Patent Publication Number: US-7584842-B2

Title: Two-part vessels

Description:
This application is an application filed under 35 U.S.C. Sec. 371 as a national stage of international application PCT/AU2003/001339, which was filed Oct. 10, 2003. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to vessels having two compartments. Such vessels can be used in all manner of domestic, medical and industrial applications where the initiation of mixing of two substances needs to be controlled, and will primarily be described with reference to this context. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Many different types of containers are known in the prior art which enable the separation of two components of a mixture until use of the mixture is required. In containers where two or more products are supplied pre-mixed, the potency of the mixture may reduce rapidly with time. For example, mixtures such as medicines and antidotes have a limited shelf life after the active ingredients are mixed. 
     Some of the prior art containers have a membrane fitted into the interior of a lid of the container, the membrane made of tinfoil or thin plastic for example, which can be perforated by application of external pressure to an upper surface of the lid in order to actuate movement of a depressible tab or knife edge located in the lid. These containers are generally of complex construction which can make them costly to manufacture. 
     Generally in order to safely access the contents of the known prior art vessels, a multiple-step opening procedure must be followed. In each of U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,821 (Hsu) and DE19950884 (Wella AG), a prior art container is shown in which the lid of the container has a compartment which is opened by moving the lid so that a fixed projection opens the compartment therein. In the case of U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,821 (Hsu), once the compartment in the lid has been opened, and the lid is removed, the sharp projection fitted to the bottle throat needs to be removed by hand so that the contents can then be consumed without any risk of injury to the lips of a user. This introduces the possibility of injury to the fingers of a user, or contamination of the contents of the vessel by touching the throat region with dirty fingers. In DE19950884 (Wella AG), the actuation of the compartment opening mechanism by rotation of the cap downward in one direction causes the sharp projection to fall into the bottle itself and presents an even greater hazard to users if oral consumption by humans from such a bottle occurs. To access the bottle mouth for rapid pouring out of the contents, the cap then needs to be rotated in a reverse direction. Such a device is unsuitable for dispensing a tablet from the cap, and small fragments of foil may dislodge and fall into the bottle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first aspect the present invention provides a device for location at an opening to a receptacle comprising:
         a projection adapted for association with the receptacle at the opening;   a lid for location at the opening including a compartment that is positionable at the opening when the lid is located thereat; and   engagement means associated with the lid;   wherein when the compartment is positioned at or near the opening and the lid is moved in a given direction relative to the receptacle, the engagement means is caused to act on the projection such that the projection itself is moved into a position whereby it opens the compartment.       

     By associating the projection with the receptacle, and by causing the projection itself to be moved, the lid including the compartment can be of simpler construction than those known in the art for this purpose, and, as a consequence, simpler to use. 
     Preferably the projection is hingedly moveable into a position to open the compartment. 
     Preferably the compartment is closeable in use with an openable seal. More preferably the projection least partially detaches the seal from the compartment. Most preferably the projection includes a cutter portion adapted for cutting the seal. 
     Preferably the engagement means is a protrusion located internally of the lid and externally of the compartment. More preferably the protrusion comprises at least one flange located on an external wall of the compartment and arranged to bias the projection into a location that opens the compartment as the lid is moved in the given direction. 
     Preferably the lid is rotatable relative to the receptacle. More preferably the lid is attached to the receptacle via rotation in a first direction and is detached via rotation in a second opposite direction, the second direction corresponding to said given direction. 
     Preferably the lid is adapted for threadable engagement with the receptacle. 
     Preferably the compartment is also adapted for access from another location other than via the seal. More preferably the access adaptation is a closeable orifice in an exterior surface of the lid. Most preferably a removeable or insertable disc is arrangable for engagement with a rim of the orifice in a closed position. Alternatively the access adaptation is a closeable projecting teat located at an exterior surface of the lid. 
     Preferably the projection is integral with the receptacle at the opening or part of an insert locatable in the receptacle opening. More preferably the insert is a sleeve positionable in a neck of the receptacle and the projection protrudes inwardly of the sleeve. 
     Most preferably the sleeve comprises:
         a mounting for holding the sleeve in a freely rotatable but axially fixed manner in relation to the lid;   one or more deformable retaining means located externally of the sleeve for holding it in an associative frictional engagement at the opening of the receptacle;   a rib flange located at an internal wall of the sleeve and arranged to abut the engagement means upon rotatable movement of the lid at the receptacle,   wherein when the lid is rotated the engagement means abuts the rib flange and further rotation of the lid thus causes the lid and the sleeve to rotate together but only as allowed by the deformation of the retaining means, thereby detaching the sleeve from its association with the receptacle.       

     The operation of this apparatus in use means that no separate intervention by a user needs to occur to remove the projection from its association with the opening of the receptacle prior to consuming the receptacle contents. 
     Preferably the mounting comprises a circumferential or part-circumferential retaining rib located on the internal wall of the sleeve which in use is seated in a groove located on an outer surface of the compartment. 
     Preferably the lid is provided with a tamper-evident seal. More preferably the seal is a strip detachably positioned at an edge rim of the lid which adjoins the receptacle in use. 
     In a second aspect the present invention provides a method of opening a compartment located in a lid positionable at a receptacle, including the step of moving the lid in a given direction relative to the receptacle at an opening of the receptacle so that a projection associated with the receptacle is itself moved into a position to open the compartment. 
     In a third aspect the present invention provides a method of opening a compartment located in a lid positionable at an opening of a receptacle wherein movement of the lid in a unidirectional rotation alone with respect to the receptacle causes compartment opening followed by removal of the lid from the receptacle. 
     As a result, the method of opening the receptacle is simplified in comparison to the known prior art devices so that the user only needs to undertake one intuitive action of turning the lid of the receptacle to accomplish two separate functions immediately prior to use of the combined contents of the compartment and the receptacle. 
     Preferably the opening of the compartment brings it into fluid communication with the receptacle. 
     Preferably the method of the second and third aspect uses a device as defined in the first aspect. 
     In a fourth aspect the present invention provides a lid for location at an opening as defined in the first aspect. 
     In a fifth aspect the present invention provides a receptacle being fitted with a device as defined in the first aspect. 
     In a sixth aspect the present invention provides a sleeve which is insertable into an opening of a receptacle and having a projection as defined in the first aspect. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b  and  1   c  respectively show a side elevation, underside plan elevation and underside perspective view of one embodiment of a lid in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective exploded sectional view of the lid of  FIG. 1  when fitted with an openable seal and a sleeve which is insertable into the opening of a receptacle as shown, the sleeve having a projection in accordance with the invention fitted thereto. 
         FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  and  3   c  each show a perspective view of the sleeve of  FIG. 2  which is insertable into the opening of a receptacle and having a projection fitted thereto in accordance with the invention, the projection being moveable into various positions as shown in the drawings. 
         FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  respectively show a plan and a side sectional view of the sleeve of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b  and  5   c  respectively show a perspective, another perspective and a side view, all views being partially sectioned, of the in use assembly of lid, seal and sleeve of  FIG. 2 , the projection on the sleeve not yet moved from its initial position. 
         FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b  and  6   c  respectively show a perspective, another perspective and a side view, all views being partially sectioned, of the in use assembly of lid, seal and sleeve of  FIG. 2 , the projection on the sleeve being partially moved from its initial position into its deployed position to cut the seal. 
         FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b  and  7   c  respectively show a perspective, another perspective and a side view, all views being partially sectioned, of the in use assembly of lid, seal and sleeve of  FIG. 2 , the projection on the sleeve being fully moved from its initial position into its deployed position to cut the seal. 
         FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  respectively show a perspective, and another perspective view, both views being partially sectioned, of the in use assembly of lid, seal and sleeve of  FIG. 2 , the projection on the sleeve having been rotated with respect to the lid so that the seal is cut open to release the contents of the compartment in use. 
         FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  respectively show a perspective, and a side elevational view, both views being sectioned, of the in use assembly of lid, seal and sleeve of  FIG. 2  when fitted to a receptacle opening, the projection on the sleeve not yet moved from its initial position into its deployed position to cut the seal. 
         FIG. 10  shows a top perspective, exploded, sectional view of a further embodiment of a lid in accordance with the invention, the lid fitted with an openable seal and a sleeve which is insertable into the opening of a receptacle, the sleeve having a projection in accordance with the invention fitted thereto; the lid also having a second openable access orifice. 
         FIG. 11  shows a side elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b  respectively show a perspective, and a side elevational view, both views being sectioned, of the in use assembly of lid, seal and sleeve of  FIGS. 10 and 11  when fitted to a receptacle opening, the projection on the sleeve not yet moved from its initial position into its deployed position to cut the seal. 
         FIG. 13  shows a top perspective, exploded, sectional view of a further embodiment of a lid in accordance with the invention, the lid fitted with an openable seal and a sleeve which is insertable into the opening of a receptacle, the sleeve having a projection in accordance with the invention fitted thereto; the lid also having a second openable access orifice. 
         FIG. 14  shows a side elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIGS. 15   a  and  15   b  respectively show a perspective, and a side elevational view, both views being sectioned, of the in use assembly of lid, seal and sleeve of  FIGS. 13 and 14  when fitted to a receptacle opening, the projection on the sleeve not yet moved from its initial position into its deployed position to cut the seal. 
         FIG. 16  shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of a lid in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 17  shows a side elevational view of the lid shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a sleeve which is insertable into the opening of a receptacle and having a projection fitted thereto in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 19  shows a side elevational view of the sleeve shown in  FIG. 18 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, a device  10  is shown for location at an opening throat  11  of a receptacle such as a bottle or other storage container. The device  10  includes a lid  12  for location at the opening throat  11 . The lid has a circular top plate  14  and a skirt  16  depending therefrom, the exterior surface of the skirt  16  having longitudinal ribs or grooves  18  to facilitate finger grip by a user. The interior of the lid  12  includes a centrally-located circular compartment  20  that is positionable at the opening  11  when the lid  12  is located thereat. Typically the compartment  20  is closed by an openable seal such as a foil or plastic membrane  21  which is affixed to the edge rim  22  of the compartment  20  by an appropriate sealant, such as an adhesive, or as a result of a welding process (i.e. conductively or inductively welded). 
     The interior surface  17  of the skirt  16  of the lid  12  includes a threaded formation  13  which in use is mated to a threaded formation  15  located at the exterior surface of the opening throat  11  of the receptacle, to retain the lid thereat. The lid is fitted to or removed from the opening throat  11  by rotation to respectively couple or to decouple the mating threads  13 ,  15 . 
     In use the compartment  20  contains a substance which is designated for mixing with a fluid which is located in the receptacle. The seal  21  maintains a barrier to fluid communication between the substance and the fluid in the receptacle until such time as the device  10  is actuated and the seal  21  is broken, as will be described. 
     The device  10  also includes a projection in the form of a support flange  28  which is joined via a thin section hinge  30  to a hingedly moveable cutter  32  and associated deflection arm  34 . In the preferred embodiment, the support flange  28 , moveable cutter  32  and deflection arm  34  are positioned on and are integral with the interior surface  36  of a circular cross-sectional sleeve  38  which is inserted into the receptacle throat opening  11 . 
     The lid  12  also includes engagement means in the form of a longitudinal rib  24  which projects outwardly from the external wall  26  of the compartment  20 . When assembled, there is at least a small clearance distance between the interior surface  36  of the sleeve  38  and the longitudinal rib  24 , in order to allow relative movement therebetween. The longitudinal rib  24  on the compartment  20  external wall  26  is arranged in use to interact with the deflection arm  34  so as to bias the cutter  32  into a position that opens the sealed compartment  20 , as will be described. 
     In further embodiments, multiple longitudinal ribs or other protrusions of some kind can be arranged on the external wall of the compartment (for example, see  FIGS. 16 and 17 ) to function as an engagement means. 
     The sleeve  38  also has a mounting in the form of a circumferential retaining rib  70  located on the internal wall  36  of the sleeve  38  and a groove  71  located on the external wall  26  of the compartment  20  in which the retaining rib  70  is received and seated in use. The retaining rib  70  is freely rotatable within said groove  71  in use so that the lid (and compartment) can be turned with respect to the sleeve  38  since there is a narrow annular clearance gap between the external wall  26  of the compartment  20  and the interior surface  36  of the sleeve  38 . By seating the rib  70  in the said groove  71  on the external wall  26  of the compartment  20 , the sleeve  38  is axially fixed in one location in relation to the compartment  20  and thus the lid  12 . In further embodiments the mounting can be present in other forms, for example including a partial circumferential retaining rib. 
     The sleeve  38  also has a deformable retaining means in the form of a plurality of elongate flanges  72  located at the external wall  39  of the sleeve  38  and projecting outwardly therefrom. In the preferred embodiment shown, these elongate flanges  72  are arranged tangentially to the external wall  39  so as to provide a frangible, frictional interfit for retention of the sleeve  38  at the interior surface  25  of the throat  11 , and to generally prevent the relative rotation of the sleeve  38  in the throat  11  whilst the cap  12  is being unscrewed from the throat  11 , and whilst the compartment  20  is thus being rotated with respect to, and internally of, the sleeve  38 . The recesses  29  located at the interior surface  25  of the throat  11  can also assist the interfit of the elongate flanges  72  with the throat  11  by partial receipt of those flanges  72 . 
     In further embodiments, protrusions of different shapes and orientations other than the tangential elongate flanges  72  can be used. For example, dimples can be arranged on the external wall of the sleeve for receipt in shallow cavities positioned on the interior surface of the throat, as long as the sleeve is initially held in an associative frictional engagement with the throat of the receptacle. Since the association of the sleeve with the receptacle throat can vary somewhat depending upon the ambient temperature, or with the manufacturing tolerances of the various components, the use of protrusions on the external wall of the sleeve is preferred compared with the use of smooth-walled sleeves. 
     The sleeve  38  also has a rib flange  31  located at its interior surface  36  and which is arranged to abut the longitudinal rib  24  at some point during rotatable movement of the lid  12  at the receptacle. The function of this rib flange  31  during unscrewing of the lid  12  from the throat  11  of the vessel will be described. 
     In other embodiments the support flange, moveable cutter and deflection arm can be arranged to be integrally formed at the interior surface of the opening of the receptacle, or even as part of a partial sleeve insertable in the receptacle mouth. In still other embodiments there can be more than one projection including the support flange, moveable cutter and deflection arm located at the receptacle or sleeve interior surface. 
     The operation of the component parts of the device  10  in use will now be described. In the preferred embodiment, and as best shown in the series of  FIGS. 5 to 8  which show the sequential position of the various parts of the device during use, a user grips and rotates the lid  12  in relation to the receptacle in a given direction G. The threaded formation  13  of the lid  12  is thus moved in the direction of disengagement from the threaded formation  15  at the throat  11  of the receptacle. As the lid  12  is rotated, it is moved relative to the receptacle and to the sleeve  38  associated with the receptacle, the sleeve  38  being mounted via the deformable elongate flanges  72  which frictionally engage the sleeve with the opening throat  11  of the receptacle. The rotation of the lid  12  with respect to the sleeve  38  is also guided by the motion of the circumferential retaining rib  70  of the sleeve  38  within the groove  71  located on the external wall  26  of the compartment  20  of the lid  12 . The lid  12  is thus turned with respect to the sleeve  38  without axial displacement therebetween. 
     During the rotational motion of the lid  12  in direction G, the longitudinal rib  24  located at the exterior of the compartment is moved in contact with the projecting deflection arm  34  of the sleeve. As rotation of the lid  12  continues in direction G, the deflection arm  34  is hingedly moved in the direction of arrow Z (see sequential  FIGS. 5 to 8  where the movement is clearly shown). This movement causes a likewise hinged deployment of the associated cutter  32  about hinge  30 . The cutter  32  moves into contact with the openable seal  21  and breaks the seal  21  (see  FIG. 6 ). As the lid  12  is further rotated in the given direction G, the stationary cutter  32  is moved to further break or cut the seal at or near the edge rim  22  of the compartment  20 . At some point sufficient of the seal is cut, torn or detached to allow a substance held in the compartment  20  to pass into the adjoining receptacle, so that mixing can commence. 
     In further embodiments the projection can include parts other than a cutter, for example a piercing element such as a spike which can break the openable seal and allows a gaseous, liquid or powdered substance to flow from the compartment  20  into the adjoining receptacle such as a bottle or container. The actuation of the projection can be by one or more engagement ribs of different shapes or configurations than the rib  24  positioned on the compartment  20  in the preferred arrangement. In still further embodiments, the deflection of the cutter can occur by other than a hinging action, for example the engagement means can act on a trigger release associated with the projection to move at least a portion of the projection so as to open the seal. 
     When the openable seal is cut it is undesireable for the seal  21  to completely detach from the edge rim  22  of the compartment  20 , especially if the receptacle contains foodstuffs or items for human use. To ensure that this does not occur, as the lid  12  and compartment  20  are rotated in the given direction G, the longitudinal rib  24  on the external wall  26  of the compartment eventually comes into abutment with the rib flange  31  which is located at the interior surface  36  of the sleeve  38 , the sleeve  38  being, up to this point, stationary with respect to the receptacle. Once said abutment occurs, further rotational cutting of the seal  21  is prevented, as the abutment of the rib  24  and rib flange  31  prevents the further act of rotation of the lid  12  relative to the sleeve  38 /receptacle as is best shown in  FIG. 8 . A narrow bridge width  33  of seal material remains uncut, and thus the remainder of the seal  21  is retained at the compartment  20 . At the point where sufficient of the seal  21  is cut, torn or detached to allow a substance held in the compartment  20  to pass into the adjoining receptacle, mixing of the substance and the receptacle contents can commence. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the device  10 , the abutment of the rib  24  located on the external wall  26  of the compartment  20  and the rib flange  31  on the interior surface  36  of the sleeve  38  can also allow the sleeve  38  to be removed from its association with the receptacle. As the user applies an additional force to further rotate the lid in the direction G so that the longitudinal rib  24  pushes harder against the rib flange  31 , this results in the lid  12  and the sleeve  38  rotating together but only as allowed by the deformation of the elongate flanges  72  which are frictionally engaged with the interior surface of the opening throat  11  of the receptacle. These flanges  72  bend sufficiently under the applied force from the user to thereby allow detachment of the sleeve  38  from its frictional association with the receptacle. At that point, the circumferential retaining rib  70  of the sleeve  38  which is located in the groove  71  on the external wall  26  of the compartment  20  of the lid  12 , acts to prevent axial displacement of the sleeve  38  with respect to the compartment  20  of the lid  12 , and so maintains the freed sleeve  38  in position with respect to the lid  12 . Thus, advantageously, the user may then discard the lid  12  and sleeve  38  which includes the cutter  32 , and consume fluid directly from the throat opening  11  of the receptacle without either separately having to remove the sleeve  38 /cutter  32  by hand, or risking injury to the lips or mouth of the user by drinking out of the receptacle fitted whilst with the cutter  32  at or adjacent the mouth thereof. 
     It is further noted that, in the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the length of each screw thread  13 / 15  used to engage the lid  12  at the throat opening  11  is calculated equivalent to the circumferential distance which the longitudinal rib  24  travels until its abutment with the rib flange  31  occurs. In other words, the lid and receptacle threads (respectively  13 ,  15 ) become disengaged at the same point at which the cutting of the seal  21  by the cutter  32  ceases, leaving an uncut narrow width bridge  33  of seal material  21 . 
     When the lid  12  is initially attached to the opening of the receptacle, it is located thereon by rotation in a direction G′ which is opposite to the aforementioned given direction G for unscrewing the lid  12  (which also causes an opening of the seal  21 ). Because of the initial angle of orientation of the deflection arm  34 , when the lid  12  is moved in the direction G′ it is not caused to deflect and thus to move the cutter  32  into a position of breaking the seal  21  (see  FIG. 5 , for example). The movement of the deflection arm  34  over and past the longitudinal rib  24  in the direction G′ is facilitated by a slight rounding of the trailing edge  41  of the deflection arm  34 , as shown in the  FIG. 6   c.    
     In further embodiments the lid need not be attached to the receptacle by a threadable coupling, but can simply be a ‘bump on’ lid which is snapped on, but which can still rotate to cause opening of the compartment in direction G. 
     In further embodiments shown in  FIGS. 10 to 15 , the compartment  20  in the lid can have a second opening to allow access thereinto, other than via the seal at the edge rim  22 .  FIGS. 10 to 12  show one such embodiment of the invention  52  where like parts shown in previous embodiments have like numbers. In this embodiment, the lid  50  is arranged for additional access to the compartment  20  via a closeable orifice  48  in the circular top plate  14  of the lid  50 . As shown in these Figures, a removeable or insertable disc  44  is arranged for engagement with a rim  46  of the orifice  48  when located in a closed position. The compartment  20  can thus be accessed from both within the receptacle to which the lid  50  is attached, and from outside the lid  50 . In further embodiments the disc can be hinged to the rim  46  of the orifice  48  by, for example, a plastic hinge, so that it is not entirely removeable but simply frictionally fittable to the orifice  48 . 
     Such an embodiment  52  is useful if a lid manufacturer wishes to provide a lid  50  already fitted with an openable seal in the form of a foil or plastic membrane  21 . Thus the purchaser of lids  50  (for example the actual bottler/supplier of drinks or medicines etc.) can insert the desired substance into the lid  50  compartment  20  via orifice  48  and replace/insert the disc  44  without needing to themselves go to the expense of developing, say, a foil membrane applicator or process for use once the substance has been placed in the compartment  20 . 
     Once the lid  50  itself has been rotated in direction G to actuate the deployment of the cutter  32 , and the mixing of the substance in the compartment with the fluid in the receptacle has been accomplished, a user of the combined fluid and substance can either remove the lid  50  entirely or restore the lid  50  to its tightened position by rotation in the direction G′ and then remove (or hingedly open) the insertable disc  44  in order to be able to access the mixture via the narrower opening of orifice  48 . The orifice  48  may be more useful to drink or dispense liquid out of in some situations, for example while the user is in motion and spillage is preferably minimised. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention  62  as shown in  FIGS. 13 to 15 , the lid  54  of the device can include the feature of a closeable projecting teat in the form of a drink-through spout  56  similar to that known in water and sports-type drink bottles. Typically the spout  56  is positioned over the orifice  48  in the lid  54  (in the location where the lid disc  44  is located in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 to 12 ). The spout  56  also includes a retractable drink-through cap  58  which is fitted over the spout  56  and is slidably moveable from a closed position where the cap  58  is in close contact with the spout  56  (so as to prevent the flow of liquid from the compartment  20  via the discharge hole  60  in the spout  56 ) to an open position where the cap  58  is moved away from the spout  56  (so as to allow flow of liquid from the compartment  20  via the discharge hole  60  and through the corresponding hole  62  in the cap  58 ). In use the cap  58  can be pulled upwardly into an ‘open’ position so that fluid (or fluid-solid mixtures etc.) can be dispensed from the receptacle. Closure of the spout  56  can be effected by depressing the cap  58 . Prior to drinking the contents of the receptacle, the rotation of the cap  54  thereon can initiate the movement of the cutter  32  to break the seal on the compartment  20  and to release the substance from the compartment  20 , as already described. 
     In any of the previously described embodiments the lid  12 ,  50 ,  54  can be fitted with a tamper-evident seal. Referring to the Figures, the seal is shown in the form of a strip  66  which is formed as a portion of the lid  12 ,  50 ,  54  and which is joined to the edge rim  64  of the lid  12 ,  50 ,  54  by a line of weakness (e.g. a series of perforations or a thin section of lid material). In use when the lid  12 ,  50 ,  54  is fitted to a receptacle in the form of a bottle or container, the strip  66  is in contact with the exterior surface of the receptacle. The innermost circumferential face of the strip  66  has a series of projecting teeth  68  or serrations which initially are in gripping contact with the receptacle. In use, before the lid  12 ,  50 ,  54  can be rotated to cut the seal  21  at the edge rim  22  of the compartment  20 , the tamper evident strip  66  needs to be physically torn off the rim  64  of the lid  12 ,  50 ,  54  so that the teeth  68  no longer grip onto the exterior surface of the receptacle. In further embodiments the tamper-evident strip may be laterally expanded during the rotational movement of the lid and the strip need not be completely torn from the lid. In such an example the relative movement of the lid and the resistance to movement of the strip, because of the grip of the teeth onto the exterior surface of the receptacle, can cause the partial separation of the strip from the lid. 
     A tamper-evident strip can provide a convenient visual indication to a potential user of the receptacle that the lid  12 ,  50 ,  54  has already been at least partially rotated, and, as such, it is likely that the seal  21  at the rim  22  of the compartment  20  has also been perforated or torn by that rotational movement. Thus the quality or integrity of the substance held in the compartment  20  may have been compromised. In an alternative arrangement, the receptacle can be at least partially transparent, so that a user can determine if the seal at the compartment  20  has already been compromised. 
       FIGS. 16 to 19  show an alternative embodiment of a lid  120  and sleeve  380  for location at an opening throat of a receptacle. In order to avoid repetition and for ease of reference, similar components and features of this alternative embodiment of the invention have been designated with an additional “0”, such as the lid  120 . The lid  120  has a plurality of engagement means in the form of longitudinal ribs  240  which projects outwardly from the external wall  260  of the compartment  200 . When assembled, there is at least a small clearance distance between the interior surface  360  of the sleeve  380  and the longitudinal ribs  240 , in order to allow relative movement therebetween. The longitudinal ribs  240  on the compartment  200  external wall  260  are arranged in use to bias the cutter  320  into a position that opens the sealed compartment  200  in a similar manner as already described. The sleeve  380  has a smooth exterior surface which is manufactured to be of a tight frictional fit for receipt within the receptacle opening throat. In this arrangement, the rotational removal of the lid  120  from the receptacle causes compartment opening but does not facilitate detachment of the sleeve  380  from its association with the receptacle, and the sleeve  380  remains in position during pouring or consumption of the contents of the vessel from the opening throat. 
     The device can be used in many different applications, for example for pharmaceutical and drug dispensing, ‘sports’ type and vitamin supplement drinks and alcoholic and non-alcohol mixer drinks. The device can also be applied to the introduction of any chemicals into a process liquid, for example a process where a concentrate of some kind is required to be introduced into water or a base carrier, for example colouring and tinting (in hairdressing or graphic arts printing). In a further example, an industrial type application can be in the mixing of resins, glues and epoxy compounds, or other two-part products. The substance being dispensed from the compartment can be a liquid for example an ink or an emulsion, or solid materials such as powders or ground material, tablets, granules, chopped leaves or plant matter etc. The substance can be maintained in a sterile environment once it is sealed in the airtight and watertight compartment. The integrity of many products is enhanced when mixed or combined immediately prior to their use or consumption. 
     The operation of the device is intuitive, simply requiring the cap to be unscrewed from the receptacle (or in some cases merely turned in relation to the receptacle) in order to effect dispensation of the substance from the compartment. Because of its simplicity, the tooling costs for manufacturing such a device are minimised. In many of the prior art devices, the tooling costs are expensive because the devices have too many components that require assembly, and by their shape and configuration limit the type of substances that can be dispensed. 
     The device may be of any particular shape, suitable for use in receptacle mouths of different shapes, for example round, oval, square etc. as the situation demands. In further embodiments the compartment can be of any suitable shape that fits into the mouth of the receptacle, for example a circular, square or rectangular cylinder, and made of lightweight plastic, foil metal or other material which can be used to form a stable bladder or chamber that separates a substance from the fluid in the receptacle. 
     The materials of construction of the lid and the engagement means, the sleeve (if there is one) and the projection, can comprise any suitable materials which can be shaped, formed and fitted in the manner so described, such as metal or hard plastics which can be injection moulded to give a structurally sound device. 
     The embodiments of the invention shown can provide an improved two part vessel which can keep the contents of a compartment separated from the contents of the main portion of the vessel until mixing is required. By associating the projection with the receptacle (including, for example, a sleeve positioned in the mouth of the receptacle), and by causing the projection itself to be moved, the lid including the compartment can be of simpler construction than those known in the art for this purpose, and, as a consequence, simpler to use. Furthermore, as a result, the method of opening the receptacle is simplified in comparison to the known prior art devices so that the user only needs to undertake one intuitive action of turning the lid of the receptacle to accomplish the two separate functions of opening the compartment in the lid to allow combining of the contents of the compartment and the receptacle, and opening the receptacle itself, immediately prior to use of the combined contents. 
     It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. 
     Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a number of preferred embodiments it should be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in many other forms.