Abstract: A modular valve assembly provides an airtight, shockproof, leakproof and evaporation proof closure effective for sealing engagement with the neck or outlet of a flexible or reducible container. The modular valve assembly is effective in preventing: (1) leakage of fluids from the container due to vibration or changes in temperature or pressure; (2) any backflow or reentry of contaminants through the valve assembly, including air; and (3) evaporation of fluid from the container. If the fluid initially is sterile, the closure maintains the sterility of the remaining fluid in the container during and between dispensings of the fluid. Thus, the modular valve assembly extends the useful life of the fluid in the container to its shelf life. Although the user makes many dispensings from it, the container behaves as though she or he had never opened it. Thermostable fluids delivered through this modular valve assembly have no need for preservatives or refrigeration.

Abstract: A modular valve assembly provides an airtight, shockproof, leakproof and evaporation proof closure effective for sealing engagement with the neck or outlet of a flexible or reducible container. The modular valve assembly is effective in preventing: (1) leakage of fluids from the container due to vibration or changes in temperature or pressure; (2) any backflow or reentry of contaminants through the valve assembly, including air; and (3) evaporation of fluid from the container. If the fluid initially is sterile, the closure maintains the sterility of the remaining fluid in the container during and between dispensings of the fluid. Thus, the modular valve assembly extends the useful life of the fluid in the container to its shelf life. Although the user makes many dispensings from it, the container behaves as though she or he had never opened it. Thermostable fluids delivered through this modular valve assembly have no need for preservatives or refrigeration.

Abstract: A valve for dispensing the fluid contents of a container such that external contaminants such as dust, air or microbes cannot enter the container even after repeated dispensing cycles. The valve comprises a plug-type valve and an elastomeric sheath type valve such as a flapper valve, slit valve, or duck bill valve. All are one-way devices. The plug is provided with a mechanism for resetting it to the closed position at the end of each delivery cycle such that the plug is a one-way device also. The mechanism can be an elastomeric tether, gravity, or the deformation of a valve part. The plug can be provided with channels or other cut or shaped features, e.g. grooves, to facilitate fluid flow. The container used with this invention must be volumetrically reducible and thereby maintain its own internal pressure at the end of a delivery cycle. Alternatively, the valve of the present invention can be made without the outlet valve i.e., the flapper, slit, or duck bill valve.

Abstract: A modular cap delivery system comprising an elastomeric seal and conformably engaging seat can be affixed to or integrated in the neck of a container such as a bottle, flexible bag, tube, or any container having a neck and holding a quantity of a flowable medium. The configuration of the seal and seat eliminate the influx of air, airborne pathogens, or any contaminant into the container of flowable medium to which the delivery device is attached, thereby maintaining the integrity and sterility of a flowable material, even when challenged by direct contact through immersion in suspensions of bacteria or viruses. The delivery device is highly scalable in size, can work for viscous fluids that are difficult to flow, and enables a flowable material to be reformulated without preservatives or antioxidants. This provides the advantage of an enhanced therapeutic effect for many medications, particularly eye care solutions.

Abstract: A system is provided for contamination free delivery and control of a flowable medium contained in an enclosed flow path or a container. The system is highly scalable in size and works even with viscous fluids which are difficult to flow. The device enables a flowable material to be formulated without anti-oxidants, preservatives or anti microbial agents. This provides the advantage of an enhanced therapeutic effect for many medications, especially those which are considered labile. The device also preserves the integrity and sterility of a flowable material contained in an enclosed flow path such as blood plasma, and is effective against microbial as well as viral challenges. The device can be used to maintain the carbonation of a carbonated flowable medium. The system provides a seat and reversibly deformable seal disposed in the flow path; wherein the seal and seat are moveable between a closed and open state upon the deformation of the seal.

Abstract: A dispensing cartridge is designed to dispense multiple doses of a flowable material from a collapsible container, i.e., from a container of the type which does not produce an internal vacuum as the flowable material is dispensed. The cartridge has a housing for protecting a delivery block enveloped by an elastic sheath. The delivery block receives the flowable material from the collapsible container through an input port and delivers it through an internal channel with branches to at least one output port. Sleeve valves are created at the output port or ports by the sheath. In a preferred embodiment an end of the sheath forms an outlet valve downstream of the sleeve valves.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes an elongated valve body, an elastomeric sheath laterally enclosing the outside surface of the valve body with the sheath being sealed to the valve body at its ends spaced apart in the elongated direction. An inlet channel extends in the elongated direction from one end of the valve body for receiving a fluid from a container, such as a flexible container. An outlet channel is located at the opposite end of the valve body extending in the elongated direction for discharging the fluid received in the inlet channel. At least one port extends outwardly from the inlet channel to the outside surface of the valve body so that the fluid can flow between the outside surface and the elastomeric sheath causing the sheath to expand. The fluid between the outside surface of the valve body and the sheath flows to at least one other port in the valve body directed inwardly to the outlet channel so that the fluid can be discharged.

Abstract: A self-cleaning valve used at the outlet of a container has an elongated flexible flattenable tube with an inlet end for receiving material to be dispensed from the container and an outlet end for dispensing the material. In the at-rest condition of the valve, a section of the tube extending from the outlet end is supported between a housing surface and a closure-cleaning lever member spring-mounted on the housing so that it pivots about a fulcrum. By pressing down on one end of the lever member, the tube can be opened so that material, forced out of the container, can be dispensed from the outlet end of the tube. After the material has been dispensed, the lever member is pivoted along the outside surface of the tube pressing the tube against the housing surface so that any material remaining within the tube is forced out of the outlet end.

Abstract: A valve for spraying material as a mist includes walls forming an elongated passageway having an inlet and an outlet. The passageway is flattened at least at the outlet end. The flattened portion has opposed walls disposed in contact and at least one of the surfaces of the flattened portion has a plurality of capillary-like channels. Upstream from the channels, the valve has a flexible wall section which vibrates at its natural frequency when the material to be sprayed as a mist is forced through the passageway out of the valve.

Abstract: A self-cleaning valve used at the outlet of a container has an elongated flexible flattenable outlet tube with an inlet for receiving material to be dispensed from the container, and an outlet for dispensing the material. In the at-rest condition of the valve, a pair of spring-biased rollers contact the opposite sides of the tube at a location spaced from the outlet end and hold the tube in a closed condition. When material is forced through the inlet end of the tube it pushes the rollers toward the outlet against the spring biasing action. At the outlet end the rollers separate and permit the tube to open so that the material can be dispensed. After the material has been dispensed, the springs return the rollers to the at-rest position and the rollers effect a self-cleaning action on the tube.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a container assembly adapted to store and dispense fluid material including a collapsible flexible container adapted to be stretched from an initial nominal position and to be collapsed to dispense fluid material stored therein, and a cap member adapted to be placed in operative engagement with a neck portion of the container configured to define a dispensing flow conduit which is placed in direct flow communication with the interior of the container when the cap member is mounted in assembled position on the neck portion of the container. In the manufacture of the container assembly, the container is first stretched from its initial nominal position to expand the volume thereof, and then filled with a fluid material to be stored therein and to be dispensed therefrom while in said stretched position.

Abstract: A container is formed with a multilayered wall structure including at least one layer of a plastics material and at least one layer of a multidirectionally microcrimped metallic foil. Initially, the wall structure is in the form of a preform or parison incorporating the multilayered wall structure and the preform is blow-molded to the desired shape. The preform can be blow-molded into a container with a complicated wall configuration. The metallic foil is substantially impervious to the passage of gases, vapor, liquids and microorganisms into or out of the container.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes an elongated valve body, an elastomeric sheath laterally enclosing the outside surface of the valve body with the sheath being sealed to the valve body at its ends spaced apart in the elongated direction. An inlet channel extends in the elongated direction from one end of the valve body for receiving a fluid from a container, such as a flexible container. An outlet channel is located at the opposite end of the valve body extending in the elongated direction for discharging the fluid received in the inlet channel. At least one port extends outwardly from the inlet channel to the outside surface of the valve body so that the fluid can flow between the outside surface and the elastomeric sheath causing the sheath to expand. The fluid between the outside surface of the valve body and the sheath flows to at least one other port in the valve body directed inwardly to the outlet channel so that the fluid can be discharged.