Dispensing valve

• US 7,077,296 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AptarGroup Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AptarGroup Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Paul E., Socier, Timothy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US10/180,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20020158083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 222/181.2, 222/185.1, 222/206, 222/212, 222/215, 222490-496, 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
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/147 the closure elements having specially formed slits or being of an elongated easily collapsible form
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1471 slits arranged along multiple axes
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1472 the closure elements being fixed onto an internally extending mount
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/788 Having expansible port

Abstract

A dispensing valve is provided for dispensing fluid products. The valve includes a marginal portion, a flexible valve head with a discharge orifice therein, and a flexible connector sleeve having one end connected with the marginal portion and the opposite end connected with the valve head adjacent a marginal edge thereof.

Claims

1. A dispensing valve for fluid product packaging of the type having a container with a discharge opening therein, comprising:

a valve marginal portion;

a valve head portion including a central area with an orifice which is at least initially closed to preclude fluid flow therethrough and opens to permit fluid flow therethrough in response to a predetermined discharge pressure differential applied across the valve head portion;

a connector sleeve portion having a first end portion thereof connected with said valve marginal portion and an opposite end portion thereof connected with said valve head portion; and

wherein

said valve head portion has an exterior surface which interfaces with the environment and an interior surface which can interface with a fluid product in the container, said exterior surface and said interior surface, at least at radially inner portions thereof, become closer to each other at least in part of said central area to provide a thinner construction in said part of said central area with reduced thickness adjoining said orifice;

said connector sleeve portion comprises

(1) a first leg portion that defines (a) said first end portion of said connector sleeve portion which is connected to said valve marginal portion and (b) a second end portion, and

(2) a second leg portion that defines (a) a first end portion connected to said second end portion of said first leg portion and (b) said opposite end portion of said connector sleeve portion which is connected to said valve head portion, said first leg portion extending generally radially inwardly in an orientation to form an acute included angle with said second leg portion as measured between the exterior surfaces thereof.

2. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said second leg portion of said connector sleeve portion extends radially outwardly of a marginal edge portion of said valve head portion so as to define an open space between at least part of said second leg portion and a marginal edge portion of said valve head portion.

3. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said second end portion of said second leg portion of said connector sleeve portion changes direction to extend radially inwardly towards said marginal edge portion of said valve head portion.

4. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said exterior surface of said valve head portion at least at a radially outer portion thereof has an inwardly curved arcuate side elevational shape defined by a first radius;

said interior surface of said valve head portion at least at a radially outer portion thereof has an inwardly curving side elevational shape defined by a second radius; and

said second radius is greater than said first radius.

5. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said interior surface of said valve head portion includes a substantially flat portion disposed radially inwardly of said radially outer portion at said central area of said valve head portion, and said orifice extends through the flat portion of said interior surface at said central area of said valve head portion.

6. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

at least part of said second leg portion of said connector sleeve portion extends generally axially outwardly to locate the entire exterior surface of said valve head portion axially outwardly of said valve marginal portion.

7. A dispensing valve for fluid product packaging of the type having a container with a discharge opening therein, comprising:

(A) a valve marginal portion having an outer edge defined by a cylindrical peripheral surface and having two spaced-apart, generally oppositely facing, flat, annular surfaces each extending generally radially inwardly from said cylindrical peripheral surface.

(B) a valve head portion that is flexible and that includes an orifice which can open to permit fluid flow, said valve head portion having

(1) an exterior surface which

(a) can interface with the environment on the package exterior,

(b) has a concave arcuate configuration as viewed from the exterior when the orifice is closed, and

(c) has a side elevational shape defined by a first radius,

(2) an interior surface which

(a) can interface with a fluid product in the container on the package interior,

(b) has a convex arcuate configuration when viewed from the interior when the orifice is closed, and

(c) has a side elevational shape defined by a second radius,

(3) a peripheral edge defined at least in part by a cylindrical surface that is generally concentric with said valve marginal portion cylindrical peripheral surface,

(4) at least part of said valve head portion located beyond said valve marginal portion in the direction away from said fluid product when said valve orifice is closed as well as when said valve orifice is open, and

(5) a pair of intersecting slits defining said orifice in a central area of said head portion, each said slit extending completely through the thickness of said head portion but not extending laterally completely to said peripheral edge of said head portion; and

(C) a connector sleeve portion that

(1) has a resiliently flexible construction,

(2) has a substantially uniform thickness over at least a major part of its length;

(3) is thinner than said valve head portion and is thinner than said valve marginal portion,

(4) has a first end portion connected with said valve marginal portion,

(5) has a second end portion connected with said valve head portion,

(6) has a first leg portion that includes said first end portion of said connector sleeve portion which is connected to said valve marginal portion,

(7) has a second leg portion that includes said second end portion of said connector sleeve portion which is connected to said valve head portion,

(8) has an intermediate arcuate portion joining said first leg portion and said second leg portion, and

(9) has a configuration wherein

(a) said first leg portion extends generally radially inwardly from said valve marginal portion and forms an included angle less than 180 degrees with said second leg portion as measured between the exterior surfaces thereof, and

(b) said second end portion of said connector sleeve portion changes direction to extend radially inwardly towards said valve head portion.

8. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 7, wherein said orifice is at least initially closed to prevent fluid flow therethrough and opens to permit fluid flow therethrough in response to a predetermined discharge pressure differential acting across the valve head portion.

9. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 7, wherein said second radius is greater than said first radius.

10. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 9 wherein the center of said first radius is spaced from the center of said second radius.

11. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 7, wherein at least part of said valve marginal portion is located further inwardly than said valve head portion interior surface in the direction toward said fluid product when said orifice is closed.

12. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 7, wherein said dispensing valve is molded, at least in part, from liquid silicone rubber.

13. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 7, wherein said valve head portion has a construction which undergoes elastic deformation during the opening of said orifice.

14. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 7, wherein

said valve head portion orifice opens when subjected to at least a predetermined minimum pressure differential across said valve in one direction;

and

said valve head portion can be subjected to said predetermined minimum pressure differential across the valve head portion by increasing the pressure in the container as compared to the pressure at the exterior of the valve head portion.

15. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 7, wherein said valve marginal portion is adapted to seal directly in face-to-face contact with a component of a fluid packaging container.

16. A dispensing valve for fluid product packaging of the type having a container with a discharge opening therein, comprising:

(A) a valve marginal portion;

(B) a valve head portion that is flexible and that includes an orifice which can open to permit fluid flow, said valve head portion having

(1) an exterior surface which (a) interfaces with the environment, and (b) has, at least at outer portions thereof, an arcuate side elevational shape which is concave as viewed from the exterior when the orifice is closed; and

(2) an interior surface which (a) interfaces with a fluid product in the container, and (b) has, at least at outer portions thereof, has an arcuate side elevational shape which is convex as viewed from the interior when the orifice is closed; and

(C) a connector sleeve portion that (1) has a resiliently flexible construction, (2) has a first end portion connected with said valve marginal portion, (3) has a second end portion connected with said valve head portion, (4) has a first leg portion that includes said first end portion of said connector sleeve portion which is connected to said valve marginal portion, (5) has a second leg portion that includes said second end portion of said connector sleeve portion which is connected to said valve head portion, (6) has an intermediate arcuate portion joining said first leg portion and said second leg portion, and (7) has a configuration wherein (a) said first leg portion and said second leg portion form an included angle as measured between the exterior surfaces of said first and second leg portions, and (b) said second end portion of said connector sleeve portion changes direction to extend radially inwardly towards said valve head portion.

17. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 16, wherein said head portion has at least one location that is thicker than the rest of said head portion.

18. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 16, wherein said valve marginal portion has an outer edge defined by a cylindrical peripheral surface.

19. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 16, wherein said orifice is at least initially closed to prevent fluid flow therethrough and opens to permit fluid flow therethrough in response to a predetermined discharge pressure differential acting across the valve head portion.

20. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 19, wherein said valve head portion exterior surface is defined by a first radius, and said head portion interior surface is defined by a second radius.

21. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 20, wherein said second radius is greater than said first radius.

22. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 21, wherein the center of said first radius is spaced from the center of said second radius.

23. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 16, wherein at least part of said valve marginal portion is located further inwardly than said valve head portion interior surface in the direction toward said fluid product when said orifice is closed.

24. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 16, wherein said connector sleeve portion has a substantially uniform thickness at least over the majority of its length.

25. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 16, wherein

said head portion has a peripheral edge;

said orifice in said head portion is defined by a pair of intersecting slits in a central area of said head portion; and

each said slit extends completely through the thickness of said head portion but does not extend laterally completely to the peripheral edge of said head portion.

26. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 16, wherein said valve marginal portion includes two spaced-apart, generally oppositely facing, flat, annular surfaces each extending radially inwardly from a cylindrical peripheral surface.

27. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 16, wherein said dispensing valve is molded, at least in part, from liquid silicone rubber.

28. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 16, wherein said valve head portion has a construction which undergoes elastic deformation during the opening of said orifice.

29. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 16, wherein

said valve head portion orifice opens when subjected to at least a predetermined minimum pressure differential across said valve in one direction;

and

said valve head portion can be subjected to said predetermined minimum pressure differential across the valve head portion by increasing the pressure in the container as compared to the pressure at the exterior of the valve head portion.

30. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 16, wherein

said valve marginal portion has a cylindrical peripheral surface;

and

said valve head portion has an outer edge defined by a cylindrical surface that is generally concentric with said valve marginal portion cylindrical peripheral surface.

31. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 16, wherein at least part of said valve head portion is located beyond said valve marginal portion in the direction away from said fluid product when said valve orifice is closed as well as when said valve orifice is open.

32. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 16, wherein said valve marginal portion is adapted to seal directly in face-to-face contact with a component of a fluid packaging container.