FR2997930A1 - COVER BOX WITH QUICK AND SECURE CLOSURE - Google Patents

Abstract

A box (10) includes: • a base (12) comprising a bottom wall, a pair of opposite side walls (16, 18) and a pair of opposite end walls (20, 22); a cover (24) having a plate (26) having four corners, a pair of opposite side edges and a pair of opposed end edges, the cover having an engaged position in which the lid cooperates with the upper edges, and a position locked in which the lid is locked at the base; The invention is characterized in that the cover (24) further comprises inner and outer wings, and in the engaged position the outer wing is disposed outside the base while the lower wing is disposed inside the base, and the passage between the engaged position and the locked position is achieved by a rotation of the cover (24) about an axis perpendicular to the cover plate, so that, in the locked position, the inner and outer wings enclose at least one of the walls (16,18,20,22).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of boxes, and in particular that of closing a lid of such a box. The invention more specifically relates to a box, preferably for medical use, provided with a quick-lock cover. In the medical field, and particularly in the context of surgical operations, use is made of boxes that contain surgical devices, such as for example surgical instruments or even implants.

These boxes are generally used to store the surgical devices, to make them available to the surgeon, and also to allow their sterilization at the end of the operation. They must be able to be opened and closed quickly and safely by operators. Indeed, in the closed position, the cover must also be locked so as not to risk being opened inadvertently. In other words, this type of box must have the expected reliability in the context of use in a surgical environment. The present invention more specifically relates to a box comprising: - a base comprising a bottom wall, a pair of opposite side walls and a pair of opposite end walls, each of the side walls and end walls having an upper edge and a lower edge, each of the walls being connected to the bottom wall by its lower edge; a cover having a plate having four corners, a pair of opposite side edges and a pair of opposite end edges, the cover having an engaged position in which the lid cooperates with the upper edges, and a locked position in which the lid is locked at the base; Such a box is described in particular in US-6,116,452. This box includes a cover that moves from its engaged position to its locked position by pushing the cover in a transverse direction of the base.

In the locked position, the cover is held at the base by the fact that the corners of the cover cooperate with protruding heads arranged at the four corners of the base. To improve the locking of the lid, the box is provided with rotating handles which have a locked position in which they abut against the upper cover face. The box described in this document therefore has two levels of lock security. However, in certain operating contexts, especially in the case where contaminated surgical instruments are contaminants, these two levels of locking may be insufficient to guarantee the safety of the user. OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to propose a box of the aforementioned type which makes it possible to offer more levels of locking security. The invention achieves its object by the fact that the lid further comprises inner and outer wings which extend perpendicularly to the cover plate from at least one of the edges of the plate; in the engaged position, the outer wing is disposed outside the base while the inner wing is disposed inside the base, and the passage between the engaged position and the locked position is performed by a rotation of the cover around an axis perpendicular to the cover plate, so that in the locked position, the inner and outer wings enclose at least one of the walls. Thus, according to the invention, the lid can be locked to the base without using protuberances extending from the corners of the base. This first level of locking is simply achieved by means of cooperation between the outer and inner wings of the cover and the wall gripped by the wings. It is understood that the outer and inner wings in the locked position pinch the wall, as a result of which the cover is blocked relative to the base. Advantageously, the cover comprises a plurality of outer and inner wings which, in the locked position, enclose at least two, and preferably each of the walls.

According to a preferred embodiment, each lateral edge and each end edge of the plate comprises an inner wing and an outer wing. The outer wing and the inner wing extend successively along said edge without overlapping.

Preferably, the inner wing has an outer face facing the outer wing, while the outer wing has an inner face facing the inner wing, and the outer and inner faces are in two planes distant from one side. distance substantially equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the wall associated with said edge.

It is understood that the choice of the distance allows for a more or less strong pinching of the wall. If the material constituting the cover and the wings have a certain elasticity, for example if it is made of sheet metal, it will be possible to provide a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the wall.

Preferably, the inner wing extends along a first half of said edge while the outer wing extends along a second half of said edge. As mentioned earlier, the inner and outer wings do not overlap. On the contrary, it is preferably provided a longitudinal spacing between the inner wing and the outer wing of the same edge. This spacing makes it possible to receive the wall when the cover is engaged on the base. Then, during the transition to the locked position, the inner and outer wings of each edge pivot about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the cover plate and passing substantially through the gap.

Advantageously, the inner and outer wings are arranged in a central symmetry with respect to the center of the cover plate. According to a preferred embodiment, one of the two end edges is defined between two corners of the cover plate; the lateral edges extend in a longitudinal direction oriented from the two corners towards the other end edge; and, considered in said longitudinal direction, one of the lateral edges has successively an outer wing and then an inner wing, while the other of the two side edges successively has an inner wing and an outer wing.

It is therefore understood that the outer and inner wings of the side edges are mounted in opposition. Preferably, it is the same for the inner and outer wings of the end edges. According to a particularly advantageous aspect of the invention, the base 5 has four corners; the corners of the cover plate have indentations, each corner of the base is provided with a holding member comprising a head, the head projecting above the cover plate, and each corner of the cover plate comes engage under the head of one of the holding members when the lid is in the locked position to prevent removal of the lid relative to the base in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall. Preferably in the locked position, the corners of the lid abut under the head of the holding members so that there is no clearance between the cover and the base. This cooperation between the corners of the cover plate and the heads of the holding members provides a second level of locking security. Indeed, it is understood that in the locked position, the cover is both maintained at the base by the action of the outer and inner wings 20 which enclose the walls of the base by pinching, but also coming to lodge under the heads of the holding organs. Preferably, each notch is provided between the end of the inner wing of one edge and the end of the outer wing of another edge. Advantageously, at least one of the holding members extends perpendicular to the bottom wall according to the height of the base, and said holding member further comprises a cylindrical portion disposed under the head and protruding from the outside of the walls from the base. One advantage of this cylindrical portion is to provide a bumper to protect the walls of the base. Preferably, each holding member is provided with such a cylindrical portion protruding outwardly beyond the walls of the base. Preferably, said holding member comprises an annular groove defined between the head and the cylindrical portion, and, in the locked position, one of the corners of the cover plate engages in said groove. Preferably, each of the corners of the cover plate engages with one of the grooves. The indentation formed in each of the corners of the lid makes it easier to engage the corner in the groove. According to a preferred embodiment, at least one of the holding members extends according to the height of the base and further comprises a foot disposed at the opposite end of the head while extending under the bottom wall. ; the head, respectively the foot, being configured to cooperate with the foot, respectively the head, of a holding member of another box disposed above, respectively below. Preferably, the foot is located at the head of the head. Still preferably, the holding member is made in one piece which extends along the height of the base. This configuration takes its interest when several boxes are stacked on top of one another. The vertical forces are then taken up by the holding members stacked on top of each other, which makes it possible to avoid deforming the walls or the cover of the various stacked boxes. Preferably, but not necessarily, the bottom wall has a cutout around said foot. An interest is to allow the evacuation of fluid out of the box. According to another advantageous aspect the box according to the invention further comprises at least one handle rotatably attached to one of the walls, and the handle has a closed position in which it bears against the cover plate when the lid is in the locked position to prevent the lid from pivoting to its engaged position. Advantageously, the handle, in the closed position, constitutes an abutment for the outer wings of the end edges which can not therefore deviate from the walls of the base, which has the effect of preventing unwanted pivoting of the lid towards his engaged position. Still preferably, the handle bears against the upper surface of the plate, whereby it also helps to prevent the lid from being removed in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the bottom wall, for example in the case where the heads would be broken. It is therefore understood that the handle has a particularly advantageous double locking effect. In view of the above, it is conceivable that the handle provides a third level of locking security that is added to the two levels of security mentioned above. Preferably, the box is equipped with two handles arranged on two opposite walls, preferably the end walls. To facilitate handling of the box, the handle has a gripping position in which the handle has rotated 1800 relative to the locked position. To further improve the safe use of the box, the rotation of the handle is locked relative to the base when it is in the closed position or in the gripping position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the base of the box according to the invention; FIGS. 2A to 2D illustrate the lid of the box according to the invention; - Figure 3 is a perspective view of the box according to the invention, the lid being in the engaged position and the handles in the gripping position; - Figure 4 is a top view of the box according to the invention, the lid being in the engaged position; - Figure 5 is a perspective view of the box of Figure 3 in the locked position, the handles being in the closed position; - Figure 6 is a top view of the box according to the invention, the lid being in the locked position; and FIG. 7 is a detailed view of one of the holding members of the box according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows a box 10 according to the present invention. In this example, it is a sterilization box for surgical devices. The box 10 comprises a base 12 which has a bottom wall 14, a pair of opposite side walls 16, 18 and a pair of opposite end walls 20, 22. As can be seen in Fig. 1, each of the side walls and end walls have an upper edge 16a, 18a, 20a, 22a and a lower edge 16b, 18b, 20b, 22b. The box 10 according to the invention further comprises a lid 24 10 which is better visible in FIG. 2A to 2D, which comprises a plate 26 provided with four wedges 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, a pair of opposite lateral edges 28, 30 and a pair of opposite end edges 32, 34. In accordance with the invention, the cover 24 further comprises inner wings 36, 38, 40, 42 and outer wings 44, 46, 48, 50. As it is 2A, the inner wings 36, 38, 40, 42 and the outer wings 44, 46, 48, 50 extend perpendicular to the plate 26 of the cover 24 from the side edges 28, 30 and the edges end 32, 34 of the plate 26. Referring to Figure 2B, it is noted that the inner and outer wings 20 extend parallel to the edges of which they project. It is also noted that each of the lateral and end edges of the plate 26 has an inner wing and an outer wing arranged in the extension of one another. As explained in more detail below, the outer and inner wings are offset relative to each other in the longitudinal and transverse directions of said edge. A space is therefore provided between the neighboring ends of the outer and inner wings. As seen in Figure 2B, the inner wings are closer to the center 0 of the plate 26 than are the outer wings. Still with reference to FIG. 2B, it can be seen that each of the inner wings 36, 38, 40, 42 has an outer face 36a, 38a, 40a, 42a which faces towards the outer wing of the same edge, while outer wing 44, 46, 48, 50 has an inner face 44a, 46a, 48a, 50a which faces the inner wing of the same edge. The above-mentioned external and internal faces lie in two planes P1, P2 which are spaced apart by a distance d which is substantially equal to or slightly greater than the thickness e of the wall associated with said edge. An interest of this characteristic will be described below. Referring again to FIG. 2B, it can be seen that, for each of the edges of the plate 26, the inner wing extends in a first half of said edge, while the outer wing 44, 46, 48, 50 extends along a second half of said edge. It is therefore found that the outer and inner wings for the same edge do not overlap. It is furthermore noted that a spacing x is provided between the inner flange and the outer flange of each edge of the plate 26. In this example, the spacing x is of the order of 5 to 10 mm. spacing x extends in the longitudinal direction of said edge considered.

Referring to FIG. 2B, it can be seen that the inner and outer wings are arranged in a central symmetry with respect to the center 0 of the plate 26. In other words, the inner wing 36 faces the outer wing 48, the outer wing 44 faces the inner wing 40, the inner wing 38 faces the outer wing 50 and the outer wing 46 faces the inner wing 42. If one is now interested in the end edge 32, it is found that it is defined between the two corners 26c, 26d of the cover plate. The lateral edges 28, 30 extend in a longitudinal direction L which is oriented from the two aforementioned corners of the end edge 32 towards the other end edge 34. Considered along the longitudinal direction L, the lateral edge 28 presents successively an outer wing 44 and an inner wing 36 while the other side edge 30 has successively an inner wing 40 and an outer wing 48. As mentioned above, the inner and outer wings are arranged in continuity, without overlapping and all providing a spacing x between the longitudinal ends of the wings. In Figure 3, there is shown the box with its cover when the latter is in the engaged position. As can be seen in FIG. 3, in this engaged position, the cover cooperates with the upper edges of the base. To do this, each of the outer wings 44,46,48,50 is disposed outside the base, while each of the inner wings 36,38,40,42 is disposed inside the base. In other words, the outer and inner wings of the same edge are arranged on either side of the wall of the base.

In this engaged position, the cover is rotated by an angle α of the order of 3 ° in this example. Of course, the value of this angle is not limiting and depends in particular on the size of the box. The cover 24 further comprises a locked position in which the latter is locked to the base. The passage between the engaged position of Figure 4 and the locked position of Figure 5 is achieved by a rotation of the cover 24 about an axis A which is perpendicular to the plate 26 of the cover. In other words, the locking and unlocking of the lid is achieved by pivoting the lid relative to the base.

In the locked position, the inner and outer wings enclose each of the side and end walls 16, 18, 20, 22 of the base. In this locked position, each of the walls is pinched between one of the inner wings and one of the outer wings which has the effect of blocking the lid relative to the box.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the base 12 has four corners 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, each of these corners being provided with a holding member 60, 62, 64, 66 which comprises a head 60a, 62a, 64a, 66a projecting above the cover plate. Each holding member 60, 62, 64, 66 further comprises a foot 60b, 62b, 64b, 66b which extends below the bottom wall 14 of the base. Each holding member consists of a single piece, extends along the height h of the base 12 perpendicularly to the bottom wall 14. Each of the holding members further comprises a cylindrical portion 60c, 62c, 64c, 66c which is disposed under the head 60a and protrudes slightly outwardly from the walls of the base to form a kind of "bumper" for the box. As can be seen more clearly with reference to FIG. 8, each holding member 60, 62, 64, 66 has an annular groove 60d, 62d, 64d, 66d which is defined between the head 60a, 62a, 64a, 66a and the cylindrical portion 60c, 62c, 64c, 66c.

Referring again to Figure 4, it is found that each corner of the plate 26 of the cover 24 has a notch 70, 72, 74, 76 which allows each corner of the cover plate to engage under the head of one of the holding members when the lid is in the locked position, and to prevent the removal of the cover relative to the base in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall. Each notch 70, 74, 74, 76 is formed between the end of the inner wing of one edge and the end of the outer wing of another edge. With the aid of Figure 6, it is conceivable that the edges 70a, 72a, 74a, 76a corners of the plate 26 of the cover 24 are housed in the grooves 60d, 62d, 64d, 66d of the holding members. For evacuation of the fluids out of the box, there is provided a cut 14a formed around the foot 60b in the lower corner of the base 12. The other corners also include such a cutout. Referring again to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the base comprises a pair of handles 80, 82 which are pivotally mounted to the opposite end walls 20, 22. To do this, each of the handles 20 has a gripping portion 80a, 82a and two end rods 80b, 82b which are pivotally mounted to one of the members 84, 86 integral with the end walls 20, 22. In Figures 1, 3, 4, there is shown the handle gripping position. The members 84, 86 are configured such that, in the gripping position, the handles 80, 82 are locked relative to the base while extending outwardly from the base. This allows the operator to be able to grip the box safely because the handles will not tend to rotate unexpectedly. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, it is found that the handles 80, 82 also have a closed position in which they abut against the plate 26 of the cover 24 when the cover 24 is in the locked position. In this position, the handles abut against the outer wings, to keep them pressed against the wall of the base, which has the effect of preventing the lid from pivoting to its engaged position. In addition, the handles come to bear on the upper face of the lid, which has the additional effect of preventing the removal of the cover in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the bottom wall, for example if the heads are broken. In this configuration, the removal of the lid relative to the base in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall 12 is made impossible by the fact that the end rods block the lid by bearing against the plate. The transition from the gripping position to the locked position is done by a rotation of 1800 handles 80.82. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, it can be seen that the box according to the invention advantageously has three levels of locking security: the first level being constituted by the pinching of the walls of the bases by virtue of the inner and outer wings which enclose each of the walls; the second level of locking security is achieved through the corners of the plate 26 of the cover 24 which engage in the grooves of the holding members under the heads, while the third level of locking security is formed by the handles of gripping bearing against the lid in a locked position.

Claims (16)

REVENDICATIONS1. Box (10) comprising: - a base (12) comprising a bottom wall (14), a pair of opposite side walls (16, 18) and a pair of opposite end walls (20, 22), each of the walls lateral and end walls having an upper edge (16a, 18a, 20a, 22a) and a lower edge (16b, 18b, 20b, 22b), each of the walls being connected to the bottom wall by its lower edge; a cover (24) having a plate (26) having four corners (26a, 26b, 26c, 26d), a pair of opposite side edges (28, 30) and a pair of opposite end edges, the cover having a engaged position in which the lid cooperates with the upper edges, and a locked position in which the lid is locked to the base; characterized in that the cover (24) further comprises inner (36,38, 40,42) and outer (44,46,48,50) wings which extend perpendicularly to the cover plate (26) (24). ) from at least one of the edges of the plate (26), in that, in the engaged position, the outer wing is disposed outside the base while the inner wing is disposed within the the base, and in that the passage between the engaged position and the locked position is achieved by a rotation of the cover (24) about an axis (A) perpendicular to the plate (26) of the cover, so that in the locked position, the inner and outer wings enclose at least one of the walls (16, 18, 20, 2). Box according to claim 1, characterized in that each lateral edge and each end edge (28, 30, 32, 34) of the plate comprises an inner wing (36, 38, 40, 42) and an outer wing ( 44, 46, 48, 50). 3. Box according to claim 2, characterized in that the inner wing has an outer face (36a, 38a, 40a, 42a) facing the outer wing, while the outer wing has an inner face (44a, 46a). , 48a, 50a) facing the inner wing, and in that the outer and inner faces are in two planes distant by a distance substantially equal to or slightly less than the thickness (e) of the wall associated with said edge. 4. Box according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the inner wing (36, 38, 40, 42) extends along a first half of said edge while the outer wing (44, 46, 48, 50 ) extends along a second half of said edge. 5. Box according to claim 4, characterized in that a spacing (X) is provided between the inner wing and the outer wing. 6. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the inner and outer wings are arranged in a central symmetry with respect to the center (0) of the plate (26). 7. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that one of the two end edges (32, 34) is defined between two corners (26c, 26d) of the cover plate, in that that the lateral edges (28, 30) extend in a longitudinal direction (L) oriented from the two corners towards the other end edge (34), and that, in said longitudinal direction (L), one of the lateral edges (28) successively has an outer wing (44) and an inner wing (36), while the other of the two lateral edges (30) successively has an inner wing (40) and then an outer wing ( 48). 8. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the base comprises four corners (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), in that the corners of the plate (26) of the cover (24) have indentations (60, 62, 64, 66), in that each corner of the base is provided with a holding member comprising a head (60a, 62a, 64a, 66a), the head projecting above the plate of the cover, and in that each corner of the cover plate engages under the head (60a, 62a, 64a, 66a) of one of the holding members when the cover is in the locked position to prevent the removing the cover relative to the base in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall. 9. Box according to claim 8, characterized in that each notch (70, 72, 74, 76) is formed between the end of the inner wing of one of the edges and the end of the outer wing d another edge. 10.Box according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that at least one of the holding members (60, 62, 64, 66) extends perpendicularly to the bottom wall (14) according to the height (h ) of the base (12), and in that said holding member further comprises a cylindrical portion (60c, 62c, 64c, 66c) disposed under the head (60a) and protruding from the outside of the walls of the base ( 12). 11.Box according to claim according to claim 10, characterized in that said holding member (60, 62, 64, 66) comprises an annular groove (60d, 62d, 64d, 66d) defined between the head (60a, 62a, 64a, 66a) and the cylindrical portion (60c, 62c, 64c, 66c), and in that, in the locked position, one of the corners of the cover plate engages said groove (60d, 62d, 64d , 66d). 12.Box according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that at least one of the holding members (60, 62, 64, 66) further comprises a foot (60b, 62b, 64b, 66b ) disposed at the opposite end of the head while extending under the bottom wall (14), and in that the head, respectively the foot, being configured to cooperate with the foot, respectively the head, of a holding member of another box disposed above, respectively below. 2 99 7930 15 13.Box according to claim 12, characterized in that the bottom wall has a cutout formed around said foot. 14. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it further comprises at least one handle (80, 82) rotatably attached to one of the walls (20, 22), and in that the handle (80, 82) has a closed position in which it bears against the plate (26) of the lid (24) when the lid (24) is in the locked position to prevent the lid from pivoting towards his engaged position. 15.Box according to claim 14, characterized in that the handle comprises a gripping position in which the handle (80, 82) has rotated 180 ° relative to the locked position. 16.Box according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the handle (80, 82) is locked relative to the base when in the closed position or in the gripping position. 15 20