Dispensing valve with trampoline-like construction

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A dispensing package for fluid materials and the like, comprising:

a container shaped to retain a preselected fluid product therein, and including a wall having a discharge opening, and a resiliently flexible portion for manually shifting said container between a compressed condition and a decompressed condition to selectively move the fluid product through the discharge opening of said container;

a self-sealing dispensing valve connected with said container, communicating with the discharge opening thereof, and including:

a valve wall having a marginal groove extending along one face thereof in a closed pattern to define a center valve area inside said groove, and an outer valve area outside said groove;

at least one rib extending between said center valve area and said outer valve area to bridge said groove and selectively stiffen said valve;

a slit extending through said valve wall to define an orifice that shifts between outwardly open, closed, and inwardly open positions in response to shifting the flexible wall portion of said container; said slit extending substantially continuously along said center valve area, and into at least a portion of said groove, whereby shifting the flexible wall portion of said container from the decompressed condition to the compressed condition shifts said orifice into the outwardly open position, and forces the fluid product therethrough to dispense the same from said container, and shifting the flexible wall portion of said container from the compressed condition to the decompressed condition shifts said orifice from the outwardly open position, through the closed position, into the inwardly open position, and draws air therethrough to substantially equalize the pressure within said container, and thereby return said orifice to the closed position.

2. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said valve is constructed such that said orifice will shift from the closed position to the outwardly open position only upon the application of a preselected force on the flexible portion of said container to create an associated predetermined threshold pressure within said container.

3. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said valve is configured such that said predetermined threshold pressure is greater than the maximum hydraulic head pressure of the fluid product in said container when said discharge opening is oriented downwardly.

4. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

said valve includes a pair of said ribs positioned mutually in-line at diametrically opposite portions of said valve wall in a non-aligned relationship with said slit to selectively support said center valve area in a trampoline-like fashion, and ensure complete and timely closure of said orifice.

5. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said slit has opposite ends thereof positioned within said groove to control the opening and closing of said wherein:

6. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said slit has a linear shape, and is positioned centrally within said center valve area.

7. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said container has a molded, one-piece construction with resiliently flexible sidewalls defining the flexible portion of said container; and

said valve is constructed such that said orifice permits entry of sufficient air while in the inwardly open position to prevent substantial collapsing of said container sidewalls.

8. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said container sidewalls are sufficiently semi-rigid that upon release of said preselected force, said sidewalls will automatically assume their original shape.

9. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said groove has a circular plan configuration, and said ribs are oriented radially therewith.

10. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said valve includes a flange shaped for connection with said container, and a closed sidewall upstanding from said flange, with an outer portion at which said valve wall is disposed.

11. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said valve wall generally comprises a flat top wall with a circular plan shape;

said valve sidewall has a cylindrical shape; and

said groove is disposed in said valve top wall at a position adjacent to the sidewall of said valve.

12. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

said valve includes a second pair of said ribs positioned mutually in-line, and spaced equidistantly from said first-named rib pair; and

said slit is positioned symetrically in between one of said first and second-named rib pairs.

13. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said valve is constructed from a molded liquid silicone rubber.

14. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

said groove and said ribs are positioned on an interior face of said valve top wall.

15. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

said valve sidewall has a cylindrically shaped interior surface; and

said groove has an annular shape, with an outside diameter thereof aligned with the interior surface of said valve sidewall.

16. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

said ribs each have a substantially square top plan configuration.

17. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

said groove has a depth greater than one fourth of the thickness of said valve center area.

18. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 17, wherein:

said valve flange is resiliently deformable between opposite faces thereof; and including

a retainer ring associated with said container adjacent the discharge opening thereof, and including a crimpable collar which is inelastically deformed about the flange of said valve to form a rim which abuttingly engages the other face of said dispensing valve flange and compresses said dispensing valve flange between said container and the rim of said retainer ring to securely mount said dispensing valve on said container, and simultaneously form a leak resistant seal therebetween.

19. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 18, wherein:

said retainer ring is fixedly connected with said container.

20. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

said retainer ring is formed integrally and in one piece with said container.

21. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 20, wherein:

said container is constructed from a thermosetting plastic, whereby said collar is crimped about said dispensing valve by heat setting.

22. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said valve includes a pair of said ribs positioned mutually in-line at diametrically opposite portions of said valve wall in a non-aligned relationship with said slit to selectively stiffen said valve, and ensure complete and timely closure of said orifice.

23. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said slit has opposite ends thereof positioned within said groove to control the opening and closing of said orifice.

24. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said slit has a linear shape, and is positioned centrally within said center valve area.

25. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said container has a molded, one-piece construction with resiliently flexible sidewalls defining the flexible portion of said container; and

said valve is constructed such that said orifice permits entry of sufficient air while in the inwardly open position to prevent substantial collapsing of said container sidewalls.

26. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said groove has a circular plan configuration, and said rib is oriented radially therewith.

27. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said valve includes a flange shaped for connection with said container, and a closed sidewall upstanding from said flange, with an outer portion at which said valve wall is disposed.

28. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 27, wherein:

said valve wall generally comprises a planar top wall with a circular plan shape;

said valve sidewall has a cylindrical shape; and

said groove is disposed in said valve top wall at a position adjacent to the sidewall of said valve.

29. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said valve includes two pairs of said ribs spaced equidistantly from one another to selectively support said valve center area in a trampoline-like fashion; and

said slit is positioned symetrically in between two of said ribs.

30. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said valve is constructed from a molded liquid silicone rubber.

31. A dispensing package as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said groove and said rib are positioned on an interior face of said valve top wall.

32. A dispensing package for fluid materials and the like, comprising:

a container shaped to retain a preselected fluid product therein, and including a discharge opening, and dispensing means for shifting said container between a compressed condition and a decompressed condition to selectively move the fluid product through the discharge opening of said container;

a self-sealing dispensing valve connected with said container, communicating with the discharge opening thereof, and including:

a valve wall having a marginal groove extending along one face thereof in a closed pattern to define a center valve area inside said groove, and an outer valve area outside said groove;

a slit extending through said valve wall to define an orifice that shifts between outwardly open, closed, and inwardly open positions in response to shifting said dispensing means said slit extending substantially continuously along at least a portion of said center valve area, whereby shifting said dispensing means from the decompressed condition to the compressed condition shifts said orifice into the outwardly open position, and forces the fluid product therethrough to dispense the same from said container, and shifting said dispensing means from the compressed condition to the decompressed condition shifts said orifice from the outwardly open position, through the closed position, and into the inwardly open position, and draws air therethrough to equalize the pressure within said container, and thereby return said orifice to the closed position.

33. A self-sealing valve for dispensing packages and the like, of the type having a container which can be shifted between a compressed condition and a decompressed condition to selectively move fluid product through a discharge opening in the container; said valve comprising:

a valve wall having a marginal groove extending along one face thereof in a closed pattern to define a center valve area inside said groove, and an outer valve area outside said groove;

at least one rib extending between said center valve area and said outer valve area to bridge said groove and selectively stiffen said valve;

a slit extending through said valve wall to define an orifice that shifts between outwardly open, closed, and inwardly open positions in response to shifting the container; said slit extending substantially continuously along said center valve area, and into at least a portion of said groove, whereby shifting the container means from the decompressed condition to the compressed condition shifts said orifice into the outwardly open position, and forces the fluid product therethrough to dispense the same from the container, and shifting the container from the compressed condition to the decompressed condition shifts said orifice from the outwardly open position, through the closed position, and into the inwardly open position, and draws air therethrough to equalize the pressure within the container, and thereby return said orifice to the closed position.

34. A self-sealing valve as set forth in claim 33, including:

a pair of said ribs positioned mutually in-line at diametrically opposite portions of said valve wall in a non-aligned relationship with said slit to selectively stiffen said center valve area in a trampoline-like fashion, and ensure complete and timely closure of said orifice.

35. A self-sealing valve as set forth in claim 34, wherein:

said valve is constructed such that said orifice will shift from the closed position to the outwardly open position only upon the application of a preselected force on the container to create an associated predetermined threshold pressure within the container; and

said valve is configured such that the predetermined threshold pressure is greater than the maximum hydraulic head pressure of the fluid product in the container when the discharge opening is oriented downwardly.

36. A self-sealing valve as set forth in claim 35, wherein:

said slit has opposite ends thereof positioned within said groove to control the opening and closing of said orifice.

37. A self-sealing valve as set forth in claim 36, wherein:

said slit has a linear shape, and is positioned centrally within said center valve area.