Patent ID: 11892084
Assignee: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  F | IPC B  F

Claim 0:
1. A valve for a dispenser having a container portion, the valve comprising:
a valve body extending about a longitudinal axis, the valve body defining an outer surface and an inner passageway, wherein the inner passageway comprises a first passageway opening and a second passageway opening and a passageway surface extending from the first passageway opening to the second passageway opening; and
a valve stem extending through the inner passageway, wherein a first portion of the valve stem extends through the first passageway opening and a second portion of the valve stem is substantially surrounded by the passageway surface, wherein the valve stem comprises an outer stem surface and an inner stem surface opposite the outer stem surface, and wherein the valve stem has one or more orifices from the outer stem surface to the inner stem surface;
a compressible resilient member operably engaged with the valve stem and the valve body and operable to bias the valve stem toward a sealed configuration wherein the one or more orifices are closed off from fluid communication with an interior volume of the container portion, wherein the resilient member is made from a polymer;
a retaining member joined to the second portion of the valve stem, wherein the retaining member extends radially outward from the outer stem surface, wherein the retaining member comprises a first retaining member surface and a second retaining member surface,
wherein the retaining member comprises a void formed by an aperture extending from the first retaining member surface to the second retaining member surface, and
a valve seal discrete from the resilient member, and operably engaging the valve body and the first retaining member surface when the valve stem is in the sealed configuration, thereby to seal the valve and close off the top of the void in the retaining member to prevent flow from occurring therethrough;
wherein the container portion includes a cylindrical container portion of a first diameter and a neck portion of a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter; and
wherein the valve body is disposed within the neck portion.