Ingredient release spout

• US 8,276,748 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Nyambi, Samuel Ombaku, Seelhofer, Fritz
• Primary Examiner(s): Pickett, J. Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESAI, KAUSHIKKUMAR A
• Application Number:
  US11/686,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20080223485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,027 Days
• Field of Search: 206/22, 206/568, 206219-222, 215/217, 215/223, 215/228, 215/257, 215/296, 215/297, 215/390, 215/391, 215/DIG.8, 220/212, 220/254.1, 220/254.9, 220/260, 220/277, 220/284, 220/345.1, 220/502
• US Class Current: 206/222
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2835 ruptured by a sharp element, e.g. a cutter or a piercer

Abstract

A spout for an associated container for dispensing a substance into the container. The spout may include a cap, a capsule that can be filled and sealed with a sealing layer, and a nozzle that can be screwed onto the container and carries a piercing device protruding therein such that the sealing layer of the capsule is pierced by the piercing device upon the turning of the cap.

Claims

1. A spout for an associated container for dispensing a substance into the container, comprising:

a cap;

a capsule that can be filled, the filled capsule sealed with a sealing layer;

the capsule comprising a helical collar and the cap comprising a helical margin for rotation therewith;

a nozzle that can be screwed onto the container in a first direction, the nozzle carries a piercing device protruding therein;

wherein the sealing layer of the capsule is pierced by the piercing device upon the turning of the cap in a second direction until the cap meets the nozzle at a stop; and

wherein further turning of the cap in the second direction removes the cap and the nozzle from the container.

2. The spout of claim 1, wherein the spout comprises a plastic spout.

3. The spout of claim 1, wherein the capsule is aligned downwards within the cap.

4. The spout of claim 1, wherein the capsule is aligned downwards within the nozzle.

5. The spout of claim 1, wherein the nozzle comprises an opening sleeve that stretches inside the container.

6. The spout of claim 5, wherein the opening sleeve comprises the piercing device.

7. The spout of claim 1, wherein the piercing device comprises a piercing and cutting tooth.

8. The spout of claim 1, wherein the piercing device comprises a cutting tooth.

9. The spout of claim 5, wherein the capsule comprises a plurality of straight sections and the opening sleeve comprises a plurality of plane sides such that the capsule can be inserted in the opening sleeve only from the top.

10. The spout of claim 9, wherein the cap comprises a groove and the nozzle comprises a collar on which a plurality of snap-on cams or continuous snap-on beads are formed such that the cap cannot be displaced in an axial direction vis-à

-vis the nozzle.

11. The spout of claim 1, wherein the nozzle comprises a plurality of barbs and the cap comprises a handle such that the plurality of barbs and the handle cooperate as a ratchet such that the cap can only be rotated in one direction.

12. The spout of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a bulge thereon from which a shear pin protrudes and wherein the nozzle comprises an opening to cooperate therewith.

13. A plastic spout for a container nozzle of a container for automatically dispensing a separate substance into the container through an opening of the plastic spout, comprising:

a cap;

a capsule that can be filled separately, the filled capsule sealed with a sealing foil or else sealed after filling;

a screw-on nozzle that can be screwed onto the container nozzle in a first direction;

wherein the capsule with its sealing foil can be fixed within the cap or in the screw-on nozzle, and that the screw-on nozzle carries an opening sleeve that stretches inside the container nozzle when the screw-on nozzle is set and includes a piercing and cutting device with a piercing and cutting tooth or a cutting tooth; and

a plurality of force transmission components such that the capsule can be displaced downwardly upon turning the cap in a second direction until the cap meets the nozzle at a stop so as to pierce or cut the sealing foil via the piercing and cutting teeth or the cutting tooth; and

wherein further turning of the cap in the second direction removes the cap and the nozzle from the container.