Abstract:
An ingredient delivery system is disclosed that provides a system for dispensing of one or two ingredients in a controlled fashion from a container. In one version the system provides a two-ingredient delivery system with a two-chamber container and a piercing sealing cap that allows ingredients sealed in the chambers of the containers to be stored and transported in a safe and uncontaminated fashion. When ready for use the seal can be broken with the piercing cap and the cap opened to dispense the ingredients in a controlled fashion from each chamber individually or from both at once without cross contamination. The system also provides mirror image bottles that have a unique connecting and interlocking feature and a method for fabricating the same.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present application claims priority under 35 USC §119 (e) form U.S. provisional application serial No. 60/304,611 filed Jul. 9, 2001 and entitled An Ingredient Delivery System. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to systems for delivering flowable ingredients and more particularly to an efficient and cost effective delivering system that allows for ease of storage, transportation and dispensing of consumable ingredients.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Systems for storing and delivering flowable products in small units for use by consumers have been around since ancient times. Ceramic and glass jars in use in ancient times are still in use today to deliver innumerable flowable ingredients used by consumers from dry flowable products like salt and sugar to liquid products such as mustard, ketchup, vinegar etc. The important features of all of these systems are being able to maintain freshness of the ingredient before and after first use. Corks secured by a wax seal were among the first attempts to provide a means for sealing the container to preserve freshness and the integrity of the contents of the container. The containers were also used to store the ingredients between use to protect and maintain freshness.  
           [0004]    In more recent times various plastic and paper container have come into use for the delivery of flowable consumer products. Simple cork tops have given way to more efficient and durable tops such as screw on plastic or metal tops. In turn may containers used to package flowable consumer products have pouring mechanisms to aid in the dispensing in a uniform and efficient manner the ingredients contained in the bottle or container. Quite often these containers have more than one compartment to hold two or more different ingredients that tend to be used together. One example are various dual containers used to sell and dispense ingredients often used with one another such as catsup and mustard for hamburgers and hot dogs or vinegar and oil for a salad dressing. Although the concept of a dual ingredient container is simple, actual design and manufacture of an inexpensive yet efficient and cost effectively fabricated dual ingredient container-dispenser-secure-shipping and storage container is challenging. In designing and manufacturing a consumer ingredient container a number of criteria must be met. First the container must be light weight yet durable, safely transport the ingredients to the point of sale without breaching the integrity of the container to protect freshness, be capable of being easily opened when the time comes to use the ingredients and be capable of repeated sealing and opening of the container to dispense the ingredients and provide for ease in dispensing in measured quantities.  
           [0005]    The last requirement that the container be easy and inexpensive to manufacture in view of the other requirements can be the most difficult to achieve. Often trade offs between ease of use and ease of manufacture have to be made to achieve these requirements in an acceptable manner. The technology of flowable ingredient containers is extensive. There are a number of different patents on various containers including single chamber containers and containers with two or more chambers for storing and dispensing two or more different ingredients. Some of them have pour spouts that allow the user to only dispense one ingredient at a time others have dispenses that allow for the dispensing of the contents of each chamber individually or at the same time from both chambers. However, all of the disclosed systems have various deficiencies that make them inefficient and/or are commercially unacceptable. U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,440 discloses a two-compartment container made from two compartments joined together. It also includes a dispensing device that purportedly allows the dispensing of ingredients from either of the compartments individually or from both at the same time. However, the dispensing system relies on a complicated rotating disk mechanism that requires the precise alignment of two abutting disks in order to position openings in each of the disks to selectively dispense an ingredient in one or both chambers. The system is so complicated that it is subject to malfunctioning and allows for the contamination of the ingredients from one compartment with that in the other once used. The system also lacks an efficient and effective means for joining the compartments for use. U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,819 on the other hand discloses a dual chamber bottle for dispensing two different ingredients. However, this invention, given the design of the dispenser only allows for the dispensing of one ingredient at a time.  
           [0006]    An extensive number of other ingredient containers with dispensing devices also exist which have the capability of storing ingredients in a sealed state for storage and transportation. The dispensers on these containers sometimes use a seal over the mouth of the container that separates the dispensing device from the ingredients in the container and a piercing mechanism within the dispensing device to pierce the seal to initiate use. However, although all of the above mentioned concepts have been in use in one form or another throughout the later half of the twentieth century if not before then, to the present no one has successfully designed a container for flowable ingredients that can provide for secure shipment of the container and ingredients without loss of the integrity of the ingredients in the container. A system that will allow for ease of opening and breaking of the seal, repeated dispensing of measured portions of the ingredients in the container, without contamination while maintaining freshness and the integrity of the ingredients. A system that is also easy and economical to manufacture and use without being subject to malfunctioning and that is thus durable, applicable to a broad range of uses and at the same time aesthetically pleasing.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0007]    Thus, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an ingredient container delivery system that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. A system that will allow for the secure shipment of the container with ingredient or ingredients in a sealed fashion that maintains the integrity of the ingredients and that allows for the container to be unsealed and repeatedly used to dispense the ingredients in a measured fashion. A system that protects the ingredients from contamination during storage when not in use. A system that is also capable of allowing for the storage and dispensing of two different ingredients separately or together without cross contamination. The system also has the objective of providing an efficient and economical system and method of manufacturing an ingredient delivery system and one that is immune to malfunctioning.  
           [0008]    The invention provides these and other features by providing an ingredient delivery system consisting of two symmetrical mirror image interlocking bottles. Each of the bottles has facing joinable surfaces with complementary raised and depressed areas on the joinable surface for positioning and joining the bottles together to form a single two-compartment container. Each of the mirror image bottles can be formed from the same mould. When joined together the open ends of the two mirror image bottles are adjacent to each other and are seal able with a piercable membrane.  
           [0009]    In and additional aspect of this invention it provides a five piece-piercing cap attaches to a receiving thread, which is formed adjacent to the outside of the adjacent open ends of the joined mirror image bottles. The five part-piercing cap consists of 1) threaded cap portion, 2) puncture cap portion, 3) a removable retaining ring and 4) two slidable closure caps.  
           [0010]    In an additional aspect of the invention the threaded cap portion attaches to the treads adjacent to the open ends of the mirror image bottles when they are joined to form the container. The piercing cap portion with two parallel conduits snaps onto the threaded cap portion and when attached to the threaded cap portion, each of the parallel conduits have a first end which projects down towards an open end of one of the bottles through openings in the threaded cap portion. The piercing cap also has one or more receptacles for receiving a retaining ring to hold the piercing cap in a position where first end of each of the parallel conduits are positioned just above the piercable membrane covering the open ends of the joined mirror image bottles. Upon removal of the retaining ring the piercing cap can be forced down to allow the piercing ends of each of the parallel conduits to cut through the membrane on the open ends of the bottles. Each of the parallel conduits has a second end with separate slidable closure cap portions that when positioned in a closed position, seal the top end of the respective second end of the parallel conduit to which it is attached. The slidable caps, when in the open position, with the retaining ring removed and the membrane cut allow an ingredient in the bottle over which the respective conduit is located to flow out through that conduit. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The invention will be better understood by an examination of the following description, together with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the complete system of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 provides a view of the two chambers that make up the container portion of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of dual nozzle of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the dual nozzle along line I-I of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is another cross sectional view of the dual nozzle with one of the sliding caps in the open position;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is another exploded view of the bottle of the present invention; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is an exploded view of nozzle version of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 depicts symmetrical interlocking bottle  21  of the present invention. FIG. 2 depicts the two compartments  23 A and  23 B that make up bottle  21  of the invention. Sections  23 A and  23 B are mirror images of one another to create a complete two-compartment bottle system. Both sections  23 A and  23 B of bottle  21  are totally sealed containers except for top opening  24 A and  24 B in each. Both bottle  21  sections  23 A and  23 B have a rib like formation  25 A and  25 B. Rib like section  25 A is depressed and rib like section  25 B is raised. Since each bottle  21  section  23 A and  23 B are mirror images of each other rib  25 B of one section fits into rib  25 A of the other section which thereby allows the sections  23 A and  23 B to form an interlocking unit that makes up bottle  21 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2A depicts another version of the two bottles that form the dual compartment container when joined. In bottle  28  A and  28 B have mutual shaped joinable surfaces  30  A and  30 B. In FIG. 2A the joinable surface  30 B can only be seen in outline because of the view of bottle  28 B however it is complementary to the surface  30 A such that they form a tight and snug connection when joined. The bottles shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A can be connected by an adhesive on their joinable surfaces; however, in the preferred embodiment the bottles will be held together by a shrink-wrap covering of a plastic type of material that can also act as the label of the container formed by the joined bottles.  
         [0021]    In the preferred embodiment the bottle is constructed of polyprophelene (High Density Plastic) or similar material. Also, in the preferred embodiment the bottle is constructed using a combination blow molding injection method of construction. However, different materials and methods can be used to achieve the same results.  
         [0022]    Nozzle  26  (FIG. 3) is composed of a 5-piece piercing cap injection system. From the bottom of the illustration induction-lining  27  is halved in order to seal both compartments  23 A and  23 B at their openings  24 A and  24 B respectively. Threaded cap  29  is fastened to bottle  21 . Snap on piercing cap  31  sits inside the threaded cap  29  with retaining ring  33  separating the two. Retaining ring  33  fits into the two holes  35 A and  35 B on the piercing cap  31 . Piercing cap  31  has cylindrical conduits  36 A and  36 B that pass through the top planer structure  36  of cap  31 . Conduits  36 A and  36 B have lower sections  38 A and  38 B respectively, that are formed into round hollow piercing points. Sliding split caps  41 A and  41 B attach to the top portions of conduits  36 A and  36 B that project up out of piercing cap  31 .  
         [0023]    To use the container  21  when filled with a flow able substance, the consumer removes retaining ring  33  in order to snap the piercing cap  31  onto the threaded cap  29 . The consumer does so by pushing down piercing cap  31  which in turn causes the two needle type pieces  38 A and  38 B on the lower side of the piercing cap  31  to move through openings  39 A and  39 B of the threaded cap  29  and thereby penetrate the induction liner  27  attached to the bottle  21 .  
         [0024]    Each sliding cap  41 A and  41 B moves up and down independently or both together for actuating their use together or independently. Moving nozzle  41 A or  41 B up opens up the respective conduit  36 A or  36 B on which that nozzle sits to thereby allow ingredients contained in one of the compartments  23 A or  23 B of the bottle  21  to flow out. Likewise moving either sliding cap  41 A or  41 B down closes the conduit over which they are positioned to seal closed the chamber below. Flanges  45 A and  45 B that surround conduits  36 A and  36 B are provide a snap point for movement of nozzles  41 A and  41 B the closed position  47 A (FIG. 6) and open position  47 B.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 provides a cross sectional view of five piece nozzle  26  along line I of FIG. 1. Retaining ring  33  is in the shipping position so that piercing ends  38 A and  38 B of conduits  36 A and  36 B are securely held above induction liner seal  27 . However, as depicted in FIG. 5 when retaining ring  33  is removed nozzle  26  can be depressed forcing piercing tips  38 A and  38 B to cut through induction liner  27  to allow a flow able material in either chamber  23 A or  23 B to flow out through conduit  36 A or  36 B when the appropriate side of nozzle  26  is opened.  
         [0026]    As depicted in FIG. 5 material contained in either chamber  23 A or  23 B can be removed from that chamber by putting the respective cap  41 A or  341 B in the open position. As depicted in FIG. 5, slide cap  41  B is in the open position and slide cap  41 A is in the closed position. In the open position slide cap  41  B provides and open passage  51  through which material in chamber  23 B can be caused to flow. Likewise when slide cap  41 A is placed in the open position material in chamber  23 A can be caused to flow through a like open passage. However, in the closed position as  41 A is currently positioned the passage is closed off by abutment  53 A. A similar abutment  53 B is positioned on the other side but since slide cap  41 B has been moved up the open position open passage  51  B has been created.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 is an exploded view of another version of the piercing cap or cover  71 . The cover  71  has four parts. A base cap  73  which can be detachably connected to a container  74 , a piercing cap portion  75  which, in the preferred embodiment snaps onto base cap portion  73  and a top portion that connects to the piercing cap portion. Base cap portion has a hole  79  in its center top and two spacing projections  81 . Piercing cap portion  75  has a conduit  83  and spacer slots  85 . Top cap portion  77  connects to the second end  88  of conduit  83 . Seal or membrane  89  covers the mouth  90  of container  74 .  
         [0028]    When piecing cap portion  75  is connected to base cap portion  73  conduit  83  projects down through the opening  79  in base cap portion  73 . When spacers  81  separate base cap portion  73  and piercing cap portion  75  the first end  87  of conduit  83  remains positioned above seal  89  out of contact with seat  89 . When piercing cap portion  75  is rotated about base cap portion  73  and spacers  81  are lined up with spacer slots  85  piercing cap portion  75  can be pushed down to contact the first side  91  of base cap portion  73  and thereby cause first end  87  of piercing cap portion  75  to cut through seal or membrane  89 . Top cap portion  77  is rotatably and slidably connected to the second end  88  of conduit  83 . By rotating and sliding top cap portion  77  ingredients in container  74  can be forced from container  74  after seal  89  has been pierced by the first end of conduit  83 .  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 8 and 9 show two different exploded view of another version of the piercing cap of the present invention. In this version the mechanism used to keep the cap portion separate from the piercing cap portion before use to prevent the piercing ends of the conduits from cutting the membrane are a key flange on the lower interior surface of the piercing cap portion and a key way or slot on the cap portion. When the key flange and the key way are not lined up with each other the key flange keeps the interior lower surface of the piercing cap separated from the top of the cap portion. This in turn keeps the lower cutting edges of the conduit out contact with the membrane and prevents them from cutting the membrane. When the piercing cap is rotated to position the flange key above the flange slot the piercing cap can be pushed down and the lower or first ends of the conduits will pierce the membrane. The caps also have an interlocking mechanism that causes will securely hold the piercing cap and cap portion together after the membrane is cut or pieced by the lower end of the conduits. This mechanism consists of a raised abutment or projection on the top of the cap portion that fits into a receiving slot on the piercing cap portion. Once joined a flange on the end of the abutment or projection causes the piercing cap and cap portion to interconnect as depicted in FIG. 9A. The cap portion in a preferred embodiment also has a center clip that fits into a receptacle in the piercing cap portion to hold it in position.  
         [0030]    The membrane in the preferred embodiment is called an induction liner and when the piercing cap is forced down to cause the lower ends of the conduits  135  to pierce the membrane the conduits and membrane form a seal as depicted in FIG. 10. The seal is keep permanent by the interlocking mechanism described in the preceding paragraph. The liner in the preferred in embodiment is made up of three layers. It consists of a central foil layer  137  generally of aluminum or similar material. This gives it strength and structure. A layer of a plastic like material  139  is formed on the aluminum on the side of the membrane that faces the ingredients in the bottles when the membrane or induction layer is placed over the ends of the bottle to seal them. On the other side of the foil  137  a gel layer is formed such food grade silicon that facilitates the forming of the seal. In the version depicted the piercing end of the conduits are a slanted beveled pointed hollow tube end. However, other variations are possible such as a hollow cylindrical point with and opening to allow passage of ingredients from the bottles after the seal is made.  
         [0031]    Use of food grade silicon or similar material allows the system to be used with human food products. As those skilled in the are will appreciate the system can also be used for delivery and use of hair shampoo and conditioner or a wide variety of other flowable materials. This can be dry flowable materials, such as salt and peper, as well as liquid. It can also be appreciated after a review of the above specification that the seal the system creates between the containers by the permanent connection of the piercing ends of the conduits and the induction liner prevents cross contamination of the product.  
         [0032]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made to it without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.