PROFILE VALVE FOR LIQUID METERING AND DISPENSING

• US 20200130899A1
• Filed: 04/19/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: LUDWIG, Christopher, LEIGHTON, Murray Edward Bruce
• Application Number:
  US16/606,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20200130899A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/2508 using slide fasteners with interlocking members having a substantially uniform section throughout the length of the fastener; Sliders therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 35/40 for metering discharge
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/082 of the squeeze container type using squeeze bottles or the like for soap A47K5/122

Abstract

A flexible container, bottle or bag with a one-way valve adjacent to a pressure close tight or bubble valve, operating as a dispensing valve, in order provides a metered dosing element. The dispensing valve for flexible packaging, using an extruded profile as a valve which requires internal pressure to overcome the seal effect or bias of the profile alows for metering of the contents of a flexible package.

Claims

1. A package for holding and dispensing a metered contents, comprising:

a first panel portion made of flexible material;

a second panel portion made of flexible material, the first panel and the second panel defining a storage volume;

a storage access portion, defined by a portion of the first and second panel portions, defining a flow pathway for communicating from the storage volume to an exterior of the package;

the storage access portion including a dispensing chamber defined by a first valve on a product side of the dispensing chamber and a second valve on a consumer side of the dispensing chamber;

the first valve being substantially a one-way valve which passes contents from the storage volume to the dispensing chamber upon application of pressure to a portion of the package; and

the second valve passing contents from the dispensing chamber through a portion of the flow pathway to an exterior of the package upon application of pressure to the dispensing chamber.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein the storage access portion is narrower than the storage volume.

3. The package of claim 2 wherein the first valve is a first protruding closure device.

4. The package of claim 3 wherein the first protruding closure device contains a first bubble containing a first fluid.

5. The package of claim 4 wherein the first fluid is a gas.

6. The package of claim 3 wherein the second valve is a second protruding closure device.

7. The package of claim 6 wherein the second protruding closure device contains a second bubble containing a second fluid.

8. The package of claim 7 wherein the second fluid is a gas.

9. The package of claim 6 wherein a bubble layer of film is positioned between the first and second panel portions within the storage access portion, the bubble layer being sealed to at least one of the first and second panel portions thereby forming the first and second bubbles.

10. The package of claim 9 wherein the first and second bubbles impinge against at least one of the first and second panel portions.

11. The package of claim 2 wherein the first valve includes:

a first profile with a first flange and a first sealing lip extending from the first flange;

a second profile with a second flange and a second sealing lip extending from the second flange;

wherein distal ends of the first and second sealing lips are joined together at an apex.

12. The package of claim 11 wherein the first profile is attached to a first of the first and second profile panel portions and the second profile is sealed to a second of the first and second profile panel portions.

13. The package of claim 12 wherein the apex points toward a consumer side of the package.

14. The package of claim 2 wherein the first valve includes:

a profile with a flange and a sealing lip extending from the flange;

the profile being sealed to a first of the first and second profile panel portions and the sealing lip being joined to a second of the first and second profile panel portions.

15. The package of claim 14 wherein the sealing lip is joined to the second of the first and second profile panel portions by a peel seal.

16. The package of claim 14 wherein the sealing lip is joined to the second of the first and second profile panel portions by a frangible connection.

17. A valve structure, comprising:

a fluid flow path from a first end of the valve structure to a second end of the valve structure;

the flow path including a first valve on a first end of the valve structure and a second valve on the second end of the valve structure;

a dispensing chamber defined between the first valve and the second valve;

the first valve being substantially a one-way valve which passes contents from the first end of the valve structure to the dispensing chamber; and

the second valve passing contents from the dispensing chamber through a portion of the flow pathway to the second end of the valve structure upon application of pressure to the dispensing chamber.

18. The valve structure of claim 17 wherein the first valve is a first protruding closure device.

19. The valve structure of claim 18 wherein the first protruding closure device contains a first bubble containing a first fluid.

20. The valve structure of claim 19 wherein the first fluid is a gas.

21. The valve structure of claim 18 wherein the second valve is a second protruding closure device.

22. The valve structure of claim 21 wherein the second protruding closure device contains a second bubble containing a second fluid.

23. The valve structure of claim 22 wherein the second fluid is a gas.

24. The valve structure of claim 17 wherein the first valve includes:

a first profile with a first flange and a first sealing lip extending from the first flange;

a second profile with a second flange and a second sealing lip extending from the second flange;

wherein distal ends of the first and second sealing lips are joined together at an apex.

25. The valve structure of claim 24 wherein the apex points toward the second end of the valve structure.

26. The valve structure of claim 17 wherein the first valve includes:

a profile with a flange and a sealing lip extending from the flange.

27. The valve structure of claim 26 wherein a distal end of the sealing lip includes a peel seal.

28. A method of forming a valve through which a user may dispense contents from an internal volume of a package, said method comprising:

forming a first bubble and a second bubble between a first exterior layer and a first interior layer by applying a bubble seal between said first exterior layer and said first interior layer and enclosing an enclosed material in said first bubble and said second bubble;

forming a dispensing chamber between said first bubble and said second bubble; and

forming a channel between said second exterior layer and one of said first interior layer and said first exterior layer by applying a channel seal between said second exterior layer and one of said first interior layer and said first exterior layer, said channel including an inlet for fluidic communication with said internal volume and an outlet through which said contents may be dispensed,

wherein said first interior layer is disposed between said exterior layers,

wherein said first bubble and said second bubble include a physical characteristic that restricts flow of said contents from said inlet to said outlet.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising attaching said valve to said package at an attachment section located on at least two of said layers.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein said enclosed material is a gas or a liquid.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said gas is ambient air.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein said physical characteristic of said first bubble and said second bubble is a pressure of said gas or said liquid.

33. The method of claim 28 wherein said enclosed material is a solid.

34. The method of claim 28 further compromising thermoforming or vacuum forming said interior layers.