US20060021983A1

US20060021983A1 - Structure of container made up of two different and opposed elements joined reciprocally by means of a removable connection unit

Info

Publication number: US20060021983A1
Application number: US11/116,609
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniele Feletto
Original assignee: Vetroelite SpA
Current assignee: Vetroelite SpA
Priority date: 2004-08-02
Filing date: 2005-04-29
Publication date: 2006-02-02
Also published as: DE202005006976U1; RU51599U1; CA2505436A1; FR2875796B3; ITTV20040035U1; FR2875796A1

Abstract

The combined container made up of two different and opposite container elements, is joined by of a common removable connecting and closing unit, where each container element has a shaped body with a base and a top on which stands a circular entrance accessing the interior of the body of the container element. The entrance is peripherally provided with two diametrically opposed teeth, and a common connecting unit is interposed between said two container elements and engaged by the latter being provided in correspondence with the two opposite facades where the two containers elements are arranged in abutment and aligned, with relative engagement seats for each entrance, the seats being of the type provided with bayonet clamping.

Description

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a combined container made up of two different and opposite containers elements joined by means of a common removable connection and closing unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention finds particular although not exclusive application in the field of containers for alimentary use, for example, for containing fluids where the coupling of two different functions or destinations of the product contained in each container can be required, such as in the field of cosmetics, in particular, perfumery and bathroom articles.
The containers are certainly well known. The latter, produced using the most diverse materials, are substantially made up of a container body with a varying shape and dimension, which in some cases must be re-closed. A classic example is a bottle, made of glass, with a body standing on a base, essentially with a circular section and tapered in correspondence to the opening for filling, which is preceded by a more or less elongated neck but also projected along the same orientation as the bottle body. In the same way as vessels or phials, they are all containers that irrespective of material and form of the body require a closure. In most cases the closure is made up of a plug or cap which is secured in correspondence with the opening of the entrance in order to avoid the dispersion of that which is contained inside the body of the recipient, bottle, vessel, phial and others. Naturally, the closures or caps can alter their securing and holding means to the container in order to vary the effectiveness and therefore the function.
As a rule, it can be affirmed that the more effective the securing and holding means to the container, the greater the effect to safeguard the contained product from dispersion and product fragrance loss, that is to say maintaining the originally provided characteristics of the packaging as coherent as possible.
From this perspective, the techniques for securing and holding to the container provided inside or along the plug or cap are different and very well known. For example, the most common method is the screw, whose masculine or feminine screw thread provided on the interior of the plug or the cap finds a reciprocal connection with the screw thread provided peripherally on the container entrance.

PRIOR ART

Information regarding complex containers, substantially consisting of two containers integrated into one is also to be found in related literature. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,964 (Liu) suggests a bottle for feeding babies, conventionally known as a feeding bottle. The latter consists of a first cylindrical container, on the interior of which a second container dimensionally smaller than the first is vertically housed. Both are provided with entrances for filling and both have, in correspondence to the entrance, a screw thread to allow the reciprocal engagement of closing and administration means.
UK2159490 (Datum et al) proposes a vessel able to contain two different liquids. Also in this case, with respect to a first conveniently sized container, a second smaller sized container than the first is to be introduced. Both are provided with threading in correspondence with the entrance and both are closed by the same cap. In this case the cap is provided with a first thread portion obtained peripherally to the cap in correspondence to the defining edge along the interior wall of the latter, said first edge being able to engage the threaded neck of the entrance of the first external container. A second edge is obtained, concentrically with reference to said first peripheral edge that is also provided with threading capable of engaging the neck that is also threaded of the second container inside said first container. In this case, the cap portion affected by said edge is provided with its own removable plug to allow the pouring of the liquid of the second container without necessarily opening the main container.
Also U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,715 (Green) proposes a solution comprising a complex container. More particularly, two twinned compartments are obtained from a single container, the latter being separated by means of a vertical separating partition. A related entrance closed by means of a corresponding conventional screw plug corresponds to each compartment.
In GB 112158 (Westlake) and CH676109 (Elsaesser) a reversible plug is described, or rather a plug provided with a double function according to how it is to be oriented.
Combined containers are also well known. GB2353988 (Golding) suggests adouble container for drinks, produced using two modules, one stacked on the other. The coupling is obtained at the bottom of the upper container that is countershaped with respect to the profile of the upper part of the base container where the shoulder and the entrance are provided. In this case the entrance of the lower container is screwed in correspondence with the bottom of the upper container.

DRAWBACKS

The solutions mentioned substantially refer to combined containers, each made up of two different container elements that in one case, can be one inside the other and in a second case can be one adjacent to the other. The aim proposed is to allow the use of one or both containers, each allowing the administration of the product container within independently from the other. In principle, a limitation to these solutions is that the containers must be conveniently sized in order to allow a significant amount of product to be contained. This circumstance seems to produce combined containers that are excessively dimensioned and therefore difficult to collate and not easily handled.
A second notable negative aspect is linked to the fact that their reproduction appears be difficult to carry out and has rather significant costs.
For these reasons, there is the need for companies, particularly in this sector, to find alternative solutions capable of avoiding the reported drawbacks.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention consists of a combined container made up of two different and opposite container elements,joined by means of a common removable connecting and closing unit, where each container element consists of a shaped body with a base and a top on which stands a circular entrance accessing the interior of the body of the container element, said entrance being peripherally provided with two diametrically opposed teeth, and in which a common connecting unit is interposed between said two container elements and engaged by the latter being provided in correspondence with the two opposite facades where said two containers elements are arranged in abutment and aligned, with relative engagement seats for each entrance, said seats being of the type provided with bayonet clamping.

AIMS

A first aim intends to obtain a combined container with container elements, in this case twinned, that are longitudinally aligned along the vertical axis passing through the entrance.
A second aim was that to obtain a combined container with limited dimensions, that is manageable and easy to store.
A third aim was to provide a combined container made up of two different container elements to be used independently of each other and to be separable, which is easily reproduced at industrial level and does not require a high number of codes for management in stock, thus providing an optimal solution for containing production costs with respect to pre-existing solutions.
In conclusion, it was possible to obtain an original combined container provided with good technological content and at least greater convenience and effectiveness of use.
These and other advantages will appear from the following non-limitative detailed description of a preferred solution with the aid of the enclosed schematic drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 represents a perspective and overall view of the combined container.
FIG. 2 represents a perspective view of the connecting and closing unit of the two container elements that form the combined container in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 represents a view from above of the connecting and closing unit represented in FIG. 2.
Finally, FIG. 4 represents a view of one of the two container elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Also with reference to the Figures, it is observed that the combined container (FIG. 1) includes a first container element 1 which by means of the connecting and closing unit 3 is linearly joined to the second container element 2 that is overturned, therefore opposed with respect to said first container 1.
Both the first container 1 as well as the second container 2 are made up of a body 10, that in this case can be made of glass or plastic material that is shaped, equipped with a support base 100, 200, and a top 101, 201. In correspondence to the top 101, 201, that defines the shoulders of the shaped body 10, 20, the entrance 4 is obtained to project centrally in a circular way through which filling and pouring of the product contained within is carried out.
Said entrance 4 is provided with a neck 40 peripherally to which the teeth 41 are obtained that are diametrically opposed and that act as means of reciprocal holding of the intermediate unit 3 of connection and closing of the first 1 and second container 2.
The intermediate connection and closing unit 3 consists of a shaped body, (see FIG. 3) in this case in plastic material, with a countersunk annular seat 32 in correspondence to each of the two opposite surfaces 30 and 31. In more detail, the two opposite surfaces 30 and 31 form the coupling interfaces of the top 101, 201 of the first 1 and second container 2 that are countershaped to receive the shoulders of said first 1 and second container 2 with stability and support. On the interior of each countersunk annular seat 32, at least one guide seat 33 is obtained on the interior of which the teeth 41 are to be inserted, said teeth are diametrically opposed for clamping by means of a ¼ turn rotation of the bayonet type of the corresponding entrance 4 with the relative neck 40 of the first container 1 on one side, and on the other side a second container 2 that is specular with respect to said first container.
In this way, since the surfaces 30 and 31 are interfaces they are to adhere to the top 101, 201 of the first 1 and second 2 container engaging with the respective countersunk seats 32, the relative entrance 4 and the neck 40.
In one possible variant, provision is made for said entrance 4 of the first 1 and second 2 container to integrate a closure plug of said entrance, on said closure plug and/or alternatively also along the edge of the neck 40, some teeth 41 are provided with the aim of obtaining the same bayonet clamping, as described above, in an intermediate connection and closing unit 3.

Claims

1. Combined container having two different and opposite container elements, said container comprising:

a container element comprised of a shaped body, with a base and a top, an entrance on said top 4 with a circular form for access to an interior of the body of the container element, said entrance being provided peripherally with reciprocal holding means of a common connection and closing unit which is interposed between said two container elements and engaged by said elements being provided in correspondence with the two opposite facades where said two containers elements are arranged in abutment and aligned, with related engagement seats of each entrance.

2. Combined container having two different and opposite container elements according to claim 1, wherein the entrance of each first and second container is provided with a neck peripherally to which teeth are obtained that are diametrically opposed and that act as means of reciprocal holding of the intermediate connection and closing unit of the first and second container, the intermediate unit being in correspondence with each of the two opposite surfaces providing a countersunk annular seat, along which a guide seat is obtained where the diametrically opposed teeth are to be inserted for clamping by a quarter turn rotation of the bayonet type of the corresponding entrance with the relative neck of the first container on one side and the other side, of a second container that is specular with respect to said first container.

3. Combined container having two different and opposite container elements according to claim 1 wherein two opposite surfaces of the intermediate connection and closing unit form the coupling interfaces of the tops of the first and second container, countershaped to house the shoulders of the first and second containers.

4. Combined container having two different and opposite container elements according to claim 1, wherein said entrance of the first and second containers integrate a closing plug of said entrance.