Abstract:
A single or multi-compartment container includes an inner container for a liquid or powder product surrounded in part by an outer container. The inner and outer containers are joined at a neck assembly which has an opening communicating with the inner container. The outer container is partially filled with a fluid, semi-fluid or gel material giving the container a soft, resilient “jelly-like” feel.

Description:
[0001]     The present invention relates generally to novel product containers, and more particularly to squeezable single or multi-compartment containers for liquid and paste materials. The invention has particular utility in providing containers having a unique squeezable soft touch or hand feel for high value products such as cosmetics, and will be described in connection with such utility, although other utilities are contemplated.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     High value products such as cosmetics typically are packaged in small rigid walled or semi-rigid walled containers such as tubes, jars and bottles. Often the containers are made of various plastic resins, which are somewhat lighter in weight and more shatter resistant than glass, which also is used. Manufactures often differentiate their products from those of other manufacturers by employing uniquely shaped containers, colors and sizes to create unique or distinctive product identification. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide unique containers, which can be manufactured from a wide variety of materials including but not limited to: vinyl, plastic, rubber, films, sheet material, etc which can contain a decorative “jelly-like” solution and a product solution in a separate chamber. Another object of the invention is to provide a multi channel or compartment squeezable containers that are simple and economical to manufacture in a variety of colors and shapes. Yet another object of the invention is to provide unique squeezable containers that provide superior impact-resistance and protection of the contents.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention provides a “fun to hold, fun to see and fun to use” flexible container which containers a decorative “jelly-like” liquid, which provides an aesthetically pleasing look and a squeezable feel. Within this container is a separate compartment, which holds the product, which can be a liquid, powder or semi liquid product. Often, but not always, the product is a cosmetic such a lip-gloss, eye shadow, blush, mascara, etc. Usually the “jelly-like” liquid is a bright vibrant color to complement or contrast the product color and provides a squeezable feel.  
         [0004]     More particularly, the present invention provides novel multi-compartment containers comprising of a separate chamber or bag for containing a liquid or paste type product, surrounded at least in part by an outer chamber or bag. The inner and outer chambers or bags are separated and one chamber usually, but not always the outer, contains a “jelly-like” fluid which is provided for color and/or squeeze-ability, but is not usually dispensed. The inner chamber is usually, but not always, used to contain the product. Depending on the design the separate chambers can be formed using a chamber within a chamber or two chambers formed by creating a sealed seam separating the product chamber from the “jelly-like” fluid containing chamber. The two chambers form a container with the “jelly-like” fluid containing chamber preferably sealed into itself and the product chamber sealed to a neck assembly, which is used to dispense the product. The chamber walls are generally formed of a flexible material. The outer chamber is at least partially filled with a fluid, semi-fluid or gel material giving the outer chamber a soft, resilient “jelly-like” look and feel. Completing the container is a closure for closing the opening, which communicates with the inner chamber, which contains the product.  
         [0005]     The containers of the present invention may be formed in a variety of shapes and sizes and may be used for holding a variety of products including high valued products such as cosmetics, creams lotions and the like. Also, if desired, solid particles having a density approximating that of the liquid, semi-liquid, gel or other “jelly-like” material filling the outer chambers may be included in the filling to provide aesthetic appeal. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of producing the novel containers, which involves sealing the inner and outer containers from each other and sealing the product container to the neck assembly. The outer container is partially filled with a liquid, semi-liquid, gel or other “jelly-like” material and sealed, and the inner container is filled with the desired product and sealed with a closure. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     Further features and advantages of the present invention will be seen from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view and  FIG. 2  an assembled view illustrating one embodiment of multi-compartment container made in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a process for forming the container of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIGS. 4-7  show an alternative form and process of forming a multi-compartment container made in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of a process for forming the container of  FIGS. 4-7 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  of yet another embodiment of a multi-compartment container made in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  of the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a multi-compartment container  10  made in accordance with the present invention. Container  10  includes an inner chamber or bag  12  having a main body, which includes a upper portion  14 , a side wall portion  16  and a bottom portion  18 . Chamber  12  is primarily bulb-like in shape, and includes a neck portion  20  formed around a rigid neck element  22  having an opening  24  through which product may be dispensed. Inner container  12  is surrounded by an outer container  30  which also is bulb-like in shape, and includes a neck portion  32 , a side wall portion  34  and a base portion  36 . Outer container  30  preferably has the same general shape as inner container  12 , but is larger in size so that when the inner container  12  and outer container  30  are assembled together, a chamber or space  38  is formed between the inner and outer containers  12  and  30 , respectively (see  FIG. 2 ). Space or chamber  38  is partially filled with a “jelly-like” fluid such as mineral oil, and the inner and outer containers  12  and  30  are sealed together at neck  20  by a ring  40  that fits snugly over the upper ends of the inner and outer containers and rigid neck element  22 . The containers also may be sealed, to the neck assembly, by heat fusing the inner and outer containers to a rigid neck assembly.  
         [0014]     Inner and outer containers  12  and  30  are formed of a thin resiliently flexible material such as polyvinyl sheet material or another material that is inert both to the material intended to be held in the inner container  12  and to the fluid in the chamber  38 . For example, where the material intended to be held in container  12  comprises an oil-based cosmetic, and the fluid in chamber  38  containers comprises a mineral oil, the inner and outer containers may be made of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet of appropriate thickness. However, the material used to form the inner and outer containers may comprise other plastic or rubber materials.  
         [0015]     Referring also to  FIG. 3 , there will now be described the assembly of the multi-chamber container illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Pre-formed inner container  12  is loaded into outer container  30  and the two are assembled together on a rigid neck element  22  at a station  50 . The outer container  30  is then partly filled from the bottom with a mineral oil at a filling station  52 , and sealed. The inner container is then filled through the open top end with a product of choice at a filling station  54 , and a removable top or cap  56  which may include an applicator such as a brush  60  is affixed to the top end of the assembly at a capping station. Alternatively, the cap  56  may include a dropper, a rod, a brush, a sponge or a blade applicator or the like.  
         [0016]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4-7 , there is shown an alternative embodiment soft-walled multi-compartment container made in accordance with the present invention. In this alternative embodiment the multi-compartment container is constructed from a single pre-formed long necked bag  68  in which the inner container  70  is formed by turning a neck portion  72  of the bag  68  which also forms the outer container  74  in on itself. As before, the inner and outer containers  70 ,  74  are sealed to a rigid neck element  22  and ring  40 , and the inner container capped with a cap  56 . As in the case of the first embodiment, the outer container  74  may be partially filled with a mineral oil or the like, while the inner container  70  may then be filled with a high value product and sealed with the cap.  
         [0017]     Referring also to  FIG. 8 , a method of forming a multi-compartment container of  FIGS. 4-7  will now be described. Referring again to  FIG. 4 , a bulb-shaped bag  68  having an elongate neck  72  is provided at a station  80 . The bag  68  is then partially filled with a “jelly-like” fluid at station  82 .  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the neck  72  is pushed into itself using a rod  84  at a station  86  whereby to create the inner container  70 .  FIG. 6  shows the neck  72  pushed into its final position.  
         [0019]     A rigid neck element  22  is supplied and is inserted into the neck at a station  88  shown in  FIG. 6 . Thereafter, an outer sealing ring  40  is press fitted over the neck element  22 . The container neck also may be sealed, to the neck assembly, by heat fusing each to the other. The inner container  70  is then filled through the top end with a product of choice at station  90  and the filled container is then capped or sealed with an applicator  56  or other form of cap at station  92 .  
         [0020]     Yet another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . In this latter embodiment, the inner and outer containers  100 ,  102  are formed by heat fusing two sheets of flexible film along pattern edges  104 ,  106  to create the outer container and inner container separated by a barrier line. A rigid neck element  22  and sealing ring  40  supplied and sealed to the necks of the inner and out containers, as before. The inner and outer containers may then be filled, as before, and capped  56 .  
         [0021]     The containers of the present invention can be made in a conventional shape such as an elongated tube or bulb. Usually, however, the containers may be made in unconventional shapes such as star or tear drop shapes to catch the eye of a consumer. Also, if desired, the inner and outer container walls may be made of transparent or translucent materials which may be the same or different color materials. If desired, patterns may be printed on the inner and/or outer container walls. In another embodiment of the invention, particles such as glitter or the like may be incorporated into the fluid in the outer container.  
         [0022]     It is thus seen that the present invention provides highly unusual eye catching product packaging that satisfies the aforesaid and other objects above described. Additionally, the product has a soft “jelly-like” “squishy” hand feel. Moreover, by making the outer wall and filling material transparent, the user can see how much product is remaining. Also, by making the outer container flexible, the consumer can express essentially all of the contents from the inner container.  
         [0023]     Various changes may be made in the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the inner compartment closure or cap may comprise a screw top, or a press-fitted or flip cap. Other changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.