U.S. patent application number 12/355773 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-22 for water bottle with dosage in a blister pack.
Invention is credited to Eric William Gruenwald, Lawrence Lambelet, Patrick James Mulligan.
Application Number | 20100183776 12/355773 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42337163 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100183776 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gruenwald; Eric William ; et
al. |
July 22, 2010 |
WATER BOTTLE WITH DOSAGE IN A BLISTER PACK
Abstract
A nutritional preparation in solid dosage form is provided with
a bottle of water. The solid dose is contained a safe and sanitary
blister package and attached by means of a shrink band to the
closure of the bottle. The shrink band provides a tamper-indicating
seal for the both the bottle and blister contents. An advantage of
the design is that it does not require customization of bottle and
closure tooling, and thereby provides a simple and cost-effective
means for combining solid and liquid materials in a unitary
package.
Inventors: |
Gruenwald; Eric William;
(Dallas, TX) ; Lambelet; Lawrence; (Flemington,
NJ) ; Mulligan; Patrick James; (Dallas, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAWRENCE E. LAMBELET JR.
5 BLACKWELL ROAD
FLEMINGTON
NJ
08822
US
|
Family ID: |
42337163 |
Appl. No.: |
12/355773 |
Filed: |
January 17, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/115 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/3205
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/115 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/32 20060101
B65D081/32 |
Claims
1. An enhanced water product with safety feature, comprising: a
water bottle containing water and having a neck finish and a neck
flange operable with a closure; a closure sealingly fitted to the
neck finish having a top surface; a nutritional supplement in solid
dosage form; a means for deploying the nutritional supplement on
the top surface of the closure, the means further protecting the
nutritional supplement from contamination when separate there from;
and a means for attaching the means for deploying to the top
surface, the means further providing an indication of tampering
should such occur.
2. The enhanced water product of claim 1, wherein the means for
deploying is a blister package comprised of a film and a frangible
lidding sealed thereto to form a laminated structure, the film
having a cavity formed therein, the laminated structure having a
blister flange surrounding the cavity, the blister flange
substantially covering the top surface of the closure.
3. The enhanced water product of claim 2, wherein the means for
attaching is a shrink band jacketing the cap and blister package in
a heat-applied conformation sealingly overlapping both the blister
flange and the neck flange, whereby the blister package is secured
to the cap and the cap to the water bottle, and whereby access to
either the nutritional supplement through the lidding, or the water
through the closure, cannot occur without the shrink band
evidencing tampering.
4. The enhanced water product of claim 2, wherein the blister
package further comprises a transparent film, such that the
nutritional supplement is rendered visible.
5. The enhanced water product of claim 1, wherein the solid dosage
is at least one of a tablet, a caplet, or a capsule.
6. The enhanced water product of claim 1, wherein the closure is
available from commodity supply and does not require custom
tooling.
7. An enhanced water product with safety feature, comprising: a
water bottle containing water and having a neck finish and a neck
flange operable with a closure; a closure sealingly fitted to the
neck finish having a top surface; a blister package comprised of a
film and a frangible lidding sealed thereto to form a laminated
structure, the film having a cavity formed therein, the laminated
structure having a blister flange surrounding the cavity, the
blister package disposed on the top surface of the cap with the
blister flange substantially covering; a nutritional supplement in
solid dosage form contained within the lidded cavity of the blister
package; and a shrink band jacketing the cap and blister package in
a heat-applied conformation sealingly overlapping both the blister
flange and the neck flange, whereby the blister package is secured
to the cap and the cap to the water bottle, and whereby access to
either the nutritional supplement through the lidding, or the water
through the closure, cannot occur without the shrink band
evidencing tampering.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to bottled water products, and more
particularly to a nutritionally enhanced drink.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Additives are commonly sold in combination with bottled
water. Currently marketed examples include energy, or health,
drinks, where the additive is provided in solution form. Other
examples include a medication where the bottled water is supplied
simply as a convenience for washing down a pill or a capsule.
[0003] In particular instances involving nutritional supplements,
however, it is useful to supply the supplement in solid dosage
form, similar to the medication example. Doing so improves the
shelf stability of a natural active ingredient, and particularly
one of a biological derivation, which might otherwise degrade or
lose potency over time when in dissolution.
[0004] In contrast with the medication circumstance, however, the
water is not just a convenience for administering the dosage. It is
also a measured amount of ingredient required for the best
metabolic results. Therefore, the means for combining the two
components into a single package is an important aspect of the
product put-up.
[0005] The bottle closure typically provides such means in the
prior art. For example, in U.S. Patent Application 2003/0000910 to
Jang, a cap to a water bottle contains a compartment for the
dosage. The compartment is closed with a separate cap, which may be
attached by a hinge. In another example, U.S. Patent Application
2008/0000786 to Collotta, the tablet or capsule is housed in a
space between a cap and a secondary cap, or over cap. In this
version, the over cap is snapped over a standard bottle closure and
held in place by a tamper-evident seal. In both of these examples,
the pills or capsules are loose in the cavity spaces and are
without the protection of any individual packaging designed for
sanitary and safe handling.
[0006] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,959,841 to Vlodek, a push-through blister
package is housed within an assembly of cap components. The blister
is comprised of a thermoformed "pocket" heat sealed to a frangible
lidding, typically aluminum foil. The solid dose is contained in
the pocket and can be expelled there from by pushing through the
lidding. Blister packaging, commonly used for pharmaceutical
packaging and usually sited where the dosage is prepared, can
provide a sanitary, if not aseptic, means for handling, and a safe
means for transporting, the product.
[0007] Each of the prior art examples, however, involve an assembly
of separate cap components requiring multiple custom tools. For
cost reasons, it would be preferable to have a means for utilizing
a stock cap and thereby avoiding specialized tooling. What is
missing in the prior art is a way to combine a blister package
containing an individual dose with a stock cap for a water bottle
in a simple and cost-effective construct.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In view of the above-mentioned unfulfilled needs, the
present invention embodies, but is not limited by, the following
objects and advantages:
[0009] A first objective of the present invention is to provide a
solid dosage form of a nutritional supplement together with a
bottle of water.
[0010] A second objective of the present invention is to provide
the nutritional supplement in a sanitary and safe blister
package.
[0011] A third objective of the present invention is to utilize a
stock, or commodity, closure for the bottle.
[0012] A fourth objective of the present invention is to render
both the water and the nutritional supplement secure from
tampering.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an
enhanced water product combined with a safety feature comprises a
water bottle containing water and having a neck finish and a neck
flange operable with a closure. The closure is sealing fitted to
the neck finish and has a top surface thereon. The enhanced water
product further comprises a nutritional supplement in solid dosage
form contained in a means for disposing said supplement on the top
surface of the closure. The means for disposing protects the
nutritional supplement from contamination when separate from the
closure. Additionally, the enhanced water product comprises a means
for attaching the means for disposing to the top surface of the
closure. The means for attaching also provides an indication of
tampering, should any such violation occur.
[0014] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the means for disposing comprises a blister package. The
blister package is comprised of a film and a frangible lidding
sealed thereto to form a laminated structure, the film having a
cavity formed therein. The laminated structure has a blister flange
surrounding the cavity which substantially covers the top surface
of the closure.
[0015] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the means for attaching comprises a shrink band
jacketing the cap and blister package in a heat-applied
conformation sealingly overlapping both the blister flange and the
neck flange. In this manner, the blister package is secured to the
closure and the closure to the water bottle, and access to either
the nutritional supplement through the lidding, or the water
through the closure, cannot occur without the shrink band
evidencing tampering.
[0016] As this is not intended to be an exhaustive recitation,
other embodiments may be learned from practicing the invention or
may otherwise become apparent to those skilled in the art.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of
the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same
becomes better understood through the accompanying drawings, in
which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts
throughout the several views, and wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating
a bottled water product with a nutritional supplement;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view in perspective;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a partial section view in perspective.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] FIG. 1 shows an enhanced water product 1. The major
components thereof are best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Water bottle 10
is sealed by closure 20. Nutritional supplement 30 is contained
within a means for deploying 40. Means for deploying 40 is joined
with closure 20 and bottle 10 by a means for attaching 50.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 2, water bottle 10 is provided with a neck
finish 11 and a neck flange 12. Closure 20 is sealingly fitted to
neck finish 11 by means of screw threads 13, best shown in FIG. 3.
Closure 20 has a top surface 21.
[0023] In the preferred embodiment, the means for deploying 40 is a
blister package 41. Referring to FIG. 3, blister package 41 is
comprised of a film 42, which is heat-sealed to a frangible lidding
43 to form a laminated structure 44 (FIG. 2). Film 42 can be heated
and drawn by a plug die to form a cavity 46. Blister package 41 has
an extended sealing area forming a blister flange 45 (FIG. 2). The
extent of blister flange 45 is such that it substantially covers
top surface 21.
[0024] The nutritional supplement 30 is a solid dosage form of
preparation and is represented in the drawings by tablet 31. The
terms "nutritional supplement" and "solid dosage" may comprehend a
plurality of tablets, and similarly for alternate forms, such as
caplets or capsules. Tablet 31 is placed in cavity 46 of blister
package 41 prior to the lamination step. If the packaging of the
tablet in the blister package is a coincidental process with the
production of the tablet, the blister package becomes a sanitary
and safe means of conveying and deploying the tablet, particularly
if the process is carried out in a clean-room environment.
[0025] In the preferred embodiment, the means for attaching 50 is
shrink band 51, best shown in FIG. 2. Shrink band 51 is applied as
a tube the be slipped over closure 20 with blister package 41
reposing on top surface 21, the tube extending above blister flange
45 on one end and below neck flange 12 on the other end. When heat
is applied to shrink band 51, the shrinkable material radially
contracts and wraps itself around neck flange 12 while engaging
blister flange 45 in an overlap. The shrink band is illustrated in
the figure as having been shrunken. Because of the stiffness of
blister flange 45, a sufficient overlap will firmly attach blister
package 41 to closure 20. Since frangible lidding 43 is protected
against top surface 21, and blister package 41 cannot be removed
from top surface 21 without evidence of damage to shrink band 51, a
tamper-indicating system for tablet 31 is therein defined.
Similarly, since closure 20 cannot be removed from neck finish 11
while encapsulated by shrink band 51 without evidencing damage
thereto, the contents of water bottle 20 is rendered protected by
notice of a tampering incident.
[0026] Water bottle 10 can be formed by known methods in a variety
of thermoplastic materials. In the preferred embodiment, the bottle
is blow-molded from polyethylene terephthalate (PETE), which is a
clear resin of the polyester family. Similarly, production methods
and materials for the closure are in common practice. In the
preferred embodiment, closure 20 is injection molded from one, or a
combination of, polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), both of
which are commodity resins generically known as polyolefin's. It is
preferred that both the bottle and the closure come from
stock-supply scenarios, where high-volume tooling in continuous
production keeps costs to a minimum. It is an advantage of the
present invention to allow use of such non-specialized components
for packaging water.
[0027] Blister package 41 is produced by a thermoforming process.
The process involves web-fed film and foil, wherein the film is
heated and drawn between male and female dies to form a cavity, the
cavity is filled with contents, the foil is subsequently
heat-sealed to the cavity selvage, and the blister is die cut from
the laminated web. In pharmaceutical operations, this is commonly
done in a clean room adjacent the solid dosage preparation area. In
the preferred embodiment, the film is plasticized polyvinyl
chloride (PVC), and the foil is a frangible aluminum foil.
[0028] Tablet 31 is compressed and shaped in a die following a
granulation process where the ingredients are blended and dried.
Tablet processing is well known in the solid dosage art. Shrink
band 51 is supplied in an extruded tube cut to a length sufficient
to rest on the shoulder of the bottle and extend over the top of
the closure. The sleeved bottle is then sent through a heat tunnel
where radiant heat shrinks the band into profile conformance. In
the preferred embodiment, the shrink band is comprised of clear PVC
material. It may also have a vertical perforation to assist in its
removal.
[0029] While a particular form of the invention has been
illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. For example, instead of threading, the
closure may snap over a lip on the neck finish; or the shrink band
may extend to cover the entire body of the bottle; or the blister
package may have multiple cavities with multiple doses therein.
Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited,
except as by the appended claims.
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