Container for Dispensing Multiple Doses of a Concentrated Liquid

Abstract

A container is provided for dispensing a liquid concentrate 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, a jet that minimizes splashing when the liquid concentrate impacts a target liquid, 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.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A container for dispensing multiple doses of a concentrated liquid comprising:
 a container body having a closed bottom end, a top end with a neck defining 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, the sidewall including opposing front and rear walls and a pair of opposing end walls extending therebetween, the opposing front and rear walls having a maximum width that is greater than a maximum width of the end walls;   a lid including a base portion and a hinged cover portion, an underside of the base portion having a depending skirt attached to the neck of the container body with a snap-fit, the depending skirt and the neck of the container body being configured to limit rotational movement of the lid relative to the container body, the base portion of the lid having a projecting spout defining an exit path aligned with the outlet opening of the container body and through which the concentrated liquid can be dispensed;   a flexible plate valve supported by the spout of the base portion of the lid and disposed in the exit path, the valve movable from a closed position, whereby flow of concentrated liquid through the exit path is substantially blocked when the sidewall of the container body is unsqueezed, to an open position, whereby the concentrated liquid from the interior of the container body can be dispensed through the valve in a jet when the front and rear walls of the sidewall of the container body are squeezed; and   the concentrated liquid comprising about 30 to about 80 percent water by weight of the concentrate; at least about 15 percent acid by weight of the concentrate; up to about 10 percent buffer by weight of the concentrate, the buffer selected from the group consisting of a potassium salt of an acid, a sodium salt of an acid, and a combination thereof; and about 1 to about 30 percent flavoring by weight of the concentrate, wherein the acid and buffer are included in amounts effective to provide a pH less than about 2.4.   
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the cover portion is movable for selectively covering the valve. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the base portion of the lid has an exterior skirt with a smooth transition to the sidewall of the container body below a shoulder. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , 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. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the lid includes means for providing at least two audible and/or tactile responses during movement of the cover portion of the lid toward a closed position covering the valve. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the cover portion of the lid has means for blocking shifting of the valve from the closed position to the open position when the cover portion is in a closed position covering the valve. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the concentrate has a viscosity of about 1 to about 25 cP at 20° C. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the concentrated liquid further comprises one or more of caffeine, vitamins, and electrolytes. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the flavoring comprises one or more of ethanol and propylene glycol. 
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the acid of the concentrated liquid comprises one or more of citric acid and malic acid, and the buffer comprises one or more of potassium citrate and sodium citrate. 
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the valve has intersecting slits forming generally triangular flaps, the flaps of the valve movable from a concave, closed position, whereby flow of concentrated liquid through the exit path is substantially blocked when the sidewall of the container body is unsqueezed, to a convex, open position, whereby the concentrated liquid from the interior of the container body can be dispensed through the valve in the jet when the front and rear walls of the sidewall of the container body are squeezed. 
     
     
         25 . A container for dispensing multiple doses of a liquid beverage concentrate comprising:
 a container body having a closed bottom end, a top end with a neck defining 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, the sidewall including opposing front and rear walls and a pair of opposing end walls extending therebetween, the opposing front and rear walls having a maximum width that is greater than a maximum width of the end walls;   a lid including a base portion and a hinged cover portion, an underside of the base portion having a depending skirt attached to the neck of the container body with a snap-fit, the depending skirt and the neck of the container body being configured to limit rotational movement of the lid relative to the container body, the base portion of the lid having a projecting spout defining an exit path aligned with the outlet opening of the container body and through which the concentrated liquid can be dispensed;   a flexible plate valve supported by the spout of the base portion of the lid and disposed in the exit path, the valve movable from a closed position, whereby flow of concentrated liquid through the exit path is substantially blocked when the sidewall of the container body is unsqueezed, to an open position, whereby the concentrated liquid from the interior of the container body can be dispensed through the valve in a jet when the front and rear walls of the sidewall of the container body are squeezed; and   the concentrated liquid comprising about 30 to about 65 percent water by weight of the concentrate; at least about 15 percent acid by weight of the concentrate; up to about 10 percent buffer by weight of the concentrate, the buffer comprising one or more of a potassium salt of an acid and a sodium salt of an acid; and about 1 to about 30 percent flavoring by weight of the concentrate, wherein the acid and buffer are included in in amounts effective to provide a pH less than about 2.4.   
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein the cover portion is movable for selectively covering the valve and the lid includes means for providing at least two audible and/or tactile responses during movement of the cover portion of the lid toward a closed position covering the valve. 
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 26 , wherein the base portion of the lid has an exterior skirt with a smooth transition to the sidewall of the container body below a shoulder, and 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. 
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 27 , wherein the cover portion of the lid has means for blocking shifting of the valve from the closed position to the open position when the cover portion is in a closed position covering the valve. 
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein the concentrate has a viscosity of about 1 to about 25 cP at 20° C. 
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein the valve has intersecting slits forming generally triangular flaps, the flaps of the valve movable from a concave, closed position, whereby flow of concentrated liquid through the exit path is substantially blocked when the sidewall of the container body is unsqueezed, to a convex, open position, whereby the concentrated liquid from the interior of the container body can be dispensed through the valve in the jet when the front and rear walls of the sidewall of the container body are squeezed. 
     
     
         31 . A container for dispensing multiple doses of a concentrated liquid comprising:
 a container body having a closed bottom end, a top end with a neck defining 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, the sidewall including opposing front and rear walls and a pair of opposing end walls extending therebetween, the opposing front and rear walls having a maximum width that is greater than a maximum width of the end walls;   a lid including a base portion and a hinged cover portion, an underside of the base portion having a depending skirt attached to the neck of the container body with a snap-fit, the depending skirt and the neck of the container body being configured to limit rotational movement of the lid relative to the container body, the base portion of the lid having a projecting spout defining an exit path aligned with the outlet opening of the container body and through which the concentrated liquid can be dispensed;   a flexible plate valve supported by the spout of the base portion of the lid and disposed in the exit path, the valve movable from a closed position, whereby flow of concentrated liquid through the exit path is substantially blocked when the sidewall of the container body is unsqueezed, to an open position, whereby the concentrated liquid from the interior of the container body can be dispensed through the valve in a jet when the front and rear walls of the sidewall of the container body are squeezed; and   the concentrated liquid comprising about 30 to about 80 percent water by weight of the concentrate; at least about 15 percent acid by weight of the concentrate; up to about 10 percent of one or more of a potassium salt of an acid and a sodium salt of an acid; and about 1 to about 30 percent flavoring by weight of the concentrate.   
     
     
         32 . The container of  claim 31 , wherein the concentrated liquid further comprises one or more of caffeine, vitamins, and electrolytes. 
     
     
         33 . The container of  claim 31 , wherein the flavoring comprises one or more of ethanol and propylene glycol. 
     
     
         34 . The container of  claim 31 , wherein the acid of the concentrated liquid comprises one or more of citric acid and malic acid, and the buffer comprises one or more of potassium citrate and sodium citrate. 
     
     
         35 . The container of  claim 31 , wherein the acid and buffer are included in a ratio of about 7:1 to about 15:1. 
     
     
         36 . The container of  claim 31 , wherein the valve has intersecting slits forming generally triangular flaps, the flaps of the valve movable from a concave, closed position, whereby flow of concentrated liquid through the exit path is substantially blocked when the sidewall of the container body is unsqueezed, to a convex, open position, whereby the concentrated liquid from the interior of the container body can be dispensed through the valve in the jet when the front and rear walls of the sidewall of the container body are squeezed.