Spout for Flexible Fluid Reservoirs

Abstract

A spout, particularly for flexible fluid reservoirs having opposing film panels, which minimizes stresses and abrasion resulting from manufacture and/or use of such reservoirs as well as enhances the strength of the weld/bond between the films and the spout. Spouts according to the invention include a generally cylindrical neck portion and a pair of opposed, generally triangular portions extending laterally there from that form a spout-film interface. This interface may be smooth and/or define depressions or holes to increase bond integrity. Spout embodiments of the invention also may include at least one, and preferably four, stress delocalizing feature(s) (“SDF”) to disperse material stress from edges of the spout-film interface that might form during use of the spout. Exemplary SDFs include flexible appendages, preferably at the apex of the triangular portions or at neck portions that form a portion of the spout-weld interfaces, which depend beyond the spout weld interface and into the reservoir.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A spout for flexible fluid reservoirs, the reservoirs comprising at least one film material having an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one film weld interface having a material with a known melting temperature T F , the spout comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical neck portion having an axis congruent with a longitudinal direction; and   at least one spout weld interface having an exposed surface and extending from the neck portion, wherein the at least one spout weld interface comprises a material with a known melting temperature T S  and has at least one stress delocalizing feature.   
     
     
         12 . The spout of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one stress delocalizing feature comprises a peripheral edge characterized as flexible relative to the neck portion. 
     
     
         13 . The spout of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one stress delocalizing feature comprises at least one generally flexible appendage extending in a longitudinal direction from the at least one spout weld interface. 
     
     
         14 . The spout of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one generally flexible appendage is at or adjacent to an apex of the at least one spout weld interface. 
     
     
         15 . The spout of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one generally flexible appendage is at or adjacent to the neck portion of the at least one spout weld interface. 
     
     
         16 . The spout of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one generally flexible appendage comprises a curvilinear peripheral edge. 
     
     
         17 . The spout of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one generally flexible appendage comprises an irregular longitudinal profile. 
     
     
         18 . The spout of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one generally flexible appendage is at least partially mechanically linkable to at least a portion of the at least one film material of the reservoir. 
     
     
         19 . The spout of  claim 13 , wherein the spout comprises four generally flexible appendages. 
     
     
         20 . The spout of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one stress delocalizing feature comprises a peripheral edge characterized as flexible relative to the neck portion, and at least one generally flexible appendage extending in a longitudinal direction from the at least one spout weld interface. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The spout of  claim 11 , wherein the difference between T S  and T F  is ±5° C. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The spout of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one spout weld interface material is of the same type as the at least one film weld interface material. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The spout of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one spout weld interface comprises an exposed surface wherein at least a major portion of the exposed surface is characterized as smooth. 
     
     
         36 . The spout of  claim 35 , wherein the at least a major portion of the exposed surface is further characterized as defining a plurality of holes. 
     
     
         37 . The spout of  claim 35 , wherein the at least a major portion of the exposed surface is further characterized as defining a plurality of negative relief features. 
     
     
         38 . The spout of  claim 35 , wherein the at least a major portion of the exposed surface is further characterized as defining a plurality of holes and negative relief features. 
     
     
         39 . The spout of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one film weld interface material is between the inner surface and the outer surface of the film. 
     
     
         40 . The spout of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one stress delocalizing feature comprises a peripheral edge characterized as flexible relative to the neck portion and at least one generally flexible appendage extends in the longitudinal direction from the at least one spout weld interface, and wherein the difference between T S  and T F  is ±5° C.