WO2006034546A1 - Bec de conditionnement - Google Patents

Bec de conditionnement Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2006034546A1
WO2006034546A1 PCT/AU2005/001490 AU2005001490W WO2006034546A1 WO 2006034546 A1 WO2006034546 A1 WO 2006034546A1 AU 2005001490 W AU2005001490 W AU 2005001490W WO 2006034546 A1 WO2006034546 A1 WO 2006034546A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
spout
package
edge
opening
assembly
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2005/001490
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Peter Alan Boundy
Michael John Dossor
Original Assignee
A.A. & P. Converting Pty. Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2004905611A external-priority patent/AU2004905611A0/en
Application filed by A.A. & P. Converting Pty. Ltd. filed Critical A.A. & P. Converting Pty. Ltd.
Publication of WO2006034546A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006034546A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/52—Details
    • B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
    • B65D75/5861—Spouts
    • B65D75/5872—Non-integral spouts
    • B65D75/5877—Non-integral spouts connected to a planar surface of the package wall

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a spout assembly for attaching to packaging and also to a package provided with such a spout assembly.
  • packaging brought about innovative features including advanced seal technology for keeping contents in a sealed environment, tamper-evident seals and resealable packaging. Further packaging features are continuously being developed primarily for the convenience of the end user but also to meet nationally imposed and rigorous food packaging standards.
  • the present invention provides a useful means for dispensing product from packaging whilst optimising the convenience to the user.
  • the present invention provides a spout assembly for packaging comprising a spout having a first edge, an opposite second edge and side folds, the second edge and folds each have attachment surfaces for attaching the spout adjacent a package opening, such that the spout can be unfolded by the first edge away from the package to provide a spout opening of the package.
  • the first edge is frangibly attached to a frangible member by a break zone.
  • the frangible member has an attachment surface for attaching the frangible member adjacent to the opening of the package, such that when the break zone is broken the spout can be unfolded from the frangible member to provide a spout opening.
  • the spout assembly is preferably flexible and the attachment surfaces are preferably adhered around the periphery of the package opening on the package interior.
  • the spout assembly is preferably sealed to the periphery by hot welding, cold welding, hot glue, cold glue or other known means of adhesion.
  • the break zone is preferably a break line defined by a line of microperforations that can be manually broken.
  • the spout When folded, the spout is preferably substantially rectangular in shape and the break line curves to cause the first edge of the spout to curve outward thereby forming a tab on the spout.
  • the folds of the spout are preferably gussets or concertina-type folds.
  • the gussets typically lie substantially flat when the spout is closed.
  • the spout preferably has a crease line down its centre spanning between the first and second edges.
  • the present invention provides a spout assembly for packaging comprising a spout having a first edge, an opposite second edge and side folds, wherein the first edge is frangibly attached to a frangible member by a break zone, the frangible member having an attachment surface for attaching at an opening of the package, the second edge and folds each having attachment surfaces for attaching the spout at a package opening, such that when the break zone is broken the spout can be unfolded away from the frangible member to provide a spout opening of the packaging.
  • the invention provides a package with a spout assembly provided at an opening in the package, the spout assembly comprising a spout having a first edge, an opposite second edge and side folds, wherein the second edge and folds each have attachment surfaces for attaching the spout adjacent the package opening, such that the spout can be unfolded away from the package at the first edge to provide a spout opening of the package.
  • the first edge is frangibly attached to a frangible member by a break zone, the frangible member having an attachment surface for attaching the frangible member adjacent the opening of the package, such that when the break zone is broken the spout can be unfolded to provide a spout opening.
  • a protective label overlies at least one edge of the opening and at least part of the spout.
  • the protective label may be provided with a tamper-evident feature or the tamper-evident feature may be provided separately to the protective label.
  • the protective label preferably assists in creating a seal barrier.
  • the invention provides a package with a spout assembly provided at an opening in the package, the spout assembly comprising a spout having a first edge, an opposite second edge and side folds, wherein the first edge is frangibly attached to a frangible member by a break zone, the frangible member having an attachment surface for attaching at an opening of the package, the second edge and folds each having attachment surfaces for attaching the spout at a package opening, such that when the break zone is broken the spout can be unfolded away from the frangible member to provide a spout opening of the packaging.
  • a method of dispensing contents from a package having a spout assembly at an opening in the package including: inserting a finger under one edge of the opening and pulling a first edge of the spout away from the package so as to provide a spout opening of the package, whereby the spout has a second edge opposite to the first edge and side folds, the second edge and side folds having attachment surfaces attached to the package.
  • the method further includes first inserting a finger under one edge of the opening and breaking a frangible break zone at a first edge of the spout thereby separating the first edge of the spout from a frangible member of the spout assembly that is attached to the package
  • the method preferably includes lifting a protective label to access an edge of the opening before breaking the frangible break zone.
  • the method further preferably includes closing the spout after dispensing by pressing it into the opening and tucking a tab at the break zone of the spout underneath an upper edge of the opening.
  • Figure 1 is a front isometric view of a package having a spout in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a part front isometric view of the package of Figure 1 with a spout open and package contents dispensing from the spout;
  • Figure 3 is a rear isometric view of a spout assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 4 is a front isometric view of the spout assembly
  • Figure 5 illustrates the spout assembly of Figure 4 with the spout opened
  • Figure 6 illustrates a package with an opening
  • Figure 7 illustrates a rear, internal view of the front side of the package illustrated in Figure 1;
  • Figure 8 is a blank of the spout assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figures 9a - 9d illustrate steps involved in opening a spout on a package in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 10 is a front isometric view of a spout assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 11 is a side sectional view of the spout assembly of Figure 10 taken at section A-A.
  • the drawings illustrate a spout assembly 10 for attaching to packaging as well as a package 20 with the spout assembly 10 attached.
  • the package spout assembly once attached to the package allows a user to, on first use, break open the spout from its initial sealed condition and pull the spout out to create a significant spout opening through which the contents of the package can be easily dispensed. After dispensing the desired amount of contents a user then pushes the spout back into the package to close the spout opening and prepare the spout for re-use.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a front face 24 of the package 20 with a spout 12 of the spout assembly 10 closed.
  • a protective label 26 lies over the spout 12 and package 20.
  • Figure 2 illustrates spout 12 open to enable contents 30 to be poured from package 20.
  • the present spout assembly provides a large spout opening allowing for more controlled dispensing of contents and a more stable construction that can endure continuous re-use of the spout.
  • Spout assembly 10 is illustrated in Figures 3 to 5 and is adapted to be attached to the inside of a package 20 at a prepared die cut opening 22 as illustrated in Figure 6.
  • Figure 7 is an internal, rear view of the front face 24 of the package illustrated in Figure 1.
  • Figure 7 illustrates the rear of spout assembly 10 as it overlies opening 22 (not shown in Figure 7) of package 20.
  • the spout assembly 10 is manufactured separately to the package and applied post- production to the packaging material but before the package is filled with contents.
  • the packaging used to make package 20 and spout assembly 10 may be manufactured and assembled in a single process.
  • Spout assembly 10 comprises a flexible spout 12 and a flexible frangible member 14 to which the spout is frangibly attached at a break zone at a first/ upper edge 15.
  • the break zone is adapted to be broken to separate the upper edge 15 from frangible member 14.
  • the break zone is a break line 40 formed of micro perforations that can be manually broken. Break line 40 curves outward of spout 12 to provide a tab 42 defining the upper edge 16 of spout 12.
  • the break line is described in the preferred embodiment, it is understood that the upper edge 15 of the spout need not be fixed before first use but may be free to simply pull away from the package without first separating the first edge from a frangible member.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates a blank from which the spout is formed. The gussets are formed by alternatively folding along creases 32.
  • the lower edge 16 and side folds 18 each have attachment surfaces 17 for attaching the spout assembly to the inside of the package adjacent the opening 22.
  • the frangible member 14 also has an attachment surface, defined by part or all of the underside of the frangible member 14 itself, to attach to the spout assembly adjacent the opening 22. In this manner, once the break line 40 is broken spout 12 can be hinged open at lower edge 16 and expand at gusset folds 18 to create an opened spout. Frangible member 14 remains attached to the inside of the package.
  • a crease 19 down the centre of the spout 12 between the upper side 15 and the lower side 16 forms a channel along the deepest point of the spout when open to encourage the package contents to dispense evenly and centrally of the spout.
  • Spout 12 is made to be slightly longer than package opening 22 in a vertical direction, and in particular longer in length between the upper and lower edges of the spout.
  • Figure 4 illustrates in dashed lines the position of opening 22 superimposed over spout assembly 10. In this Figure it can be seen that while the spout 12 is able to pivot freely at lower edge 16 and to allow folds 18 to freely unfold out of opening 22, the upper curved edge 15 of spout 12 defining tab 42 extends beyond the upper edge 23 of opening 22 so as to locate on the inside of package 20.
  • tab 42 On closing spout 12 after first use, tab 42 is inserted back into the package and under the periphery of the opening to provide a stop to prevent inadvertent opening of spout 12. To then open spout 12 tab 42 is manoeuvred to pass under upper edge 23 of opening 22 and clear upper edge 23 before being pulled outward of package 20. As a further precaution against unintentional spout opening label 26 may be reapplied over the upper edge 23 of opening 22 and spout 12.
  • tab 42 and the package at opening 22 is made of a flexible material to allow manoeuvrability of tab 42.
  • both spout assembly 10 and package 20 are made of flexible plastics to allow a person to insert a finger under edge 23 and pull out tab 42 and hence spout 12.
  • both the spout assembly and package are made of a rigid material/ but tab 42 may be replaced by another kind of stop to prevent unintentional opening, for example, and adhesive closure.
  • the package may be made of a rigid material but the spout assembly is made of a flexible material, or vice versa.
  • the spout assembly 10 may be flexible or rigid, depending on factors including: the kind of packaging the spout assembly is to be attached to; manufacturing limitations; intended use of packaging and nature of contents to be dispensed.
  • the spout 12, including folds 18 and attachment surfaces 17, and frangible member 14 are made of the same material. However, it is understood that they may be made of different materials or different stiffness. For example, the centre of the spout near centre crease 19 may be made stiffer than the folds in order to stably support dispensing contents while still allowing the spout to easily unfold.
  • the attachment surfaces 17 and the frangible member 14 are attached to the interior edges of opening 22 by common adhesion means. These methods could include hot melting, cold welding or application of hot or cold glue. Where the package is for packaging food products the adhesives used are to be adhesives that are approved by national food standards authorities.
  • the attachment surfaces 17 and frangible member 14 located around the opening 22 provide a near-barrier seal. Such an oxygen abating barrier keeps package contents fresh and sealed from atmosphere.
  • Label 26 provides an added sealing barrier.
  • Label 26 is a removable adhesive label that overlies at least one edge of opening 22 and part of the spout 12. The label can be sufficiently large to overlie the whole spout but in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 label 26 only overlies upper edge 23 of opening 22 and an upper part of spout 12.
  • Label 26 provides protection to the spout to prevent unintentional tearing of break line 40 during transportation and handling before first use. Label 26 can further assist in providing an air seal against the part of the spout that is vulnerable to air leakage, namely the microperforations and gaps at the top of folds 18.
  • Label 26 can further be provided with tamper-evident features whereby once peeled off for the first time part of the label breaks or changes colour, or does not return to its original state by some other means, to indicate that the label has been once removed.
  • Tamper-evident features may alternatively be provided separately to the label 26 and may be in the form of an adhesive or perforated tamper seal that cannot be re- sealed after being lifted or broken.
  • Figures 9a to 9d illustrate how a user accesses and opens the spout assembly for the first time.
  • Figure 9a illustrates a user's hand 50 peeling off label 26 from the front 24 of the package 20.
  • the package is shown in cross section such that the spout assembly 10 is illustrated lying on the inside of the front face 24 with folds 18 lying substantially flat against the package.
  • the user closes the spout by pushing the spout through the opening and particularly pushing the tab 42 through to the inside of the packaging just above the upper edge 23 of opening 22.
  • the tab acts as a stop to prevent unintentional opening of spout 12.
  • a user reaches in under the front face 24 to grab hold of the tab 42, to again pull out the spout.
  • the spout can be reused as many times as required.
  • FIG. 10 and 11 illustrate another version of spout assembly 10 which includes an integrally formed pocket 55 overlying frangible member 14 and tab 42. Accordingly, frangible member 14 and tab 42 are sandwiched between two linings 56 of pocket 55. Linings 56 are substantially resilient and together form a substantially resilient pocket into which tab 42 can be inserted to confidently close the spout 12 against the package 20. It is best that pocket 55 is made with some rigidity or resilience so as to enable the pocket to apply an element of holding force on tab 42. Pocket 55 can be made of polyester, polypropylene or other suitable substrates.
  • one lining 56 of pocket 55 is adhered to the inside of the package adjacent opening 22.
  • a user For first use a user reaches under upper edge 23 of opening 22 and up into pocket 55 to break the perforation between frangible member 14 and tab 42. The user then pulls tab 42 out from inside of pocket 55 and away from the package so as to form a spout. After use the user tucks tab 42 and generally the top part of spout 12 in through opening 22 and up into pocket 55 between linings 56. By squeezing together the ends of pocket 55 between fingers the pocket forms a wider mouth opening into which the top of the spout 12 can be inserted. In doing so folds 18 are also tucked into pocket 55 so as to avoid any escape of package contents through the openings of the top of the folds 18.
  • Tab 42 need not necessarily be shaped in the manner illustrated in the drawings but may be any shape that effectively inserts into the pocket or sits behind the upper edge 23 of the package opening.
  • tab 42 provides a point at which a user can grab hold of the spout to pull it outward of the packaging. Additionally, when fully extended the tab 42 acts as a pouring lip at the deepest point of the spout which assists in more controlled dispensing of the contents.
  • the spout assembly 10 can be made of any plastic, paper or fine metallic material or a composite of various packaging materials. Examples of such materials are polyester and polypropylene.
  • the spout assembly, or parts of it, can also be lined with metal foil to maintain freshness of the contents and/or to provide stiffness.
  • the construction of the spout assembly will largely depend on the nature of the packaging to which it is to be applied and to the contents it is to dispense.
  • the spout assembly may also largely be made of a rigid material.
  • the tab 42 may be removed, particularly if there is no element of flexibility between the top of the spout 12 and opening 22.
  • the tab 42 may be replaced by another kind of stop to prevent unintentional opening of spout 12, such as an adhesive label or a tab and slot arrangement in order to keep the spout closed.
  • the material from which the spout assembly is formed should comply with the standards imposed by world food authorities.
  • the spout may be sized to provide a specific quantitative measure for the contents. For example, if the contents to be dispensed is powered washing detergent, the spout may be sized to provide one measured scoop of the detergent. Appropriate instructions on the package would guide the user to, for example, use two measured scoops per large load of washing.
  • the spout may provide a measure for food products. In another example the spout could be sized to hold one level cup, half cup, or quarter cup of food product such as flour. Accordingly this would allow users to measure the flour as it is being dispensed thereby skipping the intermediate step of first pouring the flour into a measuring cup.
  • the spout assembly may also be made clear so as to allow the contents of the package to be visible to a user.
  • the flexible spout assembly is manufactured separately to the packaging, it is envisaged that a number spout assemblies are manufactured on a continuous substrate web that can be rolled up and transported. The spout assembly is then attached to the flexible packaging which in turn can be again rolled up and easily transported.
  • the contents of the package may be of any pourable product which includes a large range of granulated, powdered and liquid foods ranging from dried pet food, biscuits, confectionery, rice, pasta, flour, liquid soups, stocks, milk and the like.
  • the spout may be used to dispense products including fertilisers, chemicals including acids, soap powders, liquid and powder detergents, cosmetic liquids and powders, and other similar domestic and industrial products. Pharmaceutical products such as tablets and pharmaceutical powder or liquid mixtures could also be dispensed with the present spout assembly.
  • the present spout assembly and packaging incorporating the spout assembly provides a usefully deep spout that allows greater control when pouring and a more even pour.
  • the spout assembly is unobtrusive and reusable to allow pouring of contents until the contents are finished.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Bag Frames (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un assemblage de bec (10) pour un conditionnement comprenant un bec (12) présentant un premier bord (15), un second bord opposé (16) et des plis latéraux (18). Le second bord (16) et les plis (18) présentent chacun des surfaces de fixation (17) pour une fixation du bec (12) adjacent à une ouverture de bec (22), de sorte que le bec (12) peut être déplié par le premier pli (15) vers l'extérieur du conditionnement, pour obtenir une ouverture de bec sur le conditionnement.
PCT/AU2005/001490 2004-09-28 2005-09-28 Bec de conditionnement WO2006034546A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2004905611 2004-09-28
AU2004905611A AU2004905611A0 (en) 2004-09-28 Package spout

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2006034546A1 true WO2006034546A1 (fr) 2006-04-06

Family

ID=36118510

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU2005/001490 WO2006034546A1 (fr) 2004-09-28 2005-09-28 Bec de conditionnement

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2006034546A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009065120A1 (fr) * 2007-11-16 2009-05-22 Hickey Charles P Fermeture refermable par collage
EP3094569A4 (fr) * 2014-01-10 2017-09-20 Exopack, LLC Sacs dotés d'accessoires d'ouverture pour distribution

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3250436A (en) * 1963-12-31 1966-05-10 Albert J Kurtz Pouring spout assembly for a dispensing container
US5014888A (en) * 1989-05-26 1991-05-14 Bryan William T Closure for a container
US6213388B1 (en) * 1997-12-17 2001-04-10 Kellogg Company Dispensing assembly for a lined carton and process and apparatus thereof
WO2002010026A1 (fr) * 2000-07-28 2002-02-07 Mckenna S Joseph Dispositif de fixation de bec verseur pour paquets

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3250436A (en) * 1963-12-31 1966-05-10 Albert J Kurtz Pouring spout assembly for a dispensing container
US5014888A (en) * 1989-05-26 1991-05-14 Bryan William T Closure for a container
US6213388B1 (en) * 1997-12-17 2001-04-10 Kellogg Company Dispensing assembly for a lined carton and process and apparatus thereof
WO2002010026A1 (fr) * 2000-07-28 2002-02-07 Mckenna S Joseph Dispositif de fixation de bec verseur pour paquets

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009065120A1 (fr) * 2007-11-16 2009-05-22 Hickey Charles P Fermeture refermable par collage
EP3094569A4 (fr) * 2014-01-10 2017-09-20 Exopack, LLC Sacs dotés d'accessoires d'ouverture pour distribution

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