The disclosure relates generally to a valve closure for a liquid dispenser and, more specifically, to a valve closure with a self-closing, self-venting diaphragm.
Certain dispensers of flowable material, such as resilient containers, tubes and/or bottles, are provided with a closure valve. When the dispenser is actuated, a flow of housed material is transported through the valve and out of the dispenser. Following actuation of the dispenser, the dispenser and/or closure valve may return to a pre-dispensing state or position in which no significant flow of the dispensed material remains. In many configurations, actuation may involve physical deformation of the dispenser, such as through a pressing or squeezing action, thereby creating a pressure differential within the dispenser that forces open the closure valve to material flow. For example, these configurations of dispensers may commonly be employed for liquid or semi-liquid food products, such as condiments, jams, honeys, syrups, and others, as well as household products, like soaps, cleaners, detergents, etc. without limitation.
To describe various different embodiments of an invention or multiple inventions, including at least one preferred embodiment thereof, reference will be made herein throughout to the accompanying drawings, in which:
For clarity and ease of description, like reference numerals will be used in the drawings to describe the same or like parts.
Many valve closures are intended for installation into dispensers, such as for food products or household items, which are intended or designed for limited-use involving only a single use and, perhaps, also a small number of re-uses before the dispenser is disposed of or recycled along with the valve closure. Thus, economic considerations may place some constraints on the cost and/or complexity of valve closure design for such limited-use dispensers. Likewise the relatively small size of many limited-use dispensers may also impose design constraints. Consequently, many configurations of valve closures for dispensing liquids and/or semi-liquids may experience a number of shortcomings or disadvantages, such as inconsistent flow rates, incomplete flow cut-off, imperfect air seal, and others.
One particular issue that some configurations of a valve closure may experience relates to orifice re-healing. What can happen is that over an extended period of non-use, polymer(s) used in the valve may begin to cross-link and form new bonds. Thus, the lips or edges of the primary dispensing orifice in the valve, if left in contact with each other over a sufficiently long period, may begin forming or re-forming bonds that will need to be broken the next time the dispensing orifice is used. The extra force required to crack open the partially closed orifice may require additional load to be applied to the dispenser. This increased load requirement will then in turn increase fluid pressure prior to orifice opening, resulting in excessive or larger than expected material flow rate when the orifice is eventually opened. Orifice re-healing may therefore produce inconsistent flow rates out of a dispenser and generally reduce flow rate control.
Another potential issue in some configurations of valve closures relates to venting and flow cut-off. Specifically, positive pressure differential that is developed in a valve closure so as to crack open the dispensing orifice generally has to be diffused following dispensing. One way to do this involves venting the valve closure with external air until pressure in the valve closure is normalized. However, if the primary orifice that is used in the valve closure for dispensing is also subsequently used for venting, there is a possibility of unintended material leakage through the still open orifice. In addition to reducing general cleanliness, seeping material into the dispenser cap area may also tend to create blockages in the dispenser orifice that can interfere with material flow if not cleared, which again may tend to reduce rate control and produce inconsistent flow rates after periods of non-use. Thus, it may also be desirable, advantageous and/or otherwise convenient for a valve closure to provide complete cut-off of material flow with no or only minimal material leakage following dispensing.
Accordingly, embodiments of the invention(s) described herein provide a valve closure comprising a rigid body portion and a flexible diaphragm that cooperates with the body portion so as to address or ameliorate at least one of the shortcomings of existing valve configurations as described herein. For example, embodiments of the disclosed valve closure may include a combination central boss/pin and dispensing orifice that, through a self-closing and self-sealing action, cuts off material flow following dispensation. Such configuration of a central boss/pin may also prevent or tend to prevent or at least reduce orifice re-healing by holding open the orifice during periods of non-use when the orifice is cut-off to material flow. Embodiments of the disclosed valve closure may also include or further include a secondary channel, in addition to a primary fluid flow channel, which together with other element(s) may be used to provide external air venting that is completely or substantially de-coupled from fluid dispensation. Further embodiments may also confer one or more additional benefit(s) and/or advantage(s).
For a thorough understanding of the described embodiments, reference is initially made to
Accordingly, in one example embodiment, a valve 10 may include a rigid body portion 12 and a flexible diaphragm 14 that is adapted to cooperate with body portion 12 so as to provide a one-way valve closure that can be mounted into the neck of a dispenser or other container of flowable materials, such as bottles, tubes, and the like. As described herein, valve 10 may conduct flowable material substantially only in one direction when actuated, while constituting an effective barrier to material flow(s), including air and other gases, in the opposite direction. Thus, when mounted into a dispenser or other container, valve 10 may provide an effective mechanism for conducting a flow of material out of the dispenser, e.g., by way of controlled actuation involving physical deformation of or pressure applied to the dispenser.
As shown, diaphragm 14 may be constituted as a separate body or, alternatively, may be integrally formed with or otherwise affixed to body portion 12. For example, in some cases, body portion 12 and diaphragm 14 may be fused or chemically bonded together so as to constitute a single body. In other cases, including as in the example configuration shown, body portion 12 and diaphragm 14 may be separate bodies within a valve system or assembly that are shaped for mutual cooperation.
Body portion 12 may include a peripheral wall 16 with a generally hollow cylindrical aspect to which the shape of diaphragm 14 may couple or otherwise engage. Thus, in some cases, diaphragm 14 may be mounted onto body portion 12 so as to sit or rest (generally be carried) on top of peripheral wall 16 (although it will be appreciated that terms such as “top” or “bottom” are not intended herein to denote absolute directions or orientations, but rather are intended for convenience to denote relative directions in relation to an appropriate reference point). When mounted securely within a dispenser or container neck, in use, body portion 12 and diaphragm 14 may be held together by press-fit engagement and other contact forces, thereby forming a good seal therebetween (other than through designated orifices and fluid flow channels as described herein).
Body portion 12 may be formed out of a suitably rigid material, for example, but not limited to, hard plastics, resins, etc., which provide body portion 12 with substantial dimensional stability. Thus, body portion 12 may generally hold its shape without undergoing significant flex or deformation when subjected to a range of low level forces and/or pressures. On the other hand, diaphragm 14 is flexible and may be formed out of different soft materials suitable for its purpose(s), such as soft or semi-soft polymers, elastomers, etc. As explained more below, suitable materials for diaphragm 14 will be those which allow diaphragm 14 to deform or deflect under pressure differential within a range that could be created through physical deformation, e.g., squeezing, of a material dispenser into which valve 10 has been installed. As used herein, terms such as “deflection” or “deformation” may be used to denote any temporary change in dimension or physical aspect, which may include elastic changes, occurring in response to an applied force.
As seen in
In some embodiments, a secondary air vent 26 is also defined in a peripheral region 28 of end wall 22, spaced apart radially from central orifice 20, which may generally be defined in a central region 30 of end wall 22. Secondary air vent 26 may provide an additional fluid channel that can fluidly couple the interior and exterior of valve 10, but which is separate from the fluid channel defined through central orifice 20. Air vent 26 may therefore provide a path, when valve 20 is in a venting state (shown in and explained further with reference to
Referring now to
As shown, in some embodiments, central boss/pin 24 may project upwardly from a hub 34 of body portion 12 that is supported centrally within interior space 32 using one or more spokes 36 extending between hub 34 and peripheral wall 16. A number of different spokes 36, for example, three or more, may be defined in body portion 12, each such spoke 36 having an equal or approximately equal angular spacing around peripheral wall 16. Thus, for configurations involving three separate spokes 36, an angular spacing of approximately 120 degrees between each may be provided; likewise for a configuration with four spokes, the angular spacing may be approximately 90 degrees between adjacent spokes. The depicted configuration of body portion 12 incorporates three different spokes 36 (see, e.g.,
In some embodiments, central boss/pin 24 may have a composite shape including at least an undercut region 38 projecting immediately out from a terminal portion of hub 34, and a head 40 that is transistioned integrally out from undercut region 38, but separated therefrom by an annular lip 42. Thus, undercut region 38 may have a generally cylindrical or neck-shaped profile with dimensionality(ies), as discussed more below, which allow undercut region 38 to be accommodated by central orifice 20, such that diaphragm 14 is able to fluctuate on and off central boss/pin 24 during operation in response to created pressure differential within valve 10. The dimensionality of undercut region 38, also as discussed more below, may also contribute to flow rate control of material through central orifice 20.
In some embodiments, head 40 may be provided with a taper, starting at lip 42 and tending in a direction away from undercut region 38, so as to have a shape that is generally pyramidal (e.g., a circular pyramid) or, alternatively, frustoconical (as shown). As mentioned above, during a dispensation phase of valve 10, diaphragm 14 may be lifted off from body portion 12, especially central boss/pin 24, by fluid pressure build-up within valve 10 and suspended temporarily in air, spaced-apart therefrom, before re-engagement with boss/pin 24 following completion of the dispensation phase and pressure normalization. The tapered shape of head 40 may assist with guiding diaphragm 14 back onto body portion 12 by facilitating threading of head 40 through orifice 20, e.g., due the relatively small profile of head 40 at its terminal extreme as compared to the cross-sectional area of orifice 20.
As described herein, diaphragm 14 may further include a reinforcement region 44 in the shape of an annular lip that surrounds orifice 20 within central region 30. As compared to other regions of end wall 22, reinforcement region 44 may have an increased wall thickness that increases dimensional stability of orifice 20, especially cross-sectional area, when diaphragm 14 is subjected to force or pressure differential during a dispensation state. Thus, in some embodiments, end wall 22 may undergo a gradual thickening, within the central region 30 in an inwardly radial direction toward orifice 20, so as to define reinforcement region 44. As explained further below, the dimensional stability provided to orifice 20 by reinforcement region 44 may also contribute to flow rate control during material dispensation therethrough.
As shown in
In some embodiments, peripheral wall 16 of body portion 12 also defines an annular recess or groove 48 running circumferentially within a terminal region 50 of peripheral wall 16, situated proximately to the interface between peripheral wall 16 and peripheral region 28 of diaphragm 14. Annular recess 48 may thereby define an interior space between peripheral wall 16 and end wall 22 of diaphragm 14, which is in constant fluid communication through secondary air vent 26 with the exterior space outside of valve 10. Fluid communication between annular recess 48 and interior space 32 may also be intermittently provided, as described below, depending on whether or not peripheral walls 16 and 46 are engaged and in fluid sealing contact with one another.
Referring now to
In operation, a positive pressure differential (relative to the environment outside of valve 10) may be created within valve 10, for example, through mechanical forces like squeezing or pressing applied to the dispenser, which has the effect of forcing flowable material into interior space 32 of valve 10. Building fluid pressure within valve 10 may cause diaphragm 14 to begin pressing against lip 42 of boss/pin 24, which will initially tend to resist such pressure buildup and hold diaphragm 14 static. However, when the building fluid pressure differential exceeds a minimum threshold, diaphragm 14 will overcome the resistance provided by lip 42 and will be dislodged or disengaged from its resting or static position on body portion 12 (in which boss/pin 24 is received into orifice 20). Sustained fluid pressure within valve 10 will then move and hold diaphragm 14 into the position shown in
The positive pressure differential created within valve 10 that forces open a fluid channel through orifice 20, during the dispensing state, may also tend to exert forces in a radially outward direction within interior space 32. Such force(s) act on peripheral wall 46 causing radially outward deformation that brings peripheral walls 16 and 46 together (peripheral wall 16 may generally be static, but peripheral wall 46 flexible) and creates a liquid seal therebetween, which closes off any channel for fluid to flow through annular recess 48 and secondary air vent 26. Thus, during material dispensing, the only fluid channel opened to the exterior of valve 10 may be through central orifice 20.
According to the embodiments described herein, flow rate control through the central orifice 20 during material dispensation may be influenced and effectively controlled by interaction between orifice 20 and central boss/pin 24. For example, the size of undercut region 38 and/or of lip 42 (around which orifice 20 is received in the resting state) may influence the minimum threshold pressure differential above which diaphragm 14 will be flexed outwardly to open up the fluid channel through orifice 20. By controlling the minimum threshold pressure, the flow rate can be controlled by the subsequent deformation in orifice 20 due to the minimum threshold pressure.
In addition, because diaphragm 14 after completion of a dispensing phase comes to rest again on body portion 12 (e.g.,
When re-healing or re-bonding occurs, the pressure differential that will be sufficient to break any re-healed bonds that may have formed (and thereby crack the orifice back open) may tend to be greater than a pressure differential that would have been sufficient to open the same orifice had no re-healing occurred. This unpredictable crack pressure differential may cause inconsistent flow rate of material insofar as the greater crack pressure to overcome a re-healed orifice may consequently generate an increased or elevated material flow rate to what is intended (and to what would be expected when lower pressure differentials are utilized for orifices that have not experienced significant re-healing). In any event, as the interaction between central orifice 20 and boss/pin 24 may prevent or substantially prevent orifice re-healing, embodiments of valve 10 according to the disclosure may thereby eliminate or at least mitigate re-healing and its consequent undesirable effect(s) on flow rate control.
Referring now to
In operation, following material dispensation, a negative pressure differential (again relative to the environment outside of valve 10) may be developed within valve 10, for example, as the resilient dispenser returns to its original, pre-dispensing state and draws air and/or fluid out of interior space 32 and back into the body of the dispenser. Such negative pressure differential may thereby create a vacuum or partial vacuum within valve 10 that draws diaphragm 14, previously outwardly flexed, back inward and into engagement with central boss/pin 24 of body portion 12 and effectively closes the fluid channel through orifice 20. However, the negative pressure differential created in the interior space 32 may additionally draw peripheral wall 46 radially inward, as described, so as to open up a fluid channel to the outside through annular recess 48 and secondary air vent 26. As outside air is drawn into valve 10 through secondary air vent 26, pressure within interior space 32 is able to normalize, e.g., move closer in value toward the outside environment pressure. In response to this pressure normalization, peripheral wall 46 may gradually migrate, in a radially outward direction, until contact with peripheral wall 16 is re-established and the fluid channel to the exterior of valve 10 through secondary air vent 26 is effectively re-sealed.
With use of secondary air vent 26 instead, pressure normalization within valve 10 may occur in a manner that is completely or substantially completely independent of orifice 20, which is closed off by the return of diaphragm 14 to rest on body portion 12 following material dispensation. This can be advantageous, as described herein, for example, because use of the same orifice for material dispensation and air venting may tend to increase the instance of undesirable material seepage when not actively dispensing. However, use of a secondary air vent 26 for venting may otherwise allow a primary dispensation orifice, i.e., orifice 20 to be closed to further fluid flow therethrough immediately or almost immediately. The amount of material that can inadvertently seep or leak out of such primary dispensation orifice when not actively dispensing is thereby reduced.
Decoupling of material dispensation through orifice 20 and air venting through secondary air vent 26 may further be increased by the relative geometries of body portion 12 and diaphragm 14. For example, the outward radial spacing of peripheral wall 46 relative to orifice 10 may tend to cause the peripheral region 26 of diaphragm 14 to behave as a stationary or quasi-stationary region. Thus, as can be seen in
The above description is intended to provide a thorough description of various aspects and example embodiments of one or more inventions. Accordingly, various aspects and/or components of such invention(s) have been described throughout at multiple different levels of abstraction. In some instances, embodiments may have been described on both a specific and a relatively general or generic level, for example, where an aspect or component of the embodiment is susceptible to variation in a manner that is not inconsistent with the specific structure(s) and/or operation(s) set forth. In these instances, the specific embodiments set forth herein may not be the only ones contemplated and instead may only be exemplary of a more general or generic configuration. The scope of the invention(s) described herein is therefore defined solely by the language of the claims appended hereto, giving due consideration to applicable doctrines for construing their meaning.
This application claims all right, benefit, and priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/975,273, filed Apr. 4, 2014, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/CA2015/000227 | 4/2/2015 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61975273 | Apr 2014 | US |