Beverage Packaging Configuration with a Short Fill Level for Mixed Drinks

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a beverage packaging configuration whereby mix and base beverages are packaged in a single package, and the base beverage containers are not filled completely with the base beverage. The space within each base beverage container remaining above the base beverage volume provides space in the base container for the correct proportion of at least one mix beverage to be poured into the base beverage container to create a reproducible mixed drink. One exemplary embodiment provides for a single mix beverage container which contains a volume of mix beverage equally divisible between the volume remaining in a plurality of base beverage containers. Another exemplary embodiment includes more than one mix beverage container which may contain different mix beverages. This invention removes the necessity of transporting a dispensing apparatus, such as a shot glass or volumetric dispenser or measuring glass, and also removes the need for a separate cup or glass in which to mix the base and mix beverages together, as provided in U.S. Pat. No. 8,181,781.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A product configuration comprising:
 a number being a plurality of base beverage containers, each containing a base beverage, each said base beverage container having a top surface;   a mix beverage container, containing a mix beverage;   a package designed to contain said plurality of base beverage containers and said mix beverage container;   wherein;   the base beverage containers are filled with base beverage up to a short-fill level, wherein the short-fill level is not at the top surface of the base beverage container;   the base beverage container has a top fill boundary above the short-fill level; and   volume V1 of space between the short-fill level and the top fill boundary in each base beverage container is equal to volume of mix beverage in the mix beverage container divided substantially equally by the number of base beverage containers   
     
     
         2 . The product configuration of  claim 1 , wherein said top fill boundary corresponds with said top surface of said base beverage containers. 
     
     
         3 . The product configuration of  claim 1 , wherein said top fill boundary is lower than said top surface of said base beverage containers. 
     
     
         4 . The product configuration of  claim 3 , wherein said mix beverage container has a plurality of markings thereon, wherein said volumetric space between each two adjacent said markings is substantially equal to V1. 
     
     
         5 . The product configuration of  claim 1 , wherein said mix beverage container and said plurality of base beverage containers are in a close packed configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The product configuration of  claim 5 , wherein said mix beverage container and said plurality of base beverage containers are enclosed within external packaging. 
     
     
         7 . The product configuration of  claim 1 , wherein the base beverage containers contain at least two different types of base beverages. 
     
     
         8 . A product configuration comprising:
 a number being a plurality of base beverage containers, each containing a base beverage, each said base beverage container having a top surface;   two mix beverage containers, each containing the same mix beverage a package designed to contain said plurality of base beverage containers and said plurality of mix beverage containers;   wherein;   the base beverage containers are filled with base beverage up to a short-fill level, wherein the short-fill level is not at the top surface of the base beverage container;   the base beverage container has a top fill boundary above the short-fill level; and   volume of the space between the short-fill level and the top fill boundary in each base beverage container is equal to total volume of mix beverage in the plurality of mix beverage containers divided substantially equally by the number of base beverage containers.   
     
     
         9 . The product configuration of  claim 8 , wherein said top fill boundary corresponds with said top surface of said base beverage containers. 
     
     
         10 . The product configuration of  claim 8 , wherein said top fill boundary is lower than said top surface of said base beverage containers. 
     
     
         11 . The product configuration of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of mix beverage containers have at least one marking thereon to indicate quantity of mix beverage to pour into each base beverage. 
     
     
         12 . The product configuration of  claim 8 , wherein each of said plurality of mix beverage containers contains an equal volume of mix beverage. 
     
     
         13 . A product configuration comprising:
 a number being a plurality of base beverage containers, each containing a base beverage, each said base beverage container having a top surface;   a first mix beverage container containing a first mix beverage,   a second mix beverage container containing a second mix beverage, said second mix beverage container having a top surface;   a package designed to contain said plurality of base beverage containers and said two mix beverage containers;   wherein;   the base beverage containers are filled with base beverage up to a short-fill level, wherein the short-fill level is not at the top surface of the base beverage container;   the base beverage container has a top fill boundary above the short-fill level; and   the second mix beverage container is filled with a second mix beverage up to a short-fill level, wherein the short-fill level is not at the top surface of the mix beverage container;   the volume of space between the short-fill level and the top fill boundary in the second mix beverage container is equal to the volume of first mix beverage in the first mix beverage container, wherein the entire first mix beverage can be poured into the second mix beverage container to create a mixture of first and second mix beverage which has a total volume of mixture equal to the combined volume of first mix beverage in the first mix beverage container and second mix beverage in the second mix beverage container;   the volume of space between the short-fill level and the top fill boundary in each of the base beverage containers is equal to said total volume of said mixture of first and second mix beverage divided substantially equally by the number of base beverage containers; such that said mixture of first and second mix beverages can be poured into the space remaining in each of the base beverage containers, to create a proportional and reproducible mixed drink in each base beverage container.   
     
     
         14 . The product configuration of  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of base beverage containers have at least one marking thereon to indicate the quantity of mix beverage to pour into each base beverage. 
     
     
         15 . The product configuration of  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of mix beverage containers have at least one marking thereon to indicate the quantity of mix beverage to pour into each base beverage. 
     
     
         16 . A product configuration comprising:
 a number being a plurality of base beverage containers, each containing a base beverage, each said base beverage container having a top surface;   a plurality of mix beverage containers each containing a different mix beverage, wherein the different mix beverages have a total combined volume;   a package designed to contain said plurality of base beverage containers and said plurality of mix beverage containers;   wherein;   the base beverage containers are filled with base beverage up to a short-fill level, wherein the short-fill level is not at the top surface of the base beverage container;   the base beverage containers have a top fill boundary above the short-fill level; and   the volume of space between the short-fill level and the top fill boundary in each of the base beverage containers is equal to the total combined volume of mix beverages divided substantially equally by the number of base beverage containers; such that the total combined volume of mix beverages can be poured into the space remaining in each of the base beverage containers, to create a proportional and reproducible mixed drink in each base beverage container.   
     
     
         17 . The product configuration of  claim 16 , wherein said plurality of base beverage containers have at least one marking thereon to indicate the quantity of mix beverage to pour into each base beverage. 
     
     
         18 . The product configuration of  claim 16 , wherein said plurality of mix beverage containers have at least one marking thereon to indicate the quantity of mix beverage to pour into each base beverage. 
     
     
         19 . The product configuration of  claim 16 , wherein said top fill boundary corresponds with said top surface of said base beverage containers. 
     
     
         20 . The product configuration of  claim 16 , wherein said top fill boundary is lower than said top surface of said base beverage containers. 
     
     
         21 . The product configuration of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of mix beverage containers is equal to two.