Technical field

The inventive concept described herein generally relates to the field of beverage containers. Specifically, the inventive concept relates to a mixing bottle.

Background

Many powdered supplements are available to be added to water or another liquid and have particular popularity with athletes and dietary programs. Such powdered supplements include, but are not limited to, meal replacement powders, nutritional additives and protein supplements.

Protein supplements are generally recommended to be taken directly after a workout. Further, it is recommended that the protein supplements are not mixed in advance of consumption as the protein may denature in water over time. As a result, many athletes bring a single portion of the powdered supplement with them to the gym and add it to water in a water bottle after a workout. If a powdered supplement is added to a traditional water bottle, shaking the water bottle does not necessarily remove all the clumps of powder and does not result in a smooth textured drink.

In order to address these needs, various modifications have been made to the conventional water bottle. One style of bottle includes a series of sealable compartments which are temporarily stored at the bottom of the vessel. The design allows for water to flow from the vessel and through a passage in the lid for consumption prior to the addition of the powdered supplements. To add the supplement, the user removes the lid, extracts the compartments and pours the contents of at least one compartment into the vessel. This design requires the removal of the lid and removal of the compartment to add the supplement to the vessel.

There is a need for improved mixing bottles which can store supplements while functioning as a conventional water bottle prior to the addition of the supplement. Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present inventive concept to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies in the art and

disadvantages singly or in combination. According to a first aspect of the inventive concept, these and other objects are achieved in full, or at least in part, by a mixing bottle comprising: a vessel comprising an open top section; a storage element configured to releasably connect to the top section of the vessel, the storage element having an outlet device arranged to allow content to exit the mixing bottle; a dividing element arranged to divide the storage element into a compartment for storage of nutritional supplements, and a passage; a barrier element arranged between the vessel and the storage element, wherein the barrier element and storage element are rotatable with respect to each other between: a first state, wherein the barrier element is arranged to form a barrier between the compartment and the vessel in order to prevent contents stored in the compartment from mixing with contents held by the vessel, and wherein contents held by the vessel are allowed to pass via the passage to the outlet device; and a second state, wherein the contents stored in the compartment are allowed to mix with the contents held by the vessel; wherein the barrier element comprises a surface configured to curve in at least one direction, and wherein the dividing element is configured to, when the barrier element and storage element are in the first state, sealingly engage with the surface in order to form part of the barrier..

The term 'stacked' should be understood to comprise connection, and in particular connection between two elements via a third element, such as an intermediate element. In other words, the storage element may be configured to releasably connect to the top section of the vessel via the intermediate element.

The storage element may be configured to releasably engage to the top section of the vessel.

The term 'sealingly engage' comprises engaging in order to create a seal for preventing or decreaseing the amount of content stored in the compartment from exiting the compartment. In other words, by the term 'sealingly engage' it is not required that a perfect seal between the compartment and the vessel is formed in the first state. It may however be preferable if the dividing element sealingly engage with the surface of the barrier element such that content stored in the compartment is prevented from exiting the compartment, and/or such that content held by the vessel (e.g. liquid or water) is prevented from entering the compartment.

The surface configured to curve in at least one direction may be configured to curve in at least two directions. The surface may be a partial spherical surface.

The vessel and storage element may be stackable along a longitudinal axis. The dividing element may be arranged to divide the storage element along a plane being parallel to the longitudinal axis. The dividing element and at least part of the storage element may define an open section of the compartment.

The barrier element may be arranged to cover at least the open section of the compartment when the barrier element and storage element are in the first state.

The mixing bottle may further comprise a mesh element arranged between the vessel and the storage element.

The dividing element and at least part of the storage element may define an open section of the passage.

The barrier element may be arranged to cover at least the open section of the passage when the barrier element and storage element are in the second state, thus preventing contents held by the vessel from entering the passage.

The mesh element may be arranged to cover at least the open section of the passage.

The barrier element may be arranged on an intermediate element configured to releasably engage to the top section of the vessel and to a lower section of the storage element, wherein the intermediate element is rotatable with respect to the vessel and to the storage element.

The dividing element may comprise an engaging edge configured to, when the barrier element and storage element are in the first state, sealingly engage with the surface.

The vessel and storage element may be configured to be stacked along a longitudinal axis, and wherein a cross section of the engaging edge in a plane along the longitudinal axis is curved.

The surface may be a partial spherical surface.

The surface may correspond to the engaging edge of the dividing element.

Similarly, the engaging edge of the dividing element may correspond to the surface.

According to a second aspect of the inventive concept, these and other objects are achieved in full, or at least in part, by a method for storing and mixing nutritional supplements in a mixing bottle comprising: a vessel comprising an open top section; a storage element configured to releasably connect to the top section of the vessel, the storage element having an outlet device arranged to allow content to exit the mixing bottle; a dividing element arranged to divide the storage element into a compartment for storage nutritional supplements, and a passage; a barrier element arranged between the vessel and the storage element, wherein the barrier element and storage element are rotatable with respect to each other between: a first state, wherein the barrier element is arranged to form a barrier between the compartment and the vessel in order to prevent contents stored in the compartment from mixing with contents held by the vessel, and wherein contents held by the vessel are allowed to pass via the passage to the outlet; and a second state, wherein the contents stored in the compartment are allowed to mix with the contents held by the vessel, wherein the barrier element comprises a surface configured to curve in at least one direction, and wherein the dividing element is configured to, when the barrier element and storage element are in the first state, sealingly engage with the surface in order to form part of the barrier, the method comprising: separating the storage element from the vessel; rotating the storage element and the barrier element with respect to each other in order to move the storage element and the barrier element into the second state; placing contents in the compartment; rotating the storage element and the barrier element with respect to each other in order to move the storage element and the barrier element into the first state, thus trapping and storing the contents in the compartment; engaging the storage element to the vessel; rotating the storage element and the barrier element with respect to each other in order to move the storage element and the barrier element into the second state, thus releasing the contents stored in the compartment into the vessel allowing the contents stored in the compartment to form a mix with contents held by the vessel; rotating the storage element and the barrier element with respect to each other in order to move the storage element and the barrier element into the first state, thus allowing the mix to pass via the passage to the outlet.

A feature described in relation to one aspect may also be incorporated in other aspects, and the advantage of the feature is applicable to all aspects in which it is incorporated.

Other objectives, features and advantages of the present inventive concept will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached claims as well as from the drawings.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. Further, the use of terms "first", "second", and "third", and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. All references to "a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated. Brief description of the drawings

The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present inventive concept, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of different embodiments of the present inventive concept, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 a illustrates a perspective view of a mixing bottle;

FIG. 1 b illustrates an exploded view of a mixing bottle;

FIG. 2a illustrates a perspective view of an intermediate element;

FIG. 2b illustrates a top view of an intermediate element;

FIG. 3a illustrates a side view of a storage element;

FIG. 3b illustrates a perspective view of a storage element;

FIG. 3c illustrates another perspective view of a storage element;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a mixing bottle;

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for storing and mixing nutritional supplements in a mixing bottle;

FIG. 6a illustrates an example of a storage element in a perspective view;

FIG. 6b illustrates an example of a storage element in a cross-sectional view;

FIG. 7a, illustrates an example of a barrier element in a top view;

FIG. 7b illustrates an example of a barrier element in a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B;

FIG. 8a - 8b illustrate examples of a dividing elements and barrier elements in schematic cross-sectional views.

Detailed description

The present disclosure relates to the field of beverage containers. Initially, some terminology may be defined to provide clarification for the following disclosure.

A bottle may refer to a container for holding liquids.

In general, the present inventive concept is based on the generalization that contents may be stored in a compartment of a mixing bottle prior. The contents can be released into a vessel of the mixing bottle by a twist-action such that the contents can mix with e.g. a liquid held by the vessel. By having a compartment arranged in the mixing bottle, the mixing bottle can be used as a water bottle prior to the release of the contents from the compartment.

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b illustrate a mixing bottle 100 comprising: a vessel 102 comprising an open top section; a storage element 104 configured to releasably engage to the top section of the vessel 102, the storage element 104 having an outlet device 106 arranged to allow content to exit the mixing bottle; a dividing element 108 arranged to divide the storage element into a compartment 109 for storage of nutritional supplements, and a passage 1 10; a barrier element 1 12 arranged between the vessel 102 and the storage element 104, wherein the barrier element 1 12 and storage element 104 are rotatable with respect to each other between: a first state, wherein the barrier element 1 12 is arranged to form a barrier between the compartment 109 and the vessel 102 in order to prevent contents stored in the compartment 109 from mixing with contents held by the vessel 102, and wherein contents held by the vessel 102 are allowed to pass via the passage 1 10 to the outlet device 106; and a second state, wherein the contents stored in the compartment 109 are allowed to mix with the contents held by the vessel 102.

The outlet device 106 may comprise a cap, and the outlet device may be configured to be in an open state wherein contents of the mixing bottle 100 are allowed to exit the mixing bottle 100, and a closed state wherein contents of the mixing bottle 100 are prevented from exiting the mixing bottle 100.

In the illustrated example, the mixing bottle comprises an intermediate element 1 14. The barrier element 1 12 may be arranged on the intermediate element 1 14. Further, the intermediate element 1 14 may be configured to releasably engage to the top section of the vessel 102 and to a lower section of the storage element 104, wherein the intermediate element 1 14 is rotatable with respect to the vessel 102 and to the storage element 104. However, it may be possible to construct a mixing bottle 100 wherein the intermediate part 1 14 is integral to the vessel 102, and thus wherein the barrier element 1 12 is fixed to the vessel 102 and rotatable with respect to the storage element 104.

The storage element 104 may be configured to releasably connect to the top section of the vessel 102 via connecting elements arranged on the top section of the vessel 102 and the storage element 104, e.g. corresponding threads.

The storage element 104 may be configured to releasably connect to the top section of the vessel 102 via threads arranged on an outer surface of the top section of the vessel 102 and an inner surface of the storage element 104, or vice versa. The intermediate element 1 14 may be configured to releasably engage to the top section of the vessel 102 via threads arranged on an outer surface of the top section of the vessel 102 and an inner surface of the intermediate part 1 14, or vice versa. Similarly, the intermediate element 1 14 may be configured to releasably engage to the lower section of the storage element 104 via threads arranged on an outer surface of the storage element 104 and an inner surface of the intermediate part 1 14, or vice versa. Hereby, the vessel 102, the storage element 104, and the intermediate element 1 14 may be connected to each other. Further the vessel 102, the storage element 104, and the intermediate element 1 14 may be rotatable with respect to each other. The vessel 102 and storage element 104 may be stackable along a longitudinal axis A. The dividing element 108 may be arranged to divide the storage element 104 along a plane being parallel to the longitudinal axis A.

The dividing element 108 and at least part of the storage element 104 may define an open section of the compartment 109. The barrier element 1 12 may be arranged to cover at least the open section of the compartment 109 when the barrier element 1 12 and storage element 104 are in the first state. Hereby, contents stored in the compartment 109 may be prevented from mixing with contents held by the vessel 102.

The dividing element 108 and at least part of the storage element 104 may define an open section of the passage 1 10. Hereby, contents of the vessel 102 may pass via the passage 1 10 to the outlet device 106 when the barrier element 1 12 and the storage element 104 are in the first state. In other words, the mixing bottle 100 can hereby function as a conventional water bottle, allowing a user to consume contents of the vessel 102 prior to mixing with contents stored in the compartment 109.

The mixing bottle 100 may comprise a mesh element (not shown) arranged between the vessel 102 and the storage element 104. The mesh element may be fixed to the storage element 104. The mesh element may be arranged to cover at least the open section of the passage 1 10. The mesh element may promote mixing of the contents of the compartment 109 and vessel 102. Further, the mesh element may decrease the risk of particles of e.g. nutritional supplement of a certain size from entering the outlet device 106. The mesh element may be a grid, a grating, or the like.

The barrier element 1 12 may be arranged to cover at least the open section of the passage 1 10 when the barrier element 1 12 and storage element 104 are in the second state, thus preventing contents in the vessel from entering the passage. One advantage with this arrangement is that the barrier element 1 12 may decrease the risk of any content held by the vessel 102 and/or compartment 109 exiting the mixing bottle 100 while mixing the contents of the compartment 109 and the vessel 102. Such a mixing is often accompanied by a shaking motion of the mixing bottle 100, which may give rise to forces acting to push the outlet device 106 into an open state. In other words, the barrier element 1 12 may prevent, or decrease, such forces from acting on the outlet device 106.

Referring now to FIGS. 2a and 2b, an intermediate element 214 is illustrated.

A barrier element 212 may be arranged on the intermediate element 214. As can be seen, the barrier element 212 may have the shape of a semi-circle. A corresponding open section of the compartment as defined by the dividing element and at least part of the storage element may have a similar shape, e.g. a semi-circle. However, as is readily appreciated by the person skilled in the art, other shapes of barrier elements and open sections of the compartment are possible within the scope of the inventive concept. The barrier element 212 may for example be larger than the open section of the compartment. Hereby, the barrier element 212 may form a seal between the compartment and the vessel, preventing contents stored in the compartment from entering the vessel.

Referring now to FIGS. 3a - 3c, a storage element 304 is illustrated. The storage element 304 comprises an outlet device 306 arranged to allow content to exit a mixing bottle. A dividing element 308 is arranged to divide the storage element 304 into a compartment 309 for storage of nutritional supplements, and a passage 310. The dividing element 308 may be arranged to divide the storage element 304 along a plane being parallel to the longitudinal axis A.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a mixing bottle 400 is illustrated. The mixing bottle

400 comprises a vessel 402 comprising an open top section; a storage element 404 configured to releasably engage to the top section of the vessel 402, the storage element 404 having an outlet device 406 arranged to allow content to exit the mixing bottle; a dividing element 408 arranged to divide the storage element into a compartment 409 for storage of nutritional supplements, and a passage 410; a barrier element 412 arranged between the vessel 402 and the storage element 404, wherein the barrier element 412 and storage element 404 are rotatable with respect to each other between: a first state, wherein the barrier element 412 is arranged to form a barrier between the compartment 409 and the vessel 402 in order to prevent contents stored in the compartment 409 from mixing with contents held by the vessel 402, and wherein contents held by the vessel 402 are allowed to pass via the passage 410 to the outlet device 406; and a second state, wherein the contents stored in the compartment 409 are allowed to mix with the contents held by the vessel 402.

A feature described in conjunction with the previous figures may also be incorporated in the mixing bottle 400, and the advantages of the feature is applicable to the mixing bottle 400.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for storing and mixing nutritional supplements in a mixing bottle comprising: a vessel comprising an open top section; a storage element configured to releasably engage to the top section of the vessel, the storage element having an outlet device arranged to allow content to exit the mixing bottle; a dividing element arranged to divide the storage element into a compartment for storage of nutritional supplements, and a passage; a barrier element arranged between the vessel and the storage element, wherein the barrier element and storage element are rotatable with respect to each other between: a first state, wherein the barrier element is arranged to form a barrier between the compartment and the vessel in order to prevent contents stored in the compartment from mixing with contents held by the vessel, and wherein contents held by the vessel are allowed to pass via the passage to the outlet; and a second state, wherein the contents stored in the compartment are allowed to mix with the contents held by the vessel. The method comprises separating 516 the storage element from the vessel; rotating 518 the storage element and the barrier element with respect to each other in order to move the storage element and the barrier element into the first state; placing 520 contents in the compartment; rotating 522 the storage element and the barrier element with respect to each other in order to move the storage element and the barrier element into the second state, thus trapping and storing the contents in the compartment; engaging 524 the storage element to the vessel; rotating 526 the storage element and the barrier element with respect to each other in order to move the storage element and the barrier element into the first state, thus releasing the contents stored in the compartment into the vessel allowing the contents stored in the compartment to form a mix with contents held by the vessel; and rotating 528 the storage element and the barrier element with respect to each other in order to move the storage element and the barrier element into the second state, thus allowing the mix to pass via the passage to the outlet.

It is to be understood that the step 518 of rotating the storage element and the barrier element with respect to each other in order to move the storage element and the barrier element into the first state does not necessarily have to be performed in case the storage element and the barrier element are already in the first state after separating 516 the storage element from the vessel.

With reference to FIGS. 6 - 8, features relating to an example of the barrier formed between the compartment and the vessel will be described. For the sake of clarity, a longitudinal axis A may be drawn in the figures, wherein the longitudinal axis A illustrates the axis along which the storage element and the vessel are configured to be stacked. It should be noted however that the vessel is not shown in all figures.

Referring first to FIG. 6a, a storage element 604 is illustrated. The storage element 604 comprises a dividing element 608 arranged to divide the storage element 604 into a compartment 609 for storage of nutritional supplements, and a passage 610. The dividing element 608 comprises an engaging edge 630. Here, the engaging edge 630 is concave, however it is envisioned that other shapes or forms, e.g. convex engaging edges are equally possible within the scope of the present disclosure.

In the illustrated example, a cross section of the engaging edge 630 in a plane along the longitudinal axis A (as shown in FIG. 6b) is curved. In particular, in case the cross section of the engaging edge 630 in a plane along the longitudinal axis A is curved, the radius of such a curve is preferably greater than the radius of the open top section of the vessel (not shown).

Referring now to FIG. 6b, the storage element 604, dividing element 608, and engaging edge 630 are more clearly illustrated in a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal axis A.

Referring now to FIG. 7a, the barrier element 712 is here arranged on an intermediate element 714. However, it is to be understood that the disclosures made in conjunction with FIGS. 6 - 8 are not limited to the intermediate element 714; a mixing bottle comprising the intermediate element 714 is one possible embodiment out of many of the inventive concept. Further, although the examples of FIGS. 7-8 describe a partial spherical surface, the advantages and technical effects of such a partial spherical surface may be achieved by e.g. a surface configured to curve in at least one direction.

As can be more clearly seen in FIG. 7b, the barrier element may comprise a surface 732 configured to curve in at least one direction. In the illustrated example, the surface 732 curves in two directions, and in particular the surface is a partial spherical surface 732 corresponding to the engaging edge 630 shown in FIGS. 6a - 6b. By the term corresponding, it is to be understood that the partial spherical surface 732 is arranged to conform to the shape of the engaging edge.

The partial spherical surface 732 represents, in the cross-section illustrated, a curvature corresponding to the curve of the engaging surface of FIGS. 6a and 6b. The partial spherical surface 732 may preferably be radially symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis A. Hereby, rotation of the barrier element 712 with respect to the storage element, and with respect to the dividing element, may be made possible.

The partial spherical surface 732 preferably has a radius which is greater than the radius of the open top section of the vessel (not shown).

The engaging edge and the partial spherical surface may be configured such that the dividing element and the barrier element are urged towards each other when the mixing bottle is assembled, i.e. when the vessel and storage element are connected to each other. In particular, the engaging edge and the partial spherical surface may be slightly offset along the longitudinal axis such that the dividing element and the barrier element are urged towards each other when the vessel and storage element are connected to each other.

Referring now to FIGS. 8a - 8b, schematic cross-sectional views of a dividing element and a barrier element are illustrated. It should be noted that the figures are not drawn to scale, and that the curve of the engaging edge and the partial spherical surface may be exaggerated for the sake of clarity.

In FIG. 8a, the engaging edge 830 of the dividing element 808 comprised by the storage element 804 is convex, while the corresponding partial spherical surface 832 of the barrier element 812 is concave. In FIG. 8b, the engaging edge 830 of the dividing element 808 comprise by the storage element 804 is concave, while the corresponding partial spherical surface 832 of the barrier element 812 is convex. In general terms, the partial spherical surface corresponds to or conforms to the engaging edge.

By providing a barrier element as described in conjunction with FIGS. 6-8, exchange of material between the content stored in the compartment and content present in the vessel may be prevented or decreased when the barrier element and storage element are in the first state, i.e. when the barrier between the compartment and the vessel is formed. In particular, it is preferable if liquid is prevented from entering the compartment when the barrier element and storage element are in the first state, in order to prevent liquid from affecting, over time, the properties of e.g. the nutritional supplements stored in the compartment.

Further, by providing a surface of the barrier element configured to curve in at least one direction, a surface having improved structural properties for sealingly engaging with the dividing element may be achieved. Similarly, the engaging edge of the dividing element may be curved, which may provide for improved structural properties for sealingly engaging with the dividing element.

It may be preferable if the above advantages can be achieved by features forming an integral part of the mixing bottle. In other words, the features are preferably not removable from the mixing bottle. The engaging edge and the surface of the barrier element may be integral to the storage element, and the vessel and/or the intermediate element, respectively. Hereby, the number of interfaces wherein material (e.g. nutritional supplements or powder) can get caught, is reduced. Further, reducing the number of parts of the mixing bottle may reduce complexity of manufacturing. Still further, having such features form an integral part of the mixing bottle may decrease the risk of improper use of the mixing bottle, e.g. since less pieces are required to be assembled by the user during use. The inventive concept has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the inventive concept, as defined by the appended patent claims.

List of reference signs

100 Mixing bottle

102 Vessel

104 Storage element

106 Outlet device

108 Dividing element

109 Compartment

1 10 Passage

1 12 Barrier element

212 Barrier element

214 Intermediate element

304 Storage element

306 Outlet device

308 Dividing element

309 Compartment

310 Passage

400 Mixing bottle

402 Vessel

404 Storage element

406 Outlet device

408 Dividing element

409 Compartment

410 Passage

412 Barrier element

414 Intermediate element

516 Step of separating storage element from vessel

518 Step of rotating into first state

520 Step of placing contents in compartment

522 Step of rotating into second state

524 Step of engaging storage element to vessel

526 Step of rotating into first state

528 Step of rotating into second state

604 Storage element

608 Dividing element

609 Compartment

610 Passage

630 Engaging edge Barrier element Intermediate element Partial spherical surface Storage element Dividing element Barrier element Engaging edge

Partial spherical surface