Dispensing closure with integral piercing unit

Abstract

A single use unit dosage dispensing closure includes a shell attached to a container with an integral piecing member, an axial movable cap attached to the shell and a sealing member coupled to the cap. The shell has an inner guide in communication with the container and the cap is moveable along the guide. The cap has a chamber adapted to dispense material into the container. The chamber is sealed with the sealing member extending across a lower open end thereof, wherein axial movement of the cap along the inner guide member will cause the sealing member to be pieced by the piercing member to open the chamber and dispense the contents of the chamber into the container. The axial movable cap is formed from a material with a higher oxygen and moisture barrier property than the material forming the shell.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to cap dispensing closures for a container, more particularly to a dispensing closure with an integral piercing unit for piercing a chamber in the cap to dispense the contents there-of into the container. [0003] 2. Prior Art [0004] The broad concept of a container closure including a compartment for storing material separate from the container for selectively mixing with the container is very old and well known. [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,745 discloses a container with two compartments and a piercing member used to rupture the wall between the compartments to allow the material stored in one compartment to mix with the material in the other. [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 3,603,469 discloses a container closure having a cap that forms an interior chamber or reservoir for storing a substance. A reciprocating piercing member is used to rupture the reservoir to allow the material stored in the reser...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0026] The shell may have an outer skirt with a closure attaching mechanism, such as a thread, on the outer skirt for attaching the shell to the container. A tamper evident band can be placed on a lower end of the outer skirt. A tamper evident band may be placed around the cap to prevent premature dispensing of the contents of the chamber.

Problems solved by technology

In the designs that piece a separation membrane (e.g. a foil layer), there is no sufficient piercing structure that moves the pieced membrane out of the way to insure complete disbursement of the material in the cap.

Further, many of these prior art designs are impractical from a standpoint of filling the chamber or reservoir in the closure.

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