Supporting Member for Supporting a Sealing of a Container

Abstract

The present invention relates to a support member for supporting a sealing of a container, to a support system for supporting a sealing of a container, to respective containers and to a method for sealing a container. The support member 100 comprises an injection moulded support structure 110, including a first connecting means 112a; 112b adapted for connecting the support member 100 to a corresponding container 200, a first sealing face 114, and an opening 116 for accessing the sealed container 200 when the support member 100 is connected to the container 200. The support member 100 further comprises a first elastic member 120, wherein the first elastic member 120 at least partially covers the first sealing face 114, and wherein the first sealing face 114 is oriented so that the first elastic member 120 is sandwiched and deformed between the first sealing face 114 and the container 200, when the support member 100 is connected to the container 200.

1 . A support member for supporting a sealing of a container, wherein the support member comprises
 an injection moulded support structure, which comprises:   a first connecting means adapted for connecting the support member to a corresponding container,   a first sealing face, and   an opening for accessing the sealed container when the support member is connected to the container;   the support member further comprising a first elastic member, wherein the first elastic member at least partially covers the first sealing face, and wherein   the first sealing face is oriented so that the first elastic member is sandwiched and deformed between the first sealing face and the container, when the support member is connected to the container.   
     
     
         2 . The support member according to  claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a second connecting means associated with the opening and being adapted for connecting the support member to a cover member for covering the opening and/or an accessing member that is adapted for providing access to the sealed container through the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The support member according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the support structure comprises a second sealing face, and wherein   the support member further comprises a second elastic member, wherein   the second elastic member at least partially covers the second sealing face, and wherein   the second sealing face is oriented so that the second elastic member provides a seal between the support structure and the cover member and/or between the support structure and the accessing member, when the support member is connected to the cover member and/or the accessing member.   
     
     
         4 . The support member according to  claim 1 , wherein the first sealing face includes a protruding pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The support member according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member is formed by a multi-K injection moulding process, wherein the support structure, is formed from a first material, wherein the first elastic member is formed from a second material being different than the first material. 
     
     
         6 . The support member according to  claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a receptacle for receiving a sealing member, and wherein the receptacle is arranged so that a received sealing member covers the opening and is sandwiched between the first elastic member and the container, when the support member is connected to the container, thereby sealing the container, or wherein
 the sealing member is integrally formed with the first elastic member.   
     
     
         7 . The support member according to  claim 1 , wherein the first connecting means is a threaded connecting means, a snap-lock connecting means or a bayonet-lock connecting means. 
     
     
         8 . The support member according to  claim 1 , which further comprises:
 a first rotation lock element, wherein said first rotation lock element is adapted to engage with a corresponding rotation lock element of the container, thereby preventing the support member from rotating relative to the container, when being connected to the container, and/or   a second rotation lock element wherein said second rotation lock element is adapted to engage with a corresponding second rotation lock element of a cover member and/or an accessing member, thereby preventing the support member from rotating relative to the cover member and/or the accessing member, when being connected to the cover member and/or the accessing member.   
     
     
         9 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is adapted to provide an inseparable connection between the support member and the container, and/or between the support member and a cover member and/or an accessing member. 
     
     
         10 . The support member according to  claim 1 , further comprising a piercing member, wherein the piercing member is movably supported by the support structure so as to be movable from an initial location to a piercing location, wherein piercing member pierces a seal of a sealed container and/or a sealing member of the support member, when being moved into the piercing location. 
     
     
         11 . A support system for supporting a sealing of a liquid filled container, the system comprising
 a support member according to  claim 1  and   a seal, wherein the seal is adapted to be sealingly attached to an outlet of a container, and wherein   the support member is adapted to be connected to the container by means of the first connecting means so that the seal is urged by means of the first elastic member towards the container.   
     
     
         12 . The support system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a cover member for covering the opening of the support structure of the support member and/or an accessing member that is adapted for providing access to the sealed container through the opening of the support structure of the support member. 
     
     
         13 . The support system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a container, wherein the container is adapted to be connected to the support member and wherein the container is optionally selected from a glass container, a ceramic container, a glass-ceramic container, and a container of amorphous plastic and/or glass like plastic. 
     
     
         14 . A container adapted to be part of a system according to  claim 11 , wherein the container comprises
 a connecting means adapted for being connected to the first connecting means of the support member, and   a sealing face arranged opposite to the first sealing face of the support structure of the support member, when the support member is connected to the container, and wherein the sealing face of the container is optionally pretreated with an adhesion promoter for improving adhesion between a seal and/or a sealing member of the support member.   
     
     
         15 . The container according to  claim 14 , further comprising a corresponding rotation lock element, that is adapted to engage with a rotation lock element of the support structure of the support member, thereby preventing a connected support member from rotating relative to the container. 
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 14 , wherein the container is a glass container, a ceramic container, a glass-ceramic container, and a container of amorphous plastic and/or glass like plastic. 
     
     
         17 . A sealed container, comprising a container and a support system according to  claim 11 , wherein the container is connected to the support member and wherein a sealing member of the support member and/or a seal of the support system, is urged by means of the first elastic member towards the container. 
     
     
         18 . A method for sealing a container wherein the method comprises the steps of
 optionally pre-treating a sealing face of the container with an adhesion promoter,   filling the container with a liquid medium,   optionally sealing the container with a seal,   connecting the container with a support member by means of first connecting means, so that the first elastic member is sandwiched and deformed between the first sealing face and the container, thereby sealing the container;   optionally post processing the filled and sealed container, and   further optionally, connecting the support member with a cover member and/or an accessing member by means of a second connecting means of the support structure of the support member.   
     
     
         19 . The support member according to  claim 3 , wherein the support member is formed by a multi-K injection moulding process, wherein the support structure, is formed from a first material, wherein the first and/or second elastic member is formed from a second material being different than the first material, and wherein the first and second elastic member is optionally integrally formed.