WO2010061320A1

WO2010061320A1 - Container having separate storage chambers

Info

Publication number: WO2010061320A1
Application number: PCT/IB2009/055160
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frederik Petrus Senekal Erasmus
Original assignee: Erasmus Frederik Petrus Seneka
Priority date: 2008-11-26
Filing date: 2009-11-19
Publication date: 2010-06-03

Abstract

The invention discloses a container having a first housing being rotatably joined to a second housing. The first housing defines a first chamber being adapted to contain a first substance, while the second housing defines a second chamber and being adapted to contain a second substance. An opening is provided between the first chamber and the second chamber, which opening is closed off by a sealing film. A cutting member is associated with either the first or second housing, the cutting member being adapted to cut the sealing film during rotation of the second housing relative to the first housing, thereby to open the opening between the first chamber and the second chamber.

Description

CONTAINER HAVING SEPARATE STORAGE CHAMBERS

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container having separate storage chambers.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a container having separate storage chambers for containing different substances.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

Many products require two substances to be mixed with each other prior to consumption. Examples of such products are baby formula milk or sports energy type drinks that require a consumable, such as a powder, to be mixed with water. These types of products tend to degrade over time after mixing and thus it is not always possible to pre-mix the substances together long before the intended consumption nor to sell a pre-mixed product in a shop.

In sports energy drinks, it is often necessary to measure out volumes of water for mixing with specified amounts of powder. This is disadvantageous as such measuring is time consuming and the volumes can easily be measured incorrectly.

For this reason, many products now provide pre-measured amounts of different products in separate containers. Thus a person only needs to empty the entire contents of one container into another prior to mixing and consumption. However, even this can be problematic due to spillage of the products, thereby leading to incorrect amounts being mixed together.

It is an object of the invention to suggest a container having separate storage chambers, which will assist in overcoming these problems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention, a container includes a first housing defining a first chamber and being adapted to contain a first substance; a second housing defining a second chamber and being adapted to contain a second substance, the second housing being rotatably joined to the first housing; an opening provided between the first chamber and the second chamber, the opening being closed off by a sealing film; and a cutting member being associated with either the first housing or the second housing, the cutting member being adapted to cut the sealing film during rotation of the second housing relative to the first housing, whereby the first chamber and the second chamber are opened to each other.

The sealing film may be a frangible membrane.

The sealing film may be joined to the first housing with the cutting member being provided on the second housing.

The sealing film may be joined to the second housing with the cutting member being provided on the first housing.

The container may include a first sealing film joined to the first housing and a second sealing film joined to the second housing, both the first and second housings respectively being provided with first and second cutting members, wherein the first cutting member is adapted to cut the second sealing film and the second cutting member is adapted to cut the first sealing film.

The second chamber may be rotatable relative to the first chamber through less than one full revolution (<360°).

The sealing film may be adapted to remain at least partially attached to its housing.

The cutting member may be adapted to initiate cutting of the sealing film only after the second housing has been rotated through at least 5° relative to the first housing.

The cutting member may be an angled inclined knife edge.

The first and second housings may be joined by complimentary engaging threads.

The container may include a tamper-evidence band frangibly connected to the second housing. The second housing may include a pressing member being adapted to engage with and press the sealing film into the first chamber after the sealing film is cut loose.

The container may include a lock being adapted to engage upon complete rotation of the second housing relative to the first housing.

The complete rotation may be achieved after rotation through approximately 300-330°.

The lock may include a recess in the first housing and a complimentary protruding ridge on the second housing.

The container may include an outlet spout being in flow communication with the second chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

In the drawings there is shown in :

Figure 1 : A perspective view of a container having separate storage chambers according to the invention;

Figure 2 : An exploded perspective view of the container of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 : A bottom view of a part of the container seen along arrow III in Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, a container having separate storage chambers in accordance with the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, is shown. The container 10 can be of the type often used for bottled water, sport drinks or other flowable bottled substances. The container 10 is particularly suited for use with a liquid that is to be mixed with a consumable including, but not limited to, tablets, powders and liquids by the consumer at the time of consumption.

The container 10 includes a first chamber 11 being defined by a first housing 12, which is joined to and rotatable relative to a second chamber 13 being defined by a second housing 14. A lid 16 with a spout outlet is joined to the second housing 14, but can also optionally be integrally formed therewith.

The first chamber 11 is sealed off by a frangible sealing film 18, which is heat sealed to the upper rim 19 of the first housing 12. In the embodiment shown, the first chamber 11 is adapted to contain a liquid such as water, while the second chamber 13 is adapted to contain a powder to be mixed with the water.

The second housing 14 is joined to the first housing 12 by a screw thread 20 having locking abutments (not shown) at its upper and lower ends in order to prevent the second housing 14 from either being screwed fully off from the first housing 12 or from being screwed too far onto the first housing 12, i.e. beyond its initial position (namely that in which it is intended to be sold). These locking abutments can, for example, be complimentary ridge / groove or protrusion / recess formations.

The second housing 14 further has a cutting member 22 provided internally of its thread 20 and radially inwardly spaced apart therefrom. The cutting member 22 is shaped as an angled inclined knife edge and can be integrally manufactured with the second housing 14 and from the same material.

In use, when the contents of the first chamber 11 and the second chamber 13 are to be mixed, the second housing 14 is screwed further onto the first housing 12 so that the cutting member 22 is brought nearer to and engages the sealing film 18 to cut through it. The cutting member 22 is adapted to cut into the sealing film 18 only after the second housing 14 has been rotated through more than five degrees (>5°) relative to the first housing 12.

As the second housing 14 is further rotated relative to the first housing 12, the cutting member 22 continues to cut through the sealing film 18 thus opening the first chamber 11 to a greater extent. The rotation should proceed through a sufficient degree to cause the sealing film 18 to fold or otherwise be displaced to allow the powder in the second chamber 13 to fall into the water in the first chamber 11.

However, the locking abutments are adapted to prevent a full rotation (i.e. >360°) of the second housing 14 relative to the first housing 1, thereby being preventing the sealing film 18 from being fully severed from the first housing 12. The full extent of allowable rotation may be limited to approximately 300-330°. This assists in preventing the sealing film 18 from blocking the spout outlet in the lid 16.

Preferably, the cutting member 22 is between two to ten millimetres high. However it should be noted that the actual height of the cutting member 22 will vary depending upon the dimensions of the sealing film 18. The cutting member 22 is shaped as an inclined angled knife-edge in order to facilitate cutting through the sealing film 18.

Optionally a pressing member (not shown) can be located inside the second housing 14 to press the cut sealing film 18 into the first housing 12 to prevent accidental blockage of the opening between the first and second chambers 11,13 to assist with the mixing of the powder with the water.

The second housing 14 and the lid 16 can be integrally formed with each other.

The container 10 can be formed of various materials including, but not limited to, plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and/or other suitable materials.

The container 10 may further include conventional tamper-evidence bands to indicate and/or prevent unwanted opening of the container 10 or cutting of the sealing film 18.

In operation and use, a user will hold the container 10 and twist the second housing 14 relative to the first housing 12. Upon a first amount of relative rotation, about 5°, the cutting member 22 engages and cuts into the sealing film 18. With continued rotation, the cutting member 22 cuts a larger and larger portion of the sealing film 18 loose from the first housing 12 and allows the powder in the second chamber 13 to fall into the water in the first chamber 11. The user can continue rotating the second housing 14 to the point of complete rotation thereby activating the rotation lock, e.g. when the rotation has passed through 300 - 330°. Once complete rotation is accomplished, a lock projection snaps into a lock recess indicating that the first chamber 11 is fully opened. The user can then properly mix the contents by vigorously shaking the container 10, whereafter the user can consume the contents through the spout on the lid 16.

In the above description it is to be understood that the cutting member 22 can alternatively be provided on the first housing 12, while the sealing film 18 is then joined to the second housing 14.

As a further alternative, separate first and second sealing films can be respectively provided on the first and second housings 12,14 with separate first and second cutting members also being respectively provided on the first and second housings 12,14. In such an embodiment, during use, the first cutting member is adapted to cut the second sealing film and the second cutting member is adapted to cut the first sealing film. Such an embodiment is considered to be of particular benefit when spillage of the contents of the first and second chambers 11,13 is envisaged during the attachment of the first housing 12 to the second housing 14.

Claims

1. A container including a first housing defining a first chamber and being adapted to contain a first substance; a second housing defining a second chamber and being adapted to contain a second substance, the second housing being rotatably joined to the first housing; an opening provided between the first chamber and the second chamber, the opening being closed off by a sealing film; and a cutting member being associated with either the first housing or the second housing, the cutting member being adapted to cut the sealing film during rotation of the second housing relative to the first housing, whereby the first chamber and the second chamber are opened to each other.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which the sealing film is a frangible membrane.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the sealing film is joined to the first housing with the cutting member being provided on the second housing.

4. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the sealing film is joined to the second housing with the cutting member being provided on the first housing.

5. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, which includes a first sealing film joined to the first housing and a second sealing film joined to the second housing, both the first and second housings respectively being provided with first and second cutting members, wherein the first cutting member is adapted to cut the second sealing film and the second cutting member is adapted to cut the first sealing film.

6. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the second chamber is rotatable relative to the first chamber through less than one full revolution (<360°).

7. A container as claimed in claim 6, in which the sealing film is adapted to remain at least partially attached to its housing.

8. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the cutting member is adapted to initiate cutting of the sealing film only after the second housing has been rotated through at least 5° relative to the first housing.

9. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the cutting member is an angled inclined knife edge.

10. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the first and second housings are joined by complimentary engaging threads.

11. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a tamper-evidence band frangibly connected to the second housing.

12. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the second housing includes a pressing member being adapted to engage with and press the sealing film into the first chamber after the sealing film is cut loose.

13. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a lock being adapted to engage upon complete rotation of the second housing relative to the first housing.

14. A container as claimed in claim 13, in which the complete rotation is achieved after rotation through approximately 300-330°.

15. A container as claimed in claim 13 or 14, in which the lock includes a recess in the first housing and a complimentary protruding ridge on the second housing.

16. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes an outlet spout being in flow communication with the second chamber.

17. A container substantially as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying schematic drawings.