Patent ID: 7234460

Claim:
An aerosol metering valve comprising: (a) a valve stem that generally defines a longitudinal axis and comprises: (1) a body portion comprising a metering surface, wherein the longitudinal axis and a plane tangential to at least a portion of the metering surface define an angle from about 2° to about 90°, and (2) a stem portion comprising a discharge passageway, and; (3) a metering gasket; (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 (c) a diaphragm having walls that define an aperture in slidable, sealing engagement with the stem portion of the valve stem; and wherein the metering gasket is configured to be able to form a transient, substantially fluid-tight seal between the valve stem and the sealing portion of the body wall.