MXPA97000767A - Aplasta tube - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a one piece lid for a collapsible tube having a) a rigid post extending longitudinally from a rigid base, b) the post being smaller in cross section than the base, the lid being characterized because it comprises a substantially cylindrical, continuous, flexible, hollow wall extending longitudinally from the base and around the post substantially for the length of the post, where the wall can be deformed by squashing into an elliptical cross-section around the post

Description

APLASTABLE TUBE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to the field of flat tubes and very particularly to covers for said tubes. The invention is particularly useful for collapsible tubes of the type used for medicaments for the eyes having a way of evidencing an undue pre-opening that describe any anterior opening of the tube.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNIQUE THE TECHNIQUE In the patent of E.U.A. 3,731,849 issued May 8, 1973 for container combination of the a to indicate improper opening attempt, a. A collapsible tube of the type that has a crushable body and a rigid shoulder that ends in a tapered mouthpiece that has a hole in the end. The mouthpiece has on the outside of the mouth. same in the area of the shoulder a threaded extension that receives in it a cover. The lid has a tapered hollow post which generally conforms to the tapered nozzle.

Said lid design is necessary for efficient closure of the orifice when the lid is screwed into the tube. Said collapsible tube design is particularly useful for medications for patients where the nozzle having a hole at the end thereof allows the medicine to be accurately deposited in the oo. To show the undue pre-opening with the contents of the tube, the '849 patent describes an arrangement where a flange is formed on the tube above the tube shoulder, and a flexible skirt integrally formed on the lid is nicely placed below the tube. the eyelash. When the cap is initially unscrewed from the tube, the shoulder flexes under the rotational and longitudinal forces imparted to the cap and escapes below the flange. Any effort to re-screw the cover and relocate the skirt below the flange is impeded by the outward tilt of the skirt, so it is evident that the cover has been previously removed initially, as it must rest by - above the tab, the arrangement described above as described in the '849 patent is efficient to indicate that April has already been attempted.

THE PROBLEM Except when an attempt has been made to open previously, the user must be the only one to remove the cover automatically when the skirt is below the tab. The user must exert a substantial rotational force to unscrew the cap and flex or ornament the skirt below the flange, since the skirt resists said bending or deformation. It is difficult for the user with the cover of the prior art to exert said substantial force. The difficulties occur due to the cover design of the prior art. The relatively short base of the lid is difficult to hold with the fingers to rotate it, since it is relatively short. The user also attempts to hold the post of the cap, which is tapered and smooth and conforms to the nozzle of the tube. This pole design hethe fingers slide away from the base and away from the lid. In fact, as long as a person tries to hold the base with his fingers, to unscrew the cap from the top, more easily »will the fingers of the base slide? to top. Even the ridges on the base help a little. This makes it extremely difficult to unscrew the cap and flex or deform the flexible skirt on it from the bottom of the flange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, a substantial, hollow, flexible cylindrical wall extends integrally from the base and around the post of a prior art lid.

The present invention allows the fingers to firmly grip the entire cap, and temporarily deform the substantially cylindrical wall of the cap to a "thumb screw" position. As in the prior art, there is no tendency for the fingers to slide away from the lid on the tapered post portion of the lid. The outside of the lid forms a flange along its entire length, which includes the base and substantially hollow cylindrical wall. The lid retains the tapered post that is necessary to form the tapered nozzle, since there is a seal and rub effect that must occur when the cap is replaced over the nozzle in this particular type of collapsible tube. In the invention, the lid, which is substantially circular in cross section, can now be clamped, and the substantially cylindrical wall of the lid crushed and deformed into a relatively flat ellipse which allows said type of "thumb screw" to take place. on the top. Therefore, a user, by simply crushing and distorting the lid in an ellipse or in a flattened oval condition, together with the fact of having to hold the lid substantially due to its extended length, can simply but effectively exert a rotational force Substantial or twisting spider to unscrew the cap. This forces the skirt under the flange to flex or deform and escape under the flange. The ellipse that is created by crushing has an internal limit that is defined or created by the radial taper post inwardly from the top that is relatively rigid. Therefore, not only the user can hold a larger portion of the lid, and flatten the lid in the oval shape to allow for greater torque and lever arm, but the user has the added benefit of crushing the wall substantially flexible, hollow cylindrical, of the cap against the relatively rigid inner portion in the form of a tapered post. This gives the user a firm grip on the full lid and a position that is reached whenever a force is exerted on crushing the flexible portion at the same time. In this way, an ellipse defined in each use of Ja tata is created which is advantageous for removing the lid. By releasing the pressure of the fingers, the lid returns to its initial circular cross-sectional shape. In fact, the lid has a memory. Although a lid of the invention is described herein when used on a squeezing tube of evidence of attempted opening, it should be understood that the lid can be used without said feature on the tube, since the effect of rotational force increased does not depend on the obvious characteristic of the previous opening attempt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure i is a slightly enlarged isornetric view of a typical collapsible metal that has a prior opening evidence closure. The collapsible metal tube and the closure shown are used primarily for storing and dispensing a particular medicament for the eyes. Figure 1 represents the prior art. Figure 2 is an ornometric view similar to Figure 1 showing the lid of the invention on the crushable metal tube of the prior art having a prior opening evidence closure. Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3.3 of Figure 1 and prior art - designated, showing details of the end of the assortment nozzle of the collapsible metal tube and the lid, before the initial opening . Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4,4 of Figure 2 showing the cover of the invention on the collapsible tube of the prior art. Figure 5 is an exploded sectional view of a fragment of the end of dispensing nozzle of the collapsible metal hub and the lid of the invention when being removed from the nozzle end of the tube, all shown in lines with inua. Also shown in dotted and dashed lines is the replacement of the lid of the invention on the nozzle, illustrating the characteristic of evidence of prior opening.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the cover of the invention all on the line 6,6 of Figure 5. Figure 7 is an elevation view of the cover of the invention with a detached and sectioned portion clearly showing the deflection into the substantial cylindrical wall that extends circumferentially when opposing forces are applied in the direction of the arrows. Figure 7 also shows the external and internal boundary positions of the deflection of the wall. The outer boundary is shown as dotted and dashed line. Figure 8 is a plan view of the lid of the invention turned on the line 8,8 of Figure 7 showing the elliptical shape taken by the circumferentially extending wall when subjected to the opposite forces shown in Figure 7 Figure 9 is a schematic plan view illustrating the collapsible metal tube, as shown in Figure 1 and the marked prior art, firmly held by the thumb and the second finger of the left hand, and its lid, held by the thumb and the second finger of the right hand in an even position, to unscrew the cap of the collapsible metal tube. The fingers are shown in a dotted and dashed line. Figure 10 is an enlarged view of the tube and cap as shown in Figure 1, and the forehead technique outlined on line 10.10 of Figure 9 showing in broken and dashed line fragments of the second finger and thumb - from the right hand placed on the lid and applying an opposite force on the lid while rotating the lid in a dextrogynd direction to remove the lid of the tube. Figure 11 is a schematic plan view similar to Figure 9 but showing the squat metal tube fitted with the lid of the invention as shown in Figure 2. Figure 12 is an enlarged end view of the U-shaped lid of the invention all on line 12, 12 of figure 11 showing dotted and dashed line fragments of the second finger and thumb exerting opposite forces on the elastic wall of the cover of the invention while rotating the cover in a left-handed direction to remove the tube cap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY The cover of the invention will be described in detail in relation to a collapsible tube for the eyes and cover for evidence of undue pre-opening.

THE PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE Said collapsible tube and lid < l the prior art < -, see in figures 1, 3, 9 and 10. These they are often used for eye-ointments. An equestrian tube of the prior art 20 has a dimension of 1,257 cm in diameter and 6.98 cm in length. The tube has a tapered tip with nozzle 21 at one end and a folded closure 23 bent at the other end. I. nozzle 21 has a hole? 2 at the end through which the contents are filled by crushing the body of the hub 24. The one piece lid 25 of the prior art which is generally formed of the nozzle 21 is screwed onto the nozzle 21 on a threaded lug 26 formed at the base of the nozzle 21 which is an integral part of the tube 20. The cover 25 of the prior art, formed in one piece, such as by molding, of plastic, has a base 28 and a tapered post 29. Means of evidence of undue pre-opening, are used to indicate any previous opening with respect to the contents of the tube before an initial opening by a user. In the prior art, a skirt 27 was formed on the base 28 of the prior art lid 25 and a flange 30 extended above and from the shoulder 31 of the body of the tube 24. During manufacture of the tube, the cover 25 of the prior art is screwed onto the flange 26, and then the flange 30, which is an integral extension of the shoulder 31, is rotated on the flange 2? from cover 25 of the prior art to capture the skirt 27 below the flange 30. The pipe 20 remains open at the bottom for the subsequent filling and sealing operation. After which the is formed. close 23.

This prior art concept is shown in the U.S. patent. No. 3,731,849 for container and lid combination to indicate prior undue opening as mentioned above and incorporated herein by reference. The construction shown in the '849 patent has been extensive to show evidence of any prior opening of the tube 20. When the lid 25 is unscrewed from the threaded extension 26, the flexible skirt 27 on the lid 25 flexes and escapes from below the tab 30 as was oxidized in the '849 patent. Also, the flange 30 may be permissibly slightly deformed during this operation. When the lid 25 of the prior art is screwed back onto the tube 20 to a closed position after it has been removed once, the skirt 27 no longer fits below the flange 30 but is replaced on the as shown in Figure 5 so it is obvious to an observer that the lid 25 has at least been removed from the tube after filling or filling. The problem of the prior art In the prior art, it has been difficult to remove the lid 25 from the prior art of the tube 20 the first time after filling. During this initial replenishment, the skirt 27 is allowed to flex-and bend and must be rotated in frictional engagement with the underside of the flange 30, also, the skirt 27 must be bent to a position where its diameter is less than the interior of the diameter of the flange 30. As seen in FIG. 9, this may be difficult for all the above reasons. With particular reference to the prior art as seen in Figures 9 and 10, generally the thumb and finger of one hand holds the cover of the prior art 25, and the other hand holds the body of the tube 23. Despite the In the best efforts of the user, the fingers on the cover 25 of the prior art tend to slip and move away from the cover 25 of the prior art in the direction shown by the arrows. The fingers obtain little advantage from the portion 28 longitudinally at the lip of the lid 25. The portion of the fingers that overlap the tapered post 29 of the apa do not help to apply a torque and effect the removal, but in fact they slide rotationally and longitudinally in the direction of the arrows 40, independently of the application of force in the direction 41 as seen in figure 10.

The present invention can be seen in Figures 2 and 4, tube 20 if it being the same as in the prior art. In this way, the same reference numbers previously used are applied. The new lid 55 has a skirt 57 formed on the bottom 58 of the lid 55 as in the prior art. Again the tab 30 is formed on the skirt 57 as in the previous technique. The new cover 55 has incorporated therein all the beneficial characteristics of the old cover 25 in relation to the characteristic of evidence of undue prior opening. However, the improvement is dictated by the ease with which the lid can be removed initially from the tube. In the present invention, a substantially cylindrical flexible member 70 is integrally formed with the base 58 on the cover 55. The substantially cylindrical member 70 may be a little tapered, as seen in the drawings. In fact, the member 70 may be slightly conical in shape, with a slightly decreasing cross section in a direction longitudinally away from the base. However, member 70 should not be tapered to the extent that the fingers slide away from the base, or interfere with flexibility. The member 70 is new and extends around the rigid post 69, which, like the post 29, in the cover of the prior art 25 conforms to the configuration of the tapered nozzle 21. The member 70 is formed of a relatively thin wall 71 by Jo that the wall 71 can be deformed by pressure of the fingers. The member 70 extends longitudinally from the base 58 to around the extr-emo of the rigid post 69. The wall 71 must be adequately reinforced, as by means of integral ribs, as long as the wall remains flexible. The entire lid 55 can be made - suitably by injection molding a thermoplastic material such as filled polyethylene or polypropylene. Relative rigidity or flexibility is created by the material and the illustrated design. The base 58 and the wall 71 have continuous flanges extending longitudinally on their outer surface to allow a firm grip to prevent slippage. In a fully closed position for filling and subsequently closing or sealing an upper nozzle sphere 72 of the cover 55 sits in the nozzle orifice 22, as in the prior art. During operation, a user holds a lid 55 as seen in figures 1 1 and 12, and applies a crushing force to the wall 71 on the lid. The wall 71 is naturally deformed as seen particularly in FIGS. 7 8 and 12. The wall 71 is apiece from a transverse cross section as seen in FIG. 6, to an oval shape as in FIGS. 8 and 12. The wall 71 returns to the initial shape of member 70 when the forces of the fingers are gathered. the wall 71 is flattened against the post 69 or shown particularly in FIGS. 7, 8 and 12. This allows not only a firm grip but also creates a "thumb screw" effect where a lever arm or torque Increased torque is created by extending the lever arm di meter in which the force can be applied, as shown in Figure 12. The force to unscrew the cover 55 is applied by the fingers to effect the removal by rotation in the direction shown in arrows 75. In figure 5, the new cover 55 is shown in solid lines removed from the tube 20. When the cover 55 is unscrewed in the tube 20, the cover 55 sits on the tube 20 as shown in the drawings. dotted and dashed lines, giving evidence of their previous removal.

Claims (7)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - In a one piece cover for a collapsible tube having: (a) a rigid post extending longitudinally from a rigid base; (b) the post being smaller in cross section than the base; the improvement comprises a substi cial cylindrical, continuous, flexible, hollow wall extending longitudinally from the base and around the substantial post for the length of the post, characterized in that the wall can be deformed by crushing an elliptical cross-section around the post .

2. A cover according to claim 1, further characterized in that the exterior of the base and cylindrical wall have ridges on them.

3. A cover according to Claim 1, characterized in that the substantially cylindrical wall has a slightly tapered conical shape.

4. The cap according to claim 1, further characterized in that the wall can be crushed against the post, because the deformation of the wall is limited.

5. The lid according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the wall returns to its original shape when the lid is no longer crushed.

6. - The lid according to claim 1 or 4, further characterized in that the lid is formed of a thermoplastic material having a memory.

7. A one piece lid for a collapsible tube comprising: a) a rigid base; b) a rigid post extending longitudinally from the rigid base; c) a substantially cylindrical flexible wall extending from the base and around the post, and d) a flexible skirt extending from the base; in combination with a collapsible tube having: a) a shoulder, b) flange extending inwardly from the shoulder, wherein: a) the skirt of the initially lid is in a position below the flange, and ) the user aliñente removes the lid of the tube and the skirt from below the flange crushing the cylindrical wall towards an ellipse shape around the post, so that the user can exercise a force of rotation on the lid.