Container closure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021282879-A1
Application number	US-201917256926-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 11, 2019
Priority date	Jul 13, 2018
Publication date	Sep 16, 2021
Grant date	—

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

1 . A closing/locking mechanism for a sterile container, the sterile container comprising a container trough and a container lid which is arranged on an upper edge of the container trough and which can be locked with the container trough by the closing/locking mechanism, the closing/locking mechanism comprising:
an actuation lever which is mounted on one of the container lid and the container trough, a tension bow or a claw/clamping claw directly or indirectly coupled to the actuation lever, and an engagement element forming an undercut and provided laterally on the other of the container trough or the container lid, with which the tension bow or the claw/clamping claw is configured to be brought into undercut operative engagement in order to exert a tensile force on the engagement element for pressing the container trough and the container lid together upon actuation of the actuation lever into a locking position, wherein: a spring is provided, which is arranged relative to the tension bow or the claw/clamping claw in an operative position such that the spring applies a compression force to the tension bow or the claw/clamping claw in a direction of the tensile force only at a predetermined actuation position of the actuation lever and consequently at a predetermined/predeterminable sliding position of the tension bow or the claw/clamping claw, in which the tension bow or the claw/clamping claw already engages behind the engagement element.

2 . The closing/locking mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the actuation lever is coupled via at least one tappet rod or tappet rod plate hinged thereto to the tension bow or claw/clamping claw for a transformation of a pivoting movement of the actuation lever into a translational movement of the tension bow or claw/clamping claw.

3 . The closing/locking mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein the actuation lever is hinged to the container lid via at least one hinge pin such that the tension bow or the claw/clamping claw with respect to the actuation lever extends below the at least one hinge pin.

4 . The closing/locking mechanism according to claim 3 , wherein that the actuation lever forms at its one free end portion an actuation plate or actuation handle and at its other free end portion a push-down lug which, when the actuation lever is opened, presses down the tension bow or claw/clamping claw with respect to the at least one hinge pin and, when the actuation lever is folded in, releases the tension bow or claw/clamping claw for its movement towards the at least one hinge pin.

5 . The closing/locking mechanism according to claim 3 , wherein the spring is a leaf spring comprising a first free leaf spring edge and a second free leaf spring edge, the leaf spring being bent in a sickle-shaped or part-circular manner around the at least one hinge pin or a longitudinal axis of the at least one hinge pin, in such a way that the leaf spring rests at the first free leaf spring edge against a lower side of the tension bow or claw/clamping claw with respect to the at least one hinge pin and at the second free leaf spring edge only presses against a tongue of the tension bow or claw/clamping claw extending in a sliding direction of the tension bow or claw/clamping claw, when the tension bow or claw/clamping claw reaches the predetermined/predeterminable sliding position so as to apply at the first free leaf spring edge the compression force to the tension bow or claw/clamping claw, whereas the tension bow or claw/clamping claw is completely free of pretension in a position outside or before the predetermined/predeterminable sliding position.

6 . The closing/locking mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the spring is fixed to the tension bow or claw/clamping claw and moves with the latter in such a way that the spring is only resiliently supported on the container lid when the tension bow or claw/clamping claw is moved, so as to apply the compression force to the tension bow or claw/clamping claw when the tension bow or claw/clamping claw reaches or has reached the predetermined sliding position, whereas the tension bow or the claw/clamping claw is completely free of pretension in a position outside or before the predetermined/predeterminable sliding position.

7 . The closing/locking mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the spring is fixed to the container lid in such a way that the tension bow or claw/clamping claw slides over it, at least when the tension bow or claw/clamping claw reaches the predetermined sliding position, so as to apply the compression force to the tension bow or claw/clamping claw, whereas the tension bow or the claw/clamping claw is completely free of pretension in a position outside or before the predetermined/predeterminable sliding position.

8 . The closing/locking mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the tension bow or claw/clamping claw is mounted on the container lid or the container trough so as to be longitudinally displaceable in its longitudinal direction.

9 . The closing/locking mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the tensile force is generated exclusively by the spring.

10 . A medical sterile container with a closing/locking mechanism according to claim 1 .

11 . The closing/locking mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the tension bow or the claw/clamping claw is mounted on the container lid or the container trough so as to be transversely displaceable to the tensile force.

Assignees

• Aesculap Ag

Inventors

• Thomas Stefan
• Elisch Andreas
• Eiskant Karl-Heinz

Classifications

• A61B2050/006

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

• A61B2050/007

  Locking clamps · CPC title

• A61B2050/0074

  Toggle latches or clamps · CPC title

• A61B2050/0061

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

• A61B50/00

  Containers, covers, furniture or holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments, e.g. sterile covers (drapes specially adapted for instruments A61B46/10) · CPC title