Interface connection device, kit, multiple compartment container having the connection device for mixing contents and method for assembling such container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11873155-B2
Application number	US-202017771229-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2020
Priority date	Oct 25, 2019
Publication date	Jan 16, 2024
Grant date	Jan 16, 2024

Abstract

The container is suitable for the separate packaging and storage of at least two contents, which need to be combined in the preparation of a ready-to-use product. Two container bodies each provided with a coupler are assembled by using a separate interface device as intermediate connector. A mixing mechanism is formed when inserting the couplers through opposite annular rings of the connector of the interface device. The interface device includes two openers having a different or opposite orientation, typically arranged inside a same puncturing structure of generally cylindrical shape, for releasing an internal passage initially sealed between two closure members. The closure members respectively close an access opening of the container bodies, hermetically. Relative movement of the closure members toward the openers allows communication between a first compartment and a second compartment.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An interface connection device that delimits an internal passage, the interface connection device comprising:
a connector of annular shape configured to connect a first container body and a second container body, the connector comprising
a first end female part configured to receive a corresponding male part that is formed as a first coupler of the first container body and is bearing a first membrane sealing a first compartment delimited in the first container body, the first end female part forming a first outer open face of the connector,
a second end female part configured to receive a corresponding male part that is formed as a second coupler of the second container body and is bearing a second membrane sealing a second compartment delimited in the second container body, the second end female part forming a second outer open face of the connector,
a first opener comprising a first contact end or edge that is facing outwardly in a first direction and provided to selectively displace all or part of the first membrane toward the first direction, and
a second opener comprising a second contact end or edge that is facing outwardly in a second direction away from the first direction, and provided for selectively displacing all or part of the second membrane toward the second direction;

wherein the connector is a double opener connector,
wherein at least one of the first and second end female parts provides a first insertion position and a second insertion position for the corresponding male part, the interface connection device comprising at least one retaining element interfering with displacement from the first insertion position to the second insertion position so that the first insertion position is typically a predetermined position,
wherein the interface connection device is configured to permit passing from the first insertion position to the second insertion position upon one or more of an actuation action and an unlocking action exerted to allow the first and second membranes to be respectively displaced by the first and second openers, so that the first and second compartments are open toward the connector and the internal passage thus selectively allowing communication between the first compartment and the second compartment,
wherein the first end female part is formed as a first ring part and the second end female part formed as a second ring part, an annular sealing contact, preventing any leak of liquid outside from the internal passage, being created between respective inner faces of the first ring part and the second ring part and the corresponding male part, when passing from the first insertion position to the second insertion position,
wherein an annular sealing contact, preventing any leak of liquid outside from the internal passage, is already created between respective inner faces of the first ring part and the second ring part and the corresponding male part, in the first insertion position before passing from the first insertion position to the second insertion position,
wherein the interface connection device has two opposite axial ends provided in two distinct pieces, the two opposite axial ends being spaced to define a maximal height of the interface connection device, in a first configuration, while in a second configuration the two opposite axial ends are spaced to define a lower height of the interface connection device as compared to the maximal height, and
wherein the two opposite axial ends are each irremovably secured to a respective fastening and guiding part provided in the connector, in order to surround an external tubular wall of the connector both in the first configuration and in the second configuration.

2. The interface connection device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second end female parts provides a first insertion position and a second insertion position for the corresponding male part, the interface connection device further comprising:
at least one first irremovable retaining element, included in or secured to the first end female part of the connector in order to be irremovable relative to the connector, interfering with displacement from the first insertion position to the second insertion position so that the first insertion position is a predetermined position inside the first end female part, and
at least one second irremovable retaining element, included in or secured to the second end female part of the connector in order to be irremovable relative to the connector, interfering with displacement from the first insertion position to the second insertion position so that the first insertion position is a predetermined position inside the second end female part,
wherein the double opener connector is made of a single piece.

3. The interface connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the connector is a single piece of plastic material or metal provided with:
an intermediate part including an annular peripheral junction joining the first end female part and the second end female part, and
a tubular wall delimiting all or part of an exterior face of the interface connection device, the annular peripheral junction being included in the tubular wall,
wherein the intermediate part comprises a radial part or transverse wall transversally connecting the tubular wall to a cylindrical part that includes the first contact end or edge and the second contact end or edge, the tubular wall and the cylindrical part delimiting two housings separated by the transverse wall.

4. The interface connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the first end female part and the second end female part are integral and inseparable parts of the connector, at least one of which comprises an inner face provided with:
an inner guiding track that includes a first coupling section and a second coupling section, and
at least one stopper forming the retaining element configured to provisionally block the corresponding coupler in an intermediate position along the inner guiding track, which is a predetermined position.

5. The interface connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the connector is a single piece of plastic material or metal provided with a tubular wall delimiting all or part of an exterior face of the interface connection device, and
wherein the first opener and second opener are arranged in an interior volume delimited by the tubular wall and belong to a same cylindrical part.

6. A kit for assembling a container having separate compartments, the container allowing keeping contents in the separate compartments that are distributed in a first container body and a second container body, the kit comprising:
the first container body;
the second container body, the first container body and the second container body each having a membrane sealing a container body compartment and a coupler arranged at a container body annular end which is sealed by a given membrane; and
an interface connection device configured to connect the first container body to the second container body, the interface connection device delimits an internal passage, the interface connection device comprising
a connector of annular shape configured to connect a first container body and a second container body, the connector comprising
a first end female part configured to receive a corresponding male part that is formed as a first coupler of the first container body and is bearing a first membrane sealing a first compartment delimited in the first container body, the first end female part forming a first outer open face of the connector,
a second end female part configured to receive a corresponding male part that is formed as a second coupler of the second container body and is bearing a second membrane sealing a second c

Assignees

• Gervais Danone Sa

Inventors

• Jaramillo Juan-Felipe
• Orchard Alex James

Classifications

• B65D81/3211 Primary

  coaxially and provided with means facilitating admixture · CPC title

• B65D1/04

  Multi-cavity bottles · CPC title

• B65D51/2835

  ruptured by a sharp element, e.g. a cutter or a piercer · CPC title

• B65D2401/00

  Tamper-indicating means · CPC title

• B65D2401/05

  Tearable non-integral strips · CPC title