Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means – Interlocked discharge means – support and/or coupling
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-12
2002-08-20
Maust, Timothy L. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means
Interlocked discharge means, support and/or coupling
C141S018000, C141S020000, C141S107000, C141S349000, C141S369000, C141S386000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06435231
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a packaging system for combining and dispensing a product at its point of use. The packaging system herein described is particularly useful for combining and dispensing a mixture of products.
The packaging of products is a significant consideration for manufacturers and consumers. The factors requiring consideration in selecting a particular form of packaging include the suitability of the packaging for containing the product throughout its shelf life and the ease with which the product can be dispensed.
Many household products are packaged in pressurized aerosol containers. There are three main types of aerosol containers: standard, piston and bag-in-can. Standard aerosol containers are formed from aluminum or tin plate and contain a mixture of product and pressurized propellant. A piston can is an aluminum can having the product separated from the pressurized propellant by a piston which is normally polypropylene. A bag-in-can container is formed from aluminum or tin.
Other parts of the complete aerosol device, such as the valve used and the actuator, are also selected upon their suitability having regard to the nature of the product and the type of aerosol container. The method of filling the container will also be affected similarly.
Up to now aerosol devices could only be used with products that are stable within the container and therefore have a suitable shelf-life. However, there are many materials which must be produced from two or more ingredients mixed just prior to use. Examples of such products include: glue and hardener, glass fibre resin and catalyst, epoxy paints, hair colorants and cement/concrete.
The present invention provides a packaging system having a first container containing a first ingredient and a second container containing a second ingredient, the first and second containers being adapted for connection together such that upon deployment of the packaging system the first ingredient is displaced from said first container into said second container and an admixture of said first and second ingredients is subsequently dispensed from the packaging system.
More particularly, the packaging system according to the invention comprises:
a) a first container having a valve-controlling the opening of an outlet and containing a first ingredient;
b) a second container having a openable entry portion, containing a second ingredient; and
c) means for connecting the first and second containers together in order to allow the first ingredient to be displaced from the first container into the second container via the entry portion thereof, so that the first and second ingredients are admixed in the second container to form a final product.
Conveniently the passage of the first ingredient from the first container through to the second container causes the first ingredient to be intimately blended with the second ingredient.
It is preferred that the connecting means comprises a conduit to transfer said first ingredient into said second ingredient.
Preferably the containers are each pressurized aerosol containers, and the initial pressure in the second container may be less than that in the first container.
In one embodiment the first container is a piston-style aerosol container. The first ingredient is placed into the first container which is then fitted with a top valve. The first container may then be sterilized, for example by autoclave. The container is then pressurized by inserting a propellant below the piston via an aperture in the bottom of the can. A preferred propellant is nitrogen gas, but a wide variety of propellants can be used since there is no contact between the propellant and the first ingredient (these being separated by the piston). The pressurized container is then sealed with a rubber bung or other suitable means. Alternatively the first container may be a bag-in-can style aerosol container, the first ingredient being separated form the propellant by the bag.
In one embodiment the second container may be an aerosol container of known type, advantageously adapted by having as an openable entry portion a Nicholson valve or bung or other seal preferably located in the bottom thereof. An example of another seal or entry portion would be a thin portion or membrane which could be pierced open. Thus, the second container is filled with an appropriate quantity of second ingredient via the top of the can which is then closed using a standard valve. The container may be pressurized by inserting a suitable propellant (desirably an inert propellant that does not react with the first and second ingredients). Alternatively, the second container may become sufficiently pressurized by the transfer of the first ingredient.
Optionally the connecting means are also provided with means to hold the first and second containers in suitable juxtaposition.
The conduit may be a tube, preferably composed of plastics material.
In a preferred embodiment the first container is positioned beneath the second container and connected thereto via the connecting means. It is also preferred that the first container has a standard directionally biased pressure activated valve as commonly provided on an aerosol can.
Optionally the conduit cooperates with the openable entry portion of the second container so that when the entry is opened, the conduit permits entry of the first ingredient into the second container to take place.
Optionally the conduit is shaped to co-operate with the valve of the first container and preferably to open it. For example the conduit may comprise a bayonet-shaped end.
Preferably the second container has a bottom-mounted Nicholson valve or a bung which is removed or displaced into the second container by the connecting means to allow the entry of the first ingredient into the second container. Thus, in one embodiment the conduit may cooperate with the Nicholson valve located in the bottom surface of the second container and will displace the valve inwardly upon connection.
In one preferred embodiment the connecting means is shaped and sized to facilitate the admixture of the first and second ingredients within the second container. To aid suitable dispension of the first ingredient, the conduit may terminate in a blind ending and possess multiple openings (usually 2, 3 or 4) in the side of the conduit, generally adjacent the blind end thereof. In one example the conduit openings may be shaped and dimensioned to dispense the first ingredient in a spiral flow so as to promote good admixture of the first and second ingredients.
In one embodiment the connecting means comprises a first sleeve projecting downwardly which engages the top of the first container and a second sleeve projecting upwardly which engages the bottom of the second container. Thus, the first container is positioned correctly with respect to the second container via the connecting means. This sleeve, may be composed of plastics material. The conduit is carried within the aperture of the sleeve. Desirably the sleeve forms a close-fit with the first and second containers. For example, the internal surface of the sleeve may comprise a series of ridges extending circumferentially. In use the first container may be pushed past one or more of these ridges to be locked into place and cause transfer of the first ingredient to the second container via the conduit.
Advantageously, means to actuate the displacement of the first ingredient to the second container includes means to hold the first and second containers in suitable juxtaposition.
The sleeve may be used to retain the first container beneath the second container during both storage and distribution. The sleeve will also be responsible for holding the containers together such that the contents of the first container may be transferred into the second container.
Optionally the sleeve may include or be attached to an anti-tamper device.
The connecting means may be moulded from plastics material as a one piece unit. Alternatively, and desirably, the sleeve may be formed from a first and second part which are rotata
Cooper Matthew Martin Derome
Healy David Michael
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Giltech Limited
Maust Timothy L.
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