EP1546002B1 - Two-component packaging unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging unit for two substances to be mixed, which are to be stored separately before utilization, more particularly a fluid and a powder substance. The invention comprises a first container (1) and a second container (4) that can me moved in the neck of the first container. The second container is moved and thereby opened by screwing on the closing cap (5) of the first container.

Description

The invention relates to a packaging unit for two separately to be stored, to be mixed before use substances, in particular for a liquid and a powdery substance. The invention comprises a first container and a second container which is suspended in the neck of the first container. The second container is moved by screwing the cap of the first container and thereby opened (EP 1 186 548 A).

• einen ersten flaschenartigen Behälter mit einem Schulterbereich und einem halsartig eingezogenen Öffnungsbereich für die flüssige Substanz,
• einen zweiten, in dem halsartig eingezogenen Öffnungsbereich des ersten Behälters angeordneten Behälter für die pulverförmige Substanz und
• eine den Öffnungsbereich übergreifenden Verschlusskappe.

In particular, the present invention includes

• a first bottle-like container having a shoulder region and a neck-like opening region for the liquid substance,
• a second, arranged in the neck-like opening portion of the first container container for the powdery substance and
• a cap covering the opening area.

Such packaging units are required in order to keep substances that are mixed only briefly preserved between the time of manufacture and use by the end user over a longer period in accordance with the predetermined mixing ratio portioned separately. In this form, the individual substances are sufficiently durable, so that usual transport and storage times are unproblematic. Possibly. must be observed - as with many other products - expiration dates.

For pharmaceutical products, when using such packages, the end user will be able to make the mixtures themselves immediately prior to use, so that they are independent of the pharmacist, who would otherwise need to mix the preparations for one or a few applications. Packaging units of this type are u. a. from European Patent Applications 0 093 090, 0 344 849, 0 577 200 and 0 599 189. In all cases, the bottom of the second container inserted into the opening region of the first container is at least partially separated by actuation of the closure cap by means of a sharp object, so that the powder of the second container can be introduced into the liquid of the first container and the substances mixed. The translational movement of the sharp object towards and through the bottom of the second container is effected by a translatory or rotating movement of the closure cap after a locking ring is removed which prevents unwanted movement of the closure cap and thus inadvertent opening of the second container ,

The known packaging units have the disadvantage that the opening of the second container is only possible via a material-destructive actuation of the closure cap, whereby there is always the risk that smaller fragments are formed, which are separated from the second container and / or lid and fall into the mixture. Even if the intake of such fragments is harmless to the health of the end user, they perceive it as unpleasant and disturbing.

Another disadvantage is that in some embodiments the cut-out floor remains connected to the second container via a bridge. In these cases, when pouring liquid, it may happen that the bottom is moved back into the neck of the bottle and closes it.

Another disadvantage of the known packaging unit is that the closure cap simultaneously serves as a closure for the second container and the first container. The filling of the packaging units with liquid and powder must therefore be made immediately following each other. The second containers are not locally and temporally filled separately from the first container, because they are not self-closing and transportable as a separate product and storable.

Finally, some of the known packaging units are only suitable for producing a single mixing portion, because the closure cap is not designed after the removal of the locking ring for a reliable resealing of the first container. Such packaging units are substantially less economical than those with which mixing quantities can be produced which comprise a number of individual portions corresponding to the shelf life of the mixture.

The invention has for its object to avoid the disadvantages of the known packaging units and to propose an alternative that is inexpensive to produce and can be handled easily by the end user.

• einem ersten, flaschenartigen Behälter (1) - bevorzugt für eine flüssige Komponente - mit einem Bauchbereich, einem Schulterbereich (2) und einem Flaschenhals mit Öffnungsbereich (3), wobei optional zwischen Öffnungsbereich (3) und der dem Schulterbereich zugewandten Seite eine bevorzugt ringförmige und/oder zylindrische Engstelle (7) ausgebildet ist und
• einem zweiten, in dem Flaschenhals (7) des Behälters angeordneten Behälter (4) für die pulverförmige Substanz und
• einer den Öffnungsbereich übergreifenden Verschlusskappe (5)

wobei

• der Öffnungsbereich (3) endseitig, auf seiner Außenseite ein Schraubgewinde (6) aufweist,
• der zweite Behälter (4) ein nach unten geschlossenen topfartigen Unterteil (8) umfasst, dessen größter Außendurchmesser kleiner ist als der Innendurchmesser der Engstelle und einen daran anschließenden nach oben offenen oberen Bereich, der ggf. ein Mittel- und ein Oberteil aufweist,
• der Außendurchmesser des zweiten Behälters (4) in seinem oberen Bereich wenigstens einen Bereich aufweist, der annähernd genauso groß oder größer ist wie der Innendurchmesser der Engstelle (7), und der sich im erstmalig geschlossen Zustand der Verpackungseinheit unterhalb oder bevorzugt innerhalb der Engstelle befindet und
• der obere Teil des zweite Behälter durch einen in die Öffnung des oberen Teils einsteckbaren und vollständig davon wieder lösbaren, napfartigen Deckel verschlossen ist, der kraftschlüssig mit der Innenseite der Verschlusskappe verbunden werden kann oder integraler Bestandteil derselben ist.

To solve this problem, a packaging unit of the type mentioned is created, comprising the following sub-elements:

• a first, bottle-like container (1) - preferably for a liquid component - with a stomach area, a shoulder area (2) and a bottle neck with opening area (3), optionally between the opening area (3) and the shoulder area facing a preferably annular and / or cylindrical constriction (7) is formed and
• a second, in the bottleneck (7) of the container arranged container (4) for the powdery substance and
• a closure cap (5) that covers the opening area

in which

• the opening region (3) has a screw thread (6) on its outside,
• the second container (4) comprises a downwardly closed pot-like lower part (8) whose largest outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the constriction and an adjoining upwardly open upper region, which optionally has a middle and a top part,
• the outer diameter of the second container (4) has in its upper region at least one region which is approximately the same size or larger than the inner diameter of the constriction (7) and which is in the initially closed state of the packaging unit below or preferably within the constriction and
• the upper part of the second container is closed by a cup-shaped lid which can be inserted into the opening of the upper part and is completely detachable again, which can be non-positively connected to the inside of the closure cap or is an integral part thereof.

These embodiments allow the second container with its bead-like thickened central part or from the location of its largest outside diameter to be held in a force-fitting manner in the cylindrical constriction of the first container. By turning the cap into the first container into it is moved into the abdominal region of the first container and thereby opened.

Optionally, the upper portion of the second container may have a portion whose diameter is smaller than the smallest inner diameter of the bottle neck of the first container, the height of this portion is preferably greater than the height of the bottleneck.

In the context of the present invention description is under an "approximately the same outer diameter of the second container as the inner diameter of the Bottleneck " understood that the second container can be plugged into the bottleneck at the location of this outer diameter, the connection being preferably sealed against moisture or a liquid such as water.

The first container has a belly area, then a tapered shoulder area and then a bottle neck. The bottleneck preferably has a smaller inner diameter than the inner diameter of the abdominal region. The bottleneck itself forms a bottleneck or in the Falschenhals is a bottleneck formed.

The constriction on the inside of the bottle neck of the first container may be formed at the opening portion, for example in the form of a circumferential inwardly directed edge, it may be formed directly above the shoulder region or in between. Preferably, it lies directly above the shoulder area.
The constriction may be formed as an edge, thickened area or constriction. The bottleneck is preferably designed as a peripheral ring around the bottleneck. But it can also be in the form of one or more punctual elevations, edges with recesses, etc. be formed.

The bottleneck has the task to hold the second container plug-in the bottleneck. Preferred is an annular peripheral peripheral constriction, more preferably one which is such that it can exert a completely sealing function with respect to the second container. It may also be designed as an interference fit with respect to the second container.

In some embodiments, the top of the bottleneck may have the task of limiting the movement of the second container down. In such cases, means are attached to the second container, which can rest against the upper edge.

In alternative embodiments, the bottleneck has no additional bottleneck, but the bottleneck itself performs the function of the same (bottleneck functioning bottleneck), in particular the function of a sealing point. The function The upper edge of the constriction then takes over the upper edge of the bottle neck. In such cases, a bottleneck with low height is advantageous. Therefore, in the context of the present invention, in each embodiment with constriction, in principle, the same can be replaced by a bottleneck acting as a constriction. For the sake of simplicity, the term "bottleneck bottleneck" is used in the context of this description. Unless otherwise apparent from the context, the term bottleneck also stands for a bottleneck that acts as a bottleneck. However, embodiments are preferred with a bottleneck independently formed bottleneck.

The second container is such that, when the packaging unit is closed for the first time, it is located in the neck of the first container, where it is seated in the constriction of the bottle neck such that it is firmly seated but can be moved axially. Axial is understood to mean the direction which corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the first container from the opening of the bottle neck to the bottom region of the abdominal region.

The second container has a pot-like lower part which, in the first closed state of the packaging unit, is oriented toward the abdominal region of the first container. This is followed by an upwardly open upper area at the top. This upper portion may have a central part and a top, the middle part connecting the lower part with the upper part.

The second container preferably has a bead-like thickened region above the lower part, which region forms the largest outer diameter of the second container. This outer diameter is approximately as large as the inner diameter of the bottleneck. This thickened region can also be formed on the upper part of the upper region of the second container. As a result, the second container together with the bottleneck sealingly close the bottleneck of the first container. Therefore, this thickening part is preferably formed annularly around the outer shell of the second container. This area and the bottleneck of the first container form the sealing point. This sealing point seals the interior of the first container from the outside environment.

The inner diameters of the lower part and the upper part of the second container may differ in an analogous manner or they are the same size.

The outer diameter of the lower part and the outer diameter of the upper region of the second container can be the same except for the thickened portion. These outer diameters of the second container may be smaller than the inner diameter of the constriction so that the second container in the neck of the first container is easier to move axially.

Optionally, the cylindrical upper part may have two or more recesses extending axially from the top to the middle part.

The upper part is closed by a cup-like lid. This sits firmly on or in the shell. In embodiments in which the upper part has recesses, the lid extends from the top to the middle part of the second container, so that the second container is tightly closed.

The lid is clamped in the second container.

Furthermore, the cover may have flange-like extensions which are designed such that in the closed state of the second container, they pass through the above-mentioned recesses in the upper part at their bottom end and lie above the constriction of the first container or abut against the upper side thereof. That In these embodiments, the lid is seated directly on the central portion while the top of the second container extends thereover.

The outside of the cup-like lid is sealingly against the inside of the second container, preferably at the level of the middle part.

It has been found that in the closing process inside the second container pressure differences can lead to a whirling up of powder. Such a stir can be reduced if the sealing portion of the lid is formed directly below the flange-like projections and has a small height. Particularly advantageous are embodiments in which the outer contour of the lid has recesses extending from the bottom end in the direction of the head end, but without touching the head end. As a result, at the head end of the outer contour of the lid, ie the end with the flange-like projections, an annular, peripherally encircling and completely sealing area is formed in the form of a band. Below is a region whose outer diameter is equal to that of the first region, but which has one or more recesses. These recesses serve in the short term as Luftauslassweg for air, which is displaced during the closing operation from the interior of the second container. This lower recessed area of the outside of the cup-like lid can also be described as a region with a smaller outer diameter, are formed on the webs extending in the axial direction, ie parallel to the height of the lid, from the bottom to the lower edge of the sealing region , A ring circumferentially circumferential ring then would have the same inner diameter as the outer diameter of the sealing area.
The cup-like lid has no holes, but closes the second container so that a material exchange between inside and outside is not possible.

The sealing portion of the lid and the sealing portion of the inner jacket of the second container may have complementary latching means, e.g. in the form of an annular, peripheral circumferential groove and spring.

On the outside of the bottom of the second container can be arranged wings, which prevent the second container when emptying the first container whose opening area or neck unintentionally closes.
These wings are designed as surfaces with a small thickness. They can be formed, for example, as a quadrilateral, triangle with sharp or rounded corners. The side edges and / or the surfaces may be straight, convex or concave curved or wavy.

Laterally, the wings do not protrude beyond the mantle area of the second container, with the largest outer diameter, preferably they do not protrude laterally beyond the mantle area with the smallest outer diameter. They can be formed individually or in pairs. Preferably, a pair or two pairs of mutually perpendicular are formed.

The cap is formed to include an inner cylinder with an internal screw thread and an inner cylinder integrally formed therewith with a closed bottom portion. The inner cylinder engages in the opening area of the first container and abuts the upper end of the cylindrical upper part of the second container.

These embodiments allow the second container with its bead-like thickened central part or from the location of its largest outside diameter to be held in a force-fitting manner in the cylindrical constriction of the first container. By turning the cap into the first container, the second container is displaced into the abdominal region of the first container. During this movement, the lid remains stuck by its flange-like projections on the bottleneck of the first container, so that the lid is released from the clamping and closing position. This will open the second container. In one embodiment, the opened second container may now fall into the belly of the first container. Thus, the substance of the second container is released for mixing with the substance of the first container.

During the downward movement of the closure cap in the direction of the second container, the inner cylinder of the closure cap pushes the second container through the constriction or bottleneck acting as a constriction. On the inner cylinder of the closure cap, a cylindrical extension can be formed which engages in a frictional engagement with the downward movement of the closure cap into the cup-like region of the lid of the second container. Then, the cap is turned on and removed from the first container, this takes with the cup-like lid of the second container.

In specific embodiments, the cylindrical extension on its outside and the cup-like cover on its inside have complementary locking means, e.g. in the form of a circumferential groove and tongue or the corresponding two components of snaps and the like. In this case, the groove-like peripheral ring or the groove-like recess on the inside of the cup-like part of the lid and the complementary locking means may be formed on the outside of the cylindrical extension or vice versa. This latching means facilitate the frictional entrainment of the lid of the second container by the closure cap, when the cylindrical extension pushes into the cup-like downward curved ceiling of the lid.

In some embodiments, the top of the second container terminates with one or more flange-like extensions that face outward like the extensions of the cup-shaped lid. In the case of a plurality of flange-like extensions of the upper part of the second container they are separated from each other by the aforementioned recesses. But it can also be formed only a single peripheral peripheral projection or flange. The recesses then penetrate this peripheral peripheral flange. If the container is moved downwards, the sealing middle part again passes through the bottleneck. However, the second container now no longer falls into the first container, but is held by its extensions or the flange from the top of the constriction. In these embodiments, the recesses are then used in the upper part of the second container. They are so high that they bridge the lower portion of the second container that has passed through the constriction to the portion of the second container that has not yet passed the constriction. That is, the recesses are higher than the height of the bottleneck. This ensures that in this position, the interior of the first container can communicate with the outside environment after the lid and the cap have been removed. The communication path leads from the inside of the first container on the outside of the lower part and the middle part of the second container along the recesses into the opening region of the first container. So that this communication path is maintained undisturbed even when the first container is moved, for example tilted, it is advantageous if at least the upper region of the outer side of the upper part of the second container has a similar large outer diameter, such as the central region. Here can eg be formed a second bead-like thickening. Because in this case the second container is held in the open end position of this area non-positively in the opening area, so that it does not change its position relative to the first container when the first container is moved. In this case, the region of the upper part with a larger outer diameter and the region of the middle region, which likewise has a larger outer diameter than the remaining regions of the second container, can be separated by a region of smaller outer diameter. The two areas can merge into each other even with the same outside diameter. However, the last variant requires a consistently greater effort to push through the second container through the bottleneck of the first container, as the first-mentioned variant.

In embodiments with a flange or more projections at the head of the upper part of the second container, in which the container is held in its end position frictionally in the bottle neck, it is not mandatory that the lid has projections through which it is held. In this case, it is sufficient if the force that is necessary for the lid to be frictionally received by the cylindrical extension of the closure cap, is less than the force that is necessary to push the container non-positively in its end position. Also, the force required to open the lid must be less than the force needed to move the container out of its final position.
In this case, first the cover during the downward movement of the cap in the cylindrical extension frictionally engage before the container is pushed into the end position. When the cap is opened, it carries the lid with it, without releasing the container from its end position, since the frictional connection between the lid and the second container is smaller than that between the second container and the first container. In such embodiments, in which the second container is to remain in the bottle neck, that carries at its upper end a flange or extensions, the lid can not engage in the cylindrical extension until the end position of the second container is reached. In these cases, the lid preferably has latching noses on the inside of its cup-like upper part, which engage in the corresponding groove on the outside of the Cylindrical extension or vice versa .

In a further embodiment, the second container on the outside of its lower part in addition to or instead of the bead or peripheral peripheral acting as a seal region with the largest outer diameter, at least one barb-like means. This is such that the second container can be pushed only from one direction from above through the bottleneck of the first container, namely with the lower part first. Preferably, this locking means is in the form of a wedge, the tapered side of which extends down to the bottom of the container and the upper side is formed as an edge which is perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the shell of the second container.

In this case, the lid itself can frictionally engage with its upper side in the cylindrical extension of the closure cap, or the closure cap itself forms the cylindrical lid. The latter is preferred.
The middle part and upper part of the second container to be a single element with eg smooth outer jacket. The outer diameter of the central part and / or the upper part of the second container is smaller than the inner diameter of the constriction, so that this part of the second container can pass through the bottleneck without friction. Preferably, the height of the second container from the upper edge of the barb-like means to the upper edge of the container neck of the second container is less than the height from the lower edge of the throat to the upper edge of the container neck of the first container. More preferably, the height from the upper edge of the barb-like means to the upper edge of the container neck of the second container plus the height of the region into which the lid of the second container or the sealing portion of the cylindrical extension of the closure cap protrudes, is smaller than the height of the lower edge of the constriction up to the upper edge of the container neck of the first container.
In this embodiment, the packaging unit is completed by first loading the second container with the substance for storage and then sealing it with the lid or over the cylindrical extension of the closure cap. Then the second container with its bottom is going ahead through the Bottleneck pushed, as described in the other embodiments. In doing so, the force for pushing through the barb-like means opposite the bottleneck must be overcome. Then the cap is screwed tight.

Now, if the cap is opened, the second container of their movement via the non-positive connection of its lid or directly through the cap as long as taken along until the barb-like means of the lower part from below gets stuck at the bottleneck. Upon further opening movement of the closure cap, its connection to the second container (in embodiments with a separate cover under its entrainment) is released and the second container falls into the first container.

Figur 1

Eine erste Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungseinheit im Längsschnitt

Figur 2

Eine zweite Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungseinheit im Längsschnitt.

Figur 3

eine Explosionszeichnung der Ausführungsform nach Figur 1.

Figur 4

eine Darstellung der Verschlusskappe von unten.

Figur 5

eine Darstellung einer Ausführungsform nach Figur 2 mit einem peripher umlaufenden Flansch am Oberteil des zweiten Behälters im Querschnitt.

Among other things, the packaging unit according to the invention advantageously differs from the previously known packaging units in that a top-mounted, separately produced lid can be provided for the second container so that the second container can be filled separately and spatially and separately from the first container and transported , To prepare the mixture, the lid is detached from the second container in a non-destructive manner so that no fragments of the lid or container material are formed and can enter the mixture. After moving the second container from its original position, the mixture can be easily removed in portions and the packaging unit can be reliably closed. The proposed packaging unit is easy to manufacture and easy to handle and use by the end user. Preferably, the invention serves to provide pharmaceutical formulations such as antibiotics or vitamin formulations and / or formulations for nutritional supplements. In such cases, a powder can be stored in the second container and a liquid in the first container.
The packaging form according to the invention has the further advantage that the interior of the second container can be stored dry and also a diffusion of liquid from the interior of the first container through seams in the interior of the second container is not possible. In addition, the second container closes the interior of the first container in a conclusive and sealed manner against water vapor, possibly along the screw thread the cap can penetrate into the interior of the cap and vice versa. Further advantages and embodiments of the inventive idea are described in the subclaims. Details will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. Show it:

FIG. 1

A first embodiment of the packaging unit according to the invention in longitudinal section

FIG. 2

A second embodiment of the packaging unit according to the invention in longitudinal section.

FIG. 3

an exploded view of the embodiment of Figure 1.

FIG. 4

a representation of the cap from below.

FIG. 5

a representation of an embodiment of Figure 2 with a peripheral peripheral flange on the upper part of the second container in cross section.

In both Figures 1 and 2, the positions of the second container relative to the first container are respectively shown with a and b before and after the introduction of the mixing process.

The packaging unit shown in Figure 1 comprises a total of five separately manufactured components. The first bottle-like container 1 has a shoulder portion 2 and a neck-like retracted opening portion 3, which is provided at the end with a screw thread 6. Between the screw thread 6 and the shoulder region 2, a cylindrical constriction 7 is formed, which serves for the frictional attachment of the second container 4. The second container consists of a cup-shaped lower part 8, a bead-like thickened central part 9 and a cylindrical upper part 10 which is provided with two or more axially extending recesses 11. For closing the second container 4, a cup-shaped lid 12 is inserted into this, the axial extent is greater than that of the bead-like thickened central portion 9 of the second container, and the non-positively engages in the cup-shaped lower part 8 of the second container 4. The cup-like cover 12 is provided with flange-like projections 13, with which he - the recesses 11 of the upper part 10 by cross - abuts the top of the constriction 7. At the bottom of the base two pairs of wings are shown in the form of gray hatched areas. A pair is perpendicular to the observer.

The closure cap 5 comprises an outer cylinder 14 with an internal screw thread 15 and an inner cylinder 16 integrally formed thereon with a closed bottom region 17. The inner cylinder 16 engages in the opening region 3 of the first container and rests against the upper end of the cylindrical upper part 10 of the second container 4 , The closed bottom portion 17 of the closure cap 5 has a cylindrical extension 18, which is dimensioned for engagement in the cup-like cover 12.

The fifth part of the illustrated packaging unit is a measuring cup 21 for portioning the mixture by the end user, which can be clamped for storage in the inner cylinder 16 of the closure cap. Instead of the measuring cup, other dosing aids may be mounted in the packaging unit.

For the preparation of the mixture, the closure cap 5 is moved from the position shown in Figure 1 a after removal of a conventional, not shown securing ring by rotating towards the shoulder region 2 of the first container 1, whereby the second container 4 in the direction of the interior of the container 1 and finally released from its holder in the constriction 7. He can then fall into the container 1 and serve as a mixing aid during shaking.

With the translational movement of the cap 5 from the position in Figure 1 a in the position of Figure 1 b, the cylindrical extension 18 is also pressed on the bottom portion 17 in the cup-shaped lid 12, so that the lid 12 together with the Cap 5 can be removed from the container 1, if the mixture is to be poured out. Since the cup-like lid abuts with its flange-like projections at the top of the constriction and since the second container 4 has axially extending recesses 11, the container 4 can be translated translationally by the actuation of the cap 5 and freed from its frictional support in the constriction 7 without the cup-like lid 12 has to join this movement. Rather, it is fixed relative to the container 1 translationally in its original position, whereby ultimately the separation between the container 4 and the lid 12 is effected.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the bottle-like container 1, the closure cap 5 and the measuring cup 21 do not differ from the embodiment according to FIG. 1. In this respect, a description to avoid repetition is dispensed with. The cylindrical upper part 10 of the second container 4 is in turn provided with axially extending recesses and the cup-like cover has here also flange-like extensions 13 (not shown), with which he the recesses 11 by cross at the top of the bottleneck rests. Unlike the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the upper part 10 of the second container 4 is provided at its end with a peripheral flange 19 and directly below the flange 19 with a second bead-like thickening 20. The axial extension of the cup-like lid 12 is smaller than in the embodiment of Figure 1 and the lid does not engage in the lower part 8 but in the middle part 9 of the container 4 a.

In a translational movement of the cap 5 in the direction of the shoulder region 2 of the container 1, the container 4 is moved from its position shown in Figure 2 a towards the interior of the container 1 and released from its power-liquid holder in the constriction 7 and finally in brought in the position shown in Figure 2 b, in which the circumferential flange 19 rests against the top of the constriction 7 and the container 4 is frictionally held with its second bead-like thickening 20 in the constriction 7. At the same time, in turn, the cylindrical extension 18 of the closure cap 5 engages in the cup-shaped lid 12, as a result of which the closure cap 5 is held clamped and removed when unscrewing the cap 5 from the opening portion 3. The axially extending recesses 11 in the upper part 10 of the container 4 are longer than the height of the constriction 7. This causes the recesses 11 in the position shown in Figure 2b connect the interior of the first container with the opening thereof, ie the previously open through the bead-like middle part of the second container closed bottleneck 7 and communication between the interior of the container and the outside environment is possible as soon as the cap is unscrewed with the lid 12 held on the extension 18. As a result, in this embodiment, the recesses 11 serve not only as a passage for the flange-like projections 13 of the lid 12 but - since the container 4 in the figure 2 b position shown in the container 1 remains - as outlet openings for the liquid inside the container. In the position shown in FIG. 2b, ie after the closure cap has been rotated against the first container so that the second container has been opened and before the closure cap is removed, a powder in the second container can be shaken by shaking the first container Liquid in the first container via the recesses 11 are mixed.

Not shown are recesses in the circumferential flange 19 for not visible in Figure 2 flange extensions of the cover 13, so that both the flange projections of the lid and the peripheral flange 19 of the container 4 in a plane at the top of the Engestelle 7 of the container 1 abut can. In the second embodiment, the container 4 is not freely movable in the container 1, so that disturbing noises may be avoided during mixing.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment according to FIG. 1 with the first container 1 above the second container 4 with thickened middle part 9, upper part 10 and recesses 11 above the cup-like cover 12 with flange-like extensions 13, a sealing peripheral peripheral area 22, webs 23 and recesses 24. Above it lies the cap 5 into which the measuring cap 21 can be inserted.

Figure 4 shows the cap 5 from the bottom. It can be seen the cylindrical extension 18, which can engage in the cup-shaped cover 12 frictionally. In this Case, the cylindrical extension has recesses. The inner cylinder 16 at the foot of the cylindrical extension 18 is the region of the closure cap 5, which can touch the container 9 at its upper portion and pushes through the constriction 7.

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of FIG. 2 with recesses 11 in the upper part 10 of the second container 9. The container top peels off with a peripheral peripheral flange 19, which is penetrated by the recesses 11. The cup-like interior of the lid 25 is clearly visible.

The exploded views shown in FIG. 3 also define the terms "top" and "bottom" used in connection with this description of the invention. The "up" direction is the direction defined from the container bottom to the measuring cylinder along the longitudinal axis of the container. The direction "down" is the corresponding opposite direction. From these directions, the terms "top" and "bottom" are derived for each of the individual elements.
The terms "inside" and "outside" are defined analogously: The inside is in each case the side facing the central axis of the container. The outside corresponding to the side facing away from the central axis side of an element. Accordingly, the terms "inside" and "outside" are defined.

The term "height" is defined as a length specification parallel to the top-down center axis of the container.

Claims (34)

1. Packaging unit in the form of a container with a closure cap for two substances to be stored separately from each other and mixed together before use, particularly a liquid and a powdered substance, comprising
   a first bottle-like container (1), preferably for a liquid component, with a belly region, a shoulder region (2) and a bottle neck which constitutes a constriction (7) or in which a constriction is formed,
   an end opening region (3) at the upper end of the bottle neck, which has a screw thread (6) at the end on its outside,
   a second container (4) for the powdered substance, arranged in the bottle neck (7) of the container, and
   a closure cap (5) covering the opening region, wherein
   the second container (4) comprises a pot-shaped lower part (8) sealed at the bottom, the maximum external diameter of which is less than the internal diameter of the constriction, and
   an adjacent upper region open at the top which optionally has a central and an upper part,
   characterised in that
   the second container in its upper region has at least one region the external diameter of which is the same size or greater than the internal diameter of the constriction (7), in that
   this region is preferably located inside or below the constriction when the packaging unit is in its initially sealed state, in that
   the upper part of the second container is closed off by a cup-like or cylindrical lid which can be inserted in the opening in the upper part and totally removed therefrom, and which can be frictionally connected to the interior of the closure cap or is an integral part thereof, in that
   the second container optionally has, above the region with an external diameter which is the same size as or greater than the internal diameter of the constriction, a second region the external diameter of which is smaller than the internal diameter of the constriction and in that
   the height of this region is preferably greater than the height of the constriction.
2. Packaging unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the lid (12) is not an integral part of the closure cap (5).
3. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the second container can be moved axially in the bottle neck.
4. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the bottle neck constitutes the constriction and has a constant internal diameter or optionally an internal diameter which widens continuously from the opening region (3) to the shoulder region.
5. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that in the bottle neck is formed a constriction (7) which has an internal diameter which is less than the internal diameter of the other regions of the inner surface of the bottle neck.
6. Packaging unit according to claim 5, characterised in that the constriction (7) is formed immediately above the shoulder region.
7. Packaging unit according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the constriction (7) is formed immediately below the opening region (3).
8. Packaging unit according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the constriction (7) is formed as an annular peripherally encircling, inwardly directed elevation with recesses on the inner surface of the bottle neck.
9. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the constriction (7) is formed as an annular elevation running peripherally around the inner surface of the bottle neck without any recesses.
10. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the region of the upper region of the second container, whose external diameter is less than the internal diameter of the constriction (7) in the originally closed state of the packaging unit is preferably above the constriction (7) and is higher than the height of the constriction (7).
11. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that

    - the second container (4) comprises a pot-shaped lower part (8), a central part (9) with a greater external diameter than the lower part and a cylindrical upper part (10) with two or more axially extending recesses (11) which are upwardly unlimited, at least on the inside of the upper part (10),

    - the opening of the second container (4) is closed off with a cup-like or cylindrical lid (12) by tight clamping underneath the recesses (11) and the remainder of the cylindrical upper part (10) projects over the lid, the lid has a cup-shaped depression on it upper side and flange-like projections (13) are formed on the lid, which pass through the recesses (11) in the upper part (10) and abut on the upper side of the constriction (7) or are located above it,

    - the closure cap (5) comprises an outer cylinder (14) with an internal screw thread (15) and, integrally formed thereon, an inner cylinder (16) with a sealed base region (17), the inner cylinder-(16) engages in the opening region (3) of the first container (1) and abuts on the top end of the cylindrical upper part (10) of the second container (4), and

    - the second container (4) is held in frictionally locking manner with its central part (9) in the cylindrical constriction (7) of the first container (1) in such a way that by rotating the closure cap (5) into the first container (1) the second container (4) is pushed by the pressure of the inner cylinder (16) onto the top end of the cylindrical upper part (10) of the second container into the first container until the lid (12) is released from the clamping and closing position and the now freed opening of the second container (4) can communicate with the interior of the first container possibly through the recesses (11).
12. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the upper region has a central part and an upper part and the upper part (10) of the second container has at least one region whose external diameter is the same size or greater than that of the central part (9).
13. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that on the sealed base region (17) of the inner cylinder (16) of the closure cap (5) is formed a cylindrical projection (18) which is of a suitable size for engagement in the cup-like depression in the lid (12), so that after being released from the second container (4) this lid is held clamped by the closure cap (5).
14. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the upper region has a central part and an upper part and the axial dimension of the lid (12) is greater than the axial dimension of the bead-like thickened central part (9) or of the constriction (7) of the first container (1) and in that the lid (12) engages in the pot-shaped lower part (8).
15. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 11 or 13 to 14, characterised in that the upper region has a central part and an upper part and the upper part (10) has an external diameter which is less than the internal diameter of the constriction (7) of the first container (1), so that after being released from the constriction (7) it can drop into the first container (1).
16. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that the upper region has a central part and an upper part and the axial dimension of the lid (4) is equal to the axial dimension of the bead-like thickened central part (9) and in that the lid (4) engages in the central part (9).
17. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 14 and 16, characterised in that the upper region has a central part and an upper part and the upper part (10) has at its end an outwardly directed encircling flange (19) and on the outside, directly underneath the flange (19), it has a second bead-like thickening (20) or an external diameter the same size as the external diameter of the central part (9).
18. Packaging unit according to claim 17, characterised in that after being moved axially downwards over the encircling flange (19) the second container rests on the upper side of the constriction (7) of the first container (1) and is held in the constriction (7) of the first container (1) by means of the second bead-like thickening (20) and/or by virtue of its external diameter.
19. Packaging unit according to one of claims 17 or 18, characterised in that the axially extending recesses (11) in the upper part (10) of the second container (4) extend right into the encircling flange (19) and recesses for the flange-like projections of the lid (13) are also provided in the encircling flange (19).
20. Packaging unit according to one of claims 11 to 19, characterised in that the axial length of the recesses (11) in the upper part (10) is greater than the axial height of the cylindrical constriction (7).
21. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that

    - the second container (4) comprises a pot-shaped lower part (8), a central part (9) with a greater external diameter than the lower part and a cylindrical upper part (10) with one or more axially extending recesses (11) and with an annular, peripherally encircling flange (17) or at least one outwardly directed projection (17) at the top end, while at least the region underneath the flange (17) or the minimum of one projection (17) has an external diameter which is at least equal to that of the central part and

    - the second container (4) is tightly sealed off with a cup-like lid (12) by tight clamping,

    - the closure cap (5) comprises an outer cylinder (14) with an internal screw thread (15) and a cylindrical projection (18) formed thereon, the cylindrical projection (18) engages in the opening region (3) of the first container (1) and rests above the cup-shaped top region of the lid (12), and

    - the second container (4) is frictionally secured with its central part (9) in the cylindrical constriction (7) of the first container (1) so that by rotating the closure cap (5) into the first container (1) the cylindrical projection (18) pushes the second container (4) by pressure on the lid (12) until the flange or minimum of one projection (17) rests on the top edge of the constriction (7) and the upper outer region of the upper part of the second container is frictionally connected to the constriction (7), while at the same time the cylindrical projection (18) also engages frictionally in the cup-shaped upper part of the lid (12) in such a way that after removal of the closure cap the lid (12) is moved along by the cylindrical projection (18) and the now exposed opening of the second container (4) can communicate with the interior of the first container, optionally via the recesses (11).
22. Packaging unit according to claim 21, characterised in that the axial length of the recesses (11) in the upper part (10) is greater than the axial height of the cylindrical constriction (7).
23. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that

    - the second container (4) comprises a pot-shaped lower part (8) with a - preferably downwardly chamfered wedge-shaped - barb-like member which is situated underneath the constriction (7) in the initially sealed state of the packaging unit and which has an external diameter which is at least slightly greater than the internal diameter of the constriction (7), and a cylindrical upper part (10) the external diameter of which is less than the internal diameter of the constriction (7),

    - the second container is sealed by a releasable lid which is frictionally connected to the inside of the closure cap or is an integral part thereof,

    - so that in the initially sealed state of the packaging unit the lower part (8) of the second container is located underneath the constriction (7) and the upper part is connected to the closure cap (5) through the constriction (7).
24. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 23, characterised in that in the inner cylinder (16) of the closure cap (5) is provided a metering aid, preferably a measuring cup (21), which is frictionally secured therein.
25. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 24, characterised in that a removable safety ring or the like is provided in known manner between the outer cylinder (14) of the closure cap (5) and the shoulder region (2) of the first container (1).
26. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 25, characterised in that the packaging unit is made of plastics, preferably non-transparent plastics.
27. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 26, characterised in that the first and second containers (1, 4) and the lid (12) are made of a plastics based on polyethylene, preferably high density polyethylene.
28. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 27, characterised in that the closure cap (5) and the measuring cup (21) contained therein are made of a plastics based on polypropylene.
29. Packaging unit according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 28, characterised in that the lid (12) or optionally the region of the closure cap (5) acting as a lid comprises, on its outside which provides the sealing effect with the second container, an annular, peripherally encircling sealing region (22) and axially below it a region which has at least one axially directed recess (24) which extends from the base of the lid (12) to the peripherally encircling sealing region (22).
30. Packaging unit according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 29, characterised in that axially underneath the annular, peripherally encircling sealing region (22) are formed axial webs (23) which define a peripherally encircling region having the same external diameter as the external diameter of the sealing region, this region comprising, between the webs (23), axially directed recesses (24) which extend from the base of the lid (12) to the peripherally encircling sealing region (22).
31. Packaging unit according to claim 30, characterised in that the axially directed recesses (24) are wider than the webs (23) between them.
32. Packaging unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the peripherally encircling sealing region (22) is formed underneath the top edge of the outside of the lid (12) or of the region of the closure cap (5) which serves as a lid, forming a seal with the second container.
33. Packaging unit according to one of claims 23 to 32, characterised in that the lid (12) is an integral part of the closure cap (5).
34. Packaging unit according to one of claims 23 to 33, characterised in that the external diameter of the second container above the barb-like member is approximately the same as the internal diameter of the constriction (7), so that at this point the second container is securely held in the constriction (7) in the original sealed state of the packaging unit.

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