TIE, KIT AND METHOD FOR A SEALED CONTAINER

Abstract

 Tie, kit (29) and method for obtaining a sealed container (30; 30'); the tie (1) having a coupling head (2), a fastening head (3) and a tongue (4) having a serrated portion (14); the tongue (4) being connected to the coupling head (2); wherein the coupling head (2) has a first seat (6) for housing a first portion (35', 34) of a container (30; 30') and the fastening head (3) has a second seat (21) for housing a second portion of the container (30; 30'); wherein the fastening head (3) is configured to be passed through by the serrated portion (14) of the tongue (4) and to snap into said serrated portion (14).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102024000016363 filed on July 15, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present patent application relates to a tie, a kit and a method for sealing a container.

PRIOR ART

[0003] The transport of goods by means of containers, generally comprising a cup-shaped body having an upper rim closed by a cover, is known. Modes for fastening the cover to the cup-shaped body can be of various types.

[0004] It is also known to place different types of materials inside a container, which must be mixed at the moment of their use in order to obtain mixtures. For example, it is known to transport both powdered material and liquid material contained inside special bottles inside the cup-shaped body. These types of goods can be heavy and pose the risk of polluting the surrounding environment in case of an accidental opening. Therefore, it is necessary to provide solutions that allow the cover to be sealed to the cup-shaped body in order to prevent an accidental opening of the cover during transport.

[0005] Solutions of known type involve providing a cover and cup-shaped body already fitted so as to be able to seal each other once closed; or it is known to apply external sealing elements. However, these solutions of known type have the disadvantage of limiting available sizes of the containers (in the case of special covers and containers); or of being destructive by requiring holes to be drilled in the cup-shaped body and/or in the cover so as to allow the fastening of the external sealing elements.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a tie which can be applied to any type of container, regardless of its shape and size, and which is capable of locally ensuring the fastening of the cover to the cup-shaped body. In particular, the present invention relates to a use for containers made of polymeric material and generally comprising: a cover with a thin, upward-projecting rim at the external perimeter; a cup-shaped body having an internal cavity accessible through a flange.

[0007] For hospital use, it is known to use containers with a cover with permanent closure for storing, transporting and incinerating potentially infectious hospital waste. In particular, containers are known whose cover forms, together with a cup-shaped container body, an indivisible shape and interference coupling when closed. In this manner, the container is substantially sealed, which renders impossible a leakage of potentially infectious waste, unless the cover and/or the cup-shaped body are broken. Containers with covers of the type described above must meet the requirements of resistance to external stress stipulated by ISO standards, which determine the level of resistance of said container when subjected, for example, to phenomena such as falling from a height.

[0008] A container for hospital use of the type described above is made of polymeric material and has the disadvantage that it must be incinerated, along with its contents, thus itself becoming waste material.

[0009] In order to reduce the pollution caused by the incineration of (thousands) of containers for hospital use, protocols are being introduced whereby only the hospital waste is to be disposed of and the containers are to be disinfected so as to allow a subsequent use.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a kit that makes it possible to obtain a sealed container which is capable of ensuring the necessary safety during transport of the same, but which at the same time can be removed in a non-destructive manner so as to allow the opening and the sanitization of said container. Furthermore, the kit must be restorable so as to allow an indefinite number of subsequent uses.

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a method that enables the sealing of a container in a simple, inexpensive and quick manner, in particular commercially available and commonly used containers, for example containers made of polymeric material for building materials (paint, powdered material, etc.).

SUMMARY

[0012] According to the present invention, a tie is provided as set forth in the appended claims.

[0013] According to the present invention, a kit for producing a sealed container is provided as set forth in the appended claims.

[0014] According to the present invention, a method is provided as set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] For a better understanding of the present invention, embodiments of the same will now be described, by way of mere non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

• Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a tie according to the present invention;
• Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a tie according to the present invention applied to a container;
• Figure 5 illustrates a detail of a tie according to the present invention during use;
• Figure 6 illustrates a kit according to the present invention; and
• Figure 7 illustrates a variant of the kit of Figure 6.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0016] In Figure 1, reference number 1 indicates, as a whole, a tie according to the present invention.

[0017] The tie 1 comprises a coupling head 2, a fastening head 3 and a serrated tongue 4, which is a laminar body and which extends along a longitudinal axis X as will be better illustrated in the following.

[0018] The tongue 4 is delimited axially by a proximal end e1 and a distal end e2, respectively. The coupling head 2 is fastened to the proximal end e1, while the fastening head 3 is connected to the distal end e2.

[0019] According to the illustrated example, the tie 1 is a single body; in particular, it was produced by casting polymeric material. According to a variant not illustrated, the coupling head 2, the tongue 4 and the fastening head 3 are separate bodies that are interconnected.

[0020] The coupling head 2 comprises a body 5, which has a slot 6, communicating with the exterior through an axial opening 7. By way of non-exhaustive example, the body 5 is a laminar body folded so as to form a "C" with the concavity facing the distal end e2 of the tongue 4. The shape and the dimensions of the body 5 and of the slot 6 are variable.

[0021] According to the example shown in the figures, the body 5 comprises two lateral walls 8 and 9, which are parallel to each other, and an abutment wall 10, which connects the lateral walls 8 and 9 transversally.

[0022] The lateral walls 8 and 9 are two flat bodies, which extend along the longitudinal axis X. The abutment wall 10 is transverse to the longitudinal axis X. The lateral walls 8, 9 and the abutment wall 10 delimit the slot 6 laterally. The body 5 also has an internal surface S1, an external surface S2 and a lateral surface S3.

[0023] The slot 6 communicates with the exterior through the axial opening 7 and two lateral openings 11 and 12.

[0024] According to the illustrated example, along the axis X, the lateral wall 8 connected to the tongue 4 has an extension x1 greater than the extension x2 of the lateral wall 9. The extensions x1 and x2 are variable and are illustrated by way of mere non-exhaustive example.

[0025] The tongue 4 projects from the lateral wall 8. The tongue 4 is a slender body and is delimited laterally by two larger lateral surfaces, designated hereinafter as rest surface S4 and external surface S5, and a lateral surface S6.

[0026] Preferably, the internal surface S1 of the lateral wall 8 and the rest surface S4 of the tongue 4 are coplanar.

[0027] The tongue 4 has a serrated portion 14 formed by a plurality of wedge-shaped teeth 15. According to the illustrated example, each tooth 15 has an inclined flank 16 and a straight flank 18, which protrude from the external surface S5 of the tongue 4. In particular, the straight flank 18 is perpendicular to the external surface S5, while the inclined flank 16 is angled at an angle α with respect to the external surface S5. An inclined flank 16 is interposed between two adjacent straight flanks 18. The inclined flank 16 projects from a respective straight flank 18 towards the end e2 of the tongue 4.

[0028] The tongue 4 further comprises a tapered tip 17 which is arranged at the end e2 and which constitutes the final portion of the tongue 4.

[0029] The fastening head 3 is attached to said tip 17. Advantageously, the fastening head 3 is configured in such a manner that it can be detached from the tongue 4 when it is put to use. According to the illustrated example, the fastening head 3 is connected to the tongue 4 by a weakening point 13 of a width and thickness that it can be torn using the force that a person can exert with his or her bare hands (for example, by repeatedly folding or bending the fastening head 3 with respect to the tongue 4 at the point 13).

[0030] As illustrated in greater detail in Figure 5, the fastening head 3 comprises a coupling unit 19 and a clamping unit 20. The clamping unit 20 is integral with the coupling unit 19. In other words, the coupling unit 19 and the clamping unit 20 form a single, cohesive body.

[0031] The coupling unit 19 has a slot 21, in particular open on three sides. According to the illustrated example, the coupling unit 19 is formed by a laminar body folded in a "U" shape. The coupling unit 19 comprises two lateral walls 22 and 23 and a transverse wall 24, which connects the lateral walls 22 and 23. The coupling unit 19 is delimited by an internal surface S7, an external surface S8, at the larger lateral walls, and a lateral surface S9, at the smaller lateral walls.

[0032] The clamping unit 20 has an opening 25, which is configured to be passed through, in use, by the tongue 4. According to the illustrated example, the opening has a passage section that allows the tongue 4 to pass through at a given angle. The clamping unit 20 comprises a tongue 26 which projects into the opening 25 and which is configured to interlock, in use, with the serrated portion 14 of the tongue 4. The tongue 26 is elastic. In particular, the tongue 26 is inclined at a given angle β relative to the surface S4 of the tongue 4 when it is arranged through the opening 25. In this manner, advantageously, when a tooth 15 passes through the opening 25, the tongue 26 fits between the straight flank 18 of said tooth 15 and the inclined flank 16 of the next tooth 15. In this manner, the tongue 4 can pass through the opening 25 with a displacement in a forward direction D1, but the displacement in the opposite direction, designated hereinafter as reverse direction D2, is blocked.

[0033] The shape and the dimensions of the serrated portion 14 and of the tongue 26 are variable and are illustrated by way of mere non-exhaustive example. According to variants not illustrated, the teeth 15 and the tongue 26 can be of different types.

[0034] Optionally, the clamping unit 20 comprises a lever 27 (illustrated in Figure 5), which is fastened to the tongue 26 and is configured to be graspable by a person. The lever 27 projects outside the clamping unit 20. According to this solution, a person can grasp the lever 27 and lift the tongue 26 so as to bend it outwards, open the passage of the opening 25 and allow the tongue 26 to slide in the reverse direction D2.

[0035] A kit 29 according to the present invention is illustrated in Figure 6. The kit 29 comprises a container 30 formed by a container body 31 and a cover 32. The kit 29 further comprises one or more ties 1 of the type described above. The shape and the dimensions of the container body 31 and of the cover 32 are variable. For example, Figure 7 shows a kit 29 in which the container body 31 has the shape of a truncated cone.

[0036] According to the illustrated example, the container 30 is a rectangular parallelepiped; the container body 31 is a cup-shaped body that has a bottom 31I configured to be arranged, in use, so as to rest on a plane π and a lateral wall 31II which projects above the perimeter of the bottom so as to delimit laterally a container space 31III which faces the exterior through a rim (in a known manner and not shown); the cover 32 is a substantially flat body configured to be applied with pressure on the rim so as to close the container space 31III.

[0037] Preferably, the container 30 has at least one housing 33 configured to contain a respective tie 1. According to the illustrated example, the cover 32 has two housings 33I and 33II. The shape and the dimensions of each housing 33 are variable and are illustrated by way of mere non-exhaustive example. For example, according to a variant not illustrated, one housing 33 is configured to house a plurality of ties 1.

[0038] According to the illustrated example, the housings 33, 33I, 33II are formed in the cover 32. According to a variant not illustrated, the housings 33, 33I, 33II are formed in the container 30.

[0039] According to the variant in the shape of a truncated cone illustrated in Figure 7, there are three housings (33I, 33II, 33III), which are evenly distributed around the axis of symmetry of the cover 32.

[0040] Preferably, the container 30 has a reference point 34 for the positioning of each tie 1. In Figure 6, the reference point 34 is a recess formed in the cover 32. According to variants not illustrated and without losing generality, the position, the shape, the dimensions and the arrangement of the reference points 34 can differ from what is illustrated. In Figure 6, there are two reference points 34, which are formed close to opposite sides of the cover 32.

[0041] A method for using a tie 1 and a kit 29 according to the present invention is described hereinafter.

[0042] The tie 1 can be supplied to a person either individually or with the kit 29.

[0043] As will be shown hereinafter, advantageously, a tie 1 can be used for the clamping of any container 30' (Figures 3 and 4), shown resting on a plane π (the terms upper, lower, above, below, etc. are used with reference to the container 30' resting on the plane π).

[0044] In the example illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the container 30' is any container made of polymeric material used, for example, for transporting paint or building materials. The container 30' comprises, in a known manner and illustrated schematically: a cover 32' with a thin, upward-projecting rim 35' at the external perimeter; a cup-shaped body 31' having an internal cavity (of a known type and not illustrated) accessible through a flange 36'. The flange 36' is formed by folding, into the shape of a downward-facing "U", polymeric material having a crown C of reduced thickness (comparable to the thickness of the rim of the cover and/or of the lateral wall of the cup-shaped body) spaced apart from the lateral wall of the cup-shaped body 32' by a gap I (of a known type and illustrated schematically) accessible from below.

[0045] At the first use, the fastening head 3 and the tongue 4 are connected to each other and the tie 1 is a single body (Figures 1 and 2).

[0046] To put it to use, the fastening head 3 is detached from the tongue 4. To detach the fastening head 3 from the tongue 4, the pressure and/or bending applied manually by a person is sufficient, so as to break the connection at the weakening point 13.

[0047] It is to be noted that the order of the steps described hereinafter is chosen for mere descriptive and non-limiting purposes; in other words, the following steps can be implemented in any temporal sequence as well as simultaneously. The following step is described considering the cover 32' as already having been arranged so as to close the box body 31'; however, the following steps can also be carried out, mutatis mutandis, in a condition in which the cover 32' is not yet in contact with the box body 31'.

[0048] The coupling head 2 is applied to the cover 32' so as to insert a portion of the rim 35' inside the slot 6. As the slot 6 is open on three sides, it is possible to push the coupling head 2 right down onto the rim 35' so as to place the abutment wall 10 against the rim 35'.

[0049] The tongue 4 is arranged so as to extend along the box body 31'.

[0050] The fastening head 3 is oriented so that the slot 21 is open towards the cover 32' and so that the opening 25 of the clamping unit 20 is aligned with the tongue 4.

[0051] The tip 17 of the tongue 4 is inserted into the opening 25 of the clamping unit 20.

[0052] The fastening head 3 is slid along the tongue 4 until it comes to rest against the flange 36' and so that a portion of the crown C is inserted into the slot 21 of the coupling unit 19. As the slot 21 is open on three sides, it is possible to push the fastening head 3 right onto the crown C so as to place the transverse wall 24 against the crown C.

[0053] Alternatively or additionally, the tongue 4 is pulled, so as to make the serrated portion 14 pass through the opening 25 in the forward direction D1.

[0054] Pulling the tongue 4 reduces the axial distance between the coupling head 2 and the fastening head 3 and it is possible to tighten, through the clamping action, the connection of the cover 32' to the box body 31'.

[0055] Advantageously, when the cover 32' is already applied to the box body 31' so as to close the same (i.e. the cover 32' and the box body 31' are already at the minimum reciprocal distance), the coupling head 2 and the fastening head 3 are applied to the cover 32' and to the flange 36' as indicated above. The tongue 4 is then inserted into the opening 25 and is pulled as far as it can go, i.e. until the coupling head 2 and the fastening head 3 are closed tight on the container 30' and cannot get any closer to each other.

[0056] Advantageously, the tongue 26 snaps in automatically between the teeth 15 of the serrated portion 14, thus preventing the tongue 4 from re-exiting the opening 25.

[0057] Advantageously, this seals the portion of the container 30' to which the tie 1 is applied in the manner described above. In order to open the container 30', it is necessary to cut the tongue 4 between the coupling head 2 and the fastening head 3, thus destroying said tie 1.

[0058] In the case where a fastening head 3 with a lever 27 is applied (Figure 5), it is possible to render the system reversible by lifting the tongue 26 by means of the lever 27 in order to allow the tongue 4 to slide in the reverse direction D2, so that the coupling head 2 can be disengaged from the fastening head 3.

[0059] Advantageously, by applying a plurality of ties 1 of the type described above to a container 30', it is possible to ensure the complete sealing of the same. For example, in the case of a container 30' of a circular design (Figures 3 and 4), it may be sufficient to apply three or more ties 1; in the case of a container 30' of a rectangular design (Figure 6), it may be sufficient to apply two or more ties 1.

[0060] Figure 6 also illustrates a kit 29 according to the present invention for obtaining a sealed container, in particular a container 30 for hospital use for storing and transporting potentially infectious hospital waste.

[0061] Once the box body 31 has been filled (e.g. with hospital waste), an operator applies (in a known manner) the cover 32 so as to close said box body 31. He or she then takes from each housing 33, 33I, 33II a respective tie 1. Each tie 1 is applied to the container 30 in the manner described above, which is not reiterated for the sake of brevity, using anchoring points provided on the container body 31 and on the cover 32.

[0062] Advantageously, according to the example illustrated in Figure 6, the cover 32 has reference points 34 (in the illustrated example recesses 34 which enable the coupling of a respective coupling head 2) so that the positioning of each tie 1 is unambiguous and unmistakable for the operator.

[0063] Once the tongue 4 between the coupling head 2 and the fastening head 3 has been tightened for all ties 1, the container 30 is sealed and can only be opened by breaking/damaging the ties 1.

[0064] According to the example illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the coupling head 2 is applied to the cover 32', while the fastening head 3 is applied to the container body 31'; according to a variant not illustrated, the fastening head 3 can be applied to the cover 32' and the coupling head 2 can be applied to the container body 31'.

[0065] The kit 29 of the type described above thus makes it possible to obtain the sealing of the container 30 in a quick and easy manner.

[0066] Advantageously, the cover 32 and the container body 31 of kit 29 can be reused several times. For example, in the case of use for the transport of hospital waste, once the cover 32 and the container body 31 have been sanitized, it is possible to reuse them. To complete the kit 29, it is sufficient to provide new ties 1 inside the housings 33, 33I, 33II to replace the ties 1 that have been removed and destroyed.

[0067] Advantageously, a tie 1 of the type described above is made of low-cost, disposable polymeric material, which can be recycled as plastic waste. In particular, the tie 1 is formed by moulding.

[0068] Advantageously, by applying appropriate identification marks on the ties 1, it is possible to track a kit 29 and verify that the container 30 has undergone all appropriate sanitization procedures required prior to reuse. For example, ties appropriately identified (by colour or code) can only be provided to complete the kit by authorized personnel responsible for verifying the sanitization of the containers.

[0069] Advantageously, a tie 1 of the type described above can be used to seal most of the containers 30' currently in use, especially in the field of the transport of building materials, without it being necessary to modify said containers 30', which remain intact. Advantageously, a tie 1 of the type described above is quick and easy to apply.

[0070] Advantageously, a kit of the type described above is easy to apply, involves very little waste material (only the waste of the used ties 1), is reliable in ensuring the hermetic closure of the container 30 and can enable the tracking of said kit 29, thanks to the application of ties 1 with identification elements.

Claims

1. A tie to seal a container (30; 30'), which comprises a container body (31, 31') and a cover (32, 32'); wherein the tie (1) comprises a coupling head (2), a fastening head (3) and a tongue (4) having a serrated portion (14); the tongue (4) being connected to the coupling head (2); wherein the coupling head (2) has a first seat (6) communicating with the exterior and configured to house, in use, a first portion of the container (30; 30'); wherein the fastening head (3) has a second seat (21) communicating with the exterior and configured to house, in use, a second portion of the container (30; 30'); in particular, the first portion (35', 34) is a cover area (32, 32') and the second portion is a container body area (31, 31'); wherein the fastening head (3) is configured to be passed through by the serrated portion (14) of the tongue (4) and to snap into said serrated portion (14).

2. A tie according to claim 1, wherein the fastening head (3) comprises, in turn, a coupling unit (19) and a clamping unit (20); wherein the coupling unit (19) has said second seat (21); wherein the clamping unit (20) has an opening (25) which is configured to be passed through by the serrated portion (14) of the tongue (4); wherein the clamping unit (20) comprises interlocking elements (26), in particular a tongue (26), configured to be fastened by a snap connection into the serrated portion (14) when inserted through said opening (25) in a first direction (D1); wherein the clamping unit (20) is configured to prevent, in use, the displacement of the serrated portion (14) through said opening (25) in a second direction (D2), in particular opposite to said first direction (D1); in particular, said coupling unit (19) and said clamping unit (20) form a single body.

3. A tie according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first seat (6) is a slot open on three sides; wherein the second seat (21) is a slot open on three sides.

4. A tie according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tongue (4) extends along a longitudinal axis (X) and has a first end (e1) which is fastened to the coupling head (2) and a second end (e2); wherein the tongue (4) comprises a tapered tip (17) formed close to the second end (e2); wherein, the tongue (4) has a serrated portion (14) which extends along the longitudinal axis (X) between the first end (e1) and the tip (17); in particular, the first seat (6) of the coupling head (2) faces the tongue (4).

5. A tie according to claim 4, wherein, before the first use, the coupling head (2), the fastening head (3) and the tongue (4) form a single body ; wherein the tongue (4) is interposed between the coupling head (2) and the fastening head (3); wherein the fastening head (3) is connected to the tongue (4) at the tip (17) by means of a weakening point (13); in particular, the tie (1) is formed as a single body through the moulding of a polymeric material.

6. A kit for forming a sealed container (30; 30'), the kit (29) comprising: a container (30; 30') which comprises, in turn, a container body (31, 31') and a cover (32, 32'); and one or more ties (1) according to any of the preceding claims.

7. A kit according to claim 6, wherein the container (30; 30') has one or more housings (33; 33I; 33II; 33III), each of which is configured to house one or more ties (1); wherein each housing (33; 33I; 33II; 33III) can be formed in the container body (31, 31') or in the cover (32, 32') of the container (30; 30').

8. A method to seal a container (30; 30'), which comprises a container body (31, 31') and a cover (32, 32'), by means of a tie (1) which comprises, in turn, a coupling head (2), a fastening head (3) and a tongue (4) having a serrated portion (14); the tongue (4) being connected to the coupling head (2); wherein the coupling head (2) has a first seat (6) communicating with the exterior and configured to house, in use, a first portion (35', 34) of a container (30; 30'); wherein the fastening head (3) has a second seat (21) communicating with the exterior and configured to house, in use, a second portion of the container (30; 30'); in particular, the first portion (35', 34) is a cover area (32, 32') and the second portion is a container body area (31, 31'); wherein the fastening head (3) is configured to be passed through by the serrated portion (14) of the tongue (4) and to snap into said serrated portion (14); the method comprising the steps of:

- applying the coupling head (2) of the tie (1) to the first portion (35', 34) of the container (30; 30'), in particular inserting said first portion (35', 34) at least partially within the first seat (6) so that the tongue (4) extends along the container body (31, 31');

- sliding the fastening head (3) along the tongue (4) until it brings said second portion at least partially within the second seat (21); wherein the tongue (4) passes through the fastening head (3) in a first direction (D1) to fasten by a snap connection said serrated portion (14) to the fastening head (3).

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the coupling head (2), the fastening head (3) and the tongue (4) form a single body; the method comprising the step of separating the fastening head (3), so as to make it an independent element before the step of applying the fastening head (3) to the second portion of the container (30; 30').

10. A method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the container (30; 30') has one or more housings (33; 33I; 33II;
33III), each of which contains one or more ties (1); the method comprising removing and/or inserting each tie (1) from/into a respective housing.

Drawing