GB2280657A - Compartmented containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A container 1 has first and second chambers 2, 3 for containing different media, a plug 10 provided in an opening 8 for communicating the chambers whereby the media can mix together, and an actuator (17, fig. 3) operable from the exterior of the container for operating the plug 10 to effect communication without opening the chambers to the exterior. <IMAGE>

Description

Container The present invention relates to a container for containing different media.

Containers having separate chambers for containing different media are known, for example for holding different strengths of suntan lotion. In such arrangements however, there is no provision for the contents of the separate chambers to be mixed within the container.

It is sometimes necessary to provide certain products, such as fertilizers, insecticides, disinfectants, detergents, glues etc., in the form of two different media, such as liquids, which must be mixed together when required for use. This is because once the liquids are mixed the resulting product has only a limited working life span. The liquids are thus often composed of two or more reactants, one of which acts as an activator/initiator.

To date, in use of liquids of this nature which require mixing, the reactants are provided in separate containers, their mixing 'on site' involving the pouring of the contents of one of the containers into the other, or into a shared container. However, the different liquids and the resulting mixture are often dangerous, particularly when highly concentrated, and should not be allowed into contact with human skin. In such circumstances, the action of pouring such dangerous liquids is to be avoided. Even if the liquids are not particularly dangerous, it may still be desirable to avoid pouring, and thus possible spillage, for example due to the liquids being very expensive.

The present invention thus seeks to overcome such difficulties by providing a container having separate chambers containing different media to be mixed, the mixing of the two media being carried out within the container itself without the danger of spillage.

According to the present invention there is provided a container having first and second chambers for containing different media, means for communicating the chambers whereby the media can mix together, and an actuator operable from the exterior of the chamber for operating the communicating means to effect communication without opening the chambers to the exterior.

With such an arrangement, the possibility of spillage from either of the chambers with the consequent risks is avoided.

In a preferred embodiment, the communicating means comprises a plug provided in an opening between the chambers, the plug being connected via a connecting rod to the actuator. The simplicity of such an arrangement is highly desirable in reliability terms. The connecting rod is preferably a plunger which is pushed, e.g. downwardly, to dislodge the plug from the opening.

Preferably, the connecting rod extends through a seal and is longitudinally movable relative thereto.

The seal will ensure that media cannot escape. The seal may include a membrane vent to allow egress of gases and thus prevent a pressure build-up, for example if the media is a volatile liquid.

The connecting rod is preferably provided with locating means for laterally locating it along its length in the container. The locating means can ensure correct initial location of the connecting rod and may for example engage a neck of the container.

Preferably, an inlet opening is provided through which media can be put into the first chamber, and a cap is provided for closing the inlet opening and on which the actuator is provided.

Thus the inlet opening serves both to fill the first chamber and to provide access to the arrangement for communicating the two chambers. In use, the first chamber is filled via the inlet opening with the plug and the connecting rod already in place in the container. The inlet opening is then covered by the cap, which is preferably provided with the seal as a unit, so that placing the cap in position seals the inlet opening. If the connecting rod is provided with locating means as mentioned above, this will ensure that the connecting rod is correctly located to extend through the seal as the cap is brought into position.

In this preferred arrangement, therefore, the locating means will permit the passage of media into the first chamber, being for example in the form of a "spider" engaging the neck of the container.

Preferably, the actuator and the connecting rod have respective interlocking portions, such that after media has been put into the first chamber through the inlet opening, the cap can be placed over the inlet opening with the interlocking portion of the actuator locking with that of the connecting rod. This ensures a positive connection between the actuator and the connecting rod when the cap is brought into position, ensuring reliable operation of the communicating arrangement. Moreover, in the preferred construction described above where the connecting rod extends through the seal, it is advantageous to limit the longitudinal movement of the connecting rod so as to maintain the seal, and this can be achieved by locking the connecting rod to the actuator.

The actuator may be frangibly connected to the cap.

In use, the actuator may be depressed inwardly so as to detach from the rest of the cap. The cap may have apertures such as one or more slots. In a preferred embodiment, an annular slot is provided, interrupted by circumferentially spaced frangible lugs. The provision of apertures ensures that gases egressing from the first chamber, for example via the membrane vent, can escape to atmosphere.

Whilst the connection between the cap and the container may take a number of forms, eg. a screw fit, a snap fit is preferred. The snap fit may be arranged to connect the cap non-removably to the container, so as to prevent undesired removal thereof.

In preferred embodiments, the plug is formed of an elastomeric material resistant to the media contained in each chamber. The plug may be arranged to pass, when forced, only in one direction through the opening so as to prevent re-use of the container.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of a container in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the container; Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the container; Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken from Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a plan view of the container.

Figures 1 and 2 show side and front views of a container 1 having separate first and second chambers 2,3. The container includes a handle 4, an inlet 6 for the first chamber 2, and an inlet/outlet 5 for the second chamber 3. The container is formed from plastic by conventional extrusion blow moulding techniques although alternative suitable materials and manufacturing techniques may be used.

The chambers 2,3 are separated by a pinched area 7 in the moulding. An opening 8 is formed in the pinched area between the chambers. The bottom wall 40 of the first chamber 2 slopes downwardly towards the opening 8 to allow the contents of the chamber to drain completely into the second chamber 3.

As shown in Figure 3, a plug 10 is located in the opening 8 between the chambers. The plug 10 is tapered so as to seat in opening 8, the dimension of the engaging portions of the plug and the opening being such that a reasonable force is required to urge the plug completely through the opening. In this connection the plug is provided with a hollow section 15 allowing the plug to deform sufficiently so as to be able to pass through the opening 8. Any other suitable arrangement for resiliently seating the plug 10 in the opening 8 may be used.

A connecting rod 11 is fixedly mounted in the plug 10 and connects at its other end via interlocking portions 20 on the rod and cap, i.e. a snap fit, to a cap 13. Locating means in the form of a spider 12 maintains the rod centrally along its length in the container's neck 16. The connecting rod extends through a seal 14 and is longitudinally movable relative thereto. The connecting rod has an upper portion 30 of circular cross-sectional shape to ensure that it makes sealing contact with seal 14 and a lower portion 31 of cruciform cross-sectional shape for ease of manufacture.

The seal has a membrane vent 19 which allows escape of gas but not liquid; it may for example be made of "Goretex" (trade mark). As is clearly shown in Figure 4, the seal 14 is held in cap 13 by way of bead 17a, so that the seal and the cap together form a unit. A snap fit 21 is provided between the cap 13 and the neck 16 of the container, although any other suitable connection means may be used. An actuator 17 is provided centrally of the cap. A slot 18 extends circumferentially round the actuator and is interrupted by frangible lugs 22, as shown in Figure 5. The actuator 17 is thus frangibly connected to the cap. Of course alternative suitable arrangements for forming an actuator may be used.

In use, with the container upright, the chamber 3 is filled with a first media via the inlet/outlet 5.

With the plug 10 and connecting rod 11 in position (but at this stage without cap 13 and seal 14 being connected to rod 11), chambers 2 and 3 are sealed from one another. Thus a second media can be introduced into chamber 2 via inlet 6. When filling of chamber 2 is completed, the cap 13 and its seal 14 can be snap fitted in position on rod 11 and neck 16 to seal chamber 2 from the exterior. The container now contains media in chambers 2 and 3, the chambers being sealably separated from one another. The container can thus be safely transported to where its contents are required.

When the contents of the container are required to be mixed, the actuator 17 is merely depressed thereby urging the connecting rod 11 and thus the plug 10 to be forced downwardly. When sufficient force is applied, the frangible lugs 22 are broken and the plug 10 is urged through the opening 8. The seal 14 is biased against the rod 11 but permits longitudinal movement relative thereto. Once pushed through the opening 8, the compressed areas of plug 10 can expand so as not to permit the plug 10 to return through the opening 8 thereby preventing reuse of the container which may be dangerous. The secure connection between the connecting rod 11 and the actuator 17 prevents the connecting rod passing through the seal 14 and thereby breaking the seal between chamber 2 and the exterior.

The contents of chamber 2 thus freely mix with those of chamber 3 to form the desired product. As the complete operation is carried out without opening of either of chambers 2 or 3 at any time to the exterior, the risk of spillage of any media is prevented. Once sufficiently mixed, the resulting product can be safely removed from the container via outlet 6.

It is envisaged that the container will be particularly useful for containing two different liquids which mix together to make up a disinfectant for disinfecting medical instruments. Of course, the container may be useful for other liquids.

Claims (11)

Claims:

1. A container having first and second chambers for containing different media, means for communicating the chambers whereby the media can mix together, and an actuator operable from the exterior of the container for operating the communicating means to effect communication without opening the chambers to the exterior.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communicating means comprises a plug provided in an opening between the chambers, the plug being connected via a connecting rod to the actuator.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connecting rod extends through a seal and is longitudinally movable relative thereto.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the seal includes a membrane vent.

5. A container as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the connecting rod is provided with locating means for laterally locating it along its length in the container.

6. A container as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, comprising an inlet opening through which media can be put into the first chamber, and a cap for covering the inlet opening and on which the actuator is provided.

7. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the actuator and the connecting rod have respective interlocking portions, such that after media has been put into the first chamber through the inlet opening, the cap can be placed over the inlet opening with the interlocking portion of the actuator locking with that of the connecting rod.

8. A container as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the actuator is frangibly connected to the cap.

9. A container as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the cap has apertures.

10. A container as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the cap is arranged to have a snap fit with the container.

11. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.