Cap with draining spike for use with hermetically sealed dispensing container

Abstract: A cap equipped with a dispensing nozzle is provided for use with a hermetically sealed container which includes a neck portion sealed by a pierceable membrane. A spike within the cap pierces the membrane when the cap is threaded onto the neck portion of the container so as to provide access to the contents of the container. The spike includes a passageway in fluid flow communication with a dispensing nozzle on the cap so as to allow dispensing of the contents of such container.

Description: Technical Field of the Invention This invention relates to a hermetically sealed dispensing container having a unitary sealing membrane and, more particularly, to a dispensing cap therefor having a draining spike therein which pierces the container membrane as the cap is secured to the container so as to provide access to the container contents. Background of the Invention Packaging systems that form, fill, and seal containers such as thermoplastic bottles enjoy widespread commercial acceptance through ease of operation and reduced labor costs. A container or bottle of this type is formed of thermoplastic material, filled with the desired substance, and then sealed in one continuous operation as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,178,976 to Weiler et al. Generally, the container is sealed by a pierceable membrane which is unitary with an opening defined by the throat or neck portion of such container. Such a packaging system obviates the need for costly auxiliary equipment to clean and handle empty containers, fill the containers, and seal the containers. The system is particularly desirable where a sterilized fluid is to be sealed within a container and thereafter maintained in a sterile condition. However, some means must be provided to pierce the membrane and obtain access to the contents within the container. Access to the contents is presently accomplished by first piercing the membrane with a suitable instrument such as a knife or the like so as to provide access to the container contents and then securing a cap with a dispensing nozzle over the neck portion to allow dispensing of the container contents. This means, however, is undesirable in medical applications and, particularly, in emergency medical applications where time is of the essence since the present means is a two-step process. Moreover, this means is undesirable because the membrane may often be pierced with a non-sterile instrument thus increasing the likelihood that the sterile contents of such container may be contaminated. GB 2 017 661 A discloses a liquid-dispensing bottle including a cap which, in the relevant embodiment, houses a separate hollow spike with a unitary nozzle. The spike is adapted to pierce a membrane on the neck of a container in response to the lowering of the cap over the neck of the container. However, unlike the spike of the present invention, it does not include a cylindrical body portion which is nestable within the recess of a nozzle unitary with the cap. WO 85/04573 discloses a self-opening nipple and nursing container which, in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 15 thereof, incorporates a separate spike which is movable axially inside the nipple and is adapted to pierce a membrane covering the top of the nursing container when the nipple is squeezed which in turn pushes the spike down and through the membrane. The cap embodiments disclosed in Figures 16 to 24 include spikes which are unitary with the cap. The present invention, on the other hand, covers a spike which is separate from the cap and includes a peripheral flange adapted to be nested in the recess of the cap. The invention provides a cap suitable for providing access to a hermetically sealed container sealed by a pierceable membrane the cap comprising an upper portion provided with a dispensing nozzle having a through channel which has an enlarged portion remote from the tip of the nozzle to provide a recess to receive a draining spike, the draining spike comprising an elongate member having a first segment which is a generally cylindrical body portion and a second segment which ends in a piercing tip characterized in that one end of the cylindrical body remote from the piercing tip is nested into the enlarged portion of said through channel and in that the draining spike has a peripheral flange extending outwardly of both first and second segments and the peripheral flange is nested against an internal annular face of the cap around the enlarged portion of said through channel so as to provide a press fit at of a lateral tapered face of the peripheral flange the draining spike within the cap, the cylindrical body and the piercing tip together defining a draining passageway in fluid communication with the through channel of the nozzle wherein the piercing tip is caused to penetrate the membrane when the cap is threaded onto a neck portion (22) of the container and in that the cap further comprises a flexible arm carried by the cap which terminates in an annular fitment which co-operates with the dispensing nozzle to provide a removable closure thereof securable over the dispensing nozzle. According to a feature of the invention, the cap may further include a dome portion provided with a cross wall and wherein the dispensing nozzle extends outwardly from the cross-wall dome portion the nozzle defining an inner recess with a tapered lateral surface surrounding the through channel at the proximal end of the nozzle; a skirt portion unitary with the dome portion and provided with internal threads for engagement with external threads of the neck portion; wherein the peripheral flange of the draning spike includes an upper surface, the spike depending inwardly from the cross-wall of the dome portion such that the cylindrical body portion and the peripheral flange are nested within the through channel and recess respectively, and the tapered lateral face engages the tapered lateral surface, and the upper surface engages the cross-wall to provide the press fit which removably secures the Spike within the cap. According to another feature of the invention, a plurality of peripherally spaced fins may extend into the draining passageway defined by the cylindrical body portion of the spike. Preferably, the flexible arm extends from the cap at the terminus of the skirt portion. Another aspect of the invention provides a dispenser comprising a hermetically sealed container and a cap as defined in any one of the three immediately preceding paragraphs. Because the spike is nested within the cap, the membrane can be pierced at the same time that the cap is being secured to the container thus eliminating the step of piercing the membrane prior to securement of the cap to the container. Moreover, the use of a spike within the cap allows the membrane to be pierced with a sterile instrument thus assuring the continued sterility of the container contents. There are other advantages and features of the present invention which will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the drawings, and the appended claims. Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings, FIG. 1 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a dispenser embodying this invention and showing a hermetically sealed container in association with a cap and a draining spike adapted to fit within the cap; FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the draining spike taken generally along the plane 2-2 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the draining spike taken generally along the plane 3-3 of FIG. 1; and FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the dispenser showing the cap threaded and secured to the neck portion of the container and the spike therein piercing the container membrane. Description of the Preferred Embodiment The invention disclosed herein is, of course, susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. Shown in the drawings and described hereinbelow in detail is a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the present disclosure is an exemplication of the principles of the invention and does not limit the invention to the illustrated embodiment. For ease of description, a dispenser constituted by a container equipped with a cap embodying the present invention is described hereinbelow in its usual assembled position as shown in the accompanying drawings and terms such as upper, lower, horizontal, etc., will be used herein with reference to this usual position. However, the container and cap may be manufactured, stored transported, sold, or used in orientations other than that described and shown herein. Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, dispenser 10 embodying this invention comprises a hermetically sealed container 12 and a cap 32 associated therewith. Container 12 is of unitary construction and includes a hollow body portion 16 whose walls are relatively thin and which defines a liquid-holding cavity 18. Body portion 16 and cavity 18 can have any convenient or desired configuration. The container configuration shown, however, is presently preferred, particularly with the body portion 16 sized to fit into the palm of the average or typical adult human hand. The walls of body portion 16 are relatively thin so that body portion 16 can be manually squeezed, i.e., compressed or distorted to dispense a liquid fill therefrom. Container 12 can be molded using a thermoplastic polymer. Presently preferred polymers are low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and the like. The thickness of body portion 16 can vary from one location to another, but is preferably formed as thin as practical, consistent with structural strength requirements. Container 12 can be made by a parison molding procedure wherein body portion 16 is formed first, then filled with a desired liquid fill, and thereafter sealed with a pierceable membrane. The form, filling and sealing operations are carried out automatically under sterile conditions using procedures known to the art as disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 4,178,976 to Weiler et al. The cap 32 of the present invention can be fabricated with automatic molding apparatus and other mechanisms, the details of which, although not fully illustrated or described, will be apparent to those having skill in the art and an understanding of the necessary functions of such apparatus and mechanisms. The detailed descriptions of such apparatus and mechanisms are not necessary to an understanding of the invention and are not herein presented because such apparatus and mechanisms form no part of the present invention. Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 4, one end 20 of body portion 16 terminates in a tapered neck or throat portion 22 which is unitary with body portion 16. The neck portion 22 defines an opening 24 sealed with a pierceable membrane 26 unitary therewith. The neck portion 22 and body portion 16 are usually positioned substantially symmetrically about a common longitudinal axis. External screw threads 28 are formed about the periphery of neck portion 22. The threads 28 extend circumferentially outwardly about an outside wall region of neck portion 22. Screw threads 28 can be left-handed or right-handed, as desired. The cap 32 includes a skirt portion 38 defined by a generally cylindrical peripheral wall 40. The wall 40 is provided with internal screw threads 42 about an inside surface region thereof. The cap screw threads 42 are threadingly engageable with the neck portion screw threads 28. In the embodiment illustrated, the exterior surface of the wall 40 is generally cylindrical, but it also has a plurality of vertically aligned grooves 43 to facilitate gripping of the cap 32. Other gripping means are suitable as well. The cap 32 also includes a unitary dome portion 46 comprising a frustoconical wall 48 which projects unitarily upwardly from a distal terminus 50 of the skirt portion 38. The dome portion 46 also includes a circular cross wall 52 which projects unitarily horizontally from a distal terminus 54 of frustoconical wall 48. The cross wall 52 includes a centrally disposed circular aperture or opening 56 and a cylindrical recess 58 concentric with the aperture 56. The recess 58 includes a tapered lateral peripheral surface 59. Moreover, the cap 32 includes a dispensing nozzle 60 including a generally cylindrical portion 62 which projects unitarily longitudinally upwardly from the aperture 56 in cross wall 52 and a frustoconical portion 64 which projects unitarily convergently upwardly from the cylindrical portion 62 and which terminates into a dispensing orifice 65. An annular shoulder 66 is defined in the region between cylindrical portion 62 and frustoconical portion 64. A generally cylindrical channel 68 extends centrally axially from the aperture 56 through the cylindrical portion 62 of nozzle 60 and an upwardly divergingly tapered frustoconical channel 70 extends centrally axially through the frustoconical portion 64 between the channel 68 and orifice 65. The channels 68 and 70 are in fluid flow communication with each other. The cap 32 can be made of a plastic material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or the like and also includes a removable closure 72 including a closure member 74 adapted to be secured over the nozzle 60 and a flexible arm 76 extending between the closure member 74 and terminus 50 of skirt portion 38. A draining spike 78 is made of relatively harder material than the cap and is located within the cap 32 for piercing the membrane 26 when the cap 32 is threadingly secured to the neck portion 22. This provides access to the liquid within body portion 16 of container 12. Spike 78 comprises an elongate member 80 including a generally cylindrical body portion 82 which terminates at a distal end 84 thereof into a pointed conical tip or piercing portion 86. The cylindrical body portion 82 is comprised of a first generally cylindrical segment 88 and a second generally cylindrical segment 90 unitary and integral with the first segment 88 but having a diameter less than the diameter of first segment 88. The body portion 82 includes a bore 92 which extends centrally axially therethrough and terminates into an aperture 94 at the end of the first segment 88. A plurality of fins 95 extend longitudinally around the circumference of the bore 92. The tip portion 86 includes diametrically opposed inner passages 96 and 98 which extend longitudinally between the outer surface of piercing portion 86 and the bore 92. The bore 92, in fluid flow communication with the passages 96 and 98, defines a draining passageway. The draining spike can be made of styrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), and the like. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the spike 78 also includes a flange 100 extending outwardly around the periphery of body portion 82 in the region between the first and second segments 88 and 90 respectively. The flange 100 includes an upper surface 102 and a lower surface 104 interconnected by a tapered lateral face 106. The spike 78 is secured within the cap 32 and, more particularly, depends inwardly from the dome portion 46 thereof such that the first segment 88 of body portion 80 is nested within the channel 68 of nozzle 60 and the flange 100 is nested within the recess 58 in cross wall 52 and the second segment 90 and piercing portion 86 extend inwardly into the interior of cap 32. In the nested position, the tapered lateral surface of recess 58 engages the lateral tapered face 106 of flange 100 so as to provide a press fit of the spike 78 within cap 32. Moreover, in the nested position, the bore 92 of spike 78 is in fluid flow communication with the channel 68 in nozzle 60. According to the invention, liquid is dispensed from the container 12 as described below. Initially, cap 32 is positioned over the neck portion 22 so as to begin threadable engagement between respective screw threads 28 and 42. The cap 32 is then rotated, relative to the neck portion 22 in a direction which increases the amount of such threadable engagement and causes the spike 78 to move towards the membrane 26, until the cap 32 is fully threaded onto the neck portion 22 and the piercing portion 86 of spike 78 has penetrated the membrane 26 as shown in FIG. 4 thus providing an access to the liquid in the body portion 16 of container 12. Then, upon squeezing and/or tilting of the container 12, the liquid in body portion 16 may be dispensed through the nozzle 60 via passages 96 and 98 and bore 92 in spike 78 and channels 68 and 70 and dispensing orifice 65 in nozzle 60.

Claims: A cap (32) suitable for providing access to a hermetically sealed container (12) sealed by a pierceable membrane (26), the cap comprising an upper portion provided with a dispensing nozzle having a through channel which has an enlarged portion remote from the tip of the nozzle to provide a recess to receive a draining spike, the draining spike comprising an elongate member having a first segment which is a generally cylindrical body portion and a second segment which ends in a piercing tip characterized in that one end of the cylindrical body remote from the piercing tip is nested into the enlarged portion of said through channel and in that the draining spike has a peripheral flange extending outwardly of both the first and second segments and the peripheral flange is nested against an internal annular face of the cap around the enlarged portion of said through channel so as to provide a press fit of a lateral tapered face of the peripheral flange of the draining spike within the cap, the cylindrical body and the piercing tip together defining a draining passageway in fluid communication with the through channel of the nozzle wherein the piercing tip is caused to penetrate the membrane when the cap is threaded onto a neck portion (22) of the container and in that the cap further comprises a flexible arm (76) carried by the cap (32) which terminates in an annular fitment which co-operates with the dispensing nozzle to provide a removable closure (72) thereof securable over the dispensing nozzle (60). A cap (32) according to claim 1 further comprising a dome portion (46) provided with a cross wall (52) and wherein the dispensing nozzle (60) extends outwardly from the cross-wall (52) dome portion (46) the nozzle (60) defining an inner recess (58) with a tapered lateral surface (59) surrounding the through channel (56) at the proximal end of the nozzle (60); a skirt portion (38) unitary with the dome portion (46) and provided with internal threads (42) for engagement with external threads of the neck portion (22); wherein the peripheral flange (100) of the draining spike includes an upper surface (102), the spike (78) depending inwardly from the cross-wall (52) of the dome portion (46) such that the cylindrical body portion (82) and the peripheral flange (100) are nested within the through channel and recess (58) respectively, and the tapered lateral face (106) engages the tapered lateral surface (59) and the upper surface (102) engages the cross-wall (52) to provide the press fit which removably secures the spike (78) within the cap (32). The cap (32) of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a plurality of peripherally spaced fins (95) extend into the draining passageway (92, 96, 98) defined by the cylindrical body portion (82) of the spike (78). The cap (32) of claim 1, wherein the flexible arm (76) extends from the cap (32) at the terminus (50) of the skirt portion (38). A dispenser comprising a hermetically sealed container and a cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4.

Inventors: SCHAEFFER KRISTIAN, WEILER GERHARD H, SCHAEFFER, KRISTIAN, WEILER, GERHARD H.
Applicants: AUTOMATIC LIQUID PACKAGING, AUTOMATIC LIQUID PACKAGING, INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B65D51
IPC codes: B65D47, B65D51