Claims
- 1. A spout depending from a container, the spout having a spout axis, a spout surface, and a spout opening, comprising:
a flange extending from the spout surface, the flange being approximately perpendicular to the spout axis and having a flange thickness measured in a direction along the spout axis, the flange also having an outer flange surface distal the spout surface; and, at least one flexible tab depending from the outer flange surface, the tab having an undeformed shape having a top side and a bottom side, the top side being the side proximal the spout opening, the tab having a height equal to maximum distance between the top and bottom sides, the tab having a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the leading and trailing edges connect the top and bottom sides, the tab having a length, wherein the length is equal to the maximum distance between the leading and trailing edge, and the tab having an outer tab surface distal the outer flange surface, wherein the outer tab surface connects the sides and edges.
- 2. The spout of claim 1, wherein the outer flange surface is approximately axisymmetric about the spout axis, and wherein the outer tab surface is approximately axisymmetric about the spout axis.
- 3. The spout of claim 1, wherein the flange thickness is from about 1 mm to about 3 mm.
- 4. The spout of claim 1, wherein one of the top and bottom sides is approximately perpendicular to the spout axis.
- 5. The spout of claim 1, wherein the tab has a width equal to the maximum distance between the outer tab surface and the spout surface measured along a radial line from the spout axis, and, wherein the tab width is from about 5 mm to about 25 mm.
- 6. The spout of claim 1, wherein the tab thickness is from about 1 mm to about 3 mm.
- 7. The spout of claim 1, wherein the tab height is from about 1 mm to about 3 mm.
- 8. The spout of claim 1, wherein the leading edge and bottom side have an included angle of from about 5 to about 15 degrees.
- 9. The spout of claim 1, wherein the tab length as measured along the outer flange surface is from about 5% to about 20% of a circumference of the outer flange surface.
- 10. The spout of claim 1, wherein the flange and tab are plastic.
- 11. The spout of claim 11, wherein the plastic is a polyethylene plastic.
- 12. The spout of claim 1, further comprising two flexible tabs.
- 13. The spout of claim 12, wherein the two flexible tabs are approximately spaced 180 degrees apart.
- 14. A spout attached to a flexible bag, the spout comprising:
a generally cylindrical body, the body having an outer surface having a distal end and a proximal end, and a spout opening adjacent the distal end, the body further having a spout axis, wherein a flexible tab depends from the body, the flexible tab extending radially from the body and the flexible tab having an undeformed shape having a top side and a bottom side, the top side being the side proximal the spout opening, wherein one of the top side and the bottom side is substantially perpendicular to the spout axis, and wherein the tab has an outer tab surface distal the spout body, and a length of the outer tab surface about a perimeter of the outer tab surface is substantially less than the circumference of the spout body.
- 15. The spout of claim 14, wherein a portion of the top side is substantially parallel to the bottom side.
- 16. The spout of claim 14, wherein the tab has an outer tab surface that is substantially concentric with the cylindrical body.
- 17. The spout of claim 14, wherein the tab has an outer tab surface that is substantially axisymmetric about the spout axis.
- 18. The spout of claim 14, wherein the tab extends from a flange depending from the spout body.
- 19. The spout of claim 18, wherein the flange has an outer flange surface, and wherein the tab has an outer tab surface having a tab length as measured along the perimeter of the outer tab surface, the tab length being from about 5% to about 20% of a circumference of the outer flange surface.
- 20. The spout of claim 14, wherein the tab has a height equal to maximum distance between the top and bottom sides, the height being from about 1 mm to about 3 mm, wherein the tab has a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading and trailing edges connect the top and bottom sides, wherein the tab has a length, the length being equal to the maximum distance between the leading and trailing edge, and wherein the tab has an outer tab surface distal the spout body, the outer tab surface connecting the sides and edges.
- 21. The spout of claim 14, further comprising a second flexible tab depending from the body, the second flexible tab extending radially from the body and having an undeformed shape having a top side and a bottom side, the top side being the side proximal the spout opening, wherein the top side and the bottom side are substantially perpendicular to the spout axis, and wherein the second flexible tab has an outer tab surface distal the spout body, and a length of the outer tab surface about a perimeter of the outer tab surface is substantially less than the circumference of the spout body.
- 22. The spout of claim 21, wherein the second flexible tab and the flexible tab are in substantially the same plane.
- 23. The spout of claim 21, wherein the second flexible tab has an outer tab surface that is substantially concentric with the cylindrical body.
- 24. The spout of claim 21, wherein a centerline of the tab and the second flexible tab are approximately 180 degrees apart.
- 25. The spout of claim 18, further comprising a second flexible tab depending radially from the flange, the second flexible tab having an undeformed shape having a top side and a bottom side, the top side being the side proximal the spout opening, wherein the top side and the bottom side are substantially perpendicular to the spout axis, and wherein the second flexible tab has an outer tab surface distal the spout body, and a length of the outer tab surface about a perimeter of the outer tab surface is substantially less than the circumference of the spout body.
- 26. The spout of claim 18, further comprising a second flexible tab depending from the flange, wherein the flange has an outer flange surface, and wherein the tab and the second tab each have an outer tab surface having a tab length as measured along the perimeter of the outer tab surface, the tab length of each of the tab and the second tab being from about 5% to about 20% of a circumference of the outer flange surface, respectively.
- 27. A spout for a flexible bag, the spout comprising:
a generally cylindrical body, the body having an outer surface having a distal end and a proximal end, and a spout opening adjacent the distal end, the body further having a spout axis, wherein a flange extends substantially radially from the outer surface of the body about a circumference of the body, wherein first and second flexible tabs depend from a portion of the flange, the first and second flexible tabs extending radially distal the flange, and wherein the first and second flexible tabs have an undeformed shape having a top side and a bottom side, the top sides being the side proximal the spout opening, and a majority of the top side of the first and second tabs being substantially perpendicular to the spout axis in the undeformed shape.
- 28. The spout of claim 27, wherein the top side and the bottom side of the first and second tabs, respectively, are substantially parallel.
- 29. The spout of claim 27, wherein the first and second flexible tabs are spaced about the flange at approximately a 180 degree interval.
- 30. The spout of claim 27, wherein the first and second tabs have an outer tab surface, the outer tab surface being approximately axisymmetric about the spout axis.
- 31. The spout of claim 27, wherein the first and second tabs have a tab thickness, the tab thickness being from about 1 mm to about 3 mm.
- 32. The spout of claim 31, wherein the flange has a flange thickness, the flange thickness being substantially equal to the tab thickness.
- 33. The spout of claim 27, wherein the first and second tabs have an included angle adjacent a leading edge and bottom side thereof.
- 34. The spout of claim 27, wherein the first and second tabs have a tab length, and wherein the tab length of each of the first and second tabs is from about 5% to about 20% of a circumference of an outer surface of the flange surface.
- 35. A spout for a flexible bag adapted to hold a liquid, the spout adapted for coupling with a connector having a rotatable spout adapter, the adapter having an opening to receive the spout, the opening having an internal thread, the spout comprising:
(a) a substantially cylindrical body having an outer surface, a spout opening, and a spout axis; and, (b) a flexible first tab, the first tab attached to and protruding radially distal from the outer surface of the cylindrical body about a portion of the circumference of the cylindrical body, the first tab adapted for threadably engaging the internal thread of the spout adapter, wherein the first tab has a top side and a leading edge for engaging the thread, and a bottom side opposing the top side, the top side being substantially perpendicular to the spout axis, wherein the first tab has an undeformed tab length, and wherein the flexible first tab is adapted to deform during threading of the flexible first tab in the internal thread.
- 36. The spout of claim 35, further comprising a flange extending from the body, the flange having a circumference, wherein the first tab depends from the flange, and wherein the undeformed tab length is about 5% to about 20% of the circumference of the flange.
- 37. The spout of claim 35, further comprising a flange extending from the body, the first tab depending from the flange, wherein a thickness of the flange is approximately equal to a thickness of the first tab.
- 38. The spout of claim 35, further comprising a flexible second tab attached to and protruding radially distal from the outer surface of the cylindrical body about a portion of the circumference of the cylindrical body, the second tab adapted for threadably engaging the internal thread of the spout adapter, wherein the second tab has a top side and a leading edge for engaging the thread, and a bottom side opposing the top side, the top side being substantially perpendicular to the spout axis, wherein the flexible second tab has an undeformed tab length, and wherein the flexible second tab is adapted to deform during threading of the flexible second tab in the internal thread.
- 39. The spout of claim 35, wherein the first tab and the second tab are spaced at an interval of approximately 180 degrees.
- 40. The spout of claim 39, wherein the first tab and the second tab are in substantially the same plane.
- 41. The spout of claim 37, further comprising a second flexible tab extending from the body, the second tab depending from the flange, wherein a thickness of the second tab is approximately equal to a thickness of the flange.
- 42. A spout depending from a container, the spout having a spout axis, a spout surface, and a spout opening, comprising:
a flange extending in a plane from the spout surface, the flange being approximately perpendicular to the spout axis and having a flange thickness measured in a direction along the spout axis, the flange also having an outer flange surface distal the spout surface; and, at least one flexible tab depending from the flange, the tab being in the same plane as the flange.
- 43. The spout of claim 42, wherein the outer flange surface is approximately axisymmetric about the spout axis, and wherein the tab has an outer tab surface that is approximately axisymmetric about the spout axis.
- 44. The spout of claim 42, wherein the tab has a top side and a bottom side, and wherein one of the top and bottom sides is approximately perpendicular to the spout axis.
- 45. The spout of claim 42, wherein the tab has a tab length, and wherein the tab length is from about 5% to about 20% of a circumference of the outer flange surface.
- 46. The spout of claim 42, further comprising a second flexible tab depending from the flange, the second tab being in the same plane as the flange.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/547,465, filed on Apr. 12, 2000, upon which a claim of priority is based. The U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/547,465 application is hereby incorporated herein by reference, and made a part hereof.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09547465 |
Apr 2000 |
US |
Child |
10083084 |
Feb 2002 |
US |