A self-closing closure for a tube or package having a resilient wall for dispensing flowable material upon the application of pressure on the tube, utilizing a relatively stiff spider for supporting an outwardly extending valve stem having a closed outer surface and a diaphragm member having its periphery interconnected with the periphery of the spider to form a closure unit and its inner portion forming a valve with the valve stem. The diaphragm member is formed with a relatively thick flange substantially parallel with the walls of the tube for interconnection therewith, a relatively thin, resilient planar portion extending inwardly toward the stem, and a substantially tubular portion surrounding the stem and terminating in an open lip which makes a close, sliding fit with the outer surface of the stem. The resilient, planar portion of the diaphragm member is normally concave, being formed with an unstressed negative angle of substantially 5.degree. to 15.degree. with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube. When assembled with the spider, the stem interacts with the lip of the tubular portion of the diaphragm member to reduce the negative angle by about 2.degree. and to form a secure closure in the rest position of the planar portion. When pressure on the tube above a predetermined value is applied, the planar portion of the diaphragm member is forced outwardly by the contents of the tube to a convex shape having a positive angle not to exceed 8.degree., carrying the lip of the tubular portion away from the stem and opening the valve. Upon release of the pressure on the tube, the planar portion of the diaphragm member automatically returns to its rest position having a concave configuration with respect to the flange and the tube and securely closing the tube.
This invention relates to a self-closing apparatus which enables flowable substance present in a container to be dispensed therefrom. The apparatus includes a flexible diaphragm having an outlet aperture, and a stud which is fixed in relation to the diaphragm and which is located inwardly thereof, wherein the stud so coacts with the outlet aperture that the diaphragm in its normal position will rest with its outlet aperture resiliently in abutment with the stud and therewith close the container, and so that upon application of a pressure difference across the diaphragm to dispense substance from the container, the diaphragm will resiliently move away from the stud and therewith expose the outlet aperture. The diaphragm includes at least two deformation zones which are spaced at different distances from the outlet aperture, wherein these deformation zones extend around the outlet aperture, and are disposed as concentric circles having a center in the outlet aperture, and have the form of folds which include weakenings in the diaphragm thickness, thereby enabling the remainder of the diaphragm to have an uneven thickness without detrimentally affecting the mutual coaction between stud and diaphragm as the closure apparatus opens and closes.
A safety container for dispensing highly flammable liquids is described, which comprises flexible compressible container walls and a safety valve which is designed as a membrane-controlled cone valve, closable by a cap. The membrane exhibits a central hole bounded by a sealing edge, through which a valve cone is inserted and contacted by the sealing edge. The cone valve is operated by pressing the flexible container walls together and thereby reducing the interior space of the container and raising the internal pressure.
A cartridge stopper having a valve function, especially for printing ink cartridges made of plastic, includes a valve sleeve that is axially elastic and rests on a mouthpiece neck. The valve sleeve includes a sealing lip that cooperates with a central body, and can move elastically forward (open) when pressure is exerted on the cartridge contents in order to clear a slit opening between the mouthpiece neck and the central body.
A self-closing dispenser device having a generally rigid valve support with a two-way passageway for dispensing in one direction and return air flow in the other direction, a diaphragm on one side of the valve support, a valve member on the other side of the valve support, porting in the diaphragm, a valve stem connected to the diaphragm member and extending through the two-way passageway, and having a valve closure surface and a dispensing opening in the valve member, normally closed by the valve closure surface and movable outwardly for ejection of material, and the valve stem and closure surface being movable inwardly away to permit re-entry of air.
A pressure-activated flexible valve for use with a container for dispensing fluid material. The valve has a single sealing surface and comprises an inner component having a sealing portion and an outer component having an annular rim that seats against the sealing portion. The outer component also has a flexible portion that changes shape in response to pressure from the container material, thereby opening and closing the valve.
