CLOSURE FOR A POUCH

The present invention relates generally to pouches and particularly, although not exclusively, to dispensing fitments, closures and the like for collapsible pouches intended to contain liquid or semi-liquid product.

Collapsible or squeeze pouches are used for containing a wide variety of products including food, beverages, personal care and household care, which may be in the form of a liquid, lotion, gel, paste or the like. Such pouches are typically made from a flexible heat- sealable polymeric sheet or from a flexible, paper boiled or metal foil sheet having a heat-sealable, polymeric lining. The pouch has two opposed flexible sheets which are peripherally sealed to each other so as to define an interior chamber for containing product and to define an opening between the interior and the exterior of the pouch. The opening receives a dispensing fitment, such as a plastic spout, for example with a base defining a dispensing passage and a removable cover for opening or closing the dispensing passage. The fitment is often secured in the opening between the flexible pouch sheets, for example, by heat sealing or adhesion.

The present invention seeks to provide improvements in or relating to pouches, pouch fitments and combinations thereof.

An aspect of the present invention provides a pouch fitment comprising a base which is attachable to a pouch and includes a dispensing spout, the fitment further comprises a closure for closing the spout, in which the closure is non-releasably associated with the base.

In some embodiments the closure may be formed integrally with the base, for example by moulding (e.g. mono- or bi-injection moulding). The fitment may, for example, be formed in an open position and then moved to an initially closed position (e.g. using im-mould closing, or by a post moulding operation).

In some embodiments the closure may be formed separately from the base and may be assemblage therewith.

The closure may, for example, be hingedly attached to the spout, for example by a film hinge, snap hinge, butterfly hinge or the like.

The fitment may comprise tamper-evident means for showing that the closure has been opened at least once.

Some embodiments provide a fitment comprising a non-detachable tamper-evident member.

Some embodiments provide a spout for pouch with a non-detachable tamper-evident band. A tamper-evident member may be movable from an engaged position to a released position. In some embodiments, in the engaged position the closure cannot be opened and in the released position the closure can be opened.

The tamper-evident member may be hinged to the closure for movement from an engaged (“locked”) to a released (“unlocked”) position.

The closure may be attached to the base by a tether, for example a “lasso” type tether.

In some embodiments a tethered closure cap may be provided, such as a tamper-evident tethered closure.

Arranged on the lower edge of the cap wall of the closure cap may be a retaining ring that engages beneath a bead on fitment when the closure cap is in position. On opening the container, only an upper cap portion is removed, while the lower retaining ring remains firmly connected to the fitment.

A tether may connect the retaining ring with the cap wall so that the cap will remain connected with the fitment (and hence with the pouch) and cannot be mislaid or discarded separately. The retaining ring is simultaneously used as an anti-tamper ring for the display of initial opening of the container. To this end, the retaining ring may, for example, connected by means of frangible bridges with the lower edge of the cap wall. The retaining ring can slide over a bead on the fitment (for example on the spout) on initial fitting of the closure cap without risk to the bridges; and the ring subsequently holds securely on the container mouth.

The retaining ring of such a closure cap may have one or more tongues/flaps protruding radially inwardly on its inside surface, said tongues extending towards the cap base and engaging beneath the bead on the container mouth when the closure cap is in position on the container mouth. The tongue/s are connected only at one end with the retaining ring, and their free end is able to pivot in a radial direction. On initial fitting of the closure cap, the tongue/s can therefore be pivoted outwards in the radial direction when they slide over the bead onto the spout.

The present invention provides a closure for a pouch fitment, comprising a cap and a retaining ring for retaining the closure on a fitment, a tether is provided between the cap side wall and the retaining ring along the circumference of the cap, one end of the tether is fixedly connected to the side wall and the other end is fixedly connected to the retaining ring, in which the tether is connected to the cap by a root.

The tether may extend from the root in a clockwise direction.

The tether may extend from the root in an anti-clockwise direction. The closure may comprise a main line of weakness/frangible line formed between the cap and the ring.

In some embodiments a tether-forming frangible line is formed axially beneath the main frangible line.

There may be two (axial) levels of bridge break during opening. The tether may be formed below main frangible line. The tether may be formed above main frangible line. Main and tether-forming frangible lines may be substantially parallel.

The interface between the main frangible line and the tether-forming frangible line may be chicane-like or generally L-shape.

Fitments formed in accordance with the present invention may comprise one or more frangible bridges.

Fitments formed in accordance with the present invention may comprise one or more non- frangible bridges.

The present invention also provides a fitment as described herein in combination with a pouch. The pouch may comprise a generally rectangular bag-like structure.

The pouch may, for example, be formed from a front sheet and a rear sheet which may be made from polymeric sheets, or metal foil sheets having heat-sealable polymeric linings.

The sheets may be heat-sealed together at their peripheries to form a seam. The seam may extend around the periphery of the sheets except for along the top edge where an opening is formed. The opening may receive the fitment, which may also be heat sealed to the two sheets either side of the opening.

The present invention also provides, in combination, a flexible pouch and a fitment, the fitment includes a base and a closure, the closure remains linked to the base after opening.

The fitment may be formed from a material and the pouch may be formed from the same material.

The fitment may be formed as a unitary component.

The closure may be formed as a unitary component. Some aspects and embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a closure and particularly, although not exclusively, to a tethered pouch closure.

The present invention also provides a closure as described herein in combination with a base (which may together for a pouch dispensing fitment).

The present invention also relates to closures and/or bases as described herein in combination with a (flexible) pouch.

In some embodiments a tamper-evident band is moulded with a lid.

There may be a hinge function between the lid and the tamper-evident band.

There may be no hinge function between the lid and the tamper-evident band.

In some embodiments the link with the tamper-evident band is not breakable; only the bridges need to be broken to allow the lid to be open.

Before the first opening, hooks may maintain the lid closed in position with the tamper-evident band and the bridges not broken.

The present invention also provides a spout for pouch with a non-detachable tamper-evident band.

Some aspects and embodiments relate to a tamper-evident single component for a flexible pouch which should remain linked to the base after opening.

The concept may use a hinge between a cover and a base.

Tamper-proofness may consist of at least one detachable element with clip linked to the cover by bridges.

When closing the cover detachable element with clip may snap into a housing of the base to create inviolability.

The cover may be snapped onto a rim.

When the cover/hood is opened by a consumer there may be a rupture of bridges which creates an opening indicator and the detachable element remains fixed to the base. The tilting of the cover around the hinge area, this fact at the time of opening and frees the drinker.

In some embodiments the cover is still attached to the base after opening by means of the hinge.

During the reclosing of the hood the hinge may resume its initial place allowing the snap-fitting of the hood on the contents and thus guarantee the tightness.

Some embodiments consist of a single component; therefore it is manufactured with a single material. If the pouch is made from the same material as the one-component, there is a 100% recyclable system.

In another embodiment the clip can be on the tie-back and the housing is located in the detachable element of the cover

A further embodiment relates to a tamper-evident cap for flexible pouch which should remain attached to the pouch after opening; proposal of an innovative connection solution.

The concept uses a strap between a plug and a base.

When the strap belongs to the plug, the base being welded to the pouch, the deformation of the strap during unscrewing and re-screwing is complicated: crushing or twisting of the strap hampering use.

In some embodiments a strap belongs to a tie.

When the plug is screwed onto the tie-back the belt of the plug snaps into the clip of the strap.

The clip is free in the clearance of the cap, which allows the rotation of the plug for complete screwing.

When the cap is unscrewed, the connection, between the cap and the cap, comes to jam against the clip.

By continuing to divide the strap takes place, the bridges break, which creates an opening indicator; but the plug remains attached to the tie.

By removing the plug to release the rim, the strap deforms but the plug is still held by the clip therefore the plug remains attached to the receptacle. When the strap is screwed back on, it will return to its original position, allowing the plug to be screwed back onto the tie-back.

A further embodiment relates to a tamper-evident cap for flexible pouch which should remain attached to the base after opening; proposal of an innovative connection solution.

The embodiment uses a hinge between the cap and the tamper-evident belt.

The cap is snapped at the level of the inviolability band, on the collar.

When the plug is opened, the bridges break, which creates an opening indicator. The tilting of the plug a, around the hinge zone causes the strands to extend, which allows the plug to be released beyond the rim. This movement can be facilitated by the presence of a rigid element and protruding from the main body, a tongue, which, bearing on the neck, serves as a point of rotation.

The tab remaining in contact with the neck of the base allows the plug to be kept in the open position.

The plug being connected by strands to the tamper-evident belt in the open position, the plug is always attached to the base after opening.

When closing, the strands will resume their initial places allowing the closure and snap-on of the cap on the collar.

A further embodiment relates to a tamper-evident cap for a flexible bag which should remain attached to the base after opening; proposal of an innovative linking solution.

A strand connects cap of cap to the strip inviolability, this strand is completely part of the design of the cap.

The embodiment has a base, a stopper body and its tamper-evident band as a basic element common to different versions.

When screwing the cap on the base, the tamper-evident band snaps onto the counter ring of the base, the tamper-evident band remains free to rotate.

When the cover is unscrewed, the bridges break, which creates an opening indicator.

By moving the cover aside to release the drink, the strand is deformed but the cover is still attached to the tamper-evident band. When screwing in, the tamper-evident strip and the strand rotate with the cover.

Option to block cover in the open position on the base.

The lug of the base allows the hole created on the strand to snap onto it.

A further aspect provides a tethered pack for pouch packaging.

Different aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together.

The present invention is more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The example embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

Accordingly, while embodiment can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the (drawings?) and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In the following description, all orientational terms, such as upper, lower, radially and axially, are used in relation to the drawings and should not be interpreted as limiting on the invention.

Figures 1 to 11

Figures 1 to 11 illustrate a pouch fitment generally indicated 10.

The fitment 10 comprises a base 12 and a closure cap 14. The base 12 and the cap 14 are connected by a hinge 35.

The closure cap 14 comprises a circular top plate 16 with a side wall 18 depending from the periphery thereof. The base 12 comprises a spout 20 and a sealing part 40.

The sealing part 40 comprises two lateral/axial tabs 42, 44 joined by four (in this embodiment) horizontal fins 46. Axial strengthening members 48 extend between the fins 46.

A frontal tamper-evident member 24 (in this embodiment being a band/strip) is moulded with the cap. A hinge function/mechanism 15 (such as a material thinning and/or other formations) is provided between the cap 14 and the band 20.

The link between the cap and the band is not breakable; only bridges 26 need to be broken to allow the cap to be opened.

Figures 3 and 6 show the fitment in an as-moulded condition. The cap is in an open position. The member is connected to the cap by frangible bridges 26.

Figures 1 , 4, 7 and 8 show the cap initially closed onto the base. The spout 20 includes hooks 27 (two, in this embodiment) each having inclined upper surfaces 28 and flat abutment surfaces 29. When the cap is closed for the first time the member can pass over the surfaces 28 so that the hooks engage in slots/cut-outs 30 formed in the member.

Before the first opening, therefore, the hooks 27 on the spout 20 engage in the slots 30 in the member 24 to maintain the cap closed in position with the tamper-evident band and the bridges 26 not broken.

When the contents of the pouch are required the closure cap needs to be lifted. The cap cannot be lifted because the member cannot pass over the hooks (Figure 1 , 4, 7, 8). The band is held by the hooks when the cap/lid is closed.

To be able to open the cap the member must first be hinged/rotated/torn away as shown in Figure 9. This movement breaks the bridges 26. The tamper-evident band remains attached to the cap.

The cap is provided with a peak 35 to assist lifting. Figure 10 shows the cap half open and Figure 11 shows the cap fully open.

The closure can be replaced to seal any remaining contents of the pouch if required. The member 24 may be folded back so that the hooks engage in the U-shape slots (but the bridges will remain broken, of course).

Figure 12 In the context of a tamper-evident single component for flexible pouch which should remain linked to the base after opening; proposal of an innovative solution liaison.

The concept uses a hinge 3 between a cover 2 and a base 1 .

Proposed solution:

Tamper-proofness consists of at least one detachable element 8 with clip 5 linked to the cover 2 by bridges 6.

When closing the cover 2 detachable element with clip 5 snaps into the housing 7 of the base to create inviolability.

The cover 2 is snapped onto the rim 4.

When the hood 2 is opened by the consumer there is a rupture of the bridges 6 which creates an opening indicator and the detachable element remains fixed to the base 1 .

The tilting of the cover 2 around the hinge area 3, this fact at the time of opening and frees the drinker.

The cover 2 is still attached to the base 1 after opening by means of the hinge.

During the reclosing of the hood 1 the hinge 3 will resume its initial place allowing the snapfitting of the hood 1 on the drink 4 and thus guarantee the tightness.

Concept improvement:

This solution consists of a single component, therefore it is manufactured with a single material. If the pouch is made from the same material as the one-component, there is a 100% recyclable system).

In another design the clip can be on the tie-back and the housing is located in the detachable element of the cover

Figure 13

As part of a tamper-evident cap for flexible pouch which should remain attached to the pouch after opening; proposal of an innovative connection solution.

The concept uses a strap 3 between a plug 1 and a base 2. When the strap 3 belongs to the plug 1 , the base 2 being welded to the pouch, the deformation of the strap 3 during unscrewing and re-screwing is complicated: crushing or twisting of the strap hampering use.

Proposed solution:

On this model the strap 3 belongs to the tie 2.

When the plug 1 is screwed onto the tie-back 2 the belt of the plug 5 snaps into the clip 4 of the strap 3.

The clip 4 is free in the clearance 8 of the cap 5, which allows the rotation of the plug 1 for complete screwing.

When the cap 1 is unscrewed, the connection 6, between the cap 5 and the cap 1 , comes to jam against the clip 4.

By continuing to divide the strap 3 takes place, the bridges 7 break, which creates an opening indicator; but the plug 1 remains attached to the tie 2.

By removing the plug 1 to release the rim, the strap deforms but the plug 1 is still held by the clip 4 therefore the plug 1 remains attached to the receptacle 3.

When the strap 3 is screwed back on, it will return to its original position, allowing the plug 1 to be screwed back onto the tie-back 2.

Figure 14

As part of a tamper-evident cap for flexible pouch which should remain attached to the base after opening; proposal of an innovative connection solution.

The concept uses a hinge 8 between the cap 4 and the tamper-evident belt 3.

Proposed solution:

The cap 4 is snapped at the level of the inviolability band, on the collar 2.

When the plug 4 is opened, the bridges 6 break, which creates an opening indicator. The tilting of the plug a, around the hinge zone 8 causes the strands 7 to extend, which allows the plug 4 to be released beyond the rim. This movement can be facilitated by the presence of a rigid element and protruding from the main body, a tongue 5, which, bearing on the neck 2, serves as a point of rotation.

The tab 5 remaining in contact with the neck 2 of the base 1 allows the plug 4 to be kept in the open position.

The plug 4 being connected by strands 7 to the tamper-evident belt in the open position, the plug 4 is always attached to the base 1 after opening.

When closing, the strands 7 will resume their initial places allowing the closure and snap-on of the cap 4 on the collar 2.

Figure 15

As part of a tamper-evident cap for a flexible bag which should remain attached to the base after opening; proposal of an innovative linking solution.

Proposed solution:

Strand 2 connects cap 1 of closure 4 to the strip inviolability 3, this strand 2 is completely part of the design of the cap 4.

The concept is to have a base 7, a stopper body 1 and its tamper-evident band 3 as a basic element common to different versions.

When screwing the cap 4 on the base 7, the tamper-evident band 3 snaps onto the counter ring 6 of the base 7, the tamper-evident band 3 remains free to rotate.

When the cover 1 is unscrewed, the bridges 5 break, which creates an opening indicator.

By moving the cover 1 aside to release the drink, the strand 8 is deformed but the cover 1 is still attached to the tamper-evident band 3.

When screwing in, the tamper-evident strip 3 and the strand 2 rotate with the cover 1 .

Option to block cover 1 in the open position on the base 7. The lug 9 of the base 7 allows the hole 10 created on the strand 2 to snap onto it.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.