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 packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate for dispensing multiple doses of the flavored liquid beverage concentrate comprising:
 a container body having a closed bottom end which acts as a secure base for the container to rest upon, 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 spout defining an exit path aligned with the outlet opening of the container body and through which the flavored liquid beverage concentrate 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 the flavored liquid beverage concentrate through the exit path is substantially blocked when the sidewall of the container body is unsqueezed, to an open position, whereby the flavored liquid beverage concentrate 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 flavored liquid beverage concentrate comprising:
 about 30 to about 80 percent water by weight of the flavored liquid beverage concentrate; 
 acid and buffer in an acid to buffer ratio of about 1:1 to about 60:1, the acid and buffer included in relative amounts effective to provide a pH of the flavored liquid beverage concentrate of less than about 2.4, and 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 
 flavoring, 
 wherein the flavored liquid beverage concentrate has a viscosity of about 1 to about 75 cP at 20° C. 
   
     
     
         15 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 14 , wherein the acid and buffer are included in an acid to buffer ratio of about 7:1 to about 60:1. 
     
     
         16 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 14 , wherein the acid and buffer are included in an acid to buffer ratio of about 7:1 to about 40:1. 
     
     
         17 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 14 , wherein the flavored liquid beverage concentrate further comprises a sweetener. 
     
     
         18 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 17 , wherein the sweetener comprises one or more of erythritol, sucralose, aspartame, stevia, saccharine, monatin, luo han guo, neotame, Rebaudioside A, and a cyclamate. 
     
     
         19 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 14 , wherein the flavored liquid beverage concentrate further comprises a color. 
     
     
         20 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 14 , wherein the flavored liquid beverage concentrate further comprises one or more of caffeine, an electrolyte, a vitamin, and a mineral. 
     
     
         21 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 14 , wherein the acid is one or more of malic acid and citric acid. 
     
     
         22 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 14 , wherein the buffer is one or more of sodium citrate and potassium citrate. 
     
     
         23 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 14 , wherein the buffer is one or more of sodium citrate and potassium citrate and the acid comprises one or more of malic acid and citric acid. 
     
     
         24 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 14 , wherein the cover portion is movable for selectively covering the valve. 
     
     
         25 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 24 , 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. 
     
     
         26 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 25 , 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. 
     
     
         27 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 14 , 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. 
     
     
         28 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 26 , 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 packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 14 , wherein the flavored liquid beverage concentrate has a viscosity of about 1 to about 25 cP at 20° C. 
     
     
         30 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 14 , wherein the flavoring comprises one or more of ethanol and propylene glycol. 
     
     
         31 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate 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 the flavored liquid beverage concentrate through the exit path is substantially blocked when the sidewall of the container body is unsqueezed, to a convex, open position, whereby the flavored liquid beverage concentrate 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. 
     
     
         32 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 14 , wherein the cover portion of the lid is generally dome-shaped. 
     
     
         33 . The packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 14 , wherein the container body contains a quantity of about 1 to about 6 oz. of concentrate. 
     
     
         34 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 14 , wherein the spout projects from the base portion of the lid. 
     
     
         35 . A packaged flavored liquid beverage concentrate for dispensing multiple doses of the flavored liquid beverage concentrate comprising:
 a container body having a closed bottom end which acts as a secure base for the container to rest upon, 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 an opening aligned with the outlet opening of the container body and through which the flavored liquid beverage concentrate can be dispensed;   a valve supported by the base portion of the lid, the valve movable from a closed position, whereby flow of the flavored liquid beverage concentrate through the opening of the base portion of the lid is substantially blocked when the sidewall of the container body is unsqueezed, to an open position, whereby the flavored liquid beverage concentrate from the interior of the container body can be dispensed through the opening of the base portion of the lid and the valve in a jet when the front and rear walls of the sidewall of the container body are squeezed; and   the flavored liquid beverage concentrate comprising:
 about 30 to about 80 percent water by weight of the flavored liquid beverage concentrate; 
 acid and buffer in an acid to buffer ratio of about 1:1 to about 60:1, the acid and buffer included in relative amounts effective to provide a pH of the flavored liquid beverage concentrate of less than about 2.4, and 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 
 flavoring, 
 wherein the flavored liquid beverage concentrate has a viscosity of about 1 to about 75 cP at 20° C.