U.S. patent application number 11/368908 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-14 for spout fitting for liquid-containing pouch.
This patent application is currently assigned to GEORG MENSHEN GmbH & Co., KG. Invention is credited to Frank Romer.
Application Number | 20060201967 11/368908 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36607591 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060201967 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Romer; Frank |
September 14, 2006 |
Spout fitting for liquid-containing pouch
Abstract
A pouch adapted to contain a fluent material has a fitting
having a base fitted hermetically to the pouch and having a surface
exposed in the pouch. A tubular spout projects outward from the
base and forms with the base a throughgoing passage opening into
the pouch and having an inner surface. A liner of a barrier
material covers both of the surfaces. A layer of plastic covers
inner surfaces of the liner. This layer of plastic can be unitary
with the base and spout so that the liner is imbedded in the base
and spout, or a separate not unitary piece fitted over the liner to
the fitting. Normally the liner is unitarily formed of one piece,
and is in fact a generally T-shaped body like the combined spout
and base.
Inventors: |
Romer; Frank; (Finnentrop,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE FIRM OF KARL F ROSS
5676 RIVERDALE AVENUE
PO BOX 900
RIVERDALE (BRONX)
NY
10471-0900
US
|
Assignee: |
GEORG MENSHEN GmbH & Co.,
KG
|
Family ID: |
36607591 |
Appl. No.: |
11/368908 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/92 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/5883 20130101;
B65D 2251/0015 20130101; B65D 2251/0096 20130101; B65D 51/225
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/092 |
International
Class: |
B65D 35/00 20060101
B65D035/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 11, 2005 |
DE |
102005011770.8 |
Claims
1. In combination with a pouch adapted to contain a fluent
material, a fitting comprising: a base fitted hermetically to the
pouch and having a surface exposed in the pouch; a tubular spout
projecting outward from the base, the spout and base forming a
throughgoing passage opening into the pouch and having an inner
surface; and a liner of a barrier material covering both of the
surfaces.
2. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 1, further comprising a
layer of plastic covering inner surfaces of the liner.
3. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 2 wherein the plastic
layer is unitary with the base and spout, whereby the liner is
imbedded in the base and spout.
4. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 2 wherein the plastic
layer is not unitary with the base or spout.
5. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 1 wherein the liner is
unitarily formed of one piece.
6. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 1, further comprising a
frangible layer of barrier material covering an outer end of the
passage on the spout.
7. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 6 wherein the frangible
layer contacts the liner.
8. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 6 wherein the frangible
layer is formed with a weakening line.
9. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 6 wherein the frangible
layer is a foil.
10. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 9 wherein the foil of
the frangible layer is sealed over the outer end of the
passage.
11. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 1 wherein the spout is
formed with an external screwthread, the fitting further comprising
an internally threaded cap fittable over the spout.
12. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 11, further comprising
a frangible layer of barrier material covering an outer end of the
passage on the spout, the cap being formed with an inwardly
extending projection that can be forced through the frangible
layer.
13. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 12 wherein the cap has
an end wall formed with the projection.
14. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 11, further comprising
a tamper-indicating ring surrounding the spout; and a frangible
connection between the ring and cap.
15. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 1 wherein the barrier
material is metal.
16. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 15 wherein the metal
is aluminum.
17. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 1 wherein the barrier
material is a plastic.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a flexible pouch intended
to hold a fluent product. More particularly this invention concerns
a drink pouch with a built-in spout.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is standard to package fluent materials, in particular
comestible liquids, in flexible pouches that typically are made of
a pair of welded-together foils. At one edge there is a capped
spout fitting forming an outlet through which the liquid can be
withdrawn.
[0003] When used with a comestible liquid, e.g. fruit juice, the
walls of the pouch are formed of plastic, e.g. polypropylene or
polyethylene, laminated with some substance, typically a metal like
aluminum, that forms an impervious layer preventing the liquid from
soaking into the plastic and preventing any of the constituents of
the plastic from leaching into the liquid.
[0004] The spout fitting is at its simplest a molded plastic
element that has a boat-shaped base forming a pair of outwardly
convex side faces meeting at ends at points and to which the inner
faces of the two panels forming the bag are laminated. Projecting
from this base is a tubular spout, and a passage extends through
the spout and base and has an inner end inside the pouch and an
outer end. A removable cap covers this outer end until the pouch
contents are to be poured or sucked out.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an improved spout fitting for liquid-containing pouch.
[0006] Another object is the provision of such an improved spout
fitting for liquid-containing pouch that has certain advantages
over the prior-art structures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A pouch adapted to contain a fluent material has a fitting
having a base fitted hermetically to the pouch and having a surface
exposed in the pouch. A tubular spout projects outward from the
base and forms with the base a throughgoing passage opening into
the pouch and having an inner surface. According to the invention a
liner of a barrier material covers both of the surfaces.
[0008] The liner therefore forms a barrier and prevents, for
instance, any plasticizer from the plastic spout fitting from
leaching into the contents of the pouch. According to the invention
a layer of plastic covers inner surfaces of the liner. This layer
of plastic can be unitary with the base and spout so that the liner
is imbedded in the base and spout, or a separate not unitary piece
fitted over the liner to the fitting. Normally the liner is
unitarily formed of one piece, and is in fact a generally T-shaped
body like the combined spout and base.
[0009] Furthermore according to the invention a frangible layer of
barrier material covers an outer end of the passage on the spout.
This frangible layer contacts the liner and is typically formed
with a weakening line. It can also be a foil. Either way, the foil
of the frangible layer is sealed over the outer end of the
passage.
[0010] In accordance with the invention the spout can be formed
with an external screwthread for holding an internally threaded cap
fittable over the spout. This cap can be formed with an inwardly
extending projection that can be forced through the frangible layer
mentioned above. Normally in this case the cap has an end wall
formed with the projection, which has a point that can pierce the
foil. The cap can also be associated with a tamper-indicating ring
surrounding the spout and a frangible connection between the ring
and cap. In fact the tamper ring can serve to hold the pointed
projection of the cap out of engagement with the foil, so that only
after the tamper ring is broken off the cap and taken off the spout
can the cap be screwed down far enough to pierce the barrier
foil.
[0011] The barrier material in accordance with the invention can be
metal, for example aluminum. It can also be a plastic.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0012] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will
become more readily apparent from the following description, it
being understood that any feature described with reference to one
embodiment of the invention can be used where possible with any
other embodiment and that reference numerals or letters not
specifically mentioned with reference to one figure but identical
to those of another refer to structure that is functionally if not
structurally identical. In the accompanying drawing:
[0013] FIG. 1 is an axial section through a drink-pouch spout
fitting according to the invention in closed original
condition;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a view along line II-II of FIG. 1 also showing
part of the drink pouch;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 1 of a second embodiment of the
invention in closed original condition;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 2 taken along line IV-IV of FIG.
3;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 3, but in closed condition after
opening;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 3 of a third embodiment of the
invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 2 taken along line VII-VII of
FIG. 6;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 5 of the third embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a view like FIG. 3 of a fourth embodiment of the
invention;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a view like FIG. 2 taken along line X-X of FIG.
9;
[0023] FIG. 11 is a view like FIG. 5 of the fourth embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 12 is a view like FIG. 3 of a fifth embodiment of the
invention;
[0025] FIG. 13 is a view like FIG. 2 taken along line XIII-XIII of
FIG. 12;
[0026] FIG. 14 is a view like FIG. 3 of a fifth embodiment of the
invention; and
[0027] FIG. 15 is a view like FIG. 2 taken along line XV-XV of FIG.
14.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
[0028] As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a spout fitting according to the
invention basically has a cylindrically tubular spout 1 centered on
an axis A, forming an axially throughgoing cylindrical passage 2,
and formed unitarily with a boat-shaped base 3 having outwardly
convex outer faces 4 to which are welded inner faces of side panels
of a drink pouch 5. An outer screwthread 12 on the base 1 can mate
with an inner screwthread 14 of a cap 13 that can close the outer
end of the passage 2. The spout 1 and its unitary base 3 and the
cap 13 are formed of an inexpensive and durable synthetic resin
such as polypropylene or polyethylene. These plastics are not
barrier materials and often contain plasticizers that could leach
into any contents of the pouch 5.
[0029] According to the invention this problem is solved by
providing a liner 7 either of a metallic foil, e.g. of aluminum, or
a plastic, e.g. a polyamide, that can function as a barrier. This
liner 7 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is in fact T-shaped and has a tubular part
extending the full length of and fitting in the spout 1 and a flat
base part forming an inner surface 6 exposed in the pouch 5. It can
also be a metal/plastic laminate forming a barrier.
[0030] Here also the outer end of the passage 2 over both the liner
7 and spout 1 is covered by a barrier foil 11, typically aluminum,
that can be pierced to gain access to the pouch contents, and that
serves as a tamper indicator.
[0031] In FIGS. 3 through 5 the outer end of the spout part of the
liner 7 is closed by a wall 9 having a center part 9a defined by a
parting groove 10. The cap 13 is connected at a break line 17 to a
tamper ring 16 and has a center point 15. For use the cap 13 is
first unscrewed so that the tamper ring 16 can be removed. Then the
cap 13 is screwed back on so that its point 15 breaks out the
center part 9a to push it inward into a plurality of segments when
the parting groove 10 is star-shaped as shown in FIG. 5. The cap 13
can then be removed and the contents of the pouch 5 accessed, for
instance by squeezing them out of the pouch 5, by sucking them out,
or by inserting a straw through the passage 2.
[0032] In the embodiments of FIGS. 6 through 8, and 12 and 13 the
barrier liner 7 can be covered internally by an inner layer 8 of
plastic. In FIGS. 14 and 15 the liner 7 is actually imbedded in a
plastic body that unitarily forms the spout 1, base 3, and liner
8.
[0033] The embodiment of FIGS. 9 through 11 has a liner 7 and a
foil 11.
* * * * *