The present invention broadly relates to separately and portably storing two substances, whereby the substances may be quickly and conveniently combined when desired.

Background of the Invention

The present invention will be herein generally described in the context of an ingestible product. The invention may, however, be adapted for use in other applications.

It is often be desirable to combine separate substances and store them in a combined stage for later consumption. However, combining the products for consumption at some later date can be problematic. For example, the combined product, when stored, may degrade at a greater rate than separately storing the substances until immediately prior to them being combined and consumed. In other words, the shelf life of the combined products may be undesirably shorter than the shelf life of the products when stored separately.

This is a potential problem noted by the applicant, particularly in relation to combining protein or other dietary supplement with water to be consumed orally. Ideally, the supplement should be combined with water shortly prior to be consumed. However, this necessitates separately storing the supplement in a dry (for example, powdered) form and then combining with water when desired. This may be problematic if access to a supply of drinkable water is not readily available. This problem may be addressed by the individual concerned by carrying water in a bottle or other container. However, this is potentially problematic, because the individual then has to carefully combine the water and supplement from separate containers and in the correct proportions and quantity, without spilling them, prior to consuming. The applicant is aware of an existing arrangement for storing a tablet in a recess provided in a container lid. Twisting of the lid relative to the container causes the tablet to combine with the liquid (water) provided in the container, whereby the combined contents may be consumed once the lid is removed from the container. The applicant has developed an alternative arrangement, involving distinct differences to this existing arrangement. The applicant's arrangement is particularly suitable for storing and then later combing a powdered substance with a fluid prior to consuming the combined contents. In light of the above comments, the present invention is broadly directed to an arrangement and method for separately and conveniently storing separate substances, preferably in pre-determined amounts, and in a manner allowing the substances to be quickly and easily combined shortly before consumption. More particularly, the present invention is broadly directed to an arrangement and method for separately and conveniently storing a pre-determined quantity of a powdered substance, such as a protein or other dietary supplement, for later combination with a pre-determined volume of fluid, such as water. Summary of the Invention

According to one broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assembly including a container having a container opening, and a container closure. The closure includes a substance storage compartment for storing a substance therein. The storage compartment includes a compartment opening. The compartment opening and the container opening are separated by a seal. The assembly further includes a rupturing device for rupturing the seal, whereby any substance stored within the substance storage compartment may be dispensed into the container. Most preferably, the seal is affixed to both the container and substance storage compartment about both the container opening and compartment opening, thus sealing the fluid within the container, and also preventing leakage of any substance contained within the storage compartment between the edge of the seal and the compartment opening.

In another form, it may be possible to affix the seal to only the container about the container opening. That said, the seal may instead be affixed only to the substance storage compartment about the compartment opening. The specific sealing arrangement adopted will, at least in part, depend on the substances to be contained in the container and storage compartment.

The substance storage compartment may contain a powdered substance, such as (but not limited to) a dietary or protein supplement in a powder form. The compartment may, however, be used to contain another substance type(s). Thus, it is to be appreciated that the compartment may be used to contain one or more of a powdered substance, a granulated substance, a substance in pellet form, a solid substance, a fluid (such as a liquid), or combination thereof. If the compartment is used to contain a liquid then it is envisaged that the liquid would differ from any liquid contained within the container, thereby allowing two differing liquids to be mixed at a later date.

Preferably, the container includes a liquid. The liquid may be water, but may be also used to contain a range of other liquids. Indeed, the container may also be used to contain other types of fluids, as well as substances other than fluids.

In a preferred form, the rupturing device is slidably mounted to the substance storage compartment, in an arrangement whereby the rupturing device is movable relative to the seal from a non-rupturing position to a seal rupturing position.

Preferably, the rupturing device includes a seal contact portion, with the seal contact portion being slidably mounted to the substance storage compartment and within the substance storage compartment.

It is envisaged that the seal contact portion may be generally annular. However, other seal contact portion configurations are also envisaged.

The seal contact portion is preferably configured such that it includes a seal contact surface for contact with the seal when the rupturing device is in the seal rupturing position. In one form, the seal contact surface is serrated. Other configurations for the seal contact surface are also possible. It is envisaged that the container closure may be threadably connected (or mounted) to the container.

In one preferred form, the rupturing device is snapped fitted to the substance storage compartment during manufacture of the assembly, in a manner allowing the rupturing device to slide relative to the storage compartment.

It is to be appreciated that inadvertent sliding of the rupturing device relative to the storage compartment is undesirable, as it may unintentionally rupture the seal. To this end, a seal rupture prevention device is preferably included in the assembly. The seal rupture prevention device is preferably receivable about the substance storage compartment, to prevent the rupturing device unintentionally moving relative to the substance storage compartment and rupturing the seal. The seal rupture prevention device is preferably removable from about the substance storage compartment, thereby allowing the rupturing device to rupture the seal, when desired.

Preferably, the container closure includes a lid, the lid being removably fitted over a dispensing outlet provided in the closure. The dispensing outlet is provided for an individual to dispense the contents of the substance storage compartment and container, once the seal has been ruptured and the compartment and container contents have been combined.

The lid is preferably screw threaded to the substance storage compartment about the dispensing outlet.

The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an assembly of the type generally described above. In this regard the method includes adding a fluid, typically a liquid to the container, through the container opening, and then applying the seal over the container opening. The method also includes adding a substance to the substance storage compartment of the container closure, and fitting the container closure to the container. The method also includes slidably mounting the seal rupturing device to the substance storage compartment, with the rupturing device being located in the non-rupturing position. The method also preferably includes fitting the lid over the dispenser outlet provided in the closure.

Preferably, the seal rupture prevention device is fitted about the substance storage compartment, to retain the rupturing device in the non-rupturing position, thereby preventing the rupturing device unintentionally rupturing the seal.

The present invention further relates to a method of using such an assembly. The method of use includes sliding the rupturing device relative to the substance storage compartment from the non-rupturing position to the seal rupturing position to rupture the seal provided over the container outlet, thereby rupturing the seal and allowing the separate contents of the container and storage compartment to combine. The method also including removing the lid from the closure to dispense the combined contents of the container and storage compartment.

The method of use also includes removal of the seal rupture prevention device (if one is included) fitted about the substance storage compartment, prior to moving the rupturing device to the seal rupturing position. Brief Description of the Drawings

It will be convenient to hereinafter describe a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The particularity of the drawings is to be understood as not limiting the preceding broad description of the invention. Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of the assembly illustrated in Fig.1 .

Figure 3 is a magnified sectional view of a portion of the assembly illustrated in Fig. 1 . Figure 4 is another sectional view of the portion of the assembly illustrated in Fig. 1 . Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the portion of the assembly illustrated in Fig. 3.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Referring to the figures, there is illustrated an assembly 10. The assembly 10 has been designed to separately contain water and a powdered protein (or other dietary) supplement for later combining prior to being orally consumed by an individual. It is to be appreciated, however, that the assembly may be used for any suitable and possibly un-related application to that mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

The assembly 10 includes a container 12. The container 12 is provided for storing a quantity of water therein. While the fluid specifically contemplated is water, the container 12 may be used to contain other fluids. Indeed, the container 12 may be used to contain non-fluid substances, if desired.

The container 12 has a container opening 14, and a container closure 16. The closure 16 includes a generally collar-shaped substance storage compartment 18 for storing a substance therein. In the illustrated embodiment, the storage compartment 18 is provided for storing a powdered protein supplement (not shown). The storage compartment 18 could, however, be used to store a variety of other substances whether for ingesting by a consumer or otherwise. It can be seen from Figs 3 and 4 that the container closure 16 is threadably connected (or mounted) to the container 12, by virtue of mating threads 19.

The storage compartment 18 includes a compartment opening 20. The compartment opening 20 and the container opening 14 are separated by a seal 22 (see Figs. 3 and 4). The seal 22 is affixed to the container 12 about the container opening 14, thus preventing any fluid contained within the container 12 from unintentionally escaping from the container 12.

The seal 22 is also affixed to the storage compartment 18 about the compartment opening 20. In essence, the seal 22 creates a base within the storage compartment 18, enabling the storage of the protein supplement therein.

The seal 22 also prevents the substances separately housed in the container 12 and storage compartment 18 from combining until it is desired to do so. The assembly 10 further includes a rupturing device 24 for rupturing the seal 22, whereby the protein supplement contained within the storage compartment 18 can be combined with the water in the container 12.

The rupturing device 24 is slidably mounted to the substance storage compartment 18, in an arrangement whereby the rupturing device 24 is movable relative to the seal 22 from a non-rupturing position shown in Fig. 1 to 3 to a seal rupturing position shown in Figs 4 and 5.

The rupturing device 24 is slidably mounted over the upper end 25 of the storage compartment 18. The rupturing device 24 includes a generally annular seal contact portion 26, with the seal contact portion 26 being located within the substance storage compartment 18.

The seal contact portion 26 is configured such that it includes a serrated seal contact surface 28 for contact with the seal 22 when the rupturing device 24 is in the seal rupturing position. The seal contact surface 28 faces downwardly, thereby generally facing the upper surface 30 (see Figs. 3 and 4) of the seal 22.

The rupturing device 24 is snapped fitted over the upper end 25 of the substance storage compartment 18 during manufacture of the assembly 10 such that, when assembled, the rupturing device 24 is able to slide relative to the storage compartment 18 in a downwards direction when the assembly 10 is in the orientation shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to 5.

Inadvertent sliding of the rupturing device 24 relative to the storage compartment 18 is undesirable, as it may unintentionally rupture the seal 22. Accordingly, the assembly 10 includes a removable seal rupture prevention device 32. As shown in Figs 1 to 3, the seal rupture prevention device 32 is snap-fitted about the substance storage compartment 18, to prevent the rupturing device 24 unintentionally moving relative to the substance storage compartment 18 and rupturing the seal 22. As shown in Figs 4 and 5, the seal rupture prevention device 32 is removable from about the substance storage compartment 18, thereby allowing the rupturing device 24 to rupture the seal 22. A tab 34 extends from the seal rupture prevention device 32 to assist in the manual removal of the seal rupture prevention device 32 from about the storage compartment 18 when required. The container closure 16 includes a lid 36. The lid 36 is removably screw threaded to the closure 16 over a dispensing outlet 38 provided in the closure 16. The provision of a dispensing outlet 38 enables an individual to remove the combined contents of the substance storage compartment 18 and container 12 once the seal 22 has been ruptured. Indeed, it is envisaged that the combined contents would be consumed directly from the outlet 38.

The assembly 10 is produced by manufacturing the container 12 and then adding a desired quantity of water to the container 12, whereafter the seal 22 is applied over the container opening 14 and over the compartment opening 20. Manufacture also involves adding a desired quantity of powdered protein supplement to the substance storage compartment 18. Production of the assembly 10 also includes slidably mounting the seal rupturing device 24 to the substance storage compartment 18, with the rupturing device 24 being mounted in a non-rupturing position. The lid 36 is fitted over a dispensing outlet 38.

Further, the seal rupture prevention device 32 is fitted about the substance storage compartment 18, to retain the rupturing device 24 in the non-rupturing position, thereby preventing the rupturing device 24 unintentionally rupturing the seal 22. In use, the assembly 10 is provided with a desired quantity of water in the container 12, and a desired quantity of powdered protein supplement in the storage compartment 18. The contents of the container 12 and the storage compartment 18 remain separated until shortly before it desired to combine and consume the contents. In order to combine the container 12 and storage compartment 18 contents, it is necessary to remove the seal rupture prevention device 32 from about the substance storage compartment 18. Once this has been done, it is possible to slide the rupturing device 24 in a downwards direction (in the orientation shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to 5) relative to a substance storage compartment 18 from the non-rupturing position to the seal rupturing position, wherein the seal 22 is ruptured. The relative sliding movement between the rupturing device 24 and the storage compartment 18 is relatively simply achieved by holding the container 12 with one hand and pushing down on top of the lid 36 using the individual's other hand.

Rupture of the seal 22 allows the separate contents of the container 12 and storage compartment 18 to be combined. A light shake of the assembly 10 may be necessary to achieve thorough mixing. The lid 36 may then be removed to consume the combined contents via the dispensing outlet 38. To consume the combined contents, the assembly 10 is tilted in a similar manner to that required for drinking from a water bottle. Tilting of the assembly 10 causes the combined contents to flow from the container 12, through the ruptured seal 22, through the storage compartment 18 and then out of the dispensing outlet 38. If it is desired to consume only a portion of the combined contents then the lid 36 may be re-fitted, to be later removed when the rest of the contents are to be finally consumed.

It is envisaged that each of the assembly components, with the exception of the container 18 and the seal 22, may be manufactured from Polypropylene (PP). The container 18 may be manufactured from Polyethylene Terephtalate (PETG). Of course, other suitable materials to be used in the manufacture of the various components.

The present invention provides a convenient arrangement and method for separately and conveniently storing separate substances in pre-determined amounts/volumes, and in a manner allowing the substances to be quickly and easily combined shortly before consumption.

More particularly, the present invention advantageously provides an arrangement and method for separately and conveniently storing a pre-determined quantity of a powdered substance, such as a protein or other dietary supplement, for later combination with a pre-determined volume of fluid, such as water.

Des Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the construction and arrangement of the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of this invention.