Childproof dosing device

• US 5,746,349 A
• Filed: 12/12/1995
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Wouters, Alfons Jeanne, Putteman, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Application Number:
  US08/556,961
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 222/49, 222/153.07, 222/205, 141/21, 141/22, 141/23, 141/24
• US Class Current: 222/49
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2065 having aligning and guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/027 of the syringe type

Abstract

A childproof device (1) for holding and dispensing liquids, in particular medicines, that provides precise dosages of liquid, comprising a bottle (2), a cap (5) which is irremovable from the bottleneck (4), said cap being associated with a hollow cylinder (6) extending axially to near the bottle bottom (3) and a reciprocating dispenser comprising a barrel (8) and a plunger (9). The dispenser provides the only means of getting medicine out of the bottle since the cylinder associated with the cap prevents the contents of the bottle from being poured or shaken out. The device is easily assembled and can be stored, sold and used as supplied by the manufacturer.

Claims

1. A device (1) for holding and dispensing liquids that provides precise dosages of the liquid, comprising

a bottle (2) for holding the liquid, said bottle extending between a bottle bottom (3) and a bottleneck (4),

a cap (5) which is irremovable from the bottleneck, said cap being associated with a hollow cylinder (6) extending axially to near the bottle bottom (3) and having a open upper end and a closed lower end with a central opening (7),

a reciprocating dispenser fitting within the cylinder (6) comprising a barrel (8) and a plunger (9), wherein the barrel (8) includes an upper portion (10) having a larger diameter than the lower portion (11) for assuring an air- and liquid-tight fit between the upper portion and the interior wall of the cylinder (6), and having a closed lower end with a central opening (12) that is aligned with the central opening (7) in the cylinder (6), and wherein the plunger (9) includes a piston (13) forming an air- and liquid-tight fit with the interior wall of the barrel (8), a graduated piston rod (14) and a knob (15).

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the cap (5) snap-fits with rib and groove formations to the bottleneck (4).

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the cap (5) comprises an external flange (18), and said device further comprises a beaker (17) removably snap-fitting with said external flange.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the beaker (17) is connected to the cap (5) by a tear-off band (19).

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein a child-resistant outer screw cap is removably fitted to the cap (5).

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the child-resistant outer screw cap is connected to the cap (5) by a tear-off band (19).

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein the cap (5) and the cylinder (6) associated therewith are separate, said cylinder comprising an external flange (21) extending radially, said device further comprising a washer (20) holding the separate cylinder by the external flange and providing an air- and liquid-fight fit between the cap and the cylinder.

8. A cap-dispenser arrangement adapted for use with a device (1) for holding and dispensing liquids that provides precise dosages of the liquid, which device comprises a bottle (2) for holding the liquid, said bottle extending between a bottle bottom (3) and a bottleneck (4), wherein said cap-dispenser arrangement comprises:

a cap adapted to fit irremovably from the bottleneck, said cap being associated with a hollow cylinder (6) extending axially a distance such that when the cap is fitted to the bottleneck the cylinder extends to near the bottle bottom (3) and having an open upper end and a closed lower end with a central opening (7),

a reciprocating dispenser fitting within the cylinder (6) comprising a barrel (8) and a plunger (9), wherein the barrel (8) includes an upper portion (10) having a larger diameter than the lower portion (11) for assuring an air- and liquid-tight fit between the upper portion and the interior wall of the cylinder (6), and having a closed lower end with a central opening (12) that is aligned with the central opening (7) in the cylinder (6), and wherein the plunger (9) includes a piston (13) forming an air- and liquid-tight fit with the interior wall of the barrel (8), a graduated piston rod (14) and a knob (15).

9. The cap according to claim 8 wherein the cap (5) is adapted to snap-fit with rip and groove formations to the bottle-neck (4).

10. The cap according to claim 8 wherein the cap (5) includes an external flange (18) and a beaker (17) adapted to removably snap-fit with said external flange.

11. The cap according to claim 10 wherein the beaker (17) is connected to the cap (5) by a tear-off band (19).

12. A cap according to claim 8 wherein a child-resistant outer screw cap is removably fitted to the cap (5).

13. A cap according to claim 12 wherein the child-resistant outer screw cap is connected to the cap (5) by a tear-off band (19).