U.S. patent application number 11/881682 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-29 for pressure vacuum release hermetic valve for rigid container packages.
Invention is credited to Bret de Jeor.
Application Number | 20090026199 11/881682 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40294336 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090026199 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jeor; Bret de |
January 29, 2009 |
Pressure vacuum release hermetic valve for rigid container
packages
Abstract
A rigid container package, such as made of tin, metal, etc.,
having an interior for holding particulate material, such as food
stuffs (like coffee beans), under vacuum, and which includes a
mouth to be opened to provide access to the contents of the
package. The package is preferably formed from a rigid material in
the form of a container, such as a tin box, and has affixed thereon
a one-way pressure-equalizing valve. The valve preferably includes
a displaceable rubber disk located on a valve seat and is arranged
to operate such that any gasses within the package are allowed to
vent to the exterior of the package, by passing through the
interface between the disk and valve seat, while the ambient
atmosphere is substantially precluded from entering into the
interior of the package. The disk then engages the valve seat to
isolate the interior of the package from the exterior. A layer of
silicone oil or similar material is preferably provided on the disk
to facilitate operation of the valve. The valve is preferably
attached to the rigid container via an aperture that is made
slightly smaller than the exterior mating portion of the valve,
such that the smaller portion of the valve can be passed through
the aperture, and the expanded
Inventors: |
Jeor; Bret de; (Oakdale,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Patent Office of J. John Shimazaki, PLLC
P. O. Box 650741
Sterling
VA
20165
US
|
Family ID: |
40294336 |
Appl. No.: |
11/881682 |
Filed: |
July 27, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/89.1 ;
426/395 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2205/00 20130101;
B65D 77/225 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/89.1 ;
426/395 |
International
Class: |
B65D 90/34 20060101
B65D090/34 |
Claims
1. A package comprising: a container made of a substantially rigid
material, such as tin or metal, comprising at least one wall or
panel thereon having a predetermined thickness; an aperture
extending through said wall or panel, said aperture having a
perimeter formed with a substantially rigid edge; a one way
degassing valve extended at least partially into said aperture,
providing communication between an interior and exterior of said
container, said valve comprising: an insert portion having a
predetermined thickness extended into said aperture, wherein an
exterior surface of said insert portion has no ridge portion to
hold said insert portion in said aperture, wherein said insert
portion is adapted to be held within said aperture by frictional
engagement with said edge of said aperture; a flange portion
extended on one end of said insert portion, said flange portion
extended outward relative to said insert portion, such that with
said valve positioned in said aperture, said flange is located on
said exterior of said container; wherein the predetermined
thickness of said wall or panel is less than one-third the
predetermined thickness of said insert portion, and said edge of
said aperture engages less than one-third the thickness of said
insert portion; and wherein said container is filled with coffee
beans or other gas emitting particulate material, and said valve is
adapted to allow gas to pass through, such that the pressure inside
the container is maintained substantially in equilibrium with the
pressure outside the container, while substantially preventing gas
from passing through said valve into said container.
2. The package of claim 1, wherein said aperture is formed slightly
smaller than the exterior surface of said insert portion, such that
with said insert portion extended into said aperture, friction
between said edge of said aperture and said exterior surface of
said insert portion helps to secure said valve to said wall.
3. The package of claim 1, wherein said valve prevents the gas from
passing in a second direction which is from the exterior to the
interior of said container, and allows the gas to pass in a first
direction which is from the interior to the exterior of said
container, when pressure in the interior of said container exceeds
the pressure in the exterior of said container.
4. The package of claim 1, wherein said valve comprises a cap and
base member, wherein an interior compartment is formed between the
cap and base member, and a displacement member with a layer of
viscous fluid is provided on a seat inside said compartment,
wherein the displacement member remains on said seat to prevent gas
from passing through said valve when the pressure in the interior
and exterior of said container are substantially equal, but can be
lifted from said seat to allow gas to pass through openings in said
base member and said cap, when the predetermined differential
amount is exceeded.
5. The package of claim 4, wherein the tension provided by said
viscous fluid helps to keep said displacement member on said seat
in a closed position, to keep said hole in said base member closed,
until such time that the pressure differential exceeds the
predetermined amount, wherein said displacement member can be
partially separated from said seat, to enable said hole in said
base member to be opened, and allow the gas to pass through said
cap in said first direction.
6. The package of claim 4, wherein a filter is provided to cover
said hole in said base member.
7. The package of claim 1, wherein the wall or panel is
substantially planar in configuration, and has a flexural modulus
commensurate with said predetermined thickness of said wall or
panel.
8. A method of storing coffee beans or other gas emitting
particulate materials in a container, comprising: providing a
container having at least one substantially rigid and planar wall;
forming an aperture in said wall having a predetermined size;
providing a valve comprising an insert portion having no ridge
portion to hold said insert portion in said aperture, wherein said
insert portion is adapted to be extended into said aperture, and
held therein solely by frictional engagement with a peripheral edge
of said aperture; providing a flange portion on one end of said
insert portion, said flange portion extending outward relative to
said insert portion; inserting said insert portion into said
aperture, wherein the friction between said insert portion and
peripheral edge of said aperture alone maintains said valve in a
substantially fixed position on said wall; and filling said
container with coffee beans or other gas emitting particulate
material, and allowing the gas inside the container to pass through
said valve, such that the pressure inside the container is
maintained in substantial equilibrium with the pressure outside
said container, while substantially preventing gas from passing
through said valve into said container.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said wall has a predetermined
thickness, and said insert portion has a predetermined thickness,
and the predetermined thickness of said wall is less than one-third
the predetermined thickness of said insert portion, and said edge
of said aperture engages less than one-third the thickness of said
insert portion.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein said aperture is formed slightly
smaller than the exterior surface of said insert portion, such that
with said insert portion extended into said aperture, friction
between said edge of said aperture and said exterior surface of
said insert portion secures said valve to said wall.
11. A package comprising: a container made of a substantially rigid
material, such as tin or metal, comprising at least one
substantially planar wall or panel thereon: an aperture extending
through said wall or panel, said aperture having a perimeter formed
with a substantially rigid edge; a one way valve extended at least
partially into said aperture, providing communication between an
interior and exterior of said container, said valve comprising: an
insert portion extended into said aperture, wherein an exterior
surface of said insert portion has no ridge portion to hold said
insert portion in said aperture, wherein said insert portion is
held therein by frictional engagement with said edge of said
aperture; a flange portion extended on one end of said insert
portion; and wherein said container is filled with coffee beans or
other gas emitting particulate material, and said valve is adapted
to allow gas to pass through said wall or panel in a first
direction when the pressure differential between said interior and
exterior of said container exceeds a predetermined amount, wherein
said valve is adapted to maintain the pressure inside the container
substantially in equilibrium with the pressure outside said
container, while substantially preventing gas from passing through
said valve in a second direction opposite said first direction.
12. The package of claim 11, wherein said aperture is formed
slightly smaller than the exterior surface of said insert portion,
such that with said insert portion extended into said aperture,
friction between said edge of said aperture and said exterior
surface of said insert portion secures said valve to said wall or
panel.
13. The package of claim 11, wherein said wall or panel has a
predetermined thickness, and said insert portion has a
predetermined thickness, and the predetermined thickness of said
wall or panel is less than one-third the predetermined thickness of
said insert portion, and said edge of said aperture engages less
than one-third the thickness of said insert portion.
14. The package of claim 11, wherein said valve comprises a cap and
base member, wherein an interior compartment is formed between the
cap and base member, and a displacement member with a layer of
viscous fluid is provided on a seat inside said compartment,
wherein the displacement member remains on said seat to prevent gas
from passing through said valve when the pressure in the interior
and exterior of said container are substantially equal, but can be
lifted from said seat to allow gas to pass through openings in said
base member and said cap, when the predetermined amount is
exceeded.
15. The package of claim 14, wherein the tension provided by said
viscous fluid helps to keep said displacement member on said seat
in a closed position, to keep said hole in said base member closed,
until such time that the pressure differential exceeds the
predetermined amount, wherein said displacement member can be
partially separated from said seat, to enable said hole in said
base member to be opened, and allow the gas to pass through said
cap in said first direction.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The application claims the benefit of the filing date of
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/795,475, filed on Mar. 8, 2004, and
U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/452,499, filed on
Mar. 7, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to substantially rigid
container packages, such as made of tin or metal, etc., and more
particularly to substantially rigid container packages for holding
products in a hermetically sealed condition, e.g., isolated from
the ambient atmosphere.
[0003] Various types of substantially rigid container packages for
holding particulate material under vacuum therein are commercially
available today.
[0004] The major advantages of substantially rigid container
packaging, as compared to relatively flexible packaging, e.g.,
paper, foil, paper cartons, etc., are that substantially rigid
containers store more uniformly and are typically stronger than
flexible packaging. These are significant advantages insofar as
retail sales are concerned. They are also very well known and
accepted throughout the packaging industry and have been for over
100 years.
[0005] One common type of substantially rigid container package
holds goods under vacuum until the package is opened. This is the
so-called "coffee tin" package. Typically, such a package is formed
from tin, metal or other rigid container stock material, into a
tubular or square body, such as in various sizes, and is formed by
machine to create a "sealed" canister.
[0006] One-way degassing valves are sometimes included in flexible
packages to enable gasses produced by the particulate material
within the package, such as coffee beans, to exit from the package,
while preventing outside air from entering into the package through
the valve. Examples of such one-way degassing valves are shown in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,595,467, 3,799,427 and 4,420,015, which are
incorporated herein by reference.
[0007] One drawback of many flexible packaging, such as
commercially available vacuum sealed flexible packaging, is that
when the packages are filled, sealed and evacuated, the walls can
intimately engage the particulate material therein, which can
result in an uneven, bumpy, pebbly or otherwise less than
satisfactory aesthetic appearance. Another drawback is that in
retail packaging, flexible containers are easily broken, such as
when dropped by the customer, or damaged in shipping, thus
potentially creating a dirty, ugly environment. This can be
especially undesirable when the flexible container is broken or
dropped in a supermarket aisle, and its content spilled onto the
floor, which happens regularly.
[0008] Tin boxes, on the other hand, always provide a smooth,
non-bulging aesthetically pleasing appearance, while enabling the
package to be vacuum-sealed to keep the contents fresh. They also
cannot be broken, torn, ripped, etc., thus creating a much stronger
and more ideal vehicle to package fresh sensitive goods.
[0009] Accordingly, a need exists for packaging that is simple in
construction, relatively low in cost to produce, and provides the
advantages of conventional hermetically sealed packaging, but which
has a one-way degassing valve, and is constructed from an
aesthetically pleasing substantially rigid material, so that the
container has a smooth, non-bulging external appearance, that can
be printed on for an aesthetically pleasing retail appearance, and
that is easy to fill, easy to stack, and which constitutes standard
and commonly acceptable packaging.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention relates to a substantially rigid
package container, e.g., made of tin, metal or other substantially
rigid material, having an interior for holding a particulate
material, e.g., dry pet food, coffee, chemicals, etc. The package
is preferably a box-like container formed from tin, metal or other
substantially rigid material and comprises walls or panels, inside
of which defines an open-able mouth for the package, along with a
re-sealable lid. The package preferably includes a pressure/vacuum
release hermetic degassing valve in one portion thereof, such as on
one of its walls or panels. The package is hermetically sealed to
isolate its contents from the ambient surroundings.
[0011] The valve is arranged to operate as follows: The valve
allows any gasses within the package to gain egress from the
interior to the exterior of the package, while precluding the
ambient atmosphere from gaining ingress into the interior of the
package. Any gasses produced by the contents of the package,
therefore, can vent out of the valve to the ambient surroundings,
while any outside air is prevented from entering into the package,
thus keeping the contents as fresh as possible.
[0012] In accordance with one preferred aspect of the invention the
valve includes a displaceable member, e.g., a planar
resilient-material disk or substantially flat member or membrane,
arranged to be disposed on a valve seat, to be lifted therefrom
when the pressure within the package exceeds the pressure outside
the package.
[0013] A layer of a viscous fluid, e.g., silicone oil, is
preferably provided on the displaceable member, e.g., the disk, so
that the fluid is located at the interface of the disk and valve
seat. The Presence of this fluid provides tension to the disk which
can prevent any penetration of air through the interface, but which
allows the disk to separate from the valve seat when the pressure
differential is high enough, i.e., when the pressure in the
container exceeds the pressure outside the container.
[0014] The valve is preferably attached to a wall or panel of the
rigid container via an aperture that is formed in the wall or panel
that is slightly smaller than the exterior mating insert portion of
the valve, such that the insert portion can be inserted into the
aperture, and the expanded flange portion of the valve can then be
allowed to firmly rest against the exterior of the rigid container
material, wherein friction between the container and valve
(resulting from an interference fit predominantly between the
insert portion and aperture) can be used to permanently seal the
aperture and adhere the valve to the rigid container.
[0015] The present invention is essentially a packaging container
for coffee beans and other gas emitting particulate materials,
wherein a pressure release valve is provided on one of the walls or
panels to help maintain the pressure inside and outside the
container in substantial equilibrium. That is, the valve is a one
way degassing valve designed to allow pressure inside the container
to be released, such that a steady state equilibrium pressure
inside and outside the container can be substantially
maintained.
[0016] In this respect, Applicant's container is unlike previous
packaging for coffee beans and the like, insofar as in Applicant's
invention, the package is preferably made of a relatively rigid tin
or other metal material, as opposed to a flexible paper-like
material from which traditional containers for such materials are
made. This allows the package to provide the benefits described
above, including withstanding being dropped, and becoming damaged
during normal transit and handling.
[0017] Applicant's container is also unlike other high pressure
containers, such as aerosol cans, including those shown in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 3,722,753, issued to Miles, and 3,712,501, issued to
Morane et al., which have a valve to help maintain the pressure
inside the container at a relatively high level than the pressure
outside. In Applicant's case, the valve preferably keeps the
pressure from building up at all, by releasing any gas pressure
that might be emitted by the particulate material. Accordingly,
although Applicant's container is preferably made from
substantially rigid material, such as tin or metal, and has a
valve, Applicant's container is not necessarily a high pressure
container, and therefore, the walls of the container can be
relatively thin, and flimsy, and do not need to be as rigid or
thick as in the case of high pressure containers. For example, the
walls or panels of Applicant's container do not need to resist
buckling or deflection that can otherwise be induced by pressure
buildup inside the container, in a direction normal to the wall,
which can occur in high pressure applications.
[0018] Indeed, the wall or panel upon which the valve is mounted is
preferably substantially planar in shape and relatively thin, when
compared to high pressure containers, and especially when compared
to the insert portion of the valve. In fact, the wall or panel can
be less than one-third the thickness of the insert portion, and in
some preferred cases, less than one-tenth the thickness of the
insert portion, wherein the wall or panel can, for example, be as
thin as 0.25 mm or less, while the insert portion can be 3.5 mm to
4.0 mm or higher, if desired. When the thickness of the insert
portion is compared to the thickness of the wall or panel, it can
be seen that the wall or panel is relatively thin, which is
desirable from the standpoint of manufacturing cost, function and
weight. This difference is also desirable from the standpoint of
allowing the insert portion to be more easily inserted into the
aperture, without causing undue damage to the wall or panel, i.e.,
just the right amount of flexibility in the wall will allow the
valve to be easily inserted, while just the right amount of
stiffness will ensure that it does not accidentally get pulled out.
That is, by having the right amount of engagement between the valve
and wall, this helps ensure that there is the right amount of
friction, i.e., low enough to allow the valve to be inserted, and
high enough for the valve to be properly mounted, including
sufficient travel distance to prevent the insert portion from being
pulled and removed from the aperture.
[0019] Although the wall or panel is relatively rigid when compared
to previous flexible material packaging, such as for coffee beans
and the like, it does not necessarily have to be stiff enough,
especially in a direction normal to the plane of the wall or panel,
to resist defection and buckling that can be induced by the
application of high pressure within the container. Accordingly,
Applicant's container is designed with walls or panels that are
relatively thin, and the valve is uniquely designed so that it can
easily be inserted into the aperture. This can be done, for
example, by ensuring that there is no rib portion extending from
the insert portion, as in the case of Morane et al., which can make
inserting the valve into the aperture more difficult, and could
damage the wall or panel as the valve is being inserted. Also, by
making the wall or panel extremely thin, it can be more forgiving
when the valve is inserted into the aperture. At the same time, the
wall is thick enough to maintain a relatively tight fit between the
valve and wall, and provide sufficient contact surface and friction
to keep them together.
[0020] Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to
provide a substantially rigid container package, which addresses
the needs of the prior art.
[0021] It is a further object of this invention to provide a
substantially rigid container package for particulate material
formed from tin, metal or other substantially rigid container
material, which can be hermetically sealed, yet which exhibits a
smooth, non-bulging or concaving exterior appearance.
[0022] It is a further object of this invention to provide a
hermetically sealed tin, metal or other substantially rigid
container package for particulate material, which includes a
degassing valve to permit the package to reach an equilibrium state
in which the pressure within the package is equal to the pressure
outside the package, without allowing exterior air to enter into
the package.
[0023] It is a further object of this invention to provide a
hermetically sealed substantially rigid container package, which is
simple in construction, relatively low in cost, which can be
manufactured easily and which provides an aesthetically pleasing
appearance.
[0024] It is a further object of this invention to provide a
hermetically sealed substantially rigid container package for
particulate material which includes a degassing valve to enable the
release of gas from the interior of the package so it that can be
readily stacked without fear of explosion or bursting, bulging or
convexing of the rigid container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is a representation of a cross section of a typical
tin box having a degassing valve attached thereto on the bottom
floor thereof;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a cut-away side view of the degassing valve
positioned and secured by friction within an aperture extending
through the floor of the tin box, wherein the degassing valve is
shown with the valve seat and disk in the sealed position; and
[0027] FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the degassing valve showing the
disk and valve seat with the disk in the open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an example of a
substantially rigid container package 1, such as made of tin or
metal or other substantially rigid material, constructed in
accordance with this invention. In the preferred embodiment, the
package 1 comprises a tin box 3 having a pressure-equalizing
one-way degassing valve 5 mounted in its base 7 or other surface
(as will be described later) and a lid 9 which securely fits on and
seals the box 3. The tin box 3 is preferably arranged to hold any
particulate material e.g., coffee beans, ground coffee, dry pet
food, chemicals, etc. Moreover, the tin box 3 is particularly
suitable for holding large amounts of such materials, e.g., in
excess of twenty-five pounds, although it can be used for packaging
small amounts or larger amounts as well.
[0029] In the preferred embodiment, the tin box 3 is formed from a
substantially rigid material, such as tin, metal, etc., and
comprises a front wall or panel 11, a rear wall or panel (not
shown), two sidewalls or panels 13, 15, a top end portion 17, the
lid 9, and the bottom wall or panel portion 7. The top end portion
17 of the package terminates and has lid 9 that fits securely on
tin box 3, finishing off the overall appearance of the package. The
bottom wall or panel or base end portion 7 forms the bottom of the
package. The degassing valve 5 (in this drawing) is preferably
mounted in the bottom wall or bottom panel 7, but the degassing
valve 5 can be mounted on virtually any portion of the tin box 3,
including the lid 9, rear wall, front wall 11, or side walls 13,
15. The degassing valve 5 is preferably in communication with the
interior of tin box 3 regardless of its location. The valve 5
enables gasses, which may be produced by the particulate
material(s) contained within the box 3, after it is hermetically
sealed, to vent to the ambient air, without air gaining ingress
into the tin box's 3 interior.
[0030] The front panel 11, rear panel, and the two side panels 13,
15 of the tin box 3 are preferably integral portions of a single
sheet of tin, metal or other substantially rigid container
material. Particularly useful tin, metal or substantially rigid
container material for the tin box 3 is commercially available
companies such as Royal Summit, Inc., of Modesto, Calif., the
assignee of this invention. The lower wall or panel 7 of the tin
box 3 is preferably sealed closed along a transverse, permanent
seam line, closely adjacent the bottom edge. The permanent seam
line is preferably formed using standard sealing techniques, such
as that used by tin box factories around the world. The tin box 3
is preferably arranged to be hermetically sealed by bending the
sheet together, which creates a permanent seal. The lid or top 9 is
manufactured so that it mates with the tin body 3 and seals the
package, thus isolating the contents of the package from the
ambient atmosphere once it is hermetically sealed.
[0031] When the tin box 3 is filled and sealed, the particulate
materials inside will be kept isolated from the ambient air by the
tin box 3 and the application of the top or lid 9. The package can
be readily stacked in multiples in a stable manner. Moreover, the
weight of the stacked packages, plus the close conformance between
the valve on one package, and the abutting wall of an adjacent
package, can help effectively cover the valve to help maintain the
hermetical seal and aesthetics of the package. Any gasses that are
produced by the material within the package are nevertheless able
to vent to the exterior in a normal manner (as will be described
later) through valve 5.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows the valve 5 positioned inside an aperture 19
extending through a portion of the substantially rigid container 3.
In this embodiment, the aperture 19 is located on bottom wall or
panel 7, although in other embodiments, it can be located virtually
anywhere on box 3. The valve 5 preferably has an insert portion 21
that can be inserted and frictionally secured to the inside edge of
aperture 19, and a flange 27 that can be placed over the exterior
25 of the wall or panel 7. This serves as the means by which the
valve 5 is secured to the package 3, with flange 27 firmly resting
on the outer surface of the package. The insert portion 21
preferably fits securely into the aperture 19 that is made slightly
smaller than the exterior of the insert portion 21, such that the
insert portion 21 can be inserted into the aperture 19, and the
expanded flange portion 27 of the valve can then be allowed to
firmly rest against the exterior 25 of the rigid container 3,
wherein friction between the aperture 19 and insert portion 21
(resulting from an interference fit) helps to permanently seal the
aperture 19 and adhere the valve 5 to container 3.
[0033] The wall or panel upon which valve 5 is mounted is
preferably substantially planar in shape and relatively thin when
compared to the thickness of insert portion 21 of valve 5, wherein
the flexural modulus of the wall or panel can be commensurate with
the thickness thereof. In fact, the thickness of the wall or panel
can be less than one-third the thickness of insert portion 21, as
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and in some preferred cases, less than
one-tenth the thickness of insert portion 21, wherein the wall or
panel can be, for example, as thin as 0.25 mm or less, while the
thickness of insert portion 21 (capable of engaging the inside edge
of aperture 19) can be 3.5 mm to 4.0 mm or higher, if desired. This
is preferred. The thickness of insert portion 21 refers to the
distance between the flange portion 27 and the distal end of the
insert portion 21 which can engage the inside edge of the aperture
19 when the valve is being inserted into the aperture 19. The
relative thinness of the wall or panel when compared to the
relative thickness of insert portion 21, and the planar shape of
the wall or panel, are desirable from the standpoint of lowering
manufacturing cost, and weight. This difference is also desirable
from the standpoint of allowing the insert portion 21 to be more
easily inserted into aperture 19, due to the flexibility and
flexural modulus of the wall or panel, without causing undue damage
to the wall or panel. At the same time, the relative thickness of
the insert portion 21 helps to ensure that there is enough friction
for valve 5 to be properly mounted, including the amount of travel
distance that the insert portion 21 would have to overcome in order
to remove valve 5 from aperture 19. Nevertheless, the insert
portion 21 shouldn't be too thick relative to the wall or panel,
such that it would be more difficult to insert the insert portion
21 into aperture 19, due to the amount of travel distance that
would have to be overcome for the valve to be mounted properly.
[0034] Although the wall or panel on which valve 5 is mounted is
relatively rigid when compared to previous flexible packaging, such
as for coffee beans and the like, it does not necessarily have to
be stiff enough, such as in a direction normal to the plane of the
wall or panel, to resist defection and buckling that can be induced
by the application of high pressure inside the container.
Accordingly, Applicant's container is preferably adapted with
relatively thin walls, and valve 5 is uniquely designed so that it
can easily be inserted into aperture 19, without damaging or
deflecting the relatively thin wall or panel. This can be done, for
example, by ensuring that there is no rib extending from insert
portion 21, as in the case of Morane et al., which can make
inserting valve 5 into aperture 19 more difficult. Also, by making
the wall or panel 7 extremely thin, it can be more forgiving when
valve 5 is being inserted into aperture 19.
[0035] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the internal components of valve 5
comprise an upper cap portion 29 connected to a lower base member
30 (which includes the flange 27), with an electrometric, e.g.,
rubber, disk 31 positioned inside an interior compartment 35 formed
between the cap portion 29 and base member 30. The disk can be made
in any conventional material. The cap portion 29 and base member 30
are preferably adapted to be snapped and connected together by
mating sections 32, 34, as shown, with disk 31 inside compartment
35 during assembly. A thin layer of oil 38, e.g., silicone oil is
preferably provided inside compartment 35 on disk 31 adjacent valve
seat 36, to help maintain disk 31 by tension in a sealed position
inside compartment 35.
[0036] The "sealed position" is the one shown in FIG. 2, wherein
disk 31 is positioned against valve seat 36. Disk 31 effectively
covers and seals opening 37, which communicates between compartment
35 and interior of box 3. A filter member 33 is preferably provided
on base member 30 on the interior side 24 of opening 37 relative to
disk 31 to cover opening 37 and ensure that dust and other small
particles from inside box 3, which can interfere with disk 31 and
oil 38, and therefore, the operation of valve 5, cannot be
introduced into compartment 35.
[0037] The valve 5 has two modes of operation. FIG. 2 shows valve 5
in its "closed or sealed" position, and FIG. 3 shows valve 5 in its
"pressure release mode." The second mode shown in FIG. 3 occurs
when a pressure differential is applied to the valve 5 such that
the pressure in the interior of box 3 is higher than the pressure
on the exterior of the package. In this situation, valve 5
functions to equalize the interior and exterior pressures by
allowing the higher internal pressure to break the elastic bond
between the valve seat 36, silicone oil 38, and disk 31, allowing
air to escape in the direction of arrows 40, through filter 33,
base member's opening 37, around disk 31, and through a hole 39 in
cap member 29.
[0038] Once sufficient air has been released out of the package to
equalize the internal and external pressures, the disk 31
automatically returns to it normally flat, unflexed state, shown in
FIG. 2. The surface tension of the silicone oil 38 then reseals the
bond between the valve seat 36, and disk 31. Thus, valve 5 stops
operating in the "pressure release" mode and begins operating again
in the "closed or sealed" static equilibrium mode.
[0039] The "static equilibrium mode" of operation is shown in FIG.
2 and occurs when the interior package pressure and exterior
package pressure are equal. In this situation the disk 31 remains
sealed to valve seat 36 by the viscous nature maintain disk 31 in a
flat, unflexed position, thus keeping valve 5 closed and
impermeable to external, atmospheric gasses (e.g. Oxygen),
moisture, or odors. In all cases, the walls of the package 3 remain
smooth and non-bulging, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0040] As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art the
subject invention provides a valve 5 which allows a tin, metal or
other substantially rigid container package to be substantially and
hermetically sealed in order to protect the package's content
against external gasses, e.g. atmospheric oxygen, moisture and
odors during the large majority of time when internal and external
package pressures are at an equilibrium. Moreover, the valve
provides a viable means for releasing entrapped air in the package
so that it can be stacked and transported with similarly
constructed packages, effectively and economically, without the
risk of rupturing. Thus, the subject invention enables the creation
of an easy to handle, well shaped, aesthetically pleasing, and
durable package by enabling the vacuum therein to be released
during shipment and storage.
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