DE20016690U1 - Pourers for tetra packs - Google Patents

Description

Pourer for Tetra Packs

The invention relates to a device for safely pouring beverages, which are often packaged in cartons, the so-called tetra packs.

At the same time, it can be used to hygienically close packaging that has not yet been emptied.

Despite the large number of solutions available on the market and the suggestions made available in patent and technical literature, no design can be used in such a way that criteria such as the precise placement of openings for pouring and air intake, a secure hold and hygienic reclosure are equally met.

The frequently practiced cutting off of a fold of the above-mentioned package results in a spout-like pouring lip, but continuous pouring is not possible due to the insufficient flow of air and therefore an air hole must be manually and arbitrarily positioned on the opposite surface.

Furthermore, the focus of known improvements has always been on the development of new pouring molds, which can also be "pierced" individually by each user at any point (outer edge) of the packaging surface. The principle of inflowing air cannot be solved satisfactorily here either.

These adverse effects and handling issues, which are known from the state of the art, must be overcome.

The aim of the innovation is therefore to offer a solution that allows easy and practical handling regardless of the user's skill, requires only a small amount of force and can be easily implemented in production using injection molding technology as a mass product.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by the features set out in the characterising part of the first protection claim.

The further embodiment is set out in claims 2 to 3.

The pourer is an injection-molded part made of physiologically safe plastic and has a compact attachment with multiple functions and a collar on the top for attaching a sliding lid closure. The bars on the sides of the lid closure and the sliding edges attached to them are slightly conical towards the inside so that the lid closure can be slidably locked into place on the attachment by means of a clamping effect.

The attachment itself consists of a U-shaped channel, open at the top when viewed in cross-section, which has sliding surfaces pointing downwards at right angles at each end. The lengths of the legs of these sliding surfaces, which are designed at right angles, are different, but the same when facing each other, and the angles that are open to each other allow the pourer to be placed diagonally.

In the base surface of the compact attachment, at the level of the end of the wider sliding surfaces of the angles mentioned, there are rectangular openings for air inlet and liquid outlet, with pins, also provided with openings, connecting to them for "breaking open" a closed package.

The pouring side of the top piece has a spout-like widening that curves outwards, and this is released by the lid lock that slides backwards. The lid lock slides with its side bars between the recesses in the U-shaped channel of the top piece to a particularly high degree that, on the one hand, controlled pouring is possible and, on the other hand, air can flow through an exposed slot at the opposite end of the top piece.

-3-

The invention will be explained in more detail below using an embodiment example, with reference to individual figures for illustration.

Figer 1 - Perspective overall view Figure 2 - Side view Figure 3 - Top view Figure 4 - Inside view of top section

The reference symbols used in the individual figures have the following meaning:

1 - Cardboard

2 - Top piece

3 - Lid closure

4 - Sliding surface

5 - Thorn

6 - Recess

7 - grommet-like widening

8 - Slot

9 - Opening for liquid outlet 10 - Opening for air inlet 11- Bridge

-A-

The pourer essentially consists of two parts that are manufactured separately, the top piece 2 and the lid closure 3. The combination of both parts fulfils the functional task of the innovation, with the lid closure 3 having a secure, sliding hold on the top piece 2 by means of laterally attached webs 11 and the sliding edges attached to them. In the base of the top piece 2, which is designed as a U-shaped channel, there are the rectangular openings 9 and 10, opposite each other, for the liquid outlet and the air inlet. These are followed downwards by the mandrels 5, which in turn are provided with side openings. The distance between the mandrels 5 is chosen so that the emptying of a cardboard box 1 can advantageously be considered complete. The lid closure 3, which slides between the recesses 6, releases the spout-like widening 7 of the front area of the U-shaped channel as well as the slot 8 in the rear area when in use.

The repeatable, safe introduction of the openings 9, 10 of cardboard boxes 1 that are to be put into use is always achieved with the same success by arranging sliding surfaces 4 at right angles to one another in a vertical downward position at the front and rear ends of the attachment piece 2, which enables diagonal placement on the cardboard box 1 with a firm fit.

It should be emphasized once again that the use of the pourer guarantees a precise, optimal and quick opening as well as a hygienic re-closure during use and that its use takes place without additional tools and significant physical exertion.

Claims (3)

1. Pourer for Tetra packs, characterized in that an attachment piece ( 2 ) is designed as a U-shaped channel which is open at the top and which has rectangular openings ( 9 , 10 ) in its base surface for the liquid outlet and air inlet, to which downward-directed mandrels ( 5 ) with lateral openings are connected, and sliding surfaces ( 4 ) are provided at each end of the attachment piece ( 2 ), which are at a right angle to one another when open, and a movable lid closure ( 3 ) covers the U-shaped channel of the attachment piece ( 2 ) which is open at the top. 2. Pourer for Tetra packs according to claim 1, characterized in that the mandrels ( 5 ) are brought as close as possible to the end of the bottom surface of the U-shaped channel of the attachment piece ( 2 ). 3. Pourer for Tetra packs according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable lid closure ( 3 ) is limited in its mobility by recesses ( 6 ) in the attachment piece ( 2 ) and in the "open" position the spout-like widening ( 7 ) and the slot ( 8 ) are visible.