Patent Publication Number: US-2022212854-A1

Title: Container

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/893,596 filed Jun. 5, 2020 and entitled “A Container”, which itself claims the benefit of priority based on United States Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/859,973, filed Jun. 11, 2019 and entitled “A Container”, the contents of each of which being incorporated herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a container and, in particular, to a collapsible container that is capable of containing a concentrated product. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Collapsible containers are known and are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,773,458; 4,955,493; and 4,492,313. 
     However, the known collapsible containers have been in the form of a collapsible tube which defines a single chamber. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a container including a storage chamber within which is located at least one concentrated product; a mixing chamber coupled to the storage chamber; and a closure element, wherein the storage chamber is isolated from the mixing chamber; the mixing chamber is defined by a body having a longitudinal length defined between opposed ends and along at least a portion of the length of the mixing chamber, the body defines circular bellows, such that the mixing chamber has a collapsed configuration when the ends of the body are urged together and an expanded configuration when the ends of the body are urged apart; and wherein a first end of the mixing chamber is open and is selectively closable via the closure element. 
     The container of the invention defines two separate chambers: a storage chamber within which at least one concentrated product may be located; and a mixing chamber within which the concentrated product may be mixed with a diluent, such as water. 
     The circular bellows of the mixing chamber permit the container to be configured in a collapsed configuration when there is little or no diluent in the mixing chamber. This makes the container easier to store and transport. However, when it is desired to dilute the concentrated product, the mixing chamber may be expanded to receive the desired volume of diluent. 
     By storing the concentrated product in the storage chamber, the shelf life of the concentrated product may be significantly increased compared to a concentrated product simply located within the mixing chamber. This is because the polymeric material from which the mixing chamber may be formed in order to permit the collapsing and the expansion of the mixing chamber via its circular bellows may not provide optimum protection for the concentrated product against spoiling. In contrast, the storage chamber within which the concentrated product is located may provide the desired protection against spoiling without interfering with the operation of the container. 
     Furthermore, the circular bellows of the mixing chamber increases the agitation when the diluent is added to the concentrated product, which aids the mixing of the concentrated product with the diluent. 
     In the context of the present invention, the concentrated product may be in the form of a liquid, a gel or a solid, such as a powder or a tablet. Furthermore, the diluent is suitably water. 
     The mixing chamber is suitably defined by a mixing chamber body. 
     The circular bellows suitably include a latching arrangement which acts to latch the bellows in its collapsed and/or expanded configuration. It will be understood that in the context of the subject invention, the latching arrangement resists the movement of the bellows. In other words, the force exerted by the latching arrangement is greater than a stored force within the bellows which would otherwise urge the bellows out of its collapsed and/or expanded configuration. The latching arrangement does not prevent movement of the bellows. Instead, the latching force exerted by the latching arrangement must first be removed or overcome in order to move the bellows against the latching force. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the mixing chamber is detachably coupled to the storage container. For example, the storage chamber may be screwed onto the mixing chamber or it may be snap-fit to the mixing chamber. As such, the mixing chamber and the storage container may include a threaded coupling or a snap-fit coupling. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the closure element defines a well which is configured to receive a housing or container which contains the concentrated product. The closure element suitably includes an internally facing surface and an externally facing surface and the well may be open at the externally facing surface. The well may be an open well or it may include a closable lid. The well may define the storage chamber or it may define a holding chamber separate to the storage chamber. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the storage chamber may be defined by a storage chamber body. In an alternative embodiment, the storage chamber may be defined within the closure element. In embodiments in which the storage chamber is defined by a storage chamber body, the body may be separate from the closure element. 
     In embodiments in which the storage chamber is defined by a storage chamber body, the storage chamber body may be coupled to the second end of the mixing chamber (i.e. the end of the mixing chamber which is opposite to the first end). The coupling between storage chamber body and the mixing chamber may be a releasable or reversible coupling, such as a threaded coupling or a snap-fit coupling. This permits the mixing chamber to be filled with a diluent without having to remove the storage chamber body from the mixing chamber. 
     The second end of the mixing chamber may be closed. It will be appreciated in the context of the subject invention that the term “closed” means that the relative end forms a liquid-tight seal with the mixing chamber body, for example, by the mixing chamber body, including the closed end, being formed by a continuous layer of moulded polymeric material. This means that the storage chamber need have no sealing function in respect of the mixing chamber. Accordingly, the storage chamber body need not form a liquid-tight seal with the mixing chamber when coupled thereto. 
     In such embodiments (second end of the mixing chamber is closed), the storage chamber body may define a closable opening for access to the storage chamber and the concentrated product located therein. The closable opening may be defined at any suitable location of the storage chamber body. 
     Alternatively, the second end of the mixing chamber may be open. This makes the manufacture of the mixing chamber slightly easier and the cost of the mixing chamber slightly lower, but means that the storage chamber body must form a liquid-tight seal when coupled to the second end of the mixing chamber. 
     In embodiments in which the second end of the mixing chamber is open, the mixing chamber body may include a sealing wall which closes the second end of the mixing chamber when the storage chamber body is coupled thereto; and the storage chamber body defines a closable opening. The opening is suitably separate from the sealing wall, such that opening does not compromise the seal generated by the sealing wall. Examples of such embodiments include (i) the storage chamber defining a tubular side wall having a proximal end wall which is adjacent to the mixing chamber in use and a distal end wall opposite to the proximal end wall; wherein the closable opening is defined in the proximal end wall and the sealing wall is formed by the distal end wall; and (ii) the storage chamber defining a tubular side wall having a proximal end wall which is adjacent to the mixing chamber in use and a distal end wall opposite to the proximal end wall; wherein the closable opening is defined in the distal end wall and the sealing wall is formed by the proximal end wall. 
     In the embodiments in which the closable opening is defined within the proximal end wall, any failure of the opening would simply result in the concentrated product(s) entering the mixing chamber, and as such, they would not be lost. Additionally, this arrangement permits the tubular side wall to extend into a bottom portion of the mixing chamber, which results in a more compact arrangement compared to embodiments in which the storage chamber is entirely located outside of the mixing chamber. 
     However, in such embodiments, the storage chamber body needs to be removed from the mixing chamber to access the concentrated product within the storage chamber. Alternatively, by forming the closable opening in the distal end wall of the storage chamber body and having the proximal wall form the sealing wall, the interior of the storage chamber can be accessed without needing to remove the storage chamber body from the mixing chamber. 
     As noted above, the storage chamber may be defined by the closure element or it may be carried by the closure element. For example, the storage chamber may be defined within the closure element. In such embodiments, the second end of the mixing chamber is suitably closed. 
     The closure element may define a tubular side wall having a top end and a bottom end opposite to the top end; wherein the side wall, top end and bottom end together define the storage chamber; and wherein a closable opening is defined in the bottom end. 
     The skilled person will understand that reference to “top” and “bottom” refer to the container when oriented in a substantially vertical orientation with the closure element located at the top of the mixing chamber. 
     By locating the closable opening in the bottom end of the storage chamber, the interior of the chamber may only be accessed when the closure element has been removed from the mixing chamber. Additionally, it permits a more compact arrangement, as the tubular side wall may extend wholly or partially into the interior of the mixing chamber. 
     In alternative embodiments, the closure element defines a tubular side wall having a top end and a bottom end opposite to the top end; wherein the side wall, top end and bottom end together define the storage chamber; and wherein a closable opening is defined in the top end. In this arrangement, the interior of the storage chamber may be accessed without removing the closure element from the mixing chamber. 
     The closure element is suitably releasably secured to the mixing chamber via a threaded coupling. 
     The mixing chamber is suitably in the form of a substantially tubular body. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the storage chamber contains one or more concentrated products, wherein each concentrated product is stored within a respective housing. For example, the storage chamber may contain a plurality of separate concentrated products, each stored within a respective housing. The housings are suitable sealed against the ingress of gases and liquids. 
     The circular bellows may be defined by a series of circular bellows wall sections (i.e. a plurality of bellows wall sections arranged in a longitudinal array), wherein each circular bellows wall section includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion; the first and second wall portions are conical sections which are angled relative to each other; the first and second wall portions extend outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the mixing chamber and together define a V-shape; the connection between the first and second wall portions forms an outer return portion; and adjacent bellows wall sections are connected via inner return portions. 
     The skilled person will appreciate that reference to “V-shaped” is to be understood to a sideways V, in other words the outer return is “&gt;”-shaped. In this way, as the container is collapsed, the angle between first and second wall portions of each bellows wall section will decrease and as the container is expanded, the angle between the first and second wall portions of each bellows wall section will increase. 
     The skilled person will understand that the angle between the first and second wall portions of each bellows wall section may range from 0° to 180°. However, this angle is suitably from 0° to 120°, 110°, 100° or 90°. 
     This arrangement of the bellows wall sections permits the maximum expansion and collapse of the bottle while maintaining a desired level of mechanical strength and resistance to cracking. 
     The inner return portions may include an arcuate connecting portion. In other words, a first or second wall portion of a bellows wall section is connected to a second or first wall portion of a neighbouring (i.e. adjacent) bellows wall section via an arcuate connecting body, such as a semi-circular connecting body. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the arcuate connecting portion is more resistant to cracking and permits the adjacent wall portions to hinge relative to each other with less strain. This may be because the bottle material is not weakened at the inner return portions by fracturing as the plastic material is not deformed beyond its elastic limit. 
     In such embodiments, the second wall portion may be shorter than the first wall portion in each of the bellows wall sections. The arrangement causes an “over-centre” arrangement when the mixing chamber is moved to its collapsed configuration, which in turn latches the circular bellows in their collapsed configuration. Thus, in such embodiments, a latching mechanism is formed by second wall portions being shorter than the first wall portions, resulting in an over-centre arrangement of the inner return portions in the collapsed configuration. The over-centre arrangement results when an inner return portion located between a pair of outer return portions is displaced longitudinally during the compression of the mixing chamber such that after compression, the inner return portion has been displaced vertically above or below both of the pair of outer return portions either side of the inner return portion (on the basis that the mixing chamber is collapsed in a vertical direction). This “over-centre” arrangement generates latching forces in the circular bellows portion that are typically greater than the restorative forces stored in the return portions as a result of the collapsing of the mixing chamber and therefore prevents or resists the restorative forces urging the mixing chamber back to its expanded configuration. 
     Accordingly, when the mixing chamber is urged into its collapsed configuration, it will typically remain in that configuration until it is urged into its expanded configuration. The expansion force exerted on the mixing chamber will overcome the latching forces of the bellows wall sections. 
     Further embodiments of the invention are set out in the following definitions: 
     1. A container including a storage chamber within which is located at least one concentrated product housed; a mixing chamber coupled to the storage chamber; and a closure element, wherein the storage chamber is isolated from the mixing chamber; the mixing chamber is defined by a body having a longitudinal length defined between opposed ends and along at least a portion of the length of the mixing chamber, the body defines circular bellows, such that the mixing chamber has a collapsed configuration when the ends of the body are urged together and an expanded configuration when the ends of the body are urged apart, the bellows further including a latching arrangement which acts to latch the bellows in their collapsed configuration and/or their expanded configuration; and wherein a first end of the mixing chamber is open and is selectively closable via the closure element. 
     2. A container according to definition 1, wherein the closure element defines a well which is configured to receive a container which contains the concentrated product. 
     3. A container according to definition 2, wherein the closure element includes an internally facing surface and an externally facing surface and the well is open at the externally facing surface. 
     4. A container according to any of definitions 1 to 3, wherein the mixing chamber is detachably coupled to the storage container. 
     5. A container according to definition 4, wherein the mixing chamber and the storage container include a threaded coupling or a snap-fit coupling. 
     6. A container according to any of definitions 1 to 5, wherein the storage chamber is defined by a storage chamber body. 
     7. A container according to definition 6, wherein the mixing chamber defines a second end opposite to the first end, and wherein the storage chamber body is coupled to the second end of the mixing chamber. 
     8. A container according to definition 7, wherein the second end of the mixing chamber is closed. 
     9. A container according to definition 7, wherein the second end of the mixing chamber is open; the mixing chamber body includes a sealing wall which closes the second end of the mixing chamber when the storage chamber body is coupled to the mixing chamber; and the storage chamber body defines a closable opening separate from the sealing wall. 
     10. A container according to definition 9, wherein the storage chamber defines a tubular side wall having a proximal end which is adjacent to the mixing chamber in use and a distal end opposite to the proximal end; and wherein the closable opening is defined at the proximal end and the sealing wall is located at the distal end. 
     11. A container according to definition 9, wherein the storage chamber defines a tubular side wall having a proximal end which is adjacent to the mixing chamber in use and a distal end opposite to the proximal end; and wherein the closable opening is defined at the distal end and the sealing wall is located at the proximal end. 
     12. A container according to any of definitions 1 to 5, wherein the storage chamber is defined within the closure element and the mixing chamber is closed at its second end. 
     13. A container according to definition 12, wherein the closure element defines a tubular side wall having a top end and a bottom end opposite to the top end; and wherein a closable opening is defined in the bottom end. 
     14. A container according to definition 1 3 , wherein at least a portion of the storage chamber extends into the mixing chamber when the closure element is coupled to the mixing chamber. 
     15. A container according to definition 12, wherein the closure element defines a tubular side wall having a top end and a bottom end opposite to the top end; and wherein the closable opening is defined in the top end. 
     16. A container according to any of definitions 1 to 15, wherein the closure element is threadedly coupled to the mixing chamber. 
     17. A container according to any of definitions 1 to 16, wherein the mixing chamber is defined by a substantially tubular body. 
     18. A container according to any of definitions 1 to 17, wherein the circular bellows are defined by a series of bellows wall sections, wherein each bellows wall section includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion; the first and second wall portions are conical sections which are angled relative to each other; the first and second wall portions extend outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the mixing chamber and together define a V-shape; the connection between the first and second wall portions forms an outer return portion; and adjacent bellows wall sections are connected via inner return portions. 
     19. A container according to definition 18, wherein the inner return portions comprise an arcuate connecting portion. 
     20. A container according to definition 18 or definition 19, wherein the latching arrangement is formed by the second wall portion being shorter than the first wall portion in each of the bellows wall sections, whereby each inner return portion forms an over-centre arrangement in the collapsed configuration. 
     21. A container according to any of definitions 1 to 20, wherein the storage chamber contains one or more concentrated products, wherein each concentrated product is stored within a respective housing. 
     The skilled person will appreciate that the features described and defined in connection with the aspect of the invention and the embodiments thereof may be combined in any combination, regardless of whether the specific combination is expressly mentioned herein. Thus, all such combinations are considered to be made available to the skilled person. 
     An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings as follows. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 a    is a perspective view of a mixing chamber for a container; 
         FIG. 1 b    is a perspective view of a closure element for a container; 
         FIG. 1 c    is a perspective view of a storage chamber body for a container; 
         FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b    show a section of the inner and outer return portions of the mixing chamber in expanded and collapsed configurations; 
         FIG. 3  shows the container of  FIGS. 1 a , 1 b  and 1 c    in a collapsed configuration; 
         FIG. 4  shows a container according to a second embodiment of the invention in its collapsed configuration; 
         FIG. 5  shows a container according to a third embodiment of the invention in its collapsed configuration; 
         FIG. 6 a    illustrates a closure element according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6 b    illustrates a mixing chamber according to a fourth embodiment of invention in an expanded configuration; 
         FIG. 7  shows the container of  FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b    in its collapsed configuration; 
         FIG. 8 a    illustrates a mixing chamber according to a fifth embodiment of the invention in an expanded configuration; 
         FIG. 8 b    illustrates a storage chamber body according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  shows a container according to a sixth embodiment of the invention in an expanded configuration; 
         FIG. 10  shows the container of  FIG. 9  in its collapsed configuration; 
         FIG. 11  shows a container according to a seventh embodiment of the invention in an expanded configuration; and 
         FIG. 12  shows the container of  FIG. 11  in its collapsed configuration. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For the avoidance of doubt, the skilled person will appreciate that in this specification, the terms “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, “upper”, “lower”, “width”, etc. refer to the orientation of the components as found in the example when installed for normal use as shown in the Figures. 
       FIGS. 1 a , 1 b  and 1 c    show components of a container according to a first embodiment of the invention. The container comprises a mixing chamber  4  (shown in  FIG. 1 a   ) which is generally tubular in shape and which is open at both ends  6 ,  8 . The mixing chamber  4  is blow-molded from a polymeric material. The mixing chamber  4  includes a central circular bellows  10 , wherein the circular bellows  10  is formed from a number of bellows wall sections, which, in turn are formed from first conical wall portions  12 , second conical wall portions  14  and outer return portions  16 . The length of the first conical wall portions  12  is greater than the length of the second conical wall portions  14 . 
     Each bellows wall section is connected to adjacent or neighbouring bellows wall sections via respective inner return portions  18 . The bellows wall sections are shown in more detail in  FIG. 2 a   . The inner return portions  18  include a semi-circular connecting portion, which prevents or minimises the deformation of the polymeric material beyond its elastic limit. 
       FIG. 1 b    shows a detachable closure element  20  in the form of a screw-on lid. The lid includes a downwardly extending skirt  22 , which defines a threaded portion (not shown) on the inwardly facing wall of the skirt  22 . The top end  6  of the mixing chamber  4  carries a complementary threaded portion  24 , such that the closure element  20  may be screwed onto or unscrewed from the open top end  6  of the mixing chamber  4 . 
       FIG. 1 c    shows a storage chamber defined by a storage chamber body  26 . The storage chamber body  26  includes a cylindrical side wall  28 , a closed bottom wall (not shown) and an upwardly extending skirt  30 . The skirt  30  defines a threaded portion (not shown) on its inwardly facing wall. The bottom end  8  of the mixing chamber  4  carries a complementary threaded portion  32 , such that the storage chamber body  26  may be screwed onto or unscrewed from the open bottom end  8  of the mixing chamber  4 . A top wall of the storage chamber body  26  defines an opening  33  to provide access to the interior of the storage chamber, and the opening  33  is closed via a removable sealing film  34 . The sealing film  34  is adhered or welded to a peripheral portion of the top wall which defines the opening  33 . 
     The container is assembled by screwing the storage chamber body  26  to the open bottom end  8  of the mixing chamber  4  and by screwing the closure element  20  to the open top end of the mixing chamber  4 . A concentrated product (not shown), for example a flavoured powder for forming a flavoured drink, is located within the sealed storage chamber  26 . 
       FIG. 2 a    shows a section of the circular bellows  10  in an expanded configuration. As can be seen, the angle between the first conical wall portion  12  and the second conical wall portion  14  at the outer return portion  16  is about 90°. As the second conical wall portion  14  is shorter than the first conical wall portion  12 , the angle between adjacent second conical wall portions  14  and first conical wall portions  12  at the inner return portion  18  is about 80°. 
       FIG. 2 b    shows the over-centre arrangement of the first and second wall portions  12 ,  14  in the collapsed configuration. The dashed line A in  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b    projects through a common point (an outer return portion  16 ). As can be seen in  FIG. 2 b   , both of the inner return portions  18  are displaced vertically upwards as the mixing chamber  4  is collapsed until both of these inner return portions are located above the dashed line A. The displacement of the inner return portion  18  such that it lies outside of the cylindrical region defined between the two adjacent outer return portions  16  is referred to herein as an “over-centre” arrangement. Such an arrangement generates a latching force at each of the inner return portions  18  which are greater than the restorative forces that are stored in the return portions when the mixing chamber  4  is collapsed. Accordingly, the latching forces resist or prevent the expansion of the mixing chamber towards is expanded configuration. 
       FIG. 3  shows the container in its collapsed configuration. This is the typical configuration for storage or transportation of the container. Starting from this configuration, the user first unscrews the storage chamber body  26  from the mixing chamber  4 . This releases the air tight seal between the storage chamber body  26  and the mixing chamber  4  and prevents the generation of a partial vacuum within the mixing chamber during expansion. The mixing chamber is then expanded by urging the two end  6 ,  8  apart. Once expanded, the sealing film  34  is removed to expose the powdered concentrate product located within the storage chamber. The storage chamber body  26  is then screwed back onto the mixing chamber  4 . The closure element  20  is then unscrewed from the top  6  of the mixing chamber  4  and a diluent (such as water) is added to the mixing chamber via the open end  6  of the mixing chamber  4 . The closure element  20  is then screwed back onto the top end  6  of the mixing chamber  4  and the concentrated powdered product is mixed with the diluent, for example with agitation or shaking. The circular bellows arrangement aids with the mixing of the concentrated powdered product and the diluent. 
     The skilled person will appreciate that the concentrated product within the storage chamber defined by the storage chamber body  26  may be in the form of a liquid, paste or gel, instead of a powder. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show alternative embodiments of the invention in which the mixing chamber  4  and the closure element  20  are as described above in connection with  FIGS. 1 to 3 , but the storage chamber is different. 
     In  FIG. 4 , a storage chamber body  40  includes a cylindrical side wall  42 , an upwardly extending skirt  44 , and a closed, gas-tight and liquid-tight top wall  46 . A bottom wall  48  of the storage chamber body  40  defines an opening  50  and includes a detachable base  52  which is arranged to form a snap-fit with the bottom wall  48 . In this way, the opening may be selectively closed or opened via the detachable base  52 . To ease removal, the detachable base  52  may include a circular aperture through which a user&#39;s finger may be located to permit a downward force to be exerted on the detachable base  52 . 
     As the detachable base  52  does not form a gas-tight and liquid-tight seal with the bottom wall  48 , the concentrated product is located within a separate sealed housing  54  which includes an opening at its upper end that is sealed with a sealing film  56 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a similar arrangement to that shown in  FIG. 4  and described above, except that the cylindrical side wall is longer and a plurality of sealed housings  60  containing separate concentrated products are located within the storage chamber defined by the storage chamber body. In this embodiment, the concentrated products in the sealed housings  60  may be the same or different. All other features of the storage chamber body are as described above in connection with  FIG. 4 . 
     In order to use the container shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the user removes the closure element from the top of the mixing chamber and expands the mixing chamber as described above. The detachable base is then removed from bottom wall and the or one of the individually sealed housings are removed from the storage chamber. The sealing film is then removed from the housing and the concentrated product is emptied into the mixing chamber. A diluent, such as water is then added to the mixing chamber, the closure element is then screwed back onto the top open end of the mixing chamber and the concentrated product mixed with the diluent. 
     The skilled person will appreciate that in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the diluent may be added to the mixing chamber first and the concentrated product added to the diluent in the mixing chamber. 
       FIGS. 6 a , 6 b    and  7  show a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a container includes a closure element  120 , which in turn includes a storage chamber body  126 . In this embodiment, the container further includes a mixing chamber  104  comprising an open top end  106 , a closed bottom end  108  and a circular bellows  110  as described above in connection with the circular bellows  10 . 
     The closure element  120  includes an upper element body  120   a  from which the storage chamber body  126  depends. From around the periphery of the upper element body  120   a  depends a skirt  122 , which defines a threaded portion  122   a  on the inwardly facing wall of the skirt  122 . 
     The top end  106  of the mixing chamber  104  carries a threaded portion  124  which is complementary to the threaded portion  122   a  of the closure element  120 . 
     The storage chamber body  126  is open at its bottom end and includes a sealing film  134  adhered to or welded to the storage chamber body which maintains the concentrated product within the storage chamber defined within the storage chamber body  126 . 
       FIG. 7  shows the container in its collapsed configuration. It will be noted that in this configuration, the storage chamber body  126  is located within the mixing chamber  104 . 
     In use, a user follows similar steps to this described above. The closure element  120  is first unscrewed from the open top end  106  of the mixing chamber  104  and the circular bellows of the mixing chamber are urged into their expanded configuration. The sealing film  134  is removed from the bottom of the storage chamber body  126  and the concentrated product is mixed with a diluent within the mixing chamber  104  and agitated after the closure element  120  has been screwed back onto the open top  106  of the mixing chamber  104 . 
       FIGS. 8 a  and 8 b    show a further embodiment of the invention, which is similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , except that mixing chamber is closed at its bottom end. Thus, 
       FIGS. 8 a  and 8 b    show a container which includes a mixing chamber  204  that is open at its top end  206  and closed at its bottom end  208  with a sealing wall  208   a.    
     The top end  206  of the mixing chamber  204  carries a threaded element  224  and a closure element (not shown) is provided which is the same as described above in connection with  FIG. 1   b.    
     The mixing chamber includes circular bellows  210  which are as described above in connection with  FIGS. 1 a , 2 a    and  2   b.    
     The storage chamber of this embodiment is similar to that described above in connection with  FIG. 5 , except that the storage chamber is closed at its bottom end and open at its top end. Accordingly, the container includes a storage chamber body  240  which includes a cylindrical body  242  which is closed at its bottom end  248  and open at its top end  246 . On an inwardly facing surface of the top end  246  is carried a threaded element  244 . 
     The threaded element  244  threaded engages with a corresponding threaded element  232  carried by a lower portion of the mixing chamber  204 . 
     The storage chamber includes a plurality of sealed housings  254 , each of which is sealed via a respective sealing film  256 . A concentrated product is located within each of the housings. The skilled person will appreciate that instead of the housings comprising relatively rigid bodies closed with sealing films, the housings may instead comprise sachets which contain the concentrated product. 
     In this embodiment, the storage chamber body  240  need simply be unscrewed from the mixing chamber  204  and one of the housings  254  removed from the storage chamber. The concentrated product located within the housing may then be mixed with a diluent as described above. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  show a further embodiment of the invention which is similar to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6 a , 6 b    and  7 . 
     In this embodiment, a mixing chamber is provided which is identical to the mixing chamber  104  described above in connection with  FIGS. 6 a , 6 b    and  7 . In order to close the open top end of the mixing chamber  104 , a closure element  320  is provided. 
     The closure element  320  includes a circular top wall  320   a  and a skirt  322  which depends downwards from a peripheral edge portion of the top wall  320   a . The skirt  322  carries a threaded element  322   a    
     A storage chamber body  326  depends downwards from a central portion of the top wall  320   a . The storage chamber body  326  comprises a cylindrical wall  328  which is closed at its bottom by a sealing wall  330 . The storage chamber body  326  is open at its top end  332 . The opening is selectively closed by a snap-fit lid  334 , which forms a snap fit with the circular top wall  320   a . As noted above, the snap-fit lid  334  may include a circular aperture through which a user&#39;s finger may be located to permit an upward force to be exerted on the snap-fit lid  334  in order to remove it. 
     As with the preceding embodiment, the storage chamber defined by the storage chamber body includes a plurality of sealed housings  354 , each of which is sealed via a respective sealing film  356 . A concentrated product is located within each of the housings. The skilled person will appreciate that instead of the housings comprising relatively rigid bodies closed with sealing films, the housings may instead comprise sachets which contain the concentrated product. 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 10 , when the closure element  320  is screwed on the top end of the mixing chamber  104 , the storage chamber body  326  is located within the mixing chamber  104 . This results in a very compact configuration in the collapsed configuration. 
     A user uses the container in much the same way as described above: the snap-fit lid  334  is removed and one of the housings  354  is removed from the storage chamber defined by the storage chamber body  326 . The snap-fit lid  334  is then replaced. The closure element  320  is unscrewed from the mixing chamber  104  and the concentrated product from the housing  354  and a diluent are added to the mixing chamber  104 . The closure element  320  is then screwed back onto the mixing chamber and the concentrated product is mixed with the diluent. 
     A final embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , which is similar to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 a, b , 1 c    and  3 . 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  show a container  402 . The container  402  comprises a mixing chamber  404  which is identical to the mixing chamber  4  shown in  FIG. 1 a    and which is open at both ends  406 ,  408 . 
     The container  402  further includes a closure element  420  in the form of a screw-on lid. The closure element  420  includes a downwardly extending skirt  422 , which defines a threaded portion (not shown) on the inwardly facing wall of the skirt  422 . The top end  406  of the mixing chamber  404  carries a complementary threaded portion  424 , such that the closure element  420  may be screwed onto or unscrewed from the open top end  406  of the mixing chamber  404 . 
     The container  402  also includes a storage chamber defined by a storage chamber body  426 . The storage chamber body  426  includes a base portion  427  upwardly from which extends a cylindrical storage portion formed from a cylindrical side wall  428 , which has a closed top  428   a  and an open bottom  428   b . Upwardly extending from a peripheral edge portion of the base portion  427  is a skirt  430 . The skirt  430  carries a threaded portion  430   a  on its inwardly facing wall. The bottom end  408  of the mixing chamber  404  carries a complementary threaded portion  432 , such that the storage chamber body  426  may be screwed onto or unscrewed from the open bottom end  408  of the mixing chamber  404 . 
     The storage chamber body  426  further includes a snap-fit plug  452  which selectively closes or opens the open bottom end  428   b  of the cylindrical storage portion. As noted above, the snap-fit plug  452  may include a circular aperture through which a user&#39;s finger may be located to permit an downward force to be exerted on the snap-fit plug  452  in order to remove it. 
     As with the preceding embodiment, the storage chamber defined by the storage chamber body  426  includes a plurality of sealed housings  454 , each of which is sealed via a respective sealing film  456 . A concentrated product is located within each of the housings  454 . The skilled person will appreciate that instead of the housings comprising relatively rigid bodies closed with sealing films, the housings may instead comprise sachets which contain the concentrated product. 
     The container  402  is assembled by screwing the storage chamber body  426  to the open bottom end  408  of the mixing chamber  404  and by screwing the closure element  420  to the open top end  406  of the mixing chamber  404 . 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 12 , when the storage chamber body  426  is screwed on the bottom end  408  of the mixing chamber  404 , the cylindrical storage portion is located within the mixing chamber  404 . This results in a very compact configuration in the collapsed configuration. 
     A user uses the container in much the same way as described above: the snap-fit plug  452  is removed and one of the housings  354  is removed from the cylindrical storage portion. The snap-fit plug  452  is then replaced. The closure element  420  is unscrewed from the mixing chamber  404  and the concentrated product from the housing  454  and a diluent are added to the mixing chamber  404 . The closure element  420  is then screwed back onto the mixing chamber and the concentrated product is mixed with the diluent. 
     It will be noted that the storage chamber body  426  need not be unscrewed from the mixing chamber  404  in order to use the container  402  in this embodiment.