Abstract:
A squeezable bottle containing fluids has a mouth for dispensing the fluid. An elastic valve is retained between a closing support retainer and a containment ring. The closing support retainer is secured to the mouth of the bottle and to the elastic valve and has passages for fluid through itself. The containment ring prevents the elastic valve from expanding too far outwardly over at least some of the valve&#39;s surface. A fluid passage is formed between the elastic valve and a rigid cap that leads to a dispensing opening. The dispensing opening is sealed by a round disc which is integrally formed with the elastic valve and seats on seat on the cap. This arrangement allows the contents of the bottle to remain sanitary over time.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a bottle for containing fluids, particularly pharmaceutical products or the like. 
     2. The Prior Art 
     The use of preserving agents added to products is well known, such as medicinal and pharmaceutical fluids contained in multidose bottles, the purpose being to prevent alteration and bacterial contamination of the contents once the bottles have been opened due to contact with the external environment. 
     Considering the fact that the use of such preserving agents is limited and regulated by strict laws, the integrity of the products is guaranteed and only the structure of the bottles is modified. 
     For example, single-dose bottles are known which, as such, are used just once so they do not require the addition of a preserving agent. 
     However, even these single-dose bottles are not without drawbacks, one of them being their bulk, with an equal volume of product contained in them, plus a lot of material is wasted and manufacturing costs are higher compared to multi-dose bottles. 
     As an alternative to single-dose bottles, multi-dose bottles are known that are basically composed of a fluid container made of a deformable material and which is fitted with a mouth to which a fluid dispensing spout is connected. The structure of the spout permits a unidirectional flow of the fluid from the container outwards and prevents polluting substances which are found in the environment external from entering the container. 
     The spout does, in fact, comprise a valve, made of an elastically deformable material, which is connected to the container&#39;s mouth and which features a plurality of gaps through which the fluid can flow, and a cap made in a basically stiff material which fits on and seals the valve and which has a dispensing opening at the top. 
     By squeezing the container, the fluid is pushed towards the spout where it compresses the valve radially and comes through into the space that opens between the valve and the cap until it reaches the cap&#39;s dispensing opening. These multi-dose bottles of the known type do, however, have some drawbacks, among which the fact that the time the valve takes to return to its original configuration (not deformed) is not negligible, which makes the formation of fluid residual easy as well as the entry of external pollutants. 
     To this end, moreover, it must be noted that traditional bottles do not guarantee correct dispensing of the fluid; the way the valve is deformed due to the squeezing pressure exerted on it by the fluid as it is being dispensed does, in fact, tend to be concentrated at the bottom, by the container&#39;s mouth, which is where a collecting pocket forms as a result. 
     Fluid stagnates inside this collecting pocket, losing the thrust necessary to deform the upper portion of the valve so failing to reach the dispensing opening when squeezing is finished. 
     In addition, in the known bottles, correct dispensing of the fluid is hindered also by the fact that the gap in the coupling between the valve and cap in proximity of the dispensing opening tends to get smaller. 
     The primary aim of this invention is to design a bottle for containing fluids, particularly pharmaceutical products or the like, that permits a reduction in the time it takes for the valve to return to its original configuration, thus reducing the formation of fluid residuals and the possibility of external pollutants from entering as well as ensuring a correct and constant dispensing of the fluid. 
     Within the sphere of this technical aim, another purpose of this invention is to cater to the above aims with a simple structure, of relatively practical implementation, safe to use and with effective operation, as well as having a relatively low cost. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This aim and these purposes are all achieved by this bottle for containing fluids, particularly pharmaceutical products or the like, which includes a fluid container made of a deformable material and which features a mouth for the passage of the fluid, a valve of an elastically deformable material that defines a flexible inner chamber arranged in proximity to the mouth, and a cap that substantially fits on and seals the valve and which has a dispensing opening for dispensing the fluid, the squeezing of the container causing the fluid to push up towards the mouth, the valve to compress, the fluid to flow between the valve and cap and to come out through the dispensing opening, and which includes a containment ring placed between said cap and the valve, arranged so that it externally embraces at least one portion of the valve and able to limit its deformation. 
     Further characteristics and advantages of this invention will appear even more evident from the detailed description of some preferred, but not exclusive, forms of embodiment of a bottle for containing fluids, particularly pharmaceutical products or the like, illustrated indicatively by way of non limiting example, in the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic and partial sectional view of a first form of embodiment of the bottle according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a portion of the bottle of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a detail of the bottle of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic and partial sectional view of a second form of embodiment of the bottle according to the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic and partial sectional view of a third form of embodiment of the bottle according to the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic and partial sectional view of a fourth form of embodiment of the bottle according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With special reference to such figures, a bottle for containing fluids, particularly pharmaceutical products or the like, has been globally designated by reference number  1 . 
     The bottle  1  comprises a container  2  of a fluid which is only illustrated partially in the figures. 
     The container  2  is made of a deformable material and extends to form a neck  3  at the top of which a mouth  4  for the passage of the fluid. 
     In proximity to the mouth  4  is located a valve  5 , made of an elastically deformable material, which defines a flexible inner chamber  6 . 
     The valve  5  is bell shaped and features a first open section  5   a , substantially tubular in shape, and a second closed section  5   b.    
     On the valve  5  is fitted and sealed a cap  7 , made of a stiff material, whose base is coupled to the neck  3  of the container  2  on the top of which a fluid dispensing opening  8  is obtained in axial position. 
     In actual fact, by squeezing the container  2  the fluid is pushed towards the mouth  4 , the second section  5   b  of the valve  5  is compressed, the fluid flows between the valve  5  and the cap  7  and the latter comes out through the dispensing opening  8 . 
     Usefully, a check valve body  9  is defined in proximity to the dispensing opening  8 , its task being to allow the fluid to flow from the container  2  outwards and to prevent it coming back. 
     In detail, the check valve body  9  consists of a disc of an elastically deformable material that is connected to the end of the second section  5   b  of the valve  5  and which rests on a seat  10  defined in proximity of the dispensing opening  8 . 
     The seat  10  is defined downstream from the dispensing opening  8 , in the direction in which the fluid flows out from the container  2  and has a truncated cone shape, diverging outwards so the disc  9 , resting on it, curves with its concavity facing outwards ( FIG. 3 ). 
     In actual fact the check valve body  9  ensures the fluid is sealed inside the container  2  and keeps it in perfect condition, preventing it from leaking accidentally, preventing fluid residuals from accumulating by the dispensing opening  8  and the entry of any external pollutants inside the container  2 . 
     The valve  5  has a plurality of first longitudinal ribs  11  which are defined in relief on the inner side surface of the second section  5   b  of the valve  5 . 
     When the container  2  is no longer being squeezed, the first longitudinal ribs  11  help the valve return to its original non-deformed configuration, especially its second section  5   b.    
     The valve  5  also has a plurality of second longitudinal ribs  12  which are defined in relief on the outer side surface of the second section  5   b.    
     Between two successive second longitudinal ribs  12  is a bed  13  for the passage of fluid; the second longitudinal ribs  12  guarantee opening of the beds  13  even if the clearance of the coupling between the valve  5  and the cap  7  in proximity of the dispensing opening  8  tends to get smaller. 
     Advantageously, a containment ring  14  is inserted between the valve  5  and the cap  7 , substantially coaxial to them, so it externally embraces the first section  5   a  of the valve  5  and limits its deformation. 
     With the compression action exerted by the fluid as it leaves the container, the containment ring  14  reduces squeezing of the first section  5   a , concentrating it on the second section  5   b  of the valve  5 , thus preventing the fluid from stagnating and guaranteeing correct dispensing. 
     The bottle  1  comprises supporting and closing means  15  for supporting the valve  5  and for sealing the inner chamber  6 , that are connected to the cap  7  and container  2 . 
     In the particular form of embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the supporting and closing means are composed of a sealing element placed in between the mouth  4  and valve  5 . 
     The sealing element  15  features a plurality of holes  16  for the passage of fluid, an inner ring-shaped projection  17  that faces the container  2  for coupling to the mouth  4 , an outer ring-shaped projection  18 , facing the valve  5  to couple and seal the inner surface of the first section  5   a  of the valve  5 , and a peduncle  19  that extends inside the inner ring-shaped projection  17 . 
     The ring-shaped projections, inner  17  and outer  18 , and the peduncle  19  are defined substantially coaxial to one another; a guiding space  20  for the fluid leaving the container  2  is located between the peduncle  19  and the inner ring-shaped projection  17 . 
     In addition, in the form of embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3  the valve  5  has a ring-shaped flap  5   c  that extends around the open end of the first section  5   a  and features a plurality of fluid passage gaps  21 . 
     In practice, after the bottle  1  has been squeezed, the fluid coming from the container  2  through the holes  16  of the sealing element  15  goes through the passage gaps  21  entering the compartment defined between the outer surface of the valve  5  and the inner surface of the cap  7 . 
     Furthermore, in this particular form of embodiment, the bottle  1  is fitted with a closing plug  22  that consists of a hollow cylindrical body  23  that fits on the cap  7  and which is connected along a plurality of frangible portions  24  to a sealing ring nut  25  connected to the cap  7  or container  2 . 
     An internal appendix  26  is obtained inside the closing plug  22  which, in the closing configuration, fits on the cap  7  by the edge of the dispensing opening  8 . Sealing means are also housed inside the internal appendix  26 , of the bearing type  27 , made in a deformable material that rests against the edge of the dispensing opening  8  when the closing plug  22  is fitted on the cap  7 . 
     In an alternative form of embodiment of the invention, represented in  FIG. 4 , the supporting and closing means  15  consist of a transversal wall of the neck  3  of the container  2  and the mouth  4  is defined by a plurality of through slots created on the wall  15 . 
     The wall  15  features a ring-shaped relief  28  facing the valve  5  which, similar to the outer ring-shaped projection  18  which we find in the first form of embodiment illustrated previously, is able to couple with and seal the inner surface of the first section  5   a  of the valve  5 . 
     For the rest, the form of embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4  is fitted with a valve  5  and a containment ring  14  similar to those shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . 
     In particular, both in the first and second form of embodiment, the containment ring  14  is a body separate from the supporting and closing means  15 . 
     However, different construction solutions are possible where the containment ring  14  is integrally associated with the supporting and closing means  15 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , for example, a third form of embodiment of the invention is illustrated where the supporting and closing means  15  consist of a transversal wall similar to the one in  FIG. 4 . 
     The containment ring  14  is made in one piece with this wall and it extends around the ring-shaped relief  28 . 
     In addition, unlike the previously described forms of embodiment, the valve  5  has no ring-shaped flap  5   c  and the first section  5   a  is housed in the space defined between the containment ring  14  and the ring-shaped relief  28 . 
     Other forms of embodiment are, however, possible, not illustrated in the figures, wherein, for example, the bottle  1  has a sealing element similar to the one in  FIGS. 1 to 3  and it is also fitted with a containment ring, connected integrally to it, around the outer ring-shaped projection; in this case, the valve has no ring-shaped flap, the same as  FIG. 5 , and is inserted between the containment ring and the outer ring-shaped projection. 
     In a last form of embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the closing plug  22  is connected to cap  7  along a plurality of breaking lines  29  which allow joining to the edge of the dispensing opening  8  when the bottle  1  is being prepared. 
     In addition, the closing plug  22  also has a top  30  that, once breaking lines  29  have been broken, can be fitted on the edge of the dispensing opening  8  and removed when wanted; two or more gripping fins  31  projecting from the sides of the top  30  allow for a firmer grip of the plug with your hand. 
     It has in practice been seen how the described invention achieves the intended purposes. 
     The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which falling within the scope of the inventive concept. 
     Furthermore all the details may be replaced by other elements which are technically equivalent. 
     In practice, all the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements without because of this moving outside the protection scope of the following claims.