Two-compartment container

• US 20020179461A1
• Filed: 04/11/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biogaia AB
• Original Assignee: Biogaia AB
• Inventors: Mollstam, Bo, Sauer, Filip, Magnusson, Fredrik, Oberg, Karin, Casas, Ivan A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,786,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/222
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2031 the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure B65D47/2025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/38 with piercing means arranged to act subsequently as a valve to control the opening
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2821 said element being a blister, a capsule or like sealed container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3211 coaxially and provided with means facilitating admixture
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3222 with additional means facilitating admixture

Abstract

A two-compartment container in which the first compartment has an upper layer and a lower layer and contains a first component that is to be added to the second compartment. Above the first compartment is a dome that is bowed upward and is flexible. Attached to the dome is a cutting means. Depressing the dome by pushing downward on it lowers the cutting means so that either the lower layer only or both the upper and lower layer of the first compartment are cut by the cutting means, releasing the first component into the second compartment. The cutting means may be a simple puncturer, or in the case where the second compartment comprises a beverage container or the like, the cutting means may be part of a tubular wall surrounding the opening through which someone can drink the beverage.

Claims

1. A two-compartment container, for addition of a first component to a second component, comprising:

(a) a first compartment containing a first component, said first compartment having an upper layer and a lower layer, said first compartment being made of a cuttable material;

(b) a second compartment containing the second component, said second compartment having a cap containing a flexible dome and having a cutting means protruding from below the flexible dome toward the first compartment upper layer of the first compartment;

wherein depression of said flexible dome causes the lower layer to be punctured, releasing the first component into the second compartment.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the cutting means is a projection attached to the flexible dome.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the cutting means has a conical pointed end.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the cap has a central opening surrounded by a tube having a lower end extending below the cap, and wherein the cutting means is part of the lower end.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the flexible dome and the cutting means are integrally formed.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein depression of said flexible dome causes the cutting means to cut through the upper layer and the lower layer, releasing the first component into the second compartment.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein depression of said flexible dome causes the cutting means to push the upper layer downward to cause puncturing of the lower layer.

8. The container according to claim 1, wherein the upper layer is thicker than the lower layer and is not broken when the flexible dome and cutting means are depressed.

9. A method of adding a first component to a second component, comprising:

(a) providing a first compartment containing a first component, said first compartment having an upper layer and a lower layer, said first compartment being made of a cuttable material;

(b) providing a second compartment containing the second component, said second compartment having a cap containing a flexible dome and having a cutting means protruding from below the flexible dome toward the upper layer of the first compartment; and

(c) depressing said flexible dome to cause the lower layer to be punctured, releasing the first component into the second compartment.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the cutting means is a projection attached to the flexible dome.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the cap has a central opening surrounded by a tube having a lower end, and wherein the cutting means is part of the lower end.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the flexible dome and the cutting means are integrally formed.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the cutting means has a conical pointed end.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein depression of said flexible dome causes the cutting means to cut through the upper layer and the lower layer, releasing the first component into the second compartment.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein depression of said flexible dome causes the cutting means to push the upper layer downward to cause puncturing of the lower layer.