Coating implements with material supply – Including tool with blade-like – pad-like – or apertured... – With flow-regulator
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-05
2001-12-25
Eloshway, Charles R. (Department: 2751)
Coating implements with material supply
Including tool with blade-like, pad-like, or apertured...
With flow-regulator
C401S270000, C401S186000, C222S212000, C222S494000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332730
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to containers for dispensing pastes, gels, creams and other products hereinafter referred to as liquids.
BACKGROUND
There are a variety of containers available for enabling controlled dispensing of the liquid content thereof through an outlet, the outlet having associated with it a control valve in the form of a flexible diaphragm carrying a nose or stud movable on deflection of the diaphragm between a position closing the outlet to prevent dispensing of the liquid and an open position permitting liquid to be dispensed through the outlet.
One such arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,494 in which the diaphragm is attached to a hollow cylindrical support element which, in turn, is located in a rigid insert positioned within the associated container and incorporating cylindrical passageways for the flow therethrough of liquid from the container to a dispensing chamber from which it can be discharged in accordance with deflection of the diaphragm resultant from pressurisation of the liquid within the container.
The assembly described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,494 suffers from a number of disadvantages not the least of which is that it comprises a number of components the constructions of which are relatively complex, and which are difficult to assemble.
In particular, the process of assembly is considerably complicated by the fact that the rigid insert is to be positioned within the upper regions of the container and must be inserted therein from the bottom of the container, only after which can the container be closed. Thus the described container is clearly not suited to high volume production.
Additionally, the construction of the insert is such that flow of liquid therethrough from the body of the container to the aforementioned dispensing chamber is restricted by virtue of the provision of cylindrical passageways the total cross-sectional area of which is considerably less than that of the container and/or the dispensing chamber.
It has been further proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,999 to provide an assembly which includes a compound flexible diaphragm part of which constitutes a domed control valve for opening and closing an associated outlet on deformation of the dome by pressurised liquid from the container. However, the assembly is again of relatively complex construction and is not suited to mass production.
Additionally, flow from the body of the container towards the outlet is by way of a single central passageway which imposes considerable restriction upon the rate of flow, and the nature, in particular the viscosity, of liquids that can be dispensed by the container, while the construction of the assembly is such that the outlet must be offset from the central passageway, therefore imposing restrictions on the position of the outlet from the assembly and eliminating the possibility of a centrally-located outlet which is often desirable.
DE-A1-4329808 discloses a container or tube in which liquid to be dispensed is supplied to a dispensing chamber through a pair of diametrically opposed flow openings. These openings comprise narrow cylindrical passageways the total cross-sectional area of which is again considerably less than that of the container and/or the dispensing chamber, and whereby liquid flow to the dispensing chamber is significantly restricted.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,695,119 discloses a collapsible tube which delivers liquid to a chamber in a cap for the tube by way of a plurality of narrow bores defined in an axially movable plug within the tube, dispensing of the liquid through an outlet in the cap being under the control of a valve member seating on the movable plug, the valve member defining therein an internal volume which is vented to atmosphere through an angled bore formed in the plug and aligned with, at one end, an opening in the lower wall of the valve member and, at the other end, an opening in the wall of the cap.
The overall assembly as disclosed is of complex construction, is difficult to assembly and provides for restricted flow of liquid from the tube to the chamber within the cap.
Reference is also made to U.S. Pat. No. 2,607,515 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,643,794 both of which disclose containers the constructions of which are such that manufacture and assembly thereof both pose difficulties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It would be desirable to be able to provide a container for dispensing liquid which is of simpler construction and which lends itself to automated assembly whereby high volume production can be achieved, and which enables improved flow characteristics to be achieved and a wider range of liquids to be handled compared with the known arrangements.
According to the present invention there is provided a container comprising a body member for containing liquid and including an outlet portion at one end thereof through which said liquid flows on pressurization of the interior of the body member, a cap portion located on the body member and having at least one outlet for dispensing therethrough liquid flowing from the outlet portion of the body member, and a control assembly located within the cap portion for controlling the dispensing of liquid flowing from the body member to the or each outlet from the cap portion, the control assembly comprising, for the or each outlet, a control valve and a seating for said control valve, the control valve being a one-piece plastic moulding and including a diaphragm portion, and a nose portion extending from said diaphragm portion, and the seating comprising an outer annular sleeve forming an extension of the outlet portion of the body member within the cap portion, and, within said sleeve, a support chamber for the valve, said valve having a rest position with the nose portion thereof engaging in, to seal, the associated outlet in the cap portion, the arrangement being such that, on pressurization of the interior of the container, liquid from the body member flows along the flow path through the seating between the outer annular sleeve thereof and the valve support chamber to engage with and distort the diaphragm portion of the valve whereby the nose portion of the valve is released from the outlet and liquid is dispensed therethrough, and, on subsequent release of pressure from the interior of the body member, the control valve returns to its rest position with the nose portion thereof seating in, to seal, the outlet, characterized in that the seating is a one-piece plastic moulding with the support chamber thereof comprising sidewalls defining an open top to the support chamber, the valve seating on the open top of, in sealing engagement with, the support chamber to define an internal volume within said chamber below the valve, the sidewalls of the support chamber being interconnected with the outer annular sleeve by means of a plurality of thin, circumferentially spaced webs such that a substantial proportion of the volume between the sleeve and the support chamber is available for liquid to flow therethrough from the body member to the or each outlet, the bore or bores extending from the support chamber through the sidewalls thereof, through one or more of the webs and through the annular sleeve to vent the internal volume within the support chamber to atmosphere.
It will be appreciated that, with such an arrangement, the or each control valve and the seating therefor are each of unitary construction and are each moulded from a suitable plastics material whereby the number of component parts to the container is minimised and assembly is considerably easier than heretofore.
The venting of the valve support chamber to atmosphere, as well as preventing the build-up of pressure within the closed volume below the valve during assembly that could otherwise occur and preventing such pressure build-up in, for example, high temperature environments, and which could adversely affect movement of the valve between its open and closed positions, supplements the natural resiliency of the control valve to ensure a rapid and positive re
Eloshway Charles R.
Larson & Taylor PLC
Veresk Biosystems Limited
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