ES2405434A1 - Compartment container and dosing element. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Compartmentalized container and dosing element. It doses the product contained in one of the compartments, maintaining the tight closure of the rest of the compartments, preserving the product they contain. The dosing element comprises a tubular body (4) with upper base (4a) provided with an elastic element (5), both (4, 4a) provided with an opening (6) of dimensions smaller than the mouth of the compartments. The dispenser comprises a retaining element (10) on a frusto-conical skirt (13) of the container (1) keeping the elastic sheet pressing against the upper edge of the inner partition (2) of the container. The skirt (13) comprises at its lower edge recesses (15) complementary to lugs (9) provided in the dispenser, so that the lugs (9) can run on the edge of the trunk-conical skirt (13) by the deformation of the elastic element (5) until the lugs (9) are received in the recesses (15) fixing the openings (6) in a position that allows the dosing of a compartment while keeping the remaining compartments watertight. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

COMPARTMENTED PACKAGING AND DOSING ELEMENT OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, as expressed in the statement of this specification, refers to a compartmentalized container provided with a metering element which is intended to allow the dosing of one of the compartments, while maintaining the tight seal of the rest of compartments provided in the package.

In general, the invention is applicable in any package that is provided with compartments, in each of which the same or a different product is housed, for consumption. More specifically, the invention is applicable in compartmentalized containers that contain a fluid that requires maintaining a tight seal, to avoid deterioration, such as carbonated beverages, such as soft drinks, beers, etc., or beverages that are not carbonated, They must be kept tight, avoiding the entry of air, such as juices, milk, soup, yogurt, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present it is known to use compartmentalized containers by means of at least one vertical interior partition that divides the interior of the package into at least two compartments, to accommodate the same product or different products in each compartment.

This type of packaging has the disadvantage that the closure they make is not a tight seal, so it cannot accommodate products that may deteriorate in the compartments, such as juices, milk, soup, yogurt, etc., or the case of carbonated drinks, so this type of packaging has not been used to store products that may deteriorate due to the lack of a tight seal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the objectives and solve the aforementioned drawbacks, the invention provides a new compartmentalized container and a metering element, in which the package is compartmentalized by at least one vertical interior partition that divides the interior of the package into at least two compartments; the partition also being provided with a circular section mouth.

The invention is characterized in that the dosing element is provided with a tubular body that is topped by an upper base that is provided with an opening of smaller dimensions than the mouth of the compartments, and whose lower face comprises an elastic element that is provided with an opening arranged in correspondence with the opening of the upper base, such that by means of said openings it is possible to carry out the dosing of one of the compartments, when the openings are located in correspondence with the mouth of one of said compartments. A closure body of a cap is incorporated on the upper base, which can close the container by means of threading, pressure or any other configuration known in the state of the art. In addition, the dosing element is provided with lugs that are arranged on the inner face of the tubular body and in proximity to its lower edge, so that inferiorly to said lugs it comprises a retention element of the tubular body on the upper area of the container, for what said container is provided with a truncated-conical skirt on whose lower edge the retaining element of the tubular body of the dispenser is retained and on which the lugs rest keeping the elastic element pressing against the upper edge of the at least vertical partition; all this so that the tubular body can rotate on the container by sliding the lugs over the lower edge of the trunk-conical body and by deformation of the elastic element.

In addition, the container is provided with recesses provided on the lower edge of the skirt so that said recesses are arranged in correspondence with the tubular body lugs, so that when the dispenser rotates on the container a point reaches where the lugs are housed. in the recesses, setting a position, so that according to the described configuration, the opening of the base and the elastic element are located in correspondence with the mouth of one of the compartments, position in which the elastic element is kept pressing against the upper edge of the at least vertical partition, so that it retains the tight seal of the at least compartment that is sealed by the elastic sheet. In addition, the described configuration allows that by moving the dispenser in a downward and rotating direction on the container, causing the deformation of the elastic element, it is allowed to carry out the removal of the lugs from the inside of the recesses, which allows to locate the openings of the base and elastic element on another of the compartments of the container, to allow its dosing, after removing the cap described.

To facilitate the assembly and retention of the dispenser on the container, it is envisaged that the area of the lower edge of the tubular body of the dispenser is provided with vertical grooves that burst into its lower edge, which allows the sections of the tubular body, defined between the grooves, laterally, thus facilitating the retention element to move over the truncated conical skirt until it is located on the edge of said skirt.

The retainer of the dispenser comprises a perimeter rib of an upwardly inclined surface directed towards the inside of the tubular body that is finished off according to a horizontal surface where the lower edge of the frustoconical skirt abuts.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the lugs comprise two vertical parallel walls topped by a curved-convex upper surface curved-convex upper surface, which is complemented by an edge of the trunk-conical skirt determined by curved-concave sections running between each two consecutive recesses, so that the curved-convex upper surface of the lugs facilitates their sliding over said curved-concave sections by rotating the tubular body over the container until said lugs are accommodated in the recesses. The recesses of the lower edge of the skirt have a complementary shape to that of the lugs to facilitate their accommodation and retention.

It is evident to point out that the number of compartments of the container, according to the description made, may vary depending on the required needs, so that the number of lugs provided in the dispenser, the entrances of the trunk-conical skirt and compartments The packaging is coincident to facilitate the selection of the dosage of each of the products contained in each of the compartments.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the tubular body has a cylindrical configuration and is provided with a widening arranged in correspondence with at least the trunk-conical skirt, to allow adapting the dispenser to the external configuration of the container. The height of said widening is greater than that of the trunk-conical skirt to establish a top of the downward movement of the tubular body by contacting the upper edge of the widening with the tonco-conical skirt, preserving the structure of the elastic element.

In addition, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper edge of the at least inner partition is curved-convex to facilitate sliding and deformation of the flexible sheet when the dispenser is rotated around the container to select the dosage of one of the products housed in one of the compartments. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the elastic element comprises an elastic sheet that is fixed on the lower face of the upper base. The lower surface of the elastic sheet comprises greater rigidity than the rest of the flexible sheet, to achieve greater durability of the elastic sheet when performing the angular displacement of the dispenser.

The fixing of the flexible sheet on the lower face of the upper base is carried out by means of adhesive or through small projections provided on the lower face of the base as teeth that are calmed on the flexible sheet

In another embodiment of the invention the flexible element comprises a spring whose upper end rests on the lower face of the upper base and whose lower end is attached to a flexible sheet.

In order to facilitate a better understanding of this descriptive report, and being an integral part thereof, a series of figures are attached in which the object of the invention has been shown as an illustrative and non-limiting nature.

BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1. - It shows an exploded perspective view of a possible embodiment of the invention in which only the upper part of the package has been represented, which is the part that affects the invention. In this embodiment the package comprises two perpendicular interior partitions that define four compartments.

Figure 2.- Shows a view according to a partial section of what is represented in Figure 1 with the dispenser mounted and retained on the container, to facilitate the understanding of the operation of the invention. In addition, this figure shows a detail of the pin and the retaining element of the tubular body on the container.

Figure 3.- It shows an example of the packaging for the case in which it is provided with three compartments.

Figure 4.-Shows an example of embodiment for the case in which the package comprises two compartments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Below is a description of the invention based on the figures mentioned above.

The invention relates to a compartmentalized container 1 by means of vertical interior partitions 2, which in the exemplary embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 divide the interior of the container 1 into four compartments, while in the exemplary embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 divide it into three and two compartments respectively.

In order to allow the consumption of each of the compartments, it is envisaged that the invention comprises a dispenser 3 which is constituted by a tubular body 4 having a cylindrical configuration equivalent to the cylindrical configuration of the mouth of the container 1.

The tubular body 4 is topped by an upper base 4a, which is provided with an opening 6 and on whose lower face an elastic element is adhered which in the exemplary embodiment is an elastic sheet 5 which is also provided with an opening 6 arranged in correspondence with the opening 6 of the upper base 4a. The openings 6 have dimensions smaller than the mouth of the compartments, to allow dosing of the product contained in each of the compartments, as will be described later. The opening 6 of the upper base 4a is delimited by vertical partitions 4a ’to facilitate the centering of the opening 6 of the elastic sheet on the upper base 4a. said vertical partitions 4a also facilitate the retention of the elastic sheet 5 in the upper base 4a.

The upper base 4a is provided superiorly with a closing body 7, which in the exemplary embodiment is constituted by a cylindrical body in which a closure cap 8 of the container 1 is threaded. The cap 8 is provided with the corresponding complementary thread To perform this function.

Obviously the closure of the cap 8 can be carried out by means of pressure or any other system known in the state of the art.

The tubular body 4 has in its lower part a broadening 4b, of cylindrical configuration, in whose inner face includes lugs 9 arranged in proximity to its lower face, and inferiorly to which a retaining element 10 of the tubular body 4 is provided. on the upper area of the container 1. In addition, the widening 4b has vertical grooves 12 that break into its lower edge to allow its retention on the mouth of the container 1.

The retaining element 10 comprises a perimeter rib of upwardly inclined surface 10a directed towards the inside of the tubular body that is finished off according to a horizontal surface 10b.

In order to allow the retention of the dispenser 3 on the container 1, it is envisaged that said container 1 is provided with a conical trunk skirt 13 on which the perimeter rib constituting the retention element 10 is arranged, so that by pressing on the tubular body 4 making a downward movement towards the container 1, the upwardly inclined inclined surface 10a slides over the trunk-conical skirt 13, until its edge is placed on the horizontal surface 10b, all facilitated by the arrangement of the vertical grooves 12 that allow lateral displacement of the lateral and lower edge of the widening 4b. Once the dispenser 3 is mounted in the container 1, the underside of the elastic sheet 5 is pressed against the upper edge of the inner partitions 2, so that said elastic sheet 5 performs the sealed closure of the compartments, with the exception of the compartment on that the openings 6 are arranged.

Furthermore, the truncated-conical skirt 13 is provided on its lower edge with recesses 15 among which the lower edge defines curved-concave sections 14. The number of recesses 15 corresponds to the number of lugs 8 and the number of compartments.

Based on the description given, it is easily understood that once the dispenser 3 has been mounted on the trunk-conical skirt 13, as described, the lugs 9 rest on the curved-concave sections 14, position in which if the angular displacement of the dispenser is performed, the sliding of the lugs on the surface of the curved-concave sections 14 occurs, the elastic sheet 5 being deformed, until the lugs 9 are accommodated in the recesses 15. The angular displacement of the dispenser 3 is facilitated by pressing it downwards. The lugs 9 comprise two vertical parallel walls topped by a curved-convex upper surface and the recesses 15 have a complementary configuration to facilitate the accommodation and retention of the recesses 15.

In the position where the lugs are housed in the recesses 15, there is a circumstance that the openings 6 are located in correspondence with the mouth of one of the compartments, so that removing the cap 8 allows dosing of the corresponding compartment through the openings 6, the remaining compartments being sealed in a sealed manner by means of the elastic sheet 5. In order to facilitate the tight closing of the compartments, and also to allow the angular rotation of the dispenser, the upper edge is provided of the interior partitions 2 present a curved-convex configuration that presses against the elastic sheet 5.

Once the product included in the compartment has been consumed through the openings 6, the dispenser moves downwardly deforming the elastic sheet 5, which allows the lugs 9 to leave the interior of the recesses 15, allowing in this situation make a new rotation of the dispenser to locate the openings 6 in correspondence with another of the compartments, and thus allow the consumption of the product contained therein. Likewise, in order to facilitate the movement of the lugs 9 over the curved-concave sections 14 of the edge of the trunk-conical skirt 13, and their accommodation in the recesses 7, the upper edge of the lugs 12 is provided to be constituted by a curved surface. convex

The height of the widening 4b is greater than that of the trunk-conical skirt 13 so that the upward / downward displacement of the dispenser 3 is allowed, and in turn the upper edge of the widening establishes a stop of the downward displacement of the doser, thus preserving to flexible sheet 5, by limiting the deformation that it could suffer.

Claims (11)

1.-COMPARTMENTED PACKAGING AND DOSING ELEMENT, in which the compartmentalized container comprises a circular section mouth and at least one vertical interior partition (2) that divides the interior of the package (1) into at least two compartments; characterized in that the dosing element comprises:

-

a tubular body (4) that is topped by an upper base (4a) that is provided with an opening (6) of dimensions smaller than the mouth of the compartments, and whose lower face comprises a

-

an elastic element (5) which is provided with an opening (6) arranged in correspondence with the opening (6) of the upper base, comprising on said upper base (4a)

-

a closing body (7) of a plug (8);

-

lugs (9) arranged on the inner face of the tubular body (4) and in proximity to its lower edge, -a retention element (10) of the tubular body (4)

on the upper area of the container (1) that is arranged inferiorly to the lugs (9); also comprising the package:

-

a trunk-conical skirt (13) on whose lower edge the retaining element (10) of the tubular body (4) of the dispenser is retained and on which the lugs (9) rest, keeping the elastic element (5) pressing against the upper edge of the at least inner partition (2), so that the tubular body

(4) can rotate on the container (1) by sliding the lugs (9) over the lower edge of the trunk-conical body (13) due to deformation of the elastic element (5),

-

recesses (15) provided on the lower edge of the trunk-conical skirt (13) that are arranged in correspondence with the lugs (9) of the tubular body (4), so that when the dispenser rotates on the container

(1) the lugs (9) are housed in the recesses (15), fixing a position in which the openings (6) of the upper base and the elastic element (5) are located in correspondence with the mouth of one of the compartments, and to allow dislodging the lugs (9) from the recesses (15) by moving the tubular body (4) down and rotating on the container (1). 2. COMPARTMENTED PACKAGING AND DOSING ELEMENT, according to claim 1, characterized in that in the area of the lower edge of the tubular body (4) comprises vertical grooves (12) that burst into its lower edge to allow its retention on the trunk skirt -conical (13). 3.-COMPARTMENTED PACKAGING AND DOSING ELEMENT, according to claim 1, characterized in that the lugs (9) comprise two vertical parallel walls topped by a curved-convex upper surface and the trunk-conical skirt (13) comprises an edge of curved-concave sections (14) that run between each two consecutive recesses (15), to slide the lugs (9) over said curved-concave sections (14). 4.-COMPARTMENTED PACKAGING AND DOSING ELEMENT, according to claims 1 or 3, characterized in that it comprises a number of lugs (9), incoming (15) and matching compartments. 5.-COMPARTMENTED PACKAGING AND DOSING ELEMENT, according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular body (4) is cylindrical and has a widening (4b) in correspondence with at least the trunk-conical skirt (13); said widening having a height greater than that of the trunk-conical skirt (13) to establish a top of the downward movement of the tubular body (4). 6.-COMPARTMENTED PACKAGING AND DOSING ELEMENT, according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper edge of the at least inner partition (2) is curved-convex. 7.-COMPARTMENTED PACKAGING AND DOSING ELEMENT, according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining element (10) of the dispenser comprises a perimeter rib of upwardly inclined surface (10a) directed towards the inside of the tubular body (4) that is finished according to a horizontal surface (10b) in which the lower edge of the trunk-conical skirt (13) stops. 8.-COMPARTMENTED PACKAGING AND DOSING ELEMENT, according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic element comprises an elastic sheet (5) that is fixed on the lower face of the upper base (4a) whose lower surface comprises a greater stiffness than the rest of the flexible sheet (5). 9.-COMPARTMENTED PACKAGING AND DOSING ELEMENT, according to claim 8, characterized in that the flexible sheet is fixed on the lower face of the upper base by means of an element selected between adhesive and small projections provided on the lower face of the base as a teeth that are bald on the flexible sheet. 10.-COMPARTMENTED PACKAGING AND DOSING ELEMENT, according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible element comprises a spring whose upper end rests on the lower face of the upper base and whose lower end is attached to a flexible sheet. SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application no .: 201131909 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 25.11.2011 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: B65D47 / 08 (2006.01) A47K5 / 12 (2006.01) RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

56 Documents cited Claims Affected

TO

ES 2062854 T3 (ANDRIS RAIMUND GMBH & CO KG) 16.12.1994, one

column 1, line 3 - column 14, line 56; Figures 1-6.

TO

US 3269605 A (SILVER ALBERT E) 30.08.1966, one

column 1, line 9 - column 3, line 27; Figures 1-8.

TO

GB 514844 A (JOSEPH VAN PRAAGH) 20.11.1939, one

page 1, line 5 - page 5, line 59; Figures 1-8.

TO

US 3720352 A (KOZLOWSKI R) 13.03.1973, one

column 2, line 36 - column 5, line 63; Figures 1-7.

TO

US 6531116 B1 (SUARES ALAN et al.) 11.03.2003, one

column 2, line 45 - column 11, line 22; figures 1-2.

TO

ES 2145404 T3 (OREAL) 01.07.2000, one

column 1, line 50 - column 8, line 56; Figures 1-3.

TO

MX 2007006735 A (ALCON INC) 25.07.2007, one

page 1, line 15 - page 13, line 22; Figures 1-4.

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 04.03.2013

Examiner E. Álvarez Valdés Page 1/5

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Application number: 201131909 Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols) A47K Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of search used) INVENES, EPODOC, WPI State of the Art Report Page 2/5  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201131909 Date of Written Opinion: 04.03.2013 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims Claims 1-10 IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims Claims 1-10 IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published. State of the Art Report Page 3/5  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201131909 1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

ES 2062854 T3 (ANDRIS RAIMUND GMBH & CO KG) 16.12.1994

D02

US 3269605 A (SILVER ALBERT E) 30.08.1966

D03

GB 514844 A (JOSEPH VAN PRAAGH) 11/20/1939

D04

US 3720352 A (KOZLOWSKI R) 13.03.1973

D05

US 6531116 B1 (SUARES ALAN et al.) 11.03.2003

D06

ES 2145404 T3 (OREAL) 01.07.2000

D07

MX 2007006735 A (ALCON INC) 07.25.2007

2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement The object of the patent application of the invention is, according to the content of claim 1, a compartmentalized container and dosing element in which the compartmentalized container comprises a circular section mouth and at least one vertical interior partition dividing the interior of the container in at least two compartments; The dosing element comprises: a tubular body that is topped by an upper base that is provided with an opening of smaller dimensions than the mouth of the compartments; - an elastic element, on the lower face of the tubular body, which is provided with an opening arranged in correspondence with the opening of the upper base; -a closure body of a cap on the upper base; -a few lugs arranged on the inner face of the tubular body and in proximity to its lower edge; -a retaining element of the tubular body on the upper area of the container that is arranged inferiorly to the lugs; The package comprises: -a trunk-conical skirt on whose lower edge the retention element of the tubular body of the dispenser is retained and on which the lugs rest, keeping the elastic element pressing against the upper edge of the at least inner partition, so that the tubular body can rotate on the container by sliding the lugs on the lower edge of the trunk-conical body by deformation of the elastic element; -a few recesses provided on the lower edge of the trunk-conical skirt that are arranged in correspondence with the tubular body lugs, so that when the dispenser rotates on the container, the lugs are accommodated in the recesses, fixing a position in which, the openings of the upper base and of the elastic element are located in correspondence with the mouth of one of the compartments, and to allow dislodging the lugs of the recesses by moving the tubular body downwards and rotatably over the container. Additionally, in summary, the application includes that in the area of the lower edge of the tubular body, it comprises vertical grooves that burst into its lower edge to allow its retention on the trunk-conical skirt (claim 2); that the lugs comprise two parallel vertical walls topped by a curved-convex upper surface and the trunk-conical skirt comprises an edge of curved-concave sections that run between each two consecutive recesses, to slide the lugs over said curved-concave sections (claim 3); comprising a number of matching lugs, recesses and compartments (claim 4); that the tubular body is cylindrical and has a widening in correspondence with at least the trunk-conical skirt, said widening having a height greater than that of the trunk-conical skirt to establish a stop of the downward movement of the tubular body (claim 5); that the upper edge of the at least inner partition is curved-convex (claim 6); that the retainer of the dispenser comprises a perimeter rib of an upwardly inclined surface directed towards the inside of the tubular body that is finished off according to a horizontal surface in which the lower edge of the trunk-conical skirt abuts (claim 7); that the elastic element comprises an elastic sheet that is fixed on the lower face of the upper base whose lower surface comprises a greater stiffness than the rest of the flexible sheet (claim 8); that the flexible sheet is fixed on the lower face of the upper base by means of an element selected between adhesive and small projections provided on the lower face of the base as teeth that are nailed to the flexible sheet (claim 9); that the flexible element comprises a spring whose upper end rests on the lower face of the upper base and whose lower end is attached to a flexible sheet (claim 10). Documents D01-D07 only reflect the state of the art. Document D01 shows a dispensing device for the simultaneous dosed administration of liquid and / or pasty media from at least two independent storage chambers, however, it does not show a configuration, similar or equivalent, to the compartmentalized container and metering element of application. The same considerations apply for documents D02 to D07. State of the Art Report Page 4/5  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201131909 None of said documents shows an arrangement as described in claims 1 to 10 and therefore cannot be considered as prior. On the other hand, it is not obvious that, from said documents, a person skilled in the art could conceive of a compartmentalized container and dosing element with the characteristics mentioned in said claims. The invention disclosed through the content of claims 1 to 10 seems to bring obvious improvements over what is already known in the field of compartmentalized containers and dosing element and therefore can be considered to be new (Art. 6, Law 11/1986 of Patents) and implies inventive activity (Art. 8, Law 11/1986 on Patents). State of the Art Report Page 5/5