The present invention relates in general to two compartment containers and in particular to a two-compartment container, each compartment holding a separate component to be mixed with one another by the end user prior to use.
A variety of formulations for human use, such as various nutritive formulas, including baby formula, dietetic powders and a variety of drugs, are known to have a limited shelf life, which is the result of the active ingredient in the formula losing its activity due to accelerated oxidation and/or hydrolysis once this active ingredient is mixed with a liquid. The formulation can also be more susceptible to micro-organism contamination. This disadvantage of prepared formulations creates the need to keep the ingredients separate and prepare the formulation just prior to use.
Containers having separate compartments for storing two components which are mixed together prior to use are known. A major problem with these known designs is the seal of the internal partition, which may not completely separate the two ingredients, so that liquid leaks or liquid fumes may cross the partition and cause partial mixture a long time before use. There is, therefore, a need for two-compartment containers with robust, durable and reliable separation.
There is provided, according to the invention, a two-compartment container for separately storing two components, mixing the components and dispensing a formulation formed by mixing the two components, the container including (a) a housing having an opening at each of its top and bottom ends and a sealing wall located between the top and bottom ends which divides the housing into two separate compartments; (b) at least one connecting member extending between the sealing wall and an inner wall of the housing defining at least one opening for flow communication between the connecting member and the housing; (c) a substantially hollow displaceable member having a sealable sleeve, the displaceable member being disposed in the housing; (d) wherein the displaceable member is axially displaceable between a first position where the sealing sleeve sealingly engages the sealing wall forming a seal which divides the housing and the displaceable member into two separate fluid-tight compartments, and a second position where the sleeve and the sealing wall are disengaged, providing flow communication between the compartments.
According to one embodiment, the displaceable member further includes a frangible seal for sealing a component inside a compartment defined by the displaceable member, the frangible seal being coupled to the sealing wall for breaking by the sealing wall during displacement of the displaceable member.
According to another embodiment, a wall of the displaceable member includes a chamfered edge serving as cutting blade for cutting a portion of the sealing wall.
There is also provided according to the invention, a two-compartment container for separately storing two components, mixing the components and dispensing a formulation formed by mixing the two components, the container including: (a) a housing having an opening at each of its top and bottom ends and a U-shaped extension extending inwardly from a wall of the housing; wherein an innermost wall of the U-shaped extension is chamfered to define a cutting blade; (b) a substantially hollow displaceable member having a sealing wall at its bottom end which divides the container into two separate compartments, the displaceable member being disposed in the housing; (c) wherein the displaceable member is axially displaceable between a first position where the sealing wall sealingly engages the housing forming a seal which divides the housing and the displaceable member into two separate fluid-tight compartments, and a second position where the cutting blade cuts the sealing wall, thereby providing flow communication between the compartments.
There is further provided, according to the invention, a two-compartment container for separately storing two components, mixing the components and dispensing a formulation formed by mixing the two components, the container including: (a) a housing having an opening at each of its top and bottom ends and an annular flange dividing the housing into two compartments; (b) a displaceable member disposed in the housing, the displaceable member including a shaft supporting a disk-like sealing wall having an upstanding flange complementary to and adapted to sealingly engage flange in housing; (c) wherein the displaceable member is axially displaceable between a first position where the sealing wall flange seals against the flange of the housing forming a seal which divides the housing and the displaceable member into two separate fluid-tight compartments, and a second position where the shaft of the displaceable member is pushed into the housing, causing disengagement of the sealing wall flange and the housing flange, thereby permitting flow communication between the two compartments.
a is a schematic sectional view of a two-compartment container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in a sealing orientation;
b is a sectional view of a displaceable member in the two-compartment container of
c is a sectional view of a displaceable member in the two-compartment container of
d is a schematic sectional view of the two-compartment container of
e is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the two-compartment container and the frangible seal of
f is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the two-compartment container and displaceable member of
g is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the two-compartment container and displaceable member of
h is an enlarged sectional view of portion of the frangible seal of
a is a schematic sectional view of a two-compartment container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in a sealing orientation;
b is a sectional view of a displaceable member in the two-compartment container of
c is a schematic sectional view of the two-compartment container of
d is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the two-compartment container and the displaceable member of
e is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the two-compartment container and the displaceable member of
f is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the two-compartment container and the displaceable member of
a is a schematic sectional view of a two-compartment container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in a sealing orientation;
b is a sectional view of a displaceable member in the two-compartment container of
c is a schematic sectional view of the two-compartment container of
a is a schematic sectional view of a two-compartment container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in a sealing orientation;
b is a schematic sectional view of the two-compartment container of
c is a sectional view of a displaceable member in the two-compartment container of
d is a sectional view of a displaceable member in the two-compartment container of
e is a schematic sectional view of the two-compartment container of
f is a schematic sectional view of the two-compartment container of
g is a sectional view of a displaceable member in the two-compartment container of
h is a schematic sectional view of the two-compartment container of
i is a schematic sectional view of the two-compartment container of
j is a sectional view of a displaceable member in the two-compartment container of
a is a schematic sectional view of a two-compartment container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in a sealing orientation;
b is a schematic sectional view of the two-compartment container of
c is a sectional view of a displaceable member in the two-compartment container of
d is a sectional view of a displaceable member in the two-compartment container of
a is a schematic sectional view of a two-compartment container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in a sealing orientation;
b is a schematic sectional view of the two-compartment container of
a is a schematic sectional view of a two-compartment container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in a sealing orientation;
b is a schematic sectional view of the two-compartment container of
a is a schematic sectional view of a two-compartment container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in a sealing orientation;
b is a schematic sectional view of the two-compartment container of
a is a schematic sectional view of a two-compartment container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in a sealing orientation;
b is a schematic sectional view of the two-compartment container of
a is a schematic sectional view of a two-compartment container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in a sealing orientation;
b is a schematic sectional view of the two-compartment container of
a is a schematic sectional view of a two-compartment container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in a sealing orientation;
b is a schematic sectional view of the two-compartment container of
a is a schematic sectional view of a two-compartment container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in a sealing orientation;
b is a schematic sectional view of the two-compartment container of
a is a schematic sectional view of a two-compartment container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in a sealing orientation;
b is a schematic sectional view of the two-compartment container of
The present invention relates to a novel two-compartment container for storing components of a mixture until ready for mixing, just prior to use, providing, during the mixing state, an increased contact between the components in the different compartments for more rapid and thorough mixing. This is accomplished by providing a housing having a sealing wall coupled to side walls of the housing and surrounded by a plurality of wall openings, and a substantially hollow displaceable member adapted for sealable insertion into the housing and for selective sealing by the sealing wall to form a first compartment in the housing and a second compartment in the displaceable member.
The below described embodiments relate to containers of the present invention, for example, baby feeding bottles, having two compartments, one containing a powdered material, such as baby formula, and the other containing a fluid, for example water. The following description is provided to illustrate various specific configurations and examples and the invention should not be regarded as being limited to these embodiments. The features of the invention may also be used for different uses, e.g. two or more compartment containers for medicinal formulations, dietary powders to be reconstituted with a liquid, alcoholic beverages to form cocktails with other ingredients, wherein one compartment contains one component and the other compartment contains another different component to be mixed to form a formulation.
While the container of the present invention is generally described as holding a dry powder component and a liquid component, the two components may be both liquids, both fluids, one may be a liquid (or a fluid) and the other may be a dry formulation or both may be dry formulas. In describing the invention the substances stored in the container have been described using the terms, “components”, “constituents”, “materials”, “substances” and the like, interchangeably.
A two-compartment container 10 for dispensing a liquid in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown in
The container holds a hollow displaceable member generally designated 30 and shown in cross section in
The displaceable member 30 may be sealed at its bottom end 36 (opposite sealable aperture 34) or may further include a fillable and sealable aperture through which materials can be added to the displaceable member and the contents of the container can be dispensed. Connecting stems 22 are arranged so as to provided openings 38 in flow communication with aperture 34 in a non-sealing orientation of the container to form a passageway or conduit from compartment 20 in housing 12 to compartment 18 in displaceable member 30, so that materials can flow and mix between the interior of housing and the interior of displaceable member.
a illustrates the two-compartment container 10 in a sealing orientation, wherein there is no flow communication between the interior of housing 12 and the displaceable member 30. Displaceable member 30 can be filled with a component to be mixed with a component in housing 12. Displaceable member 30 is then sealingly mounted in housing 12, such that screw threads 31 on the displaceable member rotatably engage screw threads 35 on the stems or alternatively on the annular flange. As further illustrated in
When it is desired to combine the two components, generally just prior to dispensing, displaceable sleeve 32 in displaceable member 30 is displaced away from sealing wall 16, as shown in
A two-compartment container 40 for dispensing a liquid in accordance with another embodiment of the invention is shown in
A substantially hollow displaceable member 54 is provided with external screw threads 55 for mounting displaceable member 54 in housing 42, by threadably engaging complementary threads 52 on the internal surface of housing 42. The displaceable member 54 includes a sealable top end opening 56 and may include a bottom end sealable opening 58 or a bottom seal. Displaceable member 54 is adapted and configured for sealing engagement of its top end opening 56 with sealing wall 46 in housing 42, as well as for sealing displacement through housing 42. The displaceable member 54 has an annular user manipulable portion 57 for axially displacing the displaceable member 54 between the sealed position and the unsealed position and vice versa.
Side wall openings 49 (seen in
Another embodiment of the two-compartment container of the present invention is shown in
The container holds a hollow displaceable member generally designated 80 and shown in cross section in
The displaceable member 80 also has an annular user manipulable portion 88 for axially displacing the displaceable member 80 between the sealed position and the unsealed position and vice versa. Manipulable portion 88, in this embodiment, also includes internal screw threads 89 to permit displaceable member 80 to be coupled to another two-compartment container or a conventional container or to permit screw coupling of a closure member.
As can be seen in
It will be appreciated that the axial displacement of displaceable member 80 can be achieved by rotating manipulable portion 88, when the displaceable member and the housing are threadably engaged, or by pulling manipulable portion 88 when the portion of engagement of the displaceable sleeve and the housing are not threaded and they are frictionally engaged. Alternatively, displaceable member 80 can be axially displaced between the sealed position and the unsealed position and from the unsealed position back to the sealed position, in any other suitable manner, e.g., by turning clockwise or counter clockwise, or pulling or pushing manipulable portion 88. As stated above, side wall openings 83 provide spaces that allow compartment 68 to communicate with the internal environment of displaceable member 80 when the displaceable sleeve 82 is in the unsealed position.
Another embodiment of the two-compartment container of the present invention is shown in
A substantially hollow displaceable member 104 is provided with a displaceable sleeve 106 having external screw threads 108 for sealingly mounting displaceable member 104 in housing 92, by threadably engaging complementary threads 110 on flange 112. The displaceable member 104 includes a sealable top end opening 114 and may include a bottom end sealable opening 116 or a bottom seal 124. Displaceable member 104 is adapted and configured for sealing engagement of its top end opening 114 with sealing wall 96 in housing 92, as well as for sealing displacement through housing 92 so as to prevent leaks through open bottom end 95 of housing 92. For that purpose, displaceable member further includes an external annular sealing element 120 for sealing engagement with the inner wall of housing 92. It will be appreciated that sealing member 102 also provides for sealing displacement of displaceable member 104 through housing 92, by sealing engaging the external wall of the displaceable member. The displaceable member 104 also has an annular user manipulable portion 118 for axially displacing the displaceable member 104 between the sealed position and the unsealed position and vice versa.
As illustrated in
Supporting arms 98 are arranged so as to provide openings 130 which communicate with opening 114 in the non-sealing orientation so that a passageway or conduit is formed through displaceable member 104 and openings 130 to permit materials to pass between compartment 128 in housing 92 and compartment 126 in displaceable member 104.
As can be seen in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In
a is substantially the same as
a is substantially the same as
a, 9b, 10a and 10b show a container 300′ according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. Container 300 has a housing 302 with a sealing wall 303 and a displaceable member 304 which may be open or closed at the top 306 (
a and 11b show a container 300′ according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, substantially similar to
a and 13b show a container 400 according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, an annular U-shaped extension 412 is provided extending inwardly from the wall of the housing 410. The innermost wall of U-shaped extension 414 is chamfered to define a cutting blade 414. A displaceable member 416 is slideably disposed in the housing and includes a sealing wall 418. When the displaceable member is moved inside the housing, the sealing wall abuts the blade 414, cutting the sealing wall 418, which folds into the displaceable member when the sealing wall is cut. It will be appreciated that the cutting blade 414 can be slanted.
a and 14b show a container 500 according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, container 500 includes a housing 502 including an annular flange 504 dividing the housing into two compartments. A displaceable member 510 is disposed in housing 502. Displaceable member 510 includes a shaft 512 supporting a disk-like sealing wall 514 having an upstanding flange 516 complementary to and adapted to sealingly engage flange 504 in housing 502. In the sealed position, shown in
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made. Rather, the invention is limited solely by the claims which follow.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/IL11/00441 | 6/5/2011 | WO | 00 | 12/3/2012 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61350945 | Jun 2010 | US |