Compartmented container

Abstract

Compartmented container solves technical problem of bringing together of two or more ingredients, wherein said ingredients can be same, or different, or combination thereof, and further, they can be in different phases (for example one ingredient in powder form, and another in fluid form). Compartmented container being a container, initially separated in at least two compartments wherein said compartments are separated by dividing means, preferably by at least one dividing wall, or at least dividing seam, said dividing means having ability to break or open due to pressure difference between said compartments, each of said compartments comprising an ingredient, said ingredients mixing upon breaking of at least one dividing means.

Description

[0001] COMPARTMENTED CONTAINER

[0002] Field of technology

[0003] Containers

[0004] Technical problem

[0005] Technical problem to be solved by present invention are problems in mixing two ingredients which should not be subjected to outside environment.

[0006] State of the Art

[0007] US2004004010 discloses a container including two compartments for separate containment of liquid components or liquid and dry components. A fitment having a bore is secured at an end of the container. The fitment also includes passages extending from a lower portion of the bore to the compartments to provide for fluid transfer therebetween. A closure includes a cap threadedly engaging an upper portion of the bore and a plug received by a lower portion of the bore to close the passages and prevent fluid transfer between the compartments. The plug including a breakable stem for separation between the plug and the cap. Engagement between the cap and the bore without the plug providing for mixture components within the container.

[0008] CN117461976 discloses a storage and drinking combined container that regulates and controls fluid mixing proportion through a torsion tube valve. The storage and drinking combined container include a torsion tube valve, a drinking cup, and a fluid container. The upper end of the torsion tube valve is connected with the lower end of the drinking cup; the lower end of the torsion tube valve is connected with the upper end of the fluid compartment: a concentric rotating shaft is used as a common twisting rotating shaft, and the two ends of a built-in hose of the twisting pipe valve are twisted clockwise and anticlockwise, or fluid flow between the fluid compartment and the drinking cup is regulated or blocked; a proper amount of heated and insulated fluid in the fluid compartment flows into the drinking cup by regulating and controlling the torsion tube valve and is mixed with cooled fluid reserved in the fluid compartment to form mixed fluid with the temperature suitable for drinking, then the torsion tube valve is regulated and controlled to stop flowing of the fluid, and the mixed fluid is drunk. Therefore, the storage and drinking combined device capable of regulating and controlling the fluid mixing proportion through the torsion tube valve and capable of regulating and controlling the drinking temperature at will is obtained.

[0009] CN117098569 discloses a system for preparing a medicament for use by a medicament user includes a dosing machine having a controller and a pumping and gripping actuator for engaging a fluid circuit having a pumping and gripping portion that engages a respective actuator of the dosing machine. The fluid circuit includes a mixing container that is initially empty and then filled with two different concentrated medications and purified water from different concentrate containers. The dosing machine is configured to receive the purified water and mix it with the concentrated medicament to produce and output the medicament to the medicament consuming party such that the medicament appears to be provided from a bag of medicament for the medicament consuming party. Customized small batches of medicaments can be produced by varying the amount of concentrate and water.

[0010] US6620436 discloses a mixing and dispensing container for applying a wound dressing onto a wound. The container includes a pair of superimposed sheets, e.g., of plastic film, connected together at their edges. A pressure-rupturable seal is located between the super-imposed sheets and extends from one edge of the package to the other to form two compartments. The pressure- rupturable seal can be forced open manually by applying pressure on the exterior of the package with the hands so as to increase the hydrostatic pressure in a liquid, e.g., water contained in one compartment of the package causing the seal to rupture and the liquid to spurt through the ruptured seal, mixing with a dry wound dressing contained in the other compartment. If required, additional kneading of the package with the hands will mix the wound dressing for use as soon as it is expelled from the package. The package can be provided with notches to facilitate tearing the package open manually and, if desired, a pour spout with a frangible portion that can be removed so that the fluid dressing can be expelled through the spout.

[0011] Description of new invention

[0012] Compartmented container solves technical problem of bringing together two or more ingredients, wherein said ingredients can be same, or different, or combination thereof, and further, they can be in different phases (for example one ingredient in powder form, and another in fluid form). For purposes of these specifications container refers to any container able to contain or comprise matter, in particular fluid, in particular liquid. One of the examples includes pouch. For purposes of these specifications pouch refers to container which is predominantly of soft material, able to adapt to contours of another body, preferably one of user in need of use of such pouch.

[0013] Compartmented container being a container initially separated in at least two compartments wherein said compartments are separated by dividing means, preferably by at least one dividing wall, or at least dividing seam, said dividing means having ability to break or open due to pressure difference between said compartments, each of said compartments comprising an ingredient, said ingredients mixing upon breaking of at least one dividing means.

[0014] During manufacturing of said container, compartments can be made by (for example) increasing temperature and pressure locally to join side walls of said compartment. In such a way, a seam is created. This seam can be incomplete, i.e. not completely dividing both compartment. Instead of complete seam a special closure can be put on such incomplete seam. By removing of said closure (safety), the seam is either opened locally, or at least weakened in that particular spot so when pressure increases, the ingredient (for example liquid) can flow from one compartment in to another.

[0015] The pressure difference needed to break said diving means is predetermined by either trial and error, or by other ways. Such pressure difference can be achieved by simply pressing or squeezing one of said compartments. Pressure in such compartment increases. The effect of squeezing depends on ingredient. For example, if ingredient is a liquid which is of low compressibility, pressure increase in such compartment is significant. But also, if the ingredient is gas, the pressure increases, or even if it is powder - it all depends on packing and fullness of such compartment as well as way of squeezing.

[0016] Compartmented container can further comprise said dividing means which are chosen from group containing dividing wall, welded seam, dividing wall with weakened portion, welded seam with weakened portion. Compartmented container can further comprise said ingredients which are chosen from group containing liquids, solids, gases.

[0017] Compartmented container can further comprise said ingredients which are either same or different for at least two of said at least two compartments.

[0018] Compartmented container can further comprise said agitating means, preferably a ball, for agitating of mixed ingredients once introduced together.

[0019] Process of mixing ingredients comprised in compartmented container as described in these specifications wherein one compartment comprises one ingredient, comprised of following steps: filling each compartment with ingredient; breaking open at least one dividing means by increasing pressure on at least one of compartments so there is pressure difference between at least two compartments, said increase in pressure difference arranging for said dividing means to break, so at least two compartments divided by now broken wall are in fluid communication one with another; allowing ingredient from both compartments divided by now broken dividing means to mix.

[0020] Process of mixing ingredients comprised in compartmented container as described in these specifications wherein said process further comprises the following step: agitating said compartment provided that at least one of the compartments in fluid communication with another compartment also comprises agitating means, preferably piece of material in form of a ball or similar.

[0021] It is quite common to have need for two components which need to be mixed into single mixture. For example, sport drink could have one ingredient made of powder (e.g. vitamins, minerals, protein), and another made of liquid such as water. Upon mixing of both, the mixture is ready to be consumed, and in several instances quality of such mixture is reduced with time. In state of the art such mixtures were mixed in outside containers which sometimes is cumbersome and leads to unwanted spills or difficult handling. Another example is two liquids, for example two components of an adhesive. Upon mixing such mixture starts to solidify (cure). Mixing in outside containers results in additional waste, and difficult application.

[0022] It is therefore advantageous to have single container with at least two compartments separated with dividing means which is removed (broken, opened, etc.) by action of the user, and the contents of compartments mixed. Not only that, there can be more than two compartments which are mixed. It can also be that the ingredients are the same in each compartment, and volume is increases. It can also be that ingredients are of different phases, i.e. solid (e.g. powder), liquid, gas. There is essentially no limits in mixing provided that opening can be achieved in orderly fashion.

[0023] There can be obviously more than one dividing means, for each boundary between compartments a wall, or at least two dividing means for three compartments etc.

[0024] The mechanism for opening of the wall can be done in multiple ways. One of the ways is tearing (breaking) of said dividing means. This is easiest achieved by having thin dividing wall which breaks under pressure difference or by having dividing seam which is for example double welded (plastic welding or similar) for most of the seam, and only singly welded at the top - this is easily achieved by welding by two (or more) heated wires for most part, and by one heated wire for the rest. For example, soft outer shell can be squeezed until the pressure in one of the compartments increases to the point that the dividing means breaks (bursts). Of course, this can be arranged in many ways. For example, there can be pre-tear or wall which is thinner than outer wall, or locally decreased thickness, or similar.

[0025] There is additional problem which can be solved by controlling time of breaking of said dividing means. For example, if there are several containers placed one on top of another, there could be accidental breaking. One cannot discount the cost of walls - thinner they are, cheaper they are. But thin walls could be more prone to breaking. It is therefore advantageous to have safety elements preventing the weakest points in the wall so when they are removed, relatively small amount of force is needed to break the dividing means in order to enable mixing of ingredients from different compartments. These specifications are further explained with help of the figures, these figures forming part of this application as follows.

[0026] The following is the list of elements in the figures:

[0027] Container (1);

[0028] Agitating means, preferably a ball (2);

[0029] First compartment (3), preferably for powder;

[0030] Second compartment (4), preferably for liquid;

[0031] Liquid fill port (5);

[0032] Powder and agitating means (preferably a ball) fill port (6);

[0033] Stopper (7)

[0034] External container wall (8)

[0035] Dividing means (preferably seam) separating the first and the second compartments (9)

[0036] Reinforced, safety device stabilizing seal (10);

[0037] Weakened part of dividing means (11);

[0038] Reinforced weld around weakened part of dividing means (12);

[0039] Opening for safety device with head-pin (13);

[0040] Notch acting as anchor for safety device (14);

[0041] Front part of safety device located at the front of the container (15);

[0042] Rear part of safety device located at the rear of the container (16);

[0043] Head-pin (17);

[0044] Weakened stem of the head-pin (18);

[0045] Safety device joint (19);

[0046] Groove in the safety device (20);

[0047] Opening in the safety device (21);

[0048] Tongue in the safety device (22);

[0049] Opening for head-pin (23);

[0050] Locking slots (24);

[0051] Locking shoulder (25);

[0052] Ridge for reinforcing the dividing means (26);

[0053] Groove for reinforcing the dividing means (27);

[0054] Portion of dividing means affected by tongue and groove (28);

[0055] Short ridge (29); Front part of the container (30);

[0056] Rear part of the container (31).

[0057] Figure 1 shows compartmented container without safety device, showing container (1), agitating means, preferably ball (2), first compartment (3), preferably for powder, second compartment (4), preferably for liquid, liquid fill port (5), powder and agitating means (preferably a ball) fill port (6), stopper (7), external container wall (8), dividing means (preferably seam) separating the first and the second compartments (9), reinforced, safety device stabilizing seal (10), weakened part of dividing means (11), reinforced weld around weakened part of dividing means (12), opening for safety device with head-pin (13), notch acting as anchor for safety device (14).

[0058] Figure 2 shows compartmented container with safety device with front part of safety device located at the front of the container (15) presented.

[0059] Figure 3 shows compartmented container with safety device with rear part of safety device located at the rear of the container (16), head-pin (17) presented.

[0060] Figure 4 shows safety device showing front part of safety device located at the front of the container (15), rear part of safety device located at the rear of the container (16), head-pin (17), safety device joint (19), groove in the safety device (20), opening in the safety device (21), tongue in the safety device (22).

[0061] Figure 5 shows safety device showing front part of safety device located at the front of the container (15), rear part of safety device located at the rear of the container (16), head-pin (17), weakened stem of the head-pin (18), groove in the safety device (20), opening in the safety device (21), tongue in the safety device (22), opening for head-pin (23), locking slots (24), locking shoulder (25), groove for reinforcing of the dividing means (27).

[0062] Figure 6 shows safety device showing rear part of safety device located at the rear of the container (16), safety device joint (19), opening in the safety device (21), tongue in the safety device (22), opening for head-pin (23), ridge for reinforcing of the dividing means (26). Figure 7 shows safety device showing front part of safety device located at the front of the container (15), head-pin (17), safety device joint (19), locking shoulder (25), groove for reinforcing of the dividing means (27).

[0063] Figure 8 shows container (1), safety device showing front part of safety device located at the front of the container (15), rear part of safety device located at the rear of the container (16), head-pin (17), weakened stem of the head-pin (18), safety device joint (19), tongue in the safety device (22), locking shoulder (25), ridge for reinforcing of the dividing means (26), front part of the container (30), rear part of the container (31).

[0064] Figure 9 shows reinforced, safety device stabilizing seal (10), reinforced weld around weakened part of dividing means (12), opening for safety device with head-pin (13), front part of safety device located at the front of the container (15), rear part of safety device located at the rear of the container (16), head-pin (17), safety device joint (19), tongue in the safety device (22), locking shoulder (25), front part of the container (30), rear part of the container (31).

[0065] Figure 10 shows container (1), opening for safety device with head-pin (13), safety device showing front part of safety device located at the front of the container (15), rear part of safety device located at the rear of the container (16), head-pin (17), weakened stem of the head-pin (18), groove in the safety device (20), opening for head-pin (23), locking slots (24).

[0066] Figure 11 shows container (1), weakened part of dividing means (11), safety device showing front part of safety device located at the front of the container (15), rear part of safety device located at the rear of the container (16), ridge for reinforcing of the dividing means (26), groove for reinforcing of the dividing means (27), portion of dividing means affected by tongue and groove (28), short ridge (29).

[0067] PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0068] The compartmented container according to preferred embodiments is comprised of two compartments enabling manufacturers use ingredients in their natural form without added preservatives. With this compartmented container, it is the customer who is enabled to mix and hydrate the ingredients that are in the package in a dehydrated form. In preferred embodiments the mixing of both ingredients is achieved with a two-stage barrier between both compartments in combination with innovative safety closure that protects the barrier itself, and can also be used to close the container. In such a way this container prevents spontaneous contamination of ingredients for example due to mechanical influences, which would basically facilitate reaction of both ingredients with each other and would in usual fashion require preservatives.

[0069] According to preferred embodiment this compartmented container features safety closure and works by first removing the safety element head-pin that serves to secure the barrier. When the head-pin is broken, one compresses one of the compartments comprising liquid. As liquid is nearly incompressible, the pressure within this compartment increases so the dividing means (serving as barrier) breaks (bursts, ruptures). The liquid is therefore spilled in the other compartment comprising powder. The package is then shaken and mixed. Preferably, and according to preferred embodiments, one of the compartments comprises an agitation element (such as ball) which moves when the container is shaken thus increasing mixing of the contents.

[0070] In this preferred embodiment the final content is earmarked for consumption. So, after shaking and mixing, one can simply open the container (open the outer wall), consuming the contents.

[0071] In preferred embodiments said container is in a way of example made of PET12 / AL7 / NY15 / PE100 with a thickness of 135 microns. Of course, different materials with different thicknesses can be used.

[0072] The container is designed in such a way that it has two compartments. In one compartment is liquid, and the other compartment contains protein powder. Compartments are separated by dividing means, or simply by vertical seam which can be fortified in some part, and weakened in another. So, if the user squeezes the liquid into another compartment by first increasing the pressure and breaking dividing means, the mixing can be achieved, and increased taking advantage of shaker ball, with the help of which one can mix the ingredients together well.

[0073] The dividing means (barrier) that is implemented on the container itself, could be an unsafe solution, especially for foods where previously no contamination of powder with liquid may occur. To prevent this, it is advantageous to reinforce said seam with the help of a safety device. When closed, said safety device additionally protects the dividing means (barrier, seam), in various different ways.

[0074] For example, groove and ridge joint can be used when constructing such safety device, preferable with multiple grooves and ridges. Such safety device can be operated by head-pin, when such head-pin is inserted, said groove and ridge or plurality thereof are mechanically locked. By removing such head-pin, groove and ridge or plurality thereof can be separated, and either removed, or left in place - in any case the dividing means is weakened, and can be opened by applying the pressure difference.

[0075] As added safety measure, in this preferred embodiment, surface of the container is provided with grip material or reinforced on the top or bottom so it will not slip when manipulated thus increasing safety of operation.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Compartmented container comprising at least two compartments, said at least two compartments separated by at least one dividing means, said dividing means having ability to break when sufficient and predetermined pressure difference between both compartments is exceeded wherein each of said compartments comprises an ingredient, said ingredients mixing upon breaking of said at least one dividing means.

2. Compartmented container according to claim 1 wherein said pressure difference is obtained by squeezing of at least one of said compartments by user in need of mixing of said ingredients upon breaking of said at least one dividing means.

3. Compartmented container according to any of previous claims wherein said dividing means are chosen from group containing dividing wall, welded seam, dividing wall with weakened portion, welded seam with weakened portion.

4. Compartmented container according to any of previous claims wherein said ingredients are chosen from group containing liquids, solids, gases.

5. Compartmented container according to any of previous claims wherein said ingredients are either same or different for at least two of said at least two compartments.

6. Compartmented container according to any of previous claims further comprises agitating means, preferably a ball, for agitation of mixed ingredients once they are introduced together.

7. Compartmented container according to any of previous claims wherein said container is a pouch.

8. Process of mixing ingredients comprised in compartmented container according to any of previous claims wherein one compartment comprises one ingredient, comprised of following steps: filling each compartment with ingredient;- breaking open at least one dividing means by increasing pressure on at least one of compartments so there is pressure difference between at least two compartments, saidincrease in pressure difference arranging for said dividing means to break, so at least two compartments divided by now broken wall are in fluid communication one with another; allowing ingredient from both compartments divided by now broken dividing means to mix.

9. Process according to claim 8 wherein increasing pressure on at least one of compartments comprises squeezing of said compartment by user in need of mixing of said ingredients.

10. Process according to any of claims 8 or 9 further comprising the following step: agitating said container, provided that at least one of the compartments in fluid communication with another compartment also comprises agitating means, preferably piece of material in form of a ball or similar.

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