Closure with pressure-actuated valve and lid seal

• US 20030106910A1
• Filed: 12/07/2001
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seaquist Closures Limited (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Seaquist Closures Limited (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Socier, Timothy R., Hicks, Marge M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,616,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/494
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/1016 Means for locking the closure in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0847 located within a flat surface of the base element
• 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 mounted in a dispensing aperture of a closure that has (1) a deck around the aperture, and (2) a hinged lid for closing over the aperture. 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 below the closed lid. An arcuate junction portion of the connector sleeve joins the first and second legs. The arcuate junction portion projects from the deck aperture when the lid is open. When the lid is closed, the arcuate junction portion is engaged and elastically deformed by the lid, and that prevents the valve orifice from opening.

Claims

1. A dispensing closure system for a container that has an opening to the container interior where a product may be stored, said dispensing closure system comprising:

a body for extending from said container at said opening, said body including a deck defining an aperture;

a lid movable between a closed position confronting said deck and an open dispensing position moved away from said closed position; and

a dispensing valve disposed with respect to said body at said deck aperture, said valve including;

(a) a marginal portion sealingly engaged with said body and retained at said body;

(b) 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 including a normally closed orifice which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to a pressure differential across said valve; and

(c) 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 (1) a first leg connected with said marginal portion, (2) a second leg connected with said head portion to locate said head portion spaced laterally inwardly of said first leg to facilitate outward movement of said head portion when dispensing product from the container, and (3) an arcuate junction portion joining said first and second legs, said arcuate junction portion having a generally outwardly protruding, convex configuration when viewed from outside of said body, said valve being positioned on said body so that said junction portion projects from said deck aperture beyond at least a portion of said deck when said valve orifice is closed but said lid is in said open dispensing position, said arcuate junction having a generally outwardly facing surface for being engaged by said lid to elastically deform said junction portion inwardly when said lid is in said closed position thereby preventing said connector sleeve from rolling far enough outwardly with said head portion to a position where said valve orifice would open when subjected to a sufficient pressure differential.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which said head portion exterior side has a generally concave shape when viewed from outside the container

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

4. The system in accordance with claim 3 in which

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

and

said valve marginal portion is clamped within said body.

5. The system in accordance with claim 4 in which

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

and

said body has an annular, frustoconical clamping surface engaging said first diverging surface of said valve flange.

6. The system 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;

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

said slits are of equal length; and

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

7. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which

said second leg is shorter than said first leg;

each of said legs has a thickness which is substantially uniform;

said first leg is thicker than said second leg;

said sleeve has a generally circular configuration;

said first and second legs are substantially concentric;

said first leg extends axially outwardly from an inner portion of said marginal portion;

said second leg extends axially outwardly from an edge of said valve head portion; and

said connector sleeve has a generally inverted U-shaped cross section.

8. The system 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.

9. The system 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.

10. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which

said deck has a generally planar region around said aperture;

and

said lid has a generally planar configuration and includes a generally planar surface that faces said valve when said lid is in said closed position.

11. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which said lid is hinged to said deck adjacent said deck aperture.

12. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which said lid is molded as a unitary part of said body.

13. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which said body and lid together define a releasable latch for releasably holding said lid in said closed position.