Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02223249 1997-12-18
WO 97/00816 PCT/US96/10627
CONTAINER-CLOSURE ASSEMBLY
TECHNICAL FIELD
= The present invention relates to container closure assemblies and more
specifically to so
called unit dose assemblies.
CA 02223249 1997-12-18
WO 97/00816 PCT/US96/10627
2
BACKGROUND ART
Container closures of the type to which the present invention relates are not
new per se.
The patents listed below show generally unit dose packages of the type to
which the present
invention relates.
UNIT DOSE ASSEMBLY
United States Patent No. 5,052,589
UNIT DOSE ASSEMBLY
United States Patent No. 5,042,690
CA 02223249 2003-07-14
3
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Even though these designs are generally suitable for the purposes intended, it
has been
found that on occasion, the caps tend to tilt or cock to the point where when
the cap is pushed
inwardly to penetrate the diaphragm, the pierc:ing elenients aligns with a
thick wall portion
surrounding the diaphragm thus jamming the piercing operation.
With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an
improved container-closure design including novel alignnient ineans for
ensuring accurate
penetration of the diaphragm even when the pressure exerted by the user s s
not in a truly axial
direction, thereby obviating and elimiiiating the problems of prior assemblies
of this type
discussed above.
According to the present invention, there is provided a cap and tube assembly
comprising:
a tube for containing a product;
a step nozzle at one end of the tube including a tip portion of reduced cross
section
connected tc- a lower portion by a wall portion;
means defining a thin wall portion forming a puncturable diaphragin in the
axial end of
the tip portion to provide a discharge opening for dispensirig the product;
a cap engageable over the nozzle havirig puncturing iiiteans depending
ittwardly from
a top surface of the cap operable upon actuation of the ca.p relative to the
nozzle from an
unarmed position of the cap to puncture the diaphragm; and
a plurality of circunlferentially spaced ribs having irnier edges extending
axially from
the top of the cap to a point below the tip of the piercing element snugly
engaging the tip
portion in the unarmed position of the cap with t.he tip portion spaced above
the diaphragm.
CA 02223249 1997-12-18
WO 97/00816 PCT/US96/10627
4
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects of the present invention and the various features and
details of '
the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth
with reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein;
Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a container-closure assembly incorporating the
present
invention;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4a is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the cap;
Fig. 4b is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the nozzle end of
the tube;
and
Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view partly in section
showing the cap
activated to a diaphragm piercing position.
CA 02223249 2005-12-14
MT MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE IIWENTION
Referring now the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1-3 thereof, there is
illustrated a
unit dose container-closure assembly incorporating the present invention. The
assembly
essentially comprises a tube (10) and a cap (12) both made out of a plastic
material such as
5 polypropylene (polyethylene). The container (10) has a body portion (16)
having a stepped neck
or nozzle portion (18) connected to the body portion by a transition wall (20)
of generally frusto
conical configuration. The nozzle (18) includes a lower generally cylindrical
portion (22) and
a tip portion (24) of reduced cross-section connected by a frusto conical wall
portion (26). The
axial end face of the tip portion (24) is of reduced cross-section to define a
diaphragm (28).
It is noted that the nozzle has been configured to reduce to a diameter
approximately the
same as a so called luer fitment so that the tube can fit on the end of a
standard injection needle
or can be inserted in various types of devices used in administering drugs
intravenously.
The cap (12) as illustrated is of generally cylindrical shape having a top
wall (30) and
a centrally depending piercing element (32) having a biased piercing tip (T).
The cap and tube are provide with interengaging locking means, in the present
instance,
comprising a radially outwardly directed circumferentially extending rib (34)
on the nozzle portion
(18) and a circumferentially extending groove (36) on the interior sidewall
(40) of the cap. The
groove (36) is spaced downwardly a predetermined distance D from the piercing
tip (T) of the
CA 02223249 2006-08-17
6
piercing element (32) so that the tip is spaced above the diaphragm (28), when
the rib (34) and
groove (36) are interengaged in the manner shown in Fig. 2. This is the
unarmed position of
the assembfy. The lower terminal edge of the sidewall (40) is beveled
outwardly to engage more
readily over the rib (34) when the cap is assembled to the tube. Further, the
outer peripheral
surface of the cap is knurled as at (41) adjacent the lower edge of the
sidewall or skirt portion
to facilitate gripping by the user for applying and removing the cap.
In accordance with the present invention, means is provided for guiding the
piercing
element so that upon activation of the cap, the piercing element (32) engages
the diaphragm (28).
To this end, guides in the form of ribs (50) are provided on the interior wall
of the cap adjacent
the top wall (30). In the present instance, there are four (4)
circumferentially equi spaced ribs
(50) which extend a distance Di from the top (30) beyond the piercing point
(34) so that the
tip portion (24) engages interiorly of the ribs (50) in the manner shown in
Fig. 2. The The
circular trace defined by the inner edge (54) of the ribs (50) is preferably
only slightly greater
in diameter than the outer diameter of the tip portion (24) so that the cap is
guided in a
truly axial direction when pushed inwardly to activate the system. The ribs
(50) have a beveled
lower inner edge as at (56) to easily engage over the rounded edge tip portion
(24).
Even though a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and
described
herein, it is not intended to limit the invention and changes and
modifications may be made
therein within the scope of the following claims.
