US2767711A

US2767711A - Eye medicament package

Info

Publication number: US2767711A
Application number: US412473A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernst Otto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-02-25
Filing date: 1954-02-25
Publication date: 1956-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 1973-10-23

Description

United States Patent Gfiice 2,767,7ll Patented ct. 23, 1956 `EYE MEDICAMENT PACKAGE Otto Ernst, Sherman Oaks, Calif. Application February 25, 1954, Serial No. 412,473

9 Claims. (Cl. 12S-249) This invention relates to unit medicament articles combining a medicament with a sealed receptacle. of unit size, for package sale on a drugstore shelf. The general object of the invention is to provide such a uint medicament article embodying la container, a readily removable cap or cover for the container, and al liquid medicament sealed therein, the cap beingsealed to the container adequately to prevent the Vescape of the medicament. l

A particular object of the inventionV is to provide snch a medicament article which is of extremely inexpensive construction.

A further object is to provide such a medicament article.

which may embodyl a` container of resin, elastomer or rubiber material.

tance to corrosion from its contents; transparency such as to render its contents visible; adaptabilityfor eyepleasing conto-tiring, finish and coloration; andabiiity to effect a moisture-tight,mechanical sealbetweenthe `,container and its closure cap without resorting to cementing, bonding or welding.

Other objects will become apparent in the ensuing lspecifications and `appended drawings in which:

Fig. lis a perspective View of a medicament article embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same;

Fig. ,3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the article;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view showing the seal;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View of the cap rim;

Fig. 6. is a side lview of the upper part ciftl'iecontainer, showing the initial stage of removingethe cap; Fig. 7 is afragmentary, partially sectional view of an article embodying a modified form of the invention;

,Fig. f8 is a fragmentary sectional View of another modified form;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional View of anothernmodified form; and

Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified form.

Referring now to the drawings, I have shown in Figs'. lf3, as an exampleeof one form in which the invention maybe embodied, a medicament article vcomprising a container (eye cup) indicated generally at 5, ya closure cap. 6, and a` body lof liquid medicament 7 sealedvwithin Vthecontainer Vby the cap 6. The liquid medicament 7 may be any eye medicine, such asv for examplean aqueous solutionof boric acid. The closure vv6Lis so .associated with the container 5 as .to effectively seal .the container against thevescape of thevmedicament.

tion. the medicaments contained in the receptacle and are par- 4the .lateral wall 12, defines a shoulder 14.

Eye cup 5 may be constructed of any suitable material,

lpreferably of molded construction, such as molded synthetic resin, glass, hard rubber, impregnated papier mch, sheet plastic material, or drawn metal corrosion resistant to the fluid contained therein either through the nature of the metal itself or by virtue of a corrosion resistant coating superimposed thereupon. In the latter case the bead 13 may be a bead of rectangular section. The preferred construction is a molded article of thermoplastic synthetic resin which may be a polystyrene or polyethylene, chlorinated polystyrene, fluorinated polyethylene such as the tetra liuoro ethylene polymer, polyvinyl halide resins such as` polyvinyl chloride or polyvinylidenechloride or copolymers thereof, either unplasticized o1' slightly plasticized if necessary so as to have adequate toughness to resist fracture, combined with form retaining rigidity. v

The rim, 1.3 may have the characteristic bowedrshape, as yviewed in side elevation or in longitudinal vertical section (Fig. 3), the end portions of the riml being somewhat higher than the central side portions thereof, whereby the rim may better fit the contour of the eye. This feature however constitutes no part of the present invention exceptinsofar as it does vadd to the probleil` of sealing the cap 6 thereto. u

Cover cap ncludes aA central webvportion 16, having a shape and arca corresponding to that'of rthespace defined within rim 13; a marginal flange 17 projecting outwardly from the web 16 and adapted to fit snugly againstthe inner wall of theieye cup 5 at the rim 13; a curled collar 1S forming a continuation of ange 17 and shaped to mate with the external contour vof rimbead 13; and a marginal lip 19 which projects inwardly toward iiange 17 and is adapted to snugly seat beneaththe shoul- `d er`14 and against the outer face of lateral wall 12of ywhich 4it surrounds, in order to accommodate the ythickness of eye cup lateral wall 12, and in the assembled article, the hoop tension in marginal lip 19 will cause it to constantly bear snugly against the outer surface of lateral wall 12. It is of course necessary to stretch the lip 19 to an even greater diameter than its final diameter in the assemled article, in order that it may pass over bead 13. However, the cap 6 is made of a material sufiiciently resilient to allow this stretching and suffi' ciently elastic to return to the position shown in Fig. 3, wherein it snugly engages the lateral wall ofthe eye cup with residual hoop tension therein. In general, the cap 6 has the characteristics of rubber and may be formed thereof, whereby the rubber may be a compounded natural gum rubber or a synthetic elastomer as for instance chloroprene polymer or butadiene copolymers of various types. Yl prefer however to mold cap 6 by use of a thermoplastic polymer particularly from those previously enumerated and, in particular preference, from polyethylene since these synthetic resin polymers afford a highly form retaining yet sufficiently elastic material of construc- They are equally high in chemical resistance to ticularly resistant to moisture absorption and moisture vapor transmission, thereby preventing the loss of the medicament by evaporation, diffusion and migration. A still further advantage of the use of polyethylene and for www...

this matter plasticized polystyrene as well as the vinyl halogen polymers and copolymers, is the translucent or transparent nature when unpigmented, which permits observation of the medicament in the container.

The cap 6 has the following essential characteristics: inertness to the medicament contents of the container; resistance to migration, absorption and vapor transmission; toughness; and flexibility sulhcient to al-low apron 18 to be stretched around rim bead 13.

As to the absorption characteristics of both the cap and the container, the invention contemplates the use of only those materials which meet the following requirement: a sheet of the material at lleast l thick, in contact with water (or an aqueous solution) at room ternperature (approximately 7078 F.) for at least 24 hours, shall allow a water absorption no greater than 1%. As examples of materials and their absorptivity, is given:

Vinyl chloride resins-01% to -.6% Vinylidene chloride resins-less than 0.1% Polyethylene resins-less than 0.01% Polystyrene resins-0.04% to 0.27% Chlorinated rubber-0.1% to 0.3% Isomerized rubber-0.02%

Hard or semi-hard rubber- 0.02%

The following materials are listed as examples of unsuitable materials:

Ethyl cellulose-1% to 2.5%

Cellulose acetate-4.9% to 6.0%

Cellulose acetate, high acetyl-l.5% to 2.9% Cellulose acetate butyrate-l.l% to 2.2% Cellulose acetate proprionate-1.5% to 2.3%

The cap 6 includes in addition to the parts previously mentioned, a tab which is positioned as a radially outwardly projecting extension of lip 19, substantially in the same plane therewith. Tab 20 serves the purpose of providing a grip which may be grasped between the fingers of a person preparing to use the medicament 7 and pulled outwardly so as to stretch the lip 19 at `one end of the cap 6. Thus the lip 19 may be elongated sufficiently to slip it lover the rim bead 13 at one end of the eye cup 5, until the lip 19 in the immediate vicinity of tab 20 rests on top of rim bead 13 as indicated in Fig. 6. Thereupon, the remaining circumference of lip 19 may be stripped from rim bead 13 by pulling the tab end of the cap 6 (retaining the grip upon tab 20) toward the opposite end of the eye cup as indicated by arrows 21 in Fig. 6.

In the packaged article, web 16 of cap 6 will nonmally be bowed inwardly, in full contact with the upper surface of liquid medicament body 7.

In the manufacturing process of filling the container, filling may be done atmospherically, by simply pouring the medicament into the container, -or forcibly expelling it from a nozzle into the container in the case of a salve or other non-fluid material. This is the preferred method where the medicament is not deteriorated by contact with residual traces of air in the sealed container.

Optionally, the container may be vacuum-filled in those instances where the presence -of residual traces of -ai-r may be considered deleterious or otherwise undesirable, or for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of suction clinging of the cap to the container to supplement the mechanical clinging of collar 18 to rim 13.

In such instances, during the filling and capping of the container 5, all residual air is withdrawn from the container in a suitable manner to effect this result of completely evacuating the container of air. This may be accomplished by doing the capping in a vacuum chamber according to methods known in the canning industry. It may be accomplished by withdrawing excess liquid or air through the cap 6, using a hollow needle 23 as illustrated in Fig. 7 and inserting the needle through a capillary passage 24 which may be formed for example in a boss 25 on the underside of cap web 16a of Fig. 7, the boss 25 being sufficiently resilient and elastic to stretch the amount required to `enlarge capillary aperture 24 to receive withdrawal needle 23 and to then return to a contracted condition wherein capillary aperture 24 is of such minute size as to be incapable of allowing air imolecules to pass therethrough. In this connection, the pressure of air at normal atmospheric pressure against the external boss 25, creating a differential of substantially l5 pounds per square inch over the substantially zero pressure within the container 5, assists the inherent contractile tension of boss 25 to completely close capillary passage 24 to this extent, so that a permanent seal is maintained.

Similarly, there may be an evacuation connection in the form of an external boss 25h on the bottom 10b of contanier 5b as shown in Fig. S, with a capillary passage 24b into which a withdrawal needle such as the needle 23 of Fig. 7 may be inserted while the container is in an inverted position, so that the residual air within the container may be evacuated therefrom. The boss 25b in this case is adapted to have a selfealing action upon capillary passage 24h when the needle 23 is withdrawn, as in the arrangement described above with reference to Fig. 7.

In Figs. 5-8 inclusive, those parts which are designated by the same numerals as are used in Figs. 1 4 are corresponding parts, whereas those parts which are designated by numerals that correspond to the numerals of Figs. 14 with the exception that exponential letters are added thereto, of parts which are `modified as described above.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 9, the rim 13a, instead of projecting Wholly outwardly of the inner wall of side member 12 (as in Fig. 4), has its axis centered above side member 12, and lip 19a, instead of being the outer marginal portion of curled collar 18a, is formed at the inner margin of offset flange 17a, as a co-planar continuation of web 16, and is engaged beneath a shoulder defined between the inner wall of the side member 12 and the inner, under side of rim 15a.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 10, container 5b is of softer, more flexible material than cover 6b, and curled toroidal collar 18h is formed at the rim of container 5b instead of being the marginal portion of the cover. The outer portion of collar 18h constitutes a rim flange 17b of the container. Flange 17b and collar 18b are radially spaced to define la toroidal space having a narrowed mouth. Cover 6b has a downwardly projecting annular coupler bead 13b which as a narrowed neck portion joining it to cover web 16b and is widened beyond this base portion to dene upwardly facing shoulders which are engaged by rim flange 17b and the terminal portion of collar 18h, respectively. Rim flange 17b and collar 18b are stretched around bead 13b, when bead 13b is inserted through the narrowed mouth and into the annular space defined between flange 17b and collar 18b, for the purpose of removing or replacing cover 6b.

The invention provides a highly sanitary and quick to use combination package comprising a container and a ready to use medicament as contrasted to the former practice usually involving a dirty and dusty eye cup in a medicine chest, having to be cleaned and filled before using, with costly time loss, etc.

I claim:

1. A unit medicament article comprising a container in the form of an eye cup having an outwardly projecting rim bead defining a mouth shaped to fit a human eye;

a body of liquid medicament therein', and a cap of resilient, elastic material including a covering web portion having a shape and area corresponding generally to that of said mouth, an offset flange projecting outwardly from said covering web portion and shaped to fit snugly within said mouth, and a return-curled toroidal collar portion adapted to t snugly around said bead and to effect a seal therewith to prevent escape of said medicament from the container, said collar portion including a marginal lip normally of smaller diameter than said rim bead and adapted to engage beneath said rim bead to eiect a seal.

2. In a unit medicament article, a container in the form of an eye cup including a rim bead defining there-within a mouth shaped to fit the eye and projecting radially outwardly from said lateral wall to define, where it joins the outer surface thereof, a undershot shoulder; a body of liquid medicament in said container; and a closure cap of resilient, elastic material including a central web portion having a shape and area generally corresponding to said mouth, an oliset flange projecting outwardly from said central web portion and having a corresponding shape so as to fit snugly against the wall of said mouth, an outwardly curled toroidal collar constituting a continuation of said offset flange and shaped to tit snugly around said rim bead, and a marginal lip at the extremity of said collar, having a diameter which is less than the diameter of said rim bead, said lip being adapted to engage with a sealing action beneath said shoulder.

3. An article as defined in claim 2, wherein said cap is of a molded polyethylene resin material.

4. An article as defined in claim 2, wherein said cap and container are of molded synthetic resin thermoplastic material of which a sheet of Mz" thickness will show an absorptivity of not over 1% when exposed to water in contact therewith at room temperature over a period of at least 24 hours.

5. An article as defined in claim 2, wherein said cap and container are of molded synthetic resin thermoplastic material of which a sheet of Vi thickness will show an absorptivity of not over 1% when exposed to water in contact therewith at room ytemperature over a period of at least 24 hours, said container being relatively rigid and form retaining and said cap being relatively soft and resilient, and being of a polyethylene resin material.

6. A medicament article as dened in claim 2, wherein the diameter of said lip in its unstressed condition is suiiiciently small to correspond to the external diameter of said flange, whereby said lip, as installed on said container, will be stretched to the extent of the thickness of the container wall and will thereby hug the container wall under hoop tension to establish sealing contact therewith.

7. A medicament article as defined in claim 6, wherein said cap includes, at one end thereof, a tab projecting radially outwardly therefrom, adapted to be grasped between the fingers of the user to permit the stretching of one end of said lip sufliciently to slip it over the said rim bead at the corresponding end of the container, preparatory to slipping the cap from the container so as to open the container.

8. An article as defined in claim 7, wherein said tab is disposed substantially in the plane of said lip.

9. In combination: a container in the form of an eye cup including a side member and a bead defining the rim thereof, said bead having a horizontal thickness greater than that of said side member where it is joined thereto and defining therewith an undershot shoulder, said bead also defining a mouth shaped to fit a human eye; a body of liquid medicament in said eye cup; and a closure cap of resilient, elastic material including a central web portion having a shape and area generally corresponding to said mouth, an offset flange projecting outwardly from said central web portion and having a corresponding shape so as to fit snugly against the wall of said mouth, an outwardly curled toroidal collar constituting a continuation of said offset flange and shaped to fit snugly around said rim bead, and a marginal lip at the junction between said web portion and offset flange, having a diameter which is less than the diameter of said rim bead, said lip being adapted to engage with a sealing action beneath said shoulder.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 146,179 Hall Jan. 6, 1874 537,146 Froehlich Apr. 9, 1895 658,273 Moore Sept. 18, 1900 2,017,800 Hilgenberg a Oct. l5, 1935 2,560,376 Waterman July 10, 1951 2,614,727 Robinson Oct. 21, 1952 2,630,237 Rosenlof Mar. 3, 1953