CLOSURE CAP HAVING BLISTER PACK RUPTURABLE UPON OPENING OF CAP

BOUCHON DE FERMETURE POSSEDANT UN EMBALLAGE BLISTER SE BRISANT LORS DE L'OUVERTURE DUDIT BOUCHON

English Abstract

A closure cap (21) having therein a blister pack (23) in which
an additive, which may be a tablet (8), is retained to be released
into the liquid contents of an associated bottle (25) simultaneously
upon opening of the closure cap and the rupturing of said blister
pack by part (3) of a closure member (21) and forming part of
the closure cap, whereafter the contents of the container may be
dispensed either through the closure cap or after removal of the
closure cap.

French Abstract

Cette invention concerne un bouchon de fermeture (21) dans lequel se trouve un emballage de type blister (23) qui renferme un additif tel qu'une pastille (8). Cette additif peut être libéré de manière à passer dans le contenu liquide d'une bouteille attenante (25), ceci lors de l'ouverture du bouchon et de la rupture simultanée du blister à l'aide d'une partie (3) d'un élément de fermeture (21) faisant partie dudit bouchon. Le contenu du conteneur peut ainsi être distribué soit par le bouchon de fermeture, soit en retirant ce dernier.

Claims

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CLAIMS:

1. A closure cap having a compartment for retaining an
additive, the closure cap having a first portion and a
body portion defining a push-pull mechanism, said first
portion having an aperture, whereby opening of the
closure cap is achieved by pulling said first portion of
the closure cap relative to said body portion to an open
position without said first portion being rotated
relative to said body portion, and any additive in said
compartment is simultaneously released from the
compartment, whereby, in use, any such additive is
released into an associated container having liquid
contents, whereafter the liquid contents of the
associated container may be dispensed through the
aperture in said first portion, and wherein closing of
the closure cap is achieved by pushing said first portion
relative to said body portion to a closed position in
which said aperture is closed, whereafter spillage of the
contents of the associated container will not occur.
2. A closure cap as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a second portion which is fixed relative to
said body portion and which closes the aperture when said
first portion is pushed to the closed position.
3. A closure cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
second portion engages the compartment as said first
portion is pulled towards the open position, thereby
causing any additive therein to be released.
4. A closure cap as claimed in claim 3, wherein said
second portion is an axial post joined to said body
portion of the closure cap by a plurality of struts, the
body portion, the struts and the axial post defining a
plurality of secondary apertures through which the liquid


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contents may pass.

5. A closure cap as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
first portion has at least two legs extending therefrom
and connected to the compartment.

6. A closure cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
second portion is an axial post joined to said body
portion of the closure cap by a plurality of struts, the
body portion, the struts and the axial post defining a
plurality of secondary apertures through which the liquid
contents may pass.

7. A closure cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
first portion has at least two legs extending therefrom
and connected to the compartment.

8. A closure cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
first portion has at least two legs extending therefrom
and connected to the compartment.

9. A closure cap as claimed in claim 3, wherein said
first portion has at least two legs extending therefrom
and connection to the compartment.

10. A closure cap as claimed in claim 5, wherein said at
least two legs have shoulder portions which abut an inner
surface of said body portion when said first portion is
in the open position, thereby preventing the first
portion from being detached from the closure cap.

11. A closure cap as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
first portion has at least two legs extending therefrom
and connected to the compartment.

12. A closure cap as claimed in claim 5, wherein said
first portion has at least two legs extending therefrom


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and connected to the compartment.

13. A closure cap as claimed in claim 10, wherein said
first portion has at least two legs extending therefrom
and connected to the compartment.

14. A closure cap as claimed in claim 1 in combination
with a container.

15. The combination of a closure cap and a container as
claimed in claim 14, wherein the container is a bottle
with a neck and said closure cap is screw-threaded onto
the neck of said bottle.

16. A closure cap as claimed in claim 1 in combination
with an additive.

17. The combination of a closure cap and an additive as
claimed in claim 16, wherein the additive is a tablet.

18. The combination of a closure cap and a container as
claimed in claim 14, in combination with an additive.

19. The combination of claim 18, wherein the additive is
a tablet.

20. A closure for a container, the closure having a
compartment for holding an additive fluidly isolated from
the container by a frangible membrane, a first portion
and a body portion, wherein the first portion has an
aperture that is sealed by the body portion in a closed
position, and wherein non-rotational, axial movement of
the first portion away from the body portion to an open
position unseals the aperture and forces the additive
into and through the frangible membrane to fluidly
connect the compartment with the container and release
the additive into the container.


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21. The closure of claim 20, wherein the container is
fluidly connected with the aperture.

22. The closure of claim 21, wherein non-rotation, axial
movement of the first portion toward the body portion
from the open position to the closed position seals the
aperture.

23. In combination, a closure cap and a container, the
closure having a compartment for holding an additive
fluidly isolated from the container by a frangible
membrane, a first portion and a body portion, wherein the
first portion has an aperture that is sealed by the body
portion in a closed position, and wherein non-rotational,
axial movement of the first portion relative to the body
portion to an open position unseals the aperture and
forces the additive into and through the frangible
membrane and into the container.

24. The combination of claim 23, wherein the container
is fluidly connected to the aperture and contents of the
container may be dispensed through the aperture in the
open position, and wherein the container is sealed by the
closure cap in the closed position.

Description

CA 02258997 1998-12-23
WO 98/00348 PCT/AU97I00400
CLOSURE CAP HAVING BLISTER PACK RUPTURABLE UPON OPENTNG OF CAP
15 Technical Field
The present invention relates to a closure cap
for a drink container, and a drink container carrying such
a closure cap.
The closure cap of the present invention is to be
associated with a drink container in which a base liquid is
received and into which an additive is to dispensed. The
additive, may be a vitamin and/or electrolyte supplement as
may be consumed by a sportsperson, or an antacid or stomach
settling compound, and either in liquid, powdered or
dissolvable tablet form.
The primary object of the invention is to retain
the additive in the closure and isolate it from the base
liquid until such time as the drink is to be consumed, at
which time the additive is released into the base liquid.
Background Art
It is known to provide a closure cap for a
container which allows two substances to be mixed to form a
' single composite product. Such containers are often used
in dentistry or medicine to keep two reagents separate
until they are to be used. AU - 37210/89 discloses a cap
with a push-button that releases an additive When pressed.
The composite product is subseQuently dispensed by

' CA 02258997 1998-12-23 Q~I.~IU ~ 7 ~ -_
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unscrewing the closure cap. US 4132308 discloses a screw
cap which mixes two substances when the cap is rotated.
It is also known to provide drink containers
which allow the combination of two ingredients. GB 2211479
discloses a device for storing mixed drinks where the
ingredients are stored in two separate compartments
separated by a partition which is ruptured by a punch prior
to consumption. OS 4399158 discloses a container in which
an additive is secured within a holder which is held closed
by internal pressure until the can is opened at which time
the additive is released into the beverage. AU 84745/82
discloses a dual compartment beverage container wherein the
dividing diaphragm is ruptured by the interaction of a
drinking straw with a cutting tool.
Disclosure Of The Invention
In accordance with the invention there is
provided a closure cap having a compartment in which an.
additive is retained and adapted to be released into the
liquid contents of an associated container simultaneously
upon opening of the closure cap, the closure cap having a
closure means which incorporates a push-pull mechanism
movable relative to a body portion of the closure cap,
whereby the cap is opened by pulling a first portion of the
closure means to an open position, whereafter the contents
of the container may be dispensed through an aperture in
said first portion, and wherein the closure cap may be
closed by pushing said first portion to a closed position,
wh~reafter spillage of the contents of the associated
bottle will not occur.
One advantage of incorporating the means for
retaining the additive in the closure cap is that the
device may be used in conjunction with a standard drink
bottle, hence reducing production costs. A further
advantage is that causing mixing and allowing dispensing
may be achieved by the same action.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the
closure cap is used in conjunction with a carbonated or
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CA 02258997 1998-12-23 p~,~~U g 7
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still colourless drink product contained in a clear bottle.
A tablet is retained within the closure cap which
effervesces when released into the drink product. The
tablet may typically contain colour, flavour, vitamin
substitutes, non-prescription medication or a combination
thereof, which are mixed with the base liquid of the drink
product by the effervescing of the tablet and by shaking
the bottle. Also, there is the opportunity to keep the
flavouring, colouring, vitamins or medicines separate from
the drink until the moment of consumption hence allowing
flavours, colours, vitamins or medicines which would
normally not keep for a long duration to be used, or
alternatively to reduce the amount of preservative used in
the drink product.
Brief Description Of The Drawings
One preferred embodiment of the invention will
now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which;
Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view
through the closure cap of this preferred embodiment of the
invention and in a preliminary condition as applied to the
neck of a drink container, such as a neck of a plastics or
glass bottle,
Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view
of the closure cap of Figure 1, but in the process of
actuation to release an additive into the base liquid
contents of the bottle, and to allow dispensing or
consumption of the liquid contents of the associated
bottle, and
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of some
of the components of the closure cap of Figures 1 and 2.
Best Mode For Carrying Out The Invention
With reference to the drawings, in this preferred
embodiment the closure cap comprises a screw cap 2; a
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IF~A/AU

CA 02258997 1998-12-23
WO 98100348 PCT/AU97/00400
4
closure member 21; and a blister pack 23 containing a
tablet 8. The screw cap 2 is adapted to be screwed onto
the neck of a bottle 25 in the conventional manner sad is
preferably made from a recyclable plastic material. The
screw cap 2 is constructed in a stepped cylindrical manner
with two or more cylindrical sections. The bottom
cylindrical section 12 contains the screw thread 15 and ie
dimensioned to correspond with the bottle. The top
cylindrical section 14 is of a smaller diameter. The screw
cap also includes a central pillar 3 which sits within the
neck of the bottle and which is formed integrally with the
screw cap. The pillar 3 is attached to the bottom 16 of
the top cyiia8rieal section either by spokes or by a disc
with cut out portions 24. The pillar 3 extends above and
below the attachment point 16 and its circumference is
dimensioned to correspond with the inner circumference of
an aperture 7 through the closure member sad it extends to
a distance above the attachment point which allows it to
fully close the aperture 7 when the closure member 21 is in
the closed position. The closure member 21 is slidably
movable between a closed and an open position.
The main features of the closure member 21 are: a
mouthpiece portion 11; a cylindrical section 17; and two or
more leg sections 6. The mouthpiece portion 11 is at the
top of the closure member 21 and has an upper surface which
is slightly curved in order to allow the top of the
aperture to extend into the consumer's mouth when the
consumer's lips are in contact with the mouthpiece. The
aperture 7 is dimensione8 to control the volume of liquid
which flows in a gives time period. The mouthpiece portion
also has a flange 10 which extends beyond the outer
circumference of the top cylindrical section 14 of the
screw cap member 2. The bottom surface of the flange 10
allows the consumer to grip the closure member 21 and
provides a surface area onto which force may be applied
when moving the closure member 21 to the open position.
The mouth piece 11 1e formed integrally with the

CA 02258997 1998-12-23
WO 98/00348 pCTIAU97100400
cylindrical section 17 which is dimensioned so that when
the closure 21 member is in the closed position the flange
16 rests on top 18 of the screw cap member whilst the
bottom of the cylindrical section rests on the spokes 24
5 which join the central pillar 3 to the rest of the screw
cap. The cylindrical section 17 of the closure member 21
fits within the top cylindrical section 14 of the screw cap
2 and has a raised ridge area 9 designed to fit Within a
corresponding indentation 22 within the top cylindrical
section 14 of the screw cap. The ridge/iadentation
combination are provided to stop the lid member
accidentally moving from the closed to open positions. The
ridge/indentation combination are sized such that the lid
member cannot move freely but can be easily moved by
application of force such as can reasonably be applied by
hand.
Two or more legs 6. is this case two
diametrically opposed legs, extend from the bottom of the
cylindrical section through the cut out portions of the
disc 24 which attaches the central pillar 3 to the screw
cap 2. The legs 6 have tapered shoulders 19 which restrict
the travel of the lid member whey it is opened and when the
top surface of the shoulder contacts the underside of the
top of the middle cylindrical section 20 of the screw cap
member.
The blister pack 23 consists of a deformable dome
4 which has a frangible seal 5 as its base. The blister
pack 23 is attached to the lower section of the legs 6 at a
distance which allows the top of the dome of the blister
pack to reside just below the central pillar when the
closure member is in the closed position. When the closure
member is moved towards the open position the dome contacts
the pillar and deforms inwardly which subsequently applies
sufficient force on the tablet 8 to cause it to rupture the
frangible seal 5 and to drop into the liquid contained in
the bottle. To ensure that the blister pack 23 is
effectively ruptured the distance which the closure member

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WO 98100348 PCT/AU97/00400
6
21 travels from the closed to open positions must be
considered in relation to the distance the legs 6 extend
below the bottom of the pillar 3, the distance to which the
pillar extends below the attachment point 16, and the size
S of the blister pack.

Representative Drawing