FITMENT FOR A POUCH

Abstract

The present invention is an improved fitment assembly for a flexible pouch, the fitment assembly being sealed into the pouch as part of the pouch manufacturing process. The fitment assembly includes a fitment having a fitment threaded portion and a cap with threads. The threads on the fitment and the cap both have slots which allow pressure to escape from the pouch as the cap is unthreaded and the slots align. The fitment also includes specialized features such as extended tabs with notches in a canoe portion of the fitment that help to secure the fitment to the pouch. The fitment has parallel guide surfaces to aid in alignment and traverse of the fitment in a manufacturing line where the fitment is installed and the pouch is filled.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/684,467 filed Jan. 8, 2010, which claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/143,196 filed Jan. 8, 2009. This application also claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/721,670 filed Nov. 2, 2012. All of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a fitment of a flexible pouch for containing a product. Specifically, the fitment being designed to securely attach to the pouch, and to facilitate the release of pressure, when the contained product is under pressure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of disposable portable containers are known in the art for storing a fluid or dry product such as a liquid, granular material, powder, or the like. One example of such a container is a flexible pouch. Consumers prefer the convenience of flexible pouches due to their shape, size, and shelf life. Flexible pouches have been used for some time to distribute beverages such as fruit juice and the like.

Flexible pouches can be made from a flexible material, preferably a laminate composed of sheets of plastic or aluminum or the like. The flexible pouch often has an opening means at a top portion for access to the contents of the pouch. The opening typically can be a perforated section designed to be able to tear off the top portion of the pouch or it may be a plastic fitment sealed to the flexible pouch that optionally may allow sealing of the pouch after it has been opened.

When a fitment is used to as a means to access the contents of the pouch, the fitment is typically sealed between the laminate layers of the pouch, and is secured by a bonding force between the laminate and a surface area portion of the fitment. This surface area, and ultimately seal strength between the fitment and pouch, can be limited by the pouch and fitment shape.

When a threaded fitment and cap are used to seal and unseal the pouch, the cap may unseal from the fitment when opening the pouch at the same time the cap is no longer secured to the fitment. If the pouch contains contents under pressure, for example when a carbonated product such as beer is used, the pressure could be quickly released and can cause the cap to be unstable when opening, similar to removing a cork from a champagne bottle. Further, the pressure in the pouch can cause the seal between the fitment and the laminated sheets to break down.

With the above problem in mind, a need exists for a specialized fitment providing a more secure attachment between the pouch and the fitment, as well as improved sealing, opening, and resealing means of the pouch and fitment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is an improved fitment assembly for a flexible pouch, the fitment assembly being sealed into the pouch as part of the pouch manufacturing process. The fitment assembly includes a fitment having a fitment threaded portion and a cap with threads. The threads on the fitment and the cap both have slots which allow pressure to escape from the pouch as the cap is unthreaded and the slots align. To determine if the fitment has been opened after manufacturing to identify possible product tampering while in transit or the marketplace, a portion of the fitment is specifically designed to receive a safety seal ring.

The fitment also includes specialized features such as extended tabs with notches in a canoe portion of the fitment that help to secure the fitment to the pouch. The fitment has parallel guide surfaces to aid in alignment and traverse of the fitment in a manufacturing line where the fitment is installed and the pouch is filled, and to facilitate a consistent and proper alignment of the extended tabs of the fitment with the pouch.

The fitment of the present invention is preferably made from an injection molded plastic material, the fitment being bonded to the flexible pouch during a process wherein the edges of the flexible pouch are sealed, for example in the presence of heat and pressure. During this sealing step, an additional reinforcement sealing can be applied to the pouch in an area where an extended tab of the fitment cap extends into the sealing area of the flexible pouch.

To fill the flexible pouch after the fitment has been attached, the pouch can be loaded into an automated filling system, preferably into a rail type guidance package handling system that utilizes the parallel guide surfaces of the fitment cap. As the flexible pouch with the fitment traverses along the filling system, the system may fill the pouch through the opening in the fitment. Once the pouch is filled, the system may then place a safety seal ring and threaded cap onto the fitment thereby sealing the product within the flexible pouch.

It can be appreciated that the advantages of the present invention using the specialized fitment within the flexible pouch include increased securement strength of the fitment into the pouch, a consistent alignment of the fitment within the pouch thereby increasing manufacturing speed and reducing cost, a consistent alignment and feeding of the pouch with the fitment into a filling system, also increasing manufacturing speed and reducing manufacturing costs, providing a resealable opening for the user, increasing the type of materials used to fill the pouch and the length for which they can be stored, and also providing venting in the fitment and cap of the pouch, also increasing the type of materials that can be stored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a top section of a flexible pouch with a fitment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fitment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an alternate perspective view of the fitment according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded front view of a fitment assembly according to the present invention including a safety seal ring and a cap;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the fitment according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a top view of the fitment according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cap for the fitment according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a first alternative embodiment of the fitment.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a second alternative embodiment of the fitment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a guide rail containing fitments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiment of the invention for a fitment assembly 20 for use with a flexible pouch 25 includes a fitment 30 with a fitment threaded portion 35 and a cap 40 with cap threads 45. The fitment threaded portion 35 has fitment threads 50; the fitment threads 50 feature at least one fitment thread slot 55. The caps threads 45 feature at least one cap thread slot 60.

The fitment threaded portion 35 allows the cap 40 to be secured to the fitment 30 with the cap threads 45, and the fitment thread slots 55 and cap threaded slots 60 allow fluid, liquid or gas, that is contained in the flexible pouch 25 under pressure to escape from the flexible pouch 25. The release of fluid occurs when the cap 40 is loosened from the fitment 30. This release of fluid is enabled when the fitment thread slots 55 align with the cap thread slots 60 as the cap 40 is rotated to be removed from the fitment 30. When the fitment thread slots 55 and the cap thread slots 60 align, a pass though channel is formed through which the fluid under pressure inside the flexible pouch 25 can escape.

Without the cap thread slots 60 and the fitment thread slots 55 pressure inside the flexible pouch 25, for example from carbonation of the contents or external pressure applied to the flexible pouch 25, would provide an upward force on the cap without thread slots. The upward force would urge the threads against each other, thereby creating a seal which would prohibit the release of the fluid under pressure. The pressure on the threads would remain in place until the cap without thread slots was fully unthreaded from the fitment 30. Once the cap without threaded slots was fully unthreaded, the pressure would be released, and at the same time the cap without thread slots would no longer be secured to the fitment 30, and the cap without thread slots could shoot off similar to a cork being removed from a champagne bottle.

In the preferred embodiment, the cap thread slots 60 are wider than the fitment thread slots 55, as can be seen when comparing FIGS. 1 and 7. The narrower fitment thread slots 55 help to provide a smooth threading action by giving more thread surface on the fitment threads 50 to engage with the cap threads 45. The wider cap thread slots 60 provide a more efficient release of pressure from within the flexible pouch 25 by allowing an increase in amount of rotational distance in which the cap thread slots 60 and fitment thread slots 55 are aligned, thereby increasing the availability of a pressure release channel or passage while the cap 40 is being removed.

To enable the fitment 30 to be secured to the flexible pouch 25, the fitment 30 has a canoe portion 65 located near the bottom of the fitment 30. When viewed from the bottom, the canoe portion 65 of the preferred embodiment has a symmetrical converging lens or oval with tapered ends type shape, as can be seen in FIG. 6. The canoe portion 65 has a sealed portion 70 along its length which provides an outside surface area to be sealed to the flexible pouch 25.

Disposed on opposite sides of the canoe portion 65 are extended tabs 75 which are also sealed within the flexible pouch 25 and additionally secured with a reinforcement seal 130. The extended tabs 75 provide additional surface area in which the fitment 30 can be secured to the flexible pouch 25. It is appreciated that the extended tabs 75 can be of various lengths and shapes as well as various heights as compared to the canoe portion 65.

In alternative embodiments of the invention the extended tabs 75 can have one or more horizontal notches 80 and/or vertical notches 85. The horizontal notches 80 are generally parallel to a longitudinal axis L (shown in FIG. 6) of the canoe portion L, while the vertical notches 85 are generally perpendicular to longitudinal axis L. The notches receive the flexible sheets of material and any sealant used there between. The seal in the notches provides a more secure attachment of the fitment 30 to the flexible pouch 25, especially in applications requiring extended tabs 75 having a limited length, for example in a flexible pouch 25 whose width is not that much greater than the width of the fitment 30. The embodiments having horizontal notches 80 and vertical notches 85 can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively. It is appreciated the notches are not limited to a horizontal or vertical orientation, but rather the invention could include horizontal notches 80 and vertical notches 85, as well as notches of other orientations, so long as those notches are in the extended tabs 75 of the canoe portion 65.

Fitment guide surfaces 90 are located on the fitment 30 above the canoe portion 65. The fitment guide surfaces 90 are flat and generally rectangular in shape. The fitment guide surfaces 90 are parallel to each other and disposed on opposite sides of the fitment 30. In the preferred embodiment, the fitment guide surfaces 90 are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the canoe portion L. It is appreciated that the fitment guide surfaces 90 can be of different heights and widths than those shown in the preferred embodiment so long as they are parallel and disposed at opposite sides of the fitment 30, thereby maintaining proper alignment of the fitment 30 and flexible pouch 25 as it travels through the manufacturing process.

The fitment guide surfaces 90 mate with a guide rail 95 in a machine used to manufacture and fill the flexible pouch 25 with fitment assembly 20. The interaction between the fitment guide surface 90 and the guide rail 95 allow consistent alignment of the fitment 30 in the manufacturing process. Consistent alignment enables the longitudinal axis of the canoe portion L to be property aligned with the flexible pouch 25 as the flexible pouch 25 and fitment 30 are joined. Having the fitment guide surfaces 90 run perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the canoe portion L enables more flexible pouches 25 to be loaded into the manufacturing line.

Located above the fitment guide surface 90 is a support flange 100, which extends from the fitment 30. The support flange 100 rides on top of the guide rail 95 to support the fitment 30 and flexible pouch 25 as it travels through the manufacturing process.

Between the support flange 100 and the fitment threaded portion 35 is a safety seal receiving portion 105. The safety seal receiving portion 105 receives safety tabs 110 which inwardly extend from a safety seal ring 115. The safety seal ring 115 when initially installed is bonded to the cap 40, and slides down over the fitment threaded portion 35, and over a safety seal flange 120, to be received and secured in the safety seal receiving portion 105. To provide the bonding, the cap 40 and safety seal ring 115 can being integrally formed by methods known to those skilled in the art, injection molding for example.

The cap 40 further in includes an insert 117. The insert is made of an oxygen absorbing material known to those skilled in the art. The 117 is pressed into the cap and is disposed above the cap threads 45, being held in place by an interference type press fit, adhesives, or any of method known to those skilled in the art. The insert 117 absorbs oxygen within the sealed pouch, there by prolonging the life of the product contained within the pouch, and reducing the pressure therein.

After the cap 40 and safety seal ring 115 are initially installed, the safety seal ring 115 is prevented from being removed with the cap 40 when the cap 40 is removed by the safety seal flange 120. The safety seal flange 120 engages the safety tabs 110, which are designed to be able to traverse the safety seal flange 120 in an installation direction, but not traverse the safety seal flange 120 in a removal direction, for example by having an angled directional bias which allows the safety tabs 110 to bend in one direction easier than in another. This results in the safety seal ring 115 detaching from the cap 40 and remaining in place on the safety seal receiving portion 105 when the cap 40 is removed from the fitment 30, thereby providing a clear indicator as whether on not the flexible pouch 25 has been opened, and possibly tampered with, after the initial manufacture.

The flexible pouch 25 is made by sealing two flexible sheets of material along the edges in a sealed area 125. Alternatively the pouch can be formed by folding and sealing a single sheet of material as is know to those skilled in the art. After initial formation, the flexible pouch 25 has an open side to receive the fitment 30. The flexible pouch 25 can be of various sizes; however the preferred embodiment of the flexible pouch 25 is sized to hold between one and five liters of fluid. The fluid of the preferred embodiment is a carbonated beverage, beer for example.

Sealed between the flexible sheets of material that forms the flexible pouch 25 is the fitment 30. The fitment 30 is sealed to the flexible material along the sealed portion 70 and along the extended tabs 75 disposed at opposite ends of the fitment 30. The extended tabs 75 extend into the sealed area 125 of the flexible pouch 25. In addition to the sealed area 125, the extended tabs 75 can be further secured with a reinforcement seal 130. The shown reinforcement seal 130 is of a rectangular shape; however, other shapes such as bars, circles, etc. could also be used. The sealing process used to seal the sealed area 125 and the reinforcement seal 130 can be a friction welding seal, a heat and pressure type seal, or any other process of the like known to those skilled in the art.

When the flexible pouch 25 is mated to the fitment 30, it is important the two components be properly aligned for a secure seal to be achieved. The flexible pouch 25 is manipulated with a pinch type grabbing mechanism along an edge of the pouch, providing a set orientation of the pouch. The fitment 30 is manipulated with the guide surfaces, for example by traveling along the pair of guide rails 95, thereby providing a set orientation of the fitment 30. The fitment 30 and flexible pouch 25 having proper orientations can then be mated and sealed. The guide rails 95 that are used to align the fitment 30 along the fitment guide surfaces 90 are then used to assist in transferring the flexible pouch 25 sealed to the fitment 30 to a filling station. The filling station fills the pouch through the fitment 30 with methods known to those skilled in the art. After the flexible pouch 25 is filled, the cap 40 with the attached safety seal ring 115 is applied.

To install the cap 40 with the safety seal ring 115, the cap 40 and safety seal ring 115 are first pressed down onto the fitment 30. The fitment 30 has a top portion 135 which has a slightly smaller outer diameter than the rest of the fitment 30. The smaller diameter of the top portion 135 helps to center the cap 40 and safety seal ring 115 to the fitment 30. In addition, the top portion 135 provides an initial flexing of the safety tabs 110 which are pressed over the top portion 135 and the fitment threaded portion 35 in the first step of the cap 40 and safety seal ring 115 installation.

After the cap 40 and safety seal ring 115 are pressed onto the fitment 30, the cap 40 and safety seal ring 115 are rotated relative to the fitment 30 to engage the cap threads 45 with the fitment threads 50. As the cap 40 is threaded onto the fitment 30, the safety tabs 110 are urged down over the safety seal flange 120 to the safety seal receiving portion 105. The safety tabs 110 are then secured in the safety seal receiving portion 105, thereby securing the safety seal ring 115 and requiring the ring to be separated from the cap 40 when the cap 40 is unthreaded from the fitment 30.

The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than limitation.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings.

Claims

1. A fitment assembly for use with a flexible pouch, the fitment assembly comprising:

a fitment having a fitment threaded portion, the fitment threaded portion having fitment threads, the fitment threads having at least one fitment thread slot;

a cap having cap threads, the cap threads having at least one cap thread slot;

the cap being rotatably mounted and secured to the fitment with the fitment threads and the cap threads.

2. The fitment assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one cap thread slot is wider than the at least one fitment thread slot.

3. The fitment assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

the fitment having a canoe portion, the canoe portion having a symmetrical converging lens shape with a pair of extended tabs, the extended tabs being disposed at opposite ends of the canoe portion.

4. The fitment assembly of claim 3 where in the extended tabs have at least one notch.

5. The fitment assembly of claim 4 wherein the at least one notch is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the canoe portion.

6. The fitment assembly of claim 4 wherein the at least one notch is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the canoe portion.

7. The fitment assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

the fitment having a pair of guide surfaces, the guides surfaces being parallel to each other and disposed on opposite sides of the fitment.

8. The fitment assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

the cap having a safety seal ring, the safety seal ring having a plurality of safety tabs extending inwardly from the safety seal ring;

the fitment having a safety seal receiving portion, the safety seal receiving portion being disposed below the fitment threaded portion;

wherein the plurality of safety tabs are received by the safety seal receiving portion when the cap is initially installed on the fitment, the plurality of safety tabs securing the safety seal ring to the fitment and enabling the safety seal ring to detach from the cap when the cap is removed from the fitment.

9. The fitment assembly of claim 1 wherein the cap includes an insert for absorbing oxygen.