Flow control element and dispensing structure incorporating same

• US 6,951,295 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2005
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign Inc (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign Inc (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gaus, David J., Olechowski, Gregory M., Socier, Timothy R., Hess, John M. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US11/038,638
• Time in Patent Office: 259 Days
• Field of Search: 222/212, 222/481.5, 222/482, 222/484, 222/494
• US Class Current: 222/484
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0039 associated with means for compensating the pressure difference between the ambient pressure and the pressure inside the container, e.g. pressure relief means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/00442 the means being actuated by the difference between the atmospheric pressure and the pressure inside the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/007 being opened by deformation of a sealing element made of resiliently deformable material, e.g. flaps, skirts, duck-bill valves
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/047 characterised by the outlet or venting means B05B11/041 and B05B11/042 take precedence
• 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 flow control element is provided with a resilient sealing flange biased to seal in-venting passages in a housing around the element. The element also includes a self-sealing, pressure-openable, dispensing valve. The element and housing can be combined to form a dispensing structure that can function to discharge a fluent material product out of the dispensing structure through the dispensing valve while simultaneously venting exterior ambient air (or other exterior ambient environment fluent material) into the dispensing structure.

Claims

1. A flow control element adapted for operatively cooperating with a housing to discharge a fluent material product through a discharge opening in the housing to the exterior of the housing while venting a fluent material from the exterior ambient environment into the housing interior through a vent passage in the housing, said flow control element comprising:

(A) a stationary anchor portion that extends around a discharge region and that can be mounted in a housing at the discharge opening;

(B) a deflectable sealing flange that

(1) extends laterally from and around said stationary anchor portion;

(2) defines a sealing surface facing generally in the direction away from the interior of the housing when said flow control element is in operative cooperation with the housing, and

(3) is adapted to be resiliently biased for sealingly contacting a part of the housing to prevent discharge of said fluent material product through the housing vent passage when said flow control element is in operative cooperation with the housing; and

(C) a flexible, pressure-openable, self-sealing, slit-type valve that

(1) is connected to said stationary anchor portion and is located across said discharge region of said stationary anchor portion,

(2) is normally closed to prevent discharge of said fluent material, and

(3) can open in response to a pressure differential to permit the discharge of fluent material product through said valve while said sealing flange can be deflected by a pressure differential toward the interior of the housing when said flow control element is in operative cooperation with the housing.

2. The flow control element in accordance with claim 1 in which said flow control element sealing flange sealing surface is an annular, flat surface that is adapted for sealing between the fluent material product on the interior of the housing and the exterior ambient environment fluent material wherein the exterior ambient environment fluent material is air.

3. The flow control element in accordance with claim 1 in which said stationary anchor portion is a generally annular mounting flange for being mounted in a housing.

4. The flow control element in accordance with claim 1 in which

said stationary anchor portion is a generally annular hub for being mounted in a housing;

and

said discharge region is a discharge passage through said annular hub.

5. The flow control element in accordance with claim 1 further in combination with a housing to define a dispensing structure wherein the housing has a central discharge opening and a vent passage.

6. The flow control element in combination with said housing in accordance with claim 5 in which said flow control element and said housing are separate parts that are mechanically mated together to define said dispensing structure.

7. The flow control element in combination with said housing in accordance with claim 6 in which

said housing has an interior surface and an exterior surface, said housing discharge opening and vent passage each extend between said housing interior and exterior surfaces, and the housing vent passage is located laterally beyond the housing discharge opening;

and

said flow control element is disposed across said housing discharge opening and is mounted in said housing so that said sealing flange is biased against said interior surface of said housing laterally outwardly of said vent passage.

8. A flow control element for operatively cooperating with a housing, said flow control element comprising:

a hub for being mounted in a housing and having a first end, and a second end, and a discharge region that is defined by a central discharge passage through said hub;

a deflectable sealing flange that (a) is adjacent said second end of said hub, (b) extends laterally from and around said hub, (c) defines a sealing surface facing in the direction toward said hub first end, and (d) is adapted to be resiliently biased for sealingly contacting a part of a housing when said element is in operative cooperation with the housing; and

a flexible, pressure-openable, self-sealing, slit-type valve that (1) is connected to said hub and located across said hub central discharge passage, (2) is normally closed to occlude said hub central discharge passage and prevent discharge of a fluent material product, and (3) can open in response to a pressure differential to permit the discharge of said fluent material product through said valve in the direction toward said hub first end while said sealing flange can be deflected by a pressure differential in the direction away from said hub first end when said flow control element is in operative cooperation with the housing.

9. A dispensing structure comprising:

(A) a housing defining

(1) a discharge opening; and

(2) a vent passage laterally beyond said discharge opening; and

(B) a flow control element that is mounted in said housing and that includes

(1) a hub that (a) is mounted in said housing at said discharge opening (b) has a first end, (c) has a second end, and (d) defines a discharge region in the form of a central discharge passage through said hub;

(2) a deflectable sealing flange that (a) is adjacent said second end of said hub, (b) extends laterally from and around said hub, (c) defines a sealing surface facing in the direction toward said hub first end, and (d) is resiliently biased for sealingly contacting a part of said housing laterally beyond said vent passage; and

(3) a flexible, pressure-openable, self-sealing, slit-type valve that (1) is connected to said hub and located across said hub central discharge passage, (2) is normally closed to occlude said hub central discharge passage and prevent discharge of a fluent material product, and (3) can open in response to a pressure differential to permit the dispensing of said fluent material product through said valve in the direction toward said hub first end while said sealing flange can be deflected away from sealing contact with said part of said housing by a pressure differential to permit flow of exterior ambient fluent material into the interior of said housing.

10. A flow control element for operatively cooperating with a housing, said flow control element comprising:

a stationary mounting flange that is adapted for being mounted in a housing and that extends around a discharge region;

a deflectable sealing flange that (a) extends laterally from and around said stationary mounting flange, (b) defines a sealing surface facing generally in the direction away from the interior of a housing when said flow control element is in operative cooperation with the housing, and (c) is adapted to be resiliently biased for sealingly contacting a part of the housing when said flow control element is in cooperation with the housing; and

a flexible, pressure-openable, self-sealing, slit-type valve that (a) is connected to said stationary mounting flange and is located across said discharge region, (b) is normally closed to occlude said discharge region and prevent discharge of a fluent material product, and (c) can open in response to a pressure differential to permit the discharge of said fluent material product through said valve while said sealing flange can be deflected by a pressure differential toward the interior of the housing when said flow control element is in operative cooperation with the housing.

11. A dispensing structure comprising:

(A) a housing defining

(1) a discharge opening; and

(2) a vent passage laterally beyond said discharge opening; and

(B) a flow control element that includes

(1) a stationary mounting flange that extends around a central discharge region and that is mounted in said housing at said discharge opening;

(2) a deflectable sealing flange that (a) extends laterally from and around said stationary mounting flange, (b) defines a sealing surface facing generally in the direction away from the interior of said housing, and (c) is resiliently biased for sealingly contacting a part of the housing radially outwardly of said vent passage; and

(3) a flexible, pressure-openable, self-sealing, slit-type valve that (a) is connected to said mounting flange and is located across said central discharge region, (b) is normally closed to occlude said central discharge region and prevent discharge of a fluent material product, and (c) can open in response to a pressure differential to permit the discharge of said fluent material product through said valve while said sealing flange can be deflected away from sealing contact with said part of said housing by a pressure differential to permit flow of exterior ambient fluent material into the interior of said housing.