Integrally molded dispensing valve and method of manufacture
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dispensing valve that includes:
- an annular ring of relatively rigid molded plastic construction, anda flexible resilient valve element integrally molded onto said ring,said ring and said valve element having at least one mechanical interlock to secure said valve element to said ring as said valve element is molded onto said ring,said mechanical interlock including openings in an inner periphery of said annular ring and portions of said valve element molded into said openings,wherein said inner periphery of said ring includes an annular ledge, and wherein said openings are through-openings disposed in an angularly spaced array around said ledge, andwherein each of said openings includes an enlarged portion opening at one axially facing surface of said ledge and an ensmalled portion aligned with said enlarged portion and opening to a second axially facing surface of said ledge.
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Abstract
A dispensing valve includes an annular ring of relatively rigid molded plastic construction and a flexible resilient valve element integrally molded with the ring. The ring and the valve element have at least one mechanical interlock to secure the valve element to the ring as the valve element is molded onto the ring. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the mechanical interlock includes openings in an inner periphery of the ring and pegs on the outer periphery of the valve element that are molded into the openings as the valve element is molded onto the ring.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A dispensing valve that includes:
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an annular ring of relatively rigid molded plastic construction, and a flexible resilient valve element integrally molded onto said ring, said ring and said valve element having at least one mechanical interlock to secure said valve element to said ring as said valve element is molded onto said ring, said mechanical interlock including openings in an inner periphery of said annular ring and portions of said valve element molded into said openings, wherein said inner periphery of said ring includes an annular ledge, and wherein said openings are through-openings disposed in an angularly spaced array around said ledge, and wherein each of said openings includes an enlarged portion opening at one axially facing surface of said ledge and an ensmalled portion aligned with said enlarged portion and opening to a second axially facing surface of said ledge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A dispensing valve that includes:
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an annular ring of relatively rigid molded plastic construction, said ring including an outer periphery for securing said valve within a dispensing opening and an inner periphery that includes an annular ledge having an angularly spaced array of through-openings including enlarged portions, and a flexible resilient valve element molded onto said annular ledge, said valve element having an outer peripheral portion in engagement with said ledge on said ring and integral pegs extending into said enlarged portions of said through-openings to at least partially define at least one mechanical interlock to secure said valve element to said ring. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A dispensing closure that includes:
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a base having a deck with a dispensing opening, and a dispensing valve that includes an annular ring of relatively rigid plastic construction having an outer periphery engaged with said deck to secure said valve within said dispensing opening and an inner periphery within said outer periphery, and a flexible resilient valve element integrally molded onto said ring and being mechanically connected to said ring by at least one mechanical interlock between said valve element and said inner periphery of said ring, said interlock including openings in said inner periphery of said annular ring and portions of said valve element molded into said openings as said valve element is molded onto said annular ring, wherein said inner periphery of said ring includes an annular ledge, and wherein said opening are through-openings disposed in an angularly spaced array around said ledge, and wherein each of said openings includes an enlarged portion opening at one axially facing surface of said ledge and an ensmalled portion aligned with said enlarged portion and opening to a second axially facing surface of said ledge. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A dispensing closure that includes:
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a base having a deck with a dispensing opening and a dispensing valve mounted within said dispensing opening, said dispensing valve including; an annular ring of relatively rigid molded plastic construction, said ring including an outer periphery securing said valve within said dispensing opening and an inner periphery that includes an annular ledge having an angularly spaced array of through-openings including enlarged portions, and a flexible resilient valve element molded onto said annular ledge, said valve element having an outer peripheral portion in engagement with said ledge on said ring and integral pegs extending into said enlarged portions of said through-openings to define at least one mechanical interlock of said valve element to said ring. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification