U.S. patent application number 10/768273 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-04 for portion closure and method of using.
Invention is credited to Martin, James L., Shenkar, Emanuel, Wan, Miles.
Application Number | 20050167295 10/768273 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34807834 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050167295 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shenkar, Emanuel ; et
al. |
August 4, 2005 |
Portion closure and method of using
Abstract
A dispensing container assembly includes a container having a
threaded finish portion, at least one modular sealed vial that
contains a substance, and a closure cap that is adapted to be
screwed on to the container. The closure cap includes a closure
main body having a top portion and a downwardly depending sidewall
portion that is adapted to be secured to the container. An insert
is positioned between the closure cap and the container for
securing the modular sealed vial to the closure cap. The closure
cap further includes structure for unsealing the sealed vial, and
the inset includes releasing structure for releasing the unsealed
vial from the vial securing structure in order that it may fall
into the container. A method of dispensing a substance into the
container is also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Shenkar, Emanuel; (Worth,
IL) ; Martin, James L.; (Lancaster, OH) ; Wan,
Miles; (Clarendon Hills, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBLE YOSHIDA & DUNLEAVY, LLC
Eight Penn Center
Suite 1350
1628 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Philadelphia
PA
19103
US
|
Family ID: |
34807834 |
Appl. No.: |
10/768273 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/219 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 51/2828
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/219 |
International
Class: |
B65D 025/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A closure cap dispensing system for a container, comprising: a
closure main body having a top portion and a downwardly depending
sidewall portion that is adapted to be secured to a container; vial
securing means for securing a modular sealed vial that contains a
substance; unsealing means for unsealing said sealed vial; and
releasing means for releasing said vial from said vial securing
means.
2. A closure cap dispensing system for a container according to
claim 1, wherein said sidewall portion is threaded for engagement
with mating threading on a container, and wherein said unsealing
means is constructed and arranged to unseal said sealed vial when
said closure is being screwed onto the container.
3. A closure cap dispensing system according to claim 2, wherein
said releasing means is also constructed and arranged to release
said sealed vial when said closure is being screwed onto said
container.
4. A closure cap dispensing system according to claim 3, wherein
said unsealing means is constructed and arranged to unseal said
sealed vial when said closure has been screwed onto the container
to a first extent, and said releasing means is constructed and
arranged to release said sealed vial when said closure has been
screwed onto the container to a second, greater extent.
5. A closure cap dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein
said releasing means is constructed and arranged to release said
sealed vial when said closure is being screwed onto said
container.
6. A closure cap dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein
said unsealing means is constructed and arranged to breach said
sealed vial.
7. A closure cap dispensing system according to claim 6, wherein
said unsealing means is constructed and arranged to breach said
sealed vial by penetrating a frangible membrane that is sealed to
said vial.
8. A closure cap dispensing system for a container according to
claim 1, further comprising an insert that is mounted between said
closure cap and a container and that is movable with respect to
said closure main body, and wherein said vial securing means and
said releasing means are positioned on said insert.
9. A closure cap dispensing system according to claim 8, wherein
said unsealing means is adapted to unseal said sealed vial when
said insert is in a first location with respect to said closure
main body.
10. A closure cap dispensing system according to claim 8, wherein
said releasing means is adapted to release said vial when said
insert is in a second location with respect to said closure main
body.
11. A dispensing insert that is constructed and arranged to be
mounted onto a container, comprising: vial securing means for
securing to said insert a modular sealed vial that contains a
substance; and releasing means for releasing said vial from said
vial securing means, said releasing means being constructed and
arranged to release said vial while a closure cap is being secured
to the container.
12. A dispensing insert according to claim 11, wherein said insert
is constructed and arranged to be elastically deformed when the
closure cap is being secured to the container, and wherein said
releasing means is constructed and arranged to release said vial
when said elastic deformation has reached a predetermined
state.
13. A dispensing container assembly, comprising: a container having
a threaded finish portion; at least one modular sealed vial that
contains a substance; and a closure cap comprising: a closure main
body having a top portion and a downwardly depending sidewall
portion that is adapted to be secured to a container; vial securing
means for securing said modular sealed vial; unsealing means for
unsealing said sealed vial; and releasing means for releasing said
unsealed vial from said vial securing means into said
container.
14. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein said sidewall
portion is threaded for engagement with said threaded finish
portion, and wherein said unsealing means is constructed and
arranged to unseal said sealed vial when said closure is being
screwed onto the container.
15. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein said releasing means
is also constructed and arranged to release said sealed vial when
said closure is being screwed onto said container.
16. An assembly according to claim 15, wherein said unsealing means
is constructed and arranged to unseal said sealed vial when said
closure has been screwed onto the container to a first extent, and
said releasing means is constructed and arranged to release said
sealed vial when said closure has been screwed onto the container
to a second, greater extent.
17. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein said releasing means
is constructed and arranged to release said sealed vial when said
closure is being screwed onto said container.
18. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein said unsealing means
is constructed and arranged to breach said sealed vial.
19. An assembly according to claim 18, wherein said unsealing means
is constructed and arranged to breach said sealed vial by
penetrating a frangible membrane that is sealed to said vial.
20. An assembly according to claim 13, further comprising an insert
that is mounted within said closure cap and that is movable with
respect to said closure main body, and wherein said vial securing
means and said releasing means are positioned on said insert.
21. An assembly according to claim 20, wherein said unsealing means
is adapted to unseal said sealed vial when said insert is in a
first location with respect to said closure main body.
22. An assembly according to claim 20, wherein said releasing means
is adapted to release said vial when said insert is in a second
location with respect to said closure main body.
23. A method of dispensing a substance into a container, comprising
steps of: (a) securing a sealed modular vial between a container
and a closure cap; (b) unsealing the modular vial by screwing said
closure cap onto said container by a first amount; and (c)
releasing the unsealed vial into the container by continuing to
screw said closure cap onto the container by a second amount.
24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said second amount is
greater than said first amount.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention broadly relates to the field of packaging,
and more specifically relates to a portion closure that is adapted
to release a substance into a container.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Technology
[0004] Many substances that are in wide commercial use are able to
be concentrated by the manufacturer and later reconstituted by the
consumer by mixing the concentrated with water. It is often
ecologically preferable to use concentrates rather than paying the
economic and social costs of transporting the bulkier final product
through the distribution chain to the consumer. Accordingly, many
products are already being sold in concentrated form, with a
variety of different structures having been advanced for mixing and
reconstituting the concentrate into the final product.
[0005] One disadvantage of using a concentrate is that the consumer
will often end up with the concentrate or the final product on his
or her hands, which in some cases may be unpleasant or unhealthy,
or the concentrate, the water or the final product may be spilled
on to other surfaces. A need exists for a portion closure that
provides a safe and convenient way to dispensing a concentrate into
a container without the concentrate ever coming into direct contact
with the consumer or the surrounding environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a
portion closure that provides a safe and convenient way to
dispensing a concentrate into a container without the concentrate
ever coming into direct contact with the consumer or the
surrounding environment.
[0007] In order to achieve the above and other objects of the
invention, a closure cap dispensing system for a container
according to one aspect of the invention includes a closure main
body having a top portion and a downwardly depending sidewall
portion that is adapted to be secured to a container; vial securing
structure for securing a modular sealed vial that contains a
substance; unsealing structure for unsealing the sealed vial; and
releasing structure for releasing the vial from the vial securing
structure.
[0008] According to a second aspect of the invention, a dispensing
container assembly includes a container having a threaded finish
portion; at least one modular sealed vial that contains a
substance; and a closure cap including a closure main body having a
top portion and a downwardly depending sidewall portion that is
adapted to be secured to the container; vial securing structure for
securing the modular sealed vial; unsealing structure for unsealing
the sealed vial; and releasing structure for releasing the unsealed
vial from the vial securing structure into the container.
[0009] These and various other advantages and features of novelty
that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity
in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However,
for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and
the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the
drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying
descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a dispensing container
assembly that is constructed according to a preferred embodiment of
the invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary isometric view of one component of
the container assembly that is depicted in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view depicting the
container assembly in a first operative position;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view depicting the
container assembly in a second operative position; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view depicting the
container assembly in a third operative position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0015] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference
numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views,
and referring in particular to FIG. 1, a dispensing container
assembly 10 that is constructed according to a preferred embodiment
of the invention includes a container 12 having a finish portion 14
that is provided with external threading 16 thereon. Dispensing
container assembly 10 further includes a modular sealed vial 18
having a substance 20 therein which, for example, may be
concentrated laundry detergent or any other concentrated liquid or
solid substance that is intended to be mixed with fluid within the
container 12. Vial 18 further includes a finish portion having
external threading 22 and an adjacent annular ring 24, for purposes
that will be described in greater detail below. Vial 18 is
preferably sealed. In the illustrated embodiment, this is a
accomplished by a sealing membrane 26, preferably made of foil that
is sealed to the end of the finish portion of the vial 18.
[0016] Dispensing container assembly 10 further includes a closure
cap assembly 28 that includes a closure cap 30 and a dispensing
insert 32, both of which are illustrated in FIG. 1. Closure cap 30
is constructed and arranged to be screwed onto the finish portion
14 of the container 12, and preferably includes a main body portion
34 having a top portion 36 and a downwardly depending substantially
cylindrical sidewall portion 38 that has at least one internal
thread 40 molded integrally therein. For purposes that will be
described in greater detail below, the underside of the top portion
36 includes a downwardly extending cylindrical projection 42 that
is concentrically centered about a downwardly extending sharp axial
projection or spike 44.
[0017] Referring now to FIG. 2, insert 32 is preferably molded in a
single unitary piece from a plastic material such as polyethylene
or polypropylene. As is shown in FIG. 2, insert 32 has a plurality
of upwardly extending spring projections 46, each of which has a
rounded upper surface 48 for contacting an underside 54 of the top
portion 36 of the closure cap 30 for purposes that will be
described in greater detail below. Insert 32 further includes a
plurality of inwardly extending projections, each of which
terminates in a hub segment 50 having internal threading 52. The
hub segments 50 together define a socket into which the finish
portion of the modular sealed vial 18 may be screwed.
[0018] FIG. 3 depicts the dispensing container assembly in a first
operational position wherein the modular vial 18 has been screwed
into the socket defined by the hub segments 50 of the insert 32 and
the insert 32 has been placed between the closure cap 30 and the
container 12. In the preferred embodiment, this is accomplished by
seating the insert 32 in a small recess that is defined at the end
of the finish portion 14 of the container 12. In this position, the
external threading 22 of the vial 18 is interengaged with the
internal threading 52 of the hub segment 50, and the annular ring
24 on the vial 18 is further in abutment with the end of the hub
segment 50, thereby precisely locating the vial 18 with respect to
the insert 32. The user will then begin to screw the closure cap 30
on to the finish portion 14 of the container 12. In the operational
position that is shown in FIG. 3, the rounded upper surface is 48
of the respective spring projections 46 are in contact with the
underside 54 of the top portion 36 of the closure cap 30, with no
relative force being exerted therebetween. Therefore, the insert 32
is not stressed or flexed in any way. The sealing membrane 26 of
the vial 18 is still intact.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows the dispensing container assembly 10 in a
second operating position that is characterized by the closure cap
30 being screwed on to the finish portion 14 of the container 12 to
a greater extent than it was in the position that is shown in FIG.
3. In this position, the underside 54 of the top portion 36 of the
closure cap 30 is exerting force on the rounded upper surfaces 48
of the spring projections 46, causing some resistance to be felt by
the consumer as the consumer continues to screw the closure cap 31
to the container 12. The entire closure cap 30 thus moves axially
downwardly with respect to the container 12, causing the spike or
projection 44 to penetrate the membrane 26 sealing the vial 18. In
this way, the vial 18 is unsealed.
[0020] As the consumer continues to screw the closure cap 31 to the
container 12, the operational position depicted in FIG. 5 will be
reached. In this position, the spring projections 46 are completely
depressed, becoming flush with the upper surface of the insert 32.
In addition, the downwardly depending cylindrical projection 42
that is integral with the lower surface 54 of the top portion 36 of
the closure cap 30 engages the inner surfaces 56 of the hub
segments 50, thus deflecting the hub segments 50 outwardly,
releasing the external threading 22 of the vial 18 from its
interengagement with the internal threading 52 on the socket that
is defined by the insert 32. The vial 18 is thus allowed to drop
into the container, and the substance 20 contained therein is
permitted to freely mixed with the fluid that is provided within
the container 12.
[0021] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
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