초록 ▼

An opening and closing device for a package containing a pourable product. The device is affixed to the package at the top end of the package and includes a ring affixed to the surface of the package. The ring encompasses an intended pouring opening which is prescored. A combination of a rupture ele

An opening and closing device for a package containing a pourable product. The device is affixed to the package at the top end of the package and includes a ring affixed to the surface of the package. The ring encompasses an intended pouring opening which is prescored. A combination of a rupture element and a lever arm are hingedly mounted within the ring in position for activation of the rupture element through the lever arm, to rotate the distal end of the rupture element against the prescored region and to partly tear away a tab of the package. Further rotation of the rupture element carries the tab into the interior of the package. Provision is made for retention of the rupture element and tab within the interior of the package out of the flow path of contents being poured from the package through the opening formed by removal of the tab. A plurality of ribs disposed on that surface of the rupture element facing the package combine with the tab to define at least one air vent leading from the exterior to the interior of the package to facilitate uniform flow of the contents from the package. A lid is hinged to the ring for rotation into overlying relationship to the ring for reversible sealing relationship between the lid and the ring. A method for opening and closing a package is disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An opening and closing device for a package having a top end including a substantially flat surface area comprisinga peripheral ring affixed to the substantially flat surface area of the package and defining an opening region having an inboard end and an outboard end, said outboard end being disp

1. An opening and closing device for a package having a top end including a substantially flat surface area comprisinga peripheral ring affixed to the substantially flat surface area of the package and defining an opening region having an inboard end and an outboard end, said outboard end being disposed adjacent a side of the package, prescoring located within said opening region, said prescoring having an inboard end and an outboard end and defining a pouring region from which the contents of the package may be poured, said inboard end of said prescoring defining a fold line, a hinge pin extending between opposite sides of said ring at a location adjacent said inboard end of said ring, a rupture element having an inboard end, said inboard end being hingedly mounted to said hinge pin for rotational movement of said rupture element between a first position outside the package and a second position inside said package, and having a distal end adapted to rupture at least a portion of said prescoring and develop a pouring opening in the top end of the package within the opening region, said rupture element including a bottom surface disposed in facing relationship to the top surface of the package prior to rotational movement of said rupture element into engagement with the top surface of the package, at least two ribs disposed on said bottom surface of said rupture element and projecting generally perpendicularly therefrom in position to engage the top surface of the package within the prescoring upon rotation of the rupture element about said hinge pin and toward the top surface of the package and effect rupture of at least a portion of said prescoring at the outboard end thereof to develop a partly torn away tab of the top end of the package, said tab being carried inwardly of the package upon rotation of the distal end of the rupture element inwardly of the package, said ribs being spaced apart from one another and defining an open passageway therebetween, said passageway being further bounded by said partly torn away tab of the top end of the package which is in engagement with said ribs.