RECYCLABLE POURING SPOUT DEVICE

A pouring spout device for packaging, including: a surround provided with a pouring opening, a cap connected to the surround by a hinge, the cap being configured to pivot between a closed position, in which the cap closes the pouring opening, and an open position, in which the cap frees the pouring opening, a plastic sealing part on the cap is arranged on an external face of the cap and extends along the edge of the cap, the sealing part comprising two lateral sealing portions which project from the lateral sides of the cap and a connecting portion connecting the two lateral portions and projecting from an upper side of the cap, the two lateral portions and the connecting portion being configured to bear against a surface of the surround when the cap is in the closed position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a pouring spout device intended to be disposed on a packaging to facilitate the pouring of its contents. The present disclosure also concerns a method for manufacturing such a device.

BACKGROUND

Many plastic packaging containing dry food, phytosanitary products, litter, coatings, or other products in granular form, etc. are provided with pouring spout devices, themselves made of plastic material. These are mostly made of a bi-material plastic, which reduces their ability to be recycled, as well as the associated packaging.

At the same time, we are seeing the rise of an increasingly marked craze among consumers and certain manufacturers for recyclable packaging, such as that made of thin paper or thicker and more rigid paper, derived from cellulose, such as cardboard. However, no alternative to the pouring spouts made of plastic, which is ecological and effective, exists on the market. Also, one of the aims of the present disclosure consists in proposing a pouring spout device which responds to the problem referred to above, which can be produced at low cost, for large-scale use and which is competitive with the completely plastic pouring spout.

BRIEF SUMMARY

To this end, the present disclosure concerns a pouring spout device for a packaging, the pouring spout device comprising:a frame intended to be fastened to the packaging, the frame being provided with a pouring opening,a cover connected to the frame by two flanges and a hinge, the hinge delimiting a lower side of the cover, the cover being configured to pivot between a closed position in which the cover shuts off the pouring opening and an open position in which the cover releases the pouring opening,a sealing part made of plastic material overmolded on the cover and disposed on at least part of an external face of the cover, extending along the edge of the cover,the sealing part comprising two lateral sealing portions which protrude respectively from the two lateral sides of the cover and a connecting sealing portion connecting the two lateral sealing portions and protruding from an upper side of the cover,the two lateral sealing portions and the connecting sealing portion being configured to bear against an external surface of the frame in the closed position of the cover.

The device thus configured contains such a minimal amount of plastic material that the entire pouring spout device may be recycled, when the frame and the cover are made of recyclable materials. In addition, the sealing part covering the inner edge of the frame, the pouring spout device is sealed in the closed position of the cover. This is particularly useful when the content of the packaging is sensitive to humidity.

In the present document, the terms ‘lower’, ‘upper’, ‘external’ and ‘internal’ are defined when the pouring spout device is fastened to a packaging, the packaging being disposed in the ‘storage’ condition of its content.

Concretely, the pouring spout device is bi-material.

Advantageously, the frame and the cover are made of rigid material.

The rigid material is devoid of plastic material, it is in particular devoid of polyethylene or polypropylene.

According to a particular embodiment, the pouring spout device comprises two sealing elements made of a film of plastic material overmolded on the frame, each of the sealing elements being disposed on at least part of the external surface of the frame, extending at least along part of a lateral edge laterally delimiting the pouring opening, so that the sealing elements are in contact with the sealing part in the closed position of the cover. This configuration makes it possible to improve the sealing of the pouring opening of the pouring spout.

According to one arrangement, the two flanges are each made of a film of plastic material.

Concretely, the two flanges each have at least three fold lines configured so that, in the closed position of the cover, the two flanges are each folded down under the internal surface of the cover, above the pouring opening of the frame. Thus, the sealing part is in direct contact with the two sealing elements in the closed position of the cover.

As indicated above, the terms “internal surface” in the present document mean a surface intended to face the inside of the packaging.

According to another possibility, the pouring spout device comprises a fastening part made of a film of plastic material overmolded on the frame, the fastening part being disposed on at least partially the external surface of the frame by extending along an external peripheral edge of the frame. This fastening part is intended to allow fastening to the packaging, for example by welding. When the packaging is of the paper type, a very thin sealing protective film, made of synthetic and/or biosourced plastic in particular formed from protein, is generally affixed to the inner wall of the packaging (and more precisely of the width of the packaging) in particular to guarantee the sealing of the container. It is then easy to use this protective film for fastening the pouring spout device via the fastening part made of overmolded plastic film.

Thus designed, the pouring spout device according to the present disclosure comprises less than one gram of plastic for a device of approximately 5 cm by 8 cm.

In the absence of this fastening part made of plastic material and/or in the absence of the plastic film on the inner wall of the packaging, the pouring spout device is fastened to the packaging through a glue of paper glue type.

According to one possibility, the fastening part envelops a ridge of the external peripheral edge of the frame.

Concretely, the cover, the hinge and the frame are made of cellulose, in particular cardboard. The cardboard is in fact formed from cellulose having the form of a thick sheet. The cardboard sheet has a basis weight greater than 224 g/m2, which gives it the rigidity necessary for holding it on the packaging and for handling it.

However, the cellulose and in particular the cardboard is a difficult material to work with, especially when it is necessary to use pieces of very precise dimensions, as is the case in the present disclosure. Indeed, the overmolding of a more or less fluid material on a solid piece requires the use of a mold with an accuracy of about one tenth of a millimeter. This makes it possible to avoid the infiltration of the material outside the overmolding regions designed to receive said material to be overmolded and to cover undesired regions of the solid piece. However, regardless of the obtaining method used to date to obtain a piece made of cardboard, the dimensions cannot achieve a precision beyond a range comprised between 4 and 6 tenths of a millimeter, which is far from the constraints to be observed for an overmolding operation. The cardboard is indeed compressed during the cutting operation so that a variation in dimension is observed between the cut line and the final piece obtained. In addition, the cardboard very easily absorbs humidity from the atmosphere, which induces dimensional changes in the plane as well as according to the thickness. Depending on whether the manufacture of the cardboard is carried out in a humid or dry atmosphere, the formed piece will have a dimensional difference, the same applies to the cutting of the cardboard piece (i.e. cover and hinge frame). As a result, it is difficult to obtain cardboard pieces for pouring spouts of precise and identical dimensions from one batch to another.

According to one possibility, the frame and/or the cover comprises a series of through holes configured to receive the overmolded plastic material. This makes it possible to reinforce the hold of the plastic material on the material constituting the frame and/or the cover.

The series of through holes is advantageously disposed under the fastening part and/or under the sealing part.

According to one arrangement, the two sealing elements are produced by molding with the sealing part, each of the two flanges is produced by molding with the sealing part, and/or the fastening part is produced by molding with the sealing part. This facilitates the overmolding, which is carried out in a single step.

According to one characteristic, the plastic material is biosourced. It is formed in particular from corn, seaweed, sugar cane, wheat, animal protein, for example milk proteins, and in particular from casein and/or caseinate, etc. This guarantees a pouring spout device completely ecological and easily recyclable.

The term “biosourced”, means in the present document ‘made from materials of biological origin’.

It is understood that the plastic material used is a thermoplastic material.

According to a particular embodiment, the connecting sealing portion comprises a gripping portion configured to allow gripping of the cover.

According to one possibility, the frame comprises a notch configured to be snap-fitted to a tooth.

In a complementary manner, the gripping portion comprises a tooth configured to be snap-fitted to said notch and to fasten the cover to the frame in the closed position of the cover. Thus the cover is removably locked.

According to one variant, the pouring spout device comprises a third connecting sealing element made of a film of plastic material overmolded on the frame, connecting the two sealing elements so as to form a sealing assembly configured to enter into contact with the sealing part in the closed position of the cover. This arrangement makes it possible to achieve a large contact surface between the sealing part and the sealing assembly made of plastic film, allowing a very good sealing of the device in the closed position of the cover.

According to one possibility, the third connecting sealing element is disposed on at least part of the external face of the frame and extends at least along part of the lateral edge laterally delimiting the pouring opening of the frame.

According to one arrangement, the sealing part comprises a closing lip extending at least partially along an inner margin of the sealing part so as to cooperate with the sealing assembly in the closed position of the cover.

According to one possibility, the closing lip is configured to cooperate with an inner margin of the sealing assembly. This arrangement allows the contact between an external peripheral edge of the closing lip and a lateral edge laterally delimiting the pouring opening in the closed position of the cover for a very good sealing of the device.

Concretely, the closing lip comprises at least one snap-fitting means configured to be snap-fitted to the sealing assembly in the closed position of the cover. Thus, the snap-fitting means made of plastic material cooperates with the sealing assembly also made of plastic material for a very good cooperation between them.

According to one possibility, the cover and the frame are formed from a piece made of cardboard and each comprise at least one compressed region adjoining an overmolded region. An overmolded region is a cardboard region determined and parameterized for the overmolding of the biosourced material, for example the sealing part and at least the two sealing regions. This configuration makes it possible to compensate for the variations in size of the cardboard piece constituting the frame and the cover. The interstices being filled, this configuration avoids the undesirable infiltration of biosourced plastic material in the compressed regions outside the overmolding regions of the cardboard, as well as in the grooves of the cardboard.

When the present disclosure provides a third connecting sealing element, the frame also comprises a compressed region adjoining the third connecting sealing element.

According to one arrangement, the compressed regions delimit the outline of the overmolding regions.

According to one arrangement, the compressed regions delimit the entire outline of the overmolding regions.

According to a second aspect, the present disclosure proposes a method for manufacturing a pouring spout device as described above, the method comprising the following steps:a) providing a frame provided with a pouring opening and a cover connected to the frame by a hinge,b) providing a mold configured so that the cover is disposed in the open position, andc) overmolding the plastic material on the frame and the cover in the open position, so as to form at least one sealing part on the part of an external face of the cover.

According to one arrangement, the overmolding step c) further comprises the formation of the two sealing elements and the fastening part on the external edge of the frame.

According to one possibility, the overmolding step c) also comprises the formation of each of the two flanges on either side of the hinge.

According to one arrangement, the packaging is based on cellulose and/or plastic material.

According to one possibility, the cover and the frame are formed from a piece made of cardboard and the mold provided in step b) is configured to apply a pressure to at least one region of the cover and at least one region of the frame adjoining respectively the sealing part and at least the two sealing regions, so as to obtain the compressed regions.

As seen above, the compressed regions delimit the outline of the molding regions, or even delimit the entire outline of the molding regions.

According to one possibility, the mold comprises at least one cavity, a first surface of which is shaped to receive the biosourced plastic material and lead to overmolding at atmospheric pressure of the at least one overmolding region.

According to another possibility, the mold comprises at least one cavity, a second surface of which is shaped to compress at least one region of the frame and/or of the cover and form at least one compressed region delimiting the outline of the at least one overmolding region.

Thus, the mold of the present disclosure is configured to carry out an overmolding without applying pressure to the biosourced plastic to obtain the overmolding regions and also to apply a pressure to regions delimiting the outline of the overmolding regions.

This configuration makes it possible to avoid the infiltration of the biosourced plastic material during the overmolding of step c) into grooves of the mold and/or into the material of the frame and the cover, in particular when it is made of cardboard.

According to one arrangement, the manufacturing method comprises the injection of the biosourced plastic material, in particular made of milk proteins, according to a determined injection pressure range combined with a determined mold temperature range so as to obtain an adherence of the biosourced plastic material on the cardboard. The combination of the injection pressure and mold temperature ranges makes it possible to reach a compromise regarding the viscosity of the biosourced plastic material so as to allow the mold to be filled sufficiently quickly in the overmolding regions, and to avoid a deep infiltration in the cardboard underlying the overmolding regions which is conventionally obtained with a too low viscosity. In the same way, these ranges are determined so that the viscosity is not too high, which would prevent the penetration into the cardboard and the adherence of two materials.

The applicant has in fact been able to observe that contrary to what one might think, the use of fairly fluid biosourced plastic generates a penetration of the material into a significant thickness of cardboard, ultimately generating delamination. Furthermore, the use of a fairly hot biosourced material has the effect of damaging the surface of the cardboard so that the plastic does not adhere very well, which explains why it peels off shortly after overmolding.

Thus, by defining a pressure range, combined with a temperature range, it is possible to reach a viscosity range and a biosourced plastic resin temperature allowing an adequate penetration into the cardboard, without deforming it, in order to achieve a good adherence between the two materials.

These characteristics also make it possible to optimize an injection speed range, in particular to limit damage to the edges of the cardboard under the effect of injection.

According to other characteristics, the pouring spout device of the present disclosure includes one or several of the following optional characteristics considered alone or in combination:The sealing part extends in the extension plane of the cover.The two lateral sealing portions and the connecting sealing portion form a continuous sealing part.The sealing part is overmolded on a partial length of the edge of the cover. Two portions of the edge of the cover without the sealing part extend respectively on either side of the hinge, and therefore on the lower side of the cover, so as to limit the size and facilitate the pivoting of the cover in its closed position.The dimensions of the cover are identical to those of the pouring opening so that it can be easily manufactured before overmolding of plastic material.The sealing part is designed to be overmolded at least partially on a ridge on the two lateral sides and a ridge on the upper side of the cover.The connecting sealing portion comprises ribs having a thickness of at most 75% of the thickness of the tooth, so as to avoid a flattening of the tooth during the subsequent steps during the manufacture of the packaging on which the pouring spout device is fastened.The maximum angle between the cover and the frame is approximately 120° in the open position of the cover.The pouring opening is formed by a cutout in the material of which the pouring spout is made, the cutout delimiting the cover connected to the frame by a hinge at its lower side.The two sealing elements cover a ridge and a wafer of said lateral edges of the frame.The two sealing elements partially cover the external face and the internal face of the frameThe two sealing elements have a portion of U-section designed to envelop said lateral edges of the frame.The two sealing elements are disposed face to face.The third connecting sealing element partially covers the external face and the internal face of the frame.The third connecting sealing element covers at least one ridge and one wafer of said lateral edge of the frame.The third connecting sealing element has a U-section portion designed to envelop the lateral edge of the frame over at least part of the pouring opening.the third connecting sealing element covers a lateral edge of the pouring opening.The two sealing elements and the third connecting sealing element form a sealing assembly overmolded on the frame.The sealing assembly is continuous.The two flanges are each made of paper.The two flanges each have an overall trapezoidal shape.The two flanges each have at least one fold line.The two flanges each have three fold lines, each of the two flanges is folded back along at least the three fold lines in the closed position of the cover.The at least three fold lines comprise a central fold line and two lateral fold lines, on either side of the central fold line.In the closed position of the cover, the two lateral fold lines are configured to each form a lateral fold folded down under the surface of the cover, above the pouring opening of the frame.In the closed position of the cover, the central fold line is configured so as to form a central fold folded down towards the peripheral border of the cover.The three fold lines are configured so that each of the two lateral folds has at least one face whose area is greater than that of the central fold.The fastening part covers the entire external peripheral edge of the frame.The fastening part covers the wafer and at least partially, the sole external surface of the frame. The internal surface of the frame is devoid of a fastening part.The eternal surface of the frame is connected to the cover by the two flanges.At least one lateral sealing portion comprises, plumb with the respective flange, a transverse projection, with respect to the longitudinal direction of extension of each lateral sealing portion, the transverse projection extending towards the center of the cover.The third connecting sealing element is produced by molding with the two sealing elements, the sealing part and each of the two flanges.the closing lip and the at least one snap-fitting means are produced by molding with the sealing part.The overmolded plastic material is a biosourced plastic material.The frame, the pouring opening and/or the cover has an overall quadrilateral shape.The cover has an overall rectangular parallelepiped shape.The closing lip extends at least in part along the inner margin of the two lateral sealing portions and of the connecting sealing portion.The closing lip has an inverted U-shaped cross-section.

According to other characteristics, the pouring spout device of the present disclosure includes one or several of the following optional characteristics considered alone or in combination:The overmolding step c) comprises the formation of the third connecting sealing element.The overmolding step c) comprises the formation of the at least one lateral sealing portion and of the transverse projection.The overmolding step c) comprises the formation of the closing lip.The overmolding step c) comprises the formation of the at least one snap-fitting means.The overmolding is performed with a single type of plastic material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG.1, the pouring spout device100comprises a frame1, intended to be fastened to a packaging and in which is formed a pouring opening2, and a cover3, a lower side of which forms a hinge4connecting it to the frame1. The cover3is configured to pivot between a closed position (not illustrated) in which the cover3shuts off the pouring opening2and an open position (FIGS.1to7) in which the cover3releases the pouring opening2. The frame1and the cover3consist of a thick sheet of a rigid cellulose material, such as cardboard, having a basis weight greater than 224 g/m2. The cover3advantageously comes from the cutting of the pouring opening2in a cardboard plate with the dimensions of the frame1so that the cover3and the pouring opening2have the same dimensions. As visible in the figures, the frame1and the cover3has a quadrilateral shape and in particular an overall rectangular parallelepiped shape. The lower side (or the hinge4) of the cover3is formed in the direction of the width of the cover3but according to an alternative not illustrated, the hinge4is formed in the direction of the length of the cover3. According to another alternative not illustrated, the quadrilateral is a trapezium or any parallelogram other than a rectangle.

The pouring spout device100according to the present disclosure further comprises a sealing part10made of overmolded plastic material extending in the extension plane of the cover3, so as to extend the dimensions of the upper side8of the cover3, (side opposite to the lower side forming the hinge4) and on the two lateral sides9,9′ (visible inFIGS.2to4). Thus, in the closed position of the cover3, the sealing part10covers and bears against the external surface5of the frame1, on each of the lateral edges delimiting the pouring opening2. Concretely, the sealing part10comprises two lateral sealing portions6,6′ protruding respectively from the two lateral sides9,9′ of the cover3and a connecting sealing portion7connecting the two lateral sealing portions6,6′ protruding from the upper side8of the cover3. Although this is not visible in the perspective views, the connecting sealing portion7comes to cover the frame1of the pouring spout100in the closed position of the cover3.

As visible inFIGS.2,4and5, the sealing part10also covers part of the external face E of the cover3(in the form of three strips) through which is provided a series of through holes11(visible inFIGS.1,2and following) configured to receive the overmolded plastic material. This configuration makes it possible to reinforce the hold of the sealing part10made of plastic on the cover3made of cardboard.

According to one arrangement not visible in the figures, the overmolded plastic material is advantageously made of biosourced plastic. Thus the pouring spout device100consisting of cellulose and biosourced plastic is completely recyclable.

Also illustrated inFIGS.2to7, the pouring spout device100comprises two sealing elements12overmolded on the frame1. Specifically, each of the two sealing elements12are disposed on at least part of the external surface5of the frame1, extending partially along a lateral edge13laterally delimiting the pouring opening2(FIGS.2to7). These two sealing elements12produced by molding with the sealing part10, each covering the wafer of a lateral edge13as well as part of the internal surface15of the frame1to guarantee a good hold between the two materials (FIGS.4and7).

These two sealing elements12on the frame1are opposite and in contact with the two lateral sealing portions6,6′ of the cover3in the closed position of the cover3so as to allow a very good sealing during the shuttering of the pouring opening2and the conservation of the contents of the packaging.

In this embodiment, the pouring spout device100is fastened to the packaging by using a glue, coated on the packaging and/or on the external surface5of the frame1.

Also visible in the figures, the connecting sealing portion7comprises a protrusion16forming a gripping portion configured to allow the gripping of the cover3. This gripping portion16is provided with a tooth17configured to cooperate and be snap-fitted to a notch18provided in the frame1. This arrangement makes it possible to fasten the cover3to the frame1in the closed position of the cover3which is then removably locked.

The implementation of the present disclosure as illustrated inFIGS.5to7, differs from that illustrated inFIGS.2to4in particular by the provision of a fastening part19made of plastic film overmolded on the frame1. The fastening portion19extends along an external peripheral edge of the frame1and a part of the external surface5of the frame1by filling a series of through holes11provided in the frame1, so as to improve the holding of the plastic on the frame1(visible inFIG.7). This configuration is useful to allow fastening by welding of the pouring spout100to the packaging. The fastening part19is produced by molding with the sealing part10.

According to one possible implementation of the present disclosure, the device100also comprises two flanges20connecting the cover3and the frame1. These two flanges20are made of a film of plastic material (refer toFIGS.2to7), each produced by molding with the sealing part10. Each of the flanges20comprises three fold lines21configured so that, in the closed position of the cover3, the flanges20are each folded down under the cover3, without coming into contact with the sealing part10on the cover3nor with the two sealing elements12on the frame1. This configuration makes it possible to increase the opening angle of the cover3vis-à-vis the frame up to 120 degrees for example. According to another arrangement not illustrated, each of the flanges20have a single fold line.

According to another arrangement not illustrated, the two flanges20are made of cellulose, in particular paper.

According to a third embodiment illustrated inFIGS.8to9, the pouring spout device100differs from the previous ones described inFIGS.1to7, in that it further comprises a third connecting sealing element12′ connecting the two sealing elements12overmolded on the frame1. The third connecting sealing element12′ is made of a film of plastic material, overmolded on the frame1so as to be disposed on at least part of the external surface5of the frame1extending at least along part of the lateral edge13laterally delimiting the pouring opening2of the frame1. The two sealing elements12and the third connecting sealing element12′ thus form a sealing assembly21of the frame1which cooperates with the sealing part10in the closed position of the cover3. According to this third embodiment illustrated inFIGS.8and9, the sealing assembly21covers the entire lateral edge13of the pouring opening2, apart of course from the hinge4. The sealing part10may thus bear against the sealing assembly21in the closed position of the cover3which optimizes the sealing of the pouring spout device100.

Also, another difference resides in that the sealing part10overmolded on the cover3comprises a closing lip22forming a prominence from the internal face of the cover3(opposite the external face E). The closing lip22extends at least in part along the inner margin of the sealing part10. This closing lip22is configured to cooperate with the sealing assembly21covering a lateral edge13of the pouring opening2which extends in the direction of the thickness of the frame1. This allows the insertion of the closing lip22into the pouring opening2when closing the cover3generating a tight contact between the facing surfaces of the sealing assembly21(outer margin) and of the sealing part10(inner margin).

In addition, as illustrated inFIGS.8and9, the closing lip22is provided with three snap-fitting means, here lugs23, configured to cooperate by snap-fitting with the lateral edge13of the pouring opening2provided with the sealing assembly21in order to close the pouring spout device100hermetically. According to another embodiment not illustrated, the closing lip22may comprise a single snap-fitting means23, disposed in a central position of the connecting sealing portion7, such as a plurality of snap-fitting means23distributed around the margin of the closing lip22. It is then possible to dispense with the tooth17and the notch18of the two embodiments previously described.

As may be seen in the figures, the fastening part19extending along an external peripheral edge of the frame1may be omitted in this third embodiment as is the case in the first embodiment illustrated inFIGS.1to4.

This is useful when the pouring spout device100is intended to be assembled with a paper packaging devoid of inner plastic film. It is possible to glue the internal face of the frame1made of cardboard to the paper packaging, for example via a double-sided adhesive.

When, on the contrary, the paper packaging has a plastic film on its inner surface, the presence of the fastening part19advantageously allows fastening by fusion of the plastics brought into contact.

Also visible inFIG.9, each of the lateral sealing portions6,6′ comprises, plumb with the corresponding flange20, a transverse projection24, relative to the longitudinal direction of extension of each lateral sealing portion6,6′, the transverse projection24extending towards the center of the cover1. This makes it possible in particular to hold and stiffen the cover3as well as the connection between the flanges20and the cover3.

According to one embodiment not visible in the figures, the pouring spout device comprises at least one compressed region adjoining an overmolded region. The at least one compressed region delimits the outline of the overmolding region, such as the sealing part10and/or the sealing assembly21.

According to a second aspect not illustrated, the present disclosure proposes a method for manufacturing said pouring spout device100comprisinga step a) of providing a frame1provided with a pouring opening2and a cover3connected to the frame1by a hinge4, as illustrated inFIG.1,a step b) of providing a mold configured so that the cover3is disposed in the open position (also visible inFIG.1), anda step c) of overmolding the plastic material on the frame1and the cover3in the open position, so as to form a sealing part10on the peripheral margin of the cover3(sealing part10visible inFIG.2).

Thus, the present disclosure proposes a recyclable pouring spout device100, comprising a frame1and a cover3made of a rigid cellulose material, such as cardboard, and a sealing part10on the cover3and two sealing elements12on the frame1, made of biosourced plastic material. The device100is configured to be easily fastened to a paper packaging (by gluing or by fusion) so as to allow a total recycling.

It goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to the variant embodiments described above by way of example but that it comprises all the technical equivalents and variants of the means described as well as their combinations.