US20260035136A1

US20260035136A1 - Beverage container with secondary component

Info

Publication number: US20260035136A1
Application number: US19/281,528
Authority: US
Inventors: Sukhi Seehra
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2024-07-30
Filing date: 2025-07-25
Publication date: 2026-02-05

Abstract

A beverage container has a container body defined by a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a sidewall that extends between the first end and the second end. The container body is adapted to contain a fluid. The first end of the container body has an opening that accesses the fluid. The second end defines a cavity and has an engagement surface and a recessed surface that is surrounded by the engagement surface and recessed from the engagement surface toward the first end relative to the second end. A secondary component is removable secured within the cavity such that the secondary component is coplanar with, or recessed from, a plane defined by the engagement surface.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This relates to a beverage container with a secondary component, and in particular,
a secondary component carried by a cavity of the beverage container.

BACKGROUND

Many beverages are prepared by mixing different components prior to being consumed. For example, tea leaves and coffee beans are brewed with hot water to produce tea and coffee, to which milk, cream, and/or sugar may then be added. Water may be flavored by adding flavoring, either from a bulk container or individual packets, as a liquid or a powder. For convenience, some containers may include one of the components in prepared packaging.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,993 (Nordskog) entitled “Disposable beverage brewing container” describes a single use, disposable cup that includes a filter back containing ground coffee or tea leaves is described in. U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,726 (Melton) describes a lid with an integrated infuser for infusing a drink with flavor.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect, there is provided a beverage container, comprising a container body defined by a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a sidewall that extends between the first end and the second end. The container body is adapted to contain a fluid. Container has an opening at the first end of the container body. A cavity is defined by the second end, the second end having an engagement surface and a recessed surface that is surrounded by the engagement surface and recessed from the engagement surface toward the first end relative to the second end. A secondary component is removably secured within the cavity such that the secondary component is coplanar with, or recessed from, a plane defined by the engagement surface.
According to other aspects, the beverage container may include one or more of the following features, alone or in combination: the opening may be a sealed opening that is openable upon application of an opening force; the sealed opening may a removable cap or a frangible closure that is openable using a pull tab; the secondary component may be packaged in a package; the package may be a flexible pouch; the package may comprise a molded body and a removable lid, wherein, with the secondary component removably secured within the cavity, the molded body conforms to the recessed surface of the cavity and the removable lid is coplanar with the engagement surface; the secondary component may comprise an edible additive to be consumed with the fluid in the container body; the edible additive may be a granular material or a liquid; the package may comprise a first compartment with a first granular or liquid material, and a second compartment with a second granular or liquid material; there may be a removable film that engages the engagement surface of the container body such that the removable film secures the secondary component in the cavity, the removable film being coplanar with or immediately adjacent to the plane defined by the engagement surface; there may be a removable cover that covers the first end of the container body, the removable cover being adapted to act as a tray for the secondary component; the sidewall may comprise indicia indicating that the second end is a top end of the beverage container during storage such that the beverage container is stored with the sealed opening disposed below the secondary component.
According to an aspect, there is provided a method of preparing a beverage in a beverage container for consumption, the method comprising the steps of: removing a package from a cavity in a second end of a beverage container, wherein the cavity is defined by a recessed surface surrounded by an engagement surface of the second end of the beverage container, and wherein, prior to removal, the package is removably secured within the cavity and coplanar with, or recessed from, the engagement surface, the package containing an edible additive; and applying the edible additive from the package to at least one of a fluid in the beverage container and a first end of the beverage container adjacent to an opening of the beverage container in the first end of the beverage container, the edible additive comprising a granular material or a liquid.
According to other aspects, the method may include one or more of the following features, alone or in combination: the package may be a flexible pouch; the package may comprise a molded body and a removable lid, wherein, with the container removably secured within the cavity, the molded body conforms to the recessed surface of the cavity and the removable lid is coplanar with the engagement surface; the package may comprise a first compartment with a first granular or liquid material, and a second compartment with a second granular or liquid material; the method may further comprise a removable film that engages the engagement surface of the beverage container such that the removable film secures the edible additive in the cavity, the removable film being coplanar with or immediately adjacent to a plane defined by the engagement surface; the edible additive may be applied to an upstanding flange of the first end of the beverage container as a rimmer; the method may further comprise the steps of: removing a removable cover from the first end of the beverage container; and using the removable cover as a tray for the edible additive to facilitate adding the edible additive as the rimmer; the method may further comprise the step of, prior to removing the package, storing the beverage container with the first end below the second end, the first end being supported by a support surface.
In other aspects, the features described above may be combined together in any reasonable combination as will be recognized by those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container body of a beverage container.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container body of a beverage container showing a bottom of the container body.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container body of a beverage container showing variation of the top of the container body.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a beverage container showing a secondary component secured in a cavity.

FIG. 5 a is a perspective view of a beverage container with a removable film securing a secondary component in a cavity.

FIG. 5 b is a perspective view of a beverage container with the removable film removed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a beverage container with flexible pouch secured in the cavity.

FIG. 7 a is a perspective view of a beverage container with a package secured in a cavity.

FIG. 7 b is a perspective view of a beverage container with the package removed from the cavity.

FIG. 7 c is a perspective view of a beverage container with the package removed from the cavity and a removable lid removed from a molded body of the package.

FIG. 7 d is a perspective view of a beverage container with a flexible package.

FIG. 8 a is a perspective view of a beverage container with a removable cover on a top end.

FIG. 8 b is a perspective view of a beverage container showing the removable cover.

FIG. 9 a is a perspective view of a secondary component being applied to a beverage container using a removable cover.

FIG. 9 b is a perspective view of a beverage container of the beverage container of

FIG. 9 a showing the secondary component applied to the beverage container.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of an alternative beverage container.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of a further alternative beverage container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A beverage container, generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 through 9 b. Alternative beverage containers 100 and 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 .
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , beverage container 10 has a container body 12 defined by a first end 14, a second end 16 opposite the first end, and a sidewall 18 that extends between first end 14 and second end 16. Sidewall 18 may be cylindrical in shape. Container body 12 is adapted to contain a fluid. Beverage container 10 may be a commercially-available container, or may be a custom-shaped container. However, using commercially-available containers may simplify transportation and handling by retailers and in existing supply chains.
Beverage container 10 has an opening 19 at first end 14. Opening 19 may be a sealed opening 20 that is openable upon application of an opening force. As shown, sealed opening 20 may be a frangible closure 22 that is openable using a pull tab 24, where applying a force to pull tab 24 causes sealed opening 20 to be opened. Frangible closure 22 may be defined by a score line that separates when a force is applies. Sealed opening 20 may be a relatively small panel that is pushed inward by pull tab 24 as shown in FIG. 1 and is a common on most aluminium cans or may be entirely removed when a force is applied to pull tab, which may be used to open a substantial portion, or nearly all of the first end 14 of container body 12, as shown in FIG. 3 .
Referring to FIG. 2 , second end 16 of beverage container 10 has a cavity 30 defined by an engagement surface 32 and a recessed surface 34 that is surrounded by engagement surface 32. Recessed surface 34 is recessed from engagement surface 32 toward first end 14 relative to second end 16 to form cavity 30. Engagement surface 32 may be round in shape and may be continuous or discontinuous. Engagement surface 32 and recessed surface 34 may be formed as part of a unitary body with other elements of container body 12, such as sidewall 18, or engagement surface 32 and recessed surface 34 may be attached or otherwise connected to other elements to form container body 12. Engagement surface 32 defines a plane that, when container body is placed on a flat and horizontal surface, contacts the flat and horizontal surface such that the plane is parallel with the flat and horizontal surface. Engagement surface 32 may be used to support container body 12 when placed on a flat and horizontal surface, or may be stacked with another container body 12 if container bodies 12 are configured to be stacked.
Beverage container 10 has a secondary component 40 removably secured within cavity 30. When positioned within cavity 30, secondary component 40 is coplanar with, or recessed from the plane defined by engagement surface 32. When secondary component 40 is secured within cavity 30, the normal operation of engagement surface 32 is not interfered with by secondary component 40. That is, container body 12 is supported when placed on a surface at the second end, and container body 12 is supported when two container bodies are stacked, with second end 14 of one container body 12 engaging top end of a second container body 12. When stacked, secondary component 40 may accommodate elements of first end 14, such as pull tab 24. As will be described below, secondary component 40 may be secured within cavity 30 by an element that is attached to engagement surface 32. In this manner, a height of beverage container 10 may be increased by a thickness of the element, with secondary component 40 being coplanar as secondary component does not interfere with the normal operation of engagement surface 32. A coplanar surface may be attached directly to the inside or bottom of engagement surface. As such, a coplanar surface may increase the height of beverage container 10 by a negligible amount, i.e. by the thickness of the coplanar layer. In the case of a can, a coplanar layer may be designed so that it does not interfere with the operation of beverage container 10, i.e. such that it allows stacking, either by the size, or being sufficiently flexible to accommodate an underlying (or overlying) object.
Secondary component 40 may be an edible additive, such as a granular material 42 or a liquid 44 to be consumed with the fluid in container body 12, either by mixing in with a beverage, or adjacent to a beverage, such as a “rimmer”, i.e. a powder applied to the rim of a beverage container. Secondary component 40 may also be something edible that is intended to be consumed before or after consuming a beverage. Secondary component 40 may also be inedible, for example a novelty item.
Secondary component 40 may be packaged in a package 46, which is then secured within cavity 30. Package 46 may be glued or adhered within cavity 30, sized to friction fit with cavity 30, or otherwise secured within cavity 30. Referring to FIG. 5 b , package 46 may be a flexible pouch 48. Flexible pouch 48 may have one or more edges 50 that are heat sealed, and may be shaped to conform within cavity 30.
Referring to FIG. 5 a and FIG. 5 b , a removable film 70 that engages engagement surface 32 may secure secondary component 40 within cavity 30. Removable film 60 may be a thin plastic sheet, fabric, mesh, or other material that can be engaged to engagement surface 32 to secure secondary component 40 without interfering with the normal operation of engagement surface 32. When engaged, removable film 70 is coplanar with or immediately adjacent to plane defined by engagement surface 32. Removable film 70 may be used to hold a package 46 within cavity 30.
Package 46 may be attached to engagement surface 32. As an example, referring to FIG. 6 , flexible pouch 48 that conforms to cavity 30 may engage engagement surface 32 at edges 50 to secure secondary component 40 within cavity 30. Flexible pouch 48 attached in this manner does not interfere with the normal operation of engagement surface 32, and may deform during normal operation such that secondary component 40 is coplanar with or recessed from the plane defined by engagement surface 32.
Referring to FIG. 7 a , FIG. 7 b , and FIG. 7 c , package 46 may be a molded body 54 with a removable lid 56. When secondary component 40 is removable secured within cavity 30, molded body 54 conforms to recessed surface of cavity 30 and removable lid 56 is coplanar with engagement surface. As shown, a portion of molded body 54 may engage engagement surface 32, or removable lid 56 may engage removable lid 56. Removable lid 56 may have a tab 58 to aid a user in the removal of removable lid 56 from molded body 54. Referring to FIG. 7 c , package 46 may be divided into multiple components to provide different secondary components 40. For example, package 46 is shown as having a first compartment 60 and a second compartment 62 isolated from first compartment 60. Additional compartments may also be included if desired. First compartment 60 and second compartment 62 may contain different materials or different flavors. As shown, first compartment 60 includes a granular material 42 and second compartment 62 includes a liquid 44. Other combinations of materials may be used.
Referring to FIG. 8 a and FIG. 8 b , beverage container 10 may have a removable cover 80 that covers first end 14. Referring to FIG. 9 a , removable cover 80 may be adapted to act as a tray for secondary component 40. In this manner, removable cover 80 may be adapted to receive granular material 42 of secondary component 40 such that an upstanding flange 82 of first end 14 can be placed in granular material 42 such that granular material 42 coats upstanding flange 82, as shown in FIG. 9 b.
Sidewall 18 of container body 12 may have indicia 84 that indicates second end 16 is a top end of beverage container 10 during storage. During storage or on display for purchase, beverage container 10 may be positioned such that sealed opening 20 is disposed below secondary component 40.
While FIG. 1 depicts a typical aluminium can, other containers may also be used. By way of example, referring to FIG. 10 , a plastic bottle 100 is shown, where sealed opening 20 is sealed by a removable cap 86, such as a threaded cap. Referring to FIG. 11 , a cup 200 is shown, where opening 19 is covered by a removable lid 64. Lid 64 may be sealed to opening 19 or may be non-sealing. For example, where cup 200 is used for fountain drinks, cup 200 may be a paper cup and lid 64 may be non-sealing. In other examples, lid 64 may be sealed, such as by heat sealing or an adhesive, to opening 19 of cup 200. Where lid 64 is non-sealing or after lid 64 has been removed or partially opened, care may be required to avoid spilling any liquid in cup 200. For example, secondary component 40 may be removed from cavity 30 prior to cup 200 being filled or before the seal of lid 64 has been broken, or after the fluid in cup 200 has been consumed. Other features that are similar to those described above are identified using similar reference numbers.
Referring to FIG. 5 a , a method of preparing a beverage starts with a beverage container 10. Referring to FIG. 8 a , beverage container 10 may be stored with first end 14 below second end 16, where container body 12 carries indicia 84 indicating the intended orientation. Referring to FIG. 5 b , package 46 is removed from cavity 30 of second end 16, where package 46 contains an edible additive. Removing package 46 may include removing removable film 70 from engagement surface 32. Alternatively, referring to FIG. 4 , package 76 may be stored uncovered in cavity 30, or, referring to FIG. 7 c , package 46 may be a molded body 54. The edible additive may be removed from removable package 46, such as by opening flexible pouch 48 (FIG. 6 ) or removing removable lid 56 from molded body 54 (FIG. 7 c ). The edible additive in removable package 46 may be intended to be consumed directly, or placed in the mouth of a user such that the contents of the package 46 are ingested over time, such as over the period of time that the beverage in container body 12 is consumed. In some examples, removable package 46 may be a porous material or a moisture-activated material, where the moisture present in the mouth wets and/or activates the contents of removable package 46. In this example, removable package 46 may be kept sufficiently clean by removable film 70 (shown in FIG. 5 a-5 b ) that covers and protects removable package 46. In another example, removable package 46 may be contained within a flexible, rigid, or semi-rigid sealed container. An example of a molded container that may be used to contain an edible additive is shown in
FIG. 7 a -7 b. An example of a flexible package 55 is shown in FIG. 7 d . Flexible package 55 may be formed from flexible sheets of material, which may be suitable to be heat sealed around edible additive 47, and/or heat sealed to the end of container body 12. The size and shape of each layer may be adjusted to allow flexible package 55 to be flush with second end 16 of container body 12. The various types of packages 46, 55 may be designed to facilitate being opened by a user, such as by providing a pull tab, a frangible connection, tear strips, etc.
Removable package 46 may contain a food additive that is used to complement the beverage. The food additive may include one or more of a flavor (such as cinnamon, vanilla, mint, etc.), a psychoactive substance (such as caffeine or nicotine), a supplement (such as vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin D, magnesium, etc.), or other suitable additives.
Referring to FIG. 9 b , edible additive, depicted as granular material 42, is applied to flange 82 of first end 16, adjacent to opening 20. Other additives may be applied indifferent ways, such as by mixing additive directly with the fluid carried in container body 12. Referring to FIG. 7 c , edible additive may be granular material 42, liquid 44, or both. Referring to FIG. 7 d , edible additive may be a porous or fluid-activated package 47.
Edible additive may be applied to upstanding flange 82 of first end 14 as a rimmer. As an example, for an edible additive that include both granular material 42 and liquid 44, liquid 44 may first be applied to upstanding flange 82 to act as an adhesive for granular material 42 applied to upstanding flange 82 thereafter. The method may further include the steps of removing removable cover 80 from first end 16 and using removable cover 80 as a tray for edible additive to facilitate adding the additive as a rimmer.
In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.
The scope of the following claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples above and in the drawings, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage container, comprising:

a container body defined by a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a sidewall that extends between the first end and the second end, the container body being adapted to contain a fluid;

an opening at the first end of the container body;

a cavity defined by the second end, the second end having an engagement surface and a recessed surface that is surrounded by the engagement surface and recessed from the engagement surface toward the first end relative to the second end; and

a secondary component removably secured within the cavity such that the secondary component is coplanar with, or recessed from, a plane defined by the engagement surface.

2. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the opening is a sealed opening that is openable upon application of an opening force.

3. The beverage container of claim 2, wherein the sealed opening is a removable cap or a frangible closure that is openable using a pull tab.

4. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the secondary component is packaged in a package.

5. The beverage container of claim 4, wherein the package is a flexible pouch.

6. The beverage container of claim 4, wherein the package comprises a molded body and a removable lid, wherein, with the secondary component removably secured within the cavity, the molded body conforms to the recessed surface of the cavity and the removable lid is coplanar with the engagement surface.

7. The beverage container of claim 4, wherein the secondary component comprises a porous or moisture-activated material.

8. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the secondary component comprises an edible additive to be consumed with the fluid in the container body.

9. The beverage container of claim 8, wherein the edible additive is a granular material or a liquid.

10. The beverage container of claim 4, wherein the package comprises a first compartment with a first granular or liquid material, and a second compartment with a second granular or liquid material.

11. The beverage container of claim 1, further comprising a removable film that engages the engagement surface of the container body such that the removable film secures the secondary component in the cavity, the removable film being coplanar with or immediately adjacent to the plane defined by the engagement surface.

12. The beverage container of claim 1, further comprising a removable cover that covers the first end of the container body, the removable cover being adapted to act as a tray for the secondary component.

13. The beverage container of claim 2, wherein the sidewall comprises indicia indicating that the second end is a top end of the beverage container during storage such that the beverage container is stored with the sealed opening disposed below the secondary component.

14. A method of preparing a beverage in a beverage container for consumption, the method comprising the steps of:

removing a package from a cavity in a second end of a beverage container, wherein the cavity is defined by a recessed surface surrounded by an engagement surface of the second end of the beverage container, and wherein, prior to removal, the package is removably secured within the cavity and coplanar with, or recessed from, the engagement surface, the package containing an edible additive; and

applying the edible additive from the package to at least one of a fluid in the beverage container and a first end of the beverage container adjacent to an opening of the beverage container in the first end of the beverage container, the edible additive comprising a granular material or a liquid.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the package is a flexible pouch.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the package comprises a molded body and a removable lid, wherein, with the container removably secured within the cavity, the molded body conforms to the recessed surface of the cavity and the removable lid is coplanar with the engagement surface.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the package comprises a first compartment with a first granular or liquid material, and a second compartment with a second granular or liquid material.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising a removable film that engages the engagement surface of the beverage container such that the removable film secures the edible additive in the cavity, the removable film being coplanar with or immediately adjacent to a plane defined by the engagement surface.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the edible additive is applied to an upstanding flange of the first end of the beverage container as a rimmer.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

removing a removable cover from the first end of the beverage container; and

using the removable cover as a tray for the edible additive to facilitate adding the edible additive as the rimmer.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of, prior to removing the package, storing the beverage container with the first end below the second end, the first end being supported by a support surface.