Drink-through dispensing capsule with snap in activation chamber

A container cap having a dispensing capsule for mixing ingredients at the time of use to extend shelf life. The device involves having a cap body having an internal passage; a chamber removably snapped into the internal passage of the cap body, the chamber including a flexible actuator and a sealing member sealing a lower portion of the chamber; a drinking spout slidingly engaged with a top portion of the flexible actuator of the chamber; a hollow plunger slidingly disposed within the chamber. The hollow plunger engages the flexible actuator of the chamber and the flexible actuator is configured to deform and engage the hollow plunger, causing the hollow plunger to puncture the frangible sealing member, dispensing an ingredient stored in the chamber. A resilient seal is inside the flexible actuator and a piercing member in the drinking spout is configured to puncture said resilient seal when the drinking spout is engaged downward. A drink-through channel is prescribed from the chamber through to the spout.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates generally to dosing caps and container caps having dispensing capsules for various ingredients for mixing at the time of use and more particularly to a chambered dispensing capsule having a snap in activation chamber including a drink-through actuator for use on a variety of containers and in conjunction with a variety of ingredients.

2. Description of Related Art

Most if not all liquids, creams, gels and even certain powders and other substances are formulated and created for the longest shelf life and not necessarily for optimal performance and/or usefulness. There are many ingredients and/or combinations of ingredients that have reduced shelf life due to requiring combinations of liquid substances. In most all cases when any ingredients are exposed to one another, including air, deterioration begins and the clock on the limited shelf life starts. Also in most products in any category, “Shelf Life” is the key factor with respect to expiration dates based on the product and category.

Several attempts have been made to design ingredient containing capsules and containers to improve the shelf lives of compositions such as gels, liquids, powders and the like; however, the majority of the available devices rely on a plurality of interconnected parts of the same ingredients which are not always effective in operation of the device

The present invention is designed to be inexpensive to mass produce, fill and seal to be able to deliver an affordable dispensing capsule that attaches to a container in virtually any application and category. This invention allows formulas and new products in any categories to be invented and made for desired end effects and not for what has to be done due to normal packaging and manufacturing and eliminating many unhealthy ingredients that are currently and normally used to produce most products. The present invention, therefore, is useful for packaging ingredients such as enzymes, calcium and magnesium with bio flavinoids, vitamin C, probiotics creatine and many more.

Many dosing caps are manually difficult to activate due to the manual force required to operate. Moreover, most of the dispensing capsules in the prior art comprise molded uni-body rigid designs using a single material of uniform ingredients that increase manufacturing costs and can be somewhat difficult to activate due to the need for a rigid material to engage a container without breaking or disassembling. The use of these rigid materials can render certain dispensing actuators difficult to depress or use because of the single-material design. Accordingly, the present invention solves this problem and is particularly useful because the dosing caps described herein includes a snap in activation chamber that is configured to engage a cap body wherein the cap body and the dosing chamber can comprise different materials in order to improve manufacturing, storing, and utility capabilities of the invention. Further, the present invention provides a container cap having a dispensing capsule that includes having a drink-through spout, improving the convenience and usability of the present invention. These and other improvements described below also provide a substantial improvement over the prior art with respect to shelf life and overall versatility.

It is, therefore, to the effective resolution of the aforementioned problems and shortcomings of the prior art that the present invention is directed. However, in view of the container and dispensing capsules and related devices in existence at the time of the present invention, it was not obvious to those persons of ordinary skill in the pertinent art as to how the identified needs could be fulfilled in an advantageous manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises various embodiments of a dosing cap and container cap having an ingredient dispensing capsule. In some embodiments, the dispensing capsule comprises a container cap body having an internal passage; a chamber removably snapped into the internal passage of the cap body, the ingredient chamber including a flexible dispensing actuator and a sealing member sealing a lower portion of the chamber; a drinking spout slidingly engaged with a top portion of the flexible actuator of the chamber; a hollow plunger slidingly disposed within the chamber, wherein a top portion of the hollow plunger engages the flexible actuator of the chamber; and wherein the flexible actuator is configured to deform and engage the hollow plunger, causing a distal end of the hollow plunger to puncture the sealing member, dispensing an ingredient stored in the chamber into the container at the time of use mixing the ingredients in the container with the ingredients in the dosing cap.

The invention further includes a resilient frangible seal inside a top portion of the flexible actuator wherein a piercing member in the drinking spout is configured to puncture said frangible resilient seal when the drinking spout is engaged downward. The drinking spout is configured to engage the flexible actuator when the device is to be activated. This allows the mixed ingredient in the container to flow through the container cap after the cap has been activated.

The container cap body includes internal threads configured to threadably engage a container spout or opening wherein the container can contain a second ingredient that is mixed with the ingredient stored in the chamber of the dispensing capsule. A pass-through drinking channel is delimited from the dispensing chamber through to the drinking spout to allow for drinking and/or access to the contents of the container after the container cap having the dispensing capsule has been activated. The drinking spout can be opened or closed manually as desired after activation for selective access to the contents of the container.

The chamber includes two circumferentially disposed races defining an outside annular groove, wherein an inside annular protrusion in the internal passage of the cap body engages the annular groove of the chamber in a form snap in that once engaged is not separable or removable. The dosing cap chamber is comprised of a softer material than the container cap body allowing for reduced manual force for pushing down on the dispensing actuator to dispensing the dosing cap ingredients into the container.

The ingredients dispensing flexible actuator comprises a bellow-type or step-type actuator. The hollow plunger includes at a nozzle portion at the top as well as one or more aeration openings. The bottom of the plunger includes a beveled cutting surface for piercing the sealing member.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a container cap having a dispensing capsule that comprises a snap-in chamber, allowing for differences in material hardness with respect to the chamber and the cap body, in order to reduce manual force required for activation of the capsule while dispensing the ingredients.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a container cap having a versatile dispensing capsule that can be used in conjunction with a plurality of containers and dispense an ingredient contained therein in an easy and efficient manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a dispensing capsule with a drink-through drinking spout, further enhancing the usability and convenience of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows the container cap having a dispensing capsule10, a removable dust cover15, a container cap gripping area12and a safety band12ato prevent removal of the capsule10from the container.

With reference toFIGS. 2-6, the container cap having a dispensing capsule generally comprises a container cap body10that screws on to a container50(FIG. 4), said cap body10having an internal passage11, a snap-in ingredient activating chamber20having received therein a slidingly disposed plunger21, and a sealing member30. The cap body10includes a manual gripping area12on the outside thereof and internal threads13within the internal passage11thereof. The internal threads13are adapted to threadingly engage a container, such as a bottle, intervenous (IV) bag, or the like as further shown and described as container40. Also provided within the internal passage11of cap body10are one or more annular protrusions14which are provided around the internal circumference of the cap body. A single annular protrusion14is provided and is configured to engage the snap-in chamber20as further described. Also provided over the top portion of the cap body10is a dust cover15which may be hingeably attached to cap body10by hinge or other similar structure allowing the cover15to be retained on the cap body10but also be selectively opened and closed by the user to access the snap-in chamber.

Shown best inFIG. 2, the snap-in chamber20comprises a hollow ingredient storage compartment22that is configured to slidingly receive plunger21. Plunger21is hollow and includes an upper nozzle23and a lower cutting surface24which, in some embodiments, is defined by an angling or beveling of the distal end of the plunger21. The nozzle23, comprises a tapered protrusion configured to engage the inside of the snap-in chamber20. The upper portion of the plunger21may, include one or more aeration openings25which prevent the trapping of air inside the chamber20during operation.

The top portion of the snap-in chamber20comprises a flexible actuator26which includes a flexible portion26′ step shaped comprised of a rubber, plastic, or combinations thereof and other like materials. The inside of the top portion of actuator26includes a frangible seal29. Plunger21is configured such that it is accommodated by the matching internal dimensions and configuration of the storage compartment22of snap-in chamber20, including the nozzle23. The top portion of the plunger21including nozzle23thereof extends into the snap-in chamber20such that the top of the plungers21is adjacent underside of the flexible actuator26.

A drink spout40is provided which slidingly engages the upper portion of the flexible actuator26. Spout40is at least partially hollow and includes a piercing member41which may comprise one or more protrusions extending downwardly toward actuator26of chamber20. The spout40is configured to reciprocate up and down along actuator26to provide selective open/closed drink-though capability as described further below.

As noted above, a lower cutting surface24of plunger21is comprised of an angle-cut configuration in order to provide an edge to break or pierce the sealing member30during activation of the device as shown inFIG. 6. Accordingly, the sealing member30is attached around a bottom portion of the chamber20, at the bottom periphery thereof. With resilient seal29at the top of the actuator26portion of chamber20and the frangible sealing member30at the bottom of chamber20, the storage compartment22of chamber20is sealed in order to contain one or more ingredients therein until the device is actuated. Further, because plunger21is initially disposed completely within storage compartment22of the chamber21, the resilient seal29and sealing member30also seals plunger21therein.

As shown inFIG. 2andFIGS. 4-6, disposed towards the upper portion of the snap-in chamber20are two circumferentially disposed protrusions races27and27′ which define a hollow annular groove28circumferentially disposed around the chamber20. Accordingly, snap-in chamber20is configured to be removably received inside cap body10whereby the annular protrusion14of the cap body engages and snaps into annular groove28. This two piece construction provides for easier manufacturing of the present invention and also permits the snap-in chamber20, including the flexible actuator26to be comprised of a relatively less rigid resilient softer material as compared to the cap body10. This allows the cap body10to be more durable and rigid when engaging a container such as bottle, while also improving the ease of which the relatively softer button actuator (less manual force) is activated. Thus, no compromise between structural rigidity and ease-of-use has to be made with a snap-in actuator of a different material.

With reference toFIG. 4, the dispensing capsule of the present invention is configured to store a first ingredient22awithin the storage compartment22of snap-in chamber20, which chamber is initially sealed at the bottom by frangible sealing member30and with hollow plunger21also disposed within snap-in chamber20. The snap-in chamber is snapped into the cap body10during manufacturing which cap body10may be screwed onto or otherwise provided onto a container50whereby, the cap body10threadably engages the container50by way of internal threads13. In other embodiments, the cap body10may engage container50by a snap fitment or other structure. With the cap body10attached to a container50, at least a portion of the chamber20will be disposed down into the container, or a neck portion thereof.

With reference toFIGS. 4-6, the capsule is configured to selectively dispense the first ingredient22afrom the chamber20by manually depressing the drink spout40in a downward direction. This downward action causes the piercing member41to at least partially break frangible seal29. The user continues to apply downward pressure on spout40which will engage the flexible actuator26causing the flexible actuator26to also begin moving in a downward fashion. As the actuator26deforms and travels downward (compareFIGS. 4,5, and6), the inside of actuator26engages and applies downward pressure onto the top portion of hollow plunger21, at the nozzle23. The continued downward force causes plunger21to displace downwardly at least until the lower cutting surface24of plunger21breaks or punctures sealing member30. Once the sealing member30is broken, the first ingredient22awill be dispensed from chamber20by gravity.

The device is attached to a container50and therefore the first ingredient22awill dispense downward into the container to, for example, be mixed with another ingredient contained in the container. The hollow plunger21is resiliently retained within the storage chamber20to prevent the hollow plunger21from dislodging from the dispensing capsule during operation. It is further appreciated that in the case of a bellow (accordion like) step-type shaped actuator26, the actuator may resiliently return to its starting position after activation.

With reference toFIG. 6, shown is the drink-through capability of the present invention. With the dispensing capsule activated in accordance with the above description, frangible seal29and frangible sealing member30are both at least partially broken or punctured. Accordingly, a drink-through or pass-through channel42is created from the storage space22of chamber20, through to the drinking spout40. This allows the user to access the contents of container50after the dosing cap has dispensed a first ingredient22ainto the container50. This provides added functionality and convenience for the user. Furthermore, the drinking spout40can be reciprocated up and down

such that the drink-through channel42can be opened and closed on demand, much like a sports bottle or the like. The opening and closing is controlled by the interface between piercing member41and resilient seal29. Accordingly frangible resilient seal29does not completely breakaway from the chamber20but rather remains partially intact to form at least a partial seal when the drinking spout40is in the “up” or “closed” position.

It is appreciated that the closing cap of the present invention can comprise any combination of materials including plastics, rubbers, aluminum, resins, and the like. With this, as noted above, in some embodiments it is desirable for the cap body10to be comprised of a comparably harder material than that of the snap-in chamber20and its constituent components. This provides a rigid engagement of the cap body with a container while also improving the ease of which the actuator26can be activated by a user. To that end, because the cap body10is hard in certain embodiments, the softer snap-in chamber20and its actuator26will take less force manually to activate because the actuator has a more rigid supporting, non-moving piece to engage against, i.e. the cap body10. The device may also be sized and shaped to accommodate fitment on any desired container50such as bottles, IV bags, pouches, and the like. Furthermore, the threaded engagement with the container may be substitute for various snap-on or other releasable fitments known in the art.

It is further appreciated that the frangible seal29and frangible sealing member30may comprise a variety of plastic and foil-like materials. In some embodiments, seal29and sealing member30comprise a thin plastic or resin material having one or more lines of weakening to allow for dispensing of the first ingredient. In other embodiments, the seal29and sealing member30may comprise a foil or paper material equally suitable to be broken by the plunger and piercing action described above. In some embodiments, the seal29and sealing member30are discrete components that are heat sealed, glued, or otherwise attached to the snap-in chamber20. In other embodiments, the seal29and sealing member30are coextensively integrated into the chamber20but otherwise include lines of weakening or comprise a thin enough or breakable enough material such that the seal breaks under the force of piercing member41and/or lower cutting surface24at the bottom of the plunger.

It is appreciated that the storage compartment22of the chamber20can contain any liquid, powder and or gasses and or micro/nano encapsulation in any combination desired. The dispensing capsule can be mounted or applied at any location of a container50including a bottle, pouch, can, IV bag, drum or tote. In some embodiments, the capsule is suited to be received on the threaded opening of such containers in order to provide a leak-free fitment. The chamber20of the dispensing capsule stores any desired ingredient and the capsule and the cap body may be dimensioned as desired to fit a variety of applications. The size and shape of the capsule of the present invention should not be construed as limited to the sizes and shapes shown in the drawings herein. Rather, the volume of the chamber and the diameter of the various components can vary as desired and/or can vary depending on the size and shape of the intended container or other parameters. Further, the chamber need not be filled completely, but rather can accept any volume of an ingredient desired depending on mixing parameters and the desired final product.

By way of example only, the device can be used for drinks, hair care, pet products, drugs, over the counter medications, cleaning products, beverages, soups, dressings, nitrogen, fuels and engine cleansing, oils, waxes, pH enhancers, oral care, oxygen, adhesives and other categories of use depending on the ingredients and formulas. It is appreciated that the dispensing capsule allows for on-demand dispensing at the time of use mixing of a product or component of a product for mixing with another ingredient or ingredients in the container to which it is attached. It also provides a device to access or drink directly from the container50without needing to remove the container cap first. Also a coating of any type of moisture absorbent material can be applied to the inside of the chamber to act as a desiccant and allow for moisture absorption of any excess moisture that may be contained inside the invention when filled and sealed.

Due to the encapsulated capsule excluding the sealing area, the invention allows the ingredients to remain moisture free and have an unusually long shelf life and allowing with the sealed chamber to combine liquids and powders and oils and other ingredients to be sealed and stored separately if desired to prevent any reaction with one another. Also the device can include multiple applicators such as drinking spouts, pouring spouts and removable dosing cap for use of a product with one or more multiple chambers and plungers that have flow through to allow dispersing of all ingredients into a desired container. The exact configuration of such spouts and applications is not limited only to those designs shown in figures herein.