Dual sided container

Abstract

A container has openings at each end and has two compartments for holding two complementary materials. The container stands on either end and can dispense one of the two materials from each end. In one embodiment the container is separable into two individual containers. The individual containers are attached together using various means such as shrink wrap material, perforated strips, interlocking sections and the like.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates primarily to containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus for holding two types of materials in a convenient, portable, cost effective, attractive and space saving manner.[0002]For thousands of years mankind has continually developed better ways to carry and store materials of many types. Technology has advanced from animal skins and clay urns to modern day molded plastic containers. The variety of materials requiring containers is nearly limitless and ranges from materials such as liquids, solids, foods, and drinks to medicines, detergents, makeup, chemicals, adhesives, poisons and the like. More recently, the advance of technology and the rise in the number and variety of consumer and industrial goods has produced an explosion in the need for improved containers that have better functionality and mass appeal to consumers. Consumers place a high priority on packaging that is new, innovati...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The aforementioned drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art containers have been identified and a solution is set forth herein by an inventive dual sided container and method which comprises a container having two compartments and openings at opposing ends. The dual sided container is useful in holding a wide variety of materials ranging from foods and beverages to medicines and chemicals. The container is useful for holding both consumer and industrial materials. In a preferred embodiment, the container has a support surface on each of the opposing ends such that the contain can sit on either end. One embodiment includes an internal divider for providing a barrier between the two materials in the container. The container may have two compartments of equal volume or of unequal volumes. In some preferred embodiments the container is separable into two compartments. One of these embodiments includes wrapping material that is applied to the exterior of both compartments and secures the two compartments together while also allowing a user to separate the two compartments if desired. In another embodiment, the container includes at least one perforation or scoring near the junction of the two compartments. This allows a user to easily separate the two compartments. In yet another embodiment, a removable belt secures the two compartments together. Another embodiment provides a twist-lock mechanism such that the two compartments may be separated and then re-connected. The inventive container is particularly useful in holding complementary materials such as mustard and ketchup. The two complementary materials thus remain close together and the container takes less space than two separate containers.

[0009]One feature of the present invention are the two compartments. Having two compartments in a single container provides the advantage of packaging complementary materials such as ketchup and mustard or epoxy and resin into a single container. This makes both materials available when needed. One material is not lost or misplaced. In addition, optimal quantities of each material can be packaged together, thus simplifying some mixing tasks and also reducing waste.

[0010]Another feature of the present invention are openings at opposing ends of the container. These openings make both materials readily available. For example, a consumer may pour ketchup from one opening of the container, and then simply flip the container over and pour mustard from the opposing opening. A related feature are the caps that cover the two openings. The caps are designed to support the container when it is set on a surface. The caps are sufficiently large and flat to provide a stable support for the container. A user simply sets the container on the end of the container that is not currently in use. The container can be quickly set on either end that is not currently in use.

Problems solved by technology

However, a user may also want to separate these products after they are purchased.

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