Sealed container including means for allowing a removable connection to a housing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sealed container (1), comprising: a container body (2), which has a through hole (8) defined by a flange and closed by a removable door (7) mounted on the flange; an annular seal (13), which is located between the flange and the door (7), the flange, the door (7) and the seal forming a complementary connection device that can be connected to a sterile shell by means of a bayonet connection member to allow aseptic communication between the sealed container and the sterile shell, characterized in that the seal (13) includes an annular attachment protrusion (130) on its inner circumference for attaching the door (7) to the flange inserted into a recess (70) on the door (7).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of containers intended to be connected in a sealed manner to a sterile enclosure so as to allow communication of their respective volumes without contact with the external environment.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a sealed container comprising a container body having a through hole defined by a flange and closed by a removable door mounted on the flange; an annular seal located between the flange and the door, the flange, the door and the seal forming a complementary connection device that can be connected to a sterile shell by means of a bayonet connection member so as to allow aseptic communication between the sealed container and the sterile shell.

[0003] The sealed container according to the invention is particularly but not exclusively used for transferring hazardous products such as certain pharmaceutical, biotechnological, biological, chemical or radioactive products, transferring components such as stoppers, bottles, pistons, syringes, transferring environmental control devices such as culture medium racks, particle counters, transferring cleaning systems, transferring liquids, powders, tools, transferring waste materials outside the housing and / or transferring 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 a sterile housing for transferring a product without damaging the connection and the seal is carried out using two connecting devices, one of which is equipped with the container and the other with the housing. Each connecting device comprises a flange defining a through hole in the internal volume of the container or housing, each through hole being closed by a door. The flange and the door of the container can be connected to the flange and the door of the housing, respectively, by a bayonet connection 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 housing to which it is attached. Therefore, respectively, the flange and the door of the container and the housing are respectively provided with a notch and an internal or external lug. During the rotational movement, the container door is separated from the associated flange.

[0005] These connection devices are generally satisfactory. However, the friction generated during the rotational movement to lock the door to the flange has the drawback of generating particles capable of inducing contamination within the enclosed volume and of causing rupture of the connection seal. Furthermore, once the door is separated from the internal lugs of the flange that ensure its clamping, these lugs extend into the through-holes, so that the transfer of the assembly can sometimes be hampered by these lugs.

[0006] The present invention aims to remedy these problems by proposing a sealed container that limits the emission of particles that tend to create contamination of the enclosed volume during the assembly of the door to the associated flange of the container.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a sealed container that provides an optimized through hole and a stable and durable seal between the container and the housing to which it is connected. Summary of the invention

[0008] To this end, the present invention proposes a sealed container, which includes a container body, which has a through hole defined by a flange and closed by a removable door mounted on the flange; an annular seal, which is located between the flange and the door, the flange, the door and the seal forming a complementary connection device that can be connected to a sterile shell by means of a bayonet connection member so as to allow a sealed connection device for aseptic communication between the sealed container and the sterile shell, the container being notable in that it includes an annular attachment protrusion for attaching the door to the flange inserted into a recess on the door provided for this purpose.

[0009] The door is thus assembled to the flange of the container by simple clamping and is disassembled in the same way by loosening the clamping.

[0010] By thus avoiding the rotational movement imposed by the bayonet connection implemented in the containers of the prior art, the generation of polluting particles is avoided. The attachment lug also has the advantage of occupying less space than the lug of the flange. It therefore makes it possible to provide an increased passage diameter and thus facilitate the passage of the assembly and reduce the risk of damage to the assembly during its transfer.

[0011] According to a particular embodiment, the annular attachment protrusion is provided on the inner circumference of the flange.

[0012] According to another embodiment, the annular attachment protrusion is offset on the seal. Thus, the protrusion is arranged on the inner circumference of the seal. Attachment of the door to the flange is thus performed by means of the seal.

[0013] Advantageously, the flange consists of two separate coaxial flange bodies, one of which defines an outer flange body arranged to allow connection of the container body to a complementary shell, and the other flange body defines an inner flange body, the flange bodies being arranged relative to each other to define an annular gap space therebetween in which the seal is accommodated.

[0014] Advantageously, the annular attachment protrusion is provided on the inner circumference of the inner flange body.However, in the case where the annular attachment protrusion is offset on the seal, the seal and the inner flange body are advantageously arranged so that the attachment protrusion rests on the front end of the inner flange body.

[0015] Advantageously, the container comprises anti-rotation means preventing rotation of the door (7) on the flange. According to a preferred variant, the projection has a profile arranged to ensure that rotation of the door on the flange is prevented.

[0016] Advantageously, the seal has a notched face portion intended to come into contact with the door.

[0017] Advantageously, said seal comprises means for inter-associating with said flange.

[0018] Advantageously, the seal has at least one contact surface with at least one of the flange bodies, the contact surface having a recess that cooperates with a complementary recess provided on a surface placed opposite to the flange body, the recess of the contact surface of the seal and the complementary recess forming a mutually associated device.

[0019] Advantageously, the outer flange body comprises an inner peripheral rim located adjacent said seal.

[0020] Advantageously, said container body is formed by a flexible membrane fixed to said flange, said flexible membrane being held engaged between said outer flange body and said inner flange body.

[0021] It may also be provided that the outer flange body has a lower lateral edge comprising longitudinal grooves extending from the lower end edge of the outer flange body and uniformly distributed above the periphery of the flange body so as to form elastic tabs capable of applying a clamping force to the inner flange body. It is also possible for the container to include a clamping ring for clamping the outer flange body on the inner flange body, which is arranged to clamp the parts of the outer flange body and the inner flange body between which the flexible membrane is inserted. Advantageously, the container comprises an additional annular seal housed in a peripheral groove provided on the inner face of the outer flange body, the flexible membrane extending between the additional annular seal and the inner flange body. These features, alone or in combination with one another, make it possible to improve the mechanical strength of the container and ensure an optimal seal. These features also allow the container to be produced simply and quickly without the risk of deterioration of the membrane and contamination of the contents of the latter.

[0022] Advantageously, the container is made entirely or partially of a bacteriostatic material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of a container according to the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of a container;

[0026] Figure 3 Show Figure 2 A detail view of a container;

[0027] Figure 4 Show Figure 2 A partial view of an external flange body of a connection device of a container;

[0028] Figure 5 Shown is a descent system for component transfer Figure 2 Container;

[0029] Figure 6 Show Figure 5 A detail view of a container;

[0030] Figure 7 A longitudinal cross-sectional view is shown of another embodiment of a container according to the invention.

[0031] For greater clarity, identical or similar elements of the various embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals in all drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] about Figures 1 to 6 , a container 1 is described according to a first embodiment of the invention. The illustrated container 1 comprises a flexible membrane 2 arranged to define an internal volume 3 and a through hole allowing the internal volume 3 to be placed in communication with the outside of the membrane.

[0033] The container further comprises sealing connection means arranged to allow the flexible membrane 2 to be connected to complementary connection means of the sterile housing. The connection is made in this way so as to ensure aseptic communication between the internal volume 3 of the container 1 and the internal volume of the housing. The connection means comprises a flange on which the flexible membrane is attached, the flange defining a through hole of the flexible membrane. The connection means further comprises a removable door 7 attached to the flange so as to close the through hole.

[0034] According to the invention, the flange is composed of two sheets distinct from one another, a first sheet forming a so-called outer flange body and a second sheet forming a so-called inner flange body, between which the flexible membrane extends.

[0035] The inner flange body 6 has a notched area adjacent to the bearing groove, which is arranged to cooperate with a complementary notch provided on the inner face of the outer flange body 5 .

[0036] according to Figure 4In the advantageous configuration described in , the outer flange body 5 comprises a lower flank 10 comprising longitudinal grooves 11 extending from the lower end edge of the flange body. These longitudinal grooves 11 are advantageously evenly distributed over the periphery of the flange body. Thus, they define elastic tabs 12 capable of applying a uniform clamping force over the entire periphery of the inner flange body 6 when the outer flange body 5 is mounted on the inner flange body 6. The elastic tabs 12 comprise means associated with the clamping means and the inner flange body 6 described below, respectively. In the illustrated example, the means associated with the clamping ring consist of a thread and a recess. The clamping means are arranged to clamp the parts of the outer flange body 5 and the inner flange body 6 between which the flexible membrane 2 is inserted. In the illustrated example, the clamping means are in the form of an external clamping ring comprising an internal thread having a shape complementary to the thread provided on the outer face of the outer flange body 5.

[0037] The container 1 further comprises a first annular seal 8 which is received in a peripheral groove formed on the inner face of the outer flange body 5 and the outer face of the inner flange body 6. Figure 3 , the flexible membrane 2 is held clamped between the first annular seal 8 and the inner flange body 6. In order to improve the holding of the flexible membrane 2 between the two flange bodies constituting the flange, the inner flange body 6 comprises an outer face provided with a bearing groove positioned opposite to the peripheral groove of the outer flange body 5. Thus, when the outer flange body 5 is clamped on the inner flange body 6, the first annular seal 8 crushes the flexible membrane 2 at the bearing groove, thereby ensuring improved engagement of the flexible membrane 2.

[0038] The container 1 comprises a second annular seal 13 carried by the flange. It defines a door / flange seal. When the door is in a position to close the through hole, the second annular seal 13 is housed in the space defined by the outer flange body 5, the inner flange body 6 and the door 7. Advantageously, the second annular seal 13 has a cross section of a shape matching the zone in which it is housed. In the illustrated embodiment, the second annular seal 13 has a generally triangular section.

[0039] like Figure 2 and 3 , and according to the invention, the door 7 is held on the flange by means of a second annular seal 13. For this purpose, said seal has an annular attachment projection 130 on its inner peripheral circumference which can be inserted into a recess 70 produced on the outer peripheral edge of the door 7.

[0040] In order to prevent the annular attachment protrusion 130 from collapsing, the second annular seal 13 is arranged with the inner flange body 6 such that the annular attachment protrusion 130 rests on the front end 65 of the inner flange body 6 .

[0041] In order to ensure that the second annular seal 13 is retained between the outer flange body 5 and the inner flange body 6, the latter comprises means interrelated with the outer flange body 5 on the one hand and with the inner flange body 6 on the other hand. In the illustrated embodiment, the interrelated means are in the form of notched zones. Thus, the faces of the seal in contact with the outer flange body 5 and the inner flange body 6 comprise notches 131, 132 cooperating with complementary notches formed on the faces lying opposite the flange bodies. In the illustrated example, the contact face 132 with the inner flange body has in particular a stepped shape in order to ensure an enhanced retention of the second annular seal 13 between the outer flange body 5 and the inner flange body 6. Advantageously, the outer flange body 5 is provided with an inner peripheral rim 55 positioned adjacent to the second annular seal 13, thus ensuring axial retention of the seal, in particular when the door 7 is disassembled. According to the arrangement described above, the second annular seal 13 and its assembly with the flange thus allow eliminating any risk of deformation, twisting and displacement of the second annular seal 13 during production of the connection device and during use of the container.

[0042] Advantageously, the annular attachment boss 130 is arranged to allow docking of the descent system 100 for assembly transfer. Figure 5 and 6 As illustrated in , the lowering system is mounted against the annular attachment boss 130 .

[0043] Due to the arrangement of its component elements, the connection device is assembled by simple clamping of the elements. To manufacture the container 1, the portion of the flexible membrane located on the side of the through hole will be arranged so as to be placed between the outer flange body 5 and the inner flange body 6. The clamping will be effective by clamping the ring 9 on the outer flange body 5 so that the tab 12 is clamped against the inner flange body 6. The flexible membrane 2 can be disassembled by unscrewing the clamping ring 9 and unclamping the outer flange body 5 from the inner flange body 6.

[0044] The flexible membrane 2 and the connecting means are advantageously made of antibacterial material. The annular seals 8 and 13 are made of silicone material or other material that minimizes magnetic remanence. Provision can also be made for the seals to be made of antibacterial material.

[0045] Figure 7Another embodiment of mounting the door 7 on the flange is described. In this embodiment, the flange also includes an outer flange body 5 and an inner flange body 6. However, the annular attachment protrusion 130 is carried by the inner flange body. Advantageously, the face portion 133 of the second annular seal 13 intended to contact the door 7 has a notch 134. The term "notch" means any shape that makes the face of the seal uneven so as to promote friction. The term "notch" therefore includes scratches, serrations, bumps, etc. by extension. This arrangement of the seal and the annular attachment protrusion 130 carried by the inner flange body 6 has the advantage of improving the retention of the door 7 on the flange and jointly strengthening the seal between the door 7 and the inner flange body 6.

[0046] The present invention has been described above by means of examples. It will be appreciated that a person skilled in the art will be able to produce various variant embodiments of the present invention without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sealed container (1), comprising: - a container body having a through opening delimited by a flange and closed by a removable door (7) mounted on said flange, - an annular seal located between the flange and the door (7), - the flange, the door (7) and the annular seal form a sealing connection which can be connected to a sterile housing by means of a bayonet connection member in order to allow sterile communication between the sealed container and the sterile housing, Characterized in that the sealed container (1) comprises an annular attachment protrusion (130) for attaching the door (7) to the flange inserted into a recess (70) of the door (7) provided for this purpose, So as to allow the door (7) to be assembled on the flange by means of clamps and to be disassembled from the flange by releasing the clamps.

2. The sealed container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The annular attachment protrusion (130) is disposed on the inner circumference of the flange.

3. The sealed container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The annular attachment protrusion (130) is disposed on the inner circumference of the annular seal.

4. The sealed container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The flange consists of two separate coaxial flange bodies, one of which defines an outer flange body (5) arranged to allow connection of the container body to a complementary shell, and the other flange body defines an inner flange body (6), the flange bodies being arranged relative to each other to define an annular gap space therebetween in which the annular seal is accommodated.

5. A sealed container (1) according to claim 4 when dependent on claim 2, characterized in that The annular attachment protrusion (130) is provided on the inner circumference of the inner flange body (6).

6. A sealed container (1) according to claim 4 when dependent on claim 3, characterized in that The annular seal and the inner flange body (6) are arranged so that the annular attachment protrusion (130) is placed on the front end (65) of the inner flange body.

7. The sealed container (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that It comprises anti-rotation means for preventing rotation of the door (7) on the flange.

8. The sealed container (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The annular seal has a notched face portion (133) intended to come into contact with the door (7).

9. The sealed container (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The annular seal includes means for inter-associating with the flange.

10. The sealed container (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The annular seal has at least one contact surface with at least one of the flange bodies, and the contact surface is provided with a recess that cooperates with a complementary recess arranged on a surface opposite to the flange body, and the recess of the contact surface of the annular seal and the complementary recess form a mutually associated device.

11. The sealed container (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The outer flange body (5) includes an inner peripheral rim (55) located adjacent to the annular seal.

12. The sealed container (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The outer flange body (5) includes a lower side edge (10), which includes longitudinal grooves (11) extending from the lower end edge of the outer flange body (5) and evenly distributed above the periphery of the outer flange body (5) to form elastic tabs (12) capable of applying a clamping force to the inner flange body (6).

13. The sealed container (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The container body is formed by a flexible membrane (2) fixed to the flange, the flexible membrane (2) being held engaged between the outer flange body (5) and the inner flange body (6).

14. The sealed container (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that It comprises a clamping ring (20) for clamping the outer flange body (5) on the inner flange body (6), the clamping ring being arranged to clamp the parts of the outer flange body (5) and the inner flange body (6) with the flexible membrane interposed therebetween.

15. The sealed container (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that It comprises an additional annular seal housed in a peripheral groove provided on the inner face of the outer flange body (5), the flexible membrane (2) extending between the additional annular seal and the inner flange body (6).

16. The sealed container (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that The sealed container is entirely or partially made of antibacterial material.

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