Claims for Patent: 9,676,525

Summary for Patent: 9,676,525

Title:	Protective cap for a dispenser, and discharge device for discharging pharmaceutical and/or cosmetical liquids
Abstract:	A protective cap for a dispenser for discharging liquids, wherein the dispenser has a liquid reservoir and an outlet opening through which the liquid is discharged into a surrounding atmosphere. The protective cap has an inner cap and an outer cap, the inner cap having a ventilation opening for communication between an interior of the protective cap and an external environment. Before use, the outer cap is mounted on the inner cap in a first position with the inner cap and the outer cap in sealing contact with each other and the ventilation opening is separated in an airtight and germproof manner from the environment, and the outer cap is movable relative to the inner cap from the first position to a second position in which the inner and outer caps are out of sealing contact with each other and the ventilation opening communicates with the environment.
Inventor(s):	Greiner-Perth; Juergen (Gottmadingen, DE), Krampen; Gerald (Radolfzell, DE), Herz; Andi (Eigeltingen-Reute, DE), Shankar; Sai (Irvine, CA), Mallare; Antonio O. (Gardena, CA)
Assignee:	APTAR RADOLFZELL GMBH (Radolfzell, DE)
Application Number:	14/108,570
Patent Claims:	1. A discharge device comprising: a dispenser for discharging a pharmaceutical and/or cosmetical liquid, the dispenser including a liquid reservoir and an outlet opening through which the liquid can be discharged into a surrounding atmosphere; and a protective cap removably connected to the dispenser, the protective cap comprising an inner cap and an outer cap; wherein the inner cap has at least one ventilation opening for communication between an interior of the protective cap and an external environment; wherein, before a first use, the outer cap is mounted on the inner cap in a first position in which the inner cap and the outer cap are sealingly in contact with each other and the at least one ventilation opening is separated in an airtight and germproof manner from the external environment; wherein the outer cap is movable relative to the inner cap from the first position to at least a second position in which the inner cap and the outer cap are not sealingly in contact with each other and the at least one ventilation opening communicates with the external environment in an airtight and germproof manner; wherein the dispenser further comprises an outlet channel which connects the liquid reservoir to the outlet opening, and an outlet valve which opens depending on pressure or can be manually actuated and which is arranged in the outlet channel and, in a closed state, closes the outlet channel; wherein the inner cap covers the outlet opening when the protective cap is connected to the dispenser to prevent the liquid in the dispenser from being discharged into the surrounding atmosphere; wherein the inner cap does not cover the outlet opening when the protective cap is not connected to the dispenser to thereby allow the liquid in the dispenser to be discharged into the surrounding atmosphere; and wherein at least one of the inner cap and the outer cap has at least one resilient blocking element that in a blocking position directly counteracts axial movement of the outer cap relative to the inner cap from the second position towards the first position. 2. The discharge device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one resilient blocking element is adjustable between the blocking position, in which movement of the outer cap relative to the inner cap is blocked, and a release position, in which the outer cap is movable relative to the inner cap to the first position, wherein the at least one resilient blocking element is resiliently forced into the blocking position. 3. The discharge device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one resilient blocking element is resiliently forced into the blocking position on account of elastic restoring forces. 4. The discharge device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one resilient blocking element is arranged on the outer cap, and the inner cap has at least one complementary opening, wherein, in order to allow movement of the outer cap relative to the inner cap to the first position, the at least one resilient blocking element can be guided into the at least one complementary opening in the release position. 5. The discharge device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one resilient blocking element is designed as a radially outwardly protruding tab. 6. The discharge device as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one protection element is assigned to at least one of the at least one resilient blocking element in order to avoid manual operation of said at least one of the at least one resilient blocking element. 7. The discharge device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one resilient blocking element is resiliently tensioned when the outer cap and the inner cap are in the first position. 8. A discharge device comprising: a dispenser for discharging a pharmaceutical and/or cosmetical liquid, the dispenser including a liquid reservoir for holding the liquid, an outlet opening through which the liquid can be discharged into a surrounding atmosphere, an outlet channel connecting the liquid reservoir to the outlet opening, and an outlet valve in the outlet channel which opens to allow the liquid to exit the dispenser through the outlet opening and closes to prevent the liquid from exiting the dispenser; and a protective cap comprising an inner cap and an outer cap, the inner cap being removably connected to the dispenser; wherein the inner cap has at least one ventilation opening for communication between an interior of the protective cap and an external environment; wherein, before a first use, the outer cap is mounted on the inner cap in a first position in which the inner cap and the outer cap are sealingly in contact with each other and the at least one ventilation opening is separated in an airtight and germproof manner from the external environment; wherein the outer cap is movable relative to the inner cap from the first position to at least a second position in which the inner cap and the outer cap are not sealingly in contact with each other and the at least one ventilation opening communicates with the external environment in an airtight and germproof manner; wherein the outer cap is spaced from and does not engage the dispenser; and wherein at least one of the inner cap and the outer cap has at least one resilient blocking element that directly counteracts axial movement of the outer cap relative to the inner cap from the second position towards the first position. 9. The discharge device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the inner cap covers the outlet opening when the protective cap is connected to the dispenser to prevent the liquid in the dispenser from being discharged into the surrounding atmosphere; and the inner cap does not cover the outlet opening when the protective cap is not connected to the dispenser to thereby allow the liquid in the dispenser to be discharged into the surrounding atmosphere. 10. The discharge device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one resilient blocking element is adjustable between a blocking position, in which movement of the outer cap relative to the inner cap is blocked, and a release position, in which the outer cap is movable relative to the inner cap to the first position, wherein the at least one resilient blocking element is resiliently forced into the blocking position. 11. The discharge device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one resilient blocking element is forced into the blocking position on account of elastic restoring forces. 12. The discharge device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one resilient blocking element is arranged on the outer cap, and the inner cap has at least one complementary opening, wherein, in order to allow movement of the outer cap relative to the inner cap to the first position, the at least one resilient blocking element can be guided into the at least one complementary opening in the release position. 13. The discharge device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one resilient blocking element is designed as a radially outwardly protruding tab. 14. The discharge device as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one protection element is assigned to at least one of the at least one resilient blocking element in order to avoid manual operation of said at least one of the at least one resilient blocking element. 15. The discharge device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one resilient blocking element is resiliently tensioned when the outer cap and the inner cap are in the first position. 16. A discharge device comprising: a dispenser for discharging a pharmaceutical and/or cosmetical liquid, the dispenser including a liquid reservoir and an outlet opening through which the liquid can be discharged into a surrounding atmosphere; and a protective cap removably connected to the dispenser, the protective cap comprising an inner cap and an outer cap; wherein the inner cap has at least one ventilation opening for communication between an interior of the protective cap and an external environment; wherein, before a first use, the outer cap is mounted on the inner cap in a first position in which the inner cap and the outer cap are sealingly in contact with each other and the at least one ventilation opening is separated in an airtight and germproof manner from the external environment; wherein the outer cap is movable relative to the inner cap from the first position to at least a second position in which the inner cap and the outer cap are not sealingly in contact with each other and the at least one ventilation opening communicates with the external environment in an airtight and germproof manner; wherein the dispenser further comprises an outlet channel which connects the liquid reservoir to the outlet opening, and an outlet valve which opens depending on pressure or can be manually actuated and which is arranged in the outlet channel and, in a closed state, closes the outlet channel; wherein the inner cap covers the outlet opening when the protective cap is connected to the dispenser to prevent the liquid in the dispenser from being discharged into the surrounding atmosphere; wherein the inner cap does not cover the outlet opening when the protective cap is not connected to the dispenser to thereby allow the liquid in the dispenser to be discharged into the surrounding atmosphere; and wherein at least one of the inner cap and the outer cap has at least one resilient blocking element that counteracts movement of the outer cap relative to the inner cap to the first position, the at least one resilient blocking element being resiliently tensioned when the outer cap and the inner cap are in the first position. 17. A discharge device comprising: a dispenser for discharging a pharmaceutical and/or cosmetical liquid, the dispenser including a liquid reservoir for holding the liquid, an outlet opening through which the liquid can be discharged into a surrounding atmosphere, an outlet channel connecting the liquid reservoir to the outlet opening, and an outlet valve in the outlet channel which opens to allow the liquid to exit the dispenser through the outlet opening and closes to prevent the liquid from exiting the dispenser; and a protective cap comprising an inner cap and an outer cap, the inner cap being removably connected to the dispenser; wherein the inner cap has at least one ventilation opening for communication between an interior of the protective cap and an external environment; wherein, before a first use, the outer cap is mounted on the inner cap in a first position in which the inner cap and the outer cap are sealingly in contact with each other and the at least one ventilation opening is separated in an airtight and germproof manner from the external environment; wherein the outer cap is movable relative to the inner cap from the first position to at least a second position in which the inner cap and the outer cap are not sealingly in contact with each other and the at least one ventilation opening communicates with the external environment in an airtight and germproof manner; wherein the outer cap is spaced from and does not engage the dispenser; and wherein at least one of the inner cap and the outer cap has at least one resilient blocking element that counteracts movement of the outer cap relative to the inner cap to the first position, the at least one resilient blocking element being resiliently tensioned when the outer cap and the inner cap are in the first position.