Tamper-evident pouch closure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12195258-B2
Application number	US-202017763738-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2020
Priority date	Oct 1, 2019
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

A pouch fitment is provided and comprises a base which is attachable to a pouch and includes a dispensing spout. The fitment further comprises a closure cap for closing the spout. The closure cap is non-releasably associated with the base. The base and the closure cap are connected by a hinge. The fitment comprises a tamper-evident member. The tamper-evident member is movable from an engaged position to a released position. In the engaged position the closure cap is blocked from opening and in the released position the closure cap can be opened.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pouch fitment comprising:
a base which is attachable to a pouch and includes a dispensing spout, the pouch fitment further comprises a closure cap for closing the dispensing spout, in which the closure cap is non-releasably associated with the base, the base and the closure cap are connected by a hinge, the pouch fitment comprises a non-detachable tamper-evident member, the non-detachable tamper-evident member is movable from an engaged position to a released position, in the engaged position the closure cap cannot be opened and in the released position the closure cap can be opened, a hinge function is provided between the closure cap and the non-detachable tamper-evident member, the non-detachable tamper-evident member is connected to the closure cap by frangible bridges, to be able to open the cap the non-detachable tamper-evident member must first be hinged away and this movement breaks the frangible bridges and the non-detachable tamper-evident member remains attached to the closure cap.

2. The pouch fitment of in claim 1 , in which the non-detachable tamper-evident member is a band.

3. The pouch fitment of claim 1 , in which the dispensing spout includes hooks and the non-detachable tamper-evident member includes slots or cut-outs in which the hooks engage.

4. The pouch fitment of claim 3 , in which the hooks have an inclined upper surface and a flat abutment surface.

5. The pouch fitment of claim 1 , in which the closure cap is provided with a peak to assist lifting.

6. The pouch fitment of claim 1 , in which the base comprises a sealing part and the sealing part comprises lateral tabs joined by fins.

7. The pouch fitment of claim 6 , in which axial strengthening members extend between the fins.

8. The pouch fitment of claim 1 , in which the closure cap comprises a top plate with a side wall depending from the periphery thereof.

9. The pouch fitment of claim 1 , wherein the pouch fitment is formed from a material and a pouch configured to receive the pouch fitment is formed from the same material.

10. The pouch fitment of claim 1 , wherein the pouch fitment is formed as a unitary component.

11. A pouch fitment comprising:
a base and a closure cap, the base and the cap are connected by a hinge, the closure cap comprises a circular top plate with a side wall depending from the periphery thereof, the base comprises a spout and a sealing part, the sealing part comprises two lateral/axial tabs joined by four horizontal fins, axial strengthening members extend between the fins, a frontal tamper-evident member is molded with the cap, a hinge function/mechanism is provided between the closure cap and the frontal tamper-evident member, the frontal tamper-evident member is connected to the cap by frangible bridges, the link between the closure cap and the frontal tamper-evident member is not breakable, only the frangible bridges need to be broken to allow the closure cap to be opened, the spout includes hooks each having inclined upper surfaces and flat abutment surfaces, when the cap is closed for the first time the frontal tamper-evident member can pass over the surfaces so that the hooks engage in slots/cut-outs formed in the frontal tamper-evident member, before the first opening, therefore, the hooks on the spout engage in the slots in the frontal tamper-evident member to maintain the closure cap closed in position with the frontal tamper-evident band and the bridges not broken, when the contents of the pouch are required the closure cap needs to be lifted, the closure cap cannot be lifted because the frontal tamper-evident member cannot pass over the hooks, the frontal tamper-evident member is held by the hooks when the closure cap is closed, to be able to open the closure cap the frontal tamper-evident member must first be hinged/rotated/torn away, this movement breaks the bridges, the frontal tamper-evident member remains attached to the closure cap, the closure cap is provided with a peak to assist lifting.

12. A pouch fitment comprising:
a base adapted to be attached to a pouch and including a dispensing spout,
a closure cap for closing the dispensing spout,
a first hinge coupled between the base and the closure cap to allow movement of the closure cap relative to the base between a closed position closing the dispensing spout and an opened position exposing the dispensing spout, and
a non-detachable tamper-evident member, the non-detachable tamper-evident member including frangible bridges coupled to the base and a second hinge coupled to the closure cap,
wherein the non-detachable tamper-evident member is movable about the second hinge from an engaged position, in which the non-detachable tamper-evident member blocks movement of the closure cap to the opened position, to a released position, in which the frangible bridges are separated from the base while the closure cap is in the closed position and non-detachable tamper-evident member remains attached to the closure cap to free the closure cap for movement from the closed position to the opened position.

13. The pouch fitment of claim 12 , wherein the closure cap is configured to pivot about a first axis established by the first hinge and the non-detachable tamper-evident band is configured to pivot about a second axis established by the second axis, the second axis being non-parallel to the first axis.

14. The pouch fitment of claim 13 , wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis.

15. The pouch fitment of claim 12 , wherein a distal end of the non-detachable tamper-evident band is spaced a first distance from the base in the engaged position and a second distance, greater than the first distance, in the released position when the closure cap is in the closed position.

Assignees

• Obrist Closures Switzerland
• Obrist Closures Switzerland

Inventors

• Guerin Fabrice
• Chang Jack
• Chave Frederic
• Mezerette Jerome

Classifications

• B65D55/16

  Devices preventing loss of removable closure members · CPC title

• B65D2401/60

  Tearable part both of the container and of the closure · CPC title

• B65D2401/10

  Tearable part of the container (B65D2401/60 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D2401/30

  Tamper-ring remaining connected to closure after initial removal · CPC title

• B65D2401/15

  Tearable part of the closure (B65D2401/60 takes precedence) · CPC title