Gravity feed fluid dispensing valve

• US 6,367,521 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2001
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Gunderson, Corry P., Dyer, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prunner, Kathleen J.
• Application Number:
  US09/791,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20010009166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 141/2, 141/9, 141/18, 141/100, 141/105-107, 141/346, 141/348-355, 222/129.1, 222/145.5, 222/153.14, 222/185.1, 222/325, 222/484, 222/548, 215/309, 215/310, 220/253, 401/245
• US Class Current: 141/346
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0832 with two valves disposed concentrically
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0032 the bottle or container being held upside down and provided with a closure, e.g. a cap, adapted to cooperate with a feed tube
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/048 and venting means operated automatically with the tap

Abstract

A dispensing valve cap mountable to a bottle is provided with a first valve part having a tubular portion having an air inlet and a fluid outlet spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the tubular portion to form a constant head valve for dispensing fluid from the bottle. A second valve part of the valve rotatably mounted to the first valve part includes a tubular portion for simultaneously closing both the air inlet and the fluid outlet of the first valve part when fluid dispensing is not desired. The second valve part firther includes an air inlet, and a fluid outlet alignable with the air inlet and the fluid outlet of the tubular portion when fluid dispensing is desired. The dispensing valve cap controls fluid flow from the bottle. The bottle with the valve cap is useable with a dispenser assembly for mixing a concentrated fluid from the bottle with a dilutant. A tamper resistant lock prevents undesired rotation of the second valve part relative to the first valve part. The tamper resistant lock is deactivated upon insertion of the valve cap into the dispenser assembly. An orifice insert member with a predetermined fluid control aperture is positioned in the fluid outlet path to control fluid flow rate through the valve cap.

Claims

1. A dispensing valve cap for use with a bottle containing fluid for dispensing the fluid in a gravity feed fluid dispensing system, the valve cap comprising:

a first valve part having a first end and a second end, the first end mountable to the bottle, the first valve part including a tubular portion defining a longitudinal axis extending in a direction from the first end to the second end, the tubular portion including an air inlet aperture through the tubular portion, the tubular portion further including a fluid outlet aperture through the tubular portion, the air inlet aperture spaced apart from the fluid outlet aperture along the longitudinal axis, the air inlet aperture adjacent to the first end, the fluid outlet aperture adjacent to the second end;

a second valve part rotatably mounted to the first valve part about the longitudinal axis, the second valve part including a mating portion adapted to cooperate with the tubular portion of the first valve part to close the air inlet and the fluid outlet apertures of the first valve part when the second valve part is in a first position relative to the first valve part, and to open the air inlet and the fluid outlet apertures of the first valve part when the second valve part is in a second position relative to the first valve part; and

at least one locking tab extending from the second valve part, and at least one arcuate slot including a locking notch at one end of the arcuate slot positioned on the first valve part, wherein the locking tab is positionable in the locking notch to lock the second valve part and the first valve part from relative rotation, and wherein the locking tab is positionable in the arcuate slot to permit relative rotation between the second valve part and the first valve part.

2. A dispensing valve cap for use with a bottle having an outlet containing fluid for dispensing the fluid in a gravity feed fluid dispensing system, the valve cap comprising:

a first valve part having a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to be fixedly mounted in the outlet of the bottle, the first valve part including a tubular portion defining a longitudinal axis extending in a direction from the first end to the second end, the tubular portion including an air inlet aperture through the tubular portion, the tubular portion further including a fluid outlet aperture through the tubular portion, the air inlet aperture spaced apart from the fluid outlet aperture along the longitudinal axis, the air inlet aperture adjacent to the first end, the fluid outlet aperture adjacent to the second end; and

a second valve part rotatably mounted to the first valve part about the longitudinal axis, the second valve part including a mating portion adapted to cooperate with the tubular portion of the first valve part to close the air inlet and the fluid outlet apertures of the first valve part when the second valve part is in a first position relative to the first valve part, and to open the air inlet and the fluid outlet apertures of the first valve part when the second valve part is in a second position relative to the first valve part,

wherein the tubular portion of the first valve part includes a divider dividing an interior of the tubular portion into first and second chambers, the air inlet aperture in communication with the first chamber, the fluid outlet aperture in communication with the second chamber.

3. The dispensing valve cap of claim 2, wherein the second valve part includes a tubular portion including a fluid outlet, the second valve part further including a sidewall projection extending from the tubular portion and cooperating with the tubular portion of the first valve part to define an air inlet of the second valve part, the air inlet and the fluid outlet of the second valve part aligned with the air inlet and the fluid outlet apertures of the first valve part when the second valve part is in the second position.

4. The dispensing valve cap of claim 3, wherein the tubular portion of the second valve part is positioned outside of the tubular portion of the first valve part.

5. The dispensing valve cap of claim 4, further comprising a strengthening lip extending from the first valve part and surrounding at least a portion of an end of the tubular portion of the second valve part.

6. The dispensing valve cap of claim 4, wherein the tubular portion of the first valve part is an inner tubular portion and the first valve part includes an outer tubular portion, the first valve part further including a collar having a tubular shape positioned outside of the outer tubular portion, the collar and the outer tubular portion spaced apart to receive a neck of the bottle, the outer tubular portion including an end sealing surface adjacent to a lower end of the first valve part;

and

wherein the tubular portion of the second valve part is an inner tubular portion, and the second valve part further including a sealing lip having a tubular shape, the sealing lip positioned outside of the inner tubular portion, the sealing lip sealingly engaged with the end sealing surface of the outer tubular portion of the first valve part.

7. The dispensing valve cap of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of locking clips extending from the outer tubular portion of the first valve part and engaged with the second valve part to prevent separation of the first valve part and the second valve part.

8. The dispensing valve cap of claim 7, wherein the second valve part includes an outer tubular portion positioned outside of the sealing lip, the outer tubular portion including a plurality of notches, each notch receiving a locking clip of the first valve part.

9. The dispensing valve cap of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of locking tabs extending from the outer tubular portion of the second valve part, the first valve part including a plurality of arcuate slots each including a locking notch at one end of each arcuate slot, wherein each locking tab is positionable in the respective locking notches to lock the second valve part and the first valve part from relative rotation, and wherein each locking tab is positionable in the respective arcuate slots to permit relative rotation between the second valve part and the first valve part.

10. A dispensing valve cap for use with a bottle having an outlet containing fluid for dispensing the fluid in a gravity feed fluid dispensing system, the valve cap comprising:

a first valve part having a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to be fixedly mounted in the outlet of the bottle, the first valve part including a tubular portion defining a longitudinal axis extending in a direction from the first end to the second end, the tubular portion including an air inlet aperture through the tubular portion, the tubular portion further including a fluid outlet aperture through the tubular portion, the air inlet aperture spaced apart from the fluid outlet aperture along the longitudinal axis, the air inlet aperture adjacent to the first end, the fluid outlet aperture adjacent to the second end; and

a second valve part rotatably mounted to the first valve part about the longitudinal axis, the second valve part including a mating portion adapted to cooperate with the tubular portion of the first valve part to close the air inlet and the fluid outlet apertures of the first valve part when the second valve part is in a first position relative to the first valve part, and to open the air inlet and the fluid outlet apertures of the first valve part when the second valve part is in a second position relative to the first valve part; and

an orifice insert member including a fluid control aperture having a predetermined size for the fluid to be dispensed from the bottle, the orifice insert member having a generally cylindrically-shaped outer surface portion received within an interior of the tubular portion of the first valve part, the fluid control aperture defining the fluid outlet aperture of the first valve part.

11. A dispensing valve cap for use with a bottle containing fluid for dispensing the fluid in a gravity feed fluid dispensing system comprising:

a first valve part mountable to the bottle, the first valve part including a surface portion defining at least one arcuate slot, and a locking notch at one end of the slot, the first valve part further including an air inlet and a fluid outlet; and

a second valve part rotatably mounted to the first valve part, the second valve part including a mating portion adapted to cooperate with the first valve part to open and close the air inlet and the fluid outlet, the second valve part further including a locking tab positionable in the arcuate slot when fluid dispensing is desired, the tab further positionable in the notch so as to lock the second valve part from movement relative to the first valve part, wherein the air inlet and the fluid outlet of the first valve part are open when the locking tab is positioned at an end of the arcuate slot opposite the notch, and wherein the air inlet and the fluid outlet of the first valve part are closed when the locking tab is positioned in the notch.

12. The dispensing valve cap of claim 11, wherein the surface portion of the first valve part defines a plurality of arcuate slots and a notch at one end of each slot;

and wherein the second valve part includes a plurality of locking tabs, each locking tab positionable in one of the arcuate slots and the notches, respectively.

13. A dispensing valve cap for use with a bottle containing fluid for dispensing the fluid in a gravity feed fluid dispensing system, the valve cap comprising:

a first valve part mountable to the bottle, the first valve part including a fluid outlet and an air inlet;

a second valve part rotatably mounted to the first valve part, the second valve part including a mating portion adapted to cooperate with the first valve part to close the air inlet and the fluid outlet of the first valve part, the second valve part further including a fluid outlet and an air inlet, wherein the air inlet and the fluid outlet of the second valve part are aligned with the air inlet and the fluid outlet of the first valve part, respectively, when the second valve part and the first valve part are in a first position relative to each other, and wherein the air inlet and the fluid outlet of the first valve part are closed when the second valve part and the first valve part are in a second position relative to each other;

a snap arrangement between the second valve part and the first valve part for locking the second valve part and first valve part from longitudinal movement; and

an orifice insert member including a fluid control aperture having a predetermined size for the fluid to be dispensed from the bottle, the fluid control aperture positioned to communicate with the fluid outlets of the second valve part and the first valve part during fluid dispensing, the orifice insert member trapped between the snapped together second valve part and first valve part.

14. The dispensing valve cap of claim 13, wherein the first valve part includes a tubular portion and a slot through the tubular portion, and wherein the orifice insert member has a generally cylindrically-shaped outer surface portion received within the tubular portion of the first valve part, the orifice insert member further including an outwardly extending side projection received within the slot of the first valve part, the side projection including the fluid control aperture.