Dispensing closure with integral piercing unit

Abstract

A single use unit dosage dispensing closure includes a shell attached to a container with an integral piecing member, an axial movable cap attached to the shell and a sealing member coupled to the cap. The shell has an inner guide in communication with the container and the cap is moveable along the guide. The cap has a chamber adapted to dispense material into the container. The chamber is sealed with the sealing member extending across a lower open end thereof, wherein axial movement of the cap along the inner guide member will cause the sealing member to be pieced by the piercing member to open the chamber and dispense the contents of the chamber into the container. The axial movable cap is formed from a material with a higher oxygen and moisture barrier property than the material forming the shell.

1 . A single use unit dosage dispensing closure comprising: 
 a shell adapted to be attached to a container, the shell having an outer skirt with a closure attaching mechanism on the outer skirt for attaching the shell to the container, the shell having an inner guide and a piercing element which includes a plurality of angled radial blades at a lower end of the inner guide;    an axial movable cap attached to the shell and moveable along the inner guide, the cap having a chamber therein adapted to hold material to be dispensed into the container; and    a sealing layer coupled to the cap, wherein the chamber is sealed with the sealing layer extending across a lower open end of the cap, wherein axial movement of the cap along the inner guide will cause the piercing element to pierce the sealing layer and dispense the contents of the chamber into the container.    
   
   
       2 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein the cap and the shell are made from different polymer materials.  
   
   
       3 . The closure of  claim 2  wherein the cap is formed from one of the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, polypropylene with low shrink filler, and polyethylene with low shrink filler.  
   
   
       4 . The closure of  claim 3  wherein the cap is formed from one of the group polypropylene with low shrink filler and polyethylene with low shrink filler, wherein the low shrink filler is one of the group consisting of talc and mica.  
   
   
       5 . The closure of  claim 3  wherein the shell is formed of a polyolefin material.  
   
   
       6 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein the closure attaching mechanism on the outer skirt for attaching the shell to the container are threads and the shell has a tamper evident band on a lower portion of the outer skirt.  
   
   
       7 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein the inner guide is an annular tube having at least one annular seal engaging and sealing against the cap.  
   
   
       8 . The closure of  claim 7  wherein the inner guide includes an upper stop limiting the upward movement of the cap.  
   
   
       9 . The closure of  claim 8  wherein the inner guide includes a finger access in an upper side of the inner guide.  
   
   
       10 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein the piercing element includes an array of piercing tips.  
   
   
       11 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein the cap is formed from one of the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, polypropylene with low shrink filler, and polyethylene with low shrink filler.  
   
   
       12 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein the cap has a top and a cylindrical side member forming the chamber, and further including a dust cover.  
   
   
       13 . A single use unit dosage dispensing closure comprising: 
 a shell adapted to be attached to a container, the shell having an inner guide with an open end in communication with the container, the shell including a piercing element at a lower end of the inner guide, wherein the piercing element includes a plurality of angled radial blades at a lower end of the inner guide;    an axial movable cap attached to the shell and moveable along the inner guide, the cap engaging the inner guide and having a chamber therein adapted to hold a unit dosage of material to be dispensed into the container; and    a sealing member coupled to the cap, wherein the chamber is sealed with the sealing member extending across a lower open end of the chamber, wherein axial movement of the cap along the inner guide member will dispense the contents of the chamber into the container.    
   
   
       14 . The closure of  claim 13  wherein the shell has an outer skirt with a closure attaching mechanism on the outer skirt for attaching the shell to the container.  
   
   
       15 . The closure of  claim 13  wherein the cap is formed from one of the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, polypropylene with low shrink filler, and polyethylene with low shrink filler.  
   
   
       16 . The closure of  claim 13  wherein the cap is formed from one of the group polypropylene with low shrink filler and polyethylene with low shrink filler, wherein the low shrink filler is one of the group consisting of talc and mica.  
   
   
       17 . The closure of  claim 13  wherein the shell is formed of a polyolefin material and the cap is formed from one of the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, polypropylene with low shrink filler, and polyethylene with low shrink filler.  
   
   
       18 . The closure of  claim 13  wherein the radial blades converge to form a piercing tip extending toward the upper end of the inner guide.  
   
   
       19 . The closure of  claim 13  wherein the inner guide is an annular tube having at least one annular seal engaging and sealing against the cap with an upper stop limiting the upward movement of the cap and a finger access in an upper side of the inner guide.  
   
   
       20 . The closure of  claim 13  wherein the shell includes an outer skirt having a closure attaching mechanism on the outer skirt for attaching the shell to the container in the form of threads and wherein the shell has a tamper evident band on a lower portion of the outer skirt, and further including a dust cover removably attached to the shell.