U.S. patent application number 12/308271 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-31 for upgraded bottle for fluid products, particularly pharmaceutical, medicinal or cosmetic products.
Invention is credited to Antonio Fontana.
Application Number | 20090321382 12/308271 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38626493 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090321382 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fontana; Antonio |
December 31, 2009 |
Upgraded bottle for fluid products, particularly pharmaceutical,
medicinal or cosmetic products
Abstract
The upgraded bottle for fluid products, particularly
pharmaceutical, medicinal and cosmetic products, comprising a
containing body for containing a fluid product, particularly a
pharmaceutical, medicinal or cosmetic product, a dispensing mouth
of the product defined at one end of the containing body, a
tearable membrane for closing the dispensing mouth, a closing
element that can be screwed up or unscrewed on such end of the
containing body and provided with a cap inside which is defined at
least one perforator of the membrane, and maintaining means for
maintaining the cap in a safety configuration, in which the
perforator is substantially positioned away from the membrane and
in which the cap can be freely turned around the screwing up and
unscrewing axis of the closing element in at least one direction of
rotation.
Inventors: |
Fontana; Antonio; (Carpi,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC
FRANKLIN SQUARE, THIRD FLOOR WEST, 1300 I STREET, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
38626493 |
Appl. No.: |
12/308271 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
December 6, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2007/001566 |
371 Date: |
January 26, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2215/02 20130101;
B65D 51/225 20130101; B65D 2221/00 20130101; B65D 51/227 20130101;
B65D 50/045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/329 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/04 20060101
B65D041/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 16, 2006 |
IT |
MO2006A000192 |
Claims
1. A bottle for fluid products, comprising a containing body for
containing a fluid product, a dispensing mouth for said product
defined at one end of said containing body, a tearable membrane for
closing said dispensing mouth, a closing element that can be
screwed up or unscrewed on said end of the containing body and
provided with a cap inside which is defined at least one perforator
of said membrane, and maintaining means for maintaining said cap in
a safety configuration, in which said perforator is substantially
positioned away from said membrane and in which said cap can be
freely turned around the screwing up and unscrewing axis of said
closing element in at least one direction of rotation.
2. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein said closing element
comprises a plug inside said cap which can be screwed up and
unscrewed on said end of the containing body and with which said
cap is associated sliding between said safety configuration and a
work configuration, in which said plug and said cap are made
integral with each other by placing coupling means in between.
3. The bottle according to claim 2, wherein said perforator extends
from the ceiling of said plug, inside this and towards said
containing body.
4. The bottle according to claim 2, wherein said coupling means
comprise at least one protrusion defined on the outer surface of
said plug, suitable for being inserted inside at least one
corresponding slot defined on the inner surface of said cap, said
coupling means being suitable for preventing the relative rotation
between said plug and said containing cap, engaged together.
5. The bottle according to claim 2, wherein said coupling means
comprise at least one slot defined on the outer surface of said
plug, inside which can be inserted at least one corresponding
protrusion defined on the inner surface of said cap, said coupling
means being suitable for preventing the relative rotation between
said plug and said containing cap, engaged together.
6. The bottle according to claim 2, wherein said maintaining means
comprise elastic contrast means which act in contrast to the
movement of said cap from said safety configuration to said work
configuration.
7. The bottle according to claim 6, wherein said elastic means
comprise at least one foil spring which has an end fixed to at
least one between the inner surface of said cap and the outer
surface of said plug and engageable by bending on the other between
the inner surface of said cap and the outer surface of said
plug.
8. The bottle according to claim 7, wherein said foil spring is
defined at the ceiling of said cap and is engageable by bending on
the outer surface of said plug, at an upper portion of said
substantially conical plug.
9. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein said maintaining means
comprise at least one retention element defined on the outer
surface of said end of the containing body suitable for engaging
with at least one respective lock element defined on the inner side
surface of said cap.
10. The bottle according to claim 9, wherein said retention element
comprises at least one ring-shaped tooth defined protruding from
the side surface of said end of the containing body.
11. The bottle according to claim 9, wherein said lock element
comprises at least one ring-shaped groove.
12. The bottle according to claim 1, comprising at least one
sealing collar placed, removable by tearing, in between said
containing body and said closing element.
13. The bottle according to claim 12, wherein said sealing collar
is associated with at least one between said containing body, said
cap and said plug along respective first weakened areas.
14. The bottle according to claim 13, wherein said first weakened
areas are defined between the upper surface of said collar and the
lower portion of at least one between said cap and said plug.
15. The bottle according to claim 13, wherein said first weakened
areas are of the preset breakage line type.
16. The bottle according to claim 1, comprising at least one grip
flap defined protruding from the outer side surface of said
containing body.
17. The bottle according to claim 16, comprising at least one pair
of grip flaps that extend from said containing body in a
diametrically opposite direction the one to the other.
18. The bottle according to claim 17, wherein said grip flaps are
associated, along second weakened areas, with the grip flaps of the
containing bodies of other bottles arranged in series adjacent to
it.
19. The bottle according to claim 18, wherein said cap is
associated, along third weakened areas, with the cap of other
bottles arranged in series adjacent to it.
20. The bottle according to claim 1, comprising an operating key
defined integral with said cap.
21. The bottle according to claim 20, wherein said cap is
associated along third weakened lines with caps of other bottles in
series adjacent to it, and said third weakened areas are defined
between said operating keys of the caps of bottles arranged in
series adjacent to one another.
22. The bottle according to claim 21, wherein said operating key is
composed of a pair of operating flaps, each diametrically opposite
the other and defined protruding from the outer side surface of
said cap.
23. The bottle according to claim 21, wherein said operating key is
made up of a band substantially wrapped like a ring around said cap
and integral with it.
24. The bottle according to claim 12, wherein: said closing element
comprises a plug inside said cap which can be screwed up and
unscrewed on said end of the containing body and with which said
cap is associated sliding between said safety configuration and a
work configuration, in which said plug and said cap are made
integral with each other by placing coupling means in between, and
said sealing collar is associated with said plug along respective
first weakened areas.
25. The bottle according to claim 16, wherein said first weakened
areas are defined between the upper surface of said collar and the
lower portion of said plug said cap.
26. The bottle according to claim 16, wherein said first weakened
areas are of the preset breakage line type.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention refers to an upgraded bottle for fluid
products, particularly pharmaceutical, medicinal or cosmetic
products.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Plastic bottles are known that are used in pharmaceutical
and cosmetic industries to package one or more doses of fluid,
liquid or pasty products and which are essentially made up of a
containing body for containing the product which, at one end,
extends in a neck, at the top of which a product dispensing mouth
is defined; the dispensing mouth is closed by a tearable
membrane.
[0003] The end of the containing body opposite the neck is open to
allow, during bottle packaging, the introduction of the product
into the containing body, after which this is closed, for example,
by sealing.
[0004] Over the neck, a cap is fitted, from the ceiling of which a
membrane perforating element extends internally.
[0005] On the inner side surface of the cap a retention ring is
obtained which, in bottle packaging closed configuration, is
engaged by triggering in a corresponding ring-shaped groove defined
on the outer side surface of the neck, so as to withhold the
perforating element at a height above that of the membrane that
closes the dispensing mouth.
[0006] At the time of use, the cap is fitted onto the neck of the
containing body until the retention ring disengages from the
corresponding groove and the perforating element tears the membrane
and opens the dispensing mouth, after which the cap is removed from
the neck to allow product dispensing.
[0007] Furthermore, the containing body has a pair of grip flaps
that extend, in a diametrically opposite direction the one to the
other, from its outer side surface.
[0008] The known bottles can be produced in single units or
interlinked with one another in series (strips); in this latter
case the grip flaps of the containing bodies of two successive
bottles are temporarily joined together along pre-breakage
lines.
[0009] These bottles are nevertheless susceptible to upgrading, in
particular in order to avoid a potentially harmful use of the
product they contain.
[0010] In particular, the known bottles are without safety means
suitable for preventing, or at least making less easy, the opening
of the dispensing mouth and the removal of the cap by children, who
could swallow the product inside the bottles in an incorrect way,
with obvious risk for their health.
[0011] Such bottles, furthermore, do not show, in a clear and
immediately perceivable way, any tampering and/or having already
been opened including involuntarily, and do not ensure the
integrity and the sterility of the product they contain.
[0012] It can in fact occur that the bottles, handled or placed in
storage units (drawers, wardrobes, utility cases, etc.), are
subjected to knocks such as to push their cap on the neck until the
perforating element tears the membrane before the product is
actually used, the obstacle provided by the coupling between the
retention ring and the corresponding ring-shaped groove not often
being enough to contrast such knocks.
[0013] To overcome these drawbacks, at least in part, bottles are
known comprising a pair of seal flaps that protrude from the
containing body in diametrically opposite directions, located in
between the grip flaps and the cap and associated, removable by
tearing, with the body, with the grip flaps or with the cap along
respective weakened areas.
[0014] When the bottle is used, by rotating the cap, the breakage
of the above-mentioned weakened areas is obtained, thus evidencing
that opening has occurred.
[0015] The bottles are however without the above-mentioned safety
means suitable for preventing, or at least making opening by
children less easy.
[0016] A different type of bottles for fluid products is made in a
single body piece in which, that is, the product containing body is
formed together with closing means in a single body without any
interruption whatsoever.
[0017] The closing means are connected to the body by means of
deformable and breakable elements that act as safety seals;
deformations and/or breakages of the above elements are signs of
tampering.
[0018] Nevertheless, the manufacture of this different type of
bottles in a single body piece requires complex manufacturing
procedures and high production costs.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The main aim of the present invention is to provide an
upgraded bottle for fluid products, particularly pharmaceutical,
medicinal or cosmetic products, that provides minimum safety
requirements suitable for preventing or in any case restricting the
potentially harmful use of the products contained in it.
[0020] Within this technical aim, another object of the present
invention is to ensure the integrity and the sterility of the
products packed inside the bottles.
[0021] Another object of the invention is to make it possible to
see that the bottles have been opened, in a clear and immediate
way.
[0022] Another object of the invention is to cater for the above
aims with a simple structure, of relatively practical
implementation, safe to use and with effective operation, as well
as having a relatively low cost.
[0023] The above-mentioned objects are all achieved by this
upgraded bottle for fluid products, particularly pharmaceutical,
medicinal and cosmetic products, comprising a containing body for
containing a fluid product, particularly a pharmaceutical,
medicinal or cosmetic product, a dispensing mouth of said product
defined at one end of said containing body, a tearable membrane for
closing said dispensing mouth, a closing element that can be
screwed up or unscrewed on said end of the containing body and
provided with a cap inside which is defined at least one perforator
of said membrane, characterized in that it comprises maintaining
means for maintaining said cap in a safety configuration, in which
said perforator is substantially positioned away from said membrane
and in which said cap can be freely turned around the screwing up
and unscrewing axis of said closing element in at least one
direction of rotation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] Further characteristics and advantages of this invention
will appear even more evident from the detailed description of two
preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of an upgraded bottle for
fluid products, particularly pharmaceutical, medicinal or cosmetic
products, illustrated indicatively by way of non limiting example,
in the attached drawings wherein:
[0025] the FIG. 1 is a front view of a plurality of bottles
according to a first embodiment of the invention;
[0026] the FIGS. 2 and 3 are section views of a detail of the first
embodiment of the bottle according to the invention in a safety
configuration and in a work configuration;
[0027] the FIG. 4 is a front view of a plurality of bottles
according to a second embodiment of the invention;
[0028] the FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are section views of a detail of the
second embodiment of the bottle according to the invention in a
safety configuration, in a work configuration and in an opening
configuration.
EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0029] With special reference to such figures, an upgraded bottle
for fluid products, particularly pharmaceutical, medicinal or
cosmetic products, has been globally designated by reference number
1.
[0030] The bottle 1 comprises a containing body 2 of a fluid
product (pharmaceutical, medicinal or cosmetic) which is of
substantially cylindrical and elongated shape and which extends at
one end into a neck 3, at the top of which a product dispensing
mouth 4 is defined.
[0031] A closing element 5 is associated screwing up and unscrewing
with the neck 3 and has a cap 6, inside which is defined a
perforator 7 of a closing membrane 8 integrated with the outer edge
of the dispensing mouth 4.
[0032] The membrane 8 can, for example, be made up of a polymeric
material disk integrated with the containing body 2 during the
latter's pressing phase.
[0033] Advantageously, the bottle 1 comprises maintaining means for
maintaining the cap 6 in a safety configuration, in which the
perforator 7 is substantially positioned away from the membrane 8
and in which the cap 6 can be freely turned around the screwing up
and unscrewing axis of the closing element 5.
[0034] In a first embodiment of the invention, shown in the FIGS.
1, 2 and 3, the closing element 5 comprises a plug 9 inside the cap
5, the perforator 7 extends from the ceiling of the plug 9, inside
this and towards the dispensing mouth 4.
[0035] Threaded means are fitted that permit screwing up and
unscrewing the plug 9 to the neck 3 which are made up of a screw 10
defined on the outer side surface of the neck 3, and a
corresponding nut screw 11 defined on the inner side surface of the
plug 9.
[0036] The cap 6 is fitted over the plug 9 and is associated with
it sliding between the above safety configuration, shown in FIG. 2,
and a work configuration, shown in FIG. 3, in which the cap 6 is
made integral with the plug 9 by placing coupling means in
between.
[0037] Such coupling means can include, for example, one or more
protrusions 12 defined on the outer surface of the plug 9, near the
lower edge, and suitable for being inserted inside respective slots
13 defined longitudinally on the inner surface of the cap 6.
[0038] Once the cap 6 has been moved to the work configuration,
after the insertion of the protrusions 12 inside the slots 13, the
relative rotation is prevented between the plug 9 and the cap
6.
[0039] Alternatively, different types of coupling means can be
provided in which the protrusions and the relevant slots are shaped
and distributed differently on the plug 9 and on the cap 6.
[0040] The above maintaining means for maintaining the cap 6 in the
safety configuration can be of the elastic means type 14 which act
in contrast to the movement of the cap 6 from the safety
configuration to the work configuration.
[0041] In particular, such elastic means 14 are made up of a
plurality of foil springs fixed to the inner surface of the cap 6,
at the ceiling, and engageable by bending on the outer surface of
the plug 9, at a substantially conical upper portion 15 and with
cross section substantially diverging towards the containing body
2.
[0042] Usefully, the bottle 1 can comprise a first retention ring
16 defined protruding from the outer surface and of the plug 9, and
a second retention ring 17 defined protruding at the base of the
inner side surface of the cap 6.
[0043] The first and the second retention ring 16 and 17 are
suitable for being engaged together to prevent the cap 6 and the
plug 9 from moving further away from each other in the safety
configuration.
[0044] Advantageously, the bottle 1 comprises a sealing collar 18
fitted coaxially on the neck 3 and placed, removable by tearing, in
between the containing body 2 and the closing element 5.
[0045] In particular, the upper surface of the sealing collar 18 is
associated with the lower portion of the plug 9 along first
weakened areas 19, of the preset breakage line type.
[0046] Usefully, the bottle 1 comprises a ring-shaped ridge 30
defined protruding from the outer surface of the neck 3, underneath
the closing element 5, and suitable for withholding the sealing
collar 18 around the containing body 2 after its detachment from
the plug 9.
[0047] Different conformations and arrangements of the ring-shaped
ridge 30 cannot however be ruled out.
[0048] In a second embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 4,
5, 6 and 7, the closing element 5 consists of a cap 6, directly
fitted over the neck 3.
[0049] The perforator 7 is defined protruding from the ceiling of
the cap 6, inside it and towards the dispensing mouth 4.
[0050] The maintaining means for maintaining the cap 6 in the
safety configuration comprise a first retention element 20, of the
first ring-shaped tooth type defined protruding from the side
surface of the neck 3, which engages with a corresponding lock
element 21, of the ring-shaped groove type, defined on the inner
side surface of the cap 6.
[0051] In particular, the fitting of the first ring-shaped tooth 20
inside the ring-shaped groove 21 permits blocking the cap 6 in the
safety configuration.
[0052] The product 1 also comprises a second retention element 22,
consisting of a second ring-shaped tooth defined protruding from
the side surface of the neck 3, below the first ring-shaped tooth
20.
[0053] Usefully, in the work configuration, with the cap 6 further
fitted over the neck 3, the second ring-shaped tooth 22 is fitted
inside the ring-shaped groove 21.
[0054] The bottle 1 comprises threaded means which, in the work
configuration, permit screwing up and unscrewing the cap 6 to the
neck 3.
[0055] The threaded means are made up of a screw 23 defined on the
outer side surface of the neck 3, and of a corresponding nut screw
24 defined on the inner side surface of the cap 6.
[0056] Usefully, in the safety configuration the screw 23 and the
nut screw 24 are positioned apart.
[0057] Similarly to the first embodiment illustrated above, the
bottle 1 comprises a sealing collar 18 fitted coaxially on the neck
3 and placed, removable by tearing, in between the containing body
2 and the closing element 5.
[0058] In particular, the upper surface of the sealing collar 18 is
associated with the lower portion of the cap 6 along first weakened
areas 19, of the preset breakage line type.
[0059] The bottle 1 also comprises a pair of grip flaps 25 that
extend from the containing body 2 along diametrically opposite
directions.
[0060] With reference both to the first and the second embodiment,
as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, several bottles 1 can be associated with
one another at the grip flaps 25 and by interposing second weakened
areas 26, of the preset breakage line type or the like.
[0061] Advantageously, the caps 6 of the bottles 1 can be fitted
with an operating key 27 suitable for making gripping easier by a
user, which can be made up of a band substantially wrapped around
the cap 6 and integral with it (FIGS. 1-3) or, alternatively, by a
pair of operating flaps, each diametrically opposite the other, and
defined protruding from the outer side surface of the cap 6 (FIGS.
4-5).
[0062] Usefully, the operating keys 27 of the caps 6 of bottles 1,
the one against the other, can be associated by interposing third
weakened areas 28, of the preset breakage line type or the
like.
[0063] At the end of the containing body 2 opposite the neck 3 an
opening 29 is defined through which, during the packaging phase of
the bottle 1, the product is introduced; after filling, the opening
29 is closed, for example by the sealing of its lips.
[0064] The operation of the invention is the following.
[0065] With particular reference to the first embodiment of the
invention, shown in the FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, before being used the
bottle 1 is in the safety configuration (FIG. 2).
[0066] After the bottle 1 has been removed from the strip, shown in
FIG. 1, the cap 6 is further fitted over the neck 3 by means of a
pressure action and slides from the safety configuration to the
work configuration, in contrast to the action of the foil springs
14.
[0067] In such work configuration, the protrusions 12 are fitted in
their respective slots 13 and a screwing up twisting action on the
cap 6 causes the integral rotation of the plug 9, with screwing up
of the plug 9 itself on the neck 3 and the moving of the perforator
7 closer to the dispensing mouth 4, as far as contact and breakage
of the membrane 8 (FIG. 3).
[0068] During the sliding of the cap 6 from the safety
configuration to the work configuration the lower edge of the cap 6
engages on the upper surface of the sealing collar 18, causing the
breakage of the first weakened areas 19 and the fall of the sealing
collar 18 underneath the ring-shaped ridge 30.
[0069] The ring-shaped ridge 30 withholds the sealing collar 18
around the containing body 2 during the subsequent stages of use of
the bottle 1.
[0070] An unscrewing twisting action on the cap 6, always lowered
in the work configuration, permits the removal of the entire
closing element 5 from the neck 3, thereby freeing the dispensing
mouth 4 and permitting the use of the product inside the containing
body 2.
[0071] With particular reference to the second embodiment of the
invention, shown in the FIGS. 4-7, before being used the bottle 1
is in the safety configuration (FIG. 5).
[0072] After the bottle 1 has been removed from the strip, shown in
FIG. 4, the cap 6 is further fitted over the neck 3 by means of a
pressure action and slides from the safety configuration to the
work configuration, with the disengagement of the first ring-shaped
tooth 20 from the ring-shaped groove 21.
[0073] In such work configuration the screw 23 is fitted in the nut
screw 24 and a screwing-up twisting action on the cap 6 causes the
perforator 7 to move closer to the dispensing mouth 4, as far as
contact and breakage of the membrane 8 (FIG. 6).
[0074] A subsequent twisting action in the unscrewing direction on
the operating key 27 permits removing the cap 6 from the neck 3,
thereby freeing the dispensing mouth 4 and permitting the use of
the product inside the containing body 2 (FIG. 7).
[0075] During unscrewing for the removal of the cap 6 the upper
edge of the sealing collar 18 engages on the lower surface of the
second ring-shaped tooth 22, causing the breakage of the first
weakened areas 19 and the detachment of the sealing collar 18.
[0076] The second ring-shaped tooth 22 withholds the sealing collar
18 around the containing body 2 during the subsequent stages of use
of the bottle 1.
[0077] It has in practice been found how the described invention
achieves the proposed objects and in particular the fact is
underlined that the particular conformation of the closing element
and the presence of the maintaining means in the safety
configuration ensures the safety requirements suitable for
preventing or in any case restricting a potentially harmful use of
the products contained in them.
[0078] To open the bottle in fact, a pressure has to be exercised
on the cap for the change from the safety configuration to the work
configuration, something that makes such opening less immediate and
thereby protects children or, in general, persons who could
inappropriately use the products contained in it and which permits
restricting, at the same time, the chances of accidentally opening
the bottle.
[0079] A further advantage of the invention consists in the
presence of the sealing collar which provides a clear and quick
indication of the bottle having been opened.
[0080] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous
modifications and variations, all of which falling within the scope
of the inventive concept.
[0081] Furthermore all the details may be replaced by other
elements which are technically equivalent.
[0082] In practice, the contingent shapes and dimensions may be any
according to requirements without because of this moving outside
the protection scope of the following claims.
* * * * *