Valve with rolling sleeve

• US 6,293,437 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seaquist Closures Limited (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Seaquist Closures Limited (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gross, Richard A., Socier, Timothy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Thach H
• Application Number:
  US09/748,631
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 222/212, 222/490, 222/493, 222/494, 222/496
• US Class Current: 222/212
• 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 is provided for dispensing a product from a container. The valve includes a marginal portion, a head portion with a discharge orifice therein, and a resilient, connector sleeve extending between the marginal portion to the head portion. The connector sleeve has a generally U-shaped cross-section that defines a first leg that is connected with the marginal portion and a shorter second leg connected with the head portion. The connector sleeve locates the head portion so that a plane passing through the head portion extends generally through or outwardly of the marginal portion.

Claims

1. A dispensing valve for being sealingly disposed with respect to, and dispensing a product from, a discharge opening of a container, said valve comprising:

a marginal portion adapted to be sealingly engaged when said valve is sealingly disposed with respect to the container discharge opening; and

a head portion that (1) is laterally inwardly of said marginal portion, (2) has an exterior side for interfacing with ambient environment, and (3) has an interior side for interfacing with the product, said head portion exterior side having a generally concave shape when viewed from outside the container, said head portion including a normally closed orifice which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to a pressure differential across said valve; and

a resilient, flexible, connector sleeve having an interior surface for interfacing with the product and having an exterior surface for interfacing with ambient environment, said connector sleeve having a generally inverted, U-shaped cross section defining (1) a first leg connected with said marginal portion, and (2) a second leg connected with said head portion to locate said head portion spaced laterally inwardly of said first leg to facilitate movement of said head portion when dispensing product from the container.

2. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 1 in which said valve is mounted in a dispensing closure that is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container around said opening.

3. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 2 in which

said dispensing closure includes a housing for mounting to said container;

said valve marginal portion is clamped by said housing.

4. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 3 in which

said valve marginal portion includes an annular flange having a dovetail cross-section defining a first diverging surface, a second diverging surface, and a peripheral surface between said first and second diverging surfaces;

and

said closure housing has a central opening surrounded by an annular, frustoconical clamping surface engaging said first diverging surface of said valve flange.

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

said orifice is defined by a plurality of slits that extend (1) through said head portion between said exterior side and said interior side, and (2) laterally from a common origin whereby flaps are defined by said slits, said orifice opening by outward displacement of said flaps when the pressure in the interior of the container exceeds the pressure on the exterior of the valve by a predetermined amount;

said slits are each planar; and

each slit defines a linear locus along said head portion exterior side and along said head portion interior side.

6. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 1 in which

said orifice is defined by a plurality of slits that extend (1) through said head portion between said exterior side and said interior side, and (2) laterally from a common origin whereby flaps are defined by said slits, said orifice opening by outward displacement of said flaps when the pressure in the interior of the container exceeds the pressure on the exterior of the valve by a predetermined amount;

and

said slits are of equal length.

7. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 1 in which

said orifice is defined by a plurality of slits that extend (1) through said head portion between said exterior side and said interior side, and (2) laterally from a common origin whereby flaps are defined by said slits, said orifice opening by outward displacement of said flaps when the pressure in the interior of the container exceeds the pressure on the exterior of the valve by a predetermined amount;

and

said slits are each planar and diverge radially from said origin to define equal size angles between each pair of adjacent slits.

8. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 1 in which

said orifice is defined by a plurality of slits that extend (1) through said head portion between said exterior side and said interior side, and (2) laterally from a common origin whereby flaps are defined by said slits, said orifice opening by outward displacement of said flaps when the pressure in the interior of the container exceeds the pressure on the exterior of the valve by a predetermined amount;

and

there are four of said slits diverging radially from said origin at 90°

angles to define two mutually perpendicular, intersecting, longer slits.

9. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 1 in which said head portion has a laterally outwardly flared crown shape defined, at least in part, by a peripheral surface which tapers laterally inwardly to prevent nesting with another, identical valve during handling.

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

said second leg is shorter than said first leg;

and

each of said legs has a thickness which is substantially uniform, and in which the first leg is thicker than said second leg.

11. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 10 in which the thickness of said first leg is about 0.015 inches inch, and the thickness of said second leg is about 0.007 inches.

12. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 1 in which (1) said orifice closes when the pressure on the interior of the container does not exceed the pressure on the exterior of the valve, and (2) said connector sleeve has a configuration which applies an outwardly directed torque to said valve head portion when the differential between the pressure within the container and the pressure on the exterior of the valve exceeds a predetermined amount.

13. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 1 in which said head portion interior side has a planar central area and a generally curved, radially outer portion which tapers toward said planar central area such that said exterior and interior sides converge toward said planar central area to provide a tapered construction with reduced thickness.

14. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 1 in which said first and second legs are substantially parallel in said sleeve cross section.

15. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 14 in which said sleeve has a generally circular configuration;

and said first and second legs are substantially concentric.

16. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 1 in which a horizontal plane passing through said head portion extends generally through or outside of said marginal portion.

17. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 1 in which said first leg extends axially outwardly from an inner portion of said marginal portion.

18. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 1 in which said second leg extends axially outwardly from a marginal portion of said valve head portion.

19. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 1 in which said connector sleeve includes an arcuate junction portion joining said first and second legs.