MULTI-COMPARTMENT CONTAINER DEVICE

Abstract

A multi-compartment container device including a container assembly having a generally rigid container body forming a generally rigid outer compartment is provided. A flexible inner compartment is located in the rigid outer compartment and includes a frangible portion that may be ruptured to release the contents of the flexible inner compartment for combining the contents of the rigid and flexible compartments in the container body. The flexible compartment may be in the form of a pouch. The container device has a rotatable actuator member that is connected to the flexible compartment such that sufficient rotation of the rotatable actuator member will twist and apply torque to the flexible compartment to cause the frangible portion of the flexible compartment to rupture.

Description

FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to container devices, and more specifically to container devices having a multi-compartment construction.

BACKGROUND

Containers having multiple compartments for packaging separate ingredients prior to purchase by a consumer are known in the art. Additionally, such containers are known to include flexible pouches having an internal frangible seal which may be ruptured by a consumer to mix separated ingredients immediately prior to consumption. For example, a pouch may be sold to a consumer having one portion of the pouch filled with dry or powdered milk, the other portion filled with water, and a frangible seal positioned therebetween separating the components. A consumer may then break the seal by bending or squeezing the pouch thereby providing fluid communication between the ingredients for mixing, which may thereafter be consumed.

However, some of these pouches are prone to certain issues during shipment and delivery. Depending on the delivery method, the internal frangible portion may inadvertently rupture causing the ingredients to mix prematurely. As such, the product may be expired or undesirable by the time it reaches the consumer. Also, some consumers may have difficulty bending or squeezing the pouch in order to rupture the frangible portion.

Therefore, there exists a need for a multi-compartment container device having a substantially rigid container body for keeping two or more ingredients separated until ready for consumption. Further, the package should enable the convenient mixing of two or more ingredients without bending or squeezing the container, or substantial effort on behalf of the consumer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-compartment container device showing a container assembly including a main, outer container body, and a lid assembly including a rotatable actuator member;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the multi-compartment container device showing the container body, an inner flexible pouch, a lower base portion of the container body including a lower pouch securing device, and an upper pouch securing device of the rotatable actuator member;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a lid member affixed to the rotatable actuator member to form the lid assembly;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the lid assembly with the lid member affixed to the rotatable actuator member, where the lid member has an auxiliary opening;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the multi-compartment container device with the container body in ghost showing the flexible pouch being twisted as the lid assembly including the rotatable actuator member is turned to rupture a frangible portion of the flexible pouch; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the multi-compartment container device with the container body in ghost and the lid removed showing the flexible compartment and an auxiliary compartment of the flexible pouch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments, a multi-compartment container device including a container assembly having a generally rigid container body forming a generally rigid outer compartment is provided. A flexible inner compartment is located in the rigid outer compartment and includes a frangible portion that may be ruptured to release the contents of the flexible inner compartment for combining the contents of the rigid and flexible compartments in the container body. The flexible compartment may be in the form of a pouch. The container device has a rotatable actuator member that is connected to the flexible compartment such that sufficient rotation of the rotatable actuator member will twist and apply torque to the flexible compartment to cause the frangible portion of the flexible compartment to rupture, as will be described further hereinafter.

In a preferred form, the rigid, outer compartment is formed by a generally rigid outer wall or walls of the container assembly, and the inner flexible compartment is formed by a wall or walls that are more flexible than those forming the outer compartment. The inner compartment is contained in the outer compartment and has a frangible portion of the wall or walls thereof. In this manner, an outer compartment that is more rigid than a flexible inner compartment is provided by the container assembly.

The present container device provides for two or more components to be kept separated in the rigid, outer compartment and the flexible, inner compartment until the consumer chooses to combine them by grasping the container body while simultaneously rotating the rotatable actuator member to cause the frangible portion of the flexible compartment to rupture and provide fluid communication between the rigid outer compartment and the flexible inner compartment. Each of the compartments may include a variety of contents such as, for example, liquids, powders, or dissolvable solids. Alternatively, a filter may be provided such that rupturing the frangible portion provides fluid communication between a liquid in the rigid outer compartment and a filter in the flexible inner compartment, or vice versa. The present container device affords users additional control over combining various ingredients and improves stability during transport by including a generally rigid container body to inhibit premature rupture of the frangible portion of the flexible inner compartment which is located in the rigid outer compartment.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, an illustrative multi-compartment container device 10 will now be described. Specifically, the multi-compartment container device 10 includes a container assembly 11 having a main, outer container body 12, and a lower base portion 16 secured thereto to form a rigid, outer compartment 25 (shown in FIG. 2) in which contents such as, for example, a liquid may be stored. A lid assembly 15 of the multi-compartment container device 10 includes a lid member 18 and a rotatable actuator member 14. The rotatable actuator member 14 is rotatably mounted on the container body 12 and is operable to rupture a flexible inner compartment 28 (shown in FIG. 2), such as in the form of a flexible pouch 29, that is disposed in the rigid outer compartment 25. The lid member 18 is secured to the upper surface 17 of the rotatable actuator member 14 to keep the contents in the container assembly 11 from escaping the container assembly 11 prior to consumption by a user.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the container body 12 has a cylindrical configuration. In the illustrated form, the container body 12 includes a cylindrical wall 23 having a reduced diameter collar portion 20 that projects upwardly from an inner edge 21 of annular shoulder 22 at an upper end thereof. In this manner, the rotatable actuator member 14 is rotatably mounted on the upper end of the container body 12 about the reduced diameter collar portion 20. The rotatable actuator member 14 can have an outer ring portion 34 as shown which is supported for rotation on the annular shoulder 22. The container body 12 may be formed with different configurations such as, for example, a conical or pyramidal frustum. The container body 12 may be formed in any shape so long as the rotatable actuator member 14 may be rotatably mounted thereon for rupturing the flexible pouch 29, as described in more detail hereinafter. Additionally, the container body 12 may include a dual-walled construction to provide insulation to the components contained therein or provide added rigidity and stability to the cylindrical wall 23 of the container body 12.

The container body 12 may be manufactured using a variety of materials, such as, for example, aluminum, plastic, and/or glass, among others. The container body 12 also may be of transparent or semi-transparent material such that any interior components may be visible to a consumer. Preferably, the cylindrical wall 23 of the container body 12 is of either a rigid or substantially rigid material to provide stability such that gripping the cylindrical wall 23 and rotating the rotatable actuator member 14 to rupture a frangible portion 26 of the flexible pouch 29 does not cause binding of the rotatable actuator member 14 upon rotation thereon or inadvertently collapse or otherwise buckle the cylindrical wall 23 of the container body 12.

With reference to FIG. 2, the multi-compartment container device 10 is shown in an exploded view. An upper pouch securing device 36 is shown extending across an opening 24 of the ring portion 34 of the rotatable actuator member 14 and is secured thereto at diametrically opposite sides thereon to split the opening 24 into two halves thereof. The opening 24 of the rotatable actuator member 14 provides access to the rigid, outer compartment 25 formed by the container body assembly 11. Additionally, a ring seal member 27 may be disposed on or affixed to the upper area of the container body 12 at the collar and annular shoulder portions 20, 22 thereof. Where the contents in the rigid, outer compartment 25 are liquids, the ring seal member 27 inhibits any liquid from escaping through any gaps between the rotatable actuator member 14 and the collar and shoulder portions 20, 22.

The rotatable actuator member 14 may be engaged with the container body 12 via tension provided by the attachment between the flexible pouch 29 and the upper pouch securing device 36. Additionally or alternatively, the rotatable actuator member 14 could be set at the collar and annular shoulder portions 20, 22 by a snap-fit providing compression on the ring seal member 27 positioned therebetween. The ring portion 34 of the rotatable actuator member 14 may include an interior annular groove corresponding with an annular protrusion on the collar portion 20 such that the rotatable actuator member may be snap-fit thereon to inhibit removal of the rotatable actuator member 14 from the container body 12.

The rigid outer compartment 25 may contain a liquid or ingredient such as, for example, water, alcohol, juice, syrup, concentrate, among others when the device is assembled. The rigid outer compartment 25 may alternatively contain a powder or powder-like substance.

Preferably, the flexible inner compartment 28 is formed by a flexible or substantially flexible pouch 29 as described above. The flexible pouch 29 may be manufactured of flexible materials such as, for example, DuPont's™ Surlyn® ionomer resin. The flexible pouch 29 can be formed of a pair of flexible walls or panels 30, 31 that are sealed to each other along corresponding edges so that the flexible pouch 29 forms the flexible inner compartment 28. The flexible walls or panels 30, 31 may be sealed along corresponding edges by, for example, heat sealing or consumer safe adhesives such that a liquid or other product may be sealed therein.

The flexible pouch 29 includes at least one frangible portion 26. The frangible portion 26 of the flexible pouch 29 may be located, for example, along at least one of the opposite longitudinal edges 32, 33 thereof. Additionally, or alternatively, the frangible portion 26 may be located along a midsection 37 of the pouch 29 to extend across one or both of the pouch panels 30, 31 from one longitudinal edge to the other.

The frangible portion 26 is configured to rupture or burst when torque applied to the flexible pouch 29 by rotation of the rotatable actuator member 14 exceeds the seal strength of the frangible portion 26. For example, the frangible portion 26 may be located at a seal formed using consumer safe adhesives between panels 30, 31 at the longitudinal edge 32. Upon the torque applied by the rotatable actuator member 14 exceeding the seal strength holding panels 30, 31 together on longitudinal edge 32, the frangible portion 26 will rupture and the contents contained in the flexible pouch 29 may commingle with the contents in the rigid, outer compartment 25. Additionally, the frangible portion 26 may comprise a decreased thickness in an area of the flexible pouch 29 such as, for example, a line extending along midsection 37. The decreased thickness at midsection 37 relative to the rest of the panels 30, 31 creates a line of weakness to promote rupture of the midsection 37 upon application of torque by the rotatable actuator member 14.

The flexible pouch 29 can contain a liquid or ingredient such as, for example, water, alcohol, juice, syrup, concentrate, among others. However, the flexible pouch 29 may instead contain a powder substance, or a filter configured to interact with a liquid in the rigid outer compartment 25 to impart certain desirable qualities to the liquid such as, for example, coloring or flavoring.

With reference to the rotatable actuator member 14, the outer ring portion 34 may include an uneven surface to improve grip during rotation of the rotatable actuator member 14. The uneven surface of the outer ring portion 34 may formed by indents, bumps, linear protrusions, wave-like protrusions, or other similar structures to improve grip. A separate gripping element such as, for example, a rubber sleeve similar to those used on ball-point pens may also be affixed to the outer ring portion 34.

The upper pouch securing device 36 is affixed to an upper portion 39 of the flexible pouch 29. The upper pouch securing device 36 may be formed as a clip extending into the container assembly 11 to be affixed to the pouch upper portion 39 to suspend the flexible pouch 29 in the interior of the rigid, outer compartment 25.

In the illustrated embodiment, upper portion 39 of the flexible pouch 29 is affixed to the upper pouch securing device 36 by pinching or crimping two, spaced resilient clip bars 51, 53 of the upper pouch securing device 36 together. As shown, the clip bars 51, 53 extend across the ring portion 34 and are connected thereto at diametrically opposite locations thereon. For example, the pouch upper portion 39 may be placed in the space between clip bars 51, 53 such that the clip bars 51, 53 may be mechanically deformed to pinch and tightly secure the pouch upper portion 39 therebetween. Additionally, or alternatively, the upper portion 39 of the pouch 29 may be affixed to the upper pouch securing device 36 by way of rivets, heat sealing, pins, friction, or a combination thereof. The upper pouch securing device 36 rotates with the rotatable actuator member 14 and secures the pouch upper portion 39 in place during such rotation to keep the pouch upper portion 39 from detaching therefrom.

Similarly, the lower base portion 16 of the container assembly 11 includes a lower pouch securing device 38 that is affixed to a lower portion 41 of the flexible pouch 29. The lower pouch securing device 38 may be formed as a clip portion extending into the container assembly 11 axially opposite and extending parallel to the upper pouch securing device 36 in an initial position before rotation of the rotatable actuator member 14 such that the flexible pouch 29 may be suspended therebetween.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lower portion 41 of the flexible pouch 29 is affixed to the lower pouch securing device 38 by pinching or crimping two, spaced resilient clip bars 55, 57 of the lower pouch securing device 38 together. As shown, the clip bars 55, 57 extend outward from the base portion 16 and are connected thereto. For example, the lower portion 41 may be placed in the space between the clip bars 55, 57 such that the clip bars 55, 57 may be mechanically deformed to pinch and tightly secure the lower portion 41 therebetween. Additionally, or alternatively, the lower portion 41 of the flexible pouch 29 may be affixed to the lower pouch securing device 38 by way of rivets, heat sealing, pins, friction, or a combination thereof.

The lower pouch securing device 38 may be configured to use the same method of fixation as the upper pouch securing device 36, or the upper and lower pouch securing devices 36, 38 may rely on entirely different methods of fixation. During rotation of the rotatable actuator member 14, the lower pouch securing device 38 remains stationary and keeps the pouch lower portion 41 from detaching therefrom.

As a result, the flexible pouch 29 is affixed to, and suspended between, the upper and lower pouch securing devices 36, 38. Preferably, in the initial position before rotation of the rotatable actuator member 14, the upper pouch securing device 36 and the lower pouch securing device 38 are axially aligned and extend parallel to one another such that no torque is applied to the flexible pouch 29 and the frangible portion 26 has not ruptured. A user may then rotate the rotatable actuator member 14 to twist and apply torque to the flexible pouch 29 suspended between the upper and lower pouch securing devices 36, 38 to rupture or burst the frangible portion 26 thereby providing fluid communication between the contents in the rigid, outer compartment 25 and those in the flexible pouch 29.

An abutment member 40 may be formed as a protrusion or bump on the collar portion 20 of the container body 12 to inhibit the rotatable actuator member 14 from rotating past a defined stopping point, where any further rotation thereof could cause binding of the rotatable actuator member 14 via the pouch 29 as it is twisted and pulls on the rotatable actuator member 14 or inadvertently collapse or otherwise buckle the cylindrical wall 23 of the container body 12. The stopping point is selected such that rupture at the frangible portion 26 of the flexible pouch 29 occurs at or before the stopping point is reached via rotation of the rotatable actuator member 14. The abutment member 40 interacts with a corresponding stop member 48 in the form of a protrusion of the ring portion 34 of the rotatable actuator member 14 such that the abutment member 40 engages the stop member 48 to block rotation of the rotatable actuator member 14 beyond the abutment member 40.

Alternatively, the abutment member 40 may be formed as a pawl to engage with a plurality of ratchet teeth located on the ring portion 34 of the rotatable actuator member 14. The teeth could be configured to allow the pawl to ratchet thereover when the rotatable actuator member 14 is rotated in one rotary direction and not the opposite rotary direction. So configured, the rotatable actuator member 14 is only allowed to rotate in a single rotary direction for applying torque to and rupturing the pouch 29.

With respect to FIG. 3A, the rotatable lid assembly 15 is shown detached from the container body 12 of the container device 10. As shown, the rotatable lid assembly 15 includes the rotatable actuator member 14 and a lid member 18 affixed thereon. The lid member 18 of the rotatable lid assembly 15 may be a lidding foil affixed to an upper surface 17 of the rotatable actuator member 14 by a consumer safe adhesive to extend around the ring portion 34 and across the opening 24 thereof to cover the opening 24. Additionally, or alternatively, the lid member 18 may only be affixed to the ring portion 34 of the rotatable actuator member 14. Preferably, the lid member 18 is not bonded to the cylindrical wall 23 of the container body 12 when the rotatable lid assembly 15 is coupled thereto such that it does not inhibit rotation of the rotatable actuator member 14.

The lid member 18 may additionally include a tab 42 for facilitating removal of the lid member 18 from the upper surface 17 of the rotatable actuator member 14. In operation, a user can pull the tab 42 to peel back and remove the lid member 18 to access the contents in the container assembly 11. Alternatively, the lid member 18 may be a plastic film, or a substantially rigid cap made of, for example, plastic. The lid member 18 may also be resealable, such that it can be reattached to upper surface 17 of the rotatable actuator member 14 by a user to save some of the contents in the container assembly 11 for consumption at another point in time.

With reference to FIG. 3B, in another aspect, the lid member 318 of the lid assembly 315 includes an auxiliary opening 44. The auxiliary opening 44 is located adjacent an inner edge 43 of the upper surface 17 of the ring portion 34 of the rotatable actuator member 14, and generally further from the center 49 of the lid member 318. The auxiliary opening 44 can be shaped to allow for consumption directly from the container body 12 in a manner familiar to a consumer such as, for example, drinking from a soda can. The auxiliary opening 44 is sealed with an additional portion of lidding foil 45, via a consumer safe adhesive, and may additionally include an auxiliary tab portion 46 to facilitate removal thereof. Preferably, the additional portion of lidding foil 45 is affixed to the lid member 18 and extends across the auxiliary opening 44 to seal and inhibit any contents in the container body 11 from escaping through the auxiliary opening 44. So configured, a consumer may peel the tab portion 46 from the center of the lid member 318 to remove the lidding foil 45 and expose the auxiliary opening 44 to allow for consumption directly from the container assembly 11. The auxiliary opening 44 is located on the lid member 318 at a location such that the upper pouch securing device 36 does not block or interfere with the auxiliary opening 44 or otherwise prevent the contents within the container assembly 11 from being consumed directly or poured into another container.

FIG. 4 illustrates another multi-compartment container device 400. The container device 400 is almost identical to the above-described container device 10 except for its wall structure. In FIG. 4, a portion of the container body 412 is in ghost to show the flexible pouch 429 in the rigid, outer compartment 425 being twisted as the rotatable actuator member 414 is turned to rupture the frangible portion 426. As shown, stop member 448 of the rotatable actuator member 414 is abutting the abutment member 440 to block further rotation. The container body 412 of FIG. 4 is of a dual-walled construction. The flexible pouch 429 is affixed to both the upper and lower pouch securing devices 436, 438 via rivets. As shown in FIG. 4, rotation of the rotatable actuator member 414 has caused the frangible portion 426 of the flexible pouch 429 to rupture, providing fluid communication between the contents in the flexible pouch 429 and those in the rigid, outer compartment 425 in the container assembly 411.

By way of example, and without limitation, the rigid, outer compartment 425 may contain tonic water and the flexible pouch 429 may contain vodka. Rotation of the rotatable actuator member 414 by a user will twist and apply torque to the flexible pouch 429 and rupture the frangible portion 426 thereof. The vodka in the flexible pouch 429 may then mix with the tonic water in in the rigid, outer compartment 425 of the container body 412 to prepare a vodka tonic. The consumer may then remove the lid member 418 of the lid assembly 415 and either consume the beverage directly from the container device 400 or pour the beverage into a separate glass or container.

FIG. 5 illustrates another multi-compartment container device 500 that is substantially similar to container device 10 such that any differences will be highlighted hereinafter. In FIG. 5, a portion of the cylindrical wall 523 is in ghost to show the interior of the rigid, outer compartment 525 and the flexible pouch 529 located therein. The upper portion 539 of the flexible pouch 529 is affixed to the upper pouch securing device 536 and the lower portion 541 of the flexible pouch 529 is affixed to the lower pouch securing device 538 such that the flexible pouch 529 is suspended therebetween in the rigid, outer compartment 525 as described above.

The flexible pouch 529 of multi-compartment container device 500 may further include one or more auxiliary compartments 550 thereof with one or more frangible portions 554. Each auxiliary compartment 550 is configured to contain an auxiliary liquid or ingredient. The auxiliary compartment 550 may be formed by an inner seal 556 of the flexible pouch 529 dividing the flexible pouch 529 into two or more compartments such as, for example, the flexible compartment 528 and the auxiliary compartment 550. Preferably, the inner seal 556 divides the flexible pouch 529 vertically such that the flexible inner compartment 528 and the auxiliary compartment 550 are separated in a side-by-side configuration by the inner seal 556 while suspended within the rigid, outer compartment 525. The inner seal 556 may be formed by sealing a portion of the panels of the flexible pouch 529 together via heat sealing, consumer safe adhesives, or the like such that the flexible pouch 529 is separated in two or more distinct compartments 528, 550. The inner seal 556 may separate the flexible compartment 528 and the auxiliary compartment 550 into equally sized compartments configured to contain an equal volume of liquid, and in other configurations, the flexible compartment 528 and the auxiliary compartment 550 may be of different volumes.

Additionally, the rotatable actuator member 514 may include an indicator 563 corresponding with indicia 565 located at spaced intervals about the cylindrical wall 523 of the container body 512. The alignment between the indicator 563 and the indicia 565 indicates to a user whether the frangible portion 526, the frangible portion 554, or both have ruptured. The indicia 565 may be spaced about the cylindrical wall 523 to correspond with the selected rupture points of the frangible portion 526 and the frangible portion 554 such that a user rotating the rotatable actuator member 514 can visually see whether one or both of the frangible portions 526, 554 have ruptured according to the indicator 563 aligning with certain indicia 565. This affords the user greater control over selecting what ingredients are mixed in the container assembly 511. For example, the flexible compartment 528 and the auxiliary compartment 550 may contain different ingredients or contents to be mixed with the contents in the rigid, outer compartment 525 to create different combinations of drinks. Rotation of the rotatable actuator member 514 to one of the indicia 565 may rupture frangible portion 526 and mix only the contents of the flexible compartment 528 and the outer compartment 525. Further rotation of the rotatable actuator member 514 to another indicia 565 corresponding with the rupture point of the frangible portion 554 will rupture the frangible portion 554 and the auxiliary ingredient will also be mixed with the ingredients in the outer compartment 525.

In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the flexible compartment 528 and the auxiliary compartment 550 are of a side-by-side configuration and the frangible portion 526 of the flexible compartment 528 is located on the longitudinal edge 532 of the flexible pouch 529 and the frangible portion 554 of the auxiliary compartment 550 is located on the longitudinal edge 533 of the flexible pouch 529. Similar to frangible portion 526, the frangible portion 554 of the auxiliary compartment 550 is configured to rupture when the torque applied to the flexible pouch 529 by rotation of the rotatable actuator member 514 exceeds the seal strength of the frangible portion 554.

The frangible portion 554 of the auxiliary pouch is preferably configured to have a higher seal strength than frangible portion 526 such that each requires a different amount of torque to rupture. As described above, in the initial position the upper pouch securing device 536 and the lower pouch securing device 538 are axially aligned such that the pouch 529 is suspended therebetween and no torque is applied to the pouch 529. A user may then rotate the rotatable actuator member 514 clockwise to align the indicator 563 with one of the indicia 565 corresponding with the first mix position 564 to apply torque to rupture the frangible portion 526 and mix the contents of the rigid, outer compartment 525 and the flexible compartment 528. Further rotation of the rotatable actuator member 514 to align the indicator 563 with the one of the indicia 565 corresponding with the second mix position 566 will increase the torque applied to flexible pouch 529 and additionally rupture the frangible portion 554 of the auxiliary compartment 550 to mix the auxiliary ingredient with the other contents already commingled in the container device 500.

For example, the rigid, outer compartment 525 may contain amaretto, the flexible compartment 528 may contain sour mix, and the auxiliary compartment 550 may contain orange juice. Rotation of the rotatable actuator member 514 to align the indicator 563 with indicia 565 corresponding with the first mix position 564 will twist and rupture the frangible portion 526 of the flexible pouch 529 thus mixing the amaretto of the rigid, outer compartment 525 with the sour mix of the flexible compartment 528 to prepare an amaretto sour. Further rotation of the rotatable actuator member 514 to align the indicator 563 with the indicia 565 corresponding with the second mix position 566 will additionally rupture the auxiliary frangible portion 554 of the auxiliary compartment 550 and release the orange juice in the container body 512 to mix the ingredients and prepare an amaretto stone sour.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments of the multi-compartment container device without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.

Claims

1. A multi-compartment container device for containing different ingredients, the multi-compartment container device comprising: a container assembly having at least a first compartment for containing a first ingredient and a second compartment for containing a second ingredient;a frangible portion in the container assembly between the first and second compartments;an actuator member operable to rupture the frangible portion to permit mixing of the first and second ingredients in the container assembly; andan outer wall of the container assembly having a generally rigid configuration and extending about at least one of the first and second compartments.

2. The multi-compartment container device of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second compartments comprises a flexible pouch.

3. The multi-compartment container device of claim 2, wherein the flexible pouch is inside the other of the first and second compartments and the frangible portion extends along an external wall of the flexible pouch.

4. The multi-compartment container device of claim 2, wherein an upper portion of the flexible pouch is connected to the actuator member and a lower portion of the flexible pouch is connected to a base portion of the container assembly.

5. The multi-compartment container device of claim 1, wherein the actuator member is rotatably coupled to the container assembly so that rotation of the actuator member relative to the container assembly causes the frangible portion to rupture.

6. The multi-compartment container device of claim 1, wherein the actuator member and the container assembly have a stop therebetween to limit rotation of the actuator member beyond the stop.

7. The multi-compartment container device of claim 1, further comprising a lid member disposed on the actuator member to inhibit the first ingredient and the second ingredient from escaping the container body.

8. A multi-compartment container device for containing different ingredients, the multi-compartment container device comprising: a container assembly configured to have at least a first compartment for containing a first ingredient and a second compartment for containing a second ingredient;a frangible portion in the container assembly between the first and second compartments;a lid assembly configured to be rotatably mounted on the container assembly; anda rotatable actuator member of the lid assembly configured to be rotated for rupturing the frangible portion to permit mixing of the first and second ingredients in the container assembly.

9. The multi-compartment container device of claim 8, wherein the container assembly includes an outer wall having a generally rigid configuration and extending about at least one of the first and second compartments.

10. The multi-compartment container device of claim 8, wherein the container assembly includes an auxiliary compartment for containing an auxiliary ingredient and having an auxiliary frangible portion.

11. The multi-compartment container device of claim 10, wherein the container assembly includes at least a first indicium corresponding with a rupture point of the frangible portion and a second indicium corresponding with a rupture point of the auxiliary frangible portion.

12. The multi-compartment container device of claim 11, wherein the rotatable actuator member includes an indicator; wherein rotation of the rotatable actuator member to align the indicator with the first indicium causes rupture of the frangible portion; andwherein rotation of the rotatable actuator member to align the indicator with the second indicium causes rupture of the auxiliary frangible portion.

13. The multi-compartment container device of claim 8, wherein one of the first and second compartments comprises a flexible pouch having opposite longitudinal edges, and the frangible portion extends along at least one of the longitudinal edges.

14. The multi-compartment container device of claim 13, wherein flexible pouch includes an inner seal defining an auxiliary compartment of the flexible pouch for containing an auxiliary ingredient and having an auxiliary frangible portion.

15. The multi-compartment container device of claim 14, wherein the auxiliary frangible portion extends along at least one of the longitudinal edges of the flexible pouch.

16. A method for assembling a multi-compartment container device, the method comprising: securing a flexible pouch containing a first ingredient and having a frangible portion to a base portion of a container assembly;securing the flexible pouch to an actuator member;rotatably mounting the actuator member on the container assembly opposite the base portion such that the flexible pouch is disposed between the base portion and the actuator member in the container assembly; andloading a second ingredient into the container assembly such that rotation of the actuator member causes the frangible portion to rupture and the first ingredient to mix with the second ingredient in the container assembly.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: applying a lid member to the actuator member to inhibit escape of the second ingredient from the container assembly.