Containers for storing at least two substances for subsequent mixing

• US 8,151,985 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greg J. Owoc
• Original Assignee: Greg J. Owoc
• Inventors: Owoc, Greg J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reynolds, Steven A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chu, King M
• Application Number:
  US11/766,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20080314775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,754 Days
• Field of Search: 206/219, 206/222, 206/568, 215/228, 215/297, 215/DIG.8
• US Class Current: 206/219
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/00 Tamper-indicating means relating to aerosol containers B65D83/224
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/08 with provisions for removing or destroying, e.g. to facilitate mixing of contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/10 having frangible closures
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/002 Closures to be pierced by an extracting-device for the contents and fixed on the container by separate retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/0854 Shrink-film bands B65D41/54, B65D41/62 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3211 coaxially and provided with means facilitating admixture

Abstract

A container for storing at least two substances separately, for subsequent mixing, comprises two storage chambers. Both substances are maintained separately through means of an intervening seal that in one embodiment includes molded threads on its inner walls, a breakable bottom, and a seal rim portion. Activation occurs when the first chamber is screwed downward toward the second chamber. A second embodiment includes the same seal, but with no threads and simply a press activation system within a bellows sleeve. The first chamber may include various cap means through which the mixed substances may be poured out, including screw, spouted, snap-fitted, and plug-types. The seals of both embodiments may be reconfigured into two parts to adapt to a modified second chamber to accomplish the same results. The container may be enclosed in tamper-evident film that includes a perforated pull strip. Both embodiments can be adapted for beverage, medical, cosmetic, chemical, and many other container applications.

Claims

1. A disposable-recyclable container having at least two separate storage chambers for storing at least two substances separately, for subsequent mixing, comprising:

(a) a first container portion forming a first chamber that may enclose a first substance;

said first chamber further comprising a single-component formed chamber having an open end and a seal mating portion on its outer periphery, proximate to said open end;

said first chamber'"'"'s open end further having a seal breaking element that further comprises a lower extremity whereby at least one seal-breaking edge is formed on said first chamber'"'"'s open end;

(b) a second container portion forming a second chamber that may enclose a second substance;

said second chamber further comprising an open end and a seal mating portion at said open end;

(c) a seal situated between the said open end and seal mating portion of first said chamber and situated between the said open end and seal mating portion of second said chamber whereby said seal simultaneously seals said first and said second substances from one another permanently, structurally co-joining said first and second chambers as a single said container with said first and second substances in an unmixed state until one-time mixing activation of the said disposable-recyclable container;

(d) said seal further comprising a permanently affixed, breakable seal bottom which is broken as said first and second chambers are linearly moved with respect to each other;

said seal further comprises an annular cavity having an annular seal rim portion, and inner walls further having internal threads thereon;

said first container portion'"'"'s first open end'"'"'s outer periphery of said single-component chamber further comprises external threads that rotatably mate with said seal'"'"'s internal threads, thereby enabling said seal breaking element to move down upon and break open said seal bottom as said first and second chamber are rotated with respect to each other, allowing said first and second substances to mix together as said first and said second seal mating portions meet;

said container thenceforth maintaining said mixed substances in the sealed, said container, until releasing said mixed substances;

(e) said seal further comprising a protective seal that extends from said annular seal rim portion and engages said first container portion before the breakable seal bottom is broken and is free from engagement with said second container portion, wherein a bottom of the protective seal engages the annular seal rim portion and forms an air tight connection around the seal at the engagement with the annular seal rim portion, wherein the protective seal forms an air tight connection around the seal at the engagement with the first container portion.

2. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein relative movement between said first container portion and said annular seal rim portion causes said protective seal to break.

3. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein said first chamber comprises a second open end located opposite the end of said first chamber'"'"'s first opening;

said second opening further consisting of a substance filling opening for said first chamber of said container, wherein said breakable seal bottom remains attached to said seal after breaking such that said breakable seal bottom hangs in said second chamber from a point of attachment to said seal.

4. The container as recited in claim 3 wherein said second opening may be sealed by a cap means.

5. The container as recited in claim 4 wherein said cap means is a screw cap and wherein said substance filling opening is a threaded bottle mouth.

6. The container as recited in claim 4 wherein said cap means is a snap-fitted cap.

7. The container as recited in claim 4 wherein said cap means is a modified plug cap.

8. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein said first chamber is itself detachable from said container so that after mixing the said first and second substances, it may be removed, allowing the user to empty said container directly from said open end of said second chamber.

9. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein said seal is made of EVA material and said seal'"'"'s said annular cavity further comprises outer walls that are ultrasonically welded to the said open end and said rim portion of said second chamber.

10. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein said seal'"'"'s said annular cavity further comprises outer walls that are adhered to the said open end and said rim portion of said second chamber and wherein said first and said second chambers are manufactured by blow-mold processing.

11. The container as recited in claim 4 wherein said first chamber'"'"'s open end further comprise one-way ratchet teeth and wherein said seal'"'"'s annular rim portion comprises one-way ratchet teeth;

said one-way ratchet teeth of said rim portion and said ratchet teeth of said first chamber'"'"'s open end may mutually engage to permit rotation of the said first and second chambers with respect to each other in only one direction.

12. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein said first chamber'"'"'s open end further includes a chemical applied surface and wherein said seal'"'"'s annular rim portion comprises a chemical applied surface;

said chemical applied surface of said rim portion and said chemical applied surface of said first chamber'"'"'s open end being chemically bondable to one another upon mutual contact to permit a non-rotatable sealing contact of the said first and second chambers with respect to each other after said breaking of said seal bottom occurs.

13. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein said protective seal tears away from the said seal rim portion of the said seal as internal bursting pressure is applied proximate to said first chamber'"'"'s said seal mating portion, as said first and second chambers are linearly moved with respect to each other.

14. The container as recited in claim 13 wherein said container further comprises a tamper evident outer film with a perforated strip located in approximate annular alignment to the said seal'"'"'s protective seal;

said perforated strip further comprising a pull tab which upon pulling allows said perforated strip to be pulled from said container, enabling said protective seal to detach and allow said first and said second chambers to be rotated, traveling linearly with respect one another, thus enabling said seal breaking element to break open said seal bottom and said substances to mix.

17. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein said protective seal is permanently bonded in assembly proximate to the said outer periphery of the said seal mating portion of the said first chamber;

the said protective seal further bursts open upon activation of the said container destroying said seal for one-time use activation of said container from the said seal rim portion of the said seal as twisting rotational force is applied to the said first chamber in activation of the said container, while said protective seal remains permanently bonded to the said periphery of said first chamber'"'"'s said seal mating portion, as said first and second chambers are linearly moved with respect to each other.

18. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein said protective seal further comprises a tamper-evident flange that cooperates with a flange receiving groove proximate to the said outer periphery of the said seal mating portion of the said first chamber;

the said protective seal further tears away from the said seal rim portion of the said seal as twisting rotational force is applied to the said first chamber in activation of the said container, as said first and second chambers are linearly moved with respect to each other.

21. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein said protective seal further comprises a tamper-evident snap-fit flange that cooperates with a snap fit flange receiving portion proximate to the said outer periphery of the said seal mating portion of the said first chamber;

the said protective seal further tears away from the said seal rim portion of the said seal as twisting rotational force is applied to the said first chamber in activation of the said container, as said first and second chambers are linearly moved with respect to each other.

23. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein the said disposable-recyclable container bottle comprises a modified structure to conform as a syringe injection vessel with these further limitations and structure:

At the said portion wherein said first chamber comprises a second open end located opposite the end of said first chamber'"'"'s first opening;

said second opening is further consisting of a container sealed rim cap;

said container sealed rim cap that further comprises a rubber pierce membrane for receiving a syringe needle; and

wherein pharmaceutical powder may be kept separate from its irrigation liquid until necessary twist-activation mixing for maximum potency at time of injection.

24. The container as recited in claim 4 wherein said cap means comprises a baby bottle nipple thereon.

25. The container as recited in claim 4 wherein said cap means comprises a tapered squirt spout tip that has a breakable tab thereon.

26. The container as recited in claim 4 wherein said protective seal further comprises a protective seal split section which slits open as said first and second chambers are linearly moved with respect to each other.

15. A disposable-recyclable container having at least two separate storage chambers for storing at least two substances separately, for subsequent mixing, comprising:

(a) a first container portion forming a first chamber that may enclose a first substance;

said first chamber further comprising a single-component formed chamber having an open end and a seal mating portion, on its outer periphery, proximate to said open end;

said first chamber'"'"'s open end further having a seal breaking element that further comprises a lower extremity whereby at least one seal-breaking edge is formed on said first chamber'"'"'s open end;

(b) a second container portion forming a second chamber that may enclose a second substance;

said second chamber further comprising internal mating threads on its open end and a permanently affixed seal mating portion at an outer edge portion at its said open end and a permanently affixed inner seal portion at an inner edge portion of its said open end;

(c) a two-component permanently affixed seal comprising a permanently affixed disc seal and a permanently affixed ring seal;

said disc seal further situated between the said open end and seal mating portion of first said chamber and situated within the said open end and seal mating portion of second said chamber whereby said disc seal simultaneously permanently affixed seals said first and said second substances from one another, maintaining said first and second substances in said first and second chambers in an unmixed state until one-time mixing activation of the said disposable-recyclable container;

said disc seal further comprising a breakable seal bottom which is broken as said first and second chambers are linearly moved with respect to each other in a longitudinal direction of the container, thereby enabling said seal breaking element to move down upon and break open said seal bottom as said first and second chamber are rotated with respect to each other, wherein said breakable seal bottom is broken upon rotational movement and linear movement of said seal breaking element thereon, and wherein said breakable seal bottom remains attached to said disc seal after breaking such that said breakable seal bottom hangs in said second chamber from a point of attachment to said disc seal, wherein the disc seal has a center portion and an annular rim at an edge of the center portion that extends from the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the container, wherein the second container portion has an annular receiving surface and wherein the annular rim engages the annular receiving surface before the disc seal is broken;

(d) said ring seal further permanently affixed between the said open end and seal mating portion of first said chamber and permanently affixed directly between the said open end and seal mating portion of second said chamber, allowing said first and second substances to mix together, maintaining said mixed substances in a sealed said container as said first and second chambers are linearly moved with respect to each other.

16. A disposable-recyclable container having at least two separate storage chambers for storing at least two substances separately, for subsequent mixing, comprising:

(a) a first container portion forming a first chamber that may enclose a first substance;

said first chamber further comprising a single-component formed chamber having an open end and a seal mating portion, on its outer periphery, proximate said open end;

said first chamber'"'"'s open end further having a seal breaking element that further comprises a lower extremity whereby at least one seal-breaking edge is formed on said first chamber'"'"'s open end;

(b) a second container portion forming a second chamber that may enclose a second substance;

said second chamber further comprising an open end and a seal mating portion at said open end;

(c) a seal situated between the said open end and seal mating portion of first said chamber and situated between the said open end and seal mating portion of second said chamber whereby said seal simultaneously seals said first and said second substances from one another permanently, structurally co-joining said first and second chambers as a single said container with said first and second substances in an unmixed state, until one-time mixing activation of the said disposable-recyclable container;

said seal further comprising a breakable seal bottom which is broken as said first and second chambers are linearly moved with respect to each other, thereby enabling said seal breaking element to move down upon and break open said seal bottom;

(d) the said seal further comprising an annular bellows cavity having a modified seal rim portion and inner walls, further having a sliding surface thereon;

said container'"'"'s said first open end of said first chamber further comprising an outer sliding surface that slidably mates with said seal'"'"'s sliding surface; and

wherein the said seal breaking element further comprises an annular sealing ring proximate to said first chamber'"'"'s open end;

said seal'"'"'s inner walls further comprising a receiving groove where the said annular sealing ring is located within said receiving groove when the said seal bottom is opened by the linear movement of said cutting edge upon it, and whereby a second annular sealing ring is also included on said seal breaking element that is located within said receiving groove when said seal bottom is closed and before being opened by said cutting edge, enabling the said first and second chambers to move together linearly when the said first and said second chambers are pressed together with respect to one another, thus enabling activation and said seal breaking element to break open said seal bottom, and wherein when said annular sealing ring is snapped into said receiving groove relative linear movement between said first and said second chambers in both directions is resisted, and wherein when said second annular sealing ring is snapped into said receiving groove relative linear movement between said first and said second chambers in both directions is resistedi

wherein said second annular sealing ring is closer to said lower extremity than said annular sealing ring, wherein said second annular sealing ring is outside of and not located in said receiving groove when said seal bottom is opened by the linear movement of said cutting edge upon said seal bottom, and wherein said annular sealing ring is outside of and not located in said receiving groove when said seal bottom is closed and before being opened by said cutting edge.

19. The container as recited in claim 16 whereby said container further comprising an outer tamper resistant film that covers at least an outer portion the said bellows sleeve;

said film may be torn away from said container, allowing for activation by a container user at time of activation.

20. The container as recited in claim 16 whereby said first chamber comprises a second opening located opposite the end of said first chamber'"'"'s first opening;

said second opening further consisting of a substance filling opening for said first chamber of said container, and wherein said second opening may be sealed by a cap means;

said cap means further defined by a mushroom-contoured top screw cap and wherein said substance filling opening is a threaded bottle mouth.

22. The container as recited in claim 16 wherein said second annular sealing ring is closer to said cutting edge than said annular sealing ring and wherein the said bellows sleeve further comprises at least one air vent.