Dispensing – Resilient wall – With flow controllers or closures
Patent
1996-03-21
1999-01-12
Bomberg, Kenneth
Dispensing
Resilient wall
With flow controllers or closures
222494, B65D 3700
Patent
active
058575952
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a self-closing apparatus which will allow a flowable substance, such as flowable foodstuffs of different kinds, to flow from a container in which they are contained, wherein the apparatus includes a flexible diaphragm having an outlet aperture, and a stud or pin which is fixedly mounted in relation to the diaphragm and located inwardly thereof, wherein the stud so coacts with the outlet aperture that when the diaphragm occupies a normal position the outlet aperture will rest resiliently against the stud and therewith seal the container, and wherein when a pressure difference is applied across the diaphragm to discharge the content of the container, the diaphragm is distanced from the stud and therewith expose the outfeed aperture.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Many different solutions concerning self-closing devices for discharging flowable substances from containers of different kinds are known to the art, wherein a typical device as described above will include a resilient diaphragm which seals the outfeed aperture of the device.
One such construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,474, which teaches a discharge arrangement that can be readily manufactured and used. However, this known arrangement is encumbered with certain drawbacks, primarily with regard to the manufacture of the apparatus. The main difficulty in manufacture resides in injection-molding the closure diaphragm included in the arrangement, since it has been found difficult to obtain a diaphragm of uniform thickness. Uniform diaphragm thickness is important in order for the diaphragm to move correctly in relation to the stud coacting therewith, such that the discharge aperture will be opened and closed reliably when the apparatus is active.
Another construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,300.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT
An object of the present invention is to avoid the aforesaid drawbacks associated with self-closing closure apparatus for containers and other vessels.
In accordance with the inventive concept, this object is achieved by providing the diaphragm with at least two deformation zones which are located at different distances from the diaphragm outfeed aperture, wherein these deformation zones extend around the outlet aperture and are disposed as concentric circles having a center in the outlet aperture and have the form of folds which include weakenings in the diaphragm thickness, thereby enabling the remainder of the diaphragm to have an uneven thickness without detrimentally affecting the mutual coaction between stud and diaphragm as the closure apparatus opens and closes. These deformation zones enable movement of the diaphragm to be controlled so that its outfeed aperture will always move symmetrically and uniformly in relation to the stud coacting with the diaphragm.
By designing the diaphragm in this way, there is obtained a self-closing closure arrangement which is easy to manufacture in view of the fact that the thickness of the diaphragm is no longer a critical manufacturing parameter, either with regard to its thickness or with regard to a uniform thickness across the diaphragm. An inventive closure arrangement can also be produced cheaply.
Furthermore, there is obtained a self-closing closure apparatus which is both reliable in operation and has a long useful life span.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
FIG. 1 is an axial section view of an inventive self-closing closure arrangement mounted on a container, and shows the apparatus from one side with the diaphragm in its rest position, i.e., with the apparatus closed;
FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of a portion of the closure arrangement of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 illustrates the closure apparatus of FIG. 1 in an initial opening stage;
FIG. 3 illustrates the closure apparatus of FIG. 1 when fully opened;
FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view of an inventive closure apparatus combined with a metering or disp
REFERENCES:
patent: 4141474 (1979-02-01), Nilson
patent: 4699300 (1987-10-01), Blake
LandOfFree
Self-closing apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Self-closing apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Self-closing apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1506802