Patent Description:
There are known containers in the field that are used to package one or more doses of fluid products in paste, gel, or liquid form; depending on the number of doses, they may be single-use or multiple-use containers, and therefore reclosable.

In the field of pharmaceutical products, there are known reclosable containers made of polymer material that comprise two separate parts made separately and then assembled. A first part consists of a body containing a predetermined dose of product, provided with a neck ending in a mouth for dispensing the product. A second part consists of closure means that can be coupled to said body, provided with a stopper tip that can be inserted into the dispensing mouth so as to close it, and a gripping part above the stopper tip.

These containers may be produced in individual units or combined together in series (strips or five-vial assemblies); in the latter case, the containment bodies of two adjacent containers are temporarily joined together by means of laterally-protruding flanges with predefined break lines.

One of the typical drawbacks of the known containers is the fact that, although the closure means do indeed close the dispensing mouth, they do not ensure a complete covering of the annular rim of the neck defining said dispensing mouth. Note that said annular rim is an essential element in order to be able to dispense calibrated drops of product. Indeed, it is known that the dimensions of the drops of product, and consequently the number of doses dispensable by the container, are a function of the diameter of the outside perimeter of the neck wall lying within the plane of the dispensing mouth. So, when dispensing, the calibrated drop of product comes into contact with the outer surface of the container right at the annular rim of the neck. Note that during use, the user opens the container by removing the closure means and gripping the gripping part, which is immediately above the stopper tip inserted into and closing the dispensing mouth. During this operation, the user's fingers inevitably end up coming into contact with the annular rim of the container neck, with the risk of contaminating it; consequently, the calibrated drops of product also risk being contaminated by microbes and bacteria. <CIT> (which corresponds to the preamble of appended claim <NUM>) and <CIT> show examples of reclosable containers in which the closure means completely cover the dispensing mouth.

In addition, in order to handle the containment body in an easy and practical way when dispensing the product, the user will often put the closure means momentarily on a support surface with the risk of also contaminating the stopper tip. Once the product has been administered, the closure means are reused and the stopper tip is reinserted to close the dispensing mouth. However, while the stopper tip is sitting on the support surface, it risks being contaminated by microbes and bacteria, and upon being reinserted into the dispensing mouth, it risks also contaminating the remaining product in the container intended for subsequent uses.

Consequently, the known reclosable containers do not ensure product integrity during subsequent uses.

There is therefore a need in this field for a reclosable container, particularly for pharmaceutical products, that limits contamination of the product by microbes and bacteria during times of use.

The purpose of the present invention is to make a reclosable container for pharmaceutical products that solves the problems of the prior art, bearing in mind the needs in the field.

In particular, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a reclosable container for fluid pharmaceutical products that limits the risk of contamination of the product by microbes and bacteria during times of use.

In addition, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a reclosable container for fluid pharmaceutical products that can be used in an easy, practical, and functional way and that has a particularly compact and small overall size.

This purpose is achieved by a reclosable container for fluid pharmaceutical products according to claim <NUM>, and by a vial strip according to claim <NUM>. The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

The features and advantages of a container according to the present invention will become apparent from the following description, given as a non-limiting example and in accordance with the accompanying figures, in which:.

In reference to the appended figures, reference number <NUM> refers to a reclosable container for fluid products, particularly for medicinal, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products.

Here, it should be noted that the term "fluid products" is not only intended to refer to liquid products, but also viscous products, for example in the form of a paste and gel, and powdery products, in particular very fine powders with a high degree of fluidity.

The container <NUM> comprises a containment body <NUM> intended to contain a fluid product.

The containment body <NUM> has a substantially tubular and elongated hollow shape with, on the outer surface thereof, a pair of gripping flanges <NUM> which can be coupled removably to the gripping flanges of one or more adjacent containers <NUM> so as to form a strip <NUM> of containers <NUM> (<FIG>).

One end of the containment body <NUM> extends into a neck <NUM> provided with a dispensing mouth <NUM> for the fluid product to come out.

The neck <NUM> is substantially cylindrical, with a smaller diameter than the rest of the containment body <NUM> and coaxially aligned therewith.

The dispensing mouth <NUM> is closed by a closure means <NUM> comprising a gripping element <NUM>, from which at least one stopper tip <NUM>, which may be inserted into the dispensing mouth <NUM>, extends in a substantially coplanar way.

The gripping element <NUM> has a substantially flat shape and comprises two side portions <NUM> that extend from opposite sides of the stopper tip <NUM>. In other words, the gripping element <NUM> is shaped so as to define a cavity <NUM> made between the two side portions <NUM>.

The closure means <NUM> comprises an annular-shaped fixed collar <NUM> made as an integral part with the gripping element <NUM>.

The fixed collar <NUM> extends at least partially into the cavity <NUM> between the two side portions <NUM> of the gripping element <NUM>.

The fixed collar <NUM> comprises a bottom <NUM> and an opening <NUM> on the opposite side. A stopper seat <NUM> is defined between the bottom <NUM> and the opening <NUM>. Indeed, the stopper tip <NUM> extends into the stopper seat <NUM> from the bottom <NUM>.

Preferably, the stopper tip <NUM> does not protrude from the opening <NUM> of the fixed collar <NUM>, as shown in the examples of <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. In other words, the stopper tip <NUM> is completely contained inside the stopper seat <NUM> of the fixed collar <NUM>. Advantageously, there is consequently no risk of the stopper tip <NUM> becoming contaminated, even if the closure means <NUM> is placed on a support surface.

The fixed collar <NUM> is arranged in such a way that, once assembled to the closure means <NUM> on the containment body <NUM>, and in particular on the neck <NUM>, the dispensing mouth <NUM> remains completely covered. In other words, with container <NUM> according to the present invention in the closed configuration, the dispensing mouth <NUM> of the containment body <NUM> is completely contained inside the stopper seat <NUM> of the fixed collar <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. Advantageously, then, there is no risk that the user's fingers will come into contact with the dispensing mouth <NUM> and with the annular rim of the neck <NUM>, entailing a risk of contamination, when opening the container <NUM>.

The closure means <NUM> comprises an annular-shaped removable fixed collar <NUM> associated with the gripping element <NUM> along at least one preestablished break area <NUM>.

In one embodiment example shown in <FIG>, the preestablished break area <NUM> consists of a plurality of vertical breakable tabs connecting the lower edge of the fixed collar <NUM> to the upper edge of the removable collar <NUM>.

In one embodiment example shown in <FIG>, the preestablished break area <NUM> consists of a breakable annular diaphragm connecting the lower edge of the fixed collar <NUM> to the upper edge of the removable collar <NUM>.

In one embodiment example shown in <FIG>, the preestablished break area <NUM> consists of a pair of lateral breakable tabs connecting the side portions <NUM> to the outer surface of the removable collar <NUM> arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the removable collar <NUM>.

The removable collar <NUM> is able to fit around the neck <NUM> and is intended to be made secured thereto.

Indeed, interlocking connection means are placed between the neck <NUM> and the removable collar <NUM>.

In particular, the interlocking connection means comprise a ring <NUM> extending from the outer surface of the neck <NUM> and connectable to a stop ring <NUM> extending from the inner surface of the removable collar <NUM>.

Alternative forms of coupling between the neck <NUM> and the removable collar <NUM> are also possible, for example by welding such as by heat or ultrasound, or by adhesive.

Preferably, the neck <NUM> is provided with a stop element <NUM>, substantially a ledge, defining a stop for the closure means <NUM>. In other words, when the closure means <NUM> is mounted on the containment body <NUM>, the lower edge of the removable collar <NUM> rests against the stop element <NUM> of the neck <NUM>. Indeed, a seat is defined between the stop element <NUM> and the ring <NUM> of the neck <NUM> in which the removable collar <NUM> remains locked, even after the closure means <NUM> has been opened.

Note, furthermore, that the gripping element <NUM>, the stopper tip <NUM>, the fixed collar <NUM>, and the removable collar <NUM> are made as an integral part, for example by forming techniques such as injection molding, using polymer materials such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Similarly, the containment body <NUM> may also be made by the same forming techniques as the closure means <NUM>, in a separate mold.

The containment body <NUM> is therefore initially separate from the closure means <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, and the container <NUM> is assembled in a second step in which the removable collar <NUM> is fitted to the neck <NUM>, with simultaneous insertion of the stopper tip <NUM> into the dispensing mouth <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

At the time of first use, the user opens the container <NUM> by removing the closure means <NUM> by gripping the gripping part <NUM>. This removal entails withdrawal of the stopper tip <NUM> from the dispensing mouth <NUM>, while the removable collar <NUM> remains on the neck <NUM> after breakage of the preestablished break area <NUM> to serve a "tamper-evident" function to show the container has been opened. Thanks to the presence of the stop element <NUM>, the removable collar <NUM> cannot slide along the neck <NUM>. Thanks to the ring <NUM>, the removable collar <NUM> may not slide off the neck <NUM> and risk being swallowed, for example by a child. The removable collar <NUM> therefore advantageously remains confined to the seat defined between the stop element <NUM> and the ring <NUM> of the neck <NUM>.

The subject matter of the present invention is therefore a reclosable container <NUM> for fluid products in which the dispensing mouth <NUM> of the containment body <NUM> is completely contained inside the stopper seat <NUM> of the fixed collar <NUM> in order to limit the risk of contamination of the product by microbes and bacteria during times of use.

The subject matter of the present invention is also a monolithic strip of reclosable containers <NUM> for fluid products. In one example, the strip comprises five containers <NUM>, as in <FIG>.

Innovatively, a reclosable container for fluid pharmaceutical products according to the present invention keeps the risk of product contamination by microbes and bacteria during times of use to a minimum.

Advantageously, a container for fluid pharmaceutical products according to the present invention is provided with closure means that ensure the annular rim of the neck defining the dispensing mouth is covered. As a result, it is not possible for the user's fingers to come into contact with said annular rim when opening the container, thus avoiding contamination of the calibrated drop of product.

Advantageously, a container for fluid pharmaceutical products according to the present invention is provided with closure means that, in one embodiment example, ensure that the stopper tip is also covered. As a result, it is not possible for said tip to be contaminated when the closure means are sitting on a support surface, thus avoiding contamination of the remaining product in the container intended for later use.

Claim 1:
A reclosable container (<NUM>) for fluid products, comprising:
- a containment body (<NUM>) for a fluid product, provided with a neck (<NUM>) ending in a dispensing mouth (<NUM>) for dispensing said product;
- closure means (<NUM>) for closing the dispensing mouth (<NUM>), comprising
-- a gripping element (<NUM>) below which a stopper tip (<NUM>) for closing said dispensing mouth (<NUM>) extends,
-- a removable collar (<NUM>) associated with the gripping element (<NUM>) along at least one preestablished break area (<NUM>), and rigidly attachable to said neck (<NUM>),
wherein, in a closed configuration, the closure means (<NUM>) is engaged with the containment body (<NUM>) by means of the removable collar (<NUM>), so that the stopper tip (<NUM>) is inserted into the dispensing mouth (<NUM>), and in an open configuration, obtained by tearing said at least one preestablished break area (<NUM>), the stopper tip (<NUM>) is separated from the containment body (<NUM>) to open the dispensing mouth (<NUM>), and wherein, in the closed configuration, the dispensing mouth (<NUM>) is completely covered by the closure means (<NUM>);
- a ring (<NUM>) extending from an outer surface of the neck (<NUM>) and connectable to a stop ring (<NUM>) extending from an inside surface of the removable collar (<NUM>); Characterized in that it further comprises a stop element (<NUM>) in the form of a ledge on the neck (<NUM>) so that a seat is defined between the stop element (<NUM>) and the ring (<NUM>) in which the removable collar (<NUM>) remains locked.