Ingredient dispensing cap for mixing beverages with push-pull drinking spout

• US 8,701,906 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2013
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gacers LLC
• Original Assignee: Blast Mask, LLC
• Inventors: Anderson, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pickett, J. Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALKER, NED ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US13/849,010
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 206219-222, 215/227, 215/228, 215/249, 215/251, 215/257, 215/297, 215/301, 215/305, 215/DIG.8, 220/212, 2202583-2585, 220/262, 220/264, 220/277, 220/278, 222/519, 222/521, 222/522, 222/80, 222/83.5, 222/83, 222/88
• US Class Current: 215/227
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/20 Caps or cap-like covers with membranes, e.g. arranged to be pierced
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2835 ruptured by a sharp element, e.g. a cutter or a piercer
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/285 ruptured by a sharp element, e.g. a cutter or a piercer

Abstract

A dispensing cap for storing one or more ingredients in the cap body until the time of use. The stored ingredients in the cap are dispensed manually into a primary container for mixing. The dispensing cap includes a push-pull, flow-through drinking spout with a fluid valve for opening and closing the fluid flow from the primary container. The dispensing cap body includes several elements all of which are formed in a single molded cap body. The storage chamber of the dispensing cap includes a foil seal that can be partially opened by an activating member manually connected to the drinking spout for dispensing the ingredients into the primary container. The cap body is threadably attached to a primary container threaded neck.

Claims

1. A closure assembly for mixing ingredients with contents of a container to create a mixed beverage for dispensing, said closure assembly comprising:

a drinking spout comprising;

a first fluid passage;

a fluid valve having a piercing element;

a monolithic cap connected to said drinking spout, said cap comprising;

an ingredient storage chamber having a cylindrical sidewall extending between a top and a bottom;

an activating member having a second fluid passage, and an upper seal closing said second fluid passage and aligned with said piercing element of said drinking spout, said activating member at least partially disposed within said ingredient storage chamber and cooperating with said drinking spout to collectively form a push-pull assembly movable between an inactive pulled position and an active pushed position;

a resilient flexible annular wall extending between said activating member and said top of said ingredient storage chamber;

a lower seal closing said bottom of said ingredient storage chamber for retaining said ingredients; and

,

wherein a downward force on said drinking spout moving said push-pull assembly from said inactive pulled position to said active pushed position causes said piercing element to rupture said upper seal and said activating member to rupture said lower seal.

2. The closure assembly of claim 1, wherein when said push-pull assembly is configured in said inactive pulled position:

said ingredients are encapsulated and stored in said cap;

said upper and lower seals are intact, thereby preventing fluid communication between said first fluid passage and said second fluid passage.

3. The closure assembly of claim 1, wherein when said push-pull assembly is configured in said active pushed position:

said ingredients are released and mixed with said contents of said container, thereby creating said mixed beverage;

said upper and lower seals are ruptured, thereby enabling said fluid valve of said drinking spout to regulate fluid communication between said first fluid passage and said second fluid passage to selectively dispense said mixed beverage.

4. The closure assembly of claim 1, wherein said resilient flexible annular wall allows dynamic movement of said push-pull assembly while said cylindrical sidewall of said ingredient storage chamber remains static.

5. The closure assembly of claim 1, further comprising a dust cover removably connected to said cap to prevent accidental movement of said push-pull assembly.

6. A dispensing cap for mixing ingredients with contents of a container to create a drink, said dispensing cap comprising:

a foil liner;

a cap body molded as a single, integral, unitary piece, said cap body comprising;

a threaded outer skirt for engaging a threaded neck of said container;

an inner cylindrical sidewall having a lower distal end sealed by said foil liner to form an ingredient storage chamber;

an activating member having a lower fluid passage and a molded top seal closing said lower fluid passage, said activating member at least partially disposed within said ingredient storage chamber, said activating member movable between an inactive pulled position and an active pushed position;

a resilient flexible annular wall surrounding said activating member;

a drinking spout assembled upon said activating member of said cap body, said drinking spout comprising;

an upper fluid passage;

a fluid valve;

a piercing element disposed over said molded top seal;

wherein when said activating member is disposed in said inactive pulled position;

said foil liner and said molded top seal are intact, thereby preventing fluid communication between said lower fluid passage and said upper fluid passage; and

, said ingredients are encapsulated and stored in said ingredient storage chamber; and

,

wherein when said activating member is disposed in said active pushed position;

said foil liner and said molded top seal are both pierced, thereby enabling said fluid valve of said drinking spout to regulate fluid communication between said lower fluid passage and said upper fluid passage; and

, said ingredients are released and mixed with said contents of said container, creating said drink.