Slider valve assembly for aseptic packaging

• US 9,434,516 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2014
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liqui-Box Corporation (Liqui-Box Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Liqui-Box Corporation (Liqui-Box Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Johnson, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buechner, Patrick M
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRUBY, RANDALL A
• Application Number:
  US14/317,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20150001261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/283 between tubular parts
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/045 with a closing element having a linear movement, in a direction parallel to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0294 Combined with valves

Abstract

The present invention provides a slider valve assembly for connection to a spout of an aseptically-packaged flexible container for filling and dispensing flowable material. The slider valve assembly comprises a cap member, a valve member, and an outlet member. The cap member has a central opening and is adapted to be secured to the spout of the container. The valve member defines one or more side openings in communication with a central bore, is slidable within the central opening of the cap member and is lockable into a closed or open position. The outlet member is detachably engaged to the valve member and is used for actuating the valve member. The outlet member also defines a hollow interior portion which is in communication with the central bore of the valve member.

Claims

1. A slider valve assembly for connection to a spout of a flexible container, the assembly consisting of:

(a) a cap member having a central opening and being adapted to be secured to the spout of the container;

(b) a valve member defining one or more side openings in communication with a central bore, said valve member being slidable positioned within the central opening of the cap member and lockable into a closed or open position; and

(c) an outlet member for detachably engaging to and slidably actuating the valve member, said outlet member defining a hollow interior portion in communication with the central bore of the valve member;

wherein axial movement of the outlet member relative to the cap member causes sliding and/or locking of the valve member into a closed or open position;

in the open position the one or more side openings of the valve member being in communication with the container, thus permitting the contents of the container to be dispensed through the outlet member.

2. A flexible container comprising the slider valve assembly of claim 1.

3. A slider valve assembly for connection to a spout of a flexible container, the assembly consisting of:

(a) a cap member having a central opening and being adapted to be secured to the spout of the container;

(b) a valve member defining one or more side openings in communication with a central bore, said valve member being slidable positioned within the central opening of the cap member and lockable into a closed or open position; and

(c) an outlet member for detachably engaging to and slidably actuating the valve member, said outlet member defining a hollow interior portion in communication with the central bore of the valve member;

wherein axial movement of the outlet member relative to the cap member causes sliding and/or locking of the valve member into a closed or open position;

in the open position the one or more side openings of the valve member being in communication with the container, thus permitting the contents of the container to be dispensed through the outlet member and wherein the outlet member has a handle portion attached thereto for moving and locking the valve member into its open or closed position by depressing or pulling the handle portion.

4. A slider valve assembly for a flexible container for flowable material adapted to be secured to a spout, said spout being secured to an opening in a container wall, the slider valve assembly consisting of:

(a) a cap member being adapted to be secured to the spout of the container, wherein said cap member defines a through central opening in communication with the contents of the container;

(b) a valve member slidable within the central opening of the cap member and lockable into a closed position in which the container and contents are sealed into an open position in which the flowable material may be dispensed; and

(c) an outlet member adapted to be secured to the valve member, the outlet member defining a handle portion providing a surface for slidably moving and locking the sliding valve member into its open or closed position, said handle portion also defining one or more locking members adapted to engage the cap member and removably lock the slider valve member into the open position, thus permitting the flowable material to be dispensed from the container through the outlet member, said outlet member further defining an exterior portion on which a flexible tube or hose can be frictionally engaged.