Container closure device capable of dispensing metered amounts of liquid

Abstract

The present invention relates to a closure device capable of dispensing a metered amount of liquid into a container during a closing action and capable of doing so during several closing actions. The closure device comprises a cap wall, a reservoir ( 5 ) capable of being filled with a liquid, a rigid plate ( 4 ) with one or more perforations ( 6 ) and a porous structure ( 8 ). The invention further relates to use of a closure device to extend the open shelf-life of spoilage sensitive container contents.

1 . A container closure device capable of dispensing a metered amount of a liquid into a container, wherein said container cap comprises:
 a cap wall ( 3 ),   a reservoir ( 5 ) capable of being filled with liquid,   a porous structure ( 8 ),   a rigid plate ( 4 ) positioned between said reservoir and said porous structure ( 8 ),
 wherein said plate comprises one or more perforations ( 6 ) communicating with said reservoir ( 5 ), and 
   one or more channels ( 7 ) capable of communicating said perforation ( 6 ) with the porous structure ( 8 ),
 wherein at least part of said one or more channels ( 7 ) is formed by a deformable and elastic structure ( 10 ) capable of limiting communication through said channels ( 7 ) upon deformation. 
   
     
     
         2 . A closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the average diameter of the perforations ( 6 ) in the rigid plate ( 4 ) ranges from 0.1 to 5 millimetre and preferably from 0.5 to 2 millimetre. 
     
     
         3 . A closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of perforations ( 6 ) is 2 to 25 and preferably 5 to 12. 
     
     
         4 . A closure device according to  claim 1  wherein the porous structure ( 8 ) is capable of absorbing 0.5 to 25 volume percent and preferably 1 to 5 volume percent of the maximum volume of the liquid with which the reservoir ( 5 ) can be filled. 
     
     
         5 . A closure device according to  claim 1  wherein the closure device is capable of dispensing a metered amount of liquid for 2 to 50 and preferably 5 to 8 closing actions. 
     
     
         6 . A closure device according to  claim 1  wherein the porous structure ( 8 ) comprises an absorbent material and more preferably comprises a material with an open cell structure, a sponge-like structure or a low-density fibre structure or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A closure device according to  claim 1  wherein the deformable and elastic structure ( 10 ) is capable of attaining its uncompressed shape preferably within 60 seconds and more preferably within 5 seconds upon opening of the container. 
     
     
         8 . A closure device according to  claim 1  wherein the deformable and elastic structure ( 10 ) comprises one or more compounds selected from the list consisting of silicon rubber, natural rubber, nitrile rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, polyurethane and fluoroelastomers. 
     
     
         9 . A closure device according to  claims 1  to  8 , wherein the reservoir ( 5 ) comprises a liquid with a viscosity of 0.1 to 10 mPa.s, preferably 0.5 to 1.5 mPa.s, at a temperature ranging from 2 to 40 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         10 . A closure device according to  claim 1  wherein the reservoir ( 5 ) comprises a liquid comprising one or more actives selected from the list consisting of dietary supplements, antioxidants, flavours, colouring agents, preservatives, thickeners, surfactants, dispersing agents, release agents, diffusing agents and stabilisers and more preferably one or more antimicrobials. 
     
     
         11 . A closure device according to  claim 1  wherein the reservoir ( 5 ) comprises a liquid comprising compounds selected from the list consisting of lactic acid, acetic acid, peracetic acid, tartaric acid, benzoic acid, sodium and potassium sulphites, sodium and potassium nitrites, sodium and potassium bicarbonate, sodium and potassium sorbates, sodium and potassium benzoates, hydroxyl-8 quinoline, peroxide, salts, ethanol, sodium hypochlorite, nisin and other bacteriocins; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A container fitted with a closure device according to  claim 1  wherein the ratio of the volume of the reservoir ( 5 ) to the volume of the container ranges from 0.001:1 to 1:1, preferably from 0.1:1 to 5:1. 
     
     
         13 . Method to extend the open shelf-life of spoilage-sensitive contents held by a container comprising the step of closing the container with a closure device according to  claim 1  wherein the reservoir ( 5 ) comprises a preservative. 
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 13 , wherein said spoilage-sensitive contents comprise an edible product selected from the list consisting of dairy based spreads, low-fat margarines, margarines, preservative free margarines, mayonnaise, dressings, puddings, tomato sauce, beverages such as teas and milk teas, condiments such as pesto sauce, jelly-based soup-, gravy- and sauce concentrates and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 13  wherein at least part of the liquid dispensed into the porous structure ( 8 ), and more preferably all the dispensed liquid, is transformed into a gas before coming into contact with the contents of the container.