Dosing cups and related medicinal fluid delivery systems

Abstract

A measuring cup for delivering a drug fluid, the measuring cup comprising a base wall, an upper rim and a side wall thereby defining a fluid receiving volume, the measuring cup further comprising three or more nesting-resistant protrusions extending from an outer surface of the side wall, wherein each of the anti-nesting projections extends from the sidewall by a distance beyond an inner diameter defined by the upper rim. A drug fluid delivery system includes a vial and a measuring cup. A plurality of measuring cups arranged in a stack. A method of administering a pharmaceutical fluid using a cup.

Description

(19) State Intellectual Property Office (12) Invention Patent Application (10) Application Publication Number (43) Application Publication Date (21) Application Number 202480048544.7 (22) Application Date 2024.07.08 (30) Priority Data 63 / 515394 2023.07.25 US (85) PCT International Application Entering National Phase Date 2026.01.22 (86) PCT International Application Application Data PCT / US2024 / 036997 2024.07.08 (87) PCT International Application Publication Data WO2025 / 024112 EN 2025.01.30 (71) Applicant Procter & Gamble Company Address Ohio, USA (72) Inventor R. El Hassan (74) Patent Agency China Patent Agency (Hong Kong) Limited 72001 Patent Attorneys Wei Chengyang and Zou Longhui (51) Int.Cl. G01F 19 / 00(2006.01) A61J 7 / 00(2006.01) B65D 41 / 26(2006.01) (54) Title of Invention: Measuring Cup and Related Drug Fluid Delivery System (57) Abstract: A measuring cup for delivering drug fluid, the measuring cup comprising a base wall, a top edge, and side walls, thereby defining a fluid receiving volume, the measuring cup further comprising three or more anti-nesting protrusions extending from an outer surface of the side walls, wherein each of the anti-nesting protrusions extends from the side walls beyond an inner diameter defined by the top edge. A drug fluid delivery system comprising a bottle and a measuring cup. A plurality of measuring cups arranged in a stacked manner. A method of using a measuring cup to administer a drug fluid. Claims (2 pages), Description (13 pages), Drawings (8 pages), CN 121569164 A 2026.02.24 CN 1 21 56 91 64 A 1. A measuring cup for delivering a drug fluid, the measuring cup comprising: a base wall including a centroid; a longitudinal axis orthogonal to the base wall and extending through the centroid of the base wall; an upper edge axially away from the base wall and positioned about the longitudinal axis, the upper edge defining an inner diameter of the measuring cup; a side wall extending from the base wall about the longitudinal axis to the upper edge, thereby defining a fluid receiving volume, the side wall including an inner surface and an outer surface; and three or more anti-nesting protrusions extending from the outer surface of the side wall, wherein each of the anti-nesting protrusions extends from the side wall beyond the inner diameter of the upper edge by a distance.2. The measuring cup of claim 1, wherein each of the anti-nesting protrusions includes a lower edge positioned axially away from the upper edge, wherein the lower edge of each of the anti-nesting protrusions extends from the sidewall beyond the inner diameter of the upper edge by a distance. 3. The measuring cup of claim 2, wherein the upper edge defines an inner edge circumference, wherein the lower edge of each of the anti-nesting protrusions extends circumferentially around the outer surface of the sidewall, and wherein the sum of the circumferential lengths of the lower edges of the anti-nesting protrusions is about 10% to about 90% of the inner edge circumference, preferably about 10% to about 70%, more preferably about 20% to about 60%, even more preferably about 25% to about 50%, even more preferably about 35% to about 45% of the inner edge circumference. 4. The measuring cup according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the lower edge of each of the anti-nesting protrusions extends circumferentially around the outer surface of the sidewall, wherein each lower edge has a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end defining a central angle θ having a vertex on the longitudinal axis, wherein the sum of the central angles defined by the first end and the second end of the lower edge of one or more anti-nesting protrusions is about 0.1π radians to about 1.9π radians, preferably about 0.1π radians to about 1.5π radians, more preferably about 0.2π radians to about 1.2π radians, even more preferably about 0.5π radians to about 1.0π radians, even more preferably about 0.7π radians to about 0.9π radians. 5. The measuring cup according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the lower edge of the anti-nesting protrusion defines a horizontal plane. 6. The measuring cup according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the anti-nesting protrusions are symmetrical in shape to each other. 7. The measuring cup according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the measuring cup includes a total of three circumferentially spaced anti-nesting protrusions. 8. The measuring cup according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the anti-nesting protrusions includes a side edge extending from the lower edge of the anti-nesting protrusion toward the upper edge, preferably wherein the distance between the side edges of the anti-nesting protrusions near the upper edge is greater than the distance between the side edges of the anti-nesting protrusions near the lower edge.9. The measuring cup according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the anti-nesting protrusions includes an outer surface opposite to the longitudinal axis, preferably wherein at least one of the following is true: (a) the surface area of ​​the outer surface of each anti-nesting protrusion is about 1% to about 50%, preferably about 5% to about 25%, of the total surface area of ​​the outer surface of the sidewall of the anti-nesting protrusion; and / or (b) the total surface area of ​​the sum of the three or more anti-nesting protrusions is about 2% to about 75%, preferably about 5% to about 50%, more preferably about 10% to about 40%, of the total surface area of ​​the outer surface of the sidewall of the anti-nesting protrusion. 10. The measuring cup according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lower edge of the anti-nesting protrusion indicates a predetermined filling level of the fluid receiving volume, thereby defining a first predetermined volume, preferably wherein the first predetermined volume is 1 mL to about 50 mL, more preferably 2.5 mL to 25 mL, and even more preferably 10 mL to 20 mL. 11. The measuring cup according to any preceding claim, wherein the measuring cup includes at least one volume indicator, preferably wherein the at least one volume indicator is locating with the lower edge of at least one anti-nesting protrusion, more preferably wherein the at least one volume indicator is located on the outer surface of the sidewall and / or on the outside of the one or more anti-nesting protrusions, preferably on the outside. 12. The measuring cup according to any preceding claim, wherein the sidewall of the measuring cup includes a visually contrasting portion that wraps circumferentially around the measuring cup, preferably wherein the visually contrasting portion is located near the base wall, more preferably wherein the sidewall is colored and / or textured to form the visually contrasting portion, more preferably wherein the sidewall is etched to form the visually contrasting portion. 13. The measuring cup according to any preceding claim, wherein the measuring cup further includes one or more inrolled edges located on the inner surface of the sidewall and extending toward the longitudinal axis, preferably wherein the one or more inrolled edges are positioned to contact the base wall of a second measuring cup stacked on the measuring cup. 14. A drug fluid delivery system comprising: a bottle, the bottle optionally including a closure; and a measuring cup according to any one of claims 1 to 13. 15. A method of administering a drug fluid, the method comprising: providing a measuring cup according to any one of claims 1 to 13; providing drug fluid to the fluid receiving volume of the measuring cup, preferably providing a first predetermined volume of the drug fluid; and orally administering the drug fluid from the measuring cup to a person requiring the drug fluid.Claims 2 / 2 Page 3 CN 121569164 A Measuring Cup and Related Drug Fluid Delivery Systems Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to measuring cups for delivering drug fluids, wherein the measuring cup includes an anti-nesting protrusion. This disclosure also relates to related drug fluid delivery systems, measuring cup arrangements, and methods. Background Art

[0002] Drug fluids can be provided in bottles including measuring cups for delivering appropriate doses to users. During manufacturing, measuring cups may nest with each other, which can disrupt process flow because nested measuring cups can interfere with the packaging process, thereby leading to production inefficiencies. Some measuring cups include anti-nesting features, but these features may result in suboptimal stacking stability and / or inefficient delivery of drug fluids.

[0003] Additionally, once the measuring cup is provided to the consumer, it can often be difficult to read due to layout, text type, text size, and / or wetting of dosing marks formed inside the measuring cup.

[0004] Therefore, alternative measuring cups and related drug fluid delivery systems are needed to address one or more of the problems described above.

[0005] This disclosure relates to a measuring cup including anti-nesting protrusions, and related arrangements, systems, and methods.

[0006] For example, this disclosure relates to a measuring cup for delivering a drug fluid, the measuring cup comprising: a base wall having a center of mass; a longitudinal axis orthogonal to the base wall and extending through the center of mass of the base wall; an upper edge axially away from the base wall and positioned about the longitudinal axis, the upper edge defining an inner diameter of the measuring cup; a sidewall extending from the base wall about the longitudinal axis to the upper edge, thereby defining a fluid receiving volume, the sidewall including an inner surface and an outer surface; and three or more anti-nesting protrusions extending from the outer surface of the sidewall, wherein each of the anti-nesting protrusions extends from the sidewall beyond the inner diameter of the upper edge by a distance.

[0007] This disclosure also relates to a drug fluid delivery system comprising: a bottle, optionally having a closure; and a measuring cup as described herein.

[0008] This disclosure also relates to a plurality of measuring cups according to this disclosure, wherein at least a first measuring cup and a second measuring cup are arranged to stack such that the anti-nesting protrusion of one of the first measuring cups or the second measuring cup contacts the upper edge of the other measuring cup.

[0009] This disclosure also relates to a method of administering a drug fluid, the method comprising the steps of: providing a measuring cup according to this disclosure; providing drug fluid to the fluid receiving volume of the measuring cup, preferably providing a first predetermined volume of the drug fluid; and orally administering the drug fluid from the measuring cup to a person who requires the drug fluid. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] The figures herein are illustrative in nature but are not intended to be limiting.

[0011] Figure 1 shows a bottom perspective view of a measuring cup according to this disclosure.

[0012] FIG2 shows a top perspective view of the measuring cup according to the present disclosure. Specification 1 / 13 pages 4 CN 121569164 A

[0013] FIG3 shows a side view of the measuring cup according to the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG4A shows another side view of the measuring cup according to the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG4B shows a cross-sectional view of the measuring cup of FIG4A viewed from the top along line 4B-4B.

[0016] FIG5A shows another side view of the measuring cup according to the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG5B shows a cross-sectional view of the measuring cup of FIG5A viewed from the side along line 5B-5B.

[0018] FIG6 shows the measuring cup according to the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG7A shows a plurality of measuring cups according to the present disclosure arranged in a stack.

[0020] FIG7B shows a cross-sectional view of the stack of measuring cups of FIG7A viewed from the side along line 7B-7B.

[0021] FIG8A shows an exploded view of a drug fluid delivery system according to the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG8B shows an assembled drug fluid delivery system according to the present disclosure. Detailed Description

[0023] The present disclosure relates to a measuring cup suitable for delivering drug fluids, an associated drug fluid delivery system, and an associated method.

[0024] The measuring cup of the present disclosure includes three or more anti-nesting protrusions extending away from the sidewall of the cup. The measuring cup may include a total of three anti-nesting protrusions. The lower edge of each anti-nesting protrusion may extend circumferentially around the measuring cup. The anti-nesting protrusion (preferably the lower edge of the anti-nesting protrusion) is designed to contact the upper edge of the second measuring cup when the measuring cup is stacked on or in a second measuring cup, thereby preventing the cups from becoming completely nested.

[0025] Not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that providing a measuring cup having at least three anti-nesting protrusions extending from the outer surface may produce a relatively more stable measuring cup stack compared to a stack of measuring cups made of measuring cups having only two anti-nesting protrusions. It is believed that (at least) three anti-nesting protrusions provide a "tripod" effect and are not easily wobbled or tilted.

[0026] It is also believed that providing a measuring cup with an anti-nesting protrusion having a lower edge extending beyond a certain minimum length around the circumference of the measuring cup creates a relatively stable point of contact and produces a relatively stable stack of measuring cups that is unlikely to tilt or tip over.

[0027] It is further believed that providing an anti-nesting protrusion having a lower edge extending less than the entire circumference of the measuring cup (e.g., below a certain maximum length) creates a cup that is relatively easy to separate due to air passages that prevent tight sealing and subsequent vacuum.

[0028] Additionally, it may be advantageous to position the anti-nesting protrusion in such a way that the lower edge of the protrusion indicates a predetermined fill level of the measuring cup. Thus, the lower edge can also serve as a volume indicator that is easily visible to the user, allowing for proper and accurate metering of the drug fluid.

[0029] The measuring cup, related drug fluid delivery system, and related methods of this disclosure are described in more detail below.

[0030] As used herein, the articles “a” and “an” when used in the claims are understood to refer to one or more things protected or described by the claims. As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “containing” are intended to be non-limiting. The compositions of this disclosure may comprise, consist substantially of, or be composed of the components of this disclosure.

[0031] The term “substantially free” may be used herein. This means that the referred material is present in very small amounts, not intentionally added to the composition to form part of the composition, or preferably not at levels detected by analysis. This means a composition comprising in which the referred material is present only as an impurity among other materials intentionally added. If present, the referred material may be present at levels of less than 1%, less than 0.1%, less than 0.01%, or even 0% by weight of the composition.

[0032] As used herein, the term “measuring cup” refers to a structure used for measuring and administering drug fluids. Instructions for Use, Page 2 / 13, CN 121569164 A

[0033] As used herein, the term “medicinal fluid” may refer to any fluid used to: relieve symptoms, treat and / or prevent diseases, conditions, etc.; recover from diseases, conditions, etc.; prevent diseases, conditions, etc.; and / or provide dietary supplements. Medicinal fluids may include, but are not limited to, cold and / or flu medications, headache medications, gastrointestinal medications, mouthwashes, dietary supplements (including vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, etc.), etc.

[0034] As used herein, the terms “removably attached,” “removably attached,” “removably coupled,” or similar terms refer to the ability of a measuring cup to be non-permanently attached to a portion of a container (e.g., a bottle cap and / or closure) and to be removable from the container in a repeatable manner.

[0035] Unless otherwise specified, all component or composition levels refer to the active portion of the component or composition and do not include impurities, such as residual solvents or byproducts, that may be present in commercially available sources of such components or compositions.

[0036] Unless otherwise specified, all temperatures herein are in degrees Celsius (°C). Unless otherwise specified, all measurements herein were performed at 20°C and atmospheric pressure.

[0037] In all embodiments of this disclosure, unless otherwise specifically stated, all percentages are by weight of the total composition. Unless otherwise specifically stated, all ratios are by weight.

[0038] It should be understood that each maximum numerical limit given throughout this specification includes each lower numerical limit, as such lower numerical limits are expressly stated herein. Each minimum numerical limit given throughout this specification will include each higher numerical limit, as such higher numerical limits are expressly stated herein.Every numerical range given throughout this specification will include every narrower numerical range falling within such a wider range, as all such narrower numerical ranges are explicitly stated herein.

[0039] Measuring Cups This disclosure relates to measuring cups. The measuring cups of this disclosure can be used to measure and / or administer doses of pharmaceutical fluids. Figures 1 through 6 illustrate exemplary measuring cups according to this disclosure.

[0040] Measuring cup 100 (or simply referred to as a “cup” as used herein) may be made of any suitable material. Measuring cup 100 may be made of a plastic material, such as polypropylene, preferably transparent polypropylene. The material may be slightly flexible. Measuring cup 100 may be made of glass, porcelain, polystyrene, etc. Measuring cup 100 is preferably made of a transparent, translucent, or combination thereof material, because such materials facilitate the user in comparing the amount of fluid supplied to measuring cup 100 with a volume indicator that may be present on measuring cup 100. Measuring cup 100 is preferably made by an injection molding process; in other words, measuring cup 100 may be an injection-molded measuring cup.

[0041] Figures 1 and 2 show a bottom perspective view and a top perspective view of a measuring cup 100 according to the present disclosure. The measuring cup 100 generally includes a base wall 110 at a closed end of the measuring cup 100. The base wall 110 may include a centroid 112. The measuring cup 100 includes a longitudinal axis LA, which is orthogonal to the base wall 110 and extends through the centroid 112 of the base wall 110. The measuring cup 100 also includes an upper edge 114, which is axially away from the base wall 100 and positioned about the longitudinal axis LA, thereby forming an open end of the measuring cup 100. The measuring cup 100 also includes a sidewall 116, which extends from the base wall 110 about the longitudinal axis LA to the upper edge 114, thereby defining a fluid receiving volume 118. The sidewall 116 includes an inner surface 120 facing the longitudinal axis LA and an outer surface 122 facing away from the longitudinal axis LA.

[0042] The base wall 110 may generally provide a stable base for the measuring cup 100 to be balanced. For example, the base wall 110 may be stably positioned on a flat surface (such as a tabletop or workbench) to allow a user to pour the drug fluid into the fluid receiving volume 118 of the measuring cup 100.

[0043] As shown in FIG1, the base wall 110 may include one or more recesses 124 such that, if positioned thereon, only the lower edge 126 of the measuring cup 100 may contact the flat surface. The base wall 110 (e.g., the recesses 124) may include a textured surface 128 (such as an etched surface). The textured surface 128 may correspond to a product trademark, symbol, logo, and / or manufacturer mark. The textured surface 128 may have a shape such as circular, elliptical, guitar pick-shaped, egg-shaped, triangular, square, rectangular, or any regular or irregular polygonal or non-polygonal shape.During the injection molding process, forming a textured surface 128 on the base wall 110 (e.g., on the recessed portion 124) makes it easier to release the measuring cup 100 from the mold.

[0044] The upper edge 114 generally defines an open end of the measuring cup 100 that provides an inlet to the fluid receiving volume 118. The upper edge 114 may define an inner edge diameter di at the top of the measuring cup 100. The upper edge 114 may define an outer edge diameter do at the top of the measuring cup 100. The outer edge diameter do is larger than the inner edge diameter di. The outer edge diameter do may extend beyond the sidewall 116 of the measuring cup 100. The upper edge 114 may define an inner edge circumference ci at the top of the measuring cup 100.

[0045] The upper edge 114 may include a top surface 130 facing away from the base wall 110. As will be described in more detail below, when cups are stacked, the anti-nesting protrusion of one measuring cup 100 can contact the top surface 130 of the upper edge 114 of another measuring cup.

[0046] The upper edge 114 may extend radially away from the longitudinal axis LA, bend toward the base wall 110, and / or bend toward the side wall 116 of the measuring cup 100, which can provide additional safety for the person holding the measuring cup 100 and / or provide a more comfortable interface for drinking from the measuring cup 100. This configuration may be referred to as a “rolled edge”. The upper edge 114 having such a configuration (radially extending portion and / or portion extending toward the base wall 110, preferably both) can also increase the circumferential strength of the measuring cup 100 at the upper edge 114, which can help the measuring cup 100 maintain its designed shape, for example, during manufacturing (e.g., from mold to production line) or during repeated use by the user.

[0047] The measuring cup 100 may have any suitable size, preferably capable of being picked up and received / dispensed by one hand. The measuring cup 100 may have an outer edge diameter do of about 40 mm to about 50 mm, preferably about 45 mm. The measuring cup 100 may have an inner edge diameter di of about 35 mm to about 45 mm, preferably about 40 mm. The measuring cup 100 may have a height h, which may be about 20 mm to about 50 mm, preferably about 25 mm to about 40 mm, and even more preferably about 30 mm.

[0048] The measuring cup 100 may be generally cylindrical as described herein, or it may have an alternative prism geometry (e.g., triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, etc.). Various portions of the sidewall 116 may be inclined such that the cross-sectional diameter of the sidewall 116 truncated near the base wall 110 may be smaller than the cross-sectional diameter of the sidewall 116 truncated near the upper edge 114. The ramp may be gradual or may be interrupted outward by one or more steps (e.g., having a "flowerpot" shape associated with a sudden increase in diameter, resulting in a visual and / or tactile interruption of the inner surface 120 and / or the outer surface 122).

[0049] The measuring cup 100 of this disclosure includes three or more anti-nesting protrusions 132 extending from the outer surface 122 of the sidewall 116. As indicated above, the anti-nesting protrusions 132 are configured to prevent undesirable nesting and / or allow for easy separation when two or more measuring cups 100 are stacked. Additionally, the size and configuration of the anti-nesting protrusions 132 are set to provide improved stability when two or more measuring cups 100 are arranged in a stack 104.

[0050] The measuring cup 100 may include a total of three anti-nesting protrusions 132 extending from the outer surface 122 of the sidewall 116. When one measuring cup 100 is stacked on top of another, the three anti-nesting protrusions 132 provide a “tripod” effect, thereby providing improved stability compared to a measuring cup with only two anti-nesting protrusion regions that are separated by approximately 180° in positioning. The measuring cup 100 may include an odd number of anti-nesting protrusions 132, such as three or five, preferably three. The measuring cup 100 preferably includes three anti-nesting protrusions 132 that are circumferentially spaced, preferably circumferentially uniformly spaced (e.g., spaced 120 degrees apart).

[0051] As can be readily seen in Figures 1 to 3, each of the anti-nesting protrusions 132 includes a lower edge 134 that is axially positioned away from the upper edge 114 and / or toward the base wall 110. The lower edge 134 of each anti-nesting protrusion 132 extends from the sidewall 116 beyond the inner diameter di of the upper edge 114 by a distance. In addition, the lower edge 134 of each anti-nesting protrusion 132 is substantially in the same horizontal plane HP (see Figure 3), which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis LA and substantially parallel to the horizontal plane on which the base wall 110 can be stably rested (e.g., the base plane BP). Given the described configuration, when one measuring cup 100 and another measuring cup are stacked, the lower edge 134 of the one measuring cup can rest stably on the upper edge 114 of the other measuring cup, preferably on the top surface 130 of the upper edge 114.

[0052] The lower edge 134 of the anti-nesting protrusion 132 can define a horizontal plane HP. Preferably, the lower edges 134 are on the same horizontal plane HP to cooperate in forming a horizontal surface on which another cup can be stacked. The lower edge 134 of each anti-nesting protrusion 132 is preferably smooth, substantially circumferentially linear and continuous, because when two or more measuring cups are stacked, undulations and / or interruptions may result in a less stable contact area.

[0053] A connecting wall 136 can connect the lower edge 132 of the anti-nesting protrusion 132 to the side wall 116. The connecting wall 136 can be substantially parallel to the base wall 110. The connecting wall 136 can slope gently downward axially from the lower edge 132 to the side wall 116.Depending on the size and configuration of the measuring cup 100 and the anti-nesting protrusion 132, when one measuring cup 100 and another measuring cup are stacked, the connecting wall 136 of the one measuring cup (optionally combined with the lower edge 132) can contact the upper edge 114 of the other measuring cup.

[0054] As shown in FIG3, the lower edge 134 of each anti-nesting protrusion 132 can extend circumferentially for a circumferential length lc around the outer surface 122 of the sidewall 116. The circumferential length lc can be measured as the distance from a first end 138 to a second end 140 of the lower edge 134, wherein the first end 138 and the second end 140 can be defined as the point where the lower edge 134 stops parallel to the plane on which the base wall 110 is stably situated and / or begins to curve upward toward the upper edge 114. In order to provide sufficient contact area to provide the desired stability when two or more measuring cups 100 are stacked, it is preferable that the lower edge 134 generally extends a specific minimum portion of the inner edge circumference ci. Therefore, preferably, the sum of the circumferential lengths lc of the lower edges 134 of the anti-nesting protrusions 132 is about 10% to about 90% of the inner edge circumference ci. The sum of the circumferential lengths lc of the lower edges 134 is preferably about 10% to about 70%, more preferably about 20% to about 60%, even more preferably about 25% to about 50%, even more preferably about 35% to about 45% of the inner edge circumference ci.

[0055] In order to provide the desired stability effect, the greater the number of anti-nesting protrusions 132, the smaller the sum of the circumferential lengths lc of the lower edges 134 may need to be.

[0056] As generally described above, the lower edge 134 of each anti-nesting protrusion in the anti-nesting protrusions 132 may extend circumferentially around the outer surface 122 of the sidewall 116. As mentioned above, each lower edge 134 may have a first end 138 and a second end 140, which may be defined as the point where the lower edge 134 stops parallel to the base wall 110 and / or begins to curve upward toward the upper edge 114.

[0057] FIG4A shows another side view of the measuring cup 100 according to the present disclosure. FIG4B shows a cross-sectional view taken along line 4B-4B from the top of the measuring cup 100. As shown in FIG4B, the first end 138 and the second end 140 of the lower edge 134 may define a central angle θ, which has a vertex 142 on the longitudinal axis LA. The sum of the central angles θ defined by the first end 138 and the second end 140 of the lower edge 134 of the anti-nesting protrusion 132 can be from about 0.1π radians to about 1.9π radians, preferably from about 0.1π radians to about 1.5π radians, more preferably from about 0.2π radians to about 1.2π radians, even more preferably from about 0.5π radians to about 1.0π radians, and even more preferably from about 0.7π radians to about 0.9π radians. To provide the desired stability effect, the greater the number of anti-nesting protrusions 132, the smaller the sum of the central angles θ may need to be.

[0058] The anti-nesting protrusions 132 may be symmetrical in shape to each other. The lower edges 134 of the anti-nesting protrusions 132 may be symmetrical to each other. A symmetrical and / or consistent configuration may result in a convenient packaging process for the manufacturer and / or convenient use for the user, since the rotational orientation of the measuring cup 100 about the longitudinal axis LA may have a small effect.

[0059] In addition to having a lower edge 134, each anti-nesting protrusion in the anti-nesting protrusions 132 may also include side edges 144, 146 (e.g., a first side edge 144 positioned away from the second side edge 146). The side edges 144, 146 may extend from the lower edge 134 toward the upper edge 114. The side edges 144, 146 may be connected to the side wall 116 via side connecting walls 148, 150. Specification 5 / 13 pages 8 CN 121569164 A

[0060] The side edges 144, 146 of a given anti-nesting protrusion 132 may be substantially parallel to each other. Alternatively, as the side edges 144, 146 follow from the lower edge 134 toward the upper edge 114, the side edges 144, 146 may be closer to each other or further apart from each other. The side edges 144, 146 may be substantially straight, or they may have curves, shapes, or other patterns.

[0061] Given the anti-nesting protrusion 132, the side edges 144, 146 may preferably be further apart from each other as they follow from the lower edge 134 toward the upper edge 114, meaning that the distance between them is greater the closer to the upper edge 114. In other words, the distance dsu between the side edges 144, 146 near the upper edge 114 may be greater than the distance dsl between the side edges 144, 146 near the lower edge 134. Such a configuration may provide a trapezoidal shape to the anti-nesting protrusion 132, wherein the shorter parallel side is the lower edge 134 (i.e., an "inverted" trapezoid), as shown in this figure.

[0062] The sidewall 116 may include one or more non-protruding portions 131 circumferentially located between the anti-nesting protrusions 132. The one or more non-protruding portions 131 may provide a convenient finger placement position for the user, as the user's fingers can nest in the "valley" between the anti-nesting protrusions 132. Providing anti-nesting protrusions 132 with an "inverted" trapezoidal shape as described above and shown in this figure may be particularly useful, as the side edges 144, 146 of the anti-nesting protrusions 132 effectively guide the user's fingers toward the upper edge 114, thereby providing a more secure gripping area. Although not shown in the figure, the one or more non-protruding portions 131 may include a non-smooth gripping surface, such as texture, bumps, or ribs.

[0063] The anti-nesting protrusions 132 may include an outer surface 152 having a surface opposite to the longitudinal axis LA. The outer surface 152 may be defined by the lower edge 134 and the side edges 144, 146. The outer surface 152 may also be defined by the upper edge 114 or an area nearby (e.g., at the top).The outer surface 152 may gradually disappear into the sidewall 116 at a portion near the upper edge 114 (e.g., at the top). If the outer surface 152 does not have a clearly defined upper boundary, a suitable boundary may be envisioned, for example, as a line connecting the upper ends of the side edges 144, 146 of the anti-nesting protrusion 132, wherein the anti-nesting protrusion intersects the lower side of the upper edge 114, and / or wherein the outer surface 152 merges with the sidewall 116.

[0064] The outer surface 152 may be characterized as having a shape. The shape may be any suitable shape, such as a circle, an oval, an ellipse, a quadrilateral, or any other suitable convex or concave polygon. The shape of the outer surface 152 may preferably be quadrilateral, for example, in the shape of a square, rectangle, or trapezoid. As described above and as shown in the figures, an "inverted" trapezoidal shape may be particularly preferred for finger placement, wherein the shorter parallel side (e.g., the lower edge 134) is closer to the base wall 110, and the longer parallel side is closer to the upper edge 114 and may even be substantially defined by the upper edge 114.

[0065] The outer surface 152 may be characterized by surface area. The surface area of ​​the outer surface 152 may be described relative to the total surface area of ​​the outer surface 122 of the sidewall 116, including the anti-nesting protrusions 132. Alternatively, the surface area measurement of the outer surface 152 may be reported as the surface area of ​​the individual anti-nesting protrusions 132 or the combined / sum total surface area of ​​all anti-nesting protrusions 132 of the measuring cup 100.

[0066] For example, the outer surface 152 of at least one anti-nesting protrusion 132, preferably each anti-nesting protrusion, may have a surface area that is about 1% to about 50%, preferably about 5% to about 25%, of the total surface area of ​​the outer surface 122 of the sidewall 116 (including the anti-nesting protrusions 132). The outer surface 152 of the anti-nesting protrusion 132 may have a combined surface area of ​​about 2% to about 75%, preferably about 5% to about 50%, and more preferably about 10% to about 40% of the total surface area of ​​the outer surface 122 of the sidewall 116 (including the anti-nesting protrusion 132).

[0067] The outer surface 152 of the anti-nesting protrusion 132 may be at a consistent radial distance relative to the longitudinal axis LA. In other words, even if the outer surface 152 may be circumferentially wrapped around the longitudinal axis, the outer surface 152 may be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis LA (i.e., it is vertically oriented). When the sidewall 116 of the measuring cup 100 is radially inwardly inclined near the base wall 110 compared to the upper edge 114 (i.e., such that the cross-sectional diameter of the sidewall 116 cut near the base wall 110 can be smaller than the cross-sectional diameter of the sidewall 116 cut near the upper edge 114), the substantially vertical orientation of the anti-nesting protrusion 132 and / or the outer surface 152 is preferred because this configuration allows the anti-nesting protrusion 132 to extend away from the sidewall 116. See, for example, Figures 3, 4A, 5A, and 5B.Specification 6 / 13 pages 9 CN 121569164 A

[0068] Although this disclosure shows an anti-nesting protrusion 132 having an outer surface 152 and a shape (e.g., trapezoidal), it is also contemplated that the anti-nesting protrusion 132 may have other configurations and still provide the same or similar advantages as described herein, even if not shown in this figure. For example, the anti-nesting protrusion 132 may take the shape of a line or thin ridge extending circumferentially around the measuring cup 100. The anti-nesting protrusion 132 may extend to a minimum in the circumferential direction, for example, taking the shape of a point, bump, crease, stud, or flange extending away from the sidewall 116. In order to achieve the desired stacking stability, it is preferred that such alternative anti-nesting protrusions 132 extend to the aforementioned extent around the circumference of the measuring cup 100 and / or have at least three contact points with the second cup (e.g., to form at least a tripod).

[0069] FIG5A shows another side view of the measuring cup 100 according to this disclosure. Figure 5B shows a side sectional view of the measuring cup 100 as viewed along line 5B-5B.

[0070] As shown in Figure 5A, the measuring cup 100 may have a height h, which can be defined as the distance between a top plane TP defined by the top surface 130 of the upper edge 114 and a base plane BP defined by the plane on which the base wall 110 can be stably placed. The measuring cup 100 may have a height h of about 20 mm to about 50 mm, preferably about 25 mm to about 40 mm, and even more preferably about 30 mm.

[0071] The lower edge 134 of the anti-nesting protrusion 132 is preferably located at a portion of the height h away from the base plane BP, which may be referred to as the protrusion height hl. The protrusion height hl can be defined as the distance between the base plane BP and the horizontal plane HP defined by the lower edge 134. The height hl of the protruding edge can be from about 0.4h to about 0.9h, preferably from about 0.5h to about 0.8h, even more preferably from about 0.6h to about 0.8h, even more preferably from 0.6h to 0.7h. The height hl of the protruding edge, as measured from the base plane BP, can be from about 10mm to about 30mm, preferably from about 15mm to about 25mm, even more preferably from about 18mm to about 20mm. Preferably, the anti-nesting protrusion 132 and the associated lower edge 134 are located in the upper half of the measuring cup 100 (e.g., relatively closer to the upper edge 114) such that when the cups are arranged in a stacked configuration 104, more than half of the measuring cup 100 can be placed in a second measuring cup, as described below. However, it is also preferable that the lower edge 134 is positioned at a sufficient distance from the upper edge 114 to control the desired stacking density (e.g., cups in stack 104 are more closely together) and / or to provide a sufficiently large outer surface 152 for the anti-nesting protrusion 132, for example, to place a mark (such as a volume indicator 154) thereon.

[0072] The lower protruding edge 134 may extend a distance dl away from the sidewall 116.As substantially described above, the lower protruding edge 134 should extend beyond the inner edge diameter di, such that when the cups are stacked, it can rest on the upper edge 114 of the second measuring cup. The distance dl may be from about 0.05 mm to about 2 mm, preferably from about 0.1 mm to about 2 mm, more preferably from about 0.2 mm to about 1 mm.

[0073] In FIG. 5B, the inner edge diameter di and the outer edge diameter do, as well as the top surface 130 of the upper edge 114, can be readily seen.

[0074] As illustratively seen in FIG. 5B, the measuring cup 100 of this disclosure may include one or more inwardly rolled edges 160 located on the inner surface 120 of the sidewall 116 and extending toward the longitudinal axis LA. See also FIG. 4B and FIG. 7B. One or more involute edges 162 may be configured and positioned to contact the base wall 110 of a second measuring cup stacked on the measuring cup 100, such as at least the bottom edge 126, thereby providing additional stability and / or support to the stack 101 of such cups. The involute edge 162 may include an upper surface 163 that faces generally toward the upper edge 114 and away from the base wall 110. Preferably, the upper surface 163 is flat, thereby providing a stable surface on which another cup can rest.

[0075] Additionally or alternatively, one or more involute edges 162 may be configured and positioned to contact a bottle (e.g., a bottle closure) that is part of a drug fluid delivery system when the measuring cup 100 is inverted and provided as a removably attached measuring cup 100 to a closure; the involute edge 162 may provide friction, thereby helping to hold the measuring cup 100 on the closure and / or facilitating repeated removal and attachment.

[0076] It may also be desirable that the inner surface 120 of the sidewall 116 be substantially free of such inward curling 160 or other anti-nesting features, as such features can collect fluid and lead to suboptimal dispensing.

[0077] The inner surface 120 of the sidewall 116 may include a recess 164 recessed away from the longitudinal axis LA. The recess 164 on the inner surface 120 of the measuring cup 100 generally corresponds to an anti-nesting protrusion 132 extending from the outer surface 122 of the cup 100. The recess 164 may include a shelf 166 corresponding to the lower edge 134 of the anti-nesting protrusion 132 and / or the connecting wall 136. The shelf 166 may be parallel to the base wall 110 or may be angled. The shelf 166 may be used to signal a predetermined volume to the user. For example, when the vector cup 100 is supplying fluid, the user may choose to look at the outside of the cup 100 and observe, for example, the lower edge 134 of the anti-nesting protrusion 132 and / or the volume indicator 154; alternatively, the user may choose to look at the inside of the cup 100 to confirm that the shelf 166 corresponds to a predetermined volume indicated by the lower edge 134 and / or the volume indicator 154.

[0078] In addition to providing the benefit of preventing nesting, the anti-nesting protrusion 132 can also be used to aid in dose adherence. For example, the measuring cup 100 may be configured such that the lower edge 134 of the anti-nesting protrusion 132 indicates a predetermined fill level of the fluid receiving volume 118, thereby defining a first predetermined volume. Preferably, the first predetermined volume is from 1 mL to about 50 mL, more preferably from 2.5 mL to 25 mL, and even more preferably from 10 mL to 20 mL. The first predetermined volume may be described as a portion of the fluid receiving volume 118 defined by the horizontal plane HP defined by the base wall 110, the sidewall 116, and the lower edge 134 of the anti-nesting protrusion 132.

[0079] As shown in FIG6, the measuring cup 100 may include at least one volume indicator 154 to help the user know how much drug fluid to be administered. As the name suggests, the volume indicator 154 may signal to the user the predetermined or desired volume. For example, when the measuring cup 100 is filled to a given level, the volume indicator 154 provides the volume. For example, the volume indicator 154 can read 2.5 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL, 15 mL, 20 mL, 25 mL, or any other desired volume. Preferably, at least one volume indicator 154 is positioned to be coupled to the lower edge 134 of at least one anti-nesting protrusion 132. Preferably, to make the volume indicator 154 easier for the user to read during use, at least one volume indicator 154 is located on the outer surface 122 of the sidewall 116 and / or not on the inner surface 120 of the sidewall 116. At least one volume indicator 154 may be located on the anti-nesting protrusion 132, preferably on the outer surface 152. At least one volume indicator 154 may be printed, molded, or etched onto the measuring cup 100, preferably printed, molded, or etched on the outer surface 122 of the sidewall 116 and / or on the outer surface 152 of the anti-nesting protrusion 132. The measuring cup 100 may include more than one volume indicator 154 associated with a predetermined volume, such as a numerical indication of volume 155a (e.g., “20 mL”) and a symbol 155b (e.g., an arrow for indicating “fill to the line”).

[0080] Particularly preferred is that when the measuring cup 100 includes a total of three anti-nesting protrusions 132, the volume indicator 154 is positioned on the anti-nesting protrusions 132, preferably on their outer surface 152. This is because when the three anti-nesting protrusions 132 are circumferentially spaced, the portion 121 of the inner surface 120 of the sidewall 116 that is diametrically opposite to a given anti-nesting protrusion 132 (e.g., on the inside of the opposite side of the cup) is substantially blank, thereby making it easier to read the volume indicator 154. This blank portion 121 of the inner surface 116 may be opposite to a non-protruding portion 131 that may be found on the outer surface 122 of the sidewall 116.This visual benefit is substantially available when the measuring cup 100 includes any odd number of (evenly spaced) anti-nesting protrusions 132, but it is believed to be particularly advantageous when three anti-nesting protrusions are present for spacing reasons.

[0081] The measuring cup 100 may also include an additional volume indicator 156 that indicates a second predetermined fill level of the fluid receiving volume 118, thereby defining a second predetermined volume. The additional volume indicator 156 may be located away from the lower edge 134 of the anti-nesting protrusions 132. The additional volume indicator 156 may be a printed, molded, or etched feature. For example, in FIG. 6, the additional volume indicator 156 is shown as a line surrounding the measuring cup 100. In the figure, the additional volume indicator 156 is relatively lower on the cup 100 than the lower edge 134 of the anti-nesting protrusions 132 (e.g., closer to the base wall 110), thus indicating that in this case, the second predetermined volume is smaller than the first predetermined volume defined by the lower edge 134. The measuring cup 100 may also include an additional volume indicator 158 that is positionally coupled to the additional volume indicator 156. The additional volume indicator 158 typically indicates a volume (e.g., "10 mL") that is different from the (first) volume (e.g., "20 mL") indicated by the volume indicator 154 (page 8 / 13 of the specification, CN 121569164 A). The measuring cup 100 may include more than one additional volume indicator 154 associated with a second predetermined volume, such as a numerical indication of volume 159a (e.g., "10 mL") and a symbol 159b (e.g., an arrow for indicating "fill to the line").

[0082] The sidewall 116 of the measuring cup 100 may include a visually contrasting portion 160 that visually contrasts with the rest of the sidewall 116. The visually contrasting portion 160 at least partially, preferably completely, surrounds the measuring cup 100 circumferentially. Preferably, the visually contrasting portion 160 is located near the base wall 110. The visually contrasting portion 160 can assist the user in quantitative feeding because it makes it easier to see how much fluid has been dispensed into the measuring cup 100, thereby contributing to more accurate volume measurement. The visually contrasting portion 160 may have a different color and / or texture compared to other portions of the sidewall 116. Preferably, the sidewall 116 is etched (e.g., including an etched texture), thereby providing a “frosted” visual impression to form the visually contrasting portion 160.

[0083] Multiple measuring cups This disclosure also relates to multiple 101 measuring cups 102, 103, wherein the measuring cups 102, 103 are as described above, wherein the multiple 101 include at least a first measuring cup 102 and a second measuring cup 103, which are arranged in a stack 104 (e.g., along the longitudinal axis LA) such that the anti-nesting protrusion 132 of one of the first measuring cup 102 or the second measuring cup 103 contacts the upper edge 114 of the other measuring cup 102 or 103.

[0084] For example, FIG7A shows multiple 101 measuring cups 102, 103 arranged in a stack 104. FIG7B shows a side sectional view of the stack 104 as viewed at line 7B-7B. The measuring cups 102, 103 are identical to each other and as described herein (e.g., the measuring cup 100 described above). In stack 104, first measuring cup 102 receives second measuring cup 103 (e.g., a portion of the base wall 110 and side wall 116 of second measuring cup 103 is located in the fluid receiving volume 118 of first measuring cup 102). Anti-nesting protrusion 132 (partially the lower edge 134) of second measuring cup 103 contacts a portion of the upper edge 114 of first measuring cup 102, thereby preventing second measuring cup 103 from being completely nested within first measuring cup 102; the base wall 110 of second measuring cup 103 hangs above the base wall 110 of first measuring cup 102.

[0085] When measuring cups 102, 103 additionally include one or more inwardly rolled edges 162 extending from inner surface 120, the one or more inwardly rolled edges 162 can further provide anti-nesting benefits. For example, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG7B, first measuring cup 102 includes inwardly rolled edges 162 extending from inner surface 120. The inwardly rolled edge 162 may include an upper surface 163 facing the direction of the upper edge 114 and away from the base wall 110. When the measuring cups 102 and 103 are arranged in a stack 104, the base wall 110 of the second cup 103 (specifically, the bottom edge 126) contacts and rests on the inwardly rolled edge 162 of the first cup 102, preferably on the upper surface 163 of the inwardly rolled edge 162. Preferably, the upper surface 163 of the inwardly rolled edge 162 is flat to provide a stable surface.

[0086] Because the measuring cups 102 and 103 are not completely nested in the stack 104, and because the anti-nesting protrusion 132 of the second cup 103 contacts (total) less than 100% of the upper edge 114 (e.g., less than 100% of the inner edge circumference ci of the upper edge 114), it is believed that the measuring cups 102 and 103 will be relatively easy to separate during packaging. Furthermore, it is believed that the stack 104 will be relatively stable due to the significant contact between the anti-nesting protrusion 132 of the second cup 103 and the upper edge 114 of the first cup body 102 (e.g., at multiple points and / or at a significant portion of the inner edge circumference ci of the upper edge 114).

[0087] The stack 104 of multiple 101 measuring cups 102, 103 shown in Figures 7A and 7B is merely an exemplary configuration, and other configurations are contemplated. The stack 104 may include the relative positions of an inverted first measuring cup 102 and a second measuring cup 103 (e.g., where the first measuring cup 102 is placed inside the second measuring cup 103). The stack 104 itself may be inverted (e.g., where the base wall 110 of the measuring cups may be axially downward pointing towards a flat surface such as a tabletop). The multiple 101 measuring cups 102, 103 arranged as a stack 104 may include any number of measuring cups 100 according to this disclosure that will be suitable for the packaging process, such as five, ten, twenty, fifty, or one hundred measuring cups 100. After manufacturing, multiple measuring cups 101 102, 103 may be packaged, stored and / or transported, for example in a box and / or on a tray, until ready for use in the packaging process, for example, forming the drug fluid delivery system 200 as described below.

[0088] Drug Fluid Delivery System This disclosure also relates to a drug fluid delivery system 200. FIG8A shows an exploded view of the drug fluid delivery system 200. FIG8B shows the assembled drug fluid delivery system 200.

[0089] As shown in FIG8A, the drug fluid delivery system 200 may include a bottle 202. The bottle may optionally include a closure 204. The drug fluid delivery system 200 also includes a measuring cup 100 according to the present disclosure.

[0090] The bottle 202 is configured to receive, store and dispense drug fluid 208. The bottle 202 may include a neck 206 having an opening through which drug fluid can be dispensed. Bottle 202 may be characterized by any suitable internal volume, such as about 50 mL to about 1000 mL, preferably about 100 mL to about 500 mL. Bottle 202 may be made of transparent, translucent and / or opaque materials. Transparent and / or translucent materials may be preferred, thus facilitating the assessment of the remaining volume of the drug fluid 208 contained therein. For example, if the drug fluid 208 is photodegradable, an opaque material may be preferred. Bottle 202 may be colored. Preferably, the color of bottle 202 corresponds to or substantially matches the color of the drug fluid 208 contained therein, in order to give the user confidence that the correct drug fluid 208 is being dispensed.

[0091] Closure 204 may be configured to selectively close and seal the open end of bottle 202. Closure 204 is preferably a threaded cap that can be screwed onto and selectively secured to the neck 206 of bottle 202 (e.g., a threaded neck 206).

[0092] The size and configuration of the measuring cup 100 may be set to fit on a portion of the bottle 202, preferably on the closure 204, as shown in FIG8B (where the closure 204 is not visible).The measuring cup 100 may be sized and configured to releasably engage a portion of the bottle 202, preferably engaging the closure 204. For example, as described in more detail above, the measuring cup 100 may include one or more inwardly rolled edges 162 extending from the inner surface 120 of the sidewall 116. When positioned on the bottle 202, the one or more inwardly rolled edges 162 may allow the measuring cup 100 to snap onto and disengage from a portion of the bottle 202 to selectively attach the measuring cup 100 to the bottle 202. For example, the one or more inwardly rolled edges 162 may selectively engage the closure 204.

[0093] To further secure the measuring cup 100 to the bottle 202, the drug fluid delivery system 200 may also include a shrink wrap. The shrink wrap (not shown) may be arranged around at least a portion of the measuring cup 100 and at least a portion of the bottle 202, thereby securing them together. Shrink wrapping also serves as an anti-tampering function, alerting the user to potential tampering if the shrink wrapping is damaged or absent upon purchase or first use of the delivery system 200.

[0094] The drug fluid delivery system 200 may also include a drug fluid 208 (shown in a cross-sectional view in FIG8B) contained in the internal volume of a bottle 202. The user may dispense the drug fluid 208 by pouring it from the bottle 202 into a measuring cup 100, and then ingest the drug fluid 208 by drinking it from the measuring cup 100. The drug fluid 200 may be a digestive aid, a cold / cough aid, a pain reliever, a sleep aid, an immune system aid, or a combination thereof.

[0095] This disclosure also contemplates methods for assembling the drug fluid delivery system 200. The method may include providing a bottle 202, providing drug fluid 208 to the bottle 202, providing a closure 204 to the bottle 202 to effectively seal the bottle 202, providing a measuring cup 100 to the closure 204, and optionally shrink-packing at least a portion of the drug fluid delivery system 200. The method may also include selecting a measuring cup 100 from a plurality of measuring cups 101. The method may include de-nesting a plurality of measuring cups 101 arranged in a stack 104.

[0096] Method of administering drug fluid This disclosure also relates to a method of administering drug fluid 208. The method includes the steps of: providing a measuring cup 100 as described herein; providing drug fluid 208, preferably a predetermined volume of drug fluid 208, to a fluid receiving volume 118 of the measuring cup 100; and orally administering the drug fluid 208 to a person, preferably a person who needs the drug fluid 208. The drug fluid 208 may be contained in a bottle 202, which may be part of the drug fluid delivery system 200; a measuring cup 100 may also be contained as part of the drug fluid delivery system 200 and may be removed before the fluid 208 is supplied to the cup 100.

[0097] As described above, the predetermined volume of drug fluid 208 may be a first predetermined volume or a second predetermined volume, and the appropriate volume may be indicated on the measuring cup 100 by the volume indicator 154 and / or an additional volume indicator 158. Drug fluid 208 may be provided at a level flush with the lower edge 134 of the anti-nesting protrusion 132, or at a level flush with the additional volume indicator 156. The predetermined volume should be sufficient to deliver the desired amount of drug fluid 208 and / or the active ingredient contained in drug fluid 208 to the person ingesting the drug fluid.

[0098] Drug fluid 208 may be dispensed (e.g., poured) from bottle 202 into measuring cup 100, preferably at a level flush with the lower edge 134 of the anti-nesting protrusion 132 or dispensed to the additional volume indicator 156. The dispensed volume of drug fluid 208 should be an appropriate amount for the person ingesting it.

[0099] Specific contemplated combinations of this disclosure are described herein in paragraphs with the following subscript letters. These combinations are illustrative in nature and not limiting.

[0100] A. A measuring cup for delivering a drug fluid, the measuring cup comprising: a base wall including a center of mass; a longitudinal axis orthogonal to the base wall and extending through the center of mass of the base wall; an upper edge axially away from the base wall and positioned about the longitudinal axis, the upper edge defining an inner diameter of the measuring cup; a side wall extending from the base wall about the longitudinal axis to the upper edge, thereby defining a fluid receiving volume, the side wall including an inner surface and an outer surface; and three or more anti-nesting protrusions extending from the outer surface of the side wall, wherein each of the anti-nesting protrusions extends from the side wall beyond the inner diameter of the upper edge by a distance.

[0101] B. The measuring cup according to paragraph A, wherein each of the anti-nesting protrusions includes a lower edge positioned axially away from the upper edge, wherein the lower edge of each of the anti-nesting protrusions extends from the sidewall beyond the inner diameter of the upper edge by a distance.

[0102] C. The measuring cup according to paragraph B, wherein the upper edge defines an inner edge circumference, wherein the lower edge of each of the anti-nesting protrusions extends circumferentially around the outer surface of the sidewall, and wherein the sum of the circumferential lengths of the lower edges of the anti-nesting protrusions is about 10% to about 90% of the inner edge circumference, preferably about 10% to about 70%, more preferably about 20% to about 60%, even more preferably about 25% to about 50%, even more preferably about 35% to about 45% of the inner edge circumference.

[0103] D. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs B or C, wherein the lower edge of each of the anti-nesting protrusions extends circumferentially around the outer surface of the sidewall, wherein each lower edge has a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end defining a central angle θ having a vertex on the longitudinal axis, wherein the sum of the central angles defined by the first end and the second end of the lower edge of one or more anti-nesting protrusions is about 0.1π radians to about 1.9π radians, preferably about 0.1π radians to about 1.5π radians, more preferably about 0.2π radians to about 1.2π radians, even more preferably about 0.5π radians to about 1.0π radians, even more preferably about 0.7π radians to about 0.9π radians.

[0104] E. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs B to D, wherein the lower edge of the anti-nesting protrusion defines a horizontal plane.

[0105] F. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to E, wherein the anti-nesting protrusions are symmetrical to each other in shape. Instruction manual, pages 11 / 13, CN 121569164 A

[0106] G. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to F, wherein the measuring cup includes a total of three anti-nesting protrusions spaced apart circumferentially.

[0107] H. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to G, wherein each of the anti-nesting protrusions includes a side edge extending from the lower edge toward the upper edge, preferably wherein the distance between the side edges of the anti-nesting protrusions near the upper edge is greater than the distance between the side edges of the anti-nesting protrusions near the lower edge.

[0108] I. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to H, wherein each of the anti-nesting protrusions includes an outer surface opposite to the longitudinal axis, preferably wherein at least one of the following is true: (a) the surface area of ​​the outer surface of each anti-nesting protrusion is about 1% to about 50%, preferably about 5% to about 25%, of the total surface area of ​​the outer surface of the sidewall of the anti-nesting protrusion; and / or (b) the total surface area of ​​the three or more anti-nesting protrusions is about 2% to about 75%, preferably about 5% to about 50%, more preferably about 10% to about 40%, of the total surface area of ​​the outer surface of the sidewall of the anti-nesting protrusion.

[0109] J. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to I, wherein the sidewall includes a non-protruding portion circumferentially positioned between the anti-nesting protrusions.

[0110] K. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to J, wherein the lower edge of the anti-nesting protrusion indicates a predetermined fill level of the fluid receiving volume, thereby defining a first predetermined volume, preferably wherein the first predetermined volume is from 1 mL to about 50 mL, more preferably 2.5 mL to 25 mL, and even more preferably 10 mL to 20 mL.

[0111] L. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to K, wherein the measuring cup includes at least one volume indicator, preferably wherein the at least one volume indicator is locatingly connected to the lower edge of at least one anti-nesting protrusion, more preferably wherein the at least one volume indicator is located on the outer surface of the sidewall and / or on the outer surface of the one or more anti-nesting protrusions, preferably on the outer surface.

[0112] M. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to L, wherein the measuring cup further includes an additional volume indicator indicating a second predetermined fill level of the fluid receiving volume, thereby defining a second predetermined volume, preferably wherein the measuring cup further includes an additional volume indicator locatingly connected to the additional volume indicator.

[0113] N. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to M, wherein the sidewall of the measuring cup includes a visually contrasting portion that wraps circumferentially around the measuring cup, preferably wherein the visually contrasting portion is located near the base wall, more preferably wherein the sidewall is colored and / or textured to form the visually contrasting portion, and more preferably wherein the sidewall is etched to form the visually contrasting portion.

[0114] O. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to N, wherein the measuring cup further includes one or more inwardly rolled edges that are located on the inner surface of the sidewall and extend toward the longitudinal axis, preferably wherein the one or more inwardly rolled edges are positioned to contact the base wall of a second measuring cup stacked on the measuring cup.

[0115] P. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to O, wherein the measuring cup is made of a transparent, translucent, or combination thereof material.

[0116] Q. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to P, wherein the measuring cup comprises a plastic material, preferably polypropylene.

[0117] R. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to Q, wherein the measuring cup is manufactured by an injection molding process.

[0118] S. A drug fluid delivery system comprising: a bottle, the bottle optionally including a closure; and a measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to R.Instruction manual, pages 12 / 13, 15 CN 121569164 A

[0119] T. A plurality of measuring cups, wherein each measuring cup is according to any one of paragraphs A to R, wherein at least a first measuring cup and a second measuring cup are arranged to stack such that the anti-nesting protrusion of one of the first measuring cups or the second measuring cup contacts the upper edge of the other measuring cup.

[0120] U. A method of administering a drug fluid, the method comprising: providing a measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to R; providing a drug fluid to the fluid receiving volume of the measuring cup, preferably providing a first predetermined volume of the drug fluid; and orally administering the drug fluid from the measuring cup to a person requiring the drug fluid.

[0121] The dimensions and values ​​disclosed herein should not be construed as strictly limited to the precise numerical values ​​cited. Rather, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to represent the value and a range surrounding a functionally equivalent value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to represent “about 40 mm”.

[0122] Unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited, every reference cited herein, including any cross-references or related patents or patent applications, and any patent application or patent claiming priority to or beneficial to this application with respect to them, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Reference to any reference is not an endorsement of it as prior art to any disclosed or protected art of this invention, or of any such invention proposed, suggested, or disclosed on its own or in combination with any one or more references. Furthermore, where any meaning or definition of a term in this invention conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a referenced document, the meaning or definition given to that term in this invention shall prevail.

[0123] While specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that all such changes and modifications falling within the scope of the invention be covered in the appended claims.Instruction manual, page 13 / 13, 16 CN 121569164 A, Figure 1; Instruction manual, Figure 1 / 8, page 17 CN 121569164 A, Figure 2, Figure 3; Instruction manual, Figure 2 / 8, page 18 CN 121569164 A, Figure 4A, Figure 4B; Instruction manual, Figure 3 / 8, page 19 CN 121569164 A, Figure 5A, Figure 5B; Instruction manual, Figure 4 / 8, page 20 CN 121569164 A, Figure 6, Figure 7A; Instruction manual, Figure 5 / 8, page 21 CN 121569164 A, Figure 7B; Instruction manual, Figure 6 / 8, page 22 CN 121569164 A, Figure 8A; Instruction manual, Figure 7 / 8, page 23 CN 121569164 A, Figure 8B; Instruction manual, Figure 8 / 8, page 24 CN 121569164 A.

Claims

1. A measuring cup for delivering a drug fluid, the measuring cup comprising: A base wall, the base wall including a centroid; A longitudinal axis, which is orthogonal to the base wall and extends through the centroid of the base wall; The upper edge, which is axially away from the base wall and positioned around the longitudinal axis, The upper edge defines the inner diameter of the measuring cup; Sidewalls extending from the base wall to the upper edge around the longitudinal axis. This limits the fluid receiving volume. The sidewall includes an inner surface and an outer surface; and Three or more anti-nesting protrusions, said three or more anti-nesting protrusions extending from the outer surface of said sidewall, Each of the anti-nesting protrusions extends from the sidewall beyond the inner diameter of the upper edge.

2. The measuring cup of claim 1, wherein each of the anti-nesting protrusions includes a lower edge positioned axially away from the upper edge. The lower edge of each of the anti-nesting protrusions extends from the sidewall beyond the inner diameter of the upper edge.

3. The measuring cup according to claim 2, The upper edge defines the inner edge circumference. The lower edge of each of the anti-nesting protrusions extends circumferentially around the outer surface of the sidewall, and The sum of the circumferential lengths of the lower edges of the anti-nesting protrusions is approximately 10% to approximately 90% of the circumference of the inner edge. The inner edge circumference preferably comprises about 10% to about 70%, more preferably about 20% to about 60%, even more preferably about 25% to about 50%, and even more preferably about 35% to about 45%.

4. The measuring cup according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the lower edge of each of the anti-nesting protrusions extends circumferentially around the outer surface of the sidewall. Each lower edge has a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end defining a central angle θ at a vertex on the longitudinal axis. The sum of the central angles defined by the first and second ends of the lower edges of the one or more anti-nesting protrusions is approximately 0.1π radians to approximately 1.9π radians. Preferably about 0.1π radians to about 1.5π radians, more preferably about 0.2π radians to about 1.2π radians, even more preferably about 0.5π radians to about 1.0π radians, even more preferably about 0.7π radians to about 0.9π radians.

5. The measuring cup according to any one of claims 2 to 4, The lower edge of the anti-nesting protrusion defines a horizontal plane.

6. The measuring cup according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the anti-nesting protrusions are symmetrical in shape to each other.

7. The measuring cup according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the measuring cup includes a total of three circumferentially spaced anti-nesting protrusions.

8. The measuring cup according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the anti-nesting protrusions includes a side edge extending from the lower edge of the anti-nesting protrusion toward the upper edge. Preferably, the distance between the side edges of the anti-nesting protrusion near the upper edge is greater than the distance between the side edges of the anti-nesting protrusion near the lower edge.

9. The measuring cup according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the anti-nesting protrusions includes an outer surface opposite to the longitudinal axis. Preferably, at least one of the following is true: (a) The outer surface area of ​​each anti-nesting protrusion is about 1% to about 50%, preferably about 5% to about 25%, of the total surface area of ​​the outer surface including the sidewall of the anti-nesting protrusion; and / or (b) The total surface area of ​​the three or more anti-nesting protrusions is about 2% to about 75%, preferably about 5% to about 50%, and more preferably about 10% to about 40% of the total surface area of ​​the outer surface of the sidewall of the anti-nesting protrusions.

10. The measuring cup according to any preceding claim, wherein the lower edge of the anti-nesting protrusion indicates a predetermined fill level of the fluid receiving volume, thereby defining a first predetermined volume. Preferably, the first predetermined volume is from 1 mL to about 50 mL, more preferably from 2.5 mL to 25 mL, and even more preferably from 10 mL to 20 mL.

11. The measuring cup according to any preceding claim, wherein the measuring cup includes at least one volume indicator. Preferably, the at least one volume indicator is positioned to be connected to the lower edge of at least one anti-nesting protrusion. More preferably, wherein the at least one volume indicator is located on the outer surface of the sidewall and / or on the outside of the one or more anti-nesting protrusions, preferably on the outside.

12. The measuring cup according to any preceding claim, wherein the sidewall of the measuring cup includes a visually contrasting portion that wraps around the circumference of the measuring cup. Preferably, the portion that creates visual contrast is located near the base wall. More preferably, the sidewalls are colored and / or textured to form the visually contrasting portions. More preferably, the sidewalls are etched to form the visually contrasting portion.

13. The measuring cup according to any preceding claim, wherein the measuring cup further comprises one or more inwardly rolled edges, the one or more inwardly rolled edges being located on the inner surface of the sidewall and extending toward the longitudinal axis. Preferably, one or more of the involute edges are positioned to contact the base wall of a second measuring cup stacked on the measuring cup.

14. A drug fluid delivery system comprising: Bottle, the bottle optionally including a closure; and The measuring cup according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A method of administering a drug fluid, the method comprising: Provide a measuring cup according to any one of claims 1 to 13; Drug fluid is supplied to the fluid receiving volume of the measuring cup. Preferably, a first predetermined volume of the drug fluid is provided; as well as The drug fluid is administered orally from the measuring cup to the person who needs the drug fluid.

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