Spout for a package, lid-spout assembly for a package and package having a spout

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023121259-A1
Application number	US-202117914059-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 1, 2021
Priority date	Apr 9, 2020
Publication date	Apr 20, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A spout is for a package having a designated pour opening and being filled with a pourable product. The spout comprises a collar carrying a pouring outlet, an inlet opening and a closing element controllable between an active position in which the closing element interrupts a fluidic connection between the pouring outlet and the inlet opening and an inactive position in which the closing element is configured to allow a fluidic connection between the pouring outlet and the inlet opening. The closing element comprises a peripheral portion contacting prior to a first control of the closing element from the active position to the inactive position an inner surface of the collar along an initial contact portion. The inner surface comprises a main surface portion extending from the initial contact portion towards the pouring outlet and an auxiliary surface portion extending from the initial contact portion to the inlet opening.

First claim

1 . Spout for a package ( 1 ) having a designated pour opening and being filled with a pourable product; the spout comprises at least
a collar extending along a longitudinal axis (E), carrying a pouring outlet at a first axial end and an inlet opening for the pourable product at a second axial end and delimiting a flow channel for the pourable product extending between the pouring outlet and the inlet opening; and a closing element arranged or being arrangeable within the flow channel and being controllable between an active position in which the closing element is configured to interrupt a fluidic connection between the pouring outlet and the inlet opening and an inactive position in which the closing element is configured to allow for a fluidic connection between the pouring outlet and the inlet opening; wherein the collar comprises an inner surface delimiting the flow channel; wherein the closing element comprises a peripheral portion being fixed prior to a first control of the closing element from the active position to the inactive position the inner surface along an initial contact portion of the inner surface; wherein the inner surface comprises:
a main surface portion extending from the initial contact portion towards the pouring outlet; and
an auxiliary surface portion extending from the initial contact portion to the inlet opening.

2 . Spout according to claim 1 , wherein the initial contact portion is axially displaced from the inlet opening and towards the pouring outlet.

3 . Spout according to claim 1 , wherein the initial contact portion ( 30 ) is annularly shaped.

4 . Spout according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary surface portion defines and/or delimits an auxiliary space having a frustoconical shape or a cylindrical shape.

5 . Spout according to claim 4 , wherein the auxiliary space has a frustoconical shape and tapers towards the inlet opening.

6 . Spout according to claim 1 , wherein the spout is configured such that the auxiliary surface portion is at least partially positioned within an inner space of the package or outside of the inner space.

7 . Spout according to claim 1 , wherein the collar comprises a main portion having the main surface portion and an auxiliary portion having the auxiliary surface portion.

8 . Spout according to claim 7 , wherein the spout is configured such that the auxiliary portion protrudes into and inner space of the package and such that the main portion extends away from the inner space or the auxiliary portion comprises an annular lip or a restriction ring.

9 . Spout according to claim 1 , wherein the pouring outlet extends within a first plane, the inlet opening extends within a second plane distinct from the first plane and the initial contact portion extends within a third plane distinct from the first plane and the second plane; wherein the third plane is interposed between the first plane and the second plane.

10 . Spout according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral portion further comprises a coupling membrane fixing the closing element to the inner surface prior to the first control of the closing element from the active position to the inactive position;
wherein the coupling membrane is configured to irreversibly rupture during the first control of the closing element from the active position to the inactive position.

11 . Lid-spout assembly for a package having a designated pour opening and being filled with a pourable product; the lid-spout assembly comprising a spout according to claim 1 and a lid controllable between at least a closing configuration in which the lid covers the pouring outlet and an open configuration in which the lid is detached from the pouring outlet;
wherein the lid and the closing element are coupled such that the closing element is in the active position and in the inactive position with the lid being respectively in the closing configuration and in the open configuration.

12 . Lid-spout assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the spout comprises a coupling member connected to lid and closing member and configured to operatively couple the closing member to the lid.

13 . Lid-spout assembly according to claim 11 , and further comprising a coupling ring coupled to the spout;
wherein the lid is hinged to the coupling ring; wherein the lid is angularly movable around a respective hinge axis so as to control the lid between the closing configuration and the open configuration.

14 . Package filled with a pourable product and comprising at least one spout according to claim 1 .

15 . Package according to claim 14 , wherein the package further comprises a main body having the designated pour opening and being formed from a multilayer composite packaging material.

Assignees

• Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance

Inventors

• Morciano Davide
• Martini Pietro
• De Paola Rocco
• Zanon Paolo
• Orlandi Ivan
• Vietri Anna Rosa
• Costarelli Cristian
• Corradi Davide

Classifications

• B65D2251/0025

  of the 47-type · CPC title

• B65D47/0876 Primary

  Hinges without elastic bias · CPC title

• B65D51/228

  a major part of the inner closure being removed from the container after the opening · CPC title

• B65D47/103

  Membranes with a tearing element · CPC title

• B65D5/746 Primary

  Spouts formed separately from the container · CPC title