MIXING CAP

Abstract

A mixing cap includes a cap body including a bottle connection part for connection to a bottleneck of a bottle, a blender container mounted in the bottle connection part corresponding to the bottleneck, a pressing shell pressable to deform elastically, and a seal member joined to the blender container and defining a storage chamber in the blender container to hold a blender. The pressing shell is elastically deformably pressable by an external force to impart a pressure to the seal member, making an opening in the seal member for allowing the blender to enter the bottle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to container technology and more particularly, to a mixing cap carrying a blender for blending with a liquid in a container.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many mixing caps are commercially available for allowing ingredients to be mixed in just before serving. A conventional mixing cap is generally equipped with a cutter for cutting open the seal film. However, because the cutter is kept in communication with the inside space of the ingredient storage chamber, the ingredient storage chamber may be not perfectly sealed. Air may enter the ingredient storage chamber easily, causing the storage ingredient to deteriorate. When the storage ingredient starts to deteriorate, the taste of the ingredient will be affected, and a hygienic problem will occur. Further, the cutter and the cap body of a conventional mixing cap are independent members to be separately made and then assembled together. When assembling the cutter and the cap body together, the assembling quality will affect the accuracy of the use of the product. Further, most conventional mixing caps will cause a structural damage after the service. Thus, the component parts cannot be used repeatedly. The waste generated after the service of a mixing cap is another environmental protection problem to be settled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a mixing cap, which has the advantages of safety in use, ease of fabrication, excellent sealing performance, ease of use, and high response accuracy.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a mixing cap comprises a cap body. The cap body comprises a bottle connection part for connection to a bottleneck of a bottle, a blender container mounted in the bottle connection part corresponding to the bottleneck, a pressing shell pressable to deform elastically, and a seal member joined to the blender container and defining a storage chamber in the blender container to hold a blender. The pressing shell is elastically deformably pressable by an external force to impart a pressure to the seal member, making an opening in the seal member for allowing the blender to enter the bottle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view illustrating a mixing cap capped on a bottle in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation of the cap body and seal member of the mixing cap in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional plain view of the cap body and seal member of the mixing cap in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional plain view of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a normal unpressed status of the mixing cap.

FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 5, illustrating the protective cover removed from the cap body and the pressing membrane pressed.

FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 6, illustrating the pressing membrane returned to its former shape.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a mixing cap and a container in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional plain view of the second embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a normal unpressed status of the mixing cap.

FIG. 10 corresponds to FIG. 9, illustrating the protective cover removed from the cap body and the pressing membrane pressed.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a mixing cap and a container in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional plain view of the third embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a normal unpressed status of the mixing cap.

FIG. 13 corresponds to FIG. 10, illustrating the protective cover removed from the cap body and the pressing membrane pressed.

FIG. 14 is a sectional plain view of an unpressed mixing cap in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 corresponds to FIG. 14, illustrating the protective cover removed from the cap body and the pressing membrane pressed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-7, a mixing cap 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The mixing cap 10 can be attached to a bottle 40 to hold a blender 50 that can be a solid substance such as coffee powder, powdered milk or tea leaves, or a liquefied substance, for example, milk cream.

In this first embodiment, the mixing cap 10 comprises a cap body 20, a seal member 30, and a protective cover 60.

The cap body 20 comprises a peripherally downwardly extending bottle connection part 21 defining therein a thread 213 for threading onto a bottle 40 having a bottleneck 41, a blender container 23 mounted in the bottle connection part 21 and insertable into the bottleneck 41 of the bottle 40, a pressing shell 25 pressable to deform, and a plunger member 27 connected to an inner side of the pressing shell 25. The plunger member 27 has a cross-shaped cross section and is terminating in a piercing tip 272.

The blender container 23 comprises a seal member joining portion 231. The seal member 30 is sealed to the seal member joining portion 231. Further, the pressing shell 25 defines a first shell portion 251, and a second shell portion 252 that is connected to the first shell portion 251. The plunger member 27 is connected to the second shell portion 252 of the pressing shell 25. In this embodiment, the second shell portion 252 is shaped like an upwardly protruding truncated cone. One or both of the first shell portion 251 and the second shell portion 252 are elastically deformable, able to return to a former shape automatically or manually by the user after being pressed.

The seal member 30 is bonded with a peripheral joining portion 31 thereof to the seal member joining portion 231 of the blender container 23, thereby defining a storage chamber 39 in the blender container 23 for storing the blender 50. The pressing shell 25 can be elastically deformed by an external force to force the plunger member 27 through the seal member 30, enabling the blender 50 to enter the bottle 40. The seal member 30 can be pierced by the plunger member 27 to provide an opening for the passing of the blender 50.

The protective cover 60 comprises a capping portion 61 that can be capped on the cap body 20, and a protection chamber 63 shading the pressing shell 25.

Broadly speaking, the cap body 20, the seal member 30 and the protective cover 60 can be independent components. Alternatively, either two or all of the cap body 20, the seal member 30 and the protective cover 60 can be formed together in integrity.

The use and features of the mixing cap 10 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention are outlined hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 5, the blender 50 is pre-loaded in the mixing cap 10, and the bottle 40 is filled up with a predetermined liquid. When the user is going to mix the blender 50 in the liquid in the bottle 40, remove the protective cover 60 from the cap body 20, and then press the pressing shell 25 with one finger to force the plunger member 27 downwardly through the seal member 30, making an opening in the seal member 30, as shown in FIG. 6. When the user released the hand from the pressing shell 25, the pressing shell 25 immediately returns to its former shape to lift the plunger member 27 from the seal member 30. At this time, the blender 50 flows through the opening in the seal member 30 into the bottle 40 for mixing with the liquid, as shown in FIG. 7. Therefore, the operation of the present invention is quite simple. Further, the protective cover 60 can prevent a user from pressing the pressing shell 25 by mistake.

Further, the first shell portion 251 and second shell portion 252 of the pressing shell 25 are elastically deformable for repeated use. The user can fill a new supply of the blender 50 in the mixing cap 10 for repeated use, featuring an eco-friendly concept.

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate a mixing cap in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. This second embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the following exceptions.

According to this second embodiment, the seal member 30 comprises a center body portion 35 detachably attached to the bottom open side of the blender container 23, a peripheral joining portion 31 bonded to the bottom edge of the blender container 23, and a tearing portion 33 extending around the center body portion 35 and joined between the center body portion 35 and the peripheral joining portion 31. The seal member 30 can be forced by the plunger member 27 to break the tearing portion 33, opening the center body portion 35 from the blender container 23 for allowing the blender 50 to enter the bottle 40. When the center body portion 35 is opened from the blender container 23, a part of the peripheral joining portion 31 is kept bonded to the bottom edge of the blender container 23, avoiding falling of the center body portion 35 to the inside of the bottle 40. Alternatively, the seal member 30 can be so desired that the center body portion 35 can be separated from the peripheral joining portion 31 and the blender container 23 to fall to the inside of the bottle 40 upon a downward movement of the plunger member 27.

FIGS. 11-13 illustrate a mixing cap in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. This third embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the following exceptions.

According to this third embodiment, the blender container 23 comprises a different design of seal member joining portion, referenced by 232, that is formed of the lower part of the inside wall thereof; the seal member 30 comprises center body portion 35 detachably attached to the bottom open side of the blender container 23, and an upright joining portion 31 upwardly extended from the border area of the center body portion 35 and press-fitted into the seal member joining portion 232 of the blender container 23. During operation, the seal member 30 is forced by the plunger member 27 to disengage the upright joining portion 31 from the seal member joining portion 232 of the blender container 23. Thus, the seal member 30 will fall to the inside of the bottle 40 when it is forced by the plunger member 27. Further, the blender container 23 can be configured to provide the aforesaid two different designs of seal member joining portions 231 and 232.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate a mixing cap in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This fourth embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the following exceptions.

According to this fourth embodiment, the cap body 20 eliminates the aforesaid plunger member 27, and the pressing member 25 of the cap body 20 can be pressed and elastically deformed to force the blender 50 against the seal member 30, thereby opening or breaking the seal member 30. This design achieves the same effects as the aforesaid various embodiments of the present invention.

Except of the aforesaid embodiments, all the component parts of the mixing cap may also be variously embodied as follows:

For example, the pressing member 25 can be configured without the second shell portion 252, i.e., the plunger member 27 can be directly connected to the first shell portion 251. Further, the pressing member 25 can be configured having a protruding, flat or concave shape, or any of a variety of other shapes.

Further, the cap body 20 can be configured without the aforesaid bottle connection part 21 and thread 213, and can be directly plugged into the bottleneck 41 with its blender container 23. Or alternatively, the bottle connection part 21 of the cap body 20 can be directly formed on the periphery of the blender container 23 (no illustration).

Alternatively, the blender container 23 can be configured not to be inserted into the bottleneck 41 but to be disposed outside the bottleneck 41 (no illustration) to provide a different shape design subject to a different shape demand, i.e., the blender container 23 of the cap body 20 can be configured to be disposed on the inside of the bottle connection part 21 of the cap body 20, at a lower side outside the bottle connection part 21 of the cap body 20, or at the top side of the bottle connection part 21 of the cap body 20. Thus, the blender container 23 can be configured to fit different bottleneck 41 of different sizes.

Further, the plunger member 27 can be configured in any of a variety of shapes or structures. For example, the plunger member 27 can be an independent member not to be connected to the pressing shell 25. Or alternatively, the plunger member 27 can be connected to the seal member 30. Further, under an excellent sealing condition, the plunger member 27 can be omitted, and air pressure can be directly or indirectly used to force the blender 50 against the seal member 30 and to further break the seal member 30 or move the seal member 30 away from the cap body 20.

Further, the first shell portion 251 and second shell portion 252 of the pressing shell 25 in the aforesaid various embodiments are elastically deformable. Alternatively, the first shell portion 251 and second shell portion 252 of the pressing shell 25 can be made not elastically deformable for one time service, simplifying the fabrication.

Further, the pressing shell 25 can be an independent member detachably coupled to the cap body 20 by, for example, screw joint or snap-fit. In this case, the seal member 30 can be selectively installed in the cap body 20 or the pressing shell 25. When designed to be installed in the cap body 20, the pressing shell 25 can be joined to the cap body 20 in integrity.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A mixing cap, comprising a cap body, said cap body comprising a bottle connection part for connection to a bottleneck of a bottle, a blender container mounted in said bottle connection part corresponding to said bottleneck, a pressing shell pressable to deform elastically, and a seal member joined to said blender container and defining a storage chamber in said blender container to hold a blender, wherein said pressing shell is elastically deformably pressable by an external force to impart a pressure to said seal member, making an opening in said seal member for allowing said blender to enter said bottle.

2. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein aid cap body further comprises a plunger disposed in between said pressing shell and said seal member.

3. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plunger member is connected to said pressing shell.

4. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pressing shell comprises a first shell portion, and a second shell portion connected to said first shell portion; said plunger member is connected to said second shell portion.

5. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein said seal member is forcible by said plunger member to make said opening in said seal member.

6. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pressing shell protrudes upwards.

7. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pressing shell comprises a first shell portion, and a second shell portion connected to said first shell portion.

8. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein said blender container comprises a seal member joining portion; said seal member is secured to said seal member joining portion by one of bonding and snap-fit techniques.

9. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein said seal member comprises a center body portion detachably attached to said blender container, a peripheral joining portion bonded to said blender container, and a tearing portion extending around said center body portion and joined between said center body portion and said peripheral joining portion and breakable from said peripheral joining portion.

10. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressing shell protrudes upwards.

11. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 10, wherein said pressing shell comprises a first shell portion, and a second shell portion connected to said first shell portion.

12. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 10, wherein said blender container comprises a seal member joining portion; said seal member is secured to said seal member joining portion by one of bonding and snap-fit techniques.

13. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 10, wherein said seal member comprises a center body portion detachably attached to said blender container, a peripheral joining portion bonded to said blender container, and a tearing portion extending around said center body portion and joined between said center body portion and said peripheral joining portion and breakable from said peripheral joining portion.

14. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressing shell comprises a first shell portion, and a second shell portion connected to said first shell portion.

15. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 14, wherein said blender container comprises a seal member joining portion; said seal member is secured to said seal member joining portion by one of bonding and snap-fit techniques.

16. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 14, wherein said seal member comprises a center body portion detachably attached to said blender container, a peripheral joining portion bonded to said blender container, and a tearing portion extending around said center body portion and joined between said center body portion and said peripheral joining portion and breakable from said peripheral joining portion.

17. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein said blender container comprises a seal member joining portion; said seal member is secured to said seal member joining portion by one of bonding and snap-fit techniques.

18. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 17, wherein said seal member comprises a center body portion detachably attached to said blender container, a peripheral joining portion bonded to said blender container, and a tearing portion extending around said center body portion and joined between said center body portion and said peripheral joining portion and breakable from said peripheral joining portion.

19. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seal member comprises a center body portion detachably attached to said blender container, a peripheral joining portion bonded to said blender container, and a tearing portion extending around said center body portion and joined between said center body portion and said peripheral joining portion and breakable from said peripheral joining portion.

20. The mixing cap as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a protective cover capable on said cap body over said pressing shell.