Liquid containing and dispensing package

Abstract: A liquid dispensing fitment for use on a container (21) having a neck (23) comprises a plastic body (25) which has an inner wall defining an axial spout (26) extending from within the neck of a container (21) and axially beyond the end of the neck (23). The body (25) has an outer annular wall (29) spaced from the spout (26) and connected to the spout (26) by an integral annular connecting portion. The spout (26) extends axially beyond the outer wall (29) and has an upper generally C-shaped cross section defining an opening and a lower annular cross section. The annular connecting portion is inclined with respect to the axis of the spout (26) and has its lowermost portion aligned with the opening of said C-shaped portion of said spout (26). The outer wall (29) has an axial opening (45) extending from a position aligned with the juncture of the C-shaped portion and annular portion of the spout through the annular connecting portion to define a combined drain back opening and a near empty pour out hole. The fitment (25) is provided with means on the upper end of the outer wall (29) for engaging the neck of the container (21). The lower portion of the spout (26) is substantially smooth in an axial direction to facilitate drain back. The lower portion of the spout (26) has an inner surface formed with an integral axial rib (46) aligned with the axial opening (45) in the outer wall (29) to facilitate manufacture.

Description: This invention relates to liquid containing and dispensing packages and particularly to such packages which include a pouring spout and a closure that functions as a measuring cup. Background and Summary of the Invention In one type of liquid dispensing package, a pouring spout fitment is positioned on the neck of the container and a closure in the form of the cup is interengaged with the periphery of the container. More specifically, a spout is mounted in a first fitment that is on a container. The fitment has internal threads which are engaged by the external threads of a cover. In United States Patent 4,706,829, there is disclosed a liquid containing and dispensing package comprising a hollow plastic container having a neck, a fitment interengaging the neck and a closure. The fitment interengages the neck and as a first peripheral portion extending axially and having a portion defining a spout having a pouring lip extending axially inwardly of the end of the neck, and a closure comprising a top wall and a first peripheral wall extending from the top wall axially inwardly, The closure includes a radial portion extending from the peripheral wall and sealingly engaging an annular area of the fitment, The closure defines a dispensing cup and includes a second outer peripheral wall spaced from the first peripheral wall which has internal threads engaging external threads on the neck of the container. US-4773560 discloses a liquid dispensing package comprising a hollow plastic container having a neck, a fitment interengaging the neck and a closure. The fitment has a spout part and a measuring cup. The spout part extends axially in the neck and has an outer ring formed integrally around the base of the spout part, the outer ring being adapted for surrounding the rim of the container opening. To ensure product may drain from the measuring cup into the interior of the container, a slot is provided in the base of the outer ring at its lowest point. The slot may extend substantially parallel to the axis of the container opening in the outer ring of the spout part opposite the pouring side of the spout. However, because of the construction of this slot, not all of the remaining product can be poured out from the container. Among the objectives of the present invention are to provide a liquid containing package wherein the spout fitment is such that manufacture is facilitated. In accordance with the invention, a liquid dispensing fitment according to claim 1 for use on a container having a neck comprises a plastic body which has an inner wall defining an axial spout, said spout extending from within the neck of a container and axially beyond the end of the neck when said fitment engages said neck of the container. The body has an outer annular wall spaced from the spout and connected to the spout by an integral annular connecting portion. The spout extends axially beyond the outer wall and has an upper generally C-shaped cross section defining an opening and a lower annular cross section. The annular connecting portion is inclined with respect to the axis of the spout and has its lowermost portion aligned with the opening of said C-shaped portion of said spout. The outer wall has an axial opening extending from a position aligned with the juncture of the C-shaped portion and annular portion of the spout through the annular connecting portion to define a combined drain back opening and a near empty pour out hole. The fitment is provided with integral means on the upper end of the outer wall for engaging the neck of a container, The lower portion of the spout is substantially smooth in an axial direction to facilitate drain back. The lower portion of the spout has an inner surface formed with an integral axial rib aligned with the axial opening in the outer wall to facilitate manufacture. The wall of the fitment is provided with an axially extending opening that extends from a position aligned with the junction of the C-shaped portion and annular portion to define a combined drain back opening and near empty pour out hole. Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a liquid containing and dispensing package embodying the invention. FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the fitment in the package. FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the fitment. FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the fitment as viewed from the right in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the fitment as viewed from the left in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of the lower portion of the fitment shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the upper edge of the fitment. Description of the Preferred Embodiments In accordance with the invention, the container package 20 comprises a hollow plastic container 21 having a body 22 and a neck 23. The neck 23 is formed with external threads 23. The package 20 further includes a fitment or insert 25 that comprises a centrally disposed inner spout portion 26 that has an arcuate upper portion 27 which is generally C-shaped in transverse cross-section, The spout 26 has an annular lower portion 28. The fitment 25 further includes an outer wall portion 29 interconnected by an annular portion 18 and extending generally upwardly and outwardly. The outer wall portion 29 further includes a peripheral flange 30 adapted to engage the upper surface of the neck 22. The package 20 further includes a closure 35 that is generally cylindrical including a top wall 36 and a peripheral wall 37. The peripheral wall 37 extends downwardly within the walls of the spout 26. The cap 35 further includes an annular wall 38 extending radially outwardly intermediate the ends of the peripheral wall 37 and an annular axial skirt 39 extending downwardly and having internal threads 40 engaging the external threads on the neck 23. The wall 38 of the closure includes an annular downwardly extending annular projection in the form of a bead 41, preferably having a V cross-section, that engages the fitment 25 to provide a primary seal between the closure 35 and the fitment 25 and, in turn, force the fitment 25 against the end of the neck 23. The container 21 may be made of plastic material such as high density polyethylene. The fitment 25 may be made of other plastic materials, for example, low density polyethylene. The closure 35 may be made of plastic material such as polypropylene. The wall of the fitment is provided with an axially extending opening or slot 45 that extends from a position aligned with the junction of the C-shaped portion and annular portion to define a combined drain back opening and near empty pour out hole. Unlike earlier pour spouts or fitments 25, where the drain and near empty holes are separate, this spout or fitment 25 has one continuous, uninterrupted slot as known from US-A-4 753 560 or US-A-4 706 829, which is a combination of the earlier drain and near empty holes. By combining these two individual features into one, the tooling used to manufacture the spout is simplified, and the component is easier to produce as well. The drain back and near-empty holes do not remain separate, but by including a chamfer or recess at the base of the near-empty hole, the design will allow the tooling to also be simplified, as there would be only positive taper surfaces in the direction of draw. The fitment 25 further includes circumferential spaced vertical ribs 46 on the outer surface of the lower portion 28 (FIGS. 5, 9) and a single vertical rib 47 on the inner surface of the lower portion 28 opposite the opening 45. The vertical ribs 46 facilitate stacking of the fitments. First, after the parts are manufactured, they are stacked one on top of the other, about twenty (20) high. These stacks are then placed on their side in the shipping cartons, and multiple stacks laid upon each other. This method of packaging greatly improves the efficiency of the cartons. The vertical rib 46 prevents the spouts in stacks from being compressed too much. If the vertical ribs were not included as shown, the parts which have multiple tapered surfaces, could be stacked so tightly together, that the equipment used to pick and place the spouts into the container would malfunction. The function of the rib 47 is utilized with the machinery used to place the spout. In particular, the single, unsymmetrical rib 47 is used for orienting the spout relative to the container, so that the spout's front pouring edge is placed towards the front container, opposite of the handle of the container. It can thus be seen that there has been provided a liquid dispensing package wherein the spout fitment or insert has improved mold ability in larger size spouts; which inquires less complicated tooling such that is easier to mold.

Claims: A liquid dispensing fitment (25) for use on a container (21) paving a neck (23), said fitment comprising a plastic body, said body having an inner wall (27, 28) defining an axial spout (26), said spout extending from within the neck (23) of a container (21) and axially beyond the end of the neck (23) when said filament (25) engages said neck (23) of said container (21), said body having an outer annular wall (29) spaced from said spout (26) and connected to said spout (26) by an integral annular connecting portion (18), said spout (26) extending axially beyond said outer wall (29), said spout (26) having an upper portion (27) having a generally C-shaped cross-section defining an opening and a lower portion (28) having an annular cross-section, said annular connecting portion (18) being inclined with respect to the axis of the spout (26) and having its lowermost portion aligned with the said opening of said C-shaped portion (27) of said spout (26), said outer wall (29) having an axial opening (45) extending from a position aligned with the juncture of the C-shaped portion (27) and annular portion (28) of the spout (26) through said annular connecting portion (18) to define a combined drain back opening and a near empty pour out hole, and integral means (30) on upper end of said outer wall (29) for engaging the neck (23) of a container (21), said annular portion (28) of said spout (26) being substantially smooth in an axial direction to facilitate drain back, characterised in that said annular portion (28) of said spout (26) has an inner surface formed with an integral axial rib (47) aligned with said axial opening (45) in said outer wall (29) to facilitate manufacture. A liquid dispensing package (20) comprising a container (21) having a neck (23) having a finish, and further comprising a liquid dispensing fitment (25) as set forth in claim 1, said fitment (25) being positioned in said finish with said integral means (30) engaging said neck (23). The liquid dispensing package (20) set forth in claim 2 further comprising a closure (35) having means (40) thereon engaging means on said finish of said container (21).

Inventors: HAFFNER EUGENE F, RIOS LUZ, HAFFNER, EUGENE F., RIOS, LUZ
Applicants: OWENS ILLINOIS CLOSURE INC, OWENS-ILLINOIS CLOSURE INC.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B65D47
IPC codes: B65D25, B65D47