Patent Publication Number: US-6910573-B2

Title: Dual container bottle

Description:
The benefit of the priority of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/465,887, filed Apr. 24, 2003, entitled “DUAL CONTAINER BOTTLE,” is hereby claimed, and the specification thereof incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to post-mix containers and, more specifically, to post-mix containers having dual containers integrated therein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There exists a need for post-mix containers, most notably, in the cosmetic, household products, health, and beverage markets. Generally, a post-mix container has independent vessels or storage compartments that can contain various combinations of liquids, powders, or pastes that are stored in a separated state until the user or consumer elects to combine and use the product. Post-mix containers are useful in applications where keeping product ingredients separate until utilization extends the storage life or enhances product effectiveness over a premixed product. Applications include, but are not limited to, storage of face creams, body lotions, skin cleaners, shampoos, conditioners, hair coloring, cleaning products, air fresheners, paints, vitamin drinks, power drinks, weight loss mixtures, fruit drinks, tonics, cocktails, baby formula, and milk beverages. 
     While many different approaches have attempted to address the demand for post-mix containers, most approaches utilize two separate containers that require the consumer to connect together before mixing. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,481 to Hundertmark et al. discloses a two-container design whereby the user must remove a screw-on cap at the top opening of the bottom container and then insert the bottom container into the top container before threading the two containers together in order to remove the plug in the bottom of the top container. Therefore, the disclosed two-container design is not assembled and shipped ready to use and, hence, needs assembly by the consumer before use. 
     Other post-mix containers that do not require consumer assembly before use are often not practical or cost effective to manufacture. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,032 to Herzog et al. discloses a two-component container with a stopper located in the opening of the bottom container. The stopper is ejected by an ejector as the bottom and top container are threaded together. However, the top container would have to either be filled from its top nozzle while the bottom container is inserted sufficiently to seal the bottom of the top container, or filled from the bottom with the bottom container being required to be inserted immediately following. In either case, the two-component container disclosed is not practical for mass production. A similar two-component container with a single plug is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,443,726, to Muller et al. The disclosed container has a single plug, with a knockout portion therein, that seals the top container. Since the bottom container is not sealed until it is mated with the top container, the two containers must be connected promptly after filling. 
     Accordingly, a long felt need exist for a post-mix container that has independently sealed compartments; needs no assembly by the consumer before use; is intuitive to use; can be filled, assembled, and shipped ready to use; is tamper resistant; is reliable and does not leak when mixing the contents; can be provided with a means to prevent the separation of the containers after post-mixing; and is cost effective to mass produce. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a post-mix container comprised of an upper container body having a proximal end that has a first opening and a removable first cover for the first opening. The first cover has a protrusion extending through the first opening such that the first cover may be pushed into the upper container body if a first force is applied to the protrusion of the first cover. 
     Furthermore, the invention comprises a lower container body having a second opening at a proximal end. Extending from the second opening is a collar that is dimensioned to fit within the first opening in the upper container body. In addition, the collar has an interior opening sufficiently large to receive therein the protrusion of the first removable cover. Moreover, a removable second cover for the second opening of the lower container body is provided. The second cover may be pushed into the lower container body if a second force is applied to the second cover. The second force is less than the first force. 
     In use, the proximal ends of the upper and lower container bodies may be moved axially toward each other such that the protrusion of the first cover enters the collar and thereafter comes in contact with the second cover. As the upper and lower container bodies continue to move axially toward each other, the second cover is pushed into the lower container body by the protrusion. Thereafter, the collar comes in contact with the first cover. As the upper and lower container bodies continue to move axially toward each other the first cover is pushed into the upper container body, thereby allowing the contents of the two container bodies to be mixed with each other. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the written description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a post-mix container; and 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the post-mix container of FIG.  1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  (not to scale) a post-mix container has an upper container body  1  having two body parts  1   a  and  1   b  that may be sealably joined together to form the upper container body  1 . Although the upper container body is shown with two body parts, it is anticipated that a greater number of body parts may be provided, or only a single body part may be provided, if so desired. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a recess  10  is provided on a proximal end of the upper container body  1 . Located on a distal end of the recess  10  is a first opening  11 . A lip portion  12 , that is interior to the upper container body  1 , is provided around the first opening  11 . A removable first cover  2  is a cap  13  that is provided for the first opening  11 . In addition, the removable first cover  2  has a protrusion  14  that can extend through the first opening  11 . The cap  13  snap-fits over the lip portion  12  of the first opening  11 , creating a cooperating snap means for releasably retaining the cap  13  over the lip portion  12 . The cooperating snap means thereby establishes a first force F 1  necessary to push the cover  2  into the upper container body  1 . Although a snap means is provided in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , it is anticipated that other fit means may be provided to establish the first force necessary to push the removable first cover  2  into an upper container body. In the embodiment described, the cap  13  may be fit over the lip portion  12  of the first opening  11  before joining the upper body parts  1   a  and  1   b . Alternatively, if the upper container body  1  is formed as a single unit, the cover  2  may be inserted into the upper container body through dispensing opening  15  and put in place over opening  11  using, for example, a tool that can extend cover  2  inside the upper body container  1  to reach opening  11 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the post-mix container is provided with a lower container body  3  having two lower body parts  3   a  and  3   b  that may be sealably joined together to form the lower container body  3 . Although the lower container body shown in  FIG. 1  is provided with two lower body parts, it is anticipated that a greater or lesser number of lower body parts may be provided, if so desired. Moreover, it is anticipated that contents may be introduced into the lower container body  3  before joining the lower body parts  3   a  and  3   b.    
     In addition,  FIG. 1  shows that the lower body part  3   b  has a collar portion  16  that extends from a second opening  17 , which is at a proximal end of the lower container body  3 . The collar portion  16  is dimensioned to fit within the first opening  11  in the upper container body  1  and also has an interior opening sufficiently large to receive therein the protrusion  14  of the removable first cover  2 . Furthermore, the dimensions of the outer surface of the collar  16  extending from the second opening  17  and of the interior of the first opening  11  may be substantially the same, such that when the collar  16  is inserted within the first opening  11  a seal is maintained so that the contents of the upper container body  1  and lower container body  3  do not escape from the interior of the two containers. Moreover, at least a portion of the proximal end of the lower container body  3 , including the collar  16 , may fit within the recess  10  of the proximal end of the upper container body  1 . 
     Next,  FIG. 1  illustrates a removable second cover  4  that may be inserted in the second opening  17 . Furthermore, the plug  4  may be inserted in the second opening  17  before joining the lower body parts  3   a  and  3   b  to form the lower container body  3 . The plug  4  inserted in the second opening  17  establishes a second force F 2  required to push the plug  4  into the lower container body  3 , the second force being less than the first force. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the interior of the recess  10  is provided with a threaded portion  20  that cooperates with a threaded portion  21  provided on the exterior portion of the proximal end of the lower container body  3 . The proximal end of the lower body container  3  may be inserted into the recess  10  of the upper body container  1 , and the upper and lower container bodies may be joined together by screwing together of the cooperating threaded portions  20 ,  21 , which will cause axial movement of the upper and lower container bodies toward each other while aligning the openings  11 ,  17 . 
     The embodiment of the container so far described is illustrative of one of many possible designs that incorporate the present invention. For instance the recess in the container bodies may be reversed, such that a proximal end of the lower container body has a recess, wherein the second opening is at a distal end of the recess. At least a portion of the proximal end of the upper container body, including a protrusion of the first cover, fits within the recess of the proximal end of the lower container body. In addition, the interior of the recess in the proximal end of the lower container body and the exterior portion of the proximal end of the upper container body that fits within the recess may have cooperating threaded portions, such that the upper and lower container bodies may be joined together, and, furthermore, that axial movement of the upper and lower container bodies toward each other may be caused by continued screwing together of the cooperating threaded portions. 
     Alternatively, it is also anticipated that other means may be provided to cause the axial movement of the two container bodies together. For example, the upper and lower container bodies may be caused to move axially toward each other by applying a compressive force. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , as the upper and lower container bodies move axially toward each other, the protrusion  14  of the first cover  2  enters the interior of the collar portion  16  and comes in contact with the plug  4 , thereby causing the plug  4  to be pushed into the lower container body  3 . Although a force is applied to the first cover  2  when the protrusion  14  contacts the plug  4 , the cooperating snap means causes the first force F 1  to be larger than the second force F 2  necessary to remove plug  4 , such that the first cover  2  is not yet pushed into the upper container body  1 . Next, when the collar portion  16  comes in contact with the cap  13 , sufficient force is applied to cause the cover  2  to be pushed into the upper container body  1 , thereby allowing the contents of the upper and lower container bodies to be mixed with each other. 
     Furthermore, the post-mix container shown in  FIG. 1  may be provided with a cooperating ratchet means  30  on the exterior of the proximal end of the lower container body  3  and  31  on the interior of the proximal end of the upper container body  1 . The cooperating ratchet means allows the upper and lower container bodies to be screwed together while impeding the ability to unscrew the upper and lower container bodies, thereby preventing the unintended opening of the post-mix container and the spilling of the contents. 
     In addition, the post-mix container may be provided with a removable means for preventing the upper and a lower container bodies from being moved axially toward each other, thereby preventing unintended opening of the containers and mixing of the contents of the upper and lower container bodies. When the removable means is provided, the consumer must first remove the removable means before axially moving the upper and lower container bodies toward each other in order to cause the covers  2 ,  4  provided with the upper and lower container bodies to be pushed out. As shown in  FIG. 2  (not to scale), the removable means may be a removable strip  25  at the proximal end of upper container body  1  to block the axial movement of lower container body  3  with respect to the upper container body  1 . While the removable strip is at the proximal end of the upper container body  1  in  FIG. 2 , it is anticipated that a removable strip may be at a proximal end of the lower container body, if so desired, to block an axial movement of an upper container body with respect to the lower container body. In addition, the removable means may also serve as an indicator that the contents in the post-mix container are unused and unmixed. 
     Moreover,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show the upper container body  1  with a dispensing opening  15 . While the post mix container shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  has a dispensing opening provided on the upper container body  1 , the post-mix container may alternatively have a lower container body that has a dispensing opening, if so desired. The dispensing opening may receive a cover or spout of the many types known in the prior art (not shown) to allow the user to dispense the mixed contents for their intended use. 
     The invention allows lower and upper container bodies to be distributed either disconnected from each other or partially connected as a single unit. By providing for the possibility of disconnected container bodies before use, customers can have the option of selecting among different contents to be mixed, such as different colors in hair dyes. 
     It is anticipated that the post-mix container can be fabricated using conventional materials and manufacturing methods. The materials used will vary depending on the application and ph (alkaline or acidic) of the intended contents. The basic design will accommodate a wide range of liquids, powders, pastes and capacities. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.