# US 2008/0185405 A1 · Flexible pouch with a tamper-evident outer cap fitment and method of forming > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185405 A1 - Document ID: US20080185405A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/062,125 - Filed: 2008-04-03 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2006-04-28 - Assignees: Pouch Pac Innovations, LLC - Inventors: R. C. Murray - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185405A1 ## CPC - B65D 47/147: {for snap-on caps} - B65D 75/5866: {Integral spouts} - B65D 75/5883: {connected to the package at the sealed junction of two package walls} - Y10S 383/906: Dispensing feature - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A tamper-evident outer cap for a tube spout fitment with push-pull cap for a flexible pouch is provided. The tube spout fitment is sealed to the pouch body, and includes a base portion having a seal-engaging surface disposed within the pouch body and a centrally located passageway. An internal tubular spout projects upwardly from the base portion and has a centrally located passageway. A push-pull cap is slidably retained on the internal tube spout, and 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 interconnecting the outer wall to the inner wall. A tamper-evident outer cap is disposed over the push-pull cap, and includes an openable portion, a collar portion permanently retained on the tube spout fitment, and a first connecting member interconnecting the openable portion and the collar portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tamper-evident outer cap for a tube spout fitment with push-pull cap 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, 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 interconnecting the outer wall to the inner wall; and a tamper-evident outer cap disposed over the push-pull cap, wherein the outer cap includes an openable portion, a collar portion permanently retained on the tube spout fitment, and a first connecting member interconnecting the openable portion and the collar portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tamper-evident cap of claim 1 wherein the openable portion is temporally connected to the collar portion by a second connecting member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tamper-evident cap of claim 2 wherein the second connecting member is a plurality of severable connecting walls temporally interconnecting the openable portion of the tamper-evident cap with the collar portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tamper-evident cap as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tamper-evident outer cap is a cylindrical member having a closed end and an open end defining a cavity for receiving the push-pull cap therein in a closed position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tamper-evident cap of claim 1 wherein the collar portion of the outer cap is displaceable with respect to the tube spout in an open position, and is retained on the tube spout fitment by the push-pull cap. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tamper-evident cap of claim 1 wherein the first connecting member is a tether having one end secured to the openable portion of the tamper-evident cap and a second end secured to the collar portion of the tamper-evident cap. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tamper-evident of claim 1 wherein the first connecting member is a hinge having one end secured to the openable portion of the tamper-evident cap and a second end secured to the collar portion of the tamper-evident cap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tamper-evident cap as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tube spout fitment includes a visual indicator that signals an initial opening of the tamper-evident outer cap. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tamper-evident cap of claim 1 further comprising: 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 first flange extending radially from the internal tube spout and positioned adjacent the seal-engaging surface of the base portion; a second flange extending radially from the internal tube spout and spaced a predetermined distance above the first flange, and a portion of the internal tube spout therebetween the first flange and the second flange provides a gripping surface; a third flange extending radially from the internal tube spout and positioned adjacent the seal-engaging surface of the base portion, and a fourth flange extending radially from the internal tube spout and spaced a predetermined distance above the third flange, and a fifth flange extending radially from the internal tube spout and spaced a predetermined distance above the fourth flange; and a lower edge of the push-pull cap outer wall is adjacent the third spout flange when the push-pull cap is in a closed position and the lower edge of the push-pull cap outer wall is stopped by the fourth flange when the push-pull cap is in the open position, and a lower edge of the push-pull cap inner wall is stopped by the fifth flange when the push-pull cap is in the open position, to retain the push-pull cap on the internal tube spout. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The tamper-evident cap of claim 9 wherein a tack weld temporarily seals the plug to the push-pull cap. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tamper-evident cap of claim 10 wherein the plug is first sealed to the push-pull cap and the push-pull cap and plug are pushed onto the internal tube spout. ### Claim 12 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The flexible pouch as set forth in claim 12 wherein the tube spout fitment includes a visual indicator that signals an initial removal of the tamper-evident outer cap from covering the push-pull cap. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The flexible pouch of claim 12 where the internal tube spout includes a first flange extending radially from the internal tube spout and positioned adjacent the seal-engaging surface of the base portion, and a second flange extending radially from the internal tube spout and spaced a predetermined distance above the first flange, and a portion of the internal tube spout therebetween the first flange and the second flange provides a gripping surface for supporting the flexible pouch; a third flange extending radially from the internal tube spout and positioned adjacent the seal-engaging surface of the base portion, and a fourth flange extending radially from the internal tube spout and spaced a predetermined distance above the third flange, and a fifth flange extending radially from the internal tube spout and spaced a predetermined distance above the fourth flange; and a lower edge of the push-pull cap outer wall is adjacent the third spout flange when the push-pull cap is in a closed position and the lower edge of the push-pull cap outer wall is stopped by the fourth flange when the push-pull cap is in the open position, and a lower edge of the push-pull cap inner wall is stopped by the fifth flange when the push-pull cap is in the open position, to retain the push-pull cap on the internal tube spout. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The tamper-evident cap of claim 12 wherein the collar portion of the outer cap is displaceable with respect to the tube spout in an open position, and is retained on the tube spout fitment by the push-pull cap. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The tamper-evident cap of claim 12 wherein the tube spout fitment includes a visual indicator that signals an initial opening of the tamper-evident cap. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The tamper-evident cap of claim 12 wherein the plug is first sealed to the push-pull cap and the push-pull cap and plug are pushed onto the internal tube spout. ### Claim 18 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. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the tube spout fitment includes a visual indicator that signals an initial opening of the tamper-evident cap. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the second connecting means is a plurality of severable connecting walls initially interconnecting the openable portion of the tamper-evident cap with the collar portion.