Dispensing structure with frangible membrane for separating two products
First Claim
1. A dispensing structure for a container that has an opening to the container interior, said dispensing structure being in the form of a dispensing closure comprising:
- a body for being mounted to said container around said container opening and defining an access aperture for access to said container opening;
a membrane sealing said access aperture closed;
a cover disposed over said membrane and sealingly engaged with said body to accommodate axial sliding movement from an outer position to an inwardly displaced position, said cover defining a dispensing orifice and defining an edge for severing at least part of said membrane as said cover is non-rotatably moved from said outer position to said inwardly displaced position, said cover and said body together defining a chamber over said membrane;
an additive product in said chamber for adding to said container after at least part of said membrane is severed;
a removable tamper-evident band initially secured to said cover to prevent movement of said cover toward said inwardly displaced position until said band is torn at least partly away from said cover; and
a lid and a hinge connecting said lid to said cover for accommodating movement of said lid between (1) a closed position over said cover dispensing orifice to close said orifice, and (2) an open position away from said lid closed position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dispensing structure is provided for a container which has an opening to the container interior. The structure includes a body for extending around the container opening and a membrane for occluding the container opening. A cover is disposed over the membrane and is sealingly engaged with the body to accommodate axial sliding movement from an outer position to an inwardly displaced position. The cover defines a dispensing orifice and defines an edge for severing at least part of the membrane as the cover is moved from the outer position to the inwardly displaced position. An additive material may be initially stored in the dispensing structure above the membrane and can be combined with the product in the container after the membrane has been severed. A self-sealing, pressure-openable, slit-type valve may be mounted in the cover at the dispensing orifice to control flow through the orifice.
279 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A dispensing structure for a container that has an opening to the container interior, said dispensing structure being in the form of a dispensing closure comprising:
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a body for being mounted to said container around said container opening and defining an access aperture for access to said container opening; a membrane sealing said access aperture closed; a cover disposed over said membrane and sealingly engaged with said body to accommodate axial sliding movement from an outer position to an inwardly displaced position, said cover defining a dispensing orifice and defining an edge for severing at least part of said membrane as said cover is non-rotatably moved from said outer position to said inwardly displaced position, said cover and said body together defining a chamber over said membrane; an additive product in said chamber for adding to said container after at least part of said membrane is severed; a removable tamper-evident band initially secured to said cover to prevent movement of said cover toward said inwardly displaced position until said band is torn at least partly away from said cover; and a lid and a hinge connecting said lid to said cover for accommodating movement of said lid between (1) a closed position over said cover dispensing orifice to close said orifice, and (2) an open position away from said lid closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A dispensing structure for a container that has an opening to the container interior, said dispensing structure comprising:
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a body for extending around said container opening; a membrane for occluding said container opening; a cover disposed over said membrane and sealingly engaged with said body to accommodate axial sliding movement from an outer position to an inwardly displaced position, said cover defining a dispensing orifice and defining an edge for severing at least part of said membrane as said cover is moved from said outer position to said inwardly displaced position; and a removable tamper-evident band initially secured to said cover to prevent movement of said cover toward said inwardly displaced position until said band is torn at least partly away from said cover; said body including a collar extending outwardly around said membrane; said band being located generally concentric with, and radially beyond, said collar; said cover including an outer skirt; and said dispensing structure further including frangible members connecting said band to said cover outer skirt.
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10. A dispensing structure for a container that has an opening to the container interior, said dispensing structure comprising:
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a body for extending around said container opening; a membrane for occluding said container opening; a cover disposed over said membrane and sealingly engaged with said body to accommodate axial sliding movement from an outer position to an inwardly displaced position, said cover defining a dispensing orifice and defining an edge for severing at least part of said membrane as said cover is moved from said outer position to said inwardly displaced position; and a removable tamper-evident band initially secured to said cover to prevent movement of said cover toward said inwardly displaced position until said band is torn at least partly away from said cover; said cover including an inner, annular wall; said cover edge being defined along a bottom portion of said cover inner, annular wall at an oblique angle to said membrane; said body including a collar extending outwardly around said membrane; said collar being oriented concentric with said cover inner, annular wall and sealingly engaged with the exterior of said cover inner, annular wall; said collar including a radially extending annular bead; said cover including an outer skirt adapted to be oriented concentric with, and on the exterior of, said collar when said cover is in said inwardly displaced position; and said cover outer skirt including an annular bead for effecting a snap-fit engagement with said collar annular bead when said cover is in said inwardly displaced position.
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11. A dispensing structure for a container that has an opening to the container interior, said dispensing structure comprising:
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a body for extending around said container opening; a membrane for occluding said container opening; a cover disposed over said membrane and sealingly engaged with said body to accommodate axial sliding movement from an outer position to an inwardly displaced position, said cover defining a dispensing orifice and defining an edge for severing at least part of said membrane as said cover is moved from said outer position to said inwardly displaced position, said cover and said body together defining a chamber over said membrane; an additive product in said chamber for adding to said container after at least part of said membrane is severed; and a lid for accommodating movement between (1) a closed position over said cover dispensing orifice to close said orifice, and (2) an open position away from said lid closed position; a removable tamper-evident band initially secured to said cover to prevent movement of said cover toward said inwardly displaced position until said band is torn at least partly away from said cover; and said band being generally concentric with, and located radially beyond, said body collar. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A dispensing structure for a container that has an opening to the container interior, said dispensing structure comprising:
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a body for extending around said container opening; a membrane for occluding said container opening; a cover disposed over said membrane and sealingly engaged with said body to accommodate axial sliding movement from an outer position to an inwardly displaced position, said cover defining a dispensing orifice and defining an edge for severing at least part of said membrane as said cover is moved from said outer position to said inwardly displaced position, said cover and said body together defining a chamber over said membrane; an additive product in said chamber for adding to said container after at least part of said membrane is severed; and a lid for accommodating movement between (1) a closed position over said cover dispensing orifice to close said orifice, and (2) an open position away from said lid closed position; said cover including an inner, annular wall; said cover edge being defined along the bottom portion of said cover inner, annular wall at an oblique angle to said membrane; said body including a collar extending outwardly around said membrane; said collar being oriented concentric with said cover inner, annular wall and sealingly engaged with the exterior of said cover annular wall; said collar including a radially extending annular bead; said cover including an outer skirt adapted to be oriented concentric with, and on the exterior of, said collar when said cover is in said inwardly displaced position; and said cover outer skirt including an annular bead for effecting a snap-fit engagement with said collar annular bead when said cover is in said inwardly displaced position.
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15. A dispensing structure for a container that has an opening to the container interior, said dispensing structure comprising:
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a body for extending around said container opening; a membrane for occluding said container opening; a cover disposed over said membrane and sealingly engaged with said body to accommodate axial sliding movement from an outer position to an inwardly displaced position, said cover defining a dispensing orifice and defining an edge for severing at least part of said membrane as said cover is moved from said outer position to said inwardly displaced position, said cover and said body together defining a chamber over said membrane; an additive product in said chamber for adding to said container after at least part of said membrane is severed; and a lid for accommodating movement between (1) a closed position over said cover dispensing orifice to close said orifice, and (2) an open position away from said lid closed position; and said dispensing structure including a hinge connecting said lid with said cover.
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Specification