Removal device for pour top spouts

A removal device for removing an internal seal from a pour top spout, which includes a body having a curved central portion disposed between a first end portion and a second end portion that forms an included angle of less then one hundred and eighty degrees therebetween. At least a portion of the body has a cross section substantially formed in a shape of a closed plane curve and the outer surface of the body is dimensioned to fit within the opening of the ring of the internal seal of the pour top spout along the entire length of the body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of hand-operated kitchen tools and, in particular, to a tool for removing internal seal rings from pour top spouts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gable top paperboard containers have long been the containers of choice for refrigerated beverages, such as dairy products, orange juices, and the like. In the past, the method of discharging the liquid from a gable top container had been to tear open the sealed ridge of the gable top and pull out a foldable pour spout. However, this practice is objectionable because of the considerable manual effort involved, the hygienic problems arising from the direct manipulation of the pour spout panels from which the liquid is dispensed, and the inability to fully reseal the container, which may result in spillage and/or premature spoilage of the liquid stored therein.

In response to the problems inherent in traditional gable top paperboard container constructions, most producers have begun to employ a resealable fitment type pour spout on the containers. Such pour spouts are usually formed of plastic and attached to one of the slanted panels of the gable top over a pre-cut opening. In such constructions, the spout is conventionally provided with a screw cap closure. For dispensing with this type of container, the user unscrews the cap and removes an internal seal. Unfortunately, the removal of these internal seals is not an easy task for many people.

For many years, the most popular type of internal seal was a foil sheet that was bonded to the spout and peeled off by the user. However, these seals were very difficult to grasp, especially by those with limited manual dexterity, making them difficult to remove. Thus, it was common for users to simply pierce these seals with a knife or other object, which often caused them to fall into the container. Further, the cost of affixing an additional seal to the plastic spout was relatively high compared to the overall cost of the packaging.

In response to the problems associated with foil seals, a number of companies developed pour spouts with integral seals. Examples of these are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,133,486; 5,735,426 and 6,390,342. These spouts with integral seals are the most popular type of resealable pour spouts on the market today and each includes a scored area around the inside rim of the spout and a ring that is grasped by the user and pulled upward to break the seal along the score line. Because the ring must fit within the closed cap during storage, it does not extend a great distance above the spout when it is exposed, preventing the user from gaining significant leverage. Further, because of the type of plastic used in the manufacture of the spouts, and the need for the spout to be hermetically sealed during storage, it requires a significant amount of force to break the seal along the score line. The combination of the lack of leverage that can be exerted on the ring and the high force required to break the seal makes the task difficult, if not impossible, for many people. Finally, the high force required to break the seal, coupled with the fact that only a single finger may be inserted into the ring, often causes pain or other discomfort to the user's finger.

Similar problems were experienced in the past in connection with the removal of pull tops from beer and soft drink cans prior to their universal redesign in the 1970's. In response to these problems, a number of hand-operated tools were developed to allow the tops to be more easily removed. However, none of these are adapted to remove the integral seals of resealable pour spouts attached to today's gable top containers.

One example of such a tool is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,626, titled “Opener device for sealed cans”. This patent discloses a rod-like tool having a handle on one end and a series of notches on the opposite end. One of the notches at the end opposite the handle hooks into the pull-tab and the other notches are on the opposite side and serve as a holding means on the rim of the can be opened and concurrently as a fulcrum point for the lever action to lift the pull-tab and thereby opening the can.

The device of U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,626 appears to be effective at removing pull-tabs from metal cans. However, it is not adapted for use in removing the seals from pour spouts attached to gable top containers. First, the device uses notches on the rod to hold onto the rim of the can and act to hold it in place and to serve as a fulcrum. While a can is sufficiently rigid to allow it to be used as a stable fulcrum point for the rod, a gable top container is not sufficiently rigid and, even if the rod could be adapted to grip some portion of the container, the gable top would collapse under the force exerted thereby. In addition, the fact that the rod is a straight rod makes it unsuited for insertion within the ring of the seal of the pour top spout. This is due to the insufficient clearance between the rod and the gable top, which makes it difficult or impossible for the user to grasp the rod and exert a reasonable amount of force thereon and limits how far the rod may be angled without contacting and collapsing the gable top of the container.

Another example of a tool for removing pull-tops is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,794, titled “Opening device for cans having tear-away closure panels with ring tabs”. This patent discloses an opening device for cans, such as soup cans, canned fruits, and the like, which have a tear-away closure panel that is defined by a circular score line adjacent the rim of the can. The device has a generally circular perimeter, a handle opposite the perimeter, and a recess in the perimeter formed by a narrow mouth and two opposed prongs. The opener is operated by wedging a prong beneath the ring tab to pry it upwardly and break the score line at one end. Then the device is rolled toward the opposite side of the can, pulling the closure panel upwardly while continuing to break the score line until the closure panel is removed from the can.

As was the case with the opener of U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,626, the opener of U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,794 requires that the opener contact the can and use it to generate the force required to break the score line of the seal. Therefore, it also may only be used on rigid cans. Further, although it has a handle that is accessible by the user's hand, the recess that is used to engage the ring of the can is not readily adapted for gripping and pulling the ring of the seal of the pour top spout in an upward direction, as is required if the seal is to be removed without the device contacting the container.

Still another example of a tool for removing pull-tops is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,778, titled “Can opener for pull top cans”. This patent discloses an opener tool manufactured of a substantially flat piece of metal that has a working end, a convexly curved underside portion and a handle. The working end is dimensioned for insertion under the ring portion of a pull-tab without lifting the pull-tab ring sufficiently to break the seal of the can top and has a smaller width than the curved portion, which acts a stop element for limiting insertion of the working end through the finger opening of the ring. In operation, the working end of the devices is inserted under the ring portion of the pull-tab, the curved portion engages the top of the can, and the handle is rotated such that the curved portion acts as a fulcrum for the working end, which moves upward to remove the pull-tab.

The device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,778 is similar to those of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,241,626 and 5,309,794 insofar as it requires that the opener contact the can and use it to generate the force required to break the score line of the seal. Therefore, it also may only be used on rigid cans. Further, as the stop element prevents the pull-tab from resting within the curved central portion and the working end is not adapted to effectively grasp the pull-top when at an angle other than that created by the intended fulcrum action, it cannot be used to engage the tab and pull it from the container without contacting it. Finally, it is noted that even if this device were dimensioned such that the ring could pass through to the curved portion of the device, its flat cross section would not provide the user with a comfortable gripping surface and the exertion of the upward force required to remove the ring would be likely to hurt the user's hands.

Therefore, there is a need for a device that is adapted to engage the rings of the integral seals of resealable pour spouts attached to gable top paper containers and remove these seals, that does not require the use of a rigid fulcrum point to create sufficient force to remove the seal, that will not crush the container when in use, that cannot be disengaged from the ring during use, that provides sufficient clearance between the device and the gable top when the ring is engaged so as to allow the user to grasp the devices and avoid contacting the gable top of the container during operation, that provides the user with a comfortable gripping surface, and that will not hurt the user's hands or fingers during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a removal device for removing an internal seal from a pour top spout, the removal device in combination with a gable top container, and a method for removing an internal seal from a pour top spout using the removal device, that solves the problems described above and overcomes the drawbacks inherent in the prior art.

In its most basic form, the removal device includes a body having first end, a first end portion disposed proximate to the first end, a second end, a second end portion disposed proximate to the second end, a curved central portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion, and an outer surface extending about the first end portion, the curved central portion and the second end portion. An included angle of less then one hundred and eighty degrees is formed by a first line disposed in perpendicular relation to a center of the first end and a second line disposed in perpendicular relation to a center of the second end. At least a portion of the body has a cross section substantially formed in a shape of a closed plane curve and the outer surface of the body is dimensioned fit within the opening of the ring of the internal seal of the pour top spout along the entire length of the body.

In the preferred device, the included angle is between one hundred and thirty five degrees and one hundred and fifty five degrees, with the angle preferably being in the range of one hundred and forty degrees and one hundred and forty five degrees.

In the preferred device, the shape of the closed plane curve is the shape of a circle. In such embodiments, the circle has a diameter of between 0.375 inches and 0.625 inches. However, the shape of a closed plane curve is an ellipse and an oval in other embodiments.

The preferred device also includes a plurality of finger depressions extending into the outer surface of the body. These depressions are preferably spaced and sized to accommodate the fingers of an average sized hand and there are preferably two or more such depressions.

Some embodiments of the device include at least one symbol disposed upon the outer surface of the body. These symbols may be words, designs, or a combination of both and it is envisioned that inexpensive versions of the device will be given away as promotional items bearing the name and/or logo of the company giving them away. In some such embodiments, the outer surface of the body has at least one substantially planar surface and symbols are disposed upon the substantially planar surface. In other embodiments, the symbols are embossed or stamped into the outer surface of the body using art-recognized methods.

In some embodiments, one or more ends of the device are dimensioned to perform other tasks. For example, in one such embodiment, at least one of the first end and the second end is chisel shaped end and dimensioned to slide under a tab mounted parallel to a top of a can. In another such embodiment, at least one of the first end and the second end comprises bottle opener means adapted to remove a crimped metal top from a glass bottle. In another embodiment, one of the first end and the second end is substantially hollow and the device also includes a corkscrew dimensioned for insertion within the substantially hollow end. In still other embodiments, one or more combinations of these end tools are provided.

As noted above, the present invention also contemplates a combination of the removal device and a gable top container. In such embodiments, the gable top container includes a pour spout attached to a gable top of the gable top container. The pour spout has an internal seal and the internal seal has a score line and a ring having an opening therethrough.

In some embodiments, the opening in the ring of the seal of the gable top container has an inside diameter of between 0.4375 inches and 0.6875 inches, the shape of a closed plane curve of the cross section of the body is a shape of a circle, and the circle has a diameter of between 0.375 inches and 0.625 inches.

The method of removing an internal seal from a pour top spout includes the steps of removing the replaceable cap from the pour top spout and bending the ring of the internal seal upward such that the ring extends above an open edge of the pour top spout. Once extended, the removal device is operated by inserting the removal device through the opening in the ring, positioning the removal device within the opening in the ring such that the ring rests upon the curved central portion of the body of the removal device and such that the first end portion extends from one side of the ring and the second end portion extends from another side of the ring, grasping the removal device with one hand such that at least one finger rests upon the outer surface of the first end portion and such that at least one finger rests upon the outer surface of the second end portion, grasping the gable top container with another hand, and rotating one end of the removal device upward such that neither the removal device nor the user's hand come into contact with the container and such that the internal seal is removed.

Therefore, it is an aspect of the invention to provide a device that is adapted to engage the rings of the integral seals of resealable pour spouts attached to gable top paper containers and remove these seals.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a device for removing the integral seals of resealable pour spouts attached to gable top paper containers that does not require the use of a rigid fulcrum point to create sufficient force to remove the seal.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a device for removing the integral seals of resealable pour spouts attached to gable top paper containers that will not crush the container when in use.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a device for removing the integral seals of resealable pour spouts attached to gable top paper containers that cannot be disengaged from the ring during use.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a device for removing the integral seals of resealable pour spouts attached to gable top paper containers that provides sufficient clearance between the device and the gable top when the ring is engaged so as to allow the user to grasp the devices and avoid contacting the gable top of the container during operation.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a device for removing the integral seals of resealable pour spouts attached to gable top paper containers that provides the user with a comfortable gripping surface.

It is a still further aspect of the invention to provide a device for removing the integral seals of resealable pour spouts attached to gable top paper containers that will not hurt the user's hands or fingers during use.

These aspects of the invention are not meant to be exclusive and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when read in conjunction with the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first toFIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is used to remove the internal seal22from the pour top spout10attached to the gable surface14of a gable top container12. The pour top spout10typically includes a replaceable cap16that attaches to a threaded cylinder30that extends upward from a base portion28that is affixed to the gable surface14of the gable top container12and terminates in a top edge24. The internal seal22is joined to the inside of the threaded cylinder30along a score line20. The score line20is typically an area of reduced thickness that provides a point of weakness in the internal seal22that may be fractured when a sufficient force is applied to the internal seal22. Force is applied to the internal seal22through a ring18that typically attaches to the internal seal22by an extending post26that is formed integral to the ring18and internal seal22. In operation, a user grasps the gable top container12with one hand and the ring18with the other and pulls the ring18upward with sufficient force to fracture the internal seal22along the score line20such that the internal seal22may be removed.

Referring now toFIGS. 3-4D, the removal device38of the present invention includes a body39having first end40, a first end portion44disposed proximate to the first end40, a second end42, a second end portion46disposed proximate to the second end, a curved central portion48disposed between the first end portion44and the second end portion46, and an outer surface49extending about the first end portion44, the curved central portion48and the second end portion46.

The removal device38is preferably formed from an inexpensive material, such as a plastic material, that has sufficient rigidity to avoid deflection and/or breakage during use. Although plastic materials are preferred, it is understood that some embodiments may be manufactured from metal, wood, or composites. Still others may utilize a combination of materials. For example, in the embodiment ofFIG. 5, the curved central portion48has a larger cross section than the first end portion44and the second end portion46and a pair of grips82are fitted over the first end portion44and second end portion46. Regardless of what materials are used, all embodiments of the removal device38are dimensioned such that the outer surface49of the body39is dimensioned to fit within the opening32(as shown inFIG. 4B) of the ring18of the internal seal22of the pour top spout10along the entire length of the body39of the removal device38.

The curved central portion48of the removal device38forms an included angle A-B between the first end portion44and second end portion46. First end portion44includes first end40with center51. Second end portion46includes second end42with center53. The included angle A-B is less than one hundred and eighty degrees when measured between a first line A and a second line B. The included angle A-B is dimensioned to provide sufficient clearance between the removal device38and the gable surface14of the gable top container12when the ring18is engaged so as to allow the user to grasp the removal device38without their fingers, or the removal device38, contacting the gable surface14of the gable top container12. In the preferred embodiment, the included angle A-B is between one hundred and thirty five degrees)(135°) and one hundred and fifty five degrees)(155°), with the included angle A-B most preferably being in the range of one hundred and forty degrees)(140°) and one hundred and forty five degrees)(145°).

At least a portion of the body39has a cross section C-C substantially formed in a shape of a closed plane curve. In the embodiment ofFIG. 3, the shape of the closed plane curve is the shape of a circle and this cross section C-C remains substantially constant from the first end40to the second end42. The outer surface49of the body39is dimensioned to fit within the opening32of the ring18of the internal seal22of the pour top spout10along the entire length of the body39. Accordingly, the circle cross section C-C preferably has a diameter of between 0.375 inches and 0.625 inches in order to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening through the ring18into which it is inserted, which is typically between 0.4375 inches and 0.6875 inches. The formation of a removal device38with a body39having a circle shaped cross section C-C that remains substantially constant along its length is preferred as round material is readily available and may be easily cut into desired lengths and formed into the removal device38of the present invention. However, the shape of the closed plane curve may be an ellipse, as shown inFIG. 5, an oval, as shown inFIG. 6, or any other curved shape. Further, in some embodiments, such as those inFIGS. 5,8and9, the cross section of body39is not constant from one end to the other. In such embodiments, the removal device38is preferably manufactured by injection molding or by performing additional machining operations on a rolled or extruded material to form the body39. Finally, it is noted that the overall length of the removal device38is preferably between four and five inches, although other embodiments may have longer lengths.

As shown inFIGS. 4A-4D, the preferred embodiment of the removal device38also includes a plurality of finger depressions50extending into the outer surface49of the body39along the bottom thereof. These finger depressions50are preferably spaced and sized to accommodate the fingers of an average sized hand. There are preferably two or more such finger depressions50disposed upon each of the first end portion44and second end portion46such that two fingers may be disposed upon either side of the ring18during use. The inclusion of finger depressions50is preferred as they provide a more ergonomic and comfortable gripping surface for the fingers of the user. However, in other embodiments, such as the embodiment ofFIG. 5, the finger depressions50are eliminated and the first end portion44and second end portion46are fitted with flexible grips82. In such embodiments, these grips82are preferably manufactured of a rubber material and provide increased cushioning to the hands of the user.

Referring now toFIGS. 4A-4D, the method of using the removal device38to open the pour top spout10of a gable top container12is explained. As shown inFIG. 4A, the first step is to remove the replaceable cap16from the pour top spout10. The user then inserts a finger into the opening32in the ring18and bends the ring18upward about the extending post26such that the ring18extends above the top edge24of the pour top spout10, which results in the ring18being in the position shown inFIG. 4B. Once the ring18is extended, the removal device38is inserted through the opening32in the ring18and positioned within the opening32in the ring18such that the ring18rests upon the curved central portion48of the body39of the removal device38and such that the first end portion44extends from one side of the ring18and the second end portion46extends from another side of the ring18. This results in the removal device38being positioned as shown inFIG. 4C. The user then grasps the removal device38with one hand (not shown) such that at least one finger (not shown) rests upon the outer surface49of the first end portion44and such that at least one finger rests upon the outer surface49of the second end portion46. The user then grasps the gable top container12with another hand (not shown), and rotates the second end42of the removal device38upward such that neither the removal device38nor the users fingers come into contact with the gable top container12and such that the internal seal22is removed, as shown inFIG. 4D.

Referring now toFIG. 7, it is anticipated that the removal device38will be used as a promotional item that may be removably attached to a gable top container12and display the name and/or logo of the manufacturer of the product being sold in the gable top container12. In such embodiments, at least one symbol60is disposed upon the outer surface49of the body39of the removal device38. These symbols60may be words, designs58, or a combination of both. In the embodiment ofFIG. 7, the outer surface49of the body39has at least one substantially planar surface51and the symbols60are disposed upon this planar surface51. However, in other embodiments there is no planar surface51and the symbols60are embossed or stamped into the outer surface49of the body39using art-recognized methods.

Referring now toFIGS. 8 and 9, some embodiments of the removal device have ends40,42that are adapted to perform other tasks. In the embodiment ofFIG. 8, the first end portion44is sloped toward the first end40to form a chisel shaped end86that is dimensioned to slide under a tab mounted parallel to a top of a can (not shown), such as a beer or soft drink can. In operation, the user would slide the chisel shaped end86under the tab on the can and rotate the second end42of the removal device38upward to open the can. The second end42of the embodiment ofFIG. 8includes a bottle opener84that is adapted to remove crimped metal tops from glass bottles (not shown), such as beer bottles. Although the embodiment ofFIG. 8shows this bottle opener84as being integral to the body39, it is recognized that the bottle opener84may be a separate item that is removably attached to the second end42of the body39. In such embodiments, the bottle opener84may be larger than the body39and would be removed when the user wishes to use the removal device38to remove a ring18from a gable top container12. Similarly, although the claw type bottle opener84ofFIG. 8is preferred due to its low profile, other styles may be utilized to achieve similar results.

FIG. 9shows an embodiment of the removal device38that includes an integral corkscrew88. In such embodiments, the body39of the removal device38has a circular cross section and the second end42of the removal device38is substantially hollow and includes round bore94dimensioned to accept the screw portion93of the corkscrew88. The corkscrew88is preferably a traditional style ring and screw type corkscrew that includes a screw portion93that attaches to a cylindrical base95and a ring portion90having an opening92therethrough that is dimensioned to allow the body39of the removal device38to pass through and engage it. The cylindrical base95is dimensioned to engage the inside surface of the round bore94within the body39such that it remains engaged when not in use and may be easily removed when the removal device38is to be used. In the embodiment ofFIG. 9, this engagement is a frictional engagement, but other embodiments secure the cylindrical base95within the round bore94by means of mating threads.

Finally, although the first end40of the removal device38shown inFIG. 9does not perform any other tasks, it is recognized that the chisel shaped end86or bottle opener84of the embodiment ofFIG. 8may be utilized thereon. Similarly, the first end40may include a triangular style can opener or other device that is useful in the kitchen. In still other embodiments, one or more combinations of these end tools are provided.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.