Patent ID: 7784652

Claim:
A fluid dispensing valve having a generally circular configuration relative to a longitudinal axis along which a fluid substance can be 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 flexible and resilient, said valve head having (1) a normally closed orifice that is defined by at least one slit and that can open 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) can interface with the environment on the valve exterior, and (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) can interface with a fluid substance on the valve interior, (b) has a radially outer surface portion with a convex arcuate configuration when viewed from the valve interior when said valve head is in the fully retracted, closed position, and (c) has a central inner surface portion that (i) is radially inside said radially outer surface portion, (ii) bulges axially inwardly to project from said radially outer surface portion, and (iii) has a convex arcuate configuration when viewed from the valve interior when the valve is in the fully retracted, closed position, and (5) a thickness between said exterior surface and said interior surface central inner surface portion that is thicker at the center on the longitudinal axis than the thickness of said head at the circumference of said interior surface central inner surface portion; and (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.