Abstract:
The invention provides a dispense closure for a fluid receptacle. The closure includes a cap configured to engage the fluid receptacle threadably. The cap includes at least one aperture. The closure also includes a blister pack having at least one blister thereon. The blister contains an additive and is insertable through the aperture in the cap upon coupling the blister pack and cap. The closure further includes a retainer ring coupled to the cap. The retainer ring supports the blister pack in the cap and seals the cap and fluid receptacle together.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a continuation-in-part patent application of non-provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/003,158 filed on Oct. 31, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,612, which claims benefit of provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/244,934 filed on Nov. 1, 2000, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to receptacle closures, and more particularly to such closures employed with beverage receptacles. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Many kinds of beverage flavoring agents, mixes, and additives are commercially available in powdered, granulated, or solid forms. Such additives are typically packaged and sold separately from a solvent fluid such as water. There is, however, a penalty of inconvenience to the consumer since they must provide a suitable container when mixing the additive and solvent fluid, and measure and mix the additive with the solvent fluid before the mixed beverage is ready for consumption. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,931 (Weir et al.) discloses a molded plastic closure  2  having integral stacking support ribs  32  and rupturable mix compartments  14  containing a particulate drink mix  24 . The rupturable mix compartments  14  are integrally formed with the closure  2 . As a result, after all of the compartments  14  are depressed to dispense all of the drink mix  24 , the entire closure  2  must be discarded and a new closure  2  including filled compartments  14  must be obtained. This is problematic in the sense that containers  4  may be provided in any number of different sizes having varying sizes of openings at their mouths. As a result, the closure  2  must be available in a wide variety of different sizes to accommodate the many different sizes of containers  4 . As a result, overall manufacturing costs are likely to be increased. 
   Weir et al. also discloses that the closure  2  connects directly to the container  4  without any kind of seal therebetween. As a result, the flavored beverage  28  within the container  4  is likely to leak past the closure  4  upon pouring the beverage  28  from the container  4 . 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides interactive packaging concepts that allow an end user to create their own beverage mix. Reaction of additives contained within a receptacle closure and a fluid component contained in a receptacle may be controlled and varied by a user. The additive may include use of colorants, flavors, and/or ingredients that move, change shape and color, and so forth, giving a visual value to the process of adding an additive to a fluid component just prior to consuming the mixed beverage. Also, the ability to add fresh, or time and light sensitive ingredients can be accomplished with the same dynamic. Such additive ingredients may include, e.g., powdered milk, baby formula, pharmaceuticals, or vitamins, minerals and nutrients, even fresh fruit flavor. The receptacle dispense closure may be used in combination with, but is not limited to: sports drinks, fruit juice, flavored milk, pudding, soups and candy/novelty. The closure may also be packaged and sold separately for additional use with reusable or disposable receptacles. 
   The present invention provides a dispense closure for a fluid receptacle. The closure includes a cap configured to threadably engage the fluid receptacle. The cap includes at least one aperture therethrough. The closure also includes a blister pack having at least one blister thereon. The blister contains an additive therein and is insertable through the aperture in the cap upon coupling the blister pack and cap. The closure further includes a retainer ring coupled to the cap. The retainer ring supports the blister pack in the cap and seals the cap and fluid receptacle together. 
   The present invention also provides a dispense closure for a fluid receptacle, the closure includes a cap configured to threadably engage the fluid receptacle. The cap includes at least one aperture therethrough. The closure also includes a blister pack having a blister thereon. The blister contains an additive therein and is insertable through the aperture in the cap upon coupling the blister pack and the cap. Further, the closure includes a bore seal extending from the cap and around the cap. The bore seal is configured to seal together the cap and the fluid receptacle. 
   Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a beverage dispensing assembly; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the beverage dispensing assembly of  FIG. 1  with a protective cap applied; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded, partial perspective view of the beverage dispensing assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the beverage dispensing assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged, top-side perspective view of a closure of the beverage dispensing assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged, bottom-side perspective view of the closure of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded, top-side partial perspective view of the beverage dispensing assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded, bottom-side partial perspective view of the beverage dispensing assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view along the line  9 — 9  of the beverage dispensing assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded, bottom-side partial perspective view of the beverage dispensing assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of the beverage dispensing assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of the beverage dispensing assembly of  FIG. 1  with the protective cap; 
       FIG. 13  is a top view of the beverage dispensing assembly and cover of  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  is cross-sectional view of the beverage dispensing assembly and cover of  FIG. 12  along line  14 — 14 ; 
       FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of another construction of a closure; 
       FIG. 16  is an assembled, partial cross-sectional view of the closure of  FIG. 15  secured to a receptacle; 
       FIG. 17  is an assembled, partial cross-sectional view of yet another construction of a closure secured to a receptacle. 
       FIG. 18  is an exploded perspective view of another construction of a closure; and 
       FIG. 19  is an assembled, partial cross-sectional view the closure of  FIG. 18  secured to a receptacle. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, a beverage dispensing assembly is generally indicated at  10 . The beverage dispensing assembly  10  includes a receptacle  12  for containing a fluid component and a closure  14 . As will be seen herein, the closure  14  is capable of selectively dispensing different additives to a fluid component (e.g., water) in the receptacle  12  to provide different batches of mixed beverage. Such additives may be configured for sweetening and/or coloring the fluid component in the receptacle  12 . The closure  14  includes multiple plungers  16  disposed about a central valve member  18 . A collar  20  is movable along the valve member  18  to open and close a valve passageway  22  (see  FIG. 9 ). The closure  14  includes a threaded cap  26  for engagement with a threaded finish  28  of receptacle  12 . A protective cap  15  couples to the cap  26  and covers the valve member  18  and plungers  16  so that the plungers  16  are not inadvertently depressed. 
   As shown in  FIG. 9 , the plungers  16  include an upper end  30  resembling a push button for actuation by a user. The plungers  16  also define a hollow interior cavity  32  containing an additive, and a lower end  34  for piercing a rupturable seal  36  affixed to the receptacle  12 . When the plungers  16  are depressed by a user, the lower end  34  pierces and ruptures the seal  36 , allowing the additive contained within the cavity  32  to spill into the receptacle  12 . 
   As shown in the figures, four plungers  16  are provided in the closure  14 . In one construction of the closure  14 , each plunger  16  contains a different additive which, when mixed with the fluid component of the receptacle  12 , produces a different flavored and/or colored beverage. Alternatively, each plunger  16  may contain a similar flavor additive rather than different flavor additives. Also, instead of a flavor additive, the additive contained within each plunger  16  and dispensed into the receptacle  12  may be a pharmaceutical, color additive, vitamin or mineral additive, candy, etc. After a first plunger  16  is depressed to pierce a first portion of the seal  36  to mix a first additive with the fluid component, and the resulting mixed beverage in the receptacle  12  is emptied, the receptacle  12  may be refilled with additional fluid component. A second plunger  18  may then be depressed to pierce a second portion of the seal  36  to mix a second additive with the fluid component of the receptacle  12  to produce a different mixed beverage. The receptacle  12  may then be subsequently refilled with additional fluid component after the mixed beverage is emptied, and different plungers are depressed until all the additives in the closure  14  have been dispensed. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 15–16 , another construction of a beverage dispensing assembly  100  is shown. The assembly  100  includes a closure  104  coupled to a receptacle  108  containing a fluid component (e.g., water). The closure  104 , similar to the closure  14  of  FIGS. 1–14 , is capable of selectively dispensing different additives  110  to the fluid component in the receptacle  108  to provide different batches of mixed beverages. The closure  104  includes a cap  112  having threads  116  formed therein for threaded engagement with a threaded finish  120  of the receptacle  108 . Different caps  112  may be manufactured to match the available standard sizes of threaded finishes  120  for the receptacles  108 . The cap  112  includes a central valve member  124  defining a valve passageway  128  therein for permitting fluid flow out of the receptacle  108 . A collar  132  is movable along the valve member  124  to open and close the valve passageway  128 . 
   With continued reference to  FIGS. 15–16 , a blister pack  140  including the multiple additives  110  is insertable into the cap  112 . The blister pack  140  is comprised of a plastic annular disk  144  having multiple deformable raised portions, or blisters  148  therearound, and a rupturable seal  152  secured to the bottom of the disk  144  to cover cavities  154  formed by the blisters  148 . The seal  152  is configured as a metal foil coated with a plastic layer (not shown). In the illustrated construction, the plastic layer of the seal  152  is bonded to the plastic disk  144  by a heat sealing process to ensure that the additives  110  in the blisters  148  are isolated. Such a heat sealing process may include, among others, conduction heating. The additives  110 , shown in the illustrated construction as solid tablets, are contained within the cavities  154  by the seal  152 . However, the additives  110  may also take other forms, such as, for example, a liquid or a granular powder. To release an additive  110  into the receptacle  108 , a user would depress the associated blister  148 , thereby causing the additive  110  to press against and rupture a portion of the seal  152  associated with that particular blister  148  after the additive  110  applies sufficient pressure to the seal  152 . 
   The cap  112  includes multiple apertures  156  therethrough surrounding the central valve member  124 . The apertures  156  are spaced in accordance with the number of blisters  148  on the blister pack  140 , and sized to allow the blisters  148  to project through the apertures  156  and above the top surface of the cap  112 . A seal membrane  160  is insertable between the blister pack  140  and the cap  112  to seal the blister pack  140  against the cap  112 . The seal membrane  160  may be configured to be more or less rigid than the blisters  148 . The closure  104  also includes a retainer ring  164  coupled to the cap  112  to secure the blister pack  140  in the cap  112 . In the illustrated construction, the retainer ring  164  is configured to snap-fit into the cap  112 . However, in other constructions of the closure (not shown), the retainer ring  164  may be heat sealed to the cap  112  rather than snap-fit. 
   The retainer ring  164  also includes a bore seal  168  extending therefrom, the bore seal  168  being positioned adjacent the threads  116  in the cap  112  (see  FIG. 16 ) upon assembling the closure  104  and the receptacle  108 . Upon threading the cap  112  onto the threaded finish  120  of the receptacle  108 , the threaded finish  120  is compressed between the bore seal  168  and the cap  112  to seal the fluid component or the mixed beverage contained in the receptacle  108 . 
   The cap  112 , seal membrane  160 , annular disk  144 , and the retainer ring  164  are formed from a plastic material. Preferably, polypropylene is used for the plastic material, however, other plastic materials with like properties may be substituted. 
   With reference to  FIG. 17 , another construction of a beverage dispensing assembly  200  is shown. The assembly  200  includes a closure  204  coupled to a receptacle  208  containing a fluid component (e.g., water). The closure  204 , similar to the closure  14  of  FIGS. 1–14  and the closure  104  of  FIGS. 15–16 , is capable of selectively dispensing different additives  210  to the fluid component in the receptacle  208  to provide different batches of mixed beverages. The closure  204  includes a cap  212  having threads  216  formed therein for threaded engagement with a threaded finish  220  of the receptacle  208 . Different caps  212  may be manufactured to match the available standard sizes of threaded finishes  220  for receptacles  208 . The cap  212  includes a central valve member  224  defining a valve passageway  228  therein for permitting fluid flow out of the receptacle  208 . A collar  232  is movable along the valve member  224  to open and close the valve passageway  228 . A protective cap  234  may couple to the cap  212  and cover the valve member  224  and collar  232 . 
   With continued reference to  FIG. 17 , a blister pack  236  including the multiple additives  210  is insertable into the cap  212 . The blister pack  236  is comprised of an annular disk  240  having multiple raised portions, or blisters  244  therearound, and a rupturable seal  248  secured to the bottom of the disk  240  to cover cavities  250  formed by the blisters  244 . The seal  248  is configured as a metal foil coated with a plastic layer (not shown). In the illustrated construction, the plastic layer of the seal  248  is bonded to the disk  240  by a heat sealing process to ensure that the additives  210  in the blisters  244  are isolated. Such a heat sealing process may include, among others, conduction heating. The additives  210 , shown in the illustrated construction as solid tablets, are contained within the cavities  250  by the seal  248 . However, the additives  210  may also take other forms, such as, for example, a liquid or a granular powder. To release an additive  210  into the receptacle  208 , a user would depress the associated blister  244 , thereby causing the additive  210  to press against and rupture a portion of the seal  248  associated with that particular blister  244  after the additive  210  applies sufficient pressure to the seal  248 . 
   The cap  212  includes multiple apertures  252  therethrough surrounding the central valve member  224 . The apertures  252  are spaced in accordance with the number of blisters  244  on the blister pack  236 , and sized to allow the blisters  244  to project through the apertures  252  and above the top surface of the cap  212 . The cap  212  also includes a bore seal  256  extending therefrom, the bore seal  256  being positioned adjacent the threads  216  in the cap  212  (see  FIG. 17 ). Upon threading the cap  212  onto the threaded finish  220  of the receptacle  208 , the threaded finish  220  is compressed between the bore seal  256  and the cap  212  to seal the fluid component or the mixed beverage contained in the receptacle  208 . 
   A heat sealing process is utilized to secure the blister pack  236  to the cap  212 . Such a heat sealing process may include, among others, induction sealing or sonic welding. In the case of using induction sealing, an electromagnetic field is applied to the assembled closure  204 . The electromagnetic field causes the metal foil of the seal  248  to heat up. Further, the heat causes the plastic annular disk  240  and the plastic cap  212  to melt together and form a bond  264 . The annular disk  240  and cap  212  are preferably formed from polypropylene, however, other plastic materials with like properties may be substituted. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 18–19 , yet another construction of a beverage dispensing assembly  300  is shown. The assembly  300  includes a closure  304  coupled to a receptacle  308  containing the fluid component (e.g., water). The closure  304 , similar to the closures  14 ,  104 ,  204  of  FIGS. 1–17 , is capable of selectively dispensing different additives  310  to the fluid component in the receptacle  308  to provide different batches of mixed beverages. The closure  304  includes a cap  312  having threads  316  formed therein for threaded engagement with a threaded finish  320  of the receptacle  308 . Different caps  312  may be manufactured to match the available standard sizes of threaded finishes  320  for the receptacles  308 . 
   With continued reference to  FIGS. 18–19 , a blister pack  340  including multiple additives  310  is insertable into the cap  312 . The blister pack  340  is comprised of a plastic annular disk  344  having multiple deformable raised portions, or blisters  348  therearound, and a rupturable seal  352  secured to the bottom of the disk  344  to cover cavities  354  formed by the blisters  348 . The seal  352  is configured as a metal foil coated with a plastic layer (not shown). In the illustrated construction, the plastic layer of the seal  352  is bonded to the plastic disk  344  by a heat sealing process to ensure that the additives  310  in the blisters  348  are isolated. Such a heat sealing process may include, among others, conduction heating. The additives  310 , shown in the illustrated construction as solid tablets, are contained within the cavities  354  by the seal  352 . However, the additives  310  may also take other forms, such as, for example, a liquid or a granular powder. To release an additive  310  into the receptacle  308 , a user would depress the associated blister  348 , thereby causing the additive  310  to press against and rupture a portion of the seal  352  associated with that particular blister  348  after the additive  310  applies sufficient pressure to the seal  352 . 
   The cap  312  includes multiple apertures  356  therethrough. The apertures  356  are spaced in accordance with the number of blisters  348  on the blister pack  340 , and sized to allow the blisters  348  to project through the apertures  356  and above the top surface of the cap  312 . A seal membrane  360  is insertable between the blister pack  340  and the cap  312  to seal the blister pack  340  against the cap  312 . The seal membrane  360  may be configured to be more or less rigid than the blisters  348 . The closure  304  also includes a retainer ring  364  coupled to the cap  312  to secure the blister pack  340  in the cap  312 . In the illustrated construction, the retainer ring  364  is configured to snap-fit into the cap  312 . However, in other constructions of the closure (not shown), the retainer ring  364  may be heat sealed to the cap  312  rather than snap-fit. 
   The retainer ring  364  also includes a bore seal  368  extending therefrom, the bore seal  368  being positioned adjacent the threads  316  in the cap  312  (see  FIG. 19 ) upon assembling the closure  304  and the receptacle  308 . Upon threading the cap  312  onto the threaded finish  320  of the receptacle  308 , the threaded finish  320  is compressed between the bore seal  368  and the cap  312  to seal the fluid component or the mixed beverage contained in the receptacle  308 . 
   A protective cap  336  may also couple to the cap  312  and cover the blisters  348  so that the blisters are not inadvertently depressed. 
   The cap  312 , seal membrane  360 , annular disk  344 , and the retainer ring  364  are formed from a plastic material. Preferably, polypropylene is used for the plastic material, however, other plastic materials with like properties may be substituted. 
   The various closures  14 ,  104 ,  204 ,  304  disclosed herein provide interactive packaging concepts that allow the end user to create their own beverage mix. Reaction of the additives and the fluid component in the receptacles  12 ,  108 ,  208 ,  308  may be varied to include animated use of additives, colorants, flavors, and/or ingredients that move, change shape and color, and so forth, thus giving a visual value to the process of adding an additive to a fluid component just prior to consuming the mixed beverage. 
   Also, the ability to add fresh, or time and light sensitive ingredients can be accomplished with the same dynamic, e.g., powdered milk, baby formula, pharmaceuticals, or vitamins, minerals and nutrients, even fresh fruit flavor. The closures  14 ,  104 ,  204 ,  304  may be used with in combination with, but not limited to: sports drinks, fruit juice, flavored milk, pudding, soups and candy/novelty. The closures  14 ,  104 ,  204 ,  304  may also be packaged and sold separately for additional use with reusable receptacles  12 ,  108 ,  208 ,  308 . 
   The drawings and the foregoing descriptions are not intended to represent the only forms of the invention in regard to the details of its construction and manner of operation. Changes in form and in the proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient; and although specific terms have been employed, they are intended in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being delineated by the following claims.