Cap assembly for dispensing a dispensable component and method of making and using the same

Abstract

Cap can include a cap body mountable to a container. A main bore is disposed in the cap body. A movable component holder has a lower end, an upper end, and a space sized and configured to contain a dispensable component. At least a first seal provides sealing between an inner surface of the cap body and an outer surface of the component holder. The first seal at least one of is disposed on a generally circumferential wall and is located axially above an annular upper wall of the cap body, is arranged on a generally circumferential wall that can deflect slightly radially outwardly, projects from the inner surface of the cap body, is axially fixed to the inner surface of the cap body, is disposed at an upper end of the main bore, is arranged above an uppermost annular surface of the cap body, is slidably engageable with an outer circumferential surface of the component holder, is located adjacent an upper end of an inner tubular section of the cap body. The can further includes a cover installable on the upper end of the component holder.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A cap comprising:
 a cap body mountable to a container;   a main bore disposed in the cap body;   a movable component holder comprising a lower end, an upper end, and a space sized and configured to contain a dispensable component;   at least a first seal providing sealing between an inner surface of the cap body and an outer surface of the component holder;   the first seal at least one of:
 being disposed on a generally circumferential wall and located axially above an annular upper wall of the cap body; 
 being arranged on a generally circumferential wall that can deflect slightly radially outwardly; 
 projecting from the inner surface of the cap body; 
 being axially fixed to the inner surface of the cap body; 
 being disposed at an upper end of the main bore; 
 being arranged above an uppermost annular surface of the cap body; 
 slidably engageable with an outer circumferential surface of the component holder; and 
 being located adjacent an upper end of an inner tubular section of the cap body; and 
   a cover installable on the upper end of the component holder,   wherein, when the cover is installed and the component holder is in an initial or retracted position, a portion of each of the cap body, the component holder, and the cover is adapted to come into contact with the dispensable component, and   wherein, when the cap is arranged on the container and the component holder is arranged in a dispensing position, the dispensable component can pass into the container through a portion of the component holder disposed between the lower end and a portion of the cap body.   
     
     
         2 . The cap of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable strip connected to the cap body. 
     
     
         3 . The cap of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable strip at least one of:
 is arranged between a portion of the component holder and a surface of the cap body;   has an upper end removably connected to a portion of the component holder;   has a lower end contacting or arranged adjacent a portion of the cap body; and   is integrally formed with the component holder,   
     
     
         4 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is at least one of:
 non-removably installed on the upper end of the component holder;   arranged to close off an opening in the upper end which allows the dispensable component to pass into the space; and   generally dome-shaped.   
     
     
         5 . The cap of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
 a second seal arranged in an area of the lower end of the component holder and being in a sealing position when the component holder is in the initial or retracted position;   a second seal having a sealing engagement diameter that is smaller than a sealing engagement diameter of the first seal;   a second seal axially spaced from the first seal by an axial distance that is greater than a maximum allowable axial movement of the component holder;   a second seal axially spaced from the first seal by an axial distance that is greater than an axial distance between a locking projection arranged on the component holder and an annular shoulder arranged on the cap body;   a second seal axially spaced from the first seal and being arranged above an annular shoulder disposed on the cap body;   a second seal axially spaced from the first seal and being arranged on a generally circumferential wall disposed axially below a bottom wall of the component holder; and   a second seal comprising a primary seal preventing the dispensable component from passing out of the space into the container and the first seal being a sliding seal.   
     
     
         6 . The cap of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second seals provide sealing when the component holder is in the initial or retracted position and only the first seal provides sealing when the component holder is in the dispensing position. 
     
     
         7 . The cap of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking arrangement structured and arranged to lock the component holder in the dispensing position. 
     
     
         8 . The cap of  claim 7 , wherein the locking arrangement comprises a locking projection arranged on the component holder and a locking shoulder arranged on the cap body. 
     
     
         9 . The cap of  claim 7 , wherein the locking arrangement comprises a circumferential locking projection arranged on the component holder and an annular locking shoulder arranged on the cap body. 
     
     
         10 . The cap of  claim 7 , wherein the locking arrangement comprises an axially movable projection arranged on the component holder and an axially fixed annular shoulder arranged on the cap body. 
     
     
         11 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the cap body is a one-piece member and the cover is a one-piece member; and   the cap body has an outer portion and a concentrically arranged inner portion and an axial length of the outer portion is shorter than an axial length of the inner portion.   
     
     
         12 . The cap of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable strip that at least one of:
 prevents movement of the component holder from the initial or retracted position to the dispensing position until the removable strip is removed; and   is a generally cylindrical strip-shaped member having a pull-tab and being connected with a frangible or breakable connection to the upper end of the component holder.   
     
     
         13 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the component holder comprises one of:
 a tapered bottom;   a conical shaped bottom wall;   a bottom wall having a shape configured to facilitate a flowing out of the dispensable component when the component holder is arranged in the dispensing position;   legs connecting a bottom wall to a main body portion of the component holder;   openings disposed between legs allowing the dispensable component to pass out of the space; and   openings and legs axially arranged between first and second axially spaced seals of the component holder.   
     
     
         14 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the original or retracted position is a releasably lockable storage position and the dispensing position is a non-releasably lockable position. 
     
     
         15 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is at least one of:
 structured and arranged to receive a desiccant;   press fit attached to the upper end of the component holder; and   in sealing engagement with the upper end of the component holder.   
     
     
         16 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the main bore of the cap body is defined by a generally cylindrical inner wall, and wherein the cap body further comprises at least one of:
 an outer wall spaced from and surrounding the inner wall and having an internal thread or thread segments arranged on an inner surface of the outer wall; and   a tamper-evident ring connected to a lower end of the outer wall of the cap body.   
     
     
         17 . A method of assembling the cap of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 inserting the component holder, lower end first, into the main bore of the cap body;   after the inserting, placing a measured amount of the dispensable component into the space; and   attaching the cover to the upper end of the component holder.   
     
     
         18 . A method of using the cap of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 applying a force to the upper end of the component holder sufficient to cause the component holder to move from the initial or retracted position to the dispensing position,   wherein, in the dispensing position, at least one of:
 substantially all of the dispensable component passes into the container from the space; 
 substantially all of the dispensable component automatically passes into the container from the space; and 
 substantially all of the dispensable component passes into the container from the space under the influence of gravity. 
   
     
     
         19 . A cap comprising:
 a cap body mountable to a container and comprising a bore;   a component holder comprising an upper portion, an internal space for accommodating a dispensable component, a lower portion, and a bottom wall;   the lower portion being positionable inside the bore;   first and second axially spaced seals providing sealing between the component holder and the cap body;   the first seal being axially fixed to a portion of the cap body;   the second seal being movable from an initial sealing position to a non-sealing position when the component holder is moved to an activated position;   at least one opening arranged between the first and second axially spaced seals;   the upper portion comprising at least a partially dome-shaped surface and an opening allowing the dispensable component to enter into the space; and   a removable tear strip at least one of:
 being structured and arranged to prevent the component holder from moving downward relative to the cap body until the tear strip is removed; and 
 providing a compression barrier against activation of the cap, 
   wherein, in a storage position, a portion of each of the cap body and the component holder is adapted to come into contact with a dispensable component, and   wherein, when the cap is arranged on the container and the component holder is moved to the activated position, the dispensable component can pass into the container through the at least one opening.   
     
     
         20 . A cap for carbonated beverages, comprising:
 a cap body mountable to a container and comprising an inner wall having a bore;   a movable component holder comprising a lower end, an upper end, a space sized to contain a dispensable component;   first and second axially spaced seal zones arranged to provide sealing between the component holder and the inner wall of the cap body;   the first seal zone arranged on the lower region of the component holder and utilizing sealing engagement with an inner surface of the inner wall of the cap body;   the second seal zone arranged on an upper region the inner wall and utilizing sealing engagement with an outer surface of the component holder;   a cover in locking engagement with a portion of the upper end of the component holder,   wherein, when the component holder is in an original or retracted position, a portion of each of the cap body, the component holder, and the cover is adapted to come into contact with the dispensable component, and   wherein, when the cap is arranged on the container and the component holder is in a dispensing position, the dispensable component can pass into the container from the space disposed within the component holder.