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 the article is configured for attachment to a spigot or a faucet.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
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 a preferred aspect of 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.
-
Citations
33 Claims
-
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 the article is configured for attachment to a spigot or a faucet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. 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 the article is configured to reside inside a conduit for drawing a beverage from a container. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An assembly for introducing a dispensate into a fluid stream, comprising:
-
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; and
a conduit for drawing a beverage out of a container;
wherein said article is operatively attached to the conduit; and
wherein the article resides inside the conduit.
-
-
10. An assembly for introducing a dispensate into a fluid stream, comprising:
-
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; and
a member selected from the group consisting of a spigot and a faucet;
wherein said article is operatively attached to the member.
-
-
11. A method for introducing a dispensate into a fluid stream, comprising:
-
providing 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, wherein a water-soluble or water-dispersible dispensate material is positioned within the passages; and
contacting a beverage with the exposed surface of the article to cause the dispensate material to be released into the beverage. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A method for introducing a dispensate into a fluid stream, comprising:
-
providing 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 up to about 200 microns, wherein a soluble or dispersible dispensate material is positioned within the passages; and
contacting a fluid with the exposed surface of the article to cause the dispensate material to be released into the fluid.
-
Specification