Receptacle

Abstract

A receptacle for containing a powder and for mixing the powder with a liquid into a mixed product. The receptacle comprises a body at least partly comprising a flexible material, the body being adapted to be collapsible when containing the powder and to be expandable when receiving the liquid, a conduit being connected to the body and comprising a first and a second open end, where the first open end is arranged outside the body and the second open end is arranged in the inner volume of the body so that the conduit provides fluid communication between the outside and the inner volume of the body, the first open end being releasably connected to a closing member for blocking access through the first open end, the the receptacle further comprising a filter element adapted to be connected to the second open end of the conduit.

Claims

1. A receptacle for containing a powder and for mixing the powder with a liquid into a mixed product, the receptacle comprising: a body at least partly comprising a flexible material, the body being of a type that is at least adapted to be collapsible when containing the powder and to be expandable when receiving the liquid, a conduit being connected to the body and comprising a first and a second open end, where the first open end is arranged outside the body and the second open end is arranged in the inner volume of the body so that the conduit provides fluid communication between the outside and the inner volume of the body, and where the first open end is releasably connected to a closing member for blocking access through the first open end, wherein the receptacle further comprises a filter element adapted to be connected to the second open end of the conduit.

2. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the filter element is adapted to be releasably connected to the second open end of the conduit.

3. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the filter element is adapted to be connected to the second open end of the conduit by being adapted to be inserted through the first open end and moved to the second open end of the conduit.

4. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the filter element and/or the conduit comprise a rigid material.

5. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the filter element comprises an elongated shape.

6. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the filter element comprises a hollow structure.

7. A receptacle according to claim 6, wherein the hollow structure of the filter element is at least partly conically shaped.

8. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the filter element comprises a ring base for attachment to the second open end of the conduit.

9. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the filter element comprises at least one filtering pore, thereby providing fluid communication between the outside and the inner volume of the body, when the filter element is attached to the second open end of the conduit.

10. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the filter element comprises at least a first and a second filtering pore, where the first filtering pore is arranged closer than the second filtering pore to the second open end of the conduit, when the filter element is connected to the second open end, and where the diameter of the first filtering pore is less than the diameter of the second filtering pore.

11. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the filter element comprises a vertex being either truncated or pointed.

12. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the filter element forms part of the conduit, such that the conduit extends from the first open end to the second open end comprising the filter element.

13. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the body defines a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a centre section arranged in between the first and second ends relative to a longitudinal axis of the body, where the cross-sectional area of the body perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is smaller at the centre section than at the first and second ends.

14. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a flexible, liquid impermeable plastic material such as polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or polypropylene, or combinations thereof.

15. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein a mixing mesh is arranged in the inner volume of the body, the mixing mesh comprising a flexible material.

16. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the body is formed by at least one sheet made from a flexible, liquid impermeable material, wherein at least a part of the edge of the sheet is joined, such that the sheet defines the inner volume of the body.

17. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a first and a second sheet made from a flexible, liquid impermeable material, wherein at least a part of the edges of the sheets are joined, such that the sheets define the inner volume of the body.

Description

LIST OF FIGURES

[0061] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the receptacle of the present invention in a cross-sectional view.

[0062] FIG. 2 shows a side view of an embodiment of the filter element.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the filter element according to FIG. 2.

[0064] FIG. 4 shows a side view of an embodiment of the filter element.

[0065] FIG. 5 shows a side view of an embodiment of the filter element.

[0066] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the present invention in a cross-sectional view comprising a mixing mesh.

[0067] FIG. 7 shows a technique to form a body from a single sheet of a flexible, liquid impermeable material.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0068] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the receptacle of the present invention in a cross-sectional view. The receptacle 1 comprises a conduit 2, a body 3, and a filter element 4. The conduit 2 provides fluid communication between the outside 6 and an inner volume 5 of said body 3. Said body 3 comprises a flexible material and is of a type that is at least adapted to be collapsible when containing the powder and to be expandable when receiving the liquid. Said body may comprise two sheets of a flexible and liquid impermeable material, said sheets being joined along their edges 31, thereby encapsulating and defining the inner volume 5. The inner volume 5 may comprise a consumable powder 7.

[0069] The conduit 2 comprises at least two ends; a first open end 21, and a second open end 22, where said first open end 21 protrudes outwards from the body and is in contact with the outside 6, and said second open end 22 protrudes into the inner volume 5 of said body 3. The first open end 21 is releasably connected to a closing member 23 for reversibly blocking access through the first open end 21 and therefore for blocking a flow between the first open end 21 and the second open end 22.

[0070] The joined edges 31 of the body 3, which may be formed by first and second sheets, define a first end 33, a second end 34, and a centre section comprising edges 32, 32. Side edges 35, 35 of the body stretch from said first end 33 to said second end 34. Further, the inner volume 5 comprises a first chamber A partially defined by the first end 33, a second chamber C partially defined by the second end 34, and a centre chamber B in between the first chamber A and the second chamber C, said centre chamber B being partially defined by the edges 32, 32 of the centre section. The centre chamber B is characterised in that its edges 32, 32 may comprise depressions in a direction towards each other, as said edges 32, 32 may at least partly bend towards the inner volume of said body 3. Said depressions and/or edges 32, 32 restrict laminar flow between said two chambers A, C, when the consumable liquid is forced to move from one chamber to the other, e.g. due to shaking of the receptacle 1 and thereby Newton's third law.

[0071] The filter element 4 may be connected to the second open end 22 of the conduit 2, and protrudes into the inner volume 5 of the body 3. The filter element 4 may comprise at least one filtering pore 41. The vertex 42 of the filter element 4 is depicted in a truncated case; in this case, the vertex 42 may be either open or closed, depending on the needed amount of fluid communication between the inner volume 5 and the outside 6 of the body 3.

[0072] A liquid is added to the inner volume 5 of the body 3 through the conduit 2 and filter element 4. Within said inner volume 5, said liquid partly dissolves the powder 7, and by shaking the receptacle 1, an improved mix between said liquid and powder is achieved. The turbulence induced by the centre chamber B ensures improved mixing capabilities of the receptacle 1. When the depressions and/or edges 32, 32 of the centre chamber B have a curved shape, a natural grip for a hand is obtained.

[0073] FIG. 2 shows a side view of an embodiment of the filter element 4. In this embodiment, the filter element 4 comprises a conically shaped portion D, and a cylindrical portion E. A flange 43 may be provided along an open base 44 of the filter element 4. The flange 43 may be used in certain attachment configurations for connecting the filter element 4 to the second open end 22 of the conduit 2. The vertex 42 of the conically shaped portion D may be truncated as depicted in this embodiment, or it may be a single point. The truncated vertex 42 may be either open or closed. The surface of the conically shaped portion D comprises at least one pore 41, but most preferably, a plurality of pores 41 are provided. The pores 41 in combination with an open truncated vertex 42 provide fluid communication between the open base 44 and the inner volume 5 of the body 3, as indicated by the input flow arrow I, and the output flow arrow O. The reverse flows take place, when the mixed liquid and powder leaves the receptacle, i.e. when the user drinks the mixed liquid and powder. The cylindrical portion E is illustrated as not provided with pores 41 for creating a distance between the second open end 22 of the conduit 2 and the pores 41. This may be beneficial as, in a case where the receptacle 1 by accident is turned upside down without a closing member, the powder does not escape the receptacle.

[0074] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a filter element 4 according to FIG. 2, depicted without a flange. For similar parts, similar reference numbers have been used as in FIG. 2.

[0075] FIG. 4 shows a side view of another embodiment of the filter element 4. For similar parts, similar reference numbers have been used as in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the filter element 4 solely comprises a conically shaped portion. The vertex 42 is depicted as a single point, but may instead be truncated as in FIG. 2. The filter element 4 may be used without a flange 43.

[0076] FIG. 5 shows a side view of another embodiment of the filter element 4. For similar parts, similar reference numbers have been used as in FIG. 2. The filter element 4 is solely cylindrically shaped, with a pore-free portion G and a pore 41 portion F. The top end 42 may be either open or closed.

[0077] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the receptacle 1 according to FIG. 1. For similar parts, similar reference numbers have been used as in FIG. 1. A mixing mesh 8 is provided within the inner volume 5 of the body 3, and may be fixed to the body 3. Most preferably, the mixing mesh 8 is arranged within the centre chamber B and joined to the joined edges 31 of the body 3. The mixing mesh 8 does not restrict fluid flow between the second chamber C and the first chamber A, rather said mixing mesh 8 is most preferably arranged such that fluid flow is provided partly through said mixing mesh 8, and partly bypassing said mixing mesh 8.

[0078] FIG. 7 shows a conceptual side view of a way to realize a body 3 from a single sheet 9 of a flexible, liquid impermeable material. The sheet 9 is mirrored along the line M, and the body 3 is formed by bending the sheet 9 along said line M, as indicated by the arrow K. Once bended, parts of the edges 31 are joined to form an inner volume of the body 3. An outline of a conduit 2 is provided for clarity. The depressions, 32 and 32, are depicted as triangular in this embodiment, but other shapes are foreseen as well, as disclosed previously.