Multi-chambered container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9540149-B2
Application number	US-201214434369-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2012
Priority date	Oct 19, 2012
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A multi-chambered container for storing and dispensing flowable substances and method for using the same. The container includes a plurality of individual chambers ( 30,40,50 ) each containing a flowable substance. Each chamber ( 30,40,50 ) is in fluid communication with a discharge valve assembly. Each chamber includes a pair of structural elements that define an isolated panel. The valve assembly selectively dispenses a single one of the flowable substances in response to one of the isolated panels being pressed or squeezed by a user without simultaneously dispensing the remaining substances.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-chamber container for selectively dispensing flowable substances, comprising:
a first chamber for storing a first flowable substance, the first chamber including a first sidewall;
a second chamber for storing a second flowable substance, the second chamber including a second sidewall;
a first pair of structural elements disposed at an upper portion of the first sidewall and a lower portion of the first sidewall, the upper portion and the lower portion defining a first isolated panel therebetween;
a second pair of structural elements disposed at an upper portion of the second sidewall and a lower portion of the second sidewall, the upper portion and the lower portion defining a second isolated panel therebetween; and
a discharge valve assembly in fluid communication with the first and second chambers, the valve assembly being configured to dispense the first or second flowable substance;
wherein the structural elements comprise crevices, dimples, recesses, dents or indentations;
wherein the first and second isolated panels define bubble-like sections of the first and second sidewall, respectively, and the first and second isolated panels are configured to deform elastically inwards to reduce a volumetric capacity of the first or second chambers, respectively, when a force is applied to the first and second isolated panels to respectively dispense the first and second flowable substances.

2. The container of claim 1 , wherein the second chamber is disposed vertically on top of the first chamber.

3. The container of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third chamber for storing a third flowable substance, the third chamber including a third sidewall, the third chamber being in fluid communication with the discharge valve assembly,
wherein the valve assembly is further configured to dispense the first, second, or third flowable substance.

4. The container of claim 3 , wherein the third chamber further comprising a third pair of structural elements disposed at an upper portion of the third sidewall and a lower portion of the third sidewall, the upper portion and the lower portion defining a third isolated panel therebetween.

5. The container of claim 3 , wherein:
the first chamber further comprises a fourth pair of structural elements disposed at an upper portion of a fourth sidewall, the fourth sidewall opposing the first sidewall, and a lower portion of the fourth sidewall, the upper portion and the lower portion defining a fourth isolated panel therebetween;
the second chamber further comprises a fifth pair of structural elements disposed at an upper portion of a fifth sidewall, the fifth sidewall opposing the second sidewall, and a lower portion of the fifth sidewall, the upper portion and the lower portion defining a fifth isolated panel therebetween; and
the third chamber further comprises a sixth pair of structural elements disposed at an upper portion of a sixth sidewall, the sixth sidewall opposing the third sidewall, and a lower portion of the sixth sidewall, the upper portion and the lower portion defining a sixth isolated panel therebetween.

6. The container of claim 1 , wherein the discharge valve assembly is operable to simultaneously dispense both the first and second flowable substances.

7. The container of claim 1 , wherein the second chamber is disposed laterally adjacent to the first chamber.

8. A user selectable multi-chamber dispensing system comprising:
a first chamber adapted for containing a first flowable substance, the first chamber including a first sidewall and a first pair of structural elements disposed at an upper portion of the first sidewall and a lower portion of the first sidewall, the upper portion and the lower portion defining a first isolated panel therebetween;
a second chamber adapted for containing a second flowable substance, the second chamber including a second sidewall and a second pair of structural elements disposed at an upper portion of the second sidewall and a lower portion of the second sidewall, the upper portion and the lower portion defining a second isolated panel therebetween;
a third chamber adapted for containing a third flowable substance, the third chamber including a third sidewall and a third pair of structural elements disposed at an upper portion of the third sidewall and a lower portion of the third sidewall, the upper portion and the lower portion defining a third isolated panel therebetween; and
a discharge valve assembly in fluid communication with each of the first, second, and third chambers, the dispensing system being configured to dispense a single one of the first, second, or third flowable substances in response to a squeezing force applied to at least one of the first, second, or third isolated panels by user without simultaneously dispensing the other remaining substances;
wherein the structural elements comprise crevices, dimples, recesses, dents or indentations;
wherein the first, second, and third isolated panels define bubble-like sections of the first, second, and third sidewall, respectively, and the first, second, and third isolated panels are configured to deform elastically inwards to reduce a volumetric capacity of the first, second, or third chambers, respectively, when a force is applied to the first, second, or third isolated panels to respectively dispense the first, second and third flowable substances.

9. The dispensing system of claim 8 , wherein:
the first chamber further comprises a fourth pair of structural elements disposed at an upper portion of a fourth sidewall, the fourth sidewall opposing the first sidewall, and a lower portion of the fourth sidewall, the upper portion and the lower portion defining a fourth isolated panel therebetween;
the second chamber further comprises a fifth pair of structural elements disposed at an upper portion of a fifth sidewall, the fifth sidewall opposing the second sidewall, and a lower portion of the fifth sidewall, the upper portion and the lower portion defining a fifth isolated panel therebetween; and
the third chamber further comprises a sixth pair of structural elements disposed at an upper portion of a sixth sidewall, the sixth sidewall opposing the third sidewall, and a lower portion of the sixth sidewall, the upper portion and the lower portion defining a sixth isolated panel therebetween.

10. The dispensing system of claim 9 , wherein the discharge valve assembly is operable to simultaneously dispense two or more of the first, second, and third flowable substances.

11. The dispensing system of claim 10 , wherein the second chamber is disposed between the first and third chambers, and the discharge valve assembly is further operable to simultaneously dispense and blend the first and third flowable substances from their respective chambers without simultaneously dispensing the second flowable substance from the second chamber.

12. A method for selectively dispensing a flowable substance from a multi-chambered container, comprising:
providing a container having a first chamber containing a first flowable substance and a second chamber containing a second flowable substance, the first chamber including a first sidewall and a first pair of structural elements disposed at an upper portion of the first sidewall and a lower portion of the first sidewall, the upper portion and the lower portion defining a first isolated panel therebetween, and the second chamber including a second sidewall and a second pair of structural elements disposed at an upper portion of the second sidewall and a lower portion of the second sidewall, the upper portion and the lower portion defining a second isolated panel therebetween

Assignees

• Colgate Palmolive Co

Inventors

• Worthington Brian G

Classifications

• B65D21/0201

  stackable or joined together side-by-side · CPC title

• B65D35/22 Primary

  with two or more compartments · CPC title

• B65D1/04

  Multi-cavity bottles · CPC title

• B65D81/3205

  Separate rigid or semi-rigid containers joined to each other at their external surfaces (B65D81/3288 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D1/32

  Containers adapted to be temporarily deformed by external pressure to expel contents · CPC title