CONTAINER DRUM AND RELATED BELT

Abstract

 A container drum (1) for containing humidity-sensitive liquid, solid or powdered materials, comprising:
- a prismatic container body (2) having a mouth (26) which allows access to the internal volume thereof;
- a closing cover (3) engageable with the container body (2) at said mouth (26) to close the access to the internal volume;
- a belt (4) applicable around said mouth (26) to stably and hermetically constrain the engagement between the closing cover (3) and the container body (2).
The belt (4) comprises a wrapping element (40) with distinct segments that are and hinged to one another, so that the belt (4) switches from an open configuration (O) to a sealed configuration (S), and vice versa.

Description

Field of application

[0001] The present invention relates to a container drum and a belt for a container drum for packaging and transporting humidity-sensitive material, in particular, but not exclusively, for the pharmaceutical, chemical and food sectors.

[0002] In the packaging sector, in particular in the packaging sector for the pharmaceutical, chemical and food industries, different types of container drums are known to be provided, composed of a container body and a lid that are closed by means of a variety of hermetic and non-hermetic closure systems.

[0003] Common container drums are of two main types, cylindrical or prismatic (mainly square-shaped or rectangular-shaped). Prismatic container drums usually have a container body having the shape of a truncated pyramid, usually with a square or rectangular base (the mouth and/or the bottom of the container).

[0004] Typical prismatic container drums of the prior art do not usually have hermetic closure systems.

[0005] In fact, common container drums are closed by means of a snap-action or an interlocking coupling between portions of the lid and the body of the container and such types of coupling do not ensure an optimal hermetic seal and are not suitable for ensuring the containment of materials that are sensitive to humidity.

[0006] Some known container drums have non-reusable hermetic closure systems. Such closure systems consist of a lid that is coupled under pressure to the container and a tear-off belt that is integral to the container body and the lid, with weakened portions that allow the tear-off belt to be removed from the container.

[0007] Disadvantageously, this solution is impractical and inefficient insofar as, after opening, the tear-off belt is such that the lid is rendered unusable for a subsequent hermetic closure. Consequently, the user is left with a container that can no longer be sealed, and such systems force the user to dispose of the container drum and the belt thereof after a single use.

[0008] As a result, disadvantageously, such known systems generate enormous waste, and do not therefore meet the current ever-increasing demand for systems that respect ecology and environmental sustainability.

[0009] According to a further disadvantage, residues or tiny plastic portions may detach during tearing, from the lid or from the closure belt, which may compromise the contents of the container drum thereby rendering the contents unusable, especially in the pharmaceutical and food industries where sanitary and safety standards play a fundamental role.

Solution of the invention

[0010] There appears therefore to be a significant need to provide a container drum and belt capable of overcoming those drawbacks that are typical of the state of the art.

[0011] In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a hermetically sealable container drum in a safe, reliable and preferably tamperproof manner.

[0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide a container drum that is hermetically sealable, i.e., reusable several times whilst maintaining hermetic and possibly anti-tampering properties.

[0013] This requirement is satisfied by a container drum and a belt according to the attached independent claims. The claims dependent thereon describe preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention, comprising further advantageous features.

Description of the drawings

[0014] The features and advantages of the container drum and of the belt will become apparent from the description below of a number of preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached figures, wherein:

• Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a container drum in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 2 shows an enlarged perspective view of a container drum in one embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 3 shows an exploded view of a belt in one embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 4 shows an exploded view of a container drum according to one embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 5 and Figure 6 each show an enlarged detailed view of the coupling between two adjacent segments of a wrapping element, in one embodiment of the invention, from two distinct perspectives;
• Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a belt according to one embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 8 shows an enlarged view of Figure 7, wherein an opening handle is visible in one embodiment of the present invention;
• Figures 9a and 9b show two plan views of a belt in the closed configuration, in one embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a belt in one embodiment of the invention, in an open configuration;
• Figure 11 shows an enlarged view of Figure 10, wherein an opening handle is visible in one embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 12 shows a detail of a belt in a belt in one embodiment of the present invention, in exploded form;
• Figure 13 shows an enlarged view of an opening handle in one embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 14 shows three types of container body for a container drum according to three embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed description

[0015] With reference to the aforesaid figures, reference numeral 1 has been used to indicate as a whole a container drum 1 for containing liquid, solid or powdered materials that are sensitive to humidity, for example pharmaceutical or food products.

[0016] Preferably, the container drum 1 is suitable for containing material in bulk form, i.e. in free form. Alternatively, the material is in turn placed inside a soft polyethylene or jute bag that is preferably in turn closed and inserted into the internal volume I of the container.

[0017] The container drum 1 comprises a prismatic container body 2 with sharp and/or rounded edges, a closing cover 3 and a belt 4.

[0018] The container body 2 is delimited by a base 24 and by a side wall 22 which extends from the perimeter of said base 24 along and around an extension axis Z.

[0019] Preferably, the base 24 is rectangular or square. Preferably, therefore, the container body has the shape of a prism with a square or rectangular base. Alternatively, the container body has the shape of a square or rectangular-based truncated pyramid.

[0020] Alternatively, the drum has a polygonal base with more than four sides.

[0021] It is clear that in the present discussion, for simplicity and in favor of the intelligibility of the text, reference is made to a prism or truncated pyramid also in order to define solids with beveled edges, as clearly in the case of the containers of the present discussion, in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] It is clear that the container drum 1 is a non-cylindrical drum.

[0023] The side wall 22 and the base 24 define an internal volume I suitable for containing a liquid, solid, or powder material, and the container body 2 has a mouth 26, preferably polygonal, which allows access to said internal volume I.

[0024] The closing cover 3 is engageable with the container body 2 at the mouth 26 to close access to the internal volume I.

[0025] In one embodiment, the closing cover 3 snap-engages with, or shape-couples to, the container body 2.

[0026] The belt 4, preferably also polygonal, is applicable around said mouth 26 to stably and hermetically constrain the engagement between the closing cover 3 and the container body 2.

[0027] According to the invention, the belt 4 comprises a wrapping element 40 suitable for surrounding the mouth 26 around the extension axis Z.

[0028] The wrapping element 40 comprises segments 401, 402, 403, 404, and preferably at least a first segment 401, a second segment 402, a third segment 403 and a fourth segment 404, which are distinct from each other and hinged to form said wrapping element 40.

[0029] In other words, the belt 4 is fragmented or breakable into segments that are separable and distinct from each other.

[0030] The term "distinct" signifies that between such segments there is a discontinuity, i.e., each of such segments is a separate piece and is not integral with the other segments. In other words, the hinge between said segments maintains a discontinuity between such elements. In other words, for example, the welding or gluing between said segments is not to be interpreted as hinging.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, said segments 401, 402, 403, 404 are each hinged to the adjacent segment or to the adjacent segments, where the person skilled in the art clearly understands that adjacent segments are understood to signify segments that are adjacent at the ends thereof.

[0032] According to the invention, the belt 4 is suitable for switching from an open configuration O, in which it is releasable from the closing cover 3 and the container body 2, to a sealed configuration S, in which it stably and hermetically constrains the engagement between the closing cover 3 and the container body 2, and vice versa, i.e. from the sealed configuration S to the open configuration O.

[0033] In one embodiment, the first segment 401 is hinged to the second segment 402, which is in turn hinged to the segment 403 and in turn hinged to the segment 404. Namely, said segments 401, 402, 403, 404 are hinged in series.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, at least two of said first, second, third and fourth segments 401, 402, 403, 404 are identical therebetween.

[0035] The second segment 402 is preferably identical to the third segment 403.

[0036] In an advantageous embodiment, the belt 4 comprises an opening and closing mechanism suitable for conveying the belt 4 from the open configuration O to the sealed configuration S and vice versa.

[0037] Preferably, the opening and closing assembly is an opening handle 45 joined to the wrapping element 40 and manipulable by a user to bring the belt 4 from the open configuration O to the sealed configuration S and vice versa.

[0038] In one embodiment variant, the opening handle 45 is interposed between the first segment 401 and the fourth segment 404 and is hinged to the fourth segment 404 and removably constrainable to the first segment 401 to bring the belt 4 from the open configuration O to the sealed configuration S and vice versa.

[0039] In one embodiment, each of said first, second, third and fourth segments extends between a respective connecting end 61, 62, 63, 64 and a respective receiving end 71, 72, 73, 74.

[0040] The connecting end 61, 62, 63, 64 of each of said first, second, third, and fourth segments 401, 402, 403, 404 is hinged to the receiving end 71, 72, 73, 74 of an adjacent second, third, fourth, first segment 402, 403, 404, 401.

[0041] In one embodiment, the receiving end 71 of the first segment 401 is indirectly hinged to the connecting end 64 of the fourth segment 404 by means of the opening handle 45.

[0042] In one embodiment, the first segment 401 extends between a first connecting end 61 and a first receiving end 71 and comprises a coupling tooth 51 at the first connecting end 61.

[0043] In one embodiment, the second segment 402 extends between a second connecting end 62 and a second receiving end 72 and comprises a receiving portion 52 at the second receiving end 72.

[0044] The coupling tooth 51 is engageable with the receiving portion 52 to hinge the first segment 401 to the second segment 402.

[0045] Preferably, the coupling tooth 51 protrudes from the relative segment in a manner substantially parallel to the main extension of said segment.

[0046] In an advantageous embodiment, the receiving portion 52 comprises an interlocking tooth 522 and a rotation pin 521 defining a rotation axis Y. The coupling tooth 51 is suitable for being interlocked in the interlocking tooth 522 and for cooperating with the rotation pin 521 so as to allow at least partially the relative mutual rotation between the first 401 and second 402 segments about said rotation axis Y and so as to block simultaneously the free separation between said first 401 and second 402 segments.

[0047] In one embodiment, the interlocking tooth 522 is integral with the relative segment, i.e. it is a single piece therewith.

[0048] In one embodiment, the rotation pin 521 is integral with the relative segment, i.e. it is a single piece therewith.

[0049] Alternatively, the interlocking tooth 522 and/or the rotation pin 521 are components in their own right that are constrained to the respective segment by means of a shape or snap coupling or by external fixing means.

[0050] Preferably, the coupling tooth 51 first encounters the rotation pin 521 and subsequently the interlocking tooth 522, i.e., in the second segment 402 the rotation pin 521 is located more externally with respect to the interlocking tooth 522.

[0051] In one embodiment, the second segment 402 is hinged to the third segment 403 by means of the same hinging mechanism described thus far between the first segment 401 and the second segment 402.

[0052] Namely, the third segment 403 extends between a third connecting end 63 and a third receiving end 73 and comprises a receiving portion 52 at the receiving end 73.

[0053] The second segment 402 at the second connecting end 62 comprises a coupling tooth 51 which is engageable with the receiving portion 52 of the third segment 403 to hinge the second segment 402 to the third segment 403.

[0054] In one embodiment, the third segment 403 is also hinged to the fourth segment 404 by the same hinging mechanism described thus far between the first segment 401 and the second segment 402 and between the second segment 402 and the third segment 403.

[0055] In one embodiment, the coupling tooth 51 protrudes externally from the connecting end 61, 62, 63 and is made in one piece with the relative segment 401, 402, 403.

[0056] In one embodiment, the first segment 401 has an attachment portion 91 at the first receiving end 71, and the fourth segment 404 has a closure portion 92 at the fourth connecting end 64.

[0057] The attachment portion 91 comprises a first pin 911 suitable for engaging said closing portion 92 and a second pin 912 suitable for engaging the closing handle 45, so that by manipulating the closing handle 45 to bring the belt 4 from the sealed configuration S to the open configuration O, disengagement between the first segment 401 and the fourth segment 404 is provoked and separation between the container body 2 and the closing cover 3 is allowed.

[0058] In one embodiment, the belt 4 comprises reinforcing ribs 400 obtained on one or more of said first 401, second 402, third 403 and/or fourth segment 404.

[0059] Preferably, each of said first 401, second 402, third 403, and fourth segment 404 has reinforcing ribs.

[0060] In one embodiment, each of said segments 401, 402, 403, 404 comprises a linear portion 81 and an arched portion 82. The linear portion 81 of each segment is hinged to the arched portion 82 of the adjacent segment.

[0061] Preferably, the arched portion 82 of each segment is such that it forms rounded edges of the belt 4 suitable for being positioned at the rounded edges of the container drum 1 when the belt 4 is applied to the container body 2 and the lid 3.

[0062] Preferably, the connecting end 61, 62, 63, 64 of each segment is located in correspondence of the respective arched portion 82 and the receiving end 71, 72, 73, 74 is located in correspondence of the respective linear portion 81.

[0063] In one embodiment, the container body 2 comprises a peripheral flange 20 extending from the side wall 22 in proximity to the mouth 26 on the opposite side with respect to the internal volume and radially around the extension axis Z.

[0064] In one embodiment, the closing cover 3 is peripherally delimited by a peripheral lip 30.

[0065] In one embodiment, the belt 4 in the sealed configuration S encloses and mutually constrains said peripheral flange 20 and said peripheral lip 30 to block the separation between the closing cover 3 and the container body 2 thus hermetically sealing the mouth 26.

[0066] In one embodiment, the container drum 1 is provided with an anti-tampering mechanism, such as a seal, preferably on the belt 4, even more preferably on the handle 45, suitable for clearly demonstrating any tampering with the belt 4 and for conferring anti-tampering properties to the container.

[0067] The present invention also relates to a polygonal belt 4, suitable for being applied about a preferably polygonal mouth 26 of a container body 2 which extends about an extension axis Z of the container body 2 to stably and hermetically constraining the engagement between a closing cover 3 and said container body 2 at said mouth 26.

[0068] Said belt 4 comprises a wrapping element 40 suitable for surrounding the mouth 26 about the extension axis Z and comprising distinct segments 401, 402, 403, 404 hinged to one another so that the belt 4 is suitable for switching from an open configuration O, in which it is releasable from the closing cover 3 and the container body 2, to a sealed configuration S, in which it stably and hermetically constrains the engagement between said closing cover 3 and said container body 2.

[0069] Preferably, the belt has an outer surface that delimits a wrapping cavity suitable for containing the peripheral flange 20 and the peripheral lip 30. Namely, as is evident from the accompanying figures, the belt extends with a C-shaped or square bracket profile.

[0070] Preferably, such C-shaped profile is tapered toward the outer surface, i.e., it forms a substantially trapezoidal cross section, so that, by conveying the belt to the sealed configuration S, compression between the peripheral flange 20 and the peripheral lip 30 is forced and thus a hermetic seal is ensured.

[0071] In an advantageous embodiment, the container drum is suitable for being housed and transported on pallets of a standard size, preferably on pallets having a support surface with dimensions of 80 cm x 120 cm, or 120 cm x 120 cm.

[0072] In one embodiment, the container drum occupies a maximum surface area of 39 cm x 39 cm.

[0073] In one embodiment, the container drum occupies a maximum surface area of 60 cm x 40 cm.

[0074] In one embodiment, the container drum has a substantially parallelepiped shape.

[0075] In one embodiment, the container drum has a substantially truncated pyramid shape with a square or rectangular base.

[0076] In a preferred embodiment, the container drum has a shape that is tapered from the mouth toward the base.

[0077] In one embodiment, the container body 2 comprises gripping protrusions on at least two faces of the side wall 22.

[0078] The container body, the closing cover and the belt are preferably made from the same material. They are preferably made from of a moisture-resistant material.

[0079] Innovatively, the present invention solves the typical drawbacks of those sealed container drums that are typical of the prior art.

[0080] Advantageously, the container drum according to the present invention is reliable and ensures a hermetic seal.

[0081] Furthermore, according to a further advantage, the container drum does not involve tearing thereby greatly reducing the risk of contamination of the contents of the container itself.

[0082] Advantageously, the container drum is easily transportable on pallets and in containers of standard dimensions.

[0083] Advantageously, the belt comprising three segments, it accepts good opening tolerances and compensates for any weakening caused by repeated use of the handle.

[0084] According to a further advantage, the belt comprising four segments further facilitates the opening radius of the same and allows for greater durability of the part after numerous uses.

[0085] According to a further advantage, providing a belt that is implemented by means of the assembling of three or four parts allows a simple and economical mold to be used for the production of the part itself.

[0086] Advantageously, in particular, the division of the belt into four parts facilitates the operations of extracting the part from the mold.

[0087] According to an even further advantage, in a synergistic manner, providing a belt applicable to a polygonal container provided with a reusable hermetic closure allows for the storage of humidity-sensitive material whilst maintaining reduced overall dimensions and optimizing transportation space.

[0088] Advantageously, in a synergistic manner, a belt comprising distinct segments is suitable for acting as a hermetic closure that combines mold and transport convenience with the possibility of reusing the containers to which it is applied.

[0089] According to a further advantage, the specific hinge configuration between the belt-forming segments is easy to manufacture and offers good stability and durability over time, also after repeated opening and closing cycles of the belt itself.

[0090] Advantageously, the particular hinge constraint provided according to one embodiment of the present invention allows for quick assembly and disassembly of the belt and possibly allows for easy maintenance of only one or more damaged segments thereby avoiding the replacement of the entire part.

[0091] This clearly meets the growing needs in terms of ecology, reuse and also meets current stringent anti-waste demands.

[0092] According to an even further advantage, the interlocking teeth allow for a fluid but at the same time resistant hinge with an extremely limited number of parts and components in addition to the segments themselves.

[0093] According to a further advantage, the belt according to the invention is applicable to a plurality of distinct container bodies and is scalable as required.

[0094] It is clear that, to the embodiments of the aforesaid container drum, a person skilled in the art, in order to meet specific needs, could make variations or substitutions of elements with functionally equivalent ones.

[0095] These variants are also contained within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims. Moreover, each variant described as belonging to a possible embodiment may be implemented independently of the other variants described.

Claims

1. A container drum (1) for containing humidity-sensitive liquid, solid or powdered materials, such as pharmaceuticals, for the chemical and/or food industry, comprising:

- a prismatic container body (2) with sharp and/or rounded edges, delimited by a base (24) and a side wall (22) extending from the periphery of said base (24) along and about an extension axis (Z), wherein said side wall (22) and said base (24) define an internal volume (I) suitable for containing a liquid, solid, or powdered material, and wherein said container body (2) has a mouth (26) allowing access to said internal volume (I);

- a closing cover (3) engageable with the container body (2) at said mouth (26) to close access to the internal volume (I);

- a belt (4) applicable around said mouth (26) to stably and hermetically constrain the engagement between said closing cover (3) and said container body (2);

wherein said belt (4) comprises a wrapping element (40) suitable for surrounding the mouth (26) around the extension axis (Z), said wrapping element (40) comprising distinct segments (401, 402, 403, 404) hinged to one another, so that the belt (4) is suitable for switching from an open configuration (O), in which it is releasable from the closing cover (3) and the container body (2), to a sealed configuration (S), in which it stably and hermetically constrains the engagement between said closing cover (3) and said container body (2), and vice versa.

2. Container drum (1) according to claim 1, wherein the segments are a first segment (401), a second segment (402), a third segment (403), and a fourth segment (404), and wherein the first segment (401) is hinged to the second segment (402), the second segment (402) is hinged to the third segment (403), and the third segment (403) is hinged to the fourth segment (404).

3. Container drum (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the belt (4) comprises an opening handle (45) joined to the wrapping element (40) and manipulable by a user to bring the belt (4) from the open configuration (O) to the sealed configuration (S) and vice versa.

4. Container drum (1) according to claims 2 and 3, wherein the opening handle (45) is interposed between the first segment (401) and the fourth segment (404) and is hinged to the fourth segment (404) and removably constrainable to the first segment (401) to bring the belt (4) from the open configuration (O) to the sealed configuration (S) and vice versa.

5. Container drum (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two of said segments (401, 402, 403, 404) are identical to each other.

6. Container drum (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a first segment (401) extends between a first connecting end (61) and a first receiving end (71) and comprises a coupling tooth (51) at said first connecting end (61),

wherein a second segment (402) extends between a second connecting end (62) and a second receiving end (72) and comprises a receiving portion (52) at the second receiving end (72),

and wherein the coupling tooth (51) is engageable with the receiving portion (52) to hinge the first segment (401) to the second segment (402).

7. Container drum (1) according to claim 3, wherein the receiving portion (52) comprises an interlocking tooth (522) and a rotation pin (521) defining a rotation axis (Y), and wherein the engagement tooth (52) is suitable for being interlocked in the interlocking tooth (522) and for cooperating with the rotation pin (521) so as to allow at least partially the relative mutual rotation between the first (401) and second (402) segments about said rotation axis (Y) and so as to block simultaneously the free separation between said first (401) and second (402) segments.

8. Container drum (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container body (2) comprises a peripheral flange (20) extending from the side wall (22) in proximity to the mouth (26) on the opposite side with respect to the internal volume and around the extension axis (Z),

wherein the closing cover (3) is peripherally delimited by a peripheral lip (30),

and wherein the belt (4) in the sealed configuration (S) encloses and mutually constrains said peripheral flange (20) and said peripheral lip (30) to block the separation between the closing cover (3) and the container body (2) thus hermetically sealing the mouth (26).

9. Container drum (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said segments (401, 402, 403, 404) comprises a respective linear portion (81) and a respective arched portion (82), and wherein the linear portion (81) of each of said segments (401, 402, 403, 404) is hinged to the arched portion (82) of the adjacent segment of said segments (401, 402, 403, 404).

10. A polygonal belt (4) suitable for being applied about a mouth (26) of a container body (2), for stably and hermetically constraining the engagement between a closing cover (3) and the container body (2) at said mouth (26);
wherein said belt (4) comprises a wrapping element (40) suitable for surrounding said mouth (26) and comprising distinct segments hinged to one another so that the belt (4) is suitable for switching from an open configuration (O), in which it is releasable from the closing cover (3) and the container body (2), to a sealed configuration (S), in which it stably and hermetically constrains the engagement between the container body (2) and the closing cover (3), and vice versa.

Drawing