Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to a nestable spout
assembly for dispensing liquid products from cans and pails. A
molded plastic spout in extended position has enlarged flexible
lower wall por-tion joined -to a relatively rigid ex-ternally
threaded upper wall poxtion. A peripheral sealing channel is
disposed about the base of the lower wall portion or securing -to
a container wall opening neck by means of an overlying rnetal
crimping ring. A -tear out diaphragm is recessed wi-thin the
spout upper wall portion above the spout thread and provided
with an integrally molded ring pull for removal. A circum-
ferentially enlarged plastic reclosing cap threadedly engages
the spout upper wall portion and also interlockingly engages the
metal crimping ring with the spout in nested position to close
off the annular spout void against contamination A separate
generally cup shaped pouring vent is included in the spout
assembly to facilitate smooth, surge free, pouring. The vent
has a generally cylindrical outer baffle wall, an annular bottom
wall and a generally cylindrical inner liquid passageway. A
series of air entry apertures are formed in the upper portion of
the outer haffle wall which terminates at its uppermost end in a
circumferential lip adapted for seating within the spout sealing
channel.
The incorporation of a self venting device in liquid
dispensing spouts has long been recognized as a desirable aid in
providing smooth, surge free pouring. One type of pouring spout
commonly used on industrial size pails and cans consists of a
collapsible spout having a flexible wall
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portion which allows the spout to be raised from a compact
stored or nested condition to a fully extended pouring position.
These prior art pouring spouts are available incorporating a
self vent device which eliminates the need for a completely
separate and more costly vent in the head of the container.
In general terms such vent devices consist of an elongated
tubular member having a circumferentially outwardly disposed
flange at its lower end. With the spout in nested or stored
position the upper portion of the tubular vent is affixed to
the spout interlor with the ma~or portion of the vent extending
axially beyond the spout into the container. Upon raising the
flexible spout to extended pouring position the vent member
is also axially displaced bringing the vent flange closely
ad~acent the spout base and providing a series of air entry
passages therebetween.
The above described prior art constructions while adequately
performing their intended venting functions possess certain
stru~tural deficiencies which this invention overcomes. Of
principal concern, the rather considerable overall axial elong-
gatlon of the collapsed or nested closure as results from in-
corporation o~ the prior art tubular vent constructions has
serious drawbracks. For example, it is common practice for the
pail manufacturer to furnish heads complete with closure
independently of pail bodies which bodies are stacked nested
within each other to reduce shipping costs. It is also the
practice to stack pail covers, however, that, is virtually
impossible with a pouring vent which doubles the vertical
profile of the closure, In fact, even shipment of the closures
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per se becomes more costly as a result of ~he substantially
increased bulk due to the prior art self vent~ A Eurther
drawback resides in the necessity of secwrely affixing the
vent member within the spouk interior during manufacture.
This fabrication is normally performed as a heat sealing
operation which is not only costly but must be consistently
skrong enough to prevent separation during shipment and
handling. Also, once the vented closure is applied to a filled
pail the tendency of the vent to separate from the spout
becomes even greater due to the mechanical sloshing action
of the fluid. Chemical attack alone by the packaged fluid
may severely stress the heat sealed joint between the spout
and vent.
Summary of the Invention
The invention is directed to a flexible pourlng spout
assembly for dispensing liquid products from containers.
The drawbacks inherent in the above mentioned and other
prior art self vented spouts are eliminated by the construction
of the invention in providing an improved flexible wall pouring
spout closure of the type moveable by reversing the configuration
of the flexible wall from a compact nested position to an extended
pouring position with a vent member closely overlying said spout
in its retracted position. The spout has a sealing channel by
which it is securely applied to a pail opening neck by means of
a metal crimping ring. The overlying vent member has a peripheral
lip by which it is mechanically secured in the spout sealing
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channel by the action of the crimping ring. The ven-t is formed
to allow air entry a-t its periphery while permi-tting a central
flow of liquid with the spout in extended pouring position. The
resulting controlled fluid flow is thus achieved through the use
of a simple self vent which closely conforms to the configura-
tion of the nested spout and adds insignificantly to the nested
vertical profile of the closure assembly. Moreover, the manner
of mechanically securing the self vent to the container opening
by means of the metal crimping ring further assures against
damage to and separation of the vent under subsequent use
conditions. The spout also has a hand removable sealing
membrane sealing its opening as well as a reclosing cap for
reclosing the opening when the seal is removed.
Thus the present invention provides an improved nes-
table pouring spout closure incorporating a self vent to facili-
tate smooth controlled pouring.
The present invention also provides a simple compact
pouring vent for use in conjunction with nestable pouring
spouts.
The present invention further provides an improved
tamper evident nestable pouring spout capable of being readied
for use completely with the unaided hand.
In accordance with one aspect thereof the present
invention provides an anti-surge pouring vent for nestable
pouring spout closures comprising a thin walled plastic cup
shaped mernber having an upstanding outer sidewall and a sub-
stantially imperforate annular bottom wall for substantially
preventing the pouring of liquid therethrough, the upper portion
of said sidewall having ~ series of circumferentially disposed
air entry apertures, said sidewall upper portion terrninating in
closure engaging means and a central fluid exit passage formed
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~ ithin said annular bottom wall. Suitably said closure engaging
means includes a ~rictional engagement section on said sidewall.
Preferably said closure engaging means includes a circumferen-
tially extending lip. Desirably said fluid passage includes an
upstanding tubular wall. Suitably said upstanding fluid exit
passage extends upwardly at least to the horizontal plane of
said air en-try apertures.
In another aspect thereof the present invention pro-
vides in a container closure construction a nestable in-tegr-
ally molded plastic pouring spout having an annular sealingchannel peripherally disposed at one end, a relatively flexible
outer wall extending downwardly from said sealing channel, a
relatively rigid spout inner wall connected to the lowermost end
of said spout outer wall and concentrically nested therewithin
with said spout in stored position, said spout inner wall ter-
minating in an uppermost free end, cap engaging means foxmed on
said spout inner wall, a sealing membrane closing off said spout
inner wall, an annular metal crimping ring overlying said spout
sealing channel, an integrally molded plastic cap having a top
wall and a depending skirt in engagement with said spout and an
anti~-surge pouring vent closely underlying and at least parti-
ally surrounding said pouring spout outer wall and substantially
conforming to the contour of said outer wall in nested position
so that the vertical profile of said nested spout is generally
unchanged by the presence of said pouring vent. Suitably said
pouring vent includes peripherally disposed air entry apertures
and a centrally disposed liquid exit passage.
In a further aspect thereof the present invention pro-
vides in a container closure construction a container having an
opening surrounded by an upstanding neck, a nestable integrally
molded plastic pouring spout having an annular sealing channel
peripheraly disposed at one end and sea-ted on said neck, a rela-
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.ively flexible outer wall extending downwardly from said
sealing channel, a relatively rigid spout inner wall connected
to the lowermost end of said spout outer wall and concentrically
nested therewithin with said spout in stored position, said
spou-t inner wall terminating in an uppermost free end, cap
engaging means formed on said spout inner wall, a sealing
membrane closing off said spout inner wall, an annular metal
crimping ring overlying said spout sealing channel, an
integrally molded plastic cap in engagement with said spout and
an anti-surge pouring vent underlying said pouring spout outer
wall and said vent having a sidewall portion interposed said
upstanding neck and sealing channel. Suitably said pouring vent
includes air entry apertures closely adjacent said upstanding
neck and a liquid exit passage axially displaced therebelow.
In a still further aspect thereof the invention pro-
vides in a container closure construction, a nestable integrally
molded plastic pouring spout having an annular sealing channel
peripherally disposed at one end, a relatively flexible outer
wall extending downwardly from said sealing channel, a rela-
tively rigid spout inner wall connected to the lowermost end ofsaid spout outer wall and concentrically nested therewithin with
said spout in stored position, said spout inner wall terminating
in an uppermost free end, cap engaging means formed on said
spout inner wall, a sealing membrane closing off said spout
inner wall, an annular metal crimping ring overlying said spout~
sealing channel, an integrally molded plastic cap having a top
wall and a depending skirt in engagement with said spout and an
anti-surge pouring vent including peripherally disposed air
entry apertures and a centrally disposed fluid exit passage,
3~ said vent at least partially closely circumferentailly sur-
rounding said pouring spo~ut outer wall and generally conforming
to the contour of said outer wall in nested position so that the
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,er-tical profile of said nested spout is generally unchanged by
the presenc~ of said pouring vent. Suitably said pouring vent
joins said pouring spout in close proximity -to said spou-t
sealing channel.
In another asepct thereof the invention provides in a
container closure construction, a nestable integrally molcled
plastic pouring spout having an annular sealing channel peri-
pherally disposed at one end, a relatively flexible outer wall
extending donwnwardly from said sealing channel, a relatively
rigid spout inner wall connected to the lowermost end of said
spout outer wall and concentrically nested therewithin with said
spout in stored position, said spout inner wall terminating in
an uppermost free end, cap engaging means formed on said spout
inner wall, a sealing membrane closing off said spout inner
wall, an integrally molded plastic cap having a top wall and a
depending skirt in engagement with said spout and an anti-
surge pouring vent including peripherally disposed air entry
apertures and a centrally disposed fluid exit passage, said vent
depending from the periphery of said outer wall and at least
partially closely circumferentially surrounding said pouring
spout wall and generally conforming to -the contour of said outer
wall in nested position so that the vertical profile of said
nested spout is generally unchanged by the presence of said
pouring vent. Suitably said air entry apertures are disposed in
close proximity to said spout sealing channel.
In another embodiment thereof the invention provides
in a container closure construction, a nestable integrally
molded plastic pouring spout having an annular sealing channel
peripherally disposed at one end, a relatively flexible outer
wall extending downwardly from said sealing channel, a rela-
tively rigid spout inner~wall connected to the lowermost end of
said spout ou-ter wall and concentrically nested therewithin with
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~aid spout in stored position, said spout inner wall -terminating
in an uppermost free end, cap engaging means formed on said
spout inner wall, a sealing membrane closing off said spout
inner wall, an integrally molded plastic cap having a top wall
and a depending skirt in engagement with said spout and an anti-
surge pouring vent adapted to facilitate smooth, surge-free
pouring and including, with said spout in ex-tended pouring
position, peripherally disposed air entry apertures and a
centrally disposed fluid exit passage, said vent depending from
the periphery of said outer wall and at leas-t partially cir-
cumferentially surrounding said pouring spout outer wall and
generally conforming to the contour of said outer wall in nested
position so that the vertical profile of said nested spout is
generally unchanged by the presence of said pouring vent.
The present invention will be further illustrated by
way of the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a part elevational part sectional view ofthe
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nestable pouring spout with pouring vent in accordance with
the invention;
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pouring
spout closure and separately aktached pouring vent,
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the pouring spout assembly
crimped onto a container wall opening and in extended pouring
position.
Fig. 3a is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the
spout container wall Joint shown in Fig. 3; and
Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the pouring vent.
In general terms, the self-vent pouring spout assembly in
accordance with the invention consists of a nestable plastic
pouring spout 1, a metal crimping ring 2, a plastic overcap 3
and a pouring vent 4.
More specifically the pouring spout 1 shown in stored or
nested position has a peripheral inverted sealing channel at
its base made up of a shortened outer wall 6, a top wall 7 and
an enlongated inner wall 8. A relatively flexible outer wall 9
extends from the lower end of the channel inner wall ~ to the
lower end of a relatively rigid upstanding spout neck 10. The
spout neck 10 has an exterior helical thread 11. Immediately
above the thread, the spout neck 10 is closed off by a sealing
membrane 12 surrounded by a tearing zone 13. A ring pull 14
suitable for grasping with the unaided finger closely overlies
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the membrane 12 in a horizontal plane and is integrally ~oined
by a connecting neck 15 to the periphery of the membrane adjacent
to the tearing zone 13. The vertical clearance between the
membrane and the rlng pull is less than the vertical cross
sectional thickness of the ring pull.
The metal crimping ring 2 has an inverted channel shaped
configuration in cross section consisting of an elongated
peripheral wall 16 terminating in an inwardly curled lower edge,
a top wall 17 and a shortened inner wall 18 also terminating in
a lowermost inward curl. The crimping ring 2 overlies and snugly
confines the spout sealing channel therewithin.
The recloseable overcap 3 has a circumferentially enlarged
top wall 19 surrounded by a pair of hinged lifting bails 20 which
in their i~itial stored position overlie the metal ring 4. A cyl-
indrical skirt 21 depends from the top periphery and interlockingly
engages beneath the lower curled edge o~ the ring inner wall 18.
An internally threaded cylindrical sidewall 22 also depends from
the cap top for engagement with the external thread ll on the spout
neck lO. Full thread engagement and subsequent recloslng is achieved
upon seating the uppermost end of the spout neck wi~hin the
downwardly opening annular groove 23 disposed inside the side-
wall 22. The spout, ring and cap are assembled as above
described to give a secure compact closure unit adapted for
efficient handling, shipment and storage.
A generally cup shaped pouring vent 4 may also be supplied
as part of the assembly comprising an annular bottom wall 24
and an upstanding outer sidewall 25 terminating in a peripheral
lip 26. A series of air entry slots 27 are formed in an annular
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zone near the upper end of the vent sidewall 25. The upper
end of the sidewall 25 also includes a short cylindrical band 28
intermediate the lip 26 and slots 27. The center of the vent
bottom wall 24 is open to provide a~luid exit passage surrounded
by an upstanding lnner wall 29, A small drainage aperture 30 is
also provided in the bottom wall 21~.
To adapt the closure assembly previously described to a
self-vent unit the closure assembly is simply inserted into the
vent 4 with the spout neck 10 and flexible wall 9 snugly confined
within the annular pocket ~ormed by the vent outer wall 25 and
inner wall 29. Both inner and outer vent walls are tapered in
thel~ upward extent to aid assembly. As the vent and spout are
compres~ed together the cylindrical band 28 at the upper end of
the vent outer wall 25 tightly surrounds the spout sealing
channel inner wall 8. When the vent lip 26 contacts the under
surface o~ the sealing channel top wall 7 a secure friction fit
engagement is created between vent band 28 and inner wall 8.
Also upon completion of the assembly operation the uppermost
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end of the vent inner wall 29 surrounding the fluid exit passage
lies ~ust beneath the spout membrane 12. The complete self vent
pouring spout assembly as seen in Fig. 1 thus becomes a secure,
compact unit without resort to costly bonding assembly operations.
Since the overall profile of th$ closure is changed very littleg
subsequent handling, packing and storage is economical and
trouble free.
Turning to the application and use of the self-vent spout
assembly it can be seen in Fig. 3 that when the spout sealing
channel is placed on a container opening the vent lip 26 is
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tightly squeezed between the opening neck 31 and sealing channel
top wall 7. The resulting mechanical interlock renders dis-
lodgment of the vent virtually impossible. This arrangement
proves highly desirable in counteracting the damaging forces
normally created by the sloshing action of the contained fluid.
Moreover, the heretofor deleterious swelling action imparted
to synthetic plastic parts by normally packaged hydrocarbons
becomes inconsequential.
To ready the closure for pouring the spout is raised by
means of the large gripping bails 20 on the screw cap 3 causing
the flexible wall 9 to unfold and reverse its disposition for
erect pouring. Upon disengagement of the overcap 3 and tearing
away of the membrane by means of the immediately accessible
ring pull 14, the container is ready for dispensing. Liquid
rapidly discharged through the central vent passage 29 is
instantly displaced by atmospheric air traveling along the top
inner surface of the spout and passing through the air entry
slots 27. Having the membrane 12 disposed as near the spout
opening as possible leaving just clearance for the ring pull 14
allows for maximum extension of the fluid passage wall 29i. With
the wall 29 reaching at least to the horizontal plane of the
air entry apertures 27, sufficient separation of the outgoing
fluid and the incoming air is achieved for satisfactory venting.
The self vent spout construction thus described facilitates
rapid and accurate dispensing free of the uncontrolled pulsating
surging characteristic of air locked containers. In addition
to its simplicity and resultant cost effectiveness in manufacture,
by maintaining substantially the same overall profile of the spout
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assembly when equipped with the self-vent~ the conditions for
packing and handling remain constantl. This low profile con-
struction is particularly advantageous in view of the common
practice of stacking closure fitted lids.
