Patent Application
20220257467
The present invention relates to a protective cover composition and a cap.
Conventionally used has been a vial in which medicine such as liquid medicine can be contained and that has a mouth closed by a stopper. Also known is a cap for sealing such a vial (Patent Literature 1). The cap includes: a cap body attachable to the mouth of the vial and having a through hole through which the stopper is exposed; and a protective cover detachably attached to the cap body to cover the through hole. The cap body is formed of, for example, polypropylene (PP), and the protective cover is formed of, for example, linear low-density polyethylene (L-LDPE).
The medicine contained in the vial is sometimes taken out of the vial by an injection needle pierced through the stopper that is left attached to the vial. In so doing, the protective cover is removed from the cap body.
Recently, it has been demanded to store medicine contained in a capped vial under low temperature (for example −85° C.), which can require a cap less likely to be brittle even under low temperature. However, no sufficient consideration has been given on a protective cover for such a cap.
In view of the above demand, therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a protective cover less likely to be brittle even under low temperature, and a cap including the protective cover.
A protective cover composition according to the present invention is used for preparing a cap to be attached to a vial with its mouth closed by a stopper, in which the cap is mountable to the mouth of the vial and includes: a cap body having a through hole through which the stopper is exposed; and a protective cover detachably attached to the cap body to cover the through hole, the protective cover composition is used for preparing the protective cover, and the protective cover composition includes a styrene-based block copolymer including a styrene monomer as a constituent unit, in which a content ratio of the styrene monomer is 10 to 60% by mass.
An aspect of the protective cover composition according to the present invention includes an olefin-based resin.
Another aspect of the protective cover composition according the present invention includes 200 parts or less by mass of the olefin-based resin based 100 parts by mass of the styrene-based block copolymer.
Still another aspect of the protective cover composition according to the present invention includes, as the olefin-based resin, at least one of an ethylene-based resin and a propylene-based resin.
Still another aspect of the protective cover composition according to the present invention further includes a lubricant.
An aspect of the protective cover composition further including the lubricant includes, as the lubricant, a fatty acid amide-based lubricant.
In another aspect of the protective cover composition according to the present invention, the cap body includes a carbonate-based resin.
A cap according to the present invention is a cap to be mounted to a vial with its mouth closed by a stopper, the cap including: a cap body mountable to the mouth of the vial and having a through hole through which the stopper is exposed; and a protective cover detachably attached to the cap body to cover the through hole, the protective cover including a styrene-based block copolymer including a styrene monomer as a constituent unit, in which a content ratio of the styrene monomer is 10 to 60% by mass.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
The vial 2 is a container for containing medicine, for example, liquid medicine. The liquid medicine contained in the vial 2 is, for example, liquid medicine stored or transported in a frozen state or a low temperature state (for example −85° C.). The mouth 20 of the vial 2 is located on a top side (i.e., an upper side in
The bottle 21 is, for example, a member for containing liquid medicine (see
The stopper 22 is a member that tightly closes the bottle 21 and through which an injection needle is pierced when the liquid medicine therein is administered to a patient. The stopper 22 of this embodiment is internally fitted into the mouth 20. Further, the stopper 22 includes, for example, a large diameter stopper portion 220 having a substantially disc shape and arranged on the top side, and a small diameter stopper portion 221 projecting downward from the large diameter stopper portion 220 and having a smaller diameter than that of the large diameter stopper portion 220. Examples of the material of the stopper 22 include an elastic body such as butyl rubber.
The large diameter stopper portion 220 is a portion placed on the flange 212 of the bottle mouth 210. It includes a lower surface 222 located on the lower side and a top surface 223 located on the top side.
The top surface 223 includes a top surface central portion 224 located at the center in a radial direction, and a top surface outer circumferential portion 225 located radially outward and on the top side of the top surface central portion 224. That is, the top surface 223 has such a shape that the top surface central portion 224 is one step lower than the top surface outer circumferential portion 225.
The small diameter stopper portion 221 is a portion placed inside the bottle mouth 210. The small diameter stopper portion 221 extends downward from the lower surface 222 of the large diameter stopper portion 220. For example, the small diameter stopper portion 221 has a cylindrical shape.
The cap body 3 is a portion to be mounted to the mouth 20 of the vial 2 in order to prevent the stopper 22 from being removed from the bottle 21. The cap body 3 includes a tubular body 4 capable of being externally fitted to the mouth 20 of the vial 2, and a top plate 5 having a through hole 50.
The tubular body 4 is a portion that covers an outer circumferential surface of the mouth 20 while being externally fitted to the mouth 20 of the vial 2. The tubular body 4 of this embodiment has a cylindrical shape. This tubular body 4 has, for example, a uniform diameter at any portion in the height direction. The diameter of the tubular body 4 of this embodiment is substantially equal to the diameter of a bottle body 211 of the bottle 21. The tubular body 4 has an inner surface on which a claw is provided for engaging the tubular body 4 with a lower portion of the flange 212 of the bottle 21.
The top plate 5 is a portion arranged on the top side of the tubular body 4. In the state where the tubular body 4 is externally fitted to the mouth 20 of the vial 2, the top plate 5 covers the top surface 223 of the stopper 22, for example, the top surface outer circumferential portion 225. Further, as shown in
The through hole 50 is a through hole penetrating through the top plate 5 in the thickness direction (for example the height direction) of the top plate 5. As shown in
The top plate annular portion 51 is a portion around the through hole 50. The top plate annular portion 51 has, for example, a circular annular shape with the cylinder axis 4A serving as the center (see
The hole edge 510 is a portion that defines the through hole 50. The hole edge 510 has a circular annular shape with the cylinder axis 4A serving as the center.
The top plate 5 of this embodiment has, for example, three top plate extending portions 52 radially extending from the top plate annular portion 51. The top plate extending portions 52 are arranged at equal intervals from each other in the circumferential direction. In other words, three openings 53 are located at the outer circumferential portion of the top plate 5. The three openings 53 are arranged at equal intervals from each other in the circumferential direction. The top plate extending portions 52 share the same shape. Each of the top plate extending portions 52 has an extension end 520 connected to the tubular body 4 (for example an end edge located on the top side of the tubular body 4).
With the above configuration, the top plate 5 has a disc shape, has the through hole 50 at the center, and has the outer circumferential portion at which a plurality of openings 53 are arranged at equal intervals from each other in the circumferential direction.
The protective cover 6 is a cover detachably attached to the top side of the top plate 5 (see
The cover body 7 is a portion that forms an end on the top side of the cap 1. The cover body 7 includes a lower surface 70 arranged away from the top plate 5 with the protective cover 6 attached thereto. In this attached state, the cover body 7 includes a top surface 71 located on the top side. The cover body 7 of this embodiment has an uneven thickness, and includes, for example, a central portion 72 located at the center and having a large thickness and an outer circumferential portion 73 located on an outer circumferential side of the central portion 72 and having a small thickness (see
The lower surface 70 of this embodiment includes a central lower surface 700 located at the center, and an outer circumferential lower surface 701 located on an outer circumferential side of the central lower surface 700 (see
The top surface 71 of this embodiment includes a central top surface 710 located at the center and an outer circumferential top surface 711 located outside the central top surface 710.
The central top surface 710 includes a recessed portion 712 recessed to the lower side, and a projecting portion 713 projecting to the top side. In this central top surface 710, the recessed portion 712 is arranged more on the central side than the projecting portion 713. The central top surface 710 includes an auxiliary projecting portion 714 projecting to the top side and arranged outside the projecting portion 713. The recessed portion 712 has a circular shape (see
The outer circumferential top surface 711 includes an edge portion 715 that is an outer circumferential edge portion of the top surface 71 of the cover body 7 and projects to the top side. The edge portion 715 has an annular shape, for example a circular annular shape (see
As shown in
The cover attaching portion 8 is attached to the cap body 3. The cover attaching portion 8 is formed to project from the lower surface 70 of the cover body 7 toward the top side of the top plate annular portion 51 of the top plate 5 and to attach both the lower surface 70 of the cover body 7 and the top side of the top plate annular portion 51 to each other (see
The cover attaching portion 8 of this embodiment is arranged at a boundary between the central portion 72 and the outer circumferential portion 73 of the cover body 7. The cover attaching portion 8 of this embodiment is attached to the top plate annular portion 51 of the top plate 5 (see
Similar to the cover attaching portion 8, the cover projecting portion 9 projects from the lower surface 70 of the cover body 7 toward the top side of the top plate annular portion 51 of the top plate 5 (see
The protective cover 6 of this embodiment includes four cover projecting portions 9 (see
The cover projecting portions 9 of this embodiment are connected to the cover attaching portion 8, for example, connected to the outer circumferential surface 81 of the cover attaching portion 8. Specifically, the cover projecting portions 9 extend radially outward from the outer circumferential surface 81 of the cover attaching portion 8. The cover projecting portions 9 do not reach the outer edge of the cover body 7, but extend radially outward to an intermediate position of the cover body 7. That is, the cover projecting portions 9 each include a radially inner end 93 continuous with the cover attaching portion 8, and a radially outer end 94 located at the radially outward intermediate position. Each of the cover projecting portions 9 of this embodiment is continuous without interruption from the radially inner end 93 to the radially outer end 94.
For example, each of the cover projecting portions 9 is a rib having a linear shape. Each of the cover projecting portions 9 has a uniform width in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the cover projecting portion 9 extends. The longitudinal dimensions of the cover projecting portions 9 provided on the protective cover 6 can be equal to each other, or can be different from each other. In the protective cover 6 of this embodiment, a first cover projecting portion 91, which is one of the four cover projecting portions 9, has a shorter longitudinal dimension than that of the other three second cover projecting portions 92.
The cover projecting portions 9 are attached at least to the top plate annular portion 51 of the top plate 5 (see
In the cap 1 of this embodiment, each of the openings 53 of the top plate 5 is arranged between each two adjacent long cover projecting portions 9 (for example the second cover projecting portions 92).
In the cap 1 configured as above, the cover attaching portion 8 extending in a downward direction from the lower surface 70 of the cover body 7 is attached to the top side of the cap body 3 to thereby allow the lower surface 70 of the cover body 7 to be separated from the top plate 5 and form a gap C around the cover attaching portion 8 (see
In the cap 1 of this embodiment, the cover attaching portion 8 of the protective cover 6 arranged on the hole edge 510 of the top plate annular portion 51 of the cap body 3 forms the gap C to surround the cover attaching portion 8 (see
In the cap 1 of this embodiment, it is important that the protective cover 6 includes a styrene-based block copolymer including a styrene monomer as a constituent unit, in which a content ratio of the styrene monomer is 10 to 60% by mass. In the cap 1 of this embodiment, it is preferable that the cap body 3 include a carbonate-based resin.
Examples of the carbonate-based resin included in the cap body 3 include an aromatic carbonate-based resin and an aliphatic carbonate-based resin. Examples of the aromatic carbonate-based resin include a polymer of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and phosgene (COCl2), and a polymer of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a carbonic acid diester. The polymer of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and phosgene can be obtained by, for example, the interfacial polymerization method of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and phosgene. The polymer of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a carbonic acid diester can be obtained by, for example, transesterification reaction between an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a carbonic acid diester. Examples of the aromatic dihydroxy compound include bisphenol A, dimethylbisphenol A, bisphenol Z, and 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane. Examples of the carbonic acid diester include diphenyl carbonate. As the carbonate-based resin, a conventionally known carbonate-based resin can be used without impairing the effect of the present invention. The mass average molecular weight of the carbonate-based resin is preferably 10,000 or more, more preferably 20,000 or more. The upper limit of the mass average molecular weight of the carbonate-based resin is not particularly limited, but the mass average molecular weight of the carbonate-based resin is preferably 1 million or less. In this embodiment, the mass average molecular weight can be measured by the gel permeation chromatography (GPC) method and determined in terms of polystyrene. The cap body 3 can include, in addition to the carbonate-based resin, a known material as a material of the cap body 3 without impairing the effect of the present invention. The cap body 3 has a brittle temperature of preferably −70° C. or less, more preferably −100° C. or less. In this embodiment, the brittleness temperature can be measured according to JIS K7216-1980.
The cap body 3 includes preferably 51 to 100% by mass, more preferably 80 to 100% by mass, of the carbonate-based resin.
The protective cover 6 is formed of the protective cover composition of this embodiment. That is, the protective cover 6 has the same composition ratio as that of the protective cover composition of this embodiment. It is important that the protective cover composition of this embodiment includes a styrene-based block copolymer (component A) including a styrene monomer as a constituent unit, in which a content ratio of the styrene monomer is 10 to 60% by mass. It is preferable that the protective cover composition of this embodiment include an olefin-based resin (component B). It is preferable that the protective cover composition of this embodiment include a lubricant (component C).
The component A is a styrene-based block copolymer, and has a content ratio of the styrene monomer to the styrene-based block copolymer (also referred to simply as “styrene content ratio”) of 10 to 60% by mass. The protective cover 6 having a styrene content ratio of 10 to 60% by mass becomes hardly brittle even under low temperature (for example −85° C. or less), adheres to the cap body to a reasonable extent, and can be removed from the cap body with moderate force at the time of removal. The styrene-based block copolymer is preferably an elastomer.
The component A is not particularly limited as long as it has a styrene content ratio of 10 to 60% by mass. The component A is a block copolymer having one or more, preferably two or more in terms of mechanical characteristics, polymer blocks X mainly including a constituent unit derived from a styrene skeleton-containing compound, and one or more polymer blocks Y mainly including a constituent unit derived from a conjugated diene compound. Examples of the component A include a block copolymer having a structure such as X-Y, X-Y-X, Y-X-Y-X, or X-Y-X-Y-X. As the component A, a hydrogenated product of the block copolymer having the above structure, or a mixture thereof can be preferably used. That is, the component A conceptually includes a hydrogenated product as well.
The hydrogenated product of the styrene-based block copolymer having the above structure is obtained by adding hydrogen to the carbon-carbon double bond in the styrene-based block copolymer having the above structure to form a carbon-carbon single bond. The above hydrogenation can be carried out by a known method, for example, by subjecting the styrene-based block copolymer having the above structure to hydrogen treatment using a hydrogenation catalyst in an inert solvent.
The styrene skeleton-containing compound is a polymerizable monomer having a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond and an aromatic ring. Examples of the above styrene skeleton-containing compound include styrene, t-butylstyrene, α-methyl styrene, divinylbenzene, 1,1-diphenyl styrene, N,N-diethyl-p-aminoethyl styrene, p-tertiary butylstyrene, and an alkylstyrene in which at least one of alkyl groups having 1 to 8 carbon atoms is bonded to a benzene ring. Among these, styrene and an alkylstyrene in which at least one of alkyl groups having 1 to 8 carbon atoms is bonded to a benzene ring are preferable. As the above styrene skeleton-containing compound, one or more of these can be used.
The above conjugated diene compound is a polymerizable monomer having a structure in which two carbon-carbon double bonds are bonded by one carbon-carbon single bond. Examples of the above conjugated diene compound include 1,3-butadiene, isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene), 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, and chloroprene (2-chloro-1,3-butadiene). Among these, 1,3-butadiene and isoprene are preferable. As the above conjugated diene compound, one or more of these can be used.
In terms of low-temperature characteristics (cold resistance), the protective cover 6 has a styrene content ratio of the styrene-based block copolymer (which conceptually includes a hydrogenated product as well) as the component A that is importantly 10 to 60% by mass, and preferably 20 to 50% by mass. In terms also of adhesiveness to the cap body, removability from the cap body, or the like, the protective cover 6 has a styrene content ratio of the styrene-based block copolymer (which conceptually includes a hydrogenated product as well) as the component A that is preferably 10 to 60% by mass, more preferably 20 to 50% by mass.
Examples of the styrene-based block copolymer include a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SBS), and a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer (SIS). Examples of the hydrogenated product among the above styrene-based block copolymers include a styrene-ethylene-butene copolymer (SEB), a styrene-ethylene-propylene copolymer (SEP), a styrene-ethylene-butene-styrene copolymer (SEBS), a styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene copolymer (SEPS), and a styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene copolymer (SEEPS). The listed styrene-based block copolymers can be individually used, or two or more of these can be used as a mixture.
The mass average molecular weight of the styrene-based block copolymer (which conceptually includes a hydrogenated product as well) as the component A is preferably 50,000 to 500,000. It is more preferably 80,000 to 450,000, still more preferably 100,000 to 400,000. Good processability and moldability are obtained within this range. The mass average molecular weight herein can be measured by the gel permeation chromatography (GPC) method and determined in terms of polystyrene.
The protective cover 6 includes preferably 50 to 100% by mass, more preferably 70 to 100% by mass, of the styrene-based block copolymer as the component A.
The component B is an olefin-based resin. The component B is effective in increasing fluidity of the protective cover composition of this embodiment for improved moldability and in adjusting hardness of the composition.
Examples of the component B include an ethylene-based resin, a propylene-based resin, and a 1-butene-based resin. Examples of the ethylene-based resin include a homopolymer and a copolymer, of ethylene. Examples of the homopolymer include low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, and high-density polyethylene. Examples of the copolymer include copolymers of ethylene and other α-olefins (e.g., propylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 1-octene). Examples of the propylene-based resin include a homopolymer and a copolymer, of propylene. Examples of the copolymer include random copolymers and block copolymers, of propylene and other α-olefins (e.g., ethylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 1-octene). Among these, an ethylene-based resin and a propylene-based resin are preferably used.
When the component B is included in the protective cover composition of this embodiment, the mixing amount of the component B is preferably 200 parts or less by mass, more preferably 5 to 100 parts by mass, still more preferably 8 to 80 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the component A. The component B included in an amount of 200 parts or less by mass allows the protective cover to easily maintain its strength at a low temperature. The component B does not have to be included in the protective cover composition of this embodiment.
The component C is a lubricant. The protective cover composition of this embodiment preferably includes the component C in terms of the adhesiveness of the protective cover to the cap body and the removability of the protective cover from the cap body.
The component C is not particularly limited, and examples of the component C include a paraffin-based lubricant, a hydrocarbon resin-based lubricant, a fatty acid-based lubricant, a fatty acid amide-based lubricant, a fatty acid ester-based lubricant, a fatty acid ketone-based lubricant, and a silicone-based lubricant. Among these, a fatty acid amide-based lubricant is preferably used.
The mixing amount of the component C is preferably 0.1 to 3 parts by mass, more preferably 0.3 to 1 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the component A. When the component C falls within this range, a favorable balance is obtained between the adhesiveness of the protective cover to the cap body and the removability of the protective cover from the cap body.
In addition to the above components, the protective cover composition for the cap of the present invention can include, for example, other polymer components, a softening agent for rubber, an anti-blocking agent, a heat stabilizer, an antioxidant, an ultraviolet absorber, a colorant, a thickener, an anti-aging agent, and a filler, without impairing the characteristics of the present invention.
The cap 1 is integrally molded by the insert molding method or the two-color molding method. For example, after the cap body 3 is molded by the injection molding method, the cap body 3 is inserted into a protective cover injection molding mold for molding the protective cover 6, to mold the protective cover 6 by the injection molding method. It is also possible that after the protective cover 6 is molded, the protective cover 6 is inserted into a mold for molding the cap body 3 to mold the cap body 3 by the injection molding method.
Such a cap 1 is mounted to the vial 2 as follows. First, liquid medicine is contained in the bottle 21 of the vial 2, and the stopper 22 while being internally fitted to the mouth 20 of the vial 2 is pressed downward, that is, mounted to the bottle 21 by being crimped onto the bottle 21. Further, with the cap body 3 externally fitted to the mouth 20 of the vial 2, the protective cover 6 is pressed downward, that is, mounted to the vial 2 by crimping the cap 1 onto the vial 2. The crimping of the stopper 22 and the cap 1 is performed, for example, using an automatic capping apparatus.
To remove the protective cover 6 of the cap 1 mounted to the vial 2, a user places his or her finger in a gap between the cover body 7 and the cap body 3 to pinch the outer circumferential portion 73. The cover body 7 has the outer circumferential portion 73 having a small thickness, which is easily bent (easily turned over) and thus allows the cover body 7 to begin being easily peeled off. The cover attaching portion 8 is peeled off by continuously peeling off the cover body 7 in the radial direction toward the center side, for example, by holding (pinching) and pulling up the outer circumferential portion 73 that has been turned over. In the case where the cover projecting portions 9 are arranged, the cover projecting portions 9 are peeled off continuously starting from the radially outer ends 94 toward the radially inner ends 93, and further the cover attaching portion 8 is peeled off starting from the radially inner ends 93 of the cover projecting portions 9, followed by the central portion 72 of the cover body 7 also being peeled off. That is, the cover projecting portions 9 are the portions that trigger the peeling-off of the cover attaching portion 8. The cover attaching portion 8 is to be peeled off at once since the central portion 72 of the cover body 7 has a large thickness and is hardly bent.
According to the cap 1 as described above, the cover attaching portion 8 projecting from the lower surface 70 of the cover body 7 of the protective cover 6 toward to the top side of the top plate annular portion 51 allows the lower surface 70 of the cover body 7 to be separated from the top plate 5 with the protective cover 6 attached to the cap body 3 and form the gap C around the cover attaching portion 8. This configuration allows the user to easily place his or her finger on the protective cover 6 in the gap C to pinch the protective cover 6 for operation, and thus allows the user to easily peel off the protective cover 6 from the cap body 3. Moreover, since the cover attaching portion 8 has an annular shape, the cover attaching portion 8 extending in an annular shape from the lower surface 70 of the cover body 7 surrounds the through hole 50 of the cap body 3 in the state where the protective cover 6 is attached to the cap body 3, so that a portion of the stopper 22 exposed through the through hole 50 can be closed to prevent contamination. The top side surface of the top plate 5 of the cap body has a flat surface with no projection or recess, and thus can be easily wiped with alcohol cotton without causing fluffing after the protective cover 6 is peeled off therefrom, which is hygienic.
In the cap 1 of this embodiment, the cover projecting portions 9 are arranged under the cover body 7 and radially outside the cover attaching portion 8. Thus, when, for example, a plurality of the caps 1 are packed in a box or a bag for transporting, the cover projecting portions 9 of one of the caps 1 can prevent an end portion of the protective cover 6 of another cap 1 from entering the gap C of the one cap 1 between the protective cover 6 and the top plate 5 of the cap body 3. This can prevent the protective cover 6 of the one cap 1 from being forcibly opened by another cap 1.
In the cap 1 of this embodiment, the cover projecting portions 9 extend to be continuous with the cover attaching portion 8 on the radially outside of the cover attaching portion 8. Thus, when the protective cover 6 is peeled off from the cap body 3, the force of peeling off the protective cover 6 is sequentially transmitted from the cover projecting portions 9 to the cover attaching portion 8 to thereby enable the protective cover 6 to be smoothly peeled off.
Further, in the cap 1 of this embodiment, the top plate annular portion 51 is arranged at the center of the top plate 5, which allows the gap C to be uniformly provided around the cover attaching portion 8. This configuration allows the protective cover 6 to be easily peeled off from the cap body 3 by placing a finger of the user on any area in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral portion of the protective cover 6.
In the cap 1 of this embodiment, the top plate annular portion 51 has a hole edge 510 defining the through hole 50, and the cover attaching portion 8 is attached to the hole edge 510. This configuration sufficiently increases the distance between the circumferential edge of the protective cover 6 and the cover attaching portion 8, that is, increases the gap C arranged around the cover attaching portion 8 to allow the outer circumferential portion 73 of the cover body 7 to be easily turned over and allow the cover attaching portion 8 to be subjected to a large force when the protective cover 6 is being peeled off. The protective cover 6 is thereby easily peeled off from the cap body 3.
In the cap 1 of this embodiment, the projecting portion 713 on the top surface of the protective cover 6 (for example, the top surface 71 of the cover body 7) is provided in an area corresponding to the cover attaching portion 8, and thus the portion of the protective cover 6 to be placed on the top side of the top plate annular portion 51 has the cover attaching portion 8 and the projecting portion 713, which together make the portion of the protective cover 6 to have a large thickness. This allows the protective cover 6 to be hardly damaged even when the projecting portion 713 is pressed at the top plate at the time of crimping the cap 1 onto the vial 2.
Further, in the cap 1 of this embodiment in which the cover projecting portions 9 are arranged at equal intervals from each other in the circumferential direction, that is, arranged uniformly in the circumferential direction, an intrusion of the protective cover 6 of one cap 1 into the gap C of another cap 1 between the protective cover 6 and the top plate 5 of the cap body 3 can be effectively prevented, and thus the mutual engagement of the caps 1 or an accidental peeling-off of the protective cover 6 can be prevented.
In the cap 1 of this embodiment, the edge portion 715 projecting to the top side is provided as the outer circumferential edge portion of the top surface 71 of the cover body 7. Thus, when, for example, a plurality of the caps 1 are packed in a box or a bag for transporting, the intrusion of an end of one of the caps 1 into the gap C of another cap 1 between the protective cover 6 and the top plate 5 of the cap body 3 hardly occurs due to the thick outer circumferential portion 73 of the cover body 7. Further, the height from the outer circumferential lower surface 701 to the leading end of the edge portion 715 that is greater than the height of the cover attaching portion 8 or the height of the gap C can more effectively prevent the intrusion.
In the cap 1 of this embodiment, the central top surface 710 includes the auxiliary projecting portion 714 projecting to the top side and arranged outside the projecting portion 713. The auxiliary projecting portion 714 thus allows the force of peeling off the protective cover 6 to be easily and smoothly transmitted, and enables adjustment of the strength of the protective cover 6 itself.
The protective cover composition of this embodiment is used for preparing a cap to be mounted to a vial with its mouth closed by a stopper. Specifically, the protective cover composition of this embodiment is used for preparing the protective cover. It is important that the protective cover composition of this embodiment includes a styrene-based block copolymer including a styrene monomer as a constituent unit, in which a content ratio of the styrene monomer is 10 to 60% by mass.
The protective cover composition according to this embodiment is configured as described above, and thus has the following advantages.
That is, a protective cover composition according to this embodiment is used for preparing a cap to be mounted to a vial with its mouth closed by a stopper. The cap includes: a cap body mountable to the mouth of the vial and having a through hole through which the stopper is exposed; and a protective cover detachably attached to the cap body to cover the through hole. The protective cover composition of this embodiment is used for preparing the protective cover. Further, the protective cover composition according to this embodiment includes a styrene monomer as a constitutional unit. The protective cover composition according to this embodiment includes a styrene-based block copolymer having a content ratio of the styrene monomer of 10 to 60% by mass. Such a protective cover composition can provide a protective cover less likely to be brittle even under low temperature by including the styrene-based block copolymer having 10 to 60% by mass of the styrene monomer as a constituent unit. Thus, according to this embodiment, a protective cover less likely to be brittle even under low temperature, and a cap including the protective cover can be provided.
The protective cover composition and the cap according to the present invention are not limited to the aforementioned embodiment. The protective cover composition and the cap according to the present invention are not limited by the aforementioned operational effects, either. Various modifications can be made to the protective cover composition and the cap according to the present invention without departing from the gist of the present invention.
The attaching device 10 of the aforementioned embodiment includes the cover attaching portion 8 and the cover projecting portions 9, which project from the lower surface 70 of the cover body 7 to the top side of the top plate annular portion 51 of the top plate 5, but can include only the cover attaching portion 8. In this case, for example, it is conceivable that the protective cover 6 includes the cover body 7, and the cover attaching portion 8 having an annular shape. Even in this case, the user can easily place his or her finger on the protective cover 6 in the gap C around the cover attaching portion 8 in the state where the protective cover 6 is attached to the cap body 3, and can easily peel off the protective cover 6 from the cap body 3. Moreover, since the cover attaching portion 8 has an annular shape, the cover attaching portion 8 surrounds the through hole 50 of the cap body 3 in the state where the protective cover 6 is attached to the cap body 3, so that a portion of the stopper 22 exposed through the through hole 50 can be closed.
The attaching device 10 can include a cover attaching portion or a cover projecting portion projecting toward the lower surface 70 of the cover body 7 on the top side of the top plate annular portion 51 of the top plate 5. This cover attaching portion is configured to allow the top side of the top plate annular portion 51 of the top plate 5 and the lower surface 70 of the cover body 7 to be attached to each other.
The protective cover 6 of the aforementioned embodiment includes the four cover projecting portions 9, but it is essential to include at least one cover projecting portion 9. For example, as shown in
In the protective cover 6 of the aforementioned embodiment, the cover projecting portions 9 each have a linear shape extending radially outward, but can have a curved shaped or a meander shape extending radially outward. Further, as shown in
The auxiliary projecting portion 920 extends from a position between the radially inner end portion 93 and the radially outward position 94 of the second cover projecting portion 92, in a direction crossing the direction in which the second cover projecting portion 92 extends. Specifically, the auxiliary projecting portion 920 extends from the second cover projecting portion 92 to both sides in a width direction of the second cover projecting portion 92 (for example, a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the second cover projecting portion 92).
In the protective cover 6 of the aforementioned embodiment, each of the cover projecting portions 9 has a uniform width, but the width can be non-uniform. For example, as shown in
In the protective cover 6 of the aforementioned embodiment, the cover projecting portions 9 extend to be continuous with the cover attaching portion 8, but can extend not to be continuous with the cover attaching portion 8.
In the protective cover 6 of the aforementioned embodiment, the cover attaching portion 8 has a cylindrical shape, but can have a different shape such as an elliptical tubular shape or a polygonal tubular shape. The cover attaching portion 8 can have such a shape as to have a plurality of rings overlapped with each other, such as a double-ring shape.
The cover attaching portion 8 projects downward from the lower surface 70 of the cover body 7, but can project from the lower surface 70 in the downward direction. For example, it is conceivable that the cover attaching portion 8 projects downward in a curved state from the lower surface 70 of the cover body 7, or projects obliquely downward from the lower surface 70. The cover attaching portion 8, if provided to project obliquely downward from the lower surface 70 of the cover body 7, has a tapered tubular shape.
In the protective cover 6 of the aforementioned embodiment, the lower surface 70 of the cover body 7 has such a shape as to have the outer circumferential lower surface 701 located more on the top side than the central lower surface 700, but can further have such a shape as to have the outer circumferential edge of the outer circumferential lower surface 701 projecting further downward than other portions of the lower surface 70. In this case, when, for example, a plurality of the caps 1 are packed in a box or a bag for transporting, the outer circumferential edge portion of the outer circumferential lower surface 701 of the cover body 7 of one of the caps 1 can prevent an end portion of the protective cover 6 of another cap 1 from entering the gap C of the one cap 1 between the protective cover 6 and the cap body 3.
In the cap body 3 of the aforementioned embodiment, the top plate 5 has a disc shape, has the through hole 50 at the center, and has the openings 53 arranged at equal intervals from each other in the circumferential direction, but can have any shape as long as it has the through hole 50. For example, in the top plate 5 of the aforementioned embodiment, three top plate extending portions 52 extend from the top plate annular portion 51, but it is essential that at least one top plate extending portion 52 other than the three extend therefrom.
The chemical agent to be contained in the vial 2 of the aforementioned embodiment is liquid medicine, but can be a freeze-dried chemical agent. In this case, if the freeze-dried chemical agent is used, a diluent or a solvent is added to the chemical agent to bring the agent back to a liquid form, which can be administered to a patient.
Next, the present invention will be described more specifically by way of test examples (Examples and Comparative Examples). The following examples are provided for more specifically describing the present invention, and do not intend to limit the scope of the present invention.
After a cap body was molded by the injection molding method, the cap body was inserted into a protective cover injection molding mold for molding a protective cover, to mold the protective cover by the injection molding method using a protective cover composition. The caps of the Examples and the Comparative Examples were thus prepared. However, in each of the Test Examples 8 and 9, the cap could not be prepared since the protective cover failed to adhere to the cap body. The protective covers (the protective cover compositions) and the cap bodies were prepared to respectively have the compositions shown below and in Table 1 below. The caps were prepared to have such shapes as shown below and in Table 1 below, and to have such a size as to be mountable to a vial (volume: 10 mL).
(A) Styrene-Based Block Copolymer (Styrene Content Ratio: 10 to 60% by Mass)
(A-1) SBS: Styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (styrene content ratio: 40% by mass) (TR-2000, manufactured by JSR Corporation)
(A-2) SEBS: styrene-ethylene-butene-styrene block copolymer (styrene content ratio: 33% by mass) (SEPTON 8006, manufactured by KURARAY CO., LTD.)
SEPS: Styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene block copolymer (styrene content ratio: 65% by mass) (SEPTON 2104, manufactured by KURARAY CO., LTD.)
PS: Polystyrene (Toyo styrene GP G200C, manufactured by TOYO STYRENE Co., Ltd.)
(B) Olefin-Based Resin
(B-1) HDPE: High-density polyethylene (NOVATEC HD HJ490, manufactured by Japan Polyethylene Corporation)
(B-2) Random PP: Random polypropylene (NOVATEC PP FW4BT, manufactured by Japan Polypropylene Corporation)
(C) Lubricant
(C-1) Fatty acid amide-based lubricant (isostearyl amide) (INCROSLIP SL, manufactured by Croda)
L-LDPE: Linear low-density polyethylene
PC: Carbonate-based resin
PC: Carbonate-based resin
PP: Polypropylene
A: Shape shown in
B: Shape shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 of WO 2015/029580 A
The cap was subjected to an impact using a DuPont type impact tester (JIS K5600-5-3: 1999) to visually check the conditions of the protective cover of the cap. Specifically, the cap was first placed on a flat plane under −85° C. or 23° C. for 30 minutes. Shortly afterwards, a die (round type, radius: 6 mm) was placed on the protective cover of the cap, and a 300 g weight was dropped onto the die from a height of 500 mm. Then, the conditions of the protective cover of the cap were visually evaluated based on the following criteria:
∘: Did not change.
x: Cracking or chipping occurred.
Table 1 below shows the results.
The cap was mounted to a vial (volume: 10 mL) with its mouth closed by a rubber stopper. Next, the protective cover was peeled off by hand from the capped vial, and evaluated based on the following criteria:
∘: The protection cover was cleanly peeled off with no large force.
x: The protective cover had a chip, or a part of the protective cover remained on the cap body. (Large force was required to peel off the protective cover.)
Table 1 below shows the results.
The cap was mounted to a vial (volume: 10 mL) with its mouth closed by a rubber stopper. Next, two holes were made through the protective cover, and a wire was caused to pass through the holes to hook the protective cover therethrough. Then, the capped vial was set on a push-pull gauge and the protective cover was pulled off the capped vial with the wire (speed: 60 mm/min) to read the maximum force required for peeling off the protective cover (referred to also as “flip-off force”). This measurement was performed five times. Table 1 below shows the average values, the maximum values, and the minimum values, of the flip-off force.
As shown in Table 1, the protective covers of the Test Examples 1 to 7 each in which the protective cover composition was included within the scope of the present invention did not change even after being subjected to an impact at −85° C., as compared with the Test Examples 8 to 11. That is, according to the protective cover composition within the scope of the present invention, a protective cover less likely to be brittle even at a low temperature can be provided.
The Test Example 4 had a smaller flip-off force than that of the Test Example 1. This reveals that the protective cover including the lubricant is easily peeled off from the cap body.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-124059 | Jul 2019 | JP | national |
This application is the U.S. national phase of PCT Application PCT/JP2020/026002 filed on Jul. 2, 2020, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-124059 filed on Jul. 2, 2019, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2020/026002 | 7/2/2020 | WO |
