WO2002010026A1

WO2002010026A1 - Pour spout attachment for packages

Info

Publication number: WO2002010026A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/023662
Authority: WO
Inventors: S. Joseph Mckenna; Eugene E. Orr
Original assignee: Mckenna S Joseph; Orr Eugene E
Priority date: 2000-07-28
Filing date: 2001-07-27
Publication date: 2002-02-07
Also published as: AU2001290517A1

Abstract

A pour spout (20) for a package (10) of flowable product which is attached to a side wall (11) of the package (10) around an opening (15) formed therein. The pour spout has pleated sides (39, 40) and is hinged to the package (10) at its base (29). The pour spout is heat sealed to the package. If the package is paper, a polymeric gasket (50) is placed inside the package (10). An overseal (55) is positioned over the spout. Pressure-sensitive adhesive and hook and loop fasteners (58) can be used to reseal the package.

Description

POUR SPOUT ATTACHMENT FOR PACKAGES Technical Field

The invention relates to pour spouts for plastic or paper packages, either single or multi-ply. The invention also relates to a reclosable pour spout for bagged products. The invention further relates to a packages having a reclosable pour spout. Background Art

Many foods, particularly pet foods, e.g., dog and cat foods, are packed in large bags, i.e., 2-40 pound packages. These are difficult to open and also difficult to reclose. The reclosure is important because these foods contain fat which tends to oxidize on exposure to the air with resultant change in flavor which may make it unpalatable to pets.

Attaching a pour spout to these packages is difficult because the bags often are paper with laminations of plastic to keep the fat in the product from emigrating to the outer surface of the bag and discoloring the surface with a grease stain. Once an opening is cut in the bag for the spout, the edges of the lamination are exposed to the product which is not acceptable. In these situations, it is necessary to apply a back seal to the spout opening in the package in addition to attaching the spout to the outside of the package.

Other such packages are multi-ply plastic with a moisture and fat impervious layer or single ply plastic. In these situations the spout must have a high temperature resistant outer layer and a thermoplastic sealing layer around the edges to allow heat sealing the spout to the bag around the opening formed in the bag.

Presently there are various methods to open bagged products. One of these is merely tearing or pulling apart the top of the bag. This approach is both crude and sometimes very difficult. Another method of opening a sealed bag is to cut across the top of the bag. This approach can be dangerous as it requires a sharp instrument. Some packages have a string sewn across the top of the bag or a string embedded in the top seam, across the top of the bag. These approaches too can be difficult and frustrating to open.

Once opened, products that are capable of flowing can be poured from the tops of any of these bags. Control of the flow rate is limited and cumbersome because of the large opening across the entire top of the package.

All of these packages also have reclosing problems, depending on the material from which the bag is constructed. For example, multiply paper bags are usually reclosed by rolling or folding down the top of the bag. This method does not provide a very tight or effective reclosure.

Most poly (plastic) bags are reclosed by folding down or rolling down the top of the bag. Like paper, this method does not provide a very tight or effective reclosure because poly has a very weak memory. Therefore, the rolled or folded reclosure tends to open. Recent developments have made zipper type reclosure features available for poly bags. This added feature has greatly improved the tightness of the reclosure. Another popular type of bag is a laminated package using polyester in combination with a variety of polyethylene options. Zippers are commonly used for reclosure. Without the zipper, the bag is subject to the same problems as reclosing the poly bag.

Zippers are generally applied across the entire face of the bag. This construction makes it difficult for the consumer to achieve a tight reclose of the zipper across the entire width of the bag. The location and size of the zipper are not designed for or conductive to the pouring of product from the bag. In addition, the product can contaminate the zipper preventing reclosure. Also, zippers are not available for reclosing multi-ply paper bags.

Thus, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a pour spout which can be attached to packaged products to facilitate opening the packages and pouring the products therefrom. It also is a principal object to provide a pour spout for bagged products which is easy to open and also is reclosable to reseal the contents of the bag from exposure to the atmosphere. A further object is to provide pour spout attachments which can be applied to plastic and paper cartons or bags, either single or multi-ply. Still another object is to provide a pour spout having accordion pleated sides and hinged at one end to a package and movable from a closed to an open position for pouring and returnable to a closed position adjacent to the package where it can be fastened in said closed position. Still a further object is to provide bags having reclosable pour spouts attached thereto.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention comprises a pour spout hinged to a wall of a plastic or paper package such that it is opened to allow product to be poured from the package and when closed can be locked against the wall to seal the pour spout opening.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The objects of the invention are achieved as set forth, in the illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings which form a part of the specification and wherein like numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bag having the pour spout of this invention attached thereto; Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the end of a gusseted bag having a pour spout opening formed therein;

Fig. 2a is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2a-2a of

Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a pour spout blank; Fig. 3a is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3a-3a of

Fig. 3; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the pour spout of Fig. 3 in folded condition; Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the end of a bag showing the pour spout attached;

Fig. 6 is a elevational view of a bag side similar to Fig. 2 showing a gasket attached to an opening in a paper bag;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing a modification of the means for reseating the pour spout opening; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a modification of the invention. The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what we presently believe is the best mode of carrying out the invention. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Fig. 1 shows a package, namely a bag 10, having gusset ends

11 , a front panel 12, a bottom 13 and a double roll fold material corner top 14. A pour spout assembly 20 of this invention is applied to one gusset end 11. The pour spout 20 is shown in open or pouring position and is movable to closed position as shown by the arrow "A".

Fig. 2 shows the bag 10 prior to application of the pour spout assembly 20. The bag 10 has an opening 15 preferably formed in one of the side gussets 11. The opening 15 can be in the front or back wall of the bag 10, if desired. The opening 15 is formed in the bag 10 during its manufacture prior to filling product into the bag 10. The opening 15 is used as an outlet for the product contained in the bag 10, after the pour spout assembly 20 has been attached to the bag 10.

Fig. 3 shows the blank 21 which forms the pour spout assembly 20. The blank 21 has a top edge 22, side edges 23,24 and a bottom edge 25 which define a rectangular body area 26. Adjacent to and spaced inwardly from the side edges 23, 24 are vertical permanent bond areas 27,28 which extend from the top edge 22 to the bottom edge 25. Adjacent to the bottom edge is a horizontal permanent bond area 29 which extends along the bottom edge 25 and inwardly therefrom into the blank body 26. While we have referred to areas 27,28,29 as permanent bond areas, practically the entire surfaces of the spout blank are of heat sealable material. Strip coating of the areas 27,28,29 can be used, however, this increases the cost and requires registering the cut with the coating during manufacture of the spout. , The body blank 26 preferably is a lamination as shown in Fig. 3a.

The outer layers 30,31 are moisture and oil impervious polyethylene and the center layer 32 is a paper or a paper aluminum foil composite. The layer 32 preferably is 20-50# kraft paper, but can be any material which will accept folding and remain in folded condition. The layers 30,31 preferably are high density polyethylene. The blank 26 could be one piece provided the material is moisture and oil impervious and also will retain folds.

Vertical inside fold lines 35,36 are positioned in the blank body 26 equidistantly spaced from the vertical centerline and parallel to the side edges 23,24.

The inside fold lines 35,36 along with an inside bond edge ^'37 define a back wall panel 38 which forms the pour spout back wall.

Between the inside fold line 35 and the permanent bond area 27 are a series of equally spaced vertical fold lines 39. Between the inside fold line 36 and the permanent bond area 28 are a series of equally spaced vertical fold lines 40. The fold lines 39 define a series of side wall gusset panels 39a-39f. The fold lines 40 define a series of side wall gusset panels 40a-40f. The gusset panels 39a-39f have bottom areas 41a-41f which form a part of the horizontal permanent bond area 29 and are coated with a heat sealable adhesive. The gusset panels 40a-40f have a series of bottom areas 42a-42f which form part of the permanent bond area 29 and are coated with a heat sealable adhesive.

Depending from the top edge 22 of the back wall 38, is a rectangular flap 45 which can be used to open the pour spout and to reclose it as will be explained hereinafter. In forming the pour spout 20 from the blank 26, the blank 26 is die cut and folded along the lines 39,40. The pleated sides are formed by adhering the areas 41a to 41b; the areas 41c to 41d; the areas 41e to 41f; the areas 42a to 42b; the areas 42c to 42d; and the areas 42e to 42f. Fig. 4 shows the blank 21 formed into the pour spout assembly

20. It is this assembly 20 which is positioned over the side panel opening 15.

Fig. 5 shows the pour spout assembly 20 secured to the side panel opening 15. In this construction, the areas 27,28,29 are permanently bonded to the bag gusset end 11 , preferably by heat sealing This seals the bottom and side edges of the pour spout assembly 20. The top edge can be secured by removable tear seals 43; or in the alternative, the top edge can merely be held tightly by an overseal or tamper evident/product freshness overseal 55. The overseal 55 is sealed around its periphery to the bag 10 by a removable adhesive strip 56. A removal tab 57 is not glued to the bag 10 and is used to pull the overseal 55 open. The overseal 55 also can be fabricated to be used to reclose and reseal the pour spout 20 as will be explained hereinafter. The tear seals 43 are of less width than the seals 27,28 and consequently are easier to tear open to release the pour spout 20. The tear seals 43 preferably are used in combination with the tamper evident overseal 55.

Another method of resealing the pour spout is to place a strip of two-sided tape 46 on the bag 10 above the opening 15. One side of the tape 46 is permanently secured to the bag 10. The other side of the tape 46 has a release strip 47 covering a sticky pressure-sensitive adhesive surface. After the pour spout 20 is opened, the release strip 47 can be removed and the flap 45 is resealed to the top surface of the tape 46 by pressing it against the tape 46. To open the pour spout 20, the flap is detached from the tape 46.

As noted, to reclose the pour spout 20, the flap 45 is secured to the gusset end 11 by engagement with the pressure-sensitive tape 46 which is attached to the bag end 11. The side wall gusset panels 41 of the pour spout 20 are folded together when the assembly is in closed, non-pouring condition and are held thereto by the adhesive of the flap 45 to the tape 46.

Preferably, the pour spout 20 is attached to the bag 10 when the bag is fabricated at the bag plant. However, it also can be attached at the user's plant before the bag is assembled or filled. To activate the pour spout 20 after the overseal 55 is removed, the top edge seal 43 is opened and the flap 45 and back wall panel 38 are pivoted outwardly and downwardly to expose the opening 15 to the inside of the bag 10. The contents of the bag 10 can be poured out of the pour spout assembly 20. To reclose the bag 10, the flap 45 is reengaged to the pressure- sensitive side of the strip 46.

Another method for resealing is to make the overseal 55 from a pressure-sensitive material. This provides a three-sided re-seal for the consumer, namely, the top and two sides. The overseal 55 will be permanently attached to the outside face of the spout back wall 38 and to the bag along the bottom edge 25. Another method for resealing is shown in Fig. 7 and involves the use of a hook and loop fastener strip 58 sold under the trademark VELCRO. The loop portion of the strip is attached to the bag 10. The hook portion of the strip is attached to the spout tab 45. The hook portion is on the bag to prevent contamination when pouring the product. The pour spout constructions shown in Fig. 1-5 are adaptable to both polymeric and paper bags. However, the manufacturing techniques for making a bag and pour spout combination are different for a paper bag and for a polymeric bag. In manufacturing the bag 10 and pour spout assembly 20 when the bag is polymeric, the bag 10 has the cut out 15 formed in the side gusset 11 , and the folded pour spout assembly 20 is attached around the opening 15 by activating the permanent bonds 27,28,29 and attaching the removable seal 43 or the overseal 25. When the bag is paper, the edges of the cut out 15 must be sealed from contact with the contents of the package because the product in the bags can contain oils that might wick. The opening cut into the bag exposes raw edges of the paper to the product. To seal off these edges, a gasket 50 is heat sealed to the inside of the bag 10 around the opening 15. The inner margin 51 of the gasket 50 extends into the opening 15 around the periphery. This is shown in Fig. 6. The pour spout assembly then is heat sealed both to the outside of the bag around the opening 15 and to the gasket margin 51 , thus effectively isolating the edges of the opening 15. The remainder of the assembly is similar to that hereinbefore described.

Fig. 8 shows another modification of the invention in which the pour spout 20 is mounted on the inside of the bag 10. This provides a more eye appealing attachment, but practically some of the outer ply material on packages is very difficult, if not impossible to seal to. The inside of a package typically is heat sealable. In fabricating the inside attachment, the tab 45 is folded downwardly along the line 22 to fit the spout 20 through the package opening 15. The edges 27,28,29 are heat sealed to the inside of the package 10. The tab 45 can be left in folded position or unfolded and sealed against the outside of the package 10 to seal the top of the opening 15.

The invention has been disclosed specifically applied to the side gusset of a bag. However, it can be applied to a front or back wall of a bag or to a rigid or semi-rigid carton. These containers or packages can be of any shape or size that a consumer would lift and pour. While the invention is preferably applied to packages containing dry particulate product, the accordion pleated spout can be applied to packages containing liquid product.

Thus it is seen that the present invention achieves all of the objects and advantages sought therefore and this invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. In a package adapted to contain flowable product, the improvement comprising a pour spout positioned over an opening in a wall of the package, the pour spout being movable from a closed position adjacent to the package to an open position depending from said package and comprising

(a) a back wall hingedly attached to the package at the bottom edge adjacent to said opening,

(b) foldable side panels connecting the side edges of the back wall to the package adjacent to said opening, said side panels having gussets forming accordion pleats when in closed position, and

(c) means for sealing the opening when the pour spout is closed prior to opening the package.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a removable tamper evident overseal attached to the package over the pour spout and removable to give access to the pour spout.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a tab extending outwardly from the top edge of the pour spout back wall and overlying the outer surface of the package, wherein the tab has a tearable heat seal enclosing the top edge of the package opening.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the pour spout is reclosable after use.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the package has a polymeric outer surface and the pour spout is heat sealed to the outer surface of the package around the bottom and sides of the opening.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the package has a polymeric inner surface and the pour spout is heat sealed to said inner surface around the bottom and sides of said opening.

7. The construction of claim 1 including a polymeric gasket positioned inside the package around the opening and having a portion which extends into the opening around the edges thereof, the gasket being heat sealed to the package, the pour spout being heat sealed to the outside of the package around the opening and also sealed to the portion of the gasket which extends into the opening to effectively seal the edge of the opening from contact with the contents of the package.

8. The construction of claim 4 including a tab extending outwardly from the top edge of the pour spout back wall, a two-sided pressure sensitive reclosure strip having one side permanently attached to the package and a pressure sensitive adhesive positioned on the opposed side, and a release strip protecting the pressure sensitive tape, whereby removal of the release strip allows the spout to be resealed by contacting and engaging the pressure sensitive tape with the tab extending outwardly from the top edge of the pour spout back wall.

9. The construction of claim 2 wherein the overseal is attached to the outer surface of the pour spout and has a pressure sensitive area around the spout whereby it can be resealed to the package over the spout.

10. The construction of claim 9 wherein the overseal is permanently fixed to the package along the bottom edge of the spout back wall and the pressure sensitive areas are positioned on the overseal to reseal around the top and side edges of the spout back.

11. The construction of claim 4 including a loop and hook fastener on the package and the top edge of the pour spout, the loop portion of the fastener being on the package and the hook portion being on the pour spout.

12. The construction of claim 1 including a removable seal on the top edge of the pour spout for sealing by engaging the pour spout top edge to the package.

13. The construction of claim 12 including a tamper evident overseal attached to the package over the pour spout and removable to give access to the pour spout.

14. A method of attaching a pour spout to a package including the steps of: a) forming an opening in a wall of a package, b) forming a pour spout having a back wall with top, bottom and side edges, folding side walls connected to the side edges of the back wall, and margins around the bottom of the back wall and the free ends of the side walls, c) attaching the pour spout to the package and sealing the margins around the sides and bottom of the bag opening, and d) sealing the top of the bag opening to the pour spout with a tearable seal.

15. The method of claim 14 including the step of applying a removable overseal to the bag over the pour spout.

16. The method of claim 14 including the steps of applying a gasket to the inside of the package such that a portion extends into the opening around the edges thereof, and sealing the spout margins to the gasket portions in the opening to seal the edges of the opening.