A closure with an additive reservoir is mounted on a container for a consumable liquid. The closure has a base, which includes the additive reservoir; a spout mounted on the base; a plunger positioned in the additive reservoir, and an outer cap. Upon advancing the plunger, an additive in the reservo
A closure with an additive reservoir is mounted on a container for a consumable liquid. The closure has a base, which includes the additive reservoir; a spout mounted on the base; a plunger positioned in the additive reservoir, and an outer cap. Upon advancing the plunger, an additive in the reservoir is released into the consumable liquid after the additive or plunger ruptures or otherwise opens a barrier provided by a foil, membrane or plug. Upon moving the spout from a first position on the base to a second position, a passageway through the base is opened and the consumable liquid flows to the consumer without having to remove the closure. The additive chamber is mounted in a support column of the base with the passageway for the consumable liquid being disposed between the additive chamber and the support column. In a preferred embodiment the additive is the sole pressure link between the plunger and barrier.
대표청구항▼
1. A closure for closing an opening of a container wherein the container is configured to contain a consumable liquid and the closure is configured to contain an additive, the closure having a first end which connects to the container and a second end through which the consumable liquid and additive
1. A closure for closing an opening of a container wherein the container is configured to contain a consumable liquid and the closure is configured to contain an additive, the closure having a first end which connects to the container and a second end through which the consumable liquid and additive are dispensed, the closure comprising: a base including a reservoir defining an additive chamber and a support column; the support column being spaced laterally from, integral with and surrounding the reservoir and additive chamber; a passageway disposed between and extending around the support column and the reservoir, the passageway having an outlet arrangement at the second end of the closure for allowing the consumable liquid in the container to flow around the reservoir and through the outlet arrangement to a consumer, and the additive chamber having a chamber opening allowing the additive to exit therefrom into the consumable liquid, the chamber opening being closed by a barrier;a plunger mounted in the additive chamber for movement with respect to the additive chamber and the support column, the plunger closing one end of the additive chamber and having a pressure surface for causing the additive to pressurize and open the barrier upon advancing the plunger toward the barrier, wherein the additive flows out of the additive chamber opening and into the consumable liquid, and wherein the consumable liquid and additive cannot flow back through and out of the additive chamber when dispensed;a spout movably mounted on the support column and positioned around the plunger and the passageway, the spout having a sealed relationship with the outlet arrangement of the passageway when in a first position and an unsealed relationship with the passageway when in a second position, wherein upon moving the spout from the first to the second position and tilting the container, the consumable liquid together with the additive flows through the outlet arrangement to the consumer without having to remove the closure from the container. 2. The closure of claim 1 wherein the additive is a liquid. 3. The closure of claim 2 wherein the liquid is unencapsulated within the additive chamber and the liquid directly engages the barrier. 4. The closure of claim 2 wherein the liquid is within a gel cap and the gel cap directly engages the barrier. 5. The closure of claim 1 wherein the additive is a solid in the form of pellets, granules, powder or tablets. 6. The closure of claim 1 wherein the additive chamber is mounted within the support column with the passageway disposed between the additive chamber and the support column. 7. The closure of claim 6 wherein a stop is disposed between the plunger and the additive chamber to prevent the plunger from sliding out of the additive chamber. 8. The closure of claim 6 wherein the base, additive chamber, plunger and spout are concentric. 9. The closure of claim 8 wherein the additive is retained in the additive chamber by a membrane or foil sealing the additive chamber off with respect to the consumable liquid within the container, the membrane or foil being ruptured or dislarged dislodged upon pressing the plunger which increases pressure within the additive chamber and against the additive to cause the additive to rupture the membrane barrier. 10. The closure of claim 9 wherein the additive is in the form of a pellet, pellets, granules, powder, pills, gel and/or a liquid. 11. The closure of claim 10 wherein the additive is a colorant, flavorant or health product. 12. The closure of claim 1 further including a tamper proof and dust resistant cap fitting over the plunger and spout to protect the plunger from unauthorized activation. 13. The closure of claim 1 wherein the plunger is slidably mounted in the additive chamber whereby pushing the plunger advances the plunger toward the barrier. 14. The closure of claim 1 wherein the plunger has a first helix that cooperates with a second helix in the additive chamber, wherein rotating the plunger advances the plunger toward the barrier. 15. The closure of claim 1 wherein the base, plunger and spout are concentric. 16. The closure of claim 1 in which the plunger has a length substantially the same as the length of the additive chamber, wherein the plunger extends substantially to the barrier when pressed to remove all of the additive from the additive chamber by direct engagement with the plunger. 17. The closure of claim 1 in which the plunger has a length substantially less than the additive chamber wherein depressing the plunger is sufficient to breach the barrier allowing the additive to drain from the additive chamber. 18. The closure of claim 17 wherein the additive chamber includes a effervescing material which mixes with the additive liquid upon advancing the plunger to release a gas that helps propel the liquid from the additive chamber. 19. The closure of claim 1 wherein the additive chamber includes an effervescing material which mixes with the liquid upon depressing the plunger. 20. The closure of claim 1 wherein the additive chamber includes a vitamin or vitamins, minerals, proteins or supplements. 21. The closure of claim 1 wherein the additive chamber is disposed within a column which extends above a top surface of the base to define therebetween the passageway which allows the liquid to flow from the container to the consumer, the spout having a selected height above the top surface of the base when in the first position and the additive chamber having a height above the top surface at least proximating the height of the spout. 22. The closure of claim 21 in combination with the container. 23. The closure of claim 1 in combination with the container. 24. The closure of claim 1 wherein the pressure surface of the plunger and direct contact between the additive and barrier provides the sole pressure link between the plunger and the barrier. 25. The closure of claim 1 wherein the outlet arrangement comprises a plurality of openings between ribs supporting the reservoir on the support column. 26. The closure of claim 1 wherein the plunger has an insertion length with respect to a length of the chamber wherein the plunger remains out of direct contact with the barrier prior to the additive being pressurized to open the barrier. 27. The closure of claim 1 wherein the reservoir and support column have selected heights and wherein the base has a collar portion for attachment to the container, the collar portion having a selected height which when combined with the selected height of the support column does not exceed the selected height of the reservoir.
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