DESCRIPTION

[0001]The object of the present invention is a closure for a flexible thin-walled packaging, usually called a "pouch."

[0002]As is known, such packages are very widely used for containing products such as fruit juices and purees, yogurt, energy drinks and the like.

These are appreciated especially for their great ease of use, because the straw makes it possible to deliver the product directly into the mouth and, as far as the products for children are concerned, for the playful element inherent in the use of the straw.

[0003]Usually, the packaging comprises a closure made up of a cap sealed to a straw and removed therefrom either by tearing it off or by unscrewing it. Once the cap is separated from the straw, the cap stays in the hand of the user, usually in the hand other than the one used to drink, or, in the case of children, it is handed over to the adult. Since it is inconvenient to keep the cap in hand and because of the small dimensions, the risk is that the cap will be thrown away at the first opportunity or get lost without taking into account the proper disposal thereof and without the possibility of reclosing the straw. [0004]Moreover, in the particular case of reclosable caps, it is often necessary to utilize both hands to put the cap in the correct position over the straw and then push it or screw it onto the closure itself. This makes it so the product cannot be used with just one hand.

[0005]The object of the present invention is to provide a closure for a flexible thin-walled packaging which overcomes the drawbacks mentioned above and meets the needs of the sector. [0006]This aim is achieved by a closure according to claim

1; the dependent claims describe further advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0007]The features and advantages of the closure according to this invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example according to the figures in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 represents a closure according to the present invention in an initial configuration with cap sealed (a), in a configuration of use with cap open (b), and in a final configuration with cap reclosed (c), in an exemplary embodiment;

- Figure 2 represents a detail of the closure of Figure 1 in the various configurations: initial (a), of use (b) and final (c); - Figure 3 represents a closure according to the present invention in an initial configuration with cap sealed

(a), in a configuration of use with cap open (b), and in a final configuration with cap reclosed (c), in a further exemplary embodiment;

- Figure 4 represents a detail of the closure of Figure 3 in the various configurations: initial (a), of use (b) and final (c);

- Figure 5 represents a closure according to the present invention in an initial configuration with cap sealed

(a), in yet another exemplary embodiment;

- Figure 6 shows a detail of the closure of figure 5;

[0008]According to the present invention, a flexible thin- walled packaging (not shown) comprises a flexible pouch having at least one front wall and one rear wall, both made of a thin film, joined to each other along peripheral edges by a fused seal. At the top between the upper edge of the front wall and the upper edge of the rear wall, a straw is applied for discharging the product contained within the packaging; the straw is closed by a cap.

[0009]According to a further embodiment, the pouch comprises a first lateral wall, fused between first lateral edges of the front wall and the rear wall, for example on a first sidewall; according to yet another embodiment, the pouch comprises a second lateral wall, fused between second lateral edges of the front wall and the rear wall, for example on a second sidewall.

[0010]According to yet another embodiment, the pouch comprises a bottom wall, fused between the lower edges of the front wall and the rear wall, in order to create a bottom of the packaging.

[0011]The thin film is single-layer or multi-layer; permeable to oxygen or impermeable to oxygen. [0012]In accordance with the figures of the attached tables, 1 indicates overall a closure for a "pouch" comprising a mouth 2, a cap 4 which may engage with the mouth 2 and a connecting device 6 for the permanent connection between the cap 4 and the mouth 2. The mouth 2, the cap 4 and the connecting device 6 are manufactured as a single piece in a plastic material, for example by means of injection molding, to form the closure 1.

[0013]The mouth 2 comprises a tube 26 protruding axially from an upper flange 24 and terminating with a tube edge 22 that peripherally delimits an outlet opening 20 for the discharge of the product from the packaging. The tube 26 extends along a main axis X, which corresponds to the vertical axis.

[0014]The mouth 2 comprises a lower portion 28, which extends below the upper flange 24. [0015]In one example, the mouth 2 is a straw comprising, below the lower portion 28, a connecting portion generally designated as "fusion vessel," which is intended to be applied between the upper edges of the front wall and the rear wall of the pouch.

[0016]In a further example, the mouth 2 is an over-straw to be inserted over the existing straw, for example like the one previously described. In this embodiment, the lower portion 28 is internally threaded in order to screw onto the tube of the existing straw.

[0017]The mouth 2 also has an internal conduit, coaxial to the main axis X, which extends from the outlet opening 20 down to the lower portion 28 or to below it.

[0018]The cap 4 comprises a gripping portion 30, which extends between a cap upper edge 32 and a cap lower edge 33 and between a pair of counterposed cap lateral walls 34. Preferably, the gripping portion 30 is substantially flat and forms a blade. The gripping portion 30 could also be cylindrical or have a polygonal cross section. [0019]Preferably, the cap upper edge 32 is provided with a thrust wall 31, clearly visible for example in Figure 1 (c), transverse to the main axis X, and by means of which the user may easily push the cap 4 along the axial direction. [0020]The cap 4 comprises, below the gripping portion 30, a closing portion 50 designed to close the outlet opening 20 of the mouth 2 by frictional engagement. In an initial configuration, before the cap 4 is opened for the first time, the closing portion 50 seals the outlet opening 20 of the mouth 2 by means of a tearable membrane.

[0021]The connecting device 6 comprises at least one connecting element 60, bound on one side to the mouth 2 and on the opposite side to the cap 4. Preferably, the connecting device 6 comprises a pair of connecting elements 60 positioned on opposite sides of the cap 4.

[0022]The connecting element 60 is a band or a flexible strap extending predominantly along a dimension which constitutes the length. Therefore, the connecting element 60 is not a wire, having a circular cross section and therefore without preferential folding directions, but a band having a preferential folding direction. The connecting element 60 is a band, for example, having a substantially rectangular cross section.

[0023]Defined as longitudinal plane L, the plane on which the main axis X of the closure 1 lies, the connecting element 60 has an extension predominantly along said longitudinal plane L. The longitudinal plane L coincides with the central plane of the cap 4, i.e., that of the closure 1. As is evident in the figures, the connecting element 60 extends at least partially parallel to the main axis X.

[0024]The connecting element 60 comprises at least one spring portion 61, which extends transversally to the main axis X, that is to say, it protrudes from the longitudinal plane L, as shown in Figure 2(a). Therefore, the connecting element 60 lies on said longitudinal plane L except at the spring portion 61, which protrudes transversally from the longitudinal plane L.

[0025]Preferably, the spring portion 61 has a uniform transversal section.

[0026]The spring portion 61 comprises at least one central curvature 611.

[0027]Preferably, the central curvature 611 is substantially U-shaped. [0028]Preferably, the central curvature 611 defines a curve of 180°.

[0029]The spring portion 61 comprises two connecting curvatures 612, each one arranged at an end of the central curvature 611. In an exemplary embodiment, straight sections are interposed between the central curvature 611 and the connecting curvatures 612.

[0030]Preferably, the connecting curvatures 612 each define a curve ranging between 45° and 90°.

[0031]In the example of Figure 2, the spring portion 61 comprises a central curvature 611 of 180 and two connecting curvatures 612 of 90°. In this example, the spring portion 61 extends outside of the longitudinal plane L from just one side.

[0032]In the example of Figure 4, the spring portion 61 comprises two central curvatures 611 of 180°, the one opposing the other, and two connecting curvatures 612 of 90°. In this example, one central curvature 611 extends from one side out of the longitudinal plane L, and another central curvature 611 extends from the opposite side out of the longitudinal plane L.

[0033]In the example of Figure 6, the spring portion 61 comprises two central curvatures 611 of 180°, the one opposing the other, and two connecting curvatures 612 of 45°. Also in this example, one central curvature 611 extends from one side out of the longitudinal plane L, and another central curvature 611 extends from the opposite side out of the longitudinal plane L. Moreover, in this example also the two connecting curvatures 612 of 45° extend outside of the longitudinal plane L, on opposite sides.

[0034]The connecting element 60 comprises a lower arm 62 suitable for connecting the spring portion 61 to the lower portion 8. The lower arm 62 lies in the longitudinal plane L. The lower arm 62 is joined to the connecting curvature 612. [0035]In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 1, the lower arm 62 has an axial extension and lies on the longitudinal plane L. The lower arm 62 is directly connected, axially, to the lower portion 8. [0036]In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 3, the lower arm 62 has an axial extension and is provided with a folded end 621, which creates a radial connection to the lower portion 8.

[0037]In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 5, the lower arm 62 lies partially outside of the longitudinal plane L and comprises a folded end 621, which lies in the longitudinal plane L and creates a radial connection to the lower portion 8.

[0038]The connecting element 60 comprises an upper arm 63 suitable for connecting the spring portion 61 to the gripping portion 30 of the cap 4. The upper arm 63 also lies in the longitudinal plane L. The upper arm 63 is joined to the connecting curvature 612.

[0039]In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 1, the upper arm 63 has an axial extension and lies on the longitudinal plane L. The upper arm 63 is directly connected, axially, below the gripping portion 30, at the cap lower edge 33.

[0040]In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 3, the upper arm 63 has an axial extension and is provided with a folded end 631, which creates a radial connection to the gripping portion 30 at the cap side wall 34 thereof.

[0041]In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 5, the upper arm 63 lies partially outside of the longitudinal plane L and comprises a folded end 631, which lies in the longitudinal plane L and creates a radial connection to the gripping portion 30 at a cap lateral wall 34 thereof. [0042]In an initial configuration with sealed cap (indicated with figure number n(a)), the cap 4 is sealed on the tube 16 of the mouth 2 by means of a tearable membrane (not shown). Leveraging against the gripping portion 30, the membrane is torn and the closing portion 50 of the cap 4 separates from the tube 16, thereby leaving the outlet opening 20 of the mouth 2 free. [0043]In a configuration of use with cap open (indicated with figure number n(b)), the internal conduit of the mouth 2 is accessible by means of the outlet opening 20 and the cap 4 is bound to the mouth 2 thanks to the connecting device 6. [0044]Moreover, the connecting device 6 is such as to impede the cap 4 from flipping over from a part of the tube 16. In other words, the closing portion 50 of the cap 4 is kept in axial alignment with the outlet opening 20 of the mouth 2. In order to be able to freely access the outlet opening 20, it is necessary to push the gripping portion 30 transversally in order to obtain the flipping of the cap 4 from a part of the tube 16, for example in such a way that the main axis of the cap 4 is incident to a plane passing through the main axis X of the tube 16.

[0045]Thanks to the presence of the spring element 61 and its elastic behavior, once the gripping portion 30 is released, it autonomously returns from the flipped position to the axial position in which the closing portion 50 is in axial alignment over the outlet opening 20. This greatly facilitates the reclosure of the cap 4 by the user.

[0046]At this point, in fact, it is sufficient to push the gripping portion 30 axially in order to reclose the cap 4 on the mouth 2, thereby obtaining a final configuration of cap reclosed (indicated with the figure number n(c)), in which the closing portion 50 of the cap 4 closes the outlet opening 20 of the mouth 2 by friction. In this configuration, the spring portion 61 is compressed compared to the initial configuration with cap sealed, facilitating the reopening of the cap 4 when necessary. [0047]The spring portion 61 is therefore elastically deformable, as seen in the figures, in order to allow the cap 4 to move, when pushed by the user, from the axial position (a) to the flipped position (b). [0048]The spring portion 61 is adapted to elastically move the cap 4, once released by the user, from the flipped position (b) to the axial position (C).

[0049]Advantageously, just one hand is sufficient to open the cap 4, access the content of the flexible packaging, and reclose the cap 4.

[0050]Innovatively, the closure according to the present invention overcomes the drawbacks mentioned in reference to the prior art, in that, it not only makes it possible to keep the cap bound to the straw even after opening, but it can be opened and reclosed using just one hand. [0051]It is understood that a person skilled in the art could make modifications to the closure group described above, all of which are contained within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.