CA2593672A1 - Dispenser for semi-solid pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparations in a pouch-type package - Google Patents
Dispenser for semi-solid pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparations in a pouch-type package Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2593672A1 CA2593672A1 CA 2593672 CA2593672A CA2593672A1 CA 2593672 A1 CA2593672 A1 CA 2593672A1 CA 2593672 CA2593672 CA 2593672 CA 2593672 A CA2593672 A CA 2593672A CA 2593672 A1 CA2593672 A1 CA 2593672A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- slide
- dispenser
- pouch
- type package
- 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
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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
- B65D35/00—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor
- B65D35/24—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor with auxiliary devices
- B65D35/28—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor with auxiliary devices for expelling contents
- B65D35/285—Co-operating squeezing supporting rollers
-
- 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
- B65D35/00—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor
- B65D35/24—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor with auxiliary devices
- B65D35/28—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor with auxiliary devices for expelling contents
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
- A61J1/05—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes for collecting, storing or administering blood, plasma or medical fluids ; Infusion or perfusion containers
- A61J1/06—Ampoules or carpules
-
- 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
- B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
- B65D75/52—Details
- B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
-
- 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
- B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
- B65D75/52—Details
- B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
- B65D75/5816—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture for tearing a corner or other small portion next to the edge, e.g. a U-shaped portion
- B65D75/5822—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture for tearing a corner or other small portion next to the edge, e.g. a U-shaped portion and defining, after tearing, a small dispensing spout, a small orifice or the like
-
- 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
- B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
-
- 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
- B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
- B65D83/0055—Containers or packages provided with a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm for expelling the contents
- B65D83/0072—Containers or packages provided with a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm for expelling the contents the contents of a flexible bag being expelled by a piston or a movable bottom or partition provided in the container or the package
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
- A61J1/05—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes for collecting, storing or administering blood, plasma or medical fluids ; Infusion or perfusion containers
- A61J1/06—Ampoules or carpules
- A61J1/067—Flexible ampoules, the contents of which are expelled by squeezing
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
- Y02W30/50—Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
- Y02W30/80—Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Hematology (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
- Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
- Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
- Cosmetics (AREA)
- Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
- Medicinal Preparation (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to a dispenser for semi-solid pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations in a pouch-type package (3), said dispenser being composed of a parallelepiped housing (1) which is provided with a slide (4) and an associated smoothing roller (9) and which accommodates a pouch-type package, preferably a tubular bag or four-edge sealed bag, containing a pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation. By means of the dispenser, a method is made available by which said preparations can be smoothed out of a pouch-type package. The pharmaceutical preparations smoothed out by means of the dispenser and by means of the corresponding method can contain gestagens and/or oestrogens and/or androgens and can be used for fertility control and also for hormone replacement therapy.
Description
Dispenser for semi-solid pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparations in a pouch-type package (Description) Technical field The invention relates to a dispenser for semi-solid pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations in a pouch-type package, the dispenser being composed of a parallelepiped housing which is provided with a slide and an associated smoothing roller and which receives a pouch-type package, preferably a tubular bag or four-edge sealed bag, containing a pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation.
By means of the dispenser, a method is made available by which said preparations can be smoothed out of a pouch-type package.
The pharmaceutical preparations smoothed out by means of the dispenser and by means of the corresponding method can contain gestagens and/or estrogens and/or androgens and can be used for fertility control and also for hormone replacement therapy.
Prior art Transdermal pharmaceuticals include, among other forms, semi-solid preparations, such as gels and creams in particular. These preparations can be introduced into tubes and dosed dispensers acting as multi-dose containers, or they are introduced as single doses into tubular bags or four-edge sealed bags. Whereas four-edge sealed bags are often used for cosmetic products, in particular for samples, tubular bags are preferably used for pharmaceutical purposes. This is because of the special requirements for complete removal of the contents and for reproducibility of this procedure, which is not legally regulated in the case of cosmetic products. These requirements are better met by long tubular bags than by flat rectangular or square sealed bags.
A typical tubular bag in the form of a so-called stick pack is used for the product called Testogel, which is marketed by Jenapharm GmbH & Co. KG in Germany.
A disadvantage of this form of application is the difficulty involved in removing the entire contents, since this requires the bag to be manually smoothed and pressed out several times, in the same way as a tube of toothpaste.
This is especially the case when the user has only one hand free to do this, for example if the gel is to be applied with the right hand to the left upper arm.
Disclosure of the invention The object of the present invention is therefore to make it possible for a semi-solid pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation to be smoothed out of a pouch-type package in a user-friendly way with a single smoothing movement.
According to the invention, the object is achieved with a dispenser for semi-solid pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparations in a pouch-type package (3), said dispenser being composed of a parallelepiped housing (1) - with a housing top (7), provided with a movable support face, called slide (4), - with a housing bottom (13), - with three closed side parts arranged at a 90 angle between housing top (7) and housing bottom (13), with two mutually opposite side parts that are of equal length and are longer than the third side part, called the housing rear wall.
- An opening (2) for receiving the pouch-type package (3), preferably a tubular bag or four-edge sealed bag, is located opposite the housing rear wall.
- A slit-shaped recess (17) is arranged on the housing rear wall above and horizontal to the housing bottom (13), and a planar locking mechanism (8) or locking plate (22) is arranged displaceably on the outside face of the housing rear wall.
- Slit-shaped openings (6) are arranged along both long edges of the housing top (7) and serve as guide channels for the slide (4).
- A smoothing roller (9) is secured in the housing (1) itself and is connected to the slide (4) and is moved by the latter.
According to the invention, the pharmaceutical active substance in the semi-solid pharmaceutical preparation can be at least one steroid hormone from the group of gestagens and/or estrogens and/or androgens.
Moreover, according to the invention, the gestagen and/or estrogen and/or androgen can be dienogest, drospirenone, levonorgestrel, gestodene, estradiol, ethynyl estradiol, estradiol valerate, DHEA, testosterone, testosterone undecanoate [efinent].
According to the invention, in a method for smoothing semi-solid preparations or cosmetic preparations out of a pouch-type package (3), preferably a tubular bag or four-edge sealed bag, with the dispenser in the form of a parallelepiped housing (1), as described in detail in the above lines, - the pouch-type package (3), in which the sealed seam (26) on the narrow side remote from the tear-off opening has a width of more than 5 mm, preferably of more than 7 mm, and/or the sealed seam (26) preferably has recesses (27), - is pushed into a slit-shaped recess (17) on the housing rear wall as far as the limit stop (18), - is locked by means of a displaceable locking plate (22), - and the slide (4) connected to the smoothing roller (9), for smoothing out the pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation, is moved in the slit-shaped openings (6) _ guide channels on the housing top (7).
Semi-solid preparations are preferably gels and creams.
The width, according to the invention, of the sealed seams of the pouch-type package permits complete smoothing-out of the middle part of the bag.
Moreover, specific recesses on the sealed seam lying opposite the bag opening permit good adjustment of the pouch-type package in the dispenser according to the invention and in the method according to the invention.
The advantage of the dispenser according to the invention and of the method according to the invention for smoothing the semi-solid preparation out of the pouch-type package lies in the fact that - the dispenser has a surprisingly simple structure, since it can be assembled from as little as just four individual parts, - all parts can be made from plastic in conventional injection molding techniques; even adhesive connections are not necessary.
- Adhesive connections of the parts are not necessary, - with the result that the dispenser can be produced inexpensively, - the dispenser is designed to be used with just one hand and - the smoothing-out procedure is especially reproducible in respect of the amount that is smoothed out.
Description of the figures The reference numbers appearing in the figures, in the patent claims, in the description and in the abstract designate the following:
1 housing 2 opening 3 pouch-type package 4 slide 5 ribbed surface 6 slit-shaped openings 7 housing top 8 locking mechanism 9 smoothing roller 10 guide pin 11 web-shaped overhangs 12 webs 13 housing bottom 14 rear sealed seam of pouch-type package 15 smoothing roller in starting position 16 smoothing roller in end position 17 slit-shaped recess 18 limit stop 19 middle part of pouch-type package 20 nose-shaped extension of bag volume 21 angular retainers 22 locking plate 23 upper abutment lug 24 lower abutment lug 25 edge of sealed seam 26 sealed seam 27 recess 28 remaining portions of sealed seam 29 = 20 nose-shaped extension of pouch-type package 30 perforation in sealed seam Figure A
An elongate, parallelepiped housing 1, depicted in a simplified manner, has, on one narrow face, an opening 2 through which a pouch-type package 3 filled with a semi-solid preparation, preferably a tubular bag in stick-pack format, can be introduced lengthwise, and the removal side of the bag remains protruding from the opening 2.
Located on the housing top 7, there is a slide 4 which can be operated manually, preferably with the thumb, which has a partially ribbed surface 5 for better adherence and which is connected via two slit-shaped openings 6 to a smoothing roller 9 (not shown in this figure) lying inside the dispenser. The slide 4 can be displaced freely in the slit-shaped openings 6 (guide rails) along the middle part of the housing top 7. The end face remote from the opening 2 of the housing covers a locking mechanism 8, which is shown in more detail in the following figures.
Figure B
Figures B1 and B2 show only the slide 4 with the ribbed surface 5, the smoothing roller 9 moved by it, and parts of the housing 1, on the one hand in a perspective view, and, on the other hand, in cross section.
Figure B1 shows the smoothing roller 9 mounted in the slide 4, which is of T-shaped construction. The lateral guide pins 10 are preferably made in one piece with the smoothing roller, for example by turning or injection molding.
The diameter of the smoothing roller 9 is advantageously not greater than the width of the sealed seam 26. The U-shaped cutouts in the slide 4 serve as slide bearings of the smoothing roller 9 and have web-shaped overhangs 11 on both sides. The overhangs ensure that the roller, upon slight downward displacement, does not immediately slip out of this slide bearing.
Webs 12 are also provided on the inner faces of the T-shaped slide 4 on both sides, their function in conjunction with the housing 1 being made clear in Figure B2.
Figure B2 shows a cross section through the housing 1 in the middle area, at the location where the slide 4 is presently situated. The cover face of the slide with the ribbed surface 5 is connected by the side walls to the housing interior via the guide rails 6. The webs 12 of the side parts of the slide 4 slide along the inner face of the housing 1 and keep the slide 4 freely displaceable in the track defined by the guide rails, without the slide 4 being able to fall out from the top.
While the dispenser is held enclosed in one hand, the slide 4 can be operated by the thumb of this hand. The length of travel of the slide 4 preferably corresponds to the distance that can be easily covered by the thumb. This length of travel is 3 - 10 cm, particularly preferably 4 - 7 cm.
The webs 12 are preferably of triangular profile. When the housing 1 and slide 4 are made from elastic synthetic materials, it is possible for the separately produced slide 4 to be pressed from the top downward into the guide rails during assembly of the dispenser, until the triangular webs 12, upon elastic deformation of the housing 1, pass through the guide rails.
Thereafter, the slide 4 is permanently fixed on the housing 1 in the position ready for use.
The guide rails, also to be regarded as a free space between the webs 12 and the middle part of the housing top 7, define the mechanical play of the smoothing roller 9 relative to the housing bottom 13.
This play is chosen such that the rear sealed seam 14 of the pouch-type package can easily pass flat between the smoothing roller 9 and housing bottom when it is inserted into the dispenser. On the other hand, the smoothing roller 9 and the slide 4 are designed such that, in the fully depressed state, the roller in the empty housing 1 without pouch-type package 3 can be pressed fully against the housing bottom 13.
Figure C
Figure C shows a cutaway view of the interior of the dispenser, with the stick pack inserted and with the slide 4 and parts of the housing 1 omitted. The smoothing roller 9 is shown here in the starting position 15 and, for illustration purposes, also in the end position 16, although only one smoothing roller is provided.
Upon insertion into the housing 1 through a slit-shaped recess 17 on the rear wall of the housing, the stick pack is correctly positioned by being pushed through this recess as far as the limit stop 18. The limit stop 18 is ensured by the particular configuration of the rear edge of the sealed seam, which is explained in more detail in Figure E.
The widths of the sealed seams at the front and rear ends of the stick pack are made particularly wide, in order to ensure that the smoothing roller 9 in the starting position 15 can be fitted in place in front of the filled middle part of the stick pack 19, in order then to arrive in the area of the front sealed seam in the end position 16 of the smoothing roller after the entire middle part of the bag has been squeezed out.
Only the nose-shaped extension 20 of the bag volume remains as a small dead volume that cannot be squeezed out completely by the smoothing roller.
Figure D
To ensure that the stick pack is not pushed out of the housing 1 during the smoothing-out with the smoothing roller 9, it can be locked mechanically on the rear face of the housing. Figures Dl to D3 illustrate the locking mechanism.
The rear sealed seam of the stick pack is pushed partially through the slit-shaped recess 17 in the rear wall of the housing, where it emerges from the recess 17 in the rear view in Figure Dl. Guided in two angular retainers 21 on the rear wall of the housing, there is a displaceable locking plate 22 (guide angle) with an upper abutment lug 23 and a lower abutment lug 24 on both sides. After the stick pack in the position according to Figure Dl has been guided through the recess, the locking plate 22 is pushed down, so that the edge 25 of the sealed seam through the recess is bent down at a right angle and is clamped between the locking plate 22 and the housing 1, as is shown in Figure D2.
Means (not shown here) that increase the adhesion resistance and sliding resistance can be arranged on the inner face of the locking plate 22 and of the housing bottom 13, for example roughened surfaces, ribbed surfaces, grained surfaces or rubber linings.
For the purpose of clearer illustration, the figure shows, in a perspective view, an intermediate state between opened and closed locking plate 22, where the edge 25 of the sealed seam already protrudes with partial clamping. The locking plate 22 is pressed firmly onto the housing 1 by the guide angles 21.
The lower abutment lugs 24 preferably have a triangular design. When the housing 1 and locking plates 22 are made of elastic synthetic materials, it is possible for the separately produced locking plate 22 to be pressed from the top down between the guide angles during assembly of the dispenser, until, with elastic bending of the guide angles 21, the triangular lower abutment lugs 24 pass through the latter. Thereafter, the locking plate 22 is fixed permanently on the housing 1 in the position ready for use.
Figure E
Figures El and E2 show suitable embodiments of stick packs/tubular bags for use with the dispenser according to the invention.
These stick packs are firstly characterized by a particularly wide sealed seam 26. Recesses 27 are arranged 27 at the rear edge of the sealed seam. The remaining portions 28 of the rear edge are used for passage through the slit-shaped recess 17 in the rear face of the housing and for fixing to the locking plate. By contrast, the recesses form the abutment area in the housing interior, in order to avoid the stick pack being pushed too far into the dispenser.
The nose-shaped extension of the pouch-type package 29 = 20 which is customary in stick packs containing semi-solid preparations, and which is produced by corresponding sealing, is situated in the front area.
This nose-shaped extension is made particularly long in the stick packs specially designed for the dispenser, and it is also narrow in order to ensure that the dead volume after emptying with the smoothing roller 9 can be kept low.
The positioning of the nose-shaped extension of the application nose in the middle according to Figure El can be advantageous for avoiding contamination of the dispenser when material is dispensed through a lateral application nose (Figure D2).
The application noses can be opened by tearing along the perforations 30 provided.
The illustrated version of the dispenser represents the preferred solution to the object of the invention and can be supplemented by further refinements, as may arise from the requirements of industrial production or packaging.
In particular, any visible designs have been omitted in the drawing in favor of a pure representation of the features that are relevant to the function.
A particular design in terms of shape and color is of course recommended for such an article and can be provided in a manner familiar to a person skilled in the art. This relates in particular to the outer housing 1 and the slide 4.
While the outward design otherwise remains the same, the structure can be simplified, for example by omitting the smoothing roller in favor of a cylinder connected fixedly to the slide 4 or of a rounded but not rotatable smoothing element able to slide relative to the bag. Although this simplification would lead to poorer sliding and smoothing properties of the slide 4, these impaired properties would still be sufficient to ensure the dispenser function according to the invention. A refinement to the design could involve a spring suspension of the slide or of the roller sitting on the slide, with the aim of generating a resistance that the user can feel when depressing the slide or the roller, resulting in the user being able to sense a specific action point.
By means of the dispenser, a method is made available by which said preparations can be smoothed out of a pouch-type package.
The pharmaceutical preparations smoothed out by means of the dispenser and by means of the corresponding method can contain gestagens and/or estrogens and/or androgens and can be used for fertility control and also for hormone replacement therapy.
Prior art Transdermal pharmaceuticals include, among other forms, semi-solid preparations, such as gels and creams in particular. These preparations can be introduced into tubes and dosed dispensers acting as multi-dose containers, or they are introduced as single doses into tubular bags or four-edge sealed bags. Whereas four-edge sealed bags are often used for cosmetic products, in particular for samples, tubular bags are preferably used for pharmaceutical purposes. This is because of the special requirements for complete removal of the contents and for reproducibility of this procedure, which is not legally regulated in the case of cosmetic products. These requirements are better met by long tubular bags than by flat rectangular or square sealed bags.
A typical tubular bag in the form of a so-called stick pack is used for the product called Testogel, which is marketed by Jenapharm GmbH & Co. KG in Germany.
A disadvantage of this form of application is the difficulty involved in removing the entire contents, since this requires the bag to be manually smoothed and pressed out several times, in the same way as a tube of toothpaste.
This is especially the case when the user has only one hand free to do this, for example if the gel is to be applied with the right hand to the left upper arm.
Disclosure of the invention The object of the present invention is therefore to make it possible for a semi-solid pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation to be smoothed out of a pouch-type package in a user-friendly way with a single smoothing movement.
According to the invention, the object is achieved with a dispenser for semi-solid pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparations in a pouch-type package (3), said dispenser being composed of a parallelepiped housing (1) - with a housing top (7), provided with a movable support face, called slide (4), - with a housing bottom (13), - with three closed side parts arranged at a 90 angle between housing top (7) and housing bottom (13), with two mutually opposite side parts that are of equal length and are longer than the third side part, called the housing rear wall.
- An opening (2) for receiving the pouch-type package (3), preferably a tubular bag or four-edge sealed bag, is located opposite the housing rear wall.
- A slit-shaped recess (17) is arranged on the housing rear wall above and horizontal to the housing bottom (13), and a planar locking mechanism (8) or locking plate (22) is arranged displaceably on the outside face of the housing rear wall.
- Slit-shaped openings (6) are arranged along both long edges of the housing top (7) and serve as guide channels for the slide (4).
- A smoothing roller (9) is secured in the housing (1) itself and is connected to the slide (4) and is moved by the latter.
According to the invention, the pharmaceutical active substance in the semi-solid pharmaceutical preparation can be at least one steroid hormone from the group of gestagens and/or estrogens and/or androgens.
Moreover, according to the invention, the gestagen and/or estrogen and/or androgen can be dienogest, drospirenone, levonorgestrel, gestodene, estradiol, ethynyl estradiol, estradiol valerate, DHEA, testosterone, testosterone undecanoate [efinent].
According to the invention, in a method for smoothing semi-solid preparations or cosmetic preparations out of a pouch-type package (3), preferably a tubular bag or four-edge sealed bag, with the dispenser in the form of a parallelepiped housing (1), as described in detail in the above lines, - the pouch-type package (3), in which the sealed seam (26) on the narrow side remote from the tear-off opening has a width of more than 5 mm, preferably of more than 7 mm, and/or the sealed seam (26) preferably has recesses (27), - is pushed into a slit-shaped recess (17) on the housing rear wall as far as the limit stop (18), - is locked by means of a displaceable locking plate (22), - and the slide (4) connected to the smoothing roller (9), for smoothing out the pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation, is moved in the slit-shaped openings (6) _ guide channels on the housing top (7).
Semi-solid preparations are preferably gels and creams.
The width, according to the invention, of the sealed seams of the pouch-type package permits complete smoothing-out of the middle part of the bag.
Moreover, specific recesses on the sealed seam lying opposite the bag opening permit good adjustment of the pouch-type package in the dispenser according to the invention and in the method according to the invention.
The advantage of the dispenser according to the invention and of the method according to the invention for smoothing the semi-solid preparation out of the pouch-type package lies in the fact that - the dispenser has a surprisingly simple structure, since it can be assembled from as little as just four individual parts, - all parts can be made from plastic in conventional injection molding techniques; even adhesive connections are not necessary.
- Adhesive connections of the parts are not necessary, - with the result that the dispenser can be produced inexpensively, - the dispenser is designed to be used with just one hand and - the smoothing-out procedure is especially reproducible in respect of the amount that is smoothed out.
Description of the figures The reference numbers appearing in the figures, in the patent claims, in the description and in the abstract designate the following:
1 housing 2 opening 3 pouch-type package 4 slide 5 ribbed surface 6 slit-shaped openings 7 housing top 8 locking mechanism 9 smoothing roller 10 guide pin 11 web-shaped overhangs 12 webs 13 housing bottom 14 rear sealed seam of pouch-type package 15 smoothing roller in starting position 16 smoothing roller in end position 17 slit-shaped recess 18 limit stop 19 middle part of pouch-type package 20 nose-shaped extension of bag volume 21 angular retainers 22 locking plate 23 upper abutment lug 24 lower abutment lug 25 edge of sealed seam 26 sealed seam 27 recess 28 remaining portions of sealed seam 29 = 20 nose-shaped extension of pouch-type package 30 perforation in sealed seam Figure A
An elongate, parallelepiped housing 1, depicted in a simplified manner, has, on one narrow face, an opening 2 through which a pouch-type package 3 filled with a semi-solid preparation, preferably a tubular bag in stick-pack format, can be introduced lengthwise, and the removal side of the bag remains protruding from the opening 2.
Located on the housing top 7, there is a slide 4 which can be operated manually, preferably with the thumb, which has a partially ribbed surface 5 for better adherence and which is connected via two slit-shaped openings 6 to a smoothing roller 9 (not shown in this figure) lying inside the dispenser. The slide 4 can be displaced freely in the slit-shaped openings 6 (guide rails) along the middle part of the housing top 7. The end face remote from the opening 2 of the housing covers a locking mechanism 8, which is shown in more detail in the following figures.
Figure B
Figures B1 and B2 show only the slide 4 with the ribbed surface 5, the smoothing roller 9 moved by it, and parts of the housing 1, on the one hand in a perspective view, and, on the other hand, in cross section.
Figure B1 shows the smoothing roller 9 mounted in the slide 4, which is of T-shaped construction. The lateral guide pins 10 are preferably made in one piece with the smoothing roller, for example by turning or injection molding.
The diameter of the smoothing roller 9 is advantageously not greater than the width of the sealed seam 26. The U-shaped cutouts in the slide 4 serve as slide bearings of the smoothing roller 9 and have web-shaped overhangs 11 on both sides. The overhangs ensure that the roller, upon slight downward displacement, does not immediately slip out of this slide bearing.
Webs 12 are also provided on the inner faces of the T-shaped slide 4 on both sides, their function in conjunction with the housing 1 being made clear in Figure B2.
Figure B2 shows a cross section through the housing 1 in the middle area, at the location where the slide 4 is presently situated. The cover face of the slide with the ribbed surface 5 is connected by the side walls to the housing interior via the guide rails 6. The webs 12 of the side parts of the slide 4 slide along the inner face of the housing 1 and keep the slide 4 freely displaceable in the track defined by the guide rails, without the slide 4 being able to fall out from the top.
While the dispenser is held enclosed in one hand, the slide 4 can be operated by the thumb of this hand. The length of travel of the slide 4 preferably corresponds to the distance that can be easily covered by the thumb. This length of travel is 3 - 10 cm, particularly preferably 4 - 7 cm.
The webs 12 are preferably of triangular profile. When the housing 1 and slide 4 are made from elastic synthetic materials, it is possible for the separately produced slide 4 to be pressed from the top downward into the guide rails during assembly of the dispenser, until the triangular webs 12, upon elastic deformation of the housing 1, pass through the guide rails.
Thereafter, the slide 4 is permanently fixed on the housing 1 in the position ready for use.
The guide rails, also to be regarded as a free space between the webs 12 and the middle part of the housing top 7, define the mechanical play of the smoothing roller 9 relative to the housing bottom 13.
This play is chosen such that the rear sealed seam 14 of the pouch-type package can easily pass flat between the smoothing roller 9 and housing bottom when it is inserted into the dispenser. On the other hand, the smoothing roller 9 and the slide 4 are designed such that, in the fully depressed state, the roller in the empty housing 1 without pouch-type package 3 can be pressed fully against the housing bottom 13.
Figure C
Figure C shows a cutaway view of the interior of the dispenser, with the stick pack inserted and with the slide 4 and parts of the housing 1 omitted. The smoothing roller 9 is shown here in the starting position 15 and, for illustration purposes, also in the end position 16, although only one smoothing roller is provided.
Upon insertion into the housing 1 through a slit-shaped recess 17 on the rear wall of the housing, the stick pack is correctly positioned by being pushed through this recess as far as the limit stop 18. The limit stop 18 is ensured by the particular configuration of the rear edge of the sealed seam, which is explained in more detail in Figure E.
The widths of the sealed seams at the front and rear ends of the stick pack are made particularly wide, in order to ensure that the smoothing roller 9 in the starting position 15 can be fitted in place in front of the filled middle part of the stick pack 19, in order then to arrive in the area of the front sealed seam in the end position 16 of the smoothing roller after the entire middle part of the bag has been squeezed out.
Only the nose-shaped extension 20 of the bag volume remains as a small dead volume that cannot be squeezed out completely by the smoothing roller.
Figure D
To ensure that the stick pack is not pushed out of the housing 1 during the smoothing-out with the smoothing roller 9, it can be locked mechanically on the rear face of the housing. Figures Dl to D3 illustrate the locking mechanism.
The rear sealed seam of the stick pack is pushed partially through the slit-shaped recess 17 in the rear wall of the housing, where it emerges from the recess 17 in the rear view in Figure Dl. Guided in two angular retainers 21 on the rear wall of the housing, there is a displaceable locking plate 22 (guide angle) with an upper abutment lug 23 and a lower abutment lug 24 on both sides. After the stick pack in the position according to Figure Dl has been guided through the recess, the locking plate 22 is pushed down, so that the edge 25 of the sealed seam through the recess is bent down at a right angle and is clamped between the locking plate 22 and the housing 1, as is shown in Figure D2.
Means (not shown here) that increase the adhesion resistance and sliding resistance can be arranged on the inner face of the locking plate 22 and of the housing bottom 13, for example roughened surfaces, ribbed surfaces, grained surfaces or rubber linings.
For the purpose of clearer illustration, the figure shows, in a perspective view, an intermediate state between opened and closed locking plate 22, where the edge 25 of the sealed seam already protrudes with partial clamping. The locking plate 22 is pressed firmly onto the housing 1 by the guide angles 21.
The lower abutment lugs 24 preferably have a triangular design. When the housing 1 and locking plates 22 are made of elastic synthetic materials, it is possible for the separately produced locking plate 22 to be pressed from the top down between the guide angles during assembly of the dispenser, until, with elastic bending of the guide angles 21, the triangular lower abutment lugs 24 pass through the latter. Thereafter, the locking plate 22 is fixed permanently on the housing 1 in the position ready for use.
Figure E
Figures El and E2 show suitable embodiments of stick packs/tubular bags for use with the dispenser according to the invention.
These stick packs are firstly characterized by a particularly wide sealed seam 26. Recesses 27 are arranged 27 at the rear edge of the sealed seam. The remaining portions 28 of the rear edge are used for passage through the slit-shaped recess 17 in the rear face of the housing and for fixing to the locking plate. By contrast, the recesses form the abutment area in the housing interior, in order to avoid the stick pack being pushed too far into the dispenser.
The nose-shaped extension of the pouch-type package 29 = 20 which is customary in stick packs containing semi-solid preparations, and which is produced by corresponding sealing, is situated in the front area.
This nose-shaped extension is made particularly long in the stick packs specially designed for the dispenser, and it is also narrow in order to ensure that the dead volume after emptying with the smoothing roller 9 can be kept low.
The positioning of the nose-shaped extension of the application nose in the middle according to Figure El can be advantageous for avoiding contamination of the dispenser when material is dispensed through a lateral application nose (Figure D2).
The application noses can be opened by tearing along the perforations 30 provided.
The illustrated version of the dispenser represents the preferred solution to the object of the invention and can be supplemented by further refinements, as may arise from the requirements of industrial production or packaging.
In particular, any visible designs have been omitted in the drawing in favor of a pure representation of the features that are relevant to the function.
A particular design in terms of shape and color is of course recommended for such an article and can be provided in a manner familiar to a person skilled in the art. This relates in particular to the outer housing 1 and the slide 4.
While the outward design otherwise remains the same, the structure can be simplified, for example by omitting the smoothing roller in favor of a cylinder connected fixedly to the slide 4 or of a rounded but not rotatable smoothing element able to slide relative to the bag. Although this simplification would lead to poorer sliding and smoothing properties of the slide 4, these impaired properties would still be sufficient to ensure the dispenser function according to the invention. A refinement to the design could involve a spring suspension of the slide or of the roller sitting on the slide, with the aim of generating a resistance that the user can feel when depressing the slide or the roller, resulting in the user being able to sense a specific action point.
Claims (6)
1. A dispenser for semi-solid pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparations in a pouch-type package (3), characterized in that a parallelepiped housing (1) is composed of - a housing top (7), provided with a movable support face, called slide (4), - a housing bottom (13), - three closed side parts arranged at a 90 ° angle between housing top (7) and housing bottom (13), with two mutually opposite side parts that are of equal length and are longer than the third side part, called the housing rear wall, and an opening (2) for receiving the pouch-type package (3), preferably a tubular bag or four-edge sealed bag, being located opposite the housing rear wall, - a slit-shaped recess (17) arranged on the housing rear wall above and horizontal to the housing bottom (13), - a planar locking mechanism (8) or locking plate (22) arranged displaceably on the outside face of the housing rear wall, - two slit-shaped openings (6) arranged along both long edges of the housing top (7) and serving as guide channels for the slide, - and a smoothing roller (9) arranged in the housing (1) and movable by means of the slide (4).
2. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the pharmaceutical active substance in the semi-solid pharmaceutical preparation is at least one steroid hormone from the group of gestagens and/or estrogens and/or androgens.
3. The dispenser as claimed in claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the gestagen and/or estrogen and/or androgen is dienogest, drospirenone, levonorgestrel, gestodene, estradiol, ethynyl estradiol, estradiol valerate, DHEA, testosterone, testosterone undecanoate [efment].
4. A method for smoothing semi-solid pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparations out of a pouch-type package (3), preferably a tubular bag or four-edge sealed bag, characterized in that, in a dispenser in the form of a parallelepiped housing (1) composed of - a housing top (7), provided with a movable support face, called slide (4), - a housing bottom (13), - three closed side parts arranged at a 90 ° angle between housing top (7) and housing bottom (13), with two mutually opposite side parts that are of equal length and are longer than the third side part, called the housing rear wall, and an opening (2) for receiving the pouch-type package (3) being located opposite the housing rear wall, - a slit-shaped recess (17) arranged on the housing rear wall above and horizontal to the housing bottom (13), - a planar locking mechanism (8) or locking plate (22) arranged displaceably on the outside face of the housing rear wall, - two slit-shaped openings (6) arranged along both long edges of the housing top (7) and serving as guide channels for the slide, - and a smoothing roller (9) arranged in the housing (1) and movable by means of the slide (4), the pouch-type package (3), in which the sealed seam (26) on the narrow side remote from the tear-off opening has a width of more than 5 mm, preferably of more than 7 mm, and/or the sealed seam (26) preferably has recesses (27), - is pushed into a slit-shaped recess (17) on the housing rear wall as far as the limit stop (18), - is locked by means of a displaceable locking plate (22), - and the slide (4), connected to the smoothing roller (9) for smoothing out the pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation, is moved along the slit-shaped openings (6) serving as guide channels on the housing top.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the pharmaceutical active substance in the semi-solid pharmaceutical preparation is at least one steroid hormone from the group of gestagens and/or estrogens and/or androgens.
6. The method as claimed in claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the gestagen and/or estrogen and/or androgen is dienogest, drospirenone, levonorgestrel, gestodene, estradiol, ethynyl estradiol, estradiol valerate, DHEA, testosterone, testosterone undecanoate [efment].
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US70051905P | 2005-07-19 | 2005-07-19 | |
| US60/700,519 | 2005-07-19 | ||
| PCT/EP2006/007107 WO2007009771A1 (en) | 2005-07-19 | 2006-07-19 | Dispenser for semi-solid pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparations in a pouch-type package |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2593672A1 true CA2593672A1 (en) | 2007-01-25 |
Family
ID=37038359
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2593672 Abandoned CA2593672A1 (en) | 2005-07-19 | 2006-07-19 | Dispenser for semi-solid pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparations in a pouch-type package |
Country Status (15)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US20070017929A1 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP1904378A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2008526410A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR20070085555A (en) |
| CN (1) | CN101223085A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2006271922A1 (en) |
| BR (1) | BRPI0606264A2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2593672A1 (en) |
| CR (1) | CR9482A (en) |
| EA (1) | EA010255B1 (en) |
| IL (1) | IL183272A0 (en) |
| MX (1) | MX2007007946A (en) |
| NO (1) | NO20072512L (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2007009771A1 (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA200705039B (en) |
Families Citing this family (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB0821492D0 (en) * | 2008-11-25 | 2008-12-31 | Team Holdings Uk Ltd | Integrated auto-injector cartridge system |
| GB2466248A (en) * | 2008-12-16 | 2010-06-23 | Bernard O'farrell | A dispenser |
| US10450109B2 (en) | 2017-01-26 | 2019-10-22 | Graco Minnesota Inc. | Texture sprayer bag roller extension |
| US11019904B1 (en) * | 2017-06-07 | 2021-06-01 | Destiny Griffin | Hair integrations preparation system and method of use |
| KR101943066B1 (en) * | 2018-07-11 | 2019-01-29 | 아람휴비스 주식회사 | Automatic extraction homomixer device for customized cosmetics |
| USD896634S1 (en) | 2019-01-29 | 2020-09-22 | Golden State Foods Corp. | Container |
| USD896633S1 (en) | 2019-01-29 | 2020-09-22 | Golden State Foods Corp. | Container |
| KR102477648B1 (en) * | 2020-12-24 | 2022-12-15 | 주식회사 한국인삼공사 | Drink assisting apparatus for a pouch |
| CN114408379B (en) * | 2021-12-23 | 2023-05-09 | 安徽悦博生物制药有限公司 | Lateral medicine outlet capsule plate structure |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4125206A (en) * | 1976-12-09 | 1978-11-14 | Wilson Bobby R | Tooth paste dispenser |
| US5377871A (en) * | 1993-01-04 | 1995-01-03 | Marlingford Holdings Limited | Dispenser having roller for dispensing fluid from a collapsible bag |
| US5632416A (en) * | 1993-01-29 | 1997-05-27 | W. A. Lane, Inc. | Collapsible dispenser pouch |
| US5490613A (en) * | 1994-07-07 | 1996-02-13 | The Clorox Company | Viscous fluid dispenser |
| US5810205A (en) * | 1997-05-06 | 1998-09-22 | Kohen; Nuri | Dispenser for a collapsible tube |
| US6196420B1 (en) * | 1999-09-09 | 2001-03-06 | Nestec S.A. | Pumpless dispenser for viscous food products |
| US6968978B1 (en) * | 2005-01-05 | 2005-11-29 | William B Matthews | Wall mountable dispenser for collapsible tubes |
-
2005
- 2005-11-04 US US11/267,744 patent/US20070017929A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2006
- 2006-07-19 BR BRPI0606264-4A patent/BRPI0606264A2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2006-07-19 WO PCT/EP2006/007107 patent/WO2007009771A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2006-07-19 CA CA 2593672 patent/CA2593672A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2006-07-19 AU AU2006271922A patent/AU2006271922A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2006-07-19 JP JP2007550777A patent/JP2008526410A/en active Pending
- 2006-07-19 EP EP06762702A patent/EP1904378A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2006-07-19 EA EA200700932A patent/EA010255B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2006-07-19 MX MX2007007946A patent/MX2007007946A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2006-07-19 CN CNA2006800261202A patent/CN101223085A/en active Pending
- 2006-07-19 KR KR20077012169A patent/KR20070085555A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
2007
- 2007-05-16 NO NO20072512A patent/NO20072512L/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2007-05-17 IL IL183272A patent/IL183272A0/en unknown
- 2007-06-06 ZA ZA200705030A patent/ZA200705039B/en unknown
- 2007-10-29 CR CR9482A patent/CR9482A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CR9482A (en) | 2008-02-21 |
| IL183272A0 (en) | 2007-09-20 |
| EP1904378A1 (en) | 2008-04-02 |
| EA010255B1 (en) | 2008-06-30 |
| WO2007009771A1 (en) | 2007-01-25 |
| CN101223085A (en) | 2008-07-16 |
| ZA200705039B (en) | 2008-12-31 |
| JP2008526410A (en) | 2008-07-24 |
| AU2006271922A1 (en) | 2007-01-25 |
| MX2007007946A (en) | 2008-01-14 |
| US20070017929A1 (en) | 2007-01-25 |
| KR20070085555A (en) | 2007-08-27 |
| BRPI0606264A2 (en) | 2009-06-09 |
| NO20072512L (en) | 2007-09-19 |
| EA200700932A1 (en) | 2008-04-28 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |