EP0259852A1 - Multichamber container - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/EP87/00508 Sec. 371 Date Apr. 14, 1988 Sec. 102(e) Date Apr. 14, 1988 PCT Filed Sep. 9, 1987 PCT Pub. No. WO88/01973 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 24, 1988.A multichamber container with no compressed gas therein comprises an outer container and an inner container for pourable substances which are to be kept separate. The substances may be combined inside the container for the purpose of extracting a mixture of substances. The inner container has an open end which is connected to an inner side of a cap with positive locking, in a non-rotatable and axially detachable manner, and has at least one projection on the outside wall. The outer container is connected to the rotatable cap by means of a snap connection and has at least one projection on the inside wall. The projectins of both containers are formed in such a manner that they intercommunicate for combining the substances by rotation of the cap. The inner container is axially detachable from the cap.

Description

The invention relates to a pressureless gas-free multi-chamber container with an outer and inner container for pourable substances to be kept separately, the substances being able to be brought together within the container for the purpose of removing a mixture of substances.

Such containers are known in a wide variety of embodiments and have the disadvantage that they are complicated in structure, cumbersome to handle and difficult to assemble.

From US Pat. No. 4,024,952 it is known to provide a threaded screw cap which lifts the separating cover with a high level of force by means of an opposing screw connection of the inner container for material assembly.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pressureless multi-chamber container according to the preamble of claim 1 which, in addition to simple handling, a secure inner container seal and simple automatic assembly, enables material to be brought together with little effort and a small angle of rotation of the rotary cap.

This object is achieved in accordance with the characterizing part of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

Advantageously, the merging of the substances in the multi-chamber container for the purpose of producing a mixture of substances is achieved in that, on the one hand, projections are provided on the inner wall side of the outer container, which communicate with the projections on the outer wall side of the inner container, the projections being arranged on diametrically opposite sides that at Rotate the cap, the projections are axially displaced and thereby the inner container is released from the cap connection and with its contents in the outer container falls. By shaking the multi-chamber container, a homogeneous mixture of substances can be achieved through the loose inner container. To remove this mixture, the cap lock is opened.

Depending on the requirements, the projections can be designed in various ways, e.g. B. that the outer container protrusions on the underside a horizontally oriented plane, the inner container protrusions on the top side, however, have a radial, oblique plane or that the outer container protrusions on the underside have an inclined plane, the inner container protrusions have a radial, horizontal plane on the upper side.

In another embodiment of the projections, these are configured such that the outer container projections have undersides symmetrical wedge-shaped inclined planes, but the inner container projections have a horizontal plane on the upper side, whereby any direction of rotation of the cap is possible for the separation process. The same applies if the outer container projections have a horizontal plane on the underside and the inner container projections have symmetrical wedge-shaped inclined planes on the upper side.

Due to the top (symmetrical wedge-shaped) oblique planes of the outer container protrusions, it is advantageously achieved that when the inner container is inserted into the outer container, the inner container is forcibly oriented by means of the inner container protrusions through the outer container protrusions such that the inner container connected to the cap can be freely placed in the outer container .

For a simple construction, the inner container is cup-shaped.

For a fluid-tight fit of the open end of the Inner container, the cap has a sealing ring on the inside ceiling.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the inner container has an axial projection towards its open side, which forms a non-rotatable and axially releasable connection with the cap, for. B. in such a way that the projection has a polygonal profile in its end region, the beginning of the removal channel of the cap having a polygonal profile complementary thereto, for the purpose of a rotationally fixed connection with the cap.

An improved non-rotatable and axially releasable connection is achieved in that two diametrically opposite projections are arranged on the outside of the projection, which communicate with a transverse, funnel-shaped recess of a hollow cylindrical centering device, so that the connection position of the inner container with the cap is fixed and that Inner container experiences a forced orientation in the recess by the two projections by means of the centering device during the connection process.

In another advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the projection in its end region is designed as a stopper closing the removal channel, as a result of which incorrect removal of only an unmixed substance is prevented, or that removal of the substance from the multi-chamber container is only possible if it is rotated the cap both substances have been brought together.

Within the scope of the invention it can be provided to design the inner container with a plurality of concentrically arranged cylindrical chambers, whereby more than two different substances can be kept separate.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention can be seen in the fact that the projection is designed as a tube and is designed in such a way that it connects the removal channel to the outer container chamber, whereby a predetermined, limited partial quantity removal from the outer container chamber is made possible.

The projection and the inner container are advantageously formed in one piece and are therefore inexpensive to produce.

A targeted and metered application of the substance mixture is achieved in that the outer container is designed to be compressible. This can be achieved in that either the outer container is designed with an elastic wall or in that the outer container wall is designed in the form of a bellows.

In the following, the invention is described by means of several exemplary embodiments with the aid of figures which are shown schematically in part.

• Fig. 1 in einem Axialschnitt den Oberteil eines Mehrkam­merbehälters;
• Fig. 2 einen Schnitt A - Aʹ gemäß Fig. 1, aber mit Drauf­sicht auf den Innenbehälter;
• Fig. 3 eine Schnittdarstellung gemäß B - Bʹ aus Fig. 2, jedoch unter Begrenzung des Schnitts A - Aʹ;
• Fig. 4 einen Axialschnitt durch den Mehrkammerbehälter in Applikationsstellung mit einer Teilmengenentnahme­begrenzung aus der Außenbehälterkammer;
• Fig. 5 eine Seitenansicht eines Mehrkammerbehälters;
• Fig. 6 eine Schnittdarstellung gemäß Schnitt C - Cʹ aus Fig. 5;
• Fig. 7 eine Seitenansicht eines ovalen Mehrkammerbehälters;
• Fig. 8 eine Schnittdarstellung gemäß Schnitt D - Dʹ aus Fig. 7;
• Fig. 9 bis 12 in verschiedenen Ansichten einen Innenbehälter für eine bevorzugte Zentrierhilfseinrichtung;
• Fig. 13 bis 15 in verschiedenen Ansichten eine Kappe mit einer be­vorzugten Zentrierhilfseinrichtung;
• Fig. 16 bis 18 in einem verkleinerten Maßstab in verschiedenen Ansichten einen zu den Fig. 9 bis 15 korrespon­dierenden Außenbehälter.

It shows:

• 1 shows the upper part of a multi-chamber container in an axial section;
• FIG. 2 shows a section A - Aʹ according to FIG. 1, but with a top view of the inner container;
• 3 shows a sectional view according to B - Bʹ from FIG. 2, but with limitation of the section A - Aʹ;
• 4 shows an axial section through the multi-chamber container in the application position with a partial quantity limitation from the outer container chamber;
• 5 shows a side view of a multi-chamber container;
• FIG. 6 is a sectional view according to section C - Cʹ from FIG. 5;
• Fig. 7 is a side view of an oval multi-chamber container;
• FIG. 8 is a sectional view according to section D - D Fig from FIG. 7;
• 9 to 12 in different views an inner container for a preferred centering aid device;
• 13 to 15 in different views a cap with a preferred centering device;
• 16 to 18, on a reduced scale, in different views, an outer container corresponding to FIGS. 9 to 15.

1 shows a multi-chamber container 1 as it is intended for storage for pourable substances to be kept separately, but without depicting the substances. The substances to be kept separately are each received in the inner container chamber 2 or in the outer container chamber 3. The inner container 5 projects centrally into the outer container 4. The outer container 4 is connected to a tightly closing, rotatable cap 6 by means of a latching connection 7. The inner container 5 is connected with its open end to the inside 8 of the cap 6 in a sealed, non-rotatable and axially detachable manner. For a liquid-tight fit of the open end of the inner container 5, the cap 6 is on the inside ceiling with a sealing ring 9 provided. Another sealing ring 10 closes the outer container chamber 3 in a liquid-tight manner. The inner container 5 has 2 diametrically opposite projections 11, 12 on the outer wall side; the outer container 4 has two diametrically opposite projections 13, 14 on the inner wall side. The projections 11, 12, 13, 14 are arranged such that by rotating the cap 6 they communicate with one another in such a way that the inclined projections 11, 12 are pushed axially downward from the underside of the outer container projections 13, 14 during the turning process of the cap 6 and thus axially detaches the inner container 5 from the cap 6. In the embodiment shown here, a rotation counterclockwise must be carried out to release the inner container. The substances can now be mixed by shaking the multi-chamber container 1. The loose inner container 5 supports the mixing process while shaking the multi-chamber container 1. To remove the mixture of substances, the closure 15 is removed from the cap 6.

A non-rotatable connection of the inner container 5 with the cap 6 is achieved in that the inner container 5 has an axial projection 16 towards its open side, which is provided with a polygonal profile 17 in its end region, with two receiving the projection 16 being the beginning of a removal channel 18 of the cap 6 has a complementary polygonal profile.

The axial projection 16 is designed in such a way that it serves as a plug closing the removal channel 18. This measure prevents incorrect removal of only one substance from the multi-chamber container. Only after turning the cap can only a mixture of substances be removed via the removal channel.

The axial projection 16 is expediently designed such that it runs from the bottom of the inner container 5. A centering device 18 A for the axial projection 16 or inner container 5 consists of a funnel which opens into the beginning of the removal channel 18.

1 shows a sectional view according to section A - Aʹ from FIG. 1, but without a section through the inner container 5 or with a plan view of the inner container 5. FIG. 2 particularly illustrates the projections 11, 12, 13, 14 and the axial projection 16 with a polygonal profile 17. If the inner container 5 is rotated counterclockwise by means of the cap 6, the two projections 11, 12 touch the underside of the projections 13, 14 in a first position due to the inclined position of the projections 11, 12 a further displacement of the inner container 5 is initiated in the axial direction downward, so that the inner container 5 is separated from the cap 6 after a rotation of 90 degrees.

3 shows a sectional view according to section B - Bʹ from FIG. 2, but with an upper limit of the section A - Aʹ from FIG. 1. From this it is further clear how the projections 11, 12 with the underside plane 20 of the outer container projections 13 , 14 communicate.

The top planes 22, 23 of the projections 13, 14 represent an assembly aid, the projections 11, 12 being oriented along the planes 22, 23 when inserted into the multi-chamber container 1 such that the projections 11, 12 unhindered the projections 13, 14 can happen. The top planes 24, 25 of the projections 11, 12 are in contact with the bottom planes 20, 21 of the projections 13, 14 during the separation process.

Fig. 4 shows in a further embodiment of the inner container 5ʹ this with an axial projection 16, which as a Tube 26 is formed and connects the removal channel 18 to the outer container chamber 3 in a liquid-tight manner. For the purpose of assembly aid, the tube 26 opening into the removal channel 18 is conical. Depending on the length of the tube 26 into the outer container chamber 3, a maximum extractable quantity of the substance 27 located in the outer container chamber 3 can be limited. This limited state is shown in FIG. 4. A further removal of this substance 27 and the further second substance 28 can only take place in a mixed state, for which purpose the container is closed again with the closure 15 and by rotating the cap 6 of the inner container 5 'from the cap 6 is solved. By briefly shaking the multi-chamber container 1, a homogeneous mixture of the two substances 27, 28 can be achieved. The closure 15 is then removed again in order to remove a mixture of substances.

5 to 8 show differently designed outer container projections 13ʹ, 14ʹ and 13ʺ, 14ʺ. 5 and 6 show cylindrical inner container projections 11ʹ, 12ʹ. The projections 13, ʹ, 14ʹ on the underside have symmetrical wedge-shaped inclined planes 20ʹ, 21ʹ. As a result, the inner container 5ʺ can be separated by any direction of rotation of the cap 6. On the upper side, the projections 13ʹ, 14ʹ have an inclined plane 22ʹ, 23ʹ, whereby the projections 11ʹ, 12ʹ on the upper-side inclined plane 22ʹ, 23ʹ of the projections 13ʹ, 14ʹ can slide along for the purpose of automatically overcoming the projections 13ʹ, 14ʹ according to a storage position according to FIG. 5.

In contrast to the multi-chamber containers shown so far, the multi-chamber container according to FIGS. 7 and 8 has an oval-shaped outer container 4. Here, the projections 11ʺ, 12ʺ are oriented transversely to the axis of the multi-chamber container; the projections 13ʺ, 14ʺ, however are provided on both sides with oblique parallel planes 22ʺ, 23ʺ and 13ʺ, 14 und. The projections 11ʺ, 12ʺ, 13ʺ, 14ʺ communicate appropriately in such a way that the inner container 5ʺ is separated from the cap 6 with about a 120 degree rotation of the cap 6.

A preferred embodiment of a multi-chamber container 1ʺʺ is shown in FIGS. 9 to 18 in its individual parts. Thus, in FIG. 9, an inner container 5 ‴ is shown in an axial section, through which an axially extending tube 26 ″ runs. In the lower area of the inner container 5 ‴ two diametrically opposite projections 11 ‴, 12 ‴ are arranged on the outside. Two diametrically opposite projections 16 A, 16 B run from the inner bottom of the inner container 5 ‴ on the outside of the tube 26ʹ. In the lower region of the inner container 5 ‴ two diametrically opposite projections 11 ‴, 12 ‴ are arranged on the outside, which have the shape of a rhombus ( see also Fig. 11!).

For a better view, the inner container 5 ‴ is shown in a top view in FIG. 10.

A side view of the inner container 5 5 according to FIG. 9 rotated by 90 degrees is shown in FIG. 11. The rhomubic design of the projections 11 ‴, 12 ‴ is particularly evident here. At the edge of the inner container 5 ‴ a continuous ring 31 is arranged on the outside, which serves for a snap connection with the cap 6ʹ.

A view of the lower side of the inner container 5 ‴ is shown in FIG. 12. It is clear here that the projections 11 ‴, 12 ‴ have approximately the width which corresponds to the diameter of the inner container 5 ‴.

13 shows a cap in an axial sectional view 6ʹ, which has a centering device 18 B. A sealing ring 10 Verbindung is provided for a liquid-tight connection between the cap 6ʹ and the outer container 4‴. Another sealing ring 9ʹ serves for a liquid-tight connection between the cap 6ʹ and the inner container 5 ‴. An interrupted snap ring 30 is arranged between the sealing rings 9ing, 10ʹ, which ensures a secure connection between the cap 6ʹ and the inner container 5‴. For a liquid-proof connection between the removal channel 18 and the axial projection 16 or the tube 26ʹ of the inner container 5 ‴ 18 sealing rings 31 are provided in the lower region of the removal channel. In the lower region of the cap 6ʹ, knobs 32 are arranged on the inside for a snap-in connection 7 with the outer container 4‴.

An axially rotated view by 90 degrees is shown in FIG. 14. The funnel-shaped recess 29 on the hollow cylindrical projection 19 of the centering aid 18 B is particularly clear from this. The narrower area of the recess 29 serves as a seat for the two projections 16 A, 16 B of the inner container 5 ‴.

A view from below of the cap 6ʹ is shown in FIG. 15, the broken snap ring 30 being particularly illustrated here.

An outer container 4 ‴ corresponding to the inner container 5 ‴ and the cap 6ʹ is shown in FIGS. 16 to 18. The projections 13 ‴, 14 ‴ are rhombus-shaped in the form of bulges going into the outer container 4 ‴.

Reference symbol list

• 1, 1ʹ, 1ʺ, 1 ‴, 1ʺʺ multi-chamber container
• 2 inner container chamber
• 3 outer container chamber
• 4, 4ʹ, 4ʺ, 4 ‴ outer container
• 5, 5ʹ, 5ʺ, 5 ‴ inner container
• 6, 6ʹ cap
• 7 locking connection
• 8 inside of the cap
• 9, 9ʹ sealing ring
• 10, 10ʹ sealing ring
• 11, 11ʹ, 11ʺ, 11 ‴ projection (inner container)
• 12, 12ʹ, 12ʺ, 12 ‴ projection (inner container)
• 13, 13ʹ, 13ʺ, 13 ‴ projection (outer container)
• 14, 14ʹ, 14ʺ, 14 ‴ projection (outer container)
• 15 closure
• 16 axial projection
• 16 A, 16 B projections of the projection (16)
• 17, 17ʹ polygonal profile
• 18 extraction channel
• 18 A, 18 B centering aid
• 19 hollow cylindrical projection
• 20, 20ʹ, 20ʺ, 20 ‴ levels
• 21, 21ʹ, 21ʺ, 21 ‴ levels
• 22, 22ʹ, 22ʺ, 22 ‴ levels
• 23, 23ʹ, 23ʺ, 23 ‴ levels
• 24, 24ʺ levels
• 25, 25ʺ levels
• 26, 26ʹ tube
• 27 substance
• 28 substance
• 29 recess
• 30 click
• 31 sealing rings
• 32 knobs

Claims (21)

1. Pressureless multi-chamber container (1, 1ʹ, 1ʺ, 1 ‴, 1ʺʺ) with an outer and inner container (4, 4ʹ, 4ʺ, 4 ‴; 5, 5ʹ, 5ʺ, 5 ‴) for separate pourable substances (27, wherein for the purpose of removal of a substance mixture, the substances (27, 28) 28) within the container (1) can be brought together, characterized by the following features:
a) The outer container (4, 4ʹ, 4ʺ, 4 ‴) is positively connected to the top with a rotatable cap (6, 6ʹ) by means of a latching connection (7);
b) the inner container (5, 5ʹ, 5ʺ, 5 ‴) is connected with its open end on the top to an inside (8) of the cap (6, 6 form) in a form-fitting, rotationally fixed and axially detachable manner;
c) the inner container (5, 5ʹ, 5ʺ, 5 ‴) has at least one projection (11, 11ʹ, 11ʺ, 11 ‴; 12, 12ʹ, 12ʺ, 12 ‴) on the outer wall side;
d) the outer container (4, 4ʹ, 4ʺ, 4 ‴) has at least one projection (13, 13ʹ, 13ʺ, 13 ‴; 14, 14ʹ, 14ʺ, 14 ‴) on the inside wall side;
e) the projections (11, 11ʹ, 11ʺ, 11 ‴; 12, 12ʹ, 12ʺ, 12 ‴; 13, 13ʹ, 13ʺ, 13 ‴; 14, 14ʹ, 14ʺ, 14 ‴) are designed such that the axial rotation Cap (6, 6ʹ) they communicate with each other, whereby the inner container (5, 5ʹ, 5ʺ, 5 ‴) from the cap (6, 6ʹ) is axially detachable;
f) the cap (6) is provided on the top side with a closable removal channel (18). 2. Multi-chamber container according to claim 1, characterized characterized in that the projections (13, 13ʹ, 13ʺ, 13 ‴; 14, 14ʹ, 14ʺ, 14 ‴; 11, 11ʹ, 11ʺ, 11 ‴; 12, 12ʹ, 12ʺ, 12 ‴) are arranged on diametrically opposite sides. 3. Multi-chamber container according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the projections (13, 14) on the underside a horizontally oriented plane (20, 21), the other projections (11, 12) on the upper side a radial, inclined plane (24, 25th ) exhibit. 4. Multi-chamber container according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the projections (13ʺ, 14ʺ) on the underside an inclined plane (20ʺ, 21ʺ), the other projections (11ʺ, 12ʺ) on the top a radial, horizontal plane (24ʺ, 25ʺ) exhibit. 5. Multi-chamber container according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the projections (13ʹ, 14ʹ) underside symmetrical wedge-shaped inclined planes (20ʹ, 21ʹ), the other projections (11ʹ, 12ʹ) have a horizontal plane (24ʺ, 25ʺ) on the upper side. 6. Multi-chamber container according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the projections (13, 14) on the underside a horizontal plane (20), the other projections (11, 12) have symmetrical wedge-shaped inclined planes (24, 25) on the upper side. 7. Multi-chamber container according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the projections (11ʹ, 12ʹ) are cylindrical, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the container (1). 8. Multi-chamber container according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the projections (13ʹ, 13ʺ; 14ʹ, 14ʺ) have an inclined plane (22ʹ, 22ʺ; 23ʹ, 23ʺ) on the upper side 9. Multi-chamber container according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the projections (13, 14) have symmetrical wedge-shaped inclined planes (22) on the upper side. 10. Multi-chamber container according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the inner container (5, 5ʹ) is cup-shaped. 11. Multi-chamber container according to claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the cap (6) has a sealing ring (9) on the inside cover side for a liquid-tight fit of the open end of the inner container (5, 5ʹ). 12. Multi-chamber container according to claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the inner container (5, 5ʹ) has an axial projection (16) towards its open side, which forms a non-rotatable and axially releasable connection with the cap (6). 13. Multi-chamber container according to claim 12, characterized in that the projection (16) in its end region has a polygonal profile (1)), the beginning of the removal channel (18) of the cap (6) has a complementary profile (17ʹ). 14. Multi-chamber container according to claims 12 and 13, characterized in that the beginning of the removal channel (18) with a centering aid device (18 A) is provided. 15. Multi-chamber container according to claim 12, characterized in that the projection (16) has two diametrically opposite projections (16 A, 16 B) on the outside, which communicate with a centering device (18 B) on the cap (6). 16. Multi-chamber container according to claim 15, characterized in that the centering device (18 B) is designed as a hollow cylindrical projection (19) and that a transverse funnel-shaped recess (29) is provided in the end region, which is dimensioned such that the projections (16 A, 16B) communicate with the recess (29). 17. Multi-chamber container according to claim 12, characterized in that the projection (16) in its end region as the removal channel (18) closing plug (19) is formed. 18. Multi-chamber container according to claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the inner container (5, 5ʹ) has a plurality of concentrically arranged cylindrical chambers (2). 19. Multi-chamber container according to claim 12, characterized in that the projection (16) is designed as a tube (26) and is designed such that it connects the removal channel (18) with the outer container chamber (3). 20. Multi-chamber container according to claims 12 to 19, characterized in that the inner container (5, 5ʹ) and the projection (16) are integrally formed. 21. Multi-chamber container according to claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the outer container (4, 4ʹ, 4ʺ, 4 ‴) is designed compressible.

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