One-Piece dispensing system and method for making same

• US 6,230,940 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1999
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seaquist Closures Limited (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign Inc (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Manning, James P., Socier, Timothy R., Hess, John M. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US09/432,677
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 222/181.2, 222/185.1, 222/206, 222/212, 222/215, 222/490-496, 220/89.1, 220/203, 220/205
• US Class Current: 222/185.1
• 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 system is provided for being sealingly disposed with respect to, and dispensing a product from, a discharge opening of a container wherein an annular mounting flange extends radially inwardly adjacent the opening. The valve is molded from a material to define a flexible, resilient structure having a head portion and a surrounding marginal portion. The head portion has a normally closed dispensing orifice which opens when the pressure in the interior of the container exceeds the pressure on the exterior of the valve by a predetermined amount. The marginal portion is connected with the head portion and has a generally annular wall defining a generally annular groove which is open radially outwardly for receiving the mounting flange. The annular wall is sufficiently flexible to elastically deform as the wall is forced against the mounting flange to accommodate sealing of the mounting flange in the groove. The annular wall is sufficiently resilient to accommodate the retention of the mounting flange in the groove by adjacent portions of the annular wall.

Claims

1. A dispensing system for communicating with, and dispensing a product from, a discharge opening of a dispensing end structure on a container wherein an annular mounting flange extends radially inwardly adjacent said opening, said system comprising:

a dispensing valve molded from at least one material to define a flexible, resilient structure having a flexible, central head portion, a sleeve extending outwardly from said flexible, central head portion, and a surrounding marginal portion;

said head portion having intersecting slits that define a normally closed dispensing orifice which opens when the pressure in the interior of the container exceeds the pressure on the exterior of the valve by a predetermined amount;

said marginal portion being connected with said sleeve and having a generally annular wall defining a generally annular groove which is open radially outwardly for receiving said mounting flange, said wall being (1) sufficiently flexible to temporarily deform as said wall is forced against said mounting flange to accommodate seating of said mounting flange in said groove, and (2) sufficiently resilient to accommodate the retention of said mounting flange in said groove by adjacent portions of said wall; and

said groove being defined at a location along said annular wall to locate said sleeve and head portion within said discharge opening when said valve head portion is closed while said valve is sealingly disposed with respect to said discharge opening.

2. The dispensing system in accordance with claim 1 in which

said dispensing end structure is defined by a closure body which is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container;

said closure body defines said discharge opening;

said annular mounting flange is defined by said closure body at an inner end of said opening; and

said valve is adapted to be mounted in said closure body.

3. The dispensing system in accordance with claim 2 in which said closure body is molded from a thermoplastic polymer.

4. The dispensing system in accordance with claim 1 in which said head portion has a generally circular periphery as viewed from the exterior toward said dispensing orifice.

5. The dispensing system in accordance with claim 1 in which

said marginal portion generally annular wall includes a generally annular upper shoulder and a generally annular lower retention flange;

and

said groove is located below said shoulder and above said retention flange.

6. The dispensing system in accordance with claim 5 in which said lower retention flange has a height which exceeds the height of said groove.

7. The dispensing system in accordance with claim 5 in which said upper shoulder defines (1) a generally frustoconical lead-in surface facing generally away from said retention flange, and (2) a generally annular undercut surface which faces generally toward said retention flange and which defines one side of said groove.

8. The dispensing system in accordance with claim 7 in which said retention flange has a generally flat, annular, upper surface defining one side of said groove and facing toward said undercut surface.

9. The dispensing system in accordance with claim 6 in which said retention flange extends radially outwardly beyond the radial extent of said upper shoulder.

10. The dispensing system in accordance with claim 1 in which

said valve is molded from just one material;

and

said one material is one of a thermoplastic elastomer and a thermosetting polymer.

11. The dispensing system in accordance with claim 1 in which

said valve is adapted to be mounted in a closure which is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container around said opening;

and

said annular mounting flange is defined by said closure.