Dispensing caps, insertable cartridges, dispensing containers, dispensing systems, and methods of manufacture and use

Abstract

In some embodiments, provided herein are devices and methods related to a dispensing container with a dispensing lid and a cartridge disposed therein. In one aspect, a dispensing container includes a bottle with a primary fluid, a dispensing cap with a receptacle, and a cartridge insertable into its receptacle and including a secondary fluid within a cavity of the cartridge. Methods of making the dispensing containers, caps, and cartridges are also provided, as are methods of using the dispensing caps and containers to dispense two different fluids.

Description

Related Applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 399,591 filed on August 19, 2022, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 399,599 filed on August 19, 2022, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 399,605 filed on August 19, 2022, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 433,896 filed on December 20, 2022, the contents of each of the above applications being incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to container packaging for fluids. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to containers with dispensing caps. Background Art

[0003] There are a wide variety of fluid packaged products on the market, which provides consumers with a range of choices. Such products may include, for example, food products such as beverages, sauces and condiments; personal care products such as body washes, lotions and hair care products; and home care products such as detergents. The number of products can be particularly large when there are many different formulations or recipes of products within a category. However, products are often packaged individually in individual full-sized containers. Therefore, if a consumer wants to try or use more than one product at a time, multiple full-sized products or additives must usually be purchased to mix with other products. The need and cost of storing all the individual containers can be burdensome for consumers.

[0004] For packaged foods, such issues are often more complex. Consumers expect to try many different foods and often want to use several different products in one meal, but are often challenged by limited storage space (e.g., on refrigerator shelves). In addition, many packaged foods are stored in households with several different individuals who may have different food preferences.

[0005] To alleviate these problems, in some cases, different substances can be packaged in a single packaged product. This is usually achieved by packaging the different substances in different containers that are fixed together and / or stored together.

[0006] In another approach, different substances are provided in different compartments or chambers of a single container. By one approach, each compartment of the container has a dedicated closure, and the user can open and close each compartment as desired. However, this approach can be cumbersome for the user and may not be the best choice if it is desired to co-dispense several substances at once. This is especially true for fluid substances, as the fluid will be co-dispensed in separate streams rather than in a single stream of product, which can be difficult to manage.

[0007] By another approach, there may be a single mixing closure that mixes fluids from different compartments of a container within the closure, or as the fluids leave the closure. However, this approach may not be ideal if mixing of the fluids is not desired. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Embodiments of devices, systems, and methods related to dispensing containers with dispensing caps, dispensing caps with cartridges, and cartridges for dispensing caps are disclosed herein. This specification includes drawings, in which:

[0009] Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a dispensing cap with a cartridge therein, according to some embodiments.

[0010] Figure 2 According to some embodiments Figure 1 A top perspective view of the cover and cartridge in FIG. 1 with the cartridge removed from the cover.

[0011] Figure 3 According to some embodiments, Figure 1 A top perspective view of a dispensing bottle with a cap and cartridge in FIG.

[0012] Figure 4 is a bottom perspective cutaway view of a dispensing cap according to some embodiments, shown attached to a bottle.

[0013] Figure 5 is a bottom perspective cutaway view of the underside of a dispensing cap according to some embodiments.

[0014] Figure 6 According to some embodiments Figure 5 A horizontal perspective cross-sectional view of the dispensing cover taken along line 6-6.

[0015] Figure 7 According to several embodiments, Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the cartridge of the dispensing cap taken along line 7-7.

[0016] Figure 8 is according to some embodiments in a first unactuated piston position Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the dispensing cover taken along line 8-8.

[0017] Fig. 9 According to some embodiments, in the second fully extended piston position Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the dispensing cover taken along line 8-8.

[0018] Fig.10 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the dispensing cap in the fully extended piston position for dispensing fluid from a bottle only when the dispensing cap is in use and no cartridge is inserted therein.

[0019] Fig.11 is a schematic diagram of dispensing fluid according to some embodiments.

[0020] Fig.12 is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a dispensing cap with a cartridge therein.

[0021] Fig.13 It has a barrel Fig.12 Side view of the dispensing cover.

[0022] Fig.14 It has a barrel Fig.12 A bottom perspective view of a dispensing cover.

[0023] Fig.15 It has a barrel Fig.12 Exploded view of the dispensing cap.

[0024] Fig.16 yes Fig.12 A top perspective view of a cartridge with a dispensing cap.

[0025] Fig.17 yes Fig.12 A bottom perspective view of a cartridge with a dispensing cap.

[0026] Fig.18 yes Fig.12 A bottom perspective view of a cartridge with a dispensing cap.

[0027] Fig.19 yes Fig.12 Exploded view of the cartridge with the dispensing cap.

[0028] Fig. 20A yes Fig.16 A side perspective view of the valve body of the barrel.

[0029] Fig. 20B yes Fig.16 A bottom perspective view of the valve body of the barrel.

[0030] Fig. 20C yes Fig.16 A side perspective view of the valve body of the barrel.

[0031] Fig.20D yes Fig.16 A top perspective view of the valve body of the barrel.

[0032] Fig.21A yes Fig.16 A top perspective view of a cartridge piston element of a cartridge.

[0033] Fig.21B yes Fig.16 A bottom perspective view of a cartridge piston element of a cartridge.

[0034] Fig.22A yes Fig.16 A three-dimensional view of the barrel body of the barrel.

[0035] Fig. 22B yes Fig.16 A three-dimensional view of the barrel body of the barrel.

[0036] Fig. 22C yes Fig.16 A top perspective view of the barrel body of the barrel.

[0037] Fig.22D yes Fig.16 A bottom perspective view of a barrel body of a barrel.

[0038] Fig.22E yes Fig.16 A bottom perspective view of a barrel body of a barrel.

[0039] Fig.23 yes Fig.16 A top perspective view of the cover base of a dispensing cover.

[0040] Fig.24 yes Fig.16 A bottom perspective view of the cover base of the dispensing cover.

[0041] Fig.25 yes Fig.16 A central cross-sectional view of the cover base of a dispensing cover.

[0042] Fig.26 yes Fig.23 Exploded view of the cover base.

[0043] Fig.27A yes Fig.23 A perspective view of the base piston element of the cover base.

[0044] Fig.27B yes Fig.23 A perspective view of the base piston element of the cover base.

[0045] Fig.27C yes Fig.23 A perspective view of the base piston element of the cover base.

[0046] Fig.28A yes Fig.23 A perspective view of a portion of a cover base.

[0047] Fig.28B yes Fig.23 A perspective view of another portion of the cover base.

[0048] Fig.29is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a dispensing bottle having an alternative dispensing cap with an alternative cartridge therein.

[0049] Fig.30 yes Fig.29 A portion of a central cutaway view of a dispensing bottle.

[0050] Fig.31 yes Fig.29 A top perspective view of a dispensing cover.

[0051] Fig.32 yes Fig.29 A bottom perspective view of a dispensing cover.

[0052] Fig.33 yes Fig.29 Exploded view of the dispensing cap.

[0053] Fig.34A yes Fig.29 A top perspective view of the cover base of a dispensing cover.

[0054] Fig.34B yes Fig.29 A central cross-sectional view of the cover base of a dispensing cover.

[0055] Fig.35A yes Fig.29 A top perspective view of the cap base of a dispensing cap, shown without the base piston element.

[0056] Fig.35B yes Fig.29 A bottom perspective view of the cap base of a dispensing cap shown without the base piston element.

[0057] Fig.36A yes Fig.29 A top perspective view of the barrel.

[0058] Fig.36B yes Fig.29 A bottom perspective view of the barrel.

[0059] Fig.36C yes Fig.29 Center cross-sectional view of the barrel.

[0060] Fig.37A yes Fig.29 Left side perspective view of the valve body of the barrel.

[0061] Fig.37B yes Fig.29 A right side perspective view of the valve body of the barrel.

[0062] Fig.37C yes Fig.29 A bottom perspective view of the valve body of the barrel.

[0063] Fig.37D yes Fig.29 A top perspective view of the valve body of the barrel.

[0064] Fig.38A yes Fig.29 A top perspective view of the barrel body of the barrel.

[0065] Fig.38B yes Fig.29 A bottom perspective view of a barrel body of a barrel.

[0066] Fig.39A yes Fig.29 A top perspective view of a cartridge piston element of a cartridge.

[0067] Fig.39B yes Fig.29 A bottom perspective view of a cartridge piston element of a cartridge.

[0068] Fig.40A yes Fig.29 A perspective view of a portion of a cover base of a dispensing cover.

[0069] Fig.40B yes Fig.29 A perspective view of another portion of the cover base of the dispensing cover.

[0070] Fig.41A is a schematic diagram of dispensing fluid according to some embodiments.

[0071] Fig.41B is a schematic diagram of dispensing fluid according to some embodiments.

[0072] For simplicity and clarity, elements are shown in the drawings, and the elements are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the size and / or relative position of some elements in the drawings may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help enhance the understanding of the various embodiments of the present disclosure. In addition, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in commercially feasible embodiments may be omitted to facilitate a less obstructive view of these different embodiments of the present invention. Certain actions and / or steps can be described or depicted in a specific order of occurrence, but in fact such specificity relative to the order is not required. The terms and expressions used herein have the common technical meanings assigned to these terms and expressions by a technician in the technical field as stated above, unless different specific meanings have been stated separately herein.

[0073] In addition, the following description of illustrative embodiments according to the principles of the present disclosure is intended to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which should be considered as part of the entire written description. In the description of the embodiments disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is only for convenience of description and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Relative terms such as "lower", "upper", "horizontal", "vertical", "above", "below", "upward", "downward", "top" and "bottom" and their derivatives (e.g., "horizontally", "downwardly", "upwardly", etc.) should be interpreted as referring to the orientation shown in the drawings described or under discussion at the time. These relative terms are only for convenience of description, and unless otherwise explicitly stated, the device is not required to be constructed or operated in a specific orientation. Terms such as "attachment", "fixation", "connection", "coupling", "interconnection" refer to the relationship in which structures are fixed or attached to each other directly or indirectly through intermediate structures, as well as movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless otherwise explicitly described. In addition, the features and advantages of the present disclosure are described by reference to certain embodiments. Therefore, the present invention is clearly not limited to such embodiments, which illustrate some possible non-limiting feature combinations, which can exist alone or in other feature combinations. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0074] This article describes a device, system, and manufacturing and use methods related to a dispensing container with a dispensing cap with a cartridge. The dispensing container and the cap can be used to dispense more than one fluid. In an illustrative method, the dispensing cap can dispense up to two different fluids, such as two different condiments, from the dispensing container at the same time. When there are two fluids, one fluid can be contained in the main container body of the dispensing container, such as in a bottle, and the other fluid can be contained in the dispensing cap, particularly in the cartridge of the cap.

[0075] Some embodiments include a dispensing cap or closure for a dispensing container. The dispensing cap may include: a cap base configured to be attached to the neck of a container such as a bottle; a dispensing channel into which a fluid in the container can enter for dispensing; and a receptacle in which a cartridge is disposed. In some configurations, a base piston element is disposed in the base and is movable between a first position and a second position. In some embodiments, this movement occurs when a primary fluid disposed in the container is forced into the cap, which causes at least a portion of the fluid to engage with the base piston element, causing the base piston element to move toward the second position. In an illustrative embodiment, as the base piston element moves toward the second position, it is also configured to drive a cartridge piston element disposed in the cartridge. The movement of the cartridge piston element thereby causes a secondary fluid disposed in the cartridge to flow out of the cartridge. By one approach, the cartridge is configured to be removably attached to the cap base, for example via corresponding threads on the cartridge and the receptacle. The dispensing cap may also include a flip-top cap.

[0076] The present invention further describes a cartridge for dispensing a cap. In some configurations, the cartridge includes a container, a vessel or a cartridge body, a valve element, and the above-mentioned cartridge piston element. By some methods, the valve element is coupled to the outer surface of the body of the dispensing side of the cartridge. The body, the valve element, and the cartridge piston element are configured to form a container that defines a cavity for a fluid disposed in the cartridge. In some methods, the container is removably attached to the dispensing cap. In an illustrative embodiment, the valve element has a tubular portion extending within the container. In this configuration, the tubular portion may include at least one outlet opening in its wall. In addition, the tubular portion may be movable between a first position and a second position relative to the body. For example, the first position of the tubular portion may be a position where at least one opening is covered by the inner wall of the body to prevent the fluid in the container from flowing into the tubular portion via at least one outlet opening. In addition, the second position may be a position where the fluid in the container can flow through at least one outlet opening and flow into the tubular portion. In some embodiments, attaching the cartridge to the base of the dispensing cap engages one end of the tubular portion with one end of the dispensing channel of the cap base, moving the tubular portion to open at least one outlet opening.

[0077] By one method, the cartridge includes a body removably attached to a distribution cap. In this configuration, the body typically defines at least a portion of a chamber in which a first fluid is disposed, and the inner cylindrical wall of the body defines at least a portion of a central opening of the body. In one method, a valve element is attached to the outer surface of the body, having a tubular portion extending within the central opening of the body. In use, the tubular portion typically has a first end to receive a secondary fluid flowing from the distribution cap into the tubular portion, and a second end through which the first and second fluids are distributed. The tubular portion typically also includes at least one outlet opening in the wall of the tubular portion through which the first fluid can be distributed from the chamber to join the second fluid.

[0078] In some embodiments of the cartridge, the cartridge piston element is disposed approximately within a chamber of the body around a central opening of the body. In this manner, the cartridge piston is generally movable between a first position and a second position to force the first fluid toward the at least one outlet opening. In an illustrative configuration, the valve element is resiliently deflectable such that the tubular portion is movable along an axis of the central opening to close and open the at least one outlet opening. In an illustrative embodiment, the valve element is formed of polypropylene.

[0079] In one configuration, a cartridge disposed in a receptacle of the cap base includes a sidewall having a lower portion received in the receptacle and an upper portion protruding from the receptacle, the upper portion including one or more gripping surfaces. In some embodiments, a cartridge disposed in a receptacle of the cap base includes external threads for threading into the receptacle, and one or more protrusions on the external threads engage one or more grooves on the internal threads of the receptacle to provide an audible and / or tactile indication to a user when the cartridge is properly positioned in the receptacle.

[0080] Dispensing containers or bottles including a dispensing cap are further described herein. In one method, a dispensing cap including a cartridge as described above is screwed onto the neck of a bottle, wherein the primary fluid is disposed in the bottle and the secondary fluid is disposed in the cartridge.

[0081] By way of an illustrative approach, a dispensing container includes: a bottle including a primary fluid; a dispensing cap removably attached to a neck of the bottle; and a cartridge insertable into a receptacle of the dispensing cap and including a secondary fluid within a cavity of the cartridge. In some configurations, the dispensing cap includes a dispensing channel through which the fluid is dispensed from the dispensing container, the channel defining at least a portion of a fluid path. Additionally, the cartridge may include at least one outlet opening that allows the secondary fluid to flow out of the cavity, the at least one outlet opening being positioned to direct the fluid into the fluid flow path.

[0082] In some embodiments, as the primary and secondary fluids are dispensed, the streams of the primary fluid and at least one stream of the secondary fluid merge together in the fluid flow path. By one approach, the streams merge together and are dispensed without substantial mixing of the primary and secondary fluids. In illustrative embodiments, the primary and secondary fluids are different sauces or condiments having viscosities and flow resistances typical of such products. In some configurations, the primary and secondary fluids have similar fluid properties, such as viscosity, texture, density, compressibility, surface tension, etc., while in other configurations, the primary and secondary fluids have different fluid properties.

[0083] The dispensing bottle may also include a movable base piston element disposed in the dispensing cap. In some configurations, the base piston element is configured to engage a movable cartridge piston element of the cartridge to force the secondary fluid toward at least one outlet opening of the cartridge. The base piston element is movable between a first position and a second position. In some embodiments, the dispensing cap includes one or more stops that prevent the base piston element from moving beyond the second position. By one approach, the bottle has an elastically flexible wall, and manual pressure is applied to the bottle to force at least a portion of the primary fluid against the base piston element of the dispensing cap to move the base piston element, which in turn moves the cartridge piston element. Movement of the cartridge piston element thereby forces the secondary fluid to leave at least one outlet opening of the cartridge. In this configuration, applying manual pressure to the bottle also causes the primary fluid to enter the dispensing channel of the dispensing cap and advance along it to dispense the primary fluid.

[0084] In another method, a method of dispensing a primary fluid and one or more secondary fluids together from a dispensing container uses the dispensing container described herein. In some illustrative methods, the dispensing container includes a dispensing cap disclosed herein that is removably attached to a container, for example, to the neck of a flexible bottle. The method includes the step of applying pressure to the flexible bottle, the pressure being effective to cause a certain amount of the primary fluid disposed in the bottle to flow out of the flexible bottle into the dispensing cap. For example, a user can manually apply pressure to the bottle by squeezing the bottle.

[0085] In one configuration, a first portion of the primary fluid flows into the dispensing channel, while a second portion of the primary fluid exerts pressure on a base piston element, causing the base piston element to move from a first position toward a second position. In use, the movement of the base piston element then causes a cartridge piston element in the cartridge to move, for example, toward a dispensing side of the cap. This movement forces a secondary fluid disposed in the cartridge to flow out through at least one outlet opening in the cartridge to merge in a flow path with the primary fluid from the dispensing channel, where they can be dispensed together from the cap. In an illustrative configuration, they merge together within a tubular portion of a valve element of the cartridge and are dispensed without substantial mixing of the primary and secondary fluids, so that each fluid is clearly visible in the dispensed stream.

[0086] In an embodiment, the method may include inserting the cartridge into the cover so that the cartridge is not yet disposed therein. Thus, the method may also include inserting the cartridge into a receptacle of the dispensing cover before use. For example, the user may screw the cartridge into the dispensing cover. The method of inserting the cartridge into the receptacle of the dispensing cover is not particularly limited, as long as the cartridge can be manually inserted and removed by an ordinary user without excessive effort, and as long as the cartridge can be securely held in place after insertion and during use. For example, as an alternative, the cartridge may be engaged with the remainder of the dispensing cover (such as a receptacle) via other mechanical connections, such as an interference fit, a snap fit, a friction fit, and / or an escapement or other biasing mechanism.

[0087] In certain embodiments, the user usually orients the cartridge by aligning the geometry of the cartridge with the corresponding geometry of the receptacle so that the cartridge is inserted into the receptacle of the lid. For example, there may be a mark, a notch or other visual indication on the lid and / or the cartridge to indicate how the cartridge should be inserted or oriented. In certain embodiments, the user may know that the cartridge has been correctly inserted via the indication of some types, such as a click and / or manual or visual feedback. This indication may allow the user to know that the cartridge is in the correct position for dispensing fluid. For example, this indication may open and no longer be blocked / sealed with one or more outlet openings in the cartridge, so that the fluid arranged in the cavity of the cartridge can leave the outlet opening.

[0088] In some embodiments, the cartridge includes external threads for threading into the receptacle, wherein one or more protrusions or grooves on the external threads engage with one or more protrusions or grooves on the internal threads of the receptacle to provide an audible and / or tactile indication to the user when the cartridge is properly positioned in the receptacle. The method may include threading the cartridge into the receptacle until the user receives the indication.

[0089] The method may further include threading a base of the dispensing cap onto the neck of the bottle. In some embodiments, the neck receives an inlet portion of the base, whereby the primary fluid can flow through the inlet of the dispensing channel and through one or more cap base openings spaced about the inlet to move the base piston element. In some methods, the dispensing channel defines at least a portion of the fluid flow path, and the at least one interior opening of the cartridge is positioned to direct the secondary fluid into the fluid flow path.

[0090] In certain non-limiting embodiments, the viscosity of the secondary fluid is between about 7,000 and about 25,000 centipoise, or between about 7,000 and about 20,000 centipoise.

[0091] By one approach, the step of inserting the cartridge into the receptacle of the dispensing cap (e.g., by screwing or threading) engages the tubular portion of the valve element of the cartridge with one end of the dispensing channel of the dispensing cap base, thereby moving the tubular portion to open at least one outlet opening of the cartridge. As described above, the valve element including the tubular portion can be formed of a resiliently deflectable or otherwise flexible material, effectively allowing movement to occur. In an illustrative configuration, when the cartridge is inserted into the receptacle of the dispensing cap, the flexible tubular portion is pushed in the direction of the dispensing side of the cap, and the user can see that the outer surface of the valve element is pushed or flexed outward from the top of the cap. This can further indicate to the user that the cartridge has been properly positioned to dispense the fluid.

[0092] In some embodiments, the tubular portion of the cartridge is aligned with a central opening of the cartridge, and at least one internal opening is formed in a wall of the tubular portion, a first end of the tubular portion receives the primary fluid from a dispensing channel, and the tubular portion has a second end containing an outlet through which the primary fluid and the secondary fluid are dispensed.

[0093] The method may also include the user removing and / or replacing the cartridge from the dispensing cap. In some embodiments, the user may insert a different cartridge into the cap, for example if the first cartridge is substantially empty or the fluid is depleted, or if the user desires to use a cartridge with a different fluid flavor and / or mouthfeel. In one configuration, the user may remove the cartridge and dispense only the fluid disposed in the bottle via the dispensing cap. In this configuration, the fluid from the bottle is dispensed from the cap through a dispensing channel in the base of the cap.

[0094] The method may also include multiple users using the bottle as many times as desired to dispense the fluids contained therein. For example, if the dispensing container is a condiment container, the bottle contains one condiment (e.g., a primary fluid) and the cartridge of the dispensing cap contains another condiment (e.g., a secondary fluid), the user may dispense multiple servings of both condiments during a meal. In some embodiments, the user may also interchange different cartridges with different fluids in the dispensing cap, or replace a cartridge in the cap with a new cartridge when the first cartridge is empty.

[0095] In some embodiments, a method of manufacturing a dispensing container or bottle includes the steps of forming a flexible bottle and placing a primary fluid therein, and forming a dispensing cap. Advantageously, it is contemplated that the dispensing cap disclosed herein can be easily docked with a container or bottle that has already been designed and manufactured. For example, a bottle designed and manufactured for packaging ketchup can be equipped with a conventional dispensing cap and sold as a package containing a single product (e.g., ketchup). However, the same bottle can alternatively be provided with and / or used in conjunction with the dispensing cap manufactured as described herein, so that a packaging bottle for dispensing multiple products (e.g., ketchup and smoked chili sauce) can be produced.

[0096] By one approach, forming a dispensing cap includes forming a base having a dispensing channel and a receptacle, the base being configured to be attached to a bottle neck. In some configurations, forming the dispensing cap also includes forming a base piston element and coupling it to the base. In this manner, the piston element is movable between a first position and a second position such that as a fluid disposed in the bottle is forced toward the dispensing channel to dispense the fluid, at least a portion of the fluid engages the base piston element and moves the base piston element toward the second position. The dispensing cap may also be formed to include a hinged flip-top cover.

[0097] Another step may include forming a cartridge to be disposed in a receptacle of the base. In one embodiment, the cartridge is formed with a base piston element configured to drive a cartridge piston element of the cartridge as the base piston element moves from a first position toward a second position. By one approach, the step of forming the cartridge includes forming three components: a cartridge body, a valve element, and a cartridge piston element. This step may include, for example, arranging the valve element on a dispensing side of the cartridge body and arranging the cartridge piston element on a side of the cartridge body opposite to the dispensing side, the three components forming a container for containing a fluid. Another step may include arranging the fluid in the cartridge. In an illustrative configuration, the fluid disposed in the cartridge is different from the fluid in the bottle. In one configuration, the manufacturing step includes arranging the filled cartridge in a receptacle of a dispensing cap, and in some embodiments, the dispensing cap with the filled cartridge is screwed onto the filled bottle.

[0098] In some embodiments, a method for manufacturing a cartridge for dispensing a cap includes: providing a fluid; forming a cartridge container including a central opening and a cavity for containing the fluid; forming a cartridge piston element sized to slide along the cavity of the cartridge container and force the fluid to flow out of the cavity; and forming a valve element having a tubular portion sized to extend within the central opening. By some methods, the tubular portion includes at least one outlet opening in its wall. In addition, the manufacturing method generally also includes assembling the cartridge by: arranging the cartridge piston element in the cavity of the cartridge container, filling the cavity with fluid, and coupling the valve element to the container. In this way, the tubular portion is generally aligned with the central opening of the container. Alternatively, the valve element can be first coupled to the container, then the cavity is filled with fluid, and then the cartridge piston element is disposed in the cavity of the cartridge container.

[0099] In some embodiments, a method of manufacturing a dispensing cap includes forming a dispensing cap base, wherein the dispensing cap base includes a dispensing channel and is configured to be attached to the neck of a bottle. In some aspects, the base has a receptacle sized to receive a cartridge. The manufacturing method may also include forming a base piston element and arranging the base piston element in the dispensing cap base, wherein the base piston element is configured to be movable between a first position and a second position. In use, the base piston element can be moved so that as the fluid disposed in the bottle is forced toward the dispensing channel to dispense the fluid, at least a portion of the fluid engages the base piston element and moves the base piston element toward the second position. In some configurations, the method includes arranging a cartridge disclosed herein in a receptacle of the dispensing cap base. In illustrative embodiments, the manufacturing process does not include inserting the cartridge into the cap base; instead, the cartridge remains outside the cap base for insertion by a user.

[0100] In some embodiments, the tubular portion is formed to be movable relative to the container between a first "closed" position, in which the at least one opening is covered by the inner wall of the container to prevent the cartridge fluid from flowing into the tubular portion via the at least one outlet opening, and a second "open" position, in which the cartridge fluid is able to flow through the at least one outlet opening and into the tubular portion. In addition, the step of placing the cartridge in the receptacle will typically also cause the tubular portion to move to the second open position.

[0101] A variety of materials can be used for the components described herein. By one approach, the valve component including the tubular portion is formed of a material that is suitably flexible to allow the above-described movement to occur. In an illustrative embodiment, the valve component is formed of polypropylene.

[0102] In some configurations, the cartridge includes a cartridge body, a valve element, and a cartridge piston element. In fact, in an exemplary method, these three elements are combined to form a cartridge container. In an illustrative embodiment, the cartridge body is formed as an outer cartridge cylindrical wall, which is sized to fit within the cap base, with a hollow interior forming a cavity. In some embodiments, the valve element is coupled to the outer surface of the distribution side of the cartridge body. The distribution end of the tubular portion of the valve element usually forms the distribution outlet of the cartridge, and in use, the cartridge and bottle fluid are distributed from the cap together through the distribution outlet. In addition to the tubular portion, the valve element can also be formed to include a disc-shaped portion, which extends from the tubular portion at the distribution outlet and surrounds the tubular portion. In some embodiments, the disc-shaped portion of the valve element is coupled to the distribution side of the cartridge body (e.g., by gluing, engaging corresponding geometric shapes and / or welding), and partially seals the cartridge on the distribution side of the cartridge. By a method, the above-mentioned inner wall of the container is formed as the inner barrel cylindrical wall of the cartridge body, and the inner barrel cylindrical wall is coupled to the distribution side of the cartridge body. In some configurations, the inner cartridge cylindrical wall defines at least a portion of the central opening of the cartridge container.

[0103] In some embodiments, the base piston element is configured to drive a cartridge piston element disposed in the cartridge as the base piston element moves from the first position toward the second position. The base can be formed to include one or more stops configured to prevent the base piston element from moving beyond the second position. In an illustrative configuration, the cartridge piston element is formed with an engagement member, such as an upstanding rib, for engaging the base piston element during movement.

[0104] By one approach, the manufacturing step of placing the cartridge in the receptacle engages the first end of the tubular portion with one end of the dispensing passage, causing the tubular portion to move to open at least one outlet opening. However, it should be understood that the manufacturing process may not include placing the cartridge in the receptacle so that the user typically inserts the cartridge prior to use.

[0105] The manufacturing method may also include adding a tamper-evident feature or packaging to the cartridge and / or dispensing container. For example, one or more cartridges may be sealed in a flow pack. In some embodiments, the cartridge may have a tamper-evident sealing liner on the dispensing side of the cartridge and on a side opposite the dispensing side. Tamper-evident seals may also be provided on the mouth of the flexible bottle. Before use, the user typically needs to remove these seals.

[0106] In any of the above embodiments of the manufacturing method, the base of the dispensing cap may be formed to include a guide channel along which at least a portion of the base piston element moves. The base may be formed so that at least a portion of the dispensing channel extends within the guide channel, and may include at least one base opening through which fluid from the bottle can flow between the dispensing channel and the guide channel to engage the base piston element, forcing it to move.

[0107] Some manufacturing methods may also include the step of adding seals in the cap base and / or the cartridge to prevent fluid from leaking to unexpected areas. For example, the base piston element may be formed to include an inner sealing element and an outer sealing element, such as an inner hole seal and an outer hole seal, the inner sealing element being configured to engage the outer surface of the dispensing channel, and the outer sealing element being configured to engage the guide channel. In one configuration, the base piston element is annular, and the outer seal and the inner seal may be continuous flange-like protrusions extending at an angle from the outer edge and the inner edge of the base piston element facing the bottle side, respectively. These protrusions may be formed integrally with the base piston element and are formed to effectively form a tight seal between the base piston element and the guide channel and between the base piston element and the dispensing channel in use, for example, as the base piston element is forced to move via the fluid entering from the bottle. The role of these seals is to prevent any fluid entering from the bottle from flowing between the piston element and the guide channel and between the piston element and the dispensing channel.

[0108] The cartridge piston element can be similarly formed to include one or more external sealing elements and internal sealing elements to prevent fluid from leaking out of the cartridge cavity or flowing into it. For example, the cartridge piston element can be formed to include one or more external sealing elements, one or more external sealing elements configured to contact the outer side wall of the cartridge to seal the cartridge fluid in the cavity. In one configuration, the cartridge piston element is annular and is disposed around the inner barrel cylindrical wall of the cartridge, and is formed to include one or more internal sealing elements, one or more internal sealing elements configured to contact the inner barrel cylindrical wall to seal the first fluid in the cavity. In one illustrative embodiment, the external seal and the internal seal can be formed as continuous flange-like protrusions extending at an angle from the outer edge and inner edge of one or both of the sides of the cartridge piston element facing the fluid and the side facing away from the fluid. These projections may be integrally formed with the cartridge piston element and formed to effectively create a tight seal between the cartridge piston element and the outer side wall of the cartridge and the inner cartridge cylindrical wall of the cartridge in use, for example as the base piston element drives the cartridge piston element.

[0109] The sealing element formed as a protrusion in the above manner reduces the friction of the piston during movement compared to alternative embodiments in which the outer and inner walls of the annular piston directly contact the walls of the cartridge body, the guide channel or the dispensing channel as sealing surfaces.

[0110] The various seals and seals can be formed from a variety of materials. The piston and the integral sealing element are ideally formed from materials with good sealing capabilities, which may have properties of flexibility, elasticity, softness, and / or compressibility. Suitable examples include, for example, silicone, rubber, low-density polyethylene and / or high-density polyethylene. In an illustrative embodiment, the material is low-density polyethylene and / or high-density polyethylene. In yet another embodiment, the material is polypropylene.

[0111] Including a sealing element not only has the above functions, but also presents a neat appearance of the dispensing cap to the user. For example, when the cartridge is removed from the cap base, the outer surfaces of the cartridge and the cap base will not have any leaked fluid or fluid residue.

[0112] The manufacturing method may also include the step of forming a clamshell cover hingedly attached to the base. In some embodiments, the clamshell cover has an internal protrusion and can be moved between an open position and a closed position, wherein when in the closed position, the protrusion blocks the fluid from flowing out of the cartridge, and when in the open position, allows the fluid to flow out. By a method, the internal protrusion can be formed to include a first sealing surface and a second sealing surface, the first sealing surface being configured to block the fluid from flowing out of the distribution channel of the base, and the second sealing surface being configured to block the fluid from flowing out of the cartridge. For example, the geometry of the internal protrusion can correspond to different openings, such as a wide portion, which is sized to fit closely with the distribution outlet of the valve element, so that when the cover is closed, the fluid from the cartridge will not leak from the cartridge. In one embodiment, the wide portion can block the outlet opening of the tubular portion of the valve element so that the fluid in the cartridge cannot flow into the tubular portion. The internal protrusion can additionally have a narrow portion at its end, which is sized to contact the outlet of the distribution channel of the cover base in a sealed manner.

[0113] Containers, distribution caps and cartridges described herein can be formed, filled and sealed in high-speed, large-scale mass production operations or other types of operations. In one method, a flexible container or bottle is formed by blow molding, injection molding or other suitable methods. Usually, the distribution cap and cartridge components are formed by injection molding, but other methods are also contemplated. In some configurations, the distribution cap base and flip-top cover are formed as a single one-piece structure, and the base piston element is formed as a separate component. The base piston element and the lid base can be assembled at the mold or a separate station.

[0114] By another method, a system for dispensing fluid from a container is envisioned. The system may include one or more flexible bottles, one or more dispensing caps, and one or more cartridges for dispensing caps as described herein. In an illustrative embodiment, the system includes a flexible bottle containing a primary fluid, a dispensing cap base that can be coupled to the flexible bottle, the dispensing cap base having a receptacle or cavity for receiving a cartridge, and a cartridge that contains a secondary fluid and can be removably inserted into the receptacle of the dispensing cap. When the dispensing cap is coupled to the bottle and the cartridge is inserted into the cap base, the system allows the user to dispense the primary and secondary fluids together from the dispensing cap. It can also allow the user to dispense only the primary fluid. By one method, the system includes several different cartridges that can be interchanged with each other in the receptacle of the dispensing cap. In some embodiments, the system includes dispensing caps and / or cartridges having different configurations so that fluids with different fluid properties can be properly dispensed, such as viscosity, texture, density, compressibility, surface tension, etc.

[0115] Now turning to the attached figure, Figure 1A dispensing cap 100 is shown, comprising a hinged flip-top cover 180 and a cartridge 105 disposed inside the cap, the flip-top cover 180 being in an open configuration. The cartridge is configured to contain a fluid, such as a thixotropic fluid, gel or other fluid. In an illustrative embodiment, the fluid is a sauce or condiment.

[0116] Figure 1 The cartridge 105 is shown inserted into the dispensing cap base 150, and Figure 2 Depicted is a cartridge 105 in a position to be inserted outside the cap base 150. As shown, the cartridge 105 and the cap base 150 include corresponding threads 130, 152 so that the user can screw the cartridge into or out of a fixed position in the cap base 150. Advantageously, this modularization of the dispensing cap allows the user to remove and insert different cartridges from the dispensing cap when the cartridge is empty, or when one or more users wish to use different cartridges with different fluids. As described above, alternative embodiments may also include other ways of removably inserting / fixing the cartridge in the cap base in addition to screwing or threading. For example, the cartridge may be mated with the cap base via other mechanical connectors, such as interference fit, snap fit, friction fit, and / or an escapement or other biasing mechanism, which may snap the cartridge into place.

[0117] In one configuration, Figure 2 As shown, the cover base 150 is integrally formed and includes a tubular dispensing channel 155 extending from the fluid receiving side of the cover base 150. The dispensing channel 155 generally forms an inlet opening 162 (e.g., Figure 4 and Figure 5 100, which are bottom perspective views) for receiving the primary fluid from the bottle. Typically, the dispensing passage 155 is axially aligned with the central opening of the cartridge 105 so that when the cartridge is screwed into the base, the dispensing passage 155 is received in the central opening. Although the dispensing passage and the central opening can be centrally arranged, in other configurations, the dispensing passage and the central opening are offset from the center position of the dispensing cap. The dispensing passage 155 is also axially aligned with the dispensing outlet 122 on the dispensing side of the cartridge. In use, when the primary fluid from the bottle flows through the dispensing passage 155 of the dispensing cap 100 as the attached bottle is squeezed, the fluid from the bottle flows to the dispensing outlet 122 and is dispensed there with the secondary fluid from the cartridge.

[0118] like Figure 2 As shown, the hinged flip-top cover 180 generally includes a protrusion 185 on its underside, which blocks the dispensing outlet 122 when the cover 180 is in the closed position to prevent the fluid from flowing out or leaking from the cover. As suggested above, the dispensing channel and the central opening can be centrally arranged; therefore, the protrusion 185 can also be centrally arranged.

[0119] Figure 3 An embodiment of a dispensing bottle 300 is shown, which includes a squeezable bottle 302 to which the dispensing cap 100 is attached. The squeezable bottle 302 includes a container body portion 303 for containing a fluid 306 such as ketchup, mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, or other fluid, and an open neck portion 304 to which the dispensing cap can be attached. The squeezable bottle is generally formed of a flexible material so that a user can manually apply pressure to the bottle to force the fluid 306 out of the bottle. Figure 4 As shown, the dispensing cap 100 is threaded onto the neck 304 of the squeezable bottle via the internal threads 178 of the dispensing cap base, which engage with the external threads 379 on the bottle neck. Figure 3 The dispensing bottle 300 is shown in an upright position, but in some embodiments, the bottle 300 is configured to be stored upside down while resting on its dispensing cap 100 when the flip-top lid 180 is closed.

[0120] To open the bottle 300 to allow fluid to be dispensed therefrom, the user may move the flip-top lid 180 from a closed configuration of the lid (e.g., Figure 4 Pivot to Figure 3 To do this, the user or consumer can apply an upward force to the flip-top lid 180 to pull it away from the lid base 150. The flip-top lid 180 then pivots around the hinge and sits stably in the open configuration.

[0121] like Figure 3 As shown, when the flip-top cover 180 is in the open configuration, the protrusion 185 of the flip-top cover 180 moves from a position blocking or clogging the dispensing outlet 122 of the dispensing cover to a position away from the outlet, so that the dispensing outlet 122 is unobstructed.

[0122] The dispensing cap 100 for the dispensing bottle 300 includes a dispensing cap base 150 that receives a cartridge 105. By one approach, the cartridge 105 is received in a receptacle 152, which may be a recess or cavity exposed in the base 150 when the flip-top cap 180 is positioned in the open configuration. As described above, the cartridge 105 may be manually inserted into and removed from the cap base 150 by a user, such as by screwing the cartridge into the base. Figure 4-10 A dispensing cap and cartridge that may be used with the dispensing bottle 300 are described in greater detail.

[0123] Figure 4A dispensing cap 100 according to some embodiments is shown. The dispensing cap is shown attached to the neck 304 of the bottle 302, and the cartridge 105 is shown inserted into the dispensing cap base 150. The dispensing cap base 150 has an outer cylindrical shell 172 having a hollow interior formed by an outer shell cylindrical wall 173, and an inner cylindrical shell 174 disposed inside the outer cylindrical shell along a central axis of the outer cylindrical shell, and formed by an inner shell cylindrical wall 175 extending substantially parallel to the outer shell cylindrical wall 173. In one illustrative configuration, the inner shell cylindrical wall 175 is connected to the outer shell cylindrical wall 173 by an annular wall 176, which may extend perpendicularly to the inner shell cylindrical wall and the outer shell cylindrical wall. In the illustrated embodiment, the annular wall 176 forms part of the floor or bottom of the cartridge receiving receptacle 152 of the cap base and has a stepped configuration, e.g., an outer step adjacent to the outer shell cylindrical wall 173, and an inner step adjacent to the inner shell cylindrical wall 175. The inner step forms part of an annular groove 168 of the cap base for receiving the neck 304 of the bottle. The groove 168 is formed by the inner step, a longitudinal portion of the inner shell cylindrical wall 175, and an annular wall 181 extending vertically from the inner step and surrounding the inner shell cylindrical wall 175. In the illustrated embodiment, the groove includes an inner thread 178 disposed on the inward surface of the annular wall 181 for screwing the outer thread 379 of the bottle so that the bottle can be securely attached to the cap.

[0124] The bottle neck 304 is inserted and secured in the groove 168, placing the container body of the attached bottle in fluid communication with the interior of the inner cylindrical shell 174 of the dispensing cap base 150. Specifically, the inner cylindrical shell 174 is sized to fit tightly within the neck of the bottle, with the outer surface of the inner shell cylindrical wall 175 sealingly contacting the inner surface of the neck, preventing fluid from the bottle from flowing between the inner shell cylindrical wall 175 and the neck 304. Thus, during dispensing, the fluid in the bottle is directed into the inner cylindrical shell 174 of the dispensing cap.

[0125] Fluid flow between the bottle and the inner cylindrical shell 174 is partially blocked by a set of retaining or reinforcing ribs or transverse walls 186 ( Figure 4) blocking. By one approach, the rib or transverse wall 186 extends inwardly at the end of the inner shell cylindrical wall 175 and is generally perpendicular to the inner shell cylindrical wall 175. In the illustrated embodiment, the transverse wall 186 includes a central opening that forms a dispensing channel inlet 162 for allowing fluid to flow directly from the bottle into the tubular dispensing channel 155 extending along the central axis of the inner cylindrical shell and generally flowing through most of the longitudinal portion of the dispensing cap 100. By one approach, the tubular dispensing channel 155 is integral with the transverse wall 186 or rib. In some embodiments, the outer shell cylindrical wall 173, the inner shell cylindrical wall 175, the annular wall 176, the threaded annular wall 181 and the dispensing channel 155 are all integrally formed, and in some embodiments, the flip-top cover 180 is also integrally formed. These components can be formed of food grade plastics or polymers, such as polypropylene (PP) and / or high density polyethylene (HDPE). In some configurations, different components can be formed of different materials.

[0126] In use, the main fluid flowing from the bottle into the dispensing channel 155 is dispensed from the cap at the opening 122. In some configurations, such as when the filled cartridge is disposed in the base, the main fluid will be dispensed together with the secondary fluid from the cartridge. Therefore, the dispensing channel 155 is configured to allow a certain amount of the main fluid from the bottle to be dispensed. In some configurations, the dispensing channel 155 may have a flow restrictor 157 at one or both ends of the dispensing channel 155 to restrict the main fluid from flowing from the dispensing channel 155 into the tubular portion of the cartridge (described in more detail below). Restricting the flow of the main fluid from the bottle ensures that there is enough space at the outlet for the secondary fluid from the cartridge to join the flow of the main fluid and maintain good fluidity as the fluid is dispensed. In the illustrated embodiment, the flow restrictor 157 is at the outlet end of the dispensing channel 155. Such a flow restrictor may include an opening having a diameter of about 0.5 to about 3.0 mm, such as a circular opening. In an illustrative embodiment, the diameter is about 2.0 mm. In one embodiment, the diameter is about 1.8 mm. It should be noted that a larger diameter, such as greater than 1.8 mm, can advantageously reduce the force required to dispense the fluid. Particularly for thicker fluids, a wider diameter or larger passage may generally be required to make the force required to dispense the fluid smaller, such as a diameter greater than 3.0 mm.

[0127] like Figure 4 As shown, the transverse wall 186 also includes a cover base opening 167 disposed around the dispensing channel inlet 162. Figure 5As shown, for example, there may be four cap base openings 167. In use, when a user squeezes the bottle, fluid from the bottle is forced toward the dispensing passage 155 and ultimately dispensed from the dispensing cap 100, as described above. In addition, a portion of the fluid from the bottle takes a different fluid path through the cap base openings 167 to engage a portion of the base piston element 165 disposed within the inner cylindrical housing 174. The force of the fluid on the base piston element 165 causes the base piston element 165 to move between a first unactuated position and a second position (e.g., Fig. 9 In the first unactuated position, the end of the base piston element 165 is disposed adjacent to the transverse wall 186 covering the inner cylindrical housing 174 (as shown). Figure 8 In the movement, the base piston element 165 slides from the transverse wall 186 towards the dispensing outlet.

[0128] The base piston element 165 includes a first cylindrical portion 182, which is disposed inside the inner cylindrical housing 174 in the unactuated position, and a second flange portion 183, which is disposed largely outwardly relative to the inner cylindrical housing 174. The first cylindrical portion 182 of the base piston element 165 includes a piston cylindrical wall 184, which has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the inner housing cylindrical wall 175 of the cap base 150. Thus, as the base piston element 165 moves, the inner housing cylindrical wall 175 of the cap base partially serves as a portion of the guide passage 160 for the base piston element 165. The upper end of the piston cylindrical wall 184 of the base piston element 165 also includes a piston base or transverse wall 187 extending continuously inwardly therefrom and generally perpendicular thereto. The piston base 187 is annular with an opening in the center so that the first cylindrical portion 182 of the base piston element can be disposed around the dispensing passage 155 extending therethrough. In one configuration, the piston floor 187 both covers the top of the base piston element 165 and serves as a surface against which the primary fluid from the bottle can press to move the base piston element 165 .

[0129] Specifically, in use, a portion of the primary fluid from the bottle is forced against the piston bottom plate 187 of the base piston element 165, which causes the base piston element 165 to be pushed along the central longitudinal axis of the dispensing cap in a direction away from the transverse wall 186 of the cap base 150. Typically, the annular first cylindrical portion 182 of the base piston element slides sealingly along the guide channel 160 and the dispensing channel 155 to prevent leakage of the primary fluid between the base piston element 165 and the guide channel 160 and between the base piston element 165 and the dispensing channel 155. This can be achieved in part by configuring a tight fit between the piston cylindrical wall 184 of the piston and the inner housing cylindrical wall 175 of the cap base 150 and between the central opening of the piston bottom plate 187 of the base piston element 165 and the dispensing channel 155. In addition to the fit of the components, the geometry of the components, the materials from which the components are formed, and / or the type of fluid in the dispensing bottle and the cap may also be relevant to ensuring no or minimal leakage between the components. To this end, the material, geometry and / or dimensions of the elements may be adapted according to the material being packaged and dispensed.

[0130] However, to mitigate friction as the piston moves, one or more sealing elements, such as an inner bore seal and an outer bore seal, may instead extend from the first cylindrical portion 182. For example, the inner sealing element 170 may be configured to engage with the outer surface of the dispensing passage 155, while the outer sealing element 171 may be configured to engage with the inner housing cylindrical wall 175. Figure 4 As shown, the inner seal 170 and the outer seal 171 can be continuous flange-like protrusions. In an illustrative approach, the outer seal and the inner seal extend at an oblique angle from the outer edge and the inner edge of the piston bottom plate 187 of the base piston element 165, respectively. In some configurations, only the sealing elements 170, 171 extending from the first cylindrical portion 182 of the base piston element 165 engage with the adjacent surfaces of the inner housing cylindrical wall 175 and the dispensing passage 155, which both reduces friction during movement of the piston 165 and provides sufficient sealing to prevent leakage in unexpected areas.

[0131] Various materials can be used for the base piston element 165 and the sealing elements 170, 171. In one illustrative embodiment, the base piston element and the sealing element are integrally formed of a material having good sealing capabilities, such as flexibility, elasticity, softness and / or compressibility. Suitable examples include low-density polyethylene or high-density polyethylene. In one embodiment, the material is polypropylene.

[0132] As described above, the guide channel 160 is at least partially defined by the inner housing cylindrical wall 175 of the cover base 150. However, the inner housing cylindrical wall 175 can be described as terminating in a plurality of guide channel posts 161 that extend longitudinally from the bottom edge of the inner housing cylindrical wall 175 opposite the transverse wall 186. In the illustrated embodiment (e.g., as shown in FIG. Figure 6 ), there are four such posts 161, although other numbers of posts are possible, such as two, three, or more. The posts 161 are configured so that the base piston element 165 can slide along the posts during piston movement. In one illustrative configuration, each post terminates at a stop 177 (e.g., see FIG. 1 ) of the base piston element 165. Figure 4 and Figure 8 ).like Figure 4 As shown, the stop 177 is a small flange extending inwardly from the guide channel post 161. In this way, the stop 177 limits the base piston element 165 from moving beyond the final position.

[0133] In the illustrated embodiment, Fig. 9 As shown, after at least a portion of the first cylindrical portion 182 of the base piston element 165 moves over the stopper 177, the movement of the base piston element 165 is configured to be limited by the stopper 177. To this end, the piston cylindrical wall 184 of the first cylindrical portion 182 of the base piston element includes a longitudinal cutout 163 corresponding to each guide channel column 161 (see, for example, Figure 4 ) so that in operation, when the first cylindrical portion 182 of the base piston element moves through the guide channel 160, the cutout allows the guide portion of the first cylindrical portion 182 of the base piston element to pass over the stop portion 177 until the top of the cutout 163 in the piston cylindrical wall 184 engages or "catches" with the geometry of the stop portion 177, such as a ledge.

[0134] As described above, the base piston element 165 includes a second flange portion 183 in addition to the first cylindrical portion 182. Figure 4 As shown, in the space between each guide channel column 161, a corresponding transverse wall 164 extends outwardly from the bottom edge of the first cylindrical portion 182. In an exemplary method, the transverse wall 164 extends outwardly and is generally perpendicular to the bottom edge of the first cylindrical portion 182. After crossing the guide channel, the transverse wall 164 is integrally connected to form a continuous annular second flange portion 183, which extends around the guide channel column 161. When the base piston element 165 moves, the second flange portion 183 of the base piston element travels downward to engage and drive the cartridge piston element 145 of the cartridge 105, and as described above, the downward impact is limited only by the engagement of the first cylindrical portion 182 with the stopper 177.

[0135] like Figure 4 As shown, the dispensing cap 100 in use has a cartridge 105 received in a receptacle 152 of a cap base 150. By some configurations, the receptacle 152 is at least partially defined by an outer shell cylindrical wall 173 and an annular wall 176 of the cap base. In the illustrated embodiment, the cartridge 105 includes an external thread 130, and the receptacle 152 includes an internal thread 153 for mating the cartridge with the receptacle. As described above, the cartridge is advantageously manually insertable and removable by a user.

[0136] In the illustrated embodiment, the cartridge 105 includes a main body 110, a valve element 138 coupled to the body 110 at a dispensing side of the cartridge (i.e., a side of the cartridge where the dispensing outlet 122 is disposed), and a cartridge piston element 145 disposed on a side of the cartridge opposite the dispensing side. The body 110, the valve element 138, and the cartridge piston element 145 define an internal cavity 115 or container for containing a fluid 120 disposed in the cartridge.

[0137] Specifically, the main body 110 of the cartridge is formed in part by an outer cartridge cylindrical wall 111 that is sized to fit within the dispensing cap base 150, having a hollow interior that forms a portion of the cavity 115. While the outer cartridge cylindrical wall 111 forms the side walls of the cartridge, the body 110 also includes a top portion 112 that extends from the top edge of the outer cartridge cylindrical wall 111 that forms a partial cover to the "top" (dispensing side) of the cartridge.

[0138] The main body 110 also includes an inner barrel cylindrical wall 127, which is centered inside the barrel and extends longitudinally therethrough and is generally parallel to the outer barrel cylindrical wall 111. The size of the inner barrel cylindrical wall 127 is designed so that the dispensing channel 155 of the dispensing cap base 150 can fit tightly within the inner barrel cylindrical wall 127, such as Figure 4 At the dispensing side of the cartridge, a plurality of radial spoke-like connecting members 113 branch out from the inner cartridge cylindrical wall 127, connecting the inner cartridge cylindrical wall to the top portion 112 of the cartridge body (at Figure 7 For example, there may be two, three, four, or more such members. For example, the illustrated embodiment includes two sets of opposing connecting members 113 extending from the inner barrel cylindrical wall 127 to the top portion 112 of the body 110, but in Figure 4 and Figure 7 Only two of the four connecting members 113 are shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. In this way, the fluid in the cartridge can easily flow around the spokes or connecting members 113.

[0139] Inner barrel cylindrical wall 127, connecting member 113, outer barrel cylindrical wall 111 and top portion 112 can be integrally formed as the main body 110 of barrel, and can be formed by food grade plastic or polymer material (such as polypropylene). Using polypropylene for the main body 110 of barrel or its part can allow the barrel body to be configured to have lower opacity or be substantially transparent. This can allow the user to see how much fluid is left in the barrel. In such an embodiment, at least a portion of the cap base 150 (such as outer shell cylindrical wall 173) can also have lower opacity or be substantially transparent, so that the user can see how much fluid is left in the barrel through the cap base when dispensing. In another embodiment, the barrel body is opaque, and is formed by high-density polyethylene. Using high-density polyethylene helps the sealing of barrel.

[0140] As described above, the top portion 112 of the cartridge body 110 only partially covers the top of the cartridge 105. In an exemplary embodiment, the top portion 112 includes a circular opening at its center, which is only interrupted by radial connecting members 113. By some methods, a valve element 138 is arranged on the top of the cartridge 105 to cover the circular opening. Specifically, the valve element 138 can be connected to the top portion 112 of the body 110 and includes a disc-shaped portion 139, which substantially covers the circular opening. The open distribution outlet 122 is usually formed at least in part by the opening at the center of the disc-shaped portion 139 of the valve element. In addition, the valve element 138 can be connected to the top portion 112 of the body 110 in any suitable manner, such as by corresponding geometric shapes, gluing and / or welding. In other embodiments, the part of the valve element 138 can be matched with the rest of the distribution cap via other mechanical connections, and other mechanical connections are, for example, interference fit, snap fit, friction fit, and / or escapement or other biasing mechanisms.

[0141] Figure 4 The illustrated embodiment shows another tubular portion 140 of the valve element 138 extending inwardly into the cartridge from the disc portion 139 at the dispensing outlet 122. In such a configuration, the tubular portion 140 generally has a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to receive fluid flowing from the bottle through the dispensing passage 155 of the cap base 150 into the tubular portion 140, and the first fluid and the second fluid being dispensed through the second end. On the other hand, the second end may alternatively be described as forming the dispensing outlet 122 of the cartridge.

[0142] In one configuration, the disk portion 139 may be angled or flexed downwardly toward the cartridge such that the dispensing outlet 122 and the tubular portion 140 are at least partially disposed below an outer edge or outer portion of the disk portion. Figure 4 and Figure 7As shown, the disk-shaped portion 139 has a funnel-shaped configuration with the dispensing outlet 122 and the tubular portion 140 at its center. In other embodiments, other configurations of the disk-shaped portion 139 may be incorporated therein.

[0143] In some methods, the tubular portion 140 of the valve element 138 extends at least partially within the interior formed by the inner barrel cylindrical wall 127 of the cartridge body 110. In some examples, the diameter of the tubular portion 140 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the inner barrel cylindrical wall 127 to achieve a tight fit, such as an interference fit. The tubular portion 140 and the inner barrel cylindrical wall 127 together form a central through opening 125 that passes through the central longitudinal axis of the cartridge. On the dispensing side of the cartridge, the central through opening 125 terminates at the dispensing outlet 122. On the side opposite to the dispensing side, the central through opening 125 is configured to receive the dispensing channel 155 of the cap base 150 via the inner barrel cylindrical wall 127.

[0144] As described above, the tubular portion 140 of the valve element 138 generally includes at least one outlet opening 135 in its tubular wall. In use, the outlet opening 135 is configured to allow the fluid 120 from the cavity 115 of the cartridge to flow through it into the outlet of the valve element or the tubular portion 140. In an illustrative embodiment, there are two opposing outlet openings 135 on the tubular wall of the tubular portion 140. In other embodiments, there may be one outlet opening, three outlet openings, four outlet openings, or more. In some embodiments, the outlet openings 135 may be selected or arranged in a specific arrangement to produce a specific pattern in the combined stream.

[0145] Changing the number and size of the openings can have a significant effect on the appearance or aesthetics of the combined streams of fluid when they are dispensed. For example, two outlet openings 135 in the wall of the tubular portion can achieve a desired aesthetic because the cartridge fluid is dispensed as two stripes disposed on the bottle or main stream, such as Fig.11 As shown. In an embodiment with two outlet openings, the width and length or diameter of each opening can be, for example, between 0.5 and 3.5 mm. The outlet opening 135 can be generally circular or square, or can have a rectangular shape. For example, the outlet opening can have a width of 2.0 mm and a length of 2.0 mm, or a width of 0.5 mm and a length of 3.0 mm. Other geometric shapes of the openings are also contemplated.

[0146] In an exemplary embodiment, the cartridge can have multiple configurations, such as storage and use configurations. For example, Figure 7 and Figure 8A cartridge is shown that is configured with a mechanism to convert the cartridge from a "closed" configuration (wherein the outlet opening 135 of the tubular portion 140 is blocked and the cartridge fluid 120 cannot flow out of the cavity 115 of the cartridge) to an "open" configuration (wherein the outlet opening 135 is not blocked and the cartridge fluid 120 can flow out of the cavity 115) after insertion of the dispensing cap base 150. Specifically, in some illustrative configurations, the valve element 138 of the cartridge 105 is movable relative to the cartridge body 110. More specifically, the valve element 139 is movable between a first position and a second position, in which the outlet opening 135 is covered by the inner wall 127 of the body 110 to prevent the fluid in the cavity 115 from flowing into the tubular portion 140 via the outlet opening 135, and in which the fluid in the cavity 115 is able to pass through the outlet opening 135 and flow into the tubular portion 140.

[0147] Regarding the "closed" configuration of the cartridge 105, Figure 7 The cartridge 105 is shown without being inserted into the dispensing cap base 150. Advantageously, when the cartridge is not inserted into the dispensing cap base 150, the outlet opening 135 in the tubular portion 140 of the cartridge 105 is blocked by the inner wall of the cartridge 105. This prevents the cartridge fluid from leaking out of the cartridge 105 when the cartridge 105 is not inserted into the cap base 150. Specifically, in the closed configuration, the outlet opening 135 is covered by the inner cartridge cylindrical wall 127 of the cartridge 105. The "closed" configuration may be particularly useful for transport and storage of the cartridge 105, and is particularly suitable for methods in which the cartridge 105 is transported and stored separately from the rest of the dispensing cap 100.

[0148] like Figure 8 As shown, when the cartridge 105 is subsequently inserted into the distribution cap base 150, the cartridge 105 can then be reconfigured to a ready position, which may include an open or nearly open configuration. In an illustrative embodiment, the cartridge 105 is in an open configuration and is coupled to the cap base 150, and one end of the tubular portion 140 is advantageously engaged with the leading end of the distribution channel 155 of the cap base 150. The contact with the distribution channel 155 forces the tubular portion 140 of the valve element 138 to drive upward along the axis of the central opening 125, which makes the outlet opening 135 in the tubular portion 140 wall move upward and away from the inner barrel cylindrical wall 127, thereby no longer blocked by the wall 127. This is possible because the valve element 138, including the disc portion 139 and the tubular portion 140, is usually made of a material that can move, deflect and / or flex in the above-mentioned manner. For example, the valve element can be formed by polypropylene and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and other optional materials.

[0149] As described above, when the cartridge 105 is inserted into the cap base 150, the movement, deflection and / or flexing of the valve element 138 may be visible to the user because the disc portion 139 of the valve element and the dispensing outlet 122 formed by one end of the tubular portion 140 are also driven upward. For example, although the disc portion 139 is angled or flexed downward in a funnel-like configuration in the closed position, as shown in FIG. Figure 7 As shown, in the open position, the disc portion 139 can be pushed upward so that its funnel shape is substantially reduced and is almost flush with the dispensing outlet 122, as shown in FIG. Figure 8 Visible movement of the valve element can indicate to the user that the cartridge 105 has been properly inserted for use.

[0150] It should be understood that in the open configuration of some embodiments, cartridge fluids with certain higher viscosities or slower flow rates, such as certain condiments, will not easily flow through the outlet opening 135 or leak out of the outlet opening 135 until pressure is manually applied to the flexible bottle and the cartridge piston element 145 is driven to force the cartridge fluid 120 out of the cartridge cavity 115.

[0151] Advantageously, the flexibility of the valve element 138 allows the outlet opening 135 to be reclosed after the cartridge 105 is removed from the dispensing cap base 150. That is, after the cartridge 105 is removed, the cartridge 105 returns to the closed configuration. For example, the valve element 138 can be molded to be biased toward the closed position. For example, Figure 7 As shown, in the closed configuration, the disc portion 139 can be molded to be angled or flexed downward, holding the tubular portion 140 in a position blocked by the inner cartridge cylindrical wall 127. When the cartridge 105 is subsequently inserted into the dispensing cap base, the tubular portion 140 and the disc portion 139 are forced upward due to contact with the dispensing passage 155. After the cartridge 105 is unscrewed from the cap base 150 and the dispensing passage 155 no longer applies strain or force upward to the tubular portion 140 and the disc portion 139 in the open configuration, the tubular portion 140 and the disc portion 139 are released from the biased position, the disc portion 139 "remembers" and returns to its stable angled position, and forces the tubular portion 140 back downward into the cartridge 105 to its initial position, in which the outlet opening 135 is again covered by the inner cartridge cylindrical wall 127 of the cartridge body 110.

[0152] Generally, the closed configuration of the cartridge allows the cartridge to be manufactured, shipped, sold, handled, and stored separately from the dispensing cap base without allowing fluid in the cavity 115 of the cartridge 105 to leak into the tubular portion 140 of the cartridge 105. Leakage of cartridge fluid into the tubular portion 140 of the cartridge 105 may prevent proper flow of cartridge fluid and bottle fluid from the dispensing cap after the cartridge 105 is inserted into the cap base 150.

[0153] In addition, the reclosability of the cartridge after use limits the exposure of the cartridge fluid to external contamination, maintains the taste and freshness of its contents, and prevents any accidental leakage of the cartridge contents (e.g., the sauce itself or the separated slurry of the sauce). This is particularly helpful if the user stores and handles the cartridge separately from the dispensing cap after use. Reclosability can also eliminate the need to provide a complete cover or plug for the dispensing outlet of the cartridge. For example, after the user removes the tamper-evident seal from the cartridge and uses the cartridge in the dispensing cap, the user may then wish to remove the cartridge from the cap and store the cartridge separately from the cap (e.g., if the user has multiple cartridges for the cap). When the cartridge is not inserted into the dispensing cap, the "closed" configuration of the cartridge allows the cartridge to remain fresh and be stored separately from the cap base. In other words, the cartridge can be stored and used again after the initial use, rather than being discarded, and there is no need for a cap for the cartridge.

[0154] In some configurations, as described above, the valve element 138 can be formed of polypropylene (PP), low density polyethylene (LDPE), and / or high density polyethylene (HDPE). In addition to allowing the desired flexure, forming the valve element with polypropylene can also allow the valve element to be substantially transparent (or have a lower opacity), allowing a user to see the fluid in the cartridge. In other configurations, the valve element 138 or at least a portion thereof is configured to not be substantially transparent (or have a higher opacity). This can prevent a user from seeing fluid residue that may form on portions of the valve element 138.

[0155] As described above, the cartridge piston element 145 is typically disposed on the non-dispensing side of the cartridge 105. For example, the cartridge piston element 145 may be disposed on the non-dispensing side formed by the outer cartridge cylindrical wall 111 of the cartridge body 110. Figure 4 In the illustrated embodiment, the cartridge piston element 145 can be described as comprising a cylindrical wall sized and configured to fit within and sealingly slide along the outer cartridge cylindrical wall 111. The cartridge piston element 145 can also include an annular portion extending laterally from the cylindrical wall to cover or seal the cartridge cavity 115 at the non-dispensing side of the cartridge.

[0156] In one approach, the cartridge piston element 145 has a central bore sized to enable the cartridge piston element 145 to be sealingly disposed about the inner cartridge cylindrical wall 127 of the cartridge body 110. Figure 4In the illustrated embodiment, the annular portion of the cartridge piston element 145 has a stepped configuration to correspond to elements of the cap base 150. For example, the annular inner step portion 142 of the cartridge piston element 145 may be angled to provide margin for the stop 177 of the dispensing cap base 150. In one approach, the annular outer step portion 143 of the cartridge piston element 145 is aligned with the second flange portion 183 of the base piston element 165. In use, when the base piston element is impacted downward toward the cartridge 105, the second flange portion 183 may contact the engagement member 146 disposed on the outer surface of the annular outer step portion 143. Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 , which depicts a horizontal cross-sectional view of the dispensing cap 100, these engagement members 146 can be in the form of upright extensions or ribs extending outwardly from the outer surface of the cartridge piston element 145. For example, as shown, the annular outer step portion 143 surrounding the cartridge piston element can have eight ribs equidistant from each other. The number of ribs or engagement members can be any suitable number, and there may be no engagement members in alternative embodiments. For example, the second flange portion 183 of the base piston element can directly contact the outer surface of the cartridge piston element 145.

[0157] The annular portion of the cartridge piston element 145 corresponds to or is close in diameter to the annular second flange portion 183 of the base piston element 165, which helps provide an evenly distributed transfer of force from the base piston element 165 to the cartridge piston element 145 during movement of the piston elements 145, 165. For example, in one illustrative embodiment, the second flange portion 183 and the annular portion of the cartridge piston element 145 extend the same (or substantially the same) radius from the center of the dispensing cap 100. As described above, the equally spaced engagement members 146 can also distribute force. Such a configuration reduces the amount of force that a user needs to provide when dispensing fluid.

[0158] Similar to the base piston element 165, the cartridge piston element 145 may be formed to include one or more external and internal sealing elements to prevent fluid from leaking out of or into the cavity of the cartridge. Figure 7As shown, the cartridge piston element 145 can be formed to include one or more external annular sealing elements 147. In one approach, the sealing element 147 can be configured to contact the outer barrel cylindrical wall 111 of the cartridge 105 to seal the cartridge fluid within the cavity 115. In addition, the cartridge piston element 145 can also include one or more internal annular sealing elements 149, which are configured to contact the inner barrel cylindrical wall 127 to seal the cartridge fluid within the cavity 115. In the illustrated configuration, two external seals 147 are formed as continuous flange-like protrusions extending from the cylindrical wall of the cartridge piston element 145 and contacting the outer barrel cylindrical wall 111 of the cartridge at a certain angle. The external seals 147 are present on both the fluid-facing side and the non-fluid-facing side of the cartridge piston element 145. The illustrated configuration also includes an internal sealing element 149, which is configured as a continuous flange-like protrusion extending from an annular portion of the cartridge piston element adjacent the central hole. By one approach, the internal sealing element 149 sealingly engages the inner cartridge cylindrical wall 127 of the cartridge body 110. These projections are typically formed integrally with the cartridge piston element 145 and are effective in use to create a tight seal between the cartridge piston element 145 and the outer wall 111 of the cartridge and the cartridge piston element 145 and the inner cartridge cylindrical wall 127 of the cartridge 105, for example, as the base piston element 165 drives the cartridge piston element 145.

[0159] As previously described, the above-mentioned sealing elements 147, 149 formed as protrusions in the above manner reduce the friction of the cartridge piston element 145 during movement of the piston 145 compared to an alternative embodiment in which the outer wall and inner wall of the cartridge piston element 145 serve as sealing surfaces in direct contact with the wall of the cartridge body 110.

[0160] By some methods, the cartridge piston element 145 and the integral sealing elements 147, 149 are formed of food grade plastic or polymer materials having good sealing capabilities, which may have properties of flexibility, elasticity, softness and / or compressibility. Suitable examples include low density polyethylene or high density polyethylene. By one method, the material is polypropylene.

[0161] Figure 8 The piston 145, 165 of the dispensing cap is shown in a first, "unactuated," stable or stationary position, while Fig. 9 The pistons 145, 165 are shown in a "fully extended" or biased second position. Together, these figures show how the base piston element 165 and the cartridge piston element 145 move confluently (jointly) between the first and second positions to dispense two fluids together from the cap 100.

[0162] For example, in Figure 8150, and the second flange portion 183 of the base piston element 165 is disposed against or near the transverse wall 186 of the inner cylindrical housing 174 of the cap base 150. The second flange portion 183 of the base piston element 165 is disposed against or near the annular wall 176 of the cap base. The second flange portion 183 may also be in contact with the engagement member 146 of the cartridge piston element 145, or disposed near the engagement member 146 but not in contact. In the unactuated position, the bottom edge of the cylindrical wall of the cartridge piston element 145 is aligned with or near the bottom edge of the outer cartridge cylindrical wall 111 of the cartridge body. In other words, the cartridge piston element 145 is typically disposed at a point in the cartridge body 110 that is as far away from the dispensing side of the cartridge 105 as possible.

[0163] When the user squeezes the Figure 8 When a flexible bottle with a dispensing cap is provided, the primary fluid 306 from the bottle and the secondary fluid 120 from the cartridge 105 are dispensed together from the cap 100 via the following mechanism. First, a portion of the primary fluid 306 from the bottle passes through the base opening 167 (eg, Figure 4 The force of the fluid 306 on the piston bottom plate 187 of the base piston element 165 causes the entire base piston element 165 to be driven in the direction of the cartridge 105. Since it is configured so that at least a portion of the base piston element 165 is always in contact with the guide channel 160, the base piston element 165 is maintained on the central axis of the cap 100 as it moves.

[0164] As the base piston element 165 moves, the second flange portion 183 of the base piston element 165 moves to advantageously engage with the engagement member 146 of the cartridge piston element 145, thereby moving the cartridge piston element 145 in the direction of the dispensing side within the body of the cartridge 105. The movement of the pistons 145, 165 is limited in part by the amount of fluid disposed within the cartridge 105. For example, if the cartridge is full of fluid, the cartridge piston element 145 only moves a short distance within the cartridge to dispense the fluid 120 because the cartridge piston element 145 quickly contacts the fluid and is subject to resistance from the fluid. The force from the cartridge piston element exerts pressure on the fluid, which is released as the fluid is forced out of the cavity 115 through the outlet opening 135 on the tubular portion 140 of the valve element 138. As the fluid is forced out of the cavity 115, the level of the fluid 120 within the cavity 115 drops, and the cartridge piston element 145 can move further into the cartridge to continue squeezing the fluid. As the cartridge empties, the cartridge piston element travels a considerable distance within the cartridge to contact and apply pressure to the retreating fluid so that the fluid can be forced out of the cavity 115 .

[0165] During dispensing, as the user continues to apply pressure to the bottle, the movement of the piston will generally continue accordingly. That is, as the user continues to squeeze the bottle, the cartridge fluid 120 is ejected from the cavity 115 for dispensing, and the level of the fluid in the cartridge drops, which causes the cartridge piston element 145 to move further into the cartridge and maintain pressure on the retreating fluid. This results in a smooth, continuous dispensing of the fluid from the cartridge as the bottle is squeezed. In addition, when the user stops squeezing the bottle, the pressure applied to the piston 145, 165 and the fluid stops immediately, which causes the dispensing to stop suddenly. That is, the pistons 145, 165 return to their initial, unactuated positions.

[0166] Fig. 9 The base piston element 165 and the cartridge piston element 145 are shown in a fully extended position. This fully extended position, in which the cartridge piston element 145 has been driven to the dispensing side of the cartridge, occurs only when there is a very small amount of cartridge fluid remaining in the cartridge. Fig. 9 As shown, the fully extended position of the cartridge piston element 145 is also dependent on the stop 177 of the cap base 150. As the base piston element 165 catches on the stop 177, the base piston element 165 and the cartridge piston element 145 are thus restricted from further movement in the direction of the dispensing side of the cap. This prevents the cartridge piston element 145 from applying excessive pressure to the top structure of the cartridge (such as the top portion 112 of the cartridge body 110 or the valve element 138).

[0167] Fig. 9 Also shown via arrows is the general movement of the fluids 120, 306 during dispensing. When the cartridge fluid 120 is forced to leave the cavity 115 of the cartridge via the outlet opening 135 in the tubular portion 140 of the valve element 138, the stream of the cartridge fluid 120 flowing out of the outlet opening 135 joins with the stream of the fluid 306 from the bottle entering the outlet chute or tubular portion 140 from the dispensing passage 155. When the user squeezes the bottle, the fluid 306 from the bottle not only pushes against and pushes the base piston element 165, but also, as described above, a portion of the fluid 306 from the bottle travels through the dispensing passage 155 and is ultimately dispensed from the cap. In an illustrative embodiment, the stream of the cartridge fluid joins with the stream of the fluid from the bottle in the tubular portion 140, producing a single stream of fluid dispensed from the cap 100. As the fluids come together, they are substantially unmixed. That is, each fluid maintains its integrity and is separately visible in the stream. For example, the fluids 120 , 306 may adhere to each other. In this manner, the fluids are dispensed together from the tubular portion 140 through the dispensing outlet 122 of the cartridge 105 .

[0168] The fluids do not mix to create an aesthetic effect in the dispensed product, i.e., the streams of cartridge fluid 120 and bottle fluid maintain their integrity, typically appearing as streaks disposed on bottle fluid 306, such as Fig.11 This aesthetic effect can be particularly noticeable if the cartridge fluid and bottle fluid are different colors. For example, the bottle fluid may be mayonnaise and the cartridge fluid may be chipotle sauce. This aesthetic effect can also be affected by the rheological properties of the two different fluids. For example, the two fluids may have a certain viscosity or texture relative to each other so that both fluids are visible or distinguishable in the dispensed stream.

[0169] In order to make the cartridge fluid and the bottle fluid adhere to each other in the above manner, it is conceivable that these fluids need to have a certain viscosity or flow resistance so that as they converge and distribute as a single fluid stream, they are allowed to remain substantially separated from each other and not mixed. For example, in some embodiments, the viscosity range of the fluid may be from about 5000 centipoise to about 70000 centipoise. In some embodiments, the viscosity range of the fluid may be from about 9000 centipoise to about 50000 centipoise. By a method, the viscosity range of the fluid may be from about 12000 centipoise to about 45000 centipoise. In another method, the viscosity range of the fluid may be from about 9000 centipoise to about 25000 centipoise, from about 10000 centipoise to about 20000 centipoise, from about 13000 centipoise to about 15000 centipoise, or from about 12000 centipoise to about 19000 centipoise. The viscosity measurement described herein can be determined, for example, by a Brookfield viscometer (such as RV DV-II) using Spindle 6 at 12 rpm and 20-22° C. for 30 seconds.

[0170] Fluids having the above viscosity ranges are also used for other purposes. If the viscosity of the fluid is too low, the cartridge fluid may leak out of the outlet opening 135, or the bottle fluid may leak out of the bottle without the user squeezing the bottle. The fluid must have sufficient viscosity to remain contained when not being dispensed. In addition, the viscosity of the cartridge fluid should be high enough so that it provides sufficient resistance to the movement of the cartridge piston element so that it is not forced out of the cavity too quickly.

[0171] On the other hand, fluids with higher viscosities may exhibit excessive resistance to flow. This may be undesirable because it may require the user to apply greater force to the bottle to cause the piston to move and dispense the fluid. In addition, larger openings and channels through the cap may be required to facilitate the flow of fluids with higher viscosities.

[0172] By one approach, the primary fluid in the bottle and the secondary fluid in the cartridge can have similar viscosities. By another illustrative approach, the secondary fluid has a lower viscosity and flow resistance than the primary fluid to compensate for the fact that greater force may be required to squeeze the fluid in the cartridge out of the cartridge. In some embodiments of the dispensing cap, the viscosity of the secondary fluid can range from about 7,000 centipoise to about 25,000 centipoise, and / or the viscosity of the primary fluid can range from about 10,000 centipoise to about 70,000 centipoise. By some approaches, the viscosity of the secondary fluid can range from about 8,000 centipoise to about 20,000 centipoise, from about 10,000 centipoise to about 17,000 centipoise, or from about 12,000 centipoise to about 16,000 centipoise, and / or the viscosity of the primary fluid can range from about 12,000 centipoise to about 45,000 centipoise, from about 15,000 centipoise to about 30,000 centipoise, or from about 17,000 centipoise to about 25,000 centipoise. In one configuration, the viscosity of the secondary fluid ranges from about 12,500 centipoise to about 15,500 centipoise, while the viscosity of the primary fluid ranges from 17,000 centipoise to about 19,000 centipoise.

[0173] In one illustrative configuration, the dispensing container can be configured such that the bottle fluid and the cartridge fluid can be co-dispensed in a certain dispensing amount before one or both fluids are exhausted. For example, to achieve this, the cartridge can be of a specific size relative to the size of the bottle, and / or the amount of fluid in the cartridge can be proportional to the amount of condiment in the bottle.

[0174] In some configurations, the bottle is sized to have a larger volume than the cartridge and will hold more fluid than the cartridge. Therefore, by one approach, it is advantageous to configure the dispensing cap to dispense a smaller amount of cartridge fluid relative to the bottle fluid so that a single cartridge can be used for at least a certain percentage of the useful life of the bottle. For example, this can be accomplished by varying the size and proportion of the outlet opening 135 in the cartridge. Other openings on the cap can also be varied. For example, the dispensing end of the dispensing channel 155 can have a flow restrictor 157 at the dispensing end of the dispensing channel 155. In this way, the bottle fluid and the cartridge fluid can be dispensed together in a particular proportion.

[0175] In one embodiment, the dispensing cap and the bottle can be configured so that only approximately one cartridge is required for each bottle; that is, when dispensing, the cartridge and the bottle are emptied at approximately the same time. In another embodiment, only approximately two cartridges are required for each bottle; that is, when dispensing, a single cartridge may be emptied when the bottle is approximately only half emptied, and then the user must remove the cartridge and insert a second cartridge for the second half of the bottle. In different embodiments, three or more cartridges may be required. However, it is conceivable that three or less cartridges are required for each bottle, and in the illustrative embodiment, at most two cartridges. Such an approach can reduce waste and be more convenient for the user. However, it should be noted that the amount of cartridge fluid used for each bottle fluid may vary to some extent depending on the squeezing force applied by the user to the bottle. In addition, the size of the bottle may vary, which may require a different approximate number of cartridges for each bottle. For example, for some bottles designed to be larger in size, four or more cartridges may be required for each bottle.

[0176] By one approach, the amount of secondary cartridge fluid dispensed is about 8% to 12% by volume of the primary bottle fluid dispensed. In another approach, the amount of secondary cartridge fluid dispensed can be up to about 50% by volume of the primary bottle fluid dispensed. In some embodiments, the secondary fluid and primary fluid are dispensed at a ratio of about 0.5:10 to about 5:10. In one illustrative configuration, the ratio is 1:9, and in another approach it is 1:10. In another approach, the ratio is about 2:8, or even 1:1. Changing the size of the cartridge outlet opening 135 relative to the flow regulator 157 of the dispensing channel 155 of the cap base 150 can be effective to achieve the appropriate ratio. For example, by one approach, where the two outlet openings 135 each measure about 2.0 mm×2.0 mm and the flow regulator of the dispensing channel measures about 1.8 to 2.0 mm, this is effective to allow the amount of secondary cartridge fluid to be dispensed to be about 8% to 12% by volume of the primary bottle fluid dispensed. Such dimensions may be particularly advantageous when the viscosity of the secondary cartridge fluid ranges from about 12,500 to about 15,500 centipoise, while the viscosity of the primary bottle fluid ranges from about 17,000 centipoise to about 19,000 centipoise. In general, it is contemplated that the diameter of the flow regulator 157 must be sufficiently small relative to the diameter of the tubular portion 140 or dispensing outlet 122 of the cartridge to allow the streams of bottle fluid and cartridge fluid to properly merge and be dispensed together in a continuous manner. For example, if the flow regulator 157 is too large (e.g., greater than about 4.0 mm in width relative to a tubular portion 140 or dispensing outlet 122 having a diameter of about 5.0 mm), the cartridge fluid may be substantially blocked or prevented from merging with the bottle fluid within the tubular portion 140.

[0177] In another embodiment, the bottle can have a capacity of about 250 mL to about 1000 mL for containing a primary fluid disposed in the bottle. In some configurations, the cartridge can have a capacity of about 10 ml to about 50 ml, or about 15 ml to about 35 ml for containing a secondary fluid disposed in the cartridge. Cartridges and bottles having capacities outside of these ranges can also be constructed.

[0178] As described above, in some embodiments, the user can also interchange the cartridges containing different fluids in the same dispensing cap and using the same bottle. Advantageously, the user can use a variety of fluid combinations. For example, a bottle filled with a first condiment such as ketchup, a dispensing cap, and two, three or more cartridges filled with different condiments can be provided. According to expectations, the user can interchange the cartridges in the dispensing cap to enjoy different flavor combinations, such as ketchup and smoked chili sauce, or ketchup and sweet chili sauce. It is conceivable that in one embodiment, different condiments in different cartridges have similar fluid properties, such as similar viscosity, texture, density and / or compressibility, so that cartridges of similar construction can be manufactured for each condiment. In the case where the fluid properties of different condiments in different cartridges change, the cartridge construction for these condiments may need to be adjusted and customized so that different cartridge condiments are distributed in a desired manner. For example, the size of the outlet opening 135 and / or the size of the tubular portion 140 and the dispensing outlet 122 may need to be adjusted.

[0179] By one approach, different cartridges 105 containing fluids having different fluid properties must be used with differently configured dispensing cap bases 150 to enable optimal dispensing. For example, modifications to the cap base 150 based on the viscosity or texture of the fluid may include changing the size of the flow restrictor 157 of the dispensing channel 155, the diameter of the dispensing channel 155, or changing the size of the base piston element 165. For example, in one embodiment, the diameter of the dispensing channel 155 may be about 4.0 mm to about 6.0 mm, and by one approach, about 5.0 mm. For bottle fluids with higher viscosities (e.g., mayonnaise), the diameter of the dispensing channel 155 may be larger.

[0180] In another approach, the user may choose to completely remove the cartridge and only dispense the primary fluid from the bottle. Therefore, it may be advantageous in some embodiments to configure the dispensing cap base 150 so that it can dispense fluid without inserting the cartridge 105 therein. This is useful to give the customer the option to only dispense the fluid that is disposed in the bottle. Fig.10The dispensing cap base 150 is shown attached to the neck of a bottle and used without a cartridge inserted. When the bottle is squeezed, fluid from the bottle is forced into the dispensing passage 155 and dispensed directly from the dispensing cap 100. It is worth noting that in this configuration, a portion of the bottle fluid will still force the base piston element 165 to move, although, of course, the movement of the base piston element 165 without a cartridge will not work.

[0181] When not in use, the dispensing cap can be Figure 4 The cover shown is covered by a flip-top cover 180 to maintain the freshness of the product or to prevent contamination or leakage of the product. As described above, the flip-top cover has an internal protrusion 185 and can be moved between an open position and a closed position, in which the protrusion 185 blocks the fluid from flowing out of the cover, and in the closed position, the fluid is allowed to flow out. Figure 4 The flip-top cover is shown in a closed position, wherein the internal protrusion 185 is inserted into the dispensing outlet 122 of the cartridge and extends into the tubular portion 140 of the valve element 138. In the illustrated embodiment, the internal protrusion 185 includes a first sealing surface and a second sealing surface, the first sealing surface being configured to block the fluid from flowing out of the dispensing channel 155 of the cap base 150, and the second sealing surface being configured to block the fluid from flowing out of the cartridge. The internal protrusion 185 has a wide portion, the size of which is designed to provide a sealing fit to the dispensing outlet 122, so that when the cover is closed, the fluid from the cartridge does not leak from the cartridge. In one embodiment, the wide portion can block the outlet opening 135 in the tubular portion 140 of the valve element 138, so that the fluid 120 disposed in the cartridge cavity 115 cannot flow out into the tubular portion 140. As shown, the internal protrusion also has a narrower portion at its end, the size of which is designed to seal the outlet of the dispensing channel 155. The cap 180 and the inner protrusion 185 are configured to sealingly contact the outlet of the dispensing passage 155 even if the cartridge is not inserted into the cap base 150 .

[0182] Example 1.

[0183] In one non-limiting example, the dispensing cap, cartridge, and dispensing bottle are formed according to the approximate dimensions shown in Table 1.

[0184] Table 1

[0185] In use, when a user squeezes the bottle, the dispensing bottle can dispense a consistent single stream of two fluids from the bottle. The fluids may then be combined in a substantially unmixed manner, similar to Fig.11 The assigned streams are shown.

[0186] Figures 12 to 28BAn alternative embodiment of a dispensing cap 400 and portions thereof is shown. The dispensing cap 400 has a similar construction and dispensing mechanism to the dispensing cap embodiments described above. Therefore, it should be noted that Figures 12 to 28B The components in the embodiment shown in the figure, if used together with Figures 1 to 11 The components of the illustrated embodiments are substantially the same or correspond to each other, and any differences will be noted, and their numbering will reflect this correspondence, with the only difference in the numbering being the first digit of the reference numeral. For example, reference numerals 135 and 635 correspond to the barrel outlet openings of the different embodiments, while reference numerals 127 and 627 correspond to the inner barrel cylindrical wall of the different embodiments. Therefore, the description of the components described above also applies to the description of the components described above. Figures 12 to 28B Any corresponding elements in the drawings, if any, will be pointed out and emphasized below.

[0187] As with the above-described embodiments, the dispensing cap 400 includes a cartridge 605 received in a dispensing cap base 550. The dispensing cap base 550 includes a hinged cover 580 that completely encloses the cartridge 605 within the cap base 550 in a closed position and blocks any fluid from being dispensed from a dispensing outlet 622 of the cartridge 605. Fig.12 As shown, in the open position of the hinged cover portion 580 , the top of the cartridge 605 is uncovered, exposing the dispensing outlet 622 and allowing fluid to be dispensed from the dispensing cap 400 .

[0188] like Fig.12 As shown, in one illustrative embodiment, when the hinged lid 580 is in the open position and the cartridge 605 is fully seated in the base, an upper portion 621 of the cartridge 605 is also exposed. That is, when the cartridge 605 is inserted into the lid base 550, a portion of the cartridge 605 protrudes from the lid base 550. The exposed protruding portion 621 of the cartridge 605 allows a user to grasp the cartridge 605 when inserting or removing the cartridge 605 from the lid base 550.

[0189] In the illustrated embodiment, the exposed portion 621 of the cartridge 605 also includes a grip 607 to facilitate a user's grip on the cartridge when inserting or removing the cartridge 605. As shown, the grip 607 can be in the form of ribs or other textures on the exposed portion 621 of the cartridge 605. There can be several gripping surfaces or portions of the grip 607 spaced apart along the exposed portion of the cartridge 605. For example, there may be two, three, four, five, or more portions of the grip 607.

[0190] The cover base 550 may also include a continuous gripping portion 508 disposed externally on the sidewall of the cover base 550. Fig.12As shown, a continuous gripping portion 508 is provided at the end of the cap base 550, which is configured to be screwed onto the neck of the bottle. When the dispensing cap 400 or the cap base 550 is screwed onto the neck of the bottle or unscrewed from the neck of the bottle, the continuous gripping portion 508 facilitates the user to grasp and rotate the dispensing cap 400 or the cap base 550. When the cartridge 605 moves relative to the cap base 550, the gripping portion 508 also helps to hold or grip the cap base 550.

[0191] As shown, the exposed portion 621 of the cartridge 605 may also include various markings to facilitate the user's use of the dispensing cap 605 by indicating its intended use. For example, these markings may include instructions for the user. For example, the instructions may indicate how to insert the cartridge 605 into the cap base 550 or remove it from the cap base 550. For example, Fig.12 and Fig.13 A downward pointing arrow 614 is shown, indicating to the user the direction in which the cartridge will be inserted into the cap base 550. There may be more than one such arrow 614 spaced around the exposed portion 621 of the cartridge so that the user can see the instructions from multiple angles. As shown, the dispensing cap base 550 may also have a corresponding upward pointing arrow 509, which indicates the orientation of the cap base 550 when the cartridge 605 is inserted.

[0192] The illustrated embodiment also includes markings 616 for indicating to the user the direction to rotate the cartridge 605 to screw it into the cap base 550. For example, one or more arrows 616 may be spaced along the exposed portion 621 of the cartridge 605 to indicate the direction of rotation. By another approach, one or more arrows may indicate a first direction to screw the cartridge 605 into the cap base 550, and one or more different arrows may indicate a second, opposite direction to screw the cartridge 605 out of the cap base 550.

[0193] It should be noted that the above-mentioned marks are not restrictive, and it is conceivable that there are many different forms of marks to explain to the user. For example, there may be only text descriptions, or there may be text descriptions accompanied by non-text marks (such as arrows), or there may be only non-text marks.

[0194] When inserting the cartridge 605 into the cap base 550, the user may also feel an indication that the cartridge 605 has been properly inserted. For example, the user may feel a tactile or audible indication when the cartridge 605 has been sufficiently threaded into the cap base 550 and / or is properly aligned. For example, there may be an escapement. In this case, if FIG. 22A to FIG. 22BAs shown, the main cartridge body 610 of the cartridge 605 includes one or more bumps or protrusions 618 on the threads 630 disposed on the exterior of the main cartridge body 610. When the cartridge 605 is threaded into the cap base 650, the protrusions 618 may collide with corresponding notches or grooves 519a, 519b (e.g., FIG. 28A to FIG. 28B ), which produces an audible (e.g., click) and / or tactile indication that the cartridge is in place. In other configurations, the location of the bumps or protrusions may be reversed such that they are provided on the base instead of the cartridge (where the grooves are on the cartridge). By one approach, there may be two protrusions 618 on the cartridge and four notches 519a, 519b on the threads 552 in the cap base 550.

[0195] like Fig.15 As shown, the dispensing cap 400 includes a cap base 550 having a main cap base body or outer cylindrical shell 572 and a base piston element 565 disposed therein. The cartridge 605 generally includes a main cartridge body 610, a cartridge piston element 645, and a valve element 638. When the dispensing cap 400 is assembled with the cartridge 605 received in the shell 572 of the cap base 550, all of the components 572, 565, 610, 645, and 638 are generally aligned centrally along the central longitudinal axis 30.

[0196] Figure 16-19 The cartridge 605 itself is shown separated from the cap base 550 of the dispensing cap 400. The cartridge 605 is similar to the cartridge 105 described above, having a main cartridge body 610 formed in part by a cylindrical wall, a valve element 638 substantially covering the top side of the cartridge 605, and a cartridge piston element 645 substantially covering the bottom side of the cartridge 605. FIG. 20A to FIG. 20D , FIG. 21A to FIG. 21B and FIG. 22A to FIG. 22E As shown, the valve element 638, cartridge piston element 645 and main cartridge body 610 are substantially similar to the valve element 138, cartridge piston element 145 and main cartridge body 110 of cartridge 105, and function in a similar manner in use.

[0197] Figure 23 to Figure 26 A view of the cover base 550 of the dispensing cover 400 is shown, which is similar to the cover base 150 of the dispensing cover 100. Fig.24As shown, the base opening 567 of the inner cylindrical shell 574 of the cap base 550 has a different configuration than the base opening 167 of the cap base 150. Specifically, there are four groups of two ribs or spokes 566 connecting the top of the dispensing passage 555 to the inner cylindrical shell 574, and the base opening 567 is disposed between the ribs 566 in each group and between each group of ribs 566. The larger number of base openings 567 in the cap base 550 allows fluid from the bottle to flow into the inner cylindrical shell 574 of the cap base 550 to move the base piston element 565, while the multiple groups of ribs 566 enhance the connection between the dispensing passage 555 and the inner cylindrical shell 574.

[0198] As with the cap base 150, the cap base 550 includes a dispensing channel 555 that allows fluid from the bottle to flow through a portion of the dispensing cap 400 when the bottle is squeezed so as to be ultimately dispensed. As with the cap base 150, the cap base 550 also includes a base piston element 565 that advantageously transmits the force of the bottle fluid squeezed from the bottle to drive the cartridge piston element 645 of the cartridge 605 to dispense the cartridge fluid from the cartridge 605 when the dispensing cap 400 is in use, without the bottle fluid contacting the cartridge piston element 645. In this way, during use of the dispensing cap 400, the exposed outer surface of the cartridge piston element 645 remains clean, and when the cartridge 605 is removed from the cap base 550 after use, there is substantially no stain or residue left by the bottle fluid at the interface between the cap base 550 and the cartridge 605 that the user needs to clean.

[0199] FIG. 27A to FIG. 27C Several views of the base piston element 565 are shown. As with the base piston element 165, the base piston element 565 includes a first cylindrical portion 582 and a second flange portion 583. In use, fluid squeezed from the bottle engages the transverse piston base 587 of the first cylindrical portion 582, causing the base piston element 565 to move from a first position toward a second position in the dispensing cap 400. The second flange portion 583 engages and moves the cartridge piston element 645, which forces the cartridge fluid out of the cartridge 605. When the bottle is squeezed, the distance and speed at which the base piston element 565 travels is limited by the amount of fluid remaining in the cartridge 605. For example, if the cartridge 605 is nearly empty, then when the bottle is squeezed, the pressure of the bottle fluid acting on the piston base 587 causes the base piston element 565 to travel a considerable distance within the dispensing cap 400 to drive the cartridge piston element 645 to force the remaining cartridge fluid out. The movement of the base piston element 565 along the guide channel column 561 on the cover base 550 is also limited by the stopper 577 (such as Fig.23 and Fig.25As with the base piston element 165 of the dispensing cap 100, the base piston element 565 includes a longitudinal cutout 563 corresponding to the guide channel column 561, so that in use, when the first cylindrical portion 582 of the base piston element 565 moves through the dispensing cap 400, the cutout 563 allows the guide portion of the first cylindrical portion 582 of the base piston element 565 to pass over the stop 577 until the top of the cutout 563 is blocked by the geometry of the stop 577, such as a ledge. Fig.27B and Fig.27C As shown, the top of the cutout 563 in the dispensing cap 400 may include protrusions 589 that “snag” or abut the stop 577 .

[0200] Figures 29 to 40B Another embodiment of a dispensing container 1000, a dispensing cap 700 and parts thereof is shown. The dispensing container 1000 and the dispensing cap 700 have similar constructions and dispensing mechanisms to the dispensing container and dispensing cap embodiments described above. Therefore, it should be noted that Figures 29 to 40B The components in the embodiment shown in the figure, if used together with Figures 1 to 28B The components of the illustrated embodiments are substantially the same or correspond to each other, and any differences will be noted, and their numbering will reflect this correspondence, with the only difference in the numbering being the first digit of the reference numeral. For example, reference numerals 135 and 935 correspond to the barrel outlet openings of the different embodiments, while reference numerals 127 and 927 correspond to the inner barrel cylindrical wall of the different embodiments. Therefore, the description of the components described above also applies to the description of Figures 29 to 40B Any corresponding elements in the drawings, if any, will be pointed out and emphasized below.

[0201] Reference Figure 29 to Figure 33 , the dispensing bottle 1000 includes a dispensing cap 700 and a flexible bottle 1002 that can be squeezed to dispense a fluid therefrom. When the bottle 1002 contains a primary fluid, the dispensing cap 700 having a cartridge, capsule, or packet 905 containing a secondary fluid can be screwed to the neck 1004 of the bottle 1002 so that the primary fluid and the secondary fluid are dispensed together from the dispensing bottle 1000 via the dispensing outlet 922 of the dispensing cap 700 in the manner described above. In some embodiments, a conventional dispensing cap (not shown) that is used only to dispense the primary fluid from the bottle 1002 can be removed from the flexible bottle 1002 and replaced with the dispensing cap 700.

[0202] The dispensing bottle 1000 including the flexible bottle 1002 and the dispensing cap 700 may have a combined geometry that allows the dispensing bottle 1000 to stand upright when the dispensing cap 700 is closed via the hinged flip-top cover 880 while resting on its cover 700. In some embodiments, the hinged flip-top cover 880 may have a snap element 880a that extends downward from the outer edge of the cover 880, and the snap element 880a has a projection 880b that cooperates or snaps into a groove or recess 880c on the corresponding side surface of the cover base 850 for secure closure. The user may engage the snap element 880a to open and close the cover 880. For example, the opening force required to open the cover 880 is about 7-15N. By one method, the snap element 880a includes a piece of material, and the projection 880b includes a lip or flange extending inwardly. The projection 880b is configured to engage a geometric shape on the base so as to provide a secure closure for the closure cap.Although the corresponding geometric shape may include a groove or notch 880c, it may also include a corresponding geometric shape, such as an offset lip or flange extending outwardly from the base.

[0203] In illustrative embodiments, primary fluid and secondary fluid may be thixotropic fluids. In certain embodiments, these fluids may be edible products, such as sauces, condiments, seasonings or beverages. In certain embodiments, these fluids may be emulsions, gels, pastes or mud. However, it is conceivable that primary fluid and secondary fluid may include non-food products. For example, in certain embodiments, these fluids are health care, body care, hair care or cosmetics, such as shampoo, conditioner, emulsion, soap, shower gel, essence etc. In certain embodiments, the first fluid and the second fluid may be characterized by some specific rheological properties, as will be described in further detail below. For example, these fluids may have certain viscosity, hardness, viscosity, yield stress, adhesion, specific heat, thermal conductivity etc., and may have Newtonian or non-Newtonian properties.

[0204] The construction and function of the dispensing cap 700 are similar to the caps 100, 400 described above. Figure 30 to Figure 33 As shown, the dispensing cap 700 includes a cap base 850 having a main base body or outer cylindrical shell 872 and a base piston element 865 disposed therein. The cartridge 905 generally includes a main cartridge body 910, a cartridge piston element 945, and a valve body 938. When the dispensing cap 700 is assembled with the cartridge 905 seated within the outer shell 872 of the cap base 850, all of the components 872, 865, 910, 945, and 938 are generally aligned about the central longitudinal axis Y.

[0205] More specifically, refer to Fig.30 and FIG. 34A to FIG. 35BIn some embodiments, the dispensing cap base 850 includes internal threads 878 corresponding to the external threads 1079 on the neck 1004 of the bottle 1002 for coupling the dispensing cap base 850 to the bottle 1002. The dispensing cap base 850 is also configured to receive the cartridge 905. By one approach, the cartridge 905 is received in the receptacle 852 of the dispensing cap base 850 (e.g., see Fig.34A ), the receptacle 852 can be a depression or cavity in the base 850 that is exposed when the flip-top cover 880 is positioned in the open state. The cartridge 905 can be manually inserted into or removed from the cover base 850 by a user, such as by screwing the cartridge 905 into the base 850. For example, the cartridge 905 can include external threads 930 that engage with the internal threads 852a of the cover base 850.

[0206] As with the dispensing caps 100, 400, the outer shell 872 of the cap base 850 has a generally hollow interior, and the inner cylindrical shell 874 is centrally disposed within the interior of the outer shell 872. In one illustrative configuration, the inner shell 874 is generally hollow and is provided with an annular bottom plate 876 (see Fig.30 ) is connected to the outer shell 872, and the annular bottom plate 876 can extend perpendicularly to the inner shell 874 and the outer shell 872. In the illustrated embodiment, the annular bottom plate 876 forms a portion of the bottom plate or bottom of the receptacle 852 of the receiving cartridge of the cap base, and has a stepped configuration, for example, an outer step 876a adjacent to the outer cylindrical shell 872, and an inner step 876b adjacent to the inner shell 874. The inner step 876b forms a portion of the annular groove 868 of the cap base 850 for receiving the neck 1004 of the bottle 1002. The groove 868 is formed by the inner step 876b, the longitudinal portion of the inner cylindrical shell 874, and the annular wall 881 extending perpendicularly from the inner step 876b and surrounding the inner cylindrical shell 874. In the illustrated embodiment, the groove 868 includes internal threads 878 disposed on an inwardly facing surface of the annular wall 881 for engaging corresponding external threads 1079 of the bottle 1002 so that the bottle 1002 can be securely attached to the cap 700 .

[0207] When the cap base 850 is screwed onto the neck 1004, at least a portion of the inner housing 874 is received by the neck 1004 of the bottle 1002, so that the interior of the bottle 1002 is in fluid communication with the inlet portion 891 of the cap base 850 disposed adjacent to the top end of the inner housing 874. The base piston element 865 is disposed radially inwardly of the inner housing 874. The inner housing 874 is partially used as a guide channel 860 for the movement of the base piston element 865. The tubular dispensing channel 855 of the cap base 850 is disposed radially inwardly of the base piston element 865 along the central axis Y of the dispensing cap 700. Specifically, the dispensing channel 855 passes through the central opening of the base piston element 865 having an annular configuration. The dispensing channel 855 extends from the inlet portion 891 of the cap base 850 and extends longitudinally through most of the cap base 850 toward the dispensing side of the cap base 850. Specifically, the dispensing channel 855 defines an inlet opening 862 at the inlet portion 891 of the cap base 850 for receiving the primary fluid from the bottle 1002, and defines an outlet opening 857 at the distal portion 855a of the dispensing channel 855. The distal portion 855a of the dispensing channel 855 including the outlet opening 857 is positioned to engage the cartridge 905. In particular, in the illustrated method, the end portion 855a of the dispensing channel 855 is received within the inner cartridge cylindrical wall 927 of the cartridge 905. In use, the outlet opening 857 communicates the primary fluid to the dispensing chamber or tubular portion 940 of the cartridge 905. In the dispensing chamber 940, the primary fluid merges with the secondary fluid from the cartridge 905 and is dispensed from the dispensing cap 700 through the dispensing outlet 922.

[0208] Reference Fig.30 and FIG. 35A to FIG. 35B , when pressure is applied to the bottle 1002 to dispense the fluid, the main fluid from the bottle 1002 flows to the inlet portion 891 of the cap base 850. As described above, the inlet portion 891 includes an inlet 862 to the dispensing channel 855. The inlet portion 891 also includes a set of supporting or connecting spokes 866a that partially cover the inner shell 874. The spokes 866a support the dispensing channel 855 and connect the dispensing channel 855 to the inner shell 874. Specifically, in some embodiments, the spokes 866a are integrally formed with the dispensing channel 855 and the inner shell 874, and the spokes extend radially outward from the inlet opening 862 of the dispensing channel 855. By one approach, there are four spokes 866a spaced equally around the dispensing channel inlet opening 862, connecting the dispensing channel 655 to the inner cylindrical shell 874. In other approaches, there may be a different number of spokes, such as three, five, six, or eight. The number and configuration of spokes 866a should be selected so that the structure can withstand repeated pressure from the primary fluid during use. In addition, spokes 866a are selected to protect the cover from rupture (e.g., when dropped).

[0209] The inlet portion 891 also includes cap base openings 867 disposed between the spokes 866a that, in use, allow the primary fluid to enter the inner housing 874 when pressure is applied to the bottle 1002. In the illustrative approach, there are four equally sized openings 867 defined between every two of the four spokes 866a, but other numbers of openings are possible. The number and size of the cap base openings 867 can be selected at least in part so that when the bottle 1002 is squeezed, a sufficient amount of primary fluid enters the inner cylindrical housing 874 to pressurize and move the base piston element 865 so that the base piston element 865 can engage and move the cartridge piston element 945.

[0210] By one approach, the top annular edge 874a of the inner cylindrical shell 874 can be spaced apart with grooves or channels 867a disposed adjacent the cover base opening 867 and between the spokes 886a. For example, there can be four grooves 867a adjacent the four cover base openings 867 and between the four spokes 866a. The grooves 867a can be formed in part by one or more bevels or chamfers of the top edge 874a of the inner shell 874 and can reinforce and strengthen the inlet portion 891 to prevent it from breaking.

[0211] In some embodiments, the outer shell 872, the inner shell 874, the annular bottom plate 876, the annular wall 881 and the dispensing channel 855 are all formed in one piece, and in some embodiments, the flip-top cover 880 is also formed in one piece. These components can be formed of food-grade plastics or polymers, such as polypropylene (PP) and / or high-density polyethylene (HDPE). In an illustrative embodiment, the material is polypropylene. In some configurations, different components can be formed of different materials.

[0212] In use, when the bottle 1002 is squeezed, the primary fluid from the bottle simultaneously passes through the inlet portion 891 via two different paths. In the first path, a portion of the primary fluid flows into the dispensing channel 855 and is ultimately dispensed from the dispensing cap 700. In the second path, a portion of the primary fluid flows through the cap base opening 867 to engage the base piston element 865 within the inner housing 874.

[0213] In the first path, a portion of the main fluid flows into the distribution channel 855 through the inlet opening 862 at the inlet portion 891 of the cover base 860, and flows out from the outlet opening 857 located at the distal end 855a of the distribution channel 855. As described above, in some methods, the outlet opening 857 then delivers the fluid to the distribution chamber or tubular portion 940 of the cartridge 905. In the distribution chamber 940, the first fluid merges with the second fluid from the cartridge 905 and is distributed from the distribution cap 700 through the distribution outlet 922. In some methods, the distribution channel 855 is configured so that a certain amount of the main fluid is distributed, for example, relative to the secondary fluid. In addition, the distribution channel 855 can be configured so that the main fluid has a desired flow rate (e.g., amount and speed) flowing out of the distribution channel 855 relative to the extrusion force. For example, it should not take too much extrusion force to make the fluid pass through the distribution channel 855 and enter the tubular portion 940 of the cartridge 905. In addition, limiting the flow of the main fluid from the distribution channel 855 ensures that there is enough space in the tubular portion 940 for the secondary fluid from the cartridge to merge with the stream of the main fluid and maintain the desired confluence and / or pattern as the fluid is distributed. In some configurations, achieving an appropriate balance between these factors depends on both the configuration of the distribution channel 855 and the rheological properties of the fluid. In some illustrative embodiments, for example, the size and shape of the outlet opening 857 of the distribution channel 855 are selected. For example, in a particular embodiment, the outlet opening 857 is circular, for example, depending on the properties of the fluid, and can have a diameter of about 0.5 to about 3.0 mm. In some embodiments, the diameter is between about 1.8 mm and about 3.0 mm, or between about 2.4 mm and 2.8 mm. In an illustrative embodiment, the diameter is about 2.6 mm. It should be noted that a larger diameter, such as a diameter greater than 1.8 mm, can advantageously reduce the force required to distribute the main fluid. Particularly for thicker fluids, a larger diameter or larger passage may generally be desired so that less force is required to dispense the primary fluid, such as a diameter in excess of 3.0 mm (eg, 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm).

[0214] The diameter of the outlet opening 857 can be smaller than the rest of the distribution channel 855. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the inner diameter of the distribution channel 855 can be about 4mm to about 6mm, and in some embodiments, about 4.4mm to about 5mm. The inner diameter of the distribution channel can have a uniform or tapered diameter. For example, in some methods, the inner diameter can be tapered and wider at the portion of the channel 855 near the bottle. In some non-limiting methods, the length of the distribution channel 855 may be about 30mm to about 40mm. The length size of the distribution channel is designed to extend from the inlet portion 891 to the tubular portion 940 of the cartridge 905.

[0215] In the second path, a portion of the primary fluid passes through the cap base opening 867 toward the base piston element 865 held within the inner housing 874. Fig.30 and FIG. 34A to FIG. 35B , the pressurized fluid exerts a force on the transverse piston floor 887 of the base piston element 865 to drive the base piston element 865 along the guide channel 860 away from the inlet portion 891 of the cap base 850 and toward the cartridge 905. In this way, the cap base 850, like the cap bases 150 and 550, advantageously utilizes the base piston element 865 to transfer the force of the primary fluid squeezed from the bottle 1002 so as to drive the cartridge piston element 945 of the cartridge 905 to dispense the cartridge fluid from the cartridge 905 without the primary fluid contacting the cartridge piston element 945. Therefore, during use of the dispensing cap 700, the outer surface of the cartridge piston element 945 remains clean, and when the cartridge 905 is removed from the cap base 850 after use, there is substantially no stain or residue left by the bottle fluid at the interface between the cap base 850 and the cartridge 905 that the user needs to clean. Furthermore, the primary fluid that enters the inner housing 874 to move the base piston element 865 does not enter the rest of the cap base 850 (keeping the remainder of the cap base 850 free of residue), and in some approaches, may flow back into the bottle 1002 .

[0216] The base piston element 865 is substantially the same as the base piston elements 165 and 565 described above. For example, the base piston element 865 includes a first cylindrical portion 882 and a second annular flange portion 883, the second annular flange portion 883 extending mostly radially outward from one end of the first cylindrical portion 882. In use, the primary fluid extruded from the bottle engages the transverse piston floor 887 of the first cylindrical portion 882, causing the base piston element 865 to move from the first position toward the second position in the dispensing cap 700. The second flange portion 883 engages and moves the cartridge piston element 945, which forces the secondary fluid disposed in the cartridge 905 to flow out of the cartridge 905. It should be noted that the base piston element 865 should be configured so that the resistance between the base piston element 865 and the guide channel 860 is not too great, so that the movement of the base piston element 865 can be easily initiated when the bottle 1002 is squeezed and the base piston element 865 is engaged by the pressurized primary fluid.

[0217] As previously described, when the bottle 1002 is squeezed, the distance and speed at which the base piston element 865 travels is limited by the amount of fluid remaining in the cartridge 905. For example, if the cartridge 905 is nearly empty, then when the bottle is squeezed, the pressure of the bottle fluid acting on the piston bottom plate 887 causes the base piston element 865 to travel a considerable distance along the central axis Y of the dispensing cap 700 to drive the cartridge piston element 845 to force out the remaining secondary fluid in the cartridge 905. Along the guide channel post 861 on the cap base 850, the base piston element 865 is also limited in its movement by a stop or piston retaining clip 877. As with the base piston element 165 of the dispensing cap 100, the base piston element 865 includes a longitudinal cutout 863 corresponding to the guide channel post 861, so that in use, when the first cylindrical portion 882 of the base piston element 565 moves through the dispensing cap 700, the cutout 863 allows the guide portion of the first cylindrical portion 882 of the base piston element 565 to pass over the stop 877 until the top of the cutout 863 is stopped by the corresponding geometry of the stop 877, such as a ledge. Since the stop 877 limits the movement of the base piston element 865 beyond the final position, the movement of the cartridge piston element 945 is also limited. In some methods, this may be advantageous so that the cartridge piston element 945 does not move and contact with other parts of the cartridge 905 (such as the valve element 938) and cause wear thereof.

[0218] Like base piston elements 165 and 565 , base piston element 865 is configured to be sealingly slidable along guide channel 860 and dispensing channel 155 to prevent leakage of the primary fluid from the bottle between base piston element 865 and guide channel 860 and between base piston element 865 and dispensing channel 855 .

[0219] This can be achieved in part by constructing a close fit between the first cylindrical portion 882 of the base piston element 865 and the guide passage 860 and between the piston base plate 887 (which has an annular shape) and the dispensing passage 855. In addition to the fit of the elements, the geometry of the elements, the materials from which the elements are formed, and / or the type of fluid in the dispensing bottle and cap may also be relevant to ensure no or minimal leakage between the elements. To this end, the materials, geometry, and / or dimensions of the elements may be adjusted depending on the material being packaged and dispensed.

[0220] By one approach, one or more sealing elements, such as an inner bore seal and an outer bore seal, may extend from the first cylindrical portion 882 of the base piston element 865. For example, the inner sealing element 870 may be configured to engage the outer surface of the dispensing channel 855, while the outer sealing element 871 may be configured to engage the guide channel 860. In one configuration, the outer sealing element 870 and the inner sealing element 871 may be continuous flange-like protrusions. In an illustrative approach, the outer seal 870 and the inner seal 871 extend at an oblique angle from the outer edge and the inner edge of the piston bottom plate 887 of the base piston element 865, respectively. In some configurations, only the sealing elements 870, 871 extending from the first cylindrical portion 882 of the base piston element 865 engage the adjacent surfaces of the guide channel 860 and the dispensing channel 855, which both reduces friction during movement of the base piston element 865 and provides sufficient sealing to prevent leakage in unexpected areas.

[0221] The base piston element 865 including the sealing elements 870 and 871 can use a variety of materials. In an illustrative embodiment, these elements are integrally formed by a material with good sealing ability, which can have, for example, flexibility, elasticity, softness and / or compressibility characteristics. Suitable examples include low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene or polypropylene. In one embodiment, the material is low-density polyethylene. By one method, the material of the base piston element 865 is low-density polyethylene, and the rest of the cover base 850 is polypropylene. In another method, the base piston element 865 and the rest of the cover base 850 are the same material (for example, in an embodiment where the recyclability of the entire cover is desired). For example, the entire cover base 850 including the base piston element 865 can be polypropylene. In some configurations, during normal use of the product, the base piston element 865 cannot be removed from the cover base 850 and is always kept in the guide channel 860.

[0222] FIG. 36A to FIG. 36C The cartridge 905 itself is shown separated from the cap base 850 of the dispensing cap 700. The construction and function of the cartridge 905 are similar to the above-described cartridges 105 and 605, with a valve body or valve element 938 and a cartridge piston element 945, wherein the valve body or valve element 938 is partially formed by a main cartridge body 910 of a cylindrical wall and substantially covers the top side of the cartridge 905, and the cartridge piston element 945 substantially covers the bottom side of the cartridge 905 opposite the valve element 938. The body 910, the valve element 938 and the cartridge piston element 145 define an internal cavity 915 or container for containing a fluid disposed in the cartridge. Since the cartridge 905 includes a construction and function similar to the cartridges 105, 605, the description of the cartridges 105, 605 is incorporated herein by reference, and the following discussion will focus on the differences between the cartridge 905 and the previous cartridges 105, 605.

[0223] Reference Fig.36C and FIG. 37A to FIG. 37D , the cartridge body 910 includes a top portion 912 that partially covers the dispensing side of the cartridge 905. The valve element 938 is partially seated on or above the top portion 912 of the cartridge body 910 and provides additional coverage to the dispensing side of the cartridge. The valve element 938 can be arranged on or above the top portion 912 of the body 910 in any suitable manner, such as by corresponding geometric shapes, gluing and / or welding. In other embodiments, the various parts of the valve element 938 can be matched with the cartridge 905 via other mechanical connections, such as interference fit, snap fit, friction fit and / or escapement or other biasing mechanisms.

[0224] In the illustrated embodiment, the valve element 938 is coupled to the top portion 912 of the body 910 and includes an annular disk portion 939 that covers the entire dispensing side of the cartridge 905 except for the open dispensing outlet 922. The dispensing outlet 922 is generally formed at least in part by an opening at the center of the disk portion 939 of the valve element 938. In the illustrated embodiment, the valve element 938 includes an annular angled upright edge portion 939a that extends continuously around the disk portion 939. The angled edge portion 939a can be coupled to the top portion 912 at a corresponding annular angled surface 912a at the periphery of the top portion 912 of the adjacent cartridge body 910. In some embodiments, the angled surface 912a is angled radially inward and downward toward the cavity 915, and in some embodiments, terminates at an annular step 912b of the top portion 912, which can also support the angled edge portion 939a. In the illustrated embodiment, the angled edge portion 939a may be coupled to the angled surface 912a of the cartridge body 910 in any suitable manner, such as by gluing or welding.

[0225] As with the valve elements 138 and 638 described above, the valve element 938 includes another tubular portion or dispensing chamber 940 that extends inwardly from the disc portion 939 into the cartridge 905 at the dispensing outlet 922. In such a configuration, the tubular portion 940 has a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to receive a fluid flowing from the bottle through the dispensing passage 855 of the cap base 850 into the tubular portion 940, and the second end defining a dispensing outlet 922 through which the first and second fluids are dispensed. The dispensing outlet 922 can be formed by a portion of the tubular portion 940 that protrudes upward relative to an adjacent portion of the disc portion 939. The tubular portion 940 including the dispensing outlet 922 can have a uniform inner diameter. In some embodiments, the dispensing outlet 922 can have a slightly larger diameter or passage than the remainder of the tubular portion 940.

[0226] In an illustrative embodiment, the tubular portion 940 including the dispensing outlet 922 can have a length of about 5 mm to about 12 mm. For example, in some embodiments, the length can be about 6 mm to about 10 mm, or about 7 mm to about 9 mm. In an illustrative embodiment, the inner diameter of the tubular portion 940 can be about 4 mm to about 7 mm. For example, in some embodiments, the diameter can be about 4.5 mm to about 5.5 mm.

[0227] In one configuration, the center portion of the disk portion 939 can be angled or bent downward toward the interior of the cartridge body 910 so that the dispensing outlet 922 and the tubular portion 940 are disposed lower than the outer edge or outer portion of the disk portion 939. Thus, like valve elements 138 and 638, the disk portion 939 of the valve element 938 has a funnel-shaped or conical configuration with the dispensing outlet 922 and the tubular portion 940 at its center. The disk portion 939 differs from the above-described disk portions 139 and 639 in the shape of the funnel. While the disk portions 139 and 639 have substantially angled or linear funnel cross-sections, the funnel of the disk portion 939 is bent into a substantially S-shape (e.g., Fig.36C shown).

[0228] As with valve elements 138 and 638, in some methods, the tubular portion 940 of the valve element 938 extends at least partially inside the cartridge body 910. The tubular portion 940 can be specifically configured to extend within the inner cylindrical wall 927 of the cartridge body 910 disposed in the center. In some examples, the diameter of the tubular portion 940 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the inner barrel cylindrical wall 927 to achieve a tight fit, such as an interference fit. The tubular portion 940 and the inner barrel cylindrical wall 927 together form a central opening that passes through the central longitudinal axis of the cartridge. On the distribution side of the cartridge, the central opening terminates at the distribution outlet 922. On the side opposite to the distribution side, the central opening 125 is configured to receive the distribution channel 855 of the cap base 850 via the inner barrel cylindrical wall 927.

[0229] As with valve elements 138 and 638, the tubular portion 940 of the valve element 938 typically includes at least one outlet opening 935 in its tubular wall. In use, the outlet opening 935 is configured to allow a secondary fluid from the cavity 915 of the cartridge 905 to flow therethrough into the dispensing chamber or tubular portion 940 of the valve element 938. In the illustrated embodiment, there are four outlet openings 935 equally spaced around the tubular wall of the tubular portion 140. Specifically, there are two pairs of opposing outlet openings 935. In the illustrated method, each opening 935 has a circular shape and a diameter between about 2 mm and about 4 mm, between about 2.5 mm and about 3.5 mm, or between about 3 mm and about 3.3 mm. For example, the diameter may be about 3.1 mm. For certain fluids, such as certain sauces or emulsions, four circular outlet openings 935 having diameters within these ranges, combined with a dispensing channel outlet 857 having a diameter between about 1.5 mm and about 3.0 mm, or between about 2.4 mm and about 2.8 mm, elicit optimal functionality of the dispensing cap 700. For example, such a configuration can result in a desired dosing of the secondary fluid, a desired ratio of primary fluid to secondary fluid (described further below), a desired dispensing fluid pattern, a reduction in the squeezing or dosing force required to dispense the fluid, and / or prevent accidental leakage of the secondary fluid into the tubular portion 940 when no pressure is applied. Specifically, for example, the openings 935 can be configured with sufficient cross-sectional area to increase the flow of the secondary fluid from the cavity 915, thereby reducing the resistance of the secondary fluid against the cartridge piston element 945, resulting in less squeezing force required to dispense the product. In some embodiments, an appropriate amount of both the primary and secondary fluids can be dispensed at a squeeze force of 100 N or less, 90 N or less, 85 N or less, 80 N or less, or 75 N or less. In an illustrative configuration, the outlet opening 935 can have a diameter of about 3.1 mm, while the dispensing channel outlet 857 can have a diameter of about 2.6 mm.

[0230] In some configurations, the outlet opening 935 can have a total combined area. For example, in some embodiments, the total combined area can be about 6 mm 2 To about 40mm 2 In other illustrative approaches, the total combined area may be about 8 mm 2 To about 35mm 2 , about 8mm 2 To about 35mm 2 , or about 12 mm2 2 To about 32mm 2 .

[0231] In some methods, each outlet opening 935 can have a certain area. For example, in some methods, the area can be about 3 mm2 To about 15mm 2 In some embodiments, the area can be about 4 mm 2 To about 10mm 2 Between, or about 6mm 2 To about 8mm 2 In some embodiments, there can be different numbers, shapes, and sizes of outlet openings 935, which can depend on the viscosity, yield stress, or other rheological properties of the fluid. For example, some embodiments can have one outlet opening, some embodiments can have two outlet openings, some embodiments can have three outlet openings, some embodiments can have four outlet openings, and some embodiments can have four or more outlet openings. Exemplary shapes of outlet openings include circular, square, rectangular, elliptical, and the like. In certain embodiments, multiple outlet openings can have different shapes, or patterns with different shapes (e.g., rectangular, elliptical, rectangular, oval). In some embodiments, outlet openings 935 can be selected or arranged in a specific arrangement to produce a specific pattern in the combined flow. For example, the above-described configuration can approximate a vortex-like pattern when the fluid is distributed, such as Fig.41A and Fig.41B While the illustrated embodiment includes outlet openings 935 aligned along the same horizontal plane relative to the central longitudinal axis Y, other configurations may include outlet openings 935 that are offset from one another and at different locations along the length of the tubular portion 940 .

[0232] As with the previous embodiments, the properties of the fluids and the configuration of the dispensing cap 700 prevent the fluids from mixing substantially during dispensing, i.e., the integrity and appearance of the two different sauces are maintained and clearly visible in the resulting dispensing pattern. As described above, this may provide a desired aesthetic effect, particularly when the two fluids are of different colors. This aesthetic effect may be affected by the rheological properties of the two different fluids. For example, the two fluids may have a certain viscosity or texture relative to each other, such that both fluids are visible or distinguishable in the dispensed stream.

[0233] As described above, cartridge 905 functions in dispensing cap 700 in the same manner as described above with respect to cartridges 105 and 605. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, cartridge 905 can have a variety of configurations, such as storage and use configurations. For example, FIG. 36A to FIG. 36C The cartridge is shown in a "closed" configuration (where the outlet opening 935 of the tubular portion 940 is blocked and the secondary fluid cannot flow out of the cavity 915 of the cartridge 905). This occurs when the cartridge 905 is not inserted into the cap base 850. However, Fig.30The cartridge 905 is shown in an "open" configuration after being inserted into the cap base 850. In this configuration, the outlet opening 935 is unobstructed, and when the pistons 865, 945 are pressurized, the cartridge fluid can flow out of the cavity 915. Specifically, in some illustrative configurations, the valve element 938 of the cartridge 905 is movable relative to the cartridge body 910. More specifically, the valve element 938 is movable between a first position and a second position, in which the outlet opening 935 is covered by the inner cylindrical wall 927 of the cartridge body 910 to prevent the secondary fluid in the cavity 915 from flowing into the tubular portion 940 via the outlet opening 935, and in which the outlet opening 935 is no longer obstructed by the inner cylindrical wall 927, and the secondary fluid in the cavity 915 can flow into the tubular portion 940 through the outlet opening 935.

[0234] Regarding the "closed" configuration of cartridge 905, Fig.36C The cartridge 905 is shown without being inserted into the dispensing cap base 850. Advantageously, when the cartridge is not inserted into the dispensing cap base 850, the outlet opening 935 in the tubular portion 940 of the cartridge 905 is blocked by the inner wall of the cartridge 105. This prevents the cartridge fluid from leaking out of the cartridge 905 when the cartridge 905 is not inserted into the cap base 850. Specifically, in the closed configuration, the outlet opening 935 is covered by the inner cartridge cylindrical wall 927 of the cartridge 905. The "closed" configuration may be particularly useful for transport and storage of the cartridge 905, and is particularly suitable for methods in which the cartridge 905 is transported and stored separately from the rest of the dispensing cap 700.

[0235] like Fig.30As shown, when cartridge 905 is subsequently inserted into distribution cap base 850, cartridge 905 can then be reconfigured into a ready position, which can include an open or nearly open configuration. In an illustrative embodiment, cartridge 905 is in an open configuration and is coupled to cap base 850, and one end of tubular portion 940 is advantageously engaged with a guide end 855a of a distribution channel 855 of cap base 850. Contacting with distribution channel 855 forces the tubular portion 940 of valve element 938 to drive upward along the central axis of cartridge 905, which moves the outlet opening 935 of tubular portion 940 upward and away from inner barrel cylindrical wall 927, so that they are no longer blocked by wall 927. This is possible because valve element 938, including disc-shaped portion 939 and tubular portion 940, is usually made of a material that can move, deflect and / or bend in the above manner. For example, valve element 938 can be formed by polypropylene and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and other optional materials. In the illustrative embodiment, valve element 938 is formed by polypropylene. By a method, valve element 938 and main barrel body 910 are all made of polypropylene, which can provide enough elasticity or flexibility to prevent rupture during use. In addition to allowing required flexure, forming valve element 938 and / or main barrel body 910 by polypropylene can also allow these elements to be substantially transparent or translucent (or have lower opacity), allowing users to see the fluid in the barrel. In other configurations, these elements, or at least a portion thereof, are configured to be substantially opaque (or have higher opacity). This can prevent users from seeing fluid residues that may be formed on the part of valve element 938.

[0236] As described above, when the cartridge 905 is inserted into the cap base 850, the movement, deflection and / or flexing of the valve element 938 may be visible to the user because the disc portion 939 of the valve element and the dispensing outlet 922 formed by one end of the tubular portion 940 are also driven upward. Fig.36C As shown, although the disk portion 939 is deflected downward in a funnel-shaped configuration in the closed position, the disk portion 939 can be pushed upward in the open position to greatly reduce its funnel shape and the dispensing outlet 922 is almost flush with the outer periphery of the disk portion 939, as shown in FIG. Fig.30 Visible movement of valve element 939 can indicate to the user that cartridge 905 has been properly inserted for use.

[0237] It should be understood that in the open configuration of some embodiments, secondary fluids in the cartridge 905 having certain higher viscosities, slower flow rates, higher yield stresses or other rheological properties, such as certain condiments, will not easily flow through the outlet opening 935 or leak out of the outlet opening 935 until manual pressure is applied to the flexible bottle 1002 and the cartridge piston element 945 is driven to force the cartridge fluid out of the cartridge cavity 915.

[0238] Advantageously, the flexibility of the valve element 938 allows the outlet opening 935 to be reclosed after the cartridge 905 is removed from the dispensing cap base 850. That is, after the cartridge 905 is removed, the cartridge 905 returns to a closed configuration. For example, the valve element 938 can be molded to be biased toward a closed position. For example, Fig.36C As shown, in the closed configuration, the disc portion 939 can be molded to be angled or flexed downward, holding the tubular portion 140 in a position blocked by the inner cartridge cylindrical wall 927. When the cartridge 905 is subsequently inserted into the dispensing cap base 850, the tubular portion 940 and the disc portion 939 are forced upward due to contact with the dispensing passage 855. After the cartridge 905 is unscrewed from the cap base 850 and the dispensing passage 955 no longer applies strain or force upward to the tubular portion 940 and the disc portion 939 in the open configuration, the tubular portion 940 and the disc portion 939 are released from the biased position, the disc portion 939 "remembers" and returns to its stable angled position, and forces the tubular portion 940 back downward into the cartridge 905 to its initial position, in which the outlet opening 935 is again covered by the inner cartridge cylindrical wall 927 of the cartridge body 910.

[0239] As described above for cartridges 105 and 605 , the closed configuration of cartridge 905 allows the cartridge to be manufactured, shipped, sold, handled, and stored separately from the dispensing cap base without fluid leaking from cavity 915 of cartridge 905 into tubular portion 940 of cartridge 905 .

[0240] In addition, the reclosability of cartridge 905 after use limits the exposure of cartridge fluid to external contamination, maintains the taste and freshness of its contents, and prevents any accidental leakage of cartridge contents (such as sauce itself or separation slurry of sauce). If the user stores and handles the cartridge separately from the distribution cap after use, this is particularly helpful. Reclosability can also eliminate the need to provide a complete cover or plug for the distribution outlet of the cartridge. For example, after the user removes the tamper-evident seal from the cartridge and uses the cartridge in the distribution cap, the user may then wish to remove the cartridge from the cap and store the cartridge separately from the cap (for example, if the user has multiple cartridges for the cap). When the cartridge is not inserted into the distribution cap, the "closed" configuration of the cartridge allows the cartridge to remain fresh and to be stored separately from the cap base. In other words, the cartridge can be stored and used again after the first use, rather than being discarded, and there is no need for the cap portion of the cartridge.

[0241] Fig.39A and Fig.39BThe cartridge piston element 945 shown in the figure is generally arranged on the non-dispensing side of the cartridge 905. The cartridge piston element 945 is substantially the same as the cartridge piston elements 145 and 645 described above, and functions in the same manner. Therefore, the above description of the cartridge piston elements 145 and 645 is incorporated herein as a reference to the cartridge piston element 945. However, it should be noted that, by a method, the cartridge piston element 945, including the integral sealing elements 947 and 949, is formed of low-density polyethylene. In one configuration, the cartridge piston element 945 is formed of low-density polyethylene, while the other elements (valve element 938 and main cartridge body 910) of the cartridge 905 are formed of polypropylene. In another embodiment, the cartridge piston element 945, the valve element 938 and the main cartridge body 910 are all formed of polypropylene, which can contribute to the recycling of the entire cartridge after use. Other food-grade plastic or polymer materials can also be used for the cartridge piston element 945, for example, those having good sealing capabilities and also being able to slide along the main cartridge body 910.

[0242] In some methods, the cartridge piston element 945 may be non-removable or difficult to remove by the consumer during normal use of the product, such that the consumer cannot open or close the cartridge 905. In other embodiments, the consumer may remove the cartridge piston element 945 from the main cartridge body 910 and subsequently reconnect it. In this method, the consumer may clean and / or refill the cartridge 905.

[0243] The dispensing cap 700 is similar to the above description of the dispensing caps 100 and 400 and Figure 8 and Fig. 9 Specifically, Figure 8 and Fig. 9 It shows how the base piston element and the cartridge piston element move together between a first, unactuated position and a second position to jointly dispense a primary fluid from a bottle and a secondary fluid from a cartridge from a dispensing cap without substantial mixing of the fluids (i.e., each fluid maintains its integrity and is separately visible in the streams).

[0244] Reference Fig.31 , like the dispensing cap 400, the dispensing cap 700 can be configured such that when the hinged cap 880 is in the open position and the cartridge 905 is fully seated in the cap base 850, the upper side portion 921 of the cartridge 905 is exposed. That is, when the cartridge 905 is inserted into the cap base 850, the upper side portion 921 of the cartridge 905 protrudes from the cap base 850. The exposed upper side portion 921 of the cartridge 905 allows the user to grasp the cartridge 905 when inserting the cartridge 905 into the cap base 850 or removing the cartridge 905 from the cap base 850.

[0245] The cartridge 905 and the cap base 850 of the dispensing cap 700 may also include gripping portions that include ribs or textures as described above with respect to the dispensing cap 400. For example, although not shown, the cartridge 905 may have one or more gripping surfaces similar to the gripping surface 607 that are spaced apart along the upper portion 921 exposed by the cartridge 905 to facilitate a user to grip on the cartridge when inserting or removing the cartridge 605. The cap base 850 may also include a continuous gripping portion 808 that is externally disposed on the sidewall of the cap base 850, such as adjacent to an end of the cap base 850 that is configured to be screwed onto the neck of the bottle. When the dispensing cap 700 or the cap base 850 is screwed onto the neck of the bottle or unscrewed from the neck of the bottle, the continuous gripping portion 808 facilitates the user to grip and turn the dispensing cap 700 or the cap base 850. The gripping portion 808 also helps to hold or grip the cap base 550 as the cartridge 905 moves relative to the cap base 850 .

[0246] As shown, the distribution cap 700 can include various marks described above about the distribution cap 400, so that the user can use the distribution cap 605 conveniently by indicating instructions for use, such as indicating how to insert the cartridge 905 into the cap base 850 or remove the cartridge 905 from the cap base 850. For example, as described above, arrows 916, 914 and / or 809 can be present on the cartridge 905 (e.g., the exposed top side portion 921) and / or the cap base 850 to indicate the direction of rotation of the insertion orientation or the cartridge 905 being screwed into the cap base 850. These marks are not restrictive, and many different forms of marks for indicating the user can be envisioned. For example, there may be only textual descriptions, or there may be textual descriptions accompanied by non-textual marks (such as arrows), or there may be only non-textual marks.

[0247] As with dispensing cap 400, dispensing cap 700 can be configured to present an indication to the user that cartridge 905 has been properly inserted into cap base 850. For example, the user can feel a tactile or audible indication when cartridge 905 has been sufficiently threaded into cap base 850 and / or is properly aligned. Fig.36A As shown, the main cartridge body 910 of the cartridge 905 includes one or more bumps or projections 918 on the external threads 930. When the cartridge 905 is threaded into the cap base 850, the projections 918 engage or bump against corresponding notches or grooves 819a, 819b (e.g., FIG. 40A to FIG. 40B), which produces an audible (e.g., click) and / or tactile indication that the cartridge 905 is properly seated. In other configurations, the location of the bumps or protrusions 918 can be reversed such that they are provided on the base 850 instead of the cartridge 905, and there are corresponding notches on the cartridge 905. By one approach, there can be two protrusions 918 on the cartridge 905, and two notches 819a, 819b on the threads 852 in the cap base 850.

[0248] By some methods, the distribution cap 700 is configured to prevent leakage during the use and storage of the product. For example, as described above, the cartridge 905 has a closed structure when not inserted into the cap base 850, wherein the outlet opening 935 is covered by the inner cylindrical wall 927 of the cartridge 905, to prevent fluid from leaking from the cartridge cavity 915. In addition, in some ways, this closed structure can be an airtight structure. When the cartridge 905 is inserted into the cap base 860 and the cartridge 905 is in the case of an open structure (as described above), the central projection 885 of the hinged flip-top cover 880 can block the distribution outlet 922, to prevent fluid from leaking from the cartridge 905 when the flip-top cover 880 is closed. In some ways, this can also be an airtight structure. The dispensing cap 700 can also be configured so that after dispensing, the fluid product can properly flow back into the bottle 1002 and the cartridge cavity 915 to minimize product contamination at the various orifices / nozzles of the dispensing cap 700 (e.g., the dispensing outlet 922, the cartridge outlet opening 935, the dispensing channel outlet 857, etc.) or in the portion where the dispensing cap base 850 and the cartridge 905 meet.

[0249] In certain embodiments, the secondary fluid in the cartridge is also configured to have rheological properties that prevent the secondary fluid from leaking or flowing out of the outlet opening 935 and entering the tubular portion 940 when the cartridge 905 is in an open configuration (i.e., inserted into the cap base 850), unless the dispensing cap 700 is actuated by squeezing the bottle 1002. For example, as further described below, the secondary fluid in the cartridge 905 can have a certain viscosity, yield stress, or texture. In addition, particularly in the case where the fluid is an emulsion, the emulsion can have appropriate stability to prevent leakage and syneresis of the more mobile parts of the fluid (e.g., the oil component separated). In addition, the combination of the rheological properties of the fluid and the size and shape of the outlet opening 935 also helps to reduce leakage of the secondary fluid through the outlet opening 935 under the open configuration.

[0250] Furthermore, the illustrated configuration of the cap base 850 and cartridge 950 prevents leakage from occurring in the threaded area at the interface between the bottle 1002 , the cap base 850 , and the cartridge 950 .

[0251] In some methods, as described above, the primary and secondary fluids are dispensed from the dispensing cap 700 without substantial mixing of the fluids, so that each fluid is visible in the dispensing pattern. However, the amount of mixing of the fluids or the pattern formed may depend in part on the squeezing force applied to the bottle 1002. For example, a greater squeezing force may cause more turbulence and mixing as the fluids are dispensed, and may change the relative proportions, patterns, or appearance of the primary and secondary fluids as they are dispensed.

[0252] As described above, the rheological properties of the fluids disposed in the bottles and cartridges affect the proper function of the dispensing cap 700. For example, depending on certain rheological properties, such as viscosity, consistency, yield stress, texture, emulsion stability, stickiness, hardness, etc., the fluid may exhibit more or less resistance to flow and may require more or less squeezing force to achieve the desired result. In some methods, the fluid is formulated with rheological properties to achieve certain results, such as determining the acceptable squeezing force of the fluid during dispensing by yield stress, the acceptable ratio and pattern of the fluid during dispensing, and preventing accidental leakage of the fluid.

[0253] For example, in some embodiments, the primary fluid and the secondary fluid can have a certain viscosity. In the illustrated embodiment, the viscosity range of the fluid can be from about 7000 centipoise to about 30000 centipoise. In other embodiments, the viscosity range of the fluid can be from about 5000 centipoise to about 70000 centipoise, about 6000 centipoise to about 50000 centipoise, or about 6000 centipoise to about 45000 centipoise. The viscosity measurement described herein can be determined, for example, by a Brookfield viscometer (such as RV DV-II), using a No. 6 rotor, at 12 rpm, 20-22°C, measuring for 30 seconds.

[0254] The viscosity of the fluid is critical because too low a viscosity of the fluid may cause leakage of the secondary fluid from the cartridge outlet opening 935 or leakage of the primary fluid from the bottle without the user squeezing the bottle. That is, the fluid must have sufficient viscosity to remain contained when not being dispensed. In addition, the viscosity of the secondary fluid in the cartridge should be high enough so that it provides sufficient resistance to the movement of the cartridge piston element so that it is not forced to flow out of the cavity too quickly.

[0255] On the other hand, fluids with higher viscosities may present excessive resistance to flow. This may be undesirable because it may require the user to apply greater force to the bottle to move the piston 865, 945 and dispense the fluid. In some approaches, a larger opening and passageway through the dispensing cap 700 may be required to facilitate the flow of fluids with higher viscosities.

[0256] By one approach, the primary fluid in the bottle and the secondary fluid in the cartridge can have similar viscosities. By another illustrative approach, the secondary fluid has a lower viscosity than the primary fluid to compensate for the fact that greater force may be required to squeeze the fluid in the cartridge out of the cartridge. In the illustrated dispensing cap 700 embodiment, the secondary fluid may have a viscosity ranging from about 5,000 centipoise to 25,000 centipoise, or about 7,000 centipoise to 20,000 centipoise, and / or the primary fluid may have a viscosity ranging from about 10,000 to 70,000 centipoise. By some approaches, the secondary fluid can have a viscosity ranging from about 8,000 centipoise to about 20,000 centipoise, from about 10,000 centipoise to about 17,000 centipoise, or from about 12,000 centipoise to about 16,000 centipoise, and / or the primary fluid can have a viscosity ranging from about 12,000 centipoise to about 45,000 centipoise, from about 15,000 centipoise to about 30,000 centipoise, from about 15,000 centipoise to 25,000 centipoise, about 15,000 centipoise to 20,000 centipoise, or from about 17,000 centipoise to 19,000 centipoise.

[0257] Fluids can also be formulated to have specific yield stresses at different temperatures to ensure optimal distribution at refrigerated or ambient temperatures. For example, in the dispensing cap 700, the yield stress of the primary fluid at 25°C can range from about 1500 Pa.s (Pa.s) to about 2000 Pa.s, while the yield stress at 4°C can range from about 1750 Pa.s to about 2250 Pa.s. In other embodiments, the yield stress of the primary fluid at 25°C can range from about 1500 Pa.s to about 2500 Pa.s. In certain embodiments, the yield stress of the secondary fluid can be lower than that of the primary fluid to ensure that the secondary fluid flows smoothly through the cartridge outlet opening 935 of the cartridge 905. For example, the yield stress of the secondary fluid at 25°C can range from about 50 Pa.s to about 300 Pa.s, while the yield stress at 4°C can range from about 40 Pa.s to about 350 Pa.s.

[0258] Yield stress measurement as described herein is measured by determining the stress when the viscosity peak is observed. Before the viscosity peak, the material undergoes elastic deformation, wherein the sample stretches, and the viscosity peak represents the point at which the elastic structure breaks (or "yields") and the material begins to flow. The test is performed by considering a logarithmic shear stress curve from 0 to 100 Pa for 100s. Anton Paar rheometer (MCR302e) is used to measure the rheological properties of the sample with parallel plates as the geometry.

[0259] In some methods, fluid can be configured to have other characteristics.For example, for dispensing cap 700, the hardness of primary fluid can be about 25kgf to about 45kgf, and wire drawing length (stringiness length) can be about 15mm to about 25mm, and / or bonding force can be about 25 grams to about 45 grams.The hardness of secondary fluid can be about 10kgf to about 40kgf, and wire drawing length can be about 10mm to about 35mm, and / or bonding force can be about 5 grams to about 25 grams.In another embodiment, the hardness of primary fluid can be about 50kgf to about 90kgf, and wire drawing length can be about 5 to about 20mm, and / or bonding force can be about 35 grams to about 65 grams.

[0260] In some non-limiting methods, both the primary fluid and the secondary fluid can be sauces or condiments. The primary fluid and the secondary fluid can be selected as complementary tastes. In certain embodiments, the sauce can have a smooth or muddy consistency generally. The primary fluid and the secondary fluid can be, for example, a tomato-based sauce, a mustard-based sauce, an emulsion, or different substrates can be arranged. In some methods, the fluid in the bottle and / or the cartridge does not include any artificial coloring, artificial flavoring or preservative. However, as described above, the fluid is not limited to edible products, and in other exemplary embodiments, can also be health or beauty products (such as soap, emulsion, essence, hair products, etc.).

[0261] In a non-limiting embodiment, the secondary fluid disposed in the cartridge 905 is an emulsion, such as an oil-in-water emulsion. In some methods, the secondary fluid is an edible emulsion. In certain embodiments, the emulsion applicable to the cartridge may include oil, water, emulsifiers, acidic components, sugar, salt and other flavoring ingredients. Additional thickeners may also be included, or emulsifiers may be used as thickening and emulsifying functions simultaneously.

[0262] The term "oil" as used herein refers to an oil that is liquid at room temperature (22° C.) and atmospheric pressure (760 mmHg). Exemplary oils for seasonings generally include vegetable oils. Suitable vegetable oils include, but are not limited to, rapeseed oil, corn oil, sesame oil, rapeseed oil, olive oil, palm oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, and soybean oil, and combinations thereof.

[0263] By a method, the oil that the emulsion comprises accounts for about 10% to about 40% of the emulsion by weight. In another method, the oil that the emulsion comprises can account for about 10% to about 30% of the emulsion by weight, or about 20% to about 30%. In certain non-limiting embodiments, the emulsion can comprise about 40% to about 75% water. In some examples, increasing the amount of oil can improve the stability of the emulsion, thereby preventing oil from separating from the product. The separation of oil can affect the taste, texture and aesthetic effect of the product when the product is distributed with the sauce from the bottle, and can also cause the product to leak accidentally from the barrel outlet opening 935. However, the increase in the amount of oil may cause the emulsion to be too thick, and / or the flow resistance is too large, and can not be normally distributed. Therefore, in certain embodiments, the emulsion for the barrel 905 is formulated to have a sufficiently low viscosity and / or yield stress, which neither hinders flow nor causes oil separation or accidental leakage of the emulsion.

[0264] In some methods, the emulsion includes one or more emulsifiers or emulsifying aids. Emulsifiers allow the oil phase to mix with water or water phase ingredients to form an oil-in-water emulsion. The amount of emulsifier contributes to the stability of the emulsion and the viscosity of the product. In some non-vegetarian formulations, egg yolk can be used as an emulsifying aid. For example, the amount of heat-stable egg yolk can be about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of the emulsion, or about 1% to about 3%. In vegetarian emulsions, a certain amount of plant protein and / or plant fiber can be used alternatively for emulsifying effects. For example, in an emulsion with both plant protein and plant fiber, the plant protein can be present in an amount of about 0.4% to about 1% by weight of the emulsion, and the plant fiber can be present in an amount of about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of the emulsion, or about 1% to about 3%. In different embodiments, other conventional emulsifiers known in the art may also be used, such as lecithin, whey protein, soy lecithin, agar, albumin, alginate, casein, glyceryl monostearate, polysorbate, polyglycerol esters, sugar esters, sorbitan esters, modified starches, and combinations thereof.

[0265] In an exemplary embodiment, only plant fiber is used as an emulsifying aid. Advantageously, plant fiber is also used as a thickener and can help to achieve a certain viscosity in the emulsion. The plant fiber can be a fiber from a fruit or vegetable, and in an exemplary embodiment, it is a citrus fiber. The plant fiber can be present in an amount of about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of the emulsion, or about 1% to about 3%. By a favorable method, the plant fiber is present in an amount of about 1.5% to about 3%, about 2% to about 3%, or about 2% to about 2.5% by weight of the emulsion. These amounts of plant fiber can prevent or alleviate any demulsification of the emulsion, such as oil separation, while allowing sufficiently low viscosity and / or yield stress to allow appropriate fluidity and squeezing force during distribution.

[0266] In some embodiments, other thickeners may be employed, such as starches, cellulose derivatives, polysaccharides, gums, gum derivatives, polyols, and combinations thereof. By some methods, the thickener may be included in an amount of about 1% to about 10% by weight of the emulsion.

[0267] One or more acidic ingredients can also be included in the emulsion, which can contribute to the microbial stability of the emulsion. The acidic ingredients can include one or more edible acids (i.e., food-grade acids). The acidic ingredients, for example, can include citric acid, sorbic acid, phosphoric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, and combinations thereof. In some aspects, the acidic ingredients can include vinegar and / or concentrated lemon juice. Exemplary vinegar includes white vinegar, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, malt vinegar, and rice vinegar. In addition to contributing to microbial stability, the acidic ingredients can also impart desired flavors to the emulsion. In certain embodiments, the amount of the acidic ingredients included is about 3% to about 9% by weight of the emulsion, and in certain embodiments, is about 4% to about 7.5% by weight of the emulsion.

[0268] In some embodiments, sugar or other sweeteners may be included in the emulsion to impart a certain level of sweetness to the product. For example, in methods that include sugar, the amount of sugar present may be about 2% to 5% by weight of the emulsion.

[0269] The emulsion may also include a salt (eg, sodium chloride) in an amount ranging from about 1% to about 4%, or from about 1% to about 2.5% by weight of the emulsion.

[0270] One or more additional seasoning ingredients can also be used in the emulsion to enhance and / or change its flavor. Flavoring agents can include various herbs, spices, and natural or artificial flavoring agents. Exemplary herbs and spices can include pepper, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, parsley, oregano, basil, chives, mustard, coriander, curry, cloves, rosemary, chervil, aniseed, coriander, horseradish, cumin, allspice, nutmeg, paprika, thyme, tarragon, turmeric, dill, sage, saffron, marjoram, mint, paprika, smoked paprika, cinnamon, ginger, horseradish, chili pepper, etc. Exemplary flavoring agents can include natural onion flavor, natural pasture flavor, natural garlic flavor, lemon juice flavor, lime juice flavor, soy sauce flavor, truffle flavor, malt barley extract, vegetable flavor, fruit flavor, beta-carotene, etc. The amount of the flavoring agent added to the emulsion can depend on the intensity of the desired flavor. In some aspects, the combination of other flavoring ingredients may be present in an amount ranging from about 1% to about 20% by weight of the emulsion, or in some aspects, from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the emulsion.

[0271] By one approach, the secondary fluid for use in the cartridge may be an emulsion having the composition shown in Table 2.

[0272] Table 2

[0273] In another approach, the secondary fluid for use in the cartridge can be an emulsion formed from the base formulation provided in Table 3.

[0274] Table 3

[0275] Additional flavoring ingredients may be added to the base formula of Table 2. For example, in one non-limiting approach, the final emulsion includes the above base formula ingredients in an amount of about 90% to about 99% by weight of the final emulsion, and the additional flavoring ingredients in an amount of about 1% to about 10% by weight of the final emulsion.

[0276] An exemplary egg yolk-based emulsion can be formed from the base formula provided in Table 4.

[0277] Table 4

[0278] Additional flavoring ingredients may be added to the base formula. For example, in one non-limiting approach, the final emulsion includes the above base formula ingredients in an amount of about 90% to about 99% by weight of the final emulsion, and the additional flavoring ingredients in an amount of about 1% to about 10% by weight of the final emulsion.

[0279] Example 2.

[0280] A study was conducted to determine the squeeze force required to push the emulsion out of the cartridge for different configurations relative to the cartridge outlet opening 935 (the tubular portion in the valve element) and different base formulations. The tested configurations for the cartridge outlet openings are provided in Table 5. There were two openings in each configuration.

[0281] Table 5 Nozzle 1 3x 2mm, rectangular Nozzle 2 4.5x 2mm, oval Nozzle 3 3.2mm, round Nozzle 4 3.85x 2.2mm, oval

[0282] The different base formulations tested using each of the above barrel configurations are shown in Table 6.

[0283] Table 6

[0284] Table 7 indicates the extrusion force required to dispense different base formulations from different nozzle configurations of the barrel.

[0285] Table 7 Recipe 25c (Vegan) Recipe 36c (Vegan) Recipe 1b (egg-based) Nozzle 1 24.5N 66.9N 18.5N Nozzle 2 23 N 61 N 15.8N Nozzle 3 21.1N 53.2N 15.2N Nozzle 4 19.9N 53.5N 14.2N

[0286] As shown in Table 7, different base formulations have different rheological properties, resulting in significant differences in the required extrusion force.

[0287] It was further observed that formulation 36c was very thick, resulting in a high extrusion force. Formulations 25c and 1b resulted in lower extrusion forces but were thinner. This could result in the emulsion leaking out of the cartridge when the cartridge was positioned upside down and / or being too fluid to form the desired pattern when combined with the primary fluid.

[0288] Example 3.

[0289] An emulsion having the ingredients listed in Table 8 was prepared and placed in cartridge 905. The viscosity of the emulsion was between about 7,000 centipoise and about 20,000 centipoise.

[0290] Table 8 Recipe 32c (Vegan) 20%-30% oil 1-3% vegetable fiber 58.4% to 65.8% water 4.2% to 7.6% acid 2% to 5% sugar 1% to 2.5% salt

[0291] The cartridge is mounted in a dispensing cap base 850, which is coupled to a bottle containing a condiment (viscosity of about 17,000 to 18,000 centipoise). The cartridge 905 includes four circular cartridge outlet openings 935, each having a diameter of about 3.1 mm. The dispensing cap base 850 includes a dispensing channel outlet 857 having a diameter of about 2.6 mm. In use, the condiment and the emulsion are co-dispensed from the dispensing cap 900, and the two sauces are clearly visible in the dispensed product. The condiment and the emulsion are dispensed in a suitable ratio with an acceptable squeezing force applied to the bottle.

[0292] Example 4.

[0293] Cartridges with outlet openings of different configurations (e.g., different sizes, shapes, and / or numbers of openings) were paired with dispensing caps with dispensing channel outlet openings of different sizes. 500 mL of ketchup (viscosity of about 17,000 to 18,000 centipoise) was provided to the dispensing bottle. 25 g of the emulsion provided in Example 3 was provided to the cartridge. Different combinations were tested to determine whether bottle sauce and cartridge sauce were present in the extruded product at the same time, the dosing force required to extrude the product, whether rebound occurred, and the cleanliness of the dispensing cap (e.g., at the interface between the cartridge and the cap base) after dispensing. The results are provided in Table 9.

[0294] Table 9

[0295] In some approaches, the dispensing bottle 1000 can be configured such that the primary and secondary fluids can co-dispense a certain dispensing volume before one or both fluids are exhausted. For example, to achieve this, the cartridge 905 can be of a specific size relative to the size of the flexible bottle 1002, and / or the amount of fluid in the cartridge 905 can be proportional to the amount of condiment in the bottle 1002.

[0296] In some configurations, the bottle 1002 is sized to have a larger volume than the cartridge 905 and will hold more fluid than the cartridge 905. Thus, by one approach, it is advantageous to configure the dispensing cap 700 to dispense a smaller amount of the secondary fluid relative to the primary fluid so that a single cartridge can be used for at least a certain percentage of the bottle's life cycle. This can be accomplished, for example, by varying the size and ratio of the cartridge outlet opening 935 or the outlet 857 of the dispensing channel 855. In this manner, the primary and secondary fluids can be dispensed together in a specific ratio.

[0297] In one embodiment, the dispensing cap 700 and the bottle 1002 can be configured so that each bottle 1002 requires only approximately two cartridges 905; that is, when dispensing, when only about half of the fluid in the bottle is emptied, a single cartridge may have been emptied, so the user must remove the cartridge and insert a second cartridge for use with the second half of the bottle. In different embodiments, only one cartridge may be required, or three or more cartridges may be required. However, it is conceivable that three or less cartridges are required for each bottle, and in the illustrative embodiment, a maximum of two cartridges. Such an approach can both reduce waste and be more convenient for the user. However, it should be noted that the amount of cartridge fluid used for each bottle fluid may vary to some extent due to the squeezing force applied by the user to the bottle. In addition, the size of the bottle may vary, which may require a different approximate number of cartridges for each bottle. For example, for some bottles designed to be larger in size, four or more cartridges may be required for each bottle.

[0298] By one approach, the amount of secondary cartridge fluid dispensed is about 8% to 12% by volume of the primary bottle fluid dispensed. In another approach, the amount of secondary fluid dispensed can be up to about 50% by volume of the primary fluid dispensed. In some embodiments, the secondary fluid and primary fluid are dispensed at a dispense ratio of about 0.5:10 to about 5:10, or about 1:10 to about 1:8. In an illustrative configuration, the ratio is 1:9, and in another approach it is 1:10. In another approach, the ratio is about 2:8, or even 1:1. In an embodiment, these amounts are achieved at a squeeze force of 100N or less, a squeeze force of 90N or less, a squeeze force of 85N or less, a squeeze force of 80N or less, or a squeeze force of 75N or less. Changing the size of the outlet opening 935 of the cartridge relative to the outlet opening 857 of the dispensing channel 855 of the cap base 850 can effectively achieve the appropriate ratio. For example, in the illustrated method, for certain fluids, four circular outlet openings 935 having a diameter between about 3 mm and about 3.3 mm, and a dispensing channel outlet opening 857 having a diameter between about 2.4 mm and 2.8 mm, allow the secondary fluid to be dispensed in an amount of about 8%-12% of the volume of the primary fluid dispensed. For example, such dimensions may be particularly advantageous when the viscosity of the secondary cartridge fluid ranges from about 7,000 to about 20,000 centipoise, while the viscosity of the primary bottle fluid ranges from 15,000 centipoise to about 25,000 centipoise.

[0299] In another embodiment, the bottle may have a capacity of about 250 mL to about 1000 mL for containing a primary fluid disposed in the bottle. In some configurations, the cartridge may have a capacity of about 10 ml to about 50 ml, or about 15 ml to about 35 ml for containing a secondary fluid disposed in the cartridge. For example, in an illustrative configuration, the bottle includes about 500 mL of product, while the cartridge includes about 25 mL of product. Cartridges and bottles having capacities outside of these ranges may also be constructed.

[0300] In some embodiments, the distribution cap base is configured to be reusable by the user. For example, a single distribution cap base can be sufficiently durable and / or sanitary in use so that it can be used with many different cartridges and / or bottles over time. For example, the distribution cap base can be used to distribute approximately two or more full cartridges, three or more full cartridges, five or more cartridges, or ten or more cartridges. In some embodiments, the distribution cap base can be continuously reused under regular cleaning conditions. For example, the user can remove the distribution cap base from the bottle and clean the distribution cap base with water and / or soap.

[0301] As described above, in some embodiments, the user can also interchange the cartridges containing different fluids in the same dispensing cap and using the same bottle. Advantageously, the user can use a variety of fluid combinations. For example, a bottle filled with a first condiment such as ketchup, a dispensing cap, and two, three or more cartridges filled with different condiments can be provided. According to expectations, the user can interchange the cartridges in the dispensing cap to enjoy different flavor combinations, such as ketchup and garlic sauce. It is conceivable that in one embodiment, different condiments in different cartridges have similar fluid properties, such as similar viscosity, texture, yield stress, density and / or compressibility, or are formulated with similar ingredients (such as plant fibers) so that cartridges of similar construction can be manufactured for each condiment. In the case where the fluid properties of different condiments in different cartridges may differ greatly, the cartridge construction for these condiments may need to be adjusted and customized so as to distribute different cartridge condiments in a desired manner. For example, the size of the outlet opening 935 and / or the size of the tubular portion 940 of the valve element may need to be adjusted. Additionally, the size of the outlet opening 935, the size of the tubular portion 940 of the valve element, the diameter of the dispensing passage outlet 857, and / or the viscosity or other rheological properties of the cartridge fluid may depend on the rheological properties of the bottle fluid.

[0302] In another approach, the user may choose to completely remove the cartridge 905 from the cap base 850 and dispense only the primary fluid from the bottle 1002. Therefore, in some embodiments, it may be advantageous to configure the dispensing cap base 850 so that it can dispense fluid without the cartridge 905 inserted therein. This functionality occurs in the same manner as described above with respect to the dispensing cap 100 and Fig.10 The same is shown, i.e., fluid from the bottle is dispensed directly from dispensing channel 955.

[0303] The present invention contemplates a dispensing system for co-dispensing two fluids and the fluids will not mix in large quantities. The system includes a bottle or container with a primary fluid, a distribution cover base including a hinged flip-top cover, and one or more cartridges, each of which has the same or different secondary fluids used with the distribution cover base and the bottle. The distribution cover base can be coupled to the neck of the bottle, and each cartridge can be inserted into the distribution cover base. The bottle, the distribution cover base and the cartridge can be constructed according to any of the above-mentioned embodiments, and when coupled together, the primary fluid and the secondary fluid can be allowed to be distributed together from the distribution outlet 922 on the cartridge 905 as described above. The cartridge can be removed from the cover base so that different cartridges can be inserted therein, for example, when a user wants to use different products, or if the product of the first cartridge is used up. In some embodiments, the bottle includes a removable cap of its own so that the distribution cover base can be coupled to the bottle.

[0304] The dispensing cap 700, including the dispensing cap base 850 and the cartridge 905, can be manufactured in a manner as described above with reference to the dispensing caps 100 and 400. In one method, a method of manufacturing the cartridge 905 specifically includes: providing a fluid; forming a cartridge main body including a central opening and a cavity for containing the fluid; forming a cartridge piston element sized to slide along the cavity of the cartridge container and force the fluid out of the cavity; and forming a valve element having a tubular portion sized to extend within the central opening. By some methods, the tubular portion includes at least one outlet opening on its wall so that the fluid can flow from the cavity into the tubular portion during use, and in some methods, includes four outlet openings. In addition, the manufacturing method generally also includes assembling the cartridge by coupling the valve element to the open end of the cartridge main body (e.g., via welding), filling the cavity of the cartridge main body with the fluid, and seating the cartridge piston element in the cartridge main body at an end of the cartridge main body opposite the valve element to close and seal the cavity. In some methods, a filling head is used to fill the cavity with a fluid, and the cavity is filled to such an extent that no air remains once the cartridge piston element is seated. The manufacturing method may also include adding a tamper-evident feature or packaging to the cartridge. For example, one or more cartridges may be sealed in a flow-through package. In certain embodiments, the cartridge may have a tamper-evident sealing liner on the dispensing side of the cartridge and / or on a side opposite to the dispensing side. In one method, after the cartridge is filled, a top seal or sealing liner is applied to the cartridge. These cartridges may be packaged individually, for example, each cartridge in a small box (e.g., a cardboard box or a paperboard box). In one method, a method of manufacturing a dispensing bottle includes: setting a primary fluid in a bottle and forming a dispensing cap, the dispensing cap including a base, a base piston element and a cartridge. In some embodiments, the base is formed to include a dispensing channel and is configured to be attached to a bottleneck, and the base also has a receptacle. In one method, the base piston element is coupled to the base and is movable between a first position and a second position, so that as the fluid disposed in the bottle is forced toward the dispensing channel to dispense the fluid, at least a portion of the fluid engages the base piston element and moves the base piston element toward the second position. In certain configurations, the manufacturing process includes forming a cartridge to be disposed in a receptacle of the base, the cartridge including a cartridge piston element configured to be driven by the base piston element as the base piston element moves from the first position toward the second position. In some embodiments, the process includes disposing a secondary fluid in the cartridge. By one method, the process also includes disposing the cartridge in a receptacle of the dispensing cap. Another step may also include screwing the dispensing cap with the filled cartridge onto the filled bottle.

[0305] In some methods, a method of manufacturing a dispensing cap may include providing a first fluid, forming a cartridge container for containing the first fluid, forming a cartridge piston element sized to slide along a cavity of the cartridge container and force the first fluid out of the cavity, and forming a valve element having a tubular portion sized to extend within a central opening, the tubular portion including at least one outlet opening in its wall. In an illustrative embodiment, the cartridge container includes a central opening defined by an inner cylindrical wall. In some embodiments, the method also includes assembling the cartridge by: coupling the valve element to the container, filling the cavity with the first fluid, and disposing the cartridge piston element in the cavity of the cartridge container, the tubular portion extending within the central opening of the container. In some embodiments, the valve element may be welded to the container. The method may also include forming a dispensing cap base, the dispensing cap base including a dispensing channel and configured to be attached to the neck of the bottle, the base also having a receptacle sized to receive the cartridge. In certain embodiments, additional steps include forming a base piston element and disposing the base piston element in the dispensing cap base, the base piston element being configured to move within the dispensing cap base between a first position and a second position. The base piston element may be sized and positioned within the cap base to engage the cartridge piston element when the cartridge is inserted into the receptacle.

[0306] In some embodiments, the method may include the cartridge container, valve element, and dispensing cap base being formed of polypropylene, while the base piston element and cartridge piston element are formed of polypropylene, low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, or a combination thereof. By one approach, the base piston element has an annular configuration and is formed to include a first cylindrical portion that slides along a guide channel and a second flange portion that extends radially outward from the cylindrical portion, the second flange portion being positioned to engage the cartridge piston element when the cartridge is received in the cap base. The method may also include the dispensing channel extending through the guide channel, and in some examples, the base piston element being disposed around the dispensing channel. By some approaches, the base is formed to include at least one base opening through which a second fluid can flow between the dispensing channel and the guide channel to engage the base piston element.

[0307] In certain embodiments, a method of manufacturing a dispensing cap may include configuring a tubular portion to be resiliently deflectable relative to a container between a first tubular portion and a second tubular position, wherein at least one outlet opening is covered by an inner cylindrical wall of the container to prevent a first fluid from flowing into the tubular portion via the at least one outlet opening, and at the second tubular position, the first fluid is able to flow through the at least one outlet opening and into the tubular portion, such that when the cartridge is received in a receptacle of the base, the tubular portion moves to the second tubular position. In some configurations, the method may include disposing the cartridge in a receptacle of the dispensing cap base, the step of disposing the cartridge in the receptacle causing a first end of the tubular portion to contact an end of the dispensing channel, thereby moving the tubular portion to open the at least one outlet opening, allowing the first fluid to flow out of the cavity. In some methods, the viscosity of the first fluid (in the cartridge) is between about 7,000 centipoise and about 20,000 centipoise.

[0308] In some configurations, the method may include forming a base piston element so that as the base piston element moves from the first position toward the second position, a cartridge piston element disposed in the cartridge is driven. The method may also include forming the base piston element to include an inner hole seal and an outer seal, the inner seal being configured to engage the outer surface of the dispensing channel, and the outer seal being configured to engage the guide channel. In some configurations, the method also includes forming the base to include a stopper configured to prevent the base piston element from moving beyond the second position. The base may be formed to include a clamshell cover to be hingedly attached to the base, the clamshell cover having an internal protrusion that is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein when in the first position, the protrusion blocks fluid from flowing out of the cartridge, and when in the second position, allows fluid to flow out.

[0309] In some embodiments, the method of manufacturing the dispensing cap further comprises disposing the cartridge piston element around the inner cylindrical wall of the cartridge. By some methods, the method may include forming one or more internal sealing elements of the cartridge piston element, the internal sealing elements configured to contact the inner cylindrical wall to seal the first fluid within the cavity. The method may also include forming one or more external sealing elements of the cartridge piston element, the external sealing elements configured to contact the outer wall of the container to seal the first fluid within the cavity.

[0310] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various other modifications, changes and combinations may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, and these modifications, changes and combinations should be considered to be within the scope of the inventive concept.

Claims

1. A dispensing cap, comprising: a base having a dispensing passage and configured to be attached to a neck of a bottle, the base having a receptacle; a base piston element disposed in the base and movable between a first position and a second position such that as fluid disposed in the bottle is forced toward the dispensing passage to dispense the fluid, at least a portion of the fluid engages the base piston element and moves the base piston element toward the second position; as well as A cartridge is disposed in the receptacle of the base, wherein the base piston element is configured to drive a cartridge piston element of the cartridge as the base piston element moves from the first position toward the second position.

2. The dispensing cap according to claim 1, characterized in that The base comprises a guide channel along which at least a portion of the base piston element moves and within which the dispensing channel extends.

3. The dispensing cap according to claim 1, characterized in that The cartridge includes a container and a valve element coupled to an outer surface of the container, the valve element having a tubular portion extending within the container, the tubular portion including at least one outlet opening in a wall thereof, the tubular portion being movable relative to the container between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the at least one outlet opening is covered by an inner wall of the container to prevent fluid in the container from flowing into the tubular portion via the at least one outlet opening, and in the second position, the fluid in the container is able to flow through the at least one outlet opening and into the tubular portion.

4. The dispensing cap according to claim 3, characterized in that The dispensing cap is configured such that attaching the cartridge to the base of the dispensing cap engages one end of the tubular portion with one end of the dispensing passage of the base, moving the tubular portion to open the at least one outlet opening.

5. The dispensing cap according to claim 3, characterized in that The tubular portion comprises four of the at least one outlet opening.

6. The dispensing cap according to claim 3, characterized in that The fluid in the container of the cartridge has a viscosity ranging from about 7,000 centipoise to about 20,000 centipoise.

7. The dispensing cap according to claim 3, characterized in that When the cartridge is attached to the base, the dispensing passage is in fluid communication with the tubular portion via an outlet orifice of the dispensing passage.

8. The dispensing cap according to claim 7, characterized in that The outlet orifice has a diameter of about 1.5 mm to about 3.0 mm, and the tubular portion includes four of the at least one outlet openings, each outlet opening having a diameter of between about 2.5 mm to about 3.5 mm.

9. The dispensing cap according to claim 1, characterized in that Includes a flip-top lid hingedly attached to the base, wherein the flip-top lid includes an internal protrusion, the internal protrusion includes a first sealing surface and a second sealing surface, the first sealing surface is configured to block fluid from flowing out of the dispensing channel of the base, and the second sealing surface is configured to block fluid from flowing out through the at least one outlet opening of the cartridge.

10. The dispensing cap according to claim 1, characterized in that The cartridge disposed in the receptacle of the base includes external threads for threading into the receptacle, wherein one or more protrusions on the external threads engage one or more grooves on the internal threads of the receptacle to provide an audible and / or tactile indication to a user when the cartridge is properly positioned in the receptacle.

11. A container comprising a dispensing cap according to claim 1, the dispensing cap being screwed onto the neck of a bottle, wherein: A primary fluid is disposed in the bottle and a secondary fluid is disposed in the cartridge.

12. A dispensing cap base for removably coupling to a neck of a bottle, the dispensing cap base comprising: Main body and base piston elements, The main body includes: a first end including a receptacle for receiving a cartridge; a second end including an inlet portion for receiving fluid from the bottle; a dispensing passage extending from the first end to the second end for dispensing fluid from the bottle; and A guide passage is disposed about the dispensing passage, the base piston element being movable along the guide passage between a first position and a second position to engage the cartridge when fluid from the bottle is received at the inlet portion.

13. The dispensing cap base according to claim 12, characterized in that The inlet portion includes at least one cover base opening through which fluid can flow between the dispensing channel and the guide channel to engage the base piston element.

14. The dispensing cap base according to claim 12, characterized in that The base piston element has an annular configuration and includes an inner seal engaging an outer surface of the dispensing passage and an outer seal engaging the guide passage.

15. The dispensing cap base according to claim 12, characterized in that The base piston element has an annular structure and is arranged around the dispensing channel. The base piston element includes a cylindrical portion and a flange portion. The cylindrical portion is arranged radially inwardly in the guide channel, and the flange portion is arranged basically radially outwardly in the guide channel at one end of the cylindrical portion for engaging the cartridge received in the receptacle.

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