IE41596B1 - Over cap - Google Patents

Abstract

1522692 Tamper-indicating closure caps BEHRINGWERKE AG 4 Aug 1975 [6 Aug 1974] 32450/75 Heading B8T An over cap 4,6, of plastics material for use in place of an aluminium cap for securing stoppered containers of lyophilized products comprises two members connected by at least three and preferably between four and ten bridging elements 5, the upper member 4 comprising a plate 10 and preferably a depending flange 11 and the lower member 6 comprising an annular member adapted to be a snap-fit on the neck of a container 13. Pressure applied to the plate 10 breaks the bridging elements 5, allows removal of the plate and stopper to allow access to the container contents. The closure cap may be injection moulded preferably from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide or polystyrene.

Description

The present invention relates to an over cap of plastics material which is suitable for the closure of containers, for example bottles, containing pharmaceutical compositions.

In general, a pharmaceutical preparation or reagent 5 which, is to be lyophilised is filled into a container, for example a bottle, in the form of an aqueous solution.

Then, a rubber stopper of a special form is inserted loosely to half of its length into the container. The container is placed into the lyophilisation apparatus, the rubber stopper is pressed hydraulically into the container. The container is then removed from the apparatus and transported to a flanging machine which, under sterile conditions, places an aluminium cap on the container and edges it up or down» This last step is very time15 consuming, and moreover, the space between rubber stopper and flange cap can be kept sterile only with great difficulty, or even not at all.

The present invention provides an overcap of a plastics material, which consists of a plate member, optionally provided with a downward-extending annular flange, the said plate member being adapted to fit over the upper part of a stopper that in use seals the neck of a container on which the cap is used, and an annular member the inner wall of which is provided with a circumferential groove adaped to engage in a snap-fit manner an external circumferential bead or lip on the neck of the said container, the plate member and the annular member being connected by three or more tearab.le bridging members.

To enable such a cap to be pressed on more easily, the inner will of the annular member advantageously tapers outwards from the boundary of the circumferential groove nearer the open end towards the open end.

The plate, which serves to cover the top of the stopper in the neck of the container, may have an annular flange, which fits around the top of the stopper and secures the plate in position.

The preferred number of bridging members is from 4 to 10, and the annular member preferably has a sloping shoulder extending from the bridging members.

An over cap of the invention having a snap-fit on its container is used, for example in the following manner.

After filling a container having a circumferentially extending lip with the solution to be lyophilized, a rubber stopper is inserted by the same machine and an over cap of the invention is placed over the rubber stopper. The solution is then lyophilized in a conventional manner. After completion of the lyophilization, the rubber stopper is pressed deep into the container and at the same time the cap is pressed onto the container which now contains the lyophilized solution.

During the pressing process in the lyophilisation plant, the groove in the annular member’of the cap engages the i lip at the opening of the container, and the rubber stopper is thereby secured. When the cap is to be taken off, pressure is applied to the plate and the connecting bridging members tear off. The annular member there5 fore remains on the container, while the plate is discarded.

A special advantage of the cap of the invention is that the possibility of infection with germs, is minimised, as the container is no longer transported from the lyophilisation apparatus to the flanging apparatus.

The withdrawal of the lyophilized material, too, is facilitated by the cap of the invention. For example, in the case of a reagent where the rubber stopper must be removed, the prior removal of the aluminium flange cap is difficult and may cause injuries. In contradistinction thereto, the upper part of the cap of the invention can be easily lifted with slight pressure of the thumb. Furthermore, as the cap snap-fits onto the container it is pilfer-proof. 71 suitable material for the cap of the invention is any plastics material which can be shaped by injection moulding; it is preferred to use polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide or polystyrene.

An over-cap constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only , with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cap; and Figure 2 is a view in partial cross-section of the cap in position on a container, the section being in a plane vertical to the base of the container. s Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows an over cap 9 which consists of an upper member 4, bridging members 5 and a lower member 6. The upper member 4 is in the form of a plate 10 having an annular flange 11.

The lower member 6 has a shoulder 12 which slopes outwardly from the bridging members 5.

Figure 2 shows the cap 9 in position on a container 13 which has a stopper 3 inserted in its neck 1. The neck 1 of the container 13 has a lip 2 which engages a circumferential groove 7 in the lower member 6, thus securing the cap 9. The plate 10 and flange 11 of the upper member 4 fit snugly on the stopper 3 and protect the upper surface thereof from contamination.

The position of the inner walls below the circumferent15 ial groove 7 slopes outwardly towards the open end.

To remove the cap 9, pressure is exerted on the projecting edge of the plate 10, for example, by the thumb.

At least some of the bridging members 5 are thereby torn, and the upper member 4 is released.

Claims (6)

1. CLAIMS:1. An over-cap of a plastics material, which consists of a plate member, optionally provided with a downwardextending annular flange, the said plate member being 5 adaped to fit over the upper part of a stopper that in use seals the neck of a container on which the cap is used, and an annular member the inner wall of which is provided with a circumferential groove adapted to engage in a snap-fit manner an external circumferential 10 bead or lip on the neck of the said container, the plate member and the annular member being connected by three or more tearable bridging members.

2. A cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner wall of the annular member tapers outwards from the 15 boundary of the circumferential groove nearer the open end towards the open end.

3. A cap as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the plate member and the annular member are connected by from

4. To 10 tearable bridging members. 20 4. A cap as claimed in any one Of claims 1 to 3, wherein the annular member has a sloping shoulder extending from the bridging members.

5. A cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide or polystyrene. 25

6. An over-cap substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.