Beverage supplement dispensing unit

Abstract

The present invention relates to a beverage supplement dispensing unit for a beverage container, in which the beverage supplement dispensing unit comprises: a housing; a chamber located between first

Description

The present invention relates to a beverage supplement dispensing unit and to a beverage container containing the same. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION It is often the case that users like to be able to add flavouring or supplements to drinking water to make the beverage more nutritious or more palatable. However, it can be cumbersome to add supplements or flavouring to a container when out and about. Furthermore, the flavouring or supplement may deteriorate if present within the drinking water for an extended period of time. There is therefore a need for an improved container which allows for the user to introduce supplements and / or flavouring as and when required, when out and about, to drinking water. STATEMENT OF INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a beverage supplement dispensing unit for a beverage container, in which the beverage supplement dispensing unit comprises: a housing comprising: a first end configured in use for engagement to a portion of a beverage container defining a cavity for receiving a beverage therein, in which the first end of the housing defines a first opening configured in use to be in fluid communication with the cavity of the beverage container; a second opposed end defining a second opening, in which the second opening is in fluid communication with the first opening so as to allow passage of a beverage within the cavity of a beverage container to pass therethrough; a chamber located between the first and second ends of the housing, in which the chamber is configured in use to store a beverage supplement therein, in which the chamber comprises an inlet configured in use to receive a beverage supplement therethrough into the chamber, and an outlet configured in use to allow passage of the beverage supplement out of the chamber; and a closure mechanism located adjacent the outlet of the chamber, in which the closure mechanism is moveable between: a first open position in which the closure mechanism is spaced apart from the outlet enabling the beverage supplement to flow out of the chamber; and a second closed position in which the closure mechanism substantially seals the outlet of the chamber. The outlet of the chamber is preferably configured in use, when the closure mechanism is in the first open position, to be in fluid communication with the first opening of the housing. The outlet of the chamber is preferably configured in use, when the closure mechanism is in the first open position, to dispense a beverage supplement from the chamber under gravity. The chamber is preferably located at or adjacent the second opposed end of the housing. The first end is preferably configured for releasable engagement to a portion of a beverage container. The first end of the housing may be, for example, configured for threaded engagement with the portion of the beverage container. In one embodiment, the second opening defines a nozzle. The second opposed end may be configured in use for engagement to a nozzle defining an outlet of a beverage container. The second opening may be configured in use to be in fluid communication with the nozzle of the beverage container. In one embodiment, the second end is preferably configured for releasable engagement to the nozzle. The second opposed end of the housing may be configured for threaded engagement with the nozzle of the beverage container. The second opposed end preferably defines a third opening configured in use to be in fluid communication with the inlet of the chamber of the housing. The housing preferably further comprises a side portion extending between the first and second opposed ends thereof. One or more of the first and / or second ends are preferably configured for releasable engagement to the side portion. The side portion may for example comprise a threaded portion for cooperative threaded engagement to a threaded portion provided at one or more of the first and / or second opposed end portions. In one embodiment, the inlet of the chamber is preferably provided by disengagement of the second opposed end portion from the side portion of the housing. The closure mechanism is preferably biased towards the second closed position. The closure mechanism preferably comprises an actuator configured to move the closure mechanism from the second closed position towards the first open position. The closure mechanism preferably comprises a lever movable between the closed and open position. The lever is preferably configured to be easy to make, easy to install, easy to clean and reliable. The actuator may be a push button actuator. The actuator is preferably located on a side portion of the housing. The beverage supplement dispensing unit preferably further comprises a beverage supplement selected from one or more of: flavouring (such as for example squash), vitamins, minerals, or any combination thereof within the chamber. The beverage supplement is preferably in liquid form within the chamber. The housing is preferably tubular in shape. The housing is preferably an open ended tubular member. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a beverage container comprising a beverage supplement dispensing unit as herein described. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a beverage supplement dispensing unit as herein described comprising: obtaining a housing comprising: a first end configured in use for engagement to a portion of a beverage container defining a cavity for receiving a beverage therein, in which the first end of the housing defines a first opening configured in use to be in fluid communication with the cavity of the beverage container; a second opposed end defining a second opening, in which the second opening is in fluid communication with the first opening so as to allow passage of a beverage within the cavity of a beverage container to pass therethrough; and a chamber located between the first and second ends of the housing, in which the chamber is configured in use to store a beverage supplement therein, in which the chamber comprises an inlet configured in use to receive a beverage supplement therethrough into the chamber, and an outlet configured in use to allow passage of the beverage supplement out of the chamber; positioning a closure mechanism adjacent the outlet of the chamber, such that the closure mechanism is moveable between: a first open position in which the closure mechanism is spaced apart from the outlet enabling the beverage supplement to flow out of the chamber; and a second closed position in which the closure mechanism substantially seals the outlet of the chamber. According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of installing a beverage supplement dispensing unit as herein described in a beverage container comprising: obtaining a beverage supplement dispensing unit as herein described; engaging the first end of the housing to a portion of a beverage container defining a cavity for receiving a beverage therein; and optionally engaging the second opposed end to a nozzle defining an outlet of a beverage container. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail in relation to the accompanying Figures: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the beverage supplement dispensing unit of the present invention together with a nozzle; Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C are schematic illustrations of a top view, side view and bottom view of the beverage supplement dispensing unit of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of an exploded view of a beverage container comprising the beverage supplement dispensing unit of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an exploded view of the beverage supplement dispensing unit of Figure 1; Figures 5A to 5D are schematic illustrations of a portion of a closure mechanism of the beverage supplement dispensing unit of Figure 1; Figures 6A to 6D are schematic illustrations of a portion of an actuator of the beverage supplement dispensing unit of Figure 1; and Figures 7A to 7E are schematic illustrations of a further portion of an actuator of the beverage supplement dispensing unit of Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference to the Figures, the beverage supplement dispensing unit 1 comprises an open ended tubular housing 2. The housing 2 comprises a first end 4 configured in use for engagement to a portion of a beverage container 6 defining a cavity (not shown). The first end 4 of the housing 2 defines a first opening 8 configured in use to be in fluid communication with the cavity of the beverage container 6. The housing 2 further comprises a second opposed end 10 defining a second opening 12. The second opening 12 is in fluid communication with the first opening 8 so as to allow passage of a beverage within the cavity of a beverage container 6 to pass therethrough. The first end 4 of the housing 2 is configured for releasable engagement to a portion of a beverage container 6. In particular, the first end 4 of the housing 2 is configured for threaded engagement with the portion of the beverage container 6. The housing 2 further comprises a chamber 14 located between the first 4 and second 10 ends of the housing 2. The chamber 14 is configured in use to store a beverage supplement therein. The chamber 14 comprises an inlet 16 configured in use to receive a beverage supplement therethrough into the chamber 14. The chamber 14 further comprises an outlet 18 configured in use to allow passage of the beverage supplement out of the chamber 14. The chamber 14 is located at or adjacent the second opposed end 10 of the housing 2. The housing 2 further comprises a closure mechanism 20 located adjacent the outlet 18 of the chamber 14. The closure mechanism 20 is moveable between: a first open position in which the closure mechanism 20 is spaced apart from the outlet 18 enabling the beverage supplement to flow out of the chamber 14; and a second closed position in which the closure mechanism 20 substantially seals the outlet 18 of the chamber 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the closure mechanism 20 comprises a lever 22 with a first end 24 located at or adjacent the outlet 18 of the chamber 14; and an opposed second end 26 located adjacent an actuator 28. The lever 22 is shown in more detail in Figures 5A to 5D. The actuator 28 is configured in use to move the closure mechanism 20 from the second closed position to the first open position, i.e. to move the first end 24 of the lever 22 away from the outlet 18 of the chamber 14. The actuator 28 is a push button actuator. It is however to be understood that any suitable actuation mechanism could be used. The closure mechanism 20 is biased towards the second closed position. As shown in Figures 6A to 6D and 7A to 7D, the actuator 28 comprises a first portion 38 having a first end in communication with second portion 40. A second opposed end of the first portion 38 of the actuator 28 is mounted in communication with the second end 26 of lever 22. The second portion 40 is a push button which is mounted, by spring 42, on the first portion 38. The outlet 18 of the chamber 14 is configured in use, when the closure mechanism 20 is in the first open position to be in fluid communication with the first opening 8 of the housing 2. The outlet 18 of the chamber 14 is configured in use, when the closure mechanism 20 is in the first open position, to dispense a beverage supplement from the chamber 14 under gravity. The second opposed end 10 of the housing 2 is configured in use for engagement to a nozzle 30 defining an outlet 32 of a beverage container 6. The second opening 12 is configured in use to be in fluid communication with the nozzle 30 of the beverage container 6. The second end 10 is configured for releasable engagement to the nozzle 30. In particular, the second opposed end 10 of the housing 2 is configured for threaded engagement with the nozzle 30 of the beverage container. It can be seen from Figure 1 and Figures 2A-2C that the second opposed end 10 defines a third opening 34 configured in use to be in fluid communication with the inlet 16 of the chamber 14 of the housing 2. As shown in Figure 4, the housing 2 further comprises a side portion 36 extending between the first 4 and second 10 opposed ends thereof. Each of the first 4 and second 10 ends are configured for releasable engagement to the side portion 36. The side portion 36 comprises a pair of spaced apart threaded portions 27,27' for cooperative threaded engagement to one or more threaded portions of the first 4 and second 10 opposed end portions. The inlet 16 of the chamber 14 is provided by disengagement of the second opposed end portion 10 from the side portion 36 of the housing 4. The cavity of the beverage container 6 may comprise any suitable beverage supplement, such as for example one or more of: flavouring (such as for example squash), vitamins, minerals, or any combination thereof within the chamber. In use, the user fills the cavity of the beverage container 6 with fluid, such as water. The beverage supplement dispensing unit 1 is installed by threadingly engaging the first end 4 of the housing to a portion of a beverage container 6. The second opposed end 10 is threadingly engaged to the nozzle 30. When required, the user activates the actuator 28 by pushing the push button. Activation of the actuator 28, by pushing the second portion 32 in a direction inwardly causes the first portion 30 of the actuator 28 to rotate the lever 22 such that the closure mechanism 20 is moved from a second closed position in which the first end 24 of the lever 22 of the closure mechanism 20 substantially seals the outlet of the chamber to a first open position in which the first end 24 of the lever 22 of the closure mechanism 20 is spaced apart from the outlet 18 thereby enabling the beverage supplement to flow out of the chamber 14 and into the cavity of the beverage container. The lever 22 is biased towards the second closed position and so when force is removed from the actuator 28, the spring 34 biases the actuator 28 to return to a non-depressed position and causes the closure mechanism to return to the second closed position thereby sealing the chamber 14.

Claims

1. A beverage supplement dispensing unit for a beverage container, in which the beverage supplement dispensing unit comprises:a housing comprising:a first end configured in use for engagement to a portion of a beverage container defining a cavity for receiving a beverage therein, in which the first end of the housing defines a first opening configured in use to be in fluid communication with the cavity of the beverage container;a second opposed end defining a second opening, in which the second opening is in fluid communication with the first opening so as to allow passage of a beverage within the cavity of a beverage container to pass therethrough;a chamber located between the first and second ends of the housing, in which the chamber is configured in use to store a beverage supplement therein, in which the chamber comprises an inlet configured in use to receive a beverage supplement therethrough into the chamber, and an outlet configured in use to allow passage of the beverage supplement out of the chamber; anda closure mechanism located adjacent the outlet of the chamber, in which the closure mechanism is moveable between:a first open position in which the closure mechanism is spaced apart from the outlet enabling the beverage supplement to flow out of the chamber; anda second closed position in which the closure mechanism substantially seals the outlet of the chamber.

2. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in claim 1, in which the outlet of the chamber is configured in use, when the closure mechanism is in the first open position to be in fluid communication with the first opening of the housing.

3. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, in which the outlet of the chamber is configured in use, when the closure mechanism is in the first open position, to dispense a beverage supplement from the chamber under gravity.

4. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the chamber is located at or adjacent the second opposed end of the housing.

5. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the first end is configured for releasable engagement to a portion of a beverage container.

6. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in claim 5, in which the first end of the housing is configured for threaded engagement with the portion of the beverage container.

7. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the second opening defines a nozzle.

8. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the second opposed end is configured in use for engagement to a nozzle defining an outlet of a beverage container, in which the second opening is configured in use to be in fluid communication with the nozzle of the beverage container.

9. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in claim 8, in which the second end is configured for releasable engagement to the nozzle.

10. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in claim 9, in which the second opposed end of the housing is configured for threaded engagement with the nozzle of the beverage container.

11. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the second opposed end defines a third opening configured in use to be in fluid communication with the inlet of the chamber of the housing.

12. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the housing further comprises a side portion extending between the first and second opposed ends thereof, and in which one or more of the first and / or second ends are configured for releasable engagement to the side portion.

13. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in claim 12, in which the side portion comprises a threaded portion for cooperative threaded engagement to one or more of the first and / or second opposed end portions.

14. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in either of claims 12 and 13, in which the inlet of the chamber is provided by disengagement of the second opposed end portion from the side portion of the housing.

15. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the closure mechanism is biased towards the second closed position.

16. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in claim 15, in which the closure mechanism comprises an actuator configured to move the closure mechanism from the second closed position towards the first open position.

17. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in claim 16, in which the actuator is a push button actuator.

18. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in either of claims 16 or 17, in which the actuator is located on a side portion of the housing.

19. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in either of claims 16, 17 or 18 wherein the actuator has a first portion with a first end in communication with a second portion.

20. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the closure mechanism includes a lever movable between the closed and open position.

21. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in a claim 20 when depending on any of claims 16 to 19 wherein the lever is movable by the actuator.

22. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a beverage supplement selected from one or more of: flavouring (such as for example squash), vitamins, minerals, or any combination thereof within the chamber.

23. A beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a beverage supplement in liquid form within the chamber.

24. A beverage container comprising a beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in any preceding claim.

25. A method of manufacturing a beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23 comprising:obtaining a housing comprising:a first end configured in use for engagement to a portion of a beverage container defining a cavity for receiving a beverage therein, in which the first end of the housing defines a first opening configured in use to be in fluid communication with the cavity of the beverage container;a second opposed end defining a second opening, in which the second opening is in fluid communication with the first opening so as to allow passageof a beverage within the cavity of a beverage container to pass therethrough;anda chamber located between the first and second ends of the housing, in which the chamber is configured in use to store a beverage supplement therein, in which the chamber comprises an inlet configured in use to receive a beverage supplement therethrough into the chamber, and an outlet configured in use to allow passage of the beverage supplement out of the chamber;positioning a closure mechanism adjacent the outlet of the chamber, such that the closure mechanism is moveable between:a first open position in which the closure mechanism is spaced apart from the outlet enabling the beverage supplement to flow out of the chamber; anda second closed position in which the closure mechanism substantially seals the outlet of the chamber.

26. A method of installing a beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23 in a beverage container comprising:obtaining a beverage supplement dispensing unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23;engaging the first end of the housing to a portion of a beverage container defining a cavity for receiving a beverage therein; and optionallyengaging the second opposed end to a nozzle defining an outlet of a beverage container.s