# US 8,541,037 B2 · Packaged bottle beverage having an ingredient release closure with improved additive release and method and apparatus thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,541,037 B2 - Document ID: US8541037B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/988,079 - Filed: 2009-04-16 - Published: 2011-02-24 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-16 - Assignees: Georgia Crown Distributing Co. - Applicants: James Clayton Bell - Inventors: James Clayton Bell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8541037B2 ## CPC - B65D 81/2015: {in an at least partially rigid container (B65D81/2038 takes precedence)} - B65B 7/2835: {applying and rotating preformed threaded caps (for bottles or jars B67B3/20)} - B65D 51/2821: {said element being a blister, a capsule or like sealed container} - B65D 51/2835: {ruptured by a sharp element, e.g. a cutter or a piercer} - B65D 51/2864: {the element being a plug or like element closing a passage between the auxiliary container and the main container} - B65D 51/2871: {the plug falling into the main container} - B65D 51/2878: {the element being a lid or cover seated on a passage between the auxiliary container and the main container} - B67B 3/24: Special measures for applying and securing caps under vacuum - Y10T 137/0318: Processes - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B67B: APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS (opening or closing devices attached to, or incorporated in, containers or container closures B65D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A packaged bottle beverage has a base component of the beverage in a container wider vacuum separate from an additive in a sealed compartment of an ingredient release closure. Upon opening the sealed compartment, suction is created forcing the additive to quickly and thoroughly exit the ingredient release closure, a region of relatively higher pressure, and flow into the base component in the container, a region of relatively lower pressure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A packaged bottled beverage comprising: a beverage comprising a base component and an additive; a container comprising an opening for receiving a closure and a vessel containing said base component; an ingredient release closure comprising a sealed compartment containing said additive, a release mechanism for dispensing the additive, and attaching means for attachment to said opening of said container; said attaching means of said ingredient release closure being attached to said opening of said container, wherein said base component is contained under vacuum in said container and separated from said additive in said sealed compartment, and a cross-sectional shape of said vessel in a label panel area of said vessel is intentionally altered by vacuum pressure forces exerted on said vessel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The packaged bottled beverage of claim 1, wherein upon releasing said additive from said ingredient release closure using said release mechanism and prior to opening said packaged bottle beverage, suction is created pulling said additive from said ingredient release closure into said base component in said container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The packaged bottled beverage of claim 1, wherein said vacuum is formed by applying compression to an outer surface of said vessel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The packaged bottled beverage of claim 1, wherein said vessel of said container comprises a flexible plastic. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The packaged bottled beverage of claim 4, wherein said flexible plastic comprises polyethylene terephthalate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The packaged bottled beverage of claim 1, wherein said ingredient release closure comprises a sports closure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The packaged bottled beverage of claim 1, wherein said ingredient release closure is sanitized. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The packaged bottled beverage of claim 7, wherein said ingredient release closure comprises a metered dose of sanitizer therein. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The packaged bottled beverage of claim 8, wherein said sanitizer comprises peracetic acid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The packaged bottled beverage of claim 1, wherein while said base component is contained under vacuum, a circular cross-sectional shape of said vessel in said label panel area of said vessel is altered by vacuum pressure forces exerted on said vessel so as to transform the circular cross-sectional shape of said vessel into a square or oval cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The packaged bottled beverage of claim 10, wherein the vacuum pressure forces exerted on said vessel transforms the circular cross-sectional shape of said vessel into a square cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The packaged bottled beverage of claim 1, wherein a diameter of said vessel is 95% to 65% of an original size diameter of said vessel prior to attaching said ingredient release closure to said container. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The packaged bottled beverage of claim 1, wherein said base component comprises water, tea, juice, or an energy drink; and said additive comprises one or more additives selected from flavors, vitamins, energy enhancements, or natural ingredients. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The packaged bottled beverage of claim 13, wherein said base component comprises water, and said additive comprises a flavor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method of making the packaged bottled beverage of claim 1, said method comprising: applying compression to an outer surface of the vessel during a capping step, said capping step comprising attaching the ingredient release closure to the container via the attaching means of the ingredient release closure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the compression is applied to the outer surface of the vessel by an adjustable rail having a decreasing arc from a point of initial contact with the container to a point of final contact with the container. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A container closing apparatus in a filling plant configured to carry out the method of claim 15, said container closing apparatus comprising: an inlet being configured and disposed to permit the container to enter the container closing apparatus; at least one capper mechanism being configured to attach the ingredient release closure onto the container to form a sealed container; a container holding apparatus being configured and disposed to receive and hold the container to permit the ingredient release closure to be attached onto the container by said at least one capper mechanism; a means for creating a vacuum in the space inside the container during attachment of the ingredient release closure onto the container, said means for creating the vacuum is an adjustable rail having an arc of decreasing radius from a point of initial contact with the container at said inlet to a point of final contact with the container at said outlet; and an outlet being configured and disposed to permit the sealed container to exit said container closing apparatus. ### Claim 18 A packaged bottled beverage comprising: a beverage comprising a base component and an additive; a container comprising an opening for receiving a closure and a vessel containing said base component; an ingredient release closure comprising a sealed compartment containing said additive, a release mechanism for dispensing the additive, and attaching means for attachment to said opening of said container; said attaching means of said ingredient release closure being attached to said opening of said container, wherein said base component (i) comprises water, (ii) is contained under vacuum in said container, and (iii) is separated from said additive in said sealed compartment, and a cross-sectional shape of said vessel in a label panel area of said vessel is intentionally altered by vacuum pressure forces exerted on said vessel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The packaged bottled beverage of claim 18, wherein said additive comprises one or more additives selected from flavors, vitamins, energy enhancements, or natural ingredients. ### Claim 20 A packaged bottled beverage comprising: a beverage comprising a base component and an additive; a container comprising an opening for receiving a closure and a vessel containing said base component; an ingredient release closure comprising a sports closure comprising a sealed compartment containing said additive, a release mechanism for dispensing the additive, and attaching means for attachment to said opening of said container; said attaching means of said ingredient release closure being attached to said opening of said container, wherein said base component (i) comprises water, (ii) is contained under vacuum in said container, and (iii) is separated from said additive in said sealed compartment, and a cross-sectional shape of said vessel in a label panel area of said vessel is intentionally altered by vacuum pressure forces exerted on said vessel.