Abstract:
A closure ( 12 ) for a container ( 14 ) adapted to store fluid ( 16 ) to be dispensed, said closure comprising a body ( 17 ) having an outer surface ( 23 ) communicating with the exterior of said container and an inner surface ( 27 ) embedded within said body wherein said outer surface includes a cavity ( 26 ) adapted to sealably receive a dispensing device ( 32 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2006906330 filed on 13 Nov. 2006, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       INTRODUCTION TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a closure for a fluid container which facilitates dispensing the fluid. The invention also relates to a dispensing system for dispensing a fluid stored in a container. 
         [0003]    The invention is particularly suitable for dispensing liquids, slurries, lotions, creams and other similar substances. The system may also be adapted to dispense gases, if required. However, for ease of understanding, the invention will be described herein in relation to the dispensing of a liquid substance stored in a container. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Many liquid substances, including pharmaceutical and veterinary preparations, substances for medical use, chemical reagents and numerous other substances need to be dispensed from a storage container, particularly sterile storage containers, in such a way that the remaining contents are not contaminated. Any system used for dispensing, for example, sterile substances, must be designed such as to ensure the substance being dispensed remains sterile, as well as minimising the possibility of contamination of any sterile substance remaining in the container. In many instances, it is necessary to dispense only a portion of the quantity of material stored in a container in a way that the container is resealed for subsequent dispensing of additional, uncontaminated substance. 
         [0005]    It has been common practice to dispense liquid substances from sterile containers by extracting the substance using a syringe having a needle which is caused to pass through a resilient stopper on the container whereby the contents may be extracted through the needle into the syringe. The syringe may then be used to dispense the substance, either by injecting the substance into a patient, or an animal or any other container or body to which the material is to be dispensed. With such a dispensing system, the resilience of the stopper material seals the hole created by insertion of the needle through the stopper to thereby maintain the contents of the container in a sterile condition. However, by using a needle and syringe dispensing system in conjunction with a resilient container stopper, it is difficult to extract all the contents of the container and, therefore, it is common for some proportion of the container contents to be discarded and wasted. When the container contents comprise a relatively expensive pharmaceutical, veterinary product, chemical reagent or the like, the cost associated with discarding a portion of the container contents may be considerable. 
         [0006]    In many instances, substances must be dispensed using a delivery system which does not involve the use of a needle. Heretofore, however, it has been common practice to use a needle to extract the substance from a container and to then discard the needle, or remove the needle from the syringe body and thereafter use the syringe, without the needle, to dispense the product. However, the handling of syringe needles inevitably gives rise to risks associated with accidental needle stick or inadequate or improper or unsafe disposal of the discarded needle. Accordingly, the use of a needle to facilitate extraction of the contents of a container when the needle is not to be used to dispense those contents is undesirable and, potentially, inefficient. 
         [0007]    It is therefore desirable to provide a dispensing system which alleviates at least some of the disadvantages of existing dispensing systems. 
         [0008]    It is also desirable to provide a dispensing system including a closure for a container that facilitates extraction of a fluid from the container in a manner that minimises risk of contents contamination. 
         [0009]    It is also desirable to provide a dispensing system that may be used without the use of a needle to extract contents of a container. 
         [0010]    It is also desirable to provide a dispensing system which minimises the risk of contamination of the contents of a container. 
         [0011]    It is also desirable to provide a closure for containers storing a fluid whereby the fluid content is able to be removed by more than one extraction method a manner to minimise contamination of remaining contents. 
         [0012]    It is also desirable to provide a closure for a container, particularly a container of a sterile liquid, which is economic to manufacture, is simple to use and facilitates dispensing of the container contents. 
       STATEMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a closure for a container adapted to store fluid to be dispensed, said closure comprising a body having an outer surface communicating with the exterior of said container and an inner surface embedded within said body wherein said outer surface includes a cavity adapted to sealably receive a dispensing device. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the cavity, which extends into a body of the closure, is of a cylindrical shape, the bottom end of which is spaced from the inner surface. 
         [0015]    In one form of the invention, a duct extends between the bottom surface of the cavity and the lower surface of the closure. Preferably, the duct is maintained in a closed condition, but is able to be opened to facilitate transfer of fluid from one end of the duct to the other either by the use of a dispensing device that is designed to pass into the duct, or on application of a fluid pressure differential to opposite ends of the duct. 
         [0016]    The cavity end of the duct may be closed by a protective, sealing membrane or web. The membrane or web may comprise material of the closure, or be a separate membrane or web secured to the bottom surface of the cavity. Preferably, the membrane or web seals the duct against ingress of potentially contaminating material. An opening may be formed in the membrane by a dispensing device that is designed to pass into the duct, or to permit fluid to pass through the duct on application of a differential pressure. Thus, in the latter case, fluid pressure applied to the membrane on one side thereof may cause the membrane to rupture or perforate to allow the fluid to pass therethrough. 
         [0017]    The closure may also be formed with a blind hole extending outwardly from the inner surface thereof. With this arrangement, both the blind hole and the cavity are spaced from the central axis of the closure which, in the preferred embodiment, is of circular configuration to fit a circular opening or neck of the container. Other shapes may be designed as required. Preferably, the outer surface of the closure has an indentation or other formation or mark which indicates the axis of the blind hole whereby the axis comprises an optimum needle entry point if it is necessary to insert a needle through the closure to extract fluid from the container. Alternatively, a normally-closed hole may be formed through the closure wall, the hole being adapted to receive and guide a needle, or being able to allow gas or air to pass through the closure in the event of a differential pressure occurring across the closure due, for example, to extraction of liquid from the container, or a build up of pressure within the container. A removable cover may be associated with such a normally-closed hole to enable selective access to the normally-closed hole. 
         [0018]    In preferred embodiments, the cavity in the outer surface of the closure is of substantially cylindrical shape and is dimensioned to receive a substantially cylindrical or tapered boss on the end of a syringe adapted to withdraw fluid from the container. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the shape of the boss corresponds substantially to the cavity so that walls of the cavity closely engage the outer surface of the boss. In one form, one or both of the cooperating surfaces is/are formed with ribs or other formations, or barbs or the like to assist inter engagement of the boss within the cavity and to assist in maintaining the boss in the engaged position to minimise the possibility of accidental removal of the boss from the cavity during withdrawal of fluid from the container. 
         [0020]    According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a closure for a container adapted to store fluid to be dispensed, said closure comprising a body having an outer surface communicating with the exterior of said container and a lower surface in communication with the interior of said container and a duct traversing said outer and lower surfaces wherein said outer surface includes a receptor adapted to receive the boss of a dispensing device. With this arrangement, the receptor need not include a cavity. 
         [0021]    According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a dispensing system for dispensing fluid stored in a container, said system including a closure for said container, said closure comprising a resilient body having an outer surface communicating with the exterior of said container and an inner surface embedded within said body wherein said outer surface includes a cavity, a duct extending from said cavity to said inner surface and a dispensing device wherein said dispensing device includes a hollow boss adapted to sealably engage with said cavity. 
         [0022]    In preferred embodiments, the boss has a portion that passes through the duct so that the dispensing device communicates directly with the interior of the container. When the boss is withdrawn, the duct closes to again seal the container interior. The hollow opening through the boss may be of a size that relatively viscous liquids may be easily withdrawn from the container. 
         [0023]    In one form, the dispensing device is in the form of a syringe barrel having a plunger to create the pressure differential. Preferably, after extraction of fluid from the container using the syringe, the syringe is withdrawn from the container closure and is then used to dispense the fluid either directly through the syringe outlet or through a needle attached thereto. A syringe for use with embodiments of the invention may be of any size commensurate with the container contents and the intended use thereof. Small, precise measurements of small quantities of fluid may be made with a small syringe while large amounts of fluid may be extracted and quickly and easily dispensed using a large syringe. 
         [0024]    It will be appreciated that the invention is also applicable to adding fluid to a container using the closure of the invention and the dispensing system. In this aspect, the syringe which holds the fluid to be transferred to the container is engaged with the closure by engaging the boss on the syringe with the closure cavity. Actuation of the syringe plunger to pressurise the fluid in the syringe causes the fluid to pass therefrom through the duct and into the container. 
         [0025]    The duct may be closed by a membrane at the bottom of the cavity, which membrane is able to be punctured by the fluid expressed from the syringe boss. 
         [0026]    The duct is maintained in a closed condition by the resilience of the material from which the closure is made. Preferably, the closure is formed of a rubber or synthetic rubber, a synthetic plastics material or other like resilient material known in the art. When the closure is engaged within the opening of a container, the outer surface thereof, which is preferably cylindrical or substantially cylindrical, is an interference fit in the container opening such that the material of the closure is compressed thereby assisting the closing of the duct. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    In order that the invention is more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures and legend: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Legend 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 12. 
                 Closure 
               
               
                 14. 
                 Container 
               
               
                 15. 
                 Neck 
               
               
                 16. 
                 Fluid 
               
               
                 17. 
                 Body 
               
               
                 18. 
                 Head 
               
               
                 19. 
                 Surface 
               
               
                 21. 
                 Opening 
               
               
                 22. 
                 Lower surface 
               
               
                 23. 
                 Outer surface 
               
               
                 24. 
                 Indentation 
               
               
                 26. 
                 Recess/Cavity 
               
               
                 27. 
                 Inner surface 
               
               
                 28. 
                 Duct 
               
               
                 29. 
                 Sealing membrane 
               
               
                 31. 
                 Boss 
               
               
                 32. 
                 Syringe 
               
               
                 33. 
                 Outer part 
               
               
                 34. 
                 Inner part 
               
               
                 36. 
                 Shoulder 
               
               
                 37. 
                 Channel 
               
               
                 38. 
                 Plunger 
               
               
                 39. 
                 Tamper ring 
               
               
                 41. 
                 First blind opening 
               
               
                 42. 
                 Second blind opening 
               
               
                 43. 
                 Membrane 
               
               
                 44. 
                 Conical boss 
               
               
                 46. 
                 Barrel 
               
               
                 47. 
                 Slit or hole in membrane 
               
               
                 51. 
                 Web 
               
               
                 52. 
                 Barbs 
               
               
                 55. 
                 Opening 
               
               
                 56. 
                 Bridging cap 
               
               
                 57. 
                 Sealing top 
               
               
                 58. 
                 Threads 
               
               
                 59. 
                 Disc 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
    
     
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a cross sectional, elevational view of a closure in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is an end elevational view of the closure of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the closure of  FIG. 1  secured to a vial and having a syringe engaged therewith; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 4  illustrating the syringe in use in combination with the closure of this embodiment; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a partial cross sectional view of the syringe, closure and container of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  is an enlargement of  FIG. 6  showing the engagement of the syringe with the closure; 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  is a partial cross sectional view similar to that of  FIG. 6  but showing a further embodiment of the invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  is an enlargement of the engaging syringe with the closure; 
           [0037]      FIG. 10  is a modified form of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 10 , and 
           [0039]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0040]    Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 to 3  illustrate one form of closure in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the closure  12  being adapted to engage within an opening of a container  14 , such as an vial. The vial may be used for storing a sterile liquid, such as a pharmaceutical or veterinary product, or a food supplement or any other fluid  16  which is to be dispensed from the container  14 . 
         [0041]    The closure  12  is formed of a resilient material such as rubber, synthetic rubber, synthetic plastics material or any other suitable material that will be known in the art. The closure has a substantially cylindrical body  17  with an enlarged head  18  defining an annular surface  19  adapted to engage a corresponding surface of the container  14 . 
         [0042]    The body  17  has a substantially cylindrical opening  21  extending from a lower surface  22  opposite the head  18 . The opening  21  extends in the axial direction of the closure  12  and terminates a short distance from the outermost surface  23  of the head  18 . At about the point where the axis of the opening  21  meets the outer surface  23 , a mark, or indentation  24  is formed in the outer surface  23  thereby marking the opening axis. The indentation  24  may be used as a guide to insert a needle through that portion of the head  18  leading to the opening  21  whereby a syringe needle is able to be used to pass through the material of the closure  12  into the container  14  to thereby facilitate extraction of fluid  16  from the container  14  by the syringe. 
         [0043]    On removal of a syringe needle from its engagement through the head  18  of the closure  12 , the resilience of the material of the closure ensures that the hole formed by a passage of the needle is sealed. 
         [0044]    A syringe needle or the like may also be used as a vent to enable air or gas to pass into or out of the container  14 , when contents are being withdrawn or introduced into the container, as hereinafter described. 
         [0045]    The outer surface  23  of the closure  12  is formed with a recess or cavity  26  which, in this embodiment, is of substantially cylindrical shape. The cavity passes into the body  17  and terminates at an inner surface  27 . A duct  28  extends from the inner surface  27  to the lower surface  22  of the body  17  of the closure  12 . The duct  28  is maintained in a closed condition by the resilience of the material of the closure  12  together with compressive forces generated when the closure  12  is engaged within the neck  15  of the container  14 . 
         [0046]    A sealing membrane  29  seals the duct  28  at the inner surface  27  of the cavity  26 . The sealing membrane  29  may comprise material of the closure  12  or may comprise a separate protective membrane  29  secured by adhesive or the like to the inner surface  27  of the cavity  26 . In a modification, the membrane  29  may be provided with a very small hole or a valve through which the container may vent any excess gas pressure that may otherwise build up in the container. 
         [0047]    In use, as shown particularly in  FIG. 3 , the cavity  26  is adapted to receive a cylindrical boss  31  extending from the end of a syringe  32 . The boss  31  is formed of two parts comprising an outer part  33  and an inner part  34  having a larger diameter than the outer part  33  thereby forming a shoulder  36 . 
         [0048]    As particularly shown in  FIG. 3 , in use, the boss  31  is engaged within the cavity  26 , the engagement pressure being such that the outer part  33  pierces the sealing membrane  29  and expands the duct  28  so that the outer part  33  engages within the duct  28 . The inner part  34  of the boss  31  is closely received within the cavity  26 , the shoulder  36  restricting the engagement movement of the boss  31 . In the engaged position, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a channel  37  formed through the boss  31  and communicating with the interior of the syringe  32  enables the fluid  16  to be withdrawn from the container  14  on movement of the syringe plunger  38 . 
         [0049]    When sufficient fluid  16  has been withdrawn from the container  14 , the boss  31  is withdrawn from the duct  28  and cavity  26 . The duct  28  reseals due to the resiliency of the material of the closure and the compressive forces applied, as aforesaid, when the closure is engaged with the container neck  15 . 
         [0050]    Removal of the syringe  32  from its engagement with the closure  12 , the syringe may be used to express the fluid therein in a manner to dispense the fluid as required. Such fluid dispensing may be by way of discharging the syringe into the mouth or other orifice of an animal, human or the like for oral or other administration of the fluid. Alternatively, the fluid may be delivered as a drench, or inserted into ear cavities, or used as an eye dropper or for any other appropriate purpose. The embodiment described facilitates removal and dispensing of fluid from a fluid container without the need to use a needle as heretofore required. However, the described embodiment facilitates the use of a needle, if required, to extract fluid from or deliver fluid to the container  14 . It will be appreciated that the opening  21 , which is provided for the purpose of reducing the thickness of material of the closure, through which a needle would otherwise need to penetrate, may be formed of any appropriate cross sectional shape, and will be of a length sufficient to ensure that, when a needle is used to penetrate the head  18  into the opening  21 , withdrawal of the needle results in the hole formed thereby completely sealing to prevent contamination of the fluid  16  in the container. 
         [0051]    The closure  12  is preferably held to the container  14  by a spun metal ring or a plastic, tamper evident sealing ring  39  which has the dual function of ensuring that the closure  12  remains properly sealed to the container  14  as well as providing a tamper evident seal well known in the art. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 7 , a container  14  is fitted with a closure  12  in a similar manner to that shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . In this embodiment, the closure, more particularly seen in  FIG. 6 , has a substantially centrally located, truncated, conical, blind opening  41  extending from the outer surface  23  of the closure  12 . The end of the blind opening  41  is spaced from the end of a second blind opening  42  extending outwardly from the lower surface  22  by a membrane  43  formed, in this embodiment, by material of the closure  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the second blind opening  42  is substantially cylindrical and substantially coaxial with the truncated, conical, blind opening  41 . 
         [0053]    In use of this embodiment, a syringe  32  has a coaxially extending, substantially truncated conical boss  44  extending from the closed end of the syringe barrel  46 . A channel  37  communicates through the conical boss  44  with the interior of the syringe  32 . 
         [0054]    In use, the conical boss  44  of the syringe  32  is engaged within the blind opening  41 , as particularly shown in  FIG. 6 . The container  14  and engaged syringe  32  is inverted, as shown in  FIG. 5 , and the end of the conical boss  44  is then pushed through the membrane  43  so that the channel  37  communicates with fluid  16  in the container  14 . The syringe plunger  38  is retracted to draw fluid from the container  14  into the syringe through the second blind opening  42  and into the channel  37  and syringe barrel  46 . 
         [0055]    When sufficient fluid has been withdrawn, as may be indicated by graduation marks on this side of the syringe barrel  46 , the conical boss  44  is withdrawn from the blind opening  41 . The perforated membrane  43  is preferably of such a thickness and resiliency as to close the formed opening between the blind opening  41  and second blind opening  42 . 
         [0056]    In a modified form of this embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the membrane  43  is formed with a slit or hole  47  to facilitate the entry of the conical boss  44  through the membrane  43  and into the second blind opening  42 . 
         [0057]    It will be appreciated that the fluid withdrawn into the syringe barrel  46  may be dispensed therefrom in any suitable manner and for any typical purpose. 
         [0058]    Although the conical boss  44  and conical blind opening  41  are shown in the drawings as having different wall angles relative to the respective axis, in other preferred embodiments, the cone angles of each may be the same. 
         [0059]    The surface of the conical boss  44  and/or the blind opening  41  may be formed with ribs, serrations or other formations to assist retention of the conical boss  44  within the blind opening  41  to minimise accidental disconnection of the conical boss from the blind opening  41 . 
         [0060]    In a modified form of closure  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the blind opening  41  extends substantially through the body  17  of the closure  12 , the opening  41  being closed at the inner end by a web, membrane or the like  51 . In this embodiment, the conical boss  44  on the end of the syringe barrel  46  is able to puncture the web  51  to place the interior of the barrel  46  in fluid communication with the interior of the container  14 . 
         [0061]    In this embodiment, the conical boss  44  is provided with one or more rearwardly extending barbs  52  which engage with the wall of the blind opening  41  and assist in retaining the conical boss  44  in engagement therewith. 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , a modified form of the invention is shown in which a closure  12  is adapted to be received within an opening  55  in a bridging cap  56  adapted to engage with the neck  15  of a container  14 . The neck  15  of the container  14  may be of any size, and a bridging cap  56  is made of a size to suit. Thus, the closure  12  can be adapted to fit to any size and form of container  14 . A sealing top  57  engaged on the neck  15  by screw threads  58 , or any other securing structure, holds the closure  12  firmly and sealingly to the bridging cap  56 . Tamper evident securing means may be use in conjunction with the sealing top  57  to ensure that it is not removed. Reinforcing ribs or the like may be provided to provide the necessary structural strength to the bridging cap  56  and the sealing top  57 . 
         [0063]    The sealing top  57  is preferably formed with a tamper evident membrane or breather disc  59  or the like the removal of which gives access to the closure and recess  26 . Vent openings (not shown) may be provided to allow any build up of excess gas pressure within the container  14  to escape thereby reducing any likelihood of the container  14  bursting. 
         [0064]    The use of bridging caps  56  on different diameters enables one size of closure to be used on a plurality of different sizes of container necks  15 . This allows large containers to be quickly filled with a liquid to be dispensed and yet facilitates dispensing very small quantities of the liquid. The bridging cap  56  may take many different forms. 
         [0065]    It will be appreciated that the dispensing system of the invention may be used to dispense fluids of most forms, including relatively viscous creams, gels, liquids and gases, provided the fluid is able to flow from the container to the syringe or other dispensing device. 
         [0066]    It will also be appreciated that while the preferred dispensing device is a syringe like dispenser, other forms of dispensing device may be used with the present invention including pipettes, expandable containers and other like devices. 
         [0067]    Although embodiments of the invention have been described in relation to withdrawal of fluid from a container, the features of the invention are equally applicable to devices for inserting fluids into containers. 
         [0068]    Many modifications may be made in the design and/or construction of a dispensing system in accordance with the invention and all such modifications that come within the scope of the invention shall be deemed to be within the ambit of the above description. 
         [0069]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as broadly described. 
         [0070]    The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.