Cap and container assembly for a dosage product

Abstract

A dosage dispensing cap and container assembly and method of use are disclosed. The assembly includes a container defining an opening that leads to an interior space. A cap is removably affixed over the opening and defines a channel that leads to the interior space. The cap includes a puncturing structure positioned at a bottom region of the channel. A plunger is slidably disposed within the channel and includes a sleeve portion and a dosage product housed within the sleeve portion. The plunger slides within the channel between a first position in which the plunger is located in an upper region of the channel, and a second position in which the plunger is located in a lower region of the channel and the dosage product contacts the puncturing structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dosage dispensing cap and container assembly, comprising:
 a container defining an opening that leads to an interior space;   a cap removably affixed over the opening, the cap defining a channel that leads to the interior space and including a puncturing structure positioned at a bottom region of the channel;   a plunger slidably disposed within the channel, the plunger including a sleeve portion and a dosage product housed within the sleeve portion;   wherein the plunger is configured to slide within the channel between a first position in which the plunger is located in an upper region of the channel, and a second position in which the plunger is located in a lower region of the channel and the dosage product contacts the puncturing structure.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a neck that defines the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the cap comprises an inner tubular body positioned within the neck, an outer tubular body positioned outside of the neck, and an upper connecting wall that joins the inner tubular body with the outer tubular body. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the sleeve portion of the plunger is slidably disposed within the inner tubular body of the cap. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein a lower wall closes off the sleeve portion of the plunger at a bottom region thereof, and the dosage product sits on the lower wall when the plunger is in the first position, the lower wall configured to be ruptured by the puncturing structure and release the dosage product from the sleeve portion when the plunger slides into the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the puncturing structure is a projection. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the assembly is constructed from a desiccant material. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a carrier is housed within the interior space of the container. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the dosage product is contained within a rupturable package. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including a first tamper evident device that comprises a sleeve that retains the plunger in the first position, the first tamper evident device configured to indicate when the plunger has previously been in the second position. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , further including a second tamper evident device comprising a ring positioned on an outer surface of the container and attached to the cap by a severable attachment mechanism, the second tamper evident device configured to indicate when the cap has previously been removed from the assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a retainment mechanism to retain the ring on the outer surface of the container, wherein the retainment mechanism comprises a lower abutment projecting inward from an inner surface of the ring and an upper abutment projecting outward from the outer surface of the container. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the container comprises a neck that defines the opening;   the cap comprises an inner tubular body positioned within the neck, an outer tubular body positioned outside of the neck, and an upper connecting wall that joins the inner tubular body with the outer tubular body;   the plunger includes an outwardly extending collar at an upper portion thereof; and   the collar extends between the upper connecting wall of the cap and the collar of the plunger.   
     
     
         14 . A method of dispensing a dosage product within a carrier comprising:
 providing dosage dispensing cap and container assembly including a container defining an opening that leads to an interior space, a cap removably affixed over the opening, the cap defining a channel that leads to the interior space and including a puncturing structure positioned at a bottom region of the channel, and a plunger slidably disposed within the channel, the plunger including a sleeve portion and a dosage product housed within the sleeve portion;   sliding the plunger within the channel from a first position in which the plunger is located in an upper region of the channel, to a second position in which the plunger is located in a lower region of the channel and the dosage product is in contact with the puncturing structure.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising agitating the assembly to distribute the dosage product within the carrier. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising rupturing a lower wall of the sleeve portion by bringing the lower wall into contact with the puncturing structure when the plunger slides into the second position, causing releasing of the dosage product through the channel and into the interior space of the container. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the dosage product is contained within a rupturable package, the method further comprising rupturing the rupturable package by bringing it into contact with the puncturing structure when the plunger slides into the second position, causing releasing of the dosage product from the rupturable package. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the assembly further comprises a first tamper evident device that indicates when the plunger has previously been in the second position;
 the method further comprising removing the first tamper evident device prior to sliding the plunger within the channel from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the container comprises a neck that defines the opening;   the cap comprises an inner tubular body positioned within the neck, an outer tubular body positioned outside of the neck, and an upper connecting wall that joins the inner tubular body with the outer tubular body;   the plunger includes an outwardly extending collar at an upper portion thereof; and   the collar extends between the connecting wall of the cap and the collar of the plunger.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the assembly further comprises a second tamper evident device that indicates when the cap has previously been removed from the assembly, the method further comprising disengaging the second tamper evident device when removing the cap from the assembly.