Nutritive substance delivery container

• US 7,823,723 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2008
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Inventors: Grelewicz, Rick, Rangavajla, Nagendra, Anthony, Joshua C., Wiggins, Robin, McCallister, Patrick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fidei; David T
• Application Number:
  US12/250,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20100089776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 206/219, 206/222, 206/568, 215/DIG.8, 426/115, 426/120
• US Class Current: 206/222
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/0025 of the 47-type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/0093 Membrane
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/103 Membranes with a tearing element
• 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 51/18 Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures B65D51/247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/225 and further comprising a device first inhibiting displacement of the outer closure B65D51/223 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 65/42 Applications of coated or impregnated materials
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 65/463 Edible packaging materials

Abstract

The invention comprises a novel apparatus for delivering a nutritive substance comprising a container body having a base at one end thereof, an upper portion adapted for removable receipt of a closure, the upper portion defining an opening therein, and a chamber defined by the container body, the chamber being in fluid communication with the upper portion opening. A laminate seal having at least two layers is bonded across the upper portion opening and is adapted to provide an airtight seal across the opening. A nutritive substance is bonded to at least one layer of the laminate seal. The container additionally comprises a closure removably coupled to the upper portion. The closure comprises a cutting portion which is adapted to pierce the laminate seal, thereby releasing the nutritive substance into the container contents.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivering a nutritive substance comprising:

a. a container body having

(i) a base at one end thereof,

(ii) an upper portion adapted for removable receipt of a closure, said upper portion defining an opening therein, and

(iii) a chamber defined by said container body, said chamber being in fluid communication with said upper portion opening,

b. a laminate seal having at least two layers, the laminate seal being bonded across said upper portion opening and adapted to provide an airtight seal across said opening, wherein a nutritive substance is bonded to at least one layer of said laminate seal; and

c. a closure removably coupled to said upper portion, the closure comprising an annular cap and a cutting portion operatively coupled to said annular cap, wherein the cutting portion is adapted to pierce said seal, wherein said seal prevents contact between said nutritive substance and the contents of said container until said seal is pierced.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the annular cap comprises an under surface and wherein said cutting portion is coupled to the under surface of said annular cap and further wherein the cutting portion extends axially downward toward said seal so that rotation of said annular cap relative to said container body upper portion in a first direction causes said cutting portion to pierce and cut said seal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a tear band coupled to said annular cap, wherein said tear band prevents said cutting portion from piercing said seal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said tear band prevents said annular cap from rotating in a first direction relative to said container thereby preventing said cutting portion from piercing said seal.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein when said tear band is removed from said annular cap, said annular cap can be rotated in said first direction relative to said container to cause said cutting portion to move downward relative to said seal so that said cutting portion pierces said seal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cutting portion comprises a blade.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, said annular cap further comprising:

a. a vertical side wall; and

b. a top surface coupled to said side wall, wherein the cutting portion is located within a recess defined between said side wall and said top surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, said annular cap further comprising:

a. a second closure operatively disposed on said annular cap and moveable between a first position and an opposite second position wherein the cutting portion is coupled to the second closure of the annular cap; and

b. a tear band coupled to said second closure, said tear band maintaining said second closure in said second position so as to prevent said cutting portion from piercing said seal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein when said tear band is removed from said second closure, said second closure can be moved downward relative to said annular cap into said first position in which said cutting portion pierces a hole through said seal.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein when said second closure is moved to said second position after being in said first position, the contents of said container can flow through said seal hole, thereby allowing said nutritive substance to release into the contents of said container.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the laminate seal comprises:

an upper layer comprising a top side and a bottom side; and

a lower layer comprising a top side and a bottom side, wherein said nutritive substance is bonded to the top side of the lower layer of said laminate seal.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the laminate seal comprises:

an upper layer comprising a top side and a bottom side; and

a lower layer comprising a top side and a bottom side, wherein said nutritive substance is bonded to the bottom side of the upper layer of said laminate seal.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said laminate seal has at least three layers.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a centrally-positioned layer comprises said nutritive substance.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said nutritive substance comprises a probiotic.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said nutritive substance comprises a probiotic impregnated into a gum substrate.

17. An apparatus for delivering a nutritive substance comprising:

a. a container body having

(i) a base at one end thereof,

(ii) an upper portion adapted for removable receipt of a closure, said upper portion defining an opening therein, and

(iii) a chamber defined by said container body, said chamber being in fluid communication with said upper portion opening,

b. a laminate seal having at least two layers, the laminate seal being bonded across said upper portion opening and adapted to provide an airtight seal across said opening, wherein a nutritive substance is bonded to at least one layer of said laminate seal; and

c. a closure removably coupled to said upper portion, the closure comprising an annular cap, a tear band coupled to said annular cap, and a cutting portion operatively coupled to said annular cap, wherein the cutting portion is adapted to pierce said seal, wherein said tear band prevents said cutting portion from piercing said seal, and wherein said seal prevents contact between said nutritive substance and the contents of said container until said seal is pierced.