Packaging with an integrated disinfection system

Abstract

Described herein is a package (10) with an integrated sterilization system, the package (10) comprising a container (20) including a closed top edge (22A) defining at least one compartment (S) for containing an item and an opening (23) through which the compartment (S) is accessible from outside the container (20); and a lid (40) configured to close the opening (23) of the container (20) to prevent access to the compartment from outside, the lid (40) being releasably securable to the top edge (22A) of the container (20). The lid (40) further comprises at least one UV radiation emitter (52) configured to emit UV radiation into the compartment (S) of the container (20); and a battery (53) for powering the at least one UV radiation emitter (52).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to packaging with an integrated sterilization system.

[0002] In particular, the present invention provides - a container having a closed top edge defining at least one compartment for containing an item and an opening through which said compartment is accessible from outside said container; and - a package comprising a lid capable of being releasably secured to the upper edge of the container, the lid being configured to close the opening of the container so as to prevent access to the compartment from the outside.

[0003] In the field of packaging of the types mentioned above, particularly in applications using articles or products that are to be consumed or used in direct contact with the consumer, there is a felt need to ensure that the inside of the package is sterile and remains so after the package is first opened.

[0004] To solve the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention proposes a package with an integrated disinfection system.

[0005] A further object of the present invention is to provide a package with an integrated disinfection system that is able to perform an effective function of disinfection in complete safety for the consumer.

[0006] It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a package with an integrated sanitizing system that is easy to use by the consumer.

[0007] Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a packaging of the above-mentioned type which exhibits a simple construction and reduced costs.

[0008] Generally, the present invention relates to a package having the features set out in claim 1.

[0009] The invention further relates to a method for disinfecting items contained in packaging as claimed in claim 13.

[0010] The claims form an integral part of the teachings provided herein. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearly apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, given purely as non-limiting examples, in which: [Figure 1] 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the packaging described herein. [Figure 2] 2 shows the package of FIG. 1 in an open state. [Figure 3] 2 is a bottom view of the lid of the package of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the packaging of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of the electrical circuitry of a package described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In the following description, various specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. The embodiments may be provided without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, or materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the embodiments.

[0013] The references provided herein are used for convenience only and therefore do not define the scope of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

[0014] Referring to the figures, the packaging described herein is generally designated by reference numeral 10 and comprises a container 20 including at least one compartment S for containing an item, and a lid 40 that can be releasably secured to the container 20 and is configured to prevent access to the compartment S from outside.

[0015] It will be appreciated that the shapes and dimensions of the container 20 and lid 40 shown in the figures are provided by way of example only and may vary depending on the requirements of a particular application.

[0016] Generally, the container 20 comprises a bottom 21 and a sidewall 22 that define a compartment S. The sidewall 22 has a closed upper edge 22A that defines an opening 23 through which the compartment S is accessible from outside the container 20.

[0017] The lid 40 itself comprises a side wall 41 and a top wall 42. The side wall 41 has a bottom edge 41A configured to couple to the top edge 22A of the container 20. To connect the lid 40 to the container 20, fastening means of a releasable type are pre-arranged on the top edge 22A and / or the bottom edge 41A.

[0018] Preferably, the lid 40 can be releasably secured to the container 20 as a result of its movement from the open position to the closed position relative to the container itself; alternatively, the lid 40 can be removed from the container 20 after being moved from the closed position back to the open position.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the two edges 22A and 41A comprise respective threaded portions configured to provide a threaded connection of the lid 40 to the container 20. Alternatively, various types of surface features may be pre-placed on said edges to obtain a bayonet connection or an equivalent type of connection.

[0020] According to an important feature of the packaging described herein, the lid 40 comprises at least one UV radiation emitter 52 configured to emit UV radiation into the compartment S of the container 20, and a battery 53 for powering the emitter 52. In the example shown, the lid 40 comprises four UV radiation emitters 52.

[0021] Preferably, emitter 52 is an emitter of UV-C radiation (having a wavelength in the range between 100 and 280 nm).

[0022] In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one shown, the lid 40 further comprises a control unit 54 configured to activate and / or deactivate the emitter 52 based on a timed disinfection cycle and / or based on an on / off signal coming from the interface module.

[0023] In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one shown, the interface module includes a push button 55 that allows a user to switch the emitter 52 on and / or off.

[0024] In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one shown, the lid 40 further comprises an indicator 56 configured to provide a visual signal of the battery's state of charge. For example, as envisioned in the solution shown, the indicator 56 may comprise a regular row of light sources 56A (e.g., LEDs) pre-arranged to define a scale indicating the battery's charge level; during operation, the number of emitters illuminated simultaneously is proportional to the battery's charge level. Alternatively, a further indicator 57, for example a single light source (e.g., LED), may be configured to signal the active state of the UV radiation emitter 52.

[0025] In one or more preferred embodiments such as the one shown, the lid 40 comprises an internal space S1 at its upper end, in which are housed an emitter 52, a battery 53, and a control unit 54, for example in the form of one or more microcontrollers, and an electronic board 58 carrying indicators 56 and 57 thereon.

[0026] In particular, in one or more preferred embodiments such as the one shown, the top wall 42 of the lid 40 is fitted against the upper edge 43 of the side wall 41; thus, an interior space S1 is obtained, which is closed at the top by a cap 44. The top wall 42 comprises an opening 42A for allowing the emitter 52 to emit radiation into the compartment S for containing an item when the lid 40 is placed on the container 20.

[0027] Similarly, the cap 44 has suitable openings 44A to allow the indicators 56 and 57 to be visible from the outside.

[0028] In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one shown, the bottom 21 and sidewalls 22 of the container 20 define a compartment S for containing an item and have a reflective inner surface configured to reflect UV radiation emitted by the emitter 52 toward the item itself contained inside the compartment S. In this way, the UV radiation emitted by the emitter 52 can also impinge on an item or portion thereof that is not directly facing the emitter 52. Optionally, a reflective inner surface may also be provided on the lid 40.

[0029] The bottom 21 and sidewalls 22 may be coated internally with a reflective layer, for example a layer of aluminum.

[0030] In either case, the container 20 and lid 40 may be made from a variety of materials, such as plastic, metal, wood, cardboard, etc., depending on the requirements of a particular application.

[0031] In order to ensure complete consumer safety of the packaging described herein with regard to the risks of exposure to UV radiation, the packaging described herein is equipped with a switching system designed to allow the emitter 52 to be switched on only when the lid 20 is in its closed position.

[0032] 5, in one or more preferred embodiments such as the one shown, the switching system comprises an electrical circuit 60 mounted in the lid 20, the electrical circuit 60 being connected to the emitter 52 and a battery 63, and being interrupted between at least one first point P1 and one second point P2 of the circuit itself. The switching system further comprises an electrical connection element 62 provided in the container 20 to contact the first point P1 and the second point P2 when the lid is in the closed position, thereby electrically connecting points P1 and P2 to close the circuit 60 and enable power to be supplied to the emitter 52.

[0033] The packaging 10 described herein may comprise a unit for charging a battery, in particular for inductive charging or charging via an electrical cable connection. In particular, in one or more preferred embodiments such as the one shown, the packaging 10 comprises a charging base 64 for inductive charging of the battery 53, on which it is sufficient to place the container 20 with the lid 40 attached to start charging the battery. In this case, the lid 40 is provided with electrical windings (not shown), carried for example by an electronic board 58, which are connected to the battery and which are designed to interact electromagnetically with the charging base 64.

[0034] The operation of the package 10 described above is envisaged when the package is closed, i.e. when the lid 40 is in the closed position, and the emitter 52 is switched on to expose the items contained in the compartment S of the container 20 to the disinfecting action of UV radiation. The control unit 54 may be configured to issue commands for emission cycles of UV radiation of preset duration, possibly at preset time intervals (between one cycle and another).

[0035] Additionally, the consumer can initiate a new cycle whenever he or she desires by pressing a push button 55 provided on the lid 40 .

[0036] Instead, thanks to the switching system described above, the moment the lid 40 is no longer in the closed position, the power supply to the emitters 52 is disabled and therefore they cannot be switched on even if the consumer attempts to switch them on by pressing the push button 55.

[0037] Furthermore, the reflective inner surfaces of the container 20 and the lid 40, on the one hand, allow items or parts thereof located in a hidden position relative to the emitter 52 to be exposed to UV radiation, and on the other hand, ensure that the emitted UV radiation is kept within the packaging and does not escape.

[0038] On the other hand, the high level of safety of the packaging highlighted above makes it possible to use UV radiation of the UV-C type, which is the most effective in terms of the disinfecting action envisaged for the packaging described herein.

[0039] Possible applications of the packaging described herein may relate to the packaging of articles from the tobacco industry, in particular snus, but alternatively may relate to products from the pharmaceutical or cosmetic industry.

[0040] Naturally, without prejudice to the principles of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may differ, even significantly, from those shown herein purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. [Other possible items] [Item 1] - a container (20) having a closed upper edge (22A) defining at least one compartment (S) for containing items and an opening (23) allowing access to said compartment (S) from outside said container (20); and a lid (40) configured to close the opening (23) of the container (20) so as to prevent access to the compartment from the outside, the lid (40) being releasably securable to the upper edge (22A) of the container (20); The lid (40) further comprises - at least one UV radiation emitter (52) configured to emit UV radiation into said compartment (S) of said container (20); and - a battery (53) for powering said at least one UV radiation emitter (52); having A package (10) having an integrated disinfection system. [Item 2] Item 1, wherein the lid (40) can be releasably secured to the upper edge (22A) of the container (20) as a result of its movement from an open position to a closed position, and the packaging (10) further comprises a switching system (60, 62) configured to electrically connect the battery (53) to the at least one UV radiation emitter (52) only when the lid (40) is set on the upper edge (22A) of the container (20) in the closed position. [Item 3] the switching system includes an electric circuit (60) mounted in the lid (40), the electric circuit (60) being connected to the at least one UV radiation emitter (52) and the battery (53) and being interrupted between at least one first point (P1) and one second point (P2) of the circuit (60); 2. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the switching system further comprises an electrical connection element (62) provided on the container (20) that contacts the first and second points (P1, P2) of the circuit (60) when the lid (40) is in the closed position, thereby electrically connecting the first and second points (P1, P2) and closing the electrical circuit (60). [Item 4] 10. The packaging of any one of the preceding items, wherein the lid (40) is configured to be rotatable relative to the container (20) between an open position and a closed position. [Item 5] 10. The packaging of claim 9, wherein the top edge (22A) of the container and the lid (40) each have a threaded portion configured to provide a threaded connection of the lid to the container. [Item 6] Item 10. The packaging of any one of the preceding items, wherein the at least one emitter (52) is an emitter of UV-C radiation. [Item 7] 10. The packaging of claim 9, wherein the container (20) defines the compartment (S) for containing the item and has one or more reflective inner surfaces configured to reflect the UV radiation emitted by the emitter (52) towards the item contained inside the compartment (S). [Item 8] The packaging of any one of the preceding items, wherein the lid (40) has a control unit (54) configured to activate and / or deactivate the UV radiation emitter (52) based on a timed disinfection cycle and / or based on an on / off signal coming from an interface module (55). [Item 9] 10. A packaging according to any one of the preceding items, wherein contained inside the compartment (S) of the container (40) is an article from the tobacco industry, in particular snus. [Item 10] 10. The packaging according to any one of the preceding items, comprising a unit (64) for charging the battery, in particular for inductive charging or charging via an electric cable connection. [Item 11] 10. The packaging according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the lid (40) has an internal space (S1) at its upper end in which the at least one UV radiation emitter (52), the battery (53), and further preferably an electronic board (58) carrying a control unit (54) and at least one visual indicator (56, 57) thereon are housed. [Item 12] Item 12. The packaging according to item 11, wherein the lid (40) has a top wall (42) and a side wall (41), the top wall (42) being lower than an upper edge (43) of the side wall (41), thereby forming the interior space (S1) above the top wall (42), and the lid (40) has a cap (44) configured to close the interior space (S1) in which the electronic board (58) is housed. [Item 13] A method for disinfecting an item contained within a package (10), said package (10) comprising: - a container (20) comprising a closed upper edge (22A) defining at least one compartment (S) for containing said items and an opening (23) through which said compartment (S) is accessible from outside said container (20); and a lid (40) that can be releasably secured to the upper edge (22A) of the container (20), configured to close the opening (23) of the container (20) so as to prevent access to the compartment (S) from the outside; wherein the method comprises: - providing said lid (40) with at least one UV radiation emitter (52) configured to emit UV radiation into said compartment (S) of said container (20); - providing a battery (53) for powering said at least one UV radiation emitter (52); and - activating said at least one UV radiation emitter (52) to emit UV radiation towards said items contained inside said compartment (S) of said container when said lid (40) is attached to said container (20). A method comprising:

Claims

1. a container having a closed upper edge defining at least one compartment for containing an item and an opening allowing access to said compartment from outside said container; and a lid that can be releasably secured to the top edge of the container, the lid being configured to close the opening of the container so as to prevent access to the compartment from the outside; wherein the lid further comprises at least one UV radiation emitter configured to emit UV radiation into said compartment of said container; and a battery for powering said at least one UV radiation emitter; having Packaging with an integrated disinfection system.

2. 2. The package of claim 1, wherein the lid is releasably securable to the top edge of the container as a result of its movement from an open position to a closed position, and the package further comprises a switching system configured to electrically connect the battery to the at least one UV radiation emitter only when the lid is set on the top edge of the container in the closed position.

3. the switching system includes an electrical circuit mounted in the lid, the electrical circuit connected to the at least one UV radiation emitter and the battery, and interrupted between at least one first point and one second point of the electrical circuit; 3. The package of claim 2, wherein the switching system further comprises an electrical connection element provided on the container to contact the first point and the second point of the electrical circuit when the lid is in the closed position, thereby electrically connecting the first point and the second point to close the electrical circuit.

4. 4. The package of claim 1, wherein the lid is configured to be rotatable relative to the container between an open position and a closed position.

5. 4. The package of claim 1, wherein the top edge of the container and the lid each have a threaded portion configured to provide a threaded connection of the lid to the container.

6. The packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one UV radiation emitter is an emitter of UV-C radiation.

7. 4. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the container defines the compartment for containing the item and has one or more reflective inner surfaces configured to reflect the UV radiation emitted by the UV radiation emitter towards the item contained inside the compartment.

8. 4. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a control unit configured to activate and / or deactivate the UV radiation emitter based on a timed disinfection cycle and / or based on an on / off signal coming from an interface module.

9. 4. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein contained inside the compartment of the container are products from the tobacco industry, in particular snus.

10. 4. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a unit for charging the battery, in particular for inductive charging or charging via an electric cable connection.

11. 4. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the lid has an internal space at its upper end in which the at least one UV radiation emitter, the battery and further preferably an electronic board carrying a control unit and at least one visual indicator thereon are housed.

12. 12. The package of claim 11, wherein the lid has a top wall and side walls, the top wall being lower than upper edges of the side walls, thereby providing the interior space above the top wall, and the lid has a cap configured to close the interior space in which the electronic board is housed.

13. 1. A method for sterilizing an item contained within a package, the package comprising: a container comprising a closed upper edge defining at least one compartment for containing said items and an opening through which said compartment is accessible from outside said container; and a lid that can be releasably secured to the top edge of the container, the lid being configured to close the opening of the container so as to prevent access to the compartment from the outside; and the method comprises: - providing said lid with at least one UV radiation emitter configured to emit UV radiation into said compartment of said container; - providing a battery for powering said at least one UV radiation emitter; and - activating said at least one UV radiation emitter to emit UV radiation towards said items contained inside said compartment of said container when said lid is attached to said container. A method comprising:

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