Dosing closure and method of using

Abstract

A dispensing closure assembly includes a container having a threaded finish portion, at least one modular sealed vial that contains a substance, and a closure cap that is adapted to be screwed on to the container. The closure cap includes a closure main body having a top portion and a downwardly depending sidewall portion that is adapted to be secured to the container. An insert is positioned between the closure cap and the container for opening the modular sealed vial when the closure cap is screwed on to the container. A method of dispensing a substance into the container is also disclosed.

1 . A system for dispensing a substance into a container, comprising: 
 a closure main body having a top portion and a downwardly depending sidewall portion that is adapted to be secured to a container;    vial securing means for securing to said closure main body a modular sealed vial that contains a substance; and    unsealing means for unsealing said sealed vial when said closure is secured on to the container.    
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said sidewall portion is threaded for engagement with mating threading on a container, and wherein said unsealing means is constructed and arranged to unseal said sealed vial when said closure is being screwed onto the container.  
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein said unsealing means is constructed and arranged to breach said sealed vial.  
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein said unsealing means is constructed and arranged to breach said sealed vial by penetrating a frangible membrane that is sealed to said vial.  
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said unsealing means comprises an insert that is mounted between said closure cap and a container.  
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 5 , wherein said insert comprises means for breaching said sealed vial.  
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 6 , wherein said vial securing means is constructed and arranged to prevent rotation of said sealed vial with respect to said closure main body, whereby said seal vial will rotate with said closure main body when said closure main body is screwed on to the container.  
   
   
       8 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein said insert further comprises at least one radial projection for tearing a breached portion of said sealed vial as said closure main body is screwed on to the container.  
   
   
       9 . A system according to  claim 5 , wherein said unsealing means is adapted to unseal said sealed vial when said closure main body is in a first location with respect to said insert.  
   
   
       10 . A system according to  claim 6 , wherein said insert further defines a passageway for permitting the substance from said sealed vial to drop into the container after said sealed vial is breached.  
   
   
       11 . A system according to  claim 6 , wherein said insert comprises means for breaching a lowermost portion of said sealed vial, whereby the substance within said sealed vial will be permitted to flow from said vial after said vial is breached.  
   
   
       12 . A dispensing container assembly, comprising: 
 a container having a threaded finish portion;    at least one modular sealed vial that contains a substance; and    a closure cap comprising: 
 a closure main body having a top portion and a downwardly depending sidewall portion that is adapted to be secured to a container; and  
 vial securing means for securing said modular sealed vial; and  
   an insert positioned between said closure cap and said container for unsealing said sealed vial.    
   
   
       13 . An assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said sidewall portion is threaded for engagement with said threaded finish portion, and wherein said insert is constructed and arranged to unseal said sealed vial when said closure is being screwed onto the container.  
   
   
       14 . An assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said insert is constructed and arranged to breach said sealed vial.  
   
   
       15 . An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said insert is constructed and arranged to breach said sealed vial by penetrating a frangible membrane that is sealed to said vial.  
   
   
       16 . An assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said vial securing means is constructed and arranged to prevent rotation of said sealed vial with respect to said closure main body, whereby said seal vial will rotate with said closure main body when said closure main body is screwed on to the container.  
   
   
       17 . An assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said insert further comprises at least one radial projection for tearing a breached portion of said sealed vial as said closure main body is screwed on to the container.  
   
   
       18 . An assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein said insert is adapted to unseal said sealed vial when said closure main body is in a first location with respect to said insert.  
   
   
       19 . An assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said insert further defines a passageway for permitting the substance from said sealed vial to drop into the container after said sealed vial is breached.  
   
   
       20 . An assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said insert comprises means for breaching a lowermost portion of said sealed vial, whereby the substance within said sealed vial will be permitted to flow from said vial after said vial is breached.  
   
   
       21 . A method of dispensing a substance into a container, comprising steps of: 
 (a) securing a sealed modular vial between a container and a closure cap; and    (b) unsealing the modular vial by screwing said closure cap onto said container.