Security closing device for a container having a lid

Abstract: The security device for containers having lids comprises a catch (3) which is mobile internally of a chamber (4) associated to the container (1) and which has an end (30) which is predisposed to insert snugly and be removed from a hollow seating (20) afforded in a lid. The catch (3) is mobile internally of the chamber (4) in a non-parallel direction to an uncoupling direction of the lid (2) from a retracted position, at which it does not interfere with the hollow seating (20), and at least one extended position, in which it is at least partially inserted in the hollow seating (20). The movement of the catch (3) is pneumatically actuated.

Description: In particular, though not exclusively, the invention is usefully applied for pharmaceutical containers for dispensing pills, capsules and the like which are destined to be used in automatised container dispensers installed in hospitals. One of the main problems met in these dispensers concerns how to make the numerous types of containers simple and rapid to obtain for authorised personnel only, whether the containers are empty (i.e. to be filled) or already full. The prior art does not teach any solution to this problem which combines sufficient security against abuse by non-authorised persons with a satisfactory simplicity not only with regard to construction, but also and especially concerning the simplicity or practicalness of use by authorised personnel. US - 3 973 687A shows a security closing device according to the preamble of claim 1, namely a security closing device for a container having a lid 22, comprising a catch 30 which is mobile internally of a chamber 28 and has an end which is disposed to insert snugly into and be removed from a hollow seating, said catch 30 being mobile internally of said chamber 28 in a non-parallel direction to an uncoupling direction of the lid 22; said catch 30 being movable from a retracted position, and at least one extended position, in which the catch (3) is at least partially inserted. The main aim of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned lacks in the prior art by providing a security closure for lidded containers which is constructionally simple and easy to use. An advantage of the present invention consists in its easy applicability to containers already in use. These aims and advantages and more besides are all attained by the present invention, as it is characterised in the appended claims. Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will better emerge from the detailed description that follows of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the invention, illustrated purely by way of a non-limiting example in the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which: figure 1 shows the invention applied on a container shown in a schematic section made according to a median vertical plane of the container itself; figure 2 shows the same section as in figure 1, in a different operative configuration. With reference to the figures, 1 denotes in its entirety a container, used for containing medical substances in the form of pills, capsules or the like. The container 1 is closed by a lid 2. To open the container 1 the lid 2 is uncoupled by a simple axial displacement. By repeating the axial movement in the opposite direction the container 1 can be re-closed. The security closure of the container 1 is achieved by blocking the lid 2 on the container 1 by means of a security closing device which comprises a catch-type device, denoted by 3 in the figure. The catch 3 is mobile within a chamber 4 associated to the container 1 and is provided with an end 30 which is predisposed to insert (and be removed) exactly in or from a hollow seating 20 made in the lid 2. The catch 3 is mobile inside the chamber 4 in a direction which is not parallel to the uncoupling direction of the lid 2 from a retracted position as shown in figure 2, where it does not interfere with the hollow seating 20, to at least one external position, visible in figure 1, where it is at least partially inserted internally of the hollow seating 20. In particular, the chamber 4 housing the catch 3 is located in proximity of the bottom of the container 1 and is oriented in such a way that the catch 3 is axially mobile in a direction which is perpendicular to the external lateral surface of the container 1 from which the end 30 can project externalwise. In the illustrated example the catch 3 comprises a central body 31 which is exactly housed internally of the chamber 4 and which functions as a piston. The central body 31 divides the chamber 4 into two parts: one open part which opens at the lateral wall (vertical) of the container 1, in which the end 30 is housed and is mobile; and one closed part, which communicates with the outside by means of a conduit 5 which opens at an aperture 50 situated on the external surface of the bottom of the container 1. More precisely, the aperture 50 is located at the centre of the bottom of the container 1. In the closed part of the chamber 4, a spring 6 is housed coaxially to the catch 3, which spring 6 has the function of pushing the catch 3 externalwise with a predetermined force. A limiter 7 is located in the part of the chamber 4 which is open externalwise and has the function of interacting with the central body 31 to stop the catch 3 and limit the maximum run of the end 30 with respect to the lateral surface of the container 1. The described device maintains the lid 2 solidly constrained to the container 1 when the end 30 of the catch 3 is inserted in the hollow seating 20 made in the lid 2. The spring 6, by pushing the central body 31 against the limiter 7, keeps the end 30 stably inserted in the hollow seating 20. The opening of the container 1 is possible only when the end 30 is completely disengaged from the hollow seating 20. This is possible only by retracting the catch 3 from the position illustrated in figure 1 into that of figure 2. The catch 3 can be retracted by placing the conduit 5 in depression and consequently the part of the chamber 4 containing the spring 6. Lowering the pressure in the conduit 5 can be done easily by applying a suction tube 9 (connected to a suitable aspiration plant) to the aperture 50, and sucking out the air contained in the inside of the part of the chamber 4 in which the spring 6 is situated. When the pressure is sufficiently lowered, the central body 31, functioning as a piston, overcomes the force of the spring 6 and retracts, disengaging the end 30 from the hollow seating 20 and freeing the lid 2, which becomes removable. The illustrated closing device can be used on containers such as the one illustrated, which exhibits an upturned-cone-shaped bottom and a coaxial guide 8 for guiding an end of a tube (not illustrated) introduced from above and inserted down to the level of the point of the cone. This configuration enables all the pills in the container 1 to be removed one-by-one, and eases removal of the final remaining pills in the container 1. In a further embodiment, not illustrated, the internal bottom side of the container 1 could be upturned-pyramid-shaped instead of cone-shaped. The closing device illustrated is constructionally simple, offers sufficient guarantees of security and is easily applicable to normally used container types.

Claims: A security closing device for a container having a lid, comprising a catch (3) which is mobile internally of a chamber (4) and has an end (30) which is disposed to insert snugly into and be removed from a hollow seating (20); said catch (3) being mobile internally of said chamber (4) in a direction non-parallel to the uncoupling direction of the lid (2); said catch (3) being movable from a retracted position, in which there is no interference with said hollow seating (20), to at least one extended position, in which the catch (3) is at least partially inserted into said hollow seating (20) the activation of said catch (3) from said at least one extended position being achieved; characterized in that the catch (3) is associated to the container (1) and has its end (30) disposed to insert snugly into and be removed from said hollow seating (20) which is afforded in the lid (2); said catch (3) being movable from said retracted position in which there is no interference with said hollow seating (20) and being at least partially insertable internally of said hollow seating (20); the activation of said catch (3) being pneumatically achieved. The device of claim 1, characterised in that said catch (3) comprises a central body (31) which is housed snugly internally of the chamber (4) and which acts as a piston; the central body (31) of the catch (3) dividing the chamber (4) into two parts, of which one part is open and houses said end (30), and of which one part is closed and is in communication with the outside environment by means of a conduit (5) which has an aperture (50) situated on an external surface of the container (1). The device of claim 2, characterised in that the aperture (50) is located on the external surface of the container which describes a bottom of the container (1). The device of claim 3, characterised in that a spring (6) is housed in the closed part of the chamber (4), which spring (6) is coaxial to the catch (3), and which spring (6) pushes the catch (3)in an externalwise direction with respect to the lateral wall of the container (1); a limiter (7) being provided to limit a maximum externalwise extension of the end (30). The device of claim 4, characterised in that said chamber (4) housing said catch (3) is located in proximity of the bottom of the container (1); the catch (3) being axially mobile in a perpendicular direction to a lateral external surface of the container (1); the catch (3) being able to project externally of the container (1). The device of claim 5, characterised in that the aperture (50) is located at a centre of the bottom of the container (1). The device of claim 6, characterised in that an internal surface of the bottom of the container (1) has an upturned-cone-shape; a guide (8) being provided which is coaxial to a point of said cone-shaped internal surface of the bottom of the container and which guides an end of a tube introduced from above into the container (1) to said point of the cone-shaped internal surface. The device of claim 7, characterised in that the internal surface of the bottom of the container (1) is upturned-pyramid shaped; a guide (8) being provided which is coaxial to a point of said pyramid-shaped internal surface of the bottom of the container and which guides an end of a tube introduced from above into the container (1) to said point of the pyramid-shaped internal surface.

Inventors: MAZZETTI CLAUDIO, MAZZETTI, CLAUDIO
Applicants: SWISSLOG ITALIA S P A, SWISSLOG ITALIA S.P.A.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B65D55
IPC codes: B65D55