Dispensing – Nozzles – spouts and pouring devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-17
2001-08-14
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Nozzles, spouts and pouring devices
C222S092000, C383S096000, C383S906000, C220S613000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273307
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not applicable.
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention pertains to a fitment for being sealed to a collapsible pouch. The fitment has a novel shape, which enables the fitment to be molded from a polymeric material that can be sealed to the collapsible pouch, in a simple, two-part mold that can be opened by simple, uniaxial, straight-pull movements of the mold parts relative to one another, along a line of action perpendicular to a parting interface between the mold parts, and without any side-action mold action.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
AND
TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIOR ART
Commonly, a collapsible pouch for containing any of a wide variety of food, beverage, personal care, household care, or other similar or dissimilar products, either in liquid form or in paste form, is made from a flexible, heat-sealable, polymeric sheet or from a flexible, paperboard or metal foil sheet having a heat-sealable, polymeric lining, and has two opposed, flexible web portions sealed to one another so as to define an interior region, which is adapted to contain such a product, and so as to define an opening, which opens to the interior region. The opening is adapted to receive a fitment, which may incorporate a dispensing valve, a removable cover, or other similar or dissimilar features and which is molded from a polymeric material that can be heat-sealed to the web portions of the collapsible pouch.
An example of such a fitment, which incorporates a dispensing valve and a removable cover, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,451, which is assigned to AptarGroup, Inc. of Crystal Lake, Ill. As disclosed therein, a base of the fitment has two side walls, which converge at two opposed ends of the fitment and which are oriented vertically when the fitment is oriented vertically. Moreover, each side wall has a series of spaced ribs, which project from such side wall and to which an associated one of the web portions of such a collapsible pouch can be heat-sealed.
Another example of such a fitment having a series of spaced ribs, which project from side walls that are oriented vertically when the fitment is oriented vertically and to which the web portions of such a collapsible pouch can be heat-sealed, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,383, which is assigned to Georg Menshen GmbH & Co. KG of Finnentrop, Germany.
Because of the spaced ribs, which project from the side walls, molding of such a fitment, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,451 or as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,383, requires a complex, multi-part mold, which requires complex, multi-axial movements to open the mold.
For being sealed to a collapsible pouch, as described hereinbefore, it would be advantageous to provide a fitment having a configuration, heretofore unknown, which would enable the fitment to be molded in a simple, two-part mold that can be opened by simple, uniaxial movements of the mold parts relative to one another, along a line of action perpendicular to a parting interface between the mold parts, and without any side action mold action.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a fitment, which has a novel configuration, for being sealed to a collapsible pouch having two opposed web portions sealed to one another so as to define an interior region and so as to define an opening, which opens to the interior and which is adapted to receive the fitment when the fitment is sealed to the collapsible pouch.
The fitment has a body having at least one side wall portion, which is provided with spaced steps defining spaced shoulders. The body of the fitment has an inner end, which faces the interior of the collapsible pouch when the fitment is sealed to the collapsible pouch, and an outer end. The body of the fitment defines a reference plane, which is defined preferably by an outer periphery of a selected one of the inner and outer ends of the body of the fitment.
The body of the fitment defines a range of peripheral dimensions, each of which is measured around one of the spaced steps or around one of the spaced shoulders, in a plane that is located at one of the inner and outer ends or between the inner and outer ends and that coincides with or is parallel to the reference plane. The peripheral dimensions increase from a smallest dimension at or toward one such end, through intermediate dimensions which between the inner and outer ends do not decrease after increasing, to a largest dimension at or toward the other end.
Being characterized by the range of peripheral dimensions, as discussed, the novel configuration of the body of the fitment enables the body of the fitment to be molded in a simple, two-part mold that can be opened by simple, uniaxial, straight-pull movements of the mold parts relative to one another, along a line of action perpendicular to the parting interface, without any side-action mold action.
Preferably, as viewed from either of the inner and outer ends, the body of the fitment has a boat-shaped periphery defining two opposite edges and two opposite side wall portions, each having such steps defining such shoulders. Preferably, moreover, the body of the fitment has a fin projecting from each of the opposite edges. The projecting fins, if included, are excluded from the peripheral measurements discussed above.
Preferably, each shoulder has a sealing surface for sealing to one of the web portions of the collapsible pouch when the fitment is received by the opening of the collapsible pouch, the sealing surfaces tapering from one of the inner and outer ends of the fitment toward the other end of the fitment. If the sealing surfaces taper inwardly from the inner end toward the outer end, the peripheral dimension is largest at or toward the inner end and smallest at or toward the outer end. If the sealing surfaces taper inwardly from the outer end toward the inner end, the peripheral dimension is largest at or toward the outer end and smallest at or toward the inner end.
Numerous other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.
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U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 08/843,165.
U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 08/915,960.
Gross Richard A.
Schantz Daniel G.
Buechner Patrick
Rockey Milnamow & Katz Ltd.
Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
Shaver Kevin
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