Container

Abstract

A container including a storage chamber within which is located at least one concentrated product housed; a mixing chamber coupled to the storage chamber; and a closure element, wherein the storage chamber is isolated from the mixing chamber; the mixing chamber is defined by a body having a longitudinal length defined between opposed ends and along at least a portion of the length of the mixing chamber, the body defines circular bellows, such that the mixing chamber has a collapsed configuration when the ends of the body are urged together and an expanded configuration when the ends of the body are urged apart, the bellows further including a latching arrangement which acts to latch the bellows in their collapsed configuration and/or their expanded configuration; and wherein a first end of the mixing chamber is open and is selectively closable via the closure element.

1 . A container including a storage chamber for storing at least one concentrated product; a mixing chamber coupled to the storage chamber; and a closure element, wherein the storage chamber is isolated from the mixing chamber; the mixing chamber is defined by a body having a longitudinal length defined between opposed first and second ends and along at least a portion of the length of the mixing chamber, the body defines circular bellows, such that the mixing chamber has a collapsed configuration when the first and second ends of the body are urged together and an expanded configuration when the first and second ends of the body are urged apart, the bellows further including a latching arrangement which acts to latch the bellows in at least one of the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration; wherein the first end of the mixing chamber body is open and is selectively closable via the closure element; wherein the closure element defines a well which is configured to receive a housing which contains the concentrated product. 
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the well is defined by a well body and the well body forms an integral part of the closure element or is a detachable component of the closure element. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure element includes an internally facing surface and an externally facing surface and the well is open at the externally facing surface. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure element includes an internally facing surface and an externally facing surface and the well is open at the internally facing surface. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage chamber is defined by a storage chamber body, and the storage chamber body is detachably coupled to the mixing chamber via a screw coupling or a snap fit coupling. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 5 , wherein the storage chamber body is detachably coupled to the second end of the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein the second end of the mixing chamber is closed. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure element is threadedly coupled to the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the circular bellows are defined by a series of bellows wall sections, wherein each bellows wall section includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion, the first and second wall portions are conical sections which are angled relative to each other, the first and second wall portions extend outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the mixing chamber and together define a V-shape, the connection between the first and second wall portions forms an outer return portion, and adjacent bellows wall sections are connected via inner return portions. 
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 10 , wherein the latching arrangement is formed by the second wall portion being shorter that the first wall portion in each of the bellows wall sections, whereby each inner return portion forms and over-center arrangement in the collapsed configuration.