EP0794129A1 - Closure for a container, particularlyfor a medical vial - Google Patents

Abstract

The stopper comprises a rubber sealing plug, inserted in the flask neck, having a flange which is supported on the flask opening edge. A cap covering the plug has an upper end and a cylindrical skirt, the end having a detachable opercula connected to a gripping part. An internally projecting rib is held elastically against the plug flange. A cylindrical intermediate sleeve (30) is located inside the cap. The sleeve has on a part of its length angularly spaced and axially parallel elastic tabs (31). Certain tabs have on their internal surface grooves (32) for clipping onto the neck under the neck shoulder. The other part of the sleeve length is a continuous wall with an external thread (34). The cap skirt has a thread on its internal surface enabling it to be screwed onto the intermediate sleeve.

Description

The present invention relates to a closure device for a container such as in particular a vial for medical use.

Vials for medical use such as those used to carry out infusions or intended to contain any other injectable medication are generally provided with a sealing stopper made of elastic material, perforable in its central area by a hollow needle or a trocar, said stopper being held in position by a capsule which can be crimped or clipped onto the neck of the bottle, and having a detachable cover intended to make the central area of the stopper accessible.

The present invention relates more particularly to a closure device for a bottle, the neck of which is provided, close to its opening edge, with an annular bead, said device comprising a capsule intended to be clipped or snapped onto the neck. by engagement under said bead.

• un bouchon d'étanchéité comportant un flasque destiné à venir en appui sur le bord d'ouverture du goulot ;
• une capsule comportant un fond supérieur et une jupe sensiblement cylindrique,

   ledit fond étant pourvu d'un opercule détachable délimité par une ligne de rupture et relié à un organe de préhension, et d'une nervure saillante intérieurement destinée à porter élastiquement contre le flasque du bouchon ;
ladite jupe étant pourvue sur sa face interne de moyens d'encliquetage sur le goulot par engagement sous ledit bourrelet ;

• une bague d'inviolabilité conformée de telle sorte que la capsule ne puisse être retirée après encliquetage sur le goulot, sans être rompue.

Such a closure device is for example described in the document FR 2,698,613, and generally comprises:

• a sealing plug comprising a flange intended to come to bear on the opening edge of the neck;
• a capsule comprising an upper bottom and a substantially cylindrical skirt,

said bottom being provided with a detachable cover delimited by a breaking line and connected to a gripping member, and with an internally projecting rib intended to bear elastically against the flange of the stopper;
said skirt being provided on its internal face with means of snap-fastening on the neck by engagement under said bead;

• a tamper-evident ring shaped so that the capsule cannot be removed after snap-fastening on the neck, without being broken.

This device, which consists of a single piece of plastic material produced by molding, makes it possible to avoid the problems resulting from the use of crimpable metal capsules, in particular allowing the easy removal of the capsules and the subsequent recycling of the bottles without risk of cutting for the user.

However, due to its particular conformation, this device does not guarantee total tightness.

Indeed, the tightness of such a closure device depends, as we understand, on maintaining permanent contact with the flange of the stopper on the opening edge of the bottle and, consequently, on the force applied by the capsule to cap.

This force results from the pressure exerted on the stopper by the projecting rib of the capsule (which bears the reference numeral 13 in FIG. 2 of document FR 2,698,613) under the effect of the latching of this capsule on the neck. from the bottle.

So that this force is sufficient to ensure good sealing, the distance between the free end of the rib of the capsule and the upper face of the latching means of the skirt (constituted by a shoulder bearing the reference number 10 on the Figure 2 of the document FR 2.698.613) must be less than the distance separating the lower face of the bead from the neck and the upper face of the stopper in the plugged position inside the neck.

Under these conditions, the snap-fastening of the capsule on the neck causes the upper face of the shoulder 10 of the skirt to come into contact with the lower face of the bead of the neck, and consequently, the bearing of the rib 13 on the upper face of the plug.

However, due to the tolerances allowed during their manufacturing process, the thickness of the bead of the neck of the bottle as well as the thickness of the flange of the stopper can vary relatively appreciably.

In view of these dimensional variations, the closing force developed by the capsule and applying to the sealing plug can vary within very large proportions and in certain cases lead to a loss of sealing of the device described in the document FR 2,698,613.

Furthermore, the tamper-evident ring of the device described in this prior document is located in the zone defined between the latching means of the skirt (shoulder 10) on the neck and the rib (13) of the capsule and defined by two substantially parallel rupture lines provided on the side wall of the capsule.

This conformation therefore has the effect of reducing the mechanical resistance of the skirt of the capsule near the latching zone, which further increases the risks of loss of tightness during latching.

Under these conditions, the object of the present invention is to solve the technical problem consisting in the supply of a closure device of a new design, which is simple to produce and to implement on a scale. industrial and whose sealing is not likely to be affected by the dimensional variations of the neck of the bottle, the sealing cap or the parts constituting it.

• un bouchon d'étanchéité comportant un flasque destiné à venir en appui sur le bord d'ouverture du goulot ;
• une capsule comportant un fond supérieur et une jupe sensiblement cylindrique, ledit fond étant pourvu d'un opercule détachable relié à un organe de préhension, et d'une nervure saillante intérieurement destinée à porter élastiquement contre le flasque du bouchon ;

caractérisé en ce que ledit dispositif comprend une pièce intermédiaire généralement en forme de manchon cylindrique, destinée à être disposée, en position d'utilisation, intérieurement à ladite capsule, ladite pièce intermédiaire étant formée :

• sur une partie de sa longueur, par un ensemble de languettes élastiques angulairement espacées et s'étendant axialement parallèlement les unes aux autres, au moins certaines de ces languettes étant pourvues sur leur face interne de moyens d'encliquetage sous le goulot, par engagement sous ledit bourrelet ;
• et sur l'autre partie de sa longueur, par une paroi continue comportant sur sa face externe un filetage ;

et en ce que ladite jupe de la capsule comporte sur sa face interne un filetage permettant son vissage sur ladite pièce intermédiaire.The solution in accordance with the present invention, to solve this technical problem, consists of a closure device of the type described in document FR 2,698,613, that is to say comprising:

• a sealing plug comprising a flange intended to come to bear on the opening edge of the neck;
• a capsule comprising an upper bottom and a substantially cylindrical skirt, said bottom being provided with a detachable cover connected to a gripping member, and with an internally projecting rib intended to bear elastically against the flange of the stopper;

characterized in that said device comprises an intermediate part generally in the form of a cylindrical sleeve, intended to be disposed, in the position of use, inside said capsule, said intermediate part being formed:

• over a part of its length, by a set of elastic tongues angularly spaced and extending axially parallel to each other, at least some of these tongues being provided on their internal face with latching means under the neck, by engagement under said bead;
• and on the other part of its length, by a continuous wall comprising on its external face a thread;

and in that said skirt of the capsule has on its internal face a thread allowing it to be screwed onto said intermediate piece.

Thus, as can be understood, under the effect of the screwing of the capsule on the intermediate piece maintained in position on the neck after snap-fastening, the relative approximation is brought about, then the rib at the bottom of the capsule is brought into contact with the upper face of the stopper, under conditions such that the pressure exerted by the rib on the stopper is sufficient to ensure a good seal, whatever the height of the bead and the height of the flange of the stopper within the manufacturing tolerances of these elements.

The invention therefore provides a simple and safe means for compensating for dimensional variations in the neck of the bottle and the sealing cap.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the aforementioned skirt is connected to its lower part, by means of a set of connections angularly spaced tear-offs, to a tamper-evident ring whose internal face is provided with protruding elements forming notches intended to cooperate with elements forming notches carried by the intermediate piece and shaped so that the unscrewing of said capsule necessarily causes the tearing of said tearable links.

According to another particular characteristic of the invention, the internal face of the continuous wall of the intermediate piece carries angularly spaced projecting elements, preferably extending substantially axially and intended to bear elastically against the lateral surface of the flange of the stopper. prevent the rotation of the intermediate piece when the capsule is screwed onto it.

• la figure 1A est une vue en perspective avec arrachement montrant le goulot d'un flacon pourvu de son bouchon d'étanchéité ;
• la figure 1B est une vue en perspective avec arrachement montrant une capsule d'un dispositif de bouchage conforme à l'invention, avant sa mise en place sur le flacon ;
• la figure 1C est une vue en perspective avec arrachement montrant la pièce intermédiaire d'un dispositif de bouchage conforme à l'invention, avant sa mise en place sur le flacon ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective avec arrachement montrant l'ensemble du dispositif de bouchage conforme à l'invention, après sa mise en place sur le flacon ;
• la figure 3A est une vue en coupe longitudinale montrant l'ensemble du dispositif de bouchage selon l'invention, au début de l'opération de vissage de la capsule sur la pièce intermédiaire ;
• la figure 3B est une vue en coupe longitudinale semblable à la figure 3A montrant l'ensemble du dispositif de bouchage selon l'invention après vissage de la capsule sur la pièce intermédiaire ; et
• la figure 4 est une demi-vue de dessous du dispositif de bouchage conforme à l'invention.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, characteristics, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly on reading the explanatory description which follows, made with reference to the appended schematic drawings given solely by way of nonlimiting example illustrating a currently preferred embodiment of the invention and in which:

• FIG. 1A is a perspective view with cutaway showing the neck of a bottle provided with its sealing cap;
• FIG. 1B is a cutaway perspective view showing a capsule of a closure device according to the invention, before it is placed on the bottle;
• FIG. 1C is a perspective view with cutaway showing the intermediate part of a closure device according to the invention, before it is placed on the bottle;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view with cutaway showing the entire closure device according to the invention, after its establishment on the bottle;
• FIG. 3A is a view in longitudinal section showing the assembly of the closure device according to the invention, at the start of the operation of screwing the capsule onto the intermediate piece;
• FIG. 3B is a view in longitudinal section similar to FIG. 3A showing the assembly of the closure device according to the invention after screwing the capsule onto the intermediate piece; and
• Figure 4 is a half view from below of the closure device according to the invention.

FIG. 1 therefore represents the end of the body of a container 1 for medical use containing, for example, an injectable product, and equipped with a sealing plug.

This container can be a bottle or a flexible bag of the type used for transfusions, or any other bottle for medical use.

As can be seen, the neck 2 of the bottle 1 is provided, near its opening edge 3 with a bead or annular bulge 4 defined by a shoulder 5 on the outside surface of the neck 2.

The sealing plug 6 is produced in a manner known per se from a flexible and elastic material such as for example a rubber and comprises a substantially cylindrical part 7 intended to be engaged in the bore of the neck 2 and an upper flange 8 intended to come to bear on the opening edge 3 of the neck 2.

Referring to Figures 1B, 1C and 2 to 4, we will now describe in detail the closure device according to the invention and in particular its capsule and its intermediate part.

The capsule generally represented by the reference numeral 10 (see FIG. 1B) has an upper bottom 11 substantially in the form of a disc and a substantially cylindrical skirt 12.

The bottom 11 is provided with a detachable cover 13 which, in the example shown, is delimited by a rupture line 14, which is substantially circular.

This cover is also connected to a gripping member such as a ring 15 rigidly connected to the bottom 11, for example by means of at least one vertical stud 16.

In a variant embodiment not shown, the detachable cover can for example be produced in the form of an attached piece, fixed for example by bonding to the base 11, the latter being provided in this case with an opening for access to the central zone of the plug intended to be covered in a sealed manner by said cover. Such a cover may possibly be made of aluminum.

The bottom 11 also includes an annular rib 17 projecting internally and intended to bear elastically against the upper face of the flange 8 of the plug 6.

Preferably, this rib 17 is arranged to be substantially opposite the opening edge 3 of the neck 2 (see FIG. 2B), in the position of use.

The skirt 12 has, on its internal face, a thread 18 which extends substantially over its entire height.

Furthermore, the skirt 12 is connected to its lower part constituting the opening edge of the capsule, by means of a set of tear-away connections 19, angularly spaced, to a tamper-evident ring 20.

This ring 20 is arranged coaxially radially and externally relative to the skirt 12.

The tamper-evident ring 20 is provided, on its internal face, with a set of projecting elements forming notches 21 angularly spaced, preferably in a regular manner, and the function of which will be explained below.

These projecting elements 21 extend substantially axially (that is to say parallel to the median axis of the skirt) preferably in the extension of the tear-off connections connecting the tamper-evident ring 20 to the skirt 12.

The external surface of the skirt 12 is advantageously provided with raised portions extending substantially axially, parallel to one another and intended to facilitate gripping of the capsule 10 in order to make it easier to screw it onto the intermediate piece.

The intermediate piece 30 (FIG. 1C) generally has the form of a cylindrical sleeve intended to be disposed, in the position of use, between the neck 2 of the bottle and the skirt 12 of the capsule 10 (FIG. 3A).

The intermediate part 30 comprises a lower part generally constituted by a set of elastic tongues 31 angularly spaced, preferably in a regular manner, and extending axially parallel to each other.

At least some of these tongues 31 are provided on their internal face with means of snap-fastening on the neck 2 by engagement under the annular bead 4.

More specifically, these snap-fastening means consist of lugs or bosses 32 shaped to cooperate with the shoulder 5 defining the annular bead 4.

In the example shown, the bosses 32 have an upper side having a concave curve, while the shoulder 5 of the bead 4 has in longitudinal section a shape slightly inclined from the outside inwards and downwards.

The bosses and the shoulder 5 cooperate as is understood by "wedge effect" and allow the latching or clipping of the intermediate piece 30 on the neck 2.

The lower part of the intermediate piece 30 is of course radially deformable inwardly, due to the openings separating two successive tabs.

The intermediate part 30 also comprises an upper part constituted by a substantially continuous (that is to say solid) wall 33 having on its external face a thread 34.

In the example shown, the thread 34 has three threads and is adapted to allow the capsule 10 to be screwed onto the intermediate piece 30.

Each tongue 31 of the intermediate piece 30 carries on its external face one or more (preferably two) notch-forming elements 36, extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the median axis of the intermediate piece 30.

The notches 36 of the intermediate piece 30 are intended to cooperate with the notches 21 provided on the internal face of the tamper-evident ring 30 with which they have complementary shapes.

To this end, each notch 36 carried by a tongue 31 comprises, relative to the direction of rotation F (see FIG. 4) corresponding to the direction of screwing of the capsule 10 on the intermediate piece 30, a front face 37 inclined at an acute angle relative to the tangent T passing through the foot of said notch, and a substantially radial rear face 38.

Likewise, each notch 21 carried by the internal face of the tamper-evident ring 20 comprises an inclined front face 39 and a substantially radial rear face 40.

As can be understood, when the capsule 10 is screwed onto the intermediate piece 30, the inclined face 39 of a notch 21 of the tamper-evident ring 20 comes to bear against the front face 37 of a notch 36 of the piece intermediate 30 then "slides" on it in a guided manner.

When passing from the top 41 of the notch 36, the notch 21 is retracted into the space separating two successive notches 36.

During the unscrewing of the capsule 10 (that is to say of its rotation in a direction opposite to that defined by the arrow F) the notches 21 of the tamper-evident ring 20 and the notches 36 of the intermediate piece 30 come to bear against each other by their respective rear faces. Beyond this position, the unscrewing can only be continued by necessarily causing the tear-off connections 19 to be torn, and the subsequent separation of the tamper-evident ring 20 and the capsule 10.

In other words, the presence of the ring 20 on the closure device according to the invention is a means of guarantee making it possible to reveal any attempt to remove the capsule 10 and therefore to access the contents of the bottle.

The capsule 10 and the intermediate part 30 can be easily produced by injection molding using a thermoplastic material.

This material will be chosen to withstand the high temperatures used during the sterilization of these medical containers. Such a material can for example be a polyethylene.

The implementation of the closure device which has just been described is easily deduced from its structure.

More specifically, the intermediate part 30 is first snapped or clipped onto the neck 2 provided with its sealing plug 6, the bosses 32 coming to be housed under the shoulder 5 of the bead 4. This operation can be carried out by a Automatic machine.

The skirt 10 is then screwed onto the intermediate part 30, causing the approximation, then bringing the rib 17 into contact with the front 11 and the upper face of the flange 8 of the plug 6 (FIGS. 3A and 3B).

The force exerted during screwing can be easily calculated so that the rib 17 exerts on the plug 6 sufficient pressure to ensure a good seal, especially at the level of the contact surface between the opening edge 3 of the neck and the flange 8 of the plug, regardless of the height of the bead 4 and the height of the flange 8 of the plug, within the manufacturing tolerances of these parts.

In a variant, the skirt 10 can be partially pre-screwed on the intermediate piece 30 before the assembly thus formed is mounted on the neck 2 of the container.

For this, the intermediate part 30 can be provided on its external surface with several (for example two) breakable pins angularly distributed, preferably in a regular manner, and arranged in the vicinity and under the thread 34, said pins being intended to cooperate with housings conformed for this purpose under the thread of the skirt 10, in order to determine a pre-assembly position.

As can be understood, the skirt is provided on the intermediate piece 30 to a position where the aforementioned pins are received in said cavities.

This preview is particularly advantageous since it leads to an assembly which is easy to handle and transport and whose height is fixed.

This assembly is then snapped onto the neck 2 provided with its sealing plug 6, the bosses 32 being received under the shoulder 5 of the bead 4.

Finally, the skirt is completely screwed down, which has the effect of breaking the lugs of the intermediate piece 30, then of bringing about the bringing together and then bringing into contact of the rib 17 of the bottom 11 and of the upper face of the flange 8 of the plug.

These operations can be carried out with one or more machines.

Since the capsule 10 comes around the intermediate piece 30, there is no risk of contamination of the contents of the bottle.

At the end of screwing the capsule 10 onto the intermediate piece 30, the tamper-evident ring 20 is blocked, in the unscrewing direction, by the cooperation of the notches 36 of the intermediate piece 30 and the notches 21 of the ring. inviolability 20.

To recycle the bottle, simply unscrew the capsule 10, which causes the tear-off connections 19 to break and, consequently, the tamper-evident ring 20 and the capsule 10 to separate. It is then easy to separate the capsule 10, the ring 20 and the intermediate piece 30.

The closure device according to the invention therefore allows easy recycling of the bottles, its various constituent elements being able to be easily removed without risk of cutting for the users.

The cover 13 and the tamper-evident ring 20 guarantee the safety of this system.

Claims (7)

Closing device for a container, such as in particular a vial for medical use, having a neck provided near its opening edge with an annular bead, of the type comprising: - A sealing plug comprising a flange intended to come to bear on the opening edge of the neck; - A capsule comprising an upper bottom and a substantially cylindrical skirt, said bottom being provided with a detachable cover connected to a gripping member, and an internally projecting rib intended to bear elastically against the flange of the stopper; characterized in that said device comprises an intermediate piece (30) generally in the form of a cylindrical sleeve, intended to be disposed, in the position of use, inside said capsule (10), said intermediate piece (30) being formed: over a part of its length, by a set of elastic tongues (31) angularly spaced and extending axially parallel to each other, at least some of these tongues being provided on their internal face with latching means (32) on the neck, by engagement under said bead (4); and on the other part of its length, by a continuous wall comprising on its external face a thread (34); and in that said skirt (12) of the capsule (10) has on its internal face a thread (18) allowing it to be screwed onto said intermediate piece. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned skirt (12) is connected at its lower part, by means of a set of tear-away connections (19) angularly spaced, to a tamper-evident ring (20) of which the internal face is provided with projecting elements forming notches (21) intended to cooperate with elements forming notches (36) carried by the intermediate piece (30) and shaped so that the unscrewing of said capsule (10) necessarily causes the tearing of said tearable links (19). Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the internal face of the continuous wall of the intermediate piece (30) carries angularly spaced projecting elements (35), preferably extending substantially axially and intended to bear elastically against the lateral surface (9) of the flange (8) of the plug to prevent rotation of the intermediate piece (30) when the capsule (10) is screwed onto it. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the projecting elements forming notches (36) of the intermediate piece (30) have a front face (37) inclined at an acute angle relative to the tangent T passing through the foot said notch (36), and a rear face (38) substantially radial. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that each notch (21) carried by the internal face of the tamper-evident ring (20) comprises an inclined front face (39) and a substantially radial rear face (40 ). Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the detachable cover (13) of the upper bottom (11) of the capsule (10) is delimited by a breaking line (14). Device according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the protruding elements forming notches (21) of the tamper-evident ring (20) extend substantially axially, preferably in the extension of the tear-away connections (19) connecting the tamper-evident ring (20) to the skirt (12).

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