Medical sterilizer device with improved latch mechanism
AssigneeGenesis Medical Corporation
InventorsEdward S. Williams, John R. Herzog
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present application is directed to medical sterilizer device with an improved latch mechanism and method and, more particularly, to a new and improved sterilization device in the form of a sterilizer case of medical applications relative to the use of instrument sterilization and storage. The case of the invention provides an effective storage container and method for sterilizing medical instruments and/or equipment by fluid (gas or steam) techniques.
Claims7
In a sterilization container of the type for use in the sterilization and storage of medical instruments or the like in which the container includes a container body member defined by a bottom and a sidewall and being open at the top, a cover member detachably and lockably attached to the body member for closing the open top of the container body member, the improvement comprising:
- a pair of opposed latch mechanisms adapted to releasably secure said cover member in sealed relation with said container body member;
- a pair of support bar members fixed to opposite sidewalls of said container body member for mounting said latch mechanisms to said container;
- each of said latch mechanisms including a hinge plate member and a latch plate member;
- said hinge plate member pivotally fixed to and cantilevered from said support bar member so that said hinge plate member is spaced from the container sidewall, said hinge plate member having a retention member having an axial passageway extending therethrough;
- said latch plate member pivotally mounted to said hinge plate member by a pair of spaced pivot pins;
- spring bias means connected between said pivot pins so that when said hinge plate member is pivoted in one direction, said hinge plate member moves against the bias of said spring bias means and pivots said latch plate member in a direction opposite from one said direction;
- said hinge plate member and said latch plate member being configured to lockingly engage each with the other when said hinge plate member is pivoted in one direction to thereby lock said cover member in sealed relation with said container body and configured to disengage when said hinge plate member is pivoted in a direction opposite said one direction to thereby unlock said cover member and permit its removal;
- a severable indicia element adapted to be disposed in said retention member of said hinge plate member, said indicia element being automatically severed upon actuation of said latch mechanism so as to evidence opening of said container.
A sterilization container of the type for use in the sterilization and storage of medical instruments or the like, said container comprising;
- a body member defined by a bottom and an endless sidewall, said body member being open at the top;
- a cover member for closing the open top of said body member;
- a pair of opposed double-action latch mechanisms adapted to lockably and detachably secure said cover member in sealed relation with said body member, each of said latch mechanisms having a cover latch member hingedly connected to a support bar fixed to said cover member and a body latch member hingedly connected to a support bar fixed to said sidewall of said container body, said support bars laterally spacing said cover latch member and body latch member from said respective cover member and body member;
- said cover latch member being substantially J-shaped and having an inwardly extending curved portion forming the lower edge of said cover latch member;
- said body latch member having a hook portion, said hook portion configured to engage with said curved portion of said cover latch member when said body latch member is pivoted downwardly and thereby sealingly and lockingly secured said cover member to said body member;
- at least one of said latch mechanisms including a severable indicia element adapted to be diposed between said container body member and the associated one of said latch mechanisms after said container has been closed and sealed, said indicia element being automatically severed upon actuation of said associated latch mechanism so as to evidence opening of said container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.