Packaging system and method for multi-component product preparation processes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12195262-B2
Application number	US-202117481236-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2021
Priority date	Mar 21, 2019
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

A packaging system for a multi-component product preparation process, having: a first container for storing a first product preparation component, a second container for storing at least one second product preparation component, and a closure element which seals off the first container from the surroundings and has a coupling device in order to couple the second container to the closure element and in order to establish a fluidic connection between the first container and the second container. The closure element includes a closure cap which can be separated from the closure element along a predetermined breaking point in order to release the fluidic connection between the first container and the second container, wherein the closure cap can be coupled to the second container—so as to be blocked in a rotational direction about an axis of the closure element and movable in a direction parallel to the axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A packaging system for preparation of a multi-component product, the packaging system comprising:
a first container configured to store a first product preparation component;
a second container configured to store at least one second product preparation component; and
a closure element comprising a coupling device connected to a closure cap, the closure cap being configured to seal the first container, the coupling device being configured to couple to the second container, and the closure element being configured to establish a fluid connection between the first container and the second container when the closure cap is separated from the closure element,
wherein the closure cap is configured to be completely separated from the closure element along a predetermined breaking point, a material thickness of the predetermined breaking point being greater than zero, and
wherein the closure cap is configured to directly engage an inner surface of the second container to rotationally lock the closure cap relative to the second container, and the closure cap is axially movable relative to the second container such that the closure cap falls into the second container when the closure cap is completely separated from the closure element.

2. The packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the closure element is connected to the first container in a non-detachable manner, excluding by the destruction of the closure element.

3. The packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the closure element is locked to the first container in a non-detachable manner.

4. The packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the closure element and the second container have corresponding threaded portions used to couple the closure element to the second container, to the closure element by screwing.

5. The packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling device has an internal thread that interacts with an external thread of the second container to couple the coupling device to the second container.

6. The packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the closure element and the second container have corresponding coupling elements that limit relative rotation of the closure element and the second container to less than 180°.

7. The packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the closure cap has at least one projection configured to interact with at least one corresponding recess in the inner surface of the second container to rotationally lock the closure cap relative to the second container.

8. The packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the closure cap is covered with a cover element to prevent manual access to the closure cap.

9. The packaging system of claim 8 , wherein the cover element radially surrounds the closure cap and projects axially beyond the closure cap.

10. The packaging system of claim 9 , wherein the cover element comprises a tamper-evident ring configured to break into a plurality of portions when the closure cap is separated from the coupling device.

11. The packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling device is coupled to the second container in a liquid-tight manner.

12. The packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the closure element has at least one seal to ensure a liquid-tight connection to the first container and/or the second container.

13. A method for mixing a multi-component product preparation using the packaging system of claim 1 , the method comprising:
attaching the first container to the second container using the closure element by screwing the coupling device to the second container and coupling the closure cap to the second container to be rotationally locked relative to the second container;
further screwing the coupling device to the second container to completely separate the closure cap from the closure element at the predetermined breaking point and cause the closure cap to fall into the second container, thereby establishing the fluid connection between the first container and the second container; and
mixing the first product preparation component and the at least one second product preparation component.

14. A method for mixing a multi-component product preparation using the packaging system of claim 1 , the method comprising:
attaching the first container to the second container using the closure element by coupling the coupling device to the second container and coupling the closure cap to the second container to be rotationally locked relative to the second container;
rotating the coupling device relative to the second container to completely separate the closure cap from the closure element at the predetermined breaking point and cause the closure cap to fall into the second container, thereby establishing the fluid connection between the first container and the second container; and
mixing the first product preparation component and the at least one second product preparation component.

15. The packaging system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of portions, upon engagement with an inclined flank of the second container, flair radially outward.

16. The packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the closure cap comprises radial locking teeth, and the inner surface of the second container has a locking ring that engages with the radial locking teeth to rotationally lock the closure cap to the second container.

17. The packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the closure cap comprises projections, and the inner surface of the second container has grooves that interact with the projections to rotationally lock the closure cap to the second container.

18. The packaging system of claim 17 , wherein the grooves the inner surface of the second container are L-shaped.

19. The packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined breaking point is circumferentially defined around the closure cap.

20. The packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the material thickness of the predetermined breaking point is less a material thickness of the closure cap and a material thickness of the closure element adjacent the predetermined breaking point.

Assignees

• Henkel Ag & Co Kgaa

Inventors

• Lombard Antoine
• Blank Philippe
• Dori Angelo

Classifications

• B65D51/2814

  the additional article or materials being released by piercing, cutting or tearing an element enclosing it · CPC title

• B65D81/3211 Primary

  coaxially and provided with means facilitating admixture · CPC title