VALVE

Abstract

A valve for a fluid dispensing container includes a mounting cup to be fixed on a container, a housing to be fixed on the mounting cup and defining a channel with an inlet end and an outlet end, whereby a hollow stem is glidingly arranged in the channel. The stem is flange-free and a concentric circumferential conical sealing protrusion on the stem forms the sealing between the outer surface of the stem and the housing. When the stem passes from the open into the closed position, it enters at least partially into the housing without product being retained between the flange of the stem and the housing.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A valve for a fluid dispensing container comprising a mounting cup (1) to be fixed on a container, a housing (2) to be fixed on the mounting cup (1) and defining a channel (3) with an inlet end and an outlet end, whereby a hollow, essentially cylindrical stem (4) with a radial entry hole (4a) on its lower end and an axial outlet hole (4b) on its upper end is glidingly arranged in the channel (3), the entry hole (4a) being open to the inside of the container when the stem (4) is in its lower position and being inside the housing when the stem (4) is in its higher position, wherein the stem (4) is flange-free and wherein sealing means (5b) in form of a concentric circumferential sealing protrusion (5b) on the stem (4) are provided for the sealing between the outer surface of the stem (4) and the housing (2), wherein: the stem (4) is provided with two circumferential sealing protrusions (5a) of softer material than the housing (3), the sealing protrusions (5a) being provided below and above the entry hole (4a) or the stem (4) is provided with one circumferential surface (5b) that seals against the channel (3) of the housing (2) below the entry hole (4a) and with one circumferential sealing protrusion (5a) above the entry hole (4a) or a circumferential O-ring (5c) is provided in the channel (3) sealing against the stem (4) below the entry hole (4a) and a concentric circumferential surface (5b) of the stem (4).

12. The valve (1) according to claim 11, further comprising further sealing means comprising at least one O-ring (5c) on the stem (4) or in the channel (3) of the housing (2).

13. The valve according to claim 11, wherein the sealing protrusion (5b) is made of softer material than the housing (3).

14. The valve according to claim 11, wherein the sealing means are a conical circumferential surface (5b) on a part of the stem (4).

15. The valve according to claim 11, wherein spring means are provided for pushing the stem (4) in the higher position and actuating means being provided for pushing the stem (4) in the lower position against the action of the spring means.

16. The valve according to claim 15, wherein the spring means are a helical spring (6a) arranged between the housing (2) or the mounting cup (1) and the upper end of the stem (4).

17. The valve means according to claim 15, wherein the spring means are an elastomeric body (6b) arranged between the housing (2) or the mounting cup (1) and the upper end of the stem (4).

Description

[0025] In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings in which

[0026] FIG. 1a, 1b and 1c represent a first embodiment of the present invention in a perspective view, in the closed and in the activated position,

[0027] FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c represent a second embodiment of the present invention in a perspective view, in the closed and in the activated position,

[0028] FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c represent a third embodiment of the present invention in a perspective view, in the closed and in the activated position,

[0029] FIG. 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e represent dispensing means for activating the valve of the present invention by means of a cleanable tip,

[0030] FIGS. 5a and b represent the cleanable tip.

[0031] The valve for a fluid dispensing container according the present invention comprises a mounting cup (1) to be fixed on a container (not shown) in which the product to be dispensed is contained (generally under pressure), a housing (2) to be fixed on the mounting cup (1) and defining a channel (3) with an inlet end and an outlet end, whereby a hollow, essentially cylindrical stem (4) with a radial entry hole (4a) on its lower end and an axial outlet hole (4b) on its upper end is glidingly arranged in the channel (3). It can be seen that the stem (4) is flange-free.

[0032] The stem (4) is provided with a circumferential protrusion (5b) on the lower part of the stem (4). In order to achieve a good sealing, this circumferential protrusion (5b) is preferably conical.

[0033] The entry hole (4a) of the stem (4) is open to the inside of the container when the stem (4) is in its lower position (FIG. 1b, 2b and 3b) and enters into the housing (2) when the stem (4) passes in its higher position (FIGS. 1c, 2c and 3c). When the entry hole (4) has fully entered the housing, the dispensing operation is terminated.

[0034] Further sealing means (5) are provided between the outer surface of the stem (4) and the housing (2). These sealing means (5) can be e.g.: [0035] an O-ring on the stem (4) or in the channel (3) of the housing (2), [0036] one or more circumferential sealing protrusion(s) on the stem (4), the sealing protrusion(s) being preferentially made of softer material than the housing (2).

[0037] Spring means (6) are provided for pushing the stem (4) in the higher position and actuating means (not shown) are provided for pushing the stem (4) in the lower position against the action of the spring means (6). The spring means can be e.g.: [0038] a helical spring (6a) arranged between the housing (2) or the mounting cup (1) and the upper end of the stem (4) (FIG. 1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b, 2c) or [0039] an elastomeric body (6b) arranged between the housing (2) or the mounting cup (1) and the upper end of the stem (4) (FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c).

[0040] In the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c, the stem (4) is provided with two circumferential sealing protrusions (5a) of softer material than the housing (2), the sealing protrusions (5a) being provided below and above the entry hole (4a).

[0041] In all embodiments, all parts of the valve with the exception of the spring are generally made of plastic material, the plastic material being preferably selected from the group consisting of PP, PE, PET, POM and TPE. The spring can be made of metal, preferably of steel, but also of plastic material.

[0042] In the first embodiment, the cup (1) can be made e.g. of layered PET, the housing (2) of hydrel (a TPE), the ring between the housing (2) and the cup (1) of chloroprene, neoprene or TPE, the spring means (6) of stainless steel and the stem (4) of delrin (POM).

[0043] In the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c, the stem (4) is provided with one conical circumferential surface (5b) that seals against the channel (3) of the housing (2) below the entry hole (4a) and with one circumferential sealing protrusion (5a) above the entry hole (4a).

[0044] In the second embodiment, the cup (1) may be made e.g. of layered PET, the housing (2) of hydrel (a TPE), the ring between the housing (2) and the cup (1) of chloroprene, neoprene or TPE, the spring means (6) of stainless steel and the stem (4) of delrin (POM).

[0045] In the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c, a circumferential flat O-ring (5c) is provided in the channel (3) sealing against the stem (4) below the entry hole and a circumferential conical surface of the stem (4) seals against the spring means (6), an elastomeric body arranged between the housing (3) and the upper end of the stem (4).

[0046] In this embodiment, the cup (1) can be made e.g. of layered PET, the housing (2) of PP, PET or HDPE and the stem (4) of delrin (POM) or PP or PE.

[0047] The stem (4) may be reinforced by adding fibres or particles, such as glass fibres, basalt fibres or particles or wollastonite fibres or particles, to the plastic material the stem (4) is made of.

[0048] No flange hinders the solid particles contained in the heterogeneous fluid to enter the stem (4). Consequently, the fluid can flow freely from the container into the stem (4) and then out of the stem into dispensing means.

[0049] The diameter of the stem has of course to be adapted to the size of the solid particles, if present in the fluid. For fluids with solid particles having a maximum diameter of 5 mm, such as pepper grains, the free (inner) diameter of the stem (4) including its entries should e.g. be of at least 6 mm

[0050] FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e show dispensing means (8) placed on the top of the container for activating the valve of the present invention. A handle (8) which is pivotably fixed on the dispensing means (7) can be pushed towards the container in order to activate the valve.

[0051] A cleanable tip (9) in form of a tube with a flange (10) on its lower side is shown in top view and in side view in FIGS. 5a and 5b. The flange (10) is in form of a longitudinal plate.

[0052] The cleanable tip (9) has an inner diameter which corresponds essentially to the outer diameter of the stem (4) so that the tip (9) can be put onto the stem (4) as shown in FIGS. 4b and 4c.

[0053] The handle (8) has a longitudinal clearance (11) which allows the flange (10) of the tip (9) to pass through the clearance (11) when the flange (10) of the tip (9) is aligned with the clearance (FIGS. 4b and 4d) and which is smaller than the flange (10) of the tip (9) when it is turned from this aligned position to an unaligned position so that the flange (10) can be pushed downwards to activate the valve (FIGS. 4c and 4e).

[0054] Consequently, the valve will only be activated if a tip (9) is placed on the top of the stem (4) and the flange (10) of the tip (9) is turned into the position in which it is non-aligned with the clearance (11) so that it the flange (10) can be pushed down by the handle (8). This allows the user to make sure that product output only occurs with a tip (9) on the stem (4) in the non-aligned position of the flange (10) and the clearance (11). By turning the tip (9) away from this activated position, it is possible to make sure that even upon pushing the handle (8) no product output occurs.

[0055] The dispensing means which are shown in FIGS. 4a to 4e in combination with the cleanable tip (9) shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b can of course also be used in connection with other valves than the valve of the present invention.