초록 ▼

Disclosed are lid assemblies for use on a vessel holding a base liquid. They include an agent chamber for holding a liquid agent and a pivotable spout. The spout includes a base liquid inlet port and a liquid agent inlet port, respective passageways connected to those ports and terminating at a mixi

Disclosed are lid assemblies for use on a vessel holding a base liquid. They include an agent chamber for holding a liquid agent and a pivotable spout. The spout includes a base liquid inlet port and a liquid agent inlet port, respective passageways connected to those ports and terminating at a mixing space. The agent chamber includes plural different sized metering orifices, orifice configured to be brought into communication with the liquid agent port of the spout when the spout is pivoted to any one of plural angular positions to provide a metered amount of the liquid agent into the spout for mixing with the base liquid in the mixing space when the user sucks on the spout. The base liquid is drawn into the spout from the interior of the vessel via a base liquid metering port that is brought into communication with the base liquid inlet port when the spout is in any one of those plural angular positions.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device for use with a vessel in which a base liquid is located, the vessel including an interior and a bottom, said device being configured for dispensing a portion of a liquid agent into a portion of the base liquid drawn from the vessel, said device comprising a spout, an agent chamber and a

1. A device for use with a vessel in which a base liquid is located, the vessel including an interior and a bottom, said device being configured for dispensing a portion of a liquid agent into a portion of the base liquid drawn from the vessel, said device comprising a spout, an agent chamber and a conduit, said agent chamber having an interior and being configured for holding the liquid agent therein, said conduit being coupled to said agent chamber and having a free end portion configured to be located adjacent the bottom of the vessel, said spout being coupled to said agent chamber and comprising a mixing space located within said spout and having an agent inlet port and a base liquid inlet port, said agent inlet port and said base liquid inlet port being in communication with said mixing space, said agent chamber comprising a wall portion having base liquid metering orifice and a first agent metering orifice therein, said spout being selectively movable with respect to said agent chamber to any one of a first position, a second position, and a third position, said base liquid inlet port being isolated from said base liquid metering orifice and said agent inlet port being isolated from said first agent metering orifice when said spout is in said first position, said base liquid inlet port being in communication with said conduit via said base liquid metering orifice and said agent inlet port being isolated from said first agent metering orifice when said spout is in said second position, whereupon the base liquid from the vessel can to be drawn through said base liquid metering orifice and said base liquid inlet port into said mixing space, said first agent metering orifice being in communication with said agent inlet port and said base liquid inlet port being in communication with said conduit via said base liquid metering orifice when said spout is in said third position to enable a portion of the base liquid from the vessel to be drawn through the base liquid metering orifice and said base liquid port into said mixing space and to enable a portion of the liquid agent within said agent chamber to be drawn through said first agent metering orifice and said agent inlet port into said mixing space for mixing with the base liquid in said mixing space. 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said wall portion of said agent chamber has a second agent metering orifice therein, said second agent metering orifice being of a different size than said first agent metering orifice, said spout also being selectively moveable with respect to said agent chamber to a fourth position, said second agent metering orifice being in communication with said agent inlet port and said base inlet port being in communication with said conduit via said base liquid orifice when said spout is in said fourth position to enable the portion of the base liquid from the vessel to be drawn through said base liquid orifice and said base liquid inlet port into said mixing chamber and to enable the portion of the liquid agent within said agent chamber to be drawn through said second agent metering orifice and said agent inlet port into said mixing space for mixing with the base liquid in said mixing space. 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said wall portion of said agent chamber has a third agent metering orifice therein, said third agent metering orifice being of a different size than said first and second agent metering orifices, said spout also being selectively moveable with respect to said agent chamber to a fifth position, said third metering orifice being in communication with said agent inlet port and said base liquid inlet port being in communication with said conduit via said base liquid orifice when said spout is in said fifth position to enable the portion of the base liquid from the vessel to be drawn through said base liquid orifice and said base liquid inlet port into said mixing chamber and to enable a portion of the liquid agent within said agent chamber to be drawn through said third agent metering orifice and said agent inlet port into said mixing space for mixing with the base liquid in said mixing space. 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said spout comprises an agent passageway and a base liquid passageway, said passageways being separate from each other and merging together at said mixing space, said base liquid inlet port forming a portion of said base liquid passageway, and said agent inlet port forming a portion of said agent passageway. 5. The device of claim 1 wherein said first agent metering orifice has a first seal surrounding said first agent metering orifice to form a leak-proof interface between said first agent metering orifice and said agent inlet port when said spout is in said third position. 6. The device of claim 2 wherein said first agent metering orifice has a first seal surrounding said first agent metering orifice to form a first leak-proof interface between said first agent metering orifice and said agent inlet port when said spout is in said third position and wherein said second agent metering orifice has a second seal surrounding said second agent metering orifice to form a second leak-proof interface between said second agent metering orifice and said agent inlet port when said spout is in said fourth position. 7. The device of claim 3 wherein said first agent metering orifice has a first seal surrounding said first agent metering orifice to form a first leak-proof interface between said first agent metering orifice and said agent inlet port when said spout is in said third position, wherein said second agent metering orifice has a second seal surrounding said second agent metering orifice to form a second leak-proof interface between said second agent metering orifice and said agent inlet port when said spout is in said fourth position, and wherein said third agent metering orifice has a third seal surrounding said third agent metering orifice to form a third leak-proof interface between said third agent metering orifice and said agent inlet port when said spout is in said fifth position. 8. The device of claim 7 wherein said first, second and third seals are formed by one integral member. 9. The device of claim 1 wherein said spout is pivotably mounted with respect to said agent chamber. 10. The device of claim 1 wherein said device includes a detent mechanism for holding said spout in each of said first, second and third positions. 11. The device of claim 1, wherein said device comprises a lid assembly for releasable securement to the vessel. 12. The device of claim 1 wherein said device comprises two vent holes, a first one of said two vent holes being in fluid communication with the interior of the vessel and a second one of said two vent holes being in fluid communication with said interior of said agent chamber. 13. The device of claim 12 wherein said movable spout includes the two projections, each of said projections being configured to seal a respect of said vent holes when said spout is in said first position. 14. The device of claim 11, wherein said lid comprises a filling port in communication with said chamber through which the liquid agent can be introduced into said agent chamber. 15. The device of claim 14 wherein said lid assembly comprises a cap for selectively opening and closing said filling port. 16. The device of claim 1 wherein said device additionally comprises a canister or cartridge containing the liquid agent, said canister or cartridge being configured for disposition within said agent chamber. 17. The device of claim 16 wherein said canister or cartridge is frangible and configured to rupture within said agent chamber to release the liquid agent into said agent chamber. 18. The device of claim 11 wherein said device comprises a cavity and wherein said spout, and at least a portion of said agent chamber form a subassembly for releasable securement in said cavity. 19. The device of claim 1 wherein said spout includes a free end, wherein said mixing space is a small space located within said spout adjacent said free end of said spout and wherein said spout includes a first passageway connecting said base liquid inlet port to said mixing space and a second discrete passageway connecting said liquid agent inlet port to said mixing space. 20. The device of claim 1 wherein said spout is configured to enable a user of said device to suck on the spout to draw the liquid agent and the base liquid to said mixing space. 21. A method for dispensing either a base liquid or a mixture of a base liquid and a liquid agent into the mouth of a user, said method comprising; a) providing a vessel configured for holding the base liquid therein and comprising a dispensing device coupled to said vessel and having a spout, an agent chamber, a conduit, a base liquid inlet port, and an agent inlet port, said conduit being in fluid communication with said base liquid in said vessel, said agent chamber being configured for holding a liquid agent therein and comprising a first agent metering orifice in fluid communication with said liquid agent and a base liquid orifice in fluid communication with said conduit, said dispensing device being configured so that a portion thereof can be moved to any one of a first, second and third positions, said base liquid inlet port being isolated from said base liquid orifice and said agent inlet port being isolated from said first agent metering orifice when said portion of said device is in said first position, said base liquid inlet port being in communication with said conduit via said base liquid orifice and said agent inlet port being isolated from said first agent metering orifice when said portion of said device is in said second position, said first agent metering orifice being in communication with said agent inlet port and said base liquid inlet port being in communication with said conduit via said base liquid orifice when said portion of said device is in said third position;b) moving said portion of said device from said first position to either said second position or said third position; andc) sucking on said spout by the user when said device is in either said second or third position, whereupon if said device is in said second position the sucking on said spout draws a portion of the base liquid from the vessel through said base liquid orifice and said base liquid inlet port into a mouth of the user and if the device is in said third position the sucking on said spout draws a portion of the base liquid from the vessel through said base liquid orifice and said base liquid inlet port and also draws a portion of the liquid agent within said agent chamber through said first agent metering orifice and said agent inlet port to mix the portion of the base liquid and the portion of the liquid agent together to form a mixture and dispense the mixture into the mouth of the user. 22. The method of claim 21 wherein said portion of said device which is moved is said spout. 23. The method of claim 21 wherein after said portion of said device has been moved to either the second or third position it is moved back to said first position. 24. The method of claim 22 wherein said dispensing device comprises a lid for releasable securement to said vessel and wherein said spout is pivotably mounted on said lid for pivoting movement to said first, second and third positions. 25. The method of claim 21 wherein the base liquid is water and the liquid agent is a flavoring agent. 26. The method of claim 21 wherein the liquid agent is introduced into the agent chamber by the user. 27. The method of claim 26 wherein the liquid agent is located within a frangible cartridge.