Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D1/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material or by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D1/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material or by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
  • B65D1/09—Ampoules
  • B65D1/095—Ampoules made of flexible material
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
  • A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
  • A61J1/05—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes for collecting, storing or administering blood, plasma or medical fluids ; Infusion or perfusion containers
  • A61J1/06—Ampoules or carpules
  • A61J1/067—Flexible ampoules, the contents of which are expelled by squeezing

Definitions

• the present invention is a single-use container useful for storage and dispension of small quantities of liquids.
• the subject container is particularly useful for dispensing sterile, preservative-free formulations, such as those used in single dose eye drop applications.
• BACKGROUND Single-use containers are commonly used for providing small quantities of sterile, preservative-free liquids, e.g. lubricating eye drops.
• Commercial examples of such containers are used in the following products: Dry Eye Therapy® Lubricating Eye Drops from Bausch & Lomb; Tears Naturale Free® and Bion® Tears Lubricating Eye Drops from Alcon; Celluvisc® and Refresh PlusTM Lubricating Eye Drops from Allergan; OcuCoat TM PF Lubricating Eye Drops from Storz Opththalmics; and Hypo Tears® PF Lubricating Eye Drops from IOLAB.
• Such containers are typically molded from low density polyethylene using form-fill seal or blow-fill seal technology.
• the containers include: a vessel portion for containing a small quantity of liquid, (e.g. typically from 0.1 to 3.0 ml), a twist-off seal top for sealing liquid within the vessel, and a neck portion interconnecting the seal top and vessel.
• a vessel portion for containing a small quantity of liquid e.g. typically from 0.1 to 3.0 ml
• a twist-off seal top for sealing liquid within the vessel
• neck portion interconnecting the seal top and vessel.
• a significant drawback to current single-use containers is they are not adapted for engagement between the finger tips, (e.g. between the forefinger finger tip and the finger tip of the thumb or other finger). That is, the outer surface of the vessel is egg-shaped, cylindrical, or wedge-shaped. As a consequence, when squeezing the vessel of current containers, the vessel tends to slip away from the opposing pressure of the finger tips. This problem is compounded with containers employing thicker vessel walls which are not easily deformed by squeezing. This situation is further compounded for persons suffering with arthritis or those otherwise having compromised hand and finger strength.
• the present invention provides a single-use container including: a vessel for holding liquid wherein the vessel includes two opposing engagement surfaces, a removable seal top for sealing the vessel, and a neck portion interconnecting the vessel and the seal top.
• the engagement surfaces of the vessel are specifically adapted for engagement between the finger tips. More specifically, the engagement surfaces of the vessel are concave, (along the longitudinal axis of the container), thus trapping the vessel between the finger tips as the vessel is squeezed.
• the seal top of the subject container is also provided with two opposing engagement surfaces.
• at least one, and preferably both engagement surfaces of the seal top are provided with a plurality of ridges, thus providing a surface which is easier to grip between the finger tips.
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of the subject single-use container
• Figure 6 is a top view showing several container attached laterally forming a strip
• Figure 7 is a side view showing the container being opened
• Figure 8 is a side view showing the container opened and liquid being dispensed therefrom.
• the present invention is a single-use container useful for storing and dispensing small quantities of liquids.
• the subject container is particularly useful for dispensing sterile, preservative-free formulations, such as those used in single dose eye drop applications, the subject container may also be used with other liquids, e.g. dyes, adhesive, medicines such as those administered orally, ear drops, nasal drops, and the like.
• the subject container is particularly well suited for providing introductory or promotional sample size quantities of liquids.
• the subject container is generally shown at 10, including a vessel 12, neck 14, seal top 16, and tab 18.
• the vessel 12 is designed to hold small quantities of liquid, i.e. typically from about 0.1 to 3 milliliters; however, vessels for accommodating larger quantities of liquid may be used.
• the vessel 12 includes two opposing engagement surfaces 20, 20' which are designed to accommodate the surface of one's fingers tips, thus making the container easier to hold and squeeze.
• the engagement surfaces 20, 20' have concave surface (provided along the longitudinal axis A of container) which corresponds to the rounded surface of the finger tips.
• the seal top 16 is relatively flat and includes two opposing engagement surfaces 22, 22' which are designed to be grasped between the finger tips. During removal, the seal top 16 is bent, twisted, and removed from the neck 14. This process is best shown in Figure 7.
• at least one and preferably both engagement surfaces 22 ,22' are provided with a plurality of ridges or ribs 24. These ribs 24 permit the engagement surface(s) 22, 22' to be easier grasped, (i.e. the engagement surface is less smooth), thus permitting the seal top 16 to be more easily removed.
• such ribs may be used on the engagement surfaces 20, 20' of the vessel 12.
• the container 10 may further include a flat tab portion 18 extending longitudinally from the vessel 12, opposite the seal top 16.
• multiple containers 10 may be connected laterally by attaching the tabs 18 of each container 10 to form a strip, generally shown at 26. This is usually accomplished during manufacturing wherein several containers 10 are made simultaneously, in lateral arrangement, as indicated in Figure 6. With respect to eye drop applications, strips 26 including four or five containers 10 are packaged. When needed, a single container 10 is removed from the strip 26 by grasping the tab 18 and tearing the intended container 10 from the strip 26.
• the subject container 10 includes a tab 18 having a rounded corner, shown at 28.
• the subject container is less likely to catch on articles and may be easily stored in pockets of clothing.
• the subject rounded end 28 of the tab 18 provides an area, best shown as 30 in Figure 6, which is not attached to adjacent containers during form-fill manufacturing. This area 30 provides a self-starting location for easing the removal of individual containers 10 from the strip 26.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
• Hematology (AREA)
• Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
• Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
• Coating Apparatus (AREA)
• Table Devices Or Equipment (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=21865978

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (4)

Families Citing this family (62)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 1997
  • 1997-11-25 EP EP97948536A patent/EP0944530A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1997-11-25 US US08/999,543 patent/US6241124B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-11-25 KR KR10-1999-7005075A patent/KR100489759B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-11-25 JP JP52673098A patent/JP2001505855A/ja active Pending
  • 1997-11-25 BR BR9713877-0A patent/BR9713877A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-11-25 CA CA002273837A patent/CA2273837C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-11-25 WO PCT/US1997/021647 patent/WO1998025829A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1997-11-25 AU AU54583/98A patent/AU728336B2/en not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (6)

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