U.S. patent application number 13/694375 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-30 for dual compartment package for dispensing fluids.
The applicant listed for this patent is Lawrence Fogel. Invention is credited to Lawrence Fogel.
Application Number | 20130134161 13/694375 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48465880 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130134161 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fogel; Lawrence |
May 30, 2013 |
Dual compartment package for dispensing fluids
Abstract
The invention relates to a dual compartment package for
dispensing of fluids, the package having oppositely disposed end
portions, and a central portion, the package having a first
compartment in one end portion, and a second compartment in the
other end portion, each compartment having a proximal and distal
end relative to the central portion of the package, with an
aperture positioned at the distal end of each compartment, and one
or more partitions separating the compartments at their proximal
ends. The package permits convenient storage and dispensing of two
fluid components intended for use together, for example,
condiments, or cosmetic products.
Inventors: |
Fogel; Lawrence; (Sarasota,
FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Fogel; Lawrence |
Sarasota |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48465880 |
Appl. No.: |
13/694375 |
Filed: |
November 27, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61629899 |
Nov 30, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/23.83 ;
220/504 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 21/0209 20130101;
B65D 21/0204 20130101; B65D 25/04 20130101; B65D 11/04 20130101;
B65D 1/04 20130101; B65D 81/3205 20130101; B65D 21/0205 20130101;
B65D 1/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/23.83 ;
220/504 |
International
Class: |
B65D 21/02 20060101
B65D021/02; B65D 25/04 20060101 B65D025/04 |
Claims
1. A package having oppositely disposed end portions, and a central
portion, the package having a first compartment in one end portion,
and a second compartment in the other end portion, each compartment
having a proximal and distal end relative to the central portion of
the package, with an aperture positioned at the distal end of each
compartment, and one or more partitions separating the compartments
at their proximal ends.
2. The package of claim 1 which is a single container comprising
two compartments separated by a transverse partition in the central
portion of the package.
3. The package of claim 2 in which the transverse partition is
substantially flat.
4. The package of claim 2 in which the partition is integral to the
container.
5. The package of claim 1 in which each aperture comprises a
closure.
6. The package of claim 5 in which the closure is substantially
flat.
7. The package of claim 5 in which the package can rest stably on
either closure.
8. The package of claim 1 which comprises separate containers at
each oppositely disposed end portion, each container having a
compartment defined by a top wall at the distal end, a bottom wall
at the proximal end and sidewalls, the bottom walls of each
container abutting at the central portion of the package to form
partitions between the compartments.
8. The package of claim 8 in which the bottom walls of each
container are substantially flat.
9. The package of claim 3 in which each aperture comprises a
closure.
10. The package of claim 9 in which the closure is substantially
flat.
11. The package of claim 9 which is capable of resting stably on
either closure.
12. A package having oppositely disposed end portions, and a
central portion, the package having a first compartment in one end
portion, and a second compartment in the other end portion, each
compartment having a proximal and distal end relative to the
central portion of the package, with an aperture positioned at the
distal end of each compartment, and one or more partitions
separating the compartments at their proximal ends, wherein the
compartments are in separate containers, each container having a
compartment defined by a top wall at the distal end, a bottom wall
at the proximal end and sidewalls, the bottom walls of each
container abutting at the central portion of the package to form
partitions between the compartments, the containers being affixed
to each other by way of one or more male protrusions on one bottom
wall interlocking with one or more female recesses on the abutting
bottom wall.
13. The package of claim 12 in which the containers are affixed by
engagement of one or more male lugs with aligned female recesses to
form an interlocking interference fit.
14. The package of claim 12 in which the containers are affixed by
engagement of at least two male lugs with aligned female recesses
to form an interlocking interference fit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/629,899, filed Nov. 30, 2011, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The field of the invention relates to packaging for holding
and dispensing multiple fluid components. More specifically, the
field of the invention relates to a package containing two fluids
intended to be used together but maintained and dispensed
separately.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is not uncommon for certain fluid commodities, such as
condiments, or various cosmetic items, to be used at substantially
the same time as part of their routine use. For example, oil and
vinegar are commonly utilized together in preparing salads or other
food items; similarly, shampoo and conditioner are typically used
together during a morning shower. In the most common situation, the
different items are packaged separately in individual bottles or
containers. The combination of two such related products in a
single package for ease of use and dispensing is a considerable
improvement, and has been frequently described, for example, in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,193,521, 5,899,936, 4,148,417 and 7,665,631. Each
of these packages or dispensers provides for a unit container
having dual compartments in which the fluid components are
contained and separated by a wall or partition. Typically, the
partition in the package is placed longitudinally, and the dual
compartments are arranged side by side within the package. Each
compartment will usually have a separate aperture or opening to
permit individual, or if desired by the user, simultaneous,
dispensing of the separate fluid components. In other known
embodiments, the dual compartments are actually separately formed
containers or bottles that are ultimately joined, in one manner or
another, to form a single "package" having two separate but
abutting compartments, each with a separate aperture. Examples of
such arrangements are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.
7,516,860, 5,316,159 and US published application 2001/0030191.
Similarly, in these cases as well, the compartments are arranged
approximately longitudinally and side by side, in the package.
[0004] Such side-by-side or longitudinal arrangements have certain
limitations. One important deficiency is that the apertures are
generally also side by side, in close proximity, and in that
situation, it is more difficult to ensure that the contents of the
individual compartments do not mix when it is not desired to do so,
and to keep the aperture of one compartment from being contaminated
with the contents of the other. In addition, it is generally
difficult to provide equivalent dispensing of fluid components of
differing viscosities, particularly in a squeeze bottle, when such
is desired (e.g., with cleansing compositions of different
viscosities intended to be mixed in situ); conversely, when
equivalent amounts of the fluid components are not needed (e.g.,
oil and vinegar), it can be problematical to differentially control
the amount of each fluid component dispersed through the individual
apertures without complex mechanisms for preventing simultaneous
and/or equivalent dispensing of both condiments. Thus, while the
dual compartment container for fluid dispensing is a significant
improvement over the use of individual bottles or containers, those
currently available do not provide the maximum convenience that may
be desired by a user of these products.
[0005] The present invention provides a solution to many of these
problems by providing a package that allows separate, yet near
simultaneous, dispensing of two fluid components from a single
package, at a rate that is easily controlled by the user, and does
not require the use of complicated mechanisms or manipulations to
do so. The package of the invention provides two separate and
independent compartments for holding fluid or flowable components,
giving a maximum and continuous separation of both fluids and
compartment apertures so as to avoid cross-contamination, while
offering the opportunity for near simultaneous dispensing of the
desired liquids, in the amounts and at the speed and timing
desired, regardless of their viscosities. The package of the
invention achieves these advantages by arranging the two separate
compartments to abut each other along a horizontal, rather than a
vertical axis of the package, and having each compartment's
aperture directly opposite each other, rather than side by side as
in previous dual compartment fluid containers. Thus, the present
invention provides enhanced convenience of dispensing of more than
one fluid component, while maintaining the ease of use, portability
and storage of a single package container for such components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0006] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a package of the
invention comprising a single container.
[0007] FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of the package of the
invention.
[0008] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a package of the
invention comprising two containers.
[0009] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a package of the invention
comprising a single container with two compartments.
[0010] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a package of the invention
comprising two containers.
[0011] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a package of the
invention comprising dual containers, showing an exploded view of a
coupling mechanism.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention provides a single
container package 10 having oppositely disposed end portions 11 and
12, and a central portion 13. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG.
1, the package is a single container with two compartments, each
with a separate aperture 14 and 15 (not shown), and a cover 16 for
aperture 15. Axis 4 shows the position of the section illustrated
in FIG. 4. Aperture 14 is shown with its cover removed. FIG. 2
shows a top view of the cover 16 above an end portion 11. FIG. 3
illustrates a package 20 that comprises two separate containers 21
and 22, joined by a coupling 18. The package of the invention
internally has two compartments for receiving fluid contents; the
package has a first compartment in one end portion 11, and a second
compartment in the other end portion 12, each compartment having a
proximal and distal end relative to the central portion 13 of the
package, with an aperture positioned at the distal end of each
compartment, and one or more partitions separating the compartments
at their proximal ends. FIG. 3 shows the aperture 14 without a cap.
FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of a dual chambered single
container exemplified in FIG. 1. Opposite ends 11 and 12 of the
bottle are occupied by two compartments, 23 and 24, positioned
abutting each other at their proximal ends 25 and 26, at the
central portion 13 of the bottle. The compartments 23 and 24 are
separated from each other by a single partition 27 that extends
transversely across the entire central portion 13 of the bottle,
thereby ensuring no possibility of mixing of the components
ultimately contained in the respective compartments. Each
compartment contains an aperture, 14 and 15, that is positioned on
the distal ends 28 and 29 of each the compartments, and at the
opposite ends of the package's vertical axis, the apertures 14 and
15 permitting access to the contents of the respective
compartments. In use, each aperture 14 and 15 will be equipped with
a closure 16 and 17, which retain the contents within each
compartment until dispensing is desired.
[0013] A sectional view of a two-container package is illustrated
in FIG. 5. This package comprises two separate containers 32 and
33, each of which has a top wall 34 and 35, and a bottom wall 36
and 37, and sidewalls 38 and 39, defining each bottle's individual
compartments 23 and 24. In a manner analogous to the single
container embodiment exemplified in FIG. 3, the bottles are
arranged within the package so that the bottom walls 36 and 37, of
each bottle, defining the proximal ends of each compartment, abut
each other at package's central portion 13, serving as the
partitions between compartments, and top walls 34 and 35, defining
the distal ends and 11 and 12 of each compartment, contain
apertures 14 and 15, located at the opposite ends of the package's
vertical axis, each aperture comprising a closure 16 and 17. In
this embodiment, the two containers are fixed to each other, most
typically through affixing their respective bottom walls to each
other. In the simplest example, the two bottom walls may be affixed
by gluing or epoxy, or joined with an adhesive-backed plastic
clasp. In other examples, the bottom walls may be affixed by way of
complementary male and female configurations, such as a threaded
neck on one bottom wall fitting into a threaded cap on the abutting
bottom wall, or one or more male protrusions on one bottom wall
that interlock with one or more female recesses on the abutting
bottom wall. A particularly useful type of coupling for this
purpose is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,516,860, the
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety. In this type of coupling a male lug on one container is
slidably disposed within an aligned female recess on the opposite
container. As shown in FIG. 6, two separate containers are joined
by coupling 18, which is based on an interlocking interference fit
achieved by the registration of a contoured protrusion 41 in bottom
wall 37 with a recessed portion 40 on bottom wall 36. More
specifically, and as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,516,860, by the
registration of contoured upper and lower lug surfaces with a
tapered inner base and top surfaces and the lug's front surface
against an angular disposed interlocking surface on a recess, an
interlocking interference fit is achieved.
[0014] The mechanism for attachment of the two containers may be
substantially permanent, i.e., not intended to allow separation of
the containers by the user, or alternately may permit the
dissociation of the two containers by the user. In the dual
container embodiment, an optional separate housing 46 can be added
over the joined containers so as to give the package the external
appearance of being a single unit, rather than showing the two
separate containers. The two containers may also or alternatively
be covered with shrink wrap.
[0015] In certain cases, where the intended flowable contents of
the two compartments are of similar viscosities and are fillable
under similar conditions, either the single or dual container
embodiments may be used. However, in situations in which the
compartments will contain components of differing viscosities,
different compatibilities or different filling conditions, it may
be preferred to utilize the dual container embodiment. The
compartments may be the same size, but in certain cases, in which
the components to be dispensed are routinely used in differing
amounts (for example, oil and vinegar), or are of substantially
different weights, it may be preferred to size the compartments in
accordance with the relative use or weights of the intended
components.
[0016] In each embodiment, the containers may be composed of any
material that is typically used for manufacturing bottles intended
to hold fluid contents, and further, in consideration of the
compatibility with the contents. Although glass may be used in
either embodiment, in most cases, for ease of handling, or weight
concerns, the bottle will be made of a plastic material, for
example, polyvinyl, polycarbonate, polyethylene or polyester
materials; in certain embodiments, a flexible plastic is preferred,
particularly in the single container embodiment, so as to render
the package squeezable, and enhancing the ease of dispensing the
fluid contents. In those embodiments in which a plastic material is
used for the container, the preferred plastics are polyethylene or
polypropylene, and in the two-container embodiment, the two
containers may be made of different materials, selected, for
example, for a specific compatibility with the respective contents.
Plastic containers can be manufactured by any means typically used
for such purpose, and the method of manufacture is not critical to
the invention. However, injection blow molding is particularly
useful in the manufacture of the single container embodiment with
an integrated horizontal separation between the two compartments.
The horizontal separation between the two compartments is
preferably substantially flat. In the alternate, two-container
embodiment, the bottom walls of each container will also be
substantially flat, but for any attachment means that may be
incorporated into the bottom walls to allow the joining of the two
containers.
[0017] The apertures of each compartment may be the same or
different, the size and shape being chosen depending on the
viscosity and/or the chosen mode of dispensing of the fluid
component from the package. Each aperture will be fitted with a
closure to retain the contents within the compartments when not in
use. In certain embodiments, the portion of the package surrounding
the aperture will be threaded to receive a screw-on cap closure,
which may be used as such, i.e., screwed on or off for dispensing,
or which may further comprise a flip-top feature for additional
ease of dispensing. The type of closure is not limiting, but should
have a configuration such that it allows the entire package to rest
stably, and directly, upon the closure when the package is stored
in a vertical position. To facilitate achieving this stability, in
one embodiment, each closure will be substantially flat.
[0018] In use, the consumer dispenses the contents of one of the
compartments through one aperture, closes the aperture, and then
simply inverts the package, and dispenses the contents of the
second compartment, thereby ensuring no cross-contamination of the
respective contents of the compartments, and permitting the
consumer to regulate the dispensing of the contents of each
container at a level and in a timeframe that is most convenient and
desirable for the particular intended purpose. The package permits
the ease of having a single package containing two desired
components, such as complementary condiments, but because the
contents are separately dispensed, it is possible for the
compartments to contain fluids of very different viscosities, since
a single motion is not relied upon to dispense both components. In
a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one, and
preferably both, closures covering each aperture of the package are
substantially flat, so that the package may be placed down, and
stored, resting on one closure of the package, which permits
gravity to aid in maintaining the contents of the "lower"
compartment ready to be dispensed from the aperture upon opening, a
particular advantage when dealing with a high-viscosity fluid.
Although not essential, it is often preferred that the opposite
ends of the package, whether in the single or dual container
embodiment, be substantially symmetrical, i.e., mirror images of
each other, so as enhance the stability, as well as the aesthetics
of the package; such symmetry provides the capacity for the package
being placed or stored on either of its opposite ends without
losing balance, i.e., so either end can be an "upper" or "lower"
end depending on the manner in which the user sets it down.
[0019] The package of the invention can be utilized in holding and
dispensing any combination of different flowable materials that
because of their frequent uses together will benefit by their
combination in a single package. One category of combinations is
condiments. The package can be used to hold, for example, in any
appropriate combination, ketchup, mustard, relish, salsa, steak
sauce, hot sauce, barbecue sauce, bean sauce, hoisin sauce, soy
sauce, oyster sauce, oil, vinegar, and the like. Another category
is liquids useful in drink mixing or bartending, for example, lime
juice, lemon juice, orange juice, bitters, tonic water or sour mix,
combined with an appropriate alcoholic beverage, such as gin, vodka
or tequila. Another category which may benefit from the combination
in the package of the invention is cosmetics and skin care fluids,
such as, for example, combinations of shampoo and conditioner,
moisturizer and anti-aging agents, exfoliating agents and sunless
tanners, foundation and concealer, or makeup remover and cleanser.
There are no limitations to the components that may be conveniently
disposed in and dispensed from such a package. The examples
provided herein are not to be construed as limiting, and other
possible uses will be readily apparent to those skilled in the
art.
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