Flip-top cap with warranty seal for pouches

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021039850-A1
Application number	US-201816964021-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 17, 2018
Priority date	Jan 24, 2018
Publication date	Feb 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A flip-top cap for pouches includes a skirt, a tube, a main surface, at least one warranty window on the main surface, equipped with hooking elements, a closure hinged to the skirt, and at least one warranty hook attached to the closure by at least one breakable element. In a closed configuration of the cap, the warranty hook is inserted through the warranty window and, to pass into an open configuration, the warranty hook engages with coupling elements and the breakable element and encounters breakage due to a resistance exerted by the coupling elements.

First claim

1 . A flip-top cap for thin-walled flexible bags, generally known as pouches, the flip-top cap comprising:
a skirt consisting of a tubular skirt wall; a tube having a central main axis (X), comprising a tubular tube wall defining a mouth; a main surface orthogonal to the central main axis (X), said tube axially protruding from the main surface; at least one warranty window on said main surface, provided with hooking elements; a closure hinged to said skirt to rotate about a hinge axis (Y) orthogonal to the central main axis (X), suitable to close said mouth of the tube; at least one warranty hook, integral with the closure by at least one breakable element; a tubular connection portion, having axial extension, arranged inside the tubular skirt wall and radially spaced therefrom, between the tubular connection portion and the tubular skirt wall creating a gap accessible at the top through said at least one warranty window; wherein, in a closed configuration of the flip-top cap, said at least one warranty hook is inserted through the at least one warranty window; and to switch to an open configuration, said at least one warranty hook engages with said hooking elements and said at least one breakable element, encounters breakage due to a resistance exerted by said hooking elements, and remains confined in the gap.

2 . The flip-top cap of claim 1 , wherein said at least one warranty hook, in an unopened cap configuration, protrudes from a free cover edge of a cover of the closure.

3 . The flip-top cap of claim 2 , wherein a first warranty hook and a second warranty hook are provided, arranged diametrically opposite to the tube.

4 . The flip-top cap of claim 1 , wherein said hooking elements comprise at least one warranty tab projecting inside said at least one warranty window.

5 . The flip-top cap of claim 4 , wherein said at least one warranty tab is flexible to allow snap engagement with the at least one warranty hook at a first closure of the flip-top cap.

6 . The flip-top cap of claim 4 , wherein, in an opening configuration, said at least one warranty tab is suitable to create an obstacle to release of the at least one warranty hook from the gap through the at least one warranty window.

7 . The flip-top cap of claim 1 , wherein the skirt has externally, in a predefined angular position, an underlying region detectable by touch.

8 . The flip-top cap of claim 7 , wherein the closure comprises an opening ridge in a predefined angular position, such that, in the closed configuration, said opening ridge overlaps said underlying region.

9 . The flip-top cap of claim 1 , wherein the closure comprises a tubular tang adapted to penetrate into the tube through the mouth to close it tightly.

10 . The flip-top cap of claim 1 , further comprising a hinge for hinging the closure with the skirt wherein said hinge comprises at least one shank joining the skirt to the closure, wherein said at least one shank has two parts: a first shank part joined to the skirt and a second shank part joined to the closure, said first and second shank parts being joined together to form a bendable knee.

11 . The flip-top cap of claim 10 , wherein a first shank and a second shank are provided, spaced from each other.

12 . The flip-top cap of claim 1 , further comprising elastic elements adapted to bring the closure towards the closed configuration.

13 . The flip-top cap of claim 12 , wherein said elastic elements comprise a sheet, elastically deformable and connected to the skirt and to the closure, so as to push the closure towards the closed configuration.

14 . The flip-top cap of claim 12 , wherein said elastic elements are also adapted to bring the closure into a fully open configuration, when said closure is beyond an angular limit closing position.

15 . The flip-top cap of claim 14 , wherein said angular limit closing position corresponds to an inclination of 45° of the closure with respect to the main surface.

16 . An assembly comprising:
a thin-walled flexible bag, generally known as a pouch, provided with a spout; and a flip-top cap comprising: a skirt consisting of a tubular skirt wall; a tube having a central main axis (X), comprising a tubular tube wall defining a mouth: a main surface orthogonal to the central main axis (X), said tube axially protruding from the main surface; at least one warranty window on said main surface, provided with hooking elements; a closure hinged to said skirt to rotate about a hinge axis (Y) orthogonal to the central main axis (X), suitable to close said mouth of the tube; at least one warranty hook, integral with the closure by at least one breakable element; a tubular connection portion, having axial extension, arranged inside the tubular skirt wall and radially spaced therefrom, between the tubular connection portion and the tubular skirt wall creating a gap accessible at the top through said at least one warranty window; wherein, in a closed configuration of the flip-top cap, said at least one warranty hook is inserted through the at least one warranty window; and to switch to an open configuration, said at least one warranty hook engages with said hooking elements and said at least one breakable element, encounters breakage due to a resistance exerted by said hooking elements, and remains confined in the gap, said flip-top cap being applied to the pouch.

17 . The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the flip-top cap is screwable onto the spout.

18 . An assembly comprising:
a spout; a flip-top cap comprising: a skirt consisting of a tubular skirt wall; a tube having a central main axis (X), comprising a tubular tube wall defining a mouth; a main surface orthogonal to the central main axis (X), said tube axially protruding from the main surface; at least one warranty window on said main surface, provided with hooking elements; a closure hinged to said skirt to rotate about a hinge axis (Y) orthogonal to the central main axis (X), suitable to close said mouth of the tube; at least one warranty hook, integral with the closure by at least one breakable element; a tubular connection portion, having axial extension, arranged inside the tubular skirt wall and radially spaced therefrom, between the tubular connection portion and the tubular skirt wall creating a gap accessible at the top through said at least one warranty window; wherein, in a closed configuration of the flip-top cap, said at least one warranty hook is inserted through the at least one warranty window; and to switch to an open configuration, said at least one warranty hook engages with said hooking elements and said at least one breakable element, encounters breakage due to a resistance exerted by said hooking elements, and remains confined in the gap, the flip-top cap being applied to the spout; wherein the gap is closed at the bottom by a portion of the spout.

Assignees

• Guala Pack Spa

Inventors

• Buzzi Alberto

Classifications

• B65D55/024 Primary

  Closures in which a part has to be ruptured to gain access to the contents (B65D41/32, B65D43/0235, B65D55/022, B65D55/06 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D47/0814 Primary

  by at least three hinge sections, at least one having a length different from the others · CPC title

• B65D2401/15

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