US2561294A - Closure for multiple dose vials - Google Patents

Description

July 17, 1951 E. E. SCHULER 2,561,294

CLOSURE FOR MULTIPLE DOSE VIALS Filed March 24, 1948 INVENTOR. EDWARD E. SCHULER ATTORNEYS Patented July 17, 1951 CLOSURE FOR MULTIPLE DOSE VIALS Edward E. Schuler, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich., assignor to Parke, Davis & Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 24, 1948, Serial No. 18,638

3 Claims. 1

The invention relates to closures for medicament holding vials and, more particularly, for multiple dose vials.

It is the object of the invention to obtain a closure which not only forms an effective seal, but is also one which has no detrimental eifect on the contents of the vial. In this connection it may be stated that rubber gaskets, which are frequently used for closures, do aifect certain medicaments reacting therewith to form products which are not soluble in the aqueous solution of the medicinal. This is highly detrimental. On the other hand closure materials which are inert to the medicament are not as well adapted for forming a hermetic seal.

To overcome this diificulty, I have devised a closure construction which includes effective sealing means and also means which precludes any contact of the medicament in the vial with such sealing means. More in detail, my invention consists in a closure construction including a plug formed of inert material for closing the mouth of the vial, a sealing gasket covering said plug and having direct contact with a top of the vial, and retaining cap for securing these elements to the via].

The invention further consists in the specific construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged vertical section through a portion of a vial showing the closure elements in position thereon but before the retaining cap is secured;

Fig. 2 is a further enlarged section through a portion of Figure 1 with the retaining cap in position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the capped vial.

As above stated, my improved closure includes a plug having a puncturable diaphragm and which is formed of material that will have no reaction upon the medicament. For this purpose various plastics might be used, but it is important that the material should retain its rigidity under sterilizing temperature. A suitable material having such qualification is "ny- Ion."

As illustrated A is the upper neck portion of a vial for containing the medicament. B is the plug. which has an annular portion fitting the mouth of the vial with an inwardly extending flange B' and a radial flange B slightly overlapping the top of the vial. There is also a thin diaphragm portion B within the annular portion. C is an outer closure member preferably formed of rubber or similar resilient material and ex- 2 tending radially beyond the flange B so as to have a portion C' in direct sealing contact with the top 01' the vial. D is a retaining cap having a portion D' which is spun beneath a shoulder A on the vial to hold the members B and C in position.

The application of the retaining caps D is usually performed by a machine, but it is necessary that the closure should be first engaged with the vial to retain the same in position. The member B will be thus retained by the flanges B and B. In order that the member C may also be properly positioned, I preferably provide the member B with an upwardly extending annular flange B which engages a recess C in the member C. The member C is also recessed to receive the flange B so that the sealing portion C will extend downward at least as far as the under face of said flange. Thus both members C and B will be held in exact registration with the vial so as to receive the cap D in the operation of the machine.

The cap D is preferably formed of metal and has an outer portion D'- which extends completely across the top of the vial enclosing the member C. There is also an inner annular portion D which leaves an open center. The outer portion D is of a construction that may be torn off, which will leave the closure still in sealing engagement with the vial but with the central portion of the gasket C expo: ed. This permits the operator to puncture the closure by a hypodermic needle which extends through both the gasket C and the diaphragm 3. Upon withdrawal of the needle, the diaphragm is not self-sealing but it nevertheless keeps the medicament out of contact with the gasket, and the latter re-seals. This operation may be repeated for withdrawing other doses until all of the medicament in the vial has been used up.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A closure for medicament holding vials comprising a plug member formed of molded plastic material which is non-reactive to the medicament content of the vial, said member having an annular portion fitting within the mouth of the vial and slightly overlapping the top thereof, also having an upwardly extending flange and an integral thin diaphragm portion extending across said annular portion, a separate gasket member of resilient yieldable material recessed to receive said upwardly extending flange and extending beyond the latter into direct sealing contact with the top of the vial, and a cap for retaining said members in position.

2. A closure for medicament holding vials comprising a plug member formed of molded plastic material which is rigid at sterilizing temperature and is non-reactive to the medicament content of the vial, said member having an annular portion including a flange extending into the mouth oi the via], a flange slightly overlapping the top of the vial, an upwardly extending flange, an integral thin puncturable diaphragm extending across said annular portion, a separate gasket member oi resilient yieldable material covering said plug member and extending beyond the latter into direct sealing contact with the top of the vial, said gasket being recessed for receiving said upwardly extending flange and being held thereby in registration with the vial, and a cap for retaining said members in position.

3. A closure for medicament holding vials compressing a plug member which is rigid at a temperature of 212 F. and having an annular portion including a flange extending into the mouth of the via], a radially extending flange slightly overlapping the top of the vial, an upwardly extending flange, and an integral thin puncturable diaphragm extending across the annular portion, a separate gasket member of resilient yieldable material covering said plug member and ex- 4 tending beyond the latter into direct sealing contact with the top of the vial. said gasket being recessed for receiving said upwardly extending flange and being held thereby in registration with the vial, and a cap for retaining said members in position.

EDWARD E. SCHULER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,413,703 Biehn Apr. 25, 1922 1,423,105 Hansen July 18, 1922 1,423,106 Hansen July 18, 1922 1,617,066 Lush Feb. 8, 1927 1,995,350 Hoag Mar. 26, 1935 2,099,370 Monnier Nov. 16, 1937 2,191,495 Nesset Feb. 27, 1940 2,200,600 Grapp May 14, 1940 2,238,681 Dorough Apr. 15, 1941 2,325,309 DeSwart July 27, 1943 2,431,303 Billmeyer Nov. 25, 1947 2,438,149 Cutter et a1 Mar. 23, 1948

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