Single-dose double-cup package and method

A flexible package for storing and dispensing the components of a polymerizable system, said package comprising:

• a first receptacle having an open end, a polymerizable material and a polymerization actuator disposed within said receptacle;
• a second receptacle having an open end, corresponding polymerizable material and a polymerization catalyst disposed within said receptacle;
• a flexible bridge connecting the first and second receptacles, said bridge having a generally transversely disposed slotted aperture;
• a flexible closure superposed on the first and second receptacles and connecting bridge;
• and
• means for sealingly engaging and reversibly disengaging the closure with and from the first and second open ends.

A package for containing and isolating the two portions of a binary admixture, comprising:

• first and second molded thermoplastic cups each having an open mouth determined by a generally circular, convexly arcuate rim having a proximal portion and a distal portion, each rim circumscribed by a generally annular molded groove disposed between the rim distal portion and a generally planar thermoplastic package peripheral portion;
• a flexible bridge connecting the first and second cups, said bridge having a generally transversely disposed slotted aperture, said aperture having an inwardly tapering central portion symmetrically disposed between first and second outwardly tapering outer portions, said aperture proximate along said central portion to each rim proximal portion;
• and
• a thermoplastic flexible, generally planar closure having a transversely disposed, molded central projection adapted to be closely received within said aperture, said central projection disposed between first and second generally annular molded projections each adapted to be closely received within one of said grooves, thereby forming an air-tight seal.

A method for containing and storing in mutual isolation a base portion admixture and a catalyst portion admixture of a dispensable dental paste material, comprising the steps of:

• thermoforming in a first flexible thermoplastic sheet, a generally rectangular dual-compartment package comprising generally proximate first and second cups separated by a flexible bridge having a slotted aperture, each cup circumscribed by a generally annular groove;
• thermoforming in a second flexible thermoplastic sheet, a generally rectangular, generally planar closure comprising a central, transversely disposed, downwardly tapering projection adapted to be closely received within said aperture, and first and second generally annular, downwardly tapering projections each adapted to be closely received within one of said grooves;
• putting a predetermined amount of the base portion admixture into one cup, and a predetermined amount of the catalyst portion admixture into the other cup;
• and
• superposing the closure over the cups and bridge and applying a pressure so that said central projection is closely received within said aperture, and each said annular projection is closely received within one of said grooves, thereby forming two air-tight seals.

A method for containing and storing in mutual isolation a base portion admixture and a catalyst portion admixture of a dispensable dental paste material, comprising the steps of:

• thermoforming in a first flexible thermoplastic sheet, a generally rectangular dual-compartment package comprising generally proximate first and second cups separated by a flexible bridge having a slotted aperture, each cup bounded by a generally circular rim, each rim having depending therefrom a generally circumferential wall canted downwardly outward, each wall terminating at a circumferential recessed lip;
• thermoforming in a second flexible thermoplastic sheet, a generally rectangular, generally planar closure comprising a transversely disposed central projection adapted to be closely received within said aperture, said central projection disposed between generally annular, concavely arcuate first and second projections, each projection having an outwardly flared rim terminating in a beveled edge;
• putting a predetermined amount of the base portion admixture into one cup, and a predetermined amount of the catalyst portion admixture into the other cup;
• and
• superposing the closure over the cups and bridge and applying a pressure so that said central projection is received within said aperture, and each said annular projection is closely received within one of said cup rims so that said flared projection rim contacts said circumferential wall and said beveled edge contacts said lip, thereby forming two air-tight seals.