Mixing cap and method for use thereof

• US 7,464,811 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abrigo, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Brent Patterson, Randy Patterson
• Inventors: Patterson, Randy, Patterson, Brent
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, LUAN KIM
• Application Number:
  US11/400,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20060260959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 206219-222, 206/568, 215/DIG.8, 222/83, 222/129, 534/43, 426/66, 426/115, 426/120
• US Class Current: 206/220
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2892 the element, e.g. a valve, opening an aperture of the auxiliary container B65D51/2864, B65D51/2878 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/08 Mixing

Abstract

A mixing cap and method for use thereof, wherein the mixing cap is preferably pre-loaded during time of manufacture with a selected dry or liquid ingredient to facilitate subsequent consumer use. The mixing cap comprises an apertured inner tube threadably-engagable to the mouth of a bottle, and an outer housing cooperatively-engaged to the inner tube and slidably-restricted thereover via a flange arrangement. Preloaded ingredients contained within the outer housing may be introduced or discharged into the bottle by simply depressing the outer housing over the inner tube, thereby permitting the ingredients to flow through the apertures of the inner tube and into the liquid contents of the bottle. The combined ingredients and liquid within the bottle may subsequently be shaken without fear or risk of leakage or spillage.

Claims

1. A mixing cap for engaging a bottle, said mixing cap comprising:

an inner tube comprising a top wall and an exteriorly-disposed flange on said inner tube; and

,

an outer housing, said outer housing cooperatively-engaged with said inner tube and comprising an internally-disposed flange,

wherein contents contained within said outer housing are introduced through said inner tube and into the bottle by depressing said outer housing over said inner tube, wherein said top wall is positioned between a storage receptacle and a neck portion of said outer housing when said mixing cap is in a closed position, and wherein said internally-disposed flange contacts said exteriorly-disposed flanged formed on said inner tube when said mixing cap is in a closed position.

2. The mixing cap of claim 1, wherein said inner tube is engageable to the bottle.

3. The mixing cap of claim 1, wherein said inner tube comprises a sidewall, said sidewall comprising at least one aperture formed therethrough.

4. The mixing cap of claim 1, wherein said inner tube is disposed within said neck portion.

5. The mixing cap of claim 3, wherein said at least one aperture of said inner tube is covered by said neck portion of said outer housing when said mixing cap is in a closed position.

6. The mixing cap of claim 1, wherein said mixing cap is placed into an open position when said outer housing is depressed to pass over said inner tube.

7. The mixing cap of claim 1, wherein said exteriorly-disposed flanged of said inner tube overcomes and passes over said internally-disposed flange of said outer housing when said outer housing is depressed to pass over said inner tube.

8. The mixing cap of claim 4, wherein said at least one aperture of said inner tube is positioned within said storage receptacle of said outer housing and, thus, exposed to the contents stored therein, when said outer housing has been depressed to pass over said inner tube.

9. The mixing cap of claim 4, wherein said at least one aperture of said inner tube enables the contents of said storage receptacle to flow therethrough and into the bottle for mixing or shaking with contents disposed within the bottle.

10. The mixing cap of claim 1, wherein said top wall of said inner tube is dome-shaped to facilitate flow of the contents thereover, and to prevent settling of contents thereon, when said outer housing is depressed to pass over said inner tube.

11. The mixing cap of claim 1, wherein said outer housing and said inner tube each comprises a flange arrangements that restrict the range of slidable movement of said outer housing over said inner tube.

12. A mixing cap for introducing contents carried therewithin into a communicating bottle, said mixing cap comprising:

an inner tube comprising an apertured sidewall and an exteriorly-disposed flange formed on said inner tube; and

,

an outer housing comprising a storage receptacle, a neck portion, and an internally-disposed flange, wherein said inner tube is disposed within said neck portion,

wherein the contents contained within said storage receptacle of said outer housing are introduced through said apertured sidewall of said inner tube and into the bottle by depressing said outer housing over said inner tube, and,

wherein said internally-disposed flange of said outer housing contacts said exteriorly-disposed flange of said inner tube when said mixing cap is in a closed position and wherein said internally-disposed flange and said exteriorly-disposed flange restrict the range of slidable movement of said outer housing over said inner tube.

13. The mixing cap of claim 12, wherein said apertured sidewall of said inner tube is covered by said neck portion of said outer housing when said mixing cap is in a closed position.

14. The mixing cap of claim 12, wherein said inner tube comprises a top wall, said top wall positioned between said storage receptacle and said neck portion of said outer housing when said mixing cap is in a closed position.

15. The mixing cap of claim 12, wherein said mixing cap is placed into an open position when said outer housing is depressed to pass over said inner tube.

16. The mixing cap of claim 12, wherein said exteriorly-disposed flanged of said inner tube overcomes and passes over said internally-disposed flange of said outer housing when said outer housing is depressed to pass over said inner tube.

17. The mixing cap of claim 12, wherein said apertured sidewall of said inner tube is positioned within said storage receptacle of said outer housing and, thus, exposed to the contents stored therein, when said outer housing has been depressed to pass over said inner tube.

18. The mixing cap of claim 12, wherein said apertured sidewall of said inner tube enables the contents of said storage receptacle to flow therethrough and into the bottle for mixing or shaking with liquid disposed within the bottle.

19. A method for introducing a selected ingredient into a bottle, said method comprising the steps of:

utilizing a mixing cap, said mixing cap comprising an apertured inner tube having an exteriorly-disposed flange and a top wall, and an outer housing having a storage receptacle, a neck portion, and an internally disposed flange, said outer housing cooperatively-engaged with said inner tube and said internally-disposed flange contacting said exteriorly-disposed flanged and said top wall being positioned between said storage receptacle and said neck portion when said mixing cap is in a closed position; and

,

depressing said outer housing over said inner tube wherein contents contained within said outer housing are introduced through an aperture of said apertured inner tube and into the bottle.