Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ONI~-PIECE FITMENT HAVING RECLOSURE CAP
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new and improved one-piece fitment having a
reclosure
cap. The fitment may be attached to a container surrounding a hole therein and
is
characterized in that it has an outward-slanted tear band positioned above the
fitment
spout and beneath a reclosure cap. Before its removal, the reclosure cap
functions as
a tamper-evident closure for the spout. When the tear band is pulled off, the
fitment
may ire opened and the upper portion thereof used as a reclosure cap.
2. B;elat~d~
Fitments attached to the paperboard panels of cartons for juice and milk are
becoming increasingly important. Such fitments conventionally have a spout
attached
to the paperboard carton by a peripheral flange and further have a cap which
is attached
to the spout and further have tamper-evidencing means. A one-piece
intermediate product
cap of this type is shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,249,695 (FIGS. 10-20),
5,348,183,
5,174,465 and 5,271,519.
In one modification of the preset inv~tion, the cap is snapped onto the spout
for reclosure purposes after the tear band has been removed. In another
modification
of the invention, the cap is screwed onto the spout. Snap-on and screw-on caps
have
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been used in the container art for many years but never as
parts of one-piece fitments wherein there is a removable
interconnecting tear band.
U.S. Patent 5,249,695 shows as an intermediate
product or a consumer product comprising a spout having
internal threads joined at its upper edge to the lower edge
of a cap having external threads. The cap may be
disconnected from the spout and used as a reclosure cap.
However, it will be noted that the external threads of the
cap are exposed to dirt and other contaminants when the
fitment is in its initial condition and thus may later
contaminate the contents of the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a one-piece
fitment which is inexpensive to manufacture in that it is
unnecessary for the cap to be assembled on the spout prior
to attachment of the fitment to a container.
Another feature of the invention is the fact that
the fitment is tamper-evidencing in that it has a tear band
which, when torn off, provides a separate spout and a
separate cap. When used as a reclosure cap, the cap skirt
is applied over the outside of the spout and an internal
hollow plug or depression depending from the cap top engages
the inside of the upper edge of the spout to seal the spout
closed. In initial condition both these surfaces are
enclosed. Hence contamination of the primary seal surfaces
is prevented. The reclosure cap may be used repeatedly.
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In summary the invention provides a unitary,
recloseable fitment comprising a spout having attachment
means for securing said spout to a container, said spout
having an exterior and an upper end having an external first
diameter, first engaging means on said exterior of said
spout, a tear band connected to an upper edge of said spout
by a lower tear line, said tear band slanting upwardly-
outwardly, a cap connected to an upper edge of said tear
band by an upper tear line, said tear band being separable
along said lower tear line from said spout and along said
upper tear line from said cap, said cap having a top, a
skirt depending from said top, said skirt having an interior
second diameter, second engaging means on said interior of
said skirt, said second diameter being slightly larger than
said first diameter, said first and second engaging means
cooperating to detachably hold said cap on said spout after
said tear band has been separated from said spout and from
said cap.
Another feature of the invention is the "hour
glass" shape of the interior of the fitment. This shape
facilitates stripping the fitment out of the mold in which
it is formed.
Although the invention is illustrated and
described herein for use with a paperboard container such as
a juice or milk carton, nevertheless it will be understood
that the fitment may be applied to dispense from a wide
variety of containers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated
in and form a part of this specification, illustrate
embodiments of the invention and, together with the
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description serve to explain the principles of the
invention.
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one
modification of a fitment in accordance with the present
invention shown installed on a panel of a paperboard
container.
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FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the fitment of FIG. I.
FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the structure of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the
line 4-4 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the fitment with the tear band
removed
and the reclosure cap applied onto the spout.
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modification.
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of the modification of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the structure of FIG.B.
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the
invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
While the
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.
More particularly, the fitment 14 of the present invention is usable with
containers
of many different kinds. In the accompanying drawings the fitment is shown
used with
a paperboard carton for juices, milk and the like, conventionally being
attached to one
of the panels of a tent-type top container widely used in such cartons. It
will be understood
that the invention may be used with many other containers.
In the form of container illustrated, carton panel I 1 is formed with a
circular
hole 12. Fitment 14 is inserted in the interior of the carton and projects
outward through
the hole 12. It will be understood that it could also be applied to the
exterior. Peripheral
flange 16 of the fitment fits against the underside of panel 11 surrounding
the hole 12
and may be attached thereto by ultrasonic welding, adhesives or other
conv~ient means.
Spout 17 extends upward relative to flange 16 and has a substantially
cylindrical lower
portion 18, an inwardly upwardly conical intermediate portion 19 and a
cylindrical upper
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portion 21. On the exterior of cylindrical portion 21 is an external bead 22
having a
shoulder 23 at its lower edge.
Above spout 17 is tear band 26 which slants upwardly outwardly relative to
cylindrical porti~ 21 and is defined by horizontal lower tear line 27 and
upper tear line
28. As best shown in FIG. 4, a vertical thin portion 29 is located at one
position of band
26. Spaced outwardly of spout 17 is substantially vertical tear tab 31
connected to band
26 by a horizontal connector 32 of limited arcuate width. A lateral extension
33 of tab
31 may conveniently be gripped by the consumer in order initially to open the
fitment,
as hereinafter explained.
Above tear band 26 and separated therefrom by tear line 28 is cap 36 which
has a top 37 closing off the upper end of the fitment. Depending from top 37
is a
circumferential skirt 38 formed spaced upward from its lower edge with
internal
interrupted bead segments 39. Also depending from top 37 is a hollow plug 41
having
a curved lower outer edge 42. It will be noted that the dimensions of top 37
are greater
IS than the circumference of skirt 38 so that there is a peripheral flange 44
projecting
outwardly.
In the particular embodiment illustrated, before filling the carton, fitment
14
is deposited inside panel 11 and then moved outwardly through hole 12 which is
of a
diameter such that the flange 44 maybe projected outwardly therethrough.
Flange 16
contacts the inside of the panel 11 and is secured thereto by ultrasonic
welding, by
adhesives or other means as well understood in the fitment equipment art. So
long as
the fitment 14 is intact, it is tamper-evidencing and all internal surfaces
are sealed from
contamination.
In order to open the carton, the consumer grips the tab 31 and pulls
circumferentially around the fitment. The vertical thin portion 29 fractures
as do the
tear lines 27 and 28 so that the tear band 26 may be completely removed from
spout 14
and also completely removed from cap 36. The extension 33 may be gripped
conveniently
at any position of fitment 14 relative to the carton on which it is mounted,
even when
in close proximity to the crimped ridge of a tent top container. Hence it is
not necessary
to orient the fitment when applying it to a container.
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If the contents of the container are not completely dispensed, cap 36 may be
used for reclosure purposes. The diameter of the interior of skirt 38 is
approximately
equal to the exterior diameter of cylindrical portion 21. Hence when the cap
is pushed
downward, the interrupted internal beads 39 of the cap skirt 38 snapping under
the
shoulder 23 of the external bead 22 of spout 17. At the same time, the hollow
plug 41
enters the upper end of spout 17 and seals thereagainst. Curved edge 42
facilitates this
operation.
A feature of the invention is shown in FIG 6 where it is shown that the
contents
of the container are sealed by plug 41 sealing against the inside of
cylindrical portion
Z1. Both the seal surfaces are on the inside of the structure of FIG. 3 and
hence are not
exposed to dirt or other contaminates prior to initial opening.
If the consumer wishes to dispense more of the contents of the container, the
user's fingers pry the peripheral flange 44 upward, causing the beads 39 to
snap out from
udder the shoulder 23. The cap 36 may be used for reclosure purposes as often
as
required.
FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a modification of the invention and several additional
features
which may be incorporated either in the modification of FIGS. 1-6 or the
modification
of FIGS 7-9. With respect to the latter it will be seen that flange 16~ is
formed with
an upper step 51 having a diameter slightly less than hole 12 and having a
height
approximately equal to the thickness of panel 11. This structure facilitates
centering
the fitment 14~ (or the fitment 14) in the hole 12 during application.
_ _ As ~ ~~ ~ FIG. 8, the interior of spout l7~ may be formed with an inward
protruding bead 53 here shown as continuous, but may be intem~pted. Bead 53
functions
v~ihen the fitment 14a is attached to a spud on an anvil which transports the
fitment from
the terminal of a chute leading down from a hopper to a position inside the
open upper
end of a carts arid subsequently moves the fitm~t so that the spout projects
out through
the hole 12. The frictional engagement of bead 53 with a spud on the anvil
eliminates
the necessity of using vacuum and otherwise facilitates application of the
fitment.
Still another feature of the invention is the provision of a connector 34
shown
in FIG. 8 between the inside of tab 31~ and the exterior of the.spout 17a.
This prevents
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the tab from being displaced from its initial position and unintentionally
tearing of the
tear strip 26a.
As best shown in FIG. 7, bridges 61 span upper tear lines 28a and bridges 62
span lower tear line 27a. Bridges 61 and 62 prevent unintentional severing of
the tear
lines but are not of sufficient width or strength to prevent the user from
tearing through
them when the tab 31a is gripped and the band 26~ is torn off.
The modifications discussed in the preceding four paragraphs may be used with
the modification of FIGS. 1-6 as well as with the modification of FIGS. 7-9.
One
distinguishing feature of the modification of FIGS. 7-9 is the formation of
screw threads
56 on the exterior of the upper portion of spout 17a and the formation of
internal threads
57 on the interior of skirt 38a. Although not illustrated in the drawings, it
will readily
understood that once the band 268 has been removed and the user wishes to
reclose the
container, the cap threads 57 may be used to screw the cap onto the spout.
In a screw cap, use of flange 44 may be eliminated. To facilitate turning the
cap 14~, vertical external ribs 64 may be formed on skirt 38~,
In other respects the modification of FIGS. 7-9 resembles that of FIGS. 1-6
and the same reference numerals followed by subscript a, are used to designate
corresponding parts.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention
have been pres~ted 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 embodi-
menu were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the
invention
and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to
best utilize the
invention and various embodiments 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.
