LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS

• US 20200130884A1
• Filed: 06/19/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Le Reverend, Benjamin, Thivolet, Raphael, Brulhart, Sarah, Grolimund, Daniel, Hunt, Ashley
• Granted Patent: US 11,377,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/04 Multi-cavity bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2205/02 Venting holes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/48 Separable nozzles or spouts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2547/06 with pouring spouts ot tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/06 with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages with slidable spouts B65D47/26
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/205 the valve being formed by a tubular flexible sleeve surrounding a rod-like element provided with at least one radial passageway which is normally closed by the sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3205 Separate rigid or semi-rigid containers joined to each other at their external surfaces B65D81/3288 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3211 coaxially and provided with means facilitating admixture
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3283 Cylindrical or polygonal containers, e.g. bottles, with two or more substantially axially offset, side-by-side compartments for simultaneous dispensing B65D35/22, B65D35/242, B65D81/3227, B65D81/325 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0055 Containers or packages provided with a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm for expelling the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/72 for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials

Abstract

A liquid dispensing apparatus may include a first container containing a first liquid. The first container can have an opening in an end of the first container. The liquid dispensing apparatus may also comprise a second container adjacent to the first container. The second container can contain a second liquid and the second container can have an opening in an end of the second container. The opening in the end of the first container can be proximate to the opening in the end of the second container. The first container and the second container can separate the first liquid from the second liquid. One of the first liquid and the second liquid can contain a tastant which is essentially absent from the other liquid or is present in a relatively differing amount. The arrangement of the first container and the second container, and/or the arrangement of the opening in the end of the first container and the opening in the end of the second container can be such that, when the first and the second liquids are poured from the apparatus, the first liquid flows through the opening in the end of the first container and the second liquid flows through the opening in the end of the second container, such that the first liquid begins to exit the opening in the end of the first container before the second liquid begins to exit the opening in the end of the second container.

Claims

1. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising:

a first container containing a first liquid, the first container having an opening in an end of the first container;

a second container adjacent to the first container, the second container containing a second liquid, the second container having an opening in an end of the second container,

the opening in the end of the first container is proximate to the opening in the end of the second container,

the first container and the second container separate the first liquid from the second liquid;

one of the first liquid and the second liquid contains a tastant which is essentially absent from the other liquid or is present in a relatively differing amount; and

the arrangement of the first container and the second container, and/or the arrangement of the opening in the end of the first container and the opening in the end of the second container are such that, when the first and the second liquids are poured from the apparatus, the first liquid flows through the opening in the end of the first container and the second liquid flows through the opening in the end of the second container, such that the first liquid begins to exit the opening in the end of the first container before the second liquid begins to exit the opening in the end of the second container.

2. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tastant has a characteristic selected from the group consisting of sweet, salty, bitter, umami, and sour.

3. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a side wall of the first container also forms a side wall of the second container, and wherein the side wall of the first container and the second container is curved so as to inhibit the flow of the second liquid from the second container.

4. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

the side wall only allows a predetermined portion of the first liquid to flow to and exit the opening in the end of the first container when the liquid dispensing apparatus is rotated through a first angle; and

a second predetermined portion of the first liquid is allowed to flow to and exit the opening in the end of the first container when the liquid dispensing apparatus is rotated through a second angle, wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle.

5. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the opening in the end of the first container and the opening in the end of second container are located in a cap, and the cap is removable from the liquid dispensing apparatus to allow the first liquid in the first container and the second liquid in the second container to be replenished.

6. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opening in the end of the first container comprises a first valve and the opening in the end of the second container comprises a second valve.

7. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first valve is configured to only allow a predetermined portion of the first liquid exit the first valve and/or the second valve is configured to only allow a predetermined portion of the second liquid exit the second valve.

8. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the first valve is configured to transition from an open position to a closed position and/or from the closed position to the open position faster than the second valve;

or

the first valve and the second valve form part of a composite valve such that the first valve and the second valve are configured to transition from the open position to the closed position simultaneously and from the closed position to the open position simultaneously.

9. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first valve and/or the second valve are biased in the closed position and wherein a pressure difference across the valve is required in order to overcome the bias.

10. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first valve and the second valve are located in a cap, wherein the cap is removable from the liquid dispensing apparatus to allow the first liquid in the first container and the second liquid in the second container to be replenished.

11. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second container comprises a tube and fluid retaining element:

the opening in the end of the second container is located at an first end of the tube;

a second end of the tube is located within the fluid retaining element;

the fluid retaining element contains the second liquid; and

the tube passes through the first container.

12. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first container is resiliently deformable, and deforming the first container causes the first liquid to flow through the opening in the end of the first container.

13. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein deforming the first container causes at least one of:

a portion of the first liquid to flow through the opening in the end of the first container; and

the flow of the second liquid through the opening in the first end of the tube of the second container to be inhibited.

14. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the tube of the second container is resiliently deformable, and wherein deforming the first container causes the tube of the second container to be deformed and inhibit the flow of the second liquid out of the opening in the first end of the tube of the second container.

15. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 11, wherein suction at the opening in the end of the first container is required in order for the first liquid to flow out of the opening in the end of the first container.