Breakable locking cap for containers with necks - Patents.com

Abstract

To provide a lock cap that ensures and enables repeatable removal of multiple caps to pull out an elastomer stopper to access contents of a container.SOLUTION: A lock cap for a container with a neck part includes: an outer body with a breakable part; and a cage 20 structured to fit into the outer body and lock in the axial direction, and having a breakable zone. The cage further includes: an upper ring 21; multiple n branches 22 connected to the upper ring and forming a nearly cylindrical shape; n / 2 first bridges 25 and n / 2 second bridges 26 respectively interconnecting two adjacent branches; and an opening tab 27 being at least one opening tab supported by the second bridge tilting toward the outside of the cage and facing the upper ring, and adjacent to the breakable zone 28 placed on the second bridge.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2a

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap for a container with a neck, intended to block a stopper in the neck of the container.The present invention relates in particular to a locking cap suitable for bottles of products, such as pharmaceuticals, whose stopper and cap must be completely removed in order to extract or reconstitute the product. [Background technology]

[0002] DE 10 200 03 133 A1 is known and proposes a completely removable device for locking a stopper on a container including a neck. This device comprises an outer ring shaped to cover the stopper and to surround the upper collar of the neck of the container. It also comprises an annular inner ring which can be received in the outer ring and is provided with a lower internal notch intended to rest under the collar in order to be fixed to the container. The inner ring also comprises an external notch which allows it to be fixed to the outer ring. Such a cap makes it possible to block the stopper on the neck of the container, the stopper being held in the inner ring.

[0003] These locking devices are typically used to store pharmaceutical products in bottles. Some products are dispensed using a syringe inserted through an elastomeric stopper after removing a protective capsule at the top of the locking device. Other products require the bottle to be opened completely in order to dispense or reconstitute it.

[0004] The '693 patent provides a frangible zone in the area of ​​the outer ring of the locking device, which can be broken to allow the ring to be opened and pulled out relative to the collar of the container, while the inner ring is provided with a deformable frangible bridge, which can be broken to allow the ring to be retracted relative to the collar.

[0005] The disadvantage of this solution lies in the lack of repeatability of the opening between the two devices, especially the fragile deformable bridge, due to the difficulty of pulling the inner ring in a repeatable manner until the bridge breaks. Another disadvantage of this solution lies in the lack of repeatability of the assembly between the inner and outer rings.

[0006] No. 5,399,633 presents a device for locking a stopper onto the neck of a container that is reliable and repeatable in terms of sealing the closure, but does not allow the device to be completely removed in order to extract the stopper.

[0007] US Pat. No. 5,399,633 proposes a closure lid that includes a break point to enable the lid to be removed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] European Patent No. 2814752 [Patent Document 2] European Patent No. 2464577 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,429 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The present invention proposes an alternative to known solutions and aims to remedy all or some of the drawbacks of the prior art.The present invention relates to a locking cap that ensures ergonomic and safe, repeatable cap removal with multiple caps and allows cap removal to access the contents of the container by extracting the elastomeric stopper. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention relates to a cap for a container with a neck, intended to block a stopper in the neck of the container, the cap for a container with a neck comprising: an outer body having a breakable portion; - a cage configured to fit and axially lock onto the outer body and intended to surround the collar of the neck of the container in the locked position of the cap, the cage having a breakable zone.

[0011] The breakable portion of the outer body and the breakable zone of the cage are designed such that failure of the breakable portion and the breakable zone allows the cap to be removed from the container when the cap is in a locked position on the container.

[0012] The lock cap is notable for the following points: an upper ring against which the stopper is pressed when the stopper is placed in the cage; - a plurality of n branches connected to the upper ring, thereby defining a substantially cylindrical shape of the cage; - n / 2 first bridges and n / 2 second bridges each interconnecting two adjacent branches, the first bridges and the second bridges being arranged alternately around the cage; - at least one opening tab inclined toward the outside of the cage and supported by a second bridge directed toward the upper ring, the opening tab being adjacent to a breakable zone arranged on the second bridge and capable of causing a break in the breakable zone upon application of a tensile force to the opening tab.

[0013] According to other advantageous, non-limiting features of the present invention, taken alone or in any technically feasible combination, the cage includes a plurality of first flexible tabs intended to block a stopper inside the cage against the upper ring when the cap is in the intermediate holding position, each first tab being supported by a first bridge; the cage includes a plurality of second flexible tabs intended to be supported under a collar of the neck of the container when the cap is in the locked position, each second tab being supported by a second bridge; The first bridge occupies between 20% and 40% of the cage's perimeter, the second bridge occupies between 40% and 70% of the cage's perimeter, the first bridges are located axially between the upper ring and the second bridges, each first bridge being designed to provide an open space between itself and the collar when the cap is in the intermediate retention position; Each open space has a height in the axial direction between 0.2 mm and 2 mm and a width along the perimeter of the cage that is approximately the same as the width of the first bridge.

[0014] The present invention further relates to a container including a neck having a circular opening terminating in a flared collar, and a stopper disposed on the neck and connected to a locking cap as described above.

[0015] Advantageously, each second tab is inclined towards the inside of the cage in the direction of the upper ring, and the n / 2 second tabs of the cage are configured to allow the cap to pass from an intermediate holding position to a locked position of the cap on the container when a force of between 30N and 70N, preferably between 30N and 50N, is applied to the cap.

[0016] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1a] FIG. 1a is a cross-sectional view along two orthogonal sections of a container including a neck and a locking cap with a stopper partially pressed onto the neck according to the invention, in an intermediate holding position. [Figure 1b]FIG. 1b is a cross-sectional view along two orthogonal sections of a container including a neck and a locking cap with a stopper partially pressed onto the neck according to the invention, in an intermediate holding position. [Figure 1c] FIG. 1c is a cross-sectional view along two perpendicular sections of a container including a neck and a locking cap with a stopper pressed onto the neck according to the invention in a locked position. [Figure 1d] FIG. 1d is a cross-sectional view along two perpendicular sections of a container including a neck and a locking cap with a stopper pressed onto the neck according to the invention in a locked position. [Figure 2a] FIG. 2a shows a cage of a cap for locking a container including a neck according to the invention. [Figure 2b] FIG. 2b shows a cage of a cap for locking a container including a neck according to the invention. [Figure 3a] FIG. 3a shows the outer body of a locking cap according to the invention. [Figure 3b] FIG. 3b shows the outer body of a locking cap according to the invention. [Figure 3c] FIG. 3c shows a capsule of the outer body of the locking cap according to the invention. [Figure 3d] FIG. 3d shows a capsule of the outer body of the locking cap according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] In the description section, the same reference symbols in the drawings may be used for the same types of elements. The drawings are schematic and, for ease of reading, are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0019] The present invention relates to a locking cap 100 for a container with a neck, intended to block a stopper 10 in the neck 201 of the container 200. The container 200 may in particular acquire the shape of a bottle and comprises a neck 201 with a circular opening terminating in a collar 202 that is flared relative to the outer circumference of the neck 201. In other words, the outer diameter of the collar 202 is greater than the outer diameter of the neck 201, as shown in figures 1a and 1b.

[0020] In the field of pharmaceutical applications there are standards for the inner diameter of the neck 201 of the container 200, examples being 13 mm and 20 mm.

[0021] The stopper 10 has a circular cross section and has a T-shape with a head 11 and a foot 12, the head 11 having a larger diameter than the foot 12. Thus, when the foot 12 of the stopper 10 is fully pressed into the neck 201, the head 11 is blocked against the collar 202.

[0022] It should be noted that if the contents of the bottle are intended to be freeze-dried, the stopper 10 has an opening 13 in its foot 12 to allow the passage of the evaporative stream unless the stopper 10 is fully pressed into the neck 202 (FIGS. 1b and 1d).

[0023] The cap 100, when connected to the stopper 10, can take two positions on the container 200: a first position, called the intermediate holding position, in which the stopper 10 is partially pressed into the neck 201 (FIGS. 1a and 1b). It is in this position that the container 200 can undergo the freeze-drying process, since, as the stopper is partially pressed, the evaporator flows can pass through the openings 13 formed in the foot 12 of the stopper 10. The advantageous features of the cap 100 that allow these evaporator flows to circulate effectively are described below.

[0024] The cap 100 associated with the stopper 10 can also apply a second position, called the locked position, in which the cap 10 is fully pressed and locked by the cap 100 into the neck 201 (FIGS. 1c and 1d). In this position, the stopper 10 hermetically closes the container 200, and the foot 12 (and therefore the opening 13, if present) is completely surrounded by the neck 201 of the container 200.

[0025] The cap 100 comprises an outer body 30 and a cage 20 configured to axially lock into the outer body 30 .

[0026] The cage 20 comprises an upper ring 21 and a plurality of n branches 22 connected to the upper ring 21 and defining a substantially cylindrical shape of the cage 20 with a central axis z (FIGS. 2a and 2b).

[0027] The cage 20 also comprises n / 2 first bridges 25 and n / 2 second bridges 26, each interconnecting two adjacent branches 22. The first bridges 25 and second bridges 26 are arranged alternately around the circumference of the cage 20. In the example shown in Figures 2a and 2b, the cage has six branches 22, three first bridges 25 and three second bridges 26.

[0028] Advantageously, the first bridge 25 occupies between 20% and 40%, for example 30%, of the circumference of the cage 20. The second bridge 26 occupies between 40% and 70%, for example 60%, of said circumference. The remaining circumference to reach 100% is occupied by the branches 22.

[0029] Preferably, the cage 20 comprises a number of first tabs 23, each supported by a first bridge 25. Each first tab 23 is flexible and inclined towards the inside of the cage 20 at an angle between 20° and 60°, advantageously about 45°, relative to the branches 22 in the direction of the upper ring 21.

[0030] These first tabs 23 are intended to block the stopper 10 in the cage 20 against the upper ring 21 when the stopper 10 is connected to the cap 100. The first tabs 23 flex to allow the head 11 of the stopper 10 to pass when the stopper 10 is introduced into the cage 20, and are blocked under the head 11 to prevent the stopper 10 from being pulled out of the cage 20.

[0031] These first tabs 23 ensure that the stopper 10 remains secured to the cap 100 and that the stopper 10 and cap 100 cannot be accidentally separated, particularly when the cap 100 is in its intermediate retention position on the container 200.

[0032] The cage 20 advantageously comprises a number of second tabs 24, each supported by a second bridge 26. Each second tab 24 is flexible and inclined relative to the branches 22 towards the inside of the cage 20 in the direction of the upper ring 21 at an angle between 20° and 60°, advantageously about 30°.

[0033] These second tabs 24 are intended to rest on, be slightly elevated or contact the collar 202 when the cap 100 is in the intermediate retention position (FIG. 1a). In this intermediate retention position, the second bridge 26 and the prongs 22 are intended to at least partially surround the collar 202. This configuration allows for a more stable and reliable mechanical retention of the stopper 10 / cap 100 assembly during a potential freeze-drying process.

[0034] Furthermore, the second tab 24 is intended to be under the collar 202 of the neck 201 of the container 200 when the cap 100 is in the locked position (FIG. 1c). Indeed, when in the locked position, the stopper 10 / cap 100 assembly descends into / around the neck 201 of the container 200 so as to fully press the foot 12 of the stopper 10 into the neck 201 until the head 11 rests on the collar 202. During the press, the second tab 24 bends and moves aside, allowing the collar 202 to pass and is blocked under the collar, thereby locking the stopper 10 to the container 200.

[0035] It should be noted that in the locked position, the first tabs 23 move aside, since they abut against the periphery of the collar 202. They therefore do not remain under the head 11 of the stopper 10, allowing the head to rest against the collar 202. The first bridges 25 then surround the periphery of the collar 202.

[0036] Advantageously, the second tab 24 is configured so that, when a low force of between 30N and 70N, preferably between 30N and 50N, is applied to the cap 100, the cap can be moved from the intermediate holding position to a locked position of the cap 100 connected to the stopper 10. To this end, the second tab 24 has an inclination of between 20° and 60° with respect to the branch 22, a thickness of between 0.6 and 1.3 mm, and a flexibility given by the choice of the material from which the cage 20 is made.

[0037] This advantageous configuration allows for the caps 100 to be collectively locked to their respective containers 200 using a plate that exerts a force on the top of the caps 100, allowing passage into the locked position by applying a low amplitude force. This low closure force also allows for significant variations in the height of the containers 200 to be compensated for, thus achieving closure of all of the containers present below the closure plate without causing breakage.

[0038] The locking cap 100 according to the present invention is fully removable, allowing the stopper 10 to be retracted to fully open the container.

[0039] The cage 20 comprises at least one second bridge 26 supporting an opening tab 27 inclined towards the outside of the cage 20 in the direction of the upper ring 21. The (at least one) second bridge 26 also has a frangible zone 28 adjacent the opening tab 27 (Figures 2a and 2b).

[0040] The outer body 30 also has a breakable portion 35 (Figures 3a and 3b). The outer body 30 has a generally cylindrical shape with a central axis z. One end 30a of the outer body 30 is closed and the other end 30b is open. The open end 30b is designed to receive a cage 20 that fits with the outer body 30 and positions the upper ring 21 against the inner surface of the closed end 30a. The breakable portion 35 consists, for example, of a portion of the closed end 30a and a portion of the cylindrical wall, said portions being separated by a double groove in the area where the thickness of the outer body 30 decreases (Figure 3b).

[0041] The outer body 30 is configured to completely surround the cage 20 when the cage is installed and prevents external access to the cage 20 when the cap 100 locks the stopper 10 to the container 200. Thus, in the locked position of the cap 100, the outer body 30 prevents access to, among other things, the opening tab 27.

[0042] The capsule 32 is fixed to the external surface of the closed end 30a of the external body 30, as shown in figures 3c and 3d. For this purpose, the capsule 32 may, for example, comprise a lug intended to pass through an orifice (visible in figure 3a) present in the centre of the closed end 30a of the external body 30, in particular in the part of the end belonging to the subpulmonary part 35. The capsule 32 and the external body 30 may be attached to each other by heat stacking.

[0043] In practice, when someone wishes to access the contents of the container 200, the edge of the capsule 32 is lifted to exert a force that grips and tears it apart. This force is transferred from the capsule 32 to the breakable portion 35 by a lug that is heat stacked into an orifice in the closed end 30a of the outer body 30. If sufficient, this force causes the double groove area to break due to a reduction in thickness. As part of the closed end 30a and part of the cylindrical wall of the outer body 30 are omitted, the outer body 30 can be easily removed.

[0044] This gives access to the cage 20 which locks the stopper 10 on the neck 201 of the container 200. It should be noted that the opening tab 27 is initially designed to be inclined towards the outside of the cage 20, in the direction of the upper ring 21. Due to its elastic properties, once the cage 20 is axially locked within the outer body 30, it can fold parallel to the inner wall of the outer body 30. When the outer body 30 is removed, the opening tab 27 advantageously returns to its initial inclination towards the outside of the cage 20, which makes it easier for the user to grasp it. The opening tab 27 advantageously has an elongated shape, which further facilitates gripping.

[0045] Gripping and application of a pulling force to the opening tab 27 causes the second bridge 26 to break at the breakable zone 28, and the cage 20 can then be easily separated from the neck 201 of the container 200, remaining freely accessible for removal of the stopper 10. Due to its shape, slope, and location relative to the breakable zone 28 formed on the second bridge 26 , the opening tab 27 facilitates reliable and repeatable breakage on multiple cages 20 .

[0046] Returning to the description of the other elements of the cap 100 according to the invention, the outer body 30 comprises a circular groove 31 made in its cylindrical inner wall and capable of cooperating with complementary means of the cage 20 to axially lock the cage 20 on the outer body 30 (Fig. 3b). These means are, for example, notches 221 made in the branches 22 of the cage 20 (visible in Figs. 2a and 2b), designed to be blocked in the groove 31 when the cage 20 is fully inserted in the outer body 30. Thus, when the cap 100 is in the locked position on the container 200, the outer body 30 can rotate freely about the central axis z, without risking to damage the cage 20 or affect the reliability and closure seal of the container 200.

[0047] According to an embodiment particularly suitable for carrying out a freeze-drying process, each first bridge 25 is designed to provide an open space 251 between itself and the collar 202 when the cap 100 is in its intermediate holding position (FIG. 2b). The cage 20 thus has n / 2 open spaces 251 distributed over the entire circumference of the cage 20, which allows efficient evacuation of the evaporation flow during the freeze-drying process.

[0048] Advantageously, each open space 251 has a height, in the z-axis direction, between 0.2 mm and 2 mm, and a width along the circumference of the cage 20, which is approximately the same as the width of the first bridge 25. The height of the open space 251 can be defined, in the z-axis direction, as the distance between the first bridge 25 and a line indicating the start of the inclination of the second tab 24 towards the inside of the cage 20. In fact, it is this line indicating the start of the inclination that can establish contact between the collar 202 and the second tab 24, thus defining an intermediate holding position.

[0049] The various elements (cage 20, outer body 30, capsule 32) forming the cap 100 according to the invention are preferably manufactured by freeze-drying (if necessary), gamma-ray, autoclave and ethylene oxide (ETO) sterilization methods and plastic molding compatible with the intended field of application. For example, the cage 20, outer body 30 and capsule 32 may be made of materials such as polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP) or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). It is noted that the capsule 32 may be formed from a flexible plastic material such as polypropylene (PP) to make it easier to grip.

[0050] After assembly of the cage 20, the outer body 30, and the capsule 32 forming the cap 100, the stopper 10 can be introduced into the cap 100, so the locking cap 100 and the stopper should be used separately.

[0051] Of course, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments and examples, and variants are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A locking cap (100) for a container (200) comprising a neck (201) intended to block a stopper (10) in said neck, said locking cap (100) being adapted to lock a stopper (10) in said neck (201) of said container, an outer body (30) having a breakable portion; a cage (20) configured to fit and axially lock onto said outer body (30) and intended to surround the collar (202) of said neck (201) of said container (200) in the locked position of said cap, said cage (20) having a breakable zone (28); the breakable portion (35) of the outer body (30) and the breakable zone (28) of the cage (20) designed such that, when the cap (100) is in the locked position of the container (200), said breakable portion (35) of the outer body (30) and said breakable zone (28) of the cage (20) are designed such that said breakable portion (35) of the outer body (30) and said breakable zone (28) of the cage (20) are designed such that, when the cap (100) is in the locked position of the container (200), said cap (100) can be removed from the container (200), The cage (20) comprises: an upper ring (21) against which the stopper (10) is intended to press when it is placed in the cage (20); a plurality of n branches (22) connected to said upper ring (21), thereby defining the substantially cylindrical shape of said cage (20); - n / 2 first bridges (25) and n / 2 second bridges (26) interconnecting each of two adjacent said branches (22), the first bridges (25) and second bridges (26) being arranged alternately around the circumference of said cage (20); a locking cap (100) comprising at least one opening tab (27) supported by a second bridge (26) inclined towards the outside of the cage (20) and directed towards the upper ring (21), the opening tab (27) being adjacent to the breakable zone (28) arranged on the second bridge (26) and capable of causing a break in the breakable zone (28) when a tensile force is applied to the opening tab (27).

2. The cage (20) comprises: a plurality of first flexible tabs (23) positioned to block the stopper (10) inside the cage (20) against the upper ring (21) when the cap (21) is in an intermediate holding position, each first tab (23) being supported by a first bridge (25); A locking cap (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of second flexible tabs (24) intended to rest under the collar (202) of the neck (201) of the container (200) when the cap (21) is in the locked position, each second tab (24) being supported by a second bridge (26).

3. 3. The locking cap (100) of claim 2, wherein the first bridge (25) occupies between 20% and 40% of the circumference of the cage (20) and the second bridge (26) occupies between 40% and 70% of the circumference.

4. 4. The locking cap (100) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the first bridges (25) are located between the upper ring (21) and the second bridges (26) in the axial direction (z), and each first bridge (25) is designed to provide an open space (251) between itself and the collar (202) when the cap (100) is in the intermediate holding position.

5. Each open space (251) is - a height in the axial direction (z) between 0.2 mm and 2 mm, A locking cap (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that it has a width along the circumference of said cage (20) that is approximately the same as the width of the first bridge (25).

6. 7. A container (200) comprising a neck (201) having a circular opening terminating in a flared collar (202), and a stopper (10) connected to the locking cap (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 5 and arranged on the neck (201), wherein each second tab (24) is inclined towards the inside of the cage (20) in the direction of the upper ring (21), and the n / 2 second tabs (24) of the cage (20) are configured to be allowed by the cap (100) to pass from the intermediate holding position to the locking position when a force of between 30 N and 70 N is applied to the cap (100).

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