Pouch closure assembly with tamper indication

Abstract

A container closure assembly includes a cap and a spout assembly. The cap includes an internal thread that is configured to engage with an external thread located on the spout assembly. The cap further includes an engagement prong assembly that is configured to engage with the cylindrical band located on the spout assembly. The cylindrical band is supported by a plurality of tabs such that the engagement prong assembly extends between the band and the external threads when the internal and external threads are engaged and the cap is rotated such that the interaction of the threads moves the cap toward the band, the engagement prong assembly engaging the band when the cap seals the open end of the hollow cylinder, and the engagement prong assembly breaks the tabs when the cap is rotated causing the cap to unseal the open end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container closure assembly comprising:
 a cap including a hollow rim which provides an external gripping surface;   a closed cylinder including a closed end, an open end and an internal thread extending from the open end toward the closed end, the cylinder including an engagement prong assembly;   a support structure for supporting the hollow rim outside of the cylinder so that fluid flow is permitted between the hollow rim and the cylinder, and rotational force can be transferred between the rim and cylinder; and   a spout assembly including a hollow cylinder including an open end and an external thread configured to interact with the internal thread, a cylindrical band supported by a plurality of tabs relative to the cylinder such that the engagement prong assembly extends between the band and the external threads when the internal and external threads are engaged and the cap is rotated such that the interaction of the threads moves the cap toward the band, the engagement prong assembly engaging the band when the cap seals the open end of the hollow cylinder, and the prong assembly breaks the tabs when the cap is rotated such that the interaction of the internal and external threads causes the cap to unseal the open end.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement prong assembly comprises at least 2 prongs extending from the open end of the closed cylinder and each prong includes a barb extending outwardly from the center of the closed cylinder. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the internal and external threads are engaged, the cap is located to seal the open end of the spout assembly, the prongs are located between the band and the external threads of the hollow cylinder, and the barbs of the prongs are hooked to the band such that when the cap is removed from the spout assembly, the tabs are broken and the band remains engaged with the cap when the cap is removed from the spout assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the band is supported by at least 4 tabs and the engagement prong assembly includes at least 4 prongs each having a barb extending outwardly. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the hollow cylinder includes a pair of pouch sealing flanges extending from the periphery of the hollow cylinder on the opposite side of the band relative to the open end, the sealing flanges provide a surface at which a pouch container is hermetically sealed to the spout assembly such that content of the pouch is sealed within the pouch when the cap seals the open end and the barbs are hooked to the band, and the content is permitted to flow from the pouch through the spout assembly and out of the open end when the cap is removed. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a pouch support extending from the spout assembly such that the pouch support is located inside of the pouch when the pouch is sealed to the sealing flanges, and the pouch support facilitates the movement of content from the pouch as the content is removed from the pouch. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the hollow rim has a generally cylindrical shape and includes a structure which permits gripping of the cap, the structure including at least one of the following features, scallops, knurls, ribs, and projections. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the closed cylinder has a longitudinal axis and the support structure includes at least 4 gussets which are parallel to the axis, extend from the hollow rim inward to the closed cylinder and support the hollow rim concentric with the closed cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the internal and external threads are engaged, the cap is located to seal the open end of the spout assembly, the prongs are located between the band and the external threads of the hollow cylinder, and the barbs of the prongs are hooked to the band between the tabs such that when the cap is removed from the spout assembly, the tabs are broken by a pulling action applied by the prongs on the band and contact between the barbs and tabs such that the band remains engaged with the cap when the cap is removed from the spout assembly. 
     
     
         10 . A container closure assembly comprising:
 a cap including a closed cylinder including a closed end, an open end, and an internal thread extending from the open end toward the closed end, the cylinder including an engagement prong assembly; and   a spout assembly including a hollow cylinder including an open end, an outside surface and an external thread extending from the outside surface and configured to interact with the internal thread, a cylindrical band supported by a plurality of tabs relative to the cylinder such that the engagement prong assembly extends between the band and the outside surface when the internal and external threads are engaged and the cap is rotated such that the interaction of the threads moves the cap toward the band, the engagement prong assembly engaging the band when the cap seals the open end of the hollow cylinder, and the prong assembly breaks the tabs when the cap is rotated such that the interaction of the internal and external threads causes the cap to unseal the open end.   
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the engagement prong assembly comprises at least 2 prongs extending from the open end of the closed cylinder and each prong includes a barb extending outwardly from the center of the closed cylinder. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the internal and external threads are engaged, the cap is located to seal the open end of the spout assembly, the prongs are located between the band and the external threads of the hollow cylinder, and the barbs of the prongs are hooked to the band such that when the cap is removed from the spout assembly, the tabs are broken and the band remains engaged with the cap when the cap is removed from the spout assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the band is supported by at least 4 tabs and the engagement prong assembly includes at least 4 prongs each having a barb extending outwardly. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the hollow cylinder includes a pair of pouch sealing flanges extending from the periphery of the hollow cylinder on the opposite side of the band relative to the open end, the sealing flanges provide a surface at which a pouch container is hermetically sealed to the spout assembly such that content of the pouch is sealed within the pouch when the cap seals the open end and the barbs are hooked to the band, and the content is permitted to flow from the pouch through the spout assembly and out of the open end when the cap is removed. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a pouch support extending from the spout assembly such that the pouch support is located inside of the pouch when the pouch is sealed to the sealing flanges, and the pouch support facilitates the movement of content from the pouch as content is removed from the pouch. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the internal and external threads are engaged, the cap is located to seal the open end of the spout assembly, the prongs are located between the band and the external threads of the hollow cylinder, and the barbs of the prongs are hooked to the band between the tabs such that when the cap is removed from the spout assembly, the tabs are broken by a pulling action applied by the prongs on the band and contact between the barbs and tabs such that the band remains engaged with the cap when the cap is removed from the spout assembly. 
     
     
         17 . A plastic cap for interacting with a spout of a container, the cap comprising:
 a hollow rim which provides an external gripping surface, the hollow rim having a generally cylindrical shape and including a surface configuration which improves gripping of the cap, the configuration including at least one of the following features, scallops, knurls, ribs, and projections;   a closed cylinder including a longitudinal axis, a closed end, an open end and an internal thread extending from the open end toward the closed end, the cylinder including an engagement prong assembly including at least 2 prongs extending from the open end of the closed cylinder with each prong including a barb which extends outwardly from the center of the closed cylinder, the barbs being configured to engage and remove a structure on a container capped by the cap; and   a support structure including at least 2 gussets which are parallel to the longitudinal axis, extend from the hollow rim inward to the closed cylinder and support the hollow rim concentric with the closed cylinder so that fluid flow is permitted between the hollow rim and the cylinder and rotational force can be transferred between the rim and cylinder.   
     
     
         18 . The plastic cap of  claim 17 , wherein the engagement prong assembly includes at least 4 prongs and the support structure includes at least 4 gussets. 
     
     
         19 . A plastic neck finish for a container comprising:
 a hollow cylinder having an outside surface with an external radius, and extending from a first open end to a second open end, and including a longitudinal axis;   an external thread formed into an outside surface of the cylinder and configured to interact with the internal thread of a cap;   a flange extending from the outside surface and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   a plurality of tabs extending from the flange toward the first open end, the threads being located between the flange and the first open end; and   a cylindrical band having an internal surface having an internal diameter, the band supported by the tabs relative to the cylinder to create a gap between the outside and internal surfaces wherein the gap is the difference between the external and internal radii; wherein the tabs are configured to break and permit the band to be engaged and removed by a cap including a structure for engaging the band when the cap is engaged with the external threads and positioned to seal the first open end of the hollow cylinder.   
     
     
         20 . A container comprising:
 a container with a plastic neck finish comprising:
 a hollow cylinder having an outside surface with an external radius, and extending from a first open end to a second open end, and including a longitudinal axis; 
 an external thread formed into an outside surface of the cylinder and configured to interact with the internal thread of a cap; 
 a flange extending from the outside surface and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; 
 a plurality of tabs extending from the flange toward the first open end, the threads being located between the flange and the first open end; and 
 a cylindrical band having an internal surface having an internal diameter, the band supported by the tabs relative to the cylinder to create a gap between the outside and internal surfaces wherein the gap is the difference between the external and internal radii; wherein the tabs are configured to break and permit the band to be engaged and removed by a cap including a structure for engaging the band when the cap is engaged with the external threads and positioned to seal the first open end of the hollow cylinder; 
   a plastic cap for interacting with a spout of a container, the cap comprising:
 a hollow rim which provides an external gripping surface, the hollow rim having a generally cylindrical shape and including a surface configuration which improves gripping of the cap, the configuration including at least one of the following features, scallops, knurls, ribs, and projections; 
 a closed cylinder including a longitudinal axis, a closed end, an open end and an internal thread extending from the open end toward the closed end, the cylinder including an engagement prong assembly including at least 2 prongs extending from the open end of the closed cylinder with each prong including a barb which extends outwardly from the center of the closed cylinder, the barbs being configured to engage and remove a structure on a container capped by the cap; and 
 a support structure including at least 2 gussets which are parallel to the longitudinal axis, extend from the hollow rim inward to the closed cylinder and support the hollow rim concentric with the closed cylinder so that fluid flow is permitted between the hollow rim and the cylinder and rotational force can be transferred between the rim and cylinder; 
 wherein the plastic cap is engaged with the plastic neck finish having the barbs engaged with the band when the internal threads are engaged with the external threads.