Additive delivery systems and containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11213159-B2
Application number	US-201715791348-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2017
Priority date	Feb 14, 2013
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

A compact filtering and additive delivery system which is readily adaptable to a portable container, such as a sports bottle, and receives a modular additive container for the metered delivery of additive, such as flavor concentrate, to a stream of base liquid as the base liquid is drawn or dispensed from the container. The modular additive container configuration on the delivery system allows a consumer/user to experience different additives, such as different flavors or supplement compositions, for a given supply of base liquid, such as water, stored in the container. The system may be readily used with off-the-shelf containers, such as disposable water bottles. An additive container configuration provides modular additive delivery system as described herein.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of mixing additive with a base liquid in an additive delivery system comprising a dispensing spout, a one-way valve, an upper cap portion, a lower cap portion cooperating with the upper cap portion to define an additive module containing space, an additive module disposed within the additive module containing space and containing an additive, a base liquid flow passage for permitting flow of the base liquid thru the additive module containing space to the dispensing spout, and at least one metering port providing metered flow of the additive from the additive module to the base liquid flow passage, the method comprising:
providing a supply of the base liquid in a container associated with the additive delivery system;
installing the additive delivery system on the container containing the supply of base liquid;
causing the base liquid to flow thru the base liquid flow passage;
metering the additive thru the at least one metering port to form a mixture of the additive and the base liquid, wherein the metering results from the base liquid flowing through the base liquid flow passage;
dispensing the mixture of the base liquid and the additive from the dispensing spout; and
preventing backflow of the base liquid into the container with the one-way valve in the additive delivery system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of causing the base liquid to flow comprises the step of drawing the base liquid thru a delivery tube.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base liquid flows centrally thru the additive module containing space.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising mixing the base liquid and the additive in the base liquid flow passage using a mixing projection.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of drawing the additive from the additive module as the base liquid is drawn thru the base liquid flow passage.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising filtering the base liquid with a filter assembly prior to flow of the base liquid in the base liquid flow passage.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of drawing the additive from the additive module includes drawing the additive into a centrally disposed base liquid flow passage.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the additive module surrounds the centrally disposed base liquid flow passage.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the additive module includes a flexible membrane.

10. A method of mixing additive with a base liquid in an additive delivery system comprising a dispensing spout, a one-way valve, an upper cap portion, a lower cap portion cooperating with the upper cap portion to define an additive module containing space, an additive module disposed within the additive module containing space and containing an additive, a base liquid flow passage for permitting flow of the base liquid thru the additive module containing space to the dispensing spout, and at least one metering port providing metered flow of the additive from the additive module to the base liquid flow passage, the method comprising:
providing a supply of the base liquid in a container associated with the additive delivery system;
enclosing the additive module within the additive module containing space;
installing the additive delivery system on the container containing the supply of base liquid;
causing the base liquid to flow thru the base liquid flow passage;
in response to the base liquid flowing through the base liquid flow passage, causing the additive to flow thru the at least one metering port to form a mixture of the additive and the base liquid;
dispensing the mixture of the base liquid and the additive from the dispensing spout; and
preventing backflow of the base liquid into the container with the one-way valve in the additive delivery system.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing a filtration assembly configured to filter the base liquid prior to flow into the base liquid flow passage.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing a delivery tube defining part of the base liquid flow passage, wherein the delivery tube is provided with at least one mixing projection to facilitate turbulent flow and mixing within the delivery tube of the base liquid and the additive, and further comprising the step of mixing the base liquid and the additive with the mixing projection as the base liquid and the additive flow.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising providing a piercing projection disposed within the additive module containing space for piercing the additive module, and the step of piercing the additive module with the piercing projection.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing the upper cap assembly with an annular additive receiving wall, the annular additive receiving wall including an additive module retaining lip for engaging a retaining groove on the additive module to thereby secure the additive module to the upper cap assembly.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising providing an additive module enclosure assembly for enclosing a lower portion of the additive module, the lower cap portion further including a downward extending annular wall having a retaining groove therein, the additive module enclosure assembly including an upper extending annular wall having a retaining lip formed therein to engage the retaining groove and thereby forming a lower additive module receiving space.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising providing the additive module enclosure assembly with a delivery tube extending therethrough, the delivery tube including the at least one metering port for permitting flow from the lower additive module receiving space to an interior of the delivery tube, further comprising the step of mixing additive from the at least one metering port with the base liquid as the base liquid flows through the delivery tube.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of mixing the base liquid and the additive using at least one mixing projection disposed within the delivery tube.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing a silicone seal disposed within the upper cap portion, the silicone seal including a conical sealing surface for engaging a corresponding surface on the additive module.

19. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing a filtration assembly configured to filter the base liquid prior to flow into the additive module containing space, the filtration assembly and the additive module containing space being configured to provide for flow of the base liquid from the container through the additive module containing space in a uniform direction.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of providing a filter housing on the filtration assembly and providing a filter housing top adapted for snap fit connection to enclose a filtration element therewithin.

Assignees

• Cirkul Inc

Inventors

• Waggoner Garrett S
• Gay Andrew
• Jasperse Christopher

Classifications

• A47J31/005 Primary

  Portable or compact beverage making apparatus, e.g. for travelling, for use in automotive vehicles · CPC title