Controlled modification of beverages

• US 20050003058A1
• Filed: 05/05/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shashidhar M. Prabhakar
• Original Assignee: Shashidhar M. Prabhakar
• Inventors: Prabhakar, Shashidhar M.
• Application Number:
  US10/839,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20050003058A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/394
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3205 Separate rigid or semi-rigid containers joined to each other at their external surfaces B65D81/3288 takes precedence

Abstract

A single-use beverage container includes a variable-volume package, a lower section, and an upper section. The variable-volume package encloses a variable-volume and has a first and a second portion. The lower section has a sidewall and a bottom and is sealingly coupled to the first portion at the sidewall or at the bottom. The upper section is sealingly coupled to the bottom section. The variable-volume package contains dispersible material that may be controllably injected into the container so as to modify a feature of the contents of the container.

Claims

1. A single-use beverage container, the container including:

a variable-volume package, the variable-volume package enclosing a variable-volume and including a first portion and a second portion;

a lower section, the lower section including a side wall and a bottom and sealingly coupled to the first portion of the variable-volume package at the side wall or at the bottom; and

an upper section, the upper section sealingly coupled to the lower section.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the variable-volume package is collapsible.

3. A container according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is sealingly coupled to the second portion.

4. A container according to claim 2, the collapsible variable-volume package including a disrupting means.

5. A container according to claim 4, the disrupting means including a pointed projection.

6. A container according to claim 5, the pointed projection including a plurality of radial segments.

7. A container according to claim 4, the collapsible variable-volume package further including a dispersible material.

8. A container according to claim 7, wherein the dispersible material is a feature-modifier.

9. A container according to claim 8, wherein the feature-modifier is a taste-modifier.

10. A container according to claim 8, wherein the feature-modifier is an appearance-modifier.

11. A container according to claim 8, wherein the feature-modifier is a caffeination-modifier.

12. A container according to claim 4, the first portion including a disruptible region.

13. A container according to claim 12, the collapsible variable-volume package further including a porous element.

14. A container according to claim 13, the porous element including a dispersible material.

15. A container according to claim 14, wherein the dispersible material is a feature-modifier.

16. A container according to claim 15, wherein the feature-modifier is a taste-modifier.

17. A container according to claim 15, wherein the feature-modifier is an appearance-modifier.

18. A container according to claim 15, wherein the feature-modifier is a caffeination-modifier.

19. A container according to claim 1, the variable-volume package further including means for varying the enclosed variable-volume of the variable-volume package.

20. A container according to claim 19, wherein the varying means is a plunger sealingly coupled to the first and second portions of the variable-volume package.

21. A container according to claim 19, the variable-volume package further including means for indicating the varied enclosed volume.

22. A container according to claim 19, further including a dispersible material filling the variable enclosed volume.

23. A container according to claim 22, wherein the dispersible material is a feature-modifier.

24. A container according to claim 23, wherein the feature-modifier is a taste-modifier.

25. A container according to claim 23, wherein the feature-modifier is an appearance-modifier.

26. A container according to claim 23, wherein the feature-modifier is a caffeination-modifier.

27. A container according to claim 1, wherein the first portion overlies an integral portion of the side wall or the bottom of the lower section.

28. A container according to claim 1, further including contents.

29. A container according to claim 28, wherein the contents of the container are pressurized.

30. A container according to claim 29, wherein the contents of the container are carbonated.

31. A method for altering the contents of a single-use beverage container having an interior defined by an upper section and a lower section, the lower section containing a sidewall and a bottom, the method including:

applying a first force to a first variable-volume package having an interior, the first variable-volume package coupled sealingly to the lower section of the container;

creating an opening between the interior of the container and the interior of the first variable-volume package; and

introducing a portion of the contents of the first variable-volume package into the contents of the container so as to permit mixing of the contents of the first variable-volume package with the contents of the container.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein introducing a portion of the contents of the first variable-volume package includes introducing less than all of the initial contents of the first variable-volume package.

33. A method according to claim 32, further including ascertaining a feature of the contents of the container and applying a second force to the first variable-volume package.

34. A method according to claim 31, wherein introducing a portion of the contents of the first variable-volume package includes introducing all of the initial contents of the first variable-volume package.

35. A method according to claim 31, further including ascertaining a feature of the contents of the container and applying a second force to a second variable-volume package, the second variable-volume package coupled sealingly to the container.

36. A method according to claim 31, wherein creating an opening includes creating an opening in the first portion of the variable-volume package and in the lower section of the container.

37. A method according to claim 31, wherein creating an opening includes displacing a cap sealingly coupled to the first portion of the variable-volume package.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein displacing a cap includes compressing a spring coupled to the cap.

39. A method according to claim 31, wherein creating an opening includes rupturing the first portion of the variable-volume package.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein rupturing includes inserting a pointed projection through the first portion of the variable-volume package.

41. A method according to claim 31, wherein applying a force includes applying a force substantially parallel to the sidewall of the container against a plunging element sealingly coupled to the variable-volume package.

42. A variable-volume package for altering a feature of a contents of a single-use beverage container, the variable-volume package including:

means for altering the feature;

means for sealingly attaching the variable-volume package to the container;

means for creating an opening between an interior of the container and an interior of the variable-volume package; and

means for controllably injecting a fraction of the contents of the variable-volume package into the interior of the container.

43. A variable-volume package according to claim 42, wherein the single-use beverage container is sealed.

44. A single-use beverage container, the container including:

a variable-volume package, the variable-volume package being sealingly coupled to an exterior of the container; and

a disrupting means for permitting fluid communication between the variable-volume package and an interior of the container,

wherein contents of the container are pressurized.