Patent ID: 6405901
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
A dispensing valve for being sealingly disposed with respect to, and dispensing a product from, a discharge opening of a container, said valve comprising:a marginal portion adapted to be sealingly engaged when said valve is sealingly disposed with respect to the container discharge opening; a head portion that (1) is laterally inwardly of said marginal portion, (2) has an exterior side for interfacing with ambient environment, and (3) has an interior side for interfacing with the product in part of said interior side defining a peripheral surface corresponding to the peripheral thickness of said head portion, said head portion exterior side having a generally concave shape when viewed from outside the container, said head portion having a normally retracted position and having an extended position under the influence of a pressure differential, said head portion including an orifice which is normally closed when said head portion is in said retracted position and which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to a pressure differential across said valve when said head portion is in said extended position; and a resilient, flexible, connector sleeve extending continuously laterally and inwardly from said marginal portion to said head portion exterior side at said peripheral surface of said head portion, said connector sleeve positioning said head portion further inwardly relative to said container discharge opening than said marginal portion of said valve when said head portion is in said retracted position, said connector sleeve having an interior surface which interfaces with said product and which has (1) a concave curvature facing said product when said head portion is in said retracted position, and (2) a convex curvature facing said product when said head portion is in said extended position.