Containers with enhanced sealing properties

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sealed container (1), comprising flanges (5, 6) defining a through passage having an axial axis within the container, a door (7) movably mounted on the flanges (5, 6), and a first annular seal (13) located between the flanges (5, 6) and the door (7), wherein the flanges, the door, and the first seal form a sealed connection device that can be connected to a complementary connection device on the sterile housing by bayonet connection means to enable sterile communication between the sealed container and the sterile housing, wherein the container (1) further comprises a protective cover (20) on the connection device, said protective cover being forcibly clipped onto the container, and wherein the container further comprises contact pressure means, disposed between the protective cover (20) and the connection device, for applying a contact pressure axially to the connection device in proportion to the clipping force.

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] The invention more particularly relates to a sealed container comprising a flange defining a through opening having an axial axis within the container, a door movably mounted on the flange, and a first annular seal located between the flange and the door, the flange, the door and the first seal forming a sealed connection device which can be connected by a bayonet connection means to a complementary connection device on a sterile housing to enable sterile communication between the sealed container and the sterile housing.

[0003] The sealed containers according to the present invention are particularly intended for, but not limited to, the transport of hazardous products such as certain pharmaceutical, biotechnological, biological, chemical, or radioactive products, the transport of components such as stoppers, bottles, plungers, syringes, the transport of environmental control devices such as culture media racks, particle counters, the transport of cleaning systems, the transport of liquids, powders, tools, the transport of waste materials outside of the enclosure, and / or the transport of elements necessary for the production or maintenance of a production line.

[0004] prior art In a known method, the connection of a sealed container to a sterile housing for the transfer of the product without destroying the connection and the seal is performed using two connection devices, one equipped with the container and the other equipped with the housing. Each connection device comprises a flange that delimits a through-opening in the interior space of the container or the housing, respectively, each of the through-openings being closed by a door. The flange and door of the container are connected to the flange and door of the housing, respectively, by a bayonet connection and can be separated from each other under the action of a rotational movement of the associated flange and door of the container relative to the flange and door of the housing to which they are attached.

[0005] Overall, the connection devices are satisfactory from the sealing point of view, however, it cannot be excluded that these devices may be damaged during their transport, storage and / or handling, thus altering the sealing of the container.

[0006] The present invention aims to solve this problem by proposing a sealed container that can be connected to a sterile housing, making it possible to strengthen the sealing of the container while ensuring that the container has not undergone any alterations in terms of sealing during transport and / or storage.

[0007] Subject of the Invention To this end, the invention proposes a sealed container, comprising a flange delimiting a through opening with an axial axis in the container, a door movably mounted on the flange and a first annular seal located between the flange and the door, the flange, the door and the first seal forming a sealed connection device that can be connected by a bayonet connection means to a complementary connection device on the sterile housing to allow a sterile communication between the sealed container and the sterile housing. The container is notable in that it comprises a protective cover on the connection device forcefully clipped onto the container and contact pressure means arranged between the protective cover and the connection device, applying a contact pressure to the connection device in the axial direction proportional to the clipping force.

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

[0009] Contact pressure means may also be provided arranged to exert a contact pressure on the first seal alone or also on the door.

[0010] Advantageously, the protective cover comprises an inner surface provided with an annular boss forming the pressure means, the annular boss being either continuous or discontinuous.

[0011] Advantageously, the pressure means 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 film fixed to a flange, said flange consisting of two parts separated from one another forming an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve respectively, the flexible film remaining 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, arranged to grip the portions of the outer and inner sleeves between which the flexible film is interposed.

[0014] Advantageously, the protective cover comprises a flexible tab extending towards and irreversibly engaging the clamping ring.

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

[0016] Advantageously, the outer sleeve has a lower skirt with longitudinal slots extending from the lower edge of the outer sleeve and evenly distributed around the circumference of said sleeve so as to form elastic tabs capable of exerting a clamping force on the inner sleeve.

[0017] Advantageously, the flexible film and the connection device are made of a 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 invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] [Figure 1]1 shows a schematic perspective view of a container according to the invention, with the protective cover shown unassembled; [Figure 1a] FIG. 2 shows a view of the container of FIG. 1 equipped with a protective cover. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1b shows a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 1a. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the vessel of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 3 shows a partial view of the outer sleeve 5 of the connection device for the container of FIG. 2. [Diagram 5] 3 shows another detailed view of the vessel of FIG. 2. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the protective cover of the container. [Figure 7] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the vessel of FIG. 2. [Figure 7a] 7, in which the tabs of the protective cover are shown deformed. [Figure 8] 1 shows a detailed view of an alternative embodiment of a container according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] With reference to Figures 1 to 6, a container 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is described. The container 1 shown comprises a flexible film 2 arranged to define an interior space 3 and a through opening defining an axial direction, which allows the interior space 3 to be placed in communication with the exterior of the film. The container also comprises a sealed connection device arranged to allow the flexible film 2 to be connected to a complementary connection device of a sterile housing. The connection is made in such a way as to ensure sterile communication between the interior space 3 of said container 1 and the interior space of the housing.

[0021] The connection device comprises a flange to which the flexible film is attached, said flange delimiting a through opening in the flexible film. It further comprises a removable door 7 attached to the flange so as to close the through opening. Advantageously, the flange and the door 7 are attached to each other by a notch and a lug carried by the flange and the door respectively.

[0022] In the example shown, the flange is made up of two distinct pieces, a first piece forming a so-called outer sleeve and a second piece forming a so-called inner sleeve, with a flexible film extending between them. The inner sleeve 6 comprises a notched zone 64 adjacent to a bearing recess arranged to cooperate with a complementary notch 54 provided on the inner surface 50 of the outer sleeve 5. According to an advantageous configuration shown in FIG. 4, the outer sleeve 5 comprises a lower skirt 10 comprising longitudinal slots 11 extending from the lower edge of said sleeve. These longitudinal slots 11 are advantageously evenly distributed around the circumference of said sleeve. They therefore delimit elastic tabs 12 which, when the outer sleeve 5 is mounted on the inner sleeve 6, can exert a uniform clamping force over the entire circumference of the inner sleeve 6. The elastic tabs 12 comprise, respectively, the clamping means described below and the means for interrelating the inner sleeve 6. In the example shown, the means for interrelating the clamping means and the inner sleeve 6, respectively, consist of a screw 53 and a notch 54. The clamping means is in the form of an outer clamping ring 9 having internal threads 90 having a shape complementary to threads 53 on the outer surface 52 of the outer sleeve 5. The clamping means is arranged to grip the portions of the outer sleeve 5 and inner sleeve 6 between which the flexible film 2 resides.

[0023] The container 1 further comprises an annular seal 8 housed in a peripheral groove formed on the inner surface 50 of the outer sleeve 5 and on the outer surface 60 of the inner sleeve 6. It defines a flange / bag seal. As shown in FIG. 3, the flexible film 2 remains gripped between the annular seal 8 and the inner sleeve 6. To improve the retention of the flexible film 2 between the two sleeves constituting the flange, the inner sleeve 6 comprises an outer surface provided with a bearing recess located opposite the peripheral groove of the outer sleeve 5. Thus, when the outer sleeve 5 is clamped onto the inner sleeve 6, the annular seal 8 crushes the flexible film 2 in the bearing recess and ensures an improved engagement of the flexible film 2.

[0024] The container 1 further comprises an annular seal 13 carried by the flange. It defines a door / flange seal. When the door is in a position closing the through opening, the annular seal 13 is housed in a space bounded by the outer sleeve 5, the inner sleeve 6 and the door 7. Advantageously, the annular seal 13 has a cross-section whose shape corresponds to the area in which it is housed. In the embodiment shown, the annular seal 13 has an L-shaped cross-section.

[0025] According to the invention, the container comprises a protective cover 20 of the connection device, which is forcibly clipped onto the flanges 5, 6. In the embodiment shown, the protective cover 20 comprises a covering part 21 placed opposite the front side of the container, on 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 the connection with the housing. In other words, it is the face of the container brought opposite the housing for the connection of said container to the housing.

[0026] Each tab 22, 23 rests at its free end on a shoulder 220, 230 formed by a bulge of material extending radially opposite the covering part 21 in the example shown. The tabs 22, 23 advantageously extend substantially parallel to the axial axis towards the clamping ring 9 and pass through associated openings 92, 93 respectively made in said clamping ring 9 so that the shoulders 220, 230 lie below the clamping ring 9. Thus, as shown in Figure 2, clipping of the protective cover 20 consists in engaging the shoulders 220, 230 of the tabs 22, 23 on the rear bearing rim of the clamping ring 9 which defines the openings.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the protective cover 20 includes two diametrically opposed clipping tabs 22, 23. This is an exemplary embodiment, and the number and distribution of the tabs may vary depending on the dimensions of the container opening.

[0028] The protective cover 20 further comprises contact pressure means arranged between the protective cover 20 and the connection device and exerting a contact pressure on the first seal 13 in the axial direction proportional to the clipping force. In the illustrated example, the pressure means is formed by an annular boss 24 on the inner surface 210 of the covering part 21. The annular boss 24 is therefore 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 means is formed integrally with the protective cover 20. According to variant embodiments, the pressure means may also consist of an additional part, for example a seal, arranged between the protective cover 20 and the door / flange seal 13. In the embodiment described, the annular boss is continuous. According to variant embodiments, discontinuous bosses forming different pressure points may also be provided.

[0029] Advantageously, the tabs 22, 23 are arranged in such a way that deformation of said tabs allows the protective cover 20 to be removed. To do this, they each have a V-shaped notch arranged opposite a shoulder 220, 230. Figures 7 and 7a show a detailed view of a tab arranged in this way, where only the tab 22 and its notch 221 are shown. According to a variant embodiment, it may also be provided that the tabs 22, 23 are scored with the notch. Depending on the material used, the embrittlement obtained via the notch thus allows either a local deformation of the tabs 22, 23 or a breakage of the tabs at the notch.

[0030] Due to the arrangement of its components, the connection device is assembled by simply clipping the elements together. To create the container 1, the parts of the flexible film that lie on the sides of the through opening are arranged so as to be placed between the outer sleeve 5 and the inner sleeve 6. The clamping is effected by clamping the ring 9 onto the inner sleeve 6 and gripping the tab 12 against it. The flexible film 2 can be disassembled by unscrewing the clamping ring 9 and unclipping the outer sleeve 5 from the inner sleeve 6. However, disassembly of the flexible film can only be performed after removing the protective cover 20.

[0031] The flexible film 2 and the connection device are advantageously made of a bacteriostatic material. The seals 8 and 13 are made of a silicone material or other material that minimizes the remanent magnetism phenomenon. The seals may be provided to be made of a bacteriostatic material.

[0032] In the previously described embodiment, the contact pressure means are arranged to exert a contact pressure on the seal. According to a variant embodiment shown in figure 8, the contact pressure means may be provided to be arranged to exert a contact pressure on the door 7. As mentioned above, the pressure means may be formed by a continuous or discontinuous annular boss 24, provided on the inner surface 210 of the covering part 21 and arranged to be placed on the opposite side of the door 7 when the protective cover 20 is placed on the container. These may also be carried by additional parts (such as a seal) arranged between the protective cover 20 and the door 7. In the described embodiment, the annular boss is continuous.

[0033] The present invention has been described above by way of example, it being understood that those skilled in the art are in a position to make various modifications of the invention without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A sealed container (1) comprising flanges (5,6) delimiting a through opening having an axial axis in the container, a door (7) movably mounted on the flanges (5,6), and a first annular seal (13) located between the flanges (5,6) and the door (7), wherein the flanges, the door and the first annular seal form a sealed connection device which can be connected by a bayonet connection means to a complementary connection device on the sterile housing to allow sterile communication between the sealed container and a sterile housing, The container (1), - a protective cover (20) on the connection device, which is forcibly clipped onto the container, - contact pressure means arranged between said protective cover (20) and said connection device, which exert a contact pressure on said connection device in an axial direction proportional to the clipping force; The contact pressure means is integrally formed with the protective cover (20); the contact pressure means is constituted by an annular boss formed on the inner surface of the protective cover (20); 10. A sealed container (1), characterized in that the contact pressure means is arranged to apply a contact pressure directly to the connection device.

2. 2. The sealed container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact pressure means is arranged to exert a contact pressure on the door.

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

4. The sealed container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the annular boss is discontinuous.

5. The sealed container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it has a container body formed by a flexible film (2) fixed to said flange, said flange being composed of two parts separated from each other forming an outer sleeve (5) and an inner sleeve (6) respectively, said flexible film (2) remaining engaged between said outer sleeve (5) and said inner sleeve (6).

6. A sealed container (1) as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is provided with a ring (9) for clamping the outer sleeve (5) on the inner sleeve (6) arranged to grip the portion of the outer sleeve (5) and the portion of the inner sleeve (6) of the flange between which a flexible film is interposed.

7. The sealed container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the protective cover (20) comprises flexible tabs (22, 23) extending towards and irreversibly engaging with the clamping ring (9).

8. The sealed container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a third annular seal (8) accommodated in an internal peripheral groove of the outer sleeve (5) of the flange, a flexible film (2) extending between the third annular seal (8) and the inner sleeve (6) of the flange.

9. The sealed container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the outer sleeve (5) of the flange comprises a lower skirt (10) extending from the lower edge of the outer sleeve (5) and comprising longitudinal slots (11) evenly distributed around the circumference of the outer sleeve so as to form elastic tabs (12) capable of exerting a clamping force on the inner sleeve (6) of the flange.

10. A sealed container (1) described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the flexible film (2) and the connection device are made of bacteriostatic material.

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