.

[0052] The space between the metering insert 300 and the mixing nozzle 350 may be referred to as a metering space. Changes in the metering space resulting from axial movement of the metering insert 300 may cause corresponding changes in the flow of additive through the metering space along additive flow path A. For example, in some embodiments, when the metering insert 300 is moved into contact with the mixing nozzle 350, the metering space may close to block additive flow path A such that additive can no longer be dispensed from the additive reservoir or pouch reservoir 420.

[0053] The operation or performance of an additive delivery system (including a point-of-use system or a flow-through system described herein) may be improved when used in conjunction with a beverage additive according to the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the viscosity of the additive may be selected to facilitate dispensing of the additive from an additive reservoir of an additive delivery system. For example, in some embodiments, the viscosity of the additive may be selected to facilitate dispensing of the additive from pouch reservoir 420 in response to pressure P. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, viscosity may affect the responsiveness of the additive in pouch reservoir 420 to pressure P, for example, by affecting the flow rate or flow velocity of the additive out of pouch reservoir 420 that may be generated by pressure P. Thus, in one non-limiting example, a first additive having a lower viscosity may dispense more quickly (i.e., at a higher flow rate or higher flow rate) or begin dispensing at a lower pressure P than a second additive having a higher viscosity.

[0054] In some embodiments, the viscosity of the additive may additionally or alternatively be selected to facilitate mixing of the additive with the base fluid in an additive delivery system or flow-through system such as those described above. For example, in some embodiments, the viscosity of the additive may be selected to facilitate mixing of the additive with the base fluid in the mixing space 600. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the viscosity of the additive may affect the homogeneity of the beverage mixture mixed in the mixing space 600, for example, by affecting the mixing rate of the additive with the base fluid. In one non-limiting example, a first additive having a lower viscosity may mix more quickly than a second additive having a higher viscosity. Thus, because the space or time available for mixing may be limited in some point-of-use or flow-through systems, a first additive may mix more thoroughly than a second additive within a given space or mixing time allowed in a particular mixing space 600.

[0055] In some embodiments, the viscosity of the additive may additionally or alternatively be selected to facilitate more accurate metering of the additive in an additive delivery system such as those described above. For example, in some embodiments, the viscosity of the additive may be selected to facilitate more accurate metering of the additive through a metering space between the metering insert 300 and the mixing nozzle 350. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the viscosity of the additive may affect the flow rate of the additive through a given metering space and / or the minimum metering space required for the additive to flow therethrough. Thus, in one non-limiting example, a first additive having a lower viscosity may flow through a smaller minimum metering space or may have a flow rate through a metering space that may be more sensitive to changes in metering space than a second additive having a higher viscosity.

[0056] Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the density of the additive may be selected to facilitate dispensing of the additive from an additive reservoir of an additive delivery system. For example, in some embodiments, the density of the additive may be selected to facilitate dispensing of the additive from pouch reservoir 420 in response to pressure P. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, density may affect the responsiveness of the additive in pouch reservoir 420 to pressure P, for example, by affecting the flow rate or flow velocity of the additive out of pouch reservoir 420 that may be generated by pressure P. Thus, in one non-limiting example, a first additive having a lower density may dispense more quickly (i.e., at a higher flow rate or higher flow velocity) or may begin dispensing at a lower pressure P than a second additive having a higher density.

[0057] In some embodiments, the density of the additive may additionally or alternatively be selected to facilitate mixing of the additive with the base fluid in an additive delivery system, such as those described above. For example, in some embodiments, the density of the additive may be selected to facilitate mixing of the additive with the base fluid in the mixing space 600. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the density of the additive may affect the homogeneity of the beverage mixture mixed in the mixing space 600, for example, by affecting the mixing rate of the additive with the base fluid. In one non-limiting example, a first additive having a lower density may mix more quickly than a second additive having a higher density. Thus, while the space or time available for mixing may be limited in some point-of-use or flow-through systems, a first additive may mix more thoroughly than a second additive within a given space or mixing time allowed in a particular mixing space 600.

[0058] In some embodiments, the density of the additive may additionally or alternatively be selected to facilitate more accurate metering of the additive in an additive delivery system such as those described above. For example, in some embodiments, the density of the additive may be selected to facilitate more accurate metering of the additive through a metering space between the metering insert 300 and the mixing nozzle 350. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the density of the additive may affect the flow rate of the additive through a given metering space and / or the minimum metering space required for the additive to flow therethrough. Thus, in one non-limiting example, a first additive having a lower density may flow through a smaller minimum metering space or may have a flow rate through a metering space that may be more sensitive to changes in metering space than a second additive having a higher density.

[0059] Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the specific gravity of the additive may be selected to facilitate dispensing of the additive from an additive reservoir of an additive delivery system. For example, in some embodiments, the specific gravity of the additive may be selected to facilitate dispensing of the additive from pouch reservoir 420 in response to pressure P. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the specific gravity may affect the responsiveness of the additive in pouch reservoir 420 to pressure P, for example, by affecting the flow rate or flow velocity of the additive out of pouch reservoir 420 that may be generated by pressure P. Thus, in one non-limiting example, a first additive having a specific gravity closer to 1 (where specific gravity is the ratio of the density of the additive to the density of the base fluid) may dispense more quickly (i.e., at a higher flow rate or higher flow velocity) or begin dispensing at a lower pressure P than a second additive having a specific gravity greater than 1.

[0060] In some embodiments, the specific gravity of the additive may additionally or alternatively be selected to facilitate mixing of the additive with the base fluid in an additive delivery system or flow-through system such as those described above. For example, in some embodiments, the specific gravity of the additive may be selected to facilitate mixing of the additive with the base fluid in the mixing space 600. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the specific gravity of the additive may affect the homogeneity of the beverage mix mixed in the mixing space 600, for example, by affecting the mixing rate of the additive with the base fluid. In one non-limiting example, a first additive having a specific gravity closer to 1 (where specific gravity is the ratio of the density of the additive to the density of the base fluid) may mix more quickly than a second additive having a specific gravity greater than 1. Thus, because the space or time available for mixing may be limited in some point-of-use or flow-through systems, a first additive may mix more thoroughly than a second additive within a given space or mixing time allowed in a particular mixing space 600.

[0061] In some embodiments, the specific gravity of the additive may additionally or alternatively be selected to facilitate more accurate metering of the additive in an additive delivery system such as those described above. For example, in some embodiments, the specific gravity of the additive may be selected to facilitate more accurate metering of the additive through a metering space between the metering insert 300 and the mixing nozzle 350. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the specific gravity of the additive may affect the flow rate of the additive through a given metering space and / or the minimum metering space required for the additive to flow therethrough. Thus, in one non-limiting example, a first additive having a specific gravity closer to 1 (where specific gravity is the ratio of the density of the additive to the density of the base fluid into which the additive may flow after flow through the metering space) may flow through a smaller minimum metering space or may have a flow rate through the metering space that may be more sensitive to changes in metering space than a second additive having a specific gravity greater than 1.

[0062] While several embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those skilled in the art will readily envision various other means and / or structures for performing the functions and / or obtaining one or more of the results and / or advantages described herein, and each such variation and / or modification is deemed to be within the scope of the present disclosure. Rather, the present teachings encompass various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are merely exemplary. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary, and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and / or configurations will depend on the particular application in which the teachings of the present disclosure are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain, using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. Accordingly, the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only, and it should be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. The present disclosure is directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and / or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and / or methods is included within the scope of the present disclosure, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and / or methods are not mutually inconsistent.

Claims

1. It is a beverage additive, Water in a proportion of approximately 40% to 85% by weight of the aforementioned additive, An acidulant in a total proportion of about 1% to about 20% by weight of the aforementioned additive, wherein the acidulant contains phosphoric acid in a proportion of about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of the aforementioned additive, A beverage additive comprising a flavor system in a proportion of approximately 10% to 40% by weight of the aforementioned additive.

2. The beverage additive according to claim 1, wherein the acidulant contains citric acid in a proportion of about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the additive.

3. The beverage additive according to claim 1, wherein the acidulant contains lactic acid in a proportion of about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the additive.

4. The beverage additive according to claim 1, wherein the beverage additive has a viscosity and / or specific gravity selected to facilitate rapid mixing of the beverage additive in the mixing space of a flow-through additive delivery system.

5. The beverage additive is distributed at approximately 3 square millimeters per second (mm²). ２ / second) ~ approx. 7mm ２ A beverage additive according to claim 1, having a kinematic viscosity of 1 / second.

6. The beverage additive according to claim 1, wherein the beverage additive has a specific gravity of about 0.9 to about 1.

3.

7. The beverage additive according to claim 1, wherein the flavor system includes a sweetener.

8. The beverage additive according to claim 7, wherein the sweetener comprises at least one of erythritol, sucralose, or a steviol glycoside.

9. The beverage additive according to claim 1, further comprising a salt buffer in a proportion of about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the additive.

10. The beverage additive according to claim 9, wherein the salt buffer comprises at least one of sodium citrate or monopotassium phosphate.

11. The beverage additive according to claim 1, wherein the beverage additive has a pH of less than approximately 3.

3.

12. The aforementioned acidulant, The aforementioned additive contains citric acid in a proportion of approximately 6% to 9% by weight, The aforementioned additive contains lactic acid in a proportion of approximately 4% to approximately 7% by weight, The beverage additive according to claim 1, comprising phosphoric acid in a proportion of about 1.1% to about 1.4% by weight of the additive.

13. The aforementioned acidulant, The aforementioned additive contains citric acid in a proportion of approximately 3% to approximately 6.5% by weight, The aforementioned additive contains lactic acid in a proportion of approximately 2% to approximately 4% by weight, The beverage additive according to claim 1, comprising phosphoric acid in a proportion of about 0.5% to about 1.3% by weight of the additive.

14. The aforementioned additive has a pH of less than approximately 3.3, and the aforementioned acidulant is The aforementioned additive contains citric acid in a proportion of approximately 0.7% to approximately 0.8% by weight, The aforementioned additive contains lactic acid in a proportion of approximately 0.4% to approximately 0.5% by weight, The beverage additive according to claim 1, comprising phosphoric acid in a proportion of about 0.4% to about 0.5% by weight of the additive.

15. The beverage additive according to claim 1, wherein the acidulant constitutes about 6% to about 15% by weight of the additive, and comprises about 0.6% to about 1.3% by weight of phosphoric acid, about 3.5% to about 8.5% by weight of citric acid, and about 2% to about 8% by weight of lactic acid.

16. The aforementioned beverage additive is approximately 3 mm ２ / second ~ approx. 7mm ２ The beverage additive according to claim 15, having a kinematic viscosity of 1 / second or a specific gravity of about 0.9 to about 1.

3.

17. A beverage additive for use in an additive delivery system, wherein the beverage additive is Water in a proportion of approximately 40% to 85% by weight of the aforementioned additive, An acidulant in a proportion of about 6% to about 15% by weight of the additive, wherein the acidulant contains about 0.5% to about 1.4% by weight of phosphoric acid, about 3% to about 9% by weight of citric acid, and about 2% to about 8% by weight of lactic acid, A flavor system comprising the aforementioned additive in a proportion of approximately 10% to approximately 40% by weight, A beverage additive having a viscosity and / or specific gravity selected to facilitate mixing of the beverage additive with a base fluid in a mixing space of the additive delivery system, wherein the mixing space is fluidically coupled to the outlet of the delivery system, and the additive delivery system is configured to distribute the beverage additive from the additive reservoir and the base fluid from the base fluid container into the mixing space in response to a user drawing fluid through the outlet of the delivery system.

18. The beverage additive is distributed at approximately 3 square millimeters per second (mm²). ２ / second) ~ approx. 7mm ２ The beverage additive according to claim 17, having a kinematic viscosity of 1 / second.

19. The beverage additive according to claim 17, wherein the beverage additive has a specific gravity of about 0.9 to about 1.

3.

20. The beverage additive according to claim 17, wherein the flavor system includes a sweetener.

21. The beverage additive according to claim 20, wherein the sweetener comprises at least one of erythritol, sucralose, or a steviol glycoside.

22. The beverage additive according to claim 17, further comprising a salt buffer in a proportion of about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the additive.

23. The beverage additive according to claim 22, wherein the salt buffer comprises at least one of sodium citrate or monopotassium phosphate.

24. The beverage additive according to claim 17, wherein the proportion of phosphoric acid is selected to reduce the viscosity of the beverage additive by reducing the total proportion of the acidulant.

25. The beverage additive according to claim 17, wherein the beverage additive has a pH of less than approximately 3.

3.

26. The aforementioned acidulant, The aforementioned additive contains citric acid in a proportion of approximately 6% to 9% by weight, The aforementioned additive contains lactic acid in a proportion of approximately 4% to approximately 7% by weight, The beverage additive according to claim 17, comprising phosphoric acid in a proportion of about 1.1% to about 1.4% by weight of the additive.

27. The aforementioned acidulant, The aforementioned additive contains citric acid in a proportion of approximately 3% to approximately 6.5% by weight, The aforementioned additive contains lactic acid in a proportion of approximately 2% to approximately 4% by weight, The beverage additive according to claim 17, comprising phosphoric acid in a proportion of about 0.5% to about 1.3% by weight of the additive.

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