WO2013072536A1

WO2013072536A1 - Hermetic closure system for a container and container including such a closure system

Info

Publication number: WO2013072536A1
Application number: PCT/ES2012/070706
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jorge Horacio SÁNCHEZ TABOAS; Marcos José SÁNCHEZ TABOAS; Ignacio Javier SÁNCHEZ TABOAS
Original assignee: Sanchez Taboas Jorge Horacio; Sanchez Taboas Marcos Jose; Sanchez Taboas Ignacio Javier
Priority date: 2011-11-15
Filing date: 2012-10-11
Publication date: 2013-05-23
Also published as: ES2404982R1; EP2803596A1; ES2404982B1; ES2404982A2; EP2803596B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure system (1) and a container (30) forming a hermetic and/or sealed closure system for conditions in which pressure reductions or over-pressures occur inside or outside the container (30), which tend to cause the release of liquids or solids housed inside the container (30) or inside other containers located therein. The invention comprises: a system including a plurality of fixed flanges, projections or tabs (26) provided on the longer sides (22) of a body (8) of a container having a polygonal cross-section (30), optionally arranged in a structural manner, with first spaces (27) being provided alternately therebetween; a device made from metal or another rigid material (14), comprising a plurality of fixed flanges, projections or tabs (17) which are folded back, spaced apart from one another and designed to be form-fitted to the plurality of fixed flanges, projections or tabs (26) provided on the longer sides (22) of the body (8) of the container (30); and a polygonal lid (2) having a cross-section matching that of the body (8) of the container (30), said lid being provided with a seal (19) that can be inserted in the lower part (3) thereof and openings (41) in which bolts or screws (16) are inserted through a channel or groove (15) in the above-mentioned device (14) which is moved along the first two locking sides (9) thereof, which are the opposite longer sides.

Description

HERMETIC CLOSURE SYSTEM FOR RECIPIENT AND CONTAINER THAT INCLUDES SUCH CLOSURE SYSTEM

D E S C R I P C I Ó N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new closure system that combines the benefits of bayonet closure systems, lobster closure systems, friction closure systems, and hinged closures. One of the technical fields in which it is included is the manufacture of packaging. The object of the invention relates to a closure assembly for a container, as well as the container itself adapted to be closed with said closure assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The closure systems applied to the containers have allowed, throughout history, to give a protection to the contents of the container with respect to its surroundings, the protection against unwanted elements, as well as the protection of the contents against spills. Since ancient times, any type of container has required a lid, a closure or a combination of both. As an example, we find ourselves from the corncob of the corn cob, used by the Latin American Indians to close bottles, to the very thick olive oil with which the ancient Romans sealed their bottles, to the wooden plug and pitch, etc.

The development of the food industry, already at the time of the beginning of Mesopotamian civilizations, together with the production of surpluses in agriculture, has provided the development of storage systems for food left over from self-consumption. Since that beginning, one of the most important factors has been airtightness. Airtightness has been referred to as the barrier between food and the environment to prevent the action of microorganisms, and preserve foods preserved from adverse climatic conditions that favor oxidation. Throughout our recent history, and under industrial development, this term of tightness has been extended not only to the preservation of food from the environment, but as a result of the production, and transportation, of dangerous products, is the environment that must be preserved from the material produced or transported in that airtight container. Therefore, the requirements of that initial tightness, food preservation, have been widely exceeded by the requirements of the tightness in the transport of dangerous goods. It is known from the inventors that the main closures used in the containers are: friction closures, in which the lid can be removed with the pressure of a finger, by sliding or prying. Threaded closures, in which the container has a threaded closure which can be of the screw type, saw thread, with plastisol, etc. In addition, the crown in these closures could be of the short continuous, long continuous, threaded (twist off), lever (pry off), protrusion (lug amerseal), etc. type, as well as the double-locking crimp closures, or permanent, and pressure crimp, or atmospheric type closures used in aerosols.

In addition to all of the above, the systems of Hermetic seal by bayonet, named in utility models and patents such as Spanish Utility Model U0277708 "Pressure cooker of bayonet type", and Spanish patent E94103580 "Pressure cooker with bayonet closure". Other closure systems to highlight is the one named in the European application 00103090.7 "Closing system". Of them we can highlight the existence of closures for bayonet type containers and the usual use of lobsters in the locks.

The fundamental problem of the type of closure listed, and not listed in this document, is that airtightness, defined as the property generated by a container as a whole so that it does not let air or other fluids pass through, is easily achieved in closures for Circular type containers or other containers through sealing systems. Of the latter we highlight that they do not allow hermetic closing after opening. Consequence of all this is that the airtightness, and / or tightness, requested for containers intended to be a barrier to high pressure fluids such as fluids in air transport, fluids in a pressure cooker, and others are relegated to be transported in containers of circular section.

From what has been described we can conclude that the tightness and / or tightness, at high internal or external pressures, of a non-circular section vessel is a very difficult task to achieve with the closure systems or current methods. The tightness and / or tightness achieved with this closure, in the containers in which it is attached, is a tightness and / or tightness at internal pressures that will greatly exceed the requirements demanded by the transport of dangerous goods. It goes without saying that a closure for this type of containers, of non-circular section, and maintaining the advantages inherent to the logistics of a container or container of non-circular section becomes a much more complicated task. From the inventive activity, from the successive studies and prototypes, the inventors have developed the current closure system, which combines the advantages of friction, sliding, bayonet closures, hinges and operating system closures. of the lobsters in the locks.

All this has given rise to the present closure assembly for a container, as well as the container itself adapted to be closed with said closure assembly, which is capable of maintaining a tightness and / or tightness at high pressures, maintaining the necessary polygonal section for correct workflow, in the sectors to which the invention is intended. Among them and not limited to, the transport of dangerous goods more specifically the transport of infectious material, as well as all those in which it is necessary to keep a fluid confined in a container in high tightness and / or tightness requirements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention resolves the closure of polygonal section containers in which it is necessary to maintain tightness and / or tightness conditions in extreme conditions, such as high internal or external pressures achieved in the transport of goods in the form liquid or solid in aircraft holds and for all those uses where extreme tightness is necessary. The problem in aircraft warehouses arises because, due to the altitude, the pressure conditions that can be encountered during the flight in extreme conditions can be of the order of 0.68 kPa (0.68 bar, 10 lb / in ² ). Since the containers or packages are usually filled at a normal atmospheric pressure of approximately 100 kPa (1 bar, 14.7 lb / in ² ), the pressure reductions, mentioned above, have to cause the discharge of the liquid contents of the containers, even to make them burst during the flight. This will not happen by adapting the current closure to the containers destined for the transport of goods, more specifically and not limited to, dangerous goods in tubes, vessels, plates, etc. inside a container with this closure system.

The configuration and properties of the closure and the container of this invention are described below. The sealing system is designed for a container of polygonal section, (comprising body and lid), which has to be tightly sealed, and consists of:

- a system of fixed fins first (similar to the locks on the locks) coupled (structurally or not) to the body of the container to be closed,

- a metal device, similar to a strap, perimeter analogous to the section of the container to be closed with one of its minor sides open, in which a plurality of second fins arranged inward of its section will be arranged,

- a seal according to the upper base of the first fin system,

- a hinge and bolt system, whose hinge constitutes a fixed part arranged in the body closing system or directly on the body of the container, while the bolt constitutes the movable part and is located in the container lid.

The closing system structurally coupled in a rectangular section vessel is described. The closure system consists of a lower part located in the open upper part of the body of a widened container. Said bottom It consists of a flat base on which a system of first separate fins is arranged on the two longest sides of the widening of the container and a single fin covering the front of the container, which is introduced slightly on the side of the flat base , and the fixed part of a hinge system.

A rigid strip (preferably of metallic material), located perimeter in the open upper part of the body of the widened container. Said strap consists of a shape marked by the shape of the closure system located in the open upper part of the body of the widened container. The described form will correspond to the perimeter form having one of its sides, that of the lower side that has the hinge system, free. The strip has an alternate U-shaped section with an L-section. The variation of the sections corresponds to the section in the areas where there is a first fin conformed as a U, and where the free space exists between the first two consecutive fins, conforms as an L.

The arrangement of these first fins is in the lower parts of the long sides of the strip, having on the remaining side a U-section altered in its middle part by a long L that acts as a shooter. The strap also has, on its long sides, two openings on each side, which perform the function, with the help of the corresponding bolts, of guiding the strap in its longitudinal displacement.

The lid of the container has section and shape according to the open upper part of the body of the widened container, and has a pipe for the perfect coupling of the metal device or strap. This pipe is on the two longest sides of the lid and on the opposite side to the housing of the movable part of the hinge composed of the lid and the body. In addition, the lid contains two holes, with or without metal insert, and on each side for the arrangement of (preferably) four bolts for fastening and strapping guide to the cover.

It should be noted that the strap is arranged in the cover through the bolts, which through the lateral openings of the strap described above, will perform the closed and open positions of the assembly. In the open position the strap moves by sliding or friction through the guides of the cover with the help marked by the bolts, this final position coincides with the movement of the strap towards the opposite side of the hinge. In its final, or open, the strip has the first fins in the free space left by the fins of the open upper part of the body of the widened container. This allows pivoting and opening the hinge closure formed by the body and the lid. In its final path, or closed, the closure is arranged in the part closest to the hinge, which coincides in that the fins of the strap, and the fins of the open top of the body of the widened container are on each other . This prevents opening of the closure by pivoting or operating the hinge. In addition to all this, the cover has a seal in its entire interior perimeter. This joint has a bilabial or bull section of revolution and a hardness that allows the strap to slide and at the same time maintain the tightness and / or tightness of the assembly. The contact of the closure gasket with the body of the container is made in the portion of material left on the plateau, open upper part of the body of the widened container and the inner hollow of the container, base of the fins.

The arrangement of the assembly allows that when the containers are filled to a normal atmospheric pressure of approximately 100 kPa, the pressure reductions or the overpressures, which tend to cause the discharge of the liquid contents of the containers, or even make them burst, not Occur. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of said description is attached as an integral part of said description. designs where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented: o Figure 1 .- Shows a perspective view of the closure assembly according to the invention, in an open position, comprising the first fixed fins and the strap.

Figure 2-a-. It shows a perspective view of a cover with the gasket and the hinge system, ready to receive the strap.

5 Figure 2-b.- Shows a perspective view of the joint.

Figure 2-c- Shows a perspective view and section of a sectioned section of the strip.

Figure 3.- Shows a perspective view of the part of the closing system incorporated in the body of a container according to the invention.

Figure 4.- It shows an exploded view of the container according to one of one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, together a rack with primary blood type tube containers, 5 intended to be contained in the container.

Figure 5.- Shows an internal perspective in section of one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with the closed position of the system, according to the invention.

0

Figure 6.- Shows a top view of a container according to one of the preferred embodiments of the invention containing urine sample vessels.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below with the aid of Figures 1 to 6, which refers to a sealing system (1) for a container and a container (30) provided with said closure system (1). ).

According to Figures 1 to 3, the sealing system (1) tightly comprises a set of fixed fins (26) alternately arranged on the larger sides of a body (8) of a container and structurally integrated.

The closure system (1) additionally comprises a metal strip (14) provided in turn with a plurality of second fins (17), intended to fit into first defined spaces between each two consecutive first fins (26), during the movement of the strap (14), with a hinge system (7) arranged in a cover (2) and in the body (8), as will be explained below.

The strap (14) is located perimeter in the open upper part of the body (8). The described form will correspond to the perimeter form having one of its sides, that of the lower side that has the hinge system, free. The strip has an alternate U-shaped section with an L-section. The variation of the sections corresponds to the section in the areas where there is a first fin conformed as a U, and where the free space exists between the first two consecutive fins, conforms as an L. The hinge closure (7) comprises articulation devices (25), arranged in the so-called second pivot side (21), separated by a space (24) in a body (8), and articulation devices (1 1 ) separated by a space (12) in a cover (2) arranged on the so-called first pivot side (6). Both parts of the container, body (8) and lid (2), are joined by hinge (7) through the articulation devices (25) and (1 1), connecting with each other through the spaces (24) and (12) by means of a bolt or rod (13). This closing system also includes a gasket (19) arranged in a cover (2) with a bilabial section, or a bull of revolution, which performs the function of airtightness with horizontal displacement, or friction, of the strip ( 14) from the open position, according to figure 1, to the closed position, figure 5, and the hinge closure (7). Horizontal displacement of the strap (14) is carried out on the larger sides of the container (22) and (9) by applying a horizontal force on the handle or handle (18) which moves the strap (14) from an open position, as shown 1, in which the fins or skewers (27) of the strap

(14) coincide in the first free spaces (27) of the body (8) that allow the opening in book form through the hinges (7) to access the interior of the container (8). The horizontal movement of the strap (14) perimetrically closes the first free side of the cover (10) with the second free side (23) of the body (8) and the first major closing sides (9) of a cover ( 2) with the second closing sides (22) of a body (8). This movement is guided through the set formed by grooves.

(15) in the strap (14) and stops or bolts (16) arranged in holes (41) in a cover (2), which can be directly or with metal insert.

We will now describe the preferred embodiment of the invention and the application of the hermetic and / or hermetic seal for conditions in which pressure or overpressure reductions, internal or external, occur to the container (30), which tend to cause the discharge of the contents liquids or solids, from the interior of the container (30) or from the interior containers to it, towards the environment.

The container (30) is formed by a lid (2) provided with a flat base (3) in its lower area and a first top portion (4) in a dome shape, to accommodate cooling means (not shown), provided of gripping means (5) for gripping said lid (2) from the outside, as well as for opening with hinge system (7) of the lid (2). The base (3) is substantially polygonal in shape, on one of whose sides, called the first pivot side (6), articulation means (7) adapted for articulated connection with a body (8) of a container (30) are arranged. ), as will be explained later. The base (3) additionally comprises first closing sides (9) adjacent to the first pivot side (6), and first free side (10) opposite the first pivot side (6).

The strapping or closing device (14) is disposed along substantially all of the first closing sides (9). The closing element (14) has a profile that can be fitted externally on said first closing sides (9), on which it is movable. The closing element (14) comprises a groove (15) along which it travels with respect to its corresponding first closing side (9). Two stops or bolts (16), fixed to each of the first closing sides (9), determine the extreme points of the displacement as well as keeping the first closing sides (9) linked with the closure or strapping element (14) . The closure or strapping element (14) comprises in the lower part a plurality of fixed fins, skewers or tabs (17) folded and separated from one another, adapted to make a form closure with the body (8), of the container (30 ), as will be explained later.

The closing or strapping device (14) has a handle or handle (18) at its furthest end from the first pivot side (6), surrounding the first free side (10).

The lid (2), of the container (30) incorporates a gasket (19) insertable in the lower part of the base (3), which has an open profile, or bilabial, with the opening oriented towards the fixed fins, skewers or tabs (17).

The container (30) additionally comprises a body (8) having a parallelepipedic shape, of a widened container, and comprises a second upper portion (20) of quadrangular shape corresponding to the base (3) of the lid (2). In particular, the second upper portion or plateau (20) comprises, analogously to the cover (2), a second pivoting side (21), two second closing sides (22) adjacent to the second pivoting side (21) , and a second free side (23) opposite the second pivot side (21).

As can be seen in figures 4 and 5, the second closing sides (22) are provided with fixed fins, skewers or tabs (26) projecting outward, and separated by first spaces (27). In a first extreme position of the closure element (14), the fixed fins, skewers or tabs (17) are housed in said first spaces (27). In that case, the lid (2) can pivot around the rod (13) with respect to the body (8) of the container (30) and open or close said container (30). With the container (30) closed, the closure element (14) can move towards a second extreme position, in which its fixed fins, skewers or eyelashes (17) have slipped under the fixed fins, skewers or eyelashes (26) body (8), thereby establishing a form closure between the fixed fins, skewers or tabs (17) of the strap (14) and the fixed fins, skewers or tabs (27) of the body (8) that prevents the pivoting between the lid (2) and the body (8) of the container (30) with said container (30) being closed so Safe and maintaining tightness and / or tightness for the requirements.

The articulation means (7) comprise a plurality of second teeth (1 1) separated by second spaces (12) and arranged along the pivot side (6) and protruding from the base (3). The second teeth (1 1) are drilled according to the direction of the first pivot side (6) to allow the passage of a connecting rod (13). The second pivoting side (21) longitudinally comprises a plurality of third spaces (24) defining third teeth (25) separated by said third spaces (24) and which are drilled in a longitudinal direction, corresponding to the second spaces ( 12) and second teeth (1 1), to accommodate the rod (13) that allows a pivoted joint between the lid (2) and the body (8), of the container.

The body (8) of the container (30) comprises an insert (28) for housing, on a side face, a pressure valve (29) tared to dislodge gases from the interior of the container (30).

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the container (30) is designed to, but not limited to, in the sanitary area, to transport primary containers (31, 32) with samples, for example, tubes (31) with blood samples, as well as vessels (32) with urine or stool samples. For this purpose, the lid (2) is provided in its first upper portion 4) with ribs (33) projecting towards the body (8), as a support for the cooling means, for the primary containers (31 , 32) transported, improving the biological stability of the sample during transport. Additionally, adjustment means (not shown), on which the primary containers (31, 32) are arranged, can be incorporated into the bottom of the container, to adjust the height of said containers primary containers (31, 32), so that they can make contact with the nerves (33).

The container (30) can incorporate into the body (8) a rack (35) to orderly arrange the primary containers (31, 32) inside. Said rack (35) comprises a first plate (36) with first holes (37) to house the primary containers (31) and a second plate (38) arranged on the first plate (36), also with second holes (39), to accommodate the tubes (31) through said holes (37, 39). The first (36) and second (38) plates can be linked to each other at a certain distance by means of pillars (40) that are arranged through respective slots (not shown) existing in the plates (36, 38). At least some of the pillars (40) comprises second gripping means (42) to facilitate the introduction and removal of the rack (35) in the container (8). Also, the pillars (40) may be flat plates and may contain recesses (42) to lighten weight.

Also, the secondary container has space to dispose, in accordance with the regulations, absorbent material, for example, polypropylene sheets, to absorb the entire contents in case of breakage of the primary containers.

The preferred capacity is fifty tubes (31) of blood sample or, alternatively, eight glasses (32) of urine sample.

Claims

one . - Airtight closure system (1) for container, intended to be used in a container equipped with a body (8) of polygonal section, characterized in that it comprises:

- a plurality of first fixed fins (26) arranged alternately on the major sides (22) of the body (8), between which first spaces (27) are alternately defined;

- a strip (14) of rigid material, comprising a plurality of second fixed fins (17) arranged folded and separated from each other, adapted to perform a form closure with the plurality of first fixed fins (26); Y

-a polygonal lid (2) and section in accordance with the body (8) of the container (30), equipped with a sealing gasket (19) insertable in its lower part (3), with holes (41) in which they have bolts (16) through a channel or groove (15) of the strap (14), said strap (14) is movable through two first closing sides (9), of the cover (2).

2. - Closing system (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the strap (14) comprises at least one groove (15) to move horizontally through the first two closing sides (9) and a few second closing sides (22) of the body (8), being guided through a system formed by the groove (15) and the bolt (16).

3. - Closure system (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the strap (14) has horizontal sliding locking means.

4. Closing system (1) according to claim 1 wherein the cover (2) and the body (8) have a hinge system (7).

5. - Container (30) characterized in that it incorporates the sealing system (1) described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. - Container (30) according to claim 5 characterized in that it is intended to contain food.

7. - Container (30) according to claim 5 characterized in that it is intended to contain dangerous goods.

8. Container (30) according to claim 5 characterized in that it is intended to contain biological products.

9. - Container (30) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that it comprises an insert (28) for accommodating a pressure valve (29) set to remove gases from inside the container (8).

10. - Use of the container described in any one of claims 5 to 9, for sealed transporting products under conditions where pressure or overpressure reductions occur, internal or external to the container (30), which tend to cause discharge of liquid and / or solid contents from inside the container (30), or from inner containers to said container.