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US 2010/0133301 A1Published application
Valve and dispenser comprising same
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsJohn Geoffrey Chan, Lawrence Edward O'brien
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve having a sleeve comprising a sleeve wall including an inner surface; and a plug positioned within the sleeve, the plug comprising at least one portion that is elastically deformable. The plug forms a blind hole extending into the plug from one end thereof to define a plug side wall, and a flow passage that extends through the plug side wall that is either open or openable. The plug defines a valve closed position in an unstressed state, yet is capable of elastically deforming to define a flow channel between the plug and the sleeve in a valve open position. A dispenser containing such a valve is also provided.
Claims20
1) A valve, comprising:
- (a) a sleeve comprising a sleeve wall including an inner surface;
- and
- (b) a plug positioned within the sleeve, the plug comprising at least one portion that is elastically deformable, a blind hole extending into the plug from one end thereof to define a plug side wall, and a flow passage that extends through the plug side wall that is either open or openable,
- wherein the plug side wall has an outer section that is sealed against the inner surface of the sleeve wall when the plug is an unstressed state to define a valve closed position, and wherein the plug is capable of elastically deforming in the presence of a sufficient normal stress an that the sealed outer section of the plug side wall releases from the inner surface of the sleeve wall to define a flow channel between the plug and the sleeve that is in fluid communication with the plug flow passage and blind hole to define a valve open position.
1 more element
11) A valve, comprising:
- (a) a plug comprising a plug first end, a plug second end, a blind hole created within the plug that extends from the plug first end to a blind hole bottom and that is spaced apart form the plug second end, a plug side wall extending radially outwardly from the blind hole to an outer surface of the plug, and a flow passage that extends through the plug side wall that is either open or openable;
- and
- (b) a tube that is partially disposed within the blind hole, the tube comprising an internal channel, at least one open end that is in fluid communication with the internal channel, a tube sidewall extending radially outwardly from the internal channel to an outer surface of the tube, and a tube hole extending through the tube sidewall,
- wherein the plug has at least one section that is elastically deformable so that the outer diameter of the plug in the at least one section decreases when the plug is elastically deformed in the presence of a normal force that is applied to the plug via the tube.
1 more element
18) A valve, comprising:
- (a) a bushing comprising a first end and an opposing second end;
- (b) a tube slidably disposed within at least the first end of the bushing, the tube comprising an internal channel, an open end in fluid communication with the internal channel, a sidewall extending radially outwardly from the internal channel to an exterior surface of the tube, and a tube hole extending through the sidewall that is in fluid communication with the internal channel and open end;
- and
- (c) an elastically deformable cap covering the bushing second end, the cap comprising an flow passage that is either open or openable,
- wherein the cap flow passage is out of alignment with the tube hole when the elastically deformable cap is in an unstressed state but is capable of aligning with the tube hole when the cap is stressed sufficiently to elastically deform the cap, and
- wherein the tube hole is optionally positioned in a portion of the tube that is disposed within the bushing when the elastically deformable cap is in an unstressed state.
3 more elements
20) A dispenser, comprising:
- (a) a container comprising a container opening and a container body;
- (b) an annular sealing member that is defined by an inner wall of the container opening, by a separate annular body disposed within the container opening, or a combination thereof;
- (c) a plug positioned within the annular sealing member, the plug comprising at least one portion that is elastically deformable, a blind hole extending into the plug from one end thereof to define a plug side wall, and a flow passage that extends through the plug side wall that is either open or openable;
- and
- (d) a tube partially disposed within the plug blind hole, the tube comprising an internal channel, at least one open end that is in fluid communication with the internal channel, a tube sidewall extending radially outwardly from the internal channel to an outer surface of the tube, and a tube hole extending through the tube sidewall,
- wherein the plug is capable of elastically deforming with displacement of the tube to convert the valve form a normally closed position to an open position.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.