US 6,892,906 B2Granted

Container and valve assembly for storing and dispensing substances, and related method

AssigneeMedical Instill Technologies, Inc.

InventorsDaniel Py, Norbert M. Assion, Julian V. Chan

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Abstract

A container including a nozzle and body depending therefrom. The body is preferably tubular and defines an interior which retains a product to be dispensed. A cap engages the nozzle to prevent inadvertent release of the product. In order to dispense the product, the cap is removed and pressure is applied to the body and the nozzle allows release of the product. The nozzle releases the product without exposing the remaining product to the external atmosphere, thus the sterility of the interior of the body is maintained and the shelf life of the product is increased. The nozzle includes an inner body, coupled to the tubular body, surrounded by a flexible outer cover. A seam between the inner body and flexible outer cover forms a one-way release valve wherein a portion of the seam remains closed during dispensing the product.

Claims52

Dependent claims

A tube and valve assembly for storing and dispensing a substance therefrom, comprising:

a tube including a squeezable tubular body defining therein a storage chamber for receiving and storing the substance, and a head located at one end of the tubular body, wherein the head defines a neck and a first axially extending passageway formed therethrough that is coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber of the tubular body and defines an unobstructed axially extending flow path therebetween;
and
a one-way valve assembly mounted on the head comprising:
(a) a valve body including:
a body base defining a second axially extending passageway coupled in fluid communication with the first axially extending passageway and defining an unobstructed axially extending flow path therebetween;
an axially extending valve seat defining a diameter less than a diameter of the body base;
a first substantially frusto-conical portion extending between the body base and the valve seat;
and
a plurality of flow apertures axially extending through the substantially frusto-conical portion adjacent to the valve seat and angularly spaced relative to each other;
and
(b) a valve cover formed of an elastic material defining a predetermined modulus of elasticity, and including:
a cover base mounted on the body base and fixedly secured against axial movement relative thereto;
a valve portion overlying the valve seat, wherein the valve portion defines a predetermined radial thickness and a diameter less than a diameter of the valve seat to thereby form an interference fit therebetween, the valve portion and valve seat define a normally closed, annular, axially extending valve opening therebetween, and the valve portion is movable radially between a normally closed position with the valve portion engaging the valve seat and an open position with a segment of the valve portion spaced radially away from the valve seat to allow the passage of substance at a predetermined valve opening pressure therebetween;
and
a second substantially frusto-conical shaped portion extending between the cover base and valve portion, overlying the first substantially frusto-conical shaped portion of the body, and forming an interference fit therebetween;
and
wherein at least one of the valve seat diameter, a degree of interference between the valve cover and valve seat, the predetermined radial thickness of the valve portion, and a predetermined modulus of elasticity of the valve cover material, is selected to (1) define a predetermined valve opening pressure generated upon manually squeezing the tube that allows passage of the substance from the storage chamber through the valve opening, and (2) hermetically seal the valve and prevent the ingress of bacteria through the valve and into the tube in the normally closed position.

14 more elements

A tube and valve assembly for storing and dispensing a substance therefrom, comprising:

a tube including a squeezable tubular body defining therein a storage chamber for receiving and storing the substance, and a head located at one end of the tubular body, wherein the head defines a neck and a first axially extending passageway formed therethrough that is coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber of the tubular body and defines an unobstructed axially extending flow path therebetween;
and
a one-way valve assembly mounted on the head comprising:
(a) a valve body including:
a body base defining a second axially extending passageway coupled in fluid communication with the first axially extending passageway and defining an unobstructed axially extending flow path therebetween;
an axially extending valve seat defining a diameter less than a diameter of the body base;
a first portion extending between the body base and the valve seat;
and
a plurality of flow apertures axially extending through the first portion adjacent to the valve seat and angularly spaced relative to each other;
and
(b) a valve cover formed of an elastic material defining a predetermined modulus of elasticity, and including:
a cover base mounted on the body base and fixedly secured against axial movement relative thereto;
a valve portion overlying the valve seat, wherein the valve portion defines a predetermined radial thickness and a diameter less than a diameter of the valve seat to thereby form an interference fit therebetween, the valve portion and valve seat defining a normally closed, annular, axially extending valve opening therebetween, and the valve portion is movable radially between a normally closed position with the valve portion engaging the valve seat and an open position with a segment of the valve portion spaced radially away from the valve seat to allow the passage of substance at a predetermined valve opening pressure therebetween;
and
a second portion extending between the cover base and valve portion, overlying the first portion of the body, and forming an interference fit therebetween;
and wherein at least one of the valve seat diameter, a degree of interference between the valve cover and valve seat, the predetermined radial thickness of the valve portion, and a predetermined modulus of elasticity of the valve cover material, is selected to (1) define a predetermined valve opening pressure generated upon manually squeezing the tube that allows passage of the substance from the storage chamber through the valve opening, and (2) hermetically seal the valve and prevent the ingress of bacteria through the valve and into the tube in the normally closed position.

13 more elements

A valve assembly for attaching to a tube and dispensing a substance therefrom, the tube including a squeezable tubular body defining therein a storage chamber for receiving and storing the substance, and a head located at one end of the tubular body for engaging the valve assembly, wherein the head defines a neck and a first axially extending passageway formed therethrough that is coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber of the tubular body and defines an unobstructed axially extending flow path therebetween, the valve assembly comprising:

(a) a valve body connected to the head and including:
a body base defining a second axially extending passageway coupled in fluid communication with the first axially extending passageway and defining an unobstructed axially extending flow path therebetween;
an axially extending valve seat defining a diameter less than a diameter of the body base;
a first substantially tapered portion extending between the body base and the valve seat;
and
a plurality of flow apertures axially extending through the substantially tapered portion adjacent to the valve seat and angularly spaced relative to each other;
and
(b) a valve cover formed of an elastic material defining a predetermined modulus of elasticity, and including:
a cover base mounted on the body base and fixedly secured against axial movement relative thereto, wherein the cover base defines a diameter less than a diameter of the body base to thereby form an interference fit therebetween;
a valve portion overlying the valve seat, wherein the valve portion defines a predetermined radial thickness and a diameter less than a diameter of the valve seat to thereby form an interference fit therebetween, the valve portion and valve seat defining a normally closed, annular, axially extending valve opening therebetween, and the valve portion is movable radially between a normally closed position with the valve portion engaging the valve seat and an open position with a segment of the valve portion spaced radially away from the valve seat to allow the passage of substance at a predetermined valve opening pressure therebetween;
and
a second substantially tapered portion extending between the cover base and valve portion, overlying the first substantially tapered portion of the body, and forming an interference fit therebetween;
and
wherein at least one of the valve seat diameter, a degree of interference between the valve cover and valve seat, the predetermined radial thickness of the valve portion, and a predetermined modulus of elasticity of the valve cover material, is selected to (1) define a predetermined valve opening pressure generated upon manually squeezing the tube that allows passage of the substance from the storage chamber through the valve opening, and (2) hermetically seal the valve and prevent the ingress of bacteria through the valve and into the tube in the normally closed position.

11 more elements

A tube and valve assembly for storing and dispensing a substance therefrom, comprising:

an outer tube formed from a squeezable tubular body;
a flexible inner bladder mounted within the outer tube and defining therein a storage chamber for receiving and storing the substance;
an air check valve located on the outer tube for regulating a flow of air into the outer tube and, in turn, substantially preventing vacuum formation between the outer tube and the flexible inner bladder;
a head located at one end of the outer tube, wherein the head defines a neck and a first axially extending passageway formed therethrough that is coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber of the flexible inner bladder and defines an unobstructed axially extending flow path therebetween;
and
a one-way valve assembly mounted on the head comprising:
(a) a valve body including:
a body base defining a second axially extending passageway coupled in fluid communication with the first axially extending passageway and defining an unobstructed axially extending flow path therebetween;
an axially extending valve seat defining a diameter less than a diameter of the body base;
a first portion extending between the body base and the valve seat;
and
a plurality of flow apertures axially extending through the first portion adjacent to the valve seat and angularly spaced relative to each other;
and
(b) a valve cover formed of an elastic material defining a predetermined modulus of elasticity, and including:
a cover base mounted on the body base and fixedly secured against axial movement relative thereto, wherein the cover base defines a diameter less than a diameter of the body base to thereby form an interference fit therebetween;
a valve portion overlying the valve seat, wherein the valve portion defines a predetermined radial thickness and a diameter less than a diameter of the valve seat to thereby form an interference fit therebetween, the valve portion and valve seat define a normally closed, annular, axially extending valve opening therebetween, and the valve portion is movable radially between a normally closed position with the valve portion engaging the valve seat and an open position with a segment of the valve portion spaced radially away from the valve seat to allow the passage of substance at a predetermined valve opening pressure therebetween;
and
a second portion extending between the cover base and valve portion, overlying the first portion of the body, and forming an interference fit therebetween, wherein at least one of the valve seat diameter, a degree of interference between the valve cover and valve seat, the predetermined radial thickness of the valve portion, and a predetermined modulus of elasticity of the valve cover material, is selected to (1) define a predetermined valve opening pressure generated upon manually squeezing the outer tube that allows passage of the substance from the storage chamber through the valve opening, and (2) hermetically seal the valve and prevent the ingress of bacteria through the valve and into the storage chamber in the normally closed position.

15 more elements

A tube and valve assembly for storing and dispensing a substance therefrom, comprising:

a tube including a squeezable tubular body defining therein a storage chamber for receiving and storing the substance, and a head located at one end of the tubular body, wherein the head defines a neck and a first axially extending passageway formed therethrough that is coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber of the tubular body and defines an unobstructed axially extending flow path therebetween;
and
a one-way valve assembly mounted on the head comprising:
(a) a valve body including:
a body base defining a second axially extending passageway coupled in fluid communication with the first axially extending passageway and defining an unobstructed axially extending flow path therebetween;
an axially extending valve seat defining a diameter less than a diameter of the body base;
a first portion extending between the body base and the valve seat;
and
a plurality of flow apertures axially extending through the first portion adjacent to the valve seat and angularly spaced relative to each other;
and
(b) a valve cover formed of an elastic material defining a predetermined modulus of elasticity, and including:
a cover base mounted on the body base and fixedly secured against axial movement relative thereto;
a valve portion overlying the valve seat, wherein the valve portion defines a predetermined radial thickness and a diameter less than a diameter of the valve seat to thereby form an interference fit therebetween, the valve portion and valve seat defining a normally closed, annular, axially extending valve opening therebetween, and the valve portion is movable radially between a normally closed position with the valve portion engaging the valve seat and an open position with a segment of the valve portion spaced radially away from the valve seat to allow the passage of substance at a predetermined valve opening pressure therebetween;
and
a second portion extending between the cover base and valve portion, overlying the first portion of the body, and forming an interference fit therebetween;
and
wherein the valve assembly further includes first means for progressively opening the valve opening and allowing the passage of substance from the storage chamber through the plurality of flow apertures upon manually squeezing the tubular body, and second means for hermetically sealing the plurality of flow apertures and preventing ingress of bacteria through the plurality of flow apertures and into the tube in the normally closed position.

14 more elements

A method for storing and dispensing a sterile substance comprising the steps of:

providing a tube including a squeezable tubular body defining therein a storage chamber, the tube having a head located at one end of the tubular body, wherein the head defines a neck and a first axially extending passageway formed therethrough that is coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber of the tubular body and defines an unobstructed axially extending flow path therebetween;
coupling a one-way valve assembly to the tube, the one-way valve assembly having:
(a) a valve body including:
a body base defining a second axially extending passageway coupled in fluid communication with the first axially extending passageway and defining an unobstructed axially extending flow path therebetween;
an axially extending valve seat defining a diameter less than a diameter of the body base;
a first substantially frusto-conical portion extending between the body base and the valve seat;
and
a plurality of flow apertures axially extending through the substantially frusto-conical portion adjacent to the valve seat and angularly spaced relative to each other;
and
(b) a valve cover formed of an elastic material defining a predetermined modulus of elasticity, and including:
a cover base mounted on the body base and fixedly secured against axial movement relative thereto, wherein the cover base defines a diameter less than a diameter of the body base to thereby form an interference fit therebetween;
a valve portion overlying the valve seat, wherein the valve portion defines a predetermined radial thickness and a diameter less than a diameter of the valve seat to thereby form an interference fit therebetween, the valve portion and valve seat defining a normally closed, annular, axially extending valve opening therebetween, and the valve portion is movable radially between a normally closed position with the valve portion engaging the valve seat and an open position with a segment of the valve portion spaced radially away from the valve seat to allow the passage of substance at a predetermined valve opening pressure therebetween;
and
a second substantially frusto-conical shaped portion extending between the cover base and valve portion, overlying the first substantially frusto-conical shaped portion of the body, and forming an interference fit therebetween and hermetically sealing the valve assembly;
storing within the hermetically sealed tubular body multiple doses of a sterile substance;
dispensing a plurality of different doses of the sterile substance at different points in time by manually squeezing the tubular body to dispense each such dose;
and
maintaining the substance remaining in the tubular body between doses in a sterile, hermetically sealed condition.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/640,500Filed 13 Aug 2003 · us provisional application
Priority: 13 Aug 2002
Published: US 2004/0112925 A117 Jun 2004
Granted: 17 May 2005
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B65D 47/205
Comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure: the valve being formed by a tubular…
A45D 40/26
Casings or accessories specially adapted for storing or handling solid or pasty toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. shaving soaps or lipsticks:…
B65D 35/06
Made in one piece: from metallic material
B65D 35/08
Made in one piece: from plastics material