Enclosed-compartment product dispensing device

Abstract

A dispensing container for containing and dispensing a flowable or dispensable product or ingredient. A main container has a sidewall and an open upper end having a circumferential rim, and a tear member disposed radially inwardly from and extending axially above the circumferential rim. A domed lid has a sidewall defining a containing volume and a circumferential portion having a channel for attachment to and rotation upon the circumferential rim of the container. The domed lid includes a sheet having a periphery connected to the sidewall of the domed lid, to form an enclosed volume that can container a product. The sheet has a surface oriented at an angle to the rotating plane of the circumferential rim of the lid. When the lid is rotated on the container, film surface of the sheet rotates to intersect and be torn against the tear member.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A dispensing container for containing and dispensing an additive into a main foodstuff, comprising:
 a) a main container having an axis and including a sidewall, closed bottom, and an open upper end including a circumferential rim, and a tear member disposed radially within the rim and extending axially above the rim;   b) a domed lid including a sidewall defining a containing volume and a lower open end, and having an axis of rotation, the lower open end including a circumferential rim including means for rotative engagement with the container rim through a rotating plane; and   c) a sheet having a periphery connected to the sidewall of the domed lid to form a contained volume within the containing volume of the lid, wherein the sheet includes a sheet surface comprising an annular portion, the sheet surface oriented at an angle to the rotating plane;   wherein the tear member extends into the containing volume of the domed lid, and a relative rotation of the domed lid rotates the annular portion of the sheet surface to intersect and be torn against the tear member.   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing container according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular portion of the sheet surface includes a frangible portion comprising a tear line through which the tear member passes during the rotation. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing container according to  claim 1 , wherein the tear member extends from an inner wall of the main container, to a distal edge disposed vertically above the circumferential rim of the main container. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing container according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet extends between the sidewall of the domed lid in a planar surface oriented at the angle to the rotating plane, wherein the sheet surface and the annular portion lie in the planar surface. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing container according to  claim 4 , wherein the sheet includes a second planar surface oriented at a second angle to the rotating plane, and the annular portion includes a second annular portion that lies in the second planar surface. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing container according to  claim 5 , wherein the main container includes a second tear member, wherein the rotation of the domed lid rotates the second annular portion to intersect and be torn against the second tear member. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing container according to  claim 1 , wherein the domed lid includes a shoulder extending radially from the outer sidewall, and the periphery of the sheet attaches along the shoulder. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing container according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is a moisture and oxygen barrier film. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing container according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular portion includes a curved surface. 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing container according to  claim 1 , wherein the tear member is disposed at a radial distance from the center axis of the container, and the annular portion of the sheet is disposed adjacent an inner surface of the sidewall, and overlaps the radial distance of the tear member. 
     
     
         11 . A dispensing container for containing and dispensing an additive into a main foodstuff, comprising:
 a) a main container including a sidewall, closed bottom, and an open upper end including a circumferential container rim;   b) an intermediate ring including a circumferential lower rim including means for engagement with the circumferential rim, and a tear member disposed radially within the circumferential lower rim and extending axially above the circumferential lower rim;   c) a domed lid including an outer sidewall defining a containing volume and a lower open end, and having an axis of rotation, the lower open end including a circumferential rim including means for rotative engagement with the intermediate ring through a rotating plane; and   d) a containment sheet having a periphery attached to the sidewall of the domed lid to form an enclosed volume within the containing volume of the lid, wherein the sheet includes a sheet surface comprising an annular portion, the sheet surface having oriented at an angle to the rotating plane;   wherein the tear member extends into the containing volume of the domed lid, and a rotation of the domed lid relative to the intermediate ring rotates the annular portion of the sheet plane to intersect and tear against the tear member.   
     
     
         12 . The dispensing container according to  claim 11 , the annular portion of the sheet surface includes a frangible portion comprising a tear line through which the tear member passes during the rotation. 
     
     
         13 . The dispensing container according to  claim 11 , wherein the tear member extends from an inner surface of the intermediate ring, to a distal edge disposed vertically above the circumferential upper rim of the intermediate ring. 
     
     
         14 . The dispensing container according to  claim 11 , wherein the sheet extends between the sidewall of the domed lid in a planar surface oriented at an angle to the rotating plane, wherein the sheet surface and the annular portion lie in the planar surface. 
     
     
         15 . The dispensing container according to  claim 14 , wherein the sheet includes a second planar surface oriented at a second angle to the rotating plane, and the annular portion includes a second annular portion that lies in the second planar surface. 
     
     
         16 . The dispensing container according to  claim 15 , wherein the intermediate ring includes a second tear member, wherein the rotation of the domed lid rotates the second annular portion of the second sheet plane to intersect and tear against the second tear member. 
     
     
         17 . The dispensing container according to  claim 11 , wherein the domed lid includes a shoulder extending radially from the outer sidewall, and the periphery of the containment sheet attaches along the shoulder. 
     
     
         18 . The dispensing container according to  claim 11 , wherein the containment sheet is a moisture and oxygen barrier film. 
     
     
         19 . The dispensing container according to  claim 11 , wherein the annular portion includes a curved surface. 
     
     
         20 . The dispensing container according to  claim 11 , wherein the tear member is disposed at a radius distance from the axis of the container, and the annular portion of the sheet is disposed adjacent and inner surface of the sidewall, and has a radial width that overlaps the radius distance of the tear member. 
     
     
         21 . A dispensing container for containing and dispensing a liquid or solid material, comprising:
 a) a container having an axis and including a sidewall, closed bottom, and an open upper end including a rim;   b) a lid including a sidewall and having a lower open end, and having an axis of rotation, the lower open end including a circumferential channel providing rotative engagement with the container rim through a rotating plane, and a tear member disposed radially within the lid rim and extending axially below the container rim; and   c) a sheet having a periphery attached to the sidewall of the container to form an enclosed volume within the container, wherein the sheet includes a sheet surface comprising an annular portion, the sheet surface oriented at an angle to the rotating plane;   wherein the tear member of the lid extends into the open upper end of the container, and a relative rotation of the lid rotates the tear member to intersect and tear the annular portion of the sheet surface.   
     
     
         22 . The dispensing container according to  claim 1 , wherein the main container includes a first tab extending from the circumferential rim, the domed lid includes a second tab extending from the circumferential rim, registered rotationally with the first tab, and also including a means for securing together the registered pair of the first tab and the second tab. 
     
     
         23 . The dispensing container according to  claim 22 , further including a second registered pair of the first tab and the second tab. 
     
     
         24 . The dispensing container according to  claim 22 , wherein the registered pair of the first tab and the second tab includes a tear line disposed remote from the means for securing, for manually removing the opposed tabs from the domed lid and the container.