Closure device for aseptic liquid containing containers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a closure device for aseptic paper or paper-based containers which can be used for storing liquid products. In particular, the present invention relates to a closure device comprising three parts. It has a pour spout which can be fixed to an outer surface of the container, a cap having a re-sealable lid portion being permanently connected to a retainment portion via a hinge and a barrier breaking device moveably attached to the pour spout and configured to break a liquid tight seal of the paper or paper-based container upon twisting said cap. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a container and said closure device and a method for providing the assembly.

1 . A closure device for being attached to a closed aseptic paper or paperboard-based container at a location wherein a barrier of the container can be readily broken, the closure device comprising three parts, a pour spout, a cap and a barrier breaking element, wherein
 the pour spout comprises:
 a longitudinal center axis defining an axial direction, a circumferential direction and a radial direction of the pour spout; 
 an annular longitudinal neck portion extending along the axial direction from a first axial end to a second axial end defining a dispensing opening, the neck portion further comprising an internal first thread for interacting with the barrier breaking element and an external second thread for interacting with the cap; 
 an annular flange portion for attaching the closure device to the container, the annular flange portion extending in the radial direction outwardly from the second axial end of the neck portion; wherein 
 the external second thread comprises a first section and a second section, wherein
 the first section extends within any one of: the range of 250° to 340° or 280° to 330° and 290° to 320° in the circumferential direction having a helix angle of 0°, and 
 the second section extends within any one of: the range of 20° to 110° or 30° to 80° or 35° to 60° and 40° to 50° in the circumferential direction having a helix angle within any one of: the range of 5.0° to 20.0° or 6.0° to 9.0° and 14.0° to 16.0°. 
 
   the cap comprises:
 an annular tamper-evident band being retained around said neck portion; 
 a retainment portion being rotatably retained around said neck portion, 
 a lid portion comprising an annular longitudinal skirt having an internal ramp configured to interact with said external second thread of the pour spout; 
 a hinge portion having a pivot axis about which the lid portion is configured to be pivotally movable relative to the retainment portion, the hinge portion permanently connecting the annular skirt of the lid portion to the retainment portion along a predefined circumferential extent; 
 wherein the lid portion is configured to be operable between a first position in which the lid portion sealingly covers said dispensing opening, a second position in which the lid portion non-sealingly covers the dispensing opening, and a third position in which the lid portion is located at least partly at a side of the dispensing opening; 
   the tubular barrier breaking element comprises:
 an external third thread configured to interact with said internal first thread of the pour spout; and 
 a barrier breaking portion configured to break the barrier of the container during the first opening. 
   
     
     
         2 . The closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the external second thread of the pour spout occupies, in the axial direction, a region located between a first plane and a second plane, wherein the second plane is arranged between the first plane and the second axial end and wherein the pivot axis of the hinge portion is arranged in third plane being located between the first plane and the second axial end of the neck portion. 
     
     
         3 . The closure device according to  claim 2 , wherein the third plane is arranged level with the second plane, proximate the second plane or between the first and second planes. 
     
     
         4 . The closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pour spout further comprises a first bead ring and a second bead ring, the first bead ring being arranged between the annular flange portion and the second bead ring, and the second bead ring being arranged between the first bead ring and the second thread. 
     
     
         5 . The closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises:
 a first rupturable section along which the tamper-evident band is configured to be connected to the retainment portion prior to a first opening of the closure device, the first rupturable section being configured to break during the first opening;   a second rupturable section along which the lid portion is configured to be connected to the retainment portion prior to the first opening, which second rupturable section is configured to break during the first opening;   
     
     
         6 . The closure device according to  claim 5 , wherein said first rupturable section extends annularly 360° around the pour spout. 
     
     
         7 . The closure device according to  claim 5 , wherein said second rupturable section extends along the circumferential direction between a first endpoint and second endpoint of the hinge portion. 
     
     
         8 . The closure device according to  claim 5 , wherein the first rupturable section is configured to rupture before the barrier breaking portion breaks the barrier of the container when twisting the lid portion for the very first time. 
     
     
         9 . The closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the internal ramp comprises a circumferential extent within any one of: the range of 20° to 70° or 30° to 60° and 40° to 60°. 
     
     
         10 . The closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the internal ramp has a helix angle being within any one of: the range of 5.0° to 15.0° or 6.0° to 9.0° and 7.0° to 8.0°. 
     
     
         11 . The closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the hinge portion is arranged at the periphery of the annular skirt and comprises a tangential center point, and the internal third thread comprises a tangential center point arranged at a circumferential distance within any one of: the range of 150° to 180° or 170° to 180° and 175° to 180° from the tangential center point of the hinge portion.   
     
     
         12 . The closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second axial end of the pour spout comprises a sealing tongue extending towards the center axis of pour spout. 
     
     
         13 . The closure device according to  claim 12 , wherein the sealing tongue is oblique in the direction towards the first axial end of the pour spout. 
     
     
         14 . The closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein an end-wall of the lid portion comprises an annular longitudinal bore seal having a common center axis with the annular longitudinal skirt both extending in a same longitudinal direction and arranged such that the second axial end of the pour spout is arranged between the skirt and the bore seal when the lid portion is in the first position. 
     
     
         15 . An assembly comprising a paper or paperboard-based container and a closure device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A method for providing a closure device according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 providing a pour spout,   providing a cap   providing a barrier breaking element   mounting said cap and barrier breaking element onto said pour spout.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the steps of providing said pour spout, cap and barrier breaking element are performed by moulding.