Manually mountable tamper evident oral liquid dose viral and seal assembly

• US 4,522,308 A
• Filed: 01/18/1984
• Issued: 06/11/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James J. Sullivan
• Original Assignee: James J. Sullivan
• Inventors: Sullivan, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pollard, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US06/572,154
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 215/253, 215/250, 215/251, 215/254, 215/255, 215/256
• US Class Current: 215/253
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/35 Vertical or axial lines of weakness
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/485 with integral internal sealing means

Abstract

An oral liquid dose vial and seal combination is disclosed which requires no crimping or other tools for assembly. A graduated vial of the combination has a circumferential external lip substantially adjacent to its mouth. A unitary plastic seal for the vial has a base plate and an endless rib protruding from the base plate. The rib is configured to fit into the mouth of the vial and to sealingly engage interior walls of the vial. A lip rims the circumference of the base plate and includes inwardly protruding ribs which engage the lip of the vial. A grippable tab is attached to the lip of the seal. Portions of the lip of the vial have thin walls so as to be frangible and to break when the tab is pulled upwardly with a force exceeding a predetermined threshold level. When the frangible portions of the lip of the vial break, the lip partially separates from the base plate, and the entire seal is pulled off the vial by the upwardly directed force.

Claims

1. A tamper evident and substantially leak-proof oral liquid dose vial and seal assembly having a substantially cylindrical vial of approximately 5 to 100 mililiters in volume, and a seal adapted for one-time sealing of the vial and to be substantially destroyed when removed from said vial, the assembly comprising:

a first lip disposed on the circular outer circumference of the vial substantially adjacent to the mouth of the vial;

a base plate of the seal disposed on the top of the vial to cover the mouth;

a substantially circular sealing rib disposed at substantially right angle to the base plate and projecting inwardly into the interior of the vial in sealing engagement with interior walls of the vial;

a lip of the seal attached to the base plate of the seal and projecting downwardly from the base plate around the circumference of the base plate;

a plurality of ribs projecting inwardly from the lip of the seal below the rib of the vial and in engagement therewith;

a first frangible portion of the seal comprising a first narrow continuous strip of thin walled material which extends approximately one eighth to one third around the circumference of the base plate between the base plate and the lip of the seal, and which further extends into the lip of the seal from the base plate to the lower end of said lip;

a second frangible portion of the seal comprising a second narrow continuous strip of thin walled material which extends approximately one eighth to one third around the circumference of the base plate between the base plate and the lip of the seal, and which further extends into the lip of the seal from the base plate to the lower end of said lip, a portion of the lip of the seal being disposed between the first and second frangible portions of the seal, and

a tab, adapted to be gripped and pulled by an operator, attached to the portion of the lip of the seal which is disposed between the first and second frangible portions whereby upward pulling of the tab breaks the frangible portions, disengages at least one rib of the lip of the seal from the lip of the vial and removes the seal from the vial.

2. The vial and seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the vial further comprises a second circumferential circular lip disposed on the outer periphery of the vial below the first lip of the vial and spaced relative thereto to engage the end of the lip of the seal.

3. The vial and seal assembly of claim 1 wherein at least three ribs project inwardly from the lip of the seal below the rib of the vial to engage the rib of the vial.

4. The vial and seal assembly of claim 3 wherein one inwardly projecting rib of the lip of the seal is disposed below each strip of thin walled material which is disposed on the circumference of the base plate.

5. The vial and seal assembly of claim 4 wherein the vial comprises poly propylene and the seal comprises low density poly ethylene.