Patent ID: 6662977
Filing Date: 2003-12-16
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
An airtight, shockproof valve assembly for engagement in the neck of a compressible or volumetrically reducible container of a flowable medium and for providing an invariant seal of the sealing surfaces, wherein the valve assembly is effective against vibration, temperature, pressure, evaporation and unintentional ingress or egress of matter, said valve assembly comprising:a tapered seat defining a flow path to an exit port for fluid residing in the container, the seat comprising: a U shaped base having a first surface extending for sealing contact with an interior surface of the neck; a second surface for locking engagement with an exterior surface of the neck; and a shoulder portion connecting said first and second surfaces for sealing a top surface of the neck; the base of said seat further comprising an upwardly extending rim for holding a retainer; an elastomeric seal substantially coextensive with the tapered portion of the seat for moveable sealing engagement against the seat for sealing the exit port of said seat against flow when the atmospheric pressure is equal to or greater than the pressure in the container; a retainer having a base including a peripheral surface for engagement against the inner surface of the rim of the seat and having an engagement surface extending upwardly from the retainer base for repeatable locking engagement with a cap; said retainer further comprising one or more segments extending distally from the engagement surface wherein said segments progressively close and are compressed against the seal upon locking engagement of the retainer with the cap, such that the seal is held in conformable engagement against the seat providing an invariant airtight, leakproof seal between the seal and seat, which is effective against vibration, temperature, pressure, evaporation, and unintentional ingress or egress of matter.