Dispensing Valve Assembly Including Integrally Molded Spring

Abstract

A dispensing valve for pressure packaging has a flow adapter cup with integral spring portions molded to extend upward in a circle around the bottom flow inlet. Tips of the spring portions abut against a face on the lower part of the rigid valve stem. On displacing the valve stem downward or by tilting, the spring portions bias it to closed position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dispensing valves for pressure packaging, and particularly to valves of the type having a tube extending downward to the bottom of the container to which the valve is attached, to conduct flow of the packaged product to the valve. Conventionally the valve part to which such tube is connected is a molded plastic cuplike flow adaptor. Such valves usually open either by being pressed downwardly or by tilting, to displace a rigid stem member from a rubberlike seal, not relied on to close the valve. Rather a spring, enclosed in the cuplike flow adapter is relied upon to furnish a positive valve closing force. Such a spring is usually a spiral wire, but may be some other type of spring, such as a metal disc.

Metal springs are affected by products of certain chemical composition; and may react with the product to cause it to form aggregations which may block the valve or at least prevent it from closing completely.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purposes of the present invention include providing a molded plastic cuplike flow adapter with integral spring means, both to simplify assembly and to avoid the undesirable chemical reactions of metal springs. A further purpose is to provide an integral spring construction which is suited for valves which open by downward displacement as well as for valves which open by tilting.

These purposes, as well as others which will be apparent from the specification which follows, are fulfilled in the present invention by providing a flow adapter molded of one of the conventional, fairly hard plastics, characterized by a degree of elastic resilience. A cuplike portion of the molded adapter has a bottom inlet at its center, about which there is an upwardly extending circle of integral, relatively flat, separately bendable members. These bendable members preferably have upward and outward sloping inner tip faces, which abut against a lower outer side of a rigid valving member, to resist its displacement and bias it to closed position when it is displaced downward or by tilting. The slope of these faces also permit the bendable members to take up manufacturing tolerance, for example, in the tightness with which the adapter is crimped, within the top of a dispenser, against a rubberlike washer which mounts the rigid valving member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a valve assembly embodying the present invention, of the type adapted to open by downward movement.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the cuplike flow adapter utilized in the valve assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the valve assembly depressed by downward movement of an actuator shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a modified valve assembly adapted to open by tilting.

FIG. 6 shows the embodiment of FIG. 5 in open position--a tilt actuator thereon being shown in phantom lines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present valve assembly is utilized with a pressure container such as the can designated b, fragmentarily shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. Such a container is closed by crimping into its mouth a container top member generally designated d having a central, flat top pedestal f with a central aperture g. Beneath the top of the pedestal f an annular washerlike seal 11, having a central bore 12 slightly smaller than the top aperture g. The seal 11 is mounted and held in place by crimping the sidewall of the pedestal f against and beneath the outstanding upper rim 13 of the substantially cylindrical wall 14 of a cuplike adapter member generally designated 15. The cuplike member 15 has a bottom wall 17 including a hollow nipplelike projection 18 through which is provided a bottom central inlet 19 to the cuplike member 15. Onto the projection 18 a dip tube 20 is mounted, to extend downwardly to a point close to the bottom (not shown) of the container b.

Mounted within the bore 12 of the seal 11 is a rigid valving member generally designated 22. In the embodiment described, the rigid valving member 22 is molded of a substantially rigid plastic, and includes a hollow stem portion 23 having a lower, substantially cylindrical, part 24 grasped sealedly by the seal 11. Beneath the cylindrical part 24 so grasped is a flow passage 25 which extends laterally into the base of the hollow in the stem portion 23. Beneath the flow passage 25, the rigid valving member 22 has radially enlarged head portion generally designated 26 whose upper annular surface 27 normally seals against the lower surface of the seal 11, to close off the flow passage 25.

The rigid valving member 22 so described is displaceable to an open position relative to the seal 11 by downward movement, as shown in FIG. 3. In the alternate embodiment, hereafter to be described, the corresponding valving member 122 is opened by tilting. It is to be recognized that the portions heretofore described are conventional; the novel features will now be described and explained.

Beneath the annular surface 27, the head portion 26 has a short solid cylindrical projection portion 28 extending downward. It includes a downwardly presented projection rim 29 used for camming engagement; in lieu of the rim 29, a camming surface might be utilized.

Extending upward from the bottom 17 of the cuplike member 15 are a plurality of integral bendable spring means generally designated 30. To give them the necessary springlike elasticity the cuplike member 15 is molded of any suitable, fairly rigid, somewhat elastic, plastic material. Preferably the spring means 30 are arranged in a circle concentric with the axis h defined by the central inlet 19, about which the rim portion 13 of the cuplike adapter member 15 is also concentric. As shown most clearly in the perspective view, FIG. 2, the bendable spring means 30 are a plurality of relatively slender, leaf springlike vertical members 31, separated from each other by vertical openings 32 extending downward to a level well below their upper tip portions, to be described.

At the upper tip portions of the bendable members 31, each has a radially inner face 33 which slopes upward and outward. The angle of slope may be any convenient angle suitable for camming engagement, for example, 60.degree.. When the rigid valving member 22 is in its upward, normally closed position, the rim 29 abuts against the bendable members 31 near their outermost edges of the sloping faces 33. The height of the bendable members 31 is such that abutment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, will be achieved on assembly when the sidewall of the pedestal f is crimped inward as shown. Any manufacturing tolerance will be taken up by outward bending of the bendable members 31, as hereafter described.

An assembly consisting of the mounting cup d, the rigid valving member 22 the seal 11, the cuplike member 15 and the dip tube 20, is mounted in the mouth container b by crimping as shown in FIG. 1, the contents to be dispensed having first been filled into the container b, and pressurizing gas being added in any conventional manner.

To operate the valve to dispense the contents of the container b, a dispensing head j, shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3, is added. Downward pressure on the dispensing head j depresses the rigid valving member, displacing it downward from its closed position against the lower surface of the seal 11, to permit contents of the container b to flow upward through the dip tube 20, into the central inlet 19 of the cuplike member 15, then through the vertical openings 32 between the bendable members 31, around and over the valving head 26, through the flow passage 25, and out through the hollow stem 23.

When the rigid valving member 22 is so pressed downward, engagement of the projection rim 29 against their sloping faces 33 causes the bendable members 31 to cam elastically outward, as shown in FIG. 3, thus to resist downward displacement and to bias the rigid valving member 22 to closed position. Preferably the bendable members 31 are spaced inwardly from the cup wall 14 a radial distance substantially less than their thickness; and the radius of the cylindrical projection portion 28 is nearly as great as the radial distance to the outer surface of the bendable members 31. Thus when the valving member 22 is depressed downwardly to the maximum extent, as shown in FIG. 3, the inner surface of the cup wall 14 limits the extent to which the bendable members 31 may cam elastically outward, serving as a stop against further downward movement of the valving member 22.

In the embodiment heretofore described, it is desirable that the rigid valving member 22 be not permitted to tilt. Accordingly, beneath the cylindrical projecting portion 28 of the valve head 26, an integral central shaft portion 36 extends downward. Its outer diameter is but slightly less than the inner diameter of the circle of the spring members 31, into which it projects. The lower end of the shaft portion 36, which extends below the bases of the spring members 31, has vertical feed grooves 37, best shown in the enlarged cross-sectional view FIG. 4. Their length permits flow to the vertical openings 32 between the bendable members 31 even when the valving member 22 is pressed fully downward; thus flow will not be cut off even when the valving member 22 is depressed to the full down position shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 also illustrates how the members 31 are bent outwardly, against the inner surface of the cup wall 14, when the valving member 22 is depressed to the FIG. 3 position.

The alternate embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 utilizes the identical can b, mounting cup d, seal 11, and also the cuplike member 15, whose details are shown in the perspective view FIG. 2. This embodiment however is designed for tilt operation, as shown in FIG. 6, in which a tilt actuator k is shown in phantom lines. The rigid valving member 122 differs from the rigid valving member 22 only in certain details to be described; otherwise its parts are identical. These identical parts include a hollow stem portion 123, cylindrical part 124, lateral flow passage 125 and head portion 126.

Being adapted for tilt operation, the valving upright member 122 has no long shaft portion 36, as that of the FIG. 1 pushdown embodiment. Instead, it has a very short stub extension 136 extending downward only to the lowermost edges of the sloping faces 33 of the tip portions of the bendable members 31, as shown in FIG. 5; beneath the stub extension 136 is an inverted truncated conical tip 138. When the valve is tilted as shown in FIG. 6, a strong spring bias for restoring the valving member 122 to upright closed position, is effected by sideward shift of the conical tip 138.

To dispense, the tilt actuator k is tilted, as shown in FIG. 6. The conical tip 138 presses against the inner, substantially vertical surfaces of one or more of the bendable members 31, at a level immediately below its tip portion face 33. By so pressing a bendable member or members to deflect elastically outward, a strong restoring force is established. The limit of tilting is reached when such member 31 strikes the inner surface of the cup wall 14.

It is particularly advantageous that both such pushdown valves and tilt valves may use the same cuplike member 15. The integral bendable members 31 elastically bias the rigid valving member 22 or 122 to closed position, when pressed downward in the one embodiment, or when tilted in the other. In the FIG. 5 embodiment, using the short stub shaft portion 136, positive-closing action with easy tilt is provided; whereas the FIG. 1 embodiment tilt is prevented, by the abutment of the long shaft portion 36 near the bottom of the assembly, and by the resistance near the top of the assembly which the seal 11 offers against radial displacement of the rigid valving member 22.

Thus, regardless of whether tilt operation or downward operation is desired, the present invention makes it unnecessary to use metal springs, simplifying assembly and avoiding undesirable chemical reactions.

Many possible modifications will be apparent, especially in details of engagement between the bendable members 31 and the downward projection 38 and stub extension 36 of the rigid valving member 22, 122. Especially obvious are changes which might be made if it were not desired to use the same cuplike adapter member 15 for both pushdown valves and tilt valves. Thus, if only tilt operation was contemplated, the engaging faces 33 might be substantially vertical, and they might engage a side surface of the stub extension 136, instead of the rim 129. Likewise, the proportions of the various members shown may be altered to suit particular purposes for which the valves are to be used.

In both the pushdown and the tilt-operative embodiments as illustrated, the radially bendable vertical leaf spring members 31 are shown as formed integrally with the fixed-position cuplike member 15, to bear against a camming surface or edge (such as the rim 29, 129) formed on the movable valving member 22, 122. This relationship may be reversed; thus radially bendable members might be formed integrally with such a valving member, to project downward from its head and, on being depressed or tilted, to be bent radially by inner wall surfaces or camming faces within the cuplike member 15. Persons skilled in the art will choose between the relationship in the illustrated embodiments or such a reverse relationship, on considerations of each of molding and assembly of the particular construction to be utilized.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing valve assembly comprising

a container top member having an aperture,

an annular seal therebeneath,

a rigid valving member projecting downward through and beneath the seal and there having a head, the valve having a closed position against the undersurface of the seal and displaceable to an open position in which the valving member is displaced relative to the seal undersurface,

a fixed rigid member adjacent to the downward projection of said valving member, and

radially bendable molded plastic spring means operable between the fixed rigid member and the valving member, to bias the valving member to said closed position,

wherein the fixed rigid member is a cuplike member having an upper rim sealed by the outer portion of the annular seal, and has

a bottom including a central inlet defining an axis for said cuplike member about which the said rim is concentric, and in which

said bendable spring means comprises a plurality of bendable members formed integrally with the cup and extending upward from its bottom in a circle concentric with said axis,

said members having tip portions abutting a downward projection of the rigid valving member.

2. The dispensing valve assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein

the tip portions which so abut said downward projection include radially inner faces sloping upward and outward,

whereby pressure of the downward projection thereagainst, effected on assembly or by downward movement of the rigid valving member, bends the said bendable members outwardly from the axis, and their resistance to bending exerts an upward restoring force on said rigid valving member.

3. A dispensing valve assembly adapted to open by downward movement only, comprising

a dispensing valve assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein

a said rigid valving member has a central shaft portion extending substantially downward below its said downward projection and along said axis, and terminating at a level adjacent to the inlet, and

the cuplike member is provided with means below the tip portions of said bendable members to abut the radially outer side of said shaft portion,

whereby tilting of the rigid valving member is prevented by the abutment of said means against the shaft portion and the resistance offered by the annular seal against radial displacement.

4. A dispensing valve assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein

the valve assembly is of the type which opens by tilting of said rigid valving member, and

said rigid valving member has a shaft tip portion extending centrally between said bendable spring means to a level immediately below their tip portions, and terminating substantially above their bottom portions,

whereby said shaft tip portion will bear against said spring means at said level when the valving member is tilted.

5. For use as a part of a dispensing valve assembly of the type having a rigid valving member displaceable downward or by tilting,

a combined flow adapter and spring molded of a plastic characterized by a degree of elastic resilience and integrally comprising

a cuplike portion having a cup wall terminating in a rim and having a bottom including an inlet, and

a plurality of bendable members extending upwardly in a circle concentric with said rim and having upper tip portions,

the said bendable members being of such height that their tip portions abut against such valving member,

whereby to resist its placement and bias it to closed position.

6. A molded plastic combined flow adapter and spring as defined in claim 5, wherein

the bottom inlet to the cuplike portion is at its center, and

the bendable members are separated from each other by vertical openings extending downward to a level below their tip portions,

whereby to permit flow from the inlet radially outward between said bendable members.

7. A molded plastic combined flow adapter and spring as defined in claim 5, wherein

the said upper tip portions of the bendable members have radially inner faces sloping upward and outward,

whereby to cam elastically outward responsive to downward displacement of such rigid valving member.

8. A molded plastic combined flow adapter and spring as defined in claim 7, wherein

the bendable members are spaced inwardly from the cup wall a radial distance less than their thickness,

whereby the cup wall limits the extent to which said members may cam elastically outward.