Abstract:
A container assembly for a substance to be applied is provided that includes a injector housing, an application tip, and a closure cap. The application tip and the closure cap are alternatively removably securable to the outlet end of the injector housing in a substantially fluid tight disposition. A first indicia is associated with the injector housing and a second indicia is associated with each of the application tip and the closure cap. The second indicia has an identity correspondence with the first indicia such that the presence of both the first indicia on the injector housing and the second indicia on the respective one of the application tip and the closure cap secured to the outlet end of the injector housing confirms that only the appropriate application tip or the appropriate closure cap has been secured to the injector housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)–(d) from German patent application ser. no. P 101 51 404.2 filed Oct. 18, 2001. In addition, this application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/334,303 filed Nov. 29, 2001. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to a container for a substance to be applied. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Containers of this type, which can be configured as, for example, injectors, have long been known. In EP-A1-0 063 891, one approach to configuring such a container includes an application tip with a closure cap, whereby pasty material is provided in the application tip. A plunger ram pushes an injection plunger into an injector housing, whereby the corresponding geometrical configuration of the injector plunger is chosen such that only the smallest possible remaining amount of material remains in the injector housing following the application of the material. 
   In accordance with the above-noted patent application, a closure cap is provided which is color-coded. The application of the color-coding ensures that the application tip and the closure cap are recognized as being elements associated with one another, such that an inadvertent placement of a closure cap on the incorrect application tip is avoided. 
   The background relating to the use of such containers is that different masses or substances can be applied with correspondingly colored, differently configured application tips. The different pasty masses comprise, in their applications in the dental practice, special properties which can be adversely impacted by contamination. It is, however, important that the dentist or the dental technician can rely upon the fact that the property of the applied mass or substance is, in fact, as promised. 
   The applied mass is typically, on the other hand, a photo polymerizable mass. The customary storage of such masses in a closed and light impermeable cabinet permits the use of masses which have been maintained in a relatively long storage state without quality degradation. If, on the other hand, the identification of a mass is to be undertaken based upon the application tip which applies the mass, which has been removed, it is important that the application tips also are stored in the normal course of use in a light impermeable cabinet in view of the fact, for example, that a yellow application body exhibits a considerably larger light transmission capability than a dark blue injector housing. For this reason, in accordance with the above-noted patent application, a substantially thick walled housing is provided. 
   It is, indeed, possible to choose a two-layer configuration for the injector housing and to produce the inner layer from a light blocking material. This approach is, however, clearly more expensive and requires a higher production precision for conforming the layer thicknesses to one another, for securing the layers to one another, and for assuring the sealing integrity. 
   A disadvantage of the heretofore deployed systems lies in the fact that the injector components must be manufactured together with the application tip. To be sure, the injector components can be manufactured as throw away or disposable articles which are still, basically, substantially cost favorable. However, there exists the problem that the viscosities of the masses to be applied vary. In this connection, it would be desirable to provide a suitable flow resistance in the application tip which is selected as a function of the viscosity of the mass to be applied. The dentist or dental technician should be able, to the extent possible, to apply the same actuation force independent of the viscosity of the mass to be applied, thus leading to an ergonomically optimized operation and permitting a delicately sensitive dosing. 
   In connection with known or conventional injector components, a trade-off has been accepted that the actuation force will vary in correspondence with the properties of the mass to be applied, as otherwise the production of numerous different injector components with diameters selected as a function of the viscosity of the masses would be too labor intensive. In addition, it must also be taken into account that the viscosity of newly developed masses varies. In this regard, typically a compromise has been struck with respect to configuring the flow resistance during the application of the mass in that it has been decided to configure the injector to have an average flow resistance to the mass to be applied. 
   On the other hand, the demand for applied dental masses is increasing so that it can be expected that, in the future, the number of masses to be applied having differing viscosities will increase still further. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention offers a solution to the challenge of providing a container for the application of a mass, in particular, a pasty mass in the dental practice, which is substantially clearly better suited for hand application uses while nonetheless permitting savings to be achieved during the production thereof. 
   In accordance with the present invention, it is provided that the housing is combinable as a standard product with different application tips, which themselves can be made as commercially available products. In connection with the configuration of a container in accordance with the present invention as an injector, commercially available systems having a so-called clip lock connection can be used and can be correspondingly manufactured in a cost favorable manner. In accordance with the present invention, these combinations of injectors and application tips can each be provided with a suitable marking which forecloses the risk of an incorrect combination of these components with one another. 
   It is to be understood that suitable and clearly legible markings can be used. If, for example, six different masses are to be held ready in three different viscosities, it is favorable to deploy three suitable symbols as markings such as, for example, a circle, a four-sided symbol, and a triangle. It is to be understood that, in lieu of such geometric symbols, other suitable desired markings can also be used such as symbols or the like having indicia. For example, the differing injector diameters can be symbolically represented by symbols in the form, for example, of circles having widely differing diameters. 
   A further possibility lies in presenting the outlet diameters in millimeters. 
   It is particularly advantageous that the light protected injectors and application tips which are so marked can be used in a standard configuration while the markings can be selected according to color and shape. 
   It is to be understood that, in lieu of the so-called clip lock connection, another suitable desirable connection can be provided for interconnecting the injector housing and the application tip without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus, for example, a bayonet connection can be deployed, whereby it is advantageous to use, in a conventional manner, an annularly-shaped seal which seals against the injector housing and the application tip. 
   It is further particularly advantageous that the markings can, by suitable application thereof, at the same time provide an optical feedback coupling which indicates the correct rotational position. Preferably, the markings are applied such that they align one over the other in conjunction with the secure interconnection of the clip lock connection components or the bayonet connection components. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the volume of the injector is, in comparison to the volume of the application tip, substantially much greater. The volume difference can be, for example, 20:1 or even 100:1. The injector receives the mass in the manner of a storage container while the application tip or channel is configured as a throw away or disposable component. 
   In this embodiment, it is provided that a closure cap can be deployed on the injector housing. Such closure caps are in any event commercially available for the clip lock system. Preferably, in accordance with the present invention, the closure cap can itself be provided with a corresponding marking in order to reliably preclude the risk that contamination can occur by the placement in error of the closure cap on the non-associated one of a pair of injectors. 
   Also, if non-removable labels are disposed on the containers by, for example, pressing, imprinting, wear-resistant coloring, or the like, it is to be understood that it is also basically possible to implement the marking arrangement by means of such non-removable labels. Such labels offer the possibility to combine the markings with bar coding in order to improve the machine readability and, thereby, improve the atomization of the storage process. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further advantages, details, and features are provided herein below in connection with the description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention taken in connection with the figures of the drawing, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an injector of an embodiment of the present invention having a first marking; 
       FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of an injector of an embodiment of the present invention having a second marking; 
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of an injector of an embodiment of the present invention having a third marking; and 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional view of a front portion of an injector of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic view of a front portion of the present injector, partially broken away and sectioned. 
       FIG. 6  shows another enibodiment with a bayonet locking assembly. 
       FIG. 7  shows a further embodiment with a clip lock assembly. 
       FIG. 8  shows a further embodiment with a bottle as the injector housing. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , an injector  10  includes an injector housing  12  which guides therein an injector plunger  14 . With respect to the injector plunger  14  shown in  FIGS. 1–3 , only the shaft thereof is visible. To produce the required pressure, the shaft  16  includes a knob  18  on its outward end. In this connection, the injector housing  12  comprises a grip flange  20 . A substantially large injection pressure can be applied by pressing together the knob  18  and the grip flange  20  between the palm of the hand and, for example, the middle and index finger, whereby the thus-applied pressure effects the forward movement or injection of the pasty mass contained in the injector housing  12 . 
   An application tip  22  is connected to the forward portion of the injector housing  12 . In this connection, the injector housing  12  comprises a substantially curved inner thread course at its forward end having a correspondingly large pitch. An outer thread course  24  on the rearward end of the application tip  22  conforms to the inner thread course of the injector housing. The conformation of the inner and outer thread courses to one another is accomplished such that there is very little free play therebetween. 
   The application tip comprises a cylindrical portion  26 , a conical portion  28 , and a truncated channel or tubular member  30 . 
   It is also possible, if the volume of the application tip  22  is only relatively slightly smaller, by a single order of magnitude, than the volume of the injector housing  12 , to nonetheless provide, in actual configurations of the application tip, an application tip which is smaller by substantially more than a single order of magnitude. 
   In accordance with the present invention, the injector housing  12  and the application tip  22  are provided with a marking  32 ,  34 , respectively. Both markings correspond identically with one another and come into alignment with one another upon the firm interconnection of the application tip  22  with the injector housing  12 . 
   In the illustrated embodiments, both markings are configured as circles. 
   In accordance with the present invention, it is provided that a different marking is chosen with respect to another different mass to be applied. Thus, for example,  FIG. 2  illustrates an injector  10  which otherwise corresponds with the injector  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , but comprises, instead, a marking  36  on the injector housing and a marking  38  on the application tip  22 , these markings clearly being different than the markings  32  and  34  provided, respectively, on the injector housing  12  and the application tip  22  of the embodiment of the injector  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   Likewise, another embodiment of the injector  10  of the present invention, shown in  FIG. 3 , otherwise corresponds with the injector  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , but comprises, instead, markings  40  and  42  which are configured as six-sided markings. 
   The markings can be applied in any desired suitable manner. In the illustrated embodiments of the injector  10  of the present invention, the markings are provided as corresponding punched out plastic components which are secured in a non-removable manner to the injector housing  12  or, respectively, the application tip  22 . 
     FIG. 4  shows a preferred configuration of the interconnection between the injector housing  12  and the application tip  22 . An inner thread course  44  threadably receives therein an outer thread course  24  of the application tip  22 . A seal ring  46  extends between the back surface  48  of the application tip  22  and an inner corner of the injector housing  12 . 
   The channel  30  of the application tip  22  has an inner diameter  50  which is precisely dimensioned to a selected value and which has a different value for each differently marked application tip. In connection with the application of a relatively high viscosity mass  52 , which is received in the injector housing  12  for injection through the application tip  22 , a relatively large inner diameter  50  is selected, while a relatively smaller diameter is selected for masses which are relatively less viscous. In this manner, the application force which must be applied for the injector plunger  14  to expunge the mass from the injector  10  is substantially the same for masses of varying viscosity, independent of the viscosity of the respective mass being applied. 
   The application tip  22  is thrown away or disposed of after use and a closure cap is threaded onto the injector housing  12  following the removal therefrom of the application tip  22 . The closure cap is not illustrated but includes an outer thread course adapted to be threadably received by the inner thread course  44 . The placement of the closure cap on the injector housing  12  permits long term storage of the mass retained in the injector housing without hardening of the mass. 
   Both the injector housing  12  and the application tip  22  are comprised of a black colored plastic such as, for example, a polyamide, and each is formed as an integral single piece unit. 
     FIG. 5  shows the front portion of an injector according to the present invention that can be used for storing purposes. The front portion of the injector is provided with a closing plug  53  which is screwed in instead of the application tip  22 , serving as a closure cap. Accordingly, the closing plug  53  comprises an outer thread which also is adapted to be threadably received by the inner thread  44  of the injector housing  12 . 
   The closing plug  53  also comprises a marking  54  which corresponds to the marking  32  and symbolizes the association to the corresponding injector. 
     FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, instead of markings, numbers  60  and  62  are used. As an example, the number “ 2 ” is shown in  FIG. 6  for an injector housing and an application tip which are assigned to each other. Of course, other suitable numbers may be used. 
     FIG. 6  also shows a single position locking assembly formed as a bayonet locking assembly. The bayonet locking assembly  64  is shown in a portion of the housing  12  partially broken away. It mainly consists of a groove  66  formed in the inner wall of the housing  12  which is suitable to receive a projection  68  formed on the outer diameter of the upper portion  70  of the application tip  22 . 
   Another embodiment is shown in  FIG. 7 . With this embodiment, instead of numbers, letters  72  and  74  are used on the housing  12  and the application tip  22 . In the example of  FIG. 7 , the letter “A” is used. 
     FIG. 7  also shows a single position locking assembly formed as a clip locking assembly  76 . This embodiment has a resilient tongue  78  on the application tip  22  which is formed in a suitable manner to lock against a projection  80  formed on the inner wall of housing  12 . The respective portion is shown broken away in  FIG. 7 . 
     FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but shows a bottle  82  as the housing. 
   Simultaneously, matching of the horizontal turning position, i.e. alignment of the markings  32  and  54 , ensures that the closing plug  53  is fixedly screwed in n the one hand, but on the other hand the inner thread is not overturned by the closing plug. Thus, finally also the pressing force exerted against the sealing  46  can precisely be set such that an optimum sealing is warranted. Accordingly, the screw threaded device illustrated can be considered a single position locking element in that only a single locking position is provided when the indicia  32  and  54  are aligned. While a screw connection has been illustrated, it should be obvious that other forms of connections may be utilized such as clip lock connection components or the bayonet connection components. 
   In summary, at least three differing injectors may be provided, each of which contains a differing material to be dispensed. Closure tips are also provided on each of the injectors, the closure tips being removed when the injector is to be used. The injectors and closure tips are identical, differing only in that different symbols are employed to indicate differing materials. When it is desired to dispense a material, the closure tip is removed and an application tip, which is designed for the specific material is connected to the injector. In the illustrated design, markings are provided on both the tip and the injector which will assure proper tightening of the tip into the injector. After use, the application tip is thrown away, but the injector is resealed by the closure cap which was previously removed. Differing application tips may have differing injector diameters. 
   The container of the present invention is not limited to an injector configuration. Instead, the container can alternatively be configured in an advantageous manner as a tube adapted to receive therein a pasty mass. Moreover, a container configured as, for example, a vial, can receive therein a mass in the form of a fluid or a powder. 
   The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to the specific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but also encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims. In addition, the term “means for” as used in the claims is intended to include not only the designs illustrated in the drawings of this application and the equivalent designs discussed in the text, but it is also intended to cover other equivalents now known to those skilled in the art, or those equivalents which may become known to those skilled in the art in the future.