Squeeze liquid dispenser

• US 20040074924A1
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sara Lee / De N.V. (Sara Lee Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sara Lee / De N.V. (Sara Lee Corporation)
• Inventors: Colenbrander, Wander Herman, Kuhn, Petrus Henricus, A.,N.
• Granted Patent: US 6,868,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/211
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2081 in which the deformation raises or lowers the valve port

Abstract

A squeeze dispenser for liquids, preferably relatively highly viscous liquids, is provided with a flexible holder (1) with an outflow opening (2) via which a liquid can be pressed out of the holder, and with a sealing element (3) arranged over this outflow opening. In this sealing element, a first valve (12) is arranged via which, when the holder is squeezed, liquid can be pressed out of the holder, as well as a second valve (18) for admitting air into the holder when the holder is no longer squeezed.

Claims

1. A squeeze dispenser for liquids, preferably relatively highly viscous liquids, provided with a flexible holder with an outflow opening via which a liquid can be pressed out of the holder, and with a sealing element arranged over this outflow opening, characterized in that in this sealing element a first valve is arranged via which, when the holder is squeezed, liquid can be pressed out of the holder, as well as a second valve for admitting air into the holder when the holder is no longer squeezed.

2. A squeeze dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the first valve is active in a surface of the sealing element perpendicular to the outflow direction of the liquid from the holder and the second valve is active in a side surface of the sealing element.

3. A squeeze dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that the plane in which the second valve is active is substantially perpendicular to that in which the first valve is active.

4. A squeeze dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holder is provided with a riser, one end of which terminates in the first valve.

5. A squeeze dispenser according to claim 4, characterized in that in the extremity of the riser located adjacent the first valve, a ball is provided which can close off the riser.

6. A squeeze dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing element comprises a first closing part which can be secured on the holder and a second closing part which can be secured over the first closing element, the second closing part comprising at least partly a flexible part which, together with the first closing part, forms the first valve.

7. A squeeze dispenser according to claim 6, characterized in that at least the upper portion of the riser forms part of the first closing part and the extremity of the riser is situated opposite said flexible part.

8. A squeeze dispenser according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the second valve is formed by a lip which is active between the two closing parts.

9. A squeeze dispenser according to claim 8, characterized in that the first closing part is provided with at least one opening, via which air, let through by the second valve, can flow into the holder.

10. A squeeze dispenser according to any one of claims 6-9, characterized in that a sealing lip is present for blocking a liquid flow to the space between the first and second closing part via which air, let through by the second valve, can flow to said opening in the first closing part.

11. A squeeze dispenser according to any one of claims 6-10, characterized in that the holder and the two closing parts are manufactured from plastic by injection molding, the plastic material of the second closing part being softer than that of the holder and the first closing part.