DUAL COMPARTMENT CONTAINER

Abstract

A cylindrical vessel comprising a dividing wall extending transversely across the cylindrical vessel separating the vessel into two portions, wherein the wall has sealable apertures therethrough.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a partioned vessel. Specifically, this invention relates to a cylindrical vessel having a transverse dividing wall therein. More particularly, this invention relates to a cylindrical vessel having a dividing wall that can be opened within the vessel whether the vessel itself is opened or closed. By having a vessel with such a novel construction, either separated liquids can be individually provided or a mixed liquid can be provided prior to opening the vessel.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are many multi-sectional containers. Some multi-sectional containers have rupturable internal walls for mixing the separated contents therein. However, none of these have a dividing wall that is controllably openable from outside the container without opening the container. This affords providing either separated liquids or a controlled mixture of the previously separated liquids prior to opening the container.

Accordingly, there is now provided with this invention an improved vessel for providing separated liquids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, an embodiment of a cylindrical vessel is disclosed. The cylindrical vessel comprises a dividing wall extending transversely across the cylindrical vessel separating the vessel into two portions. The wall has sealable apertures therethrough, and the vessel has an openable lid at both ends.

As will be appreciated by those persons skilled in the art, a major advantage provided by the present invention is to provide a vessel having separated compartments that can be provided with communication therebetween. Additional objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

The method and apparatus of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed discussion of specific embodiments and the attached figures which illustrate and exemplify such embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A specific embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away orthogonal view of an embodiment of a vessel showing an embodiment of a dividing wall therein.

FIG. 2 is an orthogonal view of an embodiment of a dividing wall.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of a dividing wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following preferred embodiment as exemplified by the drawings is illustrative of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention as encompassed by the claims of this application. A vessel with a dividing therein apparatus for creating separated portions therein disclosed herein.

The vessel 1, as illustrated generally in FIG. 1, is an orthogonal view revealing a dividing wall 2 therein. The dividing wall may be made of a plurality of materials, for example, metal, plastic, etc. and is preferably made of the same material as the vessel itself. The dividing wall 2 extends transversely across the vessel separating the vessel into two portions, a first portion 4 and a second portion 6. The first and second portions may have the same volume or different volumes depending on the particular manufacturing requirements. Both the first portion and the second portion of the vessel has an openable lid 8 and another openable lid 10 at the ends of the vessel. The openable lids may be of the pop-top type.

The dividing wall 2 includes at least one aperture 12 therethrough. A plurality of apertures may also be provided. The aperture 12 is configured so as to seal or open as controlled by the user. In one embodiment, as specifically shown in FIG. 2, but not to scale, the dividing wall 2 has a first dividing wall section 14 and a second dividing wall section 16. As illustrated, both the first dividing wall section 14 and the second dividing wall section 16 have at least one aperture 12 therethrough. A plurality of apertures may also be provided in each dividing wall section. The first and second dividing wall sections are configured to rotate with respect to each other so that the apertures in each of the dividing wall sections may be placed in alignment or, alternatively, placed out of alignment. When the dividing wall sections are moved toward an alignment position as illustrated in FIG. 2, communication may be achieved between the first and second portions of the vessel to create an open position. When the dividing wall sections are moved away from an alignment position, communication may be prevented between the first and second portions of the vessel to create a closed position.

The dividing wall may have a mating element 18 for mating the first dividing wall section with the second dividing wall section. Such a mating element may be on either side of the dividing wall, be parts of both walls, or be inbetween each of the dividing wall sections. The mating element as shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, may be a circumferential fitting sealably joining the first and second dividing wall sections and may be in the form of male and female elements configured for mating with each other. By having the mating element 18 so configured the first and second dividing wall sections may rotate with respect to each other as indicated by the arrows labeled right and left in FIG. 2.

The amount of rotation may be indicated to the user by indicia 19A and 19B that may be placed on the outer portion of the vessel. Such indicia may be a vertical line that is aligned when the apertures are aligned and is out of alignment when the apertures are out of alignment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the amount of displacement of the alignment of the apertures is demonstrated by the misalignment of the indicia. Alternatively, as understood by those skilled in the art, indicia may be provided that indicates the two portions of the vessel are sealed from each other and any displacement of the indicia from that position indicates that communication between the portions is effected.

In the embodiment specifically shown in FIG. 3, the first dividing wall section 14 has a first mating element 18A and the second dividing wall 16 has a second mating element 18B. Mating elements 18A and 18B extend at least a portion of the circumference of the dividing wall and may extend continually around the entire circumference of the dividing wall. In this embodiment, each dividing wall section 14 and 16 has a corresponding element with the other. The first mating element 18A has a female housing 20A that mates with a male element 22A. The male element 22A extends from the second dividing wall section 16. In a reciprocal manner, the second mating element 18B of the second dividing wall section 16 has a female housing 20B that mates with a male element 22B. The male element 22B extends from the first dividing wall section 14. The dividing wall may also include a stop so that 360° rotation is not possible.

The dividing wall shown in FIG. 3 illustrates one manner of attaching the dividing wall to the wall of the two portions of the vessel. The first and second dividing wall sections 14 and 16 each have a circumferential fitting 24 and 26 that respectively house the wall of the two portions of the vessel 28 and 30. As is well known to those skilled in the art, the connection may be force fit, crimped, or preferably, be connected by welding the first fitting 24 with the vessel wall portion 28 and by welding the second fitting 26 to the other vessel wall portion 30.

Extending about the vessel and connected to the first and second dividing wall sections may be a frictional surface 32 and 34 to facilitate rotation by the user.

In operation, the vessel may be provided with contents sealed in each of its two portions. The contents in each of the portions may be different than one another. A user of the vessel thus filled, may choose to access each portion of the vessel with the contents unmixed by alternately opening each end of the vessel with the openable lids. Alternatively, prior to opening either of the lids, the user may choose first to mix the contents of the vessel. In this case, the user may grip the frictional surfaces 32 and 34 of each portion of the vessel and rotate the two portions with respect to each other thereby moving the dividing wall from its closed, sealed position to an open position in which communication has now been provided between the portions of the vessel through an aperture of the dividing wall. Mixing of the two contents may now be achieved before the vessel itself is opened.

Although the particular embodiments shown and described above will prove to be useful in many applications in the container art to which the present invention pertains, further modifications of the present invention will occur to persons skilled in the art. All such modifications are deemed to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cylindrical vessel comprising a dividing wall extending transversely across the cylindrical vessel separating the vessel into two portions, wherein the wall has sealable apertures therethrough, and the vessel has an openable lid at both ends.

2. The cylindrical vessel of claim 1, wherein the dividing wall comprises a first dividing wall section having a first aperture and a second dividing wall section having a second aperture and wherein the first dividing wall section rotates with respect to the second wall dividing section so that the first aperture is movable between an open position where the first and second apertures are aligned and a closed position where the first and second apertures are not in alignment.

3. The cylindrical vessel of claim 2, wherein the first and second dividing wall sections have a plurality of apertures.

4. The cylindrical vessel of claim 2, wherein the first dividing wall section is connected to one of the two portions of the vessel and the second dividing wall section is connected to the other of the two portions of the vessel.

5. The cylindrical vessel of claim 2, wherein the first dividing wall section is mated with the second dividing wall section.

6. The cylindrical vessel of claim 5, wherein the mating is a circumferential fitting sealably joining the first dividing wall section with the second dividing wall section.

7. The cylindrical vessel of claim 6, wherein the circumferential fitting includes male and female portions extending from each of the dividing wall sections.

8. The cylindrical vessel of claim 1, further comprising a first frictional surface extending around the cylinder and a second frictional surface extending around the cylinder, wherein the first frictional surface is connected to the first dividing wall section and the second frictional surface is connected to the second dividing wall section.

9. The cylindrical vessel of claim 8, further comprising indicia showing if the apertures are sealed.

10. The cylindrical vessel of claim 1, wherein the vessel openable lids are pop-top openings.

11. The cylindrical vessel of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of dividing walls.

12. A cylindrical vessel having a dividing wall therein, wherein the dividing wall comprises a first dividing wall section transversely extending across the cylindrical vessel and a second dividing wall section transversely extending across the cylindrical vessel, wherein the first and second dividing wall sections separate the vessel into two portions and the first and second dividing wall sections have apertures therethrough, and wherein the first and second dividing wall sections are configured to rotate with respect to each other for movement between an open position where the apertures are aligned and a closed position where the apertures are not in alignment.

13. The cylindrical vessel of claim 12, wherein each of the two portions of the vessel have an openable lid.

14. The cylindrical vessel of claim 13, wherein each of the openable lids is a pop-top opening.

15. The cylindrical vessel of claim 12, wherein the first dividing wall section is connected to one of the two portions and the second dividing wall section is connected to the other of the two portions.

16. The cylindrical vessel of claim 12, wherein the first and second dividing wall sections are mated with one another, wherein the mating is a circumferential fitting sealably joining the first dividing wall section with the second dividing wall section.

17. The cylindrical vessel of claim 16, wherein the circumferential fitting includes male and female portions extending from each of the dividing wall sections.

18. The cylindrical vessel of claim 12, further comprising a first frictional surface extending around the cylindrical vessel and a second frictional surface extending around the cylindrical vessel, wherein the first frictional surface is connected to the first portion of the cylindrical vessel and the second frictional surface is connected to the second portion of the cylindrical vessel.

19. The cylindrical vessel of claim 18, further comprising indicia showing if the apertures are sealed.

20. The cylindrical vessel of claim 12, having a plurality of dividing walls.