Improved liquid-dispensing device with spike opening mechanism, without preservatives

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid dispenser comprising a spike opening mechanism, of the type without preservatives, for blow-fill-seal bottles, with a perforable elastomer material that ensures sterility at all times when in a storage position and at the moment of opening the bottle, which is characterised mainly in that it comprises an annular support for coupling first and second annular platforms.

Description

[0001] IMPROVED LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE WITH TIP OPENING MECHANISM, PRESERVATIVE-FREE TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention falls within the technical field of ophthalmic product dispensers, specifically a multi-dose drop dispenser device with a spike opening mechanism is disclosed, suitable for preservative-free solutions for bottles of the blow-fill-seal type.

[0003] STATE OF THE ART

[0004] In the prior art, there are several technologies related to preservative-free multidose droppers, such as patent document US11116694B2, published on September 14, 2021, for a “Device for dispensing liquid from a sterile packaging bottle.” This patent describes a device for dispensing aqueous liquids through an interface membrane that is partially hydrophilic and partially hydrophobic. The membrane is designed so that, during each dispensing operation of a measured amount of liquid, air and liquid flow alternately in a capillary channel downstream of the membrane. This interface membrane is made of a filter material containing biocidal metal cations and includes a porous insert permeable to both liquid and air, which is positioned upstream of the membrane in the fluid path.However, this precedent lacks a tip mechanism with an elastomeric material seal or silicone seal that fits the bottle spout by piercing the bottle seal (Tyvek type).

[0005] Furthermore, with respect to dual-function membranes, i.e., hydrophilic and hydrophobic, there is patent document US6565748B1, published on May 20, 2003, for “Cationally Charge-Modified Membranes,” which discloses a charge-modified polymeric membrane comprising a hydrophobic polymer, said membrane being made hydrophilic by charge modification, said charge modification resulting from contacting said membrane with at least one polymeric wetting agent and at least one cationic charge-modifying agent. However, this prior art only discloses a dual-function membrane and does not include a body and a circular platform for fixing the membrane; nor does it disclose a tip mechanism communicating with the chamber created between the body and the circular platform.

[0006] Additionally, the state-of-the-art precedents that have a tip-opening mechanism for dropper bottles lose sterility when the bottle breaks, which limits the expiration time to less than a year and a half (the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not grant more time for this type of container), since the liquids are in contact with a series of elements that could be contaminants.

[0007] Another relevant background of the state of the art is patent application PCT / PE2024 / 050001, which refers to a liquid dispenser with a tip-opening mechanism, where the coupling between the grooved platforms is solely through ultrasound, which does not provide solidity to the coupling between said grooved platforms, and the screwing of the lid was directly with the main support body and not on the coupling between the platforms.

[0008] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] With the aim of solving the aforementioned problems of the prior art, the present invention was developed, which relates to a liquid dispensing device comprising mainly:

[0010] a flask (10) with a threaded intermediate portion (11) and a pierceable spout (12); a main support body (20), wherein said main support body includes an internally threaded lower section (21) and an upper cylindrical section (22) disposed above the lower section,

[0011] a first grooved platform (30) with channels (31) arranged on the outer upper part, wherein the first grooved platform (30) is fitted onto the main support body (20); wherein the inner part of said first grooved platform has a pointed cutting element (32) with an inner channel (33), for the passage of fluid from the bottle,

[0012] an elastomeric material (34) (which is preferably a perforable soft plastic seal) is arranged around the pointed cutting element (32);

[0013] a second grooved platform (40) with a through hole (41) and a drop-forming protrusion (42); wherein the through hole of the second grooved platform and the inner channel of the pointed cutting element are connected; and wherein the first and second grooved platforms are joined by means of an annular support (50).

[0014] In a use position, the pointed cutting element or beak of the bottle is in direct contact with the elastomeric material, the tip of the pointed cutting element is positioned inside the bottle and the elastomeric material is perforated; whereas, in a storage position, the elastomeric material keeps the pointed cutting element, the membrane and the channels created around the dual-function membrane sterile and isolated, between the first and second grooved platforms.

[0015] The present invention manages to integrate a set of relevant technical features into a single device, providing the following technical effects: - Through the annular support, the solidity in the coupling between the first and second grooved platforms is increased.

[0016] - Since the first grooved platform is an independent element from the main support body, it facilitates the production of each piece in the manufacturing process using blow-fill-seal technologies.

[0017] - The pointed and spouted cutting element of the bottle in both storage and use positions is sterile at all times, thus eliminating the need for preservatives.

[0018] - When piercing the elastomeric material and the tip of the bottle, the sterility of the entire dropper dispenser is maintained, preventing air from entering anywhere. Both perforations are made in a single operation.

[0019] - During the resting position of the bottle, the elastomeric material (34) can also be in permanent contact with the upper surface of the spout (13) exerting a slight pressure, without perforation.

[0020] - The dual-function membrane, that is, partially hydrophobic and partially hydrophilic, allows the fluids to be guided on their return path during the dispensing of the drops, allowing the remaining unexpelled liquid that returns first to be diverted from a direct axial path and oriented towards the hydrophilic part of the membrane; the airflow drawn into the bottle thus has free access to the hydrophobic material of the membrane in its central portion.

[0021] - Once the main support body is screwed down to the bottom of the bottle, the main body can no longer be removed and remains permanently in the use position.

[0022] - The channels of the first and second grooved platforms allow the return fluids to cover a larger surface area of ​​the dual-function membrane.

[0023] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0024] The following figures illustrate some embodiments of the present invention; these figures or their description are not intended to limit in any way the scope of protection defined by the claims.

[0025] Figure 1: Internal view, in longitudinal section, of the proposed invention in the position of use.

[0026] Figure 2: Symmetrical view of the proposed invention in the position of use, with a cross-section of a longitudinal section

[0027] Figure 3: Front view of the proposed invention.

[0028] Figure 4: Internal view, in longitudinal section, of the proposed invention in storage position.

[0029] Legend of the figures:

[0030] 10: Bottle

[0031] 11: Threaded intermediate portion

[0032] 12: Drillable pick

[0033] 13. upper surface of the peak

[0034] 20: Main support body

[0035] 21 : Lower cylindrical section

[0036] 22: Upper cylindrical section

[0037] 30: First grooved platform

[0038] 31: Channels

[0039] 32: Pointed cutting element

[0040] 33: Interior Channel

[0041] 34: Elastomeric material

[0042] 40: Second grooved platform

[0043] 41: Through hole 42: Drop-forming protuberance

[0044] 50: Annular support

[0045] 60: Cover

[0046] 61: Central protuberance

[0047] PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION (DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION)

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the outer lateral surface of the annular support (50) is threaded and corresponds to the threaded portion of a cap (60) for securing it; that is, the threaded cap (60) is removably coupled to the outer lateral surface of the annular support. In this way, the annular support (50) has a dual function, serving as a coupling element between the first and second grooved platforms (30, 40) and as a support for screwing on the cap. In another preferred embodiment, the annular support (50), viewed from a longitudinal section, has a C-shaped profile. In yet another preferred embodiment, the annular support (50) is welded to the first and second grooved platforms. This annular support surrounds the grooved platforms along their entire perimeter.

[0049] In another preferred embodiment, the cap (60) completely covers the main support body (20). In another preferred embodiment, the upper part of the cap (60) has a central protrusion (61) that fits over the drop-forming protrusion.

[0050] In another preferred embodiment, the first grooved platform (30) has a lower tubular section (35) which is welded to the upper cylindrical section (22) of the main support body.

[0051] In another preferred embodiment, the lower end of the lower section of the main support body includes an annular protrusion (23). In another preferred embodiment, a membrane is disposed over the first grooved platform (30), and under the second grooved platform (40), wherein the membrane is partially hydrophilic and partially hydrophobic.

[0052] In another preferred embodiment, the elastomeric material (34) has internal walls that fit the external shape of the bottle spout, creating a pressure seal between the bottle spout and the elastomeric material in the device's operating position. In the operating position of the present invention, the tip of the cutting element is positioned inside the bottle. This operating position is achieved by screwing the main support body onto the intermediate section of the bottle, causing the tip of the cutting element to pierce the bottle spout.

[0053] In another preferred modality, the bottle may be made of PET-G or polyethylene, polypropylene, among other similar plastics; and may be made by blow-fill-seal technologies.

[0054] In another preferred embodiment, the joint between the first grooved platform and the second grooved platform is also ultrasonically welded. Furthermore, the elastomeric material is also ultrasonically welded to the inner annular sealing protrusion.

[0055] In another preferred modality, the drop-forming protuberance has sloping triangular walls, to increase the strength of this element.

[0056] In another preferred embodiment, during the storage or rest position of the dispensing device, the elastomeric material (34) is in constant contact with the upper surface of the nozzle (13), exerting pressure without perforation, in order to prevent any risk of contamination. Furthermore, the elastomeric material (34) contains components with a bacteriostatic effect in its structure, such as silver ions. In another preferred embodiment, the elastomeric material (34) or silicone seal is soft (5-20 Shore A hardness), and may be made of polyurethane, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), thermoplastic elastomers, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or other materials of similar softness.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A liquid dispensing device characterized by comprising: a bottle (10) with a threaded intermediate portion (11) and a perforable spout (12); a main support body (20), wherein said main support body includes an internally threaded lower cylindrical section (21) and an upper cylindrical section (22) disposed above the lower cylindrical section (21), a first grooved platform (30) with channels (31) disposed on the outer upper part, wherein the first grooved platform (30) is fitted onto the main support body (20); wherein the inner part of said first grooved platform has a pointed cutting element (32) with an inner channel (33); an elastomeric material (34) arranged around the pointed cutting element (32); a second grooved platform (40) with a through hole (41) and a drop-forming protrusion (42); wherein the through hole of the second grooved platform and the inner channel of the pointed cutting element are connected; and wherein the first and second grooved platforms are joined by means of an annular support (50). 2.- The liquid dispensing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the lateral external surface of the annular support (50) is threaded. 3.- The liquid dispensing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the annular support (50), viewed from a longitudinal cut, has a “C” shaped profile.

4. The liquid dispensing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that during the storage position of the dispensing device, the elastomeric material (34) is in permanent contact with the upper surface of the spout (13) exerting pressure, without perforation; and the elastomeric material contains components with a bacteriostatic effect in its structure such as silver ions.

5. The liquid dispensing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that a threaded cap (60) is removably coupled to the lateral outer surface of the annular support.

6. The liquid dispensing device, according to claim 5, characterized in that the top part of the lid (60) has a central protrusion (61) that fits over the drop-forming protrusion. 7.- The liquid dispensing device, according to claim 5, characterized in that the lid (60) covers the main support body (20).

8. The liquid dispensing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the first grooved platform (30) has a lower tubular section (35) which is welded to the upper cylindrical section (22) of the main support body. 9.- The liquid dispensing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower end of the lower section of the main support body includes an annular protrusion (23).

10. The liquid dispensing device, according to claim 1, characterized in that a membrane is disposed on the first grooved platform (30), and under the second grooved platform (40), wherein the membrane is partially hydrophilic and partially hydrophobic.

Images