FR2521959A1 - Spiked cap with outlet liner for plastic container mouth diaphragm - fits consistent outlet bore to the puncture - Google Patents

Abstract

Screw cap with an integral internal spike, for puncturing a diaphragm seal across the mouth of a plastic container, also carries on the spike a separate sleeve with a flanged head and one or more arrowhead profile ribs alongside the tip of the spike. Upon insertion, the sleeve is also driven partly through the diaphragm and retained there to provide a (calibrated) smooth bore outlet for the contents of the container after the cap with its spike is removed. Esp. suitable for discharging liquids more consistently than the typical irregular tear left by a plain spike. Opt. the cap skirt may be extended by a fragile hem to break upon and indicate initial use of sufficient travel of the cap to puncture the diaphragm.

Description

 The present invention relates to the field of container closure systems, with a tamper-evident type or not. It relates more particularly to a new closure and perforation device for plastic bottles with a threaded neck.

 Receptacles, in particular vials, intended to contain liquids - such as, for example, a pharmaceutical composition - have been known and used for many years, the threaded neck of which receives a screw cap inside and at the top of which is a rod. or point whose purpose is to ensure the piercing of the flat of the threaded neck during the high pressure exerted by the operation of screwing the stopper onto the neck of the container. When unscrewing, the perforation is reduced to a diameter smaller than that of the tip due to the shrinking of the plastic used for making the bottle.

 In perforating closure systems of this type, the plastics material (for example polyethylene or the like), generally of small thickness, tears more or less at the exit of the point and gives rise to imperfect perforation having regard to its diameter, which leads to the subsequent production of unreliable liquid jets, and often, moreover, to the appearance of several polydirectional jets. This drawback is not catastrophic when it is a use of the product in a drip, as for example in the case of an eye drop, but it becomes very serious when one seeks to obtain a regular flow. and a well-determined dose of the more or less viscous liquid.

 The object of the invention is to obviate this drawback and to solve the difficulty of obtaining a hole of uniform diameter and well determined during the perforation of the necks of plastic bottles by known caps of the aforementioned type.

 To this end, the improved closure and perforation system according to the invention is characterized in that the perforating tip of the screw cap known per se is surrounded by an insert or cannula of calibrated internal diameter, force-fitted in this tip, able to enter the threaded neck of the bottle during perforation and to remain immobilized in it during the screwing and unscrewing operations of the bottle.

The invention will be better understood from the detailed description of a nonlimiting embodiment illustrated by the appended drawings which schematically represent
. Figure 1: a nartial view. in section, from a bottle in
clastic material with which the screw neck is fitted
a plug with a perforating system of the type
conventional ;
. Figures 2 a to 2 c: illustrations of the
plugging and perforation according to
the invention in the various positions:
- 2 a: delivery and storage of the bottle filled with-
liquid;
- 2 b: perforation phase of the container neck.

during tightening;
- 2 c: use of the bottle, ulimi of its cannula
calibrated.

 Coptic can be seen in Figure 1 coaparative, the perforating plugs known so far are constituted by a threaded cap I molded in a single piece this with a rod or point 2 of perforation qssa, when screwing the cap, causes the drilling the upper part of the threaded neck 3 of the container 4.

In accordance with the improvement of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2, a cannula or insert 5 is forcibly engaged on the perforating rod 2 whose calibrated and perfectly regular diameter is slightly less than the external diameter of the rod 2. This insert is preferably made of flexible or semi-rigidb plastic, as shown. other constituent parts of the device, so as to use the elasticity of the material for the force introduction of
The insert around his mandarin.

 The conformation of the insert 5 is studied so that this element can easily cause the enlargement of the hole initiated by the tip 2 on the neck of the container 4 then be firmly naintenz on this neck during the successive operations of unscrewing then reweaving in progress use of the bottle. Thus, according to an advantageous embodiment, the lower end of the insert is cut into a V shape, the flanges of the wings of which will serve to retain the insert on the neck 3 of the container during a somewhat brutal unscrewing. Furthermore, the other end of the insert consists of a cylindrical shoulder whose projecting edges rest on the flat outer face of the neck.

These projecting edges can be advantageously tapered on their nourtour so as not to create a point of attachment with the inner face of the plug 1 during unscrewing.

The base of the threaded plug I Can be fitted with a flange
tamper evident 6 or thickness ring aui is then to be removed before the First screwing operation. However, this additional element cannot be omitted and does not make Dartie the characteristics of the invention.

 We see on the fieurs 2 successive operational phases for the use of the closure-perforation system according to the invention. In 2 a, the stem 2 of the stopper, provided with its cannula 5 is in the standby position, corresponding to the delivery and storage of the bottle. - Phase 2b is of course the perforation with automatic positioning, at the end of screwing, of the cannula 5 on the upper end of the neck of the container. Figure 2c illustrates the use of the bottle with its cap I ready to be screwed back on after use.

 Thanks to the calibrated diameter insert according to the invention, it becomes possible to obtain, by pressure on the container, perfect directional jets of liquid, this whatever the viscosity of the latter. This is particularly appreciable when it is desired to inject well-defined doses of liquid and at specific points, for example when it is a question of pharmaceutical praducts.

The invention is however not limited to the application of medicine bottles and extends to all other uses of recentacles fitted with the above-mentioned system.

Claims (4)

R E V E N: U: l: C; Â.Ti.-ON S  1. Corking and perforation system for plastic bottle, of tvpe constituted by a cap or a screw cap (1) provided on the internal face of its top with a point or tiRe (2) of perforation, molded in a single piece with the cap, the system being characterized in that the point (2) is surrounded by an insert or cannula (5) of calibrated internal diameter, forcefully fitted into this point, capable of being introduced in the threaded neck (3) of the bottle (4) during the perforation and to remain immobilized therein during the screwing and unscrewing operations of the bottle.  2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the cannula (5) has at its lower end a V-shape which adjoins the end of the tip (2) and ends at its upper part by a shoulder whose edges rest on the top of the neck (3) of the bottle.  3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the wings of the V protrude relative to the central body of the insert (5) so as to play the role of retaining elements of the latter during the operation unscrewing the cap (1).  4. System according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the threaded plug (1) has at its lower part a tamper-evident collar or thick ring (6) capable of being torn before the screwing operation.