Programmable liquid containers

Abstract

The invention relates to liquid containers comprising a plurality of sealed additive chambers in communication with a vessel fillable with a liquid. The additive chambers comprise independently selected additives that may be added to a liquid in the container at the option of the user. The user can manually open the additive chambers of their choice and release the additive into a liquid in the vessel without destroying the integrity of the container. In this manner, the liquid containers are programmable by the users and various aspects of the liquid in the container, such as color and/or flavor, is controlled by the user.

1 . A programmable liquid container comprising:
 a vessel having a main chamber fillable with a base liquid, an inner vessel surface in physical communication with said main chamber, an outer vessel surface, and a sealable outlet; and   a plurality of sealed additive chambers each comprising an independently selected additive, each additive chamber having an inner chamber surface and an outer chamber surface, wherein:   said outer additive chamber surface is in physical communication with said vessel; and   said additive chamber is manually openable by a user when said vessel is filled with a base liquid and said outlet is sealed, and wherein opening an additive chamber places any additive contained therein in communication with said base liquid in said vessel and does not disrupt the integrity of the sealed vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said base liquid is an edible base liquid and each of said additives is independently selected from a colorant, a flavoring, a sweetener, a pharmaceutical, a nutrient, a creamer, tea, coffee, an agent to promote mixing of said base liquid and said additive, a carbonating agent or a preservative. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein said base liquid is water. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein said base liquid is carbonated water and each of said additives is independently selected from a colorant, a flavoring, a sweetener, a pharmaceutical, a nutrient, an agent to promote mixing of said base liquid and said additive or a preservative. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein said base liquid is a vegetable or meat broth and each of said additives is independently selected from a colorant, a flavoring, a pharmaceutical, a nutrient, an agent to promote mixing or a preservative. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein said base liquid is a beverage. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein said beverage is selected from a juice, a fruit drink, or a sports drink or a carbonated drink and each of said additives is independently selected from a colorant, a flavoring, a sweetener, a pharmaceutical, a nutrient, an agent to promote mixing of said base liquid and said additive, a carbonating agent or a preservative. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 7 , wherein said base liquid is an unsweetened cola and said container comprises at least three different additive chambers wherein the first additive is a flavoring, the second additive is a sweetener and the third additive is caffeine. 
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 8 , comprising a separate additive chamber for each of the additives: lemon flavoring, lime flavoring, cherry flavoring, vanilla flavoring, an artificial sweetener and caffeine. 
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 9 , comprising two separate additive chambers for the additive caffeine. 
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of said container is sufficiently transparent to allow visual confirmation of communication between said additive and said base liquid following the opening of said additive chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein said any of said additive chambers comprising a flavoring, a sweetener, a pharmaceutical, a nutrient, an agent to promote mixing of said base liquid and said additive, or a carbonating agent additionally comprises a colorant, wherein when said colorant is sufficient to perceptively alter the color of said base liquid when said additive is brought into liquid communication with said base liquid. 
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 2 , comprising two or more separate additive chambers, wherein each chamber comprises a different flavoring additive and wherein each chamber further comprises a colorant typically associated with said flavoring additive. 
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein said base liquid is selected from water, carbonated water, juice, fruit drink, sports drink or carbonated beverage and said flavoring additive is selected from vanilla, lemon, lime, cherry, orange, tangerine, banana, mango, papaya, grapefruit, black cherry, raspberry, strawberry, mixed berry, kiwi, root beer, or apple. 
     
     
         15 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein said beverage is tea and said flavoring additive is selected from apple, apricot, blueberry, chocolate, kiwi, strawberry, mint, orange, peach, cherry, tangerine, sassafras, raspberry, passion fruit, mango, lemon, lime, clove, black currant, cinnamon, cranberry, or papaya. 
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein said beverage is coffee and said flavoring additive is selected from vanilla, hazelnut, mocha, chocolate, cinnamon, apricot, banana, blueberry, butter pecan, bourbon, caramel, cherry, mint, raspberry, coconut, rum, vanilla, frangelica, macadamia nut, rum, orange, pumpkin, chestnut, maple, white chocolate, pecan, butterscotch, almond, amaretto, hazelnut, mocha, chocolate, or cinnamon. 
     
     
         17 . The container according to  claim 5 , wherein said flavoring additive is selected from salt, black pepper, hot pepper, garlic, onion, an herb, a spice. 
     
     
         18 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein said pharmaceutical is selected from caffeine, theophilline, a sleeping aid, an analgesic, an anti-inflammatory, a decongestant, a digestive, an antihistamine, an expectorant, a cough suppressant or an erectile dysfunction drug. 
     
     
         19 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein said sweetener is an artificial sweetener. 
     
     
         20 . The container according to  claim 19 , wherein said artificial sweetener is selected from saccharine, cyclamate, aspartame, alitame, neotame, acesulfame-K, sucralose or Stevia. 
     
     
         21 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein said nutrient is selected from a vitamin, a mineral, an herbal extract, or a dietary supplement. 
     
     
         22 . The container according to  claim 11 , wherein said base liquid is clear, said container comprising at least three separate additive chambers, wherein each of said three separate chambers comprises a different colorant. 
     
     
         23 . The container according to  claim 22 , wherein said colorant additives comprise a red colorant, a blue colorant and a green colorant. 
     
     
         24 . The container according to  claim 23 , comprising separate additive chambers for an orange colorant, a yellow colorant, and a violet colorant. 
     
     
         25 . The container according to  claim 11 , wherein said base liquid is white, comprising at least three separate additive chambers, wherein the first of said additive chambers comprises a cyan colorant, the second of said additive chambers comprises a yellow colorant and the third of said additive chambers comprises a magenta colorant. 
     
     
         26 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein said preservative is selected from EDTA, BHT or benzoic acid. 
     
     
         27 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein said beverage is an alcoholic beverage. 
     
     
         28 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein said beverage is a dairy product or a pre-flavored dairy product. 
     
     
         29 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container is sterilely filled with a base liquid and sealed. 
     
     
         30 . The container according to  claim 29 , wherein said base liquid is infant formula and each of said additives is independently selected from a colorant, a flavoring, a sweetener, a pharmaceutical, a nutrient, an agent to promote mixing of said base liquid and said additive, or a preservative. 
     
     
         31 . The container according to  claim 29 , wherein said base liquid is intended for intravenous administration to a patient and wherein each of said additives is independently selected from a pharmaceutical, a nutrient, a salt or a sugar. 
     
     
         32 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said base liquid is paint and each of said additive chambers comprises an independently selected additive that is a paint pigment or dye. 
     
     
         33 . The container according to  claim 29 , wherein said base liquid is intended as media for cell growth, wherein each of said additive chambers comprises an independently selected additive selected from a metal, an amino acid, an antibacterial, an antifungal, an enzyme, a pharmaceutical, a pH-adjusting additive, a salt, a sugar, a color pH indicator, a nucleotide, a protein, an antibody, fluorescent probe, a radioactive probe, or a nutrient. 
     
     
         34 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said base liquid is a perfume base and each of said additive chambers comprises an independently selected additive selected from a colorant or an essence. 
     
     
         35 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said base liquid is a cosmetic and each of said additive chambers comprises an independently selected additive selected from a colorant, or an essence. 
     
     
         36 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said base liquid is a hair coloring base and each of said additive chambers comprises an independently selected additive that is a hair dye colorant. 
     
     
         37 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said base liquid is a cleaning agent base and each of said additive chambers comprises an independently selected additive selected from a bleaching agent, an essence, a concentrated cleaning agent, a grease cutting agent, ammonia, or a disinfectant. 
     
     
         38 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said base liquid is a disinfecting agent base and each of said additive chambers comprises an independently selected additive selected from a bleaching agent, an essence, a cleaning agent, a grease cutting agent, ammonia, or a concentrated disinfecting agent. 
     
     
         39 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said base liquid is an emollient and each of said additive chambers comprises an independently selected additive selected from an essence, a coloring agent, an ultra-violet light blocking agent, a nutrient, or an insect repellant. 
     
     
         40 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the outer chamber surface of each of said additive chambers is in physical communication with the main chamber of said vessel. 
     
     
         41 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the outer chamber surface of each of said additive chambers is in physical communication with the outer vessel surface. 
     
     
         42 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said additive chambers additionally comprises integrated means for opening said chamber. 
     
     
         43 . The container according to  claim 1 , additionally comprising means for opening each of said additive chambers, wherein said means for opening said chamber is not in physical communication with said chamber. 
     
     
         44 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said additive chambers opens into physical communication with said main vessel chamber upon the application of physical pressure upon the outer chamber surface by said user. 
     
     
         45 . The container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a mixing chamber positioned between said main chamber and said outlet, wherein said main chamber is connected to said mixing chamber by one-way closing means which allows unidirectional flow of said base liquid from said main chamber to said mixing chamber, and wherein each of said additive chambers, when opened, is in communication with said mixing chamber. 
     
     
         46 . The container according to  claim 44 , wherein said additive chambers are blister packs. 
     
     
         47 . The container according to  claim 44 , wherein said additive chambers are comprised of gas-filled polyethylene. 
     
     
         48 . The container according to  claim 42 , wherein said integrated means is a plunger device contained within said additive chamber. 
     
     
         49 . The container according to  claim 42 , wherein said integrated means is piezoelectric means. 
     
     
         50 . The container according to  claim 42 , wherein said integrated means is a piercing device. 
     
     
         51 . The container according to  claim 42 , wherein the quantity of additive released from any one additive chamber and placed in communication with said base liquid is user-adjustable. 
     
     
         52 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein the opening of said additive chamber is controlled by a switch, a lever or a valve. 
     
     
         53 . The container according to  claim 42 , wherein said integrated means is a piston. 
     
     
         54 . The container according to  claim 53 , wherein said additive chamber is a syringe. 
     
     
         55 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the additive chamber is a raised hollow flexible button present on the outer vessel surface. 
     
     
         56 . The container according to  claim 55 , wherein the additive chamber is in communication with and seals an aperture in said vessel, and wherein the seal between said additive chamber and said aperture is selected from a detachable plug or a breakable liquid impermeable barrier. 
     
     
         57 . The container according to  claim 56 , wherein said liquid impermeable barrier is contiguous with said inner vessel surface and contains weakening lines at said aperture. 
     
     
         58 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said additive is a dissolvable solid. 
     
     
         59 . The container according to  claim 58 , wherein said additive is selected from a tablet, a disc, a bar, a powder, microspheres, nanospheres, crystals, flakes, or a sheet. 
     
     
         60 . The container according to  claim 60 , wherein said additive is particulate and said particles are size distributed for even distribution when in communication with said base liquid. 
     
     
         61 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said additive is a miscible liquid. 
     
     
         62 . A programmable liquid container comprising:
 a vessel having a main chamber fillable with a base liquid, an inner vessel surface in physical communication with said main chamber, a sealable outlet, and a sealing device for sealing said outlet; and   a plurality of different additives sealed independently or multiply within a plurality of additive chambers, each additive chamber having an inner chamber surface and an outer chamber surface, wherein:
 said outer additive chamber surface is in physical communication with said sealing device; 
 said additive chamber is manually openable by a user when said vessel is filled with a base liquid and said outlet is sealed, and wherein opening an additive chamber places any additive contained therein in communication with said base liquid prior in said vessel and wherein said opening does not disrupt the integrity of the sealed vessel; and 
 when said base liquid is an edible base liquid and one of said additive chambers comprises an additive that is a colorant, at least one other of said additive chambers comprises an additive other than a colorant. 
   
     
     
         63 . A disposable liquid container comprising a vessel having a main chamber fillable with a base liquid and an inner vessel surface in physical communication with said main chamber, wherein at least a portion of said inner surface that can be brought into communication with said base liquid is coated with an additive selected from a colorant, a flavoring, a sweetener, a pharmaceutical, a nutrient, a creamer, tea, or coffee, wherein said additive is soluble in said base liquid. 
     
     
         64 . A disposable utensil intended to be brought into communication with a base liquid, said utensil comprising an outer surface, wherein said outer surface is coated with an additive selected from a colorant, a flavoring, a sweetener, a pharmaceutical, a nutrient, a creamer, tea, coffee, wherein said additive is soluble in said base liquid. 
     
     
         65 . The utensil according to  claim 64 , wherein said utensil is a spoon or a stirrer. 
     
     
         66 . The utensil according to  claim 65 , wherein said utensil consists of materials that are soluble in said base liquid. 
     
     
         67 . A single composition of matter comprising a plurality of additives to be added to a base liquid, wherein:
 said plurality comprises at least three different additives independently selected from a colorant, a flavoring, a sweetener, a pharmaceutical, a nutrient, a creamer, tea, coffee, an agent to promote mixing of said base liquid and said additive, a carbonating agent or a preservative; and   each additive is manually separable from another by a user.   
     
     
         68 . The container according to  claim 1  additionally comprising an LCD display. 
     
     
         69 . The container according to  claim 68 , wherein said LCD display is a temperature indicator. 
     
     
         70 . The container according to  claim 68 , wherein said LCD display indicates to the user an additive chamber has been opened. 
     
     
         71 . The container according to  claim 1 , additionally comprising a device for heating or cooling said base liquid prior to said base liquid exiting said outlet. 
     
     
         72 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said additive is sealed in said additive chamber under an inert gas. 
     
     
         73 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said additive chambers are arranged in a grid-like array. 
     
     
         74 . The container according to  claim 73 , wherein the same additive is present in a plurality of chambers, wherein said plurality of chamber comprising the same additive is aligned in a row or a column of said grid. 
     
     
         75 . The container according to  claim 74 , wherein each of the plurality of chambers comprising the same additive comprises a different quantity or concentration of said same additive. 
     
     
         76 . The container according to  claim 75 , wherein the quantity or concentration of said same additive is 1× in a first of said plurality of chambers, 2× in a second of said plurality of chambers, 4× in a third of said plurality of chambers and if said plurality of chambers is greater than three, twice as much as the preceding chamber in each of the subsequent chambers comprising the same additive. 
     
     
         77 . The container according to  claim 76 , wherein the base liquid is a white or colorless paint; and the container comprises a 4 by 4 array of additive chambers comprising the colorants cyan, yellow, magenta and black. 
     
     
         78 . The container according to  claim 1 , additionally comprising a structure for facilitating the mixing of said additive and said base liquid, wherein said structure is in communication with said main chamber. 
     
     
         79 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said additive chamber is pressurized. 
     
     
         80 . A method of providing improved personalized beverage selection from a vending machine comprising the steps of:
 stocking said vending machine with a plurality of bottles filled with the same base liquid; stocking said vending machine with a plurality of separately packaged additives comprising at least four different individually packaged flavoring additives; and   offering for sale from said vending machine in a single purchase a bottle of said base liquid and a choice of one of said flavoring additive packages.   
     
     
         81 . The method according to  claim 80 , wherein a portion of each of said flavoring additive packages additionally comprises caffeine. 
     
     
         82 . The method according to  claim 80 , wherein a first portion of each of said flavoring additive packages additionally comprises an artificial sweetener and a second portion of each of said flavoring additive packages comprises a natural sweetener. 
     
     
         83 . A personalized beverage vending machine comprising:
 storage space for a plurality of bottles filled with the same base liquid; and   storage space for a plurality of separately packaged additives, wherein said vending machine comprises selection means to allow a user to choose at least one of said additives in a single purchase; and wherein upon said purchase and said choice of additive, said machine provides said user with a bottle of said base. liquid and the at least one selected additive package.   
     
     
         84 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said additive chamber comprises a liquid permeable inner chamber permanently affixed to the inner surface of said additive chamber, wherein said additive is within said inner chamber. 
     
     
         85 . A kit consisting essentially of:
 at least one container filled with an edible base liquid;   a plurality of additives to be added to the base liquid, wherein said plurality of additives comprises at least three additives independently selected from a colorant, a flavoring, a sweetener, a pharmaceutical, a nutrient, a creamer, tea, coffee, an agent to promote mixing of said base liquid and said additive, a carbonating agent or a preservative; and   a holder for holding said container and said plurality of additives together in a single portable package.   
     
     
         86 . The kit according to  claim 85 , wherein said plurality of additives is a single composition of matter. 
     
     
         87 . A programmable liquid container comprising:
 a vessel having a main chamber fillable with a base liquid, an inner vessel surface in physical communication with said main chamber, an outer vessel surface, and a plurality of sealable outlets; and   a plurality of sealed additive chambers corresponding in number to the number of sealable outlets, each sealed additive chamber being in communication with one of said outlets and each sealed additive chamber comprising an independently selected additive, wherein:   each additive chamber is openable by a user when said vessel is filled with a base liquid by inserting a piercing device through an outlet into the vessel to open said outlet;   and opening an additive chamber associated with said opened outlet by inserting said piercing device through said opened outlet, wherein opening an additive chamber places any additive contained therein in communication with said base liquid prior in said vessel.   
     
     
         88 . The container according to  claim 87 , wherein said base liquid is an edible base liquid. 
     
     
         89 . The container according to  claim 87 , wherein said edible base liquid is a fruit juice. 
     
     
         90 . The container according to  claim 87 , wherein said piercing device is a piercing straw. 
     
     
         91 . The container according to  claim 87 , wherein an outlet is in communication with an additive chamber through a conduit. 
     
     
         92 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said vessel is filled with a base liquid and is sealed under pressure and wherein the force required to open any of said additive chambers prior to releasing said pressure is selected from at least 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 or 1.5 times greater than the force that can be generated by the finger of an average five-year old. 
     
     
         93 . The container according to  claim 92 , wherein the force required to open any of said additive chambers prior to releasing said pressure is selected from at least 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 or 1.5 times greater than the force that can be generated by the finger of an average adult male. 
     
     
         94 . The container according to  claim 92  or  93 , wherein the force required to open any of said additive chambers after releasing said pressure is less than the force that can be generated by the finger of an average five-year old. 
     
     
         95 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said additive is a liquid additive in a frangible holder, wherein said frangible holder is present in said additive chamber. 
     
     
         96 . The container according to  claim 95 , wherein at least a portion of an inner wall of said additive chamber comprises a rigid region that provides sufficient resistance to cause release of the additive from the frangible holder, when the frangible holder is pressed against said rigid region with sufficient manual force. 
     
     
         97 . The container according to  claim 95 , wherein at least a portion of an inner wall of said additive chamber comprises jagged or pointed elements that cause the frangible holder to release the additive container therein when said frangible holder contacts said inner wall portion under manual force. 
     
     
         98 . A method of manufacturing a container according to  claim 55  comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a flexible outer portion of said container, wherein said outer portion comprises outward protrusions that define a portion of an additive chamber in the final assembled container and that corresponds in shape to at least a portion of the final assembled container; 
 b. providing an inner portion of less flexibility than said outer portion, wherein said outer portion corresponds in shape to the whole container, 
 c. fitting said outer portion over said inner portion; and 
 d. fusing said inner portion to said outer portion. 
 
     
     
         99 . The method according to  claim 98 , wherein said inner portion additionally comprises apertures align with at least a portion of the outward protrusions when the inner portion and outer portion are fused to one another. 
     
     
         100 . The method according to  claim 98 , wherein said inner portion additionally comprises an element that is capable of opening when manual pressure is applied to the outer protrusion in the assembled container. 
     
     
         101 . The method according to  claim 98 , comprising the additional step filling said additive chambers with one or more additives. 
     
     
         102 . The method according to  claim 99 , comprising the additional steps of:
 e. filling said additive chambers with one or more additives from the inside of said container through said apertures; and   f. sealing said apertures.   
     
     
         103 . A method of manufacturing a container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container comprises a top portion, a body portion, and means for applying sufficient pressure to an additive chamber to cause said chamber to open and release the additive container therein into a base liquid contained in said container, wherein said top portion and body portion are fused to one another to create said container, said method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a top portion having an inside surface and an outside surface and plurality of open additive chambers attached to said inside surface;   b. filling said additive chambers with an independently selected additive;   c. sealing said additive chambers; and   d. fusing said top portion to a body portion to form said container.   
     
     
         104 . The container according to  claim 55 , wherein the additive is a liquid and wherein said additive is released from the additive chamber through an opening of a sufficiently small diameter to create a stream. 
     
     
         105 . The container according to  claim 55 , wherein the additive is a liquid and wherein said additive is released through an opening located in the bottom third of the additive chamber. 
     
     
         106 . The container according to  claim 55 , wherein said plurality of additive chambers are radially arranged around a circumference of said container. 
     
     
         107 . The container according to  claim 106 , wherein said container is a bottle comprising an outlet having a first circumference and a midsection having a second circumference, wherein said second circumference is greater than said first circumference and wherein said additive chambers are located between said outlet and said midsection. 
     
     
         108 . The container according to  claim 107 , wherein said additive chambers are located on a portion of the bottle having a circumference greater than the first circumference and less than the second circumference. 
     
     
         109 . A method of manufacturing a container according to  claim 55  comprising the steps of:
 a. providing at least a portion of said vessel, wherein said portion comprises an outward protrusion on its surface; and 
 b. affixing a membrane on an inner surface of said vessel portion so as to block communication between said protrusion and said interior space of said vessel portion, thus forming a chamber defined by said protrusion and said membrane. 
 
     
     
         110 . The method according to  claim 109 , wherein said protrusion is filled with an additive prior to affixing said membrane on said inner surface of said vessel portion. 
     
     
         111 . A method of manufacturing a container according to  claim 55  comprising the steps of:
 a. providing an additive chamber element, said element comprising a flange portion and a convex portion; 
 b. affixing said flange portion of said chamber element to the outer surface of said vessel, so as to form an additive chamber defined by the convex portion of said additive chamber element and the outer surface of said vessel. 
 
     
     
         112 . The method according to  claim 111 , wherein said vessel additionally comprises an aperture that aligns with at least a portion of the convex portion of said element when the flange of said element is affixed to the outer surface of said vessel.