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US 4,378,069 AGranted
Pouch with pour spout
AssigneeMagna Technologies, Inc.
InventorGino Franco
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plastic laminated pouch, suitable for containing food, beverages or other pourable contents, with an integrally formed generally cylindrical pour spout. Application of force directed radially inwardly upon the sidewalls of the pour spout causes the top of the spout to fracture generally along lines of reduced structural integrity provided thereon, permitting the contents of the pouch to be easily and neatly emptied therethrough.
Claims18
A flexible container comprising:
- a plastic laminate pouch having an aperture defined through a wall thereof;
- a pour spout having flexible sides fitted within said aperture, said pour spout including an open end communicating with the interior of said pouch and a closed end protruding from said pouch;
- said open end having an outwardly extending flange disposed about the edge thereof, said flange having a diameter greater than the diameter of said aperature, and said closed end having a plurality of lines of reduced structural integrity extending across the surface thereof,
- whereby the application of a force directed inwardly against the sides of said spout transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof deforms the peripheral edge of said closed end which deforms the planer surface of said closed end, such that stresses induced therein cause said closed end to fracture generally along said lines of reduced structural integrity.
1 more element
A method for forming a pouch which incorporates a pour spout comprising the steps of:
- (a) fabricating a first sheet of laminate material;
- (b) fabricating a second sheet of laminate material;
- (c) defining at least one aperature through said first sheet of laminate material for mateably receiving a flange thereagainst;
- (d) forming a flexible plastic pour spout having an open end and a closed end;
- (e) forming an integral flange along the open end of said pour spout extending outwardly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said pour spout;
- (f) reducing the structural integrity of said closed end along at least one line defined at least some distance across the plane of said closed end whereby said closed end is frangible when force is applied inwardly against the sides of said spout perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, and whereby said closed end is resistent to puncture from forces applied axially thereagainst;
- (g) positioning said spout within said aperature such that said flange abuts the shoulder of said aperture;
- (h) sealably securing said flange to said shoulder of said aperature;
- and
- (i) sealably engaging the surfaces of said first sheet of laminate material and said second sheet of laminate material such that a sealed storage volume in communication with said open end of said pour spout is defined therein.
7 more elements
The method of forming a pouch which incorporates a pour spout comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a flexible plastic pour spout having an open end and a closed end;
- (b) forming an integral flange along the open end of said pour spout extending outwardly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said pour spout;
- (c) fabricating a first sheet of laminate material by providing an outer layer of polyester, a middle layer of polypropylene, and an inner layer of aluminum, stacking said layers atop one another, forming an aperture through said layers, interposing said flange between two of said layers, adhesively securing said flange to adjacent layers, and bonding said outer layer, said middle layer, and said inner layer together;
- (d) reducing the structural integrity of said closed end along at least one line defined at least some distance across the plane of said closed end whereby said closed end is frangible when force is applied inwardly against the sides of said spout perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, and whereby said closed end is resistent to puncture from forces applied axially thereagainst;
- (e) fabricating a second sheet of laminate material by bonding together an outer layer of polyester, a middle layer of polypropylene, and an inner layer of aluminum;
- and
- (f) sealably engaging the surfaces of said first sheet of laminate material and said second sheet of laminate material such that a sealed storage volume in communication with said closed end of said pour spout is defined therein.
4 more elements
A method of forming a pouch which incorporates a pour spout comprising:
- (a) forming a pouch of plastic laminate material with an aperature defined therein;
- (b) forming a flexible plastic pour spout having an open end and a closed end such that said closed end opens upon the application of force applied inwardly against the sides of said spout perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof;
- and
- (c) securing said pour spout to said pouch such that said open end is in communication with the interior of said pouch.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.