Molded plastic closure having integral stacking support ribs and rupturable mix compartments

• US 4,785,931 A
• Filed: 09/24/1987
• Issued: 11/22/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Letica Corporation 1700 W Hamlin Road Rochester Michigan
• Original Assignee: Letica Corporation (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Inventors: Yeager, Don F., Weir, Dixie L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcus, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): GEHMAN, BRYON P
• Application Number:
  US07/100,534
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 206/219, 206/221, 206/222, 206/508, 215/6, 215/DIG. 8, 215/227, 215/228, 220/23, 220/212, 220/278, 222/80
• US Class Current: 206/222
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2575/3254 Integral means for assisting piercing or tearing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2835 ruptured by a sharp element, e.g. a cutter or a piercer
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/326 and forming one compartment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/08 Mixing

Abstract

A closure for use with a beverage container, the closure having a plurality of compartments formed therein to store quantities of a flavoring agent separately from a mixing fluid (such as water) contained in the container. The compartments are operable by simple finger pressure to release their contents into the container one at a time for the purpose of making a flavored beverage. Support ribs are formed on the closure to allow the stacking of a number of closures or closure/container combinations without inadvertently releasing the flavoring agent from the compartments.

Claims

1. A molded plastic closure for a mixing container comprising:

a base having a vertical axis of substantial symmetry when in a normal storage disposition;

inner and outer spaced, substantially-parallel, circumferentially-continuous wall portions, said inner and outer wall portions being joined at the uppermost extremities thereof to define an inverted U-shaped channel to receive the rim of said container therein;

the plane of said base being offset along said axis a predetermined distance below the upper extremities of said wall portions;

at least one downwardly opening ingredient compartment formed contiguous with said base and extending upwardly therefrom to an upper wall;

rupturable sealing means closing the bottom of said compartment; and

a plurality of circumferentially spaced, substantially rigid ribs formed on said base and contiguous to the inner wall portion of said U-shaped channel and extending inwardly toward the center of said closure;

said ribs extending axially at least as high as the upper wall of said compartment such that a container may be stacked thereon without collapsing said ingredient compartment along said axis.

2. A closure as defined in claim 1 further including a piercing element formed integrally with the upper wall of said ingredient compartment and extending downwardly along said axis toward said sealing means such that the application of pressure to collapse said compartment tends to drive said piercing element through said sealing means to release the ingredients within said compartment into said container.

3. A closure as defined in claim 2 wherein said piercing element is arrow-shaped and is of greatest transverse dimension immediately adjacent said upper wall.

4. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said sealing means is an adhesive foil.

5. A closure as defined in claim 1 further including a spout formed integrally with and on said base and in spaced relationship to said ingredient compartment.

6. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said ribs are non-contiguous to said ingredient compartment.