ITPR20110035A1 - CAPSULE. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

â € œCapsuleâ €

The present invention relates to a package for keeping a first and a second product separate before use.

Single-dose packs of the type described in the European patent EP0963325 in the name of the same applicant are known.

These packs include:

- a container with an upper opening and containing a liquid product;

- a tank at least partially inserted inside the mouth of the container, open at the top, separated from the inside of the container, equipped with a breakable bottom, containing a first powder product; breaking of the breakable bottom putting the tank in communication with the inside of the container;

-a cutting element inserted inside the tank and equipped with a lower extremity intended for use to break through the breakable bottom allowing the mixing of the powder product with the liquid product;

-a cap, placed on the container so as to cover the tank and the cutting element.

The cap is equipped with a thread with which a screw coupling is made through which the cap is capable of an axial movement downwards with respect to the container. As a result of this axial movement, the cap interacts with the cutting element in order to break through the tank. These packages therefore allow you to keep two products separate and then mix them immediately before use.

A drawback of these products is linked to the fact that the powder product is particularly sensitive to humidity both for physical reasons (the powder product could agglomerate) and for chemical reasons (the powder product could modify its properties). This effect could also be increased by the fact that usually the breakable bottom has a pre-incision which reduces the thickness of the breakable bottom itself, favoring its breakage.

In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to propose a package that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the known art.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a package that allows to avoid the deterioration of a product contained inside the package.

The specified technical task and the specified purposes are substantially achieved by a package comprising the technical characteristics set out in one or more of the appended claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the indicative, and therefore non-limiting, description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a package illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: - figure 1 shows a view of the package according to the present invention ;

figure 2 shows a section view according to the plane II-II of figure 1;

figure 3 shows the package of figures 1 and 2 in a second configuration;

figure 4 shows the package of figures 1, 2, 3 in a further configuration;

figure 5 shows an alternative constructive solution to that shown in figures 1-4.

In the accompanying figures, the reference number 10 indicates a capsule. Said capsule 10 is part of a package 1. Typically it is a package for pharmaceutical products (including food supplements, dietetic products, probiotics, etc.). Typically pack 1 is single-dose.

The capsule 10 comprises a reservoir 4 in turn comprising a breakable bottom 40. Typically the breakable bottom 40 comprises a pre-incision which facilitates the breaking of the breakable bottom 40. The tank 4 can be applied directly or indirectly to an opening 60 of a container 6 intended to contain a first product.

The capsule 10 further comprises a shear 5 which can be positioned in front of the breakable bottom 40 to open (typically to break through) said breakable bottom 40. The shear 5 is therefore a pusher which pushes the frangible bottom 40 causing it to break. The tank 4 is a cap intended to occlude the mouth 60 of the container 6. This tank 6 defines a concavity inside which said shear 5 can be placed at least partially.

The capsule 10 assumes at least a first and a second configuration. In the first configuration (see for example Figure 2) the breakable bottom 40 is intact and at least the tank 4 and the shearer 5 define in combination a first chamber 2 suitable for containing a second product. In the second configuration (see for example Figure 3) the breakable bottom 40 is open to allow mixing of the first and second products. Typically in the second configuration the breakable bottom is broken through (by the action of the shear 5). Conveniently, the shear 5 comprises a hollow body 50 (ie such as to identify an internal housing). Said hollow body 50 in turn comprising a cutting edge 51. The cutting edge 51 in the first configuration faces said frangible bottom 40. The shear 5 at the cutting edge 51 is pointed. In particular, the shear 5 in correspondence with the cutting edge 51 is shaped like a flute beak. The cutting edge 51 is the part of the shear 5 that allows the breakthrough of the breakable bottom 40. During use, moving the shear 5 downwards allows the breakable bottom 40 to be broken through, passing from the first to the second configuration of the capsule 10.

The tank 4 comprises a guide surface 42 for the shear 5. This guide surface 42 directs the movement of the shears 5 during the movement of the latter which determines the passage from the first to the second configuration. The shear 5 is coupled with said guide surface 42 with slight interference so as to exert a fluid-dynamic seal. In the preferred solution, the shear 5 could be made of polypropylene and / or the tank 4 could be made of polyethylene. The capsule 10 comprises moisture absorbing means 7. The moisture absorbing means 7 allow to absorb the humidity which from the outside of the first chamber 2 penetrates into the latter. This humidity comes from the first product which is preferably liquid; however, the humidity could also be the environmental one and come from the outside of the package 1.

In the first configuration of the capsule 10 the moisture absorption means 7 are in contact with the interior of the first chamber 2.

The absorption means 7 are placed inside said body 50. The hollow body 50 at least partially surrounds the absorption means 7.

The moisture absorbing means 7 at least partially delimit a cavity 8 inside the hollow body 50. In the first configuration, said cavity 8 forms part of said first chamber 2. The absorption means 7 at least partially cover an internal surface 53 of said hollow body 50. Preferably, the internal surface 53 of said hollow body 50 is surrounded by an external surface 54 of the shear 5. Said external surface 54 comes, at least in the first and / or second configuration, into contact with the guide surface 42 forming part of the tank. 4. The positioning of the absorption means 7 inside the shear 5 is important. In this way the shear 5 itself partially protects the absorption means 7 from the humidity that penetrates into the first chamber 2, avoiding a premature saturation of the same. They adhere to the inner surface 53 of the hollow body 50 which they cover. In one constructive solution, the absorption means 7 are shaped like a hollow sleeve. They are conveniently shaped like the side surface of a cylinder. In an alternative constructive solution they are shaped like a disk applied to a bottom of the hollow body 50. In a further constructive solution they could be shaped like a hollow cup that covers the surfaces of the hollow body 50 (in this case they cover the bottom interior and the internal wall of said hollow body 50). The glass would be open in proximity to the cutting edge 51.The thickness of the absorption means 7 is preferably constant. This thickness is preferably between 0.5 and 4 millimeters. Advantageously, the absorption means 7 do not cover the cutting edge 51 in order to avoid hindering the breaking action of the breakable bottom 6. At said cutting edge 51 (through an opening of the shear 5) the internal cavity 8 is in fluid communication with a portion of the first chamber 2 external to the hollow body 50. Conveniently, said second product is present in the first configuration of the capsule 10 in this cavity 8. Conveniently, the second product is partly disposed also in the portion of the first chamber external to the hollow body 50. Advantageously, the moisture absorption means 7 extend for at least two thirds of the length of said hollow body 50 (typically in the solution in which the means 7 of absorption are shaped like a sleeve or a glass). The hollow body 50 comprises a stem and said cutting edge 51 is formed at one end of the stem. The cavity 8 develops internally to the stem. Advantageously, the absorption means 7 extend for at least two thirds of the length of the cavity 8, said length being evaluated along the predominant direction of development of the stem.

Advantageously, the moisture absorbing means 7 are irremovably connected to said hollow body 50. In particular, the absorption means 7 are co-molded with said hollow body 50. In an alternative solution, the absorption means 7 are inserted with (generally slight) interference in said hollow body 50. By way of example, but not limited to, the absorption means 7 are made of a material known under the trade name activ-dri or activ-pak or active polymer of the company CSP Technologies Inc .. In particular, the absorption means 7 are made of the material described in patent EP0892673 (entirely referred to here) ..

The object of the present invention is also a package 1 comprising:

- a capsule 10 having one or more of the technical characteristics indicated above;

-a container 6 comprising a mouth 60 to which said capsule 10 is directly or indirectly applicable. The mouth 60 comprises a neck of the container 6 which ends with an opening (this opening, if the capsule 10 allows it, allows the second chamber 3 to be placed in communication with the outside of the container 6). The container 6 identifies a second chamber 3 suitable for containing the first product. Package 1 assumes at least an initial configuration and an operational configuration. In the initial configuration said capsule 10 is in the first configuration and the first and second chambers 2, 3 are separated from each other by the breakable bottom 40 (see for example Figure 2); in the operative configuration the capsule 10 is in the second configuration and the first and second chambers 2, 3 are in mutual fluid communication to allow the mixing of the first and second products (see for example Figure 3).

Typically, this mouth 60 is located in an upper portion of the container 6. The mouth 60 is therefore opposite the bottom of the container 6. The tank 4 at least in the initial configuration of the package defines a cap which occludes the mouth 60 of the container 6.

Conveniently the breakable bottom 40 is at least partially aligned with said mouth 60. By this it is understood that the breakable bottom 40 is located inside the mouth 60 or on an extension of the mouth 60 (or in other words at the € ™ inside the neck or on an extension of the neck of the container 6). As exemplified in the figures, at least in the initial configuration, the breakable bottom 40 is located inside the container 60.

The container 6 has an axial direction of development of the mouth 60. The frangible bottom 40 develops transversely to said axial direction of development of the mouth 60.

The breakable bottom 40 at least in the first configuration separates the first from the second chamber 2, 3. The tank 4 is at least partially inserted in the mouth 60. As shown in the accompanying figures, the tank 4 extends at least partially outwards of the mouth 60. In particular the tank 4 is inserted with slight interference in the mouth 60. An external wall of the tank 4 comes into contact with an internal wall of the mouth 60 and this slight interference defines a fluid-dynamic seal which in the second configuration it prevents unwanted leakage of the liquid present in the container 6. The second product is a solid product; typically it is a powdery or granular product. The first product is typically a liquid. In the mixture obtained from the first and second product, the second product can therefore be considered a solute while the first product can be considered a solvent.

As exemplified in the accompanying figures, the package 1 comprises a cap 9 which in the first configuration is connected to the container 6. The cap 9 comprises an inviolability band 90 which must be removed to allow the removal of the cap 9. In the initial configuration of the package the cap 9 covers the tank 4 and the shearing device 5. In a particular constructive solution not shown, the cap 9 and the shearing device 5 could also be irremovably connected.

The cap 9, in particular the inviolability band 90, comprises an annular relief 95 coupled in undercut with the container 6 so as to prevent or limit axial movements away from the cap 9 from the container 6.

In the constructive solution exemplified in Figure 1, the inviolability band 90 is connected to remaining parts of the cap 9 by means of a perimeter line 96 with easy breakage. This perimeter line 96 with easy breaking breaks during the unscrewing operation of the cap 9 of the container 1.

The tank 4 has an upper part 41 located above the upper edge of the mouth 60 of the container 6. In the initial configuration of the package 1 (see for example figure 2), the upper part 41 of the tank 4 can be elastically deformed inwards. The shear 5 has a section 52 which is intended to meet the internal surface of the upper part 41 of the tank 4, so as to prevent the latter from being deformed towards the inside (in particular the section 52 is at least partly counter-shaped with respect to the internal surface of the upper part 41 of the tank 4). An annular projection 91, which protrudes internally from the cap 9, has an internal diameter which is smaller than the internal diameter of the thread 92 of the cap 9. During the axial downward movement of the cap 9, this annular projection 91 is intended to engage in an undercut with an annular recess 94 arranged on the upper part 41 of the tank 4, so as to make the cap 9 and the tank 3 integral with each other with respect to an upward axial movement for extracting the cap 9 from the container.

At the moment of use, the inviolability band 90 detaches from the remaining parts of the cap 9 due to the screwing of the cap 9. During the screwing, the cap 9 interacts in contact with the shear 5 so that this the latter is pushed downwards, thus breaking through the frangible bottom 40 of the tank 4. This allows the second product present in the capsule 10 to fall by gravity into the container 6. In this phase the upper part 41, annular, of the tank 4 is deformed towards the inside allowing the internal projection 91 of the cap 9 to engage elastically by interlocking with the recess 94 on the upper part 41 of the tank. This is made possible by the fact that there is a free space between the annular and elastically deformable upper part 41 of the tank 4 and the outer surface 54 of the shear 5. At the end of the screwing of the cap 9 this free space is no longer there, since the aforementioned section 52 of the shear 5 is inserted in the upper annular part 41 of the tank 4 and meets it radially. In the subsequent step of unscrewing the cap 9, the tank 4, made integral with the cap 9 by virtue of the undercut between the aforementioned projection 91 and recess 94, is raised together with the shear 5. In this unscrewing step, the upper portion 41 of the tank 4 no longer has the possibility of deforming towards the inside - as in the screwing phase - since it remains forced into contact between the section 52 of the shearer and the cap 9. The section 52 of the shear 5 with larger diameter therefore has the task to keep the tank 4 and the cap 9 integral with each other in the phase of extraction from the container 6.

At the time of packaging, the liquid is inserted into the container 6 and the powder is inserted into the tank 4 or into the hollow body 50. The whole is then inserted into the mouth 60 of the container 6. The cap 9 is then inserted; this insertion is carried out so that the annular relief 95 fits into the undercut annular cavity obtained on the perimeter of the container 6 (see Figure 2). In this first configuration the cap 9 is firmly anchored to the container 6 and is partially screwed onto the container 6 itself; in this first configuration the cap 9 performs its first function which is to prevent fraudulent access to the package 1 and therefore the tampering of the contents of the tank 4 or of the container 6. As mentioned, at the time of use the clamp 90, thus making the cap 9 bound to the container 6 solely through the threaded coupling.

At the end of the stroke of the shear 5 towards the container 6, the cap 9 is firmly anchored, thanks to the projection 91 and the recess 94, to the tank 4. It is now possible, and extremely easy, to open the package 1; in fact it is sufficient to unscrew the cap 9 which, moving in the axial direction away from the container 1, will drag the tank 4 and the shear 5 which are bound to it (see figure 4). At this point it is possible to administer the mixture of the first and second product.

In the constructive solution illustrated in Figure 5, the opening operations of the package 1 provide for the following operations:

- removal of an inviolability band;

- removal of the cap 9;

- bringing the shearer 5 closer to the container 1; this step involves breaking the frangible bottom 40; the approach of the shear to the container requires a translation (and not a screwing) of the shear 5;

- removal of the shear 5 and the tank 4 from the container 6.

The invention thus conceived allows to achieve multiple advantages.

In particular, it allows to protect the chemical-physical properties of at least two products that are kept separate until just before use. Another advantage is linked to the particular positioning of the moisture absorbing means. This positioning allows the action of the absorption media to be performed in the best possible way. At the same time, this positioning is perfectly compatible with an efficient system that allows the mixing of the active ingredients just before their use.

Furthermore, the means for absorbing humidity are positioned in an area such as to make any tampering evident.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept that characterizes it. Furthermore, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practice, all the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to requirements.

Claims (1)

CLAIMS 1.Capsule comprising: -a tank (4) in turn comprising a breakable bottom (40), said tank (4) being applicable directly or indirectly to an opening (60) of a container (6) intended to contain a first product; -a shear (5) which can be positioned in front of the breakable bottom (40) to open said breakable bottom (40); said capsule (10) assuming at least a first and a second configuration; in the first configuration the breakable bottom (40) being intact and at least the tank (4) and the shearer (5) identifying in combination a first chamber (2) suitable for containing a second product; in the second configuration said frangible bottom (40) being open to allow mixing of the first and second products; characterized in that it comprises means (7) for absorbing humidity which in the first configuration of the capsule (1) are in contact with the interior of the first chamber (2). 2.Capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that said shear (5) comprises a hollow body (50) in turn comprising a cutting edge (51), said cutting edge (51) in the first configuration facing said frangible bottom (40); said absorption means (7) being placed inside said hollow body (50). 3.Capsule according to claim 2, characterized in that said absorption means (7) at least partially cover an internal surface (53) of said hollow body (50). 4.Capsule according to claim 3, characterized in that the tank (4) comprises a guiding surface of the shearer (5) during the movement of the latter which determines the passage from the first to the second configuration; said internal surface (53) is surrounded by an external surface (54) of the shearer (5), said external surface (54) being in contact with said guide surface (42) at least in the first and / or second configuration. 5. Capsule according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said moisture absorbing means (7) extend for at least two thirds of the length of said hollow body (50). 6.Capsule according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said moisture absorption means (7) are co-molded to said hollow body (50). Capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said absorption means (7) delimit at least in part a cavity (8) inside the hollow body (30), said cavity (8) in the first configuration being part of said first bedroom (2). 8. Capsule according to claim 7 when it depends directly or indirectly on claim 2, characterized by the fact that in the first configuration in proximity of said cutting edge (51) the internal cavity (8) is in fluid communication with a portion of the first chamber (2 ) outside the hollow body (50). 9. Package including: -a capsule (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8; -a container (6) comprising an opening (60) to which said capsule (10) is directly or indirectly applied, said container (6) identifying a second chamber (3) suitable for containing the first product; said package (1) assuming at least an initial configuration and an operating configuration; in the initial configuration said capsule (10) being in the first configuration and the first and second chambers (2, 3) being fluid-dynamically separated; in the operative configuration the capsule (10) being in the second configuration and the first and second chambers (2, 3) being in mutual fluid communication to allow the mixing of the first and second products. 10. Package according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a cap (9) which in the initial configuration of the package (1) is connected to the container (6) and protects the tank (4), said cap (9) from tampering. including an inviolability strap (90) which must be removed to allow removal of the cap (9).