JPH0443442Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] This invention is mainly applied to the openings of containers such as test tubes, flasks, and beakers used for culturing microorganisms or breeding germ-free animals. , relates to a sealing device for the mouth of a pipe connecting these containers.

[Prior art and its problems] The mouths of containers such as test tubes, flasks, beakers, etc. used for culturing microorganisms or breeding germ-free animals, etc., or the mouths of pipes connecting these containers. Sealing methods include inserting a cotton stopper, plastic or rubber stopper, cork stopper, urethane foam, silicone rubber foam, etc. into the mouth of the container to seal it, or screwing a cap onto the mouth. A method of sealing the mouth by twisting it, or a method of sealing the mouth by covering the mouth with a synthetic resin film such as a wrap film is known.

Conventionally, in the method of covering and sealing the opening of a container, etc. with the film, the film is cut into an appropriate size and stretched with both hands to cover the opening. It is wrapped around the lower outer periphery of the section to maintain a sealed state.

However, with the above method, it is necessary to cut the film and stretch it with both hands, and the container to be sealed must be fixed so that it does not fall over, which takes time and effort.

In addition, it is difficult to stretch the film uniformly by hand, which may result in loose parts when the mouth is sealed, and if the film is insufficiently wrapped around the lower outer periphery of the container mouth, the film may become loose. There is a risk that the film will peel off, creating a gap between the container and the film, making it impossible to maintain a sealed state.

Furthermore, even if the film is sterilized for use in breeding germ-free animals, since the film is touched directly with the hands and the container etc. is sealed, germs may adhere to the film from the hands and cause problems in breeding. Sometimes.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention is a sealing device for the mouth of a container, etc., devised to solve the above problems, and is made of a ring-shaped support frame, etc., which has extensible material on the entire interior surface. It is made by stretching a synthetic resin film with

[Function] In the sealing tool of the present invention, the support frame is held by hand, the film stretched on the support frame is brought into contact with the mouth of the container, etc., and the film is released by pressing down the support frame against the elasticity of the film. When the supporting frame is stretched and attached to the mouth, and then the support frame is rotated by hand, the film wraps around the lower periphery of the mouth, and when the support frame is rotated further, the film eventually breaks, and due to the film's unique adhesiveness, it is no longer sealed. Retained.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a sealing tool, which consists of a film 12 and a support frame 14.

The film 12 is made of soft polyethylene resin, ethylene vinyl acetate resin, vinylidene chloride resin, polyisobutylene, etc. with a thickness of about 0.05 mm to 0.30 mm.
It is made of a soft synthetic resin such as a thermoplastic elastomer (for example, Sealon Film (trademark) manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.). The film 12 is preferably a flexible film that has ductility, airtightness characteristic of synthetic resin films, and self-adhesive properties for tightly adhering to the lower outer periphery of the mouth portion 28. Furthermore, if the tensile strength of the film 12 is too high, it will be difficult to cut, so the film 12 used has an appropriate yield value and is easy to cut.

The ring-shaped support frame 14, as shown in FIG.
The structure is such that it is sandwiched between the two. The size of the support frame 14 is preferably one size larger than the mouth of the container to be sealed. For example, when used for the test tube 26, the diameter is 3 cm to 4 cm, and the thickness is 5 mm to 7 mm.
degree is preferred.

Convex portions 18 are provided continuously in the circumferential direction on the opposing engagement surfaces of the ring portions 16, and concave portions 20 that fit with the convex portions 18 of other ring portions 16 are provided in the circumferential direction. They are provided consecutively. Further, the convex portion 18 becomes thinner toward the tip. The film 12 is sandwiched between the concave portion 20 and the convex portion 18, and is uniformly spread and stretched over the support frame 14. These ring portions 16 are made of hard plastic such as polystyrene or ABS resin. Note that the ring portion 16 is not limited to the above-mentioned material, and may be made of metal.

The state of use of the sealing tool 10 will be explained below.

As shown in FIG. 3, the support frame 14 is held with one hand, and the film 12 stretched on the support frame 14 is applied to the opening 28 of the test tube 26 held and supported with the other hand. At the same time, the support frame 14 is pushed down against the elasticity of the film 12, and the film 12
is spread and attached to the opening 28.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, when the support frame 14 is rotated by hand from this state, the film 12 stretches and wraps around the lower outer periphery of the opening 28. Further, as the support frame 14 continues to rotate, the film 12 is pulled between the wound portion and the support frame 14, and thus the film 12 is threaded.

As shown in FIG.
Due to its unique self-adhesive properties, it remains completely airtight. Therefore, the sealing tool 10 is preferably used for sealing the opening of a container used for culturing microorganisms or breeding germ-free animals. Further, since the sealing operation is performed while holding the support frame 14, the film 12 is not touched directly with the hands, and germs and the like do not adhere to the film 12 from the hands. Therefore, if the sealing tool 10 is sterilized by gas sterilization or the like before use, germs and the like will not enter the inside of the test tube 26, and sterile animals can be kept in a sterile state.

In this way, the opening 28 can be sealed by simply pressing the sealing tool 10 against the opening 28 and rotating it, and the film 12 is wrapped around the lower outer periphery of the opening 28, so the film 12 can be cut by hand. There is no need to delay or postpone it. Therefore, it is possible to hold the test tube 26 with one hand and perform the sealing operation with the other hand, which saves time and effort.

The film 12 is pressed downward against the opening 28 while being stretched on the support frame 14, and is pressed downward against the opening 28.
Since it is wrapped around the lower outer periphery of the mouth part 28, it is evenly stuck to the entire mouth part 28, and there is no possibility that a loose part will occur.
Further, since the film 12 is wrapped around the lower outer periphery of the mouth portion 28 without any gaps, the airtight condition inside the test tube 26 is completely maintained.

Furthermore, since one sealing tool 10 is used for each test tube 26, microorganisms, etc. in one test tube 26 do not adhere to the sealing tool 10 and invade other test tubes 26.

As another example of attaching the film 12 to the support frame 14, as shown in FIG. It consists of an inner ring part 24. The film 12 is held between the outer ring part 22 and the inner ring part 24.

In the above embodiments, a sealing device for sealing the mouth of a test tube is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is also suitable for use in sealing the openings of pipes such as pipes and rubber pipes.

The method of attaching the film 12 to the support frame 14 is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and for example, the film 12 may be directly attached to the support frame 14 by high-frequency welding or by using an adhesive.

Furthermore, if a breathable film is stretched over the support frame, it can be used for culturing microorganisms that require ventilation.

Although the shape of the support frame 14 is circular in this embodiment, it may instead be selected as a square or any other shape depending on the shape of the mouth of the container.

[Effect of the invention] As explained above, the device for sealing the mouth of a container, etc. of the present invention can seal the mouth by simply pressing the sealing device against the mouth and rotating it, and the film can seal the mouth of the container. Since it is wrapped around the outer periphery of the bottom, you can hold the container with one hand and seal it with the other hand, saving you time and effort.

The film adheres uniformly to the entire mouth of the container, and there is no possibility of loose parts. Furthermore, since the film is wrapped around the lower outer periphery of the opening without any gaps, the inside of the container can be kept completely airtight.

Since one sealing tool is used for each container, microorganisms, etc. from one container do not attach to the sealing tool and invade other containers. In addition, since the film can be sealed without touching it directly with hands, germs and the like will not adhere to the film from the hands, and if the sealing tool is sterilized by gas sterilization or the like before use, it is possible to raise germ-free animals.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention;
The figure is a cross-sectional view taken along the - line in Figure 1, Figures 3 to 5 are explanatory diagrams showing the state in which the mouth of the container is sealed using a sealing tool, and Figure 6 shows another example. FIG. Explanation of symbols: 10...Sealing tool, 12...Film, 14...Support frame.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A sealing device for the mouth of a container, etc., comprising a support frame in the form of a ring, etc., and a stretchable synthetic resin film stretched over the entire interior surface thereof.