Dispensing package of the pressurized type

Claim 2

A dispensing package for mixing two materials to be dispensed and to be maintained separate prior to dispensing comprising: structure defining first and second compartments, a valve assembly secured to said compartment structure, said valve assembly including a first valve controlling flow of material between said first compartment and a discharge passage, a second valve controlling flow of material between said second compartment and said discharge passage, and a stem extending outwardly of said package that defines a passage for discharging a mixture of the materials stored in said compartments to the atmosphere, said stem being axially movable between a first position in which both of said valves are closed and a second position in which both of said valves are open, and structure cooperating with said stem for providing resistance to initial movement of said stem from said first position towards said second position in a valve actuating and material dispensing operation, said movement resistance structure including a latch surface and a ramp surface and providing greater resistance to the movement of said stem away from said first position than to return of said stem to said first position, said latch surface being disposed at a greater angle to the direction of movement of said stem than said ramp surface, and said movement resistance being reduced as soon as said stem has moved away from said first position so that said valves are opened with snap action.

Claim 3

The dispensing package as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stem includes a latch surface and said movement resistance structure includes a latch member fixed to said package which engages said latch surface when said stem is in said first position.

Claim 4

A dispensing package as claimed in claim 1 wherein said movement resistance structure comprises an annular ring surrounding said stem.

Claim 5

A dispensing package as claimed in claim 3 wherein said ring is formed of a more resilient material than said stem.

Claim 6

A dispensing package for mixing two materials to be dispensed and to be maintained separate prior to dispensing comprising: structure defining first and second compartments, a valve assembly secured to said compartment structure, said valve assembly including a first valve controlling flow of material between said first compartment and a discharge passage, a second valve controlling flow of material between said second compartment and said discharge passage, and a stem extending outwardly of said package that defines a passage for discharging a mixture of the materials stored in said compartments to the atmosphere, said stem being axially movable between a first position in which both of said valves are closed and a second position in which both of said valves are open, and structure including a plurality of resilient fingers that engage a latch surface on said stem when said stem is in said first position for providing resistance to initial movement of said stem from said first position towards said second position in a valve actuating and material dispensing operation, said movement resistance being reduced as soon as said stem has moved away from said first positiOn so that said valves are opened with snap action.

Claim 7

A dispensing package for mixing two materials to be dispensed and to be maintained separate prior to dispensing comprising: structure defining first and second compartments, a valve assembly secured to said compartment structure, said valve assembly including a first valve controlling flow of material between said first compartment and a discharge passage, a second valve controlling flow of material between said second compartment and said discharge passage, and a stem extending outwardly of said package that defines a passage for discharging a mixture of the materials stored in said compartments to the atmosphere, said stem being axially movable between a first position in which both of said valves are closed and a second position in which both of said valves are open, and structure including a plurality of resilient fingers that engage a latch surface on said stem when said stem is in said first position for providing resistance to initial movement of said stem from said first position towards said second position in a valve actuating and material dispensing operation, said movement resistance being reduced as soon as said stem has moved away from said first positiOn so that said valves are opened with snap action.

Claim 8

A dispensing package as claimed in claim 5 wherein said movement resistance structure comprises a separate ring member, arranged to surround said stem, said member having an annular base structure supporting said fingers.

Claim 9

A dispensing package as claimed in claim 6 wherein said fingers extend axially of said base structure and are peripherally spaced about said base structure.

Claim 10

A dispensing package as claimed in claim 6 wherein said ring is formed of a more resilient material than said stem.

Claim 11

A pressurized dispensing package for mixing two materials to be dispensed, said materials being maintained separate from one another prior to dispensing comprising: a rigid outer container holding a first material, a second container holding a second material, a valve assembly secured to two said containers, structure defining a passage for discharging a mixture of the material stored in said first and second containers to the atmosphere, said valve assembly defining a first valve for controlling flow of material between said first container and said discharge passage and a second valve for controlling flow of material between said second container and said discharge passage, and a valve stem movable between a first position in which both of said valves are closed and a second position in which both of said valves are open, and an annular sealing member surrounding said stem and defining an annular seal, said stem having a connector structure and said second container having a cooperating connector structure disposed in sealing relation to said connector structure of said stem, said second container being secured against the wall of said outer container so that a biasing force is exerted by said second container against said stem tending to maintain said stem in said first position, said stem defining a discharge passage at one end for discharging a mixture of the material stored in said first and second containers to the atmosphere and a second passage at the other end connected to one of said containers, two orifices through the wall of said stem, one of said orifices communicating with said discharge passage and the other orifice communicating with said second passage, said orifices being located in axially overlapping position and both said orifices being sealed by said sealing member when said stem is in said first position, a valve housing providing guiding support for said stem and including a metering orifice for controlling the flow of material from said outer container to said discharge passage, a latch surface on said stem and structure cooperating with said stem for providing resistance to initial movement of said stem from said first position towards said second position in a valve actuating and material dispensing operation, said movement resistance being reduced as soon as said stem has moved away from said first position so that said valves are opened with snap action, said movement resistance structure includes a latch member fixed to said package which engages said latch surface when said stem is in said first position.

Claim 12

A pressurized dispensing package for mixing two materials to be dispensed, said materials being maintained separate from one another prior to dispensing comprising: a rigid outer container holding a first material, a second container holding a second material, a valve assembly secured to two said containers, structure defining a passage for discharging a mixture of the material stored in said first and second containers to the atmosphere, said valve assembly defining a first valve for controlling flow of material between said first container and said discharge passage and a second valve for controlling flow of material between said second container and said discharge passage, and a valve stem movable between a first position in which both of said valves are closed and a second position in which both of said valves are open, and an annular sealing member surrounding said stem and defining an annular seal, said stem having a connector structure and said second container having a cooperating connector structure disposed in sealing relation to said connector structure of said stem, said second container being secured against the wall of said outer container so that a biasing force is exerted by said second container against said stem tending to maintain said stem in said first position, said stem defining a discharge passage at one end for discharging a mixture of the material stored in said first and second containers to the atmosphere and a second passage at the other end connected to one of said containers, two orifices through the wall of said stem, one of said orifices communicating with said discharge passage and the other orifice communicating with said second passage, said orifices being located in axially overlapping position and both said orifices being sealed by said sealing member when said stem is in said first position, a valve housing providing guiding support for said stem and including a metering orifice for controlling the flow of material from said outer container to said discharge passage, a latch surface on said stem and structure cooperating with said stem for providing resistance to initial movement of said stem from said first position towards said second position in a valve actuating and material dispensing operation, said movement resistance being reduced as soon as said stem has moved away from said first position so that said valves are opened with snap action, said movement resistance structure includes a latch member fixed to said package which engages said latch surface when said stem is in said first position.

Claim 13

The dispensing package as claimed in claim 9 wherein said movement resistance structure provides greater resistance to the movement of said stem away from said first position than to return of said stem to said first position.

Claim 14

The dispensing package as claimed in claim 10 wherein said movement resistance structure includes a latch surface and a ramp surface, said latch surface being disposed at a greater angle to the direction of movement of said stem than said ramp surface.

Claim 15

The dispensing package as claimed in claim 11 wherein said movement resistance structure includes a plurality of resilient fingers, said fingers engaging a latch surface on said stem when said stem is in said first position.

Claim 16

The dispensing package as claimed in claim 12 wherein said stem further includes a radial flanges portion spaCed from the lower edge of said sealing member to provide a surface on which pressurized material in said package acts to tend to move said stem in a downward direction from said first position towards said second position, and biasing means for maintaining said stem in said first position.