Closure for a container

• US 5,014,888 A
• Filed: 05/26/1989
• Issued: 05/14/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William T. Bryan
• Original Assignee: William T. Bryan
• Inventors: Bryan, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bollinger, David H.
• Application Number:
  US07/357,406
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 222/541, 222/566, 222/572, 222/573, 222/574, 229/125.01, 229/125.04, 229/125.08, 229/125.33, 229/122, 229/124, 229/125, 229/125.13, 229/125.15, 229/125.21, 229/125.26, 229/127
• US Class Current: 222/541.5
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/744 combined with swivelling devices having a bottom-wall and two side-walls

Abstract

A pour spout assembly for a container having major and minor chambers, a tongue formed from the wall of the minor chamber and hinged to the wall, the tongue being defined by a transverse and downwardly extending upright slittable lines of weakening in said wall at opposite ends of the transverse slittable line of weakening, the tongue being hinged to the wall at lower ends of the upright slittable lines of weakening, a web member having a central portion attached to an inner face of the tongue and having at least one portion thereof projecting across a slittable line of weakening and engageable with an inward facing face of the wall, outer glue panels attached to an inner face of the container adjacent the tongue and accordian pleat panels connecting the central portion and the outer glue panels, free edges of the central panel of the web being hinged to the accordian pleat panels, outer edges of the accordian pleat panels being hinged to the glue panels, the tongue swinging between a closed position in which the tongue is aligned with the wall and a portion of the central portion of the web overlaps a portion of the inward face of the wall adjacent the tongue and covers and closes a portion of a slit and an open position in which the tongue extends upwardly and outwardly from hinging means of the tongue when the slittable line of weakening have been slit, the pour spout being closable by swinging the tongue from the open position past alignment with the wall to move the projecting portion of the central portion of the web into the container and then outwardly to closed position secured by abutment of the projecting portion with the inward face of the wall.

Claims

1. A pour spout assembly for a container having a wall which comprises a tongue formed from the wall and hinged to the wall, the tongue being defined by a transverse slittable line of weakening in said wall and downwardly extending upright slittable lines of weakening in said wall at opposite ends of the transverse slittable line of weakening, the tongue being hinged to the wall at lower ends of the upright slittable lines of weakening, a web member having a central portion attached to an inner face of the tongue, outer glue panels attached to an inner face of the container adjacent the tongue and accordian pleat panels connecting the central portion and the outer glue panels, free edges of the central panel of the web being hinged to the accordian pleat panels, outer edges of the accordian pleat panels being hinged to the glue panels, the tongue swinging between a closed position in which the tongue is aligned with the wall and an upper portion of the central portion of the web overlaps a portion of the inward face of the wall above the tongue and covers and closes the transverse slit and an open position in which the tongue extends upwardly and outwardly from hinging means of the tongue when the slittable lines of weakening have been slit, the pour spout being closable by swinging the tongue from the open position past alignment with the wall to move the upper portion of the central portion of the web into the container and then outwardly to closed position secured by abutment of the upper portion of the central portion of the web with the inward face of the wall.

2. A pour spout assembly as in claim 1 in which there is a major chamber in the container and the major chamber is spaced from the minor chamber by an inner seal panel.

3. A pour spout assembly as in claim 2 in which the inner seal panel is readily frangible to permit access to the major chamber.

4. A pour spout assembly as in claim 3 in which the container and inner seal panel have like barrier properties to provide a major chamber for isolating product contained therein from contact with predetermined substance outside the major chamber.

5. A pour spout assembly as in claim 1 in which a web seal panel overlaps the central web portion, the accordian fold portions, the glue panels and the inward face of the wall adjacent an end of the tongue hinge line to spanningly close and to effect a seal to preclude escape of product from the pour spout adjacent the ends of the tongue hinge line.

6. A pour spout assembly as in claim 1 having an inner seal panel attached to the inward face of the wall annularly of the tongue and accordian pleat panels and underlying the tongue and web portions to form a minor chamber between a portion of the in-facing side of the wall and tongue and the inner seal panel.

7. A pour spout assembly as in claim 6 wherein the accordian pleat panels overlie the central web portion, one pair of accordian pleat panels extend between the other pair of accordian pleat panels and the central web portion, and the other pair of accordian pleat panels extend between the first pair of accordian pleat panels and the seal panel, the accordian pleat panels and the central web portion being adapted to confine articles enclosed in the minor chamber in desired position.

8. A pour spout assembly as in claim 6 wherein the pairs of accordian pleat panels extend toward each other and between the central web portion and the seal panel, the accordian pleat panels and the central web portion being adapted to confine articles enclosed in the minor chamber in desired position.

9. A pour spout assembly as in claim 6 wherein the seal panel divides the container into major and minor chambers whereby articles enclosed in the minor chamber are isolated from the contents of the major chamber and readily accessible to the consumer upon opening of the pour spout while the major chamber remains unopened.

10. A pour spout assembly as in claim 9 in which the container and inner seal panel have like barrier properties and provide the major chamber surrounded by a barrier isolating product contained in the major chamber from the contact with predetermined substance outside the major chamber.

11. A pour spout assembly as in claim 10 in which the container and inner seal panel have like barrier properties and isolate the contents of the major chamber from the surrounding environment and preclude escape of any part of the predetermined content of the major chamber.

12. A pour spout assembly as in claim 1 wherein at least one of the slits defining the tongue is incomplete and must be completed to open the pour spout to provide a visible indication that the container has been opened and the contents thereof may have been tampered with or may have been supplemented by a shoplifter whereby the purchaser and the merchant may be alerted at the time of purchase.

13. A pour spout assembly for a container having a wall which comprises a tongue formed from the wall and hinged to the wall, the tongue being defined by a transverse slittable line of weakening in said wall and downwardly extending upright slittable lines of weakening in said wall at opposite ends of the transverse slittable line of weakening, the tongue being hinged to the wall at lower ends of the upright slittable lines of weakening, a web member having a central portion attached to an inner face of the tongue, outer glue panels attached to an inner face of the container adjacent the tongue and accordian pleat panels connecting the central portion and the outer glue panels, free edges of the central panel of the web being hinged to the accordian pleat panels, outer edges of the accordian pleat panels being hinged to the glue panels, the tongue swinging between a closed position in which the tongue is aligned with the wall and an upper portion of the central portion of the web overlaps a portion of the inward face of the wall above the tongue and covers and closes the transverse slit and an open position in which the tongue extends upwardly and outwardly from hinging means of the tongue when the slittable lines of weakening have been slit, the pour spout being closable by swinging the tongue from the open position past alignment with the wall to move the upper portion of the central portion of the web into the container and then outwardly to closed position secured by abutment with the inward face of the wall and in which the central portion of the web being wider than the tongue adjacent the transverse slit and no wider than the tongue where hinged to the wall, at least a portion of the central web portion spanning a portion of an upright slit and overlapping a portion of the inward face of the wall between the slit and a glue panel to resist movement of the spout from closed to open position.

14. A pour spout assembly as in claim 13 in which a central wall glue panel portion of the web is secured to the inward face of the wall and reinforces the wall and tongue hinge.

15. A pour spout assembly as in claim 14 wherein a seal panel divides the container into major and minor chambers whereby articles enclosed in the minor chamber are isolated from the contents of the major chamber and readily accessible to the consumer upon opening of the pour spout while the major chamber remains unopened whereby a container having a pour spout is provided which is erectable and fillable by conventional carton filling machinery, has an exterior surface free of protrusions to minimize in-transit damage to it and adjacent containers and is insertable in shipping containers in the usual manner.

16. A pour spout assembly for a container having a wall which comprises a tongue formed from the wall and hinged to the wall, the tongue being defined by a transverse slittable line of weakening in said wall and downwardly extending upright slittable lines of weakening in said wall at opposite ends of the transverse slittable line of weakening, the tongue being hinged to the wall at lower ends of the upright slittable lines of weakening, a web member having a central portion, the central portion of the web is attached to an area of the inner face of the tongue, outer glue panels attached to an inner face of the container adjacent the tongue and accordian pleat panels connecting the central portion and the other glue panels, free edges of the central panel of the web being hinged to the accordian pleat panels, outer edges of the accordian pleat panels being hinged to the glue panels, the tongue being wider adjacent the tongue hinge line and narrower adjacent the free end of the tongue than the attached central portion of the web, the tongue swinging between a closed position in which the tongue is aligned with the wall and an upper portion of the central portion of the web overlaps a portion of the inward face of the wall above the tongue and covers and closes the transverse slit and an open position in which the tongue extends upwardly and outwardly from hinging means of the tongue when the slittable lines of weakening have been slit and determine the width and cross-sectional configuration of the mouth of the spout when the tongue is fully extended, the pour spout being closable by swinging the tongue from the open position past alignment with the wall to move the upper portion of the central portion of the web into the container and then outwardly to closed position secured by abutment with the inward face to the wall.

17. A pour spout assembly for a container having a wall which comprises a first tongue formed from the wall and hinged to the wall and a second tongue formed from the wall and hinged to the wall, the first tongue being defined by a transverse slit in said wall and downwardly extending upright slits in said wall at opposite ends of the transverse slit, the first tongue being hinged to the wall at lower ends of the upright slits, the second tongue being defined by said transverse slit and by upwardly extending slits at opposite ends of the transverse slit, the second tongue being hinged to the wall at upper ends of the upright slits of the second tongue, a web member having a central portion attached to an inner face of the first tongue, outer glue panels attached to an inner face of the container adjacent the first tongue, and accordian pleat planels connecting the central portion and the outer glue panels, free edges of the central panel of the web being hinged to the accordian pleat panels, outer edges of the accordian pleat panels being hinged to the glue panels, and an inner seal panel attached to the inside of the wall and underlying the tongues to form a minor chamber between a portion of the infacing side of the wall with the tongues and the inner seal panel, the first tongue swinging between a closed position in which the first tongue is aligned with the wall and an upper portion of the central portion of the web overlaps a portion of the inward face of the second tongue and covers and closes the transverse slit and an open position in which the first tongue extends upwardly and outwardly from hinging means of the first tongue, the interior of the chamber being exposed when the first tongue is in the open position.

18. A pour spout assembly for a container having a wall which comprises a tongue formed from the wall and hinged to the wall, the tongue being defined by a transverse parting line of weakening in said wall and downwardly extending upright slittable lines of weakening in said wall at opposite ends of the transverse parting line of weakening, the tongue being hinged to the wall at lower ends of the upright slittable lines of weakening, a web member having a central portion attached to an inner face of the tongue, outer glue panels attached to an inner face of the container adjacent the tongue and accordian pleat panels connecting the central portion and the outer glue panels, free edges of the central panel of the web being hinged to the accordian pleat panels, outer edges of the accordian pleat panels being hinged to the glue panels, and at least a portion of the central web portion spanning a portion of an upright slit and overlapping a portion of the inward face of the wall between the slit and a glue panel to resist movement of the spout from closed to open position, the tongue swinging between a closed position in which the tongue is aligned with the wall and and open position in which the tongue extends upwardly and outwardly from hinging means of the tongue when the slittable lines of weakening have been slit, the pour spout being closable by swinging the tongue from the open position past alignment with the wall to move the portion of the central portion of the web projecting beyond the tongue into the container and then outwardly into abutment with the inward face of the wall securing the tongue closed position flush with the wall.

19. A pour spout assembly as in claim 18 having an inner seal panel attached to the inward face of the wall annularly of the tongue and accordian pleat panels and underlying the tongue and web portions to form a minor chamber between a portion of the in-facing side of the wall and tongue and the inner seal panel.

20. A pour spout assembly as in claim 19 wherein the accordian pleat panels overlie the central web portion, one pair of accordian pleat panels extend between the other pair of accordian pleat panels and the central web portion, and the other pair of accordian pleat panels extend between the first pair of accordian pleat panels and the seal panel, the accordian pleat panels and the central web portion being adapted to confine articles enclosed in the minor chamber in desired position.

21. A pour spout assembly as in claim 20 in which the container and inner seal panel have like barrier properties providing a major chamber for isolating contents thereof from the surrounding environment and precluding escape of any part of the predetermined content of the major chamber.

22. A pour spout assembly as in claim 19 wherein the accordian pleat panels extend toward each other and between the central web portion and the seal panel, the accordian pleat panels and the central web portion being adapted to confine articles enclosed in the minor chamber in desired position.

23. A pour spout assembly as in claim 18 wherein at least one of the slits defining the tongue is incomplete and must be completed to open the pour spout to provide a visible indication that the container has been opened and the contents thereof may have been tampered with or may have been supplemented by a shoplifter whereby the purchaser and the merchant may be alerted at the time of purchase.

25. A pour spout assembly as in claim 18 in which there is a major chamber in the container and the major chamber is spaced from the minor chamber by an inner seal panel.

26. A pour spout assembly as in claim 25 in which the inner seal panel is readily frangible to permit access to the major chamber.

24. A pour spout assembly for a container having a wall which comprises a tongue formed from the wall and hinged to the wall, the tongue being defined by a transverse parting line of weakening in said wall and downwardly extending upright slittable lines of weakening in said wall at opposite ends of the transverse parting line of weakening, the tongue being hinged to the wall at lower ends of the upright slittable lines of weakening, a web member having a central portion, the central portion of the web is attached to an area of the inner face of the tongue, outer glue panels attached to an inner face of the container adjacent the tongue and accordian pleat panels connecting the central portion and the outer glue panels, free edges of the central panel of the web being hinged to the accordian pleat panels, outer edges of the accordian pleat panels being hinged to the glue panels, the tongue being wider adjacent the tongue hinge line and narrower adjacent the free end of the tongue than the attached central portion of the web, at least a portion of the central web portion spanning a portion of an upright slit and overlapping a portion of the inward face of the wall between the slit and a glue panel to resist movement of the spout from closed to open position, the tongue swinging between a closed position in which the tongue is aligned with the wall and an open position in which the tongue extends upwardly and outwardly from hinging means of the tongue when the slittable lines of weakening have been slit and determine the width and cross sectional configuration of the mouth of the spout when the tongue is fully extended, the pour spout being closable by swinging the tongue from the open position past alignment with the wall to move the portion of the central portion of the web projecting beyond the tongue into the container and then outwardly into abutment with the inward face of the wall securing the tongue in closed position flush with the wall.

27. A pour spout assembly for a container having a wall which comprises a tongue formed from the wall and hinged to the wall, the tongue being defined by a transverse parting line of weakening in said wall and downwardly extending upright slittable lines of weakening in said wall at opposite ends of the transverse parting line of weakening, the tongue being hinged to the wall at lower ends of the upright slittable lines of weakening, a web member having a central portion attached to an inner face of the tongue, outer glue panels attached to an inner face of the container adjacent the tongue and accordian pleat panels connecting the central portion and the outer glue panels, free edges of the central panel of the web being hinged to the accordian pleat panels, outer edges of the accordian pleat panels being hinged to the glue panels, and at least a portion of the central web portion spanning a portion of an upright slit and overlapping a portion of the inward face of the wall between the slit and a glue panel to resist movement of the spout from closed to open position, the tongue swinging between a closed position in which the tongue is aligned with the wall and an open position in which the tongue extends upwardly and outwardly from hinging means of the tongue when the slittable lines of weakening have been slit, the pour spout being closable by swinging the tongue from the open position past alignment with the wall to move the portion of the central portion of the web projecting beyond the tongue into the container and then outwardly into abutment with the inward face of the wall securing the tongue closed position flush with the wall and in which the central portion of the web being wider than the tongue adjacent the transverse slit and no wider than the tongue where hinged to the wall, at least a portion of the central web portion spanning a portion of an upright slit and overlapping a portion of the inward face of the wall between the slit and a glue panel to resist movement of the spout from closed to open position.

28. A pour spout assembly as in claim 27 in which a central wall glue panel portion of the web is secured to the inward face of the wall and reinforces the wall and tongue hinge.

29. A pour spout assembly as in claim 27 wherein a seal panel divides the container into major and minor chambers whereby articles enclosed in the minor chamber are isolated from the contents of the major chamber and readily accesible to the consumer upon opening of the pour spout while the major chamber remains unopened.

30. A pour spout assembly for a container having a wall which comprises a tongue formed from the wall and hinged to the wall, the tongue being defined by a transverse parting line of weakening in said wall and downwardly extending upright slittable lines of weaking in said wall at opposite ends of the transverse parting line of weakening, the tongue being hinged to the wall at lower ends of the upright slittable lines of weakening, a web member having a central portion attached to an inner face of the tongue, outer glue panels attached to an inner face of the container adjacent the tongue and accordian pleat panels connecting the central portion and the outer glue panels, free edges of the central panel of the web being hinged to the accordian pleat panels, outer edges of the accordian pleat panels being hinged to the glue panels, and at least a portion of the central web portion spanning a portion of an upright slit and overlapping a portion of the inward face of the wall between the slit and a glue panel to resist movement of the spout from closed to open position, the tongue swinging between a closed position in which the tongue is aligned with the wall and an open position in which the tongue extends upwardly and outwardly from hinging means of the tongue when the slittable lines of weakening have been slit, the pour spout being closable by swinging the tongue from the open position past alignment with the wall to move the portion of the central portion of the web projecting beyond the tongue into the container and then outwardly into abutment with the inward face of the wall securing the tongue closed position flush with the wall and in which a web seal panel overlaps the central web portion, the accordian fold portions, the glue flap portion and the inward face of the wall adjacent an end of the tongue hinge line to spanningly close and to effect a seal to preclude escape of product from the pour spout adjacent the ends of the tongue hinge line.