NZ628166A - A cap and blister pack having an integral piercing needle - Google Patents

Abstract

A cap for use with a container, where the cap includes a cylindrical body 11 having an opening and a lid 16 adapted to seal over said opening 27. The body 11 includes an inner lip 15 disposed circumferentially around the inside of the body 11 and a blister pack 17 having a base 20 and a dome 18 extending over the base 20 to define a chamber for housing a powder. The dome 18 includes an integral, internal needle 23 so that when the dome 20 is pressed, the needle 23 pierces the base 20 to define an opening through which the powder escapes into the container.

Description

A cap and blister pack having an al piercing needle FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention s generally to a sealing cap and blister pack for a container incorporating a nce to be mixed with the liquid in the container prior to use as well as the blister pack on its own.

OUND TO THE INVENTION [ 0002] g methods for food and ge containers are well known and varied, the most common being a cap or lid. Drinks which include another component or second component, such as a tablet which is added to the liquid are growing in popularity. Usually this includes a blister pack contained in the lid which is adapted to store material separately from the liquid in the container. [ 0003] It is preferable for the second component to be added immediately prior to consumption, especially when ingredients to be added are UV sensitive or do not have a long shelf life when mixed. Adding ingredients at the point of consumption also simplifies the production and filling of the ges. [ 0004] It is therefore known for a container to include a cap and a tablet holder, or blister pack, so that when pressure is exeited on the blister pack it allows the tablet to be mixed with the liquid in the container. [ 0005] In some cases it is preferable to mix granules or powders since they dissolve much quicker and also do not have to be manufactured in a tablet form. [ 0006] However when dispensing a powder the design of the blister pack needs to ensure that the bottom of the blister pack is pierced or torn to ensure that the powder drops into the container. In addition, the perforation needs to be sufficiently large that the powder flows y. This is not always possible just by the exertion of external re on the blister pack and various complicated solutions have been proposed. All of these however include external elements to the blister pack that aid in the piecing. Furthermore, the ner cannot be resealed once the blister pack is broken and therefore the container cannot be reused. [ 0007] It is an object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages or at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [ 0008] Therefore in one form of the invention there is proposed a cap for use with a container, said cap including a cylindrical body having an opening and a lid adapted to seal over said opening, the body further having an inner lip disposed circumferentially around the inside of the body and adapted to house a blister pack having a base and a dome extending over the base to define a chamber for housing a powder, the dome ing an internal needle so that when the dome is pressed, the needle pierces the base to define an opening through which the powder escapes into the container. [ 0009] In preference the blister pack includes as a base aluminium foil.

In preference the blister pack is attached to the body by glue.

In preference the blister pack is ed to the body by a ring that ps the blister pack and the lip and is bonded to both the blister pack and the body lip.

In preference the needle is of an ed fmsto-conical shape.

In a further form of the invention there is proposed a blister pack for use with a drink container the blister pack having a base and a dome extending over the base to define a chamber for housing a powder, the dome including an al needle extending into the chamber towards the base so that when the dome is ally pressed, the needle moves towards and into the base to pierce it and define an opening through which the powder dispenses into the container.

In ence the needle extends downwardly from the dome.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The ed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary ofthe Invention in any way. The ed Description will make reference to a number of gs as follows. [ 0016] Reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a perspective view of a known cap having an integral lid in an open state to be used with a drink container; Figure 2 is the cap as in Figure l but when in a closed state; Figure 3 is an ed view of the cap as in Figure 1 ing a known blister pack; [ 0020] Figure 4 is the cap as in Figure 3 illustrating the housing of the blister pack; [ 0021] Figure 5 is a perspective view ofa blister pack according to the present invention; and [ 0022] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional View of the blister pack of Figure 5.

G LABELS [ 0023] The drawings include items labeled as follows: cap 11 body 12 opening 13 cylindrical skirt 1 4 internal threads internal lip 16 hinged lid 17 blister pack 18 plastic film 19 flange aluminium film 21 bottle neck 22 dome 23 needle 24 side walls point DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [ 0024] The ing detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers Will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. As used herein, any usage of terms that suggest an absolute orientation (e. g. “top , “bottom”, “front”, “back”, “horizontal”, etc.) are for illustrative convenience and refer to the orientation shown in a particular figure. However. such terms are not to be construed in a limiting sense as it is contemplated that various components may in ce be utilized in orientations that are the same as, or different than those, described or shown. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/ exaggerated for the purposes ity or illustration. [ 0025] ing to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a cap 10 having a body 11 with an opening 12 and a cylindrical skirt 13. Internal threads 1 are used to screw the cap onto a drink container. An internal lip 15 is provided to house a blister as is discussed below. A hinged lid 16 is integrally attached to the body 11 so that when closed it seals the g 12. [ 0026] As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 the ions of the lid 16 are such that the body 11 can odate a blister pack 17 defmed by a plastic film 18 and having a flange 19. The blister pack flange 19 is supported by internal lip 15 and the dimensions of the lid and the body are such that the blister cap is accommodated when the lid is closed. [ 0027] A tablet or powder is blister packed using standard tablet and powder packaging processes. The blister consists of the formed plastic laminate film 18 that is designed to modify the atmosphere inside the blister. After the tablet/powder is loaded into the formed plastic blister. the blister is 1idded using thin aluminium foil 20. The foil is coated with a heat ive ve and the edge of the blister is welded to the film to isolate the atmosphere in the blister. The packed blister is cut out so that it is lly circular in elevation shape. [ 0028] The blister pack is glued to the internal lip of the body so that the tablet sits over the opening 12. The adhesive is generally a pressure sensitive adhesive or hot melt adhesive [ 0029] In an alternate embodiment. not shown, instead of using glue a plastic ring lies on top of the flange 19 and is ofa diameter slightly larger than that of the r pack flange so that it can be welded to the outer surface of lip 15. [ 0030] The lid 16 with the assembled blister prevents inadveitent tion of the press release of the tablet 25. This protects the blister pack during handling, filling and post- consumer purchase. The lid may not be hinged but be a separate cap that engages with the body in a snap—type arrangement. The lid may also include well known features to provide evidence of tampering.

As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. the present invention teaches a blister pack 17 that includes a base aluminium film 20, flange 19 and a dome 22 that is usually a plastic film. The dome, instead ofbeing flat as in the known blister pack, is of an arcuate shape where the centre includes a needle 23 comprising side walls 24 and a l point 25 that generally rests against or is close to the base 20. The user simply presses on the dome 22 causing the needle to move down and pierce the base 20 and let the powder escape into the container. gh defined as a needle it may also take the shape ofa plunger 7 that is 7 having a pointy end that is adapted to engage and pierce through the base. [ 0032] Whilst the dome is illustrated as being of a continuous shape with an integral needle, it is to be understood that the dome may also be of different rations. That is, the dome may have a flat top and the needle is attached to the underside of the film. This however may not be preferred due to difficulties in manufacture. [ 0033] The reader will now appreciate that in use. the user simply removes the lid and applies pressure to the top of the r pack that results in the needle piercing the base and the powder being dispensed. [ 0034] The reader will now r appreciate the advantage of the present ion.

Since the blister pack is an integral pait of the cap the powder can be dispensed into the drink container whilst the bottle remains sealed. The cap is simply unscrewed to access the liquid and can be screwed back to the drink container to once again seal the bottle. The blister pack includes an integral piercing member that assist in breaking of the base foil so that the powder is dispensed into the liquid. [ 0035] Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the t invention t deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made rom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope 0fthe claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an ion that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in this field. [ 0036] For e, although illustrated in Figure 5 and 6 is a blister pack having one central needle, the blister pack may have numerous needles extending downwardly and adapted to pierce the base when pressured. [ 0037] It is to be tood that the present invention, although described by way of example when used for a drink container, may equally well be used for other purposes such as but not limited to glues, pesticides, paints and many other applications where it is necessary or desirable to mix either tablet(_s) or granules with a liquid prior to use. [ 0038] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word ising" and its tives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more fiirther integers.

Claims (6)

1. A cap for use with a container, said cap including a cylindrical body having an opening and a lid adapted to seal over said opening, the body further having an inner lip disposed ferentially around the inside of the body and a blister pack having a base and a dome extending over the base to define a chamber for housing a powder, the dome including an integral internal needle so that when the dome is pressed, the needle pierces the base to define an opening through which the powder escapes into the container.

2. A cap as in claim1 wherein the blister pack includes as a base aluminium foil.

3. A cap as in claim 1 wherein the r pack is ed to the body by glue.

4. A cap as in claim 1 wherein the blister pack is attached to the body by a ring that overlaps the blister pack and the lip and is bonded to both the blister pack and the body lip.

5. A cap as in claim 1 wherein the needle is of an inverted frusto-conical shape.

6. A cap as in claim 1 n the blister pack dome is so shaped to define the needle. FIG 1 FIG 2 FIG 3 FIG4 FIG 5 24 22 FIG 6