Patent ID: 11873155
Assignee: COMPAGNIE GERVAIS DANONE
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 5:
6. A kit for assembling a container having separate compartments, the container allowing keeping contents in the separate compartments that are distributed in a first container body and a second container body, the kit comprising:
the first container body;
the second container body, the first container body and the second container body each having a membrane sealing a container body compartment and a coupler arranged at a container body annular end which is sealed by a given membrane; and
an interface connection device configured to connect the first container body to the second container body, the interface connection device delimits an internal passage, the interface connection device comprising
a connector of annular shape configured to connect a first container body and a second container body, the connector comprising
a first end female part configured to receive a corresponding male part that is formed as a first coupler of the first container body and is bearing a first membrane sealing a first compartment delimited in the first container body, the first end female part forming a first outer open face of the connector,
a second end female part configured to receive a corresponding male part that is formed as a second coupler of the second container body and is bearing a second membrane sealing a second compartment delimited in the second container body, the second end female part forming a second outer open face of the connector,
a first opener comprising a first contact end or edge that is facing outwardly in a first direction and provided to selectively displace all or part of the first membrane toward the first direction, and
a second opener comprising a second contact end or edge that is facing outwardly in a second direction away from the first direction, and provided for selectively displacing all or part of the second membrane toward the second direction;

a tubular wall delimiting an exterior face of the interface connection device;
two guiding tracks distributed at the first end and second end female parts, in the tubular wall, the two guiding tracks comprising a first track extending at a first inner face included in the tubular wall and a second track extending at a second inner face included in the tubular wall;
a first housing and a second housing, each delimited outwardly by the first inner face and the second inner face, respectively, and delimited inwardly by an outer periphery of a cylindrical part of the connector, the cylindrical part having an inner face that delimits the internal passage, the internal passage being configured to be sealed between two membranes in an assembled state of the container before mixing the contents,
wherein the connector is a double opener connector,
wherein at least one of the first and second end female parts provides a first insertion position and a second insertion position for the corresponding male part, the interface connection device comprising at least one retaining element interfering with displacement from the first insertion position to the second insertion position so that the first insertion position is typically a predetermined position,
wherein the interface connection device is configured to permit passing from the first insertion position to the second insertion position upon one or more of an actuation action and an unlocking action exerted to allow the first and second membranes to be respectively displaced by the first and second openers, so that the first and second compartments are open toward the connector and the internal passage thus selectively allowing communication between the first compartment and the second compartment, and
wherein the coupler of the at least one container body is removably fastened to one of the two guiding tracks, each of the two guiding tracks comprising a transition relief forming all or part of the retaining element and separating a front track section from a rear track section, so that the coupler is adapted to be actuated, by passing over the transition relief:
(i) from a first position, in which the coupler is engaged in the front track section so that the coupler is axially facing a determined housing amongst the first housing and the second housing, the given membrane being unengaged by any of the first opener and the second opener in the first position,
(ii) to a second position, in which the coupler is engaged in the rear track section so that the coupler and a margin portion of the given membrane penetrate the determined housing and one of the first opener and the second opener has engaged the given membrane to allow the internal passage to be filled with content, thus allowing mixing of the contents initially stored in the separate compartments when the first container body and the second container body are connected by the interface connection device and have their coupler in the second position.