PACKAGING DEVICE WITH CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR FIXING AN ARTICLE

Abstract

A packaging device, which has a cavity with an opening, an outer side and an inner side, is provided. A clamping mechanism, which is configured such that an article can be releasably fastened in the cavity with the clamping mechanism, is formed on the inner side, wherein the clamping mechanism can be set from a first operating position (securing position) into a second operating position (released position) when a force acts on at least one fixed pressure point on the outer side.

Claims

1. A packaging device, comprising: a cavity with an opening, an outer side having at least one fixed pressure point, and an inner side; and a clamping mechanism formed on the inner side and configured such that an article can be releasably fastened in the cavity with the clamping mechanism, wherein the clamping mechanism can be set from a first operating position (securing position) into a second operating position (released position) by a force acting on the at least one fixed pressure point on the outer side.

2. The packaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the inner side comprises a bottom surface which is arranged opposite from the opening, the clamping mechanism comprises a first elevation and a second elevation which protrude from the bottom surface into the cavity, the first elevation has at least one projection extending in the direction of the second elevation and the second elevation has at least one projection extending in a direction of the first elevation, and the projections are configured to releasably fix the article between the first and second elevations.

3. The packaging device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second elevations are configured such that, when the force is applied to the at least one fixed pressure point, a distance between the first and second elevations increases.

4. The packaging device as claimed in claim 2, wherein: a planar surface is defined by the opening, and when a force acts in a normal direction perpendicular to the planar surface, the second operating position is set.

5. The packaging device as claimed in claim 4, wherein, when the force acts on the at least one fixed pressure point, the first and second elevations move apart in a direction perpendicular to a normal direction.

6. The packaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the packaging device is provided in one piece.

7. The packaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second elevations and the projections are arranged symmetrically in relation to one another.

8. The packaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one fixed pressure point is arranged with respect to the projections such that a perpendicular of the at least one fixed pressure point onto a shortest connecting line between the two projections intersects the shortest connecting line at a point between the two projections.

9. The packaging device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the material and the geometry of the first and second elevations are chosen such that no force acts on the elevations in the first operating position.

10. The packaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the article is an optical component.

11. The packaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the two elevations are connected to one another by way of a V-shaped connecting portion, and the V-shaped connecting portion forms at the tip of the V an edge that is directly connected to the at least one fixed pressure point.

12. A packaged optical component, wherein the component is arranged in the cavity of a packaging device as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the component is releasably fastened in the cavity with the clamping mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0028] FIG. 1 schematically shows an operating table with a sterile article released from its packaging over it.

[0029] FIG. 2 schematically shows a packaging device according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure in a plan view.

[0030] FIG. 3 schematically shows an enlarged detail of the packaging device shown in FIG. 2 in a plan view.

[0031] FIG. 4 schematically shows a partial region of the packaging device shown in FIG. 2 in a perspective and partially sectioned view.

[0032] FIG. 5 schematically shows the packaging device shown in FIG. 2 in a perspective view.

[0033] FIG. 6 schematically shows a perpendicular of the pressure point onto a shortest connecting line between the two projections.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0034] FIG. 1 schematically shows the starting situation, from which the present disclosure follows. In FIG. 1, an operating table 1 is shown. In the course of an operation on this table 1, an article 3, for example a magnifying glass, packaged in a sterile manner in a packaging device in the form of a blister 2, or blister pack, is to be used. The magnifying glass 3 includes a mounting 13. The blister 2 has a cavity 9, in which the magnifying glass 3 has been arranged, and an opening 6, through which the magnifying glass 3 can be taken out of the blister 2. The opening 6 is typically covered with a film during the packaged state. After removing the film, the packaged article, in the present case the magnifying glass 3, can be removed from the blister 2. This typically takes place, as described at the beginning, by tipping out the magnifying glass 3 from a certain distance 4 from the operating table 1. The direction of movement or falling direction of the magnifying glass 3 is in this case indicated by the reference sign 5. As already described above, by turning over the blister 2 in the open state, the magnifying glass 3 falls out of the blister 2 in a comparatively uncontrolled manner. With the present disclosure, it is intended for this situation to be avoided.

[0035] A packaging device according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, which may be configured for example as a blister, is explained in more detail below on the basis of FIGS. 2 to 5. FIG. 2 schematically shows a packaging device according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure in a plan view. FIG. 3 schematically shows an enlarged detail of the packaging device shown in FIG. 2 in a plan view. FIG. 4 schematically shows a partial region of the packaging device shown in FIG. 2 in a perspective and partially sectioned view. FIG. 5 schematically shows the packaging device shown in FIG. 2 in a perspective view.

[0036] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the packaging device 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure in a plan view looking into the opened packaging device. The packaging device 2 is configured to receive at least one, for example sterile, article 3 to be packaged, which may be for example an optical component, in particular a magnifying glass. For this purpose, the packaging device 2 has a cavity 9. The packaging device 2 also has an outer side 7 and an inner side 8. A clamping mechanism 10 is formed on the inner side 8. In addition, a pressure point 11 for actuating the clamping mechanism 10 is present. The pressure point 11 is typically configured as a pressure region formed by a plurality of pressure points.

[0037] In the exemplary embodiment shown, arranged on the optical component to be packaged, for example the magnifying glass 3, is a mounting 13, with which the optical component 3 can be fastened within the packaging device 2 by the clamping mechanism 10. The clamping mechanism 10 and the mounting 13 fastened by it, in particular firmly clamped, are shown enlarged in FIGS. 3 and 4. The clamping mechanism 10 has in the exemplary embodiment shown two elevations 21 and 22, extending from a bottom surface 12 of the inner side 8 in the direction of the opening 6. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a first elevation 21 and a second elevation 22 are present. The elevations 21 and 22 are in this case designed symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axis 20. The first elevation 21 has a projection 23, directed in the direction of the second elevation 22. The second elevation 22 has a projection 24, directed in the direction of the first elevation 21. The projections 23 and 24 are designed for the purpose of releasably fixing, in particular firmly clamping, the mounting 13 between the elevations 21 and 22.

[0038] In FIGS. 2 to 5, the clamping mechanism 10 is shown in a first operating position, specifically a securing position, in which the mounting is firmly clamped between the elevations 21 and 22. A second operating state or a second operating position, specifically a released position, can be set by a force being exerted from the outer side 7 onto the pressure point or pressure region 11. This can be realized for example by a user using a finger to exert pressure on the pressure point 11 from the outer side.

[0039] The effect of the force has the consequence that the elevations 21 and 22 spread open, and therefore the distance between the elevations 21 and 22, and consequently also between the projections 23 and 24, increases. The direction of movement of the elevations 21 and 22 thus achieved, resulting from the effect of the force, is indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4 by arrows 25. In FIG. 5, the effect of the external force acting on the pressure point 11 from the outer side 7 on the bottom surface 12 is indicated by an arrow 26. The arrows 27 and 28 indicate directions from which the packaging device 2 can for example be securely held by a first hand (see arrow 27) and/or by a second hand (see arrow 28).

[0040] The elevations 21 and 22 are typically directly connected to one another by way of a V-shaped region or portion 29. The packaging device 2 is typically designed in one piece. The V-shaped region 29 has in this case an edge 30, which is directly connected to the pressure point 11, for example in its extension intersects the pressure point 11. In this way, an optimum force transmission is achieved, minimizing deformation of the packaging device 2 and having the result that the effect of the force primarily brings about a relative movement of the elevations 21 and 22, and consequently also of the projections 23 and 24, in relation to one another. As a result, a controlled release of the article 3 from the packaging device 2 can be accomplished, even in a position with the opening 6 directed downward. The magnifying glass 3 can consequently be released in a measured manner, and consequently the packaging device can be placed just a very small distance from the operating table 1 when removing the magnifying glass from the packaging. As a result, on the one hand damage to the magnifying glass 3 is avoided and on the other hand it is ensured that the magnifying glass 3 does not fall off the operating table 1 due to uncontrolled accelerations.

[0041] In an exemplary geometrical configuration, a planar surface is defined by the opening 6. This is indicated in the figures by an x-y plane. The effect of the force 26 typically takes place in a normal direction perpendicular to the x-y plane, that is to say in the z direction. In order to realize the described relative movement of the elevations 21 and 22 optimally in relation to one another, the pressure point 11 is typically arranged with respect to the elevations 21 and 22 such that a perpendicular 32 of the pressure point 11 onto a shortest connecting line 31 between the two projections 23 and 24 intersects this connecting line at a point 33 that lies between the projections 23 and 24. FIG. 6 illustrates this schematically.

[0042] It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0043] 1 Operating table [0044] 2 Packaging device/blister [0045] 3 Article/optical component/magnifying glass [0046] 4 Distance [0047] 5 Falling direction [0048] 6 Opening [0049] 7 Outer side [0050] 8 Inner side [0051] 9 Cavity [0052] 10 Clamping mechanism [0053] 11 Pressure point/pressure region [0054] 12 Bottom surface [0055] 13 Mounting [0056] 20 Longitudinal axis [0057] 21 First elevation [0058] 22 Second elevation [0059] 23 Projection [0060] 24 Projection [0061] 25 Direction of movement [0062] 26 Effect of force acting on the pressure point [0063] 27 Holding direction [0064] 28 Holding direction [0065] 29 V-shaped region/portion [0066] 30 Edge [0067] 31 Connecting line [0068] 32 Perpendicular [0069] 33 Point of intersection [0070] x Spatial direction [0071] y Spatial direction [0072] z Spatial direction