U.S. patent application number 14/706009 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-12 for dispensing vessel and method of use.
This patent application is currently assigned to HOUSER PRODUCTS, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Houser Products, LLC. Invention is credited to Jeffrey D. Houser.
Application Number | 20150321782 14/706009 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54367157 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150321782 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Houser; Jeffrey D. |
November 12, 2015 |
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.
Inventors: |
Houser; Jeffrey D.; (Marion,
OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Houser Products, LLC |
Marion |
OH |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
HOUSER PRODUCTS, LLC
Marion
OH
|
Family ID: |
54367157 |
Appl. No.: |
14/706009 |
Filed: |
May 7, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61990317 |
May 8, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
141/1 ;
141/311R |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2501/0081 20130101;
B65D 83/06 20130101; B65D 1/0207 20130101; B65D 51/2878 20130101;
B65D 1/32 20130101; B65D 2501/0045 20130101; B65D 17/506
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/32 20060101
B65D001/32; B65D 83/06 20060101 B65D083/06; B65D 1/02 20060101
B65D001/02; B65D 17/50 20060101 B65D017/50 |
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.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] None.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND
[0003] This disclosure relates generally to powdered drinks and
more particularly to a vessel for quickly transferring the powder
into a drink or water bottle.
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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.
[0007] 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
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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
[0010] 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:
[0011] FIG. 1 is from view of the disclosed dispensing assembly in
closed condition;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.
1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a side view of the disclosed dispensing assembly
in open or dispensing condition;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a front view of the disclosed dispensing assembly
in open or dispensing condition;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view of the assembly of FIG. 1 sitting just
above a bottle containing water or other liquid;
[0016] 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
[0017] 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;
[0018] The drawings will be described in greater detail below.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] 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).
[0020] 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.
[0021] 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.
[0022] 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.
[0023] 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.
[0024] 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.
[0025] 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.
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