U.S. patent application number 14/706136 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-24 for safety cap with a guarantee element, especially for the pharmaceutical industry.
The applicant listed for this patent is KAJ SPOLKA Z OGRANICZONA ODPOWIEDZIALNOSCIA. Invention is credited to Andrzej Janowski, Marcin Kowalewski, Kamil Lewandowski.
Application Number | 20150367999 14/706136 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53059012 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150367999 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Janowski; Andrzej ; et
al. |
December 24, 2015 |
Safety cap with a guarantee element, especially for the
pharmaceutical industry
Abstract
The safety cap, according to the invention, has got, at least,
one securing element which engages with the bottle neck and an
internal closing element, mounted in the inside of the external
element, where, at least, one securing element is connected and
meshes--with its thread, made on its lateral side--with the thread
of the internal closing element and the external element, movable
mounted on the internal closing element, closing the external
element.
Inventors: |
Janowski; Andrzej;
(Stawiguda, PL) ; Kowalewski; Marcin; (Dzialdowo,
PL) ; Lewandowski; Kamil; (Itawa, PL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KAJ SPOLKA Z OGRANICZONA ODPOWIEDZIALNOSCIA |
Dzialdowo |
|
PL |
|
|
Family ID: |
53059012 |
Appl. No.: |
14/706136 |
Filed: |
May 7, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/211 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/023 20130101;
B65D 50/041 20130101; B65D 47/103 20130101; B65D 41/08
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/02 20060101
B65D041/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 9, 2014 |
PL |
P.408162 |
Claims
1. The safety cap of the invention comprises at least one securing
element, which it engages with a bottle neck and an internal
closing element, mounted in the inside of an external element,
wherein, at least, one securing element is connected and meshes
with thread of the internal closing element and with the external
element, and is moveably mounted on the internal closing
element.
2. The cap of claim 1, wherein the internal closing element and the
external element are shaped as unilaterally closed cylinders with a
system of mutually matching locking mechanisms.
3. The cap of claim 2, wherein the system of locking mechanisms
comprises the form of splines, oriented towards each other and
meshing with each other.
4. The cap of claim 3, wherein the splines are located on bases of
unilaterally closed cylinders, wherein the bases are oriented
towards each other and engage with each other, at least,
unilaterally during rotation of the unilaterally closed cylinders
against each other.
5. The cap of claim 3, wherein the splines are located on the
lateral, external surface of the internal closing element and on
the internal, lateral surface of the external element.
6. The cap of claim 1, wherein the internal, lateral surface of the
internal closing element comprises a thread, meshing with the
thread on the lateral surface of the securing element.
7. The cap of claim 1, wherein the securing element is in a shape
of a unilaterally closed cylinder, knocked into the neck of a
container wherein the cylinder is locked on the neck of the
container with a locking mechanism, and mounted on the internal,
lateral surface of the securing element.
8. The cap of claim 7, wherein the securing element is made of LDPE
plastic.
9. The cap of claims 7, wherein the locking mechanism narrows,
which decreases the cross-section of the open side of the securing
element and of, at least one spline located on the neck of the
container or bottle, where the spline engages with locking
mechanism.
10. The cap of claim 1, comprising a cavity made in the base of the
securing element, the cavity having an overpress, which separates
the central part of the cavity, and wherein the central part
comprises a cotter pin.
11. The cap of claim 10, wherein the cotter pin comprises the form
of an ear, connected with the central part of the cavity.
Description
[0001] The subject of the invention is a safety cap with a securing
element, in particular, for the pharmaceutical industry, to prevent
opening of the container with active substance, especially by
children, provided with a securing element, which allows for an
identification of any previous opening of the container.
[0002] Various design concepts of caps have been known, which allow
access to the container's contents, e.g., a medicinal substance,
for unauthorised persons. Most often, children are regarded to be
such unauthorised persons, therefore, special safety caps are used,
the opening of which requires the application of certain force,
much exceeding the physical abilities of the child. Additionally,
in order to determine whether a given product packaging has
previously been opened or tampered with in any other way, various
securing elements are applied, the breaking of which alerts that
the packaging was tampered with before.
[0003] It follows from Patent Description No. U.S. Pat. No.
3,827,592 that "a system of safety cap for a container", has got a
system of internal grooves, fitting the container's neck in their
shape, so that cap removal is not possible without the use of a
special wrench.
[0004] An example of a cap with a tampering/opening indicator is
the container, known from Patent Description No. EPO421590, as
having a concave top as the opening indicator. When the container
is opened, the concave top becomes convex in result of the air,
which enters the container and compensates the negative pressure,
while the change is visible with bare eyes. After the container is
closed again, there is no mo negative pressure in it, thus it is
not possible to "deceive" closure and create the status,
corresponding to the original container's closure.
[0005] Another safety cap, known from Patent Description No.
WO8902858, has got an internal, cap sealing element, with an
external cover, configured in such a way as to allow its shifting
between two locations: the first one, where it freely rotates, and
the second one, where it engages with the internal, closing
element. The cap has got a tension mechanism, forcing return of the
external part from position two back to position one. The closing
element becomes relocated or damaged during the shift of the cover
from position one to position two.
[0006] There is also a safety cap, known from Patent Description
No. U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,678 mm which, when turned, a special tooth
on its edge, tampers with the film layer, covering the containers
neck, cutting or tearing it. The film is attached to the
container's neck, for example, by welding. The locking mechanism,
which enables opening only, when the cap is pressed, can be removed
in order to enable the container opening in a traditional way. This
cap may also be used as an indicator of the packaging being opened
or tampered with.
[0007] There are also caps with a securing element, made directly
or indirectly on their internal or external part; the securing
element is annular in shape and, while rotating the cap around the
container's neck, it catches in various way the neck blocking
elements. Patent Description No. KR200410173 reveals a design
concept of a cap, the internal part of which engages the external
part via a system of teeth, made on the lids, which close both
parts, while the lower surface of one part of the cap is provided
with a securing, annular tape, which is attached to it. The closure
tightness is to be ensured by a gasket, mounted between the cap and
the neck, preferably as gasket welded into the neck structure.
[0008] The known solutions, despite the effectiveness of access
protection systems on containers, e.g., with medicinal products,
require, sometimes, very complex production operations, associated
with their manufacture or guarantee of container tightness. In
addition, in case of caps with securing tapes, annular in shape, it
is important to ensure proper thickness of the narrowing parts,
connecting the ring of the securing tape, in order to prevent their
rupture when the cap is tightened. Therefore, it has been
appropriate to design a safety cap, especially for the
pharmaceutical industry, which will eliminate the manufacturing
problems, associated with ensuring proper connection between the
securing tape and the cap, while simultaneously maintaining proper
tightness of the container's closure. Additionally, the goal of the
invention was the development of design concept for cap, especially
for the pharmaceutical industry, eliminating the need of using an
aluminium insert, inductively welded to the edge of the container's
neck and thus elevating the production costs and increasing
container filling and closing process duration.
[0009] The safety cap, according to the invention, has got, at
least, one securing element which, with its thread on its lateral
side, engages the thread of the internal closing element and a
movable external element, mounted on the internal closing element.
The internal closing element and the external element are both in
shape of unilaterally closed cylinders with mutually matching
locking systems, preferably as splines, oriented towards each other
and meshing each other. The splines are preferably located on the
oriented towards each other bases of unilaterally closed cylinders
and, in their contact, they mesh with each other, at least
unilaterally, during rotation of the unilaterally closed cylinders
vs. each other. In another example, the splines are arranged on the
lateral, external surface of the internal closing element and on
the lateral, internal surface of the external element.
[0010] The internal lateral surface of the internal closing element
has got a thread, meshed with the thread on the lateral surface of
the securing element.
[0011] The securing element, preferably manufactured of soft and
deformable plastic, which preferably is LDPE, and in basic shape of
unilaterally closed cylinder, pressed onto the neck of a container,
especially of a container used in the pharmaceutical industry, and
locked on the neck of this container with a locking system, mounted
on the internal, lateral surface of the securing element.
[0012] The locking system assumes the form of, at least, one
narrowing, decreasing the cross-section of the open side of the
securing element and, at least, one spline, which preferably is a
ring on the container's/bottle's neck, where the spline preferably
engages with the locking system.
[0013] There is a cavity in the base of the securing element, in
which, at least, one overpress is made, while the central part of
the cavity, separated by the overpress, is provided with a cotter
pin. It is preferable if the cotter pin assumes the form of an eye,
connected with the central part of the cavity.
[0014] The securing element, the internal closing element and the
external element are set up together and delivered to the packaging
line, especially of pharmaceutical products, whereby, after the
containers are filled with products, the sets are pressed or
knocked on the necks of containers in one production operation,
thus eliminating the actual series of operations, including the
installation of an aluminium insert, the inductive welding of the
insert with the container's neck and mechanical or manual closing
of the container with the cap. With regards to the above, the
production line performance increase, while production costs
demonstrate a significant decrease, especially the costs associated
with packaging container closing operations.
[0015] In the first opening of a container with the cap, according
to the invention, the user at first twists the mutually matching
internal closing element and the external element, then, using the
cotter pin, tears off the internal part of the securing element,
separated by the overpress. After the contents of the container are
picked up, the internal closing element and the external element
are screwed again on the securing element, what ensures further
protection of the container against unauthorised access, especially
by children.
[0016] Safety cap with a securing element, especially for the
pharmaceutical industry, has been presented on the drawing, at
which, FIG. 1 presents a view of the set up together cap elements,
FIG. 2 presents a view of the securing element, FIG. 3 presents a
view of the internal closing element, FIG. 4 presents a view of the
set up together cap elements, according to the invention.
EXAMPLE I
[0017] The safety cap, according to the invention, has got one
securing element 1 which, with its thread 2 on its lateral side,
meshes with thread 3 of the internal closing element 4 and an
external element (5), movable mounted on the internal closing
element 4. The internal closing element 4 and the external element
5 are both in shape of unilaterally closed cylinders with mutually
matching locking systems, assuming the form of splines 6, oriented
towards each other and meshing each other. The splines 6 are
located on the oriented towards each other bases of unilaterally
closed cylinders and, in their contact, they mesh with each other,
at least unilaterally, during rotation of the cylinders,
unilaterally closed vs. each other.
[0018] The internal lateral surface of the internal closing element
has got a thread, meshed with the thread on the lateral surface of
the securing element.
[0019] The securing element 1 is manufactured of soft and
deformable plastic--LDPE--and is in basic shape of unilaterally
closed cylinder, knocked onto the neck of a container, especially
of a container used in the pharmaceutical industry, and locked on
the neck of this container with a locking system, mounted on the
internal, lateral surface of the securing element.
[0020] The locking system 7 assumes the form of, at least, one
narrowing, decreasing the cross-section of the open side of the
securing element 1 and, at least, one spline in the form of a ring
12 on the container's/bottle's neck, where the spline engages with
the locking system 7.
[0021] There is a cavity 8 in the base of the securing element 1,
in which, an overpress 9 is made, while the central part of the
cavity, separated by the overpress, is provided with a cotter pin
10. The cotter pin 10 assumes the form of an eye, connected with
the central part of the cavity.
[0022] The securing element 1, the internal closing element 4 and
the external element 5 are set up together and delivered to the
packaging line, especially of pharmaceutical products, whereby,
after the containers are filled with products, the sets are pressed
or knocked on the necks of containers in one production operation,
thus eliminating the actual series of operations, including the
installation of an aluminium insert, the inductive welding of the
insert with the container's neck and mechanical or manual closing
of the container with the cap. With regards to the above, the
production line performance increases, while production costs
demonstrate a significant decrease, especially the costs associated
with packaging container closing operations.
[0023] In the first opening of a container with the cap, according
to the invention, the user at first twists the mutually matching
internal closing element 4 and the external element 5, then, using
the cotter pin 10, tears off the internal part of the securing
element, separated by the overpress 11 of the securing element 1.
After the contents of the container are picked up, the internal
closing element 4 and the external element 5 are screwed again on
the securing element 1, what ensures further protection of the
container against unauthorised access, especially by children.
Example II
[0024] The safety cap, according to the invention, has got one
securing element 1 which, with its thread 2 on its lateral side,
meshes with thread 3 of the internal closing element 4 and an
external element (5), movable mounted on the internal closing
element 4. The internal closing element 4 and the external element
5 are both in shape of unilaterally closed cylinders with mutually
matching locking systems, assuming the form of splines 6, oriented
towards each other and meshing each other. In another example, the
splines are arranged on the lateral, external surface of the
internal closing element and on the lateral, internal surface of
the external element.
[0025] The internal lateral surface of the internal closing element
has got a thread, meshing with the thread on the lateral surface of
the securing element.
[0026] The securing element 1 is manufactured of soft and
deformable plastic--LDPE--and is in basic shape of unilaterally
closed cylinder, knocked onto the neck of a container, especially
of a container used in the pharmaceutical industry, and locked on
the neck of this container with a locking system 7, mounted on the
internal, lateral surface of the securing element 1.
[0027] The locking system 7 assumes the form of, at least, one
narrowing, decreasing the cross-section of the open side of the
securing element 1 and, at least, one spline in the form of a ring
12 on the container's/bottle's neck, where the spline engages with
the locking system 7.
[0028] There is a cavity 8 in the base of the securing element 1,
in which, an overpress 9 is made, while the central part 11 of the
cavity 8, separated by the overpress, is provided with a cotter pin
10. The cotter pin of claim 10, wherein the cotter pin (10) assumes
the form of an ear, connected with the central part (11) of the
cavity (8).
[0029] The securing element 1, the internal closing element 4 and
the external element 5 are set up together and delivered to the
packaging line, especially of pharmaceutical products, whereby,
after the containers are filled with products, the sets are pressed
or knocked on the necks of containers in one production operation,
thus eliminating the actual series of operations, including the
installation of an aluminium insert, the inductive welding of the
insert with the container's neck and mechanical or manual closing
of the container with the cap. With regards to the above, the
production line performance increases, while production costs
demonstrate a significant decrease, especially the costs associated
with packaging container closing operations.
[0030] In the first opening of a container with the cap, according
to the invention, the user at first twists the mutually matching
internal closing element 4 and the external element 5, then, using
the cotter pin 10, tears off the internal part of the securing
element 1, separated by the overpress 9. After the contents of the
container are picked up, the internal closing element 4 and the
external element 5 are screwed again on the securing element 1,
what ensures further protection of the container against
unauthorised access, especially by children.
* * * * *