FR3078690A1 - Safety packaging for transportation of samples or samples - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a package for transporting products in the form of harmful or dangerous samples or samples, the package comprising a first bag (1) with a first closure means (2), and at least one second bag (3) with a second closing means (5), the first bag being attached to the inside of the second bag, the first bag being intended to receive products to be transported. The bags are made of synthetic material, in particular plastic. Figure to be published with the Abstract: Figure 1

Description

Description

Title of the invention: Safety packaging for the transport of samples or samples

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to the field of packaging for the transport of samples or samples, in particular of harmful and / or dangerous materials, such as, for example, and without limitation, asbestos samples. Of course, other materials can also be transported by means of the present invention and the concept of taking or sample, used in an equivalent manner in the present description should not be seen as limiting.

Bags for the transport of material are known in principle in the state of the art. They can transport all types of material, including food and generally have a square or rectangular shape with one side comprising a closure system, preferably which allows several openings and closings.

We will cite for example DE 10 2010 051 579 which describes a bellows paper bag, formed of two tubular layers, the opening ends of which are offset. The bags are intended to enter production areas where very strict sanitary conditions prevail and the bag must not introduce impurities: the outer layer is therefore intended to be easily separated. Such paper bags, which allow air to pass through, are not suitable for the collection of dangerous products. When transporting samples or taking special materials, namely materials harmful or dangerous to health, it is necessary to implement additional safety measures to protect the environment of the sachet and avoid unintentional contamination, for example example if the bag is torn.

The application of such sachets is for example for the transport of samples intended for analyzes. A particular application is in the field of asbestos removal: samples are taken at the planned location (for example a building) and the samples taken are brought to a laboratory for analysis and determination of contamination. Other applications are of course possible, the one mentioned being only an example.

A priori simple solution is to combine the use of two independent sachets. The sample taken is placed in a first bag which is closed, for example in a sealed manner, by closing means. Then this first bag is introduced into a second bag which is also then closed, for example in a sealed manner by other closing means.

The two sachets are then sent to the laboratory provided for the analysis and opened on site, for example in a protected environment.

[0007] Thus, in the event of degradation of the second (external) sachet, the first (internal) sachet maintains a barrier with the outside and prevents degradation and / or dissemination of the sample.

An example of such a bag is illustrated in application FR 2 022 831. The object of the invention described in this publication is to produce a vacuum packaging whose resistance to mechanical stress, even violent and prolonged, is so important that virtually unlimited storage is made possible.

The vacuum packaging according to FR 2 022 831 is characterized by an inner packaging-filled with the material to be packaged vacuum-sealed and closed in a gas-tight manner, in a suitable flexible material, gas-impermeable or having a gas-impermeable layer, as well as by an outer packaging receiving this inner packaging evacuated and closed in a gas-tight manner, this outer packaging also being evacuated, closed in a gas-tight manner and made of a flexible material, gas impermeable or having a gas impermeable layer.

According to FR 2 022 831 the inner packaging or the outer packaging, or even the two packages, are made of a material that can be heat sealed to thereby obtain gas-tight closure by means of known devices and methods and in a particularly simple way.

In the method according to this publication, the inner packaging is filled, placed under vacuum, possibly charged with a gas through the closure joint which is already formed in part, then closed in a gas-tight manner.

The inner packaging thus completed is then placed in the outer envelope, which in this case has the form of a bag and which is closed by a seal at the upper end after the conventional vacuuming, which is possibly followed by the introduction of a protective gas.

As can easily be understood, this system is not very simple because it involves the successive manipulation of two sachets, the first of which must be prepared before its introduction into the second, then the manipulation of the second and its preparation for receiving the first sachet and the closure of the second sachet.

In addition, it requires keeping a stock of two (at least) different sachets, of different sizes, or then of pairs of sachets. This stock of two types of sachets must be permanently transported and kept together.

JP 4 604287 further describes a principle of double sachet, in which an inner sachet is placed in an outer sachet. Each bag includes a closure means at its longitudinal end. The inner bag is punctually linked to the outer bag, but their assembly is such that each bag can be filled with a different material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is thus to improve the known systems and methods.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for transporting samples or taking which is simple to use and safe, in particular when the materials transported are harmful or dangerous.

The invention will be better understood from the description of illustrative embodiments which should not be considered as limiting.

According to the present invention, there is provided a packaging for transporting products in the form of harmful or dangerous samples or samples, the packaging comprising a first sachet with a first closure means, and at least a second sachet with a second closing means, the first bag being attached to the interior of the second bag, the first bag being intended to receive products to be transported. The bags are made of synthetic material, in particular plastic.

According to variants, the walls of the first and second bags are fixed together in the area of the first closure means, so as to form a sealing area preventing the passage of materials to the volume between the first and second bags. A package formed of two bags is thus formed, but only the first bag can receive samples or samples. Access to the inter-bag space is impossible, which prevents asbestos fibers, for example, from getting inside.

According to variants, the walls of the first bag do not protrude beyond the first closure means or are integrated into the walls of the second bag. These constructive measures also avoid the formation of nooks or ledges likely to retain samples / samples outside the first sachet. We can also limit the accumulation of fibers and dust near the opening by applying an antistatic treatment to the first closing means (2), and in the area thereof (that is to say near the latter) The first closure means is advantageously arranged so as to completely close the opening of the first sachet, preferably in a sealed manner. In one embodiment, the first closure means is a pressure closure means. ZIP type closures are particularly practical, allowing a tight closure, and easy reopening.

In one embodiment, the second closure means is a sticky or self-adhesive strip.

In one embodiment, the second bag includes a flap.

In one embodiment, the flap comprises a closure means.

In one embodiment, the means for closing the flap comprises a sticky or self-adhesive strip.

In one embodiment, the flap comprises means for fixing the bag.

In one embodiment, the means for fixing the flap is a sticky or self-adhesive strip.

In one embodiment, the bag (s) is (are) formed (s) of monolayer and / or multi-layer walls. This single-layer or multi-layer construction can be applied to one of the sachets or to all of the sachets in the packaging.

In one embodiment, the walls of the bag (s) comprise layers of metal and / or chemicals. The metal can be of any type, for example aluminum or other. It can be deposited either on the form of a layer (flexible) or by projection or other appropriate technology. In practice, one or more bags could be made of metallic materials, for example aluminum, or metallized plastic walls. Alternatively, metallic sheets can be placed in the volume / space between the sachets. We could for example. put metal foil in the space between the inner and outer bag to cloud the packaging, and protect the contents from light.

It can also be advantageous to put a chemical such as a surfactant in the inter-bag space, between the inner and outer bag. If the inner bag breaks, the surfactant will mix with light fibers such as asbestos, and prevent them from diffusing into the ambient air.

In one embodiment, the chemical can be a surfactant.

In one embodiment, the packaging may include more than two sachets, one inside the other.

Brief description of the drawings [0035] Figure 1 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a side view in section of an embodiment of the invention.

Description of the embodiments In one embodiment, the packaging according to the invention comprises at least a first sachet 1 (also defined by the concept of inner or inner sachet). This first bag 1 has a rectangular shape (for example) and comprises at least one open side comprising closing means 2. The closing means 2 are for example by pinching / pressing (in particular of the zip type) and allow the reopening of the bag. This first bag 1 is used to directly collect the product to be transported. Conventionally, the bag 1 therefore comprises, on its open side, an opening 1.1, a bottom 1.2, and side walls 1.3, which define the interior volume of the bag. In the illustrated embodiment two side walls 1.3 are parallel to the plane of the sheet and united by their edges 1.4. The only access to the interior volume of the bag is through opening 1.1. The closure means 2 extend over the whole of the opening 1.1 and therefore make it possible to completely close the access to the interior volume of the bag 1.

The packaging comprises at least a second bag 3 (also defined by the concept of external or external bag) with a flap 4, and closure means 5, 6. Here also the bag 3 comprises, by design , one side said opening 3.1, a bottom 3.2, and side walls 3.3 (united by their edges 3.4), which define the interior volume of the bag. The only access to the interior volume of the bag is through opening 3.1.

The first bag 1 is fixed in the second bag 3 as illustrated in the section of Figure 2 by any suitable means, for example by gluing, rolling, welding or other equivalent means.

Thus the first bag 1 extends into the second bag 3 and the two bags 1 and 3 have their side walls fixed together in the area of the first closure means 2. The term area means at the height of the first means of closure 2, or nearby. It is advantageous to fix the two sachets 1 and 3 together at the closure means 2 of the first sachet 1, which is also fixed to the first sachet. There is thus formed at the first closure means 2 a kind of sealing zone preventing the passage of materials to the internal volume existing between the first and second sachet.

It will also be noted that the sachets 1 and 3 are, during manufacture, linked to the level of the zone of the first closure means. However, the large surfaces formed by side walls 1.3 and 3.3 are not linked, as can be seen in FIG. 2. In certain variants, the bags 1 and 3 are linked by the longitudinal edges 1.4 and 3.4.

In practice, we stick, or soda, together the side walls of the first and second bag at the height of the first closure means 2, or close to it (above or below). The objective is to completely seal the passage between the two sachets 1 and 3, so that the inter-sachet volume is hermetically sealed. In other words, the present packaging forms a sort of double-walled sachet, with a single sealed / hermetic storage volume defined by the inner sachet 1, accessible via the opening opening 1.1 which is closed after filling by means of the first closure means 2. A ZIP type closure allows a sealed closure of the inner bag.

When collecting hazardous materials, such as asbestos, it is ensured that the fibers are collected only in the inner bag 1. Thanks to the sealing zone, the fibers cannot reach the 'inter-bag space.

In general, the outer bag 3 extends beyond the closing area of the first bag 1, that is to say upwards in Figure 1, and there is a rear part called flap 4 in the continuity of the rear side face, as well as a front part, said against flap 4 ', in the continuity of the front face. Advantageously, the edges of the walls of the first bag 1, opening side 1.1, do not extend beyond the closing means 2. Or else these edges are integrated into the walls of the second bag 3 beyond the closing means 2, it that is to say that the walls of the two sachets are intimately linked as if it were a single wall. We can for example glue or weld them. This prevents the edges of the walls 1.3 of the first bag 1 from forming ledges or a zone of accumulation of materials before the closure means 2.

We can also apply on the first closure means 2, and around it, an antistatic treatment to reduce the adhesion of dust and fibers in the closure area.

On the outer bag 3, the closure means are for example an adhesive strip 5, 6. A first strip 5 is located near the first bag and allows a closure of the second bag, once the product has been placed in the first bag 1 and it has been closed. The strip 5 is here placed on the flap 4 ’but can also be positioned on the flap 4, at the same height. By pressing the upper part of the second bag (in the area of the means 5), the user can easily close said second bag. Then, the user can complete the closing of the second bag by folding the flap 4 to the left in FIG. 2, and by applying the strip 6 against the upper part of the second bag 3. This strip 6 is however optional.

The user thus obtains a double bag closed at least by two independent closing means (2 and 5) but by handling only one bag which greatly simplifies the taking of samples.

A single sachet stock is necessary since the inner sachet-outer sachet pair is supplied in a single package which it is not necessary to constitute during the sampling.

In one embodiment, the flap 4 may include an additional fastening means 7, such as a self-adhesive strip on the other side relative to the strip 6. This additional means allows the bonding / fixing of the bags 1 , 3 to another object during the removal operation, for example to a support, or a wall which facilitates the removal operation since the user will have both hands free. Another fixing means can of course be provided as a fixing lug.

Preferably, the packaging comprises one or more precut lines. A first pre-cut line 9 is placed between the first closure means 2 and the strip 5: the pre-cut line crosses the flap 4 and against the flap 4 ’. A second pre-cut line 9 ’can be positioned between the two strips 5 and 6, therefore provided only on the flap 4.

The precut strip 9 ’makes it possible to tear off the upper part of the flap which carries the additional fixing means 7.

The precut strip 9 makes it possible to tear off the upper part of the packaging under the closure means 5, giving access to the first closure means 2. It will be noted that the closure strip 6, when it is present, is advantageously positioned on the flap 4 so as to be stuck above the lower precut line 9.

The bags are typically bags with full walls, suitable for receiving a sealed and / or hermetic content, made of any suitable material, for example a synthetic material, such as plastic or the like. We can in particular make the polyethylene bags or any other suitable material. They can be single-layer or multi-layer depending on the use. In a multi-layer mode, the layers can also be of any suitable material, for example synthetic materials or else with coatings such as metal, or chemicals (surfactants, reagents, etc.). These materials / coatings are referenced with the number 8 in the figures. The inner bag and the outer bag can be made of the same material or the same materials or not. Both can be single-layer or multi-layer or one can be single-layer and the other multi-layer.

The embodiments described are for illustrative examples and should not be considered as limiting. Other modes of execution can call upon means equivalent to those described for example. The execution modes can also be combined with one another according to the circumstances, or the means used in one mode can be used in another mode.

For example, the closure means may be adhesive or self-adhesive strips or other equivalent means (of the Zip® or pressure type, for example).

The shapes of bags can also be variable: square, rectangular or other. Preferably, the packaging is flexible.

The number of sachets is not limited to two but it is possible to envisage constructions with three or more sachets using the principle of the invention and the embodiments / constructions described in the present application. These constructions can for example be linked to the envisaged application and / or standards imposed for a given application.

It can also be envisaged that the external bag 3 comprises two independent internal bags 1, or even more than two internal bags 1, independent or not.

Claims (1)

[Claim 1] [Claim 2] [Claim 3] [Claim 4] [Claim 5] [Claim 6] [Claim 7] [Claim 8] [Claim 9] [Claim 10] claims Flexible packaging for transporting products in the form of harmful or dangerous samples or samples, said packaging comprising a first sachet (1) comprising a first closure means (2), and at least a second sachet (3) comprising a second closure means (5), said first bag (1) being attached to the interior of the second bag (3), said first bag (1) being intended to receive said products to be transported, the bags being made of synthetic material, in particular plastic. Packaging according to claim 1, in which the walls of the first and second sachets are fixed together in the region of the first closure means, so as to form a sealing region preventing the passage of material towards the volume between the first and second sachet . Packaging according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the walls of the first bag do not protrude beyond the first closure means or are integrated into the walls of the second bag. The package of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first closure means is a pressure closure means. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the second closure means is an adhesive or self-adhesive strip. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the second bag (3) comprises a flap (4) extending beyond the first closure means (2). Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the flap comprises a closure means (6), preferably an adhesive or self-adhesive strip. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the flap comprises means for fixing (7) the sachet, preferably an adhesive or self-adhesive strip. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the bags are formed from monolayer and / or multilayer walls. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the walls of the sachets comprise layers of metal and / or chemicals, or the layers of metal and / or the chemicals are provided in one or more inter-sachet volumes. [Claim 11] [Claim 12] [Claim 13] Packaging according to the preceding claim, in which the chemical is a surfactant placed in an inter-bag volume. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, said packaging comprising more than two sachets in one another. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the region of the first closure means (2) includes an antistatic treatment.