SYSTEMS/METHODS OF MIXING FIRST AND SECOND SUBSTANCES

• US 20130146485A1
• Filed: 02/06/2013
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Odyssey Wireless, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Odyssey Wireless, Inc.
• Inventors: Karabinis, Dimitrios P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,061,794 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/219
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/00 Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3216 Rigid containers disposed one within the other
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3266 separated by a common rupturable seal, a clip or other removable fastening device

Abstract

Various embodiments of systems/methods relating to mixing of a plurality of substances are disclosed. Applications in medicine and in the pharmaceutical industry may be based on one or more of the systems/methods disclosed herein, providing mixing of first and second substances, as necessary, only a short time prior to dispensing thereof and/or in accordance with predetermined amounts of the first and second substances. Applications in the beverage industry may also be based upon various systems/methods disclosed herein, providing alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic mixing of a plurality of substances, as desired, a short time prior to dispensing and consuming and/or in accordance with precisely measured predetermined amounts, maximizing taste and enjoyment for the consumer.

Claims

1. A method of mixing a first substance that is contained within a container with a second substance that is contained within a first sub-container that is rigidly attached to the container and is contained within the container and with a third substance that is contained within a second sub-container that is rigidly attached to the container and is contained within the container, the method comprising:

opening a first seal of the first sub-container by exerting a force on the first seal of the first sub-container responsive to opening a seal of the container and responsive to a coupling of the seal of the container with the first seal of the first sub-container; and

opening a second seal of the second sub-container by exerting a force on the second seal of the second sub-container responsive to the opening of the seal of the container and responsive to a coupling of the seal of the container with the second seal of the second sub-container.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the coupling of the seal of the container with the first seal of the first sub-container and the coupling of the seal of the container with the second seal of the second sub-container facilitates said opening a first seal of the first sub-container, opening the second seal of the second sub-container and opening the seal of the container to occur substantially simultaneously therebetween.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the coupling of the seal of the container with the first seal of the first sub-container and the coupling of the seal of the container with the second seal of the second sub-container facilitates said opening a seal of the container to precede said opening a first seal of the first sub-container and/or said opening a second seal of the second sub-container.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the coupling of the seal of the container with the first seal of the first sub-container and the coupling of the seal of the container with the second seal of the second sub-container facilitates said opening a first seal of the first sub-container to precede said opening a second seal of the second sub-container.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first substance comprises beer, the second substance comprises Irish cream and the third substance comprises whiskey.

6. A method of mixing a first substance that is contained within a container with a second substance that is contained within a first sub-container that is rigidly attached to the container and is contained within the container, the method comprising:

removing a seal of the container and exposing a mixing mechanism;

exerting a force on the mixing mechanism; and

opening a first seal of the first sub-container by exerting a force on the first seal responsive to said exerting a force on the mixing mechanism;

wherein the seal of the container is devoid of any coupling to the mixing mechanism following said removing.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said exerting a force on the mixing mechanism comprises:

exerting a rotational force on the mixing mechanism.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first substance that is mixed with the second substance is further mixed with a third substance, the method further comprising:

opening a second seal of a second sub-container, that that is rigidly attached to the container and is contained within the container and contains the third substance, by exerting a force on the second seal responsive to said exerting a force on the mixing mechanism.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said exerting a force on the mixing mechanism comprises:

exerting a rotational force on the mixing mechanism.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said exerting a rotational force on the mixing mechanism comprises:

exerting a first rotational force in a first direction; and

exerting a second rotational force in a second direction that differs from the first direction.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first substance comprises beer, the second substance comprises Irish cream and the third substance comprises whiskey.

12. A method of mixing a first substance that is contained within a container with a second substance that is contained within a first sub-container that is rigidly attached to the container and is contained within the container, the method comprising:

exerting a force on a mixing mechanism that is attached to the container; and

opening a first seal of the first sub-container by exerting a force on the first seal responsive to said exerting a force on the mixing mechanism;

wherein a removable seal of the container is configured to function independently of the mixing mechanism and the mixing mechanism is configured to function independently of the removable seal of the container; and

wherein the removable seal of the container, whether on the container or removed from the container, is devoid of any coupling to the mixing mechanism that influences any function of the mixing mechanism.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said exerting a force on a mixing mechanism that is attached to the container occurs prior to removing the removable seal of the container.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

following said exerting and opening, removing the removable seal of the container and dispensing a content thereof comprising a mixture of the first substance and second substance.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the container comprises a corrugated surface that is configured to deform responsive to said exerting a force.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein said exerting a force comprises exerting an outward force on the mixing mechanism and/or exerting an inward force on the mixing mechanism;

wherein said outward force comprises a direction pointing away from the container and wherein said inward force comprises a direction pointing towards the container.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first substance that is mixed with the second substance is further mixed with a third substance, the method further comprising:

opening a second seal of a second sub-container, that that is rigidly attached to the container and is contained within the container and contains the third substance, by exerting a force on the second seal responsive to said exerting a force on the mixing mechanism.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first substance comprises beer, the second substance comprises Irish cream and the third substance comprises whiskey.

19. A container apparatus comprising:

a container that includes a seal and a first substance;

a first sub-container that includes a seal and a second substance; and

a second sub-container that includes a seal and a third substance;

wherein the first sub-container is rigidly attached to the container and is contained within the container and the second sub-container is also rigidly attached to the container and is contained within the container;

wherein a first component of the container is coupled to the seal of the first sub-container such that a force is exerted on the seal of the first sub-container responsive to opening the seal of the container; and

wherein a second component of the container is coupled to the seal of the second sub-container such that a force is exerted on the seal of the second sub-container responsive to opening the seal of the container.

20. The container apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first and/or second component of the container is coupled to the seal of the first sub-container and to the seal of the second sub-container such as to facilitate the seal of the first sub-container, the seal of the second sub-container and the seal of the container to open substantially simultaneously therebetween.

21. The container apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first and/or second component of the container is coupled to the seal of the first sub-container and to the seal of the second sub-container such as to facilitate the seal of the container to open prior to the seal of the first sub-container and/or prior to the seal of the second sub-container.

22. The container apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first and/or second component of the container is coupled to the seal of the first sub-container and to the seal of the second sub-container such as to facilitate the seal of the first sub-container to open prior to the seal of the second sub-container.

23. The container apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first substance comprises beer, the second substance comprises Irish cream and the third substance comprises whiskey.

24. A container apparatus comprising:

a container that includes a seal and a first substance; and

a first sub-container that is rigidly attached to the container and is contained within the container and includes a seal and a second substance;

wherein the seal of the container is configured to expose a mixing mechanism upon removal thereof;

wherein the mixing mechanism is configured to open the seal of the first sub-container by exerting a force on the seal of the first sub-container responsive to a force that is exerted on the mixing mechanism; and

wherein the seal of the container is devoid of any coupling to the mixing mechanism following said removing.

25. The container apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the force that is exerted on the mixing mechanism comprises a rotational force.

26. The container apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising:

a second sub-container that is rigidly attached to the container and is contained within the container and includes a seal and a third substance;

wherein the mixing mechanism is further configured to open the seal of the second sub-container by exerting a force on the seal of the second sub-container responsive to the force that is exerted on the mixing mechanism.

27. The container apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the force that is exerted on the mixing mechanism comprises a rotational force.

28. The container apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said rotational force comprises:

a first rotational force in a first direction; and

a second rotational force in a second direction that differs from the first direction.

29. The container apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the first substance comprises beer, the second substance comprises Irish cream and the third substance comprises whiskey.

30. A container apparatus comprising:

a container that includes a seal and a first substance;

a mixing mechanism that is attached to the container; and

a first sub-container that is rigidly attached to the container and is contained within the container and includes a seal and a second substance;

wherein the mixing mechanism is configured to open the seal of the first sub-container by applying a force thereto responsive to a force that is applied to the mixing mechanism;

wherein the seal of the container is configured to function independently of the mixing mechanism and the mixing mechanism is configured to function independently of the seal of the container; and

wherein the seal of the container, whether on the container or removed from the container, is devoid of any coupling to the mixing mechanism that influences any function of the mixing mechanism.

31. The container apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the mixing mechanism is configured so that a force is applied thereto prior to removing the seal of the container.

32. The container apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the seal of the container is configured so that removal thereof occurs after a force is applied to the mixing mechanism and after the mixing mechanism opens the seal of the first sub-container responsive to a force that is applied thereto.

33. The container apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the container comprises a corrugated surface that is configured to deform responsive to the force that is applied on the mixing mechanism.

34. The container apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the force that is applied on the mixing mechanism comprises applying an outward force on the mixing mechanism and/or applying an inward force on the mixing mechanism;

wherein said outward force comprises a direction pointing away from the container and wherein said inward force comprises a direction pointing towards the container.

35. The container apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising:

a second sub-container that is rigidly attached to the container and is contained within the container and includes a seal and a third substance;

wherein the mixing mechanism is further configured to open the seal of the second sub-container by applying a force thereto responsive to a force that is applied to the mixing mechanism.

36. The container apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the first substance comprises beer, the second substance comprises Irish cream and the third substance comprises whiskey.

37. The container apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the mixing mechanism is configured to open the seal of the first sub-container by applying a force on the mixing mechanism that is in a direction towards the container;

and wherein the mixing mechanism is further configured to open the seal of the second sub-container by applying a force on the mixing mechanism that is in a direction away from the container.