EP4065483B1 - Reclosable pour element for cardboard/plastic composite packaging with an anchor ring for securely attaching a screw cap - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a resealable pouring element for cardboard/plastic composite packs, in particular beverage packs, with a base element having a circumferential fastening flange and an external thread, with opening means arranged inside the base element at least in the unopened state of the pouring element and a screw cap with an internal thread, underneath the screw cap an anchor ring is arranged which is non-rotatably connected to the base element and is freely rotatable radially around the base element and is connected to the base element in a tension-resistant manner in the axial direction, so that for secure connection of the screw cap to the base element even in the unscrewed state, the anchor ring is connected via a hinge element, the pivot axis of which is tangential to the base element Outer circumference of the screw cap is aligned, is articulated to the screw cap.

A pouring element is from the applicant DE 10 2006 016 113 B3 known. To assemble the pouring element, the screw cap is moved over the cutting element protruding from the pouring element and, together with it, pressed (bounced) onto the base element. As a seal of originality, a plate is integrally molded onto the screw cap and is connected to the screw cap via connecting bridges. To connect to the base element, the plate has pins on its underside, which engage in corresponding recesses in the flange of the base element and are caulked from below after assembly. The connecting bridges break when the pouring element is opened for the first time, so that the screw cap is then only loosely attached to the pouring element and the composite pack.

The US 2012/0181281 A1 shows a pouring element in which the screw cap is connected in the unopened state via connecting bridges to a plate attached to the circumferential flange of the base element. When opened for the first time, the connecting bridges are separated so that the screw cap is no longer connected to the base element.

In order to ensure that the screw caps of composite packs do not accidentally end up in the environment, it is desirable to securely attach screw caps to their respective composite packs so that loose plastic parts are reliably avoided even when the pack is opened.

Elements that ensure a secure connection of screw caps to their respective packaging, even when opened, have been known from the prior art for a long time in the field of closures for commercially available PET bottles. The known PET bottles have in common that the cylindrical base body has a bottle neck that is significantly narrower than the base body, so that a screw cap provided with a connecting element can be pivoted away by well over 90°.

From the EP 1 124 734 B1 is a closure device for a PET bottle with a ring arranged under the screw cap, which is connected to the screw cap via a film hinge and prevents the screw cap from being pulled off even in the open state.

The US 5,215,204 A shows a closure cap for a bottle with a ring arranged under the screw cap, which is materially connected to the screw cap via two connecting bridges. The ring and the bottle are designed in such a way that the ring cannot be removed from the bottle.

Furthermore, from the WO 2009/048273 A2 a screw cap for a conventional bottle. The screw cap consists of one Screw lid and a ring connected via a film hinge. Here too, the ring ensures that the screw cap is securely connected to the bottle in the axial direction.

From the EP 2 308 772 A1 a generic pouring element is known, in which an anchor ring which is connected to it in a rotationally fixed manner is arranged below the screw lid. The anchor ring and the screw cap are connected to one another via a connecting element, which has two elements in the middle that form a hinge axis.

In the JP 2013 107673 A A pouring element is described in which a closure cap is connected to the base element of the pouring element via an anchor ring connected to the closure cap, even in the open state. The anchor ring is connected to the base element in such a way that it cannot move upwards in the axial direction when the pouring element is opened.

Proceeding from this, the present invention is based on the object of designing and developing a resealable pouring element for cardboard/plastic composite packs of the type mentioned in such a way that a connection of the screw cap to the pouring element is ensured even when unscrewed. For this purpose, a tensile connection is provided between the screw cap and the pouring element, in which the screw cap cannot be detached from the pouring element in the axial direction with a force of at least 10 to 30 N, which is usually necessary for opening a commercially available screw cap for the first time.

Furthermore, it is desirable that a reliable locking of the screw cap in an open position with respect to the swinging open is ensured in order to enable pouring from the composite pack without undesirable pivoting of the screw cap. A radial adjustment of the screw cap in the locked open position is particularly advantageous in order to allow pouring out to enable any direction of the pouring element, since composite packs are not essentially rotationally symmetrical like commercially available PET bottles or have a substantially square cross-section and can be poured equally well from every side. Furthermore, it is desirable that in the locked open position there is as much free space as possible in front of the pouring opening, despite the opening means that are often present in the screw cap of cardboard/plastic composite packages and are necessary for producing a pouring opening.

This object is achieved in a resealable pouring element with the features of the preamble of claim 1 in that the opening means are designed such that when the composite pack is first opened when the screw cap is screwed on, a pouring opening is created within the pack by breaking open the composite material of the pack or a barrier layer located in the base element Pouring element is created that the base element has an outwardly projecting and essentially circumferential collar on its outside, that the anchor ring has at its lower end a substantially circumferential web directed towards the base element, which is arranged below the collar in order to prevent the Anchor ring over the collar to prevent the collar from being arranged in the axial direction in the upper region of the anchor ring in the unopened state, so that when the screw cover is unscrewed, movement of the hinge element in the axial direction is possible until the web comes into contact with the collar, and that the pivot axis of the hinge element is arranged in the axial direction in the upper half of the base element when the screw cover is pivoted away.

The axially tensile connection of the screw cap to the base element ensures that the screw cap does not represent a loose plastic part even when the pouring element is open and that it cannot enter the environment as a loose plastic part. The invention thus makes a valuable contribution to reducing environmental pollution.

The film hinges that are usually used to connect a screw cap to a base element often tear off after just a small number of opening processes and therefore cannot ensure a secure connection of a screw cap to its base element. The special design of the hinge element ensures that the screw cap does not become detached from the rest of the base element even after the pouring element has been opened several times.

By providing a substantially circumferential web directed towards the base element at the lower end of the anchor ring, which is arranged below the collar, the anchor ring is reliably prevented from being pulled off over the collar. At least either the collar or the web can also be interrupted at one or more points, provided that it is ensured that the anchor ring, with its web directed towards the base element, cannot slip over the collar provided on the base element.

By having the largest possible distance in the axial direction between the web and the collar when the pouring element is in the unopened state, the anchor ring including the hinge element can cover the greatest possible distance upwards when the screw cap is screwed on and pivoted open, so that the pivot axis of the hinge element is offset upwards. A pivot axis arranged as high as possible is desirable in order to enable the largest possible opening angle of the screw cap for comfortable pouring despite the bottle neck that is not present on composite packs.

A further teaching of the invention provides that the anchor ring has a slot running in the circumferential direction, which separates the anchor ring in a section into upper parts and a lower part, the upper parts and the lower part being arranged at a distance from one another in the axial direction. It is advantageous if the slot is in the circumferential direction in the area of the hinge element is arranged. The hinge element can be connected to the upper parts of the anchor ring in such a way that the end of the upper parts facing the hinge element is twisted after the screw cap has been swiveled open.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the hinge element is arranged centrally to the slot in the circumferential direction. This ensures that the two sides of the upper parts of the anchor ring are loaded evenly when the screw cap is swiveled open.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the lower end of the hinge element, in the unopened state of the pouring element, projects downwards over the lower end of the upper parts of the anchor ring in the direction of the fastening flange. If the screw cap is swung open after it has been unscrewed, the hinge element folds over with its lower end in the direction of the slot, so that at an opening angle of 120° to 150° the screw cap is locked in its open position with respect to its swiveling open. In this state, the screw cap can no longer swing back without applying external force. This has the great advantage that the screw cap does not automatically swing back when pouring and does not come into contact with the product during the pouring process.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the screw cap can be freely rotated radially in its locked open position. This has the great advantage that the screw cap can be turned into a position desired by the user. In the locked position, a slight force must still be applied from the outside in order to enable rotation, since the fixation of the screw cap with respect to its swinging open creates an increased frictional resistance between the hinge element and the base element. However, the increased frictional resistance is also desirable so that the screw cap does not easily move in the direction of the pouring jet when pouring, caused by the gravitational force.

A further teaching of the invention provides that the hinge element is arranged above the lower third of the base element with respect to its pivot axis in the unopened state. Arranging the hinge element above the lower third ensures that the screw cap can achieve an open position with an opening angle of 120° to 150° before the screw cap hits the composite pack. Since composite packs typically do not have a bottle neck like PET bottles, the swing-open movement of the screw cap is significantly more limited than with PET bottles. In order to achieve a sufficiently large opening angle for a pleasant pouring process, it is desirable to arrange the hinge element as high as possible.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the pivot axis of the hinge element is arranged in the axial direction in the upper third of the base element when the screw cover is pivoted away.

According to a preferred development of the invention it is provided that on the base element below the collar in the direction of the anchor ring outwards

[This is followed by the originally submitted description, pages 7 to 17.] protruding ribs which extend perpendicular to the fastening flange are provided. These ribs ensure that the anchor ring is always at a certain distance from the base element in the radial direction. As a result, the anchor ring is centered with respect to the base element in every condition.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the opening means comprise a cutting element arranged in the interior of the base element and at least one driver web arranged in the interior of the screw cap and connected to it in a form-fitting or material-locking manner, which is preferably attached as close as possible to the hinge element in the circumferential direction. The hinge element can be locked in the external thread of the flange in order to keep the screw cap open.

However, it is also possible to arrange the driving bar as far away from the hinge element as possible in the circumferential direction. This is useful if the hinge elements should not be in the way when the screw cap is opened/tilted away. This enables clean opening/tilting away without the hinge element and the upper edge of the pouring spout getting caught.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of driver webs arranged evenly distributed over the circumference are provided.

This driving bar can at least partially protrude from the inside of the screw cap when swiveled open. It is therefore particularly important that a sufficiently large opening angle of the screw cap can be achieved.

The pouring element according to the invention preferably has at least one originality seal between the fastening flange and the anchor ring or the screw cap. This can consist of a band, one end of which is firmly connected to the anchor ring and in which the other end is connected to the anchor ring by means of a predetermined breaking point in such a way that the predetermined breaking point of at least one mandrel element arranged on the fastening flange When the screw cap is unscrewed, it is broken open and the consumer is informed that the first opening has already taken place.

According to an alternative embodiment of the pouring element according to the invention, a further ring is arranged below the anchor ring, which is connected to the anchor ring via a plurality of material bridges and serves as a seal of originality. The screw cap, the anchor ring and the additional ring that serves as a seal of authenticity are made in one piece.

Preferably, the ring can only be rotated to a limited extent by blocking webs projecting inwards from the ring with locking elements arranged over the circumference of the base element, so that when the screw cap is unscrewed for the first time, it is released from the anchor ring by tearing off the material bridges and remains in its position on the base element.

In order to ensure that the ring cannot be removed from the base element even when the screw cap is open, a further embodiment of the invention provides that the base element has an outwardly projecting and essentially circumferential collar on its outside, the clear inside diameter of the collar being smaller as the clear distance between the oppositely arranged webs of the ring.

A further advantageous teaching of the invention provides that the fastening flange of the pouring element is connected to the inside of the composite pack. A corresponding composite pack has a material recess at the location of the later pouring opening. For assembly, the pouring element is guided through the interior of the composite pack, positioned in the area of the material recess and then connected to the inside of the composite pack. In this embodiment of the invention, the interior of the base element is closed on the pack side in the unopened state, so that the product in the composite pack cannot flow into the pouring element in the unopened state. The In this embodiment of the invention, opening means include an opening element which is arranged in the interior of the base element in the unopened state and is materially connected to it, and at least one force transmission element which is arranged inside the screw cap and is materially connected to it. The opening element is positively connected to the at least one force transmission element and is separated from the base element at predetermined breaking points when the pouring element is opened for the first time, triggered by the rotation of the at least one force transmission element, so that there is no longer a material connection between the base element and the opening element. From this point on, the opening element is only positively connected to the at least one force transmission element, so that it cannot get into the composite pack present under the pouring element. When swiveled open, the opening element can at least partially protrude from the interior of the screw cap. Corresponding opening means are already available JP 5857668 B2 known.

The invention is explained in more detail below using a drawing that only shows preferred exemplary embodiments.

Fig. 1

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Ausgießelements in ungeöffnetem Zustand (ohne Karton/Kunststoff-Verbundpackung) in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 2

das Ausgießelement aus Fig. 1 in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 3

ein Basiselement des Ausgießelements aus Fig. 1 in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 4

das Ausgießelement aus Fig. 1 im Vertikalschnitt entlang der Linie IV-IV,

Fig. 5

das Ausgießelement aus Fig. 1 zu Beginn des Aufschraubvorgangs des Schraubdeckels in perspektivischer Ansicht,

Fig. 6

das Ausgießelement aus Fig. 1 mit bereits aufgeschraubtem aber noch zugeklapptem Schraubdeckel in einer Seitenansicht im Halbschnitt

Fig. 7

das Ausgießelement aus Fig. 1 mit abgeschraubtem und weggeschwenkten Schraubdeckel in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 8

das Ausgießelement aus Fig. 1 mit abgeschraubtem, weggeschwenkten und arretiertem Schraubdeckel in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 9

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Ausgießelements in ungeöffnetem Zustand (ohne Karton/Kunststoff-Verbundpackung) in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 10

das Ausgießelement aus Fig. 9 im Vertikalschnitt entlang der Linie X-X,

Fig. 11

das Ausgießelement aus Fig. 9 in einem Horizontalschnitt entlang der Linie XI-XI aus Fig. 10,

Fig. 12

das Ausgießelement aus Fig. 9 mit bereits aufgeschraubtem aber noch zugeklapptem Schraubdeckel in einer Seitenansicht im Halbschnitt entlang der Linie XII-XII aus Fig. 11 und

Fig. 13

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Ausgießelements im Vertikalschnitt.

Show in the drawing

Fig. 1

a first exemplary embodiment of a pouring element according to the invention in the unopened state (without cardboard/plastic composite packaging) in a perspective view,

Fig. 2

the pouring element Fig. 1 in a side view,

Fig. 3

a base element of the pouring element Fig. 1 in perspective view,

Fig. 4

the pouring element Fig. 1 in vertical section along line IV-IV,

Fig. 5

the pouring element Fig. 1 at the beginning of the screwing process of the screw cap in a perspective view,

Fig. 6

the pouring element Fig. 1 with the screw cap already screwed on but still closed in a side view in half section

Fig. 7

the pouring element Fig. 1 with the screw cap unscrewed and swung away in a side view,

Fig. 8

the pouring element Fig. 1 with the screw cap unscrewed, swiveled away and locked in a side view,

Fig. 9

a second exemplary embodiment of a pouring element according to the invention in the unopened state (without cardboard/plastic composite packaging) in a perspective view,

Fig. 10

the pouring element Fig. 9 in vertical section along line XX,

Fig. 11

the pouring element Fig. 9 in a horizontal section along the line XI-XI Fig. 10 ,

Fig. 12

the pouring element Fig. 9 with the screw cap already screwed on but still closed in a side view in half section along the line XII-XII Fig. 11 and

Fig. 13

a further embodiment of a pouring element according to the invention in vertical section.

The drawing shows a preferred embodiment of a pouring element according to the invention to show its functionality when opening a Composite packaging to make it clear. This is in Fig. 1 A pouring element according to the invention without a composite pack is shown in a perspective view. The pouring element has a base element 2 having a circumferential fastening flange 1 (which in Fig. 1 is not visible) and a screw cap 3, which is used for the initial opening and re-closing of a composite pack, not shown.

Below the screw cap 3 there is an anchor ring 4 connected to it in a rotationally fixed manner in order to reliably exclude removal of the screw cap 3 from the base element 2 or a composite pack provided with it. For this purpose, the screw cap 3 and the anchor ring 4 are connected to one another in an articulated manner via a hinge element 5, the pivot axis of which is aligned tangentially to the outer circumference of the screw cap 3. The anchor ring 4 has a circumferentially extending slot 6, which separates the anchor ring 4 in a section into upper parts 4A and a lower part 4B, the upper parts 4A and the lower part 4B being arranged at a distance from one another in the axial direction. The hinge element 5 can be designed with a greater, the same or even smaller wall thickness compared to the rest of the screw cap 2.

In Fig. 2 It can be clearly seen that the slot 6 is arranged centrally in the circumferential direction of the hinge element 5. The hinge element 5 is connected to the upper parts 4A of the anchor ring 4 and is arranged above the lower third of the base element 2 with respect to its pivot axis in the unopened state. Also goes out Fig. 2 shows that the lower end of the hinge element 5 in the unopened state of the pouring element protrudes downwards over the lower end of the upper parts 4A of the anchor ring 4 in the direction of the fastening flange 1. In addition, ribs 7 which project outwards in the direction of the anchor ring 4 and extend perpendicular to the fastening flange 1 are provided on the lower region of the base element 2. These center the anchor ring 4 with respect to the base element 2 and ensure uniform friction when turning the anchor ring 4.

Fig. 3 shows the base element 2 of the in Fig. 1 Pouring element shown. It can be seen that the base element 2 has an external thread 8, by means of which the in Fig. 3 Screw cap 3, not shown, can be screwed onto the base element 2. The base element 2 also has an outwardly projecting and radially circumferential collar 9 on its outside above the ribs 7.

Furthermore, a cutting element 10 can be seen inside the base element 2, which creates a pouring opening within the pouring element when the composite pack is opened for the first time by screwing on the screw cap 3.

In Fig. 4 The pouring element is now shown in a vertical section in the unopened state. In Fig. 4 It can be seen that the collar 9 touches the inner surface of the anchor ring 4 with its outer peripheral surface in the upper region of the anchor ring 4. According to the invention, the anchor ring 4 has at its lower end a radially circumferential web 11 directed towards the base element 2, which is arranged below the collar 9 provided on the base element 2. This prevents the anchor ring 4 from being pulled off beyond the collar 9. The collar 9 is arranged in the unopened state of the pouring element in the upper region of the anchor ring 4, so that when the screw cap 3 is screwed on, the movement of the anchor ring 4 and thus also that of the hinge element 5 in the axial direction is made possible upwards until the web 11 with the collar 9 comes into contact.

In the in Fig. 4 In the preferred embodiment shown, an opening means can be seen, consisting of the cutting element 10 arranged inside the base element 2 and driver webs 12 arranged inside the screw cap 3, which are cohesively connected to it. When the composite pack is first opened, the cutting element 10, which has an external thread 13, is screwed in the direction of the screw cap 3 by means of the driver webs 12 and an internal thread 14 formed on the base element 2 Composite pack conveyed so that a pouring opening is created within the pouring element. It can be clearly seen that the driver webs 12 protrude downwards in comparison to the outer peripheral surface of the screw cap 3, so that they protrude from the inside of the screw cap 3 in the swung-open state.

The Fig. 5 to 8 finally illustrate the function of the pouring element according to the invention during the opening process of the screw cap 3.

In Fig. 5 the pouring element is shown at the beginning of the screwing-on process of the screw cap 3. Here it can be seen that the anchor ring 4 is connected to the base element 2 in a radially freely rotatable manner, so that the anchor ring 4 moves with the rotational movement of the screw cap 3.

In Fig. 6 the pouring element is shown with the screw cap 3 already screwed on but still closed. On the left side of the Fig. 6 The pouring element is shown in a side view, while the right side of the Fig. 6 represents a vertical section. The anchor ring 4 and, along with it, the hinge element 5 have also moved upward due to the upward movement of the screw cap 3. In this state, the collar 9 provided on the base element 2 and the web 11 arranged on the anchor ring touch each other. The slot 6 has increased at least in the middle in the axial direction due to the upward movement of the screw cap 3, so that the pivot axis of the hinge element 5 increases in the axial direction Direction has shifted further upwards.

In Fig. 7 the pouring element is shown in an open state and with a screw cap 3 pivoted away with a composite pack. As in Fig. 6 It can also be seen here that the anchor ring 4 cannot slip over the collar 9, so that despite its rotatability with respect to the base element 2 it is connected to the base element 2 in a tensile manner in the axial direction. Consequently, the anchor ring 4 and thus also the screw cap 3 are reliably prevented from being pulled off.

Also goes out Fig. 7 shows that by swinging open the screw cover 3, the upper parts 4A of the anchor ring 4 at one end, which establish a connection to the hinge element 5, twist, but do not tear off. The hinge element 5 rotates by pivoting the screw cap 3 in the direction of the slot 6 until it is as shown in Fig. 8 shown folds over so that it is locked in its open position at an opening angle of 120 ° to 150 ° with respect to its swing open. The screw cap 3 can still be freely rotated radially in its locked open position, although due to increased frictional resistance a certain force must be applied from the outside in order to enable rotation.

In the Fig. 7 and 8th It can be clearly seen that driver webs 12 of the opening means protrude from the inside of the screw cap 3 in the swung-open state.

In addition, it can be seen from the Fig. 7 and 8th can be seen that a band 15 serving as an originality seal is attached to the anchor ring 4, one end of which is firmly connected to the anchor ring 4 and in which the other end is connected to the anchor ring 4 by means of a predetermined breaking point in such a way that the predetermined breaking point is of one on the Fastening flange 1 arranged mandrel element 16 is broken when the screw cap 3 is screwed on for the first time.

Fig. 9 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a pouring element according to the invention without a composite packing in a perspective view. This pouring element has, as in the first exemplary embodiment Fig. 1 , a circumferential fastening flange 1 'and a screw cap 3'. Below the screw cap 3' there is, as in the first exemplary embodiment, an anchor ring 4' which is connected to it in a rotationally fixed manner for connecting the screw cap 3' to the (in Fig. 9 unrecognizable) base element. The design of the screw cap 3' and the anchor ring 4' underneath correspond exactly to the first exemplary embodiment Fig. 1 .

However, in this exemplary embodiment, below the anchor ring 4 'there is another ring 17, which is connected in one piece to the anchor ring 4' with a plurality of material bridges 18.

Fig. 10 initially essentially corresponds to the vertical section Fig. 4 , so that reference can be made to the description of the screw cap 3 ', the anchor ring 4' and the cutting element 10'. Below the anchor ring 4 ', however, the (further) ring 17 can be clearly seen, which is designed as an originality seal. For this purpose, the ring 17 has a plurality of webs 19 which are distributed over the circumference and project inwards, which come into contact with corresponding locking elements 20 extending from the base element 2' when the screw cap 3 'is screwed on for the first time and block the further rotation of the ring 17, as will be described in more detail below.

In Fig. 11 the pouring element is off Fig. 9 in horizontal section along the line XI-XI Fig. 10 shown. Here you can clearly see the circumferential ring 17, from which a plurality of inwardly projecting webs 19, 19A and 19B extend. In order to ensure that the ring 17 does not rotate with the anchor ring 4' when the screw cap 3 'is unscrewed, the base element 2' has a plurality of outwardly projecting locking elements 20, 20A and 20B, which are connected to the aforementioned webs 19, 19A and 19B interact in such a way that the ring 17 blocks when unscrewed, so that the material bridges 18 arranged above it tear off and no longer hinder the further rotation of the anchor ring 4 '.

From the Figures 11 and 12 It is clear that the base element 2 'has an outwardly projecting and essentially circumferential collar 21 on its outside, the clear inside diameter of the collar 21 being smaller than that clear distance between the oppositely arranged webs 19 of the ring 17. In this way, it is reliably prevented that the ring 17 can move from its lower position 17 on the base element 2 'even when the screw cap is screwed on. This ensures that the ring 17 cannot enter the environment as a “loose plastic part”.

In Fig. 13 a further embodiment of a pouring element according to the invention is shown, in which the fastening flange 1 "of the pouring element is connected with its top to the inside of a composite pack P. A corresponding composite pack P has a material recess at the location of the later pouring opening. For assembly, the pouring element is through the interior of the composite pack P is guided, positioned in the area of the material recess and then connected to the inside of the composite pack P, for example by means of ultrasound. In this embodiment of the invention, the base element 2 "is closed on the pack side in its interior in the unopened state, so that in the The product in the composite pack P cannot flow into the pouring element when unopened.

The opening means of this pouring element include an opening element 22, which is arranged in the unopened state inside the base element 2" and is materially connected to it, and two force transmission elements 23, which are arranged inside the screw cap 3" and are materially connected to it. The force transmission elements 23 each include a radially inwardly projecting hook 24 at their downward end. On the opening element 22, recesses 25 are provided at the corresponding locations, into which the hooks 24 of the force transmission elements 23 engage in the assembled state, so that a positive connection arises. A radially circumferential predetermined breaking point 26 is provided in the section in which the base element 2" and the opening element 22 are cohesively connected to one another, so that the cohesive connection can be easily severed when the screw cap 3" is screwed on. It can be clearly seen that the opening element 22 in Compared to the outer peripheral surface of the screw cap 3", it protrudes downwards, so that it protrudes from the inside of the screw cap 3" when swung open.

Claims (22)

1. Reclosable pouring element for cardboard/plastic composite packages (P), in particular beverage packages, with a base element (2, 2', 2") having a circumferential fastening flange (1, 1', 1") as well as an external thread (10), with opening means arranged at least in the unopened state of the pouring element in the interior of the base element (2, 2', 2") and with a screw cap (3, 3', 3") with internal thread, wherein an anchor ring (4, 4', 4") is arranged below the screw cap (3, 3', 3"), is connected thereto in a rotationally-fixed manner and is connected to the base element (2, 2', 2") so as to be radially freely rotatable around the base element (2, 2', 2") and in a tension-resistant manner in the axial direction, in that, to securely fasten the screw cap (3, 3', 3") to the base element (2, 2', 2") even in the unscrewed state, the anchor ring (4, 4', 4") is connected to the screw cap (3, 3', 3") in a hinged manner via a hinge element (5, 5'), whose pivot axis is aligned tangentially to the outer circumference of the screw cap (3, 3', 3"),
   characterised in that
   the opening means are designed such that when the composite package (P) is initially opened by unscrewing the screw cap (3, 3', 3") by breaking the composite material of the package (P) or a barrier layer located in the base element (2, 2', 2"), a pour opening is created inside the pouring element, in that the base element (2, 2', 2") has an outwardly protruding and substantially circumferential collar (9, 9', 9") on its outer side, in that the anchor ring (4, 4', 4") has at its lower end a substantially circumferential web (11, 11', 11"), which is directed towards the base element (2, 2', 2") and which is arranged below the collar (9, 9', 9"), in order to prevent the anchor ring (4, 4', 4") from being pulled off over the collar (9, 9', 9"), in that the collar (9, 9', 9") is arranged in the unopened state in the axial direction in the upper region of the anchor ring (4, 4', 4") such that when the screw cap (3, 3', 3") is unscrewed, a movement of the hinge element (5, 5') in the axial direction is possible until the web (11, 11', 11") comes into contact with the collar (9, 9', 9") and in that, when the screw cap (3, 3', 3") is pivoted away, the pivot axis of the hinge element (5, 5') is arranged in the axial direction in the upper half of the base element (2, 2', 2").
2. Pouring element according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the anchor ring (4, 4', 4") has a slot (6, 6`) running in the circumferential direction, which separates the anchor ring (4, 4', 4") in a section into upper parts (4A, 4A') and a lower part (4B, 4B'), wherein the upper parts (4A, 4A') and the lower part (4B, 4B') are arranged spaced apart from one another in the axial direction.
3. Pouring element according to claim 2,
   characterised in that
   the slot (6, 6') is arranged in the circumferential direction in the region of the hinge element (5, 5'), wherein the hinge element (5, 5') is connected to the upper parts (4A, 4A') of the anchor ring (4, 4', 4") such that in each case the end of the upper parts (4A, 4A') facing the hinge element (5, 5') is twisted after pivoting open the screw cap (3, 3', 3").
4. Pouring element according to claim 2 or 3,
   characterised in that
   the hinge element (5, 5') is arranged centrally to the slot (6, 6') in the circumferential direction.
5. Pouring element according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
   characterised in that
   the lower end of the hinge element (5, 5') in the unopened state of the pouring element protrudes downwards over the lower end of the upper parts (4A, 4A') of the anchor ring (4, 4', 4") in the direction of the fastening flange (1, 1', 1").
6. Pouring element according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
   characterised in that
   the screw cap (3, 3', 3") in the pivoted-open state at an opening angle of 120° to 150° is locked by the hinge element (5, 5') in its opening position in relation to its pivot opening.
7. Pouring element according to claim 6,
   characterised in that
   the screw cap (3, 3', 3") is radially freely rotatable in its locked opening position.
8. Pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
   characterised in that
   the hinge element (5, 5') is arranged above the lower third of the base element (2, 2', 2") in relation to its pivot axis in the unopened state.
9. Pouring element according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   when the screw cap (3, 3', 3") is pivoted away, the pivot axis of the hinge element (5, 5') is arranged in the axial direction in the upper third of the base element (2, 2', 2").
10. Pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
    characterised in that
    ribs (7, 7', 7") protruding outwards in the direction of the anchor ring (4, 4', 4") and extending perpendicular to the fastening flange (1, 1', 1") are provided on the base element (2, 2', 2") below the collar (9, 9', 9") and center the anchor ring (4, 4', 4") in relation to the base element (2, 2', 2").
11. Pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
    characterised in that
    the opening means comprise a cutting element (10, 10') arranged in the interior of the base element (2, 2', 2") and at least one drive web (12, 12') arranged in the interior of the screw cap (3, 3', 3") and connected thereto in a form-fitting or materially-bonded manner.
12. Pouring element according to claim 11,
    characterised in that
    the at least one drive web (12, 12') protrudes at least partially from the interior of the screw cap (3, 3', 3") in the pivoted-open state.
13. Pouring element according to claim 11 or 12,
    characterised in that
    the at least one drive web (12, 12') is attached as close as possible to the hinge element (5, 5') in the circumferential direction.
14. Pouring element according to claim 11 or 12,
    characterised in that
    the at least one drive web (12, 12') is in each case arranged as far as possible away from the hinge element (5, 5') in the circumferential direction.
15. Pouring element according to any one of claims 11 to 14,
    characterised in that
    a plurality of drive webs (12, 12') arranged evenly distributed over the circumference is provided.
16. Pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 15,
    characterised in that
    at least one tamper-evident seal (15) is arranged between the fastening flange (1) and the anchor ring (4) or the screw cap (3).
17. Pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 16,
    characterised in that
    another ring (17) is arranged below the anchor ring (4') and is connected to the anchor ring (4') via a plurality of material bridges (18) and serves as a tamper-evident seal.
18. Pouring element according to claim 17
    characterised in that
    the ring (17) can only be twisted to a limited extent by blocking webs (19) protruding inwards from the ring (17) with locking elements (20) arranged over the circumference of the base element (2') such that it is released from the anchor ring (4') when the screw cap (3') is unscrewed initially by tearing off the material bridges (18) and remains in its position on the base element (2').
19. Pouring element according to claim 17 or 18,
    characterised in that
    the base element (2') has an outwardly protruding and substantially circumferential collar (21) on its outer side, wherein the clear inner diameter of the collar (21) is smaller than the clear distance between the webs (19) of the ring (17) arranged opposite in each case.
20. Pouring element according to any one of claims 1 to 10 or 17 to 19,
    characterised in that
    the fastening flange (1") is connected to the inner side of the composite package (P), wherein the base element (2") is sealed on the package side in its interior in the unopened state, wherein the opening means comprise an opening element (22) arranged in the unopened state in the interior of the base element (2") and connected thereto in a materially-bonded manner and at least one force transfer element (23), which is arranged in the interior of the screw cap (3") and is connected thereto in a materially-bonded manner, and wherein the opening element (22) is connected to the at least one force transfer element (23) in a materially-bonded manner.
21. Pouring element according to claim 20,
    characterised in that
    the opening element (22) is no longer connected to the base element (2") in a materially-bonded manner after the initial opening of the pouring element.
22. Pouring element according to claim 20,
    characterised in that
    the opening element (22) protrudes at least partially from the interior of the screw cap (3") in the pivoted-open state.

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