Patent Publication Number: US-8973789-B2

Title: Closure valve assembly for a container

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/744,130 filed on Jan. 17, 2013 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/850,811 filed on Aug. 5, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,397,958, both of which are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference and made a part hereof. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention provides a closure valve assembly for a container and preferably a closure assembly for a flexible food container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Collapsible plastic bags are often used to store liquid products such as chemicals, soft drink syrup, fruit juices, dairy, dairy blends, smoothies and food condiments. The plastic bags are typically housed in a corrugated paperboard box to aid in the transporting, handling and dispensing of the product. Such packaging systems are commonly referred to as “bag-in-box” packaging systems. 
     The plastic bags typically have sidewalls sealed along a peripheral seam to define a fluid containing chamber. An access member associated with the bag provides fluid communication with the contents of the bag. The access member can be an assembly for connecting the access member to a fluid transfer line that can remove the contained products under vacuum pressure in aseptic or non-aseptic fashion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a closure assembly for a container. The assembly has a housing, a retaining ring and a valve. The housing has two coaxially disposed and radially-spaced, generally-cylindrical walls extending axially away from a top wall surface to define an annular chamber therebetween. An inner surface of the second annular wall defines a fluid passage having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a retaining ring receiving surface, and a first valve receiving surface spaced axially inwardly from the retaining ring receiving surface. The retaining ring receiving surface has a first annular protuberance extending radially inwardly from the inner surface into the first fluid passage and a first annular notch spaced axially from the protuberance and extending radially outwardly. 
     The retaining ring has a peripheral connection portion disposed about a second fluid passage, the connection portion being in cooperative engagement with the retaining ring receiving surface, the connection portion having an axially outwardly extending annular flange positioned in the first notch. The annular flange has opposed first and second opposed surfaces with a third cylindrical wall extending from the first surface and a fourth cylindrical wall extending from the second surface. The third cylindrical wall has an outer surface abutting an outer surface of the first annular protuberance, and the fourth cylindrical wall having a second valve receiving surface. 
     The valve is disposed in the fluid passage and seals the fluid passage. The valve has opposed surfaces having a retaining-ring mating surface extending from a first surface and in cooperative engagement with the second valve receiving surface and a housing-mating surface extending from a second surface opposed to the first surface and cooperatively engaging the first valve-receiving surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of one assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view in cross-section of a housing; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view in cross-section of a second embodiment of a housing; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a retaining ring; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the retaining ring of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the retaining ring of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a valve; 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the valve of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a cap; 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of the cap of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view of a second embodiment of a cap; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a housing docked to a fluid dispensing apparatus; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a housing docked to a fluid dispensing apparatus; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a second assembly; and 
         FIG. 15  is a plan view of a flexible container with a valve assembly attached thereto. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
       FIGS. 1 and 14  show a first and second closure assembly  10 ,  10 ′ (where like parts are referred to with like numbers with the second assembly using a prime (′) designation) having a housing  12 , a retaining ring  14 , a valve  16 , an optional dust cap  18  and an optional fitment  22 . The assembly  10  can be attached to a container  19  ( FIG. 15 ) to provide fluid access to the contents of the container. In a preferred form of the invention, the fitment  22  will be attached to the container ( FIG. 15 ) by heat sealing or other method and more preferably, a portion, such as a proximal flange  140  of the fitment, will be positioned within a chamber of the container where it is sealed to an inner surface of a sidewall of the container and a portion, such as a cylindrical wall  120 , extends through a hole in the sidewall of the container to outside the sidewall where the sub-assembly of the house  12 , the retaining ring  14  and the valve  16  (and optionally the cap  18 ) are attached to the fitment  22   
       FIGS. 2 and 3  show two different embodiments of the housing  12  each having two coaxially disposed and radially-spaced, generally-cylindrical walls  26 ,  28  extending axially away from a top wall surface  30  to define an annular chamber  32  therebetween. Like numbers will refer to like parts with the exception that the reference numerals of the housing embodiment of  FIG. 3  will be designated with a prime character (′). A first of these two walls  26  will sometimes be referred to as the first annular wall  26 . A gripping flange  33  extends axially outwardly from a distal end of the first annular wall. Likewise, the second of these two walls  28  will sometimes be referred to as the second annular wall  28 . The first annular wall extends a first distance from the top wall surface and the second annular wall extends a second distance from the top wall surface and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance by an amount indicated with an A. In a preferred form of the invention, the distance A will be from about 0.240 inches to about 0.265 inches and A′ will be from about 0.120 inches to about 0.145 inches. An inner surface  34  of the second annular wall defines a fluid passage  36  therethrough and carries a first valve receiving surface  38  and a retaining ring receiving surface  40  spaced axially therefrom. 
     The first valve receiving surface  38  has a radially inwardly directed flange  42  extending from a distal end  44  of the second annular wall and having an upper surface  48 , a lower surface  49  and a blunt inner peripheral edge surface  51  circumjacent a fluid inlet  52  to the fluid passage  36 . In a preferred form of the invention, an annular segment of the inner surface proximate the flange  42  forms an angle α with an upper surface  48  of flange  42  to define an annular notch  47 . In a preferred form of the invention, a is from about 45° to about 90°. A fifth upstanding wall  84  ( FIG. 7 ) of the valve  16  is compressed into the notch  47  by the second valve receiving surface  65  of the retaining ring  14 . 
     The radially inwardly directed forces applied to the valve by the cooperative engagement of the retaining ring and the housing assists in retaining the valve in its proper location during engagement of the assembly with a fluid access member that pierces the valve with a tube and places axially inwardly directed forces as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
     The retaining-ring receiving surface  40  is spaced axially from the valve receiving surface and has a protuberance  54  and a detent  55  that are dimensioned to receive a peripheral edge of the retaining ring  14 . 
       FIGS. 4-6  show the retaining ring  14  having a peripheral connection portion  56  disposed about a second fluid passage  57 , the connection portion being in cooperative engagement with the retaining ring receiving surface  40 . The connection portion  56  has an axially outwardly extending annular flange  58  positioned in the detent  55  and having first and second opposed surfaces  59 ,  60  with a third cylindrical wall  61  extending axially from the first surface  59  and a fourth cylindrical wall  62  extending axially from the second surface  60 . The third cylindrical wall  61  has an outer surface  63  abutting an outer surface  64  of the first annular protuberance  54 . The fourth cylindrical wall has a second valve receiving surface  65 . 
       FIGS. 4-5  show the first surface of the ring  59  is segmented having a first annular portion  66  proximate the third cylindrical wall  61  and a second annular portion  67  spaced radially inwardly from the first annular portion  66 . The first annular portion  66  has a generally horizontal surface forming approximately a right angle with the third cylindrical wall. The second annular portion  67  has an axially inwardly tapering surface from radially outwardly to radially inwardly to define an angle β between a surface of the third cylindrical wall  61  and the second annular portion  67 . In a preferred form of the invention, the angle β will be about 90° to about 120°. The tapered wall assists in docking and centering of a suction tube within the fluid passage  36  of the housing. 
     A plurality of triangular shaped tabs  68  are circumferentially spaced along the first annular portion  66 . In a preferred form of the invention the tabs  68  are evenly spaced and there are from four to twelve tabs and more preferably eight tabs. The tabs  68  are generally in the shape of a right triangle and, in a preferred form of the invention, each of the tabs have its most radially inward vertex  69  positioned at the junction between the first and second annular portions  66 ,  67  and does not extend on to a surface of the second annular portion  67 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the second surface  60  of the ring having complementary third and fourth annular portions  70 ,  71  corresponding respectively to the first and second annular portions  66 ,  67 . The second surface  60  has a plurality of generally rectangular shaped protuberances  72  extending from the fourth cylindrical wall  62  with each terminating in the fourth annular portion  71  proximate the second fluid passage  57 . In a preferred form of the invention, the protuberances  72  are positioned in line with gaps between adjacent tabs  68  on the first surface  59 . 
       FIG. 1  shows the valve  16  is disposed in the fluid passage  36  and seals it from ingress or egress of fluids through the assembly.  FIGS. 1 ,  7  and  8  show the valve  16  has opposed first and second surfaces  80 ,  82  and a fifth and a sixth generally cylindrical wall  84 ,  86 , a retaining-ring mating surface  87  and a generally arrow-head shaped housing-mating surface  89  having transversely disposed legs  89   a,b,c  with legs  89   a,b  abutting the first valve-receiving surface  38  and leg  89   c  abutting the second valve-receiving surface  65  of the retaining ring. A bottom wall  88  seals an end of the sixth cylindrical wall. In a preferred form of the invention, the bottom wall  88  will be capable of moving between open ( FIGS. 12 and 13 ) and closed positions ( FIG. 1 ). In one preferred form of the invention, the wall will have a puncture site  90  where the valve has reduced resistance to piercing which can be achieved by, for example, having a reduced thickness portion or score lines extending through a partial or full thickness of the valve. In a preferred form of the invention, the puncture site will be centrally disposed. Also, in a preferred form of the invention, the bottom wall  88  will be domed axially outwardly. 
       FIGS. 1 ,  9 - 11  and  14  show two embodiments of a cap  18  that can be used to releasably attach to the housing  12  to provide protection from contamination and damage. The cap  18  has a peripheral, upstanding wall  92  having an annular protuberance  94  extending from an outer surface of the wall  92  and is dimensioned to lock within an annular detent  96  on the inner surface  34  of the housing  12 . A bottom wall  98  of the cap extends radially inwardly from the peripheral wall  92  through a transition region  100  then to an axially downwardly extending section  102  to define a chamber  104 . In one preferred form of the invention, the chamber  104  will have a first and second intersecting circular portions  105   a,b  ( FIG. 9 ) for access by a finger of a user of the assembly. A pull-ring  106  is provided for a user to remove the cap from the assembly and in one preferred form of the invention, a portion of the pull ring will cross over circular portion  105   b . The pull-ring  106  has a hinge  108  and an arm  110 . The arm  110  forms a loop structure  112  dimensioned to be grasped by a user of the assembly. To access the assembly, the arm  110  is pulled by a user axially outwardly to cause the arm to pivot upward and the cap and can be removed from the assembly by a gentle tug by the user. 
       FIG. 1  shows the fitment  22  having a cylindrical wall  120  having an upper peripheral end surface  122  for docking within the annular chamber  32  and a proximal flange  140  for sealing to a wall of a container. The fitment  22  defines a fluid passage  118  in fluid communication with a chamber of the container. In a preferred form of the invention, the fitment  22  is attached to a wall of a container and provides fluid access to a chamber of the container. In one preferred form of the invention, the container is a flexible container having sidewalls that are capable of collapsing upon draining of the contents of the container. 
     In a preferred form of the invention, the housing  12 , the retaining ring  14  and the cap  18  are fabricated from polymeric materials and preferably in an injection molding or other thermal forming process. Suitable materials for these parts include homopolymers and copolymers having monomers selected from olefins, amides, esters, ethers, carbonates, and combinations of the same. In one preferred form of the invention, the housing is made from a softer material from the retaining ring. In yet another preferred form of the invention, the housing is fabricated from an ethylene monomer and more preferably is an ethylene and α-olefin copolymer and more preferably an ethylene copolymer having a density of less than or about 0.915 g/cc and includes linear low density polyethylenes and ultra-low density polyethylenes. Also, in a preferred form of the invention, the retaining ring is fabricated from a material that is more rigid than the material of the housing and in another preferred form of the invention the retaining ring is fabricated from a polypropylene homopolymer or a propylene and ethylene copolymer. Using a retaining ring that is more rigid than the housing material allows the retaining ring to bite into the housing to mechanically bond the ring in the housing to form a secure attachment. Suitable material for the valve includes natural and synthetic rubbers and elastomers and preferably, the valve is silicone. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  show the assembly  10  docked to a fluid access device  130  having a suction tube  132  extending through the piercing site of the valve to access the contents of the container under vacuum pressure.  FIG. 12  shows the suction tube  132  partially inserted through the valve and portions  134  of the valve in the piercing area are displaced axially inwardly and in contact with an outer surface of the suction tube  132 . Due to the close proximity of the portions  134  with a distal most end of the suction tube  132 , fluid flow from the chamber can be slightly diminished.  FIG. 13  shows the suction tube  132  more fully inserted through the valve such that the portions  134  are not proximate the distal end of the suction tube and provide for faster evacuation of the container. 
     While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.