Flexible container for storage and dispensing of sterile solutions

• US 5,226,568 A
• Filed: 01/13/1992
• Issued: 07/13/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blairex Laboratories, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Blairex Laboratories, Inc.
• Inventors: Newton, Roger E., Walters, Melvin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): DeRosa, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US07/820,220
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 222/212, 222/213, 222/490-494
• US Class Current: 222/212
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/047 characterised by the outlet or venting means B05B11/041 and B05B11/042 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2081 in which the deformation raises or lowers the valve port

Abstract

A plastic squeeze container for dispensing an appropriate solution is disclosed. The top of the container includes a cone-shaped portion which serves as a stem or core for a valve assembly which includes an elastomeric seal which overlies and resiliently grips and circumferentially seals around the stem. The seal also covers an aperture in the container top adjacent the stem. A small central aperture in the seal where it overlies the closing of the stem, enables dispensing contents from the container when the container is squeezed, as the resulting internal pressure causes the seal to balloon slightly away from the stem and permit passage of the solution from the container through the container aperture and through the seal central aperture. When the external pressure is removed, the seal resiliently retracts against the stem and closes the container. A screw-on cap is also provided which when attached to the container creates a seal which isolates the aperture at the top of the container and prevents unintentional dispensing of container contents due to accidental squeezing of the container. Finally, the valve assembly includes a peripheral seal which prevents air from leaking in.

Claims

1. A self-closing flexible container assembly for the controlled dispensing of fluid, comprising:

a container having a deformable body, a neck portion and a head portion, said body defining a cylindrical shape having a central axis before deformation and having a cylindrical cavity therein of a known volume but capable of being deformed such that said volume of said cylindrical cavity is reduced, said neck portion having a first cylindrically shaped attachment surface adjacent said body, said head portion having a first sealing surface, a second sealing surface, a valve stem and at least one outlet opening to said cylindrical cavity positioned between said first sealing surface and said second sealing surface, said valve stem including a tapered portion projecting away from said body;

a resiliently pliable valve closure having a sealing flange, a first seal portion, a diaphragm and a nozzle member, said first seal portion being aligned with said first sealing surface of said head portion, said nozzle member having an inner surface and defining a discharge outlet, said inner surface being seated in immediate contact with and elastically gripping said tapered portion of said valve stem when in a closed position to produce a first fluid-tight seal but being capable of ballooning outwardly away from said tapered portion when enough fluid pressure is applied to said inner surface thereby allowing fluid to escape via said discharge outlet, said valve closure resiliently returning to said closed position when the fluid pressure is relieved; and

a retaining ring having an opposing attachment surface and a sealing flange, said opposing attachment surface being attached to said first attachment surface of said neck portion, said first seal portion of said valve closure being pinched between said first sealing surface and said sealing flange forming a second fluid-tight seal;

whereby after said body has been deformed to dispense a portion of the stored fluid within the container, said first fluid-tight seal and said second fluid tight seal prevent ambient air from entering said container thus preventing contamination of the remaining fluid stored within the container;

the container assembly further comprising a cap defining a cap cavity sized to substantially cover said neck and said head portion of said container, said cap including a threaded portion;

said retaining ring further including an opposing threaded portion projecting radially outward from said central axis for threadedly engaging said threaded portion of said cap; and

said cap including a ring seal surface disposed within said cap cavity in opposition to said second sealing surface of said head portion, a portion of said diaphragm being pinched between said ring seal surface and said second sealing surface to produce a third fluid-tight seal when said cap is secured onto the container.

2. The self-closing container assembly of claim 1 wherein:

said ring seal surface is a rim of a cylindrically shaped first projection formed on said cap within said cap cavity, said projection substantially enclosing said nozzle member when said cap is secured onto the container.

3. The self-closing container assembly of claim 2 wherein;

said second sealing surface is a rim of a cylindrically shaped second projection formed as part of said head portion, said second projection surrounding a portion of said valve stem.

4. The self-closing container assembly of claim 3 wherein;

said opposing attachment surface of said retaining ring is ultrasonically welded to said first cylindrically shaped attachment surface of said neck portion.

5. The self-closing container assembly of claim 4 wherein;

said body is formed of a resilient material such that said body would tend to resume said cylindrical shape after deformation if ambient air were allowed to be sucked back into said container;

whereby said first fluid-tight seal and said second fluid-tight seal prevent ambient air from being sucked back into said container thus preventing said body from resuming said cylindrical shape after deformation to dispense a portion of the fluid stored within said container.

6. The self-closing container assembly of claim 5 wherein;

said body of the container has a diameter of 0.5 inch to 3.0 inches.

7. The self-closing container assembly of claim 6 wherein;

the container assembly is 3 to 9 inches tall when said cap is secured onto the container.

8. The self-closing container assembly of claim 7 wherein;

the container is substantially filled with sterile saline solution.