Enclosing sleeve for one-way valve

An enclosing sleeve for a one-way valve presses an elastomeric sheath against the valve body to provide a seal between the sheath and the valve body. In addition, the sleeve can form a closure over the outlet end of the valve body protecting it from contamination or contact with contaminating surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a sleeve for enclosing a one-way valve 
formed in part by a resilient membrane or sheath for limiting the extent 
to which the membrane is expandable, and for assisting in providing a seal 
between the sheath and the body of the valve. 
The Gerber U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,810, for a valve assembly, discloses, in 
FIG. 4, a tubular section or sleeve for restraining the radially outward 
movement of a flexible sheath. The Gerber Patent does not disclose the 
manner in which the tubular member or sleeve is supported relative to the 
one-way valve or to a container in which the valve is secured. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a 
sleeve enclosing a one-way valve as in the Gerber Patent for limiting 
expansion of the flexible membrane or sheath on the valve body and, at the 
same time, assisting in sealing the membrane to the valve body, and 
protecting the valve. 
In accordance with the present invention, in the valve, as disclosed in the 
Gerber Patent, the sleeve can be used to press the O-rings into sealing 
contact with the membrane. 
In an alternative arrangement, the sleeve can be used to replace the 
O-rings by providing annular inwardly directed protuberances on the sleeve 
for pressing the membrane into sealing contact with the surface of the 
valve body. 
In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve has a hole formed through it for 
venting the space between the membrane and the sleeve in the region where 
the membrane is sealed to the valve body. 
In still another preferred arrangement, the sleeve replaces the O-rings and 
seals the membrane to the valve body at two spaced locations. Further, the 
sleeve secures the membrane in place at an opening out of the container in 
which the one-way valve is used. 
For maintaining the integrity of the one-way valve and limiting the contact 
of contaminants or contaminating surfaces with the valve outlet, the end 
of the sleeve forms a cover over the valve outlet. The cover has an 
opening so that fluid from the valve outlet can be dispensed. The opening 
can be shaped and sized to control the manner in which the fluid is 
dispensed, such as in a directed spray, a mist, or another desired form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In FIG. 1, a one-way valve assembly 12 is illustrated, including a valve 
body 14, elongated in the axial direction, extending between an inlet or 
first end 16 and an outlet or second end 18. When the valve body 14 is 
placed on a dispensing container, the inlet end 16 communicates with the 
interior of the container holding the fluid to be dispensed. 
A first channel 20 extends axially from the inlet end 16 for a portion of 
the axial length of the valve body 14. As viewed in FIG. 1, the first 
channel extends for approximately one-third of the length, however, this 
is merely for purposes of illustration and the first channel can be of a 
significantly different length. 
At its end, opposite the inlet end 16, the first channel opens into one or 
more first ports 22, extending angularly outwardly to the outside surface 
14a of the valve body 14 from the first channel 20. In FIG. 1, only a 
single port 22 is displayed. 
Spaced toward outlet end 18 of the valve body 14 is a port 24 extending 
inwardly from the outside surface 14a at an angle to the axial direction 
and terminating at one end of an outlet channel 26. A plurality of ports 
24 could be used. As shown, the first and second channels are spaced apart 
in the axial direction. It is significant that the first and second 
channels are not in flow communication within the valve body 14. 
Encircling the outside surface 14a of the valve body is an elastomeric 
sheath or tubular membrane 28. The sheath extends from adjacent the inlet 
end 16 to adjacent the outlet end 18 of the valve body 14. The important 
feature is that the sheath 28 covers the first port 22 and the second port 
24. At each of its ends, the sheath 28 is sealed against the outside 
surface 14a of the valve body by means of an O-ring-like member 30. The 
sheath fits tightly about the valve body forming a sealed closure of the 
openings of the first and second ports 22, 24, through the outside surface 
of the valve body 14. The O-ring members 30 press the sheath into grooves 
32 in the outside surface 14a of the valve body so that a seal is formed 
between the sheath and the valve body. 
As mentioned in the Gerber Patent, the sheath can also be sealed to the 
valve body by thermal or chemical bonding operations or by the use of 
adhesives. 
In FIG. 4 of the Gerber Patent, a sleeve 34 is shown enclosing the sheath 
28 on the valve body, however, as illustrated, it does not provide any 
support for the means holding the sheath in sealed engagement with the 
valve body. 
In the following description, the reference numerals of FIG. 1 are used. 
In FIG. 2, O-ring members 30 are seated into annular grooves formed in the 
outside surface 14a of the valve body 14. The sleeve 34 fits over and 
presses the O-rings into the grooves 14b in the surface 14a of the valve 
body. While the material of the O-rings 30 affords a sealing action of the 
sheath 28 with the outside surface 14a, the compressing action provided by 
the sleeve 34 against the O-rings assures that the sealing action of the 
sheath with the valve body is maintained. 
When the sleeve and one-way valve arrangement shown in FIG. 2 is to be 
used, fluid within a dispensing container is directed through the first 
channel 20 and the port 22 into the space between the outside surface 14a 
of the valve body 14 and the inside surface of the sheath 28. The pressure 
acting on the fluid presses the membrane outwardly from the surface 14a, 
permitting it to flow between the outside surface of the valve body and 
the inside surface of the sheath 28 to the second port 24. The space 
between the ports 22, 24 is sealed by the combination of the sleeve 34, 
O-rings 30, and the sheath 28. The fluid flows through the port 24 into 
the second channel 26 and is dispensed from the outlet end 18 of the valve 
body. After the fluid has been dispensed from the outlet end 18 of the 
valve body, the sheath returns to its position tightly enclosing the valve 
body and blocking any flow back through the second channel 26 and the 
second port 24 with the space between the sheath and the valve body. The 
O-rings 30, in combination with the sleeve 34, assure that the sheath is 
sealed about the valve body 14 so that contamination in the form of air or 
other impurities cannot find its way between the sheath and the valve body 
into the first port 22, and the first channel 20 and, finally, into the 
container itself. It is significant that a seal is maintained between the 
sheath and the valve body for preventing any backflow of contaminants into 
the dispensing container. 
In FIG. 2a, the arrangement is similar to that in FIG. 2, however, there 
are no grooves formed in the outside surface 14a of the valve body 14 for 
receiving the O-rings 30. Instead, the O-rings 30 are pressed radially 
inwardly by the sleeve 34 against the outside surface of the sheath 28, 
directing the sheath into sealing contact with the outside surface 14a of 
the valve body. The inside surface of the sleeve can have annular grooves, 
not shown, to receive, and hold the O-rings. 
In FIG. 3, in place of the O-rings 30, protuberances 36 are provided on the 
inside surface of the sleeve 34 projecting into pressure-applying contact 
with the outside surface 28a of the sheath 28. The protuberances are sized 
to press the sheath radially inwardly into sealing contact with the valve 
body 14. 
In FIG. 3, the outside surface 14a of the valve body 14 is not grooved to 
receive the inwardly pressed sheath, however, the outside surface of the 
valve body can be grooved to receive the sheath pressed inwardly by the 
protuberances 36. 
Further, while the outlet end of the valve body has a ogive-like 
configuration, it can also be provided with a more flattened shape, so 
that the protuberances 36 can be moved closer to the ends of the sleeve 
34. As compared with the arrangement in FIGS. 2 and 2a where O-rings are 
used in combination with the sleeve, in FIG. 3 the arrangement of the 
sleeve 34 and the inwardly extending protuberances 36 afford a more 
simplified sealing action between the sheath 28 and the valve body 14. 
FIG. 4 shows a stopper 40 for securing the outlet valve 12 into a 
container. The container, not shown, may be of a variety of types, 
preferably a collapsible container, such as shown in FIG. 7. 
In FIG. 4, a protuberance 36 is provided adjacent the outlet end 17 of the 
valve body, pressing inwardly against the outside surface 28a of the 
sheath 28 to provide a sealing effect between the sheath and the outside 
surface 14a of the valve body 14. Adjacent the inlet end 16 of the valve 
body, however, a protuberance is not used, and the sheath is extended into 
the stopper 40. The stopper 40 is formed of a resilient material so that 
it can be wedged in a sealed manner into an outlet opening from the 
container holding the material to be dispensed. Further, the stopper 
secures the end of the sheath 28 at the inlet end of the valve body 14 in 
sealed contact with the valve body. As a result, the sheath 28 is held in 
sealed contact with the outside surface 14a of the valve body so that air 
or other contaminating elements cannot flow into the space between the 
valve body and the sheath during use of the one-way valve 12. Accordingly, 
the space between the outside surface 14a of the valve body and the inside 
surface 28b of the sheath is sealed in the range of the ports 22, 24 
whereby flow out of the dispensing container can be effected through the 
valve body 14 and the outlet 26, however, backflow through the outlet 26 
to the space between the valve body and the sheath is prevented by the 
sealing action of the sheath against the outside surface 14a of the valve 
body. 
In FIG. 5, another sealing arrangement is shown, similar to FIG. 4, where a 
protuberance 36, formed on the inside surface of the sleeve 34, presses 
the sheath 28 into sealing contact with the outside surface 14a of the 
valve body 14. The protuberance 36 is located adjacent the outlet end of 
the valve body 14 or between the outlet end and the port. 
At the inlet end of the valve body, a stopper 40 is provided around the end 
of the valve body and is used for sealing the valve into a dispensing 
container, not shown. At its end adjacent the stopper 40, sheath 28 is 
provided with an annular outwardly directed flange 28c. The flange 28c 
bears against the adjacent radially outwardly extending surface of the 
stopper 40. The end 34a of the sleeve 34 is flanged inwardly so that the 
flanged end 28c of the sheath 28 is held in sealed engagement between the 
flanged end 34a of the sleeve 34 and the surface of the stopper 40. 
Accordingly, the space between the sheath 28 and the outside surface 14a 
of the valve body 14 is maintained sealed against any inflow of 
contaminants. As a result, contamination cannot enter through the one-way 
valve 12 between the sheath and the outside surface of the valve body or 
through the outlet 26 into the space between the sheath and the valve 
body. 
In each of FIGS. 2, 2a, 3, 4 and 5, a hole 50 is provided through the 
sleeve 34 opening into the sealed space between the sheath and the valve 
body extending axially between the O-rings, protuberances or other seals. 
As a result, if the sheath 28 is expanded outwardly into contact with the 
inside surface of the sleeve 34, it is possible for the sheath to rebound 
into sealing contact with the outside surface 14a of the valve body 14. 
In FIG. 6, sleeve 134 has a plate-like closure or cover 134b at its end 
adjacent the outlet end 18 of the valve body. The sleeve 134 is shown 
sealing the membrane or sheath 28 against the outside surface 14a of the 
valve body. While protuberance 134a forces the sheath 28 against the valve 
body, any of the various arrangements of the sleeve 34 described above can 
be used to seal the sheath against the valve body. Cover 134b protects the 
outlet end 18 of the valve body from contact with contaminants or 
contaminated surfaces. The sheath 28 extends to the outlet end of the 
outlet channel 26. The sheath bears against the inside of the cover 134b 
and the outside of the valve body 14 forming a seal preventing any flow of 
the fluid between the sleeve and the sheath and between the sheath and the 
valve body. 
An opening 134c extends through the cover 134b so that fluid can flow from 
the one-way valve 12 through the sleeve cover 134b. The opening 134c is 
shaped to regulate the flow of fluid dispensed. It can be configured to 
form a mist, a spray, a single stream or any other desired fluid 
dispensing form. The axially extending surfaces forming the opening 134c 
can be in divergent, convergent, or in axially parallel relation. Further, 
a plurality of openings 134b could be used. A vent opening 150 is located 
in the sleeve 134. 
FIG. 7 displays the combination of the sleeve 134 and one-way valve 12 of 
the present application secured in the outlet of a collapsible 
bellows-like dispensing container 10. A variety of flexible or collapsible 
containers could be used. 
While a number of embodiments have been described and illustrated for 
providing a sealing action between the sheath 28 and the valve body 14, it 
will be appreciated that other means can be used for providing such 
sealing action. 
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described 
in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it 
will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without 
departing from such principles.