Patent ID: 11926456
Assignee: ELC MANAGEMENT LLC
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC A  B | IPC B

Claim 2:
3. A reconfigurable container-closure system that comprises:
a first container (10) that has:
a closed bottom end (10a),
an opened top end (10b) configured as a neck (10c) that defines an orifice (10d) that leads into a first reservoir (10e) that is suitable for containing a first product (20); the neck comprising screw threads (10f), and the top of the neck comprises a circular lip (10g) that flares outwardly;

a cylindrical plug (11) that has:
an opened bottom end (11a) that is formed with a turned in step (11c),
an opened top end (11b) that is formed with an outwardly directed flange (11d),
such that when the plug is positioned in the orifice (10d) of the first container (10), then the flange (11d) rests on the top of the neck (10c);

a first closure (12) that comprises:
an opened bottom end (12a),
a closed top surface (12b),
and side wall (12d) that supports screw threads (12f) that are sized to cooperate with the screw threads (10f) of the first container (10),

a second container (110) that has:
a closed bottom end (110a), and
an opened top end (110b) that defines an orifice (110d) that leads into an interior (110e) of the second container; the opened top end of the second container comprising screw threads (110f);

a second closure (112) that comprises:
an opened bottom end (112a),
a closed top surface (112b) that has a grooved ring (112c) and a sealing plug (112h) depending from an underside of the closed top surface, and
a side wall (112d) that supports screw threads (112f) on its interior and that are sized to cooperate with the screw threads (1100 of the second container (110) and with the screw threads (10f) of the first container (10);

an orifice reducer (113) suspended from the second closure (112), and having:
a top surface (113a), that has:
one or more bumps (113j) rising from the top surface (113a), and received into the grooved ring (112c) of the second closure (112) in a snap-fit relationship; and
a cylindrical wall (113d) rising from the top surface (113a), that defines a passage (113h) through the orifice reducer, such that the sealing plug (112h) of the second closure (112) makes an interference fit in the passage (113h) of the cylindrical wall (113d);

a bottom surface (113b) from which depend:
a side wall (113e) that has an upper groove (113f) and a lower groove (113g); and
a stovepipe (113i) concentric with the side wall (113e);

a cartridge (114) mounted to the orifice reducer (113), and having:
an opened top end (114b) that comprises an outwardly directed flange (114d) that has a circumferential bead (114g) which is positioned in the upper groove (113f) of the orifice reducer (113) in a snap-fit engagement; and
an opened bottom end (114a) that has a lower bead (114c) along its perimeter; and

a piston (115) secured to the cartridge (114), and having:
an opened bottom end (115a) that supports an outwardly directed flange (115c),
a closed top end (115b),
a side wall (115d) that has one or more slots (115e) that pass completely through the side wall, and
a circumferential groove (115f) near the closed top end (115b), such that the lower bead (114c) of the cartridge (114) is positioned in the circumferential groove (115f), such that:
a second reservoir (114e) that is suitable for containing a second product (120) is defined inside the cartridge (114), and

when the second closure (112) is screwed down onto the first container (10), then the lower groove (113g) of the orifice reducer engages the circular lip (10g) on the neck (10c) of the first container (10).