Drinking device

Abstract

A drinking device for retronasal ingestion of an aroma substance comprises a reservoir (12) for drinking liquid, at least one air-permeable aroma container (20), and a transport channel (18) for drinking liquid extending from the reservoir (12) to a mouth end (28) of the drinking device (10), as well as an air channel (22) for transporting aromatized air, which extends from at least one of the at least one aroma container (20) to the transport channel (18) for drinking liquid or to the mouth end (28).

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a drinking device for the retronasal intake of an aroma substance. State of the art

[0002] There is a growing need to consume drinking fluids that, on the one hand, have a pleasant taste, while, on the other, avoiding health risks that can be caused by the ingestion of flavoring substances or stabilizers dissolved in the fluid. Furthermore, the intake of excessive calories should be avoided.

[0003] Therefore, water with a faint fruit flavor has become popular in recent years. However, this flavored water also contains undesirable additives, such as stabilizing agents and a certain amount of sugar, which is why these flavored drinks also contain a calorie content that many consumers reject.

[0004] A first step toward solving this problem is to add the flavoring to a beverage immediately before consumption. US 2008 / 028353 A1, US 2015 / 030726 A1, and US 8,662,2904 are examples of dosing systems in which a flavoring substance originally intended for a separate purpose is added to the beverage immediately before or during consumption and dissolved in it. While this measure can avoid problems such as stabilizing the beverage over an extended period, the problem of unwanted ingestion of additives remains.

[0005] Since the olfactory sensory impression constitutes a significant part of the gustatory perception when consuming food and beverages, existing systems attempt to influence the odor perceived while drinking. For this purpose, US Pat. No. 5,635,229 proposes an aroma element that can be attached to a drinking container near the drinking opening, so that the aroma element is in close proximity to the nose of the user, who breathes through their nose while drinking and thus absorbs the scent.

[0006] The drinking vessel according to US 8,662,339 B2 also works according to this principle, whereby an aroma is inhaled through the nose while drinking. Description of the invention

[0007] The invention is based on the object of proposing a drinking device that provides the user with an improved taste experience.

[0008] This object is achieved by a drinking device having the feature of claim 1. Preferred embodiments follow from the remaining claims and the following description.

[0009] The drinking device according to the invention for the retronasal intake of an aroma substance comprises a storage container for drinking liquid, at least one aroma container through which air can flow, a transport channel for drinking liquid running from the storage container to a mouth end of the drinking device and an air channel for transporting aromatized air, which runs from at least one of the at least one aroma container either to the transport channel for drinking liquid or to the mouth end.

[0010] The key aspect of the drinking device according to the invention is that the aroma substance is absorbed retronasally. The aroma substance enters the user's mouth together with the drinking liquid during drinking and then rises retronasally through the pharynx to the olfactory mucosa (regio olfactoria), where it is detected by the receptors located there and perceived by the user. The device according to the invention is equally suitable for cold or warm drinking liquids.

[0011] This takes advantage of the close connection between the sense of smell and the sense of taste. The user therefore has the impression of tasting the aroma, even though they are actually only smelling it retronasally.

[0012] A person's sense of taste is largely shaped by the retronasal sense of smell. The receptors in the tongue can only distinguish between sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami, whereas the differentiated sense of taste arises when the gaseous phase of food and liquids rises in the throat via the retronasal pathway and reaches the olfactory mucosa. The sensors located there trigger neurological stimuli that create a taste impression in the brain. A person who is exposed to an aroma in the throat while drinking gets the impression that the drink is flavored, because retronasal smelling creates the sensory impression in the brain that the drink is the source of the aroma, even though the user is consuming a pure, i.e. unflavored, pure liquid such as water.When odors are inhaled through the nose, the so-called orthonasal absorption of an aroma substance, this impression is not created to the same extent, since the sensory impression is linked to the breathing frequency and the user thus gains the correct impression that he is only smelling the aroma substance and not tasting it as with retronasal absorption.

[0013] The storage container, which is preferably designed to be refillable, can hold pure water or carbonated water, while the aroma substance is transferred to the air in the transport channel and is added to the drinking liquid immediately before it is consumed by the user or is transported separately into the user's throat.

[0014] Alternatively, the drinking liquid can also have its own flavor. The existing flavor of the drinking liquid is either enhanced by the flavoring substance from the flavor container or supplemented by one or more additional flavor components. If, for example, the storage container contains apple juice, apple flavoring can be added to enhance the taste experience, or orange flavoring, for example, can be added to create a flavor blend. In this way, alcoholic beverages such as beer can also be provided with additional flavoring substances, whereby the specific preferences of a user can be catered to by using a corresponding flavor container in the drinking device according to the invention.Furthermore, flavors not commonly used in the food industry can also be used in the drinking device disclosed here, such as "sandalwood," "spring meadow," or "unicorn," which are well-known in room fragrances. The flavor used can be artificial or natural. It is possible to use flavors isolated or enriched from an artificial or natural source, as well as natural substances, such as fresh or processed products made from lemon peel, dandelion leaves, licorice, or other aromatic substances.

[0015] According to the invention, multiple aroma containers can also be provided. This can be a spare aroma container that can be used as soon as the aroma container in use is exhausted. However, it is also possible, alternatively or additionally, to use multiple aroma containers that are in use simultaneously in order to create any desired aroma mixtures from different base aromas.

[0016] According to the invention, the transport channel for drinking liquid runs to the mouth end, while the air channel either opens into the transport channel for drinking liquid in the immediate vicinity of the mouth end, or runs separately from the transport channel for drinking liquid to the mouth end.

[0017] The advantage of the solution in which the air channel opens into the transport channel for the drinking liquid immediately next to the mouth is that it cannot be used incorrectly. When the drinking liquid is consumed, the flavoring substance is automatically absorbed. The disadvantage of this solution, however, is that there are air bubbles in the drinking liquid. As a result, drinking is associated with increased noise, comparable to drinking from a straw through which both liquid and air are sucked in. Furthermore, the user no longer has the desired impression of drinking pure liquid such as water. Finally, a further disadvantage is that the contact between the drinking liquid and the flavored air lasts for an extended period of time, during which a transfer of the flavoring substance from the air into the surrounding drinking liquid occurs.The drinking liquid is therefore "contaminated" in the user's perception, regardless of the harmlessness of the flavoring substance. Therefore, solutions in which the air channel runs separately from the drinking liquid transport channel to the mouth end are preferred.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mouthpiece is designed such that the transport channel for drinking liquid and the air channel for transporting flavored air extend longitudinally at the mouthpiece separately from one another and essentially the same distance. "Longitudinal direction" refers to the longitudinal direction of the transport channel for drinking liquid and the air channel for transporting flavored air at the mouthpiece. In other words, when drinking, the transport channel for drinking liquid and the air channel extend essentially the same distance into the user's oral cavity.

[0019] With this technical solution, the flavored air and the drinking liquid are sucked in separately from the drinking device. The flavored air does not have to escape from the surrounding drinking liquid in the form of air bubbles, but can rise retronasally via the pharynx to the olfactory mucosa immediately after entering the oral cavity. A further advantage of supplying the flavored air and the drinking liquid separately into the oral cavity is that there is even less mass transfer between the air and the drinking liquid. There are two reasons for this. The first reason is that the flavored air is not contained in the drinking liquid in the form of small bubbles, meaning there is a significantly smaller total surface area available for mass transfer between the liquid phase and the gaseous phase.The second reason is that the user swallows significantly less, and in fact, a negligible amount of flavored air along with the drinking liquid, since the flavored air is already present as a separate phase and no prior separation is required. Finally, this technical solution also has the advantage that the user feels like they are consuming a clear drinking liquid, rather than one that has been aerated, even to a small extent. The user experiences that they are consuming a pure liquid, like water.

[0020] A variant of the solution according to the invention consists in that the mouth end is designed in such a way that when the drinking device is used, the transport channel for drinking liquid and the air channel for transporting flavored air extend to different distances into the user's mouth.

[0021] Naturally, two different options are conceivable here. Firstly, the air duct for transporting flavored air can extend further into the user's mouth than the transport duct for drinking liquid, or the transport duct for drinking liquid can extend further into the user's mouth. Both solutions have in common that the flavored air and the drinking liquid are sucked out of the device separately. Both variants also have in common that the exchange of substances between the flavored air and the drinking liquid is kept as low as possible. However, this advantage can be achieved in the same way if the transport duct for drinking liquid and the air duct for transporting flavored air extend the same distance into the user's mouth, but both are designed in such a way that they protrude into the user's mouth when used as intended.However, extending too far into the mouth is perceived as unpleasant by the user.

[0022] The technical challenge of all the solutions described above is to coordinate the geometries of the transport channel for the drinking liquid and the air channel in such a way that, depending on the drinking position and, in the case of special drinking liquids and also the viscosity of the drinking liquid, the flavored air and the drinking liquid are sucked in in the desired ratio to each other.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drinking device further comprises a throttling device and / or sealing device for the transport channel for drinking liquid and / or the air channel for transporting flavored air, wherein the sealing device is preferably provided in a mouthpiece surrounding the mouth end and the mouthpiece is movable from a sealing position to a non-sealing position.

[0024] A throttling device can be provided as an alternative to a sealing device, but preferably in addition to a sealing device. A throttling device allows the ratio between drinking liquid and flavored air to be adjusted, which, for example, allows the degree of flavoring or the flow rate of drinking liquid to be adjusted. A simple embodiment of a throttling device, which can be actuated until complete sealing is achieved, is a pinch device, with which a flexible section of the transport channel or air channel can be reduced in terms of its internal cross-section or completely clamped off.

[0025] A preferred alternative embodiment of the sealing device is the provision of a pull-tap, preferably located on the mouthpiece, which is pulled out by the user to open the flow. After drinking, the pull-tap is pushed back toward the mouthpiece to close the air channel and the transport channel.

[0026] Another preferred alternative to the drinking device according to the invention comprises a rotary plug, which is opened or closed by the user by turning it. The use of rotary plugs is well known in chemical engineering, as a rotary plug represents a simple yet very tightly sealed component. Furthermore, a rotary plug can also be continuously adjusted, so that a rotary plug combines the functions of a throttling device and a shut-off device.

[0027] Another preferred alternative to the device according to the invention comprises a sliding valve, which, according to a preferred variant, is provided in a lid of the drinking device and can simultaneously accommodate the mouthpiece. The advantage of such a sliding valve is that it is immediately recognizable whether the valve is open or closed.

[0028] A preferred alternative embodiment of the device is the provision of a twist-on lid, which is either placed on top or screwed on, thereby sealing the drinking device. A twist-on lid is well suited to tightly closing the drinking device even when increased pressure builds up inside the storage container, as can occur when the drinking liquid is a carbonated beverage. Such a lid can tightly seal both the transport channel for drinking liquid and the air channel for flavored air, but also an additional air line for supplying air into the interior of the storage container for the purpose of pressure equalization. A further advantage of a twist-on lid is that it protects the mouthpiece from contamination and is a familiar element to every user, whose suitability for tightly closing the drinking device is relied upon.

[0029] A preferred alternative embodiment of the device is the provision of a sports valve, as is known from drinking bottles, for example, for carrying while cycling. Accordingly, the function of a sports valve is known, so that the user intuitively pulls the valve to drink and pushes it back into its original position after drinking.

[0030] However, the embodiment according to which the mouthpiece of the drinking device simultaneously functions as a shut-off device, with the aid of which all transport paths running in the direction of the mouthpiece can be tightly closed, is particularly preferred. According to a preferred variant of the invention, the mouthpiece is designed such that it can be moved from the sealing position to the non-sealing position via a translational movement. The mouthpiece can be designed such that both the transport channel for drinking liquid and the air channel, as well as the air line for the flow of air into the interior of the storage container, can be sealed and opened. The user therefore only has to move the mouthpiece into an operating position, whereby the sealing device is actuated unnoticed by the user.In this way, the number of components can be kept to a minimum, which, among other things, enables a more hygienic design and also saves costs in the production and assembly of the drinking system.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one aroma container is removable and can be inserted into the drinking device according to the invention with the aid of a simple movement sequence. According to a preferred variant, a bayonet lock can be used. A bayonet lock has the advantage that, after insertion, the correct orientation of the aroma container in the drinking device is ensured. According to a further preferred variant, a spring element can additionally be provided, which allows the aroma container to emerge from its receptacle as soon as the aroma container has not been inserted correctly. Furthermore, different locking positions can be used to preselect between different aroma intensity settings.

[0032] Preferably, one of the at least one flavor container comprises a sealing device, wherein the flavor container is movable from a sealing position to a non-sealing position. A flavor container with a substantially circular cross-section can be used in the same way as the rotary plug described above, by rotating the flavor container about its axis of symmetry to bring the transport channel for drinking liquid into alignment with the channel through the flavor container. The advantage of this solution is that no additional component is required.

[0033] Alternatively, it is equally possible to move the aroma container from a sealing position to a non-sealing position by sliding the aroma container in an axial direction. For example, an aroma container with any prism-shaped or ring-shaped geometry could be pushed in an axial direction to move the aroma container into a non-sealing position. The aroma container can lock into this position, i.e., remain in this position automatically, or drinking with aroma delivery is only possible if the aroma container is held down. In this way, a user could additionally choose between drinking liquid with or without flavored air.

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the at least one aroma container can comprise a plurality of chambers containing aroma substances of different odor intensities and / or different odor qualities. According to a further alternative of the drinking device according to the invention, a plurality of aroma containers can be provided. In other words, one or more aroma containers can be provided, and this aroma container or any number of the plurality of aroma containers can additionally comprise a plurality of chambers. In this way, any desired variants can be realized. If a single aroma container is provided, it can contain different aromas, so that a different aroma is supplied depending on the direction of insertion or an orientation of the aroma container, which can also be changed by the user during drinking.Furthermore, by providing a single aroma container, the type of aroma and also the aroma strength can be varied. For example, one aroma container could contain two, three, or more different aroma intensities of one and the same aroma substance, or a single aroma container could contain two different aromas, each provided at two different levels, so that the aroma container would have four separate chambers.

[0035] By providing several aroma containers, any desired aroma mixture can be created by varying different aroma directions, aroma strengths, or by adding one and the same aroma direction, which can be individually composed by a user.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, one of the at least one aroma container is located in a mouthpiece of the drinking device, wherein the mouthpiece is preferably replaceable. This solution has the advantage of improving the hygiene of the drinking device, since the mouthpiece is replaced with the aroma container, and thus, once the aroma container is exhausted, a new mouthpiece is attached to the drinking device. However, with this solution, it is important to ensure a tight seal between the mouthpiece and the reservoir for drinking liquid.

[0037] The advantage of having the aroma container either integrated into the mouthpiece or attached to a lid of the reservoir is that the user can immediately identify the "flavor." For example, the mouthpiece could be colored according to the selected flavor, such as yellow for a lemon flavor or green for a green apple flavor.

[0038] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the storage container for drinking liquid is provided with a lid. When the lid is removed, the user has access to both a filling opening for drinking liquid and a receiving opening for one or more aroma containers. After the lid is put on, the user can then vary between different aroma directions by turning the lid. The advantage of this solution is also that no separate locking device for the aroma container is required in the drinking device according to the invention, because the aroma container is automatically secured in the inserted state after the lid is put on. This solution also simplifies the sealing of the aroma container.

[0039] According to a preferred variant, an indicator tab is provided on the aroma container. This tab protrudes outward from the drinking vessel after the lid is put on, informing the user of the aroma direction being used. The tab can be easily grasped to remove the aroma container.

[0040] According to an alternative, preferred embodiment of the invention, the aroma container is designed as a ring located near the mouth end of the drinking device. A single chamber can be located within the ring. The ring-shaped aroma container can contain multiple chambers with different flavors, which are preferably identified by additional markings and / or colors for the user. This allows the user to intuitively change the aroma by operating the aroma ring, which can also be done while drinking. Thus, the use of a ring-shaped aroma container offers many options that can be implemented in a user-friendly manner.

[0041] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drinking device according to the invention further comprises a pull valve as a pressure equalization valve, which closes an air supply line leading into the interior of the storage container for drinking liquid. If a negative pressure builds up in the storage container as a result of drinking, i.e. the removal of drinking liquid, the valve opens and allows air to enter the storage container for drinking liquid. As soon as the pressure has been equalized, the pressure valve closes automatically again due to its own tension, so that no drinking liquid can escape. This variant is particularly advantageous in cases in which the shut-off device only closes the transport channel for drinking liquid and the air channel for transporting flavored air, but not the air channel for pressure equalization.An exemplary variant of this type is the provision of a mouthpiece that can be pivoted from a sealing position to an operating position, while the air line for pressure equalization is located at a different location on the container.

[0042] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the drinking device further comprises a head part which surrounds the mouth end and is arranged to be movable relative to the storage container, wherein the head part is movable from a position sealing the transport channel for drinking liquid and / or the air channel to a non-sealing position.

[0043] In the simplest case, the head of the drinking device can be pivotally attached to the reservoir for the drinking liquid. The geometry of the head relative to the reservoir can be selected such that when the head is rotated into the drinking position, it is angled. This allows for an ergonomically comfortable drinking position for the user and also makes it clear to the user that the drinking device is in its ready-to-use state and that improper handling could result in the drinking liquid leaking out. In this way, a drinking device can be designed with a futuristic design language that underscores the claim to be a new and innovative drinking device.

[0044] The drinking device according to the invention can be designed in a variety of ways. It can be a portable drinking bottle, either single-walled or double-walled, designed as a thermos flask. In Similarly, an open drinking vessel, similar to a cup, can also be provided. However, proper drinking posture must be observed to ensure that both the drinking liquid and the aroma to be dosed are delivered to the throat. With this technical solution, the aroma container could be a ring surrounding the drinking liquid reservoir, from which the aroma is either dosed into the drinking liquid transport channel or supplied to the user via a separate air duct running along the rim of the drinking cup.

[0045] Alternatively, the drinking cup can also be closed at the top and used as a shot glass. This variant can be used to modify the taste of drinking liquids such as spirits, liqueurs, or even caffeinated or non-caffeinated beverages with certain flavorings, or to enhance an existing flavor or mask potentially unwanted sensory perceptions.

[0046] A further alternative design consists in integrating the special functional features of the drinking device according to the invention into a straw which contains the mouth end and whose end opposite the mouth end is located in the storage container for the drinking liquid. In this case, the straw is simultaneously the transport channel for the drinking device, running from the storage container to the mouth end of the drinking device. The aroma container can be provided in the form of a ring surrounding the straw and located above the level for the drinking liquid, so that when the straw is used, air is sucked into the aroma container and is either guided to the mouth end via an air channel running parallel to the transport channel for the drinking liquid, or opens into the transport channel for the drinking liquid, so that the supplied aroma is dosed into the drinking liquid in the form of air bubbles.

[0047] What all of the above-mentioned ideas and variants have in common is that the flavoring substance is delivered via the mouthpiece into the user's mouth and throat, and the taste impression occurs via retronasal absorption of the flavoring substance. Apart from a small, unavoidable amount of absorption of the flavoring substance into the pure drinking liquid, or even the incomplete separation of air bubbles with the flavoring substance from the drinking liquid, the user ingests pure drinking liquid.

[0048] A preferred embodiment of the invention for optimising or simplifying the drinking device provides that the head part of the drinking device is divisible, dismantled or foldable. The head part can consist of one, two or more parts that must be joined together for the device to be used. For example, an essentially axisymmetric division of the head part is possible, so that in the unassembled position the channels of the drinking device are completely or partially open. This offers various advantages. Firstly, it makes cleaning the drinking device easier, since the sometimes narrow channels of the device can be easily reached by cleaning fluid and the cleaning fluid is not held back by any capillary forces that may occur.In addition, a divisible solution for the head section of the drinking device makes it possible to integrate the aroma reservoir into the interior of the head section. In previous systems, the aroma reservoir could only be attached from the outside, leaving it visible during use. Previous systems also required a separate attachment mechanism for the aroma reservoir, which can be eliminated with a divisible solution.

[0049] The head part is understood to be the part of the drinking device where the essential technology and / or the aroma reservoir of the drinking device is located. It is preferably mounted on the head of the drinking device, but can also be located elsewhere on the drinking device or integrated into the drinking device.

[0050] For example, the use of a substantially elastic material, such as silicone or other elastomers, for the manufacture of the divisible or non-divisible head section or parts of the head section of the drinking device can facilitate simplified sealing of the system. Furthermore, the divisibility of the head section allows for an increased number of connection options between the head section and the liquid reservoir of the drinking device.

[0051] A further preferred embodiment of the invention consists in the channels having a special shape. For example, it is possible for the channel for the liquid to be widened or tapered at one, two or more points, i.e. the diameter of the channels is larger or smaller than at the other points. A tapering or widening can be implemented, for example, in or on the mouthpiece of the drinking device. This enables the user to experience a different mouthfeel when drinking from the drinking device. The drinking sensation has been a problem in previous solutions because consumers are not used to drinking liquid together with air bubbles. By widening or tapering at one or more points in the liquid-carrying channel, the pressure conditions there change, so that the size and / or shape of the air bubbles in the liquid changes. This improves the drinking sensation for the user.

[0052] A further preferred embodiment of the invention is a change in the geometry of the liquid channel at the point where the air channel of the drinking device enters. This can have various advantages. For example, the Venturi effect can be utilized by tapering the liquid channel at the inlet point of the air channel. Due to the tapering at the inlet point, the dynamic pressure (back pressure) is maximum and the static pressure minimum. The velocity of the liquid increases in proportion to the cross-sections when flowing through the constricted section, since the amount of liquid does not change. At the same time, the pressure in the air channel, which is preferably located at the narrowest point, decreases. This creates a pressure difference that increases the absorption of the flavored air into the liquid in the drinking device.This means that the user does not have to suck as hard on the drinking device, for example, which improves the drinking experience or results in design advantages.

[0053] Another preferred modification of the geometry of the channels in the drinking device includes different surfaces on the inside of the channels or obstacles that alter the flow conditions in the liquid-carrying channels. Cavitation, among other things, can occur. Through cavitation or mechanical fragmentation of the air bubbles, a modified air bubble size and / or air bubble geometry can be achieved. This also improves the drinking experience for the user. The change in air bubble size can also be achieved, for example, by using a substantially sieve-like geometry or a membrane.

[0054] The air duct of the drinking device can also have a special shape. Previous solutions use a consistently uniformly shaped duct. The air duct must have a small diameter, which, on the one hand, poses problems during the production of the head section of the drinking device. On the other hand, a narrow duct makes the drinking device difficult to clean. The solution according to the invention therefore provides, for example, that the air duct is tapered essentially only at a short point. This simplifies production and facilitates cleaning.

[0055] A further preferred embodiment of the drinking device according to the invention provides that the aroma unit of the drinking device according to the invention must be activated before use. The aroma can initially be micro- or macroscopically encapsulated. Activation can occur, for example, through a change in temperature or a mechanical process. A preferred embodiment provides an air-permeable filter into which a substantially round aroma unit is placed, the interior of which essentially contains a fluid comprising a flavoring substance. The shell of the aroma unit is preferably made of a material such as gelatin or agarose, so that in the inactive state, a tight shell keeps the fluid with the flavored substance in a non-volatile state. Upon activation, for example, by destroying the shell under pressure, the fluid is released into the surrounding filter.Such solutions are proposed, for example, in US 20040261807 A1 for use in cigarettes. According to the invention, this technology is to be used in a preferred embodiment in the drinking device according to the invention. This results in several advantages. For example, it can protect the flavoring substances from oxidative processes, and generally save packaging material and avoid plastic seals.

[0056] A further preferred embodiment of the drinking device according to the invention provides that the air channel comprises a specially shaped chamber. This solves the problem that fluctuations in the pressure and flow conditions in the transport channel for drinking liquid that occur at the end of the drinking process at the drinking device lead to the ingress of drinking liquid into the air channel and / or the aroma container. This ingress of liquid can, for example, lead to the fragrance-releasing substance in the aroma container being undesirably diluted or to hygiene problems. The interruption of the air channel by a chamber can be designed such that a recess is provided in the head section of the drinking device at the contact point between the removable transport channel for drinking liquid and the air channel.In a preferred embodiment, the air duct coming from the aroma container opens into the chamber at a position substantially at the top. On the substantially opposite side, the air duct continues at a position substantially at the bottom of the chamber. The chamber prevents the drinking liquid from backing into the aroma reservoir. The substantially opposite position of the continuation of the air duct ensures ideal use of the chamber. The different heights of the inlet and outlet openings of the air duct in and out of the chamber enable, among other things, drinking liquid to drain back into the drinking device. The possible arrangement of the chamber at the contact point between the head section and the transport channel for drinking liquid enables easier cleaning after the two components have been disassembled.

[0057] All preferred embodiments and combinations of the technical features in the foregoing and following have in common that an average air flow through the air channel during normal drinking from the drinking device according to the invention is expediently between approximately 250 and 550 ml / min. This air flow is achieved, for example, when using an air channel with a diameter of approximately 0.5 to 2.5 mm or, in the case of a non-circular cross-section, with a cross-sectional area of ​​the air channel between 0.2 mm 2 and 4.9 mm 2 . The air flow can also be adjusted in other ways, such as by a substantially short taper of the air channel, a valve, which can also be designed as a check valve to prevent the entry of liquid into the air channel and / or the aroma container, or by the use of a membrane.A substantially permeable membrane can, for example, be installed at the junction of the air channel and the transport channel for drinking liquid. This not only adjusts the air flow to a suitable level, but also controls the size of the air bubbles entering the liquid flow, resulting in a more pleasant drinking experience for the drinker. A further advantage of using a membrane at this location is that the previously described fluctuations in pressure and flow conditions at the end of the drinking process do not result in drinking liquid entering the air channel and / or the flavor container or in its quantity being reduced at this or any other time.

[0058] A further problem with the drinking device according to the invention is sealing the entire drinking device for transport. It should be noted that not only the drinking opening and a pressure equalization channel must be sealed, but also the air channel of the drinking device to prevent drinking liquid from penetrating the aroma container. It would be desirable for the user of the drinking device to be able to close all three openings in a single operation. A further preferred embodiment therefore provides for the drinking device to be sealed with a lid that closes all three openings simultaneously. This can preferably be made possible by inserting a pin / spike into at least one of the three openings (each) and sealing any remaining openings using conventional systems.For example, a dome / pin can be inserted far enough into the transport channel for drinking liquid to also seal the opening of the air channel into the transport channel for drinking liquid, thus preventing drinking liquid from penetrating the air channel and / or the aroma container. A further preferred embodiment, which solves the problem of sealing the aroma reservoir described at the beginning of this section, provides that the aroma reservoir is, for example, essentially annular and that the flow connection between the, for example, removable aroma container and the air channel is severed by a movement such as turning the aroma container over. For this purpose, the air outlet opening on the aroma container must be arranged off-center, for example, so that an aroma container placed upside down closes the aroma container-side end of the air channel.

[0059] The invention is described below purely by way of example with reference to the attached schematic figures, in which Fig. 1 schematically shows a first possibility of the mouthpiece technology of a drinking device according to the invention for the retronasal intake of an aroma substance; Fig. 2 shows an alternative mouthpiece technology of a drinking device according to the invention for the retronasal intake of an aroma substance; Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b show the use of a pivoting mouthpiece in the drinking device according to the invention; Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b show a cross-sectional view showing a pressure equalization valve in the open and closed state; Fig. 5 schematically shows a slide valve; Fig. 6 shows a sectional view through the drinking device according to the invention with a rotating lid that tightly closes the drinking device; Fig. 7 schematically shows a drinking device according to the invention with a seal designed as a tap; Fig. 8 schematically shows the use of a rotating plug by a user; Fig.Fig. 9 schematically shows the function of an integrated valve with a separate transport channel for drinking liquid and an air channel for transporting flavored air; Fig. 10 schematically shows the function of an integrated valve with a series-running transport channel for drinking liquid and an air channel for transporting flavored air; Fig. 11a and Fig. 11b schematically show the sealing of the transport channel for drinking liquid and the air channel for transporting flavored air by means of the position of the flavor container; Fig. 12a, Fig. 12b, Fig. 12c and Fig. 12d schematically show top views of the storage container of the drinking device according to the invention, onto each of which a head part can be placed and in which different arrangements for the filling opening for drinking liquid and the accommodation of one or more flavor containers are shown; Fig. 13 schematically shows one possibility for labeling the flavor containers used; Fig.14a and Fig. 14b show a detailed view and an exploded view of an aroma mixer integrated into the drinking device; Fig. 15 schematically shows the use of an aroma container for individually compiling an overall aroma consisting of individual aromas; Fig. 16 schematically shows an aroma container which is suitable for insertion into a correspondingly shaped bayonet receptacle; Fig. 17 schematically shows the insertion of the aroma mixer shown in . Fig. 16illustrated aroma container into a drinking device according to the invention; Fig. 18a and Fig. 18b illustrate an individual aroma mouthpiece and an aroma mouthpiece on a drinking device according to the invention; Fig. 19 illustrates a schematic sectional view of an aroma mouthpiece attachable to a drinking device; Fig. 20a and Fig. 20b illustrate the arrangement of an aroma container on the head part of a drinking device according to the invention and the use of the head part; Fig. 21 illustrates a schematic sectional view through a drinking device according to the invention using an aroma ring; Fig. 22 illustrates a schematic plan view of a drinking device according to the invention with an aroma ring divided into individual segments; Fig. 23a, Fig. 23b and Fig. 23c illustrate an embodiment of a drinking device according to the invention designed as an open drinking vessel, wherein Fig. 23a represents a schematic external view; Fig. 23bschematically the use of the drinking device according to Fig. 23a shows and Fig. 23c the section marked A in Fig. 23benlarged; Fig. 24a schematically shows a drinking device according to the invention combined as a bottle cap with a conventional drinking bottle; Fig. 24b schematically shows the bottle cap in an enlarged view; Fig. 25a and Fig. 25b show a drinking device according to the invention using a straw and a sectional view through the straw to illustrate the operating principle; Fig. 26a and Fig. 26b show a mouthpiece for a drinking device according to the invention that enables the bottle to be tipped over; Fig. 27a and Fig. 27b schematically show inventive changes to the geometry of the liquid channel in the head part; Fig. 28a and Fig. 28b schematically and by way of example show an inventive change to the geometry of the liquid channel; Fig. 29 schematically shows a preferred embodiment of the air channel; Fig. 30a and Fig.Fig. 30b shows a preferred embodiment which schematically and by way of example contains a divisible head part; Fig. 31 shows a preferred embodiment of the divisible head part with an internal aroma reservoir; Fig. 32a, Fig. 32b and Fig. 32c show various preferred embodiments of the head part of the drinking device which have modified geometries at the point where the fragrance channel joins the liquid channel; and Fig. 33a and Fig. 33b schematically show a preferred embodiment of the head part of the drinking device which contains a device which prevents the entry of liquid into the air channel. Description of preferred embodiments

[0060] In the following embodiments, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0061] In Fig. 11 schematically shows a drinking device 10 which, in the following exemplary embodiment, consists of a storage container 12 filled with pure drinking liquid and a head part 14. Pure drinking liquid is always understood herein to mean the drinking liquid which does not contain any flavoring added by the drinking system according to the invention. The head part 14 has a mouthpiece 16 which, in the present case, is integrated into the head part, but, as will be explained later using different embodiments, can also be provided separately. Located in the head part 14 is an aroma container 20 which, in a manner not shown, is in flow connection with the ambient air and from which an air duct 22 leads for transporting flavored air. Furthermore, a transport channel 18 for drinking liquid is provided which, in the present exemplary embodiment, extends into the pure liquid present in the storage container 12 like a straw.

[0062] In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 the transport channel 18 for drinking liquid and the air channel 22 for transporting flavored air are connected in series, ie the air channel 22 opens into the transport channel for drinking liquid, in which consequently in the section 18a there is both the pure liquid sucked in by the user via the mouthpiece 16 and air bubbles with flavored air.

[0063] When using the drinking device 10 according to the invention, both the pure liquid and the flavored air are ingested orally. In the oral cavity, the liquid and gas phases separate, and the gaseous flavored air passes via the retronasal pathway 24 in the direction of arrow A to the olfactory mucosa 26. There, the aroma is detected by the receptors located in the olfactory mucosa. Through neuronal processing of the sensory stimuli, the user is given the impression that the pure liquid they are drinking (direction of arrow B) has the flavor added by the aroma.

[0064] At the Fig. 1In the solution presented, it is important that the flavored air flows into the transport channel 18 for the drinking liquid as directly as possible at the mouthpiece 16, so that contact between the flavored air and the pure liquid is as brief as possible during drinking. In this way, unwanted mass transfer of flavoring substance between the air and the pure liquid is minimized, although absorption of the flavor into the liquid cannot be completely ruled out. The shorter the contact time between the air and the liquid, but also the smaller the total interface between the air and the liquid, the lower the unwanted mass transfer.

[0065] In order to keep the unwanted mass transfer as low as possible, the arrangement according to Fig. 2proved to be advantageous. The transport channel 18 for drinking liquid and the air channel 22 for transporting flavored air are arranged parallel to each other, ie there is no mixing before the mouth end 28. The remaining components as well as the operating principle correspond completely to those according to the Fig. 1 schematically illustrated embodiment.

[0066] At the Fig. 2 In the embodiment shown, it is additionally shown that, when used as intended, the mouth end extends a short distance into the user's mouth. In according to the illustration Fig. 2However, the extension has been exaggerated for clarity. The advantage of extending the mouthpiece 28 into the oral cavity is that mixing between the flavored air and the pure liquid is minimized. Likewise, it is of course also possible for the mouthpiece 28 to be located in the area of ​​the user's lips during intended use.

[0067] In the Fig. 2In the embodiment shown, the air channel 22 for transporting flavored air and the transport channel 18 for drinking liquid extend the same distance into the user's mouth, i.e., the transport channel 18 and the air channel 22 both end at the same point at the mouth end 28. However, with the parallel arrangement of the transport channel 18 and the air channel 22, this does not necessarily have to be the case, and one of the two channels can extend less far into the user's mouth than the other. Accordingly, two variants are conceivable.

[0068] According to the first variant, the air channel 22 extends further into the oral cavity than the transport channel 18 for the drinking liquid. With this variant, not shown, the user has the feeling of taking in the drinking liquid directly through the mouthpiece of the bottle to their lips. However, the flavored air is guided a short distance into the oral cavity and is thus in contact with the pure liquid for only a very short time, so that mass transfer between the flavored air and the pure liquid can be virtually eliminated. Furthermore, the geometry and length of the individual channels can also be technically determined in order to achieve the most even suction of pure liquid and flavored air during the drinking process.

[0069] As an alternative to the previously described variant, only the transport channel 18 for drinking liquid can extend further into the user's mouth, while the air channel 22 for transporting flavored air ends in the area of ​​the user's lips when the user drinks from the drinking device according to the invention. This measure also serves to keep the contact time between the flavored air and the drinking liquid as short as possible and has the advantage that the aroma can already develop in the user's throat.

[0070] In order to use the drinking device according to the invention effectively, it must be ensured that, on the one hand, the aroma does not escape undesirably during storage of the drinking device, but also that a drinking device already filled with pure liquid cannot leak. Furthermore, the drinking device must also have an air channel between the interior of the storage container for the drinking liquid and the outside atmosphere. This air channel serves to equalize pressure and introduces a corresponding volume of air into the drinking device according to the volume of drinking liquid withdrawn from the drinking device during consumption. This air channel should also be equipped with a suitable shut-off device to prevent any unwanted leakage of drinking liquid.

[0071] In the Fig. 3a and 3bAn embodiment is shown in which the mouthpiece is pivotally mounted on the drinking device 10 about a rotation axis 30 and is arranged in the direction of arrow C between the Fig. 3a drinking position shown and the Fig. 3b The mouthpiece is provided with a continuation 18b of the transport channel 18 for drinking liquid and a continuation 22b of the air channel 22 for transporting flavored air, which can only be moved in the Fig. 3a shown drinking position are aligned with the channels 18 and 22, so that the user can suck in drinking liquid and flavored air through the mouthpiece 16. In the closed state, as shown in Fig. 3b As shown, a positive connection takes place between the drinking device 10 and the mouthpiece 16, which creates a high-quality aesthetic impression.

[0072] Deviating from the Fig. 3bIn the schematically illustrated embodiment, it is also possible to modify the mouthpiece 16 and the receiving geometry provided for the mouthpiece in the closed state so that in the sealed state the continuations 22b and 18b of the transport channels 22, 18 are not open to the outside, so that in the phases in which the drinking device is not in use, no undesirable substances can enter the mouthpiece 16 from the outside.

[0073] The Figures 4a and 4b schematically show a possible embodiment of a compensating valve for the air channels 32 for the inflow of air for the purpose of pressure equalization. A check valve is used.

[0074] Such a check valve can consist of an elastic component 34 which is firmly fixed in a wall 36 of the drinking device according to the invention and is provided with an elastic sealing plate 38 which, in the case of negative pressure, as in Fig. 4a is shown, deforms under the influence of the increased external pressure so that air can flow through the air duct 32 into the interior of the storage container in the direction of arrow D. If, as in Fig. 4b shown, the pressure equalization is established, the sealing plate 38 lies tightly against the wall 36 from the inside of the container and closes the air channel 32, so that, as shown in Fig. 4b As shown, no outside air can flow into the interior of the storage container 12 in the direction E and at the same time no liquid can flow out through the air channel 32. If for any reason the pressure inside the storage container is higher than the pressure of the outside atmosphere, the same situation applies as in Fig. 4b shown and prevents the unwanted escape of liquid or air from the interior of the container.

[0075] At the Fig. 5The embodiment shown is a variant of the one shown in the Fig. 3a and 3b The solution shown uses a rotating mouthpiece. In the embodiment according to Fig. 5 The mouthpiece 16 can be moved in the direction of arrow F and back and is positioned as shown in Fig. 5 is shown, in the drinking position, protrudes slightly from the head part 14 of the drinking device 10. In order to be able to move the mouthpiece 16, which is designed as a slide, it can be provided in a suitable manner on the top with a gripping aid in the form of a ribbing (not shown). The embodiment according to Fig. 5is a very elegant solution, since after the drinking process, the mouthpiece 16 is moved in the opposite direction of the arrow F until the mouth end 28 is flush with the surface of the head part 14, which also immediately indicates to the user whether the drinking device is in an open or closed state. Technically, the solution can be Fig. 5 This can be achieved by first extending the transport channels 18 and 20 in the axial direction of the drinking device in the direction of the mouthpiece and only in the Fig. 5 The extended position of the mouthpiece 16 shown in FIG. 1 is aligned with the extensions of the transport channels 18 and 22 arranged in the mouthpiece. This could be achieved, for example, by using an eccentric, so that opening and closing is enabled by a rotary movement.

[0076] In the Fig. 6A further embodiment of the invention is shown using a rotating lid 40, which is screwed onto the storage container 12 and thereby tightly seals the mouth end 28 with the transport channel 18 for drinking liquid as well as the air channel 22 for transporting flavored air to the outside. Furthermore, the rotating lid 40 can also extend far enough over the body of the storage container 12 that, when the lid is screwed on, a Fig. 6 The inlet opening (not shown) to the air duct is also closed for pressure equalization. The advantage of a lid is also that it protects the mouth end 28 from contamination and, due to the pressure resistance of a screw connection, is also suitable for securely sealing the drinking device filled with a carbonated liquid 42.

[0077] The Fig. 7The variant of a locking device shown has a tap 44 which is arranged in the head part 14. If the user pulls the tap out in the direction of arrow G, the drinking device 10 opens for drinking. To tightly close it, the tap 44 is pressed back towards the head part in the opposite direction to the arrow G. The position of the mouthpiece designed as a tap 44 shows the user that they do not have to tilt the bottle in order to drink. A coding / marking, for example using different colors, could also give the user a clear indication that the tap is in the pulled-out position and that the drinking device is therefore not tightly closed.

[0078] In Fig. 8Another solution using a rotary plug is shown schematically. The rotary plug 46 can be used both as a sealing device and as a throttling device for throttling the volume flow of drinking liquid guided through the transport channel 18 as well as the volume flow of flavored air guided through the air channel 22. The Fig. 8 The rotary plug 46 shown is rotatably arranged in the head part of the drinking device and can be moved by the user in the direction of rotation H by operating the handwheel 50. Part of the rotary plug 46 is a shaft 52 which is rotatably guided in the housing and in which through openings 48a and 48b are located, which are arranged in the direction shown in Fig. 8shown orientation are not aligned with the transport channel 18 for drinking liquid and the transport channel 20 for flavored air. However, if the shaft 52 is rotated by approximately 90° with the openings 48a and 48b by actuating the rotary plug 46 in the direction of arrow H, the openings 48a and 48b are aligned with the channels 22 and 18, so that the flow connections are open. However, the openings 48a and 48b can also be brought into a position by actuating the rotary plug in which only a portion of the opening cross-section of the openings 48a and 48b is available for the flow of air and liquid. In this way, the rotary plug can also be used for throttling.

[0079] With the alternative use of a rotary plug 46 with x-shaped channels, the ratio of drinking liquid to flavored air can be varied. For this purpose, the openings 48b in the rotary plug and the x-shaped channels for transporting drinking liquid each have the same flow cross-section, while the x-shaped channels for transporting flavored air have different flow cross-sections. As shown schematically in the detailed views in Fig. 8As shown, the opening 48a and the adjoining channel have a larger flow cross-section than the opening 48c and the adjoining channel. As a result, by selecting the rotational position of the rotary plug, a user can, on the one hand, close the transport channel 18 and the air channel 22, and, on the other hand, set different flow cross-sections for the air channel 22 while the transport channel 18 is open for the drinking liquid, thus throttling the amount of flavored air.

[0080] The advantage of the rotary plug is that the flow rate can be continuously adjusted and the operation of the locking device is intuitive for each user.

[0081] According to a further embodiment not shown, a sports valve can be provided in which, similar to the embodiment according to Fig. 7, the mouthpiece is moved in an axial direction between the closed and the open position. By operating the mouthpiece, in addition to the transport channel 18 for drinking liquid and the air channel 22 for transporting flavored air, the air channel 32 for pressure equalization can also be opened and closed simultaneously. As with the sports valves known from the prior art and commercially, the mouthpiece is pulled out when the drinking device is to be put into the drinking state and pushed back towards the storage container when the drinking device is to be tightly closed. Unlike with known drinking vessels with a sports valve, however, it is not necessary to tip the drinking device when drinking, since the drinking liquid and the flavored air are sucked in by the user.

[0082] The use of an integrated valve is in the Figs. 9 and 10 shown. In the Fig. 9the integrated valve is shown with separate air duct 22 for transporting flavored air and transport duct 18 for drinking liquid, while in Fig. 10 the transport channels 18 and 20 are connected in series, as shown schematically in the Fig. 1 was presented.

[0083] If you turn to the Fig. 9 to, it becomes clear that the mouthpiece 16 of the drinking device can be pulled out in the direction of arrow J relative to the head part 14 and pushed in again. In the Fig. 9In the pulled-out state shown, the transport channel 18 and the air channel 22 are open so that drinking can be done from the drinking device. At the same time, the air channel 32 is also opened for pressure equalization. If the mouthpiece 16 is now moved towards the head part 14 until the mouthpiece 16 lies firmly against the head part 14, the opening of the air channel 32 is tightly closed with the projection 54 on the mouthpiece 16. Due to the offset of the mouthpiece 16 relative to the head part, the flow connection from the head part to the mouthpiece is also interrupted at the point where the air channel 22 enters the mouthpiece 16, so that the air channel 22 is closed. Furthermore, the movement in the direction of arrow K also closes the transport channel 18 for drinking liquid, so that with the help of the Fig. 9The integrated valve shown in the drawing allows the transport channel 18 for drinking liquid, the air channel 22 for transporting flavored air and the air channel 32 for pressure equalization to be opened and closed simultaneously. Figs. 9 and 10 The shape of the mouthpiece shown in the area of ​​the mouth end is only shown schematically and can of course have any shape that is ergonomic for the user.

[0084] The mouthpiece 16 can be locked in the closed position by means of form-locking elements in the form of, for example, locking nipples 15a, 17a and corresponding recesses 15b and 17b, which are arranged in Fig. 10 are shown.

[0085] The design according to Fig. 10 differs from that according to Fig. 9only in that the air channel 22 for transporting flavored air in the mouthpiece 16 is not led to the mouth end 28, but opens into the transport channel 18 for drinking liquid in the area of ​​the mouthpiece. Otherwise, however, the embodiment differs according to Fig. 10 not from the one after Fig. 9 , so that with regard to the operating principle of the sealing device, the designs according to Fig. 9 can be referred to.

[0086] The embodiment according to Fig. 11a and 11b integrate the sealing device into the aroma container 20. The aroma container is pressed with the help of a finger in the direction of arrow L against the pressure force of a spring 56 in order to move the continuation 18b of the transport channel 18 for drinking liquid provided in the aroma container 20 into the Fig. 11bThe illustrated aligned connection with the sections 18a and 18c of the transport channel for drinking liquid is conceivable. It is conceivable that the liquid connection through the transport channel 18 only exists as long as a user actually presses the aroma container 20 from the outside with his finger. In the same way, it is also possible, comparable to the locking function of a ballpoint pen, to provide a locking position, so that, as in Fig. 11b indicated by the double arrow L, pressing again brings the aroma container back into the Fig. 11a returns to the starting position shown.

[0087] According to an alternative embodiment not shown, it is also possible to use the Fig. 11a and 11b The aroma container can be rotated using the translational movement L shown, so that it can be rotated in a manner comparable to that shown in the Fig. 8The solution shown can be rotated between a locked position and at least one drinking position using a rotating plug. A different opening of the aroma container with a different cross-sectional size could be fluidly connected to the air channel 22 via different angles of rotation. This would allow the amount of flavored air and thus the flavor intensity to be controlled. Possible positions include "off," "medium," and "strong," although in this example, an aroma container with two holes of different sizes would be necessary. In the third position in the example, the air channel 22 would be closed, making it possible to drink the liquid without air supply and without added flavor. A further advantage of this solution is that the aroma container also functions as the seal, thus requiring fewer components.

[0088] According to a further embodiment not shown, a shut-off device can also be designed with a squeezing device. For this purpose, a section of the channel to be sealed, for example the transport channel for drinking liquid, must be provided with a flexible hose which is squeezed together, for example, by a wheel arranged in a groove for rotational movement, thereby throttling or interrupting the flow connection. This technical solution meets hygienic requirements because there is no direct contact between the shut-off wheel and the substance conveyed in the transport channel. Therefore, this solution is also used, for example, in the medical field to adjust the transport volume for infusion liquids. If the actuating wheel is largely recessed in the head section of the drinking device, a low-profile design can be achieved with this technical solution.

[0089] In the embodiments shown above, only a single aroma container was provided for the sake of simplicity, which was arranged in the head part of the container.

[0090] What all embodiments have in common is that the drinking device can be designed in such a way that, for example, in the base of the drinking device there is a further receiving geometry for at least one additional aroma container, which can be exchanged for the existing aroma container as soon as the aroma container in use is exhausted or the consumer wishes to change the flavor. Fig. 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d Embodiments are shown which schematically show a plan view of the storage container 12, which is rotatably connected to a Fig. 12a to 12dThe top view shows that each of the storage containers 12 has a filling opening 60 for drinking liquid. In the embodiments according to the Fig. 12b and 12c only a single aroma container 20 is provided, while in the embodiments according to Fig. 12a and 12d Three aroma containers 20 are used in each case, although a different number of aroma containers is also possible.

[0091] The corresponding receptacles 66 for the aroma containers 20 are in Fig. 13 As also shown in Fig. 13As can be seen, the aroma containers 20 can be provided with a marking tab 62, which enables the aroma containers 20 to be removed after they have been inserted flush into the corresponding receptacle 66 in the storage container 12. Furthermore, the marking tabs 62 can be arranged such that they extend outside the storage container 12 and can thus provide the user with information about the aroma direction used.

[0092] When providing several aroma containers, by turning the in Fig. 12a to 12d as well as Fig. 13The individual flavor directions can be selected by adjusting the head part (not shown) relative to the body of the storage container 12. For this purpose, the head part is provided with corresponding markings or a locking mechanism (not shown), with the aid of which a user can establish the flow connection of the air channel 22 from one of the several flavor containers to the mouthpiece of the drinking device. In this way, the flavor direction can be changed even while drinking. Likewise, by deliberately arranging the head part in a position in which there is no continuous connection to any of the air channels 22, pure drinking liquid can also be consumed.

[0093] In the Fig. 14a and 14b The embodiment shown may differ from the embodiment according to the Fig. 12a to 12d as well as Fig. 13a mixture of individual flavors can be produced. For this purpose, a mixing device 64 is arranged between the storage container 12 and the head part 14 with mouthpiece 16, which in the embodiment according to Fig. 14a comprises three different receptacles for aroma containers 20, each of which is inserted into the mixing device 64 designed as an intermediate plate. Thus, a mixed aroma can be produced from various aroma substances, which is sucked off via the mixing ring 68 and fed to the mouthpiece via the adjoining air duct 22 in the head section 14.

[0094] The Fig. 14a and 14b The technical solution presented offers the advantage that a user can create his or her own flavor combinations.

[0095] In the Fig. 15An alternative design is shown in which the aroma container 20 is divided into individual segments 20a, 20b, and 20c and is closed at the top by means of a lid 70. A user can freely combine the individual aromas that are inserted into the individual segments 20a, 20b, and 20c and from which a mixture is created.

[0096] If the above description refers to different flavors, this term also includes individual flavors that contain the same flavor but have a different flavor intensity.

[0097] The embodiment according to Fig. 16outlines a possible fastening option for an aroma container 20, which is provided with a spring 56 on the lower side. The peripheral wall of the essentially circular-cylindrical aroma container 20 has, in addition to the fragrance hole 72 shown here, a guide 74, which is a groove with two sections arranged at an angle to one another. The first section 74a runs parallel to the rotational axis of the circular-cylindrical aroma container, whereas the second section 74b adjoins the first section 74a and extends in the circumferential direction to an end surface 74c. A possible associated storage container 12 is shown in Fig. 17 and shows similarities to the one in Fig. 12c shown geometry with a filling opening 60 formed essentially in the form of a semicircular segment and a receptacle 66 for the Fig. 16shown aroma container, wherein on the peripheral wall of the receiving space 66 there is a projection 76 which is arranged and designed to be moved within the guide 74 during insertion. The storage container according to Fig. 17 could also be designed in such a way that no bayonet connection between the receiving space 66 and the aroma container 20 is required, since by placing a Fig. 17 shown head part of the aroma container is fixed.

[0098] When inserting the aroma container, it is thus initially inserted in the correct angular position relative to the projection 76 in the axial direction L, with the projection 76 passing through the first section 74a of the guide 74 and then moving relative to the receiving space 66 by rotation in the direction of arrow M, so that the projection 76 extends in the second section 74b and up to the stop surface 74c within the guide 74. As soon as the projection 76 abuts the stop surface 74c, the fragrance hole 72 is in flow connection with the air duct.

[0099] In the embodiment according to Fig. 18a, 18b as well as Fig. 19 A separate mouthpiece 16 is shown, into which, as best shown in Fig. 19As shown, an aroma container 20 can be inserted directly. The aroma container in this solution does not need to be replaceable, since the mouthpiece itself is replaced instead of the aroma container. By replacing the mouthpiece together with the aroma container, hygiene is improved and the number of individual parts is reduced, as well as the use of the drinking device according to the invention is simplified. Regarding the attachment of the mouthpiece to the head of the drinking device, any solution can be used, as long as the required seal exists between the mouthpiece and the head of the drinking device.

[0100] The schematic embodiment according to Fig. 20a and 20bshows a drinking device according to the invention, which is depicted as if the housing were transparent. The drinking device 10 again consists of a storage container 12 and a head part 14. By means of a rotatable connection 58, which in the present example is depicted as a threaded bolt with a lock nut, the head part 14 can be rotated relative to the storage container in the direction of arrow P. The aroma container 20 is inserted in the head part, and the air channel 22 for transporting aromatized air opens into the transport channel 18b for drinking liquid. This, however, is completely irrelevant for understanding this embodiment, since the air channel 22 could be routed in the same way parallel to the transport channel 18b to the mouth end 28.

[0101] When the head part 14 is rotated relative to the storage container 12, as shown in Fig. 20bshown, the sections 18a and 18b of the transport channel for drinking liquid, but also the air channel 32 located in the head part are brought into flow connection with the air channel section 32b, so that in the Fig. 20b shown configuration, the drinking device is in an operational state. Since the parting plane 78 between the storage container 12 and the head part 14 does not run perpendicular to the cylindrical outer wall of the storage container 12, but is arranged at an angle to it, as shown in Fig. 20b compared to Fig. 20a As shown, the position of the head part 14 between the sealed storage position and the drinking position. This not only signals to the user whether the drinking device is in the drinking position, but also allows for the most ergonomic drinking position possible.

[0102] In the Figs. 21 and 22In the embodiments of the drinking device according to the invention shown, an aroma container 20 is used which is designed as an aroma ring, which is placed on the head part 14 in the immediate vicinity of the mouthpiece 28. In the embodiment according to Fig. 21 and Fig. 22 There is only one opening at the mouth end 28, namely the transport channel 18 for drinking liquid, since, as in Fig. 21 As can be seen, the air channel 22 opens into the mouth shortly before the mouth end. However, when using an aroma ring, it is also possible to run the transport channel 18 for drinking liquid and the air channel 22 for transporting flavored air parallel to the mouth end 28.

[0103] The ring-shaped aroma container 20 is divided into various segments 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d, which can contain different aroma strengths or aroma directions. The marking 78 on the head portion 14 of the container indicates to the user which aroma chamber is in use. If the marking 78 is not aligned with the respective marking 80 on the individual chambers, then, in the embodiment according to Figs. 21 and 22 However, the connection between the aroma container and the transport channel 18 can also be blocked, so that a user cannot consume flavored drinking liquid via the system according to the invention. The aroma container could simply be inserted into a corresponding recess in the head part 14 with a friction fit, thus allowing particularly simple and convenient handling for the user.

[0104] Deviating from the Figs. 21 and 22In the embodiment shown, it is of course also possible to provide an undivided aroma ring and thus provide only a single flavor to the consumer. Regardless of the number of chambers, the easy interchangeability and handling by the user is advantageous. In the case of several different aroma types, the user can change the aroma while drinking, but can also position the ring in a way that no aroma is overdosed and the air channel 22 for transporting flavored air is closed off, so that no air bubbles enter the water, allowing a different mouthfeel to be achieved for the user.

[0105] In the Fig. 23a , 23b and 23cThe embodiment shown is a drinking device 10 which is an open-topped drinking cup. The aroma container 20 in this embodiment is shown as a ring which surrounds the outer periphery of the storage container 12 and can either, as in Fig. 23c shown, is connected to the transport channel 18 for drinking liquid via a short air channel 22 for transporting flavored air, or, as in Fig. 23c not shown, has an air channel that is parallel to the transport channel for drinking liquid and runs to the mouth end 28. When using the drinking cup, as shown in Fig. 23b shown, the drinking liquid from the mouth end 28 (see Fig. 23a ) is sucked in, whereby, as in Fig. 1As shown, the drinking liquid mixed with bubbles of flavored air is sucked in. Here, too, a parallel arrangement of the transport channel 18 for drinking liquid and the air channel 22 for transporting flavored air is conceivable.

[0106] A variant of the Fig. 23a The open drinking vessel shown could be a shot glass, which functions according to the same principle as the open drinking vessel and can also be used, for example, for spirits that are to be given additional flavor aromas.

[0107] In the Fig. 24a and 24bA further embodiment of the invention is shown. The special feature of this embodiment is that the head part 14 can be screwed onto any bottle serving as a storage container 12. An aroma container is permanently installed in the head part 14, which transports the aromatized air via an air duct 22 (not shown) either parallel to the transport channel 18 for drinking liquid to the mouth end 28 or, according to the schematic representation in Fig. 1 shortly before the mouth end 28 into the transport channel 18. In the embodiment according to Fig. 24a and 24bA conventional bottle containing pure drinking liquid can be used, which can be reconfigured as desired by replacing the head portion 14 with the connected intake hose 80. This embodiment is particularly advantageous in regions where tap water is undrinkable due to inadequate quality, allowing consumers to purchase pure water as a drinking liquid, which can be modified to any desired flavor via the bottle attachment.

[0108] A further embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the Fig. 25a and 25bIn this embodiment, the drinking device 10 according to the invention consists of the storage container 12 designed as an open glass, as well as a drinking straw 82 to be arranged in the storage container, which combines the components and functionality of the intake hose 80, the transport channel 18 for drinking liquid, and, due to the aroma container 20 arranged in a ring around the drinking straw, also the air channel 22 for transporting aromatized air. Similar to the previous embodiment using a bottle attachment, the drinking straw 82 can be combined with any storage container 12, whereby the aroma container 20 is preferably not interchangeable but firmly connected to the drinking straw.

[0109] In the Fig. 26a and 26bFinally, an embodiment is shown in which the illustrated head part 12 of the drinking device 10 (not shown) can be tilted into an upside-down position during drinking, as consumers are familiar with, for example, drinking devices using a sports valve. The special feature of the embodiment according to Fig. 26a and 26b is that neither a suction tube 80 nor a drinking straw 82 is required. Without these elements, the drinking system according to the invention is easier to handle hygienically. Furthermore, this embodiment reduces the number of individual components, thereby simplifying production and shortening the assembly of the system. Furthermore, the consumer is accustomed to tilting his drinking bottle from conventional systems. Fig. 26a and 26bIn contrast to the previously described embodiments, no liquid is accidentally spilled from the reservoir 12 when handled as usual. Fig. 26a and 26b The illustrated head part 14 can be connected to a storage container 12 via the illustrated thread 84 or another fastening option, whereby care must be taken to ensure that the connection prevents liquid from escaping. For pressure equalization between the inner and outer areas of the drinking device 10, a check valve 85 can be attached, as shown, for example, in Fig. 4a and 4b is shown.

[0110] In the Fig. 26aIn the embodiment shown, the aroma container is shown as a wide ring 83, the functional principle of which corresponds to the aroma container 20. The aroma reservoir is fluidically connected via the air channel 22. A movable mouthpiece (not shown here) must be pushed into the opening 86. This mouthpiece corresponds to a conventional mouthpiece of sports drinking bottles and must be made of a substantially flexible material. By sliding it in the direction K, the mouthpiece (not shown) opens and closes the drinking device 10.

[0111] In the Fig. 27a and Fig. 27b A preferred embodiment of the drinking device according to the invention is shown with a modification of the liquid channel 18 at the mouthpiece 16 in the head part 14 of the drinking device. It enables Fig. 27a shown taper 19 or the one in Fig. 27bThe widening 23 of the channel at the mouthpiece 16 shown in the figure causes a change in the pressure conditions in the liquid-air mixture. This changes the shape and size of the air bubbles, resulting in a more pleasant drinking experience.

[0112] A further preferred embodiment of the improvement of the drinking device 10 is shown in the Fig. 28a and Fig. 28b The preferred embodiment of the improvement according to the invention provides that the liquid channel 18 in the reservoir 12 of the drinking device 10 is tapered ( Fig. 28a - paragraph 21) or extended ( Fig. 28b- Number 25). This enables a constant or changed suction pressure at different fill levels of the storage container 12. The required suction pressure is essentially determined by the hydrostatic gravitational pressure of the liquid and the friction loss of the fluid on the wall of the liquid channel 18. According to Pascal's law, the hydrostatic gravitational pressure is invariably directly proportional to the fill level in the storage container 12 and noticeably influences the suction pressure required by the drinker. By changing the geometry of the liquid channel 18, this negative change can be partially or completely compensated for and thus the drinking experience can be improved. In addition, the pressure differences can be reduced by using a substantially wide but flat storage container (not shown here).

[0113] Another, in Fig. 29The preferred embodiment of the drinking device 10 shown in FIG. 1 provides that the air channel 22 in the head part 14 is tapered only at one point 27 and the air channel otherwise has a wider cross-section. This has the advantage that, despite the required small cross-section, in particular diameter, of the air channel 14, it is easier to produce and clean. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. Fig. 29 In the exemplary embodiment shown, liquid which passes from the liquid channel 18 into the air channel 22 can easily flow back into the liquid channel 18, resulting in hygienic advantages.

[0114] A further preferred embodiment is in Fig. 30a and Fig. 30bshown schematically. Here, an example solution is shown in which the head part 14 can be divided essentially axially symmetrically into two parts 14a and 14b. Both parts 14a, 14b contain on the inside a part of the air channel 22 and the liquid channel 18, which form the channels required for the drinking device when the two halves 14a, 14b are joined together in the direction of arrow C. A fastening device 29, which in the Fig. 30a and Fig. 30b preferred embodiment is shown as a ring, can be reversibly held together by a displacement in the direction of arrow D on the two parts 14a and 14b. In Fig. 30b The separable head part 14 is shown in the drinking position. Here, the recess 66 for the aroma reservoir 20 (not shown) is also cylindrical. A seal can be achieved by manufacturing the head part 14 from a substantially flexible material.

[0115] A further preferred embodiment of the divisible head part 14 is shown in Fig. 31 shown. The recess 66 for the aroma reservoir 20 is also possible in the head section. Integration into the interior of the head section offers the advantage that the aroma reservoir 20 is not visible from the outside when the head section is closed. This means that, among other things, the aroma reservoir requires less complex design and the evaporation of the aroma substance from the aroma reservoir during storage is slowed. The aroma reservoir is inserted by joining the two parts 14a and 14b along the direction of arrow E. The two parts of the head section 14 are held together by a mechanism not shown here.

[0116] A further embodiment for optimizing a drinking device according to the invention is shown by way of example in the Fig. 32a, 32b and 32c A preferred embodiment is shown in Fig. 32athe head part 14 of a drinking device is shown, which contains a liquid channel 18 and an air channel 22. In Fig. 32a A fluid channel with a uniform shape over its entire length is shown.

[0117] However, in Fig. 32ba preferred embodiment of a head section 14 of a drinking device is shown, in which the liquid channel 18 has a smaller diameter at the connection point between the liquid channel 18 and the air channel 22 than at the other points. This changes the flow conditions of the liquid in the liquid channel 18 when the drinking device is used. Due to the tapering, the dynamic pressure (back pressure) is maximum and the static pressure of the liquid is minimum at the inlet point. The velocity of the liquid increases in proportion to the cross-sections when flowing through the constricted part, since the amount of liquid does not change. At the same time, the pressure in the air channel 22, which is attached at the narrowest point, decreases. This creates a pressure difference that increases the absorption of the flavored air into the liquid in the drinking device.This means, for example, that the user has to suck less forcefully on the drinking device, which improves the drinking experience. This effect, known as the Venturi effect, significantly improves the drinking device.

[0118] A further preferred embodiment is in Fig. 32c shown as an example and provides that a liquid channel 18 and an air channel 22 are arranged in the head part 14 of the drinking device, wherein at the connection point of the two channels, at least one of the two channels is wider than the cross-section of the other regions of the respective channels. This also enables a modified drinking experience for the user of the drinking device.

[0119] A further preferred embodiment of the head part 14 is shown in Fig. 33a and 33bshown as an example and provides that the air channel 22 is interrupted by a chamber 87 designed essentially as a recess on the outer wall of the liquid channel 18. The interruption of the air channel by a chamber 87 is designed such that a recess is provided in the head part 14 of the drinking device at the contact point between the removable riser 18 for the drinking liquid (liquid channel) and the air channel 22. In the embodiment shown as an example, the air channel 22 opens from the aroma container 20 into the chamber 87 at an upper position. On the opposite side, the air channel is continued as channel 22b through the transport channel 18 at a lower position of the chamber 87. The chamber designed in this way prevents the drinking liquid from backflowing into the aroma reservoir 20. The opposite position of the continuation of the air channel 22 ensures the best possible use of the chamber 87.The different heights of the inlet and outlet openings of the air duct 22 in and out of the chamber 87 enable, among other things, the drainage of drinking liquid back into the drinking liquid transport channel 18. The arrangement of the chamber 87 at the contact point between the head part 14, which can be made of a substantially elastic material, for example, and the drinking liquid transport channel 18 facilitates cleaning after disassembly of the components. Furthermore, in . Fig. 33a and Fig. 33b the air supply line 32 through the head part 14 into the storage container 12 for drinking liquid (not shown). Fig. 33b shows the embodiment of the head part 14 of the drinking device according to Fig. 33a in section, which illustrates the positions of the chamber 87 and the entry point of the air duct 22 as well as the exit point from the chamber 87 into the continuation of the air duct 22b.

[0120] What all versions have in common is that the flavor is only absorbed orally, thus preventing an orthonasal olfactory impression. Due to oral absorption of the flavor, the taste impression is created exclusively through retronasal perception of the flavoring substance and is absorbed by the consumer via the enteral route in only negligible amounts, if at all. Complex flavors and flavor blends can also be produced that do not require long-term stabilization in the drinking liquid and are also not swallowed by the consumer. Further embodiments

[0121] 1. A drinking device for the retronasal intake of a flavoring substance, comprising: a storage container (12) for drinking liquid; at least one air-permeable flavor container (20); and a transport channel (18) for drinking liquid extending from the storage container (12) to a mouth end (28) of the drinking device (10); and an air channel (22) for transporting flavored air, which extends from at least one of the at least one flavor container (20) to the transport channel (18) for drinking liquid or to the mouth end (28). 2. A drinking device according to embodiment 1, characterized in that the mouth end (28) is designed such that the transport channel (18) for drinking liquid and the air channel (22) for transporting flavored air extend separately from one another at the mouth end (28) and extend substantially equally in the longitudinal direction.Drinking device according to embodiment 1, characterized in that the mouth end (28) is designed such that, when the drinking device (10) is in use, the transport channel (18) for drinking liquid and the air channel (22) for transporting flavored air extend different distances into the user's oral cavity. 4. Drinking device according to one of the preceding embodiments, further comprising a throttling device and / or sealing device, preferably in a mouthpiece (16) surrounding the mouth end (28), wherein the mouthpiece (16) is preferably movable from a sealing position to a non-sealing position. 5. Drinking device according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the head part (14) is divisible. 6.Drinking device according to embodiment 4 or embodiment 5, characterized in that one of the at least one, preferably removable, aroma container (20) comprises the sealing device, wherein the aroma container (20) is movable from a sealing position to a non-sealing position. 7. Drinking device according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that at least one of the at least one aroma container (20) comprises a plurality of chambers (20a, 20b, ...) containing aroma substances of different odor intensities and / or different aromas. 8. Drinking device according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that one of the at least one aroma container (20) is located in a mouthpiece (16) of the drinking device (10), wherein the mouthpiece (16) is preferably replaceable. 9.Drinking device according to one of the preceding embodiments, further comprising a pressure equalization valve (34, 38) that closes an air supply line (32) leading into the interior of the storage container (12) for drinking liquid. 10. Drinking device according to one of the preceding embodiments, further comprising a head part (14) of the drinking device (10), which comprises the mouth end (28) and is arranged to be movable relative to the storage container (12), wherein the head part (14) is movable from a position sealing the transport channel (18) for drinking liquid and / or the air channel (22) for transporting flavored air to a non-sealing position. 11.Drinking device according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the at least one aroma container (20) comprises a filter substance and a user-activatable aroma unit, which contains a fluid with an aromatizing substance, wherein the fluid can be released into the filter substance upon activation of the aroma unit. 12. Drinking device according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the air channel (22) comprises a preferably annular chamber (87), which is preferably arranged between a removable head part (14) of the drinking device (10) and the transport channel (18) for drinking liquid. 13. Drinking device according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the air channel (22) has a minimum cross-sectional area of ​​between 0.2 mm² and 4.9 mm². 14.Drinking device according to one of embodiments 1-12, further comprising a permeable membrane in the air channel (22), preferably at the junction of the air channel with the transport channel (18) for drinking liquid.

Claims

1. A drinking device for the retronasal intake of an aroma substance, comprising: - a storage container (12) for drinking liquid; - at least one aroma container (20) through which air can flow; and - a transport channel for drinking liquid extending from the storage container (12) to a mouth end (28) of the drinking device (10); and - an air channel (22) for transporting aromatized air, which runs from at least one of the at least one aroma container (20) to the transport channel (18) for drinking liquid or to the mouth end (28); wherein - the at least one aroma container (20) through which air can flow comprises an air inlet opening and at least one air outlet opening; and - the at least one air inlet opening is in flow connection with the ambient air, and preferably is in flow connection directly with the ambient air.

2. Drinking device according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe mouth end (28) is designed such that the transport channel (18) for drinking liquid and the air channel (22) for transporting flavored air at the mouth end (28) run separately from one another and essentially the same distance in the longitudinal direction.

3. Drinking device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a pressure equalization valve (34, 38) which closes an air supply line (32) leading into the interior of the storage container (12) for drinking liquid.

4. Drinking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the at least one aroma container (20) is located in a mouthpiece (16) of the drinking device (10), wherein the mouthpiece (16) is preferably replaceable.

5. Drinking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air duct (22) comprises a chamber (87).

6. Drinking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe air duct (22) has a minimum cross-sectional area between 0.2 mm 2 and 4.9 mm 2 has.

7. Aroma container for attachment to a drinking device for the retronasal intake of an aroma substance, wherein - the aroma container is permeable to air; and - an air inlet opening in flow connection with the ambient air; and - at least one air outlet opening; wherein - the air inlet opening is preferably in direct flow connection with the ambient air.

8. Aroma container according to claim 7, characterized in that the aroma container (20) comprises several chambers (20a, 20b) which contain aroma substances of different odor intensities and / or different aromas.

9. Aroma container according to claim 7 or 8, comprising a flavoring substance which is microscopically or macroscopically encapsulated, wherein activation of the flavoring substance is preferably carried out by a change in temperature or by a mechanical process.

10. Aroma container according to claim 9, characterized in that a shell of the microscopically or macroscopically encapsulated substance consists of gelatin or agrose.

11. Aroma container according to claim 9, characterized in that the aroma container (20) comprises a filter substance and a user-activatable aroma unit which contains a fluid with an aromatizing substance, wherein the fluid can be released into the filter substance upon activation of the aroma unit.

12. Aroma container according to claim 7 or 8, comprising a filter through which air can flow, in which a substantially round aroma unit is arranged, the interior of which essentially contains a fluid comprising an aromatizing substance.

13. Aroma container according to one of claims 7 to 12, further comprising a sealing device, wherein the aroma container (20) is movable from a sealing position to a non-sealing position.

14. Aroma container according to claim 13, wherein the aroma container has an axis of symmetry and is movable from the sealing position to the non-sealing position by a rotational movement about the axis of symmetry.

15. The aroma container of claim 13, wherein the aroma container is movable from the sealing position to the non-sealing position by an axial movement.

16. Aroma container according to one of claims 7 to 15, wherein the aroma container is designed as a ring, which is preferably located near a mouth end of the drinking device.

17. Aroma container according to one of claims 7 to 15, wherein the aroma container has an annular geometry and an inner peripheral surface of the aroma container has a non-circular cross-section.

18. Aroma container according to one of claims 7 to 15, wherein the aroma container has a prismatic geometry.

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