Abstract:
A multi-chamber container comprises a first container for receiving a first product component and a second container for receiving a second product component, the containers being rotationally coupled with one another and each comprising a communication opening for the mutual exchange of the products. Moreover, a closing device is provided for simultaneously closing the two communication openings, the closing device comprising an engaging device for introducing the rotational movement of one container into the closing device, and the closing device further comprising guide devices which are coupled to the other container, such that upon rotational movement the closing device is moved into a position of releasing both communication openings.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of International Application PCT/EP99/03220, filed May 11, 1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a multi-chamber container in which individual product components can be kept ready in separate containers and in a state where they are isolated from one another and can be intermixed for the purpose of use and can be discharged in their mixed state. 
     DE-A-37 22 371 discloses a double-chamber container system in which two separate containers are provided for the consumer, each of the containers containing a component of a mixed product. The two containers are assembled for mixing the individual components, each of the containers being provided for this purpose with a communication opening that is closed by a cover of its own. Before the two containers are assembled, the consumer must first remove the cover of the lower container. This lower container is then screwed onto the other container, with the cover of the upper container being simultaneously opened and the product components being subsequently mixable. Apart from the fact that the handling of the known two-component container is troublesome because of the opening and closing operations to be performed by the consumer, there is also the risk that the consumer inadvertently unscrews the container that is now containing the mixed product, which leads to an uncontrolled escape of the mixed product. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to simplify the general handling of a multi-chamber container and to increase handling safety. 
     This object is achieved by a multi-chamber container comprising at least one first container for receiving a first product component and a second container for receiving a second product component. The two containers are rotationally coupled with one another and are each provided with a communication opening for the mutual exchange of products. Furthermore, there is provided a closing device for simultaneously closing the two communication openings. The closing device comprises an engaging device for introducing the rotational movement of one container into the closing device. Furthermore, the closing device comprises guide devices, which are coupled to the other container directly or indirectly. They are coupled such that upon a rotational movement of the closing device the device is moved into a position releasing both communication openings. This multi-chamber container is made available to the consumer in its already fully mounted state, so that the consumer need no longer assemble the individual containers. The containers need just be rotated relative to one another for mixing the components, with the communication openings of the containers that are rotated relative to one another being opened at the same time. 
     This makes handling much easier for the supply containers in which individual product components have to be stored separately until use. Moreover, a uniform outer appearance is achieved with the already assembled multi-chamber container, whereby user acceptance is also improved. 
     The solution of the invention is not limited to multi-chamber containers having two separate containers, but may cover any desired number of containers coupled in a corresponding manner according to the described concept of the invention. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the closing device comprises a first sealing section for closing the one communication opening and a second sealing section for closing the second communication opening. The two sealing sections are integrally coupled with one another by a tapered connecting section. As a result, an air cushion is formed in the area between the communication openings, the air cushion counteracting a diffusion exchange of the product components past the closing device. Hence, any premature reaction of the product components with one another can be avoided in a reliable manner, resulting in long durability for the product components in their separated state. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment, an intermediate member, which is coupled with the one container for rotation therewith and is rotatable relative to the other container, is arranged in the communication portion between the communication openings. To this end, the one container and the intermediate member have provided thereon coupling elements which ensure engagement in the rotational direction, but permit axial displacement relative to one another. The coupling elements are preferably designed as a toothing. It is thereby possible to assemble the two containers through simple axial attachment without the need for a relative rotational movement between the containers, which would be more troublesome under manufacturing aspects. 
     According to a further development of the invention, engaging elements are provided on the intermediate member and on the one container for the mutual axial definition of the position. Preferably, the engaging elements are designed in the manner of ramps, said ramps being inclined to promote a first sliding movement of the engaging elements one on top of the other and to prevent a re-withdrawal movement. It is thereby possible in an advantageous manner with respect to manufacture to achieve an axial locking between the two containers at the end of the attaching operation, which locking, in addition, can no longer be undone by the consumer. Any undesired separation and thus an uncontrolled release of the mixed product is thereby prevented in a reliable manner. 
     According to a further advantageous development of the invention, the intermediate member is provided on its end facing the other container with a surrounding sealing lip, which sealingly rests on an inner wall of a communication portion. Since the seal is directly arranged on the product, one obtains a substantially smooth inner chamber which, in contrast to a rough inner chamber, helps to exploit the mixed product in an improved manner when the container is being emptied. Moreover, an undesired escape of mixed product between the intermediate member and the corresponding container is efficiently prevented. 
     Further advantageous developments of the invention are described below and in the dependent claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an embodiment which is presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the invention including two containers, with the upper end of the upper container being just sketched; 
     FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view illustrating the part of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in the exploded state; and 
     FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of the part of the embodiment illustrated in detail in FIG. 1, in the assembled state. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The multi-chamber container according to the embodiment comprises a first container  1  for receiving a first product component and a second container  2  for receiving a second product component The two containers are arranged one above the other with respect to a longitudinal axis of the multi-chamber container and are supported relative to one another via a coupling member  3 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the two containers  1 ,  2  and the coupling member  3  have an elliptical shape when viewed in cross-section, their outer surface being in flush alignment for achieving a uniform appearance. However, the containers and the coupling member may have any other cross-sectional shape; for instance, all of them may be provided with a circular cross-section. 
     At its end facing the other container  2 , the container  1  comprises a communication opening  11  and a neck  12  for connection to the coupling member  3 . In the illustrated embodiment, a threaded connection  13 / 33  is provided for obtaining a firm connection between the first container  1  and the coupling member  3 , but the two members may just as well be locked in anti-rotational fashion. 
     The coupling member comprises a sleeve section  31  which extends into the communication opening  11  of the first container  1  and which is connected to an outer sleeve section  32  via a transition section which receives the neck  12  of the first container. In principle, the first container  1  and the coupling member  3  may also be shaped as an integral one-part piece. A two-part design, however, offers technical advantages with respect to manufacture. 
     At its end facing the second container, the sleeve section  31  of the coupling member  3  comprises a stop collar  36  for support on a substantially horizontally extending wall section  25  of the second container  2 . The second container  2  is rotationally movable relative to the coupling member  3 . 
     On its side oriented towards the first container the second container  2  has a sleeve-like projection  22  including a communication opening  21  which extends into the sleeve section  31  of the coupling member  3 . 
     An engaging device is externally provided on the sleeve-like section  22  of the second container  2  in the form of a toothing which allows engagement in the rotational direction about the longitudinal axis and displacement in the axial direction. A ramp-like annular projection  24 , the ramp of which rises in the direction of the second container  2  and has an undercut substantially formed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, is externally provided underneath the toothing  23  on the sleeve section  21 . 
     Furthermore, a sleeve-like intermediate member  5  is inserted into the sleeve section  31  of the coupling member  3 . This intermediate member  5  is supported in the axial direction of the second container  2  relative to the coupling member  3  and is provided at its end facing the first container  1  with a surrounding sealing lip  55  which sealingly rests on an inner wall  34  of the sleeve section  31 , resulting in a relatively smooth conclusion in the transition area between the communication openings  11  and  21 . To achieve an elastic contact force on the inner wall  34  of the sleeve section  31 , the sealing lip section  55  is slightly curved outwards, resulting in an annular intermediate chamber  56  underneath the sealing edge. 
     The sealing lip section  55  is followed in the direction of the second container  2  by a sleeve section  57 , which extends between the sleeve section  21  of the second container  2  and the sleeve section  31  of the coupling member  3 , and slidingly rests with its outer wall on the inner wall  34  of the sleeve section  31 . On the inside, this sleeve section  57  comprises coupling elements, preferably a toothing  51  for engagement with the toothing  23  of the second container  2 . Furthermore, an engagement element, preferably in the form of an inner projection  52 , is provided on the sleeve section  57  of the intermediate member  5 . This projection  52  is of a surrounding type and has a substantially trapezoidal shape when viewed in cross-section. Thanks to its construction on the end of the sleeve section  57  that is oriented towards the second container, said projection  52  can easily slide over the ramp-like annular projection  24  of the sleeve member  21  when the two containers  1  and  2  are assembled. On account of the undercut of the annular projection  24 , it is extremely difficult to sever said connection, so that during normal use of the multi-chamber container, the containers  1  and  2  cannot be separated by the consumer. 
     Furthermore, the intermediate member  5  comprises a sealing section which in the dosed state sealingly extends between a closing stopper  4 , which will be described in more detail hereinafter and the sleeve section  21  of the second container  2 . The sealing section is of a surrounding type and has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile whose two arms extend into the sleeve section  21 . The outer arm  54  of the sealing section seals the second container  2  to the outside due to an elastic contact on an inner wall section of the sleeve section  21 , while the radially inner arm  53  of the U-shaped profile elastically rests on the closing stopper  4  in the closed state. 
     Furthermore, the sleeve section  31  of the coupling member  3  receives the closing stopper  4 , which has already been mentioned. This closing stopper has a tapered, substantially cylindrically shaped center section  41  which integrally connects the axially spaced-apart sealing sections  42  and  43  to each other for closing the corresponding communication openings  11  and  21 . The first sealing section  42  is essentially pot-shaped and provided on its radial outer circumference with a thread  45  which in the closed state is in engagement with a corresponding thread  35  on the sleeve section  31  to seal the first container  1 . The second sealing section  43  on the opposite end projects into the sleeve section  21  of the second container  2  and sealingly rests with its radial outer surfaces on the surrounding arm  53 . Since the two sealing sections  42  and  43  are clearly spaced apart in axial direction, one obtains a diffusion barrier in the overflow region inside the sleeve section  31 , in particular due to the air cushion formed around the tapered section  41 , with the diffusion barrier considerably reducing a molecular exchange between the product components (such an exchange being never entirely avoidable in plastic seals), whereby durability of the product components in the separated state can be considerably increased. 
     Furthermore, the closing device  4  comprises an engaging device, which in the illustrated embodiment is formed by engaging projections  44  that radially extend in star-shaped fashion. Radially inwardly extending wing-like projections  58  are preferably provided in an identical number also on the intermediate member  5 , the projections  58  being arranged above the sleeve section  57  and also above the sealing section  53 ,  54  of the intermediate member  5 . A rotational movement which has been applied to the intermediate member  5  is transmitted by these wing-like projections  58  by means of the engaging projections  44  onto the closing stopper  4 , so that the stopper is screwed out of the thread  35  of the coupling member  3 . During the accompanying axial movement of the closing device  5  and the subsequent release of the device, the communication openings  11  and  21  are released, whereby the product components can be mixed. 
     In particular in storage containers having a non-circular cross-sectional shape, the possible relative movement between the second container  2  and the first container  1  is limited in such a manner that a flush outer contour of the multi-chamber container is again obtained after release of the closing stopper  4  and after the product components have been mixed. Preferably, an irrevocable locking possibility is additionally provided for in this position, so that the user can no longer perform a rotational return movement after the mixing process has been carried out. Thus, if corresponding marks are provided on the containers, the user can see whether the mixing operation has already been started so as to distinguish a multi-chamber container with an already mixed product from one in which the product has not been mixed yet. 
     For this purpose, the lower end of the sleeve section  31  has provided thereat an engaging cam  37  which cooperates in the above-described manner with a groove  59  provided in the corresponding region of the intermediate member  5 . 
     In the same manner as described above, one or more containers can be mounted in the same manner on the multi-chamber container which in the embodiment consists of two containers, so that mixtures consisting of three or more components can also be mixed in case of need. Liquid and paste-like compounds, which may additionally contain solid particles, can here be used as products. 
     All components of the multi-chamber container can be produced as plastic injection-molded parts, to which end polyethylene or PVC is used, for example. 
     Assembly and filling of the multi-chamber container according to the embodiment will now be briefly described. 
     During assembly the intermediate member  5  is first inserted into the sleeve section  31  in the coupling member  3 , in FIG. 1 from above. The closing device  4  is subsequently screwed in, to which end the engaging opening  47  is provided as a mounting aid for the attachment of a hexagon, for example. Subsequently, the upper container  1  can firmly be screwed on. In the end, the subassembly consisting of the previously mentioned members is mounted on the already filled second container  2  by performing an axial movement, the engaging projections  52  of the intermediate member  5  snapping over the ramp-like annular projection  24  of the second container, whereby the said subassembly and the second container are undetachably connected to each other. 
     In this state in which the filled multi-chamber container is normally offered to the consumer, the closing device is in the closing position, so that the product components are separated from one another. 
     During use the first and second containers are rotated relative to one another. In such a case the toothing  23  of the second container  2  transmits the rotational movement across the toothing  51  to the intermediate member  5  which slidingly rotates on the inner wall  34  of the sleeve section  31 . The rotational movement is further transmitted by the wing-like projections  58  onto the closing device  4  which is axially moved upwards due to its threaded toothing  45  with the sleeve section  31  until the communication openings  11  and  21  are released, whereupon the product is mixed. The two containers are held in the rotated position by the groove/cam arrangement  37 / 59 , and a rotational return movement is no longer possible. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.