GB2129774A

GB2129774A - Dispensing container

Info

Publication number: GB2129774A
Application number: GB08231731A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Douglas Jackman
Original assignee: Bettix Ltd
Current assignee: Bettix Ltd
Priority date: 1982-11-05
Filing date: 1982-11-05
Publication date: 1984-05-23
Also published as: GB2129774B

Abstract

A squeeze-bottle liquid- dispensing container has a liquid- holding bottle (1) connected, by an integral duct (2), to a larger capacity integral dispensing receptacle (6) formed as the upper part and one side of the container, the bottle (1) forming the lower part of the other side. The duct (2) extends upwardly alongside the bottle (1) and opens into the receptacle (6), by a lateral outlet (7), and the receptacle (6) is joined to the bottle (1) by a neck (11) having a throat (12) closed by a plug (13) insertable through a wide mouth of the receptacle. The bottle (1) and receptacle (6) are both charged with liquid and, before dispensing, the two liquids can be mixed by expressing liquid from the bottle into the receptacle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dispensing container This invention relates to a dispensing container for liquids and provides a container for holding liquids in separate compartments and mixing them before dispensing or delivering the mixture from the container.

The invention makes use of a known kind of squeeze-bottle liquid-dispensing container having a liquid-holding bottle connected to an integral receptacle by an integral duct, for liquid to be expressed from the bottle into the receptacle by squeezing the bottle to reduce its volume. According to the invention, the receptacle is of larger capacity than the bottle so that the receptacle as well as the bottle can be charged with liquid and the two liquids mixed by expressing liquid from the bottle into the receptacle before dispensing.

The provision of a receptacle of larger capacity than the bottle is in marked contrast to known conainers in which the receptacle has a capacity which is a sub-multiple of that of the bottle and is used for measuring and dispensing repeated doses from the bottle.

With the present invention there can be charged into the receptacle one liquid intended to be mixed, shortly before use, with another liquid which is charged into the bottle and, for mixing and use, transferred to the receptacle by squeezing the bottle to express the liquid through the duct into the receptacle from which the mixture can then be poured for use.

For mixtures of different strengths, the bottle and/or receptacle may be graduated for observation of the level down to which a quantity of liquid is to be expressed from the bottle to the receptacle or the level of the receptacle up to which liquid is to be charged or raised by transfer of liquid form the bottle.

A container may be provided with more than one squeeze-bottle feeding a receptacle in common so that more than two liquids may be charged into the container for mixing in controlled proportions.

The container may be charged and sealed, both as a whole and to isolate the bottle and receptacle until the contents are to be mixed and used.

In a preferred embodiment of a container according to the invention, the dispensing receptacle forms the upper part and one side of the container, the bottle forms the lower part of the other side of the container, an integral duct extends upwardly alongside the wall of the bottle to open into the receptacle laterally through the wall thereof, and between the upper part of the receptacle and the bottle below there is a neck having a throat closed by a plug insertable through the mouth of the dispensing receptacle.

The plug may be a removable plug, for example of a suitably flexible material and shaped to form either a soft yielding fit or a snap fit in the throat, or a permanent plug sealed in, or not removable without damage, so that the container is not re-usable.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example, on the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure lisa perspective view and Figure 2 is a part-sectional side elevation of a mixing dispenser according to the invention.

The container illustrated is made by known blowmoulding technology in which a tubular parison of thermo-plastic material is extruded and then blown while pressed between a pair of dies to flatten and interweld opposed wall potions, around the hollow shapes of the bottle, receptacle and duct, and cut off any material excess to the required overall shape.

As shown, a bottle 1 is formed integrally with a duct 2, which extends, from a bottom inlet 3, upwards externally alongside the bottle. Opposed wall portions of the container are, during moulding, flattened and interwelded to form web portions 4 and 5 which define the duct 2 and a dispensing receptacle 6, into which the duct 2 opens by an outlet 7. The receptacle 6 forms the upper part and one side of the container and the bottle 1 forms the lower but major part ofthe other side.

The receptacle 6 is moulded with a screw-threaded mouth 8, for a closure cap 9, and the wall of the bottle 1 and receptacle 6 may, as shown, be moulded with graduation marks 10, to indicate the levels for given volumes of liquid to be mixed and dispensed.

The material of the whole container is resiiiently flexible and preferably transparent or translucent.

Suitable materials are polyethylene, which may be internally plasticised by copolymerisation, polypropylene or a butadienne-styrene copolymer.

Between the bottle 1 and the dispensing recepta cle 6, a neck 11 is moulded with an open throat 12. In manufacture of the container, a tubular blowing mandrel extends through the throat during the blow-moulding process, the mandrel having vents, to supply air to inflate the bottle 1 and receptacle 6, respectively below and above the throat 12.

After the bottle 1 has been charged with liquid to be mixed and dispensed there is inserted, through the mouth 8 of the receptacle 6, a plug 13 to close the throat 12.

The plug 13 may be made of a yielding material, such as a soft elastomer, so that it may be pressed into the throat 12 and withdrawn therefrom, for which latter purpose it may be formed, for example, with a recess for engagement by a hooked withdraw ingtool.

Alternatively, the plug 13 may be non-removable, for example being of stiffly flexible material so that it establishes a snap fit, or a tight interference fit, in the throat 12 and cannot be withdrawn without damage.

For such purpose the plug 13 and/orthewall ofthe throat 12 may be ridged or recessed for positive interengagement.

The plug 13 may be sealed by the use of an adhesive or other applied sealing material.

After charging of the bottle 1 and insertion of the plug 13, the receptacle 6 is charged with another liquid and the container is then closed by the cap 9.

The contents of the bottle 1 and receptacle 6 remain separate until, before use, liquid from the bottle 1 is transferred through the duct 2, by squeezing the bottle, to mix with the liquid in the receptacle To avoid any inadvertent premature transfer of liquid, the outlet 7 from the duct 2 may be closed, by a plug, an adhesive patch or an internal extension from the cap 9, and opened only when the contents are to be used. For opening the outlet 7 the cap 9 is removed and then preferably replaced, to avoid splashing, but not tightly so that air can vent through the mouth 8 during transfer of liquid.

It will be noted that the receptacle 6 is substantially larger than the bottle 1 and their relative capacities can be designed to suit requirements.

Claims

1. A squeeze-bottle liquid-dispensing container having a liquid-holding bottle connected to an integral receptacle by an integral duct, for liquid to be expressed fom the bottle into the receptacle by squeezing the bottle to reduce its volume, in which the receptacle is of larger capacity than the bottle so that the receptacle as well as the bottle can be charged with liquid and the two liquids mixed by expressing liquid from the bottle into the receptacle before dispensing.

2. Asqueeze-bottle liquid-dispensing container according to claim 1, in which the dispensing receptacle forms the upper part and one side of the container, the bottle forms the lower part of the other side of the container, an integral duct extends upwardly alongside the wall of the bottle to open into the receptacle laterally through the wall thereof, and between the upper part of the receptacle and the bottle below there is a neck having a throat closed by a plug insertablethrough the mouth ofthedispens- ing receptacle.

3. A container substantially as described and shown by the accompanying drawing.