Metering Dispensing Valve

Abstract

Valve for dispensing a preselected amount of viscuous material from a container. The valve includes a reciprocable tubular portion which delivers a preselected amount of the material from the container upon each stroke.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to valves and is directed more particularly to a valve for dispensing a desired quantity of viscuous material from a container.

Products sold in tubular containers and dispensers, such as shaving creams, toothpaste, shampoos, hair lotions, and the like, are often wasted by consumers who, through mistake or miscalculation, dispense substantially more of the product than is needed for a single operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a valve suitable for use with tubular containers and dispensers and having facility for dispensing material from the container in preselected amounts.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, a feature of the present invention is a provision of a valve for dispensing viscuous material from a container, the valve including an end cap member closing one end of the container. The end cap member includes a cylindrically shaped portion having an opening centrally thereof. A tubular member is slidably disposed in the opening, having a first end in the container and a second end extending outwardly from the container. Both ends of the tubular member are provided with openings. A head is fixed to the first end of the tubular member and is adapted to engage slidably the interior walls of the cylindrically shaped portion of the cap member. Means are provided for opening and closing the openings in the second end of the tubular member and means is provided for moving the tubular member whereby to move the head attached to the first end of the tubular member through the cylindrically shaped portion of the cap member to force material into the openings in the first end of the tubular member, thereby to dispense the material from the container. When the head attached to the first end of the tubular member completes its stroke, no further material is dispensed from the container. Thus, there is provided a measured amount of material each time the tubular member is reciprocated .

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular device embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which there are shown illustrative embodiments of the invention from which its novel features and advantages will be apparent.

FIG. 1 is an elevational sectional view of one form of valve illustrative of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational, sectional view of the valve shown in FIG. 1, but showing operating parts in position partially through a stroke;

FIG. 3 is an elevational, sectional view of the valve shown in FIG. 2 but showing operating parts in position at the end of a stroke;

FIGS. 4, 6 and 7-9 are similar to FIGS. 1-3 but show alternative embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that an illustrative valve includes an end cap member 2 attached to one end of a tubular container 4. The end cap member 2 has a cylindrically shaped portion 6 having a hole 8 centrally thereof. The hole 8 receives an elongated tubular member 10 having a first end 12 disposed in the container 4 and a second end 14 extending outwardly from the container.

The first and second ends 12, 14 of the elongated tubular member 10 are provided with openings 16, 18 respectively. The first end 12 of the tubular member 10 has a head 20 attached thereto. The head 20 is shaped so as to complementarily engage the interior walls of the cylindrically shaped portion 6 of the end cap member 2.

The tubular member 10 has fixed thereto, or integral therewith, an apron portion 22 which slidingly engages the external walls of the cylindrically shaped portion 6. The apron 22 is provided with radially extending lug means 24, projecting outwardly from the apron 22.

An actuator 26 for moving the tubular member 10 is disposed upon the second end 14 of the tubular member and includes an apron portion 28 having outwardly extending arms 30 provided with inwardly extending lugs 32. The inwardly extending lugs 32 of the actuator 26 are engageable with the outwardly extending lug means 24. The arms 30 extend through openings 34 in the end cap member 2. The actuator 26 also includes a cup portion 36 which receives the second end 14 of the tubular member 10 and serves to cover the openings 18, thereby interrupting communication between the interior of the container 4 and the atmosphere.

Referring still to FIG. 1, it will be seen that in the nondispensing state, the actuator 26 and tubular member 10 are in positions proximate to the container 4. The head 20 is displaced from the cylindrically shaped portion 6, permitting the contents of the container to enter the cylindrically shaped portion. The cup portion 36 of the actuator 26 is snug against the second end 14 of the tubular member 10, blocking the openings 18. The lugs 24, 32 are removed from each other.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that upon movement of the actuator 26, as by an operator exercising pressure upon the arms 30, the lugs 32 engage the lug means 24 and the cup-shaped portion 36 of the actuator removes from the second end 14 of the tubular member 10, freeing the openings 18. The interior of the container is now in communication with the atmosphere.

In FIG. 3, the arms 30 have been moved to an extreme position removed from the container 4. The lugs 32 in engagement with the lug means 24 have caused the tubular member 10 to move outwardly from the container. The head 20 has therefore entered the cylindrically shaped portion 6 and acted as a plunger in forcing material in the cylindrically shaped portion through the openings 16, through the tubular member 10, and out the openings 18. The arms 30 may then be returned to their initial position to facilitate another cycle. The openings 34 may be provided with detents or indentations (not shown) to assist in positioning and retention of the arms 30 in their top-of-stroke position (FIG. 1).

Referring to FIG. 7, there will now be discussed an alternative embodiment of the invention. The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is similar to that shown in FIG. 1, a notable difference being that an actuator 26' is provided with a first apron 28' having inwardly extending lugs 32' and also a second apron 40 provided with interior screw threads 42. An end cap member 2' is provided with an apron 44 having exterior threads 46 engageable with the threads 42.

In FIG. 8, it will be seen that in this embodiment, the actuator 26' is unscrewed relative to the apron 44 and that after one or two turns the lugs 32' engage lug means 24' and a cup portion 36' of the actuator removes from the second end 14' of a tubular member 10' to free openings 18'. Referring to FIG. 9, it will be seen that further unscrewing causes a head 20' to enter a cylindrically shaped portion 6' to cause extrusion of the contents in a manner similar to that described above with reference to the first embodiment.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there will be discussed still another alternative embodiment including an end cap member 2" having a cylindrically shaped portion 6" which in this embodiment is threaded externally. An elongated tubular member 10" is disposed slidably in a hole disposed centrally of the end cap member. A first end 12" of the tubular member 10" is disposed in the container, has openings 16" therein, and a head 20" mounted thereon. As in previously described embodiments, the head 20" is shaped complementarily to the interior of the cylindrically shaped portion 6" and is slidably movable therein.

The second end 14" of the tubular member 10" extends outwardly from the container and has a flange 50 fixed thereto. A closure member 52 (FIG. 4) is threaded internally to engage the exterior threads of the cylindrically shaped portion 6". The closure member 52 includes a plug portion 54 which, when the closure member is fully screwed onto the end member 2", enters and closes an opening 18" to prevent flow of material therethrough.

To operate the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the closure member 52 is unscrewed from the end member 2", whereby to free the opening 18" (FIG. 5) and open communication between the interior of the container 4" and the atmosphere.

Application of downward pressure (as viewed in FIG. 6) by an operator on the flange 50 causes the head 20" to force material from the cylindrically shaped portion 6" of the end member 2", through the openings 16", the tubular member 10", and the discharge opening 18". To ready the device for another operation, the flange is brought back to its initial position proximate to the end member 2".

Thus, a valve is provided for discharging substantially fixed amounts of material. If a consumer desires more than the amount discharged by a single stroke, he may operate the valve as many times as desired in order to obtain the quantity sought in incremental steps. Inadvertant gross oversupply of material is avoided. Another advantage gained by utilization of the above-described device is that of completely emptying a tubular container. The head moving in the cylindrically shaped portion tends to force the last quantity of material into the discharge passage.

It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the particular construction herein disclosed and/or shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Valve for dispensing viscuous material from a container, said valve comprising an end cap member closing one end of said container, said cap member having a cylindrically shaped portion, an opening in said cap member disposed centrally of said cylindrically shaped portion, said opening being smaller in diameter than the inside wall diameter of said cylindrically shaped portion, a tubular member slidably disposed in said opening, a first end of said tubular member being in said container and a second end of said tubular member extending outwardly from said container, said tubular member including a cylindrically shaped apron slidably disposed on the exterior of said cylindrically shaped cap member portion and having an outwardly extending lug, said first and second ends of said tubular member having openings therein, a head fixed to said first end of said tubular member and adapted to move slidably in said cylindrically shaped cap member portion, said head extending radially outwardly from said tubular member and being adapted to substantially engage interior walls of said portion, and actuator means connected to said valve and having an inwardly extending lug engageable with said outwardly extending lug and having a closure portion for engagement with said second end of said tubular member, whereby movement of said actuator operates to cause movement of said closure portion relative to said tubular member and movement of said tubular member relative to said cylindrically shaped cap member portion.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said actuator is provided with an outwardly extending arm operable to move said actuator lug into engagement with said tubular member lug.

3. The invention according to claim 1 in which said actuator is threadedly connected to said end cap member and rotation of said actuator causes axial movement of said actuator to cause engagement of said actuator lug with said tubular member lug.

4. Valve for dispensing viscuous material from a container, said valve comprising an end cap member closing one end of said container, said cap member having a cylindrically shaped portion, an opening in said cap member disposed centrally of said cylindrically shaped portion, said opening being smaller in diameter than the inside wall diameter of said cylindrically shaped portion, a tubular member slidably disposed in said opening, a first end of said tubular member being in said container and a second end of said tubular member extending outwardly from said container, said first and second ends of said tubular member having openings therein, a head fixed to said first end of said tubular member and adapted to move slidably in said cylindrically shaped portion, said head extending radially outwardly from said tubular member and being adapted to substantially engage interior walls of said portion, and an actuator for opening and closing said opening in said second end of said tubular member and for moving said tubular member in said cap member opening, whereby to move said head in said cylindrically shaped portion of said cap, thereby to force material into said first end of said tubular member and out the second end thereof, said tubular member including a cylindrically shaped apron, said apron having outwardly extending lug means, said actuator having inwardly extending lug means engageable with said outwardly extending lug means to cause said movement of said tubular member in said cap member opening, said actuator having an outwardly extending arm operable to move said actuator lug means into engagement with said tubular member lug means, said actuator further including means operable to cover and uncover said opening in said second end of said tubular member.

5. Valve for dispensing viscuous material from a container, said valve comprising an end cap member closing one end of said container, said cap member having a cylindrically shaped portion, an opening in said cap member disposed centrally of said cylindrically shaped portion, said opening being smaller in diameter than the inside wall diameter of said cylindrically shaped portion, a tubular member slidably disposed in said opening, a first end of said tubular member being in said container and a second end of said tubular member extending outwardly from said container, said first and second ends of said tubular member having openings therein, a head fixed to said first end of said tubular member and adapted to move slidably in said cylindrically shaped portion, said head extending radially outwardly from said tubular member and being adapted substantially to engage interior walls of said portion, an apron portion integral with said end cap and having exterior screw threads thereon, and an actuator for opening and closing said opening in said second end of said tubular member and for moving said tubular member in said cap member opening, whereby to move said head in said cylindrically shaped portion of said cap, thereby to force material into said first end of said tubular member and out the second end thereof, said actuator having an internally threaded portion engageable with said screw threads of said cap member, said tubular member including a cylindrically shaped apron having outwardly extending lug means, said actuator having inwardly extending lug means engageable with said outwardly extending lug means, whereby rotation of said actuator relative to said end cap member causes axial movement of said actuator whereby to cause said inwardly extending lug means to move into engagement with said outwardly extending lug means, said actuator further including means operable to cover and uncover said openings in said second end of said tubular member.