Bottles and jars – Neck – Frangible neck
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-14
2001-05-22
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Bottles and jars
Neck
Frangible neck
C215S050000, C215S250000, C215S355000, C220S023400, C222S456000, C222S541900
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234333
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a reclosable container and to a corresponding manufacturing method, i.e., to a container for pharmaceutical, cosmetic or other products, manufactured for example by molding using plastic material fit for thermal bonding and provided with means allowing to reclose the container after use.
BACKGROUND ART
Conventional reclosable containers made of plastics, for pharmaceutical, cosmetic or other products are manufactured by blowing and/or molding in two parts: one of said parts is constituted by the body of the container, whilst the other part is constituted by closure means for keeping the container closed after its manufacture and to reclose it after use.
In these containers, the closure means remain inserted in the neck of the container or coupled thereto until it is opened for the first time for use. Accordingly, the part of the closure means which is in contact with the neck of the container is protected against external contaminants, which cannot deposit on it, and therefore the risk that said contaminants might be accidentally introduced in the container by said closure means when the container is reclosed after first use is minimized.
However, said containers are expensive to manufacture, since they require separate molds for the two parts of the container, which must furthermore be assembled after molding.
Conventional reclosable containers made of plastics, for pharmaceutical, cosmetic or other products are also produced by blowing and/or molding them monolithically; i.e., in these containers the body is formed monolithically with closure means which are adapted to keep the container closed after manufacture and/or to reclose it after use.
These containers are undoubtedly cheaper to manufacture than the previous ones, but they entail the drawback that the closure means must be formed on the outside of the container during molding; therefore, the part of said means that must be used to reclose the container after use remains exposed to external pollutants, which can thus easily enter the container when it is reclosed after first use, and this is particularly dangerous, for example in the case of pharmaceutical substances.
A container of this kind is the subject of Italian utility model patent no. 199776, which discloses a single- or multiple-dose container for pharmaceutical products which comprises a body provided with a lower opening, which can be sealed by thermal bonding, and with an upper neck, which is closed in an upward region by closure means in the form of a peduncle formed monolithically with said neck and with a stopper which is provided with plug means for reclosing the neck of the container after it has been opened by tearing the peduncle; the plug means are formed on the part of said stopper which is directed away from the neck of the container.
A molded container having already mounted the closure means, at the end of the molding operation, is known from the document GB-A-2 001 275.
This prior art is susceptible of considerable improvements as regards the possibility of eliminating the above drawbacks.
It is accordingly necessary to solve the problem of realizing a container which, after being opened, can be reclosed so as to minimize the risk of contaminating the substance contained therein and is as simple and cheap as possible to manufacture.
Another aspect of the problem is to realize a container which cannot be tampered with without leaving indications that tampering has occurred.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The invention solves the above problem by providing a container which comprises a hollow body provided with a dispensing mouth which can be plugged by respective detachable closure means comprising plug means which can be coupled to said mouth, said closure means being monolithic with the container, characterized in that said plug means are located on said closure means on the part of said closure means which is directed towards said mouth.
The closure means can be provided with tamper-evident means adapted to indicate whether the container has been opened and reclosed.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the above technical problem is solved by adopting a method for manufacturing containers comprising the formation of a hollow body provided with a dispensing mouth which can be plugged through respective detachable closure means comprising plug means which can be coupled to said mouth, said closure means being formed monolithically with the container, characterized in that during said formation said plug means are provided on said closure means on the side thereof which is directed towards said mouth and in that at the end of said formation said plug means are coupled to said mouth.
The advantages achieved by the present invention are: a drastic reduction of the risk of contaminating the substance contained in the container when said container is reclosed after use; the possibility to simply and evidently indicate any tampering with the container; simple manufacture; and easy use.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3187966 (1965-06-01), Klygis
patent: 4410096 (1983-10-01), Paradis
patent: 4512475 (1985-04-01), Federighi
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patent: 5577636 (1996-11-01), Fukuoka et al.
patent: 5897009 (1999-04-01), O'Meara
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patent: 2001275 (1979-01-01), None
patent: WO 8301052 (1983-03-01), None
patent: WO 9701493 (1997-01-01), None
Fabbri Evro
Federighi Alberto
Ferrari Giovanni
Fontana Antonio
Cronin Stephen K.
Josif Albert
Lameplast S.R.L.
Modiano Guido
O'Byrne Daniel
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