Dual Ingredient Storage, Intermixing And Dispensing Storage

Abstract

The cartridge, according to this invention, has a main container storing a first ingredient; an auxiliary container storing a second ingredient, and extending into the main container; a movable piston in the auxiliary container with a plunger secured thereto for exuding the second ingredient into the main container upon forward movement of the piston and plunger; a dasher threaded onto the inner end of the auxiliary container for intermixing the two ingredients upon manual movement of the auxiliary container relative to the main container after which rearward movement of the plunger pulls the piston rearwardly to return a portion of the mixture to the auxiliary container, with the auxiliary container then being removable from the main container; and has a nozzle securable to the auxiliary container for dispensing the mixture therefrom upon subsequent forward movement of the plunger and piston therein.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a dual compartment dispensing cartridge, the ingredients of which are stored separately and which must be mixed for use, and more particularly to such a cartridge with a separable container for receiving the mixture, and for dispensing the mixture after separation from the cartridge.

This application is an improvement in the mixing and dispensing cartridge of U.S. Pat. No. 3,144,966 entitled Cartridge For Mixing and Dispensing Sealant Compounds, issued Aug. 18, 1964. In the prior art dual ingredient storage, intermixing, and dispensing cartridges such as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,144,966, a main cartridge is provided for storing one of the ingredients. This main cartridge is necessarily as large as is practical, since it is used not only to store one of the ingredients, but also to receive the second ingredient and hold the two ingredients for intermixing. The main cartridge is thus often times too large and too awkward to easily dispense the mixture into confined or recessed areas where the mixture is to be applied. An example of such a situation is in the field of dentistry when dental impressions are made. These cartridges may provide a quick setting plastic mixture which is used for taking impressions of the patients teeth and for such a use should be dispensed from the cartridge directly onto the tooth or teeth being inspected. However, with a large cartridge this is very difficult to do, not only because of the size thereof, but because it is difficulet to control the volume of mix dispensed from the large plunger-cartridge combination.

In such a use, it would be desirable to provide a means for dispensing the mixture which allows more exact control over the volume of mix dispensed, which is smaller than the main cartridge to fit easily into the patent's mouth and yet is provided or part of the original mixing dispensing unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a storage, mixing and dispensing cartridge means which provides for mixing two ingredients in a large main cartridge or body and have a smaller diameter mix dispenser adapted to receive the mixture of ingredients easily from the main cartridge and be easily manipulated to dispense controlled amounts of said mixture into confined, small, recessed or "tight" places.

Other and additional objects of this invention, are to provide such a cartridge means with a dispenser which is also part of the cartridge means used to store one of the ingredients prior to the mixing thereof, which is easily separable from the main cartridge, which can be filled with a portion only of the mixture at one time which is smaller than the main cartrige and therefore easily able to dispense the mixture into tight places and to provide such a storage mixing and dispensing means which may be sold which is economical to manufacture, convenient to store, and simple to use.

Generally the mixing and dispensing cartrige of the present invention includes a main open ended container for holding a first ingredient; and open ended auxiliary container for holding a second ingredient and extending into the main container through the open one end; and exuding means in the auxiliary container for exuding the second ingredient from the auxiliary container into the main container; means for intermixing the two ingredients in the main container to produce a mixture; means for returning a portion of the mixture to the auxiliary container for holding therein during withdrawal of the auxiliary container from the open end of the main container and subsequent dispensing from said auxiliary container.

Nozzle means may be provided for directing the flow of mixture from the open end of the auxiliary container in response to operation of the exuding means. Removable closure means may be mounted in the open end of the main container after withdrawal of the auxiliary container to close the open end thereof. The auxiliary container may be a tubular member with a piston located therein for exuding the second ingredient from the tubular member and for drawing or returning a portion of the mixture to the tubular member for later dispensing. The mixture return means may include a plunger having a threaded stud for threadably attaching to the piston of the tubular container or the plunger and piston may be integral.

Generally the method, according to this invention, of dispensing a mixture of two ingredients, stored separately in a main container and in an auxiliary container and mixed in the main container to provide a mixture includes the steps of displacing a portion of the mixture into the auxiliary container, releasing and withdrawing the auxiliary container from the main container and exuding the mixture from the auxiliary container. The steps may include mounting a nozzle to the auxiliary container after withdrawing the auxiliary container and prior to the exuding step. The method may include the steps of removing the nozzle from the auxiliary container, reinserting the auxiliary container into the main container, and displacing another portion of mixture into the auxiliary container. The exuding step may include the step of drawing a piston rearwardly in the auxiliary container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of the storage, intermixing and dispensing means, according to this invention, showing the assembled containers, the plunger, and the nozzle thereof.

FIG. 2 is a partially-broken-away, side elevational view showing the intermixing and dispensing means of FIG. 1, with the auxiliary container holding the second ingredient telescoped into the main container, holding the first ingredient, and located in the contracted position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 2 but showing the auxiliary container in the extended position, with the plunger in the extended position, and releasably secured to the piston in the auxiliary container.

FIG. 4 is a partially-broken-away, side elevational view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the plunger in the contracted position after exuding the second ingredient from the auxiliary container into the main container.

FIG. 5 is a partially-broken-away, side elevational view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the plunger and the auxiliary container positioned for moving a dasher to intermix the two ingredients to provide a mixture thereof.

FIG. 6 is an end cross-sectional view taken along the plane VI--VI of FIG. 5, showing the dasher in the main container.

FIG. 7 is a side cross sectional view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the auxiliary container in the extended position and the plunger extended therefrom after a portion of the mixture has been drawn into the auxiliary container, and alternatively and in phantom lines, the rear wall of the main container being drivingly slid by the plunger to a position forward of the end of the main container to force the mixture into the auxiliary container.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the auxiliary container containing a portion only of the mixture and having a nozzle mounted thereon for dispensing the portion.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the main container with a plug closing the open end thereof.

FIG. 10 is a partially-broken-away, side elevational view similar to FIG. 3, but showing as an alternative embodiment, an integral piston and plunger for use with the storage, intermixing, and dispensing means, according to this invention.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged end cross-sectional view taken along the plane XI--XI of FIG. 10, showing the ribbed shank of the integral piston and plunger.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary, partially-broken-away, side elevational view of a portion of FIG. 10, showing the piston end of the integral piston and plunger of the alternative embodiment of the storage, intermixing, and dispensing means of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Referring now to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 1, the storing, intermixing and dispensing means, according to this invention, is generally denoted by the number 10. The means 10 is for separately holding or storing a first ingredient 11 and a second ingredient 12, for intermixing the ingredients 11 and 12 to produce a mixture 13, and for dispensing the mixture 13 as desired.

Generally the means 10 includes a main container 20 for holding the first ingredient 11, and auxiliary container 30 located in the main container 20 through its open end and for holding the second ingredient 12, rod or plunger means 40 for exuding the second ingredient 11 from the auxiliary container 30 into the main container 20, dasher or intermixing means 45 for dashing or intermixing the two ingredients 11 and 12 into a mixture 13, and piston means 50 for drawing and returning a portion of the mixture 13 to the auxiliary container 30, for subsequent dispensing from the auxiliary container 30.

Nozzle means 55 may be provided for attachment to the auxiliary container 30 after it is removed from the main container 20, to direct the flow of the mixture from the auxiliary container 30. Additionally, removable closure means 60 may be provided for closing the open end of the main container 20 after removal of the auxiliary container 30.

The main container 20 for holding or storing the first ingredient 11 of the preferred embodiment is best seen in FIGS. 3, 7 and 9 and includes a thin walled cylindrical shell 21, formed with an open ended neck 22 in one end. The neck 22 has an internally threaded central opening 23 which merges smoothly to a smooth opening 24 extending into the interior of the shell 21. A cup or semi-hemispherial shaped movable rear end wall 25 closes and slidably seals the rear end of shell 21. The end wall 25 has a centrally located rearwardly facing seat 26 and a rearwardly extending skirt as seen in FIG. 3. A cap 27 with a central aperature 28 may be secured over the shell 21 at the rear end to keep the end wall 25 within the shell 21. Shell 21 and movable rear end wall 25 define a cavity 29 in which the first ingredient 11 is located.

The auxiliary container 30 for holding the second ingredient 12 is best seen in FIG. 2. In the preferred embodiment, the auxiliary container 30 includes a tubular member 31 which is preferrably made of a suitable plastic material such as polyethylene as in container or shell 21. The tubular member 31 has an inner, externally threaded end 32 and a handle end 33 with an elongated cylindrical body therebetween. The body is sized to be slidable, yet sealingly, received in the opening 24 of the main container 20. The tubular member 31 has a piston 34 located in the handle end thereof, to define a cavity 35 therein in which the second ingredient 12 is located. The inner end of the tubular member 31 also has a discharge passage 36 extending from the cavity 35 outwardly to the outlet 37 located at the threaded end 32.

The auxiliary container 30 is initially positioned through the open end or cartridge 20 in a contracted position, as shown in FIG. 3, extending into the main container 20 through the openings 23 and 24 to bottom against the wall 25. The bottoming of the auxiliary container 30 against wall 25 outlet 37, as seen in FIG. 2, is to retain the second ingredient 12 within the auxiliary container 30. As long as the auxiliary container 30 is maintained in the contracted position against the wall 25, as in FIG. 2, the first and second ingredients 11, and 12 will remain separated, and may be stored. When the mixture 13 is needed, the auxiliary container 30 is manually moved from the contracted position shown in FIG. 2, to the extended position shown in FIG. 3 leaving a cylindrical cavity in the first ingredient 11, for receiving the second ingredient 12, as it is exuded from the auxiliary container 30 by manual operation of the exuding means 40.

The exuding means 40 for exuding the second ingredient 12 from the auxiliary container 30 is best seen in FIG. 3. The exuding means according to the preferred embodiment is a plunger 41 which has a piston seating end 42 and an enlarged grasping end 43. The grasping end 43 is manually engaged and pressed to drive the piston 34 along the tubular member 31 reducing the size of the cavity 35 and thereby exuding the second ingredient 12 through the discharge passage 36 through the outlet 37 and into the main container 20, as is shown in FIG. 4. The two ingredients 11 and 12 are now both located in the cavity 29 for mixing together by the dashing or intermixing means 45.

The intermixing or dashing means 45 is best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. The intermixing means 45 includes a dasher 46 having two opposed blades 47 and an internally threaded hole 48.

The dasher 46 is threaded onto the externally threaded end 32 of the auxiliary container 30 to move therewith.

When the two ingredients 11 and 12 are both located in the cavity 29, the auxiliary container 30 is randomly slid and rotated relative to the main container 20 to enable the blades 47 of the dasher 46 to traverse the volume of the cavity 29 and intermix the ingredients 11 and 12 into the mixture 13. After the mixture 13 is uniform the dasher 46 may be moved to a position adjacent the neck 22 of the main container 20 by extending the tubular member 31 to the extended position of FIG. 7. The mixture 13 is now ready to be drawn or forced into the auxiliary container 30.

The piston means 50, for drawing the mixture 13 into the auxiliary container 30 according to the improvement of this invention, is best seen in FIG. 3. In the preferred embodiment, the piston 34 has an untaped hole 56 for receiving a self-threading stud 52 provided at the piston seating end 42 of the plunger 41 to secure the plunger 41 to the piston 34 as a unit. With the piston 34 and plunger 41 secured together, the plunger 41 can be manually extended to pull the piston 34 therewith to draw a portion of the mixture 13 (as seen in FIG. 7) from the cavity 29 of the main container 20 into the cavity 35 of the auxiliary container 30. The end wall 25 may slide or be pulled along the shell 21 to follow the mixture 13.

If the mixture 13 should be thick, the plunger 41 may be inserted through the central opening 28 in cap 27 to engage seat 26 on the end wall 25. Manual pressure on the piston seating end 42 of the plunger 41 will slide the end wall 25 forwardly to decrease the size of the cavity 29 and force the mixture 13 from cavity 29 into the cavity 35. Such additional force should be required only when the mixture 13 has thickened and should not be needed as long as the mixture 13 remains generally liquid. When a portion of the mixture 13 fills the cavity 35 of the auxiliary container 30, the tubular member 31 (unthreaded from the dasher 46) is pulled from the main container 20 and is ready for receiving the nozzle means 55.

The nozzle means 55, best seen in FIG. 8, includes nose 56, a tip end 57, an internally threaded end 58 for threading onto the externally threaded end 32 of the tubular member 31, and a cylindrical shield 59 for covering the wetted half of the tubular member 31. With the nozzle attached to the auxiliary container 30 as shown in FIG. 8, the container 30 may be carried to the location where the mixture 13 is to be applied and the plunger 41 pressed to move the piston 34 and exude the mixture 13 through the tip end 57 of the nozzle 55. Once the mixture 13 is exhausted from the cavity 35, the nozzle means 55 is removed, and the tubular member 31 is reinserted in the neck 22 of the main container 20 to receive another supply of mixture 13. This process is repeated until the supply of mixture 13 in the main container 20 is exhausted.

It may be possible to make the nozzle means 55 as an integral part of the auxiliary container 30 or utilize the outlet 37 of the auxiliary container as the nozzle means 55 if great accuracy is not required in the placement of the mixture 13. However, such accuracy is highly desirable and so a separable nozzle means 55 is provided in the preferred embodiment.

If the auxiliary 30 is to be separated from the main container 20 for any appreciable length of time, it may be desirable to provide removable closure means 60 for closing the open end of the main container 20. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 9, the removable closure means includes an externally threaded plug 61 which will thread into the central operature 28 of the cap 27 for the convenience of storage. The plug 61 is easily removable from the cap 27 of the main container 20 for threading into the internally threaded opening 23 of the neck 22 to close the cavity 29 in the main container 20 to thereby prevent the mixture 13 from setting up or hardening. The plug 61 must of course be removed each time the auxiliary container 30 is reinserted into the neck 22 of the main container 30.

An alternative form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. In the alternative form, the piston 34 and plunger 41 are integrally manufactured as an integral piston and plunger means 65 for being received in the handle end 33 of the tubular member 31. As best seen in FIG. 10, the integral piston and plunger means 65 has a piston end 66 with two spaced integrally-formed, annular sealing ridges 67, a ribbed shank 68 and a grasping end 69. As best seen in FIG. 11 the ribbed shank 68 has four ribs.

When the means 10 is supplied with the integral piston and plunger means 65, the plunger can never be separated from the piston and so must remain in the extended position as shown in FIG. 10, even when the means 10 is merely being stored. This fact will, or course, add length to the means 10, but the advantages and convenience of the integral piston and plunger 65 may offset the disadvantage of the added length, for some uses.

Thus the dual ingredient storage, intermixing and dispensing means 10 according to this invention provides a mixing main cartridge which has a small dispensing cartridge which can be filled with mixture for dispensing into small, confined or tight places.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a means for separately storing two ingredients, subsequently intermixing the two ingredients, and then dispensing the mixture, including,

a main container for holding the first ingredient, said main container being open at one end,

an auxiliary container for holding the second ingredient, said auxiliary container extending into the main container through the open end, said auxiliary container having an open inner end in communication with the interior of the main container,

an exuding means associated with the auxiliary container for exuding the second ingredient from the auxiliary container through the open inner end thereof, into the main container; and

intermixing means for intermixing the two ingredients in the main container to produce a mixture, the improvement comprising;

means for displacing a portion of the mixture from said main container into said auxiliary container for withdrawal from said main container on removal of said auxiliary container from the open end of the main container and subsequent dispensing from said auxiliary container and

nozzle means for directing the flow of mixture from the open end of the auxiliary container in response to operation of the exuding means in said auxiliary container, said nozzle means including a shield extending around a portion of the auxiliary container.