Containers and methods for mixing and dispensing beverage concentrates

• US 9,637,272 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2011
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC (The Kraft Heinz Company)
• Original Assignee: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC (The Kraft Heinz Company)
• Inventors: Albaum, Gary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buechner, Patrick M
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRUBY, RANDALL A
• Application Number:
  US13/820,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20130240564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,070 Days
• Field of Search: 222206-215, 222129-1458, 222490, 222491, 222494-497
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/451 by injecting one liquid into another
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/20 Jet mixers, i.e. mixers using high-speed fluid streams using jets to create vortex flow B01F25/10
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/048 characterised by the container, e.g. this latter being surrounded by an enclosure, or the means for deforming it B05B11/041, B05B11/046 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/085 the partition being in the form of a plug or the like which is dislodged by means of a plunger rod or the like pushing the plug down B65D81/3211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/28 Caps combined with stoppers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/0204 secured by snapping over beads or projections
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/16 hinged for upward or downward movement cigar or cigarette receptacles A24F15/00; suitcases, ètuis A45C; casings for cosmetic substances with hinged covers A45D40/22; toolboxes B25H3/02; hinges of door or similar type E05D ; boxes for switchboards with hinged covers H02B1/066
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2031 the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure B65D47/2025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/18 Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures B65D51/247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2892 the element, e.g. a valve, opening an aperture of the auxiliary container B65D51/2864, B65D51/2878 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/32 for packaging two or more different materials which must be maintained separate prior to use in admixture containers with removable or destructible partitions B65D25/08 ; closures combined with auxiliary containers B65D51/28; in aerosol containers B65D83/682; amalgam capsules A61C5/66; containers for pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/20, A61M5/19; medical syringes A61M3/005, resin cartridges for grouting anchoring-bolts in mines E21D20/026
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/72 for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials

Abstract

A container (10) for dispensing a liquid beverage concentrate is provided. The liquid beverage concentrate is formed of a first beverage component, disposed in a body (12), and a second beverage component, disposed within a cartridge (30) at least partially within the body, that are initially isolated. The first and second beverage components can be combined to form the liquid beverage concentrate by moving the cartridge, such as further into the body, to unblock a flow path (36) between the cartridge and the body.

Claims

1. A container for dispensing a beverage concentrate formed of at least a first beverage concentrate component and a second, different beverage concentrate component, the container comprising:

an enclosed body for containing a first beverage component and having a neck disposed about an opening;

a cartridge for containing a second beverage component and having an upper portion slidably received within the neck of the body and moveable from a first position to a second position, the upper portion having at least one outlet port forming part of a mixing flow path between the cartridge and the body, the mixing flow path being blocked when the cartridge is in the first position, the mixing flow path being open when the cartridge is in the second position and inverted to permit the second beverage component to exit the cartridge into the body through the at least one outlet port and to mix with the first beverage component in the body to form a beverage concentrate; and

a cap secured relative to the neck and moveable from a first position to a second position relative to the neck effective to move the cartridge from the first position to the second position;

wherein the cartridge has a closed bottom end and wherein the upper portion of the cartridge comprises an open upper end, wherein with the cap in the second position the cartridge is configured to provide fluid communication between an interior of the body and an exterior of the body, wherein an exit flow path for the beverage concentrate from the body extends from the interior of the body through the at least one outlet port into the cartridge and through the open upper end of the cartridge to the exterior of the body when the cartridge and the cap are in the second position, and wherein the outlet port is closer to the open upper end than the closed bottom end.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the cartridge includes a ring configured to abut an inner surface of the neck at a location on an opposite side of the flow port from the opening of the body when the cap is in the first position to block flow fluid therepast, the ring being at least partially spaced from the inner surface of the neck when the cartridge is in the second position to permit fluid flow therepast.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the cartridge further comprises a sidewall, a portion of the sidewall extending from the closed bottom end of the cartridge to the ring, a portion of the sidewall of the cartridge extending from the ring to the open upper end of the cartridge, and a portion of the sidewall of the cartridge surrounding the at least one outlet port.

4. The container of claim 2, wherein the ring is configured to frictionally engage the neck of the body for restricting movement of the cartridge from the first position to the second position until sufficient force has been applied.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the cartridge further a comprises a ramp on an opposite side of the flow port from the ring and configured to frictionally engage the neck of the body for restricting movement of the cartridge from the second position back to the first position.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein the cap further comprises an inwardly extending ramp configured to abut the neck of the body for restricting movement of the cap from the first position to the second position until sufficient force has been applied.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein the inwardly extending ramp is configured to abut the neck of the body for restricting movement of the cap from the second position back to the first.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein the inwardly extending ramp is configured to extend into an upper groove formed on the neck of the body, and wherein the inwardly extending ramp is configured to extend into a lower groove formed on the neck of the body on an opposite side of the upper groove relative to the opening about which the neck is disposed.

9. The container of claim 1, further comprising a nozzle member disposed in an outlet orifice of the cap, the nozzle member having flaps that can shift outwardly from an unflexed configuration to a flexed configuration to form an exit opening of the nozzle member when the body is squeezed to force the liquid beverage concentrate from the interior of the body and through the exit opening and the flaps can return toward their unflexed configuration when the body is no longer being squeezed.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein the cap is configured to attach to the neck of the body and includes a lid hinged relative to the cap.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein:

the body has a closed bottom end, a top end having a shoulder narrowing to the neck and a sidewall extending between the top and bottom ends;

the cap includes an exterior skirt; and

the lid includes an exterior portion configured to be aligned with the exterior skirt when the lid is seated on the cap.

12. The container of claim 9, wherein the nozzle member is configured such that the maximum variance in thrust of a jet of beverage concentrate exiting the container for a hard squeeze force resulting in a mass flow rate of about 2.1 g/s as compared to a soft squeeze force resulting in a mass flow rate of about 1.4 g/s is less than about 8000 g*mm/s².

13. The container of claim 12, wherein the variance in thrust is less than about 6000 g*mm/s².

14. The container of claim 9, wherein the nozzle member is configured such that the maximum variance in mass flow rate of a jet of beverage concentrate exiting the container in response to a squeeze force resulting in a mass flow rate of about 2.1 g/s as compared to a squeeze force resulting in a mass flow rate of about 1.4 g/s is less than about 1 g/s.

15. The container of claim 9, wherein the nozzle member is configured such that the Mixing Ability Value of a jet of beverage concentrate exiting the container for a squeeze force resulting in a mass flow rate of about 1.4 g/s is equal to or less than 2.

16. The container of claim 9, wherein the nozzle member is configured such that the Splash Value of a jet of beverage concentrate exiting the container for a squeeze force resulting in a mass flow rate of about 1.4 g/s is equal to or less than 2.

17. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet port further comprises a plurality of outlet ports each having a complete perimeter.

18. The container of claim 1, further comprising a nozzle member including a valve having a flexible membrane and wherein the cap includes an inner plug positioned in contact with the flexible membrane when the cap is in the first position and the flexible membrane is in a concave orientation, the inner plug being configured to restrict movement of the flexible membrane from the concave orientation to a convex orientation.