BEVERAGE CONTAINER

Abstract

 A beverage container assembly (10) with a receptacle (14) and a closure member (16). The receptacle (14) has a first upper compartment (18) located directly above a second lower compartment (20). The closure member (16) comprises an upper closure (32) locatable so as to close the top of the upper compartment (18). The upper closure (32) is connected to a spacer member (34) which provides at its lower end a lower closure (36) which substantially closes the top of the lower compartment (20) when the upper closure (32) closes the upper compartment (18) such that first and second different drink materials (54, 56) can be retained respectively in the upper and lower compartments (18, 20).

Description

[0001] This invention concerns a beverage container assembly, and also a beverage product.

[0002] Drinks in the form of shots are widely consumed, and drinks containing shots of two different drinks, often referred to as a bomb shot, are also widely consumed. Generally it is required for a barman or other person to prepare a bomb shot which is relatively time consuming and can be problematic for instance at particularly busy periods in a bar. Also the necessary supplies and equipment may not always be present when it would be desirable to consume a bomb shot.

[0003] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a beverage container assembly, the assembly including a receptacle with first and second interconnected compartments, the first compartment having an upper opening and being located in use immediately above the second compartment, an upper opening being provided on the second compartment in communication with the first compartment, and a closure member, the closure member including a first closure part selectively locatable over the upper opening in the first compartment, and a second closure part selectively locatable over the upper opening in the second compartment.

[0004] The closure member may be mountable on the top of the receptacle such that the first closure part closes the upper opening in the first compartment, and the second closure part closes the upper opening of the second compartment.

[0005] The closure member may include a spacer member extending between the first and second closure parts. The spacer member may be dimensioned such that when the first closure part locates over the upper opening in the first compartment to close same, the second closure part locates over the upper opening in the second compartment to close same.

[0006] The closure member may be made of a plastics material, and may be made in part or wholly of polyethylene (PE).

[0007] The closure member may be made of two interconnected components, a first component providing the first closure part, and a second component providing a spacer member and the second closure part. The first and second components may be interconnected by a friction fit. The first and second components may be made of different grades of material, or different materials, and the second component may be made of a more rigid material than the first component.

[0008] The first and second closure parts may each be circular in plan view, and may be coaxial with each other. The spacer member may extend axially between the first and second closure parts.

[0009] The first closure part may include a frangible seal which once the first closure part is fitted over the upper opening in the first compartment, requires to be broken to allow the first closure part to be removed from the receptacle. The assembly may be configured such that once the frangible seal has been broken, the first closure part cannot be fitted back onto the receptacle.

[0010] The receptacle may include a waisted section between the first and second compartments, which section provides the upper opening in the second compartment. The first and second compartments may have rounded profiles.

[0011] The receptacle may be made of a plastics material, and may be made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0012] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a filled beverage product, the product including a beverage container assembly according to any of the preceding nine paragraphs, with a first beverage material located at least largely in the first compartment, and a second beverage material located at least largely in the second compartment, the first beverage material having a lower specific gravity than the second beverage material.

[0013] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a first side view of a beverage container assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but turned through 90°;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the assembly of Fig. 1 along the line A-A in Fig. 1, and filled with beverage materials;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the assembly of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a component of the assembly of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view along the line B-B of Fig. 4; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively first and second perspective views of the component of Fig. 5.

[0014] The drawings show a beverage container assembly 10 and in Fig. 3 a filled beverage product 12 including the assembly 10. The assembly 10 includes a receptacle 14 and a closure member 16.

[0015] The receptacle 14 is typically made of plastics material such as PET, and in many instances will be transparent or at least translucent. The receptacle 14 has a first upper compartment 18 located in normal use directly above and in communication with a second lower compartment 20.

[0016] The lower compartment 20 has a gently domed base and a rounded body which tapers upwardly to a waisted section 26 which provides an upper opening for the lower component 20, which upper opening interconnects with the upper compartment 18 which is again rounded and moving upwardly initially by diverges before tapering to an upper opening 28 which is coaxial with and larger than the waisted section 26. A rim 30 is provided around the upper opening 28.

[0017] The closure member 16 comprises an upper closure 32 connected to a spacer member 34, which provides at its lower end a lower closure 36. The upper closure 32 comprises a lower ring 38 with an indent 40 which is a snap fit under the rim 30, such that the upper closure 32 can be pushed onto the top of the receptacle 14 and will snap fit thereon.

[0018] The upper closure 32 also comprises a cap 42 which extends across and closes the upper closure 32. The cap 42 is connected to the lower ring 38 by a frangible connection which includes a line of weakness 44 between the cap 42 and the lower ring 38, with a tab 46 extending from part of the lower ring 38 such that the tab 46 can be pulled to separate the lower ring 38 from the cap 42 to open the product 12.

[0019] The spacer member 34 and lower closure 36 are integrally formed, and the spacer member 34 at its upper end includes two annular ribs 48 which locate in a socket 50 provided centrally in the underside of the cap 42, in a friction fit. The lower closure 36 is in the form of a circular disc provided on the lower end of the spacer member 34. As can be seen from Fig. 3, when the cap 42 fits over the rim 30, the lower closure 36 extends across the waisted section 26 just above the narrowest part thereof.

[0020] The upper closure 32 may be made for instance of PE, as can the lower closure 36 and spacer member 34, albeit that these may be made of a more rigid PE.

[0021] In Fig. 3 the product 12 is shown with a first drink material 54 located principally in the upper compartment 18, and a second drink material 56 located in the lower compartment 20. The first drink material 54 will have a lower specific gravity than the second drink material 56, such that the drink materials 54, 56 will remain separated unless they are for instance shaken or otherwise significantly disturbed. One or both of the drink materials 54, 56 would typically be an alcoholic drink.

[0022] In use, the receptacle 14 without the closure member 16 located thereon would be filled with the second drink material 56. The first drink material 54 would then be introduced such as to not provide any substantial mixing of the drink materials 54, 56 and/or sufficient time will be provided to allow the drink materials 54, 56 to separate out.

[0023] The closure member 16 is then located in the receptacle 14 gently so as to again avoid any substantial mixing of the drink materials 54, 56. The closure member 16 is then pressed down on the receptacle 40, for instance by passing under a roller, which causes the upper closure 32 to deform and locate over the rim 30. The product 12 can thereafter only be opened by pulling on the tab 46 to break the connection between the lower ring 38 and upper closure 32. This then acts as a tamper proof seal, and means that once the product 12 is opened, it cannot be fully reclosed.

[0024] There is thus described a beverage container assembly and also a filled product using such an assembly, which enables two drink materials to be attractively contained within a receptacle and substantially retained apart so as to prevent mixing during transportation or handling. The product can be displayed or held in stock prior to use, and then readily opened when required by simply pulling on the tab 46.

[0025] This means that for instance in a busy bar little time would be necessary to serve such a bomb shot drink in contrast to conventional arrangements where the barman mixes the drink up in situ. Also such products can readily be sold in usual retail establishments and taken for instance to barbeques, picnics, or consumed in the home. Generally such drinks would have previously largely only been available in bars.

[0026] Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance the receptacle may take a different form and may have a different shape and/or may be made of different material. The closure member may take a different form and may not be made necessarily from two components as shown. Also a different arrangement may be used for retaining the closure member on the receptacle prior to use.

[0027] Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A beverage container assembly, the assembly including a receptacle with first and second interconnected compartments, the first compartment having an upper opening and being located in use immediately above the second compartment, an upper opening being provided on the second compartment in communication with the first compartment, and a closure member, the closure member including a first closure part selectively locatable over the upper opening in the first compartment, and a second closure part selectively locatable over the upper opening in the second compartment.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the closure member is mountable on the top of the receptacle such that the first closure part closes the upper opening in the first compartment, and the second closure part closes the upper opening of the second compartment.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, characterised in that the closure member includes a spacer member extending between the first and second closure parts.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, characterised in that the spacer member is dimensioned such that when the first closure part locates over the upper opening in the first compartment to close same, the second closure part locates over the upper opening in the second compartment to close same.

5. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the closure member is made of a plastics material, and may be made in part or wholly of polyethylene (PE).

6. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the closure member is made of two interconnected components, a first component providing the first closure part, and a second component providing a spacer member and the second closure part.

7. An assembly according to claim 6, characterised in that the first and second components are interconnected by a friction fit.

8. An assembly according to claims 6 or 7, characterised in that the first and second components are made of different grades of material, or different materials, and the second component may be made of a more rigid material than the first component.

9. An assembly according to any of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the first and second closure parts are each circular in plan view, may be coaxial with each other, and may extend axially between the first and second closure parts.

10. An assembly according to any of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that the first closure part includes a frangible seal which once the first closure part is fitted over the upper opening in the first compartment, requires to be broken to allow the first closure part to be removed from the receptacle.

11. An assembly according to claim 10, characterised in that the assembly is configured such that once the frangible seal has been broken, the first closure part cannot be fitted back onto the receptacle.

12. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the receptacle includes a waisted section between the first and second compartments, which section provides the upper opening in the second compartment.

13. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first and second compartments have rounded profiles.

14. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the receptacle is made of a plastics material, and may be made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

15. A filled beverage product, the product including a beverage container assembly according to any of the preceding claims, with a first beverage material located at least largely in the first compartment, and a second beverage material located at least largely in the second compartment, the first beverage material having a lower specific gravity than the second beverage material.

Drawing