Containers and methods for dispensing multiple doses of a concentrated liquid, and shelf stable concentrated liquids

Abstract

Containers ( 10 ) and methods are provided for dispensing a liquid concentrate ( 20 ) utilizing one or more desirable properties including a generally consistent discharge across a range of squeeze forces, a generally consistent discharge with the same force without significant dependence on the amount of liquid concentrate in the container, a substantially dripless or leak proof outlet opening ( 31 ), a jet ( 34 ) that minimizes splashing when the liquid concentrate impacts a target liquid ( 43 ), and a jet that maximizes mixing between the liquid concentrate and the target liquid to produce a generally homogenous mixture without the use of extraneous utensils or shaking. Also provided are liquid beverage concentrates that can be cold filled during packaging, while maintaining shelf stability for at least twelve months at ambient temperatures. Concentrate can have a combination of low pH and high alcohol content such as a pH less than 3.5 and alcohol content greater than 5 percent by weight.

1 . A packaged liquid beverage concentrate having a container and a plurality of doses of liquid beverage concentrate therein, the container comprising:
 a container body having a closed bottom end, a top end having an outlet opening and a sidewall extending between the top and bottom ends to define an interior of the container body accessible through the outlet of the top end, the sidewall being flexible and resilient such that it can be squeezed to force the liquid beverage concentrate from the interior of the container body and through the outlet opening; and   an exit path configured for dispensing the liquid beverage concentrate in a jet when the sidewall is squeezed with a maximum variance in thrust of a jet of liquid concentrate exiting the container for a hard squeeze force resulting in a mass flow rate of about 2.1 g/s as compared to a soft squeeze force resulting in a mass flow rate of about 1.4 g/s is less than about 8000 g*mm/s 2 .   
     
     
         2 . The packaged liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the variance in thrust is less than about 6000 g*mm/s 2 . 
     
     
         3 . The packaged liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the LCDFV is between 1 and 4. 
     
     
         4 . The packaged liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the exit path is configured such that the Mixing Ability Value of a jet of liquid concentrate exiting the container for a squeeze force resulting in a mass flow rate of about 1.4 g/s is equal to or less than 2. 
     
     
         5 . The package liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the exit path is configured such that the Impact Splatter Factor of a jet of liquid concentrate exiting the container for a squeeze force resulting in a mass flow rate of about 1.4 g/s is equal to or less than 2. 
     
     
         6 . The packaged liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid attached to the container body and having a cover portion for selectively closing the outlet opening and blocking the exit path. 
     
     
         7 . The packaged liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 6 , wherein a base portion of the lid has an exterior skirt with a smooth transition to the sidewall of the container body below a shoulder. 
     
     
         8 . The packaged liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 7 , wherein the cover portion of the lid has an exterior portion with a smooth transition to the exterior skirt of the base portion of the lid when the cover portion of the lid is seated on the base portion of the lid. 
     
     
         9 . The packaged liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall has a locator region that is inwardly depressed compared to surrounding portions of the sidewall and is closer to the shoulder than to the bottom end of the container body effective to provide a tactile indication of where force should be applied when squeezing the sidewall to force the liquid beverage concentrate from the interior of the container body and through the valve. 
     
     
         10 . The packaged liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 1 , further comprising means for limiting displacement of the sidewall. 
     
     
         11 . The packaged liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein movement of the cover portion of the lid toward a closed position blocking flow results in at least two audible and tactile responses. 
     
     
         12 . The packaged liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 1 , further including means for providing audible and/or tactile response during movement of the cover portion of the lid toward a closed position blocking flow. 
     
     
         13 . The packaged liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the cover portion of the lid has means for blocking the exit path. 
     
     
         14 . The packaged liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 1 , further comprising a Drip Index Value of zero. 
     
     
         15 . A packaged product of a container having a plurality of doses of liquid concentrate therein, the container comprising:
 a container body having an interior to store the liquid concentrate therein defined by a sidewall extending between a closed first end and an at least partially open second end, the sidewall being resilient and flexible, configured to deflect under pressure to force the liquid concentrate from the interior of the container body and through the at least partially open second end and to return at least substantially to its original configuration; and   a nozzle of the exit path configured to produce a jet of liquid concentrate having a Liquid Concentrate Performance Value 4 or less upon application of a force on the flexible portion of the sidewall producing a mass flow rate between about 1.0 g/s and 1.5 g/s.   
     
     
         16 . The packaged product of  claim 15 , wherein the nozzle is a valve that includes a plurality of slits forming a plurality of flaps movable between a sealed position where substantially no force is applied to the flexible portion of the sidewall and a flexed position allowing the liquid concentrate therethrough where force is applied to the flexible portion of the sidewall. 
     
     
         17 . The packaged product of  claim 15  configured to dispense 4 cc of concentrate in between 1-3 seconds. 
     
     
         18 . The packaged product of  claim 15  configured to have a LCDFV of between 1 and 4. 
     
     
         19 . The packaged product of  claim 15 , wherein the nozzle is configured such that the maximum variance in thrust of a jet of liquid concentrate exiting the container for a hard squeeze force resulting in a mass flow rate of about 2.1 g/s as compared to a soft squeeze force resulting in a mass flow rate of about 1.4 g/s is less than about 8000 g*mm/s 2 . 
     
     
         20 . The packaged product of  claim 19 , wherein the variance in thrust is less than about 6000 g*mm/s 2 . 
     
     
         21 . The packaged product of  claim 20 , wherein the sidewall has a grip region depressed with respect to adjacent portions of the sidewall, the grip region positioned closer to the second end than the first end to indicate that squeezing force should be applied closer to the second end than the first end. 
     
     
         22 . The packaged product of  claim 15 , further comprising a reclosable lid secured to the at least partially open second end and defining a fluid exit path such that pressure forcing the liquid concentrate from the interior of the container body forces the liquid concentrate out through the nozzle of the exit path; and
 means for providing audible and/or tactile response during closing of the lid.   
     
     
         23 . The packaged product of  claim 15 , further comprising a Drip Index Value of zero. 
     
     
         24 . A method of creating a mixture using a jet of liquid concentrate from a container, the method comprising:
 creating a differential pressure between atmosphere and an interior of the container sufficient to force the concentrate from the container, the container having a plurality of doses of the liquid concentrate stored therein and an outlet opening with a nozzle;   dispensing a jet of liquid concentrate from the container through the nozzle having a mass flow between 1.0 g/s and 5 g/s and, more preferably between 1.0 g/s and 1.5 g/s;   impacting a target liquid within a target container with the jet such that the impact does not displace a significant amount of fluid from within the target container;   mixing the target liquid and the liquid concentrate into a mixture with the jet.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the impacting the target liquid within the target container produces an Impact Splatter Factor of less than 3. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the mixing the target liquid and the liquid concentrate with the jet includes mixing the target liquid and the liquid concentrate into a generally homogenous mixture having a delta pH of 0.3 between the bottom and the top of the target container within 10 seconds of the impacting the target liquid. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the mixing the target liquid and the liquid concentrate with the jet produces a Mixing Ability Value of less than 3. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the dispensing the jet of the liquid concentrate from the container through the nozzle member has a mass flow between 1.0 g/s and 5 g/s and includes dispensing a dose of the liquid concentrate within 0.3 seconds to 3.0 seconds. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the step of creating a differential pressure further includes applying pressure to the sidewall of the container at a locator portion depressed with respect to adjacent portions of the sidewall with a center located on a half of the container closer to the outlet opening. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the dispensing the jet of the liquid concentrate from the container through the nozzle includes dispensing the jet of the liquid concentrate through a flexible nozzle member having a two intersecting slits therethrough that deflect with pressure applied to the sidewall and seal without pressure applied to the sidewall. 
     
     
         31 - 86 . (canceled)