System for combining liquids

Abstract

An additive container for an additive potable liquid; said additive container adapted for screwed connection to a standard screw-top base potable liquid container; said additive container provided with sealing means adapted to change from a first sealed state to a second unsealed state by contra-rotation of said additive container relative to said base potable liquid container.

1 . An additive container for an additive potable liquid, said additive container adapted for screwed connection to a standard screw-top base potable liquid container, said additive container provided with sealing means adapted to change from a first sealed state to a second unsealed state by contra-rotation of said additive container relative to said base potable liquid container.  
   
   
       2 . The additive container of  claim 1  wherein said additive container is provided with a neck portion, said neck portion provided with sealing means comprising a pierceable surface affixed across the opening in said neck portion.  
   
   
       3 . The additive container of  claim 2  wherein said additive container is provided with a piercing collar, the bore of said piercing collar being provided with an internal threaded section extending from the rim of said piercing collar to approximately half way along the length of said piercing collar.  
   
   
       4 . The additive container of  claim 3  wherein the thread of said internal threaded section is a selected one of any of a range of threads adapted for screwed connection to externally threaded necks of said base potable liquid containers.  
   
   
       5 . The additive container of  claim 3  wherein said piercing collar is provided with a piercing member comprising a disc releasably attached within said bore of said piercing collar by a plurality of breakable bridging lugs projecting radially from the periphery of said disc.  
   
   
       6 . The additive container of  claim 5  wherein said disc is provided with at least one projecting portion, said projecting portion provided with a sharp edge defining an opening through said disc.  
   
   
       7 . The additive container of  claim 2 , wherein said piercing collar is attached to said additive container so as to leave an annular space between said pierceable surface and said disc.  
   
   
       8 . The additive container of  claim 2 , wherein said piercing collar is attached to said neck portion of said additive container by matching external and internal threads on said neck portion and in said piercing collar respectively.  
   
   
       9 . The additive container of  claim 2 , wherein said piercing collar is attached to said neck portion of said additive container by ultrasonic welding.  
   
   
       10 . The additive container of  claim 2 , wherein said piercing collar is attached to said neck portion of said additive container by an adhesive.  
   
   
       11 . The additive container of  claim 2 , wherein said piercing collar is attached to said neck portion of said additive container by spin welding.  
   
   
       12 . The additive container of  claim 5 , wherein said additive container and said base potable liquid container are connected in a first non- communicating stage by screwing an externally threaded neck of said screw-top base potable liquid container into said internal thread section of said piercing collar so as to sealably engage the rim of said externally threaded neck with said piercing member.  
   
   
       13 . The additive container of  claim 12 , wherein said additive container and said base potable liquid container are brought into a second communicating stage by further screwing said externally threaded neck of said screw-top base container into said internal thread section of said piercing collar so as to detach said piercing member from said bore causing piercing of said sealing surface by said sharp edge.  
   
   
       14 .- 52 . (canceled)  
   
   
       53 . The additive container of  claim 4 , wherein said piercing collar is provided with a piercing member comprising a disc releasably attached within said bore of said piercing collar by a plurality of breakable bridging lugs projecting radially from the periphery of said disc.  
   
   
       54 . The additive container of  claim 3 , wherein said piercing collar is attached to said additive container so as to leave an annular space between said pierceable surface and said disc.  
   
   
       55 . The additive container of  claim 4 , wherein said piercing collar is attached to said additive container so as to leave an annular space between said pierceable surface and said disc.  
   
   
       56 . The additive container of  claim 5 , wherein said piercing collar is attached to said additive container so as to leave an annular space between said pierceable surface and said disc.  
   
   
       57 . The additive container of  claim 6 , wherein said piercing collar is attached to said additive container so as to leave an annular space between said pierceable surface and said disc.  
   
   
       58 . The additive container of  claim 6 , wherein said additive container and said base potable liquid container are connected in a first non- communicating stage by screwing an externally threaded neck of said screw-top base potable liquid container into said internal thread section of said piercing collar so as to sealably engage the rim of said externally threaded neck with said piercing member.  
   
   
       59 . The additive container of  claim 6 , wherein said additive container and said base potable liquid container are brought into a second communicating stage by further screwing said externally threaded neck of said screw-top base container into said internal thread section of said piercing collar so as to detach said piercing member from said bore causing piercing of said sealing surface by said sharp edge.