Dispensing valve with trampoline-like construction
AssigneeLiquid Molding Systems, Inc.
InventorPaul E. Brown
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-sealing valve is provided for fluid dispensing packages and the like, of the type which are compressed and decompressed to dispense therefrom liquids, pastes, powders and other similar flowable materials. The valve has a marginal groove extending along one face thereof in a closed pattern to define a central area inside the groove, and an outer area outside the groove. Ribs extend between the center and outer areas of the valve to bridge the groove, and selectively support the center valve area in a trampoline-like fashion. A slit extends through the center valve area, and into at least a portion of the groove to form an orifice that shifts between outwardly open, closed, and inwardly open positions in response to compressing and decompressing the container.
Claims37
A dispensing package for fluid materials and the like, comprising:
- a container shaped to retain a preselected fluid product therein, and including a wall having a discharge opening, and a resiliently flexible portion for manually shifting said container between a compressed condition and a decompressed condition to selectively move the fluid product through the discharge opening of said container;
- a self-sealing dispensing valve connected with said container, communicating with the discharge opening thereof, and including:
- a valve wall having a marginal groove extending along one face thereof in a closed pattern to define a center valve area inside said groove, and an outer valve area outside said groove;
- at least one rib extending between said center valve area and said outer valve area to bridge said groove and selectively stiffen said valve;
- a slit extending through said valve wall to define an orifice that shifts between outwardly open, closed, and inwardly open positions in response to shifting the flexible wall portion of said container;
- said slit extending substantially continuously along said center valve area, and into at least a portion of said groove, whereby shifting the flexible wall portion of said container from the decompressed condition to the compressed condition shifts said orifice into the outwardly open position, and forces the fluid product therethrough to dispense the same from said container, and shifting the flexible wall portion of said container from the compressed condition to the decompressed condition shifts said orifice from the outwardly open position, through the closed position, into the inwardly open position, and draws air therethrough to substantially equalize the pressure within said container, and thereby return said orifice to the closed position.
A dispensing package for fluid materials and the like, comprising:
- a container shaped to retain a preselected fluid product therein, and including a discharge opening, and dispensing means for shifting said container between a compressed condition and a decompressed condition to selectively move the fluid product through the discharge opening of said container;
- a self-sealing dispensing valve connected with said container, communicating with the discharge opening thereof, and including:
- a valve wall having a marginal groove extending along one face thereof in a closed pattern to define a center valve area inside said groove, and an outer valve area outside said groove;
- a slit extending through said valve wall to define an orifice that shifts between outwardly open, closed, and inwardly open positions in response to shifting said dispensing means said slit extending substantially continuously along at least a portion of said center valve area, whereby shifting said dispensing means from the decompressed condition to the compressed condition shifts said orifice into the outwardly open position, and forces the fluid product therethrough to dispense the same from said container, and shifting said dispensing means from the compressed condition to the decompressed condition shifts said orifice from the outwardly open position, through the closed position, and into the inwardly open position, and draws air therethrough to equalize the pressure within said container, and thereby return said orifice to the closed position.
A self-sealing valve for dispensing packages and the like, of the type having a container which can be shifted between a compressed condition and a decompressed condition to selectively move fluid product through a discharge opening in the container;
- said valve comprising:
- a valve wall having a marginal groove extending along one face thereof in a closed pattern to define a center valve area inside said groove, and an outer valve area outside said groove;
- at least one rib extending between said center valve area and said outer valve area to bridge said groove and selectively stiffen said valve;
- a slit extending through said valve wall to define an orifice that shifts between outwardly open, closed, and inwardly open positions in response to shifting the container;
- said slit extending substantially continuously along said center valve area, and into at least a portion of said groove, whereby shifting the container means from the decompressed condition to the compressed condition shifts said orifice into the outwardly open position, and forces the fluid product therethrough to dispense the same from the container, and shifting the container from the compressed condition to the decompressed condition shifts said orifice from the outwardly open position, through the closed position, and into the inwardly open position, and draws air therethrough to equalize the pressure within the container, and thereby return said orifice to the closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.