Patent Application
20240199288
The present invention concerns a container closure assembly which incorporates a foldable pouring spout through which contents of the container are dispensed.
These foldable pouring spouts are usually made from a flexible plastics material such as LDPE. They are typically formed separately from the rest of the container and are fitted to a filling and dispensing neck of the container at the container filling line. From then on, the spout is intended to remain permanently secured to the neck during the rest of the container's usage. The folded pouring spout is typically supplied to the container filler (packaged goods supplier) as part of an assembly which further includes a removable and reclosable cap, lid or stopper. The closure assembly will normally incorporate tamper evidencing (TE) features which are broken or otherwise irreversibly visibly changed the first time that the spout is unfolded (extended) and/or the first time that the closure cap etc. is removed from the assembly. Intact TE features thus provide the consumer with some assurance that the container contents have not been interfered with in the supply chain. These pouring spout and closure assemblies may be applied to suitable filling and dispensing necks on any type or style of container or container component—e.g., steel drums, pails, cans, and their lids; blow-molded plastics barrels, cans, and bottles; injection-molded barrel and pail lids and covers; among others.
Current foldable pouring spouts are typically crimped on to the container filling and dispensing neck with metal retainers that can rust and may not be easily recyclable with the rest of a container, such as a plastic pail. Other offerings that are all-plastic can be tampered with and removed, thus allowing the container contents to be compromised, resulting in brand owner dissatisfaction. Historically brand owners have been sensitive to the level of tamper evidence provided by the container that packages their products. Container content pilfering or tampering could result in a large claim against the company. Providing tamper evident solutions over the years has evolved from metal crimp ring affixed pouring spouts that had a tear away plastic retainer between the crimp ring and the cap, to an all-plastic press-in pouring spout assembly that provided improved recyclability while providing a degree of tamper evidence and pry-off resistance: see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,641,099A and 5,788,100A. Albeit with some difficulty, it is nevertheless possible to pry these pouring spout assemblies off the dispensing neck without noticeable damage. A patient person with the necessary know-how could surreptitiously remove these spouts and replace them, which is potentially a problem for brand owners. According to both of these patents, an annular, upstanding filling and dispensing neck has a substantially cylindrical inner surface defining a container opening. An upper, outer edge of the neck is configured with a radially outwardly extending lip portion and a recessed area underneath the lip portion which is used for interlocking and snap-fit engagement with the all-plastic closure. The fixed end of the pouring spout includes an outer flange with annular inner and outer walls which are joined by an upper wall and which together define an inverted annular channel. A lip extends radially inwards from a bottom edge portion of the outer wall so as to enter the recessed area underneath the radially outwardly extending lip portion of the neck and help form the snap-fit engagement. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,099A an outer ring is united with a spout closing cap by a plurality of frangible elements. The outer ring is assembled onto and around the outer flange of the pouring spout and the thus assembled ring and flange are together snap-fitted onto the upstanding filling and dispensing neck. To enable the outer wall of the outer flange to be stripped from its mold tool without undue difficulty, the radially inwardly extending lip of the outer wall is of small cross-section, with a small axial depth. To enable the spout and closure assembly to be press-fitted onto the filling and dispensing neck with sufficiently low an axial force to minimise risk of the frangible elements breaking, the cross-section of the outer ring must also be kept sufficiently small. The small cross-sections of the radially inwardly extending lip of the outer wall and of the outer ring make the ring and flange assembly vulnerable to being pried off the filling and dispensing neck without visible damage or breakage of the frangible elements. A similar arrangement is used in U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,100A, except that the outer flange of the pouring spout is first fitted to the filling and dispensing neck with the outer ring held above the outer flange by the frangible elements which connect it to the spout closing cap. The outer ring is then pressed downwards over and around the outer flange, breaking the frangible elements in the process. This causes the entire outer wall of the outer flange to hinge slightly inward about its connection to the outer flange top wall, pressing the outer wall into tight sealing engagement with the filling and dispensing neck. Because by design there are then no intact frangible elements between the outer ring and the spout closing cap, the outer ring may be made more robust, with a thicker cross-section compared to the outer ring of U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,099A. The outer ring of U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,100A may therefore have an increased pry-off resistance. However, because the outer ring lacks any anti-amper features, it is nevertheless still vulnerable to pry-off and replacement without visible damage to the closure assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,376A and WO2009/105855A1 concern spouts that are insert molded to a pail cover during the cover molding operation. These insert molded pouring spouts have not achieved extensive commercial acceptance due to very high capital costs for robotic insertion equipment.
The present invention provides a container closure assembly comprising:
A first axial end of the securing ring may be connected to the closure member by the frangible connection. The frangible connection may for example comprise a plurality of frangible bridges distributed at intervals around the circumference of the securing ring. Each frangible bridge may extend generally radially between the securing ring and the closure member. These bridges are easily broken when it is desired to extend the pouring spout and remove the closure member for the first time, for dispensing the container contents. This provides a clear visible indication that the container contents may have been accessed. Some or all of the frangible bridges may also be broken to leave a visible indication if an attempt is made to pry off the securing ring. Additionally, or alternatively, the frangible connection may comprise a rupturable membrane. This provides tamper-evidencing functions similar to the frangible bridges but may also provide an uninterrupted surface between the securing ring and closure member for reception of printed graphics, adhesive labels and the like. The membrane may also shield the region that it covers against ingress of dirt, water or like contaminants from the surrounding environment.
A second axial end of the securing ring remote from the frangible connection may define an entrance through which the mounting flange passes as the securing ring is snap-fittingly engaged over and around it; the entrance comprising a radially inwardly extending protrusion which provides the snap-fit engagement between the securing ring and the mounting flange.
A rim of a side of the mounting flange which faces towards the first end of the foldable pouring spout may comprise a chamfer for guiding the mounting flange through the entrance and for compressing the mounting flange and/or expanding the securing ring as the mounting flange is pressed past the radially inwardly extending protrusion to provide the snap-fit engagement between the securing ring and the mounting flange.
A shoulder may be formed at an end of the radially outer wall's proximal portion adjacent to the central flexure zone, and the radially inwardly extending protrusion may be configured to engage behind this shoulder when the securing ring is snap-fittingly engaged over and around the mounting flange.
The radially inwardly extending protrusion may also hold the distal end portion of the radially outer wall in the radially inner position when the securing ring is snap-fittingly engaged over and around the mounting flange.
With the securing ring snap-fittingly engaged over and around the mounting flange, co-operating surfaces of the radially inwardly extending protrusion and the distal end portion of the radially outer wall may be configured to contact each other at a generally annular region that lies axially inward, toward the first end of the foldable pouring spout, relative to an annular region of the radially outer wall that makes initial contact with the container neck as the container closure assembly is pushed onto it. This allows the distal end portion of the radially outer wall to act as a lever which can provide a mechanical advantage for expanding the securing ring, thereby reducing the force required to snap the container closure assembly onto the container neck.
With the securing ring snap-fittingly engaged over and around the mounting flange, co-operating surfaces of the radially inwardly extending protrusion and the distal end portion of the radially outer wall may be configured to contact each other at a generally annular region, wherein one or both of the co-operating surfaces is curved in axial cross-section, so as to provide at least a degree of rolling contact therebetween as the container closure assembly is snapped onto the container neck. This may serve to reduce frictional forces, and hence the force required to snap the container closure assembly onto the container neck.
With the container closure assembly snapped onto the container neck, the securing ring may be configured to provide an enhanced interference fit between the container neck and an annular sealing land within the mounting flange's circumferential groove.
With the container closure assembly snapped onto the container neck, the radially outer wall's distal end portion and central flexure zone and the radially inwardly extending protrusion of the securing ring may be configured to press an annular sealing land within the mounting flange's circumferential groove into tighter sealing engagement with the container neck.
At its axial side opposite to the first end of the pouring spout when snap-fitted over and around the mounting flange, the securing ring may comprise an annular tamper-evidencing lip of reduced thickness. The tamper-evidencing lip may be designed to be visibly damaged if an attempt is made to insert a pry-off tool between the securing ring and the body of the container, with the aim of prying the closure assembly off the container neck.
With the pouring spout in its folded position and the securing ring snap-fittingly engaged over and around the mounting flange, the closure member may be configured to extend radially so as to cover the pouring spout from the mounting flange inward. The pouring spout (especially its vulnerable recessed folded region) is therefore shielded against environmental dirt/water accumulation. An annular sealing lip may be provided on at least one of the pouring spout or closure member, which is engageable with the other of the closure member or pouring spout, to improve such shielding.
The circumferentially extending, axially open groove of the mounting flange may be defined in part by a radially inner wall configured to extend through the container neck when the container closure assembly has been snap-fitted onto the container neck. A distal portion of the radially inner wall may extend beyond the container neck and comprise a radially outer bead to assist in securing the container closure assembly to the container neck. The inner wall distal portion may be radially apertured so that the container contents may be substantially fully drained through the container neck by inversion of the container, without pooling around the inner wall distal portion.
The closure member may comprise at least one integrally formed, movably connected bail handle e.g., connected to the remainder of the closure member by a living hinge. The bail handle may comprise a lift tab received in a recess formed in the axial side of the securing ring adjacent to the pouring spout first end when the bail handle is in a stowed (lowered) position; the lift tab then extending radially at least partly through the recess, whereby the bail handle may be easily grasped and lifted to raised position for extending the pouring spout and removing the closure member from the pouring spout's first end.
Herein, the term “container” is to be construed as including components of a container, such as a container lid or cover.
The invention and some of its optional features and advantages is further explained below with reference to illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings.
The unitary spout closure member 12 and securing ring 22 shown in
The closure member 12 may comprise at least one integrally formed bail handle connected to it by a living hinge. For example, the illustrative drawings show a pair of bail handles 26 formed at the outer circumference of the top wall 14. Each bail handle 26 is delineated from the remainder of the top wall 14 by an arcuate slot 28. A pair of diametral extensions 30 of the top wall 14 are uninterrupted by the slots 28. These extensions form mountings to which ends of each bail handle 26 are connected by living hinges 32. The frangible connections 24 therefore interconnect the bail handles 26 and the securing ring 22. Each bail handle has a centrally positioned lift tab 34 which, in the as-molded condition of the unitary molding 10 comprising the spout closure member 12 and securing ring 22, extends radially into a recess 36 provided in the upper axial end face of the securing ring 22. The recess 36 therefore houses the lift tab 34 when the corresponding bail handle is in its lowered position. It therefore provides the lift tab with a degree of protection against accidental knocks, which could otherwise cause premature breakage of the frangible connections 24. The lift tabs are sufficiently spaced from the surrounding parts of the securing ring to nevertheless remain readily finger-accessible by the end user, so that they can be grasped to raise the bail handles 26 when required, e.g., even when the user is encumbered by wearing protective gloves. Additional frangible connections 38 may be provided between the bail handles 26 and the remainder of the closure member top wall 14, e.g., spanning the arcuate slots 28. Although the illustrative drawings show the frangible connections 38 in the form of frangible bridges, any suitable frangible connection may be used—for example, a rupturable membrane to maintain a substantially continuous upper surface of the closure member top wall 14, resulting in the same advantages as previously discussed in relation to the frangible connections 24. Lifting the bail handles 26 therefore breaks the frangible connections 24 (and the frangible connections 38, if present), allowing the foldable pouring spout to be pulled out and extended, by virtue of the closure member still being sealingly fitted and mechanically connected to the first end of the foldable pouring spout at this time, as further explained later.
The illustrative foldable pouring spout 40 of
The closure member 12 is removably sealingly engageable across the dispensing aperture 44 to selectively allow or prevent dispensing of container contents therethrough. The closure member 12 and securing ring 22 comprising the unitary molding 10 can be assembled together with the foldable pouring spout 40 by the manufacturer, to form closure assemblies 10, 40 for delivery to a container filler. The closure assemblies 10, 40 may then be used by the container filer to close and seal the filled containers at the filling line. The closure assemblies 10, 40 are made by snap-fitting the securing ring 22 over and around the mounting flange 48 with the frangible connection 24 intact. Where a (right handed) screw thread connection 20 is used to secure the closure member 12 to the pouring spout first end 42 across the dispensing aperture 44 (as shown by way of example in the illustrative drawings), automated equipment can be used to press mounting flange 48 into the securing ring 22, while also rotating the closure member/securing ring unitary molding 10 clockwise relative to the folded pouring spout 40, when viewed from the unitary molding-side. In this way, the closure member 12 can be screwed fully onto the pouring spout first end 42, so that the assemblies are delivered to the container filler in a fully closed condition, ready to seal the containers. The equipment may simultaneously engage the securing ring 22 and the closure member 12 (e.g. via the recesses 36 and the diametral extensions 30 respectively) to prevent any relative co-axial rotation, thereby relieving any shear forces on the frangible connection 24. The thus assembled closure assembly 10, 40 can then be snap-fitted over and around the container neck 50 by the container filler. The frangible connections 24 and the retaining ring 22 thereby serve to retain the spout 40 in its folded, retracted configuration during shipping; preventing the spout 40 and cap 12 from popping up, should there be a rise in pressure within the container or a reduction in ambient pressure, e.g. during air transportation. To provide an additional fluid seal and tamper indicating means, a tear-out diaphragm 41 (
A groove 52 is provided extending circumferentially about the annular mounting flange 48 and which is open in an axial direction opposite to the first end 46 of the foldable pouring spout 40 for reception of the container neck 50 in such snap-fitting engagement. The groove 52 is defined in part by a radially outer wall having a proximal portion 54 lying towards the first end 42 of the foldable pouring spout and a distal end portion 56 lying away from the first end 42 of the foldable pouring spout. As best seen in
To hold the components 10, 40 of the closure assembly together in snap-fitted engagement, a shoulder 72 may be formed at an end of the radially outer wall's proximal portion 56 adjacent to the central flexure zone 58, and the radially inwardly extending protrusion 62 may be configured to engage behind this shoulder when the securing ring 22 is snap-fittingly engaged over and around the mounting flange 48. The distal end portion 56 of the radially outer wall comprises a chamfer 74 at its radially inner side and which extends radially inwards towards the first end 42 of the foldable pouring spout 40 for guiding the closure assembly 10, 40 into snap-fitting engagement with the container neck 50. The distal end portion 56 may therefore be molded in (or moved to) the radially outer position to ease the extraction of the foldable pouring spout 40 from the mold tool. When the pouring spout 40 and closure member molding 10 are assembled together, the distal end portion 56 of the radially outer wall is held in the radially inner position. This decreases the slope of the chamfer 74 on the inner side of the distal end portion measured relative to the axis along which the pouring spout and closure member assembly is pressed onto the container neck. (Compare
The radially inwardly extending protrusion 62 may also hold the distal end portion 56 of the radially outer wall in the radially inner position when the securing ring 22 is snap-fittingly engaged over and around the mounting flange 48 of the foldable pouring spout 40. For example, as shown in the illustrative drawings (see e.g.
With the securing ring 22 snap-fittingly engaged over and around the mounting flange 48, co-operating surfaces of the radially inwardly extending protrusion 62 and the distal end portion 56 of the radially outer wall may be configured to contact each other at a generally annular region 76 (
With the securing ring 22 snap-fittingly engaged over and around the mounting flange 48, co-operating surfaces of the radially inwardly extending protrusion 62 and the distal end portion 56 of the radially outer wall may be configured to contact each other at the generally annular region 76, wherein one or both of the co-operating surfaces is curved in radial cross-section, so as to provide at least a degree of rolling contact therebetween as the container closure assembly is snapped onto the container neck. The rolling contact may serve to reduce frictional forces, and hence the force required to snap the container closure assembly 10, 40 onto the container neck 50. In the illustrative example shown in the drawings, the contact surface of the distal end portion 56 is substantially straight (frustoconical) and the cooperating contact surface of the radially inwardly extending protrusion 62 is convexly curved. However other arrangements are possible which also provide suitable rolling contact. For example, the distal end portion 56's contact surface may be slightly concave; or the protrusion 62's contact surface may be straight or slightly concave, with the distal end portion 56's contact surface more convex.
With the container closure assembly 10, 40 snapped onto the container neck 50, the securing ring 22 may be configured to provide an enhanced interference fit between the container neck 50 and an annular sealing land within the mounting flange's circumferential groove 52. For example, the securing ring 22 may press the typically softer and more flexible proximal portion 54 of the circumferential groove's outer wall radially inwards. An annular sealing land 80 (
With the container closure assembly 10, 40 snapped onto the container neck 50, the radially outer wall's distal end portion 56 and central flexure zone 58 and the radially inwardly extending protrusion 62 of the securing ring 22 may be configured to press an annular sealing land within the mounting flange's circumferential groove 52 into tighter sealing engagement with the container neck 50. For example, as the distal end portion 56 is pivoted by the protrusion 62 inwardly and upwardly on the central flexure zone 58 into the neck annular undercut region 60, annular sealing land 80 on the inner surface of the flange 48's outer wall may constrict against the protruding upper rim of the container neck 50 formed above the annular undercut 60.
At its axial side opposite to the first end 42 of the pouring spout 40 when snap-fitted over and around the mounting flange 48, the securing ring 22 may comprise an annular tamper-evidencing lip 82 (best seen in
The circumferentially extending, axially open groove 52 of the mounting flange 48 may be defined in part by a radially inner wall 84 configured to extend through the container neck 50 when the container closure assembly 10, 40 has been snap-fitted onto the container neck. A distal portion 86 of the radially inner wall 84 may be configured to then extend axially inwardly beyond the container neck. The inner wall distal portion 86 may be radially apertured so that the container contents may be fully drained through the container neck by inversion of the container, without pooling around the inner wall distal portion. For this purpose, the illustrated example has drainage apertures in the form of V-shaped notches 88 in the radially inner wall distal portion 86, extending to the level of the inner surface 90 of the container wall adjacent to the neck 50. The apertures/notches 88 are distributed about the circumference of the radially inner wall 84, so as to provide a series of radially extending drainage channels. However, the detailed form of the drainage apertures is not critical—many other forms will be readily apparent, which allow substantially complete drainage of the container contents through the container neck 50 when the container is inverted. For example, some or all of the drainage apertures 88 may extend generally radially through the distal portion 86 of the radially inner wall 84 with a closed periphery, rather than having an open side (“holes”, not “channels”). To assist in securing the container closure assembly 10, 40 to the container neck 50, the radially inner wall distal portion 86 may comprise a radially outer bead, an example of which is illustrated in
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63433940 | Dec 2022 | US |
