The present invention relates generally to fitments. More particularly, the invention relates to a fitment for a flexible pouch having a metering pump and spout fitment in a one piece configuration with a canoe.
It is known to produce pouches with metering dispensing systems and pumps such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,061,655. The system of previously known embodiments has a pump with a semicircular dome extending over a cavity. The cavity has a one-way valve which permits fluid to be drawn into the cavity and expelled through an outlet. The contents of a package are accessed by removing an end portion from the outlet and pushing the dome portion to pump fluid from inside the pouch into a cavity and out the outlet. However, there is no way of closing or resealing the outlet once opened. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a dispensing system for a pouch dispensing fluid such as creams, hand sanitizer, lotion, etc. which may be securely closed after use.
The present invention provides for a flexible pouch assembly for dispensing a liquid, cream, lotion, etc. which may be securely closed after use. The assembly includes a flexible pouch having an opening towards the top of the pouch. A fitment is connected to the opening of the flexible pouch. The fitment includes a canoe portion which connects directly to the opening of the flexible pouch. The canoe portion is also directly connected and fluidly connected to a metering pump. The canoe portion is molded over a tube portion of the metering pump. The canoe portion is sealed to the opening of the flexible pouch. The fitment further includes a cap connected to the canoe portion. The cap includes an outlet fluidly connected to the metering pump. The cap includes a resealable configuration, such as a lid, allowing the user to reseal the pouch after use.
A fitment for sealing a flexible pouch is provided including a canoe portion, the canoe portion connected to a metering pump, the canoe portion molded over a tube portion of the metering pump, the canoe portion sealed to the flexible pouch. A cap is provided connected to the canoe portion, the cap having an outlet, the cap in fluid communication with the metering pump, the cap having a resealable configuration. The canoe portion may include a plurality of ridges operable to melt during sealing of the pouch. These ridges may be arranged in many fashions including, but not limited to wherein the ridges are horizontally extending. The ridges are spaced apart on opposed lateral surfaces. The cap is resealable by means of a lid connected to the cap by means of a living hinge.
A flexible pouch assembly for dispensing a liquid having a flexible pouch, the flexible pouch having an upper opening. A fitment connected to the opening of the flexible pouch, the fitment having a canoe portion, the canoe portion connected to a metering pump, the canoe portion molded over a tube portion of the metering pump, the canoe portion sealed to the flexible pouch. A cap connected to the canoe portion, the cap having an outlet, the cap in fluid communication with the metering pump, the cap having a resealable configuration. The canoe portion includes a plurality of ridges operable to melt during sealing of the pouch. The ridges are horizontally extending. The ridges are spaced apart on opposed lateral surfaces. The cap is resealable by means of a lid connected to the cap by means of a living hinge. The flexible pouch may include an indicator operable to instruct the user how to operate the flexible pouch.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a flexible pouch having a fitment at the top. The fitment includes a canoe portion to which the panels of the pouch are affixed. The fitment includes a spout with a channel which extends vertically through the canoe portion and connects to a tube portion of the metering pump. A cap is mounted by a living hinge on top of the canoe portion. The metering pump is suspended from the bottom of the canoe portion to draw the contents of the pouch into the spout and through the channel and out through the cap portion.
A fitment for dispensing fluid from a flexible pouch is provided where the fitment includes a pump and a canoe portion having a passage in fluid communication with the pump, the canoe portion having side walls mounted to the flexible pouch whereby activation of the pump draws fluid from the pouch and through the passage to dispense the fluid.
In reference again to
A base plate for the pump extends downwardly on the side of a lower portion of the pump. The base plate may be molded integrally with the fitment or heat welded to the fitment. The pump has a top portion secured to the base plate. The top portion has a ring surrounding a dome which extends over a one-way flapper valve. A passage extends from the dome along the base plate to the spout orifice. When the dome is depressed, air or fluid is expelled from the cavity under the dome and on its release fluid from the pouch is drawn into the cavity through the flapper valve and forced through the passage of the orifice and into the spout upon a second depression of the pump.
Accordingly, now in reference to
The pouch 14 is formed by joining two panels at an outer seam (to form a sleeve). The outer edges of the panels are heat welded or otherwise connected to form a pouch-like configuration.
The pouch of the assembly 180 may also include a hang hole 60 allowing the pouch to hang from a display stand. The pump configuration of the assembly 180 is similar or identical to the pump configuration as illustrated in
A flip-top cap, such as those illustrated in
The fitment 200 and pouch assembly of
The canoe portion 202 is connected to the cap portion by means of a cylindrical portion 222. The cylindrical portion 222 allows liquid or fluid from the interior of the pouch to travel out through the orifice 206. The cylindrical portion 222 further connects the cap portion to the canoe portion 202.
The canoe portion 202 includes a main support 232 and a plurality of horizontally extending ridges 234, 236, 238. During assembly, two panels of the pouch are heat sealed over the canoe portion 202. During this heat sealing process, the ridges 234, 236, 238 melt to further secure and seal the canoe portion 202 and overall fitment 200 to the pouch. The cylindrical portion 222 extends out and away from the pouch. A spout portion is provided extending from the metering pump into the canoe. The canoe is overmolded over the spout of the metering pump.
As illustrated in
A fitment for sealing a flexible pouch including a canoe portion, the canoe portion connected to a metering pump, the canoe portion molded over a tube portion of the metering pump, the canoe portion sealed to the flexible pouch. A cap is provided connected to the canoe portion, the cap having an outlet, the cap in fluid communication with the metering pump, the cap having a resealable configuration. The canoe portion may include a plurality of ridges operable to melt during sealing of the pouch. These ridges may be arranges in many fashions including, but not limited to wherein the ridges are horizontally extending. The ridges are spaced apart on opposed lateral surfaces. The cap is resealable by means of a lid connected to the cap by means of a living hinge.
The flexible pouch further includes an indicator operable to instruct the user how to operate the flexible pouch. This indicator may be a button which says “press here” or similar language. This indicator will allow the user to more easily and efficiently operate the pump and pouch. Optionally, the pouch is made from a clear or transparent material allowing the user to view the pump. Instructions may also be provided to indicate to the user how to operate the metering pump.
A flexible pouch assembly for dispensing a liquid having a flexible pouch, the flexible pouch having an upper opening. A fitment connected to the opening of the flexible pouch, the fitment having a canoe portion, the canoe portion connected to a metering pump, the canoe portion molded over a tube portion of the metering pump, the canoe portion sealed to the flexible pouch. A cap connected to the canoe portion, the cap having an outlet, the cap in fluid communication with the metering pump, the cap having a resealable configuration. The canoe portion includes a plurality of ridges operable to melt during sealing of the pouch. The ridges are horizontally extending. The ridges are spaced apart on opposed lateral surfaces. The cap is resealable by means of a lid connected to the cap by means of a living hinge. The flexible pouch may include an indicator operable to instruct the user how to operate the flexible pouch.
The pouch is formed generally of a sleeve or a plurality of panels heat sealed 272 together. It is further appreciated that the pouch 270 may be filled upside down through the bottom of the pouch. As illustrated in
In the present embodiment, the canoe and pump are a once piece configuration. The canoe is overmolded over the spout of the pump.
A method of filling the flexible pouch of the present invention includes the steps of forming a flexible pouch having in upper opening and a lower opening, sealing a fitment into the upper opening of the flexible pouch, forming a bottleneck configuration at the lower opening of the flexible pouch, turning the flexible pouch in an upside-down configuration, filling the flexible pouch through the bottleneck of the lower opening of the flexible pouch, sealing the lower opening of the flexible pouch and removing the remaining material of the bottleneck. The method of filling a flexible further includes the step of sealing the fitments to the upper opening of the flexible pouch by means of heat sealing. The method of filling a flexible pouch further including the step of sealing the lower opening of the flexible pouch by means of heat sealing. This sealing process may also be performed by ultra-sonic means such as ultra-sonic welding or sealing. The method of filling a flexible pouch further including the step of removing the remaining material of the bottleneck by cutting the remaining material to form a standard pouch shape. The method of filling a flexible pouch further comprising the step of overmolding a canoe portion over a spout of a metering pump.
An additional embodiment is shown in the pouch assembly 700 further includes a metered dispensing pump 704. The assembly 700 includes a reservoir 702. The pump includes a dome shaped press button and side walls. A first embodiment of a pump capable of being used in all embodiments will now be described. The pump 704 includes a lower portion below the canoe of the fitment which has an orifice to receive fluid from the pump into a large cavity in the lower portion which tapers to a narrow channel which extends through the canoe of the fitment. In the present embodiment the dome portion draws and holds the predetermined amount of fluid. The pimp directs the predetermined amount of fluid towards to reservoir 702 until it is ready to be dispensed. The assembly 700 allows for a specific size reservoir to be included in the pump. This allows for controlled dispensing of specified amounts of product, e.g. 1 ml, 2 ml 5 ml and so forth. The reservoir 702 can be designed to handle the various different size requirements. The pump 704 is depressed once to fill the reservoir with the specified amount of product. The pump 704 is depressed again to release the product in the reservoir 702 and to fill the reservoir 702 with the next shot.
A passageway connects the dome to the outlet of the pump directly in one straight passageway. When the user presses the dome a second time, the predetermined amount of liquid is dispensed. The reservoir 702 is adapted to hold a predetermined amount of fluid for dispersal to the user
The invention is not restricted to the illustrative examples and embodiments described above. The embodiments are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Methods, apparatus, compositions, and the like described herein are exemplary and not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/202,866 filed on Mar. 10, 2014 the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61775055 | Mar 2013 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14202866 | Mar 2014 | US |
Child | 14615611 | US |