US2873886A - Dispenser - Google Patents

Description

-1 1959 J. J. MISKEL ET AL 2,873,886

DISPENSER Filed July 29, 1954 FIG.I

FIG.4

JOHN J. M/SKEL HUGH HORNEP EUGENE J. KALN/N IN V EN TORS ww THE /R A TTORNEVS United States Patent Chas. Pfizer & C0., Inc, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware 1 Application July 29, 1954, Serial No. 446,602

2 Claims. 01. 222-91 This invention relates to a dispenser and more particularly to a dispenser closure which is especially suitable for dispensing pharmaceutical preparations and the like.

It is well known to employ elongated applicators or tips for dispensing medicaments from collapsible tubes or similar types ofcontainers. In one form of such a dispenser, the elongated tip is constructed of metal and made integral with the collapsible tube, a friction cap generally being employed on the tube for sealing the same. While this construction is satisfactory for many purposes, contamination of the medicament within the tube can nevertheless occur if the cap drops oif during shippingfhandling', etc. In some tubes of this type, the tip is sealed and must be punctured before administering the medicament. In this instance, the puncturing instrument may be a source of possible contamination unless extraordinary care is exercised when the seal is broken. Moreover, the

same general type of container cannot be used for aquearations, in which case an elongated applicator usually accompanies the tube for manual attachment thereto after the seal has been broken by the cap. I This too has several distinct disadvantages. The tip is, in most instances, unprotected and'offers a possible source of contamination during handlinjgj In; addition, the. topbftheltube as well as the contents thereof may become contaminated when the seal is broken. It should be appreciated that in the treatment of mastitis, for example, it is not uncommon for farm hands to perform the task of applying themedicament to the infected'animalsl Thus, a very serious risk ofsecondary infection'exists if 'such persons are untrained inaseptic procedures, 'and the applicator used .is. easily susceptible to contamination.

Accordingly, an object accomplished by this invention isthe provision of a novel dispenser which obviates the inherent disadvantages of prior art dispensers of a similar type. A further object is the provision of a medicament dispenser which may be maintained under aseptic and/or sterile conditions up to and including its use. A still further object is the provision of a novel dispenser With reference to Fig. l, the dispenser closure of this invention takes the form of a cap-like body portion '1 having an internal recess 3 provided with threads 5 for of simple, inexpensive and rugged construction, which is particularly adapted for dispensing liquid and semi-liquid preparations. Other objects will be more fully apparent from the following description and the drawings wherein: Fig. l is a section through a preferred embodiment of the dispenser closure of this invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the closure of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a protective cover,

partly in section, adapted to inclose and incase the applicator portion of the closure of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view partly in section showing the closure and cover of Figs.

1-3 in assembled relationship with a collapsible tube.

attaching the closure to "a container. The top of body '1 is in turn provided with an elongated nozzle or applicator 7, the outer-periphery of which is preferably cylindrical at its base 9 near the top of body 1 and provided with a taper 11 extending outwardly toward the end thereof. The inside of body 1 carries a truncatedconical projection 13 providedwith a central passage 15 connecting with a corresponding passage 17 in nozzle 7. The purpose of this truncated conical projection is to break the seal of a container to which the closure is to be aifixed in assembled relationship. For this purpose the end of projection 13 is provided with a cutting edge 19 which is preferably situated within the terminal edge of body 1 at a distance from about one-fourth to one-half that of the area provided with threads 5. It will be appreciated that the sharpness of cutting edge 19 may vary considerably, depending upon the thickness of the seal it is to puncture and the materials of construction. Thus, the edge need not necessarily be particularly sharp.

The bottom of recess 3 is advantageously provided with a resilient annular gasket or washer 21 to provide a tight seal with the throat of the container which is later to be advanced into abutment therewith. In order to facilitate threaded attachment of the closure to a container, the outer periphery of 'body 1 is provided with an interrupted surface such as longitudinal flutes 23 as shown in Figs.

1 and 2. Alternatively, the surface may be serrated or knurled.

A protective cover 25, shown in Fig. 3, is provided to inclose nozzle 7, hermetically sealing the same'from the atmosphere and protecting against contamination thereof. The inside of this cover is preferably cylindrical near its open end 27 to provide a snug fit with the cylindrical; portion 9 of nozzle 7. The outer surface of cover'25- near its open end is, as in the case of body 1, providedwith an interrupted surface 29 to facilitate rotation and removal of the cover fromnozzle 7 during use of the This surface may be formed by flutes, Serra-- dispenser. tions or any other convenient configuration which imparts improved frictional engagement with the fingers.

A preferred form of container for which the dispenser of Figs. 1 to 3 is particularly adapted is shown in Fig. 4.

ament therein.

contains a sealing diaphragm 39, preferably formed integral .with the neck and thin enough to 'be readily punctured when it is desired to dispense. the contents of the tube. It willbe readily understood that the structure of Fig. 4 forms a complete unit which may be packaged and sol'd with the components positioned as-indicated, the cutting edge of projection 13 being in abutment with, but

not piercing the diaphragm 39 of tube 31. It will also be understood that the closure assembly may be applied to neck 37 of the tube either before or after the tube is filled. In either case, however, the filling and assembling operations are preferably conducted under aseptic or sterile conditions to provide a finished unit which itself is aseptic and/or sterile. Moreover, the various components may be sterilized before and/or after assembly by known sterilization techniques, such as treatment with ethylene oxide gas, formaldehyde solution and the like.

The operation of the device shown in Fig. 4 is quite simple and may be performed without risking contamination of either the applicator 7 or the contents of the tube 31'. Thus, the tube may be grasped in one hand and the body 1 of the closure in the other to advance body 1 over neck 37 by twisting the body with respect to the tube through the action of the flutes 23. This in turn advances projection 13 and its cutting edge 19, causing the cutting edge to perforate seal 39 and penetrate. into communication with the contents of tube 31. During this period cover 25 is retained on nozzle 27 to insure protection of the nozzle from contamination at all times. Thereafter, the cover may be removed by twisting the serrated area 29 and withdrawing the cover to expose the nozzle or applicator 7 for administration of the medicament. The medicament may then be dispensed from the container and through passages 15 and 17 in the usual manner, care being taken not to expose the nozzle unnecessarily to contamination. Thus, a completely aseptic and/or sterile package unit is provided, minimizing the danger of contamination which prevails in so many ordinary dispensers of a similar type.

In those instances Where it is desired to package aqueous preparations such as aqueous suspensions of antibiotics and the like, it has been found that the container may readily be coated with a suitable lining material toprevent degradation of the suspension, with no danger of plugging the outlet of the container which occurs, for example, with many collapsible tubes. A wide variety of materials may be employed for this purpose, waxes, synthetic resins, such as vinyl resins, polyethylene and chlorinated rubber being particularly suited for this purpose.

It will also be appreciated that the closure of this invention may be constructed of a variety of materials including both plastics and metals. However, it is preferred to employ plastics such as polystyrene, polyethylene, methylmethacrylate, cellulose acetate, hard nat-' ural rubber and various synthetic rubbers. Die cast aluminum and/or zinc may also 'be employed. The cover 25 may, of course, be constructed of a different material from that of the nozzle 7, an especially advantageous combination of materials being polystyrene for the nozzle and body portions and polyethylene for the cover. In some instances it may be useful to employ a metal body portion and a plastic nozzle or vice versa. In any case, the cover 25 is preferably more resilient than the nozzle 7 so that a snug hermetic seal is provided between the two when they are in assembled relationship.

As previously pointed out, the closure dispenser of this invention is particularly suited for dispensing aqueous suspensions, solutions or ointments of antibiotics, sulfa.

drugs and other chemotherapeutic agents. Furthermore, while the configuration of the applicator of this invention renders it especially useful in dispensing veterinary preparations, such as those used in the treatment of mastitis, it should be understood that with little or no modification it may be employed for administering medicament to humans, including vaginal, rectal, nasal, otic, and opthalrnic preparations. It should be apparent, however, that a number of other materials may be protected and dispensed therewith from a variety of containers, provided, of course, that such containers are equipped with an externally threaded neck portion or its equivalent for engagement with the closure. For example, it is contemplated that the device may also be employed to dispense cosmetic preparations, oil and foods, not only from collapsible tubes, but from cans, plastic squeeze bottles etc.

Resort may be had to such other modifications and equivalents as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: i

1. A dispenser for maintaining and delivering a medicament under antiseptic conditions comprising a collapsible container including an externally threaded neck sealed by a thin sealing member, a tube having a thick wall, one end of said tube being tapered at a relatively shallow angle to provide an elongated nozzle, the other end of said tube being tapered at a relatively steep angle to provide a truncated conical projection, a cap including an internally threaded skirt for engaging the externally threaded neck of said collapsible container, said cap and tube being integrally molded with the Widest portion of said tube being attached to said cap with said conical projection extending a predetermined distance inside said skirt and said nozzle extending externally from said cap, the threads of said cap being engaged with said externally threaded neck, the length of said threads and the skirt of said cap being sufficient to permit said threads to remain engaged with each other while said conical projection is maintained outside of said unbroken sealing member, a removable cover applied over said nozzle to prevent contamination prior to use, the length of said threads and said conical projection being constructed and arranged to permit said projection to puncture said sealing member and enter fully into said neck when said threads are fully engaged with each other, and an annular resilient gasket being disposed about the base of said, projection within said cap to seal the base of said cap to.

the outer edge of said neck of said tube to prevent leak age of said contents through said engaged threads when said cap is fully engaged with said neck to puncture said sealing member and said container is collapsed to dis charge its contents through said nozzle.

2. A dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cap and tube are made of a hardened resinous material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Yorker May 21, 1957-

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