Apparatus for opening a container and for dispensing a substance in a liquid beverage

Abstract

An apparatus for opening a container and for dispensing a substance in a liquid beverage contained in a container includes a flat portion defining a wedge-shaped cut-out, side portions that extend downwardly from the flat portion, and an opening lever attached to the flat portion. The opening lever may include a receptacle containing the substance to be dispensed, a burstable material covering one end of the opening lever, and a plunger attached at an opposite end of the opening lever. The plunger is pushed to compress the substance and break the burstable material to dispense the substance. Otherwise, the opening lever contains no receptacle and is used simply to open the pour panel formed in the top of the container or a tearable receptacle is attached to an underside of the flat portion at a position corresponding to the cut-out so that the opening lever tears open the receptacle and releases the substance contained therein. The opening lever has a pointed end and may extend past the edge of the container, or the opening lever may be formed so as to be displaced a predetermined distance from the surface of the cap at a lifting end to form a gap to accommodate a fingertip. The opening lever may be slidingly attached to the container cap or may be directly attached to the top of the container itself.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.