Liquid dispenser having interior liquid containment space and mounting structure for drinking container

Abstract

A liquid dispenser comprises a body defining an interior containment space for containing a liquid to be dispensed and a structure configured to mount the liquid dispenser onto a drinking container. The structure comprises an elongate opening formed in the body of the liquid dispenser that generally divides the liquid dispenser into two portions. Approximately half of the volume of the interior containment space is located in the first portion of the body of the liquid dispenser. Alternatively, substantially all of the volume of the interior containment space is located in the first portion.

1 . A liquid dispenser, comprising a body defining an interior containment space for containing a liquid to be dispensed and a structure configured to mount the liquid dispenser onto a drinking container,
 (a) wherein the structure comprises an elongate opening formed in the body of the liquid dispenser that generally divides the liquid dispenser into two portions, and   (b) wherein approximately half of the volume of the interior containment space is located in the first portion of the body of the liquid dispenser.   
   
   
       2 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising,
 (i) a sealing element, which precludes a liquid contained within the interior containment space from flowing through a dispensing opening, and   (ii) a tear away member,   (iii) wherein manipulation of the tear away member results in rupturing of the sealing element whereby the liquid may be dispensed.   
   
   
       3 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the tear away member comprises a tab located on a peripheral edge of the body of the liquid dispenser proximate the elongate opening and wherein the tab protrudes from the body of the liquid dispenser. 
   
   
       4 . A liquid dispenser, comprising a body defining an interior containment space for containing a liquid to be dispensed and a structure configured to mount the liquid dispenser onto a drinking container,
 (a) wherein the structure comprises an elongate opening formed in the body of the liquid dispenser that generally divides the liquid dispenser into two portions, and   (b) wherein the volume of the interior containment space in the first portion is approximately equal to the volume of the interior containment space in the second portion.   
   
   
       5 . A liquid dispenser, comprising a body defining an interior containment space for containing a liquid to be dispensed and a structure configured to mount the liquid dispenser onto a drinking container,
 (a) wherein the structure comprises an elongate opening formed in the body of the liquid dispenser that generally divides the liquid dispenser into two portions, and   (b) wherein substantially all of the volume of the interior containment space is located in the first portion.   
   
   
       6 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 5 , further comprising,
 (i) a sealing element, which precludes a liquid contained within the interior containment space from flowing through a dispensing opening, and   (ii) a tear away member,   (iii) wherein manipulation of the tear away member results in rupturing of the sealing element whereby the liquid may be dispensed.   
   
   
       7 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the sealing element is disposed between and integrally formed with the first portion and the second portion. 
   
   
       8 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the sealing element is formed from the same material as the body of the liquid dispenser. 
   
   
       9 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein a portion of the body of the liquid dispenser bridges the slit between the first portion and the second portion. 
   
   
       10 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the tear away member is located in a distal end of the second portion and is connected to the portion of the body of the liquid dispenser that bridges the slit between the first portion and the second portion. 
   
   
       11 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are connected together for movement of the distal end of the second portion relative to the first portion such that, when the tear away member is torn from the portion of the body of the liquid dispenser that bridges the slit between the first portion and the second portion, the second portion nevertheless remains connected to the first portion. 
   
   
       12 . A liquid dispenser, comprising a body defining an interior containment space for containing a liquid to be dispensed and a structure configured to mount the liquid dispenser onto a drinking container,
 (a) wherein the structure comprises an elongate opening formed in the body of the liquid dispenser that generally divides the liquid dispenser into two portions, and   (b) wherein a substantial majority of the volume of the interior containment space is located in the first portion of the body of the liquid dispenser and a minority of the volume of the interior containment space is located in the second portion of the body of the liquid dispenser.   
   
   
       13 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 12 , further comprising,
 (i) a sealing element, which precludes a liquid contained within the interior containment space from flowing through a dispensing opening, and   (ii) a tear away member,   (iii) wherein manipulation of the tear away member results in rupturing of the sealing element whereby the liquid may be dispensed, and   (iv) wherein the sealing element and the tear away member are located in the second portion of the liquid dispenser.   
   
   
       14 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the sealing element is formed from the same material as the body of the liquid dispenser. 
   
   
       15 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the sealing element comprises a thinner section of the body of the liquid dispenser. 
   
   
       16 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the tear away element comprises a nub of the second portion of the body of the liquid dispenser. 
   
   
       17 . A liquid dispenser, comprising:
 (a) a body defining an interior containment space for containing a liquid to be dispensed, and   (b) means for mounting of the body of the liquid dispenser onto a drinking container such that the liquid dispenser does not obstruct drinking from a rim of the drinking container.   
   
   
       18 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 17 , wherein the structure is configured to mount the body of the liquid dispenser onto a side of the rim of the drinking container such that the liquid dispenser covers only a small portion of the rim whereby the liquid dispenser does not obstruct drinking from the rim of the drinking container.