Consumer product with secondary item storage compartment

Abstract

A combination container for a consumer product consisting of a body providing a primary compartment for containing a primary product, the body having a sidewall, a secondary compartment forming a cavity recessed into the body, and one or more secondary products disposed and stored within the cavity of the secondary compartment.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Promotional products are commonly used by businesses to increase public awareness of their goods and services. In respect to packaged foods, such as cereals and potato chips, manufacturers can easily include the promotional products within the packaging at the time of manufacture. Following the purchase of such packaged foods, the user may open the packaging and remove the promotional product for their use and enjoyment. Thus far, manufacturers have not been provided with a suitable approach for providing combination containers having secondary exterior compartments for secondary products which accompany a primary product package. An existing approach is to secure a secondary product to a hang tag around the neck of the primary container, such as a beverage bottle. Manufacturers have discovered that this approach is problematic for the reason that consumers may easily remove the secondary product from the primary container without having to purchase the associated primary product.

Secondary products are increasingly used at sporting and entertainment events to encourage spectators to attend and support the participants in the subject event. In view of the increased security conditions at most public sporting and entertainment events, spectators are routinely not permitted to bring banners and other novelty secondary products to the events. Without banners or novelty secondary products, spectators are often unable to fully enjoy and participate in the excitement of an event. Similar situations arise with many other cases where consumers may be purchasing a primary product, and require a secondary product to be supplied which accompanies the primary product. For example, take out foods, as primary products, supplied in primary containers, may require secondary products such as cutlery, condiments, cleansing cloths and the like.

In the past these secondary items are often available only at a service counter, or may require extra handling by staff at the cash register.

This will slow up the handling of customers, and require service personnel to be occupied in clearing service counters, restocking with secondary items and the like.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved combination container, such as a beverage bottle for example, having a storage compartment for storing one or more secondary products. The combination container of the present invention may be offered by manufacturers and other businesses to enable users, such as spectators, to utilize the one or more secondary products and to actively participate in the sporting or entertainment event, for example. The combination container of the present invention may also be used by a user in a conventional manner to quench their thirst and thereby further enhance their enjoyment of the sporting or entertainment event.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a combination container having a primary compartment for a primary product, which, may for example be a food, a beverage, or any other such product that may be sold to consumers, which in this case is shown and described as a beverage bottle. Such a bottle has a body for containing a liquid beverage, the body having a sidewall extending between a neck and a base.

A secondary compartment is formed as a cavity within the body, the cavity extending from the base vertically towards the neck of the body, and one or more secondary items, which may be some kind of a secondary product in many case, is disposed and stored within the cavity of the secondary compartment. The secondary compartment has a cavity wall extending from the base into the body, the cavity wall defining the cavity for storing the one or more secondary products. The length of the cavity is substantially equal to the length of the body. The cavity has an open end and a closed end, the open end is proximate to the base and the closed end is proximate to the neck of the body. The closed end of the secondary compartment is formed with a spring biasing mechanism for urging the one or more secondary products towards the open end of the secondary compartment.

In a further aspect of the present invention, the base of the beverage bottle is formed with a central aperture, the central aperture defines the open end of the secondary compartment. A seal is provided to cover the central aperture and secure the one or more secondary products within the secondary compartment. The one or more secondary products are dimensioned to be received within the secondary compartment.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, the one or more secondary products may comprise of a banner adapted to be removed from the secondary compartment and unfurled. The banner is furled around one or more telescopic members and stored within the secondary compartment.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, the one or more secondary products comprise a miniature beverage bottle adapted to be stored within the secondary compartment. The miniature beverage bottle containing a liquor beverage, the miniature beverage bottle adapted to be removed from the secondary compartment and combined with the liquid beverage in the body to form a mixed alcoholic liquid beverage.

In further embodiments the combination container may be a take out food container, or some other kind of beverage container.

The compartment may be recessed into a wall of such a combination container, between the top and bottom of the container, but without extending for the full length of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination container, in this instance a beverage bottle illustrating a secondary compartment for containing one or more secondary products in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is front cross-sectional view of the beverage bottle illustrated in FIG. 1 and showing the secondary compartment and the one or more secondary products in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of the beverage bottle along the Section A-A in FIG. 1 and showing the secondary compartment and the one or more secondary products;

FIG. 4 is a front cross-section view of the beverage bottle illustrated in FIG. 1 and showing the secondary compartment containing a miniature beverage bottle in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of a beverage bottle showing a secondary product in phantom in the secondary compartment and secured in position by a closure panel, in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation corresponding to FIG. 5 showing the closure panel partly peeled away to reveal the secondary product;

FIG. 7 is a perspective of a further embodiment, showing the closure partly peeled away from the compartment; and,

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective of another embodiment, showing a compartment and closure panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made to FIGS. 1-3 which are given here by way of illustrating the invention and without limitation. These Figures illustrate a combination container, in this example a beverage bottle 10, providing a primary compartment in the interior of the bottle, and constructed with a secondary compartment 12 for containing and storing one or more secondary products 14 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The beverage bottle 10 has a body 16 for holding a liquid beverage. The body 16 has a lid or cap 18 releasably coupled to a neck 20 which, when removed, enables a user to consume the contents, in this case, to drink or pour the liquid beverage from the beverage bottle 10. The lid or cap 18 may be coupled to the neck 20 using any suitable fastening mechanism, such as a threaded fastening mechanism or a snap-fit fastening mechanism. The neck 20 is formed with a generally sloping shoulder 22 which merges with a cylindrical sidewall 24. The cylindrical sidewall 24 extends to a base 26 which is adapted to support and stabilize the beverage bottle 10 when it is placed on a generally horizontal surface.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the base 26 is formed with a centrally located aperture 28. The secondary compartment 12 consists of a generally cylindrical cavity 30 extending into the body 16 of the beverage bottle 10. The cavity 30 is formed with a cavity wall 32 extending vertically from an open end 34 defined by the aperture 28 to a closed end 36 proximate to the neck 20. The cavity wall 32 of the secondary compartment 12 is generally parallel to the sidewall 24 of the body 16. The base 26 of the beverage bottle 10 may be provided with a closure or seal 38 which covers the aperture 28 to prevent tampering with the bottle 10 and to secure the one or more secondary products 14 within the secondary compartment 12. In an embodiment of the present invention, the length X of the cavity 30 is substantially equal to the length Y of the body 16. By this design, the cavity 30 of the secondary compartment 12 is capable of storing one or more secondary products of various lengths. However, it should be understood by a person skilled in the art of the present invention that the cavity 30 may have any suitable length X and may be adapted to conform to the dimensions of the secondary product 14 to be stored therein.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the one or more secondary products 14 are designed to be initially stored within the secondary compartment 12 when the beverage bottle 10 is offered and subsequently sold to a user at a sporting or entertainment venue, for example. When the beverage bottle 10 is purchased by the user, the closure or seal 38 may be removed to permit access to the one or more secondary products 14 stored within the secondary compartment 12. Once removed from the secondary compartment 12, the user may then display or otherwise use the one or more secondary products 14 during the course of the sporting or entertainment venue. It should be understood that a wide variety of secondary products 14 may be provided within the secondary compartment 12, including, but not limited to banners, flags, signs, miniature beverage bottles, candy, glow sticks, rally sticks, inflatable balloons, and/or personal hygiene items, or drinking straws or plastic cutlery. In a first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2, the one or more secondary products 14 may include a banner, flag and/or sign, for example, that are dimensioned to be received within the secondary compartment 12. Referring to FIG. 2, the one or more secondary products 14 consist of a plurality of telescopic members 40 and a banner 42 which may be unfurled and displayed by a user during a sporting or entertainment event. The banner 42 may bear information relating to the liquid beverage, the beverage manufacturer, and/or the participants in the sporting or entertainment event, for example. The banner 42 is secured to at least one of the telescopic members 40 at a first end 44 of the secondary product 14. The seal 38 may be dimensioned to have roughly the same cross-sectional area as the aperture 28 in the base 26 so as to ensure that the secondary product 14 is securely stored within the secondary compartment 12 when not in use.

During assembly, the plurality of telescopic members 40 are press-fit or snap fit into one another to collapse the secondary product 14 into a compact size suitable for insertion into the secondary compartment 12. The banner 42 is furled or rolled up around the collapsed telescopic members 40 to facilitate the manual insertion of the secondary product 14 into the secondary compartment 12 of the beverage bottle 10. The seal 38 may then be at least partially inserted into the aperture 28 in the base 26 to secure the secondary product 14 within the secondary compartment 12.

When the seal 38 is removed, the banner may be removed by the consumer grasping the end of the telescopic member and then withdrawing the secondary product. To facilitate the removal of the secondary product 14 from within the secondary compartment 12, an optional spring biasing mechanism 48 having a spring member 50 may be provided within the closed end 36 of the secondary compartment 12 for urging the secondary product 14 towards the open end 34 of the secondary compartment 12.

By this design, when the seal 38 is manually removed, the secondary product 14 is at least partially urged from the open end 34 of the secondary compartment 12 by the spring member 50 of the spring biasing mechanism 48.

Following the display of the secondary product 14, the user may collapse the telescopic members 40 and snugly furl the banner 42 around the one or more telescopic members 40. The secondary product 14 may then be reinserted into the secondary compartment 12 and secured by the seal 38 for secondary purposes.

In a second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, the one or more secondary products 14 are one or more miniature beverage bottles 52 containing samples of new secondary beverages offered by a beverage manufacturer. By this design, manufacturers may provide existing consumers with samples of new secondary beverages together with the liquid beverages in the beverage bottles 10. It is contemplated that the one or more miniature beverage bottles 52 may contain a wide variety of beverages, including liquor, water and carbonated water, flavored syrup and flavored crystals. In the example of a liquor-filled miniature beverage bottle, the user may remove the seal 38 and pour the liquor contents of the one or more miniature beverage bottles 52 into the body 16 of the beverage bottle 10 to create a mixed alcoholic beverage. It should be understood by a person skilled in the art of the present invention that a wide variety of liquor beverages may be contained within the one or more miniature beverage bottles 52, including vodka, rum, whiskey and/or rye. It should be further understood that the variety of liquor contained within the one or more miniature beverage bottles 52 may be selected by the beverage manufacturer to complement the liquid beverage contained within the beverage bottle 10.

In a third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, the compartment may be of a more contoured shape, possibly designed to accept the shape of a particular specialized secondary product such and spectacles and may not necessarily extend the full length of the container or bottle. The closure panel 42 extends the full length of the compartment. As shown in FIG. 6 the closure may be peeled back to remove the secondary item.

FIG. 7 shows a further modification, for use with a container such as a beverage bottle 10.

In this case the compartment 12 is of generally rectangular shape. Such a shape may hold a snack bar, or candy. It might be used to contain hand wipes. The closure 42 is dimensioned to cover up the compartment 12. The closure may possibly be part of the label applied to the bottle. It has a resealable adhesive around the edges so that it may be opened up, and then rewrapped around the bottle 10.

FIG. 8 shows a rectangular shaped container 60. Typically such containers are made of paper, coated in any suitable coating, and such containers are typically used for non carbonated drinks, such as milk, juice and even water

The container 60 has a secondary compartment 62, in this case of rectangular shape.

A closure panel 64 of rectangular shape may be bonded into compartment 62 of container 60, to retain a secondary product within the compartment 62.

A cut out portion 66 may be provided at an edge, so as to permit the opening of the panel 64 for access to the compartment 62.

Compartment 62 may be formed with an interior ridge 68 to retain the panel 64 in position, and provide the entire container 60 with a smooth exterior shape, for shipping and handling.

The container 60 typically has, in this example a sealed top 70 which can be opened up to dispense the contents.

In most cases there would be a label 72, with adhesive backing. This would be applied over the closure panel 64, and assist in holding it in place.

When used in the foregoing manner, containers of the present invention, which may or may not be the beverage bottle illustrated, may be offered and sold by businesses to enable users, such as spectators, to utilize the one or more secondary products. In some cases these secondary products may enable a spectator to actively participate in the sporting or entertainment event, for example.

The combination containers may also have a simple utilitarian purpose, so as to facilitate the serving of customers in a fast food establishment, or at an outdoor picnic, or in emergency aid situations.

The combination container, such as a beverage bottle may also be utilized as a business-to-business advertising aid, enabling a liquid beverages business to cross-promote the goods and services of another business by providing advertisements and product samples, for example, within the secondary compartment of the beverage bottle. In addition to the the various secondary and advertising opportunities that may be pursued using the beverage bottle of the present invention, the beverage bottle may continue to be utilized by a user in a conventional manner to quench their thirst and thereby further enhance their enjoyment of the related business, sporting or entertainment event.

It will be understood that there are to be no limitations as to the dimensions and shape of the beverage bottle 10, including the secondary compartment 12 and the one or more secondary products 14 stored therein, or the materials from which the beverage bottle 10 is manufactured. The beverage bottle 10 may be constructed to resemble any commercially available bottle for holding a liquid beverage and may be manufactured from any suitable plastic, glass, or metal. An example of a suitable plastic material is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material. Furthermore, it should be understood that the combination container of the present invention may be adapted to store and serve any suitable liquid, such as, for example, water, juice, milk, carbonated sodas, beer and liquor.

While what has been shown and described herein constitutes a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, it should be understood that various modifications and adaptations of such embodiment can be made without departing from the present invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A combination container for a consumer product, for containing the primary consumer product and for carrying a secondary product separate from the primary product and comprising; a body providing a primary compartment for containing a primary consumer product, the body having a sidewall extending between a top and a base;a secondary product compartment on the exterior of the body and forming a cavity recessed within the body, the cavity extending vertically from a point adjacent the base towards the neck of the body;a secondary product disposed and stored within the cavity of the secondary compartment; and,a closure for closing the secondary compartment.

2. A combination container for a consumer product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the secondary compartment has a cavity wall extending from the base into the body, the cavity wall defining the recess for storing a said secondary product.

3. A combination container for a consumer product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the cavity is substantially equal to the length of the body. container for a consumer product

4. A combination container for a consumer product as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cavity has an open end and a closed end, the open end is proximate to the base and the closed end is proximate to the neck of the body.

5. A combination container for a consumer product as claimed in claim 2, wherein the liquid beverage within the body is separated from the one or more secondary products within the secondary compartment by the cavity wall.

6. A combination container for a consumer product as claimed in claim 4, wherein the base of the body is formed with a central aperture, the central aperture defines the open end of the secondary compartment.

7. A combination container for a consumer product as claimed in claim 6, wherein a closure or seal is provided to cover the central aperture and secure the one or more secondary products within the secondary compartment.

8. A combination container for a consumer product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closed end of the secondary compartment is formed with a spring biasing mechanism, the spring biasing mechanism is adapted to urge the one or more secondary products towards the open end of the secondary compartment.

9. A combination container for a consumer product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more secondary products are dimensioned to be received within the secondary compartment.

10. A combination container for a consumer product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more secondary products comprise a banner adapted to be removed from the secondary compartment and unfurled.

11. A combination container for a consumer product as claimed in claim 10, wherein the banner is furled around one or more telescopic members and stored within the secondary compartment.

12. A combination container for a consumer product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more secondary products comprise a miniature container for a consumer product adapted to be stored within the secondary compartment.

13. A combination container for a consumer product as claimed in claim 12, wherein the miniature container for a consumer product containing a liquor beverage, the miniature container for a consumer product adapted to be removed from the secondary compartment and combined with the liquid beverage in the body to form a mixed alcoholic liquid beverage.

13. A combination container for a consumer product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the secondary compartment is a cavity recessed within the container, and has a length dimension which is shorter than the length of the container.

14. A combination container for a consumer product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure is a flexible foldable panel having an adhesive perimeter bonded to the container.

15. A combination container for a consumer product as claimed in claim 12, wherein the container is formed of paper and is of rectangular shape, and wherein the compartment is of rectangular shape recessed into said container.