Multi-compartment container device

Abstract

A multi-compartment container device including a container assembly having a generally rigid container body forming a generally rigid outer compartment is provided. A flexible inner compartment is located in the rigid outer compartment and includes a frangible portion that may be ruptured to release the contents of the flexible inner compartment for combining the contents of the rigid and flexible compartments in the container body. The flexible compartment may be in the form of a pouch. The container device has a rotatable actuator member that is connected to the flexible compartment such that sufficient rotation of the rotatable actuator member will twist and apply torque to the flexible compartment to cause the frangible portion of the flexible compartment to rupture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-compartment container device for containing different ingredients, the multi-compartment container device comprising:
 a container assembly having at least a first compartment for containing a first ingredient and a second compartment for containing a second ingredient;   a frangible portion in the container assembly between the first and second compartments;   an actuator member operable to rupture the frangible portion to permit mixing of the first and second ingredients in the container assembly; and   an outer wall of the container assembly having a generally rigid configuration and extending about at least one of the first and second compartments.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-compartment container device of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second compartments comprises a flexible pouch. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-compartment container device of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible pouch is inside the other of the first and second compartments and the frangible portion extends along an external wall of the flexible pouch. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-compartment container device of  claim 2 , wherein an upper portion of the flexible pouch is connected to the actuator member and a lower portion of the flexible pouch is connected to a base portion of the container assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-compartment container device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator member is rotatably coupled to the container assembly so that rotation of the actuator member relative to the container assembly causes the frangible portion to rupture. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-compartment container device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator member and the container assembly have a stop therebetween to limit rotation of the actuator member beyond the stop. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-compartment container device of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid member disposed on the actuator member to inhibit the first ingredient and the second ingredient from escaping the container body. 
     
     
         8 . A multi-compartment container device for containing different ingredients, the multi-compartment container device comprising:
 a container assembly configured to have at least a first compartment for containing a first ingredient and a second compartment for containing a second ingredient;   a frangible portion in the container assembly between the first and second compartments;   a lid assembly configured to be rotatably mounted on the container assembly; and   a rotatable actuator member of the lid assembly configured to be rotated for rupturing the frangible portion to permit mixing of the first and second ingredients in the container assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The multi-compartment container device of  claim 8 , wherein the container assembly includes an outer wall having a generally rigid configuration and extending about at least one of the first and second compartments. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-compartment container device of  claim 8 , wherein the container assembly includes an auxiliary compartment for containing an auxiliary ingredient and having an auxiliary frangible portion. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-compartment container device of  claim 10 , wherein the container assembly includes at least a first indicium corresponding with a rupture point of the frangible portion and a second indicium corresponding with a rupture point of the auxiliary frangible portion. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-compartment container device of  claim 11 , wherein the rotatable actuator member includes an indicator;
 wherein rotation of the rotatable actuator member to align the indicator with the first indicium causes rupture of the frangible portion; and   wherein rotation of the rotatable actuator member to align the indicator with the second indicium causes rupture of the auxiliary frangible portion.   
     
     
         13 . The multi-compartment container device of  claim 8 , wherein one of the first and second compartments comprises a flexible pouch having opposite longitudinal edges, and the frangible portion extends along at least one of the longitudinal edges. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-compartment container device of  claim 13 , wherein flexible pouch includes an inner seal defining an auxiliary compartment of the flexible pouch for containing an auxiliary ingredient and having an auxiliary frangible portion. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-compartment container device of  claim 14 , wherein the auxiliary frangible portion extends along at least one of the longitudinal edges of the flexible pouch. 
     
     
         16 . A method for assembling a multi-compartment container device, the method comprising:
 securing a flexible pouch containing a first ingredient and having a frangible portion to a base portion of a container assembly;   securing the flexible pouch to an actuator member;   rotatably mounting the actuator member on the container assembly opposite the base portion such that the flexible pouch is disposed between the base portion and the actuator member in the container assembly; and   loading a second ingredient into the container assembly such that rotation of the actuator member causes the frangible portion to rupture and the first ingredient to mix with the second ingredient in the container assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 applying a lid member to the actuator member to inhibit escape of the second ingredient from the container assembly.