Independent off-bottle dispensing closure

• US 7,249,690 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2004
• Issued: 07/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Erie County Plastics Corporation (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Robert J, Walters, Ron J
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas; Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US11/024,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20060006192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 222 80- 83, 222/145.5, 222/327, 222/153.06, 222/153.05, 222/153.09, 222/541.2, 222/325, 222520-525, 222/541.9, 222/83.5, 222/86, 222/91, 206219-222
• US Class Current: 222/83
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2835 ruptured by a sharp element, e.g. a cutter or a piercer

Abstract

A independent off bottle single use unit dosage dispensing closure includes a shell attached to a container, an axial movable cap attached to the shell, a sealing member coupled to the cap, and a removable retainer attached to the shell. The shell has an inner guide in communication with the container and the cap is moveable along the guide. The cap has a chamber adapted to dispense material into the container. The chamber is sealed with the sealing member extending across a lower open end thereof, wherein axial movement of the cap along the inner guide member will open the chamber and dispense the contents of the chamber into the container. The retainer prevents relative movement between the cap and the shell until the retainer has been removed.

Claims

1. An independent single use unit dosage dispensing closure comprising:

a shell attached to a container, the shell having an outer skirt with a closure attaching mechanism on the outer skirt for attaching the shell to the container, the shell having an inner guide, wherein the inner guide is an annular tube having at least one annular seal;

an axial movable cap attached to the shell and moveable along the inner guide, the cap having a chamber therein holding a unit dosage of material to be dispensed into the container, wherein each annular seal is engaging and sealing against the cap throughout movement of the cap;

a sealing layer coupled to the cap, wherein the chamber is sealed with the sealing layer extending across a lower open end of the cap, wherein axial movement of the cap along the inner guide will cause the sealing layer to rupture or be removed to dispense contents of the chamber into the container; and

a retainer removeably secured to the cap and the shell preventing relative movement between the cap and the shell until the retainer has been removed.

2. The closure of claim 1 wherein the cap and the shell are made from different polymer materials.

3. The closure of claim 2 wherein the shell is formed of a polyolefin material.

4. The closure of claim 1 wherein the closure attaching mechanism on the outer skirt for attaching the shell to the container are threads.

5. The closure of claim 1 wherein the retainer is formed integral with the cap.

6. The closure of claim 1 wherein the retainer has a gripping member and is formed as a tear away band.

7. The closure of claim 1 wherein the cap has a top and a cylindrical side member forming the chamber.

8. An off bottle, independent single use unit dosage dispensing closure comprising:

a shell attached to a container, the shell having an inner guide with an open end in communication with the container, wherein the inner guide is an annular tube having at least one annular seal;

an axial movable cap attached to the shell and moveable along the inner guide, the cap engaging the inner guide and having a chamber therein holding a unit dosage of material to be dispensed into the container, wherein each annular seal is engaging and sealing against the cap throughout movement of the cap;

a sealing member coupled to the cap, wherein the chamber is sealed with the sealing member extending across a lower open end of the chamber, wherein axial movement of the cap along the inner guide member will dispense contents of the chamber into the container; and

a retainer removably attached to the shell and the cap, wherein the retainer prevents relative movement between the cap and the shell until the retainer is removed from the shell.

9. The closure of claim 8 wherein the shell has an outer skirt with a closure attaching mechanism on the outer skirt for attaching the shell to the container.

10. The closure of claim 8 wherein the retainer is integral with the cap.

11. The closure of claim 8 wherein the shell includes an outer skirt having a closure attaching mechanism on the outer skirt for attaching the shell to the container in the form of threads.

12. An independent single use unit dosage dispensing closure comprising:

a shell attached to a container, the shell having an outer skirt with an open lower end receiving a portion of the container therein and a closure attaching mechanism on the outer skirt for attaching the shell to the container, the shell having an inner guide positioned in a radial inward position relative to the outer skirt and extending axially beyond the open lower end of the outer skirt;

an axial movable cap attached to the shell and moveable along the inner guide, the cap having a chamber therein holding a unit dosage of material to be dispensed into the container;

a sealing layer coupled to the cap, wherein the chamber is sealed with sealing layer extending across a lower open end of the cap, wherein axial movement of the cap along the inner guide will cause the sealing layer to rupture or be removed to dispense contents of the chamber into the container; and

a retainer removeably secured to the cap and the shell preventing relative movement between the cap and the shell until the retainer has been removed.

13. The closure of claim 12 wherein the cap and the shell are made from different polymer materials.

14. The closure of claim 13 wherein the shell is formed of a polyolefin material.

15. The closure of claim 12 wherein the closure attaching mechanism on the outer skirt for attaching the shell to the container are threads.

16. The closure of claim 12 wherein the inner guide is an annular tube having at least one annular seal.

17. The closure of claim 12 wherein the retainer is formed integral with the cap.

18. The closure of claim 12 wherein the retainer has a gripping member and is formed as a tear away band.

19. The closure of claim 12 wherein the cap has a top and a cylindrical side member forming the chamber.