Reclosable container with dispensing opening protection device

Abstract

A reclosable container (1) for fluid products according to the invention comprises a containing body (10) provided with a neck (11) ending with a dispensing mouth (12) and a closure device (2) having a gripping element (21) and a removable collar (24) associated with the gripping element (21) along at least one pre-established breaking area (4) and which can be rigidly attached to said neck (11), a plug end (22) for closing the dispensing mouth (12) being located below the gripping element. The container is characterized in that, in the closed configuration, the dispensing mouth (12) is completely covered by the closure device (2). Thus, when the container is opened, the fingers of the user cannot come into contact with said dispensing mouth, thus avoiding the contamination of calibrated drops of product.

Description

[0001] The subject of this invention is a resealable container, particularly for fluid products such as pharmaceuticals, medical products, and cosmetic products, which is typically made by injection molding of polymer materials.

[0002] Known containers in the art are used for packaging one or more doses of fluid products in the form of paste, gel, or liquid; depending on the number of doses, these containers may be single-use or reusable, and are therefore resealable.

[0003] In the pharmaceutical industry, there are known resealable containers made of polymer materials, comprising two separate parts manufactured separately and then assembled. The first part consists of a body containing a predetermined dose of product and has a neck terminating at an opening for dispensing the product. The second part consists of a closure device that can be attached to the body and has a stopper end that can be inserted into the dispensing opening to close it, and a clamping portion above the stopper end.

[0004] These containers can be produced as individual units or in series (strips or five vial assemblies); in the latter case, the housing bodies of two adjacent containers are temporarily joined together by means of a laterally projecting flange with a predetermined break line.

[0005] A common drawback of known containers is that, although the closure does seal the dispensing port, it does not guarantee complete coverage of the annular rim defining the neck of the dispensing port. Note that this annular rim is an essential element for dispensing calibration droplets of the product. In fact, it is known that the size of the product droplets, and therefore the amount of dosage the container can dispense, is related to the outer circumferential diameter of the neck wall located in the plane of the dispensing port. Therefore, during dispensing, the calibration droplets of the product contact the outer surface of the container precisely at the annular rim of the neck. Note that during use, the user opens the container by removing the closure and clamping it onto the end of the stopper inserted into and sealing the dispensing port. During this operation, the user's fingers inevitably end up in contact with the annular rim of the container neck, posing a risk of contamination of the annular rim; therefore, the calibration droplets of the product are also at risk of contamination by microorganisms and bacteria. WO 2011 / 147769A1 and FR 1 471 203 A show examples of resealable containers in which the closure completely covers the dispensing port.

[0006] Additionally, when dispensing product, users often temporarily place the closure device on a support surface for easy and practical handling of the container, which also poses a risk of contaminating the stopper tip. After product has been dispensed, the closure device is reused and the stopper tip is reinserted to seal the dispensing port. However, when the stopper tip is on the support surface, it is at risk of being contaminated by microorganisms and bacteria, and when reinserted into the dispensing port, there is also a risk of contaminating any remaining product in the container intended for subsequent use.

[0007] Therefore, these known resealable containers cannot ensure the integrity of the product during subsequent use.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need in the art for resealable containers (particularly for pharmaceutical products) that limit the product from contamination by microorganisms and bacteria during multiple uses.

[0009] In view of the needs of the art, the object of the present invention is to manufacture a resealable container for pharmaceutical products that solves the problems of the prior art.

[0010] Specifically, the object of the present invention is to provide a resealable container for fluid pharmaceutical products that limits the risk of product contamination by microorganisms and bacteria during multiple uses.

[0011] In addition, the object of the present invention is to provide a resealable container for fluid pharmaceutical products that can be used in a simple, practical and functional manner and has a particularly compact and small overall size.

[0012] This objective is achieved by the resealable container for fluid pharmaceutical products according to claim 1, and by the vial strip according to claim 11. The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0013] The features and advantages of the container according to the invention will become apparent from the following description, given as a non-limiting example and in accordance with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of a resealable container according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A front view of a component of a resealable container, specifically a front view of the sealing device;

[0016] Figure 3 It shows Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a resealable container in the open phase;

[0017] Figure 4A cross-sectional view of a resealable container according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0018] Figure 5 It shows Figure 4 A front view of a component of a resealable container, specifically a front view of the sealing device;

[0019] Figure 6 It shows Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a resealable container in the open phase;

[0020] Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of a resealable container according to yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0021] Figure 8 It shows Figure 7 A front view of a component of a resealable container, specifically a front view of the sealing device;

[0022] Figure 9 It shows Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of a resealable container in the open phase;

[0023] Figure 10 The specific basis of the invention is shown. Figure 1 Cross-sectional views of a series of resealable containers as examples of implementation methods;

[0024] Figure 11 This shows the closure device assembled with the housing body. Figure 10 A series of resealable containers.

[0025] Referring to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 1 refers to a resealable container for fluid products (particularly for pharmaceutical, medical, and cosmetic products).

[0026] It should be noted here that the term "fluid product" is intended not only to refer to liquid products, but also to refer to viscous products, such as products in the form of pastes, gels and powders, especially very fine powders with high fluidity.

[0027] Container 1 includes a containment body 10 designed to contain fluid products.

[0028] The receiving body 10 has a generally tubular and elongated hollow shape, and has a pair of clamping flanges 13 on its outer surface. These clamping flanges can be removably connected to the clamping flanges of one or more adjacent containers 1 to form a strip 100 of the container 1. Figure 10 ).

[0029] One end of the receiving body 10 extends into the neck 11, which is provided with a dispensing port 12 for the outflow of fluid products.

[0030] The neck 11 is generally cylindrical and has a smaller diameter than the rest of the housing body 10 and is coaxially aligned with it.

[0031] The dispensing port 12 is closed by a sealing device 2, which includes a clamping element 21, and at least one plug end 22 extends from the clamping element in a generally coplanar manner, the at least one plug end being insertable into the dispensing port 12.

[0032] The clamping element 21 has a generally flat shape and includes two lateral portions 211 extending from opposite sides of the plug end 22. In other words, the clamping element 21 is shaped to define a cavity 222 between the two lateral portions 211.

[0033] The closure device 2 includes an annular retaining collar 23, which is integrally formed as a clamping element 21.

[0034] The retaining collar 23 extends at least partially into the cavity 222 between the two lateral portions 211 of the clamping element 21.

[0035] The retaining collar 23 includes a bottom 232 and an opening 233 on the opposite side. The plug seat 231 is defined between the bottom 232 and the opening 233. In fact, the plug end 22 extends from the bottom 232 into the plug seat 231.

[0036] Preferably, the end 22 of the plug does not protrude from the opening 233 of the retaining collar 23, such as Figure 4 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 as well as Figure 9 As shown in the example. In other words, the plug tip 22 is completely contained within the plug seat portion 231 of the retaining collar 23. Therefore, advantageously, even if the sealing device 2 is placed on the support surface, there is no risk of the plug tip 22 becoming contaminated.

[0037] The retaining collar 23 is arranged such that once the closure device 2 is assembled onto the receiving body 10 (particularly onto the neck 11), the dispensing port 12 remains completely covered. In other words, when the container 1 according to the invention is in a closed configuration, the dispensing port 12 of the receiving body 10 is completely contained within the plug seat portion 231 of the retaining collar 23, as... Figure 1 , Figure 4 as well as Figure 7 As shown. Then, advantageously, when the container 1 is opened, there is no risk of the user's fingers coming into contact with the dispensing port 12 and the annular edge of the neck 11, thus eliminating the risk of contamination.

[0038] The closure device 2 includes an annular removable retaining collar 24, which is associated with the clamping element 21 along at least one predetermined fracture region 4.

[0039] exist Figures 1 to 3 In one embodiment shown, the preset fracture region 4 is composed of a plurality of vertically breakable pull tabs that connect the lower edge of the fixing collar 23 to the upper edge of the removable collar 24.

[0040] exist Figures 4 to 6 In one embodiment shown, the preset fracture region 4 is composed of a fractureable annular diaphragm that connects the lower edge of the retaining collar 23 to the upper edge of the removable collar 24.

[0041] exist Figures 7 to 9 In one embodiment shown, the preset fracture region 4 consists of a pair of laterally breakable tabs that connect the lateral portion 211 to the outer surface of the removable collar 24, which are arranged on opposite sides of the removable collar 24 along their diameter.

[0042] The removable collar 24 can be fitted around the neck 11 and is designed to be secured to the neck.

[0043] In fact, an interlocking connection device is provided between the neck 11 and the removable collar 24.

[0044] Specifically, the interlocking connection device includes a ring 111 extending from the outer surface of the neck 11 and connectable to a stop ring 241 extending from the inner surface of the removable collar 24.

[0045] Alternative forms of connection between the neck 11 and the removable collar 24 are also possible, such as by welding (e.g., by heating or ultrasound) or by adhesive.

[0046] Preferably, the neck 11 is provided with a generally platform-shaped stop element 115 that defines a stop portion of the closure device 2. In other words, when the closure device 2 is mounted on the receiving body 10, the lower edge of the removable collar 24 abuts against the stop element 115 of the neck 11. In fact, the seat portion is defined between the stop element 115 and the collar 111 of the neck 11, and the removable collar 24 remains locked in the seat portion even after the closure device 2 has been opened.

[0047] Furthermore, it should be noted that the clamping element 21, the plug end 22, the retaining collar 23, and the removable collar 24 are formed as a single piece using polymer materials (such as polyethylene or polypropylene), for example, through molding techniques (such as injection molding). Similarly, the receiving body 10 can also be manufactured in a separate mold using the same molding techniques as the closure device 2.

[0048] Therefore, the housing 10 is initially separated from the sealing device 2, as Figure 11 As shown, container 1 is assembled in the second step, in which the removable collar 24 is fitted to the neck 11, and the end 22 of the plug is inserted into the dispensing port 12, as shown. Figure 10 As shown.

[0049] Upon first use, the user opens the container 1 by removing the closure 2 by gripping the clamping part 21. This removal allows the stopper end 22 to be pulled out of the dispensing port 12, while the removable collar 24 remains on the neck 11 after breaking at the preset breakage area 4, serving as an "anti-tamper" function to indicate that the container has been opened. Due to the presence of the stop element 115, the removable collar 24 cannot slide along the neck 11. Due to the ring 111, the removable collar 24 is unlikely to slip off the neck 11 and there is unlikely to be a risk of, for example, being swallowed by a child. Therefore, advantageously, the removable collar 24 remains confined to the seat defined between the stop element 115 and the ring 111 of the neck 11.

[0050] Therefore, the subject of this invention is a resealable container 1 for fluid products, wherein the dispensing port 12 of the housing body 10 is fully contained within the plug seat portion 231 of the retaining collar 23 to limit the risk of the product being contaminated by microorganisms and bacteria during multiple uses.

[0051] The subject of this invention remains an integral strip for a resealable container 1 for fluid products. In one example, the strip comprises five containers 1, such as... Figure 10 As shown. Each container 1 is provided with a pair of flanges 14 projecting from the outer lateral surface of the receiving body 10. In the overall strip of the container, each flange 14 is removably connected to the flanges 14 of one or more adjacent vials by means of a weak region 15.

[0052] Innovatively, the resealable container for fluid pharmaceutical products according to the present invention minimizes the risk of product contamination by microorganisms and bacteria during multiple uses.

[0053] Advantageously, the container for a fluid pharmaceutical product according to the invention is provided with a closure device that ensures coverage of the annular rim defining the dispensing port. Therefore, when the container is opened, the user's fingers cannot come into contact with the annular rim, thereby preventing contamination of the product's calibration droplets.

[0054] Advantageously, the container for fluid pharmaceuticals according to the invention is provided with a closure device, which in one embodiment ensures that the end of the stopper is also covered. Therefore, when the closure device is located on the support surface, the end cannot be contaminated, thereby preventing contamination of any remaining product in the container intended for subsequent use.

[0055] It should be understood that those skilled in the art can modify the container described above, and all such modifications are included within the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A resealable container (1) for fluid products, comprising: - A receiving body (10) for a fluid product is provided with a neck (11) terminating at a dispensing port (12) for dispensing the product. - A sealing device (2) for sealing the dispensing port (12), including -- A clamping element (21) for closing the plug end (22) of the dispensing port (12) extends below the clamping element. -- A removable collar (24) is associated with the clamping element (21) along at least one predetermined fracture region (4) and is rigidly attached to the neck (11). In the closed configuration, the closing device (2) engages with the receiving body (10) by means of the removable collar (24), such that the plug end (22) is inserted into the dispensing port (12), and in the open configuration obtained by tearing the at least one predetermined fracture area (4), the plug end (22) separates from the receiving body (10) to open the dispensing port (12), and wherein, in the closed configuration, the dispensing port (12) is completely covered by the closing device (2); - A ring (111) extends from the outer surface of the neck (11) and can be connected to a stop ring (241) extending from the inner surface of the removable collar (24). The resealable container is characterized by further comprising a stop element (115) in the form of a platform on the neck (11), such that the seat is defined between the stop element (115) and the ring (111), and the removable collar (24) remains locked in the seat. The clamping element (21) has a generally flat shape and includes two lateral portions (211). The two lateral portions (211) extend from opposite sides of the end of the plug (22) and define a cavity (222) between the two lateral portions (211). The removable collar (24) extends at least partially into the cavity (222) and is surrounded from the sides by the two lateral portions (211).

2. The resealable container (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The sealing device (2) includes a retaining collar (23) disposed between the clamping element (21) and the removable collar (24), the retaining collar (23) having a plug seat portion (231), wherein the dispensing port (12) is fully accommodated within the plug seat portion (231).

3. The resealable container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The sealing device (2) includes a retaining collar (23) disposed between the clamping element (21) and the removable collar (24), the retaining collar (23) having a bottom (232), and wherein the plug end (22) extends from the bottom (232).

4. The resealable container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The sealing device (2) includes a retaining collar (23) disposed between the clamping element (21) and the removable collar (24), the retaining collar (23) having a plug seat portion (231), wherein the plug end (22) is fully accommodated within the plug seat portion (231).

5. The resealable container (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The closure device (2) includes a fixed collar (23) arranged between the clamping element (21) and the removable collar (24), wherein the at least one preset fracture area (4) is composed of a plurality of vertically breakable pull tabs that connect the lower edge of the fixed collar (23) to the upper edge of the removable collar (24).

6. The resealable container (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The closure device (2) includes a fixed collar (23) disposed between the clamping element (21) and the removable collar (24), wherein the at least one predetermined fracture area (4) is composed of an annular fracture diaphragm that connects the lower edge of the fixed collar (23) to the upper edge of the removable collar (24).

7. The resealable container (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The closure device (2) includes a retaining collar (23) disposed between the clamping element (21) and the removable collar (24), wherein the at least one predetermined fracture area (4) is composed of a pair of breakable lateral pull tabs that connect the lateral portion (211) of the clamping element (21) to the outer surface of the removable collar (24), the breakable lateral pull tabs being disposed on opposite sides of the removable collar (24) along its diameter.

8. The resealable container (1) according to claim 2, wherein, The clamping element (21), the plug end (22), the retaining collar (23), and the removable collar (24) are made as a single unit.

9. The resealable container (1) according to claim 1, provided with a pair of flanges (13) projecting from the outer lateral surface of the containing body (10).

10. An integral strip for a container of a fluid product, comprising a plurality of resealable containers (1) according to claim 1, wherein, Each flange (13) can be removably connected to one or more adjacent bottle flanges (13) by means of a weak region (15).

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