Abstract:
Disclosed in this specification is a medicine container with a flexible flap covering the opening of the container. The opening is closed by the flexible flap when the flexible flap is in a resting position and the opening is opened when the flexible flap is in a flexed position. A hand-operated plunger is equipped with an end configured to mate with the opening such that a seal is established between the plunger and the opening. The plunger is shaped to apply a force to the flexible flap, thereby operating the flexible flap.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/506,407, filed Jul. 11, 2011, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates, in one embodiment, to a method and apparatus for dispensing liquid medicine from a container while preventing inadvertent access to the contents of the container. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Liquid medicines are often dispensed from a source container using a simple plunger. The plunger helps the user measure a predetermined quantity of the liquid for subsequent transfer into, for example, the mouth of a small child. Unfortunately, this prior art transfer method leaves the source container somewhat vulnerable to contamination during the transfer process. Bacteria or other undesirable contaminants may fall into the source container and spoil all subsequent uses of the medicine. Additionally, the contents of the source container may be undesirably accessed by other individuals, such as small children. 
         [0004]    Therefore, an improved method and apparatus for dispensing liquid medicine is desired. 
         [0005]    The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a medicine container with a flexible flap covering the opening of the container. The opening is closed by the flexible flap when the flexible flap is in a resting position and the opening is opened when the flexible flap is in a flexed position. A hand-operated plunger is equipped with an end configured to mate with the opening such that a seal is established between the plunger and the opening . The plunger is shaped to apply a force to the flexible flap, thereby operating the flexible flap. 
         [0007]    In a first exemplary embodiment, an apparatus for dispensing liquid medicine from a container is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an adapter with an opening, formed by an inner sidewall, and an outer sidewall surrounding the inner sidewall. The outer sidewall is configured to be disposed in the mouth of the container. A flexible flap is disposed at the distal end of the inner sidewall such that the liquid medicine in the container cannot flow through the opening when the flexible flap is in a resting position, yet the liquid medicine can flow through the opening when the flexible flap is in a flexed position. 
         [0008]    In a second exemplary embodiment, an assembly for dispensing liquid medicine from a container is disclosed. The assembly comprises an adapter with an opening, formed by an inner sidewall, and an outer sidewall surrounding the inner sidewall. The outer sidewall is configured to be disposed in the mouth of the container. A flexible flap is disposed at the distal end of the inner sidewall such that the liquid medicine in the container cannot flow through the opening when the flexible flap is in a resting position, yet the liquid medicine can flow through the opening when the flexible flap is in a flexed position. A plunger is configured to mate with the opening such that a seal is established between the plunger and the opening when the plunger id disposed in the opening. The plunger is shaped to apply a force to the flexible flap to cause the flexible flap to adopt the flexed position. 
         [0009]    In a third exemplary embodiment, a method for dispensing medicine from a container is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of obtaining an assembly for dispensing liquid medicine. The assembly comprises an adapter with an opening, formed by an inner sidewall, and an outer sidewall surrounding the inner sidewall. The outer sidewall is configured to be disposed in the mouth of the container. A flexible flap is disposed at the distal end of the inner sidewall such that the liquid medicine in the container cannot flow through the opening when the flexible flap is in a resting position, yet the liquid medicine can flow through the opening when the flexible flap is in a flexed position. A plunger is configured to mate with the opening such that a seal is established between the plunger and the opening when the plunger id disposed in the opening. The plunger is shaped to apply a force to the flexible flap to cause the flexible flap to adopt the flexed position. The plunger is placed in the opening and a force is applied to the flexible flap to cause the flexible flap to be ajar. The plunger is operated to withdraw a predetermined quantity of the liquid medicine. The plunger is removed from the opening which causes the flexible flap to close. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    So that the manner in which the features of the invention can be understood, a detailed description of the invention may be had by reference to certain embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only certain embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the scope of the invention encompasses other equally effective embodiments. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis generally being placed upon illustrating the features of certain embodiments of the invention. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views. Thus, for further understanding of the invention, reference can be made to the following detailed description, read in connection with the drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional side view of one container of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  are top and cross-sectional side views, respectively, of one adapter of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a close-up cross-sectional view of the flexible flap of the invention while it is ajar; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a full cross-sectional view of the flexible flap of the invention while it is ajar; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a close-up cross-sectional view of the flexible flap of the invention while it is in a resting (closed) state; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the plunger and container in an inverted state. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The examples set out herein illustrate several embodiments of the invention but should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a cross-sectional side view of a medicine container  100  is depicted. The container  100  includes an adaptor  102  which has an opening  104 . The adapter  102  includes an outer sidewall  108  that securely attaches to a mouth  110  of the container  100 . In one embodiment, the container  100  and the adaptor  102  are formed as one piece (i.e., they are monolithic). In another embodiment, the adaptor  102  and the container  100  are formed separately (i.e., they are discrete units) and are configured to securely mate with one another to establish a liquid-tight seal that will reveal any tampering. For example, the two components may be formed of polymeric resins and are sealed together by thermally melting the components until they bond. The opening  104  of the adapter  102  terminates in a flexible flap  106 . When the adapter  102  is sealed with the container  100 , the flexible flap  106  is disposed within the container  100  and opens toward the inside of the container  100  when a downward force is applied. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  are top and cross-sectional side views, respectively, of the adapter  102 . The opening  104  includes a first frangible seal  200  that protects the flexible flap  106  such that it is necessary to break the first frangible seal  200  to access the flexible flap  106 . The flexible flap  106  is attached to the adaptor  102  at the inner sidewall  204 , which runs substantially parallel to outer sidewall  108 . The two sidewalls,  108  and  204 , are connected at their upper ends by a top  202 . In one embodiment, the outer sidewall  108 , the top  202  and the inner sidewall  204  are monolithic and formed of the same material. Any conventional material can be used to form the sidewalls  108 ,  204 , and top  202 , including a polymeric resin such as high density polyethylene. Other suitable materials would be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
         [0020]    The flexible flap  106  is flexibly, but permanently, attached to one or more points  206  of inner sidewall  204  (e.g., a distal end of the inner sidewall  204 ) to permit the flexible flap  106  to open upon application of a downward force.  FIG. 2B  depicts the flexible flap  106  in its resting (closed) state. Upon application of a downward force, the flexible flap  106  adopts a flexed state that leaves the flexible flap  106  ajar. In one embodiment, the flexible flap  106  is formed of a polymeric resin that has a composition unlike that of the inner sidewall  204  (i.e., a dissimilar resin is used). In one embodiment, the resin of the flexible flap  106  is more flexible than the relatively rigid resin of sidewall  204 . The resin that forms the flexible flap  106  is resilient such that is returns to its resting position once the downward force is removed, thereby re-sealing the opening  104 . 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, a two-shot fabrication method is used to form the adaptor  102 . In the first shot, the flexible flap  106  is formed from a first resin. In the second shot, the outer sidewall  108 , top  202  and inner sidewall  204  are formed from a second resin. The flexible flap  106  is then permanently attached to the inner sidewall  204  at the point  206  by a melting step. In one embodiment, a second frangible seal is also formed about the remaining perimeter of the flexible flap  106 . The first and second resins may be selected such that they have different melting points. For example, the melting points may differ by 25° C. or more. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a close-up cross-sectional view of the flexible flap  106  as plunger  300  applies a downward force to open the flexible flap  106 . In those embodiments which have a first frangible seal  200 , the end  302  of the plunger  300  breaks the first frangible seal  200  with the first use of the plunger. In this fashion, the first frangible seal  200  provides a visually apparent tamper-evident seal. Similarly, in those embodiments where the perimeter of the flexible flap  106  is sealed to the inner sidewall  204  with a second frangible seal, the first use of the container breaks the second frangible seal as well. Even after the second frangible seal is broken, returning the flexible flap  106  to its resting state partially restores the second frangible seal and reduces the volume of liquid that may inadvertently be emitted. The end  302  of the plunger  300  is configured to mate with the corresponding shape of the opening  104  to establish a seal  304  between the plunger end  302  and the opening  104 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a full cross-sectional view of the flexible flap  106  while it is ajar.  FIG. 4  shows an assembly  400  that includes both the container  100 , the adapter  102  as well as the plunger  300  whose end  302  is configured to mate with the opening  104  of the adapter  102 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the flexible flap  106  is ajar, thereby permitting the contents of the container  100  to be withdrawn by operating the plunger  300 . After a predetermined quantity of medicine is removed from the container  100 , the plunger  300  is removed and the flexible flap  106  returns to its resting (closed) position. This re-establishes the seal and protects the contents of container  100  from contamination. A certain level of skill is required to operate the plunger  300  in conjunction with the adapter  102 . Typically, small children lack sufficient skill. The system described herein therefore provides a child-resistant seal. Unlike conventional child-resistant seals, the current system can more easily be operated by individuals with impairments, such as arthritis or other similar conditions. 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a close-up cross-sectional view of the flexible flap  106  while it is in a resting (closed) state. The frangible seal  200  (see  FIG. 2B ) has been broken and is no longer present. 
         [0025]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 6 , the container  100  and the plunger  300  are inverted after the seal  304  has been established and the flexible flap  106  is ajar. Since the opening  104  and the end  302  of the plunger are specifically configured to mate, the seal  304  is liquid-tight, such that the container  100  and the plunger  300  can be inverted without spilling the liquid contents of container  100 . This assists in the removal of liquid medicine from container  100 . The plunger  300  and the container  100  are then returned to an upright position prior to removing the plunger  300  from the opening  104  and permitting the flexible flap  106  to return to its resting (closed) state. 
         [0026]    While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof to adapt to particular situations without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.