Two-compartment package

• US 6,105,760 A
• Filed: 10/14/1997
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biogaia Biologics AB
• Original Assignee: Bo Mollstam, Ivan A. Casas
• Inventors: Mollstam, Bo, Casas, Ivan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): FIDEI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US08/949,465
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 206/219, 206/222, 229/103.1, 220/705, 220/710, 222/81
• US Class Current: 206/222
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/748 a major part of the container wall or membrane being left inside the container after the opening
• 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: 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-part container in which a first compartment for a first component and having an upper and a lower layer is mounted either within or outside a second compartment, for a second component, at the location of a port on the second compartment. Cutting means are provided for cutting both the upper and lower layer and through the port, to release the first component into the second compartment.

Claims

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

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

(b) a cutter having an end for cutting the upper layer and the lower layer; and

(c) a second compartment containing the second component, and having a top that is cuttable with the cutter;

wherein said first compartment is attached to the second compartment so that cutting of the top with the cutter also cuts a portion of the upper layer and a portion of the lower layer, releasing the first component into the second compartment for addition to the second component, wherein the first component and the second component are completely separated from each other until the cutter is used to manually cut both the upper layer and the lower layer.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein there is a port on the top for cutting with the cutter, and wherein the first compartment is located within the second compartment immediately inside the second compartment from the port.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first compartment is located outside the second compartment on the top of the second compartment.

4. The container according to claim 3, wherein cutting of the top with the cutter cuts a cut portion from the upper layer.

5. The container according to claim 4, further comprising a screw cap located above the first compartment, said screw cap having a hollow threaded portion having a central plug therein which is adherent to the cut portion of the upper layer that is cut by the cutter.

6. A method of forming a two-part container, comprising:

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

(b) providing a cutter having an end for cutting the upper layer and the lower layer;

(c) providing a second compartment larger than said first compartment and containing a second component, and having a top that is cuttable with said cutter; and

(d) attaching the first compartment to the second compartment so that when said top is cut with said cutter so that the second component can be removed from the port, the upper layer and the lower layer are also cut with the cutter, wherein the first component and the second component are completely separated from each other until the cutter is used to manually cut both the upper layer and the lower layer.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein there is a port on the top for cutting with the cutter, and wherein the first compartment is located within the second compartment immediately inside the second compartment from the port.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein the first compartment is located outside the second compartment on the top of the second compartment.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein cutting of the port with the cutter cuts a cut portion from the upper layer.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising providing a screw cap located above the first compartment, said screw cap having hollow threaded portion having a central plug therein which is adherent to the cut portion of the upper layer that is cut by the cutter.