EP2398717B1

EP2398717B1 - A container assembly and a cap assembly for a container

Info

Publication number: EP2398717B1
Application number: EP10705336.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: John Rossi; Mel Botha
Original assignee: Novartis AG
Current assignee: Elanco Tiergesundheit AG
Priority date: 2009-02-23
Filing date: 2010-02-19
Publication date: 2015-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2030-02-19
Also published as: EP2398717A1; AU2010200476A1; WO2010094758A1; PL2398717T3; BRPI1007985A2; BRPI1007985B1; AU2010200476B2; NZ594470A; ES2534662T3; CO6361976A2

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is broadly related to a container assembly for delivery of the liquid contents of a container, and in particularly for delivery of liquid contents. Such a container assembly is for example disclosed in EP-A-0 676 369 .

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

In the animal health industry, the current delivery procedure of liquid contents in a container typically involves removing the screw cap of the container and replacing the screw cap with a draw off unit. The draw off unit typically comprises a nipple on top of a suitable cap, which is similar to the screw cap the container.
Such draw off units are cumbersome, readily damaged or lost, have an impact on pallet configuration and result in higher transportation costs for the containers. The necessity of replacing screw caps with draw off units before content delivery, thereby increasing the likelihood of spillage and exposing spillage people and animals to potentially toxic fumes, also raises occupational health and safety concerns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a container assembly comprising:

a container having an opening;
a cap having an aperture and being adapted to removably engage the container for covering the opening;
removable sealing means for sealing the aperture; and
a spigot adapted to releasably engage delivery means extended into the aperture and facilitate drawing of liquid contents of the container from the container.

Preferably the spigot includes a feeder adapted to facilitate the drawing of the contents of the container from the container. More preferably the feeder is adapted to engage a conduit to facilitate the drawing of the contents. Even more preferably the conduit is substantially within the container.
Preferably the spigot includes a nipple adapted to releasably engage the delivery means to facilitate the drawing of the contents. More preferably the nipple is substantially within the aperture.
More preferably the spigot includes a venting hole for, upon drawing of the liquid contents from the container, balancing pressure internal and pressure external to the container.
Preferably the sealing means include a bung. More preferably the bung is externally threaded for engaging the cap.
Preferably the cap assembly includes an adaptor being adapted to engage the spigot. More preferably the adaptor is internally threaded. Even more preferably the spigot is externally threaded for engaging the internally threaded adaptor.
Preferably the adaptor is adapted to engage the cap. More preferably the adaptor is externally threaded. Even more preferably the cap includes an internally threaded inner rim for engaging the externally threaded adaptor.
Preferably the adaptor is form of a collar.
Preferably the cap includes an internally threaded outer rim for engaging the container for covering the opening.
Preferably the cap assembly includes a first tamper-proof device for indicating tampering of the cap assembly.
Preferably the sealing means include a second tamper-proof device for indicating tampering of the sealing means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Fig. 1: Top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the container assembly according to one aspect of the invention.
Fig. 2: Perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cap assembly according to another aspect of the invention in its assembled form.
Fig. 3: Side view of the spigot in the preferred embodiment of the cap assembly and the preferred embodiment of the container assembly.
Fig. 4: Side view of the collar in preferred embodiment of the cap assembly and the preferred embodiment of the container assembly.
Fig. 5: Top view of the cap with the sealing means in the preferred embodiment of the cap assembly and the preferred embodiment of the container assembly.
Fig. 6: Cross sectional schematic of the preferred embodiment of the cap assembly.
Fig. 7: Top perspective view of the cap without the sealing means in the preferred embodiment of the cap assembly and the preferred embodiment of the container assembly.
Fig. 8: Top perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the container assembly without the sealing means and attaching to the delivery means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 shows the an embodiment of a container assembly 1 according to one aspect of the invention. The container assembly 1 generally comprises, a container 12 having an opening (not shown), a cap 14 having an aperture 16 and being adapted to removably engage the container for covering the opening, removable sealing means 18 for sealing the aperture 16, and a spigot (not shown) adapted to releasably engage delivery means extended into the aperture 16 and facilitate drawing of contents of the container 12 from the container 12.
Typically the contents of the container are liquid.
Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a cap assembly 2 for a containing having an opening according to another aspect of the invention. In this embodiment, the cap assembly 2 is the same as the container assembly 1 shown in Fig. 1 but without the container 12. In general, therefore, the cap assembly 2 comprises a cap 14 having an aperture (not shown) and being adapted to removably engage the container for covering the opening of the container, removable sealing means (not shown) for sealing the aperture, and a spigot 19 adapted to releasably engage delivery means (not shown) extended into the aperture and facilitate drawing of contents of the container from the container.
Individual components of a preferred embodiment of the container assembly 1 or the cap assembly 2 are now described.

Cap and sealing means

Fig. 3 shows the cap 14 of the preferred embodiment of the container assembly 1 or the cap assembly 2. The cap 14, as shown with its top side in Fig. 3, is a screw cap. The aperture 16 is shown to be at the central part of the cap 14, and is shown being sealed by the sealing means 18. In this embodiment, the cap 14 is a 58 mm Dorony cap, with a bung being the sealing means 18. The bung may be externally threaded for engaging the cap 14.
Referring back to Fig.2, on the underside of the cap 14, the cap 14 may be internally threaded along its outer rim 13 for engaging the container 12 to cover the opening. The cap 14 may also include an inner rim 17, which at least partly defines the aperture and is internally threaded (not shown) for engaging either the spigot 19 or an adaptor as discussed below.
The cap 14 may be removed from the container 12 by unscrewing the cap 14.
The screw cap 14 may have a tamper-proof device 15. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, the tamper-proof device 15 includes a ring around the outer rim of the cap 14. Breakage or absence of the ring may indicate that the cap 14 has been removed from the container 12 after the cap 14 is installed on the container 14. This may indicate that the cap 14 may have been tampered with.
Similarly the sealing means may include a seal tamper-proof device for indicating tampering of the sealing means.

Spigot

Fig. 4 shows the spigot 19 of a preferred embodiment of the container assembly 1 or the cap assembly 2. In this embodiment, the spigot 19 is a Simcro® (a registered trademark of Simcro Tech Limited) Inverted Spigot Cap with its cap removed.
To facilitate the drawing of the contents of the container from the container, the spigot 19 may include a feeder 20. When the cap assembly 2 is engaged with the container 12 to form the container assembly 1, the feeder 20 may be substantially internal to container 12. The feeder 20 may extend to allow the feeder to reach near the bottom of the container. Alternatively the feeder 20 may be considerably shorter than the depth of the container, but engaged with a conduit or plastic tube 22, as shown in Fig. 4. The plastic conduit 22 may be of different length when being used with a container of different depth. When the cap assembly 2 is assembled and engaged with the container to form the container assembly 1, the conduit 22 is substantially internal to the container 12.
As shown in Fig. 4 the spigot 19 may include a nipple 24 adapted to releasably engage the delivery means (not shown) to facilitate the drawing of the contents. The nipple 24 and the feeder 20 are both hollow. This allows the contents of the container to be drawn from the container, through the conduit 22, into the feeder 20 end of the spigot 19 and then out from the nipple 24 end of the spigot19.
In some embodiments, the spigot 19 may be externally threaded 27 for engaging the internally threaded inner rim 17 of the cap 14. However, to be able to make use of off-the-shelf components like the Dorony cap and Simcro® Inverted Spigot Cap (with its cap removed), the cap assembly may include an adaptor to bridge the spigot 19 and the cap 14 as discussed below.

Collar

Fig. 5 shows the collar 26, which is generally cylindrical and is hollow at the centre 25 along the direction of its axis. The collar 26 may act as the adaptor to bridge the spigot 19 and the cap 14, both of which may be off-the-shelf components. As shown in Fig. 5 the collar 26 may be internally threaded at one end 28 and externally threaded at the other end 30. The spigot 19, being externally threaded 27, may engage the collar 26 at the internally threaded end 28 of the collar 26. Likewise the cap 14, having the internally threaded inner rim 17, may engage the externally threaded end 30 of the collar 26.
Fig. 2 shows the collar 26 bridging the cap 14 and the spigot 19.

Cap assembly

Referring to Fig. 6 showing the cap assembly 2 in its assembled form, the spigot 19 is engaged with the collar 26, which in turn is engaged with the cap 14. In this assembled form, the nipple 24 may extend through the hollow centre 25 of the collar 26, which in turn may extend, at least partially, through the aperture 16. In this embodiment, the sealing means 18 is externally threaded 31 for engaging the cap 14 and sealing the aperture 16. With the sealing means 18 in place sealing the aperture 16, the likelihood of spillage of the contents of the container is reduced. The sealing means 18 may or may not in direct contact with the nipple 24.
As shown in Fig. 7, with the sealing means removed from the cap 14, the nipple 24 is exposed. As shown in Fig. 8, this allows the nipple 24 to engage the delivery means, such as an applicator gun or a draw off tube 32, being extended into the aperture 16 for drawing the contents of the container from the container.
Referring back to Fig. 7 the spigot 19 may include a venting hole 34 for balancing pressure internal and pressure external to the container, upon drawing of the liquid contents from the container. The venting hole 34 extends along the entire length near the axis of an extension 29 of the spigot 19 as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4.
Now that a preferred embodiment for each of the aspects of the present invention has been described in some detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the cap assembly and the container assembly have at least the following advantages:

When the contents of the container is to be drawn off from the container with a draw off tube or an applicator gun, it is not necessary to replace the cap or the cap assembly with any another draw off unit. This simplifies the draw-off procedure:
Keeping the cap engaged with the container during the drawing off of the contents improves the occupational health and safety standards.
The spigot is internal to the container. This reduces the likelihood of damage to the spigot. An internal spigot also removes the requirement to transport draw off units together with the container, which translates to cost savings.

Claims

A container assembly (1) comprising:
a container (12) having an opening;

a cap (14) having an aperture (16) and being adapted to removably engage the container (12) for covering the opening;

removable sealing means (18) for sealing the aperture (16); and

a spigot (19) adapted to releasably engage delivery means extended into the aperture (16) and facilitate drawing of liquid contents of the container (12) from the container (12).
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spigot (19) includes a feeder (20) adapted to facilitate the drawing of the contents of the container (12) from the container (12).
An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the feeder (20) is adapted to engage a conduit (22) to facilitate the drawing of the contents.
An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the conduit (22) is substantially within the container.
An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the spigot (19) includes a nipple (24) adapted to releasably engage the delivery means to facilitate the drawing of the contents.
An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the nipple (24) is substantially within the aperture (16).
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spigot (19) includes a venting hole (34) for, upon drawing of the liquid contents from the container, balancing pressure internal and pressure external to the container.
An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sealing means (18) include a bung.
An assembly according to claim8, wherein the bung is externally threaded for engaging the cap (14).
An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to9, further comprising an adaptor being adapted to engage the spigot.
An assembly according to claim10, wherein the adaptor is internally threaded.
An assembly according to claim11, wherein the spigot (19) is externally threaded for engaging the internally threaded adaptor.
An assembly according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the adaptor is adapted to engage the cap (14).
An assembly according to any one of claims 10 to13, wherein the adaptor is externally threaded.
An assembly according to claim 14, wherein the cap (14) includes an internally threaded inner rim (17) for engaging the externally threaded adaptor.
An assembly according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the adaptor is in form of a collar (26).
An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the cap (14) includes an internally threaded outer rim (13) for engaging the container (12) for covering the opening.
An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 17, further comprising a first tamper-proof device for indicating tampering of the cap assembly.
An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the sealing means include a second tamper-proof device (15) for indicating tampering of the sealing means.