Flexible dispenser valve
AssigneeLiqui-Box Corporation
InventorCurtis J. Bond
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dispensing valve for liquid containers of the type which is normally actuated by a resiliently flexible concave diaphragm to automatically close or self-seal it but which can be manually opened a toggle arrangement including an actuating lever or tab extension projecting outwardly from the concave diaphragm. In combination with this automatically-closing toggle-actuated diaphragm structure, an extended spout is provided for slidably mounting the valve so that during shipping or when the container is not to be used for dispensing during relatively long periods, the valve is in a retracted non-dispensing position where it will be provided with an additional seal and where the valve cannot be accidentally opened by engaging the toggle lever or by shock but can be extended readily to dispensing position when desired.
Claims18
In combination, a valve assembly comprising an outer tubular valve unit having an orifice and adapted to be slidably mounted in a tubular spout or the like for sliding movement to cover or expose said orifice and an inner toggle-actuated self-closing valve unit mounted within said outer tubular valve unit and having a resiliently flexible sealing skirt which normally lies over and seals the orifice;
- said inner valve unit including toggle means which can be actuated to flex the sealing skirt away from the orifice to expose it for dispensing;
- and a tubular spout having an outer end, said outer tubular valve being telescoped within and slidably mounted in said spout for movement from a retracted position where the orifice is within the spout to an extended position where the orifice is beyond the outer open end of the spout.
A valve assembly comprising an outer tubular valve unit having an orifice and adapted to be slidably mounted in a tubular spout or the like for sliding movement to cover or expose said orifice;
- and an inner toggle-actuated self-closing valve unit mounted within said outer tubular valve unit and having a resiliently flexible sealing skirt which normally lies over and seals the orifice;
- said inner valve unit including toggle means which can be actuated to flex the sealing skirt away from the orifice to expose it for dispensing;
- said outer tubular valve unit comprising a body of annular tubular form open at both ends and said orifice being disposed intermediate the length thereof and leading radially therethrough;
- said sealing skirt of said inner valve unit being of annular form and fitting axially within said tubular body, a resiliently flexible diaphragm carrying said skirt and closing the outer end of said body with the skirt projecting axially inwardly therefrom;
- said toggle means including an actuating projection carried by said diaphragm, said diaphragm being of concave form and transversely disposed to extend axially inwardly into said tubular body, said toggle means including a toggle lever carried by said concave diaphragm and projecting outwardly therefrom and a lug connection between the diaphragm at its inner side and the interior of the sealing skirt so that the resulting toggle action will distort the skirt radially inwardly from the orifice upon distortion of the diaphragm by said toggle lever, said skirt having a continuous annular sealing rib on its exterior surface adjacent its free inner end for normally engaging the interior tubular surface of said tubular body of said outer valve member, said orifice being mainly of circular form but having a flattened inner edge.
A valve assembly comprising an outer tubular value unit having an orifice and adapted to be slidably mounted in a tubular spout or the like for sliding movement to cover or expose said orifice;
- and an inner toggle-actuated self-closing valve unit mounted within said outer tubular valve unit and having a resiliently flexible sealing skirt which normally lies over and seals the orifice;
- said inner valve unit including toggle means which can be actuated to flex the sealing skirt away from the orifice to expose it for dispensing;
- said outer tubular valve unit comprising a body of annular tubular form open at both ends and said orifice being disposed intermediate the length thereof and leading radially therethrough;
- said sealing skirt of said inner valve unit being of annular form and fitting axially within said tubular body, a resiliently flexible diaphragm carrying said skirt and closing the outer end of said body with the skirt projecting axially inwardly therefrom;
- said toggle means including an actuating projection carried by said diaphragm, said diaphragm being of concave form and transversely disposed to extend axially inwardly into said tubular body, said toggle means including a toggle lever carried by said concave diaphragm and projecting outwardly therefrom and a lug connection between the diaphragm at its inner side and the interior of the sealing skirt so that the resulting toggle action will distort the skirt radially inwardly from the orifice upon distortion of the diaphragm by said toggle lever said skirt having a continuous annular sealing rib on its exterior surface adjacent its free inner end for normally engaging the interior tubular surface of said tubular body of said outer valve member, said inner valve unit including a tubular outer end which telescopes within the outer end of said tubular outer end which telescopes within the outer end of said tubular body of the outer valve and interengaging retaining means between said outer ends to maintain them in axially telescoped relationship, said upper end of the inner valve having an inner flange structure which interfits with an outer flange structure on the upper end of said tubular body, and said interengaging retaining means comprising a retaining rib extending radially inwardly from the outer flange structure over the inner flange structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.