Abstract:
A dispenser for a container has an annular ring with a central portion which has at least one aperture. The annular ring is attached to a valve dimensioned to close an opening of the dispenser. The valve is operatively associated with the opening and biased in the closed position. Depressing the annular ring acts as an actuator to cause the valve to move inwardly into the container and away from the opening, thereby allowing the contents to be dispensed from the container through the at least one aperture of the annular ring.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a dispenser and, in particular, a closure for dispensing metered dosages of a powder. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Powdered beverages come packaged in various containers, depending on consumer preference and use. Conventional containers for powdered beverage mixes include single serving packets, as well as bulk containers. With regard to single serving packets, a user opens a packet and pours its contents into a liquid container, such as a bottle, glass or pitcher, and then adds water to form a liquid beverage. With regard to bulk containers, a user scoops out a desired quantity of the powder and adds it to the liquid container to mix with water therein to form the liquid beverage. 
     One disadvantage with conventional single serving powder packets is that one is not able to easily customize the amount of powder to be added to the liquid container in order to adjust to a particular container size or a personal taste preference. Further, the single serving packet contains a predetermined amount of powder for a specific serving size, such as the required amount of powder for a 0.5 liter beverage. However, should one wish to make a beverage larger or smaller than 0.5 liters, one either has to estimate and use less than the single serving size packet when making a smaller sized beverage and use more than one packet when making a larger sized beverage. With regard to bulk powder containers, although they provide the flexibility of measuring a varying amount of powder to add to various sized liquid containers, they lack the portability and convenience that single serving packets provide. 
     Mechanical dispensers have to be used to dispense and meter various powders, such as laundry powder, fertilizer and medicinal powder. One recent powder dispenser is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0164059, which discloses a powder delivery device for dispensing a clotting agent. The dispenser comprises a housing; a plunger contained in the housing; a gating component comprising a first gate having a closed end, an open end and a second gate; and a metering area between the first gate and the second gate. The gating component permits a predetermined quantity of powdered material to be metered and dispensed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,212 discloses a dispenser for metering and dispensing laundry detergent. The device includes a container with a valve assembly mounted therein. The valve assembly has a valve body including a closure member that is enlarged and conical and that closes the valve aperture of the container. The operating rod is encircled by a sealed spring that holds the valve body in position to close the valve aperture. When the spring is forced into a compressed position, e.g., by bringing the activating knob into contact with a measuring cup, the valve aperture opens and permits laundry agent within the container to flow into the measuring cup when dispensing is desired. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,232,498 discloses a dispenser for metering pre-measured quantities of material, such as tea, sugar and coffee, from a container. Dispensing of the material is controlled by a valve member which is normally biased by a spring. Force against the top of a container causes the valve member to assume a second position, permitting the material to flow into a chamber, but not out of it. Upon return of the valve to the original position, a chamber outlet is opened and the material is free to flow out of the dispenser. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,722,345 discloses a dispenser comprising a container body holding a granular product, a measuring chamber below the container body, and a valve between a container body and the measuring chamber, biased in an open position to allow product to flow into the measuring chamber. The valve selectively opens and closes two passages into and out of the measuring chamber. In its initial position, the valve is biased to open the passage between the container body and the measuring chamber and to close the passage between the measuring chamber and the exterior. Inversion of the dispenser causes a granular product to flow from the container body into the measuring chamber. While inverted, depressing a rod (actuator) attached to the valve closes the opening between the measuring chamber and the container body, preventing additional granular product from flowing into the measuring chamber from the container body from above, and simultaneously opens the passage from the measuring chamber to the exterior, permitting the product in the measuring chamber to be dispensed from the dispenser. 
     There is a need in the powdered beverage dispensing art for new and improved dispensers for dispensing and metering powdered beverages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and improved dispenser for dispensing metered dosages of a powder, such as a powdered beverage. The dispenser is designed to allow a user to controllingly dispense a desired quantity of powder into a liquid container, such as a glass, bottle or pitcher. Advantageously, the dispenser is of a small enough diameter, i.e. “palm sized,” to allow one to easily store the dispenser in one&#39;s pocket, bag or the like. The dispenser comprises a valve and an actuator attached to the valve which biases the valve in a closed position. The actuator has a center opening. Powder is dispensed from the dispenser by inverting the dispenser and resting the actuator on a rim of a liquid container, such as a glass, bottle or pitcher, with the valve in its biased, closed position over the actuator opening, thus preventing powder from exiting the dispenser. With the actuator opening over the mouth of the liquid container, pressing downward on the actuator moves the valve away from the opening, thereby opening the valve and allowing powder to flow continuously from the dispenser through the actuator opening and into the liquid container disposed below. Metering of the amount of powder dispensed is provided by counting or timing how long the powder is being dispensed (the “flow time”) and correlating a known flow rate with the flow time to calculate how much powder has been dispensed. Thus, one can meter a precise amount of powder by dispensing the powder for a predetermined amount of time. Further, one can precisely vary the amount of powder dispensed by dispensing the powder for various preset flow times which correspond with various predetermined powder amounts. 
     The present invention, in one form thereof, relates to a dispensing device for a container. The dispensing device comprises an opening of the container and an annular ring having a central portion with at least one aperture. The annular ring is attached to a valve dimensioned to close the opening. The valve has a top surface and a side surface; and is operatively associated with the opening and biased in a closed position. Depressing the annular ring causes the valve to move inward, into the container and away from the opening, thereby allowing the contents to be dispensed from the container in a continuous flow, over the top surface of the valve, and through the at least one aperture of the annular ring when the dispenser is inverted. 
     In one advantageous form, the opening of the container is formed by a mouth of the container and the annular ring surrounds the opening, wherein when the annular ring is depressed inwardly, the annular ring slides down around the mouth of the container, thereby exposing the mouth of the container. The mouth of the container may comprise a pair of channels and the annular ring may comprise a transverse member spanning the central portion of the annular ring, wherein the transverse member is disposed in the pair of channels of the mouth of the container. 
     In another advantageous form, the annular ring has an exterior wall with a surface abutting an interior facing surface of the container, forming a bearing surface therebetween. 
     The present invention, in another form thereof, relates to a dispensing container which comprises a container body having an opening at its top and an annular ring surrounding the opening. A plug is disposed in and closes the opening. The plug has a top surface and a side surface. The plug is attached to the annular ring and is biased in a closed position. Depressing the annular ring moves the valve inwardly towards a center of the container, thereby moving the plug away from the opening, allowing the contents of the container to be dispensed in a continuous flow, over the top surface of the plug, through the opening and out through a center portion of the annular ring. 
     Advantageously, the container is dimensioned to be easily grasped and held in one&#39;s hand. For example, the container may have dimensions of one to ten inches in height and a width and depth of one to four inches. 
     The present invention, in another form thereof, relates to a method for dispensing contents from a container. The method comprises inverting a dispenser having a depressible actuator attached to a valve which closes an opening, pressing the actuator on a surface to open the valve, thereby starting the flow of the contents from the container through the opening, and metering the amount of contents from the dispenser, based on knowing the flow rate of the contents from the container. 
     In one specific form, metering the amount dispensed comprises timing how long the contents are dispensed from the container and correlating the time to how much of the contents are dispensed, based on a known flow rate. 
     In one advantageous form, the method comprises pressing the actuator, in the form of an annular ring with center bore, on the mouth of a liquid container therebelow, with the center bore over the liquid container, so that the contents will flow from the dispenser through the center bore of the annular ring and into the liquid container below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1   a  is a side elevational view of a container with dispensing closure with a cap over the dispensing closure, in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 1   b  is the container of  FIG. 1   a  with the cap, shown in its open position; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a cross-sectional view of the container of  FIG. 1   b  inverted 180° and taken along line  2   a,b - 2   a,b  of  FIG. 1   b , shown in a closed configuration, in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   b  is a cross-sectional view of the container of  FIG. 1   b , inverted 180° and shown with a valve in an open position, in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the dispensing closure of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b;    
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a base of a closure of the container of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , viewed from below; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the base of the closure of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , viewed from above; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of an annular ring and valve of the dispensing closure, shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , viewed from below; 
         FIG. 7  is the annular ring and valve of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , viewed from above; 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of the container of  FIG. 1   b;    
         FIG. 9   a  is a partial cross-section of the container of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , shown in the closed position over a drinking bottle, in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 9   b  is a partial cross-section of the container and bottle of  FIG. 9   a , shown in the opened position, in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a partial cross-section of the container of  FIG. 1   b , shown in an open position over a liquid container, in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and, in particular,  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b , container  10  comprises container body  11 , closure  20  and cap  40 . Cap  40  is pivotally attached to the closure  20  via hinge  42 . A tab  44  is disposed on the cap  40  which allows one to easily grasp the cap  40  to move the cap  40  away from the top of the closure  20 , as shown in  FIG. 1   b . The cap  40  preferably provides a primary moisture seal for the contents of container  10 . 
     Advantageously, container  10  has a height of one to ten inches and a diameter of one to four inches. In alternative forms, if the container is not in the form of a cylindrical body, the width and depth of the container ranges from one to four inches. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-5 , closure  20  comprises a base  22 , which includes threads  23  which engage with complementary threads (not shown) at the top of container body  11 . The base  22  has an angled or conically-shaped wall  24  which leads to a spout  26  having a central bore terminating at an opening  28 . A pair of channels  29  extend longitudinally from the opening  28  to approximately where the spout  26  meets the conical portion  24 . Base  22  has an interior facing surface  54 , facing spout  26 . 
     Although base  22  of closure  20  is depicted as an independent component from the container body  11 , alternatively, the base  22  may be integrally formed with, and a part of, the container body  11 , and thus not a separate component threadingly engaged with the container body  11 . Further, the dispensing closure  20  can be disposed on container bodies having shapes other than cylindrical forms. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , along with  FIG. 3 , the closure  20  comprises an annular ring  30 . The annular ring  30  comprises a transverse member  31  which divides the annular ring aperture into apertures  32   a  and  32   b . Outwardly facing surface  37  of bar  31  is flush with exterior facing surface  38  which forms the top of annular ring  30 . Member  33  extends from the transverse member  31  to a valve in the form of plug  34 . Plug  34  has an angled or conical surface  35 . The widest portion of plug  34  has a width  36  which is slightly larger than the diameter of spout  26  so that the plug  34  can be press fit through spout  26 . 
     A spring  50  is disposed between the annular ring  30  and the base  22  of the closure  20 . Specifically, the spring  50  is in contact with uppermost inner facing surface  39  of the wall of the annular ring  30 . In its assembled form, the annular ring  30  fits over and is disposed around the spout  26  with the plug  34  disposed in the bore formed by spout  26  and spout  26  extending up from a top surface of annular ring  30 . The spring  50  biases the annular ring  30  so as to force the plug  34  to its closed position, completely closing the opening  28 . The transverse member  31  is disposed in the pair of channels  29  and slides within the channels  29  when the annular ring  30  is depressed inward towards the base  22  against the biasing force of spring  50 . 
     Advantageously, exterior wall surface  52  of annular ring  30  abuts interior facing wall surface  54  of base  22 , forming a bearing surface therebetween. The bearing surface between the annular ring  30  and the base  22  resists rotation of the annular ring  30  about any horizontal axis relative to the base  22 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , which depict closure  20  in its closed position, spring  50  biases the annular ring  30  to force the plug  34  to completely cover the entrance to the spout  26 . As a result, the contents  60 , in the form of a powder, are prevented from entering the spout  26 , and thus prevented from exiting the opening  28 . 
     The annular ring  30  acts as an actuator, whereby pressing the annular ring  30  inward towards the container body  11  forces the plug  34  inward and away from the entrance to spout  26 , as shown by the arrows in  FIG. 2   b . As a result, powder  60  can enter spout  26  and exit out of opening  28  and on through annular apertures  32   a ,  32   b.    
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b , the container  10  can be used to dispense a powder  60 , which is disposed in the container body  11 , to a liquid container, such as a drinking bottle  70 . First, a user inverts the container  10  so that the annular ring  30  is facing downward over the mouth of the bottle  70  disposed therebelow. Subsequently, the user rests the annular ring  30  over the mouth  72  with the annular apertures  32   a ,  32   b  completely over the mouth  72  with the spout  26  extending into the bottle  70 . Having the spout  26  extend from a top surface of the annular ring  30  helps ensure that the opening of the container  10  will be completely over the mouth of the bottle  70  when dispensing the powder  60 . Subsequently, the user presses downward on the container  10 , thereby pressing the annular ring  30  inward towards the center of container  10 , and thereby actuating the plug  34  to move inwardly towards the container body  11 , as shown in  FIG. 9   b . Consequently, the plug  34  is moved inwardly away from the entrance of spout  26 . As a result, powder  60  is able to flow continuously from container body  11 , over the top and around the annular angled surface  35  of plug  34 , along the angled surface of wall  24 , into spout  26 , out opening  28 , on through the annular apertures  32   a ,  32   b  and into the bottle  70  disposed therebelow. Withdrawing the container  10  from bottle  70  results in the annular ring  30  with plug  34  being forced back to its original position due to the biasing force of spring  50 , thereby closing the opening  28  by returning to its original closed position at the entrance of spout  26 , as shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  9   a . As a result, powder  60  can no longer flow from container body  11  and out opening  28 . Therefore, one can now remove the container  10  from the top of the bottle  70  without additional powder  60  flowing from the container  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , container  10  can be used to dispense a powder into other liquid containers, such as glass  80 . In order to dispense powder  60  into glass  80 , first, one inverts container  10  and rests the annular ring  30  on the mouth  82 . Subsequently, the user presses downward on the container  10 , thereby forcing the annular ring  30  inward towards the center of container  10 , thereby moving plug  34  inward and allowing the flow of powder  60  from the container body  11 , through apertures  32   a ,  32   b  and into glass  80 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . Since the apertures  32   a ,  32   b  are completely over the mouth  82 , all of the powder  60  dispensed will go directly into the glass  80  disposed therebelow. As noted, having spout  26  extend from the annular ring  30  helps ensure that apertures  32   a ,  32   b  are completely over the mouth  82 . 
     It will now be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that container  10  can be used to dispense a powder into an appropriate liquid container, including different sizes of glasses, bottles and pitchers. 
     The present closure  20  can be used to meter the amount of powder which is dispensed. By knowing the flow rate (the amount of time it takes for a predetermined amount of powder to be dispensed through the opening), one can meter the amount of powder that is dispensed by timing how long the powder is dispensed. Using the flow rate, one can dispense the powder for a predetermined amount of time which is correlated to a desired quantity. For example, a flow time of two seconds may be correlated to the amount of powder needed for a 0.5 liter beverage and a flow time of four seconds may be correlated to the amount of powder needed for a 1 liter beverage. 
     It will now be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present dispenser has features and advantages over prior dispensers for powdered beverages. The present invention allows for controlled dispensing of a powder into a bottle without spilling the powder, since the powder can only be dispensed when the container is over the mouth of a bottle and the container is depressed to start the flow of the powder. The flow stops when the container is removed from the top of the bottle. In addition, the present dispenser allows for metering a controlled amount of powder which is dispensed by knowing the flow rate and timing how long the powder is dispensed into a bottle or other vessel disposed below. As a result, the present dispenser dispenses a desired amount of powdered beverage depending on the vessel, e.g., bottle, glass or pitcher to which the powder is being dispensed. Consequently, the present container can be used to dispense the exact amount of powder that is needed into whatever size vessel one wishes. 
     It may at times be convenient to describe the container and its dispensing device in its upside down, inverted position wherein, for example, the normal “top” of the container may be referred to as the “bottom” of the container. 
     Although the invention has been described above in relation to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications can be effected in these preferred embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.