GB2537036A

GB2537036A - Sealable closure and closed container

Info

Publication number: GB2537036A
Application number: GB1603319.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Webber Peter
Original assignee: Cellpath Ltd
Current assignee: Cellpath Ltd
Priority date: 2015-02-25
Filing date: 2016-02-25
Publication date: 2016-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2036-02-25
Also published as: GB201503181D0; GB201603319D0; GB2537036B

Abstract

A lid includes two parts each having a sealing surface 14, 15, each movable between open and sealed configurations. Each part can include a circular disc portion 1, 18 and a frusto conical portion 2. Depression of the disc portion can flatten both frusto conical portions, increasing their diameter and urging both sealing surfaces against a container walls inner surface. The upper part can have a flange to overlie the top of the container rim as well as engaging the containers inner walls. A gripable knob 7 can be pushed or pulled to seal or release the lid. Alternatively the actuator could be hydraulic, magnetic, pneumatic and/or automated. The grip can be flush with the lid when sealed. one of the sealing surfaces can contain silicon and the other part can be formed of a different material. The lid is preferably horizontal and can include security markers to indicate tampering. The container can contain liquid.

Description

SEALABLE CLOSURE AND CLOSED CONTAINER

This invention relates to a sealable closure and a closed container closed with the sealable closure and a closed container containing a solution.

There are many different types of closure for containers used in a wide-range of applications over for many years. Examples of common closure mechanisms include screw-top lids for containers, jars and the like, hereinafter referred to generally as containers, lids having multiple catches which are movable and engage with a complementary surface on a container and which may have a snap-fit arrangement in which the catches are deformable, and engage at multiple localized sites around the periphery of a container and corks which deform and then upon insertion in a bottle neck, grip the vertical wall of the bottle. Plastics containers with a snap-fit top and other containers with push-fit frictionally retained tops or lids are also well known.

Another example of a well-known closure mechanism is the Kilner Jar, first developed in the 1800's and employing a screw-top and sealing mechanism. Kilner jars and bottles having a pivotally mounted closure mechanism connected to a lid and a container which, upon rotation, brings the lid into a closed configuration with the container and which may then be sealed by applying pressure to lever the lid into a sealed relationship with the container are long established and well known.

However, known systems may have certain disadvantages, for example they may be relatively expensive or complex to manufacture or involve a cumbersome process of manipulation for closing or opening the lid, which may be particularly disadvantageous where many containers may need to be rapidly opened and/or closed for example in a production line environment or sample analysis or transportation environment. Known systems may not provide adequate sealing where the container is to be used for storing or carrying a liquid material.

There remains a need for a closure mechanism which is very simple to use and to use in a repeatable and reliable manner, especially where a container is to be used to store or carry a liquid, a toxic or biological sample or the like, and which has a low cost of manufacture, particular a low-cost for bulk manufacture in very large volumes, for example hundreds of thousands or millions of units. It is also desirable that the closure mechanism be easily manufactured and its manufacture be repeatable and accurate to enable bulk manufacture with appropriate quality control.

Achieving an air-tight or leak-proof seal is important in a wide range of applications, for example where the container contains a carbonated drink, toxic or biological material and where it is desirable to reduce or avoid the ingress of external gas or liquid, for example air, oxygen and water.

We have now devised a sealable closure for closing a container which may also readily be released to open the container. The sealable closure enables easy, manual or automated opening and closure of a container and enables repeated opening and closure as desired by application of pressure on a sealable closure having two sealing surfaces movable between a first, open configuration and a second, sealed configuration. The closure thereby provides a leak-proof seal for the container.

In a first aspect the invention provides a sealable closure comprising a lid portion for closing a container and a closing mechanism comprising a first sealing portion having a first sealing surface and a second sealing portion having a second sealing surface wherein the first and second sealing portions are movable between an open configuration and a sealing configuration.

When using the sealable closure to close a container, the first and second sealing portion will be in the open configuration and upon locating the sealable closure on or in the container, the closing mechanism is activated such that the first and second sealing portion urge the first and second sealing surfaces into engagement with the container thereby to provide a seal at the first and the second sealing surface.

The first and second sealing portions are configured such that in the sealing configuration, the first and second sealing surfaces are at a different position relative to their position in the open configuration. Preferably, the first and second sealing surfaces are radially expanded in the sealing configuration as compared to their position in the open configuration.

The first sealing portion may be a part of the lid portion such that the first sealing portion acts as the lid or there may be a lid portion with a separate first sealing portion.

In a preferred embodiment, the first sealing portion is disposed between the underside of the lid and the second sealing portion. The first sealing surface is preferably adapted to engage with the inner wall of the container to be sealed although the first sealing surface may be adapted to engage with the top of the container or to overlie the top of the container and engage with the outer wall of the container. The second sealing surface is preferably adapted to engage with the inner wall of the container to be sealed. Preferably, the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface are both adapted to engage with the inner wall of the container to be sealed.

Suitably, the first and the second sealing surface engage the container to form a seal as a result of the closing mechanism being activated to move from the open configuration to the sealing configuration.

In a preferred embodiment, the sealable closure may be opened and closed repeatedly by activation of the closing mechanism between the open and sealing configurations. This allows access to the container, resealing, and subsequent access and also allows the sealable closure to be reused as appropriate.

Activation means are suitably provided to move the first and second sealing portions between the open configuration and the sealing configuration. The activation means may comprise any suitable means or mechanism for effecting movement of the closing mechanism. In a preferred embodiment the activation means comprises a handle or a grip on the top side of the lid portion or may comprise hydraulic or pneumatic means which may be applied to the top side of the lid. The activation means may be manually operable or automated.

The first and second sealing portions may be constructed of the same or different materials. The sealing portions may be made of a rigid material or resilient deformable material whereby upon activation of the closing mechanism, the applied force from the activation means is transmitted by the first and second sealing portions respectively to the first and second sealing surfaces to displace those surfaces into the sealing configuration.

The first and second sealing portions are suitably constructed of the same or different plastics or polymeric material, preferably a polymer for example polypropylene. The sealable closure may also comprise a silicone to aid sealing. The sealable closure is suitably prepared by moulding the polymer or other material, optionally with additional components depending on the application and health and safety and regulatory considerations, for example relating to food or medical products.

The sealing surfaces preferably engage the inner wall of the container by being thrust into sealing engagement with the container wall. The first and second sealing surfaces may be resilient such that upon being thrust into contact with the container wall, deformation at the sealing surface allows a gas-tight and/or liquid-tight seal to be formed at the first sealing surface and/or the second sealing surface and desirably at both the first and second sealing surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the lid portion is generally horizontal relative to the wall of the container when in the sealing configuration. This may allow containers to be more readily stacked on top of other containers, especially if the sealable closure is designed such that the activation means for example a grip is not proud of the lid portion when in the sealing configuration Suitably, the first sealing portion comprises a cylindrical central portion and a frusto-conical portion having an outer periphery of radius r1 which defines a plane and extending circumferentially around the central portion, the central portion sitting proud of the plane in the open configuration and, on application of a force, being movable to outwardly urge the sealing surface defined by the outer periphery of the frusto-conical portion and, on removal of the force, the central portion resting at the closed configuration the outer periphery in this configuration having a radius of r2 wherein r2 is greater than r1. Suitably, the central portion is adapted to be moved directly or indirectly by activation means to effect movement between the open and sealing configurations. Preferably the first sealing portion or lid portion comprises a grip to move the sealable closure between the sealing and open configurations on application of a force.

Suitably, the second sealing portion comprises a cylindrical central portion and a frusto-conical portion having an outer periphery of radius r1 which defines a plane and extending circumferentially around the central portion, the central portion sitting proud of the plane in the open configuration and, on application of a force, being movable to outwardly urge the sealing surface defined by the outer periphery of the frusto-conical portion and, on removal of the force, the central portion resting at the closed configuration the outer periphery in this configuration having a radius of 12 wherein 12 is greater than 11. Suitably, the central portion is adapted to be moved directly or indirectly by activation means to effect movement between the open and sealing configurations.

Preferably the second sealing portion is nested with the first sealing portion and the first sealing portion acts on the second sealing portion to move it between the open and sealing configuration. Preferably the cylindrical central portion of the second sealing portion sits coaxially partially within the cylindrical central portion of the first sealing portion.

In a preferred embodiment, the central portion and frusto-conical portion of the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion are arranged such that in both cases the central portion moves relative to the frusto-conical portion to a position whereby the frusto-conical portion is extended away from the centre of the sealable closure relative to its position without application of force. In this way, downward force on the lid portion or the first sealing portion causes the central portions of the first and second sealing portions to displace axially and the frusto-conical portions of both the first and second sealing portions to be urged in a direction generally perpendicular to the axial movement, thereby to engage with the wall of the container to form a seal at the first and second sealing surfaces.

Preferably, on application of a force to move the central portion from the first configuration to the second configuration, the central portion moves so as to reduce the angle between the surface of the frusto-conical portion and the horizontal (referred to herein as the slant angle) and, on removal of the force, the central portion rests in the sealing configuration where the slant angle is less than that in the open configuration. The central portion of the first sealing portion and the second portion is at a lower level in the closed configuration than in the open configuration. Relative to a plane defined by the second sealing surface in the sealing configuration, one or both central portions may be on the same side of that plane as when in the open configuration. In another embodiment, one or both of the central portions may be located on the opposite side of that plane as compared to their location in the open configuration.

In the open configuration, the sealable closure may be inserted into an opening in a container which is to be sealed and the sealable closure acts to close and preferably seal the opening in moving from the open to the sealing configuration. The closing operation may be reversed by application of a force so as to reduce the radius of the first and second sealing peripheries and thereby open the opening.

The activation means preferably comprises a grip is suitably an upstanding portion which may be readily gripped by a user and may have surface relief to improve grip.

Force or pressure may be applied to the central portion manually or automatically when moving the closure between the open and sealing configurations.

The container may have a vertical wall and the closing mechanism acts by expanding to form a seal between the first and second sealing surfaces and the wall. In another embodiment, the container may have a lip on the inner wall on which the sealable closure may sit and react the force applied to activate the sealable closure from the open configuration to the sealing configuration. The central portion of the first and second sealing portions may move in a generally perpendicular direction to the sealing surfaces or may skew so one side of the central portion travels further than the other side so long as it results in the radius of the outer periphery being greater in the second configuration than in the first configuration.

Where present in the first sealing portion and/or second sealing portion, the frusto-conical portion and the central portion are suitably connected by a wall portion which transfers force from the central portion to the frusto-conical portion and alters the slant angle of the frustoconical portion. It will be understood that in passing between the open and sealing configurations, the central portion passes through a configuration at which, were the force to be removed, the central portion would revert to its starting configuration and beyond which, removal of the force will mean that the central portion will continue to the second configuration or vice-versa if seeking to open the closure from the sealing configuration to the open configuration. The sealable closure accordingly has two stable configurations, each of which require the application of force to translate into the other configuration.

Suitably, the sealable closure acts on the container which is to be closed by applying a force to the container to hold in a frictional relationship. Closing or sealing the container is not dependent on formation of a vacuum within the container in order to hold the sealable closure in place through a differential pressure inside and outside the container.

The sealable closure may be "toggled" between the first open and sealing configuration allowing for flexibility of use with the application of a small manually applied force or of a force applied in any other manner for example mechanically, electrically or magnetically.

In one embodiment, the sealable closure comprises a magnetic or magnetisable material and movement of the closure between the open and sealing configuration is achievable by employing magnetic means to activate the closing mechanism. The sealable closure may be applied to or removed from a container at high speed in an automated manner thereby greatly increasing the number of opening or closing operations that may be performed per unit time.

The magnetic or magnetisable material may be comprised in the central portion and optionally in the frusto-conical portion. The magnetic or magnetisable component may be distributed in a uniform or non-uniform manner. Preferably, the sealable closure comprises a magnetisable component that is substantially uniformly distributed through the closure.

The sealable closure may be employed where containers require sealing in a wide range of fields, for example in a histology, tissue transportation, dentistry, cancer diagnostics or other healthcare applications, forensics, soil sampling, food sampling and analysis, sampling for contamination or disease and many other applications.

There is a need to provide a tamper-evident sealable closure for a container in at least some of these fields of application so as to ensure the integrity of the contents of the container and to unambiguously and reliably ensure the identity or source of the sample remains unequivocally known.

In a further aspect the invention provides a tamper evident sealable closure comprising a sealable closure according to the invention for use with a container containing a sample and a security marker which is connectable to the container and the sealable closure when disposed in the sealing configuration to close the container in a manner such that if the sealable closure is moved from the sealing to the open configuration, the security marker provides an indication of tampering.

The security marker is preferably a strip or tape which may be adhesively applied to the sealable closure and the container and which is damaged or torn upon moving the sealable closure from the sealing to the open configuration.

The invention also provides a tamper evident container comprising a sealable closure according to the invention, a container adapted to receive the sealable closure and a security marker for application to the container and the sealable closure when disposed in the sealing configuration to close the container.

The invention provides particular advantage in a medical or healthcare context, for example in histology, cancer or other diagnostics and in operating theatres where human or animal samples may be taken and need to be analysed and possibly transported between departments. Histological sample analysis may involve many hundreds or thousands of samples being processed and each sample will need to be placed in a container, a top applied to the container in a reliable and sealed manner so as to avoid leaks or contamination.

Presently, a large proportion of the histology samples and tissue transport employs standard containers with screw tops. There is scope for the top not to be properly threaded, the operation of screwing on a top when multiplied by the large number of samples represents a significant bottleneck in processing of samples as compared to an automated process or a manual process requiring a simple application of force to the central portion of the sealable closure.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a closed container comprising a container having contained therein liquid contents and a sealable closure according to the invention, closing the container and being in its sealing configuration and, optionally a security marker applied to the container and the sealable closure in the sealing configuration to provide a tamper evident seal.

The liquid contents may be a solution for use in sample analysis, for example formalin or a buffered aqueous solution.

In a preferred embodiment the container is a standard size container presently employed in the particular field of use in which the container is intended for use, for example a 60m1 container for use in histology sampling. Biological materials for histological examination are processed in large quantities for a wide range of diagnostic purposes. Tissue samples are prepared typically by a process involving embedding the tissue sample in paraffin or wax in a histology cassette and slicing the embedded sample very thinly using a microtome. Prior to embedding the sample, it is typically processed using solutions selected according to the nature of the sample. The sample may be fixed, dehydrated, cleared, infiltrated with molten paraffin and optionally stained. Processing in which the sample is contacted with a processing solution and contacted with paraffin and may take place over an extended period, for example overnight. Typically, a large number of samples, for example around 300 can be processed together.

The invention also provides a method of releasably sealing a container comprising providing a container having an opening to be closed and a sealable closure according to the invention, locating the closure in the aperture and applying a force towards the container on the central portion of the closure whereby the closure moves from an open configuration to the sealing configuration.

The present invention is further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows in a perspective view a sealable closure according to the invention; Figure 2 shows in a side view a sealable closure according to the invention in a first configuration; Figure 3 shows a plan view of a sealable closure according to the invention; Figure 4 shows a sectional view about line A-A in Figure 3 in of the first sealing portion/lid of a sealable closure according to the invention in an open configuration; Figure 5 shows a sectional view about line A-A in Figure 3 in of the first sealing portion/lid of a sealable closure according to the invention in a sealing configuration; Figure 6 shows a detailed sectional view of the sealable closure shown in Figure 4; Figure 7 shows a container with a sealable closure according to the invention in an open configuration; and Figure 8 shows a container with a sealable closure according to the invention in a sealing configuration.

Figure 1 shows a sealable closure according to the invention having a lid portion which also acts as the first sealing portion and comprises a central portion 1 and a frusto-conical portion 2 which has a sealing surface 3 of radius r1, shown in Figure 4 which defines a plane 4 shown in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 1 does not show the second sealing portion of the closing mechanism. In Figure 1, the frusto-conical portion 2 extends circumferentially around the central portion 1. The central portion 1 sits proud of the plane 4 in an open configuration as shown in Figure 4 and, on application of a force in direction F is movable so as to outwardly urge the first sealing surface 3 so the sealable closure assumes a sealing configuration in which the sealing surface 3 has a radius of r2 wherein r2 is greater than r1 as shown in Figure 5. The sealing surface 3 may then form a frictional fit with the side wall of a container 6 as shown in Figure 8. The central portion 1 has a grip 7 as shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 which may be pulled in the opposite direction to F to return the sealable closure to the open configuration and thereby release the sealable closure from the container 6.

Figure 2 shows the second sealing portion 11 as well as the first sealing portion 13. The second sealing portion is a similar construction to the first sealing portion 13 described above in relation to Figure 1. The second sealing portion 11 has a sealing surface 12 at its outer periphery. As the sealable closure is moved from the open configuration to the sealing configuration upon actuation of grip 7, the first sealing portion 13 acts on the second sealing portion 11 so that the frusto-conical surfaces of both the first and second sealing portion are thrust downwards thereby urging the sealing surfaces 3 and 12 towards the wall of a container.

Figure 6 shows detail of the area where the central portion 1 and the frusto-conical portion 2 join. A similar arrangement is suitably employed in the second sealing portion. The central portion may have a side wall 8 which is connected to a side wall 9 of the frusto-conical portion 3 at point 10. On application of force to move the central portion 1 from the open configuration to the sealing configuration, the wall 8 transmits force to wall 9 which may flex so as to urge the first sealing surface 3 and second sealing surface 12 away from the centre portion 1 of the first and second sealing portions, thereby to create a frictional engagement with the wall of container 6 and seal the container.

Figures 7 and 8 show in an open configuration and in a sealing configuration respectively, a sealable closure according to the invention. Parts of the first sealing portion are denoted with reference numerals without an apostrophe and corresponding parts of the second sealing portion are denoted by the same numerals as used for the first sealing portion but with an apostrophe.

The sealable closure in Figure 7 has a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion with respectively, a cylindrical central portion 1, 1', a frusto-conical portion 2, 2'. The first sealing surface 3 of the first sealing portion abuts against the side wall of container 6 and also has a lip 15 which extends and overlies the rim of container 6. The second sealing surface 12 of the second sealing portion abuts against the side wall of container 6. The container 6 has a ledge 14 in the side wall and the sealable closure through the second sealing portion may rest on the ledge 14 such that as downward force is applied to the grip 7, the rim of the container and/or ledge 14 provides a reaction force to the sealable closure through lip 15 and/or the second sealing portion such that the central portions 1, 1' and frusto conical portions 2, 2' are displaced whereby the sealing surfaces 3, 12 are urged into engagement with the wall of the container 6.

The sealing surfaces 3, 12 define planes 4, 4' and the central portions 1, 1' may be displaced in a downward direction such that they do not pass through their respective planes 4, 4' and the frusto conical portions 2, 2' are in a generally horizontal arrangement in the sealing configuration as shown in Figure 8. In other embodiments, the central portions 1, 1' may in part or wholly pass beyond their respective planes 4, 4' such that the lower part of central portions 1, 1' are below planes 4, 4' and the frusto conical portions 2, 2' are inverted with the peripheral part being above the central part.

The lid portion 16 extends across the opening of the container 6 and is suitably horizontal in at least the sealing configuration as shown in Figure 8 and, as desired in the open configuration as shown in Figure 7. In some embodiments, the grip 7 may move downwardly such that the grip 7 is not proud of lid portion 16 in the sealing configuration to facilitate stacking of sealed containers.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A sealable closure comprising a lid portion for closing a container and a closing mechanism comprising a first sealing portion having a first sealing surface and a second sealing portion having a second sealing surface wherein the first and second sealing portions are movable between an open configuration and a sealing configuration.
2. A sealable closure according to claim 1 in which the closing mechanism is adapted to urge the first and second sealing surfaces into engagement with the container wall.
3. A sealable closure according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the sealing surfaces are radially expanded in moving from the open configuration to the sealing configuration.
4. A sealable closure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first sealing portion and the lid portion are integral such that the first sealing portion also acts as the lid.
5. A sealable closure according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the first sealing portion is disposed between the underside of the lid portion and the second sealing portion.
6. A sealable closure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first sealing surface is adapted to engage with the inner wall of the container to be sealed and optionally is adapted to engage or overlie the rim of the container.
7. A sealable closure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second sealing surface is adapted to engage with the inner wall of the container to be sealed.
8. A sealable closure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface are both adapted to engage with the inner wall of the container to be sealed.
9. A sealable closure according to any one of the preceding claims which may be repeatedly configured in the open and sealing configurations.
10. A sealable closure according to any one of the preceding claims comprising activation means to move the first and second sealing portions between the open configuration and the sealing configuration.
11. A sealable closure according to claim 10 in which the activation means is selected from a manually operable grip, hydraulic means, pneumatic means and magnetic means.
12. A sealable closure according to claim 10 or claim 11 in which the activation means is automated.
13. A sealable closure according to any one of claims 10 to 12 in which the activation means comprises a grip which is not proud of the lid portion when in the sealing configuration
14. A sealable closure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first and second sealing portions are constructed of different materials.
15. A sealable closure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first the first sealing surface and/or the second sealing surface comprise a silicone.
16. A sealable closure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the lid portion is generally horizontal relative to the wall of the container when in the sealing configuration.
17. A sealable closure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first sealing portion comprises a cylindrical central portion and a frusto-conical portion having an outer periphery of radius r1 which defines a plane and extending circumferentially around the central portion, the central portion sitting proud of the plane in the open configuration and, on application of a force, being movable to outwardly urge the sealing surface defined by the outer periphery of the frustoconical portion and, on removal of the force, the central portion resting at the closed configuration the outer periphery in this configuration having a radius of r2 wherein r2 is greater than r1
18. A sealable closure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second sealing portion comprises a cylindrical central portion and a frusto-conical portion having an outer periphery of radius r1 which defines a plane and extending circumferentially around the central portion, the central portion sitting proud of the plane in the open configuration and, on application of a force, being movable to outwardly urge the sealing surface defined by the outer periphery of the frusto-conical portion and, on removal of the force, the central portion resting at the closed configuration the outer periphery in this configuration having a radius of r2 wherein r2 is greater than r1.
19. A sealable closure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second sealing portion is nested with the first sealing portion and the first sealing portion acts on the second sealing portion to move it between the open and sealing configuration.
20. A tamper evident sealable closure comprising a sealable closure according to any one of the preceding claims for use with a container containing a sample and a security marker which is connectable to the container and the sealable closure when disposed in the sealing configuration to close the container in a manner such that if the sealable closure is moved, the security marker provides an indication of tampering.
21. A tamper evident container comprising a sealable closure according to any one of claims 1 to 19, a container adapted to receive the sealable closure and a security marker for application to the container and the sealable closure when disposed in the sealing configuration.
22. A closed container comprising a container having contained therein liquid contents and a sealable closure according to any one of claim 1 to 19 closing the container and being in a sealing configuration and, optionally a security marker applied to the container and the sealable closure to provide a tamper evident seal.