Plastic Container

The present invention relates to a container which releasably holds a plug device mounted on the container by a bayonette connection.

A known container of this type is disclosed in DE-GM 1 766 974 and comprises a tube and a cap connected to the top of the tube by means of an easily detachable bayonette connection. When the cap is closed, the bayonette connection is inside the tube. A tubular part on the cap extends on the outside of the tube, and serves as a guide on the outside of the tube bead.

A protective sheathing for a hypodermic needle is disclosed in GB-PS 1 514 725. The sheathing can be connected with the needle by a snap connection and is easily detached by pulling. The hypodermic needle can be connected with a syringe by a tapered seat.

An object of the present invention involves providing a container having a bayonette connection on the outside of the container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

The foregoing objects are obtained by a container comprising a body, a neck extending from the body along a container axis and a holder formed as a unitary portion of the container for releasably coupling a plug device to the neck. The holder forms a part of a bayonette connection between the neck and the plug device, and includes first and second holder walls on opposite sides of the body. Each holder wall extends substantially parallel to the container axis and has a holding catch on its front portion facing the neck. Each holding catch has a stop surface limiting relative rotation between the holding catches and the plug device.

By forming the container in this manner, the holder is formed on the outside of the container as a special part using waste material from the blow molding process used to manufacture the container with the holder. Only a small change is required on the plug device to form a bayonette connecting part cooperating with the holder on the outside of the container. The holder of the present invention can be used on a container which is filled and closed in one manufacturing process, and on a container which is filled and closed after its manufacture.

Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a container according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial, enlarged side elevational view, partially in section, of the container of FIG. 1 with a plug device;

FIG. 4 is a partial top plan view, in section, taken along line IV--IV of FIG. 3, with the plug device in a first position; and

FIG. 5 is a partial top plan view, in section, taken along line V--V of FIG. 3 with the plug device in a second position.

A container according to the present invention can be an ampoule 1 manufactured by a blow molding process, and then filled and closed. The ampoule comprises a body 2 to hold medication or the like and an ampoule neck 3 on body 2. The neck has a pinched-in part 4, a bell part 5, a conical plug part 6, and a break-off cap 7 on its top. Plug part 6 has a smaller transverse diameter than parts 5 and 6, and tapers upwardly.

A holder 8, formed as a unitary and integral part of ampoule 1, is attached to ampoule neck 3. Holder 8 comprises holder walls 9, 9a on opposite sides of the parts 4 and 5 and plug part 6. Holder walls 9 and 9a extend from ampoule body 2 approximately to the middle of plug part 6, are essentially flat, and lie in the same plane. Each of the two walls 9, 9a has a holding catch 10 or 10a directed toward plug part 6 on its end facing break-off cap 7. Each of the catches 10, 10a extends diagonally from wall 9 or 9a, and has a bottom contact surface 11 or 11a. Each contact surface 11, 11a comprises a spiral surface portion in the area of wall 9 or 9a, followed by a planar or flat surface portion. The portion of control surface 11 or 11a adjacent wall 9 or 9a lies nearer to break-off cap 7 than the portions spaced from wall 9 or 9a. The flat surface portion extends perpendicular to the axis of ampoule 1. A radially inwardly projecting contact part or stop surface 12 or 12a is provided at the end of the contact surface 11 or 11a.

The plug device can be a needle carrier 15 for a hollow needle, particularly an injection needle, shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, and can be mounted onto plug part 6. Needle carrier 15 has a radially outwardly projecting flange 16 at the end of its truncated conical part, configured as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. By means of flange 16, needle carrier 15 cooperates with holder 8 to provide a bayonette connection therebetween.

Needle carrier 15 is placed onto plug part 6 so that the larger diameter parts of flange 16 lie outside catches 10 and 10a, and can be engaged under holding catches 10 and 10a following a short rotation. As illustrated in FIG. 4, needle carrier 15 is initially fitted on plug part 6 so that the flange can be brought between catches 10, 10a. In FIG. 5, flange 16 is aligned with contact parts or stop surfaces 12 and 12a following clockwise rotation of less than 90.degree. from the position illustrated in FIG. 4.

Flange 16 of the needle carrier is configured as a rhombus in plan view with the sharp corners rounded and engageable under holding catches 10, 10a. The spiral surface portions on holding catches 10, 10a cause needle carrier 15 to be pressed on plug part 6 when the bayonette connection is closed. With flange 16 engaging the flat holder surface portions of holding catches 10 and 10a, holder 15 is held more securely than if the flange engages the spiral surface portion in its closed position. Also, the angle relative to the axis of ampoule 1 can be smaller than the angle of internal friction.

Holder 8 for needle carrier 15 is advantageously manufactured in the same manufacturing process as the ampoule and of material which would otherwise be waste material. Holder catches 10, 10a are produced by the configuration of the top jaw halves of the mold during forming of ampoule 1, and are brought into the shape shown in the drawings.

Needle carrier 15 can be removed from ampoule 1 by being rotated from the position shown in FIG. 5 counterclockwise to the position shown in FIG. 4, and then raised from plug part 6.

While a particular embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.