EP2452890B1

EP2452890B1 - Upgraded bottle for fluid products, particularly pharmaceutical, medicinal or cosmetic products

Info

Publication number: EP2452890B1
Application number: EP12153985.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Antonio Fontana
Original assignee: Lameplast SRL
Current assignee: Lameplast SRL
Priority date: 2006-06-16
Filing date: 2007-06-12
Publication date: 2014-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 2027-06-12
Also published as: CN101460372A; US20090321382A1; ITMO20060192A1; ES2385504T3; JP2009539714A; WO2007144742A2; MX2008016150A; EP2452890A1; KR20090029706A; EP2032458A2; ES2524146T3; JP5270539B2; EP2032458B1; CN101460372B; ATE552184T1; BRPI0711942A2; WO2007144742A3

Abstract

The upgraded bottle (1) for fluid products, particularly pharmaceutical, medicinal and cosmetic products, comprises: - a containing body (2) for containing a fluid product, particularly a pharmaceutical, medicinal or cosmetic product, - a dispensing mouth (4) of the product defined at one end of the containing body (2), - a tearable membrane (8) for closing the dispensing mouth (4), - a closing element (5) that can be screwed or unscrewed on the end of the containing body (2) and is provided with a cap (6), inside which is defined a perforator (7) of the membrane (8), - maintaining means for maintaining the cap (6) in a safety configuration, in which the perforator (7) is substantially positioned away from the membrane (8) and in which the cap (6) can be freely turned around the screwing and unscrewing axis of the closing element (5) in at least one direction of rotation, the maintaining means comprising a first retention element (20) defined on the outer surface of the end of the containing body (2) suitable for engaging with a respective lock element (21) defined on the inner side surface of the cap (6).

Description

Technical Field

The present invention refers to an upgraded bottle for fluid products, particularly pharmaceutical, medicinal or cosmetic products, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Background art

Plastic bottles are known that are used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries to package one or more doses of fluid, liquid or pasty products and which are essentially made up of a containing body for containing the product which, at one end, extends in a neck, at the top of which a product dispensing mouth is defmed; the dispensing mouth is closed by a tearable membrane.
The end of the containing body opposite the neck is open to allow, during bottle packaging, the introduction of the product into the containing body, after which this is closed, for example, by sealing.
Over the neck, a cap is fitted, from the ceiling of which a membrane perforating element extends internally.
On the inner side surface of the cap a retention ring is obtained which, in bottle packaging closed configuration, is engaged by triggering in a corresponding ring-shaped groove defined on the outer side surface of the neck, so as to withhold the perforating element at a height above that of the membrane that closes the dispensing mouth.
At the time of use, the cap is fitted onto the neck of the containing body until the retention ring disengages from the corresponding groove and the perforating element tears the membrane and opens the dispensing mouth, after which the cap is removed from the neck to allow product dispensing.
Furthermore, the containing body has a pair of grip flaps that extend, in a diametrically opposite direction the one to the other, from its outer side surface. The known bottles can be produced in single units or interlinked with one another in series (strips); in this latter case the grip flaps of the containing bodies of two successive bottles are temporarily joined together along prebreakage lines.
These bottles are nevertheless susceptible to upgrading, in particular in order to avoid a potentially harmful use of the product they contain.
In particular, the known bottles are without safety means suitable for preventing, or at least making less easy, the opening of the dispensing mouth and the removal of the cap by children, who could swallow the product inside the bottles in an incorrect way, with obvious risk for their health.
Such bottles, furthermore, do not show, in a clear and immediately perceivable way, any tampering and/or having already been opened including involuntarily, and do not ensure the integrity and the sterility of the product they contain.
It can in fact occur that the bottles, handled or placed in storage units (drawers, wardrobes, utility cases, etc.), are subjected to knocks such as to push their cap on the neck until the perforating element tears the membrane before the product is actually used, the obstacle provided by the coupling between the retention ring and the corresponding ring-shaped groove not often being enough to contrast such knocks.
To overcome these drawbacks, at least in part, bottles are known comprising a pair of seal flaps that protrude from the containing body in diametrically opposite directions, located in between the grip flaps and the cap and associated, removable by tearing, with the body, with the grip flaps or with the cap along respective weakened areas.
When the bottle is used, by rotating the cap, the breakage of the above-mentioned weakened areas is obtained, thus evidencing that opening has occurred.
The bottles are however without the above-mentioned safety means suitable for preventing, or at least making opening by children less easy.
A different type of bottles for fluid products is made in a single body piece in which, that is, the product containing body is formed together with closing means in a single body without any interruption whatsoever.
The closing means are connected to the body by means of deformable and breakable elements that act as safety seals; deformations and/or breakages of the above elements are signs of tampering.
Nevertheless, the manufacture of this different type of bottles in a single body piece requires complex manufacturing procedures and high production costs.
US4307821 discloses a temper-proof container-closure assembly, comprising a threaded neck having a puncturable diaphragm at the end.
A closure is provided with internal threads cooperating with external threads of the neck, and with a piercing element and a skirt, which has a score line and a pull tab for the removing of the skirt from the remain of the closure.
When the user wants to dispense the content, he has to pull the tab so as to separate the skirt form said cap portion, and then he has to rotate the cap whereby the piercing element punctures the membrane to provide a discharge opening in the axial end of the container.

Object of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to provide an upgraded bottle for fluid products, particularly pharmaceutical, medicinal or cosmetic products, that provides minimum safety requirements suitable for preventing or in any case restricting the potentially harmful use of the products contained in it.
Within this technical aim, another object of the present invention is to ensure the integrity and the sterility of the products packed inside the bottles.
Another object of the invention is to make it possible to see that the bottles have been opened, in a clear and immediate way.
Another object of the invention is to cater for the above aims with a simple structure, of relatively practical implementation, safe to use and with effective operation, as well as having a relatively low cost.
The above-mentioned objects are all achieved by this upgraded bottle for fluid products, particularly pharmaceutical, medicinal and cosmetic products, according to the contents of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

further characteristics and advantages of this invention will appear even more evident from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of an upgraded bottle for fluid products, particularly pharmaceutical, medicinal or cosmetic products, illustrated indicatively by way of non limiting example, in the attached drawings wherein:

the figure 1 is a front view of a plurality of bottles according to a first embodiment which is not part of the invention;
the figures 2 and 3 are section views of a detail of the bottle of figure 1 in a safety configuration and in a work configuration;
the figure 4 is a front view of a plurality of bottles according to an embodiment of the invention;
the figures 5, 6 and 7 are section views of a detail of the embodiment of the bottle according to the invention in a safety configuration, in a work configuration and in an opening configuration.

Embodiments of the Invention

With special reference to such figures, an upgraded bottle for fluid products, particularly pharmaceutical, medicinal or cosmetic products, has been globally designated by reference number 1.
The bottle 1 comprises a containing body 2 of a fluid product (pharmaceutical, medicinal or cosmetic) which is of substantially cylindrical and elongated shape and which extends at one end into a neck 3, at the top of which a product dispensing mouth 4 is defined.
A closing element 5 is associated screwing up and unscrewing with the neck 3 and has a cap 6, inside which is defmed a perforator 7 of a closing membrane 8 integrated with the outer edge of the dispensing mouth 4.
The membrane 8 can, for example, be made up of a polymeric material disk integrated with the containing body 2 during the latter's pressing phase.
Advantageously, the bottle 1 comprises maintaining means for maintaining the cap 6 in a safety configuration, in which the perforator 7 is substantially positioned away from the membrane 8 and in which the cap 6 can be freely turned around the screwing up and unscrewing axis of the closing element 5.
In a first embodiment which is not part of the invention and is shown in the figures 1, 2 and 3, the closing element 5 comprises a plug 9 inside the cap 6, the perforator 7 extends from the ceiling of the plug 9, inside this and towards the dispensing mouth 4.
Threaded means are fitted that permit screwing up and unscrewing the plug 9 to the neck 3 which are made up of a screw 10 defined on the outer side surface of the neck 3, and a corresponding nut screw 11 defined on the inner side surface of the plug 9.
The cap 6 is fitted over the plug 9 and is associated with it sliding between the above safety configuration, shown in figure 2, and a work configuration, shown in figure 3, in which the cap 6 is made integral with the plug 9 by placing coupling means in between.
Such coupling means can include, for example, one or more protrusions 12 defined on the outer surface of the plug 9, near the lower edge, and suitable for being inserted inside respective slots 13 defined longitudinally on the inner surface of the cap 6.
Once the cap 6 has been moved to the work configuration, after the insertion of the protrusions 12 inside the slots 13, the relative rotation is prevented between the plug 9 and the cap 6.
Alternatively, different types of coupling means can be provided in which the protrusions and the relevant slots are shaped and distributed differently on the plug 9 and on the cap 6.
The above maintaining means for maintaining the cap 6 in the safety configuration can be of the elastic means type 14 which act in contrast to the movement of the cap 6 from the safety configuration to the work configuration. In particular, such elastic means 14 are made up of a plurality of foil springs fixed to the inner surface of the cap 6, at the ceiling, and engageable by bending on the outer surface of the plug 9, at a substantially conical upper portion 15 and with cross section substantially diverging towards the containing body 2. Usefully, the bottle 1 can comprise a first retention ring 16 defined protruding from the outer surface and of the plug 9, and a second retention ring 17 defmed protruding at the base of the inner side surface of the cap 6.
The first and the second retention ring 16 and 17 are suitable for being engaged together to prevent the cap 6 and the plug 9 from moving further away from each other in the safety configuration.
Advantageously, the bottle 1 comprises a sealing collar 18 fitted coaxially on the neck 3 and placed, removable by tearing, in between the containing body 2 and the closing element 5.
In particular, the upper surface of the sealing collar 18 is associated with the lower portion of the plug 9 along first weakened areas 19, of the preset breakage line type.
Usefully, the bottle 1 comprises a ring-shaped ridge 30 defined protruding from the outer surface of the neck 3, underneath the closing element 5, and suitable for withholding the sealing collar 18 around the containing body 2 after its detachment from the plug 9.
Different conformations and arrangements of the ring-shaped ridge 30 cannot however be ruled out.
In a second embodiment of the invention, shown in figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, the closing element 5 consists of a cap 6, directly fitted over the neck 3.
The perforator 7 is defined protruding from the ceiling of the cap 6, inside it and towards the dispensing mouth 4.
The maintaining means for maintaining the cap 6 in the safety configuration comprise a first retention element 20, of the first ring-shaped tooth type defmed protruding from the side surface of the neck 3, which engages with a corresponding lock element 21, of the ring-shaped groove type, defined on the inner side surface of the cap 6.
In particular, the fitting of the first ring-shaped tooth 20 inside the ring-shaped groove 21 permits blocking the cap 6 in the safety configuration.
The product 1 also comprises a second retention element 22, consisting of a second ring-shaped tooth defmed protruding from the side surface of the neck 3, below the first ring-shaped tooth 20.
Usefully, in the work configuration, with the cap 6 further fitted over the neck 3, the second ring-shaped tooth 22 is fitted inside the ring-shaped groove 21.
The bottle 1 comprises threaded means which, in the work configuration, permit screwing up and unscrewing the cap 6 to the neck 3.
The threaded means are made up of a screw 23 defined on the outer side surface of the neck 3, and of a corresponding nut screw 24 defined on the inner side surface of the cap 6.
Usefully, in the safety configuration the screw 23 and the nut screw 24 are positioned apart.
Similarly to the first embodiment illustrated above, the bottle 1 comprises a sealing collar 18 fitted coaxially on the neck 3 and placed, removable by tearing, in between the containing body 2 and the closing element 5.
In particular, the upper surface of the sealing collar 18 is associated with the lower portion of the cap 6 along first weakened areas 19, of the preset breakage line type.
The bottle 1 also comprises a pair of grip flaps 25 that extend from the containing body 2 along diametrically opposite directions.
With reference both to the first and the second embodiment, as shown in figures 1 and 4, several bottles 1 can be associated with one another at the grip flaps 25 and by interposing second weakened areas 26, of the preset breakage line type or the like.
Advantageously, the caps 6 of the bottles 1 can be fitted with an operating key 27 suitable for making gripping easier by a user, which can be made up of a band substantially wrapped around the cap 6 and integral with it (figures 1-3) or, alternatively, by a pair of operating flaps, each diametrically opposite the other, and defined protruding from the outer side surface of the cap 6 (figures 4-5).
Usefully, the operating keys 27 of the caps 6 of bottles 1, the one against the other, can be associated by interposing third weakened areas 28, of the preset breakage line type or the like.
At the end of the containing body 2 opposite the neck 3 an opening 29 is defined through which, during the packaging phase of the bottle 1, the product is introduced; after filling, the opening 29 is closed, for example by the sealing of its lips.
The operation is the following.
With particular reference to the first embodiment which is not part of the invention, shown in the figures 1, 2 and 3, before being used the bottle 1 is in the safety configuration (figure 2).
After the bottle 1 has been removed from the strip, shown in figure 1, the cap 6 is further fitted over the neck 3 by means of a pressure action and slides from the safety configuration to the work configuration, in contrast to the action of the foil springs 14.
In such work configuration, the protrusions 12 are fitted in their respective slots 13 and a screwing up twisting action on the cap 6 causes the integral rotation of the plug 9, with screwing up of the plug 9 itself on the neck 3 and the moving of the perforator 7 closer to the dispensing mouth 4, as far as contact and breakage of the membrane 8 (figure 3).
During the sliding of the cap 6 from the safety configuration to the work configuration the lower edge of the cap 6 engages on the upper surface of the sealing collar 18, causing the breakage of the first weakened areas 19 and the fall of the sealing collar 18 underneath the ring-shaped ridge 30.
The ring-shaped ridge 30 withholds the sealing collar 18 around the containing body 2 during the subsequent stages of use of the bottle 1.
An unscrewing twisting action on the cap 6, always lowered in the work configuration, permits the removal of the entire closing element 5 from the neck 3, thereby freeing the dispensing mouth 4 and permitting the use of the product inside the containing body 2.
With particular reference to the embodiment of the invention, shown in the figures 4-7, before being used the bottle 1 is in the safety configuration (figure 5).
After the bottle 1 has been removed from the strip, shown in figure 4, the cap 6 is further fitted over the neck 3 by means of a pressure action and slides from the safety configuration to the work configuration, with the disengagement of the first ring-shaped tooth 20 from the ring-shaped groove 21.
In such work configuration the screw 23 is fitted in the nut screw 24 and a screwing-up twisting action on the cap 6 causes the perforator 7 to move closer to the dispensing mouth 4, as far as contact and breakage of the membrane 8 (figure 6).
A subsequent twisting action in the unscrewing direction on the operating key 27 permits removing the cap 6 from the neck 3, thereby freeing the dispensing mouth 4 and permitting the use of the product inside the containing body 2 (figure 7).
During unscrewing for the removal of the cap 6 the upper edge of the sealing collar 18 engages on the lower surface of the second ring-shaped tooth 22, causing the breakage of the first weakened areas 19 and the detachment of the sealing collar 18.
The second ring-shaped tooth 22 withholds the sealing collar 18 around the containing body 2 during the subsequent stages of use of the bottle 1.
It has in practice been found how the described invention achieves the proposed objects and in particular the fact is underlined that the particular conformation of the closing element and the presence of the maintaining means in the safety configuration ensures the safety requirements suitable for preventing or in any case restricting a potentially harmful use of the products contained in them.
To open the bottle in fact, a pressure has to be exercised on the cap for the change from the safety configuration to the work configuration, something that makes such opening less immediate and thereby protects children or, in general, persons who could inappropriately use the products contained in it and which permits restricting, at the same time, the chances of accidentally opening the bottle.
A further advantage of the invention consists in the presence of the sealing collar which provides a clear and quick indication of the bottle having been opened.

Claims

Upgraded bottle (1) for fluid products, particularly pharmaceutical, medicinal and cosmetic products, comprising:
- a containing body (2) for containing a fluid product, particularly a pharmaceutical, medicinal or cosmetic product, which extends at one end into a neck (3), at the top of which a dispensing mouth (4) of said product is defined,

- a tearable membrane (8) for closing said dispensing mouth (4),

- a closing element (5) that can be screwed or unscrewed on said end of the containing body (2) and comprises a cap (6), inside which is defined at least one perforator (7) of said membrane (8), protruding from the ceiling of the cap (6) itself,

- threaded means made up of a screw (23) defined on the outer side surface of the neck (3), and of a corresponding nut screw (24) defined on the inner side surface of the cap (6),
the bottle (1) being characterized by the fact that the cap (6) has a safety configuration, in which said perforator (7) is positioned away from said membrane (8) and in which said screw (23) and said nut screw (24) are positioned apart, so that said cap (6) can be freely turned around the screwing and unscrewing axis of said closing element (5) in at least one direction of rotation, in which safety configuration, the cap (6) is maintained by maintaining means comprising at least a first retention element (20), in turn comprising a ring-shaped tooth defined protruding from the side surface of the neck (3), suitable for engaging with at least a respective lock element (21), in turn comprising a ring-shaped groove, defined on the inner side surface of said cap (6);
the cap (6) being slidable from the safety configuration to a work configuration, by means of a pressure action which further fits the cap (6) over the neck (3), disengaging the first ring-shaped tooth (20) from the ring-shaped groove (21), in which work configuration said screw (23) is fitted in the nut screw (24) so that a screwing-up twisting action on the cap (6) causes the perforator (7) to move closer to the dispensing mouth (4), as far as contact and breakage of the membrane (8), and so that a subsequent twisting action in the unscrewing direction permits removing the cap (6) from the neck (3), thereby freeing the dispensing mouth (4) and permitting the use of the product inside the containing body (2).
Bottle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one sealing collar (18) placed, removable by tearing, in between said containing body (2) and said closing element (5).
Bottle (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said sealing collar (18) is associated with at least one between said containing body (2) and said cap (6) along respective first weakened areas (19).
Bottle (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said first weakened areas (19) are defined between the upper surface of said collar (18) and the lower portion of said cap (6).
Bottle (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said first weakened areas (19) are of the preset breakage line type.
Bottle (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that it comprises a second ring-shaped tooth (22) defined protruding from the side surface of said end of the containing body (2) below said first retention element (20), wherein during unscrewing for the removal of said cap (6) said sealing collar (18) engages on said second ring-shaped tooth (22), causing the breakage of said first weakened areas (19) and the detachment of said sealing collar (18).
Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one grip flap defined protruding from the outer side surface of said containing body.
Bottle (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one pair of grip flaps (25) that extend from said containing body (2) in a diametrically opposite direction the one to the other.
Bottle (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said grip flaps (25) are associated, along second weakened areas (26), with the grip flaps (25) of the containing bodies (2) of other bottles (1) arranged in series adjacent to it.
Bottle (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cap (6) is associated, along third weakened areas (28), with the cap (6) of other bottles (1) arranged in series adjacent to it.
Bottle (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an operating key (27) defined integral with said cap (6).
Bottle (1) according to claims 10 and 11, characterized in that said third weakened areas (28) are defined between said operating keys (27) of the caps (6) of bottles (1) arranged in series adjacent to one another.
Bottle according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that said operating key (27) is composed of a pair of operating flaps, each diametrically opposite the other and defined protruding from the outer side surface of said cap (6).