Fold and seal flexible valves
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorChristopher LUDWIG
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a flexible valve, wherein the valve can be folded and sealed for containing liquids within flexible packaging in combination with a flexible to semi-rigid container. The valve can be in an open unfolded configuration, or a closed folded configuration. Typical embodiments of the disclosure include a protruding element or a bubble which is formed between a base layer and a bubble layer. A channel for the product to be dispensed from a storage volume is formed between the bubble layer and a channel layer.
Claims20
A valve for a package, comprising:
- a protruding element,
- a channel layer forming a channel between the protruding element and the channel layer, the channel including a fluid outlet;
- and
- a hinge element attached to the valve, the hinge element having a first configuration and a second configuration wherein, in the first configuration, the hinge element is unfolded and fluid can flow through the channel to the fluid outlet and, in the second configuration, the hinge is folded and fluid is prevented from flowing through the channel to the fluid outlet.
The valve of claim 3, wherein the hinge element is attached to the base layer on an opposite side of the bubble valve subcomponent.
A package comprising:
- a storage volume defined between a first panel and a second panel;
- and
- a valve between the first panel and the second panel, the valve including
- a protruding element with a channel and a fluid outlet, and
- a hinge element with a first configuration and a second configuration,
- wherein, in the first configuration, the hinge element is unfolded and fluid can flow through the channel to the fluid outlet and, in the second configuration, the hinge is folded and fluid is prevented from flowing to the fluid outlet.
A valve for a package, comprising:
- a protruding element,
- a channel layer forming a channel between the protruding element and the channel layer, the channel including a fluid outlet;
- and
- first and second interlocking assemblies attached to the valve, the first and second interlocking assemblies having a first configuration and a second configuration wherein, in the first configuration, the first and second interlocking assemblies are separated from each other and the valve is unfolded and fluid can flow through the channel to the fluid outlet and, in the second configuration, the first and second interlocking assemblies are interlocked with each other and the hinge is folded and fluid is prevented from flowing through the channel to the fluid outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.