Patent Publication Number: US-6655525-B2

Title: Container capable of separately storing and mixing two substances together

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a container capable of mixing two substances together, and more particularly to a container which is capable of separately storing two substances, for example powder and liquid, or liquid and liquid, in two reservoirs provided in the container, and of mixing the substances together when necessary. This invention provides a container, which is easy to manufacture and effective in terms of economy, and which enables easy mixing of substances, thus accomplishing an excellent mixing result. The container of this invention can be widely used in homes, laboratories and drugstores, and for individual use and other industrial uses. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     When powder and liquid are mixed together and held in one container for a lengthy period of time, there frequently occur cases where the properties of the mixture are changed. Thus, there is a demand for a container which is capable of separately storing substances as well as mixing them together when necessary. 
     In order to achieve the above object, there have been proposed various containers, each of which is provided with two reservoirs. However, conventional containers each have a problem that it is relatively high in its manufacturing cost, inconvenient to mix substances, and difficult to achieve an excellent mixing result. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,604 discloses a device for storing and dispensing substances. This device consists of a liquid holding container, a powder holding cup, a cap, a cover, and a tear-strip. In this case, the powder holding cup has a cylindrical shape, and is positioned inside a neck of the container. The cap is fitted over the neck. The cover is also fitted over the cap in such a way as to move up and down, and has a trocar which is integrally formed in the cover. Further, the tear-strip is attached to the sidewall of the container in order to prevent unexpected downward movement of the cover. When it is required to mix liquid with powder, the tear-strip is primarily removed from the container. Then, when strongly pressing down on the cover, the trocar passes from the cover to the bottom of the cup such that the powder is dropped into the liquid. The conventional device for storing and dispensing substances has an advantage that two substances are thoroughly separated from each other when storing the substances. But, the conventional device for storing and dispensing substances has a problem that it is high in its manufacturing cost, because the device has a considerably complicated structure. The conventional device for storing and dispensing substances has another problem that it is difficult to mix substances together and part of the device may be broken, because it needs a strong vertical pressing force for mixing substances together. In addition, the conventional device for storing and dispensing substances has a further problem that it is difficult to achieve an excellent mixing result, because the whole quantity of powder is simultaneously dropped to the surface of liquid, thus forming a plurality of powder lumps. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,644 discloses another container. This container consists of a first product reservoir, a cylindrical second product reservoir, a movable wall, a movable bottom, and an actuating means. The first product reservoir holds liquid. The second product reservoir holds powder and has a mouth fixed to the first product reservoir. The movable wall is positioned in the mouth to separate the first and second reservoirs. The movable bottom of the second reservoir has an outer diameter which is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the mouth. The actuating means engages with the external surface of the second reservoir in such a way as to vertically move, and is integrated with a piston for displacing the movable bottom. When it is required to mix liquid with powder in the container, the actuating means is strongly pressed upwardly. At this time, the piston moves upward while passing through the second reservoir to push the powder up. Subsequently, the piston passes through the movable wall such that the powder is dispersed in the liquid. This container has a more excellent mixing result in comparison with the device for storing and dispensing substances according to U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,604. However, as the piston moves up, the volume of the second reservoir is gradually reduced, and simultaneously the powder is subject to an excessive strong pressure, so stress among powder particles is increased. This prevents the powder from being freely dispersed in the liquid. That is, when two substances are mixed together, several powder lumps are generated, so it takes a long time to completely mix two substances. This container has a problem that its manufacturing cost is high, because its construction is complicated. Further, this container is equal to the device for storing and dispensing substances of U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,604 in that it needs a strong vertical pressing force for mixing substances together. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a container, which is capable of separately storing two substances in two reservoirs provided in the container and mixing them together. This container consists of a liquid storing chamber, a powder storing cup positioned below the liquid storing chamber, a cover unit and a rotary cap. In this case, the cover unit is closely fitted into the liquid storing chamber, and has a cover plate on its top portion. The rotary cap is actuated to vertically move the powder storing cup. In this container, the powder storing cup itself moves up by the rotation of the rotary cap. At this time, the cover plate is removed from the cover unit, so the powder storing cup is positioned inside the liquid storing chamber. Therefore, the present invention provides a container, which is easily operated to achieve a more excellent mixing result, in comparison with the conventional pushing-type container designed to press up powder. 
     In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a container capable of separately storing two substances as well as mixing them together, comprising: a cylindrical liquid storing chamber provided at its upper end with an outlet port and also provided at its lower end with a lower opening, with a locking ring formed around an outer surface of a sidewall defining the opening; a movable powder storing cup provided at a lower position on its outer surface with at least one projection; a cover unit consisting of a cover plate provided on its top portion and separating the storing chamber from the storing cup, an annular sidewall having an outer diameter equal to an inner diameter of the liquid storing chamber to be fitted into the lower opening of the storing chamber, and a leg downwardly extending from the lower end of the annular sidewall and provided with a slit engaging with the projection of the storing cup; and a rotary cap consisting of an annular groove formed at an upper position on the inner surface of the rotary cap and engaging with the locking ring of the storing chamber, and a spiral groove formed at a lower position on the inner surface of the rotary cap and engaging with the projection of the storing cup, the projection inserted into the slit of the cover unit. 
     In the container according to this invention, the powder storing cup is vertically displaced from a first position where the powder storing cup is positioned below the liquid storing chamber to a second position where the powder storing cup is positioned in the liquid storing chamber by removing the cover plate from the cover unit. Such a displacement is performed by the rotation of the rotary cap. When the rotary cap is rotated, the powder storing cup moves up by the projection engaging with the spiral groove of the rotary cap. At this time, since the rotation of the projection is prevented by the slit of the cover unit which is fitted into the liquid storing chamber, the powder storing cup is vertically moved. The cover plate is removed from the cover unit when coming into contact with the upper end of the powder storing cup which is upwardly moved. Thereafter, the powder of the powder storing cup is mixed with the liquid in the liquid storing chamber. 
     Preferably, a serrated blade is formed along the upper end of the powder storing cup for allowing the cover plate to be smoothly removed from the cover unit. In addition, a support column is positioned in the powder storing cup in such a way as to uprightly stand on the bottom of the powder storing cup  20 , thus preventing the cover plate removed from the cover unit from covering the powder storing cup. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded sectional view showing a container according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the container of the preferred embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the container when assembling the components of the container shown in FIG. 1, in which two substances are separately stored in the container; and 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the assembled container, in which two substances of FIG. 3 are mixed together. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components. 
     FIGS. 1 to  4  show a container according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the container consists of a liquid storing chamber  10 , a powder storing cup  20 , a cover unit  30  for covering the powder storing cup  20 , and a rotary cap  40  for moving the powder storing cup  20 . The liquid storing chamber  10 , the powder storing cup  20 , the cover unit  30  and the rotary cap  40  are made of injection molded plastics, such as polypropylene and others. The components of the container will be described in the following. 
     The liquid storing chamber  10  has a shape of a cylinder which is opened at its top and bottom, and is provided at its lower end with a lower opening  12 . A locking ring  13  is formed around the outer surface of a sidewall defining the lower opening  12 . In this case, an upper opening of the liquid storing chamber  10  is an outlet port  11  through which a mixture is discharged. As shown in FIG. 3, a pusher mechanism P may be installed on the outlet port  11  to operate a pump (not shown) used for discharging stored substances. 
     The powder storing cup  20  has a shape of a usual cup which is opened at its upper end with a bottom wall, and is provided at a lower position on its outer surface with at least one projection  21 . In this case, the powder storing cup  20  is designed in such a way that its outer diameter is equal to or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of a sidewall  32  of the cover unit  30 . Further, when the powder storing cup  20  is covered with the cover unit  30 , the projection  21  of the powder storing cup  20  is projected from a slit  35  of the cover unit  30 . The powder storing cup  20  is fitted in the sidewall  32  of the cover unit  30  to be movable within the length range of the slit  35 . Preferably, a serrated blade  22  is formed along the upper end of the powder storing cup  20  for allowing the cover plate  31  to be smoothly removed from the cover unit  30 . In addition, a support column  23  is provided in the powder storing cup  20  in such a way as to uprightly stand on the bottom of the powder storing cup  20 , thus preventing the cover plate  31  removed from the cover unit  30  from covering the powder storing cup  20 . 
     The cover unit  30  consists of the cover plate  31 , the sidewall  32 , and a leg  34 . In this case, the cover plate  31  is removably provided on the top portion of the cover unit  30 . The leg  34  downwardly extends from a flange  33  of the sidewall  32  and is provided with the slit  35 . The sidewall  32  has an annular shape and is designed in such a way that its outer diameter is equal to the inner diameter of the lower opening  12  of the liquid storing chamber  10 . Thus, the cover unit  30  is fitted into the liquid storing chamber  10  by inserting the sidewall  32  of the cover unit  30  into the lower opening  12  of the liquid storing chamber  10 . When the cover unit  30  is fitted into the liquid storing chamber  10  in this way, the cover plate  31  is positioned in such a way as to separate the liquid storing chamber  10  and the powder storing cup  20 . Preferably, a score  36  is formed along the circumference of the cover plate  31  for allowing the cover plate  31  to be easily removed from the sidewall  32 . 
     The rotary cap  40  is designed to receive the powder storing cup  20  and the cover unit  30  covering the powder storing cup  20  therein. Further, the rotary cap  40  consists of an annular groove  41  and a spiral groove  42 . The annular groove  41  is formed at an upper position on the inner surface of the rotary cap  40  to engage with the locking ring  13  of the liquid storing chamber  10 , such that the rotary cap  40  is rotatably connected to the lower end of the liquid storing chamber  10 . The spiral grove  42  is formed at a lower position on the inner surface of the rotary cap  40  and engages with the projection  21  of the powder storing cup  20 . In this case, the projection  21  is inserted into the slit  35  of the cover unit  30 . 
     The process of assembling the above components is as follows. First, the cover unit  30  is connected to the liquid storing chamber  10  by inserting the sidewall  32  of the cover unit  30  into the lower opening  12  of the liquid storing chamber  10 . When the cover unit  30  is stopped by the flange  33 , the leg  34  of the cover unit  30  is exposed to the outside of the lower opening  12 . Next, the upper end of the powder storing cup  20  is fitted into the cover unit  30 . When the projection  21  is inserted into the slit  35  formed on the leg  34 , it is possible to fit the upper end of the powder storing cup  20  into the cover unit  30 . Finally, the rotary cap  40  is pushed up, in the state where the projection projected from the slit  35  engages with the spiral groove  42  formed in the rotary cap  40 . At this time, the annular groove  41  engages with the locking ring  13  of the liquid storing chamber  10 , so the container is completed as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     The container having a structure of FIG. 3 is operated in the following manner. In order to separately store powder and liquid, the container is in the state shown in FIG. 3, that is, a state where the powder storing cup  20  is positioned below the liquid storing chamber  10 . On the contrary, when it is required to mix two substances together, the rotary cap  40  is rotated in a predetermined direction. At this time, a predetermined rotating force is generated. The rotating force allows the powder storing cup  20  to move after the projection  21  of the cup  20  is removed from the spiral groove  42  of the rotary cap  40 . The movement of the projection  21  is limited by the slit  35 , so the powder storing cup  20  vertically moves. The powder storing cup  20  moves up while its upper end comes into contact with the score  36  of the cover plate  31 , so the cover plate  31  is removed from the cover unit  30 . The powder storing cup  20  continuously moves upwardly until its projection  21  reaches the upper end of the slit  35 . As such, while the powder storing cup  20  moves up, the cup  20  itself is received in the liquid storing chamber  10 , so the powder is dispersed in the liquid and then mixed therewith. 
     FIG. 4 shows the container of this invention, when mixing two substances through the above process. The powder storing cup  20  has the serrated blade  22  to smoothly remove the cover plate  31  from the cover unit  30 , and also has the support column  23  to prevent the cover plate  31  removed from the cover unit  30  from covering the powder storing cup  20 . 
     As described above, the present invention provides a container, which has a powder storing cup designed in such a way as to remove a cover plate from a cover unit while moving up and be positioned in a liquid storing chamber. Thus, when using the container of this invention, powder is naturally dispersed in liquid and mixed therewith, thus achieving an excellent mixing result, in comparison with the conventional container which is pushed to pressurize powder. Meanwhile, in the container of this invention, the movement of the powder storing cup is carried out by the rotation of a rotor cap rotatably connected to the liquid storing chamber. Therefore, the container of this invention is more advantageous in comparison with the conventional container which needs a strong pressing force for mixing the substances together. 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.