EP4238638A1

EP4238638A1 - Device for mixing a first component with a second component and method of mixing a first component with a second component

Info

Publication number: EP4238638A1
Application number: EP22160149.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sarah Thutewohl; Stefan Koch
Original assignee: Medmix Switzerland AG
Current assignee: Medmix Switzerland AG
Priority date: 2022-03-04
Filing date: 2022-03-04
Publication date: 2023-09-06

Abstract

The invention is directed at a device 10 for mixing a first component 15 with a second component 19, comprising: a housing 12 forming a first chamber 14 for the first component, a second chamber 18 for the second component, a separation element 20 for separating the first chamber and the second chamber, and an activation element 22 for creating a breakthrough through the separation element, wherein the activation element is integrally formed with the housing and wherein a predetermined breaking area 24 is formed in the housing to create an outlet for withdrawing a mixture of the first component and the second component.

The invention is also directed at a method of mixing a first component 15 with a second component 19, comprising: providing a device 10 with a housing 12 forming a first chamber 14 for the first component, a second chamber 18 for the second component, a separation element 20 for separating the first chamber and the second chamber, and an activation element 22 integrally formed with the housing for creating a breakthrough through the separation element, wherein a predetermined breaking area 24 is formed in the housing, further comprising creating a breakthrough through the separation element so that the first component and the second component mix, creating an outlet for withdrawing a mixture of the first component and the second component by breaking the housing at the predetermined breaking area.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for mixing a first component with a second component, comprising a housing forming a first chamber for the first component, a second chamber for the second component, a separation element for separating the first chamber and the second chamber, and an activation element for creating a breakthrough through the separation element.
Such a device may be used for mixing a powder with a liquid substance. For example, such a device may be used for mixing two components so that the mixture can be used for dental applications.
It is an object of the invention to provide a device as described above that is simple to manufacture, easy to use and can only be used a single time.
The object is satisfied by a device having the features of claim 1 and in particular wherein the activation element is integrally formed with the housing and wherein a predetermined breaking area is formed in the housing to create an outlet for withdrawing a mixture of the first component and the second component.
By forming the activation element integrally with the housing, the housing and the activation element can be manufactured as one single part. In order to mix the components, a user can create a breakthrough through the separation element via the activation element. When the two components are mixed together, the user can easily create an outlet for withdrawing the mixture from the housing due to the predetermined breaking area, i.e. an area that is meant to serve as an intended breaking point to create an outlet in the housing.
In this connection it should be noted that the term mixing in the context of the present invention is to be understood such that it includes a bringing together of two or more substances to bring about a chemical reaction of the two or more components and/or a physical mixing of two or more components using a mixing device such as a mixer or a simple rod.
Embodiments of the device are defined by the dependent claims and described in the following disclosure.
The housing and the activation element formed integrally with the housing can for example be produced cost effectively and swiftly in an injection molding process.
According to a preferred aspect, only on breaking the housing at the predetermined breaking area, the mixture can be retrieved from the device.
The separation element can be made from a foil or any other material, that is capable of separating the first and second chamber in a way, that mixture of the two components is not possible while the separation element is intact. On the other hand, the separation element is configured to be breakable by the activation element.
According to a preferred aspect, the predetermined breaking area extends around at least a majority of a circumference of the housing. In particular, the breaking area can extend completely around circumference of the housing. The predetermined breaking area can be formed by a tapering of the cross section of the housing.
The predetermined breaking area can be arranged so that the device is intentionally breakable into two separate parts. The first part of the two parts can form the first chamber and the second part of the two parts can form the second chamber and the activation element. In order to simplify breaking the device into two separate parts, each of the parts can have a length in the axial direction that is at least 30% of the overall length of the product in the activated state.
According to a preferred aspect, the second chamber is formed by a separate container. This can simplify the filling of the first chamber with a first substance since a space or passage provided for the separate container may provide an opening for filling the first chamber. After filling the first chamber, the first chamber can be sealed by a separation element connected to the housing. Alternatively, the first chamber can be sealed by the separate container, e.g. by a separation element that forms a front side, i.e. a face, of the container.
The separate container can be attachable or attached to the housing. According to an aspect, the separate container is attached to the housing by a snap-fit engagement. Alternatively or additionally, the separate container can be attached to the housing by using corresponding threads. Further, the separate container can be attached to the housing by a bayonet connection. Alternatively or additionally, the separate container can be attached to the housing by a snap-on connection. These connection mechanisms have been found to be best suited for connecting the separate container to the housing and allow attaching the separate container to the housing, e.g. during manufacturing or use, without having to use tools. Preferably, the connection mechanism provides feedback to the user when the separate container is in the activated position. This feedback can be auditory, e.g. by a clicking sound caused by the connection mechanism and/or a haptic feedback, e.g. by a one element of the connection mechanism snapping into another element of the connection mechanism.
Preferably, the separate container is non-removably attachable or attached to the housing. In other words, the separate container, if attached to the housing, cannot be detached from the housing without substantial effort. This reduces the risk of a user wrongfully detaching the separate container before or after activation of the device.
According to a preferred aspect, the housing forms a passage for at least partly receiving the separate container. The separate container can be axially guided by the passage during attachment of the container and/or activation of the device. Preferably, an inner circumferential surface of the passage essentially corresponds to an outer circumferential surface of the separate container so that the inner circumferential surface of the passage guides the separate container during attachment and/or activation. The separate container can be axially guided by the passage towards the activation element. In particular, the passage may be configured to at least almost fully receiving the separate container in an activated state. The housing can define an end stop corresponding to an end stop of the separate container. The end stops can abut each other in the activated state. This can be advantageous in providing feedback to the user whether the separate container has been fully moved along the passage to activate the device. In a non-activated state, the separate container is partly arranged in the passage and partly protrudes from the housing. The housing is preferably configured to be placed on a surface via a support surface so that the longitudinal axis of the device is arranged perpendicular to the support surface. In other words, the housing forms a support surface that is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device. An axial force can be applied to an upper front face of the separate container by a user to move the separate container relative to the housing to create a breakthrough in the separation element. The separate container is preferably arranged in the passage in the non-activated state such that the separate container is secured against a bending force acting on the separate container in order to make sure that the separate container does not detach from the housing during activation.
According to an aspect, a venting gap may be formed between an inner circumferential surface of the housing and an outer circumferential surface of the separate container. The venting gap allows air to exit the passage while the separate container is moved axially along the passage towards its activated position. The venting gap preferably is a channel extending in an axial direction from an end region of the passage to a second end region of the passage. The venting gap can be formed in the inner circumferential surface of the housing and/or the outer circumferential surface of the separate container.
According to an aspect, the second chamber is sealed by the separation element in a non-activated state. The separation element can be attached to the separate container. In particular, the separation element can form a front face of the separate container. The front face of the separate container can face towards the activation element. The second chamber can be sealed by the separation element against environmental influences such as humidity and dust.
According to an aspect, the predetermined breaking area is breakable by kinking the housing. "Breakable" means that the connection is breakable by a user by using a usual force used to accidently kink a predetermined breaking area.
According to an aspect, the activation element extends in an axial direction and forms a spike at a distal end of the activation element. In particular, the activation element can have a length in the axial direction that is considerably larger than its width. This allows the activation element to pierce the separation element more easily by moving the separate container with the separation element in the axial direction relative to the activation element.
The activation element can be arranged between the first chamber and the second chamber. The activation element can define at least one opening so that, in an activated state, the second component can flow through the opening past the activation element into the first chamber. The activation element can comprise one or more webs extending from an inner circumferential surface of the passage towards a spike portion of the activation element. Multiple openings can be defined between the webs.
According to an aspect, the activation element is firmly connected to the housing. In particular, the activation element and the housing can be manufactured as one piece, e.g. by injection molding.
According to an aspect, the activation element has a circular shaped cross section or a X-shaped cross section. Both versions can have a spike in an end region of the activation element. An activation element with such a cross section is rigid regarding bending so that less material can be used to manufacture the activation element.
The housing can have a bottom portion. The bottom portion can also be called a cap. The bottom portion preferably forms a lower front face or front surface of the housing. The bottom portion can be connected to the remaining housing via a snap fit connection. Alternatively or additionally, the bottom portion can be connected to the remaining housing via ultrasonic welding.
The housing can define a third chamber. The third chamber can at least partially surround the first chamber. In particular, the third chamber completely surrounds the first chamber in the circumferential direction.
According to an embodiment, the housing forms exactly one outlet for withdrawing a mixture of the first component and the second component in an activated state. This allows to withdraw the mixture in a controlled manner.
The invention also relates to a method of mixing a first component with a second component, comprising

providing a device with
a housing forming a first chamber for the first component,
a second chamber for the second component,
a separation element for separating the first chamber and the second chamber, and
an activation element integrally formed with the housing for creating a breakthrough through the separation element,

creating a breakthrough through the separation element so that the first component and the second component mix,
creating an outlet for withdrawing a mixture of the first component and the second component by breaking the housing at the predetermined breaking area.

According to an aspect, the second chamber is formed by a separate container, and the method is further comprising:
moving the separate container relative to the housing thereby creating the breakthrough through the separation element. The moving of the separate container relative to the housing can comprise moving the separate container linearly relative to the housing.
According to an aspect, the breaking of the housing at the predetermined breaking area comprises kinking the housing. Due to the leverage effect, breaking of the housing by kinking can be more comfortable than e.g. breaking of the housing by torsion.
The first component can be a powder and the second component can be a liquid. Alternatively, the first component can be a liquid and the second component can be a powder. According to another option, the first component and the second component can be both liquids.
According to an aspect, the first chamber and the second chamber are arranged on top of each other during the mixing of the first component with the second component. This allows the two components to mix only by gravitational force acting on the above arranged component causing it to fall down and mix with the below arranged component.
According to a further aspect, the method further comprises removing a first part of the device including the second chamber from the rest of the device to create the outlet for withdrawing the mixture of the first component and the second component.
Further aspects of the invention are described in the following description of the Figures. The invention will be explained in the following in detail by means of embodiments and with reference to the drawings in which is shown:

Fig. 1: a front view of a device according to a first embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2: a sectional view of the device of Fig. 1 along line A-A of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3A: a detailed view of an activation element shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 3B: a top view of the device of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4: a front view of a device according to a second embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 5: a sectional view of the device of Fig. 4 along line A-A of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6A: a detailed view of an activation element shown in Fig. 5; and
Fig. 6B: a top view of the device of Fig. 4.

Figs. 1 to 4 depict a device 10 according to a first embodiment for mixing a first component 15 being arranged in a first chamber 14 with a second component 19 being arranged in a second chamber 18.
As is apparent from Figs. 1 and 2, the device 10 has a housing 12 with a first axial section 12a having a larger cross section and a second axial section 12b having a smaller cross section on top of the first axial section 12a. On the border between the first axial section 12a and the second axial section 12b, a predetermined breaking area 24 in the form of a tapered section is formed. The tapered section has a smaller cross-section than the smaller second axial section 12b.
In the shown non-activated state, a separate container 16 protrudes out of a top end of the second axial section 12b of the housing 12 along a longitudinal axis A of the device 10. The device 10 comprises a support surface 26 on the lower face of the first axial section 12a on which the device 10 can be placed in order to conveniently activate the device 10. The support surface 26 is defined by the housing 12. The separate container 16 forms an activation surface 17 on the upper face of the separate container 16. In order to activate the device 10, a user pushes onto the activation surface 17 causing the separate container 16 to move axially relative to the housing 12 towards the support surface 26. Indication means 30 in the form of a window in the second axial section 12b of the housing 12 through which a marking on the separate container 16 depicting a direction of movement which the container 16 should do in order to activate the device 10 can be seen.
Fig. 2 depicts a longitudinal sectional view of the device 10 in the non-activated state. The housing 12 defines the first chamber 14 which can be at least partly filled with the first component 15. The first chamber 14 is arranged in the first axial section 12a of the housing 12. The separate container 16 defines the second chamber 18 which can be at least partly filled with the second component 19. At a lower front face of the separate container 16, the second chamber 18 is sealed by a separation element 20. The separate container 16 is arranged inside a passage 28 defined by an inner circumferential surface 42 of the second axial section 12b of the housing 12. The separate container 16 has an outer circumferential surface 44 corresponding to the inner circumferential surface 42 of the second axial section 12b of the housing 12. This allows the separate container 16 to slide along the inner circumferential surface 42 of the housing 12 when the user pushes onto the activation surface 17. In order to allow air to move out of the passage 28 into the surroundings while the separate container 16 is pushed downwardly, a venting gap 40 can be formed between the inner circumferential surface 42 of the housing 12 and the outer circumferential surface 44 of the separate container 16. In order to define axial positions of the separate container 16 relative to the housing 12, i.e. a non-activated position corresponding to an axial position in the non-activated state and/or an activated position corresponding to an axial position in the activated state, corresponding engagement means 36, 38 are formed on the inner circumferential surface 42 of the housing 12 and the outer circumferential surface 44 of the separate container 16. The corresponding engagement means 36, 38 can e.g. form a snap-fit connection that is non-releasable if the separate container 16 is moved away from the first chamber 14 but is releasable if the separate container 16 is moved towards the first chamber 14. This makes sure that the user does not accidentally pull the separate container 16 out of the passage 28.
An activation element 22 is arranged between the first chamber 14 and the second chamber 18 in the second axial section 12b of the housing 12. The activation element 22 is formed integrally with the housing 12. As can be seen from Fig. 3, the activation element 22 extends along the longitudinal axis A and forms a spike 34 on the upper end facing the separation element 20 forming the lower front face of the separate container 16. When the separate container 16 is pushed downwards, the spike 34 is configured to create a breakthrough through the separation element 20. When the breakthrough is created in the separation element 20, i.e. in the activated state, the second component 19 can pass the separation element 20. Due to gravitational force acting on the second component 20, the second component moves past the broken separation element 20. The activation element 22 forms at least one opening 54 to connect the passage 28 with the first chamber 14. Through said opening 54, the second component 20 can fall into the first chamber 14 to mix with the first component 15.
A bottom portion 50 forming a lower front face of the device 10 is formed by a different part than the housing 12. This bottom portion 50 is connected to the housing 12 via a snap fit connection 51. In order to seal the connecting region between the housing 12 and the bottom portion 50, the bottom portion 50 comprises an outer circumferential surface 50a which is in surface contact with an inner circumferential surface of the part of the housing 12 defining the first chamber 14 and an inner circumferential surface 50b which is in surface contact with an outer circumferential surface of the part of the housing 12 defining the first chamber 14. The housing further defines a third chamber 52 extending circumferentially around the first chamber 14. The third chamber 52, like the first chamber 14, is closed at its lower end by the bottom portion 50.
In the activated state, the first component 15 and the second component 19 are arranged in the first chamber 14. In order to withdraw the mixture, an opening has to be created. This opening is created by kinking the housing 12 so that the housing breaks into two parts at the predetermined breaking area 24 (not shown).
As can be seen in Fig. 3B, the housing 12 as well as the separate container 16 have a circular cross-section so that the device 10 can be easily held in both hands for kinking the housing 12 into two parts.
Figs. 4 to 6B depict a slightly different embodiment of a device 10' according to the invention. Instead of the bottom portion 50 being connected to the housing 12 by a snap-fit engagement 51, the bottom portion 50' is connected to the housing 12 via ultrasonic welding. This improves the sealing between the bottom portion 50' and the housing 12 so that only a smaller surface connection is needed between the bottom portion 50' and the part of the housing 12 defining the first chamber 14.

List of reference numerals:

10: device
12: housing
12a: axial section
12b: axial section
14: first chamber
15: first component
16: separate container
17: activation surface
18: second chamber
19: second component
20: separation element
22: activation element
24: predetermined breaking area
26: support surface
28: passage
30: indication means
34: spike
36: engagement means
38: engagement means
40: venting gap
42: inner circumferential surface
44: outer circumferential surface
50: bottom portion
50a: outer circumferential surface
50b: inner circumferential surface
51: snap fit connection
52: third chamber
54: opening

A: longitudinal axis

Claims

A device (10) for mixing a first component (15) with a second component (19), comprising
a housing (12) forming a first chamber (14) for the first component (15), a second chamber (18) for the second component (19),

a separation element (20) for separating the first chamber (14) and the second chamber (18), and

an activation element (22) for creating a breakthrough through the separation element (20),

wherein the activation element (22) is integrally formed with the housing (12) and

wherein a predetermined breaking area (24) is formed in the housing (12) to create an outlet for withdrawing a mixture of the first component (15) and the second component (19).
The device (10) according to claim 1,
wherein the predetermined breaking area (24) extends around at least a majority of a circumference of the housing (12).
The device (10) according to claim 1 or claim 2,
wherein the predetermined breaking area (24) is arranged so that the device (10) is intentionally breakable into two parts, preferably wherein the first part of the two parts forms the first chamber (14) and the second part of the two parts forms the second chamber (18) and the activation element (22).
The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the second chamber (18) is formed by a separate container (16) attachable or attached to the housing (12), preferably wherein the separate container (16) is attachable to the housing (12) by a snap-fit engagement, a threaded engagement, a bayonet connection or a snap-on connection.
The device (10) according to claim 4,
wherein the housing (12) forms a passage (28) for at least partly receiving the separate container (16), preferably

wherein the separate container (16) is axially guided by the passage (28) during attachment of the container (16) and/or activation of the device (10).
The device (10) according to claim 4 or 5,
wherein the separation element (20) is attached to the separate container (16); and/or

wherein a venting gap (40) is formed between an inner circumferential surface (42) of the housing (12) and an outer circumferential surface (44) of the separate container (16).
The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the second chamber (18) is sealed by the separation element (20) in a non-activated state, preferably so that the second chamber (18) is sealed against environmental influences such as humidity and dust.
The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the predetermined breaking area (24) is breakable by kinking the housing (12); and/or

wherein the activation element (22) extends in an axial direction and forms a spike (34) at a distal end of the activation element (22).
The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the activation element (22) is arranged between the first chamber (14) and the second chamber (18) and defines at least one opening (54) so that in an activated state the second component (19) can flow through the opening past the activation element (22) into the first chamber (14), preferably

wherein the activation element (22) comprises one or more webs extending from an inner circumferential surface towards a spike portion of the activation element (22) and wherein multiple openings (54) are defined between the webs.
The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the activation element (22) is firmly connected to the housing (12) and/or

wherein the activation element (22) has a circular shaped cross section or a X-shaped cross section.
The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the housing (12) has a bottom portion (50), and

wherein the bottom portion (50) is connected to the remaining housing (12) via a snap fit connection (51) and/or

wherein the bottom portion (50') is connected to the remaining housing (12') via ultrasonic welding.
The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the housing (12) defines a third chamber (52), and

wherein the third chamber (52) at least partially surrounds the first chamber (14).
A method of mixing a first component (15) with a second component (19), comprising
providing a device (10) with

a housing (12) forming a first chamber (14) for the first component (15),

a second chamber (18) for the second component (19),

a separation element (20) for separating the first chamber (14) and the second chamber (18), and

an activation element (22) integrally formed with the housing (12) for creating a breakthrough through the separation element (20),

wherein a predetermined breaking area (24) is formed in the housing (12), further comprising

creating a breakthrough through the separation element (20) so that the first component (15) and the second component (19) mix,

creating an outlet for withdrawing a mixture of the first component (15) and the second component (19) by breaking the housing (12) at the predetermined breaking area (24).
The method according to claim 13,
wherein the second chamber (18) is formed by a separate container (16), and the method is further comprising:
moving the separate container (16) relative to the housing (12) thereby creating the breakthrough through the separation element (20), preferably wherein moving the separate container (16) relative to the housing (12) comprises moving the separate container (16) linearly relative to the housing (12).
The method according to any of the method claims,
wherein breaking the housing (12) at the predetermined breaking area (24) comprises kinking the housing (12); and/or

wherein the first component (15) is a powder and the second component (19) is a liquid or wherein the first component (15) is a liquid and the second component (19) is a powder or wherein the first component (15) is a liquid and the second component (19) is a liquid; and/or

wherein the first chamber (14) and the second chamber (18) are arranged on top of each other during the mixing of the first component (15) with the second component (19); and/or

wherein the method further comprises removing a first part of the device including the second chamber (18) from the rest of the device (10) to create the outlet for withdrawing the mixture of the first component (15) and the second component (19).