Co-injection molded dispensing components

• US 10,160,583 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2016
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LB Europe Limited (Liqui-Box Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: DS Smith Plastics Limited (DS Smith PLC)
• Inventors: Georgelos, Paul N., Smith, Mark A., Kasimatis, Kosmas
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C
• Application Number:
  US15/165,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20160347600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/1659 Fusion bonds
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0715 the preform having one end closed
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1657 using means for adhering or bonding the layers or parts to each other mechanical anchoring B29C37/0082
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1676 using a soft material and a rigid material, e.g. making articles with a sealing part
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1679 applying surface layers onto injection-moulded substrates inside the mould cavity, e.g. in-mould coating [IMC] applying suface layers after ejection B29C45/0053
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/04 Extrusion blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/06 Injection blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2021/003 Thermoplastic elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/04 Polymers of ethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2025/08 Copolymers of styrene, e.g. AS or SAN, i.e. acrylonitrile styrene B29K2055/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7128 Bags, sacks, sachets tea bags B29L2031/7122; medical bags B29L2031/7148
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2547/066 inserted in or attached to the base element
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/06 with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages with slidable spouts B65D47/26
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/063 with flexible parts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5877 connected to a planar surface of the package wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0055 Containers or packages provided with a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm for expelling the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0067 relating to shape or materials, e.g. bag-in-box packages [BIB], pouches

Abstract

A present application relates to a dispensing component for use with an urn liner. The dispensing component includes a spout formed of a polyethylene material and a flexible tube formed of a thermoplastic elastomer material. The spout and tube are formed together as a single component in a mold by co-injection of the polyethylene material and the thermoplastic elastomer material.

Claims

1. A dispensing component for use with an urn liner, comprising:

a spout formed of a polyethylene material;

a flexible tube formed of a thermoplastic elastomer material;

wherein the spout and tube are formed together as a single interconnected component in a mold by co-injection of the polyethylene material and the thermoplastic elastomer material such that the spout includes a protrusion that is retained within a cavity formed in the tube, wherein the spout includes an adapter that is connected to the tube.

2. The dispensing component of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is a barb that extends from the spout and that retains the tube to the spout.

3. The dispensing component of claim 1, wherein the spout includes a flange.

4. The dispensing component of claim 1, wherein the tube includes an inner layer made of a thermoplastic elastomer material and outer layer that is made of polyethylene.

5. The dispensing component of claim 1, wherein the spout includes a surface that engages the tube, and at least a portion of the surface is rough.

6. A dispensing component for use with an urn liner, comprising:

a spout formed of a polyethylene material;

an adapter formed of a polyethylene material and a flexible tube formed of a thermoplastic elastomer material, wherein the adapter and tube are formed together as a single interconnected component in a mold by co-injection of the polyethylene material and the thermoplastic elastomer material and wherein the adapter includes a barb that retains the tube thereto; and

corresponding interlocking mechanisms on the spout and the adapter that connect the adapter and spout to each other.

7. The dispensing assembly of claim 6, wherein the spout includes a flange.

8. The dispensing component of claim 6, wherein the tube includes an inner layer made of a thermoplastic elastomer material and outer layer that is made of polyethylene.

9. The dispensing component of claim 6, wherein the adapter includes an inner cavity that receives a portion of the tube to secure the tube to the adapter.

10. The dispensing component of claim 6, wherein the adapter has a surface that engages the tube, and at least a portion of the surface is rough.

11. A dispensing component for use with an urn liner, comprising:

a spout formed of a polyethylene material;

a flexible tube formed of a thermoplastic elastomer material;

wherein the spout and tube are formed together as a single interconnected component in a mold by co-injection of the polyethylene material and the thermoplastic elastomer material such that the tube includes a protrusion that is retained within a cavity formed in the spout, wherein the spout includes an adapter that is connected to the tube.

12. The dispensing component of claim 11, wherein the protrusion is a barb that extends from the tube and that retains the tube to the spout.

13. The dispensing component of claim 11, wherein the spout includes a flange.

14. The dispensing component of claim 11, wherein the tube includes an inner layer made of a thermoplastic elastomer material and outer layer that is made of polyethylene.

15. The dispensing component of claim 11, wherein the spout includes a surface that engages the tube, and at least a portion of the surface is rough.

16. A dispensing component for use with an urn liner, comprising:

a spout formed of a polyethylene material;

an adapter formed of a polyethylene material and a flexible tube formed of a thermoplastic elastomer material, wherein the adapter and tube are formed together as a single interconnected component in a mold by co-injection of the polyethylene material and the thermoplastic elastomer material, wherein the adapter includes a protrusion and a portion of the elastomer material of the tube forms around the protrusion such that the tube is connected to the adapter; and

corresponding interlocking mechanisms on the spout and the adapter that connect the adapter and spout to each other.

17. The dispensing component of claim 16, wherein the protrusion is a barb that retains the tube to the adapter.

18. The dispensing assembly of claim 16, wherein the spout includes a flange.

19. The dispensing component of claim 16, wherein the tube includes an inner layer made of a thermoplastic elastomer material and outer layer that is made of polyethylene.

20. The dispensing component of claim 16, wherein the adapter includes an inner cavity that receives a portion of the tube to secure the tube to the adapter.

21. The dispensing component of claim 16, wherein the adapter has a surface that engages the tube, and at least a portion of the surface is rough.