Pouring Fitment

Abstract

A pouring fitment (10) for a container, the fitment comprising a body with a spout through which liquid product can be dispensed in which the spout has a mouth including one or more corners (33) and one or more sides (32) such that the fitment can be selectively orientated so that fluid flows over a corner or across a side whereby to provide alternative fluid flow characteristics.

Description

The present invention relates generally to a fitment for a container and particularly to a pouring fitment through which liquid product can be dispensed.

it is known to provide pouring fitments for containers which facilitate the pouring of liquid product from the container. For example, spouts and flow regulators are known and provided for products such as edible oils. Existing pouring fitments permit dispensing of product with a single flow characteristic. However, in many cases it would be an advantage to be able to dispense product in different ways from the same fitment.

The present invention seeks to address the problems with known pouring fitments.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a pouring fitment for a container, the fitment comprising a body with a spout through which liquid product can dispensed, in which the spout has a mouth including one or more corners and one or more sides such that the fitment can be selectively orientated so that fluid flows over a corner or across a side whereby to provide alternative fluid flow characteristics.

The present invention therefore provides a very simple way to achieve different fluid flow characteristics from the same pouring fitment and without the need to resort to complicated fluid flow regulators. This means, for example, the a pouring fitment according to the present invention can be formed with no moving parts and may rely simply on curves, contours and the like to achieve alternative flow characteristics.

The spout mouth may be generally polygonal. For example, triangular, square, pentagonal shapes and the like provide a plurality of corners and a plurality of sides which can be presented as the fluid flow path for product simply by altering the orientation of the pouring fitment in use.

The mouth may be generally square and accordingly have four pouring sides and four pouring corners.

The or each side may be at least partly curved. For example, in some embodiments the mouth is formed as a curved square in which both the sides and corners are curved.

The mouth may include a pouring lip. By terminating the mouth with a lip an anti-drip function can be provided and can assist with a smooth pour.

The body may comprise a flow regulator. By providing a flow regulator downstream of the mouth any turbulent flow of product as it exits the container can be minimised to enhance the flow characteristics.

The fitment may be provided in combination with an adapter which is attached or attachable to the body and receivable in a container opening. The adapter may provide additional functionality including connecting the fitment firmly to the container and giving a good seal. In some embodiments the adapter is provided as a separate part which his connectable to the body; whereas in other embodiments the fitment is formed as a single piece which is receivable directly by a container and no adapter is provided.

The spout may be tapered. For example, the spout may taper inwardly away from the mouth.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a fitment as described herein in combination with the closure. A closure may be provided which is attachable to the fitment and or a container so as to close the fitment during storage and or transport. The closure may be provided with tamper-evidence means to indicate if it has been opened at least once.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a container in combination with a fitment and/or an assembly as described herein.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pouring fitment formed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the fitment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the fitment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fitment of FIG. 1 in combination with a container adapter;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the fitment assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a section of the assembly of FIG. 4:

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIGS. 4 to 7 shown connected to a container and shown in a first orientation;

FIG. 9 is a view of the assembly of FIG. 8 with the pouring fitment shown in a second orientation;

FIG. 10 is a partial section of a pouring fitment assembly including a closure formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a section of a container neck shown with a fitment adapter forming part of the assembly of FIG. 10 shown connected;

FIG. 12 is a section of the adapter of FIG. 11 shown with a pouring fitment connected;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 10 shown fitted to a bottle;

FIG. 14 is a section of the assembly of FIG. 13 shown prior to first opening;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIGS. 13 and 14 shown following removal of the closure;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 15 following replacement of the closure;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a pouring fitment assembly including a closure formed according to an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a section of the assembly of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 17 following removal of the closure; and

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 19 following replacement of the closure.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 3 there is shown a pouring fitment generally indicated 10 and comprising a generally tubular body 15 having a connection portion 20 and a spout portion 25.

The connection portion 20 comprises a first cylindrical portion 21 which depends from one end of the spout 25 at an inward step 26, a second cylindrical portion 22 which is coaxial with the first portion 21 but slightly smaller in diameter, and a third generally frustoconical portion 23 which is joined to the portion 22 by a step 24.

The spout 25 is generally cylindrical but flared outwardly to form a trumpet-like shape which terminates in a mouth region 30 which has a generally curved square outline as best shown in FIG. 3. The mouth therefore includes four curved corners 33 and four curved sides 32.

The mouth 30 includes a pouring lip 31.

At the interface between the portions 21 and 22 an internal flow regulating part 35 is provided as shown in FIG. 3. The part 35 comprises a central hub 36 and three radial spokes 36 which extend from the hub 36 to the sidewall of the portion 22.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 7 the fitment 10 of FIGS. 1 to 3 is shown connected to an adapter 50.

The adapter 50 comprises a generally cylindrical collar with an internal skirt 51 and an external skirt 52 connected by a lateral joint piece 53.

One end of the outer skirt 52 is provided with a first flange 55 which extends radially outwardly therefrom. The other end of the skirt 52 is provided with a second, generally L-shape flange 57.

In use, the adapter 50 is push-fitted onto the fitment 10 so that it passes over the step 24 and abuts under the spout 25 so that it is retained firmly between the spout step 26 and the step 24.

As described in more detail below the assembly of FIGS. 4 to 7 can be received in the bore of a container neck as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Because of the generally curved square section of the spout 25 the fitment 10 can be positioned in two distinct orientations as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIG. 8 when fluid passes out of the container and through the fitment it flows over the corner 33 of the mouth so that a thinner, precise fluid stream 34a is produced. In contrast, in FIG. 9 the fitment is orientated so that fluid flows across one of the sides 32 of the mouth so that a stronger, wider fluid stream 34b is produced.

Referring now to FIG. 10 there is shown a fitment assembly formed according to an alternative embodiment. The fitment is generally the same as that described in relation to FIGS. 4 to 7 and comprises a pouring fitment 110 and an adapter 150. Additionally, a closure 160 is provided and fits over the fitment assembly and attaches to a container neck.

As can also be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, the adpater 150 fits into the bottle neck 170 so that the flange 155 rests on top of the rim 171. In addition, the skirt 152 fits tightly within the bore of the bottleneck and the flange 157 is bent upwards as the adapter 150 is pushed in to form a seal.

The closure 160 comprises a generally cylindrical top plate 161 from which depends a cylindrical side skirt 162 and an internal skirt 163 dimensioned to fit within the connector portion 121 to form a seal. The inside of the skirt 162 is provided with internal screwthread formations 164 for engaging cooperating external screwthread formations 172 on the bottleneck 170.

The free end of the skirt 162 is provided with a tamper-evident band 165 which is connected to the skirt 162 by a plurality of frangible bridges 166. The opposite end of the band 165 to the bridges 166 is provided with an upturned flap 167 which in use engages under a bead 173 formed on the bottleneck.

In FIGS. 13 and 14 the closure 160 is shown connected to the bottleneck so that the fitment is sealed in position. When the closure 160 is unscrewed the band 165 is prevented from following the rest of the closure by the engagement of the flap 167 under the bead 173 so that the bridges 166 break. The band 165 now falls down the neck of the bottle 190 to the position shown in FIG. 15 and the closure 160 is removed to expose the fitment ready for dispensing. When the closure is replaced a gap G will now be present between the free end of the skirt 162 and the band 165 as shown in FIG. 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 17 to 20 a fitment assembly formed according to an alternative embodiment is shown. The assembly is largely the same as that shown in FIGS. 10 to 16 in that it comprises a closure 260 which covers a pouring fitment 210 connected within a bottleneck 270 by an adapter 250.

In this embodiment, a tamper-evident structure is provided in the form of a separate piece 280 comprising a band section 282 and a retaining section 284. The retaining section 284 is clipped into the free end of the skirt 262 and is frangibly connected to the band part 282 by frangible bridges 283. The band part 282 is provided with a hook 285 which engages under the bead 273 so that when the closure 260 is rotated the band 282 cannot move but the retaining part 284 can so that the bridges 283 break and the band falls down. The result is the same as that described for the closure in FIGS. 15 and 16 in that in FIG. 19 the closure is shown removed and the band has fallen down so that when the closure is replaced there is a gap G formed between the free end of the closure skirt and the band section as shown in FIG. 20.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A pouring fitment for a container, the fitment comprising a body with a spout through which liquid product is dispensable, in which the spout has a mouth, the mouth being generally polygonal and having a plurality of corners and a plurality of sides, said plurality of corners being curved and said plurality of sides being curved, such that the fitment is selectively orientatable so that fluid flows over a corner or across a side of the spout whereby to provide alternative fluid flow characteristics.

16. The pouring fitment as claimed in claim 15, in which a shape of the mouth is selected from the group comprising: triangular; square; and pentagonal.

17. The pouring fitment as claimed in claim 15, in which the mouth is generally square.

18. The pouring fitment as claimed in claim 15, in which the mouth is formed as a curved square.

19. The pouring fitment as claimed in claim 15, in which the mouth includes a pouring lip.

20. The pouring fitment as claimed in claim 15, in which the body comprises a flow regulator.

21. The pouring fitment as claimed in claim 15, further comprising an adapter attached or attachable to the body and receivable in a container opening.

22. The pouring fitment as claimed in claim 15, in which the spout is tapered.

23. The pouring fitment as claimed in claim 22, in which the spout tapers inwardly away from the mouth.

24. The pouring fitment as claimed in claim 15, in which the spout is generally cylindrical.

25. The pouring fitment as claimed in claim 15, in which the spout is flared outwardly to form a trumpet-like shape.

26. The pouring fitment as claimed in claim 15, in which the fitment comprises a generally tubular body having a connection portion and a spout portion.

27. An assembly comprising a fitment as claimed in claim 15 in combination with a closure.

28. The assembly of claim 27, in which the closure includes tamper-evidence means to indicate if it has been opened at least once.

29. A pouring fitment for a container, the fitment comprising a body having a spout through which flowable product is dispensable, in which the spout has a mouth, the mouth formed as a curved square including four sides and four corners, where each of said sides is curved and each of said corners is curved, such that the fitment is selectively orientatable so that fluid flows over a corner or across a side of the spout whereby to provide alternative fluid flow characteristics.