Abstract:
A closure for a multi-chamber container can have a flow director device that will assist in the dispensing of the products from the multi-chamber tube in a number of product streams that are greater than the number of chambers in the container. This provides versatility in the dispensing of products from such tubes. By the use of several different closures with different flow patterns different products can be delivered in a number of patterns form the same container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the dispensing of a product from a tube container that has at least two chambers in streams greater than the number of chambers. More particularly, this invention relates to the dispensing of products from a multichamber tube in multiple streams of more than the number of chambers where the closure contains a flow director to flow the product in such multiple streams. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are various types of multichamber tube containers. These are usually of the type where the products are in a side-by-side longitudinal relationship or are located concentrically, one inside of another. The former type of a tube is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,894,115; U.S. Pat. No. 3,227,319; U.S. Pat. No. 3,506,159; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,437 and the latter type of a tube is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,699,532; U.S. Pat. No. 2,939,610 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,341. These primarily are dual chamber tubes that will dispense the products in the tubes in the same array in which they are in the tubes. That is, the tubes where two products are disposed in a side-by-side longitudinal relationship usually will dispense the products in two D-shaped streams, and the tubes where two products are in a concentric relationship usually will dispense the product in two concentric circles. An objective of this patent is to provide a way to flow the products from a dual chamber tube where the products are in a side-by-side longitudinal relationship in other than two D-shaped streams. 
     It is desired many times to improve the aesthetics of a product that is being dispensed from a dual chamber tube. As noted this will be in the form of two D-shaped streams of a tube container that has the products in a longitudinal side-by-side orientation. This was addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,420 where two streams from such a dual chamber tube are flowed in up to four different streams. This is accomplished by a flow director in the nozzle of a tube and which is a part of the shoulder of the tube. The flow director in this instance is attached directly to the center divider wall of the tube. A closure then is placed over the nozzle. Such a closure will have an unobstructed cylindrical path for the flow of the product from the nozzle. 
     A disadvantage in having the flow director as a part of the nozzle is that the tube making process and equipment then must be modified. The processes and equipment would have to be changed for each arrangement of product flow from the tube. This is burdensome and costly. During changeovers the tube making equipment is not being used. 
     It has been found that a flow director for the flow of two streams into a plurality of streams can be made a part of the closure and need not be a part of the tube shoulder. In this way the same tube can be used to produce many different product streams. Also it is more efficient to have an inventory of closures with different flow directors than tubes with different flow directors. In this regard this invention is an improvement over the multichamber tubes of U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,420. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a multi-channel closure for delivering products from a multichamber tube. The closure includes in a base portion a flow director for receiving the flow of products from each of the chambers of the multichamber tube and to deliver the products through the base portion of the closure in an array of segments greater than the number of tube chambers. The multichamber tube will have at least two longitudinal chambers with each chamber dispensing a product through the tube shoulder to a nozzle exit. The closure is attached to the exit of the tube nozzle with a first chamber of the tube delivering a first product to a first set of channels of said closure and a second chamber of the tube delivering a second product to a second set of channels of said closure. The first product and the second products then are delivered from the base portion of the closure to a point of use. 
     The flow director in the closure is such that each set of channels will receive a product from a chamber of the tube. There is a sufficient seal between the closure and the tube so that there is no mixing of the product from one chamber with that from another chamber until the exit from the base portion of the closure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the dual chamber tube with closure showing six different peripheral product streams. 
     FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the tube of FIG. 1 with the closure removed. 
     FIG. 3 is an expanded view of the upper part of the tube of FIG. 2 showing the internal tube dividing wall. 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the tube of FIG. 3 showing the nozzle exit. 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the closure of FIG. 1 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the closure of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the closure of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of FIG. 7 along line  8 — 8 . 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of FIG. 7 along line  9 — 9 . 
     FIG. 10 is a partial view of the nozzle of the closure of FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention with variations being within the scope of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1 shows tube  12  with a top closure  14  and a lower crimp seal  15 . This tube is a dual chamber tube that has two longitudinal side-by-side chambers. A divider wall  36  (FIG. 3) extends from the top of the tube to the crimp seal. The closure  14  has a flow director  55  (FIG. 5) which will flow the two products in the tube in a plurality of segments as shown in the dispensed products  20 ( a ) and  20 ( b ). These products  20 ( a ) and  20 ( b ) are shown in six segments. 
     The closure  14  is comprised of base  13  and lid  16 . The base has a nozzle  18  extending from deck  22 . This deck has a peripheral area  24  to accept the edge of wall  32  of lid  16 . A part of the lid latching mechanism is shown at  26 . Hinge  28  connects the lid to the base. This usually will be a living hinge. The lid also has recessed wall  35  which provides ledge  37  to assist in opening the closure. Incorporated into the lid is seal  30  on lid top wall  34  to seal the nozzle  18  of the base  13  when the lid is closed. 
     FIG. 2 shows the tube of FIG. 1 with the closure removed. This shows the tube shoulder  40  and tube nozzle  42 . The tube nozzle has an exit  44  and orienting recesses  46  which mate with orienting projections  50  on the closure. As an alternative the tube nozzle can have orienting projections, and the closure orienting recesses. Also a part of the tube nozzle is closure locking mechanism  48 . This consists of frustoconical wall  45  and recess  47  below this wall which functions as a locking ridge. 
     FIG. 3 shows the relationship of the tube chambers to the tube nozzle and tube nozzle exit. Tube longitudinal wall  36  extends up and into the tube nozzle  42  to form tube nozzle divider wall  38 . This extends to about the exit  44  of tube nozzle  42 . Depending on the structure of the closure this can be recessed in the nozzle, of equal height, or extend beyond the nozzle. The net result of this structure are separate chambers up through about the tube exit. Also shown in this view are two of the orienting recesses  46 . The structure of the tube nozzle exit is shown in more detail in FIG. 4 which shows a third orienting recess  46 . One such recess is sufficient, but with a plurality of recesses being preferred in automated packaging systems. 
     FIG. 5 shows a bottom plan view of closure  14 . This view shows the underside of deck  22 , peripheral seal area  24 , hinges  28  and lid  16  top wall  34 . Also shown in this view are orienting closure projections  50  that will mate with recesses  46  on the tube nozzle. In the alternative the projections can be on the tube. The divider wall  52  of the closure will seal with nozzle divider wall  38  so that the product streams do not mix until exiting the closure. The flow director  55  has channels  60  to deliver product  20 ( a ) and channels  62 , product  20 ( b ) (FIG.  1 ). 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the closure  14 . Shown here is base peripheral wall  13 , base deck  22 , closure nozzle  18  peripheral base seal area  24  and latch  26 . This base is attached to the lid  16  by hinges  28 . This lid has a peripheral wall  32 , top wall  34  and a closure nozzle seal ring  30 . The lid also has a recessed wall  35  to create a ledge  37  for gripping to open the closure. The exit of channels  60  and  62  of the flow director  55  to produce the product flow pattern of FIG. 1 is shown in this view and in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the closure. This shows the closure in more detail, and particularly the view of FIG.  6 . The edge  31  of the lid will mate with seal surface  24  of the base. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-section of the closure of FIG. 7 along line  8 — 8 . This view shows the flow director  55  in more detail. The features of the base and lid have been described in detail in the prior Figures. This view shows the relationship of divider wall  52  to channels  60  and  62  of the flow director  55 . “Projection  51  has an interfacing and locking fit with recess  47 ”. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 show the flow director  55  of FIG. 7 in more detail. This shows in flow director with center channels  62 . 
     The tube and the closure can be made from many different materials. The tube can be a laminated or blowmolded tube. The tube shoulder and nozzle can be formed from various plastic materials. The tube can be a multi-ply laminate while the tube shoulder and nozzle are constructed of a single plastic, usually a polyolefin such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The tube closure usually will be injection molded using a polyolefin such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Essentially any injection moldable plastic can be used to make the closures. 
     A wide range of products can be packaged and dispensed using this tube and closure. The products usually will be incompatible and need to be separated. They also may have different appearances which can be through the use of different colors and/or the incorporation of speckles or encapsulated droplets. As to appearance an objective is to give the product an enhanced visual effect. In the preferred embodiment shown the periphery of the extruded product will have six different segments. When the products are different in color there will be alternating segments of each color. 
     In use the products  20 ( a ) and  20 ( b ) are dispensed by opening the lid  16  on the closure  14  and squeezing tube  12  to dispense the product from each chamber of the tube through outlet channels  60  and  62 . One product that can be readily dispensed is a dentifrice. After dispensing, and the removal of the dispensed product, the lid is closed to maintain the freshness of the remaining products.