Dispensing Vessel and Method of Use

Abstract

Disclosed is a disposable assembly for retaining and dispensing a powder into a bottle. The disposable assembly includes a vessel having a flared volume for retaining a powder with a neck having a slanted opening. A shear cap is affixed to the outside of the vessel neck and includes a hinged lid or flap at the shear cap distal end that covers the slated neck opening and a ledge at the shear cap proximal end for resting atop a bottle opening. A rib is located between said hinged lid and ledge having an outer diameter larger than the bottle opening. The cap rib mates with a like rib located about the mid-section of the vessel neck. The cap rib is squeezed by the bottle opening, which likewise squeezes the vessel neck rib, for shearing open the hinged lid with consequent release of powder retained in the flared vessel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to powdered drinks and more particularly to a vessel for quickly transferring the powder into a drink or water bottle.

A variety of drinks come in powdered form and must be mixed with a liquid, usually water, in order for the drink to be consumed. Examples include, inter alia, fitness supplements, baby formulas, weight loss products, soups, and a variety of food and nutritional products.

Often the powder comes in a large container from which the user needs to withdraw a proper amount for the amount of liquid to be used. For example, infant formula comes in large containers and must be measured out, poured into a baby bottle, and warm water added (the water also may be in the bottle before the powder is poured in). Using the measuring device supplied by the formula manufacturer leads to much spilled powder and difficulty in transferring the powder formula into the bottle.

Users of fitness supplements often use a scoop specifically designed to measure the amount of powder required and transfer the powder into the user's drink bottle using a narrow spout that is a size to fit inside the drink bottle. Unfortunately, many (if not most) users just rest the spout against the drink bottle when transferring the powered. Since a tight seal has been created, a pressure in the bottle often forms and cannot escape, which prevents any powder from flowing into the bottle. The user, then, must lift off the scoop, let the air back in, to be able to finish transferring the powder into the bottle.

A prior proposal in this field is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,522,840. The disclosed assembly retains the self-opening feature of this patent; yet, provides a disposable sealed cup containing the powder for dispensing.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Disclosed is a “push and pitch” disposable (“pitch” feature) assembly containing a pre-measured amount of powder, where the assembly is automatically opened (“push” feature) when the assembly is pushed into a bottle with the powder contents dropping into the bottle that may or may not contain water or other liquid.

Disclosed is a disposable assembly for retaining and dispensing a powder into a bottle. The disposable assembly includes a sealed vessel having a flared volume for retaining a powder with a neck having a slanted opening. A shear cap is affixed to the outside of the vessel neck and includes a hinged lid or flap at the shear cap distal end that covers the slated neck opening and a ledge at the shear cap proximal end for resting atop a bottle opening. A rib is located between said hinged lid and ledge having an outer diameter larger than the bottle opening. The cap rib mates with a like rib located about the mid-section of the vessel neck. The cap rib is squeezed by the bottle opening, which likewise squeezes the vessel neck rib, for shearing open the hinged lid with consequent release of powder retained in the flared vessel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the present media and process, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is from view of the disclosed dispensing assembly in closed condition;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the disclosed dispensing assembly in open or dispensing condition;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the disclosed dispensing assembly in open or dispensing condition;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the assembly of FIG. 1 sitting just above a bottle containing water or other liquid;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the assembly and bottle combination of FIG. 5 with the vessel being inserted into the bottle, which is shown in cross-section; and

FIG. 7 is a side view like that shown in FIG. 6 with the assembly having been opened and powder housed within the assembly being dispensed into the water or other liquid held by the bottle;

The drawings will be described in greater detail below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-4, a dispensing assembly in closed condition, 10, is shown. Vessel 10 often will be referred to as a “push and pitch” disposable (“pitch” feature) assembly containing a pre-measured amount of powder, where the assembly is automatically opened (“push” feature) when the assembly is pushed into a bottle with the powder contents (“pitch” feature) dropping into the bottle that may or may not contain water or other liquid. Dispensing assembly 10 is composed of a vessel, 12, in which a pre-measured amount of a powder is housed. Vessel assembly 12 is beaker-shaped having a neck sized for insertion into a bottle, either glass or plastic. The neck is of vessel 12 is open and has a slanted opening, 13 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

Fitted about the exterior of a neck, 14 (see FIG. 2), of vessel 12 is a cap, 16. Cap 16 has a flange, 18, sized for resting atop the lip of a bottle when powder is dispensed from the interior of vessel 12. About midway between flange 18 and end of cap 16 is a rib, 20, which mates with a rib, 22, which neck 14 retains also about its mid-section. Finally, cap 16 has a lid, 24 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), that covers the slanted opening of neck 14. When assembly 10 is inserted to the neck of an open bottle, rib 20 is larger than the inside diameter of the bottle, so rib 20 gets squeezed inwardly pushing of mated rib 22; thus, causing lid 24 to be pushed open and the powder contents in vessel 12 dispensed into the bottle. Alternatively, when flange 18 bottoms out on the top lip of the bottle and vessel 12 is pushed on, shearing results and lid 24 is opened. Either or both actions result in lid 24 opening and the contents in vessel 12 released. Thus, it does not matter the neck opening size of the bottle.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, dispensing assembly 10 is seen being pushed into the opening of a bottle, 26. As explained above, rib 20 is larger than the inside diameter of the bottle, so rib 20 gets squeezed inwardly when dispensing assembly 10 is pushed into the open neck of a bottle, 26, pushing of mated rib 22; thus, causing lid 24 to be pushed open and powder, 30, contents in vessel 12 dispensed into water or other fluid, 28, housed within bottle 26.

While vessel 12 has been illustrated as flared, like a beaker, it could be cylindrical, spherical, or other shape and function in the same manner as the design of vessel 12 illustrated and disclosed herein.

It will be appreciated, then, that the disclosed “push and pitch” disposable assembly can be used to dispense virtually any powder, granule, or like particulate into a variety of containers or onto a variety of surfaces. While the dispensed product most often will be comestible, such dispensed product can be grass seed, fertilizer, or other non-comestible product. For that matter, a liquid could be housed in the assembly and be dispensed, such as, for example, a concentrate for dilution in water.

Materials of construction most often will be plastics (polymers). For dispensing of comestibles, the plastic must be classified as food grade. For dispensing of other materials, the plastic must be suitable for use with such materials. Most often, the disclosed disposable assembly should be formed from materials giving it a very smooth surface to assist the material in being dispensed quickly and completely. Of course, the disclosed disposable assembly could be made from metal, ceramics, or other materials for special uses.

While the device has been described with reference to various embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope and essence of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. In this application all amounts and percentages are by weight, unless otherwise expressly indicated. Also, all citations referred herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A disposable assembly for retaining and dispensing a product into a bottle, which comprises:

(a) a vessel for retaining a product;

(b) a neck affixed to the vessel having a slanted opening and a rib about its mid-section; and

(c) a shear cap affixed to the outside of the vessel neck and comprising: (1) a hinged lid at the shear cap distal end that covers the slated vessel neck opening; (2) a ledge at the shear cap proximal end for resting atop a bottle opening; and (3) a rib located between said hinged lid and said ledge having an outer diameter larger than the bottle opening, said ledge being squeezed by the bottle opening, which likewise squeezes the vessel neck rib, for shearing open the hinged lid with consequent release of product retained in said vessel.

2. The disposable assembly of claim 1 made from a plastic.

3. The disposable assembly of claim 1, wherein said vessel has a flared volume.

4. The disposable assembly of claim 1, wherein said product is a liquid or a particulate.

5. A method for dispensing a product retained with a disposable assembly, which comprises the steps of:

(1) providing said disposable assembly comprising: (a) a vessel for retaining a product; (b) a neck affixed to the vessel having a slanted opening and having a rib about its mid-section; and (c) a shear cap affixed to the outside of the vessel neck and comprising: (1) a hinged lid at the shear cap distal end that covers the slated vessel neck opening; (2) a ledge at the shear cap proximal end for resting atop a bottle opening; and (3) a rib located between said hinged lid and said ledge having an outer diameter larger than the bottle opening, said ledge being squeezed by the bottle opening, which likewise squeezes the vessel neck rib, for shearing open the hinged lid with consequent release of product retained in said vessel; and

(2) inserting the vessel neck into an open bottle for dispensing the powder therefrom.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said dispensing assembly is made from a plastic.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said vessel has a flared volume.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said product is a liquid or a particulate.

9. A disposable assembly for retaining and dispensing a powder into a bottle, which comprises:

(a) a vessel having a flared volume for retaining a powder;

(b) a neck affixed to the flared volume having a slanted opening and having a rib about its mid-section; and

(c) a shear cap affixed to the outside of the vessel neck and comprising: (1) a hinged lid at the shear cap distal end that covers the slated vessel neck opening; (2) a ledge at the shear cap proximal end for resting atop a bottle opening; and (3) a rib located between said hinged lid and said ledge having an outer diameter larger than the bottle opening, said ledge being squeezed by the bottle opening, which likewise squeezes the vessel neck rib, for shearing open the hinged lid with consequent release of powder retained in said flared volume.

10. The disposable assembly of claim 9 made from a plastic.