ITMO20080160A1 - BOTTLE FOR THE CONTAINMENT OF INJECTABLE FLUIDS, PARTICULARLY MEDICAL, PHARMACEUTICAL, COSMETIC OR SIMILAR PRODUCTS - Google Patents

Description

Description of Patent for Industrial Invention entitled:

"BOTTLE FOR CONTAINING INJECTABLE FLUIDS, ESPECIALLY MEDICAL, PHARMACEUTICAL, COSMETIC OR SIMILAR PRODUCTS".

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a bottle for containing injectable fluids, particularly medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar products.

It is known that, in the medical field, the use of sterile fluids such as medicines, drugs, saline solutions and so on, to be injected intravenously to patients is often required.

These sterile fluids are normally supplied in glass or plastic bottles, which are chemically inert materials and capable of safeguarding the sterility of the fluids contained therein.

The bottles are usually closed by means of a closure element called "stopper", which is inserted in the access mouth of the bottle.

The closure element is made of rubber to allow its penetration by a pointed withdrawal element, such as the needles of the hypodermic syringes and the spikes of the infusion lines, and thus allow the withdrawal and discharge of the sterile fluid.

Furthermore, in order to prevent the portion of stopper intended for penetration from being contaminated with pollutants and dirt, it is generally covered with a protective cap that can be screwed around the neck of the bottle.

The cap includes a removable tear-off portion, which can be removed to access the stopper from the outside.

For this purpose, the removable portion has a gripping eyelet, a tab or other similar systems which allow the removable portion to be grasped and completely removed from the rest of the protective cap, which remains stably fixed to the neck of the bottle.

Bottles of this type are described in EP 0819 617 and EP 1 044135.

These bottles, however, have some drawbacks including the fact that to remove the removable portion it is forcibly necessary to use both hands, one to hold the bottle firmly and the other to firmly grasp and tear off the grip / tab.

This involves a significant loss of time and practicality of use for the user, who must necessarily get rid of everything in his hand before opening the bottle and, after removing the removable portion, must recover the pick-up element (needle, spike or similar) to insert it into the rubber stopper.

It is also necessary to underline that the tear-off removal of the removable portion of the cap involves the division of the cap into two distinct pieces, which therefore need to be disposed of with different times and methods.

The removable portion, in fact, must be discarded once removed, i.e. when the bottle is opened and at the beginning of its use; the rest of the bottle, on the other hand, becomes waste to be discarded only once its contents have been emptied, that is, at the end of its use.

This constitutes a further waste of time and practicality of use for the user who, in fact, once the bottle is opened, is forced to find a basket to discard the removable portion just removed from the cap.

In this regard, it is necessary to underline that, in critical situations for the health of patients, the opening of the bottles and the administration of the fluids contained in them must be carried out with the utmost diligence and rapidity possible, and the minimum delay can have serious consequences. for patients.

Furthermore, taking into account the small size of the removable portions, it sometimes happens that they are thrown directly on the ground, soiling the surrounding environment and constituting a waste that, improperly, needs to be collected later.

The main task of the present invention is to provide a bottle for containing injectable fluids, particularly medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar products, which is of practical, easy and functional use, can be opened quickly with the use of one hand, freeing the user from the need to use both, and at the same time allows to significantly reduce waste materials, facilitating the waste disposal operation.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a bottle for containing injectable fluids, particularly medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar products, which allows to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in the context of a simple, rational, easy-to-use solution. and effective use and low cost.

The above objects are achieved by the present bottle for containing injectable fluids, particularly medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar products, comprising at least one container for containing an injectable fluid provided with at least one access mouth, at least one closure element which is at least partially inserted in said access mouth and which is provided with at least an area made of penetrable material suitable for being crossed by an element for withdrawing said injectable fluid, and at least one protective cap for said closing element, characterized by the fact that said cap comprises at least one cap which can be placed for at least partial coverage of said closure element and which is provided with at least one opening for accessing said area, and at least one lid which is associated with said cap by interposition of means of rotation about an axis of oscillation and which supports at least one shutter element which can be inserted at tenu ta in said opening.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a bottle for containing injectable fluids, particularly medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar products, illustrated by way of example, but not limitative, in the joined tables of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a preferred embodiment of the bottle according to the invention in the closed configuration;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the bottle of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an axonometric view of the cap mounted on the bottle of Figure 1, arranged in the initial opening configuration;

Figure 4 is an axonometric view of the cap of Figure 3 arranged in the final opening configuration;

Figure 5 is an axonometric view of the cap of an alternative embodiment of the bottle according to the invention, arranged in the initial opening configuration;

Figure 6 is an axonometric view of the cap of Figure 5 arranged in the final opening configuration.

With particular reference to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a bottle for containing injectable fluids, particularly medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar products.

The bottle 1 comprises a container 2 for containing an injectable fluid 3 to be administered to a patient by means of a syringe, an infusion line or the like.

The container 2 is provided with a bottom 4, in correspondence with which a hanger 5 can be associated, and with a threaded neck 6, which is arranged on the opposite side of the bottom 4 and which ends in an access mouth 7.

A closing element 8, of the type of a rubber stopper, can be inserted at least in part in the access mouth 7.

The closing element 8 is provided with a thinned area 9, made of penetrable material, which is able to be crossed by a sampling element for the withdrawal and discharge of the injectable fluid 3.

The withdrawal element is not shown in detail in the figures and, for example, consists of a syringe needle, an infusion line spike, or similar devices.

A cap 10 can be associated with the top of the neck 6 to protect the closing element 8.

Both the container 2 and the cap 10 are advantageously made of plastic, for example of polypropylene.

The cap 10, in particular, includes a cap 11 which can be placed to cover the closing element 8 and which is provided with an opening 12 for access to area 9.

The cap 11 has a substantially cylindrical shape with a circular section and is constituted, for example, by a cylindrical lateral body 13, inside which an internal thread 14 is obtained which can be engaged by screwing onto the neck 6 of the container 2, and by an annular wall 15, which is associated with the top of the cylindrical lateral body 13.

The opening 12 is obtained on the annular wall 15 in a position such that, when the cap 11 is mounted on the neck 6, the opening 12 is arranged in correspondence with the area 9.

The cap 10 also comprises a lid 16 which is associated with the cap 11 by interposition of means of rotation 17 about an axis of oscillation.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the rotation means 17 are arranged on the periphery of the cap 11, i.e. on the edge of the annular wall 15, and tangent to it, and consist of a first folding line with weakened section.

For this purpose, the cap 11 and the lid 16 are made in a single body by injection molding and remain joined together in correspondence with the first folding line 17, the weakened section of which allows the cap 11 and the lid 16 to rotate relative to each other. to the other between a closing configuration, in which the lid 16 is approached to the annular wall 15, and an opening configuration, in which the lid 16 is rotated with respect to the annular wall 15.

However, alternative embodiments of the present invention are not excluded in which cap 11 and lid 16 are made in two or more pieces that can be assembled together.

Conveniently, the lid 16 supports an obturator element 18 which in the closing configuration of the cap 10 can be inserted tightly into the opening 12.

For this purpose, the shutter element 18 is defined by a cylindrical body with a conformation substantially complementary to that of the opening 12. Between the cap 11 and the lid 16 there are interposed first anti-tampering seal means 19, 20, 21 suitable for testing whether the cap 10 has been opened previously or not.

The first anti-tamper seal means 19, 20, 21 consist, for example, of a protruding element 19, of the type of a tooth or the like, which is associated with the lid 16 by interposition of first tear-off support means 20, and in a seat locking 21, which is obtained on the cap 11 and in which the protruding element 19 can be inserted in the closure configuration of the cap 10.

More in detail, the tooth 19 is defined on a flap 22 which is arranged on the diametrically opposite side of the lid 16 with respect to the first folding line 17 and which is associated with the rest of the lid 16 along a second folding line 23 with a weakened section. , substantially parallel to the first folding line 17, which allows the flap 22 to fold with respect to the rest of the lid 16.

Through the tab 22 a slot 24 is defined passing through, on the inner edge of which the first tear-off support means 20 are arranged, consisting, for example, of a series of connecting jumpers with predetermined fracture able to break once the tooth 19 has been inserted into the seat lock 21.

Conveniently, the locking seat 21 is formed on the annular wall 15 of the cap 11 on the diametrically opposite side with respect to the first bending line 17 so that in the closure configuration of the cap 10 the tooth 19 fits exactly into the locking seat 21 The cap 10 also comprises second anti-tamper seal means 25, 26 interposed between the lid 16 and the shutter element 18.

In particular, it should be noted that the shutter element 18 is associated with the lid 16 by means of the second tamper-evident seal means 25, 26. These second tamper-evident seal means comprise second tear-off support means 25, of the type of a series of connecting jumpers with predetermined fracture, and a supporting edge 26 adapted to keep the lid 16 and the shutter element 18 together when the second tear-apart support means 25 breaks.

The supporting edge 26, in detail, is obtained on the lid 16 from the part arranged in correspondence with and in proximity to the first folding line 17.

This arrangement of the supporting edge 26, combined with the particular sizing of the section of the second tear-apart support means 25, ensures that, upon opening the lid 16 starting from the closing configuration, the shutter element 18 remains temporarily stuck inside. of the opening 12 so as to allow the breakage of the second tear-off support means 25 while, once it has come out of the opening 12, the shutter element 18 remains hanging from the lid 16 through the supporting edge 26.

Advantageously, third tamper-evident sealing means 27, 28, 29 are interposed between the cap 11 and the container 2.

The third anti-tamper seal means 27, 28, 29 comprise a seal ring 27 which is associated with the base of the cap 11 by interposition of third tear-off support means 28 and can be coupled by interlocking with a retaining edge 29 obtained on the neck 6 of the container 2.

In particular, the seal ring 27 is formed in a single body with the cap 11 and the third tear-apart support means 28 consist of a series of connecting jumpers with predetermined fracture.

During the screwing of the cap 10 onto the container 2, the sealing ring 27 and the retaining edge 29 are shaped so that the cap 11 can be fitted on the neck 6 without causing the breakage of the third tear-off support means 28 while, on the contrary, when an attempt is made to unscrew the cap 10, the retaining edge 29 resists the removal of the seal ring 27 causing the fracture of the third tear-off support means 28.

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 is as follows.

Immediately after forming, the cap 10 is arranged in an initial opening configuration (Figure 3) in which the first, second and third tear-apart support means 20, 25 and 28 are intact, the tooth 19 is mounted on the flap 22, the shutter element 18 is mounted on the cover 16 and the sealing ring 27 is mounted at the base of the cap 11.

At this point, the cap 10 is screwed onto the container 2 and the lid 16 is closed.

In the closing configuration, the tooth 19 fits stably inside the locking seat 21 and the shutter element 18 fits tightly and partially interlocking into the opening 12, as shown in figure 2.

On the occasion of the first opening 12 of the cap 10, the user leverages the flap 22 and pushes the lid 16 to rotate around the first folding line 17 placing the cap in the final opening configuration illustrated in figure 4.

This operation is particularly simple and can be carried out by the user even with one hand, allowing him to keep the other hand free or to use it to grasp the pick-up element and prepare it for its subsequent insertion into the closing element 8. All opening of the cap 10, the tooth 19 remains wedged in the locking seat 21, tearing the first tear-off support means 20 and acting as unequivocal proof that the lid 16 has been opened.

Furthermore, when opening the lid 16 starting from the closing configuration, the shutter element 18 remains temporarily stuck in the opening 12, the second tear-off support means 25 break and the shutter element 18 remains attached to the lid 16 only for means of the supporting edge 26, also acting as a test that the lid 16 has been opened.

It is also emphasized that even if an attempt is made to tamper with the bottle 1 by removing the cap 10 by unscrewing it from the container 2, then the third anti-tampering seal means 27, 28, 29 allow proof of tampering by breaking the third support means. tearable 28. With reference to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, it is emphasized that the bottle 1 is provided with a container 2 which is entirely identical to that of the previous embodiment; therefore, in these figures it is not shown the container 2 but only the cap 10.

The cap 10 of this embodiment is generally similar to the one illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 and comprises a cap 11, a lid 16, a shutter element 18, first tamper-evident sealing means 19, 20, 21 and third sealing means anti-tampering 27, 28, 29 which are completely similar to those previously described and which, therefore, will not be the subject of a further detailed explanation, it being understood that for them it is convenient to refer to the above description.

The only substantial difference with respect to the previous embodiment concerns the fact that the cap 10 of Figures 5 and 6 does not have the second anti-tampering seal means 25, 26 but, also, the lid 16 and the shutter element 18 are rigidly and stably associated with each other along an immovable connecting edge 30.

This means that when opening the lid 16 starting from the closing configuration, the shutter element 18 comes out of the opening 12 immediately, being dragged by the lid 16 in turn pushed by the flap 22 on which the user leverages.

Even in the final opening configuration (Figure 6), therefore, the shutter element 18 is solidly and rigidly joined to the lid 16 and to witness the opening of the lid 16 remains the tooth 19 inserted into the locking seat 21.

In practice it has been found that the described invention achieves the intended aim and objects.

In this regard, it is emphasized that the bottle according to the invention can be opened in a practical, easy and functional way, and above all in a short time and with the use of only one hand, allowing the user to prepare the other hand to the insertion of a needle, a spike or the like into the rubber closure element.

Furthermore, the particular expedient of providing a tooth that remains inserted in the locking seat and a shutter element that also in the final opening configuration remains attached to the lid avoids the inconvenient division of the bottle into several pieces and allows a quicker and simpler management of the materials. of waste compared to known types of bottles.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.

Furthermore, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements without thereby departing from the scope of the protection of the following claims.

Claims (20)

CLAIMS 1) Bottle for containing injectable fluids, particularly medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar products, comprising at least one container for containing an injectable fluid provided with at least one access mouth, at least one closure element which is at least partially inserted in said access mouth and which is provided with at least an area in penetrable material able to be crossed by an element for withdrawing said injectable fluid, and at least one protective cap for said closing element, characterized in that said cap comprises at least one hood which can be placed to cover at least partial of said closing element and which is provided with at least one opening for accessing said area, and at least one cover which is associated with said hood by interposition of means of rotation around an axis of oscillation and which supports at least one shutter element which can be inserted hermetically in said opening. 2) Bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that said rotation means are arranged substantially on the periphery of said cap. 3) Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rotation means comprise at least a first folding line with a weakened section. 4) Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shutter element comprises at least one body with a conformation substantially complementary to said opening. 5) Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cap comprises first anti-tampering seal means interposed between said lid and said cap. 6) Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first anti-tampering seal means comprise at least one protruding element which is associated with one of said lid and said cap by interposition of first tear-off support means, and at least one seat which is obtained on the other between said lid and said cap and in which said protruding element can be inserted by interlocking. 7) Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said protruding element is associated with a flap of said lid. 8) Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said flap is associated with the rest of said lid along a second fold line with a weakened section. 9) Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first tear-apart support means comprise at least one connection bridge with predetermined fracture. 10. Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cap comprises second anti-tampering seal means interposed between said lid and said shutter element. 11) Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second anti-tampering seal means comprise second tear-off support means interposed between said lid and said shutter element. 12) Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second tear-apart support means comprise at least one connection bridge with predetermined fracture. 13) Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second anti-tampering seal means comprise at least one support edge interposed between said lid and said shutter element and able to keep said lid and said shutter element together when said second tear-apart support means. 14) Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cap comprises at least one internal thread which can be screwed onto said container at said access mouth. 15) Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises third anti-tampering seal means interposed between said cap and said container. 16) Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said third anti-tampering seal means comprise at least one seal ring associated with the base of said cap by interposition of third support means that can be torn apart and can be coupled together with a retaining edge obtained on said container. 17) Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said third tear-apart support means comprise at least one connection bridge with predetermined fracture. 18) Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shutter element and said lid are rigidly and stably associated with each other. 19) Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said container and said cap is made of plastic. 20) Bottle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said closure element is made of rubber.