WO2001010729A1

WO2001010729A1 - Multi-cell container

Info

Publication number: WO2001010729A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/021219
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nini Policappelli
Original assignee: Nini Policappelli
Priority date: 1999-08-04
Filing date: 2000-08-03
Publication date: 2001-02-15
Also published as: BR0012965A; WO2001010729A9

Abstract

A container which has at least two sealed reservoirs. The first reservoir (16) contains a supplemental fluid for reaction with fluid in the second reservoir (17). The fluid (18) in the second reservoir is preferably for consumption. Piercing a wall of the first reservoir causes fluid from that reservoir, in some cases, to enter the fluid in the second reservoir. In other cases, an expansion of that fluid and its entrapment close by the walls of the second reservoir causes a heating or cooling of the second reservoir. In that situation, the fluid is a refrigerant or heating fluid in the sense that its expansion or contraction would change the state from gas to liquid or liquid to gas causes the temperature change to effect the fluid in the second reservoir.

Description

MULTI-CELL CONTAINER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a multi-cell container. In particular, it is concerned with a container which would be useful for liquids such as beverages. Other applications of the container can be for solids or gases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a container which has at least two reservoirs or cells which are normally separated. There is provided the possibility of puncturing an intervening wall between the two reservoirs so that the contents of the two reservoirs can mix appropriately. The puncturing zone of the intervening wall is of a nature that it can easily be punctured by a user at or about the time that the contents of the container are to be used or consumed. One of the reservoirs is conveniently relatively smaller than a second reservoir. The second reservoir would contain the consumable product, which can be in the form of a beverage. In this situation, the smaller reservoir could contain gas or an essence used to flavor the beverage appropriately. The smaller reservoir can contain a concentrated form of the additive to be applied to the contents in the larger second reservoir.

In some other forms of the invention, the multi-cell container is one where at least one of the containers has an area of weakness. The smaller or first reservoir is affixed to the area of weakness by a manual application by the action of the user. Such application to the second reservoir will act to cause the contents of the first reservoir to enter the second reservoir, and thereby permit for a mixing in the second reservoir.

The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA WTNGS

Figure la is a cross-sectional view of one form of the first reservoir with an element for puncturing a wall. There is a separate wall shown in Figure la, and this wall has an area of weakness and is also a closure portion for the first reservoir. This wall can also be the intervening wall, namely a portion of the wall of the second reservoir. Figure lb is a representation of Figure la where the separate wall with the area of weakness is shown affixed to the first reservoir.

Figure lc is a plan view from the top showing the first reservoir and the puncturing member in relation to the area of weakness. Figure 1 d is a plan view from the bottom showing the zone of weakness in the wall.

Figures 2a-2d are representations of a different puncturing mechanism formed in the first reservoir. In these figures there is shown a puncturing element which is located off-center of the first reservoir. The line of weakness is shown as an arc substantially parallel to the perimeter of the intervening wall.

Figures 3a to 3d are representations of a different embodiment of the invention where there is no puncturing element. In this embodiment, where there is a collapsing of the first reservoir under sufficient pressure this causes areas of weakness as illustrated in

Figure 3 b to break, so that the contents from the first reservoir can then enter the second reservoir.

Figures 4a-4c are views of an embodiment of the invention where the first reservoir is located in the underneath or bottom zone of a can such as a beverage can. In Figure 4a the puncturing element is shown adjacent to the wall of weakness in the bottom of the beverage can, but not puncturing the beverage can. In Figure 4b the puncturing element has punctured the bottom half of the beverage and permitted the contents in the first reservoir to enter the second reservoir. Figure 4c shows the construction of the walls of the first reservoir separately from the wall of the bottom of the second reservoir, namely the can.

Figure 5a shows an embodiment of the invention in side view where the bottle has two other cells for mating relationship with the second reservoir which contains fluid.

Figure 5b is a perspective view which shows the second container or reservoir of

Figure 5a. One wall of the container Figure 5b is a semi-rigid material and the other wall of container 5b is a flexible material. As shown in Figures 5a and 5b, the container has elements for securing a holding strap to the bottle or container to permit carrying the bottle as a sling.

Figure 5c is a perspective view of the cap for the container together with the first reservoir element which can be fitted beneath the cap so as to penetrate a sealing member in the top of the neck of the container. Figure 6 is a side view of a different container with an indentation to receive contents of the first reservoir.

Figure 7 is an enlarged view with the first reservoir in relation to the indentation. Figure 8 is a side view of a different second reservoir with an indentation to receive first reservoir.

Figure 9 is a variation of Figure 6. Figure 10 is a variation of Figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As illustrated in Figures la- Id, a first reservoir 16 is defined in part by a wall 10, which is a hemispherical wall which mounts a puncturing element 11. The puncturing element can have the shape of a sharpened shank of a nail or similar type device. The point 12 of the puncturing element 11 is for engagement with the area of weakness 13 in the wall 14. Wall 14 can also be part of the wall of a second reservoir or container 17 for fluids. As such wall 14 is an intervening wall. The fluids for the multi-cell container can be in the nature of gas, solids or liquids, and can be for consumption as a food or liquid beverage. Alternatively, the contents can be for industrial use.

The hemispherical section 10 at its periphery also includes a ring-like formation 15 for engaging the wall 14 in an appropriate sealing manner. The area of weakness 13 is formed by two lines 13a and 13b which intersect as is illustrated in Figure lb. Within the volume formed by the hemispherical wall 10 and wall 14, there can be a suitable liquid, gas or solid to penetrate through the zone of weakness 13 when the hemispherical section 10 is pushed downwardly so that the puncturing element 11 penetrates the zone of weakness 13 to permit communication between the two reservoirs. The materials for any one or both of the multi-cell reservoirs 16 and 17 can be any suitable product. This can be a metal such as aluminum, which is crushable under finger pressure as is typical in beverage containers, a more rigid steel or other metal, plastic, paper, board or the like. The materials may be transparent, translucent or opaque as required. Various laminates of material may be possible in different zones. The materials for each of the reservoirs can be different. In Figure 2a the puncturing element 1 1 is located towards one side of the hemispherical member. And the zone of weakness 13 is formed by an arcuate line 13c.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 3a-3d. there is no puncturing element 1 1. The finger pressure applied to the outside wall 10 is sufficient to cause the zone of weakness 13 to break apart, as is illustrated by the multiple lines of weakness 13d.

In Figures 4a-4c there is shown the hemispherical outer wall 10 of the first reservoir 16, and the puncturing element 11 is located in the reservoir 16. A suitable gas or essence is contained in the first reservoir 16.

The contents of the second reservoir 17 can be a beverage 18. Pushing the wall 10 of the first reservoir 16 upwardly towards the bottom wall 14 of the first reservoir 16 causes a breakage along lines 13 and causes the puncturing element 11 to at least partly enter the first reservoir 16. At this point, the contents of the reservoir 16 merge with the contents 18 in the reservoir 17. If these contents are a gas of a particular kind, it can impart suitable properties to the beverage 18. This gas can be of a nature that its incorporation into the liquid can cause the liquid 18 to chill. In other cases, it can supply suitable carbonation or flavoring to the liquid 18.

In the example shown in Figure 5 a, there is a container or reservoir 17 having a liquid beverage such as water 18. There are two hemispherical areas 10 which form second reservoirs 16 as required. The one reservoir 16 has a puncturing element 1 1 wherein the other does not have a puncturing element 11. There is a zone of weakness 13 in the wall of the container 17. Pushing the hemispherical members 10 towards the wall 14 containing liquid 18 causes the contents in the cells formed in the hemispherical portions 10 to enter the water or the like in the container 17.

As illustrated in Figure 5b the container 17 is formed by two portions; one is a substantially rigid element 30 and the other by flexible element 19, which bulges over the relatively flat flexible element 30. There are welding seams 20 along the edges. In cross- section, a container 17 of this shape filled with water or other fluids would have a flat surface and a bulging portion. The liquid is contained between these two elements 19 and 30 . The cells 16 could be affixed to either the portion 19 or the portion 30 as required. Towards the neck area 21 of the container 17, the material can form a relatively rigid formation. A suitable collar 22 can be provided with a tab or lip 23 having a hole 24 through which a cord 25 can be strung. At the opposite foot end of the container 17, there is a tab 26 with a hole 27 into which the other end of the cord 25 can be connected. In this manner, the container 17 can be strung along or carried suitably by a user as a sling-bag type configuration. The container 17 is also illustrated in a bowed or arcuate shape. Many other different shapes of the container are possible.

The cap 28 is a conventional screw cap and, in some situations, it can be a configuration where the cell 16 fits between the top of the neck portion 21 of the container 17. In this situation, as the container cap 28 is screwed down on threads, the action of the tightening of the cap 28 can cause the element 11 to puncture a top cover wall 14 at the mouth of the container, the location of the zone weakness may not be necessary in this embodiment. In an used form or where the two containers are not interconnected in communication with each other, the first reservoir 16 can be a separate element or can be located with the container in the cap 28 so that the hemispherical wall 10 protrudes from an aperture 31 at the top of the cap 28. When used the cell is turned around and the hemispherical wall 10 protrudes into the mouth of the container. As the cap 28 is screwed on the hemispherical wall breaks and there is an interconnection between the two cells. Although the invention has been described with reference to multi-cell containers, it is clear that many other forms of the invention exist. In some variations of the invention, the formation of a container with suitable anchoring means for permitting a holding cord or the like to be connected to the container is to be considered as an improvement over the prior art. In such a situation. The holding cord can be used with a single reservoir or a multi-cell reservoir container.

Other inventive aspects of the invention include the characteristic of the container being formed by a relatively flexible member and a more rigid kind of material. In this manner, as the contents of the container are used, the flexible member compresses or collapses towards the more rigid member, and the overall container size can be reduced. This can permit for the container to be folded as required, and/or can facilitate storage of used containers. This aspect of the invention concerns the formation of a container with at least two different kinds of materials; the materials having different aspects of rigidity. One material aspect would be sufficient to provide sufficient stability to the container, and any other material aspect would be sufficient to provide collapsing of the container as the contents are consumed.

Yet another aspect of the invention provides for the formation of a container having an irregular, namely a non-cylindrical or rectangular kind of shape. The shape may be more akin to that used in a sling purse or bag arrangement. The container of the present invention can be formed by a suitable welding process whereby the flexible member is welded along a perimeter to the more rigid member.

In other forms of the invention, the second cell or reservoir 16 is supplied as a separable member of concentrate, coloring, or other additive so that it can be conveniently added to or supplied to the contents in a first container. Thus in an industrial sense many first containers can include different colorings for use with white paint contained in a second container. This permits for effective efficient coloring and distribution of paints. It is unnecessary to supply many different colors of paints. Only a single stock or base color is needed, and coloring is supplied according to the selected color added in the first container.

A similar approach exists for flavoring different beverages. There need only be supplies a single neutral fluid and then different flavorings are added as required. The different flavorings are provided in the first smaller container as a concentrate.

In some variations, for instance in Figures 4a-4c, the small reservoir 16 can be of the nature that it does not interconnect with the large reservoir 17. There can be an intermediate reservoir between reservoir 16 and reservoir 17. Puncturing of reservoir 16 could release a fluid to fill the intermediate reservoir. The nature of the fluid could be one to create a chilling effect of the walls of the second reservoir 17 without the fluid from reservoir 16 actually entering the second reservoir 17 and its contents 18. In other examples, there could be more than one intermediate wall between the first and second reservoirs or other reservoirs. The reservoirs can be connected together by glue, screw threads, interlocking or other interengaging means.

In Figure 6 there is illustrated a side view of a second reservoir 60 formed of a nickel-type bottle or container undulating walls. The second reservoir also includes a base 62 and within the base there is an indentation which forms with the spike-like formation portion 64 internal body portion 65 of the second reservoir 60. Below the spike portion 64, there is located a first reservoir 66, a wall of weakness 67 and a flexible wall 68 which is in mating engagement with the wall 67 around a peripheral area 69. This peripheral engagement is effectively a seal so that the contents 70 of the first reservoir is effectively sealed within this first reservoir 66. There is a protruding element 71 inside the first reservoir 66 formed on the inside of the wall 68. Bridging the protrusion element 71 forwardly is the line of weakness 67 breaks the seal of the first reservoir of essence, fluid or gas contained in the portion 70 which can thereby be expelled into the area 72. An expansion of gas or fluid in this area can cause a drop in temperature which would penetrate the walls 64 by the temperatures of the contents 65 in the second reservoir 60.

As shown in Figure 8 there is a different embodiment of the first reservoir. There is a wall 81 and 84. This perimeter can be circular or have any other appropriate shape as necessary. A spike or protruding point 85 within the first reservoir 80 is directed towards the wall 82 which is the area of weakness of the first reservoir.

This configuration in Figure 8 is different to the configuration shown in Figure 7 since the wall 82 is relatively planar and not curved.

In Figure 9 there is shown a variation of the configuration in Figure 6. In this configuration there is a second reservoir 90 having walls 91 which are shaped to have protrusions. Lettering or configurational printing 92 can be formed on the outside of the wall 91. In some situations, the wall may be solid metal or glass. In other situations, there could be windows in the wall 91. There is an internal protrusion element 93 directed internally towards the body of the second reservoir. The first reservoir 94 is affixed underneath, adjacent to the base 95 of the second reservoir. Puncturing the wall 96 of the first reservoir by means of urging the spike 97 forwardly against the wall 96 causes an agent to enter the zone 98 outside but within the perimeter area 91 of the container 90.

This can effect heating or cooling of the contents fluid within the second reservoir. This would depend upon the gas or fluid contained in the first reservoir which expands when entering the zone 98. In Figure 10 there is a more detailed version of the second reservoir

94 showing the area of weakness 96 in the wall and the protruding spoke 97.

In different forms, the area 64 can be of a deeper or shorter length as appropriate relative to the second reservoir. In some cases, there are multiple first reservoirs relative to a first reservoir. The embodiment of Figure 7 having the two reservoirs 70 and 72 can be made separately or together. They can be applied to any other container than can receive the reservoirs 70 and/or 72.

The materials of the reservoirs 70, 72 and container can be made of any suitable material, for instance, glass, paper, board, plastic, metal or resin. In some cases, the piercing is effected by twisting one reservoir relative to the other so that the element 85 cuts the wall 82 by the relative rotational action of the reservoirs. In this manner, the contents of the two reservoirs can be mixed together. The invention has many other aspects and variations which are applicable.

Claims

1. A container comprising: at least two sealed reservoirs; a second reservoir containing a fluid; a first reservoir containing a supplemental fluid for reaction with the fluid in the second reservoir; and a wall containing the supplemental fluid in the first reservoir, the wall being capable of being punctured such that the fluid in the first reservoir interacts with the second reservoir, and wherein interaction is selectively intermixing of the fluids, or an interaction to cause an effective change in temperature of the fluid in the second reservoir.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid in the second reservoir is intended for consumption, and selectively a beverage.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein a wall of the first reservoir is formed by a wall of the second reservoir.

4. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein all the walls of the first reservoir are independent of the second reservoir.

5. A container as claimed in claim 1 including an intermediate third reservoir which is related to the first reservoir and/or the second reservoir.

6. A container as claimed in claim 5 wherein a piercing of the wall in the first reservoir causes fluid to enter the third reservoir.

7. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein puncturing the wall of the first reservoir also causes puncturing of the wall of the second reservoir, thereby fluid in the first reservoir enters the second reservoir.

8. A container comprising a first reservoir, the first reservoir being for containing a supplemental fluid for reaction with fluid in a second reservoir which is normally remote from the first reservoir, and wherein when the first reservoir and second reservoir are brought into interengagement, the contents of fluid from the first reservoir are caused to interact directly with the contents of the second reservoir or indirectly with the contents of the second reservoir, the first reservoir having an element internally within the first reservoir such that pressure from the outside on a wall of the first reservoir causes an element internally to pierce a wall of the first reservoir to cause fluid from the first reservoir to exit the first reservoir.

9. A container or reservoir as claimed in claim 8 wherein the first reservoir includes a wall of weakness relative to the stronger wall, and wherein the stronger wall includes a piercing element directed internally towards the wall of weakness, and spaced from the wall of weakness prior to use of the first reservoir and intended to pierce the wall of weakness of the first reservoir when the stronger wall is urged forwardly towards the wall of weakness.

10. A reservoir containing a fluid, the fluid being for consumption, including a wall of weakness and a portion of the body, the wall of weakness being located in a manner such that when a related reservoir was placed in engagement with that wall of weakness, related reservoir covers the wall of weakness, and when the related reservoir is opened under pressure, the opening of the related reservoir causes the wall of weakness to be pierced so that the contents of the reservoir and related reservoir mix.

11. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second reservoir contains a beverage for consumption, and the first reservoir contains an essence to enhance the flavor of the beverage.

12. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second reservoir contains a fluid for consumption and a first reservoir contains a chemical, the expansion or contraction of which causes a change in temperature of a degree sufficient that its effect causes heating or chilling of fluid in the second reservoir.

13. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second reservoir includes a spaced zone in the base area, the spaced zone being directed upwardly into the body of the second reservoir, and wherein the first reservoir is intended to cover the base of the spaced zone, and wherein puncturing of the first reservoir causes fluid to enter the spaced zone, the fluid entering the spaced zone acting to have a chilling or heating effect on the fluid contained in the second reservoir, the heating or chilling being effected by the expansion or contraction of the fluid from the first reservoir when entering the second reservoir.

14. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein the container includes a cap and mouth area, and wherein the second reservoir has a mouth normally enclosed by a cap, and wherein the first reservoir is intended for location in the vicinity of the mouth and wherein movement of the cap acts to break a seal so that the contents of the first reservoir enter the second reservoir.