Fitment for dispensing fluids from a flexible container and related applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11623809-B2
Application number	US-202117223171-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2021
Priority date	Apr 7, 2020
Publication date	Apr 11, 2023
Grant date	Apr 11, 2023

Abstract

A fitment assembly for use with a spout of a fluid container. The assembly includes a fitment and a poppet seal with a flexible element. The fitment includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The poppet seal extends from the bottom portion into the top portion. An attachment portion secures the flexible element within the bottom portion of the fitment. The flexible element provides a closing force to move the poppet seal from a closed to an open position. The poppet seal has a closed position, an open position, and a transport position. The poppet seal has a central support member that extends from the sealing surface of the poppet seal into the top portion of the fitment in the closed and transport condition.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fitment assembly for use with a fluid container, the fitment assembly comprising:
a fitment, the fitment comprising a bottom portion, a top portion, and a sealing area; and
a poppet seal, the poppet seal comprising a sealing portion, a flexible portion, and an attachment portion;
wherein:
the attachment portion of the poppet seal is secured to the bottom portion of the fitment;
the fitment assembly having a closed position wherein the flexible portion undergoes a first amount of deflection which holds the poppet sealing portion in contact with the fitment sealing area, preventing fluid flow from the fitment bottom portion to the fitment top portion; and
the fitment assembly having an open position wherein the flexible portion undergoes a second amount of deflection that is greater than the first amount of deflection and the poppet sealing portion is not in contact with the fitment sealing area, allowing fluid flow between the fitment bottom portion and the fitment top portion; and
wherein the fitment sealing area includes a tapered sealing surface, the poppet sealing portion includes a tapered sealing surface, and the contact between the fitment assembly and the poppet seal in the closed position occurs at the poppet tapered sealing surface and the fitment tapered sealing surface.

2. The fitment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the poppet attachment portion includes a through hole to provide a flow path past the attachment portion when the fitment assembly is in the open position.

3. The fitment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the poppet flexible portion includes a through hole to provide a flow path past the flexible portion when the fitment assembly is in the open position.

4. The fitment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fitment further comprises a sealing skirt that extends into the fitment bottom portion, and the fitment tapered sealing surface is located on the sealing skirt.

5. The fitment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fitment sealing area includes a sealing protrusion and the poppet sealing portion includes a flat sealing surface such that, in the closed position, the fitment sealing protrusion forms a face seal against the poppet flat sealing surface.

6. The fitment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fitment further comprises an attachment skirt that extends into the fitment bottom portion, the poppet attachment portion includes an attachment channel, and a portion of the attachment skirt is inserted into the poppet attachment channel.

7. The fitment assembly of claim 6 , wherein the attachment skirt further includes a skirt protrusion, the poppet attachment portion further includes an attachment ledge, and the skirt protrusion abuts against the attachment ledge.

8. The fitment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fitment assembly has a transportation position wherein the contact between the fitment sealing area and the poppet sealing portion maintains the poppet sealing portion in place in the fitment assembly and the contact between the fitment sealing area and the poppet sealing portion creates a fluid seal between the fitment bottom portion and the fitment top portion.

9. The fitment assembly of claim 8 , wherein a non-tapered sealing surface on the poppet sealing portion creates the fluid seal with the fitment sealing area.

10. The fitment assembly of claim 8 , wherein the poppet sealing portion contacts the fitment sealing area within a sealing groove when the fitment assembly is in the transportation position.

11. The fitment assembly of claim 1 , wherein a central support member extends from the poppet sealing portion into the fitment top portion when the fitment assembly is in the closed position.

12. The fitment assembly of claim 1 , wherein peripheral support members extend from the poppet sealing portion into the fitment top portion when the fitment assembly is in the closed position.

13. The fitment assembly of claim 12 , wherein the peripheral support members form a flow channel when the fitment assembly is in the open position.

14. The fitment assembly of claim 13 , wherein a peripheral support connector connects the outer edges of two or more peripheral support members.

15. The fitment assembly of claim 11 , wherein the fitment further comprises a support arm and a centering guide, the support arm configured to extend from the fitment and support the centering guide, and the centering guide configured to receive the poppet central support member and allow the central support member to slide between the open to the closed position.

16. The fitment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fitment further comprises an opening shroud, the opening shroud having a cylindrical shape that extends into the top portion of the fitment.

17. A fitment assembly for use with a fluid container, the fitment assembly comprising:
a fitment, the fitment comprising a bottom portion, a top portion, and a sealing area; and
a poppet seal, the poppet seal comprising a flexible portion, an attachment portion, a sealing portion and a support portion, the support portion further comprising a central support member and a plurality of peripheral support members, the peripheral support members extending radially outward from the central support member;
wherein:
the attachment portion of the flexible element is secured to the bottom portion of the fitment;
the fitment assembly having a closed position wherein the flexible portion undergoes a first amount of deflection which holds the poppet sealing portion in contact with the fitment sealing area, preventing fluid flow from the fitment bottom portion to the fitment top portion; and
the fitment assembly having an open position wherein the flexible portion undergoes a second amount of deflection that is greater than the first amount of deflection and the poppet sealing portion is not in contact with the fitment sealing area, allowing fluid flow between the fitment bottom portion and the fitment top portion, and the peripheral support members slide within the fitment sealing portion to maintain the poppet sealing portion and support portion centered within the fitment.

18. A fitment assembly for use with a fluid container, the fitment assembly comprising:
a fitment, the fitment comprising a bottom portion, a top portion, and a sealing area, the top portion further comprising:
an opening shroud, the opening shroud having a cylindrical shape that extends into the top portion;
a support arm that extends inward from the opening shroud; and
a centering guide, the centering guide having a cylindrical shape and attached to the support arm; and

a poppet seal, the poppet seal comprising a sealing portion, a flexible portion, an attachment portion, and a central support member, the central support member extends from the sealing portion;
wherein:
the attachment portion of the poppet seal is secured to the bottom portion of the fitment;
the centering guide slidably receives the central support member;
the fitment assembly has a closed position wherein the flexible portion undergoes a first amount of deflection which holds the poppet sealing portion in contact with the fitment sealing area, preventing fluid flow from the fitment bottom portion to the fitment top portion; and
the fitment assembly having an open position wherein the flexible portion undergoes a second amount of deflection that is greater than the first amount of deflection and the poppet sealing portion is not in contact with the fitment sealing area, allowing fluid flow between the fitment bottom portion and the fitment top p

Assignees

• Liqui Box Corp

Inventors

• Johnson James W

Classifications

• F16K1/46

  Attachment of sealing rings · CPC title

• B67D7/0294

  Combined with valves · CPC title

• B65D47/063

  with flexible parts · CPC title

• B65D77/067 Primary

  combined with a valve, a tap or a piercer · CPC title

• B67D3/045 Primary

  with a closing element having a linear movement, in a direction parallel to the seat · CPC title