Abstract:
A fitment for use as a pour spout for a paper carton or flexible bag for liquids and powders has a flange which may be welded around a hole in the carton or bag. A spout projecting outward from the flange is provided with a removable membrane integral with the interior of the spout. Preferably the membrane is concave. A horizontally disposed pull ring is attached to the membrane by a connector so that pulling the ring removes the membrane by fracturing the tear line at the juncture of the outer edge of the membrane and the projection. A cap snaps over the spout and may be removed by unscrewing the complementary threads on cap and spout. Optionally, a tamper-evidencing band frangibly connected to the lower edge of the cap skirt engages the exterior of the spout so that the cap cannot be removed without breaking the frangible connection. Various means for detachably securing the fitment to a spud during delivery of the fitment from a chute to the interior of a carton are disclosed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/286,266 filed Apr. 5, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,523 issued Jul. 11, 2000, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/055,089 filed Apr. 3, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,312 issued Sep. 28, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/808,682 filed Feb. 28, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,184 issued Sep. 22, 1998, which was a continuation of Ser. No. 08/380,832 filed Jan. 30, 1995 now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a new and improved fitment having a removable membrane which closes off the interior of the fitment spout. More particularly, the invention relates to a fitment which fits around a hole in a panel of a paperboard carton or other container, used for packaging liquids and powders. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Fitments having membranes are shown in such patents as U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,838, issued Apr. 19, 1994, and particularly FIGS. 14-16 thereof. Other patents showing membranes are U.S. Pat. No. 3,458,080, issued Jul. 29, 1969, U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,303, issued Apr. 19, 1983, and others. The present invention is an improvement on the prior art in that in some modifications of the invention the membrane is located approximately midway of the height of the spout. 
     Other fitments are moved from a chute or other source to the interior of a carton by a spud which is attached to the fitment by vacuum. The present invention eliminates the use of vacuum and the mechanical problems inherent therein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The fitment of the present invention comprises a spout portion having a peripheral flange which may be welded or otherwise attached to a panel of a paperboard carton or to a flexible plastic container. A spout projects upward from the flange and, in the preferred embodiments, is externally threaded adjacent its upper end. In some modifications of the invention, positioned within the spout is an internal membrane which may be concave and is joined to an inward projection of the spout along a line of weakness. A pull tab, such as a ring, is connected to the membrane in such fashion that by pulling the pull tab the membrane is detached from the inward projection of the spout. The concave membrane facilitates the consumer gripping the ring and has certain advantages in molding the part. 
     The cap of the present invention has a skirt which is internally threaded to engage the threads of the spout. A lower portion of the cap may have a tear band having a bead which snaps under a shoulder on the lower portion of the spout. The tear band may be connected to the upper portion of the skirt by frangible means so that the cap may not be removed without giving external evidence of tampering. 
     One of the features of the invention is the fact that the cap may be attached to the spout by pressing the cap downward relative to the spout, the mating threads on the spout and cap skirt slipping past each other and then interengaging. The tamper-evident band has a bead which engages a shoulder on the spout so that the cap cannot be unscrewed without severing the bridges which connect the band to the skirt and giving evidence of tampering. 
     The tear band not only provides tamper-evidencing in addition to the membrane being intact, it also is an anti-back-off feature to keep the cap from unscrewing during initial distribution. 
     A particular object and advantage of the present invention is that the fitment is so constructed that, by means of a spud of a mandrel, it may be moved from a chute or other storage location to the carton. In preferred embodiments the mandrel is moved to pace the fitment inside the carton and maneuvered so that the spout fits through and extends outside a hole in a wall of the carton. In the prior art, the fitment has been held on the spud by vacuum. This method is undesirable in that a source of vacuum must be provided and, further, drawing the vacuum to a sufficient extent to hold the fitment on the stud is time consuming, as is release of the vacuum. 
     One means for attachment to the spud is to locate the membrane which seals the spout above the lower end of the spout a sufficient distance for the spud to enter the lower end of the fitment. One means for holding the fitment on the spud is to provide an internal bead near the bottom of the spout which frictionally engages the spud. In a modification of the present invention, such a bead is intermittent rather than continuous. In another version of the invention, vertical internal ribs are formed on the lower end of the spout to grip the spud. 
     In another modification of the invention, the membrane, if desired, may be positioned at or adjacent the lower end of the spout. A ring depending from fitment engages the exterior of the spud. Optionally, instead of a continuous ring, fingers may project below the flange engaging the exterior of the spud. Such fingers may be rectangular in cross section or hooked. In a further modification, the ring or fingers may engage a groove formed in the spud. 
     Another optional feature of the invention is to form the connector or post between the pull tab and the membrane of a resilient material and make it longer than the distance between the membrane and the upper end of the spout. With a cap applied to the spout, the pull tab bears against the underside of the top of the cap. When the cap is removed, the post straightens so that the pull tab pops above the upper edge of the spout, where it may be conveniently gripped by the consumer. 
     In a still further modification of the invention, a curvilinear tear line is formed on the membrane either on the top or bottom surface thereof which intersects the line of weakness between the membrane and the interior of the spout. The post connecting the membrane to the pull tab is preferably located at the intersection of the curvilinear line and the line of weakness. By pulling the pull tab, the membrane tears at the curvilinear line and also tears at the line of weakness, faciliating removal of the membrane. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention: 
     FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the cap and one form of spout in assembled condition. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the spout of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the spout of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing how the fitment may be temporarily attached to the spud of an anvil of a machine for inserting the fitment into a panel of a carton. 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a modification. 
     FIG. 6A is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the structure of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of a further modification. 
     FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the structure of FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a further modification. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates the structure of FIG. 10 with the cap removed. 
     FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the structure of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another modification. 
     FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of the modification of FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view showing a further modification of FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of a spud used with the modifications of, for example, FIGS. 13 and 17. 
     FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 13 of a modification. 
     FIG. 18 is a bottom plan view of the modification of FIG.  17 . 
     FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 13 of a still further modification. 
     FIG. 19A is a sectional view of a modified structure taken substantially along the line  19 A— 19 A of FIG.  19 . 
     FIG. 19B is a section view of the structure of FIG. 19A taken substantially along line  19 B— 19 B of FIG.  19 A. 
     FIG. 19C is a bottom plan view of a further modification of a portion of the structure of FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of another modification. 
     FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of still another modification. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     One environment in which the present invention may be employed is by attachment to a carton panel  11  having a hole  12  therein. Fitment  16  is provided with a flange  17  which is welded or otherwise attached to the underside of panel  11  surrounding hole  12 . Projecting up from the inner edge of flange  17  there may be a step  18  having an outside dimension to fit within the hole  12  and having a height approximately equal to the thickness of panel  11 . Above step  18 , the fitment has an inward extending portion  19 . Extending upward from the inner edge of portion  19  is lower spout stretch  21  and thereabove is an upward-inward extending slanted stretch  22  which merges into a vertically extending upper stretch  23  terminating in a top edge  24 . The inner and outer surfaces of the spout may be termed the inner wall surface and “outer wall surface”, respectively. 
     Formed on the inside of the lower portion of lower spout stretch  21  is an inward-downward slanted bead  26  having a purpose which hereinafter appears. 
     An external shoulder  27  is formed at the juncture of lower spout stretch  21  and slanted stretch  22  for the purpose of attachment to the tamper-evidencing band of the cap as hereinafter explained. On the interior of the spout at approximately the juncture of the slanted stretch  22  and the upper stretch  23  is an inward projection  29  having an upper inner corner  31 . The underside of projection  29  and its juncture with lower spout stretch  21  is a curved surface  30  which facilitates dispensing the contents of the container. Projection  29  is positioned upward from the bottom of the spout. On the exterior of upper spout stretch  23  are external threads  28 , here shown as eight in number, of an arcuate length of approximately 270°. 
     Above and inward of corner  31  is membrane  32  molded integrally with the fitment  16 . The central portion of membrane  32  may be concave as shown by reference numeral  33 . The lower outer edge  34  of membrane  32  joins the upper inner corner  31  of projection  29  and the connection therebetween is thin and constitutes a line of weakness or tear line  36 . At one portion of member  32  is an upward connection or post  37  reinforced by thin vertical gusset  38  and connected to horizontal pull ring  39  which is located below the level of top edge  24 . When the user grips ring  39  and pulls upward, the tear line  36  breaks and the membrane  32  may be removed. 
     Cap  46  used with fitment  16  has a top  47  from which depends an upper skirt  48  joined to top  47  by a downwardly rounded corner  49 . On the exterior of upper skirt  48  are vertical ribs  51  which assist the user in unscrewing the cap from the fitment. Upper skirt  48  is provided with internal threads mating with the external threads  28  of fitment  16 . The shape of the threads is such that when the cap  46  is pressed vertically downwardly on fitment  16 , the threads  52  slip over threads  28  and interengage. 
     In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 1, a hollow plug  53  is formed on the underside of top  57 , the lower outer corner thereof having a curved edge  54  which engages the inside of upper fitment  23  in a liquid tight seal. 
     Optionally, a tamper-evident band  56  is integrally attached to the bottom of upper skirt  48  by means of 8 angularly-spaced frangible bridge connections  61 , it being understood that the number and placement of such connections is subject to variation. Band  56  is provided with an internal bead  57  which snaps under shoulder  27  when the cap is applied to the fitment. To facilitate engagement of shoulder  27 , an internal groove  58  is formed in band  56  immediately above internal bead  57 . 
     Directing attention to FIG. 5, automatic equipment for welding the fitment flange  17  to the underside of panel  11  is known in the art. In one form of such equipment an anvil or mandrel  71  has a flange  72  to which is attached a spud  73  which picks the fitment off of a chute (not shown) by fitting inside the lower spout stretch  21 . The lowest portion of the concave area  33  of membrane  32  is above the upper edge of spud  73 . In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 5, spud  73  has an external diameter such that when it is inserted through the lower end of the fitment  16  the inner bead  26  frictionally engages the exterior of spud  73 . The spud is formed with a concavity  74  so as not to conflict with the concavity  33  of membrane  32 . Holes  76  in spud  73  relieve any vacuum which might tend to impede release of fitment  16  from spud  73  when the fitment has been positioned in the carton panel  11 , as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, inner bead  26  need not be continuous. Bead  26   a  is interrupted, there being gaps  81  between segments  82 . The number and placement of gaps  81  is subject to variation. The structure shown makes the bead  26   a  more flexible when engaging spud  76 . Further the gaps  81  make it possible to pour out the contents of the carton more completely. As shown in FIG. 6A the upper surfaces of segments  82  slope downward-inward to facilitate engagement with spud  73 . 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a construction wherein the bead  26  is eliminated. Vertical internal ribs  84  are formed extending upward from adjacent the bottom edge of lower spout stretch  21   b . Such ribs  84  engage the exterior of spud  73  to detachably secure the fitment  16   b  on the anvil  71 . The number, width, thickness, and length of ribs  84  is subject to variation. Preferably the lower ends of ribs  84  are formed with downward-outward beveled surfaces  85  to facilitate the ribs  84  slipping over the spud. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a still further modification. The connector or post  37   c  is elongated and resilient. Pull tab  39   c  bears against the underside of top  47   c  of cap  46   c . As shown in FIG. 11, when the cap  46   c  is removed, post  37   c  straightens and tab  39   c  assumes a position above the top edge  24   c  of the upper stretch  23   c  of the spout. Accordingly, tab  39   c  is more easily gripped by the consumer. 
     The modification of FIG. 12 is shown applied to the modification of FIGS. 10 and 11. However, it could be incorporated in any of the other modification. FIG. 12 shows a modified membrane  32   c  having a curvilinear groove  86  formed on the upper surface or the underneath surface thereof. The post or connector  37   c  connects tab  39   c  to the membrane  32   c  adjacent the intersection of groove  86  with the tearline or line of weakness  36   c . The groove  86  is similar to the groove denominated “51” in U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,834, FIGS. 9-17. 
     Directing attention to FIG. 13, it will be seen that the membrane  32   e  may be located at the bottom edge of lower spout stretch  21   e  or at any desired location above said bottom edge. Attachment to spud  73  of anvil  71  shown in FIG. 16 is accomplished by means of downward extending fingers  91  on the lower surface or of inward extending portion  19   e . The fingers  91  fit into groove  92  in spud  73   e  to detachably secure the fitment  16   e  thereon. Step  96  of spud  73   e  accommodates flange  17   e  being lower than portion  19   e . The number of fingers  91 , spacing therebetween and length thereof is subject to variation. It will be understood that fingers  91  might be formed on flange  17   e . It is desirable that fingers  91  be used, rather than a continuous ring in order to facilitate dispensing all the contents of the container. 
     FIG. 15 illustrates that in cross section the fingers  91   f  may be hooked. 
     FIGS. 17-18 illustrate a modification of FIGS. 13-14 where the fingers  91  are replaced by a ring  93  which fits into the groove  92  of spud  73   e  of FIG.  16 . Although shown as continuous, ring  93  may be formed with an opening (not shown) to facilitate complete dispensing of the contents of the container. 
     FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 17 in which ring  93   h  depends from membrane  32   h . It will be understood that the groove (not shown) in the spud (not shown) which engages ring  93   h  is suitably positioned and dimensioned for such purpose. It will further understood that the position of membrane  32   h  relative to the height of spout stretch  21   h  is also subject to variation. 
     The ring  93   h  shown in FIG. 19 may be modified, as shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B by forming hooks  111  on its lower end, thereby resembling the hooked ring shown in FIG.  6 A. Further, the ring  93   m  shown in FIG. 19C may also be interrupted by forming segments  112  therein separated by gaps  113 . 
     FIG. 20 shows a stud  97  depending from membrane  32   j . Stud  97  is received in bore  98  formed in boss  99  in the upper surface of spud  73   j  or of a mandrel. Stud  97  frictionally engages bore  98  as the fitment is transported from a chute or other source to the carton. 
     FIG. 21 illustrates a reinforcing ring  101  on or near the periphery of flange  17   k  which depends below flange  17   k . Preferably openings  102  are formed at one or more locations around ring  101  to facilitate dispensing all the contents of the container. Spud  73   k  may be modified to engage ring  101 . Thus an outer ring  106  of greater inside diameter than the outside diameter of ring  101  and preferably formed with an internal upward-outward taper  107  projects above spud  73   k  and engages the outside of ring  106 . Inner ring  104  having an outside diameter less than that of the inside diameter of ring  101  also projects above spud or mandrel  73   k . Groove  96  between rings  103  and  104  frictionally engages ring  101 . 
     In other respects, the modifications of FIGS. 6-7,  8 - 9 ,  10 - 12 ,  13 - 14 ,  15 ,  17 - 18 ,  19 ,  19 A- 19 B,- 19 C,  20 , &amp;  21  resemble those of the preceding modifications and the same reference numerals followed by the subscripts a, b, c, e, f, g, h, j, k, and m, respectively indicate corresponding parts. 
     For purpose of convenience, as used in the accompanying claims, “upper”, “lower”, “upward”, “downward”, “above”, and “below” refer to the position of the fitment shown in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that during manufacture, attachment and use, the parts may be positioned in other orientations. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illusion and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.