EP1810934B1

EP1810934B1 - Partitioned package structure for separately containing liquid material and solid material and allowing the liquid material and solid material to be conveniently mixed

Info

Publication number: EP1810934B1
Application number: EP20060001339
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fang-Yu Lee; Kuo-Tung Liang
Original assignee: Yung Shin Pharm Industries Co Ltd
Current assignee: Yung Shin Pharm Industries Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-01-23
Filing date: 2006-01-23
Publication date: 2008-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 2026-01-23
Also published as: DE602006002802D1; EP1810934A1

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a partitioned package structure for separately containing liquid material and solid material and allowing the liquid material and solid material to be conveniently mixed.
It is known that most of the existent liquid medicines or detergents are factory-compounded. Some of the liquid medicines or detergents may be pastes, liquids or emulsions with different viscosities. Some other of the liquid medicines or detergents such as masks may be mixtures of solids and liquids in which the solids are soaked. Currently, in consideration of stability and duration, the basic composites of the liquid medicines or detergents have been separately reserved. When used, the basic composites are mixed into a necessary aspect. Therefore, the materials of the liquid medicines or detergents can keep their characteristics and freshness.
Various package structures with separately reserved composites have been developed. Fig. 1 shows Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-12273 , entitled " portable package for facial masks ". The package 5 has an upper membrane 51 and a lower membrane 52 which are made of soft transparent material. The peripheries of the upper and lower membranes 51, 52 are tightly adhered to each other to form a seam 53. A releasable middle slat 54 is sandwiched between the middles of the upper and lower membranes 51, 52 to form a prior releasable joint section 540 with poorer adhesive strength. The joint section 540 divides the interior of the package 5 into two receiving spaces 55, 56 in which a liquid facial mask solution 40 and a solid dry facial mask shrunk block 30. The periphery of the package 5 is formed with at least one tearing notch 57. According to the above arrangement, the facial mask solution 40 and a solid dry facial mask shrunk block 30 are respectively reserved in the two independent receiving spaces 55, 56 defined between the upper and lower membranes 51, 52 to keep stability of the materials. In use, the receiving space 55 in which the facial mask solution 40 is received is directly squeezed. At this time, the prior releasable joint section 540 is forced apart and the facial mask solution 40 is extruded from the receiving space 55 to the other receiving space 56 in which the solid dry facial mask shrunk block 30 is reserved. The facial mask solution 40 is then absorbed by the solid dry facial mask shrunk block 30. After the solid dry facial mask shrunk block 30 is soaked and resolved in the facial mask solution 40, the solid dry facial mask shrunk block 30 becomes a usable soft facial mask. Then the package 5 can be torn off from the tearing notch 57 to take out the wet facial mask for use.
DE 299 13 844 U1 discloses a paclage for the two-climensional application of liquids or pastes that consists of at least one liquid staring product chamber and a seperate dispensing chamber that are connectable by a connecting zone. The paclage is sealed by a covering membrane that is cut above the disperising chamber. The fluid is squeezed from the product chamber via the disperising chamber to an application head that is situated on the cutting.
The above structure has some shortcomings as follows:

1. The releasable middle slat 54 is sandwiched between the middles of the upper and lower membranes 51, 52 to form the prior releasable joint section 540 with poorer adhesive strength. It is hard to dispose the releasable middle slat 54 so that the manufacturing cost is increased. Moreover, the releasable middle slat 54 transits over the package 5 by a considerable length. It is quite difficult to keep a desired adhesive strength of the prior releasable joint section 540. It often takes place that the prior releasable joint section 540 is not well sealed due to incaution. This will lead to leakage of the facial mask solution 40 and defective product. As a result, the ratio of good products can be hardly enhanced.
2. The releasable middle slat 54 transits over the package 5 to form the prior releasable joint section 540 between the two receiving spaces 55, 56 with a considerable length. When squeezing the receiving space 55 to forcedly break the prior releasable joint section 540 apart and extrude the facial mask solution 40 from the receiving space 55 to the other receiving space 56, it is hard to accurately foretell the breaking part of the prior releasable joint section 540. The facial mask solution 40 often flows around within the receiving space 55 so that it is uneasy to concentrate the pressure to a fixed part for breaking the prior releasable joint section 540. After the facial mask solution 40 enters the other receiving space 56, it is also hard to make the facial mask solution 40 flows right toward the dry facial mask shrunk block 30. A user often needs to tilt the package 5 to make the facial mask solution 40 contact with the dry facial mask shrunk block 30. In addition, in use, the receiving space 56 is not a precisely defined space. Therefore, after mixed, the facial mask tends to drop out of the package.
3. The upper and lower membranes 51, 52 are soft membranes which can hardly provide any protective effect for the solid dry facial mask shrunk block 30. Therefore, the dry facial mask shrunk block 30 is very apt to deform and damage due to external force. Also, the capacity of the receiving space 55 in which the facial mask solution 40 can be hardly controlled. This affects the quality of the product and reduces the ratio of good products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a partitioned package structure for separately containing liquid material and solid material and allowing the liquid material and solid material to be conveniently mixed. The package structure includes a plastic seat and a cover membrane. The plastic seat is recessed to form at least two separate receiving spaces. The cover membrane is overlaid on the plastic seat to seal the receiving spaces. The liquid material and solid material are respectively contained in the receiving spaces. The receiving space containing the fluid material has a tapered flow way directed to the receiving space containing the solid material. A prior releasable joint section with poorer adhesive strength is disposed at a tip end of the flow way. When squeezing the receiving space containing the fluid material, the prior releasable joint section is broken to extrude the fluid material into the receiving space containing the solid material. The solid material is then soaked in and mixed with the fluid material. The tapered flow way can effectively converge the fluid material to the prior releasable joint section. Therefore, the pressure is concentrated on the prior releasable joint section to break the same with less strength. Moreover, the prior releasable joint section is shorter so as to minimize the possibility of leakage of the fluid material.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide the above partitioned package structure in which a corner of the plastic seat is formed with a bending tear edge. After mixed, the cover membrane can be easily torn off from the bending tear edge to take out the mixture for use.
The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional partitioned package;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the package structure of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the package structure of the present invention, in which a solid material and a fluid material are separately contained in two receiving spaces of the package structure;
Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the package structure of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a side sectional view of the package structure of the present invention, in which the solid material and fluid material are separately preserved in two receiving spaces;
Fig. 6 is a side sectional view according to Fig. 5, showing that the receiving space containing the fluid material is squeezed; and
Fig. 7 is a side sectional view according to Fig. 5, showing that the receiving space containing the fluid material is squeezed and the fluid material is extruded into the other receiving space to mix with the solid material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to Figs. 2 to 5. The package structure of the present invention includes a plastic seat 1 and a cover membrane 2. The plastic seat 1 is recessed to form at least a first receiving space 11 and a second receiving space 12 which are independent from each other. The first and second receiving spaces 11, 12 are open in the same direction. A fluid material 4 is contained in the second receiving space 12. A solid material 3 is contained in the first receiving space 11. The second receiving space 12 has a tapered flow way 121 directed to the first receiving space 11. The plastic seat 1 is further recessed to form at least one reinforcing leg 13 for supporting the plastic seat 1 and preventing the plastic seat 1 from being deformed. In addition, at least one corner of the plastic seat 1 is formed with a bending tear edge 14. The cover membrane 2 is overlaid on the plastic seat 1 to cover the receiving spaces 11, 12. The cover membrane 2 is tightly adhered to the peripheries of the receiving spaces 11, 12 to form a sealed seam 21. The solid material 3 and the fluid material 4 are respectively isolatively contained in the receiving spaces 11, 12. A prior releasable joint section 22 with poorer adhesive strength is disposed at an adjoining section between the tip end of the flow way 121 of the second receiving space 12 and the first receiving space 11. The cover membrane 2 is not adhered to the plastic seat 1 at the bending edge 14 thereof.
Figs. 6 and 7 show the use of the present invention. In use, the second receiving space 12 containing the fluid material 4 is squeezed. At this time, the flow way 121 guides and converges the fluid material 4 to the prior releasable joint section 22. The squeezing force will break the prior releasable joint section 22 and extrude the fluid material 4 into the first receiving space 11. The solid material 3 is then soaked in and mixed with the fluid material 4. Under such circumstance, the solid material 3 is wetted and expanded for use. According to the above arrangement, when squeezing the second receiving space 12, the fluid material 4 will not randomly flow around. In addition, after mixed, the cover member 2 can be directly torn off from the bending edge 14 to open the first receiving space 11. The mixture is contained in the recessed first receiving space 11 without easily dropping. This is quite convenient.
In the package of the present invention, the tapered flow way 121 can effectively converge the fluid material 4 of the receiving space 12 to the prior releasable joint section 22 when squeezing the receiving space 12. Therefore, the prior releasable joint section 22 can be broken with less strength. Moreover, the prior releasable joint section 22 is shorter so as to minimize the possibility of leakage of the fluid material 4. This can enhance the ratio of good products.
The package structure of the present invention is widely applicable to various products which need to be mixed when used, such as dry shrunk facial masks, tablets and liquid medicines.
Different materials can be separately preserved in the package structure of the present invention and conveniently mixed for use.
The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof.

Claims

A partitioned package structure for separately containing liquid material and solid material and allowing the liquid material and solid material to be conveniently mixed, the package structure comprising:
a plastic seat (1) formed with at least a first receiving space (11) and a second receiving space (12) which are separated from each other, the first and second receiving spaces (11,12) being open in the same direction; and

a cover membrane (2) overlaid on the plastic seat (1) to seal the receiving spaces (11,12), whereby the two receiving spaces (11,12) become independent closed spaces, characterized in that the second receiving space (12) has a flow way (121) with tightly sealed edges tapered toward a prior releasable joint section (22), wherein the prior releasable joint section (22) has poorer adhesive strength and is disposed at an adjoining section between a tip end of the flow way (121) of the second receiving space (12) and the first receiving space (11).
The partitioned package structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plastic seat (1) is directly recessed to form the receiving spaces (11,12).
The partitioned package structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a corner of the plastic seat (1) is formed with a bending tear edge (14).
The partitioned package structure as claimed in claims 1 to 3, wherein the plastic seat (1) is further recessed to form multiple reinforcing legs (13) for locating the plastic seat (1) and preventing the plastic seat (1) from being deformed, whereby by means of the reinforcing legs (13), multiple package structures can be securely overlapped and stacked when stored.