IP Library Granted Patent US 9,004,302
Granted Patent B2
US 9,004,302 · App. 13/395,491 · Granted Apr 14, 2015

Package with foil seals and penetrating means

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,004,302
App. No.
13/395,491
Granted
Apr 14, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Improved packages, methods for manufacturing the packages and methods for producing beverages using the packages are provided. The packages ( 10 ) include a cap ( 60 ), a container ( 20 ), and an adapter ( 30 ) positioned between and connected to the cap and container. The adapter ( 30 ) is configured to penetrate seals ( 28, 66 ) on the cap and the container by means of a spike member ( 50 ) to allow contents (p) of the cap ( 60 ) to mix with contents (d) of the container ( 20 ).

Claims (38)

1. A package comprising:

a container comprising a neck that defines a first open end sealed by a first seal, the container having a longitudinal axis;

an adapter comprising a flexible material and fixed to the first open end of the container, the adapter comprising a lower extension that circumscribes the neck of the container; and

a cap comprising a second open end sealed by a second seal, the adapter is fixed to the second open end of the cap and is so constructed and arranged that it can penetrate the first seal and the second seal,

wherein the adapter further comprises (i) a spike member positioned within the adapter between the first seal and second seal, and having a first tip configured to penetrate the first seal; and (ii) an annular ledge on an inside wall of the adapter, the ledge configured to receive the cap and fix the adapter to the second open end of the cap;

wherein the adapter is configured to penetrate the first seal and the second seal by moving from a first position to a second position, the lower extension comprises a section that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis in the first position of the adapter and slanted relative to the longitudinal axis in the second position of the adapter;

and wherein, in the first position, a vertical distance from a lower end of the adapter to the first tip is greater than the vertical distance from the lower end of the adapter to the first open end of the container, the vertical distance is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

2. The package of claim 1 , wherein the adapter comprises a plurality of spike members.

3. The package of claim 1 , wherein the spike member is substantially centered within the adapter.

4. The package of claim 1 , wherein the first seal and second seal are foil seals.

5. The package of claim 1 comprising a removable band positioned between the adapter and the container to maintain the adapter in the first position.

6. The package of claim 1 , the adapter comprising internal threads configured to threadeably engage external threads on the container to fix the adapter to the first open end of the container.

7. A method for manufacturing the package of claim 1 , the method comprising:

providing the container, the cap, and the adapter;

sterilizing the container;

filling the container with a liquid and sealing the container with the first seal in a sterile environment;

filling the cap with an ingredient and sealing the cap with the second seal in a non-sterile environment;

affixing the lower end of the adapter over the first open end of the container; and

affixing an upper end of the adapter over the second open end of the cap.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the ingredient is a powder.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a probotic, an oil, and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 7 , comprising affixing the lower end of the adapter over the first open end of the container by a friction fit.

11. The method of claim 7 , comprising:

inserting a band around the container; and

affixing the lower end of the adapter over the first open end of the container to abut the band.

12. A method for using the package of claim 1 to produce a beverage, the method comprising:

providing the adapter, the container, and the;

affixing the lower end of the adapter over the first open end of the container;

affixing an upper end of the adapter over the second open end of the cap; and

penetrating the first seal and the second seal with the spike member such that an ingredient housed in the cap mixes with a diluent housed in the container to form the beverage.

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising moving the adapter downward along a wall of the container to penetrate the first seal with the spike member.

14. The method of claim 12 , comprising moving the cap downward along the inside wall of the adapter to penetrate the second seal with the spike member.

15. The method of claim 12 , comprising:

affixing a removable band over the first open end of the container; and

affixing the lower end of the adapter over the first open end of the container and onto the band to maintain the adapter at the first position.

16. The method of claim 15 , comprising:

removing the band; and

moving the adapter from the first position to the second position to penetrate the first seal and the second seal.

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 16062921 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 049391 FRAME 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT NUMBER SHOULD HAVE BEEN 16062912. Recorded Jul 3, 2020
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 054082/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 16062921 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 049391 FRAME 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT NUMBER SHOULD HAVE BEEN 16062912. Recorded Jul 3, 2020
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 054082/0165 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION TO SHOW THE FULL AND CORRECT NEW NAME IN SECTION 51. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 049391 FRAME: 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Jun 13, 2019
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 049853/0398 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 6, 2019
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 049391/0756 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2012
From: GINZBURG, JEAN-DANIEL; KUSLYS, MARTINAS JURGIS
To: NESTEC S.A.
Reel/Frame 028041/0158 →