Dispensing package for fluid products and the like

Claim 2

A dispensing package (1) for fluid materials and the like, comprising: a container (2) shaped to retain a preselected fluid product therein, and including a discharge opening (10) and means for selectively moving the fluid product in the container through the discharge opening; and a self-sealing dispensing valve (3) positioned to communicate with the discharge opening of the container, and including an orifice (20) which automatically opens in response to a predetermined threshold pressure, and automatically closes upon removal of the predetermined threshold pressure; characterised in that: the discharge opening (10) has a marginal lip (13); the dispensing valve (3) includes a retainer flange (19) which is disposed marginally about the orifice and is resiliently deformable between opposite faces thereof; one of the faces (22) of the dispensing valve flange being positioned on the lip of the container, and oriented such that the orifice communicates with the discharge opening; and the package includes a retainer ring (27) which abuttingly engages the other face (21) of the dispensing valve flange and compresses the dispensing valve flange between the lip of the container and the retainer ring to securely mount the dispensing valve on the container, and simultaneously form a leak resistant seal therebetween.

Claim 3

A package according to claim 1 in which the retainer ring (27) is connected to the container adjacent the discharge opening thereof, and includes a crimpable collar (14) which is inelastically deformed about the flange of the dispensing valve to form a rim constituting the retainer ring.

Claim 4

A dispensing package according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the retainer ring is fixedly connected with the container, preferably by being formed integrally and in one-piece with the container.

Claim 5

A dispensing package according to claim 3 in which the container is constructed from a thermosetting plastic and the collar is crimped about the dispensing valve by heat setting.

Claim 6

A package according to Claim 1 in which the container has a first snap-lock member (80) and which includes a valve retainer (71) having a rim (86) shaped to abuttingly engage the other face of said dispensing valve and constituting the retainer ring, and a second snap-lock member (85) shaped to mate with the first snap-lock member on said container, whereby with the dispensing valve positioned between said container and said valve retainer, linear converging motion between said container and said valve retainer engages said first and second snap-lock members and compresses the flange (86) of said dispensing valve (70) between the lip of said container and the rim of said valve retainer to securely mount said dispensing valve on said container, and simultaneously form a leak resistant seal therebetween.

Claim 7

A dispensing package (188) for fluid materials and the like, comprising: a container (189) shaped to retain a preselected fluid product therein, and including a discharge opening and means for selectively moving the fluid product in the container through the discharge opening; a self-sealing dispensing valve (190) positioned to communicate with the discharge opening of the container, and including a base, a sidewall (192) projecting outwardly from said base, and a top wall (193) closing one end of said sidewall, with at least one slit (194) therethrough defining an orifice that opens and closes in response to the application and removal of a predetermined threshold pressure; said valve sidewall (192) being elastically flexible for shifting between an extended operational position wherein said top wall is spaced apart from said base a predetermined distance to permit the fluid product to be dispensed from the container, and a retracted storage position wherein said top wall is disposed generally flush with said valve base and said sidewall is doubled over to generate forces in said valve which prevent said orifice from inadvertently opening.

Claim 8

A dispensing package (188) for fluid materials and the like, comprising: a container (189) shaped to retain a preselected fluid product therein, and including a discharge opening and means for selectively moving the fluid product in the container through the discharge opening; a self-sealing dispensing valve (190) positioned to communicate with the discharge opening of the container, and including a base, a sidewall (192) projecting outwardly from said base, and a top wall (193) closing one end of said sidewall, with at least one slit (194) therethrough defining an orifice that opens and closes in response to the application and removal of a predetermined threshold pressure; said valve sidewall (192) being elastically flexible for shifting between an extended operational position wherein said top wall is spaced apart from said base a predetermined distance to permit the fluid product to be dispensed from the container, and a retracted storage position wherein said top wall is disposed generally flush with said valve base and said sidewall is doubled over to generate forces in said valve which prevent said orifice from inadvertently opening.

Claim 9

A dispensing package according to any of claims 1 to 6 in which the dispensing valve (3) is constructed from a moulded silicone rubber.

Claim 10

A dispensing package according to any of claims 1 to 6 in which the dispensing valve (3) includes a resiliently flexible central portion (17) in which said orifice (20) is disposed and which is constructed such that the said predetermined threshold pressure is greater than the maximum hydraulic head pressure of the fluid product in the container when said discharge opening is oriented downwardly.

Claim 11

A dispensing package according to claim 8 in which the orifice (20) is defined by a linear slit in the central portion of the dispensing valve.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 10 in which the retainer ring forming step comprises integrally moulding the retainer ring in the container.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 10 or claim 11 in which the container is constructed from a thermosetting plastic, and the crimping step comprises heating the retainer ring collar to a pliable state, inelastically deforming the retainer ring rim over the flange of the dispensing valve, pressing the rim against the flange of the dispensing valve to compress the flange, and cooling the rim while maintaining flange compression until the retainer ring rim returns to a state of sufficient rigidity to maintain flange compression.

Claim 16

A dispensing package (1) for fluid materials and the like, comprising: a container (2) shaped to retain a preselected fluid product therein, and including a discharge opening (10) and means for selectively moving the fluid product in the container through the discharge opening; a self-sealing dispensing valve (3) positioned to communicate with the discharge opening of the container, and including a wall (17) with at least one slit (20) therethrough which defines an orifice that opens and closes in response to the application and removal of a predetermined threshold pressure; said valve (3) being moulded from a silicone rubber, and having a generally frustoconical shape with a substantially conical sidewall (7) and a substantially flat top wall (8) in which said orifice is disposed to selectively stiffen said valve to insure complete and timely closure of said orifice upon removal of the threshold pressure.

Claim 17

A dispensing package (1) for fluid materials and the like, comprising: a container (2) shaped to retain a preselected fluid product therein, and including a discharge opening (10) and means for selectively moving the fluid product in the container through the discharge opening; a self-sealing dispensing valve (3) positioned to communicate with the discharge opening of the container, and including a wall (17) with at least one slit (20) therethrough which defines an orifice that opens and closes in response to the application and removal of a predetermined threshold pressure; said valve (3) being moulded from a silicone rubber, and having a generally frustoconical shape with a substantially conical sidewall (7) and a substantially flat top wall (8) in which said orifice is disposed to selectively stiffen said valve to insure complete and timely closure of said orifice upon removal of the threshold pressure.

Claim 18

A dispensing package for fluid materials and the like, comprising: a container (2a) shaped to retain a preselected fluid product therein, and including a wall having a discharge opening, and a resiliently flexible portion for manually shifting said container between a compressed condition and a decompressed condition to selectively move the fluid product through the discharge opening of said container; a self-sealing dispensing valve (1a) connected with said container, communicating with the discharge opening thereof, and including: a valve wall having a marginal groove (4a) extending along one face thereof in a closed pattern to define a centre valve area (5a) inside said groove, and an outer valve area (6a) outside said groove; at least one rib (7a) extending between said centre valve area and said outer valve area to bridge said groove and selectively stiffen said valve; a slit (8a) extending through said valve wall to define an orifice that shifts between outwardly open, closed, and inwardly open positions in response to shifting the flexible wall portion of said container; said slit extending substantially continuously along said centre valve area, and into at least a portion of said groove, whereby shifting the flexible wall portion of said container from the decompressed condition to the compressed condition shifts said orifice into the outwardly open position, and forces the fluid product therethrough to dispense the same from said container, and shifting the flexible wall portion of said container from the compressed condition to the decompressed condition shifts said orifice from the outwardly open position, through the closed position, into the inwardly open position, and draws air therethrough to substantially equalise the pressure within said container, and thereby return said orifice to the closed position.

Claim 19

A dispensing package for fluid materials and the like, comprising: a container (2a) shaped to retain a preselected fluid product therein, and including a wall having a discharge opening, and a resiliently flexible portion for manually shifting said container between a compressed condition and a decompressed condition to selectively move the fluid product through the discharge opening of said container; a self-sealing dispensing valve (1a) connected with said container, communicating with the discharge opening thereof, and including: a valve wall having a marginal groove (4a) extending along one face thereof in a closed pattern to define a centre valve area (5a) inside said groove, and an outer valve area (6a) outside said groove; at least one rib (7a) extending between said centre valve area and said outer valve area to bridge said groove and selectively stiffen said valve; a slit (8a) extending through said valve wall to define an orifice that shifts between outwardly open, closed, and inwardly open positions in response to shifting the flexible wall portion of said container; said slit extending substantially continuously along said centre valve area, and into at least a portion of said groove, whereby shifting the flexible wall portion of said container from the decompressed condition to the compressed condition shifts said orifice into the outwardly open position, and forces the fluid product therethrough to dispense the same from said container, and shifting the flexible wall portion of said container from the compressed condition to the decompressed condition shifts said orifice from the outwardly open position, through the closed position, into the inwardly open position, and draws air therethrough to substantially equalise the pressure within said container, and thereby return said orifice to the closed position.

Claim 20

A dispensing package according to claim 14 in which the valve is constructed such that said orifice will shift from the closed position to the outwardly open position only upon the application of a preselected force on the flexible portion of said container to create an associated predetermined threshold pressure within said container.

Claim 21

A dispensing package according to claim 14 in which the valve is configured such that said predetermined threshold pressure is greater than the maximum hydraulic head pressure of the fluid product in said container when said discharge opening is oriented downwardly.

Claim 22

A dispensing package according to any of claims 14 to 16 in which the valve includes a pair of said ribs positioned mutually in-line at diametrically opposite portions of said valve wall in a non-aligned relationship with said slit to selectively support said centre valve area in a trampoline-like fashion, and ensure complete and timely closure of said orifice.

Claim 23

A dispensing package according to any of claims 14 to 17 in which the container has a moulded, one-piece construction with resiliently flexible sidewalls defining the flexible portion of said container; and the valve is constructed such that the orifice permits entry of sufficient air while in the inwardly open position to prevent substantial collapsing of said container sidewalls.

Claim 24

A dispensing package according to any of claims 14 to 18 in which the valve includes a flange shaped for connection with the container, and a closed sidewall upstanding from said flange, with an outer portion at which said valve wall is disposed.