Container for medical liquid with separable outer and inner closures

Claim 2

A container and double closure system for storing and dispensing sterile liquids, which includes a blow molded thermoplastic container with a dispensing outlet, an inner closure, an outer cap, and a jacking ring, the container and outer cap forming a unit having a transverse abutment means surrounding the outlet wherein the improvement comprises: an said inner closure being secured to the container to close off the outlet and form a hermetically sealed unit but is openable for dispensing; said outer cap being a separately formed injection molded thermoplastic outer cap with a longitudinal axis, said outer cap having both a thin frangible section and externally exposed threads, and said outer cap is sealed to the container proximate the abutment means with an annular bacteria-tight bond with the threads of the outer cap being in axial alignment with the abutment means, said jacking ring being internally threaded and threadingly disposed oN the outer cap to guide it toward the abutment means for exerting a pressure against the abutment means to axially pry the outer cap apart at its frangible section.

Claim 3

The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer cap has an integral external brim that is heat fused to the thermoplastic container.

Claim 4

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the external threads on the outer cap are left-handed.

Claim 5

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the inner closure includes a transverse wall permanently sealed to the container, said transverse wall including openable means for connecting to an intravenous administration set.

Claim 6

The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein the openable means includes a thin pierceable diaphragm.

Claim 7

The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein the transverse wall includes a puncturable resealable section for injecting additive medications.

Claim 8

The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein the puncturable resealable section includes a rubber diaphragm.

Claim 9

The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the abutment means is a flange on the container and the outer cap has a frangible brim with an outer annular portion fused to the flange and an inner annular portion unfused to the flange and a weakened fracturable line between the fused and unfused portions.

Claim 10

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer cap and container are both of propylene-ethylene copolymer thermoplastic material.

Claim 11

A container and double closure system for storing and dispensing sterile medical liquids, which includes a thermoplastic bottle that has a tubular neck with a longitudinal axis, a dispensing outlet, and an integral external flange on the bottle neck, wherein the improvement comprises: an inner closure secured to the bottle to close off the outlet and form a hermetically sealed unit, said inner closure having at least a portion that is openable for dispensing; said bottle''s neck flange having a top sealing surface lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the neck''s longitudinal axis; a separately formed thermoplastic outer cap with a longitudinal axis and including a top wall, a depending skirt and a thin frangible brim integrally formed with a lower end portion of this skirt, said brim having a thickness of between .005 inch and .050 inch, said frangible brim being heat fused to the top sealing surface of the bottle''s neck flange at an annular fusion joint along an outer portion of the frangible brim, said brim having an annular inner portion that is unfused to the flange to provide a weakened fracture line between the fused and unfused annular portions; external left-handed threads on the outer cap, which threads are in a predetermined alignment with said flange; and a rigid annular jacking ring having internal left-handed threads which threadingly intermesh with the threads of the outer cap, said annular jacking ring adapted to rotate in a counterclockwise direction for both fracturing the outer cap at said weakened line and thereafter removing the combined jacking ring and outer cap from the sealed inner closure and bottle combination with a rotational lifting motion.

Claim 12

A container and double closure system for storing and dispensing sterile medical liquids, which includes a thermoplastic bottle that has a tubular neck with a longitudinal axis, a dispensing outlet, and an integral external flange on the bottle neck, wherein the improvement comprises: an inner closure secured to the bottle to close off the outlet and form a hermetically sealed unit, said inner closure having at least a portion that is openable for dispensing; said bottle''s neck flange having a top sealing surface lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the neck''s longitudinal axis; a separately formed thermoplastic outer cap with a longitudinal axis and including a top wall, a depending skirt and a thin frangible brim integrally formed with a lower end portion of this skirt, said brim having a thickness of between .005 inch and .050 inch, said frangible brim being heat fused to the top sealing surface of the bottle''s neck flange at an annular fusion joint along an outer portion of the frangible brim, said brim having an annular inner portion that is unfused to the flange to provide a weakened fracture line between the fused and unfused annular portions; external left-handed threads on the outer cap, which threads are in a predetermined alignment with said flange; and a rigid annular jacking ring having internal left-handed threads which threadingly intermesh with the threads of the outer cap, said annular jacking ring adapted to rotate in a counterclockwise direction for both fracturing the outer cap at said weakened line and thereafter removing the combined jacking ring and outer cap from the sealed inner closure and bottle combination with a rotational lifting motion.