Patent ID: 8397956

Claim:
A fluid dispensing valve having a generally circular configuration relative to a longitudinal axis along which a fluid substance is dispensed from said valve in a discharge flow direction, said valve having an axially outward direction that is defined by said discharge flow direction, and said valve having an axially inward direction that is defined as the direction opposite to said axially outward direction, said valve comprising: (A) a peripheral mounting portion; (B) a valve head that is located axially inwardly further than said peripheral mounting portion, and that is flexible and resilient, said valve head having (1) a normally closed orifice that is defined by at least one slit and that opens to permit a discharge flow of said substance, (2) a fully retracted, closed position that is axially inward of at least another part of said valve, (3) an exterior surface which (a) interfaces with the environment on the valve exterior, (b) has a generally recessed configuration as viewed from the valve exterior when said valve head is in the fully retracted, closed position, and (4) an interior surface which (a) interfaces with a fluid substance on the valve interior, (b) projects generally in the axially inward direction when viewed from the valve interior when the valve head is in the fully retracted, closed position, and (5) a peripheral surface extending from said exterior surface toward said interior surface; (C) a connector sleeve that (1) is flexible and resilient, (2) defines a generally tubular shape over at least part of the sleeve length, and (3) extends between, and connects, said peripheral mounting portion and said valve head in a configuration that, when said valve is subjected to a sufficient pressure differential, doubles over and extends rollingly in said axially outward direction as said valve head moves from said fully retracted, closed position to an extended position that is axially outward of said fully retracted, closed position and that accommodates opening of said orifice, said connector sleeve being connected to said valve head at a location that is at the most axially inward extent of said peripheral surface; and wherein said connector sleeve flares radially inwardly with increasing axial distance along said sleeve from the mounting portion to a minimum diameter of the sleeve and then continuously flares radially outwardly with increasing axial distance along said sleeve from the minimum diameter to the connection to the valve head with the valve head in the fully retracted, closed position.