Abstract:
A tamper-evident container with pour-out container fitment for frictional engagement within the cylindrical neck of a container to control and meter the flow of liquids out of the container. The fitment includes a top flange sufficient to cover the mouth of the container and a coaxial cylindrical insert extending from the top flange into the neck. The fitment is held into the neck by friction and a ring extends from the insert for enhanced frictional engagement. Apertures are provided in the insert to allow fluid to pass into the interior of the insert, and channels are provided along the walls of the interior from the apertures to the top flange to guide the liquid from the apertures to the flange.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application derives priority from provisional application 61/130,228 filed on May 29, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to containers and, in particular, to tamper-evident, pour-control fitments for containers. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Background 
         [0005]    When pouring liquids from containers with a cylindrical neck, such as bottles, the liquid flow varies greatly with very small changes in the angle of the container. Consequently, controlling the flow rate or the volume of liquid dispensed can be very difficult. Nevertheless, a smooth and closely-controlled flow is of paramount importance in some situations, for example, in dispensing medicines, ingredients used in cooking, or concentrated aromatic oils. In addition, certain liquids are so expensive that even the loss of a drop or two of the liquid is to be avoided. This presents a design challenge because any effort to volumetrically limit the flow will have a tendency to disrupt the flow, resulting in a difficult and uneven pour. Therefore, an improved container configuration is needed to provide for both controlled flow of liquid being dispensed from the container while also providing a smooth flow. 
         [0006]    There have been prior efforts to provide containers, and specifically bottles, with necks or apertures that limit the flow of liquid. 
         [0007]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,429,488 to Micallef issued Feb. 25, 1969, shows a surge proof bottle with a plastic insert that fits within the neck of the bottle and has a flared rim for limiting insertion into the bottle. The bottom of the insert is defined by peripheral apertures to allow a limited flow of liquid to enter the insert. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,862 to Nottingham et al. issued Jan. 10, 2006, shows a container and lid assembly with a screw-on pour spout. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,014,075 to Bonifacio et al. issued Mar. 21, 2006, shows a flow regulator insert for bottles that fits within the neck. This flow regulator includes at least a two-part device with orifices that can be moved relative to each other. The degree of overlap between the respective orifices defines a common dispensing area that controls the flow rate during content dispensing. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,311,275 to Gibson issued Mar. 28, 1967, shows a flow control bottle cap with a plastic insert that fits within the neck of the bottle and has a flared rim for limiting insertion into the bottle. The bottom of the insert is defined by peripheral apertures to allow a limited flow of liquid to enter the insert. A threaded cap fits overtop the insert. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,980,211 to Owens issued Sep. 14, 1976, shows a pouring adaptor that mounts over the open end in a container. A plastic flow control insert fits over the neck of the bottle, and a threaded cap fits overtop the insert. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,142,659 to Petersson issued Mar. 6, 1979, shows a drawing-off tube inserted in the neck of a bottle. A threaded cap fits overtop the insert, and when the cap is removed, the tube can be extended. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,887 to Granger et al. issued Jan. 25, 2005, shows a spill-proof pouring plastic insert that fits within the neck of the bottle and has a flared rim for pouring. The bottom of the insert is defined by peripheral apertures that allow a limited flow of liquid to enter the insert. A threaded cap fits overtop the insert. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,848,145 to Livingstone issued Aug. 19, 1958, shows a pouring adapter that fastens to the neck of a bottle having a plastic insert that fits within the neck and a flared rim for pouring. A threaded cap fits overtop the insert. 
         [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,993 to Albrecht issued Feb. 4, 1986, shows a tamper-evident closure with frangible band that falls freely around a neck portion of the container to provide evidence that the container has been previously opened. 
         [0016]    While the foregoing prior art speaks to the broad concept of a bottle with insert-baffle for flow control, it fails to approach the problem of smoothing the flow. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a tamper evident pour-out container, cap, and internal fitment combination is provided to improve pourability. The tamper-evident internally-threaded plastic cap has a ring joined to the bottom. The ring is minimally attached to the main body of the cap and has a series of inwardly-protruding ribs that engage the lower neck of the container. As the cap is unscrewed the ring will break-away to indicate that the container has been opened. A distinct cap-container thread is also provided. 
         [0018]    In addition, a plastic insert fitment is provided that fits within the neck of the container, beneath the cap. The fitment is formed as a cylindrical receptacle with a top annular flange for limiting insertion into the container neck. For smoother pouring, channels are molded into the sides of the insert, extending from the bottom to the top. The cylindrical receptacle has one or more small apertures at the bottom of the insert to meter entry of liquid into the hollow of the receptacle. The radial placement of the aperture(s) conforms to that of the channels so that the metered flow of liquid entering the insert will flow along the channels. This placement and combination enhances the ability of the fitment to control and meter the flow of liquid out of the container. There are also defined pouring spouts on opposing sides of the annular top flange. This achieves a smooth and closely-controlled flow especially suitable for dispensing medicines and ingredients used in cooking, and for perfume dispensing applications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary embodiment of a tamper evident pour-out container neck  2 , cap  6 , and internal fitment  100  combination for improved pourability in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the temper evident cap  6 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is side cross-section view of the tamper evident cap  6  applied to the neck  2  of a container; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the pour-out fitment  100  removed from the cylindrical interior of the neck  2  of the container; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a top view of fitment  100 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the fitment  100 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the fitment  100 ; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section view through line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of a tamper evident pour-out container, cap, and internal fitment combination for improved pourability is shown. 
         [0028]    The body (not shown) of the container may be formed as any suitable receptacle for holding liquid, such as a carton, can, jar, or bottle, and may take any of a variety of shapes as a matter of design choice. The bottle may be formed of plastic, glass, or other known bottling materials. In the illustrated embodiment, the container is a bottle. The body of the container leads upward to a hollow substantially cylindrical neck  2  defined by a uniform cylindrical interior, and an exterior having series of screw-threads  20  for securing a tamper-evident cap  6 , as will be described. The neck  2  terminates at a pronounced rim  24 . The exterior of the cylindrical neck  2  of the bottle above the screw-threads is inwardly constricted at an angled taper  22 , abruptly flaring outward to a pronounced rim  24 . 
         [0029]    In accordance with the present invention, a pour-out fitment  100  is inserted into the cylindrical interior of the neck  2  of the container, and is seated flush atop the rim  24 . The pour-out fitment  100  is dimensioned to fit freely but snugly within the interior of the cylindrical neck  2 . Preferably, the fitment  100  is made of a material that is flexible enough to create a pressure or friction fit within the neck  2 , but rigid enough to remain in place and to not fall out under the pressure of the liquid within the container. Suitable materials include polymers, plastics, and elastomers. In the illustrated embodiment, the fitment  100  includes a substantially orthogonal top flange  102  that is generally annularly shaped. Flange  102  extends completely over the rim  24  of the container into which the fitment  100  is placed, but it does not extend past the rim&#39;s perimeter. Therefore, flange  102  does not obstruct application of the cap  6 , and when cap  6  is secured onto the neck  2  the flange  102  becomes sandwiched between the cap  6  and the rim  24  of the container, providing a fluid seal. 
         [0030]    The tamper evident cap  6  further comprises an upper portion  62  with internal threads and a frangible ring  64  attached to the upper portion  62  and indexed to the neck  2  of the container. The ring  64  is minimally attached to the upper portion  62  by frangible struts  66 . When twisting the cap  6 , the ring  64  remains stationary. Thus, the struts  66  break to release the cap  6 , and thereby provide a ready tamper-indication as to whether the container has been opened. To maintain its stationery position, the ring  64  is defined by a series of inwardly-protruding radially-spaced ribs  68  (obscured in  FIG. 1 ) that fit within conforming recesses  28  formed in the lower neck  2  of the container, albeit the ring  64  may be frictionally or otherwise indexed thereto. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of tamper evident cap  6 , and  FIG. 3  is side cross-section view of the tamper evident cap  6  applied to the neck  2  of a bottle. The neck  2  may be defined by a 110-120 degree screw thread  20  as shown. Just beneath the screw-threads  20  are a series of radially-spaced recesses  28  in the exterior wall of the neck  2 —four evenly-spaced notches being well-suited. The upper portion  62  of the tamper evident cap  6  bears internal threads  61  conforming to the exterior threads  20  on the neck  2  of the container for engagement therewith. When the cap  6  is initially applied, the frangible ring  64  extends beneath the screw-threads  20 . The ring  64  includes inwardly-protruding ribs  68  that jut into the recesses  28  formed in the neck  2  of the container. The ribs  68  and the recesses  28  have corresponding shapes, so the ribs  68  can engage the recesses  28  to ensure that the ring  64  does not rotate. As stated above, the ring  64  is only minimally attached by the frangible struts  66  to the upper portion  62  of the cap  6 , and so upon twisting of the cap  6 , the ring  64  remains stationery and the struts  66  break. This separation of the upper portion  62  and ring  64  provides tamper evidence. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the pour-out fitment  100  removed from the cylindrical interior of the neck  2  of the container. The fitment  100  fits within the container neck  2  and beneath the cap  6 . The fitment  100  has an annular top flange  102  for limiting insertion into the neck  2 , and a neck insert  104  depending from top flange  102 . The neck insert  104  comprises a cylindrical wall  106  attached to the inner diameter of top flange  102 , and the neck insert  104  is capped at its distal end with a circular bottom  112 . In an embodiment, a pair of opposing channels  130  is molded into the interior of the cylindrical wall  106 . The channels  130  run to the top flange  102  for smoother pouring. At the bottom of the neck insert  104  are one or more small apertures for metering entry of liquid into the hollow interior. In an embodiment, the radial placement of the aperture(s)  114  conforms to that of the channels  130  so that the metered flow of liquid entering the insert  104  will flow along the channels  130 . This enhances the ability of the fitment  100  to control and meter the flow of liquid out of the container. The channels  130  become gradually deeper toward the top of the neck insert  104  to define pouring spouts  132  on the top flange  102 . This achieves a smooth and closely-controlled flow, especially suitable for dispensing medicines and ingredients used in cooking, and for perfume dispensing applications. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are a top view and bottom view of the fitment  100 , respectively.  FIG. 7  is a side view, and  FIG. 8  is a cross-section view through line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 7 . 
         [0034]    The cylindrical neck insert  104  is concentric with the top flange  102 . In one embodiment, the neck insert  104  extends into the neck of the container by a distance  406  ( FIG. 7 ) of approximately 0.5″, preferably about 0.472″. As illustrated collectively in  FIGS. 7-8 , the top flange  102  has an outer diameter  402  of approximately 1.0″, preferably about 0.974″, and a thickness  404  of about 0.039″. The neck insert  104  includes a closed bottom  112  having a diameter of about 0.5″, preferably about 0.496″. The neck insert  104  is sized to be pressure or friction fit into the neck  2  of the container  2 . Therefore, the insert  104  can be easily and repeatedly placed into and removed from the neck  2  of the container. In order to enhance the friction fit, the diameter of the neck insert  104 , and in particular the diameter of the exterior of cylindrical wall  106 , flairs outward from the closed bottom  112  to the top flange  102 . In one embodiment, the exterior of the insert&#39;s cylindrical wall  106  forms an angle of about 2° with the central axis  410  of the cylindrical neck fitment  100 . In an embodiment, a ring  116  outwardly extends from the exterior of cylindrical wall  106  of the neck insert  104 . Although the ring  116  can be a separate structure that is attached to the cylindrical wall  106 , preferably the ring  116  is formed or molded as a single structure with the exterior of the neck insert&#39;s cylindrical wall  106 . In an embodiment, the ring  116  extends 360° around the exterior. In another embodiment, the ring  116  extends from the exterior by about 0.015″ and has a thickness of about 0.012″. The ring  116  can be located anywhere along the length of the fitment&#39;s neck insert  104  and provides additional frictional contact between the neck insert  104  and the interior of the neck  2 . In one embodiment, the ring  116  is sized, shaped, and located to engage an annular recess that is formed or cut into the interior of a neck  2 . This feature increases the engagement and seal between the fitment  100  and the container neck  2 . In addition to a single ring  116 , a plurality of rings can be used. 
         [0035]    In an embodiment, the neck insert&#39;s cylindrical wall  106  comprises at least one aperture (e.g., a notch, hole, or slot)  114  that allows liquid to pass from the exterior of the neck insert  104  into its hollow interior. In an embodiment, there are two diametrically opposed apertures  114  at the cylindrical wall&#39;s distal end. Other arrangements and numbers of apertures  114  can also be used. In one embodiment, the apertures  114  are substantially square with a width dimension of about 2 mm or 0.075″. In one embodiment, each aperture  114  extends from the closed bottom  112  of the neck insert and partially towards the top flange  102 . As is best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 8 , the apertures  114  provide ingress of fluid at the bottom of the each channel  130 , and the channels  130  extend from the top edge of the apertures  114  to the top flange  102 . Note that the apertures  114  provide a direct opening and do not obstruct the flow of fluid into the channel  130 . The annular ring  116  is located between the apertures  114  and the top flange  102 . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 4-5 , in one embodiment, the inner diameter of the neck insert cylindrical wall  106  is approximately 0.435″, and the interior of the cylindrical wall  106  comprises a channel  130  that corresponds to every aperture  114 . The channel  130  begins at the aperture  114  and terminates at the top flange  102 . In an embodiment, there are two diametrically opposed channels  130  that correspond to two diametrically opposed apertures  114 . The channel  130  has a generally U- or V-shaped cross section. In one embodiment, the depth of channel  130  increases as the channel  130  extends towards the top flange  102 , and the change in depth is accomplished by decreasing the thickness of the neck insert&#39;s cylindrical wall  106  and top flange  102 . Decreasing the thickness prevents the need to increase the outer diameter or decrease the inner diameter of cylindrical wall  106  to accommodate the channels. The increased depth of the channels  130  in combination with the U- or V-shaped cross sections create pouring spouts  132  in top flange  102 . Decreasing the wall thickness in combination with the aperture  114  defines a small passage or window  202  that is unobstructed by any portion of the fitment structure. The channels  130  provide for improved flow control and facilitate the use of the fitment to dispense liquids drop-by-drop. Inverting the bottle containing the fitment  100  allows a very small, metered, and controlled portion of the liquid to flow directly past the closed bottom  112  and cylindrical wall  106  and into the channel  130 , which directs the liquid to the top flange  102  for dispensing. 
         [0037]    While it is apparent that the illustrative embodiments of the invention disclosed herein fulfill the objectives of the present invention, it is appreciated that numerous modifications and other embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art. Additionally, feature(s) and/or element(s) from any embodiment may be used singularly or in combination with other embodiment(s) and steps or elements from methods in accordance with the present invention can be executed or performed in any suitable order. Therefore, it will be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and embodiments, which would come within the spirit and scope of the present invention.