MXPA99001810A - Dispenser for a two-part composition - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispenser (10) is provided for separately storing and facilitating the mixture of separate components of a two-part composition. The dispenser includes a first container (12) having a chamber (124) for retaining one of the components and a second container (14) having a chamber (24) for retaining the other of the components and for mixing the components together to form the resultant two-part composition. A receptacle sleeve (20) is provided and is mounted on the second container(14). The receptacle sleeve (20) is adapted to secure the two containers (12, 14) together during periods of storage and transportation as well as to facilitate mixture of the components. The receptacle sleeve (20) further serves to protect the user from exposure to the unmixed components as well as providing a drip-free spout in dispensing the composition. A method is further provided for alternately storing the separate components and admixing them together in one of the containers.

Description

DESPACHADOR FOR A COMPOSITION OF TWO PARTS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to a dispenser for a two-part composition and, more particularly, to this dispenser that is adapted to store separately the compounds of the composition of two. parts and mix them. The dispenser of the present invention includes separate interconnectable containers for separately storing the individual compounds and means for facilitating the mixing thereof before using the composition. Means are provided to protect the user from contact with the unmixed compounds. In addition, a method is provided for storing the individual compounds and for facilitating their mixing and forming the composition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are many commercially available chemicals in the market consisting of two separately packaged compounds that must be mixed before use or application. For example, some products for floor finishes are provided with a separate crosslinking agent that must be added and mixed with the product, immediately before use, to chemically activate the product for finishing. Since crosslinking agents are typically not compatible with the finish product, they should be kept separate from the finish product before final mixing and use. Another problem is that many crosslinking agents are toxic in their undiluted condition and, as such, precautions must be taken to avoid contact with the skin during the mixing process. Epoxy products are another class of commercial products in which the component parts thereof, that is, the resin or the catalyst or hardener, are sold separately with instructions for the user to mix them before use. To date, some dispensers with twin containers have been provided to facilitate the storage and mixing of these products. Examples of these two container containers are described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 1,007,679 issued to C. Ellis et al. on November 7, 1911 for a Bottle of Multiple Containers; U.S. Patent No. 4,614,437 issued September 30, 1986 for J.D. Buehler for mixing container and adapter; U.S. Patent No. 4,779,991 issued October 25, 1988 to M. Kimatura et al. for Bottle to Mix and Method to Mix with the Bottle; United States Patent No. 4,801,009 granted on January 31, 1989 to W. Amos for Container of two behaviors for mixing; U.S. Patent No. 5,152,965 issued October 6, 1992 to R. Fisk et al. for Unit of reagent containers of two parts; United States Patent 5,186,323 granted on February 16, 1993 to F.W. Pfleger for double behavior mixing container; U.S. Patent No. 5,209,565 issued May 11, 1993 to A. Goncalves for Unit adapted for the mixture of two different products stored separately. Other patents that discover similar devices include, for example, U.S. Patent No. 2,580,836 issued January 1, 1952 to R.R. Rausch for Intravenous Solution Technique and Aparate-Patent of the United States No. 3,537,610 granted on November 3, 1970 to M. Bilon for Device for closing a box; U.S. Patent No. 4,146,153 issued March 27, 1979 to W.J. Bailer for Sterilized Dispensing Device; U.S. Patent No. 5,061,264 issued October 29, 1991 to Apparatus for making contact with materials such as a drug with a fluid; U.S. Patent No. 5,114,011 issued May 19, 1992 to U.S. Robbins III for Container Units with measuring cup; and U.S. Patent No. 5,469,980 issued November 28, 1995 to J.R. O'Meara et al. for Closing unit for container against children. While many of the dispatchers of these patents have separate containers or chambers, none is able to fulfill the specific objective of the present invention, which is mainly to provide a dispenser capable of separately storing the individual compounds of a composition in two parts and then facilitating the mixing of those compounds while protecting the contact user. with the unmixed compounds. As will be evident, none of these prior patents even mention the problem faced by the applicant, who offers the solution proposed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the aforementioned background, a main objective of the present invention is to provide a dispenser that allows separate storage of the compounds of a composition in two parts. Another objective of the present invention is to provide the dispenser that facilitates the mixing of the compounds before use of the composition. Still another object of the present invention is to provide the dispenser that protects the user from contact with the unmixed compounds, during mixing thereof. Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser that includes separate containers for storing the compounds prior to mixing. Also, another objective of the present invention is to provide the dispenser in which the compounds are stored in previously measured amounts. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for separately storing the compounds of a two-part composition and facilitating the mixing of the compounds immediately before use of the composition. To achieve the above objects and advantages, the present invention, in short, consists of a dispenser for storing separately and facilitating the mixing of separate compounds of a two-part composition. The dispenser includes a first container with a container portion for retaining one of the compounds and a second container with a container portion for retaining the other compound and for mixing the compounds together and forming the final two-part composition. A receiving sleeve is mounted in the second container and is adapted to receive and secure the first container during periods of storage and transportation. With the inversion of the first container inside the receiving sleeve, the component contained within the first container can be introduced into the component in the second container and mixed therewith. The receiving sleeve protects the user and avoids contact with the unmixed compounds and the final composition. The receiving sleeve also functions as a free drip spout for dispensing the composition. A method is also provided for storing the individual compounds and facilitating their mixing to form the composition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention together with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side sectional view part of the dispenser of the present invention showing a first container mounted in a storage position in relation to the second container; Figure 2 is a side, partial sectional view of the dispenser of the present invention showing the first container mounted in a mixing position relative to the second container; and Figure 3 is a partial side sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the dispenser of the present invention showing the first container mounted in a mixing position relative to the second container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the drawings and in particular to Figures 1 and 2 thereof, the dispenser of the present invention, generally referred to as number 10, includes a first container 12 and a second container 14. first container 12 is adapted to store a compound of a composition in two parts. The second container 14 is similarly adapted to store the second compound of a composition in two parts. The compounds must be mixed together in the second container 14 before the final use of the composition.

The dispenser 10 can be used, for example, with a two-part composition that is used in finishing floors, in which a small amount of a cross-linking agent is added and mixed with the finishing composition., Before its use. The crosslinking agent can be stored in the first container 12 while the floor finishing composition is stored in a second container 14. A measuring cover 16 is provided to protect both the first container 12 and the second container 14 during transportation and storage. The measuring cap 16 also functions to cooperate with the end user in measuring and dispensing the composition after mixing the two compounds. The measuring cap 16 can be secured to the second container 16 by a friction fit (not shown) or, alternatively, by threads provided on the measuring cap 16 (not shown) that are adapted to threadably engage the complementary threads 17 in the second container 14. The measuring cap 16 can be formed of a clear, translucent or opaque plastic material.

The first container 12 includes a chamber 12A, in the threaded neck 12B extending outwardly, an opening 12C communicating with the chamber 12A, a lid 12A and a lid 12D. The cover 12D is threaded internally and is adapted to be threadably engaged with the threaded neck 12B to enclose the chamber 12A. The chamber 12A of the first container 12 is also sealed by inducing a membrane or seal (not shown) on the opening 12C, after filling the chamber 12A. The second container 14 also includes a chamber 24 and an opening 22 communicating with the chamber 24. A receiving sleeve 20 is provided adjacent the opening 22 and contains an external wall 30, adapted to surround and provide support to the first container 12. The receiving sleeve 20 also includes a base portion 32 with a central opening 34 and an extended piercing element 36 positioned adjacent to the central opening 34. The outer wall of the receiving sleeve extends below the portion 32 of base, by this the base portion 32 is raised above the opening 22 of the second container 14. The receiving sleeve 20 is also formed to act as a free drip spout when dispensing the composition. Figure 1 illustrates the two containers 12, 14 in transport and storage position, that is, after filling the containers but before mixing and use. In this position, the first container 12 with the lid 12D positioned in an upward direction is securely held within the receiving sleeve 20. The measuring cover 16 is used to completely enclose the container 12 within the receiving sleeve 20. The base of the first container 12 is formed of a reinforced plastic material to prevent penetration of the piercing element 36, which serves to provide support to the first container 12 therein. Figure 2 illustrates the manner in which the first container 12 is inverted to effect mixing of the compounds in the second container 14. This is achieved by first removing the measurement cover 16, so as to provide access for the first container 12 which is stored inside the receiving sleeve 20. The first container 12 is removed from the receiving sleeve 20 and the lid 12D is removed. Then, the first container 12 is reversed oriented with the threaded neck 12B facing the base of the receiving sleeve 20. The first container 12 is manually reinserted in a forced manner into the receiving sleeve 20. The component contained within the first container 12 remains intact within the chamber 12A due to the membrane seal on the opening 12C. With the inversion and reinsertion of the first container 12 into the receiving sleeve 20, the piercing member 36 pierces the membrane sealing the opening 12C and allows the component contained therein to flow through the opening 34 provided in the base 32 of the 20 receiving cuff. Then, the component undergoes the effect of gravity inside the chamber 24 of the second container 14, through the opening 22 so that the mixing of the two compounds in the second container 14 is facilitated. It can be seen that the advantage offered by the configuration in question is that the two components are provided in quantities previously measured and that it is also possible to mix the unmixed compounds together, without the possibility of exposure to the user. Figure 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a dispenser of the present invention, in which an alternative insurance method is employed between the first and second containers 112 and 114, respectively, during mixing. The first and second containers 112 and 114, respectively, are virtually identical in shape and size to the containers of Figures 1-2. However, the receiving sleeve 120 of the second container 114 includes a threaded opening 134 in the base 132 thereof which is adapted to receive the threaded neck 112B of the first container 112 and threadably engage therewith. More than manually inserting the first container 112, this is threadably secured with the second container by engaging the threaded neck 112B of the first container 112 with the threaded opening 134 of the base 132. This serves to more securely couple the first container 112 with the second container 114. during the mixing process. In this way, when the first container 112 is inverted and reinserted into the receiving sleeve 120 and threadably coupled with the second container 114 to effect mixing of the compounds, the membrane sealing the opening of the first container 112 is perforated by the piercing element 134. Having thus described the invention with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A dispatcher for separately storing separate composites of a two-part composition and facilitating the mixing thereof, the dispenser includes: a first container with a chamber for retaining one of the compounds; a second container with a chamber for retaining the other of the compounds and for mixing the compounds together to form the composition; and a receiving sleeve mounted on the second container and adapted to secure the two containers together during the storage and transportation periods and, when the first container is inverted within the receiving sleeve, to dispense the contents of the first container into the chamber of the container. second container to allow the mixing of the compounds, while protecting the user from direct contact with the unmixed compounds. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the first container has an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion has an opening communicating with the chamber and a penetrable seal that covers the opening during periods of storage and transportation. The dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the penetrable seal on the opening is a sealed induction membrane applied after the introduction of the compound into the chamber of the first container. The dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the first container also includes a threaded cap adapted to mate with a complementary threaded neck extending outwardly from the first container and defining the opening. 5. The dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the second container has an opening communicating with its chamber. The dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the receiving sleeve is positioned over the opening in the second container. The dispenser according to claim 6, wherein the receiving sleeve has an outer wall shaped as a spout adapted to surround the first container and engage therewith. The dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the receiving sleeve has an opening that passes therethrough and an upwardly extending perforating element, positioned adjacent to the opening. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser also includes a removable measuring cap for enclosing the first container during periods of storage and transportation. 10. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the first container is adapted to be secured within the receiving sleeve during periods of storage and transportation, with the lower portion thereof in contact with the perforating member, and when withdrawing and inverting. its orientation is also adapted to be reinserted into the receiving sleeve to deliver its contents into the chamber of the second container and allow the mixing of the compounds while protecting the user from direct contact with the unmixed compounds. 11. The dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the first container is adapted to be forced down into the receiving sleeve upon re-insertion to dispense its contents, so that the piercing element within the receiving sleeve is capable of piercing the penetrable seal on the opening towards its chamber, to allow its contents to drain into the chamber of the second container and facilitate the mixing of the compounds. The dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the first container upon reinserting is adapted to be threadably coupled with the base of the receiving sleeve. 13. Storage periods while protecting the user from contact with unmixed compounds. The method according to claim 13, wherein the seal is achieved with an induction seal membrane. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the screw cap engages a threaded portion extending outwardly of the first container around the opening. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first container is surrounded and retained within the container by an external wall in tubular form. The method according to claim 16, wherein the container means includes a base with an opening passing therethrough. The method of claim 13, wherein the releasable measuring cap included in the second container covers the first container during periods of storage and transportation. The method of claim 18, wherein the first container is mounted within the container during periods of storage and transportation. The method of claim 19, wherein the first container is threaded with the base of the container, while the compound of the first container is drained into the second container.