Bottle with multiple compartments

Abstract

A beverage bottle for mixing at least two liquids upon pouring is described. The bottle includes an outer container for holding a first liquid. The outer container includes a bottom, a circumferential wall, and an open spout. The bottle includes at least one inner container positioned within the outer container for holding a second liquid. The inner container includes a bottom, a circumferential wall, and an open spout. The bottle further includes a collar engaging the outer container and the inner container and holding the inner container in a fixed position relative to the outer container. The collar defines a first aperture in fluid communication with the inner container and a second aperture in fluid communication with the outer container. A lateral distance between a first pouring edge of the first aperture and a first pouring edge of the second aperture is eight millimeters or less

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beverage bottle for mixing at least two liquids upon pouring, the bottle comprising:
 an outer container for holding a first liquid, the outer container comprising a bottom, a circumferential wall, and an open spout;   at least one inner container positioned within the outer container for holding a second liquid, the inner container comprising a bottom, a circumferential wall, and an open spout;   a collar engaging the outer container and the inner container and holding the inner container in a fixed position relative to the outer container, the collar defining a first aperture in fluid communication with the inner container and a second aperture in fluid communication with the outer container, and wherein a lateral distance between a first pouring edge of the first aperture and a first pouring edge of the second aperture is eight millimeters or less.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the collar is positioned at a top end of the outer container proximate the spout of the outer container. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage bottle of  claim 2 , wherein the collar further defines a first venting aperture in fluid communication with the inner container to act as a vent to allow airflow into the inner container while the second liquid is being poured and a second venting aperture in fluid communication with the outer container to act as a vent to allow airflow into the outer container while the first liquid is being poured, and wherein the first aperture, the second aperture, the first venting aperture and the second venting aperture are centered along a common straight line 
     
     
         4 . The beverage bottle of  claim 3 , wherein the collar is threadably engaged with the outer container. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage bottle of  claim 3 , wherein the collar is frictionally engaged with the outer container. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the bottle includes an alignment mechanism for orienting the inner container relative to the outer container in a predetermined configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage bottle of  claim 6 , wherein the alignment mechanism comprises an upward protrusion on the bottom of the outer container configured to engage with an indentation on the bottom of the inner container. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage bottle of  claim 7 , wherein the alignment mechanism is non-circular, to prevent spinning of the inner container within the outer container. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage bottle of  claim 8 , wherein the alignment mechanism is diamond-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage bottle of  claim 1 , further comprising the first liquid and the second liquid and wherein the first liquid is colorless and the second liquid is colored. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage bottle of  claim 10 , wherein the inner container is elliptically shaped such that the inner container and the outer container are distinguishable when containing their respective liquids. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage bottle of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap, the cap comprising an inner container seal for sealing the first aperture, and an outer container seal for sealing the second aperture, the inner container seal and the outer container seal preventing cross-contamination of the liquids between the inner container and the outer container when the cap is engaged 
     
     
         13 . The beverage bottle of  claim 12 , in which the first liquid is an alcoholic beverage and the second liquid is a non-alcoholic liquid. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage bottle according to  claim 1 , in which the inner container is secured to the bottom of the outer container by engaging with the collar. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage bottle according to  claim 1 , in which the outer container or the inner container comprises a material selected from the group comprising plastic, glass or metal. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage bottle according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer and inner containers are transparent. 
     
     
         17 . A method for assembling a bottle with multiple compartments configured to keep a first liquid separate from a second liquid until the liquids are poured, the method comprising:
 providing an outer container for holding the first liquid;   providing an inner container for holding a second liquid;   inserting the inner container into the outer container;   providing a supporting collar made of polypropylene for securing the inner container within the outer container;   securing the inner container within the outer container using the supporting collar; and   providing a cap made of polypropylene for sealing the inner and outer containers.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further including the steps of:
 dispensing a first liquid into the outer container;   dispensing a second liquid into the inner container; and   sealing the inner and outer containers using the cap after or while installing the collar.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  in which the first liquid is an alcoholic beverage and the second liquid is a non-alcoholic liquid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  in which the liquids are dispensed into their respective containers after the inner container is inserted into the outer container.