Containers and methods for mixing and dispensing beverage concentrates

摘要

A container (10) for dispensing a liquid beverage concentrate is provided. The liquid beverage concentrate is formed of a first beverage component, disposed in a body (12), and a second beverage component, disposed within a cartridge (30) at least partially within the body, that are initially isolated. The first and second beverage components can be combined to form the liquid beverage concentrate by moving the cartridge, such as further into the body, to unblock a flow path (36) between the cartridge and the body.

主权项

1. A container for dispensing a beverage concentrate formed of at least a first beverage concentrate component and a second, different beverage concentrate component, the container comprising:
an enclosed body for containing a first beverage component and having a neck disposed about an opening; a cartridge for containing a second beverage component and having an upper portion slidably received within the neck of the body and moveable from a first position to a second position, the upper portion having at least one outlet port forming part of a mixing flow path between the cartridge and the body, the mixing flow path being blocked when the cartridge is in the first position, the mixing flow path being open when the cartridge is in the second position and inverted to permit the second beverage component to exit the cartridge into the body through the at least one outlet port and to mix with the first beverage component in the body to form a beverage concentrate; and a cap secured relative to the neck and moveable from a first position to a second position relative to the neck effective to move the cartridge from the first position to the second position; wherein the cartridge has a closed bottom end and wherein the upper portion of the cartridge comprises an open upper end, wherein with the cap in the second position the cartridge is configured to provide fluid communication between an interior of the body and an exterior of the body, wherein an exit flow path for the beverage concentrate from the body extends from the interior of the body through the at least one outlet port into the cartridge and through the open upper end of the cartridge to the exterior of the body when the cartridge and the cap are in the second position, and wherein the outlet port is closer to the open upper end than the closed bottom end.