Dispensing – With plural openings or discharge guides – Having flow controllers or closures
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-12
2001-01-23
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With plural openings or discharge guides
Having flow controllers or closures
C222S494000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176399
ABSTRACT:
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
The present invention relates to a system for dispensing a product from a container. The system is especially suitable for use in, or as a dispensing closure for, a flexible container which is squeezable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIOR ART
There are a wide variety of packages which include (1) a container, (2) a dispensing system extending as a unitary part of, or attachment to, the container, and (3) a product contained within the container. One type of such a package employs a single dispensing valve for discharging a single stream of product (which may be a liquid, cream, or particulate product). See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,614 assigned to AptarGroup, Inc. The package includes a flexible, resilient, slit-type valve at one end of a generally flexible bottle or container. The valve is normally closed and can withstand the weight of the product when the container is completely inverted, so that the product will not leak out unless the container is squeezed.
In some applications, it may be desirable to dispense the product in multiple streams rather than a single stream. For example, it may be desirable to spray liquid from the dispensing system in a spray pattern. It may be desirable to provide a spray pattern that is fan-shaped or conical. It may also be desirable to provide a spray pattern that is substantially straight (i.e., defining a spray confined within a substantially cylindrical envelope). It may also be desirable to provide a dispensing pattern of separate streams that substantially converge to a small target area beyond the package.
It would be beneficial if an improved dispensing system could be provided to accommodate such multiple stream dispensing of a product through a structure that could be relatively readily manufactured and installed in the package.
Such an improved dispensing system should also facilitate ease of dispensing the product when the interior of the container is pressurized (e.g., when the container is squeezed or when the container internal pressure is increased by other means).
It would also be advantageous if such an improved system could accommodate bottles, containers, or packages or have a variety of shapes and that are constructed from a variety of materials.
Further, it would be desirable if such an improved system could accommodate efficient, high-quality, large-volume manufacturing techniques with a reduced product reject rate to produce a system with consistent operating characteristics.
The present invention provides an improved valved dispensing system which can accommodate designs having the above-discussed benefits and features.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a system for dispensing a product from a container to provide multiple discharge streams. The system can accommodate discharge of liquids, creams, or particulate matter, including powders.
The dispensing system is adapted for use in dispensing a product from a container having an opening. The dispensing system may be formed as a unitary part of an end of such a container or may be a separate assembly that is permanently or releasably attached to the container.
The dispensing system includes a unitary, resiliently flexible, molded valve array structure for being sealingly disposed on the container over the container opening. The valve array structure includes an impervious membrane. The valve array structure also includes a plurality of resiliently flexible, slit valves molded unitary with the membrane. Each valve has a normally closed dispensing orifice which opens when the pressure in the interior of the container exceeds the pressure on the exterior of the valve by a predetermined amount. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane material is a molded, thermosetting elastomer, and the orifice is defined by two mutually perpendicular slits in the membrane material.
In one presently contemplated embodiment, the valve array structure includes three valves arranged equidistantly from one another. The valve array structure is releasably attached to the container with an exterior housing which is threadably engaged or snap-fit engaged with a container around the container opening.
The present invention operates to simultaneously dispense two or more streams of product from the container. The dispensing system of the present invention can be designed so that the streams diverge, converge, or remain substantially parallel.
If desired, a hinged or removable cap or lid can be provided over the dispensing valves. Further, a liner, removable label, or other such structure may be initially provided over the valves to prevent leakage from the package if the package is subjected to squeezing forces during shipping and handling.
The dispensing system can employ valves which are self-sealing and are biased to close when the pressure differential across the open valve drops below a predetermined amount. Alternatively, the dispensing system can employ a valve which, once opened, remains opened even if the pressure differential across the valve drops to zero. Further, the dispensing structure of the present invention can accommodate different types of valves, as well as different sizes of valves, within one valve array structure.
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 drawings.
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Gross Richard A.
Schantz Daniel G.
Socier Timothy R.
AptarGroup, Inc
Cartagena Melvin A.
Rockey Milnamow & Katz Ltd.
Shaver Kevin
LandOfFree
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