Apparatus for opening a container and for dispensing a substance in a liquid beverage

• US 5,819,923 A
• Filed: 02/20/1996
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canning Concepts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Canning Concepts Incorporated
• Inventors: Jones, Scott, Spring, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUONG, SHIAN TINH NHAN
• Application Number:
  US08/603,980
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 206/222, 206/568, 206/219, 206/217, 220/258, 220/267
• US Class Current: 206/222
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 17/4012 for opening partially by means of a tearing tab
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 17/521 Attached can-cutting devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3205 Separate rigid or semi-rigid containers joined to each other at their external surfaces B65D81/3288 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3216 Rigid containers disposed one within the other

Abstract

An apparatus for opening a container and for dispensing a substance in a liquid beverage contained in a container includes a flat portion defining a wedge-shaped cut-out, side portions that extend downwardly from the flat portion, and an opening lever attached to the flat portion. The opening lever may include a receptacle containing the substance to be dispensed, a burstable material covering one end of the opening lever, and a plunger attached at an opposite end of the opening lever. The plunger is pushed to compress the substance and break the burstable material to dispense the substance. Otherwise, the opening lever contains no receptacle and is used simply to open the pour panel formed in the top of the container or a tearable receptacle is attached to an underside of the flat portion at a position corresponding to the cut-out so that the opening lever tears open the receptacle and releases the substance contained therein. The opening lever has a pointed end and may extend past the edge of the container, or the opening lever may be formed so as to be displaced a predetermined distance from the surface of the cap at a lifting end to form a gap to accommodate a fingertip. The opening lever may be slidingly attached to the container cap or may be directly attached to the top of the container itself.

Claims

1. In combination with a container having a top and a non-resealable opening pour panel included in the top, a container cap comprising:

a flat portion extending partially around an edge of the container so as to define a container cap having a cut-out;

side portions extending downward from the flat portion of the container cap; and

an opening lever attached to the container cap, the opening lever including a first end and a second end, the second end extending partially across the cut-out, wherein the opening lever is attached to the flat portion of the container cap at a point between the first end and the second end proximate the cut-out, and wherein the container cap is removably attached to the container.

2. A container cap according to claim 1, wherein the cut-out is wedge-shaped.

3. A container cap according to claim 1, further comprising projections projecting inwardly from an inner surface of the side portions, said projections for gripping the container.

4. A container cap according to claim 3, further comprising a releasing lever extending outward from the projections at an acute angle relative to a side of the container.

5. A container cap according to claim 4, wherein the side portions, the projections, and the releasing lever are formed of an elastomeric material.

6. A container cap according to claim 1, wherein the container cap is mounted on the top of the container so that the second end of the opening lever opposes the non-resealable opening pour panel on the top of the container.

7. A container cap according to claim 6, wherein downward movement of the second end of the opening lever breaks open the pour panel in the top of the container.

8. A container cap according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the opening lever is pointed.

9. A container cap according to claim 1, wherein the opening lever defines a receptacle for containing a substance to be dispensed in a beverage contained in the container.

10. A container cap according to claim 1, wherein the flat portion, the side portions, and the opening lever are formed of a plastic material.

11. A container cap according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the opening lever extends beyond the edge of the container.

12. A container cap according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the opening lever is formed so as to be displaced a predetermined distance from the flat portion of the container cap to form a gap between the opening lever and the flat portion.

13. In combination with a container having a top and a non-resealable opening pour panel included in the top, a container cap comprising:

a flat portion extending partially around an edge of the container so as to define a container cap having a cut-out;

side portions extending downward from the flat portion of the container cap; and

an opening lever attached to the container cap, the opening lever defining a receptacle for containing a substance to be dispensed in a beverage contained in the container and including a first end and a second end, the second end extending partially across the cut-out and including an opening covered with a burstable material, wherein the opening lever is attached to the flat portion of the container cap at a point between the first end and the second end proximate the cut-out, and wherein the container cap is removably attached to the container.

14. A container cap according to claim 13, wherein the burstable material is covered with a removable protective wrap.

15. A container cap according to claim 13, wherein the opening lever further comprises a plunger slidably fitted in the opening lever.

16. A container cap according to claim 15, wherein the plunger is formed of a flexible material.

17. A container cap according to claim 15, wherein the container cap is mounted on the top of the container so that when the first end of the opening lever is lifted, the second end of the opening lever moves downward, and the plunger is pushed to compress the substance contained in the receptacle to break the burstable material to dispense the substance in the beverage.