U.S. patent application number 10/164150 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-19 for dispensing container.
This patent application is currently assigned to Taisei Kako Co., Ltd. Invention is credited to Hamamoto, Keiji.
Application Number | 20020190079 10/164150 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26616974 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020190079 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hamamoto, Keiji |
December 19, 2002 |
Dispensing container
Abstract
A dispensing container comprises a delaminating bottle (2) as a
member for shutting off a liquid content from ambient air so that,
without aid of any preservatives, a liquid residue is protected
from contamination at a region adjacent to an outlet hole (3a). The
container has a flexible nozzle (31) and a rod-shaped closer (32),
both disposed in the mouth of bottle (2). The nozzle (31) is made
of a pliable and elastic material, with the closer (32) being
shaped to close a distal end region of the outlet hole (3a). By
squeezing the barrel of bottle to increase its internal pressure,
the flexible nozzle (31) expands to make a deformation, which in
turn causes the outlet hole (3a) to take an outward open
position.
Inventors: |
Hamamoto, Keiji;
(Toyono-gun, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOOD, PHILLIPS, KATZ, CLARK & MORTIMER
500 W. MADISON STREET
SUITE 3800
CHICAGO
IL
60661
US
|
Assignee: |
Taisei Kako Co., Ltd
|
Family ID: |
26616974 |
Appl. No.: |
10/164150 |
Filed: |
June 6, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/105 ;
222/481.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 9/0008 20130101;
B65D 47/18 20130101; B65D 1/0215 20130101; B65D 47/2081
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/105 ;
222/481.5 |
International
Class: |
B65D 035/56 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 15, 2001 |
JP |
181404/2001 |
Feb 28, 2002 |
JP |
52839/2002 |
Claims
1. A dispensing container comprising a bottle, an interior bag of
the bottle and a plug assembly, the bottle comprising a barrel and
a mouth, the bag being containable a liquid content, the bag being
placed in the barrel of the bottle, the bag having an outlet
opening for dispensing the liquid content, the plug assembly being
disposed in the mouth of said bottle, the outlet opening being
connected to the mouth of said bottle, the bottle having at least
one vent for intake of ambient air in between the bottle and the
bag, the plug assembly comprising a nozzle having an outlet hole
for dispensing the liquid content out of the bottle, and a closer
capable of closing the outlet hole, the closer being fixed in the
mouth of the bottle, and the nozzle being capable of elastic
deformation away from a normal position such that the outlet hole
is displaced outwards relative to the closer in response to a
pressure raised in the bag and disengage from the closer.
2. A dispensing container as defined in claim 1, wherein the closer
is a rod-shaped member inserted in and closing the outlet hole, and
the nozzle has an inner surface always in communication with an
interior of the interior bag such that a negative pressure arising
therein will force the flexible nozzle backwards toward the normal
position.
3. A dispensing container as defined in claim 1, wherein the plug
assembly further comprises a sleeve made integral with the closer,
the nozzle is formed of a pliable and elastic material such as a
rubber, the nozzle has a cylindrical base fitted in the mouth of
the bottle, and the sleeve is placed inside the base so as to press
the base all around to an inner periphery of the mouth to thereby
ensure an airtight and liquid-tight connection thereof with the
nozzle.
4. A dispensing container as defined in claim 1, wherein the plug
assembly further comprises a sleeve made integral with the closer
and fitted in the mouth of the bottle, the nozzle formed of a
pliable and elastic material such as a rubber has a cylindrical
base, and the base surrounds the closer and is in an airtight and
liquid-tight contact with the sleeve.
5. A dispensing container as defined in claim 1, further comprising
a cap detachably mounted on the mouth of the bottle and having an
inner periphery adjacent to top of the cap, wherein the periphery
is substantially in conformity with upper end regions which the
nozzle and the closer define in state what the cap is mounted on
the mouth and the cap in the mounted state does closely contact end
faces of the upper end regions.
6. A dispensing container as defined in claim 1, wherein the barrel
of the bottle is capable of elastic deformation to reduce its
internal volume and to thereby compress the interior bag and
elastically deform the nozzle, whereby the nozzle outlet hole thus
opened will permit the liquid content to exude out therethrough,
and when the barrel returns to its un-deformed normal position
causing the nozzle towards its normal closed position, the vents
allow ambient air to flow in between the exterior bottle and the
interior bag.
7. A dispensing container as defined in claim 1, wherein an open
end of the outlet opening is closely connected all around to an
open end of the mouth of the bottle.
8. A dispensing container as defined in claim 1, wherein the outlet
opening is adhered all around to an inner periphery of the mouth to
thereby inhibit deformation of the adhered portion of the interior
bag.
9. A dispensing container as defined in claim 1, wherein the at
least one vent is disposed in the mouth of the bottle.
10. A dispensing container as defined in claim 1, further
comprising a check valve that allows inflow of the ambient air into
a clearance between the exterior bottle and the interior bag, but
prevents outflow of the ambient air having entered the
clearance.
11. A dispensing container as defined in claim 1, wherein the
closer is fixed in place relative to the mouth of the bottle.
12. A dispensing container as defined in claim 1, wherein the
nozzle comprises a cylindrical base fitted in the mouth, a nozzle
portion having a bore as the outlet hole, and an elastically
deformable intermediate portion provided between the nozzle portion
and the base in a connected row arrangement such that elastic
deformation of the intermediate portion displaces the outlet hole
outwardly of the container.
13. A dispensing container as defined in claim 12, wherein the
elastically deformable intermediate portion is bellows-shaped.
14. A dispensing container as defined in claim 12, wherein the
elastically deforming intermediate portion is dome-shaped.
15. A dispensing container as defined in claim 1, wherein the
nozzle comprises a cylindrical base and an arc-shaped elastically
deformable portion connected to an upper end of the base, the base
being a double cylinder comprising a first cylindrical section and
a second cylindrical section smaller than the first cylindrical
section in diameter.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a dispensing container
adapted for packaging eye drops in aseptic condition, packaging
some cosmetic liquids free of any preservatives, bactericides,
antiseptics or the like pasteurizing agents, or packaging any other
similar liquid products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are known some types of plug assemblies to be attached
to the mouths of containers filled with any liquids. The known plug
assemblies comprise each a dispensing valve that will remain closed
so long as the internal pressure in the container is balanced with
atmospheric pressure. Examples of such plug assemblies are
disclosed in some Japanese Patent Laying-Open Gazettes No.
8-282704, No. 8-282703, or in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,236, No.
5,339,995 and No. 5,439,143.
[0003] Such conventional plug assemblies may preferably be used in
certain dispensing containers for eye drops, liquid detergents or
foods. Contents of these containers will surely be protected from
leakage and allowed to smoothly exude when necessary.
[0004] Internal pressure will decrease as the content is discharged
through the plug assembly, and will become lower than atmospheric
pressure after every dosage. A dispensing valve incorporated in
said plug assembly will thus open inwards to suck an amount of
ambient air to cancel such a negative pressure. Since a variety of
pathogenic microbes such as true fungi and viruses are present in
the ambient air, certain preservatives have been added to those
liquid contents so as to assure safe usage thereof.
[0005] However, as widely known in the art, preservatives have
produced harmful side effects. It has been reported that eye drops
with preservatives would cause inflammation or the like damage of
the eyes, if used repeatedly. Contact lens-wearers sometimes suffer
from allergic reactions even against some kinds of preservatives of
a considerably low concentration. Hair detergents also contain such
a preservative as causing inflammation of head skin and/or loss of
hair. Further, many of recent consumers have in general a dislike
to addition of preservatives to any products whatever.
[0006] Therefore, certain proposals were made to selectively remove
only preservatives and other additives of no medical effects, from
a liquid con-tent flowing out of a bottle. According to one of
those proposals, a filter for removing preservatives is disposed in
a flow channel formed through an eyedropper, as disclosed in the
Japanese Laying-Open Gazette No. 4-297264 or No. 6-14972. Such a
known eyedropper will however fail to diminish concentration of
preservatives in every dosage of eyedrops, if the preservatives are
contained so rich in a fluid content as to enhance sterilization
effect. Those known eyedroppers are designed to permit in-flow of
ambient air contaminated with microbes, presuming the preservatives
at a considerable concentration thereof to be sufficiently
disinfectant. In such a case, concentration of the preservatives
cannot necessarily be reduced well to avoid any residual amount of
them from remaining in the drops of eyewash having flown through
the filter.
[0007] Utility Model Laying-Open Gazette No. 63-184037 discloses a
hydrophilic filter membrane disposed in a discharging channel. This
membrane permits through-flow of eye drops liquid from a container
body but pre-vents inward permeation of bacteria and air. A distal
end portion of the container body is of a depressed tubular or
otherwise foldable shape so that effective volume of said body will
reduce in response to decreased quantity of the eyewash remaining
therein. In the eyedropper of this type, ambient air is shut out in
order to prevent bacteria from entry to the container during use
thereof. Concentration of preservatives can thus be rendered as low
as possible in the fluid medicine. However, the container body is
of such a single-layer structure as enabling its plastic
deformation. It is difficult for any known plastic materials to
form this container body, and therefore a certain proper aluminum
tube must be used to make it, failing to afford transparency of the
container. Such a depressed container cannot stand itself and will
not be convenient for succeeding uses thereof.
[0008] Japanese Patent Laying-Open Gazettes No. 9-175566 and No.
10-165222 disclose a dispensing container that comprises a
delaminating bottle having a mouth to which a plug assembly is
attached. This bottle is composed of an outer cylindrical layer and
an inner layer laminated thereon to be capable of reversibly
peeling from the outer layer. The interior of inner layer will
function as a reservoir for a liquid content, and the outer layer
has an vent formed therein to suck ambient air. A channel or
passage is formed through the plug assembly for exuding a liquid
content stored in the reservoir. A check valve disposed in the flow
passage will inhibit back-flow of the content accompanied by
ambient air into the reservoir. But, the ambient air is sucked
sideways through the vent to flow in between the layers, with the
inner layer consequently shrinking as the liquid content is
gradually forced out and dispensed. A major portion of a liquid
content staying in the reservoir will be kept unspoiled with
bacteria or the like, without aid of any amount of preservatives.
However, a small quantity of liquid content will inevitably remain
between the check valve and a dispensing outermost opening. Such a
residual amount of liquid content will be contaminated with true
fungi and/or viruses, in the course of time and before the next
use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] An object of the present invention made in view of the
drawbacks inherent in the prior art structures is therefore to
provide an improved dispensing container that comprises a
delaminating bottle having a mouth to which a plug assembly is
attached. The plug assembly in the present invention has to
comprise a valvular nozzle mechanism that has an outlet opening
formed therein to afford a sealing interruption between ambient air
and a liquid content stored in the delaminating bottle, during
non-operation thereof Residual quantity of a liquid content
remaining downstream of the outlet opening after every use of this
container should be diminished herein to avoid the dispensing of a
fresh dose contaminated with polluted residue.
[0010] A dispensing container of the present invention comprises a
bottle, an interior bag of the bottle and a plug assembly. The
bottle may comprise a barrel and a mouth. The bag may be
containable a liquid content. The bag may be placed in the barrel
of the bottle. The plug assembly may be disposed in the mouth of
said bottle. The outlet opening may be connected to the mouth of
said bottle. Preferably, an open end of the outlet opening may be
closely connected all around to an open end of the mouth of the
bottle. The interior bag is capable of deflating as its liquid
content decreases in volume. The outlet opening may be adhered all
around to an inner periphery of the mouth to thereby inhibit
deformation of the adhered portion of the interior bag.
[0011] The bottle may have at least one vent for intake of ambient
air in between the bottle and the interior bag. A plurality of such
vents may either be formed in place of the mouth. The vent may be
formed in a sidewall of the barrel or a bottom of the bottle. A
check valve may be disposed in each of vents. Alternatively, check
valves may not be built in said vents to render same normally open,
thereby causing users to close those vents with their fingers when
using this container.
[0012] The plug assembly may comprise a flexible nozzle having an
outlet hole for dispensing the liquid content out of the bottle,
and a closer capable of closing the outlet hole. The closer may be
fixed in the mouth of the bottle, and the nozzle may be capable of
elastic deformation away from a normal position such that the
outlet hole is displaced outwards relative to the closer in
response to a pressure raised in the bag and disengage from the
closer.
[0013] In operation, the users may let the flexible nozzle face
downwards and depress the exterior bottle to directly compress the
interior bag filled with a liquid content, or otherwise compress
the air intervening between said bottle and the bag that has then
shrunk itself more or less. The internal pressure thus raised in
the interior bag will cause the flexible nozzle to elastically
deform itself so that its outlet hole moves outwards relative to
the closer until disengagement therefrom. As a result, the outlet
hole of the nozzle in liquid communication with the interior bag
will open to dispense the liquid content out of this bag. Once the
user ceases to depress the exterior bottle, it will instantly start
to restore its normal shape due to elasticity. Thus, the vents will
allow an amount of ambient air to enter a cavity between the bag
and bottle, with the flexible nozzle simultaneously moving towards
its normal position so that its outlet hole consequently creeps
back inwards to be tightly closed again with the closer. It will
now be apparent that the interior bag shrinks gradually and more or
less whenever the user dispenses its liquid content to any desired
target objects. Also importantly, the flexible nozzle cooperates at
the same time with the closer to function like a check valve, lest
any amount of ambient air should flow into the interior bag. Any
preservatives need no longer be added to the liquid content stored
in this interior bag. The vents permit introduction of a neat
amount of ambient air into the annular cavity between the interior
bag and the exterior bottle, normally keeping air pressure at
atmospheric level around said bag. Thanks to this feature, the
exterior bottle temporarily depressed for dispensation of liquid
content will readily and smoothly regain its natural form, and this
form will be maintained until complete exhaustion of said liquid
content.
[0014] In the dispensing container of the invention, the closer may
be a generally rod-shaped valve body, viz., `needle` (as in usual
needle valves) of a `given length` inserted in the outlet hole so
as to normally close it. The inner peripheral surface of the
flexible nozzle is designed to temporarily produce a negative
pressure in interior bag. Such a negative pressure appearing in
this bag will act on the nozzle to be retracted inwardly towards
the container's bottom. An inner region of interface present
between the nozzle inner surface and the needle periphery stands
always in fluid communication with the interior of the bag.
Air-tightness and liquid-tightness are never broken between the
nozzle and the closer, even if the nozzle's outlet hole closed with
the needle (as the closer) might occasionally be displaced along it
within a certain range. Thus, neither any inadvertent inflow of
ambient air into, nor any inadvertent effluence of liquid content
out of, the interior bag is likely to take place. The flexible
nozzle moving, after one dispensing operation, towards its normal
position to retract its outlet hole may possibly encounter a
frictional resistance or the like caused by the needle or any other
happening. Even in such an event, the flexible nozzle having the
smooth inner periphery will be retained at an inner position where
its outlet hole remains closed with the needle (i.e., rod-shaped
valve body), by virtue of a negative pressure produced in the
interior bag. This motion will be effected in unison with the
inflow of ambient air through the vents. Internal pressure of the
bag may unintentionally rise within a considerable range due to
raised temperatures or due to vibration or shock when carrying the
container. Such an inadvertently raised internal pressure will
however be cancelled by the flexible nozzle's outward displacement
relative to the needle but not beyond the `given length` thereof
(noted hereinbefore). Thus, the outlet hole remains closed not to
cause any undesirable discharge of liquid content during storage or
handling of the container.
[0015] The flexible nozzle may be made of any pliable and elastic
material such as rubbers. It is not necessary for the nozzle to be
flexible in its entirety, but it may have an elastically deforming
thinned portion. Consequently, a thicker base of the flexible
nozzle may be formed as a cylindrical part fitting in the exterior
bottle's mouth. A sleeve may be disposed in such a base within the
bottle mouth so that this portion is strongly and firmly gripped by
and between the sleeve and the mouth inner periphery. Air-tightness
and liquid-tightness all around the base of flexible nozzle are
thus enhanced. Typically, the closer formed as the rod-shaped valve
body (viz., needle) may be formed integral with such a sleeve. In
this case, simple installment of the sleeve suffices well to fix
both the cooperating flexible nozzle and closer in place, thus
simplifying structure and reducing the number of component parts is
carried out.
[0016] The plug assembly may comprise a sleeve made integral with
the closer and fitted in the mouth of the bottle, the nozzle formed
of a pliable and elastic material such as a rubber has a
cylindrical base, and the base surrounds the closer and is in an
airtight and liquid-tight contact with the sleeve. In this case,
further simplifying structure and simplification of assembly
process is carried out.
[0017] Additionally, a cap may be employed in combination with the
already discussed parts of the dispensing container. The cap
detachably mounted on the mouth of exterior bottle will cover an
exterior surface of the flexible nozzle. The cap may have an inner
periphery adjacent to top of the cap, wherein the periphery is
substantially in conformity with upper end regions which the nozzle
and the closer define in state what the cap is mounted on the mouth
and the cap in the mounted state does closely contact end faces of
the upper end regions. After every use of this dispensing
container, the cap will be attached thereto so as to press inwards
the outwards-facing end of an opening defining the outlet hole in
said flexible nozzle. Any residual amount of liquid content
remaining on such an outlet hole end will thus be forced off this
hole, so as not give rise to the problem of contamination of said
residual liquid. Preferably and typically, the flexible nozzle has
a (bill-shaped) cylindrical nozzle portion protruding outwards and
longitudinally of the container, with a bore of this cylindrical
portion serving as the outlet hole. Also in this case, the cap has
an upper portion whose inner periphery coincides with and closely
contacts all around the bill-shaped nozzle portion. Any residual
amount of liquid content adhering to outlet hole will be pushed
down away from this hole's end towards a lower end of the
bill-shaped portion. Preferably, the end of nozzle's outlet hole
may be formed in flush with the upper end of closer, and the cap
has at its top an inner surface in a plane contact with both the
outlet hole's end and the closer's upper end. In this case, a
residual amount of liquid content adhering to outlet hole can more
surely be forced off the opening end of said outlet hole.
[0018] Also preferably, the barrel of exterior bottle is capable of
elastic deformation to reversible reduce its volume. Compression of
the interior bag will be caused by such an exterior bottle to exude
the liquid content through the flexible nozzle outlet hole at its
elastically deformed position. When the barrel subsequently regains
its normal shape, the flexible nozzle returns to its normal
position and the ambient air sucked through the vents flows in
between the bottle and bag.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1(a) is a plan view of a dispensing container provided
in a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 1(b) is a cross section taken along the line A-A in
FIG. 1(a);
[0021] FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along the line B-B in FIG.
1(a);
[0022] FIG. 3(a) is a plan view of a dispensing container provided
in a second embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 3(b) is a cross section taken along the line C-C in
FIG. 3(a);
[0024] FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along the line D-D in FIG.
3(a);
[0025] FIG. 5(a) is a plan view of a dispensing container provided
in a third embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 5(b) is a cross section taken along the line E-E in
FIG. 5(a);
[0027] FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along the line F-F in FIG.
5(a); and
[0028] FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary and vertical cross
section of a dispensing container provided in a fourth
embodiment.
THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] The dispensing container of the present invention may be
manufactured by previously forming an exterior bottle and an
interior bag, and then fixing the latter in the former. However, it
is more preferable that the present container is composed mainly of
a delaminating bottle whose inner layer as the interior bag is
laminated on an outer layer serving as the exterior bottle.
[0030] Also preferably installed in each of vents is a check valve
that will permit inflow of ambient air into a clearance between the
exterior bottle and interior bag. The check valve inhibits outflow
of the ambient air having entered the clearance. Thanks to such a
check valve, the ambient air in this clearance or gap will be
compressed by squeezing the exterior bottle, to thereby raise air
pressure therein. As a result, an amount of liquid content
corresponding to the degree of compression of interior bag will
flow out through a discharging channel or passage. If no check
valves are used, then a user of this container need to close the
vents when he or she squeezes the exterior bottle.
[0031] The laminated delaminating bottle may be molded to have a
mouth and a barrel continuing thereto. Any proper method such as
the injection-blow molding, the direct blow molding or the
injection molding method can be employed for this purpose. An inner
layer preform and an outer layer preform may be produced previously
and discretely so that the former is inserted in the latter to
prepare a laminated parison. In this case, the parison will be
subjected to the blow molding process to give a container of any
desired shape. The resulting container will be of a laminated
structure such that both the inner and outer layers extend from top
to bottom of said container. A laminated mouth will thus continue
from a similarly laminated barrel. In an alternative mode, a
previously molded film-like interior bag is placed in a raw
exterior bottle having the mouth and barrel, before subjected to a
similar finishing process.
[0032] The mouth is rendered higher in rigidity, by thickening both
the exterior bottle and interior bag at this region. On the other
hand in the barrel portion, the exterior bottle (viz., outer layer)
should be made capable of squeezing and elastic recovery. The
interior bag (viz., inner layer) has to readily shrink, like usual
films, following decrease in volume of the liquid content. Each of
exterior bottle and interior bag may either be of a single-layer or
of a multi-layer structure.
[0033] The interior bag can be formed of any plastics such as a
polyethylene (PE), a polypropylene (PP) or any other polyolefin.
The exterior bottle can be molded using the other type of plastics
such as saturated polyesters including a polyethylene terephthalate
(PET) and a polyethylene naphthalate (PEN). In case of using the
container as an eyedropper, it is compulsory that a proper raw
material is selected to forming each of these exterior bottle and
interior bag to render the container transparent and non-permeable
to water. Because the interior bag directly contacts pharmaceutical
contents, it must be made from a certain plastics (for example a
PE) highly resistant to chemicals. In contrast, higher transparency
and lower water permeation are properties desirable for the
plastics as the material (e.g., a PET or a soft glass) of exterior
bottle.
[0034] The vents may be formed either in the mouth, in the barrel
or in a bottom portion of the exterior bottle. The check valve
preferably disposed in each vent can be of any proper structure.
For example, the exterior bottle may have in each vent a
plug-shaped valve. Alternatively, the interior bag portions facing
the vents may serve themselves as check valves for temporarily
closing same from inside. A negative pressure produced in between
the exterior bottle and interior bag will push such bag portions
inwardly to open those vents. It is preferable that those portions
of interior bag return to normal position to tightly close said
vents again. Alternatively, the vents may be formed in the bottle
mouth and reversibly closed with corresponding areas of a thickened
mouth portion (viz., outlet opening) of interior bag. Shrinkage of
the bag's barrel region in response to progressive decrease in
volume of the liquid content will not be hindered in this case,
too.
[0035] In still another fashion employable herein, such check
valves are dispensed with by rendering the diameter of each vent in
the exterior bottle much smaller than that of a discharging channel
formed through the interior bag. In this case, the exterior bottle
can be squeezed to compress the air intervening between it and the
interior bag, thereby depressing the latter to batch-wise exude
(and drop) the liquid content through its discharging channel. In
detail, each vent is made as a small orifice having a diameter for
instance of about 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. A compression rate of squeezing
the exterior bottle in this case is rendered higher than an
exhaustion rate at which the intervening air will be forced out
through the vents. Therefore, said intervening air is compressed to
centripetally depress the interior bag to shrink and thereby
discharge the liquid content through the channel formed in the plug
assembly. Effective cross-sectional area of this discharging
channel is made so larger than those of vents that the flow
resistance against the liquid content being exuded is much lower
than that which will be imparted to the air being exhausted.
[0036] The invention can be practiced to provide not only the
eyedropper or the like pharmaceutical dispenser, but also and
alternatively a cosmetics container, a detergent container, or any
other appropriate one. As already discussed above, the container
may substantially consist of a delaminating bottle composed of an
exterior bottle and an interior bag. A flexible nozzle is fixed in
the mouth of such a delaminating bottle, and further a cap may
detachably be attached to the mouth so as to cover the nozzle and
closely contact the opening end of an outlet hole formed in and
through said nozzle.
[0037] The flexible nozzle may either be constructed as an integral
one-piece or be composed of two or more parts combined with each
other. The nozzle may be fitted in or on the bottle mouth, wherein
a small-diameter cylindrical portion is formed as one principal
part of this nozzle. Such a nozzle portion protrudes upwards, with
the bore thereof serving as a discharging channel. Desirably, the
flexible nozzle may have a cylindrical base fitted in the bottle
mouth, in addition to the upwardly protruding small-diameter
portion and an intermediate portion continuing from those two
former portions and functioning as an elastic deformation region.
The outlet hole is subject to inward and outward displacement as a
result of axial movement of the intermediate portion. This
intermediate portion can be bellows-shaped, dome-shaped or be of
any other proper shape.
[0038] Now, the best modes of carrying out the present invention
will be described referring to the drawings.
[0039] FIGS. 1(a), 1(b) and 2 show an eyedropper 1 as the
dispensing container provided in a first embodiment. One of
principal parts of this eyedropper 1 is a laminated bottle 2
capable of exfoliation and comprising a mouth 2a and a barrel 2b. A
plug assembly 3 having an outlet hole 3a formed therethrough is
secured to the mouth 2a, together with a cap 40. The outlet hole 3a
normally remains closed, but can be opened if a user removes the
cap 40 and then puts the container 1 upside down to subsequently
squeeze the barrel 2b. When the user operates the container in this
way, eye drops (viz., drops of a liquid content) retained in the
bottle 2 will be dispensed (in a dripping manner) through the
outlet hole 3a of plug assembly 3. Once he or she stops depressing
the barrel 2b, this hole 3a will be closed again.
[0040] The delaminating bottle 2 consists of an exterior bottle 21
as the outer layer and an interior bag 22 as the inner layer
laminated on the former layer. Since the main part of dispensing
container in this embodiment is such a laminated bottle, the
exterior bottle (or bottle body) will hereinafter be simply
referred to as an `outer layer`, with the interior bag being
referred to as an `inner layer`. However, it will be understood
that any other containers whose bottle body and interior bag are
not laminated one on another but merely adjoined to each other are
also included in the scope of present invention.
[0041] Both the outer and inner layers 21 and 22 have their
cylindrical mouth portions 21 a and 22a in addition to their barrel
portions 21b and 22b elliptic in transverse cross section. In other
words, the mouth 2a consists of these mouth portions 21a and 22a,
with the barrel 2b consisting of these barrel portions 21b and 22b.
The outer layer 21 is made of a relatively harder plastics such as
a PET or an EVOH, whilst the inner layer 22 is made of a typically
softer plastics (for example a polyolefin such as PE) ready to be
delaminated from the outer layer. The outer layer barrel portion
21b is capable of elastic squeezing when depressed in the direction
of its minor axis, with the inner layer mouth portion 22a defining
an outlet opening in the interior bag.
[0042] The upper end of the inner layer mouth portion 22a is firmly
secured to that of the outer layer mouth portion 21a. Inner
periphery of the latter portion 21a may be knurled in axial
direction to have longitudinal grooves and ridges at angular
intervals. In this case, the inner layer mouth portion 22a is
protected from any inadvertent rotation relative to the outer layer
mouth portion 21a.
[0043] For introduction of ambient air into a clearance or gap
between the outer and inner layer barrel portions 21b and 22b, at
least one vent(s) 4 is(are) formed in the outer layer mouth portion
21a. Two such vents in the present embodiment face one another in
diametrical direction. Each vent 4 penetrates only the outer layer
21 transversely, not to injure the inner layer 22. Formed on and
around the outer periphery of outer layer mouth portion 21a is a
screw thread 21c.
[0044] The inner layer barrel portion 22b is a film-like part and
is therefore ready to shrink as the volume of liquid content
decreases during use of this container. The mouth portion 22a of
inner layer made noticeably thicker than its barrel portion 22b can
restore its really cylindrical configuration at every cycle of
operation of this container. Although the inner layer barrel
portion 22b may not be seen clearly in the drawings due to its
extreme small thickness, the inner periphery of outer barrel
portion 21b is laminated on and fully covered with such a thin
inner barrel portion.
[0045] The inner mouth portion 22a is normally at its position to
close from inside the vents 4 in outer mouth portion 21a. Thus, the
inner portion 22a works as closing members for the respective vents
4 in one of its states. However, said inner portion will serve on
the other hand as a check valve, because atmospheric pressure urges
it to open those intakes when a negative pressure arises in between
the barrel portions 21b and 22b.
[0046] Though not shown in the drawings, the inner layer's 22
bottom may have at its center a latching member formed integral
therewith. This member is firmly engaged with the bottom center of
outer layer 21 to thereby protect the inner layer from curling
upwards.
[0047] The plug assembly 3 comprises a generally cylindrical
flexible nozzle 31 having the outlet hole 3a to be closed with a
rod-shaped valve body (as a closer) 32. A cylindrical sleeve 33
possessed by the plug assembly 3 functions to secure both the
nozzle 31 and valve body 32 to the bottle mouth. Connection ribs 34
are formed integral with both the sleeve 33 and valve body 32.
These three parts 32, 33 and 34 constitute a one-piece integral
body made of a suitable plastics. The short rod-shaped closer 32
extending coaxially with the bottle mouth 2a is disposed out of the
opened end of this mouth.
[0048] The flexible nozzle 31 has a cylindrical base 31a fitted in
the bottle mouth 2a, and a flange 31b in contact with the upper end
of mouth 2a. The nozzle further has a bellows-shaped intermediate
portion 31c and a nozzle portion 31d continuing therefrom
longitudinally and outwardly of the bottle. The bellows-shaped
portion 31c ready to elastic deformation does continue from the
base 31a longitudinally in outward (`upward` in the drawings)
direction of the bottle. Such a nozzle 31 is a one-piece made of a
flexible material such as a silicone rubber. The flexible nozzle 31
has an axis in parallel with the axis of bottle mouth 2a, and in
the illustrated example, the nozzle portion 31d lies coaxial with
said mouth 2a. The outlet hole 3a mentioned above is a bore of
nozzle portion 31d, and receives the rod-shaped valve body (as the
closer) 32 inserted in this hole to serve as a closing member. So
long as the outlet hole 3a remains closed, its open end stands in
flush with the upper end of valve body 32. Due to this feature, an
overall outer and upper configuration of the flexible nozzle 31 and
valve body 32 closing it and retained therein does coincide with
and closely contact the inner and upper periphery of the cap 40.
The sleeve 33 disposed inside and all around the flexible nozzle's
base 31a presses it outwards in a centrifugal direction to the
inner periphery of bottle mouth 2a, whereby air-tightness and
liquid-tightness are ensured between the base 31a and bottle mouth
2a firmly adjoined thereto.
[0049] The elastically deforming intermediate zone 31c of flexible
nozzle 31 is made considerably thinner than all of the remaining
portions thereof, that is the base 31a, flange 31b and nozzle
portion 31d. Such a thinned and bellows-shaped zone 31c is prone to
make an elastic elongation in axial direction. This motion will
bring about outward displacement of the outlet hole 3a a distance
enough to disengage from the rod-shaped valve body or closer 32.
With the intermediate zone 31c simultaneously moving in axial
direction towards its inner home position, the outlet hole 3a will
restore its inner normal position so as to be closed again with the
closer 32.
[0050] Such an elastic deformation and displacement of the portions
of flexible nozzle 31 occurs as the internal pressure of the inner
layer 22 rises by operation of this container. In detail, the inner
layer's pressure raised above atmospheric pressure will act on a
pressure-receiving area 5. This area facing downwards and formed as
an upper and inner peripheral area of the elastically deforming
intermediate portion 31c will consequently force the nozzle portion
31d outwards away from the barrel. A negative pressure produced in
the inner layer 22 during introduction of ambient air through the
intakes 4 will pull back the pressure-receiving area 5, returning
the nozzle portion 31d to its inner (lower) position, thus letting
the flexible nozzle 31 as a whole recover its normal configuration.
As will now be apparent, the pressure-receiving area 5 is always in
a fluid communication with the interior of inner layer 22 and thus
exposed to the internal pressure thereof, whether the outlet hole
3a is opened or closed. Elastic forward deformation of flexible
nozzle 31 will thus move the outlet hole 3a outwardly along the
rod-shaped closer 32 towards or beyond a distal end thereof, when
this hole is opened. Reverse deformation of said nozzle will
likewise displace the outlet hole 3a but towards a proximal end of
said closer, when this hole is closed.
[0051] The cap 40 is releasably screwed on the outer periphery of
the outer layer mouth portion 21a. During non-use of this container
1, the cap will continue to seal the outer periphery of flexible
nozzle 31 in order to protect it from dusts and bacteria. Inner
shape of the cap 40 is analogous with the outer contour of nozzle
31 in its non-deformed state. The inner top surface of this cap
lies in a plane including both the distal ends of nozzle portion
31d and rod-shaped closer 32. This means that, after use of the
container, the cap 40 will and can be put on it to drive backwards
the nozzle portion 31d along the closer until the outlet hole 3a is
perfectly closed with the closer 32. The cap 40 tightly mounted in
this manner will force a backward motion of nozzle portion 31d,
effectively repelling any residual amount of liquid content around
the forward end of outlet hole 3a. Any noticeable amount of residue
of eye drops will not be left around and outside the outlet hole,
thus protecting a fresh dose of the liquid content from
contamination when using later the container again.
[0052] When the user wants to exude and dispense eye drops through
the outlet hole 3a of eyedropper 1 of the present embodiment, he or
she has to remove at first the cap 40 and then cause the bottle 2
to take a position reversed upside-down. Subsequently, he or she
depresses the barrel 2b in a centripetal direction along its minor
axis. Internal pressure of the inner layer 22 will be raised in
this way to elastically deform the flexible nozzle 31 and open the
outlet hole, supplying `eye drops` from the distal tip of nozzle
portion 31d. If and when the user simply ceases to depress the
delaminating bottle 2, the outer layer will almost instantly
restore its normal shape. However, any amount of ambient air will
not flow into the inner layer 22 through the outlet hole 3a,
because this hole 3a is then in a closed state due to elastic
recovery of natural shape of the flexible nozzle 31. The inner
layer does not restore its normal un-shrunk shape, even if the
liquid content is consumed further and later when demanded. In
contrast, the outer layer 21 will be allowed to take its normal
shape again, giving rise to a certain degree of negative pressure
between the outer and inner layer barrel portions 21b and 22b.
Consequently, atmospheric pressure deforms in a centripetal
direction the inner layer mouth portion's 22a area facing the vents
4, thereby opening them in outer layer 21 so as to permit inflow of
a certain amount of ambient air through said intakes. It is to be
noted here that the negative pressure still remains within the
interior bag 22 for a time. Such a remaining negative pressure will
act on the pressure-receiving area 5, to thereby cause the flexible
nozzle to restore its natural shape until it perfectly closes the
outlet hole 3a. As a sufficient amount of ambient air sucked
inwards through the vents 4 permits recovery of natural shape of
the outer layer barrel portion 21b, the inner layer mouth portion
22a will spontaneously regain its home position. Any extent of
temporary deformation will not be left in this mouth portion 22a,
but it surely closes the vents 4.
[0053] Later, the user may operate again this container by
depressing its bottle 2, whose inner layer mouth portion 22a has
been and is still closing the vents 4. The air retained in the gap
between the outer and inner layer barrel portions 21b and 22b can
not escape out by such as a resumed operation, but will be
compressed by depressing the outer barrel portion 21b. The air thus
compressed again within the outer barrel will work to squeeze the
inner barrel portion 22b and dispense the eye drops in the exuding
manner as detailed above.
[0054] It will now be apparent that the dispensing container of the
described embodiment has a flexible nozzle 31 and a rod-shaped
valve body (viz., closer) cooperating therewith as if they were
component parts of a check valve. Ambient air is excluded from the
interior of inner layer 22, and therefore it will shrink to protect
the liquid content from contamination with bacteria that are
possibly present in the ambient air. On the other hand, the vents 4
enable ambient air to flow in between the outer and inner layers 21
and 22. Depression of the outer layer 21 will not produce any
permanent deformation thereof after this layer is released from the
user's fingers or the like means having been squeezing it. Elastic
recovery of the outer layer 21 is ensured so that its natural shape
can last until the liquid content is thoroughly consumed to empty
the inner layer 22. Thus, this dispensing container 1 will continue
to stand unchanged in appearance from outside after every cycle of
operation from start to end of use, highly convenient to users. The
liquid content of inner layer 22 is shut from ambient air so that
any preservatives for sterilization need no longer be added to the
content. Any appropriate materials may be used to form the inner
and outer layers, taking into account requirements which they have
to meet in respect of transparency, gas barrier property and water
permeation. This dispensing container affords optimal features
widely in many uses, for example as an eyedropper, a detergent
container or the like.
[0055] FIGS. 3(a) to 4 show a dispensing container 1 provided in a
second embodiment. Its structural elements that are the same as or
similar to those described above in the first embodiment will not
be discussed again, bur merely be denoted with the same reference
numerals. Only elements and functions peculiar to the second
embodiment will be described below.
[0056] The flexible nozzle 31 comprises, for the purpose of its
elastic deformation, an intermediate portion 31c that is
dome-shaped. This elastic intermediate portion can be stretched
forwards in order to bring the outlet hole 3a into its position
disengaged from the rod-shaped closer 32. A recess will appear
ahead the distal end face of the closer 32 and in the forward end
region of outlet hole 3a. A little residual amount of liquid
content will stay in this recess, unless the cap 40 has a portion
fitting in it. Therefore, a lug 41 protruding downwards is formed
in this embodiment to be integral with the cap at its center of
ceiling. With such a cap 40 being put on the bottle mouth, the lug
41 will completely repel the residue out of said recess so as to
avoid the problem of contamination.
[0057] FIGS. 5(a) to 6 show still another dispensing container 1 in
a third embodiment of the present invention. Its nozzle portion 31d
rendered thicker than that in the first embodiment has an improved
dimensional stability. The outlet hole 3a has a noticeably reduced
diameter, and correspondingly, the rod-shaped closer 32 in this
container is much thinner and more elongated. Other structural
elements not differing from those in the first and second
embodiments are denoted with the same reference numerals, and
description thereof is not repeated.
[0058] FIG. 7 illustrates a dispensing container 1 provided in a
fourth embodiment. Also, its structural elements that are the same
as or similar to those in the first embodiment are merely denoted
with the same reference numerals. Only details of other elements
peculiar to the fourth embodiment will be given here.
[0059] The flexible nozzle 31 in this container 1 is composed of
two portions, that is a cylindrical base 37 and an elastically
deforming portion 38 made integral therewith and arc-shaped in
vertical cross section. The base or base 37 is formed as a kind of
double cylinder whose outer and large-diameter section 35 extends
coaxial with and surrounds an inner and small-diameter section 36.
The deforming portion 38 continuing from the top end of said base
37 may be regarded as a complex of the nozzle portion 31d and
intermediate portion 31c integral therewith in the preceding
embodiments. Such a flexible nozzle 31 fixed on the upwardly
protruding top end 33a of a sleeve 33 is not directly attached to
the bottle mouth 2a but indirectly connected thereto by the sleeve
33 in this embodiment. An outlet hole 3a is a central round opening
of the elastically deforming portion 38. This portion 38 normally
takes a convex position bulging inwardly of the bottle as shown in
FIG. 7, so that its outlet hole 3a remains closed with the closer
32. When pressure in the bottle rises, the deforming portion's
inner face (viz., lower face in the drawings and serving as if it
were a pressure-receiving area 5 in the former embodiments) will be
pressed up to deform itself elastically to take a reversed convex
shape facing outwards. In this state, the outlet hole 3a is raised
and displaced away from the closer 32 so as to open. On the other
hand, the rod-shaped closer 32 in this embodiment gradually
increases its diameter towards its basal `lower` end. When any
degree of negative pressure is produced inside the bottle, the
central region of elastically deforming portion 38 then at its
position shown in FIG. 7 will slide down (`inwards`) along the
closer. However, the outlet hole 3a will remain sealed with the
closer 32 not to undesirably and inadvertently open to any
extent.
[0060] The large- and small-diameter sections 35 and 36 of the
nozzle base 37 firmly grip and sandwich the upwardly protruding end
33a of the sleeve 33, from outside and inside. Thus, an airtight
and liquid-tight connection is provided between these members
connected to each other.
[0061] The present invention is not delimited to the foregoing
embodiments or examples but may be modified within the spirit and
scope set forth in the appendant claims.
[0062] In summary, the present container is of a relatively simple
structure, but can nevertheless dispense a liquid pharmaceutical
content or the like, without permitting any inflow of ambient air
into the interior bag. None of ordinary bacteria often present in
the environment will growth within this bag, even if preservatives
are not added at all to the liquid content. Once internal pressure
of the bag returns to atmospheric pressure, the flexible nozzle
temporarily deformed to have its outlet hole displaced up away from
the container body will regain its normal position. In other words,
the outlet hole moves inwardly towards the container body until
closed again with the closer. With the outlet hole being closed in
this manner, the amount of liquid content that has been dispensed
through the outlet hole would have dropped off the nozzle almost in
its entirety. Thus, any notice-able residual amount of the liquid
once dispensed will not stay outside and around said hole, causing
no problem of contamination of such a residue.
* * * * *