Pouring spout

• US 5,141,150 A
• Filed: 01/25/1990
• Issued: 08/25/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seal Spout Corporation
• Original Assignee: Seal Spout Corporation
• Inventors: Plaessmann, Frederick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcus, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): McDonald, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US07/470,074
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 40/312, 206/807, 206/621.3, 206/621.4, 206/621.5, 206/621.6, 206/631.1, 206/631.2, 229/102, 229/123.1, 229/123.3, 229/123.2, 229/125.15, 229/125.04, 215/254, 215/253, 220/268, 220/266
• US Class Current: 229/123.3
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/00 Tamper-indicating means relating to aerosol containers B65D83/224
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/744 combined with swivelling devices having a bottom-wall and two side-walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 493/961 Tag, marker, or label

Abstract

A tamper evident container is provided having a pouring spout which includes a shoot surface pivotally attached to a wall of the container. The shoot extends beyond and overlays an opening in the container wall to securely maintain the opening in the wall closed. The shoot includes a tip used to open the spout. A tamper evident sealing label overlays the spout and tip. The label includes a frangible sheet having an adhesive portion for attaching the label to the container surface and an adhesive free portion along a portion of an edge of a label. A tear line is provided across the label dividing the label into a first portion which includes the adhesive free portion and a second portion. The first portion overlays the tip of the spout and the second portion overlays the remaining portion of the spout. When the label is attached to the container surface the adhesive free portion may be grasped and torn away from the container to remove the first portion of the label along the tear line revealing the tip for opening the spout and leaving the second portion of the label attached to the container covering the remaining portion of the spout. When the tip is pulled away from the wall of the container to pivotally open the spout, the second portion of the label is torn.

Claims

1. A tamper-evident container comprising:

a container having a pouring spout comprising a chute surface pivotally attached to a wall of the container, the chute extending beyond and overlaying an opening in the container wall to securely maintain the opening in the wall closed, the chute including a tip used to open the spout;

a tamper-evident sealing label overlaying the spout and tip, the label comprising;

a frangible sheet having on a surface thereof an adhesive portion having adhesive means thereon for attaching the label to the container surface and an adhesive-free portion along a portion of an edge of a label without adhesive means; and

a tear line across the label dividing the label into a first portion which includes the adhesive-free portion and a second portion,

wherein the first portion overlays the tip of the spout and the second portion overlays the remaining portion of the spout,

whereby when the label is attached to the container surface the adhesive free portion may be grasped and torn away from the container to remove the first portion of the label along the tear line revealing the tip for opening the spout and leaving the second portion of the label attached to the container covering the remaining portion of the spout,

whereby when the tip is pulled away from the wall of the container to pivotally open the spout, the second portion of the label is torn.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the label is rectangular.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the tear line is substantially parallel to the adhesive-free portion.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein the adhesive means is a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

5. The tamper-evident container of claim 1, further comprising perforations provided in the second portion, wherein, any attempt at removal of the second portion of the label from the container results in the fragmentation of the second portion along the perforations and provide evidence of tampering.

6. A method of manufacturing a tamper-evident container comprising:

providing a container having a pouring spout including means for opening the spout;

providing a tamper-evident sealing label comprising;

(i) a frangible sheet having on a surface thereof an adhesive portion having adhesive means for attaching the label to a container surface and an adhesive-free portion along a portion of an edge of the label without adhesive means; and

(ii) a tear line across the label dividing the label into a first portion which includes the adhesive-free portion and a second portion;

applying the label over the spout to cover the spout and means for opening the spout wherein the tear line overlays the spout and the first portion overlays the means for opening the spout and the second portion overlays the remaining portion of the spout,

whereby the adhesive-free label may be grasped and torn away from the container to remove the first portion of the label along the tear line revealing the opening means, leaving the second portion of the label attached to the container covering the remaining portion of the spout.