Patent Application
20080245819
I, Giglia Maria Galarce, have invented a device for concentrated flavors and essences in a liquid form that enables people to enhance the water from their refrigerators with a variety of flavors in an easy and economical way in the comfort of their own kitchen. The device can also be used with other flavors in the enhancement and preparation of different beverages, food, and other recipes.
I have done thorough research into the flavoring market, and I have yet to find a similar product with the same attributes of the product that I have envisioned. My product assembles a practical holder and a set of small plastic bottles with long neck dropper ends, as shown in
In my research I have found flavorings and syrups, but mostly in larger containers, these flavorings are generally used in commercial establishments such as bars, ice cream parlors, snow cone carts, and most commonly, in coffee shops. Smaller bottles of liquid flavors also exist, but these are sold individually, and in more traditional shaped bottles with different types of dropper systems and are sold mostly in the internet and specialty stores and they are not for water. Supermarkets offer flavored water but it is already made and costly, and the flavorings they sell are sold individually in the pastry products section, these flavors are not to enhance water and other drinks. There are many other products meant for the enhancement of water, but are only to prepare drinks such as iced tea, juices, lemonades, kool-aid etc; most of these products come powder or syrup form. There are no products in grocery stores for the preparation of flavored waters in one's home.
The main idea of the water flavoring kit came to me from a personal need. Like many other people, I don't like the taste of plain water from the fridge; therefore, I have been consuming substitute drinks for many years: adding extra calories, caffeine, sodium, colorants, preservatives, and other unhealthy additives common in most beverages, to my daily diet. Not only are these substitutes not very healthy but they also cost money, unlike water from one's tap or refrigerator.
Having studied graphic design and having experience with marketing and advertising, I started to design the idea I had in mind, not only for my own use, but also to help others with the same dilemma.
I later noticed there was also a need for flavorings in coffee, tea, and other products. I believe my idea could be a great solution to the over consumption of soft drinks and other sugary beverages, and in a convenient form that will serve as a positive addition to most family homes.
I designed my device thinking mostly in the enhancement of water, and it is meant to be conveniently placed on the front of the refrigerator door using a magnet sheet, as shown in
Holder and containers could be built in different styles, materials, colors, sizes, and shapes. But basically the bottles will be small in size, will have dropper caps inserted, and will be made of soft polyethylene to allow bottles to be squeezed and a number of drops to be poured into the substance as shown in
For the basic design which is meant for water, which will be for the refrigerator, the operation for making flavored water is very simple. Once the holder with the dropper bottles is properly installed,
The device as a Water Enhancer Kit could help benefit general health. It is well known drinking a good quantity of water is essential to a good health. People, who currently avoid water because they don't like the taste of it, will start having a more positive feeling about water.
There is also an environmental benefit, because even though the small container bottles will be made of plastic, the concentrated flavors will allow people to use the water from their own refrigerator, and the industry would have to produce less plastic containers, lowering the production of non-biodegradable waste which is a contributing factor to our planet's contamination.
Certain people are now forcing themselves to drink a good quantity of water for health purposes, and many might find that drinking flavored water might be easier and more enjoyable.
People currently buying flavored water will have the possibility to save some money and prepare it at home.
Families will find my idea a healthy way to start drinking more water and also save money from their expenses in soft drinks and other beverages.
Seniors, pregnant women, and people with back problems will benefit because it is much easier to carry the flavor kits home from the store than it is to carry bottles and cans with drinks.
People will find using the drinks enhancement kit can save them space for storage in their pantry and kitchen cabinets.
My invention will offer the flavoring industry a new way to sell their product.
I believe business offices and retail stores will find the water and coffee enhancer kits a friendly and nice addition to the table where creamer, sugar, regular coffee and mineral water are usually offered to their clients and employees.
The device will offer new options to people giving them the chance to buy flavors and to use for themselves, in an easy and economical way, a variety of products that otherwise would have to be purchased separately. For example a person who now buys a variety of flavored coffees, would only have to buy regular coffee and a kit with flavors for coffee.
Other variations of the invention are possible. Changing the dropper systems, for example: to a flip top dispensing cap, or a pump, a plastic pipette, a manual dispenser syringe, and could be also an automatic or more modern electronic system with buttons that could be installed on the refrigerator door or a system already installed in the refrigerator door for the purpose of flavoring the water.
Other than the Water Enhancer Kit, there could be Kits with flavors for the specific use in coffee that will enable any one to prepare a gourmet coffee at home.
The Spices Industry could use my device to incorporate to the market, spices in a liquid form.
There could be specific Kits to enhance wine.
There could be Kits specifically design for restaurant that want to add the coffee or water flavors to their tables for the use of their clients.
There could be specific flavor kits for tea.
The device could be use to contain and sale a variety of aromas for the Aroma Therapy.
The device could also be use by specialized baby food industry, for example: containing a variety of flavors to enhance baby's water or milk or with different aromas and essences to add to the baby's bath.
There could be also Kits with essences that could be use at home, in the preparation of homemade beauty masks, hair conditioners, etc
Also the cosmetic business and beauty salons might find this device useful for their products.
I have included some illustrations that help to see my invention and shows how can be use.
