NZ608900B - A container assembly and a cap assembly for a container - Google Patents

Abstract

container assembly 10 comprising a container 12 having an opening, a cap 20 having an aperture and being adapted to removably engage the container 12 for covering the opening, an integrally formed spigot 24 adapted to releasably engage delivery means extended into the aperture of the cap 20 and to facilitate drawing of the contents of the container 12 from the container 12, and a tamper resistant sealing means which is a removable plug which seals the spigot 32 from the surrounding environment. The removable plug is an externally threaded cylindrical plug for engaging the aperture within the cap 20. The integrally formed spigot 24 is located towards the centre portion of the aperture formed in the cap 20, and there is provided at least one breather valve which is integrally formed or removably mounted within the aperture formed in the cap 20. facilitate drawing of the contents of the container 12 from the container 12, and a tamper resistant sealing means which is a removable plug which seals the spigot 32 from the surrounding environment. The removable plug is an externally threaded cylindrical plug for engaging the aperture within the cap 20. The integrally formed spigot 24 is located towards the centre portion of the aperture formed in the cap 20, and there is provided at least one breather valve which is integrally formed or removably mounted within the aperture formed in the cap 20.

Description

A CONTAINER ASSEMBLY AND A CAP ASSEMBLY FOR A CONTAINER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is related to a container assembly anda cap assembly for delivery of the contents ofa container, and in particularly for delivery of liquid contents. In particular, the container assembly and cap assembly can be used in the animal health industry for drawing off liquids.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION In the animal health industry, the current delivery procedure of liquid contents in a container typically involves removing the screw cap of the container and replacing the screw cap witha draw off unit. The draw off unit typically comprisesa nipple on top ofa suitable cap, which is similar to the screw cap on the container.

Such draw off units are cumbersome, readily damaged or lost, have an impact on pallet configuration and result in higher transportation costs for the containers. The necessity of replacing screw caps with draw off units before content delivery, thereby increasing the likelihood of spillage and exposing spillage people and animals to potentially toxic fumes, also raises occupational health and safety concerns.

Australian patent application 2010200476 describesa container assembly anda cap assembly for use in overcoming or ameliorating such problems.

However, sucha container and cap assembly may still suffer in some situations froma disadvantage that in transport, the liquid contents of the container may be be tampered with or diluted without detection.

The present invention seeks to provide an alternative to the container assembly and cap assembly described in Australian patent application 2010200476 and which may provide greater tamper detection and ease of delivery of the liquid contents from the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a container assembly comprising: a container having an opening; a cap having an aperture and being adapted to removably engage the container for covering the opening; an integrally formed spigot adapted to releasably engage delivery means extended into the aperture of the cap and to facilitate drawing of the contents of the container from the container; and a tamper resistant sealing means which seals the spigot from the surrounding environment.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provideda cap assembly for a container having an opening, the cap assembly comprising: a cap having an aperture and being adapted to removably engage the container for covering the opening; an integrally formed spigot adapted to releasably engage delivery means extended into the aperture of the cap and to facilitate drawing of the contents of the container from the container; and a tamper resistant sealing means which seals the spigot from the surrounding environment.

Preferably, the tamper resistant sealing means comprisesa first tamper resistant device located around the periphery of the cap anda second removable tamper resistant device which is located towards the centre portion of the cap. The first tamper resistant device may bea detachable ring around the outer rim of the cap.

The second tamper resistant device may be a removable tab element havinga removable inner portion. The removable inner portion may be located towards the centre of the tab element.

Preferably, the integrally formed spigot includes a feeder adapted to facilitate the drawing of the contents of the container from the container. The feeder may be adapted to engagea conduit or delivery means to facilitate the drawing of the contents. The conduit or delivery means may be substantially within the container. The integrally formed spigot may be located around the centre portion of the cap. In particular, the spigot may be located ina centre portion of a lower wall of an aperture formed in the cap.

Preferably, the spigot includesa nipple adapted to releasably engage the conduit or delivery means to facilitate the drawing of the contents of the container.

The nipple may be substantially located within the aperture of the cap. More preferably, the cap may further comprise at least one breather valve located alongside or adjacent the spigot to allow for greater balance of pressure from within and outside the container. The at least one breather valve may also be removably mounted from the cap.

Preferably, the contents include liquid contents. The sealing means may be a cylindrical plug. The cylindrical plug may be externally threaded for engaging an inner portion of the cap. Preferably, the spigot is integrally formed within a lower wall formed in the aperture of the cap. More preferably, the cap includes an internally threaded inner rim for engaging the externally threaded plug.

Preferably, the cap includes an internally threaded outer rim for engaging the container for covering the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS Fig.1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment ofa cap assembly showinga first tamper resistant device anda second tamper resistant device when the cap assembly is in a transit mode according to one aspect of the invention; Fig. 2 isa lower perspective view of the cap assembly comprising the first tamper resistant device and second tamper resistant device as shown in Fig.1 when the cap assembly is removed from the container; Fig. 3 isa top perspective view of the cap assembly as shown in Fig.2 comprising and showing the first tamper resistant device and the second tamper resistant device; Fig. 4a is a top view ofa preferred embodiment of the sealing means of the cap assembly of the present invention, specifically an externally threaded removable cylindrical plug portion of the cap assembly as shown in Fig.3; Fig 4b isa side view of an externally threaded removable cylindrical plug as shown in Figure 4a; Fig. 5 is an upper perspective view of the cap assembly of the present invention without the removable cylindrical plug portion as shown in Fig 4a and Fig 4b; Fig. 6 are expanded cross sectional schematic views of the various components of the cap assembly of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a cross sectional schematic view of the cap assembly of Fig. 6 when assembled; and Fig. 8 is a top perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the container assembly without the sealing means and attaching to a delivery means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 shows an embodiment ofa container assembly 10 according to one aspect of the present invention. The container assembly 10 comprises a container 12 having an opening (not shown),a cap 14 having an aperture (not shown) and being adapted to removably engage the container for covering the opening.A removable sealing means 18 for sealing the aperture (not shown) is located towards the centre portion of the cap. An integrally formed spigot (not shown) within the cap 14 is adapted to releasably engage delivery means extended into the aperture (not shown) and to facilitate drawing of contents of the container 12 from within the container 12 to outside the container 12 through said aperture (not shown). The removable sealing means 18 comprises a first tamper resistant device 15 anda second tamper resistant device 17 as will be described in more detail below.

Preferably, the contents of the container 12 are liquid.

Fig. 2 shows a lower perspective view of an embodiment ofa cap assembly 20 for a container (not shown) havinga depending cylindrical rim 19, an opening (not shown) according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the cap assembly 20 is preferablya screw cap and is the same as the container assembly 10 as shown in Fig. 1 but without showing the container 12. In general, therefore, the cap assembly 20 comprises a cap 14 having an aperture (not shown) which is adapted to removably engage the container (not shown) for covering the opening of the container (not shown), removable sealing means (not shown) for sealing the aperture (not shown), and an integrally formed spigot (not shown) which in this embodiment is integrally formed with the cap 14.

The integrally formed spigot is adapted to releasably engage delivery means (not shown) extended into the aperture (not shown) and facilitate drawing of contents of the container 12 from within the container 12 to outside the container 12.

Individual components of a preferred embodiment of the container assembly 10 or the cap assembly 20 are now described in further detail below and with reference to the remaining drawings, Fig. 3 to Fig. 8.

Cap and sealing means Fig.3 shows a top view of the cap 14 of Fig. 2 in greater detail. The cap 14, as shown with its top side in Fig. 3, is preferablya screw cap. The aperture (not shown) is located towards the centre part of the cap 14 and is shown being sealed bya sealing means 18. In this embodiment, the cap 14 isa 58 mm Dorony cap, with the sealing means 18 being preferably a cylindrical plug 18. The cylindrical plug 18 may be externally threaded for engaging a threaded inner rim of the cap 14. Whilst not shown in Fig.3, it can be seen in Fig.2, that on the underside of the cap 14, the cap 14 may be internally threaded along its outer rim 13 for engaging the container 12 to cover the opening. The cap 14 may also include a depending rim 19, which at least partly definesa wall of the aperture 25 in the cap 14 and which may be internally threaded (not shown) for engaging either the sealing means 18 which is preferably an externally threaded cylindrical plug 18.

In operation, the cap 14 may be removed from the container 12 by unscrewing the cap 14 in typically an anti-clockwise direction. Accordingly, the cap 14 may havea first tamper-proof device 15. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, the tamper- proof device 15 includes a ring around the outer rim of the cap 14. Breakage or absence of the ring may indicate that the cap 14 has been removed from the container 12 after the cap 14 is installed on the container 12. This may indicate to a user that the cap 14 may have been tampered with and thus the security of the contents of the container 12 may be in question.

Further, as shown in Fig.3, the sealing means 18 may includea second tamper- proof device 17 for providing an additional means for indicating tampering of the sealing means 18. In this embodiment, the second tamper proof device 17 isa removable draw off tab element 17. The draw off tab element 17 is an elongate element having in this examplea substantially rectangular shape with arcuately shaped opposed ends. The tab element 17 hasa removable inner portion 17a which in this example is alsoa substantially rectangular shape with arcuately shaped opposed ends and in this example has the word “PUSH” labelled thereon.

The removable inner portion 17a is capable of being removed, detached or pushed inwardly towards the interior of the container 12 so as to expose the aperture 25 of the container.

In operation, the second tamper resistant device, in this embodiment, the draw off tab element 17 is thus capable of indicating two modes of the container assembly 10 or the cap assembly 20, namelya transit mode anda removal mode.

In the transit mode, the removable inner portion 17a remains substantially flush with the remainder of the draw off tab element 17 thereby indicating to a user that the contents of the container 12 have not been tampered with or are secure. This provides additional security to the contents of the container 12 in addition to the first tamper resistant device 15 as described above.

In use, the removal mode is indicated toa user by the removal, detachment or significant movement of the removable inner portion 17a so as to allow access to the removal of the cap by usinga suitable device such as a screw driver, applicator, etc. Once a user sees that the inner portion portion 17a has been removed from the draw off tab element 17 then this indicates to the user that the contents of the container may not be secure.

Fig. 4a showsa preferred embodiment of the sealing means 18 of the cap 14 which in this case is an externally threaded cylindrical plug 18 with the external thread shown as dotted outline. Fig 4b showsa side view of the externally threaded cylindrical plug 18 with an external thread 18a as shown in this figure.

In Fig. 5, there is shown the cap 14 as shown in Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b without the sealing means 18. In Fig. 6 and Fig.7, there are shown an expanded and assembled schematic views of the various parts of the cap assembly 20 which will now be discussed.

In the embodiment as shown in Fig.5 and Fig. 6, there is shown an integrally formed draw off spigot 22 in an aperture 25 which is located towards the centre of the cap 14. The spigot 22 may be a Simcro® (a registered trademark of Simcro Tech Limited) Inverted Spigot Cap with its cap removed. The spigot 22 hasa nipple 24 which can releasably engagea delivery means (e.g.a plastic tube or other flexible conduit(s)) to facilitate drawing of the liquid contents of the container 12. There is alsoa removable breather valve 26 which acts to balance the pressure between the interior of the container and the pressure external of the container.

To facilitate the drawing of the contents of the container from the container, the integrally formed spigot 22 may includea feeder 28. When the cap 14 is engaged with the container 12 to form the container assembly 10 as shown in Figure 1, the feeder 28 may be substantially internal to the container 12. The feeder 28 may extend to allow the feeder 28 to reach near the bottom of the container as is illustrated in Fig.6 and Fig. 7. Alternatively the feeder may be considerably shorter than the depth of the container, but engaged with a conduit or plastic tube 32, as shown in Fig.6 and 7. The plastic conduit may be of varying lengths when being used witha container of different depth. When the cap assembly 20 is assembled and engaged with the container 12 to form the container assembly 10, the conduit may be substantially internal to the container 12.

As shown in Fig.5 and 6, the integrally formed spigot 22 may includea nipple 24 adapted to releasably engage the delivery means or conduit 32 to facilitate the drawing of the contents. The nipple 24 and the feeder 28 are both hollow. This allows the contents of the container 12 to be drawn from the container 12, through the conduit 32, into the feeder 28 end of the spigot 22 and then out from the nipple 24 end of the spigot 22.

In some embodiments, the spigot 22 may be externally threaded for engaging the internally threaded inner rim 17 of the cap 14.

Cap assembly Referring to Fig.6 which shows an exploded view of the cap assembly 20 in its assembled form, the spigot 22 is integrally formed froma lower wall of the cap 14 which is also the lower wall of the aperture 25. As can be seen in this figure, the spigot is located towards the centre of the lower wall of the aperture 25 of the cap 14. In this assembled form, the nipple 24 may extend through an upper end of the aperture 25 of the cap 14.

In this embodiment, the sealing means 18 is externally threaded as shown in 18a for engaging the aperture 25 of the cap 14 and sealing the aperture 25 of the cap 14. With the sealing means 18 threadedly engaging and sealing the aperture 25, the likelihood of spillage of the contents of the container 12 is reduced. The sealing means 18 may or may not be in direct contact with the nipple 24.

As shown in Fig.5 and Fig. 6, with the sealing means 18 removed from the cap 14, the nipple 24 is exposed. As shown in Fig. 8, this allows the nipple 24 , in use, to engage the conduit or delivery means, such as an applicator gun ora draw off tube 32, being extended into the aperture 25 for drawing the contents of the container 12 from the container 12.

Referring back to Fig.5 and Fig.6, the integrally formed spigot 22 may include at least one breather valve 26 for balancing pressure internal and pressure external to the container 12, upon drawing of the liquid contents from the container 12. The breather valve 26 is removable or can be integrally formed within the cap 14 as can be best seen in Fig. 6. The breather valve may be adjacent or alongside the integrally formed spigot 22.

Now thata preferred embodiment for each of the aspects of the present invention has been described in some detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the cap assembly and the container assembly have at least the following advantages: • When the contents of the container is to be drawn off from the container with a draw off tube or an applicator gun, it is not necessary to replace the cap or the cap assembly with any another draw off unit. This simplifies the draw-off procedure.

• Keeping the cap engaged with the container during the drawing off of the contents improves the occupational health and safety standards.

• The integrally formed spigot is internal to the container. This reduces the likelihood of damage to the spigot. An internal spigot also removes the requirement to transport draw off units together with the container, which translates to cost savings.

• Greater security of the contents of the container due to the first and second tamper resistant devices.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described.

The description of the cap and container assembly are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (8)

1. A container assembly comprising: a container having an opening; a cap having an aperture and being adapted to removably engage the container for covering the opening; an integrally formed spigot adapted to releasably engage delivery means extended into the aperture of the cap and to facilitate drawing of the contents of the container from the container; a tamper resistant sealing means which isa removable plug which seals the spigot from the surrounding environment; wherein the removable plug is an externally threaded cylindrical plug for engaging the aperture within the cap; wherein the integrally formed spigot is located towards the centre portion of the aperture formed in the cap; and further wherein there is provided at least one breather valve which is integrally formed or removably mounted within the aperture formed in the cap.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the tamper resistant sealing means comprisesa first tamper resistant device located around the periphery of the cap and a second removable tamper resistant device which is located towards the centre portion of the cap.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first tamper resistant device isa detachable ring around the outer rim of the cap.

4. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the second tamper resistant device is a removable tab element havinga removable inner portion.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the removable inner portion is located towards the centre of the tab element.

6. An assembly according to claim4 or 5, wherein the assembly is in a transit mode when the removable inner portion of the removable tab element is flush with the remainder of the tab element.

7. An assembly according to claim4 or 5, wherein the assembly is ina removal mode when the removable inner portion of the removable tab element is removed from the remainder of the tab element.

8. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one breather valve is located alongside or adjacent to the integrally formed spigot.