Dispensing – Resilient wall – With flow controllers or closures
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-22
2001-09-25
Derakshani, Philippe (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Resilient wall
With flow controllers or closures
C222S490000, C222S494000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293437
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
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 valve for dispensing a product from a container. The valve is especially suitable for use in 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 dispensing valve for discharging one or more streams 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, self-sealing, 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. When the container is squeezed and the interior is subjected to a sufficient increased pressure so that there is a predetermined pressure differential across the valve, the valve opens. In the preferred embodiment, the valve stays open, at least until the container pressure drops below a predetermined value. In accordance with the preferred embodiments disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,614, the valve can be designed to snap closed if the pressure differential across the open valve drops below a predetermined amount. The valve can also be designed to open inwardly to vent air into the container when the pressure within the container is less than the ambient external pressure, and this accommodates the return of the resilient container wall from an inwardly squeezed condition to the normal, unstressed condition.
It would be desirable to provide an improved valve for a dispensing system that would beneficially allow the user to easily locate the valved discharge end of the inverted container over a receiving receptacle or other target area while minimizing product discharge messiness.
Such an improved valve 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 valve could accommodate use with bottles, containers, or packages that have a variety of shapes and that are constructed from a variety of materials.
Further, it would be desirable if such an improved valve could accommodate efficient, high-quality, large-volume manufacturing techniques with a reduced product reject rate to produce a valve with consistent operating characteristics.
The present invention provides an improved dispensing valve which can accommodate designs having the above-discussed benefits and features.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a valve for dispensing a product from a container, and the valve opens once the container interior pressure increases to establish a predetermined pressure differential across the valve. The valve can accommodate discharge of liquids, creams, or particulate matter, including powders.
The valve is adapted for use in dispensing a product from a container having an opening. The valve may be formed as a unitary part of an end of such a container or may be mounted in a separate assembly that is permanently or releasably attached to the container.
The preferred form of the valve is adapted for being sealingly disposed with respect to, and dispensing the product from, the discharge opening of the container. The valve includes a marginal portion adapted to be sealingly engaged when the valve is sealingly disposed with respect to the container discharge opening. The valve also includes a head portion that (1) is laterally inwardly of the marginal portion, (2) has an exterior side for interfacing with ambient environment, and (3) has an interior side for interfacing with the product. A portion of the valve head interior side defines an outer peripheral surface or marginal surface of the valve head corresponding to the thickness at the periphery of the valve head.
The head portion also includes a normally closed orifice which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to a pressure differential across the valve. In the preferred embodiment, the orifice is defined by a plurality of slits that extend (1) through the head portion between the exterior side and the interior side, and (2) laterally from a common origin whereby flaps are defined by the slits with each slit terminating in an outer end. The orifice opens by outward displacement of the flaps when the pressure in the interior of the container exceeds the pressure on the exterior of the valve by a predetermined amount.
According to a preferred embodiment, the head portion of the closed valve may also be characterized as having a generally concave shape when viewed from outside the container. The head portion interior side preferably has a planar central area and a generally curved, radially outer portion which tapers toward the planar central area such that the exterior and interior sides converge toward the planar central area to provide a tapered construction with reduced thickness.
In a preferred embodiment, the valve also has a resilient, flexible, connector sleeve. The connector sleeve has a generally inverted, U-shaped cross-section defining (1) a first leg that is connected with the marginal portion of the valve and (2) a second leg connected with the head portion of the valve. The connector sleeve locates the head portion so that it is spaced laterally inwardly of the first leg to facilitate movement of the head portion when dispensing product from a container. The connector sleeve also locates the head portion so that a horizontal plane passing through the head portion extends generally through or outwardly of the marginal portion. The first and second legs are preferably of substantially uniform thickness, with the first leg being thicker than the second leg. The second leg is preferably shorter than the first leg.
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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p
Gross Richard A.
Socier Timothy R.
Bui Thach H
Derakshani Philippe
Rockey Milnamow & Katz Ltd.
Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
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