Internal Drink Mix System

Abstract

A drink mix system is provided for mixing one or more additives with liquid in a container. An additive holder is provided having an end wall that attaches to the end wall of a standard screw-off bottle cap. Inner and outer walls define one or more additive holding spaces that are sealed off from the liquid with one or more removable seals. Additive holding spaces may be in the form of concentric cylindrical holding spaces, wedge-shaped holding spaces, or stacked holding spaces. Additives may comprise vitamins, flavorings or colorings, and may be in a liquid, powder, solid or gel form. When desired, a user removes the seal(s) and selectively mixes one or more additives with the liquid in the bottle. This results in an inexpensive drink mix system that can utilize standard bottle caps and allows a user to selectively flavor a beverage.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application represents a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 196,420 entitled “Drink Mix System”, filed Aug. 4, 2005 and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 850,380, filed Oct. 10, 2006.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention pertains to the art of drink mix systems and, more specifically, to an additive mixing system for screw-cap containers including additive holders that allow additives to be selectively added to a liquid by a user. The invention may be utilized to customize soft drinks, juices, bottled water, alcoholic beverages and other marketed drinks. [0004] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art [0005] Billions of beverage containers are sold throughout the world every year. Generally, they are limited to only one flavor per container, and the total range of flavors available from bottlers is quite limited when compared with...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] Additives can constitute vitamins, flavorings, coloring, or any other desired additive, and may be in the form of powders, liquids, syrups or gels that dissolve easily in liquid. This results in an inexpensive drink mix system that allows a user to selectively add one or more additives to a beverage container, either at once or sequentially. Moreover, the adaptability of the invention to standardized bottle and cap designs allows for the alternative production and introduction of new flavors or flavor sequences not provided by the beverage industry.

Problems solved by technology

Generally, they are limited to only one flavor per container, and the total range of flavors available from bottlers is quite limited when compared with the vast quantities sold and the many millions of consumers involved.

Thus far, few simple, inexpensive options exist that allow consumers the freedom to enhance or multiply flavors for satisfying individual tastes without utilizing specialized beverage containers or caps.

Thus, consumers who wish to add their own flavoring to a beverage (e.g., lemon concentrate to bottled water) must remove the cap and insert their additive through the narrow bottle opening—a procedure that can be inefficient, untidy and inconvenient.

For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,170,654 and 6,561,232 disclose caps shaped to include storage areas that release additives into a beverage or liquid upon opening of the cap, but do not allow a user to choose a range of additives or the quantity to be added.

However, these systems require specifically constructed containers and caps, thereby increasing container size, complexity and manufacturing costs.

Images