CONTAINER FOR TRANSPORTING SANITARY PRODUCTS

Abstract

The container (1) for transporting sanitary products comprises means for cooling the sanitary products being transported, and a temperature sensor (2) that continuously monitors the temperature inside the container (1). In addition, it may also comprise a locating device (3), an impact detector (4), a security lock (5) and an access reader (6). It permits to provide a container for transporting sanitary products, such as biological samples or medicines, which allows to monitor at all times that all required safety protocols are followed.

Description

This application is a national-stage of PCT/EP2021/086521, filed on Dec. 17, 2021, which claims priority of Spanish Application No. U202032731, filed on Dec. 18, 2020.

The present invention relates to a container for transporting sanitary products, such as, for example, biological samples and medicines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The transport of sanitary products such as biological samples for analysis or certain medicinal products, such as vaccines, may require particular transport conditions, e.g. transport below a predetermined temperature.

Currently, refrigerated containers are used to maintain the required temperature, but they do not include means to constantly monitor the temperature and to ensure that the cold chain has not been accidentally broken.

In addition, transport containers for this type of product do not include other means of monitoring what has happened during transport, so users have no guarantee that all security protocols have been used to ensure the inviolability of the sanitary products being transported.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide a container for transporting sanitary products, such as biological samples or medicines, which allows monitoring at all times that all required safety protocols are followed.

With the container for transporting sanitary products of the invention the above-mentioned disadvantages are solved, presenting other advantages which will be described below.

The container for transporting sanitary products according to the present invention comprises means for cooling the sanitary products being transported, which also comprises a temperature sensor that continuously monitors the temperature inside the container.

In this way, it can be guaranteed that the cold chain has not been accidentally broken at any time.

Advantageously, the container for transporting sanitary products according to the present invention also comprises a location device, such as a GPS, which enables the location of the container to be located in real time.

Furthermore, the container for transporting sanitary products according to the present invention also comprises an impact detector, such as an accelerometer, which detects whether the container has been subjected to any impact.

To prevent unauthorized access to the container, the container also comprises a security lock, comprising an access reader, e.g. an RFID card reader or the like.

The container for transporting sanitary products according to the present invention also advantageously comprises one or more load sensors, which guarantee that the load is always adequate.

To facilitate the transport of the stacked containers, each container has a projection at the bottom that is complementary with a cavity at the upper part.

In order to be able to easily check the monitored parameters, the container for transporting sanitary products according to the present invention comprises a display screen.

Furthermore, the container according to the present invention comprises means for generating a visual and/or audible alert upon opening the container, which warns if there has been any problem during transport, or if predetermined parameters have been complied with throughout the transport of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of what has been explained above, some drawings are included in which, schematically and only as a non-limiting example, a practical case of embodiment is shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container for transporting sanitary products according to the present invention closed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container for transporting sanitary products according to the present invention open; and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the sensors included in the container for transporting sanitary products according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in the figures, the container for transporting sanitary products according to the present embodiment, which is identified generally by reference numeral 1, comprises means for cooling the sanitary products placed inside it.

FIG. 1 shows container 1 with its lid closed and FIG. 2 shows it with its lid open.

These cooling means are conventional, such as those used in any portable refrigerator, e.g. cold accumulators or the like.

The container 1 also comprises a temperature sensor 2 which continuously monitors the temperature inside the container 1, thus ensuring that the cold chain has not been accidentally broken.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment shown, the container 1 also comprises a locating device 3, an impact detector 4, a security lock 5 with an access reader 6 and/or one or more load sensors 7.

Thanks to these devices incorporated in the container 1 according to the present invention it is possible to monitor any incident that may occur with the container 1.

For this purpose, the container 1 comprises a display screen 10 of the monitored parameters.

Said location device 3 is preferably a GPS, and the location of the container 1 can be located remotely, for example via a mobile phone, tablet or computer, so that the movement of the container 1 can be monitored.

Furthermore, in order to ensure the integrity of the sanitary products inside the container 1, the impact detector 4, for example, one or more accelerometers, will provide information about possible accidental impacts that the container 1 has suffered.

On the other hand, the security lock 5 prevents unauthorized access to the interior of the container 1. This security lock 5 comprises an access reader 6, which reads, for example, whether there is an RFID card or similar with authorized access, allowing the container 1 to be opened only if such an RFID card is detected.

The container 1 according to the present invention may also comprise one or more load sensors 7, which make it possible to monitor the weight of the sanitary products inside the container 1, ensuring that no sanitary products or other types of unauthorized products have been placed or removed.

In order to facilitate the transport of several containers 1 stacked together, each container 1 comprises a projection 8 at its lower part complementary with a cavity 9 at its upper part.

Furthermore, the container 1 may comprise handles 11 for easy handling.

Furthermore, the container 1 according to the present invention comprises means for generating a visual and/or audible alert upon opening the container, which warns if there has been any problem during transport, or if predetermined parameters have been complied with throughout the transport of the container.

Although reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is obvious for a person skilled in the art that the container for transporting sanitary products described is susceptible of numerous variations and modifications, and that all the details mentioned may be replaced by other technically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A container for transporting sanitary products, comprising means for cooling the sanitary products being transported, characterized in that it also comprises a temperature sensor that continuously monitors the temperature inside the container.

2. The container for transporting sanitary products according to claim 1, also comprising a locating device.

3. The container for transporting sanitary products according to claim 1, also comprising an impact detector.

4. The container for transporting sanitary products according to claim 1, also comprising a security lock.

5. The container for transporting sanitary products according to claim 4, wherein the security lock comprises an access reader.

6. The container for transporting sanitary products according to claim 1, also comprising one or more load sensors.

7. The container for transporting sanitary products according to claim 1, comprising a projection on its lower part complementary with a cavity on its upper part.

8. The container for transporting sanitary products according to claim 1, comprising a display screen of monitored parameters.

9. The container for transporting sanitary products according to claim 1, comprising means for generating a visual and/or audible alert when the container is opened.