Patent US5046631A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5046631A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Premium dispensing container
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1989-11-21
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Granted: 1991-09-10
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Expires: 2009-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A system is described for dispensing a premium member from a sealed container of fluid such as a beverage. The fluid is dispensed by forming an opening in the container. The container encloses a guide for retaining the premium member adjacent the region of the opening and guiding it through the opening when formed.
Inventors
- 👤 Gene W. Goodman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:03
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D77/00; B65D77/22; B65D77/24; B65D2517/00; B65D2517/0001; B65D2517/0047; B65D2517/0052
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
In a sealed container having a body and a top enclosing a fluid therein, said top including an inwardly displaceable flap for producing an opening, the improvement which comprises: an object within said container and fluid dimensioned to pass through said opening, said object being in alignment with said opening and normally urged toward said top when said container is in an upright position; and means within said body and mounted to said top for retaining said object in alignment with said opening while permitting motion of said object away from said top upon inward displacement by the flap and guiding said object to and through said opening, said inward displacement of said flap causing said object to move away from said top.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a sealed container having a body and a top enclosing a fluid therein, said top including an inwardly displaceable flap for producing an opening, the improvement which comprises: an object within said container and fluid dimensioned to pass through said opening, said object being in alignment with said opening and normally urged toward said top when said container is in an upright position; and means within said body and mounted to said top for retaining said object in alignment with said opening while permitting motion of said object away from said top upon inward displacement by the flap and guiding said object to and through said opening, said inward displacement of said flap causing said object to move away from said top.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said object is urged toward said top as a result of the buoyancy of said object within the fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said flap carries an inwardly protruding dome.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a substantially conical barrier having a truncated apex surrounding the displaceable portion of the top.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The improvement of claim 4 wherein said fluid is a liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 5 wherein said object is urged toward said top as a result of the buoyancy of said object within the liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement of claim 5 additionally including means for preventing inadvertent removal of said object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises an elongated guide member securing said object in alignment with the region of said opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement of claim 8 wherein said guide member comprises a tube at least partially enclosing said object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement of claim 9 wherein said guide member includes a resilient member urging said object toward said top.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The improvement of claim 10 wherein said resilient member comprises a spring.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement of claim 10 additionally including means for preventing inadvertent removal of said object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
117 words
A premium-delivering container which comprises: a body having a sidewall and a bottom; a liquid substantially filling said body; a top closing said body and defining a score line partially surrounding an opening area of said top; means of rupturing said top along said score lines to define an opening in said top; a premium capsule contained within said liquid having a length substantially less than the maximum internal dimension of said body and urged toward said top when the container is in an upright position; and means carried by the top for retaining said capsule aligned with said opening area and thereafter guiding the capsule to and through the resulting opening upon rupture of the top.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
117 words
A premium-delivering container which comprises: a body having a sidewall and a bottom; a liquid substantially filling said body; a top closing said body and defining a score line partially surrounding an opening area of said top; means of rupturing said top along said score lines to define an opening in said top; a premium capsule contained within said liquid having a length substantially less than the maximum internal dimension of said body and urged toward said top when the container is in an upright position; and means carried by the top for retaining said capsule aligned with said opening area and thereafter guiding the capsule to and through the resulting opening upon rupture of the top.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 13 wherein said retaining means comprises a substantially conical barrier having a truncated apex surrounding the opening area of the top.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 14 wherein the capsule is urged toward the top as a result of the buoyancy of the capsule within the liquid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement of claim 13 additionally including means for preventing inadvertent removal of said capsule.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 13 wherein said retaining means comprises an elongated guide member keeping the capsule in alignment with the region of said opening.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement of claim 17 wherein the guide member includes means for urging the capsule toward the top.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The improvement of claim 18 wherein the urging means is a spring.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement of claim 18 additionally including means for preventing inadvertent removal of said capsule.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
91 words
A premium-delivering system which comprises: a closed container having a body and a top; a liquid substantially filling said container; means for forming a liquid dispensing opening in said container; a premium member enclosed within said container and liquid and urged toward the region of said opening, said premium member having a length substantially less than the maximum internal dimension of said container; and means carried by said top for retaining said premium member adjacent the region of said opening and guiding said member to and through said opening when formed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
91 words
A premium-delivering system which comprises: a closed container having a body and a top; a liquid substantially filling said container; means for forming a liquid dispensing opening in said container; a premium member enclosed within said container and liquid and urged toward the region of said opening, said premium member having a length substantially less than the maximum internal dimension of said container; and means carried by said top for retaining said premium member adjacent the region of said opening and guiding said member to and through said opening when formed.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said retaining means comprises a substantially conical barrier having a truncated apex surrounding the opening region.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 21 wherein the premium member is urged toward the opening region as a result of its buoyancy within the liquid.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 21 additionally including means for preventing inadvertent removal of said premium member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said retaining means comprises an elongated guide member keeping the premium member in alignment with the opening region.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 25 wherein the guide member includes means for urging the premium member toward the opening region.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 26 wherein the urging means is a spring.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 26 additionally including means for preventing inadvertent removal of said premium member.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a sealed container having a body and a top and enclosing a fluid therein, said top including an inwardly displaceable flap for producing an opening, the improvement which comprises: an object within said container dimensioned to pass through said opening, said object being normally urged toward said top; and means within said body and mounted to said top for retaining said object adjacent, and in alignment with, said displaceable flap while permitting motion of said object away from said top upon displacement by the flap and thereafter guiding said object to and through said opening, said inward displacement of said flap causing said object to move away from said flap.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a sealed container having a body and a top and enclosing a fluid therein, said top including an inwardly displaceable flap for producing an opening, the improvement which comprises: an object within said container dimensioned to pass through said opening, said object being normally urged toward said top; and means within said body and mounted to said top for retaining said object adjacent, and in alignment with, said displaceable flap while permitting motion of said object away from said top upon displacement by the flap and thereafter guiding said object to and through said opening, said inward displacement of said flap causing said object to move away from said flap.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-09 | 1995-03-11 | 1995-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-09 | 1999-03-11 | 1999-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-09 | 2003-03-11 | 2003-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |