Tamper evident shield

Abstract

A shield for a port closure of a medical container includes housing comprising two movably connected housing segments, each having a hollow interior and an open end, movable between open and closed orientations. A lock assembly is structured to define a fixed locked connection between the housing segments in the closed orientation and includes first and second lock members connected within different ones of the housing segments in a non-accessible location when the housing segments are in the closed orientation. A retainer is disposed within the housing in a capturing orientation relative to the closure therein, concurrent to the closed orientation. A latch assembly is connected to the housing segments and structured to retain said housing segments in said closed orientation, independently of and concurrently with the fixed locked connection of the lock assembly.

Claims

1. A shield for a closure of a medical container comprising: a housing including two housing segments movably connected together and disposable between an open orientation and a closed orientation, each of said two housing segments including an at least partially hollow interior and an open end, said open ends defining an access opening of said housing, concurrent to said closed orientation, a lock assembly mounted on each of said two housing segments at least partially within corresponding ones of said hollow interiors thereof; said lock assembly disposed in a non-accessible location, concurrent to said closed orientation, and said lock assembly structured to define a fixed locked connection of said two housing segments in said closed orientation, and a latch assembly connected to a free longitudinal side of each of said housing segments and movable therewith between said open orientation and said closed orientation; said latch assembly structured to retain said housing segments in said closed orientation.

2. The shield as recited in claim 1 wherein said latch assembly comprises at least one latch structure connected to said two housing segments in a latched orientation adjacent said open end of said housing, concurrent to said fixed locked connection.

3. The shield as recited in claim 1 further comprising tamper evident capabilities at least partially defined by permanent disposition of said housing segments in said closed orientation, via said fixed locked connection.

4. The shield as recited in claim 1 further comprising a living hinge pivotally interconnecting said two housing segments along correspondingly disposed longitudinal sides thereof.

5. A shield for a closure of a medical container comprising: a housing including two housing segments movably connected together and disposable between an open orientation and a closed orientation, each of said two housing segments including an at least partially hollow interior and an open end, said open ends defining an access opening of said housing, concurrent to said closed orientation, a lock assembly mounted on each of said two housing segments at least partially within corresponding ones of said hollow interiors thereof; said lock assembly disposed in a non-accessible location, concurrent to said closed orientation, said lock assembly structured to define a fixed locked connection of said two housing segments in said closed orientation, a retainer comprising at least two retaining flanges each connected to and extending outwardly from an inner surface of a different one of said hollow interiors of said housing segments in a capturing orientation relative to the closure, concurrent to said closed orientation, and each of said retaining flanges including an irregular interior peripheral surface disposed in retaining, confronting relation to a port of the medical container, concurrent to said closed orientation.

6. The shield as recited in claim 5 wherein said capturing orientation comprises said at least two retaining flanges collectively disposed in at least partially surrounding relation to the port of the medical container and in interruptive relation to the closure, relative to said access opening.

7. The shield as recited in claim 5 wherein said capturing orientation further comprises said at least two retaining flanges disposed in substantially aligned, mating relation to one another intermediate said access opening and an opposite end said housing and in capturing relation to the closure, concurrent to said closed orientation.

8. The shield as recited in claim 7 wherein said capturing orientation further comprises said retainer and a base of said housing disposed on opposite sides of the closure, concurrent to said closed orientation.

9. A shield for a closure of a medical container comprising: a housing including two housing segments movably connected together and disposable between an open orientation and a closed orientation, each of said two housing segments including a hollow interior and an open end, said open ends defining an access opening of said housing, concurrent to said closed orientation, a base connected to and movable with one of said two housing segments in outwardly extending relation from said hollow interior thereof; said base at least partially defining a closed end of said housing, concurrent to said closed orientation, a lock assembly including a first lock member and a second lock member each connected to said hollow interior of a different one of said two housing segments, a first locking component and a second locking component respectively disposed on said first lock member and said second lock member, said closed orientation comprising said first and second lock members disposed in co-axial alignment with one another and collectively in coaxial relation to a length of said housing, and said closed orientation further comprising said first and second locking components disposed in a fixed locked engagement and non-accessible, non-observable location within said housing.

10. The shield as recited in claim 9 wherein said base is disposed in co-axial alignment with said first and second lock members, concurrent to said closed orientation.

11. The shield as recited in claim 9 further comprising said first lock member connected to said one housing segment in spaced relation to said base; said second lock member connected to the other of said two housing segments and extending outwardly therefrom, between said first lock member and said base and into said fixed locked connection, concurrent to said closed orientation.

12. The shield as recited in claim 11 wherein said second lock member is connected to one end of said other housing segment, opposite to said open end thereof, in an offset alignment with said first lock member and said base.

13. The shield as recited in claim 11 wherein said base is disposed in stabilizing relation to said second lock member, concurrent to said closed orientation, said stabilizing relation comprising said base and said first and second lock members disposed in said co-axial alignment with one another.

14. The shield as recited in claim 9 wherein one of said first and second locking components comprises a ramp structure and the other of said first and second locking components comprises an opening; said opening cooperatively disposed and dimensioned to fixedly receive said ramp structure therein, concurrent to said closed orientation.

15. The shield as recited in claim 14 wherein said ramp structure is disposed sliding engagement with said first lock member into a fixed disposition within said opening concurrent to passage of said second lock between said first lock member and said base, and said two housing segments into said closed orientation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tamper evident shield of the present invention in an open orientation.

(3) FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of the shield as represented in FIG. 1 in an open orientation.

(4) FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 in an open orientation.

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 in an open but at least partially closing orientation.

(6) FIG. 5 is an interior longitudinal sectional view, in schematic form, of a container port and connected closure of a medical container, in a protected, shielded position within the shield of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, when in a closed orientation.

(7) Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(8) As represented throughout the Figures, the present invention is directed to a shield 10 including a housing generally indicated as 12. As schematically represented in FIG. 5, the shield 10 and the housing 12, when in a closed orientation is fixedly secured in surrounding, access restricting relation to a closure 100 of the type connected in flow restricting relation to a flow port 200 of a medical container such as, but not limited to, an IV bag.

(9) More specifically, the housing 12 comprises two housing segments 14 and 16 movably connected to one another preferably by a “living hinge”, generally indicated as 18. As such, the two housing segments 14 and 16 are selectively disposable from an open orientation, as represented in FIGS. 1-3, into a closed orientation, as at least partially represented in FIG. 4 and represented in schematic form in FIG. 5. As should be apparent, the living hinge 18 allows pivotal movement of the housing segments 14 and 16 relative to one another so as to facilitate the aforementioned disposition from the open orientation into the closed orientation.

(10) Each of the housing segments 14 and 16 include an open end 14′ and 16′ which collectively define an access opening 20 of the housing 12, when the housing segments 14 and 16 are in the closed orientation. Further, each of the housing segments 14 and 16 include an at least partially hollow interior 14″ and 16″, to define a hollow interior 12′ of the housing 12 when the housing segments 14 and 16 are in the closed orientation.

(11) As also clearly represented, each of the housing segments 14 and 16 include a closed or at least partially obstructed end oppositely disposed to the respective open ends 14′ and 16′. More specifically, housing segment 14 includes a base 22 extending outwardly from the hollow interior 14″, in transverse relation to the length of the housing segment 14. Moreover, the base 22 is disposed, dimensioned and configured to be disposed in covering relation to the corresponding end 17 of the housing segment 16, which is opposed to the open end 16′ thereof. As such, the base 22 may be disposed to at least partially define a closed and of the housing 12 when the housing segments 14 and 16 are in the closed orientation. Therefore, the disposition of the base 22 in closing, covering and/or at least partially mating relation to the corresponding end 17 of the housing segment 16 can be accurately described as a closed end of the housing 12.

(12) Another structural and operative feature of the housing 12 includes a lock assembly 25, operative to fixedly secure the two housing segments 14 and 16 in the closed orientation. As such, the housing segments 14 and 16 are fixedly secured on a permanent basis, absent destruction or damage to the housing 12. The lock assembly 25 comprises two lock members 26 and 28 each integrally or fixedly connected to the housing segments 14 and 16 respectively. Each of the lock members 26 and 28 are disposed within the corresponding hollow interiors 14′ and 16′ and extend transversely outward there from. Therefore, the lock assembly 25 is disposed in a non-accessible location within the interior of the housing 12, when the housing segments 14 and 16 are in the closed orientation. It will also be noted that second lock member 28 is disposed in covering relation to the end 17 of the housing segment 16 and may thereby define the closed end thereof.

(13) Therefore, the substantially permanent attachment or fixedly secured relation of the housing segments 14 and 16 prevent the opening of the housing 12 without breakage, rupture, damage, or at least partial destruction of the housing 12. Due to this “fixedly secured” operative feature of the lock assembly 25 and the permanent disposition of the housing segments in the closed orientation, access to the lock assembly 25 for the purpose of “unlocking” it will be prevented or at least significantly restricted. Any attempt to open or separate the housing segments 14 and 16 in order to access the lock assembly 25, once fixedly secured in the closed orientation, will result in the complete or partial destruction of the housing, as set forth above, and render it inoperative for further use or reuse.

(14) Also, in at least one preferred embodiment the base 22 and the first lock member 26 are fixedly connected to a common one of the housing segments 14 such that a predetermined axial/longitudinal space 30 exists therebetween. The second lock member 28, being connected to the other of the housing segments 16, passes into the predetermined space 30 between the base 22 and the first lock member 26, as at least partially represented in FIG. 4. This predetermined space 30 is cooperatively and/or correspondingly dimensioned relative to the thickness of the second lock member 28 to facilitate the receipt of the second lock member 28 within the predetermined space 30 as the housing segments 14 and 16 move into the closed orientation, as at least partially represented in FIG. 4. As a result, the second lock member 28 is concurrently disposed in locking engagement and/or connection with the first lock member 26 and in substantially stabilized, coaxially aligned and possibly confronting relation with and between both the base 22 and the first lock member 26.

(15) As a result, such stabilization and/or restricted movement of the second lock member 28 within the predetermined space 30, will serve to prevent inadvertent or purposeful disconnection of the aforementioned locking connection or locking engagement between the first and second lock members 26 and 28. In addition, the restricted movement of the second lock member 28 within the aforementioned predetermined space 30 will also facilitate an accurate alignment between the two housing segments 14 and 16. In turn, portions of a latch assembly generally indicated 40 will be accurately aligned to move into a latched orientation with one another, as the two housing segments 14 and 16 move from the open orientation into the closed orientation, as described in greater detail hereinafter.

(16) Additional structural features of the lock assembly 25 which facilitates the substantially permanent, fixed securement of the housing segments 14 and 16 with one another includes locking components 32 and 34 each integrally or fixedly formed, mounted or disposed on different ones of the first and second lock members 26 and 28. In more specific terms, locking component 32 is in the form of an opening, aperture, recess etc. formed in the first lock member 26. In cooperation therewith, the locking component 34 is in the form of an outwardly projecting member having a ramp configuration or construction 34′. The ramp construction 34′ and a remaining portion of the locking component 34 is cooperatively disposed, dimensioned and configured to be received in locking engagement within the opening or aperture of the locking component 32.

(17) The ramp configuration/construction 34′ of the locking component 34 facilitates receipt and sliding engagement of the locking component 34 relative to the first lock member 26 and or the leading edge 26′ thereof, as the second lock member 28 passes into the predetermined space 30, as at least partially represented in FIG. 4. Such a sliding engagement/fit may be necessary due to the close tolerances in the thickness dimension of the second locking member 28 and that of the predetermined space 30, as indicated above.

(18) When the housing 12 is in the closed orientation, the open end 14′ and 16′ of each of the housing segments 14 and 16 collectively define the access opening 20 of the housing 12. The access opening 20 is dimensioned and disposed to receive the container port 200 (see FIG. 5) while the container port 200 is disposed at least partially within the interior 12′ of the housing 12 in attached relation to the port closure 100. As should be apparent, the hinged or pivotal connection 18 between the housing segments 14 and 16, define a “clamshell” configuration/structure. In turn, this facilitates the container port 200 and attached closure 100 being inserted within the interior 12′ of the housing 12, while the housing segments 14 and 16 are in the open orientation. When the closure 100 and port 200 are so inserted, disposition of the housing segments 14 and 16 in the closed orientation will result in capture of the closure 100 within the housing, as explained in greater detail hereinafter. Concurrently, the additive port or other proof 200 of the container, to which the closure 100 is attached, will also be enclosed.

(19) The structural features of the housing 12 also include a retaining assembly 50 disposed at least partially within the hollow interior of at least one of the housing segments 14 or 16. However, preferably and possibly more practically, the retaining assembly 50 will be disposed within the hollow interiors 14′ and 16′ of both of the two housing segments 14 and 16. As such, the retaining assembly 50 includes at least one but preferably at least two retaining flanges or flange segments 52 and 54. Each of the at least two retaining flanges 52 and 54 is integrally or otherwise fixedly secured to the interior surface of the hollow interior 14′ and 16′ of different ones of the housing segments 14 and 16. Further, the retaining flanges 52 and 54 extend transversely outward from the respective interior surfaces into aligned substantially mating and/or confronting and/or coplanar relation to one another, as at least partially represented in FIG. 4. Such substantially aligned, mating engagement may be at least partially defined by corresponding ends 52′ and 54′ of the respective flange segments 52 and 54 being disposed in confronting, contiguous or at least immediately adjacent relation to one another. Such substantially aligned relation may also be defined by the at least two retaining flange segments 52 and 54 being in substantially coplanar relation to one another.

(20) The cooperative disposition, dimension and configuration of the flange segments 52 and 54 are such as to form a substantially annular or ring-like configuration including a central opening or aperture 55 extending through the mated and/or confronting retaining flange segments 52 and 54. The transverse dimension or dimension of the diameter of the retaining opening or aperture 55 is dependent on the corresponding dimension of the closure 100 and/or port 200. More specifically, once the two housing segments 14 and 16 are disposed in the closed orientation, the closure 100 is captured within the interior 12′ of the housing 12, between the mating or confronting retaining flanges 52 and 54 and the first lock member 26 and/or base 22.

(21) Yet additional structural features of the two retaining flanges include the inner peripheral edge thereof having an irregular surface configuration, as at 56. This irregular surface configuration 56 may be defined by a plurality of teeth extending along at least a portion of the length of the inner peripheral edge 52′ and 54′. As such, the irregular surface configuration 56 is disposed in surrounding, retaining and possibly confronting relation to a corresponding portion of the container port 200, to which the closure 100 is attached. The plurality of teeth or other irregular surface configuration 56 may be disposed and structured to provide a gripping engagement with the container port 200. As such, a forced removal of the shield 10 and/or housing 12 would result in a possible damaging of the container port 200 due to engagement with the plurality of teeth or other irregular surface configuration 56.

(22) As indicated, the captured disposition of the closure 100, is at least partially accomplished by the retaining opening or aperture 55 having a smaller transverse dimension or diameter than that of the closure 100. As a result, passage of the closure 100 through the retaining aperture 55 and out of the access opening 20 of the housing 12, once the housing segments 14 and 16 are in the closed orientation is prevented. As a result, removal of the housing 12 from the closure 100 or container port 200 will result in a removal of the closure 100 from the port 200 of the container and the capture of the closure 100 within the interior 12′ of the closed housing 12. Therefore, the closure 100, once captured within the interior of the housing 12′, will be non-accessible due to the two housing segments 14 and 16 being fixedly secured, in the closed orientation and one end of the housing 12 being closed by base 22. This non-accessibility is also due to the closure 100 not being able to pass through the retaining opening or aperture 55 in the retaining assembly 50. Also, as represented in FIG. 5, when the closure 100 is captured within the interior of the housing 12′ the lock assembly 25, including the locking components 32 and 34 will be non-accessible and non-observable, such as through the access opening 14, due to the position and dimensions of the closure 100 relative thereto.

(23) Additional structural and operative features of one or more preferred embodiments of the shield 10 include the provision of a latch assembly 40 fixedly mounted on or connected to the free longitudinal sides of each of the two housing segments 14 and 16. Moreover, the latch assembly 40 is at least partially disposed on the exterior of the housing 12 and comprises one or more cooperatively structured latch structures 42 and 44, which serve to retain the two housing segments 14 and 16 in the closed orientation. Similarly, latch assembly 40 may also include oppositely disposed latch structures 42′ and 44′ disposed adjacent an end of the housing 12 opposite to the access opening 20.

(24) In more specific terms, latch structure 42 comprises an outwardly extending finger which may have a hook or other type of retaining configuration disposed dimensioned and configured to pass through latch structure 44 in the form of a receiving aperture. Also, an outwardly extending border or like structure 46 is disposed in overlying at least partially covering relation to the latch structures 42 and 44, when disposed in mating, latched relation to one another. The protective border 46 is disposed and structured to restrict access to the latch structures 42 and 44, when in their latched engagement with one another. It is also to be noted that the latch structures 42 and 44 of the latch assembly 40 may be disposed at the substantially opposite end of the housing 12 relative to the first and second lock members 26 and 28 of the lock assembly 25. Such a spaced relation therebetween provides an increased leverage which facilitates maintenance of the housing 12 fixedly secured in the closed orientation.

(25) Therefore, one or more preferred embodiments of the shield 10 includes both the interior, non-accessible lock assembly 25, as described above, as well as the provision of an additional latch assembly 40. Moreover, the latch assembly 40 is structured to independently restrict opening or separation of the two housing segments 14 and 16 into the open orientation once disposed in the closed orientation.

(26) Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.