Abstract:
A locking device is disclosed for locking a cap on a container with a flange including a lid housing a bushing provided with lower inner notches supported under the flange and outer notches engaging with a groove in the lid to secure the bushing to the lid, the lid including a severable frangible zone, the bushing being formed by a ring extended by lugs intended to surround the cap and provided with at least one deformable and severable bridge provided opposite the lugs and capable of being elastically deformed radially to allow the forced insertion of the flange into the bushing and of being broken to allow the removal of the bushing relative to the flange followed by the removal of the cap from the container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a National Phase Entry of International Application No. PCT/EP2013/052273, filed on Feb. 6, 2013, which claims priority to French patent application Ser. No. 12/51306, filed on Feb. 13, 2012, both of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    A device for locking a stopper on a container having a flange, comprises a cap which, being provided with at least one internal groove, exhibits a shape allowing coverage of the stopper, envelopment of the flange and the resultant inaccessibility of the stopper, a collar which, being suitable for housing inside the cap, is provided both with lower internal lugs that are intended to support the flange and cause the collar to press against the container, and with external lugs that can engage with the groove in order to secure said collar to said cap. The device relates furthermore to a container which, having a flange, is obturated by means of a stopper and is provided on its flange with such a stopper locking device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Such locking devices are used to advantage notably in the medical field for reliably locking a stopper that is used to obturate a flanged container that contains, for example, an active medium in liquid, powder or freeze-dried form. Use of such locking devices ensures the impermeability of the container and the integrity of the contents thereof while facilitating detection of any prior broach of the container. This type of locking device can most commonly be found on flanged containers that are obturated by means of a stopper. 
         [0004]    FR 2 893 922 discloses such a locking device wherein a cap, which is traversed by an axial aperture that is closed off by means of a capsule, is intended to cover both the stopper and the container flange. This cap comprises an external wall and an internal wall between which is arranged a circular elongated gap wherein are disposed at least one upper circular groove and one lower circular groove. This locking device moreover features a manipulation body which, being provided with external elastic tongues, is housed inside said elongated gap and can displace between an upper position in which the elastic tongues thereof engage with the upper circular groove and a lower position in which the elastic tongues thereof engage with the lower circular groove. The manipulation body is traversed by an orifice that is positioned facing the aperture in the cap and closed by means of a detachable cover that is connected to the manipulation body by means of weld points. Additionally, the manipulation body comprises an annular lip that is oriented towards the aperture in the cap. Finally, the stopper features a lateral recess which, when the manipulation body is raised, allows the venting of water molecules from the container contents as they undergo freeze-drying. Following the freeze-drying procedure, the manipulation body is returned to its lower position in which the container is sealed tight. While in the lower position, the annular lip of the cover penetrates the stopper to delimit a clean and sterile central section. Prior to use, the cover is loosened from the manipulation body by breaking the weld points. The user is thus able to insert a needle through the aperture and the orifice and then through the stopper in order to, for example, inject into the container a reconstitutive fluid prior to removing mixture by means of suction. 
         [0005]    FR 2 950 865 also discloses a locking device comprising a cap which, being traversed axially by an aperture that is closed by means of a capsule, is intended to cover both the stopper and the flange of the container. This locking device also features a muzzle which, fitting inside the cap, is formed by an upper band and a lower band that are interconnected by fingers separated by lateral interstices. The mouth of the upper band is arranged so as to align with the opening in the cap. Thus, following removal of the capsule, the user can insert a sampling needle through the aperture and orifice and into the stopper in order to, for example, inject into the container a reconstitutive fluid prior to suctioning the mixture. After the locking device has been assembled, securing tabs underneath the capsule are squeezed between the upper band of the muzzle and the cap. Following withdrawal of the capsule, it is no longer possible to return the securing tabs to their original positions. The action of removing the capsule is thus made irreversible and it is no longer possible to return it to its initial position. This makes any prior use easily detectible. 
         [0006]    Prior locking devices permit access to the contents of the container only via an area that is smaller than that of the neck of the container. Effectively, any removal of content is restricted to withdrawal by means of a needle introduced through the stopper. Such devices do not permit access to the entirety of the contents of the container by using all of the area afforded by the neck orifice. In addition, prior devices do not allow the attachment of the flange of the container, for example, to that of another container in order to decant the contents from one container to another. Thus, prior locking devices limit the application thereof and are therefore unsatisfactory. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The present device has as its aim the remediation of the aforementioned disadvantages by proposing one embodiment of a device for locking a stopper that sits on a flanged container, the manufacture whereof is simplified by limiting the quantity of inputs required and whose ease of assembly provides for the simple, effective, rapid and irreversible locking of the stopper on the container while permitting, following unlocking, the flange of the container to be attached to another container while affording access to the inside of the container via the full internal surface of the container neck. A device for locking a stopper on a container having a flange, such device comprising a cap that is provided with at least one internal groove and being so formed as to cover the stopper while surrounding the flange in order to prevent access to the stopper, a collar which, capable of being housed inside the cap, is provided with lower internal lugs that are intended to provide support underneath the flange for the purpose of causing the collar to interlock with the container and with external lugs that can engage with the groove in order to cause the collar to interlock with the cap, characterized in that the cap comprises at least one frangible zone that can be broken so as to permit opening of the cap and the withdrawal thereof relative to the flange, the collar is formed by a band which, being extended by means of tenons that are intended to surround the stopper, is provided with at least one deformable and breakable bridge arranged opposite the tenons and capable, on the one hand, of radial elastic deformation so as to permit the forced insertion of the flange into the collar and on the other, to be broken in order to permit withdrawal of the collar from the flange and subsequent removal of the stopper from the container. The concept underlying the device is the employment of a cap and a collar that can be opened individually so as to disencumber the full surface of the flange and so permit the connection thereof. 
         [0008]    The present device may therefore advantageously have the following distinguishing features:
       the free ends of the tenons are independent from one another;   each tenon is provided with at least one internal web which, being intended to provide support against the flange, has a diameter that is less than that of the band;   the collar also comprises upper internal lugs that are intended to press against the stopper;   the cap comprises a disk that is extended axially by means of a skirt, the frangible zone being delimited by means of a double groove which, being of a thickness that is reduced relative to the rest of the cap, comprises at least a first leg extending over at least a part of such skirt and at least a second leg extending over at least one part of the cover, the locking device furthermore comprising a peelable capsule that can be attached at no less than one connection point of the frangible zone in order to allow removal of the capsule in order to initiate rupture of such frangible zone;   the cap comprises a hinge zone, which, being of a thickness that is less than that of the rest of the cap, is arranged diametrally opposite the second section of the breakable zone and so disposed as to permit the radial opening of the cap following rupture of the breakable zone; and   at least one of the cap, collar and capsule is made from molded plastic.
 
The present device also relates to a container which, having a flange, is obturated by means of a stopper and is provided with a device, as described above, for locking a stopper on top of the flange.
       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The present invention will be described to better advantage and the novelties thereof more clearly elucidated with the aid of a detailed disclosure of one variant presented as a purely non-restrictive example thereof and illustrated by means of the drawing figures appended hereto, wherein: 
           [0016]      FIGS. 1 to 3  are perspective views of the elements comprised by the proposed locking device; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a cut-away view of a container having a flange and fitted with the locking device as proposed in a locked configuration; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are perspective views illustrating two assembly stages for one part of the proposed locking device on a flanged container; and 
           [0019]      FIGS. 7 to 11  are perspective views illustrating five stages of unlocking the proposed locking device as borne upon a flanged container. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Having reference to the drawings, the proposed locking device  1  is intended to be assembled so as to permit locking of an obturating stopper on a container  101  and thus ensure both the impermeability thereof and the integrity of the contents of container  101 . Container  101  is of the flanged  102  type, such flange being delimited by a neck  103 , whose cross section is narrower than that of the rest of container  101 . Stopper  100  is in the shape of a mushroom whose stem  104  fits inside neck  103  and whose cap  105  sits on top of flange  102 . Stopper  100  is, in order to ensure optimal impermeability, made, for example, of elastomer. Locking device  1  comprises a cap  2 , a capsule  3  and a collar  4 . 
         [0021]    Having reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , cap  2 , which is made from a plastic material, comprises a disk  20  that is extended axially by means of a skirt  21 . The lower part of skirt  21  comprises an internal annular groove  22  and a recess  23  which, cutting across groove  22 , is oriented axially over the integral height of skirt  21  while, by reducing the thickness of the wall of skirt  21 , defining a hinge zone Z1. The external face of cap  2  features a double groove  25 ,  26 ,  27  along which the thickness of the wall of cap  2  is reduced. Double groove  25 ,  26 ,  27  comprises two first legs  25  that run parallel to each other and extend axially over the height of skirt  21 . In the present example, the first legs  25  are arranged at a distance from the free end of skirt  21  but can also be oriented at a tangent to the free end of skirt  21 . The first two legs  25  are extended by means of two second legs  26  that run parallel to each other over disk  20 , and are oriented radially relative to skirt  21  toward the center of disk  20 , at the limits whereof they are joined together by means of a circular section  27 . Double groove  25 ,  26 ,  27  thus demarcates a frangible zone Z2 that can rupture in order to split cap  2  and so permit the opening and removal thereof from flange  102  of container  101 . In order to facilitate the opening of cap  2 , first legs  25  of frangible zone Z2 are arranged diametrally opposite hinge zone Z1. The center of disk  20  is traversed by an orifice  28  that thus also traverses frangible zone Z2. Disk  20  is intended to be covered by a peelable capsule  3 , illustrated by the  FIG. 1 , the center whereof features a catch  30 , which, being visible on  FIGS. 2B  (prior to snapping on) and  4  (after snapping on), is intended to traverse orifice  28  of cap  2  to which it can be attached by snapping on as shown in  FIG. 4 . Catch  30  and orifice  28  thus constitute an anchoring point between capsule  3  and cap  2  and, more particularly, between capsule  3  and frangible zone Z2. Capsule  3 , being made from a plastic material that is more flexible than that of cap  2 , is readily deformable. Thus, one edge of capsule  3  can be raised and then pulled, which in turn lifts up frangible zone Z2. Cap  2  is thus so formed that, when it is placed on top of stopper  100 , it covers the latter while surrounding flange  102  of container  101 , an arrangement that renders stopper  100  inaccessible. 
         [0022]    Having reference to  FIG. 3 , collar  4 , which is made of plastic material, is formed from a substantially cylindrical band  40  that is extended by means of tenons  41 . Collar  4  is suitable for being housed inside cap  2  and for surrounding flange  102  of container  100 . On its inner wall, band  40  features three lower internal lugs  42  that are aligned in an axial plane as well as three upper internal lugs  43  that are aligned in an axial plane distinct from the former. Both lower internal lugs  42  and upper internal lugs  43  are staggered and are regularly spaced relative to one another. Both upper internal lugs  43  and lower internal lugs  42  are formed from flexible tabs that are inclined and oriented toward tenons  41 . Band  40  is provided on its external wall with five regularly spaced external lugs  44  that are aligned in an axial plane distinct from those of the former. In the present example, external lugs  44  are disposed axially between internal lower lugs  42  and upper internal lugs  43 . Band  40  comprises a bridge  45  which, being arranged opposite tenons  41 , is of a height that is reduced relative to the rest of band  40 . Bridge  45  is elastically deformable, thus permitting a slight elastic radial deformation of band  40  as well as the pushing away and inclination of the walls of band  40  on both sides of bridge  45 . In addition, bridge  45  can break in order to allow, after breaking, the removal of collar  4  from flange  102  of container  101 . Tenons  41  extend axially from band  40 . In the present example, there are five tenons  41  and, except within the zone of bridge  45 , these are spaced regularly around band  40 . Each tenon  41  is disposed between an upper internal lug  43  and a lower internal lug  42 . The free end of each of tenons  41  is arranged independently of each of the others. Each tenon  41  is offset relative to the axis and toward the inside of band  40  so as to form an internal web  46  that is intended to provide support against flange  102 . Cap  2 , collar  4  and capsule  3  can be produced by molding, for example, with the aid of an injection molding machine. 
         [0023]    The assembly of locking device  1  and the mounting thereof on flange  102  of a container  101  are effected as follows. First, with the aid of catch  30  and orifice  28 , capsule  3  is snapped onto cap  2  in the manner described above. Secondly, collar  4  and the tenons  41  thereof are arranged so as to face the inside of skirt  21  of cap  2  whereupon collar  4  is inserted into cap  2 . During this insertion procedure, external lugs  44  of collar  4  deform elastically prior to springing back inside groove  22 . Collar  4  is thus blocked inside cap  2 . Thirdly, use is made of a container  101  having a flange  102  and obturated by means of a stopper  100  that is inserted into a cap  2  having a collar  4 . During this insertion step, bridge  45  permits the elastic deformation of collar  4  inside cap  2  in order to permit the passage of stopper  100  and flange  102  into collar  4 , as illustrated by  FIG. 5  wherein only collar  4  and container  101  are shown. Following the forced insertion of flange  102 , collar  4  resumes its initial shape as shown in  FIG. 6 . In this configuration, flange  102  is housed and blocked between lower internal lugs  42  and upper internal lugs  43 . Stopper  100 , which ensures the impermeability of container  101 , and, receiving support from upper internal lugs  43 , is wedged between tenons  41 . Stopper  100  thus becomes locked onto container  101  by means of locking device  1  which completely envelopes said stopper  100  and thus renders it inaccessible. 
         [0024]    Having reference to  FIGS. 7 to 11 , the steps for removing locking device  1  are hereinafter described. First, the user grasps one edge of capsule  3  in order to lift it and exert tractive effort thereupon. Such tractive effort is transmitted from capsule  3  to frangible zone Z2 via catch  30  that has been snapped into orifice  28 . Sufficient tractive effort is hereby deployed so as to cause the rupture of frangible zone Z2. As shown by  FIG. 7 , this action causes cap  2  to split open. Secondly, having reference to  FIG. 8 , cap  2  is opened by the forcing apart of the sections thereof on either side of hinge zone Z1. Cap  2  is removed from the container which, in  FIG. 9 , is shown only with collar  4 . Thirdly, having reference to  FIG. 10 , bridge  45  is broken and, having reference to  FIG. 11 , cap  2  is opened when the sides thereof are pushed apart. Fourthly, stopper  100  is removed from container  101 . 
         [0025]    The present device permits the accomplishment of the aforementioned objectives. Flange  102 , which thus becomes completely disencumbered following removal of cap  2  and of collar  4 , can now be connected to any connecting means for the purpose of decanting the contents of container  101  and/or introducing a product into container  101 . It will doubtless be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the foregoing description of one of the embodiments thereof, which can be modified without surpassing the scope of the invention.