This invention relates to an invention for flavouring drinks, particularly but not exclusively for flavouring water drunk by a user from a bottle. Bottled water is widely dispensed in individual sized moulded bottles for consumption by individual users. A user may purchase a bottle of water, for example from a vending machine, as required during exercise, recreation or other activity. Flavoured drinks may also be purchased in individual bottles but these drinks are frequently not to a user's taste and may not suit a user's requirements, for example for administration of nutritional supplements. Therefore there is a need for a drink flavouring device which enable a user to impart a selected flavouring to bottled water during consumption directly from the bottle.

WO2009/053974 discloses a flavouring spout comprising a disposable tubular structure having an attachment to a bottle and an internal region for holding a predetermined quantity of a flavouring concentrate.

According to the present invention, a flavouring device comprises a socket adapted to receive and engage the neck of a bottle;

a chamber communicating with the socket and an outlet communicating with the chamber;

a non-return valve located between the socket and chamber so that a user may draw liquid from a bottle through the valve, chamber and outlet; the non-return valve substantially preventing flow of liquid from the chamber to the bottle;

wherein the chamber includes a perforated receptacle adapted to retain a portion of soluble solid flavouring; the receptacle including apertures to permit liquid in the chamber to pass through the receptacle in contact with the solid flavouring to the outlet; and

wherein the receptacle is formed in two parts moveable between an open position wherein a solid flavouring portion may be placed in the receptacle and a closed position wherein the receptacle is closed to retain the portion within the receptacle during use.

The socket may be a threaded socket or may be a clip-on arrangement.

The receptacle may comprise a basket or cage formed from perforated sheets or from an array of members defining apertures between the members or a mesh having apertures wherein the apertures are dimensioned to retain a portion of solid flavouring but to permit a flow of liquid from the inlet to the outlet as a user drinks from the device.

Preferably the receptacle is formed to be integral with the chamber, the chamber being openable to open the receptacle and closeable to close the receptacle, locking means being provided to retain the chamber and receptacle in the closed position. The chamber may be formed in two parts connected by a hinge or by an interlocking arrangement. The locking means may comprise a catch or press fit seal. Alternatively, the chamber and receptacle may be formed in two screw threadably engageable or twist lockable half portions. Preferably the device comprises upper and lower portions, a lower portion engageable to the neck of a bottle and an upper portion incorporating an outlet or spout; the upper and lower portions being releasably secured by means of a screw thread or bayonet fitting. Preferably the upper portion fits within the lower portion, the upper portion having an outwardly facing screw thread and the lower portion having an inwardly facing screw thread.

Preferably the receptacle is located in spaced relation from the interior walls of the chamber to prevent accidental contact of the solid flavouring with residual liquid in the chamber after use. The one way valve preferably comprises a split membrane or flap valve adapted to allow liquid to be drawn from a bottle through the outlet into a user's mouth, but preventing dissolved flavouring from entering the bottle and also for preventing the supply of liquid in the bottle from contacting the solid flavouring during storage in transit, for example, if the bottle is placed on its side.

The split membrane may allow the effect of gravity to return any excess liquid from the chamber to the bottle when the bottle is placed upright.

The outlet may comprise a tube having a suitable length to be received between a user's lips and grasped by the user's teeth. A closable valve may be provided to permit the outlet to be closed when not in use. The valve may comprise a push-pull arrangement, for example having an axially moveable member with a retracted position wherein the valve is closed and an extended position wherein the valve is opened to permit a flow of liquid. Alternatively, a ball valve may be employed, the valve being arranged so that it is opened when the device is inverted but closed when the device is located in an upright orientation.

The flavouring may comprise a convenient flavouring, for example a fruit or herbal flavouring. A dietetic flavouring or nutritional supplement may be employed. A non- insulogenic saccharide, for example galactose or fructose, may be used to provide a sports recovery drink. Other nutrients or ingredients may be used to facilitate recovery after strenuous exercise. The solid flavouring portion may comprise a soluble matrix including one or more flavourings and optional further ingredients. The matrix may be composed of polysaccharides compressed or formed into a generally spherical, cylindrical or otherwise shaped configuration. A multi-layer composite structure, for example with concentric layers, may be used. For example, the layers may have different graded loadings of the flavouring to provide a generally constant rate of release of the flavouring or other ingredients as the portion dissolves and decreases in size.

Alternatively, the portion may comprise a matrix of compressed beads or other particles. Optionally the individual particles may incorporate different flavourings or other additives, being compressed together so that the flavourings or additives are released simultaneously during use.

As a further alternative, two or more separate solid portions may be placed in a receptacle to provide a mixture of flavours or nutrients as desired by a user. For example, a strong flavouring may be used to mask an unpleasant taste of a nutritional supplement.

The socket is preferably adapted to engage a conventional moulded bottle for drinking water, for example having a capacity of 500 ml. The device of the present invention confers several advantages. A flavouring or other additive selected by a user to suit his or her taste, nutritional or other requirements may be selected as desired. The device may be easily carried by a user and fitted to a water bottle, avoiding the need to carry one or more full bottles of water. Fresh bottles of water may be readily acquired and the device fitted to them in succession. After use the device may be stored and the empty bottle or bottles disposed of.

The flavour of a bottle of water may be changed before the bottle is emptied, for example for use by small children.

The invention is further described by means of example but not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which;

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a device in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of an open device in accordance with the invention.

The drink flavouring device shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a lower portion (1) and an upper portion (2) defining a chamber (5). An inlet (4) is formed by a screw threaded annulus (3) dimensioned to receive the threaded neck of a conventional PET moulded drinks bottle (not shown). A non-return valve (6) is formed by a diaphragm having one or more splits (7) extending diametrically of the inlet to retain water in a bottle attached to the threaded annulus (3) unless suction is applied to the outlet (8) of the dispenser. The upper body (2) terminates in an upwardly extending outlet (8) dimensioned to allow a user to apply suction to drink from the device. In alternative embodiments, a pull-push valve may be provided to allow a user to drink from the device when the valve has been pulled into the open position. As a further alternative, a ball valve may be employed.

A receptacle (9) comprises lower (10) and upper (11) hemispherical half portions formed of a perforated mesh, screen or array of ribs to define a cage to receive a solid block of flavouring material (not shown).

The upper portion (2) of the chamber has an annular flange with an external screw thread (12) adapted to be threadably engaged in an annular flange (13) ascending upwardly from the lower portion (1). Unscrewing of the upper portion (2) from the lower portion (1) opens the receptacle (9) allowing insertion of one or more blocks of flavouring compound in accordance with a user's wishes. Also, an unwanted flavouring compound can be removed and replaced with a different flavour as desired.