Discharge cap for releasable product

• US 6,679,375 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2001
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fredrick Michael Coory
• Original Assignee: Fredrick Michael Coory
• Inventors: Coory, Fredrick Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohandesi, Jila M.
• Application Number:
  US09/831,437
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 206/216-222, 206/568, 222/135, 222/136, 222/82, 222/80, 222/129, 222/129.1, 215/DIG.8, 215/10
• US Class Current: 206/219
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2835 ruptured by a sharp element, e.g. a cutter or a piercer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/08 Mixing

Abstract

A cap for a container, for a drink of two components, can be stored or carried with the components stored separately. Mixing prior to consumption is effected by a pushing device incorporated into a cover on the cap, which cover is releasably secured to the container. The pushing device bears against a tablet holder the base of which has a low burst of strength. The pushing device can be one of a number of embodiments, all of which can operate with or without an annular cutting ring and flexible seal adjacent the underside of the tablet holder. The cover and tablet holder form a liquid seal with the top of the container until the cover is removed.

Claims

1. For a container having an opening with a rim, a cap for retaining a product to be released into the container as desired, the cap comprising:

a holder having a flexible top and a membrane-like base sealed together about a common circumferential edge to envelop the product;

a collar removably fixable about the opening, the collar having a flange for abutting the circumferential edge to fix the holder between the flange and the rim of the container, the base being positioned inwardly of the flexible top to provide a liquid impermeable seal over the opening;

a cutting edge positioned inwardly of the base to circumscribe at least a part of the product; and

configured such that

when pushed inwards, the top of the holder deforms to press the base of the holder against the cutting edge, cutting open the base to release the product into the container;

the opening being sealed by means of the top after the base has been cut open; and

such that after the collar has been removed, the opening is resealable by the top when the collar is replaced.

2. The cap of claim 1 wherein the cutting edge is formed in a saw tooth pattern.

3. The cap of claim 1 wherein the cutting edge is formed on a cutting ring fixed between the rim and the base.

4. The cap of claim 1 further including a removable cover extending over the top of the holder for preventing unwanted opening of the base of the holder.

5. The cap of claim 1 further including a digit-engaging element fixed to the collar outwardly of the top of the holder, wherein the digit-engaging element contacts the top, deforming the top to press the base of the holder against the cutting edge, cutting open the base to release the product into the container.

6. The cap of claim 5 further including an outer side portion covering the top of the holder, and wherein the digit-engaging element is formed integrally with the collar and includes a button fixed to a resilient hinge formed by a cut-out section of the outer side portion.

7. The cap of claim 6 wherein the button is formed at the end of a pedestal fixed to the resilient hinge.

8. The cap of claim 1 wherein the base includes an annular section of reduced strength at least partially circumscribing the product.

9. The cap of claim 1 further including a second membrane extending over the opening and positioned inside the base and having a rupture strength equal to or less than that of the base.

10. The cap of claim 1 further including an annular seal for sealing engagement with the rim.

11. The cap of claim 1 wherein the collar is internally threaded for engagement with a externally threaded neck surrounding the opening of the container.

12. The cap of claim 1 wherein a liquid drink component is held in the container, and the product is in the form of a tablet.

13. An apparatus for retaining a product to be released into a container as desired, including a container having an opening with a rim and a cap removably fixable to the container to close the opening, the cap comprising:

a holder having a flexible top and a membrane-like base sealed together about a common circumferential edge to envelop the product;

a collar removably fixable about the opening, the collar having a flange abutting the circumferential edge to fix the holder between the flange and the rim of the container, the base being positioned inwardly of the flexible top to provide a liquid impermeable seal over the opening;

a cutting ring positioned inwardly of the base, the cutting ring having a cutting edge circumscribing at least a part of the product; and

configured such that

when pushed inwards, the top of the holder deforms to press the base of the holder against the cutting edge, cutting open the base to release the product into the container;

the opening being sealed by means of the top after the base has been cut open; and

such that after the collar has been removed, the opening is resealable by the top when the collar is replaced.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the cutting edge is formed in a saw tooth pattern.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further including a removable cover extending over the top of the holder for preventing unwanted opening of the base of the holder.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the cap further includes a digit-engaging element fixed to the collar outwardly of the top of the holder, the digit-engaging element contacting the top, deforming the top to press the base of the holder against the cutting edge, thereby cutting open the base to release the product into the container.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the cap further includes an outer side portion to cover the top of the holder, and wherein the digit-engaging element is formed internally with the collar and includes a button fixed to a resilient hinge formed by a cut-out section of the outer side portion.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the button is formed at the end of a pedestal fixed to the resilient hinge.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further including a second membrane extending over the opening and positioned inside the base and having a rupture strength equal to or less than that of the base.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further including an annular seal of sealing engagement with the rim.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the cap includes an internally threaded collar for engagement with a corresponding externally threaded neck surrounding the opening of the container.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein a liquid drink component is held in the container, and the product is in the form of a tablet.

23. An apparatus for retaining a product to be released into a container as desired, including a container having an opening with a rim and a cap removably fixable to the container to close the opening, the cap comprising:

a holder having a flexible top and a membrane-like base sealed together about a common circumferential edge to envelop the product;

a collar removably fixable about the opening, the collar having a flange abutting the circumferential edge to fix the holder between the flange and the rim of the container, the base being positioned inwardly of the flexible top to provide a liquid impermeable seal over the opening;

a cutting ring positioned inwardly of the base, the cutting ring having a serrated cutting edge circumscribing at least a part of the tablet;

a removable cover extending over the top of the holder for preventing unwanted opening of the base;

a pusher formed in an outer side of the cap covering the top of the holder, the pusher being in the form of a resilient hinge formed by a cut-out section of the outer side, and adapted such that

when pushed inwards, the pusher contacts the top, deforming the top to press the base of the holder against the cutting edge, cutting open the- base to release the product into the container;

the opening being sealed by means of the top after the base has been cut open; and

such that after the cap has been removed, the opening is resealable by the top when the cap is replaced.