Patent Abstract:
A solid dosage preparation is provided with a bottle of water. The solid dosage preparation is housed in a compartment of a closure applied to the bottle of water. The solid dosage preparation is capable of being dispensed in a single-handed manipulation of a roller-like chamber. The roller-like chamber is provided with a means for indicating any tampering of the enclosed solid dosage preparation, which is maintained in a protective environment between the chamber and the compartment.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Priority is claimed to Provisional Application 61/145,528, filed Jan. 17, 2009. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to bottled water products, and more particularly to a nutritionally enhanced drink. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Additives are commonly sold in combination with bottled water. Currently marketed examples include energy, or health, drinks, where the additive is provided in solution form. Other examples include a medication where the bottled water is supplied simply as a convenience for washing down a pill or a capsule. 
         [0004]    In particular instances involving nutritional supplements, however, it is useful to supply the supplement in solid dosage form, similar to the medication example. Doing so improves the shelf stability of a natural active ingredient, and particularly one of a biological derivation, which might otherwise degrade or lose potency over time when in dissolution. 
         [0005]    In contrast with the medication circumstance, however, the water is not just a convenience for administering the dosage. It is also a measured amount of ingredient required for the best metabolic results. Therefore, the means for combining the two components into a single package is an important aspect of the product put-up. 
         [0006]    The bottle closure typically provides such means in the prior art. For example, in U.S. Patent Application 2003/0000910 to Jang, a cap to a water bottle contains a compartment for the dosage. The compartment is closed with a separate cap, which may be attached by a hinge. Such a device does not selectively dispense a dosage, however. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,866,797 to Palomo discloses a dispensing cap for a pill bottle, but two hands are required for manipulating it. Furthermore, the device would not be compatible with a screw-threaded neck finish, such as that typically found on stock water bottles. U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,942 to Deacon teaches a single-hand dispensing mode using a roller-type mechanism, but Deacon, as in the other references above, does not provide a safety feature for the prevention of tampering. 
         [0008]    The prior art is missing a dispensing cap capable of single-handed operation which protects its solid dosage contents both from handling damage and from tampering. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In view of the above-mentioned unfulfilled needs, the present invention embodies, but is not limited by, the following objects and advantages: 
         [0010]    A first objective of the present invention is to provide a solid dosage preparation together with a bottle of water. 
         [0011]    A second objective of the present invention is to provide the solid dosage preparation in a dispenser package which selectively dispenses the preparation with one-handed convenience. 
         [0012]    A third objective of the present invention is to utilize a stock, or commodity, bottle for the water. 
         [0013]    A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide protection with respect to light degradation and handling damage for the solid dosage preparation. 
         [0014]    A fifth objective of the present invention is to render both the water and the solid dosage preparation secure from tampering. 
         [0015]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an enhanced water product combined with a safety feature comprises a water bottle containing water and having a neck finish operable with a closure. A closure sealingly fitted to the neck finish has a compartment within to protectively house a solid dosage preparation. A means for selectively and single-handedly dispensing the solid dosage preparation from the compartment, and an integrated means for providing an indication of tampering should pre-purchase access to the compartment be attempted, are provided thereto. 
         [0016]    In a particularly preferred embodiment, the means for selectively and single-handedly dispensing comprises a rotatable means for opening the compartment to expose a selected solid dosage preparation. The rotatable means for opening comprises an axis and a roller having opposing sides and a cavity there between. The roller comprises a means for pivoting about the axis. The cavity contains the selected solid dosage preparation. The means for pivoting comprises a pair of coaxial hinge pins protruding from the opposing sides of the roller. The hinge pins are received by a pair of cradles attached to the closure in flanking positions to the compartment wherein the roller is pivotally fixtured. 
         [0017]    In another particularly preferred embodiment, the integrated means for providing an indication of tampering comprises a break-away feature frangibly attached to at least one of the hinge pins. The break-away feature has a sufficient extent of structure to bring it into rotational interference with an adjacent structure by any slight rotational movement of the roller. The interference causes the feature to break away. The integrated means for providing an indication of tampering further comprises at least one of the cradles having at least one flexible arm. The flexible arm has a ledge and the corresponding hinge pin has a detent. The ledge and detent are interpositionally disposed when the hinge pin is seated in the cradle. Such interposition prevents the unseating of the hinge pin in any translational direction. At the same time, the combination of the interposition and the flexible arm urges rotation of the roller when an unseating force is applied, the rotation thereof causing a separation of the break-away feature. In this manner, any translational or rotational force, which is to say, any force applied, will cause an indication thereof. 
         [0018]    As this is not intended to be an exhaustive recitation, other embodiments may be learned from practicing the invention or may otherwise become apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood through the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective partial view of the closure on the bottle of the invention, illustrating the roller in a closed position and the break-away feature in-tact; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective partial view of the closure on the bottle of the invention, illustrating the roller in an open position with the break-away feature separated; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the invention in perspective; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is an elevation view of the closure without the roller; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the roller and break-away feature; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the closure with the roller in the closed position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a section view of  FIG. 6  along the lines  7 - 7 , illustrating the solid dosage form nested in the cavity; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is another section view of  FIG. 6  along the lines  8 - 8 , illustrating the interposition of the ledge and detent features; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a perspective bottom view of the closure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0029]      FIG. 3  best shows the major components of an enhanced water product  1 . Water bottle  10  is capped by closure  20 . Closure  20  has a means for selectively and single-handedly dispensing  30  a solid dosage preparation  22  housed in a compartment  21  of closure  20 . Water bottle  10 , containing water, can be sealingly closed by means of screw threads  23  of closure  20  ( FIG. 9 ) and neck finish  11 . 
         [0030]    The means for selectively and single-handedly dispensing  30  is best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a rotatable means for opening  31  in a closed position.  FIG. 2  shows the rotatable means for opening  31  in an open position. The rotatable means for opening  31  can be rotated about axis  32  by means of a single finger of a single hand clutching water bottle  10 . 
         [0031]    In a preferred embodiment, the rotatable means for opening  31  of the means for selectively and single-handedly dispensing  30  is roller  33 . Roller  33  has opposing sides  34  and a cavity  35  there between. Cavity  35  contains solid dosage preparation  22  and dispenses the same when rotated to an open position (see also  FIG. 7 , showing the nested components). Cavity  35  is scalable, and can be sized to accommodate one, or a plurality, of solid dosage preparations, such as tablets, capsules, caplets, or some volumetric measure of a powder or granulation. The size of cavity  35  is to be determined by the quantity of, or the volume of, the solid dosage preparations constituting a single administration. Compartment  21  may contain one or a plurality of administrations. In the case of a plurality of administrations, it can be seen that roller  33  can selectively dispense an appropriate amount. 
         [0032]    Roller  33  has a means for pivoting  36 , as best shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 . In a preferred embodiment, the means for pivoting  36  comprises hinge pins  37  and cradles  38 . Hinge pins  37  are aligned coaxially and protrude from the two opposing sides  34  of roller  33 . Hinge pins  37  are received in cradles  38 , which flank the compartment  21  such that roller  33  is rotatably suspended in compartment  21 . Each cradle  38  has a saddle into which a corresponding hinge pin  37  is seated, the saddle having upright arcuate arms ( FIG. 4 ). At least one of the arms is a flexible arm  44 , which permits the hinge pin  37  to bypass over-arching structure and securely seat. In this manner, roller  33  can be assembled to closure  20  by simply pressing against roller  33  to force pins  37  in to cradles  38 . This is best done in a closed position with the solid dosage preparation  22  inserted, as the discussion below will make evident. 
         [0033]    Enhanced water product  1  further comprises an integrated means for providing indication of tampering  40 , as best shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The means for providing indication of tampering  40  comprises a break-away feature  41  which is frangibly attached to a pivoting member  42 . Break-away feature  41  has an extended structure which is in close proximity to the top surface of closure  20 . The top surface and the extended structure are substantially parallel when roller  33  is assembled to closure  20  in a closed position. Any attempt to rotate the pivoting member  42  will cause the break-away feature to separate, as shown in  FIG. 2 . In a preferred embodiment, the pivoting member  42  is at least one of hinge pins  37 . Break-away feature  41  is frangibly attached to hinge pin  37  by a filament  47 . 
         [0034]    The means for providing indication of tampering  40  further comprises a means for inhibiting any non-pivoting movement  43  of roller  33 . The means for inhibiting any non-pivoting movement  43  effectively assures that the roller  33  cannot be disassembled, as in reversing the manner in which it was previously assembled, from the closure  20  without indication of the action thereof; in other words, any translational motion resulting in the exposure of the solid dosage preparation  22 , in addition to any rotational motion to dispense, must bear witness. 
         [0035]    In a preferred embodiment, the means for inhibiting any non-pivoting movement  43  is comprised of a ledge  45  on the flexible arm  44  and a detent  46  on the corresponding hinge pin  37 . The ledge  45  and the detent  46  are interpositionally disposed when hinge pin  37  is seated in cradle  38  in the closed position of roller  33 . In such a position, and in no other, the break-away feature  41  is substantially hovering above the top surface of closure  20 , as best shown in  FIG. 6 . Once seated, any attempt to move roller  33  in the only translational direction having freedom of movement, that is to say, upwardly, will bring ledge  45  into contact with detent  46  at a radial position offset from axis  32 . The moment thereby created by the interposition of ledge  45  and detent  46  will cause a rotational response by roller  33 , bringing break-away feature  41  into contact with closure  20  and fracturing filament  47 . 
         [0036]    The interposition of ledge  45  and detent  46  serves a secondary purpose, as well, by registering the angular position of roller  33 . Only one rotational freedom of movement is permitted by the interfering structure, that of the direction tending toward the separation of ledge  45  and detent  46 . Rotation in that direction, however, requires flexing flexible arm  44  in order for the hinge pin  37  to bypass ledge  45  with its intrusion into the circumferential path. Flexible arm  44  in the interposition posture thereby biases roller  33  to a discrete closed position. 
         [0037]    Water bottle  10  can be formed by known methods in a variety of thermoplastic materials. In the preferred embodiment, the bottle is blow-molded from polyethylene terephthalate (PETE), which is a clear resin of the polyester family. Similarly, production methods and materials for the closure  20  and the roller  33  can be selected from those well known by practitioners in the art. In the preferred embodiment, closure  20  is injection molded from one, or a combination of, polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), both of which are commodity resins generically known as polyolefin&#39;s. It is preferred that roller  33  be injection molded from a resin which lacks the property of toughness, such as non-impact grade polystyrene (PS) or polyethylene (PE). It is also preferred that the bottle  10  come from a stock-supply scenario, where high-volume tooling in continuous production can keep costs to a minimum. It is an advantage of the present invention to allow use of such a non-specialized component for the packaging of water. Solid dosage preparation  22  can be granulated, compressed, or comminuted in accordance with known methods, typically in the domain of pharmaceuticals. 
         [0038]    While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example: (i) Instead of threading, the closure may snap over a lip on the neck finish; (ii) The compartment may be provided on a separate part which is combinable with the closure to capture the roller there between, thereby eliminating the need for the ledge and detent. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1