Container closure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12048568-B2
Application number	US-201917256926-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2019
Priority date	Jul 13, 2018
Publication date	Jul 30, 2024
Grant date	Jul 30, 2024

Abstract

A closing/locking mechanism for a sterile container includes an actuation lever, a tension bow or claw coupled to the actuation lever, and an engagement element forming an undercut and with which the tension bow or claw can be brought into operative engagement to apply a tensile force to the engagement element. The tension bow or claw is mounted for sliding transversely to the tensile force to be applied. A spring is arranged in an operative position relative to the tension bow or claw in such a way that, when a predefined actuation position of the actuation lever and a predefined/predefinable sliding position of the tension bow or claw are reached, in which position the tension bow or claw already reaches behind the engagement element, the spring applies a compressive force to the tension bow or claw in the direction of the tensile force.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A medical sterile container comprising:
a container trough;
a container lid arranged on the container trough; and
a closure assembly,
the closure assembly comprising:
an actuation lever that is pivotal between a locked position, in which the container lid is locked to the container trough in a fluid-tight manner, and an unlocked position;
a tension bow configured to translate relative to the container trough and the container lid;
a tappet having a first end coupled to the actuation lever and a second end coupled to the tension bow; and
a spring disposed between a portion of the tension bow and a portion of the container lid,
the tension bow comprising a first section defining a clamping element and a second section defining a locking slider that moves in unison with the clamping element,
the tappet operable to convert pivot motion of the actuation lever to translation of the locking slider such that, when the actuation lever is pivoted from the unlocked position to the locked position:
the tension bow moves over the spring and compresses the spring against said portion of the container lid,
the clamping element contacts an abutment surface on the container trough, and
the spring exerts a reaction force on an underside of the tension bow to pull the clamping element against the abutment surface, and consequently pull the container trough against the container lid in said fluid-tight manner.

2. The medical sterile container according to claim 1 , wherein translation of the locking slider is limited by a guide rail on the container lid.

3. The medical sterile container according to claim 1 , wherein the abutment surface extends along a perimeter of the container trough.

4. The medical sterile container according to claim 3 , wherein the abutment surface forms a ledge that extends outwardly and away from an interior of the container trough.

5. The medical sterile container according to claim 1 , wherein the clamping element comprises a hook configured to hook onto the abutment surface.

6. The medical sterile container according to claim 5 , wherein the hook projects towards the container trough when the container lid is placed on the container trough.

7. The medical sterile container according to claim 1 , wherein the closure assembly is movably mounted to the container lid.

8. The medical sterile container according to claim 1 , wherein the closure assembly is movable in translation over the container lid and over the container trough when the actuation lever is pivoted from the unlocked position to the locked position.

9. The medical sterile container according to claim 1 , wherein the tappet comprises a tappet rod or a tappet plate.

10. The medical sterile container according to claim 1 , wherein the actuation lever comprises a first end that forms an actuation handle and a second end that forms a push-down lug, the push down lug configured to press against the tension bow when the actuation lever is pivoted toward the unlocked position and release the tension bow when the actuation lever is pivoted toward the locked position.

11. The medical sterile container according to claim 1 , wherein the actuation lever is pivotally mounted on a pin, and the spring is bent around the hinge pin.

12. The medical sterile container according to claim 11 , wherein the spring is a leaf spring that comprises a first free edge and a second free edge, the first free edge and the second free edge configured to engage tension bow after the actuation lever is pivoted to the locked position and the tension bow slides over the spring.

13. The medical sterile container according to claim 1 , wherein the spring is configured such that, when the container trough and the container lid are locked in said fluid tight manner, and when a pressure in the medical sterile container exceeds a certain value, said pressure in the medical sterile container overcomes the reaction force of the spring to separate the container lid from the container trough to relieve excess pressure in the medical sterile container.

14. The medical sterile container according to claim 1 , wherein the spring is fixed to the underside of the tension bow.

15. The medical sterile container according to claim 1 , wherein the spring is fixed to the container lid.

Assignees

• Aesculap Ag

Inventors

• Thomas Stefan
• Elisch Andreas
• Eiskant Karl-Heinz

Classifications

• B65D45/24 Primary

  incorporating pressure-applying means, e.g. screws or toggles · CPC title

• A61B2050/007

  Locking clamps · CPC title

• A61B2050/0061

  the height of the lid being adjustable with respect to the casing sidewalls · CPC title

• A61B2050/0074

  Toggle latches or clamps · CPC title

• A61B2050/006

  perpendicular to the lid plane, e.g. by a downward movement · CPC title