GB2034288A

GB2034288A - Airtight Sealed Container

Info

Publication number: GB2034288A
Application number: GB7933719A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories Inc
Current assignee: Baxter International Inc
Priority date: 1978-11-02
Filing date: 1979-09-28
Publication date: 1980-06-04
Also published as: AU5069979A; ZA794995B; AU529500B2; DE2940919A1; GB2034288B

Abstract

The container has a neck 13 provided with an externally threaded outlet 16 which is enclosed by an overcap 20 bonded to the neck. An outer ring 25 is threadedly engaged with the outer periphery of the overcap and contacts an abutment 17 so that turning of the ring can jack the overcap off the neck. The overcap has a wiper seal 27 engaging the interior of the outlet to plug the outlet. The overcap cannot be screw-engaged with the outlet, but the latter can be closed, if desired, by a standard screw cap. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Airtight Sealed Container Containers for storing and dispensing sterile liquids are known which have an inner or primary cap and an outer or overcap. Such containers are in common use for various medical and hospital procedures, such as the administration of irrigating solutions. Such sterile medical liquid containers have a common purpose of maintaining the sterility of their liquid contents during storage, shipping and dispensing. It is necessary that the closure system be easy for the nurse or physician to open, advantageously by the customary, continuous, counter-clockwise rotation of the closure on the container.

The containers are commonly made of disposable, thermoplastic material and for maximum safety in hospital procedures, the containers should be discarded after opening and use. We have discovered that it is often desirable in laboratory use to utilize thermoplastic bottles having resealable characteristics. An example of a thermoplastic bottle that can be resealed is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,093,093, in which the primary or inner cap threadedly engages with the external threads of the container neck.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an airtight sealed container which has a tamper-proof seal and is non-resealable by using the inner or primary cap but can be converted to a resealable container if desired.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided an airtight sealed container for storing and dispensing sterile liquids, said container including a bottle with a neck defining an externally threaded dispensing outlet, said bottle having a transverse abutment means on the neck surrounding the outlet, a cup-shaped overcap having a cylindrical side wall and a top wall over the dispensing outlet, with said overcap being bonded in airtight manner to the bottle neck; wiper seal means carried by said overcap and engaging the dispensing outlet to prevent liquid flow out of the dispensing outlet until the overcap is removed; and an outer ring threadedly interfitting over said overcap and adapted for downward rotation to abut said abutment means and jack said overcap off said bottle neck.

In the illustrative embodiment, the cylindrical side wall of the overcap is spaced from the externally threaded dispensing outlet and has a non-threaded internal wall. In this manner, the side wall of the overcap and the externally threaded dispensing outlet cannot be threadedly engaged.

In the illustrative embodiment, the wiper seal means comprises a circular ring which extends downwardly from the underside of the top wall.

The ring has an external surface in seal-type engagement with the internal wall of the dispensing outlet.

In the illustrative embodiment, the hermetic bond comprises a heat-fused seal between the overcap and the bottle neck forming a frangible section.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a fragmentary portion of a container constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the closure thereof; and Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the top portion of the container, primarily in cross section, showing the closure in its fully closed position.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a thermoplastic container 10 including a thermoplastic bottle 11 and a thermoplastic closure assembly 12, mounted on a bottle neck 13 of the bottle 11. Container 10 contains sterile medical liquids, such as normal saline, sterile water and the like, commonly supplied to hospitals. In the illustrative embodiment, the container has a dispensing outlet 1 5 extending through and defined by bottle neck 13, with the bottle neck terminating in a pouring lid 1 6. A transverse abutment means 1 7 is provided on the neck 13 surrounding dispensing outlet 1 5.

The dispensing outlet 1 5 includes external threads 18 which are dimensioned for threading engagement with the internal threads of a standard screw cap (not shown). However, the container of the illustrative embodiment utilizes a non-resealable closure unit whereby once the primary closure is removed, the primary closure cannot be engaged securely with the dispensing outlet.

The primary closure comprises a cup-shaped overcap 20 having a cylindrical side wall 21 and a top wall 22. Cylindrical side wall 21 carries external threads 23 which threadedly engage the internal threads 24 of an outer ring 25.

The underside 26 of top wall 22 carries wiper means 27. The wiper means includes a downwardly extending ring carrying a pair of annular beads 28, 29, which serve to wipe the internal wall of dispensing outlet 15, thereby preventing liquid from flowing from the bottle to the outside of the dispensing outlet. Thus, the volume 30 between the overcap 20 and the dispensing outlet 1 5 will be free from liquid if the bottle happens to be tilted or inverted, unless the overcap 20 has been removed.

The external diameter of the beads 28, 29 is at least as great as the internal diameter of dispensing outlet 1 5. However, the remaining external diameter of the circular ring 27 is smaller than the internal diameter of dispensing outlet 1 5.

It is preferred that the bottle 11, neck 13, dispensing outlet 15 and abutment means 17 be moulded in a one-piece construction, and that the cup-shaped overcap 20 be moulded in a separate, one-piece construction. The overcap is hermetically bonded to the bottle neck 13, preferably by heat-fusing the lower portion of the overcap 20 to the transverse abutment means 17 to provide an airtight seal.

The heat-fused seal between the overcap 20 and the transverse abutment means 17 forms a frangible section 32. Outer ring 25 is placed in threaded engagement with overcap 20 and, when the outer ring is rotated downwardly, the bottom of the outer ring 25 will abut transverse abutment means 17 and the frangible section 32 will be severed and the overcap 20 will be jacked off of the bottle neck.

Outer ring 25 preferably has a left-hand thread so that when it is turned in the counter-clockwise direction it will rotate downwardly. In this manner, operators who are used to opening containers by turning the closure in a counterclockwise direction, will be able to jack off the overcap 20 by turning the outer ring 25 in a counter-clockwise direction.

If desired, means may be provided for preventing the outer ring 25 from being removed from the overcap 20 when the outer ring is turned in the clockwise direction. To this end, an antibackoff mechanism may be provided such as disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos 4,093,093 and 4,091,949.

It can be seen that a container has been provided which is simple to open, is simple in construction and is easy to manufacture. In one embodiment, a non-resealable unit dose container is provided for maximum safety in hospitals, by not enabling the primary closure to be securely engaged with the dispensing outlet once the primary closure has been removed. On the other hand, the dispensing outlet carries threads which are adaptable for engaging the internal threads of a standard screw cap so that, for laboratory use, the container may be resealed.

Claims

1. An airtight sealed container for storing and dispensing sterile liquids, said container including a bottle with a neck defining an externally threaded displacing outlet, said bottle having a transverse abutment means on the neck surrounding the outlet, a cup-shaped overcap having a cylindrical side wall and a top wall over the dispensing outlet, with said overcap being bonded in airtight manner to the bottle neck; wiper seal means carried by said overcap and engaging the dispensing outlet to prevent liquid flow out of the dispensing outlet until the overcap is removed; and an outer ring threadedly interfitting over said overcap and adapted for downward rotation to abut said abutment means and jack said overcap off said bottle neck.

2. A container according to Claim 1 , wherein said wiper seal means comprises a circular ring which extends downwardly from the underside of said top wall, said ring having an external surface in sealing engagement with the internal wall of the dispensing outlet.

3. A container according to Claim 2, wherein said circular ring carries bead means on its external surface to provide said sealing engagement, said circular ring having, except for said bead means, an external diameter that is smaller than the internal diameter of the dispensing outlet and said beam means having an external diameter that is at least as large as the internal diameter of the dispensing outlet.

4. A container according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said cylindrical side wall is spaced from the externally threaded dispensing outlet and has a non-threaded internal wall whereby said side wall and said externally threaded dispensing outlet cannot be threadedly engaged.

5. A container according to any preceding Claim wherein said bond comprises a heat-fused seal between said overcap and said bottle neck, forming a frangible section.

6. An airtight sealed container constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.