Special receptacle or package – For mixing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-29
2001-02-20
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For mixing
C206S221000, C206S469000, C215SDIG008
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189688
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multi-chamber dispensing container for storing at least two substances which must be stored separately, the extemporaneous mixture thereof, and the dispensing of the mixture of these substances. The present invention will be more particularly described with respect to a dropper flask with two chambers, containing, sterile during storage, for example, a lyophilized powder in a first chamber, and a liquid in a second chamber, these two substances then being mixed extemporaneously in the container, and the mixture then being dispensed.
A multi-chamber dispensing container of the type mentioned hereinabove is known, described by International Patent Application published under No. WO-A-91/00094. This Application generally describes the use of a multi-chamber dispensing container for storing and, extemporaneously, dispensing a mixture of two liquids, in the present case a solution of papaverine sulfate and a basic solution such as bicarbonate of soda. It is necessary to separate the two solutions in order to prevent the precipitation of papaverine H during storage thereof. The two solutions are stored in a container body in the form of a rubber tube, presenting an end having an opening and a bottom end, in two chambers separated by a disc of plastics material. This disc is disposed perpendicularly to the container body and is of larger diameter than the inner diameter of the container body. In this way, the disc is maintained in place by the elastic hold of the container body on the peripheral edge thereof. Dispensing means are also provided in the vicinity of the end having an opening of the container body, hermetically closing said opening, and take the form of an injection needle. Before activation, i.e. during storage, the two liquids are therefore hermetically separated by the disc. Activation of the dispensing container is effected by a displacement of the disc caused by the pressure of the hand and thumb in a reciprocating movement on the body of the container. The disc is thus caused to drop into the bottom of the tube, and the two solutions can mix. The mixture is then dispensed by injection into the body through the needle.
However, such a container presents the following drawbacks:
the pressure necessary for displacing the disc in order to be able to mix the two substances is high, as the diameter of said disc is larger than the inner diameter of the container body, the disc being, moreover, positively retained in the body via an annular groove provided on the inner wall of said container body;
once disengaged, the disc may move freely in the tubular body, and, during dispensing of the mixture by injection, the body is inverted, which causes the disc to block at least partially the exit of the mixture via the needle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above-mentioned drawbacks raised a problem in that it was necessary to find a dispensing container similar to the one described previously but easier to actuate, and necessitating a lesser finger pressure, in order to facilitate its actuation for example by the elderly, and, at the same time, to avoid the separator disc blocking the exit of the product to be dispensed, once the container is actuated. The present invention proposes to solve this problem by providing a multi-chamber dispensing container for the tight storage, before activation, and the dispensing in the mixed state, after activation, of at least two substances, in particular a liquid and a lyophilized powder, said container comprising a substantially tubular container body, made of an elastically deformable material, presenting a bottom end, and an end having an opening, and at least one occlusion means presenting a continuous peripheral edge, disposed inside the container body, between the bottom end and the end having an opening, closing said body hermetically along its said peripheral edge, and dividing said body into at least two chambers, for the two substances respectively, the container further comprising means for dispensing the substances in the mixed state, disposed in the vicinity of the end having an opening, and hermetically closing same. The dispensing container according to the present invention is more particularly characterized in that, before activation of the container, the occlusion means is disposed obliquely in the substantially tubular body, and comprises at least a first peripheral area partially tearable under the effect of a transverse activating pressure from the fingers, and at least a second peripheral area, different from the first area, non-tearable under the effect of said activating pressure, maintaining the occlusion means in place in the tubular body after activation.
This solution presents the advantage that the pressure to be exerted by the user is reduced to a minimum, as it is possible to activate the occlusion means, and consequently mix the substances contained in the different chambers, by a simple, light pressure by the fingers on the container body. Furthermore, the non-tearable areas enable the occlusion means to allow the substances to pass from one chamber to the other, while avoiding the occlusion means blocking the exit of the mixture while it is being dispensed by the dispensing means.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the occlusion means may be constituted by the same material as that of the substantially tubular body.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first peripheral area of the occlusion means may be in the form of a part of the peripheral edge, of thickness reduced with respect to the central thickness of said occlusion means.
Advantageously, the second peripheral area of the occlusion means may comprise two bridges of material, constituting therebetween an axis of rotation for said occlusion means, during activation of the container, said axis of rotation being disposed perpendicularly to the direction of the transverse activating pressure of the fingers.
The occlusion means may preferably be substantially in the form of a disc.
The substantially tubular body preferably comprises, on its outer surface, a recess for a finger to grip above the occlusion means, and a recess for a finger to grip below said occlusion means.
In addition, the container may advantageously comprise a removable sleeve for blocking activation of the substantially tubular container body, made of a material which is not elastically deformable, which surrounds said body at least at the level of the occlusion means.
The dispensing means are preferably integrated in or mounted on the container body, and are constituted by a nose of substantially truncated shape provided with a dropper.
In a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention, the container may comprise a removable cap for protecting the dispensing means, comprising at least one element for elastic hold with the container body and/or with the dispensing means, and an element forming stopper of said dispensing means, disposed inside the cap.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1848849 (1932-03-01), Stone
patent: 2653611 (1953-09-01), Smith
patent: 3290017 (1966-12-01), Davies et al.
patent: 4221291 (1980-09-01), Hunt
patent: 4875577 (1989-10-01), Hildebrandt et al.
patent: 5088627 (1992-02-01), Musel
patent: 5394980 (1995-03-01), Tsai
patent: 1 262 088 (1961-09-01), None
patent: 2 654 076 A1 (1991-05-01), None
patent: 1107-863 (1984-08-01), None
patent: WO 91/00094 (1991-01-01), None
Arnold Troy
Biodome
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Sewell Paul T.
LandOfFree
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