Closure mechanism with locking device for sterile containers, and sterile container comprising same

A sterile container comprising a container lid, a container pan and a closing mechanism comprising a bar element configured for displaceable support on the container lid or on the container pan for undercutting engagement with an engagement element,

• the bar element being positionable or displaceable into:
• a closed position, in which the bar element is in undercutting operative connection with the engagement element;
• and
• a release position, in which the bar element and the engagement element are disengaged,
• the closing mechanism comprising a locking element operatively connectable to the bar element,
• the locking element being integrated into the closing mechanism or interacting with the closing mechanism in such a way that the bar element locks the closing mechanism in the closed position when the closed position is reached, and
• the locking element comprising a latching structure that engages with a counter latching structure that is arranged or formed on either the container lid or on the bar element when the closing mechanism is in the closed position, wherein:
• the engagement element forms an undercut on the container pan, and the bar element is displaceably mounted on the container lid, and the bar element comprises a claw fastener portion projecting laterally over an edge of the container lid for undercutting engagement with the engagement element,
• at least one compression spring element is arranged between the bar element and the container lid, the at least one compression spring element pressing the bar element increasingly away from the container lid with increasing translational movement from the release position into the closed position,
• at least one return spring comprising a pre-tension that pre-tensions the bar element toward the release position,
• wherein the at least one compression spring element is configured to bias the latching structure and the counter latching structure together when the closing mechanism is in the closed position in order to hold the bar element in the closed position against the pre-tension of the at least one return spring, and the at least one compression spring element is configured to bias the claw fastener portion against the engagement element to pull the container lid against a container pan edge, until the locking element or the engagement element on a side of the container lid or the at least one compression spring element is manually actuated for releasing the bar element, and the bar element springs back into the release position due to the at least one return spring.

A container lid comprising a closing mechanism, the container lid being lockable to a container pan via the closing mechanism,

• the closing mechanism comprising a base plate with collar portions and a bar element configured for displaceable support on the container lid for undercutting engagement with an engagement element forming an undercut on the container pan,
• the bar element being positionable or displaceable into:
• a closed position, in which the bar element is in undercutting operative connection with the engagement element;
• and
• a release position, in which the bar element and the engagement element are disengaged,
• the closing mechanism comprising a locking element operatively connectable to the bar element,
• the locking element being integrated into the closing mechanism or interacting with the closing mechanism in such a way that the bar element locks the closing mechanism in the closed position when the closed position is reached, and
• the locking element comprising a latching structure that engages with a counter latching structure, the counter latching structure being a shaft that is arranged or formed on the bar element when the closing mechanism is in the closed position, wherein the bar element comprises a slider portion, configured to extend along a container lid plane and to be slidable parallel to the container lid plane, and the shaft is configured to slide in elongated holes of the collar portions between the closed position and the release position of the bar element,
• wherein the bar element is fully out of engagement with the locking element in the release position.