EP0549604B1 - Assembly device combining a container and a chemoluminescent light source - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/BE91/00061 Sec. 371 Date Feb. 24, 1993 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 24, 1993 PCT Filed Aug. 30, 1991 PCT Pub. No. WO92/04577 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 19, 1992The invention relates to the use of chemiluminescent light for the illumination of liquids contained in transparent or translucent containers. The methods used are the use of reactants already mixed but preserved under very cold conditions, below -40 DEG C., to freeze the chemiluminescence reaction and the use of chemiluminescent compounds reactivating extemporaneously at the desired moment. The two systems of use of this process are to carry it out either in the liquid to be illuminated or outside the latter.

Description

The invention relates to an assembly combining a container with at least partially transparent or translucent walls, the bottom of which is adapted to receive a chemiluminescent light source specially designed for this purpose, making it possible to illuminate the drinks or other liquids contained in the container without the light source is in contact with the liquid or modifies the capacity of the container.

TECHNICAL AREA

The technical field of the invention is that of the illumination of liquids contained in containers whose transparency or translucency allows the circulation in their walls and the passage through the latter, towards the contained liquids, of light coming from '' an external light source.

The light source used in the invention is that of chemiluminescence.

Chemiluminescence is produced by the reaction of an activator with a fluorescent agent and an oxalate. In the context of this invention, all the formulas for producing chemiluminescent light are acceptable provided that the dimensions, the volume and the weight of the combined reagents can be adapted to allow the object of the present invention to be achieved.

STATE OF THE ART

We already know the use of electric light for the illumination of liquids contained in vases or basins with transparent walls, such as aquariums, for example; this illumination comes from a light source activated by electricity and positioned below the transparent bottom of these containers.

It would seem difficult and certainly impractical to have an electric lamp connected to the mains or powered by a battery below a drinking glass or a bottle containing lemonade, beer or any other liquid.

Patent US-A-5,010,461 (K. Saotome) (Multicolor pressure-sensitive illuminating display platform) describes a platform illuminating an object whose weight triggers the illumination process in a variable choice of colors created by a filter mobile placed between the exhibition platform and an electric light source placed inside the device.
The object and function of this relatively expensive device which is to illuminate, with sufficient electrical power to do so, an object placed on the device itself are different from those of the present invention.

State of the art concerning chemiluminescence

The principle and the techniques for the production of chemiluminescent light are amply described in an important literature and in numerous patents, such as, for example, US-A-4,678,608.

Many systems and patents exist using the phenomenon of chemiluminescence mainly as a means of lighting or signaling; reference is made in this connection to U.S. patents No. 3,576,987 of May 4, 1971 (Chemical lighting device to store, initiate and display chemical light); U.S. No. 3,940,604 of February 24, 1976 (Device for emergency lighting); U.S. No. 4,015,111 of September 25, 1979 (Inflatable chemi-luminescent assembly); U.S. No. 4,184,193 of January 15, 1980 (Multi-purpose lantern): U.S. No. 4,635,166 of January 6, 1987 (Chemical emergency light); U.S. No. 4,814,949 of March 21, 1989 (Chemiluminescent device).

Nowhere in these patents is it stated that they could apply to the illumination of transparent or translucent containers.

With regard to the chemiluminescent envelopes , reference is made to the patents of the US, A, No. 3,539,794 of November 10, 1970 (Self-contained chemiluminescent lighting device) and US No. 3,808,414 of April 30, 1974 (Device for the packaging of a three or more component chemiluminescent system). The various proposals for chemiluminescent envelopes which are set out in these patents are, at present, in the public domain. It is only the use of some of their concept with the necessary and timely modifications in conjunction with specially adapted container designs that is claimed in the present invention.

The US patent, A 4,814,949 granted to L. Elliott on March 21, 1989 (Chemiluminescent device) and already mentioned above for the chemiluminescent envelopes describes a chemiluminescent device including an absorbent material saturated with a first reagent, and a second reagent contained in a glass bulb. The second reagent is absorbed in the material absorbent and mixes with the first reagent to give the chemiluminescent reaction when the glass ampoule is broken at the time of use. The outer container and the absorbent material can be established in different presentations or forms but the invention relates to a new design of chemiluminescent envelope and does not anticipate the present invention.

In US-A-4,563,726, dated January 7, 1986, entitled "Illuminated chemiluminescent drinking mug", there is described a way of illuminating the liquid content of a mug by means of chemiluminescence. This system uses, for the required illumination, the chemiluminescent light created by the light-stick manufactured by American Cyanamid Company, Wayne, NJ, USA, sold under the trademark "Cyalume" and which is described in US Patent 3,576. 987 of May 4, 1971. For the use of this light-stick in the device of the invention US, it is provided that the mug is provided, in its center, with a hollow tube closed at its upper end and, at its lower end, welded to the edges of a circular opening at the bottom of the mug; through this opening, the Cyalume light-stick is introduced; it has a cylindrical configuration and a length, for the most common model, of 3 inches or 7.5 cm. It comes to rest on the ceiling of the stopper which is used to close the sleeve and whose level is above that of the bottom of the container. This central tube is wide enough for air to circulate between the light-stick which is therefore not in direct contact with the liquid. This arrangement of the device of this invention is necessary because the source of chemiluminescence used is a light-stick intended initially for another use than the illumination of liquids and whose duration of luminescence is more than 3 hours which can go up to double even; its intensity - given this long duration of illumination - is strongly affected by the cold that can bring the liquid contained in the mug; hence the usefulness of having air circulation between the light-stick and the sleeve in contact with the cold liquid so that the envelope containing the reagents (the Cyalume light-stick ") is not in direct contact with the liquid and be affected as little as possible by the cold of it.

• existence désagréable au milieu de la chope d'un long tube gênant et venant pratiquement toucher le nez du buveur dès que celui-ci incline son verre pour en boire le contenu; cette présence affecte incontestablement le plaisir de boire une boisson illuminée de la sorte
• inconvénient de l'existence même de la source lumineuse à quelques centimètres des yeux du buveur qui, au moment de son intensité maximale, peut même être éblouissante et désagréable à la vue du buveur
• intensité de la lumière chimiluminescente facilement affectée par le froid de la boisson compte tenu - malgré certaines précautions d'isolement du Cyalume - de la surface importante du stick lumineux en voisinage rapproché avec le froid de la boisson
• obligation pour des raisons économiques et pratiques de garder le même light-stick pendant plusieurs heures et plusieurs remplissages de la chope, d'où l'impossibilité commerciale de concevoir, à un prix raisonnable, un verre à illuminer à usage unique (disposable)

The disadvantages of the system appear immediately:

• unpleasant existence in the middle of the mug of a long annoying tube and practically coming to touch the nose of the drinker as soon as he tilts his glass to drink the contents; this presence undoubtedly affects the pleasure of drinking a drink so illuminated
• disadvantage of the very existence of the light source a few centimeters from the eyes of the drinker which, at the time of its maximum intensity, can even be dazzling and unpleasant at the sight of the drinker
• intensity of the chemiluminescent light easily affected by the cold of the drink taking into account - despite certain precautions in isolating the Cyalume - the large surface of the light stick in close proximity to the cold of the drink
• obligation for economic and practical reasons to keep the same light-stick for several hours and several fillings of the mug, hence the commercial impossibility of designing, at a reasonable price, a disposable illuminating glass (disposable)

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The invention overcomes these various drawbacks by the composite assembly claimed in claim 1 and dependent claims 2-19. The container is illuminated by the light source whose envelope is contained in the volume of the bottom at least partially transparent or translucent of the container, the bottom of which it can be made integral, being, in this way, isolated from the liquid contained in the container. The arrangement of the reagent envelope in the base or the bottom of the container is provided in such a way that said envelope does not affect the useful volume of the container.

TECHNICAL PRELIMINARIES TO THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CHEMILUMINESCENT SOURCES INTENDED FOR THE EXECUTION OF THE INVENTION

It is stated in the present description that the invention uses chemiluminescent charges specially adapted to its object and not commercial models intended, in fact, initially for other uses than that of the illumination of liquids. Various models of chemiluminescent light sources are set out in the following description.

In addition, the chemiluminescence chemistry allows, by the adequate dosage of the various reagents, to modulate the duration and the intensity of the illumination: it is thus possible to manufacture luminous charges whose duration of luminosity lasts only one hour to an hour and a half, normal consumption time of a drink. Due to the shortening of the duration of the illumination, a much stronger light intensity is obtained and much less sensitive to the cold of the drink, as is the case for a light-stick, such as Cyalume, the duration of which brightness far exceeds the normal time of consumption of a drink since it greatly exceeds 3 hours.

There are different possibilities of bringing the chemiluminescent light source where it is needed to illuminate the liquids contained in containers, drinking glasses, bottles or vases. These possibilities and the devices that are created to apply them depend on how to envisage the use of the combined chemical compounds whose reaction produces chemiluminescent light.

There are two ways to use chemiluminescent light:

MODE I :

By putting the chemiluminescence-producing mixture or combined IN the liquid to be illuminated

MODE II:

En disposant le mélange ou combiné producteur de chimiluminescence HORS du liquide à illuminer (C'EST DONC LE SEUL MODE DECRIT ICI)

This Mode I or "Light source IN the liquid" is mentioned here for the record. This mode of illumination of liquids whether by means A "Frozen" or Medium B "Extemporaneous" will therefore not be described or claimed.

MODE II :

By placing the chemiluminescence-producing mixture or combination OUTSIDE the liquid to be illuminated (IT IS THEREFORE THE ONLY MODE DESCRIBED HERE)

There are also TWO physical means of creating and using chemiluminescent light:

The first means or MEDIUM A consists in the use of chemiluminescent light by the use of reagents mixed beforehand but with their reaction producing chemiluminescent light blocked by a cold intense enough to do this. Indeed, it appears in the literature concerning chemiluminescent light that the reaction which creates it is between the limits of -40 C. to +75 C. We can therefore imagine the use of the already executed mixture of reagents and its prior storage at a temperature below -40 C., in carbo-ice, for example.

We will call this process: MEDIUM A - "S U R G E L E"

The second means or MEDIUM B consists in the use of chemiluminescent light by the extemporaneous mixture of the reagents which one does not proceed until the light is needed.

We call this process: MEDIUM B- "E X T E M P O R A N E" DESCRIPTION OF DIFFERENT CHEMILUMINESCENT SOURCES FOR PERFORMING THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCES TO THE DRAWINGS

For the illumination of liquids using the "Light source OUTSIDE the liquid" mode, various CHIMILUMINESCENT LIGHT SOURCES are proposed below; if the principle of operation of these sources is based on the chemical reaction coming from the mixture of suitable reagents, their design is intended to allow them to integrate into the containers that they must illuminate.

A.- MEDIUM A - Frozen "Chemiluminescent light sources with premixed and frozen reagents

The formula for making this application would be the creation of small transparent or translucent containers. These small frozen containers which contain the already mixed reagents would therefore be stored at a temperature below that at which the reaction begins. They could be designed to try to avoid, as much as possible, before use by heating, the mixing of the reagents which have become pasty in the cold in which they are stored (see FIGURES 1 and 2). To do this, an internal separating wall, not completely closing the two compartments by a passage in the wall (incomplete wall or hole in the wall), would allow better conservation of the separated reagents.

These devices described above could therefore be used as a chemiluminescent charge with premixed reagents and kept in deep freezing.

B.- MEDIUM B - EXTEMPORANE :

• 1) "Chemiluminescent light sources with extemporaneous mixing reagents"
• 2) "Sources of chemiluminescent light with reagents with controllable extemporaneous mixture"

1) " Chemiluminescent light sources with extemporaneous mixing reagents "

In the case where the reagents are mixed in an extemporaneous manner, that is to say at the time when it is desired to obtain the production of chemiluminescent light, and therefore where the reagents, in this expectation, are separated one from the other in a perfectly effective way, the chemiluminescent light source must contain these two solutions in separate compartments but arranged and designed in such a way that one can easily, at the time of use, the communicate and cause the mixing of the separate reagents.

An interesting design of these extemporaneous chemiluminescent light source models which applies, in this case, to containers having parallel walls, that is to say in the form of cubes, straight parallelepipeds or oblique parallelepipeds or in the form of regular polyhedra having at least two parallel faces, may be this: the transparent walls or translucent may be polyethylene or polypropylene or any other material whatsoever, insensitive to the reagents used; the material used must be flexible enough so that the parallel walls of the polyhedron can be compressed towards one another and the latter then return to its initial shape.

The internal chamber of the extemporaneous mixture chemiluminescent light source would be separated into two compartments by a wall, either made of glass, or of sufficiently rigid plastic material and which can be pierced by one or more sharp points or elements which would be fixed on the face internal of one of the external walls parallel or slightly oblique with respect to the internal separating wall, the latter being able to show zones of fragility expressly desired to facilitate piercing.

When it is desired to provoke the chemiluminescence reaction, it would suffice to press, towards one another, the two walls in question, the exterior of which bears the point or points; the internal central wall would then be pierced by the point (s) and the two reagents mixing, the chemiluminescence reaction would be triggered (see FIGURE 3)

Another interesting design is that of a chemiluminescent light source with extemporaneous mixing similar to the previous ones but where the internal wall is made of a frangible material, such as a glass slide or a high quality plastic slide as it could be. split or break and open under the pressure exerted on the walls, this blade can show areas of fragility specially desired to facilitate the operation.

This separation blade could be arranged more or less parallel between two parallel walls of the regular polyhedron, but it could also be placed obliquely between two opposite edges, for example, on the internal diagonal of the polyhedron when it is a cube. see FIGURE 4)

By pushing one towards the other, in the first case, the walls of the regular hexahedron on which the separation wall rests and giving them a slight movement of opposite sliding or shearing, we would thus cause breakage of the wall and the mixture of reagents.

In the case of an oblique separation, the movement to break the wall would be to press the two fastening edges of the internal wall, one towards the other and to make them move slightly, one relative to the 'other.

In the case of chemiluminescent light sources with extemporaneous mixing which are not of regular polyhedral shape, the process of separation of the two chambers by a puncture partition by means of one or more points being on a more or less parallel external wall does not can not imagine for all forms of volumes or polyhedra, although it is achievable in many cases; on the other hand, the process of the breakable wall of glass or of brittle material or of structure which can be crumbled under pressure can be applied to all forms of chemiluminescent light source with extemporaneous mixture.

Another design of chemiluminescent light source with extemporaneous mixing consists of a small container formed by two compartments containing the reagents whose wall of separation shows a hole obstructed by a plug connected to a control rod, the assembly having the appearance of a piston; the plug control rod leaves the container by sliding in a tube internal to the compartment and welded to the external wall from which it leaves. By pressing on this rod, the communication hole between the two compartments is opened and the reagents are therefore mixed (see FIGURES 17 and 17A)

2) " Sources of chemiluminescent light with reagents with controllable extemporaneous mixture "

The extemporaneous mixture chemiluminescent light source whose design has just been exposed can be modified to become a model of extemporaneous device unscrewable by the thread of the plug control rod; this makes it possible to make it screwable and unscrewable in the also threaded tube which holds it; the plug can thus be allowed, after having closed the communication hole between the two compartments, to go back up and to plug the hole from which it has just come out; this maneuver controls the mixing of the reactants. In order to allow the plug to be re-engaged in the orifice it has just left, it is desirable that the plug has a spherical shape or is in the form of double cones welded by the base. (see FIGURE 18)

Another equally interesting design is that where the small container is also made of two compartments containing the reagents to be mixed separated by a wall in which a hole is made. This hole is closed by a plug in the shape of a sphere or two cones welded by the base, plug through which passes a rod whose median part is threaded, the inside of the corridor of the plug in which the rod passes being itself also threaded.

By rotating this partially threaded rod, the sphere or the double sealing cone is raised or lowered and the reactants causing the chemiluminescence reaction are thus allowed to mix. The end of the lower part of this rod turns freely in a cavity formed in a local reinforcement of the internal face of the lower wall while the upper part of the rod, at its end which emerges from the upper wall, at the level of the surface shows an enlarged development in the form of a button which makes it possible to rotate it or simply shows a slot in which the edge of a coin can be inserted to rotate it. The upper end of the rod which is not threaded rotates in a sleeve attached to the upper wall, a sleeve which supports it and allows better sealing of the container. So that the column does not go up when it is unscrewed and turning in the thread of the plug which would be fixed too securely does not leave the cavity where its lower end freely rotates, ridges are placed on the upper part of the rod just below its penetration into the smooth sleeve, which forces the threaded pin to stay in place and the plug to come out of the hole it closes. (see FIGURE 19)

Another interesting design of a chemiluminescent light source with extemporaneous mixing would be the following: it is here a small container having the shape of a short cylindrical column or of square or polygonal section. The whole is, in fact, a small bottle, transparent or translucent, closed by a stopper which has the same section and the same outside diameter as the base bottle which it extends upwards. Inside the bottle, a partition completely separates it into two compartments containing the reagents. In the middle is the neck into which the threaded part of the plug is screwed. This neck is open at the bottom and this opening at the bottom of the neck is made of two semicircular orifices separated by the top of the upper edge of the interior partition on which the base of the stopper is placed when it is closed. The impossibility of communicating between the two compartments and the isolation of the reagents from one another is achieved by intimate contact and the pressure of the base of the stopper on the top of the separating partition. When you unscrew the plug, the threaded part of which is high enough not to completely pull it out of the neck, you thus create an expansion chamber where the reagents, if you turn the device over, can come to mix. Shaking the bottle accelerates the mixing of these and their chemiluminescence reaction. When this is in progress and the two reagents are well mixed and distributed in the two compartments, the cap can be screwed back on and thus form a luminous unscrewable extemporaneous device (see FIGURES 15 and 15A)

A characteristic of these unscrewable extemporaneous mixture chemiluminescent light sources is that one can initialize the mixing of the reagents, allow a reaction to start, close the communication opening and if desired, prolong the reaction by unscrewing the stopper and allowing the reagents to be mixed again.

One can also leave the cap slightly open so that the reagents mix gradually, thus allowing to obtain a prolonged reaction and a more regular and more constant intensity than when the reagents are mixed brutally in only one time, which gives an initial reaction of very intense luminescence quickly followed by less luminescence.

In the case of the last extemporaneous unscrewable device with a cylindrical section, the stopper part may have a slightly larger diameter than the bottle part; this ledge can extend around the bottle part to form a small circular skirt. This continues to cover the empty interval left between the bottle and the stopper when the latter is slightly unscrewed and kept in this position to allow a reaction to idle (see Figures 16 and 16A).

The following are modifications and adaptations that can apply to both "frozen chemiluminescent sources and" extemporaneous mixing sources ":

The wall of the elements constituting the chemiluminescent light sources can be colored either in the mass, or superficially to modify the color caused by the chemiluminescence; this wall can also carry different designs of different colors.

The elements can also bear inscriptions, advertising marks or logos, either in relief, or in hollow, or in printing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS FOR EXECUTING THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCES TO THE DRAWINGS SUMMARY OF SYSTEMS USING THE "LIGHT SOURCE OUT OF LIQUID" MODE

• A.- MEDIUM A - "FROZEN"
  Chemiluminescent light source integrated into the container
• B.- MEDIUM B - "EXTEMPORANE"
  • a) - Chemiluminescent light source independent of the container
  • b) - Chemiluminescent light source integrated into the container

CONTAINERS FOR RECEIVING LIGHT CHARGES

• A.- MEDIUM A - "FROZEN"
  - Chemiluminescent light source integrated into the container :
  • 1) Sleeves (with chamber containing mixed and frozen reagents) for fitting cups, bottles and vases.
  • 2) Containers with chamber containing mixed and frozen reagents).
  • 1) Sleeves (with chamber containing mixed and frozen reagents) for fitting cups, bottles and vases.
    In systems allowing the use of the MEANS A of creation of chemiluminescent light, that is to say when using the already mixed but frozen solution, a source of chemiluminescent light suitable for obtaining the effect of illumination at when the product returns to normal temperature is constituted by a sleeve whose lower part, closed by a partition, is a chamber containing the frozen mixture: this hermetic chamber is separated from the open upper part, intended to receive the glass or the bottle or vase, by a partition allowing the light to pass through, either in glass or plastic or in any other transparent or translucent material. It is desirable that the coating of the inner surface of the sleeve is light in color or as reflective as possible so that the light chemiluminescent created is propagated as much as possible towards the liquid contained in the container.
    For even better illumination, it is possible to conceive that the lower part of the chamber of the sleeve is in the form of a hemispherical or parabolic mirror which would return the maximum of light towards the liquid to be illuminated.
    These sleeves can be of round or polygonal section or of any other design whatsoever provided that they are intended for receptacles which correspond to them.
    They can be of constant section over their height, either frustoconical or in the shape of a pyramid trunk for easier storage since they can, with this latter design, stack easily on one another and constitute a smaller volume. , when stored - before use - at an extremely low temperature blocking their reaction. In the latter case, the containers that are embedded in it must have the same frustoconical configuration or pyramid trunk.
    These sleeves can have scratches or ridges to firmly hold the containers in the sleeves and prevent, for example, consumers with regard to cup-glasses from easily dismantling the assembly to recover the light source.
    These sleeves, as has just been explained, can be fitted as well with goblets, bottles or vases.
  • 2) Containers (with chamber containing mixed and frozen reagents) :
    The sleeves which have just been exposed can also become cup sleeves, that is to say sleeves which extend upwards by a transparent or translucent part which is firm enough to constitute a drinking cup or glass. At the time, these would be disposable cups; in the adjoining bottom, forming an integral part of the very structure of the assembly, the mixture of reagents would be placed, the assembly being kept at a temperature low enough to stop the chemiluminescence reaction.
    As with the previous sleeves, these cups can be designed so that they can be stacked on top of each other to occupy less volume when stored at low temperature. (See FIGURE 6)
• B.- MEDIUM B - " EXTEMPORANE "
  a) - INDEPENDENT chemiluminescent light source of the container:
  • 1) Empty sleeves (with lower receiving chamber) for push-on containers
  • 2) Container (with lower receiving chamber)
  • 3) Bottles (welded assembly with bottom sleeve)
  • 4) Containers (welded assembly with bottom sleeve)
  • 5) Containers with a deep hollowed bottom
  • 6) Hollow thick bottom sleeves
  • 1) Sleeves (with lower receiving chamber) for receptacles to be fitted :
    Chemiluminescent light sources with extemporaneous mixing can constitute the light sources which will give chemiluminescent light to this particular conception of the present invention.
    The basic system consists of a sleeve, the bottom of which is in the form of a chamber which can contain the chemiluminescent device with extemporaneous mixture (see Figure 5).
    The sleeve can be cylindrical, square or have any polygonal section as well as any diameter as long as it is best suited to the container that will be introduced into its upper part.
    When the chemiluminescent device is introduced from the top of the sleeve, the glass can be placed directly on this device as long as the glass and the sleeve form a body together and match perfectly.
    An improvement to this sleeve only open from above would be a sleeve showing a thickening of its lower wall or carrying a continuous rim or edges or asperities on the internal periphery so as to support the transparent or translucent container which would come to rest there. This rim or these internal edges would also make it possible to support transparent or translucent plates isolating the chemiluminescent device from the container itself. These plaques could be colored or bear all kinds of advertising or other indications (see FIGURE 7)
    You can also introduce the chemiluminescent source from the bottom of the sleeve. Consequently, a variant would be for the sleeve to be divided into two parts separated by a transparent or translucent wall on which, when the container is embedded in the open upper part of the sleeve, the bottom of the container will come to rest there. The lower part of the sleeve below this separating wall would constitute the location in which the chemiluminescent device would be housed.
    It is not absolutely necessary for this location to be closed provided that the chemiluminescent source that is placed there has a diameter such that it can be trapped therein by its own elasticity. The inside of the perimeter could, moreover, carry either a circular rim at the level of the edge of the bottom, or in the height of its wall or even edges which could better fix the light device and help to collect the light towards the walls .
    An effective development of the previous model and which makes it possible to avoid the dispersion of light by the bottom - which is not very aesthetic - is that which provides a removable bottom to be placed at this lower part of this model of sleeve in order to '' prevent the light device from falling.
    This bottom can be fixed by screwing or pressure or by any other means; it can be tilted and attached to the bottom of the sleeve by a hinge. This formula could prevent - to a certain extent - the disassembly of the sleeve + glass-cup assembly by an overly curious beverage consumer (see FIGURE 8)
  • 2) Container with receiving bottom chamber :
    • a.-It is obvious that the upper part of the previous sleeve can act as a cup. An embodiment of this kind would be that of a drinking cup, in transparent or translucent material, capable of conducting light, which would have a bottom provided with a recess with a vertical axis, open at the bottom but capable of being closed by a background that would adapt to it. This recess would be capable of accommodating a chemiluminescent light source in the form of a cylindrical container or of any other section, its own section having to coincide with that of the container in question. This container would be held in place by its own elasticity against the side walls of the recess which would have edges operating a positive thrust against the container, so as to maintain it and collect the light therefrom. The wall which separates the recess from the cavity of the cup containing the drink would also be provided with edges intended to come into intimate contact with the container and also to collect the light to propagate it in the walls.
      The wall of the cup area containing the drinking liquid could be used to place a mark or logo; it would thus be provided towards the outside with a shoulder formed by the fact that the wall of said zone would be stronger at the bottom than at the top, with sudden decrease; this shoulder would therefore carry advertising text engraved in positive or negative relief and this shoulder could affect the entire circumference of the cup or only part of it.
      The bottom of the cup could be made in such a way that it exactly encloses the bottom edge of the container so that by entering it into the recess, it is necessary to slightly force a tight passage at the base and that once, this introduced into the recess, it can not be removed; the whole chemiluminescent cup-charge then really constitutes a non-dissociable whole. (see FIGURES 20, 20A and 20B)
    • b.- A design which would also allow an intimate association of the light charge would be that or the recess of the bottom of the glass described above would be conceived as a threaded cavity into which the chemiluminescent element whose shape and volume would be screwed outside would represent a thick, short screw. This element could be screwed because the surface of the face external of its floor would carry a slit in which one could enter the edge of a coin or a particular drawing in the form of hollow corresponding to an adequate key which would make that only the barman of the establishment where this kind of glass would be used to drink could possibly unscrew the chemiluminescent element from the threaded recess into which it was introduced. In order to avoid an easy removal of this chemiluminescent element by an overly curious customer, a blocking security of the element could occur when it is screwed in completely. In this design of cup-chemiluminescent element, the contact between the threads of the screw that represents the chemiluminescent element and the recess of the bottom of the cup is very intimate and allows to collect perfectly the light to send in the walls of the cup.
      In order to better keep or avoid as much as possible a loss of light, it would be possible to cover the edge constituting the upper edge of the cup with a reflective layer.
  • 3) Bottles (welded assembly with bottom sleeve) :
    The upper part of the sleeves exposed above can be extended upwards to form a reservoir constituting a bottle closed by a stopper.
    In this design of bottle sleeve, an interesting adaptation of the invention applies more particularly to certain plastic bottles of lemonade or mineral water sold on the market and whose rounded bottom is provided with a cylindrical sleeve bonded in its center and which allows the bottles to be kept in vertical position, sleeve called "base cup". Like, between the rounded bottom of the bottle and the wall of the sleeve, it there is an empty space, it is possible to provide one or more re-closable holes in this wall and to slide therein one or more activated sticks or chemiluminescent sticks which would illuminate the contents of the bottle. (see FIGURE 9)
    This conception of the invention, of a bottle with a bottom which does not entirely fill the sleeve which surrounds it, can be applied to bottles having bottoms of various shapes provided that these leave, between them and the sleeve serving as a base, a space where light sticks can be inserted to illuminate the liquid.
  • 4) Containers (welded assembly with bottom sleeve) :
    As with the bottle sleeves described above, it is also obvious that the design of the plastic sleeve (base-cup) attached to a rounded bottle bottom can also be applied to cup sleeves which would have the same base, in other other dimensions, than the bottles described above but the top of which would form a goblet glass instead of being a bottle closed by a stopper.
    A variant of these cups is that in which the lower rounded chamber is closed by a plate allowing the light to pass through in such a way that there would be a cup whose interior bottom supporting the liquid would be flat. (see FIGURE 10)
  • 5) Containers with a deep hollowed bottom :
    Another interesting design is that of a transparent or translucent container, the thick bottom of which has a location so that the chemiluminescence producing device can be slid into it. It could be a hole dug or a pierced tunnel into which the light source could slide, the thickness of which, corresponding to the dimension of the diameter of the hole, could get stuck there thanks to the elasticity of its envelope. The hole (s) of this hole or these tunnels could be closed with suitable plugs (see FIGURE 12)
  • 6) Hollow thick bottom sleeves :
    This latter design can also be applied to sleeves having a thick, transparent and translucent bottom, hollowed out by a hole or pierced with a tunnel, sleeve in which the container containing the liquid to be illuminated could be fitted. (see FIGURE 11)
• B.- MEDIUM B - "EXTEMPORANE" (Continued)
  b) - INTEGRATED chemiluminescent light source in the container:
  • 1) Sleeves (for press-in containers) with two closed lower compartments each containing one of the reagents
  • 2) Containers and Bottles with two closed lower compartments each containing one of the reagents
  • 1) Sleeves for containers with two closed lower compartments each containing one of the reagents :
    The sleeves of this design consist of an open upper space representing the part of the sleeve in which the container is fitted, the liquid of which must be illuminated, and of a lower chamber comprising two compartments separated by a wall and each of which contains one of the reagents.
    The floor of the base of these sleeves must be made of polyethylene or polypropylene or any other plastic material having the same advantages and which is flexible enough to be pushed slightly inward or to be able to undergo a lateral horizontal movement.
    One conception of this system would be that which is explained below: the two lower compartments of the sleeve are superimposed. They are separated by a partition which is either horizontal or slightly oblique (inclined) in waterproof material but sufficiently rigid; the floor of the lower chamber which constitutes the bottom of the sleeve is provided on its internal surface with one or more ridges in the form of points which mean that, when the floor is pushed upwards enough flexible enough to do this, the points of its internal face burst the separating partition, which could carry in the corresponding places zones of weakness previously desired; this maneuver allows the two reagents to be mixed (see FIGURE 13)
    A variant of this system is that in which the two compartments each containing the reagents are separated by a vertical or oblique partition. This partition is breakable. The fact of pushing on the flexible bottom or giving it a shearing movement breaks this partition and allows the mixing of the reagents. Here too, a zone of weakness in the separating wall could have been provided. (see FIGURE 14)
  • 2) Containers and Bottles with two closed lower compartments each containing one of the reagents :
    These cups are a variant of the previous sleeves, since their upper part extends in the form of a transparent or translucent drinking glass. The material chosen for the manufacture of these cup sleeves must be rigid enough to constitute drinking cup glasses.
    This design explained above applies to disposable cups. It can likewise be applied to extended sleeves in bottles.

Illuminating bases for transparent or translucent objects to be lit:

If we consider that we can reduce as much as possible the height of the upper part of the sleeve or, in other words, reduce its internal depth to the maximum, we thus manage to obtain, from the different kinds of sleeves which have been exposed above, chemiluminescent light sources constituting, in fact - if desired - supports with a luminous surface making it possible to illuminate various containers, such as bottles of perfumes in displays as well as vases or goblets.

GENERAL REMARK CONCERNING THE INVENTION:

It is obvious that the quality of the illumination by chemiluminescence will depend on a certain number of factors which are foreign to the essential conditions of the invention and which are flexible at the time of the implementation thereof, according to the choice and decisions of its executor.

These are among others - and in a non-exhaustive and non-preferential manner - the intensity of the chemiluminescence, the volume of the container and of the liquid to be illuminated, the reflectability of the internal wall of the chamber containing the chemiluminescent device, the nature of the walls of the container containing the liquid, the physical and chemical nature thereof, its color and the compatibility thereof with that emitted by the light device.

So, for example, lighting a goblet will require less light intensity than that required by a large bottle; in the same way, a chemiluminescent device which satisfactorily illuminates a goblet-glass will only poorly illuminate a much larger bottle.

The quality of the illumination of a liquid will also depend on its composition: a simply colored solution will light up better than a lemonade containing fruit pulp in suspension. Likewise, certain colors created by chemiluminescence will not go well with those of solutions which, in a way, will neutralize them: a green chemiluminescence, for example, on a red drink. On the other hand, a drink containing reflective glitter, as some liquors have, will give a very pleasant light effect. Also, too much ambient ambient lighting of the place where the illuminated solution is located is, of course, a primordial factor for the success of the pleasant effect of the invention.

FIGURES :

The means explained above apply to particular apparatuses or devices allowing the implementation of the present invention; by way of nonlimiting examples, they are included in the figures accompanying some of the descriptions of this invention.

FIGURE 1 is a three-dimensional view of a small frozen and hermetic container which would have here a cubic shape. This device is intended to contain, in two separate compartments C1 and C2, each of the frozen reagents. The inner wall P separates these in order to avoid their contact and their reaction at a temperature where they could still react and cause the start of chemiluminescence. The wall P leaves a free passage I towards the top of the cube when it is closed. The container being frozen, it is at the time of its heating that the liquids can come into contact and mix through the slot allowing communication between the 2 compartments C1 and C2.

FIGURE 2 is a three-dimensional view of a small frozen and hermetic container similar to that of Figure 1 but where the inner wall P is pierced with a hole T to allow the passage of liquids when they begin to warm up.

FIGURE 3 is a three-dimensional view of a small hermetic container, here in the shape of a cube, where the reagents to be mixed extemporaneously are kept in two compartments C1 and C2 separated by a rigid wall P pierced by a point S which is on the inside of the flexible bottom F of the cube.

FIGURE 4 is a three-dimensional view of a small hermetic container, here in the shape of a cube, where the reagents to be mixed extemporaneously are kept in two compartments C1 and C2 separated by an oblique wall P breakable by shearing movement of the walls relatively flexible cube.

FIGURE 5 shows the three-dimensional section of a sleeve whose upper location M1 open is intended to receive the bottom of the container or the cup or the bottle to be illuminated and whose lower chamber M2 contains the frozen luminescent liquid, the two parts M1 and M2 being separated by a wall P letting the light pass.

FIGURE 6 represents a schematic view of a conical cup sleeve consisting of an open upper location M1 making a container or cup and an inner chamber M2 closed containing the chemiluminescent liquid mixed and frozen, the two parts M1 and M2 being separated by a wall P letting the light pass. In dotted lines, a similar cup sleeve is fitted in the first to show that it is thus possible to stack and store them in a relatively small volume.

FIGURE 7 shows in three dimensions an open sleeve M carrying an inner rim R on which the bottom of the container or bottle comes to rest, with the possibility of previously placing a plate P allowing the light to pass through, thus creating a lower chamber MI in which the activated chemiluminescent device is placed.

FIGURE 8 represents a three-dimensional section of a double sleeve made of two compartments M1 and M2, one M1 intended to receive the bottom of the container or cup, the bottle or the vase and the other M2 intended to receive the extemporaneous mixture chemiluminescent device; M1 and M2 are separated by a wall P allowing the light to pass through; the lower chamber M2 is closed by a bottom F fixed by edges A implanting in the wall of the sleeve.

FIGURE 9 shows in schematic view a commercial plastic bottle B with rounded bottom F welded at point S to a sleeve M which encloses it intimately so, by its flat bottom P, to keep it vertical, this sleeve being pierced here a hole T through which the chemiluminescent light-stick L can be introduced into the chamber C left empty between the rounded bottom F of the bottle B and the cylindrical wall of the sleeve.

FIGURE 10 shows a schematic section of a container or cup identical to Figure 9 except for the upper part (B in Figure 9) which is replaced here by an open chamber forming a glass-cup V; this can be separated from the rounded bottom by a wall P allowing the light to pass through.

FIGURE 11 represents a three-dimensional section of a sleeve containing an open upper chamber C intended to receive the bottom of the container or the cup or the bottle and whose base B thick and allowing the light to pass through is hollowed out here by a tunnel T into which the chemiluminescent stick S can be inserted.

FIGURE 12 shows schematically in three dimensions a container or cup whose base B is identical to that of FIG. 11 but the upper part V of which constitutes a drinking glass.

FIGURE 13 shows a three-dimensional section of a sleeve, the upper open part M1 of which is intended to receive the bottom of the container to be illuminated and is separated by a wall F allowing light to pass through coming from the lower part M2 consisting of two compartments C1 and C2 containing the reagents and separated from each other by a wall P puncture or breakable by a point A located on the flexible impermeable base B of the sleeve.

FIGURE 14 shows a three-dimensional view of a sleeve, the upper open part M1 of which is intended to receive the bottom of the container to be illuminated and is separated by a wall F allowing light to pass through coming from the lower part M2 consisting of two compartments C1 and C2 containing the reagents and separated from each other by a wall P, oblique to the vertical, breakable by a lateral or shearing movement of the flexible base B.

FIGURE 15 representing a small cubic container constituting an unscrewable extemporaneous device, is a front view of the section, along the plane XY of FIG. Annex 15A, which represents the section of the device seen from above at the level of the plane ST of the same Figure 15. In these two Figures 15 and 15A, the plug A is extended by the threaded part B in the neck C penetrating the bottle part D divided into two compartments E1 and E2 separated by the wall F. Figure 15 shows the device with its cap closed: the threaded part B of the cap A pushes on the central part of the wall F and therefore hermetically separates the two compartments E1 and E2 from the bottle part thus preventing the mixing of the reagents contained in the compartments.

FIGURES 16 and 16A show a small cylindrical container constituting an unscrewable extemporaneous device whose cap has been partially unscrewed. Figure 16 is a three-dimensional view of a section along the plane XY of Figure 16A annex, itself representing a schematic section seen from above along the plane ST of the same device. In these two figures, the plug A is extended by the threaded part B in the neck C penetrating into the bottle part D divided into two compartments E1 and E2 separated by the wall F. The base G of the threaded part B of the plug A, now separated from the surface K of the upper edge of the wall F by unscrewing the plug A, here lets the reagents coming from the compartments E1 and E2 pass into the chamber L thus opened. The outside diameter of the stopper A is a little wider than that of the bottle part B and its outer edge descends into a circular skirt M around the bottle D which it continues to cover even when the stopper A is partially unscrewed. This skirt M covers and prevents seeing the open part N which has formed between the bottle and the stopper A by unscrewing the latter. Reliefs R at the top of the bottle D corresponding to hollows U of the cap A allow better airtightness when the cap is closed.

FIGURES 17 and 17A represent a small cubic container constituting an extemporaneous device before (Fig. 17) and after (Fig. 17A) the activation of the chemiluminescence, that is to say when the reagents previously isolated have been mixed. Figures 17 and 17A show sections made in a plane parallel to the sides passing through the middle of the container when the latter is held in such a way that the two compartments E1 and E2 are superimposed. The plug A which closes the hole L made in the wall F separating the 2 compartments E1 and E2 is controlled by a rod B which emerges from the container by sliding in the tube C attached to the upper wall of the container. This rod carries edges H preventing the accidental re-entry of the rod into the tube C and the consequent exit of the plug A from the hole L which it closes.

FIGURE 18 shows, in the same section as for Figures 17 and 17A, a small cubic container constituting an unscrewable extemporaneous device. It is comparable to that of FIGS. 17 and 17A but differs in that the rod B which controls the plug A to take it out of the hole L which it closes is threaded and moves in the tube C, showing a corresponding thread, by screwing and unscrewing. We can therefore by screwing it out the plug A downwards and thus open the hole L thus allowing the mixing of the reactants. If you unscrew it, you can reassemble the cap A and close the hole L. You can also screw it slightly and limit the mixing of the reagents. The plug A is here formed of two inverted cones joined by their base so as to facilitate its re-entry into the hole L in the event of recapping. Here too the edges H prevent the plug A from coming out of the hole L and from being raised too high.

FIGURE 19 shows, in the same section as for Figures 17, 17A and 18, a small cubic container constituting an unscrewable extemporaneous device. It is comparable to those of these figures but here the control of the plug A output from the hole L which it closes, or its reentry, is made by screwing or unscrewing a threaded rod B which turns freely at its lower end in the cavity I formed in the internal face of the bottom wall of the container; the upper part J of this rod B is unthreaded and turns freely in the tube C. The middle part K of the control rod is threaded and passes in the axis also threaded of the plug A. When this rod is rotated by action on its upper end M emerging from the container, the edges H prevent it from going back up and it is the plug A threaded in its vertical axis which leaves or enters the hole L which it closes.

FIGURE 20 represents a median section of a container (beaker) having a bottom provided with a recess P with vertical axis open downwards in which is housed a container constituting a chemiluminescent light source U. This container is maintained in place by its own elasticity against the walls of the recess which have edges R operating a positive thrust against the container U to ensure its maintenance. There are also edges S in the ceiling W of the recess touching the light source. These edges S as well as the lateral edges R collect the light towards the walls of the container.
In the wall of zone V containing the drinking liquid there is a shoulder T carrying an engraved advertising text.

FIG. 20A is a section through the base of the container (cup) at the level of the ceiling W of the recess P along the axis AB. There appear the edges S collecting the light and the voids O between these edges.

FIG. 20B is a section in the base of the container (cup) along the axis CD showing the recess P and the relief of the lateral edges R pressing on the chemiluminescent container U and collecting its light.

It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and that many variants can be envisaged within the scope of the claims.

Claims (19)

1. Set combining a container with at least partially transparent or translucent walls for containing a liquid, such as a vase, a bottle, a drinking glass or a beaker designed to contain a drink, and a chemiluminescent light source consisting of a light envelope, wether transparent or translucent, containing appropriate reactants producing the chemiluminescence, the said reactants being already mixed and preserved at such a temperature that it prevents their reaction inducing the chemiluminescence, either preserved in separate compartments (C1, C2 ; E1, E2) which can be put in communication at the time of use, characterized in that the container has a bottom intended to receive the envelope which is exclusively surrounded by the material of the bottom so as not to affect the capacity of the container.
2. Set of the Claim 1 characterized in that the envelope is integrated with the at least partially transparent or translucent bottom the container.
3. Set according to Claim 2 in which the container has the form of a cylindrical or truncated conical jacket closed at its base, the latter form facilitating its stacking, and capable of being used as a drinking beaker if the walls are extended upwards, having in the bottom a sealed compartment containing the deep-frozen chemiluminescent liquid separated by a wall which allows the light to pass, from the open part of the container containing the liquid to be illuminated, the latter being illuminated when the deep-frozen luminescent mixture heats up after having been withdrawn from the deep-freezing chamber where it has been preserved.
4. Set, according to Claim 1, in which the container is composed of a jacket with a more or less deep closed bottom designed to receive a beaker with transparent or translucent walls or itself to be used as a beaker, the closed bottom constituting a thick, transparent or translucent base with a hollowed-out hole or pierced by a tunnel in which an envelope of activated chemiluminescent device is inserted.
5. Set, according to Claim 4, whose container has a bottom with a hollowed-out recess in its mass with vertical axis, open downwards, capable of accomodating a source (U) of chemiluminescent light of which the envelope has a shape corresponding to that of the recess and which is held in place by its own elasticity against the lateral walls of the recess, which present ridges (R) exerting a positive thrust against the container, the ridges ensuring its support and, in addition, collecting the chemiluminescent light to transmit it in the walls of the beaker.
6. Set according to Claim 5, whose container is modified in that the horizontal wall, bounding the recess at the top and separating the said recess from the cavity of the beaker containing the drink, is itself also provided with ridges (S) to allow close contact with the container and to collect the chemiluminescent light.
7. Set, according to Claim 5, whose container is modified in that the recess at the bottom presents the shape of an internal screw thread into which a chemiluminescent element will be screwed which is specially manufactured in the form of a large screw for insertion into the base of this beaker, i.e. its volume and its surface have been perfectly adapted to form a tight fit with the beaker.
8. Set, according to Claim 1, of which the bottom of the container is of such a shape that it can be glued at its centre to the centre of a flat-bottomed cylindrical jacket of which the wall encloses the said container upwards as far as a level a little above the level at which the downward reduction of the diameter of the container starts, the bottom of the said beaker being of such a hemispherical or other shape that it leaves a free space between the bottom and the wall of the jacket in which one or more openable and reclosable holes are made through which one or more appropriate chemiluminescent envelopes are introduced.
9. Set according to Claim 1 in the form of a more or less deep jacket closed at its base, in which there is placed the envelope containing the chemiluminescence reactants and in which jacket there is then placed the glass to be illuminated, which device has a ledge (R) or ridges on its internal wall designed to support the drinking glass and possibly previously to this a transparent or translucent plate (P).
10. Set, according to Claim 2, in which the envelope containing the chemiluminescent reactants is integrated with the bottom by being contained in a jacket (M) enclosing the bottom of the container or by itself being in the form or a jacket enclosing the bottom of the container.
11. Set according to Claim 2, in which, from its manufacture and permanently, the envelope containing the reactants is integrated into the volume of the bottom of the container from which it can not be separated, making with it a compact assembly.
12. Set, according to Claim 1, in which the envelope has the form of a small container of which the external walls are made of material with a flexibility adapted to the use and in which it is possible by applying pressure to the two external walls, or which one bears one or more points on its internal surface, to cause the puncturing of the internal wall separating the two compartments constituting the container, which internal wall has at the places corresponding to the points zones of fragility facilitating the piercing, the two compartments containing the reactants of which the mixing induces the chemiluminescence.
13. Set, according to Claim 1, in which the envelope has the form of a small container of which, through the pressure or shearing movement of the external walls, an internal wall (P) separating the two compartments (C1, C2) constituting the container and containing the reactants whose mixing induces the chemiluminescence is broken, which internal wall bears one or more zones of fragility facilitating its breakage.
14. Set, according to Claim 1, in which the envelope has the form or a container formed of two superposed compartments (E1, E2) containing reactants of which the mixing induces the chemiluminescence and separated by a partition (F) pierced by a hole (L) closed by a stopper (A) connected to a control rod (B) of a diameter smaller than that of the stopper which leaves the container by sliding in a tubular reinforcement (C) inside the compartment and joined to the external wall in order to be pushed to permit the disengagement of the stopper (A) from the hole (L) which it blocks and therefore to give the two compartments the possibility of communicating and the two liquids the possibility of mixing, the control rod of the stopper possibly bearing ridges (H) below the lower limit of the sliding tube so that it cannot accidentally leave and involuntary free the hole which the stopper closes.
15. Set, according to Claim 14, modified in that the control rod (B) of the stopper and the tube (C), integrally attached to the upper wall, in which it moves each have a corresponding screw thread permitting the rod to be screwed to releases, downwardly, the stopper from the hole which it closes and to be unscrewed upwards so as to reclose the hole in order to permit only a partial mixing of the reactants, the stopper having the form of a sphere or of two cones integrally attached by their base.
16. Set, according to Claim 15, modified in that the stopper (A) has a threaded axis through which there passes vertically a threaded rod (K), this rod turning freely at its bottom end in a cavity (I) of the internal face of the lower wall of the container while its upper non-threaded end fits in the tube (C) with a smooth interior fixed to the upper wall and that its head appears by emerging at the external surface of the upper wall of the container, from which it can be screwed or unscrewed, then causing the stopper to leave through the screwing in its threaded channel of the hole which it closes, permitting the communication of the two compartments and the mixing and the control of the amount of mixing of the reactants, the upper part (J) of the rod bearing ridges (H) before entering the smooth tube, in order it does not leave the cavity in which its lower end turns freely.
17. Set, according to Claim 1, in which the envelope has the form of a container in the form of a column, cylindrical or of square or polygonal section divided into two pats (A, D) of which the upper one is a stopper (A) that can be turned, having a threaded part (B) which turns in a neck (C) arranged in the other, lower part forming a bottle (D), which constitutes a chamber divided into two compartments (E1, E2) containing the reactants, of which the mixing induces the chemiluminescence, by a partition (F) on the upper edge of which there presses firmly the base (G) of the threaded part (B) of the stopper (A) which in being partially unscrewed produces in the neck above the ridge of the separating wall (F) and below the base of the threaded part of the stopper an empty space where the reactants can be caused to mix, the part forming a stopper possibly having, in the case of a cylindrical column, an external diameter wider than the part forming a bottle, which stopper, by an extension of its tightened rim round the bottle thus constitutes a skirt (M) around the latter, a skirt which thus hides the interstice created between the bottle and the stopper by the unscrewing of the latter.
18. Set, according to Claim 2, in which the envelope is in the form of a jacket intended to receive a container, separated by a partition (F) allowing the light to pass from a double lower chamber (M2) containing in each of the compartments (C1, C2) one of the reactants for extemporaneous mixing and the floor of whose base is of a flexible material, the two compartments of the double lower chamber being separated by a wall (P) that is horizontal or inclined to the horizontal and that can be broken or punctured by one or more points (A) situated on the flexible base.
19. Set, according to Claim 18, in which the envelope is modified in that the two compartments (C1, C2) of the lower chamber (M2) are separated by a wall (P) that is vertical or oblique in relation to the vertical and can be broken by a lateral movement or shearing movement of the flexible base.

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