Abstract:
A cylindrical vessel comprising a dividing wall extending transversely across the cylindrical vessel separating the vessel into two portions, wherein the wall has sealable apertures therethrough.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a partioned vessel. Specifically, this invention relates to a cylindrical vessel having a transverse dividing wall therein. More particularly, this invention relates to a cylindrical vessel having a dividing wall that can be opened within the vessel whether the vessel itself is opened or closed. By having a vessel with such a novel construction, either separated liquids can be individually provided or a mixed liquid can be provided prior to opening the vessel. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    There are many multi-sectional containers. Some multi-sectional containers have rupturable internal walls for mixing the separated contents therein. However, none of these have a dividing wall that is controllably openable from outside the container without opening the container. This affords providing either separated liquids or a controlled mixture of the previously separated liquids prior to opening the container. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is now provided with this invention an improved vessel for providing separated liquids. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to one aspect of the invention, an embodiment of a cylindrical vessel is disclosed. The cylindrical vessel comprises a dividing wall extending transversely across the cylindrical vessel separating the vessel into two portions. The wall has sealable apertures therethrough, and the vessel has an openable lid at both ends. 
         [0007]    As will be appreciated by those persons skilled in the art, a major advantage provided by the present invention is to provide a vessel having separated compartments that can be provided with communication therebetween. Additional objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description. 
         [0008]    The method and apparatus of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed discussion of specific embodiments and the attached figures which illustrate and exemplify such embodiments. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    A specific embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a partially cut-away orthogonal view of an embodiment of a vessel showing an embodiment of a dividing wall therein. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an orthogonal view of an embodiment of a dividing wall. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment of a dividing wall. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    The following preferred embodiment as exemplified by the drawings is illustrative of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention as encompassed by the claims of this application. A vessel with a dividing therein apparatus for creating separated portions therein disclosed herein. 
         [0014]    The vessel  1 , as illustrated generally in  FIG. 1 , is an orthogonal view revealing a dividing wall  2  therein. The dividing wall may be made of a plurality of materials, for example, metal, plastic, etc. and is preferably made of the same material as the vessel itself. The dividing wall  2  extends transversely across the vessel separating the vessel into two portions, a first portion  4  and a second portion  6 . The first and second portions may have the same volume or different volumes depending on the particular manufacturing requirements. Both the first portion and the second portion of the vessel has an openable lid  8  and another openable lid  10  at the ends of the vessel. The openable lids may be of the pop-top type. 
         [0015]    The dividing wall  2  includes at least one aperture  12  therethrough. A plurality of apertures may also be provided. The aperture  12  is configured so as to seal or open as controlled by the user. In one embodiment, as specifically shown in  FIG. 2 , but not to scale, the dividing wall  2  has a first dividing wall section  14  and a second dividing wall section  16 . As illustrated, both the first dividing wall section  14  and the second dividing wall section  16  have at least one aperture  12  therethrough. A plurality of apertures may also be provided in each dividing wall section. The first and second dividing wall sections are configured to rotate with respect to each other so that the apertures in each of the dividing wall sections may be placed in alignment or, alternatively, placed out of alignment. When the dividing wall sections are moved toward an alignment position as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , communication may be achieved between the first and second portions of the vessel to create an open position. When the dividing wall sections are moved away from an alignment position, communication may be prevented between the first and second portions of the vessel to create a closed position. 
         [0016]    The dividing wall may have a mating element  18  for mating the first dividing wall section with the second dividing wall section. Such a mating element may be on either side of the dividing wall, be parts of both walls, or be inbetween each of the dividing wall sections. The mating element as shown in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , may be a circumferential fitting sealably joining the first and second dividing wall sections and may be in the form of male and female elements configured for mating with each other. By having the mating element  18  so configured the first and second dividing wall sections may rotate with respect to each other as indicated by the arrows labeled right and left in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0017]    The amount of rotation may be indicated to the user by indicia  19 A and  19 B that may be placed on the outer portion of the vessel. Such indicia may be a vertical line that is aligned when the apertures are aligned and is out of alignment when the apertures are out of alignment. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the amount of displacement of the alignment of the apertures is demonstrated by the misalignment of the indicia. Alternatively, as understood by those skilled in the art, indicia may be provided that indicates the two portions of the vessel are sealed from each other and any displacement of the indicia from that position indicates that communication between the portions is effected. 
         [0018]    In the embodiment specifically shown in  FIG. 3 , the first dividing wall section  14  has a first mating element  18 A and the second dividing wall  16  has a second mating element  18 B. Mating elements  18 A and  18 B extend at least a portion of the circumference of the dividing wall and may extend continually around the entire circumference of the dividing wall. In this embodiment, each dividing wall section  14  and  16  has a corresponding element with the other. The first mating element  18 A has a female housing  20 A that mates with a male element  22 A. The male element  22 A extends from the second dividing wall section  16 . In a reciprocal manner, the second mating element  18 B of the second dividing wall section  16  has a female housing  20 B that mates with a male element  22 B. The male element  22 B extends from the first dividing wall section  14 . The dividing wall may also include a stop so that 360° rotation is not possible. 
         [0019]    The dividing wall shown in  FIG. 3  illustrates one manner of attaching the dividing wall to the wall of the two portions of the vessel. The first and second dividing wall sections  14  and  16  each have a circumferential fitting  24  and  26  that respectively house the wall of the two portions of the vessel  28  and  30 . As is well known to those skilled in the art, the connection may be force fit, crimped, or preferably, be connected by welding the first fitting  24  with the vessel wall portion  28  and by welding the second fitting  26  to the other vessel wall portion  30 . 
         [0020]    Extending about the vessel and connected to the first and second dividing wall sections may be a frictional surface  32  and  34  to facilitate rotation by the user. 
         [0021]    In operation, the vessel may be provided with contents sealed in each of its two portions. The contents in each of the portions may be different than one another. A user of the vessel thus filled, may choose to access each portion of the vessel with the contents unmixed by alternately opening each end of the vessel with the openable lids. Alternatively, prior to opening either of the lids, the user may choose first to mix the contents of the vessel. In this case, the user may grip the frictional surfaces  32  and  34  of each portion of the vessel and rotate the two portions with respect to each other thereby moving the dividing wall from its closed, sealed position to an open position in which communication has now been provided between the portions of the vessel through an aperture of the dividing wall. Mixing of the two contents may now be achieved before the vessel itself is opened. 
         [0022]    Although the particular embodiments shown and described above will prove to be useful in many applications in the container art to which the present invention pertains, further modifications of the present invention will occur to persons skilled in the art. All such modifications are deemed to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.