Flexible pouch with a tamper-evident outer cap fitment and method of forming

A tamper-evident outer cap for a tube spout fitment with push-pull cap disposed in a flexible pouch comprising:

• a panel of flexible material forming a body of the pouch;
• a tube spout fitment sealed to the pouch body, wherein the tube spout fitment includes a base portion having a seal-engaging surface that is disposed within the pouch body and a centrally located passageway within the base portion, and an internal tube spout projecting upwardly from the base portion and having a centrally located passageway that is continuous with the base portion passageway;
• a push-pull cap slideably retained on the internal tube spout and operable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the push-pull cap is a generally cylindrical member having an outer wall, an inner wall parallel to the outer wall, and an upper wall having a central opening formed therein and interconnecting the outer wall to the inner wall;
• a plug disposed within the push-pull cap and temporarily sealed to the push-pull cap, wherein the plug includes a disc and a plurality of legs extending from an outer edge of the disc, and the outer edge of the disc is temporarily sealed to the push-pull cap, such that initially pulling the push-pull cap breaks the temporary seal between the plug and the push-pull cap, so that the product flows out through an opening formed between the plug legs and through a central opening in the upper wall of the cap;
• a tamper-evident outer cap disposed over the push-pull cap, wherein the outer cap includes an openable portion that opens to expose the push-pull cap and the openable portion is a cylindrical member having a closed end and an open end forming a cavity for receiving the push-pull cap therein, a collar portion permanently retained on the tube spout fitment, and a first connecting member interconnecting the openable portion and the collar portion and the first connecting member is a hinge having one end secured to the openable portion of the tamper-evident outer cap and a second end secured to the collar portion of the tamper-evident outer cap;
• and
• a second connecting member interconnecting the openable portion and the retained portion of the tamper-evident outer cap, wherein the second connecting member means is a plurality of severable connecting walls initially interconnecting the openable portion of the tamper-evident cap and the collar portion.

A method of forming a flexible pouch having a tamper-evident outer cap for a tube spout fitment with push-pull cap, said method comprising the steps of:

• forming a body of the pouch from a panel of flexible material;
• sealing a tube spout fitment to the pouch body, wherein the tube spout fitment includes a base portion having a seal-engaging surface that is disposed within the pouch body and a centrally located passageway within the base portion, and an internal tube spout projecting upwardly from the base portion and having a centrally located passageway that is continuous with the base portion passageway;
• filling the pouch with a product;
• temporarily sealing a plug to a push-pull cap, wherein the push-pull cap is a generally cylindrical member having an outer wall, an inner wall parallel to the outer wall, and an upper wall having a central opening formed therein and interconnecting the outer wall to the inner wall and the plug includes a disc and a plurality of legs extending from an outer edge of the disc, and the outer edge of the disc is temporarily sealed to the push-pull cap;
• pushing the push-pull cap and plug onto the internal tube spout so that it is slidable between a closed position and an open position;
• placing a tamper-evident outer cap over the push-pull cap, wherein the outer cap includes an openable portion that opens to expose the push-pull cap and the openable portion is a cylindrical member having a closed end and an open end forming a cavity for receiving the push-pull cap therein, a collar portion permanently retained by the tube spout fitment, a first connecting member interconnecting the openable portion and the collar portion and the first connecting member is a hinge having one end secured to the openable portion of the tamper-evident outer cap and a second end secured to the collar portion of the tamper-evident outer cap and a second connecting means interconnecting the openable portion and the collar portion of the tamper-evident outer cap;
• and
• opening the tamper-evident outer cap and initially pulling the push-pull cap breaks the temporary seal between the plug and the push-pull cap, so that the product flows out through an opening formed between the plug legs and through a central opening in the upper wall of the cap.