Supplement compartment for beverage container

Abstract

A dispensing cap for a container with a top opening, and a method of dispensing a supplement into a container are disclosed. The dispensing cap may include a chamber and a plunger disposed therein. A floor of the chamber may have a weakness in a predetermined location. The dispensing cap may be mated with the top opening of the container, and the plunger may be used to pierce the floor, forming an opening at the weakness. The supplement may pass through the opening into the container.

1 . A dispensing cap for a container with a top opening, the dispensing cap comprising:
 a body with a wall having an inside facing surface and a floor at least partially defining a chamber, the floor having at least one weakness therein;   a plunger disposed within the chamber and having distal edges in contact with the inside facing surface of the chamber; and   a mounting structure separated from the chamber by the chamber floor and configured to engage with the top opening of the container.   
   
   
       2 . The dispensing cap of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger comprises a piston and a cover. 
   
   
       3 . The dispensing cap of  claim 2 , wherein the inside facing surface of the wall of the chamber includes channels configured to engage with the distal edges of the plunger. 
   
   
       4 . The dispensing cap of  claim 2 , wherein the cover of the plunger includes a central, substantially circular protrusion for engaging with the piston. 
   
   
       5 . The dispensing cap of  claim 2 , wherein the cover of the plunger is removable from the chamber. 
   
   
       6 . The dispensing cap of  claim 1 , wherein the weakness of the floor comprises at least two intersecting lines of weakness. 
   
   
       7 . The dispensing cap of  claim 6 , wherein the plunger includes a piston having four orthogonally disposed walls. 
   
   
       8 . The dispensing cap of  claim 7 , wherein the piston is disposed within the chamber such that the walls of the plunger are offset from the at least two intersecting lines of weakness. 
   
   
       9 . The dispensing cap of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting structure is configured to be disposed within the top opening of the container. 
   
   
       10 . The dispensing cap of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting structure is configured to threadedly engage with the top opening of the container. 
   
   
       11 . The dispensing cap of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber includes an inwardly protruding stop. 
   
   
       12 . The dispensing cap of  claim 10 , wherein the inwardly protruding stop is annular, and is configured to engage with the plunger. 
   
   
       13 . A dispensing cap for a container with a top opening, the dispensing cap comprising:
 a body configured to engage with the top opening of the container and having a wall with an inside facing surface and a floor at least partially defining a chamber, the floor having at least two intersecting lines of weakness therein; and   a plunger disposed within the chamber.   
   
   
       14 . The dispensing cap of  claim 13 , wherein the plunger comprises a cover and a piston having four orthogonally disposed walls. 
   
   
       15 . The dispensing cap of  claim 14 , wherein the inside facing surface of the wall of the chamber includes channels configured to engage with distal edges of the walls of the piston. 
   
   
       16 . The dispensing cap of  claim 14 , wherein the piston is disposed within the chamber such that the walls of the plunger are offset from the at least two intersecting lines of weakness. 
   
   
       17 . The dispensing cap of  claim 13 , wherein the chamber includes an inwardly protruding stop. 
   
   
       18 . The dispensing cap of  claim 17 , wherein the inwardly protruding stop is annular, and is configured to engage with the plunger. 
   
   
       19 . A dispensing system, comprising:
 a container with a top opening;   a dispensing cap mounted on the container, the dispensing cap comprising:   a body having a wall with an inside facing surface and a floor at least partially defining a chamber, the floor having at least one weakness therein;   a plunger disposed within the chamber and having distal edges in contact with the inside facing surface of the wall of the chamber; and   a mounting structure separated from the chamber by the chamber floor and configured to engage with the top opening of the container; and   a supplement disposed within the chamber of the dispensing cap.   
   
   
       20 . The dispensing system of  claim 19 , wherein the inside facing surface of the wall of the chamber includes channels configured to engage with the distal edges of the plunger.