EP1272395A2

EP1272395A2 - Pouring spout attachment with automatic opening feature

Info

Publication number: EP1272395A2
Application number: EP01905020A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Randall K. Julian
Original assignee: Silgan Plastic Food Containers Corp
Current assignee: Silgan Plastic Food Containers Corp
Priority date: 2000-02-18
Filing date: 2001-01-24
Publication date: 2003-01-08
Also published as: SI21094A; CN1418164A; ATE312766T1; SK285232B6; RU2002122395A; EP1127798B1; DE60024772D1; CA2402867A1; SK13462002A3; HUP0300129A2; CZ20023057A3; JP3840111B2; CN1230358C; CA2402867C; HUP0300129A3; DE60024772T2; MXPA02007914A; WO2001060705A2; EP1127798A1; WO2001060705A3

Abstract

An automatically opening pour spout fitment to be applied to a container over location where the container wall has a weakened area. The automatically opening fitment is comprised of a cap which is threadably attached to the fitment and which has a depending cam extending downward from the top wall. The fitment is comprised of a annular sidewall which defines a pouring zone and which provides a boundary for a hinged flap. The flap has an upwardly extending cam follower which is engaged by the cam of the cap such that when the cap is removed from the fitment, the cam initially applies a horizontal force on the cam follower to open the package to which the fitment is attached to.

Description

POURING SPOUT ATTACHMENT WITH AUTOMATIC

OPENING FEATURE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to pouring devices for containers and more

specifically to spout attachments for liquid carrying containers which have an

automatic opening feature through use of a spiraling cam depending from the

cap and acting directly upon the fitment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pouring spout attachments have been used for cartons and particularly

for liquid carrying containers. These attachments are typically mounted on the

outside of cartons surfaces or have flanges which are secured on the interior

surface of the carton and extend outward through an opening in the container

sidewall. Several prior art patents disclose utilization of a pull tab for opening

of this container spout. There are also push in tabs for weakened panel zones

within the spouts for opening the container. Such spouts are disclosed in U.S.

Patent 5,101,999 and 4,934,590.

Other patents are known such that the push-in aspect of the spout for

opening of the container has a latch feature such that the push-in flap for the spout remains in the open position. Such a disclosure is found in U.S. Patent

5,833,112. A drawback to these prior art spouts is that they require user

intervention for actual opening of the container separate and apart for opening

the spout itself, traditionally through either a standard threaded closure or a

snap on cover.

Other prior art which automatically punctures or opens the container

upon removal of the cap is found in the prior art. These structures however

suffer from a drawback in that they require serrated or rough edges to puncture

the container wall thereby possibly causing shards to appear in the contents

within the container. Such a disclosure is contained within U.S. Patent

5,960,992.

Additional prior art spout fitments incorporate a third insert or blade

which is acted upon by an extension of the cap. Inclusion of separate elements

which are not integral with the fitment and which require assembly within the

design increases the overall costs of production and assembly. Further,

tolerance issues between the non-integral pieces may prevent the fitment from

acting properly to open the container.

There does not exist in the prior art references an economical and easy to

use automatic opening pour spout which attaches to a container such that the

user, upon unthreading of the closure, causes the opening of the container without ragged tearing of the container side wall or creating chaff.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A general object of the present invention is to provide an automatically

opening pour spout fitment wherein the user, upon unthreading of the closure,

causes the fitment to puncture the container and allow the contents to be readily

poured therefrom.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pour spout

fitment wherein user intervention is not required to puncture the container

sidewall.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an

automatically opening fitment wherein the auto opening feature provides

downward force in a direction which is parallel to the bore of the spout of the

fitment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic

opening pour spout fitment wherein the puncturing apparatus does not cause

tearing of the carton sidewall or generate foreign material within the container.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an easy opening

fitment wherein even rotational pressure is required to open the container through use of the auto opening feature of the fitment.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pour spout

fitment wherein the rotational movement of the closure on the pour spout is

converted to vertical pressure on the container to adequately open the container

and fitment. It is further desirous to have the pour spout fitment remain in the

open position once opened by the user.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pouring spout

fitment wherein the closure on the pour spout is threadably attached to the

spout of the fitment and wherein the closure has a tamper indicating band or

other frangibly attached indicator to indicate prior opening of the spout.

Further, upon opening of the closure by the user, the tamper indicating band is

fractured from the closure and the fitment pierces the container and opens it for

dispensing of the contents.

These and other objects heretofor stated are met by the automatically

opening pour spout fitment of the present invention. The pour spout fitment of

the present invention contains a spiral cam depending from the top wall of the

closure which engages a cam follower on the hinged flap of the fitment. Upon

rotation of the closure, the cam causes even pressure to be applied to the cam

follower thereby applying vertical downward pressure on the flap and piercing

of the container for opening thereof. All of the above outlined objectives are met by the automatically opening

pour spout fitment of the present invention described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when

references made to the following drawings and the accompanying descriptions.

Figure 1 is a side cutaway view of the pouring spout fitment with

automatic opening feature of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the pouring spout fitment of Figure 1

without the closure attached;

Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the closure shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the closure shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the fitment of Figure 1 with the

fitment partially opened;

Figure 6 is a side-sectional view of the fitment shown in Figure 1 with a

closeup of the hinge area;

Figure 7 is a top view of an alternative embodiment for the present

invention of the pouring spout fitment; Figure 8 is a side-sec tional view of the alternative embodiment for the

pouring spout fitment of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a side-sectional view of the pouring spout fitment shown in

Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a side-sectional view of the pouring spout fitment of Figure

7 partially opened; and

Figure 11 is a sectional view of the pouring spout fitment of Figure 7 in

the fully opened position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in Figure 1, the automatically opening pour spout fitment of

the present invention 10 is shown. The pour spout fitment 10 of the present

invention is comprised of a threaded cap 20 which threadably engages a fitment

40. As is commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art, the fitment

40 is affixed to the sidewall of a container or other carton wherein upstanding

sidewall 46 of the fitment extends outward therefrom. Typically, below hinged

flap 42 of the fitment 40 is found a weakened portion of the container sidewall,

the container not being shown in the figures. This weakened portion allows the

flap to rupture the wall and open the carton when downward pressure is

applied. The fitment 40 is comprised of base portion 49, flap 42 and upwardly

extending sidewall 46. Extending upward from the hinged flap 42 is cam

follower 44 which is more clearly shown in Figure 2. The design of the

automatically opening pour spout fitment 10 shown in Figure 1 is such that

upon rotational movement of cap 20 to remove the cap from the sidewall 46 of

the fitment, cam 24, extending downward from the top wall of the cap 20

contacts cam follower 44 causing rotation about the hinge and opening of the

container.

With the design of the cam follower 44 and cam 24 of the present

invention, opening of the cap 20 causes first downard pressure to achieve

tearing of the container and then rotational pressure so that the flap rotates

about the hinge. Cam 24 initially operating on back surface 45c in order to

apply the downward cutting or tearing force. Continued turning of the cap 20

causes the spiral cam 24 to pass upward along the back surface 45 c and in the

last 90 degrees of rotation, in the third quarter turn, the cam 24 acts vertically

downward upon the cam follower 44 on the tip portion 45b.

For example, in the first portion of turning of the cap 20, i.e. first 180

degrees, the cam follower 24 contacts the vertical edge or back surface 45c of

the cam 44. As the tip portion 45b of the cam follower 44 approaches center of

the cap 20 (i.e. it begins to move from right to left as shown in Figure 1 due to the rotation about hinge 39), the spiral cam 24 passes over the tip portion 45c

and acts directly downward on the tip for final portion of the opening rotation.

Horizontal action is therefore provided upon the vertical or back surface 45c to

provide downward tearing force on the container and then vertical action is

provided on the tip portion 45 c of the cam follower to allow the flap 42 to enter

through the torn portion and fully open the container.

Turning directly to the design of the fitment 40, the fitment is comprised

of base 49 which provides an affixation point for the fitment to the container.

The base portion 49 may overlay the exterior of the container, may be

integrated within the sidewall of the container or may be placed on the interior

of the sidewall of the container with the annular sidewall 46 of the fitment 40

extending outward through an annular opening. In any design, a weakened

section of the wall of the container is found directly below flap 42 of fitment

40. This weakened section is such that sufficient downward force on flap 42

causes the weakened section to rupture or tear and open the fitment for

dispensing of the container through sidewall 46.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the fitment 40 may be of rectangular shape

and provide sufficient area for affixing the fitment to the container. Annular

sidewall 46 extends upward from the base portion 49 and forms a pouring zone

there through in order to dispense the contents of the container to which the fitment is attached. The fitment is additionally comprised of a plurality of

notch apparatus 41 formed along the conjoining section of the annular sidewall

46 and base 49. Notches 41, shown in Figure 2 as being separate by 90° along

the base of sidewall 46 are positioned so as to contact similar notches formed

on a tamper indicating band 30 which depends from a cap 20. Notches 41 will

coact with these notches on the cap 20 so that the tamper indicating band 30

will rupture from the lower edge of the cap sidewall and separate therefrom.

Returning to Figure 2, the fitment 40 further contains at least one helical

thread 47 for threadably engaging the cap 20. Upon review of Figure 2, it is

apparent that the fitment 40 has formed within the confines of the pouring zone,

defined by the sidewall 46 a flap 42. The flap 42 is hingedly connected to the

base 49 via hinge 39. Hinge 39 is defined as a weakened area of the base

portion along one segment of the flap such that the flap may rotate about the

hinge line thereby entering the container and piercing the weakened portion

there below. The flap further contains a cam follower 44 which, as is seen in

the Figures, has a slightly triangular shape and extends upward from the flap

42. The cam follower 44 in this embodiment is shown as being perpendicular

to the hinge line 39.

The flap 42 of the fitment 40 may generally be about 20mm in diameter

and is separated from the annular sidewall 46 by a slight gap 43 shown in Figure 2. This gap provider sufficient clearance for the annular flap to rotate

about the hinge line 39 and move upward or downward through the pouring

zone defined by the annular side wall 46.

The cam follower 44, as described above, is shown as being

peφendicular to the hinge line 39 in this example. The cam follower 44 may

be placed slightly above the center line of the flap so as to provide a positive

angle of attack and engagement via surfaces 45b and 45c, as outlined above,

against the cam 24 and its depending contacting driving edge 23, shown in

Figure 3. Thus, with this particular design, the cam follower allows the cam 24

to provide initial downward force on the flap 42 when the cap 20 is rotated in

the counter clockwise direction. Hinge line 39 allows the flap to move

downward when the cap 20 is rotated thereby providing sufficient downward

force to pierce the weakened container sidewall found below flap 42 and then

rotational force to allow the flap to fully open the pouring zone of the fitment.

Turning to Figure 3, the cap 20 of the present invention which works in

conjunction with the fitment 40 is clearly shown with the cam 24 extending

away from the top wall 22. The cap 20 is generally comprised of a top wall 22,

a sidewall 21 extending downward therefrom and a tamper indicating band 30

which is frangibly attached to the lower edge of sidewall 21. Of particular

importance in this design is the spiral cam 24 which provides the downward force on flap 42 of the fitment 40. The cam 24 has center post 28 which, as can

be seen from Figure 4, extends approximately from the center of the top wall

22. The cam 24, spirals in a clockwise fashion from the center post and

descends downward to lower portion 29. The cam spirals from the center post

28 to lower portion 29 and has a contacting driving edge 23 which is defined by

the width of the spiraling cam 24. Driving edge 23 of the cam 24 engages the

cam follower 44 found on flap 42. As previously mentioned, the cam follower

44 is positioned slightly off of the center line of flap 42 so that it positively

engages the driving edge 23 of cam 24.

The spiral design of the cam 24 allows the cam to exert downward thrust

onto the cam follower 44 along a horizontal plane. As can be seen from the

Figures, the spiral cam 24 and cam follower 44 provide a means to provide a

downward driving force on the force concentrator which is initially parallel to

the direction of the bore of the spout. In other words, the downward force is

applied in a direction which extends through the pouring zone of the fitment.

Such directional downward force allows the spiral cam design of the present

invention to more particularly distribute the downward thrust of the cam as well

as provide more leverage against cam follower by the cap 20. Thus, the spiral

cam 24 having depending driving edge 23 acts to drive the cam follower 44

along the rear vertical surface 45c and tip portion 45b. By providing a spiraling

depending surface or driving edge 23 in conjunction with engagement surfaces 45b and 45c of the cam follower, horizontal and rotational pressure is applied

to flap 42 ensuring that the side wall of the container located thereunder is

adequately pierced by the flap.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the cap 20 is further comprised of a tamper

indicating band 30 which detaches from the sidewall 21 of the cap upon first

removal of the cap. The tamper indicating band is provided with a plurality of

notches 32 which align directly with notch members 41 formed on the base 49

of the fitment 40. The notches 42 of the cap receive notch members 41 and

prevent the tamper indicating band from rotating when rotational force is

provided to the cap by the user. Thus, positive indication that the cap has been

previously removed is provided.

Turning to Figure 5, it can be seen that the flap 42 has been pushed

downward after the cap 20 has been rotated and removed from annular side

wall 46 of the fitment. Reaching the end of its travel, cam 24 is shown passing

over the tip portion 45b of cam follower 44 and has forced flap into the full

downward position as shown. The flap 42 has rotated about the hinge 39,

which is more clearly shown in Figure 6. The hinge 39 is provided along a

segment of the flap 42 and is weakened line which, due to its reduced

thickness, allows the flap to rotate thereabout. The hinge 39 as is shown in

Figure 6 may be weakened sufficiently that it is less than one half the thickness of the remaining portion of the flap 42 but alternative formations of an

adequate hinge are well within the design capabilities of one of ordinary skill in

the art.

Returning to Figure 5, after full counter clock wise rotation of the cap 20,

the cam 24 has contacted the cam follower 44 and forced the flap in the

downward position. The contents of the container may now be dispensed

through the pouring zone which is defined by the side wall 46 of the fitment 40.

Turning to Figure 7, an alternative fitment 100 is shown. In this

alternative design, the fitment 100 is provided with a stay open feature so that

the flap 42, when pushed in the downward position as was previously shown in

Figure 5, maintains its open position allowing the contents to be poured from

the container in routine fashion. The stay open feature of the fitment 100

shown in Figure 7 is comprised of a shoulder 50 which extends across the flap

42 adjacent to the hinge 39. The shoulder 50 as can be more clearly shown in

Figure 8, extends upward from the flap and rotates forward and downward

about the hinge line 39 when rotational force is applied upon the cam follower

44. The downward movement of the shoulder 50 forces it into contact with the

stop members 52 and 53 which extend inwardly from the annular sidewall 46

into the pouring zone. Stop members 52 and 53 as are seen in Figure 7, thereby engage the shoulder 50 after it has rotated downward and, once the shoulder 50

is forced past the stop members 52 and 53, causes the flap to maintain an open

position. Therefor, sufficient downward force upon the cam follower 44 is

provided by the cam 24 during rotation of the cap such that, when the cam 24

has reached the lower portion 29 thereof, rotation of the cap 20 in the counter

clockwise and opening direction eventually causes the cam to force the cam

follower 44 downward and the shoulder 50 to by pass the stop members 52 and

53. Thus, even at this lower position of the cam 24 and cam follower 44,

sufficient downward force is provided to snap the shoulder 50 past the stop

members 52 and 53 so that it maintains an open position.

While a first and a second stop member 52 and 53 are provided, it is

readily apparent that unitary stop members or shoulder elements may be

provided to sufficiently retain the flap 42 in the open position. Further,

alternative stay open features for retaining the flap 42 in the open position after

the flap 42 is rotated in the downward direction about the hinge 39 are well

within one of ordinary skill in the art to design and implement on the fitment

100 of the present invention.

Also shown in Figure 7 is the force concentrating member 54 which

extends downward from the bottom surface of flap 42. In the fitment 100 of

the present embodiment, the force concentrating member 54 is designed so that a slightly shaφened portion may extend downward from the flap and provide

maximum concentration of force to initiate tearing of the weakened portion

directly below the flap 42 along the container wall. Force concentrating

member 54 as is shown in Figure 8, is slightly trapezoidal in shape but may

alternatively be triangular or other possible designs. Force concentrating

member 54 extends downward from the flap and, is shown in Figure 9 does not

extend through the sidewall of the container below the flap 42 upon shipment.

As shown in Figure 9, the flap 42 is in a slightly raised position allowing the

force concentrating member to remain slightly apart from the weakened portion

of the container sidewall. The hinge 39 of the fitment 100 allows the flap 42 to

be rotated along the hinge in the upward and downward direction. As is shown

in Figure 9, the force concentrating member 54 is provided so that, upon

turning of the cap, which is not shown in these Figures, the cam contacts the

cam follower 44 along the vertical surface 45c providing a horizontal force to

act thereon pushing the force concentrating member downward against the

weakened portion of the container. Force concentrating member 54 is thus

provided to allow for less downward force which enables the flap to fully open

the container and tear the weakened portion of the container there below.

As can be seen in Figures 9, 10 and 1 1 , the various positions of the flap

during opening are shown. Initially, as shown in Figure 9, the force

concentrating member may be slightly above the weakened portion of the container side wall. In Figure 10, as the cap is rotated in the counter clock wise

direction causing the cam to act upon the top portion 45b of the cam follower,

the flap rotates downward causing the force concentrating member 54 to extend

through the weakened portion of the container sidewall. Further, as the flap is

forced downward, shoulder 50 may contact stop member 52 and 53 and pass

thereby. As the cam further rotates and forces the cam follower 44 downward

even further, shoulder 50 snaps past the projections 52 and 53 due to this

downward rotational movement. As shown in Figure 11 , the flap 42 is now

maintained in the opened position allowing the contents of the container to pass

through the opening and through the pouring zone defined by the annular

sidewall 46 of the fitment.

While one embodiment of a cam follower 44 shown in the Figures is

described herein to work in conjunction with a cam 24 depending from a cap

top wall to engage said cam follower, it will be obvious to those of skill in the

art that variations utilizing a spiral cam and cam follower can be incoφorated

in the herein disclosed automatically opening pour spout. The cam 24 of the

present invention, which depends from top wall 22, may be varied so as to

properly contact the cam follower and provide sufficient downward force so

that the flap penetrates the sidewall of the container. While the embodiments

shown herein work sufficiently to provide such downward force, other

modifications thereof are possible and within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. An auto-opening fitment, comprising:

a fitment, said fitment having a base and an upstanding wall defining a

pouring zone therein;

a flap hingedly retained within said pouring zone;

a cam follower extending upward from said flap;

a cap retained on said fitment, said cap having a top wall and a

depending side wall, said top wall having a cam depending therefrom and

engageable with said cam follower.

2. The fitment of claim 1 wherein said cam of said cap is a spiral cam.

3. The fitment of claim 2 wherein said spiral cam is further comprised of a

center post extends downward from said top wall.

4. The fitment of claim 3 ^"wherein said spiral cam extends clockwise around

said center post and extending outward there form towards said side wall.

5. The fitment of claim 4 wherein said spiral cam has a driving face along

said cam, said driving face extending downward from said center post to a

lower portion thereof adjacent said side wall.

6. The fitment of claim 1 wherein said flap has a hinge extending along a

segment thereof and wherein said flap is bounded by a gap in between said flap

and said upstanding wall, said gap allowing said flap to rotate about said

hinge.

7. The fitment of claim 2 wherein said cam follower on said flap is

triangular in shape.

8. The fitment of claim 7 wherein said cam follower has a vertical surface

and a top portion, both said vertical surface and said top portion engaging said

spiral cam.

9. The fitment of claim 2 further comprising a tamper indicating band

frangibly connected to the lower edge of said side wall on said cap.

10. The fitment of claim 9 wherein said tamper indicating band is further

comprised of at least one notch formed therein and engageable with at least one

notch formed on said base of said fitment.

1 1. The fitment of claim 9 wherein said tamper indicating band is further

comprised of four notches on said tamper indicating band, said notches enaging

four notches formed on said base of said fitment.

12. The fitment of claim 2 wherein said cap has at least one thread formed on

the interior of said side wall, said at least one thread engageable with at least on

thread formed on said upstanding wall of said fitment.

13. The fitment of claim 2 further comprising

a shoulder formed on said flap;

at least one stop member formed on said side wall of said fitment

engagable with said shoulder when said shoulder rotates downward.

14. The fitment of claim 13 wherein said side wall of said fitment has a first stop member and a second stop member opposite each other on said side wall,

each of said first and second stop member engageable with said shoulder to

retain said flap in a downward position.

15. The fitment of claim 2 further comprising a force concentrating member

extending downward from said flap.

16. A pouring fitment, comprising:

a base portion and an upstanding sidewall, said upstanding sidewall

defining a pouring zone therein;

a flap having a hinge and rotatable within said pouring zone;

a cam follower extending upward from said flap;

a cap retained on said sidewall and rotatable thereon, said cap having a

top wall and depending side wall and having a spiral cam extending downward

from said top wall, said spiral cam engageable with said cam follower on said

flap.

17. The fitment of claim 16 wherein said spiral cam has a center post and

further wherein said spiral cam spirals outward clockwise from said center post

to said side wall of said cap forming an engagement surface on said cam.

18. The fitment of claim 17 wherein said spiral cam decreases in height from

said center post to said cap side wall.

19. The fitment of claim 17 wherein said cam follower extends upward from

said flap in a triangular shape.

20. The fitment of claim 19 wherein said cam follower has a substantially

vertical portion and a top portion, said vertical portion and said top portion

engaging said cam.

21. The fitment of claim 19 wherein said cam follower is formed on said flap

peφendicular to said hinge.

22. The fitment of claim 19 wherein said engagement surface contacts said

cam on said substantially vertical portion as said cap is rotated counter

clockwise.

23. The fitment of claim 16 further comprising a tamper indicating band

frangibly connected to said cap, at least one engageable post formed on said

base portion, said at least one engageable post aligned with at least one notch

formed in said tamper indicating band.

24. The fitment of claim 16 further comprising a projection on said flap, said

projection engageable with at least one stop member formed in said pouring

zone.

25. The fitment of claim 24 wherein said shoulder extends upwards from

said flap adjacent said hinge and further wherein said at least one stop member

is comprised of a first and a second stop member extending inwards from said

upstanding side wall.

26. The fitment of claim 16 further comprising a force concentrating member

formed on said flap and extending downward therefrom.

27. A pour spout fitment, comprising:

a base portion having an upstanding side wall defining a space therein;

a flap having a hinge, said flap rotatable about said hinge within said

space formed by said upstanding side wall;

a cam follower formed on said flap and extending upward therefrom,

said cam follower having a vertical contacting surface and a top portion;

a cap retained on said side wall and rotatable thereon;

a spiral cam depending from said side wall, said spiral cam engagable

with said vertical contacting surface and said top portion of said cam follower

as said cap is rotated.

28. The pour spout fitment of claim 27 wherein said cam follower is

triangular in shape.

29. The pour spout fitment of claim 27 further including

a first stop member extending inward from said upstanding side wall;

a shoulder formed on said flap, said shoulder engageable with said first

stop member when said flap is rotated about said hinge.

30. The pour spout fitment of claim 29 wherein said shoulder is rectangular

in shape and extends upwards from said flap along said hinge.

31. The pour spout fitment of claim 30 further including a second stop

member extending inward from said side wall, said first stop member

contacting said shoulder at one end and said second stop member contacting said shoulder at the opposite distal end.