Patent ID: 7775398

Claim:
A device for storing and dispensing a substance, comprising: a container comprising a body defining therein a storage chamber for receiving and storing the substance, a first axially-extending passageway that is in fluid communication with the storage chamber of the body and defines a flow path therebetween, a pierceable wall located on an opposite side of the passageway relative to the storage chamber, and a first connecting portion located at one end of the body for connecting another component thereto; and a one-way valve assembly comprising: a valve body including a body base defining a second axially extending passageway internal to the valve body; a piercing portion engageable with the pierceable wall of the container, wherein at least one of the piercing portion of the valve assembly and the pierceable wall of the container is movable relative to each other between a first position wherein the piercing portion is not piercing the pierceable wall, and a second position wherein the piercing portion is piercing the pierceable wall and the first passageway of the container is in fluid communication with the second passageway of the valve body for allowing flow of the substance from the storage chamber therethrough; a second connecting portion that is connectable to the first connecting portion of the container for fixedly securing the valve assembly to the container when the valve assembly and container are located in the second position; a manually engageable and removable member disposed intermediate the valve body and the container that is manually engageable and movable between a non-use position preventing movement of at least one of the piercing portion and pierceable wall to the second position, and a use position allowing movement of at least one of the piercing portion and pierceable wall into the second position; a valve seat; a valve cover including a cover base mounted on the body base and fixedly secured against axial movement relative thereto, and a valve portion overlying the valve seat; and at least one flow aperture extending from the second axially-extending passageway and through the valve body to the exterior thereof adjacent to the valve seat and in fluid communication with the second passageway for receiving the substance from the storage chamber therethrough.