WO2022049588A1

WO2022049588A1 - A container-closure system with beads of tactical sensation

Info

Publication number: WO2022049588A1
Application number: PCT/IN2020/051017
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dinesh Vadde; Sairam Philkana; Ramesh Vadde
Original assignee: Flexid Technopack Private Limited
Priority date: 2020-09-03
Filing date: 2020-12-10
Publication date: 2022-03-10

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a Container-Closure System more specifically, a Child Resistant and Senior Friendly (CRSF) Container Closure System, that aims to prevent accidental access of medicines and nutraceutical preparations by the children and promotes access of the medicines and nutraceutical preparations by the elderly population with minimum effort. Fig 1 depicts the front view 100 of container 100(a) and an enlarged view of the neck portion of the container 100(b) of the Container-Closure system of the present invention.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Field of Invention

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a Container-Closure System more specifically, a Child Resistant and Senior Friendly (CRSF) Container Closure System , that aims to prevent accidental access of medicines and nutraceutical preparations by the children and promotes easy access of the medicines and nutraceutical preparations by the elderly population with minimum effort.

Background of the invention

[0002] A container closure system refers to the sum of packaging components that together contain and protect the contents packed within. This includes primary packaging components and secondary packaging components. A primary packaging component means a packaging component that is or may be in direct contact with the dosage form. The typical container closure system consists of components: containers (e.g., ampules, vials, bottles); container liners (e.g., tube liners); closures (e.g., screw caps, stoppers, snap caps); closure liners; stopper overseals; container inner seals; administration ports (e.g., on large-volume parenterals (LVPs)); overwraps; administration accessories; and container labels.

[0003] A container closure system also to meet the industry standards in terms of contents protection and safe use of the contents and the container. In terms of contents protection design characteristics of the containers like well -closed, air-tight closure, light resistant is available to protect the contents from moisture, from light and Oxidation. In respect to safety requirements a variety of containerclosure systems are available in child resistant & senior friendly (CRSF) category. [0004] There are two kinds of Child resistance & senior friendly featured lids like Two-Cap/lid closure system (press-down the lid and twist to open the lid) and single piece closure system (aligning the arrows and pushing up to open, squeeze the sides and push-up to open, push tab down and turn the lid etc. However, these child resistant and senior friendly container closure systems have some limitations in terms of ease of use, especially with elderly age group. The conventional Two-lid closure system (Inner and outer lids) consume excess plastic just to provide the Child resistance and senior friendly feature and also lack convenience to use especially to the patients of elderly age group to pressdown the lid and twist it to open by applying continuous force to take-out and consume the pills. The inconvenience of using single piece closure system (like align arrows and push up lid) is more to the senior age group and visually compromised patients due to less height of the lid. Inadequate height of the lid in single piece closure system leads to improper grip and improper cap rotation/lift which in turn leads to inconvenience in accessing the medicines by the senior age group and partially neurological disorder patients. This condition results in poor adherence to the prescribed dosage regimen by the elderly with associated complications.

[0005] The Design patent application CAD82000 depicts a child resistant cap where the user should align the arrows on the cap and bottle and push up to open the cap. This type of construction is difficult to access for visually compromised patients since the arrows on the bottle and the cap are to be aligned to open the cap of the bottle. Due to less height of the cap, elderly patients cannot apply the required force and also face difficulty to grip the cap and turn the cap until the arrows are aligned.

[0006] The patent application US20030136753A1 describes a child resistant cap for a bottle includes a cover portion with a periphery having a wall with an internal surface surrounds the neck when the cap is positioned on the bottle. The bottle includes a neck, an opening and a rib with a gap. Here the cap is opened by aligning the arrows on the cap and bottle. In this construction the height of the closure is less which does not provide firm grip to rotate the cap and also it is inconvenient to access for visually compromised patients.

[0007] Hence there is a need for a container closure system which can overcome the existing problems by providing firm grip to the user with larger surface area of contact on the lid to open the closure and also to facilitate ease of access of the container for visually compromised patients, elderly people and simultaneously provide child lock. The present disclosure provides solutions to the above problems.

Summary of the invention

[0008] The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and it does not identify key/critical elements of the invention or delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later

[0009] It is the object of the present invention to provide a compositecontainer closure system with child lock system yet adult friendly especially elderly group.

[0010] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a tactical sensation/sound to the user to indicate the user to lift/push-up the lid to gain access to the contents of the container.

[0011 ] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide larger surface area of contact around the outer circumference of the lid which enables better grip to the user while rotating the lid of the container.

[0012] It is yet another object of the present invention to construct a simple child resistant and seniorfriendly packing system with less usage of plastics thereby, reducing cost of production. [0013] It is yet another object of the present invention to facilitate opening of the lid with minimal rotation at 180°, 120°, 90° , 60° instead of complete rotation at 360°.

[0014] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide more than one opening on the lid of the container to ease the access to the contents inside the container with minimum effort.

[0015] It is yet another object of the present invention, to reduce plastic consumption by minimum 40% due to its simple construction and the architecture as compared to conventional Two- Lid closure systems.

[0016] Other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description which, taken in conjunction with annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of drawings

[0017] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used to designate like elements, and wherein:

[0018] Fig 1 depicts the front view 100 of container 100(a) and an enlarged view of the neck portion of the container 100(b) of the Container-Closure system of the present invention.

[0019] Fig 2 depicts the top view of lid 200 of the Container-Closure system of the present invention. [0020] Fig 3 depicts the bottom view 300 of lid, enlarged view of unlock notch 300(a) and an enlarged view of support notches 300(b) of the Container-Closure system of the present invention.

[0021] Fig 4 depicts the front view of assembly of the container 400 and an enlarged view of the neck of the container when assembled with the lid 400(a).

[0022] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may not have been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description of the invention

[0023] It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of composition set forth in the following description. The present disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0024] The use of “including”, “comprising” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. Further, the use of terms “first”, “second”, and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another.

[0025] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “one embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, different embodiments, or component parts of the same or different illustrated invention.

[0026] Each statement of an embodiment is to be considered independent of any other statement of an embodiment despite any use of similar or identical language characterizing each embodiment.

[0027] The wording “one embodiment,” or the like, does not appear at the beginning of every sentence in the specification, is merely a convenience for the reader’s clarity. However, it is the intention of this application to incorporate by reference the phrasing “an embodiment,” and the like, at the beginning of every sentence herein where logically possible and appropriate.

[0028] The present invention is related to the Container-Closure system which comprises of arrows arrangement on the lid and the bottle which when aligned will enable the user to get access to the contents inside the container. The opening of lid while rotating around the container neck will facilitate a tactical sensation/sound to the user when the arrows are aligned, indicating the user to push-up the lid to get access to the contents of the container.

[0029] Referring to the Fig 1 is the front view 100 of the container of the Container-Closure system of the present invention. The container 100(a) with elongated body having a closed end and an open end with a neck portion proximal to the open end wherein, the neck portion is depicted in enlarged view 100(b) comprises of three ridges: first ridge 101 , second ridge 102 and third ridge 105 around the circumference of the neck portion. The first ridge is non- continuous having an opening 104 to accommodate second projection (not shown in figure) of the lid located along the inner portion of the lid and facilitate the lid to rotate around the neck of the container. An indicator typically an arrow mark 106 is located below the third ridge 105 exactly below the opening 104. These three ridge partitions form two grooves, wherein first groove is in between the first ridge 101 and second ridge 102 and second groove is in between second ridge 102 and third ridge 105. The first groove comprises of two beads 103 which are located laterally down below the ends of the opening 104 of first ridge 101. The second ridge 102 acts as a supporting frame to the beads 103 and also enable locking of lid to the container by engaging third projections (not shown in figure) located on the opposite side of the second projection (not shown in figure) and facilitates proper rotation of the lid along circumference of the neck without slipping accidentally. With this arrangement the lid will properly rest over the third ridge 105 around the neck of the container.

[0030] Referring to Fig 2 is the top view of the lid 200 of the Container-Closure system of the present invention. The height of the lid 200 is larger than the conventional lids to enable a larger surface area contact 203 to enhance the grip for handling the lid while rotating it around the neck of the container which is advantageous to elder people. The elongated height 203 of the lid 200 of the present invention ranges in between 8mm and 14mm. The lid 200 is provided with second arrow indicator 201 which when aligned with the arrow indicator 106 on the container 100 from Fig 1 , facilitate disengaging of the lid 200 from the elongate body of the container 100 from fig 1 . The first projection 202 located on the outer circumference of an elongated height 203 of the lid to facilitate lifting of the lid upwards by an user to disengage the lid 200 from the elongated body of the container 100 from fig 1 .

[0031] Referring to Fig 3 is the bottom view of the lid 300 of the Container- Closure system of the present invention. The second projection 301 located on the inner circumference of an elongated height 203 as shown in fig 2 of the lid to rotatably snap fit within the first groove of the neck portion of the container 100 from Fig 1 and generate tactical sensation, when rotated over the beads 103 and also slide through the opening 104 to disengage the lid 300 from the elongate body. The third projections 302 located on the inner circumference opposite to the second projection 301 to snap fit in the second groove and facilitate free rotation of the lid 300 over the container and provide grip to the lid, while lifting the lid upwards to disengage the lid 300 from the elongated body.

[0032] Referring to Fig 4 is the front view 400 of the container-closure system of the present invention with a portion of lid sectioned for better explanation purpose only. An elongated body of the container 402 having a closed end and an open end with a neck portion proximal to the open end. While rotating the lid 401 around the neck of the container 402 by holding elongated surface area 407, the second projection 404 located at inner surface of the lid 401 may slide over one of the beads 403 and gets placed between the two beads which enables the alignment of the arrows. Due to the sliding movement of the second projection 404 over the beads 403, a Tactical Sensation/sound is felt by the user indicating the proper alignment of the lid and the user can push up the lid to get access to the contents in the container. The tactical sensation/sound is advantageous for visually compromised patients. The second ridge 405 around the neck of the container 402 will provide support and balance to the beads 403 and also enable locking of lid 401 to the container 402 and facilitates proper rotation of the lid 401 along circumference of the neck without slipping accidentally.

[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention the container with an elongated body having a closed end and an open end with a neck portion proximal to the open end wherein, the neck portion of the container comprises of three ridges: first ridge, second ridge and third ridge around the circumference of the neck portion. The first ridge may be non-continuous and may have two openings placed at 180° to each other to accommodate second projection when the lid is rotated around the neck of the container. These three ridge structures form two groove portions, wherein first groove is in between the first ridge and second ridge and second groove is in between second ridge and third ridge. The first ridge comprises of two sets of beads wherein, each set is located laterally down below the ends of each one of openings of first ridge, which will promote the access to contents with minimal rotation of the lid around the neck of the container.

[0034] In another embodiment of the present invention the lid may comprise of two opening cabinets opposite to each other which may promote the access to contents with minimum effort.

[0035] The container- closure system of the present invention may be made of variety of polymers such as High-density polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and other engineering polymers such as PolyArylSulfone (PAS), Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) and the like.

[0036] In the container- closure system of the present invention, the containers may be of volume ranging from 20ml/cc to 2000ml/cc. The height of the container may range from 55mm to 175mm with maximum diameter, which may range from 30mm to 90mm.

[0037] In the container- closure system of the present invention, the closures may be of height ranging from 8mm to 22mm and may be of different diameters ranging from 18mm to 55mm.

[0038] When compared to the widely used two piece conventional closures of Push-down and Turn type, the present invention, due to its simple construction and the architecture, the plastic consumption of the Closure component of the present invention is reduced by minimum 40%. Due to less plastic consumption and processing costs, the cost per piece of closure becomes affordable. Higher affordability leads to wider usage for large number of products and thus promotes child resistance and senior friendly features to the general public at large. [0039] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

Claims

CLAIMS l/We claim:

1 . A container for packaging, said container comprises of: an elongated body having a closed end and an open end with a neck portion proximal to the open end wherein, the neck portion characterized in that: i. first ridge 101 proximal to the open end extending along the outer circumference with an opening 104; ii. second ridge 102 below the first ridge 101 forming first groove in between the first ridge 101 and second ridge 102; iii. two beads 103 forming a set placed at distance inside the first groove positioned below the opening 104 to create tactical sensation/sound to an user; iv. third ridge 105 below the second ridge 102 forming a second groove in between the second ridge 102 and the third ridge 105; a lid 200, 300 in a cylindrical shape comprising of first projection 202 located on the outer circumference of an elongated height 203 of the lid 200 to facilitate lifting of the lid upwards by an user to disengage the lid from the elongated body; second projection 301 located on the inner circumference of an elongated height 203of the lid 200, 300 to rotatably snap fit within the first groove of the neck portion of the container and generate tactical sensation, when rotated over the beads 103 and also slide through the opening 104 to disengage the lid 200 from the elongate body; third projections 302 located on the inner circumference opposite to the second projection 301 to snap fit in the second groove and facilitate free rotation of the lid 300 over the container and provide grip to the lid, while lifting the lid upwards to disengage the lid from the elongated body. The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the container may be height of 55mm to 175mm. The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the container may be of diameter 30mm to 90mm. The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the container may be of volume ranging from 20ml/cc to 2000ml/cc. The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the container may be made of variety of polymers such as High-density polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and other engineering polymers such as PolyArylSulfone (PAS), Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) and the like. The container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lid may have an elongated height 203 between 8 mm and 22mm to facilitate firm grip to hold and rotate the lid. The container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lid may have an elongated height 203 of 10mm to facilitate firm grip to hold and rotate the lid. The container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lid may have an elongated height 203 of 1 1 mm to facilitate firm grip to hold and rotate the lid. The container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lid may have an elongated height 203 of 12mm to facilitate firm grip to hold and rotate the lid. The container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lid may have an elongated height 203 of 13mm to facilitate firm grip to hold and rotate the lid. The container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lid may have an elongated height 203 of 14mm to facilitate firm grip to hold and rotate the lid. The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the lid may be of diameter from 18mm to 55mm. The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the lid may be made of variety of polymers such as High-density polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and other engineering polymers such as PolyArylSulfone (PAS), Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) and the like. The container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the elongate body and lid comprises of visible markers 106,201 to facilitate disengaging of the lid 200 from the elongate body due to alignment of the visible markers when the second projection 301 is accommodated between the beads 103 and enable the lid 200 to slide through the opening 104. A container 100 for packaging, said container comprises of: an elongated body having a closed end and an open end with a neck portion proximal to the open end wherein, the neck portion characterized in that: i. first ridge 101 proximal to the open end extending along the outer circumference with an opening 104; ii. second ridge 102 below the first ridge 101 forming first groove in between the first ridge 101 and second ridge 102; iii. two beads placed at distance inside the first groove forming a set 103 positioned below the opening

104 to create tactical sensation/sound to an user; iv. third ridge 105 below the second ridge 102 forming a second groove in between the second ridge 102 and the third ridge 105. The container 100 as claimed in claim 15 wherein, the container 100 may be height of 55mm to 175mm. The container 100 as claimed in claim 15 wherein, the container 100 may be of diameter 30mm to 90mm. The container 100 as claimed in claim 15 wherein, the container 100 may be of volume ranging from 20ml/cc to 2000ml/cc. The container 100 as claimed in claim 15 wherein, the container 100 may be made of variety of polymers such as High-density polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Low- density polyethylene (LDPE) and other engineering polymers such as PolyArylSulfone (PAS), Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) and the like. A lid 200, 300 detachably attached to an elongated body, characterized in that a. first projection 202 located on the outer circumference of an elongated height 203 of the lid 200 to facilitate lifting of the lid upwards by an user to disengage the lid from the elongated body; b. second projection 301 located on the inner circumference of an elongated height 203 of the lid 200, 300 to rotatably snap fit within the first groove of the neck portion of the container and generate tactical sensation and slide through the openings on ridges of elongate body to disengage the lid from the elongate body; c. third projections 302 located on the inner circumference opposite to the second projection 301 to snap fit in the second groove and facilitate free rotation of the lid 300 over the elongated body and provide grip to the lid 300 while lifting the lid upwards to disengage the lid from the elongated body. The lid 200 as claimed in claim 20, wherein the lid 200 may have an elongated height 203 between 8mm and 22mm to facilitate firm grip to hold and rotate the lid. The lid 200 as claimed in claim 20, wherein the lid 200 may have an elongated height 203 of 10mm to facilitate firm grip to hold and rotate the lid. The lid 200 as claimed in claim 20, wherein the lid 200 may have an elongated height 203 of 1 1 mm to facilitate firm grip to hold and rotate the lid. The lid 200 as claimed in claim 20, wherein the lid 200 may have an elongated height 203 of 12mm to facilitate firm grip to hold and rotate the lid The lid 200 as claimed in claim 20, wherein the lid 200 may have an elongated height 203 of 13mm to facilitate firm grip to hold and rotate the lid. The lid 200 as claimed in claim 20, wherein the lid 200 may have an elongated height 203 of 14mm to facilitate firm grip to hold and rotate the lid. The lid 200 as claimed in claim 20 wherein, the lid 200 may be of diameter from 18mm to 55mm. The lid 200 as claimed in claim 20 wherein, the lid 200 may be made of variety of polymers such as High-density polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and other engineering polymers such as PolyArylSulfone (PAS), Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) and the like. A container for packaging, said container comprises of: an elongated body having a closed end and an open end with a neck portion proximal to the open end wherein, the neck portion characterized in that: i. first ridge proximal to the open end extending along the outer circumference with two openings at 180 degrees apart; ii. second ridge below the first ridge forming first groove in between the first ridge and second ridge; iii. two beads forming a set positioned in the first groove below each opening to create tactical sensation/sound to an user; iv. third ridge below the second ridge forming a second groove in between the second ridge and the third ridge. The container as claimed in claim 29, wherein the first ridge may comprise of three openings at 120 degrees apart and a set of headings inside the first groove beneath each of openings. The container as claimed in claim 29, wherein the first ridge may comprise of four openings at 90 degrees apart and a set of headings inside the first groove beneath each of openings. The container as claimed in claim 29, wherein the first ridge may comprise of six openings at 60 degrees apart and a set of headings inside the first groove beneath each of openings. The container as claimed in claim 29 wherein, the container may be height of 55mm to 175mm. The container as claimed in claim 29 wherein, the container may be of diameter 30mm to 90mm. The container as claimed in claim 29 wherein, the container may be of volume ranging from 20ml/cc to 2000ml/cc. The container as claimed in claim 29 wherein, the container may be made of variety of polymers such as High-density polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and other engineering polymers such as PolyArylSulfone (PAS), Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) and the like.