WO2008014833A1

WO2008014833A1 - Multi-chamber container with improved product-dispensing characteristics

Info

Publication number: WO2008014833A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/003617
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rainer Geberzahn; Mike Paton
Original assignee: Henkel Ag & Co. Kgaa
Priority date: 2006-08-03
Filing date: 2007-04-25
Publication date: 2008-02-07
Also published as: DE102006036637A1

Abstract

Multi-chamber container for accommodating free-flowing and/or pourable active-substance fluids, comprising a first chamber (2), for accommodating a first free-flowing or pourable active-substance fluid, and at least a second chamber (3), for accommodating a second free-flowing or pourable active-substance fluid, the second fluid differing from the first fluid in respect of its physical properties, in particular in respect of its viscosity, wherein the first chamber (2) and second chamber (3) do not communicate with one another, the second chamber (3) being arranged essentially above the first chamber (2).

Description

Multi-chamber container with improved product delivery characteristics

The invention relates to a multi-chamber container with an improved product delivery characteristic, in particular for flowable and / or free-flowing detergent or cleaning agent with different flow or Schütteigenschaften, and a method for producing the multi-chamber container.

State of the art

From some fields of application, in particular in the field of cleaning of textiles or surfaces, the use of active substance fluids is known, which should or must be stored separately from each other. Examples of this are u.a. chlorine-containing bleaching, cleaning, decalcifying and disinfecting agents, as described e.g. from WO 98/21308 A2 are known.

In detergents in liquid form, especially if they contain water, it may due to chemical incompatibility of the individual ingredients to negative interactions of these ingredients with each other and to decrease their activity and thus decrease the washing performance of the agent altogether, even if it is stored only relatively short becomes. This decrease in activity relates in principle to all detergent ingredients which carry out chemical reactions in the washing process in order to contribute to the washing result, in particular bleaches and enzymes, although surfactant or sequestering ingredients which are responsible for dissolution processes or complexing steps, in particular in the presence of said chemically reactive ingredients in aqueous systems are not unlimited shelf life.

A possible way out, for example, is that the reactivity of the chemically active ingredients is not the same at all pH levels, so that by appropriately adjusting the pH of the agent, the damaging effect of an ingredient or its decomposition reaction can be minimized. One difficulty, however, is that the minimum of the reactivity of the chemically active ingredients is not at the same pH, and therefore stabilization via the pH is not normally possible for all ingredients at the same time. A further difficulty arises from the fact that the lowest possible minimum in the minimum of reactivity during storage must change under conditions of use of the agent, so that the reactivity of the chemically active ingredients under the washing conditions can be higher and they are thus able to contribute to the washing result.

To solve this problem, it has been variously proposed in the prior art not to incorporate all detergent ingredients desirable for a good washing result simultaneously into a liquid detergent, but to provide the user of the detergent with several components which he will compound shortly before or during the washing process should and contain only mutually compatible ingredients that are used together under the conditions of use.

Thus, from the international patent application WO 00/11713 A1 a liquid detergent is known, which consists of at least two liquid sub-compositions, the drug fluids are stored separately from each other in a container with at least two chambers (receptacles) and of which at least one imine or Oxaziridine bleach activator and at least one other comprises an alkalizing agent, wherein at least one of the partial compositions contains a peroxygen bleach and each partial composition has a stability leading to the pH. When the partial compositions are mixed, the alkalizing agent increases the pH of the final composition so that bleach and bleach activator effectively react with each other. European Patent EP 0 807 156 B1 discloses a dispenser with two chambers, the first chamber of which contains an aqueous composition of hydrogen peroxide or of an organic peracid having a pH above 2 and below 7 and the second chamber of which contains an acid component and from which the contents are dispensed together or sequentially onto a surface such that the resulting mixture has a pH of at most 2.

International Patent Application WO 94/15465 A1 describes a two-pack system comprising on the one hand an aqueous aliphatic peracid and the second of an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution containing corrosion inhibitor, peracid and / or hydrogen peroxide stabilizer. The two solutions are combined to produce a disinfectant.

German Patent Application DE 100 24 251 A1 proposes a bleaching agent which comprises in a first component an aqueous 1 to 40% by weight aqueous imidoperoxycarboxylic acid dispersion and in a second component a substance mixture activating the first component, correspondingly separately Keep the dual-chamber bottle and mix the two components only during use. The second component, also referred to as pH-regulating buffer solution in this document, consists of an aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate which has been thickened with the aid of methylcellulose.

The separate storage in the above-described and thoroughly commercially available multi-chamber containers causes the sub-compositions of the liquid cleaning or detergent composition mix only after leaving the outlets with each other, for example when pouring into a conventional dispensing chamber of a washing machine or in the Washing drum one Such a washing machine to be introduced with metering device, or when applying the agent on a need to clean textile surface, for example in the context of laundry pre-treatment.

For storage of the above-described multicomponent systems a variety of containers are described in the prior art.

Thus, for example WO02 / 22467 describes a substantially dimensionally stable two-chamber bottle with handle from whose juxtaposed chambers drug fluids can be removed by dumping in a mixing ratio of 1: 1 under the influence of gravity.

From EP 1529006 a receptacle is further disclosed, the two adjacent chambers are preferably designed as compressible containers. By squeezing the chambers by hand of an operator, the necessary internal pressure is generated in the receptacles to expel the active fluids from the separately provided ejection nozzles.

However, these squeezable bottles are used almost exclusively for small product quantities of up to about 1 liter, since with this bottle size, the bottle can usually still be enclosed by one hand, so that the bottle can be held securely and the outer surface can be compressed for dispensing product ,

For larger containers, enclosing and squeezing the lateral surface by the hand of a user is usually no longer possible or ergonomically not useful due to the unfavorable leverage. Therefore, it is desirable to provide multi-chamber containers with a handle that allows the user a simplified and convenient handling of the container. Multi-chamber containers which are provided with a handle are known, for example, from WO 02/22467 cited above. A disadvantage of the two-chamber bottle disclosed in WO02 / 22467, however, is that the two-chamber bottle with handle must be manufactured in several parts in a multi-stage manufacturing process.

For economic reasons, however, it would be advantageous to form a two-chamber container with handle in one piece in one step.

Two-chamber bottles of the aforementioned type, whose chambers are arranged substantially side by side or one behind the other also have the problem that in the free-flowing dosage without aids of two liquids of different viscosity constant Dosierverhältnisse and amounts are independent of user behavior not guaranteed. This manifests itself in particular when one of the liquids to be mixed has a viscosity of more than 10 Pas and the difference in viscosity to the other liquid is greater than 5 Pas, as is usually the case with liquid bleaches and surface-active and enzyme-containing liquid detergents.

Thus, for example, due to the different flow rates, the higher-viscosity liquid, with substantially the same flow path in the usually identical molded chambers, reaches the mouthpiece or sink later than the low-viscosity liquid, so that during the pouring process low-viscosity liquid is regularly dispensed from the container. while the highly viscous liquid has not yet reached the mouthpiece or spout. This effect is exacerbated the less product is in the bottle, as the paths that the upper liquid level has to travel to reach the spout, is greater and thus the time differences until the viscous liquids reach the mouthpiece, whereby the dosing ratio moves in the course of use of such a container ever further towards the low-viscosity product. Other effects that favor the dosing ratio shifting described above may be a varying angle of rotation of the user's wrist, a different influence of the ambient temperature on the respective viscous properties of the liquids, a discontinuous surface change of the liquid level, for example due to an incongruent chamber design.

This undesirable effect of the discontinuous decrease in level can be particularly pronounced when using two juxtaposed chambers of different sizes, so that in particular the exact adjustment of a defined metering ratio, especially when a metering ratio that deviates from a 1: 1 ratio should be set , is problematic.

However, consistent dosing ratios and amounts over the entire period of use are usually crucial to the efficacy and effectiveness of the product to be mixed.

Technical task:

The object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages described and to provide a multichamber container which, when pouring active substance fluids having different flow and / or pouring properties from the container, has substantially constant and defined metering ratios essentially independent of the fill level of the active substance fluids in the multichamber container ,

Description of the invention

According to the invention, this object is solved by the features of claim 1. The arrangement of the second chamber above the first chamber means that the bottom of the second chamber is above the bottom of the first chamber. Preferably, both chambers have discharge openings at the head of the chambers, wherein the discharge opening are arranged at the same height to each other.

The multi-chamber container according to the invention achieves a delivery of the active substance fluids in constant metering ratios with a structurally very simple and easy to handle solution. Thus, the claimed multi-chamber container for use as a mass product is ideally suited, but especially not exclusively for detergents and cleaners of all kinds, especially for the dosage of textile cleaners (detergents in washing machines, etc.), textile pretreatment agents (bleach, etc.), textile aftertreatment agents ( Fabric softener, etc.), for the dosage of manual and automatic dishwashing detergents and dishwashing aids (rinse aid, limescale removers, etc.), and finally for the dosing of surface cleaners and surface treatment agents of all kinds.

For the purposes of the teaching of the present patent application, active fluids are to be understood as meaning all liquid and other flowable media, from low-viscosity to viscous to gelatinous to pasty substances. It is also possible to apply powdery and particulate active ingredients, such as granules, with the dispenser bottle according to the invention. On the one hand, the viscosity of the active substance fluids or fluidity of the active ingredients for the particular application of importance, on the other hand, and in a special way, the thixotropy of the active fluids is important (for the explanation of the term thixotropy, the phenomenon that certain active fluids at Liquefy the action of mechanical forces, after the end of the mechanical stress, but if necessary with a considerable time delay again solidify, so have a dependent on the action of mechanical forces viscosity, see RÖMPP LEXIKON chemistry, 10th edition, Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1999, Volume 6, page 4533). Preferred embodiments and further developments of the teaching are the subject of the dependent claims.

With regard to cost-effective production of multi-chamber container according to the invention and a favorable ergonomics and handling, it is advantageous to form a handle integrally on the multi-chamber container. By blow molding, the one-piece design of the handle on the multi-chamber container can be realized in one step with the formation of the multi-chamber container. This eliminates the need for a multi-piece configuration of handle and container manufacturing and joining steps, whereby the multi-chamber container according to the invention can be produced significantly more cost efficient.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the chambers of the multi-chamber container have different sizes. It is expedient to arrange the chamber with the smaller volume above the chamber with the larger volume, wherein the chamber is filled with the smaller volume with the active substance fluid of higher viscosity.

Preferably, the chambers are designed such that in the positioning of the container from its standing or storage position in the pouring position located in the chambers drug fluids lie substantially simultaneously on the mouthpiece and delivered through the mouthpiece.

In order to further optimize the delivery of the active substance fluids with respect to a uniform product delivery, regardless of the level of the multi-chamber container, it is advantageous to design the chambers such that when the container is positioned from its stand / storage position into the pouring position, the active substance fluids in the chambers are substantially the same have high liquid columns over the pouring openings. This is due to the Both Ausgießöffnungen substantially the same hydraulic pressure of standing over the pouring drug fluid column.

The multi-chamber container according to the invention can be produced particularly inexpensively by being made in one piece. For this purpose, in particular extrusion blow molding in which the multi-chamber container made of plastic such as PE, PP, polyester, co-polyester, PVC, TPE or the like are suitable.

In order to prevent that by compressing only one chamber, the active substance fluid discharge characteristic of the multi-chamber container is influenced, the multi-chamber container is formed advantageously substantially dimensionally stable. This ensures that the release from the multichamber container is effected essentially solely by the force of gravity acting on the active substance fluids.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the two discharge openings of the product chambers are viewed in the tilting direction arranged one behind the other. In order to prevent this result in greatly differing angle of repose the different active fluids, it is expedient that the discharge openings have a substantially D-shaped cross-sectional shape, wherein the straight portions of the D-shaped cross-sectional shape are opposite so that a substantially circular The circumference of the mouthpiece is shaped. Due to the D-shaped configuration of the discharge openings, the distance of the delivery points of the active substance fluids from the mouthpiece is reduced, as a result of which a uniform angle of repose is formed.

In order to realize a convenient dose for the user, in which the product delivery is not too fast, which can lead to overdose or spillage, or takes place too slowly, which requires an unnecessarily long dosing, the multi-chamber container, in particular the adapter, so preferably has an average product delivery rate of 5 ml / s to 50 ml / s, more preferably 7.5 ml / s to 35 ml / s, particularly preferably 9 ml / s to 30 ml / s, most preferably 15 ml / s is realized to 30 ml / s in the dispensing position of the container.

For the dispensing of a cleaning substance and a bleach, the multi-chamber container is preferably configured such that the metering ratio of product from the first chamber to product from the second chamber is between 2: 1 and 4: 1, particularly preferably between 2.5: 1 and 3, 5: 1, particularly preferably 3: 1. Further, depending on the substances to be dosed metering ratios can be selected from an interval of 1: 1 to 10: 1.

adapter

In a further embodiment of the invention, an adapter can be fixed on the discharge openings of the product-containing chambers viewed in the direction of delivery.

The adapter is configured in such a way that active substance fluids are passed from the discharge openings of the product chambers arranged one behind the other in the delivery direction to delivery openings of the closure cap which are located next to one another in the delivery direction. Side-by-side dispensing orifices considered in the direction of dispensing are common to the user and thus more convenient, particularly to imply the dispensing direction of the user by the disposition of the dispensing orifice.

For example, a channel may be formed in the adapter for this purpose. In order to reduce the risk of a cross-sectional change or even a clogging of the channel by, for example, prone to drying product, the channel may have a ramp over which product in the standing position of the container gravity effect can flow back into the chamber. The adapter is designed in such a way that the preparation from the first chamber and the preparation of the second chamber are mixed with one another during the pouring out substantially outside the container. The channel also fulfills the function that when transferring the multi-chamber container from the tilted dispensing position to the stand position no mixing of the preparations takes place with each other, but the two preparations are essentially separated from each other back into the corresponding chambers.

The adapter may be formed from two or more parts, the adapter or parts thereof being substantially liquid tightly connected to the closure cap to form the adapter.

ventilation

In order to ensure a uniform product delivery from the multi-chamber container according to the invention, it is advantageous to provide the adapter with ventilation pipes, which produce a pressure equalization between the environment and the respective chamber of the multi-chamber container.

The length of the vent tubes affects the flow rate of product from the chambers. Thus, increasing the length caused by increasing the hydraulic height leads to increased product delivery from the chambers. If the length of the aeration tubes falls below a certain value, then no defined product delivery can be achieved, in particular for fluids of higher viscosity. On the other hand, it is for manufacturing reasons, as well as for reasons of material savings advantageous to perform the ventilation pipes as short as possible.

In order to prevent unintentional sticking, clogging or galling of the ventilation tubes, the ventilation tubes are preferably designed in the form that their end projecting into the chamber above the liquid or Schüttspiegels is arranged. The ventilation tubes have a length between 10 mm and 100 mm, preferably between 20 mm and 90 mm, particularly preferably between 25 mm and 80 mm.

The diameter of the vent tubes also affects the product delivery behavior from the chambers. Too small a diameter leads to a delay of the product delivery when the multi-chamber container is pivoted from its standing position to its dispensing position. To minimize the risk of clogging of the ventilation pipes by dried product, it is advantageous to select the diameter of the ventilation pipes as large as possible.

During transport or storage of the multi-chamber container, it may happen, for example, if the container unintentionally falls on its side that preparation is running into ventilation pipes. For preparations which tend to dry out or dry out, such as bleach formulations, dried product may result in a cross-sectional constriction in the vent tubes which results in changing the initially set metering ratios and product delivery characteristics.

Therefore, it is advantageous to design the ventilation pipes in such a way that any preparation located in the ventilation pipes can easily flow out of the ventilation pipes in the standing position of the multi-chamber container. For example, the protruding into the chamber end of a ventilation tube may be provided with a chamfer. Alternatively or additionally, the ventilation tube may have a bevelled end.

The ventilation tubes advantageously have a diameter between 1, 5 mm and 3.5 mm, preferably between 1, 6 mm and 3 mm. Handqriff

A handle within the meaning of this application is an integrally formed as part of the multi-chamber container carrying device that allows at least partial grasping by the user's hand for easier transport and handling of the multi-chamber container.

The handle may be formed like a stalk or bow. In a handle in the manner of a handle, the chamber communicating with the body of the multichamber container has a connection opening between the body and the chamber, while in the case of a bow-shaped handle, two connection openings are formed between the body and the chamber.

The cross-sectional shape of the handle can be arbitrarily shaped. However, ergonomically favorable cross-sectional basic shapes, such as circles or ellipses, in which a peripheral portion of the handle, which is enclosed by the user's hand, have a substantially uniform pressure distribution, i. essentially without local voltage spikes, trains.

In order to increase the filling volume of the multi-chamber container at a given material use, it is advantageous that the handle forms a communicating with the body of the bottle chamber for receiving product.

The grip jacket can convey a user-friendly wearing feel, in particular, through a suitable choice of hardness, elasticity, heat capacity, surface condition. For this purpose, the grip coat may also be at least partially coated with a "soft-feel" coating, for example of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) Connection of the chambers

The chambers are designed as complete containers and only connected to one another via at least one, preferably exactly one connecting web formed between the chambers. The connecting web is preferably integrally formed on the mutually facing inner sides of the chambers, in particular formed, for example, in the blow molding process with the chambers simultaneously. It is particularly expedient if the connecting web is arranged approximately centrally and i.w. - if necessary intermittently - extends over the full length of the chambers.

Material of the multi-chamber container according to the invention It is recommended to produce the multi-chamber container from a material. This has advantages in terms of manufacturing complexity, less expensive manufacturing equipment, dimensional accuracy in manufacturing and the avoidance of additional joining costs. Preferably, the multi-chamber container is formed from a plastic.

In special cases, however, it may be necessary to manufacture the chambers of the multichamber container from different materials, in particular when an active substance fluid would attack the material of a chamber.

Size of the multi-chamber container according to the invention Typical total volumes of receiving containers in the range of application of liquid detergents are between 100 ml and 10,000 ml, preferably between 1,000 ml and 3,000 ml.

In the scope of the budget, for example, detergents or dishwashing detergents, the usual total volumes of receptacles between 50 ml and 10,000 ml, with a preferred range between 400 ml and 2000 ml. Of course, the total volume of the multichamber container is application specific and dependent on the drug fluids and can be scaled accordingly by those skilled in the art.

Production of the Multi-Chamber Container According to the Invention The extrusion blow-molding method is a suitable method for producing the multi-chamber container according to the invention. With appropriate modification, in particular of the blow molding process, it may be possible for the chambers, which are made in one piece with one another, to have a different light permeability and / or a different coloration. In particular, it may be advisable, despite a one-piece design opaque a receptacle, the other receptacle transparent or run in several receptacles, the receptacle in different colors. It has been shown that some drug fluids are photosensitive. Other active substance fluids to be administered in conjunction with the respective active substance fluid are less sensitive to light. An opaque coloring of the receptacle provided for the more photosensitive active substance fluid eliminates problems here.

However, the extrusion blown process, like other production methods, also permits the separate production of the individual chamber and the subsequent joining of the chamber to a multi-chamber container.

Viscosities of the drug fluids

With regard to the viscosity of the active substance fluids, it is recommended to use active substance fluids having viscosities in the range from 1 to 100,000 mPas, preferably up to about 10,000 mPas, in particular up to about 1,000 mPas. This information is based on the viscosity measured using a Brookfield LVT-II viscometer at 20 rpm, and 20 ^° C., spindle 3 Composition of the active substance fluids

With regard to two-phase and multiphase cleaning agents, reference may be made to the following printed publications, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference: DE 198 11 387 A or WO 99/47634 A, DE 198 11 386 A and WO 99/47635 A ₁ DE 198, respectively 59 774 A or WO 00/39270 A, DE 100 62 045 A or WO 02/48308 A, DE 100 60 096 A or WO 02/44314 A, DE 198 59 799 A or WO 00/39268 A, DE 198 59 808 A or WO 00/39267 A, DE 198 59 778 A or WO 00/39269 A, DE 199 36 727 A or WO 01/10996 A, DE 199 45 506 A or WO 01/21753 A, DE 199 45 503 A or WO 01/21755 A, DE 199 45 505 A and WO 01/21754 A and DE 101 37 047 A. For the application of detergents in particular, the multi-chamber container may comprise, for example, formulations in the chambers. as described in DE 102 15 602 A1 and DE 101 49 719 A1, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In addition to the liquids, flowable solids, such as, for example, powders, granules or microcompactates, are also considered as flowable substances / substance mixtures in the context of the present application. The stated solids may be present in amorphous and / or crystalline and / or partially crystalline form. The particle size of these flowable solids is preferably in the range of 10 to 2000 microns, more preferably in the range of 20 to 1000 microns and in particular in the range of 50 to 500 microns. Particularly preferred are flowable solids in which at least 70 wt .-% of the particles, preferably at least 90 wt .-% of the particles have a particle size below 1000 microns, preferably below 800 microns, more preferably below 400 microns.

In the flowable substances, which may preferably contain one or more of the abovementioned nonaqueous solvents, it is possible to use further active substances preferably from the group of bleaching agents, bleach activators, polymers, builders, surfactants, enzymes, electrolytes, pH adjusters, fragrances, perfume carriers, dyes, Hydrotropes, foam inhibitors, Antiredepositionsmittel, antimicrobial agents, germicides, fungicides, antioxidants and corrosion inhibitors may be included.

As mentioned above, the multichamber container according to the invention is particularly suitable for the separation of incompatible ingredients from detergents or cleaning agents.

A non-exhaustive list of the separation of incompatible ingredients in multi-chambered dual-reservoir bottles is shown in the table below.

pictures

Fig. 1 multi-chamber container in perspective exploded view

Fig. 2 double-chamber bottle with handle in a perspective view

Fig. 3 cap of the multi-chamber container in perspective view

Fig. 4 adapter of the multi-chamber container in a perspective view

Fig. 5 underside of the cap of the multi-chamber container in a perspective view

REFERENCE CHARACTERS

1. multi-chamber container

2nd First Chamber

3rd Second Chamber

4. discharge opening

5. discharge opening

6. Handle

7. Adapter

8. Cap

9. Dosing cup

10th jetty

11. Ventilation pipe

12. discharge opening 13a nozzle

13b nozzle

14th ramp

15. discharge opening

16. Ventilation opening

17. Delivery opening

18. Delivery opening

19. Closure flap

20. Ventilation pipe

21st channel

22. Connection

23. Collar Fig. 1 shows the multi-chamber container 1 according to the invention in a perspective exploded view. The multi-chamber container 1 consists of a bottle with a first chamber 2 and a second chamber 3, a handle 6 and a first dispensing opening 4 and a second dispensing opening 5.

An adapter 7 can be attached in a liquid-tight manner to the discharge openings 4 and 5 arranged in the pouring direction, which deflects the product flow out of the rear, second chamber 5 in such a way that the fluids from the chambers 4 and 5 arranged one behind the other in the pouring direction are juxtaposed out of the closure cap in the pouring direction Emerge 8, which is fixable on the multi-chamber container 1.

On the cap 8 optionally a Dosierbecher 9 can be releasably fixed.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective detail view of the bottle of the multi-chamber container 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the first chamber 2 is larger than the second chamber 3. The volume ratio of the first chamber 2 to the second chamber 3 is approximately 3: 1, wherein in the second, smaller chamber 3 a bleach with a viscosity of 200mPas to 110OmPas and in the first, larger chamber 2 a liquid detergent or cleaning agent having a viscosity of 100 mPas to 1500 mPas are stored.

The first chamber 2 is substantially L-shaped, wherein the free legs are connected to each other by a ramp 24. On the ramp 24, the second chamber 3 is arranged, whose bottom is substantially adapted to the contour of the ramp 24. Preferably, the first chamber 2 and the second chamber 3 are connected to each other by a web (not shown). At the second chamber 3, a handle 6 is formed. The handle 6 forms with the second chamber 3 a common internal volume. To stabilize the handle 6, the distal handle end is connected via a web 10 with the first chamber 2.

The discharge opening 4 of the first chamber 2 and the discharge opening 5 of the second chamber 3 are arranged one behind the other in the direction of delivery and are located centrally on the longitudinal axis of the multi-chamber container 1. In order to ensure the most uniform product delivery characteristics, it is advantageous, the distance between the two discharge openings 4 and 5 as low as possible.

At the top of the first chamber 2 and the second chamber 3, a circumferential groove 25 extends. The groove 25 serves for releasable positive and / or non-positive fixing of the closure cap 8 on the multichamber container 1.

However, it is also conceivable that the groove 25 serves as a fixing aid and / or as a shadow joint, in which case the actual fixing of the closure cap 8 takes place on a snap ring formed on the bottleneck.

A detailed perspective view of the closure flap 8 is shown in FIG. 3. The closure cap 8 has two discharge openings 8 and 7 located next to one another in the direction of delivery. The discharge openings 8 and 7 are connected to the corresponding first and second chambers 2.3 communicating with each other via the adapter 7.

The discharge openings 17, 18 can be closed by a closure flap 19 which is hinged to the closure cap 8, so that an air exchange between the inside of the interior of the food container is possible during storage of the multi-compartment container Multi-chamber container and the environment and thus, for example, a drying of the active ingredients is avoided.

4 shows a perspective view of the adapter 7. The adapter 7 has a first connection 13a, which can be introduced into the delivery opening 4 of the first chamber 2. For simplified positioning of the adapter 7 on the dispensing opening 4.5, it is advantageous that the outer diameter of the nozzle 13a, 13b is chosen to be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the corresponding dispensing openings 4.5, so that a slight clearance between nozzle 13a, 13b is formed ,

It is also possible to design the connecting pieces 13a, 13b conically in such a way that the connecting pieces 13a, 13b can be inserted easily into the discharge openings 4, 5 and that an interference fit is formed between the connecting pieces 13a, 13b and discharge openings 4, 5.

The first nozzle 13 a has a semicircular discharge opening 12 for dispensing product from the first chamber 2. The second port 13b includes a vent 16 from which a vent tube 11 extends into the interior of the second chamber 3, and a dispensing port 15 for dispensing product from the second chamber 3. The vent tube 11 has a chamfered end and a chamfer on the in the chamber 2.3 projecting side. From the discharge opening 15 to the discharge opening 12, an ascending ramp 14 extends.

The ramp 14 forms in the assembled state with the arranged in the cap 8 channel 21 is a substantially dense fluid guide, which when tilting the multi-chamber container 1 in its dispensing position, the exiting from the second chamber 3 through the discharge port 15 product to the discharge port 17 of Closure 8 directs. The ramp 14 effects a gravity-induced return flow of product through the discharge opening 15 into the second chamber 3 of the multi-compartment container 1 when the multi-compartment container 1 is moved back from its tilted discharge position to the stand position in which the adapter plate is oriented substantially horizontally, whereby product deposits, for example be prevented by drying in the fluid guide.

The underside of the closure 8, which is coupled in the assembled state to the adapter 7, is shown in FIG.

The channel 21 is bounded by a peripheral wall which encloses the discharge opening 17 in the closure and in the assembled state, the ramp 14 and the discharge opening 15 of the second chamber 15 of the adapter 7.

In the pouring above the discharge opening 18, a vent tube 20 extends through the neck 13a of the adapter 7 in the interior of the first chamber 2. The vent tube 20 has a tapered end and a chamfer to the outflow and dripping of preparation from the vent tube 20 simplify and prevent product from drying in the ventilation tube 20.

Another vent tube 22 is configured to form a substantially dense channel between the vent tube 22 and 11 in the assembled state of adapter 7 and cap 8.

Claims

claims

1. multi-chamber container for receiving flowable and / or pourable active substance fluids comprising a first chamber (2) for receiving a first flowable or pourable active substance fluid and o at least one second chamber (3) for receiving a second fluid or pourable active substance fluid, the is different from the first active substance fluid in terms of its physical properties, in particular with regard to its viscosity, o wherein the first chamber (2) and the second chamber (3) are not communicating with one another,

characterized in that the second chamber (3) is disposed substantially above the first chamber (2).

2. multi-chamber container according to claim 1, characterized in that the discharge openings (4,5) viewed in the direction of delivery are arranged one behind the other.

3. multi-chamber container according to claim 2, characterized in that the chambers are designed such that in the positioning of the container (1) from its stand / storage position in the bulk position in the chambers (2,3) located drug fluids substantially simultaneously abut the discharge openings (4,5) and discharged via the discharge openings (4,5).

4. multi-chamber container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chambers (2,3) are designed such that in the positioning of the container (1) from its stand / storage position in the bulk position in the chambers (2 , 3) drug fluids in have substantially equal liquid columns over the pouring openings (4,5).

5. multi-chamber container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chambers (2,3) have different sizes.

6. multi-chamber container according to claim 5, characterized in that the chamber (3) is arranged with the smaller volume above the chamber (2) with the larger volume.

7. multi-chamber container according to claim 6, characterized in that the chamber (3) is filled with the smaller volume, with the active substance fluid of higher viscosity.

8. multi-chamber container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the discharge openings (4,5) an adapter (7,8) is substantially liquid-tightly fixed, wherein the adapter (7,8) is designed such that product from the delivery openings (4, 5) of the product chambers (4, 5) lying one behind the other in the direction of delivery, in relation to delivery openings located next to one another in the delivery direction

(17,18) of the cap (8) are passed.

9. multi-chamber container according to claim 8, characterized in that the adapter (7,8) comprises a channel (21) with a ramp (14), on the product in the standing position of the container (1) gravity causes back into one of the chambers (2 , 3) can flow.

10. multi-chamber container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adapter (7,8) ventilation pipes (11, 20) which a pressure equalization between the environment and the respective chamber (2,3) of the multi-chamber container (1) produce.

11. multi-chamber container according to claim 10, characterized in that the ventilation tubes (11, 20) have a length between 10 mm and 100 mm, preferably between 20 mm and 90 mm, more preferably between 25 mm and 80 mm.

12. multi-chamber container according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the ventilation tubes have a diameter between 1, 5 mm and 3.5 mm, preferably between 1, 6 mm and 3 mm.

13. Multi-chamber container according to one of claims 10 or 12, characterized in that in the chamber (2,3) projecting end of a ventilation tube (11, 20) is provided with a chamfer and / or has a tapered end.

14. multi-chamber container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the multi-chamber container (1), in particular the adapter (7,8), is configured such that an average product delivery rate of 5 ml / s to 50 ml / s, especially preferably 7.5 ml / s to 35 ml / s, particularly preferably 9 ml / s to 25 ml / s in the dispensing position of the container (1) is realized.

15. multi-chamber container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a handle (6) is integrally formed on the multi-chamber container (1).

16. multi-chamber container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (1) is integrally formed.

17. multi-chamber container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (1) is substantially dimensionally stable.