FITMENT HAVING REMOVABLE MEMBRANE

ACCESSOIRE POURVU D'UNE MEMBRANE AMOVIBLE

English Abstract

A fitment (16) for use as a pour spout for a paper carton or flexible bag has
a flange (17) which may be welded around a hole in the carton. A spout
projecting outward from the flange is provided with a removable membrane (32)
integral with an inward projection (29) positioned on the interior of the
spout approximately midway of its height. Preferably, the membrane is concave.
A horizontally disposed pull ring (39) is attached to the membrane by a
connector (37) so that pulling the ring removes the membrane by fracturing the
tear line (36) at the juncture of the outer edge of the membrane and the
projection. A cap (46) snaps over the spout and may be removed by unscrewing
the complementary threads (52, 28) on the cap and spout. A tamper-evidencing
band (56) is frangibly connected to the lower edge of the cap skirt (48).

French Abstract

La présente invention concerne un accessoire (16) destiné à être utilisé comme bec verseur pour un récipient en carton ou un sac souple, et qui possède une bride (17) pouvant être soudée autour d'un trou du récipient. Un bec, qui fait saillie vers l'extérieur à partir de la bride, est pourvu d'une membrane amovible (32) qui est d'une pièce avec une saillie intérieure (29) placée à l'intérieur du bec, à peu près à mi-hauteur. De préférence, cette membrane est concave. Un anneau de traction horizontal (39) est fixé à la membrane par un élément de raccordement (37), de telle sorte qu'une traction sur l'anneau enlève la membrane en la rompant le long de la ligne prédécoupée (36) à la jonction du rebord extérieur de la membrane et de la saillie. Un bouchon (46) s'engrène par-dessus le bec on peut l'enlever en dévissant les filets complémentaires (52, 28) du bouchon et du bec. Une bande (56) indiquant une effraction éventuelle est reliée au bord inférieur de la jupe (48) du bouchon, dont elle est aisément séparable par rupture.

Claims

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1. A fitment for use surrounding a hole in a container wall shaped and
dimensioned to be detachably secured to a spud of a mandrel wherein the spud has an exterior
having fixed external dimensions, said fitment adhered to the container wall, said fitment
comprising,
an annular spout flange dimensioned to be adhered to the container wall surrounding
the hole,
a spout projecting upward from said flange having a lower and an upper end and
an inner and an outer wall,
a membrane integral with said spout sealing off said spout, said membrane havinga peripheral edge joined to said inner wall along a frangible circumferential line of weakness,
said line of weakness being spaced upward from said lower end a distance substantially
midway of the length of said spout,
an internal bead on said inner wall adjacent said lower end of said spout, said bead
having a diameter slightly less than the fixed external dimensions of the spud,
said inner wall of said spout being unobstructed above said internal bead substantially
to said lines of weakness whereby, upon insertion of the spud into said lower end, the spud
is in detachable engagement with said internal bead and centered relative to said inner wall
of said spout substantially up to said line of weakness,
a pull tab disposed within said spout above said membrane, and
a connector between said pull tab and said membrane whereby upon pulling said
pull tab said membrane is detached from said spout along said line of weakness.
2. A fitment for use surrounding a hole in a container wall shaped and
dimensioned to be detachably secured to a spud of a mandrel wherein the spud has an exterior
having fixed external dimensions, said fitment adhered to the container wall, said fitment
comprising,
an annular spout flange dimensioned to be adhered to the container wall surrounding
the hole,
a spout projecting upward from said flange having a lower and an upper end and
an inner and an outer wall,
a membrane integral with said spout sealing off said spout, said membrane havinga peripheral edge joined to said inner wall along a frangible circumferential line of weakness,

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said line of weakness being spaced upward from said lower end a sufficient distance so that
upon insertion of said spud into said lower end of said spout said spud extends a distance
substantially greater than the thickness of the container wall,
an internal bead on said inner wall adjacent said lower end of said spout, said bead
having a diameter slightly less than the fixed external dimensions of the spud,
said inner wall of said spout being unobstructed above said internal bead substantially
to said lines of weakness whereby, upon insertion of the spud into said lower end, the spud
is in detachable engagement with said internal bead and centered relative to said inner wall
of said spout substantially up to said line of weakness,
a pull tab disposed within said spout above said membrane, and
a connector between said pull tab and said membrane whereby upon pulling said
pull tab said membrane is detached from said spout along said line of weakness.
3. A fitment according to Claims 1 or 2 in which said inner wall comprises a
cylinder above said bead, said cylinder having a height substantially greater than the height
of said bead.
4. A fitment according to Claim 2 in which said inner wall is formed with an
upward-inward stretch above said cylinder, said upward-inward stretch terminating
approximately at said line of weakness, whereby said, upon insertion of said spud into said
lower end, the spud is in contact with said upward-inward stretch.
5. A fitment according to Claim 1 or 2 in which said outer wall of said spout
is formed with first threads and which further comprises
a cap comprising a top and a depending skirt having an internal wall,
second threads on said internal wall mating with said first threads,
said first and second threads being formed and dimensioned so that said cap may
be applied to said spout by a straight, downward motion without relative rotation of said
cap and spout, said threads deforming to slip past each other and then re-engage.
6. The combination of Claim 5 which further comprises

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a tamper-evidencing band below said skirt having internal spout-engaging means,
frangible means connecting an upper edge of said band to a lower edge of said skirt, said
tamper-evidencing band having a lower edge positioned above said flange,
said spout having band engaging means on said outer wall, said spout engaging means
and said band engaging means interengaging when said cap is applied to said fitment by a
straight, downward motion without relative rotation of said cap and said fitment,
said cap being secured to said spout so long as frangible means is intact and said
cap cannot be removed from said fitment without fracturing said frangible means.
7. A fitment according to Claim 1 or 2 in which said membrane is downwardly
concave.
8. A fitment according to Claim 1 or 2 in which said inner wall is formed with
an inward projection and said peripheral edge is joined to said projection.
9. A fitment according to Claim 8 in which said projection has an upper innerfirst corner and said edge of said membrane has an outer lower second corner, said second
corner being disposed above and inward of said first corner and joined thereto at said line
of weakness.
10. A fitment according to Claim 1 or 2 in which said pull tab comprises a ring.
11. A fitment according to Claim 1 or 2 which further comprises a vertical gusset
on said connector, said gusset being narrower than said connector.
12. A fitment according to Claim 7 in which said membrane has a central point
approximately equidistant from a periphery of said flange, said upper end of said spout and
said pull tab.
13. In combination, a fitment comprising a fitment cap, for insertion in a hole
in a container wall,

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said fitment body comprising an annular spout flange dimensioned to be adhered
to the wall surrounding the hole,
a spout projecting upward from said flange having lower and upper ends and an inner
and an outer wall,
a membrane integral with said spout sealing off said spout, said membrane havinga peripheral edge joined to said inner wall along a frangible circumferential line of weakness,
a pull tab disposed within said spout above said membrane,
a connector between a point on said tab and a point on said membrane whereby upon
pulling said pull tab said membrane is detached from said spout along said line of weakness,
and
first threads on said outer wall,
said cap comprising a top and a depending skirt having an internal wall,
second threads on said internal wall mating with said first threads,
said first and second threads being formed and dimensioned so that said cap may
be applied to said fitment by a straight, downward motion without relative rotation of said
cap and said fitment, said threads deforming to slip past each other and then re-engage.
14. The combination of Claim 13 which further comprises
a tamper-evidencing band below said skirt having internal spout-engaging means,
frangible means connecting an upper edge of said band to a lower edge of said skirt, said
tamper-evidencing band having a lower edge positioned above said flange,
said spout having band engaging means on said outer wall, said spout engaging means
and said band engaging means interengaging when said cap is applied to said fitment by a
straight, downward motion without relative rotation of said cap and said fitment,
said cap being secured to said spout so long as said frangible means is intact and
said cap cannot be removed from said fitment without fracturing said frangible means.
15. The combination of Claim 13 wherein said fitment is shaped and dimensioned
to be detachably secured to a spud of a mandrel wherein the spud has an exterior having
fixed external dimensions, said fitment being of a material capable of being ultrasonically
attached to the container wall, and which further comprises an internal bead on said inner

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wall, said bead having a diameter slightly less than the fixed external dimensions of the spud
to detachably secure said fitment to the spud,
said inner wall of said spout being unobstructed above said internal bead a sufficient
distance for insertion of the spud into said lower end for detachable engagement of said
internal bead to the exterior of the spud.
16. The combination of Claim 13 which further comprises a container having
a container wall formed with a hole, said spout flange adhered to said container wall by
ultrasonic vibration,
a band below said skirt engaging said spout, frangible means connecting an upperedge of said band to a lower edge of said skirt, said band having a lower edge positioned
above said flange,
said band being adhered to said spout by ultrasonic welding, said threads being
rotatable relative to each other after said frangible means has been severed.
17. The combination of Claim 16 wherein said band has internal spout-engaging
means and said spout has band engaging means on said outer wall, said spout engaging means
and said band engaging means interengaging when said cap is applied to said fitment by a
straight, downward motion without relative rotation of said cap and said fitment,
said cap being secured to said spout so long as said frangible means is intact and
said cap cannot be removed from said fitment without fracturing said frangible means.
18. A fitment according to Claim 14 in which said frangible means comprises
angularly spaced bridge connections.
19. A fitment according to Claim 13 which further comprises third spout-engagingmeans on the underside of said top shaped to seal with said inner wall of said spout.
20. A fitment according to Claim 19 in which said third spout-engaging means
comprises a hollow plug.

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21. A fitment according to Claim 15 in which said third spout engaging means
comprises a bead engageable with said spout upon reclosure of said cap on said spout after
initial removal of said cap from said fitment.
22. In combination, a fitment according to Claims 1 or 2 and a mandrel having
a spud having an exterior of fixed external dimensions, said spud fitting inside said lower
end and detachably engaging said internal bead.
23. The combination of Claim 22 wherein said membrane is downwardly concave,
said spud having a concavity complementary to said membrane.
24. The combination of Claim 23 wherein said mandrel has a mandrel flange below
said spud engaging said spout flange.

Description

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FITMENT HAVING REMOVABLE MEMBRANE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention.
This invention relates to a new and improved fitment having a removable
membrane which closes off the interior of the fitment spout. More particularly, the
invention relates to a fitment which fits around and through a hole in a panel of a
paperboard carton, or around a hole in a flexible container or the like, used for packaging
liquids and powders and also to a closure for such fitment.
2. Description of Related Art.
Fitments having membranes are shown in such patents as U.S. Patent No.
5,303,838, issued April 19, 1994, and particularly Figs. 14-16 thereof. Other patents
showing membranes are U.S. Patent No. 3,458,080, issued July 29, 1969, U.S. Patent
No. 4,380,303, issued April 19, 1983, and others. The present invention is an
improvement on the prior art in that the membrane is located approximately midway
of the height of the spout and is concave. Hence if the container on which the SpOUI
is attached is compressed, the membrane serves as a bellows to absorb such compression
without danger of the membrane being detached from the spout of the fitment.
The fitment cap may be attached by downward, non-rotative motion and has
a tamper-evitlencing band çng~ging the fitment.
SUMMARY OF THE TNVENTION
The fitment of the present invention comprises a spout portion having a peripheral
flange which may be welded or otherwise attached to a panel of a paperboard carton
or to a flexible plastic container. A spout projects upward from the flange and, in the
prefe,.ed embodiment, is externally threaded adjacent its upper end. Approximately

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midway of the height of the spout is an internal membrane which is concave and is
joined to an inward projection of the spout along a line of we~knçc~. A ring is connect~l
to the membrane in such fashion that by pulling the ring the membrane is det~h~d from
the inward projection of the spout. The concave membrane may serve as a bellows,as hereinabove explained. The concavity also f~ilit~tes the consumer gripping the ring
and has certain advantages in molding the part.
The cap of the present invention has a skirt which is internally threaded to engage
the threads of the spout. A lower portion of the cap has a tear band having a bead which
snaps under a shoulder on the lower portion of the spout. The tear band is conn~cted
10 to the upper portion of the skirt by frangible means so that the cap may not be removed
without giving evidence of tampering.
In one modification of the invention the cap is provided with a hollow plug
depending from the top of the cap which seals against the inside of the upper end of
the spout. As an alternate, the plug may be elimin~ted. It will be understood that after
15 the cap has been removed and the membrane torn from the spout and a portion of the
contents of the container dispensed, the cap may be used for reclosure purposes. In
the alternate modification, a rib is formed on the underside of the top of the cap. When
the cap is screwed back onto the spout, the rib engages the upper end of the spout to
prevent leakage.
One of the features of the invention is the fact that the cap may be attached tothe spout by pressing the cap downward relative to the spout, the mating threads on
the spout and cap skirt slipping past each other and then intereng~Eing. The tamper-
evident band has a bead which engages a shoulder on the spout so that the cap cannot
be unscrewed without severing the bridges which connect the band to the skirt and giving
25 evidence of tampering.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The acco,l"Janying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this
specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description,
serve to explain the principles of the invention:
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the cap and spout in assembled
condition.
Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the spout of the present invention.

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Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof.
Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the cap.
Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the cap of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of
Fig. 5.
Fig. 7A is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 7.
Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.
Fig. 8A is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of Fig. 8.
Fig. 8B is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of Fig. 8.
Fig. 9 is a view similarly to Fig. 8A of a modified cap.
Fig. 10 is a schematic view showing how the fitment may be temporarily attached
to the spud of an anvil of a machine for inserting the fitment into a panel of a carton.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
One environment in which the present invention may be employed is by
attachment to a carton panel l l having a hole 12 therein. Fitment 16 is provided with
a flange 17 which is welded or otherwise attached to the underside of panel 11
surrounding hole 12. Projecting up from the inner edge of flange 17 is a step 18 having
an outside dimension to fit within the hole 12 and having a height approximately equal
to the thickness of panel 11. Above step 18, the fitment has an inward extending portion
19. Extending upward from the inner edge of portion 19 is lower spout stretch 21 and
thereabove is an upward inward extending slanted stretch 22 which merges into a
vertically extending upper stretch 23 terminating in a top edge 24.
Formed on the inside of the lower portion of lower spout stretch 21 is an inwarddownward slanted bead 26 having a purpose which hereinafter appears.
An external shoulder 27 is formed at the juncture of lower spout stretch 21 and
slanted stretch 22 for the purpose of attachment to the tamper-evidencing band of the
cap as herein after explained. On the interior of the spout at approximately the juncture
of the slanted stretch 22 and the upper stretch 23 is an inward projection 29 having
an upper inner corner 31. The underside of projection 29 and its juncture with lower
spout stretch 21 is a curved surface 30 which facilitates dispensing the contents of the
container. Projection 29 is approximately midway of the length of the spout. On the
AMEhlDED SHEET

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exterior of upper spout stretch 23 are external threads 28, here shown as eight in number,
of an arcuate length of approximately 270, and of shallow pitch.
Above and inward of corner 31 is membrane 32 molded integrally with the fitment
16. The central portion of membrane 32 is concave as shown by reference numeral
33. The lower outer edge 34 of membrane 32 joins the upper inner corner 31 of
projection 29 and the connection therebetween is thin and constitutes a line of weakness
or tear line 36. At one portion of member 32 is an upward connection 37 reinforced
by thin vertical gusset 38 and connected to horizontal pull ring 39 which is located below
the level of top edge 24. When the user grips ring 39 and pulls upward, the tear line
10 36 breaks and the membrane 32 may be removed.
Cap 46 used wlth fitment 16 has a top 47 from which depends an upper skirt
48 joined to top 47 by a downwardly rounded corner 49. On the exterior of upper skirt
48 are vertical ribs 51 which assist the user in unscrewing the cap from the fitment.
Upper skirt 48 is provided with internal threads 52 mating with the external threads
15 28 of fitment 16. The shape of the threads is such that when the cap 46 is pressed
vertically downwardly on ~Itment 16, the threads 52 slip over threads 28 and re-engage.
In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 and Figs. 5-8, a hollow plug 53
is formed on the underside of top 57, and the lower outer corner thereof having a curved
edge 54 which engages the inside of upper fitment 23 in a liquid tight seal.
A tamper-evident band 56 is integrally attached to the bottom of upper skirt
48 by means of 8 angularly-spaced frangible bridge connections 61, it being understood
that the number and placement of such connections is subject to variation. Band 56
is provided with an internal bead 57 which snaps under shoulder 27 when the cap is
applied to the fitment. To facilitate engagement of shoulder 27, an internal groove
25 58 is formed in band 56 immediately above internal bead 57. An external rabbet 59
is formed on the upper outer edge of band 56. A plurality of upwardly extending bumpers
62 are formed on the upper edge of band 56 inside rabbet 59 and between frangible
connections 61. Such bumpers 62 are used to keep the band 56 from collapsing when
the cap is removed from the injection mold in which it is formed. Further, during
30 assembly of the cap to the spout by a snap-on action, the bumpers reduce the tendency
of the band 56 to collapse and for connections 61 to be prematurely broken. Rec~llse
of rabbet 59 the consumer can more readily observe whether connections 61 are intact
and thus detect tampering.

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In the modification shown in Fig. 9, the plug 53 is eliminated. Formed dependingfrom the underside of top 47a is a bead 66 considerably shorter than plug 53. It will
be understood that after the cap 46 has been unscrewed from fitment 16 and membrane
32 removed, the user may wish to dispense only part of the contents of the container.
5 The upper portion of cap 46 serves as a reclosure cap. Bead 66 engages the interior
of the upper stretch 23 of the spout. In other respects the modification of Fig. 9
resembles that of the preceding modiifications and the same reference numerals followed
by the subscript 3 are used to designate corresponding parts.
Directing attention to Fig. 10, automatic equipment for welding the fitment flange
10 17 to the underside of panel l l is known in the art. In one form of such equipment
an anvil 71 has a flange 72 to which is attached a spud 73 which picks the fitment off
of a chute (not shown) by fitting inside the lower spout stretch 21. The lowest portion
of the concave area 33 of membrane 32 is above the upper edge of spud 73. In theform of the invention shown in Fig. 10, spud 73 has an external diameter such that
lS when it is inserted through the lower end of the fitment 16 the inner bead 26 frictionally
engages the exterior of spud 73. The spud is formed with a concavity 74 so as not
to conflict with the concavity 33 of membrane 32. Holes 76 in spud 73 relieve any
vacuum which might tend to impede release of fitment 16 from spud 73 when the fitment
has been positioned in the carton panel 11, as shown in Fig. 1.
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the
invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whilethe invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will
be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments.
On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and
equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined
by the appended claims.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention
have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed,
and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above
teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain
the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others

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skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embotlimPnt.~ with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that
the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their
equivalents.

Representative Drawing