Dispensing closure for a liquid container

Abstract

A dispensing closure for a liquid container is arranged to sealingly attach to an opening of the container. The closure comprises at least one storage compartment formed integrally with the closure and arranged for storing a substance. Each storage compartment has a depressible upper portion and is arranged so that depressing the upper portion of a storage compartment facilitates release of the respective substance into the container. The dispensing closure further comprises a dispenser protruding through the closure. The dispenser includes a dispensing lid movable between a closed and an open configuration, so that in an open configuration, liquid contained in the container can be dispensed therefrom.

1 . A dispensing closure for a liquid container, the dispensing closure being arranged to sealingly attach to an opening of the container and comprising:
 at least one storage compartment formed integrally with the closure and arranged for storing a substance, the storage compartment having a depressible upper portion and being further arranged so that depressing the upper portion of a storage compartment facilitates release of the substance into the container; and   a dispenser protruding through the closure and comprising a dispensing lid movable between a closed and an open configuration, so that in an open configuration, liquid contained in the container can be dispensed therefrom.   
   
   
       2 . The dispensing closure of  claim 1 , each storage compartment comprising a bottom seal for sealing the substance inside the respective compartment, wherein at least a portion of each bottom seal is made of a frangible material or comprises a line of weakness so that, depressing the upper portion of a storage compartment causes the bottom seal to rupture, thus releasing any substance stored in the respective storage compartment into the container. 
   
   
       3 . The dispensing closure of  claim 2 , wherein the closure comprises a plurality of flexible storage compartments. 
   
   
       4 . The dispensing closure of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of storage compartments forms a single body integrated with the closure. 
   
   
       5 . The dispensing closure of  claim 4 , wherein the body of the plurality of storage compartments comprises a peripheral lip arranged to, when the closure is mounted onto the container, sealingly engage a peripheral surface adjacent the opening of the container so as to seal any liquid within the container. 
   
   
       6 . The dispensing closure of  claim 4  or  claim 5  wherein a single common seal is arranged to seal all storage compartments. 
   
   
       7 . The dispensing closure of  claim 6 , wherein the common seal is made of a frangible foil sheet that bonds to an underside surface of the closure. 
   
   
       8 . The dispensing closure of  claim 7 , wherein the frangible foil sheet is a push through aluminum foil sheet. 
   
   
       9 . The dispensing closure of  claim 8 , wherein the frangible foil sheet is heat sealed to the respective underside surfaces of the closure. 
   
   
       10 . The dispensing closure of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing closure comprises a threaded portion for sealingly attaching to the opening of the container. 
   
   
       11 . The dispensing closure of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser is of a cylindrical shape and is located at the centre of the closure, the storage compartments being concentrically disposed around the dispenser. 
   
   
       12 . The dispensing closure of  claim 1 , wherein the container is arranged for containing beverages and the closure is arranged for containing substance in the form of at least one dissolvable tablet, powder or liquid concentrate. 
   
   
       13 . The dispensing closure of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing lid is a centrally located push-pull formation that is axially movable between the respective closed and open configuration. 
   
   
       14 . The dispensing closure of  claim 1 , wherein the closure further comprises a cover arranged to fit over at least a portion of the closure so as to protectingly cover the closure during storage and distribution. 
   
   
       15 . The dispensing closure of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing closure further comprises the substance stored in at least one storage compartment. 
   
   
       16 . A bottle having the dispensing closure of  claim 1  or  claim 2 . 
   
   
       17 . A dispensing arrangement for a liquid container, the arrangement comprising the closure of  claim 1  and a substance implement, the substance implement including a support base and at least one blister attached to the support base and including the substance, the implement being arranged to be fastened between the closure and an abutment surface of the opening of the container, so that each blister is received within a respective storage compartment and, depressing the upper portion of any one of the at least one storage compartments, applies pressure on a respective blister and effects the release of the included substance into the container. 
   
   
       18 . The dispensing arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein each blister comprises a bottom seal for sealing the substance inside the blister, wherein each bottom seal comprises a line of weakness or at least a portion of the bottom seal is made of a frangible material so that, in use, depressing the upper portion of a storage compartment causes the bottom seal of the underlying blister to rupture and release the included substance into the container. 
   
   
       19 . The dispensing arrangement of  claim 17  or  claim 18 , wherein the closure comprises a plurality of storage compartments concentrically disposed around the dispenser. 
   
   
       20 . The dispensing arrangement of any one of  claim 17 , wherein the container is arranged for containing beverages and the blisters are arranged for containing substance in the form of at least one dissolvable tablet, powder or liquid concentrate. 
   
   
       21 . The dispensing arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein the implement further comprises the substance stored in at least one blister. 
   
   
       22 . The dispensing arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein the arrangement further comprises a protective cover configured to fit over the closure so as to protectingly cover the closure during storage and distribution. 
   
   
       23 . A bottle having the dispensing arrangement of  claim 17 . 
   
   
       24 . A dispensing closure for a liquid container, the dispensing closure being arranged to sealingly attach to an opening of the container and comprising:
 a plurality of storage compartments formed integrally with the closure and arranged for storing a substance, each of the storage compartments having a depressible upper portion; and   a dispenser protruding through the closure and comprising a dispensing lid movable between a closed and an open configuration, so that in an open configuration, liquid contained in the container can be dispensed therefrom, and   a bottom seal for sealing the substance inside the compartments, at least a portion of each bottom seal being made of a frangible material so that, depressing the upper portion of a storage compartment causes the bottom seal to rupture, thus releasing any substance stored in the respective storage compartment into the container   wherein all storage compartments include a single body integrated within the closure.   
   
   
       25 . The dispensing closure of  claim 24 , wherein the single body of the storage compartments is made of a different material than the closure. 
   
   
       26 . The dispensing closure of  claim 24 , wherein the body of the plurality of storage compartments comprises a peripheral lip arranged to, when the closure is mounted onto the container, sealingly engage a peripheral surface adjacent the opening of the container so as to seal any liquid within the container.