EP1902262B1

EP1902262B1 - Container for packaging and packaging procedure

Info

Publication number: EP1902262B1
Application number: EP06766370A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luca Zacchi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-07-01
Filing date: 2006-06-30
Publication date: 2009-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2026-06-30
Also published as: ES2338586T3; EP1902262A2; ATE448454T1; US20080292220A1; DE602006010387D1; CA2613779A1; WO2007004249A2; WO2007004249A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container for packaging of the type that comprises a containment structure that is basically composed of a base wall (2) to which a rear wall (3), a pair of lateral walls (4) and a front wall (5) are attached and a closing element (6) where to the front wall (5) a valve (9) is attached that, in turn, is connected to an inflatable element (10) designed to contain dry ice (11). The container is designed to be operated from a rest condition, when it is inactive and no products are accommodated in the container, to a first operative condition in which there are some products in the container and in the front wall (5) there is the valve (9) with the inflatable element (10), and to a second operative condition in which the container is closed by the closing element and the dry ice expands, thereby enlarging the inflatable element that fills the remaining empty space inside the container, thereby blocking the closing element.

Description

Technical field

The present invention refers to a container for packaging that is particularly indicated for containing medicines, substances, products or foods that need to be protected and insulated from the surrounding environment and maintained within a constant temperature range for a certain number of hours during their transport.

Background Art

As is widely known, to conserve medicines, for example, they must be kept at a certain temperature as, for many preparations, heat damages the protein structure of the components, as a result making the drug ineffective or even toxic.
Furthermore, for example, temperature changes can, together with humidity, through the condensation which is formed, corrode the protective film of drugs, powdered products can congeal, damaging the product, while liquid formulations undergo separation of the components with the formation of precipitates, so they must be disposed of with subsequent disposal costs and waste of material.
In addition to what has been described above, in the case of blood derivatives, heat makes blood coagulate so it can no longer be used, leading to serious consequences both in terms of the preparation costs of such products and the reduction of the possibility of available stores, besides the fact that blood is difficult to obtain as it cannot be produced industrially.
Besides heat, drugs must also be protected from the light and impacts from the external environment so that the packaging and preparations are not damaged or altered, as their preparation is very expensive and also their disposal would be particularly onerous, as they are highly-polluting products.
There are currently different packaging systems for the transport of drugs. The first one uses a polystyrene container that has a second contanier above it, in turn closed with a lid, inside which dry ice is placed. In greater detail, inside the container with the dry ice there are some indentations that, during use while the drugs are being placed in the boxes, are manually pierced by an operator to allow the cold air to pass through to the underlying container with the drugs inside.
The described container also has some disadvantages.
One disadvantage found with this container derives from the fact that it is very voluminous with subsequent greater encumbrance to transport, besides the fact that there are two containers and therefore a larger amount of materials are used.
Another disadvantage encountered derives from the fact that the preparation of the container is quite complicated with the need to have one person ready to pierce the indentations with a subsequent loss of time and labour costs. Furthermore, the system and the container described have a considerable dispersion of cold air, as it is lost from both the lid in contact with the external environment and from the pierced wall that transmits the cold air through the holes near the indentations.
Another system for the transport and conservation of drugs involves another polystyrene container inside which the drug packs, together with 'gel ice packs' to maintain them at the right temperature, are placed.
In particular, the 'gel ice packs' are containers with chemical substances inside that can release the cold air gradually allowing the environment inside the container to be more or less maintained constant for a small amount of time and with temperatures no lower than 8°-10° C.
In the containers, above the drug packs, there are small air cushions to fill the remaining space and keep the packs themselves still. The container is then closed with a lid and sealed using adhesive tape that closes the slit between the container and the lid.
Also this container, even being much less voluminous than the one described previously has shown a plurality of disadvantages.
The first disadvantage emerges from the fact that the 'gel ice packs' require a place where they can be refrigerated before use, with the need for spacious freezers that at least 12 hours before are filled with the 'gel ice packs' that will then be used for the preparation of the containers with considerable encumbrance in accommodating the freezers and consumption of electricity for them to function, besides the fact that the 'gel ice packs' then have a temperature of only a few degrees below zero, so are therefore not sufficient to maintain the drugs in the temperature range required for their correct conservation.
A second disadvantage found with the 'gel ice packs' is that, inside the container, they occupy a fair amount of space that could otherwise be used to contain other drug packs and they are also quite heavy.
Another disadvantage found with the 'gel ice packs' is that for each container up to three 'gel ice packs' are used, which are neither retrieved nor re-used, with considerable waste of materials and the need to dispose of polluting substances.
A further disadvantage emerges from the fact that the operator must inflate the air cushions using special equipment and then place them in the containers to fill the remaining space with longer preparation time of the container and further costs for materials besides the further materials that must then be disposed of.
In addition to the disadvantages described, another problem found is due to the fact that the container with the 'gel ice packs' is quite heavy, which is then multiplied by the number of containers that are loaded onto a lorry, limiting the quantity of containers transported and therefore, increasing the transport costs.
The applicant is aware of document WO 01/44731 (D1), which illustrates a container for refrigerated transport of various products.
The container possesses a chamber intended to be able to contain products to be transported in a refrigerated manner. The chamber is closed by a wall on which a chilling charge is located. The charge consists of carbon dioxide in the form of snow or ice and it is incorporated in a permeable envelope. Moreover, the container comprises a cover to close it.
The aforesaid container does not allow the products contained therein to be held firmly in place during transport. In particular, the chilling charge requires a place in which it can undergo preparation and refrigeration prior to its use. Furthermore, the chilling charge does not allow the temperature inside the container to be monitored and controlled since it is able to provide some refrigeration for the products but it is not possible to calculate for how long and what temperature and, above all, if the temperature obtained remains constant over time and for how long. In addition, the container is not hermetically sealed, which means it is easily opened and therefore there is no guarantee for the end user that the product contained therein will reach destination intact and correctly preserved. Among the other things that have already been highlighted, another problem that has emerged with the previously described containers is due to the need to close the containers with adhesive tape, with subsequent loss of time for a person to do this, costs for materials and the necessity, also in this case, to dispose of the adhesive tape after opening the container.
The systems described above have presented some disadvantages: in fact, the containers are, in the first case, voluminous and cumbersome and, in the second, with a reduced capacity due to the 'gel ice packs' inside, there is a considerable waste of space during transport and a greater use of materials with subsequent production costs, besides the fact that they have encountered numerous problems, above all concerning the maintenance of the necessary temperature for the conservation of the drugs for at least 36 hours.

Disclosure of Invention

The aim of the present invention is substantially to solve the problems posed by the known techniques, overcoming the difficulties described above by realising a container for packaging that is able to maintain a pre-established temperature for long periods of time inside it, without the presence of pollutants and encumbrance and with low final volumetric dimensions and reduced weight.
A second aim of the present invention is to realise a container for packaging that is able to properly hold the products contained inside so that, during transport, they cannot move and become damaged, along with the products contained in them.
A third aim of the present invention is to realise a container for packaging that has an optimal hermetically sealed lid and allows the final user to have the certainty that the container has not been opened during transport.
Another aim of the present invention is to realise a container for packaging and procedure therefor that makes the packaging stages quick and simple and that is able to perfectly accommodate any type of product without losing its characteristics of practicality, sealing and safety. Another aim of the present invention is to make available a simple and practical container for packaging that does not place the packs contained inside in contact with the refrigerating components.
A further aim of the present invention derives from the fact that the container for packaging and its components can be completely re-used or recycled.
The last but not least important aim of the present invention is to realise a container for packaging and procedure therefor that is simple to manufacture and that functions well.
These aims, which will better emerge in the description that follows, will be achieved by a container for packaging and procedure therefor, as claimed hereunder.
Further advantages will be highlighted by the detailed description of a container,for packaging and procedure therefor, according to the present invention, which is made below with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided in the form of non-limiting examples, in which:

figure 1 shows, in schematic form, in axonometric and exploded view, a container for packaging that is the subject of the present invention;
figure 2 shows a lateral section view of the container in figure 1 when not in use;
figure 3 shows a lateral section view of the container in figure 1 when in use;
figure 4 shows a particular detail of the container according to the present invention;
figure 5 shows a particular detail of the container in question;
figure 6 shows a variation of the container according to the present invention,
figure 7 shows, in schematic form, in axonometric and exploded view, another container for packaging that is the subject of the present invention;
figure 8 shows a perspective view of a component of the container in figure 7;
figure 9 shows a lateral section view of the container in figure 7 when in use;
figure 10 shows a particular detail of the container in figure 7 according to the present invention;
figure 11 shows a perspective view of a different component of the container in figure 7;
figure 12 shows a detail of the component in figure 10;
figure 13 shows a section view of the component in figure 10.

With reference to the said figures, and in particular figure 1, with 1 a container for packaging has been indicated overall, according to the present invention that can be used to achieve the packaging process in question and contain drug packs that must be transported maintaining them at a constant temperature for at least 48 hours.
The container 1 is composed of a structure made up of a base wall 2 to which a rear wall 3, a pair of lateral walls 4 and a front wall 5 can be fixed, and a closing element 6.
In particular, the rear wall 3 has, near the upper edge 30, a rear niche 31, the function of which shall be described in detail later. Similarly, each lateral wall 4 is endowed with a groove 41 located near the upper edge 40. As shown in figure 1, each groove 41 has an overhang 42 designed to form a blocking element for the movement of the closing element 6.
According to this embodiment, the front wall 5 is lower in height than the other walls and this space is designed to be occupied by the front portion 60 of the closing element 6.
In greater detail, the closing element 6 has the function of a lid for the structure and is composed of a closing wall 61 that has a first projection 62 located on the rear edge and is designed to be accommodated in the rear niche 31 and a pair of second projections 63 each of which is allocated to the corresponding lateral edge and designed to be accommodated in the corresponding groove 41 respectively.
In addition to what has been described above, each lateral projection 63 has a bevelling 63a near the rear edge to allow better entry and sliding inside the respective groove 41. Furthermore, also the projection 62 has slightly bevelled corners by means of bevelling 62a.
In addition, the closing element 6 on the closing wall 61 is endowed with at least one indentation 64 designed to allow an easy grip of the element itself to allow its movement and sliding for the opening and closing of the lid. In the example of embodiment described and as shown in figure 1, there are two indentations. Likewise, the indentation 64 may be present in the front portion 60.
In the second example of embodiment described and as shown in figure 9, there are two indentations, one located at the front and one at the back, to better facilitate the movement of the covering wall.
Furthermore, on the covering wall 61 of the closing element 6 there are instructions, which are engraved or printed, that indicate the necessary operations to be carried out for the opening and the opening direction of the covering wall.
In accordance with this embodiment, on the upper side of each lateral groove 41 there is a plurality of teeth 45 that serves to couple and bind with the corresponding second teeth 66 located on the upper edge of the projection 63 as shown in figure 4.
In the second embodiment described and as shown in figure 7, on the upper side of each lateral groove 41 there is a plurality of projecting parts 45 that serves to couple and bind with the corresponding slots 66 located on the upper side of the projection 63. The projecting parts and the slots stop the lid from sliding and therefore the container can be opened. A variation has saw teeth to keep the lid equally effective.
As clearly shown in figure 2, the front wall 5 is internally provided with a niche 51, designed to accommodate a plate 7 that in section is a T-shape so that it can be inserted into the niche 51 from top to bottom and cannot come out inside the container.
In greater detail, to the plate 7, a coupling element 8 is attached irremovably, which is designed to block a valve 9, in turn, designed to block an inflatable element 10. As shown in figure 5, the valve 9 is essentially composed of a body 90, which is hollow, with a small opening 91 at one end and binding means 92 at the other end designed to connect to a terminal section 93 of the body 90. In particular, the binding means 92 are composed of a thread or notch coupling.
Inside the body 90 there are closing means 94 designed to rest against the terminal wall of the body in order to obstruct the small opening 91. In particular, between the terminal wall and the closing means 94 there is a small rubber ring 94a for a better seal. Furthermore, to the closing means 94 is connected a thin rope 95 which protrudes from a hole present in the terminal section 93 and is designed to insert into a slit 70 to be held in an eyelet 71 present in the plate 7.
Furthermore, around the thin rope 95 there is a spring 96 designed to rest against the closing means 94 with one end, and against the terminal section 93 with the other end, in order to keep the closing means against the opening 91, closing it.
According to this embodiment, to the body 90 of the valve is attached the inflatable element 10 by means of a joint 97 being of an L-shape in order to be perpendicular to the valve itself, so that the inflatable element 10 may expand easily inside the container in the space to be filled.
In particular, the joint 97 is attached to the valve 9 by means of rapid coupling, for example, bayonet type with a rubber blocking and sealing ring 98 and also the coupling is of a forced type so that the joint is positioned horizontally for the correct expansion of the inflatable element.
In the embodiment described, the inflatable element 10 is composed of a small balloon in expandable material, such as latex or a bag made of plastic. Furthermore, the inflatable element 10 is designed to contain a pre-determined quantity of dry ice 11, as shown in figure 3.
In addition to what has been described above, the front wall 5 is endowed with an opening 52 located near the terminal part of the valve designed to accommodate the thin rope 95 inside, with a possible gripping element such as, for example, a small ring. In greater detail, when closing the container the operator must insert the rope into the opening 52, the mouth of which is then covered by the front portion 60 of the closing element 6 whereas when the container must be opened, to gain access to the rope, at an indicated location, the thin polystyrene membrane must be broken to be able to retrieve the rope that allows the opening of the container, as shall be explained below.
In accordance with the present invention, a variation of the container in question does not have the niche 51 or the plate 7 but the coupling element 8 is directly attached to the inside of the front wall.
A second variation includes a pair of coupling points on the body 90 of the valve that is designed to insert into the front wall 5.
Another variation of the container 1 has the base wall 2 that is endowed with a plurality of very small pyramids, as shown in figure 6, or other projections with different conformations, to create a corrugated floor in order to be able to reduce to a minimum the contact surface of the packs on the floor of the container and keep the packs themselves slightly raised, so allowing good circulation of cold air and allowing the deposition of any condensation on the bottom without it damaging the packs. Likewise, the lateral and rear walls have a plurality of vertical ribs having the same aim as described for the pyramids. In this way the product or the packs do not come into contact the walls of the container as they only touch the points.
The container 1 is preferably produced in polystyrene but can also be produced in polypropylene or in any case any other material with insulating properties. Also the valve is made of anti-impact polystyrene by means of moulding. Furthermore, the container can have a second container inside made of very thin plastic that is impermeable and resistant to corrosion to be inserted into the structure for the transport of particular products or substances.
In addition, the containers can be stacked on top of each other thanks to feet on the base and small depressions on the closing element designed to accommodate the feet of another container in a way that is substantially known.
The container 1 according to the present invention is designed to be operated from when not in use when it is inactive, no products being accommodated in the container, to a first operative state in which there are some products in the container and in the niche 51 is the plate 7 with the valve 9 attached with the inflatable element 10 that contains dry ice, and to a second operative state in which the container is closed by the closing element and the dry ice expands enlarging the inflatable element that fills the remaining empty space inside the container blocking the closing element.
In accordance with the present invention, in the container shown in figures 7 to 13 besides the previously described characteristics, it is highlighted that the front wall 5, the rear wall 3 and the lateral walls 4 inside them have a plurality of vertical ribs 3a, 4a and 5a or other projections with different conformations, so that they create a corrugated wall in order to be able to reduce to a minimum the contact surface of the packs on the walls of the container and keep the packs slightly apart from each other allowing good circulation of cold air. In particular, the vertical ribs 3a, 4a and 5a at a certain point are interrupted creating a well 8, the function of which shall be described below.
According to this embodiment, the front wall 5 is provided with a recess 51, as clearly shown in figure 7, endowed with an opening designed to accommodate a valve 9 to which is attached an inflatable element 10. As shown in figure 12, the valve 9 is essentially composed of a body 90 endowed with an edge 91 designed to rest against the recess 51.
The body 90 of the valve is hollow with a diameter that can easily allow the passage of small cylinders of dry ice. Furthermore, the body 90 has at least one discharge hole 95 and a pair of housings 96 near the edge 91 designed to create a joint as shall be described below. In particular, the body 90 with the inflatable element 10 is inserted irremovably into the opening of the recess 51 of the container. In addition, the body 90 is endowed with a rubber ring that seals it to the container and functions as a barrier against any release of cold air from the container through the opening.
In the embodiment described, the body 90 of the valve has a configuration in sectors with at least three cylindrical portions 90a, 90b and 90c, each of which are endowed with a diameter that is smaller than the previous one.
The valve 9 has, inside the body 90, an internal unit 92 that serves as an insulating chamber and is basically composed of a first cylindrical section 92a and a second section 92b which is also cylindrical but with a smaller diameter. Between the first 92a and the second section 92b the unit 92 is composed of a rubber sealing ring 93 designed to rest against the upper edge of the second cylindrical portion 90b in order to remove any possibility of contact between the body 90 and the internal unit 92 so making the valve hermetic.
The internal unit 92 is hollow and functions as an air chamber that insulates, so as not to let cold air pass out of the container or warm air inside.
In addition to what has been described above, the internal unit 92 at the top has a small groove 94 and two overhangs 94a diametrically opposed to each other that are designed to insert respectively into the housings 96 and attach to the body 90 the internal unit 92.
In particular, the internal unit 92 at the bottom has a first projection 92c in the centre of which is a second projection 92d. Each projection is designed to attach to a corresponding spring: 21 and 22 respectively. Finally, the internal unit 92, also at the bottom has a pair of small fixing brackets 92e designed to engage a first shutter 97 inside which there is a cylindrical housing 97a designed to hold a second shutter 98 which is hollow and houses the spring 22 inside it. The second shutter 98 is externally endowed with a rubber sealing ring 98a designed to rest against the edge of the cylindrical housing 97a. Likewise, the first shutter 97 is endowed with a rubber sealing ring 97b designed to rest against the upper edge of the third cylindrical portion 90c in order to remove also in this sector any possibility of contact between the body and the internal unit.
In addition to what has been described above, in the first shutter 97 the space present between the external wall and the cylindrical housing 97a is occupied by the spring 21 the other end of which rests against the lower edge of the second section 92b engaging into the first projection 92e. According to this embodiment, to the third portion 90c of the body of the valve 9 is engaged the inflatable element 10 that is composed of a small balloon or other in expandable material such as, for example, latex or plastic. Furthermore, as shown in figure 9, the inflatable element 10 is designed to hold a pre-determined quantity of dry ice 11 that is pre-measured depending on the dimensions of the container and the desired refrigeration time.
In accordance with the present invention, the container 1 includes a diaphragm 12 that is basically composed of a plate 12a endowed with a lateral edge 12b that has corners cut to 45° so that the edge portions can be slightly widened towards the outside, as shown in figure 8. In particular, the external lateral surfaces of both the upper wall 12a and the lateral edge 12b may have an undulated profile so as to create a plurality of small vertical canals while the upper surface of the wall 12a has at least one indentation 12c to be able to move the diaphragm inside the container and extract it from the well 8.
In fact, the diaphragm 12 is designed to close the well 8 inside which the inflatable element 10 is housed.
In addition, the thickness of the upper wall 12a depends on the refrigeration time that is desired, in fact, the greater the thickness the longer the container maintains the desired refrigeration temperature. In more detail, with a greater thickness better insulation of the well is achieved so the dry ice contained in the inflatable element 10 sublimates more slowly and, as a result, the source of cold air lasts longer.
In addition to what has been described above, during the initial phase there is greater insulation, then, with the sublimation of the dry ice and the expansion of the inflatable element 10 the diaphragm 12 tends to lift up but the further expansion of the inflatable element 10 causes the edge portions 12b to move towards the outside which then exercise a certain friction force against the walls of the container. In this way there is better closure of the cold air passage canals between the cold area of the well and the area in which the packs to be kept refrigerated are located. Furthermore, the higher the edge 12b the better the sliding movement of the diaphragm 12 inside the container.
As previously mentioned, the second shutter 98 is joined to the internal unit 92 by the spring 22 which is set at a pre-established pressure that allows the balloon to inflate and the diaphragm 12 to lift up before allowing the second shutter 98 to lift up and let the gas produced by the sublimation of the dry ice to escape reducing the pressure inside the balloon. Likewise, the first shutter 97 can move in turn and let the gas from the balloon escape but in this case the spring 21 is set to a higher pressure compared to the spring 22 so if the second shutter does not work the first one intervenes. The gas that is released from the balloon escapes from the valve through the holes 95 of which there are four in the present embodiment.
In more detail, any gas that escapes from the balloon and then from the valve stays inside the well 8 and is not released outside the container.
The container for packaging according the present invention includes a foam septum 13 that is designed to be placed on top of the packs, as shown in figure 9, in order to create a protective cushion for the packs that absorbs the pushing force from the diaphragm and absorbs any condensation formed inside the container so that the packs remain in perfect condition.
A variation of the container 1 involves the upper surface of the diaphragm 12 being provided with a plurality of very small pyramids or other projections with different conformations so as to create a corrugated base in order to be able to reduce to a minimum the contact surface of the packs on the surface of the diaphragm and keep them slightly raised so allowing good circulation of cold air and allowing the deposition of any condensation on the surface without being able to damage the packs. Likewise and as already mentioned, the vertical walls have a plurality of vertical ribs that have the same aims as described for the pyramids. In this way the product or the packs do not come into contact with the walls of the container as they only touch the points.
Also in this case, the container 1 is preferably produced in polystyrene but can also be produced in polypropylene or in any case any other material with insulating properties.
In particular, the container has a valve sealing film near the recess 51 for which the container can be ensured to be safe as the final user has the guarantee that the container has not been opened or tampered with.
In addition, the container may be endowed with a label complete with a code with which all the movements of the container can be followed.
Furthermore, as already mentioned, the containers can be stacked on top of each other thanks to feet 18 on the base and small depressions 19 on the closing element designed to accommodate the feet of another container in a way that is substantially known.
Also in accordance with the present invention, to further insulate the base of the well from loss of cold air to the outside and towards the base, the container 1 has a base that reflects the cold upwards. The base is produced in aluminium or any other material that meets the said requirement. In addition, under the base there can be a foundation composed of a small air chamber that creates further insulation.
In addition to what has been described above, valve 9 is produced in plastic by means of moulding.
A further variation of the container in question involves the diaphragm being positioned above the drug packs that are placed at the bottom of the container after having positioned the foam septum. In this case, the inflatable element on expanding exercises a pushing action on the diaphragm towards the bottom in this way holding the packs still and, at the same time, it pushes upwards and keeps the closing element blocked. The functioning principle is more or less the same the only difference being that the valve is placed at the top near the lid.
The container 1, according to the present invention, is designed to be operated from when not in use when it is inactive, no products being accommodated in the container, to a first operative state in which the container, after the introduction of the packs on top of the diaphragm and the foam septum, is closed using the closing element, in the inflatable element, through the body of the valve, dry ice cylinders are inserted and in the body the internal unit 92 with the overhangs 94a are inserted, which slot together in the housings 96 and to a second operative state in which the dry ice sublimates enlarging the inflatable element that fills the remaining empty space inside the well, making the diaphragm lift up blocking the packs and the closing element.
A different embodiment could involve the use of another simpler valve structure, which may already be present on the market and would therefore probably be less expensive than the ones described. In fact, the valve necessary for the container must be able to easily release the gas contained in the inflatable element. An example: a uni-directional type valve or a "clapét" valve could be used which are substantially known. After what has been described from a main structural viewpoint, there will now follow a description of the functioning of the present invention.
When transporting products that need to be maintained at a certain temperature and for a certain number of hours such as, drugs for example, a user only has to take the container structure and place the drugs inside. When this has been carried out, the user must take a plate 7 to which a valve 9 is attached and apply an inflatable element 10 that contains a certain amount of dry ice depending on the temperature that must be obtained and the time for which the products must be maintained at such a temperature, and insert it in the corresponding niche, passing the thin rope through a slit located on the front wall 5, and inserting it into the opening 52.
Then the operator just has to close the container by positioning the closing element so that the lateral projections slide into the corresponding grooves until coming up against the blocking element composed of the overhang 42 and the rear projection being housed in the related groove 31. Once the packaging of the products has been completed, the container is basically ready to be transported as the dry ice has already started to sublimate, transforming into gas that inflates the inflatable element which will then occupy all the spaces that are still empty inside the container, as shown in figure 3.
The sublimation of the ice also serves to maintain inside the container a temperature range that allows the perfect conservation of the drugs contained in it for many hours.
If the pressure, exercised by the gas produced from the sublimation of the dry ice, should exceed a pre-established level, the valve is activated releasing some of the gas produced from the inflatable element and letting it escape inside the container. To activate the valve, it is sufficient that the pressure of the gas produced, present in the inflatable element, overcomes the resistance of the spring making the closing elements move to open the small opening 91 and let the gas escape from the hole provided in the terminal section 93.
When a user wishes to open the container, it is sufficient to break the thin polystyrene membrane to gain access to the opening present in the front wall and take the rope and pull it so that some of the gas escapes from the inflatable element in order to reduce the dimensions and remove the force that it exercises on the covering wall 61 keeping the lid blocked. In this way, the teeth 45 and 66 that were held together by the pushing force from above caused by the inflatable element creating an obstacle to the sliding of the closing element, are free and it is possible to take off the closing element and gain access to the inside of the container and the drugs.
In particular, the container is supplied already provided with the valve attached to the internal front wall so the operator, after having placed the products inside the structure, only has to attach to the body of the valve the joint with the inflatable clement that has been previously prepared with the dry ice inside. When the inflatable element is attached to the valve, the said inflatable element starts to expand, as the gas produced by the dry ice is no longer released into the environment.
In the case of the second container, a user only has to place the drug packs into a container, placing them on top of the diaphragm and, once this has been carried out, place the foam septum on top of the packs and close the container by positioning the closing element so that the lateral projections slide into the corresponding grooves until resting against the rear wall and the rear projection is housed in the relative groove 31.
In this way, the projecting parts 45 and the slots 66 engage reciprocally creating some friction that stops the lid from sliding and the container from being opened.
Then the operator just has to take the container structure, position it with the front wall facing upwards and insert the dry ice, through the body of the valve, so that it enters the inflatable element.
Once this has been completed, the internal unit must be inserted into the body of the valve, the groove rotated until the overhangs on the unit insert into the housings of the valve body and pressing slightly downwards rotate the groove further until the overhangs cannot be moved.
Once the products have been packaged, the container is basically ready for transport as the dry ice has already started to sublimate, transforming into gas that inflates the inflatable element which then occupies all the space inside the well and, once this space has been occupied, starts to lift up the diaphragm, the edges of which enlarging under the pushing force from the inflatable element create friction against the vertical walls reducing the space available.
The sublimation of the dry ice serves, other than to make the diaphragm lift up, to keep the packs in position and maintain a basically constant temperature inside the container to allow a perfect conservation of the drugs contained for the necessary time.
If the pressure, caused by the gas produced from the sublimation of the dry ice, should exceed a pre-established level, the valve is activated releasing some of the gas produced from the inflatable element and letting it escape into the well. To activate the valve, it is sufficient that the pressure of the gas produced, present in the inflatable element, overcomes the resistance of the spring 22 making the second shutter move to open the passage between the first and the second shutter and let the gas escape from the holes 95 in the well. Likewise, if a different type of valve should be present, the gas can still be released in the way provided for by the type of valve present.
When a user wishes to open the container, they just have to break the film that seals the recess 51 placed to protect the valve to gain access to the groove. It is then sufficient to remove the internal unit of the valve and release some of the gas from the inflatable element in order to reduce its dimensions and remove the force that it exercised on the diaphragm and the covering wall 61 keeping the lid closed. In this way, the projecting parts 45 and the slots 66 that were bound to each other due to the upwards pushing force caused by the inflatable element, creating an obstacle to the sliding of the closing element, are free and it is possible to remove the closing element and gain access to the inside of the container and the drugs.
In particular, the container is supplied already provided with the valve body attached to the internal front wall so the operator, after having placed the products inside the structure, only has to insert the dry ice and couple the internal unit with the valve body.
The present invention therefore achieves the proposed aims.
In fact, the container for packaging in question is able to maintain a constant and pre-established temperature range inside it for long periods.
In fact, the presence of the dry ice, starting from 83° C allows much lower temperatures to be obtained, compared to the use of the 'gel ice packs' of the commonly known systems or for much longer periods of safety with much higher safety margins (up to 48 hours with temperatures from 2° to 8° Centigrade). In particular, the duration of the temperature depends solely on the quantity of dry ice inserted into the inflatable element.
Furthermore, the container has a low voluminous encumbrance and reduced weight compared to the commonly known containers. Advantageously, the container according to the present invention using the inflatable element allows, through the expansion of the gas, to provide for three requirements at the same time: cooling to maintain a constant temperature range and for a certain time period such that to conserve the container contents in the optimal way, filling the remaining space inside the container in order to keep the products inside still and blocking the closing element thereby avoiding the need for the presence and use of adhesive tape.
In addition, the internal blocking of the closing element offers the final user the possibility to check that during transport operations the container has not been tampered with or opened with the risk of damage to the products contained inside or theft and that it has arrived at its destination in the same conditions in which it left, provided that the polystyrene membrane that closes the opening or the valve protective film is intact. The fact that the polystyrene membrane on the front wall, near the opening, or that the valve protective film on the front wall, near the recess, are intact, during transport, is tantamount to having a safety guarantee seal as this guarantees that the container has not been opened. Furthermore, the inflatable element may have writing or slogans on it to act as an advertising medium.
In particular, the container for packaging can be prepared by unskilled operators quickly and efficiently, unlike the commonly known techniques. Furthermore, with the packaging procedure according to the present invention it is possible to prepare the containers quickly and easily and without the necessity to prepare the coolants many hours beforehand, as for the 'gel ice packs', or have equipment available to fill the air cushions.
In addition to what has already been said, the container is very versatile and can be adapted perfectly to any type of product to be conserved and transported without losing its practical characteristics.
A further advantage of this container is due to the fact that it has low production costs and can be completely re-used or recycled with considerable savings in terms of disposal of pollutants, unlike with the commonly known containers. In particular, the plate and valve can be completely re-used and the container can be retrieved and transformed so there are no materials to be disposed of with subsequent savings in management costs.
Furthermore, the container according to the present invention, has smaller dimensions so it is less cumbersome and heavy, and so allows savings in transport costs, as a higher number of containers can be loaded onto a lorry.
The last but not least important advantage of the present invention is that it is extremely easy to use, simple to produce and functions well.
Of course, many modifications and variations can be made to the present invention, without falling outside the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

Container for packaging comprising a containment structure substantially composed of a base wall (2) to which a rear wall (3), a pair of lateral walls (4) and a front wall (5) are fixed, and a closing element (6) characterised by the fact that to the front wall (5) a valve (9) is engaged that, in turn, is connected to an inflatable element (10) designed to contain dry ice (11), the said container being designed to be operated from when not in use when it is inactive, no products being accommodated in the container, to a first operative state in which there are some products in the container and in the front wall (5) there is the valve (9) with the inflatable element (10) and to a second operative state in which the container is closed by the closing element and the dry ice expands enlarging the inflatable element that fills the remaining empty space inside the container blocking the closing element.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said system has a well (8) that is closed by a diaphragm (12) on which the packs of products are placed to be transported which are in turn covered by a foam septum (13) and that the said valve (9) is basically composed of a body (90) inside which an internal unit (92) is inserted to which a first shutter (97) is attached inside which a second shutter (98) is housed.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the body (90) of the valve (9) is hollow with a diameter that allows small cylinders of dry ice to be passed through, the said body (90) having a configuration with sectors with at least three cylindrical portions (90a, 90b and 90c) each of which is endowed with a smaller diameter than the previous one.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said internal unit (92) is basically composed of a first cylindrical section (92a) and a second cylindrical section (92b) but which has a smaller diameter than the first and between the first (92a) and the second section (92b) there is rubber sealing ring (93) designed to rest against the upper edge of the second cylindrical portion (90b) removing any possibility of contact between the body (90) and the internal unit (92), thereby making the valve hermetic.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said internal unit (92) is hollow and functions as an air chamber that insulates so as not to let cold air pass out of the container or warm air inside.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said internal unit (92) at the top has a small groove (94) and two overhangs (94a) diametrically opposed to each other that are designed to insert respectively into the housings (96) and engage to the body (90) the internal unit (92).
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said internal unit (92), at the bottom, has a first projection (92c) in the centre of which is a second projection (92d) and each projection is designed to engage to a corresponding spring (21 and 22).
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said internal unit (92), at the bottom, has a pair of small fixing brackets (92e) designed to engage the first shutter (97) inside which there is a cylindrical housing (97a) designed to hold the second shutter (98) which is hollow and houses the spring (22) inside it.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said second shutter (98) is externally endowed with a rubber sealing ring (98a) designed to rest against the edge of the cylindrical housing (97a) and the said first shutter (97) is endowed with a rubber sealing ring (97b) designed to rest against the upper edge of the third cylindrical portion (90c) in order to remove, also in this sector, any possibility of contact between the body and the internal unit.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that in the first shutter (97), the space present between the external wall and the cylindrical housing (97a) is occupied by the spring (21) the other end of which rests against the lower edge of the second section (92b) thereby engaging into the first projection (92e).
Container for packaging according to claim 2, characterised by the fact that the inflatable element (10) is attached the to the third portion (90c) of the body of the valve (9).
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said diaphragm (12) is essentially composed of a plate (12a) endowed with a lateral edge (12b) that has corners cut to 45° so that the edge portions can be slightly widened towards the outside.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said diaphragm (12) comprises the lateral external surfaces of the upper wall (12a) and the lateral edge (12b) with an undulated profile so as to create a plurality of small vertical canals and the upper surface of the wall (12a) has at least one indentation (12c) to be able to move the diaphragm inside the container and extract it from the well (8).
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said inflatable element (10) is designed to hold a pre-determined quantity of dry ice (11) that is pre-measured depending on the dimensions of the container and the desired refrigeration time.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said body (90) of the valve (9) is endowed with an edge (91) designed to rest against a recess (51) present in the front wall (5).
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said body (90) of the valve (9) has at least one discharge hole (95) and a pair of housings (96) near the edge (91) designed to create a housing.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said body (90) to which the inflatable element (10) is engaged is inserted irremovably into an opening present in the recess (51).
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said body (90) is endowed with a rubber ring that seals it to the container and functions as a barrier against any release of cold air from the container through the opening.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said second shutter (98) is joined to the internal unit (92) by the spring (22) which is set at a pre-established pressure that allows the inflatable element to inflate and the diaphragm (12) to lift up before allowing the second shutter (98) to lift up and let the gas produced by the sublimation of the dry ice to escape, thereby reducing the pressure inside the inflatable element.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said first shutter (97) can move and let the gas escape from the inflatable element, overcoming the resistance of the spring (21) that is set to a higher pressure compared to the spring (22).
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the gas that escapes from the inflatable element is released from the valve through the 4 holes (95), the said gas remaining inside the well (8).
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said foam septum (13) is designed to be placed on top of the packs to create a protective cushion for the packs, absorb the pushing force from the diaphragm and absorb any condensation formed inside the container.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said rear wall (3), near the upper edge (30), has a rear groove (31).
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that each lateral wall (4) is endowed with a groove (41) located near its upper edge (40).
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said front wall (5) is lower in height than the other walls (3 and 4) and this space is designed to be occupied by the front portion (60) of the closing element (6).
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said closing element (6) has the function of a lid for the containing structure and is composed of a covering wall (61) that respectively has a first projection (62) located on the rear edge and designed to be accommodated in the rear groove (31) and a pair of second projections (63) each of which is allocated to the corresponding lateral edge and designed to be accommodated in the corresponding groove (41).
Container for packaging according to claim 26, characterised by the fact that each lateral projection (63) has a bevelling (63a) near the rear edge to allow better entry and sliding inside the respective groove (41).
Container for packaging according to claim 26, characterised by the fact that the said projection (62) has bevelled corners (62a).
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said closing element (6) on the closing wall (61) is endowed with at least one indentation (64) designed to allow an easy grip of the element itself to allow its movement and sliding for the opening and closing of the lid.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said closing element (6), in the front portion (60), is endowed with two indentations (64).
Container for packaging according to claim 24, characterised by the fact that on the upper side of each lateral groove (41) there is a plurality of first teeth (45).
Container for packaging according to claim 26, characterised by the fact that on the upper side of each projection (63) there is a plurality of second teeth (66) that serves to couple and bind with the corresponding first teeth (45).
Container for packaging according to claim 24, characterised by the fact that on the upper side of each lateral groove (41) there is a plurality of projecting parts (45).
Container for packaging according to claim 26, characterised by the fact that on the upper side of each projection (63) there is a plurality of slots (66) that serves to couple and bind with the projecting parts (45).
Container for packaging according to claim 24, characterised by the fact that on the upper side of each lateral groove (41) there is a plurality of saw teeth (45) arranged to engage with the corresponding teeth (66) located on the upper side of each projection (63).
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the valve (9) is basically composed of a body (90), that is hollow, with a small opening (91) at one end and binding means (92) at the other end designed to connect to a terminal section (93) of the body (90) inside which there are closing means (94) designed to rest against the terminal wall of the body in order to obstruct the small opening (91) and to which a thin rope (95) is connected which protrudes from a hole present in the terminal section (93).
Container for packaging according to claim 36, characterised by the fact that around the said thin rope (95) there is a spring (96) designed to rest against the closing means (94) with one end, and against the terminal section (93) with the other end, in order to keep the closing means against the opening (91) closing it.
Container for packaging according to claim 24, characterised by the fact that the said groove (41) has an overhang (42) designed to form a blocking element for the movement of the closing element (6).
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said front wall (5) is endowed with a recess (51), endowed with an opening designed to accommodate the valve (9).
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said front wall (5) is internally provided with a niche (51) designed to accommodate a plate (7) which in section is a substantially T-shape so it can be inserted into the niche (51) from top to bottom and cannot come out inside the container.
Container for packaging according to claim 40, characterised by the fact that to the plate (7), a coupling element (8) is attached which is designed to block the valve (9) and the inflatable element (10).
Container for packaging according to claim 37, characterised by the fact that between the terminal wall (93) and the closing means (94) there is a small rubber ring (94a) for a better seal.
Container for packaging according to claim 37, characterised by the fact that to the body (90) of the valve is attached a joint (97) being an L-shape in order to be perpendicular to the valve itself and allow the inflatable element 10 engaged to said joint (97) to expand easily inside the container.
Container for packaging according to claim 43, characterised by the fact that the said joint (97) is attached to the valve (9) by means of rapid coupling of a forced type so that the joint is positioned horizontally.
Container for packaging according to claim 43, characterised by the fact that the said joint (97) comprises a rubber blocking and sealing ring (98).
Container for packaging according to claim 36, characterised by the fact that the said binding means (92) are composed of a thread or notch coupling.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said inflatable element (10) is composed of a small balloon or other in expandable material such as, for example, latex or plastic or a bag made of plastic.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said front wall (5) is endowed with an opening (52) located near the terminal part of the valve designed to accommodate the thin rope (95) inside with a possible gripping element such as, for example, a small ring.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the coupling element (8) is directly attached internally to the front wall.
Container for packaging according to claim 36, characterised by the fact that on the body (90) of the valve there is a pair of coupling points designed to insert into the front wall (5).
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the surface of the said diaphragm (12) is endowed with a plurality of very small pyramids or other projections with different conformations to create a corrugated floor, in order to be able to reduce to a minimum the contact surface of the packs on the surface of the diaphragm and keep them slightly raised so allowing good circulation of cold air.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the front wall (5), the rear wall (3) and the lateral walls (4) have a plurality of vertical ribs (3a, 4a and 5a) or other protrusions with different configurations, to create a corrugated wall to reduce to a minimum the contact surface of the packs.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the base (2) is endowed with a plurality of very small pyramids or other projections with different conformations to create a corrugated floor in order to be able to reduce to a minimum the contact surface of the packs on the floor of the container.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that it is preferably produced in polystyrene but also in polypropylene or in any case in any other material with insulating properties.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the valve is made of anti-impact polystyrene by means of moulding.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the valve is made of plastic by means of moulding.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said container comprises a valve sealing film near the recess (51) that for the final user functions as a guarantee that the container has not been opened or tampered with.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said system comprises a base that reflects the cold upwards to further insulate the floor of the well from loss of cold air to the outside and towards the bottom.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said base is produced in aluminium or any other material that meets the requirement of reflecting the cold.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that under the base there can be a foundation composed of a small air chamber that creates further insulation.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that it is internally provided with a second container made of very thin plastic that is impermeable and resistant to corrosion to be inserted into the structure for the transport of particular products of substances.
Container for packaging according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the diaphragm is positioned on top of the product packs which are placed at the bottom of the container after having positioned the foam septum so that the inflatable element, on expanding, exercises a pushing action on the diaphragm towards the bottom in this way holding the packs still and, at the same time, pushes upwards and keeps the closing element blocked.
Procedure for packaging using the container of claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said procedure comprises the following operational phases:
- Positioning, inside the containment structure, of one or more objects to package and transport;

- Coupling of a joint to the body of the valve (9);

- Start of the expansion of the inflatable element (10) for the sublimation of the dry ice contained in it;

- Sliding of the closing element (6) in grooves (41) of the containment structure and closure of the container;

- Expansion of the inflatable element and filling of the remaining space inside the container;

- Blocking of the closing element with reciprocal coupling of a plurality of teeth (45, 66) present on projections (63) of the closing element and in said grooves (41);

- Maintenance of a pre-established temperature range by means of the sublimation of the dry ice.
Procedure for packaging according to claim 63, characterised by the fact that the said procedure comprises a valve discharge phase if the pressure of the gas produced by the sublimation of the dry ice is above a pre-determined level.
Procedure for packaging according to claim 63, characterised by the fact that the said procedure comprises, between the phases of the start of the expansion of the inflatable element and the closure of the container, the insertion of the thin rope into the opening of the container.
Procedure for packaging according to claim 63, characterised by the fact that for the opening of the container the following phases are provided for:
- Breaking at a pre-determined point of a protective membrane of the opening present on the front wall of container;

- Freeing of the valve;

- Release, into the container, of the gas present in the inflatable element with the freeing of the closing element;

- Reciprocal unbinding of the teeth;

- Opening of the closing element by means of sliding in the grooves.
Procedure for packaging according to claim 63, characterised by the fact that for the opening of the container the further following phases are provided for:
- Extraction of the thin rope that has been inserted into the opening;

- Freeing of the small opening present in the body of the valve by pulling the thin rope that causes the closing means to move.