Abstract:
Improved, rigid valves for pumps include ribs or other support structures, increased diameters and cross-sectional areas, and conically shaped outlet valves.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    Embodiments of the invention relate to valves for pump devices and more particularly to improved valves having both inlet and outlet components. 
         [0003]    2. State of the Art 
         [0004]    The personal and beauty care markets utilize a wide variety of different pump mechanisms and devices for delivering fluid-based product to a user. Such pump devices include traditional pumps using ball valves or flap valves. Unique pump devices may also increase the aesthetic value or appeal of the pump device or to provide unique functionality to a pump device. For example, as illustrated and described in WO2010/117754, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, a pump may include a base having an inlet passage, an interior chamber, and a discharge passage. A valve having a valve stem, an outlet valve at one end of the valve stem and an inlet valve or valve disc at an opposite end of the valve stem, may be seated in the base such that the outlet valve may open and close a passage through the discharge passage and the inlet valve or valve disc may open and close a passage from a container into the interior chamber of the base. 
         [0005]    A pump  300  as described in WO2010/117754 is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and the components thereof are illustrated in  FIGS. 2A through 2D . In particular, a pump  300  may include a base  310  having an inlet passage  312 , an interior chamber  314 , and a discharge passage  318 . A valve  330  may be positioned in the base and may include a valve stem  333 , an outlet valve  339  at one end of the valve stem  333  and engaged with the discharge passage  318  in a closed position, and a valve disc  336  at a valve stem  333  end opposite the outlet valve  339 , engaged with or acting as an inlet valve in the inlet passage  312 . A bellow  350  may be secured to the base  310  with a cap  380 . The base  310  may be secured to an attachment adapter  325  or container. 
         [0006]    While the pumps and assemblies illustrated and described in WO2010/117754 may provide sufficient operation, one draw-back is the rigidity or stiffness of the valve used therewith, which can impact performance and assembly of a pump. Thus, improvements to such pumps and the valves used with such pumps are desirable. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to certain embodiments of the invention, a valve for a pump assembly may include an improved valve stem. According to certain embodiments of the invention, a valve stem may be improved by providing a thicker cross-sectional area than used with prior valve devices. According to other embodiments of the invention, a valve stem may be improved by providing a geometric shaped cross-sectional area such that the geometric shape may provide increased stiffness to the valve and the valve stem. 
         [0008]    According to still other embodiments of the invention, an improved valve may include an outlet valve portion having a conical shape. In some embodiments of the invention, a conically shaped outlet valve may be configured to seat in a conically shaped discharge passage of a pump base. 
         [0009]    According to other embodiments of the invention, an improved valve may include both an improved valve stem configuration and an improved outlet valve. For example, an improved valve according to various embodiments of the invention may include a conical outlet valve and a valve stem having a width substantially similar to the largest diameter of the conical outlet valve. In other embodiments, an improved valve may include a conical outlet valve and a valve stem having a cross-shaped cross-sectional area. In still other embodiments, an improved valve may include a conical outlet valve and a valve stem having one or more support ribs running at least a partial length of the valve stem. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming particular embodiments of the present invention, various embodiments of the invention can be more readily understood and appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art from the following descriptions of various embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a pump and valve according to the prior art; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 2A through 2D  illustrate components of a pump according to various prior art embodiments; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a valve according to various embodiments of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a valve along its length according to various embodiments of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates a front view of a valve according to various embodiments of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates a rear view of a valve according to various embodiments of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  illustrates a valve according to various embodiments of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a valve along its length according to various embodiments of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a valve along its width according to various embodiments of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of a valve according to various embodiments of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a pump including a valve according to various embodiments of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective, component view of a pump including a valve according to various embodiments of the invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  illustrates a perspective, component view of a pump including a valve according to various embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    According to embodiments of the invention, a valve  130  for a pump may include a valve stem  133 , an outlet valve  139  and a valve disc  136 . The outlet valve  139  and valve disc  136  may be on opposite end of the valve stem  133 . 
         [0025]    A valve  130  according to various embodiments of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 6 . As illustrated, a valve  130  may include a valve stem  133  having an outlet valve  139  adjacent one end thereof and a valve disc  136 , or inlet valve, located on an end of the valve stem  133  opposite the outlet valve  139 . The outlet valve  139  may be rounded or have a circular or oval shape. According to various embodiments of the invention, a diameter of the outlet valve  139  may be configured or selected such that the outlet valve may seat against a discharge passage  318  of a pump to prevent discharge of a product from the pump until the valve stem  133  is moved, resulting in an unseating of the outlet valve  139  from a discharge passage  318 . 
         [0026]    According to some embodiments of the invention, a valve stem  133  may extend from the outlet valve  139  to a valve disc  136  at an opposite end thereof. A valve stem  133  may include a cross-sectional portion having a width as large as a diameter of the outlet valve  139  over at least a portion of the valve stem  133 . At a portion of the valve stem  133  nearing the valve disc  136 , the valve stem  133  may narrow or converge towards a central portion of the valve disc  136 . For example, the valve  130  illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 6  includes a valve stem  133  having a cross-sectional width equal to the largest diameter of the outlet valve  139  over a portion of the valve stem  133 . At a point near the valve disc  136 , the valve stem  133  narrows or converges towards a central portion of the valve disc  136 , creating a narrowed region in the valve stem  133  adjacent the valve disc  136 . 
         [0027]    As shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 4 , the cross-sectional area of the valve stem  133  remains as thick as the cross-sectional diameter of the outlet valve  139  across a large portion of the valve stem  133 . Only nearer the valve disc  136  does the cross-sectional area of the valve stem  133  begin to decrease or narrow. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  illustrates a front view of the valve  130  illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and  FIG. 6  illustrates a rear view thereof. As illustrated, the diameter of the valve stem  133  at a forward portion of the valve stem  133  nearest the outlet valve  139  is greater than at the point where the valve stem  133  joins with the valve disc  136 . 
         [0029]    According to various embodiments of the invention, a valve  130  having a thicker valve stem  133 —or a valve stem  133  with an initial width or shape equivalent to a cross-sectional area of the outlet valve  139 —with a narrowing of the valve stem  133  adjacent to the valve disc  136  provides a stiffer or more rigid valve  130  than those of the prior art. 
         [0030]    According to some embodiments of the invention, a valve stem  133  may be configured or shaped such that the cross-sectional area or width of the majority of the length of the valve stem  133  relative to the cross-sectional area or width of the valve stem  133  at the point of convergence with the valve disc  136  provides a desired force to resist movement of the valve stem  133  relative to the valve disc  136 . In this manner, the force required to open an outlet valve  139  may be adjusted by changing the configuration of the valve stem  133  thickness along the valve stem  133  and at the point of convergence with the valve disc  136 . 
         [0031]    A valve  130  according to other embodiments of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 7 through 9 . As illustrated, a valve  130  may have one or more ribs  190  or other stiffing features miming along a length—or part of a length—of the valve stem  133 . In other embodiments, ribs  190  or stiffening features may run along portions of the width or circumference of a valve stem  133 . 
         [0032]    According to various embodiments of the invention, a valve stem  133  may include four ribs  190  miming along a portion of a length thereof as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The ribs  190  may extend from the outlet valve  139  end of the valve  130  towards the valve disc  136 . Adjacent to the valve disc  136 , the ribs  190  may narrow or converge towards the valve disc  136  as illustrated. 
         [0033]    A cross-sectional view of the valve stem  133  and ribs  190  is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . As illustrated, the valve stem  133  and ribs  190  may form a cross shape or “X” shape. In other embodiments of the invention, two or three ribs  190  could be used instead of four. In addition, more than four ribs  190  could be used with various embodiments of the invention. 
         [0034]    In still other embodiments of the invention, portions of the exterior surface of the ribs  190  may be configured such that they contact the walls of a base  310  when assembled with a base  310  of a pump. Such contact may provide further stability or may be used for assembly purposes to guide a valve  130  into a desired assembled position. In still other embodiments of the invention, one or more support ribs may be configured as part of a valve stem  133 , or on a valve stem  133 , in such a manner that when assembled with a base  310  of a pump, at least some of the one or more support ribs  190  contact a portion of an interior chamber of the base. During actuation of the pump and movement of the valve  130 , contact between those portions of the valve stem  133  and the walls of the interior chamber of the base  310  may prevent flexion or movement in a direction other than parallel to the axis through the pump base  310  from the inlet orifice to the discharge passage  318 . 
         [0035]    According to some embodiments of the invention, a valve  130  having ribs  190  may provide a more rigid valve  130  than those of the prior art. 
         [0036]    According to various embodiments of the invention, a valve stem  133  of a valve  130  may be shaped or configured to provide increased rigidity to the valve  130 . For instance, a valve stem  133  may be a solid valve stem  133  having a narrowing portion adjacent a valve disc  136 . In other embodiments, a valve stem  133  may include shaped features or ribs  190  miming along a length or width of the valve stem  133  to provide support, rigidity, and stiffness to the valve stem  133  and the valve  130 . In still other embodiments of the invention, the rigidity or stiffness of a valve  130  may be increased by utilizing a valve stem  133  shape which narrows as the valve stem  133  approaches a valve disc  136 . Ribs  190  or other features may be added to the valve stem  133  to increase the rigidity or stiffness of the valve  130 . 
         [0037]    A valve  130  according to still other embodiments of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , a valve  130  may include a conical outlet valve  139 . Although rounded outlet valves may be used with various embodiments of the invention, it has been found that the use of a conical outlet valve  139  with a pump base  310  having a corresponding conical shaped discharge passage  318  provides a better seal or valve seat. Thus, in certain embodiments of the invention, a valve  130  may have a conically shaped outlet valve  139 . 
         [0038]    A pump assembled with a valve according to various embodiments of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 11 . As illustrated, the pump may include a base  310  having a discharge passage  318 . A valve  130  may be seated in the base  310  such that the outlet valve  139  seats against the discharge passage  318 . An attachment adapter  325  may fit in an opposite end of the base  310  and secure the valve  130  within the base  310 . In addition, the attachment adapter  325  may provide an inlet valve seat which mates with or contacts at least a portion of the valve disc  136  to provide an inlet valve for the pump from a container or pouch attached to the base  310  of the pump. A bellow  350  may be secured to the base  310  with a cap  380 . Actuation of the bellow  350  with product in the base  310  may apply a force against the valve disc  136 , which in turn may apply a force to the valve stem  133  and unseat the outlet valve  139  from the discharge passage  318 , allowing product to flow from the pump as known. 
         [0039]    As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , a valve  130  having a conically shaped outlet valve  139  is seated in a conically shaped discharge passage  318  of a pump base  310 . The seat of the conical shaped outlet valve  139  may be matched to the discharge passage  318  to provide a superior seal. In addition, it has been found that the use of a conical shaped outlet valve  139  as illustrated may provide an improved discharge of product. This is especially true where the valve  130  is a stiffened valve according to embodiments of the invention. For example, when using a valve  130  according to embodiments of the invention having a conical shaped outlet valve  139 , discharge of a product from the pump is more controlled. The conical shape of the outlet valve  139  and corresponding shape of the discharge passage  318  provides an improved valve seat which stabilizes the flow of product out the discharge valve and provides a cleaner shut-off when the outlet valve  139  re-seats with the discharge passageway  318 . 
         [0040]    A pump assembly according to various embodiments of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 12 . As illustrated, a pump may include a base  310 , a valve  130  fitted in the base  310 , an attachment adapter  325  fitted into the base  310  to secure the valve  130  therein, and a bellow  350  secured with a cap  380 . In some embodiments of the invention, a base  310  may include a canoe shaped attachment for securing the pump to a pouch or other container. A valve  130  incorporated with—or assembled in—the pump may include a stiffened or rigid valve  130  according to embodiments of the invention. In addition, a valve  130  may include a conically shaped outlet valve  139  portion as illustrated. 
         [0041]    A pump assembly according to various embodiments of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 13 . As illustrated, a pump may include a base  310 , a valve  130  fitted in the base  310 , an attachment adapter  325  fitted into the base  310  to secure the valve  130  therein, and a bellow  350  secured with a cap  380 . In some embodiments of the invention, a base  310  may include a canoe attachment having a curved shape for securing the pump to a pouch or other container. A valve  130  incorporated with—or assembled in—the pump may include a stiffened or rigid valve  130  according to embodiments of the invention. In addition, a valve  130  may include a conically shaped outlet valve  139  portion as illustrated. 
         [0042]    Valves  130  according to various embodiments of the invention may be made of a flexible material such as TPE, TPU, silicon or other material. In addition, valves  130  according to other embodiments of the invention may be made of a plastic or resin material as known. 
         [0043]    Having thus described certain particular embodiments of the invention, it is understood that the invention defined by the appended claims is not to be limited by particular details set forth in the above description, as many apparent variations thereof are contemplated. Rather, the invention is limited only be the appended claims, which include within their scope all equivalent devices or methods which operate according to the principles of the invention as described.