[0001] The present invention relates to liquid substances dispenser for a mottle or similar
container.
[0002] In the field of the preparation and conservation of liquids, for example alimentary
ones, sometimes the problem rises for liquid substances which are rapidly perishable
when mixed together but conservable for long periods separately.
[0003] In many cases it is necessary to forgo mixing such substances substituting one of
them with another more compatible substance. In other cases it is necessary to add
preservatives in order to allow two substances to coexist thus lowering the quality
of the final product.
[0004] As an example, a typical case of this problem is to preserve the natural aroma in
citrus fruit juices which at the time of squeezing contain small quantities of essential
oils which determine their aroma. If these juices are not consumed at that moment,
in a short time they deteriorate as a result of those same oils which oxidize due
to the acidity of the juice. In order to avoid this incovenience, the oil is removed
from the juice at the time of the juice's extraction. Nevertheless, in order not to
deprive the juice of its natural aroma, it is possible to add an essential oil to
the citrus fruit juice at the time of its use.
[0005] This however calls for the provision of the two liquids in two separate containers
with the result of higher production and distribution costs and of increased inconvenience
for the consumer, with respect to other liquids already mixed in a single container.
[0006] Besides the above-cited example, many other cases are well-known, which for the sake
of simplicity will not be described, in which it is necessary to provide two separate
liquids to be mixed at the time of use, thus creating the already described inconveniences.
[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser for liquid substances
able to maintain two liquids separate within the same container and to allow their
mixing during pouring by the user.
[0008] This object is achieved by the dispenser according to the invention characterized
in that it comprises a substantially cylindrical capsule, engageable in the neck of
a bottle and containing a liquid substance to be mixed with the liquid contained in
the bottle itself. The capsule has a bottom wall and an inner tube extending coaxially
to the capsule, with an open bottom end and a top end closed by a pierceable wall.
The capsule is closed by a pierceable cap engaged therein and forcing against the
internal faces of the capsule's side walls. The bottle is closed by a plug provided
with an inwardly protruding pointed peg for piercing the cap and the pierceable wall
until engaging with the tube. When opening the bottle by removing the plug, the peg
frees the top end of the tube through which the liquid contained in the bottle can
flow and mix with the substance contained in the capsule.
[0009] Other characteristics and advantages of the dispenser according to the invention
will be made clearer in the following description of one of its possible embodiments,
given as an example, but not limitative with reference to the attached drawings, in
which:
- Figure 1 shows a cut-away view of the dispenser according to the invention applied
to the neck of a bottle;
- Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the dispenser of figure 1 before application into
the bottle;
- Figure 3 shows an elevated side view of one possible embodiment of the capsule of
the dispenser according to the invention.
[0010] With reference to figures 1 and 2, a dispenser for liquid substances applied to the
neck 1a of a bottle 1 comprises a substantially cylindrical capsule 2 able to be inserted
by pressure into the neck 1a. The capsule 2 has a bottom wall 3 and an inner tube
4 extending coaxially to the capsule 2, with an open bottom end 5 and a top end closed
by a pierceable wall 6. The capsule 2 is closed by a pierceable cap 7 engaged therein
and forcing against the internal faces of the capsule's side walls. The capsule 2
has an upper edge protruding outwards so as to abut against the edge of the neck 1a.
[0011] The bottle 1 is closed by a plug 9 which screws onto the neck 1a and has an internally
protruding pointed peg 10.
[0012] According to the invention the capsule 2 is filled with a liquid substance 11 to
be mixed with the contents 12 of the bottle 1 at the time of pouring by the user.
The capsule 2, filled with the substance 11 and closed with the cap 7, is inserted
in the neck 1a of the bottle 1. The bottle is closed with the plug 9 the peg of which
10 pierces first the cap 7 and then the wall 6 until engaging with the tube 4 thus
preventing the substance 11 from mixing with the contents 12 of the bottle. At the
time of pouring the contents of the bottle, the plug is removed from the neck 1a freeing
the tube 4 from the peg 10. The contents 12 of the bottle flow through the opening
5 into the tube 4 and through the hole 6a of wall 6. Before leaving the bottle through
the hole 7a produced in the cap 7 by the peg 10, the contents 12 mix with the liquid
substance 11, contained in the capsule 2, also flowing towards the hole 7a.
[0013] In this way the contents 12 of the bottle 1 and the substance 11 are kept separate
until the time of use avoiding the above described inconveniences. The dosage of the
substance 11 which mixes with the contents 12 of the bottle is regulated as a function
of the distance between the capsule 2 and the upper end of the tube 4 and depends
also on the density of the substance 11 as well as on the concentration which it must
have in the resulting liquid. Once pouring is terminated by closing the plug 9 onto
the neck 1a the peg 10 is inserted into the holes 7a and 6a and therefore the liquids
remain separated.
[0014] The walls of the capsule 2 which engage in the neck 1a are advantageously tapered
to assure a sufficient pressure which creates a seal and will not allow the capsule
2 to come off the neck of the bottle during its use.
[0015] With reference to figure 3, according to a different embodiment of the capsule 2,
on its external walls circumferential bands 13 are provided for, in order to improve
the seal with the walls of the bottle neck and to provide greater pressure against
the walls.
[0016] Alternatively, the cap 7 and the capsule 2 can be made as a single piece whenever
for constructive needs this is more convenient.
1. Liquid substances (11) dispenser for a bottle (1) or similar container, characterized
in that it comprises a substantially cylindrical capsule (2) which can engage with
the neck (1a) of said bottle (1) and closed below a bottom (3) from which extends
a tube (4) which has a bottom wall (3) from which extends an inner tube (4) coaxially
to the capsule (2) with an open bottom end (5) and a top end closed by a pierceable
wall (6), said capsule (2) being filled with said substance (11) and closed by a pierceable
cap (7) engaged therein and forcing against the internal faces of the capsule's side
walls, a pointed peg (10) being provided internally protruding from a plug (9) closing
said bottle (1) able to pierce said cap (7) and said pierceable wall (6) until engaging
with said tube (4), whereby with the removal of said plug (9) said peg (10) frees
the top end of said tube (4) through which the contents (12) of the bottle can flow
and be poured while mixing with the substance (11) contained in said capsule (2).
2. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said capsule (2) has an upper edge (8) protruding
outwards to sealingly abut against the edge of the neck (1a) of said bottle (1).
3. Dispenser according to claims 1 and 2, wherein said capsule (2) has external sidewalls
with protruding circumferential bands (13) for sealing with the internal walls of
the neck (1a) of said bottle (1).
