The present invention relates generally to containers with a plurality of chambers for storing products separately and particularly to a dispensing spout arrangement for such containers.
There are a variety of circumstances in which two or more products are used as part of the same operation. For example, hair shampoo and conditioner tend to be supplied as separate products with both being required in quick succession. In some cases the products are supplied separately because they may be required to be used either separately or together. In other cases, two or more components of a product must be kept separate until the point of use whereupon they are mixed to form a final, active product. For convenience, containers have been developed which comprise a plurality of chambers so that multi-stage or multi-component products can be conveniently stored together.
In many cases dispensing of the products from such multi-chambered containers is facilitated by a nozzle and conveniently such nozzles are provided as separate components which are attachable to the chamber outlets (which are commonly defined by bottle necks).
It is common to form multi-chambered containers from plastics materials, for example by blow-moulding. These processes require the plastics material to be heated prior to moulding, which necessitates a cooling step after formation. It is well known that during the cooling process the container may shrink and undergo structural changes. This means that during the cooling process the relative positions of bottlenecks defining chamber outlets can be subject to change and variation. This in turn produces difficulties in applying nozzles to the bottleneck.
Document
The present invention seeks to address the problems presented by shrinkage of multi-chamber containers.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing spout arrangement for a container having a plurality of chambers each with an outlet, the arrangement comprising a plurality of dispensing nozzles for association with respective chamber outlets, in which the nozzles are interconnected by two resilient links such that they are movable with respect to each other.
The spout arrangement may be formed as a single-piece article as this simplifies production. Because the nozzles are interconnected by two resilient links they will be movable with respect to each other even when formed integrally.
The present invention therefore provides a multi-nozzle arrangement which allows the interconnected nozzles to be applied together to the container. Although the nozzles are interconnected, because they are joined by two resilient links they are movable, which allows the nozzles to be aligned with their respective outlets and to take account of variations in the relative positions thereof.
By allowing the nozzles to be re-aligned on the container, getting the nozzles to align with the outlets is made easier and reduces the risk to damage to the outlets upon application. Furthermore, by ensuring that the nozzles are each applied properly to their respective outlets this ensures that the risk of less than secure connection being made and, if appropriate, a less than satisfactory seal at the outlet.
Each link may comprise a curved or angled arm. Each arm may be connected to the respective nozzles via a thinned hinge section.
If the spout arrangement is formed from mouldable material, such as a plastics material, the resilient link can form the conduit between nozzles for the flow of material (such as in an injection moulding process).
Commonly, containers with two chambers are used and accordingly the spout arrangement may comprise two nozzles. However, containers with three or more chambers are, of course, possible and the present invention envisages dispensing spouts with three or more nozzles as appropriate. Of course not all the dispensing nozzles in a spout arrangement need to be interconnected; for example, a container with four chambers could be associated with two dispensing spouts each with two nozzles. Furthermore, not all outlets of a container necessarily have a dispensing nozzle associated with them.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing closure for a container having a plurality of chambers each with an outlet, the closure comprising a base and a dispensing spout arrangement as described herein carried thereon or thereby.
It is often the case that closures are associated with multi-chamber containers. The present invention therefore also envisages a closure incorporating a multi-nozzle dispensing spout. The benefits of a single-piece dispensing spout arrangement in which the nozzles are movable with respect to each other also apply to the application of the spout to the dispensing closure, because this allows the spout to accommodate variations in the position of nozzle sockets in the closure.
The closure may further comprise a lid and in one embodiment the lid is hingedly attached to the base, for example by a snap-hinge arrangement.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided, in combination, a multi-chamber container and a dispensing closure as described herein.
The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring first to
At the periphery of the base plates 22a, 22b a cylindrical side wall 23a, 23b projects in the same direction as the tubes 21 a, 21 b so as to be coaxial with the tubes 21 a, 21 b and extend over part of their length so that the tubes are recessed slightly into the side walls.
At the opposite end of the side walls 23a, 23b from the plate 22a, 22b the side walls terminate with an annular flange 24a, 24b which extends radially outwardly therefrom.
The flanges 24a, 24b are interconnected by two generally V-shape link arms 25a, 25b.
The link arms 25a, 25b comprise a central elbow 26a, 26b from which extend links 27a, 28a and 27b, 28b. Each of the links is connected to its respective flange via a thinned hinge section 29a, 30a and 29b, 30b.
The connecting arms 25a, 25b allow the nozzles 20a, 20b to be articulated with respect to each other in a variety of planes so that they are freely movable with respect to each other within certain limits. So, for example, relative axial, twisting, torsion and lateral movement between the nozzles 20a, 20b can be accommodated.
Referring now to
Each nozzle socket 50a, 50b has a pair of retention clips 52a, 53a and 52b, 53b. The clips receive respective flanges 24a, 24b of the nozzles 20a, 20b (as shown best in
As shown best in
Referring now to
The base 40 comprises the top plate 45 and a skirt 46 which depends from the periphery thereof.
Referring now to
Each chamber 78, 79 has an associated outlet defined by a respective neck 80, 81.
In use, the closure 60 is lowered onto the container 75 from above so that the closure side skirt 46 fits over the body 76 and so that the necks 80, 81 are received by the bases of the feed tubes 21 a, 21 b. Some suitable form of connection means between the closure and the container is provided (not shown), for example retention clips or beads. A seal may be provided between the necks 80, 81 and the tubes 21 a, 20b, for example a bore seal due to tight fitting dimensions.
When the closure 60 is applied to the container 75 the nozzles 20a, 20b are free to move relative to each other in order to allow re-alignment during capping to accommodate variations in the relative positions of the necks 80, 81.
Referring now to
In the case of the spout arrangement 110 shown in
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.