"Reclosable Pouring Element for Composite Cardboard/Plastic Packaging"

Abstract

A reclosable pouring element for cardboard/plastic composite packagings, in particular beverage packagings, comprising a frame element having a circular mounting flange and an external thread and an internal thread, a piercing element having an external thread and a screw cap with an internal thread wherein the piercing element in the injection-moulding position is produced on the end of the frame element opposed to the mounting flange and injection-moulded integrally therewith via connecting bridges and wherein the piercing element in the assembly position of the pouring element is arranged inside the frame element.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A reclosable pouring element for cardboard/plastic composite packagings, in particular beverage packagings, comprising:
 a frame element having a circular mounting flange and an external thread and an internal thread;   a piercing element having an external thread and a screw cap with an internal thread;   wherein the piercing element in an injection-moulding position is produced on an end of the frame element opposed to the mounting flange and injection-moulded integrally therewith via connecting bridges and wherein the piercing element in an assembly position of the pouring element is arranged inside the frame element,   wherein the external thread comprises two thread sections with each thread section extending at least a quarter of the circumference of the piercing element and having a pitch which is steeper than the internal thread of the screw cap, wherein the internal thread comprises two thread sections, with each thread section extending at least a quarter of the circumference and having a pitch which corresponds to the pitch of the external thread of the piercing element and wherein the piercing element has at least one first cam radially protruding and distributed on the circumference of an outer side of the piercing element, each cam extends from the upper edge of the piercing element to beyond the external thread in such a manner that the lower edge of each cam with the respective thread sections of the internal thread form a shoulder for the piercing element to be pressed inside the frame element during assembly.   
   
   
       17 . The pouring element according to  claim 16 , wherein the external thread of the frame element is double-threaded and interacts with the internal thread in the screw cap. 
   
   
       18 . The pouring element according to  claim 16 , wherein the external thread consists of a plurality of individual thread sections. 
   
   
       19 . The pouring element according to  claim 16 , wherein the frame element has a circular and downward pointing lip on its lower internal circumference. 
   
   
       20 . The pouring element according to  claim 16 , wherein the piercing element has a plurality of projections arranged on the circumference and aligned radially outwards, the projections interact with corresponding internal cams of the frame element, in order to prevent the piercing element from unscrewing from the frame element. 
   
   
       21 . The pouring element according to  claim 20 , wherein the projections are formed by at least one second cam protruding radially on the outer side of the piercing element. 
   
   
       22 . The pouring element according to  claim 20 , wherein the projections are formed by horizontal extensions of the upper ends of the thread sections. 
   
   
       23 . The pouring element according to  claim 21 , wherein each second cam and the thread sections of the external thread of the cutting element merge into one another. 
   
   
       24 . The pouring element according to  claim 16 , wherein the piercing element on its outer side has a plurality of radially protruding cams distributed on the circumference, each cam extending downwards from the upper edge of the piercing element. 
   
   
       25 . The pouring element according to  claim 21 , wherein the lower ends of each first cam and each second cam lie in a common plane, extending perpendicularly to a vertical axis of the piercing element in order to be supported on the lip when the piercing element is protruding from the frame element. 
   
   
       26 . The pouring element according to  claim 24 , wherein the lower ends of the plurality of radially protruding cams lie in a common plane extending perpendicularly to a vertical axis of the piercing element in order to be supported on the lip when the piercing element is protruding from the frame element. 
   
   
       27 . The pouring element according to  claim 16 , wherein the screw cap has at least one inner-lying force transfer element, which when the screw cap is untwisted for the first time causes the piercing element to move via cams arranged inside the piercing element. 
   
   
       28 . The pouring element according to  claim 16 , wherein each force transfer element is substantially trapezoidally shaped and orientated concentrically towards the screw cap. 
   
   
       29 . The pouring element according to  claim 16 , wherein the pouring element has a tamper-proof seal. 
   
   
       30 . The pouring element according to  claim 24 , wherein a flat plate firmly connected to the flange of the frame element before final assembly of the pouring element and injection-moulded integrally with the screw cap and radially projecting therefrom, serves as a tamper-proof seal.