Pour spout attachment for packages

Abstract

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

1 . In a package adapted to contain flowable product, the improvement comprising a pour spout positioned over an opening in a wall of the package, the pour spout being movable from a closed position adjacent to the package to an open position depending from said package and comprising 
 (a) a back wall hingedly attached to the package at the bottom edge adjacent to said opening,    (b) foldable side panels connecting the side edges of the back wall to the package adjacent to said opening, said side panels having gussets forming accordion pleats when in closed position, and    (c) means for sealing the opening when the pour spout is closed prior to opening the package.    
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1  including a removable tamper evident overseal attached to the package over the pour spout and removable to give access to the pour spout.  
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 1  including a tab extending outwardly from the top edge of the pour spout back wall and overlying the outer surface of the package, wherein the tab has a tearable heat seal enclosing the top edge of the package opening.  
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the pour spout is reclosable after use.  
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the package has a polymeric outer surface and the pour spout is heat sealed to the outer surface of the package around the bottom and sides of the opening.  
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the package has a polymeric inner surface and the pour spout is heat sealed to said inner surface around the bottom and sides of said opening.  
     
     
         7 . The construction of  claim 1  including a polymeric gasket positioned inside the package around the opening and having a portion which extends into the opening around the edges thereof, the gasket being heat sealed to the package, the pour spout being heat sealed to the outside of the package around the opening and also sealed to the portion of the gasket which extends into the opening to effectively seal the edge of the opening from contact with the contents of the package.  
     
     
         8 . The construction of  claim 4  including a tab extending outwardly from the top edge of the pour spout back wall, a two-sided pressure sensitive reclosure strip having one side permanently attached to the package and a pressure sensitive adhesive positioned on the opposed side, and a release strip protecting the pressure sensitive tape, whereby removal of the release strip allows the spout to be resealed by contacting and engaging the pressure sensitive tape with the tab extending outwardly from the top edge of the pour spout back wall.  
     
     
         9 . The construction of  claim 2  wherein the overseal is attached to the outer surface of the pour spout and has a pressure sensitive area around the spout whereby it can be resealed to the package over the spout.  
     
     
         10 . The construction of  claim 9  wherein the overseal is permanently fixed to the package along the bottom edge of the spout back wall and the pressure sensitive areas are positioned on the overseal to reseal around the top and side edges of the spout back.  
     
     
         11 . The construction of  claim 4  including a loop and hook fastener on the package and the top edge of the pour spout, the loop portion of the fastener being on the package and the hook portion being on the pour spout.  
     
     
         12 . The construction of  claim 1  including a removable seal on the top edge of the pour spout for sealing by engaging the pour spout top edge to the package.  
     
     
         13 . The construction of  claim 12  including a tamper evident overseal attached to the package over the pour spout and removable to give access to the pour spout.  
     
     
         14 . A method of attaching a pour spout to a package including the steps of: 
 a) forming an opening in a wall of a package,    b) forming a pour spout having a back wall with top, bottom and side edges, folding side walls connected to the side edges of the back wall, and margins around the bottom of the back wall and the free ends of the side walls,    c) attaching the pour spout to the package and sealing the margins around the sides and bottom of the bag opening, and    d) sealing the top of the bag opening to the pour spout with a tearable seal.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  including the step of applying a removable overseal to the bag over the pour spout.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  including the steps of applying a gasket to the inside of the package such that a portion extends into the opening around the edges thereof, and sealing the spout margins to the gasket portions in the opening to seal the edges of the opening.