Container with enhanced sealing performance

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sealed container (1), comprising: a flange (5, 6), which defines a through hole with an axial axis in the container; a door (7), which is movably mounted on the flange (5, 6); and a first annular seal (13), which is located between the flange (5, 6) and the door (7), the flange, the door and the first seal forming a sealed connection device, which can be connected to a complementary connection device on a sterile box by a bayonet connection member to allow aseptic communication between the sealed container and the sterile box, characterized in that the container (1) includes a protective cover (20) on the connection device, which is strongly clamped to the container, and characterized in that the container further includes a contact pressure member, which is arranged between the protective cover (20) and the connection device so as to apply a contact pressure proportional to the clamping force to the connection device in the axial direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of containers intended to be connected to a sterile cabinet in a sealed manner so that the respective volumes of the container and the sterile cabinet are in communication without contact with the external environment.

[0002] The present invention more specifically relates to a sealed container, which includes: a flange, which defines a through opening with an axial axis in the container; a door, which is movably mounted on the flange; and a first annular seal, which is located between the flange and the door, and the flange, the door and the first annular seal form a sealed connection device, which can be connected to a complementary connection device on a sterile box by a bayonet connection component to allow sterile communication between the sealed container and the sterile box.

[0003] The sealed container according to the present invention is specifically, but not exclusively, intended for the transfer of hazardous products such as certain pharmaceuticals, biotechnological, biological, chemical or radioactive products, the transfer of components such as stoppers, bottles, plungers, syringes, the transfer of environmental control devices such as culture medium racks, particle counters, the transfer of cleaning systems, the transfer of liquids, powders, tools, the transfer of waste to the outside of the box and / or the transfer of any elements required for the production or maintenance of a production line. Background Art

[0004] In a known manner, the connection of a sealed container to an aseptic box for the transfer of a product, without damaging the connection and the seal, is carried out using two connection means, one of which is provided on the container and the other on the box. Each connection means comprises a flange which delimits a through opening in the interior space of the container or box, respectively, each of which is closed by a door. The flange and the door of the container can be connected to the flange and the door of the box, respectively, by means of a bayonet connection and can be separated from each other under the effect of a rotational movement of the associated flange and the door of the container relative to the flange and the door of the box to which the associated flange and the door of the container are attached.

[0005] Overall, the connection means are satisfactory from a sealing point of view. However, it cannot be excluded that these means may be damaged during transport, storage and / or handling and that the sealing of the container will therefore change.

[0006] The present invention aims to solve this problem by proposing a sealed container that can be connected to a sterile box, making it possible to enhance the sealing of the container while ensuring that the container does not undergo any changes from the point of view of sealing during transportation and / or storage. Summary of the invention

[0007] To this end, the present invention proposes a sealed container, the sealed container comprising: a flange, the flange defining a through opening with an axial axis in the container; a door, the door being movably mounted on the flange; and a first annular seal, the first annular seal being located between the flange and the door, the flange, the door and the first annular seal forming a sealed connection device, the sealed connection device being connectable to a complementary connection device on a sterile box by a bayonet connection member, so as to allow aseptic communication between the sealed container and the sterile box. The container is notable in that the container comprises: a protective cover on the connection device, the protective cover being strongly clamped to the container; and a contact pressure member, the contact pressure member being arranged between the protective cover and the connection device, so as to apply a contact pressure proportional to the clamping force to the connection device in the axial direction.

[0008] Advantageously, the contact pressure member is arranged to exert a contact pressure on the door.

[0009] Provision can also be made for the contact pressure member to be arranged to exert contact pressure only on the first seal or also on the door.

[0010] Advantageously, the protective cover comprises an inner surface provided with an annular boss forming the pressure member. The annular boss may be continuous or discontinuous.

[0011] Advantageously, the pressure member is formed by a second annular seal inserted between the protective cover and the connecting device.

[0012] Advantageously, the container has a container body formed by a flexible membrane fixed to the flange, the flange consisting of two parts separate from each other, the two parts respectively forming an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve, the flexible membrane being held engaged between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve.

[0013] Advantageously, the container comprises a ring for clamping the outer sleeve onto the inner sleeve, the ring being arranged to grip the portions of the outer and inner sleeves between which the flexible membrane is interposed.

[0014] Advantageously, the protective cover comprises a flexible tab which extends in the direction of the clamping ring and engages with the clamping ring in an irreversible manner.

[0015] Advantageously, the container comprises a third annular seal housed in an inner peripheral groove of the outer sleeve, the flexible membrane extending between the annular seal and the inner sleeve.

[0016] Advantageously, the outer sleeve has a lower skirt comprising longitudinal grooves extending from the lower end edge of the outer sleeve and evenly distributed over the periphery of the sleeve so as to form elastic tabs capable of exerting a clamping force on the inner sleeve.

[0017] Advantageously, said flexible membrane and said connecting means are made of bacteriostatic material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] - Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a container according to the invention, the protective cover being shown unassembled;

[0020] - Figure 1a Shows Figure 1 A view of a container equipped with a protective cover;

[0021] - Figure 2 Shows Figure 1a A cross-sectional view of a container;

[0022] - Figure 3 Shows Figure 2 Detailed view of the container;

[0023] - Figure 4 Shows Figure 2 A partial view of the outer sleeve 5 of the connection device of the container;

[0024] - Figure 5 Shows Figure 2 Another detail view of the container;

[0025] - Figure 6 A bottom view of a protective cover of a container is shown;

[0026] - Figure 7 Shows Figure 2 Detailed view of the container;

[0027] - Figure 7a Repeated Figure 7 Detailed view of the protective cover, the tabs are shown as deformed;

[0028] - Figure 8 A detail view of an alternative embodiment of a container according to the invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] about Figures 1 to 6, describes a container 1 according to one embodiment of the invention. The container 1 shown comprises a flexible membrane 2 arranged to define an internal space 3 and to define an axial through opening allowing the internal space 3 to communicate with the outside of the membrane. The container also comprises sealing connection means arranged to allow the flexible membrane 2 to be connected to complementary connection means of a sterile box. The connection is made in a way that ensures sterile communication between the internal space 3 of the container 1 and the internal space of the box.

[0030] The connection device comprises a flange to which the flexible membrane is attached, the flange defining a through opening of the flexible membrane. The connection device further comprises a removable door 7 attached to the flange in order to close the through opening. Advantageously, the flange and the door 7 are connected to each other by means of notches and lugs supported by the flange and the door, respectively.

[0031] In the example shown, the flange is made of two parts distinct from one another, a first part forming a so-called outer sleeve and a second part forming a so-called inner sleeve, between which the flexible membrane extends. The inner sleeve 6 comprises a notched area 64 adjacent to the bearing recess, which is arranged to cooperate with a complementary notch 54 provided on the inner face 50 of the outer sleeve 5. Figure 4 In the advantageous configuration shown, the outer sleeve 5 comprises a lower skirt 10, which comprises longitudinal grooves 11 extending from the lower end edge of the sleeve. These longitudinal grooves 11 are advantageously evenly distributed over the periphery of the sleeve. The longitudinal grooves thus define elastic tabs 12, which are able to exert a uniform clamping force over the entire periphery of the inner sleeve 6 when the outer sleeve 5 is mounted on the inner sleeve 6. The elastic tabs 12 comprise components that are mutually associated with the clamping member described below and the inner sleeve 6, respectively. In the example shown, the components that are mutually associated with the clamping member and the inner sleeve 6, respectively, consist of a thread 53 and a notch 54. The clamping member is in the form of an outer clamping ring 9, which comprises an internal thread 90, the shape of which is complementary to the thread 53 provided on the outer face 52 of the outer sleeve 5. The clamping member is arranged to grip the portion of the outer sleeve 5 and the inner sleeve 6 between which the flexible membrane 2 is interposed.

[0032] The container 1 further comprises an annular seal 8 which is received in a peripheral groove formed on the inner face 50 of the outer sleeve 5 and the outer face 60 of the inner sleeve 6. The annular seal defines a flange / bag seal. Figure 3As shown, the flexible membrane 2 remains gripped between the annular seal 8 and the inner sleeve 6. In order to improve the retention of the flexible membrane 2 between the two sleeves forming the flange, the inner sleeve 6 comprises an outer face provided with bearing recesses, which are opposite to the peripheral grooves of the outer sleeve 5. Thus, when the outer sleeve 5 is clamped on the inner sleeve 6, the annular seal 8 presses the flexible membrane 2 at the bearing recesses, thereby ensuring improved engagement of the flexible membrane 2.

[0033] The container 1 further comprises an annular seal 13 supported by the flange. The annular seal defines a door / flange seal. When the door is in a position closing the through opening, the annular seal 13 is accommodated in the space defined by the outer sleeve 5, the inner sleeve 6 and the door 7. Advantageously, the annular seal 13 has a cross-section of a shape matching the area it is accommodated in. In the illustrated embodiment, the annular seal 13 has an L-shaped cross-section.

[0034] According to the invention, the container comprises a protective cover 20 of the connection device, which is strongly clamped to the flanges 5, 6. In the embodiment shown, the protective cover 20 comprises a cover part 21 placed opposite the front side of the container, at the periphery of which two tabs 22, 23 extend in the direction of the clamping ring 9. "Front side" means the face of the container with respect to its connection to the tank. In other words, the front side is the face of the container opposite the tank in order to connect the container to the tank.

[0035] Each tab 22, 23 is provided at its free end with a shoulder 220, 230, which is formed by a material projection which in the example shown extends radially on opposite sides of the cover portion 21. The tabs 22, 23 advantageously extend substantially parallel to the axial axis in the direction of the clamping ring 9 and respectively pass through an associated hole 92, 93 formed in said clamping ring 9, so that the shoulders 220, 230 are located below the clamping ring 9. Thus, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, clamping of the protective cap 20 involves engaging the shoulders 220 , 230 of the tabs 22 , 23 on the rear support edge of the clamping ring 9 defining the hole.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, the protective cap 20 comprises two clamping tabs 22, 23 located diametrically opposite each other. This is an exemplary embodiment; the number and distribution of the tabs may vary depending on the size of the container opening.

[0037] The protective cover 20 further comprises a contact pressure member arranged between the protective cover 20 and the connecting device so as to apply a contact pressure proportional to the clamping force to the first seal 13 in the axial direction. In the illustrated example, the pressure member is formed by an annular boss 24 on the inner face 210 of the covering portion 21. Therefore, the annular boss 24 is arranged to be placed facing the door / flange seal 13 when the protective cover 20 is placed on the container. In this embodiment, the pressure member is formed integrally with the protective cover 20. According to a variant embodiment, the pressure member can be composed of additional parts such as a seal arranged between the protective cover 20 and the door / flange seal 13. In the described embodiment, the annular boss is continuous. According to a variant embodiment, a discontinuous boss forming different pressure points can be provided.

[0038] Advantageously, the tabs 22 , 23 are arranged so that the protective cap 20 can be removed by deformation of the tabs. To this end, the tabs each have a V-shaped notch arranged opposite the shoulders 220 , 230 . Figure 7 and 7a A detailed view of the tabs thus arranged is shown, showing only the tab 22 and its notch 221. According to a variant embodiment, provision can also be made to score the tabs 22, 23 at the notch. Thus, depending on the material used, the brittleness obtained by the notch allows a local deformation of the tabs 22, 23 or a tab breakage at the notch.

[0039] Due to the arrangement of the components of the connection device, the connection device is assembled by simply clamping said components to each other. To manufacture the container 1, the portion of the flexible membrane located on the side of the through-opening will be arranged to be placed between the outer sleeve 5 and the inner sleeve 6. The clamping will be effective by clamping the ring 9 on the inner sleeve 6, so that the tabs 12 grip on the inner sleeve 6. The flexible membrane 2 can be disassembled by unscrewing the clamping ring 9 and releasing the outer sleeve 5 from the inner sleeve 6. However, the disassembly of the flexible membrane can only be carried out after removing the protective cover 20.

[0040] The flexible membrane 2 and the connecting means are advantageously made of antibacterial material. The seals 8 and 13 are made of silicone material or other material that minimizes residual magnetism. Provision can also be made for the seals to be made of antibacterial material.

[0041] In the embodiment just described, the contact pressure member is arranged to exert a contact pressure on the seal. Figure 8The variant embodiment shown may provide for the contact pressure member to be arranged to exert contact pressure on the door 7. As mentioned above, the pressure member may be formed by a continuous or discontinuous annular boss 24, which is arranged at the inner face 210 of the cover portion 21 and is arranged to be placed opposite the door 7 when the protective cover 20 is placed on the container. The pressure member may also be supported by an additional part (seal or other) arranged between the protective cover 20 and the door 7. In the embodiment described, the annular boss is continuous.

[0042] The foregoing describes the present invention by way of example. It should be appreciated that those skilled in the art can generate various variant embodiments of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sealed container (1), include: a flange (5, 6) defining a through opening in the container having an axial axis; a door (7) movably mounted on the flange (5, 6); a first annular seal (13) located between the flange (5, 6) and the door (7), the flange, the door and the first annular seal forming a sealed connection, and a bayonet connection member for connecting the sealed connection to a complementary connection on a sterile box so as to allow sterile communication between the sealed container and the sterile box, Characterized in that the container (1) comprises: - a protective cover (20) on the sealing connection, the protective cover (20) being firmly clamped onto the container, - a contact pressure member arranged between the protective cover (20) and the sealing connection device so as to apply a contact pressure proportional to the clamping force to the sealing connection device in the axial direction; The pressure member is formed integrally with the protective cover (20); the pressure member is composed of an annular boss formed on the inner surface of the protective cover (20); and the pressure member is configured to directly apply contact pressure to the sealing connection device.

2. The sealed container (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The contact pressure member is arranged to apply a contact pressure to the door.

3. The sealed container (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, It is characterized in that The contact pressure member is arranged to apply a contact pressure to the first annular seal (13).

4. The sealed container (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The annular boss is discontinuous.

5. The sealed container (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, It is characterized in that The sealed container has a container body formed by a flexible membrane (2) fixed to the flange, the flange is composed of two parts separated from each other, the two parts respectively forming an outer sleeve (5) and an inner sleeve (6), and the flexible membrane (2) is maintained in engagement between the outer sleeve (5) and the inner sleeve (6).

6. The sealed container (1) according to claim 5, It is characterized in that The sealed container comprises a ring (9) for clamping the outer sleeve (5) onto the inner sleeve (6), the ring being arranged to grip the portions of the outer sleeve (5) and the inner sleeve (6) between which the flexible membrane is interposed.

7. The sealed container (1) according to claim 6, It is characterized in that The protective cover (20) comprises flexible tabs (22, 23) which extend in the direction of the ring (9) and engage therewith in an irreversible manner.

8. The sealed container (1) according to claim 5, It is characterized in that The sealed container comprises a third annular seal (8) housed in an inner peripheral groove of the outer sleeve (5), the flexible membrane (2) extending between the third annular seal (8) and the inner sleeve (6).

9. The sealed container (1) according to claim 5, It is characterized in that The outer sleeve (5) comprises a lower skirt (10), which comprises longitudinal grooves (11) extending from the lower end edge of the outer sleeve (5) and evenly distributed on the periphery of the sleeve to form elastic tabs (12) for applying clamping force to the inner sleeve (6).

10. The sealed container (1) according to claim 5, It is characterized in that The flexible membrane (2) and the sealing connection device are made of antibacterial material.

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