Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
  • B65D81/32—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging two or more different materials which must be maintained separate prior to use in admixture
  • B65D81/3205—Separate rigid or semi-rigid containers joined to each other at their external surfaces
  • B65D81/3211—Separate rigid or semi-rigid containers joined to each other at their external surfaces coaxially and provided with means facilitating admixture
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B29/00—Packaging of materials presenting special problems
  • B65B29/10—Packaging two or more different substances isolated from one another in the package but capable of being mixed without opening the package, e.g. forming packages containing a resin and hardener isolated by a frangible partition
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
  • B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
  • B65D51/28—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes with auxiliary containers for additional articles or materials
  • B65D51/2807—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes with auxiliary containers for additional articles or materials the closure presenting means for placing the additional articles or materials in contact with the main contents by acting on a part of the closure without removing the closure, e.g. by pushing down, pulling up, rotating or turning a part of the closure, or upon initial opening of the container
  • B65D51/2857—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes with auxiliary containers for additional articles or materials the closure presenting means for placing the additional articles or materials in contact with the main contents by acting on a part of the closure without removing the closure, e.g. by pushing down, pulling up, rotating or turning a part of the closure, or upon initial opening of the container the additional article or materials being released by displacing or removing an element enclosing it
  • B65D51/2878—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes with auxiliary containers for additional articles or materials the closure presenting means for placing the additional articles or materials in contact with the main contents by acting on a part of the closure without removing the closure, e.g. by pushing down, pulling up, rotating or turning a part of the closure, or upon initial opening of the container the additional article or materials being released by displacing or removing an element enclosing it the element being a lid or cover seated on a passage between the auxiliary container and the main container

Definitions

• This invention relates to a package for mixing two or more components of flowable material together.
• the systems that are relevant to the present invention relate to the small number of multi-component systems currently available that require full combination of two or more components prior to mixing and dispensing. All of these systems have the components stored in separate chambers and/or completely separate containers prior to mixing.
• the combining and mixing is achieved by, but not limited to, one or more of the following:
• the second and any additional components are poured (or squeezed) from their respective containers into a larger container ready for mixing, where the larger container already contains one of the components.
• All components are stored separately in chambers in a single larger container, where all chambers have interconnecting* plugs or valves. When the plugs or valves are dislodged or activated, the second and any subsequent components flow or pour from their respective chambers into the first and larger chamber ready for mixing.
• the larger chamber may or may not contain one of the components. • Any combination of the above.
• U.S. Patent Number 5,277,303 shows a package of this type where the components are stored in two separate bottles.
• a smaller bottle threadingly engages in the underside of a second and larger bottle, and by engaging the thread and rotating the two bottles, a plug in the underside of the upper larger bottle is dislodged.
• the two threadingly engaged bottles can then be inverted and the product from the smaller bottle can flow or pour down into the larger bottle.
• U.S. Patent Number 5,909,753 shows a different variant of a package of this type where the components are stored in two separate bottles.
• the second component is stored in a separate bottle that is threadingly engaged into the upper closure section of the first bottle.
• This system fully combines both products at one time.
• U.S. Patent Number 5,692,644 shows a package of this type where components are stored in two separate chambers in the one bottle.
• the two chambers are separated by a moveable wall, and by rotating the top of the bottle with respect to the bottom of the bottle, a thread engagement between the two bottle sections causes the dislodgement of the removable wall and the positive displacement of one component into the second component. While this system positively displaces one component in to the second, the overall internal volume of the two rotating bottle sections reduces significantly due to the movement of their thread engagement, and this causes the internal pressure of the bottle to increase.
• This application does not disclose the potential of partially dosing the one component into the second component.
• U.S Patent Number 5,967,309 shows a package of this type where the component is stored in a closure and container combination.
• a rotating interlock is combined with an internal groove (thread) and a press tab (key way).
• the tab By rotating the top of the closure, the tab causes an internal sleeve to move such as to open up release windows allowing the component in the closure to contact with the component in the container.
• U.S. Patent Number 4,785,931 shows a package of this type where more than one component is stored in separate chambers. To mix one or more components, a foil membrane is ruptured allowing the component in the chamber to drop down into the main container.
• the method of rupture in this system is by simple finger pressure, rather than through the operation of an in-built mechanism.
• U.S. Patent Number 6,076,570 shows a package of this type where the component to be displaced is stored in a closure.
• Rotating the closure allows the user to open or close a valve allowing the component stored in the closure to flow or pour under either gravity or pressure (if in gaseous form) into the main container.
• This method uses rotation to open or close a valve, so is in effect a passive displacement system. No pumping or positive displacement action occurs as a result of any mechanism as part of the rotation. The only effect of positive displacement occurs as a result of any pressurised component in the closure.
• U.S. Patent Numbers 5,029,71 8 and 5,038,951 show a package of this type where the component to be displaced is stored in a closure.
• a removable sealing cover shields a reservoir that can be pushed down to rupture a breakable bottom and release a component down into the main container.
• mixing is typically effected by either shaking, shaking with a heavy foreign object in the flowable material to aid mixing, stirring with an external object or mechanism, or any combination thereof.
• the object of the present invention is to overcome some of the disadvantages with current packaging systems and provide a useful alternative choice.
• a packaging system which provides for a positive displacement (or “pumping") of at least some of each of one or more components out of their separate and hermetically sealed chambers, combining them into a single main chamber or separate container.
• a further aspect of this invention is that the package can provide a swirling and/or eddy current action during the positive displacement of the component(s) out of the chamber(s) so assisting homogenous mixing.
• the container can be an assembly of the type in which one or more of the following features are included:
• a first part of the container is interlocked with a second part of the container in such a way as to allow the two parts to rotate with respect to each other while not substantially changing the internal volume enclosed within the two rotating parts
• a third part is keyed to the first part and threadingly engaged with the second part, creating one or more internal and hermetically sealed chambers,
• a third part is keyed to the first part and threadingly engaged with the second part, creating one or more internal chambers that house separate and fully hermetically sealed sub-chambers,
• combination can be either the total combination of the two or more components at once, or the dosing of one or more components into the first component as required, and where, due to the rotating action, a mixing/stirring action may also be generated to aid homogenous mixing.
• first and second parts are outer parts of the contained and the third part is an inner part. It is envisaged that other configurations are possible and will be recognised as such by those skilled in the art.
• the one or more adjustable volume chambers can be created by the use of a keyway and a thread and optionally an interlock.
• the two parts that rotate with respect to each other typically form part, or all, of the exterior of the container, and they can be interlocked together such that they are inseparable (unless the interlock is specifically designed to allow unlocking at the discretion of the user). At no time during rotation of the two interlocked parts does the internal volume enclosed by the two parts either substantially increase or decrease.
• the third part typically forms part of the internals of the container and can be threaded to the first rotating part and keyed to the second rotating part.
• the third part may or may not have hermetic sealing surfaces between itself and either/and/or the two rotating parts. If the third part is not hermetically sealed to either of the interlocked and rotating parts, then the chamber created between the third part and either/and/or the two interlocked rotating parts enclose one or more hermetically sealed sub-chambers.
• the relative motion of the third part relative to the part to which it is keyed is effected by a combination of a thread form on the surface of the third part and one or more male thread form flanges or lugs moulded on to a mating surface of the other part so that during assembly, the third part is first inserted and as the third part is pushed into the other part, the one or more free-standing male thread form flanges or lugs flex backwards as the thread form on the third part moves past them and when the third part has been fully inserted the one or more male thread form flanges or lugs are fully engaged at or near the lowest part of the thread form in which position a shoulder section of the other part acts so that the flanges or lugs can no longer flex to thereby create a functional thread form between the third part and the other part.
• This linear movement of the third part creates an internal adjustable volume chamber so enabling a component or components in the chamber to be positively displaced, or "pumped", out of the chamber as the volume decreases.
• This positive displacement can be:
• integral stirring devices can be mounted on to one or more of the rotating surfaces. During rotation, the stirring devices generate a swirling and/or eddy current action to assist in the homogeneous mixing of the two or more components as they combine.
• All of the components can be enclosed in the chamber of reducing volume, or if two chambers are present, the second and any subsequent components may be enclosed in the chamber of reducing volume while the first component may be enclosed directly in the main chamber of the container.
• the linearly moving third part causes the volume of the chamber to decrease, resulting in the thin-walled receptacle being squashed, so increasing it's internal pressure, leading to its rupture.
• the component(s) inside the chamber can be dispensed out of the container, or where there are two chambers, into the larger chamber, by any number of methods.
• Such methods include, but by no means are limited to:
• the rupture point(s) of the thin-walled receptacle(s) and/or membrane section(s) can be in one or more places, including but not limited to:
• the rupturing of the thin-walled receptacle(s) and/or membrane section(s) can be by one or more methods, including but not limited to:
• the physical object integrated into the design can be, but by no means is limited to:
• the thin-walled membrane can have or be, but is by no means limited to:
• the thin-walled receptacle(s) and/or membrane section(s) can be constructed from any flexible or rigid material that has suitable barrier properties to contain the component prior to combining and that can be readily torn, cut or ruptured.
• suitable materials include, but are not limited to, cardboard, plastic, metal foils (for example aluminium), rubbers, plastic/rubber blends and any laminate combination thereof.
• the thin-walled receptacle(s) can be a pouch or sachet-style format.
• the thin-walled receptacle(s) can be a very thin-walled blow moulded bottle.
• the thin-walled receptacle(s) can be a very thin-walled injection moulded bottle.
• the thin-walled receptacle(s) can be any formed, fabricated or moulded box, pocket, envelope, bag, or container, with a wall section thin enough to be readily ruptured for combination and mixing but strong enough and of high enough barrier properties to ensure the enclosed flowable material is kept fully separate prior to combination and mixing.
• the one or more thin-walled receptacles can be either separate from each other or attached together, or a combination thereof.
• the thin-walled receptacle(s) can be either rigid or flexible.
• the thin-walled receptacle(s) and/ membrane section(s) can have one or more integral closures with the purpose of being a filling point and/or exit flow path(s) of the flowable material.
• a filling or exit flow path can be of a one-way valve nature or a constriction.
• the thin-walled receptacle(s) and/or membrane section(s) can have one or more weak points engineered into the wall surface, joint or weld line with the specific intent of forming the failure point(s) upon rupture.
• Filling of the main chamber of the container can typically be achieved on a bottle filling line, filling of the thin-walled receptacle(s) can typically be achieved on a sachet or pouch filling machine, and direct filling of the internal chamber of reducing volume can typically be achieve through:
• the container can have the linear moving part providing positive displacement combination without having integral stirring devices for generation of homogenous mixing.
• the container can have a linear moving part that does not provide positive displacement combination however it does have integral stirring devices to generate homogenous mixing.
• the container can be any form of box, bottle, jar, flask, jug, decanter, cap, closure, syringe, phial, cruet, glass, canteen or carton with any form of threaded or non-threaded closure.
• a packaging system closure or base incorporating means which provides for a positive displacement of at least some of each of one or more components out of their separate and hermetically sealed chambers, combining them into a single main chamber to which a bottle or container is in use attached.
• the packaging system closure or base can be an assembly of the type in which one or more of the following are included: a first part of the assembly is interlocked with a second part of the assembly in such a way as to allow the two parts to rotate with respect to each other while not substantially changing the internal volume enclosed within the two rotating parts, a third inner part is keyed to the first part and threadingly engaged with the second part, creating one or more internal and hermetically sealed chambers, alternatively, a third part is keyed to the first part and threadingly engaged with the second part, creating one or more internal chambers that house separate and fully hermetically sealed sub-chambers, two or more components are kept totally separate from each other prior to mixing in the hermetically sealed chambers and/or sub-chambers, combination of the components is achieved mechanistically by a positive displacement, or "pumping", action, effected by rotating the first part with respect to the second part, causing the first part to move due to the keyway/thread so as to reduce the volume
• Figure One shows a three-dimensional cross section of an exploded view of a container with two hermetically sealed chambers, according to one possible embodiment of the present invention
• Figure Two shows the three-dimensional cross section of the container shown in
• Figure Three shows the three-dimensional cross section of the container shown in
• Figure Four shows the three-dimensional cross section of the container shown in Figures One to Three at the completion of combining and mixing
• Figure Five shows a three-dimensional cross-section exploded view of another container according to a possible embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure Six shows the three-dimensional cross section of the container shown in
• Figure Five fully assembled;
• Figure Seven shows a three-dimensional cut-away section of part of the container and diffuser shown in figures Five and Six;
• Figure Eight shows a three-dimensional cut-away section similar to that of Figure
• Figure Nine shows a three-dimensional cut-away section similar to that of Figures
• Figure Ten shows a three-dimensional cut-away section similar to that of Figures
• Figure Eleven shows a three-dimensional cut-away section of a closure format with one hermetically sealed chamber that combines all of the components at once, according to a fifth possible embodiment of the present invention
• Figure Twelve shows a three-dimensional cut-away section of Figure Eleven in full dispense position
• Figure Thirteen shows a three-dimensional cut-away section of a closure format with one hermetically sealed chamber that allows dosing of the components, according a sixth possible embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure Fourteen shows a three-dimensional cut-away section of a closure format with a single chamber that encloses hermetically sealed sub-chambers that allows dosing of the individual components in each sub-chamber, according to a seventh possible embodiment of the present invention
• Figure Fifteen shows a three-dimensional cut-away section of Figure Fourteen in partial dispense mode
• Figure Sixteen shows a three-dimensional cut-away section of a closure format with a rupturable membrane, according to the seventh possible embodiment of the present invention.
• the container is formed from cap 1 , main container body 2 (first outer rotating and interlocked part), rotatable base 3 (second outer rotating and interlocked part) and a diffuser 4 (third inner part keyed to the base 3 and threaded to main body 2).
• This particular embodiment has integral stirring devices 5 and diffuser holes 6.
• the base 3 is attached to the bottom of the main body 2 in such a way as to effect a hermetic seal between the main body 2 and base 3, while not restricting the ability of the base 3 to rotate with respect to the main body 2. Rotation of the base 3 is also assisted by it being of large enough diameter to be able to get a good hand-purchase hold, as well as also ensuring the generation of a good torque when it is turned by hand.
• the diffuser 4 and the base 3 create an adjustable volume chamber 7 where one or more flowable material components can be placed.
• the diffuser 4 can slide down into a recess 8 in the base 3.
• the base 3 and the diffuser 4 are interlocked with respect to each other via a sliding keyway 9.
• the diffuser plate 4 abuts against a shoulder 10 on the inside surface of the main body 2. This allows the base 3 and diffuser plate 4 to fully engage along with the keyway 9 on initial assembly without any chance of them separating.
• This initial configuration results in the adjustable volume chamber 7 being of maximum size.
• a seal may instead be introduce between the top edge of the diffuser 4 and the main body 2 at 10, in the form of a lip seal, "O" ring seal or any other suitable seal design. Equally, a similar seal may be introduced at the bottom edge of the diffuser 4 and the base 3 at 22.
• the upper and lower chambers are each hermetically and individually sealed rather than the overall container being hermetically sealed as a single unit.
• moving the diffuser 4 with respect to the base 3 changes the size of the adjustable volume chamber 7 from its maximum size (adjustable volume chamber 7) down to zero (adjustable volume chamber 7b in Figure Four), so creating a pressure that positively displaces the flowable material(s) out of the adjustable volume chamber 7 until all flowable material has been positively displaced into the main body of the container.
• a second example of the invention of a two-chamber container in the form of a bottle, is shown in Figures Five and Six. Similar parts of this example to those in the first example are referenced by the same numerals.
• the relative motion of the diffuser 4 with respect to the base 3 is effected by a combination of a thread form 1 1 on the outside surface of the diffuser 4, one or more male thread form flanges or lugs 12 moulded on to the inside of the main body 2, and a thin shoulder section 13 on the base 3.
• the diffuser 4 is first inserted into the main body 2. As the diffuser 4 is pushed into the main body 2, the one or more free-standing male thread form flanges or lugs 1 2 are able to flex backwards as the thread form 1 1 on the diffuser 4 moves past them. When the diffuser 4 has been fully inserted up against the shoulder 10, it is fully in position and the one or more male thread form flanges or lugs 1 2 are fully engaged at or near the lowest part of the thread form 1 1 .
• the location of the thin shoulder section 13 behind the one or more male thread form flanges or lugs 1 2, at 1 7, is such that the one or more male thread form flanges or lugs 1 2 can no longer flex backwards.
• a fully functional thread has been created by flanges or lugs 1 2 between the main body 2 and the diffuser 4.
• the keyway 9 constrains the diffuser 4 to rotate with the base 3.
• the one or more male thread form flanges or lugs 1 2 which can no longer flex backwards must of necessity follow the thread form 1 1 on the outside surface of the diffuser 4.
• the diffuser 4 must move down with respect to the base 3 as the base 3 is rotated.
• this moves the keyed diffuser 4 in a downwards spiraling direction towards the base 3, so reducing the size of the adjustable volume chamber 7 (to adjustable volume chamber 7a finally to adjustable volume chamber 7b).
• the overall volume of the container enclosed in the main body 2 and the base 3 does not substantially increase or decrease.
• FIG. Seven shows a cut away section AA (indicated in Figure Six) of the main body 2', the shoulder 10, and the diffuser 4' with diffuser holes 6.
• a seal such as a lip seal or "O" Ring is used at 10 between the main body 2 and the diffuser 4, then a component could be enclosed directly inside the adjustable volume chamber 7.
• FIG. Eight shows a cut away section AA of the main body 2', the shoulder 10, and the diffuser plate 4' with an integral thin-walled membrane 18.
• typically one flowable material component would be enclosed directly in the adjustable volume chamber 7, and one flowable material component enclosed directly in the main body 2.
• a seal can be introduced at 10 to hermetically seal the adjustable volume chamber 7 between the main body 2 and the diffuser 4.
• this shows a cut away section AA of the main body 2', the shoulder 10, and the diffuser plate 4' with a solid and thicker top plate 1 9 on the diffuser 4.
• the top plate 19 seals on to an extended shoulder 10a on the main body 2, so fully sealing the chamber above the diffuser 4 from the adjustable volume chamber 7 below.
• the seal between the shoulder 10a and the top plate 1 9 is released and the flowable material is positively displaced up through the vents 20 in the diffuser 4.
• a seal can be introduced at 10a to hermetically seal between the main body 2 and the diffuser 4.
• this shows a cut away section AA of the main body 2', the shoulder 10, and the diffuser 4' with a solid and thicker top plate 1 9 which also has an integral closure 21 .
• the integral closure 21 can be used as a filling entry point, and/or as a flowable material exit point, and/or as an engineered rupture point if located instead on a thin-walled receptacle and/or thin-walled membrane.
• the integral closure 21 may also be a one-way valve or a constriction.
• the integral closure 21 may also be located on the base 3 to provide an alternative entry filling point directly into the adjustable volume chamber 7.
• the integral stirring devices 5 also rotate and, as the flowable material is displaced up past the stirring devices 5, a swirling and/or mixing eddy current action can be generated to aid homogenous mixing.
• the thread form 1 1 it is further possible to design the thread form 1 1 to have different pitch angles at different parts of the rotation process, for example a fine thread to maximise hydraulic pressure during the rupture phase, a course thread to maximise relative movement and spiral swirling action between the base 3 and the diffuser 4 during the combination phase, and virtually zero thread to minimise relative movement between the base 3 and the diffuser 4 during the last rotation allowing the user to twist the base 3 (and hence diffuser 4 and integral stirring devices 5) backwards and forwards to generate further swirling and mixing eddy currents prior to dispensing.
• a fine thread to maximise hydraulic pressure during the rupture phase
• a course thread to maximise relative movement and spiral swirling action between the base 3 and the diffuser 4 during the combination phase
• virtually zero thread to minimise relative movement between the base 3 and the diffuser 4 during the last rotation allowing the user to twist the base 3 (and hence diffuser 4 and integral stirring devices 5) backwards and forwards to generate further swirling and mixing eddy currents prior to dispensing.
• the diffuser holes 6 can be any shape desired, including but not limited to round, oval, square, rectangular, or any more complex combination thereof.
• the diffuser 4 is threaded to the main body 2 and keyed to the base 3, the opposite configuration of the diffuser 4 being threaded to the base 3 and keyed to the main body 2 is also possible.
• the closure on this container can be any format from threaded to snap-fit, from simple disposable to complex combinations to aid the combination of additional components or for enhanced dispensing such as tear or break-away apertures etc.
• the closure may be stand-alone or part of the larger packaging or dispensing system.
• the hermetic seals for the container and/or the chambers can be at any number of locations, including as described between the main body 2 and the base 3, between the main body 2 and the diffuser 4, between the base 3 and the diffuser 4, or any other possible combination or embodiment.
• a third example of the invention of a single chamber container in the form of a closure, is shown in Figures Eleven and Twelve.
• the closure is formed with a chamber cover 23, a dispensing ring 24 and a main cap 25 (the main cap 25 is shown as two sub- parts but can also be a single part). '
• the chamber cover 23 is interlocked to the dispensing ring 24 at 26, such that the two parts can freely rotate while remaining inseparable, unless an unlocking design is desired. These two parts form the outer parts of the closure that can rotate with respect to each other while the internal volume enclosed by the two parts neither substantially increases or decreases.
• the dispensing ring 24 is threadingly engaged 27 to the main cap 25.
• the chamber cover 23 is keyed at 28 to the main cap 25 by the engagement of a cruciform on the chamber cover 23 with a castellation on the main cap 25.
• the chamber cover 23 is hermetically sealed at 29 between the chamber cover 23 and the main cap 25.
• the chamber opening is a removable cover 30. While this embodiment shows a plug by example, this opening could also be a rupturable seal or foil, or any other form of removable cover.
• the closure can be attached to any bottle or container via a standard thread 31 .
• the interlock 26 allows the dispensing ring to rotate freely with respect to the chamber cover 23, but it must follow its thread engagement 27 with the main cap 25. As shown in Figure Twelve, this has the result of moving the chamber cover 23 and interlocked dispensing ring 24 downwards with respect to the main cap 25, which opens or ruptures the removable cover 30 allowing the component in the chamber to flow or pour out.
• the rotation of the dispensing ring reduces the volume of the chamber cavity 32 and thus the component is positively displaced out of the chamber cavity 32.
• a fourth example of the invention of a single chamber container in the form of a closure, is shown in Figure Thirteen. Similar parts of this example to those in the third example are referenced by the same numerals.
• this example differs from the third example only in that it has a one-way or self-sealing valve 33 rather than a removable cover 30.
• the downwards movement of the chamber cover 23 reduces the volume of the chamber cavity 32 increasing the pressure in the chamber cavity 32, and thus dosing the component out of the chamber cavity 32 as required.
• the dispensing ring 24 is turned, either single drops or a steady stream of the component in the chamber cavity 32 can be dispensed.
• the one-way or self sealing valve 33 can be any known one-way valve format from a mechanistic valve to a simple flap that seals off an orifice in one direction, or any combination of orifice, slit or slits, flap or profiled shape that effects a one- way or self sealing valve configuration.
• a fifth example of the invention of a multi-chambered container in the form of a closure, is shown in Figures Fourteen and Fifteen. Similar parts of this example to those in the third and fourth examples are referenced by the same numerals.
• the mechanism of this embodiment operates similarly to examples three and four, in that there is a chamber cover 23 that is interlocked at 26 to a dispensing ring 24, with a main cap 25 threadingly engaged at 27 to the dispensing ring 24 and keyed at 28 to the chamber cover 23.
• the chamber cover 23 moves downward with respect to the main cap 25 reducing the volume of the chamber cavity 32.
• the chamber cavity 32 encloses a number of sub- chambers 34.
• Each sub-chamber is individually hermetically sealed at 35.
• the sub-chambers 34 engage on to the top 36 of the chamber cover 23 so that no degree of downwards pressure on the sub-chambers will cause any dispensing of component to occur.
• Dispensing occurs through the bottom of the sub-chamber 37, and can be a one-way valve or self sealing valve, a plug that is dislodged or a membrane that is pierced or ruptured.
• the membrane may be pierced or ruptured by the actual component being pushed against the membrane or by a physical part of the sub-chamber directly contacting the membrane.
• the physical part of the sub-chamber required to rupture the membrane may be shaped appropriately to facilitate such rupturing.
• each sub-chamber can be dispensed in one operation or dispensed in a dosing action.
• Each sub-chamber can be operated individually by the User, or an additional mechanism can cause each sub-chamber to move downwards in conjunction with the chamber cover 23 as the dispensing ring 24 is rotated.
• One sub-chamber has been shown in a dispensed position 38.
• a membrane 39 is shown with a protrubance 40 of the chamber cover 23 ready to pierce the membrane.
• the protrubance can be square, round, hollow or solid, or any other shape, and can have a flat end or any shape conducive to aiding rupture.
• a component may or may not be stored inside the hollow protrubance.
• the membrane can be either rent open so that a permanent office is generated, or the membrane may remain in contact with the membrane creating a one-way or self sealing valve configuration.
• the protrubance 40 can be located anywhere inside the chamber and can be either an integral moulded part or a separate part inserted during assembly. More than one protrubance 40 may be used.
• the present invention provides a container wherein two or more components are kept separate prior to combination, the components are then positively displaced into a single chamber, or separate container, to facilitate combination while at the same time a swirling action and/or eddy current may be generated to facilitate homogenous mixing.
• the thread between the one external rotating part and the internal part can as per described or any other know mechanical equivalent.
• the keyway between the one external rotating part and the internal part can be as per described or any other known mechanical equivalent.
• a cover to protect the container from dust may be used, either on or over the container or it's closure.
• Anti-tamper systems may be used on the closure.
• any element of the bottle examples not included in the closure examples may be applied to the closure examples. Any element of the closure examples not included in the bottle examples may be applied to the bottle examples.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Package Specialized In Special Use (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Preparation Of Clay, And Manufacture Of Mixtures Containing Clay Or Cement (AREA)

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• 2001
  • 2001-05-03 AR ARP010102097A patent/AR029254A1/es unknown
  • 2001-05-03 JP JP2001580160A patent/JP2003531778A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-05-03 EP EP01934658A patent/EP1289857A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-05-03 AU AU2001260819A patent/AU2001260819A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-05-03 WO PCT/NZ2001/000071 patent/WO2001083319A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2001-05-03 CN CN01812238.8A patent/CN1449349A/zh active Pending
  • 2001-05-03 US US10/258,598 patent/US20030150748A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-05-03 BR BR0110574-4A patent/BR0110574A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-05-03 MX MXPA02010861A patent/MXPA02010861A/es unknown
  • 2001-05-09 TW TW090111033A patent/TW534887B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation

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