Free Flow Ingredient Cap Device

Abstract

Aspects described herein provide cap devices for dispensing a composition, the cap devices having chambers, shells, cutting elements, piercers, optional dust covers, and films. Exemplary basket piercers are provided for partially removing a film from the bottom of the chamber permitting a free flow of a composition from the cap device. Methods of using the cap devices are also provided.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 . A cap device comprising:
 a chamber for containing a composition, the chamber comprising one or more side walls, a top wall, a center cavity, a bottom opening, and a film adapted to cover at least part of the bottom opening; and   a shell for associating the cap device with a container, the shell comprising a shell base and a shell basket, the shell basket comprising one or more side walls, and a basket piercer disposed adjacent to the one or more side walls of the shell basket wherein the basket piercer partially removes the film from the bottom opening when the chamber is actuated into the shell.   
     
     
         2 . The cap device of  claim 1 , wherein the basket piercer comprises a cutting element having one or more edges. 
     
     
         3 . The cap device of  claim 2 , wherein the shell basket has at least one side wall having a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion. 
     
     
         4 . The cap device of  claim 3 , wherein the basket piercer is disposed on the top portion. 
     
     
         5 . The cap device of  claim 4 , wherein the top portion slopes downward toward the middle portion. 
     
     
         6 . The cap device of  claim 1 , wherein the shell basket comprises a first wall and a second wall, the shell further comprising a shell side cavity between a first wall of the shell basket and a second wall of the shell basket. 
     
     
         7 . The cap device of  claim 6 , wherein after the film is cut by the basket piercer, a first portion of the film remains attached to the bottom opening of the chamber and a second portion of the film is substantially disposed into the shell side cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The cap device of  claim 1 , wherein the film is substantially removed from the center cavity of the chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The cap device of  claim 7 , wherein the film is circular and at least about 320 to about 340 degrees of the film is pierced or cut by the basket piercer. 
     
     
         10 . The cap device of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is selected from the group consisting of camu, camu berry, manoic root, acerola berry, amla berry, beet, buckwheet berry sprouts, blueberry, raspberry, cranberry, cherry, rose hips, lemon, lemon peel, black pepper, algae, spirulina, klamath, chlorella, dunaliella, kelp, wakame, kombu, bladderwrack, dulse, laver, millet sprouts, quinoa sprouts, broccoli sprouts, apple, green papaya, enzymes, amylase, cellulase, lipase, protease, mushrooms, reishi, shiitake, maitake, agraricus, cordyceps, astragalus root, eleuthero root, lycium berry, angelica sinensis root, schizandara berry, bai-zhu atractylodes rhizome, fo-ti root, paeonia lactiflor root, rehmannia root, codonopsis root, licorice root, jujube fruit, jojoba berry, poria, ginger, ginger rhizome, tangerine peel, polygala root, ligusticum wallichii rhizome, wheat grass, barley grass, oat grass, alfalfa grass, spinach leaf, parsley leaf, kale leaf, collard leaf, nettle leaf, red clover flower, skullcap flower, skullcap leaf, burdock root, ginkgo leaf, yellow dock root, dandelion leaf, rosemary leaf, clove bud, sage leaf, natural vitamin E sunflower, and chia seed. 
     
     
         11 . A method of adding a composition to a container with the cap device of  claim 1 , comprising:
 actuating the chamber wherein at least a portion of the chamber engages with and resides in the shell and the film engages with the cutting element;   partially removing the film with the basket piercer wherein the film is substantially removed from the center cavity of the chamber and the composition is added to the container.   
     
     
         12 . A method of dispensing a composition into a material, comprising:
 providing a chamber containing a composition, the chamber comprising one or more side walls, a top wall, a center cavity, a bottom opening, and a film adapted to cover at least part of the bottom opening;   providing a shell, the shell comprising a shell base and a shell basket, the shell basket comprising one or more side walls, and a basket piercer disposed on one or more of the one or more side walls;   providing a container comprising a material which is capable of mixing with the composition;   associating the chamber with the shell such that the chamber is in communication with the shell;   associating the shell with the container such that the shell is in communication with the container; and   actuating the chamber into the shell wherein the basket piercer partially removes the film from the bottom opening wherein the composition is dispensed into the container.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the basket piercer comprises a cutting element having one or more edges. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the shell basket has at least one side wall having a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the basket piercer is disposed on the top portion. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the top portion slopes downward toward the middle portion. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the shell further comprises a shell side cavity between a first wall and a second wall of the shell basket and wherein after the film is cut by the basket piercer, the film is substantially disposed into the shell side cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the film is substantially removed from the center cavity of the chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the film is circular and at least about 320 to about 340 degrees of the film is pierced or cut by the basket piercer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising agitating the container wherein the material enters the chamber and contacts the composition. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of water, juice, soda, seltzer, non-caloric flavored beverages, alcoholic beverages, caffeinated beverages, brewed beverages, milk and milk products, almond milk, tea, coffee, soap, lotion, makeup, and shampoo. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein at least about 99% of the composition is removed from the chamber. 
     
     
         23 . The cap device of  claim 1 , wherein the shell basket comprises a first wall and a second wall, a shell side cavity is disposed between the first wall and the second wall, the first wall has a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion, the top portion of the first wall slopes toward the middle portion of the first wall, and a basket piercer is disposed on the first wall.