CLOSURE SYSTEM AND KIT

Abstract

A closure system (3) for closing an opening (25) of a container (2) comprises a stopper member (31), a cage member (32) and a lock activation formation (34). The stopper member (31) is made of an elastic material and has a plug portion (311) configured to fit into the opening (25) of the container (2) and a cover portion (312) configured to abut a boundary surface (24) adjacent to the opening (25) of the container (2). The cage member (32) is made of a shape-retentive material. The closure system (3) is configured to be in an assembled state in which the plug portion (311) of the stopper member (31) is fitted into the opening (25) of the container (2), the cover portion (312) of the stopper member (31) abuts the boundary surface (24) of the container (2) and the cage member (32) is mounted to the container (2). The cage member (32) has a locking structure (322), wherein the locking structure (322) of the cage member (32) is configured, in the assembled state of the closure system (3), to be in a detached position in which the locking structure (322) of the cage member (32) is disengaged from the container (2), and in a fixed position in which the locking structure (322) engages a corresponding structure of the container (2). The lock activation formation (341, 342) is configured to interact with the cage member (32) such that the cage member (32) changes from the detached position to the fixed position.

Claims

1. A closure system for closing an opening of a container, comprising: a stopper member made of an elastic material and having a plug portion configured to fit into the opening of the container and a cover portion configured to abut a boundary surface adjacent to the opening of the container, a cage member made of a shape-retentive material; and a lock activation formation, wherein the closure system is configured to be in an assembled state in which the plug portion of the stopper member is fitted into the opening of the container, the cover portion of the stopper member abuts the boundary surface of the container and the cage member is mounted to the container, wherein the cage member has a locking structure, wherein the locking structure of the cage member is configured, in the assembled state of the closure system, to be in a detached position in which the locking structure of the cage member is disengaged from the container, and in a fixed position in which the locking structure engages a corresponding structure of the container, and wherein the lock activation formation is configured to interact with the cage member such that the cage member changes from the detached position to the fixed position.

2. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the locking structure of the cage member is deformable from the detached position to the fixed position.

3. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the cage member is made of a deformable material such as a metal like stainless steel.

4. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the locking structure of the cage member comprises at least one positive form lock element configured to be deformed to engage the corresponding structure of the container when the locking structure is in the fixed position.

5. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the cage member has a stopper contacting section and an intermediate section between the stopper contacting section and the locking structure, and wherein the cage member is configured to apply a force to the cover portion of the stopper member to push the cover portion of the stopper member onto the boundary surface of the opening of the container when the closure system is in the assembled state and the cage member is in the fixed position.

6. The closure system of claim 4, wherein the cage member has a stopper contacting section and an intermediate section between the stopper contacting section and the locking structure, wherein the cage member is configured to apply a force to the cover portion of the stopper member to push the cover portion of the stopper member onto the boundary surface of the opening of the container when the closure system is in the assembled state and the cage member is in the fixed position, and wherein the at least one positive form lock element of the locking structure of the cage member has a tongue portion extending from the intermediate section of the cage member.

7. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the lock activation formation has a surrounding member configured to, in the assembled state of the closure system, at least partially surround the locking structure of the cage member.

8. The closure system of claim 7, wherein the surrounding member of the lock activation formation is configured to, in the assembled state of the closure system, contact the locking structure of the cage member such that the locking structure is deformed into the fixed position of the cage member.

9. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the lock activation formation is configured to, in the assembled state of the closure system, move relative to the cage member from a non-activating position into an activating position.

10. The closure system of claim 8, wherein the lock activation formation is configured to, in the assembled state of the closure system, move relative to the cage member from a non-activating position into an activating position, and, wherein the surrounding member of the locking structure is configured to, in the assembled state of the closure system, move from the non-activating position, in which the locking structure is essentially non-deformed, to the activating position, in which the surrounding member of the lock activation formation contacts the locking structure of the cage member such that the locking structure is deformed into the fixed position of the cage member.

11. The closure system of claim 10, wherein the lock activation formation comprises an activator configured to, in the assembled state of the closure system, move the surrounding member of the locking structure from the non-activating position to the activating position.

12. The closure system of claim 1, comprising a cover member reversibly mountable to the cage member.

13. The closure system of claim 12, wherein the lock activation formation comprises an activator configured to, in the assembled state of the closure system, move the surrounding member of the locking structure from a non-activating position to an activating position, and wherein the cover member has at least one through hole and the activator of the lock activation formation is shaped to access the surrounding member of the locking structure through the at least one through hole of the cover member.

14. The closure system of claim 1, comprising a support member arranged to resist a movement of the lock activation formation towards the cage member.

15. The closure system of claim 14, wherein the support member is configured not to resist the movement of the lock activation formation towards the cage member if the lock activation formation is forced towards the cage member with a predefined force.

16. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the cage member has a detent structure configured to hold the cage member on the container when being in the detached position in the assembled state of the closure system.

17. The closure system of claim 16, wherein the detent structure of the cage member has at least one clamping element configured to clamp the container in the assembled state of the closure system.

18. The closure system of claim 12, wherein the lock activation formation has a clip structure configured to be clipped to the cover member.

19. A kit comprising: a container; and a closure system, wherein the container comprises an opening for accessing an interior of the container and a boundary surface adjacent to the opening, wherein closure system comprises a stopper member and a cage member, wherein the stopper member is made of an elastic material and has a plug portion configured to fit into the opening of the container and a cover portion configured to abut the boundary surface adjacent to the opening of the container, wherein the cage member is made of a shape-retentive material, and wherein the closure system is configured to be in an assembled state in which the plug portion of the stopper member is fitted into the opening of the container, the cover portion of the stopper member abuts the boundary surface of the container and the cage member is mounted to the container, wherein the closure system comprises a lock activation formation, wherein the cage member has a locking structure, wherein the locking structure of the cage member is configured, in the assembled state of the closure system, to be in a detached position in which the locking structure of the cage member is disengaged from the container, and in a fixed position in which the locking structure engages a corresponding structure of the container, and wherein the lock activation formation is configured to interact with the cage member such that the cage member changes from the detached position to the fixed position.

20. The kit of claim 19, wherein the closure system is embodied according to claim 2.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] The closure system and kit according to the invention are described in more detail hereinbelow by way of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a kit according to the invention comprising an embodiment of a closure system according to the invention from above, wherein the closure system is in an assembled state and its cage member is in a detached position;

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view from above to the kit of FIG. 1, wherein an activator of a lock activation formation is removed;

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the kit of FIG. 1 from below;

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the kit of FIG. 1, wherein the activator is removed;

[0056] FIG. 5 shows a portion of a cross section of the kit of FIG. 1 cut along the line A-A of FIG. 4;

[0057] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a surrounding member of the kit of FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the surrounding member of FIG. 6 arranged around the cage member;

[0059] FIG. 8 shows a side view of the kit of FIG. 1;

[0060] FIG. 9 shows a portion of a cross section of the kit of FIG. 1 cut along the line B-B of FIG. 8;

[0061] FIG. 10 shows a side view of the kit of FIG. 1, wherein the closure system is in the assembled state, its cage member is in a fixed position and the activator is removed;

[0062] FIG. 11 shows a portion of a cross section of the kit of FIG. 10 cut along the line A-A of FIG. 10;

[0063] FIG. 12 shows a side view of the complete kit of FIG. 10; and

[0064] FIG. 13 shows a portion of a cross section of the kit of FIG. 10 cut along the line B-B of FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0065] In the following description certain terms are used for reasons of convenience and are not intended to limit the invention. The terms right, left, up, down, under and above refer to directions in the figures. The terminology comprises the explicitly mentioned terms as well as their derivations and terms with a similar meaning. Also, spatially relative terms, such as beneath, below, lower, above, upper, proximal, distal, and the like, may be used to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. These spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different positions and orientations of the devices in use or operation in addition to the position and orientation shown in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is turned over, elements described as below or beneath other elements or features would then be above or over the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term below can encompass both positions and orientations of above and below. The devices may be otherwise oriented, and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Likewise, descriptions of movement along and around various axes include various special device positions and orientations.

[0066] To avoid repetition in the figures and the descriptions of the various aspects and illustrative embodiments, it should be understood that many features are common to many aspects and embodiments. Omission of an aspect from a description or figure does not imply that the aspect is missing from embodiments that incorporate that aspect. Instead, the aspect may have been omitted for clarity and to avoid prolix description. In this context, the following applies to the rest of this description: If, in order to clarify the drawings, a figure contains reference signs which are not explained in the directly associated part of the description, then it is referred to previous or following description sections. Further, for reason of lucidity, if in a drawing not all features of a part are provided with reference signs it is referred to other drawings showing the same part. Like numbers in two or more figures represent the same or similar elements.

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a kit 1 according to the invention comprising a glass or plastic vial 2 as container and a first embodiment of a closure system 3 according to the invention. In FIG. 1 the kit 1 and closure system 3 are depicted in an assembled state where the closure system 3 is mounted to the vial 2.

[0068] The vial 2 has a body 23 with a hollow interior 231 and a neck 22 passing over into a head 21 (not visible in FIG. 1) as head portion. The closure system 3 is mounted to the head 21 of the vial 2 such that the head 21 is covered. The closure system 3 comprises a metal cage 32 as cage member, a lid-like cover 33 as cover member and a lock activation formation 34. The lock activation formation 34 has an activator 342 with a plate like top portion. The activator 342 may be included in a lid of a nest, particularly in situations where plural vials 2 and closure systems 3 are to be processed together.

[0069] In FIG. 2, the kit 1 is shown as in FIG. 1 but the activator 342 of the lock activation formation 34 is removed. The cover 33 has a ring portion 334 dimensioned to partially surround the cage 32 when being mounted to the vial 2, and a circular disk portion 333 dimensioned to close a top side of the cage 32. The disk portion 333 radially projects over the ring portion 334 such that a flange portion 332 is established. Adjacent to the flange portion 332 six slit-like through holes 331 are regularly arranged around the cover 33.

[0070] The cage 32 has a plurality of positive form lock elements as a locking structure each having a downwardly extending tongue 322 as tongue portion. Further, the cage 32 has a detent structure with a plurality of downwardly extending clamping elements 325 configured to clamp the head 21 of the vial 2 in the assembled state of the closure system 3.

[0071] FIG. 3 shows the kit 1 perspectively from below. Thereby, it can be seen that the activator 342 of the lock activation formation 34 is equipped with four downwardly extending clipping arms 3421 as clip structure and six downwardly extending blades 3422 adjacent to and corresponding to the six through holes 331 of the cover 33. In the assembled state, the clipping arms 3421 are clipped or snap-fitted behind the flange portion 332 of the cover 33 such that the activator 342 is secured to the cover 33. By having the blades 3422, the activator 342 is shaped to access a surrounding member 341 of the locking structure through cover 33 as described in more detail below. Further the activator 342 is equipped with four downwardly extending inclined or diagonal lamellas 3423 as spring or support members. The lamellas 3423 are positioned between the activator 342 and the cover 33 such that the activator 342 is pushed away from the cover 33 and the cage 32.

[0072] As can be best seen in the side view of FIG. 4, the closure system 3 defines a central axis 35 which is in one line with a central axis of rotation of the vial 2 when the closure system 3 is in the assembled state.

[0073] In FIG. 5, a section of the kit 1 near the head 21 of the vial 2 and the closure system 3 mounted thereto is shown in a cross-sectional view. The cage 32 of the closure system 3 is made of a rigid but to a certain extent elastic metallic material such as stainless steel. It has a more or less disk-shaped stopper contacting section 321 with a central aperture 324. Further, from the stopper contacting section 321, an essentially cylindrical intermediate section 323 downwardly extends which in turn passes over into the downwardly extending tongues 322 and the downwardly extending clamping elements 325. The tongues 322 and the clamping elements 325 are regularly and alternately distributed about the intermediate section 323.

[0074] As can be seen in FIG. 5, the closure system 3 further comprises a stopper 31 having a plug portion 311 and an essentially disk-shaped cover portion 312. In the assembled state, the plug portion 311 is tightly fitted into an opening 25 of the vial 2 provided through the head 21 of the vial 2. More specifically, the plug portion 311 is dimensioned such that it is compressed when being pushed into the opening 25 thereby tightening the opening of the vial 2. At the same time, the cover portion 312 abuts a boundary surface 24 adjacent to the opening 25 of the vial 2. The plug portion 311 has a dome-shaped cavity downwardly opening.

[0075] The surrounding member 341 of the lock activation formation 341 is positioned around the intermediate section 323 of the cage 32. More specifically, the surrounding member 341 is dimensioned to fit to the cage 32 such that it is held by friction on the cage 32. The cage 32 is in a detached position in which it is not fixed but releasably held to the vial 2. In this detached position, the tongues 322 downwardly protrude the surrounding member 341 and the cover portion 312 of the stopper 31 is substantially non-compressed. The tongues 322 do not engage or do disengage the vial 2.

[0076] In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5, the tongues 322 of the locking structure of the cage 32 are essentially L-shaped having a straight leg section and a straight foot section. The leg section downwardly extends from the intermediate section 323 of the cage 32. Thereby, the leg sections of the tongues are not parallel to the axis 35 but aligned at an acute angle relative to the axis 35. Each leg section of the tongues 322 passes over into the foot section at it bottom end, wherein the foot sections and the leg sections are at a more or less right angle relative to each other.

[0077] The ring portion 334 of the cover 33 is arranged around the surrounding member 341 of the lock activation formation 34 wherein it is dimensioned to be held by friction. At a lower face of the disk portion 333 a circular indentation or recess 3331 is embodied which receives a corresponding circular bulge 3211 of the stopper contacting section 321 of the cage 32 surrounding the circular aperture 324.

[0078] FIG. 6 shows the surrounding member 341 of the lock activation formation which is essentially crown-shaped. In particular, the surrounding member 341 consists of a ring 3411 from which six blades 3412 upwardly extend. The blades 3412 correspond to the through holes 331 of the cover 33. The surrounding member 341 is made as one piece of stainless steel.

[0079] In FIG. 7 the surrounding member 341 is shown set onto the cage 32. Thereby, it can be seen that the blades 3412 of the surrounding member 341 are aligned with the clamping elements 325 of the cage 32. Accordingly, the tongues 322 are arranged at the sections of the ring 3411 not being provided with the tongues.

[0080] FIG. 8 shows that the activator 342 is held by the lamellas 3423 and the clipping arms 3421. In particular, the activator 342 is pushed away from the cover 33 by the lamellas 3423 and, at the same time prevented from being separated from the cover 33 by the clipping arms 3421. In this status, the lock activation formation 34 is in a non-activating position.

[0081] As indicated in FIG. 8, the cross section shown in FIG. 9 is cut along the axis 35 through the kit 1 at two opposite clamping elements 325 and, thus two opposite blades 3412 of the surrounding member 341. Thereby, it can be seen that the blades 3412 extend bottom up through the through holes 331 of the cover 33. The blades 3422 of the activator 342 are positioned adjacent to and on top of the blades 3412 of the surrounding member 341.

[0082] The clamping elements 325 of the cage 32 are arranged at a circumference of the head 21 of the vial 2 such that the head 21 is clamped in between the clamping elements 325. Like this, the cage 32 is held on the vial 2.

[0083] In FIG. 10 the kit 1 is shown with the closure system 3 in the assembled state, wherein the cage 32 is in a fixed position. As can be best seen in FIG. 11, the cover 33 is pressed on the cage 32 which in turn compresses the cover portion 312 of the stopper 31 between its stopper contacting section 321 and the boundary surface 24 of the vial 2. Like this, an appropriate tightness between the vial 2 and the stopper 31 can be established and assured.

[0084] The tongues 322 are downwardly moved relative to the vial 2 and the surrounding member 341 of the lock activation formation 34 is downwardly moved relative to the cage 32. Thereby, the surrounding member 341 interacts with the tongues 322, i.e. contacts the tongues 322 and inwardly bends them towards the axis 35. More specifically, the tongues 322 are deformed such that their leg sections are essentially parallel to the axis 35 and their foot sections grip or engage the lower end of the head 21 of the vial 2 as corresponding structure of the vial 2. Thereby, a form-fitted connection between the cage 32 and the vial 2 is generated such that the cage 32 is locked on the vial 2 and the stopper 31 is secured in the compressed state. Like this, a sufficiently tight closing of the vial 2 can be achieved.

[0085] As can be seen in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 for locking the closure system 3 to the vial 2 the activator 342 of the lock activation formation 34 is downwardly pushed from the non-activating position into an activating position. Thereby, the stopper contacting section 321 of the cage 32 is pressed onto the cover portion 312 of the stopper 31. As soon as a respective pushing force reaches a predefined force, such as 15 N, which is adjusted to achieve an appropriate compression of the cover portion 312 of the stopper 31, the lamellas 3423 inwardly collapse. The activator 342 now is downwardly moved relative to the cage 32 and vial 2. Thereby, the blades 3421 of the activator 342 are moved top down into the through holes 331 of the cover 33. The blades 3412 of the surrounding member 341 are contacted such that the surrounding member 341 is downwardly moved relative to the cage 33 which in turn inwardly moves the tongues 322 to lock the cage 32 on the vial 2 as described above. Like this, the lock activation formation 34 interacts with the cage 32 to change the cage 32 from the detached position to the fixed position.

[0086] This description and the accompanying drawings that illustrate aspects and embodiments of the present invention should not be taken as limiting-the claims defining the protected invention. In other words, while the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. Various mechanical, compositional, structural, electrical, and operational changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this description and the claims. In some instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Thus, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope and spirit of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below.

[0087] The disclosure also covers all further features shown in the Figs. individually although they may not have been described in the afore or following description. Also, single alternatives of the embodiments described in the figures and the description and single alternatives of features thereof can be disclaimed from the subject matter of the invention or from disclosed subject matter. The disclosure comprises subject matter consisting of the features defined in the claims or the exemplary embodiments as well as subject matter comprising said features.

[0088] Furthermore, in the claims the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. A single unit or step may fulfil the functions of several features recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. The terms essentially, about, approximately and the like in connection with an attribute or a value particularly also define exactly the attribute or exactly the value, respectively. The term about in the context of a given numerate value or range refers to a value or range that is, e.g., within 20%, within 10%, within 5%, or within 2% of the given value or range. Components described as coupled or connected may be electrically or mechanically directly coupled, or they may be indirectly coupled via one or more intermediate components. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.