GB2481645A - Dispensing closure for mixing the contents of two vessels. - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispensing closure for a vessel comprising a chamber 13, a vessel interface 26 and an openable barrier 32 intermediate the chamber and the interface, the vessel interface configured for insertion on to a vessel, and comprising a cam mechanism 36 and a hinge 40 arranged such that by virtue of relative movement of the chamber and a vessel, in use, the cam mechanism opens the barrier and permits material held within the chamber to be dispensed into a vessel. The barrier 32 may include an elongate support structure 34 and a closure cap (fig 1, 18) may be provided.

Description

Improved Disyensin Closure The present application relates to an improved dispensing closure for a vessel, in particular a dispensing closure for a bottle.

It is known to sell capsules of additives such as powder, tablets or concentrated liquid for addition to drinks. For example, there are a range of capsules containing flavoured liquid for addition to bottled water available. It is also known for such capsules to be attachable to the top of a drinking vessel such as a bottle, and for there to be a mechanism operated by the consumer by which flavouring is released into the vessel. At present, various methods are used to release additives from a capsule into a diluent. For example, a part of the capsule may be rotated in order to bring apertures into line with one another in order to release an additive from the capsule. Other methods involve the consumer pushing part of a capsule downwards in order to rupture a compartment of the capsule and thus release an additive.

There are problems with adding flavourings to an existing drink by attaching a capsule to the top of said drink. These include ensuring full mixing of said flavouring with the existing drink, and enabling people to drink the mixed drink easily. The methods of adding flavouring used by the prior art involve complex components which can be difficult to manufacture and complicated for a consumer to use. Many parts can be required in order to allow a capsule to release flavouring, often because a capsule is requires movement of its parts in relation to one another by the consumer.

To the knowledge of the applicant no such additive system has sold in large volumes and it is believed that the complexity of existing solutions has inhibited uptake of the technology due to the prohibitive cost of known dispensing closures.

The present applicant has recognised that it is desirable to provide an improved vessel closure capable of releasing flavouring into a drink, and including a mechanism which is relatively simple for a consumer to operate and relatively straightforward and inexpensive to manufacture.

According to the present invention there is provided a dispensing closure for a vessel comprising a chamber, a vessel interface and an openable barrier intermediate the chamber and the interface, the vessel interface configured for insertion on to a vessel, and comprising a cam mechanism and a hinge arranged such that by virtue of relative movement of the chamber and a vessel, in use, the cam mechanism opens the barrier and permits material held within the chamber to be dispensed into a vessel..

The openable barrier may comprise a wall, which may comprise a weakened region to promote ease of opening. The openable barrier may comprise at least one elongate support member, and the wall may be supported by the at least one elongate support member. The at least one elongate support member may be integral to the openable barrier.

The cam mechanism may transfer the relative movement of the closure and a vessel into a pivoting motion of a part of the openable seal, and may be integral to the openable barrier.

The vessel interface may comprise an internal thread and/or a peripheral seal. The closure may further comprise a closure cap.

According to a second aspect there is further provided a vessel and a closure according to a second aspect of the invention for said vessel.

A third aspect of the invention provides a method of producing a closure for a vessel comprising the steps of: a) injection moulding a closure comprising a chamber, a vessel interface and an openable barrier; and b) injection moulding a closure cap.

The method may further comprise the steps of: c) manufacturing an internal thread; and/or d) manufacturing a peripheral elastomeric seal; and e) inserting said thread and/or said seal into the closure.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a cross-section through the embodiment of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is an end view of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 from below; and FIGURE 4 is a detailed view of the cross-section of Figure 2.

With reference to the Figures, there is shown a closure 10 comprising in this embodiment a hollow cylinder 12 having a longitudinal axis A and defining a chamber 13, and having a first (upper in use) end 14, a second (lower in use) end 16, and a separate cap 18. The first end 14 of the cylinder 12 comprises a threaded outer face 20 extending part way down the outer face of the cylinder 12.

The cap 18 comprises a threaded inner face 22 corresponding to the threaded outer face 20 of the cylinder first end 14 to enable the cap 18 to be screwed on to the top of the cylinder. The outer circumferential face 24 of the cap 18 comprises a series of ridges parallel to axis A spaced at regular intervals around the cap 18 to aid grip during its removal. The chamber 13 and the cap 18 share the longitudinal axis A. The end of the chamber 13 towards the cylinder second end 16 has an inwardly curved interior profile 17 around the majority of the circumference of the cylinder for reasons discussed below.

The second cylinder end 16 comprises a vessel interface 26, a barrier in the form of a wall 32 and a cam mechanism 36. The vessel interface 26 comprises an internal thread 28 configured for interaction with a bottle neck 27, thickened wall portions 29 which acts as stops to prevent the closure being screwed too far onto a vessel, and a peripheral elastomeric seal 30 positioned between the thread 28 and the wall 32. Threads of different angle, pitch, lead, start and diameter can be provided so that the closure can be used with the necks of a range of vessels. The wall 32 is positioned between the curved profile 17 of the chamber 13 and the vessel interface 26. The cam mechanism 36 is positioned on the side of the wall 32 remote from the chamber 12.

The wall 32 covers the cross-section of the chamber 13 perpendicular to the axis A, and is thinner and therefore weaker around its periphery 33. The cylinder 12, cap 18 and wall therefore define the chamber 13.

The wall 32 is in this embodiment, supported by support structure in the form of a series of integral elongate members 34. Each of the elongate support members 34 extends radially inwards from adjacent the cylinder inner face 15, meeting coincident with the axis A. In this embodiment there are five elongate support members 34 positioned at 60 degrees to one another. This arrangement leaves a gap of 120 degrees between two of the elongate supporting members 34, in angular the centre of which is positioned the cam mechanism 36.

The support members 34 impart rigidity to the wall 32 and transmit load from the cam mechanism 36 as described below. In other embodiments alternative support structure arrangements may be used.

The cam mechanism 36 comprises a block formed integrally with and extending from the underside of the wall 32 in the direction of the vessel interface 26. The cam mechanism has a guide lip 37 on the side distal to the wall 32. The cam mechanism 36 is attached to the cylinder inner wall 15 by a live hinge 40, and its end 42 remote from the hinge 40 extends towards axis A to meet the elongate support members 34. A first face 38 extends from the guide lip 37 to the end 42. A curved second face 39 extends between the guide lip 37 and the hinge 40.

The cylinder 12 together with the wall 32, the elongate support members 34 and the cam mechanism 36 is manufactured from a plastic such as polypropylene (PP), high density polyethylene (HDPE) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) as a single component via injection moulding, with mould tools being inserted from each end of the cylinder 12.

Preferably, the wall 32 is moulded with the thinned and therefore weakened periphery.

However, in certain embodiments, the weakened periphery may be formed in a subsequent process, such as laser etching. The cap 18 is also manufactured from PP, HDPE or ABS by injection moulding.

The thread 28 and the elastomeric seal 30 may be co-moulded with the cylinder, or moulded separately then inserted and RF welded, interference fitted or glued in place. This enables numerous threads to be provided for one basic design of closure to enable it to be fitted to different bottles and vessels with a minimum cost.

In use, the chamber 13 is filled with a concentrated flavoured liquid such as a fruit syrup, an alcohol mixer or the like (not shown) and the cap 18 is attached, sealing the chamber 13. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the closure of this embodiment is to be sold as an individual item, rather than attached to a vessel, the open end of the vessel interface 26 is protected by a removable foil or card seal (not shown) to prevent unwanted operation of the seal 30 and to keep the vessel interface 26 clean.

When the filled closure is to be combined with a bottled drink, the removable foil or card is removed and the vessel interface 26 is used to attach the closure 10 to the uncapped neck 27 of the filled bottle to be used. Tightening the closure 10 on the bottle neck 27 creates a seal with the seal 30, preventing leakage past the thread 28, and brings the guide lip 37 of the cam mechanism 36 into contact with the uppermost edge of the bottle neck 27. Further tightening of the closure 10 pivots the cam mechanism 36 about its hinge 40, as the rim of the bottle neck 27 slides on curved surface 39, forcing the end 42 up into, and raising the centre of the wall 32.

The ends of the elongate supporting members 34 closest to the axis A are lifted with the wall.

The wall 32 starts to tear at its weak periphery 33 opposite the cam mechanism 36 (where deflection is the greatest), and then shears progressively about most of its periphery. The liquid within the chamber starts to flow into the bottle as the wall 32 is torn. The curved profile 17 eases liquid flow past the wall 32. Once the wall is fully opened, the two liquids can be fully mixed by inverting the bottle and closure. Advantageously, the cap 18 is then removed to allow the mixed fluids to be drunk. By enabling the mixed fluids to be consumed via the closure 10, there is no risk that the level of mixed liquid in the bottle is above the rim, causing a spillage if the closure has to be removed for it the liquid to be consumed/used.

The cylinder 12 may be of a transparent material in order to allow the contents of the closure to be seen by consumers. In alternative embodiments, the closure 10 may be sold pre-attached to a bottle with a removable tamper evident strip around part of the thread to prevent activation of the seal 30 before it is desired. In this case the closure 10 would be sold part-screwed to a bottle. The tamper evident strip would be removed and the closure screwed further on to the bottle in order for the cam mechanism to be activated. The cap may also be provide with a tamper evident connection to the cylinder. The cap may be a sports cap or other closure. The threaded vessel interface 26 of the present embodiment may be replaced by a simple push-on interface.

The closure 10 may be used dispense powder or one or more tablets in place of liquid, and adapted as necessary for this purpose. Although the invention has been described in relation to drinks, it will be appreciated that it may be employed to dispense other substances such as pharmaceuticals, beauty products, chemicals and the like.

Two or more cam mechanisms may be provided around perimeter of the wall, and the wall may be provided with further weakened regions, so it may split into two or more sections as it lifts.

Other cam mechanisms may be used. For example, a block may extend downwardly from the wall in one location, and the wall weakened around its perimeter, except in a location diametrically opposite the block. As the closure is screwed down, the block forces the adjacent weakened region to fail first, and the failure then extends further and the closure continues to be screwed down, allowing the liquid to flow. The cam may be provided with a formation to pierce rather that shear the wall.

The closure 10 of the present invention provides a simple mechanism which uses an existing bottle for activation with only simple twisting required by the consumer. The closure 10 is economical and simple to manufacture and assemble.

Claims (16)

1. Claims 1. A dispensing closure for a vessel comprising a chamber, a vessel interface and an openable barrier intermediate the chamber and the interface, the vessel interface configured for insertion on to a vessel, and comprising a cam mechanism and a hinge arranged such that by virtue of relative movement of the chamber and a vessel, in use, the cam mechanism opens the barrier and permits material held within the chamber to be dispensed into a vessel.
2. 2. A closure according to claim 1 wherein the cam mechanism is mounted to the closure via the hinge.
3. 3. A closure according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the openable barrier comprises a wall.
4. 4. A closure according to claim 3 wherein the wall comprises a weakened region to promote opening thereof.
5. 5. A closure according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the wall comprises a support structure, preferably in the form of at least one elongate support member.
6. 6. A closure according to claim 5 wherein the wall is supported by the at least one elongate support member.
7. 7. A closure according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the at least one elongate support member is integral to the openable barrier.
8. 8. A closure according to any preceding claim wherein the cam mechanism transfers the relative movement of the closure and a vessel into a pivoting motion of a part of the openable barrier.
9. 9. A closure according to any preceding claim wherein the cam mechanism is integral to the openable barrier.
10. 10. A closure according to any preceding claim wherein the vessel interface comprises an internal thread.
11. 11. A closure according to any preceding claim wherein the vessel interface comprises a peripheral seal.
12. 12. A closure according to any preceding claim and further comprising a closure cap.
13. 13. A vessel and a dispensing closure for said vessel according to any preceding claim
14. 14. A method of producing a closure for a vessel comprising the steps of: a) injection moulding a closure comprising a chamber, a vessel interface and an openable barrier; and b) injection moulding a closure cap.
15. 15. A method of producing a closure according to claim 13 and further comprising the steps of: c) manufacturing an internal thread; and/or d) manufacturing a peripheral elastomeric seal; and e) inserting said thread and/or said seal into the closure.
16. 16. A closure and method substantially as hereinbefore described and/or with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and/or 4 of the drawings.*.:r: INTELLECTUAL . ... PROPERTY OFFICE Application No: GB 1011157.3 Examiner: Mr DalTen Williams Claims searched: 1-16 Date of search: 27 August 2010 Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17 Documents considered to be relevant: Category Relevant Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance to claims X 1-4, 8-15 W02006/027782 A2 (KATZ) see especially figures 15 & 16 X 1-4, 8-15 US7066323 Bi (REISMAN) see especially figures 3 and 6 X 1-4,8-11, JP10329874A 13-15 (TSUNODA) see English abstract provided and figures 1 & 3 X 1,3 W02010/059636A2 (SABIN) see especially figure 1 A -GB2137181A (ZULAF) A -US2008/289976 Al (HENRY) Categories: X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive A Document indicating technological background and/or state step of the art.Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of before the filing date of this invention.same category.& Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:Search of GB, EP, WO & US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCX: Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC B65D The following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of this search report EPODOC, WPI Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk *.:r: INTELLECTUAL . ... PROPERTY OFFICE International Classification: Subclass Subgroup Valid From B65D 0081/32 01/01/2006 B65D 0025/08 01/01/2006 Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk