Patent ID: 12240669

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following, two major embodiments of the invention will be described. Wherever appropriate, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

As will be shown below with reference to the specific embodiments and its variants, the major difference between the first major embodiment according toFIGS.1to6and the second major embodiment according toFIGS.7A to12lies in the mutual arrangement of the skirt of the cap10and the sidewall of the body20.

The receptacle as shown inFIG.1is a canister1, comprising a cap10and a body20. The cap10comprises a top wall14and a skirt18. The top wall14is integrally provided with the tubular skirt18.

The body20comprises a bottom wall28and a tubular sidewall26which is integrally provided with the bottom wall28.

As shown in the example ofFIG.1, the canister1is dropped in a container8for storing sensitive products, e.g. pharmaceutical products.

The sidewall26of the canister body20, which is integrally formed with the bottom wall28, has a substantially tubular shape and extends perpendicularly from the bottom wall28. In the first embodiment as shown inFIGS.1to6, the outer diameter of an upper portion21of the sidewall26is selected such that it can be placed, at least partially, inside the skirt18.

The sidewall26of the canister body20is dimensioned so that the skirt18of the cap10is held by a snap-fit connection (protruding part210on the upper portion21of the sidewall26in interaction with the protruding part110on the inner side of the skirt18of the cap10).

In the embodiment according toFIG.1, a snap-fit connection is used. This can be best seen in the cross-sectional view inFIG.2which shows the canister body20with the bottom28and sidewall26, and the cap10with its top wall14and the skirt18. In order to stiffen the overall structure,FIG.2additionally shows a reinforcing rib90on that side16of the top wall14of the cap which faces the interior of the canister1, and a reinforcing rib92on the inner side of the bottom28of the canister body20.

As can be seen inFIG.2, the mutual arrangement of the skirt18and the sidewall26is such that the skirt18is positioned radially outwards relative to the upper portion21of the sidewall26. The upper end of the sidewall26as well as the inner circumferential surface of the skirt18are shaped and adapted to establish a snap-on fit between the cap10and the body20when the skirt18of the cap10laterally surrounds the body20.

The sidewall26of the body20can comprise a step19as shown inFIG.3which is formed between an upper portion21of the sidewall26located adjacent to the upper opening and a second portion23of the sidewall26located beneath the first, upper portion21, wherein the first portion21is at least partially thinner than the wall thickness of the lower portion23so as to form the step19. The snap-fit connection can be designed as described in WO 2015/139954.

Alternatively, the lower portion23can be as thin as the upper portion21and can optionally be reinforced by vertical ribs (either in the inner side or on the outer side of the sidewall26).

In the detailed view ofFIG.3, it can be seen that there is a ventilation path B formed by an indentation38′ on the skirt of the cap10which allows air to enter in the direction of arrow A in a free space between the skirt18and the sidewall26of the canister body20. The ventilation path further comprises a depression38on the canister body20which can be best seen inFIG.4and the detail view thereof inFIG.5and a crenelated structure at the upper rim27of the sidewall26.

Further, inFIG.5, a recessed part212on the sidewall26of the canister body20is shown. This recessed part forms the undercut which is used for the snap-fit connection of the correspondingly shaped skirt18of the cap10with a radially inwards directed protrusion which can be accommodated in the recessed part212after the snap-fit connection has been achieved.

Between protruding parts210on the sidewall26, there are a plurality of depressions38around the outer circumference of the sidewall26which, when the skirt18of the cap10is fitted onto the sidewall26, form individual ventilation spaces which are a part of a ventilation path and which allow for a gas exchange between the atmosphere36out of the canister1and the interior chamber33therein. In other words, a peripheral protruding part210on the sidewall26is interrupted by a plurality of depressions38such as to form a plurality of ventilation spaces which are a part of a ventilation path.

As can be seen inFIG.3, the distal end of the sidewall26partially abuts against the side of the top wall14of the cap10which faces the interior of the canister1. In order to allow an unobstructed exchange of air in that part, the upper rim27of the sidewall26is provided with a crenelated structure with merlons40and crenels41in-between. The at least one ventilation path thus comprises at least one crenel41. Since the height difference between the merlons40and crenels41is very low, even an active substance within the canister1which is either a powder or even a liquid, like a salt solution, cannot escape the chamber33inside the canister. For any particulate matter, it cannot pass through the small slits formed by the crenels41, whereas in case of a liquid, the strong capillary effect will keep such liquid within the small slits formed by the crenels so that liquid can also not escape through the ventilation path. The crenels41can be regularly or irregularly distributed on the upper rim27. Micro texturing of the upper rim27top surface has been found to be well suitable to create a gaseous path but still allows the canister1to stay liquid tight. Such a micro structure can be obtained from micro- or nano machining of the mold cavity and can be associated with Heat and Cool Injection Molding Technology which has proven to be efficient in improving the surface definition of the molded upper rim27.

The unobstructed ventilation path further comprises ventilation spaces38′ on the interior circumferential surface of the skirt18of the canister cap10which, irrespective of the mutual orientation of the depressions38on the canister body20and the ventilation spaces38′ together form part of one ventilation path. Preferably, the width or circumferential extension of a ventilation space38′ is greater than the circumferential extension of a depression38.

When the canister cap10is fixed on the canister body20, the depressions38will be provided in a position between the ventilation spaces38′ on the canister body20and the upper rim27of the sidewall on which the merlons40and crenels41are provided. The provision of the crenels41and the mutual arrangement of the ventilation spaces38′ and the depressions38lead to a winding ventilation path. Such a tortuous path provides an additional obstacle for the inadvertent passage of small particles, like broken fragments of an active substance which might enter the ventilation path.

InFIG.5, a schematic ventilation path is shown as a possible example. First, air enters in the direction of arrow A the gap formed between the step portion19and the lower end (distal end) of the skirt18of the cap10(seeFIG.3). The air arrives at point “1” inFIG.5. After that, the air travels through an indentation38′ to point “2” inFIG.5(see alsoFIG.2b). The ventilation path continues in a circumferential direction in a first gap50formed between the sidewall26of the canister body20and the skirt18of the cap10to point “3” inFIG.5(seeFIG.2a). Then, the ventilation path continues in a vertical direction through a depression38to point “4” inFIG.5(see alsoFIG.2c). The ventilation path continues in a circumferential direction in a second gap52formed between the sidewall26of the canister body20and the skirt18of the cap10to point “5” inFIG.5(see alsoFIG.2d). Then, the air travels through a crenel followed by a vertical movement through a third gap54formed between the inner surface of the sidewall26of the canister body20and the inner skirt96of the cap10, and into the interior of the canister1(see alsoFIG.2d). Both the first gap and the second gap do not necessarily have to run all around the respective circumference as long as at least one continuous ventilation path is established.

Preferably, the indentations38′ and depressions38are angularly offset relative to each other so that a particle escaping from the inside of the canister1needs to travel a tortuous path running in multiple directions.

As can be seen inFIG.4, the circumferential extensions of the individual depressions38are not the same. There is at least one depression38, preferably at least two depressions38, the circumferential extension of which exceeds that of the other depressions38. The reason is that, for molding process by slide parts of the mold due to the undercut212of the canister body20, the slides are joined on the larger depressions38.

As an alternative, the number of depressions38could differ from the number of ventilation spaces38′, or either the depressions or ventilation spaces could be distributed around the circumference of the sidewall and skirt so that they are not equidistantly spaced. Any such measures either alone or in combination serve to generate at least one ventilation path no matter in which orientation the cap10is attached to the canister body20. Further to the better ventilation, different numbers of depression38and38′ allows to guarantee a strong snap-fit between the protrusions210and the protrusions110whatever the orientation of the cap10regarding the canister body20(better holding with larger hook110).

Another embodiment of the invention is described inFIGS.7A to12. One major difference is the cross-sectional shape of the canister1which, in the second embodiment, is of a roughly square shape with flattened or rounded corners. A further major difference lies in the fact that, in the embodiment according toFIGS.7A to12, the skirt of the cap is surrounded by the sidewall of the canister1. These and further differences will be detailed below.

In the two views ofFIGS.7A and7B, the receptacle is a canister1which also consists of two elements. The cap10closes the canister body20. The canister body20comprises a bottom wall28and a sidewall26which extends perpendicularly from the bottom wall28and is provided as a unitary structure with the bottom wall28. The cap10closes an open end of the sidewall26of the canister body20.

In the embodiment according toFIGS.7A to12, the cap10as shown inFIGS.9A and9Bhas a top wall14and a skirt18which is integrally formed with the top wall14and depends therefrom.

All four sides of the skirt18are provided with a snapping protrusion110. When closing the cap10, the snapping protrusions110will snap into and lock inside the recessed parts212formed by cut-offs on the sidewall26of the canister body20. In such a way, the cap10once closed will firmly be held in place. In order to assist in the establishment of the snap-on fit between the cap10and the canister body20, the snapping protrusions110are angled on the lower surfaces so that they can more easily snap into the recessed parts212on the sidewall of the canister body20, whereas it is difficult to remove a cap10once assembled from the canister body20again.

As can be seen inFIG.7A, the cap10is fixed to the canister body20in such a way that the outer surface of the top wall14does not extend beyond the upper rim of the sidewall26of the canister body20.

As can be seen inFIG.8B, the sidewall26of the canister body20is provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs94which stiffen the sidewall of the canister1. Furthermore, it provides a stop for vertical positioning the cap10inside the canister body20. Likewise, the top wall14of the cap10is also provided with reinforcing ribs90which are provided on that side of the top wall14which, in the assembled state, faces the interior of the canister1. Such ribs allow to use a thinner thickness on the top wall14of the cap10in order that the top wall is more permeable to gazes.

Further, the skirt18of the cap10is provided with centering ribs98, two of which are provided on each side of the skirt. The centering ribs serve for centering the cap10relative to the canister body20during assembly.

Further, at each rounded or flattened corner of the skirt18, a recess39is formed which is part of the ventilation path. In addition to the recess39, several vents38′ are provided in the skirt18of the cap10which can be best seen inFIGS.9A and9B. Furthermore, these recesses39provide a location for ribs94of the canister body20. From the cross-sectional view inFIG.11and, as an enlarged detail F, inFIG.12, it can be seen that between the cap10and the canister body20, a small ventilation path for air is formed by the vents38′ as well as the recesses39which have the effect that the cap rests on the upper end of the ribs94inside the canister body20and which extend into the recesses39in the skirt18of the cap10. In such a way, a tortuous path is formed which represents the ventilation path connecting the interior of the canister1to the outside atmosphere36.

Throughout the embodiments, it is possible to either add the canister1, filled with an active material, to the interior of a container8as a loose part, as illustrated schematically inFIG.1, or to affix the canister1in a suitable way to a closure82closing a container8for storing moisture or oxygen sensitive products. Especially, such a container8might contain a pharmaceutical product, in particular drugs, pills, tablets, globuli, granulate, lozenges, test strips or powder.

In both embodiments as described above, the canister body20and/or the top wall of the cap10could be permeable to gas in order to allow fluid exchange between the inside of the canister1and the outside atmosphere36which, in use, is the inside atmosphere of a container8in which the canister is provided. The materials composing the canister body20and/or the cap10could be selected in regard with the permeation properties of the material for the gas to be absorbed by the canister1, which makes it possible to mold a canister1having a basic fluid exchange for further increasing the exchange kinetic, further to the additional provision of at least one ventilation path.