This invention relates generally to dispensers and, more specifically, dispensers for use with containers.
It is often desirable to mix multiple materials together to form a product. For example, a beverage may contain multiple components that are premixed for the consumer. Unfortunately, in some circumstances, it is desirable to combine a secondary component with a primary component near the time of consumption, as opposed to at the time of production. For example, the primary component may include a fruit juice and the secondary component may include a vitamin powder. To maintain the freshness of the fruit juice it would be preferred to add the vitamin powder at the time of consumption. While it is possible to provide the primary component and secondary component in separate containers, it is cumbersome for the consumer to open the multiple containers and mix the primary and secondary components before consumption. Accordingly, a need exists for an improved dispenser that can aid consumers in mixing multiple components before use.
Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods pertaining to dispensers. This description includes drawings, wherein:
Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present disclosure.
Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to dispensers. In some embodiments, a dispenser comprises a main body assembly including an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall defining an aperture through the main body, a seal, wherein the seal is affixed to the main body and encloses a lower portion of the aperture, a button seated within the aperture and configured to be manipulable between a first position and a second position, and a container housed within the button and configured to store a material, wherein when the button is in the second position the container contacts the seal to allow the material to exit the dispenser.
As previously discussed, it is often desirable to mix multiple components together to form a product. For example, beverages, food items, cleaners, etc. may comprise multiple components. As one example, a beverage may contain a primary component (e.g., juice, water, soda, etc.) and a secondary component (e.g., a powder, liquid, glitter, etc.). Mixing the components at the time of manufacture of the beverage can produce undesirable results. For example, an extended exposure of the primary component to the secondary component may result in degradation of one or both of the primary component and the secondary component, an undesirable taste, settling of the secondary component in the primary component, etc. While it is possible to individually package and/or sell components of a product, doing so is inconvenient for the consumer. Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatuses that seek to minimize, if not eliminate, these drawbacks.
In one embodiment, a dispenser is provided that allows for the easy combination of a material (e.g., a secondary component) with a primary component. The dispenser can be integral with, or securable to, an external container housing a primary component (e.g., a beverage, a cleaning solution, a food product, etc.). The dispenser houses the material and is capable of dispensing the material into the external container. In one embodiment, the dispenser includes a button and a container. The container houses the material, and the material is secured within the dispenser via a seal. The button is manipulable to causes the container to contact the seal and dispense the material into the external container. The discussion of
The button 104 is manipulable to dispense a material housed in the dispenser into the external container 106. For example, as depicted in
While the discussion of
The button 204 can be made of any suitable material, such as rubber, plastic, etc. The button 204 is seated within the aperture. For example, in one embodiment and as depicted in
The button 204 is manipulable from a first position (depicted in
The container 210 houses a material. The material can be of any suitable type. The dispenser 200 is configured to dispense the material into an external container 206. The container 210 is housed within the dispenser, for example, within the button 204. As depicted in the example provided in
The seal 214 is affixed to the main body 202 and encloses a lower portion of the aperture. That is, the seal 214 physically separates the material in the container 210 from the external container 206. The seal 214 can be of any suitable type (e.g., paper, metallic foil, plastic foil, etc.). Accordingly, the seal 214 can be affixed to the main body 202 via any suitable adhesive.
In some embodiments, and as depicted in
In some embodiments, the button 204 can 204 be covered to reduce the likelihood of an unintended manipulation of the button 204. As one example, and as depicted in
As previously discussed, the dispenser 200 can be integral with, or securable to, the external container 206. In the example depicted in
While the discussion of
The container 310 is located within the button 304. In the example depicted in
The seal 314 is affixable to the dispenser 300 via the main body 302. In one embodiment, the seal 314 is affixable to a lower portion of the main body 302 and covers the aperture 332. In use, the seal 314 prevents the material from exiting the dispenser 300 until the seal is compromised (e.g., severed, detached from the main body 302, etc.). As previously discussed, the button 304 is manipulable from the first position to the second position. When in the second position (i.e., when the button 304 is being manipulated from the first position to the second position), the container 310 contacts the seal 314. The contact between the container 310 and the seal 314 causes the seal 314 to be compromised, allowing the material to exit the dispenser 300. In one embodiment, a bottom portion of the container 310 (i.e., the portion of the container 310 that contacts the seal 314) can be shaped to encourage severing of the seal 314. For example, the bottom portion of the container 310 can include a sharp or otherwise pointed surface.
The guard 308 is configured to prevent unintended manipulation of the button 304. In the example depicted in
The seal 414 is securable to a lower edge 446 of the main body 402, enclosing a lower portion of the aperture 432. The container 410 is configured to house a material. The container 410 locates within the button. When the button 402 is manipulated from a first position to a second position, the container 410 contacts the seal 414. Contact between the container 410 and the seal 414 causes the seal 414 to be severed and/or detach from the lower edge 446 of the main body 402. When the seal 414 is severed and/or detached from the lower edge 446 of the main body 402, the material within the container 410 can exit the dispenser 400.
In some embodiments, the dispenser 400 is a separate from, and securable to, an external container. In such embodiments, the dispenser 400 includes a fastening mechanism. In the example depicted in
While the discussion of
At block 502, a dispenser is secured to an external container. The dispenser can be secured to the external container by a user (i.e., the dispenser is separate from the external container) or secured to the external container during manufacture of the external container and/or the dispenser. Additionally, in some embodiments, the dispenser is secured to the external container at the time of manufacture, as the dispenser is integral with the container. The dispenser generally includes a main body, a button, a container, and a seal. The main body includes an aperture extending therethrough, and the button seats within the aperture. The container is configured to house a material and seats within the button. The seal is affixed to the main body and encloses a lower portion of the aperture. The dispenser can be secured to the external container via any suitable fastening mechanism. For example, the dispenser can be threaded onto the external container, press-fitted onto the external container, clipped onto the external container, adhered to the external container, secured to the external container via an interference fit, etc. The flow continues at block 504.
At block 504, the button is manipulated. For example, the user can manipulate the button. The button is manipulable from a first position to a second position. When the button is manipulated from the first position to the second position, the container contacts the seal, causing the seal to be severed and/or detached from the main body. When the seal is severed and/or detached from the main body, the material housed in the container is dispensed into the external container. Optionally, the flow continues at block 506.
At block 506, the dispenser is removed from the external container. For example, the user can remove the dispenser before consuming and/or using the product housed in the external container.
In some embodiments, a dispenser comprises a main body assembly including an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall defining an aperture through the main body, a seal, wherein the seal is affixed to the main body and encloses a lower portion of the aperture, a button seated within the aperture and configured to be manipulable between a first position and a second position, and a container housed within the button and configured to store a material, wherein when the button is in the second position the container contacts the seal to allow the material to exit the dispenser.
In some embodiments, a dispenser for dispensing a material into an external container comprises a main body including an aperture extending through the main body, the main body configured to be secured to the external container, a seal affixed to the main body and covering a lower portion of the aperture, a button located within the aperture and configured to be manipulated from an extended position to a compressed position, and a container housed within the button and configured to store the material, wherein when the button is in the compressed position the container contacts the seal to allow the material to be dispensed into the external container.
In some embodiments, an apparatus and a corresponding method performed by the apparatus, comprises securing, to an external container, a dispenser, the dispenser comprising a main body including an aperture extending through the main body, the main body configured to be secured to the external container, a seal affixed to the main body and covering a lower portion of the aperture, a button located within the aperture and configured to be manipulated from an extended position to a compressed position, and a container housing within the button and configured to store the material, and depressing the button from the extended position to the compressed positioned, wherein the depressing the button from the extended position to the compressed position causes the container to contact the seal and dispense the material into the external container.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of other modifications, alterations, and combinations can also be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.
This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. application Ser. No. 17/684,998, filed on Mar. 2, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17684998 | Mar 2022 | US |
Child | 18045339 | US |