Patent Publication Number: US-7594589-B2

Title: Dual-container package and a dispensing closure for such package

Description:
The present disclosure relates to a dispensing closure for a dual-container package with facility for holding the containers in a predetermined angular orientation with respect to each other, and to a dual-container package that includes such a closure. 
   BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
   A general object of the present disclosure is to provide a dual-container package in which the containers are held in a predetermined angular orientation with respect to each other, and to provide a closure for such a package. 
   The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other. 
   A dual-container package in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure includes a closure having a body with a first annular wall extending from the body, a second annular wall extending from the body within the first annular wall, a first dispensing opening extending through the body from between the first and second annular walls, and a second dispensing opening extending through the body from within the second annular wall. A first container is mounted to the closure by the first annular wall, and a second container is disposed within the first container and mounted to the closure by the second annular wall. The containers and the annular walls have structure for holding the containers in a predetermined angular orientation with respect to each other. In the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, this structure includes internal beads on the annular walls received by snap fit within external channels on the neck finishes of the containers. Slots on the internal beads of the closure are received by snap fit over lugs in the container neck finish channels to prevent rotation of the containers with respect to the closure. The containers have sidewalls that can include indicia that are held in radial alignment by the closure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantages and aspects thereof, will best be understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a dual-container package in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken substantially along the line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2A  is an enlargement of a portion of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 2B  is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line  2 B- 2 B in  FIG. 2A ; 
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary elevational view of the outer container in the package of  FIGS. 1-2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary elevational view of the inner container in the package of  FIGS. 1-2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a dual-container package in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
       FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the closure in the package of  FIG. 5 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view of the closure in  FIG. 6 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a dual-container package  20  in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Package  20  includes a plastic closure  22  having a body  24  and a cap  26  removably secured to body  24 . A first annular wall  28  extends from body  24  and a second annular wall  30  extends from body  24  within wall  28 . Annular walls  28 ,  30  preferably are circular and concentric. First annular wall  28  has an internal bead  32  and second annular wall  30  has an internal bead  34 . A first dispensing opening  36  extends through body  24  from between first and second annular walls  32 , 34 , and a second dispensing opening  38  extends through body  24  from within annular wall  34 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1-2B , dispensing openings  36 ,  38  are radially aligned. A first vent passage  40  preferably extends through closure body  24  from between annular walls  28 , 30 , and a second vent passage  42  preferably extends through body  24  from within annular wall  30 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1-2B , vent passages  40 ,  42  are diametrically spaced from dispensing openings  36 , 38 . Dispensing openings  36 , 38  and vent passages  40 , 42  preferably terminate at a flat outwardly facing surface  44  that is selectively covered by cap  26  to close the dispensing openings and vent passages. 
   A first container  46  is mounted to first annular wall  28  of closure  22 , and a second container  48  is mounted to second annular wall  30  of closure  22 . Container  46  includes a sidewall  50  that terminates in a neck finish  52  with a radially outwardly extending channel  54  ( FIGS. 2A-3 ) received by snap fit over internal bead  32  on closure first annular wall  28 . Likewise, container  48  has a sidewall  56  that terminates in a neck finish  60  with a radially outwardly opening channel  62  ( FIGS.2A-2B  and  4 ) received by snap fit over internal bead  34  on closure annularwall  30 . Channels  54 ,  62  preferably are defined by axially spaced external beads on neck finishes  52 ,  60 , as best seen in FIGS.  2 A and  3 - 4 . Closure annular walls  28 , 30  thus mounts container  48  within container  46 , preferably centrally and coaxially within container  46 . Neck finish  52  of outer container  46  has an external lug  64  ( FIG. 3 ) disposed in channel  54  that is received by snap fit in assembly ( FIG. 2B ) within a notch or recess  66  in internal bead  32  of closure wall  28 . Likewise, neck finish  60  of container  48  has an external lug  68  ( FIG. 4 ) within channel  62  that is received by snap fit in assembly within a recess or pocket  70  in internal bead  34  of closure annular wall  30  ( FIG. 2A ). Lugs  64 ,  68  preferably comprise ribs that extend axially between the external beads on the respective neck finish. 
   Thus, containers  46 , 48  are non-rotatable on closure  22  and are held at an angular orientation with respect to each other that is predetermined by the angular positions of notches  66 ,  70 . These notches can be in radial alignment as shown in  FIG. 2B . This non-rotatable container mounting arrangement can have several applications. For example, if containers  46 , 48  were non-circular such as oval, the non-rotatable mounting arrangement could hold the containers concentric with each other. With containers having cylindrical sidewall geometries as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the non-rotatable mounting arrangement can function to align indicia  70 , 72  on the respective container sidewalls. Such indicia  70 , 72  can comprise any suitable labeling. In the preferred implementation of the disclosure in which containers  46 , 48  are of glass construction, indicia  70 , 72  can comprise applied ceramic labeling. Such labeling can be decorative, or can comprise logos or information associated with the products within the containers. The indicia  72  on inner container  48  could be invisible until the product within the outer container falls beneath the level of the indicia on the inner container. In any event, the indicia  70 , 72  preferably are held in radial alignment as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Containers  46 ,  48  alternatively can be of plastic construction. 
     FIGS. 5-7  illustrate a package  73  and a dispensing closure  74  in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Reference numerals in  FIGS. 5-7  that are identical to numerals in  FIGS. 1-4  indicate identical or related components. Dispensing closure  74  includes a body  76  with first and second annular walls  28 , 30  as previously described. The outlet of closure  74  includes a third annular wall  78  and a septum  80  extending across the third annular wall, as shown in  FIG. 6 . A first outlet opening  82  extends through closure body  76  from between annular walls  28 , 30  to a D-shaped chamber formed on one side of septum  80 . A second outlet opening  84  extends through closure body  76  from within annular wall  30  to a second D-shaped chamber formed on the opposing side of septum  80 . A cap  86  is threaded or otherwise received over annular wall  78  normally to close the outlet chambers. In either exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, removal of the cap  26  or  86  permits simultaneous dispensing of product from within the respective containers. The ratio of such product dispensing is determined by the relative sizes of the dispensing openings  36 , 38  or  82 , 84 . The closure construction preferably are such that the products do not mix until after dispensing. The volumes of the respective containers can be coordinated with the dispensing ratio so that the containers empty simultaneously. 
   There thus have been disclosed a dual-container package and a closure for such a package that fully satisfy all of the objects and aims previously set forth. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, and additional modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing description. The disclosure is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.