EP2125535B1 - Vial for receiving a predetermined dose of a liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

A vial is closed by a stopper. The stopper is provided with arrangements allowing, in a first position, the filling of the vial with a liquid through an opening and, in a second position, the sealed and definitive closure of said opening.

Description

The invention relates to the technical sector containers intended to receive a fixed dose of a liquid.

This type of container can be used in the field of pharmacy, food supplements, cosmetology.

Generally, this type of container is in the form of a glass bulb which is broken at one end to collect the liquid. For example, the bulb has a generally cylindrical shape with two tapered ends. It is necessary, in this case, to break both ends to collect the liquid. One end allows the liquid to flow, while the other end allows air to enter to allow flow.

Ampoules in the form of a fine-tipped bottle are also known, which must also be broken to collect the liquid.

This type of container presents difficulties and risks of injury at the time of filling the bulb and at the time of its use.

For wide-necked bulbs, filling is usually by needle, which does not allow for high filling rates, whereas for fine-point bulbs, filling is generally done by vacuum.

The invention relates more particularly to this technique of filling by vacuum.

In a manner well known to those skilled in the art, the ampoules are packaged and stored in boxes known as crystallizers. These crystallisers, generally square in shape, can receive 200 to 500 ampoules, depending on their capacity. For filling the liquid, a machine is used having a vacuum tank open at the top and equipped with a pivoting lid. On the lid are attached combs to hold the ampoules after returning the entire crystallizer with all the bulbs it contains. In other words, the open ends of the bulbs which initially were directed upward, are found, after turning, directed downwards, to bathe in the liquid. It is then sufficient to evacuate the tank, to evacuate the air contained in said bulbs. When the vacuum is removed, that is to say, when the air is allowed to return to the tank, the ampoules suck the liquid.

At this stage of filling, it can not be excluded that bulb ends are broken and fine glass particles are found in the liquid. In other words, the risk of filling a bulb with a liquid containing glass debris is not excluded.

The crystallizer is then returned to direct all the bulbs thus filled to a welding station, usually by means of a burner.

As indicated, other disadvantages and difficulties arise in the use of these bulbs. Indeed, most of them are shaped to be self-breaking, which in itself presents some difficulties, since the breakable part must be sufficiently fragile while being strong enough for the light bulb to withstand the transport, filling , conditioning, ... We observe also that the rupture zone is not always visible to the user, so that the latter sometimes has difficulty breaking the end or ends of the bulb.

In an attempt to overcome these disadvantages, fixed dose containers have been proposed. These containers are in the form of a glass or plastic bottle, generally cylindrical in shape, having a closed end constituting the bottom and an open end for filling the bottle and taking the liquid. This opening is closed by a lid, usually made of aluminum and equipped with a tongue to allow its tearing to release the opening, it appears however that the removal of the lid, including with the tongue, is very difficult, if not impossible to perform since the seal is heat sealed. For this reason, it has been proposed to package this type of container with a straw to perforate the lid to aspirate the product, which greatly reduces the applications and increases costs.

The object of the invention is to remedy these disadvantages in a simple, safe, effective and rational manner.

The problem that the invention proposes to solve is to make a bottle intended to receive a fixed dose of liquid, in particular in the field of pharmacy, cosmetology, food supplements, ... with the aim of a on the other hand, to be able to easily and continuously fill the determined liquid container using in particular a vacuum filling machine and, secondly, to easily open the container to collect the liquid, while respecting the tightness and inviolability of the container before use by the consumer.

To solve such a problem, it has been designed and developed a bottle according to the features of claim 1.

In a first embodiment, to solve the problem of allowing, at first, the liquid filling of the bottle and then, in a second step, sealing in a sealed manner, the arrangements are constituted by an orifice that presents a centering surface intended to be force-fitted into an opening of the bottle under a pressure force exerted on a closed end-piece provided by said bearing surface, said orifice being, in the filling position, in communication with the outside and, after fitting under the pressure force inside the bottle.

The fitting surface and the end piece are connected by a breakable zone.

The breakable zone is formed from a bearing shoulder in the depressed position of the plug corresponding to the closure of the orifice.

For the use of the bottle, that is to say to drink the liquid directly or pour it into another container, simply hold the bottle with one hand and break, for example with the thumb, the mouthpiece breakable to give free access to the opening of the bottle.

In another embodiment, the arrangements are constituted by an external valve disposed coaxially with the opening of the plug and defining an internal recess in communication with said opening and with the outside by at least one orifice, said valve being secured to the cap by a breakable zone under a pressure effect corresponding to the sealing of said opening.

The body of the valve has a portion in relief, in the form of a bead, adapted to cooperate in bearing on the periphery of the opening inside the plug, to ensure the blocking in the closed position of said valve in combination with an outer flange bearing on the periphery of the opening on the outside of said cap. Advantageously, the flange is formed with the bottom of the recess of the valve.

In another embodiment, the cap is removably attached to one end of the bottle by a tamper-proof system, the emptying of said bottle, for the taking of the liquid, taking place after separation of said cap with respect to its inviolability system. The tamper evident system is a detachable strip disposed at the base of the stopper and cooperating with retaining arrangements of the bottle. The cap is fixed at the end of the bottle by screwing or clipping.

In another embodiment, the cap is fixedly attached to one end of the bottle, the other end is shaped as a breakable tip for taking the liquid.

From this basic design, the body of the bottle can be glass or plastic.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective du flacon selon une première forme de réalisation, le bouchon étant représenté en position de remplissage dudit flacon ;
• la figure 2 est une vue semblable à la figure 1 en position d'obturation étanche du flacon ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe longitudinale du bouchon correspondant à la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe longitudinale du bouchon correspondant à la figure 2 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'une autre forme de réalisation du flacon, en position de remplissage ;
• la figure 6 est une vue semblable à la figure 5 en position d'obturation étanche du flacon ;
• la figure 7 est une vue en coupe longitudinale correspondant à la figure 5 ;
• la figure 8 est une vue en coupe longitudinale correspondant à la figure 6 ;
• la figure 9 est une autre forme de réalisation du flacon correspondant aux figures 5, 6, 7 et 8 ;
• la figure 10 est une vue en perspective d'une forme de réalisation préférée du flacon selon l'invention, avant mise en place du bouchon ;
• la figure 11 est une vue en coupe selon la forme de réalisation illustrée figure 10, le flacon étant présenté en position de remplissage, c'est-à-dire avant enfoncement total du bouchon ;
• la figure 12 est une vue correspondant à la figure 11, après remplissage du flacon, c'est-à-dire après enfoncement du bouchon obturant, de manière étanche, le flacon ;
• les figures 13 et 14 sont des vues en perspective montrant l'utilisation du flacon illustré aux figures 10, 11 et 12.

The invention is hereinafter further described in cattle with the aid of the figures of the attached drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of the bottle according to a first embodiment, the plug being shown in the filling position of said bottle;
• the figure 2 is a view similar to the figure 1 in sealed sealing position of the bottle;
• the figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the plug corresponding to the figure 1 ;
• the figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the plug corresponding to the figure 2 ;
• the figure 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the bottle, in filling position;
• the figure 6 is a view similar to the figure 5 in sealed sealing position of the bottle;
• the figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view corresponding to the figure 5 ;
• the figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view corresponding to the figure 6 ;
• the figure 9 is another embodiment of the bottle corresponding to the Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 ;
• the figure 10 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the bottle according to the invention, before placing the stopper;
• the figure 11 is a sectional view according to the illustrated embodiment figure 10 , the bottle being presented in the filling position, that is to say before full depression of the cap;
• the figure 12 is a view corresponding to the figure 11 after filling the vial, that is to say after pressing the sealing cap, tightly, the vial;
• the Figures 13 and 14 are perspective views showing the use of the illustrated bottle at figures 10 , 11 and 12 .

The bottle (1) is in the form of a body, generally of cylindrical shape, and may be made of different materials, such as glass, plastic, polypropylene. The dimensions of the bottle are variable, depending on the volume of the product that is to be distributed, which generally corresponds to standards in force. Generally, this bottle receives a fixed dose of a liquid, most often for single use.

According to a feature which is the basis of the invention, the bottle (1) is closed by a stopper (2) which has arrangements which make it possible, in a position of said arrangements, to fill the bottle (1) with liquid, then, in another position of said arrangements, sealing and definitive closure of the bottle (1). More particularly, filling and sealing are effected by an opening (2a) of the plug. In one embodiment, this opening (2a), of generally circular shape, is formed coaxially with the top face (2b) of said plug.

For this purpose, the filling and sealing arrangements are constituted by an external valve (2c) arranged coaxially with the filling opening (2a) of the plug. This valve (2c) delimits an internal bending (2c1) in communication with the opening (2a), that is to say in communication with the inside of the bottle and also in communication with the outside through at least one orifice (2c2).

The valve (2c) is secured to the body of the plug (2) by a zone (2d) breakable under a pressure effect corresponding to the sealing of said opening (2a). This breakable zone (2d) is disposed peripherally to the opening (2a).

The body of the valve (2c) has a portion in relief in the form of a bead (2c3) adapted to cooperate in bearing on the edge or around the opening (2a), inside the plug (2). This boss (2c2) locks in the closed position of said valve in combination with an outer flange (2c4) resting on the periphery of the opening (2a), outside the cap (2). We refer to the figure 3 which shows the plug in the extended position of the valve corresponding to the filling and the figure 4 which shows the valve in the retracted position under a pressure force acting on the latter corresponding to the sealing of the cap.

The flange (2c4) is formed with the bottom of the recess of the valve (2c).

From this conception, various embodiments can be envisaged. To the Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 , the cap (2) is removably attached to one end of the bottle by a tamper evident system. In this case, the emptying of the bottle, for the taking of the liquid, is carried out after disconnection of the cap (2) with respect to its inviolability system.

In a manner perfectly known to a person skilled in the art, this tamper-proof system may, for example, be produced by a detachable strip (2e) disposed at the base of the stopper (2) and cooperating with retainer arrangements of the bottle. The cap (2) is fixed at the end of the bottle (1) by screwing, clipping or otherwise.

In the embodiment illustrated at Figures 5 to 9 , the cap (2) is permanently fixed at one end of the bottle (1). In this case, the other end (1a) of the bottle is shaped as a breakable tip for taking the liquid. In a known manner, this breakable tip (1a) can be in accordance with that illustrated in FIGS. Figures 5 to 8 or the one shown in the figure 9 .

The Figures 10 to 14 show an advantageous embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment, the opening of the bottle (1) directly receives the plug (2) as illustrated by the above figures. The plug (2) has a centering surface (2f) intended to be force-fitted into the bottle (1) under a pressure effect exerted on said plug. The span (2f) is extended coaxially by a closed end (2g). In this embodiment, the filling arrangements consist of an orifice (2h) that has the bearing surface (2f).

The fitting surface (2f) and the end piece (2g) are connected by a breakable zone (2i). This breakable zone (2i) is formed from a bearing shoulder (2j) in the depressed position of the corresponding plug, as indicated below, to the closure of the orifice (2h). Note that the scope (2f) has, under the shoulder (2g), a reduced conicity to force fit the plug (2) in the bottle (1).

For filling, the cap is not completely inserted into the bottle, so that the orifice (2h) is in communication with the outside. Note that, in this filling position, the cap is pushed down substantially to the conical bearing surface. Similarly, in this filling position, the stopper (2) is perfectly maintained at the open end of the bottle, given a fitting diameter greater than the internal diameter of the bottle. Filling as such can be done by the vacuum technique, as indicated in the introductory part of the description. This filling position is illustrated figure 11 .

After filling, it is sufficient to exert a pressing force on the tip (2g) until the shoulder (2j) bears on the end of the bottle thus ensuring its closure, in a perfectly sealed manner . In this closed position, figure 12 , the orifice (2h) is no longer in communication with the outside, but positioned inside the bottle (1).

For the collection of the liquid contained inside the bottle and as shown by Figures 13 and 14 just hold the bottle with one hand and, with your thumb for example, break the tip (2g) ( figure 14 ).

As indicated, whatever the embodiment, it is always possible to fill a very large number of bottles by arranging, in an orderly manner, said bottles in a crystallizer that is subjected to the action of a vacuum filling machine, as indicated in the introductory part of the description. However, it is advantageously observed that since the bottles do not have fragile zones at the ends, it is possible to use crystallizers of much greater capacity.

It is also observed that the sealed closure of the various bottles, after having filled them with the determined dose of liquid, is carried out in a very simple and effective manner, since it is sufficient to exert a pressure force on the valves ( figure 3 ) to seal the plug ( figure 4 ), or directly on the cork ( Figures 11 and 12 ).

• l'absence de tout risque de débris de verre au moment du remplissage et de l'utilisation ;
• la facilité d'utilisation ;
• l'esthétique.

The advantages are apparent from the description. In particular, we emphasize and remind:

• the absence of any risk of glass debris at the time of filling and use;
• utilisation facility ;
• aesthetics.

Claims (12)

1. Vial for receiving a predetermined dose of a liquid, the said vial (1) being closed by a plug (2), characterised in that the said plug (2) has devices (2c) capable of enabling, in one position, the filling with liquid of the vial through an opening then, in another position, the sealed and final closing of the said opening (2a), a part of the plug (2) having a breakable area (2i or 2d).
2. Vial according to claim 1, characterised in that the devices comprise an orifice (2h) in a centring bearing surface (2f) designed to be force fitted into an opening in the vial (1) under pressure exerted on a closed end-piece (2g) situated on the said bearing surface, the said orifice (2h) being located, in the filling position, in communication with the outside and, after force fitting under pressure, with the inside of the vial, the said fitting bearing surface (2f) and the said end-piece (2g) being linked by the breakable area (2i).
3. Vial according to claim 2, characterised in that the breakable area (2i) is formed from a supporting shoulder (2j) in the inserted position of the plug (2) corresponding to the plugging of the orifice (2h).
4. Vial according to claim 1, characterised in that the devices comprise a closed external valve (2c) arranged coaxially with an opening (2a) of the plug (2) and delimiting an internal recess in communication with the said opening and with the outside through at least one orifice (2c2), the said valve being rendered integral with the plug (2) via the breakable area (2d) by the effect of pressure corresponding to the sealed plugging of the said opening.
5. Vial according to claim 4, characterised in that the body of the valve (2c) has a raised part, in the form of a bead (2c3), capable of bearing on the perimeter of the opening (2a) inside the plug, to ensure locking of the said valve in the plugging position in combination with an external collar (2c4) bearing on the perimeter of the opening, on the outside of the said plug.
6. Vial according to claim 4, characterised in that the collar (2c4) is formed with the bottom of the valve recess.
7. Vial according to claim 1, characterised in that the plug (2) is fixed, in a detachable manner, to one of the ends of the vial by a tamper-proof system, the emptying of the said vial (1) for the outlet of liquid being performed after separating the said plug (2) from its tamper-proof system.
8. Vial according to claim 7, characterised in that the tamper-proof system is a detachable band (2e) arranged at the base of the plug (2) and co-operating with vial-retaining devices.
9. Vial according to claim 7, characterised in that the plug (2) is secured to the end of the vial (1) by screwing or clipping.
10. Vial according to claim 1, characterised in that the plug (2) is fixed permanently to one of the ends of the vial (1) of which the other end (1a) is in the form of a breakable end-piece for the outlet of liquid.
11. Vial according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the body of the vial is made of glass.
12. Vial according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the body of the vial is made of a plastics material.

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