Packaging and Display Arrangement for Chemicals

It has long been known to make use of flexible packages for storing components which prior to use must be kept isolated and which immediately prior to use are brought together, such for example may include a liquid polymerizable resinous material and a catalytic agent. Normally, such chemical ingredients are premeasured prior to introduction into the package which may thereafter be sealed. When it is desired to use the composition the seal may be broken to enable the mixing of the two ingredients and thereafter the package is opened for application of the contents thereof. For various examples of this type of arrangement reference may be had for example to: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,756,874; 3,809,224; 3,523,607; 3,082,867 and 3,741,381.

The present invention conserves the basic features as shown in many of these prior art patents and adds thereto a novel packaging arrangement which is considered suitable for display at retail counters where the product may attract the notice of the public. In particular, the invention adapts the clamping divider member as found in most examples of the prior art so that this latter fulfills plural functions and as well provides an attractive display arrangement.

The invention thus provides a packaging and display arrangement for chemicals which must be stored in isolation from one another but which are mixed together immediately prior to use comprising a sealed container in the form of a flattened tube of flexible plastic film, a dividing member removably applied externally to said container so that first and second compartments are obtained within said container for the storage of first and second chemical constituents, a base member having a retaining channel adapted to receive and hold said dividing member and the portion of the container to which said dividing member is applied, said dividing member comprising a mixing and applying spatula and said base member further comprising a mixing trough.

FIG. 1 shows the base member and FIG. 1a, 1b, 1c respectively show a plan view, a sectional elevation and an end sectional view of this base member.

FIG. 2 shows the dividing-spatula member in which FIG. 2a and 2b respectively represent an elevation and a plan.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the package arrangement including the dividing-spatula member applied thereto prior to placing within the base member and final sealing thereof.

FIG. 4a is an end section of the completed assembly.

FIG 4b is a side elevation of the completed assembly.

In FIG. 1 is shown the base member which provides the basically novel features of the present invention. Base member 1 as shown in detail in FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c comprises a trough member having a basically trapezoidal form when viewed in end elevation or side elevation and may be obtained for example by injection molding of a suitable plastic material. As most clearly seen in FIG. 1c a central grove portion 7 serves as a retaining clamp for the packaging arrangement subsequently to be described. Also clearly visible in FIG. 1a, 1b and 1c is trough portion 8 which may be obtained during the injection step of manufacture and which serves as a mixing arrangement for the chemical to be applied, 9 represents a depression also formed at the time of manufacture of the base member 1 and this may cooperate with a pointed end 10 of the dividing-spatula as shown in FIG. 2 to pierce the package once mixing has been completed. The other end of the dividing-spatula serves as an applicator for the material following mixing. The central portion 2 of the dividing spatula, as will be subsequently observed, serves to divide the package and at the same time to retain said package within the base member 1.

FIG. 3 shows in perspective a view of the package prior to final assembly, 3a indicating one portion of the compartment and 3b the other portion. Basically the package comprises a container made of a flexible plastic material which is sealed around the edges but which may be left open at the ends prior to filling. A typical procedure in obtaining such a packaging arrangement is to form a container by folding over a thin plastic film and sealing this along one edge thereof to provide a flattened flexible tube. The tube is thereafter folded about the dividing-spatula member 2 thereby separating it into two compartments, the chemicals being introduced separately into each compartment and the ends being thereafter sealed. The choice of plastic as far as forming the container is concerned will be of course determined by the nature of the chemicals which are intended to be stored therein.

As shown in FIG. 4a the container including the dividing-spatula may be next provided with paper wrapper 4 and an outer suspending wrapper 5. This entire combination may then be introduced into the grove 7 on the base member 1. At this point the arrangement is complete.

For the user it is clear that he need only remove the dividing-spatula and the package arrangement from the grove 7 thereafter removing the cover papers 4 and 5 and by kneading the package following unfolding thereof from the dividing-spatula 2 the contents will be mixed. The filling of the package will of course have been done using premeasured quantities so that there is no need for the user to pay any particular attention in this respect. Once the user is satisfied that mixing has been satisfactorily carried out he may then utilize the pointed end 10 of the dividing-spatula to pierce a portion of the plastic container 3 and the contents now thoroughly mixed may be introduced into the trough 8. It will be clear that from the form given to the base member this will be relatively stable and the trough 8 will serve to contain the now mixed chemicals for easy application thereof through use of the spatula 2.