WO1993022211A1

WO1993022211A1 - Closure with tamper evident pour spout

Info

Publication number: WO1993022211A1
Application number: PCT/US1993/003700
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ernest L. Smith
Original assignee: Sealright Company, Inc.
Priority date: 1992-04-29
Filing date: 1993-04-20
Publication date: 1993-11-11

Abstract

A closure (22) having a tamper evident pour spout (34). The pour spout (34) for the closure is formed by a depressed portion (44), typically in the form of a quarter sphere. The interface between this depressed portion (44) and the top surface (24) of the closure (22) is formed as a reduced thickness portion (38) to define a tear line. In use, the user may grasp the quarter sphere portion (44) to pull it outward, ripping the tear line. Due to the resilient nature of the closure (22), the depressed portion will deform about the interface of the depressed portion and the skirt (26) until it has taken a substantially mirror image configuration, forming an opening and pour spout through the closure. The top face (24) of the closure adjacent the depressed portion (44) may include a depression (42) such that the user may more easily grasp the edge of the depressed portion (44) for opening the pour spout (34).

Description

CLOSURE WITH TAMPER EVIDENT POUR SPOUT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to closures for containers. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved dispensing closure having a tamper evident feature. Description of the Related Art

With certain products, typically those of a liquid, granular or powderous nature, it is preferred that they be packaged in containers which have a dispensing feature such as a pour spout. For example, it has long been known to provide a standard cardboard box type container with a metal or plastic pour spout in one side which may be moved from a closed position substantially within the plane of the box side to an open position forming a pour spout. While this arrangement is serviceable, the required operations of forming the hole and flap in the side wall of the box, and attaching the pour spout to the flap and within the hole, increase the cost of the container, and thus the end product. Additionally, it is common to provide such containers with an overwrap of paper containing the exterior graphics. While this overwrap will cover the pour spout and provide a tamper evident feature, it is difficult to properly remove the paper over the pour spout area, creating aggravation for the user and reducing the aesthetics of the opened package.

An improved version of such a pour spout consists of a throat and closure lid for such throat molded as a single monolithic unit. The closure may be moved between open and closed positions, with the closure having a snap fit to retain it in the closed position. The throat of this device is fitted into a hole in the container and will typically include a label mounted over the closure with pressure sensitive adhesive to act as a tamper evident feature. While this arrangement is an improvement over the previous pour spout, the monolithic throat and closure must be injection molded in the open configuration, requiring additional machinery to place the closure in the closed position. Additionally, a hole must be formed within the container, and the throat fitted into the container. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a closure providing a pour spout.

Another object is to provide such a pour spout which may be molded as a monolithic unit and connected to the container without additional operations to close the pour spout.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a closure which will have an inherent tamper evident indicator. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a closure which may be mounted to a container body without the need for complex container shapes to form a hole to receive the closure.

These and other objects are achieved by a closure having a tamper evident pour spout. The closure includes an upper face and a downwardly depending skirt along at least a portion of the upper face. The pour spout for the closure is formed by a depressed portion, typically in the form of a quarter sphere. The interface between this depressed portion and the top surface of the closure is formed as a reduced thickness portion to define a tear line. In use, the user may grasp the quarter sphere portion to pull it outward, ripping the tear line. Due to the resilient nature of the plastic from which the closure is formed, the depressed portion will deform about the interface of the depressed portion and the skirt until it has taken a substantially mirror image configuration, forming a opening and pour spout through the closure. The top face of the closure adjacent the depressed portion may include a depression such that the user may more easily grasp the edge of the depressed portion for opening the pour spout. In a preferred embodiment, the top face of the closure may have a periphery substantially conforming to that of the container to which it is to be applied, with the skirt extending about the entire periphery of the closure. The skirt may be received within the side walls of the container body and adhesively secured thereto. This will eliminate the need for complex container body shapes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the invention noted above are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings in which like reference numerals denote like elements, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view in partial cross-section of a container according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial front view in partial cross section of the container of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a top view of the container of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the container of Fig. 1 with the pour spout in the open position; and Fig. 5 is a top view of the container of Fig. 1 with the pour spout in the open configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to Fig. 1, a container according to the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral 10. The container includes a container body 12 having a bottom 14 and at least one side wall 16 extending upwardly from the periphery of the bottom 14. The bottom and side wall define an interior cavity 18 adapted to receive the product to be packaged within the container, and accessible by means of an upwardly oriented opening defined by an upper edge 20 of the side wall 16.

The container 10 also includes a closure 22. The closure includes a top face 24 having a periphery corresponding substantially in size and shape to that of the upper edge 20 of the side walls, and thus the opening of the interior cavity 18. The top face 24 has been shown as a substantially planar wall in the figures, but could have domed or other configurations.

Extending downwardly from the top face 24 is a peripheral skirt 26. The skirt 26 substantially corresponds to the periphery of top face 24, but is spaced slightly inwardly therefrom to define a downwardly facing shoulder 28. This shoulder preferably has a width slightly greater than the thickness of side wall 16. This additional thickness is intended to accommodate the thickness of an adhesive 30 interposed between the exterior of skirt 26 and the interior of side wall 16, which act to retain the closure to the container body. The shoulder 28 will prevent movement of the closure 22 into the cavity 18 beyond the proper distance, until the adhesive 30 sets and secures the closure to the container body. As should be apparent, this arrangement will allow the side wall and bottom to be preformed and accept the product to be packaged within the container, with the closure 22 thereafter simply inserted from above. This is an extremely simple assembly operation, and in this single step will serve to completely seal the interior cavity 18. To assist in the insertion of the closure into the opening of the interior cavity, the lower edge of the skirt 26 may have a reduced periphery portion 32 forming face to ensure that the skirt 26 does not foul upon an upper edge 20, possibly damaging the side wall 16.

The closure 22 includes a pour spout 34. The pour spout 34 encompasses a portion of both the top face 24 and skirt 26. Specifically, as is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the top ace and skirt will each include a preferably semi- circular border with the pour spout 34, designated 36a and 36b, respectively, with the end points of each semi-circular border being coincident. The pour spout 34, in its closed initial position, forms a depressed portion in the form of a quarter sphere, due to the semi-circular borders 36. Spaced slightly inwardly from the border 36a between the pour spout 34 and top face 24 is a reduced thickness line 38. This reduced thickness line defines a tear line at which the top face 24 and pour spout 34 may be separated. This separation may be affected by manual pressure from the user.

Upon separation of the reduced thickness line 38, the border 36b between the pour spout 34 and skirt 26 will act as a living hinge with the semi-spherical body of the pour spout having two limit positions defining the open and closed conditions. Specifically, peripherally outward pressure upon the body of pour spout 34 will cause the spout to deform resiliently outward, bending about the remaining border 36b. However, since the peripheral length of the border 36a is greater than the lateral width of the pour spout (which substantially corresponds to the diameter of the quarter sphere) the pour spout will be placed under pressure.

This pressure is relieved when the pour spout has been moved to the position of Fig. 4, which is substantially reversed or a mirror image of the position of Fig. 1. This is the open position of the pour spout and the now substantially circular configuration of the severed tear line provides an opening to access the interior cavity 18 of the container. Inwardly peripheral pressure upon the pour spout 34 will act in a similar, though reversed, manner. This will result in the pour spout 34 taking the closed position of Fig. 3, though with the reduced thickness line 38 being torn.

As may be readily envisioned, this arrangement allows the entire enclosure to be formed as a monolithic unit by injection molding of a resilient plastic, such as polyethylene. The closure is initially molded in the closed position, such that no additional operations are necessary to make the closure ready for shipping. Additionally, the reduced thickness tear line 38 ensures that the pour spout remains in the closed and sealed position during shipping, and provides the end user with an indication of tampering. As is best shown in Fig. 2, since the pour spout 34 extends into the skirt 26, with the skirt 26 being received within the side walls 16 of the container body, it is necessary that the container body include a cutout 40 which at least corresponds to the border 36b between the pour spout and skirt. The cutout 40 may be formed at the same time that the side walls are manufactured, and may be made with a size larger than that of border 36b to provide greater tolerance in the position of the cutout.

Alternatively, the skirt 26 may be provided with an outwardly directed peripheral rib (not shown) which will define a downwardly directed shoulder to abut against the upper edge 20 of the side walls, in a manner similar to shoulder 28. By placing this alternative shoulder below the border 36b, the upper edge 20 of the side walls may be free of cutouts. This arrangement may be preferred where alignment of the pour spout and cutout proves difficult, possibly with containers having a circular periphery.

The pour spout described above may be improved by providing means to assist the user in severing the reduced thickness line 38. Such a means may be provided in the form of a finger depression 42 which defines a cavity extending into the top face 24 outside of, but abutting, the border 36a. Preferably the reduced thickness line 38 follows the edge of the finger depression 42. As is best shown in Fig. 1, the semi-spherical body of the pour spout 34 does not follow the downward contour of the finger depression 42, but extends upward to the top face 24. This results in a catch portion 44 of the body 34 in the area of the depression 42.

In use, the user may insert their finger within the finger depression 42 and apply pressure^{^} to the catch portion 44 of the pour spout 34. This pressure will result in the tearing of the reduced thickness line 38 to open the pour spout. While the present invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made. For example, the closure 22 need not form the entire upper end of the container 10. For example, the container 10 could be provided with a cardboard partial top which is sealed to the sidewalls 16 and extends from the upper left corner of Fig. 1 to a position just behind the finger depression 42 in Fig. 1. In such a situation the top face 24 of the closure 22 would also end behind the finger depression 42, such as on a straight line perpendicular to the page of Fig. 1. It would be preferred that this end of closure 22 extend slightly over the paper board top such that an adhesive seal may be affected between these members. The skirt 26 could extend about, and be spaced inwardly of, the entire periphery of the top face 24. Those sides of the skirt abutting the interior faces of the side walls would be adhesively sealed thereto. Alternatively, the skirt need only extend along a portion of the periphery, with this portion corresponding to those segments of the side walls 16 which are not connected to the paper board top. The provision of a skirt in these segments will allow an adhesive connection between the skirt 26 and the segments of the side wall 16, to ensure that no product leaks outwardly around the enclosure.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A closure for a container having a bottom and at least one side wall having a free upper edge along at least a portion of the periphery thereof, said closure comprising; a top face having a periphery; a skirt extending downward from at least a portion of said periphery, said skirt adapted to be secured to said side wall; a depressed area of resilient material, said area being located within said portion of said periphery and being defined by and extending between a first border with said top face and a second border with said skirt, said borders having common endpoints at said periphery of said top face and an intermediate segment spaced from said periphery, said first border being formed by a tear line, whereby said depressed area my be separated from said top face along said first border and moved between first and second limit positions, said first limit position being defined by said intermediate segment of said first border being in proximity to said top face and said second limit position being defined by said depressed portion being bent about said second border such that said intermediate segment of said first border is spaced from said top face.

2. A closure as in Claim 1, wherein said top face, skirt and depressed area are formed as a monolithic unit.

3. A closure as in Claim 1, wherein said skirt extends about the entire periphery of said top face.

4. A closure as in Claim 3, further including a downwardly facing shoulder extending along at least a portion of the periphery of said top face, said shoulder adapted to engage with the upper edge of the side wall of the container body.

5. A closure as in Claim 1, wherein said top face includes a depression adjacent to and abutting said depressed area, and wherein said depressed portion includes a catch portion extending upwardly from the intersection of said depression and said depressed area, whereby a user may apply pressure to said catch portion to aid in severing said tear line.

6. A closure as in Claim 5, wherein said top face, skirt and depressed area are formed as a monolithic unit.

7. A closure as in Claim 5, wherein said skirt extends about the entire periphery of said top face.

8. A closure as in Claim 7, further including a downwardly facing shoulder extending along at least a portion of the periphery of said top face, said shoulder adapted to engage with the upper edge of the side wall of the container body.