Dispensing – With cutter and/or punch – To form dispensing opening in container
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-11
2001-06-19
Derakshani, Philippe (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With cutter and/or punch
To form dispensing opening in container
C222S541200, C222S543000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247616
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a hermetically sealed dispensing container having a unitary sealing membrane and, more particularly, to a dispensing cap therefor having a flip top and a draining spike therein which pierces the container membrane as the cap is secured to the container so as to provide access to the container contents.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Packaging systems that blow, fill, and seal containers such as thermoplastic bottles enjoy widespread commercial acceptance through ease of operation and reduced labor costs. A container or bottle of this type is formed of thermoplastic material, filled with the desired substance, and then sealed in one continuous operation as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,178,976 to Weiler et al. Generally, the container is sealed by a pierceable membrane which is unitary with an opening defined by the throat or neck portion of such container. Such a packaging system obviates the need for costly auxiliary equipment to clean and handle empty containers, fill the containers, and seal the containers. The system is particularly desirable where a sterilized fluid is to be sealed within a container and thereafter maintained in a sterile condition.
However, some means must be provided to pierce the membrane and obtain access to the contents within the container. Access to the contents is presently accomplished by first piercing the membrane with a suitable instrument such as a knife or the like so as to provide access to the container contents and then securing a cap with a dispensing nozzle over the neck portion to allow dispensing of the container contents. This means, however, is undesirable in medical applications and, particularly, in emergency medical applications where time is of the essence since the present means is a two-step process. Moreover, this means is undesirable because the membrane may often times be pierced with a non-sterile instrument thus increasing the likelihood that the sterile contents of such container may be contaminated.
It would be desirable if the membrane could be pierced with a sterile instrument substantially concurrently with the securement of the cap to the container. Also, it would be desirable to provide a container closure to seal the dispensing nozzle after the membrane has been pierced. The present invention meets these desires.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A new and useful dispensing cap is provided for use in connection with a hermetically sealed thermoplastic container which has a hollow body portion which terminates into a threaded neck portion defining an opening sealed with a membrane unitary therewith. The cap is threadedly secured over the neck portion of the container and is provided with a dispensing nozzle. A draining spike is located within the cap and is adapted for piercing the membrane when the cap is secured to the neck portion so as to provide access to the interior of the body portion. The draining spike is in fluid flow communication with the dispensing nozzle so as to allow the dispensing of the container contents.
Preferably, the cap includes a dome portion from which the dispensing nozzle outwardly extends and from which the draining spike downwardly depends.
In one cap embodiment, the dome portion defines an inner recess and the dispensing nozzle includes an inner channel. In this embodiment, the draining spike is an element separate from the cap which is made of a relatively harder material than the cap and which comprises an elongated member including a generally cylindrical body portion and a conical pointed tip or piercing portion which extends away from the body portion and a peripheral flange. The cylindrical body portion and peripheral flange are nested within the channel and recess respectively thereby securing the spike within the cap.
In an alternate cap embodiment, the draining spike is unitary with the cap and comprises a cylindrical body portion which extends unitarily downwardly from the dome portion of the cap and a conical pointed tip or piercing portion which extends away from the body portion. In this embodiment, both the draining spike and the cap are made of the same relatively harder material.
Because the spike is located within the cap, the membrane can be pierced at the same time that the cap is being secured to the container thus eliminating the step of piercing the membrane prior to securement of the cap to the container. The draining spike is made of a material such that it does not bend or break during piercing of the membrane. Moreover, the use of a spike within the cap allows the membrane to be pierced with a sterile instrument thus assuring the continued sterility of the container contents.
To provide container closure after the membrane has been pierced by the draining spike, a removable flip top assembly is provided which includes a flip top which fits over the dispensing cap to seal the dispensing nozzle, a flexible arm unitary with the flip top and a retaining ring for the arm and the top. The retaining ring can be mounted to the dispensing nozzle or to the container, as desired.
There are other advantages and features of the present invention which will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the drawings, and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4090647 (1978-05-01), Dunning
patent: 4583668 (1986-04-01), Maynard, Jr.
patent: 5154327 (1992-10-01), Long
patent: 5711453 (1998-01-01), Weiler
patent: 6076704 (2000-06-01), Weiler et al.
Schaeffer Kristian
Weiler Gerhard H.
Automatic Liquid Packaging, Inc.
Derakshani Philippe
Olson & Hierl Ltd.
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