U.S. patent application number 11/450731 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-13 for valve-controlled dispensing closure.
This patent application is currently assigned to SEAQUIST CLOSURES FOREIGN, INC,.. Invention is credited to Alan P. Hickok, Timothy M. Mazurkiewicz, Timothy R. Socier.
Application Number | 20070284397 11/450731 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38820878 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070284397 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hickok; Alan P. ; et
al. |
December 13, 2007 |
Valve-controlled dispensing closure
Abstract
A dispensing closure is provided for dispensing a product from a
container having an opening. The closure includes a pressure
actuatable dispensing valve mounted inwardly of a nozzle end wall
that defines discharge apertures. Each aperture has an inner
passage with an outer end communicating with an inner end of an
outer passage. The inner end of the outer passage has a smaller
cross-sectional flow area than the cross-sectional flow area of the
outer end of the inner passage.
Inventors: |
Hickok; Alan P.; (Waukesha,
WI) ; Mazurkiewicz; Timothy M.; (Whitewater, WI)
; Socier; Timothy R.; (Essexville, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOOD, PHILLIPS, KATZ, CLARK & MORTIMER
500 W. MADISON STREET, SUITE 3800
CHICAGO
IL
60661
US
|
Assignee: |
SEAQUIST CLOSURES FOREIGN,
INC,.
|
Family ID: |
38820878 |
Appl. No.: |
11/450731 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/494 ;
222/565 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/0809 20130101;
B65D 47/2031 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/494 ;
222/565 |
International
Class: |
B65D 35/38 20060101
B65D035/38; A47G 19/24 20060101 A47G019/24 |
Claims
1. A dispensing closure for a container that has an opening to the
container interior where a product may be stored, said dispensing
closure comprising: (A) a body for extending from said container at
said opening, said body including (1) a product discharge passage
in said body; and (2) an end wall that is located across said
discharge passage and that defines dispensing apertures, at least
some of said dispensing apertures each having (i) an inner passage,
and (ii) an outer passage extending from said inner passage wherein
(a) said inner passage has an inner end and an outer end, (b) said
outer passage has an inner end and an outer end, (c) said inner end
of said outer passage communicates with said inner passage outer
end, and (d) the flow cross section of said outer passage inner end
is smaller than the flow cross section of said inner passage outer
end; and (B) a dispensing valve that comprises flexible, resilient
material and that has a valve head defining at least one normally
closed dispensing orifice which opens to permit flow therethrough
in response to a pressure differential across said valve, said
valve being disposed in said closure body at said discharge passage
to locate said valve head inwardly of said end wall.
2. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said dispensing
closure body is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said
container around said container opening.
3. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said body
includes an outwardly projecting nozzle; and said end wall is at
the end of said nozzle.
4. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said dispensing
apertures are spaced apart in a circular locus in said end
wall.
5. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said dispensing
aperture inner passage inner end functions as an entrance for
product flow and includes an arcuate surface defined by a circular
arc surface radius.
6. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said inner
passage includes a frustoconical section.
7. The closure in accordance with claim 6 in which said inner
passage frustoconical section has an included conical angle of
about 30 degrees.
8. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said inner
passage outer end includes an arcuate surface defined by a circular
arc surface radius.
9. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said inner
passage has an outer end terminating at an annular shoulder that
faces inwardly.
10. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said outer
passage has a frustoconical section.
11. The closure in accordance with claim 10 in which said outer
passage frustoconical section has an included conical angle of
about 10 degrees.
12. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said outer
passage outer end includes an arcuate surface defined by a circular
arc surface radius.
13. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which each said inner
passage and each said outer passage has a generally circular
transverse cross section everywhere along the length of each said
inner passage and outer passage, respectively.
14. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said inner and
outer passage of at least one of said dispensing apertures are
symmetric about a common longitudinal axis.
15. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said inner
passage outer end is surrounded by, and defined at, an annular
shoulder, and said outer passage inner end is defined at said
annular shoulder.
16. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said inner
passage has a frustoconical section that tapers to a smaller
diameter in a direction away from said valve, and said outer
passage has a frustoconical section that tapers to a larger
diameter in the direction away from said valve.
17. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said end wall
is aligned generally in registry with said valve; and said end wall
presents a solid impingement surface directly in registry with said
dispensing orifice of said valve.
18. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said closure
body includes an internal female thread for engaging a mating male
thread on a container.
19. The closure in accordance with claim 1 further including a lid
hingedly attached to said body for moving between (1) a closed
position on top of said body, and (2) an open position in which the
top of said body is exposed.
20. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said valve
dispensing orifice is defined by a plurality of slits that extend
(1) through said valve head from an exterior side to an interior
side, and (2) laterally from a common origin so that petals are
defined by said slits whereby said orifice is capable of opening by
outward deflection of said petals when the pressure in the interior
of the valve exceeds the pressure on the exterior of the valve by a
predetermined amount; said slits are each generally planar; said
slits are of equal length; and said slits define equal size
petals.
21. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said valve
dispensing orifice is closed when the pressure on the interior of
the valve is substantially the same as the pressure on the exterior
of the valve.
22. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said valve is a
self-closing valve; said valve opens outwardly when the pressure
against the side of the valve facing the interior of the container
exceeds the pressure acting against the side of the valve exposed
to ambient atmosphere by a predetermined amount; and said valve
returns from an open condition to a closed condition after the
pressure acting on the side of the valve facing the interior of the
container decreases sufficiently.
23. The closure in accordance with claim 1 for use with a container
that has an opening and an external, male thread around said
opening, and in which said closure is a dispensing closure that is
separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container around
said container opening; said closure body has a hollow, generally
cylindrical base which has an internal, female thread for
threadingly engaging said male thread on said container; said body
includes a deck at the top of said base; and said nozzle extends
outwardly from said deck.
24. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said valve has
an annular flange; said closure body defines a generally annular
seat facing generally away from said nozzle; and said closure
further includes a retaining ring having a portion engaged with
said body to retain said valve in said body with said valve annular
flange clamped by said retaining against said seat in said
body.
25. The closure in accordance with claim 24 in which said retaining
ring is in a snap-fit engagement with said body; said valve annular
flange has a dovetail cross section defining a frustoconical outer
surface and a frustoconical inner surface; said body seat is a
frustoconical surface engaging said frustoconical outer surface of
said valve annular flange; and said retaining ring has a
frustoconical clamping surface engaging said frustoconical inner
surface of said valve annular flange to clamp said valve annular
flange between said retaining ring and said body seat.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] This invention relates to container closures. The invention
is more particularly related to a dispensing closure for use with a
squeeze-type container wherein the dispensing closure has a valve
which opens to dispense a product from the container when the
container is squeezed and which automatically closes when the
squeezing pressure is released.
[0003] 2. Technical Problems Posed by the Prior Art
[0004] Fluent materials, including liquids, creams, powders, etc.,
may be conventionally packaged in a container having a dispensing
closure which includes a container cover defining a plurality of
dispensing apertures or openings. A solid cap or lid is typically
provided for being releasably secured to the cover for occluding
the dispensing openings when the container is not in use. This
prevents spillage if the container is dropped or tipped over. The
cap may also help keep the contents fresh and may reduce the
ingress of contaminants. Such closures can be particularly suitable
for containers of household cleaners, floor polish, and the
like.
[0005] A variety of packages, including dispensing containers, have
been developed for various products which are in liquid or powder
form (e.g., shampoo, lotion, cosmetic powder, etc.). One type of
closure for these kinds of containers includes a flexible,
self-closing, slit-type dispensing valve mounted over the container
opening. The valve has a slit or slits which define a normally
closed orifice that opens to permit flow therethrough in response
to increased pressure within the container when the container is
squeezed. The valve automatically closes to shut off flow
therethrough upon removal of the increased pressure.
[0006] Designs of closures using such valves are illustrated in the
U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,531, No. 5,927,566, and No. 5,934,512.
Typically, the closure includes a base mounted on the container
neck to define a seat for receiving the valve and includes a
retaining ring or housing structure for holding the valve on the
seat in the base. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,986 and No.
6,616,016.
[0007] The closure can be provided with a hinged lid for covering
the valve during shipping or when the container is packed for
travel (or when the container is otherwise not in use). See, for
example, figures 31-34 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,531. The lid can keep
the valve clean and/or protect the valve from damage.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,626 discloses a closure having a valve
from which a powder is discharged through a perforated dispensing
baffle to produce a desirable dispersed distribution pattern of
fine powder (e.g., cosmetic powder).
[0009] The inventors of the present invention have discovered that
it would be advantageous to provide an improved closure system for
dispensing a fluent product, including liquid. In particular, it
would be desirable to provide a dispensing closure system which
would not require the use of a reclosable lid to prevent spillage
if the container is inadvertently tipped over. It would also be
desirable to provide an improved dispensing closure system that
would eliminate or minimize contaminant ingress even if no lid is
placed on the container.
[0010] It would be desirable, moreover, to provide an improved
dispensing closure system that could accommodate designs that can
dispense a stream or streams of a liquid product in a manner that
forms a mist.
[0011] Additionally, it would be beneficial if the dispensing
closure system components could optionally be designed for easily
accommodating the assembly of the components during manufacture of
the closure system.
[0012] Also, it would be desirable if such an improved dispensing
closure system could optionally be provided with a design that
would accommodate efficient, high quality, large volume
manufacturing techniques with a reduced product reject rate.
[0013] Further, it would be advantageous if such an improved
closure could optionally be designed to accommodate its use with a
variety of conventional or special containers having a variety of
conventional or special container finishes, including conventional
threaded, or snap-fit, attachment configurations.
[0014] The present invention provides an improved dispensing
closure system which can accommodate designs having one or more of
the above-discussed benefits and features.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] According to the present invention, an improved dispensing
closure system is provided in the form of a dispensing closure for
an opening to a container interior. The closure employs a
dispensing valve. Depending upon the application, the closure may
also include a lid.
[0016] The dispensing closure is especially suitable for use in
dispensing a liquid. The closure is especially effective in
accommodating the dispensing of liquid in a desirable fine mist and
at desirable mass flow rates.
[0017] The closure includes a body for extending from the container
at the container opening. The body includes (1) a product discharge
passage, and (2) an end wall that is located across the discharge
passage and that defines dispensing apertures. At least some of the
apertures each have (1) an inner passage, and (2) an outer passage
extending from the inner passage. The inner passage has an inner
end and an outer end. The outer passage has an inner end and an
outer end. The inner end of the outer passage communicates with the
inner passage outer end. The flow cross section of the outer
passage inner end is smaller than the flow cross section of the
inner passage outer end.
[0018] The dispensing valve comprises flexible, resilient material.
The valve has a valve head defining at least one normally closed
dispensing orifice which opens to permit flow therethrough in
response to a pressure differential across the valve.
[0019] The valve is disposed in the closure body at the discharge
passage to locate the valve head inwardly of the body end wall. A
fluent product flowing from the container and out of the open valve
is directed through the dispensing apertures in the closure body
end wall to produce a desired spray of the product.
[0020] Numerous other advantages and features of the present
invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed
description of the invention, from the claims, and from the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] In the accompanying drawings forming part of the
specification, in which like numerals are employed to designate
like parts throughout the same,
[0022] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a closure of the present
invention shown with the lid closed, and before installation of the
closure on a container;
[0023] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the closure shown with the
lid opened;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but FIG. 3 is an
exploded view showing the valve and retaining ring prior to
installation in the closure body;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the
plane 4-4 in FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but FIG. 5 shows the lid
opened and the closure installed on a container with both the
container and closure together inverted in a dispensing
orientation;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional
view of the area enclosed in a broken line circle designated FIG. 6
in FIG. 5;
[0028] FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged, top plan view of the
valve;
[0029] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the valve shown in FIG.
7; and
[0030] FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but FIG. 9 shows the
valve in an opened condition in a dispensing mode.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many
different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings
disclose only one specific form as an example of the invention. The
invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment so
described, however. The scope of the invention is pointed out in
the appended claims.
[0032] For ease of description, many of the figures illustrating
the invention show a dispensing closure in the typical orientation
that it would have at the top of a container when the container is
stored upright on its base, and terms such as upper, lower,
horizontal, etc., are used with reference to this position. It will
be understood, however, that the closure system of this invention
may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in an
orientation other than the positions described.
[0033] The dispensing closure system of this invention is suitable
for use with a variety of conventional or special containers having
various designs, the details of which, although not fully
illustrated or described, would be apparent to those having skill
in the art and an understanding of such containers. The container,
per se, that is described herein forms no part of, and therefore is
not intended to limit, the present invention. It will also be
understood by those of ordinary skill that novel and non-obvious
inventive aspects are embodied in the described exemplary closure
dispensing system alone.
[0034] A presently preferred embodiment of a dispensing closure
system of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 and is
designated generally therein by reference number 20 in FIG. 1. In
the preferred embodiment illustrated, the system 20 is provided in
the form of a separate dispensing closure 20 which is adapted to be
mounted or installed on a container 22 (FIGS. 5 and 9) that would
typically contain a fluent material. The container 22 includes body
24 and a neck 26 as shown in FIG. 5. The neck 26 defines an opening
28 to the container interior. The container neck 26, in the
preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, has an external, male
thread 29 for engaging the closure 20.
[0035] The body 24 of the container 22 may have any suitable
configuration, and the upwardly projecting neck 26 may have a
different cross-sectional size and/or shape than the container body
24. (Alternatively, the container 22 need not have a neck 26, per
se. Instead, the container 22 may consist of just a body with an
opening.) The container 22 typically would have a somewhat flexible
wall or walls.
[0036] Although the container 22, per se, does not form a part of
the broadest aspects of the present invention, per se, it will be
appreciated that at least a portion of the system 20 of the present
invention optionally may be provided as a unitary portion, or
extension, of the top of the container 22. However, in the
preferred embodiment illustrated, the entire system 20 is a
completely separate article or unit (e.g., a dispensing closure 20)
which can comprise either one piece or multiple pieces, and which
is adapted to be removably, or non-removably, installed on a
previously manufactured container 22 that has an opening 28 to the
container interior. Hereinafter, the dispensing closure system 20
will be more simply referred to as the closure 20.
[0037] The illustrated, preferred embodiment of the closure 20 is
adapted to be used with a container 22 having an opening 28 to
provide access to the container interior and to a product contained
therein. The closure 20 can be used to dispense with many
materials, including, but not limited to, liquids, suspensions,
mixtures, etc. (such as, for example, a material constituting a
personal care product, an industrial or household cleaning product,
or other compositions of matter (e.g., compositions for use in
activities involving manufacturing, commercial or household
maintenance, construction, agriculture, medical treatment, military
operations, etc.)).
[0038] The container 22 with which the closure 20 may be used would
typically be a squeezable container having a flexible wall or walls
which can be grasped by the user and squeezed or compressed to
increase the internal pressure within the container so as to force
the product out of the container and through the opened closure.
Such a flexible container wall typically has sufficient, inherent
resiliency so that when the squeezing forces are removed, the
container wall returns to its normal, unstressed shape. Such a
squeezable container is preferred in many applications but may not
be necessary or preferred in other applications. For example, in
some applications it may be desirable to employ a generally rigid
container, and to pressurize the container interior at selected
times with a piston or other pressurizing system, or to reduce the
exterior ambient pressure around the exterior of the closure so as
to suck the material out through the open closure.
[0039] It is presently contemplated that many applications
employing the closure 20 will conveniently be realized by molding
at least some of the components of the closure 20 from suitable
thermoplastic material or materials. In the preferred embodiment
illustrated, some of the components of the closure could be molded
from a suitable thermoplastic material, such as, but not limited
to, polypropylene. The closure components may be separately
molded--and may be molded from different materials. The materials
may have the same or different colors and textures.
[0040] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the presently most preferred form
of the closure 20 includes three basic components, (1) a unitary
molded body 30 and lid 36 connected together with an attached hinge
31, (2) a dispensing valve 32 which is adapted to be mounted in the
body 30, and (3) a retaining ring or clamp member 34 that retains
the valve 32 in the upper part of the body 30.
[0041] In the preferred form of the invention, the lid 36 is
provided to cover the upper part of the closure body 30. The lid 36
can be moved to expose the upper part of the body 30 for
dispensing. The lid 36 is movable between (1) a closed position
over the body 30 (as shown in FIG. 4), and (2) an open or removed
position (as show in FIG. 5). The lid 36 may be a separate
component which is completely removable from the closure body 30,
or the lid 36 may be tethered to the body with a strap, or the lid
36 may be hinged to the body 30 so as to accommodate pivoting
movement of the lid 36 from the closed position to an open position
(as shown for the illustrated, preferred embodiment). Preferably,
the lid 36 includes an internal sealing collar 37 (FIG. 3).
[0042] As can be seen in FIG. 4, the body 30 includes a deck 38. A
internal base 40 extends below the deck 38 for engaging the
container 22 when the closure body 30 is mounted on the container
22 as shown in FIG. 5. A skirt 41 extends downwardly from the
periphery of the deck 38 around the internal base 40.
[0043] As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the interior of the
internal base 40 defines an internal, female thread 44 for
threadingly engaging the container neck external, male thread 29
(FIG. 5) when the dispensing closure body 30 is installed on the
container neck 26.
[0044] Alternatively, the closure body base 40 could be provided
with some other container connecting means, such as a snap-fit bead
or groove (not illustrated) for engaging a container neck groove or
bead (not illustrated), respectively. Also, the closure body base
40 could instead be permanently attached to the container 22 by
means of induction melting, ultrasonic melting, gluing, or the
like, depending on materials used for the closure body base 40 and
container 22. The closure body base 40 could also be formed as a
unitary part, or extension, of the container 22.
[0045] The closure body base 40 may have any suitable configuration
for accommodating an upwardly projecting neck 26 of the container
22 or for accommodating any other portion of a container received
within the particular configuration of the closure body base
40--even if a container does not have a neck, per se. The main part
of the container 22 may have a different cross-sectional shape than
the container neck 26 and closure body base 40.
[0046] Preferably an interior, annular seal member 46 (FIGS. 4 and
5) extends downwardly from the underside of the closure deck 38.
Such a seal member could be conventional "V" seal as illustrated,
or a "plug" profile seal, a "crab's claw" seal, a flat seal, or
some other such conventional or special seal, depending upon the
particular application.
[0047] In the preferred form of the invention illustrated, the
container neck receiving passage in the closure body base 40 has a
generally cylindrical configuration, but includes the inwardly
projecting thread 44. However, the closure body base 40 may have
other configurations. For example, the closure body base 40 might
have a prism or polygon configuration adapted to be mounted to the
top of a container neck having a polygon configuration. Such prism
or polygon configurations would not accommodate the use of a
threaded attachment, but other means of attachment could be
provided, such as a snap-fit bead and groove arrangement, adhesive,
or the like.
[0048] As can be seen in FIG. 5, a spout or spray nozzle 50
projects from the deck 38. The spout or nozzle 50 includes an
annular wall 52 extending upwardly from the deck 38 to provide an
internal space for accommodating movement of the valve 32 from the
retracted, closed position (illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 9)
to the extended, open position (illustrated in solid lines in FIG.
9). The inside of the nozzle 50 defines a discharge passage in the
closure body 30 above the valve 32.
[0049] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the nozzle 50 terminates at its
upper end in a transverse cross wall, end wall, or outer baffle
plate 56. The plate 56 defines a plurality of dispensing openings
or apertures 58 which are, in the preferred arrangement
illustrated, located on a circular locus around a solid, central
portion of the baffle plate 56. In the illustrated preferred
embodiment, there are twelve apertures 58 spaced apart at 30 degree
increments.
[0050] The nozzle 52 can be sealed closed by the lid collar 37 when
the lid 36 is closed (FIG. 4).
[0051] Preferably, the transverse cross section of each aperture 58
at any point along the aperture height (i.e., length) is circular.
As can be seen in FIG. 6, the preferred configuration of each
aperture 58 is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis 59 defining
the center of each aperture 58. Preferably, each aperture 58 is
defined by an inner passage or bore 60 and a smaller cross section
outer passage or bore 62.
[0052] As can be seen in FIG. 6, the inner passage 60 has an inner
end which functions as the entrance end for the product which is to
be discharged from the valve 32. The passage 60 also has an outer
end adjacent the outer passage 62. The outer passage 62 has an
inner end and an outer end. The inner end of the outer passage 62
communicates with the outer end of the inner passage 60.
[0053] Each larger inner passage or bore 60 preferably has a
frustoconical section 61 that tapers to a smaller diameter in the
direction away from the valve 32. Each smaller outer passage or
bore 62 preferably has a frustoconical section 63 that tapers to a
larger diameter in the direction away from the valve 32. A shoulder
64 defines the inner end of the outer bore 62 and the outer end of
the inner bore 60.
[0054] In FIG. 6, the length or height of the inner bore 60 is
designated L.sub.1, and the length or height of the outer bore 62
is designated L.sub.2. In the preferred embodiment, the entrance to
the inner bore 60 includes an arcuate surface defined by a circular
arc surface radius R.sub.1, and the outer end of the inner bore 62
includes an arcuate surface defined by a circular arc surface
radius R.sub.2 which merges the frustoconical section of the inner
bore 60 with the shoulder 64. Preferably, the exit end of the outer
bore 62 includes an arcuate surface defined by a circular arc
surface radius R.sub.3.
[0055] In the presently preferred embodiment for one particular
dispensing application, L.sub.1 is 0.38 mm, L.sub.2 is 0.64 mm,
R.sub.1 is 0.13 mm, R.sub.2 is 0.13 mm, R.sub.3 is 0.21 mm, the
longitudinal height of the inner bore frustoconical section 61 (as
measured along the axis 59 and not including the radii R.sub.1 and
R.sub.2) is 0.19 mm, the longitudinal height of the outer bore
frustoconical section 63 (as measured along the axis 59 and not
including the radius R.sub.3) is 0.45 mm, the diameter of the small
inner end of the outer bore 62 at the shoulder 64 is 0.57 mm, the
included conical angle of the outer bore frustoconical section 63
is 10 degrees, and the included conical angle of the inner bore
frustoconical section 61 is 30 degrees.
[0056] An annular wall 68 (FIG. 5) extends inwardly from the nozzle
50 and defines an annular seat 70 (FIG. 4), preferably in the
configuration of a frustoconical surface, for being engaged by a
peripheral portion of the valve 32 as described hereinafter. This
accommodates the seating of the valve 32 in the closure body 30.
The surface 70 functions as an annular, downwardly angled clamping
surface for engaging the peripheral part of the valve 32 as
explained in detail hereinafter.
[0057] The valve 32 is adapted to be mounted in the closure body 30
as shown in FIG. 4. The preferred embodiment of the valve 32 is a
pressure-actuatable, flexible, slit-type valve which is retained on
the inside of the closure body 30 by means of the retaining ring 34
as described in detail hereinafter.
[0058] The valve 32 is preferably molded as a unitary structure
from material which is flexible, pliable, elastic, and resilient.
This can include elastomers, such as a synthetic, thermosetting
polymer, including silicone rubber, such as the silicone rubber
sold by Dow Coming Corp. in the United States of America under the
trade designation D.C. 99-595-HC. Another suitable silicone rubber
material is sold in the United States of America under the
designation Wacker 3003-40 by Wacker Silicone Company. Both of
these materials have a hardness rating of 40 Shore A. The valve 32
could also be molded from other thermosetting materials or from
other elastomeric materials, or from thermoplastic polymers or
thermoplastic elastomers, including those based upon materials such
as thermoplastic propylene, ethylene, urethane, and styrene,
including their halogenated counterparts.
[0059] In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the valve 32 has
the configuration and operating characteristics of a commercially
available valve design substantially as disclosed in the U.S. Pat.
No. 5,676,289 with reference to the valve 46 disclosed in the U.S.
Pat. No. 5,676,289. The operation of such a type of valve is
further described with reference to the similar valve that is
designated by reference number 3d in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,144.
The descriptions of those two patents are incorporated herein by
reference thereto to the extent pertinent and to the extent not
inconsistent herewith.
[0060] The valve 32 is flexible and changes configuration between
(1) a closed, rest position (as shown closed in an upright package
in FIG. 4), and (2) an active, open position (as shown open in an
inverted package in FIG. 9). The valve 32 includes a flexible,
central portion or head 130 (FIGS. 7 and 8). When the valve 32 is
not actuated, the head 130 has a concave configuration (when viewed
from the exterior of the closure 20). The head 130 preferably has
two, mutually perpendicular, planar, intersecting, dispensing slits
132 of equal length which together define a closed dispensing
orifice. The intersecting slits 132 define four, generally
sector-shaped, equally sized flaps or petals in the concave,
central head 130. The flaps open outwardly from the intersection
point of the slits 132 in response to an increasing pressure
differential across the valve, when the pressure differential is of
sufficient magnitude, in the well-known manner described in the
U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,144. The valve 32 could be molded with the
slits 132. Alternatively, the valve slits 132 could be subsequently
cut into the central head 130 of the valve 32 by suitable
conventional techniques.
[0061] The valve 32 includes a skirt or sleeve 134 which extends
from the valve central wall or head 130. At the outer end of the
sleeve 134, there is a thin, annular flange 138 which extends
peripherally from the sleeve 134 in a reverse angled orientation.
The thin flange 138 merges with an enlarged, much thicker,
peripheral flange 140 which has a generally dovetail-shaped,
transverse cross section (as viewed in FIG. 5).
[0062] To accommodate the seating of the valve 32 in the body 30,
the top surface of the dovetail valve flange 140 has the same
frustoconical configuration and angle as the closure body
frustoconical surface 70.
[0063] The other surface (i.e., bottom surface) of the valve flange
140 is clamped by the retaining ring 34 (FIG. 5). The retaining
ring 34 includes an upwardly facing, frustoconical, annular
clamping surface 152 (FIGS. 3 and 5) for engaging the inner surface
(i.e., bottom surface) of the valve flange 140 at an angle which
matches the angle of the adjacent, inner surface of the valve
flange dovetail configuration.
[0064] The peripheral portion of the retaining ring 34 includes an
outwardly projecting shoulder or bead 158 (FIGS. 3 and 4) for
snap-fit engagement with a bead 160 of on an annular flange 162
projecting inwardly from the deck 38, and this causes the ring 34
to clamp the valve 32 tightly in the body 30. This permits the
region adjacent the interior surface of the valve sleeve 134 to be
substantially open, free, and clear so as to accommodate movement
of the valve sleeve 134 as described hereinafter.
[0065] When the valve 32 is properly mounted within the closure
body 30 as illustrated in FIG. 5, the central head 130 of the valve
32 lies recessed within the retaining ring 34. In the preferred
embodiment, the exterior surface of the valve head portion 130 at
the center of the slits 132 is 7.08 mm below the bottom surface of
the nozzle end wall 56 when the valve 32 is closed. However, when
the package is squeezed to dispense the contents through the valve
32, then the valve head 130 is forced outwardly from its recessed
position toward the end of the package and beyond the retaining
ring 34 (FIG. 9)--closer to the end wall 56.
[0066] In order to dispense product, the package is typically
tipped downwardly, or is completely inverted, and then squeezed.
FIG. 9 shows orientation of a valve 32 when the package is inverted
and the container 22 is squeezed. The container 22 is squeezed to
increase the pressure within the container above the ambient
exterior atmospheric pressure. This forces the product in the
container 22 toward and against the valve 32, and that forces the
valve 32 from the recessed or retracted position (FIG. 5) toward an
outwardly extending position (shown in FIG. 9). The outward
displacement of the central head 130 of the valve 32 is
accommodated by the relatively thin, flexible sleeve 134. The
sleeve 134 moves from an inwardly projecting, rest position (shown
in FIG. 5) to an outwardly displaced, pressurized position, and
this occurs by the sleeve 134 "rolling" along itself outwardly
toward the outer end of the package (toward the position shown in
solid lines in FIG. 9).
[0067] However, when the internal pressure becomes sufficiently
high after the valve central head 130 has moved outwardly to the
fully extended position, the slits 132 of the valve 32 open to
dispense the fluent material (FIG. 9). The fluent material is then
expelled or discharged through the open slits 132 toward the end
wall 56 of the closure nozzle 50.
[0068] The above-discussed dispensing action of valve 32 typically
would occur only after (1) the lid 36 has been moved to the open
position (FIG. 2), (2) the package has been tipped or inverted, and
(3) the container 22 is squeezed. Pressure on the interior side of
the valve 32 will cause the valve to open when the differential
between the interior and exterior pressure reaches a predetermined
amount. Preferably, the valve 32 is designed to open only after a
sufficiently great pressure differential acts across the valve--as
by a sufficiently reduced pressure (i.e., vacuum) being applied to
the nozzle 50 and/or by squeezing the container 22 with sufficient
force (if the container 22 is not a rigid container).
[0069] Depending on the particular valve design, the open valve 32
may close when the pressure differential decreases, or the valve
may stay open even if the pressure differential decreases to zero.
In the preferred embodiment of the valve 32 illustrated for the
preferred embodiment of the system shown in FIGS. 1-9, the valve 32
is designed to close when the pressure differential decreases to or
below a predetermined magnitude. Thus, when the squeezing pressure
on the container is released, the valve 32 closes, and the valve
head 130 retracts to its recessed, rest position within the nozzle
50.
[0070] Preferably, the valve 32 is designed to withstand the weight
of the fluid on the inside of the valve 32 when the container 22 is
completely inverted. With such a design, if the container is
inverted while the valve 32 is closed, but the container is not
being squeezed, then the mere weight of the fluent material on the
valve 32 does not cause the valve 32 to open, or to remain open.
Further, if the container 22 on which the closed valve 32 is
mounted inadvertently tips over after the lid 36 is opened, then
the product still does not flow out of the valve 32 because the
valve 32 remains closed.
[0071] In one preferred embodiment, the petals of the valve 32 open
outwardly only when the valve head 130 is subjected to a
predetermined pressure differential acting in a gradient direction
wherein the pressure on the valve head interior surface exceeds--by
a predetermined amount--the local ambient pressure on the valve
head exterior surface. The product can then be dispensed through
the open valve 32 until the pressure differential drops below a
predetermined magnitude, and the petals then close completely.
[0072] If the preferred form of the valve 32 has also been designed
to be flexible enough to accommodate in-venting of ambient
atmosphere as described in detail below, then the closing petals
can continue moving inwardly to allow the valve to open inwardly as
the pressure differential gradient direction reverses and the
pressure on the valve head exterior surface exceeds the pressure on
the valve head interior surface by a predetermined magnitude.
[0073] For some dispensing applications, it may be desirable for
the valve 32 not only to dispense the product, but also to
accommodate such in-venting of the ambient atmosphere (e.g., so as
to allow a squeezed container (on which the valve is mounted) to
return to its original shape). Such an in-venting capability can be
provided by selecting an appropriate material for the valve
construction, and by selecting appropriate thicknesses, shapes, and
dimensions for various portions of the valve head 130 for the
particular valve material and overall valve size. The shape,
flexibility, and resilience of the valve head, and in particular,
of the petals, can be designed or established so that the petals
will deflect inwardly when subjected to a sufficient pressure
differential that acts across the head 130 and in a gradient
direction that is the reverse or opposite from the pressure
differential gradient direction during product dispensing. Such a
reverse pressure differential can be established when a user
releases a squeezed, resilient container 22 on which the valve 32
is mounted. The resiliency of the container wall (or walls) will
cause the wall to return toward the normal, larger volume
configuration. The volume increase of the container interior will
cause a temporary, transient drop in the interior pressure. When
the interior pressure drops sufficiently below the exterior ambient
pressure, the pressure differential across the valve 32 will be
large enough to deflect the valve petals inwardly to permit
in-venting of the ambient atmosphere. In some cases, however, the
desired rate or amount of in-venting may not occur until the
squeezed container is returned to a substantially upright
orientation that allows the product to flow under the influence of
gravity away from the valve 32.
[0074] It is to be understood that the valve dispensing orifice may
be defined by structures other than the illustrated slits 132. If
the orifice is defined by slits, then the slits may assume many
different shapes, sizes and/or configurations in accordance with
those dispensing characteristics desired. For example, the orifice
may also include five or more slits.
[0075] The dispensing valve 32 is preferably configured for use in
conjunction with a particular container, and a specific type of
product, so as to achieve the exact dispensing characteristics
desired. For example, the viscosity and density of the fluid
product can be factors in designing the specific configuration of
the valve 32 for liquids, as is the shape, size, and strength of
the container. The rigidity and durometer of the valve material,
and size and shape of the valve head 130, are also important in
achieving the desired dispensing characteristics, and can be
matched with both the container and the material to be dispensed
therefrom.
[0076] Preferably, the valve 32 and nozzle 50 each have a generally
circular configuration and are aligned along a common longitudinal
axis 170 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5. The central intersection
of the valve slits 132 lies on the longitudinal axis in registry
with the center of the circular locus of the nozzle apertures 58.
Preferably, the unapertured central portion of the nozzle end plate
56 within the circular array of apertures 58 has a diameter that is
greater than the largest diameter of apertures 58.
[0077] The product is expelled or discharged through the valve's
open slits 132 against the end wall or plate 56. The product, which
is typically a liquid, is directed in a stream or streams against
the inner surface of the nozzle plate 56, and some fluid may also
pass directly through the apertures 58. Some of the discharging
product that initially impinges upon the central, inner surface of
the plate 56 splashes generally radially and then through the
apertures 58. A desirable dispersion pattern is achieved when the
fluid flows through the uniquely shaped apertures 58 and exists the
apertures 58 in spreading discharges, sprays, or flows which can
merge to form a fine mist.
[0078] It has been found that the combination of the apertured
nozzle 50 with the valve 32 can provide a desirable fine mist
spray. The size, shape, number, and pattern of the apertures 58 can
be varied as may be desired depending upon the characteristics of
the product being dispensed, depending upon the dispensing
characteristics of the valve 32, and depending upon the desired
mass flow rate of product. The initial velocity and volume of
product discharging from the valve 32 is generally controlled by
the combination of the nozzle 50 and the design characteristics of
the valve and, of course, by the magnitude of the squeezing force
and rate of application of squeezing force to which the container
22 is subjected.
[0079] It will be readily observed from the foregoing detailed
description of the invention and from the illustrations thereof
that numerous other variations and modifications may be effected
without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel
concepts or principles of this invention.
* * * * *