MULTI-COMPARTMENT MIXING CONTAINER AND METHOD OF FILLING

• US 20110192734A1
• Filed: 03/23/2011
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biosphere Spirits LLC
• Original Assignee: Biosphere Spirits LLC
• Inventors: Helou, Elie JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,875,874 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/219
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 2230/02 Containers having separate compartments isolated from one another B65B29/10 and B65B2220/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 31/00 Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3222 with additional means facilitating admixture

Abstract

A mixing container comprising an outer vessel, one or more inner vessels, and a lid. The outer vessel comprises a bottom, an open mouth and a peripheral sidewall between the open mouth and the bottom. The one or more inner vessels each have an end, an open mouth and a peripheral sidewall between the end and the open mouth. The lid is configured to be removably coupled to the open mouth of the outer vessel and the lid comprises an outer surface and an inner surface coupled to the ends of the one or more inner vessels. A seal is formed between the open mouth of each one of the one or more inner vessels and the bottom of the outer vessel when the lid is coupled to the open mouth of the outer vessel.

Claims

1. A mixing container comprising

an outer vessel having a bottom, an open mouth and a peripheral sidewall between the open mouth and the bottom;

one or more inner vessels each having an end, an open mouth and a peripheral sidewall between the end and the open mouth; and

a lid configured to be removably coupled to the open mouth of the outer vessel, the lid comprising an outer surface and an inner surface coupled to the ends of the one or more inner vessels;

wherein a seal is formed between the open mouth of each one of the one or more inner vessels and the bottom of the outer vessel when the lid is coupled to the open mouth of the outer vessel.

2. The mixing container of claim 1, wherein the lid further comprises one or more fill holes.

3. The mixing container of claim 2, wherein a first set of the one or more fill holes is in communication with the outer vessel when the lid is coupled to the open mouth of the outer vessel.

4. The mixing container of claim 2, wherein a second set of the one or more fill holes is in communication with the one or more inner vessels when the lid is coupled to the open mouth of the outer vessel.

5. The mixing container of claim 2, further comprising a cover coupled to the outer surface of the lid, the cover configured to close the one or more fill holes.

6. The mixing container of claim 1, wherein the lid is configured to be removably coupled to the open container of the outer vessel via mating full-threads, half-threads, friction fit, snap fit, or a combination thereof.

7. The mixing container of claim 1, wherein the mixing container comprises one inner vessel positioned concentrically relative to the outer vessel.

8. The mixing container of claim 1, wherein the mixing container comprises a plurality of inner vessels.

9. The mixing container of claim 8, wherein the plurality of inner vessels are positioned around a central axis of the outer vessel.

10. The mixing container of claim 1, wherein the seal is formed by providing a raised surface on the interior of the bottom of the outer vessel having a periphery and the open mouth on the one or more inner vessels being and fitting about the periphery.

11. The mixing container of claim 1, wherein the seal is formed by a resilient seal member disposed between the open mouth of each one of the one or more inner vessels and the bottom of the outer vessel.

12. The mixing container of claim 1, the end of each one of the one or more inner vessels being closed with access provided to the one or more inner vessels only through the open mouths of the inner vessels.

13. The mixing container of claim 1, the ends of the one or more inner vessels being open.

14. The mixing container of claim 1, wherein the one or more inner vessels and the outer vessels each comprise different materials.

15. The mixing container of claim 1 further comprising either one or both of a tamper-resistant mechanism or a tamper-evident mechanism.

16. The mixing container of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a coupling surface to which the one or more inner vessels may be adjustably coupled to achieve a desired distance between the lid and the open mouth of the one or more inner vessels.

17. A method of manufacturing a mixing container comprising two or more components, the mixing container comprising an outer vessel, one or more inner vessels disposed within the outer vessel, a lid to enclose the outer vessel and the one or more inner vessels disposed therein, and a first set of one or more fill holes corresponding to the outer vessel and a second set of one or more fill holes corresponding to each one of the one or more inner vessels, the method comprising:

filling the outer vessel with a first component through the first set of one or more fill holes;

filling the one or more inner vessels with one or more components through the second set of one or more fill holes, wherein the one or more components are different from each other and from the first component; and

covering the first and second set of one or more fill holes.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising creating at least a partial vacuum within the outer vessel before covering the first and second set of one or more fill holes.

19. A method of manufacturing a mixing container comprising two or more components, the mixing container comprising an outer vessel comprising a bottom and an open mouth, one or more inner vessels disposed within the outer vessel and comprising an end and an open mouth, a lid comprising an outer surface and a coupling surface, the lid configured to enclose the outer vessel and the one or more inner vessels disposed therein, and one or more fill holes corresponding to the outer vessel, the method comprising:

coupling the one or more inner vessels to the coupling surface of the lid;

filling each one of the one or more inner vessels with one or more components through the open mouths of the one or more inner vessels;

placing the outer vessel over the filled one or more inner vessels such that the open mouths of the one or more inner vessels contacts and forms a seal with the bottom of the outer vessel and the lid couples with the open mouth of the outer vessel;

filling the outer vessel with an outer component through the one or more fill holes; and

covering the one or more fill holes with a cover.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more components of the one or more inner vessels are different from one another and from the outer component.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising creating at least a partial vacuum within the outer vessel before covering the one or more fill holes.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein a partial removal of the lid provides access to one or more inner compartments.