CA2229944A1 - System and method for mechanical closure of container openings - Google Patents
System and method for mechanical closure of container openings Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2229944A1 CA2229944A1 CA002229944A CA2229944A CA2229944A1 CA 2229944 A1 CA2229944 A1 CA 2229944A1 CA 002229944 A CA002229944 A CA 002229944A CA 2229944 A CA2229944 A CA 2229944A CA 2229944 A1 CA2229944 A1 CA 2229944A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- container
- mechanical plug
- neck region
- mechanical
- plug
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
- B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
- B65D41/16—Snap-on caps or cap-like covers
- B65D41/18—Snap-on caps or cap-like covers non-metallic, e.g. made of paper or plastics
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
- B65D51/18—Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
- B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
- B65D41/023—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices with integral internal sealing means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D53/00—Sealing or packing elements; Sealings formed by liquid or plastics material
- B65D53/02—Collars or rings
Abstract
A mechanical lid or a plug interacts with an opening of a pouch or a container, as well as with a rigid ring placed inside the container opening to provide a tight seal of the opening. The mechanical plug is snapped into the container opening such that the mechanical plug compresses both the outside of the opening and the inner face of the ring placed inside the container opening. The radial edge of the inner face of the mechanical plug has an arch-shaped annular recess extending around the plug such that the radial edge of the plug is adapted to hug the perimeter of the container opening. In addition, attached to the inner face of the mechanical plug are two or more legs which extend perpendicular to the inner face of the mechanical plug and engage the bottom of the rigid ring/radial groove combination. The outside surface of the neck region of the container opening and the interior surface of the annular recess of the mechanical plug each has one or more protrusions which force the container material displaced by compression to be confined within a defined area, thereby ensuring the tightness of the seal for a prolonged period of time. The lower surface of the mechanical plug is sloped downward in the direction of the center, to which a plunger is attached for insertion into the liquid content of the container before the mechanical plug is snapped into the container opening, thereby substantially eliminating the residual air bubbles which may otherwise remain trapped between the surface of the liquid and the lower surface of the mechanical plug, which allows airless filling of the container without the need for a vacuum condition.
Description
CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 SYSTEM & METHOD FOR MECHANICAL CLOSURE OF CONTAINER OPENINGS
Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a system and a method for mechanically closing an opening of a pouch or a container, and relates more particularly to a system and a method for closing an open:ing of a pouch or a container by using a combination of a p:Lug mechanism and an annular ring o mechanism.
Back~round of the Invention Generally, the task of filling a pouch or a container with a liquid content and ensuring that the content is tightly sealed rnay be achieved by one of two Express Mail NO.: EM271948473US
CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 approaches: fill a pouch or a container which has an opening for introducing the liquid content and subsequently seal the opening; or fill a sealed pouch or container using a liquid-introducing needle and subsequently seal the puncture point.
Both methods generally require application of external sealing agents, the efficacy of which sealing agents may be subject to the material characteristics of the container, for the purpose of forming tight seals. Material characteristics of the container are usually constant, but lC should they vary, these characteristics would affect the tightness of the seal.
One alternative approach is, then, to utilize plugs or lids which are formed to mechanically interact with the opening of a pouch or a container to form a tight seal.
The main difficulty with this approach is that the allowable mechanical tolerances of the interacting parts are extremely small in order to achieve a tight, substantially hermetic seal. Furthermore, even if the interacting parts initially form a tight seal, the portions of the interacting parts which are under pressure tend to experience a "creep,"
CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 i.e., deformation of the material, over time. Accordingly, the "creep" phenomenon tencls to reduce the tightness of the seal. Thus, there is a need for a mechanical closure system which achieves and maintains hermetic seal of a pouch or a container over a substantia.l period of time.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mech.anical closure system for achieving a tight, substantially hermetic seal of a pouch or a container having an opening.
o It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of mechanically sealing a pouch or a container having an opening to achieve a tight, substantially hermetic seal.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a mechanical closure system for a pouch or a container having an opening, which mechanical closure system compensates for deformation of the interacting parts of the mechanical closure system and the pouch or the container.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of forming a mechanical seal of a pouch CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 or a container having an opening, which mechanical seal compensates for deformation of the interacting parts of the mechanical closure system and the pouch or the container.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a mechanical closure system for achieving a tight, substantially hermetic seal of a pouch or a container having an opening, which system does not require extremely small tolerances for the interacting parts.
It is yet another object of the present invention o to provide a method of mechanically sealing a pouch or a container having an opening with a mechanical closure system, which method does not require extremely small tolerances for the interact:ing parts of the mechanical closure system to achieve a tight, substantially hermetic seal.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of mechanically sealing an opening of a pouch or a container after having introduced liquid into the container through the opening, which method eliminates the need to provide vacuum conditions for filling the container CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 and, thereby, substantially reduces the cost of the mechanical system for filling the container.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system of mechanically sealing an opening of a s pouch or a container for a liquid, which system provides a mechanical plug that facilitates maximum collapsibility of the container by allowing transverse and longitudinal deformation of the container material without hindrance, which in turn minimizes residue in the container after o dispensing the liquid.
Summary of the Invention In accordance wilh the above objects, the present invention provides a mechanical lid or a plug which interacts with an opening of a pouch or a container, as well as with a rigid ring placed inside the container opening.
The mechanical plug is snapped into the container opening such that the mechanical p:Lug compresses both the outside of the opening and the inner iace of the ring placed inside the container opening, thereby forming a tight seal of the CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 opening.
The opening area of the container has an annular recess configured to accomrnodate the rigid ring, where the rigid ring is snapped into the annular recess. After the s rigid ring has been snapped into the annular recess of the opening region of the container, the mechanical plug is snapped both into the rigicl ring and around the outside edge of the container opening so that the container opening is compressed between the rigid ring and the mechanical plug.
o The radial edge of the inner face of the mechanical plug is formed as a an arch-shaped region which ext~nds around the plug such that the radial edge of the plug is adapted to "hug" the perimeter of the container opening. In addition, attached to the inner face of the mechanical plug are two or more legs which extend perpendicular to the lower surface of the mechanical plug. The ends of the legs are hook-shaped to engage the bottom of the rigid ring/radial groove combination. The annular recess and the legs of the mechanical plug facilitate both vertical and radial compression of the opening region of the container and the CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 rigid ring. In this manner, a tight seal of the container opening is ensured.
In addition, the outside surface of the opening region of the container and the interior surface of the annular recess of the mechanical plug each has one or more protrusions, or "interferences." Once the mechanical plug has been snapped into the container opening, the resulting compression of the container material tends to cause displacement, or "creep," of the compressed material towards areas of lesser compression. The protrusions limit the rar~ge of displacement of the compressed container material, i.e., force the container material displaced by compression to remain within a defined area, thereby ensuring the tightness of the seal for a prolonged period of time.
The central inner surface of the mechanical plug may be equipped with an extension or a plunger which is adapted to extend into the liquid content of the container in such a way that the mechanical plug snaps tightly into the container opening after, and only after, the plunger has displaced the surface level of the liquid up to the upper CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 edge of the container opening, thereby obviating the need for a vacuum condition normally utilized for an air-less filling process. In this manner, the plunger substantially reduces the residual air bubbles which may otherwise remain between the surface of the liquid and the inner surface of the mechanical plug.
The mechanical closure system and method according to the present invention ma~y be used for any application in which an opening of a pouch or a container needs to be o tightly sealed. For example, the mechanical closure system according to the present invention is particularly well suited for closing medicament containers or pouches containing medicament. Because the mechanical closure system according to the present invention achieves a substantially hermetic seal without the need for caulking materials, glues or other external sealing agents, expensive sealing systems for applying the external sealing agents are not necessary. In addition, because of interaction of the protrusions provided on the exterior surface of the opening region of the container and the interior surface of the DOCKET NO. 57556/104 annular recess of the mechanical plug, the allowable mechanical tolerances of the interacting components of the mechanical closure system are increased.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is an exp~Loded view of components of one preferred embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an exp]oded cross-sectional view of lC components of the preferred embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of assembled components of the preferrecl embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of components of another preferred embodiment of the mechanical closure system according tc, the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of assembled DOCKET NO. 57556/104 components of the preferre~1 embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention shown in Fig. 4.
s DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in Fig. 1, which is an exploded view of a first exemplary embodiment of a mechanical closure system according to the present invention, the first embodiment of the present invention includes a mechanical lid or plug 101 and a rigid annular ring 102, both of which interact with a neck region 103d near an opening 103b of a pouch or container 103 to tightly seal the opening 103b. The pouch or container 103 may be macle of any one of several materials well known in the art, including butadiene polyethylene styrene (KRATONTM), polyethylene, polyurethane or other plastic materials, thermoplastic elastomers or other elastic materials. As shown in Fig. 1, the container 103 may be a medicament dispensing cartridge with a nozzle 103a.
As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the latter of which is an exploded cross-sectional view of the first embodiment DOCKET NO. 57556/104 of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention, the contour of the rigid ring 102 is complementary to the inside contour 103c of the neck region 103d of the container 103 near the opening 103b, thereby allowing the rigid ring 102 to be snapped into the inside contour 103c of the neck region 103d. Similarly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, radial eclge lOla of the mechanical plug 101 is formed as a U-shapecl region which extends around the plug and complements the exterior contour of the combination o of the rigid ring 102 and the neck region 103d. After the rigid ring 102 has been snapped into the inside contour 103c of the neck region 103d, the mechanical plug 101 is subsequently snapped into place around the container opening 103b such that the U-shaped region lOla tightly engages the neck region 103d of the pouch 103 and the interior surface of the rigid ring 102.
As shown in Fig. 2, the U-shaped region lOla of the mechanical plug 101 has protrusions 1013, 1014 and 1015, and at least one recess 1016. Similarly, the exterior surface of the neck region 103d of the mechanical plug has DOCKET NO. 57556/104 protrusions 1031 and 1033, and the interior surface of the neck region has a protrusion 1035. In addition, the rigid ring 102 has recesses 1021 and 1022 at the vertical interior surface 102a and the bottom surface, respectively. The recess 1022 of the rigid ring 102 accommodates the protrusion 1035 of the neck region 103d, thereby securely engaging the rigid ring to the neck region of the container 103 once the rigid ring has been snapped into place. The protrusions 1013, 1014 and 1015, as well as a portion 1018, o of the U-shaped region lOla of the mechanical plug engage the recess 1021 of the rigid ring and portions 1034, 1036 and 1037 of the exterior surface of the neck region 103d, respectively. In addition, the protrusions 1031 and 1033 of the exterior surface of the neck region 103d engage a portion 1017 and the recess 1016 of the U-shaped region lOla of the mechanical plug.
In addition to the above-described combinations of interlocking protrusions and recesses, attached to the lower surface of the mechanical plug 101 are at least two legs 1011 which extend perpendicularly to the lower surface of DOCKET NO. 57556/104 the mechanical plug, as shown in Fig. 2. Each of the legs 1011 has a hook-shaped end portion 1012 adapted to engage a recess region 1032 at the bottom interior of the assembled combination of the rigid ring 102 and the neck region 103d s of the mechanical plug. The legs 1011 are flexible enough such that, during assembly of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention, the legs 1011 slide down the vertical interior surface 102a of the rigid ring and snap into place at the recess region 1032, against a portion 1038 of the neck region 103d of the container.
The combination of the U-shaped region 101a and the legs 1011 of the mechanical plug 101 facilitates both vertical and radial compression of the neck region 103d of the container and the rigid ring against the mechanical plug. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, the portion 1012 of the legs 1011 interact with the portion 1023 of the rigid ring and the portion 1038 of the neck region 103d of the container, and portions 1014 and 1018 of the mechanical plug interact with portions 1034 and 1037 of the neck region 103d of the container, respectively, to vertically compress the DOCKET NO. 57556/104 neck region between the mechanical plug 101 and the rigid ring 102. Similarly, the portions 1013, 1015 and 1017 of the U-shaped region 101a of- the mechanical plug 101 interact with the portions 1021, 1036 and 1031, respectively, to radially compress the neck region 103d between the mechanical plug and the rigid ring 102. In this manner, a substantially hermetic seal of the container opening 103b is achieved, as shown in Fig. 3.
As can be understood from the above description 0 and Figs. 2 and 3, the first embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention achieves two types of mechanical seals. First, a seal extending along the horizontal direction of the neck region, e.g., the area extending between the portions 1034 and 1037, as well as the interface of the regions 1022 and 1035, is achieved by the vertical compression of the neck region 103d by the mechanical plug against the rigid ring 102. Second, a seal extending along the vertical direction, e.g., the area extending between the portions 1036 and 1034, as well as the 20 interface of the regions 1021 and 1013, is achieved by the CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 horizontal compression of t:he neck region 103d by the mechanical plug against the rigid ring 102.
Once the mechanical plug has been snapped into the container opening, the resulting compression of the s container material tends to cause displacement, or "creep,"
of the compressed material towards areas of lesser compression. The protrusions force the container material displaced by compression tc, be confined within a restricted area, thereby ensuring the tightness of the seal for a lC prolonged period of time. For example, the protrusions 1014 an~l 1015 of the mechanical plug 101 delimits the protrusion 1031 on the exterior surface of the neck region 103d of the container. Accordingly, when the material of the protrusion 1031 is initially compressed by the portions 1015 and 1017, the displaced material of the protrusion 1031 is forced towards the protrusion 1014, which limits any further movement of the displaced material, thereby maintaining a tight seal.
As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the central portion of a lower surface 1019 of the mechanical plug 101 is DOCKET NO. 57556/104 preferably equipped with an extension or a plunger 1017 which is adapted to extend into the liquid content of the container before the mechanical plug 101 has been snapped into place around the container opening 103b. The inserted plunger 1017 forces the liquid level to rise, hence allowing air or gas bubbles to rise along with the liquid level and escape through the container opening 103b which is not yet sealed by the mechanical p]ug 101. In this manner, the plunger 1017 substantially reduces the residual air bubbles o which may otherwise remain between the surface of the liquid and the lower surface of the mechanical plug. The configuration and dimensions of the mechanical plug 101, the neck region 103d and the rigid ring 102 are such that the U-shaped region lOla and the legs 1011 of the mechanical plug interact with the neck region 103d and the rigid ring 102 to form a tight seal only after the plunger 1017 has forced the liquid level to rise to approximately the upper edge of the neck region 103d, thereby c,bviating the need for a vacuum condition normally utilized. for an air-less filling process.
The lower surface 1019 of the mechanical plug 101 CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 is sloped in order to ensu:re that the air or gas bubbles which have been forced up lo the surface level of the liquid by the insertion of the plunger 1017 are not trapped between the liquid level and the lower surface of the mechanical plug. The sloped surface -L019 facilitates radially upward movement of the air bubbles which eventually escape through the opening 103b of the container, via the area between the two legs 1011.
As shown in Fig. 4, which is an exploded cross-o sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of a mechanical closure system a.ccording to the present invention, the second embocliment of the present invention is substantially similar to the first embodiment and includes a mechanical plug or plug 401 and a rigid annular ring 402, both of which interact with a neck region 403d of a pouch or container 403. As in the first embodiment described in conjunction with Figs. 1-3, the contour of the rigid ring 402 is complementary to the inside contour of the neck region 403d of the container 403, thereby allowing the rigid ring 402 to be snapped into the inside contour of the neck CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 region 403d. In addition, radial edge 401a of the mechanical plug 401 is formed as an arch-shaped region which extends around the plug and complements the exterior contour of the combination of the rigid ring 402 and the neck region s 403d. After the rigid rinq 402 has been snapped into the inside contour of the neck region 403d, the mechanical plug 401 is subsequently snapped into place around the container opening 403b defined by the neck region 403d such that the arch-shaped region 401a tiqhtly engages the neck region 403d o of the pouch 403 and the rigid ring 402, as shown in Fig. 5.
As with the first embodiment of the mechanical closure system, the lower surface 4019 of the mechanical plug 401 of the second embodiment is sloped, or tapered, in order to ensure that the air or gas bubbles which have been forced up to the surface level of the liquid by the insertion of the plunger 4017 are directed radially upward and eventually escape through the opening 403b of the container, via the area between the two legs 4011.
In addition, similar to the first embodiment of the mechanical closure system, the second embodiment shown DOCKET NO. 57556/104 in Figs. 4 and 5 preferably have at least two legs 4011 attached to the lower surface of the mechanical plug 401, each of the legs having a hook-shaped region 4012 at the end. The hook-shaped region 4012 is adapted to engage a region 4023 at the bottom surface of the rigid annular ring 402. In addition, attached to the central lower surface of the mechanical plug 401 is an extension or a plunger 4017 which is adapted to extend into the liquid content of the container before the mechanical plug 401 is snapped into o place around the container opening 403b, thereby substantially reducing the residual air bubbles which may otherwise remain between the surface of the liquid and the lower surface of the mechanical plug.
The second embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the pre;sent invention utilizes fewer protrusions on the surfaces of the mechanical plug 401 and the neck region 403d than t]-Le number of protrusions found on the corresponding parts of the first embodiment. However, the unique arrangement of the interacting components, i.e., the mechanical plug 401, the rigid ring 402 and the neck DOCKET NO. 57556/104 region 403d, ensures a substantially hermetic seal of the pouch 403. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a protrusion 4015 and a region 4017 of the mechanical plug interact with a region 4031 of the neck region 403d, which region 4031 includes a protrusion from the regular contour of the exterior surface of the neck region 403d, and a portion 4016 of the mechanical plug interacts with the region 4022 of the rigid ring 402, thereby achieving radial compression of the rigid ring 402 and the neck region 403d. In addition, portions 4016 and 4012 of the mechanical plug interact with regions 4022 and 4023 of the rigid ring 402 to vertically compress the neck region 403d and the rigid ring 402.
In order to ensure that the displacement or creep of the container material around the points of compression does not result in reduced tightness of the seal, the second embodiment of the mechanical closure system provides the protrusion 4015 at the radial edge of the mechanical plug 401. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the protrusion 4015 forces the container material of region 4031 displaced by compression to be channeled upwards, towards a space 4018 CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 delimited by the annular rigid ring 402. Accordingly, the protrusion 4015 and the riqid ring 402 confine the displaced material of the region 4031 of the container 403, thereby maintaining a tight seal for a prolonged period of time.
While specific, preferred embodiments have been described above, it should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the above-described preferred embodiments are exemplary in nature since certain changes may be made thereto without departing from the teachings of o the invention, and the preferred embodiments should not to be construed as limiting the scope of protection for the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, while the exemplary embodiments of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention have been described as being adapted for containers or pouches having circular openings, the mechanical closure system according to the present invention may be adapted for openings of other shapes, e.g., square or rectangle.
Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a system and a method for mechanically closing an opening of a pouch or a container, and relates more particularly to a system and a method for closing an open:ing of a pouch or a container by using a combination of a p:Lug mechanism and an annular ring o mechanism.
Back~round of the Invention Generally, the task of filling a pouch or a container with a liquid content and ensuring that the content is tightly sealed rnay be achieved by one of two Express Mail NO.: EM271948473US
CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 approaches: fill a pouch or a container which has an opening for introducing the liquid content and subsequently seal the opening; or fill a sealed pouch or container using a liquid-introducing needle and subsequently seal the puncture point.
Both methods generally require application of external sealing agents, the efficacy of which sealing agents may be subject to the material characteristics of the container, for the purpose of forming tight seals. Material characteristics of the container are usually constant, but lC should they vary, these characteristics would affect the tightness of the seal.
One alternative approach is, then, to utilize plugs or lids which are formed to mechanically interact with the opening of a pouch or a container to form a tight seal.
The main difficulty with this approach is that the allowable mechanical tolerances of the interacting parts are extremely small in order to achieve a tight, substantially hermetic seal. Furthermore, even if the interacting parts initially form a tight seal, the portions of the interacting parts which are under pressure tend to experience a "creep,"
CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 i.e., deformation of the material, over time. Accordingly, the "creep" phenomenon tencls to reduce the tightness of the seal. Thus, there is a need for a mechanical closure system which achieves and maintains hermetic seal of a pouch or a container over a substantia.l period of time.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mech.anical closure system for achieving a tight, substantially hermetic seal of a pouch or a container having an opening.
o It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of mechanically sealing a pouch or a container having an opening to achieve a tight, substantially hermetic seal.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a mechanical closure system for a pouch or a container having an opening, which mechanical closure system compensates for deformation of the interacting parts of the mechanical closure system and the pouch or the container.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of forming a mechanical seal of a pouch CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 or a container having an opening, which mechanical seal compensates for deformation of the interacting parts of the mechanical closure system and the pouch or the container.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a mechanical closure system for achieving a tight, substantially hermetic seal of a pouch or a container having an opening, which system does not require extremely small tolerances for the interacting parts.
It is yet another object of the present invention o to provide a method of mechanically sealing a pouch or a container having an opening with a mechanical closure system, which method does not require extremely small tolerances for the interact:ing parts of the mechanical closure system to achieve a tight, substantially hermetic seal.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of mechanically sealing an opening of a pouch or a container after having introduced liquid into the container through the opening, which method eliminates the need to provide vacuum conditions for filling the container CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 and, thereby, substantially reduces the cost of the mechanical system for filling the container.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system of mechanically sealing an opening of a s pouch or a container for a liquid, which system provides a mechanical plug that facilitates maximum collapsibility of the container by allowing transverse and longitudinal deformation of the container material without hindrance, which in turn minimizes residue in the container after o dispensing the liquid.
Summary of the Invention In accordance wilh the above objects, the present invention provides a mechanical lid or a plug which interacts with an opening of a pouch or a container, as well as with a rigid ring placed inside the container opening.
The mechanical plug is snapped into the container opening such that the mechanical p:Lug compresses both the outside of the opening and the inner iace of the ring placed inside the container opening, thereby forming a tight seal of the CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 opening.
The opening area of the container has an annular recess configured to accomrnodate the rigid ring, where the rigid ring is snapped into the annular recess. After the s rigid ring has been snapped into the annular recess of the opening region of the container, the mechanical plug is snapped both into the rigicl ring and around the outside edge of the container opening so that the container opening is compressed between the rigid ring and the mechanical plug.
o The radial edge of the inner face of the mechanical plug is formed as a an arch-shaped region which ext~nds around the plug such that the radial edge of the plug is adapted to "hug" the perimeter of the container opening. In addition, attached to the inner face of the mechanical plug are two or more legs which extend perpendicular to the lower surface of the mechanical plug. The ends of the legs are hook-shaped to engage the bottom of the rigid ring/radial groove combination. The annular recess and the legs of the mechanical plug facilitate both vertical and radial compression of the opening region of the container and the CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 rigid ring. In this manner, a tight seal of the container opening is ensured.
In addition, the outside surface of the opening region of the container and the interior surface of the annular recess of the mechanical plug each has one or more protrusions, or "interferences." Once the mechanical plug has been snapped into the container opening, the resulting compression of the container material tends to cause displacement, or "creep," of the compressed material towards areas of lesser compression. The protrusions limit the rar~ge of displacement of the compressed container material, i.e., force the container material displaced by compression to remain within a defined area, thereby ensuring the tightness of the seal for a prolonged period of time.
The central inner surface of the mechanical plug may be equipped with an extension or a plunger which is adapted to extend into the liquid content of the container in such a way that the mechanical plug snaps tightly into the container opening after, and only after, the plunger has displaced the surface level of the liquid up to the upper CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 edge of the container opening, thereby obviating the need for a vacuum condition normally utilized for an air-less filling process. In this manner, the plunger substantially reduces the residual air bubbles which may otherwise remain between the surface of the liquid and the inner surface of the mechanical plug.
The mechanical closure system and method according to the present invention ma~y be used for any application in which an opening of a pouch or a container needs to be o tightly sealed. For example, the mechanical closure system according to the present invention is particularly well suited for closing medicament containers or pouches containing medicament. Because the mechanical closure system according to the present invention achieves a substantially hermetic seal without the need for caulking materials, glues or other external sealing agents, expensive sealing systems for applying the external sealing agents are not necessary. In addition, because of interaction of the protrusions provided on the exterior surface of the opening region of the container and the interior surface of the DOCKET NO. 57556/104 annular recess of the mechanical plug, the allowable mechanical tolerances of the interacting components of the mechanical closure system are increased.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is an exp~Loded view of components of one preferred embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an exp]oded cross-sectional view of lC components of the preferred embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of assembled components of the preferrecl embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of components of another preferred embodiment of the mechanical closure system according tc, the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of assembled DOCKET NO. 57556/104 components of the preferre~1 embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention shown in Fig. 4.
s DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in Fig. 1, which is an exploded view of a first exemplary embodiment of a mechanical closure system according to the present invention, the first embodiment of the present invention includes a mechanical lid or plug 101 and a rigid annular ring 102, both of which interact with a neck region 103d near an opening 103b of a pouch or container 103 to tightly seal the opening 103b. The pouch or container 103 may be macle of any one of several materials well known in the art, including butadiene polyethylene styrene (KRATONTM), polyethylene, polyurethane or other plastic materials, thermoplastic elastomers or other elastic materials. As shown in Fig. 1, the container 103 may be a medicament dispensing cartridge with a nozzle 103a.
As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the latter of which is an exploded cross-sectional view of the first embodiment DOCKET NO. 57556/104 of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention, the contour of the rigid ring 102 is complementary to the inside contour 103c of the neck region 103d of the container 103 near the opening 103b, thereby allowing the rigid ring 102 to be snapped into the inside contour 103c of the neck region 103d. Similarly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, radial eclge lOla of the mechanical plug 101 is formed as a U-shapecl region which extends around the plug and complements the exterior contour of the combination o of the rigid ring 102 and the neck region 103d. After the rigid ring 102 has been snapped into the inside contour 103c of the neck region 103d, the mechanical plug 101 is subsequently snapped into place around the container opening 103b such that the U-shaped region lOla tightly engages the neck region 103d of the pouch 103 and the interior surface of the rigid ring 102.
As shown in Fig. 2, the U-shaped region lOla of the mechanical plug 101 has protrusions 1013, 1014 and 1015, and at least one recess 1016. Similarly, the exterior surface of the neck region 103d of the mechanical plug has DOCKET NO. 57556/104 protrusions 1031 and 1033, and the interior surface of the neck region has a protrusion 1035. In addition, the rigid ring 102 has recesses 1021 and 1022 at the vertical interior surface 102a and the bottom surface, respectively. The recess 1022 of the rigid ring 102 accommodates the protrusion 1035 of the neck region 103d, thereby securely engaging the rigid ring to the neck region of the container 103 once the rigid ring has been snapped into place. The protrusions 1013, 1014 and 1015, as well as a portion 1018, o of the U-shaped region lOla of the mechanical plug engage the recess 1021 of the rigid ring and portions 1034, 1036 and 1037 of the exterior surface of the neck region 103d, respectively. In addition, the protrusions 1031 and 1033 of the exterior surface of the neck region 103d engage a portion 1017 and the recess 1016 of the U-shaped region lOla of the mechanical plug.
In addition to the above-described combinations of interlocking protrusions and recesses, attached to the lower surface of the mechanical plug 101 are at least two legs 1011 which extend perpendicularly to the lower surface of DOCKET NO. 57556/104 the mechanical plug, as shown in Fig. 2. Each of the legs 1011 has a hook-shaped end portion 1012 adapted to engage a recess region 1032 at the bottom interior of the assembled combination of the rigid ring 102 and the neck region 103d s of the mechanical plug. The legs 1011 are flexible enough such that, during assembly of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention, the legs 1011 slide down the vertical interior surface 102a of the rigid ring and snap into place at the recess region 1032, against a portion 1038 of the neck region 103d of the container.
The combination of the U-shaped region 101a and the legs 1011 of the mechanical plug 101 facilitates both vertical and radial compression of the neck region 103d of the container and the rigid ring against the mechanical plug. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, the portion 1012 of the legs 1011 interact with the portion 1023 of the rigid ring and the portion 1038 of the neck region 103d of the container, and portions 1014 and 1018 of the mechanical plug interact with portions 1034 and 1037 of the neck region 103d of the container, respectively, to vertically compress the DOCKET NO. 57556/104 neck region between the mechanical plug 101 and the rigid ring 102. Similarly, the portions 1013, 1015 and 1017 of the U-shaped region 101a of- the mechanical plug 101 interact with the portions 1021, 1036 and 1031, respectively, to radially compress the neck region 103d between the mechanical plug and the rigid ring 102. In this manner, a substantially hermetic seal of the container opening 103b is achieved, as shown in Fig. 3.
As can be understood from the above description 0 and Figs. 2 and 3, the first embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention achieves two types of mechanical seals. First, a seal extending along the horizontal direction of the neck region, e.g., the area extending between the portions 1034 and 1037, as well as the interface of the regions 1022 and 1035, is achieved by the vertical compression of the neck region 103d by the mechanical plug against the rigid ring 102. Second, a seal extending along the vertical direction, e.g., the area extending between the portions 1036 and 1034, as well as the 20 interface of the regions 1021 and 1013, is achieved by the CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 horizontal compression of t:he neck region 103d by the mechanical plug against the rigid ring 102.
Once the mechanical plug has been snapped into the container opening, the resulting compression of the s container material tends to cause displacement, or "creep,"
of the compressed material towards areas of lesser compression. The protrusions force the container material displaced by compression tc, be confined within a restricted area, thereby ensuring the tightness of the seal for a lC prolonged period of time. For example, the protrusions 1014 an~l 1015 of the mechanical plug 101 delimits the protrusion 1031 on the exterior surface of the neck region 103d of the container. Accordingly, when the material of the protrusion 1031 is initially compressed by the portions 1015 and 1017, the displaced material of the protrusion 1031 is forced towards the protrusion 1014, which limits any further movement of the displaced material, thereby maintaining a tight seal.
As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the central portion of a lower surface 1019 of the mechanical plug 101 is DOCKET NO. 57556/104 preferably equipped with an extension or a plunger 1017 which is adapted to extend into the liquid content of the container before the mechanical plug 101 has been snapped into place around the container opening 103b. The inserted plunger 1017 forces the liquid level to rise, hence allowing air or gas bubbles to rise along with the liquid level and escape through the container opening 103b which is not yet sealed by the mechanical p]ug 101. In this manner, the plunger 1017 substantially reduces the residual air bubbles o which may otherwise remain between the surface of the liquid and the lower surface of the mechanical plug. The configuration and dimensions of the mechanical plug 101, the neck region 103d and the rigid ring 102 are such that the U-shaped region lOla and the legs 1011 of the mechanical plug interact with the neck region 103d and the rigid ring 102 to form a tight seal only after the plunger 1017 has forced the liquid level to rise to approximately the upper edge of the neck region 103d, thereby c,bviating the need for a vacuum condition normally utilized. for an air-less filling process.
The lower surface 1019 of the mechanical plug 101 CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 is sloped in order to ensu:re that the air or gas bubbles which have been forced up lo the surface level of the liquid by the insertion of the plunger 1017 are not trapped between the liquid level and the lower surface of the mechanical plug. The sloped surface -L019 facilitates radially upward movement of the air bubbles which eventually escape through the opening 103b of the container, via the area between the two legs 1011.
As shown in Fig. 4, which is an exploded cross-o sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of a mechanical closure system a.ccording to the present invention, the second embocliment of the present invention is substantially similar to the first embodiment and includes a mechanical plug or plug 401 and a rigid annular ring 402, both of which interact with a neck region 403d of a pouch or container 403. As in the first embodiment described in conjunction with Figs. 1-3, the contour of the rigid ring 402 is complementary to the inside contour of the neck region 403d of the container 403, thereby allowing the rigid ring 402 to be snapped into the inside contour of the neck CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 region 403d. In addition, radial edge 401a of the mechanical plug 401 is formed as an arch-shaped region which extends around the plug and complements the exterior contour of the combination of the rigid ring 402 and the neck region s 403d. After the rigid rinq 402 has been snapped into the inside contour of the neck region 403d, the mechanical plug 401 is subsequently snapped into place around the container opening 403b defined by the neck region 403d such that the arch-shaped region 401a tiqhtly engages the neck region 403d o of the pouch 403 and the rigid ring 402, as shown in Fig. 5.
As with the first embodiment of the mechanical closure system, the lower surface 4019 of the mechanical plug 401 of the second embodiment is sloped, or tapered, in order to ensure that the air or gas bubbles which have been forced up to the surface level of the liquid by the insertion of the plunger 4017 are directed radially upward and eventually escape through the opening 403b of the container, via the area between the two legs 4011.
In addition, similar to the first embodiment of the mechanical closure system, the second embodiment shown DOCKET NO. 57556/104 in Figs. 4 and 5 preferably have at least two legs 4011 attached to the lower surface of the mechanical plug 401, each of the legs having a hook-shaped region 4012 at the end. The hook-shaped region 4012 is adapted to engage a region 4023 at the bottom surface of the rigid annular ring 402. In addition, attached to the central lower surface of the mechanical plug 401 is an extension or a plunger 4017 which is adapted to extend into the liquid content of the container before the mechanical plug 401 is snapped into o place around the container opening 403b, thereby substantially reducing the residual air bubbles which may otherwise remain between the surface of the liquid and the lower surface of the mechanical plug.
The second embodiment of the mechanical closure system according to the pre;sent invention utilizes fewer protrusions on the surfaces of the mechanical plug 401 and the neck region 403d than t]-Le number of protrusions found on the corresponding parts of the first embodiment. However, the unique arrangement of the interacting components, i.e., the mechanical plug 401, the rigid ring 402 and the neck DOCKET NO. 57556/104 region 403d, ensures a substantially hermetic seal of the pouch 403. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a protrusion 4015 and a region 4017 of the mechanical plug interact with a region 4031 of the neck region 403d, which region 4031 includes a protrusion from the regular contour of the exterior surface of the neck region 403d, and a portion 4016 of the mechanical plug interacts with the region 4022 of the rigid ring 402, thereby achieving radial compression of the rigid ring 402 and the neck region 403d. In addition, portions 4016 and 4012 of the mechanical plug interact with regions 4022 and 4023 of the rigid ring 402 to vertically compress the neck region 403d and the rigid ring 402.
In order to ensure that the displacement or creep of the container material around the points of compression does not result in reduced tightness of the seal, the second embodiment of the mechanical closure system provides the protrusion 4015 at the radial edge of the mechanical plug 401. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the protrusion 4015 forces the container material of region 4031 displaced by compression to be channeled upwards, towards a space 4018 CA 02229944 l998-02-l9 DOCKET NO. 57556/104 delimited by the annular rigid ring 402. Accordingly, the protrusion 4015 and the riqid ring 402 confine the displaced material of the region 4031 of the container 403, thereby maintaining a tight seal for a prolonged period of time.
While specific, preferred embodiments have been described above, it should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the above-described preferred embodiments are exemplary in nature since certain changes may be made thereto without departing from the teachings of o the invention, and the preferred embodiments should not to be construed as limiting the scope of protection for the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, while the exemplary embodiments of the mechanical closure system according to the present invention have been described as being adapted for containers or pouches having circular openings, the mechanical closure system according to the present invention may be adapted for openings of other shapes, e.g., square or rectangle.
Claims (17)
1. A system for mechanically sealing an opening of a container defined by a neck region of said container, which comprises:
a rigid ring for operatively engaging an interior surface of said neck region of said container; and a mechanical plug for operatively and simultaneously engaging an exterior surface of said neck region of said container and said interior annular surface of said rigid ring, said mechanical plug having a leg extending substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface of the mechanical plug for operatively engaging a bottom surface of said rigid ring;
whereby said mechanical plug and said rigid ring provide a mechanical seal of said container opening by simultaneously engaging at least a portion of said neck region of said container.
a rigid ring for operatively engaging an interior surface of said neck region of said container; and a mechanical plug for operatively and simultaneously engaging an exterior surface of said neck region of said container and said interior annular surface of said rigid ring, said mechanical plug having a leg extending substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface of the mechanical plug for operatively engaging a bottom surface of said rigid ring;
whereby said mechanical plug and said rigid ring provide a mechanical seal of said container opening by simultaneously engaging at least a portion of said neck region of said container.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical plug and said rigid ring provide a horizontal compression of said neck region of said container to achieve a seal along the vertical dimension of the neck region.
3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said mechanical plug and said rigid ring provide a vertical compression of said neck region of said container to achieve a seal along the horizontal dimension of the neck region.
4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said mechanical plug has an arch-shaped annular region at the radial edge, and wherein an interior surface of said arch-shaped annular region has a protrusion which operatively interacts with said exterior surface of said neck region to delimit displacement of material of said exterior surface of said neck region.
5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said exterior surface of said neck region of said container has a protrusion, and wherein said protrusion of said interior surface of said arch-shaped annular region delimits displacement of said protrusion of said exterior surface of said neck region.
6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said mechanical plug has a plunger extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the mechanical plug for displacing liquid contained in said container.
7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said bottom surface of the mechanical plug is sloped radially upwards from the plunger for directing gas displaced along with the displaced liquid in radially upward direction.
8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said mechanical plug is securely engaged with said container after substantially all of the gas within the container has been displaced out of the container by the plunger.
9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical plug has an arch-shaped annular region at the radial edge, and wherein an interior surface of said arch-shaped annular region has a protrusion which operatively interacts with said exterior surface of said neck region to delimit displacement of material of said exterior surface of said neck region.
10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said exterior surface of said neck region of said container has a protrusion, and wherein said protrusion of said interior surface of said arch-shaped annular region delimits displacement of said protrusion of said exterior surface of said neck region.
11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said mechanical plug has a plunger extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the mechanical plug for displacing liquid contained in said container.
12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said bottom surface of the mechanical plug is sloped radially upwards from the plunger for directing gas displaced along with the displaced liquid in radially upward direction.
13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said mechanical plug is securely engaged with said container after substantially all of the gas within the container has been displaced out of the container by the plunger.
14. A method for mechanically sealing an opening of a container defined by a neck region of said container with a rigid ring and a mechanical plug having an arch-shaped annular region at the radial edge and a leg extending substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface of the mechanical plug, which comprises:
operatively engaging a rigid annular ring with an interior surface of said neck region, an exterior surface of said annular ring and said interior surface of said neck region having substantially complementary contours;
operatively and simultaneously engaging said arch-shaped annular region of said mechanical plug with an exterior surface of said neck region of said container and an interior surface of said rigid ring; and operatively engaging said leg of said mechanical plug with a bottom surface of said rigid ring.
operatively engaging a rigid annular ring with an interior surface of said neck region, an exterior surface of said annular ring and said interior surface of said neck region having substantially complementary contours;
operatively and simultaneously engaging said arch-shaped annular region of said mechanical plug with an exterior surface of said neck region of said container and an interior surface of said rigid ring; and operatively engaging said leg of said mechanical plug with a bottom surface of said rigid ring.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein an interior surface of said arch-shaped annular region has a protrusion, and wherein said step of operatively engaging said arch-shaped annular region of said mechanical plug with an exterior surface of said neck region of said container comprises operatively engaging said protrusion of said arch-shaped annular region of said mechanical plug with said exterior surface of said neck region to delimit displacement of material of said exterior surface of said neck region.
16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said mechanical plug has a plunger extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the mechanical plug for displacing liquid and gas contained in said container, further comprising, prior to said step of operatively and simultaneously engaging said arch-shaped annular region of said mechanical plug with an exterior surface of said neck region of said container, the step of:
displacing substantially all of the gas within the container to a region outside the container by placing said plunger into the liquid.
displacing substantially all of the gas within the container to a region outside the container by placing said plunger into the liquid.
17. A system for mechanically sealing an opening of a container defined by a neck region of said container, which comprises:
a rigid ring for operatively engaging an interior surface of said neck region of said container; and a mechanical plug for operatively and simultaneously engaging an exterior surface of said neck region of said container and said interior annular surface of said rigid ring, said mechanical plug having a leg extending substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface of the mechanical plug for operatively engaging a bottom surface of said rigid ring, and said mechanical plug also having a plunger extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the mechanical plug for displacing liquid and gas contained in said container;
wherein said mechanical plug and said rigid ring provide a mechanical seal of said container opening by simultaneously engaging at least a portion of said neck region of said container, said mechanical plug being securely engaged with said container after substantially all of the gas within the container has been displaced out of the container by the plunger, whereby said system facilitates air-less filling of the container.
a rigid ring for operatively engaging an interior surface of said neck region of said container; and a mechanical plug for operatively and simultaneously engaging an exterior surface of said neck region of said container and said interior annular surface of said rigid ring, said mechanical plug having a leg extending substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface of the mechanical plug for operatively engaging a bottom surface of said rigid ring, and said mechanical plug also having a plunger extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the mechanical plug for displacing liquid and gas contained in said container;
wherein said mechanical plug and said rigid ring provide a mechanical seal of said container opening by simultaneously engaging at least a portion of said neck region of said container, said mechanical plug being securely engaged with said container after substantially all of the gas within the container has been displaced out of the container by the plunger, whereby said system facilitates air-less filling of the container.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US80871697A | 1997-02-28 | 1997-02-28 | |
| US08/808,716 | 1997-02-28 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2229944A1 true CA2229944A1 (en) | 1998-08-28 |
Family
ID=25199521
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002229944A Abandoned CA2229944A1 (en) | 1997-02-28 | 1998-02-19 | System and method for mechanical closure of container openings |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0863086A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH10273155A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR19980071816A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU5639398A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2229944A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6302101B1 (en) * | 1999-12-14 | 2001-10-16 | Daniel Py | System and method for application of medicament into the nasal passage |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE603165C (en) * | 1934-09-24 | Adolf Schwieger | Sealing ring between the edges of the lid and the lower part of cans and containers, especially for shoe polish, floor polish and the like. like | |
| FR1089047A (en) * | 1953-12-04 | 1955-03-14 | Franco Suisse D Emboutissage | Cap for liquid reservoir |
| CH424512A (en) * | 1965-08-20 | 1966-11-15 | Buehler Josef | Closure for containers, in particular bottles |
| GB9120964D0 (en) * | 1991-10-03 | 1991-11-13 | Unilever Plc | Attachment for a container |
-
1998
- 1998-02-19 EP EP98301238A patent/EP0863086A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1998-02-19 CA CA002229944A patent/CA2229944A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-02-27 AU AU56393/98A patent/AU5639398A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-02-27 KR KR1019980006439A patent/KR19980071816A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1998-03-02 JP JP10049240A patent/JPH10273155A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0863086A3 (en) | 1999-04-14 |
| JPH10273155A (en) | 1998-10-13 |
| AU5639398A (en) | 1998-09-03 |
| KR19980071816A (en) | 1998-10-26 |
| EP0863086A2 (en) | 1998-09-09 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |