Integrally molded dispensing valve and method of manufacture

• US 20060201976A1
• Filed: 03/09/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure, Inc.
• Inventors: Pugne, Darin M., Bloom, Kenneth S., Brozell, Brian J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,503,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/494
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2031 the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure B65D47/2025 takes precedence

Abstract

A dispensing valve includes an annular ring of relatively rigid molded plastic construction and a flexible resilient valve element integrally molded with the ring. The ring and the valve element have at least one mechanical interlock to secure the valve element to the ring as the valve element is molded onto the ring. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the mechanical interlock includes openings in an inner periphery of the ring and pegs on the outer periphery of the valve element that are molded into the openings as the valve element is molded onto the ring.

Claims

1. A dispensing valve that includes:

an annular ring of relatively rigid molded plastic construction, and

a flexible resilient valve element integrally molded with said ring,

said ring and said valve element having at least one mechanical interlock to secure said valve element to said ring as said valve element is molded onto said ring.

2. The valve set forth in claim 1 wherein said annular ring includes an inner periphery with said at least one mechanical interlock.

3. The valve set forth in claim 2 wherein said mechanical interlock includes openings in said inner periphery of said annular ring, and portions of said valve element molded into said opening as said valve element is molded onto said annular ring.

4. The valve set forth in claim 3 wherein said inner periphery of said ring includes an annular ledge, and wherein said openings are disposed in an angularly spaced array around said ledge.

5. The valve set forth in claim 4 wherein said openings are through-openings.

6. The valve set forth in claim 5 wherein at least some of said through-openings are interconnected by channels in said ledge and into which said valve element is molded.

7. The valve set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said openings includes an enlarged portion opening at one axially facing surface of said ledge and an ensmalled portion aligned with said enlarged portion and opening to a second axially facing surface of said ledge.

8. The valve set forth in claim 7 wherein at least some of said enlarged portions are interconnected by channels in said one surface of said ledge and into which said valve element is molded.

9. The valve set forth in claim 7 wherein said valve element includes an annular flange in opposed engagement with said second axially facing surface of said ledge on said ring, and pegs integrally molded with said annular ledge extending through said ensmalled portions into said enlarged portions of said through-openings.

10. The valve set forth in claim 9 wherein at least some of said pegs are interconnected by valve element material extending through channels in said one surface of said ledge.

11. The valve set forth in claim 2 wherein said inner periphery of said ring includes an annular ledge, and wherein said mechanical interlock includes at least one projection on a surface of said ledge.

12. The valve set forth in claim 11 wherein said projection is on an undersurface of said ledge.

13. The valve set forth in claim 12 wherein said projection includes at least one annular rib.

14. The valve set forth in claim 13 wherein said projection includes radially spaced concentric annular ribs.

15. A dispensing valve that includes:

an annular ring of relatively rigid molded plastic construction,

said ring including an outer periphery for securing said valve within a dispensing opening and an inner periphery that includes an annular ledge having an angularly spaced array of through-openings, and

a flexible resilient valve element molded onto said annular ledge,

said valve element having an outer peripheral portion in engagement with said ledge on said ring and integral pegs extending into said through-openings to lock said valve element to said ring.

16. The valve set forth in claim 15 wherein at least some of said through-openings are interconnected by channels in said ledge and into which said valve element is molded.

17. The valve set forth in claim 15 wherein each of said through-openings includes an enlarged portion opening at one axially facing surface of said ledge and an ensmalled portion aligned with said enlarged portion and opening to a second axially facing surface of said ledge.

18. The valve set forth in claim 17 wherein at least one of said enlarged portions are interconnected by channels in said one surface of said ledge and into which said valve element is molded.

19. A dispensing valve that includes:

an annular ring of relatively rigid molded plastic construction,

said ring including an outer periphery for securing said valve within a dispensing opening and an inner periphery that includes an annular ledge having at least one axial projection, and

a flexible resilient valve element molded onto said annular ledge,

said valve element having an outer peripheral portion in engagement with said ledge on said ring and molded over said at least one projection to lock said valve element to said ring.

20. The valve set forth in claim 19 wherein said projection is on an undersurface of said ledge.

21. The valve set forth in claim 20 wherein said projection includes at least one annular rib.

22. The valve set forth in claim 21 wherein said projection includes radially spaced concentric annular ribs.

23. A dispensing closure that includes:

a base having a deck with a dispensing opening, and

a dispensing valve that includes an annular ring of relatively rigid plastic construction having an outer periphery engaged with said deck to secure said valve within said dispensing opening and an inner periphery within said outer periphery, and a flexible resilient valve element integrally molded to said ring and being mechanically connected to said ring by at least one interlock between said valve element and said inner periphery of said ring.

24. The closure set forth in claim 23 wherein said interlock includes openings in said inner periphery of said annular ring, and portions of said valve element molded into said opening as said valve element is molded onto said annular ring.

25. The closure set forth in claim 24 wherein said inner periphery of said ring includes an annular ledge, and wherein said openings are disposed in an angularly spaced array around said ledge.

26. The closure set forth in claim 25 wherein said openings are through-openings.

27. The closure set forth in claim 26 wherein at least some of said through-openings are interconnected by channels in said ledge and into which said valve element is molded.

28. The closure set forth in claim 26 wherein each of said openings includes an enlarged portion opening at one axially facing surface of said ledge and an ensmalled portion aligned with said enlarged portion and opening to a second axially facing surface of said ledge.

29. The closure set forth in claim 28 wherein at least some of said enlarged portions are interconnected by channels in said one surface of said ledge and into which said valve element is molded.

30. The closure set forth in claim 26 wherein said valve element includes an annular flange in opposed engagement with said second axially facing surface of said ledge on said ring, and pegs integrally molded with said flat annular ledge extending through said ensmalled portions into said enlarged portions of said through-openings.

31. The closure set forth in claim 30 wherein at least some of said pegs are interconnected by valve element material extending through channels in said one surface of said ledge.

32. The closure set forth in claim 23 wherein said inner periphery of said ring includes an annular ledge, and wherein said mechanical interlock includes at least one projection on a surface of said ledge.

33. The closure set forth in claim 32 wherein said projection is on an undersurface of said ledge.

34. The closure set forth in claim 33 wherein said projection includes at least one annular rib.

35. The closure set forth in claim 34 wherein said projection includes radially spaced concentric annular ribs.

36. The closure set forth in claim 23 wherein said base has a lid and a hinge of one-piece integrally molded construction with said base.

37. A dispensing closure that includes:

a base having a deck with a dispensing opening and a dispensing valve mounted within said dispensing opening, said dispensing valve including;

an annular ring of relatively rigid molded plastic construction,

said ring including an outer periphery securing said valve within said dispensing opening and an inner periphery that includes an annular ledge having an angularly spaced array of through-openings, and

a flexible resilient valve element molded onto said annular ledge,

said valve element having an outer peripheral portion in engagement with said ledge on said ring and integral pegs extending into said through-openings to lock said valve element to said ring.

38. The closure set forth in claim 37 wherein at least some of said through-openings are interconnected by channels in said ledge and into which said valve element is molded.

39. The closure set forth in claim 37 wherein each of said through-openings includes an enlarged portion opening at one axially facing surface of said ledge and an ensmalled portion aligned with said enlarged portion and opening to a second axially facing surface of said ledge.

40. The closure set forth in claim 39 wherein at least some of said enlarged portions are interconnected by channels in said one surface of said ledge and into which said valve element is molded.

41. A dispensing closure that includes:

a base having a deck with a dispensing opening, and

a dispensing valve that includes;

an annular ring of relatively rigid molded plastic construction,

said ring including an outer periphery securing said valve within said dispensing opening and an inner periphery that includes an annular ledge having at least one axial projection, and

a flexible resilient valve element molded onto said annular ledge,

said valve element having an outer peripheral portion in engagement with said ledge on said ring and molded over said at least one projection to lock said valve element to said ring.

42. The closure set forth in claim 41 wherein said projection is on an undersurface of said ledge.

43. The closure set forth in claim 42 wherein said projection includes at least one annular rib.

44. The closure set forth in claim 42 wherein said projection includes radially spaced concentric annular ribs.

45. A method of making a dispensing valve that includes:

(a) molding an annular ring of relatively rigid plastic construction, and

(b) molding a flexible resilient valve element onto said annular ring such that said annular ring and said valve element have at least one mechanical interlock that secures said valve element to said ring as said valve element is molded onto said ring.

46. The method set forth in claim 45 wherein said step (a) includes molding an angularly spaced array of openings in an inner peripheral portion of said annular ring, and wherein said step (b) includes molding said flexible resilient valve to have pegs that extend into said openings mechanically to attach said valve to said ring.

47. The method set forth in claim 45 wherein said step (a) includes molding at least one projection on an inner periphery of said ring, and wherein said step (b) includes molding said valve over said projection.

48. The method set forth in claim 45 wherein said steps (a) and (b) are carried out in a two-material molding operation.

49. A dispensing valve of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction that includes a ring of relatively rigid thermoplastic or thermosetting resin construction and a flexible resilient dispensing valve element of thermoplastic or thermosetting resin construction.

50. The valve set forth in claim 49 wherein said valve element is of silicone or thermoplastic elastomer construction.

51. The valve set forth in claim 49 wherein said ring is of polyphenol amide, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenol amine, nylon or glass-filled polypropylene construction.

52. The valve set forth in claim 49 wherein said valve is integrally molded in a two-material sequential injection molding operation.

53. A dispensing valve that includes a ring and a valve element attached to the ring by mechanical means and/or chemical bonding, wherein one or both of said valve and said ring are of thermosetting resin construction.

54. The valve set forth in claim 53 wherein said ring and said valve element are sequentially injection molded.

55. The valve set forth in claim 54 wherein said ring is of a material having a higher melt or higher softening temperature than that the material of said valve element.

56. The valve set forth in claim 53 wherein said valve element of silicone composition.

57. The valve set forth in claim 53 wherein said ring is of nylon and said valve element is of silicone composition.