Valve For Use In A Container Which Employs Pressure To Dispense Product

A vertically movable valve for use with a pressurized product dispensing container wherein the valve is movable between an upper closed state and a depressed dispensing state, the valve having a valve stem with an axis and a button at its base, at least one dispensing opening in the lower zone of the valve stem and a resilient annular sealing grommet around the stem, the grommet having a surface that engages the button in the closed state, comprising:

• an annular boot portion at the upper end of the grommet, said boot having an annular foot at the upper end of said boot and an annular leg portion extending downwardly from said boot,
• a shoulder on said valve stem,
• said foot having an upper surface engaging said shoulder to provide a restoring force when said valve is depressed,
• said foot providing an inwardly extending radial flange,
• an annular recess on said stem, said recess adjacent to and below said shoulder,
• said foot and said stem recess engaging to provide insertion of said flange into said recess,
• said stem recess having an opening width greater than the thickness of said boot flange,
• the inner diameter of said boot below said foot flange has an interference fit relative to the outer diameter of said stem below said recess to assure full insertion of said flange into said recess, and
• said leg portion of said boot having a concave curved inner surface and a convex curved outer surface, said concave curved inner surface extending downward further than said convex outer surface.

A vertically movable valve for use with a pressurized product dispensing container wherein the valve is movable between an upper closed state and a depressed dispensing state, the valve having a valve stem with an axis and a button at its base, at least one dispensing opening in the lower zone of the valve stem and a resilient annular sealing grommet around the stem comprising:

• a lower zone of the sealing grommet having an interference fit relationship with the valve stem at the dispensing opening,
• a recess in the base of the grommet to accept the button of the stem, said recess being deep enough so that said button is within said recess when the valve is in its fully open state, said recess having an upper surface that engages the button in the closed state,
• at least one recess in the edge of said button to provide product passageway for product when the valve is open, and
• the upper surface of the button and the upper surface of said grommet recess having a radial tapered engagement providing for first contact at a radial inner zone and a final contact at a radial outer zone,
• the vertical distance between said stem shoulder and said stem button being less than the vertical distance between said upper surface of said grommet foot and said upper surface of said grommet base recess.

A vertically movable valve for use with a pressurized product dispensing container wherein the valve is movable between an upper closed state and a depressed dispensing state, the valve having a valve stem with an axis and a button at its base, at least one dispensing opening in the lower zone of the valve stem and a resilient annular sealing grommet around the stem comprising:

• an annular boot portion at the upper end of the grommet, said boot having an annular foot at the upper end of said boot and an annular leg portion extending downwardly from said boot,
• a shoulder on said valve stem,
• said foot having an upper surface engaging said shoulder to provide a restoring force when said valve is depressed,
• said foot providing an inwardly extending radial flange,
• an annular recess on said stem, said recess adjacent to and below said shoulder,
• said foot and said stem recess engaging to provide insertion of said flange into said recess,
• said stem recess having an opening width greater than the thickness of said boot flange,
• the inner diameter of said boot below said foot flange has an interference fit relative to the outer diameter of said stem below said recess to assure full insertion of said flange into said recess,
• said leg portion of said boot having a concave curved inner surface and a convex curved outer surface, said concave curved inner surface extending downward further than said convex outer surface,
• a lower zone of the sealing grommet having an interference fit relationship with the valve stem at the dispensing opening,
• a recess in the base of the grommet to accept the button of the stem, said recess being deep enough so that said button is within said recess when the valve is in its fully open state, said recess having a downwardly facing upper surface, at least one recess in the edge of said button to provide product passageway for product when the valve is open,
• the vertical distance between said stem shoulder and said stem button being less than the vertical distance between said upper surface of said grommet foot and said surface of said grommet base recess
• the upper surface of said grommet recess having a slight radial taper to provide a shallow pyramid surface to engage the button in the closed state of the valve.