HK1076081B - Closure with pressure-actuated valve and lid seal - Google Patents

Description

Closure with pressure-actuated valve and cap seal

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system for dispensing fluent material from a container. The present invention is particularly suitable for incorporation into a dispensing closure for a squeezable container.

Background of the invention and technical problems of the prior art

There are many types of packages that include (1) a container, (2) a dispensing system that extends as an integral part or fitment of the container, and (3) a product contained within the container. One such package employs one or more dispensing valves to release one or more streams of product (which may be gaseous, liquid, paste, powder and or granular). See, for example, U.S. patent nos. 5271531 and 6112951. The valve is a soft, resilient, self-sealing, slit-type valve located at one end of a bottle or container, which typically has a resiliently deformable sidewall, the interior of which can be pressurized by squeezing the sidewall. The valve is normally closed when the container is fully inverted and can withstand the weight of the product so that the product does not leak out unless the container is squeezed. The valve opens when the container is squeezed and the interior is subjected to sufficient pressure to create a predetermined minimum pressure differential across the valve.

In the preferred embodiment, the valve remains open at least until the vessel pressure drops below a predetermined value. Such valves may be designed to snap close when the pressure differential across the open valve drops below a predetermined amount. The valve may also be designed to open inwardly when the pressure within the container is less than the external ambient pressure, thereby allowing air to enter the container, which action also returns the resilient container wall from an inwardly squeezed condition to a normal, unstressed condition.

Such resilient valves typically include a central head portion that is recessed inwardly from an outwardly projecting peripheral portion of the valve. Us patent No.6112951 shows such a valve mounted on a dispensing opening of a closure body to which is hingedly attached a cover having a post 90, the post 90 being downwardly extendable toward the valve head when the cover is closed. Sometimes, when the lid is closed on the lid of a container subjected to external forces, such as may be encountered during packaging, shipping and handling, the internal pressure of the container is temporarily increased by squeezing a portion of the container wall. This increased pressure within the container causes the central head portion of the valve to move outwardly. The central head of the outwardly moving valve will eventually open and a small amount of product will be discharged from the container via the open valve, if unrestrained. To eliminate or at least reduce such undesirable events, the post of the cap may prevent the central head portion of the valve from moving too far outward to open. In fact, before the valve slit opens, the central head of the valve comes into contact with the stem of the lid as it starts to move outwards due to the increased internal pressure. Thus, the valve may remain sealed under such overpressure conditions.

While the lid sealing post is generally able to function satisfactorily in its application, the closure incorporating the lid sealing post in the lid adds complexity to the lid structure. More complex cap constructions require more complex molds and molding techniques. The requirement to include a sealing post in the lid limits the design flexibility of the closure designer in terms of lid style and incorporation of other unrelated features.

It would be desirable to provide a device that can prevent a flexible valve in a closure from opening during an overpressure condition without the need to use a protruding sealing post on the lid.

It would also be advantageous if such an improved device capable of preventing the valve from opening during an overpressure condition could also be used as a leak-proof seal for a package on which such a closure including the valve is provided.

The improved closure having a flexible valve and cap without a sealing post is also preferably capable of accommodating a variety of cap designs that provide other desirable features.

It would also be advantageous if an improved dispensing closure system could be readily manufactured from a variety of different materials.

It would also be advantageous if such an improved closure system could accommodate bottles, containers or packages having a variety of shapes and that could be constructed from a variety of materials.

It would also be advantageous if such an improved system could accommodate efficient, high quality, high speed, high volume manufacturing techniques with a low scrap rate to produce products with consistent operating characteristics with respect to each other with high reliability.

Brief introduction to the invention

The present invention provides an improved dispensing closure system for a container having an opening accessible to the interior thereof. The user can easily manipulate the closure system in either a closed configuration that prevents fluid from flowing from the container or an open configuration that allows fluid to flow from the container.

The present invention provides an improved dispensing closure system comprising a closure body and a lid, preferably hingedly connected to the closure body, wherein the lid is free of any outwardly projecting sealing posts. This allows the cap to be more easily moulded with a simpler mould structure. In particular, the lid can be molded at an angle relative to the generally flat closure body top cover (deck) to allow for ease of molding and to reduce the complexity of the mold assembly.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a dispensing closure system is provided for a container having an opening providing access to the interior of the container in which product is stored. The dispensing closure system includes a body extending from a container at an opening, the body including a cover layer defining an orifice. The closure system also includes a lid movable between a closed position facing the cover and an open dispensing position moved out of the closed position. The dispensing closure system further includes a dispensing valve disposed relative to the main body at the deck aperture.

The dispensing valve comprises: (a) a rim portion sealingly engaged with and secured at the body, and (b) a head portion (1) laterally inward of the rim portion, (2) having an outer side in contact with an external environment and (3) having an inner side in contact with the product. Additionally, the valve head includes a normally closed orifice that is openable in response to a pressure differential across the valve to allow fluid flow therethrough.

The valve also includes a resilient flexible connecting sleeve having an inner surface in contact with the product and an outer surface in contact with the external environment. The connecting sleeve has: (1) a first leg associated with the rim portion, (2) a second leg associated with the head portion that positions the head portion laterally inwardly spaced from the first leg to facilitate outward movement of the head portion when dispensing product from the container, and (3) an arcuate connecting portion associated with the first and second legs. The arcuate connecting portion has a generally outwardly projecting convex configuration when viewed from the outside of the closure body. The valve is located on the closure body such that when the valve opening is closed but the lid is in the open dispensing position, the connecting portion of the connecting sleeve extends from the orifice of the cover layer to at least a portion of the cover layer. The arcuate connecting portion has a generally outwardly facing surface that engages the lid to resiliently deform the connecting portion inwardly when the lid is in the closed position. This prevents the connecting sleeve from rolling out too far with the head to a position where the valve opening will open when subjected to a sufficient pressure differential.

The cover system can be easily incorporated into other devices as a separate component system forming a cover that is separate from but mountable to the container. Such a closure may be applied to embodiments in which it is removably or non-removably attached to the container.

Various other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, the claims and the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification, like numerals are used to indicate like parts,

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a representative dispensing closure system in the form of a single dispensing closure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown in an open configuration prior to closing the lid and mounting the closure on a container (not shown), the closure being shown from a vantage point generally above or at the top of the closure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the closure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the closure body taken along plane 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of the valve taken along plane 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but FIG. 5 shows the valve open when subjected to a pressure differential across the valve;

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a portion of the closure including the closure body dispensing orifice and the valve disposed therein, the cross-sectional view being taken along the plane 6-6 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, but FIG. 7 shows the entire closure and shows the cap in a fully closed position, FIG. 7 also showing the closure mounted on a container neck, a portion of which can be seen in FIG. 7;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but FIG. 8 omits the container neck to reveal structural details of the closure body in the area of the container mounting portion; and

FIG. 9 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the closure body dispensing orifice and valve similar to FIG. 6, but FIG. 9 shows the lid in a fully closed position.

Detailed Description

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings disclose only some specific forms as examples of the invention. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The scope of the invention is indicated in the claims.

For ease of description, most of the figures illustrating the invention show the dispensing closure system in a typical orientation that would be at the top of the container when the container is stored upright with its bottom down, and terms such as up, down, horizontal, etc. are given for this position. It will be understood, however, that the dispensing closure system of the present invention can be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in other orientations than the depicted position.

The dispensing closure system of the present invention is adapted for use with a variety of conventional or special containers having various designs, the details of which, although not shown or described, will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art and an understanding of such containers. In the illustrated embodiments of the invention described herein, the containers described herein are not inherently part of, and thus do not limit, the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that novel and non-obvious innovations have been embodied only in the representative bonnet systems described. In other embodiments not shown herein, the closure system may be formed as an integral part or non-removable part of the container, and the invention in this case may therefore be considered to include at least the "closure" portion of such a container.

One presently preferred embodiment of a dispensing structure or dispensing closure system of the present invention in the form of a dispensing closure assembly is shown in fig. 1-9 and is generally designated by the numeral 20 in fig. 1. The dispensing cap assembly 20, sometimes referred to hereinafter simply as the "cap 20", is in the preferred embodiment shown a separately manufactured unit or subassembly for mounting over a container (not shown in FIG. 1). It should be understood, however, that in some applications the dispensing closure system of the present invention may also be formed as an integral part or extension of the container.

The container typically has a conventional mouth or opening that provides access to the interior of the container and to the product contained therein. Such a product may be, for example, a beverage such as water, or other liquid food. The product may also be any other fluent material including, but not limited to, gases, powders, granules, and liquids (including creams, lotions, slurries, pastes, and the like). Such materials may be sold, for example, as food products, personal care products, industrial or household products, or other compositions (e.g., for internal or external use by humans or animals, or for compositions relating to pharmaceutical, manufacturing, commercial or household maintenance, construction, agriculture, etc.).

The container typically has a neck or other suitable structure that forms the mouth of the container. The neck may (but need not) have a circular cross-sectional configuration and the body of the container may have another cross-sectional configuration, such as an oval cross-sectional shape. On the other hand, the container may have a substantially uniform shape along its entire length or height, without any portion of the neck having a reduced size or a different cross-section.

The container may generally be a squeezable container having a flexible wall that a user can grasp and apply pressure to increase the internal pressure within the container to squeeze the product out of the container through the closure 20 when the closure 20 is opened. Such container walls are typically sufficiently inherently resilient so that when the squeezing forces are removed, the container wall returns to its normal unstressed shape. This configuration is preferred in many applications, but is not necessary or preferred in other applications. In practice, the container may be substantially rigid. A piston may be provided in such a rigid container to assist in dispensing product, particularly relatively viscous products. On the other hand, a rigid container may be employed to dispense the contents upside down, which may be achieved only under the influence of gravity and/or under the influence of a small ambient pressure outside the container (e.g., by sucking on the open cover 20).

In the preferred embodiment shown in fig. 7, the dispensing closure system of the present invention is in the form of a closure 20 which is mountable on a container 22 (partially shown in fig. 7). The container 22 may include a body portion or body having an upwardly extending neck 26 as shown in fig. 7. The neck 26 forms an opening 28 into the container interior. In the preferred embodiment shown in fig. 7, the container neck 26 has an external bead 29 that is engageable with the closure 20.

The body of the container 22 below the neck 26 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. Alternatively, the container 22 itself need not have a neck 26. Instead, the container 22 may be constituted only by a body having an opening. The container 22 may have rigid walls or walls with a degree of flexibility.

While the container itself does not necessarily form a part of the broadest aspects of the invention, it will be appreciated that at least the lower portion of the dispensing structure, system or closure 20 of the invention may be formed as an integral or extension over the container 22. However, in the preferred embodiment shown, the dispensing system or cap 20 is a separate part or assembly (e.g., cap) that can be removably or non-removably mounted into an already manufactured container 22 having an opening 28 into the container interior.

It is contemplated that many applications in which the cover 20 is employed may be most conveniently accomplished by molding some or all of the components of the cover 20 from suitable thermoplastic and/or thermoset materials. The components of the cover may be molded separately from the same material or different materials. These materials may have the same or different colors and textures.

As shown in FIG. 2, the illustrated preferred embodiment of the cover system 20 includes three basic components: (1) the housing 30, (2) a valve 40 that may be carried on the housing 30, and (3) a retainer ring 42 for securing the valve 40 to the housing 30. As shown in fig. 3, the housing 30 is a unitary structure having a body 44, a lid 46, and a hinge 48 connecting the lid 46 to the body 44. The hinge 48 allows the lid 46 to move between an open as molded position, as shown in fig. 1-3, and a fully closed position, as shown in fig. 7 and 8.

As shown in fig. 3, the cap housing 30 includes a skirt 52. As shown in FIG. 7, the skirt 52 is configured to surround and extend downwardly around the upper portion of the container neck 26 when the closure 20 is properly installed on the container 22. As shown in fig. 7, the inner peripheral wall extends downwardly from the upper edge of the skirt 52 and forms a peripheral wall edge 54. The bottom of the wall rim 54 terminates at a generally horizontal cover layer 56. A raised platform 58 is provided at a central region of the cover layer 56. The platform 58 is an integral extension of the cap layer 56 and therefore is characterized or considered as part of the cap layer 56.

As shown in FIG. 2, the adjacent portions of the wall rim 54 and the cover 56 form openings or apertures 59A, and a protrusion 59B extends outwardly from the wall rim 54 through each aperture 59A. Preferably, at least two such projections 59B are provided, one on each side of the closure body 44, to retain the lid 46 in the closed position by snap-fit engagement (FIGS. 7 and 8). For this reason, the upper surface of each convex portion 59B is convex (as viewed from above the cap main body 44 in fig. 2), and the convex portion surface is curved downward toward the cap deck 58.

When the cover 46 is moved toward the closed position, the bottom edge of the cover 46 engages the projecting surface of each convex portion 59B. Due to the resiliency of the closure body 44, the projection 59B and/or the wall rim 54 will temporarily deform or deflect outwardly a sufficient amount to move the lid 46 over the projection 59B to the fully closed position on the deck platform 58, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

After the lid 46 has moved or snapped downward over the projections 59B, the projections 59B move from their temporary outwardly deflected positions back to their normal unstressed positions such that the outer portions of each projection 59B extend beyond and face the rim portion of the lid 46, thereby retaining the lid 46 in the closed configuration (fig. 7 and 8).

A generally annular wall 60 extends downwardly from and below the cover 56 (fig. 7). An inwardly projecting snap-in rib 62 is provided adjacent the bottom edge of the wall 60 and is engageable with the lower edge of the container neck rib 29 as shown in figure 7. Wall 60 is sufficiently resilient to accommodate the snap-fit engagement which allows rib 62 to initially slide over the edge of container neck rib 29 and then downwardly beyond that edge so that rib 62 is thereafter able to move inwardly due to the resilience of wall 60 to effect the snap-fit engagement between rib 62 and container neck rib 29, as shown in fig. 7.

Alternatively, the closure wall 60 may be provided with some other container attachment structure, such as a groove (not shown) or a thread (not shown) that engages a thread (not shown) on the container neck. The closure shell 30 may also be permanently attached to the container 22 by induction melting, ultrasonic welding, gluing, etc., depending on the materials used for the closure shell 30 and container 22. The cap housing 30 may also be formed as an integral part or extension of the container 22.

The closure body skirt 52 and wall 60 may have any suitable structure for receiving the upwardly projecting neck 26 or other portion of the container 22 received within the particular structure of the closure body 30, and the body of the container 22 may have a different cross-sectional shape than the container neck 26 and closure body shell.

Also, if desired, as shown in FIG. 7, the closure body 44 may also be provided with an annular seal 64 extending downwardly from the underside of the closure body deck platform 58 which is sealingly engageable with the container neck 26. Such seals 64 may be plug seals as shown or "crab's claw" profile seals or some other such seal, depending on the particular application.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the closure body 44 also includes an annular wall 70 of smaller diameter. At the lower end of the wall 70 there is provided an inwardly extending flange or rib 72 which is engageable with the collar 42.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cap housing body platform 58 on the overlay 56 forms an aperture 76. As shown in fig. 6, the opening 76 may receive the valve 40 secured to the platform 58 by the retainer ring 42. As shown in fig. 2, the retainer ring 42 has a generally annular configuration with snap-in ribs 80 around its periphery. The snap-in bead 80 may be brought into engagement with the closure body bead 72 as shown in FIG. 6. The closure body wall 70 from which the closure body bead 72 extends is sufficiently resilient to accommodate the temporary outward expansion or deflection that occurs when the collar 80 is pushed up into the wall 70. The ribs 72 are configured with a suitably tapered surface so that the collar ribs 80 can slide up the ribs 72 and then through the ribs 72 until the resiliency of the wall 70 causes the ribs 72 to snap back inwardly under the collar ribs 80 and form a secure snap-fit engagement.

As shown in FIG. 6, the upper portion of the retainer ring 42 has a frustoconical tapered surface 82 for engaging the peripheral portion of the valve 40. As shown in FIG. 6, at the periphery of the cap body aperture 76, the cover layer 58 includes a downwardly projecting portion that forms a frustoconical or tapered seating surface 86. The seating surface 86 is cooperatively operable with the surface 82 of the retainer ring to clamp the peripheral portion of the valve 40 in sealing engagement within the bonnet housing 30.

The peripheral portion of the valve 40 may be characterized as a flange 88 having a generally dovetail-shaped configuration when viewed in vertical cross-section as shown in fig. 6.

In other embodiments (not shown), the flange 88 of the valve may have other shapes and the valve 40 may be secured within the bonnet system 20 in other manners. For example, rather than including a separate retainer ring 42, the closure system 20 may simply employ a deformable annular wall similar to the wall 70 that extends downwardly from and is integral with the underside of the closure body platform 58. Such deformable wall may be deformed or crimped onto the flange of the valve to secure the valve in place.

The valve 40 is preferably molded from an elastomer such as a synthetic thermoset polymer, including silicone rubber, such as that sold under the trademark DC94-595HC by the company Dow Corning corp. However, the valve 40 may also be molded from other thermoset or other elastomeric materials, or from thermoplastic polymers or thermoplastic elastomers, including those based on materials such as thermoplastic propylene, ethylene, urethane, and styrene, and their halides.

As shown in FIG. 4, in addition to the rim portion or flange 88, the valve 40 includes a valve head 90 having a discharge orifice 92 formed therein, and a connector sleeve 94, one end of which is connected to the valve flange 88 and the other end of which is connected to the valve head 90 at a rim or peripheral surface adjacent thereto.

The connecting sleeve 94 has a resiliently deformable configuration so that when the pressure within the container increases sufficiently, the valve head 90 moves outwardly to a fully extended position (fig. 5) in which the valve 40 is fully open to enable the contents of the container to be discharged.

Referring to fig. 4, the dispensing valve 40 is shown as having an integrally formed or one-piece, one-piece construction. The valve 40 is preferably molded from a resiliently deformable material, which in the example shown comprises silicone rubber, which is substantially inert to avoid reaction and/or adulteration with the packaged product. In one method of manufacturing the valve 40 of the present invention, the valve 40 is produced at a higher rate by molding liquid silicone rubber.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the rim flange 88 of the valve 40 has an annular planar shape, and the valve flange 88 has a generally dovetail-shaped cross-sectional configuration with an outer or first frustoconical surface 100 and an inner or second frustoconical surface 102. The valve flange 88 at the edge has a relatively large thickness between the outer or first frustoconical surface 100 and the inner or second frustoconical surface 102, which thickness is resiliently compressed by the retaining ring 42 when the valve 40 is mounted to the closure, thereby forming a reliable, leak-proof seal therebetween.

The valve 10 has a head portion 90 (fig. 4) with a circular planar shape and a generally conical structure that is thicker at a radially outer portion of the valve head 90 and thinner at a radially inner portion. The tapered configuration may assist in achieving a snap-action opening operation of the valve 40, as will be described below. More specifically, in the illustrated example, the valve head 90 has an outer side or surface 106 that can interact with the external environment. The outer surface 106 has an arcuate side structure that opens or curves outwardly toward the exterior of the container, the surface 106 having a predetermined first radius. The outer surface 106 of the valve head extends continuously to the connector sleeve 94, and the connector sleeve 94 in turn extends from the periphery of the valve head 90 to the rim portion or flange 88.

The valve head 90 also includes an interior side or surface 108 (fig. 4) that can interact with the product within the container. The inside surface 108 of the valve head has a rim portion 110 with an arcuate side structure that opens or curves outwardly toward the exterior of the vessel and has a predetermined second radius. The radius of the rim portion 110 on the inner surface 108 is greater than the radius of the outer surface 106 so that the two surfaces converge together towards the center of the valve head 90 at the center of the bore 92 and provide the above-described inwardly tapered configuration of the valve head 90. The radius of the outer surface and the radius of the inner surface may both be characterized as spherical radii.

The interior surface 108 of the valve head 90 also includes a central portion or planar central region 112 having a circular planar shape with a substantially planar or flat side configuration and positioned generally perpendicular to the discharge orifice 92. The intersection of the edge portion 110 of the valve head and the planar central portion 112 of the valve head 90 forms a circular locus 114. The flat central portion 112 of the valve head 90 helps to improve the opening characteristics of the valve 40, as described below.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the outer periphery of the valve head 90 is preferably formed by a slightly tapered peripheral surface or rim surface 120 that begins at a peripheral outer edge 122 of the valve head rim portion 110 and extends outwardly therefrom in a slightly tapered manner to eventually merge into the connector sleeve 94. The edge 122 may be characterized as a circular peripheral edge. The outer diameter of the valve head 90, measured along the peripheral rim 122, is somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of the rim flange 88. This spacing between the valve head 90 and the rim flange 88 allows the valve head 90 to move freely in an axial direction along the longitudinal central axis 129 of the rim flange 88.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the valve 40 has a generally circular configuration about the longitudinal central axis 129, the longitudinal central axis 129 also being characterized as extending through the longitudinal axis of the valve 40, and the bore 92 is formed by a plurality of slits 130, the slits 130 radiating laterally from the longitudinal axis 129. Preferably, four slits 130 are provided. A greater or lesser number of slits 130 may also be used. A slit 130 extends transversely through the head 90 from the outer side or surface 106 to the inner side or surface 108.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the slits 130 extend laterally from a common starting point on the longitudinal axis 129, thereby forming four flaps 132 (fig. 5) that are outwardly flexible to selectively allow product to flow from the container through the valve 40. Each slot 130 terminates at a radially outer end. In the preferred embodiment shown, the slits 130 are of equal length, however the slits may have unequal lengths.

In the preferred embodiment, each slit 130 is planar and parallel to the central geometric axis 129 of the valve. Each slit 130 preferably forms a linear path along the outer side 106 of the head and the inner side 108 of the head. Preferably, the slots 130 diverge from a starting point on the longitudinal axis 129 and form an equally sized angle between each pair of adjacent slots 130 such that the tabs 132 are of equal size. Preferably, the four slits 130 diverge at an angle of 90 ° to form two elongated slits that are perpendicular to and intersect each other. Slit 130 is preferably formed so that the opposing sides of adjacent valve flaps 132 seal tightly against one another when discharge orifice 92 is in its normal, fully closed position. The length and position of the slit 130 may be adjusted to vary the predetermined opening pressure of the valve 40, as well as other dispensing characteristics.

It will be appreciated that the apertures 92 may have many different shapes, sizes and/or configurations depending on the desired distribution characteristics. For example, the aperture 92 may also include five or more slits, particularly when a larger or wider fluid is desired and/or the product is a particulate material or liquid-containing pellet.

The connecting sleeve 94 is in the form of a rolled diaphragm having a generally U-shaped cross-section forming an inner surface 140 and an outer surface 142 (fig. 4). The connecting sleeve 94 has a first leg 151 (fig. 4) connected to the flange 88 and a second leg 152 (fig. 4) connected to the head 90 of the valve 40. The second leg 152 is preferably shorter than the first leg 151.

The thickness of each leg can vary, and the thickness of the first leg 151 can be equal to the thickness of the second leg 152. However, in the preferred embodiment shown, both the first leg 151 and the second leg 152 have a substantially uniform thickness, but the first leg 151 is thicker than the second leg 152. According to a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the first leg 151 is about 0.015 inch and the thickness of the second leg 152 is about 0.007 inch. Other thicknesses may be used depending on the material from which the valve sleeve 94 is constructed, the type of product to be dispensed, and/or the overall diameter or size of the valve.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the first leg 151 and the second leg 152 are substantially parallel to each other, and they are both oriented substantially perpendicular to a horizontal plane through the valve head 90. A first leg 151 extends axially outwardly from an inboard portion of the edge flange 88. The second leg 152 has an end that extends axially outwardly from the rim portion 110 of the valve head 90 so as to generally abut and merge with the rim surface 120 of the valve head 90.

The connector sleeve 94 positions the valve head 90 so that a horizontal plane through the valve head 90 extends from within or externally of the rim flange 88. The term "horizontal" is used herein with respect to the vertically oriented dispensing valve 40 as shown in FIG. 4. This plane may also be characterized as a plane that is generally orthogonal or perpendicular to the discharge flow path or direction of the valve.

The connecting sleeve 94 may also be characterized as having a shorter arcuate connecting portion 160 (fig. 4) that connects the longer first leg 151 with the shorter second leg 152 (the second leg 152 being parallel to the first leg 151 when the valve 40 is in its unactuated configuration (fig. 4)).

The dispensing valve 40 is preferably configured to be used in conjunction with a particular container and a particular type of product to achieve the precise dispensing characteristics desired. For example, in designing the specific construction of the valve 40 for liquids, the viscosity and density of the fluid product are very important factors, as are the shape, size and strength of the container. The rigidity and hardness of the valve material and the size and shape of the valve head 90 and connector sleeve 94 are also important in achieving the desired dispensing characteristics, which should be compatible with the container and the material to be dispensed therefrom.

The valve 40 is adapted to dispense flowable products such as liquids or gases, powders, granules or granular materials, and suspensions of solid particles in liquids. The valve 40 is particularly useful for dispensing shampoos, liquid toothpastes, thin oils, thick lotions, water, and the like.

It will be appreciated that the valve 40 may have different shapes and sizes in accordance with the present invention, particularly in accordance with the type of container and product to be dispensed therefrom. The predetermined opening pressure of the valve 40 may vary widely depending on those dispensing criteria required for a particular product. The flow characteristics of the dispensed product can also be adjusted to a greater degree, such as a wider column of fluid, a fine needle of fluid, a plurality of fluids or variations thereof, and the like.

In operation, the valve 40 functions in the following manner. The valve 40 is normally in the initial, protruding orientation shown in fig. 4, wherein the valve 40 is substantially maintained in its original, molded shape without deformation, the connecting sleeve 94 is substantially uncompressed, and the valve's discharge opening 92 is fully closed. When valve 40 is installed in closure 20 as shown in fig. 1, valve 40 is configured such that vent hole 92 remains securely closed after the container is inverted and lid 46 is opened, even when the weight of the fluid product exerts a hydraulic head pressure on the container when it is fully filled.

When additional pressure is built up inside the container, for example by squeezing the container sidewall inwardly by hand, the connecting sleeve 94 begins to deform and the valve head 90 begins to move axially outwardly.

As the interior of the vessel is subjected to additional pressure, the valve head 90 continues to move outwardly until the connector sleeve 94 is substantially fully extended, as shown in FIG. 5. When the valve head 90 is in a substantially fully extended position (fig. 5), the connector sleeve 94 is subjected to significant pressure.

When the interior of the vessel is subjected to further increased pressure, the valve head 90 itself continues to move outwardly. However, since the connector sleeve 94 has been substantially fully extended, further outward movement of the valve head 90 longitudinally tensions or deploys the connector sleeve 90, thereby increasing the outward moment exerted on the valve head 90. Further outward movement of the valve head 90, moreover, tends to flatten or straighten the valve head 90, particularly along its outer surface 106. This flattening motion tends to slightly expand or expand the circular planar configuration of the valve head 90, which expansion is in turn resisted by the radially inward forces exerted by the adapter sleeve 94 on the rim surface 120 of the valve head 90, thereby creating another complex form of stress within the valve 40, including stresses that tend to compress the valve head 90 in a radially inward direction. Since the valve head 90 has a tapered shape, most of the compressive strain is believed to occur near the planar central portion 112 of the valve head 90.

When additional pressure is applied to the interior of the vessel, the valve head 90 continues to move outwardly by further longitudinal stretching of the connector sleeve 94 and further enlargement of the planar shape of the valve head 90. The peripheral edge 122 of the valve head 90 is further elastically deformed inwardly due to the increased torque applied by the adapter sleeve 94. This combined force and motion also serves to further compress the valve head 90 to the divergent condition, wherein upon application of any additional outward force on the interior side 108 of the valve 40, the combined force on the valve head 90 will rapidly open the valve 40 outwardly by causing the flaps 132 of the valve to separate in the manner shown in FIG. 5, thereby dispensing product through the dispensing orifice (and typically also inverting the container and closure). The valve 40 continues to open to the fully open configuration shown.

As the term is used herein, the divergent state of the valve 40 defines a relatively unstable condition in which the valve 40 is in a state just prior to the valve flap 132 beginning to open. As the valve 40 transitions through this diverging condition, the combined forces acting on the valve head 90 are in a temporary unstable equilibrium state and then rapidly move the valve head 90 to a generally convex shape while opening the valve flaps 132 to form an open aperture. In the divergent state, the valve head 90 is in the form of an approximately planar disk (not shown), but its outer surface 106 is cup-shaped and its inner surface 108 is curved.

The first leg portion 151 of the connecting sleeve 94 is arranged such that during dispensing of product through the open valve 40, the valve 40 extends towards the exterior of the closure 20 so as to enable easier viewing by the consumer. The configuration of the connecting sleeve 94 also reduces dispensed product from collecting on the exterior of the cap 20 even when the inverted container is turned to a 30 degree angle from the vertical during dispensing.

The thickness of the valve head 30 and the length of the valve slit 130 may be selected so that the open valve snaps closed when the pressure differential drops to a predetermined level, or even remains fully open when the pressure differential drops to zero.

Referring to FIG. 6, it can be seen that when the lid 46 is open and the valve 40 is in the unactuated, retracted, rest position, the valve sleeve 94 is positioned and configured such that the arcuate connecting portion 160 has a generally outwardly projecting and protruding configuration as viewed from the exterior of the closure body and projects from the deck aperture 76 beyond at least a portion of the landing 58, which landing 58 is part of the deck 56 (FIG. 1). The arcuate connecting portion 160 of the valve 40 has a generally outwardly facing surface that is engageable with the lid 46 to resiliently deform the connecting portion 160 inwardly when the lid is in the closed position (fig. 9). This prevents the connecting sleeve 94 from rolling out too far with the head 90 to a position where the spool bore will open when subjected to a sufficient differential pressure. Since outward movement of the valve head 90 is prevented by the closed cover 46, the cover 46 does not have to be provided with a separate sealing post projecting downwardly into the valve 40. Thus, the inside of the cover 46 can be made substantially flat.

As shown in FIG. 3, because the inner surface of the cap 46 may be generally planar or flat and the outer surface of the cap 46 may be generally planar or flat, the cap 46 may be molded as an integral part of the cap housing at an angle to the cap cover deck platform 58. This allows the various structural features of the cover shell 30 to be easily molded with relatively simple mold parts that can be used in mold assemblies that operate without side draw. This allows for a simpler mold assembly.

As shown in FIG. 6, the outer vertical surface of the first leg 151 faces and is adjacent to the generally cylindrical sidewall of the cap body aperture 76. However, it is contemplated that in another embodiment (not shown), an annular gap or space may be provided between the exterior of the first leg 151 and the cylindrical bore 76.

From the foregoing detailed description of the invention and from the illustrations thereof, it will be readily apparent that numerous other variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts or principles of this invention.

Claims (13)

1. A dispensing closure system for a container having an opening to the interior of the container where product may be stored, the dispensing closure system comprising:

a body extending from the container at the opening, the body including a cover layer forming an aperture;

a lid movable between a closed position facing the overlay and an open dispensing position moving out of the closed position, the lid having an interior side; and

a dispensing valve disposed at the cover orifice relative to the body, the valve having an unactuated, retracted configuration defining a rest position, the valve comprising:

(a) a rim portion sealingly engaged with and secured to the body;

(b) a head that (1) is laterally inward of the rim portion, (2) has an outer side in contact with an external environment, and (3) has an inner side in contact with the product, the head comprising an aperture that is normally closed when the valve is in the rest position, which is openable in response to a pressure differential across the valve to allow fluid to flow therethrough; and

(c) a resilient flexible connecting sleeve having an inner surface in contact with the product and an outer surface in contact with an external environment, the connecting sleeve having: (1) a first leg connected to the rim portion, (2) a second leg connected to the head portion that positions the head portion laterally inwardly spaced from the first leg when the valve is in the rest position to facilitate outward movement of the head portion when product is dispensed from the container, and (3) a connecting portion connected to the first and second legs, the connecting portion being arcuate and having a generally outwardly projecting convex configuration when viewed from outside the body when the valve is in the rest position,

characterised in that the valve is located on the body when the valve is in the rest position so that the connecting portion projects from the aperture of the overlay beyond at least a portion of the overlay when the valve aperture is closed but the lid is in the open dispensing position, the connecting portion having a generally outwardly facing surface which engages the inside side of the lid when the valve is in the rest position so as to cause the connecting portion to resiliently deform inwardly when the lid is in the closed position, thereby preventing the connecting sleeve from rolling outwardly with the head too far to a position where the valve aperture will open when subjected to a sufficient differential pressure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the outer side of the head has a generally concave shape when viewed from the exterior of the container.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is a dispensing closure that is separate from the container but removably attachable to the container about the opening.

4. The system of claim 3,

the dispensing closure comprises a body for mounting to the container; and

the valve edge portion is clamped within the body.

5. The system of claim 4,

the valve rim portion includes an annular flange having a generally dovetail-shaped cross-section forming a first diverging surface and a second diverging surface; and

the body has an annular frustoconical clamping surface engageable with the first diverging surface of the valve flange.

6. The system of claim 1,

said aperture being formed by a plurality of slits, said slits (1) extending through said head between said outer side and said inner side, and (2) extending laterally from a common starting point, thereby forming flaps from said slits, said aperture being opened by outward displacement of said flaps when the pressure inside said container exceeds a predetermined amount relative to the pressure on the exterior of said valve;

the slits are all planar;

each of the slits forms a linear trajectory along the outside of the head and the inside of the head;

the lengths of the slits are equal; and

the slits diverge radially from the starting point so that an equally large angle is formed between each pair of adjacent slits.

7. The system of claim 1,

the second leg is shorter than the first leg;

each of the legs has a substantially uniform thickness;

the first leg is thicker than the second leg;

the sleeve has a generally circular configuration;

the first and second legs are substantially concentric;

the first leg extends axially outwardly from an interior of the rim portion;

the second leg extends axially outwardly from an edge of the valve head; and

the connecting sleeve has a substantially inverted U-shaped cross-section.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein (1) the orifice closes when the pressure inside the container does not exceed the pressure on the valve exterior, and (2) the connecting sleeve has a structure that applies an outward moment to the valve head when the difference between the pressure inside the container and the pressure on the valve exterior exceeds a predetermined amount.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the head interior side has a planar central region and a generally curved radially outer portion that tapers toward the planar central region such that the exterior and interior sides converge toward the planar central region, thereby providing a tapered structure having a reduced thickness.

10. The system of claim 1,

the cap layer has a substantially planar region located around the aperture; and

the cap has a generally planar configuration and includes a generally planar surface that faces the valve when the cap is in the closed position.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the lid is hinged to the deck proximate the deck aperture.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the cover is molded as an integral part of the body.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the body and lid together form a releasable lock that releasably holds the lid in the closed position.