Measurement and dispensing unit

An apparatus for dispensing a measured amount of a flowable substance, comprising:

• a container defining a storage reservoir for receiving and holding a volume of the flowable substance;
• and
• a disposable dispensing unit in fluid communication with the container, said dispensing unit having a dispensing chamber capable of holding the measured amount of the substance, wherein the dispensing chamber is defined in part by a generally cup-shaped housing having a cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall, the dispensing unit including:
• means defining an opening to the outside of the dispensing unit;
• cap means for removably covering the opening;
• and
• an open sleeve extending through an opening in the bottom wall and defining a flow path for the substance to flow from the storage reservoir to the dispensing chamber and for allowing air displaced from the dispensing chamber by the substance to vent from the dispensing chamber into the storage reservoir, said sleeve having a measurement end disposed within the dispensing chamber at a position relative to the side wall to determine the measured amount, wherein said dispensing unit is removable from the container while holding the measure amount;
• and
• means for movably positioning said sleeve relative to said side wall, at least a portion of the sleeve having a foldable, accordion-like structure.

A dispensing unit for dispensing a selected measured amount of a flowable substance from a storage compartment within a container attached to the unit, said dispensing unit comprising:

• a generally cup-shaped housing defining a dispensing chamber capable of holding the measured amount of the substance, the cup-shaped housing having a cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall, said dispensing unit including:
• means defining an opening to the outside of the housing;
• conduit means having an upper open measurement end extending into the dispensing chamber and defining an open flow path in fluid communication between the dispensing chamber and the storage compartment, whereby the substance can flow from said storage compartment to said dispensing chamber via said flow path upon inversion of the unit and container attached thereto, and air displaced from the dispensing chamber by the substance can escape from the dispensing chamber into the storage compartment via said flow path, the position of the measurement end relative to the side wall being variable and determining the selected measured amount upon return of the unit to an upright position;
• attachment means for removably attaching the dispensing unit to the container;
• and
• cap means for removably covering the opening to the outside of the housing, said cap means including sealing means for sealing engagement with the measurement end of the conduit means when said cap means closed the opening;
• said cap means including a hollow, open-ended cylindrical sleeve adapted for holding a straw in a manner permitting one to drink said measured amount from said dispensing chamber using said straw.

A dispensing unit for dispensing a selected measured amount of a flowable substance from a storage compartment within a container attached to the unit, said dispensing unit comprising:

• a generally cup-shaped housing defining a dispensing chamber capable of holding the measured amount of the substance, the cup-shaped housing having a cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall, said dispensing unit including:
• means defining an opening to the outside of the housing;
• conduit means having an upper open measurement end extending into the dispensing chamber and defining an open flow path in fluid communication between the dispensing chamber and the storage compartment, whereby the substance can flow from said storage compartment to said dispensing chamber via said flow path upon inversion of the unit and container attached thereto, and air displaced from the dispensing chamber by the substance can escape from the dispensing chamber into the storage compartment via said flow path, the position of the measurement end relative to the side wall being variable and determining the selected measured amount upon return of the unit to an upright position;
• attachment means for removably attaching the dispensing unit to the container;
• and
• cap means for removably covering the opening to the outside of the housing, said cap means including sealing means for sealing engagement with the measurement end of the conduit means when said cap means closes the opening;
• said side wall including a foldable wall portion movable between an extended position and a collapsed position folded upon itself, and further wherein said conduit means is movably supported relative to said side wall.

An apparatus for dispensing a measured amount of a flowable substance, comprising:

• a container defining a storage reservoir for receiving and holding a volume of the flowable substance;
• and
• a dispensing unit in fluid communication with the container, said dispensing unit having a dispensing chamber capable of holding the measured amount of the substance, wherein the dispensing chamber is defined in part by a generally cup-shaped housing having a cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall, the dispensing unit including:
• means defining an opening to the outside of the dispensing unit;
• cap means for removably covering the opening;
• a drinking straw carried by said cap means and extending into said dispensing chamber when said cap means covers the opening, said straw having a first end disposed generally adjacent to said bottom wall when said cap means covers the opening and a second end disposed outside the dispensing chamber;
• and
• an open sleeve extending through an opening in the bottom wall and defining a flow path for the substance to flow from the storage reservoir to the dispensing chamber and for allowing air displaced from the dispensing chamber by the substance to vent from the dispensing chamber into the storage reservoir, said sleeve having a measurement end disposed within the dispensing chamber at a position relative to the side wall to determine the measured amount.

A dispensing unit for dispensing a selected measured amount of a flowable substance from a storage compartment within a container attached to the unit, said dispensing unit comprising:

• a generally cup-shaped housing defining a dispensing chamber capable of holding the measured amount of the substance, the cup-shaped housing having a cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall, said dispensing unit including:
• means defining an opening to the outside of the housing;
• conduit means having an upper open measurement end extending into the dispensing chamber and defining an open flow path in fluid communication between the dispensing chamber and the storage compartment, whereby the substance can flow from said storage compartment to said dispensing chamber via said flow path upon inversion of the unit and container attached thereto, and air displaced from the dispensing chamber by the substance can escape from the dispensing chamber into the storage compartment via said flow path, the position of the measurement end relative to the side wall being variable and determining the selected measured amount upon return of the unit to an upright position;
• attachment means for removably attaching the dispensing unit to the container;
• and
• cap means for removably covering the opening to the outside of the housing, said cap means including a drinking straw to permit drinking of said measured amount from said dispensing chamber using said straw.