Resealable spout element for cardboard / plastic laminate packaging with anchor ring for securely retaining screw cap

Abstract

A resealable spout element for cardboard / plastic laminate packaging (P), in particular for beverage packaging, is shown and described. The spout element comprises a base element (2, 2', 2") having a peripheral locking flange (1, 1', 1") and external threads (10, 10'), an opening means located inside the base element (2, 2', 2") at least in the unopened state of the spout element, and a screw cap (3, 3', 3") having internal threads. The opening means is designed such that, upon initial opening of the laminated package (P), unscrewing the screw cap (3, 3', 3") ruptures the laminate material of the package (P) or a barrier layer located on the base element (2, 2', 2"), forming a spout inside the spout element. In such a resealable spout element, in order to securely fasten the screw cap to the spout element even in an unthreaded state, an anchor ring (4, 4', 4") is arranged below the screw cap (3, 3', 3") and is rotationally fixedly connected to the screw cap (3, 3', 3") and is connected to the base element (2, 2', 2") so as to be radially rotatable around the base element (2, 2', 2") and axially tension-resistantly; and in order to securely fasten the screw cap (3, 3', 3") to the base element even in an unthreaded state, the anchor ring (4, 4', 4") is articulatedly connected to the screw cap (3, 3', 3") via a hinge element (5, 5') whose pivot axis is aligned tangentially to the outer periphery of the screw cap (3, 3', 3")

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a resealable spout element for cardboard / plastic laminate packaging, in particular for beverage packaging, comprising a base element having a peripheral locking flange and an external thread, an opening means arranged inside the base element at least in the unopened state of the spout element, and a screw cap having an internal thread, an anchor ring is disposed below the screw cap and is rotationally fixedly connected to the screw cap, and is connected to the base element so as to be radially rotatable around the base element and axially tension-resistant, the anchor ring being articulated to the screw cap via a hinge element whose pivot axis is aligned tangentially with respect to the outer periphery of the screw cap in order to securely fasten the screw cap to the base element even in an unthreaded state; Regarding the spout element. [Background technology]

[0002] Note A spout element is known from the applicant's patent application DE 10 02 04 199 A1. To assemble the spout element, a screw cap is moved onto a cutting element protruding from the spout element and pressed (squeezed) together with the cutting element onto the base element. As a tamper-evident seal, a plate is integrally molded onto the screw cap and connected to the screw cap via a connecting bridge. For connection to the base element, this plate has a number of pins on its underside. These pins engage in corresponding recesses in the flange of the base element and are crimped from below after assembly. When the spout element is first opened, the connecting bridge breaks, so that the screw cap is then only loosely attached to the spout element and the laminated packaging. Patent document 2 shows a spout element in which, in the unopened state, the screw cap is connected to a plate attached to the peripheral flange of the base element via a number of connecting bridges, which are separated when the spout is first opened so that the screw cap is no longer connected to the base element.

[0003] To ensure that the screw caps of the laminated packages do not enter the environment unintentionally, it is desirable to have the screw caps securely tethered to their respective laminated packages to ensure that no plastic parts become loose when the packages are opened.

[0004] Elements for reliably fastening screw caps to their respective packaging even in the open state are known from the prior art in the field of closures for commercial PET bottles. Known PET bottles have in common that the cylindrical body has a bottle neck that is significantly narrower than the body, so that the screw cap with the fastening element can be pivoted off by much more than 90°.

[0005] Patent document 1 discloses a closure device for a plastic bottle having a ring disposed under a screw cap. 3 The ring is connected to the screw cap via a film hinge, and prevents the screw cap from being pulled out even when the cap is open.

[0006] Patent documents 4 shows a closure cap for a bottle in which a ring is arranged under the screw cap. The ring is connected to the screw cap in a material-bonding manner via two connecting bridges. The ring and the bottle are designed so that the ring cannot be pulled out of the bottle.

[0007] Furthermore, screw caps for conventional bottles are disclosed in patent literature. 5 This screw stopper consists of a screw cap and a ring that is fastened to the bottle via a film hinge, where again the ring ensures that the screw stopper is axially connected to the bottle in a tension-resistant manner. A typical spout element is known from US Pat. No. 5,623,999, in which an anchor ring is arranged below the screw cap and is connected to the screw cap in a rotationally fixed manner, the anchor ring and the screw cap being connected to each other via a tethering element having two elements in their centers that form a hinge axis. A spout element is described in Patent Document 7, in which a closure cap is connected to a base element of the spout element in the open state via an anchor ring connected to the closure cap, the anchor ring being connected to the base element in such a way that it cannot be displaced axially upwards when the spout element is open. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] German Patent Application Publication No. 10 2006 016 113(B3) [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 0181281(A1) [Patent Document 3] European Patent No. 1 124 734(B1) [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent No. 5,215,204(A) [Patent Document 5] International Publication No. 2009 / 048273(A2) [Patent Document 6] European Patent Application Publication No. 2 308 772(A1) [Patent Document 7] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013 107673(A) Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] Based on the above, the object underlying the present invention is to construct and further develop a reclosable spout element for cardboard / plastic laminate packaging of the type mentioned at the outset, in such a way that the fastening of the screw cap to the spout element is guaranteed even in the unthreaded state. For this purpose, a tension connection is provided between the screw cap and the spout element, so that the screw cap cannot be pulled axially away from the spout element with a force of at least 10-30 N, which is typically required for the initial opening of commercially available screw caps.

[0010] It is also desirable that the screw cap be securely locked in the open position relative to the swivel-open position, so that pouring from the laminated package is possible without the screw cap being undesirably swung closed. Radial adjustment of the screw cap in the locked open position is particularly advantageous here, since pouring from either side of the spout element is possible. This is because the laminated package is not generally rotationally symmetrical like commercially available PET bottles, but has a generally square cross section, allowing for equal pouring from either side. It is also desirable that, in the locked open position, as much free space as possible be present in front of the spout, regardless of the opening means. The opening means, which is often present in the screw cap in the case of cardboard / plastic laminated packages, is necessary for the production of the spout.

[0011] This object is achieved in the case of a reclosable spout element having the features of the preamble of claim 1: the opening means is designed such that, when the laminated package is first opened, the laminate material of the package or a barrier layer located on the base element is broken by unscrewing the screw cap, and a spout is formed inside the spout element; the base element has an outwardly protruding, generally circumferential collar on its outer surface; the anchor ring has at its lower end a generally circumferential web facing the base element, which is located below the collar to prevent the anchor ring from being pulled out beyond the collar; in the unopened state, the collar is located axially above the anchor ring in a region such that, when the screw cap is unscrewed, the hinge element can move axially until the web contacts the collar; and when the screw cap is pivoted off, the pivot axis of the hinge element is located axially in the upper half of the base element. It is achieved.

[0012] The axial tension tethering of the screw cap to the base element ensures that the screw cap does not become a loose plastic part even in the open position of the spout element and therefore cannot enter the environment as a loose plastic part, thus making the present invention a valuable contribution to reducing environmental pollution.

[0013] The film hinges commonly used to fasten the screw cap to the base element often break after only a few opening processes and therefore cannot guarantee a secure fastening of the screw cap to the base element. The specially designed hinge element ensures that the screw cap will not be pulled away from the rest of the base element even after repeated openings of the spout element. By providing the anchor ring, which is arranged below the collar, with a substantially circumferential web at its lower end facing the base element, it is possible to reliably prevent the anchor ring from moving past the collar. If it is ensured that an anchor ring with a web facing the base element cannot slide past a collar provided on the base element, it is also possible to interrupt at least one of the collar and the web in one or more places. Due to the maximum possible axial distance between the web and the collar in the unopened state of the spout element, the anchoring ring including the hinge element can cover as large a distance as possible upwards, so that the pivot axis of the hinge element is displaced upwards when the screw cap is unscrewed and swung open. A pivot axis that is located as high as possible is desirable in order to allow the maximum possible opening angle of the screw cap for easy pouring, despite the absence of a bottle neck in the laminated package.

[0014] According to another teaching of the present invention, the anchor ring has a circumferentially extending slot, which separates a portion of the anchor ring into a plurality of upper and lower sections, which are spaced apart from one another in the axial direction. In this case, the slot is preferably arranged circumferentially in the region of the hinge elements, which allow the hinge elements to be connected to the upper sections of the anchor ring in such a way that the ends of the upper sections facing the hinge elements are twisted after the screw cap is turned open.

[0015] In one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the hinge element is arranged circumferentially centrally relative to the slot, which ensures that the load is evenly distributed on both sides of the upper part of the anchor ring even when the screw cap is turned open.

[0016] According to a preferred design of the present invention, when the spout element is in its unopened state, the lower end of the hinge element projects downward toward the locking flange beyond the lower end of the upper part of the anchor ring. When the screw cap is unscrewed and then pivoted open, the hinge element bends at its lower end toward the slot, locking the screw cap in its open position at an angle of 120°-150° relative to the pivoting. In this state, the screw cap can no longer be pivoted back without external force. This has the great advantage that the screw cap does not automatically pivot back during pouring, preventing it from coming into contact with the product during the pouring process.

[0017] In one particularly preferred configuration, the screw cap is free to rotate radially in its locked, open position. This has the great advantage of allowing the user to orient the screw cap in the desired position. A slight external force is still required to enable rotation in this locked position. This is because fixing the screw cap to its pivot-open position increases the frictional resistance between the hinge element and the base element. However, this increased frictional resistance is desirable so that the screw cap does not easily move in the direction of the pouring flow caused by gravity during pouring.

[0018] According to another teaching of the present invention, in the unopened state, the hinge element is arranged above the lower third of the base element with respect to its pivot axis. The arrangement of the hinge element above the lower third ensures that the screw cap can achieve an open position with an opening angle of 120° to 150° before it hits the laminated package. Since laminated packages generally do not have a bottle neck, as in the case of PET bottles, the pivoting opening movement of the screw cap is significantly more limited than in PET bottles. To still achieve a sufficiently large opening angle for a comfortable pouring process, it is desirable to arrange the hinge element as high as possible.

[0021] In one particularly preferred design of the invention, when the screw cap is pivoted off, the pivot axis of the hinge element is axially aligned with the base element. Above Side third Distributed to It will be placed.

[0022] According to a preferred further development of the invention, the base element is provided below the collar with ribs extending perpendicular to the fastening flange and projecting outward in the direction of the anchor ring. These ribs ensure that the anchor ring always has a constant radial distance from the base element, so that the anchor ring is centered relative to the base element in all positions.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the opening means comprises a cutting element arranged inside the base element and at least one driver web arranged inside the screw cap and connected to the screw cap by form-fitting or material-locking means, the driver web preferably being attached as close as possible to the hinge element in the circumferential direction, whereby the hinge element can be locked onto the external thread of the flange in order to keep the screw cap in the open position.

[0024] However, it is also possible to position the driver web as far as possible from the hinge element in the circumferential direction. This is advantageous if the hinge element must not get in the way when opening / tilting off the screw cap. This allows for clean opening / tilting off without interference from the hinge element and the upper edge of the spout.

[0025] In a preferred configuration of the present invention, a plurality of driver webs are provided, evenly distributed around the periphery.

[0026] In the pivoted-open state, this driver web can at least partially protrude from the interior of the screw cap, so that it is particularly important that a sufficiently large opening angle of the screw cap can be achieved.

[0027] The spout element according to the invention preferably has at least one tamper-evident seal between the locking flange and the anchor ring or the screw cap. The tamper-evident seal may consist of a strip, one end of which is rigidly connected to the anchor ring and the other end of which is connected to the anchor ring by a predetermined breaking point, so that upon unscrewing of the screw cap, the predetermined breaking point is ruptured by at least one mandrel element arranged on the locking flange, indicating to the consumer that first opening has already taken place.

[0028] According to an alternative embodiment of the spout element according to the invention, a further ring is arranged below the anchor ring, which is connected to the anchor ring via a number of material bridges and which serves as a tamper-evident seal, in which case the screw cap, the anchor ring and the further ring acting as a tamper-evident seal are manufactured in one piece.

[0029] When the screw cap is initially unscrewed, the ring is released from the anchor ring by tearing off the material bridge and preferably can only be twisted to a limited extent by blocking the webs protruding inward from the ring with a plurality of locking elements arranged around the entire periphery of the base element so that the ring remains in its position on the base element.

[0030] To ensure that the ring cannot be removed from the base element even when the screw cap is opened, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the base element has an outwardly protruding, generally circumferential collar on its outer surface, the inside diameter of which is smaller than the clearance between the webs of the oppositely disposed rings.

[0031] According to a further advantageous teaching of the present invention, the fastening flange of the spout element is connected to the inside of the laminated package. The corresponding laminated package has a material gap at the location of the subsequent spout. For assembly, the spout element is guided inside the laminated package, positioned in the area of ​​the material gap, and then connected to the inside of the laminated package. In this configuration of the present invention, the base element is internally sealed to the package side in the unopened state so that the product in the laminated package cannot flow into the spout element in the unopened state. In this design of the present invention, the opening means comprises an opening element that is arranged inside the base element in the unopened state and is materially connected to the base element, and at least one force transmission element that is arranged inside the screw cap and is materially connected to the screw cap. The opening element is form-fittingly connected to the at least one force transmission element, and upon initial opening of the spout element, it is separated from the base element at a predefined, predetermined breaking point activated by rotation of the at least one force transmission element, so that there is no longer a materially connected connection between the base element and the opening element. Since the opening element is then only connected to the at least one force-transmitting element in a form-fitting manner, it cannot enter the stacked package present below the spout element. In the pivot-open state, the opening element can at least partially protrude from the interior of the screw cap. A corresponding opening means is already known separately from Japanese Patent No. 5857668 (B2).

[0032] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail on the basis of the drawings, which merely show preferred exemplary embodiments.

[0033] The drawings show the following figures: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a spout element according to the invention in an unopened state (without the cardboard / plastic laminate packaging) in a perspective view. [Figure 2] 2 shows the spout element of FIG. 1 in a side view. [Figure 3]2 shows a perspective view of the base element of the spout element of FIG. 1; [Figure 4] 4 shows the spout element of FIG. 1 in vertical cross section along line IV-IV. [Figure 5] 2 shows a perspective view of the spout element of FIG. 1 at the start of the process of unscrewing the screw cap; [Figure 6] 2 shows the spout element of FIG. 1 in a half-sectional side view with the screw cap already unscrewed but still in a closed position; [Figure 7] 2 shows the spout element of FIG. 1 in a side view with the screw cap unscrewed and swiveled off; [Figure 8] 2 shows the spout element of FIG. 1 in a side view with the screw cap unscrewed and swiveled off to lock it in place; [Figure 9] 2 shows a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a spout element according to the invention in an unopened state (without the cardboard / plastic laminate packaging); FIG. [Figure 10] The spout element of FIG. 9 is shown in vertical cross section along line XX. [Figure 11] The spout element of FIG. 9 is shown in horizontal section along line XI-XI in FIG. [Figure 12] The spout element of Figure 9 is shown in a half-sectional side view along line XII-XII of Figure 11, with the screw cap already unscrewed but still in a closed position. [Figure 13] 1 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a spout element according to the invention in vertical section; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] In order to clarify the function of the spout element when opening the laminated package, a preferred embodiment of a spout element according to the invention is shown in the drawings. Figure 1 shows a spout element according to the invention in a perspective view without the laminated package. The spout element has a base element 2 (not shown in Figure 1) with a peripheral locking flange 1 and a screw cap 3. The screw cap 3 is used for the initial opening and reclosing of the laminated package, which is not shown.

[0036] An anchor ring 4 is arranged under the screw cap 3 and is rotationally and fixedly connected to the screw cap 3. The purpose of the anchor ring 4 is to reliably prevent the screw cap 3 from being removed from the base element 2 or from the laminated packaging on which it is provided. For this purpose, the screw cap 3 and the anchor ring 4 are articulated to each other via a hinge element 5. The pivot axis of the hinge element 5 is aligned tangentially to the outer periphery of the screw cap 3. The anchor ring 4 has a circumferentially extending slot 6. The slot 6 separates a portion of the anchor ring 4 into a plurality of upper and lower portions 4A and 4B. The upper and lower portions 4A and 4B are axially spaced apart from each other. The hinge element 5 can be designed with a wall thickness that is thicker, the same as, or thinner than the remaining portion of the screw cap 2.

[0037] 2 clearly shows that the slot 6 is circumferentially centered relative to the hinge element 5. The hinge element 5 is connected to the upper part 4A of the anchor ring 4 and, in the closed state, is arranged above the lower third of the base element 2 with respect to its pivot axis. In addition, FIG. 2 also shows that, in the closed state of the spout element, the lower end of the hinge element 5 projects downwards beyond the lower end of the upper part 4A of the anchor ring 4 in the direction of the locking flange 1. Furthermore, the lower region of the base element 2 is provided with a number of ribs 7 that project outward in the direction of the anchor ring 4 and extend perpendicular to the locking flange 1. These center the anchor ring 4 relative to the base element 2 and ensure uniform friction when the anchor ring 4 is twisted.

[0038] Figure 3 shows the base element 2 of the spout element shown in Figure 1. It can be seen that the base element 2 has an external thread 8, by means of which a screw cap 3, not shown in Figure 3, can be screwed onto the base element 2. The base element 2 further has an outwardly projecting radially peripheral collar 9 on its outer surface above the ribs 7.

[0039] Furthermore, a cutting element 10 is recognizable inside the base element 2. The cutting element 10 forms a spout inside the spout element upon first opening of the laminated package by unscrewing the screw cap 3.

[0040] Figure 4 shows the spout element in an unopened state in a vertical section. It can be seen from Figure 4 that in the upper region of the anchor ring 4, the outer circumferential surface of the collar 9 contacts the inner surface of the anchor ring 4. According to the invention, the anchor ring 4 has a radially circumferential web 11 at its lower end. The web 11 faces towards the base element 2 and is arranged below the collar 9 provided on the base element 2. This prevents the anchor ring 4 from being pulled out beyond the collar 9. Since the collar 9 is arranged in the upper region of the anchor ring 4 in the unopened state of the spout element, when the screw cap 3 is unscrewed, the anchor ring 4, and thus the hinge element 5, can move axially upwards until the web 11 contacts the collar 9.

[0041] In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 4, the opening means is recognizable. It consists of a cutting element 10 arranged inside the base element 2 and a plurality of driver webs 12 arranged inside the screw cap 3 and connected to the screw cap 3 in a materially bonded manner. When the laminated package is first opened, the cutting element 10 having an external thread 13 is carried by the driver webs 12 and the internal threads 14 formed in the base element 2, so that by unscrewing the screw cap 3 towards the laminated package, a spout is formed inside the spout element. It is clearly recognizable that the driver webs 12 project below the outer periphery of the screw cap 3 so as to project from the inside of the screw cap 3 in the pivoted open state.

[0042] Finally, FIGS. 5 to 8 show the function of the spout element according to the invention during the opening process of the screw cap 3.

[0043] Figure 5 shows the spout element at the start of the unscrewing process of the screw cap 3. It can be seen from this figure that the anchor ring 4 is connected to the base element 2 in a radially rotatable manner so that the anchor ring 4 moves with the rotational movement of the screw cap 3.

[0044] Figure 6 shows the spout element in which the screw cap 3 has already been unscrewed but is still in the closed position. The left side of Figure 6 shows the spout element in a side view, while the right side of Figure 6 shows a vertical section. Due to the upward movement of the screw cap 3, the anchor ring 4 and therefore the hinge element 5 have also moved upward. In this state, the collar 9 provided on the base element 2 and the web 11 arranged on the anchor ring come into contact with each other. As a result of the screw cap 3 being brought upward, the slot 6 has expanded axially at least in the center, so that the pivot axis of the hinge element 5 has been moved further axially upward.

[0045] Figure 7 shows the spout element together with the laminated packaging in the open state with the screw cap 3 pivoted off. As in Figure 6, it can also be seen in this figure that the anchor ring 4 cannot slide past the collar 9 because, despite its rotatability relative to the base element 2, it is axially connected to the base element 2 in a tensioned manner. As a result, pulling out of the anchor ring 4, and thus the screw cap 3, is reliably prevented.

[0046] Additionally, it can be seen from Figure 7 that by pivoting the screw cap 3 open, both upper portions 4A of the anchor ring 4, which establish a connection to the hinge element 5, twist at one end but do not tear. By pivoting the screw cap 3 open, the hinge element 5 rotates in the direction of the slot 6 and bends as shown in Figure 8, so that the screw cap 3 is locked in its open position with an opening angle of 120° to 150° with respect to its pivot opening. The screw cap 3 is still free to rotate radially in its locked open position, although an external force must be applied to enable rotation due to increased frictional resistance.

[0047] 7 and 8, it can be clearly seen that the driver web 12 of the opening means protrudes from the inside of the screw cap 3 in the pivoted open state.

[0048] 7 and 8, it can be inferred that a strip 15, which functions as a tamper-evident seal, is attached to the anchor ring 4. One end of the strip 15 is rigidly connected to the anchor ring 4, and the other end is connected to the anchor ring 4 by a predetermined breaking point, so that when the screw cap 3 is first unscrewed, the predetermined breaking point is ruptured by a mandrel element 16 arranged on the locking flange 1.

[0049] Figure 9 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a spout element according to the invention in a perspective view without a laminated packaging. This spout element has a peripheral fastening flange 1' and a screw cap 3', as in the first exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1. An anchor ring 4' is located below the screw cap 3' and, as in the first exemplary embodiment, is connected to it in a rotationally fixed manner in order to anchor the screw cap 3' to a base element (not visible in Figure 9). The embodiment of the screw cap 3' and the underlying anchor ring 4' exactly corresponds to the first exemplary embodiment of Figure 1.

[0050] However, in this exemplary embodiment, another ring 17 is positioned below anchor ring 4' and is integrally connected to anchor ring 4' by a plurality of material bridges 18.

[0051] Figure 10 firstly corresponds approximately to the vertical cross-section of Figure 4. Reference can therefore be made to the description of the screw cap 3', the anchor ring 4' and the cutting element 10'. However, a (separate) ring 17 is clearly visible below the anchor ring 4'. The ring 17 is designed as a tamper-evident seal. For this purpose, the ring 17 has a number of inwardly projecting webs 19 distributed over its entire periphery. These webs 19 come into contact with corresponding locking elements 20 projecting from the base element 2' when the screw cap 3' is first unscrewed, as will be explained in more detail below, and prevent further rotation of the ring 17.

[0052] Figure 11 shows the spout element of Figure 9 in a horizontal cross section along line XI-XI of Figure 10. In this view, the peripheral ring 17 is clearly visible, from which a number of webs 19, 19A and 19B project inward. To ensure that the ring 17 does not rotate together with the anchor ring 4' when the screw cap 3' is unscrewed, the base element 2' has a number of outwardly projecting locking elements 20, 20A and 20B. The locking elements 20, 20A and 20B cooperate with said webs 19, 19A and 19B in such a way that, when unscrewed, the ring 17 prevents the material bridge 18 arranged above the ring 17 from breaking off and thus no longer preventing further rotation of the anchor ring 4'.

[0053] 11 and 12, it can be clearly seen that the base element 2' has an outwardly protruding, generally circumferential collar 21 on its outer surface. The inside diameter of the collar 21 is smaller than the inside distance between the webs 19 of the oppositely arranged rings 17. This ensures that the rings 17 are prevented from moving from their lower positions 17 on the base element 2', even when the screw cap is unscrewed. This ensures that the rings 17 do not enter the environment as "loose plastic parts".

[0054] 13 shows a further embodiment of a spout element according to the invention. In this embodiment, the upper side of the fastening flange 1" of the spout element is connected to the inside of the laminated package P. The corresponding laminated package P has a material gap at the site of the subsequent spout. For assembly, the spout element is guided inside the laminated package P, positioned in the area of ​​the material gap and then connected to the inside of the laminated package P, for example by means of ultrasound. In this configuration of the invention, in the unopened state the base element 2" is internally sealed to the package side, so that in the unopened state the product in the laminated package P cannot flow into the spout element.

[0055] The opening means of this spout element comprises an opening element 22 which is arranged inside the base element 2" in the unopened state and which is connected in a materially fixed manner to the base element 2", and two force transmission elements 23 which are arranged inside the screw cap 3" and which are connected in a materially fixed manner to the screw cap 3". Each of the force transmission elements 23 is provided at its downwardly facing end with a hook 24 which projects radially inwards. Corresponding locations on the opening elements 22 are provided with recesses 25 into which the hooks 24 of the force transmission elements 23 engage, so as to provide a form-fit connection in the assembled state. Predetermined radial circumferential breaking points 26 are provided where the base element 2" and the opening elements 22 are materially connected to one another. This materially fixed connection can be easily severed when the screw cap 3' is unscrewed. It can clearly be seen that the opening elements 22 project below the outer periphery of the screw cap 3" so as to project from the inside of the screw cap 3" in the pivot-open state.

Claims

1. A reclosable spout element for a cardboard / plastic laminated package (P), in particular a beverage package, said spout element comprising a base element (2, 2', 2") having a peripheral fastening flange (1, 1', 1") and an external thread (10), an opening means arranged inside said base element (2, 2', 2") at least in the unopened state of said spout element, and a screw cap (3, 3', 3") having an internal thread, wherein an anchor ring (4, 4', 4") is arranged below said screw cap (3, 3', 3") and is rotationally fixed to said screw cap (3, 3', 3") a spout element connected to said base element (2, 2', 2") so as to be radially rotatable around said base element (2, 2', 2") and axially in a tension-resistant manner, said anchor ring (4, 4', 4") being articulatedly connected to said screw cap (3, 3', 3") via a hinge element (5, 5') whose pivot axis is aligned tangentially with respect to the outer periphery of said screw cap (3, 3', 3") in order to keep said screw cap (3, 3', 3") securely attached to said base element (2, 2', 2") even in an unthreaded state, The opening means is designed such that, when the laminated package (P) is first opened, the laminate of the package (P) or a barrier layer located on the base element (2, 2', 2") is broken by unscrewing the screw cap (3, 3', 3"), and a spout is formed inside the spout element; the base element (2, 2', 2") has an outwardly protruding, generally circumferential collar (9, 9', 9") on its outer surface; and the anchoring ring The anchor rings (4, 4', 4") have at their lower ends substantially circumferential webs (11, 11', 11") facing the base element (2, 2', 2") and arranged below the collars (9, 9', 9") to prevent the anchor rings (4, 4', 4") from being pulled out beyond the collars (9, 9', 9"), and when the screw caps (3, 3', 3") are unscrewed, the webs (11, 11', 11") contact the collars (9, 9', 9") the collar (9, 9', 9") is arranged in the upper region of the anchor ring (4, 4', 4") in the unopened state in the axial direction so that the hinge element (5, 5') can move in the axial direction until it contacts the anchor ring (4, 4', 4"); and when the screw cap (3, 3', 3") is pivoted off, the pivot axis of the hinge element (5, 5') is arranged in the upper half of the base element (2, 2', 2") in the axial direction. a plurality of ribs (7, 7', 7") are provided on the base element (2, 2', 2") below the collar (9, 9', 9"), protruding outward in the direction of the anchor ring (4, 4', 4") and extending perpendicular to the fastening flange (1, 1', 1"), the ribs (7, 7', 7") centering the anchor ring (4, 4', 4") with respect to the base element (2, 2', 2").

2. 2. The spout element according to claim 1, wherein the anchor ring (4, 4', 4") has a circumferentially extending slot (6, 6') which separates a portion of the anchor ring (4, 4', 4") into a plurality of upper portions (4A, 4A') and lower portions (4B, 4B'), the upper portions (4A, 4A') and lower portions (4B, 4B') being spaced apart from one another in the axial direction.

3. 3. The spout element according to claim 2, wherein the screw cap (3, 3', 3") in the pivoted-open state is locked in its open position by the hinge element (5, 5') at an opening angle of 120° to 150° with respect to its pivoted opening.

4. 4. A spout element according to claim 3, characterized in that the screw cap (3, 3', 3") is radially rotatable in its locked open position.

5. 2. The spout element according to claim 1, characterized in that when the screw cap (3, 3', 3") is pivoted off, the pivot axis of the hinge element (5, 5') is located in the upper third of the base element (2, 2', 2") in the axial direction.

6. 6. The spout element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a further ring (17) is arranged below the anchor ring (4') and is connected to the anchor ring (4') via a number of material bridges (18), said ring (17) acting as a tamper-evident seal.

7. 7. The spout element according to claim 6, characterized in that webs (19) projecting inward from the ring (17) are blocked by a plurality of locking elements (20) arranged around the entire periphery of the base element (2') so that when the screw cap (3') is first unscrewed, the material bridge (18) is torn off, thereby releasing the ring (17) from the anchor ring (4') and keeping it in its position on the base element (2'), so that the ring (17) can only be twisted until the webs (19) abut against the locking elements (20).

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