Patent Application
20050205438
1. Field of the Invention
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.
2. Description of the Related Technology
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. In addition, the quality of some products is higher when it is reconstituted from a concentrate by the consumer just prior to consumption. For example, many nutritional supplements are best mixed with water immediately before they are consumed.
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.
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. In the case of a nutritional supplement, a consumer may purchase the supplement in powdered form in bulk quantities and need to mix the powder with water immediately before use. If the consumer wishes to use the supplement away from home, such as at a gym, either he or she will need to transport the appropriate amount of powder for a single serving in a separate container or carry the powder in the container and add water at the remote location, which may be inconvenient.
A need exists for a portion closure that provides a safe and convenient way to dispensing a controlled portion of concentrate into a container without the concentrate ever coming into direct contact with the consumer or the surrounding environment.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a portion closure that provides a safe and convenient way to dispense a controlled portion of a concentrate into a container without the concentrate ever coming into direct contact with the consumer or the surrounding environment.
In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, a portion closure for a container according to a first aspect of the invention includes a closure main body that is adapted to be mounted to a container, the closure main body defining a storage space in which a concentrate may be stored; a plunger member that is mounted for linear movement with respect to the closure main body between a first, upper, position and a second, lower, position wherein the storage space is caused to open into communication with the container; and tamper evident interlock structure for preventing movement of the plunger member to the second, lower position until the tamper evident interlock means is defeated by a consumer.
According to a second aspect of the invention, a portion dispensing container assembly includes a container having an externally threaded finish portion; a closure main body mounted to the finish portion, the closure main body defining a storage space in which a concentrate may be stored; a plunger member that is mounted for linear movement with respect to the closure main body between a first, upper, position and a second, lower, position wherein the storage space is caused to open into communication with the container; and tamper evident interlock structure for preventing movement of the plunger member to the second, lower position until the tamper evident interlock means is defeated by a consumer.
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.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring in particular to
The portion dispensing container assembly 10 further includes a portion dispensing closure 16 that is perhaps best shown in the exploded view that is provided in
As is further shown in
An upper surface of the head portion 20 of the closure main body 18 is provided with an annular shoulder surface 34 and an upstanding annular upper rim 36 in which an axial bore 38 that is in communication with the storage space 29 is defined. A radially projecting annular bead 65 projects outwardly from upper rim 36, as is best shown in
As is further shown in
As is best shown in
According to one advantageous feature of the invention, a tamper evident interlock 56 is provided within the circumferentially extending recess described above. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, tamper evident interlock 56 is constructed as a circumferentially extending tamper evident strip 58 that is frangibly connected to the underside 52 of the head portion 42 of the plunger member 40 by a plurality of frangible bridge elements 64. Tamper evident strip 58 further includes an inwardly extending annular lower flange 63 that interacts with the annular bead 65 of the head portion 20 of the closure main body 18 to prevent accidental upward movement of the plunger member 40. The presence of the tamper evident strip 58 between the head portion 42 of the plunger member 40 and the annular shoulder 34 of the head portion 20 of the closure main body 18 prevents a consumer from accidentally depressing the plunger member 40 and moving the plunger member 40 to the second position when there is no intention to do so.
The container assembly 10 will be manufactured with a fluid stored within the container 12 and a concentrated substance stored within the storage space 29 that is within the closure main body 18. The container assembly 10 will be distributed to the consumer as shown in
The consumer may shake the container assembly 10 at this point to ensure thorough mixing of the concentrated material with the liquid. After mixing, the consumer will grip the head portion 20 of the closure main body 18 and unscrew the closure main body 18 from the container 12 in order to consume the contents of the container 12.
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.
