The present invention relates to a connector and measuring cup for containers.

Many items are sold in shops in twin or multi-packs. There is thus a requirement for a strong and reliable method of attaching the items together in a manner that will allow their later separation.

Accordingly the present invention provides a connector for connecting together at least two containers, said connector comprising at least two coupling members with means for engaging with and holding respective containers, said coupling members being joined together by a rigid joining member to hold said containers adjacent one another and allow their separation by the application of a force to disengage at least one of said coupling members from its respective container.

Preferably each coupling member is elongate with a side opening extending the length of the coupling member enabling engagement of said coupling member of a container.

Edge portions of said coupling member defining said side opening may be shaped to lock said connector to said container in use. Particularly the edge portions may be shaped as inwardly facing tabs for engagement with slots in said container.

In one aspect of the invention each coupling member includes engagement means for engagement with a receptacle of smaller dimensions than said container. The engagement means may also comprise slots in the outside of the coupling means for engagement with inwardly facing tabs of said receptacle.

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The present invention also provides a receptacle for use with the connector or a container. The receptacle may clasp around portions of a coupling member to prevent the disengagement of said coupling member from said container prior to the removal of said receptacle. Preferably the internal volume of the receptacle is of a predetermined volume for use as a measuring receptacle.

An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 illustrates the top view of a connector according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a front elevation of the connector of Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates the section BB in Figure 1;

Figure 4 illustrates the section AA in Figure 1;

Figure 5 illustrates how the connector of Figure 1 is attached to a container;

Figure 6 illustrates a single coupling member attached to a container with no joining member;

Figure 7 illustrates an end elevation of the container;

Figure 8 illustrates a side elevation of the container of Figure 7;

Figure 9 illustrates the cross-section XX;

Figure 10 illustrates a top view of the container of Figure 7;

Figure 11 illustrates a view inside the cup;

Figure 12 illustrates an end view of the cup of Figure 11;

Figure 13 illustrates the cross-section AA;

Figure 14 illustrates a top view of the cup of Figure 11;

Figure 15 illustrates the container with the connector and the cup fitted; and

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Figure 16 illustrates a complete twin pack utilising the connector of Figures 1 to 4 and the cup of Figures 11 to 14.

Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a connector 1 according to one example of the present invention. The connector 1 comprises two coupling members 2 and 3 joined by a rigid joining member 4. The coupling members 2 and 3 are each generally cylindrical in shape with an opening the length of the cylindrical axis to allow the connector to be coupled to the neck 11 of two containers 10 as shown in Figure 5.

Although generally cylindrical in shape the coupling members 2 and 3 comprise semi-cylindrical portions extending full length and interconnected by the joining member A , and arm portions 5, 6, 7 and 8 extending the circumference of the semi-cylindrical portions to define the side opening but extending only partially the length of the semi-cylindrical portions.

Inside the semi-cylindrical portions of the coupling members 2 and 3, are spacers 9 that keep the inner surface of the semi-cylindrical portions spaced from the neck portion of a container 10a or 10b when connected as shown in Figure 5. These spacers 9 axially extend only part of the length of the semi-circular portions of the coupling members 2 and 3.

The arm portions 5, 6, 7 and 8 extend from an inner edge of the semi-cylindrical portions such that the inner face of the arm portions 5, 6, 7 and 9 lies on the circumference of a circle defined to include the inner faces of the spacers 9. The inner faces of the spacers 9 and the arm portions 5, 6, 7 and 8 will thus contact the surface of the neck portion of the container 10 when connected as shown in Figure 5. At the circumferential ends of these arm portions 5, 6, 7 and 8 defining the side opening are inwardly facing tabs extending the length of

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the arm portions 5, 6, 7 and 8 to snap and lock into slots 21 in the neck portion of the container 10.

The coupling members 2 and 3 are tapered at their base to engage with a sloping shoulder 22 of the container 10 shown in Figure 8, thus providing a smooth contour between the body of the container 10 and the outer face of the semi-cylindrical portion of the coupling members 2 and 3. This gives a desired smooth appearance when the connector 1 is fitted to the container 10.

As mentioned, Figure 5 shows the connector 1 fitted to two containers 10a and 10b. Also shown in this plan view is the fitting of a receptacle 30 to each coupling member 2 and 3. The structure and fitting of these will be described hereinafter.

Figure 6 shows a similar view to that of Figure 5 of a simple container with a coupling member fitted with no joining member.

Figures 7, 8 and 10 show the type of containers 10 to which the connector 1 will be fitted. The container 10 is of a triangular shape with its opening 13 at its apex which can be secured by a screw top cap to a thread 14 such that the screw cap abuts and seals against the upper edge of the shoulder 12. Below the shoulder 12 is a generally cylindrical neck portion 11 with two vertical slots 21 facing to the side. Below the neck portion 11 is a sloping face 15, sloping towards the same side of the container 10, and around which is a shoulder 22. Below the sloping face 15 are three parallel sloping grooves 16 cut into the surface of the container 10. These grooves 16 are provided partly for decoration and partly to act as a grip to aid the holding of the container 10.

The neck portion 11, as described earlier, is the part of the container 10 to which the coupling members 2 and 3 of the connector 1 is fitted. The shoulder 12

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prevents the connector 1 from sliding off the neck portion 11 when no screw cap is fitted. As more clearly shown in Figure 9, which is a cross-section of the neck portion 11, the vertical slots 21 in the neck portion are provided to engage the tabs of the arm portions of the connector 1 to provide a "snap fit", locking the connector 1 to the container 10.

As mentioned with respect to Figures 5 and 6, there is also provided a receptacle 30 comprising a measuring cup for connection to each of the coupling members 2 and 3 of the connector 1. The measuring cup 30 is shown separately in Figures 11 to 14 and comprises a semi-cylindrical engaging portion 31 to clasp around the arm portions 5 and 6 or 7 and 8 of the connector 1 whilst fitted to the container 10. At the outer circumferential margins of the portion 31 are inwardly facing tabs 32 for engagement with slots 17 in the outer face of said arm portions 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the connector 1. The measuring cup 30 is shaped to fit around the neck portion 11 of the container 10 and mate with the shoulder 22. The cup 30 has a flat top 33 which, with the semi-cylindrical portion 31 and the outer face 34 which extends from the shoulder 15 when fitted to the container 10, defines a space 35 which can be of a predetermined volume enabling the cup 30 to be used for the purpose of measuring fluid volume.

Thus the measuring cup 30 can be fitted to connector 1 as shown in Figures 15 and 16 such that its outer face lies flush with the outer face of the semi-cylindrical portion of the connector 1 with a joint 40 and is removable for use as a measuring cup for liquid contained in the container 10. When fitted to the container the cup 30 clasps around the arm portions 5 and thus prevents the disengagement of the coupling member 2 o 3 from the

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container 10. This helps prevent unintentional separation of the container 10a and 10b.

Figure 16 shows a view of a complete assembly as it might appear on sale, with one container 10a having a spray nozzle fitted to its screw cap.

The connector of the embodiment of the invention described hereinabove has been designed for use for example where one container 10a contains a ready-to-use dilute cleaning solution and the other container 10b contains a concentrate. The idea being that when the dilute solution has been used, the measuring cap 30 can be used to measure a predetermined amount of the concentrate from the container 10b for dilution to refill the other container 10a. At sale therefore the two containers 10a and 10b are connected together using the connector 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, whilst after sale and in use, the containers 10a and 10b would be separated to enable the use of the dilute solution and the storage of the concentrate. Separation of the containers 10a and 10b can take place by the application of a force to the arm portions 5, 6, 7 and 8 of either one or both of the coupling members 2 and 3 of the connector 1 such that the tabs become disengaged from the slots 21 in the neck portions 11 of the containers 10a and 10b. The container 10 in use as a spray applicator therefore has the appearance of Figures 7 and 8 with the spray nozzle attached via its screw cap.

It is envisaged that although the connector 1 may be used to enable the sale of a twin pack of two containers, the sale of individual containers will take place as refill bottles and thus the present invention encompasses a single container 10 with the measuring cap 30 fitted thereto either by way of the coupling means 2 or 3 of the connector

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1 or by way of direct coupling to recesses in an adapted neck portion of a container. The neck portion being adapted to include in its structure the external appearance of a coupling means. Thus when fitted the container has the appearance as shown in Figure 15.

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