Container and Valve Assembly for Storing and Dispensing Substances, and Related Method
AssigneeMedinstill Development LLC
InventorDaniel Py
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and method for aseptically storing and dispensing a liquid. The device has container forming a variable-volume storage chamber, and a one-way valve coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber and having an elastic valve member forming a normally closed valve opening. The valve member is movable between a normally closed position, and an open position with at least a segment of the elastic valve member spaced radially away from the closed position to allow the passage of fluid from the storage chamber through the valve opening. The liquid is maintained hermetically sealed in the storage chamber with respect to ambient atmosphere throughout dispensing multiple portions of the liquid from the storage chamber through the one-way valve.
Claims25
A valve assembly that is connectable to a tube for dispensing a substance therefrom, the tube including a squeezable tubular body defining therein a tubular chamber for receiving and dispensing the substance therefrom, and a portion located at one end of the tubular body and connectable to the valve assembly, wherein the tubular body defines a first axially extending passageway forming an unobstructed axially extending flow path therethrough, the valve assembly comprising:
- (a) a valve body connectable to the tube and including:
- a body base defining a second axially extending passageway connectable in fluid communication with the first axially extending passageway and defining an unobstructed axially extending flow path therebetween;
- an axially extending valve seat defining a diameter less than a diameter of the body base;
- a first substantially tapered portion extending between the body base and the valve seat;
- and
- at least one flow aperture axially extending through the substantially tapered portion adjacent to the valve seat;
- and
- (b) a valve cover formed of an elastic material defining a predetermined modulus of elasticity, and including:
- a cover base mounted on the body base and fixedly secured against axial movement relative thereto, wherein the cover base defines a diameter less than a diameter of the body base to thereby form an interference fit therebetween;
- a valve portion overlying the valve seat, wherein the valve portion defines a predetermined radial thickness and a diameter less than a diameter of the valve seat to thereby form an interference fit therebetween, the valve portion and valve seat defining a normally closed, axially extending valve opening therebetween, and the valve portion is movable radially between a normally closed position with the valve portion engaging the valve seat and an open position with a segment of the valve portion spaced radially away from the valve seat to allow the passage of substance at a predetermined valve opening pressure therebetween;
- and
- a second substantially tapered portion extending between the cover base and valve portion, overlying the first substantially tapered portion of the body, and forming an interference fit therebetween;
- and
- wherein at least one of the valve seat diameter, a degree of interference between the valve cover and valve seat, the predetermined radial thickness of the valve portion, and a predetermined modulus of elasticity of the valve cover material, is selected to (1) define a predetermined valve opening pressure generated upon squeezing the tube that allows passage of the substance from the storage chamber through the valve opening, and (2) hermetically seal the valve and prevent the ingress of bacteria through the valve and into the tube in the normally closed position, wherein the valve cover and valve body define an decreasing degree of interference therebetween in a direction from the interior to the exterior of the valve assembly.
A method for aseptically storing and dispensing a perishable liquid food, comprising the following steps:
- (i) providing a bag and valve assembly including a bag defining a variable-volume storage chamber, and a one-way valve coupled in fluid communication with the bag and including an elastic valve member forming a normally closed valve opening, wherein the valve member is movable between a normally closed position, and an open position with at least a segment of the valve member spaced radially away from the closed position to allow the passage of fluid from the variable-volume storage chamber through the valve opening;
- (ii) sterilizing the empty bag and valve assembly;
- (iii) sterile filling the variable-volume storage chamber with a perishable liquid food;
- (iv) hermetically sealing the perishable liquid food within the variable-volume storage chamber;
- (v) dispensing a plurality of different portions of the perishable liquid food at different points in time from the variable-volume storage chamber through the one-way valve;
- and
- (vi) maintaining the perishable liquid food within the variable-volume storage chamber sterile and hermetically sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere throughout steps (iv) and (v).
A device for aseptically storing and dispensing a perishable liquid food, comprising:
- a bag and valve assembly including a bag defining a variable-volume storage chamber, and a one-way valve coupled in fluid communication with the bag and including an elastic valve member forming a normally closed valve opening, wherein the valve member is movable between a normally closed position, and an open position with at least a segment of the elastic valve member spaced radially away from the closed position to allow the passage of fluid from the variable-volume storage chamber through the valve opening, the variable-volume storage chamber is sterile filled with a perishable liquid food, the perishable liquid food is hermetically sealed in the variable-volume storage chamber, and the bag and valve assembly maintains the perishable liquid food within the variable-volume storage chamber sterile and hermetically sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere throughout dispensing a plurality of different portions of the perishable liquid food from the storage chamber through the one-way valve.
A container for aseptically storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of the stored fluid therefrom, comprising:
- a flexible inner container defining a hermetically sealed, variable-volume storage chamber containing therein multiple portions of fluid in an aseptic condition and hermetically sealed within the storage chamber with respect to ambient atmosphere;
- a relatively rigid outer body receiving therein the flexible inner container;
- and
- a one-way valve comprising a valve member formed of an elastic material and forming a normally closed valve opening and an inlet to the valve opening in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber, wherein the valve portion is movable radially in response to fluid at the inlet to the valve opening exceeding a valve opening pressure between (i) a normally closed position and (ii) an open position with at least a segment of the valve portion spaced radially away from the closed position to allow fluid from the variable-volume storage chamber to be dispensed through the valve opening, wherein during dispensing of fluid through the one-way valve, the one-way valve and storage chamber maintain any remaining fluid in the storage chamber in an aseptic condition and sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere.
A method for aseptically storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of the stored fluid therefrom, comprising the following steps:
- providing a flexible inner container defining a hermetically sealed, variable-volume storage chamber containing therein multiple portions of fluid in an aseptic condition and hermetically sealed within the storage chamber with respect to ambient atmosphere;
- providing a relatively rigid outer body and receiving therein the flexible inner container;
- providing a one-way valve comprising a valve member formed of an elastic material and forming a normally closed valve opening and an inlet to the valve opening in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber;
- pressurizing fluid at the inlet to the valve opening to a pressure at least equal to a valve opening pressure and moving the elastic valve member between (i) a normally closed position and (ii) an open position with at least a segment of the valve member spaced radially away from the closed position, and, in turn, dispensing fluid from the variable-volume storage chamber through the valve opening;
- and
- during dispensing of fluid through the one-way valve, maintaining any remaining fluid in the storage chamber in an aseptic condition and sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.