Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6250503
-
Patent Number
6,250,503
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, July 19, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 26, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Shaver; Kevin
- Willatt; Stephanie L.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 222 1
- 222 212
- 222 113
- 222 494
- 222 563
- 222 335
- 222 491
- 222 495
- 222 4815
- 222 481
- 222 482
- 137 493
- 137 4939
- 251 611
-
International Classifications
- B65G5900
- B06F1100
- B65D2540
- B65D3538
- B65D572
-
Abstract
A dispensing closure for controlling the flow of a fluid from a container has a conduit having an interior conduit surface partially blocked by a top retainer and a bottom retainer. The dispensing closure further includes a fluid dispensing valve that includes a resilient dome area and a seal area. The seal area extends outwardly, and preferably downwardly, from the dome perimeter to define a seal perimeter shaped to conform to the interior conduit surface to form a seal when the fluid dispensing valve is operably positioned within the conduit between the top and bottom retainers. At least one rib fixedly connects the seal area to the dome area such that deformation of the dome area is transmitted through the at least one rib to the seal area to disrupt the seal and form at least one dispensing flow path. Air pressure on an exterior seal surface of the seal area causes the seal area to deform between the at least one rib to form at least one venting flow path.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to fluid dispensing valves, and more particularly to a dispensing closure having a fluid dispensing valve that functions to dispense fluid when a container bearing the dispensing closure is squeezed or when the dispensing closure is sucked upon and yet will not leak when the container is turned upside down or bumped.
2. Description of Related Art
Various automatic closing dispensing closures have been designed to fit on the container for dispensing beverages, liquids, soaps and other fluent materials that one might purchase at the supermarket. The closures may also be used on a baby drinking cup or cyclist water bottle whereupon the beverage would be dispensed by sucking on the closure or by squeezing the container.
Prior art closures primarily utilize a silicone dome dispensing system whereby the dome is penetrated by a pair of slits. The slits on the prior art domed surfaces open like petals when sufficient force is pushed upon it by the difference in the pressure in the container as compared to the pressure outside the container. Examples of these constructions are taught in Drobish et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,728,006 and Rohr, 5,005,737 and 5,271,531.
There are several important disadvantages to the prior art construction. First, the slits used in the prior art are not effective in preventing accidental leakage if the container is bumped or dropped. Second, the slits must be added after the rubber dome is molded and therefore require a second operation, which adds to the cost of manufacturing the product.
Another prior art dispensing closure is shown in Imbery, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,035. The Imbery, Jr. valve is excellent at venting air back into the container without allowing leakage through the venting flow path; however, the Imbery, Jr. closure does not teach a mechanism to control the outward flow of the fluid through the primary conduit.
In order to be effective, the fluid dispensing valve must meet three conditions. First, the valve should not dispense if the container is bumped or accidentally squeezed slightly. Second, the valve should vent and allow air to pass back through it into the container to make up the volume it has dispensed. Third, the valve must be inexpensive to manufacture.
The prior art teaches various valves used to regulate the flow of fluid into and out of a container. However, the prior art does not teach a valve that meets all three requirements of an effective fluid dispensing valve. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.
The present invention provides a fluid dispensing valve in a dispensing closure for controlling the flow of a fluid from a container bearing the dispensing closure. The dispensing closure includes a conduit having an interior conduit surface partially blocked by a top retainer and a bottom retainer. The fluid dispensing valve includes a resilient dome area and a seal area. The seal area extends outwardly, and preferably downwardly, from the dome perimeter to define a seal perimeter shaped to conform to the interior conduit surface to form a seal when the fluid dispensing valve is operably positioned within the conduit between the top and bottom retainers. At least one rib fixedly connects the seal area to the dome area such that deformation of the dome area is transmitted through the at least one rib to the seal area to disrupt the seal and form at least one dispensing flow path. Air pressure on an exterior seal surface of the seal area causes the seal area to deform between the at least one rib to form at least one venting flow path. In use, the dispensing closure containing the fluid dispensing valve functions to dispense fluid when the container bearing the dispensing closure is squeezed or when the dispensing closure is sucked upon and yet will not leak when the container is turned upside down or bumped.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a fluid dispensing valve having advantages not taught by the prior art.
Another objective is to provide a fluid dispensing valve that does not leak in response to minor or momentary forces such as bumps and spills, but easily and freely dispenses fluid in response to sustained forces such as squeezing a container incorporating the fluid dispensing valve.
A further objective is to provide a fluid dispensing valve that allows air to vent back into the container once the fluid has been dispensed.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2A
is a top perspective view of a fluid dispensing valve;
FIG. 2B
is a bottom perspective view thereof,
FIG. 3
is a sectional view taken along line
3
—
3
in
FIG. 1
of a dispensing closure showing the fluid dispensing valve in a static position;
FIG. 3A
is a sectional view thereof taken along line
3
A—
3
A in
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 4
is a sectional view taken along line
3
—
3
in
FIG. 1
of a dispensing closure showing the fluid dispensing valve moving out of the static position in response to a momentary force, the fluid dispensing valve still functioning to seal the conduit;
FIG. 4A
is a sectional view thereof taken along line
4
A—
4
A in
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 5
is a sectional view taken along line
3
—
3
in
FIG. 1
of a dispensing closure showing the fluid dispensing valve in a dispensing position;
FIG. 5A
is a sectional view thereof taken along line
5
A—
5
A in
FIG. 5
;
FIG. 6
is a sectional view taken along line
3
—
3
in
FIG. 1
of a dispensing closure showing the fluid dispensing valve in a venting position; and
FIG. 6A
is a sectional view thereof taken along line
6
A—
6
A in FIG.
6
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a fluid dispensing valve
20
for controlling the flow of a fluid through a dispensing closure
40
mounted upon a container
10
.
As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3
, the dispensing closure
40
preferably includes a closure body
42
, a top retainer
48
, and a bottom retainer
50
. The closure body
42
includes a conduit
44
having an interior conduit surface
49
. The dispensing closure
40
preferably includes a spout
45
and an internal thread
43
, the internal thread
43
allowing the dispensing closure
40
to threadedly engage a threaded opening
12
of the container
10
to seal the container
10
. The closure body
42
is preferably a rigid molded plastic cap constructed of a polyolefin such as polypropylene or polyethylene. The container
10
is preferably a flexible, resilient plastic bottle commonly known as a sports bottle, or a similar beverage bottle, shampoo bottle, or the like.
As shown in
FIGS. 2A and 2B
, the fluid dispensing valve
20
includes a resilient dome area
22
and a seal area
30
. The resilient dome area
22
has an interior dome surface
24
, an exterior dome surface
26
, and a dome perimeter
29
. The exterior dome surface
26
is preferably roughly concave and the interior dome surface
24
is preferably a matching convex, forming a roughly dome shaped structure. In the most preferred embodiment, the resilient dome area
22
includes a base area
27
and an upwardly extending sidewall
28
, the base area
27
being generally flat but cooperating with the upwardly extending sidewall
28
to form the dome area. While the dome shape is the most effective, equivalent shapes should be considered within the scope of the invention as claimed.
The seal area
30
extends outwardly, and preferably downwardly, from the dome perimeter
29
to define a seal perimeter
32
. The seal perimeter
32
is shaped to conform to the interior conduit surface
49
, as described below. The seal area
30
includes an exterior seal surface
33
whose function in venting the container
10
is described in more detail below. The fluid dispensing valve
20
is preferably constructed of a resilient rubber, such as natural rubber, silicon rubber, or thermoplastic rubber, that can be deformed under a specific amount of pressure to form at least one dispensing flow path
60
to dispense the fluid from the container
10
, and at least one venting flow path
62
to allow air to vent into the container
10
once the fluid has been dispensed. The formation of the at least one dispensing and venting paths
60
and
62
is described in detail below.
As shown in
FIG. 2B
, the fluid dispensing valve
20
further includes at least one rib
34
fixedly connecting the seal area
30
to the dome area such that deformation of the resilient dome area
22
is transmitted through the at least one rib
34
to the seal area
30
. In the preferred embodiment, the at least one rib
34
includes three ribs equally spaced around the dome perimeter
29
. As described in greater detail below, it is critical that the resilient dome area
22
transmit its deformation to the seal area
30
, under the proper circumstances, such that the seal area
30
is no longer shaped to conform to the interior conduit surface
49
, thus allowing the fluid to flow through the conduit
44
.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, the conduit
44
of the dispensing closure
40
includes a bottom retainer
50
and a top retainer
48
. The fluid dispensing valve
20
is operably positioned between the top and bottom retainers
48
and
50
such that the interior dome surface
24
is adjacent the bottom retainer
50
, the dome perimeter
29
is adjacent the top retainer
48
, and the seal perimeter
32
contacts the interior conduit surface
49
to seal the conduit
44
. The bottom retainer
50
defines a bottom aperture
58
shaped to direct the fluid from the container
10
onto the interior dome surface
24
. The top retainer
48
defines a top aperture
56
shaped to allow the fluid to exit the conduit
44
.
The top retainer
48
and the top aperture
56
are preferably formed by several ribs integrally molded with the closure body
42
to create several dispensing flow passages. The specific structure of the top retainer
48
and the top aperture
56
is not critical, and can be modified by those skilled in the art, as long as the top retainer
48
functions to hold the fluid dispensing valve
20
in position and the top aperture
56
allows proper flow of the fluid.
The bottom retainer
50
is preferably a plastic disk and the bottom aperture
58
is preferably at least one hole in its center, although multiple holes are acceptable. The bottom retainer
50
is preferably attached to the closure body
42
by frictionally engaging the bottom retainer
50
with a locking lip
46
of the closure body
42
. The bottom aperture
58
allows the fluid being dispensed to pass through the bottom retainer
50
and come in contact with the fluid dispensing valve
20
, preferably first contacting the exterior dome surface
26
. The bottom retainer
50
is preferably a disk having a support ring
51
that is upwardly extending from and co-axially aligned with a top surface
52
of the disk. The support ring
51
preferably includes a plurality of notches
54
. The support ring
51
is shaped to support the interior dome surface
24
of the fluid dispensing valve
20
. The support ring
51
preferably includes the plurality of notches
54
to facilitate airflow around the resilient dome area
22
, as described in greater detail below.
When the fluid dispensing valve
20
is in a static position, as shown in
FIGS. 3 and 3A
, the seal perimeter
32
is in contact with the interior conduit surface
49
blocking the flow of the fluid through the conduit
44
of the closure body
42
. If the container
10
is turned upside down, the fluid flows through the bottom aperture
58
but is unable to pass beyond the fluid dispensing valve
20
. It is critical that the fluid dispensing valve
20
be constructed of a material that is rigid enough to maintain the seal under these conditions.
As shown in
FIGS. 4 and 4A
, if the container
10
is knocked over, bumped, or partially squeezed, the fluid is not immediately dispensed. The resilient dome area
22
initially collapses, absorbing the first portion of the fluid without dispensing. The interior dome surface
24
is approximately 67% of the total inside surface area of the fluid dispensing valve
20
, while the seal area
30
is only approximately 33% of the total inside surface area. Initial pressure brought to bear on the interior dome surface
24
presses the seal perimeter
32
harder against the interior conduit surface
49
while depressing the resilient dome area
22
.
As shown in
FIGS. 5 and 5A
, as the fluid continues to increase its pressure against the fluid dispensing valve
20
, the resilient dome area
22
continues to invert, whereby at a predetermined pressure, the resilient dome area
22
will begin to pull on the at lest one rib
34
, thereby deforming the seal area
30
and creating at least one dispensing flow path
60
where the seal perimeter
32
is pulled away from the interior conduit surface
49
. Only at this point can the fluid flow through the conduit
44
of the closure body
42
. Those skilled in the art can fine-tune the shape, thickness, and material of the fluid dispensing valve
20
such that it releases the fluid at the proper point. Ideally, the fluid dispensing valve
20
allows the fluid to pass only when the container
10
is squeezed or when a user sucks on the spout
45
, not when the container
10
falls over or is otherwise inverted.
Once the fluid has been dispensed, the plurality of dispensing flow paths
60
close, but it becomes necessary to replace the fluid that has been dispensed so that the container
10
can return to its original shape. For the container
10
to fully return to its original shape, air must pass back into the container
10
past the fluid dispensing valve
20
to make up for the volume dispensed.
As shown in
FIGS. 6 and 6A
, once the fluid has been dispensed, atmospheric pressure on the exterior seal surface
33
of the seal area
30
causes the seal area
30
to collapse adjacent to the at least one rib
34
to create at least one venting flow path
62
. The at least one venting flow path
62
is formed where portions of the seal perimeter
32
lose contact with the interior conduit surface
49
and allow air to enter the container
10
. To facilitate the airflow through the at least one venting flow path
62
, the fluid dispensing valve
20
is preferably supported by the support ring
51
of the bottom retainer
50
such that the plurality of notches
54
through the support ring
51
allow unobstructed airflow past the bottom retainer
50
. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom retainer
50
has a support ring
51
on either side, thereby facilitating assembly because the bottom retainer
50
is symmetrical and cannot accidentally be put in upside down.
It is preferred that the resilient dome area
22
has significantly greater surface area than the seal area
30
so that as the internal pressure increases on the resilient dome area
22
, the seal area
30
remains firmly positioned against the interior conduit surface
49
until significant pressure is placed on the resilient dome area
22
and it inverts. Because the resilient dome area
22
is larger in area than the seal area
30
, it can exert significant pull on the at least one rib
34
and overcome the pressure biasing the seal perimeter
32
against the interior conduit surface
49
.
To allow greater impacts upon the container
10
without allowing spillage of the fluid, the size of the resilient dome area
22
is increased to allow for more deflection in the container
10
when the container
10
is accidentally depressed or dropped. The resilient dome area
22
can be a higher or lower percentage of the seal area
30
as long as the resilient dome area
22
exceeds the total surface area of the seal area
30
. If the resilient dome area
22
has a smaller diameter, greater pressure is required to open the fluid dispensing valve
20
. The fluid dispensing valve
20
may also have a greater or lesser number of the at least one rib
34
, with more ribs serving to increase the number of the plurality of dispensing flow paths
60
around the fluid dispensing valve
20
, whereas too many ribs may impede the function of the fluid dispensing valve
20
.
The invention includes a method of dispensing fluid from the container
10
through the dispensing closure
40
described above. The fluid dispensing valve
20
is operably positioned in the conduit
44
, as described above, such that the dome perimeter
29
contacts the top retainer
48
. The bottom retainer
50
is then snapped into place, frictionally engaging the locking lip
46
, to lock the fluid dispensing valve
20
into place. The dispensing closure
40
is then mounted onto the container
10
over the threaded opening
12
such that the conduit
44
communicates with the threaded opening
12
of the container
10
. In the preferred embodiment, the dispensing closure
40
threadedly engages the container
10
, as described above; however, those skilled in the art can obviously devise many attachment mechanisms that would serve the required function.
In use, the container
10
is filled with the fluid that is to be dispensed, such as water, a flavored drink, shampoo, or other fluid. As assembled, the container
10
can be inverted without spilling the fluid. When the container
10
is inverted, the fluid passes through the bottom aperture
58
to contact the interior dome surface
24
, but the fluid dispensing valve
20
does not allow the fluid to pass. Minor impacts upon the container
10
, such as might otherwise cause the fluid dispensing valve
20
to leak, merely cause the resilient dome area
22
to partially collapse, as shown in
FIGS. 4 and 4A
, but not to disrupt the seal.
To activate the fluid dispensing valve
20
, there must be a different pressure between the contents in the container
10
and the pressure outside the closure body
42
. In other words, if the closure body
42
is sucked, the pressure outside the closure body
42
is lower than the pressure in the container
10
and the fluid will pass through the conduit
44
of the closure body
42
. This also applies if the container
10
is squeezed. When the user squeezes the container
10
, however, the shrinking volume of the container
10
increases the pressure of the fluid against the resilient dome area
22
for an extended time. Rather than merely causing a temporary collapse of the resilient dome area
22
, the sustained pressure causes the dome area to deform and, through the at least one rib
34
, interrupt the sealed relationship of the seal perimeter
32
with the conduit
44
. The deformation of the seal area
30
forms the plurality of dispensing flow paths
60
shown in
FIGS. 5 and 5A
and as described above, thus allowing the fluid to flow through the conduit
44
and out of the container
10
.
Once the fluid has been dispensed, the resilience of the container
10
creates a partial vacuum within the container
10
, and it is desirable that the fluid dispensing valve
20
allow air to flow back into the container
10
. As described above, the pressure on the seal area
30
causes the portions of the seal area
30
that are not supported by the at least one rib
34
to flex inwards, thereby creating the plurality of venting flow paths
62
shown in
FIGS. 6 and 6A
.
It is important to recognize that the above description relates to the currently preferred embodiment of the fluid dispensing valve
20
. The fluid dispensing valve
20
can readily be adapted to different closure bodies for use with different containers or systems. The fluid dispensing valve
20
will function to regulate the flow of any fluids, either gaseous or liquid, either from a container
10
or within a larger system, as long as the pressures of the fluids with various viscosities can be manipulated with respect to each other. Those skilled in the art can readily adapt the fluid dispensing valve
20
to different uses, and these alternative uses should be considered within the scope of the invention, as claimed.
While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A fluid dispensing valve for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit having a top retainer, a bottom retainer, and an interior conduit surface, the fluid dispensing valve comprising:a resilient dome area having an interior dome surface, an exterior dome surface, and a dome perimeter, the exterior dome surface being concave; a seal area extending outwardly from the dome perimeter to define a seal perimeter, the seal perimeter being shaped to conform to the interior conduit surface and seal the conduit when the fluid dispensing valve is operably positioned between the top and bottom retainers; and at least one rib fixedly connecting the seal area to the dome area such that deformation of the dome area is transmitted through the at least one rib to the seal area, thereby deforming the shape of the seal area such that the seal area is no longer shaped to conform to the interior conduit surface.
- 2. The fluid dispensing valve of claim 1 wherein the seal area extending outwardly and downwardly from the dome perimeter such that fluid pressure on an exterior seal surface of the seal area causes the seal area to collapse between the at least one rib to create at least one venting flow path.
- 3. The fluid dispensing valve of claim 1 wherein the at least one rib includes three ribs equally spaced around the dome perimeter.
- 4. A dispensing closure for an opening defined by a container to control the flow of a fluid from the container, the dispensing closure comprising:a closure body for mounting onto the container over the opening, the closure body defining a conduit for communicating with the container opening, the conduit having a bottom retainer, a top retainer, and an interior conduit surface; a fluid dispensing valve having a resilient dome area and a seal area, the resilient dome area having an interior dome surface, an exterior dome surface, and a dome perimeter; the fluid dispensing valve being operably positioned between the top and bottom retainers, the bottom retainer defining a bottom aperture shaped to direct the fluid from the container onto the interior dome surface, the top retainer defining a top aperture shaped to allow the fluid to exit the conduit; the seal area extending outwardly from the dome perimeter to define a seal perimeter, the seal perimeter being shaped to conform to the interior conduit surface and seal the conduit when the fluid dispensing valve; and at least one rib fixedly connecting the seal area to the dome area such that, when the pressure exerted by the fluid against the interior conduit surface is great enough to overcome the pressure against the exterior conduit surface and deform the dome area, the deformation is transmitted through the at least one rib to the seal area, thereby deforming the shape of the seal area such that the seal area is no longer shaped to conform to the interior conduit surface.
- 5. The dispensing closure of claim 4 wherein the seal area extending outwardly and downwardly from the dome perimeter such that fluid pressure on an exterior seal surface of the seal area causes the seal area to collapse between the at least one rib to create at least one venting flow path.
- 6. The dispensing closure of claim 4 wherein the at least one rib includes three ribs equally spaced around the dome perimeter.
- 7. The dispensing closure of claim 4 wherein the bottom retainer is a disk having a support ring that is upwardly extending from and co-axially aligned with a top surface of the disk, the support ring having a plurality of notches.
- 8. A method of dispensing a fluid, the method comprising the steps of:providing a container having an opening; providing a dispensing closure having a closure body, the closure body defining a conduit, the conduit having a bottom retainer, a top retainer, and an interior conduit surface, the bottom retainer defining a bottom aperture and the top aperture defining a bottom aperture; providing a fluid dispensing valve having a resilient dome area and a seal area, the resilient dome area having an interior dome surface, an exterior dome surface, and a dome perimeter, the seal area extending outwardly from the dome perimeter to define a seal perimeter, the fluid dispensing valve further having at least one rib fixedly connecting the seal area to the dome area; positioned the fluid dispensing valve being between the top and bottom retainers such that the interior dome surface is adjacent the bottom retainer, the dome perimeter is adjacent the top retainer, and the seal perimeter contacts the interior conduit surface to seal the conduit; and mounting the dispensing closure onto the container over the opening such that the conduit communicates with the container opening.
- 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:filling the container with the fluid; inverting the container such that the fluid passes through the bottom aperture to contact the interior dome surface, the fluid dispensing valve functioning to seal the conduit; and squeezing the container, thereby compressing the volume of the container and increasing the pressure of the fluid against the interior dome surface, causing the resilient dome area to deform and, through the at least one rib, interrupt the sealed relationship of the seal perimeter with the conduit, thus allowing the fluid to flow through the conduit and out of the container.
- 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of:reducing the pressure within the container, causing the seal area between the at least one rib to flex inwards and create a plurality of venting flow paths.
- 11. The method of claim 8 wherein the seal area extends outwardly and downwardly from the dome perimeter such that fluid pressure on an exterior seal surface of the seal area causes the seal area to collapse between the at least one rib to create at least one venting flow path.
- 12. The method of claim 8 wherein the at least one rib includes three ribs equally spaced around the dome perimeter.
- 13. The method of claim 8 wherein the bottom retainer is a disk having a support ring that is upwardly extending from and co-axially aligned with a top surface of the disk, the support ring having a plurality of notches.
US Referenced Citations (5)