Pouring spout attachment with automatic opening feature
AssigneeSIG Combibloc International AG
InventorRandall K. Julian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatically opening pour spout fitment to be applied to a container over location where the container wall has a weakened area. The automatically opening fitment is comprised of a cap which is threadably attached to the fitment and which has a depending cam extending downward from the top wall. The fitment is comprised of a annular sidewall which defines a pouring zone and which provides a boundary for a hinged flap. The flap has an upwardly extending cam follower which is engaged by the cam of the cap such that when the cap is removed from the fitment, the cam initially applies a horizontal force on the cam follower to open the package to which the fitment is attached to.
Claims28
An auto-opening fitment, comprising:
- a fitment, said fitment having a base and an upstanding wall defining a pouring zone therein;
- a flap hingedly retained within said pouring zone;
- a cam follower extending upward from said flap, said cam follower having a back edge surface and a top surface, wherein said cam follower is aligned perpendicularly to a hinge;
- a cap retained on said fitment, said cap having a top wall and a depending side wall, said top wall having a cam depending therefrom and engageable with said cam follower;
- said cam engaging said cam follower on both said back edge surface and said top surface during rotation of said cap in a counterclockwise direction.
A pouring fitment, comprising:
- a base portion and an upstanding sidewall, said upstanding sidewall defining a pouring zone therein;
- a flap having a hinge and rotatable within said pouring zone;
- a cam follower extending upward from said flap, said cam follower having a substantially vertical surface and a top surface, wherein said cam follower formed on said flap and is aligned perpendicularly to a hinge;
- a cap retained on said sidewall and rotatable thereon, said cap having a top wall and depending side wall and having a spiral cam extending downward from said top wall, said spiral cam engageable with said cam follower vertical surface and said cam follower top surface.
A pour spout fitment, comprising:
- a base portion having an upstanding side wall defining a space therein;
- a flap having a hinge, said flap rotatable about said hinge within said space formed by said upstanding side wall;
- a cam follower formed on said flap and extending upward therefrom, said cam follower having a vertical contacting surface and a top portion;
- a cap retained on said side wall and rotatable thereon;
- a spiral cam depending from said side wall, said spiral cam engagable with said vertical contacting surface and said top portion of said cam follower as said cap is rotated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.