Closure unit for a thin-walled flexible bag

Abstract

A closure unit (100) for a spout assembly (4) of a thin- walled flexible bag (2) comprises a closure ( 6; 206 ) having a cap (62), a tamper evident collar (74), and a plurality of breakable bridges (84) connecting the cap (62) to the tamper evident collar (74), and a tamper evident ring (90) having a connection portion (92) and a tamper evident partition (96). In an initial unbroken closure configuration, the tamper evident partition (96) is at least partially housed in a tamper evident housing (102) externally radially delimited by the tamper evident collar (74), and, in a broken closure configuration, the bridges (84) are broken and the tamper evident partition (96) is interposed between the cap and the tamper evident collar (74) to make the first opening visible.

Description

"CLOSURE UNIT FOR A THIN-WALLED FLEXIBLE BAG"DESCRIPTIONField of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of closures for spouts of thin-walled flexible bags , generally referred to as "pouches" . In particular, the subject matter of the present invention is a closure unit provided with a tamper evident seal to make the first opening of the package visible .Prior art

[0002] In recent years , the use of pouches for various purposes has become widespread, for example for containing food products, such as juices and fruit purees , yoghurt , energy drinks , or for containing detergents , cleaning products , household products , and the like . Nowadays , several hundreds of millions of units are produced each year .

[0003] Very often, the pouches are provided with a spout to easily pour the product . The spout is closed by a closure typically provided with a tamper evident seal, generally referred to as "tamper evident" , capable of making the first opening of the package visible . This requirement is particularly important in the case of packages for food products .

[0004] At the same time, manufacturers of closures arerequired to devise solutions that use the minimum amount of plastic, for environmental sustainability reasons . Object of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a closure unit that is environmentally sustainable and provided with an effective tamper evident seal, that is , such as to make the first opening of the package particularly visible .

[0006] This purpose is achieved by a closure unit according to attached claim 1 . The dependent claims identify further advantageous embodiments of the invention .Brief description of the figures

[0007] The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, provided by way of non-limiting example, in accordance with the figures of the accompanying drawings , in which :

[0008] - Figure 1 depicts a package provided with a spout assembly and a closure unit , according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] - Figure 2a shows a spout as sembly, according to one embodiment ;

[0010] - Figure 2b is an axial sectional view of the spout assembly of figure 2a;

[0011] Figure 3a illustrates a closure of the closure unit;

[0012] - Figure 3b is a plan view of the closure of figure 3a;

[0013] - Figure 3c is a side view of the closure of figure 3a;

[0014] - Figure 3d is an axial cross-sectional view of the closure of figure 3a;

[0015] - Figure 3e is a sectional view of the closure of figure 3a;

[0016] - Figure 4 illustrates a closure unit according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] - Figure 5a shows a tamper evident ring of the closure unit;

[0018] - Figure 5b is a sectional view of the tamper evident ring;

[0019] - Figures 6a and 6b are sectional views of a closure assembly, according to one embodiment of the present invention, in an initial unbroken closure configuration;

[0020] - Figure 7 is a sectional view of the closure assembly in an open configuration;

[0021] - Figure 8 is a sectional view of the closure assembly in a broken closure configuration;

[0022] - Figure 9a shows a closure assembly in abroken closure configuration, according to an embodiment with a dome;

[0023] - Figure 9b shows a closure of the closure assembly of figure 9a;

[0024] - Figure 9c is a sectional view of the closure of figure 9b;

[0025] - Figure 10a shows a package with a closure assembly, according to an embodiment with wings;

[0026] - Figure 10b shows a closure of the closure assembly of figure 10a; and

[0027] - Figure 10c shows a closure assembly of the package of figure 10a.Description of the invention

[0028] With reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, the reference number 1 denotes overall a package comprising a thin-walled flexible bag 2, a spout assembly 4 applied, for example welded, to an upper edge 2a of the bag 2, and a closure 6 applied to the spout assembly 4.

[0029] The spout assembly 4, preferably made in one piece of plastic material, for example by injection moulding, comprises a tubular spout wall 42 having a central axis X, open at an upper end by a spout mouth 44.

[0030] The spout wall 42 is provided on the external lateral surface with a thread 46 for screwing andunscrewing the closure 6 .

[0031] The spout assembly 4 further comprises a retaining ring 48 , located at the base of the spout wall 42 , coaxial therewith and protruding radially outward therefrom, laterally delimited by a f rustoconical ring surface 50 , converging towards the central axis X on the side of the spout mouth 44 .

[0032] The spout assembly 4 further comprises a top plate 52 , which extends substantially on a plane orthogonal to the central axis X, axially spaced from the retaining ring 48 , on the opposite side to the spout mouth 44 .

[0033] Between the retaining ring 48 and the top plate 52 an axially delimited tamper evident housing 53 remains .

[0034] The spout assembly 4 further comprises a bottom plate 54 , which extends substantially on a plane orthogonal to the central axis X, axially spaced from the top plate 52 , on the opposite side to the spout mouth 44 .

[0035] Finally, the spout assembly 4 comprises a fixing portion 56, axially adjacent to the bottom plate 54 , commonly referred to as "welding boat" , intended for welding between the walls of the upper edge 2a of the bag 2 .

[0036] Internally, the spout assembly 4 is hollow andhas a main duct 58 coaxial with the central axis X extending from the spout mouth 44 to an inner mouth 60 for the passage of the product .

[0037] The closure 6, made in a single piece of plastic material , for example by injection moulding, comprises a cap 62 consisting of an annular cap wall 64 having a central cap axis Z which, when the cap 62 is applied to the spout assembly 4 , is coaxial with the spout axis X .

[0038] The cap wall 64 is provided with an internal thread 66 for screwing onto the thread 46 of the spout wall 42 .

[0039] The cap 62 further comprises a cap base 68 which, at an upper end of the cap wall 64 , closes said cap wall 64 . The cap base 68 provides the closure of the spout mouth 44 by coming into contact with the spout wall 42 along an annular edge that circumferentially delimits said spout mouth 44 .

[0040] The cap 62 further comprises an annular tamper evident portion 70 , axially adjacent to the cap wall 64 at a lower end thereof , opposite to the cap base 68 .

[0041] Preferably, the tamper evident portion 70 has an outer side surface 70 ' which protrudes radially outward with respect to an outer side surface 64 ' of the cap wall 64 . For example , the outer side surface 70 ' ofthe tamper evident portion 70 comprises a divergent region 70a, curved or f rustoconical, adjacent to the outer side surface 64 ' of the cap wall 64 , and a cylindrical region 70b .

[0042] The tamper evident portion 70 is delimited at the bottom by a cap tamper evident surface 72 in the form of a circular crown, which lies substantially on a plane orthogonal to the cap axis Z .

[0043] The closure 6 further comprises a tamper evident collar 74 , axially adjacent to the cap 62 on the side of the tamper evident portion 70 , below the latter . Preferably, the tamper evident collar 74 is externally delimited by a cylindrical outer side surface 76, preferably continuous or segmentally continuous , preferably lying on the same imaginary cylindrical surface on which the cylindrical region 70b of the outer side surface of the tamper evident portion 70 lies .

[0044] Internally, the tamper evident collar 74 has a tamper evident ridge 78 protruding radially inward and suitable for being snap-fitted into the tamper evident housing 53 of the spout assembly 4 . In particular, the tamper evident ridge 78 is delimited at the bottom by a f rustoconical ridge surface 80 , converging towards the cap axis Z from the side of the cap base 68 , to facilitate the snap engagement with the retaining ring48 , sliding against the ring surface 50 for insertion from above .

[0045] At the top, the tamper evident collar 74 is delimited by a collar tamper evident surface 82 in the form of a circular crown, which lies substantially on a plane orthogonal to the cap axis Z and faces the cap tamper evident surface 72 and is axially spaced therefrom .

[0046] The closure 6 further comprises a plurality of breakable bridges 84 that connect the cap 62 , and in particular the tamper evident portion 70 , to the tamper evident collar 74 ; in particular, the bridges 84 join the cap tamper evident surface 72 to the collar tamper evident surface 82 , arranged for example angularly equidistant .

[0047] Preferably, to facilitate the transition to an open configuration in which the bridges are broken, said bridges become thinner from the cap tamper evident surface 72 to the collar tamper evident surface 82 .

[0048] A closure unit 100 according to the present invention comprises the closure 6 described above and a tamper evident ring 90 , at least partially flexible, at least partially housed in the cap 62 .

[0049] In particular, the tamper evident ring 90 comprises a connection portion 92 , externally delimitedby an annular connection surface 94 , shaped to be snap- engaged inside the tamper evident portion 70 of the cap 62 , and a tamper evident partition 96, axially adjacent to the connection portion 92 and connected thereto by a hinge wall 98 , annular, continuous or segmentally continuous , flexible . The total length of the hinge wall 98 and the tamper evident partition 96 is such as to be greater than the maximum external diameter of the tamper evident portion 70 .

[0050] Preferably, in a rest configuration, the tamper evident partition 96 extends along a direction inclined between 120 ° and 150 ° with respect to a plane orthogonal to the direction of the cap axis Z , preferably 135 ° .

[0051] According to one embodiment , the tamper evident ring 90 is made in one piece of plastic material, for example by injection moulding, and applied subsequently to the closure 6 , for example by engaging it therewith through an upward translation resulting in a snap engagement of the connection portion 92 in the tamper evident portion 70 . To this end, the connection portion 92 comprises , for example, an annular tooth 92 ' , continuous or segmentally continuous , protruding radially outward, suitable for being snap-engaged in an annular recess 70 ' ' formed internally to the tamper evident portion 70 of the cap 62 .

[0052] According to a variant embodiment, the tamper evident ring is co-moulded inside the closure during the injection moulding of the closure itself.

[0053] In a first configuration or initial unbroken configuration, the closure unit 100 is applied to the spout assembly 4 (figures 6a and 6b) .

[0054] In this configuration, the cap 62 is screwed onto the spout wall 64 and the cap base 68 sealingly closes the spout mouth 44 of the spout assembly 4. Furthermore, the tamper evident collar 74 is axially engaged with the spout assembly 4; in particular, the tamper evident ridge 78 is housed in the tamper evident housing 53, axially confined between the top plate 52 and the retaining ring 48 of the spout assembly 4.

[0055] The tamper evident ridge 78 therefore constitutes an example of axial retaining means of the tamper evident collar to the spout assembly.

[0056] In this configuration moreover, the bridges 84 are intact and connect the tamper evident portion 70 of the cap 62 to the tamper evident collar 74, and in particular they join the cap tamper evident surface 72 to the collar tamper evident surface 82.

[0057] In this configuration, furthermore, the tamper evident ring 90 is engaged with the closure 6 underneath the cap 62, that is, on the opposite side to the cap base68 ; for example, the connection portion 92 is housed inside the tamper evident portion 70 , while the tamper evident partition 96, which is in an elastically preloaded tensional state, is at least partially housed in a tamper evident housing 102 within the closure 6, between said closure 6 and the spout assembly 4 , and in particular between the bridges 84 and the tamper evident collar 74 on one side and the retaining ring 48 on the other . The tamper evident partition 96 assumes a substantially cylindrical configuration .

[0058] During unscrewing of the closure 6 from the spout assembly 4 , the tamper evident collar 74 abuts axially against the retaining ring 48 and, due to friction, undergoes a resistance to free rotation in the tamper evident housing 53 ; in contrast , the cap 62 is forced to rotate by the action of the user . This causes the breakage of the bridges 84 and thus the separation of the cap 62 from the tamper evident collar 74 , which remains in the tamper evident housing 53 .

[0059] Therefore, by unscrewing the closure 6 from the spout assembly 4 , a transition occurs from the initial unbroken configuration to a second configuration or open configuration ( figure 7 ) .

[0060] In this configuration, the cap 62 is unscrewed from the spout wall 64 and the spout mouth 44 is notobstructed . The bridges 84 are broken and the cap 62 is separated from the tamper evident collar 74 , which is housed in the tamper evident housing 53 .

[0061] In this configuration, moreover, the tamper evident ring 90 remains engaged with the cap 62 , while the tamper evident partition 96 exits the tamper evident housing 102 and, due to elastic tension return, expands radially outward, assuming a f rustoconical configuration .

[0062] In this configuration, the tamper evident partition 96 is also arranged below the tamper evident portion 70 of the cap 62 , preferably protruding radially outward therefrom .

[0063] By subsequently screwing the cap 62 back onto the spout assembly 4 , a transition occurs from the open configuration to a third configuration or broken closure configuration ( figure 8 ) .

[0064] In this configuration, the cap 62 is screwed onto the spout wall 64 such that the spout mouth 44 is closed by the cap base 68 . The cap is obviously separated from the tamper evident collar 74 because the bridges 84 are broken, the tamper evident ring 90 is still engaged with the cap 62 , but the tamper evident partition 96 is interposed between the cap tamper evident surface 72 and the collar tamper evident surface 82 and protrudes radially outward from the closure 6 since the totallength of the tamper evident hinge 98 and the tamper evident partition 96 is greater than the maximum external diameter of the tamper evident portion 70 . Thus , it is clearly visible that the first opening of the package has occurred, particularly if the tamper evident hinge and / or the tamper evident partition are chromatically contrasting with the closure .

[0065] According to one embodiment of the invention ( figures 9a, 9b and 9c) , the closure 6 further comprises a dome 110 comprising an annular dome wall 112 coaxial to the cap axis Z , radially spaced from the cap wall 64 . The dome wall 112 is delimited at the top by an annular upper dome edge 114 delimiting a dome window 116 and at the bottom by an annular lower dome edge 118 having a circumferentially undulating profile .

[0066] For example, the upper dome edge 114 is contained in an imaginary upper plane S, orthogonal to the cap axis Z , arranged above the cap base 68 ; for example, moreover, the lower dome edge 118 is instead tangential at the bottom to an imaginary lower plane I placed above the lower end of the cap wall 64 .

[0067] Preferably, the closure 6 comprises a plurality of fins 120 , preferably arranged on imaginary radial planes , joining the inner side surface of the dome wall 112 to the outer side surface of the cap wall 64 ,preferably angularly equidistant.

[0068] According to a further embodiment of the invention (figures 10a, 10b and 10c) , a closure 206 comprises a pair of wings 208, wherein each wing 208 protrudes radially outward from the cap 62 and in particular from the outer side surface of the cap wall 64.

[0069] The wings 208 give the closure 206 a total diametral width L. Having defined D as the outer diameter of the tamper evident collar 74 of the closure 206, the dimensional ratio L / D is between 3 and 4 (3 < L / D < 4) , preferably equal to 3.7.

[0070] Preferably, the wings 208 are symmetrical with respect to the cap axis Z.

[0071] Preferably, moreover, each wing 208 has an upper wing edge 210 and a lower wing edge 212, which delimit it at the top and bottom, diverging outward from each other, and a thin wing panel 214, which extends radially and axially and joins said edges 210, 212.

[0072] According to a variant embodiment (for example, in figure 10b) , the tamper evident collar 74 has a plurality of windows 374 radially passing through said tamper evident collar, each window being formed at a respective tamper evident ridge 378. Advantageously, said windows 374 facilitate the moulding of the closure 6.

[0073] According to yet another embodiment (not shown) , the cap and the spout assembly are snap- engageable with each other for closing; furthermore, the spout wall provides an inner cam and the cap wall a corresponding inner counter-cam which, by sliding engagement with the inner cam of the spout wall, allows unscrewing .

[0074] Innovatively, the closure unit according to the present invention meets the needs of the sector as it allows making the first opening of the package particularly visible ; at the same time, it overcomes the drawbacks of the known art , especially regarding environmental sustainability, since the components are particularly simple and lightweight and the use of plastic material is reduced compared to known solutions .

[0075] It is understood that a person skilled in the art , in order to meet specific requirements , could make changes to the closure unit described above, all of which are within the scope of protection defined by the following claims .

Claims

Claims1. A closure unit (100) for a spout assembly (4) of a thin-walled flexible bag (2) , comprising:- a closure (6; 206) made in a single piece of a plastic material, comprising: i) a cap (62) comprising an annular cap wall (64) having a central cap axis (Z) , a cap base (68) and a tamper evident portion (70) axially adjacent to the cap wall (64) at an end opposite to the cap base (68) , wherein the tamper evident portion (70) is delimited at the bottom by a cap tamper evident surface (72) ; ii) a tamper evident collar (74) , axially adjacent to the cap (62) , delimited at the top by a collar tamper evident surface (82) axially facing the cap tamper evident surface (72) and axially spaced apart therefrom, said tamper evident collar comprising axial retaining means with respect to the spout assembly (4) ; iii) a plurality of breakable bridges (84) connecting the cap (62) to the tamper evident collar (74) , wherein said bridges (84) , in an initial unbroken closure configuration, join the cap tamper evident surface (72) to the collar tamper evident surface (82) ;- a tamper evident ring (90) made in a single piece of a plastic material, comprising: i) a connection portion (92) applied inside the tamperevident portion (70) of the cap (62) , and ii) a tamper evident partition (96) , adjacent to the connection portion (92) and connected thereto by a flexible hinge wall (98) , configured to protrude radially outward from the tamper evident portion (70) ;- wherein: a) in the initial unbroken closure configuration, the tamper evident partition (96) is at least partially accommodated in a tamper evident housing (102) externally radially delimited by the tamper evident collar (74) ; b) in a broken closure configuration, the bridges (84) are broken and the tamper evident partition (96) is interposed between the cap tamper evident surface (72) and the collar tamper evident surface (82) and radially protrudes outside the closure (6; 206) to make the first opening visible.

2. A closure unit according to claim 1, wherein in the initial unbroken closure configuration, the tamper evident ring (90) is in an elastically preloaded tensional state to allow the tamper evident partition (96) to expand into the broken closure configuration.

3. A closure unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connection portion (92) of the tamper evident ring (90) is completely contained in the tamper evident portion (70) of the cap (62) .

4. A closure unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tamper evident portion (70) has an outer side surface (70' ) which protrudes radially outward with respect to an outer side surface (64' ) of the cap wall (64) .

5. A closure unit according to claim 4, wherein the outer side surface (70' ) of the tamper evident portion (70) comprises a curved or f rustoconical divergent region (70a) , adjacent to the outer side surface (64' ) of the cap wall (64) , and a cylindrical region (70b) .

6. A closure unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tamper evident ring (90) is snap- engaged inside the tamper evident portion (70) .

7. A closure unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tamper evident ring (90) is co-molded to the closure (6; 206) .

8. A closure unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap tamper evident surface (72) lies on a plane orthogonal to the cap axis (Z) and the collar tamper evident surface (82) lies on a plane orthogonal to the cap axis (Z) .

9. A closure unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bridges (84) , in the initial unbroken closure configuration, become thinner from the cap tamper evident surface (72) to the collar tamper evident surface(82) .

10. A closure unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure (6) comprises a dome (110) comprising an annular dome wall (112) coaxial to the cap axis (Z) , radially spaced apart from the cap wall (64) and integral therewith.

11. A closure unit according to claim 10, wherein the dome wall (112) is delimited at the top by an annular upper dome edge (114) delimiting a dome window (116) and at the bottom by an annular lower dome edge (118) , wherein the upper dome edge (114) is contained in an imaginary upper plane (S) , orthogonal to the cap axis (Z) , arranged above the cap base (68) and the lower dome edge (118) is tangential at the bottom to an imaginary lower plane (I) placed above a lower end of the cap wall (64) .

12. A closure unit according to claim 11, wherein the lower dome edge (118) has a circumferentially undulating profile .

13. A closure unit according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the closure (6) comprises a plurality of fins (120) which join an inner side surface of the dome wall (112) to an outer side surface of the cap wall (64) to make the dome (110) integral with the cap (62) .

14. A closure unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9,wherein the closure (206) comprises a pair of wings (208) , wherein each wing (208) protrudes radially outward from an outer side surface of the cap wall (64) .

15. A closure unit according to claim 14, wherein the wings (208) give the closure (206) a total diametral width (L) and, having defined an outer diameter (D) of the tamper evident collar (74) of the closure (206) , the dimensional ratio (L / D) is between 3 and 4 (3 < L / D < 4) , preferably equal to 3.7.

16. A closure unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure (6; 206) is screwable to the spout assembly (4) .

17. A closure unit according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the closure is snap-engageable with the spout assembly (4) in order to close it.

18. A closure unit according to claim 17, comprising a cam system for disengaging the closure from the spout assembly .

19. A closure unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tamper evident collar (74) has a plurality of windows (374) radially passing through said tamper evident collar, each window being obtained at a respective tamper evident ridge (378) of the axial retaining means .

20. A closure assembly comprising:- a closure unit (6; 206) according to any one of claims 1 to 19;- a spout assembly (4) having a spout mouth (44) for the product to flow out;- wherein the closure unit (6; 206) is applied to the spout assembly (4) to close it, and in the initial unbroken closure configuration, the tamper evident partition (96) is at least partially accommodated in a tamper evident housing (102) radially delimited externally by the tamper evident collar (74) and internally by a retaining ring (48) of the spout assembly (4) .

21. A closure assembly according to claim 20, wherein- in the initial unbroken closure configuration, the cap base (68) closes the spout mouth (44) coming into contact with the spout wall (42) .

22. A package (1) comprising:- a thin-walled flexible bag (2) ;- a closure assembly (1) according to claim 20 or 21;- wherein the spout assembly (4) of the closure assembly (1) is welded between the walls of an upper edge (2a) of the bag (2 ) .

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