CONTROLLED RELEASE CONTAINER

• US 20170020726A1
• Filed: 03/30/2015
• Published: 01/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amcor Rigid Packaging USA LLC (Amcor Plc)
• Original Assignee: Amcor Limited (Amcor)
• Inventors: LABOMBARBE, Chris, MACZEK, Elizabeth D., WILSON, Bradley, STEIH, Richard, MAKI, Kirk Edward
• Granted Patent: US 10,543,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0008 Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0261 Bottom construction B65D1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/08 adapted to discharge drops droppers B65D47/18
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/42 Reinforcing or strengthening parts or members
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0094 Containers having an external wall formed as, or with, a diaphragm or the like which is deformed to expel the contents B65D1/32 takes precedence

Abstract

A controlled release container including a base. The base has a flexible diaphragm movable between a relaxed position and a depressed position. In the depressed position the flexible diaphragm reduces an interior volume of the container to dispense a dosage amount of material stored within the container. The dosage amount directly corresponds to an internal volume of the container displaced by moving the flexible diaphragm to the depressed position.

Claims

1. A controlled release container comprising:

a base including a flexible diaphragm movable between a relaxed position and a depressed position, in the depressed position the flexible diaphragm reduces an interior volume of the container to dispense a dosage amount of material stored within the container, the dosage amount directly corresponds to an internal volume of the container displaced by moving the flexible diaphragm to the depressed position.

2. The controlled release container of claim 1, further comprising a dispensing tip through which the dosage amount of material is dispensed.

3. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the flexible diaphragm is biased to return to the relaxed position after being moved to the depressed position.

4. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein movement of the flexible diaphragm from the depressed position to the relaxed position creates a vacuum within the container to draw material into the container.

5. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the container is configured to dispense droplets.

6. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the container is configured to dispense a stream of liquid.

7. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the container is selected from the group consisting of a dosing container, eyedropper, chemical dispenser, pharmaceutical dispenser, and food dispenser.

8. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the flexible diaphragm is thinner than a sidewall of the container.

9. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the container includes a sidewall thickness to base thickness ratio of between 1.5:

1 to 3;

1.

10. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein a sidewall of the container is at least 1.2 times thicker than the flexible diaphragm.

11. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the flexible diaphragm is more flexible than a sidewall of the container.

12. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the container is monolithic.

13. The controlled release container of claim 1, further comprising a hinge between the flexible diaphragm and a sidewall of the container.

14. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein a sidewall of the container includes stiffening ribs.

15. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the container includes a tapered sidewall extending between a finish of the container and the flexible diaphragm, the tapered sidewall is widest at the base and is most narrow at the finish.

16. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the flexible diaphragm defines a recessed dimple at a center thereof.

17. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the base includes flared portions extending outward from a periphery of the base.

18. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the flexible diaphragm defines an area at a center thereof that is less flexible than surrounding areas of the flexible diaphragm.

19. The controlled release container of claim 18, wherein the area is star-shaped.

20. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the flexible diaphragm includes a flexible button offset from a center thereof.

21. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the container is formed by blow-molding.

22. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the container includes at least one of polyethylene-terephthalate or polypropylene.

23. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the container is made of a thermal plastic.

24. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein less than 10 lbs of force is required to move the flexible diaphragm from the relaxed position to the depressed position.

25. The controlled release container of claim 2, wherein volume of droplets exiting the dispensing tip is dependent on at least one of size or shape of the flexible diaphragm.

26. The controlled release container of claim 2, wherein volume of droplets exiting the dispensing tip depends on at least one of size or shape of the dispensing tip.

27. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the container is configured to deposit a single droplet each time the flexible diaphragm is moved from the relaxed position to the depressed position.

28. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the container is configured to dispense a stream each time the flexible diaphragm is moved from the relaxed position to the depressed position.

29. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the container is configured to deposit multiple droplets each time the flexible diaphragm is moved from the relaxed position to the depressed position.

30. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the flexible diaphragm is configured to be moved from the relaxed position to the depressed position with a single finger or single thumb.

31. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the dispensing tip and the flexible diaphragm are configured to repeatedly dispense a predetermined fixed dosage each time the flexible diaphragm is moved from the relaxed position to the depressed position.

32. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the controlled release container is an ophthalmic controlled release container.

33. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the container includes a finish that is between 10 mm and 30 mm.

34. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the container is configured to deposit the dosage amount sized from 0.05 ml to 2.5 ml.

35. The controlled release container of claim 1, further comprising a hinge between the flexible diaphragm and a sidewall of the container angled inward towards a center of the container at about 15°

.

36. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein in the relaxed position an outer surface of the flexible diaphragm is convex.

37. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein in the relaxed position an outer surface of the flexible diaphragm is concave.

38. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is configured to invert from a convex position to a concave position under external force to create a pressure in the container to dispense through the tip material stored in container.

39. The controlled release container of claim 38, wherein the flexible diaphragm returns to the convex position when external force is removed.

40. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein a sidewall thickness of a first container according to claim 1 without a ribbed sidewall is greater than a base thickness of the first container.

41. The controlled release container of claim 40, wherein a sidewall thickness of a second container according to claim 1 with a ribbed sidewall is greater than a base thickness of the second container.

42. The controlled release container of claim 41, wherein a first ratio of the sidewall thickness of the first container to the base thickness of the first container is greater than a second ratio of the sidewall thickness of the second container to the base thickness of the second container.

43. The controlled release container of claim 41, wherein the sidewall thickness of the first container without the ribbed sidewall is greater than the sidewall thickness of the second container with the ribbed sidewall.

44. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein a base thickness of a first container according to claim 1 including a linear sidewall is greater than a base thickness of a second container according to claim 1 including a tapered sidewall.

45. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein a base thickness of a first container according to claim 1 including a linear sidewall is greater than a base thickness of a second container according to claim 1 including a flared base.

46. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the base includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is a button that protrudes further from the base than the second portion, the first portion is hinged to flex on one side only, the flexible diaphragm includes the first portion;

and

wherein the first portion includes a first thickness that is less than a second thickness of the second portion;

wherein the container includes a sidewall having a third thickness that is greater than both the first and the second thicknesses; and

wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness and less than the third thickness.

47. The controlled release container of claim 1, wherein the base includes a first portion surrounded by a second portion, the first portion is a button that protrudes further from the base than the second portion, the flexible diaphragm includes the first portion;

and

wherein the first portion includes a first thickness that is greater than a second thickness of the second portion;

wherein the container includes a sidewall having a third thickness that is greater than both the first and the second thicknesses; and

wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness and less than the third thickness.

48. A controlled release container comprising:

a dispensing tip;

a flexible base movable between a relaxed position in which the flexible base is convex relative to an exterior of the container, and a depressed position in which the flexible base is concave relative to the exterior of the container, in the depressed position the flexible base reduces an interior volume of the container to dispense a dosage amount of material stored within the container, the dosage amount corresponds to an internal volume of the container displaced by moving the flexible base to the depressed position;

wherein the flexible base is configured to automatically return to the relaxed position after being moved to the depressed position.

49. A method of dispensing a dosage amount of material stored within a controlled release container, the method comprising:

grasping the container with a single hand; and

depressing a flexible base of the container using a single finger or single thumb to move the flexible base from a relaxed position in which the flexible base is convex relative to an exterior of the container, and a depressed position in which the flexible base is concave relative to the exterior of the container, in the depressed position the flexible base reduces an internal volume of the container to dispense the dosage amount, the dosage amount directly corresponds to an internal volume of the container displaced by moving the flexible base to the depressed position;

wherein the dosage amount is dispensed without depressing sidewalls of the container.