Device and method for combining at least two products

A device for combining at least two products, the device comprising:

• a container having at least one wall, the wall defining an interior of the container and an opening allowing access to the interior of the container;
• and
• a separating element movable with respect to the container from a first position, in which at least a portion of the separating element is in the interior of the container and defines in the interior of the container a first region for a first product and a second region for a second product, to a second position, in which the separating element is at least substantially removed from the interior of the container so that the regions are placed in fluid communication with one another to enable mixing of the first and second products, the separating element moving from the first position to the second position without passing through the opening wherein the separating element has a hollow interior, the hollow interior defining the second region when the separating element is in the first position.

A device for combining at least two products, the device comprising:

• a container having at least one wall, the wall defining an interior of the container and an opening allowing access to the interior of the container;
• and
• a separating element movable with respect to the container from a first position, in which at least a portion of the separating element is in the interior of the container and defines in the interior of the container a first region for a first product and a second region for a second product, to a second position, in which the separating element is at least substantially removed from the interior of the container so that the regions are placed in fluid communication with one another to permit mixing of the first and second products, the separating element moving from the first position to the second position without passing through the opening, wherein the wall of the container is in the shape of a bowl.

A device for combining at least two products, the device comprising:

• a container having at least one wall, the wall defining an interior of the container and an opening allowing access to the interior of the container;
• and
• a separating element movable with respect to the container from a first position, in which at least a portion of the separating element is in the interior of the container and defines in the interior of the container a first region for a first product and a second region for a second product, to a second position, in which the separating element is at least substantially removed from the interior of the container so that the regions are placed in fluid communication with one another to enable mixing of the first and second products, the separating element moving from the first position to the second position without passing through the opening wherein the first region contains a first product and the second region contains a second product, at least one of the first and second products including a liquid.

A device for combining at least two products, the device comprising:

• a container having at least one wall, the wall defining an interior of the container, an opening for allowing access to the interior of the container, and a passage;
• and
• a separating element movable with respect to the container from a first position, in which at least a portion of the separating element is in the interior of the container and defines in the interior of the container a first region for a first product and a second region for a second product, to a second position, in which the separating element is at least substantially removed from the interior of the container so that the regions are placed in fluid communication with one another to enable mixing of the first and second products, the separating element passing through the passage during movement of the separating element from the first position to the second position, wherein the first region substantially surrounds the second region when the separating element is in the first position.

A device for combining at least two products, the device comprising:

• a container having at least one wall, the wall defining an interior of the container and an opening allowing access to the interior of the container;
• and
• a separating element movable with respect to the container from a first position, in which at least a portion of the separating element is in the interior of the container and defines in the interior of the container a first region for a first product and a second region for a second product, to a second position, in which the separating element is at least substantially removed from the interior of the container so that the regions are placed in fluid communication with one another to enable mixing of the first and second products, the separating element moving from the first position to the second position in a direction facing away from the opening, without passing through the opening.

A device for combining at least two products, the device comprising:

• a container having at least one wall, the wall defining an interior of the container and an opening allowing access to the interior of the container;
• and
• a separating element movable with respect to the container from a first position, in which at least a portion of the separating element is in the interior of the container and defines in the interior of the container a first region for a first product and a second region for a second product, to a second position, in which the separating element is at least substantially removed from the interior of the container so that the regions are placed in fluid communication with one another to enable mixing of the first and second products, the first region substantially surrounding the second region when the separating element is in the first position, wherein the separating element moves from the first position to the second position without passing through the opening.

A device for combining at least two products, the device comprising:

• a container having at least one wall, the wall defining an interior of the container and an opening allowing access to the interior of the container;
• and
• a separating element movable with respect to the container from a first position, in which at least a portion of the separating element is in the interior of the container and defines in the interior of the container a first region for a first product and a second region for a second product, to a second position, in which the separating element is at least substantially removed from the interior of the container so that the regions are placed in fluid communication with one another to enable mixing of the first and second products, the separating element moving from the first position to the second position without passing through the opening, wherein an upper portion of one of the first and second regions is located above a lower portion of the other of the first and second regions when the separating element is in the first position.

A device for combining at least two products, the device comprising:

• a container having at least one wall, the wall defining an interior of the container, an opening for allowing access to the interior of the container, and a passage;
• and
• a separating element movable with respect to the container from a first position, in which at least a portion of the separating element is in the interior of the container and defines in the interior of the container a first region for a first product and a second region for a second product, to a second position, in which the separating element is at least substantially removed from the interior of the container so that the regions are placed in fluid communication with one another to enable mixing of the first and second products, the separating element passing through the passage and in a direction facing away from the opening during movement of the separating element from the first position to the second position.

A device for combining at least two products, the device comprising:

• a container having at least one wall, the wall defining an interior of the container, an opening for allowing access to the interior of the container, and a passage;
• and
• a separating element movable with respect to the container from a first position, in which at least a portion of the separating element is in the interior of the container and defines in the interior of the container a first region for a first product and a second region for a second product, to a second position, in which the separating element is at least substantially removed from the interior of the container so that the regions are placed in fluid communication with one another to enable mixing of the first and second products, the separating element passing through the passage during movement of the separating element from the first position to the second position, wherein the separating element has a hollow interior, the hollow interior defining the second region when the separating element is in the first position.

A device for combining at least two products, the device comprising:

• a container having at least one wall, the wall defining an interior of the container, an opening for allowing access to the interior of the container, and a passage;
• and
• a separating element movable with respect to the container from a first position, in which at least a portion of the separating element is in the interior of the container and defines in the interior of the container a first region for a first product and a second region for a second product, to a second position, in which the separating element is at least substantially removed from the interior of the container so that the regions are placed in fluid communication with one another to enable mixing of the first and second products, the separating element passing through the passage during movement of the separating element from the first position to the second position, wherein the opening is configured to allow direct access to the first and second regions when the separating element is in the first position.

A device for combining at least two products, the device comprising:

• a container having at least one wall in the shape of a bowl, the wall defining an interior of the container, an opening for allowing access to the interior of the container, and a passage;
• and
• a separating element movable with respect to the container from a first position, in which at least a portion of the separating element is in the interior of the container and defines in the interior of the container a first region for a first product and a second region for a second product, to a second position, in which the separating element is at least substantially removed from the interior of the container so that the regions are placed in fluid communication with one another to enable mixing of the first and second products, the separating element passing through the passage during movement of the separating element from the first position to the second position.

A device for combining at least two products, the device comprising:

• a container having at least one wall, the wall defining an interior of the container, an opening for allowing access to the interior of the container, and a passage;
• and
• a separating element movable with respect to the container from a first position, in which at least a portion of the separating element is in the interior of the container and defines in the interior of the container a first region for a first product and a second region for a second product, to a second position, in which the separating element is at least substantially removed from the interior of the container so that the regions are placed in fluid communication with one another to enable mixing of the first and second products, the separating element passing through the passage during movement of the separating element from the first position to the second position, wherein the first region contains a first product and the second region contains a second product, at least one of the first and second products including a liquid.

A device for combining at least two products, the device comprising:

• a container having at least one wall, the wall defining an interior of the container, an opening for allowing access to the interior of the container, and a passage;
• and
• a separating element movable with respect to the container from a first position, in which at least a portion of the separating element is in the interior of the container and defines in the interior of the container a first region for a first product and a second region for a second product, to a second position, in which the separating element is at least substantially removed from the interior of the container so that the regions are placed in fluid communication with one another to enable mixing of the first and second products, the separating element passing through the passage during movement of the separating element from the first position to the second position, wherein an upper portion of one of the first and second regions is located above a lower portion of the other of the first and second regions when the separating element is in the first position.

A device for combining at least two products, the device comprising:

• a container having at least one wall, the wall defining an interior of the container and an opening allowing access to the interior of the container;
• and
• a separating element movable with respect to the container from a first position, in which at least a portion of the separating element is in the interior of the container and defines in the interior of the container a first region for a first product and a second region for a second product, to a second position, in which the separating element is at least substantially removed from the interior of the container so that the regions are placed in fluid communication with one another to enable mixing of the first and second products, the separating element moving from the first position to the second position without passing through the opening, wherein the first region contains a first product and the second region contains a second product, and wherein the device is configured so that upon mixing of the first and second products, the first and second products are brought into contact with one another without any translational movement of one product with respect to the other product.