Patent Publication Number: US-2019177044-A1

Title: Tamper evident closure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority of provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/597,528 filed Dec. 12, 2017. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to closures for use in flexible containers or pouches that generally contain food products. 
     Various closures have been used for sealing flexible pouches containing liquids, pastes, gels and similar products. Some closures are designed for single use, meaning that once the cap is removed from the spout on the closure, the contents are to be fully consumed and the cap is not designed to be placed back on the spout. In the other instance, the closure is designed to re-seal the spout and to preserve the contents remaining in the pouch. 
     In either instance, the closure presents a potential safety issue. In some prior art devices, when the top or cap is removed, the closure leaves a band around the opening or spout. Children can attempt to remove it with their teeth, or the band can sometimes be easily pulled off. The band may be swallowed or worse, presents a choking hazard. Applicant&#39;s invention provides a removable top or cap that, when removed from the spout, leaves no band around the spout. 
     Another problem with some prior art devices is that when the cap is removed, it is free to be discarded. However, the removed cap also presents a safety hazard to small children who may swallow the cap. Applicant&#39;s invention provides a removable cap, that when removed from the spout, is still attached by a hinge member to the closure. 
     Another problem with past closures is that if they are designed to re-seal the container, there is often no visual indication the cap was partially or completely removed and then placed back onto the spout. This again presents a safety hazard as one would want to know if the contents are fresh or have been exposed to the atmosphere or, even worse, if the contents of the pouch have been tampered with. 
     Applicant&#39;s invention provides a means by which there is visual indication that the cap has been removed and then placed back onto the spout. Applicant&#39;s cap provides such a visual indicator. There is a window section in the cap that has a filament or bridge forming the bottom of the window. This filament is broken when the cap is unscrewed and removed. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the closure with the cap in the open position. 
         FIG. 2  is a right side view of the closure with the cap in the open position. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the closure with the cap in the open position. 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the closure with the cap in the closed position. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the closure with the cap in the closed position. 
         FIG. 6  is a right side view of the closure with the cap in the closed position. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the closure with the cap in the closed position. 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the closure with the cap in the closed position. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of the closure with the cap in the closed position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning first to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention. A closure  10  is illustrated that is designed to be used on flexible containers such as pouches and the like that contain liquid, gel or paste type food products. The closure  10  is comprised of a cap  12  and a spout  14 . The cap  12  and spout  14  are generally manufactured from a high density polyethylene thermoplastic material that can be injection molded. Other similar materials can be used that meet the specifications and purpose of the closure  10 . Particularly if the container is to contain a food product, the materials from which the closure  10  is manufactured must be approved for food consumption. The spout  14  has a top portion  15  and a bottom portion  20 . The cap  12  is attached to the top portion  15  by means of a flexible strap  18  that forms a hinge connection between the cap  12  and the top portion  15 . 
     The cap  12  has a substantially cylindrical sidewall and further has a tab  16  extending out from the sidewall, the tab  16  being the portion grasped by the person that intends to open the closure  10  to access the contents of the pouch. The tab  16  is preferably formed as part of the cap  12  but may be separately manufactured and attached to the cap  12 . 
     The spout  14  as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2  has a spout bottom  20  with an opposite pair of extending wings  22 . There are horizontally parallel ribs  24  on the spout bottom that extend out along the extended wings  22 . When the spout bottom  20  is inserted into the top of the flexible pouch (not illustrated) the spout bottom  20  is sealed to the interior walls of the pouch and the ribs  24  assist in maintaining a safe, secure and waterproof fit. 
     Additional details of the spout  14  are more clearly illustrated in  FIGS. 2-3  with the cap  12  in the open position. There is a centrally disposed passageway  26  that extends from the top portion  15  of the spout through the center of the top portion  15  and spout bottom  20 . There is a circular collar  28  surrounding the top portion  15 . Inside of the cap  12  is a ring  30  that has an inside diameter just slightly greater than the circular collar  28 . When the cap  12  is rotated over the top portion  15  into the closed position, as seen in  FIG. 4 , the ring  30  snaps over the circular collar  28  in a fluid tight seal. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 1-3 , there are a pair of outstanding tabs  32  extending out from the top portion  15 . The tabs  32  are preferable molded with the top portion  15  so that they are integral with the top portion  15 . This gives the tabs  32  the strength needed for their function as set forth below. Although two tabs  32  are illustrated, the closure  10  can be designed with one tab or more than two tabs so long as the spout operates as described herein. 
     The cap  12  has a pair of rectangular openings  34  at the base of the cap  12 . The rectangular openings have a bottom filament or element  36 . As best seen in  FIG. 1 , the filament  36  further has a reduced thickness portion  38  formed within the filament. The rectangular opening  34  is in alignment with the tabs  32  so that the tabs  32  are received within the opening  34  when the cap  12  is rotated from the open position as seen in  FIGS. 1-3  to the closed position as seen in  FIGS. 4-6 . This places the closure  10  in the closed position with the cap  12  sealing the top portion  15  and closing the top of the passageway  26 . The tabs  32  have a top surface that tapers slightly downward and away from the top portion  15 . This allows the cap  12  and filament  36  to more easily close over the top portion  15 . The tabs  32  are closely received in the opening  34  as seen in  FIGS. 4-6  in which the closure  10  is in the fully closed position. 
     In order to open the closure  10 , the user holds the pouch in one hand and with the opposite hand lifts the tab  16 . Additionally, the user may simultaneously twist the cap  12  which may assist as the user raises the tab  16 . Sufficient force is applied by the user so that the filament  36  ruptures along the reduced thickness portion  38  and the cap  12  can be lifted from the top portion  15  of the spout  14 . When the cap  12  is fully removed, the cap  12  is still tethered to the spout  14  by the flexible strap  18 , thus remaining with the closure  10  and pouch. The ruptured filament  36  gives a visual indication that the cap has been opened. 
     Thus, there has been provided a tamper evident closure that can, be used with flexible containers or pouches that generally contain food products and provides a visual indication if the closure has been opened. While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.