# US 11,026,863 B2 · Connecting and container system

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- Number: US 11,026,863 B2
- Document ID: US11026863B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/736,955
- Filed: 2016-06-14
- Published: 2018-07-19
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-06-16
- Assignees: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH
- Applicants: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH
- Inventors: Marcus Rainer Rahmel; Guido Endert; Jonas Ruf; Horst Wergen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026863B2

## CPC

- A61J 1/2051: {having tap means, e.g. tap means activated by sliding}
- A61J 1/1412: {Containers with closing means, e.g. caps}
- A61J 1/2027: {having frangible parts}
- A61J 1/2048: {Connecting means}
- A61J 1/2089: {Containers or vials which are to be joined to each other in order to mix their contents (combinations of vial and syringe for mixing their contents A61J1/2096)}
- B65D 21/0231: {Bottles, canisters or jars whereby the neck or handle project into a cooperating cavity in the bottom (B65D81/361 takes precedence)}
- B65D 43/02: Removable lids or covers (with means for piercing, cutting, or tearing a frangible inner closure B65D51/22)
- B65D 81/3211: {coaxially and provided with means facilitating admixture}
- A61J 1/16: Holders for containers
- A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

A connecting system for providing a fluidic connection, preferably between containers, wherein the connecting system has at least two connecting arrangements configured to produce the fluidic connection, the connecting arrangements each having an opening region which is fluidically sealed in an initial state and is, in particular, film-shaped, brittle, fragile and/or unstable, and wherein the opening regions are each covered in sterile or sterilizable manner.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A container having a connecting arrangement for providing a fluidic connection between the container and another container, wherein, in an initial state, the connecting arrangement is fluidically sealed in an opening region and can be opened in order to produce the fluidic connection, the opening region being covered by another connecting arrangement, wherein
the container comprises a sealing arrangement which uninterruptedly seals off a volume, the volume covering or bordering to the opening region, by means of the other connecting arrangement during movement of the other connecting arrangement relative to the connecting arrangement,
wherein the connecting arrangement and the other connecting arrangement are configured for mutual opening by breaking frangible points of the opening regions, whereby a continuous fluidic connection is producible by irreversible destruction of the connecting arrangements in the opening region, and
wherein the connecting arrangement and the other connecting arrangement comprise mouth-shaped portions which are formed such that the mouth-shaped portion of one of the connecting arrangement and the other connecting arrangement is able to extend into the mouth-shaped portion of the other of the connecting arrangement and the other connecting arrangement.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The container according to claim 1, wherein the sealing arrangement comprises sealing portions corresponding to one another, a first sealing portion being associated with the connecting arrangement, and a second sealing portion is arranged on a cover device or on the other connecting arrangement.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The container according to claim 2, wherein the sealing portions correspond to one another such that they close off the opening region by abutting on one another, wherein the sealing portions allow a relative movement while abutting sealingly on one another in sealing abutment.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The container according to claim 2, wherein the first or second sealing portion is formed as at least one of a collar, a strip and a tube section, wherein said sealing portion is at least one of flexible, reversibly deformable and elastic, this sealing portion being stretched by the abutment of the sealing portions on one another or being tensioned relative to another of the sealing portions, wherein the other sealing portion is formed by an at least substantially rigid strip or collar or forms a counter-abutment with a sealing surface on which the sealing portion sealingly abuts.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The container according to claim 2, wherein the sealing portion comprise sealing surfaces corresponding to one another sealingly abut on one another, wherein the sealing surfaces are of similar shape in cross-section or are round or rotationally symmetrical with respect to a common axis of symmetry or central axis, in order to enable rotation of the cover device relative to the container or the container body.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The container according to claim 1, wherein the connecting arrangements have at least two connecting positions which are occupied one after the other, in time or location, when the connecting arrangements are slid or pushed into one another, wherein in a first connecting position a non-releasable connection is formed between the connecting arrangements and the fluidic connection is formed only on reaching the second connecting position, while in the first connecting position, in the second connecting position and between the first and the second connecting positions, the sealing arrangement uninterruptedly closes off the inner volume, or uninterruptedly separates an inner volume from an outer volume.

### Claim 7

A container having fluid receiving inner body space and a connecting arrangement for providing a fluidic connection between the fluid receiving inner body space of the container and another container, wherein, in an initial state, the connecting arrangement is fluidically sealed in an opening region and is openable to produce the fluidic connection in said opening region, an outer side of the opening region being covered by a cap-shaped cover device or another connecting arrangement, wherein the cover device or the other connecting arrangement is sealingly held on the container, thereby forming a sealed chamber, and wherein the container further comprises a sealing arrangement surrounding the opening region, which seals off a first volume in direct contact with the outer side of the opening region from a second volume of the chamber that is separate from the first volume and spaced from the opening region.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The container according to claim 7, wherein the sealing arrangement comprises sealing portions corresponding to one another, a first sealing portion being associated with the connecting arrangement, and a second sealing portion being arranged on the cover device or on the other connecting arrangement.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The container according to claim 8, wherein the sealing portions correspond to one another such that they close off the opening region by abutting on one another, and wherein the sealing portions allow a relative movement while abutting sealingly on one another in sealing abutment.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The container according to claim 8, wherein the first or second sealing portion is formed as at least one of a collar, a strip or a tube section, wherein said first or second sealing portion is at least one of flexible, reversibly deformable and elastic, the sealing portion being stretched by abutment of the sealing portions on one another or being tensioned relative to another of the sealing portions, and wherein the other sealing portion is formed by an at least substantially rigid strip or collar or forms a counter-abutment with a sealing surface on which the sealing portion sealingly abuts.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The container according to claim 8, wherein the sealing portion comprise sealing surfaces corresponding to one another that sealingly abut on one another, wherein the sealing surfaces are of similar shape in cross-section or are round or rotationally symmetrical with respect to a common axis of symmetry or central axis, in order to enable rotation of the cover device relative to the container or the container body.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The container according to claim 7, wherein the connecting arrangements have at least two connecting positions which are occupied one after the other, in time or location, when the connecting arrangements are slid or pushed into one another, wherein, in a first connecting position, a non-releasable connection is formed between the connecting arrangements and the fluidic connection is formed only on reaching the second connecting position, while in the first connecting position, in the second connecting position and between the first and the second connecting positions, the sealing arrangement uninterruptedly closes off an inner volume, or uninterruptedly separates the inner volume from an outer volume.