Container assembly for mixing substances

Abstract

A portion dispensing container assembly includes a container that has an externally threaded finish portion and a closure main body that is mounted to the finish portion. The closure main body has a storage space defined therein in which a concentrate may be stored. A plunger member is mounted for linear movement within the closure main body between a first upper position and a second lower position. In the second, lower position the plunger member causes the storage space two open into communication with the interior of the container. A tamper evident interlock is further provided to prevent movement of the plunger member to the second, lower position until a consumer removes the tamper evident interlock.

1 . A portion closure for a container, comprising: 
 a closure main body that is adapted to be mounted to a container, said closure main body defining a storage space in which a concentrate may be stored;    a plunger member that is mounted for linear movement with respect to said closure main body between a first, upper, position and a second, lower, position wherein said storage space is caused to open into communication with the container; and    tamper evident interlock means for preventing movement of said plunger member to said second, lower position until said tamper evident interlock means is defeated by a consumer.    
   
   
       2 . A portion closure for a container according to  claim 1 , wherein said closure main body is constructed and arranged to be screwed onto a threaded finish portion of the container.  
   
   
       3 . A portion closure for a container according to  claim 2 , further comprising a tamper evident band that is frangibly connected to a lower portion of said closure main body and that is adapted to separate from said closure main body when said closure main body is unscrewed from the container.  
   
   
       4 . A portion closure for a container according to  claim 1 , wherein said closure main body comprises an engineered point of weakness in the structure defining said storage space, and wherein said plunger member is constructed and arranged to breach said structure at the engineered point of weakness when depressed to said second, lower position.  
   
   
       5 . A portion closure for a container according to  claim 4 , wherein said structure defining said storage space comprises a flexible sealing membrane, and wherein said engineered point of weakness is positioned within said flexible sealing membrane.  
   
   
       6 . A portion closure for a container according to  claim 4 , wherein said structure defining said storage space comprises a flexible sealing membrane, and wherein said engineered point of weakness comprises a surface of attachment of said flexible sealing membrane to adjacent structure.  
   
   
       7 . A portion closure for a container according to  claim 4 , wherein said plunger member comprises force concentration structure for concentrating the downward force thereof when depressed in an area that is proximate to said engineered point of weakness.  
   
   
       8 . A portion closure for a container according to  claim 1 , wherein said plunger member comprises a blunt upper surface that is adapted to be depressed by a palm of a consumer.  
   
   
       9 . A portion closure for a container according to  claim 8 , wherein said blunt upper surface is convex.  
   
   
       10 . A portion closure for a container according to  claim 1 , wherein said plunger member comprises a lower body portion and an upper head portion that is wider in longitudinal cross-section than said lower body portion.  
   
   
       11 . A portion closure for a container according to  claim 10 , wherein said tamper evident interlock means is positioned between said upper head portion of said plunger member and said closure main body.  
   
   
       12 . A portion closure for a container according to  claim 11 , wherein said tamper evident interlock means comprises a circumferentially extending tamper evident strip that is positioned between said upper head portion of said plunger member and said closure main body.  
   
   
       13 . A portion closure for a container according to  claim 12 , wherein said tamper evident strip is frangibly attached to said plunger member.  
   
   
       14 . A portion closure for a container according to  claim 13 , wherein said tamper evident strip is frangibly attached to said upper head portion of said plunger member.  
   
   
       15 . A portion closure for a container according to  claim 12 , wherein said tamper evident strip is interlocked with said closure main body.  
   
   
       16 . A portion dispensing container assembly, comprising: 
 a container having an externally threaded finish portion;    a closure main body mounted to finish portion, said closure main body defining a storage space in which a concentrate may be stored;    a plunger member that is mounted for linear movement with respect to said closure main body between a first, upper, position and a second, lower, position wherein said storage space is caused to open into communication with the container; and    tamper evident interlock means for preventing movement of said plunger member to said second, lower position until said tamper evident interlock means is defeated by a consumer.    
   
   
       17 . A portion dispensing container assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said closure main body is constructed and arranged to be screwed onto a threaded finish portion of the container.  
   
   
       18 . A portion dispensing container assembly according to  claim 17 , further comprising a tamper evident band that is frangibly connected to a lower portion of said closure main body and that is adapted to separate from said closure main body when said closure main body is unscrewed from the container.  
   
   
       19 . A portion dispensing container assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said closure main body comprises an engineered point of weakness in the structure defining said storage space, and wherein said plunger member is constructed and arranged to breach said structure at the engineered point of weakness when depressed to said second, lower position.  
   
   
       20 . A portion dispensing container assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein said structure defining said storage space comprises a flexible sealing membrane, and wherein said engineered point of weakness is positioned within said flexible sealing membrane.  
   
   
       21 . A portion dispensing container assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein said structure defining said storage space comprises a flexible sealing membrane, and wherein said engineered point of weakness comprises a surface of attachment of said flexible sealing membrane to adjacent structure.  
   
   
       22 . A portion dispensing container assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein said plunger member comprises force concentration structure for concentrating the downward force thereof when depressed in an area that is proximate to said engineered point of weakness.  
   
   
       23 . A portion dispensing container assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said plunger member comprises a blunt upper surface that is adapted to be depressed by a palm of a consumer.  
   
   
       24 . A portion dispensing container assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein said blunt upper surface is convex.  
   
   
       25 . A portion dispensing container assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said plunger member comprises a lower body portion and an upper head portion that is wider in longitudinal cross-section than said lower body portion.  
   
   
       26 . A portion dispensing container assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein said tamper evident interlock means is positioned between said upper head portion of said plunger member and said closure main body.  
   
   
       27 . A portion dispensing container assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein said tamper evident interlock means comprises a circumferentially extending tamper evident strip that is positioned between said upper head portion of said plunger member and said closure main body.  
   
   
       28 . A portion dispensing container assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein said tamper evident strip is frangibly attached to said plunger member.  
   
   
       29 . A portion dispensing container assembly according to  claim 28 , wherein said tamper evident strip is frangibly attached to said upper head portion of said plunger member.  
   
   
       30 . A portion dispensing container assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein said tamper evident strip is interlocked with said closure main body.