Enhanced liquid container

Abstract

A beverage container includes a lid assembly having a chamber for storing and subsequently releasing a component of a mixture into a liquid stored within the container. The lid assembly includes an upper housing attached to a lower housing. The upper housing includes a button movable between a locked position and a released position. The upper housing also includes a spout that provides access to the contents of the container. A disk snaps into a snap groove within the lower housing and includes the chamber for storing one component of the mixture separate from liquid within the container. The chamber is initially placed in a storage position where contents of the chamber are isolated from the container. Aligning the chamber with an inlet in the lower housing to the container provides for the component mixture to fall freely into the liquid within the container.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 054,249 which was filed on Feb. 9, 2005.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention generally relates to a beverage container. More particularly this invention relates to a beverage container including features for storing separate component parts of a mixture prior to consumption.[0003]Typically, soft drinks, sports drinks, and other drinks are stored within a sealed beverage container prior to purchase. The duration between the time that the beverage is placed within the container and actually consumed can be significant. Therefore, many beverages include a sell-by date to insure that the beverage is sold within a desired time to ensure a desired level of freshness.[0004]Commonly beverages are a mixture of several ingredients dissolved within a liquid such as water. The mixture of ingredients is typically performed at a bottling or other production facility just...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"This patent is for a beverage container with a lid assembly that has a chamber for storing and releasing a component of a mixture into the liquid inside the container. The chamber is initially placed in a storage position that is not aligned with an inlet, so the contents of the chamber are isolated from the container. When it is desired to mix the component stored within the chamber with the liquid within the container, the button is depressed to permit rotation of the upper housing and the disk, and the contents of the chamber are then free to fall into and mix with the contents of the container. This invention allows for the separation of components, so the beverage can be stored for long periods while still providing the desired freshness when consumed."

Problems solved by technology

In some instances, those ingredients can begin to lose potency once mixed.

Disadvantageously, there can be a significant period between the time a beverage mixed and bottled and consumption.

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