DISPENSING CAP FOR A CONTAINER
A dispensing cap for a container includes a body portion and an integrally formed chamber for holding an additive substance. An inner wall integrally formed with the body portion defines the chamber whose open end is sealed by a chamber closure member. The chamber closure member being configured for cooperating with the inner wall and seal the chamber, wherein the body portion, the closed top end, the plunger, and the inner wall are integrally formed.
Latest Granite State Product Development LLC Patents:
This application is a continuation of a copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/363,953, filed Feb. 1, 2012, which claims benefit of the priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/438,440, filed on Feb. 1, 2011 under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present disclosure relates generally to a container closure lid and more particularly to an attachable container lid having a compartment for holding, storing and dispensing an additive substance.
BACKGROUNDContainers of various designs for separately holding additive substances until they are ready to be mixed with a solvent fluid are known. However, many are limited in their capacity to hold different number of component substances and impractical in configuration for efficient manufacturing. Thus, there is a need for improved lid for a container.
SUMMARYAccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a dispensing cap for a container comprises a generally cylindrically-shaped body portion having a closed top end and an open bottom end, the closed top end being integrally formed with the body portion and comprising a diaphragm portion. A generally cylindrically-shaped inner wall axially extends from the closed top end towards the open bottom end of the body portion and defines a chamber for holding an additive substance, wherein the chamber has an opening towards the open bottom end of the body portion. The body portion and the inner wall define a receptacle therebetween for receiving a mouth of the container from the open bottom end of the body portion and sealing the mouth of the container. A plunger axially extends from the diaphragm portion towards the opening of the chamber, wherein the diaphragm and the plunger have a closed position and an open position. A chamber closure member for sealing the chamber's opening is attached to the plunger, wherein the chamber closure member is configured for cooperating with the inner wall and seal the chamber when the diaphragm and the plunger are in the closed position. The body portion, the closed top end and the inner wall are integrally formed.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully disclosed in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is to be considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts. All drawing figures are schematic and are not intended to show true dimensions or true dimensional relationship among the structures.
This disclosure describes a new design for a single chamber dispensing cap for a container that is configured for holding an additive substance that can dispense the additive substance into the container when desired.
The inner wall 13 axially extends from the closed top end of the dispensing cap 10 toward the open bottom end of the dispensing cap and define a chamber 50 for holding an additive substance. The dispensing cap 10 is generally used as a closure for a container, such as a bottle, that holds a liquid beverage (e.g. water, juice, etc.).
The chamber 50 is sealed by a chamber closure member 60. The chamber closure member 60 forms a liquid-tight seal so that the substance held inside the chamber 50 is kept separate from the liquid beverage in the container. This allows the dispensing cap 10 to be pre-filled with a desired substance and installed onto the container without coming in contact with or being concerned with the substance held inside the dispensing cap 10.
The chamber closure member 60 is connected to a plunger 22. The plunger 22 is configured to be in one of two positions, an open position (
The plunger 22 is pushed into its open position by a person pushing the flexible diaphragm 21 of the dispensing cap downward. The flexible diaphragm 21 is preferably configured to snap into the open position when pressed down and thus maintain the open position even when the person stops pushing down on the diaphragm 21.
According to an embodiment, the body 11, the closed top end 19a, the plunger 22, and the inner wall 13 are integrally formed in a one-piece construction.
In another embodiment, the dispensing cap 10 is configured with a flip-top lid 17. The flip-top lid 17 can prevent accidental activation of the plunger 22. This allows the contents of the dispensing cap 10 to be released at the time of ingestion of the contents of the container. The flip-top lid 17 also can be integrally formed with the body 11, the closed top end 19a and the inner wall 13.
Referring to
As shown in
Because of the integrally molded structure of the body portion 111, the closed top end 119a, and the inner wall 113, the diaphragm portion 121 forms the top of the chamber 150 that is closed and the chamber 150 has a sealable opening towards the open bottom end of the body portion 111.
The body portion 111 and the inner wall 113 defining a receptacle 112 therebetween for receiving a mouth of the container from the open bottom end 119b of the body portion and sealing the mouth of the container. Inside the chamber 150 is provided a plunger 122 axially extending from the diaphragm portion 121 towards the opening of the chamber 150, wherein the diaphragm 121 and the plunger 122 have a closed position and an open position.
In the closed position shown in
Referring to
The sealing surface 167 of the chamber closure member 160 comprises an inner sealing surface 167a and an outer sealing surface 167b. The inner sealing surface 167a is configured to cooperate with corresponding inner sealing surface 113a on the inner wall 113 and the outer sealing surface 167b is configured to cooperate with the corresponding outer sealing surface 113b on the inner wall 113. These sealing surfaces are referred to as “inner” or “outer” for their respective proximity to the interior of the chamber 150. The sealing surfaces 167a and 113a are closer to the interior of the chamber 150 than the sealing surfaces 167b and 113b.
The inner sealing surfaces 167a and 113a form a seal against conditions where the external ambient pressure is higher than the internal ambient pressure inside the chamber 150. The outer sealing surfaces 167b and 113b form a seal against conditions where the internal ambient pressure in the chamber 150 is higher than the external ambient pressure. This is achieved by the particular geometry and configuration of the sealing surfaces 167a, 167b, 113a and 113b further explained below.
These cooperating sealing surfaces on the chamber closure member 160 and the inner wall 113 are configured to form a seal against each other by interference fitting. This means that the diameter of the chamber closure member 160 along its sealing surface 167 is larger than the inside diameter of the opening formed by the sealing surfaces on the inner wall 113 by a predetermined amount. Thus, when the chamber closure member 160 is inserted into the chamber opening formed by the inner wall 113, the sealing surface 167 of the chamber closure member 160 presses outwardly against the corresponding sealing surface on the inner wall 113 and creates an interference fit.
As shown in
Referring to
According to an embodiment, the chamber closure member 160 is provided with stress-relieving depressions 162, 163 on the top side. When an activating force is applied to the diaphragm and as the plunger 122 pushes down on the chamber closure member 160 while moving from the closed position to the open position, the stress-relieving depressions 162, 163 enable the chamber closure member to elastically collapse and facilitate unsealing of the chamber closure member 160 from the inner wall 113. Elastically collapsing refers to the chamber closure member 160 folding like an umbrella, albeit slightly, to facilitate unsealing of the chamber closure member 160 from the inner wall 113. The slope of the outer sealing surfaces 167b and 113b enables unsealing of the chamber closure member 160 as the chamber closure member is pushed out of the closed position by the plunger 122, the elastic collapsing of the chamber closure member further facilitates the unsealing action.
As shown in
Referring back to
As shown in
In another embodiment, the receptacle 112 is configured for snap-fitting onto the mouth of a container 200, thereby sealing contents of the container therein when the dispensing cap is mounted for use on the container.
In another embodiment, the dispensing cap 100 can further comprise a flip-top lid 117 that is attached to the body portion 111 by a hinge 118. A locking ridge 115 is provided on the body portion 111 for locking the flip-top lid 117 closed over the diaphragm 121 and prevent accidental actuation of the diaphragm 121.
The chamber closure member 160 and the plunger 122 are configured to be press-fitted to each other and the flip-top lid 170 is provided with a diaphragm supporting pedestal 117a for supporting the diaphragm 121 during assembly of the dispensing cap when the chamber closure member is being pressed on to the plunger and seal the chamber.
Existing bottle designs can be used with no modifications bottle can be easily recycled it will have no contaminants molded into it environmentally friendly. The container lids disclosed herein can be manufactured from several materials including but not limited to polymers, composites and flexible metal alloys.
According to another embodiment, a dispensing cap for use with a container where the dispensing cap is filled with a quantity of an additive substance is described. The dispensing cap comprises a generally cylindrically-shaped body portion having a closed top end and an open bottom end. The closed top end is integrally formed with the body portion and comprises a diaphragm portion. A generally cylindrically-shaped inner wall axially extends from the closed top end towards the open bottom end of the body portion and defines a chamber. The chamber has an opening towards the open bottom end of the body portion that is removably sealed by a chamber closure member. A quantity of an additive substance is provided in the chamber. The body portion and the inner wall define a receptacle therebetween for receiving a mouth of the container from the open bottom end of the body portion and sealing the mouth of the container. A plunger axially extending from the diaphragm portion towards the opening of the chamber is provided in the chamber. The diaphragm and the plunger have a closed position and an open position, and whilst holding the additive substance in the chamber, the diaphragm and the plunger are in the closed position until a user activates the diaphragm and the plunger to dispense the additive substance.
The structure of the dispensing cap of the present disclosure is scalable for several different sizes of liquid containers. The volume of the single chamber design allows for dispensing additive substances, such as, flavorings, vitamins, energy boosting formulation, medication, purification and tranquil drinks or any combination of these ingredients.
It is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the dispensing cap described herein, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Although the invention has been described using a few example embodiments, the scope of the invention described herein is to be defined and limited only by the appended claims and include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.
Claims
1. A dispensing cap for a container, the dispensing cap comprising:
- a generally cylindrically-shaped body portion having a closed top end and an open bottom end, the closed top end comprising a diaphragm portion;
- a generally cylindrically-shaped inner wall axially extending from the closed top end towards the open bottom end of the body portion and defining a chamber for holding an additive substance, wherein the chamber has an opening towards the open bottom end of the body portion;
- the body portion and the inner wall defining a receptacle therebetween for receiving a mouth of the container from the open bottom end of the body portion and sealing the mouth of the container;
- a plunger axially extending from the diaphragm portion towards the opening of the chamber, wherein the diaphragm and the plunger have a closed position and an open position; and
- a chamber closure member for sealing the chamber's opening attached to the plunger, wherein the chamber closure member is configured for cooperating with the inner wall and seal the chamber when the diaphragm and the plunger are in the closed position,
- wherein the body portion, the closed top end, the plunger, and the inner wall are integrally formed.
2. The dispensing cap according to claim 1, wherein the chamber closure member is a disc-like structure having a sealing surface along its periphery and the inner wall has a corresponding sealing surface that cooperates with the sealing surface of the chamber closure member for sealing the chamber when the diaphragm and the plunger are in the closed position.
3. The dispensing cap according to claim 2, wherein the sealing surface of the chamber closure member comprising an inner sealing surface and an outer sealing surface, wherein the inner sealing surface is configured to cooperate with corresponding surface on the inner wall to seal against higher external ambient pressure condition and the outer sealing surface is configured to cooperate with the corresponding surface on the inner wall to seal against higher internal ambient pressure condition.
4. The dispensing cap according to claim 2, wherein the chamber closure member and the inner wall form a liquid tight seal.
5. The dispensing cap according to claim 3, wherein the inner sealing surface is sloped at about 30-32° relative to the longitudinal axis of the body portion.
6. The dispensing cap according to claim 3, wherein the outer sealing surface is sloped at about 10-12° relative to the longitudinal axis of the body portion.
7. The dispensing cap according to claim 2, wherein the chamber closure member has a top side that faces the closed top end side of the body portion and a bottom side that faces away from the chamber, and further wherein the chamber closure member is provided with stress-relieving depressions on the top side, thereby when an activating force is applied to the diaphragm and the plunger is being moved from the closed position to the open position, the stress-relieving depressions enable the chamber closure member to elastically collapse and facilitate unsealing of the chamber closure member from the inner wall.
8. The dispensing cap according to claim 7, wherein the stress-relieving depressions comprise an annular depression and a plurality of radially oriented depressions.
9. The dispensing cap according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle includes a screw threading for threadably connecting the dispensing cap to the mouth of the container, thereby sealing contents of the container therein when the dispensing cap is mounted for use on the container.
10. The dispensing cap according to claim 9, further comprising a tamper ring for preventing unintentional unthreading of the dispensing cap from the mouth of the container.
11. The dispensing cap according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is configured for snap-fitting onto the mouth of a container, thereby sealing contents of the container therein when the dispensing cap is mounted for use on the container.
12. The dispensing cap according to claim 1, further comprising a flip-top lid that is attached to the body portion by a hinge and a locking ridge provided on the body portion for locking the flip-top lid closed over the diaphragm and prevent accidental actuation of the diaphragm.
13. The dispensing cap according to claim 12, wherein the chamber closure member and the plunger are configured to be press-fitted to each other and the flip-top lid is provided with a diaphragm supporting pedestal for supporting the diaphragm during assembly of the dispensing cap when the chamber closure member is being pressed on to the plunger and seal the chamber.
14. A dispensing cap for a container, the dispensing cap comprising:
- a generally cylindrically-shaped body portion having a closed top end and an open bottom end, the closed top end comprising a diaphragm portion;
- a generally cylindrically-shaped inner wall axially extending from the closed top end towards the open bottom end of the body portion and defining a chamber, wherein the chamber has an opening towards the open bottom end of the body portion;
- a quantity of an additive substance provided in the chamber;
- the body portion and the inner wall defining a receptacle therebetween for receiving a mouth of the container from the open bottom end of the body portion and sealing the mouth of the container;
- a plunger axially extending from the diaphragm portion towards the opening of the chamber, the diaphragm and the plunger having a closed position and an open position, wherein the diaphragm and the plunger are in the closed position; and
- a chamber closure member attached to the plunger and sealing the opening of the chamber,
- wherein the body portion, the closed top end, the plunger, and the inner wall are integrally formed.
15. The dispensing cap according to claim 14, wherein the chamber closure member is a disc-like structure having a sealing surface along its periphery and the inner wall has a corresponding sealing surface that cooperates with the sealing surface of the chamber closure member for sealing the chamber when the diaphragm and the plunger are in the closed position.
16. The dispensing cap according to claim 15, wherein the sealing surface of the chamber closure member comprising an inner sealing surface and an outer sealing surface, wherein the inner sealing surface is configured to cooperate with corresponding surface on the inner wall to seal against higher external ambient pressure condition and the outer sealing surface is configured to cooperate with the corresponding surface on the inner wall to seal against higher internal ambient pressure condition.
17. The dispensing cap according to claim 15, wherein the chamber closure member has a top side that faces the closed top end side of the body portion and a bottom side that faces away from the chamber, and further wherein the chamber closure member is provided with stress-relieving depressions on the top side, thereby when an activating force is applied to the diaphragm and the plunger is being moved from the closed position to the open position, the stress-relieving depressions enable the chamber closure member to elastically collapse and facilitate unsealing of the chamber closure member from the inner wall.
18. The dispensing cap according to claim 17, wherein the stress-relieving depressions comprise an annular depression and a plurality of radially oriented depressions.
19. The dispensing cap according to claim 14, wherein the receptacle includes a screw threading for threadably connecting the dispensing cap to the mouth of the container, thereby sealing contents of the container therein when the dispensing cap is mounted for use on the container.
20. The dispensing cap according to claim 14, wherein the chamber closure member and the plunger are configured to be press-fitted to each other and the flip-top lid is provided with a diaphragm supporting pedestal for supporting the diaphragm during assembly of the dispensing cap when the chamber closure member is being pressed on to the plunger and seal the chamber.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 23, 2013
Publication Date: Feb 13, 2014
Applicant: Granite State Product Development LLC (Dover, DE)
Inventor: John Porter (Epping, NH)
Application Number: 14/061,029
International Classification: B65D 51/28 (20060101);