SPOUT FOR CONTAINERS

Abstract: Spout (1) for containers of carton comprising a body (2) with an orifice (10), a removable membrane (4), sealing off the orifice (10), connected to the body (2) by a predetermined breaking line (5) and a tear off handle (3) integrally connected to the membrane (4) by a connecting element (9). The tear off handle (3) may stand taller than the upper rim (15) of the orifice (10) of the spout (1). A lever mechanism helps to reduce the initial opening force to remove the membrane (4).

Description: SPOUT FOR CONTAINERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved outlet for containers made of carton used for milk, juices etc. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The use of multi layer paper containers for liquids (milk, juices, etc) is widespread. The containers have the form of pyramid, brick, block etc. A main problem of such containers is that liquid can not be poured out in a controlled manner and most important, the fact that they are not securely reclosable. Safe transportation or shaking after initial opening is not possible. These limitations have been overcome by the use of spouts fitted on an outlet which is cut on the upper part of the container. From the state of the art different spouts for containers, made out of paper, for beverages and other liquids are known. They all consist of a body of plastic material and a lid of the same or different material. The lid is usually fastened to the body by an engaging thread. Both parts are injection molded. The orifice of such spouts is usually sealed off by a membrane which is connected to the inner wall of the orifice by a thin web which acts as a predetermined breaking line. This membrane indicates temper evidence and is removed while initial opening by pulling a handle which is integrally connected to the membrane. The handle of the spouts known from the state of the art has different shapes and is built in a way that it is not taller than the upper rim of the orifice. Therefore to remove the membrane a consumer has to stick a finger into the orifice, grab the handle and try to pull it in a way, that the membrane is removed. This procedure has different disadvantages. First it is not very hygienic to stick a finger into the orifice, second said handles positioned inside the orifice are very small due to the narrow space and unsuitable to hold and third a consumer has to apply a significant force to remove the membrane properly. If the force is not applied in the right direction, the handle can easily be destroyed without removing the membrane. It is therefore necessary to use additional tools like knives, screw drivers or pliers to remove the membrane or it's remaining rest. This is not satisfying, but time consuming and dangerous. Due to the high force which has to be applied, spouts known from the state of the art seem to be unsuitable for children, for disabled or for elderly people. Several types of such pouring spouts are available on the market. An example of such a spout is known from US 5,176,300 which has a tearable membrane, located at the lower end of the orifice. The idea of an integral membrane, which is removable by a pulling ring, is described in US-3,458,080. US '080 describes a spout with a removable membrane located at the uppermost or lowermost end of the orifice. In US-5,810,184 a tearable membrane is located in the interior of the spout approxi- mately midway of its height. The membrane is concave and the pulling ring is horizontally disposed and arranged in a way that it stands not taller than the upper rim of the spout. In US 5,301,849 the concavity of a tearable membrane is claimed. Several pulling rings are illustrated parallel or at an angle to the membranes level, the membrane is arranged in about the middle of the spout and the pulling ring does not protrude over the upper end of the spout. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the aim of the present invention to disclose a spout which overcomes such problems of the state of the art as high opening forces, unhygienic operating. This task is solved by the invention as defined in the claims. According to the invention a tearable membrane is located preferably almost on the upper rim of the spout, leaving an only small part of the wall above it for proper airtight resealing with the cap. The pulling ring is located well outside of the cylinder of the spout and is parallel to the membrane. No limitation of its size is given by the diameter of the orifice. The membrane is preferably neither flat nor concave but in- corporates an asymmetric finger shaped depression. The cap is designed in a way as not to compress and deform the pulling ring. The pulling ring remains unobstructed while standing taller than the upper rim of the orifice. During tearing of the membrane the finger touches only a very small part of the inside wall of the spout and the potential contamination from soiled fingers during the tearing of the membrane is minimized. In addition a much smaller inside-surface remains unsterilised in case of hot filling operation. The spout disclosed in the present invention solves the problems known from the state of the art by a new arrangement and dimensioning of the membrane, the predetermined breaking line, the tear off handle and the orifice. The tear off handle is pref- erably arranged in a way that it can be easily gripped without the necessity to insert a finger into the orifice. It is positioned above the upper rim of the orifice in a way that the size of the handle is not limited by the diameter of the orifice. A tear off handle can be preferably built as a ring which is wide enough to be easily engaged with at least one finger. The cross section of the tear off handle is dimen- sioned in a way that a certain bending stiffness and resistance against mechanical stresses is achieved. By implementing means which influence the local stiffness of the handle, the applied forces are guided in an efficient way and concentrated to reduce the necessary force. By said means and the predetermined position of the tear off handle with respect to the rim or other suitable elements, a lever mechanism is obtained, which supports reduction of the necessary removing force of the membrane. If necessary, the initial removing force of the membrane is influenced by the design of the predetermined breaking line. By guiding the melt flow of the material and partial cooling of the mold, defined weak-areas are produced to reduce the initial opening force. By adjusting the thickness of the connecting web and the predetermined breaking line, additional influence can be taken. To obtain a preferred lever mechanism, the handle to remove the membrane is preferably connected to the membrane by an element which comprises a locally bend- able, hinge-like element, for example a strap made of highly orientated material. This material orientation helps to increase the mechanical resistancy and durability similar to film hinges of plastic closures. By the design of the membrane, the position of the injection point, designated means and the local cooling of the mold, the flow of the material is guided and the neces- sary opening force is predetermined. Areas of defined cold- welding of the material can be obtained on purpose to influence the determined opening force. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein: Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the spout in a perspective view, Figures 2 to 5 show the functioning of a spout according to different sections through a spout in a side view, Figure 6 shows a section through a membrane and a handle in a perspective view. Figure 1 shows a spout 1 in a perspective view. The spout 1 consists of a body 2, a tear off handle 3, a membrane 4 and a predetermined breaking line 5. The body 2 has a thread 6 to securely fasten a lid 20 (see Figure 2). It is evident, that the lid 20 can be fastened to the body 2 by any other suitable means such as hinges. The tear of handle 3 of the here shown embodiment has a ring-like shape. It is preferably enforced to obtain stiffness against bending in a rear area 7 where it is connected by region 8 of preferable bending (hinge like behavior) and a connecting element 9 to the membrane 4. It is evident that the tear off handle 2 can have any other suitable design. The membrane 4 is arranged within the opening of an orifice 10 in the region of an upper rim 15. The membrane 4 has a depression 17 for better finger access while operating. A flange 16 is employed for the attachment of the spout to the carton preferably by ultrasonic welding. Figure 2 shows the spout 1 according to Fig. 1 and a lid 20 in a side view. The front part of the spout 1 and the lid 20 are cut off for better visibility. The lid 20 comprises a thread 11 which is engaged with a thread 6 of the body 2. A temper evidence ring 12 is integrally connected to the lid 20 by predetermined breaking elements 13. The temper evidence ring 12 is engaged with a corresponding rib 14. The predetermined breaking elements 13 are destroyed while first opening the lid 20 of the spout 1. The tear off handle 3 is positioned preferably above the upper rim 15 such that it projects over the upper rim 15. In this position it can easily be held and operated and its size is not limited by the diameter of the orifice 10. In the cut-off view shown here the reinforced rear area 7 is clearly visible. The bendable region 8 and the connecting element 9 connect the tear off handle 3 and the membrane 4 in the embodiment shown here. The membrane 4 is connected to the orifice 10 by the predetermined break off line 5. The lid 20 is formed in a way, that it fits over the tear off element 3 and seals off the spout 1 while transportation after initial opening. Figure 3 shows the first step of initial opening of the spout 1. After removing the lid 20 (see Figure 2), a consumer grabs the tear off handle 3 and pivotally rotates it in the direction of an arrow R by applying a force, schematically shown by an arrow P. The tear off handle 3 rotates pivotally around the hinge-like bending region 8 in the embodiment described here. This bending region 8 is formed by a thin area of very durable material which can be obtained by material orientation (according to film hinges of injection molded plastic closures). The tear off handle 3 is rotated pivotally backwards until the reinforced rear area 7 comes in contact with the rim 15 of the spout 1. After initial contact the tear off handle 3 is moved back further in a way that an additional force FI is built up between the rim 15 and the reinforced rear area 7 (see Figure 4). As a result of this a reaction force F2 is implemented, which reduces the necessary tear off force for the membrane significantly. The predetermined breaking line 5 starts to break initially and relieves the orifice 10 in a chain reaction. The predetermined breaking line 5 is made in the here shown embodiment of a thin web of material. To support the above described effect this web can be designed to be less resistant in the region of the connecting element 9. This can be obtained by adjusting the thickness of the structure, the size of the radius and the angles of the cross-section. Another preferred embodiment can be obtained by influencing the flow lines in a way, that a weak spot results (Cold welding spot). Adequate cooling results in a similar effect. It is obvious, that the magnitude of the additional tear off force F2 can be estimated by F - P — . The ration of B/A of a preferred embodi¬ ment is typically in the region of 5 to 10. Figure 5 shows the membrane 4 in a completely removed position above the spout 1. The orifice 10 is now completely open to pour out the stored liquid. The spout 1 can be securely sealed repeatedly by unscrewing the lid 20 (see fig. 2). Due to the preferred position of the membrane 4 in the region of the upper rim 15 of the orifice 10, material reduction and better cycle times while production are obtained. To additionally control the opening force, especially if the spout is made out of soft material, a special design of the membrane 4 and the predetermined breaking line 5 is foreseen if necessary. Figure 6 shows a membrane 4, a predetermined breaking line 5 and ring-shaped tear off handle 3 in a perspective, cut-off view. The tear off handle 3 is connected to the membrane 4 by a bendable region 8 and a connecting element 9. The predetermined breaking line 5 is formed by two rifts 18.1, 18.2. The depth of rift 18.1 depends on the position. By changing the cross-section, the bottom radius and the depth of the rifts 18.1 and 18.2, the initial opening force is influenced. The depth of the rift 18.1 is in the here shown embodiment deeper in the region of the connecting element 9, such that the thickness of the predetermined breaking line 5 is different and less force has to be applied to initially break the breaking line 5. After initially breaking a chain reaction is started and the rest of the predetermined breaking line is destroyed. An injection point 21 for injecting the material is positioned in the here shown embodiment in the middle of the membrane 4. The flow of the material is guided in a way that weak areas along the predetermined breaking line 5 are produced, whereby the force to remove the membrane 4 is controlled. Additional elements 22 are placed if necessary on the membrane 4 and other elements. Theses elements 22 have influence on the flow of the material and the mechanical stiffness of the membrane 4. Arrows 23 indicate the guidance of the material. It is self-evident, that these arrows 23 only indicate one possible way to influence the flow of the material. By guiding the material on different paths to the predetermined breaking line 5 and the partial cooling of the mold, areas of cold-welding result.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Spout (1) for containers, said spout (1) comprising a lid (20) and a body (2) with an orifice (10) having an upper rim (15), a removable membrane (4), sealing off the orifice (10) and being connected to the body (2) by a prede- termined breaking line (5), a tear-off handle (3) positioned at a distance from and integrally connected to the membrane (4) by a connecting element (9), wherein the tear-off handle (3) has a reinforced area (7) and is pivotally connected to the membrane (4) by said connecting element (9) comprising a bendable area (8), such that on pivoting said tear-off handle (3) around said bendable area (8), said reinforced area (7) is temporarily engaged with said upper rim (15) of the orifice (10) producing a force (F2) acting perpendicularly to said membrane. 2. Spout (1) according to claim 1, wherein the tear off handle (3) projects above said upper rim (15) of said orifice (10) Spout (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the diameter of the tear off handle (3) is bigger then the diameter of the orifice (10). 4. Spout (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the predetermined breaking line (5) is made of at least one rift (18.1, 18.2) forming a thin web of material. Spout (1) according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined breaking line (5) is made of a thin web of material which has a variable thickness. Spout (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein said membrane (4) has a depression (17). Spout (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein said bendable area (8) is made of oriented material. 8. Method for manufacturing a spout (1) wherein melted material is injected through an injection point (22) and guided by means (22) along predetermined flow lines (23) and partial cooling of the mold such that weakened areas result in the region of the predetermined breaking line (5) to reduce the initial opening force.

Inventors: PAGIDAS JANNIS, STASSINOPOULOS ALEXIS, PAGIDAS, JANNIS, STASSINOPOULOS, ALEXIS
Applicants: ARGO SA PLASTIC PACKAGING MATE, PAGIDAS JANNIS, STASSINOPOULOS ALEXIS, ARGO SA PLASTIC PACKAGING MATERIALS, PAGIDAS, JANNIS, STASSINOPOULOS, ALEXIS
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B65D47
IPC codes: B65D5, B65D47