GB2035252A - Multi-compartment package - Google Patents

Abstract

A package of two or more substances intended to be mixed together immediately prior to use, for example adhesives and fillers, has a rigid tray (1) formed of a plastics material having depressions (7, 8) for containing the substances and the tray having an upper surface (4) for securing the cover (3). A metal foil lining is provided in the depression 8 during vacuum-forming or injection-moulding. The cover 3 is a bonded laminate of polyethylene, metal foil, polyester and paper. In a modification, a separate section is adhesively secured in a larger tray and is broken to enable admixing of the materials. A spatula 2 can be broken off the moulded tray for removing and mixing the substances. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Package and packaging This invention relates to a package and to packaging.

In a particular aspect this invention relates to the packaging of two or more substances which are intended to be mixed together immediately prior to use.

The invention is particularly advantageous in the packaging of chemically reactive substances such as for example thermosetting materials, for example adhesives and filler compositions. Such thermosetting materials usually comprise a base composition to which is added a curing agent which hardens the base composition.

It will be convenient hereinafter to describe the invention with reference to the packaging of thermosetting filler materials. This is not however, to be taken as a limitation on the scope of the invention as it will be readily appreciated that the package could be used for packaging other products such as adhesives or the like.

The storage of chemically reactive substances produces many difficulties due to the inherent nature of the substances. In the past it has been the general practice to pack individual components of thermosetting compositions in separate containers such as cans or tubes. In the case of fillers the base composition or putty and the curing agent are supplied in two containers from which the user takes and mixes a selected amount of each material when required for application.

The packing of such filler materials in this manner does however, suffer from several disadvantages.

For example, since two components are supplied in separate containers it is very easy for one or the other container to be misplaced. A more serious problem can arise during mixing of the components together prior to application. In many instances the relative amounts of material are critical to the proper functioning of the material. Substantial wastage of time and material can occur because there is no convenient means for the user to determine the precise relative quantities of components required in the mixture. A further problem of some prior art systems of packaging is that of contamination of the components in their respective containers. For example it is a fairly regular occurrence that the lid of the curing agent is accidentally placed on the container holding the putty and vice-versa.This generally leads to a reaction taking place and the component setting in the container or being so affected as to render it useless.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved package which alleviates at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages by providing a totally new concept in packaging in particular in connection with chemically reactive substances.

Basically, the package of the invention comprises a plurality of separate compartments which are arranged in close proximity to one another, each compartment being adapted to hold a predeter mined quantity of material therein. Preferably, one of the compartments is arranged to define a mixing receptacle into which material from the other compartment or compartments can be transferred prior to use.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a package comprising a substantially rigid tray formed of synthetic plastics material having two or more depressions therein for containing two or more materials and having an upper surface defining the upper extremities of said depressions to which a cover sheet may be secured whereby to close the package and isolate said materials one from the other.

In one arrangement the package of the invention comprises a body section comprising the separate compartments for storing the materials. For example, in the case of filler materials two separate compartments are provided one being for the base putty and the otherforthe curing agent. The body section may be in the form of a rigid or semi-rigid sheet having the two compartments formed therein.

The body section and its associated compartments may be manufactured by any suitable method and from any suitable material. In one arrangement the body section is a plastics material and the compartments are in the form of trays which are formed in the plastics in side by side relation.

Preferably, the tray which is adapted to store the base putty is rectangular in shape although any other suitable shape could be utilized. The tray for the curing agent is likely to be smaller than the base compound tray and may be substantially hemispherical in shape. The smaller tray may also include a substantially V-shaped ramp portion to facilitate removal of the curing agent therefrom.

In an alternative arrangement the smaller compartment may be defined by a separate section which is adhesively secured within the larger tray.

Thus, when not required for use the materials are isolated from one another however, when required for use pressure can be applied to the smaller compartment so as to break a weakened portion of the barrier between the compartments to enable mixing of the materials.

Closure means may be provided to sealingly retain the materials within their respective compartments when not in use. In one arrangement the closure means may be in the form of a cover sheet which is arranged to overly the open face of the two trays and is adapted to be secured to the free edges thereof.

Any suitable method can be used for securing the cover sheet to the body section. For example the free edges of the trays may include a peripheral flange thereon which is adapted to be adhered to the backing sheet. The backing sheet can be manufactured from any suitable material such as paper, plastics, metal or a laminate of materials. A preferred material is a plastic, metal foil, backing laminate.

The package of the present invention may further include a mixing and/or working tool which is releasably securable to the body section thereof. In one form the tool is integrally formed with the tray and which is joined to the tray such as to be removable therefrom for use. The tool comprises a flat substantially rectangular blade which is prefer ably made from the same material as the body section. The tool may for example be an extension of one of the flanges of the body section and separable therefrom by a tearing along a score line or perforations or other line of weakness extending between the flange and the tool.

In one aspect one of the depressions and said tool are so configured that the tool may be moved through said one of the depressions and in so doing closely conform thereto to facilitate removal of material therein.

Conveniently the corner portion of the tool is configured to the shape of the ramp in the small compartment to facilitate ease in removal of the curing agenttherefrom. In a preferred instance when the packaged material is required for use the cover sheet is removed from the body section of the package and the tool torn along the line of weakness so as to separate it from the body section. The curing agent is then transferred from its compartment to the larger compartment by use of the corner of the tool scraping it up the ramp. Subsequent mixing of the materials and application are effected by the working tool.

A preferred form of the cover sheet is a laminate comprised of a polyethylene layer which will be adjacent said surface, a metal foil, a polyester layer and a paper or card layer which will be outermost.

That cover sheet is preferably heat bonded to said surface.

Desirable properties of the cover sheet are impermeability to the components, unlikely to delaminate and reasonably puncture resistant.

One difficulty that applicant has found is with the tray in that the components to be loaded thereinto may have a deleterious effect thereon. For instance, polypropylene is a suitable material for the tray but this is attacked by styrene which is a common ingredient in components which might be used.

Applicant has found that the most satisfactory solution to this last problem is to bond a metal foil to the tray as this can protect the tray. Such a foil is preferably a laminate of metal foil per se with a plastics material adapted to bond to the tray. A suitable plastics material is a polyethylene.

This invention also provides a method of making a package which comprises injection moulding a tray in a die and additionally comprising the step of locating a metal foil in the die prior to injection moulding whereby said foil adheres to the tray during injection moulding. Preferably the foil is the aforesaid laminate.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing that the packaging of the present invention exhibits many advantages over the prior art. Firstly, the components required for mixing can be provided in the required quantities therefore saving time and reducing the possibilities of errors. Further, the components can be supplied together with a mixing tool as an integral pack, thereby reducing storage problems. The package can be manufactured in any size for either commercial use of for the handy man.

Thus applicant has created a totally new concept in packaging particularly for chemically reactive substances which alleviates the disadvantages of prior packaging systems. The package ensures that wastage of materials is minimized and thatthere is virtually no possibility of contamination prior to use.

A specific construction of a package in accordance with this invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa perspective view of the package including a cover sheet.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the package with the cover sheet removed.

Figure 3 is a cross-section on line 3 - 3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view of part of the package with the cover sheet removed, and Figure 5 is a cross-section on line 5 - 5 in Figure 4 and additionally shows the package in use.

The package shown in the drawings comprises an integrally formed tray 1 and tool 2 and a cover 3.

The cover 3 is formed of a laminate of modified polyethylene (surlyn by duPont), metal foil, polyester and paper. On the paper directions for use will be printed.

The cover 3 is heat bonded to the surface 4 of the tray.

The tool 2 is attached to the tray through a line of weakness 6 which was formed in the moulding of the tray 1 and tool 2 so that the tool 2 can be torn from the tray 1 for use.

The tray 1 has two depressions 7 and 8 therein.

Depressions 8 is generally rectangular but with rounded corners, the rounding corresponding roughly in shape to the rounding of the corners of the tool 2.

Depression 7 is shaped, see Figure 5, so that a corner of the tool 2 may be inserted therein to scoop out a component located in depression 7.

A slot 9 is provided so that the package may be hung from a hook such as on a display stand.

It is particularly to be noted that the depression 8 is lined with a metal foil-polyethylene laminate 11.

The laminate 11 was introduced in an injection moulding process for forming the tray 1 and tool 2 in that a piece of the laminate was appropriately positioned in an injection moulding die and thereafter material to form the tray 1 and tool 2 was injected. Alternately, the tray 1 and tool 2 might be vacuum formed and in this instance the laminate might be applied to a male former or may be preadhered to material to form the tray 1 and tool 2.

In general, the heat for injection moulding or vacuum forming should be adequate to bond the laminate to the tray 1.

The laminate may extend more extensively over the tray 1 than merely in the depression 8.

In use, after forming of the tray 1 and tool 2 a first and a second component will be respectively loaded into the depressions 7 and 8 and thereafter the cover 3 will be secured to the surface 4 such as to seal around both depressions 7 and 8. In this respect, the sealing should be against escape of either the first and second component outside the package and against intermixing of the first and second component.

As such the package is ready for sale or use.

To use the package the tool 2 may firstly be removed by tearing along the line of weakness 6.

Thereafter the cover 3 can be removed (such as by peeling from a non-bonded corner) while the tray 1 is located so that the first and second components will not spill.

Thereafter the tool 2 can be used to scoop the first component from depression 7, as previously explained, into depression 8 and then be used to thoroughly mix the first and second components.

The tool 2 can then be used to scoop out the mixed components and apply them to work.

Other packages in accordance with the present invention are shown in the drawings in which: Figure 6 is a plan view of a second package, Figure 7 is a cross-section of the second package, Figure 8 is a plan view of a third package, Figure 9 is a cross-section of the third package, Figure 10 is a plan view of a fourth package, and Figure ii is a cross-section of the fourth package.

The second package shown in Figures 6 and 7 is similar to that in Figures 1 to 3 except that the depressions 7 and 8 are differently shaped and dotted lines 81 and 82 shows alternative positions for a divider between depressions 7 and 8 to obtain different ratios of volumes of those depressions.

The third package shown in Figures 8 and 9 is similar to that in Figures 1 to 3 except that the depressions 7 and 8 are differently shaped.

The fourth package shown in Figures 10 and 11 is similar to that in Figures 1 to 3 excepting that the depressions 7 and 8 are differently shaped, the position of depression 7 is altered and the position of the tool 2 is altered.

The tray may also be made by vacuum forming and in this instance a foil may be included. In a preferred instance the present invention provides a method of making a package which comprises vacuum moulding a tray over a male former and additionally comprising the step of locating a metal foil over the former prior to the vacuum moulding whereby said foil adheres to the tray during vacuum forming. The aforesaid laminate may be used.

Other laminates are laminates of metal foil with paper.

Modifications and adaptations may be made to the above described without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which includes every novel feature and combination of features disclosed herein.

The claims form part of the disclosure of this specification.

Claims (13)

1. A package comprising a substantially rigid tray formed of synthetic plastics material having two or more depressions therein for containing two or more materials and having an upper surface defin ing the upper extremities of said depressions to which a cover sheet may be secured whereby to close the package and isolate said materials one from the other.

2. A package as claimed in claim 1, and including such materials and such a cover sheet secured to said upper surface and closing the package and isolating said materials one from the other.

3. A package as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said upper surface is a substantially planar surface.

4. A package as claimed in any preceding claim, and including a material mixing and/or applicator tool which is integrally formed with the tray and which is joined to the tray such as to be removable therefrom for use.

5. A package as claimed in claim 4, wherein said tool is substantially flat.

6. A package as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein one of the depressions and said tool are so configured that the tool may be moved through said one of the depressions and in so doing closely conform thereto to facilitate removal of material therein.

7. A package as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one of said depressions is lined with a metal foil.

8. A package as claimed in claim 2 or any one of claims 3 - 7 when appended to claim 2, wherein the cover sheet comprises a sheet of metal foil bonded to said surface.

9. A package substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of making a package which comprises injection moulding a tray in a die and additionally comprising the step of locating a metal foil in the die prior to injection moulding whereby said foil adheres to the tray during injection moulding.

11. A method of forming a package substantially as hereinbefore described.

12. A method of making a package which comprises vacuum moulding a tray over a male former and additionally comprising the step of locating a metal foil over the former prior to the vacuum moulding whereby said foil adheres to the tray during vacuum forming.

13. The articles, things, parts, elements, steps, features, methods, processes, compounds and compositions referred to or indicated in the specification and/or claims of the application individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of such.