EP3828100B1 - Stopper for a container - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a stopper for a container, in particular a stopper for containers that are used in the field of analysis and diagnostics. The container can in particular be a bottle or a cuvette. In order to analyze a substance, in particular a liquid such as blood, it is necessary to remove the substance to be analyzed from the container or to add other substances to the container. Depending on the analysis to be carried out, only a partial amount of the substance stored in the container may be removed and fed to the analysis or to the analysis device. It can also be the case that, for the purpose of analysis, substance is repeatedly removed from the container or substances are supplied repeatedly. As a rule, the substance to be analyzed is removed from the container by means of a pipetting device or a syringe, or other substances are added to the container. The process of removing the substance from the container can be automated, for example by means of an automatic pipette. With regard to the substance to be analyzed, it is necessary, in particular with regard to multiple removal or multiple supply of substance from or into the container, for evaporation or evaporation of the substance in the container contained substance as well as the ingress of foreign bodies into the container and thus into the substance to be analyzed. It is therefore necessary to at least partially cover or close the opening of the container and still allow the substance to be removed easily from the container.

For this purpose it is known to cover the container with a thin membrane, the membrane being slit so that it can be easily penetrated by the sampling device, for example a pipette tip or cannula. The production of such covers usually requires subsequent slitting of the membrane, which requires an additional operation or correspondingly complicated tools. Such a membrane can, for example, be part of a screw cap that is screwed onto the container. However, handling and production are complex, since different materials usually have to be used for the membrane and the rest of the cover. In addition, the membrane has to be slotted and connected to the lid in an additional work step.

From the EP 0 097 591 A1 a stopper for a container is also known, which has a cover section which can be penetrated by means of a pipette tip, for the purpose of supplying or removing substance into or from the container. The cover section has a plurality of slits on a front end in the direction of insertion of the stopper, thus facing the interior of the container, as a result of which segments are formed. In a basic state, the segments rest against one another and form a closed covering section. The slits allow the pipette tip to penetrate the cover section axially, with the segments being deformed radially outwards for this purpose. The segments are prestressed in such a way that after the pipette tip has been pulled out of the cover section, the segments return to their basic state and thus close the container opening again. A disadvantage of the from the EP 0 097 591 A1 known plug is, on the one hand, that when the plug is inserted, undesired deformation of the segments can occur due to the interaction of the plug with a container wall. In addition, production of the stopper is complex due to the slitting to be made. In addition, there is Force on the cover section the risk of changing the position of the plug in the container.

The EP 3 333 096 A1 discloses a two-piece stopper, the stopper having a stopper body and a sealing body, the sealing body being insertable into the stopper body.

The FR 892 608 A relates to a cork for sealing bottles.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a stopper for a container which reliably prevents substance from evaporating from a container or foreign bodies from penetrating into the container and which nevertheless makes it easy to supply substance to the container or remove substance from it container allows. In addition, the stopper should be particularly easy to produce, in particular by means of an injection molding process. In particular, the stopper should be manufacturable without subsequent slitting.

This object is achieved by a stopper having the features of patent claim 1.

The stopper according to the invention has a jacket section which can be inserted into the container, the jacket section having a through-opening formed in an axial direction. The stopper has at least two segments, with each segment having a free end. A first section of the free end of the respective segment forms a partial area of the casing section and a second section of the free end of the respective segment protrudes radially inwards with respect to the casing section. A third section of the free end of the respective segment protrudes radially outwards with respect to the casing section. The second sections form a covering section that can be penetrated in the axial direction and closes the through-opening, and the third sections form an abutment section of the stopper.

Since the respective segment has a free end, the segments can be deformed or moved independently of one another in the area of the free ends. In particular, the second sections of the free end of the respective segment can be deformed independently of the second sections of the free ends of the other segments, making it possible to penetrate the cover section axially, for example by means of a pipette tip or a needle or another removal element/supply element.

Because the third sections protrude radially outwards from the jacket section and form a contact section of the stopper, the stopper can be positioned with respect to the container in a simple manner, since the contact section forms a stop when the stopper is inserted into the container of the stopper in the container comes to rest against a container edge surrounding a container opening in the axial direction and in this respect prevents further insertion of the stopper into the container or limits the insertion depth. The contact section is also advantageous with regard to penetration of the cover section by means of an external device, for example a pipette tip, since an axial force must be exerted on the cover section when penetrating. The abutment section prevents the stopper from being inserted further into the container and thus ensures reliable penetration of the cover section.

With regard to the second sections, it is considered particularly advantageous if the second sections can be deformed independently of the other sections of the respective segment.

It is considered advantageous if the second sections have a lower material thickness than the third sections. This favors deformation of the second sections when an axial force acts on the cover section compared to deformation of the contact section.

It is considered advantageous if the cover section is formed on a rear end of the casing section in the direction of insertion of the plug. This prevents foreign bodies from accumulating in a region of the through-opening on the casing section that faces away from the interior of the container and getting into the interior of the container if the cover section is pierced.

The segments are preferably connected to adjacent segments at the ends of the segments.

It is considered to be particularly advantageous if the segments are connected to one another in the region of an end of the casing section which is remote from the contact section are connected. In this respect, the segments are connected to one another in the region of a front end of the casing section in the insertion direction of the plug.

The area of the casing section in which the segments are connected to one another is preferably designed as an annular, closed structure. This ensures a particularly high level of stability of the connection between the segments and the plug as a whole. A closed ring-shaped structure is also considered to be advantageous in particular with regard to ejection of the stopper from an injection molding tool.

The segments are preferably designed in the manner of webs.

In a preferred development, it is provided that the jacket section has a region with a cross section that widens in the direction of the contact section, or the jacket section has a cross section that widens in the direction of the contact section. It is considered to be particularly advantageous if the widening is conical. Due to the widening cross section, a radial inward deformation of the free end of the respective segment is promoted when the stopper is inserted into the container. Because of the radially inward deformation, a particularly good sealing of the container opening is achieved and a frictional connection between the stopper and a container wall is also effected, as a result of which the stopper is held particularly securely in the container.

The cover section and/or the contact section are preferably formed at the end of the casing section.

It is considered particularly advantageous if the cover section and the contact section are formed in the same plane.

The cover section and/or the contact section are preferably formed perpendicular to the axial direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the cover section and/or the contact section are formed on a rear end of the jacket section in the direction of insertion of the stopper.

It is considered advantageous if a ratio of an axial extension of the first section of the segments to an axial extension of the jacket section is at least 80 percent. With such a length ratio, a relatively large radial inward displacement of the end of the segment facing away from the connection area can be achieved with relatively low bending forces in the connection area between the segment and the remaining jacket section. This has an advantageous effect on the non-destructive deformation of the segments.

It is considered particularly advantageous if the free ends of adjacent segments are spaced apart from one another in a basic state of the plug. In the present case, the basic state is understood to mean a state of the plug without the action of external forces.

In a preferred embodiment it is provided that a minimum distance between adjacent segments is at least 0.8 mm, in particular at least 1.0 mm. These distances are advantageous with regard to the manufacture of the stopper by means of an injection molding process.

The plug is preferably radially symmetrical.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the respective segment is designed as a partial area of a body of revolution, with an axis of rotation assignable to the body of revolution of the respective segment running outside of an axis of symmetry of the plug. The respective axis of rotation preferably runs outside and parallel to the axis of symmetry of the stopper. This embodiment has the advantage that, when the segments are deformed radially inwards, partial areas of the segments, in particular the second and third areas of the segments, form a closed, rotationally symmetrical body, as a result of which a particularly good sealing effect of the plug is achieved.

In a preferred embodiment, the stopper has at least three segments, preferably at least four segments, in particular at least six segments. The force to be applied for the purpose of penetrating the cover section can be adjusted in a simple manner by the number of segments. The more segments the plug has, the lower the force to be applied.

It is considered particularly advantageous if the segments are deformed radially inwards, preferably elastically, when the stopper is inserted into the container.

In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the second sections form a closed surface when the segments are deformed radially inwards.

It is considered particularly advantageous if the stopper is designed in one piece.

The segments, in particular the entire stopper, are preferably made of an elastic material. The material can be, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer, for example polyethylene.

It is considered particularly advantageous if the second sections form circular sectors of a circle in a plan view in the axial direction. Furthermore, it is considered advantageous if the third sections form circular ring sectors of a circular ring in a plan view in the axial direction.

In a preferred further development it is provided that in a cross-section of the jacket section in the connection area of the segments the respective segment forms an arc of a circle.

It is entirely conceivable to use the stopper in combination with a lid that can be connected to the container. For this purpose, the lid has an opening for access to the cover portion, the lid securing the stopper against being pulled out of the container.

character description

The invention is described in more detail in the following figures on the basis of three preferred embodiments, without being restricted thereto.

Fig. 1

eine Anordnung von einem Behälter und einer ersten Ausführungsform des Stopfens in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,

Fig. 2

die Anordnung gemäß Fig. 1 in einer Draufsicht gemäß dem Pfeil II in Fig. 3,

Fig. 3

die Anordnung in einer Schnittansicht gemäß der Linie III-III in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

der Stopfen gemäß Fig. 1 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,

Fig. 5

der Stopfen gemäß Fig. 4 in einer Ansicht gemäß dem Pfeil V in Fig. 6,

Fig. 6

der Stopfen in einer Ansicht gemäß dem Pfeil VI in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7

der Stopfen in einer Ansicht gemäß dem Pfeil VII in Fig. 5,

Fig. 8

eine zweite Ausführungsform des Stopfens in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,

Fig. 9

der Stopfen gemäß Fig. 8 in einer Ansicht gemäß dem Pfeil IX in Fig. 10,

Fig. 10

der Stopfen in einer Ansicht gemäß dem Pfeil X in Fig. 9,

Fig. 11

der Stopfen in einer Ansicht gemäß dem Pfeil XI in Fig. 9,

Fig. 12

eine Schnittansicht des Stopfens gemäß der Linie XII-XII in Fig. 11,

Fig. 13

eine dritte Ausführungsform des Stopfens in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,

Fig. 14

der Stopfen gemäß Fig. 13 in einer Ansicht gemäß dem Pfeil XIV in Fig. 15,

Fig. 15

der Stopfen in einer Ansicht gemäß dem Pfeil XV in Fig. 14,

Fig. 16

der Stopfen in einer Ansicht gemäß dem Pfeil XVI in Fig. 14.

Show it:

1

an arrangement of a container and a first embodiment of the stopper in a perspective view,

2

the arrangement according to 1 in a plan view according to the arrow II in 3 ,

3

the arrangement in a sectional view along the line III-III in 2 ,

4

the stopper according to 1 in a perspective view,

figure 5

the stopper according to 4 in a view according to arrow V in 6 ,

6

the plug in a view according to the arrow VI in figure 5 ,

7

the plug in a view according to the arrow VII in figure 5 ,

8

a second embodiment of the plug in a perspective view,

9

the stopper according to 8 in a view according to arrow IX in 10 ,

10

the plug in a view according to the arrow X in 9 ,

11

the plug in a view according to the arrow XI in 9 ,

12

a sectional view of the plug according to the line XII-XII in 11 ,

13

a third embodiment of the plug in a perspective view,

14

the stopper according to 13 in a view according to the arrow XIV in 15 ,

15

the plug in a view according to the arrow XV in 14 ,

16

the plug in a view according to the arrow XVI in 14 .

The Figures 1 to 7 show a first embodiment of the stopper 1 according to the invention. The stopper 1 serves to close a container 2, the container 2 in the present case being designed as a bottle. The container 2 has a threaded bottleneck with the stopper 1 inserted into an opening in the bottleneck. The stopper 1 thus serves to close the opening of the container 2 in order to prevent evaporation of substances stored in the interior of the container and also to prevent foreign bodies from entering the interior of the container. The features of the stopper 1 described in more detail below enable the stopper 1 to be penetrated with a suitable device, for example a pipette tip, in order to remove substances from the interior of the container or to supply them to the interior of the container, with the stopper 1 being designed in such a way that after the application of force by the device has ceased, the container opening is again closed by the plug 1.

The stopper 1 has a jacket section 3 that can be inserted into the container 2 , the jacket section 3 having a through-opening 4 formed in an axial direction Z. In the present case, the stopper 1 has three segments 5, with the respective segment 5 having a free end. The segments 5 are connected to one another at their other end, in the present case in the region of a front end of the casing section 3 in the insertion direction of the plug 1 . The area in which the segments 5 are connected to one another is designed as an annular closed structure 12, such as in particular 6 can be seen. The free The end of each segment 5 has a first section 6 , a second section 7 and a third section 8 . The first section 6 of the free end of the respective segment 5 forms a partial area of the jacket section 3. The second section 7 protrudes radially inwards from the jacket section 3, thus protruding into the area of the through-opening 4, and the third section 8 is radially outwards the jacket section 3 emerges. The second sections 7 form a cover section 9 of the plug 1, the cover section 9 closing the through-opening 4 in the axial direction Z, as is the case in particular Figures 1 to 3 can be seen. Since the second sections 7 are not directly connected to one another due to the segmentation and can therefore be deformed independently of one another, the cover section 9 can be penetrated in the axial direction Z, for example by means of a pipette tip. The third sections 8 of the segments 5 form a contact section 10 of the stopper 1, the contact section 10 coming into contact with a container edge of the container 2 in the axial direction Z when the stopper 1 is inserted into the container 2, whereby the contact section 10 can be inserted further of the plug 1 in the container 2 prevented, like the figure 3 can be seen. The abutment portion 10 of the stopper 1 is also advantageous in terms of penetrating the cover portion 9, since the abutment portion 10 prevents the force applied to the cover portion 9 for the purpose of penetrating pushing the stopper 1 further into the container 2 instead of penetrating the cover portion 9 or the second sections 7 to deform.

Like that one in particular 3 As can be seen, the second sections 7 have a lower material thickness than the third sections 8. As a result, the rigidity or the force that is necessary to penetrate the cover section 9 is advantageously reduced, while the overall stability of the stopper is nevertheless high 1. The material thickness of the second sections 7 is also less than the material thickness of the first sections 6.

Like that one in particular figure 5 it can be seen that the jacket section 3 has a region with a cross section that widens conically in the direction of the contact section 10 . The widening cross section encourages the segments 5 to move radially inward when the stopper 1 is inserted into the container deform like this in the 3 is shown. In order to enable the segments 5 to be deformed radially inwards, the free ends of adjacent segments 5 are spaced apart from one another when the stopper 1 is in its basic state. The Figures 4 to 7 show the plug 1 in such a basic state. In the basic state, the stopper 1 has three slots, which separate the segments 5 and extend in the axial direction and radial direction, with the respective slot extending radially inward from the radial outside in the direction of a common center. Furthermore, the slits extend from a rear end 15 of the plug 1 in the direction of a front end 11 of the plug 1 up to the closed annular structure 12.

The cover section 9 and the contact section 10 are formed in the same plane, the cover section 9 and the contact section 10 being formed at the end of the jacket section 3 at a rear end 15 of the plug 1 in the insertion direction of the plug 1 .

The cover portion 9 and the abutment portion 10 are formed perpendicular to the axial Z direction. Like this particular the Figures 1 to 3 As can be seen, the second sections 8 form a closed surface when the segments 5 are deformed radially inwards, ie when they are inserted into the container 2 .

As in particular from the 6 As can be seen, the respective segment 5 is designed as a partial area of a body of revolution, with an axis of rotation 13 assignable to the body of revolution of the respective segment running outside of an axis of symmetry 14 and parallel to the axis of symmetry 14 of the stopper 1 . The stopper 1 is also designed radially symmetrically to the axis of symmetry 14 , the number of symmetry corresponding to the number of segments 5 . The symmetry of the first embodiment of the stopper 1 is thus 3-fold. Due to the fact that the respective segment 5 is designed as part of a body of revolution and that the plug 1 is also radially symmetrical, the segments 5 form a closed, rotationally symmetrical body when the segments 5 are deformed radially inwards in a region facing away from the connecting regions of the segments 5 has an advantageous effect on the covering effect and the sealing effect of the plug 1.

The second sections 8 form circular sectors of a circle in a plan view in the axial direction Z, and the third sections 8 form circular ring sectors of a circular ring.

The in the Figures 8 to 12 shown second embodiment of the plug and in the Figures 13 to 16 shown third embodiment of the plug 1 differ from the first embodiment of the plug 1 in the number of segments 5, wherein the second embodiment has four segments 5 and the third embodiment has six segments 5.

Reference List

1

Plug

2

container

3

coat section

4

passage opening

5

segment

6

first section

7

second part

8th

third section

9

cover section

10

investment section

11

End

12

structure

13

axis of rotation

14

axis of symmetry

15

End

Z

axial direction

Claims (15)

1. Stopper (1) for a container (2), wherein the stopper (1) has a lateral portion (3) which can be inserted into the container (2), wherein the lateral portion (3) has a through-opening (4) formed in an axial direction (Z), wherein the stopper (1) has at least two segments (5), wherein the respective segment (5) has a free end, wherein a first portion (6) of the free end of the respective segment (5) forms a subregion of the lateral portion (3), a second portion (7) of the free end of the respective segment (5) projects radially inwardly with respect to the lateral portion (3), and a third portion (8) of the free end of the respective segment (5) projects radially outwardly with respect to the lateral portion (3), wherein the second portions (7) form a covering portion (9) which can be penetrated in the axial direction (Z) and which closes the through-opening (4), wherein the third portions (8) form a bearing portion (10) of the stopper (1), wherein the second portions (7) of the free end of the respective segment (5) are deformable independently of the second portions (7) of the free ends of the other segments (5), as a result of which the axial penetration of the covering portion (9) is made possible.
2. Stopper (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the second portions (7) have a smaller material thickness than the third portions (8) in order, upon action of an axial force on the covering portion (9), to promote a deformation of the second portions (7) with respect to a deformation of the bearing portion (10) .
3. Stopper (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the segments (5) are connected to one another in the region of an end (11) of the lateral portion (3) that faces away from the bearing portion (10).
4. Stopper (1) according to Claim 3, wherein the region is designed as an annularly closed structure (12).
5. Stopper (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the lateral portion (3) has a region with a cross section which widens, preferably conically, in the direction of the bearing portion (10), or the lateral portion (3) has a cross section which widens, preferably conically, in the direction of the bearing portion (10).
6. Stopper (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the covering portion (9) and/or the bearing portion (10) are or is formed at the end of the lateral portion (3).
7. Stopper (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the covering portion (9) and the bearing portion (10) are formed in the same plane.
8. Stopper (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein a ratio of an axial extent of the first portion (6) of the segments (5) to an axial extent of the lateral portion (3) is at least 80%.
9. Stopper (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the free ends of adjacent segments (5) are spaced apart from one another in a basic state of the stopper (1).
10. Stopper (1) according to Claim 9, wherein a minimum distance between adjacent segments (5) is at least 0.8 mm, in particular at least 1.0 mm.
11. Stopper (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the respective segment (5) is formed as a subregion of a rotation body, wherein an axis of rotation (13) which can be assigned to the rotation body of the respective segment extends outside an axis of symmetry (14) of the stopper (1), with preferably the respective axis of rotation (13) extending outside and parallel to the axis of symmetry (14) of the stopper (1).
12. Stopper (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the stopper (1) has at least three segments (5), preferably at least four segments (5), in particular at least six segments (5).
13. Stopper (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the segments (5) are deformed radially inwards, preferably elastically, when the stopper (1) is inserted into the container (2).
14. Stopper (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 13, wherein the second portions (7) form a closed surface radially inwardly upon deformation of the segments (5).
15. Stopper (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the stopper (1) is formed in one piece.

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