Dispenser and method

Abstract

A material is added to a container of liquid from a dispenser that fits onto an open mouth of the container. The dispenser has an open position and a closed position, and includes an outer shell and an inner chamber member within the shell. The shell and chamber member are mounted to rotate relative to each other to align openings therein when in the open position and through which the material exits the chamber member. The material is loaded into the chamber member, and subsequently the dispenser is sealed with a seal that is connected to both the shell and the chamber member to prevent relative rotation of the shell and chamber member and dispensing of the material. The dispenser is inserted into the open mouth, unsealing the seal, and rotating the shell and chamber member relative to each other to open the dispenser and allow the material to flow into the container and mix with the liquid therein.

1 . A dispenser including
 an assembly of a shell and a chamber member,   said chamber member adapted to hold material to be dispensed and having an open top and a lower section with an opening therein,   said shell having an open top which receives the chamber member, a lower section with an opening therein, and an upper section adapted to be detachably connected to an open mouth of a container so that at least a portion of the assembly extends into the open mouth and a portion of the assembly projects outward from the open mouth,   said shell and chamber member configured and mounted to enable relative rotational movement between the shell and chamber member and to prevent relative axial movement between the shell and chamber member so that rotation in one direction aligns the openings to open the dispenser so material in the chamber flows into the container and rotation in the opposite direction closes the dispenser, and   a seal member that prevents said relative rotational movement until seal member is detached or broken.   
     
     
         2 . A dispenser including
 a hollow outer shell and a hollow inner chamber member at least partially extending into said shell,   said outer shell having an open top which receives the chamber member, a lower section with an opening therein, and an upper section with an internal female thread to enable the dispenser to be screwed onto an open mouth of a container having thereat a male thread that engages the internal female thread,   said chamber member holding material to be dispensed and having an open top through which the material being dispensed is introduced into the hollow chamber member and an opening therein in a lower section,   said shell and chamber member being nested together and concentrically mounted to enable relative rotational movement in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions and to prevent relative axial movement between the shell and chamber member,   upon rotating in one direction moving from a closed position to an open position and upon rotating in the other direction moving from the open position to the closed position,   said openings in the shell and chamber member being at least partially aligned in the open position so material in the chamber member exits the dispenser through the openings and being misaligned when in the closed position so a wall portion of the shell covers the opening in the chamber member and a wall portion of the chamber member covers the opening in the shell, and   a seal member that prevents said relative rotational movement until seal member is detached or broken.   
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 2  where the seal member covers the open top of the chamber member to close said top to retain the material within the chamber member, said seal member including a tab element connected to an outer surface of the shell's upper section to prevent relative rotational movement until the tab element is detached or broken. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 2  where a substantial portion of the inner chamber member projects outward from the open mouth of a container to which the dispenser is attached. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 4  where the seal member is a component of a cap member that covers the portion of the chamber member projecting outward from the open mouth of the container. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 5  where the seal member connects the cap member to the outer shell in a manner that prevents the cap member from moving relative to the outer shell and inner chamber member until the seal member is detached or broken. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 5  where the cap member includes a living hinge attaching the cap member and the chamber member. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 2  where the chamber member has a rim section next to the open top of the shell, said rim section and said open top of the shell having complementary connecting components that engage as the shell and chamber member rotate between open and closed positions, said connecting components being pressed tightly against each other in the closed position to provide a liquid tight seal. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 8  where the connecting components comprise a curved internal edge in the rim section and a curved elevated lip in the open top of the shell, said edge and lip engaging as the shell and chamber member rotate between open and closed positions, with the edge and lip pressed tightly against each other in the closed position to provide a liquid tight seal. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 8  where the rim section is at the open top of the chamber member. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 8  where the rim section is at an intermediate location disposed between the open top of the inner chamber member and the lower section of the inner chamber member. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 4  including a pair of wing members attached to an outer sidewall of the chamber, said wing members opposed to each other on opposite sides of said outer sidewall. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 2  where the shell and chamber member each have a cylindrical sidewall with the shell having an inside diameter and the chamber member having an outside diameter, said diameters being essentially the same so the shell and chamber member fit snug with each other when nested together yet are able to rotate relative to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 2  where the chamber member has a terminal end with an axle projecting therefrom along a centerline of the dispenser. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 14  where the axle extends through a guide element in the shell at the lower section, said guide element being along the centerline of the dispenser. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 15  where the guide element has a predetermined diameter and the axle includes an enlarged, tapered head which at one end has a diameter greater than the predetermined diameter of the guide element and at an opposed end a reduced diameter that is less than the predetermined diameter of the guide element so that, upon passing through the guide element, the axle is held in position so that there is essentially no axle movement between the shell and the chamber member. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 1  where the openings in the shell and chamber member are offset to one side of a centerline of the dispenser. 
     
     
         18 . A dispenser including
 a hollow outer shell and a hollow inner chamber within said shell,   said outer shell having an open top which receives the chamber member, a lower section with an opening therein, and an upper section with an internal female thread to enable the dispenser to be screwed onto an open mouth of a bottle having thereat a male thread that engages the internal female thread.   said chamber member holding material to be dispensed and having an open top through which the material being dispensed is introduced into the hollow chamber member and an opening therein in a lower section,   said shell and chamber member being nested together and concentrically mounted to enable relative rotational movement in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions and to prevent relative axial movement between the shell and chamber member,   upon rotating in one direction moving from a closed position to an open position and upon rotating in the other direction moving from the open position to the closed position,   said openings in the shell and chamber member being at least partially aligned in the open position so material in the chamber member exits the dispenser through the opening and being misaligned when in the closed position so a wall portion of the shell covers the opening in the chamber member and a wall portion of the chamber member covers the opening in the shell, and   a seal member covering the open top of the chamber member to close said top and retain the material within the chamber member, said seal member including a tab element connected to an outer surface of the shell's upper section to prevent relative rotational movement until the tab element is detached or broken.   
     
     
         19 . A dispenser including
 a hollow outer shell having a substantially cylindrical sidewall and a hollow inner chamber member having a substantially cylindrical sidewall, said shell and chamber member being assembled together and concentrically mounted along a centerline of the dispenser to enable relative rotational movement in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions to move between an open position and a closed position,   said outer shell having an open top section which receives the chamber member, a domed bottom section with an opening therein offset to one side of the centerline, said open top section having a cylindrical outer wall spaced from the cylindrical sidewall of the shell, said outer wall and cylindrical sidewall being concentric with the centerline,   a female thread on an internal surface of the cylindrical outer wall to enable the dispenser to be screwed onto an open mouth of a container having at the container's open mouth a male thread that engages the internal female thread,   said top section including a ledge connecting said cylindrical outer wall and cylindrical sidewall of the shell,   said assembled shell and chamber member being tightly nested together with said cylindrical sidewall of the shell having a predetermined inside diameter and the cylindrical sidewall of the chamber member having a predetermined outside diameter, said predetermined diameters being essentially of the same dimensions, and said domed bottoms being essentially of the same configuration and having predetermined dimensions so that the sidewalls and domed bottoms bear against each other and provide a liquid tight seal,   said chamber member adapted to hold a material to be dispensed and having a top with an entryway through which said material being dispensed is loaded into the hollow chamber member prior to being dispensed and said domed bottom section having an opening therein that is offset to one side of the centerline,   said chamber member having a rim section surrounding the entryway, said rim section having an underside that bears against the ledge and an axle projecting from a center of the domed bottom section of the chamber member along the centerline of the dispenser through the center of the domed bottom section of the shell,   upon rotating in one direction moving from a closed position to an open position and upon rotating in the other direction moving from the open position to the closed position, said openings in the open position being at least in partial alignment and registration to allow material loaded in the chamber member to exit the dispenser through said aligned openings and in the closed position the sidewall of the shell and sidewall of the chamber member overlapping to prevent the escape of material from the dispenser through the openings, and   a seal member applied to the rim section subsequent to loading the material and prior to dispensing the material and having a body element covering the entryway after loading the chamber member, said seal member preventing relative rotational movement until the seal member is detached or broken.   
     
     
         20 . A method of adding a material to a container of liquid having an open mouth, said method comprising the steps of
 (a) loading the material into a dispenser that fits within the open mouth, said dispenser having an open position and a closed position, and including an outer shell and an inner chamber member within the shell and mounted to rotate relative to each other, said shell and chamber member having aligned openings therein when in the open position through which the material exits the chamber member,   (b) subsequent to loading of the material, sealing said dispenser with a seal that is connected to both the shell and the chamber member to prevent relative rotation of the shell and chamber member and dispensing of the flavor ingredient,   (c) inserting the dispenser into the open mouth, unsealing said seal, and rotating the shell and chamber member relative to each other to open the dispenser and allow the material to flow into the container and mix with the liquid therein.