JP2004533974A - Tamper-evident seals and spout fittings for bag-shaped containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A tamper-evident dispensing structure (50) is provided to be sealed in the collapsible bag-like container (60). The structure (50) includes a fixture (70) and a lid structure (80) that can be molded separately from each other and sealed to the periphery of the bag (60) at an opening in the bag. In. The fixture (70) has a receiver (93) and at least one distribution channel (84) passing through the fixture (70). The lid structure (80) is hermetically and detachably mounted on the fixture (70) so as to close the dispensing passage (84) with the base (13) which is fixedly and non-releasably attached to the fixture receiving part (93). Capably attached cap (160) and at least a first frangible web (180) connecting cap (160) to base (130) to correspond to separating cap (160) from base (130). And

Description

【Technical field】
[0001]
The present invention relates to a two-part tamper-evident dispensing structure for a collapsible bag-like container containing a flow product.
[Background Art]
[0002]
Foldable pouches are commonly used to package a variety of products, including food, beverages, personal care products, daily necessities, or other similar or dissimilar products in the form of liquids, lotions, gels, pastes, etc. Used for Such pouches are usually made from a flexible heat sealable polymer sheet or from a flexible cardboard or foil sheet with a heat sealable polymer backing. The bladder usually defines an interior area adapted to contain such a product and surrounds each other so as to define an opening that establishes a connection between the bladder interior area and the exterior of the bladder. Have two opposing flexible webs sealed together. The opening is adapted to receive a dispensing item, the fixture may incorporate a dispensing valve and a removable cover or other similar or dissimilar mechanism, and the web portion of a collapsible bag-like container. It is molded from a polymeric material that can be heat sealed.
[0003]
An example of such a fixture, incorporating a dispensing valve and a removable cover, is available from AptarGroup, Inc. of Crystal Lake, Illinois. No. 6,050,451, assigned to U.S. Pat. As disclosed herein, the base of the fixture converges at two opposite ends of the fixture and has two side walls that are oriented vertically when the fixture is oriented vertically. Further, each of the side walls has a series of spaced ribs protruding from each side wall to heat seal an associated one of the web portions of the collapsible bag. be able to.
[0004]
While the prior art structures described above perform well in designed applications, it is desirable to provide an improved distribution structure that can provide additional benefits to the manufacturer and further to the consumer.
[0005]
For example, it is an advantage to provide an improved dispensing structure for a bag-like container, wherein the dispensing structure is very easily opened, but can include a highly visible tamper evident mechanism.
[0006]
Such an improved structure could be adapted to the use of means to support the pouch, if necessary, to fill the pouch with the product before hermetically closing the pouch or equipment. Is an advantage.
[0007]
Such an improved dispensing structure accommodates the molding of the structure by a simple straight pull molding operation to maximize the number of cavities in the mold assembly and to minimize costs. Advantageously,
[0008]
Further, if provided with a tamper evident feature, such a dispensing structure eliminates, or at least substantially minimizes, the generation of waste debris that must be disposed of after the dispensing structure is first opened. Is desirable.
[0009]
Also, after opening, such an improved tamper evident dispensing structure may be used when the open pouch is used to dispense product or otherwise handle the open pouch. In this case, there is the advantage that no pieces are kept loosely on the fixture, so that such pieces can flutter or wiggle.
[0010]
Once opened, there is only minimal obstruction in the product dispensing area so as to avoid any obvious interference with the product flow or inserting the dispensing structure into the receiving container or even into the user's mouth. It would also be desirable to provide such an improved distribution structure that does not present any obstacles.
[0011]
In addition, such an improved structure should be designed to easily accommodate the re-installation of a closure member, such as a cap, so that the system can be sealed and closed between multiple uses. Is an advantage.
[0012]
Advantageously, such an improved dispensing structure can accommodate the optional use of external or internal dispensing valves to control product dispensing with a reduced likelihood of product spillage.
[0013]
It would also be desirable to provide such an improved dispensing structure that simplifies the system for packing product in bag-like containers. For example, packing a bag-like container through at least a portion of a dispensing structure such that the improved dispensing structure can be easily received on a production line in a stable manner and then easily sealed with the dispensing structure. There are advantages to being able to.
[0014]
The present invention allows for the incorporation of design elements that provide the advantages, benefits, and features discussed above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
[0015]
The present invention provides a tamper-evident distribution structure sealed in a collapsible bag-like container. The pouch has two opposing flexible webs sealed to each other to define an interior region and to define an opening to the interior region. The opening is adapted to receive a portion of the distribution structure when the distribution structure is sealed in a collapsible bag.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
[0016]
The dispensing structure of the present invention allows a manufacturer to pack a product in a pouch and allows the dispensing structure to be placed in the pouch in any of a number of ways.
[0017]
In one preferred form, the empty pouch is initially sealed all around except for the opening in which the first portion of the dispensing structure is located and hermetically mounted. The attached first portion of the distribution structure includes a passage for receiving flow of the flowable material into or out of the bladder. The first part of the distribution structure located on top of the bag allows the bag to be filled with product. Thus, a second portion of the dispensing structure can be attached to the first portion of the dispensing structure to create a sealed closure. In a most preferred form of the invention, the first part of the distribution structure is a fixture, the fixture comprising a channel, on a rail carried by the fixture through a filling device suitable for filling the bag-like container with a liquid product. And a plurality of support tabs capable of supporting equipment with the bag-like container hermetically mounted. Thus, a second portion of the distribution structure, such as a lid structure, can be placed on the fixture to form a sealed package.
[0018]
Although more complex, in a second alternative, empty bags can be initially filled with the flow product before dispensing structure fixtures and lid structures are placed on the bags. After filling the bag into the bag through the opening at the top of the bag, the dispensing structure fixtures and the pre-assembled integral closed dispensing structure are heat sealed to the top of the open bag. A lid structure can be provided.
[0019]
A third alternative can be accommodated by the distribution structure of the present invention. In particular, the dispensing structure, including the fixtures and the attached closed lid structure, can first be sealed in the opening of the bag, but the opposite bottom end of the bag remains open. Can be. The pouch can then be inverted and the pouch can be filled with product through the open end. Therefore, the open end of the bag-shaped container can be hermetically closed.
[0020]
However, the present invention provides a process for (1) providing an empty bag that is initially sealed all around except for the opening at the top of the bag, and (2) a first part of the distribution structure. Or (3) heat-sealing the fixture to the bag at the opening; and (3) filling the bag into the bag through a distribution passage in the fixture while suspending the bag and the fixture from the support tabs on the fixture. (4) Finally, take advantage of the ease and efficiency inherent in the present invention by using it in the process of placing the lid structure on the fixture to form a hermetic seal for the package. It considers that most product package users will want.
[0021]
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the fixture has at least one surface that is sealed to the bag around the fixture at the opening of the bag. The fixture also has a receptacle for the lid structure and at least one distribution passage through the fixture.
[0022]
The lid structure can be molded separately from the fixture and thus attached to the fixture. The lid structure has a base that is fixably and non-releasably attached to the equipment receiver. The lid structure also has a cap that is sealably and removably mounted on the fixture to close the distribution passage. The lid structure also has at least a first frangible web connecting the cap to the base to accommodate subsequent removal of the cap from the base.
[0023]
In one presently preferred embodiment, the fixture comprises a body, a spout extending over the body, and a receptacle closed by a cap. The distribution passage extends through the body, the receptacle, and the spout.
[0024]
In a preferred form of the invention, the base of the lid structure and the fixture receiver are adapted to snap-fit with each other.
[0025]
In one presently preferred form of the invention, the lid structure is further (1) (a) disposed between the cap and the base and (b) defined along one edge by the first frangible web. A tearable band and (2) a second frangible that connects only a portion of the tearable band to the cap such that the tearable band remains attached to the cap after breaking the first and second frangible webs. Including the web. This eliminates the need to make separate cut waste pieces that need to be disposed of.
[0026]
The tear band preferably has a generally frustoconical structure, wherein the first and second fragile webs are each defined by a material having a reduced thickness cross section. The tear strip preferably includes a grippable tab and an opposite end that mates with the cap, and a second fragile web extends from the grippable tab to the opposite end.
[0027]
The cap, in conjunction with a retaining mechanism such as a screw or snap-fit bead and a grooved structure, can be sealingly disposed on the fixture by any suitable means, including a friction sealing surface or sealing bead.
[0028]
The fixture receiver includes a platform that extends above the fixture body, and preferably defines at least one opening extending through the platform. Preferred forms of the lid structure base are (1) a post and (2) (a) located at the distal end of the post, and (b) temporarily elastically deforming either the head or the platform, A large head wider than the opening so that the head can be pushed through the platform opening. Thus, the head can be positioned adjacent to the platform to receive the post in the opening so as to hold the fixture and lid structure in a non-removable snap-fit engagement.
[0029]
In an alternative embodiment, a dispensing valve, such as a flexible slit-type pressure relief valve, can be mounted in the dispensing passage of the fixture.
[0030]
Many of the other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings.
【Example】
[0031]
In the accompanying drawings, like numerals are used to refer to like parts throughout.
[0032]
While the invention may be embodied in many different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings disclose only some specific embodiments as examples of equipment for practicing the invention. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. The scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.
[0033]
For ease of explanation, the disclosed embodiments are shown and described in selected directions. However, it will be appreciated that distribution structures embodying the invention may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in directions other than those disclosed.
[0034]
1 and 2 illustrate a dispensing structure of the present invention, shown mounted on a collapsible pouch 60 and designated generally by the reference numeral 50. The pouch 60 includes a flowable product that is dispensed after opening the dispensing structure 50, such a food, beverage, personal care product, daily product, or other liquid, suspension, Similar or dissimilar products in the form of pastes, gels, powders, particles and the like.
[0035]
A special or conventional design of a collapsible bag-shaped container 60 is generally flexible and heat-sealable so as to comprise two opposing flexible webs 61 and 62 as shown in FIG. It is preferably made from a flexible polymer sheet or a flexible cardboard or metal foil sheet with a heat sealable polymer backing. The webs 61, 62 are sealed to each other at the periphery to define an interior area, (1) open to the interior area, and (2) when the distribution structure 50 is sealed to a collapsible bag-shaped container 60. In addition, an opening adapted to receive the lower part of the distribution structure 50 is defined.
[0036]
As can be seen from FIG. 4, the distribution structure 50 of the present invention is two basic elements, parts or parts, or fixtures 70, each of which can be separately molded and thus preferably attached or connected to each other. And a lid structure 80.
[0037]
In a presently preferred form, at least the fixture 70 is molded of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is preferably a polymeric material, which material is preferably a collapsible bag, such as by ultrasonic bonding or adhesive fixation. It is suitable for being sealed to the web portions 61 and 62 of the container 60.
[0038]
As can be seen in FIG. 8, the fixture 70 extends through the body 82 and defines an internal distribution passage 84 that establishes a connection between the interior of the bladder and the exterior of the bladder when the lid structure 80 is opened. The main body 82 is provided. The fixture body 82 may be of any suitable or conventional design, as appropriate, to fit within the bladder opening and be sealed to the bladder webs 61,62. The design of such a fixture body that can be used in the distribution structure of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 9-13 of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 640,614 filed Aug. 17, 2000. The disclosure of this patent application is incorporated herein by reference to the extent it is disclosed and is not inconsistent with this. Basically, such a fixture body has a generally boat-shaped structure that defines an exterior surface, and is sealed to the flexible edge of the bag-like container film wall or web by ultrasonic thermal bonding or otherwise. Fixed to. Except for the fact that the fixture body should have a suitable sealing surface and distribution passage, the specific detailed design of the fixture body does not form part of the present invention.
[0039]
In the presently preferred form shown in FIG. 8, the fixture body 82 is molded into a hollow boat-shaped structure with an open bottom 86, an upper deck 88, and two opposing side walls 91, 92 (FIG. 6). You. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the fins 95 protrude from respective opposing edges of the fixture 70. In one preferred form of the fixture, the circumferential dimension increases from the smallest dimension at the bottom, through an intermediate dimension between the bottom and the top, which does not decrease after increasing, to the largest dimension at the top.
[0040]
As shown in FIG. 8, the hollow receiver 93 has a platform 94 projecting upward from the deck 88 and having four wings or tabs 96 (FIG. 4). As can be seen from FIG. 13, the tab 96 preferably does not extend over any portion of the body 82. Each tab 96 defines an opening 98, as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 4, platform 94 also defines two arcuate grooves 100.
[0041]
As can be seen from FIG. 8, the spout 120 extends above the main body 82 and the receiving part 93. The distribution passage 122 extends through the spout 120 and connects at the bottom of the spout 120 to the receiving portion 93 and the internal hollow area of the body 82. The spout passage 122 can be considered as an extension or part of the body distribution passage 84 (FIG. 8). The entire fixture 70 can therefore also be characterized as including distribution passages 84, 122 extending through the entire fixture from the bottom to the top.
[0042]
In the preferred embodiment, spout 120 includes external male threads 124 as shown in FIG. In a preferred manufacturing method, the fixture 70 is molded from a thermoplastic material and the spout screw 124 is released from the adjacent mating mold section by unscrewing the fixture 70 from the mold section. In another manufacturing method, the fixture 70 is not unscrewed from the adjacent mold section. Rather, the fixture 70 and the mold are simply pulled apart, and for this purpose the external thread 124 is preferably sufficiently shallow and the spout wall thickness is sufficiently thin and flexible so that it can be removed from the mold. No side action mold assembly to release the screws is required to remove the fixture. Thus, given the above-described shape of the fixture body 82 and the fact that the tabs 96 do not lie directly on the body 82, the fixture 70 can be molded in a simple two-part mold, which has a horizontal split surface. It can be opened by a simple uniaxial linear pulling movement of the mold parts of each other along a defined and perpendicular action direction to the dividing plane and without side action movement.
[0043]
In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the fixture 70 may include an internal slit-type pressure-releasing flexible valve (not shown) mounted in or below the spout 120 of the fixture 70. This valve is structurally and functionally consistent or identical with the valve disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,839,614, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference to the extent relevant and consistent therewith. They may be similar.
[0044]
The lid structure 80 is preferably molded separately from the fixture 70 and can therefore be attached to the fixture. As shown in FIG. 10, the lid structure 80 includes a base 130 and is fixedly and non-releasably attached to the equipment receiving platform 94 as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 13, the mechanism for attaching the lid structure 80 to the fixture 70 includes four posts 134 and two arched guide members 138. Each of the arcuate guide members 138 is adapted to be received in one of the arched grooves 100 (FIG. 4) of the equipment platform, and each of the posts 134 is provided in one of the equipment receiving platform openings 98 (FIG. 13). It has become accepted. As shown in FIG. 9, the upper or proximal end of each post 134 is provided with two support webs or bridges 142 extending between two generally arcuate openings 144 (FIG. 20) to form the upper portion 130 of the lid structure. Is combined with
[0045]
As shown in FIG. 15, each post 134 has a large head 140 located at the distal end of the post, wider than the opening 98. This large head 140 defines an inclined surface (shown in FIG. 15) to accommodate insertion into opening 98. By temporarily resiliently deforming platform 94 and / or head 140, each post 134 with large head 140 can be pushed through platform opening 98, thereby removing fixture 70 and lid structure 80 from each other. Post 134 may ultimately be received in opening 98 with head 140 positioned adjacent the bottom side of receiving platform 94 to retain with a possible snap-fit engagement.
[0046]
As shown in FIG. 4, the lid structure 80 also includes a tear strip 150 extending upward from the base 130 to the cap 160. One end of the tear strip 160 includes a grippable tab 170.
[0047]
Referring to FIG. 12, the cap 160 includes an internal female thread 172 adapted to threadably engage the male outlet 124 of the equipment spout as shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 12, the cap 160 also has a generally annular sealing plug or spud 176 lowered therefrom adapted to enter the upper open end of the equipment spout discharge passage 122 as shown in FIG. A wall or upper end wall 174 is included. As shown in FIG. 8, the upper end of the equipment spout 120 defines an inwardly extending sealing bead 178, and when the cap 170 is threadedly engaged with the spout 120 (shown in FIG. 7), the cap spud 176 and Engage hermetically.
[0048]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the lid structure initially includes at least a first frangible web 180 connecting the lower edge of the tear strip 150 to the base 130. The second fragile web 182 connects the upper edge of the tear strip 150 to the cap 160. Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment shown, the tear strip 150 is located between the lid structure base 130 and the lid structure cap 160. The tear strip 150 is preferably frustoconical and is defined along the bottom edge by a first frangible web 180 and is defined along the top edge by a second frangible web 182.
[0049]
In a preferred embodiment, first fragile web 180 and second fragile web 182 are each defined by a material having a reduced thickness cross section. However, other forms of fragile webs can be used. For example, the lower edge of the tear strip 150 can be connected to the lid structure base 130 by a connection tab or bridge circumferentially spaced apart by an opening, and the upper edge of the tear strip 150 and the lid structure cap 160 can be connected. The frangible linkages between may have the same or different structures.
[0050]
In an alternative embodiment (not shown), tear band 150 can be removed together and cap 160 can be connected directly to lid structure base 130 with a single fragile web. However, the preferred arrangement is presently intended to include an opening band, such as an opening band 150 interposed between the base 130 of the lid structure and the cap 160.
[0051]
When the tear strip 150 is used with the lid structure 80, a user can grasp the tab 170 projecting upward from one end of the tear strip 150, and the user can pull the tab 170 to tear the fragile webs 180, 182. Can be pulled away from the cap 160 from the base 130 of the lid structure and the tear strip 150 can be partially or completely separated from the cap 160. The absence of the tear strip 150 indicates that the system has been opened or tampered with.
[0052]
In a preferred embodiment, tear band 150 is completely separated from base 130 of the lid structure, but not completely removed from cap 160. Preferably, a portion of the tear strip 150 remains connected to the cap 160 (FIG. 19).
[0053]
After the tear strip 150 is completely separated from the base 130 of the lid structure, the cap 160 can be unscrewed from the fixture spout 120. However, as shown in FIG. 19, the end of the tear strip 150 remains connected to the cap 160, thereby preventing the creation of small debris or debris that must be disposed of separately.
[0054]
As shown in FIG. 19, in a preferred form of the invention, the tear strip 150 is the bottom of the cap 160 at the end of the tear strip 150 where the tear strip 150 is joined with the cap 160 by a mounting portion or connecting rib 190. It remains connected to the edge. The structure of the tear-off band 150 and the connecting rib 190 before the tear-off of the tear-off band 150 is shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 11, FIG. 16, FIG. 17, and FIG. FIGS. 9 and 11 show the tear strip 150 and the attached grip tab 170 terminating in an opening 202 defined in the base 130 of the lid structure.
[0055]
The bottom of the structure shown in FIG. 11 is shown in the enlarged perspective view of FIG. In FIG. 16, the end of the tear strip 150 opposite the grip tab 170 is shown connected to the bottom of the cap 160 by a connection or rib 190. The bottom of the cap 160 is defined by a generally annular flat surface 206 that is connected to the tear strip 150 along a second fragile web 182. The other perimeter of the tear strip 150 is attached to the base 130 of the lid structure with a first frangible web 180. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 16, the inner surface of tear band 150 includes a lower or first surface 211, an intermediate or second surface 212, and an upper or third surface 213. Below or adjacent the first fragile web 180, the base 130 of the lid structure defines a peripheral wall surface 216.
[0056]
With reference to FIGS. 12 and 16, the end of the tear strip 150, wherein the inner surface of the tear strip 150 extends radially inward to define a rib 190 connected to the bottom of the cap 160 over the width of the cap bottom annular surface 206. With the exception of, it can be seen that the tear strip 150 is connected through a frangible web 182 to the outer bottom perimeter of the bottom annular surface 206 of the cap 160.
[0057]
As shown in FIG. 19, pulling the tear band 150 tears or cuts the fragile web 180 between the tear band 150 and the base 130, and also tears the fragile web 182 connecting the tear band 150 to the cap 160. The tear strip 150 remains attached to the bottom of the cap 160 at the rib 190 while being cut or cut. FIGS. 20 and 21 show the dispensing structure 50 after the tear band 150 and cap 160 have been removed, and the bag-like container 60 (FIG. 1) has been omitted from FIGS. 20 and 21 for simplicity. To understand. As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, after the cap 160 is removed, a large post 134 projecting from the back side of the base 130 of the lid structure through the receiving portion 94 of the fixture, as described in detail above, is provided. Due to the snap-fit engagement performed on the head 140, the base 130 of the lid structure remains securely attached to the receiver 94 of the fixture.
[0058]
22 and 23 illustrate an intermediate stage in a method of manufacturing a package using the distribution structure of the present invention. In a manufacturing step prior to the stage shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the distribution structure fixture 70 and the distribution structure lid structure 80 shown in FIG. 4 are separately molded, but not assembled. The fixture 70 is then sealed to the interior opening of the empty pouch 60 and the intermediate assembly then includes a pair of spaced parallel rails 250, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23. Can be supported within. Moving such an empty pouch assembly along a transport system under a filling machine (not shown), inserting a filler tube into the open spout 120 to fill the pouches with product. Can be done. The detailed structure and operation of such a machine is not part of the present invention. Of course, you will find that you can pack the product by hand in a bag if you wish.
[0059]
Thus, while still supported on the rail 250, the transport system has an upper opening area corresponding to automatically placing the lid structure 80 (FIG. 4) on the spout 120 over the fixture. Under a structure installation station (not shown), the assembly can be moved while the bag is currently filled with product. Such a lid structure installation station is not shown, but the structure and operation of such a station does not form part of the present invention. Of course, it will be appreciated that the lid structure can be manually placed on the fixture above the spout 120.
[0060]
In any case, during installation of the lid structure 80, the lid structure 80 (FIG. 4) is pushed downwardly on the spout 120, thereby causing the internal thread 172 (FIG. 7) in the cap 160 to have the external spout 124 of the spout. Slide on The cap 160 is sufficiently flexible and resilient to accommodate such an installation process.
[0061]
When the lid structure 80 is pushed completely downward, the base 130 of the lid structure engages the receiver 94 of the fixture. The guide member 138 of the lid structure is received in the groove 100 of the fixture receiving platform and the post 134 at the base of the lid structure (FIG. 13) enters the opening 98 of the fixture receiving platform 94, As a result, the large head 140 of the post 134 snaps under the receiving platform 94 to establish a secure and tight snap-fit engagement.
[0062]
The snap-fit engagement prevents the user from removing the base 140 of the lid structure from the platform 94 of the fixture receiver by conventional non-destructive means. Thus, when the lid structure 80 is attached to the fixture receiving platform 94, a secure tamper evident assembly is created. The user must tear the tear strip 150 to gain access to the interior of the pouch.
[0063]
Even if the tear strip 150 itself is not used (not shown in an alternative embodiment) and instead only one fragile annular web is used to connect the cap 160 directly to the base 130 of the lid structure The user must break one fragile web by applying sufficient torque to the cap 160. The breaking of this one fragile web serves to indicate that the system has been tampered with or that the cap 160 has been unscrewed at least partially.
[0064]
The distribution structure 50 of the present invention accommodates various other package manufacturing techniques. For example, an empty pouch 60 (FIG. 1) can be filled with a flowing product without first installing the distribution structure 50. The dispensing structure fixture 70 and the lid structure 80 can then be provided as a pre-assembled one-piece sealed dispensing structure 50, after filling the bag into the open bag. Can be heat sealed on top.
[0065]
In another package manufacturing alternative, the dispensing structure 50, including the fixture 70 and the attached closed lid structure 80, may be initially opened at the top of an empty bag-like container with the opposing bottom end open. Can be sealed. The pouch can then be inverted and the pouch can be filled with product through the open end. Thus, the open end can be hermetically closed by any suitable conventional or special technique, including heat sealing, adhesive application, and the like.
[0066]
When the user removes the cap 160, it can be seen that the spout 120 protrudes from the fixture with substantially no surrounding structure that could interfere with the discharge of product passing from the pouch through the spout. Would. Since the cap 160 can be completely removed and there is no opening band left attached to the fixture, it corresponds to injecting the contents from the bag-like container through the spout, and furthermore, the spout is used by the user. Sufficient clearance exists around the spout 120 to accommodate insertion into the mouth.
[0067]
If desired, a distribution valve can be installed at the spout 120. Such a valve may be the same as or similar to the valve disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,839,614. Such a valve can also be installed inside the fixture below the spout and maintained in place by a suitable snap-fit or corrugated wall to engage the flange of the valve. Such dispensing valves can also be molded directly into the fixture using a suitable bi-injection molding technique, which is particularly suitable where the valve is molded from a material such as silicone that is different from the material of the fixture. Can be.
[0068]
Although the spout 120 of the fixture is shown having external threads 124 in threaded engagement with the cap screw 172 (FIG. 7), using other means for releasably mounting the cap 160 onto the spout 120. You can also. For example, the cap spud 176 (FIG. 7) can be modified to include a longer, outwardly facing male thread, and the fixture spout 120 can then be provided with complementary female threads.
[0069]
In another alternative, the threaded engagement between the cap 160 and the spout 120 can both be eliminated. Alternatively, a suitable internal or external releasable snap-fit bead / groove arrangement or bead / bead arrangement may be used.
[0070]
Although the preferred embodiment of the distribution structure 50 is shown with four snap-fit posts 134 that secure the lid structure 80 to the fixture 70, it will be appreciated that more or fewer posts can be used.
[0071]
In addition, other forms of non-releasable snap-fit engagement mechanisms can be used instead of posts and receiving openings. While snap-fit engagement is preferred, there are applications where it is desirable to provide different means of connecting the lid structure 80 to the fixture 70, such as thermal bond attachment, ultrasonic welding, adhesive attachment, and the like.
[0072]
In the preferred embodiment shown, the lid structure 80 includes a downwardly extending arched wall or rib 138 and is received within the fixture groove 100 (FIG. 4). In some applications, these mechanisms can be omitted. However, if used, these mechanisms can be designed to help center the lid structure post 134 with the fixture receiving opening 98. This can help stabilize the positioning of the lid structure 80 on the fixture 70. This is advantageous if the completed assembly is opened by the user and the torsion action and a torque is applied to the assembly.
[0073]
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 13, the lid structure also preferably includes a pair of downwardly projecting ribs or walls 280 which fill the cavity between the wings or tabs 96 of the platform of the fixture receiver. This gives the finished assembly a smooth and uniform appearance.
[0074]
In the preferred embodiment, tear tab 150 is formed to have a generally frusto-conical shape. This makes it easier to mold fragile connecting webs and gripping tabs without using cuts that require special and complex molding operations. However, in some applications where such complex molding operations can be costly, the tear band 150 may be of any suitable shape other than a generally frustoconical shape.
[0075]
It will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description and accompanying drawings that many other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept or principle of the present invention. Would.
[Brief description of the drawings]
[0076]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a dispensing structure of the present invention shown installed in a collapsible bag-like container.
FIG. 2 is a front view substantially along a plane 2-2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the distribution structure of the present invention before installation in the bag-like container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the distribution structure shown in FIG. 3, showing the fixture parts and the lid structure parts before assembling the two parts to form the distribution structure.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the distribution structure generally along plane 5-5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is an end view taken substantially along plane 6-6 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along plane 7-7 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a combination of a partial sectional view and a side view of the equipment of the distribution structure shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 9 is a top view of the lid structure taken substantially along plane 9-9 of FIG.
FIG. 10 is a side view taken generally along the plane 10-10 of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a bottom view substantially along plane 11-11 of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along plane 12-12 of FIG.
FIG. 13 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the dispensing structure component before assembling the lid structure and equipment.
FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the distribution structure after the lid structure and fixtures have been assembled.
FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along plane 15-15 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 16 is a fragmentary bottom perspective view of a greatly enlarged fragment of a portion of the lid structure.
17 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along plane 17-17 of FIG. 9;
FIG. 18 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along plane 18-18 of FIG. 9;
FIG. 19 is a bottom perspective view of the cap after tearing the tear strip away from the remaining portion of the lid structure and part of the cap, and after unscrewing the spout of the cap fixture. It is.
FIG. 20 is a top perspective view of the distribution structure after removing the cap.
FIG. 21 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially along a plane 21-21 of FIG. 20;
FIG. 22 is a fragmentary perspective view of two packages, each containing a fixture, with the fixture supporting the package on a rail system for packaging and further processing.
FIG. 23 is an end view of the processing system substantially along the plane 23-23 of FIG. 22;

Claims (10)

An opening opening into the interior region to define the interior region, wherein the distribution structure (50) is sealed to the collapsible bag-shaped container (60) when the distribution structure (50) is closed. Tamper seal in a collapsible bag-shaped container (60) having two opposing flexible web portions (61, 62) sealed to each other to define an opening adapted to receive the portion. A dispensing structure with a protection feature (50), comprising at least two parts: a fixture (70) and a lid structure (80) molded separately from said fixture (70) and thus attachable to said fixture. The distribution structure with tamper-proof function (50) including
At least one surface (91, 92), a receiver (93), and the fixture (93), wherein the fixture (70) is sealed to the bag-like container (60) around the fixture (70) at the opening. 70) passing through at least one distribution passage (84);
The base (130), which is fixedly and non-releasably attached to the fixture receiving portion (93) and the dispensing passage (84), on the fixture (70) so that the lid structure (80) closes the dispensing passage (84). A cap (160) hermetically and removably attached to the cap (160) and coupling the cap (160) to the base (130) to accommodate releasing the cap (160) from the base (130). A tamper evident dispensing structure having at least a first fragile web (180). The fixture includes a body defining the at least one surface, and a spout extending over the body and receiver closed by the cap;
The tamper evident distribution structure of claim 1, wherein the distribution passage extends through the body and the spout. The tamper evident distribution structure of claim 1, wherein the lid structure and the fixture are not initially assembled. The tamper-evident dispensing structure further includes an opening band between the cap and the base, with the first fragile web connecting the opening band to the base, wherein the opening band is substantially conical. 2. The distribution structure with a tamper-proof function according to claim 1, wherein the distribution structure has a trapezoidal structure. The tamper evident distribution structure of claim 1, wherein the first fragile web is defined by a material having a reduced thickness cross section. The lid structure further comprises:
An opening band disposed between the cap and the base and defined along one edge by the first fragile web;
A second fragile web connecting only a portion of the tear band to the cap such that the tear band remains attached to the cap after tearing the second fragile web. Item 3. The distribution structure with tamper-evident prevention function according to Item 1. The tear band has a substantially frustoconical structure,
The first and second fragile webs are each defined by a material having a reduced thickness cross section;
The tear strip includes a grippable tab and an opposite end that mates with the cap;
7. The tamper evident distribution structure of claim 6, wherein the second fragile web extends from the grippable tab to the opposite end. The tamper evident dispensing structure of claim 1, wherein the cap has internal threads and the fixture has a spout with external threads that threadably engages with the internal threads of the cap. The fixture includes a lower body,
The tamper evident feature of claim 1, wherein the receiving portion includes a platform having a tab spaced above the body and extending outwardly from the body to retain the fixture on a rail. Attached distribution structure. A platform of the fixture receiving portion defining at least one opening extending through the platform;
The lid structure base,
Post and
At least one of the head and the platform is disposed at the distal end of the post and is larger than the at least one opening such that the head can be pushed through the platform opening by temporarily elastically deforming the at least one of the head and the platform. Including a head,
The post can be received in the opening with the head positioned adjacent the platform so as to hold the fixture and lid structure in a non-removable snap-fit engagement. 10. The distribution structure with tamper-evident prevention function according to claim 9.