VALVE RETAINING DEVICE

Abstract

A retaining device for retaining a self-closing valve in a closure is provided. The device comprises a body for receiving a self-closing valve and having a crimping flange capable of being bent from an uncrimped position to a crimped position to retain the valve in the device. The body is receivable into a closure with the valve retained. The crimping flange has a length generally within a range of 0.5 mm and 4.0 mm.

Claims

1. A retaining device for retaining a self-closing valve in a closure, the device comprising a body for receiving a self-closing valve and having a crimping flange capable of being bent from an uncrimped position to a crimped position to retain the valve in the device by engaging a peripheral flange on the valve and thereby defining a flange height F in the crimped position, the body being receivable into a closure with the valve retained, characterised in that: the crimping flange has a length H in the range 0.5 mm to 4.0 mm; the flange height F is in the range 1.25 mm to 2 5 mm; and the overall height of the device is in the range 5 mm to 8 mm.

2. (canceled)

3. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein the crimping flange has a length generally within a range of 1.10 mm and 2.5 mm.

4. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein the overall device height is generally within a range of 5 mm and 8 mm.

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. A self-closing valve sub-assembly comprising a retaining device in combination with a self-closing valve, the self-closing valve comprising a valve head and a peripheral flange which is engaged by a crimping flange of the retaining device, the height of the peripheral flange being generally within a range of 1.25 mm and 2.5 mm.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

38. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

40. (canceled)

41. (canceled)

42. (canceled)

43. (canceled)

44. (canceled)

45. (canceled)

46. (canceled)

47. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein the overall height of the device is generally within a range 6.3 mm and 7.7 mm.

48. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein the overall height of the device is either approximately 5.95 mm or approximately 6.35 mm.

49. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein the crimping flange comprises an upstanding wall.

50. The device set forth in claim 1, further comprising a circular upstanding wall and the crimping flange comprises a circumferentially upstanding wall.

51. The device set forth in claim 1, further having an external side bead for snap-fitting the device into a closure.

52. The device set forth in claim 1, further including a sloping surface for receiving a valve flange.

53. The device set forth in claim 1, further formed as a retaining ring.

54. The device set forth in claim 1, further formed as a single-piece article.

55. The sub-assembly set forth in claim 7, wherein the self-closing valve has a weight generally within a range of 0.05 g and 0.11 g.

56. The sub-assembly set forth in claim 7, wherein the assembly weight is generally within a range of 0.08 g and 0.11 g.

57. The sub-assembly set forth in claim 7, wherein the assembly weight is generally within a range of 0.05 g and 0.08 g.

58. The sub-assembly set forth in claim 7, wherein the valve is formed of a material selected from a group consisting essentially of silicon or a silicon-based material, a rubber material, TPV, or TPE.

59. A self-closing valve sub-assembly comprising a retaining device in combination with a non-laminar, flange-presenting self-closing valve in a closure for a container, in which the closure is adapted for direct connection with the container, the device being separate from the closure for the container and separate from the container, the retaining device comprising a single piece article having crimping means for crimping the valve into the device prior to assembly, the crimping flange being separate from the closure for the container and separate from the container, the crimping means comprises a crimping flange capable of being bent from an uncrimped position to a crimped position, the crimping flange having a height in the range 0.5 mm to 4.0 mm, the self-closing valve comprising a valve head and a peripheral flange which is engaged by the crimping flange in the crimped position, the self-closing valve having a weight in the range of 0.05 g to 0.11 g, in which the height of the valve peripheral flange is in the range of 1.25 mm to 2.5 mm.

Description

[0066] The present invention will now be more particularly described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a device formed according to the present invention and without a valve in position;

[0068] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through the device of FIG. 1 with a valve loosely in position;

[0069] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the device with a valve crimped in position;

[0070] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through the device of FIG. 3 with a valve crimped in position;

[0071] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of one half of the device with a valve crimped into position and with the device positioned in a closure;

[0072] FIG. 6 is a section of a device formed accordingly to a further embodiment;

[0073] FIG. 7 shows a device of the type shown in FIG. 6 fitted with a valve; and

[0074] FIG. 8 is a section of a valve sub-assembly formed according to a further embodiment.

[0075] In the following description, all orientational terms, such as upper, lower, radially and axially, are used in relation to the drawings and should not be interpreted as limiting on the invention or its connection to a closure.

[0076] Example embodiments are described below in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

[0077] Accordingly, while embodiments can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples.

[0078] There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed and as well as individual embodiments the invention is intended to cover combinations of those embodiments as well. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate.

[0079] The terminology used herein to describe embodiments is not intended to limit the scope. The articles a, an, and the are singular in that they have a single referent however, the use of the singular form in the present document should not preclude the presence of more than one referent. In other words, elements referred to in the singular can number one or more, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprises, comprising, includes, and/or including, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, items, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, items, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0080] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0081] Referring first to FIG. 1 there is shown a device 1, which shall be referred to hereinafter as a retaining ring 1. The ring 1 consists of a moulded single-piece article with a so-called chimney in the form of a circular wall 10. This chimney 10 provides a surface for assembly machinery to handle the retaining ring 1. At one end of the chimney 10 is a radially outwardly sloping surface 11a provided on an annular wall 11. At the outer radial end of this sloping surface 11 another circular wall 12, which has the same rotational axis as chimney 10, and extends upwards.

[0082] Along the circumference of the radially outer surface of wall 12 is a projection in the form of an external sealing bead 13. At the end of wall 12 is a crimping flange 14 which in its uncrimped condition is an upstanding wall which in this embodiment has a height H of approximately 1.1 mm. In a further embodiment a wall with a height of approximately 1.4 mm is provided.

[0083] A flexible self-closing valve 2 typically has the features shown in FIG. 2. For instance, such a valve 2 has a head portion 3, which is thicker towards the edge than the centre and which has at least one slit 4 therein. The head portion is concave with respect to a container (not shown). This pre-stresses the valve so that it self-closes more easily.

[0084] A side-wall portion 6 connects the head portion 3 with a flange 8. Flange 8 is typically shaped such that it has a relatively substantial size in the form of a rim. It is this flange 8 which rests on the sloping surface 11 of the retaining ring 1 when it is located correctly.

[0085] In this embodiment, to crimp the valve 2 in place, the crimping flange 14 is bent over from the position shown in FIG. 2 until it sandwiches the flange 8 between itself 14 and the sloping surface 11 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0086] Also shown is a valve 2 with the crimping flange 14 bent over. Although the crimping flange 8 is shown as being bent over by 90 degrees radially inwards it should be understood that the angle through which it need be bent is not fixed. For instance, it has been found that the crimping flange 14 need only be bent over by a few degrees in order that it hold the valve 2 in place within the retaining ring 1. This is because the crimping flange 14 is bent over along the entire circumference of the retaining ring 1 and valve 2. Further, the crimping flange 14 could be bent over by more than 90 degrees so that it lies against and substantially parallel with the surface of flange 8.

[0087] In FIG. 5 a retaining ring 1 is shown with a valve 2 crimped in place. Further, the retaining ring 1 is positioned within a closure 20. The closure 20 has a circular wall 21 which has a rotational axis coincident with the axis of the retaining ring 1. Along the radially inner side of this wall 21 is a sealing bead 22 in the form of a projection.

[0088] At the upper end of wall 21 is another wall 24 which lies perpendicular to wall 2I. This wall 24 extends radially inward from wall 21.

[0089] When the retaining ring 1 is fitted to the closure 20 it is pushed into the closure until the crimping flange 14 meets with the underside of wall 24. Further, sealing bead 13, on the radially outer side of wall 12 of the retaining ring 1, is provided such that it has an external diameter greater than that of the diameter of radially inner surface of sealing bead 22. Accordingly, the retaining ring 1 snap-fits into the closure 20 so that the two sealing beads 13, 22 form an interference seal in a manner well known in the art.

[0090] Alternative or additional methods of fitting the retaining ring 1 in the closure 20 are of course possible. Such methods could include glueing, corresponding screw threads and chemical means.

[0091] Further, although the valve 2 has been shown in this embodiment to be crimped into the retaining ring 1, in other embodiments it would be possible to glue or affix the valve 2 to the retaining ring 1 by other means such as by chemical means.

[0092] Further still, it has been found that contrary to expectation it has been possible to bend over the crimping flange 14 without the need to apply heat to soften the material.

[0093] Yet further, although only one valve 2 has been discussed it would be possible to design a retaining ring 1 which could have more than one valve 2 crimped into it. This might be useful if it was desired to have a closure with more than one dispensing orifice.

[0094] Although the advantages of the above described retaining ring have already been discussed, (improved rigidity to improve handleability and prevent accidental passing of the valve 2 through an orifice of a closure), further advantages may be gained. One such advantage is that the valve and retaining ring may be pre-assembled on a different production machine than the machines which are used to produce the closures or assemble the closures, if different therefrom. Further, because the valves and retaining ring can be assembled more quickly than the closure can be produced or assembled, a stock of these pre-assembled valves and retaining rings can be maintained, with obvious benefits.

[0095] Another advantage of the invention is that the rigidity of the flange of the valve is increased.

[0096] In FIG. 6 a ring on 101 formed according to an alternative embodiment is shown. The ring is generally the same as the ring 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 except that the length H of the crimping flange 114 is approximately 1.4 mm, with an overall ring height of approximately 6.40 mm.

[0097] It has been found that this flange length gives particular benefits to the force required to pull the valve out of a sub-assembly, by greatly increasing the force required, in some embodiments by in excess of a 300% increase in valve pull out force.

[0098] The ring benefits from several beneficial features: i) extended crimping profile designthis will improve component processing quality, and increased valve pull out forces to improve transportation quality; ii) side bead 113 vertical increasethis allows a better ring feed in to an assembly machine giving better processing efficiencies; and iii) redesigned chimney 110 inside diameterthis allows a greater flexibility for the valve sub-assembly to closure assembly machines.

[0099] Referring now to FIG. 7 a valve sub-assembly 220 is shown. In this embodiment the retention ring 201 is generally the same as that shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment the ring is combined with a valve 202 which is generally similar to the valve 2 shown in FIGS. 2 to 5. However, in this embodiment the height F of the flange 208 is significantly less, being approximately 1.52 mm.

[0100] In other embodiments (not shown) a reduced height flange may be used in combination with a retaining ring without an extended crimping flange.

[0101] In FIG. 8 a sub-assembly 320 formed according to an alternative embodiment is shown. A valve 302 is fitted into a retention ring 301. The valve has a weight of approximately 0.06 g. The ring has a crimping flange 314 having a height H of approximately 1.0 mm. The ring 301 has an overall height of approximately 6.05 mm.

[0102] In this embodiment the ring is a retainer device for retaining a non-laminar, flange-presenting self-closing valve in a closure for a container. The closure (not shown) is directly attachable to a container. The valve is mounted within the retainer device by the crimping flange. In doing so, the crimping flange extends entirely around the outer flange of the valve. The retainer device is separate from the closure which is used to close the container. As such, the closure is adapted for direct connection with the container. A lid (not shown) may also be associated with the closure. This lid may be either separate from the closure or attached to the closure.

[0103] Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.