Patent Publication Number: US-8113239-B2

Title: Vented valve assembly

Description:
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to dispensing liquids. Particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to dispensing valves for liquid containers. More particularly embodiments of the present invention relate to a dispensing valve incorporating an air vent whereby pressure within the container is equalized as the liquid contents are dispensed. 
     II. BACKGROUND 
     A variety of push-button actuated dispensing valves for dispensing liquids from a relatively large capacity container are known in the art. Where the dispensing valve or tap is used with a flexible wall container, it is not necessary the container be vented in any way because no pressure differential is created upon the emptying of the container through the tap. 
     However, with a rigid container, a system must be provided for equalizing the pressure differential created as contents of the rigid wall container are extracted. Such a vent may be remote from the dispensing valve and may merely comprise a capped opening in an upper wall of the container which, when uncapped, permits ingress of air into the volume as the liquid contents of the container are being dispensed. Also known in the prior art are self-venting valves eliminating the need for a separate, remote vent opening in the container. Listed below are a number of prior art patents relating to self-venting dispensing valve structures. Those with knowledge of dispensing art will recognize with the discussion below how embodiments of the present invention not only differ, but how embodiments of the present invention provide for a much more functional liquid dispenser. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Wight 
                 686,566 
               
               
                   
                 Terkel 
                 2,197,352 
               
               
                   
                 Duval et al. 
                 2,842,291 
               
               
                   
                 Freemon 
                 2,113,046 
               
               
                   
                 Collins 
                 1,749,970 
               
               
                   
                 Berkus 
                 3,372,846 
               
               
                   
                 Damrel 
                 3,405,848 
               
               
                   
                 Kalis, et al 
                 5,405,058 
               
               
                   
                 Rudick 
                 4,898,308 
               
               
                   
                 Stumpf 
                 4,930,689 
               
               
                   
                 Vachon 
                 6,155,464 
               
               
                   
                 Lucking et al. 
                 5,211,313 
               
               
                   
                 White 
                 5,332,127 
               
               
                   
                 Roll et al 
                 5,606,989 
               
               
                   
                 Paczonay 
                 5,927,565 
               
               
                   
                 Paczonay 
                 6,364,178 
               
               
                   
                 Blackbourn et al. 
                 6,401,752 
               
               
                   
                 Blackbourn et al. 
                 6,470,910 
               
               
                   
                 Laible 
                 6,968,983 
               
               
                   
                 Labinski et al. 
                 7,513,395 
               
               
                   
                 Diego 
                 WO 2007108025 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     It would be desirable to have a low cost, easy to assemble, reliably operating, mess-free dispensing valve for a rigid container, which will work well with both viscous and low viscosity liquids. 
     III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In some embodiments, a vented valve assembly for attachment to a rigid container may include one or more of the following features: (a) a unitary tubular valve body of a generally cylindrical hollow form and having a liquid inlet end, (b) a second end and a liquid outlet port, said liquid inlet end adapted for connection to a male spout on a wall of the rigid container, said liquid outlet port being exterior to the wall of the rigid container when the liquid inlet end is affixed to the spout, the valve body further including an air vent opening formed through a wall of the tubular valve body leading to a channel affixed to an inner wall of the tubular valve body, the channel having one open end, (c) a first valve member slidingly disposed in said channel and adapted to be moved between a blocking and an open position relative to said one open end of the channel, (d) a collapsible dome member secured to the valve body in covering relation to said second end of the tubular valve body and movable between a compressed and an expanded state, (e) an elongated, generally rigid stem member having a first end attachable to the collapsible dome and a second end joined to a second valve member adapted to cooperate with the liquid inlet end of the tubular valve body for uncovering the liquid inlet end when the collapsible dome is in the compressed state, said stem member supporting a third valve member for cooperating with the liquid outlet port, and a spring-type valve displacement pin carried on the second valve member for holding the first valve member closed when the collapsible dome is in the expanded state, (f) a longitudinal guideway formed on the channel and a follower projecting from the stem member into the guideway for preventing rotation of the stem member, and (g) finger accommodating indentations in said wall of the tubular valve body adjacent to said flange. 
     In some embodiments, a vented valve assembly may include one or more of the following features: (a) a unitary tubular valve body of a generally cylindrical hollow form and having a liquid inlet end, a second end and a liquid outlet port, said liquid inlet end adapted for connection to a male spout on a wall of the rigid container, said liquid outlet port being exterior to the wall of the rigid container when the liquid inlet end is affixed to the spout, the valve body further including an air vent opening formed through a wall of the tubular valve body leading to a channel affixed to an inner wall of the tubular valve body, the channel having one open end, (b) a first valve member slidingly disposed in said channel and adapted to be moved between a blocking and an open position relative to said one open end of the channel, (c) a collapsible dome member secured to the valve body in covering relation to said second end of the tubular valve body and movable between a compressed and an expanded state, (d) an elongated, generally rigid stem member having a first end attachable to the collapsible dome and a second end joined to a second valve member adapted to cooperate with the liquid inlet end of the tubular valve body for uncovering the liquid inlet end when the collapsible dome is in the compressed state, said stem member supporting a third valve member for cooperating with the liquid outlet port, and a spring-type valve displacement pin carried on the second valve member for holding the first valve member closed when the collapsible dome is in the expanded state, (e) a dual sealing bond is created when the first valve member and the second valve member seal a rigid container from the vented valve assembly so no fluid can be allowed in the vented valve assembly until first use, and (f) a longitudinal guideway formed on the channel and a follower projecting from the stem member into the guideway for preventing rotation of the stem member. 
     In some embodiments, a valve assembly may include one or more of the following features: (a) a unitary tubular valve body of a generally cylindrical hollow form and having a liquid inlet end, a second end and a liquid outlet port, said liquid inlet end adapted for connection to a male spout on a wall of the rigid container, said liquid outlet port being exterior to the wall of the rigid container when the liquid inlet end is affixed to the spout, the valve body further including an air vent opening formed through a wall of the tubular valve body leading to a channel affixed to an inner wall of the tubular valve body, the channel having one open end, (b) a first valve member slidingly disposed in said channel and adapted to be moved between a blocking and an open position relative to said one open end of the channel, (c) a collapsible dome member secured to the valve body in covering relation to said second end of the tubular valve body and movable between a compressed and an expanded state, (d) an elongated, generally rigid stem member having a first end attachable to the collapsible dome and a second end joined to a second valve member adapted to cooperate with the liquid inlet end of the tubular valve body for uncovering the liquid inlet end when the collapsible dome is in the compressed state, said stem member supporting a third valve member for cooperating with the liquid outlet port, and a spring-type valve displacement pin carried on the second valve member for holding the first valve member closed when the collapsible dome is in the expanded state, and (e) a longitudinal guideway formed on the channel and a follower projecting from the stem member into the guideway for preventing rotation of the stem member. 
    
    
     
       IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the vented valve assembly in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the vented valve assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a horizontal, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vented valve assembly with the poppet valve in its open position in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a vertical, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vented valve assembly with the poppet valve in its open position in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a horizontal, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vented valve assembly with the poppet valve in its closed position in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a vertical, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vented valve assembly with the poppet valve in its closed position in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6  in an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6  with the stem removed from the housing in an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     V. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the present teachings. Various modifications to the illustrated embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the present teachings. Thus, the present teachings are not intended to be limited to embodiments shown, but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. The following detailed description is to be read with reference to the figures, in which like elements in different figures have like reference numerals. The figures, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings. Skilled artisans will recognize the examples provided herein have many useful alternatives and fall within the scope of the present teachings. 
     In embodiments of the present invention a self-venting valve assembly having four main components, namely, a housing, a bulb-type spring, a reciprocally movable plug and a poppet valve are disclosed. The housing is designed to be attached to the discharge opening of a rigid container. The valve housing includes two flow paths, one permits liquid to exit the container and the other to allow air to enter the container, thereby preventing a vacuum from forming in the container which would otherwise inhibit liquid from exiting the container through the liquid flow path. The housing also includes a shield to inhibit unintended actuation of the bulb-type spring. 
     The plug includes two valve members, one for the valve body inlet, separating the dispensing valve chamber from the bottle/container and one for the liquid outlet. Each are mounted on a rigid stem designed to be reciprocally movable within the housing upon actuation of the bulb-type spring to open the liquid flow path when the bulb-type spring is compressed and to close off the liquid flow path when the bulb-type spring is released. 
     A poppet valve is located within the air flow path and is movable between an opened position to permit air flow into the container and a closed position prevents liquid from flowing out of the dispenser through the airflow path. When the two liquid seals are in their closed position, the poppet is held in its closed position by a pin with a spring apparatus projecting from the liquid inlet valve of the plug. 
     The design is such when the liquid inlet valve and liquid outlet valve are in their open position, the poppet is free to move, but will not move to its open position until pressure within the container is sufficiently less than atmospheric pressure to move the poppet. 
     The present invention comprises a vented valve assembly for a rigid container which comprises a unitary, tubular, valve body of a generally cylindrical hollow form having a liquid inlet end and a second end. The tubular valve body also includes a liquid outlet port. The liquid inlet end of the valve body is adapted for connection to a spout on a wall of the rigid container whereby the liquid outlet port is exterior to the container&#39;s wall when the liquid inlet end is affixed to the spout. The valve body further includes an air vent opening formed through a wall of the tubular valve body leading to a channel affixed to an inner wall of the tubular valve body and where the channel has only one open end. A first valve member is slidingly disposed in the channel and is adapted to be moved between a blocking and an open position relative to said one open end of the channel. A collapsible dome member is secured to the valve body in covering relation to the second end of the tubular valve body and is movable between a compressed and an expanded state. Completing the assembly is an elongated, generally rigid stem member having a first end attachable to the collapsible dome and a second endjoined to a second valve member adapted to cooperate with the liquid inlet end of the tubular valve body for uncovering the liquid inlet end when the collapsible dome is in the compressed state, said stem member supporting a third valve member for cooperating with the liquid outlet port. The second valve member carries a spring-type valve displacement pin on it for holding the first valve member closed when the collapsible dome is in its expanded state. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the vented valve assembly in embodiments of the present invention is shown. It is indicated generally by numeral  10  and comprises a valve  12  having a first (liquid inlet) end  14  and a second end  16 . The liquid inlet end  14  has an internally threaded collar  18  adapted to be screwed onto an externally threaded spout on a liquid filled container (not shown). The valve body may be molded from a variety of thermoplastics and thermosetting polymers including, but not limited to, polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, PVC and fluoropolymers. 
     The second end  16  includes a shroud portion  20  surrounding a compressible elastomeric dome member  22 . The shroud includes a cut-out portion  24  allowing a user&#39;s finger to better access to the compressible dome  22 . 
     Also visible in  FIG. 1  is a liquid outlet port  26  located in a throat portion  28  formed in a tubular sidewall of the housing. The throat portion is shaped to better accommodate the user&#39;s index finger and middle finger as the thumb is used to compress the dome member  22 . More particularly, by indenting the throat portion, more surface of a flange  29  ( FIG. 3 ) is exposed for engagement by the fingertips of the index finger and middle finger. 
     With reference now to the exploded view of  FIG. 2 , it can be seen the threaded collar  18  concentrically surrounds a valve seat  30 . The collar  18  may be separate from or integrally molded with the valve  12 . The valve seat  30  has a tapered annular surface  32  adapted to be closed by a liquid inlet valve member  34  affixed to the end of a rigid molded plastic stem member  36 . 
     The opposite end of the stem member has a bulbous portion  38  adapted to be plugged into and retained by a tubular socket  40  ( FIG. 4 ) projecting outward form the concave interior surface of the elastomeric dome  22 . 
     Also integrally formed on the stem member  36  is a third valve member  42  adapted to cooperate with the liquid outlet port  26  to keep the outlet port closed when the dome  22  is not being compressed. When the resilient dome is collapsed by a user&#39;s thumb pressure, the liquid inlet valve member  34  and the liquid outlet port simultaneously open to allow liquid within the container (not shown) to flow through the valve  12  to the outlet port  26 . 
     An air vent is also formed through the wall of valve  12  in  FIG. 2  identified as slit  43 . 
     Turning next to the cross-sectional views of  FIGS. 6 and 8 , a hollow box-like channel  44  is integrally molded to the inside wall of the valve  12 . The channel has opposed sidewalls  46  and  48 , a mutually perpendicular bottom wall  50 , a closed end wall  52  and an open opposite end  54 . As seen in  FIG. 8 , the sidewalls  46  and  48  extend downward below the bottom wall  50  and turn inward toward one another to form a T-slot. This T-slot is adapted to receive a plate-like projection  56  integrally molded with the stem member  36  thereby preventing rotation of the stem member within the valve  12 . This assures the third valve member  42  will remain aligned with the liquid outlet port  26  upon depression and release of the elastomeric dome  22  carrying the stem member  36 . 
     The vent  43  formed through the wall of the valve  12  leads to the interior of the channel  44 . The exploded view of  FIG. 2  shows a poppet valve  58  which is also a molded plastic part and it has a face  60  at one end thereof and a pair of resilient wings, as at  62 , extending laterally from opposed sides of the poppet valve  58  at the end opposite from the face  60 . The poppet valve  58  is dimensioned to slide into the open end  54  of the channel  44 . When pushed into the channel, the wings  62  resiliently expand to engage stops  64  ( FIG. 3 ), thereby retaining the poppet valve within the confines of the channel  44  but allowing it to reciprocate through a predetermined distance whereby the open end  54  of the channel  44  can be covered and uncovered by the face  60 . 
     Integrally molded or otherwise attached to the inner face  66  of the liquid inlet valve member  34  is a valve displacement pin  68  having a loop  70  formed along its length to provide a measure of resiliency to the valve displacement pin. 
     Having described the constructional features of the vented valve assembly of the present invention, consideration will next be given to its mode of operation. 
     With the elastomeric dome  22  uncompressed, the stem member  36  will have been pulled rightward when viewed in  FIGS. 3 through 6  by the spring action of the dome so the liquid inlet valve member  34  will be seated in the tapered surface  32  of the valve seat  30  of the valve assembly and the third valve member  42  will be likewise seated with respect to the liquid outlet port  26 . Further, the resilient valve displacement pin  68  will have engaged the face  60  of the poppet valve  58  pushing it closed relative to the open end  54  of the air vent channel  44 . When in this state, liquid within the container with which the vented valve assembly of  FIG. 1  is used will be blocked from entering the dispenser chamber and fluid in the dispenser chamber will be blocked from exiting the outlet port  26  and the vent slits  43 . 
     Now, when a user&#39;s finger pressure is used to collapse the dome  22  in the manner shown in  FIGS. 3 through 6 , valves  34  and  42  affixed to the stem member  36  will simultaneously open with respect to their valve seat surface  32  and outlet port  26 , and the poppet valve displacement pin  68  will disengage from its contact with the poppet valve face  60 . As liquid in the container begins to exit the outlet port  26 , a partial vacuum is created within the container, causing air to flow through the vent slits  43  and act upon the poppet valve  58 , causing it to open relative to the open end  54  of the channel  44  and allow air to flow into the container to thereby equalize the pressure and allow a steady stream of liquid to flow through the valve body and out its outlet port  26 . During the time the negative pressure is being created within the container following initial opening of the valves  34  and  42 , the poppet valve remains closed. None of the liquid is able to flow through the channel  44  and exit the air vent openings  43 . 
     After a desired quantity of the liquid has been dispensed, the user releases the resilient elastomeric dome  22 , and the stem member  36  is again drawn rightward when viewed in the drawings, reclosing the valves  34  and  42  and the poppet valve  58 . 
     As earlier mentioned, the engagement of the plate  56  in the T-slot formed on the undersurface of the channel  44  precludes rotation of the stem member  36  and insures the valve displacement pin  68  carried on the liquid inlet valve member  34  will remain aligned with the poppet valve  58  to push air-actuated poppet valve to its closed condition upon release of thumb pressure on the elastomeric dome  22 . 
     Thus, embodiments of the VENTED VALVE ASSEMBLY are disclosed. One skilled in the art will appreciate the present teachings can be practiced with embodiments other than those disclosed. The disclosed embodiments are presented for functions of illustration and not limitation, and the present teachings are limited only by the claims follow.