Dispensing cap with capsule for container

• US 7,017,735 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Company)
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Carlson, Stephen G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P.
• Application Number:
  US10/102,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20020157971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 206/222, 206/219, 220521-522, 215/6, 215/DIG.8
• US Class Current: 206/222
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2814 the additional article or materials being released by piercing, cutting or tearing an element enclosing it
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/08 Mixing

Abstract

A cap for use with a container includes a ring member having an opening and a capsule provided on the ring member. The capsule extends through the opening. A plunger is provided on an interior wall of the capsule. The capsule contains a substance, such as a water-dispersible liquid. The container having a main chamber and a mouth stores and serves a beverage. The main chamber is filled with a single strength beverage, and the capsule is filled with a water-dispersible liquid. The liquid may be a flavor such as, for example, citrus, cranberry, passion fruit, or carambola. The capsule is placed in the mouth of the container contiguous the main chamber, with the capsule being openable to inject the water-dispersible liquid into the single strength beverage in the main chamber in response to manual manipulation of the capsule.

Claims

1. A cap configured to removeably engage a container, comprising:

a ring member having a side wall and a top wall extending substantially radially from the side wall so as to define an opening;

a capsule extending through the opening, the capsule having a top wall extending substantially planar with an uppermost portion of the top wall of the ring member and a bottom wall connected to the top wall of the ring member;

a plunger provided on an interior surface of the top wall of the capsule; and

a substance contained within the capsule.

2. The cap according to claim 1 wherein the side wall of the ring member defines a side periphery of the ring member and the top wall of the ring member defines a top periphery of the ring member.

3. The cap according to claim 1 wherein the capsule includes a bottom end containing a water-dispersible liquid and a headspace containing an inert gas at atmospheric pressure.

4. The cap according to claim 3, wherein the pressure of the inert gas in the headspace is sufficient to assist in ejecting the water-dispersible liquid through a rupture in the bottom end.

5. The cap according to claim 3, wherein the inert gas is nitrogen.

6. The cap according to claim 1 wherein the capsule includes a bottom end containing a water-dispersible liquid and a headspace of inert gas at a pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure.

7. The cap according to claim 6, wherein the inert gas is nitrogen.

8. The cap according to claim 6, wherein the pressure of the inert gas in the headspace is sufficient to assist in ejecting the water-dispersible liquid flavor through a rupture in the bottom end.

9. The cap according to claim 1 wherein the capsule includes a bottom end containing a water-dispersible liquid and a headspace of inert gas at a pressure much greater than atmospheric pressure.

10. The cap according to claim 9, wherein the inert gas is nitrogen.

11. The cap according to claim 9, wherein the pressure of the inert gas in the headspace is sufficient to assist in ejecting the water-dispersible liquid flavor through a rupture in the bottom end.

12. The cap according to claim 1 wherein the plunger is configured to rupture the capsule upon application of a force to the capsule.

13. The cap according to claim 1 wherein the capsule includes a bottom end containing a water-dispersible liquid, said bottom end comprising a scored region for facilitating rupture of the capsule.

14. The cap according to claim 1 wherein the capsule contains a water-dispersible liquid and a headspace containing inert gas.

15. The cap according to claim 14, wherein the water-dispersible liquid comprises at least one of a flavor, a color, a vitamin, and a micronutrient.

16. The cap according to claim 14, wherein the water-dispersible liquid comprises at least one of orange, grapefruit, lemon, cranberry, passion fruit, and carambola.

17. The cap according to claim 14, wherein the water-dispersible liquid comprises an essential oil of citrus origin.

18. The cap according to claim 1 wherein the capsule includes a nozzle end having a scored rupture point.

19. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the substance is from the group consisting of citrus, cranberry, carambola, or passion fruit.

20. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the capsule is substantially contained within the volume defined by the interior of the ring member.

21. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the top wall of the capsule is disc shaped.

22. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the bottom wall of the capsule is connected to the top wall of the ring member by any one of a heat, sound, or adhesive seal.

23. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the bottom wall of the capsule includes an outer portion connected to an inner portion of the top wall of the ring member.

24. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the bottom wall of the capsule includes an inner surface connected to an outer surface of the top wall of the ring member.

25. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the top wall of the capsule is configured to move between a substantially planar shape and a bowed shape.

26. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the top wall of the ring member includes a non-recessed portion and a recessed portion connected to the bottom wall of the capsule.

27. The cap according to claim 26, wherein the recessed portion of the top wall of the ring member is configured such that the top wall of the capsule is substantially flush with the non-recessed portion of the top wall of the ring member.

28. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the top wall of the ring member is configured such that the top wall of the capsule is substantially flush with an outermost portion of the top wall of the ring member.

29. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the top wall of the ring member is configured such that the bottom wall of the capsule is spaced inwardly from an outermost portion of the top wall of the ring member.

30. A container for beverages flavored with delicate water-dispersible liquid flavors for enhancing shelf-life thereof, the container comprising:

a main chamber fillable with a beverage; and

the cap according to claim 1, wherein said substance is a water-dispersible liquid flavor.

31. The container of claim 30 wherein the water-dispersible liquid flavor is citrus flavor.

32. The container of claim 30 wherein the water-dispersible liquid flavor is from the group consisting of citrus, cranberry, passion fruit, and carambola.

33. The container of claim 30 wherein the capsule includes a bottom end containing the water-dispersible liquid flavor and a headspace of inert gas at a pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure.

34. The container of claim 30 wherein the capsule includes a bottom end containing the water-dispersible liquid flavor and a headspace of inert gas at a pressure much greater than atmospheric pressure.

35. The container of claim 30, wherein the capsule contains at least one of a color, a vitamin, and a micronutrient.

36. A cap for removeably engaging a container, comprising:

a ring member having a side wall and a top wall extending substantially radially from the side wall;

a capsule having a top wall configured to move between a first position, where the top wall is in a substantially planar shape, and a second position, where the top wall is in a substantially bowed shape, and a bottom wall having a first portion connected to the top wall of the capsule and a second portion connected to the top wall of the ring member;

a substance contained within the capsule; and

wherein the capsule is configured to release the substance contained within the capsule when the top wall of the capsule is moved to the second position.

37. The cap according to claim 36, wherein the capsule is substantially contained within the volume defined by the interior of the ring member.

38. The cap according to claim 36, wherein the capsule includes a plunger extending from an inner surface of the top wall.

39. The cap according to claim 36, wherein the first portion of the bottom wall comprises an upper side and the second portion of the bottom wall comprises a lower side.

40. The cap according to claim 36, wherein the top wall of the capsule extends substantially planar with the top wall of the ring member when the top wall of the capsule is in the first position.

41. The cap according to claim 36 wherein the capsule includes a bottom end containing a water-dispersible liquid and a headspace containing a pressurized inert gas.

42. The cap according to claim 41, wherein the water-dispersible liquid comprises at least one of a flavor, a color, a vitamin, and a micronutrient.

43. The cap according to claim 36, wherein the second portion of the bottom wall of the capsule is connected to the top wall of the ring member by any one of a heat, sound, or adhesive seal.

44. The cap according to claim 36, wherein the top wall of the ring member includes a non-recessed portion and a recessed portion connected to the second portion of the bottom wall of the capsule.

45. The cap according to claim 44, wherein the recessed portion of the top wall of the ring member is configured such that the top wall of the capsule is substantially flush with the non-recessed portion of the top wall of the ring member.

46. The cap according to claim 36, wherein the top wall of the ring member is configured such that the bottom wall of the capsule is spaced inwardly from an outermost portion of the top wall of the ring member.