Sterilization container
The described locking mechanism addresses the sealing and handling issues of existing sterilization containers by using a hole-free clinching method and a locking arm that rotates and locks upwards, ensuring secure sealing and easy transport.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/TR2024/050576
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-31
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-04
AI Technical Summary
Existing sterilization containers require drilling holes and riveting for locking mechanisms, which compromises sealing integrity and introduces risks, and lack a seamless locking mechanism that serves as a handle for easy transport.
A locking mechanism with lock slots and a lock shaft that allows the lid to be sealed and locked without drilling, featuring a locking arm that rotates and locks upwards, a lock spring for secure closure, a lid gasket for sealing, and a front plate connected via clinching for information cards without holes.
Ensures secure sealing, easy use, and safe transport without compromising the integrity of the sterilization process, while eliminating the need for drilling and riveting, and providing a handle function.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
[0001]DESCRIPTION STERILIZATION CONTAINER Technical Field The invention relates to a sterilization container used for sterilization, transportation and storage of surgical instruments and medical textiles. The invention particularly relates to a sterilization container that has a lid structure, which is closed in a sealed way on the container base and locked by means of a locking mechanism, and in which cards containing sterilization information can be placed on the container base. Prior Art Sterilization containers, also known as instrument trays or surgical instrument containers, are specially designed sterilization containers used in healthcare to hold and protect surgical instruments during the sterilization process. The main object of sterilization containers used to maintain the sterility of instruments before and after use in surgical procedures is to provide a safe and effective way to sterilize, store and transport surgical instruments and implants. The sterilization container offers several advantages over traditional methods such as wrapping instruments in sterile bands or using separate bags. In the sterilization containers used in the present art, locking mechanisms and systems are used to ensure the seal between the container lid and the container base, to protect the integrity of the sterilization, and to warn the user in case the sterilization integrity is broken with opening of the lid. In the locking mechanisms and systems used in the present applications, the tab that the hinge is locked with, is on a front block with special shape located on the container base. Holes are drilled in the container base to fix this front block to the container. The pins on the front block are passed through these holes and riveted to the container base by pressing from the back. These front blocks are also the parts to which the handles used to carry the sterilization container are connected. Again, information cards are placed in the channels on these front blocks. However, in the present art, there is a need to drill many holes on the container and rivet the front blocks, and there are risks in terms of providing sealing in these areas. Therefore, in the prior art, a sterilization container, which is easy to use, easy to transport, safe and has good sealing properties was needed. In the research carried out in the literature, the document numbered DE102018117045 can be shown as an example for the prior art. Said document relates to the sterile cup unit. In said sterile cup unit, the lid has a closing element that is opened and closed by being driven by the movement of a locking arm. In order for the closing element to move into the locking position, the locking arm needs to be closed by turning. The document numbered US20200281679 can be shown as an example for the prior art. Said document relates to sterile container with closure system. Said container comprises a first container part, a second container part, and at least one closure system arranged on the second container part and rotatable between a closed position in which the first container part and the second container part are locked. In order for the closing system to move to the locking position, the closing arm needs to be closed by turning. As a result, the existence of the above problems and the inadequacy of existing solutions have required a development in the relevant technical field. Purpose of the Invention The invention relates to a sterilization container that eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages and brings new advantages to the relevant technical field. The main purpose of the invention is to present a sterilization container with a lid structure that is closed onto the container base in a sealed way and locked by means of a locking mechanism. The purpose of the invention is to present a sterilization container in which cards containing sterilization information can be placed on the container. Another purpose of the invention is to present a sterilization container that allows the front plates that carrying information layers, to be connected to the container base, without need of drilling any riveting holes on the container base, which sealing problems are eliminated by connecting the front plate slots, which do not need to carry too much load, to the container base with a hole-free clinching method. Another purpose of the invention is to present a sterilization container that does not require a carrying handle by means of the locking arm connected to the lock slots on the container lid, which also serves as a carrying handle. Another purpose of the invention is to present a sterilization container that is easy to use, transport, is safe and has a good sealing property. In order to achieve all of the purposes stated above and that can be derived from the detailed description, the invention is a sterilization container used for the sterilization, transportation and storage of surgical instruments and medical textiles and containing a container base and a lid that is closed on the container base, comprising the following: - two lock slots connected to each other at a certain distance on both short edges of the lid, - a lock shaft located inside the lock slots and extending horizontally between the lock slots, - a locking arm, which is connected between the lock slots by means of the lock shaft, and which rotates through the lock shaft, enters into the slot on the upper edge of the container and closes it, and at the same time moves upwards with the lock shaft and locks the lid into the slot, thus locking the lid on the container, - a locking arm which is connected between the lock slots by means of the lock shaft and closes by entering the slot on the upper edge of the container base by rotating through the lock shaft and at the same time, enables the lid to be locked on the container base by moving upwards with the lock shaft and locking into the slot, - a lock spring, which applies upward pushing force to the lock shaft within the lock slots and enables the locking arm to move upwards with the lock shaft to reach the locked position, - a lid gasket, which is located on the inner surface of the lid edge and provides sealing between the lid and the container base, - a front plate, which is connected to the outer surface of the container base and carries information cards comprising the contents of the sterilization container and sterilization information, - a front plate slot, which is fixed to the outer surface of the container base and ensures that the front plate is connected to the container base. The structural and characteristic features and all the advantages of the invention will be understood more clearly by means of the drawings given below and the detailed description written with references to these drawings. For this reason, the evaluation needs to be made by taking these drawings and detailed description into consideration. Figures to Help Understanding of the Invention Figure 1 is a general view of the sterilization container, which is subject of the invention. Figure 2 is a view of the sterilization container, which is subject of the invention, with its lid open. Figure 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism of the sterilization container, which is the subject of the invention. Figure 4 is a detailed view of the rotation movement of the locking arm of the sterilization container, which is subject of the invention. Figure 5 is a detailed view of the upward movement of the locking arm of the sterilization container, which is the subject of the invention. Figure 6 is a view of the front plate of the sterilization container, which is subject of the invention, mounted on the container. Figure 7 is a view of the front plate and information cards of the sterilization container, which is the subject of the invention. Figure 8 is a view of the sterilization container, which is subject of the invention, with the lid closed and safety locks installed. Description of Part References 10. Container base 11. Slot 20. Lid 30. Lock slot 31. Safety lock channel 40. Lock shaft 50. Locking arm 60. Lock spring 70. Lid gasket 80. Front plate 81. Front plate clamp 90. Front plate slot 100. Front plate spring 110. Information card 120. Safety lock Detailed Description of the Invention In this detailed description, the preferred alternatives of the sterilization container, which is subject of the invention are described only for a better understanding of the subject and without any limiting effect. In Figure 1, it is given a general view of the sterilization container, which is subject of the invention. Accordingly, the sterilization container in its most basic form, comprises a container base (10) in rectangular form, a lid (20) closed on the container base (10), two lock slots (30) connected to each other at a certain distance to both short edges of the lid (20), a lock shaft (40) extending on the horizontal axis inside the lock slots (30), a locking arm (50), which closes by entering to the slot (11) on the upper edge of the container base (10) by making a rotating movement between the lock slots (30) by means of the lock shaft (40), and at the same time locks into the slot (11) by moving upwards, a lock spring (60), which applies upward pushing force to the lock shaft (40) within the lock slots (30) and enables the locking arm (50) to move upwards together with the lock shaft (40), a lid gasket (70), which is located on the inner surface of the lid (20) edge and provides sealing between the lid (20) and the container base (10), a front plate (80), which is connected to the outer surface of the container base (10) and carries information cards (110) containing the contents of the sterilization container and sterilization information, a front plate slot (90), which is fixed to the outer surface of the container base (10) by clinching method without holes and enables the connection of the front plate (80) to the container base (10), a front plate spring (100), which compresses the front plates (80) into the front plate slot (90), a safety lock (120), which is attached to the lock slot (30) when the locking arm (50) is in the closed position and allows it to be checked whether the sterilization container is opened after the sterilization process. The sterilization container, which is subject of the invention basically consists of a container base (10) in a rectangular form that enables the sterilization, transportation and storage of surgical instruments and medical textiles placed inside and a lid (20) that is closed in a sealed way on the container base (10) as seen in Figure 2. In order to lock the lid (20) after it is closed on the container base (10), a locking mechanism is preferably arranged on both short edges of the lid (20). The locking mechanism that allows the lid (20) to be locked on the container base (10) basically has two lock slots (30) located at a certain distance from each other on both short sides of the lid (20) and the locking arm (50), which closes by entering to the slot (11) on the upper edge of the container base (10) by making a rotating movement between the lock slots (30) by means of the lock shaft (40), and at the same time locks into the slot (11) by moving upwards, the lock spring (60) that allows the locking arm (50) to move upwards together with the lock shaft (40) within the lock slots (30). The lock slots (30) are connected to each other by screwing them at a certain distance on both short edges of the lid (20), as seen in Figure 2. As seen in Figure 3, a lock spring (60) is placed into the lock slots (30), into a lock shaft (40) extending horizontally between the lock slots (30) and the lock slots (30), on the vertical axis under the lock shaft (40). Said lock shaft (40) rotates within the lock slots (30) and can also move up and down by means of the lock spring (60). The lock shaft (40) is passed through a hole on the locking arm (50) placed between the lock slots (30), and connects the locking arm (50) between the lock slots (30) and thus enables the locking arm (50) to rotate and move up and down. The locking arm (50) is opened and closed between the lock slots (30) by making a rotational movement on the axis of the lock shaft (40) by means of the lock shaft (40). The locking arm (50) enters to the slot (11) on the upper edge of the container base (10) when it is in the closed position, as seen in Figure 5. Locking of the locking arm (50) in the closed position is achieved by the lock spring (60) applying upward pushing force to the lock shaft (40). When the lock spring (60) pushes the lock shaft (40) upwards, the locking arm (50) moves up together with the lock shaft (40) and is locked by entering to the slot (11) on the upper edge of the container base (10). The pushing force applied by the lock spring (60) to the lock shaft (40) is eliminated by applying pressure on the locking arm (50) by the user to move the locking arm (50) from the locked position to the unlocked position, and thus, with the upward movement of the locking arm (50) and the locking shaft (40), the locking arm (50) becomes free from the slot (11). Then, by turning the locking arm (50) back, the locking arm (50) is opened. The locking arm (50) not only ensures that the lid (20) is locked onto the container base (10), but also functions as a handle during transportation of the sterilization container. There is a lid gasket (70) located on the inner surface of the lid (20) edge and providing sealing between the lid (20) and the container base (10). When the locking arm (50) is in the locked position, it forms a tension force on the lid gasket (70) and thus the sealing of the sterilization is ensured. A front plate (80) is connected to the outer surface of the container base (10), as seen in Figure 6. Said front plate (80) carries information cards (110) comprising the contents of the sterilization container and sterilization information, as seen in Figure 7. Accordingly, front plate clamps (81) are formed on the front plate (80). Said front plate clamps (81) clamp the information cards (110) onto the front plate (80) and ensure that the information cards (110) are fixed on the front plate (80) so that they can be inserted and removed. In order to fix the front plate (80) on the outer surface of the container base (10), the front plate slot (90) is fixed to the outer surface of the container base (10) with the hole-free clinching method, as seen in Figure 2. The impermeability of the container base (10) is increased by means of the mentioned hole-free clinching method. The front plate slots (90) enable the front plate (80) to be fixed on the outer surface of the container base (10) as seen in Figure 6. The front plate spring (100) is placed inside the front plate slot (90) to prevent the front plate (80) from falling from the front plate slots (90). The front plate spring (100) ensures that the front plate (80) is compressed into the front plate slot (90), preventing it from falling. In order to check whether the sterilization container is opened after the sterilization process, at least one safety lock channel (31) is formed on the lock slot (30) and a safety lock (120) is placed in said safety lock channel (31) while the locking arm (50) is in the closed position. If the locking arm (50) is opened, these safety locks (120) break and fall from their places, thus indicating that the lid (20) has been opened.
Claims
CLAIMS 1. A sterilization container used for sterilization, transportation and storage of surgical instruments and medical textiles and consisting of a container base (10) and a lid (20) closed on the container base (10), characterized by comprising: - two lock slots (30) connected to each other at a certain distance on both short edges of the lid (20), - a lock shaft (40) located inside the lock slots (30) and extending horizontally between the lock slots (30), - a locking arm (50) which is connected between the lock slots (30) by means of the lock shaft (40) and closes by entering the slot (11) on the upper edge of the container base (10) by rotating through the lock shaft (40) and at the same time, enables the lid (20) to be locked on the container base (10) by moving upwards with the lock shaft (40) and locking into the slot (11), - a lock spring (60), which applies upward pushing force to the lock shaft (40) within the lock slots (30) and enables the locking arm (50) to move upwards with the lock shaft (40) to reach the locked position, - a lid gasket (70), which is located on the inner surface of the lid (20) edge and provides sealing between the lid (20) and the container base (10), - a front plate (80), which is connected to the outer surface of the container base (10) and carries information cards (110) comprising the contents of the sterilization container and sterilization information, - a front plate slot (90), which is fixed to the outer surface of the cub (10) and ensures that the front plate (80) is connected to the container base (10).
2. The sterilization container according to claim 1, characterized by comprising; a front plate spring (100), which is located in said front plate slot (90) and prevents the front plates (80) from falling by compressing them into the front plate slot (90).
3. The sterilization container according to claim 1, characterized by comprising; at least one safety lock channel (31), which is located on thementioned lock slot (30) and allows at least one safety lock (120) to be placed on the lock slot (30) while the locking arm (50) is in the closed position, in order to check whether the sterilization container is opened after the sterilization process.
4. The sterilization container according to claim 1, characterized by comprising; a front plate clamp (81), which is located on said front plate (80) and which clamps the information cards (110) on the front plate (80) and ensures that the information cards (110) are fixed on the front plate (80) so that they can be inserted and removed.
5. The sterilization container according to claim 1, characterized in that said front plate slot (90) is fixed on the outer surface of the container base (10) with the hole-free clinching method.
Citation Information
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