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US 5,409,144 AGranted
Dispensing valve for packaging
AssigneeLiquid Molding Systems, Inc.
InventorPaul E. Brown
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dispensing package is provided for fluid products such as liquid soaps, shampoos and conditioners, household detergents, cleaners, polishes, moisturizing creams, and the like, and includes a container with a self-sealing dispensing valve mounted therein. The valve includes a marginal flange, a valve head with a discharge orifice therein, and a connector sleeve having one end connected with the valve flange and the opposite end connected with the valve head adjacent a marginal edge thereof. The connector sleeve has a resiliently flexible construction, such that when pressure within the container raises above a predetermined amount, the valve head shifts outwardly in a manner which causes the connector sleeve to double over and extend rollingly.
Claims58
A dispensing package for fluid products, comprising:
- a container shaped to retain a selected fluid product therein, and having a discharge opening;
- a dispensing valve for controlling the flow of the fluid product from said container, including a marginal valve portion sealing about the discharge opening of said container;
- a valve head portion having an orifice which opens to permit fluid flow therethrough in response to a predetermined discharge pressure within said container, and closes to shut off fluid flow therethrough upon removal of the predetermined discharge pressure, wherein said valve head portion is shaped for shifting generally centrally with respect to said marginal valve portion;
- and a connector sleeve portion having a resiliently flexible construction, with one end area thereof connected with said marginal valve portion, and an opposite end area thereof connected with said valve head portion, wherein said connector sleeve portion has a sidewall with a configuration which extends rollingly to shift said valve head portion outwardly to a fully extended position when pressure within said container is raised above the predetermined discharge pressure to open said orifice and dispense fluid product from said container;
- and
- a valve stop selectively connected with said container, and positioned generally opposite said dispensing valve to positively prevent said valve head portion from shifting to the fully extended position to thereby retain said orifice fully closed.
3 more elements
A dispensing package for fluid products, comprising:
- a container shaped to retain a selected fluid product therein, and having a discharge opening;
- a dispensing valve for controlling the flow of the fluid product from said container, including a marginal valve portion sealing about the discharge opening of said container;
- a valve head portion having an orifice which opens to permit fluid flow therethrough in response to a predetermined discharge pressure within said container, and closes to shut off fluid flow therethrough upon removal of the predetermined discharge pressure, wherein said valve head portion is shaped for shifting generally centrally with respect to said marginal valve portion;
- and a connector sleeve portion having a resiliently flexible construction, with one end area thereof connected with said marginal valve portion, and an opposite end area thereof connected with said valve head portion, wherein said connector sleeve portion has a sidewall with a configuration which extends to shift said valve head portion outwardly to a fully extended position when pressure within said container is raised above the predetermined discharge pressure to open said orifice and dispense fluid product from said container;
- a valve stop selectively connected with said container, and positioned generally opposite said dispensing valve to positively prevent said valve head portion from shifting to the fully extended position to thereby retain said orifice fully closed;
- and wherein
- said container includes a neck disposed adjacent said discharge opening, with an outwardly oriented lip;
- and
- said valve stop comprises a removable patch adhered to the lip of said container.
6 more elements
A dispensing package for fluid products, comprising:
- a container shaped to retain a selected fluid product therein, and having a discharge opening;
- a dispensing valve for controlling the flow of the fluid product from said container, including a marginal valve portion sealing about the discharge opening of said container;
- a valve head portion having an orifice which opens to permit fluid flow therethrough in response to a predetermined discharge pressure within said container, and closes to shut off fluid flow therethrough upon removal of the predetermined discharge pressure, wherein said valve head portion is shaped for shifting generally centrally with respect to said-marginal valve portion;
- and a connector sleeve portion having a resiliently flexible construction, with one end area thereof connected with said marginal valve portion, and an opposite end area thereof connected with said valve head portion, wherein said connector sleeve portion has a sidewall with a configuration which extends rollingly to shift said valve head portion outwardly when pressure within said container is raised above the predetermined discharge pressure;
- a vent mounted in said container, and permitting ambient air to be drawn into an interior portion of said container after fluid product is dispensed therefrom.
2 more elements
A dispensing package for fluid products, comprising:
- a container shaped to retain a selected fluid product therein, and having a discharge opening;
- a dispensing valve for controlling the flow of the fluid product from said container, including a marginal valve portion sealing about the discharge opening of said container;
- a valve head portion having an orifice which opens to permit fluid flow therethrough in response to a predetermined discharge pressure within said container, and closes to shut off fluid flow therethrough upon removal of the predetermined discharge pressure, wherein said valve head portion is shaped for shifting generally centrally with respect to said marginal valve portion;
- and a connector sleeve portion having a resiliently flexible construction, with one end area thereof connected with said marginal valve portion, and an opposite end area thereof connected with said valve head portion, wherein said connector sleeve portion has a sidewall with a configuration which extends to shift said valve head portion outwardly when pressure within said container is raised above the predetermined discharge pressure;
- a vent mounted in said container, and permitting ambient air to be drawn into an interior portion of said container after fluid product is dispensed therefrom;
- and wherein
- said marginal valve portion is configured to form a check valve for said vent to prevent the liquid product in said container from escaping through said vent.
4 more elements
A dispensing package for fluid products, comprising:
- a container shaped to retain a selected fluid product therein, and having a discharge opening;
- a dispensing valve for controlling the flow of the fluid product from said container, including a marginal valve portion sealing about the discharge opening of said container;
- a valve head portion having an orifice which opens to permit fluid flow therethrough in response to a predetermined discharge pressure within said container, and closes to shut off fluid flow therethrough upon removal of the predetermined discharge pressure, wherein said valve head portion is shaped for shifting generally centrally with respect to said marginal valve portion;
- and a connector sleeve portion having a resiliently flexible construction, with one end area thereof connected with said valve flange, and an opposite end area thereof connected with said valve head portion, wherein said connector sleeve portion has a sidewall with a configuration which extends rollingly to shift said valve head portion outwardly when pressure within said container is raised above the predetermined discharge pressure;
- and wherein
- said marginal valve portion includes opposite inner and outer faces which are curved, and diverge from one another to a flat outer marginal edge.
3 more elements
A dispensing package for fluid products, comprising:
- a container shaped to retain a selected fluid product therein, and having a discharge opening;
- a dispensing valve for controlling the flow of the fluid product from said container, including a marginal valve portion sealing about the discharge opening of said container;
- a valve head portion having an orifice which opens to permit fluid flow therethrough in response to a predetermined discharge pressure within said container, and closes to shut off fluid flow therethrough upon removal of the predetermined discharge pressure, wherein said valve head portion is shaped for shifting generally centrally with respect to said marginal valve portion;
- and a connector sleeve portion having a resiliently flexible construction, with one end area thereof connected with said valve portion, and an opposite end area thereof connected with said valve head portion, wherein said connector sleeve portion has a sidewall with a configuration which extends rollingly to shift said valve head portion outwardly when pressure within said container is raised above the predetermined discharge pressure;
- and wherein
- said marginal valve portion includes opposite inner and outer faces which extend to an outer marginal edge;
- and
- said inner and outer faces are generally flat, with first and second arcuately shaped ribs projecting oppositely therefrom in a staggered configuration.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.