Dispensing cap

• US 9,434,519 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2014
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: H2M Beverages, LLC
• Original Assignee: H2M Beverages, LLC
• Inventors: Stripp, Steven G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, Nicholas J
• Application Number:
  US14/561,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20150314930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/20 comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge closures with liquid-dispensing taps or cocks B67D3/04
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2871 the plug falling into the main container
• 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

Abstract

The non-limiting embodiments described herein disclose a container and a cap. The cap seals a container while providing a separate internal storage area for liquid or power contents. A seal disposed at the bottom of the cap ensures that the storage area contents remain fresh and sterile until the cap is rotated to release the seal. The clockwise rotation and threaded engagement of the storage area with the lower cylindrical collar and the upper cylindrical collar releases the seal from the bottom of the cap, while centrifugal forces within the cap urge the storage area contents into the container.

Claims

1. A dispensing cap comprising:

a dispensing member in a top of the dispensing cap, the dispensing member including an aperture defining a dispensing member opening;

a static plug centrally positioned within the dispensing member;

a dispensing cap body having

an upper cylindrical collar having an upper cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall,

a lower cylindrical collar having a first lower cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall and a second lower cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall, and

a storage tube inside of the dispensing cap body and configured to store liquid or powder contents, the storage tube having a storage tube outer threaded side wall arranged to threadedly engage the first lower cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall and the upper cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall;

wherein the upper cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall rotates in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction, the upper cylindrical collar having a textured surface thereby providing a gripping mechanism for rotating the upper cylindrical collar in threaded engagement with the storage tube;

wherein the second lower cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall rotates in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction around an upper outer surface of a container, wherein the lower cylindrical collar is in threaded engagement with the storage tube and upper outer surface; and

a seal disposed at a bottom of the storage tube and arranged to prevent a release of the storage tube liquid or powder contents,

wherein the clockwise rotation and threaded engagement of the storage tube with the lower cylindrical collar and the upper cylindrical collar releases the seal from the storage tube such that rotational forces aided by gravitational forces dispense the liquid or powder contents out keyways of the storage tube into the container;

wherein;

the upper cylindrical collar is rotatable in the clockwise direction in relation to the container to cause the storage tube outer threaded side wall, the first lower cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall, and the upper cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall to threadedly engage while releasing the seal away from a locked position; and

the upper cylindrical collar is rotatable in the counterclockwise direction in relation to the container to cause the storage tube outer threaded side wall, the first lower cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall, and the upper cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall to disengage while moving the seal to the locked position.

2. The dispensing cap of claim 1, wherein the dispensing member is assembled to be manually raised to a higher position than the static plug, thereby providing a channel for contents of the storage tube and container to be dispensed.

3. The dispensing cap of claim 1, wherein the dispensing member is configured in a shape of a cylindrical sipper or nozzle.

4. The dispensing cap of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the upper cylindrical collar is ribbed, and wherein at least a portion of the lower cylindrical collar is textured and/or ribbed, thereby providing a gripping mechanism for rotating the lower cylindrical collar with respect to the container.

5. The dispensing cap of claim 1, further comprising the seal assembled with attaching members, the seal configured to form the keyways of the storage tube, thereby providing areas for the storage tube liquid and powder contents to fall from the storage tube and into the container, and wherein the seal is one of a substantially conical, pyramidal, or flat shape.

6. A dispensing cap comprising:

a dispensing member in a top of the dispensing cap, the dispensing member including an aperture defining a dispensing member opening;

a dispensing cap body having

an upper cylindrical collar having an upper cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall,

a lower cylindrical collar having a first lower cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall and a second lower cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall, and

a storage tube inside of the dispensing cap body and configured to store liquid or powder contents, the storage tube having a storage tube outer threaded side wall arranged to threadedly engage the first lower cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall and the upper cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall;

wherein the upper cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall rotates in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction, the upper cylindrical collar having a textured surface thereby providing a gripping mechanism for rotating the upper cylindrical collar in a threaded engagement;

wherein the second lower cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall rotates in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction around an upper outer surface of a container, wherein the lower cylindrical collar and upper outer surface are in threaded engagement; and

a seal disposed at a bottom of the storage tube and arranged to prevent a release of the storage tube liquid or powder contents,

wherein the clockwise rotation and threaded engagement of the storage tube with the lower cylindrical collar and the upper cylindrical collar releases the seal from the storage tube such that rotational forces within the dispensing cap urge the storage tube liquid or powder contents from the storage tube into the container;

wherein;

the upper cylindrical collar is rotatable in the clockwise direction in relation to the container to cause the storage tube outer threaded side wall, the first lower cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall, and the upper cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall to threadedly engage while releasing the seal away from a locked position; and

the upper cylindrical collar is rotatable in the counterclockwise direction in relation to the container to cause the storage tube outer threaded side wall, the first lower cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall, and the upper cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall to disengage while moving the seal to the locked position.

7. The dispensing cap of claim 6, wherein the dispensing member is configured in the shape of an applicator or nozzle and configured to dispense the combined contents of the storage tube and container when the container is tilted to a non-upright position and/or pressure is applied about the container.

8. The dispensing cap of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the upper cylindrical collar is ribbed.

9. The dispensing cap of claim 6, wherein the lower cylindrical collar is smooth and/or textured.

10. The dispensing cap of claim 6, wherein the lower cylindrical collar is ribbed.

11. The dispensing cap of claim 6, wherein the seal is of a substantially flat shape.

12. A dispensing cap comprising:

a dispensing member in a top of the dispensing cap, the dispensing member including an aperture defining a dispensing member opening;

a dispensing cap body having

an upper cylindrical collar,

a lower cylindrical collar, and

a storage tube inside of the dispensing cap body and configured to store liquid or powder contents;

wherein the upper cylindrical collar having a threaded inner surface rotates in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction, the upper cylindrical collar having a textured surface thereby providing a gripping mechanism for rotating the upper cylindrical collar in a threaded engagement;

wherein the lower cylindrical collar having a threaded inner surface rotates in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction around an upper outer surface of a container, wherein the lower cylindrical collar and upper outer surface are in threaded engagement; and

a seal disposed at a bottom of the storage tube and arranged to prevent a release of the storage tube liquid or powder contents,

wherein the clockwise rotation and threaded engagement of the storage tube with the lower cylindrical collar and the upper cylindrical collar releases the seal from the storage tube such that rotational forces within the dispensing cap urge the storage tube liquid or powder contents from the storage tube into the container;

wherein;

the upper cylindrical collar is rotatable in the clockwise direction in relation to the container to cause a storage tube outer threaded side wall, the lower cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall, and the upper cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall to threadedly engage while releasing the seal away from a locked position; and

the upper cylindrical collar is rotatable in the counterclockwise direction in relation to the container to cause the storage tube outer threaded side wall, the lower cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall, and the upper cylindrical collar inner threaded side wall to disengage while moving the seal to the locked position.

13. The dispensing cap of claim 12, wherein the dispensing member is configured in the shape of a nipple and configured to dispense the combined contents of the storage tube and container when the container is both tilted to a non-upright position and/or pressure is applied about the container.

14. The dispensing cap of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the upper cylindrical collar is ribbed, and wherein at least a portion of the lower cylindrical collar is textured and/or ribbed, thereby providing a gripping mechanism for rotating the lower cylindrical collar with respect to the container.

15. The dispensing cap of claim 12, further comprising the seal assembled with attaching members, the seal configured to form keyways of the storage tube, thereby providing areas for the storage tube liquid and powder contents to fall from the storage tube and into the container, and wherein the seal is one of a substantially conical, pyramidal, or flat shape.