US20110139739A1

US20110139739A1 - Top-loading bottles and methods

Info

Publication number: US20110139739A1
Application number: US13/036,290
Authority: US
Inventors: Youngtack Shim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-12-31
Filing date: 2011-02-28
Publication date: 2011-06-16

Abstract

Various bottles may contain therein fluids and media while separating each other before use. More particularly, the media may include therein agents and the medium may be stored separately from the fluid before use, and then mixed with the fluids upon use. To this end, the bottles may include various storages configured to store the media in various portions of the bottles, and also include various seals configured to fluidly separate such media from the fluids before use and then mix such media with the fluids upon receiving various user inputs. Various methods may be used to separate such media from the fluids before use and to mix the media with the fluids in various portions of the bottles. Various processes may also be used to form such media, to form such storages as well as various chambers and pathways therefor, and to provide various seals.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part application of the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/318,537 entitled “Agent-containing media and methods thereof,” filed on Dec. 31, 2008, currently pending, and a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/318,541 entitled “Medium containing bottles and methods,” filed on Dec. 31, 2008, currently pending, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to bottles containing fluids and agents while separating the agents from the fluids before use. More particularly, aspects of the present invention relate to bottles having fluids and various media with such agents, where the media are stored separately from the fluids and mixed with the fluids only upon use. To this end, the bottles are provided with storages for storing the media in various portions of the bottles, and also provided with seals for fluidly separating such media from the fluids before use and then mixing such media with the fluids upon receiving user inputs. Aspects of the present invention relate to various methods of including the media and fluids in the bottles while separating the media from the fluids and various methods of mixing the media with the fluids in various portions of the bottles. Aspects of the present invention further relate to various processes for providing such bottles, for providing various storages as well as chambers and pathways therefor, and for providing various seals for mixing the media and fluids in response to user inputs.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is now well established in the medical community that oxidation reactions are the main culprit of aging in human beings. Every single cell inside the human body is continuously attacked by various oxidizing substances which may be intrinsic as well as extrinsic in their origin. Such substances may be huge molecules capable of inducing the oxidation reactions. However, the most powerful oxidizing substances are “reactive oxygen species” which are rather small molecules such as, e.g., hydrogen peroxides (H₂O₂), superoxide anions (O₂ ⁻), and free radicals including hydroxyl radicals (OH.). These species are so oxidative that any cells attacked thereby are degraded and unable to perform normal functions.
In order to obviate health hazards caused by these strong oxidizing substances, people are recommended to take various antioxidants capable of neutralizing such substances and, accordingly, preventing the oxidation reactions or at least reducing rates of such reactions. The most well-known antioxidant is the ascorbic acid or vitamin C, while other antioxidants also include various natural and synthetic substances, where such antioxidants are generally provided as pills, tablets or powder.
In progress with environmental pollution and a gradual loss of suitable sources, water is now sold in bottles under various names of spring water, mineral water, distilled water, just to name a few. Such bottled water is sometimes replenished with nutrients such as minerals, with flavors of various fruits, and the like. However, it is rare, if not impossible, to find such bottled water which contains the antioxidant. One reason is that numerous, if not all, antioxidants become unstable and degrade when irradiated by ultraviolet rays (to be abbreviated as the “UV rays” hereinafter). Thus, the antioxidants contained in the bottled water tend to be degraded and to lose their chemical and/or medical potency, long before use. In addition, some antioxidants tend to be degraded not by such UV rays but solely by a long period of hydration. Accordingly, such antioxidants may lose their potency in proportion to the period of time during which they are dissolved in water. Even if such antioxidants are protected from the UV rays, the chances are that they are oxidized during storage by oxygen molecules dissolved in the water. Because O₂molecules are relatively small, they can diffuse through almost all conventional packaging materials such as plastics. In order to prevent this, special containers such as glasses and thick plastic containers have to be used, which will increase the cost of the bottled water.
Therefore, there is a need for a proper medium for the antioxidants which are to be stored in a bottle while protecting such antioxidants from the UV rays and water before consumption. There also is a need for a bottle which stores the medium separately from the water before consumption as well as a need for a bottle which mixes the medium with water upon consumption. There further is a need for a bottle which includes a seal separating the medium from water before use and which allows a user to break and/or move the seal upon use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention generally relate to bottles containing fluids and agents while separating the agents from the fluids before use. More particularly, aspects of the present invention relate to bottles having fluids and various media with such agents, where the media are stored separately from the fluids and then mixed with the fluids upon actual use. Therefore, one or more embodiments present invention relate to various media which contain therein such agents, define shape and size to be stored in such bottles, and optionally promote dissolution (or dispersion) in the fluids upon mixed therewith, to various storages which are disposed in various portions of the bottles and which have various shapes and sizes for storing such media therein, to various chambers which are defined inside the storages and store the media therein, and to various pathways which are also defined around the storages and fluidly connect the chamber of the storage to various portions of the bottles.
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to various seals which fluidly separate the media inside the storages from the fluids in the bottles before consumption and are removed upon use for mixing the media with the fluids in various portions of the bottles.
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to various actuators which receive user inputs and then mix the media with the fluids in response thereto by directly removing the seals, by moving the media for removing such seals, and the like.
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to various bottles capable of promoting the mixing between the media and fluids as well as capable of visualizing extents of such mixing by various means.
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to various methods of including such media and fluids in the bottles while separating the media from the fluids before use, and then mixing the media with the fluids upon use. Therefore, aspects of the present invention relate to various methods of including such agents in the media, those of making the media in appropriate shapes and sizes, and those of fabricating the media for promoting the mixing with such fluids.
In addition, aspects of the present invention relate to various methods of forming the storages in various portions of the bottles, those of extending the storages in the same or to different portions of the bottles, those of storing the media in such storages, and those of moving the media between different portions of such storages.
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to various methods of fluidly sealing the media from the fluids, those of removing the sealing for mixing the media with the fluids upon use, those of breaking the sealing for the mixing, and those of moving the sealing for the mixing.
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to various methods of receiving such user inputs by various portions of the bottles, those of receiving the inputs by the storages or their chambers and/or pathways, those of directly removing the sealing by the user inputs, and those of indirectly removing such sealing by the media which are actuated by the user inputs.
Aspects of the present invention also relate to various methods of promoting the mixing between the media and fluids and those of visualizing the extents of such mixing by various means.
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to various processes for providing the bottles capable of separating such media from the fluids before use and then mixing the media with the fluids only upon actual use. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention relate to various processes for fabricating such media containing the agents and/or fillers therein in proper shapes and/or sizes, those for providing various bodies of such bottles defining various portions and storing such media in such portions.
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to various processes for incorporating the storages in various portions of such bottles, those for defining the chambers and/or pathways in such storages, those for defining and/or extending such chambers and/or pathways in various portions of the bottles, and those for providing the seals in various portions of the chambers and/or pathways of the storages or in various portions of the bodies of such bottles.
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to various processes for fabricating such seals removable by various means, those for providing the actuators capable of breaking such seals in response to the user inputs, those for providing the actuators capable of moving such seals in response thereto, those for fabricating the actuators receiving the user inputs and removing such seals in direct response thereto, and those for fabricating the actuators receiving the user inputs and then actuating the media which remove such seals in response thereto.
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to various processes for fabricating such bottles capable of promoting the mixing between the media and fluids and those for providing the bottles capable of visualizing the extents of the mixing by various means.
Aspects of the present invention provide various bottles including various fluids and agents, where such agents are mixed into the fluids only upon use or consumption.
Aspects of the present invention include in the bottles such agents which tend to be vulnerable to ultraviolet rays, extended periods of dissolution (or dispersion), formation of precipitates or aggregates, and the like.
Aspects of the present invention form various media which include various agents such as antioxidants which also refer to nutrients, medical or pharmaceutical substances, herbal substances, homeopathic substances, and the like.
Aspects of the present invention include in the media various fillers which are capable of protecting the antioxidants.
Aspects of the present invention incorporate in the media such fillers which are capable of promoting mixing (including dissolution and dispersion) of the agents with the fluids.
Aspects of the present invention provide various bottles storing such media and fluids while preventing the agents of the media from mixing with the fluids before use or consumption. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention store the media in a top portion of such a bottle (or simply the top) before use, and to mix the media and fluids anywhere along the bottle.
Aspects of the present invention store the media in the top portion of a body of such a bottle before use, and to mix the media and fluids anywhere along the bottle.
Aspects of the present invention store such media in a lid or an applicator of the bottle before use, and to mix the media and fluids in the middle or bottom portion of the bottle.
Aspects of the present invention store such media along the top portion of a storage coupling with the lid and/or applicator before use, and then to mix the media and fluids anywhere along such a bottle.
Aspects of the present invention store the media in (or on) the bottle, and then to apply a user input directly to the media for mixing the media and fluids.
Aspects of the present invention store the media in (or on) such a bottle, and then to move such media into the fluids for such mixing. Another related objective of this invention is to store the media in (or on) the bottle, and then to flow the fluids toward such media for such mixing.
Aspects of the present invention store the media and fluids in the bottle while separating the media from the fluids by various seals and then to break the seals for mixing the media and fluids.
Aspects of the present invention store such media and fluids in the bottle while separating the media from the fluids by such seals, and then to move the seals for mixing the media and fluids.
Aspects of the present invention store the media in the top portion of the bottle while separating the media from the fluids by various seals, and to break and/or move the seals for mixing the media and fluids in the middle and/or bottom portions of the bottle.
Aspects of the present invention store the media in the top portion of such a bottle while separating such media from the fluids by the seals, and then to break and/or move such seals for mixing the media and fluids anywhere along the bottle.
Aspects of the present invention promote such mixing (including dissolution and dispersion) of the media and fluids by producing gas with various agents or fillers during such mixing.
Aspects of the present invention promote the mixing between the media and fluids by maintaining dimensions of the media during mixing.
Aspects of the present invention promote the mixing between the media and fluids by manipulating densities of the media.
Aspects of the present invention contain debris of the media inside the bottle.
Aspects of the present invention store such media in the top portion of the bottle and to mix the media and fluids in the other of the portions (i.e., middle or bottom portion) of the bottle. Therefore, embodiments of the invention supply the bottle with a chamber extending from the top portion of the bottle to the other portions thereof.
Aspects of the present invention extend the chamber from the top portion to the middle or bottom portion, to store the media in the top portion, and then to mix the media with the fluids in the middle or bottom portion of the bottle.
Aspects of the present invention couple the chamber with the lid or applicator, to store the media in or near the lid or applicator, and then to mix such media and fluids in the middle or bottom portion of such a bottle.
Aspects of the present invention apply the user input directly to the media along the chamber for mixing or to receive the user input and transmit the input to the media thereafter along the chamber for such mixing while keeping the media in the same portion of the chamber or, in the alternative, moving such media to different portions of the chamber.
Aspects of the present invention separate the media from the fluids by various seals, and then to break and/or move the seals for mixing while maintaining the media in the same portion of the chamber and receiving such fluids thereinto.
Aspects of the present invention separate the media from the fluids by such seals, and to break and/or move such seals for such mixing while moving the media to different portions of the chamber.
Aspects of the present invention store such media in the top portion of the bottle, to move the media along various pathways to the other portions thereof, and to mix the media with the fluids in other portions. Therefore, embodiments of invention provide the bottle with one or more pathways which extend from the top portion of the bottle to other portions thereof.
Aspects of the present invention extend the pathway from the top portion to the middle or bottom portion, to store such media in the top portion, and then to mix the media with the fluids in the middle or bottom portion of the bottle.
Aspects of the present invention couple the pathway with the lid or applicator, to store such media in or near the lid or applicator, and then to mix such media and fluids in the middle or bottom portion thereof.
Aspects of the present invention apply the user input directly to the media for such mixing or, alternatively, to receive the user input and transmit the input to the media thereafter for mixing while keeping the media in the same portion of the pathway or, alternatively, moving such media to different portions of the pathway.
Aspects of the present invention separate the media from the fluids by the seals, and then to break and/or move the seals for the mixing while keeping such media in the same portion of the pathway and receiving such fluids thereto.
Aspects of the present invention separate such media from the fluids by various seals, and to break and/or move the seals for such mixing while moving the media to different portions of the pathway.
Aspects of the present invention store such media and fluids in (or on) the bottle and then to mix the media with the fluids while producing gas with the media for promoting the mixing. Therefore, embodiments of the invention store such media including various gassing fillers (or gasifiers) in any portion of the bottle, and then to mix such gasifiers and fluids in the top portion of the bottle.
Aspects of the present invention provide the media heavier than the fluids for producing such gas from under the fluids and promoting such mixing.
Aspects of the present invention provide the media lighter than the fluids for producing gas on or near meniscuses of the fluids and promoting the mixing.
Aspects of the present invention provide the media capable of changing their densities during the mixing by including various agents and/or fillers defining different densities, by defining voids therein, and the like.
Aspects of the present invention store the media and fluids in (or on) the bottle, and to mix the media and fluids while maintaining at least one dimension of the media for promoting the mixing. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention provide the media with the fillers which are insoluble to the fluids and have dimensions so that the insoluble fillers may maintain the dimensions of the media during and after mixing.
Aspects of the present invention provide the media with the insoluble fillers on which the agents are disposed and mixed with the fluids.
Aspects of the present invention provide the media with the fillers capable of swelling when mixed with the fluids.
Aspects of the present invention store in the bottle the fluids and media including various agents and/or fillers defining various pores for promoting such mixing between the media and fluids.
Aspects of the present invention store such media in the top portion of the bottle while defining macropores and/or micropores therein.
Aspects of the present invention provide the media to form such pores by the agents (or fillers) for promoting the mixing.
Aspects of the present invention provide the media to form such pores by mixtures of the agents and fillers to promote the mixing of the fluids with the agents and/or fillers.
Aspects of the present invention provide the medium to define such pores preferentially by the insoluble fillers so that the pores may remain during and after the mixing.
Aspects of the present invention provide the medium to define such pores preferentially by soluble fillers such that such pores tend to coalesce during the mixing.
Aspects of the present invention store in the bottle the fluids and media including various agents and/or fillers capable of forming paths of the fluids to promote the mixing between the media and fluids.
Aspects of the present invention store such media in the top portion of the bottle and arranging the media to dissolve or disperse into the fluids while leaving various pores in which the fluids enter into the inner portion of the media.
Aspects of the present invention include in the media the agents capable of preferentially dissolving (or dispersing) in the fluids while leaving various pores.
Aspects of the present invention include in the media such fillers soluble to the fluids and capable of preferentially dissolving (or dispersing) into the fluids while leaving such pores.
Aspects of the present invention include in the media such fillers insoluble to the fluids and retaining the soluble agents and/or fillers such that the insoluble pores maintain global structures of the media during the mixing.
Aspects of the present invention provide the bottle including various media and fluids while promoting such mixing therebetween. Therefore, embodiments of the invention provide the media with various gasifiers so that gas bubbles produced by the gasifiers promote the mixing by convection within the fluids.
Aspects of the present invention fabricate such media to be immersed during the mixing so that the media contact the fluids by maximum surface areas thereof and promote the mixing.
Aspects of the present invention provide the media with various agents defining different solubilities to the fluids and then to distribute such agents in an order of the solubilities so that relatively insoluble agents are mixed first, while relatively soluble agents are mixed later, thereby maximizing the extents of such mixing.
Aspects of the present invention store the media in any portion of the bottle, but to mix the media and fluids in the middle or bottom portion of the bottle so that the media contact the fluids through their entire surfaces during the mixing.
Aspects of the present invention fabricate the media to change their densities during the mixing so that the media contact the fluids in different surfaces as the mixing progresses.
Aspects of the present invention store such media and fluids in the bottle while ensuring such media to be immersed inside the fluids during the mixing therebetween.
Aspects of the present invention fabricate such media to be heavier than the fluids such that the media sink in the fluids during the mixing.
Aspects of the present invention enclose such media with heavy retainers rendering the media to sink in the fluids during the mixing.
Aspects of the present invention include inside the media heavy insoluble fillers which are incorporated in any proper locations of the media and maintain their weights to render such media sink in the fluids during the mixing.
Aspects of the present invention store such media and fluids in the bottle while ensuring such media to remain inside the bottle during the mixing therebetween. Therefore, embodiments of the invention include in the media various insoluble fillers capable of maintaining their dimensions greater than those of an opening of the bottle.
Aspects of the present invention provide meshes around or across the opening of the bottle capable of preventing the media from being dispensed out of the bottle.
Aspects of the present invention enclose such media with retainers having dimensions greater than those of the opening of the bottle, thereby ensuring the media from staying inside the bottle.
Aspects of the present invention arrange the media and/or retainers to increase their dimensions so as to facilitate insertion of the media and/or retainers into the interior of the bottle while ensuring the media and/or retainer to stay inside the bottle during or after the mixing between the fluids and the media and/or retainers.
Aspects of the present invention store such media and fluids in the bottle while visualizing extents of mixing between the agents and the fluids. Therefore, embodiments of the invention include various gasifiers in the media and to produce gas bubbles during the mixing of the media and fluids, thereby visualizing the extents of mixing by the extents of gassing, distribution of the gas bubbles, and the like.
Aspects of the present invention fabricate such agents or fillers of the media to define colors and/or refractive indices different from those of the fluids, thereby visualizing the extents of mixing by differences of the colors and/or refractive indices of the mixtures of the fluids and agents and/or fillers.
Aspects of the present invention fabricate such media as microcapsules with colors and/or refractory indices, thereby visualizing the extents of such mixing by distribution of such capsules in the fluids.
Aspects of the present invention provide on (or in) the bottle various chambers or pathways which extend from the top portion and which are capable of fluidly communicating with the interior of the bottle in the middle or bottom portion of the bottle. Therefore, embodiments of the invention provide the chambers or pathways in the top portion of the body of the bottle and then to extend the chambers or pathways down to the middle or bottom portion of the bottle (or body of the bottle).
Aspects of the present invention provide the chambers or pathways with various seals capable of fluidly separating the interior and exterior of the bottle therethrough.
Aspects of the present invention provide the seals in the middle or bottom portion of the body of the bottle so as to create mixing zones therearound.
Aspects of the present invention construct such seals to be removable by the user inputs applied directly thereto from the exterior, or by such use inputs applied to other portions of the body from the interior or exterior.
Aspects of the present invention fabricate such seals to stay in the same portion of such a bottle while being removed.
Aspects of the present invention fabricate such seals to move onto the middle or bottom portion of the bottle while being removed. Thus, embodiments of the invention allow the various media to be stored in such chambers and/or pathways while being separated from the fluids upon use.
Aspects of the present invention provide the bottle with such lids or applicators including the chambers and/or pathways which extend from the top portion onto the middle or bottom portion of the bottle. Therefore, embodiments of the invention provide the lids or applicators with the chambers and/or pathways which in turn include various seals capable of fluidly separating their inner spaces from the interior of the bottle when the lids or applicators are incorporated thereto.
Aspects of the present invention provide various seals to the middle or bottom portion of the chambers and/or pathways in order to provide mixing zones thereat.
Aspects of the present invention fabricate such seals to be removable by the user inputs applied to the top portion of the bottle, to the lid or to the applicator.
Aspects of the present invention fabricate such seals to stay in the same portion of the bottle while being removed. Another related objective of this invention is to fabricate such seals to move onto the middle or bottom portion of the bottle while being removed. Accordingly, various media may be stored in such chambers and/or pathways while being separated from the fluids upon use.
It is appreciated that, in aspects and embodiments of the present invention, various media are designed to be stored in (or on) such bottles while being fluidly separated from the fluids before actual use, and then to be mixed with the fluids upon use for being dissolved (or dispersed) into the fluids. Therefore, such bottles include proper seals which are capable of fluidly separating the media from the fluids before actual use, and then capable of being removed and providing fluid communication between the media and fluids upon receiving the user inputs.
It is also appreciated that, in aspects and embodiments of the present invention, the media are to be stored in the top portion of the bottle (or its body) but to be mixed with the fluids in the middle or bottom portions thereof. Therefore, various bottles of the present invention promote the mixing between the media and fluids by initiating the mixing therebetween while immersing the media inside the fluids and optionally maintaining the immersion of the media in the fluids during such mixing.
Various bottles of this invention may be provided in various embodiments. For example, such bottles may be provided without including the media and fluids therein, while defining at least portions of various storages therein. The remaining portions of such storages including proper seals may then be incorporated into the bottles, followed by disposing the media in the storages and filling the bottles with the fluids. In the alternative, such bottles may be provided without including the media and fluids therein, while incorporating the storages with proper seals therein. The media may then be disposed into the storages, followed by filling the bottles with the fluids. The bottles may also be provided with various media disposed in the storages and separated by proper seals, which may then be filled with the fluids. The bottles may also be provided with such media and fluids and ready for distribution.
Various bottles of the present invention define unique features and provide numerous benefits over conventional containers. In one aspect, the bottles may store such media in their top portion, and mix such media with the fluids in any of their top, middle, and/or bottom portions. The bottles may also maximize the extents of mixing therebetween when such media are to be mixed with the fluids in their middle or bottom portions and to be immersed therein during the mixing. In another aspect, the bottles may also promote the mixing between the media and fluids by including the gassing fillers or gasifiers in the media by producing gas bubbles and by inducing convection of the media and/or fluids thereby. In another aspect, such bottles may promote the mixing between the media and fluids by incorporating in the media various fillers capable of manipulating the densities of the media for sinking or floating the media into the fluids during such mixing, capable of maintaining the shapes and/or sizes of such media during the mixing, capable of forming the macropores and/or micropores inside the media during such mixing, and/or capable of allowing the user to stir the fluids and media during the mixing. In another aspect, such bottles may also visualize the extents of mixing between the media and fluids by various means. For example, the gas bubbles from the gasifiers may denote such extents of mixing, colors and/or refraction of various agents of such media may represent the extents of mixing, and the like. In another aspect, such bottles may retain the media therein during the mixing by maintaining the shapes and/or sizes of the media during mixing, by enclosing the media with various retainers defining proper shapes and/or sizes, and the like.
Various media of the present invention may be used to dissolve various agents in the fluid only upon use or consumption, although the primary purpose of such media is to dissolve the antioxidants into various beverages contained in the bottles immediately before use. Therefore, such antioxidants may be dissolved into various bottled waters, bottled beverages, bottled foods, bottled medicine and pharmaceutical substances, bottled nutrients, bottled herbs, and the like, where such bottled waters may include spring water, mineral water, distilled water, flavored water, and carbonated water all of which are bottled inside various plastic, glass, paper, and/or composite containers, where the bottled beverages may include juices, carbonated beverages, and uncarbonated beverages all of which are bottled in such containers, where the bottled food may include milk, yogurt, and other dairy products all of which are bottled in such containers, and the like.
In general, such a bottle refers to any rigid or elastic container which contains therein a preset amount of fluids which may by definition include liquid, suspension, emulsion, slurry, a mixture of liquid and solid, and so on. The bottle may be made of and/or include various polymers or plastics, glasses, metals, papers, ceramics, papers, composite materials thereof, and so on. Such bottles refer not only to portable bottles but also to stationary bottles, where the portable bottles are generally smaller and contain less fluid than the stationary bottles. In addition, the bottles refer not only to disposable bottles but also to other bottles which may be used repeatedly.
Various apparatus, method, and process aspects of such bottles and/or various embodiments thereof are now enumerated. It is to be understood, however, that following apparatus, method, and process aspects of the present invention may further be embodied in many other different forms and, therefore, should not be limited to such aspects and/or embodiments which are to be set forth herein. Rather, various exemplary aspects and/or their embodiments described hereinafter are provided such that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and fully convey the scope of the present invention to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art.
In one aspect of the present invention, a bottle may be provided to axially define a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion along a longitudinal axis thereof.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include a body and at least one storage. The body is arranged to define an interior for containing a fluid therein, to define the top, middle, and bottom portions, and to define an opening which is provided in the top portion and in one end thereof and through which a fluid may be filled to the interior and dispensed to an exterior thereof. The storage is arranged to have at least two opposing ends therealong and to be also fluidly separated from the interior except through the ends. The above body is to be referred to as the “first body” hereinafter, while the above storage is to be referred to as the “first storage” hereinafter. The storage is also arranged to extend from the top portion while forming one of the ends therein to one of the middle and bottom portions while forming another of the ends therein.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, a lid, and the first storage. The lid is arranged to releasably couple to the opening, and to open and close the opening for providing a fluid communication between the interior and exterior. Such a storage is arranged to extend from the lid while forming one of the ends therein to one of such middle and bottom portions while forming another of the ends therein. Such a lid is to be referred to as the “first lid” hereinafter.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, an applicator, and the first storage. The applicator is arranged to be releasably coupled to the opening for contacting with a mouth of a user, and to open and close such an opening for providing a fluid communication between the interior and exterior. The storage is also arranged to extend from the applicator while forming one of the ends therein to one of such middle and bottom portions while forming another of the ends therein. The above applicator is to be referred to as the “first applicator” hereinafter.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first storage, and at least one pathway which is arranged to extend from one of the ends of the storage to one of the middle and bottom portions. The above pathway is to be referred to as the “first pathway” hereinafter.
In another aspect of the present invention, another bottle may be provided to axially form a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion along a longitudinal axis thereof and may include multiple chambers fluidly separated therebetween.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such a bottle may include the first body, the first storage, and at least one seal which is arranged to be disposed in one of such middle and bottom portions, to prevent a fluid communication to the interior therethrough when intact, and to be removable for providing the fluid communication therethrough. The storage is also arranged to be disposed in the top portion and to fluidly couple with the seal by one of the above ends, thereby fluidly separated from the interior when the seal is intact and forming the communication to the interior as the seal is removed. The above seal is to be referred to as the “first seal” hereinafter.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first lid, the first storage, and the first seal. Such a storage is arranged to be fluidly coupled to the lid by one of the ends and to fluidly couple with the seal by another of the ends, thereby fluidly separated from the interior when the seal is intact and forming the communication to the interior as the seal is removed.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first applicator, the first storage, and the first seal. The storage is arranged to fluidly couple to the applicator by one of the ends and to fluidly couple to the seal by another of the ends, thereby fluidly separated from the interior when the seal is intact and forming the communication to the interior as the seal is removed.
In another aspect of the present invention, a bottle may be provided to define a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion along a longitudinal axis thereof and may be releasably or fixedly incorporate at least one medium including at least one of at least one biologically active agent and at least one biologically inert filler, where the agent and/or filler may produce gas when contacting a fluid to be stored in the bottle, may maintain a dimension of the medium upon and during the contacting, and the like.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such a bottle may include the first body, the first storage, the medium which is arranged to be stored in such a storage, and at least one seal which is arranged to be incorporated into the top portion, to prevent a fluid communication to the interior therethrough when intact, and to be removable to form the fluid communication therethrough, where such a seal is to be referred to as the “second seal” hereinafter. The storage is also arranged to be incorporated in the top portion, to be fluidly coupled to the seal with one of the ends, to be fluidly separated from the interior by the seal when intact, and to provide such communication as the seal is removed. In one example, the medium is arranged to remain in the storage when the seal is removed, thereby forming the communication in the top portion. In another example, the storage is arranged to extend down to one of the middle and bottom portions, and the medium is arranged to move to one of the middle and bottom portions along the storage after the seal is removed, thereby forming such fluid communication in such one of the middle and bottom portions. In another example, the storage is also arranged to extend down to one of the middle and bottom portions, where such a seal is arranged to move to one of the middle and bottom portions along the storage for being removed, and the medium is arranged to remain in the top portion after the seal is removed, thereby forming such communication in the top portion. In another example, the storage is arranged to extend down to one of the middle and bottom portions, where the seal is arranged to move to one of such middle and bottom portions along the storage in order to be removed, while the medium is further arranged to move to such one of the middle and bottom portions with the seal, thereby forming the communication in such one of the middle and bottom portions.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first storage, the medium which is arranged to be stored in the storage, the first seal, and so on. Such a storage is arranged to extend from the top portion down to one of the middle and bottom portions, to fluidly couple with the seal with one of such ends, to be fluidly separated from the interior by the seal when intact, and to form the communication as the seal is removed. In one example, the medium is also arranged to remain in the top portion when the seal is removed, thereby forming the communication in the top portion. In another example, the medium is instead arranged to move to one of the middle and bottom portions along the storage after the seal is removed, thereby forming the fluid communication in such one of the middle and bottom portions.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first lid, the first storage, the medium which is arranged to be stored in the storage, and the second seal. The storage is arranged to be incorporated in the top portion, to be fluidly coupled to the lid by one of such ends, to fluidly couple with the seal by another of the ends, to be fluidly separated from the interior by the seal when intact, and to form the communication when the seal is removed. In one example, the medium is arranged to remain inside the storage when the seal is removed, thereby forming such communication in the top portion. In another example, the storage is arranged to extend down to one of the middle and bottom portions, and the medium is also arranged to move to one of the above middle and bottom portions along the storage after the seal is removed, thereby providing such communication in such one of the middle and bottom portions. In another example, such a storage is arranged to extend down to one of the middle and bottom portions, where such a seal is arranged to move to one of the middle and bottom portions along the storage to be removed, while such a medium is arranged to remain in the top portion after the seal is removed, thereby providing the communication in the top portion. In another example, the storage is arranged to extend down to one of such middle and bottom portions, where such a seal is arranged to move to one of the middle and bottom portions along the storage in order to be removed, and the medium is also arranged to move to such one of the middle and bottom portions with the seal, thereby forming the communication in such one of the middle and bottom portions.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first lid, the first storage, the medium which is arranged to be stored in the storage, and the first seal. The storage is also arranged to extend from the top portion down to one of the middle and bottom portions, to fluidly couple to the lid in one of the ends, to fluidly couple with the seal in another of the ends, to be fluidly separated from the interior by the seal when intact, and then to form the fluid communication when the seal is removed. In one example, the medium is arranged to remain in the top portion when the seal is removed, thereby forming such communication in the top portion. In another example, the medium is arranged to move to one of the middle and bottom portions along the storage after the seal is removed, thereby forming such communication in such one of the middle and bottom portions.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first applicator, the first storage, the medium which is arranged to be stored in the storage, and the second seal. The storage is arranged to be disposed in the top portion, to fluidly couple with the applicator in one of such ends, to fluidly couple with the seal in another of such ends, to be fluidly separated from the interior by the seal when intact, and to form the communication when such a seal is removed. In one example, the medium is arranged to remain in the storage as the seal is removed, thereby forming the communication in the top portion. In another example, the storage is arranged to extend down to one of the middle and bottom portions, where the medium is arranged to move to one of the middle and bottom portions along the storage after the seal is removed, thereby providing such communication in such one of the middle and bottom portions. In another example, such a storage is arranged to extend down to one of the middle and bottom portions, where such a seal is arranged to move to one of the middle and bottom portions along the storage in order to be removed, while such a medium is arranged to remain in the top portion when the seal is removed, thereby forming such fluid communication in the top portion. In another example, the storage is arranged to extend down to one of the middle and bottom portions, where the seal is arranged to move to one of the middle and bottom portions along the storage in order to be removed, and where the medium is also arranged to move to such one of the middle and bottom portions with the seal, thereby forming the communication in such one of the middle and bottom portions.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first applicator, the first storage, the medium which is arranged to be stored in the storage, and the first seal. Such a storage is also arranged to extend from the top portion down to one of the middle and bottom portions, to fluidly couple with the applicator with one of the ends, to fluidly couple to the seal with another of the ends, to be fluidly separated from the interior by the seal when intact, and to form the communication when the seal is removed. In one example, the medium is arranged to remain in the top portion as the seal is removed, thereby forming the communication in the top portion. In another example, the medium is arranged to move to one of the middle and bottom portions along the storage after the seal is removed, thereby forming such communication in such one of the middle and bottom portions.
In another aspect of the present invention, such a bottle may be provided to axially define a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion along a longitudinal axis thereof and to also releasably or fixedly including at least one medium therein.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such a bottle may include the first body, the first storage, the medium, and at least one seal. The first storage is arranged to extend from the top portion to any of the top, middle, and bottom portions, and the medium is arranged to be stored in the storage and also in the top portion. The seal is arranged to prevent a fluid communication to the interior therethrough when intact, and to be removable and form the fluid communication therethrough, where such a seal is to be referred to as the “third seal” hereinafter. In one example, the seal is also arranged to be incorporated into the top portion, to receive such user input, and then to be removed in response thereto, where the storage is arranged to couple to the seal in one of the ends, while such a medium is arranged to be fluidly separated from the interior by the seal when intact, to move to one of the middle and bottom portions after the seal is removed (or by removing the seal) as a response to the input, and to provide the communication in such one of the middle and bottom portions. In another example, the seal is arranged to be incorporated into one of the middle and bottom portions, to receive the user input, and to be removed in response thereto, where the storage is arranged to be coupled to the seal in one of the ends, while the medium is also arranged to be fluidly separated from the interior by the seal when intact, to move to such any of the portions, and then to provide the communication in such any of the portions after the seal is removed in response to the input. In another example, such a seal is arranged to be incorporated into one of the middle and bottom portions, to receive the user input, and to be removed in response thereto, where the medium is arranged to include therein at least one of at least one biologically active agent and at least one biologically inert filler, where at least one of the agent and the filler is capable of producing gas upon contacting a fluid to be stored in the bottle, maintaining at least one dimension of the medium upon and during the contacting, and so on, where the storage is arranged to couple with the seal in one of the ends, and where the medium is arranged to be fluidly separated from the interior by the seal when intact and to provide such communication in such any of the portions after the seal is removed in response to the input.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body; the first storage, the medium, and the first seal. The first storage is arranged to extend from the top portion to any of the top, middle, and bottom portions, while the medium is arranged to be stored in the storage and in the top portion. In one example, the storage is arranged to be coupled to the seal in one of the ends, while the medium is arranged to receive the user input, to be fluidly separated from the interior by the seal when intact, to move to one of the middle and bottom portions, and to form the communication in such one of the middle and bottom portions by removing the seal therein in response to the input. In another example, such a medium is arranged to include therein at least one biologically active agent and/or at least one biologically inert filler, where the agent and/or the filler is also capable of producing gas upon contacting a fluid to be stored in the bottle, maintaining at least one dimension of the medium on and during the contacting, and the like, where the storage is arranged to couple with the seal in one of the ends, and where the medium is arranged to receive such user input, to be fluidly separated from the interior by the seal when intact, and to provide the communication in such any of the portions by removing the seal in response to the input.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first storage, the medium, the third seal, and at least one actuator. The first storage is also arranged to extend from the top portion to any of the top, middle, and bottom portions, and the medium is arranged to be stored in the storage and in the top portion. The actuator is arranged to receive the user input, to operatively couple with the seal, and to remove the seal in response to the input. In one example, the seal is arranged to be incorporated into the top portion, where the storage is arranged to couple with the seal in one of the ends, while the medium is also arranged to be fluidly separated from the interior by the seal when intact, to move to one of the middle and bottom portions when the seal is removed by the actuator in response to the input, and to provide the communication in such one of the middle and bottom portions. In another example, the seal is arranged to be incorporated into one of the middle and bottom portions, where the storage is arranged to couple with the seal in one of the ends, and where the medium is arranged to be fluidly separated from the interior by the seal when intact, to move to such any of the portions, and to provide the communication in such any of the portions after the seal is removed by the actuator in response to the input. In another example, the seal is arranged to be incorporated into one of the middle and bottom portions, where the medium is arranged to include at least one biologically active agent and/or at least one biologically inert filler, where the agent and/or filler is capable of producing gas upon contacting a fluid to be stored in the bottle, maintaining at least one dimension of the medium upon as well as during the contacting, and the like, where the storage is arranged to couple with the seal in one of the ends, and where the medium is arranged to be fluidly separated from the interior by the seal when intact and to form the communication in such any of the portions after the seal is removed by the actuator in response to the input.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first storage, the medium, the first seal, and at least one actuator. The first storage is also arranged to extend from the top portion to any of the top, middle, and bottom portions, and the medium is arranged to be stored in the storage and in the top portion. The actuator is arranged to receive the user input, to operatively couple with the seal, and to remove the seal in response to the input. In one example, the storage is arranged to couple to the seal in one of the ends, and the medium is arranged to be fluidly separated from the interior by the seal when intact, to also move to one of the middle and bottom portions, and to form the communication in such one of the middle and bottom portions by the actuator in response to the input. In another example, the medium is arranged to include at least one biologically active agent and/or at least one biologically inert filler, where the agent and/or filler is also capable of producing gas upon contacting a fluid to be stored in the bottle and/or maintaining at least one dimension of the medium upon and during the contacting, where the storage is arranged to be coupled to the seal in one of the ends, and where the medium is arranged to receive the user input, to be fluidly separated from the interior by the seal when intact, and then to provide the communication in such any of the portions by removing the seal in response to the input.
In another aspect of the present invention, such a bottle may be provided to axially form a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion along its longitudinal axis and to releasably or fixedly incorporate at least one medium including therein at least one biologically active agent and/or at least one biologically inert filler, where the agent and/or filler is capable of producing gas when contacting a fluid to be stored in the bottle, maintaining at least one dimension of the medium upon and during the contacting, and the like.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such a bottle may include the first body, the first storage, and at least one medium which is arranged to be stored inside such a storage. The storage is arranged to extend from the top portion while forming one of the ends therein to one of the middle and bottom portions while forming another of the ends therein.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first lid, the first storage, and at least one medium which is arranged to be stored inside the storage. The storage is also arranged to extend from the lid while forming one of the ends therein to one of the middle and bottom portions while forming another of the ends therein.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first applicator, the first storage, and at least one medium which is arranged to be stored in the storage. Such a storage is arranged to extend from the applicator while forming one of the ends therein to one of the middle and bottom portions while forming another of the ends therein.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first storage, at least one medium which is arranged to be stored in the storage, and the first pathway. An entire portion of the first storage is also arranged to be disposed in the top portion.
In another aspect of the present invention, a bottle may be also provided to axially define a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion along its longitudinal axis, to include multiple chambers fluidly separated therebetween, and to releasably or fixedly have therein at least one medium having at least one biologically active agent and/or at least one biologically inert filler. The agent and/or filler may be capable of producing gas upon contacting a fluid to be stored inside the bottle, maintaining at least one dimension of the medium upon and during the contacting, and the like.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such a bottle may include the first body, the first storage, at least one medium which is arranged to be stored in the storage, and at least one seal. The seal is arranged to be disposed in one of the middle and bottom portions, to block a fluid communication between the interior and medium therethrough when intact, and to be also removable for providing the fluid communication therethrough. The storage is arranged to be disposed in the top portion and to fluidly couple to the seal by one of the ends, thereby fluidly separating the medium from the interior by the seal when intact and defining the communication when the seal is removed. Such a seal is to be referred to as the “fourth seal” hereinafter.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first lid, the first storage, at least one medium which is arranged to be stored in the storage, and the fourth seal. The storage is also arranged to fluidly couple to the lid in one of the ends and to also fluidly couple with the seal in another of the ends, thereby fluidly separating the medium from the interior by the seal when intact and forming the communication when the seal is removed.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first applicator, the first storage, at least one medium which is arranged to be stored in the storage, and the fourth seal. Such a storage is arranged to fluidly couple with the applicator in one of the ends and to fluidly couple to the seal in another of the ends, thereby fluidly separating the medium from the interior by the seal when intact and forming the communication when the seal is removed.
In another aspect of the present invention, a bottle may also be provided to axially form a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion along a longitudinal axis thereof and to contain a fluid filling the middle and bottom portions in an upright position of the bottle.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such a bottle may include the first body, at least one medium, and at least one seal. Such a medium is arranged to be disposed in the top portion, to be incorporated in one of inside the interior and between the interior and exterior, and then to include therein at least one antioxidant which dissolves and/or disperses into the fluid when mixed therewith. The seal is arranged to be disposed in any of the portions, to fluidly separate the medium from the fluid when intact, and to be removable for forming fluid communication between the medium and fluid in any of the portions. Such a medium is to be referred to as the “first medium” hereinafter, while the above seal is to be referred to as the “fifth sea;” hereinafter.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first medium which is also arranged to produce gas when mixed with the fluid, and the fifth seal so that bubbles of the gas are arranged to promote dissolution or dispersion thereof in the fluid.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, at least one medium, the fifth seal, and so on. The medium is arranged to be disposed in the top portion, to be disposed inside the interior and/or between the interior and exterior, and to have therein at least one antioxidant as well as at least one filler, where the antioxidant is arranged to be dissolved (or dispersed) in the fluid when mixed therein (to be referred to as the “second medium” hereinafter), while the filler is arranged to generate gas when mixed with the fluid. Therefore, bubbles of such gas are arranged to promote dissolution (or dispersion) of the antioxidant into the fluid.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such a bottle may include the first body, the second medium where at least a portion of the filler is arranged to not be dissolved (or dispersed) into the fluid, and the fifth seal. Therefore, the portion of the filler is arranged to maintain at least one dimension of the medium while the antioxidant dissolves (or disperses) into the fluid.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first medium in which the antioxidant and/or filler may leave multiple paths along which the fluid flows, and the fifth seal such that the paths left by the dissolving (or dispersing) antioxidant are arranged to promote dissolution (or dispersion) thereof in the fluid.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the second medium where at least a portion of the filler is arranged to dissolve (or disperse) in the fluid while forming multiple paths along which the fluid flows, and the fifth seal. Accordingly, the paths left by the dissolving (or dispersing) filler are arranged to promote dissolution (or dispersion) of the antioxidant in the fluid.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first medium which are arranged to define a density different from a density of the fluid, and the fifth seal. Therefore, an apparent density of the medium is arranged to change during dissolution (or dispersion) thereof in the fluid.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the second medium where the filler is arranged to define a density different from a density of at least one of the antioxidant and fluid, and the fifth seal. Therefore, an apparent density of the medium is arranged to change during dissolution (or dispersion) of the antioxidant and/or filler into the fluid.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first medium which is also arranged to define a refractive index and/or a color different from those of the fluid, and the fifth seal. Thus, an extent of dissolution (or dispersion) of the antioxidant in the fluid is visualized by such an index and/or color of the antioxidant in the fluid.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the second medium where the filler is arranged to also define a refractive index and/or a color different from those of at least one of the antioxidant and fluid, and the fifth seal so that an extent of dissolution (or dispersion) of the antioxidant and/or filler is visualized by such at least one of the index and/or color of at least one of the antioxidant and filler in the fluid.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first medium, the fifth seal, and at least one mesh which is arranged to be disposed along the communication and to prevent a particle which is included in the medium and defines a dimension beyond a preset value from flowing thereacross from the interior to the exterior.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may include the first body, the first medium, the fifth seal, and at least one retainer which is arranged to enclose therein a substantial portion of the medium and to prevent a particle which is included in the medium and has a dimension beyond a preset value from flowing thereacross from the interior to the exterior.
Embodiments of such apparatus aspects of the present invention may include one or more of the following features, while configurational and/or operational variations and/or modifications of the foregoing bottles also fall within the scope of the present invention.
The storage may be disposed in any of the top, middle, and bottom (portions) of such a bottle, and the storage may be disposed in any of the top, middle, and bottom (portions) of the body as well. The storage may extend from one of the portions across another of the portions. An entire portion of the storage may be disposed in the interior of the bottle or, alternatively, the storage may be disposed across the interior and exterior of the bottle. The storage may be disposed in the exterior of the bottle and may be coupled to the interior by at least a portion thereof. The storage may store therein a single medium or multiple media therein.
Such a storage may include a single chamber storing therein a single medium or multiple media, where the chamber may be disposed in one of the top, middle, and bottom (portions) of the bottle. The chamber may extend from one of the portions across another of the portions. In the alternative, such a storage may include multiple chambers each of which may store therein a single medium or multiple media. All of the chambers may be disposed in one of such portions, or at least two of the chambers may be disposed in at least two of the portions. Such chambers may define the same shape and/or size or, in the alternative, define different shapes and/or sizes. The chambers may be disposed side by side or concentrically. The chambers may be disposed in a series or parallel arrangement relative to the fluid. Such chambers may share a common seal or may be incorporated with individual seals. The chambers may be open to the same portion of the bottle or to different portions thereof.
The storage may include a single pathway which may be shaped and/or sized for moving the medium therethrough, to move the coupler and then to transmit such user input therethrough, and the like. The pathway may extend along a straight axis or along a curved axis, and may further bifurcate into multiple branches. The pathway may extend between different locations of the same portion of the bottle. The pathway may extend from one of the top, middle, and bottom (portions) onto another of the portions. An entire portion of the pathway may be disposed in the interior or such a pathway may extend from the exterior to the interior. The storage may include multiple pathways which may extend to the same portion or different portions of the bottle. The pathways may also define the same shape and/or size or have different shapes and/or sizes. Such pathways may be disposed side by side or concentrically. The pathways may be disposed parallel to each other, vertical to each other, or at an angle. At least two of the pathways may merge into a single pathway. The pathways may share a common seal or may be incorporated with individual seals. The pathways may be open to the same portion of the bottle or to different portions thereof.
The seal may be disposed in any of the top, middle, and bottom (portions) of the bottle or may be disposed in any of the top, middle, and bottom (portions) of the body. The seal may be disposed in top of the body and to be removable by moving to one of the middle and bottom of the body. The seal may be disposed in one of the middle and bottom of the body and to be removable while disposing in the one of the middle and bottom thereof. The seal may be disposed in one of the middle and bottom of the body and to be removable while moving to the other of the middle and bottom thereof. The seal may bulge to the interior, may bulge to the exterior, may stay after being removed. The seal may be disposed horizontally, vertically or at an angle in the upright position before being removed, and may be removed horizontally, vertically or at an angle. The seal may be made of and/or include a material which is not present in the body. The seal may be made of and/or include a material which may also be present in the body but may define a thickness less than that of the body. The seal may be made of and/or include plastics, glasses, metals, papers, composites thereof, and the like. The storage may include a single seal or multiple seals, where multiple seals may have an identical shape and/or size or different shapes and/or sizes. Multiple seals may be removed by the same mechanism or by different mechanisms. Multiple seals may be removed along the same direction or along different directions.
The medium may stay in the chamber or may move out of the chamber or may move out of the chamber by its own weight or by the user input. The medium may move out of the chamber vertically or along the pathway. The medium may stay in the middle or bottom after the seal is removed due to a size of the medium relative to a size of a removed portion of the seal, due to a density of the medium, due to an orientation of the medium with respect to a gravitational force, and the like. The medium may move from one of such top, middle and bottom portions to the other of such middle and bottom portions after the seal is removed due to a size of the medium with respect to a size of a removed portion of the seal, due to a density of the medium, due to an orientation of the medium relative to a gravitational force, due to the user input applied thereto, and the like. The medium may sink in the fluid during such mixing (i.e., dissolution and/or dispersion), float on the fluid during the mixing, first sink in the fluid and then float in the fluid during the mixing, first float in the fluid and then sink in the fluid during the mixing, and the like. The medium may include the antioxidant which may be heavier than the filler which may be insoluble to the fluid such that an apparent density of the medium may decrease during the mixing. The medium may instead include the antioxidant which may be lighter than the filler which may then be insoluble into the fluid so that an apparent density of the medium may increase during the mixing. The medium may form therein at least one void such that an apparent density of the medium may increase as the antioxidant (and/or filler) may be mixed in the fluid and that the void may coalesce into the fluid. Further details of the medium, its agents, and/or fillers have already been provided in the co-pending applications.
The actuator may operatively couple with and remove the seal in response to the user input. The actuator may include the coupler which may transmit the user input to the seal and/or medium to remove the seal. The coupler may maintain an amplitude and/or direction of the user input from one to the other ends thereof or may vary the amplitude and/or direction therealong. Such an actuator may define at least one sharp edge for cutting the seal, may define at least one dull edge for bursting open the seal, and the like. The medium may define the sharp and/or dull edges for breaking the seal upon receiving the input force from the actuator. The actuator may translate and/or rotate the seal between at least two positions. The seal may be a part of the actuator and directly receive the user input to be removed. The user input may be a vertical or horizontal force, a torque, and the like. The user input may be applied in a two- or three-dimensional plane.
The bottle may include multiple media which may be identical to each other and disposed in the same portion of the bottle, may include multiple media at least one of which may be different from the rest thereof and disposed in the same portion thereof, may also include multiple media at least one of which may be different from the rest thereof and disposed in different portions thereof, and the like. The bottle may include multiple media at least two of which may include different antioxidants, at least two of which may include different fillers, at least one of which may not include any filler, at least one of which may not include any antioxidant, and the like. The bottle may define multiple openings in the top or define the opening in the top or in bottom. The bottle may have at least one auxiliary opening in the top, middle, and/or bottom (portion) which is not for dispensing the fluid therethrough but instead for receiving therethrough the medium, seal, chamber, pathway, storage, and the like. The bottle may include an optional taper, handle, and the like.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method may be provided for forming at least two sections separated by at least one removable seal in a bottle, where such a bottle defines an interior separated from an exterior thereof by a body of the bottle and also defines an opening for receiving and dispensing a fluid therethrough.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: defining a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion along a longitudinal axis of such a bottle (to be referred to as the “first defining” hereinafter); forming at least one storage in the top portion (to be referred to as the “first forming” hereinafter); fluidly extending the storage to one of the middle and bottom portions (to be referred to as the “first extending” hereinafter); punching at least one hole in the storage in at least one of all of the portions (to be referred to as the “first punching” hereinafter); removably sealing the hole with the seal, thereby forming the sections thereacross (to be referred to as the “first sealing” hereinafter); and removing the seal, thereby fluidly communicating such a storage and interior through the hole.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the first defining; the first extending; punching at least one hole in the storage in at least one of such middle and bottom portions (to be referred to as the “first punching” hereinafter); the first sealing; and breaking the seal, thereby fluidly communicating the storage and interior through the hole. The breaking may be replaced by the step of: moving such a seal to one of such middle and bottom portions, thereby fluidly communicating the storage and interior through the hole.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; fluidly extending such an opening to one of the middle and bottom portions (to be referred to as the “second extending” hereinafter); forming at least one storage along the extending and in the top portion (to be referred to as the “second forming” hereinafter); first punching; the first sealing; and breaking the seal, thereby fluidly communicating the storage and interior through the hole. The breaking may be replaced by the step of: moving the seal to one of the middle and bottom portions along the extending, thereby fluidly communicating the storage and interior through the hole.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the first defining; the first extending; first punching; the first sealing; and breaking the seal in the one of such middle and bottom portions, thereby fluidly communicating the storage and interior through the hole. The breaking may be replaced by the step of: moving the seal to one of all of the portions, thereby fluidly communicating the storage and interior through the hole.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the first defining; fluidly extending the storage to the middle portion; punching at least one hole in the storage in the middle portion; the first sealing; and removing the seal in the middle portion, thereby forming a fluid communication between the storage and interior through the hole in the middle portion.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the first defining; fluidly extending the storage to the bottom portion; punching at least one hole in the storage in the bottom portion; the first sealing; and removing the seal in the bottom portion, thereby forming a fluid communication between the storage and interior through the hole in the bottom portion.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method may be provided for including a medium in and/or on a bottle while separating the medium from an interior of the bottle by at least one removable seal, where the bottle defines an interior which is separated from an exterior thereof by a body of the bottle and also defines an opening for receiving and dispensing a fluid therethrough.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; storing the medium in the top portion (will be called as the “first storing” hereinafter); fluidly connecting the medium to one of the middle and bottom portions (to be referred to as the “first connecting” hereinafter); punching at least one hole in one of such middle and bottom portions (to be referred to as the “second punching” hereinafter); removably sealing the hole by such a seal, thereby sealing the medium from the interior (to be referred to as the “second sealing” hereinafter); and then breaking the seal, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior through the hole.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the first storing; fluidly connecting the medium to one of the top, middle, and bottom portion (to be referred to as the “second coupling” hereinafter); punching at least one hole in at least one of all of the portions (to be called to as the “third punching” hereinafter); the second sealing; and then moving the seal to one of such middle and bottom portions, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior through the hole.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the first storing; the first connecting; the second punching; the second sealing; moving the medium to one of such middle and bottom portions; and breaking the seal with the medium, thereby providing a fluidly communication between the medium and interior through the hole.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second extending; storing the medium along the above extending and in the top portion; punching at least one hole along the above extending and in one of the middle and bottom portions; the second sealing; and breaking such a seal, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior through the hole. The breaking may be replaced by the step of: moving the seal to one of the middle and bottom portions along the extending, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior through the seal.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second extending; storing the medium along the above extending and in the top portion; punching at least one hole along the above extending and in one of the middle and bottom portions; the second sealing; moving the medium to one of such middle and bottom portions; and then breaking the seal by the medium, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior with the hole.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method may be provided for including a medium in a bottle while separating the medium from an interior of the bottle by at least one seal and removing the seal, where the interior is separated from an exterior thereof by a body of the bottle and where the bottle defines an opening for receiving and dispensing a fluid therethrough.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; storing the medium in at least one of in and on the body and in the top portion (to be called to as the “second storing” hereinafter); the first connecting; the second punching; the second sealing; and applying a user input to the seal while breaking the seal, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior through the hole.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second storing; fluidly connecting the medium to the top portion; punching at least one hole in the top portion; the second sealing; and applying a user input onto the seal while moving the seal to one of the middle and bottom portions, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior through the hole.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second extending; storing the medium along the above extending and in such a top portion; the third punching; the second sealing; and applying a user input to such a seal while moving the seal to one of such middle and bottom portions along the above extending, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior by the hole.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second storing; the first connecting; the second punching; the second sealing; and applying a user input onto the seal while moving the seal to another of all of the portions, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior through the hole.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second storing; the second coupling; the third punching; the second sealing; applying a user input to the medium; and moving the seal to another of the middle and bottom by the medium, thereby providing a fluid communication between the medium and interior through the hole.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second extending; storing the medium along the above extending and in such a top portion; the third punching; the second sealing; applying a user input to the medium; and moving the seal toward another of the middle and bottom portions by the medium along the extending, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior through the hole.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method may be provided for forming at least two sections separated by at least one removable seal in a bottle, where such a bottle defines an interior separated from an exterior thereof by a body of the bottle and also defines an opening for receiving and dispensing a fluid therethrough and where the bottle has at least one medium incorporated in one of the sections and separated from the interior by the seal.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second storing; the first connecting; the second punching; the second sealing; and breaking the seal, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior through the hole.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second storing; the second coupling; the third punching; the second sealing; and then moving the seal to one of the middle and bottom portions, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior through the hole.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second extending; storing the medium along the above extending and in such a top portion; the second punching; the second sealing; and then breaking such a seal, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior through the hole.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second extending; storing the medium along the above extending and in such a top portion; the third punching; the second sealing; and then moving the seal to one of the middle and bottom portions along the extending, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior through the hole.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second storing; the first connecting; the second punching; the second sealing; and breaking the seal in such one of the middle and bottom portions, thereby providing a fluid communication between the medium and interior through the hole. The breaking may be replaced by the step of: moving the seal to one of all of the portions, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior through the hole.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second storing; fluidly connecting the medium to the middle portion; punching at least one hole in the middle portion; the second sealing; and removing the seal in the middle portion, thereby forming a fluid communication between the medium and interior through the hole in the middle portion.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second storing; fluidly coupling the medium to the bottom portion; punching at least one hole in the bottom portion; the second sealing; and removing the seal in the bottom portion, thereby forming a fluid communication between the interior and exterior through the hole in the bottom portion.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method may be provided for forming at least one storage in a bottle with an interior separated from an exterior thereof by a body of the bottle and with an opening for receiving and dispensing a fluid therethrough, where the storage is separated from the interior by at least one removable seal and where the bottle includes at least one medium.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the first defining; storing such a medium in the storage (to be referred to as the “third storing” hereinafter); punching at least one hole in the storage; the second sealing; and removing such a seal, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior through the hole in the storage.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the first defining; the first extending; the third storing; the first punching; the second sealing; and breaking the seal, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior through the hole in the storage. The breaking may be replaced by the step of: moving the seal to one of such middle and bottom portions, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior through the hole in the storage.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second extending; the second forming; the third storing; first punching; the second sealing; and then breaking the seal, thereby fluidly communicating the medium and interior through the hole in the storage. The breaking may be replaced by the step of: moving the seal to one of the middle and bottom portions along the above extending, thereby fluidly communicating the media and interior through the hole in the storage.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the first defining; the first extending; the third storing; punching at least one hole in the storage; the second sealing; and breaking the seal, thereby fluidly communicating such medium and interior through the hole in the storage. The breaking may be replaced by the step of: moving the seal to another of all of the above portions, thereby fluidly communicating the medium with the interior through the hole in the storage.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method may be provided for including a medium in or on a bottle while separating the medium from a fluid which is contained in an interior of the bottle by at least one removable seal, where the interior is separated from an exterior thereof by a body of the bottle and also defines an opening for receiving and dispensing a fluid therethrough.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second storing; the first connecting; the second punching; the second sealing; and breaking the seal, thereby mixing the medium with the fluid. The breaking may be replaced by the steps of: moving the medium to one of the middle and bottom portions; and breaking the seal with the medium, thereby mixing the medium with the fluid.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second storing; the second coupling; the third punching; the second sealing; and moving the seal to one of the middle and bottom portions, thereby mixing the medium with the fluid.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second extending; storing the medium along the above extending and in such a top portion; the second punching; the second sealing; and then breaking the seal, thereby mixing the medium with the fluid.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second extending; storing the medium along the extending and in one of all of the portions; the second punching; the second sealing; and moving the seal toward one of the middle and bottom portions along the extending, thereby mixing the medium with the fluid. The breaking may be replaced by the steps of: moving the medium to one of the middle and bottom portions; and breaking the seal by the medium, thereby mixing the medium with the fluid.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method may be provided for including at least one medium in a bottle and separating the medium from a fluid which is to be contained in an interior of the bottle by at least one seal and removing the seal for mixing the fluid and medium, where such a bottle defines an interior separated from an exterior thereof by a body of the bottle and includes an opening for receiving and dispensing a fluid therethrough.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second storing; the first connecting; the second punching; the second sealing; and then applying a user input to the seal while breaking the seal, thereby mixing the medium with the fluid. The applying may be replaced by the step of: applying a user input onto the seal while moving the seal to another of all of the portions, thereby mixing the medium with the fluid.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second storing; fluidly connecting the medium to the top portion; punching at least one hole in the top portion; the second sealing; and then applying a user input to the seal while moving the seal to one of the middle and bottom portions, thereby mixing the medium with the fluid.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second extending; storing the medium along the above extending and in such a top portion; the third punching; the second sealing; and then applying a user input to the seal while moving the seal to one of the middle and bottom portions along the above extending, thereby mixing the medium with the fluid.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second storing; the second coupling; the third punching; the second sealing; applying a user input to the medium; and moving the seal to another of the middle and bottom by the medium, thereby mixing the fluid with the medium. The moving may be replace by one of the steps of: moving the seal toward another of the middle and bottom portions by the medium along the extending, thereby mixing the medium with the fluid; and moving the seal to another of all of the portions by the medium, thereby mixing the medium with the fluid.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method may be provided for including at least one medium and a fluid in a bottle while separating such a medium from the fluid by at least one removable seal, where the bottle forms an interior separated from an exterior thereof by a body of the bottle and defines an opening for receiving and dispensing the fluid therethrough.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second storing; the second coupling; the third punching; the second sealing; and removing the seal for mixing the medium and fluid in one of the middle and bottom portions.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second extending; storing the medium along the above extending and in such a top portion; the third punching; the second sealing; and removing the seal for mixing the medium and fluid in one of the middle and bottom portions.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second storing; preventing the top portion from transmitting ultraviolet rays; the second coupling; the third punching; the second sealing; and then removing the seal for mixing the medium and fluid in another of the all of the portions.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method may be provided for including at least one medium and a fluid in a bottle while separating such a medium from the fluid by at least one removable seal, where the bottle forms an interior separated from an exterior by a body of the bottle and forms an opening for receiving and dispensing therethrough the fluid and where the medium produces gas when mixed with the fluid.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second storing, where the medium is capable of producing the gas; the second coupling; the third punching; the second sealing; and removing the seal for mixing the medium and fluid in one of the middle and bottom portions, thereby producing the gas by the medium.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; the second extending; storing the medium along the above extending and in such a top portion, where such a medium is capable of producing such gas; the third punching; the second sealing; and then removing the seal for mixing the medium and fluid in one of such middle and bottom portions, thereby producing the gas by the medium.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method may be provided for including at least one medium and a fluid in a bottle while separating such a medium from the fluid by at least one removable seal, where the bottle forms an interior separated from an exterior by a body of the bottle and forms an opening for receiving and dispensing therethrough the fluid and where the medium includes at least one filler which is insoluble to the fluid.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may include the steps of: the first defining; defining at least one dimension of the medium by the filler; the second storing; the second coupling; the third punching; the second sealing; and removing the seal for mixing the medium and fluid in one of the middle and bottom portions, thereby maintaining the dimension of the medium.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; defining at least one dimension of the medium by the filler; the second extending; storing the medium along the extending and in the top portion; the third punching; the second sealing; and then removing the seal for mixing the medium and fluid in one of such middle and bottom portions, thereby maintaining the dimension of the medium.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method may be provided for including at least one medium and a fluid in a bottle while separating such a medium from the fluid by at least one removable seal, where the bottle forms an interior separated from an exterior by a body of the bottle and forms an opening for receiving and dispensing therethrough the fluid and where the medium includes therein at least one substance soluble to the fluid.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; distributing the substance in (or across) the medium in an arrangement for forming a path for the fluid while dissolving (or dispersing) in the fluid; the second storing; the second coupling; the third punching; the second sealing; and removing the seal for mixing the medium and fluid in one of the middle and bottom portions, thereby forming the path for promoting the dissolution (or dispersion).
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a method may have the steps of: the first defining; distributing the substance in or across the medium in an arrangement for forming a path for the fluid while dissolving (or dispersing) into such fluid; the second extending; storing such a medium along the extending and in the top portion; the third punching; the second sealing; and then removing the seal for mixing the medium and fluid in one of the middle and bottom portions, thereby forming the path for promoting the dissolution (or dispersion).
Embodiments of such method aspects of the present invention may include one or more of the following features, and configurational and/or operational variations and/or modifications of the above methods also fall within the scope of the present invention.
The defining such portions may include at least one of the steps of: including in the top portion a lid, an applicator, and a part of the body immediately below the lid and applicator; including in the top portion the lid, applicator, and another part of the body close to, immediately above, and/or immediately below a meniscus of the fluid contained in the bottle in its upright position, and the like. The defining the portions may include at least one of the steps of: dividing a rest of the bottle equally into the middle and bottom portions; allocating the bottom (or middle) portion longer than the middle (or bottom) portion; tapering the middle and/or bottom portions; including in the bottom portion a flat bottom surface of the bottle, and the like.
The punching the hole may include one of the steps of: defining such a hole through an upright part of the body; and forming the hole on a part of the body protruding into (or out of) the interior. The forming the hole may also include at least one of the steps of: orienting the hole to face up; orienting the hole to face down; orienting the hole to face the axis; orienting the hole to face the axis at a preset angle, and the like. The punching may include one of the steps of: sizing the hole to be greater than at least one dimension of the medium; sizing the hole to be less than any dimension of the medium; sizing the hole to be between a greatest dimension and a least dimension of the medium, and the like. Such punching may include one of the steps of: defining the hole in only one of such portions; and defining the hole across at least two of the portions. Such punching may include one of the steps of: making the hole from the interior toward the exterior; and making the hole from the exterior toward the interior. The punching may include the step of: providing multiple holes. The providing the holes may include at least one of the steps of: arranging the holes to have identical, similar or different shapes and sizes; arranging the holes symmetrically or asymmetrically; disposing the holes side by side or angularly, and the like. The providing such holes may also include one of the steps of: defining all of the holes in only one of the portions; defining the holes in at least two of the portions; and defining each of the holes in different portions.
The sealing the hole may include one of the steps of: irreversibly sealing the hole such that the seal is not reusable once removed; and reversibly sealing the hole so that the seal is able to seal the hole again after the seal is removed. The sealing the hole may include one of the steps of: covering the hole from the interior to the exterior; covering the hole from the exterior onto the interior; covering the hole both from the interior and exterior; covering the hole thereacross; and covering the hole in the interior. The sealing the hole may include one of the steps of: movably covering the hole in a vertical, horizontal or transverse direction; fixedly covering the hole, and so on. The sealing the hole may also include at least one of the steps of: employing the flap-type seal to open and close the hole; using the seal with an O-ring to travel along and/or around the hole; movably attaching the seal over the hole to travel thereover; and fixedly attaching the for a single use. The sealing the hole may include one of the steps of: covering the hole in only one of the portions; and covering the hole across at least two of the portions. The sealing the hole may include one of the steps of: making the seal of the same or similar material as the body; making the seal of a material different from that of the body, and the like. The sealing the hole may include one of the steps of: arranging the seal to be thinner than the body; and arranging the seal to be thicker than the body. The sealing the hole may include one of the steps of: employing a single seal for the sealing; using multiple seals for the sealing, and the like. The using such seals may include at least one of the steps of: using multiple identical, similar or different seals; disposing the seals symmetrically or asymmetrically; arranging the seals angularly or side by side, and the like. The using the seals may include one of the steps of: movably covering the hole by moving the seals in the same, similar or different directions; fixedly covering the hole with the seals; and movably covering the hole by at least one of the seals while fixedly covering the hole by the rest of the seals.
Such breaking may include one of the steps of: cutting the seal; bursting the seal, and the like. The cutting may include at least one of the steps of: using a sharp object for the cutting; and using a sharp edge of the medium for the cutting. The bursting may include at least one of the steps of: using a dull object for the bursting; and using a dull edge of the medium for the bursting. The breaking may include one of the steps of: moving the object and/or medium toward the seal; moving the seal toward the object and/or medium; and moving both of seal and object and/or medium toward each other. The moving the seal, object or medium may include at least one of the steps of: rotating the seal, object or medium along an angular track; translating the seal, object or medium in a curvilinear track; pivoting the seal, object or medium about a center of rotation, and the like. The breaking may include at least one of the steps of: breaking the seal from the exterior to the interior; breaking the seal from the interior to the exterior; breaking the seal from one part to another part of the interior, and the like. The breaking may include at least one of the steps of: breaking a center of the seal; breaking an edge of the seal; and breaking along or around a periphery of the seal. The moving the seal may include one of such steps of: translating the seal over or below and away from the hole in a curvilinear track; translating the seal between and away from the holes in a curvilinear track; rotating such a seal over or below and away from the hole along an angular track; rotating such a seal between and away from the holes along an angular track; pivoting the seal over or below and away from the hole about a center of rotation, and the like. The moving the seal may include at least one of the steps of: moving the seal along a plane in which the hole is defined; moving the seal in a curvilinear direction transverse to the plane, and so on. The moving the seal may include at least one of the steps of: moving the seal away from the hole and from the exterior to the interior; moving the seal away from the seal and from the interior toward the exterior; moving the seal away from the hole and from one part to another part of the interior, and the like. The moving the seal may include at least one of the steps of: moving the seal from a center toward an edge of the hole; moving the seal from the edge to the center of the hole; moving along a spiral track inwardly or outwardly of the hole, and so on. The moving such a seal may include at least one of the steps of: sliding the seal over or below the hole without changing a shape of the seal; stacking such a seal while moving away from the hole; folding the seal while moving away from the hole; and rolling the seal while moving away from the hole. The moving may be followed by the step of: restoring the seal. The removing may include at least one of the above breaking and moving. Such removing may include one of the steps of: performing only one of the breaking and the moving; and performing the breaking and moving sequentially or simultaneously. Such removing may include one of the steps of: breaking all of the multiple seals; moving all of the multiple seals; and breaking some of the seals while moving the rest of the seals. The removing may include one of the steps of: cutting all of the multiple seals; bursting all of the multiple seals; cutting some of the seals while bursting the rest of the seals, and the like.
The forming the storage may include at least one the steps of: forming at least one chamber on the body and bulging outward; forming the chamber on the body and bulging inward; and forming the chamber in the interior of the bottle. The forming the storage may include one of the steps of: making the storage of the same or similar material as the body; and making the storage of a material different from that of the body. The forming the storage may include one of the steps of: arranging the storage to be thinner than the body; arranging the storage to be thicker than the body, and so on. The forming the storage may include one of the steps of: providing the storage as an unitary article including such a seal; and providing the hole in the storage which is to be sealed by the seal. The providing the hole may include at least one the steps of: orienting such a hole downward or upward; orienting the hole to the axis of the body; orienting the hole at an angle with respect to the axis, and so on. The forming the storage may also include one of the steps of: providing the storage in only one of the portions; and extending the storage across at least two of the portions. The extending the storage may include at least one the steps of: forming the storage along the axis; forming the storage across the axis, and the like. The forming the storage may include one of such steps of: arranging the storage wider than the body; arranging the storage narrower than the body, and the like. The forming the storage may include one of the steps of: providing the storage and body as an unitary article; movably attaching the storage onto the body; fixedly attaching the storage onto the body, and the like. The forming the storage may include one the steps of: providing the storage and seal as an unitary article; movably attaching the seal to the storage; fixedly attaching the seal to the storage, and the like. The forming the storage may include at least one the steps of: coupling such a storage to the body in the interior; coupling the storage to the body in the exterior; coupling the storage to the lid and/or applicator, and the like.
Such extending may include one of the steps of: elongating or expanding at least a part of the body; elongating or expanding at least a part of the storage; elongating or expanding at least a part of the lid and/or applicator, and the like. The extending may include the steps of: forming the pathway as a separate article; attaching the pathway to the body, storage, lid, and/or applicator, and the like. The extending may include one of the steps of: extending through only one of the portions; extending into at least two of the portions, and the like. Such extending may include one of the steps of: extending between the interior and exterior; extending between different parts of the interior, and the like. The extending may include at least one of the steps of: arranging the medium to move along the pathway; arranging the seal to move therealong; and arranging the fluid to move thereinto. The extending may include one of the steps of: incorporating the seal into at least one end of the pathway; including the seal along the pathway; and providing the pathway without any seal.
The storing may include one of the steps of: movably including the medium through only one of the portions; movably including the medium through at least two of the portions; confining the medium in one of the portions, and the like. Such storing may include one of the steps of: containing a single medium; and including multiple media. The including such media may then include one of the steps of: including the media inside a single storage; including the media in multiple storages, and the like. The including the media may include one of the steps of: including such media in only one of the portions; and including the media in at least two different portions. The including the media may include one of the steps of: disposing the media to mix in the fluid sequentially; and disposing the media to mix in the fluid or simultaneously.
The applying may include one of the steps of: directly breaking the seal; directly moving such a seal; directly moving the medium, and the like. The applying may include the steps of: receiving such user input; changing at least one of the amplitude and direction of the input; and then transmitting the changed input to the seal or medium. The applying may include at least one of the steps of: translating the seal or medium along a curvilinear track; rotating the seal or medium along an angular track; and pivoting the seal or medium about a center of rotation.
The preventing may include at least one of the steps of: including at least one opaque material in the body and/or storage; coating the medium with the material, and so on. The defining may include at least one of such steps of: defining a radius, a length or a width of the medium; defining at least a portion of an external surface of the medium, and the like. The defining may include at least one of the steps of: disposing the filler in the dimension of the medium; disposing the filler to form the portion of the external surface thereof, and the like. The defining may also include at least one of the steps of: retaining the agent on (or above) the filler; and retaining the agent between the fillers. The producing gas may include one of the steps of: promoting the mixing by the gas; and visualizing the extent of the mixing by such gas. The method may include the steps of: enclosing the medium with a retainer; and maintaining the dimension of the medium by the retainer. The method may instead include the steps of: incorporating at least one mesh along the outlet of the bottle; and preventing a substance defining a dimension beyond a preset value from being dispensed out of the interior.
In another aspect of the present invention, a bottle may be provided for axially defining a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion along a longitudinal axis thereof.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such a bottle may be provided by a process including the steps of: providing a body with the top, middle, and bottom portions; providing the body with an interior for containing a fluid therein; providing such a body with an opening which is defined in the top portion and in one end thereof and through which a fluid is filled into the interior and dispensed to an exterior thereof; forming in the top portion at least one storage which defines at least two opposing ends therealong (to be referred to as the “first forming” hereinafter); fluidly separating such a storage from the interior except through such ends (to be referred to as the “first separating” hereinafter); and extending the storage the top portion to one of the middle and bottom portions while defining one of such ends in the top portion and another thereof in such one of the portions. The first three steps of this embodiment will be referred to as the “first providings” hereinafter.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may be provided by a process including the steps of: the first providings; providing a lid which is arranged to be releasably coupled to the opening for opening and closing the opening and to also provide a fluid communication between the interior and exterior (to be referred to as the “lid providing” hereinafter); the first forming; the first separating; and extending the storage from the lid onto one of the middle and bottom portions while defining one of the ends in the top portion and another thereof in such one of the portions.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may be provided by a process including the steps of: the first providings; providing an applicator which is instead arranged to contact a mouth of a user, to releasably couple to the opening, and to open and close the opening for providing a fluid communication between the interior and exterior (to be called to as the “applicator providing” hereinafter); the first forming; the first separating; and then extending the storage from the applicator onto one of the middle and bottom portions while forming one of the ends in the top portion and another thereof in such one of the portions.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may be provided by a process which includes such steps of: the first providings; the first forming; the first separating; and disposing at least one pathway which fluidly couples the pathway with one of the middle and bottom portions.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may be provided by a process including the steps of: the first providings; incorporating at least one seal in one of the middle and bottom portions (to be referred to as the “first incorporating” hereinafter); configuring the seal to be a barrier to a fluid communication therethrough when intact (to be called to as the “first configuring” hereinafter); and configuring the seal to be removable and to fluidly communicate the interior with the exterior therethrough.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may be provided by a process including such steps of: the first providings; the first incorporating; the first configuring; and configuring the seal to be removable upward, downward or sideways and to fluidly communicate the interior with the exterior therethrough.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may be provided by a process which includes the steps of: the first providings; the first incorporating; the first configuring; configuring the seal for being flush with the body, protruding into the interior, and/or protruding to the exterior, and to be removable for providing such fluid communication between the interior and exterior therethrough.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may be provided by a process including the steps of: the first providings; the lid providing; operatively coupling the seal with the lid; extending the seal to one of the middle and bottom; the first configuring; and then configuring the seal to be removable for extending the communication therethrough.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may be provided by a process including the steps of: the first providings; the applicator providing; operatively coupling the seal with the applicator; extending the seal to one of the middle and bottom; the first configuring; and configuring the seal to be removable for extending the communication therethrough.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may be provided by a process which includes the steps of: the first providings; the first incorporating; the first configuring; configuring such a seal to be removable as well as to fluidly communicate the interior with the exterior therethrough; and then disposing along the communication at least one mesh capable of preventing a particle beyond a preset dimension from flowing thereacross.
In another aspect of the present invention, a bottle may be provided for axially defining a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion along a longitudinal axis thereof and including multiple chambers fluidly separated therebetween.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such a bottle may be provided by a process which may include such steps of: the first providings; the first forming; the first separating; incorporating at least one seal between the storage and interior and in one of the middle and bottom portions (to be referred to as the “second incorporating” hereinafter); configuring the seal to prevent a fluid communication therethrough between the interior and storage when intact (to be referred to as the “second configuring” hereinafter); and then configuring the seal to be removable for providing the communication therethrough (to be referred to as the “third configuring” hereinafter).
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may be provided by a process which includes such steps of: the first providings; the lid providing; the first forming; the first separating; extending the storage from the lid to one of the middle and bottom portions while defining one of the ends in the top portion and defining another thereof in such one of the portions; the second incorporating; the second configuring; and the third configuring.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may be provided by a process including the steps of: the first providings; the applicator providing; the first forming; the first separating; extending the storage from the applicator onto one of the middle and bottom portions while defining one of the ends in the top portion and another thereof in such one of the portions; the second incorporating; the second configuring; and the third configuring.
In another aspect of the present invention, a bottle may be provided for axially defining therein a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom therealong as well as forming multiple separated portions therein.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such a bottle may be provided by a process including such steps of: the first providings; including at least one chamber with a preset volume in one of the middle and bottom portions (to be referred to as the “first including” hereinafter); operatively coupling the seal with the chamber; the first configuring; and then configuring the seal to be removable for fluidly communicating therethrough the chamber to the interior (to be referred to as the “fourth configuring” hereinafter).
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may be provided by a process including the steps of: the first providings; the first including; forming at least a portion of the chamber to be flush with, protruding into the interior, and/or protruding into the exterior; operatively coupling the seal with the chamber; the first configuring; and the fourth configuring.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may be provided by a process including such steps of: the first providings; the lid providing; the first including; operatively coupling at least one chamber of a preset volume with the lid; operatively coupling the seal with the chamber; the first configuring; and then configuring the seal to be removable and to also extend such fluid communication therethrough from the exterior to such one of the middle and bottom through the chamber.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may be provided by a process including such steps of: the first providings; the applicator providing; operatively coupling at least one chamber defining a preset volume with the applicator; operatively coupling the seal with the chamber; the first configuring; and then configuring the seal to be removable and to also extend such fluid communication therethrough from the exterior to such one of the middle and bottom through the chamber.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may be provided by a process including such steps of: the first providings; the first including; operatively coupling the seal with the chamber; the first configuring; the fourth configuring; and disposing along the communication at least one mesh which is capable of preventing a particle beyond a preset dimension from flowing thereacross.
In another aspect of the present invention, a bottle may be provided for axially defining therein a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom therealong and also including therein at least one medium which contains therein at least one antioxidant and which is capable of protecting the antioxidant from ultraviolet rays until the medium is mixed with a fluid into which the antioxidant is to be dissolved (or dispersed).
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such a bottle may be provided by a process also including the steps of: the first providings; the first incorporating; the first configuring; disposing the medium along the communication and in one of the middle and bottom portions, thereby separating the medium and interior; and the fourth configuring, thereby fluidly communicating such a medium with the interior.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a bottle may be provided by a process which includes the steps of: the first providings; the first incorporating; the first configuring; disposing the medium along the communication and in one of the middle and bottom portions, thereby separating the medium from the interior; and then configuring the seal to be removable and to fluidly communicate the chamber with the interior therethrough while keeping such a medium therein, thereby fluidly communicating the medium with the interior in such one of the middle and bottom portions. The above configuring may be replaced by the step of: configuring the seal to be removable and to fluidly communicate the chamber with the interior therethrough while moving such a medium, thereby fluidly communicating the medium with the interior in the other of the middle and bottom portions.
More product-by-process claims may be constructed by modifying the foregoing preambles of the apparatus (or bottle) claims and/or method claims and/or by appending thereto such bodies of the apparatus (or bottle) claims and/or method claims. In addition, such process claims may include one or more of such features of the apparatus (or bottle) claims and/or method claims of this invention.
As used herein, the term “antioxidants” refers to various natural and/or synthetic substances which are capable of preventing certain oxidation reactions or at least reducing rates of the oxidation reactions. Typical examples of natural “antioxidants” are various tocopherols including a-, b-, g-, and d-tocopherols, nordihydroguaretic acid (or NDGA), sesamol, and gossypol, whereas typical examples of synthetic “antioxidants” are butylated hydroxy-anisole (or BHA), butylated hydroxy-tolune (or BHT), propyl gallate (or PG), and tertiary butyl hydroquinone (or TBHQ). These “antioxidants” are believed to prevent or reduce the oxidation reactions caused by various reactive oxygen species such hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), superoxide anion (O₂ ⁻), various free radicals including hydroxyl radical (OH.), and the like. Various metal chelators also behave as such “antioxidants,” where examples of such chelators are phosphoric acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid (or vitamin C), ethylene diamine tetra acetate (or EDTA). All of the “antioxidants” disclosed in this paragraph will be referred to as the “antioxidants” of the first type throughout this disclosure.
In addition to the foregoing substances, many more “antioxidants” are known in various fields of food, medicine, and pharmaceutical industries, where the “antioxidants” may be classified as food additive “antioxidants” or nutritional “antioxidants” and where the latter may further be classified as vitamins, vitamin cofactors and minerals, hormones, carotenoid terpenoids, non-carotenoid terpenoids, flavonoid polyphenolics, phenolic acids and esters, other organic “antioxidants,” and so on. The food additive “antioxidants” may include, but not be limited to, ascorbic acid (or vitamin C), tocopherol and tocopherol-derived compounds, BHA, BHT, EDTA, citric acid, acetic acid, pectin, rosemarinic acid, and the like. Such vitamin “antioxidants” may include, but not be limited to, vitamin A (or retinol), vitamin C (or ascorbic acid), and vitamin E including tocotrienol, tocopherol, and the like. The vitamin cofactors “antioxidants” and mineral “antioxidants” may include, but not be limited to, coenzyme Q10 (or CoQ10), selenium, zinc, manganese (particularly in its 2⁺ valence state and as a part of an enzyme, superoxide dismutase or SOD), and so on. The hormone such as melatonin may also operate as the “antioxidant.” The carotenoid terpenoids “antioxidants” may include, but not limited to, lycopene, lutein, a-carotene, b-carotene, zeaxanthin, astaranthin, and canthaxantin. The non-carotenoid terpenoids “antioxidants” may include, but not be limited to, eugenol, saponin, limonoid, and the like. The flavonoid polyphenolics “antioxidants” (or biofalvonoids) are a subset of polyphenyl “antioxidants” and may include falvonoids, flavones, flavanones, falvan-3-ols, isoflavone phytoestrogenes, and anthocyanins. Such flavonoids may also include, but not be limited to, resveratrol, pterostilbene, kaempferol, myricetin, isorhamnetin, proanthocyanidins or condensed tannins, and the like. The flavones may include, but not be limited to, quercetin, rutin, luteolin, apigenin, tangeritin, and so on. The flavanones may include, but not be limited to, hesperetin, naringenin, and eriodictyol. Such falvan-3-ols or anthocyanidins may include, but not be limited to, catechin, gallocatechin, opicatechin and its gallate forms, epigallocatechin and its gallate forms, theaflavin and its gallate forms, and thearubigin. Isoflavone phytoestrogens may include, but not be limited to, genistein, daidzein, glycitein, and the like. The anthocyanins may include, but not be limited to, delphinidin, malvidin, pelargonidin, peonidin, petunidin, and the like. The phenolic acids and esters “antioxidants” are a subset of polyphenol “antioxidants” and may include, but not be limited to, ellagic acid, gallic acid, salicylic acid, rosemarinic acid, cinnamic acid including its derivatives such as ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, chicolic acid, gallotannin, and ellagitannin. Other organic “antioxidants” may also include, but not be limited to, citric acid, lignan, antinutrients such as oxalic acid and phytic acid, bilirubin, uric acid, R-a-lipoic acid, silymarin, N-acetylcysteine, and the like. Other “antioxidants” may further include a-tocopherol, a-tocoquinone, indole, sulforaphane, glucosinate, and the like. All of these “antioxidants” described in this paragraph will be referred to as the “antioxidants” of the second type throughout this disclosure.
As used herein, the term “antioxidants” may collectively refer to various foods which include any of the “antioxidants” described in the previous paragraph. Accordingly, such “antioxidants” may include, but not be limited to, (undutched) cocoa powder, (dark) chocolate, white tea, green rooibos, green tea, oolong tea, black tea, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, cranberry, crowberry, kiwi, cherry, plum, grape, pomegranate, papaya, orange, grapefruit, other citrus fruits, cruciferous vegetable such as broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, and kale, artichoke, asparagus, avocado, bean, spinach, red pepper, carrot, (Russet) potato, tomato, olive, various nuts such as walnut, pecan, hazelnut, and the like. Similarly, the term “antioxidants” may collectively refer to various herbs and spices which may also include any of the “antioxidants” disclosed in the preceding paragraph, where examples of such herbs and spices may further include, but not be limited to, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, lemon balm, oregano, peppermint, rosemary, sage, thyme, and the like. All of these foods, herbs, fruits, and the like, will be referred to as the “antioxidants” of the third type throughout this disclosure. It is to be understood, therefore, that the terms “antioxidant” and “antioxidants” collectively refer to those of the first, second, and third types, unless otherwise specified.
As used herein, a term “agent” collectively refers to the above antioxidants which have been described in the preceding three paragraphs. Such an “agent” also refers to other vitamins, minerals, nutrients, herbs, medicinal substances, pharmaceutical substances, and/or homeopathic substances which fall into one or more of following three types. First, the “agents of the first type” refer to those which tend to lose their potency and/or activity and/or which tend to degrade by ultraviolet rays (to be abbreviated as the “UV rays” hereinafter). In contrary, the “agents of the second type” refer to those which tend to lose their potency or activity and/or which tend to degrade when they are dissolved in a fluid beyond a preset period of time. In addition, the “agents of the third type” refer to those which tend to form precipitations and/or aggregates by the UV rays and/or when dissolved in a fluid beyond such a period of time. It is to be understood, however, that the terms “agent” and “agents” collectively refer to those of the first, second, and third types, unless otherwise specified.
A “bottle” refers to any rigid or elastic container which may contain therein a preset amount of fluid which may by definition include suspension, emulsion, slurry, a mixture of liquid and solid, and the like. The “bottle” may be made of and/or include various polymers or plastics, glasses, metals, papers, ceramics, papers, composite materials thereof, and the like. Such “bottles” refer not only to portable “bottles” but also to stationary “bottles,” where the portable “bottles” are generally smaller and contain less fluid than the stationary “bottles.” In addition, such “bottles” refer not only to disposable “bottle” but also to other “bottles” which may be used repeatedly.
As used herein, the terms “top,” “middle,” and “bottom” refer to different portions of the above bottle which are defined along a longitudinal axis of the bottle. In general, the “top” of the bottle refers to the portion of the bottle encompassing a lid, an applicator, and a neck of a body of the bottle. In the alternative, the “top” of the bottle refers to a portion of the bottle encompassing the lid, the applicator, and a portion of the body of the bottle which lies above a meniscus of a fluid in an upright position of the bottle and before use or, alternatively, another portion of the body of the bottle while lies above a few centimeters below the meniscus in the upright position of the bottle and before use. The rest of the body of the bottle defines the “middle” and “bottom,” where a lower half of the rest of the bottle is the “bottom” of the bottle or the “bottom” of the body, while an upper half of the rest of the bottle is the “middle” of the bottle or the “middle” of the body.
The term “remove” (and “removing”) collectively refers to “break” (and “breaking”) and “move” (and “moving”) within the scope of this invention. More particularly, the term “break” (and “breaking”) refers to “cut” (and “cutting”) and “burst” (and “bursting”), while another term “move” (and “moving”) refers to “open and/or close” (and “opening” and/or “closing”) by “translating,” “rotating” or “pivoting.” The “cut” (and “cutting”) refers to “removing” a seal with a sharp object so that the seal is “removed” in a path along which the sharp object is applied to the seal, while the “burst” (and “bursting”) refers to “removing” a seal with another object which is not so sharp and which tears or breaks the seal in a path which is not identical to a path along which the object is applied to the seal. The term “translate” (and “translating”) refers to causing a movement of such a seal along a curvilinear path which is two- or three-dimensional path, the term “rotate” (or “rotating”) refers to causing a rotational movement of a seal along an angular path which is also two- or three-dimensional, and the term “pivot” (or “pivoting”) then refers to causing an arcuate movement of a seal about a center of rotation along an arcuate path which is also two- or three-dimensional.
Unless otherwise defined in the following specification, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Although the methods or materials equivalent or similar to those described herein can be used in the practice or in the testing of the present invention, the suitable methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and/or other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of any conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the claims.
Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary container of the prior art;

FIGS. 2A to 2C are schematic cross-sectional views of an exemplary bottle including a medium in its top portion according to the present invention;

FIGS. 3A to 3T are schematic cross-sectional views of various storages of exemplary bottles according to aspects of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A to 4J are schematic cross-sectional views of various active and passive seals of the storages of FIGS. 3A to 3T according to aspects of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A to 5K are schematic cross-sectional views of the seals broken by various means in response to user inputs according to aspects of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A to 6E are schematic views of the seals moved by various means in response to user inputs according to aspects of the present invention; and

FIGS. 7A to 7I are schematic cross-sectional views of other exemplary bottles including media in their top portions according to aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to bottles containing fluids and agents while separating the agents from the fluids before use. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to bottles having fluids and various media with such agents, where the media are stored separately from the fluids and then mixed with the fluids upon actual use. Therefore, while not required in all aspects, embodiments of the present invention relate to various media which contain therein such agents, define shape and size to be stored in such bottles, and optionally promote dissolution (or dispersion) in the fluids upon mixed therewith, to various storages which are disposed in various portions of the bottles and which have various shapes and sizes for storing such media therein, to various chambers which are defined inside the storages and store the media therein, and to various pathways which are also defined around the storages and fluidly connect the chamber of the storage to various portions of the bottles. Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to various seals which fluidly separate the media inside the storages from the fluids in the bottles before consumption and are removed upon use for mixing the media with the fluids in various portions of the bottles. Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to various actuators which receive user inputs and then mix the media with the fluids in response thereto by directly removing the seals, by moving the media for removing such seals, and the like. Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to various bottles capable of promoting the mixing between the media and fluids as well as capable of visualizing extents of such mixing by various means.
While not required in all aspects, embodiments of the present invention generally relate present invention also relates to various methods of including such media and fluids in the bottles while separating the media from the fluids before use, and then mixing the media with the fluids upon use. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention relate to various methods of including such agents in the media, those of making the media in appropriate shapes and sizes, and those of fabricating the media for promoting the mixing with such fluids. In addition, embodiments of the present invention relate to various methods of forming the storages in various portions of the bottles, those of extending the storages in the same or to different portions of the bottles, those of storing the media in such storages, and those of moving the media between different portions of such storages. Embodiments of the present invention then relate to various methods of fluidly sealing the media from the fluids, those of removing the sealing for mixing the media with the fluids upon use, those of breaking the sealing for the mixing, and those of moving the sealing for the mixing. Embodiments of the present invention also relate to various methods of receiving such user inputs by various portions of the bottles, those of receiving the inputs by the storages or their chambers and/or pathways, those of directly removing the sealing by the user inputs, and those of indirectly removing such sealing by the media which are actuated by the user inputs. Embodiments of the present invention also relate to various methods of promoting the mixing between the media and fluids and those of visualizing the extents of such mixing by various means.
Embodiments of the present invention further relate to various processes for providing the bottles capable of separating such media from the fluids before use and then mixing the media with the fluids only upon actual use. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention relate to various processes for fabricating such media containing the agents and/or fillers therein in proper shapes and/or sizes, those for providing various bodies of such bottles defining various portions and storing such media in such portions. Embodiments of the present invention also relate to various processes for incorporating the storages in various portions of such bottles, those for defining the chambers and/or pathways in such storages, those for defining and/or extending such chambers and/or pathways in various portions of the bottles, and those for providing the seals in various portions of the chambers and/or pathways of the storages or in various portions of the bodies of such bottles. Embodiments of the present invention also relate to various processes for fabricating such seals removable by various means, those for providing the actuators capable of breaking such seals in response to the user inputs, those for providing the actuators capable of moving such seals in response thereto, those for fabricating the actuators receiving the user inputs and removing such seals in direct response thereto, and those for fabricating the actuators receiving the user inputs and then actuating the media which remove such seals in response thereto. Embodiments of the present invention further relate to various processes for fabricating such bottles capable of promoting the mixing between the media and fluids and those for providing the bottles capable of visualizing the extents of the mixing by various means.
Various aspects and embodiments of such bottles, methods thereof, and processes therefor of the present invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings and text, where such aspects and/or embodiments thereof only represent different forms. Such bottles, methods, and/or processes of this invention, however, may be embodied in many other different forms and, accordingly, should not be limited to such aspects and/or embodiments which are set forth herein. Rather, various exemplary aspects and embodiments described herein are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and fully convey the scope of this invention to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art.
Unless otherwise specified, it is to be understood that various members, units, elements, and parts of various bottles of the present invention are not typically drawn to scales and/or proportions for ease of illustration. It is also to be understood that such members, units, elements, and/or parts of various bottles of the present invention designated by the same numerals may typically represent the same, similar, and functionally equivalent members, units, elements, and parts thereof, respectively.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary container of the prior art, where a container 5 is generally divided along its longitudinal axis 10A into a top portion (or simply a “top”) 10T, a middle portion (or a “middle”) 10M, and a bottom portion (or a “bottom”) 10B. Such a container 5 also includes a body 20, an applicator 30, and a lid 40. Such a body 20 is divided into the top portion 10T, middle portion 10M, and bottom portion 10B, where the top portion 10T of the body 20 forms a narrow opening 22 in its mouth 20M which then extends downward while forming a neck 20N along a preset length, where the middle portion 10M of the body 20 includes a taper 20T which starts from the neck 20N and gradually widens into an upper belly 20L, and where the bottom portion 10T of the body 20 includes a lower belly 20L connected to the upper base 20U and terminates at a base 20B which then encloses the body 20. Accordingly, such a body 20 is generally hollow and defines an interior of the container 5 which is separated from an exterior thereof and open to the exterior through the opening 22. The lid 40, which belongs to the top portion 10T of the container 5, is then arranged to releasably couple with the neck 20N of the body 20 and to close the opening 22. The applicator 30, which also belongs to the top portion 10T of the container 5, includes a fluid path 34 and an outlet 22, where the fluid path 34 is formed along a longitudinal direction from a bottom to a middle thereof and where the outlet 32 is rotatably disposed on the top of thereof. In addition, the applicator 30 is also arranged to be inserted through the opening 22 so as to seal the interior of the body 20 (or container 5) from the exterior when the outlet 32 is misaligned with the path 34 and then to open the interior to the exterior when the outlet 32 is pivoted and aligned with the path 34.
The container 5 is generally used to contain water or other fluids. For example, the water (or fluid) is filled into the body 20 of the container 5 till the water (or fluid) fills the bottom and then middle portions 10B, 10M thereof. The applicator 30 is then inserted through the opening 22 while misaligning its outlet 32 with its path 34 so as to maintain the fluid sealing between the exterior and the water (or fluid) inside the body 20. The lid 40 is then placed on top of the applicator 40, and a bottled water (or fluid) is distributed for consumption.
As described above, such a conventional bottled water is not provided with any provision for protecting various agents from sunlight or its ultraviolet rays (or simply as “UV rays” hereinafter), from a prolonged period of dissolution (or dispersion) of such agents in the water (or fluid), from forming a precipitate, and the like.
Accordingly and in one aspect of the present invention, a novel bottle is provided to include at least one medium and at least one fluid while not only fluidly separating the medium including various agents from the fluid but also protecting the agents of the medium from the UV rays. FIGS. 2A to 2C are schematic cross-sectional views of an exemplary bottle which includes a single medium in its top portion while protecting the medium from a fluid contained in its interior before actual use according to the present invention. As depicted in FIGS. 2A to 2C, an exemplary bottle 10 is generally similar to the conventional container of FIG. 1 in that the bottle 10 defines the top, middle, and bottom portions along its longitudinal axis, in that the bottle 10 includes the body 20, applicator 30, and lid 40, in that the body 20 is similarly divided into the top, middle, and bottom portions, in that the top portion includes the lid 40, applicator 30, and neck of the body 20, in that the middle portion includes the taper and upper belly, in that the bottom portion includes the lower belly and base, and the like. Such a bottle 10 also includes an actuator 50 which includes therein a medium 60 and is also filled with a fluid 70 which is generally water or other drinkable fluids.
More particularly, the actuator 50 includes a storage 54 which includes a removable seal 53, a pathway 54W, a pair of stoppers 58, and the like. The pathway 54W typically extends from a bottom of the applicator 30 down to the bottom portion of the bottle 10. A top of the pathway 54W is coupled to the bottom of the applicator 30 in a manner to fluidly separate the storage 54 from the interior of the body 20 or bottle 10 so that the fluid 70 does not get into the storage 54 when the bottle 10 is slanted or disposed upside down. A bottom of the pathway 54W is similarly fluidly separated from the fluid 70 by covering a bottom end of the storage 54 by the removable seal 53. In addition, the remaining parts of the pathway 54W defines a nonporous structure. Therefore, an inner lumen of the storage 54W is fluidly separated from the interior of the body 20 and the fluid 70 contained in the bottle 10. In general, the storage 54 may define various cross-sectional shapes which may or may not coincide with that of the applicator 30, where the storage 54 of this embodiment forms a circular cross-section. Inside the storage 54 is disposed the medium 60 which is disposed in a very top part thereof as well as the top portion of the bottle 10. A pair of (or more than two) stoppers 58 are disposed immediately below the medium 60 in order to support and to retain the medium 60 in the top portion. The stoppers 58 are also arranged to retain its shape up to a preset force or momentum in order to retain the medium 60 therein against accidental or unintended impact exerted thereonto by the medium 60. A foldable handle 51 is also disposed on a top end of the applicator 30 and mechanically couples with a top of the medium 60.
As described above, each medium 60 contains various biologically or pharmaceutically active agents, a typical example of which is an antioxidant defined hereinabove. When such an antioxidant tends to degrade when exposed to the UV rays, the medium 60 is preferably coated by various fillers capable of blocking the UV rays from penetrating into the media 60. Alternatively and/or in conjunction with the opaque coating, an upper portion of the storage 54 and/or applicator 30 may also be made of and/or includes materials which block such UV rays from penetrating therethrough, thereby protecting the medium 60 from the rays.
In operation and as shown in FIG. 2A, a user obtains the bottle 10 which is filled with the fluid 70 in its bottom and middle portions and which includes the medium 60. In this stage, the medium 60 is disposed inside the storage 54 and, accordingly, fluidly separated from the interior of the bottle 10 (or body 20) as well as from the fluid 70 by various parts of the storage 54. Upon use and as exemplified in FIG. 2B, the user removes the lid 40 from the rest of the bottle 10 by rotating the lid 40 in a counter-clockwise direction. After removing the lid 40 from the body 20, the user reaches the handle 51 of the actuator 50 disposed on top of the applicator 30 and lifts the handle 51 by pivoting such by about 90°. In this stage, the medium 60 is still fluidly separated from the interior of the bottle 10 and from the fluid 70. As exemplified in FIG. 2C, the user applies user input by pressing down the handle 51 through the applicator 30 in a vertical direction. In response to such user input, the handle 51 begins to descend, while pressing the media 60 which is abutted by the stoppers 58 along the same direction. When the user input exceeds mechanical modulus of the stoppers 58, the medium 60 presses and opens such stoppers 58. As the user further presses the handle 51, the handle 51 travels by its length, and the medium 60 moves beyond the stoppers 58, and freely drops vertically along the pathway 54W, which is arranged to be wider than a diameter or a width of the medium. Because of a weight of the medium 60 as well as a momentum it attains during its vertical drop, the medium 60 hits the seal 53, tears open such a seal 53, and contacts the fluid 70.
Depending upon its density, the medium 60 sinks into the base of the bottle 20 or floats on the fluid 70, although a heavier medium 60 may be preferred to ensure its immersion into the fluid 70 while maximizing contact between the medium 60 and fluid 70. When the medium 60 forms protective layers for securing its agents from the UV rays, such coat layers first contact the fluid 70 and are dissolved (or dispersed) into the fluid 70. Thereafter, various agents including such antioxidants in the medium 60 mixes with the fluid 70, i.e., dissolves or disperses therein. Depending on various characteristics of such agents and/or fillers of the medium 60, the mixing between the medium 60 and fluid 70 may be promoted. In this embodiment, the medium 60 includes gassing fillers or gasifiers so that the medium 60 may produce gas bubbles upon contacting with the fluid 70. The gas bubbles may not only induce forced convection of the agents in the fluid 70 but also prevent formation of concentration boundary layers around or in the medium 60, thereby maximizing the mixing between the medium 60 and fluid 70. In addition, the gasifiers may be used for carbonating the fluid 70, thereby converting the fluid 70 into a carbonated beverage.
As disclosed heretofore and will be described hereinafter, various medium-containing bottles of the present invention invariably include a few essential elements. The first essential element is a storage which serves to form a space in which a medium is stored before use. The second essential element is a seal which is disposed on one side of the storage and fluidly separates the medium from the interior of the bottle and/or fluid filling such before use. The third essential elements is an actuator which receives a user input and removes the seal in response thereto for fluidly communicating the medium with the interior of the bottle and/or for mixing the medium with the fluid. Following figures are provided to illustrate selected exemplary embodiments of the above essential elements of such bottles of this invention. For example, FIGS. 3A to 3T exemplify the storages defining various configurations, FIGS. 4A to 4J exemplify the seals actively or passively defined on or along such storages, FIGS. 5A to 5K exemplify such seals which break in response to the user inputs, FIGS. 6A to 6E exemplify other seals which move in response to the user inputs, and FIGS. 7A to 7F exemplify various bottles which incorporate some of such storages.
It is to be understood, however, that various apparatus, method, and process aspects and/or embodiments of such following bottles and their parts of this invention may be embodied in many other different forms and, therefore, should not be limited to such aspects and/or embodiments which are to be set forth herein. Rather, various exemplary aspects and their embodiments described hereinafter are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and fully convey the scope of the present invention to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art.
In another aspect of the present invention, the medium-containing bottles of this invention may include various storages for storing therein one or multiple media therein while fluidly separating such media from the interior of the bottle and/or while preventing such media from mixing with the fluid also contained in such bottles. FIGS. 3A to 3T are schematic cross-sectional views of exemplary storages of various bottles of the present invention. It is appreciated that following figures only include relevant portions of the bottles therein and, therefore, that the rest of such bottles are omitted therefrom. The following figures are also oriented such that their left sides correspond to the exterior of such bottles, and their right sides correspond to the interior of such bottles. In addition, each storage of the figures includes a particular type of a seal which moves between their closed and open positions for sealing and then exposing the media to the interior of the bottles or fluids contained therein, although each of such storages may incorporate other types of seals as will be disclosed below. Each storage of the figures may also be formed in any portions of the bottles including their lids and applicators, although the storages of the figures are restricted to those formed on the bodies of the bottles. In addition, the figures do not include any actuators and, therefore, the medium of each storage is presumed to stay therein after the seal is removed, although such actuators may be operatively coupled to the storages and move the media into the interior of the bottles when desirable. Each storage of such figures may also be oriented in any direction so that a storage which may extend horizontally may be implemented in a different direction into a bottle to form a vertical or slanted storage.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIGS. 3A to 3C, each storage 54 is formed on an inner wall of the body 20 by protruding a chamber of the storage 54 into the interior of the bottle. In one example of FIG. 3A, such a storage 54 forms an opening which faces a longitudinal axis of the bottle and is sealed by a pair of vertical sliding seals 53. Therefore, as the seals 53 slide upwardly and downwardly, a medium 60 tends to stay inside the storage 54 unless actuated by an actuator. In another example of FIG. 3B, a storage 54 defines another opening which faces downward and is sealed by a single sliding seal 53. Therefore, when the seal 53 slides open, the medium 60 tends to drop downwardly and to move out of the storage 54 vertically as long as the medium 60 is heavier than the fluid and as long as the seal 53 opens and forms a gap wider than the medium 60. In another example of FIG. 3C, a storage 54 forms an opening which faces upward and is sealed by a single sliding seal 53. When the seal 53 slides open, the medium 60 tends to stay inside the storage 54 unless actuated by the actuator.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention and as exemplified in FIG. 3D, a storage 54 is defined on an outer wall of the body 20 by protruding its chamber toward the exterior of the bottle. For example, a storage 54 forms an opening which faces the longitudinal axis of the bottle and is sealed by a pair of pivoting seals 53. Thus, when the seals 53 pivot inwardly into the interior of the bottle, the medium 60 stays inside the storage 54 unless actuated by the actuator.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIGS. 3E to 3J, each storage 54 may be defined between the inner and outer walls of the body 20 of the bottle or, in the alternative, between the inner or outer wall of the body 20 and an auxiliary wall which may be a part of the storage or a part of the actuator. In one example of FIG. 3E, a storage 54 is formed as a space which is then defined between the walls and sealed by a pair of pivoting seals 53 which are similar to those of FIG. 3D. The storage 54 forms an opening open toward the longitudinal axis of the bottle and, thus, the medium 60 tends to stay in the storage 54 as the seals 53 open, unless actuated by the actuator. In another example of FIG. 3F, a storage 54 is similarly formed between the walls but one of the walls is shorter than the other. The storage 54 defines an opening which is open upward and sealed by another pair of pivoting seals 53. Thus, when the seals pivot and open, the medium 60 tends to stay inside the storage 54 unless actuated by the actuator. In another example of FIG. 3G, a storage 54 is defined between the walls one of which is also shorter than the other. Such a storage 54 forms an opening which is open downward and sealed by a pair of pivoting seals 53. Thus, when the seals pivot and open, the medium 60 tends to drop downward and to move out of the storage 54 when the seals 53 form a gap wider than the medium 60. In another example of FIG. 3H, a storage 54 is similar to that of FIG. 3E, except that a chamber of the storage 54 is defined not only by the above opposing walls of FIG. 3E but also by two partitions extending across such walls. In another example of FIG. 3I, a storage 54 is also similar to that of FIG. 3G, except that it is defined by a pair of walls both of extending not only along and but also beyond an entire height of the storage 54. Such a storage 54 forms an opening which is open downward and also sealed by a pair of pivoting seals 53 so that the medium 60 drops into a gap defined between the walls when the seals 53 open. Accordingly, the gap between the walls is preferably arranged to fluidly communicate with the interior of the bottle and the fluid contained therein. In another example of FIG. 3J, a storage is similar to that of FIG. 3I, except that the storage 54 forms an opening which is open upward. Thus, the medium 60 tends to stay inside the storage 54 when the seals 54 pivot and open.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIGS. 3K to 3N, each storage 54 is formed on an inner wall of the body 20 by vertically protruding a chamber of the storage 54 into the interior of the bottle. In one example of FIG. 3K, a storage 54 forms an opening which is open downward and sealed by a pair of sliding seals 53. Accordingly, as the seals 53 slide and open, the medium 60 tends to drop vertically and to move out of the storage 54 as long as the gap formed between the seals 53 are wider than the medium 60. In another example of FIG. 3L, a storage 54 is similar to that of FIG. 3K, except that the storage 54 forms an opening which is open upward. In another example of FIG. 3M, a storage 54 extends downward and defines an opening which is open to the longitudinal axis of the bottle and sealed by a single sliding seal 53. Accordingly, the medium 60 tends to stay in the storage 54 as the seal slides and opens. In another example of FIG. 3N, a storage 54 is similar to that of FIG. 3M, except that the storage 54 extends upward.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIGS. 3O and 3P, each storage 54 is formed on an outer wall of the body 20 by vertically protruding its camber into the interior of the bottle. In one example of FIG. 3O, a storage 54 extends downward and forms an opening which is open downward and sealed by a pair of sliding seals 53. Therefore, the medium 60 tends to drop vertically and moves out of the storage 54 when a gap formed between the seals 53 is wider than the medium 60. In another example of FIG. 3P, a storage 54 is similar to that of FIG. 3O, except that such a storage 54 extends upward.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIGS. 3Q and 3R, each storage 54 is formed between a pair of partitions which extend between two walls and couple such walls which do not extend in the same elevation, where such walls correspond to upper and lower horizontal walls in the embodiment. In one example of FIG. 3Q, such a storage 54 is formed between such walls and defines an opening which faces downward and is sealed by a single sliding seal 53. Accordingly, when the seal 53 opens, the medium 60 tends to drop vertically and downward as long as a gap formed by the seal 53 is wider than the medium 60. In another example of FIG. 3R, a storage 54 is similar to that of FIG. 3Q, except that the storage 54 defines an opening facing upward. In these aspects, the upper wall of the storage 54 of FIG. 3Q corresponds to that of a wider portion of the bottle, while the upper wall of the storage 54 of FIG. 3R corresponds to that of a narrow portion of the bottle.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIGS. 3S and 3T, each storage 54 is defined between the inner and outer walls of the body 20 of the bottle or, in the alternative, between the inner or outer wall of the body 20 and an auxiliary wall which may be a part of the storage or a part of the actuator. In one example of FIG. 3S, a storage 54 is similar to that of FIG. 3E, except that an opening of the storage 54 faces downward and is also covered by a single sliding seal 53. In another example of FIG. 3T, a storage 54 is similar to that of FIG. 3H, except that an opening of the storage 54 faces upward.
Various storages of the medium-containing bottles of the present invention exemplified in FIGS. 3A to 3T also include following configurational and operational variations and/or modifications thereof, details of which are to be set forth below.
As described above, the storage may consist of at least one chamber, at least one seal, and at least one optional pathway, where the chamber serves as a space for storing one or more media, where the seal serves to seal the storage against the interior of the bottle and fluid contained therein, and where the pathway serves to guide the actuator, medium, and/or fluid therealong. In general, the storage may be formed in any of such top, middle, and/or bottom portions of the bottle and/or its body. The storage may be defined in only one of such portions of the bottle (or body) or, in the alternative, may be extended across two or more portions of the bottle (or body). The storage may be disposed between the interior and exterior of the bottle, across the interior and/or exterior of the bottle, may be preferentially disposed in the exterior of the bottle but still fluidly connected into the interior by at least a portion thereof such as, e.g., its chamber and/or pathway. In the alternative, an entire portion of the pathway may be disposed inside the interior of the bottle. In short, the storage may be incorporated in almost any location on and in the bottle (or body) as long as such a storage may readily be actuated by the user input.
In particular, the chamber may be defined by bulging into the interior of the bottle (or body), by bulging into the exterior of the bottle, between the inner and outer walls of the bottle and, accordingly, flush with the bottle, and the like. The chamber may be incorporated into the interior and/or exterior of the bottle (or body) vertically, horizontally, at a preset angle, and so on. As to each of the horizontal, vertical, and angled dispositions, the chamber may define the opening which may be open downward, upward or sideways, where detailed orientation of the opening may be determined by various factors such as, e.g., the space available for the opening, detailed mechanisms of the seals for the chamber, and the like. The chamber may define multiple openings which may be sealed and opened by a single seal or individual seals.
As exemplified hereinabove, the chamber may be incorporated into the lid and/or applicator of the bottle. Such a chamber may be fixedly attached thereonto or, in the alternative, may be releasably attached thereto such that the chamber may be removed after the seal is removed and the medium is mixed with the fluid.
Such a storage may also be shaped and/or sized based upon various design considerations. For example, the storage may be shaped and/or sized for containing therein a desired number of such media in a desirable arrangement such as, e.g., a vertical disposition, a side-by-side disposition, and the like. The shape and/or size of the storage may further be affected by a space available in various portions of the bottle. In addition, detailed mechanisms of the seals may also determine at least in part the actual shape and size of the storage. In short, the storage may be formed in any desirable shape and size as long as the storage may fit into the available space of the bottle, may include the desired number of the media, and may allow the seal to properly close and open such.
The storage typically defines a single chamber for storing one or multiple media therein. In the alternative, such a storage may have multiple chambers each of which includes therein one or multiple media, at least one of which includes one medium or multiple media, and at least one of which may not include therein any medium. In addition, at least one of such chambers may instead be used as a line of defense against accidental or unexpected rupture of another chamber. In this embodiment, the seal may be arranged to seal and then be removed from multiple chambers in its open and closed positions, respectively. Such chambers of the storage may be formed in only one of the top, middle, and bottom portions of the bottle (or body) or may be formed in at least two of such portions. In the alternative, at least one chamber may be provided in each of such top, middle, and bottom portions. At least one of the chambers may extend across at least two of such portions. The chambers may also be disposed vertically, horizontally or at a preset angle, may instead be disposed symmetrically or asymmetrically, may be disposed side by side or concentrically. In addition, such chambers may be arranged in such a manner that they may fluidly communicate with the interior of the body and/or may mix with the fluid simultaneously (i.e., a parallel arrangement) or sequentially (i.e., a series arrangement). In addition, such chambers may define the same or similar shapes and/or sizes or at least two of such chambers may define different shapes and/or sizes.
The storage may define at least one optional pathway shaped and sized to allow the medium to move therealong, to receive portion of the coupler or other parts of the actuator therein, to allow the fluid to flow therein, and the like. It is appreciated that the chamber generally refers to a portion of the storage preferentially utilized for storing the medium therein but that the pathway generally refers to another portion of the storage preferentially used to allow such movement of the medium and fluid and/or to allow the passage of the actuator. It is, however, appreciated that the chamber may also be used as the pathway while allowing the medium and/or fluid to move and that the pathway may also be used as the chamber by permanently or temporarily store the medium before use.
The pathway may extend along a preset curvilinear track, where such a pathway may extend horizontally, vertically or at a preset angle. The pathway may define the same cross-section along its length or may the cross-section therealong. Such a pathway may be arranged to maintain the sealing between the medium and interior of the bottle and/or fluid contained therein. In this embodiment, such a pathway preferably defines an enclosed structure. When at least a portion of the pathway is to be disposed outside the chamber, however, such a portion does not have to be enclosed, i.e., a portion or an entire portion of the pathway may be open to the interior of the bottle. In addition, the pathway may extend only along the exterior, may extend from the exterior into the interior, or may extend only along the interior. In short, such a pathway may have any shapes and/or sizes and may extend along any desirable path as far as the pathway may move the medium while guiding such from its storage position to its mixing position, may guide the fluid from the interior of the bottle into the chamber, may house thereinto a desired portion of the actuator, and the like.
As will be described in greater detail below, various seals may also be incorporated along the pathway, where the seals may be disposed on ends of the pathway, along the pathway, and the like. By incorporating such seals, various parts of the pathway may be arranged to seal against or open to different portions of the bottle. As exemplified hereinabove, the pathway may be incorporated into the lid and/or applicator of the bottle, where such a pathway may be fixedly attached thereonto or, in the alternative, may be releasably attached thereto such that the pathway may be removed after the seal is removed and the medium is mixed with the fluid.
The storage generally includes a single pathway or, in the alternative, the storage may include multiple pathways each of which may extend along only one of the top, middle, and bottom portions of the bottle (or body) or may extend through at least two of the portions. In the alternative, at least one pathway may be provided in each of such top, middle, and bottom portions, at least one pathway may extend across all of such portions. The pathways may also be disposed vertically, horizontally or at a preset angle, may instead be disposed symmetrically or asymmetrically, may be disposed side by side or concentrically. Some pathways may be arranged to bifurcate into multiple branches or may instead be merged into a less number thereof. In addition, such pathways may be arranged in such a manner that they may fluidly communicate with the interior of the body or may mix with the fluid simultaneously (i.e., a parallel arrangement) or sequentially (i.e., a series arrangement). Such pathways may define the same or similar shapes and/or sizes, at least two of such pathways may define different shapes and/or sizes, and the like.
In another aspect of the present invention, the medium-containing bottles of this invention may include various seals which are removably incorporated into the storages, fluidly separate the media from the interiors of such bottles or fluids contained therein when intact, and fluidly communicate the media with such interiors or fluids when removed directly or indirectly by the actuators in response to the user inputs. FIGS. 4A to 4J show schematic cross-sectional views of various active and passive seals of various storages according to the present invention. It is appreciated that following figures only include relevant portions of the bottles therein and, accordingly, that the rest of such bottles are omitted therefrom. The following figures are also oriented such that their left sides correspond to the exterior of the bottles, while their right sides correspond to the interior of the bottles. In addition, each seal of the figures is incorporated to a particular type of a storage which extends from the inner wall of the bottle and forms an opening which is also open to the interior of the bottle, although each of the seals may be incorporated to other types of storages as disclosed above. Each seal of such figures may also be disposed in any positions of the storages in any orientation, although various seals of the figures are restricted to those vertically incorporated along the openings of the storages when intact. In addition, the figures do not include any actuators and, accordingly, the medium of each storage may be presumed to stay therein after the seal is removed, although the actuators may operatively couple with the storages and move the media into the interior of the bottles when desirable. Moreover, each seal of the figures is presumed to move between their open and closed positions by the actuators as a response to the user inputs which is to be described in greater detail below, where such actuators may directly actuate the seals or indirectly actuate such seals by, e.g., manipulating the media. Each storage of such figures may also be oriented along any direction so that a storage which may extend horizontally may be disposed in a different direction into a bottle to form a vertical or slanted storage.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIGS. 4A to 4D, each removable seal 53 is arranged to seal the opening of the storage 54 when intact and then to be broken (i.e., cut or burst) in various modes in response to such user inputs, thereby exposing the opening to the interior of the bottle and/or fluid contained therein. In one example of FIG. 4A, a single seal 53 is arranged to be broken outward along a periphery of the opening of the storage 54 so that the seal 53 produces a gap extending from one to an opposing end of the opening when broken. In another example of FIG. 4B, a single seal 53 is arranged to be broken outward in or near a center of the opening of the storage 54 so that the seal 53 produces a gap extending from the center toward a periphery of such an opening when broken. In another example of FIG. 4C, a single seal 53 is broken in a manner similar to that of FIG. 4A, except that such a seal 53 is pushed inwardly into the opening when broken. In another example of FIG. 4D, a single seal 53 is broken in a manner similar to that of FIG. 4B, except that the seal 53 is pushed inside the opening when broken.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIGS. 4E to 4J, each removable seal 53 is arranged to seal the opening of the storage 54 when intact and then to move (e., translate, rotate, pivot, and the like) in response to the user inputs, thereby exposing the opening to the interior of the bottle and/or fluid contained therein. In one example of FIG. 4E, a single seal 53 is arranged to pivot (or rotate) about a center of rotation defined on (or along) a periphery of the opening so that the seal 53 produces a gap a size of which is roughly proportional to a distance of an angular movement of the seal 53. In another example of FIG. 4F, a pair of seals 53 are arranged to pivot (or rotate) away from each other about centers of rotation defined on opposing points along (or on) a periphery of the opening such that the seal 53 produces a gap a size of which is proportional to distances of angular movements of such seals 53. In another example of FIG. 4G, a single seal 53 is arranged to translate across the opening so that the seal 53 forms a gap a size of which is decided by a length of translation of the seal 53. Alternatively, such a seal 53 may be deemed to rotate about a center of rotation defined on a periphery of the opening, where a direction of the rotation is typically normal to the paper, whereas directions of the pivoting movements of the seals of FIGS. 4E and 4F are on the paper. In another example of FIG. 4H, a pair of seals 53 are arranged to translate away from each other across the opening so that the seals 53 form a gap a size of which are typically proportion to lengths of translation of such seals. In the alternative, the seals 53 may be deemed to rotate about centers of rotation defined on opposing points on the periphery of the opening. In another example of FIG. 4I, a pair of seals 53 are similar to those of FIG. 4F, except that the seals 53 are arranged to pivot inwardly into the opening of the storage 54. It is therefore similarly appreciated that such seals 53 of FIGS. 4E to 4H may be arrange to move into the opening when broken. In another example of FIG. 4J, multiple seals 53 are arranged to be distributed similar to an arrangement of an iris of a camera when intact. Multiple seals 53 then rotate along angular tracks while receding from a center of the opening, while forming a gap in the center of the opening, where a size of the gap depends upon an extent of the angular movements of the seals 53.
Various seals for the storages of the medium-containing bottles of this invention exemplified in FIGS. 4A to 4J further include following configurational and operational variations and/or modifications thereof, details of which are to be set forth below.
First, various seals of the medium-containing bottles of the present invention may be classified into “active” seals and “passive” seals, where the “active” seals represent those which serve only to seal the medium against the interior of such a bottle and fluid contained therein when intact, whereas the “passive” seals mean those which not only function to seal the medium but also serve to form the part of the body, lid, or applicator of the bottle. In this aspect, the passive seals may refer to those of the bottle which may still be able to function as the part of the bottle either they are in their closed or open positions.
Such a seal may be disposed in any of the top, middle, and/or bottom portions of the bottle (or body). When the seal is incorporated in one the middle and bottom portions, the seal may remain in the same portion and removed therein, may move to the other of such portions and removed therein, may move to the top portion and removed therein. When the seal is incorporated into the top portion of the bottle (or body), however, the seal is to move to the middle or bottom portion and to be removed there.
When intact, the seal may be shaped to bulge into the interior, bulge into the exterior, or extend across the interior or exterior. The seal may also be disposed to cover the opening of the storage in a horizontal, vertical or transverse direction. During and/or after being removed, such a seal or at least a portion thereof may then bulge into the interior, bulge into the exterior, or extend across the interior or exterior.
Depending upon the detailed mechanism of removal, the seal may be arranged to have various physical characteristics. When the seal is to be cut by a sharp object, the seal is preferably made of and/or includes a material which is neither sticky nor gooey material in order to not deter such cutting. When the seal is to be burst by a dull object, the seal is preferably made of and/or include a material which may rupture easily by a puncture. When the seal is to move from its closed position to its open position, the seal is made of and/or include a rather rigid and stable material in order to ensure proper sealing before being removed. In general, the breakable seal may be made of and/or include a material which may not be present in the body of the bottle or, alternatively, may be made of and/or include the material which is also present in the body but may have a thickness less than that of the body. Other things being equal, such a seal may be made of and/or include plastics, glasses, metals, papers, and composites thereof. As long as the seal may fluidly separate the opening of the storage and then be removed therefrom by the user input, such a seal may be made of any suitable materials.
The storage may include a single seal or multiple seals each of which may define identical or similar shapes and/or sizes and may seal the opening and be removed therefrom by identical or similar mechanisms. When desirable, at least two of the seals may form different shapes and/or sizes, may operate in different mechanisms, and so on.

TABLE 1

Classification of Detailed Embodiments

	2	3	4

Disposition	Lid	Applicator	Body	Actuator
of Medium (A)
Application of	Lid	Applicator	Body	Actuator
User Input (B)
Direction of	Vertical	Horizontal	Horizontal	Vertical
User Input (C)	Translation	Translation	Torque	Torque
Mode of	Break	Break	Move
Actuation (D)	(Cut)	(Burst)
Medium after	Move	Stay
Actuation (E)
Medium Mixing	Lid	Applicator	Body	Actuator
Position (F)
Medium after	Move	Stay
Mixing (G)

Various medium-containing bottles may be constructed by forming one of the above storages in or on the bodies of the bottles, incorporating various seals into the storages, and then removing the seals by various actuators, thereby mixing the medium with the fluid and then dissolving or dispersing various agents contained in the medium into the fluid. In general, various medium-containing bottles of the present invention differ from each other in various respects such as, e.g., a disposition position of the medium, a location in which the user input is applied, a direction of such input, a mode of actuating the seal, a disposition of the medium after actuating the seal, a location in which the medium is mixed into the fluid, a disposition of the medium after mixing, and the like. Table 1 summarizes classification of detailed embodiments of the medium-containing bottles based on the above respects and locations to which such respects correspond.
The above Table 1 represents that a specific medium-containing bottle may be constructed by determining whether the medium is stored in or near the lid (denoted as “A1”), in or near the applicator (represented by “A2”), in or on the body (denoted as “A3”), and in or near the actuator (represented as “A4”), whether the user input is applied to the lid (denoted as “B1”), to the applicator (denoted as “B2”), to the body (depicted as “B3”), and to the actuator (represented as “B4”), whether the input is applied vertically along a curvilinear path (denoted as “C1”), horizontally along another curvilinear path (represented as “C2), as a horizontal torque (referred to as “C3”), and as a vertical torque (depicted as “C4”), whether the actuator cuts the seal by the sharp object (denoted as “D1”), bursts the seal by the dull object (denoted as “D2”), or moves the seal without breaking (i.e., cutting or bursting) the seal (represented as “D3”), whether the medium moves out of the storage (represented as “E1”) or stays inside the storage (depicted as “E2”) after actuating (i.e., breaking or moving the seal), whether such a medium is mixed into the fluid in or near the lid (depicted as “F1”), in or near the applicator (depicted as “F2”), in, on or near the body (depicted as “F3”), and in or near the actuator (represented as “F4”), whether the medium moves out of the storage (depicted as “G1”) or stays inside the storage (referred to as “G2”) after mixing, and the like. Accordingly, when a medium-containing bottle of this invention is represented as an A3-B4-C2-D2-E2-F3-G1 type, such codes represent that such a bottle includes the medium in the middle portion of the body, that the user input is applied onto the actuator horizontally so as to burst the seal, that the medium remains inside the storage after the seal is removed, that such a medium mixes into the fluid in the body, and that the medium moves out of the storage after the mixing.
It is appreciated that certain categories of the above classification dictate or are determined by other categories. For example, when the category A (or Ai) of a bottle is not equal to the category of B (or Bi) where i is from 1 to 4, such a bottle requires the actuator in order to transmit such user input from the location of the user input to a storage location of the medium. To the contrary, the bottle may or may not require the actuator when Ai equals Bi. In another example, the category D (or Di) of such a bottle may be determined by the categories B and/or C (or Bi and/or Ci) thereof. Therefore, the input directions of the category C and the actuating mode of the category D may be chosen so as to satisfy the desirable actuating mode of the category D. In another example, when the category F (or Fi) of a bottle is not equal to the category A (or Ai), the medium is to be transported from its storage position to its mixing position and, therefore, the category E (or Ei) of such a medium is E1, i.e., the medium must move out of the storage after the actuation, e.g., by using the actuator, by manipulating the density of the medium to sink or float the medium in the fluid, and the like. When the category F (or Fi) of such a bottle equals the category A (or Ai) thereof, the medium stays in its storage position. Accordingly, its category E (or Ei) must be E2, i.e., the medium stays inside the storage after the seal is removed. In this embodiment, the fluid may flow into the storage directly through the seal or through the pathway of the storage. In other embodiments, the categories E and G (or Ei and Gi) are independent of each other and generally determined by detailed configurations of the storages, medium, and the like. Such classification will be employed hereinafter in order to represent each medium-containing bottle and/or various parts thereof.
In another aspect of the present invention, the medium-containing bottles of this invention may include various actuators which are movably coupled to the storages and directly or indirectly break various seals of such storages. FIGS. 5A to 5K describe schematic cross-sectional views of various actuators for breaking the seals through various mechanisms according to the present invention. It is appreciated that these figures only include relevant portions of the bottles therein and, therefore, that the rest of such bottles are omitted therefrom. The following figures are also oriented such that their top sides correspond to the exterior of the bottles, while their bottom sides correspond to the interior thereof. In addition, the actuator of each figure is incorporated into a particular type of a storage with a particular type of a single seal which extends across of an opening formed by the storage, although each actuator may also be incorporated into other types of seals and/or storages as disclosed above. Each actuator of the figures may also be disposed in any positions of the storages in any orientation, although various seals of such figures are restricted to those horizontally sealing the openings of the storages when intact. In addition, the actuators of the figures (except FIGS. 5E and 5F) are arranged to break the seals without manipulating the media, although different portions of such actuators may be arranged to actuate the media and to move such out of the storages. Each storage of the figures may further be oriented along any direction such that a storage which may extend horizontally in the figures may be embodied to be disposed in a different direction into a bottle so as to form a vertical or slanted storage.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, each actuator includes a breaker which is disposed inside a storage and then moves out therefrom in response to a user input to break a seal. In one example of FIG. 5A, such a breaker 55B is disposed vertical to the seal 53 and between a medium 60 and a side wall of a storage 54 when intact (refer to the left panel of the figure). As the user input is applied to the breaker 55B along a direction vertical to the seal 53 and as exemplified in the left panel of the figure, such a breaker 55B is arranged to linearly translate (downwardly) and to puncture the seal 53 therethrough. In this embodiment, such a seal 53 breaks outwardly from the storage 54 as exemplified in FIGS. 4A and 4B. After the seal 53 breaks, a medium 60 tends to drop vertically and to move out of the storage 54 as a gap defined by the breaker 55B exceeds the size of the medium 60. In general, the storage 54 of this embodiment may be used in the medium-containing bottle of the type A1-A4, B1-B4, C1, E1 or E2, F1-F4, and G1 or G2. In another example of FIG. 5B, another breaker 55B is disposed similar to that of FIG. 5A. In response to the user input shown in the left panel of the figure, such a breaker 55B may be arranged to optionally advance (downwardly) and to rotate along an angular track while maintaining its position between the medium 60 and side wall, until the breaker 55B breaks the seal 53 around a periphery of an opening of such a storage 54. Similar to that of FIG. 5A, the seal 53 tend to break outwardly out of the storage 54. As the seal 53 breaks, a medium 60 drops out of the storage 54 when a gap formed by the breaker 55B exceeds the size of the medium 60. The storage 54 of such an embodiment may be used in the bottle of the type A1-A4, B1-B4, C1 or C3, E1 or E2, F1-F4, and G1 or G2.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIGS. 5C and 5D, each actuator similarly includes a breaker which is, however, disposed outside a storage and moves thereinto in response to a user input for breaking a seal. In one example of FIG. 5C, a breaker 55B is disposed vertical to the seal 53 and outside a storage 54 while facing a periphery of or another point close to an opening formed by the storage 54 when intact (refer to the left panel of the figure). When the user input is applied to the breaker 55B along a direction vertical to the seal 53 as described in the right panel of the figure, the breaker 55B is arranged to linearly translate upwardly and to break the seal 53 therethrough. In this embodiment, the seal 53 tends to break inwardly into the storage 54 as exemplified in FIGS. 4C and 4D. After the seal 53 is broken, a medium 60 drops vertically out of the storage 54 as a gap formed by the breaker 55B exceeds the size of the medium 60. The storage 54 of this embodiment may be employed in the medium-containing bottle of the type A1-A4, B1-B4, C1, E1 or E2, F1-F4, and G1 or G2. In another example of FIG. 5D, another breaker 55B is disposed similar to that of FIG. 5C. In response to the user input as exemplified in the right panel of the figure, the breaker 55B is arranged to optionally advance (upwardly) and to rotate along an angular track while keeping its position between the medium 60 and side wall, until the breaker 55B breaks the seal 53 around the periphery of the opening of the storage 54. Similar to that of FIG. 5A, the seal 53 breaks outward out of the storage 54. As the seal 53 breaks, a medium 60 drops out of the storage 54 as a gap formed by the breaker 55B exceeds the size of the medium 60. The storage 54 of such an embodiment may be employed in the medium-containing bottle of the type A1-A4, B1-B4, C1 or C3, E1 or E2, F1-F4, and G1 or G2.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIG. 5E, an actuator includes multiple breakers which are incorporated inside (or outside) a storage and moves out of the storage (or thereinto) in response to a user input so as to break a seal. In the embodiment described in FIG. 5E, a pair of breakers 55B are disposed vertical to the seal 53 and outside a storage 54 while facing a pair of opposing points disposed along or near a periphery of an opening formed by the storage 54 when intact (refer to the left panel of the figure). When the user input is applied to the breakers 55B along a direction vertical to the seal 53 as described in the right panel of the figure, such breakers 55B are arranged to linearly translate upwardly for breaking the seal 53 therethrough. In this embodiment, the seal 53 tends to break inwardly into the storage 54 as exemplified in FIGS. 4C and 4D. After the seal 53 is broken, a medium 60 drops vertically out of the storage 54 when a gap formed by the breaker 55B exceeds the size of the medium 60. It is appreciated that multiple breakers 55B may be disposed inside such a storage 54, may rotate along angular tracks, and so on. In addition, at least one of the breakers 55B may be disposed inside the storage 54, while at least another of the breakers 55B may be disposed outside the storage 54. Similarly, at least one of such breakers 54 may linearly translate in response to the user input, and at least another thereof may rotate angularly. The storage 54 of this embodiment may be used in the medium-containing bottle of the type A1-A4, B1-B4, C1, E1 or E2, F1-F4, and G1 or G2.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIGS. 5F and 5G, each storage includes a medium defining a center hole, and each actuator includes a breaker which is disposed inside (or outside) a storage and moves out of (or into) the storage through such a hole in response to the user inputs. In one example of FIG. 5F, a medium 60 defines an indentation in its bottom center portion, while a breaker 55B is disposed vertical to the seal 53 and outside a storage 54 while opposing the indentation of the medium 60 when intact (refer to the left panel of the figure). When the user input is applied to the breaker 55B along a direction vertical to the seal 53 as described in the right panel of the figure, the breaker 55B is arranged to linearly translate upwardly and to break the seal 53 by advancing (upwardly) into the indentation of the medium 60. The medium 60 then forms the fluid communication with the interior of the bottle and/or mixes with the fluid which is contained in the interior, while being confined inside the storage 54 due to the breaker 55B. In the alternative, such a breaker 55B may optionally retract downwardly and move out of the storage 54 in order to allow the medium 60 to drop vertically and out of the storage 54. In this embodiment, the seal 53 tends to break inwardly into the storage 54 as described in FIGS. 4C and 4D. The storage 54 of this embodiment may be used in the medium-containing bottle of the type A1-A4, B1-B4, C1, E1 or E2, F1-F4, and G1 or G2 In another example of FIG. 5G, another medium 60 forms therethrough a center hole, and breaker 55B is disposed vertical to the seal 53 and in a storage 54 through the center hole of the medium 60 (refer to the left panel of the figure). As the user input is applied to the breaker 55B along a direction vertical to the seal 53 as represented in the right panel of the figure, the breaker 55B is arranged to linearly translate downwardly through such a center hole until it break the seal 53. Without having to retract the breaker 55B, such a medium 60 may drop vertically and move out of the storage as long as a gap formed by the breaker 55B on the seal 53 exceeds a size of the medium 60. In this embodiment, such a seal 53 tends to break outwardly out of the storage 54 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The storage 54 of this embodiment may be used in the medium-containing bottle of the type A1-A4, B1-B4, C1, E1 or E2, F1-F4, and G1 or G2.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIG. 5H, a breaker may also be disposed and/or operate to break a seal along a non-vertical direction such as, e.g., a vertical direction, a transverse direction, and the like. In the embodiment of FIG. 5H, a storage 54 is similar to that of FIG. 5C, except being disposed horizontally while exposing an opening thereof horizontally. To break a vertical seal 53 of this storage 54, a breaker 55B is disposed horizontally and outside the storage 54, and arranged to advance laterally until the seal 53 breaks. A medium 60 may then stay in the storage 54 and contact the fluid unless actuated by the breaker 55B or another part of the actuator. Such a lateral or transverse arrangement may apply to other arrangements exemplified in FIGS. 5A to 5G. The storage 54 of this embodiment may be used with the medium-containing bottle of the type A1-A4, B1-B4, C2 or C4, E2 or E1, F1-F4, and G2 or G1.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIGS. 5I and 5J, each actuator is arranged to break a seal not by directing actuating such but by manipulating a medium and breaking the seal thereby. In one example of FIG. 5I, a medium 60 is shaped and sized to define a pointed or sharp end in its bottom end, similar to that of FIGS. 2A to 2C. An actuator may not include any breaker but instead employ a coupler (not included in the figure) which is similar to that of FIGS. 2A to 2C and serves to transmit the user input to the medium 60 therethrough. As the user input is applied vertically to the medium 60 by the coupler, the medium 60 is directly depressed by such user input, and the pointed end of the medium 60 finally breaks the seal 53 in response thereto. In another example of FIG. 5J, a medium 60 is similar to that of FIG. 5I, except defining a pointed or sharp end not in its center but near its edge. A coupler 52 then transmits the user input to the medium 60 which may then break the seal 53. In each examples, the medium 60 may drop vertically out of the storage 54 as a gap formed by such a medium 60 across the seal 53 may exceed a size of the medium 60. It is to be understood that these media 60 may be used in conjunction with various breakers described above. The storages 54 of these embodiments may be used with the medium-containing bottle of the type A1-A4, B1-B4, C1, E1 or E2, F1-F4, and G1 or G2.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIG. 5K, an actuator includes an optional mesh (or screen) which is disposed on an internal end of a storage and serves to prevent a particle which is produced by a medium and defines a dimension beyond a certain threshold value from being dispensed into the interior of the bottle. In the embodiment of FIG. 5K, a mesh 65 is coupled along a periphery of a storage 54, where such a mesh 65 is shaped and/or sized as a screen with preset sieving openings. When the actuator breaks the seal 53 either directly or indirectly, a medium 60 moves out of the storage 54 but lands on the mesh 65 which then prevents coarse particles from being mixed into the fluid. It is appreciated that such a mesh 65 may be included in any of the bottles described heretofore and hereinafter. In addition, such a mesh 65 may instead be implemented around the opening in the top portion of the bottle and prevent such coarse particles from being dispensed out of the interior of the bottle. The storage 54 of this embodiment may be used with the medium-containing bottle of the type A1-A4, B1-B4, C1, E1, F1-F4, and G2.
In another aspect of the present invention, the medium-containing bottles of this invention may include various actuators which are movably coupled to the storages and directly or indirectly move various seals of the storages. FIGS. 6A to 6E show schematic views of various actuators for moving the seals through various mechanisms according to the present invention. It is appreciated that these figures only include relevant portions of the bottles therein and, therefore, that the rest of such bottles are omitted therefrom. The following figures are further oriented so that their front sides correspond to the exterior of the bottles, and their rear sides correspond to the interior thereof, although such an orientation may be flipped. In addition, each actuator of these figures is incorporated into a particular type of a circular or semi-circular opening of a storage, although each actuator may be incorporated into other types of openings of various storages. Each actuator of the figures may also be arranged to move the seal either directly in response to the user input or indirectly through the coupler, where the actuator and its coupler are omitted from such figures for simplicity of illustration. Each storage of the figures may be oriented along any direction such that a storage which may extend horizontally in the figures may be embodied to be disposed in a different direction into a bottle so as to form a vertical or slanted storage.
In one exemplary embodiment of such an aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIG. 6A, a storage is provided on a body 20 and forms a circular opening 54P over which are disposed multiple seals 53 having an arrangement of a camera iris which is similar to that shown in FIG. 4J. When intact and as exemplified in the left panel of the figure, such seals 53 cover an entire portion of the opening 54P of the storage and, therefore, fluidly seals the storage from the interior of the body 20 and/or fluid contained therein. In response to the user input, an actuator (not included in the figure) rotates such seals 53 and gradually recede the seals 53 from a center thereof as shown in the middle panel, while exposing the opening 54P of such a storage therethrough. Therefore, the seals 53 may provide fluid communication between the storage and interior of the bottle or fluid contained therein in response to the user input as shown in the right panel. The storage 54 of this embodiment may be used with the medium-containing bottle of the type A1-A4, B1-B4, C3 or C4, E1 or E2, F1-F4, and G1 or G2.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIG. 6B, a storage is provided on a body 20 while defining a semi-circular opening 54P over which is rotatably disposed a seal 53 which in turn defines a semi-circular slit 53S. More particularly and as exemplified in the left panel of the figure, the seal 53 is arranged to rotate about a center of rotation 53C in such a way that the slit 53S and opening 54P are misaligned and that the seal 53 covers and fluidly seals the storage from the interior of the bottle and fluid contained therein. As illustrated in the middle panel, the user input is applied to an actuator (not included in the figure) which then rotates the seal 53 about the center of rotation 53C along a counter-clockwise direction. In response to such rotation, the slit 53S of the seal 53 gradually overlaps the opening 54P and exposes the storage. When the slit 53S rotates about 180° as shown in the right panel, the slit 53S exposes an entire portion of the opening 54P and provides a fluid communication between the storage and the interior of the bottle and fluids contained therein. It is to be understood that the arrangement of this embodiment is similar to those of FIGS. 4G and 4H. The storage 54 of this embodiment may be used with the medium-containing bottle of the type A1-A4, B1-B4, C3 or C4, E1 or E2, F1-F4, and G1 or G2.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIG. 6C, a storage is provided on a body 20 while defining a semi-circular opening 54P over which a seal 53 is slidingly disposed. In its closed position as exemplified in the middle panel of the figure, the seal 53 is arranged to completely cover an opening 54P of a storage 54 and, therefore, to fluidly separate such a storage from the interior of the bottle. As depicted in the right panel, an applicator receives the user input and then slides the seal 53 away from the opening 54P, thereby exposing the opening 54P and providing a fluid communication between the storage and the interior of the bottle and fluid contained therein. Alternatively and as exemplified in the right panel, the seal 53 may be arranged to be folded while moving from its closed to open position, where an auxiliary guide (not included in the figure) may be incorporated to fold the seal 53 along a proper direction and/or in a proper angle. It is appreciated that the arrangement of this embodiment is similar to those of FIGS. 4G and 4H. The storage 54 of this embodiment may be employed with the medium-containing bottle of the type A1-A4, B1-B4, C2 (for the case of the left panel) or C2 or C4 (for the case of the right panel), E2 or E1, F1-F4, and G2 or G1.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIG. 6D, a storage is provided on a body 20 while defining a semi-circular opening 54P over which is slidingly disposed a seal 53 which in turn defines a rectangular slit 53S. More particularly and as exemplified in the middle panel of the figure, the seal 53 is disposed to misalign its slit 53S with the opening 54P of the seal 53 such that the seal 53 covers and fluidly seals the storage from the interior of the bottle and fluid contained therein. As exemplified in the left panel, the user input is applied onto an actuator (not included in the figure) which then slides the seal 53 away from the opening 54P. In response to such translation and as described in the left panel, the slit 53S overlaps the opening 54P and then exposes an entire portion of the storage, thereby providing a fluid communication between the storage and the interior of the bottle and/or fluids contained therein. Alternatively and as exemplified in the right panel, the seal 53 may also be arranged to be folded while moving from its closed to open position, where an auxiliary guide (not included in the figure) may be employed to fold the seal 53 along a proper direction and/or in a proper angle. It is to be understood that the arrangement of such an embodiment is similar to those of FIGS. 4G and 4H. Such a storage 54 of this embodiment may further be employed with the medium-containing bottle of the type A1-A4, B1-B4, C2 (for the case of the left panel) or C2 or C4 (for the case of the right panel), E2 or E1, F1-F4, and G2 or G1.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as exemplified in FIG. 6E, a storage is also provided on a body 20 while defining a circular opening 54P over which are slidingly disposed a pair of seals 53. As described in the middle panel of the figure, the seals 53 are disposed to abut each other in a center of the opening 54P such that the seals 53 cover and fluidly seal such a storage from the interior of the bottle and fluid contained therein. As exemplified in the left panel, the user input is applied onto an actuator (not included in the figure) which then slide the seals 53 away from each other and away from the opening 54P. In response to such translations and as shown in the left panel, the seals 53 eventually expose an entire portion of the storage, thereby providing a fluid communication between the storage and the interior of the bottle and fluids contained therein. In the alternative and as exemplified in the right panel, the seals 53 may also be arranged to be folded while moving from their closed to open positions, where auxiliary guides (not included in the figure) may be employed to fold such seals 53 along proper directions and/or in proper angles. It is appreciated that the arrangement of such an embodiment is similar to those of FIGS. 4G and 4H. The storage 54 of this embodiment may be employed with the medium-containing bottle of the type A1-A4, B1-B4, C2 (for the case of the left panel) or C2 or C4 (for the case of the right panel), E2 or E1, F1-F4, and G2 or G1.
Various actuators of such medium-containing bottles of the present invention actuating various seals and media exemplified in FIGS. 5A to 5K and FIGS. 6A to 6E also include following configurational and operational variations and/or modifications thereof, details of which are to be set forth below.
As described above, main functions of the actuator include receiving the user input, delivering the user input to various seals and/or media directly or indirectly, removing the seals directly by itself or through the media, allowing the user to induce manual mixing between the medium and fluid, and so on. Other functions of the actuator include defining the storage for storing the medium, sealing such a storage by proper seals, and the like. To these ends, the actuator may be incorporated into one of the top, middle, and bottom portions in which the medium or seal is disposed. Alternatively, the actuator or at least a portion thereof may be disposed in the portion which is different from the disposition location of the medium or seal. In this embodiment, the actuator may transmit such input to the medium and/or seal by the above coupler. The actuator may be disposed on the exterior of the bottle or in the interior of the bottle, may extend from the exterior into the interior thereof, and the like.
The actuator may be arranged to receive various user inputs applied along a vertical direction, a horizontal direction or an angled (or transverse) direction, where such user inputs are translational forces, rotational forces (or torques), and/or combinations thereof each of which may be defined in a two- or three-dimensional plane and where the actuator may translate or rotate (or pivot) in response to the user inputs. The actuator may mechanically and directly couple with the seal and/or medium in order to transmit the user input directly thereto, where the user input is transmitted to the seal and/or medium while maintaining its magnitude and direction. In the alternative, the actuator may include the coupler which may modify the magnitude and/or direction of the user input and transmit the modified input to the seal and/or medium.
As described above, the actuator may be arranged to remove the seal in various mechanisms. For example, the actuator may push, pull, pivot, and/or rotate the seal for breaking or moving the seal, where the actuator may use the sharp or dull object to cut or burst open the seal, respectively, may move the seal from its closed position to its open position, and the like. The medium may instead form the sharp or dull edge and the actuator may manipulate the medium for breaking the seal. The actuator may include a string, a gear assembly, and/or other conventional force-transmitting articles to transmit the user input. When desirable, the actuator may also be arranged to stir the mixture of the fluid and medium to promote the mixing therebetween. The actuator may be generally coupled to and supported by any part of the bottle as far as the actuator may not hinder such a part from performing its intended function. When desirable, any movable part of the bottle may be used as a portion of the actuator as well.
In another aspect of the present invention, various medium-containing bottles may be provided by incorporating each of the above storages onto or into various bodies, by removably coupling each of the above seals onto or into such storages, by storing each of such media inside the storages, and by operatively coupling each of the above actuators with the seals and/or media. FIGS. 7A through 7F describe schematic cross-sectional views of other exemplary bottles each of which includes at least one medium in its top portion according to the present invention.
In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as shown in FIG. 7A, a bottle 10 is generally similar to that of FIGS. 2A to 2C, and includes a body 20, an optional applicator 30, and a lid 40. In addition, the bottle 10 includes an actuator 50 and a medium 60 disposed in a top portion of the bottle 10. However, the actuator 50 of this embodiment differs from that of FIGS. 2A through 2C in several aspects. First, a bottom end of the storage 54 is open to an interior of the bottle 10 and fluidly communicates with the fluid 70 through a guide 56 which corresponds to the pathway of FIGS. 2A to 2C. Therefore, the fluid 70 fills up a lumen of the storage 54 and forms a meniscus inside and outside the lumen. Second, the seal 53 is disposed immediately below the stoppers 58 (near the meniscus of the fluid 70 in this embodiment) while fluidly separating the medium 60 from the fluid 70. In addition, the storage 54 includes therein a pair of holders 57 which are movably disposed at its bottom end. It is to be understood that the above bottle 10 may be classified as the type of A2 or A4, B2 or B4, C1, D1 or D2, E1, F3, and G3, whereas that of FIGS. 2A to 2C may be classified as the type A2 or A4, B2 or B4, C1, D1 or D2, E1, F3, and G2 or G1.
In operation, the user obtains the bottle 10 which is filled with the fluid 70 to the middle portion thereof and which includes the medium 60. In this stage, the medium 60 is disposed in the storage 54 and, therefore, fluidly separated from the interior of the bottle 10 (or body 20) and from the fluid 70 by various parts of the storage 54. Upon use, the user removes the lid 40 from the rest of the bottle 10 by rotating the lid 40 along a proper direction. After removing the lid 40, the user reaches the handle 51 of the actuator 50 disposed on top of the applicator 30 and lifts up the handle 51 by pivoting such by about 90°. In this stage, the medium 60 is still retained in the storage 54 and fluidly separated from the interior of the bottle 10 and from the fluid 70. The user then applies the user input by pushing the handle 51 downwardly. In response to the user input, the handle 51 begins to advance downwardly and to push the medium 60. When the user input exceeds the resisting force of the stoppers 58, the medium 60 passes through the stoppers 58 and approaches the seal 53. When the user continues to apply the input, the medium 60 breaks the seal 53 and then drops vertically along the guide 56 of the pathway 54. Accordingly, the medium 60 of this embodiment first contacts the fluid 70 in or near the top portion of the bottle 10, in contrary to that of FIGS. 2A to 2C which contacts the fluid 70 in or near the bottom portion thereof. As the medium 60 reaches the bottom end of the guide 56, bottom ends of the medium 60 are caught by the holders 57 which flip in order to retain the medium 60 therein. Thus, the medium 60 tends to stay in the bottom portion of the bottle 10 during its dissolution or dispersement in the fluid 70. When the medium 60 includes protective layers to secure its agents from the UV rays, the coat layers first contact the fluid 70 and mix (i.e., dissolve or disperse) in the fluid 70. Thereafter, various agents such as the antioxidants in the medium 60 mix in the fluid 70. Depending upon various characteristics of such agents and/or fillers of the medium 60, the mixing between the medium 60 and fluid 70 may be promoted. For example, the medium 60 may include the gassing fillers or gasifiers so that the medium 60 produces gas bubbles upon contacting with the fluid 70. The gas bubbles may not only induce forced convection of the agents in the fluid 70 but also remove formation of concentration boundary layers around or inside the medium 60, thereby maximizing the mixing between the medium 60 and fluid 70. In addition, such gasifiers may be incorporated for carbonating the fluid 70, thereby carbonating the fluid 70. Other configurational and/or operational characteristics of the bottle 10 and its various parts of FIG. 7A are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 2A to 2C, FIGS. 3A to 3T, FIGS. 4A to 4J, FIGS. 5A to 5K, and FIGS. 6A to 6E.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as described in FIG. 7B, a bottle 10 is provided generally similar to that of FIG. 7A, and includes a body 20, an applicator 30, and a lid 40. The bottle 10 includes a medium 60 which is also disposed in its top portion and an actuator 50 which is somewhat similar to that of FIG. 7A but includes a storage 54 which does not extend into the middle and/or bottom portions of the bottle 10. Rather, the storage 54 terminates in the top portion of the bottle 10 and above the meniscus of the fluid 70 in this embodiment, whereas its bottom end is covered by a removable seal 53. Therefore, the medium 60 is fluidly separated from the interior of the body 10 and from the fluid 70 by the seal 53. It is appreciated that such a bottle 10 may be classified as the type of A2 or A4, B2 or B4, C1, D1 or D2, E1, F3, and G1.
In operation, the user obtains the bottle 10 which is filled with the fluid 70 to the middle portion thereof and which includes the medium 60. Upon use, the user removes the lid 40 from the rest of the bottle 10 by rotating the lid 40 along a proper direction. After removing the lid 40, the user reaches the handle 51 of the actuator 50 and actuates such a handle 51 in a manner similar to that of FIG. 7A. The user then applies the user input by pushing the handle 51 downwardly. In response to the user input, the handle 51 begins to advance downwardly and to push the medium 60. When such input exceeds the resisting force of the stoppers 58, the medium 60 passes through the stoppers 58 and abuts the seal 53. When the user continues to apply the input, the medium 60 breaks the seal 53 and then drops vertically into the fluid 70. When the medium 60 includes protective layers for securing its agents from the UV rays, the coat layers first contact the fluid 70 and mix (i.e., dissolve or disperse) in the fluid 70. Thereafter, various agents 60 mix in the fluid 70. Depending on various characteristics of the agents and/or fillers of the medium 60, the mixing between the medium 60 and fluid 70 may also be promoted as described above. Other configurational and operational characteristics of the bottle 10 and various parts thereof of FIG. 7B are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 2A to 2C, FIGS. 3A to 3T, FIGS. 4A to 4J, FIGS. 5A to 5K, FIGS. 6A to 6E, and FIG. 7A.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as described in FIG. 7C, a bottle 10 is provided generally similar to that of FIG. 7B, and includes a body 20, an applicator 30, and a lid 40. The bottle 10 includes a medium 60 which is also disposed in its top portion and an actuator 50 which is somewhat similar to that of FIG. 7A but rather includes a storage 54 which forms a closed bottom end which is similar to those of FIGS. 3E and 3S. Such a storage 54 includes a seal 53 which is arranged to be movable and to form a rectangular slit 53S which is similar to those of FIGS. 6B and 6D. Accordingly, the storage 54 defines a matching rectangular opening 54P which is shaped and/or sized to match the slit 53S of the seal 53. Because the storage 54 does not open through its bottom end, the medium 60 does not need to form a pointed end, contrary to those of FIGS. 2A to 2C in which the lower medium forms the pointed end in its bottom portion. The actuator 50 has a handle 51 which mechanically couples with the seal 53, and rotates the seal 53 relative to the storage 54 in response to the user input, similar to those of FIGS. 4G and 4H. It is appreciated that the above bottle 10 may be classified as the type of A2 or A4, B2 or B4, C3, D3, E1, F3, and G2.
In operation, the user obtains the bottle 10 which is filled with the fluid 70 to the middle portion thereof and which includes the medium 60. Upon use, the user removes the lid 40 from the rest of the bottle 10 by rotating the lid 40 along a proper direction. After removing the lid 40, the user reaches the handle 51 of the actuator 50 disposed on top of the applicator 30 and lifts up the handle 51 by pivoting such by about 90°. In this stage, the media 60 are still retained in the storage 54 and fluidly separated from the interior of the bottle 10 and from the fluid 70. The user then applies the user input by rotating the handle 51 in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. In response to the user input, the handle 51 begins to turn the seal 53, while disposing the slit 53S of the seal 53 toward the opening 54P of the storage 54. As the seal 53 turns about a preset angle, the slit 53S begins to overlap the opening 54P. As the user applies more input and the slit 53S of the seal 53 overlaps a greater portion of the opening 54P of the storage 54, the medium 60 moves out of the storage 54 and drops into the fluid 70. In order to facilitate the medium 60 to move out thereof, the storage 54 may define protrusions or tracks therein or the actuator 50 may have the coupler which may push the medium 60 out of the storage 54 as the user rotates the handle 51. When the medium 60 includes protective layers to secure the agents from the UV rays, the coat layers first contact the fluid 70 and dissolves and/or disperses into the fluid 70. Thereafter, various agents such as the antioxidants in the medium 60 mix with the fluid 70. Depending upon various characteristics of such agents and/or fillers, the mixing between the medium 60 and fluid 70 may be promoted as described above. Other configurational and operational characteristics of the bottle 10 and various parts thereof of FIG. 7C are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 2A to 2C, FIGS. 3A to 3T, FIGS. 4A to 4J, FIGS. 5A to 5K, FIGS. 6A to 6E, and FIGS. 7A and 7B.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as described in FIG. 7D, a bottle 10 is provided generally similar to that of FIG. 7C, and includes a body 20, an applicator 30, and a lid 40. The bottle 10 includes media 60 which are also disposed in its top portion and an actuator 50 which is somewhat similar to that of FIG. 7C but its storage 54 has a seal 53 defining a rectangular slit 53S similar to those of FIGS. 6B and 6D. Therefore, the storage 54 also forms a matching rectangular opening 54P which is shaped and/or sized to match the slit 53S of the seal 53. In addition, the slit 53S and opening 54P are arranged to extend through a bottom end of the storage 54 and to overlap each other when the seal 53 moves to its open position. Inside the storage 54 are disposed multiple media 60 which are sized to be smaller than the slit 53S and opening 54P. The actuator 50 includes a handle 51 which mechanically couples with the seal 53, and rotates the seal 53 relative to the storage 54 in response to the user input, similar to those of FIGS. 4G and 4H. It is appreciated that the above bottle 10 may be classified as the type of A2 or A4, B2 or B4, C3, D3, E1, F3, and G1.
In operation, the user obtains the bottle 10 which is filled with the fluid 70 to the middle portion thereof and which includes the medium 60. Upon use, the user removes the lid 40 from the rest of the bottle 10 by rotating the lid 40 along a proper direction and actuates the handle 51 of the actuator 50 disposed on top of the applicator 30 in a manner similar to that of FIG. 7C. The user applies the input by rotating the handle 51 in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. In response to the user input, the handle 51 begins to turn the seal 53, while disposing the slit 53S of the seal 53 toward the opening 54P of the storage 54. When the seal 53 turns about a preset angle, the slit 53S begins to overlap the opening 54P. As the user applies more input and the slit 53S of the seal 53 overlaps a greater portion of the opening 54P of the storage 54 in the bottom end of the storage 54, the media 60 move out of the storage 54 and drop in the fluid 70. When the media 60 include protective layers to secure the agents from the UV rays, the coat layers first contact the fluid 70 and dissolves or disperses into the fluid 70. Thereafter, various agents such as the antioxidants in the medium 60 mix with the fluid 70. Depending upon various characteristics of such agents and/or fillers, the mixing between the medium 60 and fluid 70 may be promoted as described above. Other configurational and operational characteristics of the bottle 10 and its various parts of FIG. 7D are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 2A to 2C, FIGS. 3A to 3T, FIGS. 4A to 4J, FIGS. 5A to 5K, FIGS. 6A to 6E, and FIGS. 7A to 7C.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as described in FIG. 7E, a bottle 10 is provided generally similar to that of FIG. 7D, and includes a body 20, an applicator 30, and a lid 40. The bottle 10 includes media 60 which are also disposed in its top portion and an actuator 50 which is somewhat similar to that of FIG. 7D. However, a storage 54 has a seal 53 which is coupled to a bottom end of the applicator 30 by a coupler 52 and which translates vertically along the storage 54. Inside the storage 54 and above the seal 53 are disposed multiple media 60 which are sized to be smaller than a gap formed by the seal 53 when translated downwardly. The actuator 50 includes a handle 51 which mechanically couples with the coupler 52, and vertically pushes the seal 53 relative to the storage 54 in response to the user input. It is appreciated that this bottle 10 may be classified as the type of A2 or A4, B2 or B4, C1, D3, E1, F3, and G1 or G2.
In operation, the user obtains the bottle 10 which is filled with the fluid 70 to the middle portion thereof and which includes the medium 60. Upon use, the user removes the lid 40 from the rest of the bottle 10 by rotating the lid 40 along a proper direction and actuates the handle 51 of the actuator 50 disposed on top of the applicator 30 in a manner similar to that of FIG. 7C. The user applies the input by pushing the handle 51 vertically and downwardly. In response to the user input, such a handle 51 begins to advance the coupler 52 and seal 53 downwardly as well. When the seal 53 advances by a preset distance, the gap is formed between an advancing edge of the seal 53 and a stationary edge of the storage 54. When the gap becomes wider than diameters of the media 60, such media 60 begin to slide out of the storage 54 through the gap and drop into the fluid 70. When such media 60 include protective layers to secure the agents from the UV rays, the coat layers first contact the fluid 70 and dissolves or disperses into the fluid 70. Thereafter, various agents in the medium 60 are mixed in the fluid 70. Depending on various characteristics of such agents and/or fillers, the mixing between the medium 60 and fluid 70 may be promoted as described above. Other configurational and operational characteristics of the bottle 10 and its various parts of FIG. 7E are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 2A to 2C, FIGS. 3A to 3T, FIGS. 4A to 4J, FIGS. 5A to 5K, FIGS. 6A to 6E, and FIGS. 7A to 7D.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as described in FIG. 7F, a bottle 10 includes a body 20 and a lid 40. The lid 40 defines a storage 54 which includes a handle 51, a seal 53, a guide 56, and stoppers 58. The guide 56 is also defined inside the lid 40 and along sides thereof, and the stoppers 58 similar to those of FIGS. 2A to 2C, 7A, and 7B are disposed in a bottom end of the lid 40. The seal 53 is disposed not in the lid 40 but around the opening of the body 20 so as to fluidly isolate the storage 54 of the lid 40 from the interior of the body 20. A medium 60 is disposed in the top portion of the bottle 10 and in the storage 54. The medium 60 defines a pointed bottom and is disposed to abut the seal 53 by its pointed side when the seal 53 is intact. The actuator 50 includes a handle 51 which functions differently from that of FIGS. 2A to 2C and those of FIGS. 7A to 7E. That is, in contrary to the translating handles of FIGS. 2A to 2C, 7A, 7B, and 7E and rotating handle of FIGS. 7C and 7D, the handle 51 of this embodiment occupies a substantial area of a top end of the lid 40 and encloses the storage 54 from the top. Therefore, the storage 54 is typically bound by the guide 56 on its side, by the handle 51 on its top end, and by the seal in its bottom end. This handle 51 is made of and/or includes various materials and mechanical characteristics of the handle 51 may be selected to be sturdy enough to transmit the user input onto the medium 60. It is appreciated that such a bottle 10 may be classified as the type A1, B1 or B4, C1, D1 or D2, E2, F3, and G2 or G1.
In operation, the user obtains the bottle 10 which is filled with the fluid 70 to the middle portion thereof and which includes the medium 60. Upon use, the user applies the user input by pressing the handle 51 inwardly into the interior of the bottle 10. In response to such an input, the handle 51 begins to push the medium 60 toward the seal 53. When the magnitude of the user input reaches a threshold value, the pointed end of the medium 60 begins to cut or to burst the seal 53. As the user apply more input, the medium 60 completely breaks the seal 53 and moves out of the storage 54 into the interior of the bottle 10 and then into the fluid 70. When the medium 60 includes the protective layer to protect its agents from the UV rays, this layer first contacts the fluid 70 and dissolves or disperses into the fluid 70. Thereafter, various agents of the medium 60 begin to mix with the fluid 70. Depending upon the characteristics of the agents and/or fillers of the media 60, the mixing between the media 60 and fluid 70 may also be promoted as described above. Other configurational and operational characteristics of the bottle 10 and its various parts of FIG. 7F are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 2A to 2C, FIGS. 3A to 3T, FIGS. 4A to 4J, FIGS. 5A to 5K, FIGS. 6A to 6E, and FIGS. 7A to 7E.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as described in FIG. 7G, a bottle 10 includes a body 20 and a lid 40. A storage 54 is formed in the top portion of the bottle 10 and between the lid 40 and the neck of the body 20, and includes a seal 53, a breaker 55B, and a pusher 55P. The seal 53 is disposed around the opening of the neck of the body 20 at a slanted angle which may be between 10° to 60°, although an angle between 30° and 45° are preferred. The lid 40 defines a protruded portion therein, where such a portion is preferentially defined off the center of the lid 40. More particularly, a bottom end of the protrusion is arranged to form the breaker 55B having a pointed end which is to be used to break the seal 53, and a top end of the protrusion is to form a thick layer which is sloped at an angle which is approximately similar or identical to the angle of the disposition of the seal 53. A single medium 60 is then disposed between the protrusion of the lid 40 and the seal 53 in the neck of the body 20. It is preferred that the medium 60 define slanted top and bottom surfaces and that such a medium 60 snugly fit between the slanted surface of the protrusion of the lid 40 and the slanted seal 53. In order to attain such a disposition of the medium 60 inside the storage 54, the lid 40 may be pressed and fit onto the opening of the bottle 10 during the manufacture. It is appreciated that such a bottle 10 may be classified as the type A1, B1 or B4, C3, D3, E1, F3, and G2 or G1.
In operation, the user obtains the bottle 10 which is filled with the fluid 70 to the middle portion thereof and includes the medium 60. Upon use, the user applies the user input by rotating the lid 40 in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. In response to the input, the lid 40 moves upward due to pitches (not included in the figure) provided between the lid 40 and neck of the body 20. During such rotation, however, the protrusion of the lid 40 abuts the stationary medium 60 supported by the seal 53 and begins to push the medium 60 downward toward the seal 53. When the lid 40 rotates beyond a preset angle, the protrusion of the lid 40 pushes the medium 60 with its thickest region, and then the medium 60 advances downwardly and vertically while breaking the seal 53 thereby. When desirable, the breaker 55B may be arranged to break the seal 53 to facilitate the downward movement of such a medium 60. When the medium 60 includes the protective layer to protect its agents from the UV rays, this layer contacts the fluid 70 and dissolves or disperses into the fluid 70. Thereafter, various agents of the medium 60 begin to mix with the fluid 70. Depending on the characteristics of the agents and/or fillers of the media 60, the mixing between the medium 60 and fluid 70 may be promoted as described above. Further configurational and operational characteristics of the bottle 10 and its various parts of FIG. 7G may be similar or identical to those of FIGS. 2A to 2C, FIGS. 3A to 3T, FIGS. 4A to 4J, FIGS. 5A to 5K, FIGS. 6A to 6E, and FIGS. 7A to 7F.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as described in FIG. 7H, a bottle 10 includes a body 20, a lid 40, and an optional applicator 30. Such a body 20 defines a hole in its top portion and along its taper, in which a storage 54 may be provided by coupling a hemispherical seal 53 around the hole on the side of the body 20. This bottle 10 also includes an actuator 50 and a medium 60 disposed in the top portion of the bottle 10 and inside the storage 54. The medium 60 also forms a pointed end which is oriented to abut the seal 53 when the seal 53 is intact. The actuator 50 includes a handle 51 which functions similar to those of FIGS. 7C and 7D. That is, the seal 53 defines an arcuate slit 53S which is similar to those of FIGS. 6B and 6D. Accordingly, the storage 54 defines a matching arcuate opening 54P which is shaped and sized to match the slit 53S of the seal 53. The handle 51 is then disposed to enclose the storage 54 on the side of the body 20. Thus, the storage 54 is typically bound by the hemispherical seal 53 on its side and also by the flat handle 51 on its side. It is appreciated in the figure that the seal 53 couples with the body only along a periphery of the side of the body 20. Such a seal 53 may, however, be arranged to be attached to a larger portion of an outer wall of the hole. It is appreciated that such a bottle 10 may be classified as the type A3 or A4, B3 or B4, C3 or C4, D3, E1, F3, and G2 or G1.
In operation, the user obtains the bottle 10 which is filled with the fluid 70 to the middle portion thereof and which includes the medium 60. Before removing the lid 40, the user reaches the handle 51 of the actuator 50 disposed on the side of the body 20 and applies the user input by rotating such a handle 51 in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. In response to the user input, the handle 51 begins to turn the seal 53, while disposing the slit 53S of the seal 53 toward the opening 54P of the storage 54. As the seal 53 turns about a preset angle, the slit 53S begins to overlap the opening 54P. As the user applies more input and the slit 53S of the seal 53 overlaps a greater portion of the opening 54P of the storage 54, the medium 60 moves out of the storage 54 and drops into the fluid 70. In order to facilitate the medium 60 to move out thereof, the storage 54 may define protrusions or tracks therein or the actuator 50 may have the coupler which may push the medium 60 out of the storage 54 as the user rotates the handle 51. When the medium 60 includes protective layers to secure the agents from the UV rays, the coat layers first contact the fluid 70 and dissolves and/or disperses into the fluid 70. Thereafter, various agents such as the antioxidants in the medium 60 mix with the fluid 70. Depending upon various characteristics of such agents and/or fillers, the mixing between the medium 60 and fluid 70 may be promoted as described above. Other configurational and operational characteristics of the bottle 10 and various parts thereof of FIG. 7H are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 2A to 2C, FIGS. 3A to 3T, FIGS. 4A to 4J, FIGS. 5A to 5K, FIGS. 6A to 6E, and FIGS. 7A to 7G.
In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and as described in FIG. 7I, a bottle 10 has a body 20, a lid 40, and an optional applicator 30. Similar to that of FIG. 7H, such a body 20 defines a hole in its top portion and along its side, in which a storage 54 is provided by coupling a hemispherical seal 53 around the hole. Such a bottle 10 also includes an actuator 50 and a medium 60 disposed in the top portion of the bottle 10 and inside the storage 54. The medium 60 forms a pointed end which is oriented to abut the seal 53 when the seal 53 is intact. The actuator 50 has a handle 51 which functions similar to those of FIG. 7F, i.e., the seal 53 encloses the storage 54 on the side of the body 20 but is arranged to directly receive the user input. The handle 51 is made of and/or includes various materials and mechanical characteristics of such a handle 51 is selected to be sturdy enough to transmit the user input onto the medium 60 which is stored in the storage 54. Thus, the storage 54 is typically bound by the hemispherical seal 53 on its side and also by the flat handle 51 on its side. It is appreciated in the figure that the seal 53 couples with the body only along a periphery of the base of the bottle. Such a seal 53 may, however, be arranged to be attached to a larger portion of an outer wall of an annular bottom portion defining the center hole. It is appreciated that this bottle 10 may be classified as the type A3 or A4, B3 or B4, C1, D3, E2, F3 or F4, and G2 or G1.
In operation, the user obtains the bottle 10 which is filled with the fluid 70 to the middle portion thereof and includes the medium 60. Upon use, the user reaches such a handle 51 of the actuator 50 disposed on the side of the body 20 from the side, and applies the user input by pressing the handle 51 inwardly into the interior of the bottle 10. In response to the input, the handle 51 begins to push the medium 60 toward the seal 53. When the magnitude of the user input reaches a threshold value, the pointed end of the medium 60 cuts or bursts the seal 53. As the user applies further input, the medium 60 moves out of the storage 54 and into the fluid 70. The medium 60 then mixes with the fluid 70 in all of its surfaces. When the medium 60 includes the protective layers to protect its agents from the UV rays, such layers contacts the fluid 70 and dissolve or disperse into the fluid 70. Thereafter, various agents such as the antioxidants included in the medium 60 mix with the fluid 70. Depending upon the characteristics of such agents and/or fillers of the media 60, the mixing between the media 60 and fluid 70 may be promoted as described above. Other configurational and operational characteristics of the bottle 10 and various parts thereof of FIG. 7I are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 2A to 2C, FIGS. 3A to 3T, FIGS. 4A to 4J, FIGS. 5A to 5K, FIGS. 6A to 6E, and FIGS. 7A to 7H.
Configurational and/or operational variations and/or modifications of the above embodiments of the exemplary medium-containing bottles and various parts thereof described in FIGS. 2A to 7I also fall within the scope of this invention.
As described above, the medium-containing bottles of the present invention may be provided in various shapes and/or sizes. Similarly, such bottles may also include the bodies with various shapes and/or sizes. Accordingly, the body may form a taper increasing in its size from its top portion toward its bottom portion or may define a substantially similar radius along its longitudinal axis. In addition, the body may define any desirable cross-section which may be uniform along the longitudinal axis of the bottle or may vary therealong. The bottle may also define a grip to facilitate handling thereof.
The bottle and its body may be made of and/or include various materials such as, e.g., plastics, glasses, metals, paper, and composite materials, where an entire portion of such a bottle and/or body may be made of and/or include the same material or where different portions thereof may be made of and/or include different materials. When desirable, the body may include a portion which may protect the medium from the UV rays, where such a portion may be arranged to be opaque or may have other materials capable of reflecting and/or absorbing the UV rays. Alternatively, a portion of the actuator such as the storage, its chamber, its pathway, and/or seal may be made of and/or include the similar materials for reflecting and/or absorbing the UV rays. These embodiments obviate the need to lay the protective layer over the medium, thereby rendering the medium dissolve or disperse into the fluid as soon as the medium is mixed with the fluid.
The bottle may include an auxiliary body which is arranged to couple with a desired portion of the body and to transmit various user inputs to various parts of the bottle. For example, the handle of the actuator may be expanded to enclose the periphery of the body along a desirable portion thereof and used for receiving the user input. In another example, the chamber, pathway, an/or seal of such an actuator may be expanded and incorporated to the body. Depending upon the needs, the auxiliary body may be releasably or fixedly coupled to the body.
The bottle generally defines a single opening in its top portions. In the alternative, such a bottle may define a single opening in its middle or bottom portion, may define multiple openings in one of both of the top or bottom portions, and the like. As described above, the bottle may form auxiliary openings or holes through which at least a portion of the actuator may be fixedly or releasably incorporated. In general, the auxiliary opening may be formed in any of the top, middle, and bottom portions of the body depending upon the storage location of the medium, disposition of the seal, and the like. Such auxiliary openings may also be used to store the medium, to pass the portion of the actuator, and the like. The base of the bottle is otherwise enclosed in order to maintain the requisite sealing for storing the fluid in the bottle.
The bottle may include various stoppers for various purposes. In one example, a stopper may be disposed near the seal or, more specifically, between the seal and medium. When a heavy medium is disposed over the intact seal, a weight of the medium may be augmented by a shock during storage or handing and may prematurely rupture the seal. In order to prevent this, a stopper such as a ridge or an indentation may be formed between the seal and medium in order to provide a resistance to an unintended movement of the medium. The stopper, however, is designed so that the user may easily overcome the resistance upon use. In another example, a stopper may be disposed near the actuator or, more specifically, adjacent to the handle and/or coupler thereof. The purpose of this stopper may be similar to that of the first example and to prevent accidental application of unintended force to such a handle and/or coupler from consummating in breaking the seal. When plausible, various protective covers may further be disposed over the handle in order to prevent such accidental application of the user input.
The medium-containing bottles of the present invention may include various media which may be mixed based upon various arrangements. For example, the medium may be arranged to stay inside the storage after the seal is removed or, alternatively, may move out of the storage, or may be moved out therefrom. Regardless of its density, the medium may be retained inside the storage after the seal is removed, e.g., by forming the gap which is smaller than the medium, by actively coupling with such a media, and the like. In the alternative, the medium may stay inside the storage regardless of the size of the gap, e.g., by arranging such a medium to be heavier than the fluid, by arranging the slope of the storage to render the medium to roll inwardly to the storage, and the like. In contrary, the medium may move out of the storage, e.g., by pushing the medium into the fluid by the actuator, by arranging such a medium to be lighter than the fluid and to float in the fluid, by arranging the medium to be heavier than the fluid and to roll or drop out of the storage, and the like. The storage may also include the pathway for guiding the medium moving out of the storage along a preset path.
As described in the co-pending applications, the medium may have the density which changes during the course of dissolution or dispersion. Thus, such a medium may first sink into the fluid during the initial phase of mixing and then float in the fluid thereafter. Conversely, the medium may first float in the fluid during the initial phase of mixing and then sink thereinto thereafter. For example, the agents which are soluble to the fluid and fillers which are at least partially insoluble thereto may be selected in such a manner that the agents are heavier than the fluid but the fillers are lighter than the fluid. This medium first sinks in the fluid during the initial phase of mixing. As the agents dissolve or disperse into the fluid, the apparent density of the medium gradually decreases and the medium may begin to float in the fluid. Conversely, the medium may define multiple voids therein which may be primarily defined by the soluble agents and/or fillers. This medium may be arranged to float in the fluid during the initial phase of mixing. As the agents and/or fillers dissolve or disperse into the fluid, such voids coalesce into the fluid and the apparent density of the medium gradually increases, thereby sinking the medium when a preset portion of the voids disappear into the fluid.
Multiple media may be included in various bottles of this invention, where such media may have similar or identical shapes and/or sizes, may define different shapes and/or sizes, may include similar or identical agents and/or fillers, may include different agents and/or fillers, and so on. In addition, the media may be disposed in the same portion or different portions of the bottle, may be moved within the same portion when the seal is removed, may move or be moved from one to another portion of such a bottle when the seal is removed, and the like.
The medium may further include various fillers and/or retainers for defining preset dimensions during the dissolution or dispersion. Such a medium may also be used as a stirrer when the bottle is shaken by the user. Further details of such media, their agents and/or fillers, and their configurations have been provided in the co-pending applications.
It is appreciated that various media may be incorporated in the top, middle or bottom of the bottle before use or may be incorporated in the top portion, middle portion or bottom portion of the bottle before use. It is also appreciated that, when the bottle includes multiple media therein, such a bottle may include all of the media in only one of the top, middle, and bottom of the bottle before use or in only one of the top portion, middle portion or bottom portion of the bottle before use. In the alternative, the bottle incorporating multiple media may include at least one medium in one of the top, middle, and bottom of the bottle before use, while including at least one another medium in another of the top, middle, and bottom of the bottle before use. Similarly, such a bottle incorporating multiple media may include at least one medium in one of the top portion, middle portion, and bottom portion of the bottle before use, while including at least one another medium in another of the top portion, middle portion, and bottom portion of the bottle before use. In all of these embodiments, separation between the medium and fluid may be accomplished by at least one of various seals or chambers as have been described hereinabove and/or as have been denoted in the figures.
It is further appreciated that various media may be mixed with the fluid in the top, middle or bottom of the bottle upon use or may be mixed with the fluid in the top portion, middle portion or bottom portion of the bottle upon use. It is also appreciated that, when the bottle includes multiple media therein, all of the media may be mixed with the fluid in only one of the top, middle, and bottom of the bottle upon use or in only one of the top portion, middle portion or bottom portion of the bottle upon use. In the alternative, when the bottle incorporates multiple media therein, at least one medium may be mixed with the fluid in one of the top, middle, and bottom of the bottle upon use, while at least one another medium may be mixed with the fluid in another of the top, middle, and bottom of the bottle upon use. Similarly, when such a bottle incorporates multiple media therein, at least one medium may be mixed with the fluid in one of the top portion, middle portion, and bottom portion of the bottle upon use, while at least one another medium may be mixed with the fluid in another of the top portion, middle portion, and bottom portion of the bottle upon use. In all of these embodiments, mixing between the medium and fluid may be accomplished by breaking at least one various seals and/or providing fluid communication between various chambers and fluids as have been described hereinabove and as have been denoted in the figures.
Unless otherwise specified, various features of one embodiment of one aspect of the present invention may apply interchangeably to other embodiments of the same aspect of this invention and/or embodiments of one or more of different aspects of this invention. Accordingly, all of the storages of FIGS. 3A to 3J may be incorporated by any seals of FIGS. 4A to 4J and FIGS. 6A to 6E, any actuators of FIGS. 5A to 5K and FIGS. 6A to 6E, and the like. Similarly, any parts of the exemplary bottles shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C and FIGS. 7A to 7F may be replaced by the storages of FIGS. 3A to 3J, seals of FIGS. 4A to 4J and FIGS. 6A to 6E, actuators of FIGS. 5A to 5K and FIGS. 6A to 6E, and the like.
It is to be understood that, while various aspects and embodiments of the present invention have been described in conjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other embodiments, aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following claims.
Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A bottle which forms an interior therein and also defines a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion along a longitudinal axis thereof from its top to bottom, the bottle comprising:

a body which is configured to be hollow while providing said interior with a preset volume and to separate said interior of said bottle from an exterior thereof;

at least one medium which is configured to include therein at least one biologically active agent and to be incorporated into said bottle in said top portion and between an exterior of said bottle and said interior;

at least one fluid which is disposed in said interior while filling said middle and bottom portions in an upright position of said bottle and which is configured to dissolve said agent therein when mixed with said medium; and

at least one seal which is configured to be removably disposed between said medium and fluid and to fluidly separate said medium from said fluid when intact, and to be removed in response to a user input for mixing said medium with said fluid.

2. The bottle of claim 1, wherein said agent is an antioxidant.

3. The bottle of claim 2, wherein said antioxidant is configured to be degradable by ultraviolet rays and wherein said medium includes at least one filler which is configured to at least one of block said rays and cover at least a substantial portion of said medium, and to protect said medium from said rays.

4. The bottle of claim 2, wherein said antioxidant is configured to be degradable by ultraviolet rays and wherein said at least one of said body and seal includes at least one material which is configured to at least one of block said rays and enclose at least a substantial portion of said medium therein, and to protect said medium from said rays.

5. The bottle of claim 2, wherein said antioxidant is configured to be degradable in a prolonged period of time and wherein said seal is configured to prevent said fluid and its vapor from dissolving said antioxidant contained in said medium.

6. The bottle of claim 1, wherein said medium is configured to be disposed in said top portion, to move to one of said middle and bottom portions, and to be mixed in said one of said portions.

7. The bottle of claim 6, wherein said seal is configured to be removed in response to said user input and wherein said fluid is configured to flow into and to mix with said medium.

8. The bottle of claim 1, wherein said medium is configured to be disposed in said top portion but to be mixed in one of said middle and bottom portions.

9. The bottle of claim 1, wherein said medium is configured to be disposed in said top portion and to be mixed in said top portion.

10. The bottle of claim 1 further comprising at least one actuator which is configured to break said seal in response to said user input, thereby fluidly communicating said medium with said fluid through said seal.

11. The bottle of claim 1 further comprising at least one actuator which is configured to move said seal from an intact position to another position in response to said user input, thereby fluidly communicating said medium with said fluid through said seal.

12. The bottle of claim 11, wherein said seal is configured to one of rotate along an angular track, translate along a curvilinear track, and pivot about a center of rotation in response to said user input.

13. The bottle of claim 11, wherein said seal is configured to move between at least two different positions in one of said top, middle, and bottom portions.

14. The bottle of claim 11, wherein said seal is configured to move from one of said top, middle, and bottom portions to another of said top, middle, and bottom portions.

15. A bottle which forms an interior therein and also defines a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion along a longitudinal axis thereof from its top to bottom, the bottle comprising:

at least one medium which is configured to include therein at least one biologically active agent and to be incorporated into said bottle in one of said top, middle, and bottom portions and between an exterior of said bottle and said interior; and

at least one seal which is configured to be removably disposed between said medium and said interior and to fluidly separate said medium from said interior when intact, and thereafter to be removed as a response to a user input in order to fluidly communicate said medium with said interior.

16. The bottle of claim 15, wherein said agent is an antioxidant.

17. The bottle of claim 16, wherein said antioxidant is configured to be degradable by ultraviolet rays and wherein said medium includes at least one filler which is configured to one of block said rays and cover at least a substantial portion of said medium, and to protect said medium from said rays.

18. The bottle of claim 16, wherein said antioxidant is configured to be degradable by ultraviolet rays and wherein at least one of said body and seal includes at least one material which is configured to one of block said rays and enclose at least a substantial portion of said medium therein, and to protect said medium from said rays.

19. The bottle of claim 16, wherein said antioxidant is configured to be degradable in a prolonged period of time and wherein said seal is configured to prevent said fluid and its vapor from dissolving said antioxidant contained in said medium.

20. A bottle which axially defines a top, a middle, and a bottom therealong and forms a plurality of separated portions therein, the bottle comprising:

a body which is configured to define an interior for containing a fluid therein, to have said top, middle, and bottom, and to define an opening which is provided in said top and in one end thereof and through which said fluid is filled into said interior and dispensed to an exterior thereof;

at least one chamber which is configured to be defined in said top portion, to extend to one of said middle and bottom, and to define a preset volume; and

at least one seal which is configured to operatively couple with said chamber, to be disposed in one of said middle and bottom of said body, to fluidly separate said chamber from said interior when intact, and to be removable in order to provide a fluid communication between said chamber and said interior therethrough.