Container with mixing cartridge

• US 4,177,938 A
• Filed: 06/30/1977
• Issued: 12/11/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Guido J. Brina
• Original Assignee: Guido J. Brina
• Inventors: Brina, Guido J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spar, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Application Number:
  US05/811,587
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 222/80-81, 222/83, 222/83.5, 222/85-88, 222/91, 222/130, 215/6, 215/DIG. 8, 206/222, 128/218 M, 128/272.1, 220/23
• US Class Current: 222/80
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2814 the additional article or materials being released by piercing, cutting or tearing an element enclosing it
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/08 Mixing

Abstract

A container for liquids includes a mixing cartridge extending from a gasket into the neck of the container. The mixing cartridge is asymmetrically disposed with respect to the container to allow a piercing member extending into the container from the cap of the container to be disposed in the container without piercing the cartridge in a storage position. The cartridge is pierced and the contents of the cartridge are mixed with liquid in the container by relative movement of the cartridge and the piercing member of the container so that the piercing member will extend through the cartridge both to pierce the upper and lower surfaces of the cartridge and to provide a flow-path for the contents of the cartridge into the container.

Claims

1. A container for storing separate components and for mixing said components comprising:

a vessel having a mouth;

a cap adapted to engage the mouth of said vessel;

a sealed cartridge disposed in the mouth of said vessel, said sealed cartridge asymmetrically formed to partially fill the mouth of said vessel to leave a passage therein for the flow of liquids therethrough; and

having an upper and lower surface

a piercing member connected to said cap of said vessel, disposed asymetrically on said cap to extend through the passage in said mouth of said vessel when said cartridge member and said cap are aligned in a first relative position, and to extend through upper and lower surfaces of said cartridge member when said cartridge member and said cap are aligned in a second relative position, so that the contents of said vessel can pass through said passage left in the mouth of said vessel without piercing the cartridge when said piercing member is in said first position, and the contents of said cartridge will be passed through the hole produced by said piercing member upon the positioning of said piercing member through said cartridge.

2. A container as described in claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said cartridge forms a gasket for sealing said vessel.

3. A container as described in claim 2 wherein the side wall of said cartridge abuts the mouth of said vessel at least at three points on an arcuate path exceeding 180°

.

4. A container as described in claim 1 wherein the piercing member is tubular in construction and has a first opening in the side thereof and a second opening in the bottom thereof so as to form a conduit between said cartridge and said vessel when in said second relative position.

5. A container as described in claim 4 wherein the piercing member depends through said opening in said gasket and terminates at a point proximate the longitudinal axis said vessel for guiding placement of cap and cartridge.

6. A sealed cartridge adapted for holding a substance for disposal into a larger vessel having a sealed cap comprising:

a gasket member adapted to lie in the mouth of the vessel and coact with the mouth of the vessel and said sealing cap to seal the mouth of the vessel;

a container having a side wall extending from said gasket and having a closed top in contact with said gasket, said container adapted to hold a substance in a sealed condition;

said container disposed asymmetrically beneath said gasket, so as to cover substantially less than the whole undersurface of the gasket;

a passage means in the gasket in registration with said area of the gasket uncovered by the container, said passage means adapted to allow the flow of liquid through the gasket means;

the cap has a piercing unit depending from said cap, said piercing unit is tubular in construction and has a first opening in the side thereof and a second opening in the bottom thereof so as to form a conduit between said container and said vessel when piercing said container; and

said passage means in said gasket are adapted to accomodate said piercing unit to enable said piercing unit to guide placement of said cap on said vessel.