Enhanced Valve Sealing In Pressurized Dispensing Containers

Abstract

In a valve used for dispensing flowable product from a pressurized container A cup is snapped onto the button at the base of the valve stem so that the upper rim of the cup engages the resilient sealing grommet that surrounds the main portion of the stem. The upper rim of the cup provides a moderately sharp sealing edge so that the pressure against the surface of the resilient grommet is enhanced. This creates a more effective seal than does the relatively broad surface to surface engagement between button and grommet in a standard valve.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to ensuring that a valve is sealed in a pressurized dispensing container when the valve is in its closed state.

The problem of obtaining a fully effective seal in the closed state of the valve arises in connection with dispensing products that have grit or particles. Peanut butter is one such product.

It has been found that a number of products cannot be dispensed with these pressurized containers because there is some minimal leakage or, at least inadequate sealing. The result is that the product deteriorates in some way.

For example, in peanut butter the oil separates out from the rest of the product and when dispensed, the oil comes out first, separate from the rest of the product. This is entirely unsatisfactory to the end user.

The sealing elements in the valve are the button on the base of the valve stem and the resilient grommet that surrounds the valve stem. It is believed that what happens is that particles lodge between the button and the grommet providing enough communication across the seal to create some pressure differential across the product. In peanut butter, this causes oil separation when the container is not being used. Regardless of the exact mechanism, this deterioration of product has been observed.

Accordingly, it is a major object of this invention to provide a structure that assures a complete and effective seal when the valve is in its closed state so that there is no communication across the seal. This will assure that the product is under constant pressure throughout the mass of the product while it is on the shelf.

It is a related purpose of this invention to achieve the main object in an inexpensive fashion with a design which does not modify or compromise the dispensing operation of the container.

It is a further related purpose of this invention to achieve the above objects in a design which involves use of one of the present valve designs so as to minimize the cost of adopting the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In brief, a device of this invention employs a cup shaped device which is press fit or snapped onto the valve stem button so that the walls of the sealing cup extend above the button. When the valve is sealed, the upper rim of the walls of the sealing cup press into the lower base of the grommet providing a seal which is not compromised by the grit or particles in the product.

To enhance and assure the effective sealing result, the preferred molded plastic sealing cup has a chamfered wall at its upper rim to provide a narrow sealing edge. The resultant high pressure level assures an effective seal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view, in partial section, of the valve 10 of this invention. FIG. 1 shows the arrangement between the valve stem 12 and grommet 14 and also shows the sealing cup 16 fitted onto the button 18 at the base of the stem 12. FIG. 1 shows the valve 10 in a closed state.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, more clearly showing the engagement between the sealing edge 38 which is at the top rim 20 of the sidewall 22 of the sealing cup 16 and the base surface 24 of the grommet 14. FIG. 2, shows the closed state of the valve. In that state, the button 18 is spaced by a space 42 of a few mils (five mils in one embodiment) from the base surface 24 of the grommet 14. (Note: one mil equals 0.001 inches). This assures that there will be no engagement between button 18 and grommet surface 24 that would limit full force engagement of the sealing edge 38 with the grommet surface 24.

FIG. 3 is a simplified sectional view of the sealing cup 16 showing the annular recess 36 on the inner surface of the sidewall 22 and the annular sealing edge 38 on the rim 20. To simplify presentation, FIG. 3 omits the horizontal lines representing the upper edges of the sidewall 22.

FIG. 4 is a view in partial section of one presently preferred embodiment having the sealing cup 16A mounted on a thicker than usual button 18A. FIG. 4 is adapted for use as a tilt valve.

FIG. 5 is a view in partial section showing an embodiment employing the arrangement of sealing cup 16A and button 18A shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows the use of a resilient tube 44 to provide a restoring force returning the valve to its closed state when dispensing pressure is removed from the nozzle 46. The FIG. 5 design has been designed for dispensing peanut butter.

FIG. 6 is a view in partial section of an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 5 except that a spring 50 is used instead of the resilient tube 44 to provide a restoring force returning the valve to its closed state.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate a first embodiment. A pressurized dispensing container (not shown) has a top center opening through which the valve 10 extends. The stem 12 of the valve is partially threaded so as to engage the threaded inner surface of a nozzle (not shown). A resilient grommet 14 extends around the lower portion of the valve stem 12 and is held between the button 18 at the base of the valve stem and a downwardly facing ledge 26 on the valve stem 12. In the closed state the grommet 14 seals the valve stem openings 28. The mounting cup 15 holds the valve on the container (not shown).

When the nozzle (not shown) forces the valve stem 12 to move, by either tilting or by vertical movement, one or more of the valve stem openings 28 are exposed to the product held under pressure within the interior of the container. The product under pressure will then be forced through one or more of the openings 28 to a central axial passageway of the valve stem to exit from an opening at the top of the valve stem into the nozzle (not shown) to be dispensed at the upper end of the nozzle.

The operation of these valves in pressurized dispensing containers is well known and is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,222,758; No. 6,874,663. and No. 5,785,301. In the closed state, the prior art devices do not have the sealing cup 16 and effect a sealing engagement primarily by engagement between the top surface of the button 18 and the base surface 24 of the grommet 14. This face to face engagement is maintained by the pressure of the product within the container on the button 18 and may also be maintained by a restoring force exerted by engagement of the boot 30 of the grommet 14 against the ledge 26 on the stem 12. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a spring 50 or resilient tube 44 may be used to provide the restoring force in lieu of or in addition to the boot 30.

In particular, where the grommet is soft, the restoring force of the boot 30 might have to be supplemented with a spring or other resilient member.

This surface engagement between button 18 and grommet 14 is quite effective to provide a seal in the closed state for a smooth flowable product. It does not work well for products containing particles, for example, peanut butter. It is believed that what happens is that granules of product are lodged between the engaging surfaces of the button 18 and the grommet 14. It is believed that these particles cause enough of a break in the sealing surface so that a pressure gradient is established across the sealing surface between the ambient pressure in the valve stem passageway and the product pressure in the interior of the container. This pressure gradient results in the product adjacent to the seal between grommet 14 and button 18 having a lower pressure than the pressure of the product within the dispensing container. The higher pressure is created by the pressurized gas in the pressure producing chamber. It is believed that this results in the peanut butter product having the oil and the denser product separate out when standing on the shelf. The result is that when the user actuates the valve, the product dispensed is not well mixed and initially the oil component is dispensed by itself. This is completely unsatisfactory to the user. The particles that cause this pressure gradient generally do not create sufficient passageway to leak product in closed state.

Applicant believes that the above analysis is the explanation of what occurs in the use of prior art designs. But there may well be a somewhat different explanation or, more likely, a supplementary explanation.

But, what has been found is that the use of a sealing cup 16 to effect a high pressure engagement with the grommet 14 provides an effective seal so that this product separation does not occur. Tests have been made with peanut butter using the device of this invention and the results have been satisfactory in that the oil did not separate out.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the upper rim 20 of the sidewall 22 is chamfered to provide an annular sealing edge 38 that is a blunt knife like edge. This edge 38 transmits the full pressure from the pressurized product along a narrow annular zone so as to provide a high pressure in psi in the closed state at the lower surface 24 of the grommet 14. This assures that the resilient grommet 14 will be adequately deformed at the sealing zone created by the sealing edge 38. Because of the force of the engagement over the small surface area involved, product particles do not compromise the effective sealing. The engagement between sealing cup 16 and button 18 is a press fit supplemented by a ridge 34 and recess 36 engagement.

A presently preferred embodiment for use with the dispensing of peanut butter is shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows only the stem 12 with its button 18A and the sealing cup 16A. As shown therein, the stem 12 of the valve terminates in a button 18A. The sealing cup 16A has an annular sidewall 22 which engages the button 18. This engagement may be press fit or by snap fit or by both. As shown in FIG. 4, the preferred button includes an annular ridge 34A which snaps into a mating recess 36A in the sidewall 22 of the sealing cup 16.

The FIG. 4 embodiment shows an arrangement in which the thickness of the button 18A is greater than is usually the case. This thickness is chosen for a tilt valve application so as to assure that the force of tilting does not cause the sealing cup 16A to disengage. In the FIG. 4 embodiment, the base 40A of the sealing cup 16A extends radially beyond the sidewall 22A in order to provide a greater force from product under pressure to achieve and maintain an effective seal in the closed state.

In a vertically movable valve application, a press fit between a regular size button and a sealing cup, together with a ridge 34 and groove 36 engagement, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, would normally be adequate to assure retention of the sealing cup on the button.

The ridge 34 can be on either the inner surface of the annular sidewall 22 or on the annular side surface of the button 18. In the FIG. 4 embodiment, a ridge 34A and groove 36A arrangement is used to reinforce the retention engagement effected by the thick button 18R.

In one preferred embodiment having the geometry shown in FIG. 2, the following dimensions were found to be effective: A nylon sealing cup 16 has a 35 mil (0.035 inch) thick annular sidewall 22, a 161 mil outer wall surface diameter, a 40 mil thick base and a 30 degree internal angle for the chamfer that creates the sealing edge 38. The edge 38 is about three mils thick. A 369 mil ID for the sealing cup 16 engages a 370 mil diameter button 18. The ridge 34 and groove 36 have a five mil maximum interference created by a 23 mil radius of curvature. In the closed state, the sealing edge 38 depresses the grommet surface 24 by about 10 to 20 mils. That would be a function of grommet durometer.

In another preferred embodiment having the geometry shown in FIG. 4, the following dimensions were found to be effective: A 369 mil ID of the sealing cup 16 engages a 370 mil diameter button. The button 18A is made 125 mils thick and has a ridge 34A that engages a groove 36A with a maximum of three mil interference created by a radius of curvature of 60 mils.

FIG. 5 illustrates an application of the invention to a design which in this particular case is for peanut butter. In the FIG. 5 design, an annular resilient tube 44 is used in conjunction with the nozzle 46 having an annular hood 48. FIG. 5 is in the open state.

When the product is manufactured, the nozzle 46 is screwed all the way down so that the hood 48 abuts against the mounting cup 15. In this condition, the resilient tube 44 is in compression and exerts a upward force on the nozzle 46 that pulls the stem 12 in an upward direction thereby assuring that the edge 38 of the sealing cup 16A forcibly engages the base surface 24 of the grommet 14.

In use, the user unscrews the nozzle 46 to a point where the rubber tube 44 is held in position without exerting significant force. At that point, the nozzle 46 can be tilted and product dispensed. When the user finishes applying the peanut butter, the user screws the nozzle 46 to close and seal the container. But as a practical matter, many users will not screw the nozzle 44 all the way down to the point where the hood 48 will engage the upper surface of the mounting cup 15. In some cases, the restoring force provided by the boot 30 of the grommet 14 will not exert enough force to make sure that the sealing edge 38 of the sealing cup 16A will adequately engage the lower surface 24 of the grommet 14. The compression of the resilient tube 44, even if it is not fully compressed, as when initially shipped, will provide sufficient restoring force to assure engagement of the sealing edge 38 and grommet surface 24.

As shown in FIG. 6, a cylindrical spring 50 in compression can be employed in lieu of the resilient tube 44 so as to provide a closing force. This closing force provided by tube 44 or spring 50 also serves to stabilize the valve stem.

Preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed. However, it would be well within the understanding of one skilled in the art that certain variations can be made and stay within the scope of the teachings of this invention.

For example, the narrow sealing edge 38 could be created along the inner wall of the sealing cup 16 rather than the outer wall as shown. Indeed, this sealing edge 38 could be created at some intermediate position between the inner wall and outer wall of the rim 20 of the sealing cup 16.

Another example is that the sealing cup 16 could be created integrally with the button 18. Such an approach will create molding problems and for that reason is not preferred.

As shown in FIG. 4, in one preferred embodiment, the thickness of the button 18A is greater than is usually the case in order to assure that in a tilt valve embodiment the sealing cup 16 will not rack on the button 18. Where a vertical valve operation is involved, then as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the button 18 may well be less thick than shown in FIG. 4. In such a case, an interference fit, without the annular ridge 34 and recess 36 could be sufficient in some applications to maintain the cup on the button. Experimentation in each application will be required to determine the best fitting relationship between the sealing cup 16 and button 18 and whether or not the ridge 34 and recess 36 engagement is required or useful.

The sealing cup 16 is preferably made of plastic. Nylon has been found to be useful and a preferred material. The sidewall of the sealing cup 16 is approximately 35 mils (0.035 inches) and the width of the sealing edge 38 is approximately three mils. However, it might be possible for a metal cup having a sidewall of 5 mils to be effectively used in certain situations. In such an embodiment the rim 20 becomes the edge 38. Such an embodiment is not presently preferred.

It is believed that it is desirable and preferable to avoid a sealing edge 38 so sharp as to cut the surface 24 of the resilient grommet 14.

As known in the art, the composition of the grommet 14 and of the restoring boot 30 and the composition of any restoring tube 44 or spring 50 will depend on an appropriate combination thereof and trade off with the range of product pressures from full to dispensed.

Claims

1. In a valve for use with a pressurized dispensing container, the valve having a stem and an annular resilient sealing grommet surrounding the stem, the improvement of a sealing element at the base of the stem comprising:

a cup shaped sealing element connected to the stem and having an annular sidewall extending up from said stem base, said sidewall having an upper annular edge that sealingly engages the grommet when the valve is in its closed state.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein: said upper edge is narrower than the thickness of said annular sidewall.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein: the grommet has a lower flat surface and said upper edge of said sealing cup engages said lower surface of the grommet when the valve is in a closed state.

4. The improvement of claim 2 wherein: the grommet has a lower flat surface and said upper edge of said sealing cup engages said lower surface of the grommet when the valve is in a closed state.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein: the stem has a button and said annular sidewall of said sealing cup is press fit onto said button.

6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein: said stem has a button, said button has a sidewall and further comprising: an annular groove and ridge engagement between said sidewalls of said button and said cup.

7. The improvement of claim 4 wherein: said button and said sealing element are integral.

8. The improvement of claim 4 wherein: said sealing element has a base and said base extends radially outward past said sidewall of said sealing element.

9. The improvement of claim 6 wherein: said button has a thickness adequate to prevent said sealing element from rocking loose.

10. The improvement of claim 2 wherein: said sealing edge is at the outer surface of said sidewall of said sealing element.

11. The improvement of claim 4 wherein: said sealing edge is at the outer surface of said sidewall of said sealing element.

12. The improvement of claim 5 wherein: said button is spaced from said grommet when said valve is in said closed state.

13. The improvement of claim 6 wherein: said button is spaced from said grommet when said valve is in said closed state.

14. The improvement of claim 9 wherein: said button is spaced from said grommet when said valve is in said closed state.

15. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the valve has a mounting cup, further comprising: a resilient tube in compression engaging the mounting cup and the stem to provide a restoring force to close the valve when dispensing pressure is removed.

16. The improvement of claim 4 wherein the valve has a mounting cup, further comprising: a resilient tube in compression engaging the mounting cup and the stem to provide a restoring force to close the valve when dispensing pressure is removed.

17. The improvement of claim 9 wherein the valve has a mounting cup, further comprising: a resilient tube in compression engaging the mounting cup and the stem to provide a restoring force to close the valve when dispensing pressure is removed.

18. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the valve has a mounting cup, further comprising: a resilient tube in compression engaging the mounting cup and the stem to provide a restoring force to close the valve when dispensing pressure is removed.

19. The improvement of claim 4 wherein the valve has a mounting cup, further comprising: a resilient tube in compression engaging the mounting cup and the stem to provide a restoring force to close the valve when dispensing pressure is removed.

20. In a valve for use with a pressurized dispensing container, the valve having a stem and an annular resilient sealing grommet surrounding the stem, said grommet having a lower surface, the improvement of a sealing element at the base of the stem comprising:

a cup shaped sealing element connected to the stem and having an annular sidewall extending up from said base, said sidewall having an annular upper edge that is narrower than the thickness of said sidewall,

the grommet having a lower flat surface and said upper edge of said sealing cup engaging said lower surface of the grommet when the valve is in a closed state,

said stem having a button, said button having a sidewall,

an annular groove and ridge engagement between said sidewalls of said button and said cup,

said button being spaced from said grommet when said valve is in its closed state.