EP0238878A2

EP0238878A2 - Container having a multiplicity of compartments

Info

Publication number: EP0238878A2
Application number: EP87102682A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ei Mochida; Masahiro Baba
Original assignee: Mochida Pharmaceutical Co Ltd
Current assignee: Mochida Pharmaceutical Co Ltd
Priority date: 1986-02-26
Filing date: 1987-02-25
Publication date: 1987-09-30
Also published as: EP0238878A3; CN87100924A; AU6919087A; JPS62139968U

Abstract

A container having a multiplicity of compartments (1) which includes a container proper integrally composed of a multiplicity of adjacent compartments (1) and dispensing spouts (4). The container can store mutually reactive substances separately and discharge them simultaneously at the time of use.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container capable of dispensing a multiplicity of different contents simultaneously from mutually independent compartments.
There are instances where two or more chemical substances become unstable or undergo chemical reaction during their storage, especially in the form of a single solution in which they are mixed. The conventional practice to avoid such problems is to store the individual solutions separately and to combine them together to the extent necessary at the time of use. For example, in the case of a certain type of adhesive, two kinds of solutions are stored in separate containers and they are discharged as much as required from the containers and mixed before use. A similar case is presented in clinical examinations that employ immune reactions and enzyme reactions for the determination of proteins and enzymes in blood or urine. The measurement of enzyme activity is usually accomplished by adding an enzyme substrate and chromogen to a specimen and then optically measuring the change of absorbance that takes place in the reaction solution. The enzyme substrate and chromogen have to be stored separately to avoid their chemical reaction during storage.
Storing solutions in separate containers is inconvenient because it is necessary to handle the containers repeatedly for dispensing and such repeated handling is likely to produce errors. In addition, dispensing solutions successively may produce a result which is different from that where all the solutions are dispensed simultaneously because the solution dispensed earlier is exposed a longer time before reaction than the solution dispensed later. Additional disadvantages of storing solutions separately are that a large number of containers and a large storage space are required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, the present inventors have invented a container capable of storing a multiplicity of different contents independently from one another and a method of dispensing them to the extent required simultaneously at the time of use.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a container having a multiplicity of compartments which comprises a container proper integrally composed of a multiplicity of adjacent compartments and adjoining dispensing spouts, each being formed at one end of each corresponding compartment and being smaller than each corresponding compartment, the spouts being tightly sealed with readily openable means.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for simultaneously taking out the contents stored in each independent container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1A is a perspective front view of an embodiment of the container of this invention.
Fig. 1B is a side view of the container.
Fig. 2 is a perspective front view of an embodiment composed of polygonal prism compartments.
Fig. 3 is a perspective front view of an embodiment composed of compartments of different size.
Fig. 4 is a perspective front view of an embodiment composed of compartments each provided with a filling mouth.
Fig. 5 is a perspective front view of an embodiment composed of integally formed compartments.
Fig. 6 is a perspective front view of an embodiment composed of three compartments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention is now described in more detail with reference to the following examples wherein like elements are designated with the same reference numerals. Fig. 1A shows a first embodiment of the invention. Reference numerals 1 designate approximately cylindrical compartments to hold different contents such as different kinds of solutions, independently. They are connected to each other by the connecting member 3, forming the container proper. The compartments 1 should preferably be as close to each other as possible so that the contents in them can be squeezed out simultaneously by hand or finger from the spouts 4. The compartments 1 may be joined directly to each other without the connecting member 3. The shape of the compartments 1 is not specifically limited so long as it permits pressing by hand or finger. A cylindrical or polygonal (e.g., square or hexagonal) prism shape is preferred. The size of each compartment varies depending on the object of use. The capacity may range from 0.1 to 10 ml if the container is designed for the reagents of a clinical examination. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1A, the compartments 1 are of the same shape; but they may differ in shape and size from each other depending on the mixing ratio of the contents.
Reference numerals 4 designate the spouts through which the contents are dispensed. Each of them is tightly closed with suitable means which can be opened at the time of use. In this embodiment, annular shaped grooves 6 are formed near the end of the spout and a tongue 5 is attached to the end of the spouts 4. To open the spouts 4, the tongue 5 is twisted, such as by finger, so that the spouts 4 are torn open at the annular shaped grooves 6. This structure is convenient in the case where the contents are used up all at one time. However, in the case where the contents are to be dispensed in portions, the spouts may be closed with screw caps or rubber stoppers.
The inside diameter of the spout may be determined dependent on the capacity of the container proper and its contents. It should preferably be 0.5 to 5 mm for the capacity of 0.1 to 10 ml. If the contents are solutions, the dispensed solutions are mixed with each other immediately, so that the spouts should preferably be arranged close to each other. However, if necessary, they may also be arranged apart from each other. Incidentally, reference numerals 7 in Fig.1A designate the mouths through which the contents are filled into the compartments 1
Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of this invention. It is composed of compartments 1 which are of a polygonal prism shape. The compartments are connected directly to each other at connecting part 3ʹ.
Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment, the compartments 1 and 2 are different in size.
Fig. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of this invention. It is characterized by the filling mouths 7 being large and closed with screw caps. The container of this embodiment is particularly advantageous for contents in the form of powder or paste.
Fig. 5 shows a fifth embodiment of this invention. It is characterized by two compartments 1 integrally forming the container proper in a cylindrical shape. In this embodiment, the connecting part functions as an internal partition wall which is unseen from the outside. The container proper may be composed of three of four compartments as required, or may be formed in the shape of a polygonal prism.
Fig. 6 shows a sixth embodiment of this invention. It is characterised by the compartments 1 being independent from one another.
The container of the present invention may be made of any material that permits the container to be deformed for the dispensing of contents when pressed by hand or finger. Commonly used materials are plastic sheet and metal sheet. Those materials which react with the contents should be avoided.
The container may be produced by conventional molding methods such as compression molding, injection molding, vacuum forming and blow molding. Molding selection depends on the shape of the container and the material to be used. The container may be formed by bonding in a suitable manner separately produced compartments.
For example, if the container as shown in Fig. 1 is formed by blow molding, the container is molded by blowing air into a cylindrical material known as a parison and compressing the material against the sides of the mold using a concave mold having shapes B, Bʹ corresponding to each side of the container.
In case of compression molding and vacuum molding, sheet like material is compression molded or vacuum molded by using a mold for each side B, Bʹ of the container to obtain two tray-shaped molded products having two concave compartments. Thereafter, the molded products corresponding to side B and Bʹ are bonded or welded so as to form two compartments to produce the container of the present invention.
Moreover, even in the case of using injection molding, similarly to the above-mentioned molding methods, tray-shaped products corresponding to the sides B, Bʹ of the container are molded and then, the molded products are bonded or welded by combining them to produce the container of the present invention.
In Fig. 1B, references B, Bʹ show tray-shaped products at each side so as to form containers. Reference numeral 8 shows a connecting line of the molded products B, Bʹ.
The contents may be filled through the filling mouth 7 by means of a thin nozzle. After filling, the filling mouth is closed in a suitable manner such as by heat sealing or with a screw cap or rubberstopper. Alternatively, the contents may be filled through a spout, which is subsequently closed by heat-sealing or with a screw cap or rubber stopper.
The container of this invention as mentioned above produces pronouncely improved effects. It is constructed such that different contents are stored in separate compartments so that they do not mix with each other during storage, and so that they can be dispensed simultaneously to the extent required simply be opening the spouts and pressing the container proper with hand or finger. The container permits a multiplicity of contents to be dispensed without time lags. The contents may be mixed in a simple manner. If the container has a capacity to hold just the amount of contents for one dispensing, the container can be thrown away after it is emptied and there is no need to take care of contents remaining unused. Using the container of this invention prevents the mistake of adding an improper combination of contents to a specimen, because all the necessary contents such as solutions may be previously filled in the container. The container of this invention may hold not only liquids but also pastes and powders. It may also hold a solution in one compartment and a powder in the other compartment.

Claims

1. A container having a multiplicity of compartments (1) which comprises a container proper integrally composed of a multiplicity of adjacent compartments (1) and dispensing spouts (4), each spout (4) being formed at one end of each corresponding compartment (1) and being smaller than each corresponding compartment (1), said spouts (4) being tightly sealed with readily openable means.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the compartments (1) are of the same shape and size.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the compartments (1) are of substantially cylindical shape.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the compartments (1) are different in shape.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the spouts (4) are adjoining to each other.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the compartments (1) differ in volume capacity.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein said container (1) is adapted to allow simultaneous dispensing of predetermined amounts of contents from said adjacent compartments (1).

8. The container according to claim 1, wherein said container (1) is adapted to allow simultaneous dispensing of different predetermined amounts of contents from each of said adjacent compartments (1).

9. A method of using the container according to claim 1 comprising the step of:
simultaneously dispensing predetermined amounts of a multiplicity of contents from said container.