GB2126978A

GB2126978A - Compartmented containers

Info

Publication number: GB2126978A
Application number: GB08320581A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Stephen Fitzgerald Day
Original assignee: HERMETITE PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: HERMETITE PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1982-09-14
Filing date: 1983-07-29
Publication date: 1984-04-04
Also published as: GB8320581D0; GB2126978B

Abstract

A plastics bucket 1 for a first liquid has a press-on plastics lid 2 for sealing the bucket for storage and transport, a plastics container 11 for a second liquid being secured to or integral with the lid. Preferably, the container 11 has a press-on plastics lid 12 which is welded to the underside of the bucket lid 2. The container 11 may have nipples which can be cut to facilitate removal of the second liquid. In alternative embodiments, the container may comprise a bottle or flexible sachet either secured to, or loose within, the bucket. The first and second liquids may be a polyol and an isocyanate respectively to be stored separately and subsequently mixed in the bucket to form a polyurethane. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Compartment container This invention relates to compartmented containers for storing and transporting a plurality of fluids which are to be kept out of contact with each other.

The invention was particularly developed for storing two liquid compartments which, on mixing, react to form a polyurethane resin mix which can be poured into a mould and allowed to set. Basically one component is an isocyanate component and the other component is a polyol component. For a particular mix intended for moulding around a cable joint the isocyanate component comprises 16% by volume and the polyol component comprises 84% by volume (both components being liquids). Heretofore, it has been conventional to supply the polyol component in a plastics bucket with a pressfitting lid and to supply the isocyanate component in a separate bottle. The bucket is only partly filled with the polyol component so that the isocyanate component can be stirred in and the bucket used as a mixing vessel to prepare a uniform mix.With such an arrangement the bucket and bottle must be separately lablelled and placed in a compartmented cardboard container for transport; the cardboard container must of course also be labelled.

In accordance with the present invention, we have now found that it is possible to store and transport the isocyanate component in a container which is integral with or secured to the bucket or, more preferably, the bucket lid.

Normally the container will be inside the bucket as the bucket necessarily has the space above the surface of the polyol component. However, the container could be outside the bucket if necessary.

Thus, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a plastics container for a liquid, the container having a lid in sealing engagement therewith, the lid having a holder for a second liquid secured thereto or integral therewith such that the two liquids are kept separate.

In a more specific aspect, the invention provides a plastics bucket for a first liquid, a press-on plastics lid for sealing the bucket for storage and transport, and a plastics container for a second liquid sealed to or integral with the underside of the lid, the container having means whereby the liquid can be dispensed into the bucket.

Preferably the plastics material is a slightly resilient thermoplastic material such as polypropylene.

Normally the means permitting the liquid to be dispensed will be one large or two small nipples formed during moulding of the container. For example, if the container is made by blow moulding, it is unlikely that a single nipple of a size to also permit ingress of air could be made.

These nipples can then be cut off when it is desired to release the contents of the container (at this stage the lid will usually have been taken off the bucket and at least one nipple pointed downwards into the bucket).

In one form of the invention, the container is a relatively shallow flanged tray-like member (having the nipple or nipples referred to above) which is filled with isocyanate component. The flange is then ultrasonically welded to the bucket lid to seal the container. However if the lid is not suitable for providing a reliable seal, a separate lid for sealing the container could be welded in position before the sealed container is welded to the bucket lid (at perhaps only a few locations around the periphery).

In another form of the invention the container is a flexible plastics satchet which is filled, sealed and then welded to the bucket lid. Although such an arrangement would be relatively cheap and the sachet could be emptied by cutting off a corner, it might meet customer resistance in that excess polyol would have to be scraped off a flexible surface. The sachet could be welded flat to the bucket lid or could be welded at one edge and allowed to dangle.

In a further form of the invention, a plastics bottle is used as the container and a screw-on cap is welded to the underside of the bucket iid.

However, this arrangement and other arrangements where a bottle or sachet is simply dropped into the polyol component, with or without locating and/or support means in the bottom of the bucket, have the disadvantage that the user has to handle and scrape a container covered with polyol component.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a lidded plastics bucket according to the invention, partly in section; Figure 2 is a plan view of the bucket of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an enlargement of part of Figure 1.

The bucket 1 is a conventional moulded polypropylene bucket which may optionally have a pivoted carrying handle (not shown). A moulded polypropylene bucket lid shown generally at 2 has a moulded peripheral downwardly facing channel 3 which sealingly engages the rim 5 of the bucket 1. The rim 5 is moulded to form a downwardly open channel-shaped lip 6 as is best shown in Figure 3. The channel 3 has ribs 8, 9 respectively therein, the rib 8 limiting penetration of the lip 6 and the rib 9 engaging beneath the lip 6 with a press-fit snap action in a conventional manner.

The polypropylene lid 12 of an inner poly propylene container or holder 11 is ultrasonically welded to the underside of the lid 2 at, for example, twelve locations 1 3. The lid 12 sealingly engages the rim of the container 11 in the same way as the lid 2 engages the rim of the bucket 1.

In practice, an isocyanate component is placed in container 11, the lid 12 together with the lid 2, is secured thereon, and the lid 2 is secured on the bucket 1 which has been prefilled with polyol component. The two components are thus kept separate for transport and storage. When it is desired to mix the components and form a polyurethane, lid 2 is removed from bucket 1 taking container 11 with it. If it is not desired to separate the container 11 from its lid 12 e.g.

because the container is soiled with polyol component and slippery, it may simply be punctured with a suitable sharp instrument (which for example may be thereafter used as a stirrer for mixing the two components). Normally at least two holes are made to permit the isocyanate component to leave the container and drop into the bucket and to let air in to replace it.

Moulded nipples as described above could be used but these would require a non-standard container 11.

Claims

1. A plastic container for a liquid, the container having a lid in sealing engagement therewith, the lid having a holder for a second liquid secured thereto or integral therewith such that the two liquids are kept separate.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the holder is inside the container.

3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, which comprises a plastics bucket having a lid engageable with a press-fit snap action.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein the holder has a lid in sealing engagement therewith.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the holder and its lid are of plastics material.

6. A container according to claim 5, wherein the holder and its lid are sealingly engaged with a press-fit snap action.

7. A container according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the two lids are secured together.

8. A container according to claim 7, wherein the two lids are secured together by welding.

9. A container according to any preceding claim, which contains the polyol component of a polyurethane mix, the holder containing the isocyanate component of the polyurethane mix.

10. A container substantially as described with reference to the drawing.