Valve for dispensing liquids and method of use

Abstract

The valved liquid dispenser allows hands-free operation of the dispenser while preventing leakage caused by positive pressures within the container. The valved liquid dispenser provides a passageway and diaphragm that operate by applying suction to the proximal end of the valve. In another embodiment of the valved liquid dispenser, the diaphragm includes a duckbill or other venting means that is supported by a diaphragm support to allow liquid to flow through the passageway similar to the first embodiment, but also allows for pressure equalization within the container.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A valved liquid dispenser comprising: 
 a container having at least one opening;    a valve body having a proximal end opening and a distal end opening and defining an axial passageway therebetween, said distal end opening in contact with said at least one container opening;    a diaphragm support means located within said axial passageway;    a diaphragm seat means located within said axial passageway; and    a diaphragm means, sealingly engaged within said axial passageway and supported between said diaphragm seat means and said diaphragm support means, responsive to negative pressure at said proximal end opening and non-responsive to positive pressure at said distal end opening.    
     
     
         2 . The valved liquid dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said diaphragm support means comprises: 
 pronged support means for supporting said diaphragm means and not preventing said liquid to flow through said axial passageway.  
 
     
     
         3 . The valved liquid dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said diaphragm seat means comprises: 
 an axial passageway constriction means for supporting said diaphragm means and directing said liquid toward a central part of said diaphragm means.  
 
     
     
         4 . The valved liquid dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said diaphragm means comprises: 
 a venting means for venting air back into said container to equalize pressure.  
 
     
     
         5 . The valved liquid dispenser of  claim 4  wherein said venting means is selected from the group consisting of duckbills, flapper valves, and ball check valves.  
     
     
         6 . The valved liquid dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said valve body comprises: 
 a first body member and a second body member, wherein said first body member and a second body member are joined substantially near said diaphragm means.  
 
     
     
         7 . The valved liquid dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said valve body is a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, polystyrene, ABS polyamides, polyacetal, polyolefins including polypropylene, and polyethylene, polycarbonate, PVC, PVDC and EVOH.  
     
     
         8 . The valved liquid dispenser of  claim 7  wherein said material further comprises copolymers, or blends of said materials.  
     
     
         9 . The valved liquid dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said diaphragm is a material selected from the group consisting of an elastomeric material.  
     
     
         10 . The valved liquid dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said diaphragm is a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyurethanes, plastics, silicone TPE, TPR, TPO, Thermoset elastomer, rubbers including Butyl/polypropylene, EPDM/polypropylene, EDPM, HNBR, NBR, Butyl, Viton, Nitrile, Neoprene, SBR, Natural rubber and Kypalon.  
     
     
         11 . The valved liquid dispenser of  claim 10  wherein said material further comprises blends and copolymers of said materials.  
     
     
         12 . A beverage dispenser operable by a user applying suction comprising: 
 a container having at least one opening;    a valve body having a proximal end opening and a distal end opening and defining an axial passageway therebetween, said distal end opening in contact with said at least one container opening;    a diaphragm support located within said axial passageway;    a diaphragm seat located within said axial passageway between said distal end opening and said diaphragm support, said diaphragm seat comprising a constricted section of said axial passageway; and    a diaphragm sealingly engaged within said axial passageway, said diaphragm having a diaphragm hub and a diaphragm body, wherein said diaphragm is supported between said diaphragm seat and said diaphragm support, said diaphragm hub and said axial passageway define a diaphragm first area adjacent said distal end opening and said hub and said passageway define a diaphragm second area adjacent said proximal end opening, whereby said diaphragm body flexes toward said proximal end opening when suction by said user is applied to said proximal end opening and said diaphragm body doesn't flex toward said proximal end opening when positive pressure is applied to said distal end opening.    
     
     
         13 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 12  wherein said axial passageway further comprises a first body member passageway and a second body member passageway.  
     
     
         14 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 13  wherein said second body member passageway comprises a second body member passageway constriction.  
     
     
         15 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 14  wherein said constriction section is hour-glass shaped.  
     
     
         16 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 12  wherein said diaphragm hub comprises a duckbill, said duckbill extending substantially toward said distal end opening.  
     
     
         17 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 12  wherein said diaphragm support comprises: 
 prongs extending substantially parallel to said axial passageway from said diaphragm support toward said distal end opening to support said duckbill.  
 
     
     
         18 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 12  further wherein said diaphragm further includes a circumference.  
     
     
         19 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 17  wherein said circumference is asymmetrical or nonuniform.  
     
     
         20 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 19  wherein said circumference is selected from the group consisting of circular, elliptical, oblong, oval, star-shaped or multipointed.  
     
     
         21 . A beverage valve comprising: 
 a first body member having a first body member proximal end and a first body member distal end;    a second body member having a second body member proximal end and a second body member distal end, wherein said first body member distal end and said second body member proximal end are sealingly connected to create an axial beverage passageway therebetween; and    a flexible diaphragm sealingly engaged with said axial beverage passageway, wherein said flexible diaphragm defines a plug to prevent said beverage from flowing from said second body member distal end to said first body member proximal end, and said diaphragm defines a passageway from said body distal end to said housing proximal end when suction is applied to said distal end.    
     
     
         22 . The valve of  claim 21  wherein said flexible diaphragm is a material selected from the group consisting of Polyolefins, polyurethanes, plastics, silicone TPE, TPR, TPO, Thermoset elastomer, rubbers including Butyl/polypropylene, EPDM/polypropylene, EDPM, HNBR, NBR, Butyl, Viton, Nitrile, Neoprene, SBR, Natural rubber and Kypalon.  
     
     
         23 . The valve of  claim 21  wherein said first body member and said second body member is a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, polystyrene, ABS polyamides, polyacetal, polyolefins including polypropylene, and polyethylene, polycarbonate, PVC, PVDC and EVOH.  
     
     
         24 . A method for dispensing a liquid from a dispenser operable by applying suction, said dispenser comprising a container having at least one container opening; a valve body having a proximal end opening and a distal end opening and defining an axial passageway therebetween, said distal end opening in contact with said at least one container opening; a diaphragm support located within said axial passageway; a diaphragm seat located within said axial passageway between said distal end opening and said diaphragm support, said diaphragm seat comprising a constricted section of said axial passageway; and a diaphragm sealingly engaged within said axial passageway, said diaphragm having a diaphragm hub and a diaphragm body, wherein said diaphragm is supported between said diaphragm seat and said diaphragm support, said diaphragm hub and said axial passageway define a diaphragm first area adjacent said distal end opening and said hub and said passageway define a diaphragm second area adjacent said proximal end opening, said method comprising: 
 applying suction to said proximal end opening;    flexing said diaphragm toward said proximal end opening when suction is applied by said user to said proximal end opening;    flowing liquid through said passageway; and    dispensing said liquid from said proximal end opening.    
     
     
         25 . A method for filling a valved liquid dispenser with liquid, said valved liquid dispenser comprising a container having at least one opening; a valve body having a proximal end opening and a distal end opening and defining an axial passageway therebetween, said distal end opening in contact with said at least one container opening; a diaphragm support located within said axial passageway; a diaphragm seat located within said axial passageway between said distal end opening and said diaphragm support, said diaphragm seat comprising a constricted section of said axial passageway; a diaphragm sealingly engaged within said axial passageway, said diaphragm having a diaphragm hub and a diaphragm body, wherein said diaphragm is supported between said diaphragm seat and said diaphragm support, said diaphragm hub and said axial passageway define a diaphragm first area adjacent said distal end opening and said hub and said passageway define a diaphragm second area adjacent said proximal end opening, said method comprising: 
 connecting an apparatus capable of dispensing liquid under pressure to said proximal end opening;    dispensing said liquid through said valve; and    filling said container.