MX2008006966A - Plug device for a container and container provided with one such device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug device (500) comprising a elastomer plug (501) and a cover (502) for covering the neck (12) of a container and the plug (501) inserted in the neck (12). Thecover (502) consists of a plastic material and comprises a ring (503) and a manoeuvring element (504). Said ring (503) can surround the plug (501) and the neck (12) when mounted, and is provided with means (503G) for being locked onto the neck (12). The manoeuvring element (504) can be mounted on the ring (503), with any angular orientation about a central axis (X503) of the ring. Said manoeuvring element is provided with an annular edge (505D) that can be engaged between an external skirt (503A) of the ring (503) and at least one lip (503G) which forms a locking means and radially extends towards the central axis (X503) of the ring, away from the skirt (503A).

Description

A CLOSURE DEVICE FOR A CONTAINER. AND A CONTAINER ADJUSTED WITH SUCH DEVICE The invention relates to a closure device for a container having a neck, and also to a method for mounting such a device, and to a container fitted with such a device. In the field of medication containers, it is known to use a glass bottle to preserve an active ingredient in the form of freeze dried dehydrated, powders, or a liquid solution. Such a jar needs to be sealed in a sealed manner in order to keep its contents in a satisfactory state of preservation until such time as it is used. To close a bottle hermetically, it is known to use a closure device comprising an elastomer plug that has the function of being completely hermetic to the exhaust against gas, liquids and bacteria, a capsule made of metal, usually aluminum, which provides a function of sealing, and a "release" tab that performs a force-proof indicator function and that needs to be removed before it is possible to gain access to the cap. When the metal capsule is pressed on top of a glass bottle, it is possible for the glass particles to become separated from the bottle, which particles can fall on top of the stopper and constitute a risk of contamination of the contents. In addition, the metal capsule is not pressed immediately after the cap has been put in place, regardless of whether or not the contents of the bottle have been subjected to a lyophilization step. The time interval between the placement of the cap in place and the placement of the capsule in place can be quite long since it is not usual for the capsule press to be located in establishments other than establishments where the contents of vial is sterilized, said different establishments generally not being sterile. During this time interval, it is therefore possible for the contents of the bottle to be contaminated, either accidentally or maliciously. When the bottle is used, it is assumed that the hospital staff, after removing the force-proof tab, decontaminates the top side of the cap that becomes accessible through the opening formed in the capsule. This operation is sometimes forgotten, thus leading to a risk of contamination in the same way. US-A-5 3 1 4 084 discloses the use of an outer cover to close an inner cover in position on the neck of a container in order to protect a stopper. That way of closing depends on the elasticity of the outer cover and is not always effective. The present invention seeks more particularly to remedy these deficiencies by providing a new closure device that is particularly easy to put in place and which allows an elastomer plug to be protected immediately from the end of the filling operation and / or the cycle of lyophilization.

To this end, the invention relates to a closure device for a container provided with a neck, the device comprising an elastomer plug and a cover made of plastic material, suitable for covering both the neck and the cap when in place. of the neck, and comprising a ring suitable for encircling the plug and neck in an assembled configuration, the ring being provided with closure means for closing the neck, and a suitable conducting member to be mounted on the ring with arbitrary angular orientation about a central unit of the ring, the driving member being provided with actuating means for actuating the closing means for closing the ring. This device is characterized in that the driving means of the driving member comprises an annular edge of the driving member, the edge being suitable to be engaged between an outer margin of the ring and at least one lug forming closing means and extending radially towards the axis from the margin. Because the cover is made of plastic material, there is no risk of causing contaminating glass particles to be generated when they come into contact with the surface of the container. Because its structure comprises a ring and a driving member, the ring can be put in place on the receptacle particularly in the easiest way, the driving means of the driving member being able to actuate the closing means of the ring when the ring has reached its final position on the neck of the container. Since the driving member can be mounted on the ring in an arbitrary angular orientation, the cover is made easier to assemble. In addition, the closure obtained by the annular rim of the driving member is particularly simple and fast, and does not depend on the elasticity of the ring. It is easy to automate the assembly and closing of the device on a container. According to the aspects of the invention which are advantageous but not essential, such a device may include one or more of the features of claims 2 to 1 8. In particular, the driving member may be constituted by an annular element carrying the means, first and second, together with a cover that is prevented from moving on said annular element by means of lugs which engage on the edge of a central opening in the annular element, thereby making it possible to mount the cover on the annular element only by deforming said element elastically, said deformation being the result of a force that can be exerted only before the driving member is mounted on said ring. Under such circumstances, each lug is advantageously provided with a latch for engaging on the edge of the opening, with the distance between the latch and the side of the lid holder against the annular element being less than the distance, as measured parallel to a central axis of the annular element when the lid does not fit over said element, between the edge and a part of the annular element that receives the aforementioned side of the cap holder against it. The invention also provides a method for mounting a device as described above, which method comprises: a) exerting on the edge of the central opening of the annular element a force that is generally parallel to a central axis of the opening, the force being applied against one side of the opposite annular element on the side by means of which the cap will be mounted, the force being exerted in such a manner as to deform the edge elastically; and b) pressing the cap towards the annular member in a direction opposite to the direction of the force, in order to bring its engaging ears into engagement against the elastically deformed edge of the aforementioned opening. The invention also provides a container fitted with a closure device as described above. Such a container is easier to close and used than are the containers in the state of the art. The invention can be better understood and other advantages thereof appear more clearly in light of the following description of three embodiments of a receptacle and of a device according to the principle of the invention, given purely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: • Figures 1 to 5 are perspective views and schematic axial sectional showing several steps in the packaging of a product in a bottle according to the invention; • Figures 6 and 7 are schematic perspective views showing two stages for using the bottle; • Figure 8 is a large-scale view showing detail VIII of Figure 4; • Figure 9 is a large-scale axial perspective sectional view of the cover of the closure device of the bottle of Figures 1 to 8; • Figures 10A and 1B are perspective views from two different angles of a ring belonging to the cover of Figure 9; • Figures 1 1 A and 1 1 B are perspective views from two different angles of a part of a closure member belonging to the cover of Figure 9; • Figures 12A and 1B are perspective views from two different angles of a cover belonging to a member to close the cover of Figure 9; 12A being partially cut away; • Figure 13 is a large-scale view of a detail XIII of Figure 4, the pressing plate omitted; • Figure 14 is a large-scale view of a detail XIV of Figure 5; • Figure 1 5 is an exploded perspective view of the cover of Figure 9; • Figure 16 is a view analogous to Figure 1 5 for a device according to a second embodiment of the invention; • Figure 1 7 is a view analogous to Figure 8 for a device according to a third embodiment of the invention; • Figure 1 8 is a large-scale perspective axial sectional view of the cover of the device of Figure 1 7; • Figures 19A and 1B are perspective views from two different angles of a ring belonging to the cover of Figure 1 8; • Figures 20A and 20B are perspective views from two different angles of a part of a closure member belonging to the cover of Figure 1 8; • Figures 21 A and 2 1 B are perspective views from two different angles of a lid belonging to a closure member of the cover of Figure 1 8; Figure 21 A being partially cut away; • Figure 22 is a view analogous to Figure 13 for the device of Figures 1 7 to 21; • Figure 23 is a view analogous to Figure 14 for the device of Figures 1 to 22; • Figure 24 is an exploded perspective view of the cover of Figure 1 7; • Figure 25 is a view of the drive member during assembly; and • Figure 26 is a large scale view showing a detail XXVI of Figure 25. In Figure 1, a glass bottle 1 is being filled with a product P, for example, with medicament. A pipette 2 is introduced into the bottle through its opening 1 1 defined by a neck 1 2 having an outwardly directed flange 13. The example of symmetry of the bottle 1 refers to X i - When a predetermined quantity of product P has been introduced into the bottle 1, the pipette is withdrawn and a closure device 500 is placed in place on the neck 12. The device 500 comprises an elastomer plug 501 of adapted shape to be inserted partly in the opening 1 1, while resting against the side 1 3A of the flange 1 3 which is opposite the lower part 14 of the bottle 1. Once in place on the neck 12, the plug 501 isolates the contents of the bottle 1 from the outside. The device 500 also comprises a cover 502 designed to cover and isolate the cap and neck 12 when the closure device is in the closed configuration. As can be seen more particularly in Figure 9, the cover 502 comprises a ring 503 of plastic material of internal diameter which is sufficient to allow it to encircle the flange 1 3. The cover 502 also includes a conduit member 501 consisting of a part 505 made of plastic material and referred to below as a "key", and by a cover 506, likewise of plastic material, secured in inverse manner to key 505. Cover 506 carries six projections 506A to get in contact with the outer surface of an annular part 505A of the key 505 and for welding thereto by ultrasound. In a variant, the electric spot welding between the parts 505 and 506 is obtained by localized heating. This can be done by a heater head and has the advantage of being faster than ultrasonic heating. Electrical spot welding by means of the projections 506A serves to make it easy to remove the cap 506 from the key 505, by tearing the projections 506A. The cap 506 is also provided with an annular projection 506B which engages a central opening 505B of the key 505 when these two elements are secured together to form the member 504. The projections 506A are distributed regularly around the central unit X506 of the lid 506, and form an undulating structure 506C to be received in a depression 505P bordering the opening 505B, on the side of the part 505A facing the plug 506. The configuration of the depression 505P and the structure 506C allows the plug 506 to be centered over the key 505 by co-operation forms, thereby enabling the X506 to be aligned on the central axis X505 of the key 505 before welding the projections 506A. The key 505 is provided with two groups of two elastic tabs 505C formed by making four openings 505Q in a margin 505J formed by the key 505 and centered on the X5o5 axis. Reference 505D designates the annular edge of margin 505J that is remote from part 505A. Each tab 505C is provided with an outer edge 505E projecting radially from the margin 505J. In this way, each tongue 505C forms an elastic hook. The tabs 505C are organized as two tabs 505C? having their edges 505E extending to a first distance d i from the edge 505D, and two tabs 505C2 having their edges 505E extending towards a second distance d2 from the edge 505D, the distance d2 being greater than the distance d i. The tabs 505C] extend, from the edge of the corresponding opening 505Q which is further from the edge 505D and towards the edge 505 D. The tabs 505C2 extend from the edge of the corresponding opening 505Q which is closest to the edge 505D, and far from said edge 505D. The ring 503 comprises a peripheral annular margin 503A having a first reference edge 503 B. Within the range 503A and opposite the edge 503 B, an annular portion 505C is formed which is generally perpendicular to a central unit X503 of the ring 503 and the 503A margin. In five angular sectors distributed around the axis X503, the part 503C is extended by five bridges 503D which are connected to the inner surface of the margin 503A in the vicinity of the edge 503C. The bridges 503D extend at a distance from the interior surface of the margin 503A in such a way as to define five individual elongate housings 503E in which the margin 505J of the key 505 can be inserted via the side of the ring 503 bearing the part 503C and that is visible in figure 1 0A. In angular sectors where part 503C does not extend over bridge 503 D, five openings 503 F are formed in each of which it is equally possible to insert margin 505J when the margin is inserted into housings 503 E. The ends of the bridges 503 D and the lugs 503 G are placed in alternation, within the range 503A and in the vicinity of the edge 503B. Facing each opening 503 F, a locking ear 503 G is provided which extends from the inner side of the margin 503A radially towards the axis X503. The free edge of each ear 503 G is reference 503J. Each bridge 503D has provided thereon a 503 K ramp for tightening the plug 501 in the configuration of figure 2. The ramps 503 K are designed to penetrate surface toward the plug 501 in order to prevent it from moving relative to the margin 503. An edge 503N is provided on each bridge 503D, on the inner side of its curved portion at about 90 °, to connect ring 503 and plug 501 in rotation as it penetrates radially towards the outer surface of the plug. The device 500 is assembled by welding the cover 506 on the key 505, then by aligning with the axis X503 the axes X505 and X506 that already coincide and by engaging the margin 505J in an annular volume 503 V defined between the margin 503A, the bridges 503D and closing ears 503 G. Given the annular nature of edge 505D and volume 503V, member 504 can be mounted on ring 503 without taking particular precautions concerning its angular orientation around the eX5Q3. In other words, when the edge 505D is inserted through the entrances to the seats 503E and the openings 503 F, towards the volume 503 V, the member 504 can have any orientation about the axes X505 and X506 now coincident. This makes it easier to mount the cover, since there is no need to revise this orientation.

The inner side of the margin 503A is provided with a peripheral slit 503 L formed near the edge 503M of the margin 503A which is remote from the edge 503B and adjacent to the 503 C part. The slit 503 L is configured to receive the edges 505E of the tabs 505C when the member 504 is mounted on the ring 503. More precisely, when the member 504 is mounted on the ring 503, the margin 505J penetrates the volume 503 V through the the openings 503F and the entrance openings to the housings 503E. The margin 505 thus progresses towards the edge 503B until the edges 505E of the tabs 505C? they engage in the slit 503 L, thus allowing the member 504 to be kept at a distance from the part 503C in the position shown in Figure 9. It is thus possible to insert the plug 501 into the cover 502 and tighten it by means of the ramps 503 K. The device 500 as elaborated in this way can be placed on the neck 1 2 of the bottle 1, as shown in figure 2. In this configuration, the plug 501 does not completely close the opening 1 1 since the plug has a side cut 501 A leaving an opening 200 adjacent a side portion 13A. The bottle 1 fitted with the device 500 can then be placed in a lyophilizer 300 in which the water molecules present in the bottle 1 are evacuated to the outside as represented by the arrows Fi shown in figures 3 and 8, moving to through the openings that remain thus between the cover 502 and the flange 1 3.

The plug 501 is provided on its radially outer surface with stopping projections in the configuration shown in Figures 3 and 8. Thereafter, as shown in Figure 4, it is possible while the device 500 is still within the lyophilizer 300, exert a force F2 thereon parallel to the longitudinal axis X \ of the bottle 1 and of the opening 1 1, whose axis thus coincides with the axes X503, X505, and X506. This axial force F2 is exerted by a plate 301 movable into the lyophilizer and suitable for simultaneously exerting substantially the same force F2 on the group of bottles 1 placed at the same level in the lyophilizer. When the force F2 is exerted on the plug 506 of the member 504, the edges 505E of the tabs 505C? they transmit this force to the ring 503 by means of the interaction between these edges 505E and the slit 503 L. The tabs 505C? they act in this way as pushers, in that they allow the ring 503 to move or push towards the lower part 14 of the bottle 1, under the effect of the force F2, thus making it possible to reach the configuration of figure 5. Due to this In this case, the closing ears 503 G are folded towards the inner surface of the margin 503A without the need to deform the margin 503A radially. In this way, the force F2 that needs to be applied in order to achieve the configuration of Figures 4 and 1 3 is relatively low. Once the closing ears 503G have passed the flange 13 and reached the position of Figure 4 and 13, the ring 503 can no longer move towards the lower part 14 since the part 503 C is loaded against the plug 1 01 which engages in the neck 1 2. Holding the force F2 then has the effect of expelling the edges 505E belonging to the tongues 505C) of the slit 503 L and of moving the member 504 in relation to the ring 503 in order to of bringing the edge 505D towards the bottom of the volume 503V between the closure lugs 503 G and the interior surface of the margin 503A. This engagement of the edge 505B between the closure lugs 503 G and the margin 503A has the effect of deforming these lugs radially in a centripetal direction, their respective free edges 503J moving towards the axis Xj. These edges thus come to be loaded against the annular side 1 3B of the flange 13 which faces the lower part 14, in such a way that the capsule 500 closes firmly in the neck 12, as shown in figures 5 and 14. In the configuration of figures 5 and 14, the edges 505E of the tabs 505C2 come in engagement in the slit 503 L, serving in this manner to prevent member 504 from moving in relation to ring 503. In other words, the difference between the distances di and d2 corresponds to the stroke of member 504 between the positions of figures 4 and 5, allowing this Thus, the retaining tabs 505C2 are automatically brought into engagement with the slit 503 L when the locking ears 503 G close in the position to retain the cover 502 on the neck 12.

Due to this movement, the edges 503N penetrate superficially in the plug 501, thus holding the plug 501 securely against turning in relation to the ring 503. In this way, the final positioning of the cover 502 takes place in two stages . In the first stage, the plug 501 is put in place and the ears 503 G are folded towards the margin 503A in order to go beyond the flange 13. In the second stage, the lugs 503G are closed in position by the edge 505D. These two stages are carried out by a pushing force F2 of magnitude that can be adapted to each stage, while maintaining a value that is significantly lower than that which could be required for positioning in a single stage, in which the forces of friction to be overcome and the deformation forces to be supplied are separated in time by means of the invention, being distributed between the two stages.

Further, since the margin 503A does not expand radially while the ears 503 G are passed over the flange 1 3, the force F can be relatively small, thereby making it easier to place the cover 500 instead. To summarize, in the first stage, the configuration goes from that of figure 3 to that of figure 4. In the second stage, the configuration goes from that of figure 4 to that of figure 5. In this configuration, the The bottle 1 is hermetically sealed by the plug 501 and is protected by the cover 502, whose cover can not be extracted due to the closure obtained by the ears 503 G.

In this configuration, as shown in Figure 14, the projection 506B of the cap 506 becomes loaded through the opening 505B and through the central opening 503A of the part 503 C against the outer surface 501 B of the cap 501 which it will be exposed when the user wishes to gain access to the content of bottle 1. Under the action of the projection 506B, the surface 501 B is locally deformed, as can be seen in Figure 14, since the material of the plug 501 is more flexible than that of the lid 506. More precisely, the projection 506B completely insulates a disc-shaped central part 501 C of the surface 501 B, the part of which can be considered to be clean and sterile since it was isolated from the outside while still inside the lyophilizer 300. When it is appropriate to use the contents of the vial 1 , the lid 506 is removed by breaking the projections 506A, as shown by the arrow F3 in Figure 6, thereby giving access to the aforementioned part 501 C, which does not need to be decontaminated. It is thus possible to inject a liquid into the bottle 1 to reconstitute its contents, by means of a hole 400, as shown in figure 7, and then pump the reconstituted product using the same syringe with its needle passing through the stopper 501 in a procedure that is known to hospital staff. In the second embodiment shown in Figure 16, the elements analogous to those of the previous embodiment are given in identical references. The cover 502 of this embodiment of the same form comprises a ring 503 and a driving member 504 formed by a key 505 and a cover 506. This embodiment differs from the previous embodiment in that the four tabs 505C of the key 505 are all the same. type and extend to the same distance di from the annular edge 505D of the 505J margin. These four tabs 505C have the same function as tabs 505C? in the above embodiment and simultaneously arrive in engagement in a slit 503 L formed inside the ring 503 which is identical to the ring in the previous embodiment. The annular part 505A of the key 505 is provided with six hooks, only two of which can be observed in figure 16 under the reference 505F behind the opening 505B adjacent to the part 505A which faces the edge 505D. These six hooks 505F are designed to mesh with the edge 503P of the central opening 503 Q defined by the annular part 503C of the ring 503. This engagement occurs when the member 504 passes from a position corresponding to that of figure 4 to a position corresponding to that of figure 5, that is, when the edge 505D of the key 505 brings the ears 503 G of the ring 503 in the closing configuration on the neck 12. The hooks 505F in this way have a similar function to the function of the second tabs 505C2 in the previous modality. In the third embodiment shown in figures 1 to 26, elements similar to those of the first embodiment are given the same references. Below, the description essentially refers to the differences between the modalities, first and third. The cover 506 of the cover 502 carries four ears 506A to be hooked on the edge 505B? of a central opening 505B in the key 505. For this purpose, each lug 506A is provided with a latch 506A? molded integrally with the lid 506 and extending radially outwardly of the ear 506A in question, in relation to the central unit X506 of the lid 506. The latches 506A] are engaged under the edge 505B? when the key 505 and the cap 506 are assembled together to form the member 504. More precisely, the cap 506 is provided with a surface 506C that is substantially planar through which it is loaded against an upper surface 505A] of an annular part. 505A of the key 505 having opening 505B defined at its center. In the assembled configuration of the member 504, the latches 506A (engage against the edge 505B ?, on its remote side of the surface 505A.) The number of ears 506A is not limited to four, stipulating serve to distribute the engaging force. between the key 505 and the lid 506. The key 505 is provided with a group of three elastic tabs 505C formed by creating three openings 505A in a margin 505J formed by the key 505 and centered on an X505 ej which constitutes a central axis of the key 505. The annular edge of the margin 505J which is remote from the part 505A is written 505. Each tab 505C is provided with a latch or outer edge 505E projecting radially from the margin 505J. In this way, each tab 505C forms a elastic hook The distance, taken parallel to the axis X505 between the edges 505E and the edge 505D, is written di In addition, the key 505 is provided with a peripheral flange 505R projecting radially from the 505J margin and extending continuously between the two openings 505Q. The distance, taken parallel to the axis X505 between the free edge 505R] of the flange 505 and the edge 505D, is written d2. The value of d2 is greater than the value of di. The flange is generally frustoconical around the X505 ej and diverge away from the 505D edge. Ring 503 is identical to that of the first embodiment. When the lid 506 is about to be mounted on the key 505, is it necessary to engage the latches 506A? against the edge 505B? through opening 505B. To do this, as shown in figure 25, the key 505 is placed in a tool 600 that defines an annular surface 601 for receiving the part 505A of the key 505 that is loaded against it. The cap 506 thus appears prior to the key 505, with the exits X 05 and X506 substantially in alignment, the X506 axis already being in alignment on a central axis X6oo of the tool 600. The cap 506 is thus pushed towards the tool 600 with a force Fo parallel to the axes X505, X506, and X6oo, thereby having the effect of engaging the projection 506B in the opening 505B and then causing the latches 506A? it is loaded against edge 505B], of opening 505B. When the force F0 remains on the lid 506, the surface 506C becomes loaded against the upper surface 505A? of the part 505A and transmits a force F'0 to the key 505, thereby causing the margin 505J to slide in the direction of arrow F505 in figure 25, that is, towards the base of the tool 600. As far as that since the part 505A of the key 505 is already being loaded against the surface 601, a reaction force F6oo is extruded by the surface 601 on the lower surface 505A2 of the part 505A as defined in addition to the remote part 505A of the cap 506. The force F 0o is opposed to the force F0. This has the effect of bringing the edge 505B] closer to the surface 506C, thereby allowing the latches 506A? of the lugs 506A to go beyond said edge and to engage under it, as shown in Figure 26. This engagement of the latches 506A? under the edge 505B? Is it possible only by virtue of edge 505B? that elastically deforms, whose deformation is obtained by means of the reaction force FOO. The distance, taken parallel to the ej X 05 between the edge 505B? and to the region of the portion 505A receiving the cap 506 that is loaded against it in the configuration of FIG. 26, is written d3. In addition, the height taken parallel to the axis X506 of the lugs 506A between the surface 506C and their respective latches 506A is written d4. In the rest, that is, in the absence of any force exerted on the parts 505 and 506, the distance d3 has a value greater than that of the distance d4. This is only because the tool 600 exerts the reaction force F oo on the part 505A in the opposite direction to the force F0 that the distance d3 originates temporarily to acquire a value that is smaller than the distance d, allowing this way to the 505A latches? get hooked under the 505B edge? as shown in Figure 26. It should be noted that when the member 504 is mounted on the ring 503, it is no longer possible to reach the lower surface 505A2 of the part 505A of the key 505 in order to exert the force F600. The device 500 is assembled in the same manner as for the first embodiment, when mounting the cover 506 on the key 505 as explained above, and then bringing the X5o and X5 O-axes already coincident in alignment with the X503 example, and by engaging the margin 505J in an annular volume 503V defined between the margin 503A, the bridges 503D, and the closing lugs 503 G. The member 504 may have any orientation relative to the ex's X505 and X506 now coincident, when the edge 505D is inserted through the entrances to the housings 503 E and the openings 503 F towards the volume 503V. The inner side of the margin 503 A is provided with a peripheral slit 503 L formed close to the edge 503M of the margin 503A which is remote from the edge 503 B and adjacent to the part 503C. The slit 503 L is configured to receive the edges 505E of the tabs 505C when the member 504 is mounted on the ring 503. More precisely, while the member 505 is being mounted on the ring 503, the margin 505J penetrates the volume 503V through the openings 503 F and the inlet openings to the housings 503 E. The margin 505 then advances towards the edge 503B until the edges 505E of the tabs 505C engage in the slot 503 L, thereby allowing the member 504 is kept at a distance from the part 503 C, in the position shown in figure 1 8. It is then possible to insert the plug 501 into the cover 502 and tighten it by means of the ramps 503K. The device 500 as elaborated in this way can then be placed on the neck 12 of the bottle 1, as shown in Figure 2 for the first embodiment. The bottle 1 fitted with the device 500 can then be inserted into a lyophilizer 300, as with the first mode. On its radially outer surface, the plug 501 is provided with stop projections in the configuration of Figure 1 7. Thereafter, inside the lyophilizer, and as shown in Figure 4 for the first embodiment, it is possible to exert a force F2 on the device 500 parallel to the longitudinal axis Xi of the bottle 1 and of the neck 12, whose example thus coincides with the exes X503, X505, and XSOO - When the force F2 is exerted on the plug 506 of the member 504, the edges 505E of the tabs 505C transmit this force to the ring 503 by means of the interaction between said edges 505E and the slit 503 L. The tabs 505C thus act as pushers in what serves to move or push the ring 503 towards the lower 1 4 of bottle 1, under the effect of force F2. Due to this movement, the closing lugs 503 G fold towards the inner side of the margin 503A without it being necessary to deform the margin 503A_ radially. As a result, the force F2 that needs to be applied to achieve the configuration of Figure 22 is relatively low. Once the closing ears 503G have passed the flange 13 and reached the position of figure 22, the ring 503 can no longer move towards the lower part 14 since the part 503 C is loaded against the cap 501 which engages in the neck 1 2. Maintaining the force F2 then has the effect of ejecting the edges 505E from the slit 503L and moving the member 504 relative to the ring 503 in order to bring the edge 505D towards the bottom of the volume 503V between the closure lugs 503 G and the interior surface of the margin 503A. This engagement of the edge 505B between the closure lugs 503 G and the margin 503A has the effect of deforming these lugs radially in a centripetal direction., their respective free edges 503J thus moving towards the ej e Xi. These edges then come to be charged against the annular side 1 3B of the flange 1 3 which faces the lower part 14, such that the capsule 500 closes firmly on the neck 12, as shown in figure 23.

In the configuration of Figure 23, the flange 505R becomes engaged in the slit 503 L, thereby serving to prevent the member 504 from moving relative to the ring 503. In other words, the difference between the distances di and d2 corresponds to the stroke of the member 504 between the positions of FIGS. 1 7 and 22, thereby making it possible to bring the flange 505R automatically into engagement with the slit 503 L when the closure lugs 503 G are closed in position to retain the cover 502 in the neck 12. Due to this movement, the slots 503N penetrate superficially towards the plug 501, thereby holding the plug 501 securely against rotation in relation to the ring 503. In this way, the final positioning of the cover 502 has place in two stages. In the first stage, the plug 501 is put in place and the ears 503 G are folded towards the margin 503A in order to go beyond the flange 13. In the second stage, the ears 503G are closed in position by the edge 505D. These two stages are achieved by a pushing force F2 of magnitude that can be adapted to each stage, while maintaining a value that is significantly lower than that which might be necessary for the placement in place in a single stage, as that the friction forces to be overcome and the deformation forces to be supplied are separated in time by means of the invention, since they are distributed between the two stages. Further, since the margin 503A does not need to expand radially while the ears 503 G are going beyond the flange 13, the force F2 can be relatively low, thereby making it easier to place the cover 500 in place. In summary, the configuration passes in the first stage of that of figure 1 7 to that of figure 22. In the second stage, the configuration passes from that of figure 22 to that of figure 23. In this configuration, the The bottle 1 is hermetically sealed by the stopper 501 and is protected by the cover 502, whose cover is prevented from being removed by the closure obtained by means of the ears 503 G. In this configuration, as in the first embodiment and as shown in figure 23, the projection 506B of the lid 506 becomes loaded through the opening 505B and through the central opening 503A of the part 503C against the outer surface 501 B of the cap 501 which will be exposed when the latter wishes to gain access to the contents of the bottle 1. When it is appropriate to use the contents of the bottle 1, the lid 506 is removed by centripetal elastic deformation of the ears 506A, and then the procedure is as described for the first embodiment with reference to figures 6 and 7. Once the Cap 506 has been removed, it is no longer possible to put it back in place since key 504 returns to a configuration in which distance d3 is greater than distance d. The lid 506 is thus actuated as an indicator of the first opening of the device 500, in which it can not be put back in place after the first removal since it is not possible to exert a force analogous to the force F600 on the part 505A since said part now rests on the part 503 C of the ring 503 and on the plug 501. Since all closing operations are performed in a means that is isolated from the outside, the plug 501 is kept sterile, and in particular its part 501 C is kept sterile, with this applying in all three embodiments of the cover 502 described above. . The materials used to make the parts of a piece 503, 505, and 506, are thus selected in order to be suitable for retaining their mechanical properties even after being subjected to temperatures that fall in the range of -80 ° C to + 1 30 ° C. The material used can be polyoxymethylene, for example. The invention is described above for use with a vial of contents that has been lyophilized. The invention is equally applicable when the contents of the bottle are not lyophilized. Under such circumstances, the plug 501 can be placed in place in the bottle 1 during a step immediately following the filling of the bottle, and then the cover 502 can be placed in its place immediately later, inside a sterile enclosure (not shown) and apply an axial force, similarly making it possible in this way to achieve a sealed configuration analogous to that of figures 5, 14 and 23. The technical characteristics of the invention described can be combined with each other. In particular, the ways in which the covers 506 and the covers 502 are assembled together can be exchanged between the and the covers 502 assembled together can be interchanged between the modalities, first and third.

Claims (20)

1. CLAIMS 1 . A closure device for a container provided with a neck (1 2), said device comprising an elastomer plug (501) and a cover made of plastic material (502), suitable for covering both said neck and said plug when it is in place. its place in said neck, and comprising a ring (503) suitable for enclosing said plug and said neck in an assembled configuration, said ring being provided with closure means (503 G) for closing on said neck, and a driving member (504) ) suitable to be mounted on said annular ring with arbitrary angular orientation around a central example (X503) of said ring, said conducting member being provided with actuator means (505D) for actuating said closing means, the closing device being characterized in that said means actuators comprise an annular edge (505D) of said conducting member (504), said edge being suitable for engaging between an outer margin erior (503A) of said ring (503) and at least one lug forming the closing means (503 G) and extending radially towards said axis (X503) from said margin (503 A).
2. 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said ring (503) comprises an annular part (503C) having an opening (503 Q) defined at the center thereof to give access to an exposed side (501 B) of said stopper, because said annular part is connected to said margin by means of a plurality of bridges (503D) extending in the vicinity of the closing lugs (503G), and in that said bridges and said lugs together define an annular volume ( 503V) to receive said annular edge (505D) of said conducting member (504).
3. 3. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it includes position-holding means (505C?; 505C) for holding said member on said ring in a waiting position in which said actuator means (505D) are not active and in which a pushing force (F2) generally parallel to an example of symmetry (Xi) of said neck can be transmitted from said conducting member (504) towards said ring (503) by said fastening means.
4. 4. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that said position-holding means (505C?; 505C) constitute means for transmitting a pushing force (F) to said ring (503), whose force is generally parallel to an ex. e of symmetry (Xi) of said neck.
5. 5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that said position-holding means and force transmission means (505C? 505C) extend radially inwardly of said ring (503) in a configuration in which the device closure (500) is mounted on a neck of the container.
6. 6. A device according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that said force transmitting means comprise at least one elastic tongue (505C? 505C) provided with an embossed part (505E) extending radially outwardly of said driving member (504) and suitable for being meshed in an annular groove (503 L) formed on an inner side of said ring (503).
7. 7. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it includes fastening means (503 L; 505C2; 503 P; 505F; 505R) for securing said member (504) on said ring (503) in a closing position in which said annular edge (505D) actuates said closing lugs (503 G).
8. 8. A device according to claim 7, characterized in that the fastening means for securing said member in the closed position comprise at least one tongue (505C2) having an embossed outer part (505E) which is suitable for being engaged in an annular groove (503L) formed on an inner side of said ring (503).
9. 9. A device according to claim 7, wherein the means for securing said member in the closed position comprises at least a portion of an outer radial rim (505R) of said conducting member (505) which is suitable to be engaged in an annular groove (503 L) formed on an inner side of said ring.
10. 10. A device according to claim 9, characterized in that said flange (505R) is inclined away from the actuator means (505D), going away from a central axis (X505) of said conduit member (504). eleven .
11. A device according to any of claims 3 to 10, characterized in that said attachment means comprise at least one raised portion (505E; 505R) formed on said conducting member (504) and at least one complementary part in relief (503 L) formed on said ring (503), said embossing parts engaging when said member is in said waiting position and / or in said closing position.
12. 12. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said guide member (504) carries two types of relief parts (505C, 505C2, 505E, 505C, 505E, 505R) suitable to be respectively engaged with a complementary common part. in relief (503 L) of said (503) when said member is in each of said positions, closing and waiting.
13. 13. A device according to claim 12, characterized in that said guide member (504) carries at least two elastic tabs (505C?, 505C2) provided with raised parts (505 E) that extend at different distances (di, d2) of said annular rim (505D), with said ring (503) being provided with an annular groove (503 L) for receiving said raised portions.
14. A device according to claim 12, characterized in that said guide member (504) carries at least one elastic tongue (505C) provided with an embossed part (505E) suitable to be engaged with the complementary part in relief ( 503 L) of said ring when said member is in the waiting position, while said or each tongue (505C) is located in a window (505Q) formed in a peripheral partition (505J) of said driving member (504) , and in that the means (505R) for retaining the driving member (504) in a configuration in which said second means (505D) actuates the means (503G) to close said ring (505) extending on the outer side of said partition, between two such windows.
15. A device according to claims 2 and 11, characterized in that said guide member (504) is provided with at least one hook (505F) suitable for engaging with said annular part (503C) when said member is in a closing position.
16. 16. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said conducting member comprises two parts, mainly: • a generally annular part (505) provided with said annular drive edge (505D), said part being suitable for covering said plug (501); ) in part, leaving an opening (505B) for access to an exposed side (501 B) of said plug; and • a lid (506) releasably secured to said part while covering said at least said opening, said lid being provided on its side directed toward said part with a centering portion (506C) in relief suitable for co-operating with a complementary part in relief (505P) formed on one side of said annular part receiving said lid in order to bring a central axis (X5o6) of said cover substantially in alignment with a central axis (X5o5) of said opening.
17. 7. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said guide member (504) is constituted by an annular element (505) carrying the means, first and second, (505C, 505D) together with a cover (506). ) immobilized on said annular element by means of lugs (505B) on the annular element, and because it is possible for said lid to be mounted (F0) on said annular element only by deforming said annular element elastically, said deformation being the result of a force (F60o) that can be exerted only before said driving member is mounted on said ring (503).
18. A device according to claim 1 7, characterized in that each lug (506A) is provided with a latch (506A?) For engaging said edge (505B?) Of said opening (505B), with the distance (d) ) between said latch and the side (506C) of said cover (506) that is loaded against said annular element being smaller than the distance (d3), as measured parallel to a central axis (X505) of said annular element (505) when the lid (506) does not fit over said annular element, between said edge (505B?) and a part (505A) of the annular element that receives said side of said lid that is loaded against it.
19. 19. A method for mounting a device according to claim 1 or claim 1, the method being characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting of: a) exiting over the edge (505B?) Of the central opening (505B) of the element annular (505) a force (F60o) which is generally parallel to a central ej (X505) of said opening, said force being applied against a side (505A2) of the opposite annular element of the side (505A?) by means of which said cap (506) will be mounted, said force being exerted in such a manner so as to deform said edge elastically; and b) pressing (F0) said cap towards said annular element in a direction opposite to the direction of said force, in order to bring its engaging ears (506A) in engagement against said elastically deformed edge (505B,).
20. 20. A container (1) fitted with a closure device (500) according to any of claims 1 to 1 8.