Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an accessory for a container for separating and containing substances to be mixed in the container. Background to the Invention

The available range of energy drinks for use by sportspeople has increased significantly during the last few years. These drinks are typically provided as a pre- mixed solution. In some instances, powder or fluid for reconstitution into an energy drink are provided. This is particular to energy drinks containing constituents which do not have a long shelf-life once the drink has been constituted. In these instances, a user must prepare the drink prior to use. As this is cumbersome, the use of powder or fluids for preparing energy drinks has been limited.

The inventor therefore believes that a need exist for providing a means for preparing an energy drink immediately prior to use thereof which is convenient to use. It is however to be appreciated, that the invention can also be applied to other substances that need to be mixed shortly prior to consumption such as, for example, pharmaceuticals in powder form that need to be mixed with water or another fluid prior to consumption.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention, there is provided an accessory for a container, the accessory including:-

- a collar configured to be fitted to a mouth of the container, the collar having an open end which in use faces away from the container and an opposed end sealed by a frangible member; and - a perforating member having a body portion configured to be slideably engageable with interior walls of the collar, a shoulder located at an end region of the body portion to inhibit the member being pushed through the collar and a dispensing mouth extending from the shoulder; wherein, in use, a substance is located in the collar and rests on the frangible member and, when desired, the perforating member is displaced towards the frangible member to rupture or displace it, thereby allowing the substance to fall into the container below.

The collar may be connected to the container by complementary engaging means on the collar and container mouth. The collar may include a screw thread on an inner wall thereof for engaging a complementary screw thread around the container mouth. Alternatively, the collar may be connectable to the container mouth via a snap-fit or friction fit arrangement. The collar may be circular when viewed in plan.

The frangible member may be any suitable sheet material that is attached to the collar along its periphery. A weakened zone or tear line may be provided along a major portion of the frangible member so that when the perforating member acts thereon, the weakened zone is broken and the member hinges on a non-weakened portion. Alternatively or additionally, a hinge may be provided connecting the frangible member to the collar. The body portion of the perforating member may be tubular. A free end of the body portion may be bevelled so as to permit easy rupturing or displacement of the frangible member.

The shoulder may have a larger diameter than the body portion, thereby inhibiting the body portion from being pushed through the collar in use. A safety catch may be provided for inhibiting accidental displacement of the perforating member towards the frangible member. The safety catch must accordingly be released or removed prior to displacing the perforating member.

The safety catch may be in the form of a lip extending from the body portion and may be spaced apart from the shoulder. The lip may abut against a rim of the collar thereby inhibit displacement of the body portion towards the collar.

The safety catch may in use be broken off to allow the body portion to slide through the collar.

A free edge of the collar may include a cut-away portion for engaging a lug extending from the shoulder. Once the perforating member has been displaced towards the frangible member and the shoulder abuts against the collar, the lug rests in the cut- away portion, thereby inhibiting rotational displacement of the perforating member relative to the collar.

The dispensing mouth may be closed by means of a cap which is attached thereto by means of a screw thread, snap-fit arrangement or the like. Alternatively, the dispensing mouth may be closed by a nozzle that is displaceable between an operative, dispensing condition and an inoperative, sealing condition as is commonly found on sports drink bottles.

The substance located in the collar may be a power, fluid, granulate, or the like for reconstitution into a drinkable fluid when mixed with a fluid located in the container. The fluid located in the container may be water and the drinkable fluid may be a sports drink.

The drinkable fluid may be prepared by removing the safety catch, displacing the perforating member towards the frangible member so that the substance located thereon falls into the container located below it and then shaking the container to prepare the drinkable fluid which may then be dispensed through the dispensing mouth.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a bottle including an accessory for a container as described above.

Detailed Description of the Invention The invention will now be described by the following non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of an accessory for a container in accordance with the present invention with the perforating member in a first position; Figure 2 is a sectioned side view of the accessory along line A-A in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a side view of the accessory of Figure 1 with the perforating member in a second, perforating position;

Figure 4 is a sectioned side view of the accessory along line B-B in Figure 3; and Figure 5 is an exploded view of an embodiment of an accessory for a container and a bottle to which the accessory is connectable.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates an embodiment of an accessory for a container in accordance with the present invention. An accessory 10 for a container 12 includes a collar 14 configured to be fitted to a mouth 16 of the container 12, the collar 14 having an open end 8 which in use faces away from the container 12 and an opposed end 20 sealed by a frangible member 22.

A perforating member 24 having a body portion 26 is configured to be slideably engageable with interior walls of the collar 14.

A shoulder 28 is located at an end region of the body portion 26 to inhibit the member 24 being pushed through the collar 14. A dispensing mouth 30 extends from the shoulder 28.

In use, a substance (not shown) is located in the collar 14 and rests on the frangible member 22 when the perforating member 24 is in the position as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

When desired, the perforating member 24 is displaced towards the frangible member 22 to rupture or displace it (see Figures 3 and 4), thereby allowing the substance to fall into the container 12 below. The collar 14 can be connected to the container 12 by complementary engaging means on the collar 14 and container mouth 16. In the embodiment show, the collar 14 is connected to the container mouth 16 via complementary screw threads on interior walls of the collar 14 (see Figures 2 and 4) and the container mouth 16. The collar 14 is circular when viewed in plan. The frangible member 22 is a sheet material that is attached to the collar 14 along its periphery. A weakened zone or tear line is provided along a major portion of the frangible member 22 so that when the perforating member 24 acts thereon, the weakened zone is broken and the frangible member 22 is displaced. A hinge is provided connecting the frangible member 22 to the collar 14. The hinge remains in place even once the perforating member 24 has been displaced, thereby inhibiting the frangible member 22 from falling into the container 12.

The body portion 26 of the perforating member 24 is tubular. A free end 32 of the body portion 26 is bevelled (see Figure 3) so as to permit easy rupturing or displacement of the frangible member 22.

The shoulder 28 has a larger diameter than the body portion 26, thereby inhibiting the body portion 26 from being pushed through the collar 14 in use.

A safety catch 34 is provided for inhibiting accidental displacement of the perforating member 24 towards the frangible member 22. The safety catch 34 must accordingly be removed prior to displacing the perforating member 24.

The safety catch 34 is in the form of a lip extending from the body portion 26 and is spaced apart from the shoulder 28. The lip abuts against a rim of the collar 14 (see Figure 2) thereby inhibit displacement of the body portion 26 towards the collar.

The safety catch 34 is in use broken off to allow the body portion 26 to slide through the collar 14.

A free edge 36 of the collar 14 includes a cut-away portion 38 for engaging a lug 40 extending from the shoulder 28. Once the perforating member 24 has been displaced towards the frangible member 22 and the shoulder 28 abuts against the collar 14, the lug 40 rests in the cut-away portion 38 (see Figure 3), thereby inhibiting rotational displacement of the perforating member 24 relative to the collar 14.

The dispensing mouth 30 is closed by means of a screw-cap 42.

The substance located in the collar 14 can be a power, fluid, granulate, or the like for reconstitution into a drinkable fluid when mixed with a fluid located in the container 12. The fluid located in the container 12 is typically water and the drinkable fluid is typically a sports drink.

The drinkable fluid is prepared by removing the safety catch 34, displacing the perforating member 24 towards the frangible member 22 so that the substance located thereon falls into the container 12 located below it and then shaking the container 12 to prepare the drinkable fluid which can then be dispensed through the dispensing mouth 30.

The accessory 10 can be sold separately or in combination with a container 12 such as the bottle shown in Figure 5. The container/ bottle 12 can accordingly be re-used. It is to be appreciated, that the invention is not limited to any particular embodiment or configuration as hereinbefore generally described or illustrated.