Patent ID: 7299801

Claim:
An aerosol metering valve comprising: (a) a valve stem that generally defines a longitudinal axis and comprises: (1) a body portion comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one side surface connecting the proximal end and the distal end and comprising a metering surface, and (2) a stem portion comprising a discharge passageway; (b) a valve body comprising: (1) a body wall that comprises a sealing portion, (2) an internal chamber defined at least in part by the body wall and comprising a metering portion configured to substantially conform to the metering surface of the valve stem, and (3) a diaphragm having walls that define an aperture in slidable, sealing engagement with the stem portion of the valve stem; and (c) a metering gasket configured to be able to form a transient, substantially fluid-tight face seal between the valve stem and the sealing portion of the body wall; wherein a substantial portion of the metering surface of the valve stem is in contact with the metering portion of the internal chamber body wall when the valve stem is in a resting position.