Single-material tube adapter for releasable connection to spout fitment and method of sealing and using same
AssigneeRapak, Inc.
InventorsKosmas Kasimatis, Rafael Caponegri
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adapter is configured with two base platforms, initially tethered together, that separately receive a dispensing tube and attached to a standardized spout fitment at opposite ends. In use, the platforms collapse and lock together, while simultaneously creating an outwardly bellowing section in the tube that can double as a sealing gasket. The adapter is sized to couple to existing spout fitments and tube sizes to allow for easy adoption, while its components may all be constructed from the same polymeric material to facilitate manufacturing and/or recycling.
Claims13
A tube adapter assembly for coupling a dispensing tube to a spout fitment on a flexible pouch, the adapter comprising:
- an unitary annular component defining an axially-aligned inner flow channel and comprising a tube base and a spout base;
- wherein the tube base includes an upper extension cylinder, defining a portion of the inner flow channel, and a tube base flange extending radially away from the upper extension cylinder, wherein the tube base flange including a tube base locking mechanism arranged near a periphery thereof, and
- wherein the spout base includes a lower extension cylinder, defining a portion of the inner flow channel, and spout base flange extending radially away from the lower extension cylinder, wherein the spout base flange includes a spout base locking mechanism arranged near a periphery thereof and wherein the lower extension cylinder includes an inwardly extending ledge;
- and
- a dispensing tube received along the inner flow channel in both of the tube base and the spout base, with a distal end of the dispensing tube seated on the inwardly extending ledge and bellowing section of the tube captured between the tube base and spout base when the tube base locking mechanism and the spout base locking mechanism are coupled together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.