Dispensing structure incorporating a valve-containing fitment for mounting to a container and a package with a dispensing structure

Abstract

A dispensing structure, and a package with a dispensing structure, is provided with a valve. In one embodiment, the dispensing structure is a multi-piece fitment. The multi-piece fitment includes a base for mounting to the container and a valve carrier for mounting to the base. A flexible, self-sealing slit-type valve is mounted within the carrier. In another embodiment, a fitment is mounted in the opening of a thin-walled, flexible, collapsible container, and the flexible valve is mounted in the fitment. In yet another embodiment, a package includes a container having a corner wall defining an opening, and a fitment is sealingly mounted to the corner wall at the opening. A valve is disposed within the fitment. A removable and disposable cover extends from the container over the fitment and at least a portion of the corner wall to define a hermetically sealed volume around the fitment. The cover may be pulled away from the container to expose the fitment.

1. A package comprising:
 a collapsible pouch defined by at least two, opposing, flexible web portions that are sealed together adjacent an interior region which is unsealed and that are separated at a peripheral region to define an opening to the interior region;  
 a fitment that is molded from thermoplastic material as a unitary structure defining a dispensing passage and having a hollow base that has two lateral ends and that defines two generally oppositely facing walls which converge and terminate at each of said two lateral ends, each said wall defining an exterior surface portion sealingly secured to one of said web portions along said opening, said fitment hollow base defining at least a portion of said dispensing passage through said fitment, said fitment including a spout that (A) extends from said hollow base, and (B) defines at least a portion of said dispensing passage;  
 a flexible valve that (A) is disposed within said hollow fitment across said fitment dispensing passage, and (B) has a self-sealing slit which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to increased pressure on the side of said valve facing the interior of said pouch  has a self- sealing slit which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to increased pressure on the side of said valve facing the interior of said pouch, and  ( B )  is disposed within said fitment across said fitment dispensing passage so that said slit is located inside said fitment both when said slit is open and when said slit is closed ; and  
 a removable and disposable cover formed as extensions of at least two of said pouch web portions which enclose said fitment spout and which have peripheral margins sealed together to define a hermetically sealed volume around said fitment spout.  
 
     
     
       2. The package in accordance with  claim 1  in which said cover includes weakened, frangible regions along edges of said cover adjacent said pouch. 
     
     
       3. The package in accordance with  claim 1  in which
 said pouch web portions each has a generally rectangular configuration generally defining three right angle corners and one mitered corner; and  
 said fitment is disposed in said opening at said mitered corner.  
 
     
     
       4. The package in accordance with  claim 1  in which
 said fitment spout has an outer annular end; and  
 said dispensing structure further includes a membrane that is releasably secured across said outer annular end to sealingly occlude the portion of said dispensing passage defined by said spout.  
 
     
     
       5. A package comprising:
 a collapsible pouch defined by at least two, opposing, flexible web portions that are sealed together adjacent an interior region which is unsealed and that are separated at a peripheral region to define an opening to the interior region;  
 a fitment that is molded from thermoplastic material as a unitary structure and that (1) defines a dispensing passage, (2) is sealingly secured to said web portions along said opening, and (3) extends from said interior region through said opening;  
 a flexible valve that (A) is disposed within said fitment across said fitment dispensing passage, and (B) has a self-sealing slit which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to increased pressure on the side of said valve facing the interior fo said pouch  has a self- sealing slit which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to increased pressure on the side of said valve facing the interior of said pouch, and  ( B )  is disposed within said fitment across said fitment dispensing passage so that said slit is located inside said fitment both when said slit is open and when said slit is closed ; and  
 a removable cover on said pouch enclosing said fitment to define a hermetically sealed volume around said fitment over said opening.  
 
     
     
       6. The package in accordance with  claim 5  in which said cover is (1) disposable, (2) formed as extensions of at least two of said pouch web portions, and (3) includes weakened, frangible regions along edges of said cover adjacent said pouch. 
     
     
       7. The package in accordance with  claim 6  in which there are two of said pouch web portions;
 each of said pouch web portions has a generally rectangular configuration generally defining three right angle corners and one mitered corner; and  
 said fitment is disposed in said opening at said mitered corner.  
 
     
     
       8. The dispensing structure  package in accordance with  claim 5  in which
 said fitment includes a hollow base that defines at least a portion of said dispensing passage through said fitment;  
 said fitment hollow base has two lateral ends and defines two generally oppositely facing sidewalls which converge and terminate at each end of said two lateral ends,  
 each said sidewall defines an exterior surface portion sealingly secured to one of said web portions along said opening;  
 said fitment includes a spout that (1) extends from said hollow base, and (2) defines a portion of said dispensing passage;  
 said fitment spout has an outer annular end; and  
 said dispensing package includes a membrane that is releasably secured across said outer annular end to sealingly occlude the portion of said dispensing passage defined by said spout.  
 
     
     
       9. A package comprising:
   a collapsible pouch defined by at least two, opposing, flexible web portions that are sealed together adjacent an interior region which is unsealed and that are separated at a peripheral region to define an opening to the interior region;        a fitment that is molded from thermoplastic material as a unitary structure defining a dispensing passage and having a hollow base that has two lateral ends and that defines two generally oppositely facing walls which converge and terminate at each of said two lateral ends, each said wall defining an exterior surface portion sealingly secured to one of said web portions along said opening, said fitment hollow base defining at least a portion of said dispensing passage through said fitment, said fitment including a spout as part of the unitary structure that  ( A )  extends from said hollow base, and  ( B )  defines at least a portion of said dispensing passage; and        a flexible valve that  ( A )  has a self - sealing slit which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to increased pressure on the side of said valve facing the interior of said pouch, and  ( B )  is disposed within said fitment across said fitment dispensing passage so that said fitment projects as a unitary structure in the direction outwardly away from said pouch beyond said valve both when said slit is open and when said slit is closed.     
     
     
       10. The package in accordance with  claim 9  further including an openable cover on said pouch initially enclosing at least a portion of said spout. 
     
     
       11. The package in accordance with  claim 9  further including an openable cover on said pouch in the form of a separate exterior lid that is initially mounted on said spout to occlude said dispensing passage and that can be moved to open said dispensing passage. 
     
     
       12. A package comprising:
   a collapsible pouch defined by at least two, opposing, flexible web portions that are sealed together adjacent an interior region which is unsealed and that are separated at a peripheral region to define an opening to the interior region;        a fitment that includes (   A )  a base sealingly secured to said web portions along said opening,  ( B )  a spout extending from said base as unitary part of said fitment and terminating with an end defining a dispensing orifice, and  ( C )  a dispensing passage that extends from said interior region through said base and spout to said dispensing orifice; and        a flexible valve that  ( A )  has a self - sealing slit which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to increased pressure on the side of said valve facing the interior of said pouch, and  ( B )  is disposed within said fitment across said fitment dispensing passage inwardly of said dispensing orifice in the direction toward the interior of said pouch so that said slit is located inwardly of said dispensing orifice in the direction toward the interior of said pouch both when said slit is open and when said slit is closed.     
     
     
       13. The package in accordance with  claim 12  in which
   said fitment base has two lateral ends and defines two generally oppositely facing sidewalls which converge and terminate at each end of said two lateral ends;        each said sidewall defines an exterior surface portion sealingly secured to one of said web portions along said opening; and        said fitment spout has an outer generally annular end defining said dispensing orifice.     
     
     
       14. The package in accordance with  claim 12  further including an openable cover on said pouch initially enclosing at least a portion of said spout. 
     
     
       15. The package in accordance with  claim 12  further including an openable cover in the form of a separate exterior lid that is initially mounted on said spout to occlude said dispensing passage and that can be moved to open said dispensing passage. 
     
     
       16. A package comprising:
   a collapsible pouch defined by at least two, opposing, flexible web portions that are sealed together adjacent an interior region which is unsealed and that are separated at a peripheral region to define an opening to the interior region;        a fitment that includes (   A )  a base sealingly secured to said web portions along said opening,  ( B )  a spout extending from said base as a unitary part of said base and terminating with an outer end defining a dispensing orifice,  ( C )  a dispensing passage that extends from said interior region through said base and spout to said dispensing orifice, and  ( D )  an inner surface that is located around said dispensing passage and that is defined by an annular inner shoulder which is on, and a unitary part of, the interior of said spout and which faces generally inwardly in the direction toward the interior of said pouch; and        a flexible valve that  ( A )  has a central wall with a self - sealing slit which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to increased pressure on the side of said valve facing the interior of said pouch,  ( B )  has a peripheral flange laterally beyond, and connected to, said central wall, and  ( C )  is disposed wholly within said fitment across said fitment dispensing passage with said valve flange sealingly engaged with said fitment inner surface to locate said valve central wall inwardly of said spout inner surface in the direction toward the interior of said pouch when said valve slit is closed.     
     
     
       17. The package in accordance with  claim 16  in which
   said fitment base comprises a plurality of ribs sealingly secured to said web portions along said opening.     
     
     
       18. The package in accordance with  claim 16  further including an openable cover on said pouch initially enclosing at least a portion of said spout. 
     
     
       19. The package in accordance with  claim 16  further including an openable cover in the form of a separate exterior lid that is initially mounted on said spout to occlude said dispensing passage and that can be moved to open said dispensing passage.