Container and valve arrangement for maintaining initial sealed separation of a plurality of liquids and allowing for subsequent successive consumption of the plurality of liquids

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, and methods (e.g., utilities) that allow a user to maintain an initial, sealed separation of two or more ingredients (e.g., liquids) in respective chambers of a container and to then selectively consume the ingredients via a common opening of the container (e.g., either in series or in combination). Broadly, the utilities include a valve mechanism that, when activated (e.g., rotated), simultaneously breaks or ruptures at least one seal member previously maintaining sealed separation of the two or more ingredients to at least partially align respective apertures into the chambers to fluidly interconnect the chambers via the apertures and allow for consumption of the ingredients via a common opening of the container.

1 . A container, comprising:
 a first body comprising a first side wall and a first internal cavity inside the first side wall, wherein the first internal cavity is configured to store a first liquid;   a second body comprising a second side wall and a second internal cavity inside the second side wall, wherein the second internal cavity is configured to store a second liquid; and   a valve mechanism between the first and second internal cavities, wherein the valve mechanism includes:
 a first portion adjacent a first end of the first internal cavity, wherein the first portion comprises a base and an actuator on the base; and 
 a second portion adjacent a first end of the second internal cavity that faces the first end of the first internal cavity, wherein the second portion comprises a base and a flap connected to the base, and wherein a relative rotation between the first and second portions of the valve mechanism about a rotational axis actuates the actuator to at least partially separate the flap from the base of the second portion of the valve mechanism to fluidly interconnect the first and second internal cavities. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a projection, wherein the flap comprises an opening that receives the projection, wherein the first portion of the valve mechanism comprises a first cam surface, wherein the second portion of the valve mechanism comprises a second cam surface, and wherein sliding engagement between the first and second cam surfaces during the relative rotation between the first and second portions of the valve mechanism induces separation between the bases of the first and second portions of the valve assembly to at least partially separate the flap from the base of the second portion of the valve mechanism via the actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the flap comprises a first flap, wherein the first portion of the valve mechanism further comprises a second flap to which the projection is attached, and wherein the relative rotation between the first and second portions of the valve mechanism at least partially separates the second flap from the base of the first portion of the valve mechanism to fluidly interconnect the first and second internal cavities. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second flaps remain mated during the relative rotation between the first and second portions of the valve mechanism via the projection and the opening. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second flaps comprise a first pair of flaps, wherein the valve mechanism comprises one or more additional pairs of flaps that are configured to at least partially separate from the bases of the second and first portions of the valve mechanism during the relative rotation between the first and second portions of the valve mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the first pair of flaps and the one or more additional pairs of flaps are circumferentially arranged about the rotational axis. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base of the first portion of the valve mechanism comprises a first end wall of the first body that spans the first internal cavity, and wherein the base of the second portion of the valve mechanism comprises a first end wall of the second body that spans the second internal cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the valve mechanism further comprises a third portion that receives the first and second portions. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the second portion of the valve mechanism is rotatable about the rotational axis relative to the third portion of the valve mechanism, and wherein the first portion of the valve mechanism is non-rotatable relative to the third portion of the valve mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the second portion of the valve mechanism comprises a first rotation prevention element, wherein the third portion of the valve mechanism comprises a second rotation prevention element, and wherein after relative rotation between the first and second portions of the valve mechanism in a first direction about the rotational axis to at least partially separate the flap from the base of the second portion of the valve mechanism, the first and second rotation prevention elements engage to prevent relative rotation between the first and second portions of the valve mechanism in a second direction about the rotational axis that is opposed to the first direction. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein one of the first and second rotation prevention elements comprises an opening, and wherein the other of the first and second rotation prevention elements comprises a projection that is adapted to snap into interlocking engagement with the opening. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the first rotation prevention element comprises a projection that extends from the second side wall of the second body. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second bodies comprises a consumption opening in respective fluid communication with the first or second internal cavity, wherein one of the first and second liquids is flowable through the consumption opening before the flap is at least partially separated from the first body, and wherein the other of the first and second liquids is flowable through the consumption opening after the flap is at least partially separated from the first body. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the other of the first and second liquids is not flowable through the consumption opening before the flap is at least partially separated from the first body. 
     
     
         15 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A container, comprising:
 a first body comprising a first side wall and a first internal cavity inside the first side wall, wherein the first internal cavity is configured to store a first liquid;   a second body comprising a second side wall and a second internal cavity inside the second side wall, wherein the second internal cavity is configured to store a second liquid; and   a valve mechanism between the first and second internal cavities, wherein the valve mechanism includes:
 a first portion adjacent a first end of the first internal cavity, wherein the first portion comprises a base and an aperture that extends through the base and into the first internal cavity; 
 a second portion adjacent a first end of the second internal cavity that faces the first end of the first internal cavity, wherein the second portion comprises a base and an aperture that extends through the base and into the second internal cavity; and 
 a membrane between the bases of the first and second portions and covering the apertures of the first and second portions, wherein a relative rotation between the first and second portions of the valve mechanism about a rotational axis ruptures the membrane and at least partially aligns the apertures of the first and second portions of the valve mechanism to form a fluid passageway between the first and second internal cavities. 
   
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the valve mechanism further comprises:
 a first component that secures a first side of the membrane to the base of the first portion of the valve mechanism; and   a second component that secures an opposed second side of the membrane to the base of the second portion of the valve mechanism.   
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second components comprise respective first and second adhesive components. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein the first adhesive component is disposed about a periphery of the aperture that extends through the base of the first portion of the valve mechanism, and wherein the second adhesive component is disposed about a periphery of the aperture that extends through the base of the second portion of the valve mechanism. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the apertures of the first and second portions of the valve mechanism comprise a first pair of apertures, wherein the first and second portions of the valve mechanism comprise one or more additional pairs of apertures, and wherein the relative rotation between the first and second portions of the valve mechanism about the rotational axis at least partially aligns the respective apertures of the one or more additional pairs of apertures to form one or more additional fluid passageways between the first and second internal cavities. 
     
     
         23 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the first body comprises an end wall at the first end of the first internal cavity, wherein the second body comprises an end wall at the first end of the second internal cavity, and wherein the end walls of the first and second bodies respectively comprise the bases of the first and second portions of the valve mechanism. 
     
     
         26 - 56 . (canceled)