Dispensing cap, insertable cartridge, dispensing container, dispensing system, and methods for manufacture and use

Abstract

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods pertaining to a dispensing container with a dispensing cap, and cartridge are provided herein. In one aspect, a dispensing container includes a bottle with a primary fluid, a dispensing cap with a receptacle; and a cartridge insertable into the receptacle thereof and including a secondary fluid within a cavity of the cartridge, Methods of manufacturing the dispensing container, cap, and cartridge are further provided, as well as methods of using the dispensing cap and container to dispense two different fluids.

1 . A dispensing cap comprising:
 a base having a dispensing channel and configured to be attached to a bottle neck of a bottle, the base having a receptacle;   a base piston element disposed in the base and movable between a first position and a second position such that as fluid disposed in the bottle is forced toward the dispensing channel to dispense the fluid at least a portion of the fluid engages the base piston element and moves the base piston element toward the second position; and   a cartridge disposed in the receptacle of the base, wherein the base piston element is configured to drive a cartridge piston element of the cartridge as the base piston element is moved from the first position toward the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing cap of  claim 1  wherein the base includes a guide channel along which at least a portion of the base piston element moves and the dispensing channel extends within the guide channel. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing cap of  claim 1  wherein the cartridge comprises a container and a valve element coupled to an outer surface of the container, the valve element having a tube portion extending within the container, the tube portion including at least one outlet opening in a wall thereof, the tube portion being movable relative to the container between a first position where the at least one outlet opening is covered by an inner wall of the container to inhibit a fluid in the container from flowing into the tube portion via the at least one outlet opening and a second position in which the fluid in the container is able to flow through the at least one outlet opening and into the tube portion. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing cap of  claim 3  configured such that attaching the cartridge to the base of the dispensing cap brings an end of the tube portion into engagement with an end of the dispensing channel of the base, moving the tube portion to open the at least one outlet opening. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing cap of  claim 3 , wherein the tube portion includes four of the at least one outlet openings. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing cap of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid in the container of the cartridge has a viscosity ranging from about 7,000 centipoise to about 20,000 centipoise. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing cap of  claim 3 , wherein the dispensing channel is in fluid communication with the tube portion via an outlet orifice of the dispensing channel when the cartridge is attached to the base. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing cap of  claim 7 , wherein the outlet orifice has a diameter of about 1.5 mm to about 3.0 mm and the tube portion includes four of the at least one outlet openings, each having a diameter between about 2.5 mm to about 3.5 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing cap of  claim 3 , comprising a flip-top lid hingedly attached to the base, wherein the flip-top lid includes an interior projection comprising a first sealing surface configured to block egress of fluid from the dispensing channel of the base, and a second sealing surface configured to block egress of fluid through the at least one outlet opening of the cartridge. 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing cap of  claim 1  wherein the cartridge disposed in the receptacle of the base includes external threads for being threaded into the receptacle, wherein one or more projections on the external threads engage one or more recesses on internal threading of the receptacle to provide a user an auditory and/or tactile indication when the cartridge is positioned correctly in the receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . A container comprising the dispensing cap of  claim 1  threaded onto the bottle neck of a bottle wherein a primary fluid is disposed in the bottle and a secondary fluid is disposed in the cartridge. 
     
     
         12 . A dispensing cap base for removably coupling to a bottle neck of a bottle, the dispensing cap base comprising:
 a main body and a base piston element,   the main body including:
 a first end comprising a receptacle for receiving a cartridge; 
 a second end comprising an ingress portion for receiving a fluid from the bottle; 
 a dispensing channel extending from the first end to the second end for dispensing fluid from the bottle; and 
 a guide channel disposed about the dispensing channel, the base piston element being movable between a first position and a second position along the guide channel to engage the cartridge when fluid from the bottle is received in the ingress portion. 
   
     
     
         13 . The dispensing cap base of  claim 12  wherein the ingress portion includes at least one cap base opening through which fluid is able to flow between the dispensing channel and the guide channel to engage the base piston element. 
     
     
         14 . The dispensing cap base of  claim 12  wherein the base piston element has an annular configuration and includes an inner seal and an outer seal, the inner seal engaging an outer surface of the dispensing channel and the outer seal engaging the guide channel. 
     
     
         15 . The dispensing cap base of  claim 12 , wherein the base piston element has an annular configuration and is disposed about the dispensing channel, the base piston element including a cylindrical portion disposed radially inward of the guide channel and a flange portion disposed substantially radially outward of the guide channel at one end of the cylindrical portion for engaging a cartridge received in the receptacle. 
     
     
         16 . A cartridge for a dispensing cap, the cartridge comprising:
 a body removably attachable to a dispensing cap, the body defining at least a portion of a cavity comprising a first fluid, an internal cylindrical wall of the body defining at least a portion of a central opening of the body;   a valve element attached to an outer surface of the body, wherein a tube portion of the valve element extends within the central opening of the body, the tube portion having a first end to receive a second fluid flowing into the tube portion from the dispensing cap and a second end through which the first and second fluids are dispensed, the tube portion comprising at least one outlet opening in a wall of the tube portion through which the first fluid is able to be dispensed from the cavity to join the second fluid in the tube portion;   a cartridge piston element disposed within the cavity of the body and about the central opening and movable between a first position and a second position to force the first fluid toward the at least one outlet opening.   
     
     
         17 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , the cartridge piston element including one or more outer sealing elements configured to contact an outer wall of the body to seal the first fluid within the cavity, the cartridge piston element further including one or more inner sealing elements configured to contact the cylindrical wall of the central opening to seal the first fluid within the cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the cartridge piston element has an annular configuration and comprises a plurality of ribs spaced about an outer surface to engage a base piston element of the dispensing cap that drives the cartridge piston element from the first position toward the second position. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the tube portion includes four outlet openings in a wall of the tube portion. 
     
     
         20 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the valve element is elastically deflectable such that the tube portion is movable along an axis of the central opening to close and open the at least one outlet opening.