U.S. patent application number 11/321149 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-29 for universal bottle cap having a dissolvable membrane.
Invention is credited to Jeffrey M. Kalman, Richard A. Klink, John R. Nottingham, Donald Spector, John W. JR. Spirk, Gary R. Stephan.
Application Number | 20060137998 11/321149 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37693089 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060137998 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Spector; Donald ; et
al. |
June 29, 2006 |
Universal bottle cap having a dissolvable membrane
Abstract
A bottle cap for universal retrofitting to one of a number of
pre-existing beverage containers containing a beverage and having a
removed cap and threaded aperture, having at least one container
portion for containing at least one dispensable material, a
threaded portion for receiving the threaded aperture and creating,
when threaded, a water-tight assembly; and a bag containing the
dispensable material located in the container portion. Upon
screwable attachment of the threaded aperture into the cap, the
threaded aperture parses at least a portion of the bag to permit
feeding of the material into the beverage. A plurality of such caps
is also shown packaged for commercial sale. The material contained
in the cap is selected from the group consisting of vitamins,
medicaments, teas, flavors, concentrates and water-soluble food
material. Also shown is a universal cap further having a moveable
aperture assembly creating an open, fluid-flowing state and a
closed, fluid-stopped state, having a top portion containing a
drinking aperture and an elongated, moveable fluid-flowing portion.
In accordance with another aspect of a dissolvable membrane
encloses dispensable material in the cap, and the membrane
dissolves upon contact with fluid in a fluid container to release
the dispensable material into the fluid.
Inventors: |
Spector; Donald; (New York,
NY) ; Nottingham; John R.; (Bratenahl, OH) ;
Spirk; John W. JR.; (Gates Mills, OH) ; Kalman;
Jeffrey M.; (Cleveland Heights, OH) ; Stephan; Gary
R.; (Seven Hills, OH) ; Klink; Richard A.;
(Berea, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Glen M. Diehl;NORTON & DIEHL LLC
Suite 110
77 Brant Ave.
Clark
NJ
07066
US
|
Family ID: |
37693089 |
Appl. No.: |
11/321149 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11135734 |
May 24, 2005 |
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11321149 |
Dec 29, 2005 |
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10943712 |
Sep 17, 2004 |
6962254 |
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11135734 |
May 24, 2005 |
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10463927 |
Jun 18, 2003 |
6820740 |
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10943712 |
Sep 17, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/219 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B 11/0081 20130101;
B65D 51/2828 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/219 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/08 20060101
B65D025/08 |
Claims
1. A bottle cap for universal retrofitting to a fluid container
containing a fluid, comprising: an enclosure forming a first
chamber having a first opening; attachment means for attaching the
bottle cap to the fluid container; and a membrane attached to the
enclosure and covering the first opening, the membrane being
dissolvable in the fluid.
2. The bottle cap as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a seal
attached to the enclosure and covering the membrane.
3. The bottle cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the seal is
foil.
4. The bottle cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the membrane is
formed from a soy based material, a corn based material, or any
combination thereof.
5. The bottle cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the membrane is
formed from a non-toxic, organic material that is soluble in the
liquid.
6. The bottle cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first chamber
contains a first dispensable material.
7. The bottle cap as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first
dispensable material is soluble in the fluid.
8. The bottle cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first chamber
contains a plurality of dispensable materials.
9. The bottle cap as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or
more walls inside the enclosure, the one or more walls forming one
or more additional chambers.
10. The bottle cap as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a
dispensable material located in each of the chambers in the
enclosure.
11. The bottle cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment
means is a thread.
12. The bottle cap as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
closable opening in the enclosure.
13. A package, comprising: a plurality of caps, each of the caps
being for universal retrofitting to a fluid container containing a
fluid; each of the caps further comprising: an enclosure forming a
first chamber having a first opening; attachment means for
attaching the bottle cap to the fluid container; a membrane
attached to the enclosure and covering the first opening, the
membrane being dissolvable in the fluid; and a seal attached to the
enclosure and covering the membrane.
14. The package as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the caps
has a dispensable material held in the first chamber.
15. The package as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the caps
has a different dispensable material held in the first chamber.
16. The package as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the caps
has a closable opening in the enclosure.
17. A method of obtaining a fluid mixed with a material from a
fluid container, comprising: attaching a cap to the fluid
container, the cap having an enclosure forming a first chamber
having a first opening and a membrane attached to the enclosure and
covering the first opening, a first dispensable material being in
the first chamber; causing the membrane to dissolve by contacting
said membrane with a fluid from the fluid container and releasing
the first dispensable material into the fluid container; and
dispensing the fluid from the fluid container.
18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising removing
a seal from the enclosure before attaching the cap.
19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the cap is screwed
onto the fluid container.
20. The method as claimed in claim 17, comprising opening a
closable opening in the enclosure.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/135,734 filed on May 24, 2005, which is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/943,712, filed on Sep. 17, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,254,
which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/463,927, filed on Jun. 18, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,820,740.
Each of these disclosures are herein fully incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of beverages,
dispensing materials into a container containing a fluid, and more
specifically to beverages and fluids contained in bottles with
removal caps, such that a cap can be retrofittedly placed upon the
bottle or container, post removal of its originating cap, in a
manner that dispenses materials including, e.g., vitamins, flavors
and other ingredients, into the beverage or fluid.
[0003] The beverage world today is largely possessed by bottled
water contained in plastic bottles having virtually identical
removable caps. Such caps are removed by twistable action, leaving
a band or collar behind as the cap is removed, while simultaneously
providing access for drinking to the top of the bottle. Beverages
also comprise pre-mixed drinks with a plurality of different
designs, requiring, among other things, refrigeration, dates of
expiration and other indicators related to the shelf-life of the
beverage.
[0004] Well known in the art are water-soluble drink mixes that are
sold in solid form. The consumer measures quantities of the dry
material, adds the quantities in the proper ratio to water, and
creates a flavored beverage. In these embodiments, the consumer is
required to modulate the quantities, and mistakes result in under-
or over-flavored mixtures.
[0005] It is important to maintain freshness of fluid-based
products. This is particularly important when the material to be
dispensed is vitamin-based, since it is known that water-miscible
vitamins can lose their potency over time when in a fluid
environment, through changes in, inter alia, temperature, pressure,
and light. In addition, fluid-based products can interact with
plastic bottles, causing an unpleasant taste and comprising the
health of the user. Glass bottles are thus required, which are more
expensive and much heavier.
[0006] Heretofore unknown in the art, is a universal cap design
that contains dry or concentrated materials including, e.g.,
vitamins, drink mixes and other flavors, food materials, hygiene
materials, medicaments, and non-ingestible materials such as
cleaning products, cosmetics, toiletries, art supplies, laboratory
chemicals, etc., such that the cap is capable of utilization with
any number of fluid containers, predominantly water, without the
need for modification of the existing, standard, plastic bottle
design. In other words, once the pre-existing cap is removed, the
new cap, containing the materials, can be retrofittedly installed
upon the bottle top, dispensing the materials into the fluid. The
result can be shaken and the completed product created moments
before consumption or usage.
[0007] Known devices include U.S. Publication No. 2003/0072850 to
Burniski, U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,795 to Mollstram, U.S. Pat. No.
5,772,017 to Kang, U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,142 to DiPalma, and U.S.
Pat. No. 2,859,898 to Mendenhall. These devices, however,
incorporate convoluted mechanisms that do not permit retrofitting
to pre-existing bottle designs, and rather have cumbersome
mechanisms for rotation and dispensation. Moreover, from the
practical consumer vantage point, at purchase point, both an
associated cap and fluid product must be acquired in pre-packaged
form. Unknown is the disassociation of the two, permitting the
consumer to purchase, independently, caps with a plurality of
different materials contained therein, and standard, plastic fluid
bottles.
[0008] It is thus an object of the instant invention to provide a
universal, single-use cap containing materials for attachment to
pre-existing fluid containers to permit dispensation of
materials.
[0009] It is a further object of the instant invention to provide a
universal cap in a plurality of different flavors for single-use
attachment to pre-existing fluid containers, for simple access by a
consumer.
[0010] It is a still further object of the instant invention to
provide a plurality of universal caps having different materials,
like vitamins, contained therein, such that consumers can
independently purchase such caps from the decision to purchase
their favorite forms of beverages, like water.
[0011] It is a still additional and further object of the instant
invention to provide a plurality of universal caps having different
flavors, like teas, contained therein, such that consumers can have
fresh tea products in their favorite form of bottled water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The various features of novelty which characterize the
invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed
to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding
of the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects
attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawings and
descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described
preferred embodiments of the invention.
[0013] One or more of the foregoing objects and other objects of
the invention are achieved through a bottle cap for universal
retrofitting to one of a number of pre-existing beverage or fluid
containers containing a beverage or a fluid and having a removed
cap and threaded aperture. In general, a majority of water, other
beverages and other fluids are or can be packaged in a standard
bottle having a removable cap, leaving behind, upon its removal,
screw threads. The cap of the subject invention mates with these
screw threads to create a water-tight assembly by having a
screwable attachment portion for receiving the screw threads of the
top of the bottle. Alternatively, the cap can be a plug-type device
that is simply pushed into the bottle.
[0014] The cap further has at least one container portion for
containing at least one dispensable material. In some embodiments,
the cap has two or more container portions or chambers for
containing separately two or more dispensable materials. The
dispensable materials can be released and then mixed into a fluid
in a container by simultaneous or sequential dispensation into the
fluid. The dispensable material can be selected from the group
consisting of vitamins, drink mixes, hygiene materials, such as
mouth wash, medicaments, such as pharmaceuticals and
nutraceuticals, teas, flavors, concentrates and water-soluble food
material, such as infant formula, and non-ingestible materials,
such as cleaning products, cosmetics, toiletries, dyes, pigments,
and laboratory chemicals, such as salts and buffers. The
dispensable material can also include a liquor, more than one
liquor and powders, such as a baby formula mix. Thus, the
dispensable material can include fluids and powders, and there are
many possible ingredients that can be stored in the chambers in the
bottle cap for subsequent release into a fluid.
[0015] The bottle cap includes a parseable member to create the
chamber. In some embodiments, the bottle cap has a parseable
membrane substantially planarly located within the plane defined by
a cross-section of the screwable attachment portion, such that on
said membrane's one surface containment for said container portion
is provided, and on its other surface an air barrier to the
contained material is provided. Upon screwable attachment of the
threaded aperture into the screwable attachment means, the threaded
aperture parses at least a portion of the parseable membrane to
permit feeding of the material into the fluid. Once parsed, the
material freely flows into the fluid, either through gravitational
action, shaking, or a combination thereof. Once fed into the fluid,
the material disburses, creating a fresh product.
[0016] In the case of multiple chambers, another membrane can be
provided perpendicularly to the first membrane to provide the
separate chambers within the bottle cap. The perpendicularly
oriented membranes can be formed integrally with the first membrane
that provides a seal between the bottle cap and the outside
environment, or the membranes can be held together by an adhesive
or welding.
[0017] In other embodiments, the dispensable material is located in
a sealed bag or packet formed of a parseable membrane material. The
bag or packet is located in an upper portion of the cap, positioned
across the cap. Upon screwable attachment of the threaded aperture
into the screwable attachment means, the threaded aperture parses
at least a portion of the bag or packet to permit feeding of the
material into the fluid. Once parsed, the material freely flows
into the fluid, either through gravitational action, shaking, or a
combination thereof. Once fed into the beverage, the material
disburses, creating a fresh product. The bag can be mounted to the
cap via any suitable means, such as adhesive or a plastic support
ring. Because the bag is sealed and self-contained, there is no
need to seal the bag in an airtight manner across the cap. Thus,
even if some of the adhesive comes loose, the dispensable material
is still securely stored within the bag until it is released by the
user. The bag or packet is preferably perforated in the areas that
are to be opened, to ease the opening of the bag by the user.
[0018] In the case where it is desired to provide a plurality of
chambers in the bottle cap, a plurality of bags can be provided.
The plurality of bags can be located side by side in the bottle cap
such that each bag is parsed as the bottle cap is attached to a
liquid container.
[0019] A plurality of such bottle caps may be packaged for
commercial sale. In this manner, for example, different flavors or
vitamin compositions are provided, and a consumer can purchase
virtually any beverage that has a suitably mating screw thread to
the unique cap defined herein. Liquors, cleaning products, baby
formula, etc. can also be packaged for commercial sale in this
manner.
[0020] In another embodiment, the universal cap has a moveable
aperture assembly creating an open, fluid-flowing state and a
closed, fluid-stopped state (often referred to as a "sports
bottle") having a top portion containing a drinking aperture and an
elongated, moveable fluid-flowing portion. In some embodiments, the
moveable fluid-flowing portion has a cutting end located adjacent
the packet, bag or membrane. The movable portion is initially set
into the open, fluid flowing state when the packet is sealed, and
then lowered onto the packet, bag or membrane to parse the packet
to release the material into the liquid. Again, the packet or bag
may be perforated in the areas next to the movable portion to
facilitate opening by the moveable portion. After the material is
mixed, the moveable aperture portion functions as a valve, allowing
the user to move it to opened flowing states or closed states.
[0021] There is preferably a removable cap or collar placed over or
around the moveable aperture assembly, to prevent premature
depression of the aperture assembly during shipping and
storage.
[0022] In yet another embodiment, the universal bottle cap has a
pump assembly comprising an actuator and an elongated,
fluid-flowing conduit in fluid communication with the actuator.
Upon enabling the actuator, the fluid-flowing conduit transmits
fluid to a nozzle so that the fluid is emitted from the pump
assembly. The bottle cap includes the sealed chambers to provide
ingredients to be released into a fluid container. Pump assemblies
are well known and are commonly used for household and automotive
cleaners and personal care products, such as hair sprays, perfumes,
colognes, and the like. Suitable pump assemblies include trigger
sprayers, spray pumps, cream pumps, lotion pumps, nasal sprayers,
and perfume atomizers. The use of pump assemblies is well
known.
[0023] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, a cap includes an enclosure forming a first chamber
having a closable opening and an second opening. The cap also
includes attachment means, such as threads, for attaching the
bottle cap to the fluid container. The cap further includes a
membrane attached to the enclosure and covering the second opening.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the
membrane is dissolvable in the fluid. Accordingly, the membrane is
made from a material that is soluble in the fluid in the container
that the cap is being attached to. The cap can also include a seal
attached to the enclosure and covering the membrane.
[0024] The chamber in the cap contains one or more dispensable
materials, as described elsewhere in this application, that are
released into the container when the membrane contacts the fluid
and dissolves. The one or more dispensable materials then dissolves
in the fluid as well, creating a new fluid. By way of example only,
and without limitation, new fluids such as a drink, baby formula,
alcoholic beverage or a cleaning fluid can be created.
[0025] Other features of the present invention will become apparent
from the following detailed description considered in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however,
that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration
and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which
reference should be made to the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] Other objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be
understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an
illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the
invention. In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters
denote similar elements throughout the several views:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bottle cap in accordance
with one aspect of the invention.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the bottle cap shown in
FIG. 1, taken along line A-A shown therein.
[0029] FIG. 3 is perspective view of the bottle cap installed upon
a bottled beverage container showing the parsing of the membrane
and the dispensation of material, in accordance with an aspect the
present invention.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative bottle cap
assembly having lockable fluid-stopped and fluid-flowing states, in
accordance with another aspect of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the alternative bottle cap
of FIG. 4, shown attached to a bottle in the fluid-flowing
state.
[0032] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a plurality of caps in a
consumer saleable package, in accordance with a further aspect of
the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bottle cap in accordance
with another aspect of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 7,
taken along line A-A shown therein.
[0035] FIG. 9 is perspective view of a bottle cap installed upon a
bottled beverage container showing the parsing of the bag and the
dispensation of material, in accordance with a preferred embodiment
of the subject invention.
[0036] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative cap assembly
having lockable fluid stopped and fluid-flowing states, in
accordance with another aspect of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the alternative cap of
-FIG. 10, shown attached to a bottle in the fluid-flowing
state.
[0038] FIG. 12 shows a bottle cap with an integral pump spray
mechanism.
[0039] FIGS. 13 to 17 show a bottle cap with multiple chambers for
dispensing multiple ingredients into a fluid container in
accordance with one aspect of the present invention.
[0040] FIGS. 17 to 21 show a bottle cap with multiple chambers for
dispensing multiple ingredients into a fluid container in
accordance with another aspect of the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 22 illustrates a cap in accordance with a further
aspect of the present invention, wherein a dissolvable membrane and
a seal is provided.
[0042] FIGS. 23 and 24 illustrate a cap in accordance with another
aspect of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0043] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of cap 2, having a container
portion 3 containing material 4 for dispensation into a beverage,
upon attachment. Also shown is a parseable membrane 8 planarly
located within the confines of screw thread receiving means 6, for
reasons shown and explained in greater detail in connection with
FIG. 3.
[0044] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of cap 2, shown in FIG. 1,
taken along line A-A of FIG. 1, wherein container portion 3 is
shown holding material 4, and membrane 8 is shown within the planar
region of screw thread receiving means 6.
[0045] FIG. 3 reveals the attachment of cap 2 to a bottle 10
containing a beverage, in which the screw threaded upper region of
bottle 10 has parsed membrane 8, shown in parsed form therein,
permitting material 4 to feed into the beverage. It should be
understood that membrane 8 is simply parsed by the effect of
screwing the upper threaded region of bottle 10 into the receiving
means 6, and that no further action is required.
[0046] FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a cap 12, having a
moveable aperture assembly 14 creating an open, fluid-flowing state
and a closed, fluid-stopped state, having a top portion 15 as a
drinking aperture and an elongated, moveable fluid-flowing portion
16 which rides above membrane 8. It should be understood that
portion 16 can also attach to membrane 8, such that screwable
assembly does not break the membrane but, rather, only movement of
assembly 14 breaks the membrane. In the state as shown in FIG. 4,
however, the parsing of membrane 8 occurs upon screwable assembly,
as shown in FIG. 5, wherein membrane 8 is shown parsed and material
4 is disbursed. Lastly, FIG. 6 shows a multiplicity of caps 2 in a
consumer-saleable package design 16.
[0047] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of cap 22, having a
container portion formed from a bag 23 containing material 24 for
dispensation into a beverage, upon attachment. Bag 23 is located
above screw threads 26, for reasons shown and explained in greater
detail in connection with FIG. 9.
[0048] FIG. 8 shows a cross-section of cap 22, shown in FIG. 7,
taken along line A-A of FIG. 7, wherein bag 23 is shown holding
material 24.
[0049] FIG. 9 reveals the attachment of cap 22 to a bottle 30
containing a beverage, in which the screw threaded upper region 31
of bottle 30 has parsed bag 23, shown in parsed form therein,
permitting material 24 to feed into the beverage. It should be
understood that bag 23 is simply parsed by the effect of screwing
the upper threaded region of bottle 30 into the receiving means 26,
and that no further action is required. Bag 23 can be perforated to
enable easier opening of bag 23.
[0050] FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of a cap 32, having
a moveable aperture assembly 34 creating an open, fluid-flowing
state and a closed, fluid-stopped state, having a top portion 35 as
a drinking aperture and an elongated, moveable fluid-flowing
portion 36 which rides above bag 23. It should be understood that
portion 36 can also attach to bag 23, such that screwable assembly
does not break the membrane forming bag 33 but, rather, only
movement of assembly 34 downward breaks the bag. In use, assembly
34 is initially placed into the opened state, and when mixing of
the liquid and material in bag 33 is desired, assembly 34 is
depressed until cutting end 40 perforates bag 33, as shown in FIG.
11. Bag 33 has perforations 41 to facilitate the perforation of bag
33. Ingredients 37 are released from the bag 33 into the fluid
container.
[0051] Bag 33 can be held in place by plastic ring 42, or by any
other method, such as by adhesive.
[0052] Preferably, a cap 50 is removably placed over assembly 34,
to prevent inadvertent depression of assembly 34, which would
prematurely perforate bag 33. Cap 50 could also be in the form of
an open-topped collar.
[0053] In yet an alternative embodiment the cap could be in the
form of a plug that is press-fit into the bottle opening, or could
be in the form of a cap that is press-fit around the outer rim of
the bottle opening, thus not requiring any threads to keep it in
place. Any other suitable means for attaching the cap could also be
used.
[0054] FIG. 12 shows a bottle cap 62 with an integral pump spray
mechanism 64. The bottle cap 62 has a chamber 65 formed by a
parseable member 66. The parseable member 66 can be a membrane,
such as disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 5. The parseable membrane 66 can
also be a bag, such as disclosed in FIGS. 7 to 11. Further, as
previously described, the parseable membrane 66 can be perforated
to make it easier to break the membrane or the bag.
[0055] The integral pump spray mechanism 64 includes a spray nozzle
68, a conduit 70 and a trigger device 72. When the trigger device
72 is squeezed, a vacuum is created in the hose 70, and whatever
liquid is in the hose 70 is drawn up through the integral pump
spray mechanism and expelled through the spray nozzle 68. The
integral spray mechanism 64 forms a handle for a consumer to
hold.
[0056] The bottle cap 62 has internal threads 74 which are adapted
to receive the threads on a pre-existing fluid container, such as a
water bottle. The parseable member 66 is connected to the bottle
cap 62 so that when the bottle cap 62 is screwed onto a fluid
container, the fluid container contacts the parseable member 66 to
parse or break the member 66. The parseable member 66 can be
attached to the bottle cap 62 by an adhesive or via a ring around
the circumference of the member 66, as previously described. The
parseable member 66 is also preferably secured to the conduit 70
via an adhesive or other means to create the chamber 65. The
parable member 66 can be perforated, as previously described. The
parseable member 66 is preferably located in the threaded area of
the bottle cap 62 so that the fluid container can contact the
parseable member 66 when the bottle cap 62 is placed on the
container.
[0057] The parseable member 66 and the bottle cap 62 form a chamber
65 inside the bottle cap 62. The chamber 76 contains an ingredient
78 that is dispensed into a fluid container 80 when the bottle cap
62 is attached to the fluid container 80.
[0058] FIGS. 13 to 15 show a bottle cap with multiple chambers for
dispensing multiple ingredients into a fluid container in
accordance with one aspect of the present invention. In FIG. 13, a
bottle cap 102 has a threaded section 106 to be able to be
retrofitted onto a fluid container, such as a water bottle. The
bottle cap 102 also has a parseable member 108. In this case, the
parseable member 108 is a membrane. The membrane can be made of
plastic, rubber or like material. A second membrane 110 is also
provided in the bottle cap 102. The second membrane 110 is
preferably perpendicular to the membrane 108 and is preferably
attached to the sides and top of the bottle cap 102 and to the
membrane 108 by an adhesive.
[0059] FIG. 14 illustrates a top down view of the bottle cap 102 of
FIG. 13. As can clearly be seen, the second membrane 110 forms two
chambers 112 and 114 in the bottle cap 102. A first ingredient 116
is held in the first chamber 112 and a second ingredient 118 is
held in the second chamber 114. When the bottle cap 102 is placed
on a fluid container, the membrane 108 is parsed or breaks, thereby
releasing the ingredients 116 and 118 into the fluid container.
[0060] FIG. 15 illustrates a further aspect of the present
invention. A bottle cap 120 has a membrane similar to membrane 108
in its bottom. The bottle cap 120 also has a first membrane 122, a
second membrane 124 and a third membrane 126 that form three
chambers 128, 129 and 130 in the bottle cap 120. The membranes 122,
124 and 126 are preferably secured to the bottle cap 120 and to
each other via an adhesive. Chamber 128 holds a first ingredient
132. Chamber 129 holds a second ingredient 133. Chamber 130 holds a
third ingredient 134. When the bottle cap 120 is attached to a
fluid container, the parseable membrane in the bottom of the bottle
cap 120 is parsed and each of the ingredients 132 to 134 are
released into the fluid container. Of course, more chambers can be
added to the bottle cap 120 by adding more membranes, if
desired.
[0061] FIGS. 16 and 17 show a bottle cap 140 with multiple chambers
for dispensing multiple ingredients into a fluid container in
accordance with another aspect of the present invention. FIG. 17 is
a top down view of the bottle cap 140 in FIG. 16.
[0062] The bottle cap 140 has a first parseable bag 142 and a
second parseable bag 143. The parseable bags 142 and 143 are
attached to the bottle cap 140 so that when the bottle cap 140 is
retro-fitted to a fluid container, the fluid container parses the
bags 142 and 143. The attachment can be made via an adhesive. The
bags 142 and 143 are preferably attached to the bottle cap 140 in
the threaded area 146 of the bottle cap 140 so that the fluid
container contacts the bags 142 and 143 upon retrofitting to parse
the bags 142 and 143. The bags 142 and 143 hold ingredients 144 and
145, respectively, which ingredients are released into a fluid
container when the bottle cap 140 is attached to the fluid
container. The ingredients can be released sequentially into the
fluid container.
[0063] FIGS. 18 to 20 show a bottle cap with multiple chambers for
dispensing multiple ingredients into a fluid container in
accordance with a further aspect of the present invention. In FIG.
18, a bottle cap 150 has a device that has an open and closed
position. A similar bottle cap has been previously described.
[0064] The bottle cap 150 has a membrane 158 attached to the bottle
cap 150 in the threaded area 156 of the bottle cap 150 so that the
membrane 158 is parsed to release the ingredients when a fluid
container is attached to the bottle cap 150. As shown in FIG. 19,
the bottle cap 150 also includes another membrane 160 attached to
the sides and top of the bottle cap 150 and to the membrane 108
with an adhesive. The membrane 160 forms a first chamber 161 and a
second chamber 162 that hold a first ingredient 163 and a second
ingredient 164, respectively. When the membranes in the bottle cap
150 are parsed, the ingredients 163 and 164 are released into the
fluid container that parsed the membranes. The two chambers in the
bottle cap illustrated in FIG. 19 could also be formed with two
perpendicular membranes, each being attached to the side of the
bottle cap and to the drinking apparatus 176 via adhesive or other
means.
[0065] FIGS. 20 and 21 show a bottle cap having three chambers. In
FIG. 20, wherein a first membrane is positioned in the bottom of
the bottle cap so as to be parsed when the bottle cap is attached
to a fluid container. A second membrane 172 and a third membrane
174 are attached as illustrated, with adhesive or other attachment
means, to for three chambers in the bottle cap.
[0066] FIG. 21 illustrates the formation of three chambers in a
bottle cap 180 using three perpendicular membranes 178, 180 and
182.
[0067] The bottle cap 150 can also form multiple chambers by using
two or more parseable bags, as previously illustrated and
described. The parseable bags are attached near the threaded area
of the bottle cap 150 so that a fluid container, upon attachment to
the bottle cap 150, parses the bags to release multiple ingredients
into the fluid container.
[0068] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
a cap for universal retrofitting to a fluid container containing a
fluid is provided. The cap includes an enclosure forming a first
chamber having a first opening and, optionally, a closable opening,
attachment means for attaching the bottle cap to the fluid
container, a membrane attached to the enclosure and covering the
first opening, the membrane being dissolvable in the fluid, and a
seal attached to the enclosure and covering the membrane. FIG. 5 is
illustrative of a cap with a closeable opening.
[0069] The cap in accordance with this aspect of the present
invention is illustrated in FIG. 22. The cap 200 of FIG. 22 is
similar to other bottle caps described herein, however, the
membrane 202 is dissolvable in fluids. Specifically, the membrane
202 is soluble in the fluid in a target fluid container. Further,
the membrane 202 is preferably organic and non-toxic. For example,
if water is the fluid in a container, then the membrane 202 is
soluble in water such that it dissolves upon contact with
water.
[0070] The membrane 202 is shown positioned just in the threaded
area of the enclosure 204. The membrane 202, however, may be
positioned anywhere in the enclosure 204, as long as it contacts
fluid from a fluid container when the cap 200 is placed on the
fluid container.
[0071] The seal 206 is illustrated in FIG. 22 as being attached to
the bottom of the enclosure 204 of the cap 200. In accordance with
one aspect of the present invention, the seal is made from foil and
is attached to the enclosure with a glue. The seal 206 can also be
attached with adhesives or by heat sealing. Alternatively, the seal
can be made from any number of materials. The seal 206 is pealed
off from the cap 200 when it is desired to attach the cap 200 to a
fluid container. The seal 206, when attached to the cap 200,
protects the membrane 202 from coming into contact with any
unwanted fluid.
[0072] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
invention, the membrane 202 is formed from a material that is
dissolvable in the fluid in a fluid container. The material that
the membrane is constructed from may depend on the fluid in the
fluid container. For example, th membrane 202 may be soluble in
different liquids. In the case where the fluid is water based, the
membrane can be is formed from soy and/or corn based materials. In
general, the membrane 202 can be formed from non-toxic, organic
material that is dissolvable in liquid. In accordance with one
specific embodiment, the membrane 202 can be formed from
[0073] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
the membrane 202 can be constructed with a composition similar or
the same to the composition as used in Listerine Pocket Paks. These
strips dissolve instantly when placed into a mouth. The ingredients
for Listerine Pocket Paks include Pullulan, Flavors, Menthol,
Aspartame, Potassium Acesulfame, Copper Gluconate, Polysorbate 80,
Carrageenan, Glyceryl Oleate, Eucalyptol, Methyl Salicylate,
Thymol, Locust Bean Gum, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, FD&C
Green No 3. It also contains Phenylalanine.
[0074] As before, the cap 200 of FIG. 22 has a chamber 208 that
contains a first dispensable material 210. The first dispensable
material 210 is soluble in the fluid so that it dissolves in the
fluid when released from the bottle cap. The chamber 208 of cap of
FIG. 22 can also contain a plurality of dispensable materials.
[0075] As previously described and illustrated, the cap of FIG. 22
can include one or more walls inside the enclosure, the one or more
walls forming one or more additional chambers. Each chamber can
contain a different dispensable material.
[0076] The cap of FIG. 22 preferably includes threads 212 by which
the cap is attached to a fluid container in a non-leaking
manner.
[0077] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
invention, a package of a plurality of caps is provided. Such a
package is illustrated in FIG. 6. In this case, however, the caps
have a dissolvable membrane that dissolves upon contact with a
fluid in a fluid container, thereby releasing a dispensable
material held by the cap into the fluid. Each of the caps in the
package further includes a seal over the membrane as previously
described. The seal is removed prior to usage. Each of the caps in
the package can have the same dispensable material. Alternatively,
a variety pack can be supplied, in which case, each of the caps
would contain a different dispensable material or a different
combination of dispensable materials.
[0078] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
a method of obtaining a fluid mixed with a material from a fluid
container is provided. The method includes the step of attaching
the cap shown in FIG. 22 to a fluid container. As previously
described, the cap has an enclosure that forms a first chamber. The
first chamber has a first opening and, optionally, a closable
opening and the membrane 202 attached to the enclosure and covering
the first opening. The first chamber has a first dispensable
material being in the first chamber.
[0079] When the cap is attached to a fluid container containing a
fluid, the membrane contacts the fluid and is dissolved on contact
with the fluid. Thus, the first dispensable material is released
into the fluid container.
[0080] Caps with multiple chambers as previously described can be
used in this method. Further caps with pumps, as described
elsewhere in this application can be used in this method.
[0081] FIGS. 23 and 24 illustrate another aspect of the present
invention. A cap 220 has an outer structure 222 and an inner
structure 224, both preferably made of plastic. The outer structure
222 has a cap 226 that covers a structure 228 that is pulled up to
provide an opening in the cap 220.
[0082] The outer structure 222 has threads 230 along an inner
surface. The inner structure 224 has threads 232 along an outer
surface that mate with the threads 230 so that the inner structure
224 can be secured to the outer structure 222. The inner structure
224 also has threads 234 along an inner surface that mate with the
threads on a bottle so that the cap 220 can be retrofit onto the
bottle.
[0083] Referring to FIG. 24, the inner structure 224 also has tabs
236 that fit into a recess 238 in the outer structure 222 when the
two structures 224 and 226 are assembled. These tabs 236 and recess
238 prevent the inner structure 224 from disassembling from the
outer structure 226.
[0084] The interface between the wall 240 on the inner structure
224 and the wall 242 on the outer structure 222 preferably form a
wiping seal. Thus, there is enough pressure between the fit of the
walls 240 and 242 to provide a seal that will prevent contents
inside the cap 220, whether liquid or powder, from escaping the cap
220.
[0085] A membrane 244 is provided at the bottom of the inner
structure 224. The membrane 244 can be formed of any of the
materials previously discussed in this specification, including the
dissolvable membranes. The membrane 244 can be attached to the
inner structure 224 by glue, adhesive, heat sealing or by any other
means. The membrane 244 can also be molded into the inner structure
224.
[0086] Referring to FIGS. 23 and 24, a puncture structure 246 is
provided inside the cap 220. As can be seen in both FIGS. 23 and
24, one side of the puncture structure 246 extends down to the
membrane 224 at a point 248.
[0087] When the inner structure 224 is threaded onto a bottle, the
inner structure 224 is pushed upward into the outer structure 222,
thereby pushing the membrane 244 into the puncture structure 246.
This action punctures or parses the membrane 244. The materials
inside the cavity 250 in the cap 220 are released into a bottle
when the membrane 244 is punctured or parsed.
[0088] A ramp structure 252 is provided on top of the membrane 244.
As the puncture structure 246 moves downward, the ramp causes the
puncture structure 246 to concentrate its pressure at a point on
the membrane 244. It is further preferred to use a membrane 244
that has a thickness that is minimized underneath the puncture
point of the puncture structure 246.
[0089] Powders or liquids, including by way of example only, all of
the previously mentioned powders or liquids, can be placed into the
cavity 250. They can be placed into the cavity 250 by any number of
methods during the manufacturing process. By way of example, they
can be placed into the cavity 250 by a syringe. Further, any of the
membranes 244 mentioned can be used for a powder. If a liquid is
placed in the cavity 250, and a dissolvable membrane is used, then
care must be taken to ensure that the membrane 244 is not soluble
in the liquid in the cavity 250.
[0090] While there have been shown, described and pointed out
fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred
embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions
and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device
illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in
the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is
the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the
scope of the claims appended hereto.
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