Porous plastic dispensing article
First Claim
1. An article for introducing a dispensate into a fluid stream, comprising:
- a porous plastic matrix defining an internal network of passages and defining pores on the exposed surface of the matrix in fluid communication with the passages, the pores having an average size of from about 20 microns to about 200 microns; and
a water-soluble or water-dispersible dispensate material, the dispensate residing within the passages;
wherein said article is operable to contain said dispensate within the passages until the exposed surface of said article contacts a beverage, and to release said dispensate material into the beverage upon contact with the exposed surface of said article.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a porous plastic article for dispensing a soluble or dispersible dispensate into a fluid stream. An inventive article preferably comprise polyethylene or polypropylene and has defined therein a network of passages in fluid communication with pores on the exposed surface of the article, the pores preferably having a diameter of from about 20 microns to about 200 microns. In accordance with the invention, the dispensing article may be removably attached to a beverage container cap, a bottle neck or a conduit such as, for example, a sports-bottle straw, to introduce the substance into a fluid coming into contact with the article.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An article for introducing a dispensate into a fluid stream, comprising:
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a porous plastic matrix defining an internal network of passages and defining pores on the exposed surface of the matrix in fluid communication with the passages, the pores having an average size of from about 20 microns to about 200 microns; and a water-soluble or water-dispersible dispensate material, the dispensate residing within the passages; wherein said article is operable to contain said dispensate within the passages until the exposed surface of said article contacts a beverage, and to release said dispensate material into the beverage upon contact with the exposed surface of said article. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An assembly for introducing a dispensate into a fluid stream, comprising:
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an article comprising a porous plastic matrix defining an internal network of passages and defining pores on the exposed surface of the matrix in fluid communication with the passages, the pores having an average size of from about 20 microns to about 200 microns; and
a water-soluble or water-dispersible dispensate material, the dispensate residing within the passages; anda cap for a bottle having a fitting portion thereof for sealingly cooperating with a bottle neck; wherein said article is operatively attached to said cap; and wherein said article is operable to contain said dispensate within the passages until the exposed surface of said article contacts a beverage, and to release said dispensate material into the beverage upon contact with the exposed surface of said article. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. An assembly for introducing a dispensate into a fluid stream, comprising:
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an article comprising a porous plastic matrix defining an internal network of passages and defining pores on the exposed surface of the matrix in fluid communication with the passages, the pores having an average size of from about 20 microns to about 200 microns; and
a water-soluble or water-dispersible dispensate material, the dispensate residing within the passages; anda bottle having a neck which defines a passageway into the bottle; wherein said article is operatively attached to said neck; and wherein said article is operable to contain said dispensate within the passages until the exposed surface of said article contacts a beverage, and to release said dispensate material into the beverage upon contact with the exposed surface of said article.
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27. An article for introducing a dispensate into and filtering a fluid stream, comprising:
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a first member comprising a first porous plastic matrix defining a first internal network of passages and defining pores on the exposed surface of the first matrix in fluid communication with the first passages; and
a particulate activated carbon contained within the first passages; anda second member comprising a second porous plastic matrix defining a second internal network of passages and defining pores on the exposed surface of the second matrix in fluid communication with the second passages; and
a water-soluble or water-dispersible dispensate material, the dispensate residing within the second passages,wherein said second member is operable to contain said dispensate within the passages until the exposed surface of said article contacts a beverage, and to release said dispensate material into the beverage upon contact with the exposed surface of said article. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An article for introducing a dispensate into and filtering a fluid stream, comprising:
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a filtering member comprising a first porous plastic matrix defining a first internal network of passages and defining pores on the exposed surface of the first matrix in fluid communication with the first passages; and
a particulate activated carbon contained within the first passages; anda plurality of dispensing members embedded within the filtering member, wherein the dispensing members comprise a second porous plastic matrix defining a second internal network of passages and defining pores on the exposed surface of the second matrix in fluid communication with the second passages; and
a water-soluble or water-dispersible dispensate material, the dispensate residing within the second passages.
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33. An article for introducing a dispensate into a fluid stream, comprising:
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a porous plastic matrix defining an internal network of passages and defining pores on the exposed surface of the matrix in fluid communication with the passages, the pores having an average size of from about 20 microns to about 200 microns; and a water-soluble or water-dispersible dispensate material, the dispensate residing within the passages; and a conduit for drawing a beverage out of a container, wherein said article is operatively attached to a first end of said conduit.
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34. An assembly for introducing a dispensate into a fluid stream, comprising:
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an article comprising a porous plastic matrix defining an internal network of passages and defining pores on the exposed surface of the matrix in fluid communication with the passages, the pores having an average size of from about 20 microns to about 200 microns; and
a water-soluble or water-dispersible dispensate material, the dispensate residing within the passages; anda cap for a bottle having a fitting portion thereof for sealingly cooperating with a bottle neck; wherein said article is operatively attached to said cap; and wherein said cap defines a dispensing aperture and comprises a manual valve operatively associated with said cap and manually movable between a position allowing flow therethrough and a position not allowing flow therethrough.
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Specification