Patent Application
20070199954
The present invention relates in general to dispensing containers that include a container body, a closure connected into an outlet of the container body, and a closing cap assembled to the closure. More specifically, the present invention relates to a dispensing container that is constructed and arranged to separately contain two flowable products and to separately dispensing those two flowable products, although concurrently, so that the two flowable products are allowed to mix only after being dispensed (i.e., co-dispensing). Structural features and relationships disclosed by various embodiments of the present invention enable the two flowable products to be co-dispensed in a particular ratio. Some of the needs for this type of proportionate dispensing are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,103, issued Jul. 7, 1987 to Dirksing.
As stated in the '103 patent, many chemical systems require two or more components to be kept separate before they are mixed and used in order to achieve certain desired properties. Such systems include epoxy adhesives, detergent and bleach combinations, detergent and fabric softener combinations, beverages, and foodstuffs, to list some of the possibilities. In such systems, it is usually important for the relative proportions of the components to remain within certain limits to achieve optimal results. In the preferred embodiment, the two products are a clear coat material and a lacquer thinner. These two products need to be mixed in order to achieve the desired viscosity for use in a spray paint gun or equipment.
When different amounts of such multi-component systems are needed, it has been generally necessary to first weigh-measure or volume-measure the components separately and then mix them by hand. In addition to being time consuming and messy, such systems are impractical because weighing or measuring devices are typically not available at the place where such multi-component systems are to be applied. Few households, for example, have measuring devices that permit proper proportioning of components in small quantities, and estimating proportions by eye is not only difficult, but risks failure in achieving the proper proportions and the corresponding optimal characteristics of the chemical system.
Related benefits of the disclosed embodiment of the present invention include the ability to provide everything in a single package and the elimination of any particular skill level to be able to measure out the two products in the right ratio. From a marketing perspective, the two-product combination in a single package ensures that both products will be purchased from the same manufacturer. When one of the two products is a common composition and not proprietary, it could be obtained from other sources, but for this two-product, pre-packaged combination.
There have been many attempts to provide plural-chambered dispensing devices that co-dispense two or more flowable products. However, in trying to maintain a constant pouring or dispensing ratio between the poured products, most of these devices require complex and expensive features which make the devices difficult and impractical to manufacture. In addition, the particular structures of these devices usually do not provide the degree of metering accuracy necessary for certain co-dispensing applications.
The '103 patent elected to address this design challenge by first placing an inner container within an outer container for the two flowable products and then placing a third, empty container inside of the inner container. The intent was to try and use the empty container to affect the pouring characteristics of the inner container in the same way that the inner container would presumably affect the pouring characteristics of the outer container.
In addition to the obvious inefficiencies of fabricating and installing a third, empty container, its size causes an increase in the overall size of the inner container and/or a reduction of the volume of product contained therein. As the inner container increases in size, so as to handle the desired volume of product, the outer container must correspondingly increase in size.
The present invention approaches this challenge of precisely and reliably co-dispensing two flowable products by focusing on the design of the container closure and on the design of any cooperating venting structures. This approach is considered to be more controllable with more accurate co-dispensing. This approach also permits greater design versatility in that different closure characteristics can be used to influence the proportions of the two flowable products without needing to change the size or shape of the inner and outer containers, but a change to the containers can be made, if desired. In one embodiment of the present invention, merely changing the fitment in terms of the inner and outer dispensing outlets allows the dispensing ratio to be changed in that the product dispensing ratio is dependent on the cross sectional flow area of the two concentric flowable product dispensing outlets defined by the fitment. When the inner dispensing outlet receives an extendable spout, as in the preferred embodiment, the spout cross sectional flow area determines the flow rate of the product from the inner container.
As will be described herein and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the present invention, as disclosed and claimed, provides a novel and unobvious advance in the state of the art for dispensing containers.
A dispensing container for two flowable products, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises a first container constructed and arranged for receiving a first flowable product, the first container including a first dispensing outlet and defining a hollow interior, a second container constructed and arranged for receiving a second flowable product, the second container including a second dispensing outlet and being positioned within the hollow interior, a fitment assembled into the first dispensing outlet and including a threaded connection for connecting to the second dispensing outlet, the fitment defining an interior outlet for dispensing the second flowable product and an outer outlet for dispensing the first flowable product, an adapter sleeve assembled to the fitment, a hollow dispensing spout inserted into the inner container and axially-extending through the inner outlet, the hollow dispensing spout defining an open outlet, and a threaded closing cap constructed and arranged to connect to the adapter sleeve, the threaded closing cap including a plug portion constructed and arranged for closing off the open outlet of the dispensing spout.
One object of the present invention is to provide an improved dispensing container for two flowable products.
Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
Referring to
Since a flexible, blow-molded container has been selected to describe the preferred embodiment of container 22, its installation into container 21 is performed before panel 21a is tightly seamed to the four sidewalls to complete container 21. While a vent structure is not included as a part of the preferred embodiment, a vent structure can be added to prevent glugging.
Container 22 defines an outlet 24 with an outlet opening 24a. In the preferred embodiment, outlet 24 involves an externally threaded neck that threadedly engages a portion of the closure that is used in combination with container 21 and 22 to create dispensing container 20. The positioning of container 22 within container 21 is such that opening 24a is aligned with opening 23a and, more specifically, these two openings are generally concentric with one another (see
As noted, if a collapsible plastic bag or collapsible plastic pouch is used for container 22, it is anticipated that its size (mass) can be collapsed onto itself to reduce its size so that it can be inserted through outlet 23 into the hollow interior 21b of container 21. This means that container 21 can be completely fabricated prior to insertion of container 22. The fitment 30 includes an inner fitment outlet 36 and an outer fitment outlet 37 that concentrically surrounds outlet 36. Outlet 36 defines a generally cylindrical opening. Outlet 37 defines an interior opening for flow from container 22. The inner fitment outlet 36 connects to the outlet 24 of inner container 22 for the dispensing of product B from container 22. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner fitment outlet 36 is internally threaded and outlet 24, which forms the extended neck of container 22, is externally threaded for the threaded assembly or engagement into fitment outlet 36. This threaded connection of outlets is made prior to insertion of inner container 22 into container 21. Even if a collapsible plastic bag or pouch is selected for container 22 in lieu of a more rigid container, it is still necessary to connect the opening or outlet of container 22 to the outlet of fitment 30 and this connection or assembly would preferably be performed prior to insertion of the container 22 into container 21. It will also be noted under this procedure that the fitment will effectively be concurrently snapped into outlet 23 as container 22 is being installed.
When a flexible, blow-molded construction is selected for container 22, such that it must be installed into container 21 before panel 21a is seamed into place, the inner container 22 can be threaded into the fitment outlet 36 after fitment 30 snaps into outlet 23. Then, this subassembly of panel 21a, fitment 30, and container 22 is assembled to and into what becomes container 21. This final assembly step involves tightly seaming panel 21a to the four sidewalls of container 21.
Referring to
Fitment outlet 36 is shouldered with an internally-threaded larger portion 45 and a smaller, concentric sleeve portion 46. Portion 45 receives the externally-threaded outlet 24 of container 22 with threaded engagement. Portion 46 receives dispensing outlet 32 with a close, sliding fit. Included as part of base 39 is a vent tube 47 that extends away from base 39 into the hollow interior 21b of container 21. Fitment outlet 37 is defined by an annular wall that is constructed and arranged with a semi-cylindrical recess 50 that cooperates with vent tube 47 to provide a path into container 21 for venting air from the atmosphere. The outer annular wall 38 defines a recessed annular groove 48 adjacent the radial flange 40. Groove 48 receives the annular lip 49 of top panel 21a with a tight, snap-in interference fit (see
The concentric arrangement between the inner fitment outlet 36 and outer fitment outlet 37 is created and maintained by the use of three radially-extending, connecting webs 51. Webs 51 are equally-spaced apart from each other similar to three spokes radiating outwardly from a hub and these webs provide the only connection of the inner fitment outlet 36 to the remainder of fitment 30. The dispensing flow of product A out of container 21 flows past these three connecting webs and through the annular clearance space 42. The dispensing flow of product B out of container 22 flows through spout 32. In terms of the product A to product B mixing ratio, this is determined by the respective cross sectional flow areas of the two dispensing flows. The cross sectional area of annular clearance space 42 compared to the smaller cross sectional area of spout 32 determines the mixing ratio of product A to product B. Given the various dimensions that can be changed without a need to change either container, virtually any mixing ratio can be selected without needing to change, replace, or redesign either container 21 or container 22. For example, simply increasing the wall thickness of spout 32 without changing the outside diameter will reduce the flow of product B and increase the product A to product B ratio. In the preferred embodiment, these respective cross sectional areas are set for a 2:1 mix ratio of product A (container 21) to product B (container 22). However, virtually any ratio from 1:1 up to 5:1 is realistic for the disclosed construction. As the ratio approaches 1:1, the container volumes approach equality. As the ratio approaches 5:1, the inner container 22 gets proportionally smaller as the open volume of container 21 gets larger.
Assuming a desired 2:1 mixing ratio, hypothetical representative dimensions for outlets 36 and 37 and dispensing spout 32 could include an inside diameter of outlet 37 of one inch, a spout 32 wall thickness of 0.104 inches, and a spout inside diameter of 0.50 inches. This sample calculation ignores any effect in terms of a reduced cross sectional flow area due to webs 51 and extension member 61. Assuming these dimensions, the flow area of spout 32 is approximately 0.196 square inches. The annular ring flow area of outlet 37 is approximately 0.394 square inches, roughly twice the flow area of the spout.
Referring now to
The outer surface 54a of annular wall 54 is formed with a series of corrugations or raised ribs 55 and the inside surface 38a of outer annular wall 38 is formed with a mutually engaging series of corrugations or raised ribs 56. Since the alternating raised and recessed portions of ribs 55 and 56 are relatively shallow, the adapter sleeve 31 is assembled into fitment 30 with a push-on, snap-in fit. The radial flange 53 abuts up against an upwardly extended, annular portion 57 of outer annular wall 38. The abutment of flange 53 against portion 57 limits the axial travel of adapter sleeve 31 into fitment 30.
It should be understood that adapter sleeve 31 is intended to be an extension of fitment 30 in terms of its overall design and function. The reason to separate these two components so as to separately injection mold fitment 30 and separately injection mold adapter sleeve 31 is simply for the ability to mold all of the required shapes and features. Considering the overall construction and geometry of these two components once they are snapped into a secure subassembly, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the injection molding art the difficulties and complexities of trying to create this two component combination as a single, unitary part.
Referring now to
The dispensing spout 32 includes a radial lip 64 at the lower end of the spout body 63. As spout 32 is extended, the radial lip 64 is drawn upwardly toward shoulder 65 that defines the radial shelf between larger portion 45 and smaller portion 46. The sizes, shapes, and dimensions of radial lip 64 and shoulder 65 are such that the dispensing spout 32 cannot pull out of outlet 24 nor fitment outlet 36. The upper portion of the spout body 63 includes a radially outwardly extending annular rib 66 and axially spaced therefrom a radially inwardly extending annular rib 67. In the non-extended or fully nested or seated orientation of spout 32, rib 66 rests on the upper edge 68 of smaller portion 46. This abutment prevents the spout 32 from being pushed any farther into container 22 or any farther through inner fitment outlet 36. As such, this abutment sets the fully inserted depth of spout 32. When the spout 32 is extended, its maximum extension or extended length is controlled or set by the abutment of radial lip 64 with shoulder 65. The upper rib 66 is used for a connection with the threaded cap 33 so that, as the threaded cap is unscrewed from the adapter sleeve 31 and moves axially away from top panel 21a, the cap 33 pulls upwardly on spout 32, extending the spout for dispensing product B from within container 22.
Referring to
The threaded construction of sidewall 72 is designed for tight and secure threaded engagement onto the sidewall 52 of adapter sleeve 31. As this threaded engagement occurs, annular lip 73 is axially moved toward the radial flange 53. At the same time, the upper edge of sidewall 52 is positioned in the annular clearance space defined by sidewall 72, intermediate annular wall 77, and top panel 75. Intermediate annular wall 77 includes a raised annular rib 80 that seals against the inside surface of sidewall 52. As the threaded cap 33 is threadedly advanced onto sidewall 52 of adapter sleeve 31, tubular sleeve 76 inserts into the upper open end of dispensing spout 32. The tubular sleeve 76 includes a raised annular rib 81 that snaps beneath annular rib 67 on the inside surface of the spout 32. The interfit of ribs 81 and 67 causes spout 32 to be extended as the threaded cap 33 is unscrewed from adapter sleeve 31. Once radial lip 64 abuts up against shoulder 65, that stops the movement of the extending spout 32. At the point of lip 64 to shoulder 65 abutment, the threaded cap 33 has been completely unthreaded from the adapter sleeve 31, allowing the cap 33 to be manually pulled free from the fully extended spout 32, thereby opening the end of the extended spout 32 for the dispensing of product B from within container 22.
In use, the fitment 30 is connected to the inner container 22 and pushed into top panel 21a with a secure and tight snap-fit. This subassembly occurs before panel 21a is seamed to the remainder of container 21 when the construction of container 22 does not permit it to be collapsed and inserted through outlet opening 23a. Preferably, the container 22 is filled with the desired volume of product B after the container 22 is installed into container 21. If a plastic bag or plastic pouch is used for container 22, the threaded neck outlet can be changed to a different securement technique. With this approach, the container 22 and fitment 30 comprise a first subassembly that is able to be snapped into container 21 as a subassembly. The adapter sleeve 31 can be preassembled to fitment 30 with either assembly sequence. The dispensing spout 32 first slides up into fitment outlet 36 and is then inserted into container 22.
Once products A and B are filled into their respective containers, the threaded cap is applied and the filled containers 21 and 22 are closed. All of the interfaces that might allow product leakage are tightly sealed and the two products A and B are separated and remain isolated from each other regardless of the movement or handling of the dispensing container 20.
When it is desired to dispense products A and B in the predetermined mixing ratio, threaded cap 33 is removed and this causes the extension of spout 32. Then, with cap 33 removed from the adapter sleeve 31 and from the end of spout 32, the flow paths for products A and B are open. Product A is dispensed from container 21 by way of annular clearance space 42. Product B is dispensed from container 22 by way of outlet 24, specifically spout 32. The extended nature of spout 32 ensures that there is no premixing of products A and B until they actually empty into the desired mixing container or receptacle.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
