Restrainer and method of inserting a restrainer into a bottle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for bottling a liquid and one or more objects and restraining the one or more objects within the bottle. An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to inserting a beverage such as a “Shirley Temple” including the maraschino cherry into a bottle. The invention includes the insertion of an object such as the maraschino cherry, followed by the insertion of the restrainer as part of the capping process. Upon opening the bottle the user is able to drink the beverage while restraining the object within the bottle without blocking the flow of the beverage. The user is also able to remove the restrainer to gain access to the one or more objects. Another embodiment includes an apparatus, a bottling machine, for inserting an object(s), a liquid and a restrainer into a bottle.

1 . A bottle comprising: 
 a bottle with a main portion, a neck and opening;    said opening having a restrainer and a cap.    
   
   
       2 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein one or more solid or semi-solid objects are inserted into said bottle prior to placement of said restrainer.  
   
   
       3 . The bottle of  claim 2  wherein said restrainer includes a plurality of openings.  
   
   
       4 . The bottle of  claim 3  wherein said restrainer openings restrain said objects within said bottle.  
   
   
       5 . The bottle of  claim 2 , wherein a liquid is inserted within said bottle prior to placement of said restrainer.  
   
   
       6 . The bottle of  claim 2 , wherein a liquid is inserted within said bottle after placement of said restrainer.  
   
   
       7 . The bottle of  claim 5 , wherein said liquid is removed while restrainer restrains said one or more objects.  
   
   
       8 . The bottle of  claim 6 , wherein said liquid is removed while restrainer restrains said one or more objects  
   
   
       9 . The bottle of  claim 5 , wherein said restrainer is removed from said bottle releasing one or more objects from said bottle.  
   
   
       10 . The bottle of  claim 6 , wherein said restrainer is removed from said bottle releasing one or more objects from said bottle.  
   
   
       11 . The bottle of  claim 5  wherein said restrainer is removed from the bottle with some degree of difficulty.  
   
   
       12 . The bottle of  claim 6  wherein said restrainer is removed from the bottle with some degree of difficulty.  
   
   
       13 . The bottle of  claim 2 , additionally comprising an inserted liquid.  
   
   
       14 . The bottle of  claim 13 , wherein said liquid is a beverage.  
   
   
       15 . The bottle of  claim 14 , wherein said beverage is a beverage with the taste characteristics of a “Shirley Temple Cocktail.” 
   
   
       16 . The bottle of  claim 2 , wherein said one or more objects is a cherry.  
   
   
       17 . The bottle of  claim 14 , wherein said liquid is tonic water.  
   
   
       18 . The bottle of  claim 2 , wherein said one or more objects is a citrus fruit consisting of lemon, lime, orange and grapefruit.  
   
   
       19 . The bottle of  claim 2  wherein said one or more objects comprises any food item.  
   
   
       20 . The restrainer of  claim 1  comprises a filter.  
   
   
       21 . A restrainer comprising: 
 a molded device having the dimensions and shape of  FIGS. 2A, 2B ,  2 C,  2 D,  2 E and  2 F.    
   
   
       22 . A restrainer comprising: 
 a top portion having a circular outside sidewall;    a circular inside sidewall having a radius less than said outside sidewall;    a structure of two or more ribs, wherein said ribs are attached to said inside sidewall at a lower end of said ribs, said ribs sloping downward at a given angle so as to meet at a horizontal center of said restrainer.    
   
   
       23 . A method of restraining objects within a bottle containing liquid and said objects comprising: 
 inserting said liquid into said bottle;    inserting one or more objects into said bottle;    inserting a restrainer as described in  claim 21  into said bottle.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  additionally comprising: 
 attaching a cap to said bottle.    
   
   
       25 . An apparatus for inserting liquids, an object(s) and a restrainer as described in  claim 21  into a bottle.