Liquid dispenser with a tip-opening mechanism, preservative-free type, for blow-fill-seal bottles.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid dispenser with a tip opening mechanism of the type without preservatives for blow-fill-seal containers that comprises a dual function membrane to control the passage of air and liquid and a pierceable silicone seal that ensures sterility at all times when in the storage position and when opening the container.

Description

1 / 11 Liquid dispenser with a tip-opening mechanism, preservative-free type, for blow-fill-seal bottles. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention falls within the technical field of ophthalmic product dispensers, specifically a multi-dose drop dispensing device with a spike-opening mechanism, suitable for preservative-free solutions for blow-fill-seal plastic bottles. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] In the state of the art there are some technologies related to preservative-free multidose bottles, such as patent document US11116694B2, published on September 14, 2021, for “Device for dispensing liquid from a sterile packaging bottle”, which refers to a device for dispensing aqueous liquids through an interface membrane made partially hydrophilic and partially hydrophobic, made so that when in operation, during each dispensing operation of a measured quantity of liquid, air and liquid currents flow alternately in a capillary channel downstream of the membrane. Said interface membrane is made of a filter material that includes biocidal metallic cations in its body; similarly, it includes a porous insert permeable to both liquid and air that is disposed upstream of the membrane in the fluid path.However, this precedent lacks a tip mechanism with a silicone seal that fits onto the bottle nozzle when punctured, keeping all components sterile throughout the process.

[0003] Similarly, with regard to dual-function membranes, i.e., hydrophilic and hydrophobic membranes, the document Petition 870250006761, dated 01 / 28 / 2025, p. 8 / 30 US patent 2 / 11, published on May 20, 2033, is known as “Cationically Modified Charge Membranes,” and discloses a charge-modified polymeric membrane; said membrane comprises a hydrophobic polymer; said membrane becomes hydrophilic by charge modification; said charge modification results from the contact of said membrane with at least one polymeric wetting agent and at least one cationic charge-modifying agent. However, this prior art simply discloses a dual-function membrane and does not include a body and a circular platform for attaching the membrane; nor does it disclose a tip mechanism communicating with the chamber created between the body and the circular platform.

[0004] Furthermore, prior art devices that have a tip-opening mechanism for drop bottles lose sterility when the bottle is broken.

[0005] Furthermore, conventional multidose vials without preservatives have a limited shelf life of less than a year and a half (the United States Food and Drug Administration, FDA, does not authorize longer periods for this type of packaging), since the liquids are in contact with a number of elements that can be contaminants. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] With the aim of solving the aforementioned problems of the prior art, the present invention was developed, which relates to a liquid dispensing device, which consists of a bottle with a lower, an intermediate and an upper portion, wherein the intermediate portion has a diameter smaller than a lower portion of the bottle, the upper portion of the bottle is threaded and has a pierceable spout; Petition 870250006761, dated 01 / 28 / 2025, page 9 / 30 3 / 11 a main support body, wherein the main support body includes: an inner threaded surface, an annular inner protrusion disposed above the inner threaded surface, into which a radial extension of a silicone seal fits; the silicone seal (which is pierceable) has a pointed cavity and is located inside the main support body, the upper inner part of the main support body includes a pointed end of the main support body with an internal channel, while the upper outer part of the main support body has a first grooved platform where a membrane rests (dual-function membrane: hydrophilic and hydrophobic), an outer threaded surface disposed below the first grooved platform;

[0007] the membrane is arranged over the first grooved platform and below a second grooved platform; the second grooved platform has a through hole and a vertically extending projection;

[0008] where the first grooved platform and the second grooved platform increase the contact surface of the fluids with the membrane,

[0009] in which the membrane is partly hydrophilic and partly hydrophobic;

[0010] wherein a cap with a cap thread is suitable for being screwed onto the threaded outer surface of the main supporting body.

[0011] In a position of use, the bottle nozzle is in direct contact with the silicone seal; the tip of the main support body is positioned inside the bottle and the silicone seal is perforated.

[0012] While, in a storage position, the sealing Petition 870250006761, dated 01 / 28 / 2025, page 10 / 30 4 / 11 silicone, the membrane and the channels created around the dual-function membrane, remain sterile and do not puncture the silicone seal; preferably, the tip of the main support body is in permanent contact with the silicone seal, pressing without puncturing.

[0013] The present invention manages to integrate a set of relevant technical characteristics into a single device, providing the following technical effects:

[0014] - Shelf life is increased, with up to three years of validity, compared to 1 to 1.5 years for conventional preservative-free multidose dispensing bottles in the prior art.

[0015] - The tip of the main body and the silicone seal, which preferably contain silver ions as a bactericide, remain sterile throughout their storage position. The tip is never exposed to the environment, and in the prior art there is no mechanism for opening by breaking the tip with a preservative-free solution.

[0016] - In the storage position, the tip of the bottle remains in permanent contact with the soft silicone seal containing silver ions as a bactericide, always keeping the outside of the bottle tip in a sterile condition.

[0017] - When piercing the silicone seal and the bottle tip, the sterility of the entire dropper dispenser is maintained, preventing air from entering anywhere. Both perforations are performed in a single operation.

[0018] - Because the channel for the tip of the main support body is located in a lateral area, it allows it to be manufactured with the piercing tip centered and made of rigid plastic or other materials, such as stainless steel. Petition 870250006761, dated 01 / 28 / 2025, page 11 / 30 5 / 11

[0019] - The dual-function membrane, which is partially hydrophobic and partially hydrophilic, allows, during the dispersion of the drops, that the fluids be guided on their return path, allowing the remaining un-instilled liquid (which returns first) to deviate from a direct axial trajectory and be directed towards the hydrophilic part of the membrane; thus, the airflow aspirated into the bottle has free access to the hydrophobic material of the membrane, in its central portion.

[0020] - Once the main support body is screwed all the way to the bottom of the bottle, said main body can no longer be removed and therefore remains permanently in the use position; similarly, the silicone seal will be held in place by pressing against the tip of the bottle, sealing it; at the same time, the safety ring, in the middle portion of the bottle, acts as a visual indicator that the bottle has been punctured and is in the use position.

[0021] - The channels of the first and second grooved platforms allow the return fluids to cover a larger surface area of ​​the dual-function membrane. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0022] The following figures illustrate some embodiments of the present invention. These figures or their description are not intended to limit in any way the scope of protection defined by the claims.

[0023] Figure 1: Internal view of the proposed invention in the storage position.

[0024] Figure 2: Internal view of the proposed invention in the position of use.

[0025] Figure 3: View of the individual components of Petition 870250006761, dated 01 / 28 / 2025, page 12 / 30 6 / 11 proposed invention.

[0026] Figure 4: View of the sealing parts before the application of the ultrasound process.

[0027] Figure 5: View of the sealing parts after application of the ultrasound process.

[0028] Figure captions:

[0029] 10: Bottle

[0030] 11: Lower Portion

[0031] 12: Intermediate portion

[0032] 13: Upper portion

[0033] 14: Bottle nozzle

[0034] 15: Intermediate portion fin

[0035] 20: Main support body

[0036] 21: Internal annular sealing protrusion

[0037] 21a: Internal annular sealing protrusion, before ultrasound

[0038] 21b: Internal annular sealing protrusion, after ultrasound

[0039] 22: Threaded inner surface

[0040] 23: Threaded outer surface

[0041] 24: Tip of the main support body

[0042] 25: Internal channel of the tip

[0043] 26: First grooved platform

[0044] 27: Main body support tooth

[0045] 28: External annular sealing protrusion

[0046] 28a: External annular sealing protrusion, before ultrasound

[0047] 28b: External annular sealing protrusion, after ultrasound

[0048] 30: Silicone sealant Petition 870250006761, dated 01 / 28 / 2025, page 13 / 30 7 / 11

[0049] 31: Radial silicone sealing extension

[0050] 32: Silicone sealing tip shaped cavity

[0051] 33: Free space

[0052] 40: Membrane

[0053] 50: Second grooved platform

[0054] 51: Vertical extension projection of the second grooved platform

[0055] 60: Tampa

[0056] 61: Lid tooth

[0057] 62: Cap thread

[0058] 70: Safety ring

[0059] 71: Safety ring tooth PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION (DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION)

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the silicone seal (30) is soft (5-20 Shore A stiffness).

[0061] In another preferred embodiment, the silicone seal tip-shaped cavity (32) has a smaller diameter than the tip of the main support body, so that when the silicone seal engages and is inserted, both elements fit together by pressure. Similarly, this silicone seal has inner walls that fit into the outer shape of the bottle nozzle, such that a pressure seal is created between the bottle nozzle and the silicone seal in the position of use.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment, and in detail, the tip of the main support body (24) is formed by a cylindrical portion followed by a sharpened finish, wherein a lateral section of the sharpened finish has a fluid-conducting channel, such that the tip responsible for drilling does not lose its Petition 870250006761, dated 01 / 28 / 2025, page 14 / 30 8 / 11 thread and the perforation is made easier for the user to exert less force; including, to be able to make this tip from a material less hard than steel, such as plastic. The fluid conduction channel, located on the side of the tip, is connected to an internal channel of the tip that conducts the liquid towards the membrane.

[0063] In the position of use of the present invention, the liquid-conducting channel (lateral channel) is located inside the bottle. Similarly, the tip of the main support body (24) can be made of plastic or stainless steel.

[0064] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the main support body (20) has at its lower part (the part closest to the bottle) a safety ring (70) (annular protrusion) with teeth (71), which serve as a stop for the rotation of the safety ring. Similarly, the cap (60) has a cap thread (62) suitable for being screwed onto the threaded outer surface of the main support body (23).

[0065] In another preferred embodiment, the bottle may be made of PET-G or polyethylene, polypropylene, among other similar plastics; and may be made by blow-fill-seal technologies.

[0066] In another preferred embodiment, the union between the first grooved platform, the dual-function membrane and the second grooved platform is ultrasonic bonding. Similarly, the silicone seal is also coupled by ultrasonic fusion of the seal’s inner annular protrusion (21).

[0067] In a preferred embodiment, the intermediate portion of the flask (12) comprises at least two fins (15), preferably between 2 and 4 fins, wherein the fins (15) are arranged with an inclination; that is, as the Petition 870250006761, dated 01 / 28 / 2025, page 15 / 30 9 / 11 The main support body is inserted, and it snaps into place on the bottle under pressure.

[0068] In another preferred embodiment, the second grooved platform (50) has a central orifice with inclined walls; that is, the orifice would have a frustoconical shape with a modifiable diameter, to regulate the drop size according to need.

[0069] In another preferred embodiment, the liquid dispensing device is sterilized by Gamma rays or by ethylene oxide.

[0070] In figure 1, the present invention is shown in the storage position. In this position, the tip of the main support body (24) is substantially close to or in contact with the silicone seal (30), with a gap (33) between said silicone seal and the upper inner portion of the main support body.

[0071] As can be seen in figure 2, when screwing the main support body (20) onto the upper portion (13) of the bottle, the main support body (20) descends and pierces the silicone seal (30), so that the silicone seal (30) moves and settles under pressure on the free space (33) and adjusted on the bottle nozzle (14).

[0072] Figure 3 shows the parts of the proposed invention, wherein the silicone seal (30) is located inside the main support body (20), wherein the silicone seal has the shape of a domed body with a radial extension at its lower part, which functions as a stop when placed inside the seal body, wherein, when the silicone seal (30) is coupled to the main support body, a free space (33) is maintained and sterilized between the walls Petition 870250006761, dated 01 / 28 / 2025, page 16 / 30 10 / 11 upper and inner part of the main support body and the silicone seal (30); that is, the upper part of the silicone seal does not initially come into contact with the upper wall of the main support body; it only comes into contact with the tip of the main support body. In the storage position, the tip of the main support body (24) rests on the tip-shaped cavity of the silicone seal (32). In this figure 3 it is also possible to visualize the safety ring (70) which is ultrasonically coupled with the bottle cap; this safety ring is suitable for fitting over the fins (15) of the bottle in such a way that when the bottle is first punctured, by applying the rotation of the parts, the said safety ring (70) is detached from the bottle cap indicating that the bottle is in the use position, no longer in storage.The safety ring (70) includes counter-pressure teeth (71) that interrupt the rotation of said ring when it comes into contact with the fins (15) of the bottle, in such a way that the release of the safety ring is facilitated.

[0073] Figures 4 and 5 show the ultrasonic bonding process of the proposed invention, wherein the outer annular sealing protrusion (28) initially has a pointed annular shape; that is, viewed from a cross-section of the ring, it has a triangular shape, as seen in Figure 4; and the inner annular sealing protrusion (21) initially has the shape of an annular notch; that is, projecting annulus into the interior of the main support body; both protrusions are made of the same plastic material as the main support body, and when ultrasound is applied to said protrusions, they fuse and allow bonding with other elements; the inner annular sealing protrusion allows Petition 870250006761, dated 01 / 28 / 2025, page 17 / 30 11 / 11 the fixing of the sealing silicone (3) onto the main support body, leaving part of the molten material on the radial extension of the silicone seal (31); on the other hand, the external annular protrusion of the seal (28) allows the fixing of the second grooved platform (50) onto the first grooved platform (26) of the main support body. Petition 870250006761, dated 01 / 28 / 2025, page 18 / 30

Claims

1 / 3 CLAIMS 1. Liquid dispensing device, characterized in that it comprises: a bottle (10) with a lower portion (11), an intermediate portion (12) and an upper portion (13), wherein the upper portion (13) of the bottle is threaded and has a pierceable nozzle (14); a main support body (20), wherein said main support body includes: a threaded inner surface (22), an annular inner protrusion (21) disposed above the threaded inner surface (22), into which fits a radial extension of a silicone seal (31), the silicone seal (30) has a pointed cavity (32) and is located inside the main support body;the upper inner part of the main support body includes a tip of the main support body (24) with an internal channel (25), while the upper outer part of the main support body has a first grooved platform (26) on which a membrane (40) rests, an external threaded surface (23) disposed under the first grooved platform (26); the membrane (40) is disposed over the first grooved platform (26) and below a second grooved platform (50); the second grooved platform (50) has a through hole and an extension protrusion (61); wherein, when the silicone seal (30) is coupled to the main support body, a gap (33) is maintained between the upper and inner walls of the main support body and the silicone seal (30);Petition 870250006761, dated 01 / 28 / 2025, page 19 / 30 2 / 3 wherein the first grooved platform (26) and the second grooved platform (50) increase the contact surface of the fluids with the membrane (40), wherein the membrane (40) is partially hydrophilic and partially hydrophobic; wherein a cap (60) with a cap thread (62) is suitable for being screwed onto the threaded outer surface (23) of the main support body.; 2. Liquid dispensing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower part of the lid (60) has lid teeth (61) that serve as a stop against the teeth of the main support body (27) arranged on an external and lower annular protrusion of the main support body.

3. Liquid dispensing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate portion of the bottle (12) comprises at least two fins (15), wherein the fins (15) are arranged with an inclination; that is, as the main support body is inserted, it is fitted under pressure into the bottle.

4. Liquid dispensing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the cavity in the form of the silicone seal tip (32) has a smaller diameter than the tip of the main support body (24), so that when the silicone seal (30) couples and inserts, both elements fit together under pressure.

5. Liquid dispensing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the tip of the main support body (24) is formed with a cylindrical portion followed by a sharpened finish, wherein a lateral section of the sharpened finish has a fluid conduction channel and connects with an internal channel of the tip; once accommodated, the conduction channel being in a lateral area, it contributes to preventing the wire in the perforation.

6. Liquid dispensing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the tip of the main support body (24) is made of plastic or stainless steel.

7. Liquid dispensing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the silicone seal (30) is soft. Petition 870250006761, dated 01 / 28 / 2025, page 21 / 30

Images