AU734596B2

AU734596B2 - Multiple cavity dispensing package

Info

Publication number: AU734596B2
Application number: AU63606/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Leonora M. Durliat
Original assignee: Owens Brockway Plastic Products Inc
Current assignee: Graham Packaging Plastic Products Inc
Priority date: 1997-04-25
Filing date: 1998-04-24
Publication date: 2001-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2018-04-24
Also published as: JPH10296157A; ATE247046T1; EP0873945A1; AU6360698A; BR9801169A; ZA983486B; DE69817064D1; CN1199008A; SG65752A1; JP2962704B2; CA2235856A1; EP0873945B1; ID20299A

Abstract

A multiple cavity dispensing package including a first upper hollow plastic body (12 or 12a) having an open lower end and a second lower hollow plastic body (14 or 14a) having an open upper end. Interengaging parts in the first plastic body and the second plastic body defining plural pumps. The first hollow plastic body is a one-piece molded plastic body and includes an integral spout (16 or 16a) having dual outlets (26 or 26a). An integral cap (18) is hinged to the spout and closes the outlet. Integral product chambers (24 or 24a) and integral passages in the first plastic body extend from the chambers to the outlets of the spout. The dispensing package is operable upon relative movement of the first plastic body toward the second plastic body to dispense the contents of the chambers through the spout. <IMAGE>

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

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4** a a. e Name of Applicant/s: Actual Inventor/s: Address of Service: Invention Title: Owens-Brockway Plastic Products Inc.

Leonora M. DURLIAT BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS MARGARET STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 "MULTIPLE CAVITY DISPENSING PACKAGE" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- (File: 20807.00) -la- MULTIPLE CAVITY DISPENSING PACKAGE This invention relates to multiple cavity pump dispensing packages.

Background and Summary of the Invention The foregoing and any following description of, or reference to, the prior art is provided so that the present invention may be more fully understood and appreciated in its technical context and its significance more fully appreciated. Unless clearly indicated to the contrary, however, this discussion is not, and should not be interpreted as, an express or implied admission that any of the prior art referred to is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

Multiple cavity dispensing packages of the pump type are shown in U.S. Patents Nos. 5,020,694, 5,289,949 and 5,332,124.

In U.S. Patent No. 5,289,949, there is disclosed a package comprising an upper housing on which a nozzle is snapped into position and a closure snapped onto the nozzle. The upper housing is slideably received in a lower housing which supports dual pistons such that when the upper housing is depressed dual streams of two materials are dispensed. Such a package is shown in the prior art. Such a package comprises a dispensing pump including an upper shroud with two integral cylinders, which slidably 20 accommodate pistons fixed on a lower shroud. The cylinders contain the product which is to be dispensed. The upper shroud includes dual outlets extending laterally of the upper shroud with two passages connected to the two cylinders. A dual outlet assembly "i *snaps into the upper shroud and has dual passages communicating with the dual outlets and extending laterally of the upper shroud. A nozzle snaps on the dual outlet assembly and engages the dual outlets. A cap is hinged to the nozzle. The cap is provided with a septum for maintaining the two products to be dispensed separate and are not intermixed when the cap is closed.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

-2- According to a first aspect, the invention provides a multiple cavity dispensing package comprising a first upper hollow plastic body having an open lower end, a second lower hollow plastic body having an open upper end, interengaging means in said first plastic body and said second plastic body defining plural pumps, said first hollow plastic body comprising a one-piece molded plastic body, said first plastic body including an integrally molded spout having dual outlets, and an integrally molded cap hinged to said spout and closing said outlets, integrally molded product chambers and integrally molded passages in said first plastic body extending from said chambers to said outlets of said spout, said dispensing package being operable upon relative movement of said first plastic body toward said second plastic body to dispense the contents of said chambers through said spout; and wherein said interengaging means includes piston means in said second plastic body associated with said chambers in said first plastic body, said piston means comprising pistons integrally molded with said second plastic body.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the 20 claims, the words 'comprise', 'comprising', and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".

•According to another aspect, the invention provides a method of making a °ooo multiple cavity dispensing package comprising 25 forming a first hollow plastic body having an open upper end, integrally molding a second hollow plastic body having an open lower end and comprising a one-piece molded plastic body as formed, including an integral spout having dual outlets, a cap integrally molded on said spout and coupled to said spout by an integral hinge, and product chambers and internal passages in said second plastic body extending from the chambers to the outlets of said spout, and, 2aforming integral interengaging means in said first plastic body and said second plastic body defining plural pumps, forming piston means in said first plastic body associated with said chambers in said second plastic body such that said step of integrally molding said second plastic body including integrally molding said chambers in the form of cylinders in which said pistons are located; and such that said dispensing package is operable upon relative movement of said second plastic body toward said first plastic body to dispense the contents of said chambers through said spout.

Advantageously, the invention, at least in a preferred form provides a multiple cavity dispensing package which is less complex, which uses a minimum number of parts, which is less costly to manufacture by using fewer molds, and which is easier to assemble.

Preferably, the second plastic body is molded in one piece and includes an integral lateral nozzle with a cap integrally hinged thereto. Also preferably, the first plastic body includes integral pistons and the second plastic body includes integral cylinders with integral tubes extending through the integral nozzle. In other preferred forms, the cap :6g- includes dual sealing plugs which seals against the internal peripheral surfaces of the dual outlets of the nozzle.

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o 3 Description of the Drawinq- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a multiple cavity dispensing package embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view, showing the cap in open position.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

Fig. 4 is a part sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig.

Fig. 4.

5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view at the circle 7 in Fig. 4.

Fig.

Figs. 1 and 2.

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enlarged scale Fig.

8 is a top plan view of the lower plastic body in 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view on an with the cap in open position.

10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a part sectional elevational view similar to Fig. 4 showing a modified form of a multiple cavity dispensing packages.

Fig. 12 is an elevational view of a portion of the package shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line 13-13 in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a sectional elevational of the second lower part of the package shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figs. 1-10, the multiple cavity dispensing package 10 comprises a first upper hollow plastic body 12 and a second lower hollow plastic body 14 that interengage to define a dual pump. The first plastic body 12 is molded in one piece and includes an integral lateral nozzle 16 having dual outlets with a cap 18 integrally hinged by hinge to body 12. The second plastic body 14 includes pistons 22. The first plastic body 12 includes integral cylinders 24 that define product chambers and integral outlets 26 extending through the integral nozzle 16. As in the aforementioned patents 5,020,694, 5,289,949 and 5,332,124, incorporated by reference, when product is placed in the cylinders and the first part 12 is depressed, the product is dispensed.

Further, in accordance with the invention, the cap includes integral plug seals 36 (or 36a) which engage the complementary inner surfaces of the outlets 26 in integral o: nozzle 16.

In a modified form shown in Figs. 11-14, the seals are made integral with the pistons 22a which are, in turn, fixed on the lower body 14a. Corresponding parts are designated with a suffix In each of the forms, the product to be dispensed is introduced into the cylinders 24, 24a and the body 12 and 14 are assembled. In order to dispense the products, the cap 18, 18a is opened and the body 12, 12a is depressed to dispense the two products through the passages 26, 26a in nozzle 16, 16a.

i. It can thus be seen that there has been provided a multiple cavity dispensing package which is less complex, which uses a minimum number of parts, which is less costly to manufacture by using fewer molds and which is easier to assemble.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

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Claims

1. A multiple cavity dispensing package comprising a first upper hollow plastic body having an open lower end, a second lower hollow plastic body having an open upper end, interengaging means in said first plastic body and said second plastic body defining plural pumps, said first hollow plastic body comprising a one-piece molded plastic body, said first plastic body including an integrally molded spout having dual outlets, and an integrally molded cap hinged to said spout and closing said outlets, integrally molded product chambers and integrally molded passages in said first plastic body extending from said chambers to said outlets of said spout, said dispensing package being operable upon relative movement of said first plastic body toward said second plastic body to dispense the contents of said chambers through said spout; and wherein said interengaging means includes piston means in said second plastic body associated with said chambers in said first plastic body, said piston means comprising pistons integrally molded with said second plastic body.

2. The multiple cavity dispensing package set forth in claim 1 wherein said integrally molded spout extends laterally from said second plastic body.

3. The multiple cavity dispensing package set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein said piston means comprises separate pistons, said chambers comprising integrally molded cylinders in which said pistons are located. -7-

4. The multiple cavity dispensing package set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said cap comprises integrally molded separate sealing plugs having a configuration complementary to the dual outlets for sealing receipt into said dual outlets. A method of making a multiple cavity dispensing package comprising forming a first hollow plastic body having an open upper end, integrally molding a second hollow plastic body having an open lower end and comprising a one-piece molded plastic body as formed, including an integral spout having dual outlets, a cap integrally molded on said spout and coupled to said spout by an integral hinge, and product chambers and internal passages in said second plastic body extending from the chambers to the outlets of said spout, and, forming integral interengaging means in said first plastic body and said second plastic body defining plural pumps, forming piston means in said first plastic body associated with said chambers in :said second plastic body such that said step of integrally molding said second plastic body including integrally molding said chambers in the form of cylinders in which said oooo•pistons are located; and e. 20 such that said dispensing package is operable upon relative movement of said second plastic body toward said first plastic body to dispense the contents of said chambers through said spout. sa*:. oooao :6. 25 The method set for in claim 5 wherein said step of integrally molding said second plastic go• body is such that said integral spout extends laterally from said second plastic body. The method set forth in claim 5 wherein said step of molding said cap comprises integrally molding separate sealing lugs having a configuration for sealing receipt into the passages through said outlets on said spout. -8-

8. A multiple cavity dispensing package substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of making a multiple cavity dispensing package substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings. DATED this 7th Day of March, 2001 OWENS-BROCKWAY PLASTIC PRODUCTS INC. Attorney: STUART M. SMITH Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS S S