US 12,466,614 B1
Cap and two-part plug assembly for a drip-proof spout
Dov Glucksman, Mattapoisett, MA (US); Rodney Glenn Wright, Sarasota, FL (US); Marc Drucker, Milton, MA (US); and David T. Stephenson, Buffalo, NY (US)
Assigned to Steuben Foods, Inc., Elma, NY (US)
Filed by Steuben Foods, Inc., Elma, NY (US)
Filed on Sep. 28, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/374,480.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/410,863, filed on Sep. 28, 2022.
Int. Cl. B65D 41/04 (2006.01); B65D 47/08 (2006.01); B65D 47/12 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 41/0414 (2013.01) [B65D 47/0804 (2013.01); B65D 47/123 (2013.01); B65D 2251/0025 (2013.01); B65D 2251/0078 (2013.01); B65D 2547/06 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a plug assembly attachable to a spout;
wherein the plug assembly comprises a plug and a plug insert;
wherein the plug includes a top plug wall, an outer plug wall and an inner plug wall;
wherein the outer plug wall and the inner plug wall depend downwardly from the top plug wall;
wherein the plug insert is adapted to be sealably attached to the plug;
wherein the plug insert comprises a plug insert body and a means for inhibiting a flow of a flowable material through the spout;
wherein the plug insert body comprises,
a distal plug insert portion,
a central plug insert portion,
and a proximal plug insert portion;
wherein the distal plug insert portion is in sealable contact with the inner plug wall;
where the central plug insert portion extends in a vertical plane between the inner plug wall and at least one plug insert recess;
wherein the proximal plug insert portion comprises the at least one plug insert recess and at least one plug insert tab; and
wherein the at least one plug insert tab is adapted to engage at least one internal spout tab when the at least one internal spout tab is positioned within the at least one plug insert recess in order to retain the plug insert in the spout when the plug is separated from the plug insert;
a cap coupled to a fitment and comprising a lid, a cap base, and a support surface to support a container in an inverted cap-down orientation;
wherein the cap encloses the plug assembly when the lid is in a closed position;
wherein the lid comprises a cap shaft on an inner side of the lid configured to insert into a plug recess on an upper side of the plug when the lid is in the closed position;
wherein the plug has a plug shaft;
wherein the plug recess is located within the plug shaft and the cap shaft is configured to be inserted into the plug recess;
wherein the plug shaft has a plug shaft end configured to engage with the means for inhibiting the flow of the flowable material through the spout;
wherein the plug insert recess is a buffer zone and has a height greater than a height of the plug insert tab such that the plug insert tab can move from a proximal first position to a distal second position when the plug is removed and a force is applied on the plug insert in a distal direction; and
wherein the cap shaft is configured to engage the means for inhibiting the flow of the flowable material through the spout when the plug insert is in the second distal position and the hinged cap is in the closed position.