Flexible, elongate dispensing valve
A flexible, pressure-openable dispensing valve has a mounting base and has an outwardly extending, narrowing head defining a dispensing orifice at the distal end.
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIXNot applicable.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis invention relates to a valve for dispensing a product (e.g., a fluent material) from a container or other source of the product. The valve is particularly suitable for incorporation in a dispensing closure for use with a squeezable container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIOR ARTThere are a wide variety of packages which include (1) a container, (2) a dispensing system extending as a unitary part of, or as an attachment to, the container, and (3) a product contained within the container. One type of such a package employs one or more dispensing valves for discharging one or more streams of product (which may be a gas, liquid, cream, powder, or particulate product). See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,531, No. 6,112,951, and No. 6,230,940. The valve is a flexible, resilient, self-sealing, slit-type valve at one end of a bottle or container which typically has resiliently flexible sidewalls which can be squeezed to pressurize the container interior. The valve is normally closed and can withstand the weight of the product when the container is completely inverted, so that the product will not leak out unless the container is squeezed. When the container is squeezed and the interior is subjected to a sufficient increased pressure so that there is a predetermined minimum pressure differential across the valve, the valve opens. Such a valve can be designed so that it can also be opened merely by subjecting the exterior side of the valve to a sufficiently reduced pressure (e.g., as by sucking on the valve).
Such a type of valve can also be designed to stay open, at least until the pressure differential across the valve drops below a predetermined value. Such a valve can be designed to snap closed if the pressure differential across the open valve drops below a predetermined amount. The valve can also be designed to open inwardly to vent air into the container when the pressure within the container is less than the ambient external pressure, and this accommodates the return of the resilient container wall from an inwardly squeezed condition to the normal, unstressed condition.
Such a resilient valve typically includes a central head portion which is recessed inwardly from surrounding portions of the valve which project outwardly. The U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,940 illustrates one form of such a valve mounted in the dispensing opening of a closure body by means of a groove in the valve exterior which receives a mounting flange of the closure.
It would be desirable to provide an improved dispensing valve with the capability for allowing the user to readily view, target, and control the dispensing of the fluent material from the valve.
In some applications, it may also be advantageous to provide an improved valve that would dispense a product accurately without premature or undesired product discharge, but with good product cut-off at the termination of dispensing and with little or no mess of product left on the exterior of the valve or package containing the valve.
It would also be advantageous to provide an improved valve for a dispensing system that employs a dispensing valve in an arrangement that can optionally accommodate minimization of gaps or spaces between components of the system.
It would be desirable to provide such an improved dispensing valve that can be used in a package and that would minimize or at least reduce the likelihood of the product drying out in the package or being contaminated.
It would also be beneficial if such an improved valve could optionally be employed in a dispensing system that could readily accommodate the use of a lid or overcap—either as a separate component or as connected with a hinge structure.
It would also be advantageous if such an improved valve could be employed in a dispensing system that could accommodate bottles, containers, or packages which have a variety of shapes and which are constructed from a variety of materials.
Further, it would be desirable if such an improved valve could accommodate efficient, high-quality, manufacturing techniques with a reduced product reject rate to produce products having consistent operating characteristics unit-to-unit with high reliability.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a dispensing valve that may include one or more of the above-discussed, desired features.
The present invention provides an improved dispensing valve for a fluent material dispensing system. Such a system could include, for example, a container that has an opening to the container interior, and the valve could be mounted in the opening. The valve can be easily operated by the user to dispense fluent material in a desired direction to a target region that can be readily observed during dispensing.
According to a first aspect of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the dispensing valve comprises flexible, resilient material defining (a) a mounting base, and (b) a narrowing dispensing head extending outwardly from the base to a dispensing tip defined in an end portion of the dispensing head. The valve dispensing head defines a normally closed dispensing orifice which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to a pressure differential across the valve. The dispensing head has a tapering wall with a thickness that continuously decreases along most of its height at least to the tip. The tip has a wall thickness that is equal to, or less than, the smallest thickness of the tapering wall.
The valve can function easily in a way that allows the user to readily view, target, and control the dispensing of fluent material.
Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.
In the accompanying drawings that form part of the specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings disclose only some specific forms as examples of the invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments so described, however. The scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.
For ease of description, many of the figures illustrating the invention show a dispensing valve in a dispensing closure in the typical orientation that the closure would have at the top of a container when the container is stored upright on its base, and terms such as upper, lower, horizontal, etc., are used with reference to this position. It will be understood, however, that the valve of this invention may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in an orientation other than the position described.
The valve of this invention is suitable for use with a variety of conventional or special dispensing systems, including containers having various designs, the details of which, although not illustrated or described, would be apparent to those having skill in the art and an understanding of such containers. The container and closure, per se, that are described herein form no part of, and therefore are not intended to limit, the valve of the present invention. It will also be understood by those of ordinary skill that novel and non-obvious inventive aspects are embodied in the described valve alone.
The body 24 of the container 22 may have any suitable configuration, and the upwardly projecting neck 26 may have a different cross-sectional size and/or shape than the container body 24. (Alternatively, the container 22 need not have a neck 26, per se. Instead, the container 22 may consist of just a body with an opening.) The container body 24 may have a rigid wall or walls, or may have a somewhat flexible wall or walls.
At least a body or base portion of the closure 20 optionally may be provided as a unitary portion, or extension, of the top of the container 22. However, in the system illustrated, the closure 20 is a separate article or unit (e.g., a dispensing closure 20) which can be either one-piece or multiple pieces, and which is adapted to be removably, or non-removably, installed on a previously manufactured container 22 that has an opening 28 to the container interior. Hereinafter, the dispensing system closure 20 will be more simply referred to as the closure 20.
The illustrated, preferred form of the closure 20 is adapted to be used with a container 22 having an opening 28 to provide access to the container interior and to a product contained therein. The closure 20 can be used to dispense many materials, including, but not limited to, relatively low or high viscosity liquids, creams, gels, suspensions, mixtures, lotions, etc. (such as a material constituting a food product, a beverage product, a personal care product, an industrial or household cleaning product, or other compositions of matter (e.g., compositions for use in activities involving manufacturing, commercial or household maintenance, construction, agriculture, medical treatment, military operations, etc.)).
The container 22 with which the closure 20 may be used would typically be a squeezable container having a flexible wall or walls which can be grasped by the user and squeezed or compressed to increase the internal pressure within the container so as to force the product out of the container and through the opened closure. Such a flexible container wall typically has sufficient, inherent resiliency so that when the squeezing forces are removed, the container wall returns to its normal, unstressed shape. Such a squeezable container is preferred in many applications but may not be necessary or preferred in other applications. For example, in some applications it may be desirable to employ a generally rigid container, and to pressurize the container interior at selected times with a piston or other pressurizing system, or to reduce the exterior ambient pressure so as to suck the material out through the open closure.
It is presently contemplated that many applications employing the closure 20 will conveniently be realized by molding at least some of the components of the closure 20 from suitable thermoplastic material or materials. In the illustrated, preferred form of the dispensing closure, some of the components of the closure could be molded from a suitable thermoplastic material, such as, but not limited to, polypropylene. The closure components may be separately molded—and may be molded from different materials. The materials may have the same or different colors and textures.
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Alternatively, the closure body base 40 could be provided with some other container connecting means, such as a snap-fit bead or groove (not illustrated) for engaging a container neck groove or bead (not illustrated), respectively. Also, the closure body base 40 could instead be permanently attached to the container 22 by means of induction melting, ultrasonic melting, gluing, or the like, depending on materials used for the closure body base 40 and container 22. The closure body base 40 could also be formed as a unitary part, or extension, of the container 22.
The closure body base 40 may have any suitable configuration for accommodating an upwardly projecting neck 26 of the container 22 or for accommodating any other portion of a container received within the particular configuration of the closure body base 40—even if a container does not have a neck, per se. The main part of the container body 24 may have a different cross-sectional shape than the container neck 26 and closure body base 40.
An optional seal or liner (not illustrated) may be sealed across the top of the container neck 26 or, alternatively, may be sealed across an interior region or underside of the upper portion of the closure body base 40. However, if the function of a tamper-evident seal or freshness liner as provided by such a structure is not needed or desired in a particular application, then the structure may, of course, be omitted.
Also, if desired, the closure body base 40 may be provided with an interior, annular seal member (not illustrated) extending downwardly from the underside of the upper portion of the closure body base 40. Such a seal member could be conventional “plug” profile seal, a “crab's claw” seal, a flat seal, a V seal, or some other such conventional or special seal, depending upon the particular application and depending upon whether or not a liner is employed.
In the preferred form of the illustrated closure body 30, the closure body base 40 has a generally annular configuration. However, the closure body base 40 may have other configurations. For example, the closure body base 40 might have a prism or polygon configuration adapted to be mounted to the top of a container neck having a polygon configuration. Such prism or polygon configurations would not accommodate the use of a threaded attachment, but other means of attachment could be provided, such as a snap-fit bead and groove arrangement, adhesive, or the like.
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At the bottom of the collar 44 (
According to the preferred first embodiment of the valve 32 employed in the first form of the closure illustrated in
The valve 32 is preferably molded as a unitary structure from material which is flexible, pliable, elastic, and resilient. This can include elastomers, such as a synthetic, thermosetting polymer, including silicone rubber, such as the silicone rubber sold by Dow Corning Corp. in the United States of America under the trade designation D.C. 99-595-HC. Another suitable silicone rubber material is sold in the United States of America under the designation Wacker 3003-40 by Wacker Silicone Company. Both of these materials have a hardness rating of 40 Shore A. The valve 32 could also be molded from other thermosetting materials or from other elastomeric materials, or from thermoplastic polymers or thermoplastic elastomers, including those based upon materials such as thermoplastic propylene, ethylene, urethane, and styrene, including their halogenated counterparts.
With reference to
The valve 32 includes a flexible, outwardly extending, narrowing dispensing head 90 as shown in
In the illustrated, preferred, first embodiment, the valve 32 has a generally circular configuration about a central longitudinal axis 99 extending through the valve 32 (
In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the slits 100 extend laterally from a common origin on the longitudinal axis 99 to define four flaps or petals 104 (
In the preferred embodiment, each slit 100 is planar, and the plane of each slit 100 contains the central, longitudinal axis 99 of the valve 32. Preferably, the slits 100 diverge from an origin on the longitudinal axis 99 and define equal size angles between each pair of adjacent slits 100 so that the flaps 104 are of equal size. Preferably, the four slits 100 diverge at 90 degree angles to define two mutually perpendicular, intersecting, longer slits. Preferably, the slits 100 are formed so that the opposing side faces of adjacent valve flaps 104 closely seal against one another when the dispensing orifice is in its normal, fully closed position. The length and location of the slits 100 can be adjusted to vary the predetermined opening pressure of the valve 32, as well as other dispensing characteristics.
The tip portion or tip of the valve head 90 includes at least the upper end portions of the slits 100. In the preferred illustrated embodiment of the valve head 90, the valve tip portion or tip is defined as the region within the angle X (
In the preferred embodiment, the slits 100 each extends downwardly from the tip portion into the tapering wall below the tip portion to define an outside vertical lateral edge 107 parallel to the longitudinal axis 99.
In the presently preferred embodiment of the valve 32 illustrated in
The dispensing valve 32 may be easily configured for use in conjunction with a particular container, and a specific type of product, so as to achieve the exact dispensing characteristics desired. For example, the viscosity and density of the fluid product can be factors in designing the specific configuration of the valve 32 for liquids, as is the shape, size, and strength of the container. The rigidity and durometer of the valve material, and size and shape of the valve head 90, are also important in achieving the desired dispensing characteristics, and can be matched with both the container and the material to be dispensed therefrom.
The valve 32 is especially suitable for dispensing flowable products, such as liquids or even gases, powders, particulates, or granular material, as well as suspensions of solid particles in a liquid. The valve 32 is particularly suitable for dispensing shampoos, liquid toothpaste, thin oils, thick lotions, water, and the like.
It is to be understood that, according to the present invention, portions of the valve 32 may assume different shapes and sizes, particularly in accommodating the type of container and product to be dispensed therefrom. The predetermined opening pressure of the valve 32 may be varied widely in accordance with those dispensing criteria desired for a particular product. Flow characteristics of the dispensed product can also be adjusted substantially, such as for relatively wide column-like streams, thin needle-like streams, multiple streams, variations thereof, and the like.
In one presently preferred form of the valve 32 illustrated in
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- The width A of two aligned slits 100 across the diameter is 0.140 inch.
- The maximum inside diameter B of the valve head interior surface 92 at the bottom of the surface 92 is 0.168 inch.
- The thickness C of the valve head 90 at the distal end of the tip (where all four slits 100 meet) is 0.020 inch.
- The distance D from the lowermost point of each slit 100 on the exterior surface 96 of the valve head 90 to the top of the slits 100 at the exterior of the tip of the valve head 90 is 0.055 inch.
- The height E from the bottom of each slit 100 to the top of the slit 100 at the exterior of the tip of the valve head 90 is 0.115 inch.
- The distance F from the bottom of the frustoconical exterior surface 96 of the valve head 90 to the top of the valve head 90 is 0.150 inch.
- The height G from the upper edge of the annular groove 88 to the top of the slits 100 at the exterior of the tip of the valve head 90 is 0.165 inch.
- The maximum thickness T1 of each valve slit 100 at the lowermost point of the slit on the exterior surface of the valve head 90, as measured perpendicular to the valve head interior surface 92, is 0.023 inch.
- The maximum thickness T2 of the wall of the valve head 90 at the lowermost point of the slit on the interior surface of the valve head 90, as measured perpendicular to the valve head interior surface 92, is 0.031 inch.
- The maximum thickness T3 of the wall of the valve head 90 at the bottom of the valve head frustoconical exterior surface 96 (at the bottom of dimension F), as measured perpendicular to the interior surface 92, is 0.037 inch.
- As viewed in the vertical cross section shown in
FIG. 12 , the tip portion at the top of the preferred embodiment of the valve head 90 has a circular arc interior surface (i.e., partially spherical) and a circular arc exterior surface (i.e., partially spherical), and the angle X of the circular arc is 136 degrees. In this preferred configuration, the wall of the tip is an arcuate (i.e., partially spherical) wall having a uniform thickness equal to the smallest thickness of the tapering wall extending downwardly from the tip. - The angle Y of the valve head exterior frustoconical surface 96 relative to the central, longitudinal axis 99 is 30 degrees.
- The angle Z of the valve head frustoconical interior surface 92 to the central, longitudinal axis 99 is 22 degrees.
Preferably, the wall thickness of the illustrated preferred embodiment of the valve head 90 continuously decreases over (along) most of its height at least up to the tip portion or tip (i.e., at least up to the lines defining the angle X in
Further, for the particular preferred embodiment of the valve head 90 having the above-listed dimensions, the overall maximum external diameter of the valve head 90 just above the groove 88 is about 0.250 inch. The radius of the exterior surface of the valve head tip is 0.067 inch, and the concentric interior surface at the tip has a radius of 0.047 inch.
According to presently preferred embodiments of the valve, the width A of the two aligned slits 100 across the valve diameter is preferably in the range of between about 30% and about 80% of the maximum inside diameter B of the valve head interior surface 92 (at the bottom of the surface 92). Also, preferably, the thickness C of the valve head 90 at the end of the tip (where all four slits 100 meet) is between about 30% and about 80% of the maximum thickness T3 of the wall of the valve head 90. Preferably, the height G from the upper edge of the annular groove 88 to the top of the slits at the exterior of the tip of the valve head 90 is between about 30% and about 180% of the maximum inside diameter B of the valve head interior surface 92 at the bottom of the surface 92.
In the illustrated preferred form of the valve 32, the valve 32 normally remains in the closed configuration shown in
The valve 32 could also be opened by a user sucking on the valve with enough force to lower the pressure on the valve head exterior surface 96 sufficiently below the internal pressure acting against the valve head interior surface 92 to cause the valve petals 104 to deflect outwardly.
If the container 22 on which the closed valve 32 is mounted inadvertently tips over after the overcap 36 is removed, then the product still does not flow out of the valve 32 because the valve 32 remains closed. Preferably, the valve 32 is designed to withstand the weight of the fluid on the inside of the valve 32 when the container 22 is completely inverted. Preferably, the valve 32 is designed to open only after a sufficient amount of pressure differential acts across the valve—as by the user sucking on the end of the valve 32 with sufficient force and/or squeezing the container 22 with sufficient force (if the container 22 is not a rigid container).
When dispensing product through the preferred form of the valve 32 in the open condition, if the differential pressure across the valve 32 decreases sufficiently, then the inherent resiliency of the valve 32 will cause it to close. The valve 32 will then assume the closed position illustrated in
In one preferred embodiment, the petals of the valve 32 open outwardly only when the valve head 90 is subjected to a predetermined pressure differential acting in a gradient direction wherein the pressure on the valve head interior surface 92 exceeds—by a predetermined amount—the local ambient pressure on the valve head exterior surface 96. The product can then be dispensed through the open valve 32 until the pressure differential drops below a predetermined amount, and the petals 104 then close completely.
In one optional form of the valve 32, the valve 32 can be designed to be flexible enough to accommodate in-venting of ambient atmosphere as described in detail below, then the closing petals 104 can continue moving inwardly to allow the valve to open inwardly as the pressure differential gradient direction reverses and the pressure on the valve head exterior surface 96 exceeds the pressure on the valve head interior surface 92 by a predetermined amount.
For some dispensing applications, it may be desirable for the valve 32 not only to dispense the product, but also to accommodate such in-venting of the ambient atmosphere (e.g., so as to allow a squeezed container (on which the valve is mounted) to return to its original shape). Such an in-venting capability can be provided by selecting an appropriate material for the valve construction, and by selecting appropriate thicknesses, shapes, and dimensions for various portions of the valve head 90 for the particular valve material and overall valve size. The shape, flexibility, and resilience of the valve head, and in particular, of the petals 104, can be designed or established so that the petals 104 will deflect inwardly when subjected to a sufficient pressure differential that acts across the head 90 and in a gradient direction that is the reverse or opposite from the pressure differential gradient direction during product dispensing. Such a reverse pressure differential can be established when a user releases a squeezed, resilient container 22 on which the valve 32 is mounted. The resiliency of the container wall (or walls) will cause the wall to return toward the normal, larger volume configuration. The volume increase of the container interior will cause a temporary drop in the interior pressure. When the interior pressure drops sufficiently below the exterior ambient pressure, the pressure differential across the valve 32 will be large enough to deflect the valve petals 104 inwardly to permit in-venting of the ambient atmosphere. In some cases, however, the desired rate or amount of in-venting may not occur until the squeezed container is returned to a substantially upright orientation that allows the product to flow under the influence of gravity away from the valve 32.
The illustrated preferred embodiment of the valve 32 provides an improved dispensing valve with the capability for allowing the user to readily view, target, and control the dispensing of the fluent material from the valve. The valve 32 can function to dispense a product accurately while minimizing the likelihood of accidental, premature, or undesired product discharge, and while providing good product cut-off at the termination of dispensing with little or no mess of product left on the exterior of the valve (or package containing the valve). The closed valve can minimize, or at least reduce, the likelihood either of the product drying out in the package or being contaminated.
The illustrated preferred embodiment of the valve 32 has a sleek, directional appearance. Because the valve head tapers (becomes narrow) toward the end of the tip portion (where the intersecting slits 100 meet), and because the wall thickness is thinner in the tip portion, the valve has less resistance to opening than some other valve configurations that lack such a configuration. Thus, the valve 32 can be easier to open (e.g., requiring less squeezing pressure on a container to which the valve is mounted). Because the wall of the valve 32 is increasingly thicker in the direction away from the dispensing tip portion, the valve 32 can exhibit a desired, sufficient re-closing strength to close the petals 104 in response to a predetermined decrease in differential pressure across the open valve petals.
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The clamp member 34 includes at least one, and preferably two, legs 125 (
To initially assemble the closure components, the valve 32 is first disposed on the support column 54 of the closure body 30, and then the clamp member 34 is pushed down over the valve 32 until the clamp member lip 122 is received in the valve annular groove 88. The valve 32 is sufficiently resilient to temporarily deform so as to accommodate the proper seating of the clamp member lip 122 in the valve annular groove 88. As the clamp member 34 is pushed downwardly over the valve 32, the body support column 54 inside the valve 32 maintains the valve 32 in position and prevents collapse of the valve skirt 80. As the clamp member 34 is pushed down over the valve 32, the distal ends of each clamp member leg flange 130 engage the body base frustoconical surface (i.e., lead-in surface) 68 and slide downwardly therealong. As the clamp member 34 is pushed downwardly with sufficient force, the clamp member legs 126 expand or spread apart laterally outwardly so that the flanges 130 move along the body base frustoconical surface 68 to the bottom edge (i.e., outer edge) of the frustoconical surface 68 and then move vertically downwardly through the slots 50 between the closure body base 40 and the surrounding closure body collar 44 so that the flanges 130 can snap under the bottom of the closure body base 40 owing to the inherent resiliency of the material from which the clamp member 34 is made (e.g., polypropylene in a presently preferred embodiment).
When the clamp member flanges 130 snap in under the bottom edge of the closure body base 40 (
The closure body 30 includes an optional, special feature to aid in the installation of the preferred embodiment of the clamp member 34. Specifically, the closure body 30 preferably includes two pairs of guide ribs 135 (
With reference to
Additionally, the angle of the larger frustoconical exterior surface of the frustoconical portion 120 of the clamp member 34 is preferably designed to generally match the angle Y of the head 90 of the valve 32 (see
The sealing of the valve 32 against its interior surface 82 is effected through a combination of longitudinally and laterally directed force components, and this is very effective in providing proper sealing, and this arrangement accommodates ease of assembly. The valve 32 does not need to have a peripheral bottom flange subjected to purely vertical compression forces.
However, if an increased retention capability is desired in some applications, the bottom of the valve skirt 80 can be modified. In particular, with reference to
In the preferred embodiment illustrated in
In the preferred embodiment illustrated in
The overcap top portion 186 is preferably provided with a downwardly open, partially spherical surface 188 (
The second form of the closure body collar 44A also is attached to the overcap 36A with a hinge 194A. The hinge 194A may be of any suitable type (such as, for example, a snap-action hinge). The particular design and configuration of the hinge 194A forms no part of the present invention of the valve 32.
The other features of the closure body 30A radially inwardly of the collar 44A are substantially identical with the features of the first form of the closure body 30 described above with reference to
If the valve 32 is used with dispensing system components that differ from one or more of the illustrated components (e.g., components 30 and 30A), then the valve 32 may be provided with, or require, a different configuration of the valve base or skirt 80. In such a case, the modified form of the skirt 80 might not receive or surround any internal member (e.g., internal support column 54 or the like), and such a modified skirt might be instead alternatively characterized or described as a base, mounting flange, mounting portion, or the like. Indeed, in other contemplated embodiments (not illustrated), such a valve base need not be mechanically clamped in position. For example, the valve base could be (1) molded as a unitary part of an adjacent component (e.g., a container, a closure, or other part of a dispensing system), or (2) attached by thermal or adhesive bonding to such an adjacent component. Such a valve base might then not need the annular groove 88 or the other specific exterior and interior surface configurations illustrated in
As with the container 22 employed with the first form of the closure system described above with reference to
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At the top of the closure base wall 44B there is a peripheral array of serrations or teeth 47B (
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In the preferred, third form of the dispensing system 20B illustrated in
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The second embodiment of the valve 32B (when used in the third form of the dispensing system 20B) is adapted to be mounted on the closure body spout or support column 54B as shown in
The valve 32B is similar to, and includes the unique features of, the first embodiment valve 32 described above with reference to the first embodiment of the system illustrated in
The valve base or skirt 80B also defines an outwardly opening annular groove 88B (
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In the illustrated preferred, second embodiment of valve 32B, the valve 32B has a generally circular configuration about a central longitudinal axis 99B extending through the valve 32B (
In the illustrated preferred, second embodiment of the valve 32B, the slits 100B extend laterally from a common origin on the longitudinal axis 99B to define four flaps or petals 104B (
In the preferred, second embodiment of the valve 32B, each slit 100B is planar, and the plane of each slit 100B contains the central, longitudinal axis 99B of the valve 32B. Preferably, the slits 100B diverge from an origin on the longitudinal axis 99B and define equal size angles between each pair of adjacent slits 100B so that the flaps 104B are of equal size. Preferably, the four slits 100B diverge at 90 degree angles to define two mutually perpendicular, intersecting, longer slits. Preferably, the slits 100B are formed so that the opposing side faces of adjacent valve flaps 104B closely seal against one another when the dispensing orifice is in its normal, fully closed position. The length and location of the slits 100B can be adjusted to vary the predetermined opening pressure of the valve 32B, as well as other dispensing characteristics.
The tip portion or tip of the valve head 90B includes at least the upper end portions of the slits 100B. In the preferred illustrated form of the valve head 90B, the tip portion or tip is defined as a uniform wall thickness region above (outwardly from) the tapering wall thickness between the exterior surface 96B and the interior surface 92.
In the preferred, second embodiment of the valve 32B as shown in
In the presently preferred, second embodiment of the valve 32B illustrated in
The dispensing valve 32B is preferably configured for use in conjunction with a particular container, and a specific type of product, so as to achieve the exact dispensing characteristics desired. For example, the viscosity and density of the fluid product can be factors in designing the specific configuration of the valve 32B for liquids, as is the shape, size, and strength of the container. The rigidity and durometer of the valve material, and size and shape of the valve head 90B, are also important in achieving the desired dispensing characteristics, and can be matched with both the container and the material to be dispensed therefrom.
The valve 32B is especially suitable for dispensing flowable products, such as liquids or even gases, powders, particulates, or granular material, as well as suspensions of solid particles in a liquid. The valve 32B is particularly suitable for dispensing shampoos, liquid toothpaste, thin oils, thick lotions, water, and the like.
It is to be understood that, according to the present invention, portions of the valve 32B may assume different shapes and sizes, particularly in accommodating the type of container and product to be dispensed therefrom. The predetermined opening pressure of the valve 32B may be varied widely in accordance with those dispensing criteria desired for a particular product. Flow characteristics of the dispensed product can also be adjusted substantially, such as for relatively wide column-like streams, thin needle-like streams, multiple streams, variations thereof, and the like.
In one presently preferred form of the second embodiment of the valve 32B illustrated in
As viewed in the vertical cross section shown in
Preferably, the wall thickness of the illustrated preferred form of the valve head 90B continuously decreases over (along) most of the height from the top of the base or skirt 80B at least to the valve tip portion. The wall thickness of the valve tip portion is preferably equal to, or less than, the smallest thickness of such a tapering wall.
Further, for one particular preferred embodiment of the valve head 90B, the overall maximum external diameter of the valve head 90B at the top of the base or skirt 80B is about 0.250 inch. The radius of the exterior surface of the valve head tip is 0.067 inch, and the concentric interior surface at the tip has a radius of 0.047 inch.
According to presently preferred embodiments of the valve 32B, the width A of the two aligned slits 100B across the valve diameter (corresponding to dimension “A” in
Operation of the valve 32B is the same as described for first embodiment valve 32 illustrated in
The illustrated preferred embodiment of the valve 32B provides an improved dispensing valve with the capability for allowing the user to readily view, target, and control the dispensing of the fluent material from the valve. The valve 32B can function to dispense a product accurately while minimizing the likelihood of accidental, premature, or undesired product discharge, and while providing good product cut-off at the termination of dispensing with little or no mess of product left on the exterior of the valve (or package containing the valve). The closed valve can minimize, or at least reduce, the likelihood either of the product drying out in the package or being contaminated.
The illustrated preferred embodiment of the valve 32B has a sleek, directional appearance. Because the valve head tapers (becomes narrow) toward the end of the tip portion (where the intersecting slits 100B meet), and because the wall thickness is thinner in the tip portion, the valve has less resistance to opening than some other valve configurations that lack such a configuration. Thus, the valve 32B can be easier to open (e.g., requiring less squeezing pressure on a container to which the valve is mounted). Because the wall of the valve 32B is increasingly thicker in the direction away from the dispensing tip portion, the valve 32B can exhibit a desired, sufficient re-closing strength to close the petals 104B in response to a predetermined decrease in differential pressure across the open valve petals.
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The clamp member 34B includes at least one, and preferably two, retention flanges 130B (
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The clamp member 34B cylindrical wall 121B includes a radially outwardly projecting snap-fit retention bead 135B (
To initially assemble the closure components, the valve 32B is first disposed on the support column 54B of the closure body 30B, and then the clamp member 34B is pushed down over the valve 32B until the clamp member lip 122B is received in the valve annular groove 88B as shown in
As the clamp member 34B is pushed down over the valve 32B, the underside of each clamp member flange 130B engages the body base annular shoulder or frustoconical surface 48B (i.e., lead-in surface) and slides downwardly along it. As the clamp member 34B is pushed downwardly with sufficient force, the clamp member flanges 130B expand or spread apart laterally outwardly (temporarily and elastically) so that the flanges 130B first move along the frustoconical surface 48B of the body base 40B to the bottom edge (i.e., outer edge) of the teeth 47B at the lower end of the frustoconical surface 48B and then move vertically downwardly along the teeth 47B so that the flanges 130B can snap under the bottoms of the closure body teeth 47B (
After assembly, the clamp member 34B cannot rotate relative to the closure body 30B because the clamp member splines 133B engage the closure body teeth 47B. Compared to the first and second embodiments illustrated in
When the clamp member flanges 130B are snapped in under the bottom edges of the closure body teeth 47B (
The angle of the large frustoconical exterior surface of the frustoconical portion 120B of the clamp member 34B is preferably designed to generally match the angle of the head 90B of the valve 32B (see
In the preferred third form of the dispensing system illustrated in
The overcap top portion 186B is preferably provided with a downwardly open, arcuate surface 188B (
The assembly of the overcap 36B, valve 32B, clamp member 34B, and body 30B can next be mounted to the container 22B as shown in
As can be seen in
It will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description of the invention and from the illustrations thereof that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts or principles of this invention.
Claims
1. A dispensing valve comprising:
- flexible, resilient material defining (a) a mounting base, and (b) a narrowing dispensing head extending outwardly from said base to a dispensing tip defined in an end portion of said dispensing head; said valve dispensing head defining a normally closed dispensing orifice which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to a pressure differential across said valve; and said valve dispensing head having a tapering wall with a thickness that continuously decreases along most of its height at least to said tip, said tip having a wall thickness that is equal to, or less than, the smallest thickness of said tapering wall.
2. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 1 in which
- said dispensing orifice is defined by four planar slits 90 degrees apart which intersect in said tip at a longitudinal axis;
- each said slit extends below said tip into said tapering wall; and
- each said slit has a lateral edge that is defined in said tapering wall and that is parallel to the longitudinal axis.
3. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 2 in which said tapering wall extends to at least the lowermost point of each said slit.
4. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 2 in which
- said valve dispensing head has a transverse cross-sectional shape which is generally annular; and
- a pair of said slits are aligned 180 degrees apart in a coplanar orientation, and another pair of said slits are also aligned 180 degrees apart in a coplanar orientation; and
- the width of each pair of aligned slits, as measured transversely across said dispensing head, is between about 30% and about 80% of the maximum inside diameter of said valve dispensing head.
5. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 2 in which said tip is defined by an arcuate wall having a uniform thickness equal to the smallest thickness of said tapering wall.
6. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 5 in which the arcuate wall defines a circular arc of about 136 degrees.
7. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 5 in which the thickness of the arcuate wall is about 0.02 inch.
8. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 5
- said valve dispensing head has a transverse cross-sectional shape which is generally annular; and
- said valve dispensing head tip has a wall thickness that is between about 30% and about 80% of the maximum thickness of said valve dispensing head tapering wall.
9. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 1 in which the height of said valve dispensing head above said base is between about 30% and about 180% of the maximum inside diameter of said valve dispensing head.
10. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 1 in which said valve dispensing head includes an exterior surface that is frustoconical at least over a major portion of the height of the dispensing head.
11. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 10 in which the angle of the frustoconical exterior surface is about 30 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the frustoconical configuration.
12. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 1 in which said valve dispensing head includes an interior surface that is frustoconical at least over a major portion of the height of the dispensing head.
13. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 12 in which the angle of the frustoconical interior surface is about 22 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the frustoconical configuration.
14. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 1 in which
- said valve has a central, longitudinal axis;
- said tip is defined by an arcuate wall having a uniform thickness equal to the smallest thickness of said tapering wall;
- said dispensing orifice is defined by at least one slit;
- each said slit extends below said tip into said tapering wall; and
- each said slit has a lateral edge that is defined in said tapering wall and that is parallel to the longitudinal axis.
15. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 14 in which the bottom of each said slit lateral edge is about 0.115 inch below the top of the slit at the exterior of said valve dispensing head.
16. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 2 in which said tapering wall and said dispensing head slits terminate at the same elevation below said tip.
17. The dispensing valve in accordance with claim 16 in which the top of each said slit lateral edge is about 0.055 inch below the top of the slit at the exterior of said valve dispensing head.
18. A dispensing valve comprising:
- flexible, resilient material defining (a) a mounting base, and (b) a narrowing dispensing head extending outwardly from said base to a dispensing tip defined in an end portion of said valve dispensing head, and wherein
- said valve dispensing head defines a normally closed dispensing orifice which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to a pressure differential across said valve, said orifice being defined by slits which intersect in said tip at a longitudinal axis;
- said valve dispensing head has a tapering wall with a thickness that decreases along its height toward said tip;
- said valve dispensing head includes an exterior surface that is frustoconical along a major portion of the height of the valve dispensing head;
- said valve dispensing head includes an interior surface that is frustoconical along a major portion of the height of the valve dispensing head;
- said tip is defined by an arcuate wall having a uniform thickness equal to the smallest thickness of said tapering wall;
- each said slit extends below said tip into said tapering wall; and
- each said slit has a lateral edge that is defined in said tapering wall and that is parallel to the longitudinal axis.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 21, 2006
Publication Date: Dec 27, 2007
Inventor: Timothy R. Socier (Essexville, MI)
Application Number: 11/472,013
International Classification: B65D 35/38 (20060101);