Abstract:
A container for an automatic injector provides safe, quick, and easy access to an automatic injector stored therein. The container includes tactile features that allow a user to easily determine the orientation of the container by feel alone. A hinged cap with an automatic spring assist feature allows a user to single-handedly open the container quickly and easily to remove the injector from the container without interference from the cap. The container is structured to receive the automatic injector needle end first and has a puncture resistant bottom to prevent the needle of the injector from piercing through the body wall of the container. The container also provides safe storage of a discharged automatic injector, with the hinged cap spring assist feature automatically closing the cap enough to prevent the discharged injector from falling out of the container.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/925,283, filed Apr. 18, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to containers for carrying, storing, and protecting automatic injectors. Specifically, the invention relates to containers that allow users to open and close the containers quickly and easily and to carry and store used and unused automatic injectors safely. The invention also relates to an attachment device for carrying two of the containers together. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Many individuals unfortunately must carry medication with them at all times. In some cases, the medication is contained in an automatic injector. An automatic injector is a device that performs intramuscular or subcutaneous administration of a therapeutic agent. An advantage of automatic injectors is that they contain a measured dose of a therapeutic agent in a sealed sterile cartridge. Automatic injectors allow for quick and simple injection of the therapeutic agent in emergency situations without the user having to measure dosages or see the needle as the agent is being injected. Automatic injectors are used, for example, to treat anaphylactic (severe allergic) reactions and to administer antidotes for certain poisons, such as chemical nerve gas. 
         [0004]    In those cases where an automatic injector is carried by an individual at all times, the injector is likely to be exposed to various physical and environmental stresses that may damage the injector or the therapeutic agent stored inside. For example, exposure to heat and light may cause the therapeutic agent stored inside the injector to degrade. Also, an automatic injector may inadvertently activate if dropped or jostled. And once the automatic injector has been discharged, exposure to the used needle is a risk that should be prevented in those injectors that do not have a needle cover to automatically extend over the used needle. 
         [0005]    Many automatic injectors are therefore stored, before and after use, in a container referred to as a carry pack. In general, there are two types of automatic injector carry packs. The first type is a soft carry pack, usually made of neoprene or other soft material. These carry packs are usually large in size and attach to a belt or other item of clothing. To access the stored injector, the user must unzip the carry pack. Unfortunately, many soft carry packs are not puncture resistant and thus cannot be used to store a discharged automatic injector with an exposed needle. 
         [0006]    The second type of carry pack is a smaller, tube-shaped container that can fit easily into an individual&#39;s pocket. The tube-shaped containers are usually made of a rigid material and are generally equipped with one of two types of caps. The first is a screw cap which requires the user to unscrew the cap, and the second is a push-cap which requires the user to remove the cap completely from the body of the container. 
         [0007]    These known automatic injector carry packs have the disadvantage of requiring two hands to open the carry pack, whether to unzip the carry pack or to unscrew or pull off the cap of the carry pack. Such actions can be difficult or even impossible to perform when a user is suffering from an attack and needs to quickly access the automatic injector contained in the carry pack. 
         [0008]    In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a container that safely accommodates an automatic injector before and, depending on the type of injector, after use and that allows a user to easily and immediately access the injector contained therein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In accordance with the invention, containers for automatic injectors store and protect the injectors from damage and protect the therapeutic agent stored inside the injector from degradation and contamination. Also, containers of the invention help prevent the automatic injector stored therein from accidentally activating. Furthermore, the containers allow the user or caregiver to quickly open the container and remove the automatic injector stored therein and then, depending on the type of automatic injector, safely store a used injector with an exposed needle after use until proper disposal can be made. 
         [0010]    The automatic injector containers have a cylindrically-shaped, enclosed hollow body having an open end and a closed end opposite the open end. The closed end is preferably puncture resistant, and the open end is sized to receive an automatic injector there through. The body of the container includes a lower portion extending from the puncture resistant end that is preferably sized and shaped to receive only the needle end of the injector. 
         [0011]    The containers of the invention include a cap that has a top portion, a bottom portion, and a hinge connecting the top and bottom portions. The bottom portion is affixed to the open end of the body and the top portion is sized and shaped to close the open end of the body. The cap also has a front and a back, with the hinge located on the back. The front bottom portion of the cap may extend farther along the body in a direction toward the closed end than the back bottom portion of the cap to facilitate tactile identification of the front of the container. 
         [0012]    The hinged cap advantageously allows the user or caregiver to single-handedly open the container and access the automatic injector. The hinged cap has automatic spring assist features that help open and close the cap. When the user or caregiver applies sufficient force to initially open the cap (i.e., unsnap the cap from the container), the hinge causes the cap to automatically spring farther open to a position that creates a clear path unobstructed by the cap. This allows the automatic injector to be easily and quickly removed (as compared to known containers where unsnapping the cap only partially opens the cap, leaving the path at least partially blocked by the cap). Additionally, when the user or caregiver applies sufficient force to initially move an open cap towards closure, the hinge causes the cap to automatically spring farther to a partially-closed position that prevents the automatic injector from falling out of the container, such as, for example, when the container is tilted or held at an angle that would otherwise allow the injector to slide or drop out of the container. 
         [0013]    Other advantageous features of the container include a body that has a shape to (1) prevent or inhibit the container from rolling on a slightly inclined surface and (2) receive the automatic injector in preferably only one orientation—needle end first. The body also has a puncture resistant bottom end to (1) prevent an unused automatic injector from piercing the container should it unintentionally activate while in the container and (2) ensure that discharged automatic injectors with exposed needles can be safely stored. In one embodiment, the puncture resistant end is contoured in such a way as to bias the needle end of the automatic injector off-center, thereby making the needle more likely to bend or cripple than to penetrate the bottom end of the container. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the body includes contours and textures that make grasping and handling of the container easier and help the user or caregiver identify the orientation of the container by feel alone. The contours and textures may also help identify the type of automatic injector stored inside the container and may help differentiate between the packaging and the automatic injector itself. 
         [0015]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the containers include a first pair of contoured areas and/or a second pair of contoured areas on the exterior surface of the body. The first pair of contoured areas are preferably positioned opposite each other on the body and are sized and shaped to facilitate attachment to an optional attachment device of the invention, which can be used to attach pairs of automatic injector containers together and/or one or more containers to an individual&#39;s belt, jacket, or other article of clothing or personal possession (e.g., a backpack). The second pair of contoured areas may also be positioned opposite each other on the body and are sized and shaped to facilitate grasping and/or orienting of the container by hand. Furthermore, the first and second pairs of contoured areas are positioned preferably opposite each on the body of the container. 
         [0016]    The invention is also directed to automatic injector kits that include an automatic injector, a container for the automatic injector, and an attachment device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The features and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of an automatic injector container according to the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of another embodiment of an automatic injector container according to the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of an opened cap attached to a body of an automatic injector container; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of an opened cap; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an opened cap; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the automatic injector container of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional perspective view of a body of an automatic injector container; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional perspective view of a puncture resistant bottom end of an automatic injector container; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an attachment device according to the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a container attached to an attachment device; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of two containers attached to an attachment device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    Automatic injector containers of the invention can store many types of automatic injectors, such as, for example, the EPIPEN® automatic injectors by Meridian Medical Technologies. Inc. Typical automatic injectors have a housing that contains a cartridge. The cartridge has one or more chambers containing a therapeutic agent. The housing has a needle end that usually contains a needle assembly attached to a chamber. The housing also has an activation end opposite the needle end that usually contains an activation assembly. The activation assembly includes a stored energy source such as a compressed spring. Activation of the activation assembly typically causes a sequence of internal movements within the housing that forces the needle into a user and the therapeutic agent through the needle. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of an automatic injector container according to the invention. Container  10  includes a preferably cylindrically-shaped, enclosed body  12  and a cap  14 . Body  12  has an open end (not shown) covered by the cap and a preferably puncture resistant bottom end  20  opposite the open end. Body  12  preferably has a first pair of contoured areas  22  positioned opposite each other on the exterior surface  24  of body  12 . Body  12  also preferably has a second pair of contoured areas  26  positioned opposite each other on exterior surface  24  (note that only one of the second pair of contoured areas  26  is shown in  FIG. 1 ). Contoured areas  22  and  26  are further preferably positioned opposite each other on exterior surface  24 . Body  12  has a preferably cylindrically-oval shape to prevent or at least inhibit container  10  from rolling on level and slightly inclined surfaces. Alternatively, the body can be of other shapes including, but not limited to, cylindrically-spherical, triangular, rectangular, octagonal or other geometric shapes that prevent or inhibit rolling. 
         [0031]    Container  10  is sized to receive and enclose an automatic injector therein. In some embodiments, the container is longer in the longitudinal direction than an automatic injector received therein. A user is then encouraged to tip the automatic injector out of the container rather than reach into the container to grasp the automatic injector. This is preferred because some automatic injectors have a safety pin located at the end of the injector nearest the open end of the container (i.e., opposite the needle end). Thus by having the user or caregiver tip out the injector from the container instead of reaching into the container to grasp it, the chances of accidentally activating the automatic injector are less. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of an automatic injector container according to the invention. Container  10 X, which is substantially similar to container  10 , also includes enclosed body  12 , cap  14 , puncture resistant end  20 , and first pair of contoured areas  22 . However, unlike container  10 , container  10 X has a second pair of differently shaped contoured areas  25  positioned opposite each other on exterior surface  24 . Contoured areas  25  do not extend down to puncture resistant end  20  on the sides of the container where contoured areas  22  are located as do contoured areas  26  of container  10 . This difference allows the thickness of the tube wall section in those areas to be increased, which may help maintain wall symmetry during a molding process of the container. 
         [0033]    Cap  14  includes a top portion  30 , a bottom portion  32 , and a hinge  34 . Hinge  34  connects top portion  30  to bottom portion  32 . The cap has a front  16  and a back  18 , and hinge  34  is located on back  18  of cap  14 . In certain embodiments, the back of cap  14  is aligned longitudinally with one of the second pair of contoured areas  25 / 26 , and the front of cap  14  is aligned longitudinally with the other of the second pair of contoured areas  25 / 26 . Bottom portion  32  is affixed to the top, open end of container  10 / 10 X (referred to collectively hereinafter as “the container” or just “container  10 ”). The cap can be any shape, provided it uses the hinge mechanism of the invention and securely attaches to (and in some cases provides an airtight seal with) the body of the container when closed. The front  16 , bottom portion  32  of cap  14  preferably extends farther along body  12  in a direction toward puncture resistant end  20  than the back  18 , bottom portion  32  of cap  14 . Cap  14  also has a flap  35  located on the front  16 , top portion  30  and has a contoured area  38  located on the front  16 , bottom portion  32 . Contoured area  38  allows the user to identify the front of the cap, as well as easily engage the flap to open the cap for easy access or disposal of an automatic injector. Also, such a feature advantageously allows the user to single-handedly open the container for access or disposal of an automatic injector. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows cap  14  in an open position. Bottom portion  32  of the cap is affixed to open end  36  of body  12 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 3 , open end  36  extends beyond (i.e., above) bottom portion  32  of cap  14 . This extension protects the automatic injector from accidental activation while cap  14  is opened or closed. A rim  40  located on the front  16 , top portion  30  of the cap snap-fits into a groove  42  located on the front  16 , bottom portion  32  of the cap. Other fastening mechanisms can be used provided that they secure the top portion of the cap to the bottom portion of the cap so the container body is closed and in some cases sealed. Cap  14  advantageously provides for repeated opening and closing of open end  36  of body  12 . 
         [0035]    In accordance with the invention, the spring assist feature of the hinge provides the cap with an automatic spring-open state and an automatic spring-almost-closed state. The spring-open state allows the automatic injector to be easily removed from the container. because the injector is not obstructed by the top portion of the cap when the cap is in the spring-open state. The spring-almost-closed state prevents the injector from falling out of the container, such as, for example, when the top of the container is tipped downward or while a person holding or carrying the container is running or otherwise moving. because the position of the cap in the almost-closed state blocks the exit path of the injector. 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  shows the cap in an open state. Hinge  34  includes a primary support  50  and a secondary support  54 . Once the angle between the bottom portion  32  and top portion  30  of the cap increases to about 85°-95°, such as when a user initially opens the cap by unsnapping the top portion from the bottom portion, the top portion of the cap will over-center the hinge causing the top portion to automatically spring farther open to an angle of at least 115°, and more preferably to about 125°-135°, without further action by the user. Conversely, once the angle between the bottom portion and top portion of the cap decreases to about 75°-850, such as when a user begins to close an open cap, the top portion of the cap will over-center the hinge causing the top portion to automatically spring farther closed to an angle of at least 300, and more preferably to about 150-25°, without further action by the user. 
         [0037]    Additionally, in some embodiments, when the cap is closed (i.e., snapped shut), the container is not air tight (i.e., not hermetically sealed). In some of these embodiments, the cap includes a vent hole.  FIG. 5  shows an open cap  14  with top portion  30 , bottom portion  32 , and hinge  34  with primary support  50  and secondary support  54 . Cap  14  has a vent hole  48  located on hinge  34 . A vent hole allows the container to vent and alleviate any pressure that may build up within the container, as well as prevent any volatiles that may be present from affecting the therapeutic agent in the injector. The vent hole can be alternatively located on other areas of the cap, such as on the top or bottom portion of the cap or on the body of the injector container. Also, containers of the invention may have more than one vent hole. 
         [0038]    The cap preferably include features to prevent an automatic injector from rattling (i.e., moving freely) within the container. As shown in  FIG. 5 , cap  14  preferably has two internal walls or ridges  56 . As the cap is closed, ridges  56  contact the top of the automatic injector and, if needed, push the injector fully into position in the container. When the cap is closed, internal walls  56  continue to contact the top of the automatic injector to secure the position of the injector within the container and prevent the injector from moving around within the closed container. 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  shows body  12  of the container. Body  12  is a cylindrically-shaped, enclosed hollow structure with an exterior surface  24 , an open end  36  and a puncture resistant end  20  opposite the open end. Open end  36  is sized to receive an automatic injector there through. The lower portion of the body extending from the puncture resistant end is preferably sized and shaped to receive only the needle end of the automatic injector. Thus, the automatic injector can only be fully received within the container if properly oriented needle end first when inserted. This advantageous feature helps avoid injury or contamination by preventing a user from first handling the needle end of the injector upon removal from the container or from handling the needle end upon return of the used injector back into the container. 
         [0040]    Located on exterior surface  24  of body  12  is at least one contoured area. As shown in  FIG. 6 , body  12  has a first pair of contoured areas  22  positioned opposite each other on exterior surface  24  (note that only one of the first pair of contoured areas is shown). Contoured areas  22  are sized and shaped to facilitate attachment to an attachment device and are positioned on exterior surface  24  preferably somewhat higher than midway between open end  36  and puncture resistant end  20 . The body also includes a second pair of contoured areas  25  positioned opposite each other on exterior surface  24  of body  12  (note also that only one of the second pair of contoured areas is shown). Contoured areas  25  are positioned on exterior surface  24  preferably proximal to puncture resistant end  20  and are sized and shaped to facilitate grasping of the container by hand. In some embodiments, the contoured areas can have different textures than the rest of the body. For example, the second pair of contoured areas can have a rougher texture than other areas of the body. Varying the texture can increase tactility and help encourage grip. Also, varying the texture can prevent the user or caregiver from becoming confused between the packaging and the injector. For example, rough or “sparked” areas (that create, e.g., a frosted finish) can obscure or blur the label of the automatic injector itself and thus make the user or caregiver aware that the container is not the automatic injector and that the injector is inside the container.  FIG. 6  also shows another contoured area  60  located adjacent open end  36  of body  12 . Contoured area  60  enables the bottom portion of the cap to securely attach to the body. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , puncture resistant end  20  preferably has a base  64  with a raised middle portion  65 . This form of puncture resistant end causes the needle end of an automatic injector to be off center. Off centering the needle end of the injector weakens the puncturing force of the needle, thus the needle is more likely to bend and/or cripple than penetrate the container. The base of the puncture resistant end may be alternatively of other shapes that cause the needle end of the automatic injector to be off-center. For example, the base can include raised portions, peaks, troughs, dimples, or rough textures. Additionally or alternatively, the puncture resistant end may have a body wall thicker than the rest of the body. The body wall of the puncture resistant end should be thick enough to withstand the force of a needle driven by an inadvertent activation of an automatic injector inside the container (i.e., thick enough to prevent the needle from piercing through the puncture resistant end as the needle extends outward from the injector under the force of the injector&#39;s activation assembly). The increased thickness of the body wall at the puncture resistant end can be formed by the same material as the body or, alternatively, the increased thickness may be formed by an insert made of a different material than the body. 
         [0042]    As also shown in  FIG. 7 , body  12  preferably includes additional features such as at least one internal rib  66  that extends longitudinally from open end  36  toward puncture resistant end  20 . Rib  66  provides clearance for a safety pin or release of an automatic injector (i.e., so the safety pin or release is not dislodged by the wall of the container as the injector is inserted) and ensures correct alignment when inserting the injector into the container. Rib  66  also prevents the automatic injector from moving within the container. Rib  66  further allows the automatic injector to safely and easily slide into and out of the container by reducing drag, friction, and/or snagging. 
         [0043]      FIG. 8  shows an embodiment of puncture resistant end  20  of body  12  that includes a pair of ridges  68 . Ridges  68  advantageously protect the components of an automatic injector stored within the container from shock loads. 
         [0044]      FIG. 9  shows an optional attachment device of the invention that can be used to hold together a pair of injector containers. The attachment device is an S-shaped clip  100  having a first section  110 , a middle section  120  and a second section  130 . The first section  110  and middle section  120  are sized, shaped and spaced apart from each other such that a container can be securely held via a friction fit between the first and middle sections. The middle and second sections  120 ,  130  are also sized, shaped and spaced apart from each other such that a container can be securely held via a friction fit between the middle and second sections. In particular, the spacings between sections are slightly less than the width of the container, thus requiring the sections to be flexed apart somewhat when attaching the container. The clip has a spring-like resiliency that holds the container(s) securely in place. The attachment device may be formed from any suitable material that permits clip  100  to flex and engage the side of the container with a friction fit. Moreover, the first and middle sections  110 ,  120  may have a different radius of curvature than that of the containers. The different radiuses of curvature between the first and middle sections  110 ,  120  and the containers allow clip  100  to engage a container with minimal contact between the first and middle sections  110 ,  120  and the containers. Such minimal contact reduces the likelihood that first section  110  and middle section  120  will scratch the contours of the container. The same is preferably true for the radiuses of curvature of the middle and second sections  120 ,  130 . 
         [0045]    The overall “S” shape of the clip reduces the amount of force needed to remove a container from the clip, as compared to a more conventional double C-clip. The “S” shape of the clip allows the containers to act as levers, making removal of the containers easy. Additionally, texture on the outer surface of the attachment device makes the device easy to grip and preferably encourages users to replace the containers in the attachment device once the automatic injector has been used. The attachment device can also include a suitable attachment assembly for carrying the device on a belt or otherwise securing the device to an article of clothing or personal possession, such as a back or fanny pack. 
         [0046]      FIG. 10  shows one container secured within an attachment device. Container  10 X is securely held via a friction fit between the first and middle sections of S-clip  100 . First section  110  engages one of the contoured areas  22  of container  10  and middle section  120  engages the other contoured area  22 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 11  shows a first container and a second container secured within an attachment device. First container  150  and second container  160  are securely held via respective friction fits within S-clip  100  simultaneously. First container  150  is held between first section  110  and middle section  120  of S-clip  100 . First section  110  engages one of the pair of contoured areas  122  of first container  150  and middle section  120  engages the other contoured area  122 . Second container  160  is held between middle section  120  and second section  130  of S-clip  100 . Middle section  120  engages one of the pair of contoured areas  124  of container  160  and second section  130  engages the other contoured area  124 . 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , first and second containers  150 , 160  are held in S-shaped clip  100  such that respective caps  152  and  162  of first  150  and second  160  containers are adjacent to each other. Also, first and second containers  150 ,  160  are held in the S-shaped clip such that hinge  154  of first container cap  152  faces a direction opposite the direction in which hinge  164  of second container cap  162  faces. Alternatively, the first and second containers can be held in the S-shaped clip such that the hinge of the first container faces the same direction as the hinge of the second container cap. Further still, the first and second containers can be held upside down with respect to each other. In any case, both containers can be advantageously opened and closed without having to remove the container from the S-clip. 
         [0049]    The containers of the invention can be made of any suitable material. Suitable materials include those that can form a container as described herein and that will safely contain an automatic injector before and, depending on the size and type of injector, after use. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, polymers. Suitable polymers include, but are not limited to, polyurethanes, polyisobutylene and its copolymers, silicones, polyethylenes and polyesters. Other suitable polymers include polyolefins, polyisobutylene, ethylene-alphaolefin copolymers, acrylic polymers and copolymers, vinyl halide polymers and copolymers such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl ethers such as polyvinyl methyl ether, polyvinylidene halides such as polyvinylidene fluoride and polyvinylidene chloride, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl ketones, polyvinyl aromatics such as polystyrene, polyvinyl esters such as polyvinyl acetate: copolymers of vinyl monomers, copolymers of vinyl monomers and olefins such as ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymers, acrylonitrile-styrene copolymers, ABS resins, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, polyamides such as Nylon 66 and polycaprolactone, alkyd resins, polycarbonates, polyoxyethylenes, polyimides, polyethers, epoxy resins, polyurethanes, rayon-triacetate, cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellophane, cellulose nitrate, cellulose propionate, cellulose ethers, carboxymethyl cellulose, collagens, chitins, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid-polyethylene oxide copolymers and combinations of the foregoing. 
         [0050]    The cap and body of the containers can be made of the same or different materials. For example, in some embodiments, the cap may be made of polypropylene and the container may be made of polyester or poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). 
         [0051]    Additionally, the cap and body of the containers are preferably made of a material capable of blocking, absorbing or otherwise inhibiting the transmission of at least some wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV) light. For example, a UV absorbing agent can be added to the polymer from which the cap and the container are formed. UV blocking or absorbing capability helps to ensure that the therapeutic agent within the automatic injector is not degraded or otherwise compromised by exposure to UV light, even if the container is significantly light permeable. 
         [0052]    The containers of the invention may also be made of a transparent, translucent or opaque material, or any combination thereof. For example, the caps of the containers can be made from an opaque, colored material. Using colored caps can help a user or caregiver easily identify which type of automatic injector is in which container. Additionally, the body can be a combination of transparent material and translucent material. Transparent material can form windows through the container so that the user can (1) identify what type of automatic injector is in the container, (2) determine whether it has been used and/or (3) read the instructions on the injector. 
         [0053]    The containers of the invention may also serve as product packaging for an automatic injector and can thus be distributed with an automatic injector inside. Additionally, the exterior surfaces of the body of the containers, as well as the caps of the containers can be used for product labeling, usage directions, or other necessary indicia. Such labeling can be printed on labels and then affixed to the containers or printed or otherwise directly imposed on the surfaces of the containers during manufacture. For example, transparent windows can be used as branding areas to display trademarks or other branding materials. 
         [0054]    Also, translucent textured material may be used to form particular portions of the container, such as, for example, the contoured areas where the user is most likely to grasp or hold the container. Using a textured surface on portions of the container increases the user&#39;s ability to grasp and hold on to the container. 
         [0055]    Containers of the invention may have other useful features. As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  6 ,  10 , and  11 , body  12  may have a pair of oppositely positioned semi-spherical nubs  27  on the lower portion of exterior surface  24  (note that, because of the particular views shown, only one nub is seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  6 ,  10 , and  11 ). Nubs  27  help prevent the containers from nesting or interlocking with other containers during manufacturing, assembly, and packaging. 
         [0056]    The invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments. These embodiments, however, are merely examples, and the invention is not limited to them. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that other variations and modifications can be easily made within the scope of the invention and that the invention is limited by only the following claims.