Ingredient dispensing cap for beverage container

Abstract

A beverage ingredient dispenser can include a seal assembly configured to form spillproof seals with the inner surface (I.D.) of a beverage container opening. Additionally, a beverage ingredient dispenser can include a beverage ingredient reservoir containing a beverage ingredient to be mixed with another ingredient for creating a mixed beverage. For example, the beverage ingredient dispenser can include a dried powdered, tablet, or liquid ingredient to be mixed with water contained in a water bottle. The dispenser can also include a sealing mechanism configured to generate spillproof seals with a plurality of different sizes of beverage containers. The dispenser can also include an anchoring mechanism configured to enhance an anchoring of the dispenser to a beverage container.

1 - 87 . (canceled) 
     
     
         88 . A beverage ingredient dispenser comprising:
 a seal assembly comprising at least a first resilient seal configured to seal against an inner cylindrical surface of openings of a plurality of different sizes of beverage container openings including a first size and a second size that is larger than the first size by at least about three-eighths of one inch, the seal assembly comprising a piercing member fixed relative to the first resilient seal and at least a first and second projections; and   a beverage ingredient reservoir comprising a beverage ingredient contained in therein, a lower frangible wall, and at least third and fourth projections, the beverage ingredient reservoir being movably mounted to the seal assembly between closed and dispensing positions and positioned to be aligned with the opening of a beverage container when the seal assembly is sealed to the inner cylindrical surface of a beverage container, wherein in the dispensing position, the frangible wall is broken by the piercing member such that the beverage ingredient flows out of the beverage ingredient reservoir and into a beverage container to which the seal assembly is sealed;   wherein the first and third projections define a first snap fit configured to maintain the beverage ingredient reservoir in the closed position and the second and fourth projections define a second snap fit configured to maintain the beverage reservoir in the dispensing position;   wherein the second snap fit is configured to resist a movement of the beverage reservoir from the dispensing position toward the closed position against a kilogram-force of at least 1.8 kilograms.   
     
     
         89 . The dispenser according to  claim 88 , wherein the seal assembly is configured to seal against openings of a plurality of different sizes of beverage container openings wherein the second size that is larger than the first size by at least about five-eighths of one inch. 
     
     
         90 . The dispenser according to  claim 88 , wherein the resilient seal comprises first and second concentric sealing layers, the first sealing layer sized to form seals with a first portion of the range, the second sealing layer sized to form seals with a second portion of the range. 
     
     
         91 . The dispenser according to  claim 88 , wherein the first resilient seal comprises a conically shaped resilient member. 
     
     
         92 . The dispenser according to  claim 88 , additionally comprising a drink-through valve disposed on the reservoir, the drink-through valve comprising a valve member movably mounted to a first end of the reservoir and configured to move between open and closed positions. 
     
     
         93 . The dispenser according to  claim 92  defining a first plurality of projections configured to define an interference fit between the valve member body and the beverage ingredient reservoir, maintaining the valve member body in the closed position and withstand a kilogram force of less than  1 . 8  kilograms. 
     
     
         94 . A beverage ingredient dispenser comprising:
 a seal assembly comprising at least a first resilient seal configured to seal against an inner cylindrical surface of openings of a plurality of different sizes of beverage container openings including a first size and a second size that is larger than the first size by at least about three-eighths of one inch;   wherein the seal assembly includes an aperture positioned to align a beverage ingredient reservoir with the opening of a beverage container when the seal assembly is sealed to the inner cylindrical surface of a beverage container.   
     
     
         95 . The dispenser according to  claim 94 , wherein the seal assembly is configured to seal against openings of a plurality of different sizes of beverage container openings wherein the second size that is larger than the first size by at least about five-eighths of one inch. 
     
     
         96 . The dispenser according to  claim 94 , wherein the resilient seal comprises first and second concentric sealing layers, the first sealing layer sized to form seals with a first portion of the range, the second sealing layer sized to form seals with a second portion of the range. 
     
     
         97 . The dispenser according to  claim 94 , wherein the first resilient seal comprises a conically shaped resilient member. 
     
     
         98 . The dispenser according to  claim 94 , wherein the seal assembly comprises a piercing member fixed relative to the first resilient seal. 
     
     
         99 . The dispenser according to  claim 98  additionally comprising a reservoir containing a beverage ingredient, the reservoir being movable mounted to the seal assembly to be moveable between closed and dispensing positions. 
     
     
         100 . The dispenser according to  claim 99  additionally comprising a first plurality of projections configured to define snap fits for maintaining the reservoir in the closed and dispensing positions. 
     
     
         101 . The dispenser according to  claim 99  additionally comprising a first plurality of projections configured to form an interference fit maintaining the reservoir in the dispensing position and withstand a kilogram force of at least about one kilogram. 
     
     
         102 . The dispenser according to  claim 101  wherein the first plurality of projections are configured to form an interference fit maintaining the reservoir in the dispensing position and withstand a kilogram force of at least about 1.8 kilograms. 
     
     
         103 . The dispenser according to  claim 102 , additionally comprising a drink-through valve disposed on the reservoir, the drink-through valve comprising a valve member movably mounted to a first end of the reservoir and configured to move between open and closed positions. 
     
     
         104 . The dispenser according to  claim 103  defining a second plurality of projections configured to define a second interference fit between valve member body and the reservoir maintaining the valve member body in the closed position and withstand a kilogram force of less than 1.8 kilograms. 
     
     
         105 . A beverage ingredient dispenser comprising:
 a beverage ingredient reservoir comprising a beverage ingredient contained in therein, a lower frangible wall, the beverage ingredient reservoir being configured for moveable mounting to a seal assembly between closed and dispensing positions and positioned to be aligned with the opening of a beverage container when the seal assembly is sealed to the inner cylindrical surface of a beverage container, wherein in the dispensing position, the frangible wall is broken by the piercing member such that the beverage ingredient flows out of the beverage ingredient reservoir and into a beverage container to which the seal assembly is sealed; and   a drink-through valve disposed on the reservoir, the drink-through valve comprising a valve member movably mounted to a first end of the reservoir and configured to move between open and closed positions.   
     
     
         106 . The dispenser according to  claim 105  additionally comprising a plurality of projections configured to define an interference fit between valve member body and the reservoir maintaining the valve member body in the closed position and withstand a kilogram force of less than 1.8 kilograms.