Valve for a non-refillable pressurized container

A valve for a pressurized container, the valve comprising:

• a unidirectional stepped valve housing, wherein said housing comprises a central bore that includes an upper portion, lower portion and a middle portion located therebetween, wherein said lower portion is narrower than said middle portion which in turn is narrower than said upper portion;
• a port in the middle portion of said housing to facilitate connection of a nozzle thereto;
• a t-stem having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface with a lower end with a key-way, the lower end further having in conjunction with the key-way a cavity of a predetermined shape;
• and
• a valve seat providing the primary valve seal when the valve is closed, wherein the valve seat has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being structured and arranged to provide the primary valve seal in cooperation with the valve housing, the upper portion having a geometry for engaging with the t-stem to provide a locked assembly;
• the t-stem and valve seat being located in the housing and cooperating to position the valve seat for the primary valve seal;
• the key-way comprising a slot in the outer surface to the cavity, the slot terminating with an opening transverse to the longitudinal axis.

A container with a valve preventing refilling, the valve comprising:

• a valve housing having a central bore;
• a blocking element in the housing to prevent refilling of the container;
• a port in said housing to facilitate connection of a nozzle thereto;
• a t-stem having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface with a lower end with a key-way, the lower end further having in conjunction with the key-way a cavity of a predetermined shape;
• and
• a valve seat providing the primary valve seal when the valve is closed, wherein the valve seat has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being structured and arranged to provide the primary valve seal in cooperation with the valve housing, the upper portion having a geometry for engaging with the t-stem to provide a locked assembly;
• the t-stem and valve seat being located in the housing and cooperating to position the valve seat for the primary valve seal;
• the key-way comprising a slot in the outer surface to the cavity, the slot terminating with an opening transverse to the longitudinal axis.

A container with a valve preventing refilling, the valve comprising:

• a unidirectional stepped valve housing, wherein said housing comprises a central bore that includes an upper portion, lower portion and a middle portion located therebetween, wherein said lower portion is narrower than said middle portion which in turn is narrower than said upper portion;
• a blocking element in the lower portion of said central bore;
• a port in the middle portion of said housing to facilitate connection of a nozzle thereto;
• a t-stem having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface with a lower end with a key-way, the lower end further having in conjunction with the key-way a cavity of a predetermined shape;
• and
• a valve seat providing the primary valve seal when the valve is closed, wherein the valve seat has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being structured and arranged to provide the primary valve seal in cooperation with the valve housing, the upper portion having a geometry for cooperating with the t-stem to provide a locked assembly;
• the t-stem and valve seat being located in the housing and cooperating to position the valve seat for the primary valve seal;
• the key-way comprising a slot in the outer surface to the cavity, the slot terminating with an opening transverse to the longitudinal axis.

A method for filling a non-refillable container with a pressurized fluid, the method comprising:

• providing the container with a valve comprising:
• a valve housing having a central bore;
• a blocking element in the housing to prevent refilling of the container;
• a port in said housing to facilitate connection of a nozzle thereto;
• a t-stem having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface with a lower end with a key-way, the lower end further having in conjunction with the key-way a cavity of a predetermined shape;
• and
• a valve seat providing the primary valve seal when the valve is closed, wherein the valve seat has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being structured and arranged to provide the primary valve seal in cooperation with the valve housing, the upper portion having a geometry for engaging with the t-stem to provide a locked assembly;
• the t-stem and valve seat being located in the housing and cooperating to position the valve seat for the primary valve seal;
• the key-way comprising a slot in the outer surface to the cavity, the slot terminating with an opening transverse to the longitudinal axis;
• filling the container with the fluid;
• closing the valve by moving the valve seat to form the primary seal, thereby causing the blocking element to move into a second position whereby, when the valve is opened, fluid can flow out of the container under pressure however, when pressure outside the container is greater, the blocking element prevents flow into the container, thereby providing a non-refillable container.

A method for filling a non-refillable container with a pressurized fluid, the method comprising:

• providing the container with a valve comprising:
• a unidirectional stepped valve housing, wherein said housing comprises a central bore that includes an upper portion, lower portion and a middle portion located therebetween, wherein said lower portion is narrower than said middle portion which in turn is narrower than said upper portion;
• a blocking element in a first position in the lower portion of said central bore;
• a port in the middle portion of said housing to facilitate connection of a nozzle thereto;
• a t-stem having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface with a lower end with a key-way, the lower end further having in conjunction with the key-way a cavity of a predetermined shape;
• and
• a valve seat providing the primary valve seal when the valve is closed, wherein the valve seat has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being structured and arranged to provide the primary valve seal in cooperation with the valve housing, the upper portion having a geometry for engaging with the t-stem to provide a locked assembly;
• the t-stem and valve seat being located in the housing and cooperating to position the valve seat for the primary valve seal;
• the key-way comprising a slot in the outer surface to the cavity, the slot terminating with an opening transverse to the longitudinal axis;
• filling the container with the fluid;
• closing the valve by moving the valve seat to form the primary seal, thereby causing the blocking element to move into a second position whereby, when the valve is opened, fluid can flow out of the container under pressure however, when pressure outside the container is greater, the blocking element prevents flow into the container, thereby providing a non-refillable container.