Re-sealable spigot for a collapsible beverage container

#1. Field

#The present disclosure relates generally to beverage containers, and more particularly to a re-sealable spigot for collapsible beverage containers.

#2. Background

#Aspects of the present invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a beverage container having a flexible stand-up pouch 102;

#FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view, partially cut away, of a re-sealable spigot and its individual components;

#The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration of the present invention, and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a beverage container having a flexible stand-up pouch 102. The pouch may be constructed with two wall panels 104 with a corner section cut out at the top of the pouch 102 to form a slanted edge 106. A re-sealable spigot 200 (see FIG. 2) extending from the slanted edge 106 may be used by the consumer to dispense the beverage from the pouch 102. The term “re-sealable spigot” means a valve or spout, having a push-pull top 204, which moves up and down a stem 202 to open and close the spigot. By way of example, a push-pull top 204 shown, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, may be “pulled” up the stem 202 to open the spigot 200 and “pushed” down the stem 202 to close the spigot 200.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a re-sealable spigot 200 and its individual components. The individual components comprise the stem 202, the push-pull top 204, and the sanitary cap 206. In at least one embodiment of the re-sealable spigot 200, the complete spigot 200 assembly may be formed with a tamper-evident seal. This may be achieved during the manufacturing process by heat-sealing the bottom portion of the sanitary cap 206 to the stem 202 with the re-sealable spigot 200 in the closed position. The tamper-evident seal may subsequently be broken by the consumer by simply twisting and/or pulling on the sanitary cap 206.