FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a container closure.

The invention relates particularly to a container closure which is configured to store a consumable separate from a liquid until use.

The invention relates more particularly to a container closure for a bottle-type container, i.e. a container that has a neck including a rim at the end of the neck that defines an orifice. Any reference hereinafter to a container must be interpreted as a reference to a bottle-type container of the above type.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a container closure which has an operatively depending skirt for seating on and sealingly engaging the rim defined by the neck of a container around its orifice, the container closure being characterised in that the container closure includes a receptacle having an upper end and a lower end, which defines a chamber for holding a consumable substance, a rupturable membrane which is sealingly connected to the receptacle near the lower end of the receptacle, a deformable receptacle cover which is sealingly connected to the receptacle so as to sealingly close off the chamber, and a plunger having a piercing formation at a distal end thereof, which is connected to the receptacle cover in an arrangement wherein the plunger is located within the chamber and displaceable, via deformation of the receptacle cover, between a first position wherein the piercing formation of the plunger is spaced from the membrane and a second position wherein the plunger is displaced towards the membrane such that the piercing formation pierces and ruptures the membrane causing the consumable substance to be discharged from the chamber.

The plunger may be in the form of a rigid spike.

The container closure may be of moulded plastics.

The container closure wherein the spike may be integrally moulded with the receptacle cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described below with reference to an example of a container closure, in accordance with the invention, and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a container closure, in accordance with the invention, with the overcap thereof in its closed position;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the container closure of Figure 1 , with the overcap thereof in its open position; Figure 3 shows a top plan view of the container closure of Figure 1 , with the overcap thereof in its open position;

Figure 4 shows a bottom plan view of the container closure of Figure 1 , with the overcap thereof in its open position;

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional side view of the container closure of Figure 3, sectioned along section line V - V of Figure 3, showing the plunger in its raised position; and

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional side view of the container closure of Figure 3, sectioned along section line V-V of Figure 3, showing the plunger in its lowered position.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a container closure in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 8 shows a sectional side view of the container closure of Figure 7, showing the plunger in its raised position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, a container closure, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The container closure 10 is configured particularly for use with a bottle-type container, the closure comprising an integrally formed plastics body that includes generally a base cap 14 and an overcap 16 that are connected by a plastic hinge formation 18.

The base cap 14 includes a base formation 20 having an operatively depending, internally threaded skirt 22, the base cap being configured for seating on and sealingly engaging the rim defined by the neck of a bottle-type container around its orifice. The base cap 14 includes also a dispensing nipple formation 24 which projects from the base formation 20 and through which the contents of an associated container can be dispensed/consumed. The operative bottom edge of the skirt 22 has a first anti-tamper arrangement in the form of a tamper indicating ring 26 secured thereto via a frangible formation, the tamper indicating ring 26 separating, completely or partially, from the skirt 22 upon first removal of the closure from its associated container.

The overcap 16 of the container closure 10 includes a dome formation 28, the overcap being displaceable with respect to the base cap between an open position, in which the closure is moulded and in which the nipple formation 24 of the dispensing part is exposed (as shown in Figure 2), and a covering position in which the overcap 16 effectively covers the base formation of the base cap and in which internal nipple sealing formations 30 defined by the dome formation of the overcap, cover the nipple formation 24 of the base cap and hermetically seal the orifice defined by the nipple formation.

The overcap 16 also includes a second anti-tamper arrangement, particularly in the form of anti-tamper tabs 32 that are connected to the overcap 16 by a frangible formation, the tabs 32 defining engagement formations which are configured to permanently engage complementary formations defined by the base cap 14 upon first displacement of the base cap into its covering position, following the manufacture of the closure 10 by an injection moulding process which provides for the cap part to be formed while in its open position. First opening of the overcap 16 thus requires displacement of the tabs 32, resulting in severing of a portion of the tab 32 from the remainder of the overcap 16 by severing of the frangible formation, the overcap 16 thus being displaceable into its open position as shown in Figure 2 only after the displacement of the tabs, which will render this clearly visible. Insofar as the configuration of the container closure 10 as described above is already known and insofar as this does not form a part of the present invention, this is not described in any further detail herein.

The base cap 14 includes a cylindrical receptacle 34 in which a consumable substance can be held so as to be separate from a liquid which is held in the container. In use, the Applicant envisages that the liquid may be a beverage such as a sports drink and the consumable substance may be a powdered or granular consumable such as a vitamin- containing composition which can dissolve in the beverage. The receptacle has an upper end 36 and a lower end 38 and defines a chamber 40 in which the consumable substance is held. The base cap further includes a dome-shaped receptacle cover 42 which is sealingly connected to the receptacle at its upper end so as to close off the upper end of the chamber. The receptacle cover 42 is of a resiliency deformable plastics material which is convexly curved in its relaxed state as is shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. A plunger 44 is integrally formed with the cover 42 and extends downwardly into the chamber 40. The plunger 44 defines a piercing formation 46 at a lower distal end thereof, the purpose of which will be explained in further detail hereinafter. The base cap further includes a rupturable membrane 48 which is sealingly connected to the lower end of the receptacle so as to close off the lower end of the chamber. The receptacle cover 42 and the membrane 48 thus provide for the consumable substance to be hermetically sealed within the chamber 40.

The base cap 14 is formed with the receptacle cover 42 in its convex configuration as is shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. In this configuration, the plunger 44 is in a raised position wherein the piercing formation at the lower end thereof is spaced from the membrane 48. Exerting a downward force by hand on the receptacle cover 42 causes it to be displaced downwardly and assume a convex configuration as is shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. In this configuration the plunger 44 is in a lowered position wherein the piercing formation pierces and ruptures the membrane 48. In use, the consumable substance is held in the receptacle 34 separate from the beverage held in the container to which the closure 10 is fitted, so as to prevent degradation of the consumable substance which would otherwise occur over time if the consumable substance were to be brought into contact with the beverage. Immediately prior to consumption of the beverage, the receptacle cover 42 is pushed downwards causing the plunger 44 to be displaced into its lowered position as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, causing the piercing formation 46 to pierce and rupture the membrane 48, resulting in the consumable substance falling from the receptacle into the beverage. The Applicant envisages that the container can be gently agitated to assist mixing and dissolving of the consumable substance in the beverage prior to consumption of the solution.

With reference to Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, another embodiment of a container closure in accordance with the invention, is generally designated by the reference numeral 100. The container closure comprises a single cap which is configured to seat on and sealingly engage the rim defined by the neck of a bottle-type container around its orifices. In Figures 7 and 8, features of the container closure 100 which are the same as and/or similar to those of the container closure 10, are designated by the same and/or similar reference numerals. The container closure 100 is similar to the container closure 10 but does not have the overcap and dispensing nipple of the container closure 10. In similar fashion as for the container closure 10, the membrane 48 of the container closure 100 is ruptured so as to discharge a consumable substance held in the receptacle 34, by exerting a downward force by hand on the receptacle cover 42 causing it to deform downwardly thereby displacing the plunger 44 downwardly so as to rupture the membrane.