Dispensing – Outlet element operated by pressure of contents – Spring form – resilient or compressible flow controller or...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-22
2001-05-01
Kaufman, Joseph A. (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Outlet element operated by pressure of contents
Spring form, resilient or compressible flow controller or...
C137S493000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223956
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention
The invention relates to a self-closing valve assembly for installation in a dispensing opening of a container, a seal cap or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A valve assembly of the present type, integrated into a seal cap, is known from DE-A-195 10 007. Therein, a membrane-like closure element of flexible material having a central, permanently open passage-opening is clamped between parts of the seal cap adapted to be screwed onto the neck of a container. In the inoperative state, the closure element is concavely curved and its outer face rests on a sealing element which is held stationary in the cap part in order to seal the passage-opening. The closure element can be lifted off the sealing element by an increased pressure exerted on the closure element applied from the side thereof facing the sealing element so that a medium can flow out along the passage-opening from a container, upon whose neck the seal cap can be screwed. As soon as the pressure force on the closure element is removed, the latter readopts its inoperative position due to the elasticity of the flexible material and thereby seals the passage-opening. On the other hand, the closure element is clamped in the cap part such that the tensional effect enables the entry of air, when a low pressure prevails in the interior of the container, in order to effect pressure balance. The pressure balancing function is thus dependent on how the closure element is clamped in the cap part and may be adversely affected by the elasticity of the closure element and the clamping forces effective thereon, so that the pressure balancing function cannot always be guaranteed. Moreover, the channels, along which the ventilating air can flow for producing the pressure balancing effect, can readily be blocked in use and the pressure balancing function may thereby be lost. It is also disadvantageous that the sealing of the passage-opening in the closure element is effected by means of a rigid, flat sealing element so that the sealing function can easily be adversely affected by deposits or dirt on the sealing surface.
An object of the invention is to provide a self-closing valve assembly of a type referred to above having improved sealing and pressure balancing functions. Another object of the invention is to provide a self-closing valve assembly of a type referred to above which can be more conveniently manufactured than prior self-closing valve assemblies. Still another object of the invention is to provide a self-closing valve assembly of a type referred to above which readily can be miniaturized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objects of the inevntion will become apparent hereinafter and are achieved by a self-closing valve assembly for installation in a dispensing opening of a container, a seal cap or the like, which includes a first closure element having a wall portion of resilient material incorporating a passage-opening, said wall portion being resiliently deformable from a closed position into an open position under the influence of a first differential pressure force resulting from pressures acting on its opposite surfaces, and a second closure element for sealing the passage-opening when the first closure element is in its closed position. The second closure element can be brought out of its sealing relationship with the passage-opening of the first closure element under the influence of a second differential pressure force resulting from pressures acting on its opposite surfaces, said second differential pressure force being directed oppositely to said first differential pressure force. Accordingly, instead of a rigid second closure element, the valve assembly according to the invention includes a closure element which can yield resiliently, in the same manner as the first closure element, under the effect of an external differential pressure force acting thereon, and can thereby be brought off its sealing relationship with the passage-opening in the first closure element in order to allow ventilating air to flow into the interior of the container from the environment for the purposes of balancing the pressure prevailing in the container. Both the first and the second closure elements may comprise membrane-like domed wall portions and may be formed of suitable plastic materials having resilient properties e.g. an elastomeric material. Mounting of the closure elements so as to form a self-closing valve assembly does not cause any problems since the pressure balancing function is not adversely affected by a clamping force for mounting the closure elements. Furthermore, the valve assembly in accordance with the invention can easily be miniaturised, and, instead of being inserted into seal caps adapted to be screwed onto the neck of a container, it could also be inserted directly into a dispensing opening of a container.
For a more complete understanding of the invention and the objects thereof, reference should be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated and described.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3360169 (1967-12-01), Susuki et al.
patent: 4747518 (1988-05-01), Laauwe
patent: 4785978 (1988-11-01), Kano et al.
patent: 5115950 (1992-05-01), Rohr
patent: 195 10 007 (1995-10-01), None
patent: 196 13 130 (1997-03-01), None
patent: 939990 (1997-02-01), None
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Cartagena Melvin A.
Georg Menshen GmbH & Co. KG
Kaufman Joseph A.
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