Container

Abstract

A first container for flowable substances having a first opening provided with a plug. The plug configured to be brought from its closed state to its open state after a fluid tight seal has been formed between the first opening and a second opening of a second container. The plug remains attached to the first container and remains intact when the plug is opened. The invention also provides a system comprising two or more first containers of the invention.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to containers for flowable substances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is often desirable to keep components of a mixture separate from one another until the mixture is needed. For example, a baby formula may consist of a mixture formed from a powder and water. The two components of the mixture (the powder and the water) may be packaged separately, and mixed by the consumer just before the formula is to be used. The two components may be packaged in a single container and separated from one another in the container by a tearable or displaceable boundary. Just before the formula is to be used, the boundary is torn or displaced so as to allow the components to be mixed in the container.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,107 to Baudin discloses a packaging system for two substances that are initially separated but eventually mixed together. The system consists of two bottles. The first bottle has a central hollow recess supporting a stopper. The recess can be screwed in leak tight fashion onto a second bottle. When the second bottle is screwed into the first bottle, the stopper is expelled into the first bottle so that the contents of the two bottles can be mixed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a first container for a flowable substance such as a liquid gas or solid powder. The first container of the invention is referred to herein as a “bottle”. The bottle is provided with a first opening that is occluded by a plug. The plug can be brought from a closed state in which it occludes the opening to an open state in which it does not occlude the opening in order to introduce or remove a flowable substance into or out of the bottle. In accordance with the invention, the plug remains intact and attached to the first bottle when brought from is closed state to its open state. The opening is configured to allow a second opening of a second bottle to be applied to the first opening of the first bottle in a fluid tight seal. In a preferred embodiment, the first opening is located at the end of a recess in the wall of the first bottle. The exposed surface of the recess is provided with screw threads configured to engage complementary screw threads on the outer surface of the spout of a second bottle so that the spout of the second bottle can be screwed into the recess. As the spout of the second bottle is screwed into the recess, the plug is brought from its closed state to its open state so as to allow mixing of the contents of the two bottles.

The invention also provides a system comprising two or more first bottles of the invention.

The invention may be used when it is desired to offer a variety of substances and to allow an individual to select two or more substances from the offered substances to be mixed together. For example, a variety of beverages may be offered, with each different beverage in a separate container of the invention. An individual may then devise his own concoction by selecting two or more containers of the invention, with each container containing one of the offered beverages and mixing the contents of the selected containers.

The invention thus provides a first container for flowable substances, the container having a wall and having a first opening provided with a plug, the plug having a closed state in which the plug occludes the opening and an opened state in which the plug does not occlude the opening, the plug configured to be brought from its closed state to its open state after a fluid tight seal has been formed between the first opening and a second opening of a second container, the plug remaining attached to the first container and remaining intact when the plug is brought from its closed state to its open state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a bottle in accordance with one embodiment of the invention with its capped removed;

FIG. 2 shows the bottle of FIG. 1 closed with a cap;

FIG. 3 shows the bottle of FIG. 1 after attachment of a second bottle;

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the plug of the bottle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows the recess of the bottle of FIG. 1 with the plug in its closed state;

FIG. 6 shows the plug in its open state in a top view (a) and a bottom view (b)

FIG. 7 shows the plug in its closed state in a top view (a) and a bottom view (b)

FIG. 8 shows the recess of the bottle of FIG. 1 with the plug in its open state after attachment of the second bottle;

FIG. 9a shows opening of the plug as the second bottle is attached to the bottle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9b shows the spout of the second bottle;

FIG. 10 shows a bottle in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention with its capped removed;

FIG. 11 shows the bottle of FIG. 10 closed with a cap;

FIG. 12 shows the bottle of FIG. 10 after attachment of a second bottle;

FIG. 13 shows the plug in its open state after attachment of the second bottle to the bottle of FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 shows a bottle in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention with its capped removed;

FIG. 15; shows the bottle of FIG. 14 after attachment of a second bottle; and

FIG. 16 shows opening of the plug as the second bottle is attached to the bottle of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a bottle 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The bottle 1 may be formed from any material used in the manufacture of bottles such as glass, plastic or metal. The bottle 1 encloses an interior 4 that is used to contain a flowable substance 8 such as a liquid, gas or solid powder. The bottle 1 has a spout 2 that terminates in an opening 3 that may be used to introduce or remove a flowable substance into or out of the bottle. The outer surface of the spout 2 is provided with screw threads 5 that engage complementary screw threads 6 on an interior surface of a screw-on cap 7 so as to reversibly close the opening 3. The bottle 1 is shown in FIG. 1 in its open state with the cap 7 removed. FIG. 2 shows the bottle 1 with the cap 7 screwed on the spout 2 so as to close the opening 3 and prevent passage of substances through the opening 3. As further shown in FIG. 2, the cap 7 may be provided with a seal 9 that prevents inadvertent loosening of the cap. After the cap 7 has been sealed on the spout 2, as shown in FIG. 2, the seal is broken when a user unscrews the cap from the bottle. Bottle caps having this type of seal are well known in the art.

The bottle 1 is provided with a recess 11. The recess 11 terminates in an opening 17 that is occluded by a plug 18. The plug 18 is openable, as explained below, in order to introduce or remove a flowable substance into or out of the bottle 1 through the opening 17. The plug 18 is shown in its closed state in FIGS. 1 and 2, and in its open state in FIG. 3. The exposed surface 13 of the recess 11 is provided with screw threads 16. The recess 11 is dimensioned to allow a spout 12 of a bottle 1′ to be screwed into the recess 11, as shown in FIG. 3. The bottle 1′ may be identical to the shape and dimensions of the bottle 1, or the bottle 1′ may be different in its shape or dimensions from the bottle 1. The bottle 1′ is provided with a screw or cap 14 that has been removed from the spout 12 of the bottle 1′ in FIG. 2. The outer surface of the spout 12 is provided with screw threads 15 that engage complementary screw threads 36 interior surface of the cap 14 when the cap 14 is screwed onto the spout 12. The threads 15 engage the threads 16 on the exposed surface 13 of the recess 11 when the spout 12 is screwed into the recess 11, as shown in FIG. 3.

The bottle 1′ contains a flowable substance 8′. As explained below, when the spout 12 of the bottle 1′ is screwed into the recess 11 of the bottle 1, the plug 18 can be opened so as to allow mixing of the contents 8 of the bottle 1 and the contents 8′ of the bottle 1′.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the plug 18. The plug 18 consists of a first diaphragm 19 and a second diaphragm 20. The first diaphragm 19 is provided with sector-shaped holes 21. The second diaphragm is provided with sector-shaped holes 22.

FIG. 5 shows the recess 11 of the bottle 1 in greater detail. The first diaphragm 19 and the second diaphragm 20 are maintained in the recess 11 between a first circular ridge 24 and a second circular ridge 25, that extend from the exposed surface 13 of the recess 11. The upper diaphragm 19 is immobilized in the recess 13 by means of teeth 26 that extend radially from the circumference of the upper diaphragm 19 and engage teeth extending radially, inward from the exposed surface 13 of the recess 11. The lower diaphragm 20 is rotatable in the annular groove between the upper and lower ridges 24 and 25. The upper and lower diaphragms 19 and 20 are formed from a rigid material such as hard rubber that forms a seal with the exposed surface 13 of the recess 11, even as the lower diaphragm 20 is rotated in the annular groove between the upper and lower circular ridges 24 and 25. This prevents passage of flowable substances, such as the flowable substances 8 or 8′ between the circumference of the diaphragms 19 and 20 and the exposed surface 13 of the recess 11.

The plug 18 is shown in a top view in FIGS. 6a and 7a and in a bottom view in FIGS. 6b and 7b. When the lower diaphragm 25 has been rotated in the annular groove so that the openings 22 on the lower diaphragm 25 are in register with the openings 21 in the upper diaphragm 19 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the plug 18 is in its open state and flowable substances such as the substance 8 or 8′ may flow from one side of the plug 18 through the openings 21 and 22 to the other side of the plug 18. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, when the lower diaphragm 20 is rotated 90° from the position shown in FIG. 6, the openings 21 and 22 are occluded, so that the plug 18 is in its closed state and flowable substances are prevented from flowing from one side of the plug 18 to the other side.

FIG. 9a shows the recess 11 of bottle 1 after the spout 12 of the bottle 1′ has been inserted partially into the recess 11. The plug 18 is in its closed state. The spout 12 was introduced into the recess 11 and rotated so that the screw threads 15 on the spout 12 engage the screw threads 16 on the exposed surface 13 of the recess 11. As shown in FIG. 9b, the rim 30 surrounding the opening of the bottle 1′ is provided with two engaging notches 27 each of which is shaped and dimensioned to receive a driving pin 28 extending from the lower diaphragm 20 (FIGS. 4, 6, and 7). The notches 27 may occupy the entire thickness of the rim 30, as shown in FIG. 9b, or may only occupy part of the thickness of the of the rim 30. As the bottle 1′ is screwed into the recess 11 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 9b, the spout 12 of the bottle 1′ advances towards the plug 18, and the driving pins 28 enter the engaging notches 27. As the bottle 1 continues to be rotated, the driving pins cause the lower diaphragm 20 to rotate in the annular groove so as to bring the plug 18 from its closed state shown in FIG. 6 to its open state shown in FIG. 7. Opening of the plug 18 thus occurs without tearing the plug and without releasing part of the plug into the interior of either bottle. When the plug 18 is in its open state, the flowable substances 8 and 8′ can be mixed.

FIG. 10 shows a bottle 31 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The bottle 31 may be formed from any material used in the manufacture of bottles such as glass, plastic or metal. The bottle 31 encloses an interior 34 that is used to contain a flowable substance 38 such as a liquid, gas or solid powder. The bottle 31 has a spout 32 that terminates in an opening 33 that may be used to introduce or remove a flowable substance into or out of the bottle. The outer surface of the spout 32 is provided with screw threads 35 that engage complementary screw threads 36 on an interior surface of a screw-on cap 37 so as to reversibly close the opening 33. The bottle 31 is shown in FIG. 10 in its open state with the cap 37 removed. FIG. 11 shows the bottle 31 with the cap 37 screwed on the spout 32 so as to close the opening 33 and prevent passage of substances through the opening 33. As further shown in FIG. 31, the cap 37 may be provided with a seal 39 that prevents inadvertent loosening of the cap. After the cap 37 has been sealed on the spout 32, as shown in FIG. 31, the seal is broken when a user unscrews the cap from the bottle. Bottle caps having this type of seal are well known in the art.

The bottle 31 is provided with a recess 41. The recess 41 terminates in an opening 47 that is occluded by a plug 48. The plug 48 is openable, as explained below, in order to introduce or remove a flowable substance into or out of the bottle 31 through the opening 47. The plug 48 is shown in its closed state in FIGS. 10 and 11, and in its open state in FIG. 13. The exposed surface 43 of the recess 41 is provided with screw threads 46. The recess 41 is dimensioned to allow a spout 42 of a bottle 31′ to be screwed into the recess 41, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The bottle 31′ may be identical to the shape and dimensions of the bottle 31, or the bottle 31′ may be different in its shape or dimension from the bottle 31. The bottle 31′ is provided with a screw or cap 44 that has been removed from the spout 42 of the bottle 31′ in FIG. 12. The outer surface of the spout 42 is provided with screw threads 45 that engage complementary screw threads 47 in the interior surface of the cap 44 when the cap 44 is screwed onto the spout 42. The threads 45 engage the threads 46 on the exposed surface 43 of the recess 41 when the spout 42 is screwed into the recess 41, as shown in FIG. 11.

The bottle 31′ contains a flowable substance 38′. As explained below, when the spout 42 of the bottle 31′ is screwed into the recess 41 of the bottle 31, the plug 48 can be opened so as to allow mixing of the contents 38 of the bottle 31 and the contents 8′ of the bottle 31′.

The plug 48 has a circular diaphragm 50 that occludes the opening 47. From the circumference of the diaphragm 50 extend two or more projections 52. Each projection 52 has a foot 54 that is received in a complementary notch 56 on the exposed surface 43 of the recess 42. The plug 48 is formed from an elastic material such as plastic. In the closed configuration shown in FIGS. 1o and 11, the projections 52 are somewhat strained from a resting configuration (not shown) that the plug 48 assumes when the projections 52 are not constrained in any way. In this way, the feet 54 exert a radially outward force into the notches 56, so that the plug 48 is fixed in its closed state in the opening 47.

FIG. 12 shows the recess 41 of the bottle 31 after the spout 42 of the bottle 31′ has been partially inserted into the recess 41. The rim 58 of the spout 42 of the bottle 31′ exerts a force upon the projections 52 that is coaxial with the spout 42 and is directed toward the bottle 31. This causes the feet 54 to be dislodged from the notches 56 and the plug 48 to be dislodged from the closed configuration shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 to its open state shown in FIG. 13. As the bottle 31′ continues to be screwed in the recess 41, the feet 54 eventually become lodged in notches 60. At this point, the bottle 31′ cannot be screwed any further into the recess 41, so that the feet 54 do not dislodge from the notches 58, and is thus prevented from being released into the flowable substance 38. Opening of the plug 48 thus occurs without tearing the plug and without releasing part of the plug into the interior of either bottle.

FIG. 14 shows a bottle 100 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The bottle 100 may be formed from any material used in the manufacture of bottles such as glass, plastic or metal. The bottle 100 encloses an interior 104 that is used to contain a flowable substance 108 such as a liquid, gas or solid powder. The bottle 100 has a spout 102 that terminates in an opening 103 that may be used to introduce or remove a flowable substance into or out of the bottle 100. The outer surface of the spout 102 is provided with screw threads 105 that engage complementary screw threads 106 on an interior surface of a screw-on cap 107 so as to reversibly close the opening as explained above for the previous embodiments.

The bottle 100 is provided with a recess 111. The recess 111 terminates in an opening 117 that is occluded by a plug 118. The plug 118 is openable, as explained below, in order to introduce or remove a flowable substance into or out of the bottle 100 through the opening 117. The plug 118 is shown in its closed state in FIGS. 14 and 15, and in its open state in FIG. 16. The exposed surface 113 of the recess 111 is provided with screw threads 116. The recess 111 is dimensioned to allow a spout 112 of a bottle 100′ to be screwed into the recess 11, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. The bottle 100′ may be identical to the shape and dimensions of the bottle 100 or the bottle 100′ may be different in its shape or dimension from the bottle 100. The bottle 100′ is provided with a screw cap (not shown). The outer surface of the spout 112 is provided with screw threads 115 that engage complementary screw threads on the interior surface of the cap when the cap is screwed onto the spout 112. The threads 115 engage the threads 116 on the exposed surface 113 of the recess 111 when the spout 112 is screwed into the recess 111, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

The bottle 100′ contains a flowable substance 108′. As explained below, when the spout 112 of the bottle 100′ is screwed into the recess 111 of the bottle 100, the plug 118 can be opened so as to allow mixing of the contents 108 of the bottle 100 and the contents 108′ of the bottle 100′.

The plug 118 is attached to the wall of the recess 111 by a hinge 120. In the closed state of the plug 118 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the plug 118 is snapped closed onto the rim 122 of the recess 111 by means of a first engaging rim 124 associated with the plug 118 and a record engaging rim 126 associated with the rim 122.

As the bottle 100′ continues to be screwed in the recess 111, rim 128 of the spout 112 of the bottle 100′ applies a force upon a projection 130 extending from the plug 118 into the spout recess 111 of the bottle 100. This causes the engaging rim 124 and 126 to disengage so as to move the plug 118 from its closed position. Opening of the plug 118 thus occurs without tearing the plug and without releasing part of the plug into the interior of either bottle. The plug 118 may then be opened further by inverting the bottles 100 and 100′ so as to allow flowable material to flow from the interior of the bottle 100′ into the bottle 100.

Claims

1. A first container for flowable substances, the container having a wall and having a first opening provided with a plug, the plug having a closed state in which the plug occludes the opening and an opened state in which the plug does not occlude the opening, the plug configured to be brought from its closed state to its open state after a fluid tight seal has been formed between the first opening and a second opening of a second container, the plug remaining attached to the first container and remaining intact when the plug is brought from its closed state to its open state.

2. The first container according to claim 1 wherein the opening is located in a recess in the wall of the first container.

3. The first container according to claim 2 wherein the wall of the recess is provided with screw threads configured to engage screw threads on a spout of the second container.

4. The first container according to claim 3 wherein a fluid tight seal is formed when the spout of the second container is screwed into the recess.

5. The first container according to claim 3 wherein the plug is brought from it closed state to its open state as the second bottle is screed into the recess.

6. The first container according to claim 5 wherein the plug comprises a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm, the first diaphragm having one or more first holes, the second diaphragm havening one or more second holes, the second diaphragm being rotatable, as the second container is screwed into the recess, from a first position in which the first holes are not in register with the second holes and the plug is in its closed state to a second position in which the first holes and the second holes are in register and the plug is in its open state.

7. The first container according to claim 6 wherein the spout of the second bottle is provided with one or more engaging notches configured to receive a driving pin associated with the second diaphragm, each driving pin engaging an engaging hole and rotating the second diaphragm from its first position to its second position as the second container is screwed in the recess.

8. The first container according to claim 5 wherein the plug is hinged to the wall of the first container.

9. The first container according to claim 5 wherein the plug comprises a diaphragm from which one or more extensions extend in the recess, each extension terminating in a foot, each foot configured to fit in a first notch when the plug is in its closed state and to fit in a second notch when the plug is in its open state.

10. A system comprising two or more first containers according to any one of the previous claims.