Fitment coupler with cap
View Patent ↗A fitment assembly is operable to dispense confectionary from a container and to operably support a decorating nozzle through which the dispensed confectionary is discharged. The fitment assembly includes a fitment body and a coupler. The coupler includes a coupler ring presenting a ring opening, with the fitment body extending into the ring opening. The coupler further includes a coupler cap covering the fitment opening and removably attached to the coupler ring along a line of weakness. The coupler cap is separable from the coupler ring along the line of weakness to expose the fitment opening.
1. A fitment assembly operable to dispense confectionary from a container and to operably support a decorating nozzle through which the dispensed confectionary is discharged, said fitment assembly comprising:
a fitment body operable to be attached relative to the container and presenting a continuous fitment passage leading to a downstream fitment opening; and
a coupler including a coupler ring and a removable coupler cap,
said coupler ring presenting a ring opening, with the coupler ring mounted so that the fitment body extends into the ring opening,
said coupler cap spanning the ring opening so as to cover the fitment opening, said coupler cap being removably attached to the coupler ring along a line of weakness, with the coupler cap being separable from the coupler ring along the line of weakness to expose the fitment opening, said coupler ring being threadably coupled to the fitment body, with the coupler ring being rotated relative to the fitment body into a secured position, said coupler cap including an endless annular seal projecting radially inwardly from the sidewall to sealingly engage the fitment body, said coupler ring presenting threads for threadably coupling to the fitment body, said seal being located between the threads and the fitment opening.
2. The fitment assembly as claimed in claim 1 ,
said fitment body projecting through the ring opening and defining a downstream fitment end that presents the fitment opening,
said coupler cap being positioned adjacent to the downstream fitment end to cover the fitment opening.
3. The fitment assembly as claimed in claim 2 ,
said coupler cap including a circumferentially extending endless sidewall attached to the coupler ring along the line of weakness and surrounding the fitment opening prior to being removed.
4. The fitment assembly as claimed in claim 3 ,
said coupler cap including exterior ribs integrally formed with and projecting radially outwardly from the sidewall,
said ribs and said sidewall cooperatively providing a gripping surface to facilitate manual separation of the coupler cap from the coupler ring.
5. The fitment assembly as claimed in claim 1 ,
said coupler and fitment body presenting cooperating locking shoulders configured to cooperatively restrict movement of the coupler ring relative to the fitment body from the secured position.
6. The fitment assembly as claimed in claim 5 ,
said shoulders presenting opposed faces that project generally radially,
said faces being configured to engage one another when the coupler ring is rotated relative to the fitment body from the secured position.
7. The fitment assembly as claimed in claim 6 ,
said coupler further including a security ring that presents a corresponding one of the shoulders,
said security ring being removably attached to the coupler ring along another line of weakness, with the security ring being entirely separable from the coupler ring along the another line of weakness as the coupler ring is rotated relative to the fitment body from the secured position.
8. The fitment assembly as claimed in claim 1 ,
said fitment body including a nozzle body that presents the downstream fitment opening and a seal body that presents an upstream fitment opening, with the fitment passage extending from the upstream fitment opening to the downstream fitment opening,
said nozzle body including threads that threadably receive the coupler ring.
9. The fitment assembly as claimed in claim 8 ,
said nozzle body including a tapered downstream portion that extends downstream from the threads and presents an outer surface that tapers toward the downstream fitment opening.
10. The fitment assembly as claimed in claim 9 ,
said tapered downstream portion projecting downstream of the coupler ring.
11. The fitment assembly as claimed in claim 1 ,
said fitment body including a nozzle body that presents the downstream fitment opening and a seal body that presents an upstream fitment opening, with the fitment passage extending from the upstream fitment opening to the downstream fitment opening,
said seal body presenting opposite sealing surfaces located on opposite sides of the upstream fitment opening and configured to be in sealing engagement with the container.
12. The fitment assembly as claimed in claim 11 ,
said seal body including a tubular section that forms part of the fitment passage,
said seal body further including a flange attached to and projecting laterally outboard from the tubular section, with the tubular section and flange cooperatively presenting at least part of the opposite sealing surfaces.
13. The fitment assembly as claimed in claim 12 ,
said seal body including another flange attached to the tubular section and projecting laterally outboard from the tubular section,
said flanges extending in opposite directions from the tubular section, with the tubular section and flanges cooperatively presenting the opposite sealing surfaces.
14. A confectionary dispenser operable to dispense confectionary through a decorating nozzle, said confectionary dispenser comprising:
a hollow flexible pouch defining a pouch chamber to contain the confectionary; and
a fitment assembly operable to dispense the confectionary from the pouch and to operably support the decorating nozzle through which the dispensed confectionary is discharged, said fitment assembly including—
a fitment body communicating with the pouch chamber and presenting a continuous fitment passage leading to a downstream fitment opening, and
a coupler including a coupler ring and a removable coupler cap,
said coupler ring presenting a ring opening, with the coupler ring mounted so that the fitment body extends into the ring opening,
said coupler cap spanning the ring opening so as to cover the fitment opening,
said coupler cap being removably attached to the coupler ring along a line of weakness, with the coupler cap being separable from the coupler ring along the line of weakness to expose the fitment opening, said coupler ring being threadably coupled to the fitment body, with the coupler ring being rotated relative to the fitment body into a secured position, said coupler cap including an endless annular seal projecting radially inwardly from the sidewall to sealingly engage the fitment body, said coupler ring presenting threads for threadably coupling to the fitment body, said seal being located between the threads and the fitment opening.
15. The confectionary dispenser as claimed in claim 14 ,
said fitment body projecting through the ring opening and defining a downstream fitment end that presents the fitment opening,
said coupler cap being positioned adjacent to the downstream fitment end to cover the fitment opening.
16. The confectionary dispenser as claimed in claim 15 ,
said coupler cap including a circumferentially extending endless sidewall attached to the coupler ring along the line of weakness and surrounding the fitment opening prior to being removed.
17. The confectionary dispenser as claimed in claim 16 ,
said coupler cap including exterior ribs integrally formed with and projecting radially outwardly from the sidewall,
said ribs and said sidewall cooperatively providing a gripping surface to facilitate manual separation of the coupler cap from the coupler ring.
18. The confectionary dispenser as claimed in claim 14 ,
said coupler and fitment body presenting cooperating locking shoulders configured to cooperatively restrict movement of the coupler ring relative to the fitment body from the secured position.
19. The confectionary dispenser as claimed in claim 18 ,
said shoulders presenting opposed faces that project generally radially,
said faces being configured to engage one another when the coupler ring is rotated relative to the fitment body from the secured position.
20. The confectionary dispenser as claimed in claim 19 ,
said coupler further including a security ring that presents a corresponding one of the shoulders,
said security ring being removably attached to the coupler ring along another line of weakness, with the security ring being entirely separable from the coupler ring along the another line of weakness as the coupler ring is rotated relative to the fitment body from the secured position.
21. The confectionary dispenser as claimed in claim 14 ,
said fitment body including a nozzle body that presents the downstream fitment opening and a seal body that presents an upstream fitment opening, with the fitment passage extending from the upstream fitment opening to the downstream fitment opening,
said nozzle body including threads that threadably receive the coupler ring.
22. The confectionary dispenser as claimed in claim 21 ,
said nozzle body including a tapered downstream portion that extends downstream from the threads and presents an outer surface that tapers toward the downstream fitment opening.
23. The confectionary dispenser as claimed in claim 22 ,
said tapered downstream portion projecting downstream of the coupler ring.
24. The confectionary dispenser as claimed in claim 14 ,
said fitment body including a nozzle body that presents the downstream fitment opening and a seal body that presents an upstream fitment opening, with the fitment passage extending from the upstream fitment opening to the downstream fitment opening,
said seal body presenting opposite sealing surfaces located on opposite sides of the upstream fitment opening and configured to be in sealing engagement with the container.
25. The confectionary dispenser as claimed in claim 24 ,
said seal body including a tubular section that forms part of the fitment passage,
said seal body further including a flange attached to and projecting laterally outboard from the tubular section, with the tubular section and flange cooperatively presenting at least part of the opposite sealing surfaces.
26. The confectionary dispenser as claimed in claim 25 ,
said seal body including another flange attached to the tubular section and projecting laterally outboard from the tubular section,
said flanges extending in opposite directions from the tubular section, with the tubular section and flanges cooperatively presenting the opposite sealing surfaces.