Unit-dose packaging system

Abstract

A device for storing and mixing materials including gases, liquids, solids, and semi-solids is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes an outer shell and a plurality of cartridges. The outer shell is preferably cylindrical, however, it may be any of a variety of shapes including box shaped. The outer shell has an opened interior space, used for storing mixable materials. The cartridges are preferably separately sealed vesicles encasing the mixable material within frangible membranes at both ends of the vesicle as well as separately encased mixable materials contained within the holder's inner surface and may include a capping membrane. Cartridges may be separated by a stop member which serves to create multiple mixing and storage areas for the cartridges. A plurality of such devices may be mounted on a perforated sheet for convenient storage and removal or distribution. Alternatively, the device may include a variety of cartridges detachably engaged to one another in a linear fashion, preferably with a reinforcing wall protecting each cartridge and the contents therein. Alternatively, the device may include one or more gaskets each with a frangible membrane to separate different mixable materials. The devices are preferably disposable and include premeasured amounts of mixable materials. The device may also include a mixing instrument such as a brush or spatula.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A device for storing a mixable material comprising: 
 an elongated outer shell; and    a plurality of cartridges installed within the outer shell, each cartridge useful for encasing mixable materials.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a stop member affixed to the outer shell.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of outer shells are affixed to a mounting sheet.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the mounting sheet is perforated so as to facilitate removal of the outer shells individually.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more cartridges includes a first cartridge and a second cartridge and said first cartridge is affixed at one end of the outer shell, and said second cartridge is affixed adjacent to said first cartridge.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein each of the cartridges comprises a mixable material encased within a frangible membrane.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein each of the cartridges comprises a mixable material loaded into the outer shell between a plurality of frangible membranes.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising a third cartridge affixed adjacent to the second cartridge, opposite said first cartridge, and separated from the second cartridge by a frangible membrane.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell is constructed of a relatively opaque material.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell further comprises an interior lining.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the interior lining is constructed from a relatively impermeable material.  
     
     
         12 . A device for storing a mixable material comprising: 
 an elongated outer shell;    an inner sleeve attached within the outer shell;    a bottom seal attached to one end of the outer shell;    a first mixture component loaded within the inner sleeve, and adjacent to the bottom seal;    a first frangible membrane attached across the inner sleeve and adjacent to the first mixture component to seal the first mixture component;    a second mixture component loaded within the inner sleeve, and adjacent to the first frangible membrane; and    a second frangible membrane attached across the inner sleeve and adjacent to the second mixture component to seal the second mixture component.    
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 a third mixture component loaded within the inner sleeve, and adjacent to the second frangible membrane; and  
 a third frangible membrane attached across the inner sleeve and adjacent to the third mixture component to seal the third mixture component.  
 
     
     
         14 . A device for storing flowable materials comprising: 
 an outer shell having an interior space; and    a plurality of cartridge assemblies contained within the outer shell, each cartridge assembly selected from the group consisting of: 
 a mixture component sandwiched between two frangible membranes, and  
 a mixture component encased within a frangible membrane.  
   
     
     
         15  The device of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 a stop member affixed to the outer shell to help preserve the integrity of the cartridge assemblies.  
 
     
     
         16 . A device for storing flowable materials comprising: 
 a plurality of cartridge assemblies each having one or more frangible membranes defining an interior space and one or more engagement members for removably attaching the cartridge assembly to one or more other cartridge assemblies.    
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 a reinforcement wall laterally protecting each cartridge assembly.  
 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16  wherein one or more cartridge assemblies are manufactured by extrusion.  
     
     
         19 . A method for storing a plurality of mixable materials comprising the steps of: 
 sealing multiple mixable materials separately within frangible membranes to form cartridges; and    placing the cartridges within an outer shell.    
     
     
         20 . A method for mixing a plurality of materials comprising the steps of: piercing a plurality of frangible membranes which are encasing mixable materials and are mounted within an outer shell so as to allow the mixable materials to combine with one another with an instrument such as a brush or spatula; and agitating the mixable materials with an instrument such as a brush or spatula to cause them to blend together.  
     
     
         21 . A device for storing a mixable material comprising: 
 an outer shell and;    one or more gaskets shaped to fit within the outer shell, each gasket comprising a holding member with a hollow area defined by an interior edge and a frangible membrane affixed to the interior edge and across the hollow area.    
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising one or more mixable materials held within the outer shell by the one or more gaskets.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21  further comprising a fixed bottom portion.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprises a conformable device attached to the periphery of the gasket.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the holding member has a shaped interior side.  
     
     
         26 . A device of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 a plurality of additional outer shells affixed to the stop member.  
 
     
     
         27 . A gasket to separate materials within an outer shell comprising: 
 a holding member of a predetermined size and shape constructed to fit within the outer shell having an interior edge defining an opening; and    a frangible membrane attached to the holding member across the opening.    
     
     
         28 . The gasket of  claim 27  further comprising: 
 a conformable device to aid in effecting a seal between the holding member and the inner surace of the outer shell wherein the conformable device is attached to the periphery of the holding member.  
 
     
     
         29 . The gasket of  claim 27  wherein the holding member has a beveled side shaped so as to slope towards the frangible membrane.