The present invention relates generally to a stop for a valve used in conjunction with a fluid container or tubing, and more specifically to a stop having a seal surface void of a split line on the seal surface.
Fluid containers for holding beverages such as water, soda, juice, sport drinks or alcoholic beverages are well known. Containers may hold a variety of other fluids including medicines, soaps and chemicals. A beverage container often has a simple cap that is removed by the user prior to consuming the beverage. In certain instances, the container may have a dispensing valve connected to the container opening to dispense the fluid from the container. A dispensing valve may also be used in tubing connected to a fluid container. The dispensing valve typically has a stop that seals against a surface defining an opening in the valve. When the stop is spaced from the opening, the valve is in an open position wherein fluid is allowed to flow through the valve. The dispensing valve typically requires a user to manipulate the valve by hand to alternate between the open position and a closed position. In some instances, it is desirable that the valve not require hand manipulation to be activated. Thus, some dispensing valves may be activated by alternative methods. For example, a dispensing valve can be configured to be opened by a user applying a partial vacuum to the valve such as by sucking or inhaling through the valve.
In such configurations where the valve is vacuum actuated, the stop of the valve is typically biased to a closed position. It is desirable for the biasing force to be sufficient so that the valve will not leak. In order to open the valve, the biasing force must be overcome. If the biasing force is larger than the force applied by the suction force, the valve will not open. Therefore, it is desirable to have a biasing force that is large enough to provide a fluid tight seal, while at the same time, is small enough so that it can be easily overcome by a user applying a partial vacuum through the valve.
The stop member of such a dispensing valve is typically an injection molded part. The stop has a seal surface that has split lines on the surface from side action mold halves that abut during the injection molding process. The split lines on the sealing surface of the stop prevent a substantially smooth even sealing surface. Consequently, an increased biasing force or compressive force is typically required to maintain a fluid tight seal. This, however, can detrimentally increase the vacuum required to open the valve. Thus, it is desirable for the stop of the valve to have a smooth seal surface void of any split lines as it will minimize the biasing force needed to create a fluid tight seal. It will also minimize the vacuum required to open the valve.
The present invention is provided to solve these and other problems.
The present provides a stop for a valve.
The valve has a surface defining an opening. The stop is adapted to be moveable between a first position abutting the surface to seal the opening and a second position spaced from the surface to open the opening.
According to a first aspect of the invention, the stop is formed in an injection-molding process. The stop has a sealing surface that is substantially smooth and even along its entire surface. The sealing surface is void of split lines from the injection molding process.
According to another aspect of the invention, the stop has a base adapted to be connected to the valve. The stop also has a sealing member connected to the base by a hinge member. The sealing member has a frustoconical outer surface and the sealing surface is at a distal end of the sealing member. The sealing member extends away from the base in a first molded position wherein the sealing surface faces generally away from the base. The sealing member is foldable at the hinge member to a second position wherein the sealing surface faces generally towards the base. A portion of the sealing member is adapted to pass through the valve opening wherein the sealing surface is adapted to abut the valve surface.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing the valve stop includes an injection molding process. Mold sections are provided and are configured wherein the sealing surface of the stop is formed in the line of draw of the molten material injected in the process to form the stop. The sealing surface is then free from split lines. After molten material is injected into the mold and solidified, the part is ejected from the mold. The sealing member of the formed valve stop is then folded to the second position.
Other aspects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
While this embodiment is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention. This disclosure is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the illustrated embodiments.
The diaphragm member 18 is a flexible member and sized to correspond to the annular rim 32. The valve stop 20, described in greater detail below, is connected to the diaphragm member 18. The valve stop 20 can be integrally formed with the diaphragm member 18.
As further shown in
As further shown in
As discussed, the sealing member has a generally frustoconical shape, thus having a frustoconical outer surface 62. At a distal end 64 of the sealing member 54, is a sealing surface 66 that is generally adjacent to the outer surface 62. The sealing member 54 has an internal recess 68 defining a frustoconical inner surface 70. The sealing surface 66 is substantially smooth and even across its entire surface and void of any split lines from an injection molding process used to make the stop 20. This is a function of the unique method of making the stop 20 as will be described below.
As can be appreciated from
Similar to the sealing member 54 in
Proximate to the end of the base member 102 is the hinge member 110 portion of the sealing member 108. The hinge member 110 is the location at which the sealing member 108 is folded from the first molded position MP (
As discussed above, it is understood that the valve stop 100 can be attached to the diaphragm 18 of the valve 10 to seal the valve 10. Because the sealing surface 112 is free from any split lines, the valve 10 can be operated with less effort. As shown below, it is further understood that the valve stop 20 can be integrally molded with the diaphragm 18.
Attached to the diaphragm member 202 is the valve stop 20. The valve stop 20 is also an integrally formed portion of the valve part 200, along with the diaphragm member 202. As discussed with regard to
As further shown in
As discussed above in conjunction with this embodiment, the sealing member has a generally frustoconical outer surface 62. At a distal end 64 of the sealing member 54, is a sealing surface 66 that is generally adjacent to the outer surface 62. The sealing member 54 has an internal recess 68 defining a frustoconical inner surface 70. The sealing surface 66 is substantially smooth and even across its entire surface and void of any split lines from an injection molding process used to make the valve part 202. This is a function of the unique method of making the valve part 202 as will be described below.
A first core member 244 is a movable pin used for the formation of the frustoconical inner surface 70 of the sealing member 54 as seen when the valve part 200 is in a first molded position MP. A second core member 246 is an independently movable portion of the mold 240. When the mold 240 is in the closed position, as shown in
After injection and at least partial curing of the material, the first core member 244 is withdrawn away from the first fixed member 242. After the first core member 244 has been removed, the second core member 246 is withdrawn from the first fixed member 242, to which the valve part 200 remains attached due to the reverse tapered portion 250 of the first fixed member 242. The sealing member 54 of the valve part 200 is deformable as can be seen in FIG. 10. Therefore, it flexes and allows the second core member 246 to be withdrawn. The formed valve part 200 is then removed from the first fixed member 242, the mold 240 is closed, and the process is repeated. Using this configuration, separate mold members are not brought together to form the portion of the mold 240 that will form the sealing surface 66. This would lead to split-lines on the sealing surface 66, which is undesirable as described above. As a single mold section is used to form the sealing surface 66, the sealing surface 66 is formed free of split lines.
While one mold setup which provides for a sealing surface 66 free of split lines has been disclosed with specificity, it will be appreciated that numerous other mold configurations immediately come to mind which provide the same beneficial results.
Preferably, the mold sections are arranged in a manner wherein the sealing surface 66 is formed in the line of draw of the injected molten material. Additionally, side action molding is preferably not required.
Thus, in another molding configuration, a first mold section may form the inner surface of the frustoconically shaped sealing member 54, and the sealing surface 66. Two other mold sections may form the base member 52 and the outer wall of the generally frustoconically shaped sealing member 54. The split lines, formed where the various mold sections meet, are located axially along the base member 52, axially along the outer wall of the sealing member 54, and along the outer rim of the sealing surface 66 of the sealing member 54 when the valve stop 20 is in the first molded position MP, as shown in FIG. 3. The sealing surface 66 is free of split lines.
Once the mold sections are set and define the mold, molten plastic material is injected into the mold in a line of draw. The material is cooled so the part at least partially solidifies in the mold. The part is then ejected from the mold. The molding process is controlled so that upon ejection from the mold, the part remains slightly uncured for a brief time. While the part is still slightly uncured it remains highly flexible. As shown in
As shown, the mold sections allow a mold to be formed wherein the sealing surface 66,112 can be formed void of any split lines from abutting mold sections. If for example, the valve stop 20 was simply molded as a solid part having the configuration shown in
It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.
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