Dropper bottle

• US 7,175,057 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IBSA Institut Biochimique SA
• Original Assignee: IBSA Institut Biochimique SA
• Inventors: Mutterle, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver; Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, STEPHANIE ELAINE
• Application Number:
  US11/044,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 222/420, 222/546, 222/569, 222/570, 222/567, 222/421, 215/321.7, 215/256, 215/344, 215/345, 215/346, 215/343, 215/316, 215/320, 215/DIG.1
• US Class Current: 222/420
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/18 for discharging drops; Droppers droppers in general B01L3/00; pipettes connected to container closures B01L3/0282

Abstract

An improved dropper bottle, and in particular a dropper body able to be joined to a container body and closed by a cap, are described. The dropper body comprises a first droplet delivery end and an open base, the open base of the dropper body comprising a first projection able to engage with the internal surface of a mouth of the container body, and a second projection able to engage with the external surface of the mouth of the container body. Locking toothing is provided between the dropper body and the container body.

Claims

1. A dropper body for a dropper bottle, said dropper body being able to be joined to a container body and closed by a cap, the dropper body comprising a first droplet delivery end and an open base,

wherein the open base of the dropper body comprises:

a first projection able to engage with an internal surface of a mouth of the container body,

a second projection able to engage with an external surface of the mouth of the container body, and

a bearing surface able to engage with an upper surface of the mouth of the container body,

wherein said mouth of the container body comprises a continuous annular outer flange;

wherein said continuous annular outer flange comprises a continuous bottom edge;

wherein said second projection comprises a substantially continuous protuberance which is able to engage with said continuous bottom edge;

wherein said dropper body further comprises either;

at least one cavity on the bearing surface, said at least one cavity being adapted to co-operate with at least one corresponding protuberance formed on the upper surface of the mouth of the said container body for providing a locking toothing between said dropper body and said container body;

or

at least one protuberance protruding from the bearing surface, said at least one protuberance being adapted to co-operate with at least one corresponding cavity formed on the upper surface of the mouth of the container body for providing a locking toothing between said dropper body and said container body.

2. The dropper body of claim 1, wherein the first projection extends at least about 1.5 mm from the said bearing surface.

3. The dropper body of claim 1, wherein the first projection extends at least about 2.5 mm from the said bearing surface.

4. The dropper body of claim 1, wherein it is made of polyethylene approved by the pharmacopoeia.

5. A dropper bottle comprising:

a dropper body according to claim 1,

a cap, and

a container body,

wherein said container body comprises a mouth having a continuous annular outer flange, an external surface, an internal surface and an upper surface,

wherein said cap further comprises a locking ring with a device for preventing relative rotation of said cap and said dropper body.

6. The dropper bottle of claim 5, wherein said device preventing relative rotation of said cap and said dropper body comprises at least one protuberance and at least one corresponding cavity.

7. The dropper bottle of claim 6, wherein said at least one protuberance is formed on an internal surface of a bottom ring and said at least one corresponding cavity is formed on the second external projection.

8. The dropper bottle of claim 5, wherein said dropper body comprises a thread and said cap comprises a corresponding thread for a screwed mutual connection.

9. The dropper bottle of claim 5, wherein it is used for one of the following uses:

drug for oral, nasal, ophthalmic, otological, balsamic or similar use.

10. The dropper body of claim 1, wherein said dropper body comprises either:

a plurality of cavities on said bearing surface, said plurality of cavities being adapted to co-operate with a plurality of corresponding protuberances formed on said upper surface of the mouth of said container body for providing a locking toothing between said dropper body and said container body;

or

a plurality of protuberances protruding from said bearing surface, said plurality of protuberances being adapted to co-operate with a plurality of corresponding cavities formed on said upper surface of the mouth of said container body for providing a locking toothing between said dropper body and said container body.