Cap with draining spike for use with hermetically sealed dispensing container

• US 5,711,453 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Catalent Pharma Solutions Incorporated (Catalent, Inc.), Catalent Pharma Solutions Limited (Catalent, Inc.), Catalent USA Packaging LLC (Catalent, Inc.), Catalent USA Paintball, Inc. (Catalent, Inc.), Catalent USA Woodstock, Inc. (Catalent, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cardinal Health 400, Inc.
• Inventors: Weiler, Gerhard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US08/476,090
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 222/83, 222/91, 222/206, 222/541.2, 222/543, 222/562, 222/568
• US Class Current: 222/83
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/0025 of the 47-type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/0096 integral with the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/14 and closure-retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/147 for snap-on caps
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/222 the piercing or cutting means being integral with, or fixedly attached to, the outer closure

Abstract

A cap equipped with a dispensing nozzle is provided for use with a hermetically sealed container which includes a neck portion sealed by a pierceable membrane. A spike within the cap pierces the membrane when the cap is threaded onto the neck portion of the container so as to provide access to the contents of the container. The spike includes a passageway in fluid flow communication with a dispensing nozzle on the cap so as to allow dispensing of the contents of such container.

Claims

1. A dispenser comprising:

a hermetically sealed container including a hollow body portion terminating into a threaded neck portion defining an opening sealed with a membrane unitary therewith;

a cap threadedly secured over the neck portion and provided with a dispensing nozzle; and

a draining spike within the cap for piercing the membrane when the cap is secured over the neck portion so as to provide access to the interior of the body portion and in fluid flow communication with said dispensing nozzle;

said cap including a dome portion from which said dispensing nozzle extends outwardly, said dome portion defining an inner recess and said dispensing nozzle including an inner channel, said spike comprising an elongated member including a generally cylindrical body portion and a peripheral flange, said cylindrical body portion and said peripheral flange being nested within said channel and said recess respectively; and

said peripheral flange including a tapered lateral face and said recess including a tapered lateral surface engaging said lateral face.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the spike comprises an elongated member including a generally cylindrical body portion and a pointed tip portion extending away from the body portion.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein a plurality of peripherally spaced fins extend into a draining passageway defined by the draining spike.

4. A cap suitable for providing access to a hermetically sealed container having an externally threaded throat member sealed by a pierceable membrane, the cap comprising:

a dome portion provided with an outwardly extending dispensing nozzle and a removable closure for the nozzle;

a skirt portion unitary with the dome portion and provided with internal threads for engagement with said externally threaded throat member; and

a draining spike depending inwardly from said dome portion and defining a draining passageway in fluid flow communication with said dispensing nozzle;

wherein said dome portion defines an inner recess and said draining spike is provided with a peripheral flange, said peripheral flange being nested within said recess, and

wherein said peripheral flange includes a tapered lateral face and said recess includes a tapered lateral surface engaging said lateral face.

5. The cap of claim 4 wherein the draining spike comprises an elongated body member including a generally cylindrical body portion that terminates at the distal end thereof into a piercing portion, the piercing portion penetrating the membrane when the cap is threaded onto said throat member.

6. The cap of claim 5 wherein the dispensing nozzle includes an inner channel within which the cylindrical body portion of said spike is nested.

7. The cap of claim 4 wherein the dome portion defines an inner recess, and said dispensing nozzle includes an inner channel, said spike comprising an elongated member including a generally cylindrical body portion and a peripheral flange, said cylindrical body portion and said peripheral flange being nested within said channel and said recess respectively.

8. The cap of claim 4 wherein a plurality of peripherally spaced fins extend into a draining passageway defined by the draining spike.

9. A cap suitable for providing access to a hermetically sealed container having an externally threaded throat member sealed by a pierceable membrane, the cap comprising:

a dome portion provided with a dispensing nozzle extending outwardly from the dome portion and a removable closure for the nozzle, the nozzle defining an inner passageway and an inner recess with a tapered lateral surface surrounding the passageway at the proximal end of the nozzle;

a skirt portion unitary with the dome portion and provided with internal threads for engagement with said externally threaded throat member; and

a draining spike comprising an elongated member having a generally cylindrical body portion that terminates at the distal end thereof into a piercing tip and a peripheral flange that includes a tapered lateral face, said spike depending inwardly from said dome portion such that said cylindrical body portion and said peripheral flange are nested within the inner channel and recess respectively, and the tapered lateral face engages said tapered lateral surface, said piercing tip penetrating the membrane when the cap is threaded onto said throat member, said cylindrical body portion and said piercing tip together defining a draining passageway in fluid flow communication with said inner channel of said dispensing nozzle.

10. The cap of claim 9 wherein a plurality of peripherally spaced fins extend into the draining passageway defined by said cylindrical body portion of said spike.