BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Containers in the form of bottles are widely used as receptacles for storing fluids or other agents. Traditionally, a bottle may be used for storing a fluid or fluid mixture, but is not capable of separately storing multiple fluids or goods in one bottle. A problem associated with this is that the user ends up purchasing and carrying multiple bottles for the purpose of separately storing the different fluids or goods.

It has been to date, in an attempt to ameliorate problems associated with traditionally designed single compartment bottles, not uncommon to have multicompartment bottles used for storing substances intended to be mixed. The substances may be medicines, alcoholic substances or any other substances which preferably are mixed prior to consumption or use since premixing in a single compartment and storing for longer periods may result in the deterioration of the mixture, which will thereby render the fluid mixture ineffective or reduce its efficacy once used. Further, in certain cases, e.g. with alcoholic or other beverages, the consumer may wish to mix the components in desired ratios to suit their particular preference.

The Applicant thus wishes to provide a novel multi-compartment container which aims to ameliorate problems associated with traditionally designed single compartment bottles. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a container assembly which includes: an outer container defining a first chamber and a first outlet leading from the first chamber;

an inner container defining a second chamber and a second outlet leading from the second chamber, at least part of the inner container being insertable into and removable from the outer container through the first outlet; and

a closure member having first and second engagement formations which are disconnectably connected or connectable to complementary connecting formations provided respectively on the outer and inner containers in order to close off the first and second outlets.

The connecting formations may be configured such that in order to gain access to the inner container, the closure member must be disconnected from the outer container. The outer container may include a neck which defines the first outlet and the complementary connecting formations of the closure member and the outer container may be in the form of complementary screw threads.

The closure member may include a body having a central portion and a peripheral skirt depending from the central portion, the complementary screw threads including a male screw thread on the neck and a female screw thread on the skirt.

The inner container may include a neck which defines the second outlet and the complementary connecting formations on the closure member and the inner container may be in the form of complementary screw threads.

The closure member may include an annular collar which depends from the central portion, the complementary screw threads including a male screw thread on the neck of the inner container and a female screw thread on the collar.

The closure member may define a discharge passage therethrough which is connected or connectable in flow communication with at least one of the first and second chambers. The container assembly may include a cap which is mounted on the closure member and is displaceable between a closed position in which it closes the discharge passage and an open position in which it permits the discharge of the contents from at least one of the first and second chambers through the discharge passage.

The container assembly may include a seal mounted on at least one of the first and/or second outlets to seal the associated outlet. In a preferred embodiment the seal may be mounted on the second outlet. The seal may be in the form of a seal element which is attached to the container and which can be removed or broken to permit the contents of the container to be discharged through the associated outlet.

The seal element may be secured to the body around a periphery of the outlet to form a hermetic seal.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an article of merchandise which includes:

a container assembly as described above;

first goods contained in one of the inner and outer containers; and second goods contained in the other of the inner and outer containers.

The first and/or second goods may be promotional and/or advertising material. At least one of the first and second goods may be a pharmaceutical product, e.g. for health, medical and/or well being purposes.

At least one of the first and second goods may be a health and/or sports nutrition product.

The first goods may be in the form of a liquid and the second goods may be in the form of a substance which can be mixed with the liquid. The closure member and at least one end of the inner and outer containers may be provided with a tamper indicating arrangement to provide an indication that the container assembly may have been tampered with. The second goods may be an alcoholic liquid, the first goods then typically being in the form of a non-alcoholic liquid for mixing with the alcoholic liquid.

In another embodiment, the second goods may be the form of a powder. In one embodiment, the second goods may be in tablet form.

In another embodiment, the second goods may be in capsule form.

At least one of the first goods and second goods may be in the form of a collectable item such as a toy, key ring, charm, sporting item memorabilia or the like.

At least one of the first goods and second goods may be in the form of a competition token such as a scratch card or lucky draw voucher. The first goods and second goods may comprise component parts which are capable of assembly with other component parts in order to form an assembled article. For example, the component parts could be parts of a toy, product or device. The various components could be provided in separate containers and once all of the components have been collected they can be assembled to form the completed toy, product or device.

The first goods and/or second goods may be in the form of edible material, e.g. confectionary, e.g sweets, candy, chocolate or the like. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of an article of merchandise in accordance with one aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of an outer container of a container assembly forming part of the article of merchandise of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a closure member of the container assembly forming part of the article of merchandise of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of an inner container of the container assembly forming part of the article of merchandise of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 shows a sectional view, similar to Figure 1 of another article of merchandise in accordance with the invention;

Figure 6 shows an exploded sectional view of a closure member of a container assembly forming part of the article of merchandise of Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows a sectional elevation similar to Figure 1 of yet another article of merchandise in accordance with the invention;

Figure 8 shows an exploded sectional view of a closure member of a container assembly forming part of the article of merchandise of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 shows a three-dimensional view of part of a container having a seal mounted thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

The following description of the invention is provided as an enabling teaching of the invention. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognise that many changes can be made to the embodiment described, while still attaining the beneficial results of the present invention. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present invention can be attained by selecting some of the features of the present invention without utilising other features. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognise that modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances, and are a part of the present invention. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present invention and not a limitation thereof. In Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, reference numeral 8 refers generally to an article of merchandise in accordance with the invention.

The article of merchandise 8 includes a container assembly, generally indicated by reference numeral 1 0. The container assembly 1 0 includes an outer container, generally indicated by reference numeral 12, defining a first chamber 32, an inner container, generally indicated by reference numeral 14, defining a second chamber 36 and a closure member, generally indicated by reference numeral 16. As can best be seen in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the outer container 12 includes a base 18, a side wall 20 extending upwardly from the base 18 and terminating in a circular cylindrical neck 22. In the embodiment shown, the side wall 20 has a circular cylindrical lower portion, a bulbous intermediate portion and a bulbous upper portion from which the neck 22 protrudes. It will be appreciated, however, that the specific configuration of the side wall 20 can vary as desired. A male screw thread 24 is provided on the radially outer surface of the neck 22.

As can best be seen in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings, the inner container 14 has a body 26 which is generally test-tube shaped and has a circular cylindrical neck 28 protruding therefrom.

The neck 22 defines a first outlet 30 which leads from the first chamber 32 within the outer container 12. The neck 28 defines a second outlet 34 leading from a second chamber 36 within the body 26. Once again, it will be appreciated that the specific shape of the body 26 can vary as required. What is, however, important, is that the lateral dimensions of the body 26 are smaller than the diameter of the first outlet 30 such that the body 26 of the inner container 14 is insertable into and removable from the first chamber 32 through the first outlet 30. A male screw thread 38 is provided on a radially outer surface of the neck 28. As can best be seen in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, the closure member 16 includes a body, generally indicated by reference numeral 40 having a circular central portion 42 and a peripheral skirt 44 depending from the central portion 42. Female screw threads 46 which are complementary to the screw thread 24 are provided on a radially inner surface of the skirt 44 to permit the closure member 1 6 to be screw threadedly engaged with the outer container 1 2. The closure member 16 further includes an annular collar 48 which is concentric with and spaced radially inwardly from the skirt 44. The collar 48 is provided with a female screw thread 50 which is complementary to the screw thread 38 to permit screw threaded engagement between the closure member 16 and the inner container 14.

In use, goods 58, e.g. in the form of a liquid, powder, solids such as sweets or a toy are introduced into the second chamber 36 through the second outlet 34 and, if required, a seal which is discussed in more detail with reference to Figure 9, is mounted on the neck 25. The closure member 1 6 is then screwed onto the inner container 14 such that the neck 28 and collar 48 are in screw threaded engagement.

Goods 60, e.g. in the form of a liquid, are introduced into the first chamber 32 through the first outlet 30. The inner container 14 is then inserted through the outlet 30 into the outer container 12 and the closure member 16 is screw threadedly engaged with the outer container 12 to form the assembly 10 illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The assembly 1 0 and the goods 58, 60 together form the article of merchandise 8.

In order to gain access to the goods 60, as can best be seen in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the closure member 1 6 is unscrewed and removed, together with the inner container 14 from the outer container 12 permitting the goods 60 to be discharged from the outer container 12 through the first outlet 30.

In order to gain access to the goods 58, as can best be seen in Figures 1 , 2 and 3 of the drawings, the inner container 14 can be removed from the outer container 12 in the manner described above and the inner container 14 is then unscrewed from the closure member 1 6 to permit access to the goods 58 through the second outlet 34. Naturally, if a seal is mounted over the discharge opening 34 access to the goods 58 will first require the seal to be removed or broken.

Reference is now made to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, in which reference numeral 98 refers generally to another article of merchandise and reference numeral 100 refers generally to another container assembly in accordance with the invention and, unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals used above are used to designate similar parts.

The main difference between the container assembly 100 and the container assembly 10 is that, in the case of the container assembly 100, the closure member 16 includes a discharge passage 1 02 which extends through the central portion 42 and is in flow communication with the annular collar 48 and hence with the second chamber 36. An annular neck or spout 104 protrudes from the central portion 42 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the annular collar 48 protrudes and the discharge passage 1 02 leads into the spout 104. A cap 1 06 is dismountably mountable on the spout 104.

The container assembly 100 can be used in substantially the identical fashion to the container assembly 1 0 as described above. However, when it is desired to gain access to the goods 58, the cap 106 can be removed from the spout 104 thereby permitting the discharge of the goods 58 through the spout 104. Once again, where a seal is provided it will first be removed or broken. Removal of the seal may involve unscrewing the inner container 14 from the closure member 16, breaking or removing the seal and screwing the closure member 1 6 onto the inner container 14.

Reference is now made to Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, in which reference numeral 148 refers generally to another article of merchandise and reference numeral 150 refers generally to another container assembly in accordance with the invention and, unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals used above are used to designate similar parts.

The container assembly 150 is similar to the container assembly 1 00 except that, in the case of the container assembly 150, the collar 48 is not concentric with the skirt 44 but is off set away from the middle of the central portion 42.

In addition, the closure member 16 includes a discharge passage 1 02 which extends through the central portion 42 at a position spaced from the collar 48 thereby connecting the interior of the outer container 1 2 in flow communication with the spout The container assembly 150 can be used in substantially the identical fashion to the container assembly 100 except that, where access is required to the goods 60, the cap 106 can be removed from the spout 104 and the goods can be discharged through the spout 104.

The inventor believes that an article of merchandise in accordance with the invention could be used in various applications. Accordingly, such applications include inter alia as a promotional/advertising device. Further, it could be used for pharmaceutical products for health, medical or/and well-being purposes. Non- pharmaceutical products for health, medical or/and well-being purposes. Any alcoholic/non-alcoholic liquid, a powder, tablet, capsule that may be mixed with a liquid in the primary container for a potable liquid. The article of merchandise could include collectable items such as a toy, keyring, charm or sporting items memorabilia contained within one or both of the containers. Further, it could include an item for competition purposes such as a scratch card or a lucky draw card or voucher. Another application could be to include part of a toy/product/device which can be assembled with other parts in other secondary containers to form the completed toy/product/device. It could include edible material such as sweets, candy and chocolate or any other combination of goods.

Typically, the configuration of the container assemblies 1 0, 100, 150 is such that prior to use, the inner container 14 is sealed. Hence, as shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, if desired, the container 14 may incorporate a seal 180 which is attached to the neck 28 in order to close the outlet 34. The seal 180 can be in the form of a foil or plastic seal element which is bonded to the container adhesively or by welding. The seal 180 includes a tab 182 which facilitates gripping of the seal and removal thereof from the container. The seal 180 will typically be used where it is desired to seal the container hermetically in order to preserve the goods contained therein and/or to prevent the ingress of liquid, e.g. from the container 1 2 into the container 14. When it is desired to gain access to the goods 58, the container 14 is unscrewed from the closure member 16 and the seal 1 80 is removed or broken. The inventor envisages that the inner and outer containers could be made out of plastic, glass or any other suitable material.

The inventor believes that the container assembly in accordance with the invention will be cost effective to produce and will have improved versatility compared to prior art containers of which he is aware.