PROTECTIVE HOUSING FOR A BIOPHARMACEUTICAL LIQUID BAG, PROTECTIVE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY THEREOF

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective housing for a biopharmaceutical liquid bag having a lower shell with a bottom and side walls, and an upper shell. The upper shell includes a housing for receiving the bag, and can be inserted into the lower shell, in such a way that the opening of the housing is adjacent to and facing the bottom of the lower shell, and in such a way that the upper shell is laterally held in place between the side walls of the lower shell.

Claims

1. Protective housing for a biopharmaceutical liquid bag, comprising: a lower shell comprising a bottom and side walls, an upper shell: which comprises a housing for receiving the bag, and which can be inserted into the lower shell, in such a way that an opening of the housing is adjacent to and facing the bottom of the lower shell, and in such a way that the upper shell is laterally held in place between the side walls of the lower shell.

2. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the opening of the housing and the bottom of the lower shell is at least three times less than a depth of the housing.

3. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein the upper shell can be inserted into the lower shell in such a way that the opening of the housing is in contact with the bottom of the lower shell.

4. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a housing bottom, and housing side walls extending substantially perpendicularly to said bottom.

5. Protective housing according to claim 4, wherein the upper shell can be inserted into the lower shell in such a way that an outer periphery of the upper shell is guided by the side walls of the lower shell.

6. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein the upper shell has outer side walls surrounding side walls of the housing and extending substantially parallel to the side walls of the housing.

7. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the upper shell is less than a thickness of the lower shell.

8. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein the upper shell can be inserted into the lower shell in such a way as to not extend outside the lower shell in height.

9. Protective housing according to claim 7, wherein the upper shell can be fully inserted into the lower shell.

10. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein at least when the upper shell is inserted into the lower shell, chicanes are arranged around the housing in such a way as to be able to hold in place around the housing at least one tube coming from the bag.

11. Protective housing according to claim 10, wherein even when the upper shell is not inserted into the lower shell, chicanes are arranged around the housing in such a way as to be able to hold in place around the housing at least one tube coming from the bag.

12. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein the upper shell also comprises, at least on one end of the housing for receiving the bottom of the bag, an edge surrounding the opening of the housing, extending preferably substantially in the plane of the opening of the housing.

13. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein the upper shell comprises a fastener which is situated outside of the housing and which is arranged in such a way that a handle of a bottom of the bag can be attached to the fastener.

14. Protective housing according to claim 12, wherein the portion of the edge of the upper shell, situated between the fastener and said end of the housing, is arranged in such a way that, when a handle of a bottom of the bag attaches to the fastener, the connection between the handle and the bottom of the bag is wound around said portion of the edge.

15. Protective housing according to claim 13, wherein the fastener is formed by one or several notches formed in a side wall of the upper shell.

16. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing is shorter than the upper shell in such a way as to clear a free space allowing for an outlet of a tube or tubes from the bag.

17. Protective housing according to claim 16, wherein the side wall of the lower shell situated on a side of the outlet of the tube or tubes of the bag comprises an outlet opening of the tube or tubes laterally outside the lower shell.

18. Protective housing according to claim 17, wherein said side wall of the lower shell comprises a recess arranged towards the inside of the lower shell and situated above or below said outlet opening.

19. Protective housing according to claim 1, further comprising an outer cover that covers the upper shell and that closes the lower shell.

20. Protective housing according to claim 19, wherein the lower shell and the upper shell can be made integral together in such a way as to be able to be detached from one another later, and in that the lower shell also comprises holes in one or several of its side walls arranged in such a way that the upper shell can be fastened to the lower shell by rivets.

21. Protective housing according to claim 19, wherein the lower shell and the upper shell can be made integral together in such a way as to not be able to be detached from one another later without damage, and in that preferably the lower shell also comprises holes in one or several of its side walls arranged in such a way that the upper shell can be fastened to the lower shell by rivets.

22. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein the upper shell and the lower shell are made of plastic.

23. Protective housing according to claim 22, wherein the plastic is polyethylene terephthalate glycol.

24. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein the upper shell and the lower shell are made from a same common material, and the outer cover that covers the upper shell and that closes the lower shell, when there is one, is also made from the same common material.

25. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein the protective housing can be stacked.

26. Protective housing according to claim 25, further comprising a second housing and wherein the housing and the second housing are stacked one in the other, the bottom of the lower shell of the housing above bears against either the cover of the housing below or on the upper shell of the housing below.

27. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein the side walls of the lower shell comprise one or several shoulders, parallel to the mean plane of the bottom of the lower shell, against which the cover bears.

28. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein the side walls of the lower shell comprise one or several shoulders, parallel to the mean plane of the bottom of the lower shell, against which the upper shell bears.

29. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein the side walls of the lower shell comprise one or several shoulders, orthogonal to the mean plane of the bottom of the lower shell, against which the upper shell longitudinally abuts when it is inserted into the lower shell.

30. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein the upper shell comprises one or several longitudinal fasteners of bag, and in that the upper shell comprises no other lateral fastener of bag.

31. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein the upper shell comprises one or several chicanes formed in a side wall of the upper shell opposite the side wall of the fastener and for guiding one or several tubes.

32. Protective housing according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the opening of the housing and the bottom of the lower shell is greater than or equal to half, of the depth of the housing, and at least when the upper shell is inserted into the lower shell, chicanes are arranged around the housing in such a way as to be able to hold in place around the housing at least one tube coming from the bag.

33. Protective assembly for a biopharmaceutical liquid bag comprising: a protective housing according to claim 1, a biopharmaceutical liquid bag placed in said protective housing.

34. Protective assembly for a bag for receiving a biopharmaceutical liquid comprising: a protective housing according to claim 1, an empty bag for receiving biopharmaceutical liquid placed in said protective housing.

35. Protective assembly for a biopharmaceutical liquid bag according to claim 33, wherein: the bag is longitudinally fastened in the protective housing, the bag is not fastened elsewhere than longitudinally in the protective housing.

36. Protective assembly for a biopharmaceutical liquid bag comprising: a biopharmaceutical liquid bag, a protective housing comprising: a lower shell comprising a bottom and side walls, an upper shell: which comprises a housing receiving the bag, and which is inserted into the lower shell, in such a way that the opening of the housing is adjacent to and facing the bottom of the lower shell, and in such a way that the upper shell is laterally held in place between the side walls of the lower shell.

37. Protective assembly for a biopharmaceutical liquid bag according to claim 33, wherein the biopharmaceutical liquid bag is flat and elongated and has a bag bottom comprising a handle connected to said bottom by a connection of plane form, and on the opposite side one or several connections for tube.

38. Protective assembly for a biopharmaceutical liquid bag comprising: a biopharmaceutical liquid bag, a protective housing comprising: a lower shell comprising a bottom and side walls, an upper shell: which comprises a housing receiving the bag and which has two longitudinal ends, and which is inserted into the lower shell, in such a way that the opening of the housing is facing the bottom of the lower shell, and in such a way that the bag is held in place by being immobilised at the two longitudinal ends of the upper shell without touching the bottom or the side walls of the lower shell.

39. Protective assembly for a biopharmaceutical liquid bag according to claim 38, wherein the bag is not fastened elsewhere than longitudinally in the upper shell.

40. Protective assembly for a biopharmaceutical liquid bag according to claim 38, wherein the bag has a bag bottom comprising a handle and on a side opposite the bag bottom one or several connections for tube.

41. Protective assembly for a biopharmaceutical liquid bag according to claim 40, wherein: the bag is attached on one longitudinal end of the upper shell by the handle, the bag is immobilised on the other longitudinal end of the upper shell by the simple longitudinal tension exerted by the tube or tubes on the bag.

42. Method of assembly of a protective assembly of a biopharmaceutical liquid bag according to claim 33, wherein an operator attaches, using a first of his hands, the bag by the handle to the upper shell, with this upper shell being in the vertical position, with this upper shell remaining in the vertical position, this operator positions and maintains, by the second of his hands, the end of the bag opposite the handle against the upper shell in such a way that the bag is in its upper shell housing, this operator places the upper shell containing the bag in the lower shell placed in a horizontal position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows an exploded view of an example of a protective housing without a bag according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0068] FIG. 1A diagrammatically shows a coupe AA of the upper shell shown in FIG. 1.

[0069] FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows an assembled view in perspective of an example of a protective housing that integrates a bag according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0070] FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows an assembled top view of an example of a protective housing that integrates a bag according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0071] FIG. 4 diagrammatically shows a detailed view in perspective of an example of a fastener of the upper shell of the protective housing that cooperates with the handle of a bag according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0072] FIG. 5A diagrammatically shows a partial view in perspective of an example of a longitudinal end of the upper shell of protective housing according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0073] FIG. 5B diagrammatically shows a partial view in perspective of an alternative example of a longitudinal end of the upper shell of the protective housing according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0074] FIG. 6 diagrammatically shows a detailed top view of an example of chicanes of the upper shell of the protective housing according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0075] FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D, diagrammatically show as a top view four successive steps of an example of a method of assembling a protective assembly of a bag according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0076] FIGS. 8A and 8B diagrammatically show in perspective examples of stacking of several protective housings one on the other that integrate bags according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0077] FIG. 8C diagrammatically shows in perspective an example of a group of several protective housings that integrate bags according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0078] FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows an exploded view of an example of a protective housing without a bag according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0079] The protective housing comprises a lower shell 2, an upper shell 3 that has a housing 4, an outer cover 1. The biopharmaceutical liquid bag, not shown in FIG. 1, is placed in the bottom 20 of the lower shell 2, covered by the upper shell 3 in such a way as to be in the housing 4, the upper shell 3 being inserted into the lower shell 2 and being covered by an outer cover 1 closing the protective housing. The thickness e3 of the upper shell 3 is less than the thickness e2 of the lower shell 2. Thus, the upper shell 3 can be inserted into the lower shell 2 without exceeding the latter in height.

[0080] The lower shell 2 comprises a bottom 20 and four side walls 21, among which the lateral side walls 21 as well as the front and rear side walls 21. On its front side wall 21, is a recess 22 towards the inside of the lower shell 2. In its front side wall 21, above the recess 22, the lower shell 2 has an opening 23 through which the tubes of the bag can exit. The lateral side walls 21 have horizontal shoulders 24 on which the upper shell 3 will be able to be placed, and more particularly the edge 45 of the upper shell 3. The height h between the horizontal shoulders 24 and the bottom 20 of the lower shell 2 corresponds to the distance between the opening of the housing 4 and the bottom of the lower shell 2. The lateral side walls 21 also have horizontal shoulders 25 on which the outer cover 1 will be able to be placed, and more particularly the edge 11 of the outer cover 1. The lateral side walls 21 further have vertical shoulders 26 against which the upper shell 3 will be able to abut, and more particularly the front side wall 32 of the upper shell 3. The lateral side walls 21 also have holes 27 through which fastening rivets will pass making it possible to fasten together the lower shell 2 and the upper shell 3.

[0081] The upper shell 3 comprises a housing 4 at its middle. The upper shell 3 has side walls 32, two lateral side walls 32, a front side wall 32 and a rear side wall 32. Between the housing 4 and the front side wall 32 is a space 30 comprising a passage 31 through which the tubes of the bag will exit from the housing 4 then open outside of the protective housing by passing through the outlet opening 23 of the lower shell 2. The rear side wall 32 of the upper shell comprises a fastener 33 in the form of several notches 33 made in this rear side wall 32. The handle of the bag bottom is intended to be fastened onto this fastener 33. The front side wall 32 of the upper shell 3 also comprises chicanes 34 in the form of notches 34 between which the bag tubes can pass and be held in place. The front side wall 32 of the upper shell 3 abuts against the vertical shoulders 26 of the lower shell 2. The lateral side walls 32 comprise protuberances 35 cooperating with the protuberances 36 of the lateral side walls 41 of the housing in order to form chicanes in which the bag tubes can pass and be held in place. The lateral side walls 32 of the upper shell 3 also have holes 37 through which will pass fastening rivets that make it possible to fasten together the lower shell 2 and the upper shell 3. Between the housing 4 on the one hand and the side walls 32 of the upper shell is an annular space 38 in which will be able to be arranged one or several tubes of the bag. This annular space 38 is therefore a storage space for all or a portion of the tubes of the bag.

[0082] The housing 4, intended to receive the bag, has a bottom 40, here in the ceiling position, lateral side walls 41, a front side wall 43 from which the passage 31 departs, a rear side wall 42 that forms the rear of the housing 4 against which is the bottom of the bag comprising the handle of the bag. Between the side walls 41 to 43 of the housing 4 and the side walls 32 of the upper shell 3 is an annular edge 45 that forms the bottom of the annular space 38. It is this annular edge 45 of the upper shell 3 that will rest on the horizontal shoulders 24 of the lower shell 2. It is on the rear portion 46 of this annular edge 45 that the connection between the handle and the bag bottom will be wound, when the bag handle is attached onto the fastener 33. The bottom 40 of the housing 4 comprises small circular protuberances 47 intended to receive the circular cavities 13 of the bottom 10 of the outer cover 1, when this outer cover 1 will rest on the bottom 40 of the housing 4 of the upper shell 3. The bottom 40 of the housing 4 of the upper shell 3 is at the same level as the upper edge of the side walls 32 of the upper shell 3.

[0083] A cover 1 comprises a bottom 10 and an annular edge 11, as well as a recess 12 in the front portion of this edge 11 and circular cavities 13 intended to be nested with the protuberances 47 of the upper shell 3, when the outer cover 1 rests on the bottom 40 of the housing 4 of the upper shell 3.

[0084] FIG. 1A diagrammatically shows a section AA of the upper shell shown in FIG. 1.

[0085] The housing 4 has a bottom 40 of the lateral side walls 41 and a rear side wall 42 of the housing 4. The opening 48 of the housing 4 is surrounded by the annular edge 45 of which the rear portion 46 extends the rear side wall 42 of the housing 4. Between the lateral side walls 32 of the upper shell 3 and the lateral side walls 41 of the housing 4 are arranged chicanes formed by the cooperation between on the one hand the protuberances 35 of the lateral side walls 32 of the upper shell 3 and on the other hand the protuberances 36 of the lateral side walls 41 of the housing 4. The depth p of the housing 4 is the distance between the opening 48 (materialised by the annular edge 45 of which its rear portion 46) and the bottom 40 of the housing 4.

[0086] FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows an assembled view in perspective of an example of a protective housing that integrates a bag according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0087] The upper shell 3 has been fully inserted into the lower shell 2. The side walls 32 of the upper shell 3 slid along side walls 21 of the lower shell 2, and are practically against them, once the upper shell 3 is resting on the horizontal shoulders 24 (not visible here) of the lower shell 2. The bag that is not visible in FIG. 2 is in the housing 4 between the upper shell 3 and the lower shell 2. The tubes 52 of the bag exit through the passage 31, opening into the free space 39 between the front side walls of the two shells, before passing in the chicanes 34 in the form of notches to go around the housing 4 in the free space 38 by passing in the chicanes 35 and 36. A connector 53 at the end of the tube 52 is fastened in the chicane 34 of the front side wall 32 of the upper shell 3. A tube could also exit via the outlet opening 23.

[0088] FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows an assembled top view of an example of a protective housing that integrates a bag according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0089] The upper shell 3 is fully inserted into the lower shell 2, the side walls 32 of the upper shell 3 being practically against the side walls 21 of the lower shell 2. The tube 52, attached to the bag contained in the housing 4, exited through the passage 31, opens into the free space 39 situated between the front side walls of the two shells, passes in the chicane 34 in the shape of a notch, goes around the housing 4 in the free space 38 situated between the walls 41 to 43 of the housing 4 and the side walls 32 of the upper shell 3, by passing through the chicanes 35 and 36, to be blocked by its connector 53 in the chicane 34.

[0090] FIG. 4 diagrammatically shows a detailed view in perspective of an example fastener of the upper shell of the protective housing cooperating with the handle of a bag according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0091] The handle 54 that extends the bag bottom is attached on the fastener 33 in the shape of notches of the rear side wall 32 of the upper shell 3. This handle 54 passes through notches 33 by passing alternating from one side then the other side of the rear side wall 32 of the upper shell 3. The connection situated between the handle 54 and the bag bottom is wound from underneath (therefore not visible in FIG. 3) around the rear edge 46 of the upper shell 3, with this rear edge 46 joining the rear side wall 32 of the upper shell 3 to the rear side wall 42 of the housing 4. In FIG. 3, there is no bag tube in the free space 38.

[0092] FIG. 5A diagrammatically shows a partial view in perspective of an example of a longitudinal end of the upper shell of the protective housing according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0093] The upper shell 3 is fully inserted into the lower shell 2, the side walls 32 of the upper shell 3 being practically against the side walls 21 of the lower shell 2. The tube 52, attached to the bag contained in the housing 4, exited via the passage 31, opens into the free space 39 situated between the front side walls of the two shells, passes in the chicane 34 in the shape of a notch, goes around the housing 4 in the free space 38 situated between the walls 41 of the housing 4 and the side walls 32 of the upper shell 3, passing through the chicanes 35 and 36, to be blocked by its connector 53 in the chicane 34.

[0094] FIG. 5B diagrammatically shows a partial view in perspective of an alternative example of a longitudinal end of the upper shell of the protective housing according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0095] FIG. 5B is similar to FIG. 5A. Only the shape of the chicane 34 changes.

[0096] Here, instead of being one or several simple notches in a plane front side wall of the upper shell 3, this chicane 34 is formed from a succession of tubular segments and bends, having the advantage of being less aggressive against the walls of the tubes 52 when the latter are stuck in these chicanes 34, thus preventing the outer layer of these tubes 52 from being damaged.

[0097] FIG. 6 diagrammatically shows a detailed top view of an example of chicanes of the upper shell of the protective housing according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0098] The detail of the chicanes formed by the successions of protuberances 35 and 36 between on the one hand the lateral side walls 41 of the housing 4 and on the other hand the lateral side walls 32 of the upper shell 3 is shown. A protuberance 36 running along the lateral side wall 41 of the housing 4 is surrounded by two shorter protuberances 36 of the lateral side wall 41 of the housing 4, while facing, an absence of protuberance 35 of the lateral side wall 32 of the upper shell 3 is surrounded by two protuberances 35 of the lateral side wall 32 of the upper shell 3. Here again, the lateral side wall 32 of the upper shell 3 is practically situated against the lateral side wall 21 of the lower shell 2.

[0099] FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D, diagrammatically show as a top view four successive steps of an example of the method for assembling a protective assembly of a bag according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0100] In FIG. 7A, the bag 50 is arranged in the bottom 20 of the lower shell 2. From an upper opening 51 of bag 50 depart tubes 52 terminated by connectors 53, these tubes 52 exiting through the outlet opening 23 of the lower shell 2. The bottom 55 of the bag 50 is on the side of the rear side wall 21 of the lower shell 2.

[0101] In FIG. 7B, the upper shell 3 covers the bag 50 which is therefore no longer visible. Only the tubes 52 exiting from the upper shell 3 through the passage 31 are still visible. The annular free space 38 goes around the housing 4 inside the side walls 32 of the upper shell 3. This annular free space 38, provided with chicanes 35 and 36, is empty, because it does not yet contain the tubes 52.

[0102] In FIG. 7C, the tubes 52, exited from the passage 31, having opened between the front side walls of the two shells, pass through the chicanes 34, go around the housing 4 inside the side walls 32 of the upper shell 3 by passing through the chicanes 35 and 36, before the connector 53 of one of these tubes 52 is blocked in the chicane 34, another connector 53 is located between the rear side wall 42 of the housing 4 and the rear side wall 32 of the upper shell 3.

[0103] In FIG. 7D, the outer cover 1 having a bottom 10 and an annular edge 11, can then be used to cover the upper shell 3 and thus close the lower shell 2, the protective housing then being fully closed.

[0104] According to another method of assembling the bag in its protective housing, which is shorter and easier, therefore more ergonomic than the one shown in liaison with FIGS. 7A to 7D, in order to easily carry out the assembly of the protective housing, even with the empty bag inside this protective housing, a method of assembly of a protective assembly of a biopharmaceutical liquid bag according to the invention is provided, successively comprising the following steps. Firstly, an operator attaches, using a first of his hands, the bag by its handle to the upper shell, with this upper shell being in the vertical position. Then, with this upper shell remaining in the vertical position, this operator positions and maintains, by the second of his hands, the end of the bag opposite its handle against the upper shell in such a way that the bag is in its upper shell housing. Then, this operator places the upper shell containing the bag in the lower shell placed in horizontal position. Finally, this operator can close the lower shell by covering it with an outer cover and/or this operator can stack the protective housing filled by the bag onto another protective housing also filled by its bag.

[0105] FIGS. 8A and 8B diagrammatically show in perspective examples of stacking on one another of several protective housings that integrate bags according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0106] Four protective housings are stacked one on the other. They each contain a bag of which the tube or tubes 52 exit respectively by the outlet openings 23 of their lower shells 2.

[0107] FIG. 8C diagrammatically shows in perspective an example of a group of several protective housings that integrate bags according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0108] Four protective housings are respectively arranged on the shelves 28 of a piece of furniture 29. They each contain a bag of which the tube or tubes 52 exit respectively by the outlet openings 23 of their lower shells 2.

[0109] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the examples and embodiments described and shown, but many alternatives accessible to those skilled in the art can be applied to it.