EP0873945B1

EP0873945B1 - Multiple cavity dispensing package

Info

Publication number: EP0873945B1
Application number: EP98303154A
Authority: EP
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: 1998-04-23
Publication date: 2003-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 2018-04-23
Also published as: CA2235856A1; CN1199008A; JPH10296157A; AU6360698A; BR9801169A; ID20299A; AU734596B2; JP2962704B2; ATE247046T1; ZA983486B; EP0873945A1; SG65752A1; DE69817064D1

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

This invention relates to multiple cavity pump dispensing packages.

Background and Summary of the Invention

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 slidably 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 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 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.
EP 0 747 299 discloses a multi-chamber refillable dispenser where the piston element is separate from the main body of the dispenser. The single chamber dispenser in EP 0 605 890 also discloses a piston that is separate from the plunger element of the dispenser. US 5 289 949 also discloses a multi-chamber dispenser where the piston element is separate and unwanted mixing of the contents of the two chambers, at the nozzle, is prevented by an extended septum.
Among the objectives of the present invention are to provide 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.
In accordance with the invention, there is provided a multiple cavity dispensing package as defined in claim 1. The package comprises a first hollow plastic body and a second hollow plastic body that interengage to define dual pump. The first plastic body is molded in one piece and includes an integral lateral nozzle with a cap integrally hinged thereto. The second plastic body includes integral pistons. The first plastic body includes integral cylinders, integral tubes extending through the integral nozzle. The cap includes dual plug seals which seal against the internal peripheral surfaces of the dual outlets of the nozzle.
The present invention also provides a method of making a multiple cavity dispensing package as defined in claim 4. It must be noted that the embodiment of Figures 1-10 wherein the pistons are separate is not part of the invention.

Description of the Drawings

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. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 3.
Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view at the circle 7 in Fig. 4.
Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the lower plastic body in Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view on an enlarged scale with the cap in open position.
Fig. 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 20 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, 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 which engage the complementary inner surfaces of the outlets 26 in integral 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 "a".
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.
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.

Claims

A multiple cavity dispensing package comprising:

a first hollow, one piece, molded plastic body (12 or 12a) having an open lower end;

a second hollow plastic body (14 or 14a) having an open upper end; and

interengaging means (22, 24 or 22a, 24a) in said first plastic body and said second plastic body defining plural pumps, wherein:

said first plastic body includes an integrally molded nozzle (16 or 16a) having dual outlets (26 or 26a), and an integrally molded cap (18) hinged to said nozzle and closing said outlets,

said first plastic body includes integrally molded product chambers (24 or 24a) and integrally molded passages extending from said chambers to said outlets of said nozzle; and

said interengaging means includes piston means in said second plastic body associated with said chambers in said first plastic body, whereby upon relative movement of said first plastic body towards said second plastic body said pistons push the contents of said chambers through said integrally molded passages to dispense the contents of said chambers through said nozzle; characterised in that

said integrally molded cap has integral plug seals, and

said pistons are integrally molded with said second plastic body.
The multiple cavity dispensing package of claim 1 wherein said integrally molded nozzle (16 or 16a) extends laterally from said second plastic body.
The multiple cavity dispensing package of either of claims 1 or 2 wherein said plug seals have a configuration complementary to the dual outlets (26) for sealing receipt into said dual outlets.
A method of making a multiple cavity dispensing package comprising:

integrally molding a first hollow one-piece plastic body (12 or 12a) having an open lower end and including an integral nozzle (16 or 16a) having dual outlets, a cap (18) with plug seals integrally molded on said nozzle and coupled to said nozzle by an integral hinge (20), and product chambers and internal passages in said first plastic body extending from the chambers to the outlets of said nozzle,

forming a second hollow plastic body (14) having an open upper end, wherein

piston means (22) are in said second plastic body associated with said chambers (24) in said first plastic body, said piston means and said chambers constituting integral interengaging means defining plural pumps such that said step of integrally molding said first plastic body includes integrally molding said chambers in the form of cylinders in which said pistons are located; and

assembling said first and second plastic bodies to form a dispensing package which is operable upon relative movement of said second plastic body toward said first plastic body to dispense the contents of said chambers through said nozzle.
The method of claim 4 wherein said step of integrally molding said first plastic body is such that said integral nozzle extends laterally from said first plastic body.
The method of claim 4 or claim 5 wherein said step of molding said cap comprises integrally molding separate plug seals having a configuration for sealing receipt into the passages through said outlets on said nozzle.