Supplement compartment for beverage container

• US 6,681,958 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2001
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dan J. Walton, Joseph T. Sorenson
• Original Assignee: Dan J. Walton, Joseph T. Sorenson
• Inventors: Sorenson, Joseph T., Walton, Dan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cartagena, M A
• Application Number:
  US09/908,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20020008116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/145.31, 222/522, 222/131, 215/6, 215/11.1, 215/11.6, 215/227, 426/115
• US Class Current: 222/145.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0046 Cups, bottles or bags
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/28 with auxiliary containers for additional articles or materials B65D51/247 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method for associating a supplement compartment with a liquid container, wherein the supplement may be a vitamin, mineral, analgesic, antibiotic or other medicine, flavor or color additive or nutritional in nature, and may be readily accessible and retrievable for use with the liquid such as water or other beverage. The compartment may be nested atop a cap that covers the dispenser of the container or may be otherwise associated with the container in a secure but temporary and accessible manner.

Claims

1. A compartment releasably affixed substantially exterior to a dust cap of a beverage container, said compartment structured and arranged to protectively and accessibly enclose a first substance and to enable association of said first substance with a second substance, said second substance being accessibly contained within said beverage container, said association being for substantially combined use with said second substance.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said compartment is structured and arranged to accommodate selective access to said first substance enclosed therein and selective reclosure of said compartment.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said compartment and said dust cap are structured and arranged to be interchangeable such that said dust cap can operate as a compartment and said compartment can operate as a dust cap.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said compartment comprises:

an open end and a closed end;

said open end carrying a retaining structure; and

said closed end carrying a receiving structure adapted for releasable engagement with said retaining structure;

wherein a storage volume for said first substance is defined within a first compartment that is attached in engagement to a second compartment operable as said dust cap.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said retaining structure comprises an interior annular lip and said receiving structure comprises an exterior annular lip.

6. A compartment structured and arranged for temporary enclosure and selective disbursement of an edible supplement that is to be ingested substantially at the same time as and with a beverage dispensed from a container with which said compartment is physically associated, wherein:

said compartment defines a first volume and carries a detachable structure operable as a dust cap capable of protecting a discharge orifice of said container in a nesting arrangement, and said detachable structure of said dust cap defines a second volume.

7. The compartment of claim 6, wherein said dust cap is operable to close said container to resist fluid discharge therefrom.

8. The compartment of claim 6, further comprising a window opening directed exterior to said container whereby to provide access to an interior of said compartment.

9. The compartment of claim 8, further comprising a hinged lid operable to open and close said window.

10. The compartment of claim 8, further comprising a twist-off lid operable to open and close said window.

11.The compartment of claim 8, further comprising a sliding wall operable to open and close said window.

11. The compartment of claim 8, further comprising a shrink wrap operable to cover said window.

12. The compartment of claim 6, wherein said compartment and said dust cap are structured and arranged to be interchangeable such that said dust cap can operate as a compartment and said compartment can operate as a dust cap.

13. The compartment of claim 13, further comprising:

an open end and a closed end, said open end carrying a retaining structure comprising an interior annular lip, said closed end carrying a receiving structure comprising an exterior annular lip adapted for releasable engagement with said retaining structure.

14. A method of securely but temporarily associating an ingestible supplement with a liquid beverage container, comprising:

providing an ingestible supplement within a compartment, said compartment carrying a detachable structure operable as a dust cap;

providing a liquid within a container; and

physically associating said supplement and said compartment with said liquid and said container by placing said dust cap into nesting arrangement over a discharge orifice of said container;

wherein said compartment is susceptible to the facile receiving, storing and dispensing of said supplement;

wherein said supplement is readily accessible and retrievable from said compartment for use with said liquid;

whereby said supplement is ingestible concurrently or alternatingly with the imbibing of said liquid within said container.

15. The method of claim 15, wherein said compartment is structured and arranged to nest atop a cap of substantially identical form, dimension and material.

16. The method of claim 16, wherein a physical association of said cap with said container comprises nesting of said cap atop a dispenser end of said container.

17. A dispensing system, comprising:

a vitamin, nutritional, mineral or medicinal supplement;

a compartment for temporary storage of said vitamin, nutritional, mineral or medicinal supplement, said compartment carrying a detachable structure comprising a dust cap;

a beverage comprising water; and

a container for temporary accessible storage of said beverage, said container comprising a discharge orifice received inside said dust cap;

wherein said compartment is structured and arranged to accommodate selective access to said vitamin, nutritional, mineral or medicinal supplement stored therein and selective reclosure of said compartment;

wherein said access and reclosure permits imbibing of said beverage concurrent or alternatingly with ingestion or imbibing of said vitamin, nutritional, mineral or medicinal supplement.