Device for dispensing a liquid and a tamper-evident unit

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a liquid, preferably an aqueous solution, comprising a vessel (1) for containing the liquid, a dispensing dropper (2), a cap (3) and a tamper-evident unit (4), characterized in that the tamper-evident unit (4) comprises a first ring (5) being connected to the cap (3), a second ring (6) being connected to the vessel (1) and at least one elastic element (7, 8) for connecting the first ring (5) to the second ring (6), and wherein the first ring (5) is pulled onto a lateral surface of the vessel (1) and / or onto a lateral surface of the dispending dropper (2) by the elastic element (7, 8) when the cap (3) is in a tilted open position such that the liquid can be dispensed.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for dispensing a liquid, preferably an aqueous solution, comprising a vessel for containing the liquid, a dispensing dropper, a cap and a tamper-evident unit.

[0002] The invention further relates to a tamper-evident unit for a device for dispensing a liquid, comprising a first ring adapted to be connectable to a cap and a second ring adapted to be connectable to a vessel

[0003] Although applicable to any kind of liquids, the present invention will be described with regard to medical liquids, for example ophthalmic liquids like ophthalmic drugs or contact lens solution.

[0004] Known devices for dispensing an ophthalmic liquid comprise a vessel for the liquid, a dispensing dropper and a cap. By squeezing the vessel, a single drop of the liquid can be dispensed through the dispensing tip for applying the liquid to an eye. To protect the contents of the vessel from contamination, which is particularly important if the device is a pharmaceutical primary packaging, it has to be securely closed with the cap.

[0005] EP 4 005 944 A1 shows a cap for a PET container, e.g. a container for food and beverage. The PET container cap comprises a simultaneously separable end ring, which provides tight blocking for preservation of contents in a state of being provided on and coupled to an injection part and provides a sealing function enabling awareness of openness. Further, the cap includes a cap body provided on and coupled to the injection part to provide tight blocking for preservation of the contents. Moreover, an end ring is integrally formed on a lower side of the cap body, restricted by an annular protrusion formed on a lower side of an outer circumference of the injection part, exhibiting a sealing function enabling grasping of openness of the cap body, and causing transformation in a separation process of the cap body by a user, so the end ring is simultaneously separated together with the cap body from the injection part.

[0006] One of the disadvantages however is that the cap can easily fall off the container while being handled by the user and can become contaminated, so that germs can get onto the dispensing opening or even into the contents of the vessel. This is a problem in particular with devices containing medical liquids like ophthalmic liquids, as the caps of these devices are so small. A further problem regarding devices containing liquids that are to be applied to the eye is that the cap has to be in a fixed position when the liquid is applied to the eye to prevent the cap from accidentally coming into contact with the eye.

[0007] Further devices for dispensing a liquid are disclosed in EP 3 820 782 B1 and DE 20 2022 002 487 U1.

[0008] DE 37 34 034 A1 describes a bottle closure with a retaining ring. The retaining ring has a first ring and a second ring, which are connected to each other via a tear-off element. Further, WO 2008 / 099079 A2 describes a dropper with a tamper proof cap and WO 2021 / 018740 A1 discloses a captive screw closure with elastic connecting elements.

[0009] One of the objectives of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for dispensing a liquid, preferably an aqueous solution, and a tamper-evident unit which use simple means to secure the cap on the device in the open position of the cap.

[0010] A further objective of the present invention is to provide an alternative device for dispensing a liquid and an alternative tamper-evident unit.

[0011] In an embodiment, the present invention may solve at least one of the objectives by a device for dispensing a liquid, preferably an aqueous solution, comprising a vessel for containing the liquid, a dispensing dropper, a cap and a tamper-evident unit, characterized in that the tamper-evident unit comprises a first ring being connected to the cap, a second ring being connected to the vessel and at least one elastic element for connecting the first ring to the second ring, and wherein the first ring is pulled onto a lateral surface of the vessel and / or onto a lateral surface of the dispending dropper by the elastic element when the cap is in a tilted open position such that the liquid can be dispensed.

[0012] In an embodiment, the present invention may solve at least one of the objectives with a tamper-evident unit for a device according to any one of claim 1 to 14, comprising a first ring adapted to be connectable to a cap and a second ring adapted to be connectable to a vessel, and wherein at least one tamper-evident connecting element is arranged between the first ring and the second ring, characterized in that at least one elastic element is arranged between the first ring and the second ring.

[0013] One of the advantages may be that the tamper-evident unit may also be used as a fixation means for holding the cap on the device when the cap is in its open state. A further advantage may be that due to the at least one elastic element the cap is pulled onto the lateral surface of the vessel and / or onto the lateral surface of the dispensing dropper such that the cap may not move when the device is handled by the user. Hence, the cap may be prevented from falling off as well as may be securely pulled onto the dispensing dropper and / or the vessel when it is its open position. Furthermore, said at least one tamper-evident connecting element may indicate reliably the first opening of the device.

[0014] Furthermore, an advantage of the device may be that it could be used as a pharmaceutical primary packaging, i.e. a packaging that is in direct contact with a pharmaceutical liquid, for example an ophthalmological drug. Moreover, the liquid being stored in the vessel could be an aqueous solution, for example an ophthalmological drug or a contact lens care product.

[0015] Further features, advantages and preferred embodiments are disclosed or may become apparent in the following.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said vessel is designed to store liquid in the range between 2,5 ml and 50 ml, preferably between 5 ml and 15 ml. This may have the advantage that the device may be used as a primary packaging for ophthalmic solutions and / or for contact lens solutions.

[0017] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, said tamper-evident unit comprises two elastic elements. This may allow the cap to be pulled in the tilted open position securely onto the vessel and / or the dispensing dropper. Additionally, the two elastic elements may be connected to the first ring in parallel arrangement when closed. Additionally or alternatively, the two elastic elements may be connected to the second ring at an angle in the range of 45° to 90°.when open. This may have the advantage that the cap can be easily brought from its closed position into the tilted open position. Further, the cap may be pulled onto the vessel and / or the dispenser in such a way that a force-fit connection may be achieved and a movement of the cap in the circumferential direction may be prevented when the device is tilted, for example if a user is applying a liquid to his eye.

[0018] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a length of the at least one elastic element is configured such that the cap can only be moved from the closed position to the open position when tilted. This may have the advantage that the at least one elastic element is short enough to apply a sufficiently strong spring force on the cap due to its elasticity to pull the cap onto the vessel and / or onto the dispensing tip, when the cap is in the tilted open position.

[0019] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, said at least one elastic element is provided in the form of a band. The term "band" is to be understood in the most general sense or meaning and shall in particular include an elastic element comprising three dimensions, wherein two dimensions, e.g. length and / or width are much larger than the third dimension, e.g. thickness, e.g. at least by a factor of 2. This may have the advantage that the elastic element at least essentially corresponds to the outer contour of the first ring and the second ring and may only protrude slightly from them in the radial direction.

[0020] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, said at least one elastic element is integrally formed with the first ring and with the second ring. This may simplify manufacturing of the tamper-evident unit and attaching of the tamper-evident unit to the device. Alternatively or additionally, a portion of the at least one elastic element may break off of the first ring and of the second ring when the cap is opened for the first time. This may enhance the visibility of the originality of the device.

[0021] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, said at least one elastic element extends in a circumferential direction around the vessel in a closed position of the cap. This may have the advantage that the entire tamper-evident unit is essentially ring shaped and therefore fits tightly to the vessel. A further advantage may be that the at least one elastic element has the form of a spring when the cap is in the tilted open position and therefore pulls the cap onto the dispensing dropper and / or onto the vessel.

[0022] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, said first ring comprises a protrusion wherein the protrusion is configured as a connecting region to which a first end of the at least one elastic element is connected. Additionally or alternatively, said second ring comprises a protrusion wherein the protrusion is configured as a connecting region to which a second end of the at least one elastic element is connected. This may further enhance the ring-shaped design of the tamper-evident unit that tightly fits to the geometry of the vessel and the cap.

[0023] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, said at least one tamper-evident connecting element is arranged between the first ring and the second ring, and wherein the tamper-evident connecting element is configured such to break off when the cap is opened for the first time. This may have the advantage that a first opening of the device, i.e. the cap, being brought from the closed position into the open position, is easily visible for a user.

[0024] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, said first ring is form-fit and / or force-fit to the cap. This may allow for an easy attachment of the tamper-evident unit to the cap.

[0025] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, said first ring comprises at least one snap-on element and wherein the cap comprises at least one projection and wherein the snap-on element engages behind said at least one projection of the cap to fasten the first ring to the cap. This may ensure that the assembly of tamper-evident unit and cap be carried out automatically by simply pressing these components together.

[0026] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, said second ring is form-fit and / or force-fit to the vessel. This may allow for an easy attachment of the tamper-evident unit to the vessel.

[0027] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, said second ring comprises at least one snap-on element and wherein the vessel comprises at least one projection and wherein the snap-on element engages behind said at least one projection of the vessel to fasten the second ring to the vessel. This may ensure that the assembly of tamper-evident unit and vessel be carried out automatically by simply pressing these components together.

[0028] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, said cap comprises a polymer, preferably a high density polyethylene, HDPE, and / or wherein the dispensing dropper comprises a polymer, preferably a low density polyethylene, LDPE, and / or wherein the vessel comprises a polymer, preferably a low density polyethylene, LDPE, and / or wherein the tamper-evident unit comprises a polymer, preferably a low density polyethylene, LDPE. These materials may have the advantages that they can be sterilized and are easy to process, e.g. in ejection moulding.

[0029] A method for opening a device for dispensing a liquid, preferably a device as described above, comprises the steps: Unscrewing the cap from the vessel until the cap can be detached from the vessel; Lifting the cap from the vessel; Tilting the cap for moving the cap over the dispensing dropper; Positioning the cap in the tilted, open position.

[0030] There are several ways how to design and further develop the teaching of the present invention in an advantageous way. To this end, it is to be referred to the patent claims subordinate to patent claim 1 on the one hand and to the following explanation of preferred examples of embodiments of the invention, illustrated by the drawing on the other hand. In connection with the explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention by the aid of the drawing, generally preferred embodiments and further developments of the teaching will be explained.

[0031] In the drawings Fig. 1shows a tamper-evident unit and a device for dispensing a liquid according to an embodiment of the invention in a side view; Fig. 2shows the tamper-evident unit and the device for dispensing a liquid of Figure 1 in a further side view; Fig. 3shows the tamper-evident unit and the device for dispensing a liquid of Figure 1 in a further side view; Fig. 4shows of the tamper-evident unit and the device for dispensing a liquid of Figure 1 in a cross-section;

[0032] Figure 1 shows in a side view a tamper-evident unit and a device for dispensing a liquid, whereas the tamper-evident unit is unbroken or original, i.e. the cap has not been opened yet for the first time, Figure 2 shows in a side view the tamper-evident unit and the device for dispensing a liquid of Figure 1, whereas the cap is partly detached from the vessel but not yet in its final open position, Figures 3 shows in a side view the tamper-evident unit and the device for dispensing a liquid of Figure 1, whereas the cap is in a tilted, final open position.

[0033] In Figure 1 a device for dispensing a liquid is shown, comprising a vessel 1 for containing the liquid, a dispensing dropper 2, a cap 3 and a tamper-evident unit 4. The tamper-evident unit 4 has a first ring 5, a second ring 6 and two elastic elements 7, 8 for connecting the first ring 5 to the second ring 6. The first ring 5 is connected to the cap 3 and the second ring 6 is connected to the vessel 1.

[0034] Further, the tamper-evident unit 4 comprises tamper-evident connecting elements 9 that are arranged between the first ring 5 and the second ring 6. The tamper-evident connecting elements 9 are configured such to break off, when the cap 3 is opened for the first time.

[0035] Figure 1 further shows that the elastic elements 7, 8 are provided in the form of a band. Furthermore, the elastic elements 7, 8 extend in a circumferential direction around the vessel 1. Moreover, the cap 4 comprises corrugations 21 to ease unscrewing of the cap 4 by providing a better grip to the user's hand.

[0036] Figure 2 shows the cap 3 in a raised, but not fully opened position. As can be seen, the tamper-evident connecting elements 9 are broken such that a user can easily see that the device is not original even if the cap 3 is brought back into the closed position. Further, Figure 2 shows that the second ring 6 comprises a protrusion 10. The protrusion 10 is configured as a connecting region to which a second end 11, 12 of the elastic-elements 7, 8 is connected.

[0037] Figure 3 shows the cap 3 in the tilted open position. The cap 3 is pulled by the elastic elements 7, 8 onto the lateral surface of the vessel and onto the lateral surface of the dispensing dropper. Further, Fig. 3 shows that the cap 3 comprises a thread 13 that corresponds to a thread 14 of the vessel 3 such that the cap 3 can be screwed onto the vessel 3.

[0038] Figure 4 depicts that the first ring 5 comprises a protrusion 15 that is configured as a connecting region to which a first end 16 of the elastic elements 7, 8 is connected, whereas only one of the first ends 16 is viewable in Fig. 4.

[0039] Figure 4 shows the cap 3 in a raised, but not fully opened position. It can be seen, that the cap 3 can only be moved into the open position when it is tilted because of the length of the elastic elements 7, 8. Further, the first ring 5 comprises snap-on elements 17 and the cap 3 comprises at least one projection 18. This allows the snap-on elements 17 to engage behind said at least one projection 18 of the cap to fasten the first ring 5 to the cap 3.

[0040] Moreover, the second ring 6 comprises snap-on elements 19 and the vessel 1 comprises at least one projection 20. Therefore, the snap-on element 19 engages behind said at least one projection 20 of the vessel 3 to fasten the second ring 6 to the vessel 1.

[0041] The contents of the bottle or vessel 1 are in particular only indirectly protected from contamination by the invention. First and foremost, the invention in particular protects the dropper 2 and the cap 3 from contamination, as the cap 3 cannot fall off and the dropper 2 can always be securely protected with the cap 3.

[0042] At least one embodiment may provide at least one of the following features and / or at least one of the following advantages: Cap is in the open position safely arranged at the device. Easy manufacturing. Environmentally friendly packaging. Usability as a pharmaceutical primary packaging. The contents of the vessel are protected from soiling. Easy and user-friendly handling.

[0043] Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to the one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are foreseeable as long as they remain within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.List of reference signs

[0044] 1vessel 2dispensing dropper 3cap 4tamper-evident unit 5first ring 6second ring 7elastic element 8elastic element 9tamper-evident connecting element 10protrusion 11second end 12second end 13thread 14thread 15protrusion 16first end 17snap-on element 18projection 19snap-on element 20projection 21corrugation

Claims

1. Device for dispensing a liquid, preferably an aqueous solution, comprising a vessel (1) for containing the liquid, a dispensing dropper (2), a cap (3) and a tamper-evident unit (4), characterized in that the tamper-evident unit (4) comprises a first ring (5) being connected to the cap (3), a second ring (6) being connected to the vessel (1) and at least one elastic element (7, 8) for connecting the first ring (5) to the second ring (6), and wherein the first ring (5) is pulled onto a lateral surface of the vessel (1) and / or onto a lateral surface of the dispending dropper (2) by the elastic element (7, 8) when the cap (3) is in a tilted open position such that the liquid can be dispensed.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tamper-evident unit (4) comprises two elastic elements (7, 8).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a length of the at least one elastic element (7, 8) is configured such that the cap (3) can only be moved from the closed position to the open position when tilted.

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one elastic element (7, 8) is provided in the form of a band.

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one elastic element (7, 8) is integrally formed with the first ring (5) and with the second ring (6), and / or wherein a portion of the at least one elastic element (7, 8) breaks off of the first ring (5) and of the second ring (6) when the cap (3) is opened for the first time.

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in a closed position of the cap (3) the at least one elastic element (7, 8) extends in a circumferential direction around the vessel (1).

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first ring (5) comprises a protrusion (15) and wherein the protrusion (15) is configured as a connecting region to which a first end (16) of the at least one elastic element (7, 8) is connected.

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the second ring (6) comprises a protrusion (10) and wherein the protrusion (10) is configured as a connecting region to which a second end (11, 2) of the at least one elastic element (7, 8) is connected.

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one tamper-evident connecting element (9) is arranged between the first ring (5) and the second ring (6), and wherein the tamper-evident connecting element (9) is configured such to break off when the cap (3) is opened for the first time.

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first ring (5) is form-fit and / or force-fit to the cap (3).

11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the first ring (5) comprises at least one snap-on element (17) and wherein the cap (3) comprises at least one projection (18) and wherein the snap-on element (17) engages behind said at least one projection (18) of the cap (3) to fasten the first ring (5) to the cap (3).

12. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the second ring (6) is form-fit and / or force-fit to the vessel (1).

13. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the second ring (6) comprises at least one snap-on element (19) and wherein the vessel (1) comprises at least one projection (20) and wherein the snap-on element (19) engages behind said at least one projection (20) of the vessel (1) to fasten the second ring (6) to the vessel (1).

14. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the cap (3) comprises a polymer, preferably a high density polyethylene, HDPE, and / or wherein the dispensing dropper (2) comprises a polymer, preferably a low density polyethylene, LDPE, and / or wherein the vessel (1) comprises a polymer, preferably a low density polyethylene, LDPE, and / or wherein the tamper-evident unit (4) comprises a polymer, preferably a low density polyethylene, LDPE.

15. A tamper-evident unit (4) for a device according to any one of claim 1 to 14, comprising a first ring (5) adapted to be connectable to a cap (3) and a second ring (6) adapted to be connectable to a vessel (1), and wherein at least one tamper-evident connecting element (9) is arranged between the first ring (5) and the second ring (6). characterized in that at least one elastic element (7, 8) is arranged between the first ring (5) and the second ring (6).

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