WO2016178556A1

WO2016178556A1 - A dispensing closure

Info

Publication number: WO2016178556A1
Application number: PCT/MY2016/050022
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kar Weng LEE; Ming Zong CHOW; Chii Ching Chee
Original assignee: Lee Kar Weng; Chow Ming Zong; Chii Ching Chee
Priority date: 2015-05-07
Filing date: 2016-04-14
Publication date: 2016-11-10

Abstract

The present invention discloses a two-part form dispensing closure assembly for a container, which comprises: a tubular member (10) for attachment to opening of the container; and a rotatable member (20), body of which passing through the tubular member (10), and one end of the rotatable member (20) closing and sealing one end of the tubular member (10); wherein the tubular member (10) is defined by two compartments, one of which (11) contains a material and is closable by a peelable seal to retain the material; and the rotatable member (20) has a peeling means disposed within the tubular member (10) in a way such that rotating the rotatable member (20) causes said means to engage and peel the seal, to release the material into the container.

Description

A DISPENSING CLOSURE

FIELD OF INVENTION The invention relates to a sealing and dispensing mechanism. More particularly, the invention relates to a dispensing closure of a container, which is capable of containing material that is to be released to mix with contents of the container upon its material releasing mechanism is triggered.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Infused water, which also can be referred to as fruit flavoured water or fruit infused water, is a type of drinks where a combination of any type of fruits, vegetables, and herbs is immersed in water. Conventionally, fruit infused water is produced by immersing sliced fruits in water for a few hours. The drawbacks of such production method are that the taste of the infused water is inconsistent and such drink can only last not more than three days in fridge else it will lose its flavour, aroma, and nutrient. Over the years, there are a few patented devices have been implemented to overcome these drawbacks. Of interest in respect to an infusion cap is US7568576B2. The patent discloses an infusion cap for use on bottles having a cylindrical neck, the infusion cap comprises a single molded structure consisting of a barrel having concentric inner and outer cylinder portions having upper and lower ends to be received lower-end-first over the bottle neck, an upwardly opening third cylinder portion integral with said barrel and having upper and lower ends and extending upwardly from the barrel at the upper ends of and concentric with said inner and outer cylinder portions, a plunger closing the lower end of said inner cylinder portion, a reservoir cap enclosing the upper end of the third cylinder portion, wherebythe reservoir cap, plunger and barrel forming a closed infusion substance reservoir with the plunger axially shiftable in the reservoir and responsive to depression of the reservoir cap to pressurize the infusion substance within the reservoir and force it out of said reservoir and into a bottle neck upon which the infusion cap is mounted.

Another similar cap is disclosed in WO1998018690A1. The patent provides a beverage mixing dispenser device for a bottle having a body and a neck for holding a beverage therein, said device comprises a container for insertion into the neck of the bottle, said container retaining a separate ingredient therein, a removable closure member connected to said container, said removable closure member adapted to close the neck of the bottle, and means extending through said removable closure member and said container, for opening bottom of said container, so that said ingredient can drop down and mix with the beverage within the body of the bottle. The overall length of the prior caps is longer than the normal cap and this introduces an excess in height which will consume more space. Therefore, a need exist for the prior caps to replace its material releasing mechanism in a way such that the structural length of the cap is minimized to save space. This invention provides such a device and method thereof.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention provides a two-part form closure assembly for a container, which comprises: a tubular member for attachment to opening of the container; and a rotatable member, body of which passing through the tubular member, and one end of the rotatable member closing one end of the tubular member; wherein the tubular member is defined by two compartments, one of which contains a material and is sealed by a peelable seal to retain the material; and the rotatable member has a peeling means disposed within the tubular member in a way such that rotating the rotatable member causes said means to engage and peel the seal, to release the material into the container. Preferably, the compartment is closed and sealed by the peelable seal, and is essentially air-tight.

Alternatively, the peeling means includes a hook member having a sharp edge. Furthermore, one wall of the compartment containing the material, has an indentation for receiving the sharp edge of the hook member in order to facilitate engagement of the edge underneath the seal.

In one embodiment of the invention, the tubular member is of a circular shape.

In another embodiment of the invention, the sealed end of the compartment containing the material, is slanted.

Still in another embodiment of the invention, the rotatable member is mounted to the tubular member by means of snap-fit.

Yet, in another embodiment of the invention, the tubular member and the container have cooperating threaded sections. In another embodiment of the invention, the rotatable member has human finger engageable means for facilitating the rotation.

Still in another embodiment of the invention, the assembly further comprises means for limiting the degree of rotation of the rotatable member. Yet, in another embodiment of the invention, the material released from the compartment is infused into content of the container. At least one of the preceding objects is met, in whole or in part, by the present invention, in which the embodiment of the present invention describes a method for dispensing a material retained, by a seal, in a compartment of a closure assembly being attached to opening of a container, said closure assembly having a peeling means, comprising steps of: engaging the means; and rotating the means to peel off the seal, such that the material is released from the compartment into the container.

In one embodiment of the invention, the method also comprises a step of infusing the material released from the compartment into content of the container. One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments described herein are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawing the preferred embodiments from an inspection of which when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its construction and operation and many of its advantages would be readily understood and appreciated.

Figure la is a top perspective diagram illustrating a dispensing closure assembly which embodies therein the principle features of the invention. Figure lb is bottom perspective diagram illustrating the dispensing closure assembly Figure lc is another bottom perspective diagram illustrating the dispensing closure assembly

Figure 2 is a perspective diagram illustrating a tubular member of the dispensing closure assembly

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a rotatable member of the dispensing closure assembly

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings. Referring to the figures, a cap assembly for fastening onto a necked portion of a container is illustrated. The cap is of two parts comprises a generally cylindrical tubular member 10, as shown in figure 2, and a rotatable member 20 as shown in figure 3. The inner circumferential wall of the tubular member 10 has a partition 15 with an aperture 16 on one side transversely separates the inner section of the tubular member 10 into a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion of the tubular member 10 has a circular recess and a concentric rim 14 protruded upwardly therefrom with an outer circumference smaller than the circumferential wall of the tubular member 10. The bottom portion of the tubular member 10 has an open-ended compartment 11 extended from the partition 15 to the open end of the bottom portion. Preferably, the wall of the compartment 11 has an indentation 12 at a position adjacent the open end of the compartment 11. In one embodiment of the invention, the open end of the compartment 11 can be slanted. The opening of the compartment 11 is preferably heat sealed by a sealing member. In another embodiment of the invention, the compartment 11 may also be sealed by the use of a suitable adhesive. The compartments sealed by the seals are essentially air-tight so as to prevent oxidisation or humidification of the material the compartments contain. Alternatively, the inner circumferential wall of the bottom portion is threaded so as to cooperate with container with threaded neck.

The rotatable member 20 has a circular protrusion 21 extended downwardly and a circular depression, and each circumference is dimensioned so as to be in press-fitted engagement with the recess and the rim 14 of the tubular member 10 to thereby seal the top portion of the tubular member 10. The rotatable member 20 is axially rotatable after being fitted onto the tubular member 10. An elongated member 22 extended downwardly from the circular protrusion 21, through the aperture 16 of the partition 15 of the tubular member 10 to a height where the opening of the compartment 11 is located. The free end of the elongated member 22 transversely carries an arcuate hook member 24 with a shaped edge 25. The shaped edge 25 will be directed to and pointed at the indentation section 12 of the compartment 11 during the rotation of the rotatable member 20. Further rotation will force the shaped edge 25 to engage with the engagement portion of the sealing member and to peel the sealing member off the compartment 11. The elongated member 22 is also being provided with tap portion 23 so that the tap portion 23 and the wall 13 of the compartment 11 can form a blockage to prevent the rotatable member 20 from rotating in a direction where the shaped edge 25 rotatably moves away from the indentation section 12. The top surface of the rotatable member 20 has a pair of spaced apart indentations to form a human finger engageable handle 21 for facilitating the rotation. Preferably, the compartment 11 of the tubular member 10 is filled with a material which is admixable with the content of the container upon opening the container. The material or ingredient contained in the compartment can be any material, such as a material containing fruit aroma in dry powder form, granular form, liquid form, or any in combination thereof. The ingredient can be made of fruit dehydrated by a low temperature dehydrator and then granulated into granular form by a blender. It is desired to separate the material from the content of the container so that users can selectively choose to consume either the original content or the mixed content. Also, shelf-life of the original content such as water is much longer than after mixing. Therefore, separating the two will increase the shelf-life span of the entire product.

This invention provides a convenient way to infuse a material into the content of a container. On the other hand, a user could choose not to release the material inside the compartment into the container. In this case, the user holds on to the tubular member 10 and rotates it to remove the cap assembly from the opening of the assembly. Upon removal of the assembly, the user drinks the content without mixing the content with the material.

The present disclosure includes as contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

A two-part form dispensing closure assembly for a container, comprising:

a tubular member (10) for attachment to opening of the container; and a rotatable member (20), body of which passing through the tubular member (10), and one end of the rotatable member (20) closing and sealing one end of the tubular member (10);

wherein

the tubular member (10) is defined by two compartments, one of which (11) contains a material and is clo sable by a peelable seal to retain the material; and the rotatable member (20) has a peeling means disposed within the tubular member (10) in a way such that rotating the rotatable member (20) causes said means to engage and peel the seal, to release the material into the container.

A closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the compartment (11) is closed and sealed by the peelable seal, and is essentially air-tight.

A closure assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the peeling means includes a hook member (24) having a sharp edge (25).

A closure assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein one wall of the compartment (11) containing the material, has an indentation (12) for receiving the sharp edge (25) of the hook member (24) in order to facilitate engagement of the edge (25) underneath the seal.

A closure assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tubular member (10) is of a circular shape.

A closure assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sealed end of the compartment (11) containing the material, is slanted.

7. A closure assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rotatable member (20) is mounted to the tubular member (10) by means of snap-fit.

8. A closure assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the tubular member (10) and the container have cooperating threaded sections, such that by rotating the tubular member (10), the closure assembly is removable from the opening of the container.

9. A closure assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the rotatable member (20) has human finger engageable means (21) for facilitating the rotation.

10. A closure assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising means (23) for limiting the degree of rotation of the rotatable member.

11. A closure assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the material released from the compartment (11) is infused into content of the container, creating a material- infused liquid.

12. A method for dispensing a material retained, by a seal, in a compartment (11) of a closure assembly being attached to opening of a container, said closure assembly having a peeling means, comprising steps of:

engaging the means; and

rotating the means to peel off the seal, such that the material is released from the compartment into the container.

13. A method according to claim 12, also comprising a step of infusing the material released from the compartment (11) into content of the container, creating a material-infused liquid.