U.S. patent application number 13/803145 was filed with the patent office on 2013-11-07 for tamper-resistant cap with spout plug.
This patent application is currently assigned to POUCH PAC INNOVATIONS, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is POUCH PAC INNOVATIONS, LLC. Invention is credited to R. Charles Murray.
Application Number | 20130292385 13/803145 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49511755 |
Filed Date | 2013-11-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130292385 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Murray; R. Charles |
November 7, 2013 |
TAMPER-RESISTANT CAP WITH SPOUT PLUG
Abstract
The present invention is for a fitment assembly for use with a
flexible pouch, the fitment assembly including a fitment having a
spout tube, and a cap for sealing the spout tube. The cap for the
fitment includes a plug portion. The plug portion extends from the
cap, and is received by the spout tube of the fitment, thereby
blocking product contained within flexible pouch from entering the
spout tube when the cap is attached to the fitment. The cap further
has a sealed recess which is designed to hold a tablet.
Inventors: |
Murray; R. Charles;
(Sarasota, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
POUCH PAC INNOVATIONS, LLC |
Sarasota |
FL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
POUCH PAC INNOVATIONS, LLC
Sarasota
FL
|
Family ID: |
49511755 |
Appl. No.: |
13/803145 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61642860 |
May 4, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/521 ;
222/559; 53/469 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/3205 20130101;
B65D 51/28 20130101; B65D 47/127 20130101; B65D 75/5883 20130101;
B65B 5/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/521 ;
222/559; 53/469 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/28 20060101
B65D051/28; B65B 5/04 20060101 B65B005/04; B65D 47/12 20060101
B65D047/12 |
Claims
1. A fitment assembly for use with a flexible pouch, the fitment
assembly comprising: a fitment with a spout tube; a cap having a
top surface and a recess; wherein the cap is attached to the
fitment to seal the spout tube, and the recess is cylindrical in
shape, the recess extends from the top surface and the recess is
perpendicular to the top surface.
2. The fitment assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a tablet, a
sealing member, wherein the tablet is disposed within the recess,
and the recess is closed by the sealing member.
3. The fitment assembly of claim 2 wherein the sealing member is a
foil seal and is attached to the fitment with an induction heating
device.
4. The fitment assembly of claim 2 wherein the sealing member is
attached to the top surface of the cap.
5. The fitment assembly of claim 1 wherein the spout tube is
cylindrical in shape, and the recess and the spout tube are coaxial
when the cap is installed on the fitment.
6. The fitment assembly of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the
recess is smaller than the diameter of the spout tube.
7. A fitment assembly for use with a flexible pouch, the fitment
assembly comprising: a fitment with a spout tube; a cap having a
plug portion; the plug portion extending from the cap to be
received by the spout tube of the fitment when the cap is attached
to the fitment, the plug portion being sized to prevent product
from entering the spout tube.
8. The fitment assembly of claim 7 wherein the plug portion and the
spout tube are cylindrical in shape.
9. A method of assembling a fitment assembly comprising: providing
a cap with a recess; providing a seal member; providing a tablet;
depositing the tablet into the recess of the cap; and sealing the
recess of the cap with the seal member.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising: providing a fitment
with a spout tube; securing the cap to the fitment to close the
spout tube.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/642,860 filed May 4, 2012, incorporated
herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a flexible pouch
for packaging a product and more specifically to a flexible pouch
having a fitment especially designed for preventing coagulation of
product within a tube spout of the fitment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Various types of disposable portable containers are known in
the art for storing a fluid or dry product such as a liquid,
granular material, powder, or the like. One example of such a
container is a flexible pouch. Consumers prefer the convenience of
flexible pouches due to their shape, size, and shelf life. Flexible
pouches have been used for some time to distribute beverages such
as fruit juice and the like. More recently flexible pouches have
been utilized for solid food products.
[0004] Flexible pouches can be made from a flexible material,
preferably a laminate composed of sheets of plastic or aluminum or
the like. The flexible pouch often has an opening means at a top
portion for access to the contents of the pouch. The opening
typically can be a perforated section designed to be able to tear
off the top portion of the pouch or it may be a plastic fitment
sealed to the flexible pouch that optionally may allow sealing of
the pouch after it has been opened.
[0005] Fitments are used for filling and dispensing material from
flexible pouches. These fitments typically have a cap and spout. In
addition to the spout tube, the fitment typically has a canoe
portion which is sealed between the front and back panels of a
pouch. Once the canoe is sealed to the pouch, material may be
filled into the pouch through the spout tube. After the flexible
pouch is filled, a cap may be affixed to the spout tube by
threading the cap onto the tube or by a press and snap type
attachment. In the case of many products, it is necessary to
utilize a tamper-resistant device to indicate whether or not the
integrity of the package has been compromised before sale. In the
case of food products, it is frequently necessary to pasteurize the
products before distribution. In such case, the pouch is filled and
then heated to a sufficient temperature to pasteurize the contents
of the pouch. After pasteurization the pouch is cooled in an
inverted position to ensure that no air is retained within the
pouch. However, after cooling it has been found that some products
coagulate within the spout tube, and when a user opens the package
there may be undesired food products coagulated within the
spout.
[0006] Given the above limitations of present fitment designs, a
special fitment that avoids coagulation of product in the spout
tube of the fitment is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is for a fitment assembly for use with
a flexible pouch, the fitment assembly including a fitment having a
spout tube, and a cap for sealing the spout tube. Additionally, the
fitment has a recess. The recess is designed to hold a tablet, for
example a tablet that dissolves in water to add flavor to the
water. The tablet is sealed within the recess for the fitment with
a sealing member. Because the flexible pouch only contains water
until the tablet is added by the consumer, coagulation of the
product in the spout tube post manufacture but before consumption
is not possible. Water alone will not coagulate.
[0008] The cap for the fitment of the present invention further
includes a plug portion. The plug portion extends from the cap, and
is received by the spout tube of the fitment, thereby blocking
product contained within flexible pouch from entering the spout
tube when the cap is attached to the fitment. Blocking product from
residing within the spout tube prevents coagulation within the
spout tube because there is no product within the spout tube to
coagulate.
[0009] The fitment and the cap can be made of plastic, for example
by injection molding, as is known to those skilled in the art. The
sealing member can made from flexible plastic sheeting, foil, and
can be bonded to the cap over the recess using an adhesive or other
bonding method such as heat and pressure. The seal member can be
made and secured using any other material or method known to those
skilled in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flexible pouch with a
fitment and a cap;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the flexible pouch,
fitment and cap;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a top view of a spout tube with a pair of
flanges;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the top of the cap;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom of the cap;
[0015] FIG. 6 is an perspective exploded view of the cap, a tablet,
and a sealing member;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cap and sealing member;
and
[0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the steps for a method
of manufacturing the flexible pouch with the tablet and sealing
member.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the method of manufacturing the
flexible pouch with the tablet and sealing member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] The preferred embodiment for a fitment assembly 20 for use
with a flexible pouch 25 includes a fitment 30 with a spout tube 35
and a cap 40 with a recess 45. The fitment 30 has a canoe portion
50 which is sealed between a front and back panel of the flexible
pouch 25. The opening of spout tube 35 extends through the canoe
portion 50 and allows access to an interior of the flexible pouch
25, for example to fill the flexible pouch 25 with product, or to
access the product once it is contained in the flexible pouch 25.
The spout tube 35 of the preferred embodiment is cylindrical in
shape.
[0020] The fitment 30 of the preferred embodiment includes a
fitment threaded portion 55 which encircles the spout tube 35. The
fitment threaded portion 55 mates with a cap threaded portion 60 on
the cap 40 to secure the cap 40 to the fitment 30.
[0021] The cap 40 has an elliptical profile with a longitudinal
axis which is designed to extend with the longitudinal axis of the
canoe portion 50 of the spout tube 35, or to put it another way,
along the width of the pouch 25. The cap 40 has an outer gripping
portion 65 having a lower portion which extends normally from a
bottom elliptically shaped edge. The gripping portion 65 has an
upper rugby ball shaped portion which curves inwardly from the
lower portion to a center opening 70. A cylindrical portion 75 is
supported by two pairs of arms 80, 85 in the center opening 70. A
first pair of arms 80 extends along the longitudinal axis of the
cap 40 from the inner surface of the gripping portion 65 to the
cylindrical portion 75. A second pair of arms 85 extends at a 90
degree angle to the first pair of arms 80. The cylindrical portion
75 has the cap threaded portion 60 on its interior which extends
upwardly from the bottom of the cylindrical portion 75 to the
top.
[0022] A ring 90 is suspended from the bottom of the cylinder 75 by
four thin ribbons of material which extend to the upper surface of
the ring 90. A first pair of legs 95 and a second pair legs 100
extend from the bottom surface of the ring 90. The first pair of
legs 95 is diametrically opposed from each other and has a
circumferential length which is less than a circumferential length
of each of the second pair of legs 100. One of the first pair 95
and one of the second pair 100 of legs is positioned in a spaced
apart relationship on either side of the longitudinal axis of the
cap 40. The distal portion of each leg of the first and second
pairs 95, 100 has a beveled portion 105 which slopes inwardly to
the center axis of the cap 40 to assist in mounting the cap 40 to
the spout 35.
[0023] The fitment 30 has a support ring 110 extending
circumferentially around the outer surface of the spout tube 35
spaced a distance from the canoe 50. The support ring 110 is used
to transport pouches on a fill machine. A pair of flanges 115
extend radially outwardly from the spout tube 35 above the ring 90.
Each flange 115 has flange notches 120 dimensioned to receive one
of the first pair of legs 95 and one of the second pair of legs
110. The flange notches 120 are disposed so that when the cap 40 is
threaded to the spout tube 35 the first pair of legs 95 and the
second pair of legs 100 are splayed outwardly riding over the
flanges 115 with the beveled surfaces moving the legs apart. Once
the distal portions of the first pair of legs 95 and the second
pair of legs 100 are advanced beyond the bottom surfaces of the
flanges 115, the first pair of legs 95 and the second pair of legs
100 snap inwardly beneath the flanges 115. The cap 40 is then
rotated until the first pair of legs 95 and the second pair of legs
100 align with the properly sized notches 120. The first pair of
legs 95 and the second pair of legs 100 then snap inwardly to
capture the cap 40 in a position such that the longitudinal axis of
the cap 40 is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the canoe 50
and the cap 40 is in its proper position.
[0024] When the cap 40 is removed, the first pair of legs 95 and
the second pair of legs 100 are held in the flange notches 120 to
resist against rotation of the cap 40 relative to the fitment 30.
Applying sufficient torque on the cap 40 stretches and then breaks
the ribbons so that the cap 40 can be removed and the ring 90
remains attached to the spout, thereby providing an indication as
to whether the cap 40 has been removed from the fitment 30
subsequent to initial manufacture.
[0025] The recess 45 is located on, extends from, and is
perpendicular to, a top surface 135 of the cap 40. The recess 45 is
designed to hold a tablet 125. The tablet 125 is secured within the
recess 45 by closing the recess 45 with a sealing member 130. In
the preferred embodiment, the recess 45 is a cylinder with a closed
bottom. The sealing member 130 overlays the top of the recess 45
and is sealed along the top surface 135 of the cap 40 surrounding
the recess 45.
[0026] The sealing member 130 of the preferred embodiment is a
generally circular shaped foil sheet having a larger diameter than
the recess 45, bonded to the top surface 135 of the cap 40
surrounding the recess 45. Bonding is accomplished by applying heat
and pressure, for example, with an induction heating device,
although other methods, such as adhesives or sonic welding, known
to those skilled in the art can be used. It is appreciated that the
tablet 125 can be inserted into the recess 45, and the sealing
member 130 installed to the cap 40, either before or after the cap
40 is secured to the fitment 30.
[0027] In the preferred embodiment, an inner diameter of the recess
140 is less than or equal to an inner diameter of the spout tube
145. Having the inner diameter of the recess 140 less than or equal
to the inner diameter of the spout tube 145 enables the tablet 125
to be removed from the recess 45 and added to the product contained
in the pouch 25 by depositing the tablet 125 into the spout tube
35. In this manner the product and tablet 125 can be combined
without necessitating the removal of the product from the pouch 25,
or breaking the tablet 125 into smaller pieces.
[0028] To prevent coagulation of material in the spout tube 35, the
cap 40 includes a plug portion 150. In the preferred embodiment,
the plug portion 150 extends from the cap 40 coaxially to, and is
disposed within, the cap threaded portion 60. When the cap 40 is
mounted, the plug portion 150 extends into the spout tube 35 to
prevent material from the package from entering the spout tube 35,
thereby preventing coagulation of material in the spout tube 35. In
the preferred embodiment, the spout tube 35 and the plug portion
150 are cylindrical in shape allowing the cap 40 and the plug
portion 150 to be rotated relative to the fitment 30 while the plug
portion 150 is disposed within the spout tube 35, thus enabling a
threaded securement of the cap 40 to the fitment 30. It is
appreciated that the spout tube 35 and the plug portion 150 can
have alternative geometries, oval or rectangle for example, wherein
the cap 40 is mounted to the fitment 30 with a press and snap type
mechanism.
[0029] A traditional method of forming the flexible pouch 25
involves providing a flexible sheet of laminar material. This sheet
of material can be folded to form the front panel and back panel of
the flexible pouch 25. After folding, the folded form is sealed
along its outer edges, leaving room for insertion of the fitment
30. The fitment 30 is sealed to the pouch 25 after being inserted.
As an alternative to folding a single sheet of material to form the
flexible pouch 25, multiple sheets may be used. Fitment and edge
sealing can be accomplished with adhesives. heat, pressure,
ultrasonic welding, etc. The above method is known to those skilled
in the art.
[0030] The cap 40 of the preferred embodiment is made of plastic.
It is formed by methods know to those skilled in the art, such as
injection molding.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 9, a method of assembling the flexible
pouch 25 with the fitment assembly is as follows:
[0032] The fitment 30, the cap 40 with recess 45, the tablet 125,
and the sealing member 130 are provided.
[0033] The tablet 125 is inserted into the recess 45 of the cap 40.
After the tablet 125 is inserted, the sealing member 130 is
positioned on the cap 40 to cover the recess 45. The sealing member
130 is then bonded to the cap 40, for example with the induction
heating device.
[0034] The cap 40 is installed on the fitment 30, the plug portion
150 of the cap 40 being disposed within the spout tube 35 of the
fitment 30. It is appreciated that the cap 40 can be installed on
the fitment 30 either before or after the tablet 125 is
inserted.
[0035] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner.
It is therefore to be understood that the terminology used is
intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than
limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are
possible in light of the above teachings without varying from the
scope and spirit of the invention described herein.
* * * * *