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WO2025193325A1 - Valve de distribution - Google Patents

Valve de distribution

Info

Publication number
WO2025193325A1
WO2025193325A1 PCT/US2025/011651 US2025011651W WO2025193325A1 WO 2025193325 A1 WO2025193325 A1 WO 2025193325A1 US 2025011651 W US2025011651 W US 2025011651W WO 2025193325 A1 WO2025193325 A1 WO 2025193325A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
head
valve
intermediate portion
exterior
environment
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
PCT/US2025/011651
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
David Gaus
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AptarGroup Inc
Original Assignee
AptarGroup Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AptarGroup Inc filed Critical AptarGroup Inc
Publication of WO2025193325A1 publication Critical patent/WO2025193325A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
    • B65D47/2018—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure
    • B65D47/2031—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to dispensing valves and systems, and more particularly relates to valves for dispensing a product from a container or other source, and in more particular applications, to such valves suitable for use in a dispensing closure for a flexible container which is squeezable to create a pressure differential across the valve.
  • valve is a flexible, resilient, self-closing, slit-type valve that can be mounted at an opening or port of a package or container of a fluent substance, or alternatively mounted within a conduit for a fluent substance.
  • Such valves typically have a single slit or have multiple slits which define a normally closed orifice in an initially closed configuration or condition. The orifice opens to permit flow therethrough in response to either a sufficient pressure differential acting across opposite sides of the valve, or in response to mechanical engagement by a sufficiently rigid article such as a probe, cannula, conduit, or feed/drain tool inserted through the valve.
  • valves that open in response to a pressure differential are typically designed so that they automatically close to seal or shut off flow therethrough in response to a sufficient reduction of the pressure differential acting across the valve.
  • mechanically engageable valves are typically designed so that they automatically close to seal or shut off flow therethrough upon removal of the engaging article.
  • Conventional valves are suitable for use with fluent substances, such as liquids and gases, including, inter alia, soaps, beverages, lotions, and creams.
  • Conventional valves are preferably molded as a unitary structure (i.e., one-piece structure) from a single substance or material which is flexible, pliable, somewhat elastic, and resilient. This typically includes a silicone rubber, such as the silicone rubber sold by Dow Corning Corporation in the United States of America under the trade designation D.C. 99-595 and RBL-9595-40. Another suitable silicone rubber material is sold in the United States of America under the designation Wacker 3003-40 by Wacker Silicone Company.
  • such conventional valves are not formed from the same type of plastic as the accompanying closure and/or container, which may present difficulty during recycling.
  • the conventional valve may need to be disassembled from the retaining ring, closure, and/or container prior to, or during, the recycling process.
  • a valve formed from a thermoplastic elastomer may advantageously be recycled more readily than a conventional silicone valve, but may suffer from undesirable performance (e.g., insufficient closing force, gaps between slits in the valve, etc.) compared to conventional valves prior to, during, or after, dispensing a fluent substance through the TPE valve.
  • TPE thermoplastic elastomer
  • the inventor of the present invention has determined that for at least some applications in which some types of fluent substances are contained within a package or container, it may be desirable to provide a TPE valve that can suitably perform the functions of a conventional valve.
  • the inventor of the present invention has also determined that it would be desirable to provide, at least for one or more types of applications, an improved TPE valve that can be configured for use with a fluent substance container so as to have one or more of the following advantages: (1 ) ease of manufacture and/or assembly, (2) relatively low cost of manufacture and/or assembly, (3) improved ease of recyclability, and (4) accommodation of the manufacture of the valve by means of efficient, high-quality, large- volume techniques with a reduced product reject rate to produce valves with consistent operating characteristics.
  • the inventor of the present invention has discovered how to provide an improved valve formed from a TPE material or materials having improved performance compared to conventional valves made of TPE material or other materials.
  • the inventive valve may be assembled with, or provided within, a package or container of a fluent substance, or a fluid handling system (such as a fluent substance dispensing system), that has an opening between the exterior and interior of the container or system at which the valve can be installed.
  • the valve may also be used within a fluent substance container or system that utilizes a probe, cannula, conduit (e.g., feed/drain tool), or another engaging article that is mechanically inserted through the valve.
  • the valve has a flexible, resilient head centered on a central axis and extending radially therefrom.
  • the head has an interior surface to face an interior environment, an exterior surface to face an exterior environment, and at least one self-sealing slit through the head.
  • At least the head of the valve is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer.
  • the head defines confronting, openable portions along the at least one self-sealing slit to define a normally closed orifice in an unconstrained condition wherein the openable portions can move in a first direction toward the exterior environment to an open orifice configuration and return in an opposite direction to a closed configuration.
  • the valve includes an annular, peripheral attachment portion spaced radially from the head and an annular, flexible, resilient, intermediate portion extending radially from the head to the peripheral attachment portion.
  • the head In the closed configuration, the head has a maximum thickness between the interior surface and the exterior surface. The maximum thickness is located radially between the intermediate portion and the central axis at a location that is closer to the central axis than to the intermediate portion.
  • the valve has a flexible, resilient head centered on a central axis and extending radially therefrom.
  • the head has an interior surface to face the interior environment, an exterior surface to face the exterior environment, and at least one self-sealing slit through the head.
  • At least the head of the valve is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer.
  • the head defines confronting, openable portions along the at least one self-sealing slit to define a normally closed orifice in an unconstrained condition wherein the openable portions can move in a first direction toward the exterior environment to an open orifice configuration and return in an opposite direction to a closed configuration.
  • the valve includes an annular, peripheral attachment portion spaced radially from the head and an annular, flexible, resilient, intermediate portion extending radially from the head to the peripheral attachment portion.
  • the head In the closed configuration, the head extends in a radial direction continuously toward the central axis from the intermediate portion such that no portion of the head extends radially outwardly relative to the intermediate portion.
  • the flexible, resilient slit valve has a flexible, resilient head centered on a central axis and extending laterally therefrom.
  • the head has an interior surface to face the interior environment, an exterior surface to face the exterior environment, and at least one self-sealing slit through the head.
  • At least the head of the valve is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer.
  • the head defines confronting, openable portions along the at least one self-sealing slit to define a normally closed orifice in an unconstrained condition wherein the openable portions can move in a first direction toward the exterior environment to an open orifice configuration and return in an opposite direction to a closed configuration.
  • the valve includes an annular, peripheral attachment portion spaced laterally from the head and an annular, flexible, resilient, intermediate portion extending laterally from the head to the peripheral attachment portion.
  • the head In the closed configuration, the head has a non-uniform thickness between the interior surface and the exterior surface of the head, and the head is thinnest proximate to the intermediate portion.
  • the intermediate portion has an interior surface to face the interior environment and an exterior surface to face the exterior environment, and the exterior surface of the head and the exterior surface of the intermediate portion form a substantially parabolic surface at their point of connection in the closed configuration of the valve.
  • the head, the attachment portion, and the intermediate portion are unitarily molded from a thermoplastic elastomer.
  • the head has a pair of self-sealing slits.
  • the interior surface of the head has a planar and circular central region surrounding the central axis which terminates proximate to the location of maximum thickness of the head in the closed configuration of the valve.
  • the interior surface and exterior surface of the head diverge from the intermediate portion to the location of maximum thickness of the head.
  • the exterior surface of the head is concave in the closed configuration of the valve.
  • the valve in another form of the present invention, is provided in combination with a closure for use with a container.
  • the closure has a dispensing orifice.
  • the combination further includes a retaining ring engaging the closure to maintain the valve at or across the dispensing orifice of the closure.
  • the valve is provided in combination with a closure and a container of a fluent substance, wherein the valve, the closure, and the container of the fluent substance form a package.
  • FIG. 1 is an isometric view, taken from above, of a first embodiment of a valve according to the present invention assembled within a closure installed upon a container of a fluent substance, and FIG. 1 shows the closure in an open condition and the valve in an unstressed, closed condition or configuration;
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view, taken from above, of the closure, valve, the retaining ring, and a fragmentary upper portion of the container of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the assembled valve, closure, retaining ring, and fragmentary upper portion of the container of FIG. 1 , taken along a vertical plane containing the central axis of the valve and extending through the center of the hinge of the closure;
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged, isometric view, taken from above, of only the valve of FIG. 1 , and FIG. 4 shows the valve in the closed condition or configuration;
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged, top plan view of the valve of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 is an enlarged, side elevation view of the valve of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 7 is an enlarged, bottom plan view of the valve of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 8 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the valve shown in FIG. 4, taken along plane 8-8 in FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 9 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the valve shown in FIG. 4, taken along plane 9-9 in FIG. 5.
  • valve of the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings disclose only some specific forms as examples of the invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to only the embodiments so described, however.
  • valve 20 of this invention is described, with reference to the drawings, in a generally horizontal orientation that the valve 20 could have when installed as a sub-assembly or assembly 22 (FIG. 2) that includes a closure 24 (FIG. 2), a valve 20, and a retainer or retaining ring 26, for use on a fluent substance container 30 or system (not illustrated).
  • the terms “axial”, “radial”, and “lateral” are used herein with respect to an axis 32, generally defined by the center of the valve 20.
  • the phrase “axially outwardly” refers to the direction upwardly in the figures (e.g., FIG.
  • axially inwardly refers to the direction downwardly in the figures (e.g., FIG. 3), along the axis 32 with respect to the direction into the interior of the container 30 upon which the closure 24 and the valve 20 could be installed.
  • radially inwardly refers to a direction normal (i.e., perpendicular) to, and moving toward, the axis 32.
  • radially outwardly refers to a direction normal to, and moving away from, the axis 32.
  • laterally outwardly refers to a direction away from the axis 32 and also within a plane that is normal to the axis 32. It will be understood, however, that this invention may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, or sold in orientations other than the orientation shown.
  • valve 20 of this invention is suitable for use with a variety of conventional or special fluent substance containers or systems (e.g., fluent substance handling or processing systems, dispensing systems, machines, etc.) having various designs, the details of which, although not illustrated or described, would be apparent to those having skill in the art and an understanding of such systems.
  • fluent substance containers or systems e.g., fluent substance handling or processing systems, dispensing systems, machines, etc.
  • FIGS. 1 -9 illustrate a preferred, first embodiment of a valve 20 according to the present invention.
  • the valve 20 is used for selectively permitting communication through the valve 20 from one side of the valve to the other side (e.g., into or out of a fluent substance container 30 or dispensing system, conduit, or package), and the valve 20 typically would be in communication with an interior of such a container or system.
  • the valve 20 is especially adapted to be installed in a closure 24 (FIGS. 1-3 only) to be attached or assembled at the opening of a fluent substance dispensing container 30.
  • the fluent substance container 30 may be, for example, a flexible bag or a bottle.
  • the valve 20 could also be installed on a reservoir, a fluent substance dispensing system, which contains a fluent substance at ambient atmospheric pressure or above ambient atmospheric pressure (including a system in which the pressure results from the static head of the fluent substance within the system and/or in which the system generates or otherwise creates a pressurized fluent substance therein).
  • the closure 24 illustrated in FIGS. 1 -2 includes a generally cylindrical base or body 34 and a lid 38 that is connected to the body 34 by a hinge 40.
  • the body 34 defines a dispensing orifice 44 which is occluded or covered by the lid 38 in a closed position (not illustrated) rotated away from the as-molded, open position as shown in the figures.
  • a top deck 48 of the body 34 (FIG. 2), which surrounds the dispensing orifice 44, connects to an outer wall or skirt 52 which is for surrounding a top end 56 of the container when the assembly 22 (FIG. 2) is installed at the opening of the container 30.
  • the body 34 further includes an attachment means in the form of screw threads 60 (FIG. 3) for mating with threads 64 (FIG. 3) on the neck 66 of the container 30.
  • the body 34 may have other removable or non-removable attachment means or features for securing the body 34 at the opening or neck of the container 30, such as mating snap-fit beads, deformable and non-removable bands or flanges, toggle clamps, friction fittings, locks, adhesives, welding, etc.
  • the hinge 40 may be of any suitable conventional or special design.
  • the hinge 40 illustrated in the figures may be of a conventional snap-action type such as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,356,017 or U.S. Patent No. 5,642,824, the details of which form no part of the present invention.
  • the hinge 40 could also be a non-snap-action type, such as a strap or tether.
  • the lid 38 includes a hollow plug seal 68 that extends axially inwardly therefrom to seal the dispensing orifice 44 when the lid 38 is in its closed position.
  • the lid 38 may have other sealing or latching means such as snap fit beads, locks, tabs, etc.
  • the lid 38 may mate with the body 44 in a wholly removable manner, such as mating screw threads, friction, or snap fit beads, etc.
  • the lid 38 may be omitted altogether in some applications.
  • the first illustrated embodiment of the valve 20 is flexible, resilient, pressure-openable, self-closing, and of the slit-type.
  • forms of generally related kinds of slit-type valves are disclosed in the U.S. Patent Nos. 8,678,249 and 5,839,614. The descriptions of those patents are incorporated herein by reference thereto to the extent pertinent and to the extent not inconsistent herewith.
  • the valve 20 of the present invention is suitable for use with fluent substances, such as liquids and gases, including, inter alia, soaps, beverages, food products, lotions, and creams.
  • the valve 20 is preferably molded as a unitary structure (i.e.
  • thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material which is flexible, pliable, elastic, and resilient.
  • TPE thermoplastic elastomer
  • This can include styrenic block copolymers (TPE-s), thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers (TPE-o), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPE-u), or thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPE-v).
  • TPE-s thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers
  • TPE-u thermoplastic polyurethanes
  • TPE-v thermoplastic vulcanizates
  • the valve 20 is unitarily formed from a TPE-s or TPE-o material. It is desirable in many applications that the valve material be substantially inert so as to avoid reaction with, and/or adulteration of, the fluent substance that comes into contact with the valve 20.
  • the valve 20 is formed from one of the following TPE materials: Engage®, manufactured by Dow Chemical Company, having offices at 1790 Building, Midland, Ml 48667; Monprene®, manufactured by Teknor Apex, having offices at 505 Central Ave., Pawtucket, Rl 02861 ; Thermolast®, manufactured by Kraiburg TPE Corporation, having offices at 4365 Hamilton Mill Rd., Buford, GA 30518; or Versaflex®, manufactured by PolyOne Corporation, having offices at 2700 Papin St., St. Louis, MO 63103.
  • the valve 20 preferably has a durometer between about 20-30 on the Shore A scale.
  • valve 20 is illustrated as being formed from a material as a single substance that defines a unitary layer of material substance, it will be appreciated that for some applications the valve 20 may be formed from a material that is defined by two or more layers of different substances.
  • one layer of the valve material may be formed from a first TPE material, and one or more other layers of the valve material may be formed from coatings or laminations of one or more different substances.
  • the valve 20 has an initially “closed”, unactuated, substantially unstressed, rest position or configuration as illustrated in the figures.
  • the valve 20 can be forced to an “open” position or configuration when a sufficiently high pressure differential acts across the opposite sides of the valve 20, or when the valve 20 is engaged by a sufficiently rigid article coming into contact with the valve 20 material.
  • the valve 20 material has a first side 72 and a second side 76.
  • the first side 72 will face an interior of a fluent substance container 30 and the second side 76 will face an exterior, ambient environment.
  • the valve 20 may be contained wholly within a conduit or system for processing, dispensing, or handling a fluent substance.
  • the valve 20 has an annular mounting flange or peripheral attachment portion 80.
  • the peripheral attachment portion 80 may have any suitable configuration for being mounted to, attached to, connected with, or for otherwise accommodating, installation on or in a closure or a container. Typically, this may be achieved through a retention structure or retaining ring 26 (visible in FIGS. 2 and 3 only) that can mate with a feature inside of the closure 24 (as shown in FIG. 3) or mate with a feature of a container (not illustrated) in which the valve 20 may be installed.
  • the particular configuration of the peripheral attachment portion 80 illustrated in FIG. 9 may be characterized generally as a modified dove-tail configuration when viewed in a vertical cross sectional plane containing the central axis 32 (as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
  • the peripheral attachment portion 80 includes a first frustoconical surface 84 and a second frustoconical surface 88 for being clamped between the retaining ring 26 (FIG. 3) and the closure 24 (FIG. 3) for retaining or holding the valve 20 in place.
  • the peripheral attachment portion 80 is somewhat resiliently compressed so as to accommodate the creation of a secure, leak-resistant seal when the peripheral attachment portion 80 is compressively engaged within the closure 24 or a container 30.
  • peripheral attachment portion 80 With appropriate modification of the closure 24 or container 30, other shapes could be used for the peripheral attachment portion 80. Some other shapes of flange cross sections which could be employed on the valve 20 are illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 5,409,144. In some applications, it may be desirable to configure the peripheral attachment portion 80 for attachment to the closure 24 or container by means of adhesive, heat bonding, or other suitable means, bi-injection molding, such that the retaining ring 24 may be omitted altogether. [0049] As shown in FIG.
  • the valve 20 includes a generally annular, intermediate portion or sleeve 92 that connects laterally between the peripheral attachment portion 80 to a central head portion or head 96.
  • the head portion 96 is flexible and resilient.
  • the intermediate portion 92 has a tubular configuration to locate the head portion 96 so that a part of the head portion 96 projects axially inwardly (e.g., toward the interior of the container or system) beyond or below the peripheral attachment portion 80.
  • the intermediate portion 92 of the valve 20 is preferably configured for use in conjunction with a particular fluent substance supply system or container, and a specific type of fluent substance, so as to achieve the flow characteristics desired.
  • a particular fluent substance supply system or container and a specific type of fluent substance, so as to achieve the flow characteristics desired.
  • the viscosity and density of the fluent substance are factors to be considered.
  • the rigidity and durometer of the valve material, and size and thickness of portions of both the head portion 96 and the intermediate portion 92, are additional factors to be considered.
  • the head portion 96 of the valve 20 has a generally circular configuration in plan view.
  • the peripheral attachment portion 80, the intermediate portion 92, and the head portion 96 are all oriented in a generally circular configuration and concentric relationship relative to the central axis 32 (visible in FIG. 4).
  • a fluid substance can be dispensed (i.e., discharged) through the valve 20 in a discharge flow direction axially outwardly generally along the axis 32 when the valve 20 opens, as will be discussed in detail hereinafter.
  • An engagement article such as the probe, can also be used to engage and open the valve 20 and to facilitate communication of a fluid substance through the valve 20.
  • the intermediate portion 80 defines an interior surface 100 for facing the interior of a container and defines an exterior surface 104 for facing the exterior environment when the valve 20 is installed across the dispensing orifice of the container.
  • the valve head 96 has an interior surface 108 with a generally convex configuration when the valve 20 is in the closed configuration and viewed along a vertical cross sectional plane containing the axis 32.
  • the interior surface 108 of the head portion 96 has a planar and circular central region 112 extending laterally outwardly around the axis 32 when the valve 20 is in the closed configuration.
  • the interior surface 108 of the valve head 96 further defines or includes a laterally outwardly facing peripheral region 116 which is non-flaring, in that the laterally outwardly facing peripheral region 116 only extends laterally or radially inwardly from the point of connection with the intermediate portion 92.
  • An exterior surface 120 of the valve head 96 has a concave configuration, when the valve 20 is in the closed configuration and viewed in FIG. 9 along a vertical cross sectional plane containing the axis 32.
  • the radius of the circular arc of the head portion 96 on the exterior surface 120 is greater than the radius of the circular arc of the head portion 96 on the interior surface 108.
  • the exterior surface 120 of the head portion 96 is substantially or almost coincident or co-linear with the exterior surface 104 of the intermediate portion 92 at the point of their connection, which gives the combined exterior surfaces of the valve head portion 96 and the intermediate portion 92 a substantially parabolic configuration.
  • the head portion 96 when the head portion 96 is viewed in cross section, all of the head portion 96 is thicker than the relatively thin intermediate portion 92 of the valve 20. Importantly, the head portion 96 has a non-uniform thickness and has a region or point 124 (FIG. 8) of greatest thickness T1 , taken in the axial direction along axis 32, and this point 124 is located closer to the axis 32 than to the location of the transition or connection 128 of the head portion 96 and the intermediate portion 92.
  • the point 124 of greatest thickness T1 is located a first distance D1 from the central axis 32 that is less than a second distance D2, extending in a radial direction between the point of 124 of greatest thickness T1 and the location of the connection 128 between the head 96 and the intermediate portion 92.
  • This configuration assists in providing a desirable closing force of the valve 20 as will be discussed hereinafter.
  • the first illustrated embodiment of the valve 20 has a distinct head portion 96, an intermediate portion 92, and a peripheral attachment portion 80, it will be understood that in one broad aspect of the present invention the valve 20 need not be limited to such a structure.
  • the peripheral attachment portion 80 could be a rigid member (e.g., a thermoplastic ring or retainer) attached to the rest of the valve 20.
  • the valve 20 may be molded with the closure 24 or 30 container such that the closure 24 or 30 container forms the peripheral attachment portion, per se.
  • the head portion 96 of the valve 20 has a pair selfsealing, intersecting slits 132 that each extend transversely and fully through the head portion 96.
  • the slits 132 radiate generally from the center of the head portion 96.
  • the slits 132 define openable flaps, segments, portions or triangular petals 136 in the valve head portion 96 to define a normally closed orifice.
  • Each petal has two transverse faces defined by the slits 132, and each transverse face seals against a confronting transverse face of an adjacent petal when the valve orifice is closed. Variations and forms of such openable portions are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 8,628,056. The description of that patent is incorporated herein by reference thereto to the extent pertinent and to the extent not inconsistent herewith.
  • the head 96 is configured such that the interior surface 108 (FIG. 9) and exterior surface 120 (FIG. 9) of the head 96 diverge from one another from the location of the connection 128 of the head 96 with the intermediate portion 92 to at or near the location 124 of maximum thickness T1 of the head 96.
  • the inventor has found that the TPE valve 20 disclosed herein with the valve head portion 96 as described may address many of the dispensing performance issues experienced by conventional TPE valves, particularly with respect to insufficient closing force of the self-sealing slits 132 and to eliminate or at least reduce spacing or gaps between slits 132 during manufacturing.
  • the thickest part of the head portion 96 of the valve 20 moved closer to the central axis 32 of the valve 20 as compared to prior art valves, controls stress in the molded valve 20 to reduce or eliminate slit separation during manufacturing.
  • the valve 20 is injection molded from a TPE material, and the slits 132 are subsequently cut or stamped into the head portion 96 by suitable special or conventional techniques.
  • the valve 20 can be molded to define the slits 132. It will be appreciated that in some applications the valve 20 may be provided with one slit 132 or more than two slits 132 arranged in a different configuration than that illustrated.
  • valve 20 of the present invention may improve the transportability and/or storage characteristics of a container or other system in which the valve 20 is installed compared to conventional TPE valves.
  • the improved valve 20 may eliminate, or at least reduce or minimize, undesirable, premature valve opening events or other ingress or egress leakage events during transportation, storage, heating, or over-pressurization of the fluent substance container or system in which the valve 20 is installed.
  • the invention may be limited to only the valve disclosed herein.
  • the invention may include a sub-assembly of the valve, a retaining ring or other retaining structure, and a closure.
  • the invention may include a package including the valve and a closure (with or without a retaining ring) and a container of a fluent substance.
  • the container may have any conventional or special design.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une valve (20) qui comprend une tête (96) élastomère thermoplastique ayant une surface intérieure (108), une surface extérieure (120) et une ou plusieurs fentes auto-obturantes (132) à travers la tête (96). La valve (20) présente une partie de fixation périphérique (80) annulaire espacée radialement de la tête (96), une partie intermédiaire (92), annulaire, souple et élastique s'étendant radialement depuis la tête (96) jusqu'à la partie de fixation périphérique (80). Dans une configuration fermée de la valve (20), la tête (96) présente une épaisseur maximale (T1) entre la surface intérieure (108) et la surface extérieure (120) et l'épaisseur maximale (T1) se trouve radialement entre la partie intermédiaire (92) et un axe central (32) à un emplacement (124) qui est plus proche de l'axe central (32) que de la partie intermédiaire (92).
PCT/US2025/011651 2024-03-13 2025-01-15 Valve de distribution Pending WO2025193325A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US202463564656P 2024-03-13 2024-03-13
US63/564,656 2024-03-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2025193325A1 true WO2025193325A1 (fr) 2025-09-18

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ID=94637290

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2025/011651 Pending WO2025193325A1 (fr) 2024-03-13 2025-01-15 Valve de distribution

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2025193325A1 (fr)

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5356017A (en) 1992-10-28 1994-10-18 Aptargroup, Inc. Child resistant closure with recessed latch
US5409144A (en) 1991-12-06 1995-04-25 Liquid Molding Systems Inc. Dispensing valve for packaging
US5642824A (en) 1995-12-07 1997-07-01 Aptargroup, Inc. Closure with multiple axis bistable hinge structure
US5839614A (en) 1991-12-06 1998-11-24 Aptar Group, Inc. Dispensing package
US6269986B1 (en) 2000-06-20 2001-08-07 Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc. Dispensing closure with tamper evident lid panel
US20060201976A1 (en) * 2005-03-09 2006-09-14 Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. Integrally molded dispensing valve and method of manufacture
US20110163134A1 (en) * 2010-01-06 2011-07-07 Bloom Kenneth S Dispensing valve
US8628056B2 (en) 2009-02-02 2014-01-14 Aptargroup, Inc. Dual sealing system for use with a probe
US8678249B2 (en) 2008-02-21 2014-03-25 Aptargroup, Inc. Valve mounting assembly with slit misalignment prevention feature

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5409144A (en) 1991-12-06 1995-04-25 Liquid Molding Systems Inc. Dispensing valve for packaging
US5839614A (en) 1991-12-06 1998-11-24 Aptar Group, Inc. Dispensing package
US5356017A (en) 1992-10-28 1994-10-18 Aptargroup, Inc. Child resistant closure with recessed latch
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