ES2607831T3 - Closing - Google Patents

Abstract

A closure comprising: - a tank (4) comprising, in turn, a breakable bottom (40), said tank (4) being able to be applied to a mouth (60) of a container (6) intended to contain a first product ; - a blade (5) that can be located, at least partially, inside the tank (4) and placed in front of the breakable bottom (40) to open said breakable bottom (40); adopting said closure (10) at least first and second configurations; the breakable bottom (40) being, in the first configuration, intact and identifying at least the tank (4) and the blade (5), together, a first chamber (2) suitable for containing a second product; said breakable bottom (40) being, in the second configuration, open, such as to allow a mixture of the first and second products; - moisture absorption means (7) that in the first configuration of the closure (1) are in contact with the interior of the first chamber (2); the blade (5) comprising a hollow body (50) comprising, in turn, a blade edge (51) and a rod; said knife edge (51) forming at one end of the rod and being in the first configuration in front of said breakable bottom (40); said closure being characterized in that the moisture absorption means (7) delimit, at least partially, an internal cavity (8) inside the hollow body (50) and the rod, and cover, at least partially, an internal surface (53 ) of said hollow body, the cavity (8) being in the first configuration a part of the first chamber (2); said absorption means (7) are formed: as a hollow sleeve; or as a hollow and open beaker in the vicinity of the knife edge (51) and having an internal bottom and an internal wall of the hollow body (50).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Closing

Technical field and technical background

The present invention relates to a container for keeping first and second products separated before use.

Single dose packages, of a type described in European patent EP0963325 in the name of the applicant herein, are known.

These packages include:

- a container provided with an upper mouth and containing a liquid product;

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

- a cutting element inserted in the tank and provided with a lower end intended for use to break the breakable bottom, which allows the powder product to be mixed with the liquid product;

- a cap, arranged in the container, such as to cover the tank and the cutting element.

The cap is provided with a thread with which a threaded coupling is made by means of which the cap is capable of an axial downward movement with respect to the container. As a result of said axial movement, the cap interacts with the cutting element such as to break the tank.

These packages allow keeping two separate products, mixing them immediately before using them.

A drawback of these products is related to the fact that the powdered product is especially sensitive to moisture, due both to its physical nature (the powdered product may form lumps) and due to its chemical nature (the powdered product may have their properties changed). This effect could also be due to the fact that the breakable bottom normally has a pre-incision that reduces the thickness of the breakable bottom, facilitating the breaking of the bottom.

In this context, the technical task that underpins the present invention is to provide a package that avoids the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above.

Document US2010 / 0000960 discloses a dosing cap comprising a desiccant, according to the preamble of claim 1 attached.

Disclosure of the invention

In particular, an objective of the present invention is to provide a package that prevents the deterioration of a product contained inside the package.

The specified technical task and the established objectives are substantially achieved by a closure for a container, according to claim 1.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, which is indicative and, therefore, not limiting, of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a package illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which :

- Figure 1 shows a view of a package according to the present invention;

- figure 2 shows a sectional view according to the plane 11-11 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 illustrated in Figures 1-4.

Best way to make inventions

In the attached figures, reference number 10 indicates a capsule (also known as closure). Capsule 10 is part of a container 1, usually a container for pharmaceutical products (including food supplements, dietary products, probiotics, etc.). Usually, package 1 is a single dose product. The capsule 10 comprises a tank 4 comprising, in turn, a breakable bottom 40. Usually, the bottom

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Breakable 40 comprises a pre-incision, which facilitates breakage of the breakable bottom 40. The reservoir 4 can be applied directly or indirectly to a mouth 60 of a container 6 suitable for containing a first product.

The capsule 10 further comprises a blade 5 which can be placed in front of the breakable bottom 40 in order to open (usually break) said breakable bottom 40. Therefore, the blade 5 is a pushing device that pushes said breakable bottom 40 And it breaks. The tank 4 is a lid intended to occlude the mouth 60 of the container 6. This tank 6 defines a cavity in which the said blade 5 can be located, at least partially.

Capsule 10 adopts at least first and second configurations. In the first configuration (see, for example, figure 2) the breakable bottom 40 is intact and at least the tank 4 and the blade 5 together define 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. Usually, in the second configuration, the breakable bottom is broken (by the action of the blade 5). Advantageously, the blade 5 comprises a hollow body 50 (ie, such as to identify an internal housing). The hollow body 50 comprises, in turn, a knife edge 51. In the first configuration, the knife edge 51 is oriented towards said breakable bottom 40. The blade 5, on the knife edge 51, is sharp. In particular, the blade 5 on the blade edge 51 is shaped like a flute peak. The blade edge 51 is the part of the blade 5 that allows breaking the breakable bottom 40. During use, in a downward movement thereof, the blade 5 breaks the breakable bottom 40 as it passes from the first to the second configuration of the capsule 10.

The tank 4 comprises a surface 42 to guide the blade 5. The grinding surface 42 directs the movement of the blade 5 during the movement thereof which determines the transition from the first to the second configuration. The blade 5 is coupled with said grinding surface 42 with slight interference such as to create a dynamic-fluid seal. In the preferred embodiment, the blade 5 can be made of polypropylene and / or the reservoir 4 can be made of polyethylene.

The capsule 10 comprises moisture absorption means 7. The moisture absorption means allow moisture to penetrate from the outside of the first chamber 2 into the first chamber 2 to be absorbed. Moisture originates from the first product that is preferably liquid; The moisture could, however, infiltrate from the environment and, therefore, come from the outside of the container 1.

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

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

The moisture absorbing means 7 delimit, at least partially, an internal cavity 8 of the hollow body 50. In the first configuration, the cavity 8 is part of said first chamber 2. The absorption means 7 cover, at least partially, a inner surface 53 of said hollow body 50. The inner surface 53 of said hollow body 50 is preferably surrounded by an outer surface 54 of the blade 5. Said outer surface 54 is, at least in the first and / or second configurations, in contact with the grating surface 42 that is part of the reservoir 4. The placement of the absorption means 7 inside the blade 5 is important. In this way, the blade 5 itself partially protects the absorption means 7 from the moisture that penetrates the first chamber 2, preventing premature saturation of the absorption means 7. They adhere to the inner surface 53 of the hollow body 50 that they cover .

In a constructive solution, the absorption means 7 are formed as a hollow sleeve. Advantageously, they conform as the lateral surface of a cylinder. In another constructive solution, they can be shaped like a hollow beaker that covers the surfaces of the hollow body 50 (in which case they cover the inner bottom and the inner wall of said hollow body 50). In this case, the beaker is opened in the vicinity of the knife edge 51. Preferably, the thickness of the absorption means 7 is constant. Preferably, the thickness is between 0.5 and 4 millimeters. Advantageously, the absorption means 7 do not cover the knife edge 51 so as not to prevent the breaking action of the breakable bottom 6. The internal cavity 8 is in fluid communication at said knife edge 51 (through an opening in the blade 5) with a part of the first chamber 2 outside the hollow body 50. In the first configuration of the capsule 10, said second product is advantageously present in the cavity 8. Advantageously, the second product is also partially arranged in the part of the first outer chamber of the hollow body 50. Advantageously, the moisture absorption means 7 are developed along at least two thirds of the length of said hollow body 50 (usually in the solution in which the absorption means 7 they are shaped like a cuff or beaker). The hollow body 50 comprises a rod and said blade edge 51 is manufactured at one end of the rod. Cavity 8 develops inside the stem. Advantageously, the moisture absorbing means 7 are developed along at least two thirds of the length of the cavity 8, said length being measured along the main development direction of the rod. Advantageously, the moisture absorption means 7 are non-detachably connected to said hollow body 50. In particular, the absorption means 7 is

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molded together with said hollow body 50. In an alternative solution, the absorption means 7 are inserted with an interference (usually a light interference) in said hollow body 50. By way of non-limiting example, the absorption means 7 are made of a material known under the trade name activ-dri or activ-pak or active polymer, produced by the company CSP Technologies Inc. In particular, the absorption means 7 are made of a material described in patent document EP0892673.

An object of the present invention is also a container 1 comprising:

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

- a container 6 comprising a mouth 60 to which said capsule 10 can be applied directly or indirectly, according to claim 6. The mouth 60 comprises a neck of the container 6 ending in an opening (the opening, if the capsule 10 allows, you can place the second chamber 3 in communication with the outside of the container 6) The container 6 identifies a second chamber 3 suitable for containing the first product.

Container 1 adopts at least one initial configuration and one operational configuration. In the initial configuration, said capsule 10 is in the first configuration and the first and second cameras 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 redproca fluid communication to allow the mixing of the first and second products (see, for example, Figure 3).

Normally, the mouth 60 is located in an upper part of the container 6. Therefore, the mouth 60 is opposite the bottom of the container 6. At least in the initial configuration of the container, the tank 4 defines a lid that closes the mouth 60 of the container 6.

Advantageously, the breakable bottom 40 is aligned, at least partially, with said mouth 60. This implies that the breakable bottom 40 is located inside the mouth 60 or at an extension of the mouth 60 (or, in other words, inside the neck or in an extension of the neck of the container 6). As shown 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 development direction of the mouth 60. The breakable bottom 40 develops transversely to said axial development direction of the mouth 60.

At least in the first configuration, the breakable bottom 40 separates the first chamber 2 from the second chamber 3. The tank 4 is inserted, at least partially, into the mouth 60. As shown in the attached figures, the tank 4 extends , at least partially, outside the mouth 60. In particular, the tank 4 is inserted with a 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 dynamic-fluid seal that prevents any unwanted leakage of the liquid in the container 6 in the second configuration. The second product is a solid product; It is usually a powder or granular product. Usually, the first product is a liquid. In the mixture obtained from the first and second products, the second product can therefore be considered a solute while the first product can be considered a solvent.

As illustrated 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 inviolable strip 90 which must be removed to allow the cap 9 to be removed. In the initial configuration of the container, the cap 9 covers the tank 4 and the blade 5. In a specific construction solution, not illustrated, the cap 9 and the blade 5 can also be connected in a non-detachable manner.

The cap 9, in particular the inviolable strip 90, comprises an annular relief 95 engaged in a biased cut with the container 6 in order to avoid or limit the axial distance movement of the cap 9 with respect to the container 6.

In the constructive solution exemplified in Figure 1, the inviolable strip 90 is connected to the remaining parts of the cap 9 by means of an easy break perimeter line 96. This easy break perimeter line 96 is broken during the unscrewing operation of the cap 9 of the container 1.

The tank 4 has an upper part 41 located above the upper margin of the mouth 60 of the container 6. In the initial configuration of the container 1 (see for example Figure 2), the upper part 41 of the tank 4 is capable of elastically deforming inland. The blade 5 has a section 52 which is intended to abut the inner surface of the upper part 41 of the tank 4, in order to prevent the upper part from deforming inwards (in particular, section 52 has a shape at least partially complementary 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 that is smaller than the internal diameter of the thread 92 of the cap 9. During the axial downward movement of the cap 9, the annular projection 91 is intended for engage in a biased cut with an annular recess 94 predisposed in the upper part 41 of the tank 4, such as to make the

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cap 9 and reservoir 3 are firmly constricted with respect to an axial upward movement of the cap 9 of the container.

After use, the inviolable strip 90 is separated from the remaining parts of the cap 9 due to the screw-in of the cap 9. During screwing, the cap 9 interacts in contact with the blade 5, so that the blade 5 is pushed downwards, thereby breaking the breakable bottom 40 of the tank 4. This allows the second product present in the capsule 10 to fall by gravity into the container 6. During this stage, the annular upper part 41 of the tank 4 deforms towards the inside, allowing the internal projection 91 of the hood 9 to be elastically coupled by joining with the recess 94 in 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 blade 5. At the end of the capping of the cap 9, there is no longer the free space, since the aforementioned section 52 of the blade 5 is inserted into the annular upper part 41 of the reservoir 4 and abuts radially therewith. In the next stage of unscrewing the cap 9, the tank 4, connected with the cap 9 by virtue of the biased cut between the projection 91 mentioned above and the recess 94, is raised together with the blade 5. During this stage of unscrewing, the upper section 41 of the tank 4 can no longer deform inwards, as in the screwing stage, since it is constricted by contact between the section 52 of the blade and the cap 9. Section 52 of the blade 5 with a larger diameter It then has the task of maintaining the union between the tank 4 and the cap 9 during the extraction stage of the container 6.

After packaging, the liquid is inserted into the container 6, the powder is inserted into the tank 4 or the hollow body 50. Next, the entire assembly is inserted in the mouth 60 of the container 6. Subsequently, the cap 9 is inserted ; This insertion is carried out in such a way that the annular relief 95 engages in the annular cavity in the biased cut formed in the penimeter 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 into the container 6; In this first configuration, the cap 9 has a first function which is to prevent fraudulent access to the container 1 and, therefore, any manipulation of the contents of the tank 4 or the container 6. As mentioned hereinbefore, the strip 90 is broken after use, constricting the cap 9 in the container 6 only by means of the threaded coupling.

At the end of the stroke of the blade 5 towards the container 6, the cap 9 is firmly anchored, thanks to the projection 91 and the recess 94, to the tank 4. Now it is possible, and extremely easy, to open the container 1; in fact, it is sufficient to unscrew the cap 9 which, as it moves in the axial direction away from the container 1, will attract the reservoir 4 and the blade 5, which are constricted therein (see Figure 4). At this point, the mixture of the first and second products can be administered.

In the constructive solution illustrated in Figure 5, the opening operation of the container 1 provides the following operations:

- removal of the inviolable strip;

- removal of the hood 9;

- approach of the blade 5 to the container 1; This stage involves breaking the breakable bottom 40; the approach of the blade to the container includes a translation (and not a twisting) of the blade 5;

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

The invention, as conceived, leads to obtaining several advantages.

In particular, the physical-chemical properties of at least two products that remain separated just before use are preserved. Another advantage is related to the specific placement of the moisture absorption means. This placement obtains the best performance of the absorption media. At the same time, the placement is perfectly compatible with an efficient system that allows the mixing of the active ingredients shortly before their use. In addition, the moisture absorption means are placed in an area where any manipulation is evident.

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

Claims (7)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 55 1. A closure comprising: - a tank (4) comprising, in turn, a breakable bottom (40), said tank (4) being able to be applied to a mouth (60) of a container (6) intended to contain a first product; - a blade (5) that can be located, at least partially, inside the tank (4) and placed in front of the breakable bottom (40) to open said breakable bottom (40); adopting said closure (10) at least first and second configurations; the breakable bottom (40) being, in the first configuration, intact and identifying at least the tank (4) and the blade (5), together, a first chamber (2) suitable for containing a second product; said breakable bottom (40) being, in the second configuration, open, such as to allow a mixture of the first and second products; - moisture absorption means (7) that in the first configuration of the closure (1) are in contact with the interior of the first chamber (2); the blade (5) comprising a hollow body (50) comprising, in turn, a blade edge (51) and a rod; said knife edge (51) being formed at one end of the rod and being in the first configuration in front of said breakable bottom (40); said closure being characterized in that the moisture absorbing means (7) delimit, at least partially, an internal cavity (8) within the hollow body (50) and the rod, and cover, at least partially, an internal surface (53 ) of said hollow body, the cavity (8) being in the first configuration a part of the first chamber (2); said absorption means (7) are formed: like a hollow sleeve; or as a hollow and open beaker near the edge of the blade (51) and which has an internal bottom and an internal wall of the hollow body (50). 2. A closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the tank (4) comprises a blade surface of the blade (5) during its movement, which determines the passage from the first to the second configuration; said internal surface (53) is surrounded by an external surface (54) of the blade (5), said external surface (54) being in contact with said grinding surface (42) at least in the first and / or second configurations. 3. The closure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said moisture absorption means (7) are developed along at least two thirds of the length of said hollow body (50). 4. The closure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said moisture absorption means (7) are molded together with said hollow body (50). 5. The closure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the first configuration, in the vicinity of said knife edge (51), the internal cavity (8) is in fluid communication with a part of the first chamber (2) outside the hollow body (50). 6. A container comprising: - a closure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5; - a container (6) comprising a mouth (60) to which said closure (10) is applied, said container (6) identifying a second chamber (3) suitable for containing the first product; adopting said container (1) at least an initial configuration and an operational configuration; said closure (10) being in the initial configuration in the first configuration and the first and second chambers (2, 3) being separated dynamically fluidly; said closure (10) being in the operative configuration in the second configuration and the first and second chambers (2, 3) being in redproca fluid communication, such as to allow a mixture of the first and second products. 7. The package according to claim 6, 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) against tampering, comprising said cap (9) an inviolable band (90) that must be removed in order to remove the cap (9).