U.S. patent number 3,796,303 [Application Number 05/229,478] was granted by the patent office on 1974-03-12 for containers.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Jean-Jacques Goupil. Invention is credited to Pierre Allet-Coche.
United States Patent |
3,796,303 |
Allet-Coche |
March 12, 1974 |
CONTAINERS
Abstract
Containers for storing, transporting and intermixing
pre-proportioned substances, such as a metallic powder and mercury,
for producing dental amalgam. The containers have two separable
sections, each with a compartment therein; a partition is provided,
preferably in the form of a ball, for separating the compartments
during filling and transportation, and for assisting in the mixing
of the substances, once the ball has been forced from its
separating position into the lower compartment. The upper section
of the containers have a passage therein through which one or both
substances may be introduced successively, with the partition or
ball being interposed after the first substance has been introduced
into the lower compartment. A pusher is insertable in the passage
of the upper container section and slidably movable therein toward
the partition so as to unseat and displace the same from said
separating position by pressure exerted by the intermediary of the
upper compartment and the substance therein.
Inventors: |
Allet-Coche; Pierre (Paris,
FR) |
Assignee: |
Jean-Jacques Goupil (Cachan,
FR)
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Family
ID: |
8630263 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/229,478 |
Filed: |
February 25, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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703422 |
Feb 6, 1968 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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May 5, 1967 [FR] |
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67105329 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/220; 604/90;
206/63.5; 604/416 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C
5/66 (20170201) |
Current International
Class: |
A61C
5/06 (20060101); A61C 5/00 (20060101); B65d
081/32 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/47A,63.5 ;215/6
;128/272 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dixson, Jr.; William T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Mortimer; Harvey B.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of my prior copending
application Ser. No. 703,422 filed Feb. 6, 1968, now abandoned.
Claims
1. A reusable container for storing, transporting and intermixing
pre-proportioned amounts of substances, comprising, in combination,
upper and lower interconnectable sections, partition means movable
in said sections between an initial or closing position, in
releasable engagement with said upper section, and a final or
mixing position, loosely contained within said lower section; said
upper section having at least one locking portion of a diameter
somewhat smaller than that of said partition means, for
frictionally holding the same in said closing position, wherein
said partition means initially provides respective upper and lower
compartments, said lower section lodging the major part of the
lower compartment while said upper section lodges the upper
compartment and the remaining part of said lower compartment; said
upper section having therein a passage leading from said upper
compartment to the free end there of and to the outside; said
compartments being adapted to hold therein different substances to
be transported and intermixed; and pusher means separate from said
partition means having a first portion insertable in said passage
and a second portion sealingly slidable with the interior walls of
the upper section of said container as the pusher means is moved
toward said partition means so as to unseat and displace the same
from said closing position by pressure exerted by the intermediary
of said upper compartment and the substance therein; the substances
being eventually placed in communication when said partition means
is moved from said closing position to said mixing position, upon
acutation of said pusher means and eventually away therefrom, to
allow intimate intermixing of the substances in said lower
compartment alone, by shaking the container, said partition means
by itself assisting the intermixing on
2. The container as defined in claim 1, wherein said second portion
of said pusher means has a head portion adapted to obturate the
mouth of said lower compartment when said pusher means is moved
into said upper section
3. The container as defined in claim 1, wherein said upper
compartment is substantially narrower than said lower compartment
has a considerably
4. The container as defined in claim 3, wherein the outer diameter
of said pusher means is substantially the same as the inner
diameter of said upper
5. The container as defined in claim 3, wherein the outer diameter
of said partition means is substantially the same as the inner
diameter of said
6. A container for storing, transporting and intermixing
pre-proportioned substances, comprising, in combination, an upper
and a lower, interconnectable section; partition means movable in
said sections between an initial or closing position, in releasable
engagement with said upper section, and a final or mixing position,
loosely contained within said lower section; said upper section
having at least one locking portion of a diameter somewhat smaller
than that of said partition means, for frictionally holding the
same in said closing position, wherein said partition means
initially provides respective upper and lower compartments, said
lower section accommodating the major part of the lower compartment
while said upper section accommodates the upper compartment and the
remaining part of said lower compartment; said upper section having
therein a passage leading from said upper compartment to the free
end thereof and to the outside; said compartments being adapted to
hold therein different substances to be transported and intermixed;
said passage being adapted for successively introducing
therethrough both substances into the respective compartments, with
the interposition of said partition means after the first substance
has been introduced into said lower compartment; and pusher means
insertable in said passage and sealingly slidable therein toward
said partition means so as to unseat and displace the same from
said closing position by pressure exerted by the intermediary of
said upper compartment and the substance therein; the substances
being eventually placed in communication when said partition means
is moved from said closing position to said mixing position, upon
actuation of said pusher means, to allow intimate intermixing of
the substances in said lower compartment alone, by shaking the
container, said partition means assisting the intermixing on
account of its mass, wherein said partition means is in the form of
a ball, said locking portion of the upper section is constituted by
at least one annular groove in its inner wall, and one of said ball
and said groove is of a resilient material
7. A container for storing, transporting and intermixing
pre-proportioned substances, comprising, in combination, an upper
and a lower, interconnectable section; partition means movable in
said sections between an initial or closing position, in releasable
engagement with said upper section, and a final or mixing position,
loosely contained within said lower section; said upper section
having at least one locking portion of a diameter somewhat smaller
than that of said partition means, for frictionally holding the
same in said closing position, wherein said partition means
initially provides respective upper and lower compartments, said
lower section accommodating the major part of the lower compartment
while said upper section accommodates the upper compartment and the
remaining part of said lower compartment; said upper section having
therein a passage leading from said upper compartment to the free
end thereof and to the outside; said compartments being adapted to
hold therein different substances to be transported and intermixed;
said passage being adapted for successively introducing
therethrough both substances into the respective compartments, with
the interposition of said partition means after the first substance
has been introduced into said lower compartment; and pusher means
insertable in said passage and sealingly slidable therein toward
said partition means so as to unseat and displace the same from
said closing position by pressure exerted by the intermediary of
said upper compartment and the substance therein; the substances
being eventually placed in communication when said partition means
is moved from said closing position to said mixing position, upon
actuation of said pusher means, to allow intimate intermixing of
the substances in said lower compartment alone, by shaking the
container, said partition means assisting the intermixing on
account of its mass, wherein said locking portion of the upper
section is constituted by two spaced-apart ribs in its inner wall,
said partition means being constituted by a ball adapted to be
seated between said ribs when in its
8. A container for storing, transporting and intermixing
pre-proportioned substances, comprising, in combination, an upper
and a lower, interconnectable section; partition means movable in
said sections between an initial or closing position, in releasable
engagement with said upper section, and a final or mixing position,
loosely contained within said lower section; said upper section
having at least one locking portion of a diameter somewhat smaller
than that of said partition means, for frictionally holding the
same in said closing position, wherein said partition means
initially provides respective upper and lower compartments, said
lower section accommodating the major part of the lower compartment
while said upper section accommodates the upper compartment and the
remaining part of said lower compartment; said upper section having
therein a passage leading from said upper compartment to the free
end thereof and to the outside; said compartments being adapted to
hold therein different substances to be transported and intermixed;
said passage being adapted for successively introducing
therethrough both substances into the respective compartments, with
the interposition of said partition means after the first substance
has been introduced into said lower compartment; and pusher means
insertable in said passage and sealingly slidable therein toward
said partition means so as to unseat and displace the same from
said closing position by pressure exerted by the intermediary of
said upper compartment and the substance therein; the substances
being eventually placed in communication when said partition means
is moved from said closing position to said mixing position, upon
actuation of said pusher means, to allow intimate intermixing of
the substances in said lower compartment alone, by shaking the
container, said partition means assisting the intermixing on
account of its mass, wherein said partition means is in the form of
a substantially rigid ball, at
9. A container for storing, transporting and intermixing
pre-proportioned substances, comprising, in combination, an upper
and a lower, interconnectable section; partition means movable in
said sections between an initial or closing position, in releasable
engagement with said upper section, and a final or mixing position,
loosely contained within said lower section; said upper section
having at least one locking portion of a diameter somewhat smaller
than that of said partition means, for frictionally holding the
same in said closing position, wherein said partition means
initially provides respective upper and lower compartments, said
lower section accommodating the major part of the lower compartment
while said upper section accommodates the upper compartment and the
remaining part of said lower compartment; said upper section having
therein a passage leading from said upper compartment to the free
end thereof and to the outside; said compartments being adapted to
hold therein different substances to be transported and intermixed;
said passage being adapted for successively introducing
therethrough both substances into the respective compartments, with
the interposition of said partition means after the first substance
has been introduced into said lower compartment; and pusher means
insertable in said passage and sealingly slidable therein toward
said partition means so as to unseat and displace the same from
said closing position by pressure exerted by the intermediary of
said upper compartment and the substance therein; the substances
being eventually placed in communication when said partition means
is moved from said closing position to said mixing position, upon
actuation of said pusher means, to allow intimate intermixing of
the substances in said lower compartment alone, by shaking the
container, said partition means assisting the intermixing on
account of its mass, wherein said head portion has a concave lower
face adapted to engage a
10. A container for storing, transporting and intermixing
pre-proportioned substances, comprising, in combination, an upper
and a lower, interconnectable section; partition means movable in
said sections between an initial or closing position, in releasable
engagement with said upper section, and a final or mixing position,
loosely contained within said lower section; said upper section
having at least one locking portion of a diameter somewhat smaller
than that of said partition means, for frictionally holding the
same in said closing position, wherein said partition means
initially provides respective upper and lower compartments, said
lower section accommodating the major part of the lower compartment
while said upper section accommodates the upper compartment and the
remaining part of said lower compartment; said upper section having
therein a passage leading from said upper compartment to the free
end thereof and to the outside; said compartments being adapted to
hold therein different substances to be transported and intermixed;
said passage being adapted for successively introducing
therethrough both substances into the respective compartments, with
the interposition of said partition means after the first substance
has been introduced into said lower compartment; and pusher means
insertable in said passage and sealingly slidable therein toward
said partition means so as to unseat and displace the same from
said closing position by pressure exerted by the intermediary of
said upper comaprtment and the substance therein; the substances
being eventually placed in communication when said partition means
is moved from said closing position to said mixing position, upon
actuation of said pusher means, to allow intimate intermixing of
the substances in said lower compartment alone, by shaking the
container, said partition means assisting the intermixing on
account of its mass, wherein said pusher means has an annular ridge
above said head portion, adapted to engage a narrowing portion in
the inner wall of said upper section, preventing pushing in said
pusher means beyond the point where said mouth
11. A container for storing, transporting and intermixing
pre-proportioned substances, comprising, in combination, an upper
and a lower, interconnectable section; partition means movable in
said sections between an initial or closing position, in releasable
engagement with said upper section, and a final or mixing position,
loosely contained within said lower section; said upper section
having at least one locking portion of a diameter somewhat smaller
than that of said partition means, for frictionally holding the
same in said closing position, wherein said partition means
initially provides respective upper and lower compartments, said
lower section accommodating the major part of the lower compartment
while said upper section accommodates the upper compartment and the
remaining part of said lower compartment; said upper section having
therein a passage leading from said upper compartment to the free
end thereof and to the outside; said compartments being adapted to
hold therein different substances to be transported and intermixed;
said passage being adapted for successively introducing
therethrough both substances into the respective compartments, with
the interposition of said partition means after the first substance
has been introduced into said lower compartment; and pusher means
insertable in said passage and sealingly slidable therein toward
said partition means so as to unseat and displace the same from
said closing position by pressure exerted by the intermediary of
said upper compartment and the substance therein; the substances
being eventually placed in communication when said partition means
is moved from said closing position to said mixing position, upon
actuation of said pusher means, to allow intimate intermixing of
the substances in said lower compartment alone, by shaking the
container, said partition means assisting the intermixing on
account of its mass, wherein said free end of the upper section has
therein at least three inwardly directed spurs for guiding said
pusher means in its sliding movement
12. A container for storing, transporting and intermixing
pre-proportioned substances, comprising, in combination, an upper
and a lower, interconnectable section; partition means movable in
said sections between an initial or closing position, in releasable
engagement with said upper section, and a final or mixing position,
loosely contained within said lower section; said upper section
having at least one locking portion of a diameter somewhat smaller
than that of said partition means, for frictionally holding the
same in said closing position, wherein said partition means
initially provides respective upper and lower compartments; said
upper section having therein a passage leading from said upper
compartment to the free end thereof and to the outside; said
compartments being adapted to hold therein different substances to
be transported and intermixed; said passage being adapted for
successively introducing therethrough both substances into the
respective compartments, with the interposition of said partition
means after the first substance has been introduced into said lower
compartment; and pusher means insertable in said passage and
sealingly slidable therein toward said partition means so as to
unseat and displace the same from said closing position by pressure
exerted by the intermediary of said upper compartment and the
substance therein; the substances being eventually placed in
communication when said partition means is moved from said closing
position to said mixing position, upon actuation of said pusher
means, to allow intimate intermixing of the substances in said
lower compartment alone, by shaking of the container, said
partition means assisting the intermixing on account of its mass,
wherein said pusher means has a head portion adapted to obturate
the mouth of said lower compartment when said pusher means is
enforced into said upper section, and wherein the length of said
pusher means substantially corresponds to that of the portion of
said upper section which lodges said upper compartment, preventing
manual removal of said pusher means from said upper section once it
has been completely enforced and said mouth of the lower
compartment is obturated.
13. The container as defined in claim 12, wherein at least one of
said sections includes means for slidingly and frictionally
interconnecting the
14. The container as defined in claim 7, wherein said
interconnecting means is provided in the area of said lower
compartment, in the form of sleeve portions constituted by the
adjoining ends of said sections, and allowing introduction and
removal of one of the substances into said lower compartment
irrespective of the provision of said partition means and said
15. A plural-chamber admixing container comprising a sectional
container body forming a first chamber, one section having a
reduced neck bore extending therefrom and open at the end thereof,
a movable first plug frictionally removably retained in and closing
said neck bore at the entrance of the first chamber, said first
plug being smaller than and fully freely movable in tumbling
mix-assisting fashion within said first chamber upon removal from
said neck bore, a second plug slidably mounted in said neck bores
open end and frictionally engaging the wall of said reduced neck
bore in externally sealing relation, said second plug being
physically separate and spaced at all points from said first plug
forming a second chamber peripherally bounded by said reduced neck
bore, the effective front surface of said second plug and the
effective rear surface of said first plug, and manually manipulable
means integral with said second plug and protruding externally from
said reduced neck bore for moving said second plug along said
reduced neck bore, a first admixable material disposed within said
second chamber and forming an axial force transmission means
between said second and said first plugs, a second admixable
material disposed within said first chamber for admixing with said
material within said second chamber upon dislodgement of said first
plug into said first chamber, the inner face of said second plug
being movable substantially to the juncture zone between said neck
bore and said first chamber during dislodgement of said first plug
to effectively form a single chamber bounded by the walls of said
first chamber and the effective inner forward face of said second
plug for admixing of said materials after dislodgement of said
first plug into said first chamber.
16. A plural-chamber admixing container comprising a body forming a
first chamber and a second chamber, the latter having a neck bore
extending therefrom, said neck bore being reduced relative to said
first chamber and opening at the end thereof into said first
chamber, a movable first plug frictionally removably retained in
and closing said neck bore at said end, said first plug being
smaller than the fully freely movable in mix-assisting fashion
within said first chamber upon removal from said neck bore, a
second plug slidably mounted in said second chamber and
frictionally engaging the interior wall thereof in externally
sealing relation, said second plug being physically separate from
said first plug and there being space between said plugs, said
space being defined by said interior wall, front surface of said
second plug and rear surface of said first plug, and manually
operable means integral with said second plug and accessible
externally of said container for moving said second plug along said
neck bore, a first admixable material disposed within said space, a
second admixable material disposed within said first chamber for
admixing with said material within said second chamber upon
dislodgement of said first plug into said first chamber, the inner
face of said second plug being movable substantially to the
juncture zone between said end of said neck bore and said first
chamber during dislodgement of said first plug to effectively form
a single chamber bounded by the walls of said first chamber and the
effective inner forward face of said second plug for admixing of
said materials after dislodgement of said first plug into said
17. The plural-chamber admixing container of claim 16, wherein said
interior wall of said second chamber and said reduced neck bore
define a cylindrical wall having uniform diameter substantially
from said second plug, through said space and to said end of said
reduced neck bore, except that the diamter of said neck bore
decreases from said uniform diameter to said end of said neck bore,
said second plug being adapted to fit, at its periphery, to said
cylindrical wall continuously, while said second plug is moved to
said juncture zone and to fit the total interior surface of
18. A container for storing, transporting and intermixing
pre-proportioned substances comprising in combination: first and
second interconnectible sections, said first section including a
closed end defining a mixing chamber for holding a first admixable
substance and said second section having an inner wall
substantially free from indentations or protuberances defining a
material containing chamber for communicating with said mixing
chamber for holding a second admixable substance, partition means
having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the mixing
chamber held in a friction fit by the inner wall of one of said
sections at the junction of said chambers and movable in said
sections between an initial or closing position separating said
chambers and a final or mixing position loosely contained within
said mixing chamber, pusher means slidably positioned in said
material containing chamber with the outer periphery of its inner
end in sliding and sealing engagement with the wall thereof, said
pusher means being movable from an initial position through the
entire length of said material containing chamber to a final
position with its inner end positioned substantialy at said
junction of said chambers for positively forcing said partition
means and clearing the entire contents of said material containing
chamber into said mixing chamber, the lower end of said pusher
means when in said final position and subsequently sealing the
upper end of said mixing chamber to allow intermixing in said
mixing chamber of the admixable substances originally in said
chambers by the shaking of said container with the partition means
aiding in the mixing.
19. A container for storing, transporting and intermixing
preproportioned substances, comprising in combination: (a) first
and second interconnectible sections, said first section including
a closed lower end defining a mixing chamber for holding a first
admixable substance, and said second section defining a
material-containing chamber for communication with said mixing
chamber for holding a second admixable substance, the communicating
means between said chamber defined by a bore having one end
communicating with said mixing chamber and at its other end with
said material-containing chamber, said second section having an
inner wall substantially free from indentations or protuberances,
said bore providing a smooth, uninterrupted continuation of said
inner wall of said material-containing chamber, said bore, at said
one end, being of lesser diameter than said mixing chamber; (b)
partition means in said bore at one end and held in a friction fit
by the interior wall of the bore between said chambers and movable
between a closing position separating said chambers and a mixing
position within said mixing chamber, said partition means sealingly
closing said one end of said bore and sized so as to be loosely
contained within said mixing chamber; (c) pusher means slidably
positioned in said material-containing chamber with its inner end
slidingly and sealingly engaging said inner wall in a fraction fit,
said inner end of said pusher means being slidingly sealingly
engageable within said bore, (d) said pusher means being movable
along the length of said inner wall and the length of said bore,
from an initial position spaced from said other end of said bore,
to a final position wherein its said inner wall is sealingly seated
in said one end of said bore for positively forcing said partition
means into said mixing chamber and clearing the entire second
substance from the space through which said inner end moves in
going from said pusher means' initial position to said pusher
means' final position, and for thereafter sealing the upper end of
said mixing chamber to allow intermixing in said mixing chamber of
the original
20. The container of claim 18 wherein one said substance is liquid
mercury and the other said substance is amalgamable with mercury to
form dental
21. A plural-chamber admixing container for mixing a semi-solid
dental restorative material comprising a sectional container body
forming a first chamber, one section having a neck bore extending
therefrom and open at the end thereof, a movable first plug
frictionally removably retained in and closing said neck bore at
the entrance of the first chamber, said first plug being smaller
than and fully freely movable in tumbling mix-assisting fashion
within said first chamber upon removal from said neck bore, a
second plug slidably mounted in said neck bores open end and
frictionally engaging the wall of said reduced neck bore in
externally sealing relation, said second plug being physically
separate and spaced at all points from said first plug forming a
second chamber peripherally bounded by said neck bore, the
effective front surface of said second plug and the effective rear
surface of said first plug, and means integral with said second
plug and protruding externally from said reduced neck bore for
moving said second plug along said neck bore, a first admixable
material disposed within said second chamber, a second admixable
material disposed within said first chamber for admixing with said
material within said second chamber upon dislodgement of said first
plug into said first chamber, the inner fact of said second plug
being movable substantially to the juncture zone between said neck
bore and said first chamber during dislodgement of said first plug
to effectively form a single chamber bounded by the walls of said
first chamber and the effective inner forward face of said second
plug for admixing of said materials after dislodgement of said
first plug into said first chamber to form said semi-solid
material.
Description
The invention relates to small containers with multiple compartment
preferably for storing, transporting and eventually intermixing the
substances separately contained in the compartments.
It is already known to provide cartridges for preproportioned
substances contained in discrete spaces or capacities which are
separated by a partition or valve adapted to be operated from
outside for the eventual mixing of the substances.
The rudimentary devices which have been realized so far in this
field did not give satisfaction because they did not provide all
the practically required qualities of such cartridges, in regard to
the conditions of filling, the tightness between the capacities or
compartments, and the simplicity of the operational steps to be
performed by the user, particularly in case of amalgams used for
dental purposes.
In particular, such devices have to be adpated to allow the use of
a pestle-like member, for assuring preproportioned substances under
good conditions of intimate mixing, e.g. by a simple shaking
movement.
The present invention has as one of its major objects to provide an
improved device which responds to these requirements.
It is another important object to provide two distinct compartments
in a device of this kind, which can be filled by way of a single
inlet passage, and one of which may also serve for the intermixing
of the substances.
It is an object of the invention to provide containers which are
easy to manufacture and to use, more particularly to fill,
transport and also to use for the intermixing of the
pre-proportioned substances in the compartments.
The inventive containers are characterized by the following novel
features and provisions, taken either separately or in
combination:
1. The containers comprise two compartments separated by a movable
partition, preferably in the form of a ball, caught elastically
between adjoining walls, and being adapted to be expelled into one
of the compartments, by the action of a pusher which is slidable in
the end of the container opposite to the other compartment.
2. One of the compartments may receive the partition or ball,
acting in fact as a pestle, for intimately mixing the two
substances contained in the compartments.
3. The compartment into which is expelled the partition can be
separated in two portions, fitting one on the other, either by
sliding action or by conventional thread engagement.
4. The pusher is preferably constituted by the stem of a piston
which traverses the wall of the compartment in which it slides, by
way of an opening having a diameter sufficiently close to that of
said compartment so that the pusher can be inserted in place, owing
to the elasticity of its material or the wall surrounding it, by
simple pressure.
According to major features of the inventive containers, they are
constituted by two separable and interconnectable sections, each
defining therein a compartment adapted to receive a particular
substance. A partition, preferably in the form of a ball, is
movable in said sections between an initial or closing position, in
releasable frictional engagement with the upper container section,
and a final or mixing position, loosely contained within the lower
container section.
According to further important features, a passage is provided in
the upper section, leading from the upper compartment to the
outside, and a pusher member insertable in said passage and
sealingly slidable therein toward the partition so as to unseat the
same by pressure exerted by the intermediary of the upper
compartment and the substance therein.
When said partition is moved from its closing position to the
mixing position, upon actuation of the pusher member, the
substances are placed in communication, allowing intimate
intermixing thereof in the lower compartment alone, by shaking the
container, the partition or ball assisting the intermixing on
account of its mass.
The upper container section may have one or more locking portions,
in the form of annular grooves, ribs or spurs, adapted frictionally
to hold the partition or ball in its closing position.
Preferably the ball is of a rigid material while the container
sections are made of a relatively resilient and elastic material,
such as plastic. The plastic container sections may have portions
adapted for threaded or sliding interengagement therebetween. At
least one of the sections may be provided with preferably outer
reinforcing portions for preventing collapsing and crushing of at
least the lower compartment, particularly during
transportation.
According to further features of the inventive containers, the
pusher means may be provided with a head portion adapted to
obturate the mouth of the lower compartment when the pusher is
enforced into the upper container section. The head portion may
have a concave lower face, e.g. for complementary engagement with
the outer surface of the ball constituting the partition.
Yet another feature relates to the expedient that the the upper
compartment is narrower than the lower compartment and has a
smaller inner volume. The metallic powder used for making the
dental amalgams has a smaller volume than the mercury with which it
is intermixed in the larger lower compartment. The latter
consequently has to be adapted to receive the volume of both
initially introduced substances.
The inner diameter of the upper compartment is preferably the same
or similar to the outer diameter of the pusher member and/or the
ball serving as a partition.
Other objects, features and many of the attendant advantages of the
invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better
understood by reference to the following detailed description, when
considered with the accompanying drawings, wherein
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred first
embodiment of the inventive containers;
FIG. 2 is a vertical, axial sectional view of the container
embodiment of FIG. 1, after both substances have been filled
in;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but after mixing of the
substances once the pusher has been enforced and the ball dropped
into the lower compartment;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view, somewhat similar to that of FIG. 2, of
a second, preferred embodiment of the containers;
FIG. 5 is a view somewhat similar to that of FIG. 3 but after
mixing of the substances;
FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 6 -- 6 of
FIG. 5; and
FIGS. 7 and 8 are partial, vertical sectional views showing
modifications of the pusher structure in the upper compartment and
of the locking portions for the ball-shaped partition.
First the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 will be described.
This embodiment of the inventive containers comprises an upper
section 10, a lower section 20 and a pusher member 30 insertable in
the open top of the upper section 10, as can be seen from the
assembled view of FIGS. 2 and 3. The two sections can be slidingly
engaged, in a liquid-tight manner, by way of respective sleeve-like
terminal portions 12 and 22 which allow a close fit of the sections
10 and 20.
Upper compartment 14 is formed within section 10, and lower
compartment 24 in section 20, as shown in FIG. 2. Between the
compartments, a ball-shaped partition or valve member 39 can be
frictionally seated, for example in an annular groove 16 of the
upper section 10. Inwardly projecting spurs 18 or a continuous
ridge serve for tightly surrounding the pusher member 30 in the
free end of the upper section 10.
Preferably, the sections 10, 20 may be provided with outer ribs or
reinforcing portions as shown in FIG. 1 at 19 and 29 for lending
rigidity to the container, particularly in the area of the lower
compartment 24. It should be noted that these ribs have been shown
for the first embodiment only since appropriate wall thickness may
make such reinforcements superfluous.
The pusher member 30 has an upper portion 32 which is manually
operable, and a lower portion 34 which may constitute an enlarged
head, as shown. Preferably, but not necessarily, the lower face of
the pusher 30 may be made concave, as shown at 36, so as to
complement the shape of the ball partition 39 and obturate the
lower compartment 24 when completely pushed into the upper
container section 10, as shown in FIG. 3. For manufacturing
purposes, the pusher 30 may have an axial bore 38 in its top,
primarily for saving material, although this expedient does not
appreciably affect the operation of the container.
The filling of the device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 can be accomplished
as follows: one starts with the assembled container, that is
sections 10, 20 which are interconnected with a sliding fit, as
shown, or by a thread (not illustrated). The ball 39 and the pusher
30 are not yet in place so that the compartments 14, 24 directly
communicate with the outside by way of the passage or opening of
upper section 10 (below the ridge or spurs 18).
One pours into the lower compartment 24, that is, into the lower
section 20, the desired amount of the first substance which is
identified by letter A. Hereafter one inserts in place the ball 39
by forcing it into the compartment 14, for example by means of a
mandrel, stem or similar conventional tool. Owing to the elasticity
of the material (either of the ball or of the container section in
question), the ball 39 will first pass the ridge at 18 and then
take its place in the groove 16. Thus, the ball constitutes a
leak-tight partition which separates the two compartments 14 and
24.
Subsequently one pours into the upper compartment 14, which is
still open from the top, the desired quantity of the second
substance B. All that remains now is to insert the pusher 30 past
the ridge 18, which will then occupy the position shown in FIG. 2.
The container is now charged and is ready for transportation or
storage. It should be noted that the operation was carried out
without any disassemblage of the sections 10, 20, simply by way of
the passage or opening leading to the outside from the upper
compartment 14.
The filling can of course also be carried out by separating the
sections 10, 20, the ball 39 being then set in its place, as shown
in FIG. 2, e.g. in its seat 16. The substance A is now introduced
into the lower section 20, the sections 10, 20 are assembled, and
the filling operation continues as has been explained before.
For discharging the substances, or their mixture, from the
container, subsequent to transportation or storage, it is
sufficient to exert a pressure sufficient for the pusher 30 to
exert a pressure (direct or indirect) on the ball 39, whereby the
latter is made to fall into the lower compartment 24. It will be
understood that hydrostatic pressure plays a certain role in this
pushing operation, by way of the substance A contained in the upper
compartment 14.
The partition which was previously constituted by the ball 39, and
which separated the two compartments, is thus abolished so that the
substance B is allowed to drop and mingle with the substance A in
the lower compartment 24.
When one continues to move the pusher member 30 inward, it will
take the position as shown in FIG. 3, its base or lower face 36
abutting against the annular groove 16 so that the compartment 24
is now closed again in a hermetic manner.
The container may now be vigorously shaken to bring about and
assure the intimate mixing of the substances A and B. As has been
mentioned before, A may be a metallic powder while B may be
mercury, the mixing action resulting in an amalgam, suitable e.g.
for dental purposes. The mass of the ball 39 efficiently assists in
the thorough intermixing of the substances.
When the shaking and mixing is terminated, the sections 10, 20 of
the container may be separated so that the user can easily
discharge the mixture or amalgam, which is now contained in the
open lower compartment 24, in section 20.
Another preferred embodiment of the inventive containers is shown
in FIGS. 4 through 6, and the modifications shown in the partial
views of FIGS. 7 and 8. It will be understood by those skilled in
the art that the modifications can be applied to the first
embodiment as well, and that the detailed features are of course
interchangeable between the two somewhat different exemplary
container embodiments. The numbering scheme is correlated so that
similar or identical parts are easy to recognize.
The upper and lower container sections, the pusher member and the
partition-forming ball are respectively identified by numerals 40,
50, 60 and 69 (in correlation to the previously described parts 10,
20, 30 and 39, respectively). The sections 40, 50 have respective
sleeve-like terminal portions 42, 52; the compartments are
identified by numerals 44, 54. In FIG. 4, a groove 46 is shown
which is similar to groove 16 of FIGS. 2 and 3; and a ridge or
spurs 48 are disposed on the top end of the upper section 40, as
before.
This embodiment is not shown with reinforcing ribs although, it
will be understood, the same expedient can be used for FIGS. 4 and
5 as for FIGS. 1 through 3.
The pusher member 60 has similar upper, lower and concave portions
62, 64 and 66, respectively, as was described before; the concave
lower face can of course be omitted for the sake of simplicity.
The operation of the second embodiment is identical with that of
the described first embodiment, and need not be repeated at this
point. When the filling is completed, as shown in FIG. 4, the ball
69 separates the compartments 44, 54; its outer diameter fits into
the inner lumen of the restricted groove area 46. The ball again
serves as a pestle during the intermixing of the two substances, A
and B, in the lower compartment 54 (see FIG. 5). The groove 46 is
preferably provided at the level of the junction between the two
compartments 44 and 54.
The ball 69 is given a diameter slightly larger than the inner
diameter of the compartment 44 so that the former is held in place
by friction and slight deformation of the inner walls.
In FIG. 6, spurs 48a are shown for a slightly different upper
section 40a having a modified pusher member 60a movable therein.
The lower projection of section 40a is identified by numeral 42a,
and the groove is here 46a. The pusher 60a has respective upper,
lower and concave portions 62a, 64a and 66a. The structure of FIGS.
5 and 6 is otherwise identical with or closely similar to that of
FIG. 4.
It is also possible to provide two ribs, such as shown in FIG. 7 at
46b, 46b', in a modified upper section 40b of the container. These
ribs flank or encircle the equator of the ball 69.
FIG. 8 illustrates another modification wherein a pusher 60c has a
substantially cylindrical upper portion 62c and a slightly enlarged
head portion 64c at its lower end, with an annular ridge disposed
just above the head portion. The concave bottom face is denoted
with numeral 66c. The upper section, identified here as 40c, has
one or two inwardly protruding rib-like portions 46c, 46c' which
flank the outwardly bulging head portion 64c. In this modified
structure, the pusher member 60c cannot be forced deeper into the
compartment 54 than the annular ridge would allow, thus providing a
tight seal when the lower compartment is obturated.
In the illustrated embodiments, the pusher member has been shown to
be substantially cylindrical. It will be understood that it could
be given any other configuration, complementing the inner passage
of the upper container section, as long as a sliding fit can be
assured, with a leak-proof engagement when the pusher member is
completely enforced.
The container sections themselves need not be cylindrical, as
shown, although this is the easiest manner of manufacturing them,
particularly from a plastic material. A rectangular octagonal or
other cross section would work equally well for the inventive
containers.
It will be understood that the diameter of the circle which can be
inscribed between the spurs 48, 48a of FIGS. 4 and 5, 6 is slightly
smaller than that of the pusher portions 64, 64a, respectively, but
the difference is nevertheless small enough to be able to insert
the pusher in place in view of the elasticity of the walls, by
simply forcing or pushing the same into the free opening of the
upper sections 40, 40a, respectively.
The concave lower faces of the pusher embodiments, as shown in
FIGS. 3 to 5 and 8 at 36, 66, 66a and 66c, respectively, prevent
sticking of the mixed substances while the container is shaken,
owing to the absence of corners and gaps between the adjoining
parts.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure
relates only to preferred, exemplary embodiments the the inventive
containers, and that it is intended to cover all changes and
modifications of the examples described which do not constitute
departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth
in the appended claims.
* * * * *