GB2121374A - Self-venting flexible pouring- spout assemblies for containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A nestable self-venting pouring- spout assembly for dispensing liquid from a container comprises a moulded plastics spout (1) having a flexible outer wall (9) joined to a relatively rigid and externally threaded inner wall (10), a peripheral sealing channel (6, 7, 8) being disposed around the top of the outer wall (9) for securing to a container neck by an overlying metal crimping ring (2), and a separate cup- shaped venting member (4) having an outer baffle wall (25), an annular bottom wall (24) and an inner baffle wall (29) defining a liquid passageway, air entry apertures (27) being formed in an upper portion of the outer baffle wall (25), which terminates at its uppermost end in a circumferential lip (26, 28) which seats within the sealing channel (6, 7, 8). A tear-out diaphragm (12) is recessed within the spout inner wall (10) above the thread (11) and is provided with an integrally-moulded ring-pull (14) to facilitate removal. A circumferentially-enlarged plastics reclosing cap (3) threadedly engages the spout inner wall (10) and also interlockingly engages the metal crimping ring (2) with the spout in its nested position to close off an annular spout void from contamination. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Self-venting flexible pouring spouts for containers The invention is directed to a flexible pouring spout assembly for dispensing liquid products from containers The incorporation of a self venting device in liquid dispensing spouts has long been recognized as a desirable aid in providing smooth, surge-free pouring. One type of pouring spout commonly used on industrial size pails and cans consists of a collapsible spout having a flexible wall portion which allows the spout to be raised from a compact stored or nested condition to a fully extended pouring position. These prior art pouring spouts are available incorporating a self vent device which eliminates the need for a completely separate and more costly vent in the head of the container.In general terms such vent devices consist of an elongated tubular member having a circumferentially outwardly disposed flange at its lower end. With the spout in its nested or stored position the upper portion of the tubular vent is affixed to the spout interior with the major portion of the vent extending axially beyond the spout into the container. Upon raising the flexible spout to the extended pouring position the vent member is also axially displaced bringing the vent flange closely adjacent to the spout base and providing a series of air entry passages there-between.

The above described prior art constructions while adequately performing their intended venting functions posses certain structural deficiencies which the present invention seeks to overcome. Of principal concern, the rather considerable overall axial elongation of the collapsed or nested closure as results from incorporation of the prior art tubular vent constructions has serious drawbacks. For example, it is common practice for the pail manufacturer to furnish heads complete with closure independently of pail bodies which bodies are stacked nested within each other to reduce shipping costs.It is also the practice to stack pail covers, however, that is virtually impossible with a pouring vent which may effectively double the vertical profile of the closure, in fact, every shipment of the closures per se becomes more costly as a result of the substantially increased bulk due to the prior art self vent. A further drawback resides in the necessity of securely affixing the vent member within the spout interior during manufacture. This fabrication is normally performed as a heat sealing operation which is not only costly but must be consistently strong enought to prevent separation during shipment and handling. Also, once the vented closure is applied to a filled pail the tendency of the vent to separate from the spout becomes even greater due to the mechanical action caused by surging or "sloshing" of the fluid.Chemical attack alone by the packaged fluid may severely stress the heat sealed joint between the spout and the vent.

According to the invention, there is provided a flexible pouring spout for a container closure comprising a nestable, integerally moulded plastics pouring spout having an annular sealing channel peripherally disposed at one end, a relatively flexible outer wall extending downwardly from said sealing channel, a relatively rigid spout inner wall connected to the lowermost end of said spout outer wall and concentrically nested therewithin with said spout in its stored or nested position, said spout inner wall terminated in a uppermost free end; cap engaging means formed on said spout inner wall, a sealing membrane closing off said spout inner wall, an annular metal crimping ring overlying said spout sealing channel, an integrally moulded plastic cap in engagement with said spout and an antisurge pouring vent underlying said pouring spout outer wall and substantially conforming to the contour of said spout outer wall in its stored or nested position.

The drawbacks inherent in the above mentioned and other prior art self vented spouts are substantially eliminated by the construction of the invention in providing an improved flexible wall pouring spout closure of the type moveable by reversing the configuration of the flexible wall from a compact nesting position to an extended pouring position with a vent member closely overlying said spout in its retracted position. The spout has a sealing channel by which it is securely applied to the neck of the opening of a container or pail by means of a metal crimping ring. The overlying vent member has a peripheral lip by which it is mechanically secured in the spout sealing channel by the action of the crimping ring.

The vent is formed to allow air entry at its periphery while permitting a central flow of liquid with the spout in the extended pouring position.

The resulting controlled fluid flow is thus achieved through the use of a simple self vent which closely conforms to the configuration of the nested spout and adds insignificantly to the nested vertical profile of the closure assembly. Moreover, the manner of mechanically securing self-venting to the spout and closure container opening by means of the metal crimping ring further assures against damage and separation under subsequent use conditions. The spout also has a hand-removable sealing membrane sealing its opening as well as a reclosing cap for reclosing the opening when the seal is removed.

The invention further provides incidentally, an improved, tamper evident nestable pouring spout capable of being readied for use completely with the unaided hand.

An emhodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a part-elevational, part-axial sectional view of the nestable pouring spout in its retracted condition, and with pouring vent, in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pouring spout closure and separately attached pouring vent; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the pouring spout assembly crimped onto a container wall opening and in its extended pouring position.

Figure 3a is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the spout container wall joint region shown in Figure 3; and Figure 4 is a top plan view of the pouring vent.

In general terms, the self-venting pouring spout assembly in accordance with the invention consists of a nestable plastic pouring spout 1, a metal crimping ring 2, a plastic overcap 3 and a pouring vent 4.

More specifically the pouring spout 1 shown in its stored or nested position in Figure 1 has a peripheral inverted sealing channel at its base made up of a shortened outer wall 6, a top wall 7 and an elongated inner wall 8. A relatively flexible outer wail 9 extends from the lower end of the channel inner wall 8 to the lower end of a relatively rigid upstanding spout neck 10. The spout neck 10 has an exterior helical thread 11.

Immediately above the thread, the spout neck 10 is closed off by a sealing membrane 12 surrounded by a weakened tearing zone 1 3. A ring pull 14 suitable for grasping with the unaided finger closely overlies the membrane 12 in a horizontal plane and is integrally joined by a connecting neck 1 5 to the periphery of the membrane adjacent to the tearing zone 1 3. The vertical clearance between the membrane and the ring pull is less than the vertical cross sectional thickness of the ring pull.

The metal crimping ring 2 has an inverted channel shaped configuration in cross section consisting of an axially elongated outer peripheral wall 1 6 terminating in an inwardly curled lower edge, a top wall 1 7 and a shortened inner wall 1 8 also terminating in a lowermost inward curl. The crimping ring 2 overlies and snugly confines the spout sealing channel therewithin.

The recloseable overcap 3 has a circumferentially enlarged top wall 1 9 surrounded by a pair of hinged iifting bails 20 which in their initial stored position overlie the metal ring 2. A cylindrical skirt 21 depends from the underside of the top wall 1 9 of the cap and interlockingly engages beneath the lower curled edge of the ring inner wall 18. An internally threaded cylindrical sidewall 2 also depends from the underside of the cap top for engagement with the external thread 11 on the spout neck 10. Full thread engagement and subsequent reclosing is achieved upon seating the uppermost end of the spout neck within a downwardly opening annular groove 23 disposed inside the sidewall 22.The spout, ring and cap are assembled as above described to give a secure, compact closure unit adapted for efficient handling, shipment and storage.

A generally cup shaped pouring vent 4 is supplied as part of an upstanding outer sidewall 25 terminating in a peripheral lip 26. A series of air slots 27 are formed in an annular zone near the upper end of the vent sidewall 25. The upper end of the sidewall 25 also includes a short cylindrical band 28 intermediate the lip 26 and slots 27. The center of the vent bottom wall 24 is open to provide a fluid exit passage surrounded by an upstanding inner wall 29. A small drainage aperture 30 is also provided in the bottom wall 24.

To adapt the closure assembly previously described to a self-venting unit the closure assembly is simply inserted into the vent 4 with :he spout neck 10 and flexible wall 9 snugly confined within the annular socket formed by the vent outer wall 25 and inner wall 29. Both inner and outer vent walls are tapered in their upward extent to aid assembly. As the vent and spout are compressed together the cylindrical band 28 at the upper end of the vent outer wall 25 tightly surrounds the spout sealing channel inner wall 8.

When the vent lip 26 contacts the under surface of the sealing channel top wall 7 a secure friction fit engagement in created between vent band 28 and the inner wall 8. Also upon completion of the assembly operation the uppermost end of the vent inner wall 29 surrounding the fluid exit passage lies just beneath the spout membrane 12. The complete self venting pouring spout assembly as seen in Figure 1 thus becomes a secure, compact unit without resorting to costly bonding assembly operations. Since the overall profile of the closure is changed very little, subsequent handling, packing and storage is economical and trouble free.

Turning to the application and use of the selfventing spout assembly, it can be seen in Figure 3 that when the spout sealing channel is piaced on a container opening the vent lip 26 is tightly squeezed between the opening neck 31 and sealing channel top wall 7. The resulting mechanical interlock renders dislodgement of the vent virtually impossible. This arrangement proves -highly desirable in counteracting the damaging forces normally created by the surging or "sloshing" action of the contained fluid tending to dislodge the closure. Moreover, the heretofor deleterious swelling action imparted to synthetic plastics parts for example by normally packaged hydrocarbons becomes inconsequential.

To ready the closure for pouring the spout is raised by means of the large gripping bails 20 on the screw cap 3 causing the flexible wall 9 to act as a rolling diaphragm to unfold and reverse its disposition for erect pouring. Upon disengagement of the overcap 3 and tearing away of the membrane by means of the immediately accessible ring pull 14, the container is ready for dispensing. Liquid rapidly discharged through the central vent passage 29 is instantly displaced by atmospheric air traveling along the top inner surface of the spout and passing through the air entry slots 27. Having the membrane 12 disposed as near spout opening as possible leaving just clearance for the ring pull 14 allows for maximum extension of the fluid passage wall 29. With the wall 29 reaching at least to the horizontal plane of the air entry apertures 27, sufficient separation of the outgoing fluid and the incoming air is achieved for satisfactory venting.

The self venting spout construction thus described facilitates rapid and accurate dispensing free of the uncontrolled pulsating surging characteristics of air locking containers. In addition to its simplicity and resultant cost effectiveness in manufacture, by maintaining substantially the same overall profile of the spout assembly when equipped with the vent, the conditions for packing and handling remain constant. This low profile construction is particularly advantageous in view of the common practice of stacking closure fitted lids.

Various other changes in or modifications of the pouring spout assembly and different embodiments of the invention would suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and could be made without departing from the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims. It is accordingly intended that all matter contained in the above decription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as being merely illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS'

1. A flexible pouring spout assembly in a container closure comprising a nestable, integrally moulded plastics pouring spout having an annular sealing channel peripherally disposed at one end, a relatively flexible outer wall extending downwardly from said sealing channel, a relatively rigid spout inner wall connected to the lowermost end of said spout outer wall and concentrically nested therewithin with said spout in its stored or nested position, said spout inner wall terminating in an uppermost free end; cap engaging means formed on said spout inner wall, a sealing membrane closing off said spout inner wall, an annular metal crimping ring overlying said spout sealing channel, an integrally moulded plastic cap in engagement with said spout and an anti-surge pouring vent underlying said pouring spout outer wall and substantially conforming to the contour of said spout outer wall in its stored or nested position.

2. A pouring spout assembly according to Claim 1 wherein said anti-surge pouring vent comprises a thin-walled plastics cup-shaped member having an upstanding sidewall and a bottom wall, the upper portion of said sidewall having a series of circumferentially disposed air entry apertures and terminating in closure engaging means and a fluid passage formed in said bottom wall.

3. A pouring spout assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said anti-surge pouring vent closure engaging means includes a frictional engagement section on said sidewall.

4. A pouring spout assembly according to Claim 3 wherein the closure engaging means on said anti-surge pouring vent includes a circumferentially extending lip.

5. A pouring spout assembly according to Claim 4 wherein the circumferentially extending lip on said anti-surge pouring vent is positioned in contact with the spout annular sealing channel.

6. A pouring spout assembly according to any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein said fluid passage in said anti-surge pouring vent includes an upstanding tubular wall.

7. A pouring spout assembly according to Claim 6 wherein said upstanding fluid passage in said anti-surge pouring vent extends axially upwardly at ieast to the horizontal, radial plane of said air entry apertures.

8. A pouring spout assembly for a container closure according to any one of Claim 1 to 7, fitted to a container wall formed with an opening surrounded by an upstanding neck, wherein said metal crimping ring secures said pouring spout and said anti-surge pouring vent to said container wall upstanding neck.

9. A container closure construction substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.