Disc Shaped Device to Prevent Abrasion

Abstract

Device for immobilizing contents in a container and more particularly device and a method for immobilizing solid dosage forms such as pills, tablets, capsules or other breakable contents in containers are provided.

Claims

1. A disc shaped device for immobilizing contents within a container having a finish with an open mouth, said device comprising: (i) a flat circular shaped disk; (ii) a plurality of circumferentially spaced flexible resilient petals which are extended radially outwardly from a periphery of circular shaped disk; (iii) frangible webs; (iv) a semicircular slit in the centre of the disk; and wherein said petals are integrally interconnected by plurality of intervening integral frangible webs.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said device is of one-piece molded plastic construction.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the circular shaped disc is constructed or made up of inert plastic material.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said inert plastic material is selected from a group comprising High density polyethylene (HDPE), Low density polyethylene (LDPE), Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and mixtures thereof.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of flexible resilient petals is greater than the inner diameter of the container.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said petals are circumferentially spaced around said disk.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the semicircular slit is in the centre of the disk for easy removal of the disc.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the said disk and petals of the disk are able to recoil into shape after stretching or being compressed.

9. A method for immobilizing contents within a container to prevent abrasion during transit, said method comprising the steps of: (i) preparing the container for filling; (ii) filling the container with the contents to a desired surface level; (iii) placing the disc shaped device over the contents; (iv) storing the container which is filled with the contents; and wherein the said container has a finish with an opening at one end for attaching a closure.

10. The method of immobilizing contents according to claim 9, wherein said contents in the container is selected from a group comprising tablets, capsules, pills, or other breakable contents.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The invention, together with additional objects, features and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description, and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a top plan sectional view of the device;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a vertical view bisecting a package in accordance with one presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The invention will now be described in detail in connection with certain preferred and optional embodiments, so that various aspects thereof may be more fully understood and appreciated.

[0017] The term resilient in context of the present invention is refers to the disk and the petals of the disk which is able to recoil or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed.

[0018] In the specification, singular forms, including the singular forms a,, an and the, specifically also encompass the plural referents of the terms to which they refer unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, as used herein, unless specifically indicated otherwise, the word or is used in the inclusive sense of and/or and not the exclusive sense of either/or.

[0019] As used in this specification, whether in a transitional phrase or in the body of a claim, the terms comprise(s) and comprising are to be interpreted as having an open-ended meaning. That is, the terms are to be interpreted synonymously with the phrases having at least or including at least.

[0020] The present invention provides a device for packaging solid dosage forms within a container, said device comprising of a flat circular shaped disk.

[0021] In an embodiment, the present invention relates to a device which comprises a plurality of flexible resilient petals extending radially outwardly from a periphery of said disk.

[0022] In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a device wherein the flexible resilient petals are circumferentially spaced around said disk.

[0023] In an embodiment, the outer edges of petals are on a common circle of revolution concentric with the axis of device, and are integrally interconnected by a plurality of intervening frangible webs.

[0024] Yet another embodiment relates to a device wherein the device comprises a semi-circular slit in the center of the disk for easy removal of the disc. The device according to the context of the present invention is one-piece molded plastic construction.

[0025] In one of the embodiments, the container may additionally comprise of other immobilizing devices known in the state of the art such as cotton wads or sponge/foam pads.

[0026] It might be appreciated that person skilled in the art can place additional immobilizing devices in the headspace, below the disc as an additional safety measure to prevent abrasion.

[0027] In another embodiment of the present invention, the circular shaped disk is constructed using suitable inert plastic materials selected from a group comprising high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and mixtures thereof.

[0028] In an embodiment, the outer diameter of petals is greater than the inner diameter of the container body.

[0029] In an embodiment plurality of flexible resilient circumferentially spaced petals (2) extend radially outwardly from the periphery of disk (1). The outer edges of petals (2) are on a common circle of revolution, and are integrally interconnected by a plurality of intervening integral frangible webs (3). Webs (3) help prevent petals (2) from becoming entangled during shipment. In forming the package, container (4)is first filled with tablets through the open mouth of container finish. Semi-circular Slit (5) is then opened and Disk (1) is placed over the tablets wherein Petals (2) flex inwardly and upwardly when pressure is applied. In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 the outer diameter of petals (2) is greater than the inner diameter of the container body, so that petals (2) remain partially upwardly flexed and slide along the inside surface of the container body. The tight placement of the disc thus prevents accidental abrasion of the tablets.