Axially actuated valve for dispensing pressurized product

In a pressurized dispensing container having an axially actuated valve assembly having a closed state and a range of dispensing states, the valve assembly including a valve member having a stem with at least one dispensing opening and a button at the lower end of the stem and also having a resilient annular sealing grommet around the stem, the improvement comprising:

• the grommet having an annular interior surface and a lower surface, said grommet surfaces having a substantially orthogonal relationship to assure flush engagement between the grommet and the valve stem down to the button upper surface and along the button upper surface when the valve is in its closed state,
• said grommet having a recess in its lower surface so that the button fits in the recess when the valve assembly is in its closed state,
• an annular fillet zone having a relatively small radius of curvature at the juncture between the upper surface of the button and the outer surface of the stem,
• said annular grommet having an annular boot at its upper portion and said stem having an outwardly extending ledge positioned to engage said boot when in the dispensing state, there being a gap between said boot and said ledge when said valve is in its closed state,
• longitudinal slots in said boot to reduce the resistance of said boot to movement of said valve from its closed state to a dispensing state,
• said valve stem having a diameter sufficiently small so that when said nozzle bottoms out on the valve cup and is further tightened, the tightening force will overcome the friction between valve stem and grommet causing the valve stem to rotate with the nozzle and avoid locking together of valve stem and nozzle due to cross-threading.