Abstract
Container (1) for packing of liquid, pasty or solid substances or small parts with a cup (2) made of plastic, which is liquid-tight and can be sealed with a sealing film (8) made of plastic.
The container (1) has a cover (3) with a stable, plastic edge part (6), which can be detached from the cup (2) and attached liquid-tight to the upper edge of the container (2), on the surface (6a) of which sealing film (8) can be welded on liquid-tight.
Claims
1. Container for packaging of liquid, pasty or solid substances or of small parts, in particular pharmaceutical or medical products, which container has a cup made of plastic and a cover made of plastic being positioned on the cup in a liquid-tight manner, wherein the cover compromises an edge part surrounding the upper edge of the cup and having a level surface, wherein the cover comprises a sealing film that is connected liquid-tight to the surface of the edge part, and where the cup is made together with the edge part of the cover in a two-component injection moulding process, characterized in that the edge part is tightly seated on the upper edge of the cup, wherein the cup-inside edge of the edge part is flush with the inside of the inner cup wall and wherein the sealing film is connected only to the surface of the edge part.
2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge part of the cover is connected liquid-tight to the upper edge of the cup in a re-attachable manner.
3. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge part of the cover is connected liquid-tight to the upper edge of the cup by means of a tongue/groove connection in a re-attachable manner.
4. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge part of the cover is connected liquid-tight to an upper edge of the cup by means of a snap/ring connection in a re-attachable manner.
5. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge part of the cover protrudes beyond the upper edge of the cup toward the outside.
6. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that it has at least one tamper-proof seal, which visibly changes its outer appearance when opening the cover for the first time.
7. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the tamper-proof seal has at least one component, which is separated or detached or that deforms when removing the cover for the first time.
8-11. (canceled)
12. Container according to claim 1, characterized in the cup wall is formed on an area toward the upper edge of the cup and toward the outside, thereby forming a spout.
13. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge part of the cover is widened on a local level at one point thereby forming a pull tab to open the cover.
14. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge part of the cover has a hinge connection to the upper edge of the cup at one point.
15.
16. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that on the outer side of the cup wall, in particular near the upper edge, there is at least one flattened area, which forms a type of undercut.
17. Container according to claim 16, characterized in that, in the flattened area, a groove is formed, which, in particular, runs parallel to the edge of the cup.
18.
19. Assembly of a plurality of equal containers arranged in a row, for packaging of liquid, pasty or solid substances or of small parts, wherein each container has a cup made of plastic and a cover edge part made of plastic, surrounding the upper edge of the cup and being positioned on the cup in a liquid-tight manner, where the edge parts of adjacent containers are respectively connected to each other on a local level via at least one thin spot made of the material of the edge parts.
20. Assembly according to claim 19, characterized in that the thin points are designed as bars.
21. Assembly according to claim 19, characterized in that the thin points are designed, for example, as arched or folded plastic skins.
22. Assembly according to claim 19, characterized in that the cups (2) are manufactured together with the edge parts in a two-component injection-moulding process.
23.
Description
[0024] Other features, advantages and details of the invention are now described in detail using the schematic drawing, which portrays the exemplary embodiments of the invention. The figures show:
[0025] FIG. 1 to FIGS. 6, 2a and 5a various views and cross-sectional representations of an individual container in a ready-to-use state.
[0026] FIGS. 5b and 5c another embodiment variant of a hinge,
[0027] FIG. 7 and FIG. 7a (Section along VIIa-VIIa of FIG. 7), FIG. 8 and FIG. 8a (Section along the line VIIIa-VIIIa of FIG. 8) as well as FIGS. 9 and 9a (section along line IXa-IXa of FIG. 9), each an embodiment variant of a tamper-proof seal,
[0028] FIG. 10 a linkage of a plurality of containers connected to each other,
[0029] FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 detailed representations of FIG. 10 and
[0030] FIG. 13 a plurality of containers stacked into each other each arranged within a container linkage.
[0031] The invention deals with the design of containers, in particular, for use in a modular system for the preparation of portioned liquids, solid or pasty substances, preferably of medications in liquid or solid form. especially powders, globules, pills and the like, but also cream-like medications. If the system used for the preparation of drugs, it can be particularly used in a particularly advantageous way, especially at in-patient facilities, such as nursing homes, homes for the elderly and the like, but also in the private sector. In containers according to the invention however, other products and substances can be packed than medications, for example foodstuff, cosmetic items, electronic components and the like. The present invention primarily relates to a particularly innovative design of containers, wherein in the case of using several containers in a system, a so-called tray, a tray-like crafted apparatus to transport and store the containers is also part of the system, which is, however, beyond the scope of this invention.
[0032] The individual container 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, 2a and 5a consist of a cup 2 and a cover 3. The cup 2 is manufactured from a transparent plastic material, for example, and has a holding capacity for up to 15 ml of fluid shown, as an example for the portrayed embodiment Furthermore, the cup 2 has a cup wall 2a, a cup floor 2b and a circumferential foot 4 in the area of the floor 2b. The cup wall 2a is cylindrically designed to be directly at the floor 2b to form the foot 4 and subsequently has a diameter growing in the direction of the upper edge. To determine the fill level in the case of liquids, millilitre specifications are stamped or printed onto the wall of the cup 2 with corresponding scale marks. Furthermore, the cup wall 2a is formed at one point of its circumference outwardly toward the upper edge and in this way, forms a spout 5 (FIG. 5) for direct removal of a fluid, for example, a fluid medication, wherein the spout 5 can also be used for the spillage-free pouring of liquid from the cup 2, in particular, into another container. If the floor 2b of the cup 2 is shifted somewhat upwards, a hollow space can be created within the foot 4 so that the cup 2 is positioned on the tray in a radial groove or over a projection adapted to the hollow space, thereby securing against loss, for example, during transport.
[0033] The cover 3 has an edge part 6 adapted to the contour of the upper edge surrounding the upper edge of the cup 2, which is connected liquid-tight to the upper edge of the cup 2, however in a detachable manner. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the edge part 6 has a circumferential connection edge part base piece 7, which comprises the edge of the cup 2 with two edge part base pieces 7, 7 as a tongue/group connection and is tightly seated on the upper edge of the cup 2. Thereby, the edge part base piece 7 of the edge part 6 sits on a circumferential section 2c (FIG. 6) formed on the edge of the cup 2 on the inside so that the edge inside of the cup of the edge part 6 abuts with the inner side of the cup wall 2a in a flush manner. Therefore, the edge part 6 having a width b.sub.1 of roughly 2 mm to roughly 4 mm outwardly protrudes the upper edge of the cup 2 and has a level surface 6a. After filling the container 1, a transparent sealing film 8, for example, is welded onto the surface 6a sealing the cup 2, which is shown in the FIGS. 1 to 6. In the area of the spout 5, the edge part 6 is widened on a local level and forms a pull tab 6b here to remove or open the cover 3.
[0034] The sectional view in FIG. 2a shows a variant of the arrangement and embodiment of the edge part 6 with a snap/ring connection to the upper edge of the cup 2. On the edge of the cup 2 on the outside, a rounded projection 2d is provided, on which the edge part 6 sits on the outside in a diametrically opposed manner. A short edge part base piece 6c of the edge part 6 runs along the upper area of the cup wall outer side; the edge part 6 abuts the inner cup wall in a flush manner on the inside of the cup.
[0035] As is shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 4, the container 1 is provided with a tamper-proof seal 9, which is manufactured with the edge part 6 of the cover 3 as a single piece and a roughly circular sealing part 9a in the embodiment shown, which is on the lower edge of the edge part 6, which is connected, for example, to a circular sealing part 9b via a connection bar 9c. Between the connection bar 9c and the sealing part 9a, there is a predetermined breaking point 9d, in particular, a local material weakening. The connection bar 9c and the sealing parts 9a and 9b are positioned in a flat depression 10 adapted to the outer shape of these parts formed on the cup wall 2a, which is formed in a flat projection 11 designed locally. The outer surface of the projection 11 and the outer surface of the parts of the tamper-proof seal 9 abut within one another in a flush manner. When opening the cover 3, the predetermined breaking point 9b is separated; the sealing part 9a stays on the cover 3; the sealing part 9b and the connection bar 9c stay on the cup wall 2a, as shown in FIG. 6, so that it can be recognised even after re-attachment of the cover 3 that the container 1 has already been opened.
[0036] There are a plurality of options to design a tamper-proof seal. For example, FIGS. 7 and 7a, FIGS. 8 and 8a as well as FIGS. 9 and 9a show other variants.
[0037] FIGS. 7 and 7a as well as FIGS. 8 and 8a each show an embodiment of a tamper-proof seal 9, 9, where a two-layer tab 20, 20 sticks out from the edge part 6, which consists of an upper tab part 21, 21 made out of the material of the edge part 6 and a lower tab part 22, 22 made of the material of the cup 2. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 7a, the upper tab part 21 is provided with a depression 21a forming a break area at the outer edge of the edge part 6. In the variant shown in FIGS. 8 and 8a, a depression 21a is formed between the upper tab part 21 and the edge of the edge part 6, which forms a joint. On the lower side of the upper tab part 21, 21, a dovetailed anchor 21b, 21b) is respectively formed in the cross section (FIG. 7a, 8a) for example, which sits in a diametrically opposed recess 22a, 22a in the lower tab part 22, 22. In FIGS. 7 and 7a, the embodiment is such, that both tab parts 21 and 22 are remain connected to each other and the upper tab part 21 is separated from the edge part 6 along the depression 21a when the cover 3 is opened for the first time. In the case of the variant shown in FIGS. 8 and 8a, the anchor 21b detaches from the recess 22a when the cover 3 is opened for the first time, however, no longer snaps into the recess 22 so that the upper tab piece 21 sticks out upwardly from the edge part 6 in a slanting manner, as is indicated in FIG. 8a with dotted lines.
[0038] The variant shown in FIGS. 9 and 9a of a tamper-proof seal 9 is suitable in the case of an embodiment with a ring/snap connection between the edge part 6 and the cup 2 in accordance with FIG. 2a. At a suitable area around the edge part 6, the edge part base piece 6c of the edge part 6 is somewhat widened so that under an undercut 6d formed on the edge part base piece 6c, a short and thin tab 2e can be made of the material of the cup 2. When opening the cover 3, the tab 2e plastically deforms outwardly and stays visibly deformed, even if the cover 3 is re-attached.
[0039] Preferably on its area opposite the spout 5, the edge part 6 is connected to the edge of the cup 2 by means of a hinge 12 (FIG. 5, FIG. 5a) so that an open cover 3 stays connected to the cup 2 and the container 1 can be easily re-sealed. The hinge 12 can be designed in such a way that the cover 3 can also be separated from the container 1.
[0040] FIG. 5a shows a possible design of the hinge 12. A two-layer tab 12a is made of the material of the cup 2 and out of the material of the edge part 6, which has an upper tab part 12b and a lower tab part 12c. The upper tab part 12b consisting of the material of the edge part 6 has an anchor 12d on its underside, which is designed in an dovetailed manner in the embodiment shown in the cross section and sits in a diametrically opposed recess 12e of the lower tab part 12c. At the edge of the edge part 6, there is a depression 12f in the upper tab part 12b, which serves as a joint when the cover 3 is opened. The connection between both tab parts 12b, 12c is particularly so that the anchor 12d cannot be detached or can only be detached from the recess 12e with great effort.
[0041] The variant shown in FIGS. 5b and 5c of a hinge 12 is suitable in the case of an embodiment with a ring/snap connection between the edge part 6 and the cup 2 in accordance with FIG. 2a. At the area concerned around the edge part 6, the edge part base piece 6c of the edge part 6 is somewhat widened so that under an undercut 6d formed on the edge part base piece 6c, a thin tab 2e can be made of the material of the cup 2. The embodiment is such that the lowest part of the edge part base piece forms the pivot point when the cover 3 is opened, wherein the tab 2e remains connected to the edge part base piece 6c up to an opening angle of at least 90?. Removal of the cover 3 is however possible.
[0042] Other alternative or jointly provided embodiments can be provided in order to secure the container 1 on a tray. As FIGS. 4 and 5 show, for example, in particular, flattened areas 13 just under the upper cup edge can be formed on the cup wall 2a, in particular, on two areas lying opposite to each other, which each form an undercut for snapping on diametrically opposing protrusions of an opening in the tray. In the flattened areas 13, a short, narrow groove 14, several millimetres long, 2 mm in length can be respectively formed, that preferably runs parallel to the edge. A snap in part provided on the tray can be snapped into these grooves 14 for example.
[0043] Manufacturing the containers 1 takes place in a two-component injection-moulding process (assembly injection moulding), whereby a linkage 16 is manufactured from a plurality of containers 1, for example, from seven containers 1. During the manufacturing process, for example, seven containers 1 are connected to their edge parts 6 to each other via thin spots 17. FIG. 10 shows such a linkage 16 immediately after its production. The thin spots 17 are located offset to those areas where the spouts 5 and the tamper-proof seals 9 are formed. In the case of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the thin parts 17 are upwardly arched plastic skins between the edge parts 6 of the adjacent containers 1. In the stretched state (FIG. 11), the plastic skins have a width b.sub.2 of 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm, for example, and allow for a compensation of manufacturing tolerance within a certain longitudinal range, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. The plastic skins can also be designed in a folded manner, thereby being able to be stretched. In particular, in these ways, manufacturing tolerances between the container linkage 16 and the tray can be compensated for. The thin parts 17 can principally also only be dot-shaped or bar-like connection points between the edge parts 6. The disconnecting or separating of the containers 1 can take place thermally when welding the sealing film 8, however this can also take place mechanically, for example, by means of punching or cutting.
[0044] A container linkage 16 can naturally comprise of more or less than seven containers 1.
[0045] The containers 1 manufactured in the linkages 16 are, as is shown in FIG. 13, are stacked into each other several times in a space-saving manner at the filling point, where medications are provided for filling, above all, to a pharmacy, a nursing service or the like. If the container linkages 16 should be filled with medications, in this way, a plurality of container linkages 16, for example, four to six, are positioned in a personalised tray and subsequently filled. After filling the containers 1, the sealing film 8 is attached, which is already labelled accordingly. The tray assigned to each patient is subsequently delivered.
REFERENCE NUMBER LIST
[0046] 1 . . . Container [0047] 2 . . . Cup [0048] 2a . . . Cup wall [0049] 2b . . . Floor [0050] 2c . . . Section [0051] 2d . . . Projection [0052] 2e, 2e . . . Tab [0053] 3 . . . Cover [0054] 4 . . . Foot [0055] 5 . . . Spout [0056] 6 . . . Edge part [0057] 6a . . . Surface [0058] 6b . . . Pull tab [0059] 6c . . . Edge part base piece [0060] 6d, 6d . . . Undercut [0061] 7, 7 . . . Edge part base piece [0062] 8 . . . Sealing film [0063] 9, 9, 9, 9 . . . Tamper-proof seal [0064] 9a . . . Sealing part [0065] 9b . . . Sealing part [0066] 9c . . . Connection bar [0067] 9d . . . Predetermined breaking point [0068] 10 . . . Depression [0069] 11 . . . Projection [0070] 12, 12 . . . Hinge [0071] 12a . . . Tab [0072] 12b . . . Tab part [0073] 12c . . . Tab part [0074] 12d . . . Anchor [0075] 12e . . . Recess [0076] 12f . . . Depression [0077] 13 . . . Flattened area [0078] 14 . . . Groove [0079] 16 . . . Linkage [0080] 17 . . . Thin point [0081] 20, 20 . . . Tab [0082] 21, 21 . . . Tab part [0083] 21a, 21a . . . Depression [0084] 21b, 21b . . . Anchor [0085] 22, 22 . . . Tab part [0086] 22a, 22a . . . Recess [0087] b.sub.1 . . . Width [0088] b.sub.2 . . . Width
