Patent Publication Number: US-11027899-B2

Title: Closure device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a section 371 of International Application No. PCT/US2019/014394, filed Jan. 21, 2019, which was published on Jul. 25, 2019 under International Publication No. WO 2019/144067 A1, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/619,298 titled “Closure Device,” filed on Jan. 19, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     A closure device for closing a container is provided, which in one embodiment, includes a preassembled stopper. Another embodiment relates to a container equipped with such a closure device. Another embodiment relates to a method of closing and sealing a container using such a closure device. 
     In the field of containers for medication, a glass bottle can be used to store an active ingredient in freeze-dried form, in powder form, or in the form of a liquid solution. Such a bottle must be closed off in a leak-tight manner, so as to maintain its contents in a satisfactory state of preservation, until the date on which it is used. In order to close a bottle hermetically, a closure device can be used that comprises an elastomer stopper that has the function of being totally sealed against gas, liquids, and bacteria. Such a device further comprises a locking cover that can be made of a plastic material, and that is designed to be held in place around the stopper so as to isolate the stopper from the outside and so as to oppose removal of the stopper. 
     When using such a closure device for freeze-dried pharmaceutical substances, for example, each container is filled with a quantity of substance for freeze-drying, and then the respective stopper is placed on or in the neck of the container in such a manner as to be secured thereto, while also preserving communication between the outside environment and the inside of the container. Containers filled and pre-stopped in this way are then placed in batches on the shelves of a freeze drier inside which the substances are dehydrated. During freeze-drying of the contents of a container, vacuum cold-drying is performed to help ensure that the water is extracted from the substance by sublimation and evaporation. 
     Once the substances have been dehydrated within the freeze drier, pressure is applied to all of the stoppers of the containers in such a manner so as to help ensure that the containers are stopped hermetically by each stopper being engaged on or in the neck of the corresponding container. Such stopping in batches is generally performed with the elastomer stopper alone, without the locking cover. After removing the containers from the freeze drier, additional processing is performed to position the locking cover in place on each container. However, it is desirable to avoid such an additional operation. Thus, it has been envisaged to place the corresponding locking cover on each of the stoppers of the pre-stopped containers before freeze drying them, so that the locking covers are also put in place while the stoppers are being pressed into place inside the freeze drier. 
     Specifically, when the cover needs to be moved so as to be locked around the neck of the corresponding container, friction creates resistance to this movement, the magnitude of which varies as a function firstly of the manufacturing tolerances of the component parts of the cover, and secondly of the pre-positioning of the parts when they are installed on the neck of the container. Thus, when a presser plate is used inside the freeze drier to lock the covers on a large number of corresponding containers, certain covers are not locked correctly in view of the manufacturing tolerances of the component parts of the covers and in view of the operating clearances of the presser plate. Also, the dimensional variations in the containers themselves and in the stoppers that are used further complicate the closure of a batch of containers. In view of these difficulties, the stoppers and the locking covers were not put in place simultaneously on batches of containers inside a freeze drier, and consequently covers were placed subsequent to placement of the stopper. This results in complex and costly operations when packaging freeze-dried substances according to the process described above. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to use a stopper device which provides for secure and stable positioning of the cover on a vial stopper. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the invention relates to a closure device for closing a container. The closure device comprises a ring, a cover and a cap. The ring comprises a first top wall and a flexible skirt extending downwardly from the first top wall. The first top wall defines a first central through-opening. The flexible skirt comprises a plurality of spaced-apart first legs and a plurality of spaced-apart second legs. Each of the first and second legs has a first end at the first top wall and an opposing second end. The plurality of spaced-apart first legs are different from the plurality of spaced-apart second legs. An interior surface of each first leg has a first inwardly protruding ledge between the first and second ends and an exterior surface of each first leg has a first outwardly protruding ledge between the first and second ends. Each second leg has a second inwardly protruding ledge at the second end. An interior surface of each second leg has a flexible tongue and a recess configured to receive the flexible tongue. The cover comprises a second top wall, a sidewall extending downwardly from the second top wall and an interior cavity defined by the second top wall and the sidewall. The second top wall defines a second central through-opening generally aligned with the first central through-opening of the ring. An interior surface of the sidewall includes a third inwardly protruding ledge. A cap has a raised peripheral rim and a central depressed region. An interior surface of the central depressed region includes a plurality of spaced-apart bent tabs configured to be engaged in the second central through-opening of the cover to couple the cap to the cover. In a first position in which the ring is least partially inserted within the interior cavity of the cover, the third inwardly protruding ledge of the cover engages the first top wall of the ring. In a second position in which the ring is fully inserted within the interior cavity of the cover, the third inwardly protruding ledge of the cover engages the first outwardly protruding ledge of each first leg of the ring. 
     Another embodiment of the invention relates to an assembly of a container and a closure device for closing the container. The assembly comprises a container and a closure device for closing and sealing the container. The container has a main body, a neck, and a rim defining an opening of the container. The closure device comprises a ring, an elastomer stopper, a cover and a cap. The ring comprises a first top wall, a flexible skirt extending downwardly from the first top wall and a first interior cavity defined by the first top wall and the flexible skirt. The first top wall defines a first central through-opening. The flexible skirt comprises a plurality of spaced-apart first legs and a plurality of spaced-apart second legs. Each of the first and second legs has a first end at the first top wall and an opposing second end. The plurality of spaced-apart first legs are different from the plurality of spaced-apart second legs. An interior surface of each first leg has a first inwardly protruding ledge between the first and second ends and an exterior surface of each first leg has a first outwardly protruding ledge between the first and second ends. Each second leg has a second inwardly protruding ledge at the second end, and an interior surface of each second leg has a flexible tongue and a recess configured to receive the flexible tongue. The elastomer stopper has a head and a cylindrical body extending downwardly from the head. The cover comprises a second top wall, a sidewall extending downwardly from the second top wall and a second interior cavity defined by the second top wall and the sidewall. The second top wall defines a second central through-opening generally aligned with the first central through-opening of the ring. An interior surface of the sidewall including a third inwardly protruding ledge. The cap has a raised peripheral rim and a central depressed region. An inner surface of the central depressed region includes a plurality of spaced-apart bent tabs configured to be engaged in the central through-opening of the cover to couple the cap to the cover. In a first position of the assembly, in which the ring is least partially inserted within the second interior cavity of the cover and the closure device is positioned over the rim of the container, the head of the elastomer stopper is retained within the first interior cavity of the ring between the first top wall of the ring and the flexible tongues of the second legs of the ring, the third inwardly protruding ledge of the cover engages the first top wall of the ring, and the rim of the container is retained between the first inwardly protruding ledges of the first legs and the second inwardly protruding ledges of the second legs of the ring. In a second position of the assembly, in which the ring is fully inserted within the interior cavity of the cover and the closure device is positioned over the rim and the neck of the container, an upper surface of the head of the elastomer stopper abuts the first top wall of the ring, the rim of the container is retained between the head of the elastomer stopper and the first inwardly protruding ledges of the first legs of the ring, the flexible tongues of the second legs of the ring are retracted within the respective recesses, and the third inwardly protruding ledge of the cover engages the first outwardly protruding ledges of the first legs. 
     Another embodiment of the invention relates to a method of closing and sealing a container using a closure device. The container has a main body, a neck, and a rim defining an opening of the container. The closure device comprises a ring, an elastomer stopper, a cover and a cap. The ring comprises a first top wall, a flexible skirt extending downwardly from the first top wall and a first interior cavity defined by the first top wall and the flexible skirt. The first top wall defines a first central through-opening. The flexible skirt comprises a plurality of spaced-apart first legs and a plurality of spaced-apart second legs. Each of the first and second legs has a first end at the first top wall and an opposing second end. The plurality of spaced-apart first legs are different from the plurality of spaced-apart second legs. An interior surface of each first leg has a first inwardly protruding ledge between the first and second ends, and an exterior surface of each first leg has a first outwardly protruding ledge between the first and second ends. Each second leg has a second inwardly protruding ledge at the second end. An interior surface of each second leg has a flexible tongue and a recess configured to receive the flexible tongue. The elastomer stopper has a head and a cylindrical body extending downwardly from the head. The cover comprises a second top wall, a sidewall extending downwardly from the second top wall and a second interior cavity defined by the second top wall and the sidewall. The second top wall defines a second central through-opening generally aligned with the first central through-opening of the ring. An interior surface of the sidewall includes a third inwardly protruding ledge. The cap has a raised peripheral rim and a central depressed region. An inner surface of the central depressed region includes a plurality of spaced-apart bent tabs configured to be engaged in the central through-opening of the cover to couple the cap to the cover. The method comprises: assembling the closure device by coupling the cap to the cover such that the spaced-apart bent tabs of the cap are engaged with an underside of the second top wall of the cover, coupling the ring and the elastomer stopper by inserting the elastomer stopper into the first interior cavity of the ring such that the flexible tongues of the second legs of the ring engage an underside of the head of the elastomer stopper, inserting the coupled ring and elastomer stopper into the second interior cavity of the cover such that the third inwardly protruding ledge of the cover abuts an underside of a peripheral rim of the first top wall of the ring; placing the assembled closure device on the rim of the container in a first position by inserting the container into the first interior cavity of the ring, such that the rim of the container is retained between the first inwardly protruding ledges of the first legs and the second inwardly protruding ledges of the second legs of the ring and such that the cylindrical body of the elastomer stopper is positioned at an entry of the opening of the container; and transitioning the assembled closure device and the container to a second position from the first position by applying a force to bring the assembled closure device and the container toward each other, such that a top surface of the head of the elastomer stopper abuts the first top wall of the ring, the rim of the container is retained between the head of the elastomer stopper and the first inwardly protruding ledges of the first legs of the ring, the flexible tongues of the second legs of the ring are retracted within the respective recesses, and the third inwardly protruding ledge of the cover engages the first outwardly protruding ledges of the first legs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. There are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a closure device on a container in a first position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the closure device on the container in the first position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the closure device on the container in a second position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the closure device on the container in the second position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , there is shown a closure device, generally designated by the reference numeral  10 , positioned on a container  12  for closure of the container  12  in a leak-tight and secure manner. The container  12  has a main body  16  (see  FIG. 3 ), a neck  18  extending from an upper end of the main body  16 , and a rim  20  defining an opening  22  of the container  12  in communication with the neck  18  and body  16 . The container  12  may be made of a glass, ceramic or a polymeric material, such as polyethylene (PE) polyethylene terephthalate (PET), glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), high density polyethylene (PEHD) and the like. 
     The closure device  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-4  includes a stopper  14  assembled thereto. The stopper  14  is configured to be positioned at least partially in the container  12 . Preferably, the stopper  14  is an elastomer stopper, The stopper  14  is substantially T-shaped in cross-section, and has a cylindrical body  24  and a head  26 . The cylindrical body  24  is designed to be positioned within the neck  18  of the container  12 . A free end  24   a  of the cylindrical body  24  is preferably tapered. The head  26  defines a peripheral flange for abutting against the top surface of the rim  20  of the container  12 . 
     The closure device  10  is configured to cover the rim  20  and neck  18  of the container  12  with at least a portion of the stopper  14  positioned therein. The closure device  10 , and more particularly each component of the closure device  10  as described in detail herein, is preferably made of a plastic material, and more preferably a thermoplastic material such as, but not limited to, PE, PET, PETG, PEHD, polypropylene (PP) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). More preferably, the closure device  10  is made of a pharma grade polypropylene material, and more particularly a pharma grade polypropylene material that is free of contaminants or critical substances (e.g., bisphenol A or formaldehyde). 
     The closure device  10  comprises a ring  28 , a cover  30 , and a cap or sealing button  32 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the ring  28  has a cylindrical shape has a first end  28   a  and an opposing second end  28   b . The ring  28  comprises a top wall  34  at its first end  28   a  and cylindrical skirt or sidewall  36 , and more particularly a cylindrical skirt or sidewall  36 , extending downwardly from the top wall  34  away from the first end  28   a . The ring  28  has an interior cavity  37  defined by the top wall  34  and the skirt  36 . The second end  28   b  of the ring  28  is an open end. The top wall  34  includes an opening  29  at its geometric center. The central opening  29  extends completely through the top wall  34  and is configured to be generally aligned with the opening  22  of the container  12 . The top wall  34  has a diameter that is substantially the same as or at least slightly greater than a diameter of the skirt  36 . Preferably, the diameter of the top wall  34  is at least slightly greater than the diameter of the skirt  36 , such that a peripheral rim  38  of the top wall  34  juts out from a vertical plane of the skirt  36  and defines a peripheral flange. 
     The skirt  36  is preferably comprised of a plurality of spaced-apart first walls or legs  40  and a plurality of spaced-apart second walls or legs  42 . In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of spaced-apart first legs  40  includes three first legs  40  and the plurality of spaced-apart second legs  42  includes three second legs  42 , meaning a total of six spaced-apart first and second legs  40 ,  42  form the skirt  36 . Each first leg  40  and each second leg  42  has a first or proximal end  40   a ,  42   a  integrally formed with or attached to the top wall  34  and an opposing second or distal end  40   b ,  42   b  which is a free end. The first and second legs  40 ,  42  are elastically deformable, and more particularly radially deformable (inwardly or outwardly) relative to a central longitudinal axis X of the skirt  36 . The central longitudinal axis X of the skirt  36  also defines a central longitudinal axis of the overall closure device  10 . The first and second legs  40 ,  42  are preferably arranged in an alternating fashion relative to each other, meaning that each first leg  40  is positioned between two of the second legs  42  and, similarly, each second leg  42  is positioned between two of the first legs  40 . As such, the skirt  36  is formed of alternating first legs  40  and second legs  42 . 
     An interior surface of each first leg  40  includes a rib or ledge  44  protruding inwardly toward the interior cavity  37  of the ring  28 . Each ledge  44  defines a catch designed to engage the rim  20  of the container  12 , for example, during a treatment process, and during final closure and sealing of the container  12 , as described in more detail herein. The ledge  44  is preferably provided at an intermediate position between the first and second ends  40   a ,  40   b  of each first leg  40  (i.e., each ledge  44  is distal from both the first and second ends  40   a ,  40   b  of the respective first leg  40 ). The ledges  44  of the first legs  40  are referred to hereinafter as upper ledges  44 . An exterior surface of each first leg  40  includes a ledge  46  protruding outwardly away from the interior cavity  37  of the ring  28 . Preferably, the ledge  46  of each first leg  40  is provided at a corresponding position to the upper ledge  44  of the respective first leg  40 . Such an outwardly protruding ledge  46  may also be provided on the exterior surface of each second leg  42  at the same position and orientation, such that the plurality of outwardly protruding ledges  46  collectively define an annular outwardly protruding ledge. 
     The first legs  40  and second legs  42  are different from each other. More particularly, the second legs  42  do not include the same type of intermediately-positioned ledge  44  as the first legs  40 . Rather, at or proximate the second end  42   b  of each second leg  42 , each second leg  42  includes or is formed as a rib or ledge  48  which protrudes inwardly toward the interior cavity  37  of the ring  28 . As such, the ledge  48  of each second leg  42  defines another catch designed to engage the rim  20  of the container  12 , for example, during a treatment process, as described in more detail herein. The ledges  48  of the second legs  42  are referred to hereinafter as lower ledges  48 . The distance between the upper ledges  44  of the first legs  40  and the lower ledges  48  of the second legs  42  is generally equal to or at least slightly larger than the height of the rim  20  of the container  12 . 
     The interior surface of each second leg  42  further comprises a tongue  50  (alternatively may be referred to as a tab, prong, tooth and the like), and more particularly a flexible tongue  50 , and a corresponding recess  52  configured to receive the tongue  50  when the tongue  50  is in a retracted configuration. Each tongue  50  is cantilevered and is inclined with respect to the interior surface of the respective second leg  42 . Each tongue  50  is biased at such an incline toward the interior cavity  37  of the ring  28 . The tongue  50  is provided at an intermediate position between the first and second ends  42   a ,  42   b  of each second leg  42 . More particularly, the distance between the top wall  34  (i.e., the first ends  42   a  of the second legs  42 ) and the flexible tongues  50  is generally equal to or at least slightly larger than a height of the head  26  of the stopper  14 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the cover  30  also has a generally cylindrical body and has a first end  30   a  and an opposing second end  30   b . The cover  30  comprises a top wall  54  at its first end  30   a  and a skirt or sidewall  56 , and more particularly a cylindrical skirt or sidewall  56 , extending downwardly from the top wall  54  away from the first end  30   a . The cover  30  has an interior cavity  57  defined by the top wall  54  and the skirt  56 . The opposing second end  30   b  of the cover  30  is an open end. The top wall  54  is generally a closed wall, except for an opening  58  provided at its geometric center. The central opening  58  extends completely through the top wall  54  and is configured to be generally aligned coaxially with the opening  22  of the container  12  and the opening  29  of the ring  28 . The interior cavity  57  of the cover  30  preferably has a diameter (i.e., inner diameter of the cover  30 ) that is at least slightly greater than an outer diameter of the ring  28 , such that the ring  28  is configured to be received within the interior cavity  57  of the cover  30 . 
     An interior surface of the skirt  56  of the cover  30  preferably includes a rib or ledge  60  which protrudes inwardly toward the interior cavity  57  of the cover  30 . More particularly, the ledge  60  is an annular ledge. The ledge  60  defines a catch designed to engage the peripheral rim  38  of the top wall  34  of the ring  28  in a first position (for example, during a treatment process), and to engage the outwardly protruding ledges  46  of the first legs  40  and/or second legs  42  in a second position (for example, in a closed or sealed position), as described in more detail herein. The inwardly protruding ledge  60  is preferably provided closer to the open second end  30   b  of the cover  30  than to the first end  30   a.    
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the cap  32  is preferably generally circular in cross-section, and comprises a raised peripheral rim  62  and a central depressed region  64 . An interior surface of the central depressed region  64  includes a plurality of spaced-apart bent tabs  66  configured to be engaged in the central opening  58  of the cover  30 . That is, in the engaged position, the bent tabs  66  extend through the central opening  58  and abut the underside (or interior surface) of the top wall  54  of the cover  30 . As such, the bent tabs  66  serve to couple the cap  32  to the cover  30 . Thus, the cap  32  closes off the opening  58  of the cover  30  (as well as the opening  29  of the ring  28 ) and, before it is removed, opposes any access to the stopper  14  via the openings  58 ,  29 . 
     In one embodiment, the cap  32  includes an elastically deformable connecting web in the area between the peripheral rim  62  and the central depressed region  64 , such that the peripheral rim  62  may be configured to move axially under drive from an axial pressure or force. Thus, the peripheral rim  62  may be configured to move between a raised position and a lowered position. In one embodiment, the peripheral rim  62  is also be biased to the raised position, such that the peripheral rim  62  automatically returns to the raised position when a pressure or force ceases to be applied to it. 
     The cap  32  functions as a spring element, and more particularly a flexible spring element, which provides for at least partial compensation of the heights of the stacked components of the assembly. More particularly, the cap  32  allows for the partial compensation of different heights of the various stacked components (e.g., the container  12 , the stopper  14  and the closure device  10 ) of the assembly, and therefore reduces the risk of breakage of the container  12  during a treatment process. This benefit is particularly advantageous in the context of glass containers  12  being used in a lyophilization process. 
     However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the closure device  10  of the present invention may be utilized on a container made of any type of material and may be used in conjunction with a container for any type of treatment process (e.g., sterilization process, filling process and the like), and is in no way limited to glass containers and a lyophilization (freeze-drying) process. 
     When the cap  32  is removed by a user, a part of the upper (or exterior) surface  26   b  of the head  26  of the stopper  14  is exposed through the openings  58  and  29 . The stopper  14  may thus be pierced, for example, by a needle of a syringe (not shown) for introducing a liquid solvent or diluent into the container  12  and/or drawing out a liquid drug product from the container  12 . 
     A description of one of the methods for assembling the closure device  10  follows. The successive steps which may be utilized for joining the closure device  10  (including the stopper  14  pre-assembled therewith) together with the container  12  (e.g., for pre-assembly or for a treatment process, in a first position) and, finally, for closing the container  12  in a sealed manner by the closure device  10  (i.e., a second position) are also described. 
     During assembly of the closure device  10 , the stopper  14  is positioned within the ring  28 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . More particularly, the stopper  14  is inserted into the interior cavity  37  of the ring  28  via the bottom end  28   b  and pushed in an upward direction toward the first end  28   a  and the top wall  34 . By this insertion motion, the head  26  of the stopper  14  comes into contact with the surfaces of the tongues  50 . As the head  26  of the stopper  14  passes over the tongues  50 , the head  26  causes the tongues  50  to flex toward and retract inside of the respective recesses  52 . After the head  26  of the stopper  14  has moved past the tongues  50 , the tongues  50  spring back out of the recesses  52  and return to their previously biased position (i.e., to extend inwardly toward the interior cavity  37  and out of the recesses  52 ), and then engage the head  26  of the stopper  14 . More particularly, the tongues  50  snap back to engage the underside (i.e., the lower or interior surface  26   a ) of the head  26  of the stopper  14 , so as to retain the stopper  14  between the tongues  50  and the top wall  34 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . More particularly, in this pre-assembly position, the upper surface  26   b  of the head  26  of the stopper  14  faces, and may even abut or be in direct contact with, the top wall  34  of the ring  28 . As such, the stopper  14  is secured within the ring  28 , between and by the top wall  34  and the tongues  50  of the second legs  42  of the skirt  36  of the ring  28 . 
     Next, the ring  28 , with the stopper  14  secured therein, is partially inserted into the interior cavity  57  of the cover  30  through the open second end  30   b . In one embodiment, prior to the partial insertion of the assembled ring  28  and stopper  14  into the interior cavity  57  of the cover  30 , the cap  32  has already been coupled to the cover  30 , as described above, such that the spaced-apart tabs  66  of the cap  32  are engaged with the underside of the top wall  54  of the cover  30 . 
     The process of partially inserting the assembled ring  28  and stopper  14  into the interior cavity  57  of the cover  30  will now be described. Specifically, starting with the top wall  34 , the assembled ring  28  and stopper  14  pass through the open second end  30   b  of the cover  30  and are pushed in an upward direction toward the top wall  54  of the cover  30  (or vice versa the cover  30  is pushed in a downward direction toward the top wall  34  of the ring  28 ). This insertion motion continues until the peripheral flange  38  of the top wall  34  of the ring  28  passes over and then comes to rest on the inwardly protruding ledge  60  of the cover  30 . During the insertion motion, the skirt  36  of the ring  28 , and more particularly the first and second legs  40 ,  42 , may deform at least slightly radially inwardly. In an assembled position, the peripheral flange  38  of the top wall  34  of the ring  28  is positioned above and on the inwardly protruding ledge  60  of the cover  30 , such that ledge  60  of the cover  30  abuts and directly contacts the lower surface or underside  38   a  of the peripheral flange  38 . As such, a portion of the assembled ring  28  and stopper  14  is received within the interior cavity  57  of the cover  30 , while the remaining portion of the assembled ring  28  and stopper  14  is positioned outside of the cover  30 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . 
     At this stage, the closure device  10  is in its assembled position or state. The assembled closure device  10  may then be subjected to a preliminary treatment process, such as a sterilization process. 
     Next, the assembled closure device  10  is positioned on the container  12  in a first position, as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . To do so, the assembled closure device  10  is positioned over the container  12 , such that the rim  20  of the container  12  is received within the ring  28 . More particularly, the assembled closure device  10  is pushed in a downward direction over the container rim  20  (or vice versa the container  12  is pushed in an upward direction toward the top wall  34  of the ring  28 ) until the container rim  12  is positioned between the upper ledges  44  of the first legs  40  and the lower ledges  48  of the second legs  42  of the skirt  36  of the ring  28 . As such, the container rim  12  is secured within the ring  28  and serves to center the assembled closure device  10  and the container  12  relative to each other, such that the assembled closure device  10  is held in a stable manner on the container  12 . In this first position, the tapered end  24   a  of the cylindrical body  24  of the stopper  14  is positioned at the entry of the opening  22  of the container  12 , but the cylindrical body  24  itself may not yet be fully received within the opening  22  of the container  12 . 
     As such, in the first position, the assembled closure device  10  and container  12  joined thereto may be subjected to one or more of a variety of treatment processes. As a non-limiting example, the assembled closure device  10  and container  12  joined thereto, in the first position, may be subjected to a lyophilization (i.e., freeze-drying) process. Because the cylindrical body  24  or the tapered end  24   a  of the stopper  14  is not yet inserted within the opening  22  of the container  12 , gases or vapors which form during the treatment process, are able to escape from the container  12 . 
     After the treatment process or processes are complete, the container  12  can be finally closed and sealed by the closure device  10  (i.e., placed into the second position). It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the processes described herein may be simultaneously carried out on multiple containers  12  and closure devices  10 , providing for bulk assembly, treatment and closure. 
     To effect complete closure and sealing of the container  12 , after the treatment process is complete, pressure or force (e.g., by a pressing plate) may be exerted in a downward direction on the cap  32 , and this pressure or force then translates through the closure device  10 . Alternatively, pressure or force may be exerted in an upward direction on the container  12 , which in turn exerts pressure or force in an upward direction on the closure device  10 . The following discussion regarding closure of the container  12  relates to the embodiment wherein force is exerted in the downward direction on the cap  32 , but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the relative movement of the closure device  10  and container  12  should be the same regardless of the direction of application of pressure or force. 
     For example, when pressure or force is applied in the downward direction on the cap  32 , the pressure/force causes the container rim  20  to come out of the annular seat defined by the upper ledges  44  of the first legs  40  and the lower ledges  48  of the second legs  42  of the ring  28 , and moves in an upward direction toward the top wall  34  of the ring  28  and past the upper ledges  44  of the first legs  40  and the flexible tongues  50  of the second legs  42 . During this upward motion, the cylindrical body  24  of the stopper  14  simultaneously moves into the opening  22  of the container  12 , and the container rim  20  comes into contact with the surfaces of the flexible tongues  50 , thus causing the tongues  50  to again retract inside the respective recesses  52 . This motion continues until the cylindrical body  24  of the stopper  14  is fully received within the opening  22  of the container  12 , and until the container rim  20  rests against the underside  26   a  of the head  26  of the stopper  14  and is secured within the area between the underside  26   a  of the head  26  of the stopper  14  and the upper ledges  44  of the first legs  40 . In parallel to movement of the stopper  14 , the first legs  40  deform or bend radially outwardly until the inner diameter of the upper ledges  44  equals the outer diameter of the container rim  20  of the container  12 . The first legs  40  will deform or bend radially inwardly again, once the stopper  14  is pushed into the opening  22  of the container  12 , such that the upper ledges  44  of the first legs  44  engage the underside of the container rim  20  for final container fixation. 
     To help prevent particles of the plastic material of the closure device  10  from entering the container  12 , the relative movement between the cover  30  and the ring  28  may start once the stopper  14  is completely pushed into the opening  22  of the container  12 . This pressure/force also causes the inwardly protruding ledge  60  of the cover  30  and the peripheral flange  38  of the ring  28  to come out of engagement with each other, and the cover  30  to move in a downward direction toward the container  12  until the inwardly protruding ledge  60  engages and abuts against the outwardly protruding ledges  46  of the ring  28 , and until the top wall  34  of the ring  28  is proximate (or abuts) the top wall  54  of the cover  30 . 
     At this stage, the closure device  10  is securely locked to the container  12 , such that the container  12  is closed and sealed in a secure and leak-tight manner. 
     Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “proximal,” “distal,” “upward,” “downward,” “bottom” and “top” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, a geometric center of the closure device and container and/or designated parts thereof, in accordance with the present invention. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a,” “an” and “the” are not limited to one element, but instead should be read as meaning “at least one.” The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.