Device for packaging and dispensing a product having a flexible
pouch and a single-piece spout
5
The present invent ion relates to the general fie ld of containers
for packaging and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid product such as, a
cosmet ic product such as a hair product, and more particularly to hair10
care product such as hair serum, hair coloring, hair oil, cream hair, or
to product used for washing such as body wash, or to skin care product
such as body or face cream, c leansing product or to any product used
for hair-care or skin-care.
More particularly the present invent ion relates to flexible
15 containers for packaging and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid
product.
The expression "cosmet ic product" is understood to mean a
product as defined in Art ic le 2 of Regulat ion No. 1223/2009 of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009.
20 Such products are convent iona lly stored in a rigid packaging
having a body compris ing a closed end and an opposite opened end
secured to a closure having a spout or nozzle for dispensing the
product. The opened end is generally provided with a thread on which
is screwed said closure. However, such rigid packaging is designed to
25 contain a large quant ity of product, and is not adequate to provide a
weekly dose of the product for one week time applicat ion.
It is known to store weekly dose of a product in a flexible
packaging such as a pouch or sachet made of two laminated sheets
sealed together at their periphery for delimit ing a cavity receiving said
30 product. The flexible pouch is provided with an opening sealed to a
closure or spout having a nozzle for dispensing the product. The spout
generally comprises a screw cap or press-fit cap for closing the nozzle
before or after use.
However, in a humid use environment such as a bathroom, it is
35 particularly difficult to unscrew or pull the cap from the nozzle for
3
using the product and to screw or press it back on the nozzle.
Furthermore, such spout of a flexible pouch necessitates the use of two
hands.
Referenced can be made to document US 2012/0168461-A1
(Diversapack LLC) which describes a rigid container for a flexibl5 e
pouch having a housing, a hinged cap and an aperture through which a
fitment extends. The fitment comprises a fitment base secured to a top
portion of the pouch for distribut ing the product contained in said
pouch. The fitment further comprises an upper part extending from the
10 fitment base and provided with threads on which is screwed a hinged
cap.
However, with such a design, the use of two hands is required
to screw or unscrew the hinged cap from the fitment. The hinged cap
needs to be removed ent irely from the fitment or spout before use,
15 which is not particularly handy in a moist environment such as a
bathroom.
Referenced can also be made to document WO 2007/127982 –
A2 (PPI Technologies) which describes a flexible pouch with a tube
spout fitment and a removable cap. The tube spout fitment comprises a
20 base and a tube spout of generally cylindrical shape project ing
upwardly from the base. The removable cap, of generally cylindric a l
shape, comprises a retained portion fixed to the tube spout and a
removable portion that can be separated from the retained portion
along a weakened line of separat ion.
25 Here, the use of two hands is also needed to separate the
removable portion from the retained portion of the cap. Furthermore,
the removable cap has a part icularly complex structure which increase s
manufacturing t ime and costs.
The aim of the present invent ion is to overcome the
30 aforement ioned drawbacks.
One aim of the present invent ion is to provide a weekly-dose
or applicat ion device for packaging and dispensing a product of simple
structure, easy to manufacture and of very low manufacturing costs.
4
Another aim of the present invent ion is to provide a closure for
such package easy to be operated with a new hand gesture.
The object of the present invent ion is to provide a device for
packaging and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid product comprising a
flexible pouch delimit ing at least one product cavity suitable fo5 r
containing said product, and an air t ight spout having a base portion
fixedly attached in a sealed manner to an opening of the flexible
pouch, said base portion comprising at least one passageway in
communicat ion with said product cavity of the flexible pouch.
10 The spout comprises a dispens ing member project ing outside
of the flexible pouch and having at least one dispensing orifice in
communicat ion with the passageway of the base port ion, and a cap
comprising a sealing stud and pivotably mounted on said dispensing
member via at least one hinge between a closed posit ion into which the
15 sealing stud sealing engages said dispensing orifice and an opened
posit ion of said dispensing orifice.
The base portion, the dispensing membe r and the cap of the
spout are a single piece made from moulding of plast ic material, such
as for example polymer material, for example polypropylene or
20 polyethylene.
The pouch is thus sealed on a single piece flip top spout,
which reduces manufacturing time and costs since only one mould is
required to create the spout.
Furthermore, such device can be used with one single hand.
25 The consumer just has to flip open the cap for dispensing the product.
Fina lly, thanks to the at least one hinge, a possible loss of the
cap is avoided compared to the design of known caps.
Advantageously, at least one of the base portion and of the
dispensing member of the spout is, for example, of generally elongated
30 shape, such as for example ovoid or almond or diamond or canoe or
ellipt ical or parallelepiped shape or the like. In any case, the shape of
the base portion and of the dispensing member is not a cylinder. Such
5
particular shape facilitates the grip of the spout, notably in a wet
environment of use.
For example, the shape of the cap mates with the shape of the
dispensing member.
The cap may comprise a cover portion from which projects th5 e
sealing stud.
In one embodiment, the base portion of the spout comprises a
front wall and a rear wall joined to the front wall, the cavit y delimit ed
between said walls forming the passageway. Such spout is designed by
10 coring out material from the base port ion, reducing the weight of the
device.
In one embodiment, the dispensing member comprises a
dispensing surface onto which comes out the dispensing orifice. The
dispensing surface may have a dome shape or may be flat, or any
15 surface for easy swipe off of the product contained in the flexible
pouch.
In one embodiment, the cover comprises a lip extending from
the dispensing surface when the cap is in the closed posit ion. The lip
facilitates the opening of the cap with one hand.
20 In one embodiment, the dispensing member comprises a
dispensing nozz le having said dispensing orifice and protruding out of
said dispensing member, allowing the product to be dispensed direct ly
onto the hand of the consumer.
In one embodiment, the flexible pouch comprises a front and a
25 rear sheet each having a lower edge, an upper edge and two side edge s
extending between the upper and lower edges, the side edges of the
front sheet being bonded with the side edges of the rear sheet in a
sealed manner except at said opening located at the upper edge of each
sheet.
30 In another embodiment, the flexible pouch delimit s two closed
cavit ies each adapted to receive one product. A first closed cavity is,
for example, de limited by a front sheet and an intermediate sheet, and
a second closed cavity is, for example, delimited by said intermediate
6
sheet and a rear sheet. The side edges of the front sheet are bonded
with side edges of the intermediate sheet and the rear sheet in a sea led
manner except at an opening located at the upper edge of each sheet.
Advantageously, the base portion of the spout comprises an
axially extending partit ion designed to separate both products conta 5 in
in the two different closed cavit ies of the flexible pouch) and to allow
them to be dispensed outwardly without premixing in the flexible
pouch. The outer surface of the part it ion is a seal-engaging surface
welded to the outer surface of the opening of the int ermediate sheet,
10 for example by means of heat sea l.
In another embodiment, the first closed cavity is delimited by
a front sheet and a first intermediate sheet, and the second closed
cavity is delimited by a second intermediate sheet and a rear sheet,
side edges of the front sheet being bonded with s ide edges of the first
15 and second intermediate sheets and the rear sheet in a sealed manner
except at an opening located at the upper edge of each sheet, the outer
surface of said part it ion being a seal-engaging surface welded to the
outer surface of the opening of the first and second intermediat e
sheets.
20 Advantageously, the base portion compris ing two passageways
separated by said part it ion, each passageway emerging into one cavit y
of the flexible pouch.
The dispensing member may comprise a dispensing nozzle
having two dispensing orifices in communicat ion with the
25 corresponding passageway of the base portion.
The sealing stud of the cap comprises, for example, a centra l
groove dividing the sealing stud into two sub-studs each project ing
into the corresponding dispensing orifice of the dispensing nozzle
when the cap is in the closed posit ion. The central groove is designed
30 to cooperate with an end of the part it ion in the closed posit ion of the
cap.
The present invent ion will be better understood from studying
the detailed descript ion of a number of embodiments considered by
7
way of ent irely non-limit ing examples and illustrated by the attached
drawings in which:
- Figure 1 is a cross sect ion view of a device according to a
first embodiment of the present invent ion;
- Figures 2 and 3 are two perspect ive views of a spout of th5 e
device of figure 1;
- Figure 4 is a cross sect ion view of a device according to a
second embodiment of the present invent ion;
- Figures 5 and 6 are two perspect ive views of a spout of the
10 device of figure 4;
- Figure 7 is a cross sect ion view of a device according to a
third embodiment of the present invent ion;
- Figures 8 and 9 are two perspect ive views of a spout of the
device of figure 7;
15 - Figure 10 is a cross sect ion view of a device according to a
fourth embodiment of the present invent ion; and
- Figures 11 and 12 are two perspect ive views of a spout of the
device of figure 10.
Figures 1 to 3 show an example of a device for packaging and
20 dispensing a product, denoted by the general reference number 10.
The device 10 may be used for packaging cosmet ic products,
for example liquid or semi-liquid cosmet ic product, part icularly a hair
product, such as, hair-care product, for example, hair serum, hair dye,
hair oil, cream hair or the any product used for hair. However, it
25 might be possible to provide the packaging and dispensing of other
types of products. The device 10 is suited for weekly-dose products.
The expression "cosmet ic product" is understood to mean a
product as defined in Art icle 2 of Regulat ion No. 1223/2009 of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009.
30 The device 10 may also be used for packaging other types of
cosmet ics products such as skin care products, or other types of
products like food products, such as sauce, compote, juice, water or
any liquid or semi-liquid food product.
8
The device 10 extends along a longitudinal axis X-X’ assumed
to be vert ical on the Figures. The device 10 comprises a flexible pouch
12 or sachet compris ing two laminated sheets 14, 16 bonded together
so as to form a unitary receptacle or body of the flexible pouch 12
delimit ing a closed volume or cavity 12a adapted to receive th5 e
product. The receptacle is delimited by a front and a rear sheet 14, 16.
Each sheet 14, 16 is further defined by a lower edge 14a, 16a, an upper
edge 14b, 16b and two side edges (not shown) extending between the
upper and lower edges 14a, 14b; 16a, 16b. The side edges of the front
10 sheet 14 are bonded with the side edges of the rear sheet 16 in a sealed
manner except at an opening 18 located at the upper edge 14b, 16b o f
each sheet 14, 16.
The device 10 further comprises an air tight spout 20 or
closure fixedly attached in a sealed manner to an inner surface of the
15 opening 18 of the flexible pouch 12. The air tight spout is configured
to keep the product inside the flexible pouch in a stable condit ion.
As illustrated in details on Figures 2 and 3, the spout 20
comprises a base portion 22 of generally ovoid elongated shape which
outer surface forms a sea l-engaging surface welded to the inner
20 surface of the opening 18 of the flexible pouch 12 by means of heat
seal. The outer surface of the base portion 22 is further provided wit h
a plurality of project ing ridges 24. In an alternat ive, the seal-engaging
surface may be smooth, without ribs.
The base portion 22 further comprises a centrally located
25 cylindrically shaped passageway 26 extending through the centre of
the base portion 22, to provide access to the contents of the flexible
pouch 12.
The spout 20 further comprises a dispensing member 28
extending from the base portion 22 and project ing outside of the
30 flexible pouch 12. The dispensing member 28 is of generally ovoid
elongated shape having a dispensing surface 28a having a dome shape,
for easy swipe off of the product contained in the flexible pouch 12. In
an alternat ive, the dispensing surface may be flat. The dispensing
9
member 28 comprises a centrally located cylindrically shaped
dispensing nozzle 28b extending downwardly into the passageway 26
of the base portion 12 and having a dispensing orifice 28c in fluidly
communicat ion with the passageway 26. The dispensing orifice 28c
comes out on the dispensing surface 28a5 .
The spout 20 further comprises a cap 30 compris ing a cover
portion 32 and a sealing stud 34 project ing from the cover portion 32,
without extending beyond the cap 30.
The cover portion 32 has a shape mat ing with the shape of the
10 dispensing member 28 and is connected to said dispensing member 28
via a hinge 36 in order to be art iculated in an opened posit ion of use
shown on figures 1 to 3, in which the product contained in the flexible
pouch 12 may flow towards the outside on the dispensing surface o f
the dispensing member 28, and a closed posit ion where the sealing
15 stud 34 of the cap 30 projects into, and thereby sealingly engages, the
dispensing orifice 28c of the dispensing member 28.
The base portion 22, the dispensing member 28 and the cap 30
of the spout 20 are a single piece made from moulding of plast ic
material, such as polymer material, for example polyethylene (PE) or
20 polypropylene (PP). Since one mould would be required to design the
spout, manufacturing t ime and costs are reduced.
In order to use the device 10, the consumer just has to flip
open the cap 30 with one single hand for dispensing the product on the
dispensing surface 28a. The cap 30 can be hinged in the closed
25 posit ion a lso with one single hand.
Figures 4 to 6, in which ident ical parts are given ident ic a l
references, illustrates another example of the spout of Figures 1 to 3.
The device 10 comprises the flexible pouch 12 suitable for
containing the liquid or semi-liquid product and an air t ight spout 40
30 or closure fixedly attached in a sealed manner to an inner surface of
the opening 18 of the flexible pouch 12. The air t ight spout 40 is
configured to keep the product inside the flexible pouch in a stable
condit ion.
10
As illustrated in details on Figures 5 and 6, the spout 40
comprises a base port ion 42 having a front wall 42a and a rear wall
42b joined to the front wall 42a in order to give the base portion 42 a
generally elongated shape, such as an almond, diamond, or canoe or
ellipt ical shape or the like. The outer surface 44 of the walls of th5 e
base portion 42 is smooth and forms a seal-engaging surface welded to
the inner surface of the opening 18 of the pouch 12 by means of heat
seal. In an a lternat ive, the seal-engaging surface may be provided wit h
a plurality of project ing ridges.
10 The cavity 46 delimit ed between the walls 42a, 42b forms a
passageway to provide access to the contents of the flexible pouch 12.
The spout 40 further comprises a dispensing member 48
extending from the base portion 42 and project ing outside of the
flexible pouch 12. The dispensing membe r 48 is of generally elongated
15 shape similar to the shape of the base portion 42. The dispensing
member 48 comprises a flat dispensing surface 48a and a centrally
located cylindrically shaped dispensing orifice 48b in fluid ly
communicat ion with the cavity 46. In an alternat ive, the dispensing
surface may be a dome. As an alternat ive, the dispensing orifice may
20 project downwardly ins ide the cavity 46.
The spout 40 further comprises a cap 50 compris ing a cover
portion 52 and a sealing stud 54 project ing beyond the cover portio n
52.
The cover portion 52 has a shape mat ing with the shape of the
25 dispensing member 48 and is connected to said dispensing member 48
via a hinge 56 in order to be art iculated in an opened posit ion of use
shown on figures 4 to 6, in which the product contained in the flexible
pouch 12 may flow towards the outside on the dispensing surface o f
the dispensing member 48, and a closed posit ion where the sealing
30 stud 54 of the cap 50 projects into, and thereby sealing engages, the
dispensing orifice 48b of the dispensing member 48. The cover portion
52 further comprises a lip 58 extending from the dispensing surfac e
11
48a when the cap 50 is in the closed position. The lip 58 facilit ates the
opening of the cap 50 with one hand.
The base portion 42, the dispensing member 48 and the cap 50
of the spout 40 are a single piece made from moulding plast ic
material, such as polymer material, for example polyethylene o5 r
polypropylene. The spout 40 is thus designed by coring out materia l
after being moulded, thus reducing manufacturing t ime and costs sinc e
one mould would be required, as well as the weight of the device.
In order to use the device 10, the consumer just has to flip
10 open the cap 50 with one single hand for dispensing the product on the
dispensing surface 48a. The cap 50 can be hinged in the closed
posit ion a lso with one single hand.
Figures 7 to 9, in which ident ical parts are given ident ic a l
references, illustrates another example of the spout of Figures 1 to 3.
15 The device 10 comprises the flexible pouch 12 suitable for
containing the liquid or semi-liquid product and an air t ight spout 60
or closure fixedly attached in a sealed manner to an inner surface of
the opening 18 of the flexible pouch 12. The air t ight spout 60 is
configured to keep the product inside the flexible pouch in a stable
20 condit ion.
As illustrated in details on Figures 8 and 9, the spout 60
comprises a base port ion 62 having a front wall 62a and a rear wall
62b joined to the front wall 62a in order to give the base portion 62 a
generally elongated shape, such as an almond, diamond, or canoe or
25 ellipt ical shape or the like. The outer surface 64 of the walls of the
base portion 62 is smooth and forms a seal-engaging surface welded to
the inner surface of the opening 18 by means of heat sea l. In an
alternat ive, the seal-engaging surface may be provided with a pluralit y
of project ing ridges.
30 The cavity 66 delimit ed between the walls 62a, 62b forms a
passageway to provide access to the contents of the flexible pouch 12.
The spout 60 further comprises a dispensing member 68
extending from the base portion 62 and project ing outside of the
12
flexible pouch 12. The dispensing member 68 is of generally ovoid
elongated shape connected to the base portion 62 with a rim or
extended hub 69. In other words, the dispensing member direct ly sit s
on the bas portion with a rim in between.
The dispensing member 68 comprises centrally locate5 d
cylindrically shaped dispensing nozzle 68a extending through the
dispensing member 68 and project ing beyond the upper surface of said
dispensing member 68. Said dispens ing nozzle 68a comprises a
dispensing orifice 68b is in fluidly communicat ion with the cavity 66
10 of the base portion 62.
The spout 40 further comprises a cap 70 compris ing a cover
portion 72 and a sealing stud 74 project ing from the cover portion 72
without project ing beyond the cap 70.
The cover portion 72 has a shape mat ing with the shape of the
15 dispensing member 68 and is connected to said dispensing member 68
via two hinges 76 in order to be articulated in an use posit ion shown
on figures 7 to 9, in which the product contained in the flexible pouch
12 may flow towards the outside through the dispensing nozzle 68a of
the dispensing member 68, and a closed posit ion where the sealing
20 stud 74 of the cap 70 projects into, and thereby sealing engages, the
dispensing orifice 68b of the dispensing member 68. As an alternat ive,
the cover port ion 72 may be connected to the dispensing member 68
via only one hinge.
The base portion 62, the dispensing member 68 and the cap 70
25 of the spout 60 are a single piece made from moulding plast ic
material, such as polymer material, for example polyethylene or
polypropylene. The spout is designed by coring out material aft er
being moulded, thus reducing manufacturing t ime and costs since one
mould would be required, as well as the weight of the device.
30 In order to use the device 10, the consumer just has to flip
open the cap 70 with one single hand for dispensing the product on the
dispensing surface 68a. The cap 70 can be hinged in the closed
posit ion a lso with one single hand.
13
Thanks to the dispensing nozz le 68a protruding out of the
dispensing member 68, product can be dispensed direct ly onto the
hand of the consumer.
Figures 10 to 12 show another example of a device for
packaging and dispensing a product, denoted by the general referenc5 e
number 80.
The device 80 may be used for packaging cosmet ic products,
for example liquid or semi-liquid cosmet ic product, part icularly a hair
product, such as, hair-care product, for example, hair serum, hair dye,
10 hair oil, cream hair or the any product used for hair. However, it
might be possible to provide the packaging and dispensing of other
types of products. The device 80 is suited for weekly-dose products.
The device 80 may also be used for packaging other types of
cosmet ics products such as skin care products, or other types of
15 products like food products, such as sauce, compote, juice, water or
any liquid or semi-liquid food product.
The device 80 extends along a longitudinal axis X-X’ assumed
to be vert ical on Figures 10 to 12. The device 80 comprises a mult iplecompartment
flexible pouch 82 for packaging products (not shown)
20 that must be kept separated unt il there is a need to use said products.
The flexible pouch 82 comprises four laminated sheets 84, 86, 88, 90
bonded two by two together so as to form two receptacles of the
flexible pouch 82 delimit ing two closed volumes or cavit ies 92a, 92b
adapted to each receive a product.
25 The first receptacle is delimit ed by a front sheet 84 and a first
int ermediate sheet 86, and the second receptacle is delimited by a
second intermediate sheet 88 and a rear sheet 90. Each sheet 84, 86,
88, 90 is further defined by a lower edge (not referenced), an upper
edge (not referenced) and two side edges (not shown) extending
30 between the upper and lower edges. The side edges of the front sheet
84 are bonded with the side edges of the first intermediate sheet 86,
the second intermediate sheet 88 and the rear sheet 90 in a sealed
14
manner except at an opening 94 located at the upper edge of each
sheet 84, 86, 88, 90.
The device 80 further comprises an air tight spout 100 or
closure fixedly attached in a sealed manner to an inner surface of the
opening 18 of the flexible pouch 12. The air tight spout is configure5 d
to keep the product inside the flexible pouch in a stable condit ion.
As illustrated in details on Figures 11 and 12, the spout 100
comprises a base portion 102 of generally parallelepiped elongated
shape which outer surface forms a seal-engaging surface welded to the
10 inner surface of the opening 94 of the front and rear sheets 84, 90 by
means of heat seal. The outer surface of the base portion 102 is further
provided with a plurality of project ing ridges 104. As an alt ernat ive,
the seal-engaging surface may be smooth, without ridges.
The base portion 102 further comprises a centrally located
15 cylindrically shaped passageway 106 extending through the centre of
the base portion 102, to provide access to the contents of the flexible
pouch 12. The base portion 102 comprises an axially extending
partit ion 108 designed to separate both products contain in the two
different compartments of the flexible pouch and to allow them to be
20 dispensed outwardly without premixing in the flexible pouch. The
products may have different consistency and different needs of barrier
property. As an example, the first receptacle may contain a colorant
and the second receptacle may contain an oxidizer. As another
example, the first receptacle may contain a shampoo and the second
25 receptacle may contain condit ioner. The first receptacle may a lso
contain a face wash or a serum, while the second receptacle ma y
contain a cream, etc...
The outer surface of the part it ion 108 is a seal-engaging
surface welded to the outer surface of the opening 94 of the first and
30 second int ermediate sheets 86, 88 by means of heat seal. As an
alternat ive, the outer surface of the partition 108 may be sealed to a
single layer of flexible film. In this case, the two intermediate sheet s
86, 88 form one single sheet. The outer surface of the part it ion 108 is
15
further provided with a plurality of project ing ridges 110. As an
alternat ive, the seal-engaging surface of the part it ion 108 may be
smooth, without ridges. The part it ion 108 divides the passageway 106
into two passageways 106a, 106b, each emerging into one
compartment of the flexible pouch5 .
The spout 100 further comprises a dispensing member 112
extending from the base portion 102 and project ing outside of the
flexible pouch 82. The dispensing member 112 of generally
parallelepiped elongated shape having a centrally located cylindr ically
10 shaped dispensing nozzle 114 project ing away from the dispensing
member 112 Said dispensing nozzle 114 comprises two orifices 114a,
114b in fluidly communicat ion with the corresponding passageway
106a, 106b of the base portion 102.
The spout 100 further comprises a cap 116 comprising a cover
15 portion 118 and a sealing stud 120 projecting from the cover portio n
118 without project ing beyond the cap 116.
The cover portion 118 has a shape mat ing with the shape of the
dispensing member 112 and is connected to said dispensing membe r
112 via a hinge 122 in order to be art iculated in an opened posit ion o f
20 use shown on figures 10 to 12, in which the product contained in the
flexible pouch 82 may flow towards the outside through the dispens ing
nozzle 114 of the dispensing member 112, and a closed posit ion wher e
the sealing stud 120 of the cap 116 projects into, and thereby sealing
engages, the dispensing nozzle 120 of the dispensing member 112.
25 As illustrated, the sealing stud 120 comprises a central groove
124 designed to cooperate with the end of the partit ion 108 in the
closed posit ion and dividing the sealing stud 120 into two sub-studs
each project ing into the corresponding orifice 114a, 114b of the
dispensing nozzle 120 of the dispensing member 112.
30 The base portion 102, the dispensing member 112 and the cap
116 of the spout 100 are a single piece made from moulding plast ic
material, such as polymer material, for example polyethylene or
polypropylene.
16
In order to use the device 80, the consumer just has to flip
open the cap 116 with one single hand for dispensing the products
through the orifices 114a, 114b. The cap 116 can be hinged in the
closed posit ion also with one single hand.
In all embodiments, the sheets forming the pouch may be 5 a
single-layered or have a mult ilayer structure. Preferably, the sheets
are made of polyethylene (PE) and/or polyethylene terephthalate
(PET).
In all the embodiments, the hinge may be a “live” hinge
10 allowing the cap to move on its own in the opened posit ion when the
cap is opened and in the closed posit ion when the cap is pushed
towards the dispensing member, or may be a “dead” hinge needing the
cap to be guided by the user.
Thanks to the device according to the present invent ion, it is
15 possible to provide a weekly-dose or applicat ion package for
packaging and dispensing product of simple structure, easy to
manufacture, and easy to use with only one hand.
17
CLAIMS
1. Device (10; 80) for packaging and dispensing a liquid or
semi-liquid product comprising a flexible pouch (12; 82) delimit ing at
least one product cavity (12a; 92a, 92b) suitable for containing said
product, and an air t ight spout (20; 40; 60; 100) having a base portion
(22; 42; 62; 102) fixedly attached in a sealed manner to an openin5 g
(18; 94) of the flexible pouch (12; 82), said base portion (22; 42; 62;
102) compris ing at least one passageway (26; 46; 66; 106a, 106b) in
communicat ion with said product cavity (12a; 92a, 92b) of the flexible
pouch (12; 82), characterized in that the spout (20; 40; 60; 100)
10 comprises:
a dispensing member (28; 48; 68; 112) project ing outside of
the flexible pouch and having at least one dispensing orifice (28c; 48b;
68b; 114a, 114b) in communicat ion with the passageway (26; 46; 66;
106) of the base portion (12; 42; 62; 102), and
15 a cap (30; 50; 70; 116) comprising a sealing stud (34; 54; 74;
120) and pivotably mounted on said dispensing member (28; 48; 68;
112) via at least one hinge (36; 56; 76; 122) between a closed posit io n
into which the sealing stud sealingly engages said dispensing orific e
and an opened posit ion of said dispensing orifice, the base portion (22;
20 42; 62; 102), the dispensing member (28; 48; 68; 112) and the cap (30;
50; 70; 116) of the spout (20; 40; 60; 100) being a s ingle piece made
from moulding of plast ic material.
2. Device according to Claim 1, wherein the base port ion (22;
42; 62; 102) of the spout (20; 40; 60; 100) is of generally elongated
25 shape.
3. Device according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein
the dispens ing member (28; 48; 68; 112) of the spout (20; 40; 60; 100)
is of generally elongated shape.
4. Device according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein
30 the shape of the cap (30; 50; 70; 116) mates with the shape of the
dispensing member (28; 48; 68; 112).
18
5. Device according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein
the cap (30; 50; 70; 116) comprises a cover portion (32; 52; 72; 118)
from which projects the sealing stud.
6. Device according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein
the base portion (42; 62) of the spout (40; 60) comprises a front wal5 l
(42a; 62a) and a rear wall (42b; 62b) joined to the front wall (42a ;
62a), the cavity delimited between said walls forming the passageway
(46; 66).
7. Device according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein
10 the dispens ing member (28; 48) comprises a dispensing surface (28a ;
48a) onto which comes out the dispensing orifice (28c; 48b).
8. Device according to Claim 6, wherein the cover portion (52)
comprises a lip (58) extending from the dispensing surface (48a) when
the cap (50) is in the closed posit ion.
15 9. Device according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the
dispensing member (68) comprises a dispensing nozzle (68a) having
said dispensing orifice (68b) and protruding out of said dispensing
member (68).
10. Device according to any of the preceding Cla ims, wherein
20 the flexible pouch (12) comprises a front and a rear sheet (14, 16) each
having a lower edge (14a, 16a), an upper edge (14b, 16b) and two side
edges extending between the upper and lower edges (14a, 14b; 16a,
16b), the side edges of the front sheet (14) being bonded with the side
edges of the rear sheet (16) in a sealed manner except at said opening
25 (18) located at the upper edge (14b, 16b) of each sheet (14, 16).
11. Device according to any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the
flexible pouch (82) delimits two closed cavit ies (92a, 92b) each
adapted to receive one product.
12. Device according to Claim 11, wherein a first closed cavit y
30 (92a) is delimited by a front sheet (84) and an int ermediate sheet (86),
and the second closed cavity (92b) is delimit ed by said intermediate
sheet (86) and a rear sheet (90), side edges of the front sheet (84)
being bonded with side edges of the int ermediate sheet (86) and the
19
rear sheet (90) in a sealed manner except at an opening (94) located at
the upper edge of each sheet (84, 86, 90).
13. Device according to Claim 12, wherein the base port ion
(102) of the spout (100) comprises an axially extending part it ion (108)
designed to separate both products contain in the two different close5 d
cavit ies (92a; 92b) of the flexible pouch (82), the outer surface of said
partit ion (108) being a seal-engaging surface welded to the outer
surface of the opening (94) of the intermediate sheet (86).
14. Device according to Claim 13, wherein a first closed cavit y
10 (92a) is delimit ed by a front sheet (84) and a first intermediate sheet
(86), and the second closed cavity (92b) is delimit ed by a second
int ermediate sheet (88) and a rear sheet (90), side edges of the front
sheet (84) being bonded with side edges of the fir st and second
int ermediate sheets (86, 88) and the rear sheet (90) in a sealed manner
15 except at an opening (94) located at the upper edge of each sheet (84,
86, 88, 90), the outer surface of said partit ion (108) being a sealengaging
surface welded to the outer surface of the opening (94) of
the first and second int ermediate sheets (86, 88).
15. Device according to Claim 13 or 14, wherein the base
20 portion (102) compris ing two passageways (106a, 106b) separated by
the part it ion (108), each passageway (106a, 106b) emerging into one
cavity (92a, 92b) of the flexible pouch (82).
16. Device according to Claim 15, wherein the dispensing
member (112) comprises a dispensing nozzle (114) having two
25 dispensing orifices (114a, 114b) in communicat ion with the
corresponding passageway (106a, 106b) of the base portion (102).
17. Device according to Claim 16, wherein the sealing stud
(120) of the cap (116) comprises a central groove (124) dividing the
sealing stud (120) into two sub-studs each project ing into the
30 corresponding dispensing orifice (114a, 114b) of the dispensing nozzle
(120) when the cap (116) is in the closed posit ion.