Article and Method for Forming an Integrated Liner Seal, Dispensing Aperture and Spout

A method of forming an integrated liner seal, dispensing aperture and spout (20) for sealing and controlled dispensing of a product (2) through a restricted orifice (50) of the liner that is smaller than an opening (10) provided by a rim (11) of a container (4), the method comprising steps of:

• providing a liner seal (20) having a basewall (22) with a basewall perimeter (23) configured to seal a rim (11) surrounding an opening (10) of a container (4) to prevent spillage and contamination of a product (2) held in the container, the basewall (22) having a central portion (26) disposed between opposing left and right side portions (28A, 28B), and an opposing pair of tear lines (44A, 44B) that define the boundaries between each respective one of the side portions and the central portion,
• the liner seal (20) having a pair of spaced-apart tabs (40A, 40B) each having a first end integral with the central portion and extending outwardly toward the perimeter from an opposing one of the tear lines, each of the tabs having a second end detached from and lying above a respective one of the opposing side portions of the basewall,
• forming an integrated dispensing aperture (50) and spout (60) in the liner seal (20) by:
• pulling the tabs (40A, 40B) upwardly away from the side portions (28A, 28B) to detach a first end section (24) of the basewall perimeter from the rim and tear the central portion from the side portions (28A, 28B) along the opposing tear lines to form a detached central portion (61) and tabs (40A, 40B) from the basewall, leaving a central dispensing aperture (50) in the liner and a remaining second end section (25) of the basewall perimeter attached to the rim, wherein the central dispensing aperture (50) of the liner comprises a restricted orifice (50) that is smaller than the opening (10) of the container,
• rotating and folding the tabs (40A, 40B) along the tear lines (44A, 44B) to form respective opposing sidewalls (63A, 63B) along the detached central portion, the detached central portion (61) and opposing sidewalls (63A, 63B) forming the dispensing spout (60) for controlled dispensing of a product from the central dispensing aperture (50) of the liner, and
• positioning the dispensing spout and container to allow a product to flow along a channel comprising the detached central portion (61) and between the opposing sidewalls (63A, 63B) in a controlled manner from the spout.

An article comprising an integrated liner seal, dispensing aperture and spout (120) for sealing and controlled dispensing of a product (2) through an opening (10) provided by a rim (11) of a container (4), the article comprising:

• the liner seal (120) having a basewall (122) with a basewall perimeter (123) configured to seal a rim (11) surrounding an opening (10) of a container (4) to prevent spillage and contamination of a product (2) held in the container, the basewall (122) having a central portion (126) disposed between opposing left and right side portions (128A, 128B), and an opposing pair of tear lines (144A, 144B) extending between first and second end sections (124, 125) on the basewall perimeter that define the boundaries between each respective one of the side portions and the central portion,
• the central portion (126) having a pull tab (129) located at and extending beyond the first end section (124) of the basewall perimeter, and a pair of fold lines (141A, 141B) each spaced apart from a respective one of the tear lines (144A, 144B) and each fold line extending between the first and second end sections (124, 125) to form a pair of foldable wall sections (140A, 140B) in the central portion (126) along each fold line,
• wherein an integrated dispensing aperture (150) and spout (160) is formed in the liner seal (120) by:
• pulling the tab (129) upwardly and away from the rim (11) to detach the first end section (124) of the basewall perimeter from the rim and tear the central portion (126) from the side portions along the opposing tear lines (144A, 144B) to form a detached central portion (161) with the foldable wall sections (163A, 163B) and tab from the basewall, leaving a central dispensing aperture (150) in the liner and a remaining second end section (125) of the basewall perimeter (123) attached to the rim (11), wherein the central dispensing aperture (150) of the liner comprises a restricted orifice (150) that is smaller than the opening (10) of the container,
• folding each of the foldable wall sections (140A, 140B) along the respective fold line (141A, 141B) to form opposing sidewalls (163A, 163B) in the detached central portion, the detached central portion (161) with opposing sidewalls (163A, 163B) forming the dispensing spout (160) for controlled dispensing of a product from the central dispensing aperture (150) of the liner, and
• positioning the dispensing spout and container to allow a product to flow along the detached central portion (161) and between the opposing sidewalls (163A, 163B) in a controlled manner from the spout.

A method of forming an integrated liner seal, dispensing aperture and spout (120) for sealing and controlled dispensing of a product (2) through an opening (10) provided by a rim (11) of a container (4), the method comprising steps of:

• providing a liner seal (120) having a basewall (122) with a basewall perimeter (123) configured to seal a rim (11) surrounding an opening (10) of a container (4) to prevent spillage and contamination of a product (2) held in the container, the basewall (122) having a central portion (126) disposed between opposing left and right side portions (128A, 128B), and an opposing pair of tear lines (144A, 144B) extending between first and second end sections (124, 125) on the basewall perimeter that define the boundaries between each respective one of the side portions and the central portion,
• the central portion (126) having a pull tab (129) located at and extending beyond the first end section (124) of the basewall perimeter, and a pair of fold lines (141A, 141B) each spaced apart from a respective one of the tear lines (141A, 141B) and each fold line extending between the first and second end sections (124, 125) to form a pair of foldable wall sections (140A, 140B) in the central portion (126) along each fold line,
• wherein an integrated dispensing aperture (150) and spout (160) is formed in the liner seal (120) by:
• pulling the tab (129) upwardly and away from the rim (11) to detach the first end section (124) of the basewall perimeter from the rim and tear the central portion (126) from the side portions along the opposing tear lines (144A, 144B) to form a detached central portion (161) with the foldable wall sections (163A, 163B) and tab from the basewall, leaving a central dispensing aperture (150) in the liner and a remaining second end section (125) of the basewall perimeter (123) attached to the rim (11), wherein the central dispensing aperture (150) of the liner comprises a restricted orifice (150) that is smaller than the opening (10) of the container,
• folding each of the foldable wall sections (140A, 140B) along the respective fold line (141A, 141B) to form opposing sidewalls (163A, 163B) in the detached central portion, the detached central portion (161) with opposing sidewalls (163A, 163B) forming the dispensing spout (160) for controlled dispensing of a product from the central dispensing aperture (150) of the liner, and
• positioning the dispensing spout and container to allow a product to flow along the detached central portion (161) and between the opposing sidewalls (163A, 163B) in a controlled manner from the spout.