Patent Application
20150366250
1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to systems and methods of forming and using plastic objects that pass into the mouth when eating, drinking or smoking. More particularly, the present invention relates to such plastic objects that alter the perceived taste and/or aroma of the material being drunk, eaten, or smoked.
2. Prior Art Description
Obesity has become a major concern across the globe. It is well established that Obesity causes many diseases, including but not limited to, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. While there are many factors that contribute to obesity, industry experts have determined that the consumption of high calorie beverages is a major factor. The human body requires water for hydration. The human body requires no other liquid to be healthy. Water has no calories and, therefore, does not contribute to obesity. The introduction of high calorie beverages has dramatically increased the average caloric intake of people, even though people are not eating any more food. This contributes significantly to the rise of obesity rates.
Additionally, a lot of attention has been placed on trying to reduce salt content in prepared foods. Salt has been identified as a contributing factor of heart disease. Regardless, many foods are saturated with salt so that during consumption they give an improved salty taste to the tongue. Many food companies have tried to introduce foods which are lower in salt content, however, people continue to utilize an excess amount of salt. A need therefore exists to deliver a salty taste experience during consumption which does not actually introduce high levels of salt into the diet.
When it comes to water, in addition to having no calories, water has many other advantages over sweetened beverages. Pure water does not need refrigeration and contains no ingredients that can spoil or ferment. Consequently, a person can carry or store bottles of water in high temperature environments without concern as to the potability of the water.
The one disadvantage of drinking water is that water has no flavor. Furthermore, as water sits in a plastic bottle, especially in the heat on a hot day, the water picks up an undesirable taste from the plastic packaging. Of course, the flavor and scent of water can be improved by adding artificial flavors and scents to the water. However, this requires that additives be mixed with the water. The additives may also add calories to the water. As such, this solution is less than ideal.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,833 to Landau, the inventor herein, a system was developed that adds a perceived scent and flavor to water, without adding any additives. In the '833 patent, a scented plastic is used on the outside of the water bottle. The scented plastic comes close to the nose when water is drunk from the bottle. The scented plastic fills a person's olfactory sense with scent. This tricks the brain into believing that the water being drunk is both scented and flavored. Olfactory sensory deception has also been used on packaging to enhance the perceived scent, and thus flavor, of packaged goods. Such packaging is exemplified in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0055245 to Havekotte.
The Applicant has improved upon the technology of the above-cited references. The Applicant has discovered that the perception of taste can be further enhanced if a person's sense of taste experience is enhanced at the same time the person's olfactory sense perceives a modified scent. The triggering of the sense of taste is accomplished using a molded plastic that has been infused with a gustatory perception modifier. When the modified plastic is placed in the mouth, the tongue perceives gustatory perception modifier even when the item being consumed contains little or no flavor. The gustatory perception modifier is a compound that stimulates one or more of the sweet, sour, saltiness, bitterness and/or umami taste receptors on the tongue. When this modified stimulation of the taste buds is combined with a modified scent, both the sense of taste and the olfactory sense trick the brain into believing that the consumable being eaten, drunk or smoked has a certain flavor that it does not possess in reality.
Scented plastics and sweetened plastics have been used in various consumer products within the prior art. For example, tongue depressors have been molded from sweetened plastic. This makes a tongue depressor taste more like a lollypop and reduces the gag reflex in children. Tongue depressors made from sweetened plastic are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,492 to Feller, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,195 to Reis. Although tongue depressors do pass into the mouth, tongue depressors are not consumed or used during consumption. Thus, it will be understood that the scent of the plastic used in a tongue depressor does not alter the perceived flavor of any product that is consumed.
A need therefore exists for a system and method that delivers an improved taste experience by enhancing the combined senses of taste and smell. In this manner, a product being consumed can be given modified taste characteristics that are perceived by the brain, yet do not really exist. Plain consumables, such as water, can therefore be consumed and believed to have a bold flavor, without needing to add any additives to the consumable. Likewise, foods prepared with little or no salt can be enhanced with a perceived salty taste. This need is met by the present invention as described and claimed below.
The present invention is a system and method of inducing modified sensory enhancement to a person eating, drinking or smoking a consumable product. When many products are eaten, drunk or smoked, those objects are taken to the mouth with a plastic object. Such plastic objects include capped bottles, plastic cups, plastic lids, fitments/bottle neck inserts, plastic spoons/forks, and inhalation mouthpieces. In all cases, such plastic objects have a first segment and a second segment, wherein the first segment enters the mouth and the second segment remains under the nose just outside the mouth.
In the present invention, sensory deception is created by forming at least part of the first segment from plastic that has been combined with a gustatory perception modifier. Furthermore, the second segment may be at least partially comprised of a plastic that has been combined with a selected scent. Thus, the plastic object can contain scented plastic and/or plastic that is infused with a gustatory perception modifier.
The plastic infused with the gustatory perception modifier is localized in a first segment of a plastic object that enters the mouth. The modified plastic stimulates the sense of taste when it enters into the mouth. A second segment of the plastic object can contain the scented plastic. This second segment stimulates the olfactory sense. Together, the two segments create false olfactory and taste inputs that trick the brain into perceiving flavor in the material being consumed.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Although the present invention system can be embodied in many ways, the embodiments illustrated show only a few possible configurations for the invented technology. These embodiments are selected in order to set forth some of the best modes contemplated for the invention. The illustrated embodiments, however, are merely exemplary and should not be considered limitations when interpreting the scope of the appended claims.
Referring to
The closure 14 has a cap element 18 that threads onto the neck 16 of the bottle 12. A valve stem 19 is molded as part of the cap element 18. The valve stem 19 is hollow and provides a conduit through which fluid can exit the bottle 12 through the cap element 18. A nipple head 20 is provided. The nipple head 20 engages the valve stem 19 on the cap element 18. This produces an on/off valve that is controlled by the selective positioning of a nipple head 20 on the cap element 18.
The cap element 18 and the nipple head 20 are molded of two specialty plastic compositions. The cap element 18 is molded with plastic that is mixed with, or infused with, a selected scent. Thus, the cap element 18 is made of scented plastic. The nipple head 20 is molded from a plastic that is mixed with, or infused with, a gustatory perception modifier. The gustatory perception modifier can be a sweetener, a salt flavorant, a sour flavorant, a bitter flavorant and/or an umami flavorant. Thus, the nipple head 20 is molded from a flavored plastic. Acceptable gustatory perception modifiers can be selected from a group consisting of sucralose, stevia, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, salt, salt modifiers, spices, capsicum, and citric acid. It should be understood that these are examples and that persons skilled in the art may also use other such modifiers known to elicit a taste or mouth feel experience.
Formulations that produce scented plastics are well known. The scent used to produce the cap element 18 is preferably a scent that complements the beverage held within the bottle 12. For example, if the beverage is water, the selected scent can be that of a fruit. Likewise, if the beverage is unsweetened tea, then the selected scent can be that of lemon. The scent can be mixed with the plastic of the cap element 18 before molding, or infused into the plastic of the cap element 18 after molding.
The nipple head 20 is plastic that is mixed with, or infused with, a gustatory perception modifier. In the exemplary embodiment, it is assumed that the gustatory perception modifier is a sweetener. The preferred artificial sweetener is sucralose. However, other sweeteners, such as stevia, aspartame, saccharin, and cyclamate can be used. The sweeteners create a strong reaction with the sweet taste bud receptors at the tip of the tongue 22.
From
When a person wants to drink from the container assembly 10, the closure 14 is opened and is brought into contact with the mouth 20. When the closure 14 is brought to the mouth, a portion of the nipple head 20 passes into the mouth. Furthermore, as the closure 14 is brought into contact with the mouth, portions of the cap element 18 are inevitably brought into close proximity with the nose 26.
When portions of the cap element 18 are positioned directly outside of the nose 26, a strong scent is released into the air surrounding the nose 26. As such, should a person inhale through his/her nose between swallows, the intake of air contains the selected scent. Furthermore, since a portion of the cap element 18 is present inside the mouth, scented air fills the area within the mouth, wherein the scent enters the sinus cavity 28 from the mouth. The scent filled air contained within the mouth also mixes with exiting air as a person exhales through his/her nose 26. Furthermore, small amounts of the scent filled air are swallowed with the liquid being consumed. As a result, the scent is contained in any air that is inhaled and exhaled through the nose 26.
The person drinking from the container assembly, therefore, receives two modified sensory signals. Assuming water is being consumed, the water has no significant aroma or flavor of its own. However, when drank, the taste buds dedicated to detecting sweetness are stimulated by the sweetener in the nipple head 20. Likewise, the olfactory sense perceives the scent being emitted by the cap element 18. The combination of perception of sweetness and the perception of aroma tricks the brain into believing that the sweetness and aroma are associated with the beverage being consumed. Thus, the brain assigns the sweetness and aroma to the beverage, causing the beverage to present a realistic flavor to the brain. The taste of the beverage is therefore changed without having added a single additive to the beverage.
From the above, it can be understood that the same beverage can be flavored in different ways simply by placing different cap element 18 onto those beverage containers. This greatly simplifies the manufacturing logistics needed to create beverages in different flavors.
The saturation of the air within the mouth and the air surrounding the nose with the selected scent of the plastic greatly increases the ability of a person to perceive the aroma immediately before, during and immediately after swallowing. Simultaneously, the sweetened plastic of the nipple head 20 stimulates the taste buds on the tongue 22. As a result, a person drinking a bottle of pure water will believe that the water being consumed is flavored even though no flavoring or other chemicals have been added to the water.
Referring to
The straw element 32 is molded from a plastic that is mixed, or infused with, a gustatory perception modifier. The base 34 is preferably fabricated from a plastic that is mixed, infused, or coated with a selected scent.
The straw element 32 is placed within the mouth when a person is drinking. As a result, the flavor modified plastic touches the lips and/or tongue while the scented plastic is positioned proximate the nose. The aroma of the plastic therefore fills the air within the sinus cavity while the taste buds are stimulated. This creates a more effective degree of sensory illusion that tricks the brain into perceiving taste in the liquid being consumed.
Referring to
In the shown embodiment, the entire lid 42, including the elongated conduit 46 is molded of scented plastic. Furthermore, the tip 48 of the elongated conduit 46 is dip coated or otherwise manufactured with a gustatory perception modifier. Accordingly, when a child drinks from the cup assembly 40, part of the scented plastic of the lid 42 is positioned outside the nose and some of the scented and gustatory perception modifier from the elongated conduit 46 is held within the mouth. The aroma of the scented plastic therefore fills the air within the mouth and the air surrounding the nose, thereby leading to a more effective degree of aroma saturation. Additionally, the air contained within the base cup 44 is scented by its close proximity with the lid 42. As liquid is drunk from the cup assembly 40, some of the scented air from within the base cup 44 travels with the liquid into the mouth. The scented air mixes with the air within the mouth, thereby resulting in a stronger scent present within the mouth. These aroma features along with the stimulation of the taste buds from the flavor modified plastic of the tip 48 result in a more effective degree of olfactory sense illusion for the reasons previously described.
Referring to
As a person drinks from the cup receptacle 50, the rim 52 of the cup 50 enters the mouth. The aroma from the scented material, if present, fills the air within the mouth as well as the air surrounding the nose. Simultaneously, the flavor modified plastic at the rim 52 that contains the gustatory perception modifiers stimulates the taste buds. This results in a more effective degree of olfactory sense illusion for the reasons previously described.
Referring to
As a person uses the spoon 54, the tip 56 of the spoon 54 enters the mouth. The aroma from the scented material of the spoon 54 therefore fills the air within the mouth as well as the air surrounding the nose. Simultaneously, the tip 56 of the spoon 54 containing the gustatory perception modifier stimulates the taste buds. This results in a more effective degree of olfactory sense illusion for the reasons previously described.
Referring to
As a person uses the toothbrush 63, the flavor strip 67 on the toothbrush 63 enters the mouth. The aroma from the scented material of the head 65 therefore fills the air within the mouth as well as the air surrounding the nose. Simultaneously, the flavor strip 67, containing the gustatory perception modifier, stimulates the taste buds. This results in a more effective degree of olfactory sense illusion for the reasons previously described.
Referring to
As a person uses the plastic bottle container 57, the fitment 58 enters the mouth. The fitment 58 contains the gustatory perception modifier and stimulates the taste buds. This results in a more effective degree of gustatory enhancement for the reasons previously described.
Lastly, referring to
As a person smokes from the hookah tip 60, the inhalation end 60 of the hookah tip 60 enters the mouth with a portion of the body 62. The aroma from the scented material of the body 61 therefore fills the air within the mouth as well as the air surrounding the nose. Simultaneously, the hookah tip 60 containing the artificial sweetener at the inhalation end 62 stimulates the taste buds. This results in a more effective degree of olfactory and gustatory enhancement for the reasons previously described.
It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention described and illustrated herein are merely exemplary and a person skilled in the art can make many variations to the embodiments shown without departing from the scope of the present invention. It should also be understood that the various elements from the different embodiments shown can be mixed together to create alternate embodiments that are not specifically described. All such variations, modifications and alternate embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
