Valve for dispensing product Number:7,086,572 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent A valve is provided with a peripheral attachment portion by which the valve may be attached to a dispensing structure through which can be discharged a product from a supply of the product. The valve includes a flexible, peripheral sleeve extending from the peripheral attachment portion. The sleeve has a central elongate portion and two shorter end portions at opposite ends of the elongate portion so that the central elongate portion and the two shorter end portions together define an interior volume. The valve also has a flexible, elongate head extending from the peripheral sleeve. The head includes at least one elongate slit defining two, opposed, elongate, openable regions in the head which are normally closed and which open to permit the discharge of the product therethrough in response to a pressure differential across the head.<H dispensing, product, Valve, for, dispe, 7086572.html, Patent, pto, 7086572

Title: Valve for dispensing product

Abstract: A valve is provided with a peripheral attachment portion by which the valve may be attached to a dispensing structure through which can be discharged a product from a supply of the product. The valve includes a flexible, peripheral sleeve extending from the peripheral attachment portion. The sleeve has a central elongate portion and two shorter end portions at opposite ends of the elongate portion so that the central elongate portion and the two shorter end portions together define an interior volume. The valve also has a flexible, elongate head extending from the peripheral sleeve. The head includes at least one elongate slit defining two, opposed, elongate, openable regions in the head which are normally closed and which open to permit the discharge of the product therethrough in response to a pressure differential across the head.

Patent Number: 7,086,572 Issued on 08/08/2006 to Socier, et al.

Inventors: Socier; Timothy R. (Essexville, MI), Olechowski; Gregory M. (Midland, MI), Tuckey; Steven R. (Freeland, MI), Hatton; Jason D. (Essexville, MI), Brown; Stuart R. (Midland, MI)
Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc. (Crystal Lake, IL)

Appl. No.: 10/811,180

Filed: March 26, 2004

Current U.S. Class: 222/494 ; 222/212

Current International Class: B65D 37/00 (20060101)

Field of Search: 222/212,490,491,494

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents


1122868	December 1914	Davis
D136098	August 1943	Hartman
2851203	September 1958	Nowak
3063601	November 1962	Hertz
3773233	November 1973	Souza
4735334	April 1988	Abbott
4991745	February 1991	Brown
5033655	July 1991	Brown
5381935	January 1995	Mock
5398853	March 1995	Latham
5730336	March 1998	Lerner
5954237	September 1999	Lampe et al.
6176399	January 2001	Schantz et al.
6427874	August 2002	Brown
6510971	January 2003	Martin
6688501	February 2004	DeGroot et al.
2002/0121530	September 2002	Socier

Foreign Patent Documents


26719/88	Sep., 1989	AU
976113	Oct., 1975	CA
1250225	Sep., 1967	DE
1135210	Dec., 1956	FR
2790454	Sep., 2000	FR
2224309	May., 1990	GB

Other References

2 Avertising sheets of Aquila entitled "Bouchon a Tartiner ou a Etaler--Bec Verseur--" and "Bouchon a Tartiner ou a Ealer--Nouveau Bec Verseur-." cited by other.

Primary Examiner: Kaufman; Joseph A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wood, Phillips, Katz, Clark & Mortimer

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A self-sealing, dispensing valve comprising: (A) a peripheral sleeve that surrounds an interior volume and that has (1) a central elongate portion that includes two spaced-apart elongate sidewalls each having an upper region and a lower region; and (2) two shorter end portions that each (a) define an end wall joining said sidewalls, and (b) have an upper region and a lower region; (B) a peripheral attachment portion extending from said lower regions of said sidewalls and end walls by which said valve may be attached to a dispensing structure through which can be discharged a product from a supply of said product; and (C) a flexible, elongate head extending from said upper regions of said sidewalls and end walls, said head being generally concave as viewed from the exterior of said valve relative to said interior volume, said head having (1) an interior surface that interfaces with said interior volume, and (2) a curving exterior surface interfacing with the ambient environment, said head including a long slit and two spaced-apart, short slits; each of said short slits being (1) generally perpendicular to said long slit, (2) located at an end of said long slit, and (3) in communication with said long slit so as to define two, opposed, elongate petals wherein (a) each said petal has a long edge and two short edges, and (b) said petals are normally closed, but open outwardly to permit the discharge of said product through the valve in response to a pressure differential across said head in one pressure gradient direction, and open inwardly to permit the in-venting of ambient atmosphere through the valve in response to a pressure differential across said head in the opposite pressure gradient direction.

2. The valve in accordance with claim 1 in which said valve is adapted to be attached to a dispensing end structure that comprises a separate closure for being releasably or permanently mounted to a container.

3. The valve in accordance with claim 1 in which said peripheral attachment portion is a laterally outwardly extending flange.

4. The valve in accordance with claim 1 in which (1) said interior surface includes a flat area, and (2) said elongate slit lies along an imaginary plane that (a) passes through said head, and (b) is perpendicular to said head interior surface flat area.

5. The valve in accordance with claim 1 in which each said end wall includes a straight section between two curved sections which each joins one of said sidewalls.

6. The valve in accordance with claim 1 in which the length of each said sidewall is at least three times the width of said valve head.

7. The valve in accordance with claim 1 in which said valve is included in combination with a separate housing that retains said valve and that is adapted for being releasably or permanently mounted to said container, said housing including a support wall adjacent each said elongate sidewall in said interior volume for preventing each said sidewall from collapsing beyond said support wall.

8. The valve in accordance with claim 1 in which said valve head petals each is thinner along said elongate slit than at locations away from said elongate slit.

9. A self-sealing, dispensing valve comprising: a peripheral attachment portion by which said valve may be attached to a dispensing structure through which can be discharged a product from a supply of said product such that the discharging product generally defines a flow direction from said valve into the ambient environment; a flexible, peripheral sleeve extending from said peripheral attachment portion, at least part of said sleeve extending generally parallel to said flow direction to a location either outwardly or inwardly of said peripheral attachment portion, said sleeve, when viewed from the ambient environment, has a plan view configuration comprising a central elongate portion and two shorter end portions at opposite ends of said central elongate portion; and a flexible, elongate head extending generally laterally from said peripheral sleeve, said head having a thickness and including at least one elongate slit through said thickness defining two, opposed openable regions in said head which (1) each has at least one transverse face for sealing against a transverse face of said other openable region, (2) are normally closed but open to permit the discharge of said product therethrough in response to a pressure differential across said head and (3) the thickness of each of said valve head openable regions adjacent said slit is at least equal to the depth of said slit through said valve head openable regions.

10. The valve in accordance with claim 9 in which (1) said peripheral attachment portion is a laterally extending flange; and (2) said valve is adapted to be attached via said flange to a dispensing end structure that comprises a separate closure for being releasably or permanently mounted to a container.

11. The valve in accordance with claim 9 in which said at least part of said sleeve extends in the flow direction to a location outwardly of said peripheral attachment portion.

12. The valve in accordance with claim 9 in which said central elongate portion of said peripheral sleeve includes two spaced-apart elongate sidewalls; said two shorter end portions of said peripheral sleeve each comprises an end wall joining said sidewalls; and each said end wall includes a straight section between two curved sections which each joins one of said sidewalls.

13. The valve in accordance with claim 12 in which the length of each sidewall is at least three times the width of said valve head.

14. A self-sealing, dispensing valve comprising: a peripheral attachment portion by which said valve may be attached to a dispensing structure through which can be discharged a product from a supply of said product such that the discharging product generally defines a flow direction from said valve into the ambient environment; a flexible, peripheral sleeve extending from said peripheral attachment portion, at least part of said sleeve extending generally parallel to said flow direction to a location either outwardly or inwardly of said peripheral attachment portion, said sleeve, when viewed from the ambient environment, has a plan view configuration comprising a central elongate portion and two shorter end portions at opposite ends of said central elongate portion; and a flexible, elongate head extending generally laterally from said peripheral sleeve, said head having a thickness and including at least one elongate slit through said thickness defining two, opposed openable regions in said head which (1) each has at least one transverse face for sealing against a transverse face of said other openable region, and (2) are normally closed but open to permit the discharge of said product therethrough in response to a pressure differential across said head, and wherein said at least part of said sleeve extends opposite the flow direction to a location that is both laterally inwardly of said peripheral attachment portion and upstream of said peripheral attachment portion.

15. A self-sealing, dispensing valve comprising: a peripheral attachment portion by which said valve may be attached to a dispensing structure through which can be discharged a product from a supply of said product such that the discharging product generally defines a flow direction from said valve into the ambient environment; a flexible, peripheral sleeve extending from said peripheral attachment portion, at least part of said sleeve extending generally parallel to said flow direction to a location either outwardly or inwardly of said peripheral attachment portion, said sleeve, when viewed from the ambient environment, has a plan view configuration comprising a central elongate portion and two shorter end portions at opposite ends of said central elongate portion; and a flexible, elongate head extending generally laterally from said peripheral sleeve, said head having a thickness and including at least one elongate slit through said thickness defining two, opposed openable regions in said head which (1) each has at least one transverse face for sealing against a transverse face of said other openable region, and (2) are normally closed but open to permit the discharge of said product therethrough in response to a pressure differential across said head, and wherein (a) said head is generally concave when the valve head openable regions are closed as viewed from the exterior ambient environment when said valve is attached to a dispensing structure; and (b) the periphery of said valve head extends outwardly further than said slit in said flow direction when said valve head openable regions are closed.

16. A self-sealing, dispensing valve comprising: a peripheral attachment portion by which said valve may be attached to a dispensing structure through which can be discharged a product from a supply of said product such that the discharging product generally defines a flow direction from said valve into the ambient environment; a flexible, peripheral sleeve extending from said peripheral attachment portion, at least part of said sleeve extending generally parallel to said flow direction to a location either outwardly or inwardly of said peripheral attachment portion, said sleeve, when viewed from the ambient environment, has a plan view configuration comprising a central elongate portion and two shorter end portions at opposite ends of said central elongate portion; and a flexible, elongate head extending generally laterally from said peripheral sleeve, said head having a thickness and including at least one elongate slit through said thickness defining two, opposed openable regions in said head which (1) each has at least one transverse face for sealing against a transverse face of said other openable region, and (2) are normally closed but open to permit the discharge of said product therethrough in response to a pressure differential across said head, and wherein a portion of said peripheral sleeve extends in the flow direction to a location inwardly of said peripheral attachment portion; and said head includes at least two elongate slits which intersect to define four segment-shaped petals which (1) each functions as one of said openable regions, and (2) are normally closed but open to permit the discharge of said product therefrom in response to a pressure differential across said head.

17. The valve in accordance with claim 16 in which said head includes at least two spaced-apart pairs of intersecting slits wherein each pair of intersecting slits defines four of said petals.

18. A self-sealing, dispensing valve comprising: a peripheral attachment portion by which said valve may be attached to a dispensing structure through which can be discharged a product from a supply of said product such that the discharging product generally defines a flow direction from said valve into the ambient environment; a flexible, peripheral sleeve extending from said peripheral attachment portion, at least part of said sleeve extending generally parallel to said flow direction to a location either outwardly or inwardly of said peripheral attachment portion, said sleeve, when viewed from the ambient environment, has a plan view configuration comprising a central elongate portion and two shorter end portions at opposite ends of said central elongate portion; and a flexible, elongate head extending generally laterally from said peripheral sleeve, said head having a thickness and including at least one elongate slit through said thickness defining two, opposed openable regions in said head which (1) each has at least one transverse face for sealing against a transverse face of said other openable region, and (2) are normally closed but open to permit the discharge of said product therethrough in response to a pressure differential across said head, and wherein said central elongate portion of said peripheral sleeve includes two spaced-apart elongate sidewalls; said two shorter end portions of said peripheral sleeve each comprise an end wall joining said sidewalls; and said valve is included in combination with a separate housing that retains said valve and that is adapted for being releasably or permanently mounted to said container, said housing including a support wall adjacent each said elongate sidewall for preventing each said sidewall from collapsing beyond said support wall toward the other sidewall, each housing support wall being spaced inwardly of said adjacent sidewall of said sleeve when said valve head openable regions are closed.

19. A self-sealing, dispensing valve comprising: a peripheral attachment portion by which said valve may be attached to a dispensing structure through which can be discharged a product from a supply of said product such that the discharging product generally defines a flow direction from said valve into the ambient environment; a flexible, peripheral sleeve extending from said peripheral attachment portion, at least part of said sleeve extending generally parallel to said flow direction to a location either outwardly or inwardly of said peripheral attachment portion, said sleeve, when viewed from the ambient environment, has a plan view configuration comprising a central elongate portion and two shorter end portions at opposite ends of said central elongate portion; and a flexible, elongate head extending generally laterally from said peripheral sleeve, said head having a thickness and including at least one elongate slit through said thickness defining two, opposed openable regions in said head which (1) each has at least one transverse face for sealing against a transverse face of said other openable region, and (2) are normally closed but open to permit the discharge of said product therethrough in response to a pressure differential across said head, and wherein said central elongate portion of said peripheral sleeve includes two spaced-apart elongate sidewalls; said two shorter end portions of said peripheral sleeve each comprise an end wall joining said sidewalls; said valve is included in combination with a separate housing that retains said valve and that is adapted for being releasably or permanently mounted to said container, said housing including a support wall adjacent each said elongate sidewall for preventing each said sidewall from collapsing beyond said support wall toward the other sidewall; said head has (1) an interior surface interfacing with said product, and (2) an exterior surface for interfacing with the ambient environment; said exterior surface is continuously curving as viewed along a transverse cross section of said valve head; said interior surface includes a flat area; said at least one elongate slit lies along an imaginary plane passing through said head; and said head further includes two spaced-apart, short slits which each (1) are generally perpendicular to said at least one elongate slit, (2) are located at an end of said at least one elongate slit, and (3) communicate with said at least one elongate slit so as to define opposed elongate petals functioning as said openable regions wherein each said petal has a long edge and two short edges.

20. A self-sealing, dispensing valve comprising: a peripheral attachment portion by which said valve may be attached to a dispensing structure through which can be discharged a product from a supply of said product such that the discharging product generally defines a flow direction from said valve into the ambient environment; a flexible, peripheral sleeve extending from said peripheral attachment portion, at least part of said sleeve extending generally parallel to said flow direction to a location either outwardly or inwardly of said peripheral attachment portion, said sleeve, when viewed from the ambient environment, has a plan view configuration comprising a central elongate portion and two shorter end portions at opposite ends of said central elongate portion; and a flexible, elongate head extending generally laterally from said peripheral sleeve, said head having a thickness and including at least one elongate slit through said thickness defining two, opposed openable regions in said head which (1) each has at least one transverse face for sealing against a transverse face of said other openable region, and (2) are normally closed but open to permit the discharge of said product therethrough in response to a pressure differential across said head, wherein (1) said head includes at least two spaced-apart sets of intersecting slits, and (2) said thickness of said head is non-uniform relative to the location of at least two of said sets of intersecting slits so that a thinner portion of said head is urged further outwardly than a thicker portion of said head when said valve is subjected to said pressure differential whereby the discharge of said product through one of said two sets of intersecting slits is at an relative angle to the discharge of said product through the other set of slits.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a valve which is especially suitable for use with a container or other system from which a substance can be discharged through the valve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIOR ART

A variety of packages, including dispensing packages or containers, have been developed for dispensing beverages, fluent food products, personal care products such as shampoo, lotion, etc., as well as other materials. Such containers typically have an open upper end on which is mounted a dispensing end structure which may be a unitary part of the container or a separate closure that is releasably or permanently mounted to the container.

One type of dispensing end structure used with these kinds of containers has a flexible, pressure-openable, self-sealing, slit-type dispensing valve mounted in the end structure over the container opening. The term "pressure-openable" refers to a valve which opens when a sufficient pressure differential is applied across the valve (e.g., as by increasing the pressure on one side and/or decreasing the pressure on the other side). Such a valve is typically used on a container which has a flexible, but resilient, wall or walls. When the container is squeezed, the pressure inside the container increases. This causes the valve slit or slits to open, and the fluid contents of the container are discharged through the open valve. Typically, the valve automatically closes to shut off fluid flow therethrough upon removal of the increased pressure--even if the container is inverted so that the closed valve is subjected to the weight of the contents within the container. Designs of such valves are illustrated in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,271,531, 5,033,655, and 4,931,775.

When a separate end closure is employed for attachment to the container, the closure typically includes a body mounted on the container to hold the valve over the container opening. A lid can be provided for engaging the closure body to cover the valve during shipping and when the container is otherwise not in use. See, for example, FIGS. 31 34 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,531. Such a lid can be designed to prevent leakage from the valve under certain conditions. The lid can also keep dust and dirt from the valve and/or can protect the valve from damage.

The inventors of the present invention have determined that it would be advantageous to provide a new type of dispensing valve in, or as part of, a dispensing end structure or closure that can provide certain operational advantages. It would be particularly beneficial to provide such a new type of valve with the capability for dispensing a product in a relatively wide configuration, such as in a plurality of separate side-by-side discharge streams or in a single wide discharge stream that would be especially suitable for a spreadable product discharged in a wide ribbon configuration, thereby eliminating, or at least minimizing, the need to use an implement to spread the product.

It would also be desirable to optionally provide such an improved valve with the capability for permitting in-venting of ambient atmosphere after dispensing product from a squeezable, resilient container on which the valve is mounted.

Such an improved valve could also have the capability for effecting a seal between the atmosphere and the product when the valve is closed so as to protect the product from contamination and/or dehydration.

Further, it would be beneficial if such an improved dispensing valve could function as a part of a closure that does not necessarily require the use of a lid.

It would also be desirable to provide a valve which could allow the user to invert the package (consisting of the container, product in the container, and valve on the container) without product leakage, thereby providing the user with more control over the product dispensing operation.

It would also be desirable to provide an improved dispensing valve that could dispense product at a relatively high flow rate compared to conventional valves of similar size.

It would also be beneficial if such an improved dispensing valve could be readily retained in a closure that could optionally accommodate the employment of an ancillary lid and/or frangible, tamper-evident cover or tear band.

An improved dispensing valve should also accommodate designs which permit incorporation of the valve as a unitary part, or extension, of the container as well as designs that separately mount the dispensing system (e.g., separate closure) on the container in a removable or non-removable manner.

It would also be beneficial if such an improved dispensing valve could readily accommodate its manufacture from a variety of different materials.

Further, it would be desirable if such an improved dispensing valve could be provided with a design that would accommodate efficient, high-quality, large volume manufacturing techniques with a reduced product reject rate.

Preferably, the design of the improved dispensing valve should also accommodate high-speed manufacturing techniques that can produce such valves with consistent operating characteristics unit-to-unit with high reliability.

The present invention provides an improved dispensing valve which can accommodate designs having the above-discussed benefits and features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a dispensing valve is provided for discharging fluent contents, especially contents from the interior of a container, over a wide target area for deposition, or spreading, on a substrate or other target area. The valve is preferably self-sealing after being opened. The valve includes the following:

(1) a peripheral attachment portion by which the valve may be attached to a dispensing structure through which can be discharged a product from a supply of the product such that the discharging product generally defines a flow direction from the valve into the ambient environment;

(2) a flexible, peripheral sleeve that extends from the peripheral attachment portion and wherein (a) the sleeve, or at least part of the sleeve, extends generally parallel to the flow direction to a location either outwardly or inwardly of the peripheral attachment portion, and (b) the sleeve, when viewed from the ambient environment, has a plan view configuration comprising a central elongate portion and two shorter end portions at opposite ends of the central elongate portion; and

(3) a flexible, elongate head extending generally laterally from the peripheral sleeve, wherein the head has a thickness and includes at least one elongate slit through the thickness defining two, opposed openable regions in the head which (a) each has at least one transverse face for sealing against a transverse face of the other openable region, and (b) are normally closed but open to permit the discharge of the product therethrough in response to a pressure differential across the head.

The valve can discharge or dispense a viscous product over a relatively wide target area. A preferred embodiment is especially suitable for dispensing product in a ribbon-like shape to eliminate, or at least minimize, the need to spread the product with an implement.

In one form of the invention, the valve includes a plurality of pairs of two crossing or intersecting, elongate slits spaced along a row. In another form of the invention, the valve has a single pair of intersecting cross slits wherein one slit is longer than the other one. In another form of the invention, the valve has one elongate slit and two short slits at each end of, and perpendicular to, the elongate slit so as to define two petals, each petal having a long edge along the elongate slit and two short end edges--one short edge at each end of the elongate slit.

The valve may optionally have the capability to accommodate in-venting of ambient atmosphere.

In one preferred form of the invention, the valve is part of an assembly of components that together function as a separate closure. The closure is adapted for being releasably or permanently mounted to a container which has an opening to the container interior. The preferred form of the closure includes a multi-piece housing or body for (a) retaining the valve therein, and (b) being mounted on the container at the container opening so as to position the valve over the container opening.

Optionally, a lid may be provided for engaging the closure housing. The lid may be hingedly attached to the closure housing (or container), or may be a completely separate, removable component.

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 drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE 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,

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view showing a preferred, first embodiment of the closed, dispensing valve of the present invention in one optional arrangement wherein it is retained in, and forms part of, a separate closure that is adapted to be mounted on a container;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the closure shown in FIG. 1 after the components have been assembled;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 3--3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the area in the broken line circle in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the valve alone in the closed condition;

FIG. 6 is a top plane view of the valve as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 7--7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 8--8 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but FIG. 9 shows the valve in a partly open condition;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 10--10 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but FIG. 11 shows the valve in a more open condition;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the valve taken generally along the plane 12--12 in FIG. 11, but FIG. 12 also shows the valve mounted in the closure housing which is shown in fragmentary cross section;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12, but FIG. 13 shows the valve in an in-venting condition;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the valve alone in the in-venting condition corresponding to FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a preferred, second embodiment of the closed, dispensing valve of the present invention in an optional arrangement where it is retained in, and forms part of, a separate closure that is adapted to be mounted on a container;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the closure shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 17--17 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the valve alone in the closed condition as viewed from the exterior or top of the valve in the orientation that the valve would have if mounted in a closure on the top of a container;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18, but FIG. 19 shows the bottom, interior, perspective view of the valve;

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the valve shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 21--21 in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 22--22 in FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22, but FIG. 23 shows the valve subjected to a pressure differential which is acting across the valve and which has caused the valve sleeve and valve head to move outwardly relative to the valve flange;

FIG. 24 is a view similar to FIG. 23, but FIG. 24 shows the valve subjected to greater differential pressure which has caused the sleeve and valve to move outwardly even further and has caused the valve head to open for dispensing product;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 21, but FIG. 25 shows a preferred, third embodiment of the valve wherein the valve flange has a slightly different configuration for being clamped in a closure or other structure;

FIG. 26 is a view similar to FIG. 25, but FIG. 26 shows a preferred, fourth embodiment of the valve with a modified valve flange for accommodating heat sealing of a flange to a closure or other structure;

FIG. 27 is a top, plan view of a preferred, fifth embodiment of the closed, dispensing valve of the present invention wherein the valve has only one, normally closed orifice defined by a single pair of intersecting or crossing slits;

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 27--27 in FIG. 27; and

FIG. 29 is cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 29--29 in FIG. 27.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

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, the dispensing valve of this invention is described in one, generally upright orientation. It will be understood, however, that the dispensing valve of this invention may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in orientations other than the position described.

One presently preferred, first embodiment of the dispensing valve of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 14 and is designated therein with reference number 30. The valve 30 is adapted to be mounted in a multi-piece housing 32 (FIG. 3). Together, the valve 30 and housing 32 function as, and define, a dispensing closure designated generally by the reference number 34 in FIGS. 1 and 3.

The dispensing closure 34, which is hereinafter sometimes referred to more simply as the "closure 34," is provided as a separately manufactured unit or subassembly for mounting to the top of a container (not shown). It will be appreciated, however, that in some applications it may be desirable for the dispensing closure 34 to be formed as a unitary part, or extension, of the container wherein the unitary part or extension defines a dispensing end structure that is a part of the container per se.

The container (not shown) typically has a conventional mouth which provides access to the container interior and product contained therein. The product may be, for example, a fluid or spreadable comestible product, such as peanut butter, jam, mayonnaise, etc. The product could also be any other fluent or spreadable material, including, but not limited to, powders, creams, lotions, slurries, pastes, etc. Such materials may be sold, for example, as a food product, a personal care product, an industrial or household product, or other composition (e.g., for internal or external use by humans or animals, or for use in activities involving medicine, manufacturing, commercial or household maintenance, construction, agriculture, etc.).

The container typically may have a neck or other suitable structure defining the container mouth. The neck may have (but need not have) a circular cross-sectional configuration, and the body of the container may have another cross-sectional configuration, such as an oval cross-sectional shape, for example. The container may, on the other hand, have a substantially uniform shape along its entire length or height without any neck portion of reduced size or different cross-section.

The container typically may be a squeezable container having a flexible wall or walls which can be grasped by the user and compressed to increase the internal pressure within the container so as to squeeze the product out of the container through the closure 34 when the closure 34 is open. Such a container wall typically has sufficient, inherent resiliency so that when the squeezing forces are removed, the container wall tends to return to its normal, unstressed shape, and tends to draw ambient atmosphere into the container through the closure to the extent that the closure is an open mode or in-venting mode (described in detail hereinafter). Such a squeezable container structure is preferred in many applications, but may not be necessary or preferred in other applications. Indeed, the container may be substantially rigid. A piston could be provided in such a rigid container to aid in dispensing a product, especially a relatively viscous product. On the other hand, a rigid container could be employed for inverted dispensing of the product under the influence of gravity acting on the mass of the discharging product and/or under the influence of a reduced ambient pressure at the exterior of the container (e.g., as created by sucking on the open closure 34).

As shown in FIG. 1, the closure multi-piece housing 32 comprises a body 36 and an insert retainer 38. The body 36 may have a skirt 40 (FIG. 3) with a conventional internal thread (not illustrated) for engaging a mating container thread (not shown) to secure the closure body 36 to the container (not shown).

The closure body 36 and container could also be releasably connected with a snap-fit bead and groove, or by other means. Alternatively, the closure body 36 may be permanently attached to the container by means of induction bonding, ultrasonic bonding, gluing, or the like, depending upon the materials employed for the container and closure body 36. Further, the closure body 36 could, in some applications, be formed as a unitary part, or extension, of the container.

The illustrated preferred, first form of the closure body 36 defines a radially inwardly extending, annular deck 42 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The interior of the body 36 may include special or conventional seal features (not illustrated) to provide a leak-tight seal between the closure body 36 and the container.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the body 36 includes a short spout-like formation 44 projecting upwardly from the body deck 42. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the spout-formation 44 defines an aperture or opening 46 which has a generally elongate, rectangular shape with rounded corners. The body deck opening 46 is adapted to receive an upper portion of the valve 30 when the valve 30 is mounted within the closure body 36, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The interior of the closure body spout formation 44 adjacent the opening 46 defines a generally angled clamping surface 48 (FIG. 4) around the periphery of the opening 46. The angled clamping surface 48 is adapted to engage a peripheral attachment portion, or flange, 50 of the valve 30 described in more detail hereinafter. The peripheral attachment portion 50 of the valve 30 is clamped against the closure body angled clamping surface 48 by the insert retainer 38 which, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, defines an angled clamping surface 52 for engaging the valve flange 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the insert retainer 38 has a generally disc-like portion 54, an upwardly extending protuberance 56 from which projects the angled clamping surface 52, and a pair of spaced-apart, generally parallel, upwardly projecting support walls 60. As can be seen in FIG. 4, each support wall 60 is adapted to project up inwardly inside the interior of the valve 30, and each support wall 60 is adapted to lie adjacent a portion of the long interior surface or wall of the valve 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the disc portion 54 of the insert retainer 38 is adapted to be received within the closure body 36 below the closure body deck 42. The insert retainer 38 may be held within the closure body 36 by suitable snap-fit engagement features (not illustrated) or by any other suitable permanent or releasable fixing means such as, for example, adhesive, ultrasonic bonding, a threaded connection, or the like. Typically, during assembly of the components of the closure 34, the valve 30 is initially disposed within the closure body spout formation 44 adjacent the clamping surface 48, and then the insert retainer 38 is inserted into the closure body 36 and fixed therein so as to clamp the valve 30 securely in place within the closure body 36. The assembly of the insert retainer 38 and closure body 36 together may be characterized as the closure housing 32. The two-piece closure housing 32, together with the installed valve 30, define the fully assembled, separate closure 34.

In the preferred, first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 14, the closure body 36 and insert retainer 38 are preferably molded from a suitable thermoplastic material such as polypropylene or the like. Other materials may be employed instead.

In other contemplated embodiments, the closure housing 32 need not be a multi-piece structure comprising the body 36 per se and retainer 38 per se. Further, the closure housing 32 need not be a structure that is completely separate from the container. Instead, the container per se could be made with a dispensing end structure that incorporates the insert retainer 38 as a unitary part of the container. Also, the closure body spout formation 44 could be initially provided as an upstanding, deformable, pre-form wall on the container distal end for being subsequently permanently deformed around the valve 30 after the valve 30 is positioned on the unitary container extension. This could be accomplished, for example, with an ultrasonic energy deformation process if the upstanding pre-form wall is molded as a unitary part of the container from a suitable thermoplastic material.

Alternatively, the spout formation 44 could be provided as a separate member which is subsequently attached by suitable releasable or permanent means to the upper end of the container over the valve flange 50 after the valve 30 has been appropriately mounted in position at the upper end of the container.

In any of the above-discussed alternatives, the container may have a bottom end (i.e., the end opposite the dispensing end in which the valve 30 is mounted), and that bottom end could be initially left open for accommodating the filling of the container with the product to be dispensed. After the container is filled with the product through the open bottom end of the container, the open bottom end of the container could be closed by suitable means, such as by a separate bottom end closure which could be attached to the container bottom end through a suitable threaded engagement, snap-fit engagement, adhesive engagement, thermal bonding engagement, etc. Alternatively, such an open bottom portion of the container could be squeezed closed with an appropriate heat and force applying process if the container bottom portion is made from a thermoplastic material or from other materials that would accommodate the use of such a process.

The valve 30 may be mounted via its peripheral attachment portion or flange 50 within the other components of the closure 34, or to some other dispensing structure, through which can be discharged a product from a supply of the product. The discharging product may be characterized as defining a flow direction from the valve into ambient atmosphere.

With reference to FIGS. 5 8, the valve 30 includes the peripheral attachment portion, which, in the preferred form of the invention, is the flange 50 that has a generally dovetail cross-sectional configuration for being clamped between mating angled surfaces of the closure housing 32 (i.e., clamped between the closure clamping surface 48 (FIG. 4) on the top and the insert retainer clamping surface 52 (FIG. 4) on the bottom). This fixes the position of the valve attachment portion or flange 50 of the valve 30 relative to the container on which the closure 34 is mounted.

The valve 30 includes a flexible, peripheral sleeve 70 (FIG. 7) extending outwardly (upwardly) from the peripheral attachment portion or flange 50. When viewed from the ambient environment on the exterior side of the valve (FIG. 6), and as identified with element reference numbers in FIG. 8, the sleeve 70 may be regarded as having a hollow, central elongate portion 72 (FIG. 8) and two shorter end portions 74 (FIG. 8) at opposite ends of the elongate portion 72. Together, the hollow, elongate portion 72 an the shorter end portions 74 define an interior volume within the sleeve 70. The central elongate portion 72 of the sleeve 70 may be further characterized including two, spaced-apart, elongate sidewalls 76 (FIGS. 5 and 7). The sleeve's two shorter end portions 74 each comprises an end wall 78 (FIG. 8) joining the sidewalls 76.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, each sidewall 76 has an upper region 80 and a lower region 82. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 8, each sleeve end wall 78 has an upper region 84 and a lower region 86. The lower region 82 of each sidewall 76 and the lower region 86 of each end wall 78 are joined to the peripheral attachment portion 50 so that the peripheral attachment portion 50 may be characterized as extending laterally outwardly from the lower regions of the sleeve sidewalls and end walls.

In the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 14, the sleeve sidewalls 76 and end walls 78 extend generally parallel to the flow direction (the direction through the valve) to a location outwardly of the peripheral attachment portion or flange 50.

The valve 30 includes a flexible, elongate head 90 as shown in FIG. 7, and the head 90 extends from the upper regions 80 of the sidewalls 76 and from the upper regions 84 of the end walls 78. The head 90 extends over the interior volume defined within the flexible peripheral sleeve 70. The head 90 is generally concave as viewed from the exterior of the valve 30 relative to the interior volume (see FIGS. 7 and 8). The valve head 90 has an interior surface 92 (FIG. 7) that interfaces with the interior volume and which, in the illustrated, preferred, embodiment, includes a central flat area 94 (FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 7, the valve head 90 has an exterior surface 96 which interfaces with the ambient environment. In another contemplated embodiment, the interior surface 92 need not have a flat area 94. The entire interior surface could be curved, and could be concentric or non-concentric relative to the exterior surface 96.

As shown in FIG. 5, the valve head 90 includes an elongate slit 100 defining two, opposed, elongate, movable, openable regions 101 which are normally closed and which open (as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11) to permit the discharge of product therethrough in response to a pressure differential across the head 90. Each opposed region 101 at the slit 100 has a transverse face through the thickness of the head 90 for sealing against the transverse face of the other opposed region 101.

It is to be realized that when the valve 30 is closed as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, there is no slot or space between the opposing regions of the valve head on either side of the slit 100. That is, when the valve head 90 is closed, the slit 100 does not define any opening or passage between the two, opposed, elongate, movable regions 101. Thus, the two regions 101 are in an abutting, sealing relationship when the valve 30 is in the closed condition.

In the preferred, first embodiment of the valve 30, the valve head 90 further includes two, spaced-apart, short slits 102. Each slit 102 is generally perpendicular to the elongate slit 100. Each slit 102 is located at an end of the elongate slit 100. Each slit 102 communicates with the elongate slit 100 so as to define opposed, door-like, elongate petals at the movable regions 101 wherein each petal may be characterized as comprising a movable region 101 per se, and wherein each such petal (movable region) 101 has a long edge (along the elongate slit 100) and two short edges (along the short slits 102)

In the preferred, first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 14, elongate slit 100 lies along an imaginary plane that (1) passes through the head 90, and (2) is perpendicular to the head inner surface flat area 94 (FIG. 7). The transverse face of each opposed region 101 lies along this imaginary plane (when the valve 30 is closed), and provides the sealing surfaces at the slit 100. Preferably, the valve head regions or petals 101 are thinner along the elongate slit 100 than at locations away from the elongate slit 100.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, each sleeve end wall 78 includes a straight section 77 between two curved sections 79, and each curved section 79 joins with one of the sidewalls 76. The sleeve end walls 78 may each also be characterized as a defining one of the sleeve's two short end portions 74 (FIG. 8).

Preferably, the length of each sidewall 76 is at least three times the width of the valve head 90 (wherein the length of each sidewall 76 is measured from one short slit 102 to the other short slit 102, and wherein the width of the valve head 90 is measured across the valve head 90 in FIG. 7 from the outermost surface of one sidewall 76 to the outermost surface of the other sidewall 76).

As viewed in the transverse cross section in FIG. 7, a major area of the valve exterior surface 96 lies on a circular arc. As viewed in the transverse cross section in FIG. 7, the two areas of the valve interior surface 92 beyond the flat area 94 each lie along a circular arc. The circular arc surfaces on the exterior and interior of the valve are concentric in the illustrated preferred embodiment.

The valve 30 is preferably molded from an elastomer, such as a synthetic thermosetting polymer, including silicone rubber, such as the silicone rubber sold by Dow Coming Corp. in the United States of America under the trade designation DC 99-595HC. However, the valve 30 can 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.

Owing to the unique configuration of the valve 30, the valve 30 normally remains in the closed configuration shown in FIGS. 3 8 unless it is subjected to opening forces. The valve 30 can be moved to an open configuration (FIGS. 9 and 11) by applying a sufficiently large pressure differential across the valve head 90 when the valve 30 is in the closed configuration so that the pressure acting on the exterior of the valve head 90 is lower than the pressure acting on the interior of the valve head 90. Such a pressure differential forces the valve petals 101 upwardly to the open position. The opening pressure differential can be achieved by pressurizing the interior of the container to which the closure 34 is mounted. Typically, the container would have a flexible wall which can be squeezed inwardly by the user to increase the pressure within the container. This can be done while holding the container (with the closure 34 mounted thereon) in an inverted orientation so that the fluent material or other product within the container is squeezed and pressurized against the closed valve 30. As the pressure moves the valve petals 101 to the open positions illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11, the material or product flows through the open slit 100 and past the open valve petals 101.

The valve 30 could also be opened by a user sucking on the valve with sufficient force to lower the pressure on the valve head exterior surface below the internal pressure acting against the valve head interior surface.

The valve 30 opens to define a wide, or elongate, dispensing passage or orifice which, when used to dispense a viscous fluent product, can discharge the product in a wide or ribbon-like configuration. The ribbon-like discharge of product can be spread with the closure on a substrate or other target area. This closure is especially suitable for dispensing and spreading mayonnaise or peanut butter on bread, as well as for dispensing and spreading non-comestible materials.

If the container on which the closed valve 30 is mounted inadvertently tips over, the product does not flow out of the valve because the valve remains closed. Preferably, the valve 30 is designed to withstand the weight of the fluid on the inside of the valve when the container is completely inverted. Preferably, the valve 30 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 30 and/or squeezing the container if the container is not a rigid container.

With the preferred form of the valve 30A, if the differential pressure across the valve 30 decreases sufficiently, then the inherent resiliency of the valve will cause it to close. The valve 30 will then assume the closed position illustrated in FIGS. 1 9. However, it is contemplated that the valve 30 could also be designed for a "once-open, stay-open" operation by using appropriate dimensions for the valve head thickness and slit lengths.

In one preferred embodiment, the petals 101 of the valve 30 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 exceeds--by a predetermined amount--the local ambient pressure on the valve head exterior surface. The product can then be dispensed through the open valve until the pressure differential drops below a predetermined amount, and the petals 101 close completely. If the preferred form of the valve 30 has also been designed to be flexible enough to accommodate in-venting of ambient atmosphere as described in detail below, then the closing petals 101 can continue moving inwardly (FIGS. 13 and 14) to allow the valve to open inwardly as the pressure differential gradient direction reverses and the pressure on the valve head exterior surface exceeds the pressure on the valve head interior surface by a predetermined amount.

For some dispensing applications, it may be desirable for the valve 30 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). The illustrated, preferred embodiment of the valve 30 has this in-venting capability. Such an in-venting capability can be provided by selecting an appropriate material for the valve construction, and by selecting an appropriate sleeve wall thickness, sleeve shape, head thickness, and head shape for the particular valve material and overall valve size. The degree of flexibility and resilience of the valve, and in particular, of the petals 101, can be designed or established so that the petals 101 will deflect inwardly when subjected to a sufficient pressure differential that acts across the head 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 on which the valve 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 will be large enough to deflect the valve petals 101 inwardly to permit in-venting with the ambient atmosphere (FIGS. 13 and 14). 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.

With some designs of the valve of this invention, it may be desirable in some dispensing applications to have the valve peripheral sleeve 70 be very flexible so as to assist in the opening of the petals 101 at a relatively low pressure differential. A relatively flexible sleeve 70 can permit the petals 101 to more readily bend at or near the top of the sleeve 70, and more readily open outwardly for easy dispensing.

However, such a highly flexible sleeve 70 may be too flexible to provide sufficient stability to permit proper in-venting deflection of the petals 101. Depending on the type of valve material, very thin and long sidewalls (e.g., sidewalls 76 in FIGS. 5 8) tend to be very flexible and may tend to move, or collapse, inwardly toward each other as the valve begins to assume the in-venting configuration. If the very flexible sidewalls 76 bend or sag toward each other, then the valve head petals 101 may be forced together along the slit 100 with enough force to inhibit the inward deflection of the petals 101. In such a situation, the valve petals 101 may not then open inwardly, or may not open inwardly enough to provide the desired amount or rate of in-venting.

In order to ensure proper in-venting through a highly flexible valve 30, a unique internal support system has been devised. One preferred embodiment of the support system includes the retainer insert support walls 60 (FIGS. 1, 4, 12, and 13) inside the valve 30. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the two support wall