DISPENSER AND MEASURING CAP DEVICE AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A dispenser and measuring cap closure for measuring and dispensing a substance from a storage container, comprising:
- a) a proximal end piece comprising;
i) an internal surface,ii) an external surface,iii) an external edge,iv) a closeable dispensing spout extending axially through said proximal end piece, the interior of said dispensing spout defining a volume, said spout comprising;
1) an inlet disposed on and flush against said internal surface, and2) an outlet extending from said external surface, andv) a dispensing spout lid attached to the external surface of said proximal end piece, said lid being adapted to releasably and sealably close said spout;
b) an interface adapted to sealably engage the opening of a storage container, said interface comprising;
i) an outside edge,ii) an upper side, andiii) a lower side facing said storage container, the lower side comprising a shallow funnel having a wide mouth that slopes away from said storage container toward said proximal end piece and which defines a short stem and an aperture at its narrower terminal end;
c) a divider positioned between and adjacent to said proximal end piece and said interface, said divider being adapted to rotate around a central axis relative to said proximal end piece and said interface, said divider comprising;
i) an upper surface,ii) a lower internal surface,iii) an exterior rim that extends radially beyond and overlaps at least a portion of the respective adjacent edges of the proximal end piece and the interface, said exterior rim being adapted to be manipulated by a user, andiv) a hollow measuring chamber duct extending axially through said divider from said upper surface to said lower internal surface, the interior of said measuring chamber duct defining a volume; and
d) an axle extending through and connecting said proximal end piece, said divider and said interface along a central axis;
wherein the inlet of said closeable dispensing spout and said funnel stem are disposed on opposite sides of said central axis from each other, are not rotatable relative to each other, and cannot be vertically aligned with each other,wherein said measuring chamber duct is disposed in said divider at a location radial to said central axis and is rotatable around said central axis between a first position in operational alignment with said funnel stem and a second position in operational alignment with the inlet of said dispensing spout, said first and second positions being adapted to preclude the operational alignment of said measuring chamber duct with said stem and said dispensing spout at the same time, andwherein the volume of said dispensing spout is substantially equal to or greater than the volume of said measuring chamber duct.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A spill and contaminant resistant dispenser and measuring cap device and method for measuring and dispensing a desired amount of a bulk particulate, powdery, granular or viscous liquid substance from a storage container through a cap. A dispenser and measuring cap is attached to a storage container. The cap has one or more measuring chamber ducts, each having a different predetermined volume. The measuring chamber ducts are selectively and separately operationally aligned with an internal funnel stem and a dispensing spout. A selected measuring chamber duct is filled with the substance by inverting the cap and attached container. A measured amount of the substance is captured and dispensed, and the unused portion of the substance retained in the storage container without exposure to outside contaminants or implements, by rotating the duct into operational alignment with the spout.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A dispenser and measuring cap closure for measuring and dispensing a substance from a storage container, comprising:
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a) a proximal end piece comprising; i) an internal surface, ii) an external surface, iii) an external edge, iv) a closeable dispensing spout extending axially through said proximal end piece, the interior of said dispensing spout defining a volume, said spout comprising; 1) an inlet disposed on and flush against said internal surface, and 2) an outlet extending from said external surface, and v) a dispensing spout lid attached to the external surface of said proximal end piece, said lid being adapted to releasably and sealably close said spout; b) an interface adapted to sealably engage the opening of a storage container, said interface comprising; i) an outside edge, ii) an upper side, and iii) a lower side facing said storage container, the lower side comprising a shallow funnel having a wide mouth that slopes away from said storage container toward said proximal end piece and which defines a short stem and an aperture at its narrower terminal end; c) a divider positioned between and adjacent to said proximal end piece and said interface, said divider being adapted to rotate around a central axis relative to said proximal end piece and said interface, said divider comprising; i) an upper surface, ii) a lower internal surface, iii) an exterior rim that extends radially beyond and overlaps at least a portion of the respective adjacent edges of the proximal end piece and the interface, said exterior rim being adapted to be manipulated by a user, and iv) a hollow measuring chamber duct extending axially through said divider from said upper surface to said lower internal surface, the interior of said measuring chamber duct defining a volume; and d) an axle extending through and connecting said proximal end piece, said divider and said interface along a central axis; wherein the inlet of said closeable dispensing spout and said funnel stem are disposed on opposite sides of said central axis from each other, are not rotatable relative to each other, and cannot be vertically aligned with each other, wherein said measuring chamber duct is disposed in said divider at a location radial to said central axis and is rotatable around said central axis between a first position in operational alignment with said funnel stem and a second position in operational alignment with the inlet of said dispensing spout, said first and second positions being adapted to preclude the operational alignment of said measuring chamber duct with said stem and said dispensing spout at the same time, and wherein the volume of said dispensing spout is substantially equal to or greater than the volume of said measuring chamber duct. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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5-8. -8. (canceled)
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16. (canceled)
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21. A method for measuring and dispensing a substance using a cap, comprising:
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sealably engaging a cap with the opening of a storage container, said cap comprising; a proximal end piece comprising an internal surface, an external surface, a closeable dispensing spout extending axially through said proximal end piece, said spout comprising an inlet disposed on and flush against said internal surface and an outlet extending from said external surface, and a dispensing spout lid attached to the external surface of said proximal end piece, said lid being adapted to releasably and sealably close said spout, an interface adapted to sealably engage the opening of a storage container, said interface comprising an outside, an upper side, and a lower side facing said storage container, the lower side comprising a shallow funnel having a wide mouth that slopes away from said storage container toward said proximal end piece and which defines a short stem and an aperture at its narrower terminal end, a divider positioned between said proximal end piece and said interface, said divider being adapted to rotate around a central axis relative to said proximal end piece and said interface, said divider comprising an upper surface, a lower internal surface, an exterior rim adapted to be manipulated by a user, and a hollow measuring chamber duct extending axially through said divider from said upper surface to said lower internal surface, the interior of said measuring chamber duct defining a volume, and an axle extending through and connecting said proximal end piece, said divider and said interface along a central axis, wherein the inlet of said closeable dispensing spout and said funnel stem are disposed on opposite sides of said central axis from each other, are not rotatable relative to each other, and cannot be vertically aligned with each other, and wherein said measuring chamber duct is disposed in said divider at a location radial to said central axis and is rotatable around said central axis between a first position in operational alignment with said funnel stem and a second position in operational alignment with the inlet of said dispensing spout, said first and second positions being adapted to preclude the operational alignment of said measuring chamber duct with said stem and said dispensing spout at the same time; arranging said divider around said central axis to put said measuring chamber duct into operational alignment with said funnel stem at said first position; inverting said cap and storage container to fill said duct with said substance contained inside said container; rotating said divider around said central axis to measure a desired amount of said substance and bring said measuring chamber duct into operational alignment with said closeable dispensing spout at said second position; opening said closeable dispensing spout lid; and dispensing a measured amount of said substance through or from said spout. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification