Patent Application
20140202895
Many compositions are made of two or more components which are not mixed together until shortly before use of the compositions. For example, some disinfectant or cleaning compositions include two or more components. In many such cases, at least one of the components can have a reduced chemical stability when diluted or some other reduced shelf-life once combined into the final compositions. Therefore, it can be beneficial to package some compositions as separate components in multi-component systems which can be combined shortly before use. Typically, individual components in a multi-component system are packaged at higher concentration, and then are manually combined in a final combined composition. Unfortunately, for some compositions, increased concentrations of certain components can render the component hazardous, thereby requiring increased costs associated with packaging, shipping, and handling of the hazardous component.
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only. The terms are not intended to be limiting unless specified as such.
It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
The term “multi-part” when referring to a container or system of the present disclosure is not limited to containers or systems having only two or three parts. For example, a system can have any number of liquids present in a single system.
The term “colloidal transition metals” refers to colloidal particles of elemental transitional metals or the alloys of such elemental transition metals. Colloidal transition metals are distinct from salts and oxides of transition metals. Accordingly, compounds such as silver oxide, silver nitrate, silver chloride, silver bromide, silver iodide, and the like are not colloidal transition metals.
In describing embodiments of the present invention, reference will be made to “first” or “second” as they relate to chambers, compartments, or liquid compositions, etc. It is noted that these are merely relative terms, and a chamber or composition described or shown as a “first” chamber or composition could just as easily be referred to a “second” chamber or composition, and such description is implicitly included herein.
Discussion of liquids or fluids herein does not require that each component be completely liquid. For example, a liquid or fluid can be a solution or even a suspension. Thus, a colloidal metal-containing liquid or fluid is considered to be a liquid or fluid as defined herein.
Concentrations, dimensions, amounts, and other numerical data may be presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. For example, a weight ratio range of about 1 wt % to about 20 wt % should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited limits of about 1 wt % and about 20 wt %, but also to include individual weights such as 2 wt %, 11 wt %, 14 wt %, and sub-ranges such as 10 wt % to 20 wt %, 5 wt % to 15 wt %, etc.
In accordance with these definitions and embodiments of the present disclosure, a discussion of the various systems and methods is provided including details associated therewith. This being said, it should be noted that various embodiments will be discussed as they relate to the systems and methods. Regardless of the context of the specific details as they are discussed for any one of these embodiments, it is understood that such discussion relates to all other embodiments as well.
The present disclosure is drawn to a multi-chamber container for storing and mixing liquids. The container can include a first chamber configured to contain a first liquid composition. The container can also include a second chamber configured to contain a second liquid composition. A membrane can separate the first chamber and the second chamber. The membrane can be puncturable to facilitate contact of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition. The container can further include a plunger operable to puncture the membrane. The plunger can be configured to move through an opening of the first chamber opposite the membrane to facilitate puncture of the membrane.
In one aspect, the disclosure provides a cap for a container for storing and mixing liquids. The cap can include a coupling portion for coupling the cap to a container. The cap can also include a chamber configured to contain a liquid composition. The chamber can have an opening configured to drain the liquid composition from the chamber. A membrane can cover the opening of the chamber. The membrane can be puncturable to facilitate passage of the liquid composition through the opening. The cap can further include a plunger associated with the chamber and operable to puncture the membrane.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a multi-chamber container for storing and mixing liquids. The container can include a first chamber configured to contain a first liquid composition. The container can also include a second chamber configured to contain a second liquid composition. A membrane can separate the first chamber and the second chamber. The membrane can be puncturable to facilitate contact of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition. The container can further include a plunger operable to puncture the membrane. The container can also include a third chamber configured to receive a mixture of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition. In addition, the container can include a towelette disposed in the third chamber to absorb the mixture of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition.
In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides a method for facilitating storing and mixing liquids. The method includes obtaining a multi-chamber container having a first chamber configured to contain a first liquid composition, a second chamber configured to contain a second liquid composition, and a membrane operable to separate the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition. The method further includes facilitating puncturing of the membrane with a plunger to facilitate contact of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition.
A plunger 140 can be operable to puncture the membrane 130. The plunger can include a piercing feature 141, such as one or more sharp points or protrusions, to facilitate puncturing of the membrane. In one aspect, the piercing feature can comprise a single or a plurality of pointed or sharp protrusions or it can take any other shape or size so long as it is effective in ripping, tearing, penetrating, puncturing, rupturing, or otherwise breaking the membrane. The plunger can also include a recess 142 or even a channel (not shown) to facilitate passage of fluid around a shaft 143 the plunger when the plunger shaft is extending through the punctured membrane, as shown in
A membrane 131 can cover or block an opening 114 of the first chamber opposite the membrane 130. The opening 114 can be configured to allow passage or movement of the plunger 140 through the opening 114 upon puncturing the membrane 131 to facilitate puncture of the membrane 130. Because the plunger can be configured to move through the opening 114, the first chamber 110 can be sufficiently rigid to resist substantial deformation of the first chamber as the plunger punctures the membrane 130. A seal 150, such as an O-ring, can seal around the plunger shaft to minimize or prevent fluid leakage around the shaft once the membrane 131 is punctured. Thus, the extension member and the seal can be configured to contain fluid within the first chamber upon puncturing the membrane 131. Additionally, the plunger can include a user interface 144, such as a push tab, to provide a user-friendly contact point with the plunger from outside the first chamber. In one aspect, the user interface can also function to limit the travel or distance the plunger can extend into the first and/or second chambers.
The multi-chamber container 100 can also include a lock 160 to secure the plunger 140 and prevent retraction of the plunger upon puncturing the membrane 130. For example, the lock can include one or more pivoting hooks 161a, 161b configured to engage one or more recesses 162a, 162b. In one aspect, the pivoting hooks can be biased to engage the recesses, such that the hooks slide against the plunger shaft 143 as the plunger shaft moves into the first chamber 110 and automatically engage the recesses at the end of the plunger travel.
In addition, the multi-chamber container 100 can include a vent 170 operable with the first chamber 110 to facilitate venting of the first chamber. In one aspect, the vent can comprise a one-way valve to facilitate the escape of gas from the first chamber without allowing for the escape of liquid from the first chamber. In another aspect, the vent can be configured to facilitate draining of the first chamber when the membrane 130 is punctured. Although only one vent is illustrated associated with the first chamber, it should be recognized that any number or type of vent may be used in any combination with any chamber of a multi-chamber container.
The multi-chamber containers, or components thereof, and associated methods of the present invention can be used with any multi-part liquid composition or system. The containers are particularly advantageous for multi-part compositions which have limited or shortened stabilities, shelf-lives, or functional time periods once combined. As such, in one aspect of the present disclosure, puncturing a membrane to facilitate contact of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition can be performed shortly before dispensing the mixed liquids from the second chamber, such as from an opening (not shown). An example of a multi-part system which can be used herein is a multi-part disinfectant composition which, in its final form, can include a composition with an amount of a transition metal, e.g. a colloidal or ionic transition metal, and a peroxygen, e.g., peracids and/or peroxides. The composition could also include other ingredients such as alcohols or other organic co-solvents, or even dispersed particles, such as colloidal metals. Thus, the peroxygen can be separated from the transition metal until mixing, in one embodiment, or any other two ingredients can remain separate until the mixture is formed, as would be appreciated by one skilled in the art.
In one specific example, the above described disinfectant system can be effectively used to provide disinfection of a wide variety of surfaces. However, when a peracid is used, the peracid component of the composition can have a limited shelf-life, particularly at concentrations that are relatively low. As such, the present disclosure provides an effective means for safely packaging, handling, shipping, storing, and ultimately mixing such a composition in a two-component format (at an initial higher concentration) until shortly before use. For example, the above described disinfectant composition could be packaged into a multi-chamber container of the present disclosure such that an aqueous vehicle, including a transition metal (ionic or colloidal) component and/or alcohol or possibly other organic components are placed in the larger second chamber of the container, while a concentrated, and thereby more stable, peracid liquid is placed in the smaller first chamber. By maintaining a somewhat elevated concentration of peracid in the liquid of the first chamber, the peracid has an enhanced stability, and therefore a longer shelf-life. Further, the present disclosure provides for a safe means for packaging such individually separated compositions. Typically, solutions having elevated peracid concentrations are viewed as being hazardous, and therefore, difficult to ship and sell to the public. The multi-chamber containers of the present disclosure would allow for the peracid liquid to be packaged within the first chamber and enclosed within the container for safety. Such a configuration makes the system more safely shipped and stored because any leak from the first chamber would be retained within the container and, if the membrane separating the chambers is broken, safely dispersed and neutralized into the second liquid present in the second chamber. Specific details of one specific type of composition which can be used in the systems of the present inventions are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,473,675, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The configuration of the membrane 130 and plunger 140 can be particularly advantageous when the liquid present in the first chamber 110 is a dangerous or hazardous liquid. For example, if the liquid in the first chamber is a concentrated acid, the user does not need to be exposed to the concentrated acid in order to facilitate the mixing of the acid with the liquid in the second chamber 120. The fluid within the first chamber is only exposed to an external environment when the membrane separating the first and second chambers is punctured inside the multi-chamber container 100.
With reference to
The cap 201 can also include a seal 250 configured to seal a shaft 243 of the plunger to prevent or minimize fluid from escaping the chamber around the shaft in the opening 214.
Furthermore, the cap 201 can include a cover 280 movably disposed over the plunger 240 to alternately prevent accidental puncturing of the membrane 230 and to facilitate access for operation of the plunger. The cover can be pivotally mounted with a hinge 281 and can include a tab 282 to facilitate lifting or moving the cover by a user. The cover can be of a rigid construction sufficient to prevent an external force from moving the plunger when the cover is in place over the plunger. Although a domed configuration is shown, it should be recognized that any suitable cover configuration may be implemented. In one aspect, the cover can be removable and discarded following locking of the plunger, as the lock will secure the plunger and remove any additional need for the cover.
With continued reference to
The coupling portion 271 can comprise any mechanism known in the art for coupling a cap to a container, including but not limited to threads, clamps, interference fittings, detents, etc. The cap can therefore be screwed or threaded onto the container, or pushed or pressed onto the container. Other connection mechanisms can also be used to operably connect the cap and the container. For example, in one embodiment, the opening of the container can have a plurality of external tabs which, when paired with corresponding slots in the cap, form a locking mechanism, thereby operably connecting the cap and the container. Other methods of operably connecting the cap and the container can also be used. The cap can also include a seal 251, such as an O-ring, to prevent or minimize leakage of fluid out of the container through the coupling interface of the cap and the container, such as around or through coupling features.
When the cap 201 is operably coupled to the container 202 to form the multi-chamber container 200, the configuration can facilitate contacting of the liquids contained in the respective chambers. For example, the plunger 240 can penetrate, puncture, rupture, or otherwise break the membrane 230 to facilitate draining of the fluid 211 from the chamber 210 into the fluid 221 in the chamber 220, as shown in
In practice, a mixture of the first liquid composition 311 and the second liquid composition 321 can be formed by puncturing the first membrane 330 with the plunger 340 and mixing the contents of the chambers. Following this, the second membrane 332 can be punctured, such as with plunger 394, to facilitate entry of the mixture into the third chamber 390. These steps can take place when the multi-chamber container 300 is upside down to facilitate emptying of fluid into the second and third chambers. The third chamber can be of any suitable configuration to receive the mixture of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition. In one optional aspect, the third chamber can be configured to house an absorbent cleaning item, such as a roll of towelettes 391, disposed in the third chamber to absorb or wick the mixture of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition. Once the mixture has been absorbed, the towelettes can be used in the usual manner by retrieving an end 392 of a towelette from an opening 393 in the third chamber, shown covered by a removable cover 395 in the figure. Thus, the towelettes can be initially wetted with the mixture at a time just prior to use. This can minimize evaporation and drying of the towelettes as well as maintain effectiveness of any chemicals absorbed by the towelettes, such as by reducing the time for oxidation and degradation of the chemicals prior to use of the towelettes.
As with other embodiments, the plungers 340, 394 can be locked with locks 360, 396, respectively, upon penetrating the membranes. Also, one or more vents 370 can be used in conjunction with the first chamber 310 and/or the second chamber 320.
In practice, the second membrane 431 can be punctured with the plunger 440 to gain access to the first membrane 430 through the first chamber 410. The first membrane can then be punctured with the plunger to facilitate entry of the first liquid composition 411 into the second chamber 320, where it can be mixed with the second liquid composition 321. The plunger can be removed and discarded and a cover (not shown) can be placed over an opening 493 in the third chamber 490. Following this, the multi-chamber container 400 can be inverted to drain or pour the mixture into the third chamber via the opening 414. The first chamber can include a tapered or angle wall 415 to facilitate draining of fluid from the first chamber. An absorbent cleaning item, such as a roll of towelettes 491 disposed in the third chamber, can absorb the mixture of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition. It is noted that the plunger would typically be positioned down a center region of the roll of towelettes, even though the FIG. does not show this feature. Once the mixture has been absorbed, the towelettes can be used in the usual manner by retrieving an end 492 of a towelette from an opening 493 in the third chamber. When the container is upright, the tapered wall 415 can help maintain the mixture in the third chamber by providing an effective barrier to access of the opening 414 into the first chamber 410. Optionally, or in addition, a guide tube 416 can be disposed about the opening 414 to help align the plunger with the opening to facilitate puncturing the membrane 431. The guide tube can also provide an effective barrier for the mixture to prevent draining of the mixture from the third chamber into the second chamber. Although the first chamber is shown as being above the second chamber is this embodiment, it should be recognized that the second chamber can be disposed above the first chamber.
With the lid 574 removed, an absorbent cleaning item, such as a roll of towelettes 591, can be removed to permit access to the plunger 540 in order to puncture the membrane 530 and facilitate entry of the first liquid composition 511 into the second chamber 520, where it can be mixed with the second liquid composition 521. A second membrane 534, operable with an opening 514 of the second chamber, can separate the mixture of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition from the third chamber 590. The second membrane can be punctured or removed, such as with pull tab 576, to facilitate entry of the mixture into the third chamber. The towelettes can be returned to the third chamber and the lid can be secured over the canister 575. The multi-chamber container 500 can be inverted to drain or pour the mixture into the third chamber via the opening 514. In one aspect, the location of the opening 514 can be configured to facilitate draining of the mixture onto an absorbent main body portion of the roll of towelettes, as opposed to down a center of the roll, where no absorbent material resides. Once the mixture has been absorbed by the towelettes, the multi-chamber container can be returned to an upright position and the towelettes can be used in the usual manner by retrieving an end 592 of a towelette from an opening 593 in the third chamber, which may be covered by a removable cover 595.
In one aspect, the multi-chamber container 500 can be refillable and reusable. For example, when the towelettes have been consumed, a removable cartridge 577, that includes the first chamber 510, the second chamber 520, and the plunger 540, can be removed from the canister 575, disposed of, and replaced with a new replacement cartridge and a new roll of towelettes can placed in the third chamber 590. In a particular aspect, the cartridge can be coupled to the canister, such as with a threaded interface, interference fit, detent, or any other suitable coupling feature or technique. Although a removable cartridge is shown, it should be recognized that the first and second chambers can be integral with the canister or otherwise non-replaceable.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for facilitating storing and mixing liquids is disclosed. The method can comprise obtaining a multi-chamber container having a first chamber configured to contain a first liquid composition, a second chamber configured to contain a second liquid composition, and a membrane operable to separate the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition. Additionally, the method can comprise facilitating puncturing of the membrane with a plunger to facilitate contact of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition. In one aspect, the method can further comprise facilitating absorption of a mixture of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition by a towelette. In another aspect, the multi-chamber container can comprise a cap for the second chamber and the cap includes the first chamber. It is noted that no specific order is required in this method, though generally in one embodiment, these method steps can be carried out sequentially.
It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention disclosed are not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but are extended to equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. In addition, various embodiments and example of the present invention may be referred to herein along with alternatives for the various components thereof. It is understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not to be construed as de facto equivalents of one another, but are to be considered as separate and autonomous representations of the present invention.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
While the foregoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.
