EP1993924B1 - Assembly for containing and dispensing a liquid - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a set of packaging and dispensing liquid,

according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a set of packages is known from JP 200-263 166 A .

The invention applies in particular, but not exclusively, to the packages for packaging and dispensing eye drops in the form of an aqueous solution, the sterility of which must be guaranteed.

The filtration means prevent the penetration of contaminating agents inside the container upstream of the membrane.

An object of the invention is to provide a set of conditioning and liquid distribution to limit the risk of distribution of contaminated liquid.

• les moyens pour augmenter l'entrée d'air et/ou un retour d'une quantité résiduelle de liquide comprennent des moyens d'étanchéité aptes à fermer de façon étanche un espace compris entre l'embout et le bouchon partiellement fermé, dont le volume se réduit lors de la poursuite de la fermeture du bouchon, de façon à provoquer l'apparition d'une surpression dans l'embout en aval des moyens de filtration, du fait de la fermeture du bouchon ;

For this purpose, the invention proposes a liquid packaging and dispensing assembly of the aforementioned type, characterized in that

• the means for increasing the air inlet and / or a return of a residual amount of liquid comprise sealing means able to seal a space between the endpiece and the partially closed cap, the volume of which is reduced when the closure of the closure is continued, so as to cause the appearance of an overpressure in the nozzle downstream of the filtration means, because of the closing of the stopper;

• les moyens d'étanchéité comprennent une lèvre d'étanchéité solidaire de l'embout, et venant en contact étanche avec une portée d'étanchéité intérieure du bouchon lors de la fermeture du bouchon ;
• la lèvre est venue de matière avec une partie de l'embout tubulaire possédant un axe longitudinal ;
• la lèvre s'étend en saillie de la partie en étant inclinée par rapport à l'axe longitudinal, radialement vers l'extérieur et axialement en direction d'un fond du bouchon ;
• le bouchon comprend un fond venant en contact étanche avec un orifice de sortie l'embout à la fermeture complète du bouchon ;
• les moyens de filtration comprennent au moins une membrane filtrante microporeuse s'étendant en travers d'un passage de circulation de liquide et d'air au travers de l'embout;
• la membrane filtrante microporeuse comprend au moins une région liquophile et au moins une région liquophobe ;
• la membrane est bloquée entre deux parties de l'embout fixées mutuellement ;
• les moyens pour augmenter l'entrée d'air et/ou un retour d'une quantité résiduelle de liquide comprennent une couche de matière liquophobe poreuse apte à être traversée par un liquide, en contact avec une face amont de la membrane ; et
• les moyens de filtration comprennent une seule membrane filtrante microporeuse.

According to other embodiments, the packaging assembly comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:

• the sealing means comprise a sealing lip integral with the nozzle, and coming into sealing contact with an internal sealing surface of the plug during closure of the plug;
• the lip is integral with a portion of the tubular tip having a longitudinal axis;
• the lip protrudes from the portion being inclined relative to the longitudinal axis, radially outwardly and axially towards a bottom of the plug;
• the stopper comprises a bottom coming into sealing contact with an outlet orifice the mouthpiece to the complete closure of the stopper;
• the filtration means comprise at least one microporous filter membrane extending across a passage of liquid and air circulation through the tip;
• the microporous filtering membrane comprises at least one liquophilic region and at least one liquophobic region;
• the membrane is locked between two parts of the endpiece mutually fixed;
• the means for increasing the air inlet and / or a return of a residual amount of liquid comprise a porous liquophobic material layer capable of being traversed by a liquid, in contact with an upstream face of the membrane; and
• the filtration means comprise a single microporous filter membrane.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en coupe d'un ensemble de conditionnement et de distribution conforme à l'invention ;
• les figures 2 à 4 sont des vues partielles agrandies de l'ensemble de conditionnement et de distribution de la figure 1.

The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a packaging and dispensing assembly according to the invention;
• the Figures 2 to 4 are partial enlarged views of the packaging and distribution package of the figure 1 .

The set 2 of packaging and distribution shown on the figure 1 comprises a container 4 for receiving eye drops in the form of an aqueous solution, a device 6 for dispensing eye drops, and a device 8 for closing the container 4.

The container 4 is in the example illustrated a plastic bottle containing the eye drops which has not been shown in the figures.

The container 4 comprises a hollow body 10 extended by an upper neck 12 which extends along a longitudinal axis L vertical to an outlet 13.

Conventionally, the walls of the body 10 are elastically deformable under the action of a transverse force to cause a decrease in the internal volume of the body 10, and thus allow the expulsion of the eye drops through the neck 12.

The closure device 8 comprises a plug 14 and a tamperproof ring 16 made of material.

Conventionally, the neck 12 is provided with external reliefs such as threads, allowing the connection to the plug 14, provided with a complementary thread, and the tamperproof ring 16 is translationally connected along the axis L to a relief collar 12, for example a rib 18.

The dispensing device 6 comprises a nozzle 20 for liquid outlet and air inlet, received in part in the neck 12 through the orifice 13.

In the remainder of the description, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" refer to the direction of flow of the eye drops through the neck 12 and the tip 20 of the inside of the body 10 towards the outside, as illustrated by an arrow A on the figure 1 .

The tip 20 comprises two parts 22 and 24 superimposed along the axis L and defining a passage 26 for circulation of eye drops and air, passing through the nozzle 20 from side to side along the axis L, an orifice 26a opening into the body 10 to an opening 26b opening outwardly.

The lower portion 24 is sealingly connected to the orifice 13.

The device 6 comprises a microporous membrane 28 for filtering liquid and air extending across the passage 26.

The membrane 28 is mounted in the tip 20 being blocked between the portion 22 and the portion 24. In a manner known per se, the membrane 28 comprises liquophilic regions and liquophobic regions.

The portion 22 is arranged to prevent the formation of a jet of liquid for a drip distribution of the eye drops. To this effect, the section 29 of the passage 26, located downstream of the membrane 28 and defined in the part 22, comprises from downstream upstream a restriction 30 followed by a diverging 31 flaring up to the orifice 26b located at a free end 34 of a pin 35 of the portion 22 projecting along the axis L from a disk-shaped base 36 of the portion 22, connected to the portion 24 .

The portion 24 comprises a tubular sleeve 37 partly sealed in the neck 12, and a circumferentially continuous annular elastic lip 38 integral with the sleeve 37, and extending radially outwardly from the sleeve 37, outside the collar 12.

The device 6 comprises a block 39 of open-cell porous material, for example a compressible foam, allowing the passage of liquid and having liquophobic properties, in contact with an upstream face 28a of the membrane 28. The block 39 extends over the entire section of passage 26.

The operation of the assembly 2 is described below with reference to Figures 2 to 4 illustrating the set 2 in different configurations.

As shown on the figure 2 , the cap 14 is screwed onto the neck 12 to close the container 4. To open the container 4, the user unscrews the cap 14.

During the first use, the user unscrews the cap 14 which breaks the connection between cap 14 and the ring 16 because it is retained by the rib 18. This rupture indicates to the user that the bottle has not been used previously. In a subsequent use, the connection between the plug 14 and the ring 16 is already broken; and the plug 14 is unscrewed more easily.

Once the cap 14 is removed ( figure 3 ), the user disposes the container 4 upside down, and presses the walls of the body 10 to expel the eye drops through the neck 12 and the device 6 forcing its passage through the block 39 and the membrane 28.

Once dispensed, the user releases the walls of the body 10, which are returned to their original shape by elasticity. This causes a depression in the body 10 relative to the outside, tending to suck through the membrane 28 a residual amount of liquid in the section 29 and the outside air.

The user then revises the cap 16 ( figure 2 ) until complete closure, that is to say until a bottom 40 of the cap 14 is in sealing contact with the orifice 26b, which interrupts the re-aspiration of eye drops and suction of air.

The suction of the residual amount of liquid section 29 avoids the stagnation of this liquid in the section 29 between two uses. The external air intake makes it possible to replace the volume of distributed eye drops.

The aspirated liquid preferably passes through the liquophilic regions of the membrane 28 while being filtered, and the sucked air preferably passes through the liquophobic regions of the membrane 28 while being filtered.

Due to the small passage surface offered by the membrane 28 to air and eyedrops, the membrane 28 is a brake to the re-aspiration of the amount of residual eye drops and the suction of air. The elasticity of the walls of the body 10 is generally not sufficient to ensure the complete re-aspiration of the residual amount of eye drops in the section 29 before the complete closure of the stopper 14.

This results in a risk that an amount of eye drops will be trapped in the section 29, and that contaminants will develop in this area. amount of trapped eye drops, which will be distributed first at a future distribution.

On the other hand, if the body 10 does not draw enough air before closing the stopper 14, a depression remains inside the body, and it is necessary to apply a greater force to the walls of the body 10, at the time of the next distribution of eye drops, to deform the body 10 sufficiently so that droplets of eye drops out through the device 6.

The lip 38 and the block 39 make it possible to limit these risks by increasing the entry of air and the re-aspiration of the quantity of eye drops trapped after dispensing.

Indeed, at the beginning of the closing of the stopper 14 ( figure 4 ), the lip 38 comes into sealed contact at its free end with an internal cylindrical sealing surface 41 of axis L of the plug 14. The lip 38 thus seals a space 42 located between the endpiece 20 and the bottom 40 of the cap 14 partially closed.

In this position, the end 34 is at a distance from the bottom 40, so that the orifice 26b is still open and the passage 26 communicates with the space 42.

By continuing to close the plug 14, the lip 38 slides along the bearing surface 41 of the plug 14 which moves along the axis L with respect to the lip 38, and the volume of the space 42 decreases progressively. It follows the appearance of an overpressure in the space 42 and in the section 29 with respect to the pressure prevailing upstream of the membrane 28.

This pressure increases gradually and repels the amount of eye drops trapped in the section 29 and the air through the membrane 28. This therefore promotes the re-aspiration of the eye drops and the suction of air into the container 4 before the complete closure of the cap 14.

Note that the lip 38 is inclined relative to the axis L and extends axially down the bottom 40. This results in effective sealing because the overpressure in the space 42 tends to press the lip 38 against the scope 41.

Moreover, the block 39 prevents the formation of a film of eye drops, retained by capillarity on the upstream face 28a of the membrane 28. Such a film would prevent the aspiration of air and also the re-aspiration of part of the quantity entrapped eye drops by clogging the pores of the membrane 28.

Block 39, because it is porous and liquophobic, causes the pooling or coalescence of the eye drops retained on the membrane 28 into drops forming in the porosities of the block 39. The block 39 thus promotes the re-aspiration of the eye drops on the upstream side. the membrane 28, as well as the air inlet inside the body 10 by releasing air circulation channels between the drops of eye drops, inside the block 39.

Block 39 is made for example of an open-cell foam made of polyurethane (PUR), PTFE, PVC, polyester, polyether, polyethylene or polypropylene. Block 39 has for example a porosity of 10 to 100 PPI ("pores per inch" in English, pores per inch in French).

The assembly 2 thus makes it possible to promote the re-aspiration of eye drops and the suction of air into the container 4 before it is closed. The assembly 2 thus makes it possible to limit the amount of eye drops trapped downstream of the membrane, and consequently to limit the risk of contamination.

The suction of the amount of trapped eye drops and the suction of air are particularly effective because the force exerted by the user is used to close the cap 14 to force the entry of eye drops and the entrance of the eye. air through the membrane 28.

The block 39 and the lip 38 can be used independently of one another while maintaining their respective advantages, to promote the aspiration of eye drops and / or air into the container.

The invention thus generally relates to a liquid conditioning and dispensing assembly, of the type comprising a container for containing the liquid, a liquid dispensing device, comprising a liquid outlet and air inlet nozzle. , and means for filtering liquid and air circulating in the nozzle, and a closure cap of the container, the assembly further comprising means sealing means capable of sealingly closing a space between the nozzle and the partially closed cap, the volume of which is reduced when the plug is being closed, so as to cause the appearance of an overpressure in the container. nozzle downstream of the filtration means, because of the closure of the cap.

The invention also generally relates to a liquid conditioning and dispensing assembly, of the type comprising a container for containing the liquid, a liquid dispensing device, comprising a liquid outlet and air inlet nozzle. , and means for filtering liquid and air circulating in the nozzle, and a closure cap of the container, the assembly further comprising a layer of porous liquophobic material, in contact with an upstream face of the membrane.

The invention applies to packages for the packaging and dispensing of eye drops, and more generally to liquid conditioning and dispensing assemblies whose sterility must be preserved.

Claims (10)

1. Assembly for containing and dispensing a liquid, comprising:

   - a container (4) for containing the liquid;

   - a liquid dispensing device (6), comprising:

   - a spout (20) through which liquid can pass out and air can come in; and

   - means (28) for filtering liquid and air passing through the spout (20); and

   - a cap (14) for closing the container (4); and

   - means (38, 41, 39) for increasing the entry of air and/or the return of a residual quantity of liquid trapped in the spout (20) after dispensing some liquid, through the filtering means (28), into the container (4),

   characterised in that the means for increasing the entry of air and/or the return of a residual quantity of liquid comprise sealing means (38, 41) capable of closing in a sealed manner a space (42) located between the spout (20) and the partially-closed cap (14), the volume of which decreases as closure of the cap (14) progresses, so as to create an overpressure in the spout (20) downstream of the filtering means (28), due to the cap (14) being closed.
2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the sealing means comprise a sealing lip (38) which is integral with the spout (20) and comes into sealed contact with an internal sealing bearing surface (41) of the cap (14) as the cap (14) is closed.
3. Assembly according to claim 2, characterised in that the lip (38) is integral with a part (24) of the tubular spout (20) having a longitudinal axis (L).
4. Assembly according to claim 3, characterised in that the lip (38) extends beyond the part (24), said lip being inclined in relation to the longitudinal axis (L), radially outwards and axially towards a bottom (40) of the cap (14).
5. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cap (14) comprises a bottom (40) coming into sealed contact with an outlet orifice (26b) of the spout (20) when the cap (14) is completely closed.
6. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filtering means comprise at least one microporous filtering membrane (28) extending through a passage (26) for the circulation of liquid and air through the spout (20);
7. Assembly according to claim 6, characterised in that the microporous filtering membrane (28) comprises at least one liquophilic region and at least one liquophobic region;
8. Assembly according to either claim 6 or claim 7, characterised in that the membrane (28) is secured between two mutually-fixed parts (22, 24) of the spout (20).
9. Assembly according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the means for increasing the entry of air and/or the return of a residual quantity of liquid comprise a layer (39) of porous liquophobic material, capable of being passed through by a liquid, in contact with an upstream face (28a) of the membrane.
10. Assembly according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that the filtering means comprise one microporous filtering membrane (28).

Images