ES2389025T3 - Container for fluid products that can be closed again - Google Patents

Abstract

A resealable container (2) for fluid products, in particular for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar products, comprising at least one hollow containment body (3) for containing a fluid product and at least one closing cap (6) which, in an initial configuration, is integrally associated with said hollow body (3) along a preformed break line (7) suitable to allow the separation of said closing cap (6) from said hollow body (3) in a separation configuration in which said hollow body (3) an outlet opening for said fluid product is obtained; in which said hollow body (3) substantially extends longitudinally along a longitudinal axis (L) and comprises a neck (5) on which said preformed break line (7) is formed; and wherein said closure cover (6) comprises: - at least one coupling element (8) on which said preformed break line (7) is formed and having a substantially inclined lateral outer surface relative to said longitudinal axis (L) ); - at least one sealing element (9) that is associated with said coupling element (8) on the opposite side of said preformed break line (7) and that can be placed inside said exit opening in said separation configuration , said sealing element (9) comprising a pin extending from said coupling element (8); and - a side wall (10) that is associated with said coupling element (8) on the opposite side added preformed break line (7), has a substantially cylindrical shape and is arranged around said pin (9), the dimensions being transverse of said pin (9) and said side wall (10) such that, in the separation configuration, the side wall (10) fits snugly around said neck (5) with said pin (9) fitting and sealing said opening of exit; characterized in that said closing cover (6) comprises at least one lightening groove (11) formed on the surface of said coupling element (8) opposite the said preformed break line (7) around of said sealing element (9), said lightening groove (11) comprising at least a first substantially truncated conical surface (12) which is inclined with respect to said longitudinal axis (L) and sparking it to said surface exterior of said coupling element (8).

Description

Container for fluid products that can be closed again.

Technical Field

This invention relates to a container for fluid products that can be resealed, in particular for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar products.

Background

Containers that can be closed again are made of plastic material, for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, or similar products, which are produced by blowing and / or molding in two parts, one of which is constituted by the body of the container, while that the other part is constituted by closing means to keep the container closed after manufacture and to close it again after use.

In these containers, the closure means are inserted or coupled to the neck of the container after manufacture and remain in that position until it is first opened for use.

The containers mentioned above however have some drawbacks, among which is the fact that they are particularly expensive to manufacture, since they require separate molds for the two parts of the container and have to be assembled after molding.

Also known are resealable containers made of plastic material, for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, or similar products, which are manufactured by injection molding in one piece, in which the body of the container is made in one piece. with the appropriate closing means to keep the container closed after manufacture and / or close it again after use.

A detailed sectional view of containers of this type is illustrated in Figure 1.

This type of single-dose or multi-dose container for fluid products consists of a hollow body A containing the fluid product and a closure lid B that is obtained by injection molding a piece with the hollow body along a preformed break line of breakable type C.

At the time of use, the closure cap B is torn from the hollow body A and, in the preformed break line C an outlet opening is formed from which the user can dispense the fluid product.

In detail, the closure cover B has a coupling element D of solid configuration, on which the following is obtained: the preformed break line C, a sealing element E, which is associated with the coupling element D on the side opposite of the preformed break line C, and a side wall F, which is associated with the coupling element D and arranged around the sealing element E.

Having poured the liquid, therefore, the closure cap B is again associated with the hollow body A by fitting the side wall F around the neck of the hollow body A and inserting the sealing element E to be measured in the outlet opening.

These containers are undoubtedly cheaper to manufacture than the previous type, but have the disadvantage that the particular shape of the coupling element D sometimes determines an incorrect conformation of the piece.

During the injection molding phase of an element made in this way, in fact, there are frequent cases in which small air bubbles are trapped inside the closure cap B near the preformed break line C, and the risk weakening the resistance and sealing of the lid itself, causing leakage and / or compromising the sterility and asepsis of the fluid product contained in the container. Similar containers are known from IT 199776U.

This circumstance is very dangerous, in particular in the case of containers intended to contain pharmaceutical substances for which maximum sterility must be guaranteed.

Objective of the Invention

The prior art is susceptible to numerous improvements related to the possibility of eliminating the above-described drawbacks.

The above, in fact, leads to the need to solve the technical problem of designing a container that can be closed again for fluid products, in particular for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar products, which can be manufactured in a practical, easy and easy way. economic, that ensures the preservation of the product contained in it in a sterile and aseptic way and that, after opening, it can be re-sealed tightly minimizing the risk of contamination or leaks of the substance it contains.

Another objective of this invention is to design a resealable container for fluid products, in particular for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar products, which allows to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art as part of a simple, rational and economical solution. , as well as easy and effective use.

The objects described above are achieved by a container that can be resealed for fluid products, in particular for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar products, comprising the features of claim 1.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features and advantages of this invention will be clearer from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a container that can be resealed for fluid products, in particular for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar products, which is illustratively by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a detail of traditional type containers; Figure 2 is a front view, partially in section, of a strip of containers according to the invention; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a detail of the section along the plane III-III of the figure 2.

Embodiments of the Invention

With special reference to Figures 2 and 3, a strip of containers that can be resealed for fluid products 2, in particular for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar products, has generally been designated by reference number 1.

Each container 2 comprises a hollow containment body 3 to contain a fluid product, which substantially extends longitudinally along a corresponding longitudinal axis L.

At one end of the hollow body 3 an introduction mouth 4 is defined for filling with the fluid product; the closing of the insertion mouth 4 (for example, by sealing the lips of the mouth to each other) is performed once the product has been introduced. At the opposite end of the introduction mouth 4, the hollow body 3 extends into a neck 5.

Each container 2 also comprises a closure lid 6 which, in an initial configuration, is fully associated with the corresponding hollow body 3 along a preformed break line 7 formed in the neck 5.

In this application, the term "preformed break line" refers to an area of the containers 2 that has a weakened section and, therefore, can be broken more easily.

The preformed break lines 7, in particular, are suitable to allow the closure caps 6 to be separated from the hollow bodies 3 in order to define a separation configuration in which, in the hollow members 3, in the preformed break lines 7, an equal number of outlet openings of the fluid products is obtained.

In practice, the containers 2 are formed entirely in a one-piece body in the initial configuration mentioned above by, for example, an injection molding production process.

After filling the hollow bodies 3 with the fluid product and sealing the introduction mouths 4, the containers 2 are intended to be opened by the user only just before use, breaking the preformed break lines 7 and separating the closing caps 6 of the hollow bodies 3.

In detail, each closure cover 6 comprises a coupling element 8 on which, on the one hand, the preformed break line 7 is obtained and, on the opposite side, extends into a sealing element 9 that can be placed inside the exit opening in the separation configuration.

This sealing element 9 is formed, for example, by a pin extending from the coupling element 8 coaxially towards the longitudinal axis L.

Advantageously, the closure cover 6 also has a side wall 10 that is associated with the coupling element 8 on the side opposite the preformed break line 7.

This side wall 10 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is coaxially arranged around the pin 9.

The transverse dimensions of the pin 9 and the side wall 10 are such that, in the separation configuration, the side wall 10 fits snugly around the neck 5 with the pin 9 fitting and sealing the corresponding outlet opening.

According to the invention, each closure cover 6 has a lightening groove 11 formed on the surface of the coupling element 8 on the side opposite the preformed break line 7. The lightening groove 11 extends in a circular shape around of the sealing element 9 and coaxially to the longitudinal axis L.

The section of the lightening groove 11 along a longitudinal plane is seen in the detail view of Figure 3 and has a substantially pointed shape with the vertex facing the preformed break line 7.

In detail, the lightening groove 11 is defined by a first surface 12 with a frustoconical conformation, and a second surface 13, also with a conical shape, which have a coaxial axis symmetrical to the longitudinal axis L and which are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis L with angles that are substantially opposite each other.

In this application the expression "angles that are substantially opposite to each other" is used to indicate that if the first truncated conical surface 12 is arranged convergently towards the introduction mouth 4, then the second truncated conical surface 13 is convergent to the opposite side.

Advantageously, each container 2 comprises a pair of first grip fins 14, which protrude from the outer lateral surface of the hollow body 3 of parts that are diametrically opposed to the longitudinal axis L, and a pair of second grip fins 15, which protrude from the outer lateral surface of the closure cap 6 and are coplanar to the first grip fins 14.

The containers 2 of the strip 1 are joined together by the first grip fins 14 and the second grip fins 15.

The first grip fins 14 of a container 2 are, in fact, associated along a first weakened area 16 with the first grip fins 14 of the two adjacently positioned containers 2.

In the same way, the second grip fins 15 of a container 2 are associated along a second weakened area 17 with the second grip fins 17 of the two adjacent containers 2.

In practice it has been demonstrated how the described invention achieves the proposed objects.

In this regard, the fact that the particular feature of contemplating a lightening groove in the coupling element of the closing lid makes it easier to facilitate the molding of the containers is avoided, avoiding the formation of air bubbles inside the closing lids. and guaranteeing maximum sterility and sealing capacity of the containers.

It is also demonstrated that the lightening groove ensures an increase in the flexibility and manageability of the closing lid, which offers the guarantee of a greater sealing of the lid once it has been mounted on the neck of the hollow body.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations.

In addition all the details can be replaced by others that are technically equivalent.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, can be any according to the requirements without departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.

Claims (14)

1. A resealable container (2) for fluid products, in particular for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar products, comprising at least one hollow containment body (3) for containing a fluid product and at least one closing cover (6) which, in an initial configuration, is associated entirely with said hollow body (3) along a preformed break line (7) suitable to allow separation of said closing cover (6) from said hollow body (3) in a separation configuration in which in said hollow body (3) an outlet opening for said fluid product is obtained; wherein said hollow body (3) substantially extends longitudinally along a longitudinal axis (L) and comprises a neck (5) on which said preformed break line (7) is formed; and wherein said closing cover (6) comprises:

-

at least one coupling element (8) on which said preformed break line (7) is formed and which has a substantially inclined lateral outer surface with respect to said longitudinal axis (L); - at least one sealing element (9) that is associated with said coupling element (8) on the side opposite to said preformed break line (7) and that can be placed inside said outlet opening in said separation configuration , said sealing element comprising

(9) a pin extending from said coupling element (8); and - a side wall (10) that is associated with said coupling element (8) on the side opposite said preformed break line (7), has a substantially cylindrical shape and is arranged around said pin (9), being the transverse dimensions of said pin (9) and said side wall (10) such that, in the separation configuration, the side wall (10) fits tightly around said neck (5) with said pin (9) fitting and sealing said outlet opening; characterized in that said closing cover (6) comprises at least one lightening groove (11) formed on the surface of said coupling element (8) opposite the said preformed breaking line (7) around said sealing element (9), said lightening groove (11) comprising at least a first substantially frustoconical surface (12) that is inclined with respect to said longitudinal axis (L) and is parallel to said outer surface of said coupling element (8 ).

2.

 Container (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that said hollow body (3) and said closure lid (6) are made entirely in a single body in said initial configuration.

3.

 Container (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pivot

(9) is substantially coaxial to said longitudinal axis (L).

Four.

 Container (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said side wall (10) is substantially coaxial to said pin (9).

5.

 Container (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said side wall (10) is substantially coaxial with said longitudinal axis (L).

6.

 Container (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lightening groove (11) is substantially coaxial to said pin (9).

7.

 Container (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lightening groove (11) is substantially coaxial to said longitudinal axis (L).

8.

 Container (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the section of said lightening groove (11) along a substantially longitudinal plane has a substantially pointed shape with the vertex substantially facing said preformed break line (7).

9.

 Container (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lightening groove (11) comprises at least a second substantially truncated conical surface (13), said first substantially truncated conical surface (12) and said second substantially conical surface

(13) inclined with respect to said longitudinal axis (L) with angles that are substantially opposite each other.

10.

 Container (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one between said first and second truncated conical surface (12, 13) is substantially coaxial to said longitudinal axis (L).

eleven.

 Container (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least a first grip fin (14) protruding from the outer lateral surface of said hollow body (3).

12. Container (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first grip fin (14) is associated along a first weakening zone (16) with the first grip fin (14) of another container (2) positioned adjacently to form a strip (1) of containers (2). 13. Container (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises 10 at least a second grip fin (15) protruding from the outer side surface of said closure cap (6). 14. Container (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said Second grip fin (15) is associated along a second weakening zone (17) to the second grip fin (15) of another container (2) positioned adjacently to form a strip (1) of containers (2). ). 15. Strip (1) of resealable containers (2) for fluid products, in particular for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar products, characterized by the fact that it comprises a plurality of containers (2) according to one or more of claims 1 to 14, associated with each other.  REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION 5 This list of references cited by the applicant is solely for the convenience of the reader. It is not part of the European patent document. Despite the care taken in the collection of references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO denies all responsibility in this regard. 10 Patent documents cited in the description • IT 199776U