Patent ID: 6332730
Filing Date: 2001-12-25
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
A container comprising a body member for containing liquid and including an outlet portion at one end thereof through which said liquid flows on pressurization of the interior of the body member, a cap portion located on the body member and having at least one outlet for dispensing therethrough liquid flowing from the outlet portion of the body member, and a control assembly located within the cap portion for controlling the dispensing of liquid flowing from the body member to the or each outlet from the cap portion, the control assembly comprising, for the or each outlet, a control valve and a seating for said control valve, the control valve being a one-piece plastic moulding and including a diaphragm portion, and a nose portion extending from said diaphragm portion, and the seating comprising an outer annular sleeve forming an extension of the outlet portion of the body member within the cap portion, and, within said sleeve, a support chamber for the valve, said valve having a rest position with the nose portion thereof engaging in, to seal, the associated outlet in the cap portion, one or more bores extending from the support chamber, the arrangement being such that, on pressurization of the interior of the container, liquid from the body member flows along the flow path through the seating between the outer annular sleeve thereof and the valve support chamber to engage with and distort the diaphragm portion of the valve whereby the nose portion of the valve is released from the outlet and liquid is dispensed therethrough, and, on subsequent release of pressure from the interior of the body member, the control valve returns to its rest position with the nose portion thereof seating in, to seal, the outlet, characterized in that the seating is a one-piece plastic moulding with the support chamber thereof comprising sidewalls defining an open top to the support chamber, the valve seating on the open top of, in sealing engagement with, the support chamber to define an internal volume within said chamber below the valve, the sidewalls of the support chamber being interconnected with the outer annular sleeve by means of a plurality of thin, circumferentially spaced webs such that a substantial proportion of the volume between the sleeve and the support chamber is available for liquid to flow therethrough from the body member to the or each outlet, the bore or bores extending from the support chamber through the sidewalls thereof, through one or more of the webs and through the annular sleeve to vent the internal volume within the support chamber to atmosphere.