U.S. patent number 3,669,323 [Application Number 04/884,484] was granted by the patent office on 1972-06-13 for one-way valve insert for collapsible dispensing containers.
This patent grant is currently assigned to American Can Company. Invention is credited to Royce Kenneth Harker, Warren Wilson Prickett, Kurt Fritz Roesch.
United States Patent |
3,669,323 |
Harker , et al. |
June 13, 1972 |
ONE-WAY VALVE INSERT FOR COLLAPSIBLE DISPENSING CONTAINERS
Abstract
A collapsible dispensing container tube having a thermoplastic
headpiece united to a tubular body with a one-way valve insert
positioned in the upper part of the tube to perform an
anti-suck-back function by blocking the flow of air into the
tubular body when manual pressure on the tubular body is released
after the dispensing of a desired portion of product from the
tube.
Inventors: |
Harker; Royce Kenneth (Lombard,
IL), Prickett; Warren Wilson (Elgin, IL), Roesch; Kurt
Fritz (Andernach, DT) |
Assignee: |
American Can Company (New York,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
25384714 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/884,484 |
Filed: |
December 12, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/490;
401/186 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
35/14 (20130101); B65D 47/2031 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
35/14 (20060101); B65D 47/04 (20060101); B65D
35/00 (20060101); B65D 47/20 (20060101); B65g
035/38 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/541,490,564
;239/534,521 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
519,120 |
|
Mar 1955 |
|
IT |
|
1,046,518 |
|
Oct 1966 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Reeves; Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Stack, Jr.; Norman L.
Claims
We claim:
1. In a collapsible dispensing container tube comprising a
flexibly, resilient tubular body and an annular headpiece having a
centrally bored neck with a dispensing end opening and a conical
breast with its lower end connected to said tubular body, the
headpiece and tubular body forming a unitary tube structure capable
of containing a product, a one-way valve insert comprising:
an annular base positioned contiguous with the interior surface of
the tubular body, frictionally engaged therewith, and adjacent to
the lower end of the conical breast of the headpiece;
a conical annular shoulder positioned contiguous with the interior
surface of the conical breast of the headpiece;
a conical annular trunk connecting the upper end of the annular
base of the lower end of the conical annular shoulder, said trunk
being radially inwardly spaced from the annular location of
connection between the lower end of the conical breast of the
headpiece and the tubular body;
an annular head positioned contiguous with the lower interior
surface of the neck of the headpiece, frictionally engaged
therewith, said head connected at its lower end to the upper end of
the conical annular shoulder; and
a closure diaphragm positioned transversely of the upper end of the
annular head and connected thereto at the outer edge of said
diaphragm, said diaphragm being spaced remote from the dispensing
end opening of the container tube, said diaphragm having a die-cut
opening therein such that a portion of said diaphragm forms a
one-way valve so that upon compressing the tubular body to dispense
a portion of the product therefrom said product pushes against the
diaphragm causing the one-way valve to flex open towards the
dispensing end opening of the tube permitting the product to
dispense therefrom, and, upon releasing the tubular body to cease
dispensing the product therefrom, the product ceases to push the
diaphragm, the resilience of the one-way valve causing said valve
to close preventing air from being drawn into the interior of the
tubular body.
2. A one-way valve insert, capable of being placed in a collapsible
dispensing container having a flexibly resilient tubular body and
an annular headpiece, said headpiece having a neck with a
dispensing end opening and a breast with its lower end connected to
said tubular body, comprising:
an annular base adapted to be positioned contiguous with the
interior surface of the tubular body in frictional engagement
therewith, adjacent to the lower end of the breast of the
headpiece;
a conical annular shoulder adapted to be in contact with the
interior surface of the breast of the headpiece;
a conical annular trunk connecting the upper end of the annular
base to the lower end of the conical annular shoulder, said trunk
adapted to be radially inwardly spaced from the annular location of
connection between the lower end of the breast and the tubular
body;
an annular head adapted to be positioned contiguous with the lower
interior surface of the neck of the headpiece in frictional
engagement therewith, said head connected at its lower end to the
upper end of the conical annular shoulder; and
a closure diaphragm positioned transversely of the upper end of the
annular head and connected thereto at the outer edge of said
diaphragm, said diaphragm adapted to be spaced remote from the
dispensing end opening of the container tube, said diaphragm having
a die-cut opening therein such that a portion of said diaphragm
forms a one-way valve capable of a flexing action above said
diaphragm position.
3. A one-way valve insert according to claim 2 wherein a feather
edge defines the die-cut opening in the diaphragm.
4. A one-way valve insert according to claim 2 wherein the
configuration of the die-cut opening is in the form of a
spiral.
5. A one-way valve insert according to claim 2 wherein the
configuration of the die-cut opening is in the form of two
semi-circles, positioned tangentially at the midpoints of their
circumferences.
6. A one-way valve insert according to claim 2 wherein the
configuration of the die cut opening is in the form of two parallel
lines with a line transverse thereto.
7. A one-way valve insert according to claim 2 wherein the
configuration of the die-cut opening is in the form of a
multi-pronged star.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates broadly to collapsible dispensing
containers, and is more particularly directed to a one-way valve
insert capable of performing an anti-suck-back function, which is
positioned inside and at the head end of the collapsible dispensing
container.
The one-way valve insert comprising the present invention features
new and improved means, forming an integral part thereof, for
retaining the insert in its desired position in the collapsible
dispensing container independent of the presence of product
therein. Further, the portion of the insert forming the one-way
valve has a new and improved opening fabricated therein providing
an improved one-way opening and closing action of the valve. This
improved one-way valve action allows product in the container to be
easily and readily dispensed therethrough by squeezing the tube in
a conventional manner. Then, when the squeezing pressure on the
tube is released, this improved one-way valve action prevents air
from being drawn into the tube, and, in addition, product contained
in the container remains near the tube head for subsequent
dispensing applications.
Conventional collapsible tubes, made of plastic or composite
laminate capable of containing and protecting a product of a highly
viscous or paste-like character, disadvantageously exhibit the
characteristic of reverse product flow or "suck-back" by reason of
the differential between atmospheric pressure and the internal
pressure within the tube. In other words, when the user of the tube
relaxes the pressure applied to the tube body, as when sufficient
product has been dispensed, a suction effect takes place.
The plastic collapsible tube body, by virtue of its inherent
residual resiliency, makes what may be regarded as a spontaneous
residual recovery when the squeezing pressure is relaxed thereby
causing residual or undispensed product in the tube neck and upper
regions of the tube body to be drawn or sucked into the more
distant regions of the container. The suck-back of residual product
simultaneously causes air to be sucked into the tube body before
the container closure can be replaced thereon.
This is unsatisfactory for several reasons, one being that the
introduction of air into the tube body causes discoloration, flavor
and scent loss, and chemical deterioration of certain products
which contain oxygen-sensitive ingredients.
A second reason is that through inadvertence the container closure
is often not replaced when dispensing is completed. Since by the
suction effect above-described at least the tube neck passage is
void of product, the product contents within the container body are
exposed to the drying effect of atmosphere concomitant with the
above-mentioned losses in the quality of the product.
A third detrimental effect is that air must be dispelled from the
tube before dispensing the product on subsequent uses. Subsequent
dispensing of a desired quantity of product, which, because of the
above-described suction effect has receded some distance from the
dispensing orifice, requires repeated squeezing of a kneading
action to advance the product toward the dispensing orifice. This
is laborious and time-consuming, and if the tube body is opaque, as
is often the case, repeated squeezings frequently result in the
expulsion of more product than desired.
One prior art approach to the suck-back problem has been the use of
a cap with stand-up capabilities to permit the tube contents to
drain back into the neck when the tube was not in use. However,
this approach is unsatisfactory for the first two reasons stated
above. Further, this expedient introduces packaging design problems
if an exterior carton is desired, and also requires substantial
distance between shelves for storage, as well as markedly
increasing the cap costs.
Other prior art approaches proposed as solutions to the problem of
exposing the product to the drying effect of atmosphere, a problem
related to suck-back, are equipping the tube body or neck with a
flapper valve, or as an alternative, surmounting the dispensing
orifice with a conically shaped member having slits therein.
Examples of these types of solutions are found in U.S. Pat. Nos.
1,122,868, 1,607,993 and 3,081,006.
U.S. Pat No. 1,122,868 to Davis proposes a one-way disk valve
unsupported except by the product contained in the tube (called a
"floating" disk). However, a disadvantage of this proposed solution
is that the "floating" nature of the one-way disk valve contributes
to its probable dislocation from its desired operative position
after repeated dispensing of tube product by the effect of residual
reverse product flow or suck-back occurring simultaneously with the
release of squeezing pressure upon the tube.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,607,993 to Loewy proposes a one-way closure valve
retained in the neck of a container tube by the pressure of product
against its flanged bottom. However, the disadvantage of this
proposed solution is the probability that, like the disk valve
above-discussed, the closure valve would become dislocated from its
desired operative position in the neck of the tube.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,081,006 to Land proposes an aperture disk valve
unit permanently anchored to the tube. While the problem of
probable dislocation of the valve unit is not present here, the
complicated, slow and expensive process of assembling the parts
makes this solution impractical.
In contrast to the unsatisfactory approaches above-discussed, the
present invention provides a simple, unitary insert structure,
capable of being snugly engaged with both the upper tube body and
the lower tube neck, which is not susceptible to dislocation from
its desired operative position and does not require a permanent
anchoring arrangement to retain it therein.
The new and improved arrangement of structural elements comprising
the one-way valve insert of the present invention will be hereafter
described in more detail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The one-way valve insert forming the present invention is a plastic
unit, thermoformed or injection molded from a suitable
thermoplastic material, with a die-cut opening of a desired
configuration in the diaphragm portion of the unit. In fabricating
the die-cut opening, a cutting die with a slightly radiused or
blunted cutting edge may be used to produce a feather-edge cut
which improves the one-way opening and closing action of the valve
as compared to a clean cut produced by a sharp-edged die. Unlike
the prior art above-discussed, the new and improved unit structure
comprising the present invention is dimensioned to be anchored in
its desired operative position in the tube, independent of the
pressure provided by the presence of product contents therein, by a
frictional fit of two separate annular areas of the unit
respectively to two separate areas of the container tube. Thus, the
present invention eliminates the need for additional anchoring or
sealing-in features and the dependence upon the presence of product
in the container tube.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a collapsible dispensing
container tube embodying the new and improved concept of this
invention as illustrated by the broken-line outline of the one-way
valve insert positioned in the upper part of the container;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the one-way valve insert;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially
along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1, illustrating the valve portion of
the insert in a closed position;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view similar to FIG. 3,
illustrating the valve portion of the insert in an opened
position;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken
substantially along the line 5--5 of FIG. 2, illustrating a
feather-edged cut;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial top plan view of the insert,
schematically illustrating the particular configuration of the cut
in the diaphragm of the insert shown in FIG. 2; and
FIGS. 7-12 are enlarged partial top plan views of the insert
similar to FIG. 6, schematically illustrating modified
configurations of the cut in the diaphragm of the insert.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a collapsible dispensing container tube 20
embodying the new and improved concept of the present invention as
illustrated by the broken-line outline of a one-way valve insert,
generally designed 21 (see FIG. 2), positioned in the upper part of
the tube.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is illustrated the upper section
of the collapsible dispensing tube 20 comprising a tubular body 22
connected at its upper end to a headpiece, generally designated 24.
The tubular body 22 may be of any suitable material capable of
containing and protecting the product contents of the tube, such as
flexible, resilient plastic or composite laminate material for high
viscosity or paste-like products, and also capable of thermally
uniting with the headpiece 24.
The headpiece 24, of a readily moldable thermoplastic material such
as polyethylene, includes a neck 26 surmounting a breast 28. In
order for the tube to be capable of dispensing a product contained
therein, the neck 26 has an orifice 30 leading from its upper end
into a central bore 32 in the neck 26, the central bore 32 further
communicating with the hollow interior of the collapsible tube 20.
The neck 26 is externally screw threaded to receive a screw cap 34
for closing the orifice 30. The breast 28 of the headpiece 24 is
thermally molded about its peripheral band area 36 to the upper
interior wall 37 of the tubular body 22.
Shown in FIG. 2 is an illustrative embodiment of the one-way valve
insert 21 thermoformed or injection molded from a suitable
thermoplastic material. Basically, the insert structure includes a
one-way valve 40 fabricated in a closure diaphragm 42 which is
supported by a small annular head 44, the head 44 being further
supported by a conical annular body, generally designated 46. The
conical annular body 46 has a large annular base 48 and a conical
annular shoulder 50, and, further, a trunk 52 which connects the
base 48 with the shoulder 50.
The insert 21 in its desired operative position is illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 4. It can be seen therein that the exterior surface of
the base 48 is contiguous with the interior surface 53 of the
tubular body 22, and frictionally fit therewith. Also, as shown
therein, the exterior surface of the head 44 is contiguous with the
lower interior surface of the neck 26, and frictionally fit
therewith. At these two contact areas, since the insert structure
is frictionally fit to the container, the need for additional
anchoring or sealing-in features is thereby eliminated.
Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the exterior surface of
the shoulder 50 is contiguous with the interior surface of the
breast 28.
The one-way valve 40 may be fabricated in the closure diaphragm 42
of the head 44 by the use of a cutting die. If desired the die may
have a slightly radiused or blunted cutting edge to provide the
closure diaphragm 42 with die-cut feather edges 54, defining an
opening 56 of a certain specified configuration. The feather edges
54, illustrated in FIG. 5, have a reduced cross-sectional area of
contact, as compared to that of sharp edges which are produced by a
cutting die with a sharp cutting edge. This improves the one-way
opening and closing action of the valve by reducing the area of
frictional resistance between the edges. Consequently, the one-way
valve 40 is more sensitive to application of squeezing pressure on
the tubular body 22 during dispensing.
In operation, the container is uncapped and the product is easily
and readily dispensed through the feather-edged die-cut opening 56
of the insert 21 by the application of squeezing pressure to the
tubular body 22 in a conventional manner. As long as pressure is
being applied by the movement of the product in the direction of
the dispensing orifice 30, the inherent resilient bias of the
one-way valve 40 to retain its original closed position
transversely of the head 44 will be overcome and the one-way valve
40 will remain open. However, the instant the pressure is relaxed,
the inherent resilient bias of the valve 40 causes it to return to
its original closed position. Thus, the subsequent back pressure
produced by the inherent residual resilience of the tubular body
22, which results in the suck-back of air, is prevented from
occurring with the desired result that the one-way valve action
prevents air from being drawn into the tubular body 22.
Referring to FIGS. 6-12, there is schematically illustrated the
various feather-edged die-cut configurations which the one-way
valve can take, all of which suitably perform to achieve the
desired results of the present invention.
One configuration of the one-way valve opening is in the form of a
spiral having a long increasing radius (FIGS. 2 and 6). Another
configuration of the one-way valve opening is in the form of a
spiral having a short increasing radius (FIG. 7). Yet another
configuration of the one-way valve opening is in the form of a
large H (FIG. 8). A further configuration of the one way valve
opening is in the form of a cross (FIG. 9). Another configuration
of the one-way valve opening is in the form of an eight-pronged
star (FIG. 10). Still another configuration of the one-way valve
opening is in the form of a six-pronged star (FIG. 11). A still
further configuration of the one-way valve opening is in the form
of two semi-circles, positioned tangentially at the midpoint of
their circumferences (FIG. 12).
It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant
advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it
will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,
construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its
material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a
preferred embodiment thereof.
* * * * *