Device for adding a component to a package

• US 6,098,795 A
• Filed: 03/10/1999
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bo Mollstam, Ivan A. Casas
• Original Assignee: Bo Mollstam, Ivan A. Casas
• Inventors: Mollstam, Bo, Casas, Ivan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): FIDEI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US09/265,453
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 206/219, 206/222, 222/80, 222/145.1, 222/145.5, 215/DIG. 8
• US Class Current: 206/222
• CPC Class Codes: A23C 9/1234 characterised by using a Lactobacillus sp. other than Lactobacillus Bulgaricus, including Bificlobacterium sp.
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/395 in a particular shape or form
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/135 Bacteria or derivatives thereof, e.g. probiotics
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/20 Arrangements for transferring or mixing fluids, e.g. from vial to syringe
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2027 having frangible parts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/748 a major part of the container wall or membrane being left inside the container after the opening
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2821 said element being a blister, a capsule or like sealed container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3211 coaxially and provided with means facilitating admixture
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3222 with additional means facilitating admixture
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/20 Bacteria; Culture media therefor

Abstract

A device that may be used for adding a selected first component to a second component that is in a main package, which device keeps the first component from the second component until a selected time before use. The device includes a delivery package which is mountable on the outside surface of the main package, and has a delivery opening, a control opening, and a cavity extending between the delivery opening and the control opening. When there is a first component, a compartment that contains this component is mounted inside the cavity so that it seals the delivery opening with a puncturable seal. A puncturer controllable by a user through the control opening is used for cutting through the compartment, including the puncturable seal, and the package to which the delivery package is mounted to release the first component into the main package at the selected time.

Claims

1. A device that is attachable to the outside of a main package comprising:

a delivery package which is mountable on the main package, said delivery package having a delivery end, a control opening, a tubular top extension, and a cavity within the tubular top extension, said cavity extending between the delivery end and the control opening;

said delivery package sealed at the delivery end with a puncturable seal; and

a puncturer having an elongated shaft within the tubular top extension, said puncturer having a control portion attached to the elongated shaft and inserted into the tubular top extension, said puncturer being controllable by a user through the control opening by movement of the control portion, for cutting through the puncturable seal, and through the main package so that the user has access to the main package at a selected time, wherein said control portion has a hollow drinking portion through which the user may drink from the main portion after the seal and main package are cut by the puncturer.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a first component within the cavity.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first component comprises a bacteria-containing powder formulation.

4. A device for adding a selected first component to a main package, which device keeps the first component from the main package until a selected time before use, comprising:

a delivery package which is mountable on the main package, said delivery package having a delivery end, a control opening, a tubular top extension, and a cavity within the tubular top extension, said cavity extending between the delivery end and the control opening;

said delivery package having a compartment at the delivery end that contains a first component, said compartment mounted inside the cavity so that it seals the delivery end with a puncturable seal; and

said delivery package having a puncturer having an elongated shaft within the tubular top extension, said puncturer having a control portion attached to the elongated shaft and inserted into the tubular top extension, said puncturer being controllable by a user through the control opening for cutting through the compartment, the puncturable seal, and the main package to release the first component into the main package at the selected time wherein said control portion has a hollow drinking portion through which the user may drink from the main portion after the compartment, seal and main package are cut by the puncturer.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the main package contains a second component to which the first component is added.

6. The container according to claim 4, wherein the puncturable seal is made of plastic-coated foil.

7. The device according to claim 4, wherein the main package is an enteral bag and the delivery package is mountable on an outside surface of the main package.

8. The device according to claim 4, wherein the main package is a beverage container having a cap and a movable closure portion, and the delivery package is mounted within the cap and attached to the movable closure portion.

9. The device according to claim 4, wherein the compartment is made of plastic-coated foil.

10. The device according to claim 4, wherein the puncturer comprises a plunger portion which extends through the control opening to allow a user to depress the puncturer.

11. The device according to claim 4, wherein there is a port on the main package for mounting of the delivery package.

12. A method of forming a two-part container, comprising:

(a) providing a device according to claim 4; and

(b) attaching the delivery end of the delivery package to an enteral bag.

13. A method of forming a two-part container, comprising providing a device according to claim 5.

14. A device that is attachable to the outside of a main package comprising:

a delivery package which is mountable on the main package, said delivery package having a delivery end, a control opening, a tubular top extension, and a cavity within the tubular top extension, said cavity extending between the delivery end and the control opening;

said delivery package sealed at the delivery end with a puncturable seal; and

a puncturer having an elongated shaft within the tubular top extension, said puncturer having a control portion attached to the elongated shaft and inserted into the tubular top extension, said puncturer being controllable by a user through the control opening by movement of the control portion, for cutting through the puncturable seal, and through the main package so that the user has access to the main package at a selected time.