WO2008041091A1

WO2008041091A1 - Packaging for extemporaneous products

Info

Publication number: WO2008041091A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/002889
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Fontana
Original assignee: Lameplast S.P.A.
Priority date: 2006-10-06
Filing date: 2007-10-02
Publication date: 2008-04-10
Also published as: ITMO20060317A1

Abstract

The packaging for extemporaneous products, comprising a container of a first substance which extends into a neck (4), a mouth (5) defined at the end of the neck turned towards the outside of the container, a substantially tubular receptacle (6) of a second substance which is at least partially housed in the neck, which has the end turned towards the inside of the container closed by a bottom (7) and the opposite end (8) open and which has at least one window (9) defined on at least one portion of its side walls, a substantially tubular sealing element (10), open at its ends and placed in between at least one portion of the inner surface of the neck and at least one portion of the outer side surface of the receptacle, the receptacle being fitted axially sliding in the sealing element between a containment configuration of the second substance, in which the receptacle is retracted in the sealing element, which closes the window, and a release configuration of the second substance, in which the receptacle is at least partially protracted beyond the end of the sealing element turned towards the inside of the container, with the window at least partially uncovered to allow the fall of the second substance in the container and to allow the mix with the first substance to form a product.

Description

PACKAGINGFOREXTEMPORANEOUS PRODUCTS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a packaging for extemporaneous products, particularly for medicinal or pharmaceutical products for vaginal applications. Background art

With particular reference to the medicinal, pharmaceutical and cosmetic sector, the use is known of extemporaneous products, meaning products made up of the solution or mixture of two or more substances, of which, for instance, one in liquid state and the other in powder state, which are separate from each other until they are used.

For such extemporaneous products, packagings are known generally comprising a container closed on the bottom and having at the top a neck, above which a mouth is defined; inside the container, a first substance is contained, generally in liquid state. In the mouth of the container, a receptacle of a second substance is housed which is made up of a hollow cylinder-shaped body, closed below by a breakable bottom and open at the top; the bottom of the receptacle separates the second substance from the first. Inside the receptacle, a cutting element is fitted sealed which is composed of a tubular body, the bottom end of which is sectioned according to an oblique plane or shaped like the beak of a flute, the upper end of which extends beyond the upper opening of the receptacle. The cutting element slides axially compared to the receptacle between a non-interference configuration, in which it is placed above the intact bottom of the receptacle, and a cutting configuration, in which the cutting element, pushed towards the bottom of the receptacle, cuts it along the surrounding edge thereby placing the thus-opened receptacle in communication with the container.

The known packagings also have a cover cap which is associated with the container neck by means of a threaded coupling. The lower edge of the cap is temporarily fastened, along a breakage line, to a seal ring associated with the container neck. When the time comes to use the product, the cap is screwed onto the neck of the container and releases itself from the seal ring by lacerating the breakage line.

The screwing up of the cap causes the sliding of the cutting element from the non-interference configuration towards the interference configuration until the bottom of the receptacle is broken. The second substance thus pours from the receptacle into the container inside which it mixes with the first substance, forming the product.

To dispense the product thus formed, the cap simply has to be unscrewed and the cutting element and, possibly, the open receptacle have to be extracted thus releasing the container dispenser mouth. These known type packagings are not without drawbacks, including the fact that they are fairly complicated, both in terms of their structure and their construction, since they do in fact require the design, production and assembly of numerous component parts. The production and the assembly of so many component parts calls for an extensive amount of time and very high production costs, as well as the use of considerable quantities of construction materials.

To overcome these drawbacks, the use is known of a second type of packagings wherein the receptacle housed in the neck of the container is made up of a tubular body which has the end turned towards the inside of the container closed by a bottom and the opposite end open, and which is provided with a window at a portion of the side wall.

The receptacle is fitted axially sliding in the neck between a containment configuration of the second substance, in which it is retracted in the neck and the window is closed by the side surface of the neck itself, and a release configuration of the second substance, in which the receptacle is partially protracted beyond the end of the neck turned towards the inside of the container and in which the second window is at least partially uncovered. In such release configuration, the second substance falls in the container and mixes with the first substance, forming the product. These packagings are also however susceptible to upgrading, especially in order to improve the seal of the packaging and prevent accidental leaks of the product or accidental contaminations of the substances before their use, an aspect of no little importance in the event of the products being used for therapeutic or medical applications.

Another drawback consists in the small size of the receptacle, generally tied by the shape of the neck of the container in which it is fitted. Object of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to provide a packaging for extemporaneous products that permits upgrading the seal, meaning the capacity to keep the substances separate before use, and avoid accidental leaks of the product or accidental contaminations of the substances. As part of such technical aim, another object of the present invention is to allow larger dimensions or in any case variable dimensions of the receptacle suitable for containing the second substance, quite apart from the particular shape and/or size of the neck of the packaging. Another object of the invention is to reduce the overall dimensions of the container.

Another object of the invention is to cater for the previous aims with a simple structure, of relatively easy practical implementation, safe and effective to use and work, as well as having a fairly low cost. The above mentioned objects are all achieved by this packaging for extemporaneous products, comprising a container of a first substance which extends into a neck, a mouth defined at the end of the neck turned towards the outside of the container, a substantially tubular receptacle of a second substance which is at least partially housed in said neck, which has the end turned towards the inside of said container closed by a bottom and the opposite end open and which has at least one window defined on at least one portion of its side walls, characterized in that it comprises a substantially tubular sealing element, open at its ends and placed in between at least one portion of the inner surface of said neck and at least one portion of the outer side surface of said receptacle, said receptacle being fitted axially sliding in said sealing element between a containment configuration of said second substance, in which said receptacle is retracted in said sealing element, which closes said window, and a release configuration of said second substance, in which said receptacle is at least partially protracted beyond the end of the sealing element turned towards the inside of the container, with said window at least partially uncovered to allow the fall of the second substance in the container and to allow the mix with the first substance to form a product. Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear even more evident from the detailed description of two preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a packaging for extemporaneous products, illustrated by way of non limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a perspective and exploded view of a first embodiment of the packaging according to the invention; figure 2 is a section side view of the packaging of figure 1, before the preparation of the product; figure 3 is a section side view of the packaging of figure 1, after the preparation of the product; figure 4 is a perspective and exploded view of a second embodiment of the packaging according to the invention; figure 5 is a section side view of the packaging of figure 4, before the preparation of the product; figure 6 is a section side view of the packaging of figure 4, after the preparation of the product.

Embodiments of the Invention

With special reference to such figures, the reference numeral 1 globally designates a packaging for extemporaneous products, particularly for medicinal or pharmaceutical products used for vaginal applications.

By extemporaneous products is meant products obtainable by the solution or mixing of at least two different substances that are kept separate until their use.

One of the substances, the solute, is generally in powder or granular form, while the other substance, the solvent, is generally in liquid form. Different combinations cannot however be ruled out in which both substances are in powder, granular or liquid form.

With particular but not exclusive reference to a first possible embodiment of the invention, illustrated in figures I₅ 2 and 3, the packaging 1 comprises a container 2 of a first substance A which substantially has the shape of a phial or a bottle with the bottom closed by a base 3 and which extends, on the opposite side, in a neck 4. A mouth 5 is defined at the end of the neck 4 turned towards the outside of the container 2.

In the neck 4 a receptacle 6 of a second substance B is at least partially housed; the first substance A inside the container 2 is temporarily separated from the second substance B in the receptacle 6. Particularly the receptacle 6 has a substantially tubular and cylindrical shape and has the end turned towards the inside of the container 2, closed by a substantially disc-shaped bottom 7 and the opposite end 8 open and which extends beyond the mouth 5. A window 9 is defined on the side walls of the receptacle 6 and extends along at least one section of the perimeter of the bottom 7. Advantageously, a substantially tubular sealing element 10 and open at the ends is fixed inside the neck 4 and, in particular, is placed in between a portion of the inner surface of the neck 4 and a portion of the outer side surface of the receptacle 6. In particular, the sealing element 10 is composed of a substantially cylindrical liner suitable for externally embracing the receptacle 6 and fixable inside the neck 4.

The liner 10 is fixable inside the neck 4 by means of blocking means, of the interlocking type, comprising a section 10a with larger section of the liner 10, defined at the end turned towards the outside of the container 2 and fitted to measure inside the neck 4; the outer surface of such section is engaged on a portion of the inner surface of the neck 4 for blocking the liner 10. The blocking means also comprise a ring-shaped turn-up 10b which is defined as overhanging from the outer surface of the liner 10, at the end turned towards the outside of the container 2, and which engages on the perimeter edge of the mouth 5, preventing the liner 10 from sliding towards the inside of the container 2. Advantageously, the liner 10 comprises a portion 10c which extends beyond the end of the neck 4 turned inside the container 2; the presence of such portion 10c makes it possible to use a receptacle 6 with bigger volume and allows, moreover, to make a neck 4 with small sizes for a container 2 with reduced overall dimensions. The receptacle 6 is fitted axially sliding in the liner 10 between a containment configuration of the second substance B, shown in figure 2, and a release configuration of the second substance B inside the container 2, shown in figure 3, where it mixes with the first substance A to form a medicinal and/or pharmaceutical product to dispense. In the containment configuration, the receptacle 6 is retracted inside the liner 10 with the bottom 7 arranged at a height substantially greater than the height of the lower end of the liner 10 turned towards the inside of the container 2. In this configuration the walls of the liner 10 seal the window 9, withholding the second substance B inside the receptacle 6. In the release configuration, the receptacle 6 is at least partially protracted beyond the end of the liner 10 turned towards the inside of the container 2, meaning with the bottom 7 at a height, compared to the base 3, lower than the height of the end of the liner 10 turned towards the inside of the container 2. In this configuration the window 9 is at least in part uncovered, thus allowing the second substance B to fall into the container 2 and its mix with the first substance A.

Temporary retention means 11 of the receptacle 6 are also provided in the containment configuration and temporary stop means 12 of the receptacle 6 in the release configuration. In particular, the temporary retention means 11 can comprise one or more protrusions, of the type of wings 13, teeth or the like, which are defined as overhanging on the outer side surface of the receptacle, which extend along a surface transversal to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle 6 and which preferably have a ring shape. The first wings 13 are suitable for interfering with the inner side surface of the liner 10 and yield by flexing following the sliding of the receptacle 6 inside the liner 10 itself. In the embodiments shown in the figures above, the temporary retention means 11 comprise a plurality of first wings 13 defined at the bottom 7, at a lower height than that of the window 9, compared to the base 3 of the container 2. Different embodiments of the retention means 11 cannot however be ruled out. The temporary stop means 12, in turn, can be formed of one or more second protrusions, of the type of second wings, teeth or the like, which are defined as overhanging on the outer side surface of the receptacle 6, which extend along a surface transversal to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle 6 and which preferably have a ring shape. The second wings are suitable for interfering with the inner side surface of the neck 4 and yield by flexing following the sliding of the receptacle 6 in the neck 4.

In the embodiments shown the temporary stop means 12 comprise a plurality of second wings defined in the receptacle 6 above the window 9. Different forms and arrangements of the temporary stop means 12 cannot however be ruled out. The packaging 1 also comprises a removable cap 15 that covers the mouth 5 and which is associated with the neck 4 of the container with threaded coupling composed of an outer thread, defined on the outer side surface of the neck 4, and of an inner thread, defined on the inner side surface of the cap 15. The inner surface of the top of the cap 15 is associated with the open end 8 of the receptacle 6; in particular, from the inner surface of the top of the cap 15 an appendix 18 extends which fits in the open end 8. Following the screwing up of the cap 15 on the neck 4, the top of the cap 15 exercises a thrust on the receptacle 6 such as to cause its sliding from the containment configuration to the release configuration. Advantageously, the cap 15 comprises a dispensing opening 19 for dispensing the product defined near the top and substantially sloped. A plug 20 closes the opening 19 and is fastened to the cap 15 along a breaking line 21 defined along the perimeter of the opening 19. A cannula 22 suitable for easier product dispensing, in particular for vaginal applications, is associable with the cap 15. Such cannula 22 has an end that can be fitted by interlocking inside the opening 19, once the plug 20 has been removed, and the opposite end provided with a suitably shaped dispensing element 23.

The cap 15 also has a seal ring 24 which is temporarily fastened to it along a breakable line 25, made up, for example, of a plurality of breakable bridges, and which is associated with the container 2. In particular, the seal ring 24 comprises a ring-shaped raised part 26 that couples by interlocking into a groove defined on a collar 27 which protrudes from the outer side surface of the neck 4.

The cap 15 is integrally produced in a single body piece with the seal ring 24, which has the inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the cap 15. In a second embodiment of the invention, shown in figures 4, 5 and 6, the container 2 comprises an additional neck 28 which extends near the neck 4 and which has a respective additional mouth 29 for dispensing the product. An additional cap 30 is suitable for covering the additional mouth 29 and is associated with the additional neck 28 with interlock coupling. Similarly to what has been described above for the first embodiment, the additional cap 30 has a dispensing opening 19' for dispensing the product defined near the top and substantially sloped. A plug 20' closes the opening 19' and is fastened to the additional cap 30 along a breaking line 21' defined along the perimeter of the opening 19'. The cannula 22 is associable with the additional cap 30 and, in particular, one end of the cannula 22 can be fitted by interlocking inside the opening 19', once the plug 20' has been removed, while the opposite end has a dispensing element 23 with a suitable shape. It must be noted that, unlike the first embodiment of the packaging 1, in the second embodiment the cap 15 ' associated with the neck 4 is closed at the top. The operation of the invention is as follows.

The assembly of the packaging 1 is done by inserting a predefined quantity of the first substance A in the container 2, in the neck 4 of which are subsequently fitted the liner 10 and, inside it, the receptacle 6 withheld in containment configuration by the temporary retention means 11.

Through the open end 8 of the receptacle 6, a preset quantity of the second substance B is introduced inside the receptacle. Afterwards the cap 15, integral in a single body piece with the seal ring 24, is fitted on the neck 4, with the appendix 18 fitting into the open end 8 and coupling of the ring-shaped raised part 26 inside the groove on the collar 27. To prepare the product obtainable by mixing the first and second substance A and B, the cap 15 will have to be screwed onto the neck 4, thereby breaking the breakable line 25 and releasing the seal ring 24.

During the screwing up of the cap 15, an axial thrust is exercised on the receptacle 6 such as to cause it to slide, by contrast to the action caused by the first wings 13, from the containment configuration (figure 2) to the release configuration (figure 3) of the second substance B.

In this last configuration, the second substance runs, through the window 9, into the container 2 where it mixes with the first substance thus forming the product. With reference to the first embodiment shown in figures 1, 2 and 3, to dispense the thus-formed product, the plug 20 will have to be removed from the cap 15, detaching it along the breaking lines 21, and the cannula 22 applied at the opening 19 so freed.

Similarly, with reference to the second embodiment shown in figures 4, 5 and 6, to dispense the thus-formed product, the plug 20' will have to be removed from the additional cap 15, detaching it along the breaking lines 21', and the cannula 22 applied at the opening 19' so freed.

It has in fact been ascertained how the described invention achieves the proposed objects and in particular the fact is underlined that the presence of the liner between the receptacle and the neck of the container permits a better tightness, considered as the capacity to keep the substances separated before use, and permits avoiding accidental leaks of the product or accidental contaminations of the substances from outside.

The receptacle and the container are in fact generally made using processes that do not allow a high precision, such as processes of forming by blowing. The possibility of making the liner separately from the container and the receptacle thus permits the use of more precise forming techniques such as, for example, forming by injection, with the achievement of an end product of higher quality. To this must be added the fact that the presence of the portion of the liner that extends towards the inner part of the container permits increasing the dimensions and therefore the storage capacity of the receptacle, while at the same time maintaining unchanged the dimensions of the neck and, therefore the overall dimensions of the container. Furthermore, the particular shape of the liner permits further reducing the dimensions of the neck, with the housing of most of the receptacle inside the container.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which falling within the scope of the inventive concept. Furthermore all the details can be replaced with others that are technically equivalent.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements without because of this moving outside the protection scope of the following claims.

Claims

1) Packaging for extemporaneous products, comprising a container of a first substance which extends into a neck, a mouth defined at the end of the neck turned towards the outside of the container, a substantially tubular receptacle of a second substance which is at least partially housed in said neck, which has the end turned towards the inside of said container closed by a bottom and the opposite end open and which has at least one window defined on at least one portion of its side walls, characterized in that it comprises a substantially tubular sealing element, open at its ends and placed in between at least one portion of the inner surface of said neck and at least one portion of the outer side surface of said receptacle, said receptacle being fitted axially sliding in said sealing element between a containment configuration of said second substance, in which said receptacle is retracted in said sealing element, which closes said window, and a release configuration of said second substance, in which said receptacle is at least partially protracted beyond the end of the sealing element turned towards the inside of the container, with said window at least partially uncovered to allow the fall of the second substance in the container and to allow the mix with the first substance to form a product.

2) Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that said sealing element comprises at least one substantially cylindrical liner.

3) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sealing element comprises at least one portion which extends beyond the end of the neck turned inside said container.

4) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sealing element comprises blocking means inside said neck.

5) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said blocking means are of the interlocking type.

6) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said blocking means comprise at least one section of said sealing element which can be fitted to measure inside said neck and the outer surface of which is engaged on the inner surface of said neck.

7) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said blocking means comprise at least one ring-shaped turn-up defined as overhanging from the outer surface of said sealing element and engaged on the perimeter edge of said mouth.

8) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sealing element is made through a forming process by injection molding.

9) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said window extends along at least one section of the perimeter of said bottom. 10) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises temporary retention means of said receptacle in said containment configuration.

11) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said temporary retention means comprise at least one first protrusion defined as overhanging on the outer side surface of said receptacle and which extends along a surface transversal to the longitudinal axis of said receptacle, said first protrusion being suitable for interfering with the inner side surface of said sealing element.

12) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises temporary stop means of said receptacle in said release configuration.

13) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said temporary stop means comprise at least one second protrusion defined as overhanging on the outer side surface of said receptacle and which extends along a surface transversal to the longitudinal axis of said receptacle, said second protrusion being suitable for interfering with the inner side surface of said sealing element.

14) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one between said first protrusion and said second protrusion yields by flexing following the sliding of said receptacle in said sealing element.

15) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one between said first protrusion and said second protrusion has a ring shape.

16) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first protrusion is defined near said bottom, at a lower height than that of said window. 17) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second protrusion is defined at a higher height than that of said window.

18) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said open end of the receptacle extends beyond said mouth. 19) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a removable cap that covers said mouth which is associated with said neck with threaded coupling, the sliding of said receptacle from said containment configuration to said release configuration being caused by the screwing up of said cap on said container. 20) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cap comprises an inner appendix defined as protruding from the top and inserted in said open end of the receptacle.

21) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said container comprises at least one additional mouth for dispensing said product.

22) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said additional mouth for dispensing is defined on an additional neck that extends from said container.

23) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an additional cap for covering said additional mouth that is associated with said additional neck with interlock coupling.

24) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one between said cap and said additional cap comprises at least one dispensing opening of said product. 25) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one plug associated removable with at least one between said cap and said additional cap and suitable for closing said dispensing opening.

26) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plug is fastened to at least one between said cap and said additional cap along a breaking line defined along the perimeter of said dispensing mouth. 27) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one cannula which has an end associable with said dispensing opening and the opposite end which has a dispensing element of said product.

28) Packaging according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cap comprises a seal ring which is temporarily fastened to it along a breakable line and which is associated with said container.