"CLOSURE FOR A SPOUT OF A FLEXIBLE THIN-WALLED PACKAGE"

[0001] The subject-matter of the present invention is a closure for a spout of a flexible thin-walled package, usually referred to as a "pouch".

[0002] As is well known, these packages are widely used to contain products such as fruit juices and purees, yogurts, energy drinks and the like.

[0003] They are particularly appreciated for their enormous ease of use, as the spout allows the product to be dispensed directly into the mouth, and, as far as children' s products are concerned, for the play component inherent in the use of the spout.

[0004] Usually, the package comprises a cap screwed to the spout, provided with a guarantee seal that indicates the first use.

[0005] Once the cap has been unscrewed from the spout, it remains in the user' s hand, usually in the other hand than the one used for drinking, or, in the case of children, it is handed over to the person accompanying the child. Being uncomfortable to hold and given the small size, the risk is that the cap will be thrown away at the first opportunity or that it will be lost, without taking into account the proper disposal thereof.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to create a closure for a spout of a flexible thin-walled package that satisfies the needs of the sector and overcomes the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the prior art.

[0007] This object is achieved by a closure according to claim 1; the dependent claims describe further advantageous embodiments.

[0008] The features and advantages of the closure according to the present invention will be apparent from the description given hereinafter, provided by way of non limiting example, in accordance with the accompanying figures, wherein:

- Figure la shows a closure according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the parts joined;

- Figure lb shows the closure of Figure la with the parts separated;

- Figures 2a, 2b and 2c represent a cap cover of the closure according to the present invention, in a disengaged configuration, in an engaged configuration and in a engaged configuration according to a further perspective ;

- Figures 3, 4 and 5 respectively illustrate an enlargement of boxes III, IV and V in Figures 2a, 2b and 2c;

- Figures 6, 7 and 8 illustrate enlargements of a further embodiment ; Figure 9 represents a sectional view of an assembly comprising a spout and a closure according to the present invention;

- Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the spout-closure assembly according to the present invention, respectively in a condition with the guarantee seal unbroken and broken;

- Figures 12a and 12b illustrate a cap cover of the closure according to a further embodiment of the invention and a corresponding enlargement, in a disengaged configuration; and

- Figures 13a and 13b illustrate the cap cover of Figures 12a and 12b, in an engaged configuration.

[0009] With reference to the accompanying figures, a closure for a spout of a flexible thin-walled package according to an embodiment of the present invention is indicated collectively at 1.

[0010] Preferably, the closure 1 comprises a closure body 2 and a cap cover 4, to which the closure body 2 is permanently applicable.

[0011] The closure body 2 comprises an annular wall body 6 having a main axis X and a predefined height along said main axis X; the body wall 6 extends between a closure base 10 and an annular body wall edge 7 for the insertion of the closure body 2 on the spout .

[0012] The body wall 6 is internally threaded (thread 14) for screwing to the spout.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the cap cover 4 comprises a closure compartment 16, for example delimited by an annular cap cover wall 18, suitable to accommodate the closure body 2.

[0014] The cap cover wall 18 extends axially between a cap cover wall edge 18a and a cap cover base 18b which serves as a closure.

[0015] Preferably, the cap cover 4 comprises a plurality of tabs 19, protruding radially from the outside of the cap cover wall 18, and a gripping wall 20, annular or annular in sections, made integral to the cap cover wall 18 by said tabs .

[0016] By virtue of the tabs 19, the gripping wall 20 is radially spaced from the cap cover wall 18, forming axial anti-suffocation passages 22.

[0017] Preferably, the closure body 4 is accommodated in the closure compartment 16 so that it is bound axially and rotationally .

[0018] For example, the body wall 6 of the closure body 2 has a plurality of axial ribs 24 protruding outwards, while the cap cover wall 18 has internally a corresponding plurality of axial recesses 26, each recess being suitable to accommodate the respective rib, thus creating a relative rotational constraint. [0019] Moreover, near the closure base 10, the closure body 2 further comprises small rings 23 that engage in the closure compartment 16 near respective grooves close to the cap cover base 18b to achieve a relative axial constraint .

[0020] The spout-closure assembly has an engaged configuration, wherein the closure is screwed to the spout, and a disengaged configuration, wherein the closure is unscrewed from the spout.

[0021] According to the invention, suitable connection means are provided to keep the closure 1 connected to the spout also in the disengaged configuration, i.e., after having unscrewed the closure from the spout.

[0022] According to an embodiment, said connection means comprise a collar 30 suitable for insertion onto a section of the spout, and a flexible tie 32 connecting the collar 30 to the closure 1, for example to the cap cover wall 18 of the cap cover 4 (as in the example shown in the figures) or to the closure wall of the closure body (example not shown) .

[0023] For example, the tie 32 is shaped like a flat band.

[0024] According to an embodiment, moreover, in a resting condition of the connection means, the tie 32 comprises a closure-side portion 34, for example flat, joined to the cap cover wall 18, a spout-side portion 36, for example flat, joined to the collar 36, and an arched intermediate portion 38, which joins the closure-side portion 34 and the spout-side portion 36, for example flat.

[0025] Advantageously, this embodiment allows the collar to be sufficiently spaced from the closure, so as to be able to unscrew and remove the closure from the spout.

[0026] According to a further embodiment (Figures 12a, 12b; 13a, 13b) , the tie 32 has a round section, preferably without dimensional variations.

[0027] In the engaged configuration, the collar 30 is superimposed on the cap cover wall 18, for example, coaxially, for example in abutment with the cap cover wall edge 18a, and the tie 32 is bent so that the spout- side portion 36 is superimposed on the closure-side portion 34 and the intermediate portion 38 is deformed, typically assuming an arched shape (Figures 4 and 5) .

[0028] The connection means comprise alignment means suitable for circumferentially binding the spout-side portion 36 of the tie 32 to the closure-side portion 34 in the engaged configuration.

[0029] For example, these alignment means comprise a pair of binding elements 42, 44, for example, protruding from the spout-side portion, placed on the sides thereof and configured to accommodate at least one section of the closed-side portion in the engaged configuration (Figure 4) . Consequently, the closure-side portion 34 and the spout-side portion 36 are bound circumferentially and cannot, for example, warp each other due to relative movements between the collar and the closure.

[0030] Preferably, said binding elements are configured to create a snap engagement with the closure-side portion.

[0031] According to a further example embodiment (Figures 6, 7 and 8), the alignment means comprise a hole 50, for example, a through-hole, made through the thickness of the closure-side portion 34 and a peg 52 protruding from the collar side portion 36, suitable to be inserted into the hole 50.

[0032] In the engaged configuration, the peg 52 is in the hole 50 and prevents circumferential warping between the collar and the closure.

[0033] A manufacturing method according to the present invention provides for making the cap cover 4, the tie 32 and the collar 30 in a single piece of plastic material, in an open configuration corresponding to the representation in Figure 2a; subsequently, the collar is superimposed on the cap cover wall 18, reaching a closed configuration corresponding to the representation in Figure 2b. The closure body 2 is then inserted into the closure compartment 16, so that the body wall edge 7 is contained within the collar 30. [0034] Preferably (Figure 9) a spout 60 comprises a connection portion 62, usually referred to as a "welding boat", suitable for welding to the thin walls 64 of the package, and a tube 66 protruding from the connection portion 62 along a spout axis Y, ending with a mouth 68 of the spout 60.

[0035] Along the tube 66, from the connection portion 62 to the mouth 68, the spout 60 comprises a gripping section 70 for the engagement with the collar 30 of the connection means.

[0036] For example, said gripping section 70 is delimited by a lower plate 72 and a guide ring 74, preferably beveled to make a guide for the snap-engagement of the collar 30.

[0037] For the first application to the spout, the process provides for, starting from the aforesaid closed configuration, a first step wherein the closure 1 is applied to the spout 60 and forcibly screwed thereto, so that the collar 30 snap-engages with the gripping section 70 of the spout 60.

[0038] When screwing, the closure and the collar tend to rotate relatively, due to the screwing action on the closure and the frictional forces between spout and collar acting on the collar. In this step, the alignment means prevent the closure-side portion of the tie from misaligning angularly from the spout-side portion.

[0039] Said alignment means are therefore particularly advantageous during the initial application of the closure to the spout .

[0040] In normal use of the package, the closure 1 is held by the user and unscrewed from the spout; the collar 30 remains connected to the spout and, by means of the tie 32, allows the closure to be kept connected to the spout.

[0041] The assembly consisting of the closure body 2, the cap cover 4, the spout 60 and the collar 30 creates a guarantee seal, the structure and functionality of which is described in the International Application WO-A1- 2018/020365 in the name of the Applicant. The teaching contained therein in relation to this guarantee seal is hereby expressly incorporated.

[0042] In particular, according to the International Application WO-A1-2018/020365, the collar forms the fixed band of the guarantee seal, the base edge of the closure body forms the guarantee ring and the cap cover wall forms the movable body.

[0043] When unscrewing the closure, the closure 1 axially separates from the collar 30 and the body wall edge 7 of the closure body 4 emerges from the collar 30, widening toward the outside.

[0044] In this way, by screwing the closure to the spout the body wall edge 7 is placed between the cover cap wall edge 18a and the collar 30, preventing the mutual contact thereof, and shows if the package has been opened (Figure 11) .

[0045] According to a preferred embodiment, in the position wherein the tie 32 is connected to the cap cover wall 18, the gripping wall 20 of the cap cover 4 is interrupted by a predefined angular width.

[0046] This allows the closure to be made in a single piece of plastic material, without the use of complex molds with movable parts.

[0047] Innovatively, the closure according to the present invention allows the needs of the sector to be satisfied and to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above, as the closure remains connected to the spout even after opening the package .

[0048] It is apparent that one skilled in the art, in order to meet contingent needs and specifications, may make changes to the closure described above, all contained within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims .