Multi-compartment beverage bottle system and method

Abstract

Embodiments of a multi-compartment beverage bottle system and methods of manufacturing the system are disclosed. First and second housing elements are in mutual engagement with one another to at least partially define a fluid vessel with a fluid cavity therein. The fluid cavity includes a first fluid compartment and a second fluid compartment. The first housing element is rotatable between a storage position and a mix position with respect to the second housing element. A shuttle element is disposed within the fluid cavity and axially actuatable along the main axis into and out of a seal position. Rotation of the first housing element toward the storage position actuates the shuttle element toward the seal position. Rotation of the first housing element toward the mix position actuates the shuttle element away from the seal position, thereby placing the first and second fluid compartments into fluid communication with one another for mixing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beverage bottle system comprising:
 a first housing element and a second housing element in mutual engagement with one another to at least partially define a fluid vessel with a fluid cavity therein, the fluid cavity including a first fluid compartment and a second fluid compartment, the first housing element being rotatable with respect to the second housing element about a main axis for rotation of the first housing element between a storage position and a mix position; and   a shuttle element disposed within the fluid cavity and axially actuatable along the main axis into and out of a seal position,   wherein the beverage bottle system is configured such that
 (a) rotation of the first housing element toward the storage position actuates the shuttle element toward the seal position; 
 (b) rotation of the first housing element toward the mix position actuates the shuttle element away from the seal position; 
 (c) the first and second fluid compartments are sealed from fluid communication with one another when the shuttle element is in the seal position; and 
 (d) the first and second fluid compartments are in fluid communication with one another when the shuttle element is not in the seal position. 
   
     
     
         2 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein
 (a) the first housing element includes a shuttle transport portion;   (b) the shuttle element includes a transport sleeve in threaded engagement with the shuttle transport portion; and   (c) the actuations of the shuttle element are configured to be by way of the threaded engagement.   
     
     
         3 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein
 (a) the first housing element includes a valve seat with a valve aperture extending therethrough, the valve aperture configured to be in fluid communication between the first and second fluid compartments; and   (b) the shuttle element includes a valve plug configured to sealingly engage the valve aperture when the shuttle element is in the seal position.   
     
     
         4 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the shuttle element includes a plurality of flow apertures radially disposed about the valve plug. 
     
     
         5 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the valve plug is conical. 
     
     
         6 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 3 , wherein
 (a) the valve seat includes an annular seat flange extending axially outward of the valve aperture and terminating at a flange lip;   (b) the shuttle element includes a plug retention portion on which the valve plug is mounted, the plug retention portion includes an annular lip groove extending circumferentially about the valve plug; and   (c) the lip groove is configured to be in sealing receipt of the flange lip when the shuttle element is in the seal position.   
     
     
         7 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the shuttle element and the second housing element are
 (a) axially-slidable with respect to one another along the main axis; and   (b) non-rotatable with respect to one another about the main axis.   
     
     
         8 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the axially-slidability and non-rotatability are by way of mutual engagement between respective linear splines and linear grooves. 
     
     
         9 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 8 , wherein
 (a) the second housing element includes a sidewall portion having a sidewall inner surface;   (b) the linear splines are distributed about the transport sleeve; and   (c) the linear grooves are distributed about the sidewall inner surface.   
     
     
         10 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 2  further comprising an inboard annular seal, wherein
 (a) the transport sleeve includes a sleeve inner surface; and 
 (b) the inboard annular seal is disposed in fluid-sealing engagement between the shuttle transport portion and the sleeve inner surface. 
 
     
     
         11 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 2  further comprising an outboard annular seal, wherein
 (a) the second housing element includes a sidewall portion having a sidewall inner surface; and 
 (b) the outboard annular seal is disposed in fluid-sealing engagement between the shuttle element and the sidewall inner surface. 
 
     
     
         12 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 11 , wherein
 (a) the shuttle element includes a shuttle seal flange; and   (b) the outboard annual seal is retained on the shuttle element by way of the shuttle seal flange.   
     
     
         13 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a closure element, wherein
 (a) the second housing element includes a closure securement portion and a dispense aperture, the dispense aperture configured to be in fluid communication between the second fluid compartment and the ambient environment; and 
 (b) the closure element is configured to
 (i) engage the closure securement portion to seal the dispense aperture from fluid communication with the ambient environment; and 
 (ii) disengage the closure securement portion to expose the dispense aperture to fluid communication with the ambient environment. 
 
 
     
     
         14 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein
 (a) the first housing element includes a pair of first rotation detents;   (b) the second housing element includes a pair of second rotation detents; and   (c) the first rotation detents are engageable with the second rotation detents so as to limit the rotatability between the first housing element and the second housing element.   
     
     
         15 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first housing element includes a base portion with a circumferentially uneven gripping surface. 
     
     
         16 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein an intermediate mixing compartment is formed between the first fluid compartment and the second fluid compartment when the shuttle element is not in the seal position. 
     
     
         17 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein
 (a) the first fluid chamber contains a first beverage fluid;   (b) the second fluid compartment contains a second beverage fluid different from the first beverage fluid;   (c) the shuttle element is in the seal position.   
     
     
         18 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 17 , wherein
 (a) the first fluid compartment has a first compartment pressure; and   (b) the second fluid compartment has a second compartment pressure at least 20 PSI different than the first compartment pressure.   
     
     
         19 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 17 , wherein one of the beverage fluids is alcoholic and the other beverage fluid is non-alcoholic. 
     
     
         20 . A beverage bottle system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein
 (a) the first housing element includes an interface securement groove disposed circumferentially thereabout;   (b) the second housing element has a proximal end and an interface securement lip;   (c) the interface securement lip extends circumferentially about the proximal end and is flexibly attached thereto for facilitating hinged movement of the interface securement lip to a radially-inward position with respect to the second housing element; and   (d) the first housing element and second housing element are axially secured to one another by way of engagement between the radially-inwardly positioned interface securement lip and the interface securement groove.   
     
     
         21 . A method for manufacturing a multi-compartment beverage bottle, the method comprising:
 providing a first housing element, a second housing element, a shuttle element and a closure element;   inserting a first fluid into a first fluid compartment defined within the second housing element;   moving the shuttle element into a seal position with respect to the first housing element, thereby forming a first stage subassembly in which the first fluid compartment is sealed from fluid communication with an ambient environment;   placing the second housing element in engagement with the first stage subassembly, thereby forming a second stage subassembly wherein
 (a) a second fluid compartment is at least partially defined by the second housing element and shuttle element, and 
 (b) the first fluid compartment remains sealed from fluid communication with the second fluid compartment and ambient environment by way of the shuttle element being in its seal position; 
   inserting a second fluid into the second fluid compartment by way of a dispense aperture of the second housing element; and   sealing the second fluid compartment from fluid communication with the ambient environment by way of the closure element.   
     
     
         22 . A method as defined in  claim 21 , further comprising, after the step of moving:
 subjecting the first stage subassembly to high pressure processing by way of hydraulic fluid; and   drying the first stage subassembly so as to remove hydraulic fluid therefrom.   
     
     
         23 . A method as defined in  claim 21 , further comprising, after the step of placing:
 subjecting the second stage subassembly to high pressure processing by way of hydraulic fluid; and   drying the second stage subassembly so as to remove hydraulic fluid therefrom.   
     
     
         24 . A method as defined in  claim 21 , wherein
 (a) the step of sealing results in forming a third stage subassembly including the first housing element, second housing element, shuttle element, closure element, first fluid and second fluid; and   (b) the method further comprises, after the step of sealing:
 (i) subjecting the third stage subassembly to high pressure processing by way of hydraulic fluid; and 
 (ii) drying the second stage subassembly so as to remove hydraulic fluid therefrom. 
   
     
     
         25 . A method as defined in  claim 21 , wherein
 (a) the first housing element includes a shuttle transport portion; and   (b) the method further comprises, before the step of inserting a first fluid, affixing an inboard annular seal to the shuttle transport portion by way of a bi-injection molding process mutually involving the inboard annual seal and the first housing element.   
     
     
         26 . A method as defined in  claim 25 , wherein
 (a) the inboard annular seal is comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer; and   (b) the shuttle transport portion is comprised of a polypropylene.   
     
     
         27 . A method as defined in  claim 21  further comprising, before the step of moving:
 affixing an outboard annular seal to the shuttle element by way of a bi-injection molding process mutually involving the outboard annual seal and the shuttle element. 
 
     
     
         28 . A method as defined in  claim 27 , wherein
 (a) the outboard annular seal is comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer; and   (b) the shuttle element is comprised of a polypropylene.