Flavoring reservoir for storing aromatics, and drink system having such a flavoring reservoir

Abstract

A flavoring reservoir for storing aromatics and for releasing the aromatics to a drink system. The reservoir includes a container which encloses a receiving space with a wall. The wall includes at least one air inlet opening and at least one air outlet opening. The reservoir includes a substrate material loaded with an aromatic and arranged in the receiving space. The aromatic is releasable to air that flows in through the air inlet opening, past the substrate material and out through the air outlet opening. The reservoir has an annular shape with the receiving space arranged around a central aperture. A dividing wall is arranged in the receiving space. The air inlet opening is arranged in a region adjoining the dividing wall on a first side thereof. The air outlet opening is arranged in a region adjoining the dividing wall on a second side thereof opposite the first side.

1 . A flavoring reservoir for storing aromatics and for releasing the aromatics to a drink system, the flavoring reservoir having comprising:
 a container which encloses a receiving space with a wall, the wall including at least one air inlet opening and at least one air outlet opening; and   a substrate material arranged in the receiving space, the substrate material being loaded with an aromatic and releasing the aromatic to air that flows in through the air inlet opening, flows along past the substrate material and flows out through the air outlet opening wherein the flavoring reservoir has an annular shape with the receiving space which is arranged around a central aperture and enclosed by the wall, wherein a dividing wall completely traversing the receiving space is arranged in the receiving space and wherein the air inlet opening and the air outlet opening are arranged adjacently with respect to one another, the air inlet opening being arranged in a region which adjoins the dividing wall on a first side of the dividing wall, and the air outlet opening being arranged in a region which adjoins the dividing wall on a second side of the dividing wall which lies opposite the first side.   
     
     
         2 . The flavoring reservoir according to  claim 1 , wherein the flavoring reservoir has a substantially rectangular cross-section and is configured such that the ratio of flowed-through length to a diagonal of flowed-through cross-section is at least 10:1, in particular more than 15:1. 
     
     
         3 . The flavoring reservoir according to  claim 1 , wherein the air outlet opening is arranged on an inner wall portion of the wall located inside and facing the aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The flavoring reservoir according to  claim 3 , wherein the air outlet opening is a slit-shaped opening longitudinally extending in the circumferential direction of the ring, the width of whose opening changes continuously in a direction transverse to, in particular perpendicular to the circumferential direction, in particular tapering when viewed in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         5 . The flavoring reservoir according to  claim 1 , wherein the air inlet opening is arranged on a side wall facing outwards and away from the aperture, on a lower bottom wall or on an upper ceiling wall. 
     
     
         6 . The flavoring reservoir according to according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is formed by a lower shell, which is formed in a single piece, and a cover which is placed on the lower shell, wherein a bottom and side walls of the lower shell and the cover form the wall surrounding the receiving space enclosed between the lower shell and the cover, and wherein the cover is permanently joined to the lower shell by a cold-formed connection, in particular by pressing and/or rolling. 
     
     
         7 . A drink system with a drink vessel and a flavoring reservoir according to  claim 1  connected or connectable to the drink vessel, such that, when a person drinks from the drink vessel, air aspirated through the air inlet opening in the wall of the flavoring reservoir and provided with the aromatic stored in the substrate material is guided through the air outlet opening and to the mouth of the drinker. 
     
     
         8 . The drink system according to  claim 7 , wherein a mouthpiece from which a drinking straw guided into the drink vessel protrudes at the drinking end and which, apart from the opening formed by the drinking straw as well as any air vent opening present on the mouthpiece or formed with the mouthpiece to replenish a volume taken from the container during drinking, largely seals an interior space of the drink vessel, the drinking straw having a circumferential wall and an air inlet opening in the circumferential wall, the flavoring reservoir being arranged around the drinking straw in such a way that the drinking straw runs through the aperture and the air outlet opening of the flavoring reservoir and the air inlet opening of the drinking straw lie opposite each other such that, when the drinking straw is sucked, air flows through the air inlet opening, through the flavoring reservoir and out from the air outlet opening. 
     
     
         9 . The drink system according to  claim 8 , wherein the flavoring reservoir is axially displaceable along the drinking straw to open and close a passage formed between the air outlet opening and the air inlet opening, a first spring element being provided which pre-tensions the flavoring reservoir in a position in which the passage formed between the air outlet opening; and the air inlet opening is opened. 
     
     
         10 . The drink system according to  claim 8 , further comprising a cap for closing the mouthpiece and covering the drinking end of the drinking straw, the cap having at least one bearing portion with which, when closed, lies against the flavoring reservoir and, if displaces the cap against a spring force of the first spring element to a position in which the passage formed between the air outlet opening and the air inlet opening is closed. 
     
     
         11 . The drink system according to  claim 10 , wherein the air inlet opening is arranged at a position of the flavoring reservoir exposed to the cap and that, when the cap is closed, the bearing portion lies against the air inlet opening and seals it. 
     
     
         12 . The drink system according to  claim 11 , wherein the bearing portion, at least in the region in which it lies against the air inlet opening and seals it when the cap is closed, is formed of an elastic material, in particular an EVA-PE copolymer, or is coated with such material. 
     
     
         13 . The drink system according to  claim 10 , wherein the bearing portion is a portion of a second spring element arranged in the cap, wherein the spring force of the second spring element is greater than the spring force of the first spring element. 
     
     
         14 . The drink system according to  claim 7 , wherein the flavoring reservoir is or can be arranged about the drinking straw so as to be rotatable by at least a predefined angular range. 
     
     
         15 . The drink system according to  claim 8, claim 8 , wherein the air outlet opening has a larger opening area than the air inlet opening, preferably at least 10% larger, in particular approximately 20% larger.