Patent Application
20080314775
I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to containers which can hold two or more substances, yet keeping them separate without them contacting one another, so as to be able to mix them later at preferred time of use. The present invention relates particularly to a more efficient, unique, two-embodiment design that requires fewer, simpler parts that are easily manufactured, low in cost with easily assembled components of a disposable, recyclable, mass-producible container.
II. Discussion of Prior Art
Containers that keep two or more substances separate for later mixing are known to be used in several industries, for example the medical-pharmaceutical industry, where medicine mixtures must be kept unmixed until time of patient use. In this instance, typically there is a powder medicine that needs to be combined with a liquid medicine. A pharmaceutical container of this purpose is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,875 wherein an internally threaded cap drives down a delivery piston that has a cutting edge designed to pierce a medicine reservoir upon twisting the cap. It is a useful device, but as in many of the medical related containers of this type, it has the serious shortcoming of being able to mix only a small payload of powder in proportion to the total mixture solution.
In the chemical industry, this type container system is used often for hardening resins and the like that react rapidly and must be used immediately once they are mixed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,006 discloses such a two component resin container that has a dividing membrane piece separating two resin substances. The membrane may be pierced by an annular cutter that can be both rotated and pushed into a cutting motion through an external rod attached thereto.
Another functional use for a container of this sort is an infant's bottle, as that in U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,445 where a powder is loaded into a reusable, nipple assembly and baby bottle that may also have the liquid preloaded into it, thus providing a fresh beverage at the time of mixing.
In the mainstream beverage industry, wherein the present invention is not limited to, but for which it is primarily designed, there have been devised, as well, several containers of this sort. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,996 discloses an externally threaded container portion inside which a capsule is inserted. The double-nested cylinder cap has a moveable cutting element mold-nested inside of the cap, the outside molded sleeve part of which has internal threads that mate with the external threads of the container portion.
While the above container is a compact design, an improvement over prior art, and effective in keeping the substances separate and able to be mixed at later time period, this structure has shortcomings. First, it is a difficult mold process to make the double nested sleeve cap. Second, as in nearly all these systems including those discussed above, the ratio or what normally is a powder substance to a liquid substance is low, since the caps are necessarily small in relation to the liquid reservoir into which the powder is mixed. As to function, it being necessary to take the rather large and bulky cap off of the container portion after activating and mixing both substances to drink the mix is inconvenient because it leaves a sharp cutter exposed, adding to possibility of injuring the user, as well as leaving an open cap dripping with the mixture. These factors add to the possibility of staining surroundings and also the inconvenience of disposal of two substantial container pieces.
It is to be noted that US Patent Publication No. 2005/0016875 A1 is a remarkably similar structure to the '996 patent above, differing only in the fact that the cap portion has an additional opening in the top of the internally threaded screw cap, whereby the opening comprises a detachable plate piece. The advantage over 996 is that the large nested cylinder screw cap does not need to be removed, just the secondary cap, after activation and mixing. However, the drinking orifice then leaves a thick rim edge from which the user is to drink and presents an inconvenience to the user. As well, a detachable cover is not easily put back on and off until the drink is consumed and may not be as leak-proof and secure as a traditional screw cap.
One of many novel features of the present invention is to include a simple screw cap opposite the end of that open end of the first chamber. This unique, additional screw cap feature enables the present cap systems of the above two structures to be transformed into a novel, spacious chamber system that allows almost limitless capacity in ratio of the substances the container can manage mixing.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,156,369 discloses a press pierce chamber system, whereby a small cap plate must be broken to gain access to a push-activated cylinder top portion, having a cutting element on its opposite end, that upon pressing slides down a reservoir chamber, or seal member with a breakable bottom, and the cutting element pierces the bottom seal and releases the substance into a second chamber, that comprises a liquid. This system holds little substance capacity and has a serious risk of leakage, as opposed to the present invention. Additionally, it is more complex to manufacture, as well as more complex to activate from a shelf-ready state. It is cited to be representative of most of the limitations of press-activation patented art at present.
A totally non-threaded press-seal system for the beverage industry, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,025,200, describes a container by which downward pressure on a cylindrical portion loaded with a mixture then pierces a powder reservoir bottom. Though compact, and effective in mixing its two substances, this structure has the disadvantage of risk of leaking, since the final press seal is fitted only by pressure and not through the reliable screw cap, a typically more trustworthy sealing means. The push portion of the cylinder breaks off during activation and in order to drink the container's contents and it cannot be put back on in a sturdily leak-proof manner, which is an inconvenience with this container, as well.
One main object of the present invention is to provide a generic two-substance mixing container that can be adapted to function in the above medical, chemical-industrial, cosmetic, and infant formula applications, and most importantly in the beverage industry, in such a way as to alleviate the above shortcomings of the container structures discussed, and introduce new improvements and advantages in the structure, as well.
The second objective is to provide a container that has almost no limitation to the ratio amounts of dry powder payload to liquid substance intended to be mixed. This is important in many of the protein drinks on the market in which the density of the protein powder is low, but the liquid to be combined with it is high in density. This necessitates a proportionately large powder chamber to get for example, a 16 or 20 ounce drink to a proper viscosity. While some structures attempt to provide for this feature, as those found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,647,481, 6.073,803, and in US Publication No. US2002/0020636 A1, most are complicated in their structure, and others are limited to bottle container caps that themselves are too small and restrictive by their closure diameter, and thus their corresponding reservoir or substance chamber cannot function to provide a large powder to liquid volume ratio. Since the present invention uses the girth or diameter on the open ends of the container at the seal mating portion of the container's chambers, rather than the typical small bottle closure orifice or substance filling portion, the chamber can be quite large and accommodating to meet this volume ratio objective that is a shortcoming in the present containers.
Another objective is to highly simplify the container to three or four total simply manufactured parts, namely two substance holding chambers (these can be molded through blow mold processes, rather than more expensive injection molding), one seal, and an optional fourth piece which in the preferred embodiment is a screw cap on one of the container's chambers. It is an environmental objective to manufacture all the three of four parts used to accomplish the mixing container, in recyclable polymers, and keep the total container weight at a minimum near what present disposable beverage and other liquid retaining containers require at present.
A truly novel feature of the invention that results in an objective of simplicity of design is the fact that internal threads are introduced on the seal itself, allowing the two chambers to be manufactured with low-cost blow mold parts, it not being necessary to inject mold, even if it could be done, on one or both the chamber parts. The seal serves multi-functionally also in that it is a dual purpose seal, sealing both before and after activation, being a tamper evident seal that is optionally one-way locking with respect to the two chambers rotation.
A fourth objective is to cosmetically have a container shape that looks very much the same as standard blow mold bottles into which many of our common beverages are packaged in at present.
A fifth object of the invention is to include an optional protective outer strip that helps keep one chamber's, preferably powder substances fresh, minimizing air exposure, thus promoting long shelf life. The outer strip also serves as a tamper evident means if one of the substance storing chambers were moved out of position with respect to one another, revealing if the seal had been tampered with or broken in any way. Another objective with this protective seal is that it can be permanently sealed using glue or a snap fit lip, flange or ring, so that an additional air tight seal may be achieved until activation.
Another sixth objective is to provide a tamper evident film wrap that requires a perforated strip to be removed by the user before activation and mixing can occur. Thus, the film would serve as an additional tamper proofing safety feature.
Since the preferred embodiment includes a first chamber that has threads on both open ends, it may be a necessary objective to provide a glued portion, or one-way ratchet teeth on the seal mating portions of that chamber and seal so that the container cannot leak by a user unscrewing the chamber and unseating a mating seal from its position.
It is also an objective to provide variations of the structure, including a modified two-piece seal, rather than a one piece seal to give manufacturing options as to how the container is made for a given industry purpose.
It is another purpose to provide a container that when activated, displaces a minimal amount of volume, yet mixing large or small proportionate ratios of two substances with one another.
Lastly, the invention intends to provide a container user with a normal bottle-like usage experience, that is free from the inconveniences and encumbrances of the above prior art containers. For example, drinking a beverage, preparing a baby bottle, or mixing a medicine with minimal activation labor necessary is also an objective by providing a standard screw cap, its geometry not being dependent on the ratio of the substances volume the container must have. As well, a syringe bottle is disclosed that uses the invention's structure in a smaller format for a key and needful application for the medical industry, especially for diabetics, whose insulin potency could be maintained with such a fresh activation system.
The present invention is of the above type of container that has at least two separate storage chambers for storing at least two substances separately, for subsequent mixing, that comprises one container portion that forms a first chamber that encloses a first substance, preferably a powdered substance. This first chamber comprises an open end upon which is a seal mating portion proximate or near its outer periphery. This open end also incorporates a seal breaking element that may be comprised of a annular cutting edge, that is simply molded into and with the chamber in a preferably blow mold process.
There is a second container portion that is a second chamber that encloses a second, preferably liquid substance. This chamber also comprises an open end that has a seal mating portion, preferably in its inner periphery. Between these two open ends of the chambers and their seal mating portions, there is a seal situated. The seal is preferably fitted in the open end of the second chamber and may be glued, induction sealed, RF or heat sealed or ultrasound welded at that opening. The seal comprises a breakable bottom which is broken as the first and second chambers are moved toward each other, causing the cutting edge to move down upon the seal's bottom cover, thus allowing the two substances to mix together, as the user shakes the activated container. The seal mating portions meet together, as well, as the chambers move together, being intervened by the seal's annular rim portion, that is preferably permanently sealed into the second chamber's open end, in assembly, and it retains the unmixed liquid therein.
Though the two chambers can be moved together and the breakable, non-threaded seal broken with the cutting edge simply by pressing them together, as will be described in one of two preferred embodiments, it may be preferable to use threads inside the plug or cup-like seal. Those threads would mate with external threads proximate to the first chamber's open end. The chambers then only need twisted, clockwise with respect to one another to effect the linear movement together to activate the breaking of the bottom seal and reseal the container at the seal's annular rim portion and the chamber's seal mating portions. At that point, the container is shaken and the preferably liquid and powder substances are mixed and then may be poured out for their industrial application, or in the case of a beverage, to be drunk.
By including a simple screw cap opposite the end of that open end of the first chamber, a substance filling opening is provided for quick powder or liquid loading in assembly. As well, a screw cap is the logical standard beverage industry closure cap that can fit on a formed threaded bottle mouth on the first chamber for drinking or pouring out liquid substances, though other type caps are discussed herein, such as a snap-fitted cap or modified plug cap, or even a nipple-tipped baby bottle cap, and others, such a tear away tip caps for resin mixing, or even a syringe bottle cap with characteristic center piercing rubber insert, as the above are illustrated in the following specification.
Though not a preferred cap embodiment, the present invention may allow the first chamber to be removed after activation and the user may drink. This modification simply excludes the substance filling opening for the first chamber, and instead leaves the only the one opening on the chamber. The first chamber, after activation, is detachable from the container so that after mixing the said first and second substances, it may be removed, allowing the user to empty or drink directly from the open end of said second chamber. Thus, the first chamber itself, becomes the screw cap, itself. Filling would simply be effected in assembly by screwing into position the already filled sealed second chamber, upside down onto the threads of the first chamber.
Another modification includes a second chamber that has threads internal to its open end and a seal that comprises two parts instead of one part. The seal comprises a ring seal situated in a approximately the same place as the former seal's annular rim portion, and then a disc seal situated in a approximately the same place as the former seal's bottom portion.
To effect a linear movement together of the chambers that requires less rotation or twisting of the chambers with respect one another, it may be useful to use mating, multiple-lead threads on the container parts, which would result in a quicker activation and less work for the container user.
The seal is preferably made of EVA material, which is both conducive to sealing well on the rim portion, while having the consistency to provide stiff enough of a material for threads for excellent movement of the two chambers and for a good shearing around the bottom inner edge of the seal during activation. The lubricity of EVA also is an advantage in these multiple functions this unique seal performs.
It may be necessary to permanently seal the first chamber to the seal's annular rim portion after activation, though the applicant believes the seal will remain tightly intact, even when opening the screw cap through which to pour out the liquid mix. Nevertheless, the first chamber's open end may include a chemical applied surface and wherein the seal's annular rim portion may have chemical applied surface being chemically bondable to one another upon mutual contact to permit a non-rotatable sealing contact of the said first and second chambers with respect to each other after breaking of the seal bottom occurs.
As well, the first chamber's open end may further include one-way ratchet teeth and also the seal's annular rim portion may have one-way ratchet teeth. These one-way ratchet teeth of both these pieces may mutually engage to permit rotation of the said first and second chambers with respect to each other in only one direction, after activation has occurred. The teeth may also additionally be on the protective seal as well, locked into position in assembly and then reset into position at activation where the first chamber can never be reversed into an unscrewed position.
An optional protective outer strip maybe included on the seal rim portion's periphery, which tears away from the seal rim portion of the seal as internal bursting pressure is applied proximate to the first chamber's seal mating portion, as the first and second chambers are linearly moved with respect to each other. The protective outer strip may further comprise an outer seal split section which splits open as the first and second chambers are linearly moved with respect to each other.
This protective outer strip may be chemically or otherwise adhered or bonded through glue, RF, heat, ultrasound, induction sealing, or other bonding technologies used in the container industry in assembly. The strip would be located proximate to the outer periphery of the seal mating portion of the first chamber; and would tear away from the seal rim portion of the seal as twisting rotational force is applied to the first chamber in activation of the said container. The protective outer strip could remain permanently bonded to the periphery of said first chamber's seal mating portion, as said first and second chambers are linearly moved with respect to each other.
As well, the seal may further comprise a protective outer strip which is bonded in assembly proximate to the outer periphery of the seal mating portion of the first chamber; and is designed to tear away from the seal rim portion of the seal as twisting rotational force is applied to the first chamber in activation of the container. However, while it tears away from the seal rim portion, the protective outer strip remains permanently bonded to the said periphery of said first chamber's said seal mating portion, as said first and second chambers are linearly moved with respect to each other and the seal continues to remain on the outside body of the container. This lessens debris and the inconvenience of handling the seal after activation has occurred.
On the outside of most containers, especially in the beverage industry, a protective film or shrink wrap is used that also includes the graphics and advertisement of the product. In the present invention, a tamper evident outer film with a perforated strip is placed in approximate annular alignment to the seal's protective outer strip. This perforated strip includes a pull tab which upon pulling allows the perforated strip to be pulled from the container circumference, enabling protective outer strip to detach and allow the two chambers to be rotated with respect to one another. This allows the chambers to travel linearly with respect one another, thus enabling the seal breaking element to break open the seal bottom and the substances to mix.
The protective outer strip may instead comprise a tamper-evident flange that cooperates with a flange-receiving portion proximate to the outer periphery of the said seal mating portion of the first chamber. These two flanges are mating and may snap-fit into position with one another, providing a firm seal at their contact surfaces. The protective seal would tear away from the seal rim portion of the seal as twisting rotational force is applied to the first chamber in activation of the container, as the first and second chambers are linearly moved with respect to each other.
It is to be noted that in the second embodiment includes the same basic seal, but with no threads being used to moved the chambers into cutting contact with one another. The linear movement is effected simply through a press-activation system whereby a bellows sleeve that is located on the periphery of the open end of the first chamber's open end, proximate to its mating seal portion, and is sealed at production. The user pushes the top of the container to activate, after removing a protective film outer seal that is around the bellows in the container's shelf-ready state. No leakage occurs since the bellows is already sealed on the seal mating portion in manufacturing assembly.
It may be preferable to include, however, at least one air vent, which may comprise any of the following: air hole or air opening, as a slit or perforation of any type that would let air into the container, upon press-activation. Such an opening in the bellows would allow air to escape the container and permit the bellows to collapse with the pressure of the activation. This pinhole could be located in a portion of the bellows that gets tightly compressed in the activation position, and thus make leakage highly improbable, since the liquid would have to get through at least one annular sealing ring is molded around the cutting edge of the of the first chamber proximate to said first chamber's open end, which tightly mate with a molded groove in seal's inner walls. The annular sealing ring may snap into position, when the said seal bottom is opened by the linear movement of the cutting edge upon it. Similar to the threaded seal container embodiment, this press-activation bellows container further may comprise an outer tamper resistant film that covers at least an outer portion covering the bellows sleeve. The film may be torn away from the container, allowing for activation by a user at time of activation.
Lastly, the seal in the threaded embodiment may have another ring seal placed over its rim seal portion, such as in an induction-type seal, where aluminum and a polymer film are bonded and then sealed at time of induction sealing during container assembly. This allows for a secondary seal around the rim of the seal to be added in the event the seal would not be made itself of a sealing material suitable for effective sealing purposes around the edge, though sufficient for the sealing purposes in the second chamber.
The above summary is general and serves as an overview of the invention. Further features and modifications besides those summarized will be described in the following description. It should be obvious to one skilled in the present art to see possible general modifications that may be substituted for those employed to achieve the purposes of he present invention, while not departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. In addition, further characteristics of the invention may be understood by the following description and drawings, the preferred embodiments of which are by way of example and non-limiting to the spirit and scope of the invention.
Noting
Said outer periphery 11 further comprises external threads 20 that rotatably mate with internal threads 18 located on the inner walls 17 of said seal 5, which seal is situated between the said open end 7 and said seal mating portion 12 of first said chamber in both inactivated container state, as in
Said seal 5 further comprises a breakable seal bottom 23 which is broken as said first and second chambers are linearly moved with respect to each other as a container user twists them with respect to each other. This enables said seal breaking element 9 to move down upon and break open said seal bottom 23, at seal bottom edges 26, allowing said first and second substances, 21, 22, respectively to mix together as said first and said second seal mating portions, 35, 12, respectively, meet with intervening annular seal rim portion 24 located on said seal 5. Said container 1 thenceforth maintains the said mixed substances in the sealed, said container, until releasing said mixed substances. As the container is activated, that is, the said first chamber 2 is tightened with respect to the second said chamber 3, the said annular V-portion 14 meets a seal rim receiving groove 25 located within the said annular seal rim portion 24, so that a tight closure is maintained and the container can be then shaken and then drank or stored without any risk of leakage. Again, this is only one of many configurations that the sealing shape or format may use.
The said threads 18 on the said seal's 5 and the said first chamber's 2 mating threads may be made multiple-lead threads, enabling a long linear travel distance of said seal breaking element through a minimal rotation requirement of the first and second chambers, 2, 3, respectively, in relation to one another. This thread design is commonly used on any bottle caps in the beverage industry and it is desirable to have the said cutting edge 10 make one or just short of one revolution during activation.
It is to be understood that the said cutting edge 10 and the way it is arranged with the said lower extremity 8 can be modified in many different configurations to anyone familiar with the art, such as including multiple cutting edges, instead of one single annular edge, as in said cutting edge 10. As well the cutting angles could be changed to a steeper or even a more shallow angle than that illustrated. It may be desirable to fully sever the said bottom seal 23, rather than keep the seal hanging and still attached at one point, as illustrated. There could also be molded, machined or otherwise formed lips, edges or ridges formed on the inside of the said cutting edge 10 that may be beneficial to keep the detached said seal bottom 23 from jamming or plugging up into the said first chamber's open end 7 during the twisting activation stage of the said container 1.
Now noting in addition,
Other cap means illustrated are a snap-fit cap 29 with snap-fit orifice 32 and a modified plug-fit cap 31 with plug-fit rim 34, or screw on cap 4. All the above caps may have a knurled annular surface 30, whereby twisting a detachable first chamber 2b is easily accomplished. Said screw cap 4 is the preferred cap embodiment, but it is to be noted that the said container 1 can be fully functional, noting
Noting
The said seal 5 may be made of the beverage industry's commonly used seal material inside bottle caps, namely an EVA polymer consisting of at least a small portion of vinyl polymer, which is very conducive to all the functions of the said seal's 5 required performance, including being pierced and opened. A vast array of seal polymers may be used, however, besides EVA, such as Polypropylene, Polyvinyl Chloride, or even Acetates or many other polymers could effectively be used. Further, said seal's 5 outer walls 36 may be ultrasonically welded, glued or adhered in a manner typical of sealing methods used by the beverage, medical or chemical container industry, to the inner wall edge 37 of said second chamber 3.
Noting
Noting
The said protective seal 41 may have further advantageous modifications including being bonded in assembly proximate to the said outer periphery 11 of the said seal mating portion 12 of the said first chamber 2, so that the said protective seal 41 further tears away from the said seal rim portion 24 of the said seal 5 as twisting rotational force is applied to the said first chamber in activation of the said container 1, while said protective outer strip remains permanently adhered through adhesive 40C upon said protective strip's inner lip 42, thus adhering to the said periphery 11 of said first chamber's said seal mating portion 12, as said first and second chambers are twisted and activated. Note how this seal arrangement could enhance the shelf-life of the said substances by providing close to or a full air-tight seal of the said container 1.
Noting
Note
Noting
As well, another advantage of the above seal arrangement is that there can be a highly effective and airtight seal provided that would not require the use of glue or other adherence means, as those mentioned in
The said seal 5, may be further modified by separating it into two parts. This is illustrated in
A disc seal 55 and a ring seal 56 is shown situated between the said open end 7 and said seal mating portion 12 of first said chamber 2 and situated within the said open end 19 and seal mating portion 35 of said second chamber 3 whereby said disc sea 55 simultaneously seals said first 21 and said second 22 substances from one another, maintaining said first and second substances in said first 2 and second chambers 3 in an unmixed state. The said disc seal 55 further comprises a breakable seal bottom 57 which is broken as said first and second chambers are linearly moved with respect to each other, thereby enabling said seal breaking element 9 to move down upon and break open said seal bottom 57.
Said ring seal 56 is further situated directly between the said open end 7 and seal mating portion 12 of first said chamber 2 and situated directly between the said open end 19 and seal mating portion of second said chamber 35. It is to be noted in
All of the above has described the preferred embodiment of the said container 1 having thread means to move the said chambers, however another embodiment that could be as equally effective and possibly even less cost to make is illustrated in
The said modified seal 5B further comprises a bellows sleeve 64 (which could be substituted with any collapsible thin film) extending from the said modified seal rim portion 62. Said bellows sleeve 64 also has a sealable opening 65 on its opposite end 66 to the said seal bottom 23. Said bellows sleeve 64 further encloses the said periphery of the first chamber's open end 11, proximate to said modified first chamber's 2B open end's said seal mating portion 12, whereat the said bellow sleeve's 64 said sealable opening 65 is sealed during production assembly of the said container.
The said periphery 11 of the said modified first chamber's 2B said open end 7, wherein the said seal braking element 9 further comprises a said lower extremity 8, also comprises at least one said cutting edge 10, where also at least one annular sealing ring 69 is proximate to said first chamber's open end 7. Said modified seal's 5B said inner walls 61 further comprise a receiving groove 68 where into the said annular sealing ring 69 may snap into position when the said seal bottom is opened by the linear movement of said cutting edge upon it. It may be beneficial to have a second annular ring 71 that is preferably of a smaller diameter than the said annular ring 69 that in assembly is positioned into the said receiving groove 68, in order to stop the said cutting edge 10 from going too far and piercing the said seal bottom 23 during insertion phase in assembly. This arrangement may also help to prevent any premature activation if the said container 1 were to be bumped or jarred during shipping and other handling. The said container 1 may further comprise a said outer tamper resistant film 45 that covers at least an outer portion the said bellows sleeve. The said film 45, similar to the former embodiment, has a said perforated strip 46 that may be torn away from said container 1, allowing for activation by a container user at time of activation by pulling said pull tab 47.
Finally, said container 1 in
It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described above is to be taken as preferred embodiments. Various changes maybe made in the shape, size and arrangements of the parts, for example: other equivalent elements may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and elements may be reversed and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all without departing from the spirit and scope: of the invention, as defined in the subjoining claims.
