Patent Publication Number: US-2012024858-A1

Title: Vented flexible fitment

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     One type of container commonly used for storing products is a flexible pouch. A flexible pouch however has its limitations. For example, some stored products require ventilation. For example, a product such as a peroxide acid cleaner requires a ventilation system in the container it is stored with. Hence, flexible pouches may be limited in use. 
     For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for an effective and efficient ventilation system for a flexible pouch. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The above-mentioned problems of current systems are addressed by embodiments of the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. The following summary is made by way of example and not by way of limitation. It is merely provided to aid the reader in understanding some of the aspects of the invention. 
     In one embodiment, a fitment is provided. The fitment includes a body, a cap and a membrane. The body has a first end and a second end. The body further has a body passage that extends between the first end and the second end. The cap has a first end and a second end. The cap has a cap bore that extends into the first end of the cap. The cap is configured to selectively plug the body passage proximate the second end of the body. The membrane is in the second end of the cap. The membrane is configured to allow two-way venting through the body passage of the body when the cap is plugging the body passage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention can be more easily understood and further advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent, when considered in view of the detailed description and the following figures in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a side perspective view of a fitment of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a close up view of a membrane in a cap of the fitment of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the fitment of  FIG. 1A  with the cap of the fitment plugging a body passage of the fitment; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a flexible pouch including the fitment of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIGS. 4A through 4C  are side views of a connector and the fitment of  FIG. 1A  in different configurations; and 
         FIGS. 5A through 5C  are side views of a connector and another fitment of another embodiment of the present invention in different configurations. 
     
    
    
     In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to the present invention. Reference characters denote like elements throughout Figures and text. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims and equivalents thereof. 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide two-way venting for a container. In particular, embodiments provide two-way venting for a flexible pouch container. Referring to  FIG. 1A , a side perspective view of a fitment  100  of one embodiment is illustrated. Fitment  100  includes a body  101  and a cap  110 . The body  101  has a first end  103  and a second end  105 . A body passage  106  passes through the body  101  from the first end  103  to the second end  105 . Proximate the second end  105  of the body  101  the body passage  106  includes a lip  106   a.  Proximate the first end  103  of the body  101  is a base  102 . The cap  110  includes a first end  111  and a second end  113 . A cap bore  110   c  extends in the first end  111  of the cap  110 , as illustrated. The cap  110  further includes a ridge  110   a  proximate its second end  105 . The ridge  110   a  is designed to engage the lip  106   a  in the body passage  106  of the body  101  when the cap  110  is selectively coupled to the body  101 . This arrangement secures the cap  110  to the body  101  when the cap  110  is plugging the body passage  106  of the body  101 . The cap  110  also includes a cap lip  110   b  that is inside the bore  110   c.  The cap lip  110   b  is designed to selectively engage a connector as further described below. The cap  110  is coupled to the body  101  by opposed first retaining members  108   a  and a second retaining member  108   b.  The first retaining member  108   a  and the second retaining member  108   b  are made from a flexible material that allows the cap to move away from and towards the body passage  106  of the body  101 . The cap  110  further includes a membrane  112  that extends between the cap bore  110   c  and the second end  113  of the cap  110 .  FIG. 1B  illustrates a close up view of the membrane  112  in the cap  110 . The membrane  112  provides two-way ventilation  109  and  111  between the body passage  106  of the body  101  and the outside when the cap  110  plugs the body passage  106  of the body  101 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a side view of fitment  100  is illustrated. In this view, the cap  110  is coupled to the body  101  of the fitment  100 . In this arrangement, the cap  110  plugs the body passage  106  of the body  101  and the membrane  112  provides two-way venting into and out of the body passage  106 . In  FIG. 3 , a side view of a container, which in this embodiment is a flexible pouch  114  including a fitment  100 , is illustrated. The flexible pouch  114  has a seal  114   a  around its outer perimeter. The body  101  of the fitment  100  includes a mid section  104  that is designed to be received in the seal  114   a  of the pouch  114 . Hence, the fitment  100  has a first section including the cap  110  that is sealed inside the pouch  114  and a second section including the base  102  of the body  101  being positioned outside the pouch  114 . In  FIG. 3 , the cap  110  is engaged in the body passage  106 . In this configuration the membrane  112  allows two-way ventilation out of and into the pouch  114  through the body passage  106  of the fitment  100 . 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  illustrate the manipulation of the cap  110  of the fitment  100  by a connector  120 . In particular,  FIG. 4A  illustrates a connector  120  that is going to be inserted into the body passage  106  of the body  101  proximate the base  102  of the body  101 . The connector  120  in this embodiment includes a connector passage  128  that passes from a first end  121  to proximate a second end  123 . The connector passage  128 , in this embodiment, terminates in a dispensing portion  126  that includes orifices  126   a  and  126   b.  The connector  120  includes a cap engaging portion  124  that is proximate the second end  123 . The connector  120  further includes a mid-portion  125 . The cap engaging portion  124  and the mid-portion  125  are received in the body passage  106  of the body  101  of the fitment  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 4B . Cap engaging portion  124  further includes a cap connector recess  124   a  that is designed to engage the cap lip  110   b  in the cap bore  110   c  of the cap  110 . This arrangement couples the cap engaging portion  124  of the connector  120  in the cap bore  110   c  of the cap  110 . The connector  120  being pushed into the body passage  106  forces the cap  110  out of the body passage  106  of the body  101  of the fitment  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 4B . This allows the orifices  126   a  and  126   b  of the dispensing portion  126  of the connector  120  to allow product to flow out of a container such as pouch  114  of  FIG. 3 . This arrangement would also allow product to be placed into a container in this configuration. 
     Once the product has been removed or put into the pouch  114 , the connector  120  is removed from the fitment  100 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4C . Since the cap engaging portion  124  is coupled in the cap bore  110   c,  the cap  110  is pulled into the base passage  106  of the body  101  of the fitment  100  thereby (once again) plugging the body passage  106  of the body  101  as the connector  120  is pulled from the body passage  106  of the fitment  100 . Thus, in this embodiment the connector  120  selectively uncaps the cap  110  from the body  101  when the connector  120  is inserted in the body passage  106  of the body  101  to allow the product to be removed or added to the container.  FIG. 4B  illustrates a product flow  129  entering into the orifices  126   a  and  126   b  and a product flow  130  exiting the connector  120  when the cap  110  is removed from the body passage  106  of the body  101 . Moreover, the connector further re-plugs the body passage  106  of the body  101  with the cap  110  when the connecter  120  is removed from the fitment  100 . Accordingly, in this embodiment, the membrane  112  only provides two-way ventilation out of the pouch  114  when the cap  110  is plugging the body passage  106  of the body  101  of the fitment  100 .  FIGS. 4A  though  4   c  further illustrates a locking member  132  used to couple a product dispensing device (not shown) to the connector  120 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A-5C , another embodiment of a fitment  200  is illustrated. In this embodiment the fitment includes a body base  201  and a cap  210 . The body base has a first end  203 , a second end  205  and a mid-portion  204 . The mid-portion  204  is designed to be enclosed in a seal similar to the mid-portion  104  of fitment  100  sealed in pouch  114  of  FIG. 3 . The cap  210  of this fitment  200  is slidably coupled to the body  201 . The cap  210  includes a membrane  212  that allows two-way ventilation when the cap is positioned to plug a body passage  206  of the body  201 . The connector  220  in this embodiment includes a first end  221  and a second end  223 . Proximate the second end  223  of the connector  220  is a cap engaging portion  224  that includes a cap recess  224   a  that is designed to selectively engage the cap  210  similar to the engagement of cap engaging portion  124  and the cap  110  discussed in the previous embodiment. The connector  224  further has a mid-portion  225  and a connector passage  228 . The connector passage  228  extends from the first end connect  221  to orifice  226   a  that is proximate the cap engaging portion  224 . As  FIG. 5A  illustrates the connector  220  in this embodiment is inserted in the body passage  206  in the body  201  of the fitment  200 .  FIG. 5B  illustrates the mid-portion  225  and connecting portion  224  of the connector being inserted into the body passage  206  of the body  201  of the fitment  200 . When fully inserted into the body passage  206 , the connector  220  provides a product flow through orifice  226  and out through connector passage  228 . Also, when connector  224  is fully inserted in the body passage  206  of the fitment  200 , the cap  210  is manipulated into a non-plugging position such that fitment  212  no longer provides two-way ventilation between the body passage and the contents of the pouch. 
       FIG. 5C  illustrates the connector  212  being removed from the body passage  206  of the fitment  200 . The cap engaging portion  224  pulls the cap  210  down into the body passage  206  to plug the body passage  206  of the fitment  200  as the connector  220  is being removed, similar to the embodiment as discussed above. The connector  220  in this embodiment is illustrated as further including a rim  224  that abuts a base  220  of the body  201  of the fitment  200  when the connector  220  is received in the body passage  206 . The connector  220  further includes a connector portion  220  proximate the first end  221  of the connector  220  and a locking member  232  that are used to couple a product dispensing device (not shown) to the connector  220 . 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.