Disposable Beverage Container Having A Consumable Retained By Edible Food Packaging

Abstract

A disposable container having an opening configured to receive a liquid and having a consumable retained by an edible food package, the edible food package is connected to an inner wall of the disposable container. The edible food package is configured to dissolve when in contact with a liquid, thereby, releasing the consumable into the disposable cup forming a mixture. The disposable container has a lid with a rotatable barrier member. The rotatable barrier member substantially covers the opening of the disposable container when the lid is connected to the disposable container. The lid is oriented in an open configuration when the barrier member is rotated to align the opening of the barrier member with the opening of the lid, whereby, the mixture is capable of being released from the disposable container

Claims

1. A disposable container, comprising: said disposable container having at least one opening configured to receive a liquid; and, at least one consumable retained by at least one edible food package, said at least one edible food package is connected to an inner wall of said disposable container.

2. The disposable container of claim 1, further comprising said at least one edible food package is configured to dissolve in a liquid, whereby, releasing said at least one consumable into said disposable container forming a mixture.

3. The disposable container of claim 1, further comprising said disposable container is connected to a lid, said lid having at least one opening, said lid having a sealing member.

4. The disposable container of claim 3, further comprising said lid having a removable funnel member connected to said at least one opening of said lid.

5. The disposable container of claim 3, further comprising said lid having a rotatable barrier member, said rotatable barrier member substantially covering said at least one opening of said disposable container when said lid is connected to said disposable container, said rotatable barrier member having at least one opening, said lid is oriented in a closed orientation when said at least one opening of said rotatable barrier member is not in alignment with said at least one opening of said lid, said lid is oriented in an open configuration when said rotatable barrier member is rotated to align at least one opening of said rotatable barrier member with said at least one opening of said lid.

6. The disposable container of claim 1, further comprising said disposable container connected to a barrier member, said barrier member substantially covering said at least one opening of said disposable container, said barrier member having at least one opening.

7. The disposable container of claim 6, further comprising said disposable container connected to a rotatable lid, said rotatable lid having at least one opening, said rotatable lid having a sealing member, said rotatable lid overlaying said barrier member when said rotatable lid is connected to said disposable container, said rotatable lid is oriented in a closed orientation when said at least one opening of said barrier member is not in alignment with said at least one opening of said rotatable lid, said rotatable lid is oriented in an open configuration when said at least one opening of said rotatable lid is aligned with said at least one opening of said barrier member.

8. The disposable container of claim 1, further comprising said inner wall of said disposable container having at least one recess, said at least one recess retains a portion of said at least one consumable, whereby, a layer of edible food packaging covers said at least one recess of said disposable container.

9. The disposable container of claim 8, further comprising said inner wall of said disposable container having a second recess, said second recess retaining a second consumable, a layer of a fluid impermeable material covers said second recess, said second recess is collapsible, whereby, a portion of an outer wall surface of said disposable container located opposite said second recess is configured to be depressed by a user, thereby, forcing said second consumable to break through said layer of fluid impermeable material and to be released into said disposable container.

10. A disposable container, comprising: said disposable container having at least one opening configured to receive a liquid; at least one consumable retained by at least one package, said at least one package is connected to an inner wall of said disposable container; and, a lid connected to said disposable container, said lid comprising at least one opening, a sealing member, a rotatable barrier member, said rotatable barrier member substantially covering said at least one opening of said disposable container when said lid is connected to said disposable container, said rotatable barrier member having at least one opening, said lid is oriented in a closed orientation when said at least one opening of said rotatable barrier member is not in alignment with said at least one opening of said lid, said lid is oriented in an open configuration when said rotatable barrier member is rotated to align at least one opening of said rotatable barrier member with said at least one opening of said lid.

11. The disposable container of claim 10, further comprising said lid having a removable funnel member connected to said at least one opening of said lid.

12. The disposable beverage container of claim 10, further comprising said at least one consumable is configured to dissolve in said liquid, thereby, releasing said at least one consumable into said disposable container forming a mixture.

13. The disposable beverage container of claim 10, further comprising said inner wall of said disposable container having at least one recess, said at least one recess retains a portion of said at least one consumable, whereby, a layer of fluid permeable material covers said at least one recess of said disposable container.

14. The disposable container of claim 13, further comprising said inner wall of said disposable container having a second recess, said second recess retaining a second consumable, a layer of a fluid impermeable material covers said second recess, said second recess is collapsible, whereby, a portion of an outer wall surface located opposite said second recess of said disposable container is configured to be depressed by a user, thereby, forcing said second consumable to break through said layer of fluid impermeable material and to be released into said disposable container.

15. A disposable container, comprising: said disposable container having at least one opening configured to receive a liquid; an inner wall of said disposable container having at least one recess, said at least one recess retains a portion of said at least one consumable, whereby, a layer of fluid permeable material covers said at least one recess of said disposable container, said inner wall of said disposable container having a second recess, said second recess retaining a second consumable, a layer of a fluid impermeable material covers said second recess, said second recess is collapsible, whereby, a portion of an outer wall surface located opposite said second recess of said disposable container is configured to be depressed by a user, thereby, forcing said second consumable to break through said layer of fluid impermeable material and to be released into said disposable container; a barrier member, said barrier member substantially covering said at least one opening of said disposable container, said barrier member having at least one opening; and, a rotatable lid connected to said disposable container, said rotatable lid having at least one opening, said rotatable lid having a sealing member, said rotatable lid overlaying said barrier member when said rotatable lid is connected to said disposable container, said rotatable lid is oriented in a closed orientation when said at least one opening of said barrier member is not in alignment with said at least one opening of said rotatable lid, said rotatable lid is oriented in an open configuration when said at least one opening of said rotatable lid is aligned with said at least one opening of said barrier member.

16. The disposable beverage container of claim 15, further comprising said at least one consumable is configured to dissolve in said liquid, thereby, releasing said at least one consumable into said disposable container forming a mixture.

17. The disposable container of claim 15, further comprising said rotatable lid having a removable funnel member connected to said at least one opening of said lid.

18. The disposable container of claim 17, further comprising said removable funnel member having a temperature reactive color changing material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 is an exploded cut-away view of the novel disposable container having a lid overlaying an opening of the disposable container and an edible food package retaining a consumable connected to an inner wall of the disposable container, the lid has a removable funnel member connected thereto;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a side cut-away view of an embodiment of the novel disposable container having a lid overlaying an opening of the disposable container and an edible food package connected to an inner wall of the disposable container, whereby, the edible food package is dissolved in a liquid and at least one consumable is released into the disposable container forming a mixture, the lid has a removable funnel member connected thereto;

[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective cut-away view of the novel disposable container having a lid connected thereto and the disposable container capable of retaining a liquid, whereby, an edible food package is dissolved in a liquid and at least one consumable is released into the disposable container forming a mixture;

[0027] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the lid having a protrusion;

[0028] FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the lid and sealing member of the lid;

[0029] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the lid having a removable cover;

[0030] FIG. 7 is a side cut-away view of the lid having a rotatable barrier member and a tab, whereby, the lid is oriented in an open configuration when the opening of the barrier member is aligned with the opening of the lid;

[0031] FIG. 8 is a side cut-away view of the lid having a rotatable barrier member and a tab, whereby, the lid is oriented in a closed configuration when the opening of the barrier member is not aligned with the opening of the lid;

[0032] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the lid, the sealing member, the rotatable barrier member, and the disposable container;

[0033] FIG. 10 is an exploded side cut-away view of an alternate embodiment of the rotatable lid having a sealing member overlaying the novel disposable container, the disposable container is connected to a barrier member, the disposable container has at least one recess on an inner wall surface of the disposable container having a layer of fluid permeable material covering the at least one recess, the disposable container has a secondary recess on an inner wall surface of the disposable container having a layer of fluid impermeable material covering the secondary recess; and,

[0034] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the novel disposable container having a portion of an outer wall surface having text.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0035] In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and within which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0036] It will now be seen, referring to FIGS. 1-3 disposable container 1 has opening 2. Consumable 4A (FIG. 2) is retained within edible food package 5. Edible food package 5 is connected to inner wall surface 6 of disposable container 1. Lid 8 has protrusion 24 extending from a surface of lid 8. At least a portion of funnel member 21 is removably connected to an end of protrusion 24. User (FIG. 3) can tear-away at least a portion of funnel member 21 at perforations 22 (FIG. 1). Funnel member 21 has opening 23 configured to receive liquid 3 (FIG. 2). Protrusion 24 of lid 8 can have perforations 22 to detach funnel member 21 from lid 8. FIG. 2 shows edible food package 5 dissolving in liquid 3 and consumable 4A being released from edible food package 5 into liquid 3 forming mixture 7 (FIG. 3).

[0037] It is within the scope of this invention for funnel member 21 to be made of a thermochromatic material including, but not limited to, any temperature reactive color changing material such as ink, pigment, or plastic. It is more desirable for the funnel member to change color when the funnel member is in contact with a liquid to prevent overfilling of the disposable container. A user can visually see the color change of the funnel member from a first color to a second color to identify that a liquid has contacted the funnel member and to signal to a user to stop adding liquid to the novel disposable cup.

[0038] Referring now to FIGS. 4-9, lid 8 has protrusion 24, opening 10, and sealing member 9 (FIGS. 5, and 7-9). FIG. 6 illustrates lid 8 having cover 11. FIGS. 7-9 best illustrate rotatable barrier member 12 having opening 13 and tab 14. FIG. 7 shows lid 8 having open configuration 25 when opening 13 of barrier member 12 is in alignment with opening 10 of lid 8. FIG. 8 shows lid 8 having closed configuration 26 when opening 13 of barrier member 12 is not in alignment with opening 10 of lid 8.

[0039] FIGS. 7-8 show disposable container 1 having at least one consumable (not shown) being retained by at least one package 30. At least one package 30 is connected to inner wall 6 of novel disposable container 1. It is within the scope of this invention for package 30 to include, but not be limited to, any fluid permeable material such as a filter, a mesh, or a tea bag, any fluid impermeable material such as foil or plastic, an edible food package, a dissolvable material, or a non-dissolvable material.

[0040] As best illustrated in FIG. 10, novel disposable container 1 has barrier member 15. Barrier member 15 has opening 16. Rotatable lid 17 has opening 27 and sealing member 29. When opening 27 of lid 17 is aligned with opening 16 of barrier member 15 rotatable lid 17 is oriented in an open configuration 28.

[0041] FIGS. 9-11 depict an alternate embodiment of disposable container 1 having primary recess 18A retaining consumable 4A, secondary recess 18B retaining consumable 4B, tertiary recess 18C retaining consumable 4C, and quaternary recess 18D retaining consumable 4D. At least one recess can be collapsible such as a blister package. At least one recess has a layer of fluid permeable material 19 covering the opening of the recess. At least one recess has a layer of impermeable material 20 covering the opening of the recess.

[0042] For example, FIG. 9 shows recess 18A can retain soluble coffee 4A. Recess 18A is covered with 19A being a layer of fluid permeable material or edible food packaging that is dissolvable in a fluid. Recess 18B can retain sugar 4B. Recess 18B is covered with 19B being a layer of fluid permeable material or edible food packaging that is dissolvable in a fluid. Recess 18C can retain sugar 4C. Recess 18C is covered with 20A being a layer of fluid impermeable material such as foil. Recess 18D can retain cream 4D. Recess 18D is covered with 20B being a layer of fluid impermeable material such as foil. When hot water is poured into novel disposable container 1, the water will pass through the layers of fluid permeable material 19A and 19B. The soluble coffee 4A and sugar 4B will dissolve into the water and be released into disposable container 1.

[0043] The extra sugar 4C and the cream 4D will not be released into disposable container 1 because of the layer of foil 20A and 20B covering recesses 18C and 18D. If a user wants to add additional sugar 4C to their beverage mixture, they will depress outer wall surface 32C of recess 18C with their thumb or finger. The force of a user's thumb will push the sugar 4C retained within collapsible recess 18C through foil 20A and into disposable cup 1, comparable to a blister package. When the user orients the lid into a closed orientation the mixture can be shaken. When the lid is oriented into an open configuration, the mixture can be enjoyed by a user.

[0044] FIG. 9 illustrates recess 18A having outer wall surface 32A, recess 18B having outer wall surface 32B, recess 18C having outer wall surface 32C, and recess 18D having outer wall surface 32D. The outer wall surfaces can be made of the same material as disposable container 1 or can be made of a pliable material capable of being collapsible by a user such as plastic. It is a preferred embodiment for the recess to be retained within the disposable container wall. However, it is within the scope of this invention for the recess to protrude from the outer wall surface or the inner wall surface.

[0045] In another example, FIG. 10 illustrates how recess 18A can retain soluble sugar 4A. Recess 18A has outer wall surface 32A and the recess 18A opening is covered with 20A being a layer of fluid impermeable material such as foil. Recess 18B can retain tea leaves 4B. Recess 18B has outer wall surface 32B and the recess 18B opening is covered with 19A being a layer of fluid permeable material such as tea bag material. Recess 18C can retain sugar 4C. Recess 18C has outer wall surface 32C and the recess 18C opening is covered with 20B being a layer of fluid impermeable material such as foil. Recess 18D can retain honey 4D. Recess 18D has outer wall surface 32D and the recess 18D opening is covered with 20C being a layer of fluid impermeable material such as foil.

[0046] When hot water is poured into novel disposable container 1, the water will pass through the layer of fluid permeable material 19A. The tea leaves 4B will be steeping in the hot water and tea will be released into disposable container 1. User 31 depresses collapsible recesses 18A and 18C to break the foil 20A and 20B covering collapsible recesses 18A and 18C to release sugar and extra sugar into the tea mixture. The honey 4D will not be used in the mixture if user 31 does not depress collapsible recess 18D.

[0047] In another example, a primary recess can retain soluble dark roast coffee. The primary recess is covered with a layer of fluid impermeable material such as foil. A secondary recess can retain soluble decaf coffee. The secondary recess is covered with a layer of fluid impermeable material such as foil. A tertiary recess can retain honey. The tertiary recess is covered with a layer of fluid impermeable material such as foil. A tertiary recess can retain cream. The tertiary recess is covered with a layer of fluid permeable material or edible food packaging that is dissolvable in a fluid. When hot water is poured into the novel disposable container, the water will pass through the layer of fluid permeable material releasing the cream into the disposable container. The cream will dissolve into the water of the disposable container.

[0048] In another example, a user can choose between two different types of coffee such as dark roast coffee or decaf coffee. A user depresses the outer wall surface of the desired collapsible recess retaining their selected coffee type. If the user desires honey, the user can depress the outer wall surface of the collapsible recess with their thumb or finger to break away the inner wall surface layer of foil to release honey into the disposable container.

[0049] FIG. 11 illustrates disposable container 1 having outer wall surface 32A having text 33A labeled Coffee Dark Roast, outer wall surface 32B having text 33B labeled Decaf, outer wall surface 32C having text 33C labeled Honey, and outer wall surface 32D having text 33D labeled Cream. The outer wall surface of disposable container 1 can have text or an image that is visible to a user and to label the contents of each recess. It is within the scope of this invention for the outer wall surface to be free of any identifying markings.

[0050] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

[0051] It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.

[0052] Now that the invention has been described,