CA1280719C - Container and closure assembly - Google Patents
Container and closure assemblyInfo
- Publication number
- CA1280719C CA1280719C CA000611071A CA611071A CA1280719C CA 1280719 C CA1280719 C CA 1280719C CA 000611071 A CA000611071 A CA 000611071A CA 611071 A CA611071 A CA 611071A CA 1280719 C CA1280719 C CA 1280719C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cap
- container
- thin wall
- assembly
- puncture
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
- B65D51/18—Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures
- B65D51/20—Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing
- B65D51/22—Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing having means for piercing, cutting, or tearing the inner closure
- B65D51/221—Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing having means for piercing, cutting, or tearing the inner closure a major part of the inner closure being left inside the container after the opening
- B65D51/222—Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing having means for piercing, cutting, or tearing the inner closure a major part of the inner closure being left inside the container after the opening the piercing or cutting means being integral with, or fixedly attached to, the outer closure
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
- B65D81/32—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging two or more different materials which must be maintained separate prior to use in admixture
- B65D81/3261—Flexible containers having several compartments
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
- B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
- B65D2251/0006—Upper closure
- B65D2251/0015—Upper closure of the 41-type
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
- B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
- B65D2251/0068—Lower closure
- B65D2251/0093—Membrane
- B65D2251/0096—Membrane integral with the container
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A multiple compartment container and closure assembly with a container having at least two adjacent compartments with end portions terminating in a common surface at one end of the container. The end is sized to accept a cap and the surface has a thin wall portion in communication with each of the compartments. A cap is sized to slidably fit on the end or the container which has puncture means being positioned in alignment with each of the thin wall portions of the container so that movement of the cap from a first position on the end to a second position causes the puncture means to puncture the respective thin wall portion with which it is aligned, to permit access to the contents of the adjacent compartments. A surface of interference on the one end of the container is positioned a predetermined distance from the thin wall portions, and a surface of resistance on the inside of said cap 15 positioned to engage the surface of interference to locate the cap on the end portion at the first position to prevent inadvertent movement of the cap to the second position.
A multiple compartment container and closure assembly with a container having at least two adjacent compartments with end portions terminating in a common surface at one end of the container. The end is sized to accept a cap and the surface has a thin wall portion in communication with each of the compartments. A cap is sized to slidably fit on the end or the container which has puncture means being positioned in alignment with each of the thin wall portions of the container so that movement of the cap from a first position on the end to a second position causes the puncture means to puncture the respective thin wall portion with which it is aligned, to permit access to the contents of the adjacent compartments. A surface of interference on the one end of the container is positioned a predetermined distance from the thin wall portions, and a surface of resistance on the inside of said cap 15 positioned to engage the surface of interference to locate the cap on the end portion at the first position to prevent inadvertent movement of the cap to the second position.
Description
.37~9 . , CONT/~INER /~NI) CI~OSURF. ASSEMI~L.Y
FIEI.U OF TIIE INVEN'I']iON
rhiS invent:ion relnl:es tll (Inul)le colrlpFIrLlrle~ closllre ancl tube assembl:ies Ln wllLcl~ m;l~:eriFIls .nre storeci in nl leas~: two separate COmpFIrtnlent.S until. ~ e colllpnrLInellts are (!perle(i for llse, Flt WlliCIl tilne the c~?mp0nellts are o~tell 1. imes mi.xeci ~:ogetller. il)e (levLce is partLclllFIrl.y sui.t.nble lol- me~licai apl)licrll.iolls wllere two or nl(-re reagellts nre to be precisely monitore~l ciuril-g use.
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,' ~, 7~9 1~1\CKGROUNI) OF Tlll~ iNVr:NTlON
lhere are a vnriel:y ni ap;lical:iolls in wllich tWl- Lngreclients are l<ept separate Erorn one all(lLller in a single conLairler, .sucll a9 a dllal cornpartment contairler, so that nt the approrlri.lle tinne tl-e two components can be used or their i.ntellded purpo.se. I'repackagi.llg oE .speciElc close.s nr quantitLes Ls greatly IncLli.tated by the use ot mul.ti.ple colnpartment contalrlers and c losures.
By tlle use of contai.ners llaving preclst-ly measure q-lanti.ties oE
components, it is possible to develop packaging wll:icll is "user friendly"
in the sense that mistakes made by the user are virtually avoided. For example, in pregnancy test kits whicll are used i.n the privacy oE the home, it i.s necessary to precisely monitor a speci~ic quantity of drops of two reagents i.nto the urine speci.men. Avoidirlg the necessity of coUIltillg drops eliminates a majnr source Or rni.stake nnd subs~ant:ially increa.ses the reliability of the test kit. Ihus, iL ~:he preci.se quantiti.es of botl reagents are in a dual compartmerlt contai.rler, and i.f access to that precLsely moni.l:nred nmourlt Ls extremely reiiabi.e, a greater degree nr collrlderlce Ln the test carl be expected.
Another sLtuatioll where precLse moni.~-rlrlg and avolclallce oE mlstakes Is important i.s tlle mlxi.rlg or sm~ll rluarltitles oE epoxy g~ue ar1d other si.mllar materi.al.s. iel.epllolle lillemarl workillg on Lelepllolle wi.re Illgll above the p,rolln(l no la-llge~r spli.ce wlres. ihe plesel)~ ~.echllol~f7y calls 1~.~l a qui.ck setting appllcatiorl oE epoxy glue to bond the wlres together. if iL
would be possl.ble tr- avol.d re-;uiri.ng the llnernarl to count drops oE
InLti.ator to cause the epoxy to set, greater accuracy, greater strengtl and greater safety wollld be acl)i.eved.
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in tllese situatiol)s ancl in others, consi(lerable interest is now bein~
shown in cap ancl container assemhlies which cal)llol: be opened by happenstanee but wbicll rerluire a speeific nllcl positive s~:ep ~o be taken in order to have aeeess to the contellts. Ihi.s is particularly true wherl the preeise amourlt of Llle eollterlts Ls imporl;lrll. IL i.s also pflr~:ieularly sLgnLrJeant wherl prol:ecl:iorl Of either the u.qer or the ingrecliellts is of prime importance. In tlle cnse of reagen~:s for medical purposes, a sterile envLronrl1ellt Is al)sol~ ely essenl:i.lL. In tbe ease of other pplLCatiOrls, SUCII ns the C!pOXy resin applienl:i(-n cdeseribed above, inadvertent eontaet by the Ingredients on the skin is undesirable and should be avoicied.
In aetual praetice, the assurarlee cllat tlle tube has not been opened prematurely is sometirnes as Lmportant as tbe need to prevent urlciesirable tampering, so as to be assured oE the integrity of the material. i`hls is true beeause the eontents, wnile valuable, are not dangerous. It is very important to know whetller or n(!t the eolltents h.tve been eontamillated or, perhaps, partially spilled. Partic-llarly whell single unit doses are provided Ln eompartmellts Or n eolltailler, it is important to know that the full quAntLty of meclicille wllicll llas been prescribecl has also been delLvered to the patierll:.
I'rLor art deviee~s have not yet proclueecl a prneLlc.11 multlple eompartment eonl:ainer nn(l closure assembly wllicll Is capable of beLng transporte(l safely wLtlloul: eolleerll f:or Lna(lverterlt openlllg Or the eolltaLIlers whlle at the same tJme provLdes Int n rlulek all(l ulleomplLeate(l openLng of the two eomp(-llellts at the same tlme. One SUCII desi.gll WIILClI has been relatively ullsueeessEul Lnelu(les the one pLeee moldLrl~ of a container and elosure so that the eap ean be torn rrom tlle enntalner, by twlstJnp, or pulllng. I'hls has been unaeceptable as a metllo(l beea-lse the separatlr-n Or tlle eontaLner [rom tlle clnsure Is dolle In a tay tllat pretsllre Is applle(l I
Il to the container. lhis positive pressure nrten times resull:s in ~spurts of contents escaping from container durirlg the opening process, rather tllnn when the contents are to be use(l. Ihese pri(-r ar~: deslgns aLso nre incapable of re-closing the container -nce the closure has been separated from the conl:ainers. lo remeciy this, plug Iype members hnve beerl prop-sed for use witll tllr c-t11c!r end of ~:he closurtl~ so tllat It cnn be Lnverl:eci an(l forceci down on the encl i l:he tul)e nrter it: has beell operled. lhis, ot course, exposes the tnrn o[f tn(ls of tlle cnp ancl any porl:Lorl ot the contents whicll may h;lve spattered orlto the torl1 ends. Ad~itlorlally, it empLoys a portion of the cap whicll has been exposecl to the environrnent as the secondary closure mechatlism.
Container an(l cLoslJre assembLies wl-icll are designe(l Eor s;ngle 1 compartment containers can be fabricated in round contairlers, so that tlle ¦ end can be threaded and selectively removed and attached. ~n exampLe of thLs type of cLosure with a built in piercing device, is showrl in U.S.
Patent No. ~l,3~l0,147 an(l in U.S. Patent No. 3 45~l 196. NeLther rlesigll i.s suLtable [or use with a plurality of compartments, unless each of the compartments is to be openecl with its own cap assemble. U.S. Patent No.
4,146,152 and U.S. Iatent No. t,695,~9() dtscrLbe closures tor sLngle compartment containers whLcll are even It~s9 sui~:able tor ndaptati-ll to multlple compartmenk colltaLrler and cLosurt- nsselllblies.
~ ccorclinpLy, il: is tluLl:e irnportallt tllnt n new ancl l~ rovecl contnLrler and closure as~embly be clevelopecl whlcll woulclllave a reliabllity Or use an(l woul(l protect bol:ll the colltellts antl the user from urlwalltecl contamlnatLon. It woul(l be of partlcular vnLue Lf the devlce could be provided which woul(l perlllit contLnue(l use of the contaLIler once access to the conl:ents has been rrl;lle.
, i l, Il t7~9 SUM~i~RY OF T~IE lNVENTlON
it has now been discoverecl tllAt Lhe above and other objects oE l:lle present invelltLoll may be accolnplisrletl in tl-e Sollowillg rnanner.
Specifically, a rnultiple comparLment contailler ancl closure assembly llas been dLscovered which comprLses the following comporlel1ts. A container is provlded havirl~, at le;lF,I: t:wn adlacerlt CompArtlllelltS wi~ en(l portions termlnal:lng in a commoll surr~ce at one end oi tlle container. 'I'hat end is sized to accept a cap. 'I'lle surface has a tllLo wall portLon for eacll ot the compartments, that thin wall portion being ln direct commurlicatloll wlth Its respective compartment so tllat whell the thin wall is rupturetl or broken, access to the conterlts oL the compartl-lellt can be made.
Also provided is a cap whicll is sized to slidably fit on the end of the container. 'I'he cap has a plurality of puncture means, each of whicl is positioned in alignmerlt with one of tlle thin wall portions oE the container so that movemcllt Or the cap from a tirst position on the elld oE
the container to a seconcl position causes each puncture means to puncture the respective thin wall portion with whicll it hAS been aligned. 'I'his permits access to the contenl:s oE the varl(lu~s compartments.
The contaLner is also provldecl wltll a surrace oE lnter[erence on tllat ' end of the contaLner. 'I'hi.9 surLace nf Lnterlererlce Ls posLtLoneti a precletermlned dLstarlce irolll tlle thill wall portic)lls. in cooperfltlon tllerewltll~ A surEflce Or regl~qtallce Ls provLtlecl on the LnsLtle of saitl cap ' so that engagement of tlle surEace of interLerence antl surface of resistance posltiorls tlle cap al: tlle iirst posLtlnn, wllereby inadvertent li movemerlt oi- the cap to tlle secnnd posltLoll ls prevented. 'I'lle surface of ¦1 Lnterference ancl the re~istallce surrace cooperatlvely resLst movemellt of:
Il the cap to the seconcl positlon oE puncturLng. ~ i'orce Ls necessary to Il ll l t ~'~8~719 ¦' overcome this resistance. Tllt! amount of the [orce is sufficient to ¦ prevent ;nadvertent movcrnent of l:lle cap to that second position on the compartment end.
Il rypically~ the surrnce Or interferel~ce nlld the resiqtal-ce sur[ace mny ¦, comprLse a sholllder on tlle cnrltaLIler wllLcll interacts ~Lth tlle encl of tlle ~¦ closure. Alternatively, a pluralLty of ridges rnay be ~mployecl, with one ¦ ridge belng located on eitlltr the ccntaLner or tl~e closure al~cl a palr or ¦~ rLdges locatecl on the oLIIt!r cnlllpol)ent. Ille pnir Or rldges may delllle a ¦I groove. ~Iternatively, the paLr of ridges may be replaced by a groovr ¦ into which the ridge fits.
l' 1.
307~9 nRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TIIE DRhWINGS
; [hese and other ol)jects or tl~e present i.llVellt i.OIl ancl the various rentureA and (le~:ni l.s ol Z.lle operation an(l consL:rllctioll there(lr are hereitlafter mnre fully set l:orl:ll witl~ reference to l:lle accompanyil~g dra~Lngs, wherr-:
I l:ig. 1 Is a persr)c-ctive view Or a conl aLner and Ll S assocLal:ecl closure member sllowing a preferreci embod;mellt of tlle present inventioll;
Fig. 2 is an enlargecl [ragmelltary sectLonal elevatlonal vLew taken I alollg lines 2-2 of FLg. t;
¦ FLg. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but show-ing the closure member in I a piercing mode;
I Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along tlle lines 4-4 of ~ig. 2;
¦ Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 bllt sllowing a modified corltairler ¦ and closure;
F-ig. 6 ls a view similar to Fig. 3, showing tlle modifieci closure member Ln Lt.s piercirlg mode; ancl FLg. 7 Ls an enlarge(l perspective virw ot l:lle mo(lLrL~cl closure sl~own Ln FLgs. 5 arlcl 6.
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3()7~9 DET~II,EI) DESCRIPTION OF TlIE PREFERRED EMnOD1MENT
_ _ _ ~ s shown in the drawings, tl~e assembly lO has a cap tl and a container 13 whicll are combLned 90 tl~at the cap ll engages orle end ~ Or the container 13. 'I'lle contaitler 1:3 is ~illed, ~:ypically with a small guarltlty or a product, a[~er the cap an(l con~:airler assembly has beerl manuactured and sterilixe(l, L[ necessary. 'I'he corltaLrler Lncludes a f:lrst compartment ~5 and a seond compartlllent 17, br-l:ll of whicll contaln tlle product for whicll the a~ssernbly is interlde(l. 'I'he conterlts are placed Ln the two compartments lS arld 17 and the otl)er en(l, ~9, away Lrom the closure 11, Ls t:herl seale(l by crimping, lleat sealirlg or olller cnllverltLorlal method for permanently closing that end oE a container. In one embodiment, the cap I1 is clear or transparent, so that the user can see Lf the package has been punctured.
'l'he closure ll includes a pair oE pullc~ re mealls 21 ~nd 23, wl)Lch are I shown as sharp pointed extensions o the inside oC the closure cap ll arld , wllich are suitable for piercing thin portions of tlle material from whicll the particular contairlers are manufacture(l, sucll as plastlcs and ~he ltke.
'l'he end 14 of tlle contaLner 13 terminates in a common surface 24 ' which contaLns a tllill wall portioll 25 in comm(lrlLcatlorl wLth 1rst compartment 15 and a tllin wall portlon 27 ln communLcatLon wLth second compartment 17. 'l'l)e two compartrnents l5 arld 17 are separated by a ~tvlder ¦ wall 29 so tllat tlle cnrlter)ts oi tlle compartmerlts 15 and 17 are not co-mlngled until the approprLate tLme.
I As Ls sllown in ~Lg. 2, the pLercLng mernbers 21 and 23 become aligned with tlle thlrl wall portions 25 and 27 wllen the closure cap 11 Ls slidably fit on tlle end 14 o contaLrler l3. ~s showll in Flg. 2, thLs first ~,, ~5 !
~2807~3 position oE the ca~ nll the end t4 provides lor a closure wl1icll protects the thin wall pnrtions 25 atld 27 from cont;lminatioll ancl d.~mage.
Wllen the cap 11 is rnove(l to a secnnd positinn, as showl- in l;ig. 'i the puncture means 21 all(l 23 pllnCtllre tbe respectLve thLn wall portions 25 and 27 wltll whicll they are aliglled. 'I'llis permits nccess Lo the contellts of the adJacent cnmparlrrlerlts ~5 arld l7. ln a preEerred ernbodimellt, the puncture means 21 or 23 is nf smaller diameter than the thln wall 25 or 27. Upon movelllerlt Of the cap ll axially down on t:he tube encl ~4, tlle puncture means 23 puncl:urcs t:lle tllill wall 27, causing portions oE tlle tllin wall to curl as showrl at 27a in liig. 3. likewise, piercing using puncture member 21 causes thin wall 25 to produce curled edges 25a. The si~e alld shape of the puncture member 25 is SllCh that it will not go to the edge of thln wall 27, tllereby causing the tllin wall 27a to peel back but not causing it to he sheare(l from its position an(l fall into compartment 17.
In order to locate the cap li on the end 14 of tlle container 13 a surface of interrerence 3l is providecl On the ell(l 14 of the cnntainer 13.
The surface of interLerence 31 Ls located a predetermirled distance Erom the thin wall portions 25 and 27. 'l'he cap 11 has a surface of resistance 37 wllicll allows the cap tl to be posltLoned tn engage tlle surface of lnterference 31 and loca~:e tbe cap ll on the end 14 Ln a first pnsltlnll tn prevent an advertent movemellt of the cap ll to the second posLtlon. 1n lg. 2, the surface of Lllterference 31 ls Ln tlle F:orm of: a groove or spacing located betweell lower rLdge 32 all(l upper ridge 33. Tlle surEace Or resLstance 37 ls located on a rLdge 35 on the illtc!rinr portlon o[ the cap 11. When tlle cap 11 Ls Lnserted on the encl 14 oE ehe contaLner 13, tlle rLdge 35 snaps Lnto place betweell tlle Lower rldge 32 and upper rLdge 33 of the end 1~. Tlle surEace of resLstance 37 located on rLdge 35 ls pressed agaLnst the surEace oE Ln~:errerellce 31, whLcll tn tllis embodlmellt Ls a groove between the riclges 32 and 33. With the cap 11 firmly locked In I .
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37~9 place on th(! cnd 1~l of tile C(>ntaillCr 13 ;11 tllC Lirst positiot1, as shown in Fig. 2. lhe tllill wall portiong 25 and 27 nre protect~!d Erom contamillatio alld from damap(!.
Upon the applic;lt:ioll oL a~le~luate lorce, tll(3 surf.lce of rcsistallcf! 37 oll rJdge 35 sl i,~l(!s ovl!r 1:11(! low(!r ri~lg(! ~2 ;1ll~l l(!llves tlle ~sllr[;lc(! ol lntererellce 31 so l:h'l: th(! pullcture mcmbers 21 alld 23 pUnCt~lrC thil- walls 25 al1(1 27 resp(!ctLvely, all(l ncccs9 is llOW ma~le to thc adJoLIlLllg compartmellts 15 alld 17. '1'11(! Op(!ratiOII of tll(! d(!ViCC .shown .ill l~igs. 2 flll~
3 ;s slmple, ~ d yet Lt Js cxtr(!m(!ly (!LJectLv(~ )rot(!ctillg tll(! colltrllts of the contail1er until a decisioll Ls ma~lr! to acces.s the contents or usr by a consumer. Upon appllcation of ade(luate torce, the thill wall portions 25 and 27 are punctur(!d. lhe neel back l:eatur(! oi the tllin wall 27 shown as 27a in Fig. 3 whJcll is caused do to tlle relatiollship between the si~e of the piercing member 23 and the area of tl-e thill wall portion 27, is out oL the way and does not nreSent a dflnger to thf! cons-lmer whell the contellts are removed. 1n addition tllere nre llo p;l!ces oi tlle thill wall portio illadvertelltly mixe(l wLtll the contents ol tlle contaLIlers 15 and 17. lhe thin wall portions 25 and 27 can be made from plastic, during tlle rnolding operation. Alternatively, they Clll be made Erom tl-in portions of mf!tal foil if the contellts o[ the conta1ner ar(! such that plastlc is not an effective contaLllll-cllt materl.ll.
In Figs. 5, 6 al-~l 7, a second prererred ambo~llmellt ls sllowll Ln wh1ch the cap 11a all~l cont;lil-er 13 fullctLon as all assernbly in the same m~rlrler as previously ~lescrLI)(!(I to protect the cont(!llt~s oE the contlllller. As shown ill l;Lg. 5, the cap lla Ls snugly 1t on the en(l 14a of colltalner 13. A
shouldl?r 39 prevellt.s movemont OE the Clld 4t oE the cap lla beyon~l the first posLtion whLch ha.s prevlously been d(![ined as a posLtLoll whereill thc cap lla protects tlle tllLn wall portLon 25 alld 27 of common surface 24 oE
tha end 14a of tl1e contaLIler. Ihe should-!r 39 of end 14a and the end 41 , ~L~80719 oE cap tla prevel)t lu;llvertel1t mnvemel-t o[ the cap 11fl to a po.sition wllere the puncture meflns 2t or 23 might iLmpact on thLIl walls 25 and 27 re.spectively. 'I'hc E-)rCe recluirecl to ovr3rcolne the coor)eral:ive re6istallce betweel1 the surLacl- ol int- rrerenc-! 39 ;In I tllc ~sur[ace o[ resist;ll1c(- 41 i.s slJE[iCiellt t~) prevel)l: ilul~JverL(!~~t acce.s.s Ln l.he contelll:fi Or LhC colll nl ucr 3.
11l Fig. 6, the c~p lla has been rrlov(!cl witll surfici~3nt force to overcome thf! resls~ llc(! C;lU5(!d by the J-ll)ction of shoulcier 39 an(l en(l 41.
In some Instances l:b(! m;lter;.al [rOm whicll tbe c;lp lla ts mal1uE;~cture(l such as some grades o[ plastics, w111 have suffLcient elast;city to permit the cap to s1ide over the shoulder 39. In CilSf35 where the cap is made of a more rigid or less e1ilstic milteriaI or whell the resistancr3 force caused by the junction of shoul(ler 39 ;lncd end 41 ;5 intel1tiol1a11y designed to be higtl the Eeature showrl here may be employed. SpecificaLly a groove or cut 43 iS l)rOVidell ;11 th(! WflLI of the cap t1a a10n& with a pilir oE
axially extendillg cuts 45 or which Can be SCCIl ill F'i.g. 7. I;irst, the cap lta is moved towarci the contail1er t3, overcomlng tlle force of resifitance caused by the should(!r 39 and end 41. Once the end 41 has been moved beyond th- shoulder 39 the Eorcc CflUSf:S th~! movement of the cap 11;1 to br1ng tlle puncture mefln6 21 flllCI 23 to enter thro-lgl1 the thin Wfll1s 25 flnd 27. 1his force is suf[;ciellt to cause the wi~11 oE the tube tla to ben(l at tl~e groove 43 50 th;lt portions 47 of the tube 1 Ifl separate a10l~g 1 ln(!9 or CUtfi 45 tc~ f1are out. Ihe portiol~ oE the cap lla wh1ch 1s Ibova tl~o groove 43 m;~lnti Ins fl .SllUg Elt fllld, wltll .~pprt)prl.ltr! tolerflllce.s ifi sufficient to keep the c;~p and cont;l1ller asselllbLy Eunct10lllng after the thin walls 25 anCd 27 h;lV(3 been pul~ctured. As shown Fig. 1, the cuts '13 flnCI 45 do not 1nt(-rE(3r(- with the or)(3ratiorl of the contal~ r and c106ur asse~nb1y prior to tlle pllllcturirlg of th(! tllirl wnl1fi 25 ;Ind 27. OllCe tl ''' tl ;
!
80~
tl~in walls 25 .nnd 27 i1,1VC bt~e11 pu1lctl1rcd, .ncccs.s 1:o the conte11ts is readily obtained.
'I'he operAtion ol ~ t` closure a1-d conl:~i11er ~.ssembly Of thls invention Ls relatively simplc. ~t t:he appropriate time wher1 tht~ contents are to be removed, the cap 11 or 11.1 i.s pus11ed from ~1~e li1st po.sition wl~ere tht?
cap fu11ct10ns to protec~: tlle end 14 of tile conl:ai1ler 13 to tlle seco1-d posLtion whlcll causes l:he pur1cturLng me1nbers 21 a1-ti 23 to puncture the thir1 walls and allow l:or acccss to l:he Spcciric materLals cont~ined in eacl1 of the adJacent compart1ne11ts 15, 17 a11d ~:I-e like. When the device is used as a pregnancy testi1lg kit, for example, it is a simple matter to overcome tl1e force of resistance to cause the thin walls to be pu1)ctured.
'i'he cap 11 or lIa is then removed and the conte1lts are poured into the urine specimen ~nd the results of the test are reliably obtained because no measurement has been retiuired by the person performing the test.
Similarly, if otiler matcrials are contnined in l:he contaioer, e~lunlly simple and effective access can be had. It s1~ould be readily apparent that two compartments 15 and i7 have been illustrated to describe the preferred embodin-ent. Nevertheless, more tl1a1~ two compartments can easily be accommodated accordillg Ln tbe principals of tlle present Invention.
Slrnllarly, tl-e compartmc11l:s do not need to bc Identlcal In slze. 'I`llis invention is admlrably suitcd to sltuatinns where a preclse ratio nf one ingredient to tl1e otl1cr Is regulred, so tl1at a [Irst comp.lrt1nent twlce as large as the second co1nparl:111erlt could easlly be constructe(l.
While parllcl1lar embodi1l1el1t~s or l:he preser1t Inven~lo1~ ve been illustratecl an(l descrlbe(ll1erelr1, It Is not intended to limlt the invention an(l charlges an(1 mo(ll[icatlons may be made thereln within the scope of the followir1g clalms:
li
FIEI.U OF TIIE INVEN'I']iON
rhiS invent:ion relnl:es tll (Inul)le colrlpFIrLlrle~ closllre ancl tube assembl:ies Ln wllLcl~ m;l~:eriFIls .nre storeci in nl leas~: two separate COmpFIrtnlent.S until. ~ e colllpnrLInellts are (!perle(i for llse, Flt WlliCIl tilne the c~?mp0nellts are o~tell 1. imes mi.xeci ~:ogetller. il)e (levLce is partLclllFIrl.y sui.t.nble lol- me~licai apl)licrll.iolls wllere two or nl(-re reagellts nre to be precisely monitore~l ciuril-g use.
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,' ~, 7~9 1~1\CKGROUNI) OF Tlll~ iNVr:NTlON
lhere are a vnriel:y ni ap;lical:iolls in wllich tWl- Lngreclients are l<ept separate Erorn one all(lLller in a single conLairler, .sucll a9 a dllal cornpartment contairler, so that nt the approrlri.lle tinne tl-e two components can be used or their i.ntellded purpo.se. I'repackagi.llg oE .speciElc close.s nr quantitLes Ls greatly IncLli.tated by the use ot mul.ti.ple colnpartment contalrlers and c losures.
By tlle use of contai.ners llaving preclst-ly measure q-lanti.ties oE
components, it is possible to develop packaging wll:icll is "user friendly"
in the sense that mistakes made by the user are virtually avoided. For example, in pregnancy test kits whicll are used i.n the privacy oE the home, it i.s necessary to precisely monitor a speci~ic quantity of drops of two reagents i.nto the urine speci.men. Avoidirlg the necessity of coUIltillg drops eliminates a majnr source Or rni.stake nnd subs~ant:ially increa.ses the reliability of the test kit. Ihus, iL ~:he preci.se quantiti.es of botl reagents are in a dual compartmerlt contai.rler, and i.f access to that precLsely moni.l:nred nmourlt Ls extremely reiiabi.e, a greater degree nr collrlderlce Ln the test carl be expected.
Another sLtuatioll where precLse moni.~-rlrlg and avolclallce oE mlstakes Is important i.s tlle mlxi.rlg or sm~ll rluarltitles oE epoxy g~ue ar1d other si.mllar materi.al.s. iel.epllolle lillemarl workillg on Lelepllolle wi.re Illgll above the p,rolln(l no la-llge~r spli.ce wlres. ihe plesel)~ ~.echllol~f7y calls 1~.~l a qui.ck setting appllcatiorl oE epoxy glue to bond the wlres together. if iL
would be possl.ble tr- avol.d re-;uiri.ng the llnernarl to count drops oE
InLti.ator to cause the epoxy to set, greater accuracy, greater strengtl and greater safety wollld be acl)i.eved.
!
, ~ 8(~
in tllese situatiol)s ancl in others, consi(lerable interest is now bein~
shown in cap ancl container assemhlies which cal)llol: be opened by happenstanee but wbicll rerluire a speeific nllcl positive s~:ep ~o be taken in order to have aeeess to the contellts. Ihi.s is particularly true wherl the preeise amourlt of Llle eollterlts Ls imporl;lrll. IL i.s also pflr~:ieularly sLgnLrJeant wherl prol:ecl:iorl Of either the u.qer or the ingrecliellts is of prime importance. In tlle cnse of reagen~:s for medical purposes, a sterile envLronrl1ellt Is al)sol~ ely essenl:i.lL. In tbe ease of other pplLCatiOrls, SUCII ns the C!pOXy resin applienl:i(-n cdeseribed above, inadvertent eontaet by the Ingredients on the skin is undesirable and should be avoicied.
In aetual praetice, the assurarlee cllat tlle tube has not been opened prematurely is sometirnes as Lmportant as tbe need to prevent urlciesirable tampering, so as to be assured oE the integrity of the material. i`hls is true beeause the eontents, wnile valuable, are not dangerous. It is very important to know whetller or n(!t the eolltents h.tve been eontamillated or, perhaps, partially spilled. Partic-llarly whell single unit doses are provided Ln eompartmellts Or n eolltailler, it is important to know that the full quAntLty of meclicille wllicll llas been prescribecl has also been delLvered to the patierll:.
I'rLor art deviee~s have not yet proclueecl a prneLlc.11 multlple eompartment eonl:ainer nn(l closure assembly wllicll Is capable of beLng transporte(l safely wLtlloul: eolleerll f:or Lna(lverterlt openlllg Or the eolltaLIlers whlle at the same tJme provLdes Int n rlulek all(l ulleomplLeate(l openLng of the two eomp(-llellts at the same tlme. One SUCII desi.gll WIILClI has been relatively ullsueeessEul Lnelu(les the one pLeee moldLrl~ of a container and elosure so that the eap ean be torn rrom tlle enntalner, by twlstJnp, or pulllng. I'hls has been unaeceptable as a metllo(l beea-lse the separatlr-n Or tlle eontaLner [rom tlle clnsure Is dolle In a tay tllat pretsllre Is applle(l I
Il to the container. lhis positive pressure nrten times resull:s in ~spurts of contents escaping from container durirlg the opening process, rather tllnn when the contents are to be use(l. Ihese pri(-r ar~: deslgns aLso nre incapable of re-closing the container -nce the closure has been separated from the conl:ainers. lo remeciy this, plug Iype members hnve beerl prop-sed for use witll tllr c-t11c!r end of ~:he closurtl~ so tllat It cnn be Lnverl:eci an(l forceci down on the encl i l:he tul)e nrter it: has beell operled. lhis, ot course, exposes the tnrn o[f tn(ls of tlle cnp ancl any porl:Lorl ot the contents whicll may h;lve spattered orlto the torl1 ends. Ad~itlorlally, it empLoys a portion of the cap whicll has been exposecl to the environrnent as the secondary closure mechatlism.
Container an(l cLoslJre assembLies wl-icll are designe(l Eor s;ngle 1 compartment containers can be fabricated in round contairlers, so that tlle ¦ end can be threaded and selectively removed and attached. ~n exampLe of thLs type of cLosure with a built in piercing device, is showrl in U.S.
Patent No. ~l,3~l0,147 an(l in U.S. Patent No. 3 45~l 196. NeLther rlesigll i.s suLtable [or use with a plurality of compartments, unless each of the compartments is to be openecl with its own cap assemble. U.S. Patent No.
4,146,152 and U.S. Iatent No. t,695,~9() dtscrLbe closures tor sLngle compartment containers whLcll are even It~s9 sui~:able tor ndaptati-ll to multlple compartmenk colltaLrler and cLosurt- nsselllblies.
~ ccorclinpLy, il: is tluLl:e irnportallt tllnt n new ancl l~ rovecl contnLrler and closure as~embly be clevelopecl whlcll woulclllave a reliabllity Or use an(l woul(l protect bol:ll the colltellts antl the user from urlwalltecl contamlnatLon. It woul(l be of partlcular vnLue Lf the devlce could be provided which woul(l perlllit contLnue(l use of the contaLIler once access to the conl:ents has been rrl;lle.
, i l, Il t7~9 SUM~i~RY OF T~IE lNVENTlON
it has now been discoverecl tllAt Lhe above and other objects oE l:lle present invelltLoll may be accolnplisrletl in tl-e Sollowillg rnanner.
Specifically, a rnultiple comparLment contailler ancl closure assembly llas been dLscovered which comprLses the following comporlel1ts. A container is provlded havirl~, at le;lF,I: t:wn adlacerlt CompArtlllelltS wi~ en(l portions termlnal:lng in a commoll surr~ce at one end oi tlle container. 'I'hat end is sized to accept a cap. 'I'lle surface has a tllLo wall portLon for eacll ot the compartments, that thin wall portion being ln direct commurlicatloll wlth Its respective compartment so tllat whell the thin wall is rupturetl or broken, access to the conterlts oL the compartl-lellt can be made.
Also provided is a cap whicll is sized to slidably fit on the end of the container. 'I'he cap has a plurality of puncture means, each of whicl is positioned in alignmerlt with one of tlle thin wall portions oE the container so that movemcllt Or the cap from a tirst position on the elld oE
the container to a seconcl position causes each puncture means to puncture the respective thin wall portion with whicll it hAS been aligned. 'I'his permits access to the contenl:s oE the varl(lu~s compartments.
The contaLner is also provldecl wltll a surrace oE lnter[erence on tllat ' end of the contaLner. 'I'hi.9 surLace nf Lnterlererlce Ls posLtLoneti a precletermlned dLstarlce irolll tlle thill wall portic)lls. in cooperfltlon tllerewltll~ A surEflce Or regl~qtallce Ls provLtlecl on the LnsLtle of saitl cap ' so that engagement of tlle surEace of interLerence antl surface of resistance posltiorls tlle cap al: tlle iirst posLtlnn, wllereby inadvertent li movemerlt oi- the cap to tlle secnnd posltLoll ls prevented. 'I'lle surface of ¦1 Lnterference ancl the re~istallce surrace cooperatlvely resLst movemellt of:
Il the cap to the seconcl positlon oE puncturLng. ~ i'orce Ls necessary to Il ll l t ~'~8~719 ¦' overcome this resistance. Tllt! amount of the [orce is sufficient to ¦ prevent ;nadvertent movcrnent of l:lle cap to that second position on the compartment end.
Il rypically~ the surrnce Or interferel~ce nlld the resiqtal-ce sur[ace mny ¦, comprLse a sholllder on tlle cnrltaLIler wllLcll interacts ~Lth tlle encl of tlle ~¦ closure. Alternatively, a pluralLty of ridges rnay be ~mployecl, with one ¦ ridge belng located on eitlltr the ccntaLner or tl~e closure al~cl a palr or ¦~ rLdges locatecl on the oLIIt!r cnlllpol)ent. Ille pnir Or rldges may delllle a ¦I groove. ~Iternatively, the paLr of ridges may be replaced by a groovr ¦ into which the ridge fits.
l' 1.
307~9 nRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TIIE DRhWINGS
; [hese and other ol)jects or tl~e present i.llVellt i.OIl ancl the various rentureA and (le~:ni l.s ol Z.lle operation an(l consL:rllctioll there(lr are hereitlafter mnre fully set l:orl:ll witl~ reference to l:lle accompanyil~g dra~Lngs, wherr-:
I l:ig. 1 Is a persr)c-ctive view Or a conl aLner and Ll S assocLal:ecl closure member sllowing a preferreci embod;mellt of tlle present inventioll;
Fig. 2 is an enlargecl [ragmelltary sectLonal elevatlonal vLew taken I alollg lines 2-2 of FLg. t;
¦ FLg. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but show-ing the closure member in I a piercing mode;
I Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along tlle lines 4-4 of ~ig. 2;
¦ Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 bllt sllowing a modified corltairler ¦ and closure;
F-ig. 6 ls a view similar to Fig. 3, showing tlle modifieci closure member Ln Lt.s piercirlg mode; ancl FLg. 7 Ls an enlarge(l perspective virw ot l:lle mo(lLrL~cl closure sl~own Ln FLgs. 5 arlcl 6.
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I
3()7~9 DET~II,EI) DESCRIPTION OF TlIE PREFERRED EMnOD1MENT
_ _ _ ~ s shown in the drawings, tl~e assembly lO has a cap tl and a container 13 whicll are combLned 90 tl~at the cap ll engages orle end ~ Or the container 13. 'I'lle contaitler 1:3 is ~illed, ~:ypically with a small guarltlty or a product, a[~er the cap an(l con~:airler assembly has beerl manuactured and sterilixe(l, L[ necessary. 'I'he corltaLrler Lncludes a f:lrst compartment ~5 and a seond compartlllent 17, br-l:ll of whicll contaln tlle product for whicll the a~ssernbly is interlde(l. 'I'he conterlts are placed Ln the two compartments lS arld 17 and the otl)er en(l, ~9, away Lrom the closure 11, Ls t:herl seale(l by crimping, lleat sealirlg or olller cnllverltLorlal method for permanently closing that end oE a container. In one embodiment, the cap I1 is clear or transparent, so that the user can see Lf the package has been punctured.
'l'he closure ll includes a pair oE pullc~ re mealls 21 ~nd 23, wl)Lch are I shown as sharp pointed extensions o the inside oC the closure cap ll arld , wllich are suitable for piercing thin portions of tlle material from whicll the particular contairlers are manufacture(l, sucll as plastlcs and ~he ltke.
'l'he end 14 of tlle contaLner 13 terminates in a common surface 24 ' which contaLns a tllill wall portioll 25 in comm(lrlLcatlorl wLth 1rst compartment 15 and a tllin wall portlon 27 ln communLcatLon wLth second compartment 17. 'l'l)e two compartrnents l5 arld 17 are separated by a ~tvlder ¦ wall 29 so tllat tlle cnrlter)ts oi tlle compartmerlts 15 and 17 are not co-mlngled until the approprLate tLme.
I As Ls sllown in ~Lg. 2, the pLercLng mernbers 21 and 23 become aligned with tlle thlrl wall portions 25 and 27 wllen the closure cap 11 Ls slidably fit on tlle end 14 o contaLrler l3. ~s showll in Flg. 2, thLs first ~,, ~5 !
~2807~3 position oE the ca~ nll the end t4 provides lor a closure wl1icll protects the thin wall pnrtions 25 atld 27 from cont;lminatioll ancl d.~mage.
Wllen the cap 11 is rnove(l to a secnnd positinn, as showl- in l;ig. 'i the puncture means 21 all(l 23 pllnCtllre tbe respectLve thLn wall portions 25 and 27 wltll whicll they are aliglled. 'I'llis permits nccess Lo the contellts of the adJacent cnmparlrrlerlts ~5 arld l7. ln a preEerred ernbodimellt, the puncture means 21 or 23 is nf smaller diameter than the thln wall 25 or 27. Upon movelllerlt Of the cap ll axially down on t:he tube encl ~4, tlle puncture means 23 puncl:urcs t:lle tllill wall 27, causing portions oE tlle tllin wall to curl as showrl at 27a in liig. 3. likewise, piercing using puncture member 21 causes thin wall 25 to produce curled edges 25a. The si~e alld shape of the puncture member 25 is SllCh that it will not go to the edge of thln wall 27, tllereby causing the tllin wall 27a to peel back but not causing it to he sheare(l from its position an(l fall into compartment 17.
In order to locate the cap li on the end 14 of tlle container 13 a surface of interrerence 3l is providecl On the ell(l 14 of the cnntainer 13.
The surface of interLerence 31 Ls located a predetermirled distance Erom the thin wall portions 25 and 27. 'l'he cap 11 has a surface of resistance 37 wllicll allows the cap tl to be posltLoned tn engage tlle surface of lnterference 31 and loca~:e tbe cap ll on the end 14 Ln a first pnsltlnll tn prevent an advertent movemellt of the cap ll to the second posLtlon. 1n lg. 2, the surface of Lllterference 31 ls Ln tlle F:orm of: a groove or spacing located betweell lower rLdge 32 all(l upper ridge 33. Tlle surEace Or resLstance 37 ls located on a rLdge 35 on the illtc!rinr portlon o[ the cap 11. When tlle cap 11 Ls Lnserted on the encl 14 oE ehe contaLner 13, tlle rLdge 35 snaps Lnto place betweell tlle Lower rldge 32 and upper rLdge 33 of the end 1~. Tlle surEace of resLstance 37 located on rLdge 35 ls pressed agaLnst the surEace oE Ln~:errerellce 31, whLcll tn tllis embodlmellt Ls a groove between the riclges 32 and 33. With the cap 11 firmly locked In I .
I .
37~9 place on th(! cnd 1~l of tile C(>ntaillCr 13 ;11 tllC Lirst positiot1, as shown in Fig. 2. lhe tllill wall portiong 25 and 27 nre protect~!d Erom contamillatio alld from damap(!.
Upon the applic;lt:ioll oL a~le~luate lorce, tll(3 surf.lce of rcsistallcf! 37 oll rJdge 35 sl i,~l(!s ovl!r 1:11(! low(!r ri~lg(! ~2 ;1ll~l l(!llves tlle ~sllr[;lc(! ol lntererellce 31 so l:h'l: th(! pullcture mcmbers 21 alld 23 pUnCt~lrC thil- walls 25 al1(1 27 resp(!ctLvely, all(l ncccs9 is llOW ma~le to thc adJoLIlLllg compartmellts 15 alld 17. '1'11(! Op(!ratiOII of tll(! d(!ViCC .shown .ill l~igs. 2 flll~
3 ;s slmple, ~ d yet Lt Js cxtr(!m(!ly (!LJectLv(~ )rot(!ctillg tll(! colltrllts of the contail1er until a decisioll Ls ma~lr! to acces.s the contents or usr by a consumer. Upon appllcation of ade(luate torce, the thill wall portions 25 and 27 are punctur(!d. lhe neel back l:eatur(! oi the tllin wall 27 shown as 27a in Fig. 3 whJcll is caused do to tlle relatiollship between the si~e of the piercing member 23 and the area of tl-e thill wall portion 27, is out oL the way and does not nreSent a dflnger to thf! cons-lmer whell the contellts are removed. 1n addition tllere nre llo p;l!ces oi tlle thill wall portio illadvertelltly mixe(l wLtll the contents ol tlle contaLIlers 15 and 17. lhe thin wall portions 25 and 27 can be made from plastic, during tlle rnolding operation. Alternatively, they Clll be made Erom tl-in portions of mf!tal foil if the contellts o[ the conta1ner ar(! such that plastlc is not an effective contaLllll-cllt materl.ll.
In Figs. 5, 6 al-~l 7, a second prererred ambo~llmellt ls sllowll Ln wh1ch the cap 11a all~l cont;lil-er 13 fullctLon as all assernbly in the same m~rlrler as previously ~lescrLI)(!(I to protect the cont(!llt~s oE the contlllller. As shown ill l;Lg. 5, the cap lla Ls snugly 1t on the en(l 14a of colltalner 13. A
shouldl?r 39 prevellt.s movemont OE the Clld 4t oE the cap lla beyon~l the first posLtion whLch ha.s prevlously been d(![ined as a posLtLoll whereill thc cap lla protects tlle tllLn wall portLon 25 alld 27 of common surface 24 oE
tha end 14a of tl1e contaLIler. Ihe should-!r 39 of end 14a and the end 41 , ~L~80719 oE cap tla prevel)t lu;llvertel1t mnvemel-t o[ the cap 11fl to a po.sition wllere the puncture meflns 2t or 23 might iLmpact on thLIl walls 25 and 27 re.spectively. 'I'hc E-)rCe recluirecl to ovr3rcolne the coor)eral:ive re6istallce betweel1 the surLacl- ol int- rrerenc-! 39 ;In I tllc ~sur[ace o[ resist;ll1c(- 41 i.s slJE[iCiellt t~) prevel)l: ilul~JverL(!~~t acce.s.s Ln l.he contelll:fi Or LhC colll nl ucr 3.
11l Fig. 6, the c~p lla has been rrlov(!cl witll surfici~3nt force to overcome thf! resls~ llc(! C;lU5(!d by the J-ll)ction of shoulcier 39 an(l en(l 41.
In some Instances l:b(! m;lter;.al [rOm whicll tbe c;lp lla ts mal1uE;~cture(l such as some grades o[ plastics, w111 have suffLcient elast;city to permit the cap to s1ide over the shoulder 39. In CilSf35 where the cap is made of a more rigid or less e1ilstic milteriaI or whell the resistancr3 force caused by the junction of shoul(ler 39 ;lncd end 41 ;5 intel1tiol1a11y designed to be higtl the Eeature showrl here may be employed. SpecificaLly a groove or cut 43 iS l)rOVidell ;11 th(! WflLI of the cap t1a a10n& with a pilir oE
axially extendillg cuts 45 or which Can be SCCIl ill F'i.g. 7. I;irst, the cap lta is moved towarci the contail1er t3, overcomlng tlle force of resifitance caused by the should(!r 39 and end 41. Once the end 41 has been moved beyond th- shoulder 39 the Eorcc CflUSf:S th~! movement of the cap 11;1 to br1ng tlle puncture mefln6 21 flllCI 23 to enter thro-lgl1 the thin Wfll1s 25 flnd 27. 1his force is suf[;ciellt to cause the wi~11 oE the tube tla to ben(l at tl~e groove 43 50 th;lt portions 47 of the tube 1 Ifl separate a10l~g 1 ln(!9 or CUtfi 45 tc~ f1are out. Ihe portiol~ oE the cap lla wh1ch 1s Ibova tl~o groove 43 m;~lnti Ins fl .SllUg Elt fllld, wltll .~pprt)prl.ltr! tolerflllce.s ifi sufficient to keep the c;~p and cont;l1ller asselllbLy Eunct10lllng after the thin walls 25 anCd 27 h;lV(3 been pul~ctured. As shown Fig. 1, the cuts '13 flnCI 45 do not 1nt(-rE(3r(- with the or)(3ratiorl of the contal~ r and c106ur asse~nb1y prior to tlle pllllcturirlg of th(! tllirl wnl1fi 25 ;Ind 27. OllCe tl ''' tl ;
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80~
tl~in walls 25 .nnd 27 i1,1VC bt~e11 pu1lctl1rcd, .ncccs.s 1:o the conte11ts is readily obtained.
'I'he operAtion ol ~ t` closure a1-d conl:~i11er ~.ssembly Of thls invention Ls relatively simplc. ~t t:he appropriate time wher1 tht~ contents are to be removed, the cap 11 or 11.1 i.s pus11ed from ~1~e li1st po.sition wl~ere tht?
cap fu11ct10ns to protec~: tlle end 14 of tile conl:ai1ler 13 to tlle seco1-d posLtion whlcll causes l:he pur1cturLng me1nbers 21 a1-ti 23 to puncture the thir1 walls and allow l:or acccss to l:he Spcciric materLals cont~ined in eacl1 of the adJacent compart1ne11ts 15, 17 a11d ~:I-e like. When the device is used as a pregnancy testi1lg kit, for example, it is a simple matter to overcome tl1e force of resistance to cause the thin walls to be pu1)ctured.
'i'he cap 11 or lIa is then removed and the conte1lts are poured into the urine specimen ~nd the results of the test are reliably obtained because no measurement has been retiuired by the person performing the test.
Similarly, if otiler matcrials are contnined in l:he contaioer, e~lunlly simple and effective access can be had. It s1~ould be readily apparent that two compartments 15 and i7 have been illustrated to describe the preferred embodin-ent. Nevertheless, more tl1a1~ two compartments can easily be accommodated accordillg Ln tbe principals of tlle present Invention.
Slrnllarly, tl-e compartmc11l:s do not need to bc Identlcal In slze. 'I`llis invention is admlrably suitcd to sltuatinns where a preclse ratio nf one ingredient to tl1e otl1cr Is regulred, so tl1at a [Irst comp.lrt1nent twlce as large as the second co1nparl:111erlt could easlly be constructe(l.
While parllcl1lar embodi1l1el1t~s or l:he preser1t Inven~lo1~ ve been illustratecl an(l descrlbe(ll1erelr1, It Is not intended to limlt the invention an(l charlges an(1 mo(ll[icatlons may be made thereln within the scope of the followir1g clalms:
li
Claims (14)
1. A multiple compartment container and closure assembly, comprising:
a container having at least least adjacent compartments with end portions terminating in a common surface at one end of said container, said end being sized to accept a cap and said surface having a thin wall portion in communication with each of said compartments;
a cap sized to slidably fit on said end of said container and having puncture means being positioned in alignment with each of said thin wall portions of said container so that movement of said cap from a first position on said end to a second position causes said puncture means to puncture the respective thin wall portion with which it is aligned, to permit access to the contents of sail adjacent compartments; and a surface of interference on said one end of said container positioned a predetermined distance from said thin wall portions, and a surface of resistance on the inside of said cap positioned to engage said surface of interference to locate said cap on said end portion at said first position to prevent inadvertent movement of said cap to said second position.
a container having at least least adjacent compartments with end portions terminating in a common surface at one end of said container, said end being sized to accept a cap and said surface having a thin wall portion in communication with each of said compartments;
a cap sized to slidably fit on said end of said container and having puncture means being positioned in alignment with each of said thin wall portions of said container so that movement of said cap from a first position on said end to a second position causes said puncture means to puncture the respective thin wall portion with which it is aligned, to permit access to the contents of sail adjacent compartments; and a surface of interference on said one end of said container positioned a predetermined distance from said thin wall portions, and a surface of resistance on the inside of said cap positioned to engage said surface of interference to locate said cap on said end portion at said first position to prevent inadvertent movement of said cap to said second position.
2. The assembly of Claim 1, wherein said surface of interference and said resistance surface comprise a plurality of ridges such that two ridges are provided on either said cap or said end of said container and one ridge is provided on the other of said cap or said end of said container, whereby said one ridge fits between said two ridges to locate said cap on said end portion in said first position.
3. The assembly of Claim 1 wherein said surface of interference comprises a shoulder on said container end and said resistance surface comprises the end of the sidewall of said cap.
4. The assembly of Claim 1, wherein said end portion of said container and said cap are mutually sized to provide a snug fit therebetween.
5. The assembly of Claim 3, wherein said cap is made from a material capable of expanding under force to permit movement of said cap to said second position on said container and upon application of sufficient force.
6. The assembly of Claim 1, wherein said puncture means comprise a sharp pointed means aligned above each thin wall portion for tearing said thin wall along a plurality of lines radially extending from the point of contact between said sharp pointed means and said thin wall.
7. The assembly of Claim 6, wherein said puncture means is sized to puncture said thin wall without contacting the edge of said thin wall.
8. A double compartment container and closure assembly, comprising:
a container having two adjacent compartments with end portions terminating in a common surface at one end of said container, said end being sized to accept a cap and said surface having a pair of thin wall portion in communication with each of said compartments;
a cap sized to slidably fit on said end of said container and having puncture means being positioned in alignment with each of said thin wall portions of said container so that movement of said cap from a first position on said end to a second position causes said puncture means to puncture the respective thin wall portion with which it is aligned, to permit access to the contents of said adjacent compartments; and a surface of interference on said one end of said container positioned a predetermined distance from said thin wall portions, and a surface of resistance on the inside of said cap positioned to engage said surface of interference to locate said cap on said end portion at said first position to prevent inadvertent movement of said can to said second position.
a container having two adjacent compartments with end portions terminating in a common surface at one end of said container, said end being sized to accept a cap and said surface having a pair of thin wall portion in communication with each of said compartments;
a cap sized to slidably fit on said end of said container and having puncture means being positioned in alignment with each of said thin wall portions of said container so that movement of said cap from a first position on said end to a second position causes said puncture means to puncture the respective thin wall portion with which it is aligned, to permit access to the contents of said adjacent compartments; and a surface of interference on said one end of said container positioned a predetermined distance from said thin wall portions, and a surface of resistance on the inside of said cap positioned to engage said surface of interference to locate said cap on said end portion at said first position to prevent inadvertent movement of said can to said second position.
9. The assembly of Claim 8, wherein said surface of interference and said resistance surface comprise a plurality of ridges such that two ridges are provided on either said cap or said end of said container and one ridge is provided on the other of said cap or said end of said container, whereby said one ridge fits between said two ridges to locate said cap on said end portion in said first position.
10. The assembly of Claim 8, wherein said surface of interference comprises a shoulder on said container end and said resistance surface comprises the end of the sidewall of said cap.
11. The assembly of Claim 8, wherein said end portion of said container and said cap are mutually sized to provide a snug fit therebetween.
12. The assembly of Claim 10, wherein said cap is made from a material capable of expanding under force to permit movement of said cap to said second position on said container and upon application of sufficient force.
13. The assembly of Claim 8, wherein said puncture means comprise a sharp pointed means aligned above each thin wall portion for tearing said thin wall along, a plurality of lines radially extending from the point of contact between said sharp pointed means and said thin wall.
14. The assembly of Claim 13, wherein said puncture means is sized to puncture said thin wall without contacting the edge of said thin wall.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/249,674 US4884703A (en) | 1988-09-27 | 1988-09-27 | Container and closure assembly |
| US249,674 | 1988-09-27 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1280719C true CA1280719C (en) | 1991-02-26 |
Family
ID=22944504
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000611071A Expired - Lifetime CA1280719C (en) | 1988-09-27 | 1989-09-12 | Container and closure assembly |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4884703A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1280719C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3930595C2 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2224015B (en) |
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| WO1993008117A1 (en) * | 1991-10-24 | 1993-04-29 | Cp Packaging, Inc. | Container closure assemblies |
| US5244120A (en) * | 1992-08-19 | 1993-09-14 | Cp Packaging, Inc. | Dual chamber medicament dispenser |
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| WO1994007748A2 (en) * | 1992-09-30 | 1994-04-14 | Unilever Plc | Dispensing package with closure system |
| US5289950A (en) * | 1992-09-30 | 1994-03-01 | Chesebrough-Pond's Usa Co., Division Of Conopco, Inc. | Multiple chamber dispensing package with closure system |
| EP0598965A1 (en) * | 1992-11-23 | 1994-06-01 | Wilhelm A. Keller | Closure for a cartridge |
| US5385270A (en) * | 1993-06-29 | 1995-01-31 | Cataneo; Ralph J. | Selectable ratio dispensing apparatus |
| US5429256A (en) * | 1994-01-24 | 1995-07-04 | Kestenbaum; Alan D. | Drug withdrawal system for container |
| US5469980A (en) | 1994-01-26 | 1995-11-28 | Wheaton Holding, Inc. | Child resistant container closure assembly |
| US6379069B1 (en) | 1994-12-12 | 2002-04-30 | James Alexander Corporation | Dispenser and process |
| US5568883A (en) * | 1995-04-10 | 1996-10-29 | Innavision Services, Inc. | Apparatus for dispensing two flowable substances in a user selectable ratio |
| US5871110A (en) * | 1996-09-13 | 1999-02-16 | Grimard; Jean-Pierre | Transfer assembly for a medicament container having a splashless valve |
| US5873872A (en) * | 1996-09-17 | 1999-02-23 | Becton Dickinson And Company | Multipositional resealable vial connector assembly for efficient transfer of liquid |
| US5971197A (en) * | 1997-02-28 | 1999-10-26 | Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation | Multi-chambered container |
| US5928681A (en) * | 1997-04-08 | 1999-07-27 | Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation | Multi-chambered container production mold |
| DK173060B1 (en) | 1997-05-23 | 1999-12-13 | Deltagraph As | Rice Container, Use of a Rice Container, Powder Container Cartridge and Procedure |
| US5873494A (en) * | 1997-09-05 | 1999-02-23 | Aptargroup, Inc. | Dual stream liquid dispensing structure |
| US6090093A (en) * | 1997-09-25 | 2000-07-18 | Becton Dickinson And Company | Connector assembly for a vial having a flexible collar |
| US5925029A (en) * | 1997-09-25 | 1999-07-20 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Method and apparatus for fixing a connector assembly onto a vial with a crimp cap |
| US6213994B1 (en) | 1997-09-25 | 2001-04-10 | Becton Dickinson France, S.A. | Method and apparatus for fixing a connector assembly onto a vial |
| US5934515A (en) * | 1997-11-17 | 1999-08-10 | Chesebrough-Pond's Usa Co., Division Of Conopco, Inc. | Multi-orifice multi-compartment dispenser with child-resistant closure |
| US6681946B1 (en) | 1998-02-26 | 2004-01-27 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Resealable medical transfer set |
| US6382442B1 (en) | 1998-04-20 | 2002-05-07 | Becton Dickinson And Company | Plastic closure for vials and other medical containers |
| US6003566A (en) | 1998-02-26 | 1999-12-21 | Becton Dickinson And Company | Vial transferset and method |
| US6378714B1 (en) | 1998-04-20 | 2002-04-30 | Becton Dickinson And Company | Transferset for vials and other medical containers |
| US6957745B2 (en) | 1998-04-20 | 2005-10-25 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Transfer set |
| US6904662B2 (en) | 1998-04-20 | 2005-06-14 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Method of sealing a cartridge or other medical container with a plastic closure |
| US6209738B1 (en) | 1998-04-20 | 2001-04-03 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Transfer set for vials and medical containers |
| GB0108546D0 (en) * | 2001-04-05 | 2001-05-23 | Adshead Ratcliffe & Co Ltd | Improvements in or relating to dispensers |
| US6685041B1 (en) | 2001-09-24 | 2004-02-03 | Owens-Brockway Plastic Products Inc. | Dual-chamber container and closure package |
| US7427005B1 (en) | 2002-11-27 | 2008-09-23 | Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. | Dispensing closure, package and method of assembly with film seal piercing |
| US7306130B2 (en) * | 2003-06-27 | 2007-12-11 | Sulzer Chemtech Ag | Seal for a two-component cartridge |
| DE20309931U1 (en) * | 2003-06-27 | 2004-11-04 | Sulzer Chemtech Ag | Closure for a two-component cartridge |
| WO2005049447A1 (en) * | 2003-11-12 | 2005-06-02 | E.I. Dupont De Nemours And Company | Dual compartment flexible pouch and a fitment with dual-dispensing capabilities therefor |
| US7581899B2 (en) | 2004-11-30 | 2009-09-01 | James Alexander Corporation | Dispenser and process |
| US20070051749A1 (en) * | 2005-09-07 | 2007-03-08 | Fleet Philip B | Adjustable flow liquid dispenser |
| KR100655892B1 (en) * | 2005-11-18 | 2006-12-11 | 노희권 | Closure of vessel and manufacturing process for same |
| US7976234B2 (en) | 2006-04-28 | 2011-07-12 | James Alexander Corporation | Multi-chambered dispenser and process |
| FR2910446B1 (en) * | 2006-12-21 | 2009-03-13 | Oreal | PACKAGING AND APPLICATION DEVICE |
| FR2911850B1 (en) * | 2007-01-31 | 2011-05-06 | Valois Sas | FLUID PRODUCT DISPENSER |
| US8100294B2 (en) * | 2007-12-18 | 2012-01-24 | James Alexander Corporation | Container assembly |
| US8403178B2 (en) * | 2007-12-18 | 2013-03-26 | James Alexander Corporation | Container assembly |
| US8910830B2 (en) * | 2007-12-18 | 2014-12-16 | James Alexander Corporation | Container assembly |
| ATE548285T1 (en) * | 2008-01-29 | 2012-03-15 | James Alexander Corp | DONOR |
| IT1391448B1 (en) * | 2008-07-30 | 2011-12-23 | Lameplast Spa | "CONTAINER FOR FLUID, PARTICULARLY PHARMACEUTICAL, COSMETIC, FOOD OR SIMILAR PRODUCTS |
| AT509898B1 (en) * | 2010-05-27 | 2012-09-15 | Rainer Weber | MULTI-CHAMBER CONTAINERS WITH AT LEAST TWO CONTAINERS FILLED WITH Pourable Content |
| US10421596B2 (en) * | 2014-02-10 | 2019-09-24 | Kurt Koptis | Container and dispenser for flowable material and method |
| JP6691532B2 (en) * | 2015-03-15 | 2020-04-28 | 法基 岡部 | Sealed container |
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| US1695190A (en) * | 1928-06-28 | 1928-12-11 | Daniel H Kane | Milk-bottle closure |
| US2737316A (en) * | 1952-08-18 | 1956-03-06 | Andrew J Davidson | Dispenser holder for sealed liquid containers |
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| DE2017292A1 (en) * | 1970-04-10 | 1971-10-21 | Dukess, Joseph William, Mamaroneck, N.Y. (V.St.A.) | Closure in connection with a compressible container |
| US3782600A (en) * | 1972-06-13 | 1974-01-01 | Borden Inc | Co-dispenser applicator and spatula cap |
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| US4340147A (en) * | 1980-11-03 | 1982-07-20 | Mack-Wayne Plastics Company | Cap with built in piercing device |
| DK135682A (en) * | 1982-03-25 | 1983-09-26 | Martin Baram | PACKAGING AND MIXING DEVICE |
| CH669575A5 (en) * | 1985-08-20 | 1989-03-31 | Alfatechnic Ag | |
| BE904849A (en) * | 1986-05-30 | 1986-09-15 | Calwag Sa | PLUG FOR SEALING A CONTAINER, THE PORT OF WHICH IS CLOSED BY A SOLIDARIZED LID THEREOF BY INDUCTION OR CONDUCTION. |
-
1988
- 1988-09-27 US US07/249,674 patent/US4884703A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1989
- 1989-08-04 GB GB8917865A patent/GB2224015B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1989-09-12 CA CA000611071A patent/CA1280719C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-09-13 DE DE3930595A patent/DE3930595C2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE3930595C2 (en) | 1997-01-16 |
| GB2224015B (en) | 1992-07-15 |
| GB2224015A (en) | 1990-04-25 |
| GB8917865D0 (en) | 1989-09-20 |
| DE3930595A1 (en) | 1990-03-29 |
| US4884703A (en) | 1989-12-05 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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