Apparatus for internal mixture of substances

• US 8,453,834 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2010
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Granite State Product Development, LLC
• Original Assignee: Granite State Product Development, LLC
• Inventors: Porter, John
• Primary Examiner(s): SOOHOO, TONY GLEN
• Application Number:
  US12/761,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20110068102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 206/219, 206/220, 206/221, 206/222, 220/521, 220/145.1, 220/144.5
• US Class Current: 206/222
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2828 said element being a film or a foil B65D51/2821, B65D51/2842 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2871 the plug falling into the main container

Abstract

A device for mixture of substances, whether in the form of a fixed or removable cap or in the form of emersion within a container, utilizing individual internal substance compartments, controlled by an external actuation mechanism. The system actuation mechanism can be placed in a locked position for storage, shipping or to ensure integrity of solutions. Multiple compartments may be utilized, as well as multiple compartments within an individual container to produce multiple mixtures. A further embodiment encompassing a pivotal actuator and removably attached mixing mechanisms is also illustrated.

Claims

1. A container lid for mixture of two or more substances comprising:

a top portion provided with an actuator; and

a main portion comprising;

a closed top end, open bottom end and a central axis, said closed top end operably connected to said top portion;

three or more compartments having closed top ends and open bottom ends, wherein said closed top ends of the three or more compartments are incorporated into the closed top end of the main portion of the container lid; and

a plunger member provided within each of said three or more compartments, said plunger members connected to the closed top ends of the three or more compartments;

wherein the top portion and the main portion are rotatably attached to each other and rotatable about said central axis,

wherein one of the three or more compartments is a major compartment that is larger than the other of the three or more compartments;

wherein said plunger member of said major compartment is located in alignment with said central axis of the main portion and said actuator is always in alignment with the plunger member of said major compartment and the actuator is provided with a major stem for engaging and actuating the plunger member of the major compartment and a minor stem for actuating the plunger member of the other of the three or more compartments, wherein the minor stem is located off-center on the actuator whereby the minor stem is aligned with the plunger member of the other of the three or more compartments by rotating the top portion about said central axis, and the top portion and the main portion are configured with one or more tactile and/or audible indicators for indicating alignment between the actuator'"'"'s minor stem and one of the two or more compartments.

2. The container lid of claim 1, wherein said plunger members are integrally connected to the closed top ends of the three or more compartments.

3. The container lid of claim 1, wherein the plunger members of said other of the three or more compartments are equidistant in radial direction from the central axis.

4. The container lid of claim 1, wherein said closed top ends of the three or more compartments are integrally formed into the closed top end of the main portion of the container lid.

5. The container lid of claim 1, wherein said plunger members are movable from an initial position to an actuated position and a particular plunger member is moved to the actuated position by aligning the actuator to the compartment associated with said particular plunger member and pushing down on the actuator.

6. The container lid of claim 5, wherein said plunger members are configured to be locked in said actuated position once actuated.

7. The container lid of claim 6, wherein said closed top ends of the three or more compartments are configured as a bellville washer like structure to which said plunger members are centrally connected, wherein said bellville washer like structure allows the plunger members to be locked in the actuated position.

8. The container lid of claim 7, wherein said plunger members are integrally formed into the closed top ends of the compartments.

9. The container lid of claim 1, wherein said plunger member further comprises a serrated edge.

10. The container lid of claim 1, wherein said plunger member comprises a piston.

11. The container lid of claim 1, wherein the top portion and the main portion rotatably engage each other by an annular groove provided on the top portion and an annular protruding ridge provided on the main portion, and said one or more tactile and/or audible indicators comprise a bump provided in the groove of the top portion and a plurality of notches provided on the protruding ridge of the main portion, the bump being in radial alignment with the actuator'"'"'s minor stem and the notches are in radial alignment with each of the other of the three or more compartments, thereby when the actuator'"'"'s minor stem comes in alignment with one of the other of the three or more compartments as the top portion is being rotated, the notch that is in radial alignment with said one of the other of the three or more compartments and the bump comes in alignment with each other and produce a tactile and/or audible indication.

12. A container lid for mixture of two or more substances comprising:

a top portion provided with an actuator; and

a main portion comprising;

a closed top end, open bottom end and a central axis, said closed top end operably connected to said top portion;

three or more compartments having closed top ends and open bottom ends, wherein said closed top ends of the three or more compartments are incorporated into the closed top end of the main portion of the container lid;

a plunger member provided within each of said three or more compartments, said plunger members connected to the closed top ends of the three or more compartments; and

a first sealing member closing the open bottom ends of the three or more compartments,

wherein the top portion and the main portion are rotatably attached to each other and rotatable about said central axis,

wherein one of the three or more compartments is a major compartment that is larger than the other of the three or more compartments;

wherein said plunger member of said major compartment is located in alignment with said central axis of the main portion and said actuator is always in alignment with the plunger member of said major compartment and the actuator is provided with a major stem for engaging and actuating the plunger member of the major compartment and a minor stem for actuating the plunger member of the other of the three or more compartments, wherein the minor stem is located off-center on the actuator whereby the minor stem is aligned with the plunger member of the other of the three or more compartments by rotating the top portion about said central axis, and the top portion and the main portion are configured with one or more tactile and/or audible indicators for indicating alignment between the actuator'"'"'s minor stem and one of the two or more compartments.

13. The container lid of claim 12, wherein said plunger members are integrally connected to the closed top ends of the three or more compartments.

14. The container lid of claim 12, wherein the plunger members of said other of the three or more compartments are equidistant in radial direction from the central axis.

15. The container lid of claim 12, wherein said closed top ends of the three or more compartments are integrally formed into the closed top end of the main portion of the container lid.

16. The container lid of claim 12, wherein said plunger members are movable from an initial position to an actuated position and a particular plunger member is moved to the actuated position by aligning the actuator to the compartment associated with said particular plunger member and pushing down on the actuator.

17. The container lid of claim 16, wherein said plunger members are configured to be locked in said actuated position once actuated.

18. The container lid of claim 17, wherein said closed top ends of the three or more compartments are configured as a bellville washer like structure to which the plunger member is centrally connected allowing the plunger member to be locked in the actuated position.

19. The container lid of claim 16, wherein when the plunger member is moved from said initial position to said actuated position, the plunger member unseals the first sealing member.

20. The container lid of claim 19, wherein said first sealing member is a frangible membrane.

21. The container lid of claim 20, wherein when the plunger members are moved from said initial position to said actuated position, the plunger member breaks the frangible membrane.

22. The container lid of claim 12, wherein said plunger members further comprising a serrated edge for puncturing said first sealing member.

23. The container lid of claim 12, wherein said plunger member comprises a piston.

24. The container lid of claim 23, wherein said first sealing member comprises a unidirectional flow valve which expels a substance within said compartment through said unidirectional flow valve when the plunger member is actuated.

25. The container lid of claim 12, further comprising a second sealing member closing the open bottom end of the main portion and defining a main compartment.

26. The container lid of claim 12, wherein the top portion and the main portion rotatably engage each other by an annular groove provided on the top portion and an annular protruding ridge provided on the main portion, and said one or more tactile and/or audible indicators comprise a bump provided in the groove of the top portion and a plurality of notches provided on the protruding ridge of the main portion, the bump being in radial alignment with the actuator'"'"'s minor stem and the notches are in radial alignment with each of the other of the three or more compartments, thereby when the actuator'"'"'s minor stem comes in alignment with one of the other of the three or more compartments as the top portion is being rotated, the notch that is in radial alignment with said one of the other of the three or more compartments and the bump comes in alignment with each other and produce a tactile and/or audible indication.