Patent Abstract:
A container, in particular a plastic ampule produced using a blow-molding process and filled and closed in the mold has a neck part ( 12 ) adjoining a container body ( 10 ) and threadly receiving a first cap part ( 14 ). A second cap part ( 16 ) extends at least partly between the first cap part ( 14 ) and the neck part ( 12 ) and is provided with an opening device ( 20 ). The opening device has at least one opening ( 22 ) for opening the container body ( 10 ), and can be closed by the first cap part ( 14 ). The first cap part ( 14 ) carries the second cap part ( 16 ) by the screwing-on process of the first cap part in such a way that the opening device ( 20 ) causes the container body ( 10 ) to be opened. A closure part (closure pin  26 ) of the first cap part ( 14 ) unblocks the opening ( 22 ) in the opening device ( 20 ) after the first cap part is unscrewed, with the second cap part ( 16 ) remaining on the neck part ( 12 ).

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a container, in particular a plastic ampule, having a neck part adjoining the container body and threadly receiving a first cap. A second cap part extends at least partially between the first cap part and the neck part and is provided with an opening device having at least one opening for opening the container body. The container body can be closed by the first cap part. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     DE 42 32 305 C1 discloses a cap for containers, especially bottles produced from plastic in a blow molding process and filled and sealed in the mold, also in ampule form. A neck on the container receives a cap. The neck is made integrally with a dropper. That patent specification describes as known solutions bottles of this type, with an externally threaded neck being closed on a free end by a closure part made integrally with the neck. A cap screwed onto the neck is provided inside with a centrally arranged mandrel to puncture the closure part. If after puncturing the closure part the cap is removed, the liquid present in the bottle can be discharged through the opening formed in the closure part. If the thread of the bottle neck and/or of the cap or the mandrel has not been optimally formed, it is possible that the opening punctured with the mandrel extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis or that after removing a partial amount and subsequently screwing the cap on, a second opening is punctured. These situations may result in the liquid emerging at several locations in a direction deviating from the longitudinal axis and present a high degree of interference for the appropriate use of the solution. Accordingly, this patent solution proposes, due to the section of the cap made as a dropper, proportioning the dispensing of the liquid contents of the bottle, not by an opening formed by the bottle neck, but by the dropper of the cap to allow trouble-free use. 
     DE 195 80 104 T1 discloses a generic container solution with a container sealed airtight and provided with a cover cap. A mandrel attached in the cap is used to puncture a membrane on the neck part of the container. The hollow mandrel forms a type of top defining a discharge passage path to ensure controlled liquid removal. For this purpose the mandrel punctures the membrane and, after removing a first cap part, the mandrel is retained in the membrane by the second cap part to make available a controlled dispenser opening or delivery opening for the container. The first cap part can then be re-used to close the dispenser opening or delivery opening for the container body. The production of the known container solutions can be regarded at least to some extent as complicated, and therefore, costly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an improved container with better practical handling with simultaneously facilitated production. 
     This object is basically achieved by a container whereby the process of screwing on the first cap part, the first cap part entrains the second cap part such that the opening device induces the opening of the container body. After unscrewing the first cap part, a closure part clears the opening of the opening device. The second cap part remains on the neck part. The dropper part formed by the second cap part can be positively connected to the neck part and fixed on it. The first cap part can be removed from the container body for clearing its opening, and in particular, can be unscrewed. 
     Depending on the respective application and the customer&#39;s specifications, two different opening versions can be implemented with only one container. The container according to the present invention has an open cap arrangement, i.e., the first cap part is only partially, for example, a half thread turn, screwed onto the assigned thread of the container body so that the user first of all must turn the first cap part farther down along the thread to then open the container body by the opening device usually in the form of a mandrel. In this connection, the second cap part remains on the neck part and the upper cap in the form of the first cap part can be turned in the opposite direction to the previous screwing direction to clear the opening for removing the stored medium from the container. On the other hand, the container can be delivered already opened, i.e., the first cap part is completely screwed on; the second cap part is fixed in a defined manner on the neck part; and the opening device (mandrel) has already pierced the container opening to clear its opening. The user of the container need now only unscrew or twist off the upper first cap part, in order to be able to use the container contents, for example, in the form of stored eye drops. Accordingly two different types of removal possibilities can be implemented with only one arrangement, in a manner specific to the customer. 
     As a result of the respective plausible application arrangement for the two application solutions, incorrect application is largely precluded. Even if the container solution according to the present invention optionally has more functional components, especially in the form of two cap parts, than the known solutions, the second cap part being an integral component of the first cap part and being overlapped by the latter in the uncleared positions for the opening, the container according to the present invention overall can be easily and economically produced. The container body can be produced especially within the framework of a blow-fill-seal process, as has become known in the trade under the trademark “Bottelpack®”. The cap parts are produced preferably in an injection molding process. 
     In one especially preferred embodiment of the container according to the present invention, driver elements of the first cap part which act on the second cap part induce an entraining motion. After the second cap part on the neck part engages, the fixing part is interlocked in the other direction of action and releases the first cap part as it is being unscrewed. This operation ensures reliable use. The axial distance of travel of the cap parts relative to one another are in any case dimensioned such that reliable locking of the second cap part to the container body takes place. The first cap part can then clear the container opening without hindrance. By preference, to interlock the second cap part on the neck part of the container body, it has an engagement region tapering by one step to the inside and being engaged by at least one engagement part, preferably in the form of an engagement clip, of the second cap part, after crossing the step. 
     In another especially preferred embodiment of the container according to the present invention, the first cap part has a fixing part which in one direction of action enables the process of screwing on the first cap part and in the other direction of action remains on the container and releases the first cap part for an unscrewing process so that in this way a further defined connection to the parts of the container body is formed by the fixing part. This arrangement helps prevent the penetration of foreign media. The fixing part allows the operator reliable use of the cap part arrangement. 
     In this connection, it is preferable that the fixing part is a ring-shaped fixing body having an elastic catch projecting to the inside and extending in one direction of action over the corresponding catch on the container and interlocking with them in the other direction of action. Preferably, the first cap part on its free side facing the container body has a fixing part and is connected to the fixing part via an easily detachable separation site. In this way, in the process of clearing the container opening via the first cap part, the ring-shaped fixing part remains on the container body and the first cap part can be separated from the fixing part with low actuating forces. 
     With the container solution according to the present invention, two applications are possible with only one mechanical configuration. Specifically, in one delivery form the opening device of one cap part has already induced opening of the container body. In another delivery form this opening has not yet been effected. 
     Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring to the drawings which form a part of this disclosure and which are schematic and not to scale: 
         FIGS. 1 to 3  are front elevational views partially in section of an upper part of a container according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in different operating states; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective bottom view of the first cap part with the fixing part of the container of  FIGS. 1 to 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the second cap part of a container with the outer jacket closed according to one alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the second cap of a container with openings according to another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The container shown in  FIG. 1  in its upper region is produced especially in a blow molding process and placed in the mold and sealed. In particular, the container made in the form of an ampule is produced from plastic material. The opening device shown below is also usable for container solutions produced differently. The container body  10  is followed to the top by the neck part  12  onto which the first cap part  14  can be screwed or threaded. This cap part  14  is shown in  FIG. 4  in a perspective bottom view. The container body  10  can store a fluid which will not be detailed, for example, in the form of a medicinally acting liquid in the form of eye drops or the like. Instead of liquids, also pasty or gaseous active substances can be placed in the container body, for example, with the blow molding process known in the trade under the trade name “Bottelpack®”. 
     In addition to the first cap part  14 , a second cap part  16  extends in the axial longitudinal direction  18  of the container at least partially between the first cap part  14  and the neck part  12 . On its side facing the neck part  12 , the second cap part  16  has an opening device  20  with a channel-like opening  22  extending coaxially to the longitudinal axis  18  completely through the second cap part  16  and discharging to the outside via a funnel-shaped widening  24  into the exterior (compare  FIG. 3 ). This opening  22 , as seen in  FIG. 1 , can be closed by the first cap part  14 . A tapering closure pin  26  located coaxially to the longitudinal axis  18  of the container in the closed position as shown in  FIG. 1  closes the channel-like opening  22  by the closure pin  26  engaging the funnel-shaped widening  24  of the second cap part  16 . On its side opposite the widening  24 , the channel-like opening  22  discharges into the ambient space  28  bordered on the one hand by the free face side  30  of the neck part  12  and by the inside jacket surface of the second cap part  16 . In this respect the opening device  20  with a conical, mandrel-like prolongation  32  meshes with the ambient space  28 . The free face side  30  of the neck part  12  is a component of an at least partially convexly shaped dome  34  bordering the ambient space  28  to the bottom. The dome  34  viewed in the direction of  FIG. 1  flares down and transitions into a cylindrical overlapping region  36  undergoing transition by tapering toward the neck part free end and to the inside by one step into a cylindrical engagement region  38  which in turn transitions in the direction of a threaded segment  40  on the neck part  12  by a flaring connecting piece. 
     In the initial position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , corresponding to the delivery state of the container solution and reproducing the container before a first use, the first cap part  14  has an inside thread  42 , at least to some extent, acting along the threaded segment  40 . This thread engagement is such that, in the initial position shown in  FIG. 1  and in one type of the illustrated embodiments, the tip of the prolongation  32  is not yet engaged with the closed face side  30  of the neck part  12 . This face-side closure of the container neck  12  can be produced by the plastic material of the container itself or in the form of a closure membrane which will not be detailed and which in this context forms the end side  30  of the container neck  12 . 
     As seen in particular in  FIG. 4  as well, on its opposite end the first cap part  14  opens into a ring-shaped fixing part  44 . In one direction of action  46  (see arrow in  FIG. 4 ) fixing part  44  enables the process of screwing the first cap part  14  onto the outside thread of the neck part  12  along the threaded segment  40 . In the other, opposite direction of action  48  (compare arrow in  FIG. 4 ) first cap  4  remains locked on the container body  10 . The first cap part  14  can be released from the fixing part  44  with a defined actuating force along a separation site  50  made as a line. As  FIG. 4  furthermore shows, the separation site  50  is formed of a meandering line structure to which the bordering wall thickness between the fixing part  44  and the first cap part  14  is reduced. The fixing part  44  is designed as a ring-shaped fixing body having elastic catch means or catches  52  projecting to the inside (compare  FIG. 4 ) and extending in one direction of action  46  over the corresponding catch means  54  on the container body  10  (compare  FIG. 1 ) to interlock with them in the other direction of action  48 . For this purpose the elastic catch means  52  are tongue-shaped and elastically yielding leaf parts on the inner peripheral side of the fixing part  44 . The corresponding catch means  54  on the container itself are formed from bridge-like flank parts which on the neck part  12  projects in the transition region to the top of the container body  10 . The respective catch means  54  can be present in a smaller number than the catch means  52 , for example, in a single arrangement diametrically opposite one another in pairs, comparable to  FIG. 1 . 
     If at this point the first cap part  14  is screwed on in the direction of action  46  and clockwise, it moves into the open position as shown in  FIG. 2 . The first cap part  14  entrains the second cap part  16  such that the mandrel-like prolongation  32  extends through the free face side  30  of the neck part  12  forming a fluid-carrying path between the interior of the container body  10  and the first cap part  14  which is still in place. In this process of screwing on the first cap part  14 , the free path of the threaded segment  40  is used up and the first cap part  14  is completely screwed on the outside thread of the neck part  12 . The ring-shaped fixing part  44  as shown in  FIG. 2  is engaged with the corresponding catch parts  54  on the neck part  12  around the entire periphery. 
     For this driving motion the first cap part  14  has at least one pair of driver elements  56  which are diametrically opposite one another (compare  FIG. 2 ) and which act on the assigned triangular recesses  58  on the second cap part  16  to induce the driving motion. Both the nose-like projection of each driver element  56  and also the assigned shape of the recess  58 , which shape is triangular viewed in cross section, are selected such that a turning driving motion down for a screw-on process is possible. In the opposite unscrewing movement, the first cap part  14  can be released from the second cap part  16  by the driver element  56  being able to slide out of the assigned recesses  58  without hindrance. Accordingly, the flank angles in the screw-on direction are steeper than the adjacent flank angles assigned to the unscrewing movement of the first cap part  14 . 
     If at this point the first cap part  14  is unscrewed in the other direction of action  48  and consequently counterclockwise over the threaded segment  40 , the fixing part  44  interlocks on the container neck  12 , and the thin-walled separation site  50  yields. The first cap part  14  then can be completely separated from the container so that a situation as shown in  FIG. 3  arises in which the second cap part  16  and the fixing part  44  remain on the container body  10  and in which the first cap part  14  is removed. To ensure that the second cap part  16  remains on the neck part  12 , in the screwing-on process proceeding from  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 2 , engagement clips  60  attached to the bottom of the second cap part  16  become engaged with the engagement part  38  having a reduced diameter on the neck part  12 . Based on the clip-like engagement configuration, this arrangement allows a certain spring-elastic resilience of the second cap part  16  in its lower region so that due to the conical widening of the neck part  12  in this region the engagement clip  60  can cross the overlapping region  36  on the neck part  12  for a subsequently locking process in the subjacent engagement region as the engagement site  38 . With unscrewing of the first cap part  14 , the funnel-shaped widening  24  is cleared, and the medium stored in the container body  10  is available for a removal process. By screwing on the first cap part  14  again, a situation as shown in  FIG. 2  can be established in which the interior of the container body  10  is sealed media-tight. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the second cap part  16  is shown in different perspective views. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the cap part  16  has a closed outside peripheral surface. On the bottom the individual engagement clips  60  are apparent. In the configuration as shown in  FIG. 6 , the outside jacket of the second cap part  16  is shown broken through, with individual rectangular recesses  62 . This configuration has the advantage that the engagement elasticity for the clips  60  is improved so that they can travel into the engagement region  38  with lower actuating forces during the process of screwing-on for the first cap part  14 . As is further seen in the right-hand representation of  FIG. 5 , the prolongation  32  has several individual through openings  64  to ensure an improved removal behavior. Preferably, the mandrel-like opening device  20  has several holes which are not located in the middle and which clear the passage between the container and exit opening  22 . Preferably, three such holes on the engagement mandrel are provided in an eccentric arrangement to not weaken the mandrel in its penetration region for opening the container body  10 . In particular, with a plurality of passage openings  64 , spray-like delivery is possible if the container body  10  is elastically resilient such that a manually applied outside pressure moves the stored medium on to the spray region in the form of the second cap part  16 . To be able to more easily induce the different screwing processes in the two directions  46 ,  48  of action by hand and in order especially to also achieve separation at the separation site  50  with low actuation forces, the outer cylindrical periphery of the first cap part  14  has a handling device in the form of ribbing  66  (compare  FIG. 4 ). 
     In the delivery form as shown in  FIG. 1 , engagement with the container interior has not yet taken place. It is also fundamentally conceivable to select a delivery form as shown in  FIG. 2  in which the second cap part  16  has already effected an opening process for the container. Based on the already explained threaded segment  40  and with respect to the fixing region of the fixing part  44  on the shoulder transition site between the neck part  12  and the container body  10 , media-tight separation relative to the exterior is achieved with increased sterility requirements. 
     While various embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1