Single serving beverage container

Abstract

A single serving beverage container has a body with a first end and an opposite second end that is relatively smaller than the first end. The first end is open and the second end is closed. The body defines an interior cavity of a predetermined volume for containing a beverage. A protective film is removably mounted to a rim at the first end and forms a liquid-tight seal therewith. The container includes an end cap having a first mounting structure for detachably mounting the end cap to the first end of the body when in a first assembled condition, and a second mounting structure for detachably mounting the end cap to the second end of the body when in a second assembled condition. When in the first assembled condition, the end cap does not interfere with the protective film.

1 . A beverage container, comprising:
 a body having a large diameter first end and a smaller diameter second end opposite the first end, the first end including a large diameter opening therein defining a rim at the first end, the second end closed, and the body defining an interior cavity of a predetermined volume;   a removable barrier element engaging the rim at the first end so as to form a liquid-tight seal therewith; and,   an end cap having a first mounting structure for detachably mounting the end cap to the first end of the body when in a first assembled condition, and having a second mounting structure for detachably mounting the end cap to the second end of the body when in a second assembled condition,   
     wherein, when in the first assembled condition, the end cap covers the removable barrier element and the second mounting structure is disposed external to the interior cavity of the body. 
   
   
       2 . A beverage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier element forms a protective seal at the large diameter first end. 
   
   
       3 . A beverage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier element is one of a foil film and a plastic film. 
   
   
       4 . A beverage container according to  claim 1 , wherein a discontinuous circumferential flange extends from the rim, defining a plurality of spaces around the rim for receiving a corresponding plurality of tab-like flanges of the end cap first mounting structure. 
   
   
       5 . A beverage container according to  claim 4 , wherein the tab-like flanges of the end cap first mounting structure define a plurality of channels, each channel for frictionally engaging a portion of the discontinuous circumferential flange when in the first assembled condition. 
   
   
       6 . A beverage container according to  claim 1 , comprising a mounting structure at the smaller diameter second end, wherein the mounting structure at the smaller diameter second end and the end cap second mounting structure cooperate to form a bayonet coupling mechanism. 
   
   
       7 . A beverage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the end cap first mounting structure and the end cap second mounting structure are defined one each along opposite sides of the end cap. 
   
   
       8 . A beverage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the end cap comprises a sidewall and a floor, the sidewall defining an opening that is sized to fit over the large diameter first end of the body, the side wall supporting a plurality of tab-like flanges extending toward a central axis of the end cap and defining the first end cap mounting structure, such that when in the first assembled condition the floor is spaced away from the rim of the body by an amount that is sufficient to maintain the second mounting structure external to the interior cavity. 
   
   
       9 . A beverage container according to  claim 8 , wherein the end cap comprises a base surface along a side thereof opposite the floor, the base surface for supporting the beverage container in an upright storage orientation when in the first assembled condition. 
   
   
       10 . A beverage container according to  claim 9 , wherein the end cap second mounting structure defines an approximately central opening in the base surface thereof. 
   
   
       11 . A beverage container, comprising:
 a body having a large open first end and a relatively smaller closed second end opposite the first end, the body defining an interior cavity of a predetermined volume, the first end comprising a first mounting structure disposed along an external surface of the body;   a removable barrier element sealingly engaging the body at the first end so as to form a liquid-tight seal therewith;   an end cap having a second mounting structure for mating with the first mounting structure to detachably mount the end cap to the first end of the body when in a first assembled condition, and having a third mounting structure for detachably mounting the end cap to the second end of the body when in a second assembled condition;   
     wherein, when in the first assembled condition, the base cap covers the removable barrier element and the third mounting structure is disposed external to the interior cavity of the body. 
   
   
       12 . A beverage container, comprising:
 a body having a first end and a second end that is relatively smaller than the first end, the second end being opposite the first end, the first end being open and having a circumferential rim defined around a perimeter thereof, the second end closed, and the body defining an interior cavity of a predetermined volume;   a protective film removably mounted to the rim at the first end and extending across the open first end, the protective film forming a liquid-tight seal with the rim; and,   an end cap having a central axis extending along a first direction, the end cap comprising a first mounting structure for detachably mounting the end cap to the first end of the body when in a first assembled condition, and having a second mounting structure for detachably mounting the end cap to the second end of the body when in a second assembled condition, the end cap being dimensioned along the first direction such that the first mounting structure is disposed entirely to one side of a plane, P, normal to the central axis, and the second mounting structure is disposed entirely to an opposite side of the plane.   
   
   
       13 . A beverage container according to  claim 12 , wherein, when in the first assembled condition, the end cap covers the removable barrier element and the second mounting structure is disposed substantially external to the interior cavity of the body. 
   
   
       14 . A beverage container according to  claim 12 , wherein the protective film forms a tamper-resistant seal at the first end. 
   
   
       15 . A beverage container according to  claim 12 , wherein the protective film is one of a foil film and a plastic film. 
   
   
       16 . A beverage container according to  claim 12 , wherein a discontinuous circumferential flange extends from the rim, defining a plurality of spaces around the rim for receiving a corresponding plurality of tab-like flanges of the end cap first mounting structure. 
   
   
       17 . A beverage container according to  claim 16 , wherein the tab-like flanges of the end cap first mounting structure define a plurality of channels, each channel for frictionally engaging a portion of the discontinuous circumferential flange when in the first assembled condition. 
   
   
       18 . A beverage container according to  claim 12 , comprising a mounting structure at the second end of the body, wherein the mounting structure at the second end and the end cap second mounting structure cooperate to form a bayonet coupling mechanism. 
   
   
       19 . A beverage container according to  claim 12 , wherein the end cap first mounting structure and the end cap second mounting structure are defined one each along opposite sides of the end cap. 
   
   
       20 . A beverage container according to  claim 12 , wherein the end cap comprises a sidewall and a floor, the sidewall defining an opening that is sized to fit over the first end of the body, the side wall supporting a plurality of tab-like flanges extending toward the central axis of the end cap and defining the first end cap mounting structure, such that when in the first assembled condition the floor is spaced away from the rim of the body by an amount that is sufficient to maintain the second mounting structure external to the interior cavity. 
   
   
       21 . A beverage container according to  claim 20 , wherein the end cap comprises a base surface along a side thereof opposite the floor, the base surface for supporting the beverage container in an upright storage orientation when in the first assembled condition. 
   
   
       22 . A beverage container according to  claim 21 , wherein the end cap second mounting structure defines an approximately central opening in the base surface thereof. 
   
   
       23 . A method of preparing a beverage for being consumed from a single serving container, comprising:
 detaching an end cap from a first end of the single serving container, so as to expose a removable barrier element that is sealed to the first end in a liquid-tight fashion;   mounting the end cap to a second end of the single serving container, the second end being opposite the first end; and,   removing the barrier element from the first end of the single serving container, so as to provide access to the beverage that is contained within the single serving container.   
   
   
       24 . A method of packaging a beverage in a single serving container, the single serving container having a large open end defining a rim and having a small closed end, the method comprising:
 relatively positioning the single serving container adjacent to a beverage dispensing member, such that the large open end of the single serving container is oriented upward and the small closed end is oriented downward;   dispensing via the beverage dispensing member a predetermined volume of the beverage into the single serving container;   removably affixing a barrier element to the large open end, so as to form a liquid-tight seal therewith; and,   detachably mounting an end cap adjacent to the large open end, the end cap defining a mounting structure for receiving the small closed end, and wherein the mounting structure does not extend through the large open end into the interior of the single serving container.   
   
   
       25 . A beverage container, comprising:
 a body having a first end and a second end that is relatively smaller than the first end, the second end being opposite the first end, the first end being open and having a circumferential rim defined around a perimeter thereof, the second end closed, and the body defining an interior cavity of a predetermined volume;   a protective film removably mounted to the rim at the first end and being stretch-fit across the open first end, the protective film forming a liquid-tight seal with the rim; and,   an end cap comprising a first mounting structure for detachably mounting the end cap to the first end of the body when in a first assembled condition, and a second mounting structure for detachably mounting the end cap to the second end of the body when in a second assembled condition,   
     wherein the end cap does not interfere with the stretch-fit protective film when the end cap is mounted to the first end of the body in the first assembled condition.