A sealed container including a device that allows for a removable connection to the housing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sealed container (1) comprising a container body (2) having a through hole (8) separated by a flange and closed by a removable door (7) attached to the flange, and an annular seal (13) arranged between the flange and the door (7), wherein the flange, door (7) and seal form a sealed connecting device connectable by bayonet connection means to a complementary connecting device on the sterile housing to enable sterile communication between the sealed container and the sterile housing, and wherein the seal (13) includes an annular mounting bead (130) on its inner periphery for mounting the door (7) to the flange inserted into a notch (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 enable their respective volumes to be placed in communication without coming into contact with the external environment.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a sealed container comprising a container body having a through hole separated by a flange and closed by a removable door attached to the flange, and an annular seal disposed between the flange and the door, wherein the flange, door and seal form a sealed connecting device that can be connected by a bayonet connecting means to a complementary connecting device of a sterile housing to enable sterile communication between the sealed container and the sterile housing.

[0003] The sealed container according to the present invention is 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, pistons, 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 outside 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, connecting a sealed container to a sterile housing for transferring a product without destroying the connection and seal is performed using two connecting devices, one equipped with the container and the other equipped with the housing. Each connecting device has a flange that separates a through-hole in the interior volume of the container or housing, respectively, and each through-hole is closed by a door. The flange and door of the container can be connected to the flange and door of the housing, respectively, by a bayonet connection upon rotation of the associated flange and door of the container relative to the flange and door of the housing to which they are attached. Thus, the flange and door of the container and the housing, respectively, have a notch and an internal or external lug. During the rotation, the container door is disengaged from the associated flange.

[0005] These connection devices are generally satisfactory. However, the friction generated during the rotational movement performed to lock the door to the flange has the drawback of destroying the seal of the connection as well as generating particles that can cause contamination in the sealed volume. Furthermore, when the door is released from these lugs, the internal lugs of the flange that secure the door's grip extend into the through-hole, and this can impede the transfer of components.

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

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a sealed container that not only provides an optimized through-hole, but also provides a stable and durable seal between the container and the housing to which it is connected.

[0008] Subject of the Invention To this end, the invention is notable in that it comprises a sealed container comprising a container body having a through hole separated by a flange and closed by a removable door attached to the flange, and an annular seal arranged between the flange and the door, wherein the flange, door and seal form a sealed connecting device which can be connected by bayonet connecting means to a complementary connecting device of the sterile housing to enable sterile communication between the sealed container and the sterile housing, the container including an annular mounting bead for mounting the door to the flange inserted in a notch in the door provided for this purpose.

[0009] In this way, the door can be assembled to the flange of the container by simple clipping and disassembled by similarly unclipping.

[0010] Therefore, by avoiding the rotational movement imposed by the bayonet connections implemented in prior art containers, the generation of contaminating particles is avoided. The mounting bead also has the advantage of taking up less space than a flange lug. This therefore allows for larger passage diameters, thus facilitating the passage of components and reducing the risk of damage to the components during their transfer.

[0011] According to a particular embodiment, an annular mounting bead is provided on the inner periphery of the flange.

[0012] According to another embodiment, the annular mounting bead is offset on the seal, so that it is provided on the inner periphery of the seal, and the mounting of the door to the flange is therefore performed by the seal.

[0013] Advantageously, the flange comprises two separate coaxial flange bodies, one defining an outer flange body arranged to connect the container body to a complementary housing, and the other flange body defining an inner flange body, said flange bodies being arranged relative to one another to define an annular clearance space therebetween in which the seal is received.

[0014] Advantageously, the annular mounting bead is provided on the inner periphery of the inner flange body, however, if the annular mounting bead is offset on the seal, the latter and the inner flange body are advantageously arranged so that the mounting bead rests on the forward end of the inner flange body.

[0015] Advantageously, the container comprises anti-rotation means for preventing rotation of the door (7) on the flange. According to a preferred variant, the bead has a profile arranged to reliably prevent rotation of the door on the flange.

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

[0017] Advantageously, the seal includes means for interconnection with the flange.

[0018] Advantageously, the seal has at least one contact surface with at least one of the flange bodies provided with a notch that cooperates with a complementary notch provided on a face of said flange body opposite to where it is located, the notch on the contact surface of the seal and the complementary notch forming a means of interconnection.

[0019] Advantageously, the outer flange body includes an abutting inner peripheral rim against which the seal is positioned.

[0020] Advantageously, the container body is formed by a flexible film secured to the flanges, the flexible film being held in engagement between the outer flange body and the inner flange body.

[0021] The external flange body may also be provided with a lower skirt extending from the lower edge of the external flange body and including longitudinal slots evenly distributed around the circumference of the flange body to form resilient tabs capable of applying a clamping force to the internal flange body. The container may also be provided with a clamping ring for clamping the external flange body to the internal flange body, the clamping ring being arranged to grip a portion of the external flange body and a portion of the internal flange body into which the flexible film is inserted. Advantageously, the container comprises an additional annular seal housed in a peripheral groove on the inner surface of the external flange body, and a flexible film extending between the additional annular seal and the internal flange body. These features, alone or in combination with each other, can improve the mechanical strength of the container and ensure optimal sealing. They also allow for easy and rapid production of the container without risk of film degradation and contamination of the contents.

[0022] Advantageously, all or part of the container is made of a bacteriostatic material. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] 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.

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic front view of a container according to the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 3 shows a detailed view of the vessel of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 3 shows a partial view of the external flange body of the container connection device of FIG. 2; [Figure 5] 3 shows the container of FIG. 2 equipped with a drop system for the transfer of components. [Figure 6] 6 shows a detailed view of the vessel of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 1 shows a longitudinal section of another embodiment of a container according to the invention;

[0025] For greater clarity, identical or similar elements of the various embodiments are designated by the same reference symbols in all figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] A container 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. The illustrated container 1 comprises a flexible film 2 arranged to define an internal volume 3, and a through hole that enables the internal volume 3 to be placed in communication with the outside of the film.

[0027] The container also comprises a sealing 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 a manner to ensure sterile communication between the interior volume 3 of the container 1 and the interior volume of the housing. The connection device includes a flange to which the flexible film is attached, the flange defining a through hole in the flexible film. It further comprises a removable door 7 attached to the flange to close the through hole.

[0028] According to the invention, the flange is made up of two mutually distinct parts, the first part forming the so-called outer flange body and the second part forming the so-called inner flange body, between which a flexible film extends.

[0029] The inner flange body 6 has a notched zone adjacent to the bearing recess arranged to cooperate with a complementary notch provided on the inner surface of the outer flange body 5 .

[0030] According to an advantageous configuration shown in FIG. 4 , the outer flange body 5 comprises a lower skirt 10 including longitudinal slots 11 extending from the lower edge of the flange body. These longitudinal slots 11 are advantageously distributed evenly around the circumference of the flange body. They therefore delimit resilient tabs 12 that, when the outer flange body 5 is attached to the inner flange body 6, can exert a uniform clamping force over the entire circumference of the inner flange body 6. The resilient tabs 12 each comprise means for interconnection with the clamping means described below and the inner flange body 6. In the illustrated example, the means for interconnection with the clamping ring comprises threads and notches. The clamping means is arranged to clamp the portion of the outer flange body 5 and the portion of the inner flange body 6 between which the flexible film 2 is inserted. In the illustrated example, the clamping means is in the form of an outer clamping ring with threads complementary to those on the outer surface of the outer flange body 5.

[0031] The container 1 further comprises a first annular seal 8 housed in a peripheral groove formed on the inner surface of the outer flange body 5 and the outer surface of the inner flange body 6. As shown in FIG. 3 , the flexible film 2 remains gripped between the annular seal 8 and the inner flange body 6. To improve the retention of the flexible film 2 between the two flange bodies constituting the flange, the inner flange body 6 comprises an outer surface with a bearing recess located opposite the peripheral groove of the outer flange body 5. Thus, when the outer flange body 5 is clamped to the inner flange body 6, the annular seal 8 crushes the flexible film 2 in the bearing recess, ensuring improved engagement of the flexible film 2.

[0032] The container 1 includes a second annular seal 13 supported by the flange. This defines a door / flange seal. When the door is in a position to close the through-hole, the annular seal 13 is received in the space bounded by the outer flange body 5, the inner flange body 6, and the door 7. Advantageously, the annular seal 13 has a cross-section shaped to match the area in which it is received. In the illustrated embodiment, the annular seal 13 has a substantially triangular cross-section.

[0033] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, according to the invention, the door 7 is held on the flange by a seal 13. For this purpose, it has on its inner periphery an annular mounting bead 130 which can be inserted into a notch 70 made in the outer periphery of the door 7.

[0034] To prevent the mounting bead 130 from collapsing, the seal 13 is positioned with the inner flange body 6 so that the mounting bead 130 rests on the forward end 65 of the inner flange body 6 .

[0035] To ensure that the seal 130 is retained between the external and internal flange bodies 5, 6, the latter are provided with means of interconnection with the external flange body 5 on the one hand and the internal flange body 6 on the other hand. In the illustrated embodiment, the means of interconnection are in the form of notched zones. The faces of the seal in contact with the external flange body 5 and the external flange body 6 are thus provided with notches 131, 132 that cooperate with complementary notches formed on the faces of the flange bodies opposite to them. In the illustrated example, the contact face 132 with the internal flange body in particular has a stepped shape to ensure enhanced retention of the seal 13 between the external and internal flange bodies 5, 6. Advantageously, the external flange body 5 is provided with an internal peripheral rim 55 against which the seal 13 is positioned and abuts, thus ensuring axial retention of the seal, particularly when the door 7 is removed. The seal 13 and its assembly with the flanges according to the above arrangement therefore make it possible to eliminate the risk of deformation, twisting, and displacement of the seal 13 during the production of the connection device as well as during use of the container.

[0036] Advantageously, the mounting bead 130 is arranged to allow docking of the drop system 100 for component transfer, the latter being mounted to support the mounting bead 130, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

[0037] Due to the arrangement of its components, the connection device can be assembled by simple clipping of the elements. To create the container 1, the portions of the flexible film flanking the through-hole are positioned so that they are located between the outer flange body 5 and the inner flange body 6. The clamp is effected by clamping the ring 9 to the outer flange body 6, so that the tab 12 grips against the inner flange body 6. The flexible film 2 can be disassembled by loosening the clamping ring 9 and removing the outer flange body 6 from the inner flange body 7.

[0038] The flexible film 2 and the connecting device are advantageously made of a bacteriostatic material. The seals 8 and 13 are made of a silicone material or other material that minimizes residue phenomena. Provision can also be made for the seals to be made of a bacteriostatic material.

[0039] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment for mounting a door 7 to a flange. In this embodiment, the flange also includes an outer flange body 5 and an inner flange body 6. However, an annular mounting bead 130 is supported by the inner flange body. Advantageously, the face portion 133 of the seal 13 intended to contact the door 7 has notches 134. The term "notches" refers to any shape that makes the face of the seal uneven to promote friction. Thus, by extension, the term "notches" includes scoring, aliasing, bumping, and the like. Such an arrangement of the seal with the annular mounting bead 130 supported by the flange 7 has the advantage of improving the retention of the door 7 on the flange and jointly reinforcing the seal between the door 7 and the inner flange body 6.

[0040] The present invention has been described above by way of example, and it is understood that those skilled in the art will be in a position to produce various variant embodiments of the invention without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A sealed container (1), a container body (2) with a through-hole bounded by a flange and closed by a removable door (7) attached to said flange via an annular mounting bead (130); - an annular seal (13) located between said flange and said door (7), - said flange, said door (7) and said annular seal form a sealed connection device which can be connected by a bayonet connection to a complementary connection device of said sterile housing so as to allow sterile communication between said sealed container and said sterile housing; the annular mounting bead (130) of the container (1) for mounting the door (7) to the flange is inserted into a notch (70) of the door (7) provided for this purpose, thereby allowing the door to be mounted and removed from the flange by clipping; 1. A sealed container, characterized in that the flange consists of two separate coaxial flange bodies, one of which defines an outer flange body (5) arranged to enable connection of the container body (2) to the complementary sterile housing, and the other of which defines an inner flange body (6), the flange bodies being arranged relative to each other to define an annular clearance space therebetween in which the seal (13) is housed.

2. 2. The sealed container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the annular mounting bead (130) is provided on the inner periphery of the flange.

3. 2. The sealed container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the annular mounting bead (130) is provided on the inner circumference of the annular seal (13).

4. 3. The sealed container (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the annular mounting bead (130) is provided on the inner periphery of the inner flange body (6).

5. 4. The sealed container (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the seal (13) and the internal flange body (6) are arranged so that the mounting bead (13) rests on the front end (65) of the internal flange body.

6. The container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises anti-rotation means, which are contours arranged to prevent rotation of the door (7) on the flange.

7. 7. The sealed container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the seal (13) has a notched surface portion (133) designed to come into contact with the door (7).

8. The sealed container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the seal (13) comprises means of interconnection with the flanges, which interconnect the outer flange body (5) and the inner flange body (6).

9. A sealed container (1) according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, or according to any one of claims 6 to 8 when dependent on claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the seal (13) has at least one contact surface with at least one of the flange bodies, said contact surface being provided with a notch that cooperates with a complementary notch provided on a surface of the flange body opposite to which it is located, said notch and said complementary notch on the contact surface of the seal forming a means of interconnection.

10. A sealed container (1) according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, or according to any one of claims 6 to 9 when dependent on claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the external flange body (5) comprises an abutting internal peripheral rim (55) on which the seal (13) is positioned.

11. A sealed container (1) according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, or according to any one of claims 6 to 10 when dependent on claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the outer flange body (5) comprises a lower skirt (10) extending from a lower edge of the outer flange body (5) and including longitudinal slots (11) evenly distributed around the circumference of the flange body so as to form resilient tabs (12) capable of applying a clamping force to the inner flange body (6).

12. A sealed container (1) according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, or any one of claims 6 to 11 when dependent on claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the container body is formed by a flexible film (2) fixed to the flange, the flexible film (2) being engaged and held between the outer flange body (5) and the inner flange body (6).

13. 13. The sealed container (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises a clamping ring (20) for clamping the external flange body (5) onto the internal flange body (6) arranged to grip parts of the external flange body (5) and parts of the internal flange body (6) between which the flexible film is inserted.

14. 14. The sealed container (1) according to claim 12 or claim 13, characterized in that it comprises an additional annular seal (8) housed in a peripheral groove provided on the inner surface of the outer flange body (5), the flexible film (2) extending between the additional annular seal (8) and the inner flange body (6).

15. The sealed container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the container is made entirely or partly of a bacteriostatic material.

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