Apparatus for supplying two-part systems

• US 5,584,388 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 12/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Compak Companies LLC
• Original Assignee: Jimmie L Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Jimmie L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US08/477,070
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129, 222/192, 215/6, 206/216, 206/217, 206/19, 206/223, 206/532, 206/540
• US Class Current: 206/217
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2227 with means for amusing or giving information to the user A47G23/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/002 Communion cups, chalices or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0046 Cups, bottles or bags
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/28 with auxiliary containers for additional articles or materials B65D51/247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/20 by applying separate lids or covers , i.e. flexible membrane or foil-like covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/2032 by peeling or tearing the cover from the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/2044 whereby a layer of the container or cover fails, e.g. cohesive failure B65D77/2036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/24 Inserts or accessories added or incorporated during filling of containers opening devices B65D77/30

Abstract

A dispenser comprises a small open-top cup adapted for containing a constituent part of a substance and provided with a substantially flat upper edge or flange. The cup is closed by a two-part lid within which another constituent part of the substance in the form of a wafer is received. The top layer of the lid is first removed to access the wafer and the lower part of the lid is later removed so that the substance within the cup can be accessed. The upper and lower layers of the lid comprise films of paper-foil or paper-plastic material such that a pull-tab or lift-tab on the upper layer is first grasped to peel back the upper layer and reveal the wafer, after which a tab portion of the cup is separated and pulled upwardly, carrying with it the attached lower layer whereby the substance in the cup can be accessed. The upper and lower layers are heat-sealed to one another and to the edge of the cup in a manner so that they can be conveniently and successively peeled away from the cup.

Claims

1. A container for supplying at least a first and a second constituent part in a single package while maintaining said at least first and second constituent parts separate, comprising:

a first container portion for accommodating said first constituent therewithin and having an opening for receiving and dispensing said first constituent;

a first sealing member releasably adhered to a portion of said first container portion for sealing said opening to prevent unintended dispensing of said first constituent, wherein said first container portion has a tab member and a portion of said first sealing member is adhered to said tab member; and

a second sealing member releasably adhered to said first sealing member, said first and second sealing members defining a second container portion therebetween for receiving and containing the second constituent part, wherein said second sealing member is substantially absent of adherence to said first sealing member in an area around said tab portion,

whereby a user may access said container for dispensing said second constituent part by removing said second sealing member from said first sealing member by grasping a portion of said second sealing member in the area substantially absent of adherence and lifting said second sealing member away from said first sealing member, thereby providing access to said second constituent part and whereby the user may access said first constituent part by gripping said tab portion and lifting said tab portion away from said first container portion, thereby lifting said first sealing member away by peeling said releasably adhered sealing member from said first container portion.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein said first sealing member comprises a film layer and said first container portion comprises a peripheral portion to which said film layer is adhered.

3. A container according to claim 1 wherein said second sealing member comprises a film layer.

4. A container according to claim 1 wherein said first and second constituents comprise communion wine and a communion wafer respectively.

5. A container according to claim 1 wherein said first and second constituents comprise juice and a communion wafer respectively.

6. A container according to claim 1 wherein said first container portion comprises an open top cup and said first and second sealing members comprise first and second film layers.

7. A container according to claim 6 wherein said open top cup has a peripheral flange at the top thereof and said tab member comprises a portion of said peripheral flange.

8. A container according to claim 7 wherein the boundary between said peripheral flange and said tab member is defined by a weakened portion of said peripheral flange.

9. A container according to claim 8 wherein said weakened portion comprises a score line in said peripheral flange.

10. A container according to claim 6 wherein said open top cup has a peripheral flange at the top thereof and said first film layer is adhered to said peripheral flange and includes an indented portion extending below a plane of said peripheral flange so as to define a well for receiving said second constituent therewithin such that said second constituent is maintained substantially below the plane of said peripheral flange.

11. A container according to claim 1 wherein said first constituent part comprises a first food product and wherein said second constituent part comprises a second food product.

12. A container according to claim 1 wherein said first constituent part comprises dairy or nondairy creamer and said second constituent part comprises a sweetener.

13. A container according to claim 1 wherein one of said constituents comprises "Antabuse" or a preparation of disulfiram.

14. A container according to claim 1 wherein one of said constituents comprises an analgesic.

15. A container according to claim 1 wherein said first and second constituents together comprise a denture cleaning preparation.

16. A container according to claim 1 wherein said first and second constituents together comprise a lens cleaning preparation.

17. A container according to claim 1 wherein said first and second constituents together comprise a pharmaceutical preparation.

18. A container according to claim 1 wherein said second constituent comprises a pharmaceutical preparation and said first constituent comprises a liquid to assist in the consuming of said pharmaceutical preparation.