Solid and liquid dietary dispensing system

Abstract

A solid and liquid dietary dispensing system simultaneously stores and dispenses liquid and solid edible substances, while being manipulated with one hand. The system comprises a flattened tubular container defined by a container sidewall that forms a container cavity, containing a liquid edible substance. The container has a base end and a dispense end with a neck having a neck opening. Depressing the container forces the liquid edible substance through the neck opening. A cap detachably attaches to the container. The cap is defined by a continuous cap sidewall that forms a cap cavity. The cap has a discharge end and a mount end. The mount end comprises a channel that detachably mates with the neck of the container. The container cavity and the cap cavity are in fluid communication. Barriers segregates the cap cavity into compartments. A gate at discharge end of the cap regulates access to cap cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solid and liquid dietary dispensing system, the system comprising:
 a generally flattened tubular container defined by a container sidewall that forms a container cavity, the container further defined by a base end and a dispense end, the dispense end comprising a neck having a neck opening, the container configured to be flexible, whereby depressing the flexible container forces air through the neck opening; and   a cap defined by a continuous cap sidewall that forms a cap cavity, the cap further defined by a discharge end and a mount end having a channel, the channel of the mount end configured to detachably mate with the neck of the container, whereby the container cavity and the cap cavity are in fluid communication;   at least one barrier disposed transversely to the cap sidewall, the at least one barrier configured to segregate the cap cavity into a plurality of compartments; and   at least one gate disposed at the discharge end of the cap, the at least one gate configured to selectively move between an open position and a closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container is fabricated from plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cap is fabricated from plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one gate is configured to hingedly join with the discharge end of the cap. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the neck opening and the channel are threaded. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the neck opening is configured to rotatably engage the channel. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container is configured to enable containment of a liquid edible substance. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the liquid edible substance includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of: a health shake, a fruit juice, yogurt, milk, medicine, and mineral water. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of compartments are configured to enable containment of a solid edible substance. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the solid edible substance includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of: raisins, nuts, seeds, granola mix, fruit, vegetables, candy, pills, and tablets. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the solid edible substance and the liquid edible substance are nutritional. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each compartment is configured to contain the solid edible substance or the liquid edible substance or both. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein each compartment is configured to contain a different solid edible substance. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein each compartment is equally sized and dimensioned. 
     
     
         15 . A solid and liquid dietary dispensing system, the system comprising:
 a generally flattened tubular container defined by a container sidewall that forms a container cavity, the container further defined by a base end and a dispense end, the dispense end comprising a neck having a neck opening, the container configured to enable containment of a liquid edible substance, the container further configured to be flexible, whereby depressing the flexible container forces the liquid edible substance through the neck opening; and   a cap defined by a continuous cap sidewall that forms a cap cavity, the cap further defined by a discharge end and a mount end having a channel, the channel of the mount end configured to detachably mate with the neck of the container, whereby the container cavity and the cap cavity are in fluid communication;   at least one barrier disposed transversely to the cap sidewall, the at least one barrier configured to segregate the cap cavity into a plurality of compartments, each compartment being equally sized and dimensioned, each compartment configured to contain a solid edible substance or the liquid edible substance or both; and   at least one gate disposed at the discharge end of the cap, the at least one gate configured to selectively move between an open position and a closed position.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one gate is configured to hingedly join with the discharge end of the cap. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the neck opening and the channel are threaded. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the neck opening is configured to rotatably engage the channel. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of compartments contains a solid edible substance, and at least one of the plurality of compartments contains a liquid edible substance. 
     
     
         20 . A solid and liquid dietary dispensing system, the system comprising:
 a generally flattened tubular container defined by a container sidewall that forms a container cavity, the container further defined by a flat base end and a dispense end, the dispense end comprising a neck having a threaded neck opening, the container configured to enable containment of a liquid edible substance, the container further configured to be flexible, whereby depressing the flexible container forces the liquid edible substance through the neck opening; and   a cap defined by a continuous cap sidewall that forms a cap cavity, the cap further defined by a discharge end and a mount end having a threaded channel, the threaded channel of the mount end configured to rotatably mate with the neck of the container, whereby the container cavity and the cap cavity are in fluid communication;   at least one barrier disposed transversely to the cap sidewall, the at least one barrier configured to segregate the cap cavity into three compartments, each compartment being equally sized and dimensioned, each compartment is configured to contain a solid edible substance or the liquid edible substance or both; and   at least one gate disposed at the discharge end of the cap, the at least one gate configured to selectively move between an open position and a closed position, the at least one gate configured to hingedly join with the discharge end of the cap.