Beverage containers with multiple compartments and independent openings

Abstract

A multi-compartment beverage container includes a first compartment, a second compartment, and a partition separating the first compartment from the second compartment. A first closure such as a seal, flip tab, or cap, is configured for selectively enabling access to the first compartment, and a second closure is configured for selectively enabling access to the second compartment. In one embodiment the container is a drink box with a first compartment, second compartment and partition formed from an integral blank. In another drink box embodiment, the partition is a separate structure that is bonded within the container to form the compartments. In yet another embodiment, the container is formed of a plastic.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application 60 / 662,299, filed Mar. 16, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention generally relates to beverage containers, and more particularly, to containers having a plurality of compartments and an opening for each compartment. BACKGROUND [0003] Beverage containers with a plurality of separate chambers are known in the art. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,170, Semersky, et al., discloses a multi-chamber container. Unfortunately, however, such containers do not provide independent side-by-side openings and drinking passages. Instead, an internal divider segregates a shared bottleneck. While such a design may be particularly useful for storing liquids in separate chambers and consuming them simultaneously, it does not provide optimum ergonomics. The design is inconvenient for drinking the liquid from only one chamber at...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] To solve one or more of the problems set forth above, in an exemplary implementation of the invention, a multi-compartment beverage container is provided. The container includes a first compartment, a second compartment, and a partition separating the first compartment from the second compartment. A first closure, such as a seal, flip tab, or cap, is configured for selectively enabling access to the first compartment. A second closure is configured for selectively enabling access to the second compartment. In one embodiment the container is a drink box with a first compartment, second compartment and partition formed from an integral blank. In another drink box embodiment, the partition is a separate structure that is bonded within the container to form the compartments. In yet another embodiment, the container is formed of a plastic in the form of a plastic bottle with an interior partition.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, however, such containers do not provide independent side-by-side openings and drinking passages.

While such a design may be particularly useful for storing liquids in separate chambers and consuming them simultaneously, it does not provide optimum ergonomics.

The design is inconvenient for drinking the liquid from only one chamber at a time, because the divider within the bottleneck creates small conduits and interferes with placement of a consumer's upper lip.

Additionally, a shared bottleneck limits one's ability to seal access to a chamber.

Although a removable seal (e.g., a paper seal) may be placed over each segregated section of the bottleneck, any unremoved seal has a tendency to interfere with normal drinking.

Furthermore, once a seal is removed, that section of the bottleneck cannot be closed without closing the entire bottleneck.

Thus, such containers lack independent openings.

This approach is inconvenient and increases manufacturing costs.

This approach interferes with normal drinking.

Concomitantly, while drink boxes have exploded in popularity in recent years, they are generally limited to single compartment containers with single entrances.

Once penetrated, the seal cannot conveniently be resealed.

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