Tamper evident pouring spout

Dispensing – Movable material discharge guide – Foldable – bendable – collapsible or flexible

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C222S530000, C222S541900

Reexamination Certificate

active

06237818

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pouring spouts for material containers and, in particular, to a flexible pouring spout having a container cover, with a tamper-evident ring, and a metal securing ring, which together provide dual evidence of tampering with the container closure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For many years, flexible pouring spouts have been used on industrial containers to facilitate repeated closure of the container using a cap member while also providing means for pouring material from the container. The spout is nested within the closure to form a low profile allowing stacking of the containers. As necessary, the spout may be pulled out to create a pouring spout for the container. One widely known spout is constructed of a low density polyethylene (LDPE) providing flexibility while the cap member threadably secured to the spout is constructed of a high density polyethylene (HDPE).
While the closure members have been regularly improved to incorporate new features, mounting of the closure within the container lid has posed problems related to quality control and product integrity. In one well-known method, a metal ring is used to secure the closure within the container lid. The closure is positioned within an opening in the container cover. The metal ring is crimped over the outer peripheral flange of the closure to hold the closure within the cover. However, the integrity of the container is left to speculation because the spout can be extended and replaced without detection or disturbance to the metal ring. Efforts to overcome this disadvantage have included ultrasonically welding the closure and spout within the container cover. Although essentially bonding the closure to the lid, this product has not been widely accepted because of problems with the repeatability of the process, high capital expenditures, and maintenance on the tooling and product limitations. Both of these methods for securing a closure within a container cover have additional disadvantages associated with added material costs, capital expenditures for insertion machinery, and recovery or recycling costs of multiple component containers.
Summary of the Present Invention
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior known container closures by providing a pouring spout with an outer tamper evident ring which are both integrally molded. The tamper-evident ring and closure combination is then secured to the container cover by use of a metal securing ring. Unlike previously used closures, the metal securing ring is placed over both the periphery of the closure and the tamper evidence ring, making it impossible to remove the closure or extend the spout without detection.
The container closure of the present invention generally includes a flexible spout; a cap member removably threadably mounted to the spout, an integrally molded tamper-evident ring removably secured to the cap member, and a metal securing ring. The spout is preferably molded of a synthetic material such as low density polyethylene (LDPE) which allows the spout to be repeatedly extended and nested within the closure. An internal tamper evident diaphragm is molded within the spout, to be removed when the spout is first used. The cap and tamper evident ring are molded of a synthetic material such as high density polyethylene (HDPE). A series of frangible bridges connect the tamper ring to the cap.
Once the container is filled, the closure member, including the spout and cap, is placed into a hole within the container lid.
The metal ring is then placed over the outer edge of the cap member in such a way as to cover the outer portion of the tamper-evident ring. The metal ring is then secured to the container lid. Thus, according to the invention, the metal ring serves to secure the closure member to the container lid, the cap member to the closure member, and to provide secondary evidence of tampering.
An additional feature of the present invention is improved bail tabs for removal of the cap member. The tabs are extended and include an undercut for easier access by the user.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4236629 (1980-12-01), Dwinell
patent: 4442949 (1984-04-01), Dwinell et al.
patent: 4568006 (1986-02-01), Mueller et al.

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