Two compartment container and method for making a two component beverage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016244237-A1
Application number	US-201415028080-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 9, 2014
Priority date	Oct 10, 2013
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention concerns a two compartment container ( 10 ) for making a two component beverage comprising: —at least one upstanding external sidewall ( 12 ) defining an internal volume; —an internal separating wall ( 22 ) extending between the at least one sidewall ( 12 ) and separating the internal volume; and —a first ( 18 ) and second ( 20 ) lid each attached to an end portion ( 12 a, 12 b ) of the upstanding sidewall ( 12 ); thereby defining a two compartment container comprising a first compartment ( 24 a ) bounded by sidewall ( 12 ), separating wall ( 22 ) and first lid ( 18 ) and a second compartment ( 24 b ) located on the opposite side of the first compartment ( 24 a ) and bounded by sidewall ( 12 ), separating wall ( 22 ) and second lid ( 20 ). The invention also relates to a method for making a two component beverage in a cup using the claimed two compartment container ( 10 ), the method comprising at least the following steps: —accessing a first compartment ( 24 a ) of the two compartment container ( 10 ) containing a first ingredient ( 32 ); —emptying the first ingredient ( 32 ) from the first compartment of the two compartments container ( 10 ) into the cup; —turning the two compartment container ( 10 ) upside down; —accessing the second compartment ( 24 b ) of the two compartment container ( 10 ) containing a second ingredient ( 34 ); and —emptying the second ingredient ( 34 ) from the second compartment ( 24 b ) of the two compartments container ( 10 ) into the cup.

First claim

1 . A two compartment container comprising:
at least one upstanding external sidewall defining an internal volume; an internal separating wall extending between the at least one sidewall and separating the internal volume; and a first and second lid each attached to an end portion of the upstanding sidewall; thereby defining a two compartment container comprising a first compartment bounded by sidewall, separating wall and first lid and a second compartment located on the opposite side of the first compartment and bounded by sidewall, separating wall and second lid.

2 . The container of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall has a peripheral flange located at one end of the sidewall for the first lid to be attached to this peripheral flange.

3 . The container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sidewall comprises a leaky bottom wall at one end of the sidewall for the second lid to be attached to this bottom wall.

4 . The container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sidewall has a first and a second peripheral flange on its both ends and the first and second lids are respectively attached to the first and second peripheral flange.

5 . The container of claim 1 , wherein first and/or second lid have a tab R that is folded to overlay the remainder of the first and/or second lid, the tab being movable toward an unfolded position for gripping to facilitate removal of the first and/or second lid.

6 . The container of claim 1 , wherein a member for handling the container is provided.

7 . The container of claim 1 , wherein the first compartment comprises a first ingredient and the second compartment comprises a second ingredient.

8 . The container of claim 7 , wherein the first and second ingredients are different.

9 . The container of claim 7 , wherein the first and second ingredients are selected from the group consisting of powered, syrup, concentrate, liquid, solid ingredients and mixtures thereof.

10 . The container of claim 7 , wherein the first and second ingredients are selected from the group consisting of coffee, cocoa, tea, milk, sugar, bouillon, soup, vegetables, cereals, probiotics and mixtures thereof.

11 . A method of forming a two component beverage in a cup, using a two compartment container comprising: at least one upstanding external sidewall defining an internal volume; an internal separating wall extending between the at least one sidewall and separating the internal volume; and a first and second lid each attached to an end portion of the upstanding sidewall, thereby defining a two compartment container comprising a first compartment bounded by sidewall, separating wall and first lid and a second compartment located on the opposite side of the first compartment and bounded by sidewall, separating wall and second lid, the method comprising at least the following steps:
accessing a first compartment of the two compartment container containing a first ingredient; emptying the first ingredient from the first compartment of the two compartments container into the cup; turning the two compartment container upside down; accessing the second compartment of the two compartment container containing a second ingredient; and emptying the second ingredient from the second compartment of the two compartments container into the cup.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of accessing the first ingredient from the first compartment of the two compartment container includes the step of first removing a first compartment lid from the container.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of accessing the second ingredient from the second compartment of the two compartment container includes the step of first removing a second compartment lid from the container.

14 . The method of claim 11 , comprising the step of combining a liquid with the first ingredient in the cup to form a first beverage component.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the liquid combined with the first ingredient in the cup to form the first beverage component is hot water.

16 . The method of claim 11 , comprising the step of blocking access to the first compartment of the two compartment container by reclosing the first compartment lid.

Assignees

• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Hentzel Stephane
• Montarras Marc

Classifications

• B65D85/8043

  Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents (B65D85/808 takes precedence; filters or reusable cartridges for coffee or tea makers, not used as packages A47J31/06) · CPC title

• B65D3/06

  essentially conical or frusto-conical · CPC title

• B65D81/32 Primary

  for packaging two or more different materials which must be maintained separate prior to use in admixture · CPC title

• A23F5/262

  the extraction liquid flowing through a stationary bed of solid substances, e.g. in percolation columns · CPC title

• B65D2581/3409

  Brewing coffee or tea · CPC title