WO2021240318A1

WO2021240318A1 - Hygienic disposable container

Info

Publication number: WO2021240318A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/054418
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paolo Malpassi; Dario Zanon
Original assignee: Deep S.R.L.
Priority date: 2020-05-25
Filing date: 2021-05-21
Publication date: 2021-12-02
Also published as: EP4157129A1; IT202000012190A1

Abstract

It is provided a hygienic disposable container (1) is comprising a casing (2) defining at least one enclosure space (20) configured to allow the housing of at least one object (10), at least a first access (3) capable of allowing the introduction and/or evacuation of the object (10) from the envelope (2) and including first hermetic sealing means (30) configured to seal, on command, the enclosure space (20) with respect to the external environment, wherein the envelope (2) comprises at least one openable pocket (4), insulated with respect to the enclosure space (40), accessible from the outside with respect to the enclosure space (40) and including at least one sanitizing substance (5).

Description

DESCRIPTION

HYGIENIC DISPOSABLE CONTAINER

The present invention relates to hygienic disposable container of the type specified in the preamble of the first claim. In particular, the present invention relates to a hygienic disposable container suitable for containing various kinds of objects such as food or protective means such as gloves, masks or others.

Similar containers are described in documents US-A-2013/199946, WO-A- 2011/046532, US-A-4927405, US-A-4951815 and TW-A-202012261. As is known, there are different types of containers or bags configured to allow the storage and transport of food or other objects in a controlled and hygienic manner. Such containers generally comprise at least one enclosure space which is sized in relation to the type of object to be positioned inside.

For example, the conventional envelops of Cuki™ brand are known. These bags are configured to allow the preservation of food substances in a hygienic manner. They can therefore be used for storage in controlled environments, such as common freezers, or for transporting food.

Furthermore, conventional boxes for containing food or other objects and for transporting them are known. The known art described includes some important drawbacks.

In particular, all the containers of the known art have the sole function of containing the objects included therein. The safety, in terms of hygiene, of said containers therefore derives exclusively from the manner in which the user handles the objects. Furthermore, during the use of the contents of the containers it is almost impossible for the user to be able to avoid contact with surfaces that have remained exposed to possible contamination.

In this situation, the technical task underlying the present invention is to devise a hygienic disposable container capable of substantially obviating at least part of the aforementioned drawbacks. Within the scope of said technical task, it is an important object of the invention to obtain a hygienic disposable container whose function is not exclusively that of containing.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a hygienic disposable container which allows to guarantee a safe use of the contents of the container and the certainty of avoiding contamination both at the beginning and at the end of use. The technical task and the specified aims are achieved by a hygienic disposable container as claimed in the annexed claim 1.

Preferred technical solutions are highlighted in the dependent claims.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are clarified below by the detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: the Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a hygienic disposable container according to the invention; the Fig. 2 illustrates a diagram of a hygienic disposable container according to the invention wherein the pocket is integrated in the casing; and the Fig. 3 is a diagram of a hygienic disposable container according to the invention wherein the pocket is arranged on the membrane.

In the present document, the measurements, values, shapes and geometric references (such as perpendicularity and parallelism), when associated with words like “about” or other similar terms such as “approximately” or “substantially”, are to be considered as except for measurement errors or inaccuracies due to production and/or manufacturing errors, and, above all, except for a slight divergence from the value, measurements, shape, or geometric reference with which it is associated. For instance, these terms, if associated with a value, preferably indicate a divergence of not more than 10% of the value.

Moreover, when used, terms such as “first”, “second”, “higher”, “lower”, “main” and “secondary” do not necessarily identify an order, a priority of relationship or a relative position, but can simply be used to clearly distinguish between their different components.

Unless otherwise specified, as results in the following discussions, terms such as “treatment”, “computing”, “determination”, “calculation”, or similar, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or similar electronic calculation device that manipulates and/or transforms data represented as physical, such as electronic quantities of registers of a computer system and/or memories in, other data similarly represented as physical quantities within computer systems, registers or other storage, transmission or information displaying devices.

The measurements and data reported in this text are to be considered, unless otherwise indicated, as performed in the International Standard Atmosphere ICAO (ISO 2533:1975).

With reference to the drawings, the hygienic disposable container according to the invention is globally indicated with the number 1.

The container 1 is substantially a body defining at least one cavity or chamber suitable for housing one or more objects 10.

The objects 10 can be of any type. They can be, for example, food-related goods, sanitary goods or others. Preferably, the objects 10 comprise at least a disposable mask and a pair of disposable gloves.

Furthermore, the objects 10, together with the container 1 , substantially form a disposable safety kit 100.

The kit 100 essentially includes the container 1 as described below, and a plurality of objects 10 and is configured to allow the user to use and dispose of them safely. The objects 10, included in the kit 100, preferably comprise at least the gloves and the mask, but could also comprise, alternatively or in addition, food or other objects which are still perishable or not.

The container 1 , in detail, comprises at least one casing 2. The envelope 2 can be rigid and define a substantially well-defined shape, or it can be deformable. Furthermore, the casing 2 can have any shape and can be made from an envelope or a bag, for example of the doy-pack type.

In any case, as already mentioned, the casing 2 defines at least one enclosure space 20. The enclosure space 20 is preferably configured to allow the housing of at least one object 10. Preferably, the housing space 20 is configured to house at least a mask and a pair of disposable gloves.

Furthermore, the casing 2 preferably comprises a membrane 21.

The membrane 21 is substantially configured to delimit the housing space 20. Furthermore, the membrane 21 is preferably deformable. Even more in detail, the membrane 21 is made of polymeric material.

The container 1 also comprises at least one access 3.

The access 3 is substantially capable of allowing the introduction and/or evacuation of the object 10 from the casing 2. Therefore, the access 3 can be achieved simply by an opening, for example a slot, arranged on a side defined by the casing 2. The first access 3 therefore includes first sealing means 30. The first sealing means 30 are preferably hermetic and are configured to seal, on command, the enclosure space 20 with respect to the external environment.

These first sealing means 30 can therefore be resolvable or non-resolvable. For example, the first sealing means 30 can include two counter-shaped flaps configured to allow the opening and closing, hermetically, of the first access 3. An example of closure of this type is present in common bags for storing grated cheese. Alternatively, or in addition, the sealing means 30 can include a tear-off flap capable of opening the first access 30 and additional components, such as a lanyard, configured to allow the first access 3 to be closed again non-hermetically. Advantageously, the container 1 comprises at least one pocket 4.

The container 1 could also comprise a plurality of pockets 4.

The pocket 4 therefore defines an internal space 40 or an internal chamber.

The pocket 4 can preferably be opened. Furthermore, it is isolated with respect to the enclosure space 20 or, better said, it is made in such a way that its internal space 40 is isolated with respect to the objects 10 present in the enclosure space 20.

Furthermore, the pocket 4 is accessible from the external with respect to the enclosure space 20. With this proposition it is meant to state that the internal space 40 of the pocket 4 is not accessible from the enclosure space 20 of the casing 2. Access to the pocket 4 takes place, in particular, through a second access 6. The pocket 4 therefore includes a second access 6 which can be made according to various configurations, known to the state of the art.

Preferably, in any case, the second access 6 is at least configured to be opened on command. Therefore, it is not necessary for the second access 6 to be re-closable on command. In particular, preferably, the second access 6 comprises second sealing means 60. The second sealing means 60 can therefore be configured even only to allow the tear-off opening of the second access 6.

The pocket 4 can realize a plurality of configurations.

In a first embodiment, shown in Fig. 2, the internal volume 40 of the pocket 4 is incorporated within the enclosure space 20. In this configuration, the second access

6 is arranged on the membrane 21 and, therefore, accessible from the membrane 21.

In a second embodiment, shown in Fig. 3, the internal volume 40 of the pocket is external to the enclosure space 20. In fact, preferably, the pocket 4 is attached externally to the enclosure space 20 on the membrane 21.

In any case, advantageously, the pocket 4 comprises at least one sanitizing substance 5.

The sanitizing substance 5 is preferably a substance suitable for allowing the sanitation, at least, of the hands of a user. For example, the sanitizer 5 is alcohol gel.

The sanitizing substance 5, therefore, can be contained within the internal space 40 as it is. In this case, preferably, the closure of the second sealing means 60 is hermetic.

Alternatively, the container 1 can include a bottle 7. The bottle 7 can include a sachet or a simple tank with a spout. If present, the bottle

7 preferably comprises the sanitizing substance 5.

Furthermore, it is arranged inside the pocket 4 and can be removed from it, for example through the second access 6.

The operation of the hygienic disposable container 1 previously described in structural terms substantially coincides with the use of the same, as described below.

In fact, the invention comprises a new use of the safety kit 100.

The use of the kit 100 requires a user to carry out a plurality of actions.

Preferably, the use includes at least opening the first access 3 in such a way as to make the objects 10 accessible.

Furthermore, the use includes extracting the objects 10 from the enclosure space 20. Naturally, it is intendedthat the user use the objects 10. These objects 10 can, as already said, be a mask and gloves or food or other objects 10.

After use, preferably, the objects 10 used are reintroduced into the enclosure space 20.

The first access 3 can, therefore, be sealed, hermetically or not depending on the first sealing means 30 included in the container 1.

The use therefore, includes the opening of the pocket 4.

The user can, therefore, use the sanitizing substance 5. The use, in conclusion, preferably provides for the disposal of the kit 100.

The methods and times of use of the sanitizing substance 5, naturally, are influenced by the presence or absence of the bottle 7.

If, in fact, the sanitizing substance 5 is included in the bottle 7, the use includes the extraction of the bottle 7 from the pocket after opening the pocket 4. Furthermore, the use foresees the disposal of the kit 100, with the exception of the bottle 7, before using the sanitizing substance 5.

In conclusion, also the bottle 7 can be disposed of.

The hygienic disposable container 1 according to the invention achieves important advantages. In fact, the hygienic disposable container does not have the sole function of containing the objects 10, but also allows to guarantee the user the sanitizing function necessary to guarantee the exclusion or drastic reduction of the possibility of contamination by bacteria or viruses.

Therefore, the hygienic disposable container allows to guarantee a safe use of the contents of the container 1 and the certainty of avoiding contamination even at the end of use.

The invention is susceptible of variants falling within the scope of the inventive concept defined by the claims. In this context, all the details can be replaced by equivalent elements and the materials, shapes and dimensions can be any.

Claims

1. Hygienic disposable container (1 ) comprising:

- a casing (2) defining at least one enclosure space (20) configured to enable the enclosure of at least one object (10),

- at least one first access (3) designed to enable the introduction and/or removal of said object (10) from said casing (2) and including first hermetic sealing means (30) configured to seal, on command, said enclosure space (20) in relation to the external environment, and characterised in that it comprises

- at least one pocket (4) that can be opened, insulated from said enclosure space (20), accessible from the outside of said enclosure space (20), and including at least one sanitising substance (5).

2. The container (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said casing (2) comprises a membrane (21 ) configured to delimit said enclosure space (20) and said pocket (4) defines an internal space (40) encased inside said enclosure space (20) and defines a second access (6), which can at least be opened on command, accessible from said membrane (21 ).

3. The container (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said casing (2) comprises a membrane (21 ) configured to delimit said enclosure space (20) and said pocket (4) is attached externally to said enclosure space (20) on said membrane (21 ).

4. The container (1 ) according to any of the previous claims, comprising a second access (6) and wherein said second access (6) comprises second sealing means (60) configured to enable said second access (6) to be torn open.

5. The container (1 ) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said sanitising substance (5) is alcohol gel.

6. The container (1) according to any previous claim, comprising a bottle (7) containing said sanitising substance (5), arranged inside said pocket (4) and removable from said pocket (4).

7. A disposable safety kit (100) comprising a container (1) according to any previous claim and a plurality of objects (10) wherein said objects (10) include at least one pair of disposable gloves and a disposable mask or food.

8. A use of a disposable safety kit (100) according to claim 7 comprising:

- opening said first access (3) in such a way as to make said objects accessible (10),

- extracting said objects (10) from said enclosure space (20), - opening said pocket (4),

- using said sanitising substance (5),

- disposing of said kit (100).

9. The use according to claim 8, comprising:

- using said objects (10), - reintroducing said objects (10) used inside said enclosure space (20),

- closing said first access (3).

10. The use according to claim 9 and 6, comprising:

- removing said bottle (7) from said pocket (4) after opening said pocket (4),

- disposing of said kit (100), excluding said bottle (7), before using said sanitising substance (5), and

- also disposing of said bottle (7) following the use of the said sanitising substance (5).