Perfect pour drink mixer

Abstract

The invention provides a multi-compartment container for storing and dispensing separately a plurality of consumable liquids that can be mixed in an accurate and repeatable manner. Each storage compartment within the container encloses a predetermined quantity of a consumable liquid, wherein the first compartment is filled with a first liquid and the other compartments are filled with second and third liquids. The individual storage compartments are structurally merged to form elongated dispensing compartments each with a first end and a second end, wherein a one-way outlet positioned at the first end and a one-way outlet located at the second end permits passage of liquid from the storage compartments into the corresponding dispensing compartments. Upon fully inverting the container, the designated outlet of each dispensing compartment is opened, wherein precise amounts of liquids in the first, second, and third compartments are dispensed at constant volume ratio using gravity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-compartment container having a dispensing end and a bottom,
 the container having at least two separate liquid-storage compartments for storing and dispensing at least two distinct consumable liquids,   said liquid-storage compartments comprise a respective at least first outlet and at least second outlet;   the container comprising a mixing tap for controlling the flow of liquid from said liquid storage compartments into a liquid holding compartment and the respective at least first outlet and at least second outlet are between the liquid storage compartments and the liquid holding compartment for holding a beverage liquid from the liquid storage compartments;   the container further comprising a controllable flow restriction element controlling flow from the least two separate liquid-storage compartments through the first outlet and the second outlet.   the container further comprising a dispensing tap which controls flow of the beverage liquid mixture out of the liquid holding compartment;   wherein when the first outlet and second outlet are disposed below the bottom of the container by inversion of the container, the two distinct consumable liquids are dispensed substantially simultaneously from the first outlet and second outlet into the liquid holding compartment and the liquid holding compartment is constructed to temporarily prevent the beverage liquid in the liquid holding compartment from flowing out of the liquid holding compartment; and   wherein the dispensing tap has an open position to allow flow of the beverage liquid out of the liquid holding compartment and a closed position to prevent flow of the beverage liquid out of the liquid holding compartment.   
     
     
         2 . A multi-compartment container according to  claim 1  comprising first, second and third liquid-storage compartments for storing three distinct liquids, the three liquid-storage compartments having the first outlet and the second outlet and a third outlet, respectively, and the controllable flow restriction element controlling flow through the first outlet, the second outlet and the third outlet into the liquid holding compartment. 
     
     
         3 . A multi-compartment container according to  claim 2  wherein there is a single rotatable element between the first, second and third storage compartments that simultaneously controls dispensing of said three distinct liquids into the liquid holding compartment. 
     
     
         4 . A multi-compartment container according to  claim 2 , wherein the liquid holding compartment comprises separated first, second and third liquid holding compartments respectively connected to corresponding first, second and third storage compartments by corresponding first, second, and third one-way outlets. 
     
     
         5 . A multi-compartment container according to  claim 4  that is configured to provide for flow of liquids from said first, second and third storage compartments into said first, second and third dispensing compartments when said container is inverted between vertical and ±30 degrees from vertical. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-part container of  claim 5  wherein a hinged element over at least one end of each first, second, and third one-way outlets to restrict flow from respective first, second and third liquid dispensing compartments into respective first, second and third liquid storage compartments. 
     
     
         7 . A multi-compartment container according to  claim 1 , wherein controls are present on an exterior surface of the container for controlling flow rate of liquids from respective liquid-storage compartments into the dispensing compartment prior to delivery of a final beverage mixture out of the multi-component container. 
     
     
         8 . A method of dispensing consumable liquids from the multi-compartment container of  claim 4  that comprises providing different consumable liquids into each of the first, second and third liquid-storage compartments, transferring portions of each of the three different consumable liquids separately through the respective first outlet, second outlet and third outlet into the corresponding dispensing compartments, preventing backflow of each of the three different consumable liquids in the corresponding dispensing compartments back into the liquid-storage compartments, and then dispensing each of the three different liquids simultaneously out of the dispensing compartments into a beverage holder. 
     
     
         9 . A method of operating the system of one-way outlets according to  claim 6 , wherein liquids are dispensed from respective liquid-storage compartments into corresponding dispensing compartments at a predetermined volume ratio in accordance with combinations of individual dispensing compartment properties selected from the group consisting of height and width of each delivery compartment, cross-sectional area of fluid in each compartment, geometry of each compartment, dispensing outlet cross-section area, and flow properties of each liquid in respective liquid storage compartments. 
     
     
         10 . A multi-compartment container according to  claim 1  wherein the liquid-storage compartment and delivery compartments comprise plastic. 
     
     
         11 . A multi-compartment container according to  claim 1  wherein the liquid-storage compartment and delivery compartments comprise glass. 
     
     
         12 . A multi-compartment container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one liquid storage compartment or delivery compartment is associated with a source of hydraulic pressure to assist flow of liquid. 
     
     
         13 . A multi-compartment container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second compartments comprise different liquid products which are allowed to mix within the container in the delivery compartment as a single mixing area as the delivery compartment. 
     
     
         14 . A multi-compartment container according to  claim 1 , wherein individual flow controls for each different liquid-storage compartment are configured to dispense each liquid from different liquid-storage compartments into the delivery compartment at predetermined controlled volume ratios. 
     
     
         15 . A multi-compartment container according to  claim 3 , wherein external, manually adjustable individual flow controls for each different liquid-storage compartment are configured to dispense each liquid from different liquid-storage compartments at predetermined controlled volume ratios. 
     
     
         16 . A multi-compartment container according to  claim 1 , wherein ratios of individual liquid product dispensed from a first liquid storage compartment and a second liquid-storage compartment into respective delivery compartments is between 1:1 and 10:1. 
     
     
         17 . A multi-compartment container for dispensing two or more liquid products by gravity at predetermined volume ratios among the two or more liquid products, wherein said container comprises:
 a) at least a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment each comprising a liquid product,   b) a holding compartment in controllable liquid flow communication with both the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment to receive and hold the two or more liquid products from the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment as a mixture;   c) a first fluid control between the holding compartment in controllable liquid flow communication with both the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment;   d) an outlet port from the holding compartment that allows flow of the two or more liquid products out of the holding compartment; and   e) a second fluid control between the holding compartment and the outlet port;   
       wherein the first fluid control and the second fluid control may be operated such that when fluid flow is enabled from the first fluid control, fluid flow is disabled from the second fluid control. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-compartment container of  claim 16  wherein flow rate of the two or more liquid products and the mixture out of respective compartments is controllable by providing different pressures between an inlet of the first compartment and outlet said first compartment. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-compartment container of  claim 17  wherein the pressure is provided by gravity. 
     
     
         20 . A multi-compartment container according to  claim 16  comprising first, second and third liquid-storage compartments for storing three distinct liquids, the three liquid-storage compartments having the first outlet and the second outlet and a third outlet, respectively, and the controllable flow restriction element controlling flow through the first outlet, the second outlet and the third outlet into the liquid holding compartment. 
     
     
         21 . The multi-compartment container according to  claim 19 , wherein the liquid holding compartment comprises separated first, second and third liquid holding compartments respectively connected to corresponding first, second and third storage compartments by corresponding first, second, and third one-way outlets. 
     
     
         22 . The multi-compartment container of  claim 19  wherein the second fluid control on the outlet port has at least two positions, where a first position prevents all flow out of the liquid holding compartment through the outlet port and a second position allows simultaneous flow from the separated first, second and third liquid holding compartments.