Many useful materials are supplied as two or more separate components, which react together on mixing to give the material required. These are generally known as multiple component reactive systems. For example, many epoxy type adhesives and silicone-based sealants need to be mixed with an accelerant/curing agent before use. Once mixed, the product is usable for no more than ten or fifteen minutes before it sets. Other products requiring mixing immediately before use include many hair colouring products. It is also desirable to mix the components in as precise proportion, one to the other, as possible, for optimum performance.

In many cases, at least one component must be stored in a hermetically sealed container, for example because it is moisture sensitive, or because it is a hazardous material until it has reacted with other components of the system.

The components can be supplied in separate containers, for example in plastics or metal tubes with a screw-capped nozzle, optionally with a perforatable seal across the nozzle. However, dispensing and mixing may bring problems. Particularly with components of low viscosity, there is a risk of spillage, which may be difficult to clear up, which may lead to incorrect proportions of the components being reacted together, and may even constitute a health and safety hazard. It is inconvenient to supply such containers packaged in matching pairs, but equally inconvenient to supply them separately, when the matching containers must each be located before use.

Other multiple component systems require separate storage of the components, possibly in sealed containers, and are mixed only immediately before use. For example, a liquid concentrate may require accurate dilution with a specific diluent before use. A solid component may need to be dissolved in a specific solvent before use-for example, a granular pharmaceutical preparation may need to be dissolved in a set amount of sterile aqueous electrolyte for oral or intravenous administration to a patient. Other systems comprise particulate solids which are mixed into liquid components before use-such as reinforcing glass fibres being mixed into a liquid resin. In each case, there are problems associated with dispensing and mixing these components accurately and safely in the open.

The team"multiple component system"will therefore be used herein to cover all such systems, reactive or otherwise, which require the combination of two or more separately stored components to produce the composition which is actually applied.

There is thus a need for a container which allows the separate storage of two or more components of such a system until use is required, whereupon it allows the components to be mixed safely, tidily, rapidly and accurately.

It is hence an object of the present invention to provide a container system which obviates the above disadvantages and provides the above benefits. It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a container holding each component of a two part system. A third object of the present invention is to provide a method for the use of such a container system.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container system for the storage and mixing of a multiple component system, comprising first storage means provided with first nozzle means, second storage means provided with second nozzle means, and connecting means detachably mountable to each storage means and having passage means extending therethrough to connect operatively each said nozzle means.

Preferably, each said storage means comprises a flexible hollow tube provided with said nozzle means generally centrally of a first end thereof and closed at a second end remote from the first.

Advantageously, each said nozzle means is provided with a screw thread and the passage means of the connecting means is correspondingly threaded to retain each said nozzle means securely.

At least one of said nozzle means may be provided with sealing means, optionally formed integrally therewith.

Optionally, the first storage means may comprise nozzle means without sealing means and the second storage means may comprise nozzle means with sealing means.

The passage means of the connecting means and the sealed nozzle means of the second storage means may thus form closure means for the first storage means.

The container system may be provided with perforating means, optionally mounted to an external surface of the connecting means, by which said sealing means may selectively be broken.

At least one of the storage means may comprise material, such as a metal, impervious to moisture and/or air.

The first storage means is preferably of greater internal volume than the second storage means, optionally at least twice the internal volume.

Each storage means may be generally elongate and the connecting means may then retain them with a longitudinal axis of each storage means extending substantially collinearly.

The connecting means may comprise a body configured to support a portion of each storage means adjacent a respective nozzle means. The container system may be provided with mixing means, optionally disposed within the first storage means.

The container system may be provided with one or more additional storage means, each provided with nozzle means mountable to the connecting means, optionally in place of the second storage means.

The first storage means may be provided with selectively openable vent means, to vent air displaced therefrom by transfer of material thereinto.

One of the storage means, optionally the first, may be provided with dispensing means, separate from its nozzle means and so adapted that a mixed contents of the container system may selectively be delivered therethrough.

The dispensing means may be adapted for the application of said mixed contents to a selected substrate.

The dispensing means may be adapted to be connectable to a preselected additional delivery system, for example, an intravenous drip.

Material can thus be dispensed from the container system without disengaging either storage means from the connecting means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container system as described above, with the first storage means thereof containing a first preselected quantity of a first component of the multiple component system and the second storage means thereof containing a second preselected quantity of a second component of said system.

Preferably, said preselected quantities of each component are in substantially optimum proportions for their subsequent mixing or reaction together.

Advantageously, the first storage means is capable of containing both of the first preselected quantity of the first component and the second preselected quantity of the second component.

The first storage means may thus initially contain the first preselected quantity of the first component and a free volume at least as great as the volume of the second storage means.

The first and second components of the multiple component system may each comprise a liquid, optionally a free-flowing liquid.

Alternatively, one or each component may comprise a particulate solid material.

At least the second component may comprise a moisture sensitive reagent.

Alternatively or additionally, at least the second component may comprise a hazardous reagent, such as a harmful, irritant or flammable reagent.

Alternatively or additionally, at least the second component may comprise a material required to be kept sterile.

In each case, the second storage means is preferably provided with perforatable sealing means, and advantageously comprises an impermeable material, such as a metal.

The container system may comprise a third storage means, containing a third preselected quantity of a third component of the multiple-component system and mountable to the connecting means in place of the second storage means.

The first storage means may then be capable of containing each of the first preselected quantity of the first component, the second preselected quantity of the second component and the third preselected quantity of the third component.

Alternatively the first storage means may be initially empty but dimensioned to be capable of containing each of the second preselected quantity of the second component and the third preselected quantity of the third component.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for storing and mixing a multiple component system, comprising the steps of providing a container system as described above and containing a first component of the system in a first storage means and a second component of the system in a second storage means, transferring the second component from the second storage means via the connecting means to the first storage means, mixing the first component and the second component within the first storage means and dispensing the mixed first and second components for use.

The method may comprise the step of detaching a nozzle of the first storage means from the connecting means before dispensing the mixed first and second components therethrough. Alternatively, the mixed first and second components are dispensed through dispensing means of the first storage means, separate from the nozzle thereof.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of providing the second component in a sealed second storage means.

The method then comprises the further step of perforating the sealing means of the second storage means prior to transfer of the second component.

Advantageously, the method comprises the steps of detaching the sealed second storage means from the connecting means, applying the sealing means thereof to the perforating means to breach the sealing means and re-attaching the second storage means to the connecting means.

The method may comprise the step of shaking the container to promote mixing of the components within the first storage means.

Alternatively and/or additionally, the method may comprise the step of kneading the first storage means to promote mixing of the components therein.

It may also comprise the step of forcing air from the first storage means.

The method may comprise the step of crushing the second storage means, optionally irreversibly, to drive substantially an entirety of the second component into the first storage means.

Alternatively, the method may comprise the steps of compressing the first storage means to displace air therefrom under pressure into the second storage means and then releasing the first storage means to allow said compressed air to drive at least a portion of the second component into the first storage means.

Said compression and release steps may be performed alternately until substantially an entirety of the second component has been driven into the first storage means.

The compression and release steps are preferably performed with the second storage means held generally above the first storage means.

The method may also comprise the step of holding the first storage means generally above the second storage means and compressing the first storage means to drive material therein into the second storage means.

Said material may comprise the first component or a mixture of the first and second components, for example to wash out residual second component from the second storage means.

The method may comprise the additional steps of removing the second storage means from the connecting means, mounting a third storage means containing a third component of the system thereto, transferring the third component from the third storage means via the connecting means to the first storage means, and mixing the third component with the first and second components within the first storage means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container system as described above, with the first storage means thereof being empty and the second storage means containing a first preselected quantity of a first component of the system, the container system further comprising third storage means containing a second preselected quantity of a second component of the system, said third storage means being mountable to the connecting means in place of the second storage means.

The first storage means is preferably capable of containing both the first preselected quantity of the first component and the second preselected quantity of the second component.

One or each of the first and second components may comprise a moisture sensitive reagent, a hazardous material or a sterile material.

Preferably, the storage means containing the or each such component is then provided with perforatable sealing means, and advantageously comprises an impermeable material, such as a metal.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for storing and mixing a multiple-component system, comprising the steps of providing a container system as described above, a first storage means thereof being empty, and containing a first component of the system in a second storage means and a second component of the system in a third storage means, transferring the first component from the second storage means via the connecting means to the first storage means, detaching the second storage means from the connecting means, mounting the third storage means to the connecting means, transferring the second component from the third storage means via the connecting means to the first storage means, mixing the first component and the second component within the first storage means and dispensing the mixed first and second components for use.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of providing one or each of the first and second components in a sealed second and/or third storage means respectively.

The method then comprises the further step or steps of perforating the sealing means of a respective storage means prior to transfer of a respective component.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section of a filled container system embodying the invention.

Turning now to Figure 1, a container comprises a first container tube 1 and a second container tube 2, linked by a connector 3.

The first tube 1 comprises, in this embodiment, a moulding of flexible plastics material, having a threaded nozzle 4 at a first end 5 and being sealed permanently closed at a second end 6 remote from the first end 5.

The second tube 2 is, in this embodiment, made from a flexible metal foil, such as tin or lead foil, although it may be made of other materials such as plastics. It has, at its first end 7, a threaded nozzle 8 with an integrally moulded thin seal 9 extending thereacross. The second tube 2 is crimped sealingly closed at a second end 10 thereof, remote from the first.

The connector 3 comprises a generally cylindrical body of plastics material with an axial bore 11 therethrough. The bore 11 is threaded at each end to receive a respective threaded nozzle 4,8 of the first tube 1 and the second tube 2. The connector 3 has substantially the same external diameter as the first end 5 of the first tube 1. The first end 5,7 of each tube 1,2 is held against an opposing face of the connector 3, adding to the strength and rigidity of the container as a whole. A generally circular recess 12 is provided in an outer surface of the connector 3, with a boss 13 disposed generally centrally of the recess 12.

The first and second tubes 1,2 each contain one liquid component of a two-component reactive system. In the embodiment shown, the two-component system is a silicone-based encapsulant. A first component 14 is held in the first tube 1, and a second component 15, comprising a possibly moisture sensitive curing/cross-linking agent, is held in the sealed second tube 2. The first tube 1 is dimensioned to hold a required volume of the first component 14 while having a free volume 16 equivalent to or preferably greater than the volume of the second component 15 in the second tube 2.

The container can be stored for prolonged periods as shown. The second tube 2 is sealed to prevent ingress of moisture to the second component 15, while the connector 3 and the sealed nozzle 8 of the second tube 2 form a closure for the nozzle 4 of the first tube 1.

When the product is to be used, the nozzle 8 of the sealed second tube 2 is unscrewed from the bore 11 of the connector 3, and is pressed to the recess 12 such that the boss 13 penetrates through the seal 9 across the nozzle 8. After having squeezed the first tube 1 to remove air therefrom, the nozzle 8 of the second tube 2 is then screwed back into the bore 11 of the connector 3.

The second tube 2 may then be squeezed to urge the second component 15 out through its nozzle 8 and the bore 11 into the free volume 16 of the first tube 1. (In many cases, the second component 15 will be sufficiently fluid to flow into the first tube 1 under gravity or be drawn to the vacuum created by squeezing the first tube).

The first and second components 14, 15 are then free to mix within the first tube 1. The container can be shaken if required. Optionally, a mixing body 17 can be provided within the first tube 1 to encourage mixing on shaking. It is preferable to use a mixing body 17 that has a shape that is unlikely to block or occlude the nozzle 4 of the first tube 1. It may be necessary to knead the first tube 1 in order to ensure mixing of more viscous components.

Once the components 14,15 have been mixed in the first tube 1, they will begin to react. For example, some products described have a working life of around ten minutes before gelling.

The connector 3 is removed from the first tube 1 once mixing is complete, and the encapsulant may either be transferred to a further container or be applied directly from the nozzle 4 of the first tube 1 to an item requiring sealing.

The container system holds the two components separately but conveniently in a single strong package. Mixing the components within the container has the advantage, for example over mixing in a separate pot, that there is minimal risk of spillage. Many two-component systems have at least one component which is irritant, harmful or otherwise potentially unsafe until it has been mixed. The container system minimises the chance of a user coming into contact with such materials in their unmixed form. The container system also makes it straightforward to provide accurately proportioned quantities of each component in order to give a known volume of sealant with an optimised composition.

While the invention has been described in terms of a container for a two-component encapsulant or sealant, it may be applicable to a range of other systems. For example, hair care products are frequently supplied as two components, such as a hair colorant and a bleaching agent, which may only be mixed immediately before use. Two-component adhesive formulations, such as two-pack epoxy adhesives, could also conveniently be supplied and mixed in such a container.

One or more further components could be mixed in with the first and second components 14, 15 in such a container. For example, a colouring agent for a sealant could be supplied in a separate tube, which would be screwed into the bore 11 of the connector 3 in place of the second tube 2, either before or after the second component 15 had been transferred to the first tube 1. The colouring agent would then be transferred in its turn to the first tube 1 through the connector 3, again with minimal risk of spillage.

If desired, the components being mixed in the first tube 1 could be transferred through the bore 11 to the second tube 2 and back, to encourage thorough mixing.

An alternative method of transferring the second component 15 to the first tube 1 avoids the need to crush or roll up the second tube 2. Both the first tube 1 and the second tube 2 are screwed securely into the connector 3, without the air having first been expressed from the first tube 1. The first tube 1 is held below the second tube 2, and is manually compressed.

Air is thus displaced under pressure through the bore 11 of the connector 3 into the second tube 2. The first tube 1 is released, and the pressure of the air forced into the second tube 2 urges a portion of the second component 15 through the bore 11 into the first tube 1, where it may mix with the first component 14. The first tube 1 is repeatedly compressed and released until the second component 15 is substantially completely transferred thereto.

The overpressure resulting from simple manual squeezing of the first tube 1 is unlikely to endanger the integrity of the second tube 2 or the connector 3. This"pumping"method will be effective for any second component 15 that is reasonably fluid, although very viscous second components 15 may well require crushing of the second tube 2 to ensure complete emptying thereof.

To transfer material instead from the first tube 1 to the second tube 2, the first tube 1 is held higher than the second tube 2 and then compressed. This urges material into the second tube 2. When the first tube 1 is released in this orientation, air from the second tube 2 will be transferred to the first 1. This procedure could be used to transfer the mixed components to and fro between the tubes 1,2 to improve mixing, as proposed above. It could also be used to"back wash"the second tube 2 to extract residual second component 15 therefrom. (This would be particularly useful where the exact proportions of the components are critical or where residual unmixed second component 15 in a discarded second tube 2 might be hazardous). There may also be situations in which a portion of the first component 14 is transferred to the second tube 2 as an initial step, for example to improve the flow properties of the second component 15 before it is transferred into the first tube 1.

The container system may also be used for mixing two or more reactive components, each of which must be kept in a sealed container prior to mixing. In this case, the first tube 1 is initially empty, while the second tube 2 contains a first reactive component. A third tube, similar to the second tube 2 but initially separated from the container system, contains a second reactive component. The first tube 1 is dimensioned to hold a volume equivalent to or greater than that of the first reactive component plus that of the second reactive component.

When the components are to be mixed for use, the nozzle 8 of the sealed second tube 2 is unscrewed from the connector 3 and unsealed as described above. After having squeezed a substantial proportion of the air from the first tube 1, the second tube 2 is screwed back into the connector 3, and the first reactive component is transferred to the first tube 1.

The second tube 2 is then removed from the connector 3 and the first tube 1 is squeezed to remove further air therefrom. The sealed third tube is unsealed and screwed into the connector 3 in place of the second tube 2, and the second reactive component is transferred into the first tube 1. The first and second reactive components are then free to mix within the first tube 1, optionally with the assistance of shaking, mixing bodies, kneading and/or transferring material through the bore 11 of the connector 3 into the third tube and back, as described above. Once mixing is complete, the connector 3 is removed from the first tube 1, and the contents of the first tube 1 are dispensed therefrom for use.

In this way, two components, each requiring storage in separate sealed containers, can be mixed in a further container without risk of spillage and minimising their contact with the environment prior to mixing.

Obviously the first tube 1 could also initially contain a reactant or component of the final mixture.

While the above description refers to reactive components, it is clearly also applicable where the components merely mix, and do not subsequently react.

Although the invention has been described above in terms of a flexible first tube 1, it may be desirable to use a substantially rigid mixing container in its place. Since this would make it difficult to expel air from the mixing container before the components are transferred thereinto, it is beneficial in this case to provide an air vent that may be opened manually while material is transferred into the mixing container, to allow air to be displaced therefrom.

The container shown is useful not only for mixing liquid components, but also where a particulate solid component is involved. For example, a granular first component 14 could be stored in the first tube 1, and a liquid second component 15 could be transferred from the second tube 2, as described, to mix with the first component 14.

Alternatively, the second tube 2 could hold a second component 15 in the form of granules, powder, fibres, etc, which is sufficiently flowable to be pumped out of the second tube 2, as described above. Thus, the second component 15 can be transferred to the first tube 1 to be mixed with a liquid first component 14 held therein. For example, glass fibres, used to reinforce some resin compositions, can irritate the skin and eyes and can be harmful to the lungs if inhaled. A charge of glass fibres, stored in a sealed second tube 2 could be added to a charge of liquid resin held in a first tube 1, without risk of their being released into the open.

A sealed second tube 2 could also be used to store a dose of pharmaceutical material, in powder or granular form, which is moisture-sensitive on storage and/or must be stored under sterile conditions. A measured quantity of an electrolyte solution is stored in the first tube 1.

If the pharmaceutical material is free flowing, it can be"pumped"into the first tube 1 to dissolve in the electrolyte. Alternatively, as a first step, a portion of the electrolyte can be pumped into the second tube 2 to dissolve the pharmaceutical material, and then the resulting concentrated solution can be pumped back into the first tube 1 to mix with a remainder of the electrolyte to produce the desired final concentration. This solution of pharmaceutical material is then ready for immediate oral or intravenous administration.

In such applications, it would be preferable if the solution could be administered directly from the container in which it was prepared, rather than risk of contamination by unscrewing the tubes 1,2 and pouring it into a further container. Therefore, the first tube 1 may be provided with a fitting for connection directly to a standard intravenous drip tube. Since a closed end of the plastics first tube 1 is normally formed by heat-sealing, it will be straightforward to incorporate such a fitting into the end of the first tube 1 during manufacture. Similarly, if a multiple component system would benefit from a particular form of applicator or dispenser (for example to apply a bead of adhesive to a particular substrate), then such an applicator or dispenser could be incorporated into the closed end of the first tube 1.