CAP ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH AN ASSEMBLY

Abstract: Assembly having an easily deformable plug member (9) inserted in a neck member. Said neck member is provided with a cover member (6). The cover member (6) has a cavity (10, 11) therein shaped as non-releasing in the direction of opening. In closed position of the cap member it is filled with an easily deformable material (9) to provide an indication against tampering.

Description: -, Cap assembly and method for producing such an assembly Description This invention relates to a cap assembly comprising an easily deformable plug member and a neck member partially covering said plug member during use and a cover member for said plug member. Such an assembly is known from DE-A-3 519655- In this assem¬ bly between the covering member and the neck portion foil sheet is arranged. A plug member is provided with a cavity to introduce a protrusion of the cover member. Except from being complicated by the further foil member the cap assembly according to this specifi¬ cation has the drawback that after removing of cover member, this member can be replaced without any indication of being opened, because the foil sheet is permanently removed. This means that there is no clear evidence that there might be tampered with the contents of the container. Such assemblies are e.g. used in infusion bottles. With these bottles a part of the aluminium foil is removed and the rubber plug is pierced by an injection needle or spike to remove the contents. A further drawback are the several steps needed to place the cap assembly on a container. The invention aims to obviate these drawbacks. According to the invention this is realized in that said cover member is provid¬ ed with a cavity being shaped as non-releasable in the direction of opening and filled with a locking member of an easily deformable material connected to said neck member. By introducing in the locked position of the cover member of the material of the locking member in a non-releasing cavity, is possible to obtain an indica¬ tion showing whether the cover member has been released. By the easily deformable nature of the material of the locking member the cover member can be opened. However, after this it is impossible to close the cover member to the original position. Such an in¬ dication is of considerable importance with many applications of the cap assembly according to the invention. Examples are a guaran¬ tee that after filling of the bottle the cover member has not been opened and the locking member, which has to be pierced by an injec- tion needle, is sterile. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the locking member and the plug member comprise an inte- grally formed part. According to a further preferred embodiment the locking member provides the seal between the cover member and the neck portion. The cover member and the neck member can be simply realized as one part connected through a film hinge. To further secure the position of the cover member with regard to the cap assembly snap means can be provided. As material for the plug member and/or the locking member thermoplastic rubber are prefer- ed. Both materials have the property of being non-toxic, so that a cap assembly embodying these materials can be used for all kinds of pharmacological applications. The cap assembly described above can be provided as a part which can be connected to a container in one simple step. The invention also relates to a method for producing the cap assembly described above wherein at least the lockable member is realized by injection moulding in the cavity defined by the cover member and the neck member. After providing the neck member with the cover member in position by injection moulding the locking member is provided. It is of course also possible in the embodiment wherein the locking member and plug member are integrally formed to also form the plug member in the same step by injection moulding. The invention will now be further elucidated referring to the drawing in which different embodiments are shown, and wherein: Fig. 1 shows a cross section through the first embodiment of a cap assembly according to the invention: and Fig. 2 shows a cross section through a further embodiment of the invention. The cap assembly as shown in fig. 1 is generally indicated with 1 and comprises a cap member 2 having a sleeve 3 and collar . Sleeve 3 is provided with a protruding part 5 for connection to a container not shown. Integrally formed with cap member 2 cover member 6 is provided. Connection is realized by hinge 7- Cover member 6 is connected to cap member 2 at the side opposite to the hinge 7 through usual snap means 8. The cap member together with the cover member is realized from material withstanding elevated temperature. After realizing cap member 2 in the way shown in this drawing with means not shown a deformable material, such as poly- siloxane material is injected to provide plug member 9- This material penetrates in cavities 10 and 11. Cavity 10 is shaped non- releasable, i.e. cover member 6 cannot be removed from cap member 2 without deformation of the material of plug member 9 being within cavity 10. This results in that after opening of the cover member it is not possible anymore to close this cover member 6 because the protruding part of the plug member prevents this. Cavity 11 is filled during realizing of plug member 9 such as by injection moulding, with the same material such that sealing between cover member 6 and cap member 2 is provided. Injection of plug member 9 is provided from injection opening 12. Except from filling the above-mentioned cavities sealing surfaces 13 and 1*4 are realized with regard to the container. By suitable choice of the material of this plug member it is possible to introduce an injection needle by piercing after cover member 6 is opened. If cover member 6 is opened the exposed surface Of plug member 9 is sterile. This in contrast to prior art device using an aluminium sheet cap. If the injection needle does not have a too large diameter it is also possible after its retracton to again provide a sealing by the resilient properties of the material of plug member « A material withstanding elevated temperatures for forming cap member 2 is a polyester material. If silicone material is used for the plug member during and after injection heat is supplied to crosslink the silicone material and as post treatment to remove free silicones which might have undesired properties. In fig. 2 a further embodiment of the cap assembly according to the invention is shown generally indicated with 15- Also this cap assembly comprises a neck portion 16 being provided with pro¬ trusions 17 and with aeration channels 30 extending in vertical direction of the neck portion to aerate the part of the container between the protrusion 17 and the sealing site of the cap assembly to the outside part of the container Linked through a film hinge 18 cover member 19 is provided. Cover member 19 has an opening 20. In contrast to the first embodiment of the invention stopper 21 does not extend up to cavity 22 in cover member 19- As with the embodiment of Fig. 1 cavity 22 is shaped such that after it is filled with material it can only be opened and not be closed because of the presence of easily deformable material indicated with 23- In this embodiment it is possible to provide stopper 21 as a separate part which is intro¬ duced in member 16 after which through opening 20 material is injected for providing a guarantee against opening of cover member 19- Member 23 can comprise material such as thermoplastic rubber. In the embodiment of figure 2 cover member 19 is provided with a ring-shaped extension 31- This extension 31 is surrounded by material 23. After removing of cover member 19 a neelde has only to be pierced through stopper 21. Although the invention is described with reference to the preferred embodiments it has to be understood that any amendment can be introduced without leaving the scope of protection as defin¬ ed in the appending claims.

Claims: C L A I M S 1. Cap assembly comprising an easily deformable plug member, and a neck member partially covering said plug member during use, and a cover member for said plug member, characterized in tha , said cover member is provided with a cavity being shaped as non- releasable in the direction of opening and filled with a locking member of an easily deformable material connected to said neck member. 2. Cap assembly according to claim 1 wherein said locking member and plug member comprise an integrally formed part. 3- Cap assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking member provides the seal between the cover member and the neck member. 4. Cap assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the neck member and cover member are formed integrally and connected through a film hinge. 5. Cap assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein between the neck member and cover member snap means are provided. 6. Cap assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said plug member and said locking member comprises thermoplastic rubber material. 7. Method for producing the cap assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the lockable member is realized by injection moulding in the cavity defined by the cover member and the neck member.

Inventors: WIJNSCHENK RONALD JOSEPHUS CLE, WIJNSCHENK, RONALD, JOSEPHUS, CLEMENS
Applicants: MICROPLAST BV, MICROPLAST B.V.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B65D51
IPC codes: B29C45, B65D51, B65D55