Universal bottle cap having a dissolvable membrane

Abstract

A bottle cap for universal retrofitting to one of a number of pre-existing beverage containers containing a beverage and having a removed cap and threaded aperture, having at least one container portion for containing at least one dispensable material, a threaded portion for receiving the threaded aperture and creating, when threaded, a water-tight assembly; and a bag containing the dispensable material located in the container portion. Upon screwable attachment of the threaded aperture into the cap, the threaded aperture parses at least a portion of the bag to permit feeding of the material into the beverage. A plurality of such caps is also shown packaged for commercial sale. The material contained in the cap is selected from the group consisting of vitamins, medicaments, teas, flavors, concentrates and water-soluble food material. Also shown is a universal cap further having a moveable aperture assembly creating an open, fluid-flowing state and a closed, fluid-stopped state, having a top portion containing a drinking aperture and an elongated, moveable fluid-flowing portion. In accordance with another aspect of a dissolvable membrane encloses dispensable material in the cap, and the membrane dissolves upon contact with fluid in a fluid container to release the dispensable material into the fluid.

1 . A bottle cap for universal retrofitting to a fluid container containing a fluid, comprising: 
 an enclosure forming a first chamber having a first opening;    attachment means for attaching the bottle cap to the fluid container; and    a membrane attached to the enclosure and covering the first opening, the membrane being dissolvable in the fluid.    
   
   
       2 . The bottle cap as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a seal attached to the enclosure and covering the membrane.  
   
   
       3 . The bottle cap as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the seal is foil.  
   
   
       4 . The bottle cap as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the membrane is formed from a soy based material, a corn based material, or any combination thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The bottle cap as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the membrane is formed from a non-toxic, organic material that is soluble in the liquid.  
   
   
       6 . The bottle cap as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first chamber contains a first dispensable material.  
   
   
       7 . The bottle cap as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the first dispensable material is soluble in the fluid.  
   
   
       8 . The bottle cap as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first chamber contains a plurality of dispensable materials.  
   
   
       9 . The bottle cap as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more walls inside the enclosure, the one or more walls forming one or more additional chambers.  
   
   
       10 . The bottle cap as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising a dispensable material located in each of the chambers in the enclosure.  
   
   
       11 . The bottle cap as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means is a thread.  
   
   
       12 . The bottle cap as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a closable opening in the enclosure.  
   
   
       13 . A package, comprising: 
 a plurality of caps, each of the caps being for universal retrofitting to a fluid container containing a fluid;    each of the caps further comprising: 
 an enclosure forming a first chamber having a first opening;  
 attachment means for attaching the bottle cap to the fluid container;  
 a membrane attached to the enclosure and covering the first opening, the membrane being dissolvable in the fluid; and  
 a seal attached to the enclosure and covering the membrane.  
   
   
   
       14 . The package as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein each of the caps has a dispensable material held in the first chamber.  
   
   
       15 . The package as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein each of the caps has a different dispensable material held in the first chamber.  
   
   
       16 . The package as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein each of the caps has a closable opening in the enclosure.  
   
   
       17 . A method of obtaining a fluid mixed with a material from a fluid container, comprising: 
 attaching a cap to the fluid container, the cap having an enclosure forming a first chamber having a first opening and a membrane attached to the enclosure and covering the first opening, a first dispensable material being in the first chamber;    causing the membrane to dissolve by contacting said membrane with a fluid from the fluid container and releasing the first dispensable material into the fluid container; and    dispensing the fluid from the fluid container.    
   
   
       18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising removing a seal from the enclosure before attaching the cap.  
   
   
       19 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the cap is screwed onto the fluid container.  
   
   
       20 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , comprising opening a closable opening in the enclosure.