Patent ID: 8434633

Claim:
A one-way valve for use on package having an interior for holding a material therein, the package having at least one wall panel bounding an interior in which the material is located, said valve comprising a base member, a cover member, a septum, a viscous fluid and a stake, said base member comprising a side wall and a valve seat, said side wall having an end surface, said cover member comprising a puncturable film secured to said end surface and forming an interior space which is isolated from the ambient surroundings and in which said valve seat and said septum are located, said valve being arranged to be secured to the at least one wall panel of the package with said cover member interposed therebetween, the wall of the package being arranged to be punctured, whereupon said cover member is punctured to form an outlet for said valve, said valve seat having a planar surface and at least one inlet port in fluid communication with said planar surface, said septum having an unflexed state in which said septum is a planar member having first planar central portion and a second planar portion surrounding said first planar central portion, said septum being formed of a flexible material, said stake projecting upward from said planar surface of said valve seat within said internal space and connecting said first planar central portion of said septum to said base member whereupon said first planar central portion of said septum contiguous with said stake is fixed in position with respect to said base member and said second planar portion of said septum engages said planar valve seat with said viscous fluid interposed between said second planar portion of said septum and said valve seat and covers and seals said at least one inlet port, said viscous fluid forming a releasably securable bond holding said septum in engagement with said valve seat, said septum being arranged so that said second planar portion of said septum is able to flex when the pressure of gas at said at least one inlet port reaches a threshold to overcome said releasably securable bond to cause said second portion of said septum to move away from said valve seat and open said at least one inlet port to allow the gas to enter into said interior of said valve and exit through the outlet, said second portion of said septum being arranged to automatically flex back onto said valve seat with said viscous fluid interposed therebetween to seal said at least one inlet port when the pressure of gas at said at least one inlet port drops below said threshold.