Dispensing container for sterile solutions having a valve assembly

Abstract

 A dispenser, including a container portion and a valve assembly, for retaining and dispensing a substance. The valve assembly includes a valve base (24) and a nozzle housing portion (24). The container portion is formed with a head segment (33) which is integrally formed as a single piece unitary body of a suitable material with the container portion. The head segment (33) may be either the valve base (24) or the nozzle housing portion (24) of the valve assembly. The other one of the valve base (24) or the nozzle housing portion (24) is attached to the head segment (33) of the container portion and a valving device may be positioned and retained therebetween. Rigidized areas (78) are formed in the walls of the container portion at spaced apart locations with flexible areas (80) spaced therebetween. The rigidized areas (78) and flexible areas (80) facilitate improved control and more thorough dispensing of the substance from the dispenser. The dispenser has either a flattened bottom or a pinched end opposite the valve assembly.

Description

Background of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates generally to containers for dispensing solution, or the like, and more particularly to a dispensing container in the form of a tube member with a valve assembly for controllably dispensing the contents of the container wherein a component of the valve assembly is formed as an integral portion of the tube member.

[0002] Dispensing containers are commonly used for a variety of products including contact lens solution, hygiene products, and other pharmaceutical, consumer, and chemical products. Typically, these containers are formed of a plastic material and provide for a nozzle housing portion to be attached either with a snap-fit or a threaded arrangement. Such dispensers can be formed with a tubular container portion having a flat base or a tubular container portion which has been pinched off at the bottom end such as is commonly found on a "toothpaste-type" tube. Further, the wall thickness of the tubular container portion is generally consistent throughout the entire container.

[0003] Preserved and non-preserved sterile pharmaceutical and chemical preparations are often packaged and distributed in small volume containers. The small volume container provides several advantages including dosage control, freshness assurance, and as a practical means for dispensing small quantities. One problem which has arisen with these dispenser-type containers is that the connection point between where the valve assembly attaches to the container portion provides a potential point of access for tampering with the contents of the container. For example, if the valve assembly is attached to the container by means of a threaded arrangement, the valve assembly may be detached from the container to gain access to the contents of the container.

[0004] Another potential point of contamination is by way of a failure at the connection point between the valve assembly and the container portion. An example of this is when the valve assembly is incorrectly attached to the container portion or when the dispenser is somehow damaged so that there is a material failure or attachment failure at the point where the valve assembly attaches to the container.

[0005] Additionally, inspection of the assembled dispensers is required as a added measure to thwart tampering and to identify damaged dispensers. An additional consideration is that in the preparation of sterile products, preserved or non-preserved, additional care must be taken in the connection of the valve assembly to the container to prevent contamination of the container during the assembly of the dispenser.

[0006] The above-noted problems clearly contribute to added product cost as well as problems and time spent in the manufacture, distribution and sale of products sold in such dispensers. As an additional matter, since the components of the valve assembly and the tube or container are normally separate independent parts, each part must be controlled and handled prior to assembly and filling of the dispenser, thus requiring the attendant accounting and handling procedures for such parts.

[0007] With the above-described type of dispenser the wall thickness is generally uniform which results in poor control and unresponsive dispensing through the valve assembly. Typical "toothpaste" tubes have a container portion which permit the tube to be rolled as a product is used. These containers generally do not retain a rolled-up form and thus are hard to manipulate while dispensing a product therefrom. For example, when dispensing a product from a dispenser having a plastic container portion, the container portion tends to pinch in the middle causing inefficient control while dispensing the product. While a paste or formable substance may be squeegeed from the bottom of the tube towards the valve assembly at the discharge end of the tube and then squeezed from the accumulated body of substance in the container, liquids retained in this type of dispenser are very difficult to dispense.

[0008] As an additional matter, the above-noted problems are exacerbated when the substance retained in the dispenser is a sterile product and the valve assembly is a one-way valve assembly which prevents return air from entering into the container portion during a dispensing operation.

Objects and Summary of the Invention

[0009] A general object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser having a valve assembly and a tube-like container portion which eliminates a connection point between the valve assembly and the tubular container.

[0010] A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser which eliminates a potential tampering point between the valve assembly and container.

[0011] A further object of the present invention is to eliminate a potential contamination entry point between the valve assembly and the container.

[0012] An additional object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser which has a reduced number of parts thereby reducing the time, effort and expense invested in the assembly of the dispenser.

[0013] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser which has container walls which aid in the dispensing of the substance retained in the container for more fully utilizing the contents of the dispenser and providing greater control of the dispensing of the substance from the container.

[0014] Yet another object of the present invention is to reduce the number of parts in the dispenser assembly and reduce the number of potential contamination causing or tampering failure points.

[0015] Briefly, and in accordance with the foregoing, the present invention comprises a dispenser, including a tubular container and a valve assembly, for retaining and dispensing a substance. The valve assembly includes a base portion, a valving device, and a nozzle housing portion. The tubular container is formed with a head segment which is integrally formed as a single piece unitary body of a suitable common material with the tubular container. The head segment may be either the base portion or the nozzle housing portion of the valve assembly. The other one of the base portion or the nozzle housing portion is attached to the head segment of the tubular container with the valving device positioned and retained therebetween. As an additional novel feature, rigidized areas are formed in the walls of the container at spaced apart locations with flexible areas spaced therebetween. The rigidized areas and flexible areas facilitate improved control and more thorough dispensing of the substance from the dispenser. The dispenser has either a flat bottom or a pinched tube end opposite the valve assembly.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial fragmentary cross sectional view of a valve assembly of the present invention taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial fragmentary cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the valve assembly as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

[0017] While the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, a specific embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and described herein.

[0018] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference numerals throughout the figures, an exploded view of a dispenser 20 in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The dispenser 20 is comprised of a valve assembly, designated generally with reference numeral 22, a tube-like or tubular container indicated at 32, and, if desired, a cap 34. While a particular type of valve assembly 22 is disclosed and discussed herein, which is of the general type and kind described in detail in United States Patent No. 5,025,957, to Ranalletta et al. issued June 25, 1991, the invention is not limited to the specific detail of the valve assembly.

[0019] Basically, the present invention includes a valve assembly 22 having a nozzle housing portion 24, an elastomeric valve means 26 and a valve base 28. The tubular container 32 is formed with a head segment 33, shown as the valve base 28 in FIG. 1, and which head segment 33 is formed as a continuous, integral, unitary piece of the tubular container 32. As will be discussed further hereinbelow, the head segment 33 will provide the nozzle housing portion 24 as shown in the alternate embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0020] With reference to FIG. 3, the valve assembly 22 as shown in FIG. 1 is assembled so that the valve means 26 is sandwiched between the nozzle housing portion 24 and the valve base 28. An overcap 34 removably attaches to the nozzle housing portion by cooperative threads 36 formed on the outside of the nozzle housing portion 24 and corresponding threads 38 formed on the inside of the overcap 34.

[0021] FIG. 3 provides an enlarged partial fragmentary cross-sectional view of the valve assembly 22 assembled on the head segment 33 and the container portion 32. As illustrated in the present invention, the valve means 26 is manifested in the form of an integral diaphragm 40 and column valve 42. An O-ring portion 44 is formed around the outer perimeter of the diaphragm 40 with the integral annular web or diaphragm 40 radially extending between the inside diameter of the O-ring portion 44 and an outside diameter of the column valve 42. The O-ring portion 44 is compressibly retained between the nozzel housing portion 24 and the head portion 33. An annular ledge 43 is formed on an inside surface of the nozzel housing portion 24 and abuts a top surface of the head portion 33 for controlling the degree of compression on the O-ring portion 44 to prevent overcompression of the O-ring portion 44.

[0022] A tip 48 of the nozzle housing portion 24 is formed with a central bore 50 extending axially along a central axis 52. A ledge portion 54 is formed spaced away from an exit port 55 on the distal end of the tip 48. A shoulder portion 56 of the column valve 42 is sized and dimensioned to engage the ledge portion 54. A dispensing tip 58 of the column valve 42 extends through the exit port 55 of the tip 48. The container 32 integrally formed with the head segment 33 which provides the valve base 28 with the O-ring portion 44 positioned between said valve base 28 and the nozzle housing portion 24.

[0023] An annular boss 60 formed on an end of the column valve 42 distal the dispenser tip 58 is engaged in a shallow recess 62 formed in the valve base 28 to seal the contents of the container 32 from escaping through the dispensing bore 64. A bore 66 is formed through the valve base 28 in the area of the recess 62 and communicates with the dispensing bore 64 when the annular boss 60 is unseated from the recess 62. The design of the components is such that upon assembly the column valve 42 is pre-loaded to insure sealing contact between boss 60 and the surface of the recess 62. A dispensing chamber 68 is formed between the recess 62, the annular boss 60 sealed thereagainst, the annular web 40, and the O-ring portion 44 compressibly retained between the nozzle housing portion 24 and the valve base 28.

[0024] Retention of the O-ring portion 44 between the nozzle housing portion 24 and the valve base 28 prevents the O-ring portion 44 from slipping out of sealing engagement when pressure is applied to the annular web 40. Pressure applied to the container 32 forces the contents of the container 32 through the bore 66 creating a pressure in the dispensing chamber 68. Increased pressure in the dispensing chamber pushes against the annular web 40 elastically deforming the annular web 40 and unseating the annular boss 60 from the recess 62. When the annular boss 60 is unseated, the substance flows through the dispensing bore 64 and out through the dispensing tip 58. Sidewall portions 70 of the column valve 42 are compressibly pre-loaded between the ledge portion 54 and the recess 62 when the nozzle housing portion 24 is initially assembled and attached to the valve base 28.

[0025] Likewise, the O-ring portion 44 is compressibly retained between the nozzle housing portion 24 and the valve base 28. Initial pre-loading of the sidewalls 70 of the column valve 42 prevents unsealing of the annular boss 60 from the recess 62 by mere contact with the container 32. The degree of pre-loading in the sidewall portion 70 is achieved by selecting a particular material with desirable compression characteristics as well as specifically dimensioning the distance between the recess 62 and the ledge portion 54 to compressibly pre-load the sidewall portion 70 when the nozzle housing portion 24 is attached to the valve space 28.

[0026] An additional consideration for compressibly pre-loading the sidewalls 70 of the column valve 42 is the position of locking lugs 72 and corresponding lug receptacles 74. As shown in FIG. 3, the lugs 72 are integrally formed on the valve base 28 which forms the head segment 33 in this embodiment. The compressive forces induced upon the sidewall portion 70 and the O-ring portion 44 keep the nozzle housing portion 24 and the valve base 28 in tension at the lugs 72 and the lug receptacles 74. The tension created between the sidewall 70, O-ring portion 44 and the lugs 72, lug receptacles 74 prevent casual unintentional contamination of the contents of the container 32.

[0027] In the alternate embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, references to like parts are referred to with identical reference numerals as used in FIGS. 1-3 with the addition of a lower case letter suffix indicating an alternate embodiment of the element referenced. For example, the lugs 72a formed on the valve base 28a engaged the lug receptacles 74a formed inside of the nozzle housing portion 24a. It should be noted that the valve means 22 of FIG. 4 is shown in the pressurized or operating condition.

[0028] More specifically, with the embodiment of FIG. 4, the tubular container 32a is formed with a continuous, integral, unitary end or head portion 33a which in effect provides the nozzle housing portion 24a of the valve assembly. As such, the valve body 28a is provided by a separate component that is disposed internally to the head portion 33a. In this regard, the tubular container is initially formed with an open end opposite head portion 33a. The valve body 28a is disposed through this open end and pushed into position as shown in FIG. 4. In this regard, the end portion 28a includes an annular lug or protrusion 72a that is engaged in an annular recess or groove 74a formed in the interior of the tubular container 32a to maintain the valve body 28a in position.

[0029] Correspondingly, the elastomeric valving element 26 is also assembled through the open end of the tube 32a prior to introduction of the valve body 28a. Thus, upon the valve body 28a being snapped into position the column valve portion 42 and the O-ring portion 44 will be preloaded as discussed above.

[0030] The construction and operation of the valve assembly 22 for the embodiment 20a of FIG. 4 is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. In this regard, the valve body 28a includes a port 66a. As such, upon pressurizing of the container 32a fluid will enter port 66a and will cause the annular web 40 to flex upwardly, as viewed, to unseat the boss 60 of the column valve 42 from recess 62a. This operation of the valve 22 permits fluid to be dispensed via the nozzle tip 58.

[0031] As discussed with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the head segment 33 comprises the valve base 28 and is integrally formed with the container 32. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the head segment 33a comprises the nozzle housing portion 24a and is integrally formed as a single piece with the container 32a without a seam or connection therebetween. The absence of a seam between the head portion 33a and the tubular container 32a provides the advantage of preventing tampering at the point where the valve assembly 22 connects to the container 32a and also eliminates a potential point of failure which may commonly arise in currently available dispensers 20.

[0032] The container 32 illustrated in FIG. 1 is shown with an open end 76 distal the valve assembly 22. With reference to FIG. 2, the tubular container 32 may be formed in a generally cylindrical tubular body. Once the tubular container 32 has been filled, the open end 76 may be sealed either by attaching a base thereto or by compressing and sealing diametrically opposed side panels.

[0033] FIG. 2 provides a cross-sectional view of an additional novel feature of the present invention, wherein the tubular container 32 is provided with rigidized areas 78 and flexible areas 80. The rigidized areas 78 are spaced apart with flexible areas 80 alternately spaced therebetween. As shown, the rigidized areas 78 have a greater wall thickness 82 than a wall thickness 84 of the flexible areas 80. The rigidized areas 78 extend along the tubular container 32 from the open end 76 upwardly towards the head segment 33. The integrally formed continuous single-piece, rigidized, and flexible area 78,80 facilitate the discharge of the substance from the dispenser 20 when the rigidized areas 78 are diametrically squeezed.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the variation in wall thicknesses results in the flexible areas 80 acting as flex points upon which the tube will fold when it is compressed by squeezing the rigidized areas 78. The rigidized areas spread the load of the compressive forces preventing pinching and expelling more product from the tube during the overall use of the dispenser 20.

[0035] The rigidized and flexible areas 78,80 may also be achieved with a rigidized area wall thickness substantially equal to a flexible area wall thickness. This type of rigidizing is achieved by providing corrugating ridges on the rigidized area. The corrugated ridges extend generally parallel to the central axis 52 along the walls. Absence of the corrugating ridges in the flexible areas 78 result in a more flexible area spaced between the rigidized areas 78.

[0036] An additional embodiment of the rigidized and flexible areas 78,80 is achieved by forming ribs in the rigidized areas. The wall dimension of the container 32 taken through a rib is greater than a wall diameter 84 taken through the flexible area 80. The ribs extend generally parallel to the central axis 52 and may be formed on the inside of the container or on the outside of the container. Ribs formed on the outside of the container would provide additional gripping advantages.

[0037] Overall, the function of the structure created by the rigidized areas 78 is to facilitate and further advance the controlled dispensing of the substance retained inside of the container 32.

[0038] Rigidized area helps to more fully discharge the contents of the container with less effort and substantially more control on the part of the user. The rigidized areas 78 create a leveraging, squeezing action on the substance forcing it towards the valve assembly 22 and not towards the sealed end. In contrast, without the rigidized areas, the tube would tend to pinch in the middle and a portion of the substance in the container 32 would flow away from the valve assembly 22. Thus, the rigidized areas 78 and the flexible areas 80 spaced therebetween improve the delivery and dispensing efficiency and dispense the substance retained in the container at a more continuous rate.

[0039] While preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The invention is not intended to be limited by the foregoing disclosure.

Claims

1. A dispenser for retaining and dispensing a substance, said dispenser including,
   a container portion for retaining a substance, said container portion having a first end and a second end and being integrally formed as a continuous unitary body; and
   a valve assembly for controllably dispensing substance retained in said container portion, said valve assembly including a valve base (28), and a nozzle housing portion (24);
   said dispenser BEING CHARACTERIZED BY:
   a head segment (33) on said first end of said container portion which is integrally formed as a continuous unitary portion on said container portion defining one or the other of said valve base (28) or said nozzle housing portion (24) of said valve assembly, the other of said valve base (28) or said nozzle housing portion (24) being attachable to said head segment (33).

2. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, BEING FURTHER CHARACTERIZED BY said valve base (28) defining said head segment (33) and being integrally formed as a continuous unitary portion on said first end of said container portion.

3. A dispenser as recited in claim 2, BEING FURTHER CHARACTERIZED BY:
   lugs (72) formed on and spaced around said head segment (33); and
   lug receptacles (74) formed in a corresponding surface of said nozzle housing portion (24) for cooperatively engaging said lugs (72).

4. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, BEING FURTHER CHARACTERIZED BY said nozzle housing portion (24) defining said head segment (33) and being integrally formed as a continuous unitary portion on said first end of said container portion.

5. A dispenser as recited in claim 4, BEING FURTHER CHARACTERIZED BY:
   an annular protrusion (72a) formed on an outside surface of said valve base (28);
   an annular groove (74a) formed in a corresponding surface of said head segment (33) for cooperatively engaging said annular protrusion (72a).

6. A dispenser as recited in claims 1-5 BEING FURTHER CHARACTERIZED BY a valving device being disposed and retained between said valve base (28) and said nozzle housing portion (24).

7. A dispenser as recited in claim 6 BEING FURTHER CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said valving device is an elastomeric valving device (26) which is compressibly retained between said valve base (28) and said nozzle housing portion (24) for controllably sealing said valve assembly.

8. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, BEING FURTHER CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said head segment (33) is integrally formed as a continuous unitary portion on a first end of said container portion, a second end (76) of said container portion distal said head segment (33) providing an opening for disposing a substance therethrough into said dispenser, said second end (76) being sealed after filling said container portion for retaining a substance in said dispenser.

9. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, BEING FURTHER CHARACTERIZED BY rigidized portions (78) and flexible portions (80) being disposed on said container portion for facilitating the discharge of a substance retained in said container portion of said dispenser.

Drawing