Composite pack having a pouring element, and blank for producing such pack

Abstract

A pack having an opening region provided in the top of the pack which forms a pouring opening after it is cut through by an applied pouring element, the pouring element including a base body, a cutting element arranged movably therein, and a screw cap, the screw cap being used for first opening of the pack by actuating the cutting element and for reclosure, and the opening region having a weakened line. The weakened line has a round first section and a second section. The first time the composite pack is opened by moving the cutting element, the weakened line is cut in the first section and tears in the second section.

Claims

1. A composite pack, comprising an opening region provided in a top of the pack which forms a pouring opening after the top of the pack is cut through by an applied pouring element, the pouring element comprising a base body, a cutting element arranged movably therein, and a screw cap, the screw cap being used for first opening of the pack by actuating the cutting element and for reclosure, and the opening region having a weakened line in a composite and a hinge region, on which a part of the opening region formed after the weakened line is cut through is tilted into an interior of the pack and held there, wherein the hinge region is formed by a straight line, the weakened line has a round first section and a second section, which is directly connected to and extends essentially straight between the first section and the hinge region, the hinge region and the second section extending substantially perpendicular to one another, such that, a first time the composite pack is opened by moving the cutting element, the weakened line is cut in the first section and tears in the second section.

2. The composite pack according to claim 1, wherein the hinge region is also weakened in at least one layer of a composite material.

3. The composite pack according to claim 1, wherein the first section of the weakened line adjoins the hinge region in continuation thereof.

4. The composite pack according to claim 1, wherein the first section of the weakened line approximately describes three-quarters of a circle.

5. The composite pack according to claim 1, wherein an end of the second section of the weakened line extends as far as a free end of the hinge region.

6. The composite pack according to claim 4, wherein the first section of the weakened line describes a circle arc of 270°.

7. The composite pack according to claim 5, wherein an angle between the hinge region and the end of the second section of the weakened line is a right angle or obtuse angle.

8. The composite pack according to claim 1, wherein the weakened line is produced by a laser.

9. The composite pack according to claim 1, wherein the weakened line is produced mechanically as stamped or grooved lines.

10. A blank made of cardboard/plastic composite material for producing composite packs according to claim 1, wherein the composite is weakened by a perforation in an opening region by means of weakened lines applied or introduced.

11. The pouring element for use with the composite pack according to claim 1, the pouring element comprising the base body, the cutting element arranged rotatably therein, and the screw cap, for use with the composite pack, wherein the cutting element executes a rotation of about 360° a first time the pouring element is opened, and has the cutting spike which cuts through an opening region of the pack along the weakened line when the screw cap is actuated, and tilts the part of the opening region formed after the weakened line is cut through into the interior of the pack and holds the part of the opening region in the tilted position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained in more detail below with the aid of a drawing, which merely represents a preferred exemplary embodiment. In the drawing:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a composite pack according to the invention without the pouring element applied, in a perspective view,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the opening region of the composite pack of FIG. 1 in enlarged plan view, and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a composite pack according to the invention with the pouring element applied, after a first opening and reclosure of the screw cap, for better representation in a cutaway perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a composite pack P, as long known per se as a parallelepipedal cardboard/plastic composite pack for pourable products. In order to achieve a clean-cut pouring opening, the composite material in the opening region 1 of the pack is provided with a weakened line 2, which extends from one end of a hinge region 3 to its other end.

(6) From the enlargement in FIG. 2, it is more clearly revealed that the weakened line 2 has a curved first section 2A and merges into a second section 2B, which extends between the first section 2A and the hinge region 3. The hinge region 3 and the second region 2B of the weakened line make an angle α, which in the exemplary embodiment represented and to this extent preferred is 90°. It is not represented that the first section may also comprise a circle arc which is greater than 270°, so long as the remaining hinge region remains sufficiently large in order to form a stable bridge between the composite material and the separable section 4.

(7) In order to facilitate the tilting process, the hinge region 3, which in the present and to this extent preferred exemplary embodiment is described as a straight line, may also be weakened by means of a further weakened line.

(8) The opening process is carried out in such a way by an applied pouring element with a cutting element 5 and a screw cap 6 (FIG. 3) during first actuation of the screw cap 6 a cutting spike 7 of the cutting element 5 penetrates into the composite material in the region of the weakened line 2, and is then guided anticlockwise on a circular path around the separable part 4. After reaching a rotation of about 270°, the second section 2B “leaves” the weakened line 2 of the circular cross section tangentially outwards, but by the further circular movement of the cutting spike 7 the second section 2B of the weakened line 2 also tears.

(9) The cutting spike 7 acts as a guide element, in order to initiate the tilting movement of the part 4 of the composite material into the interior of the pack, and to end it only when the separated part 4 has extended by about 90° into the interior of the pack. This state is shown in FIG. 3, in which the cutting spike 7 has reached its end position, which it no longer changes even after further actuation of the screw cap 6 in the rotation direction.

(10) Many pouring elements known per se are formed in such a way that, the first time the screw cap is screwed on, the cutting element moves even further into the interior of the pack in order to achieve reliable blocking of the part extending into the interior of the pack and therefore to reliably keep the pouring opening open. Such a pouring element may preferably also be used with the composite pack according to the invention.