Slit valves and dispensing nozzles employing same

Abstract

An improved outlet valve assembly for a pump-type fluid dispenser includes a nozzle and a self-sealing slit valve having a valve head portion bounded by a peripheral sealing portion retained between the pump outlet and the nozzle. In further aspects, improved valve members, fluid dispensers, and a method for making a fluid dispenser are provided.

1 . An outlet valve assembly for a fluid dispenser, the fluid dispenser being of a type having a pump which has a pump inlet coupled to a fluid reservoir and a pump outlet, said outlet valve assembly comprising: 
 an annular sleeve having a radially inwardly extending annular internal stop member;    a hollow conduit member having an end edge surface defining an opening coaxially received within said annular sleeve; and    a resiliently deformable valve member disposed within said annular sleeve, said valve member including a valve head portion having one or more slits defining an orifice and a peripheral sealing ring bounding said valve head portion, said peripheral sealing ring sealingly retained between said annular internal stop and said edge surface.    
   
   
       2 . The outlet valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said hollow conduit member defines the pump outlet and said annular sleeve defines a nozzle tip.  
   
   
       3 . The outlet valve assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said annular sleeve includes a dispensing nozzle tip portion defining an axial bore and a connector portion defining a counterbore for coaxially receiving said valve member and the pump outlet.  
   
   
       4 . The outlet valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said hollow conduit member defines a nozzle tip and said annular sleeve defines the pump outlet.  
   
   
       5 . The outlet valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said annular internal stop comprises an annular protrusion.  
   
   
       6 . The outlet valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said annular sleeve portion is adapted to frictionally engage the hollow conduit member.  
   
   
       7 . The outlet valve assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 said annular sleeve having an inward facing surface for engaging an outward facing surface on the hollow conduit;    said inward facing surface having one or both of: (1) one or more projections for engaging complimentary depressions on the outward facing surface; and (2) one or more depressions for engaging complimentary protrusions the outward facing surface.    
   
   
       8 . The outlet valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said valve member is formed of a material selected from silicone rubber, neoprene, chloroprene rubber, and ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM).  
   
   
       9 . The outlet valve assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a vent-resistant member axially adjacent said valve head portion.    
   
   
       10 . The outlet valve assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said vent-resistant member includes: 
 a peripheral flange for retention between said valve peripheral sealing ring and one of said edge surface and said annular internal stop;    a perforated baffle axially adjacent said valve head portion; and    an axially extending sidewall extending between said perforated baffle and said peripheral flange.    
   
   
       11 . A valve member for a fluid dispenser, comprising: 
 a valve head portion having one or more slits defining an orifice;    a peripheral sealing ring bounding said valve head portion;    a first annular groove formed on a first surface of said sealing ring wherein a clamping applied to said annular groove and a second surface of the sealing ring opposite said first side does not cause distortion of the valve head member.    
   
   
       12 . The valve member of  claim 11 , wherein said first annular groove includes a first surface perpendicular to an axial direction and a second surface perpendicular to the axial direction.  
   
   
       13 . The valve member of  claim 11 , wherein said first annular groove includes a first surface perpendicular to an axial direction and a second surface which is inclined relative to the axial direction  
   
   
       14 . The valve member of  claim 11 , further comprising a second annular groove formed on the valve head portion adjacent to and concentric with respect to the first annular groove.  
   
   
       15 . A valve member for a fluid dispenser, comprising: 
 a valve head portion having a first, generally convex surface; a second, generally concave surface opposite said first surface; and one or more slits defining an orifice;    a peripheral sealing ring bounding said valve head portion; and    an annular groove formed on said second surface adjacent to the peripheral sealing ring to define a region of reduced valve head thickness adjacent to the peripheral sealing ring.    
   
   
       16 . The valve member of  claim 15 , wherein said valve head portion has a cusped side cross-sectional shape.  
   
   
       17 . A valve member for a fluid dispenser, comprising: 
 a valve head portion having a first, generally convex surface; a second, generally concave surface opposite said first surface; and one or more slits defining an orifice;    a peripheral sealing ring bounding said valve head portion; and    a plurality of concentric annular grooves formed on one or both of said first and second surfaces.    
   
   
       18 . A valve member for a fluid dispenser, comprising: 
 a valve head portion having a first, generally convex surface; a second, generally concave surface opposite said first surface; and one or more slits defining an orifice;    a peripheral sealing ring bounding said valve head portion; and    a generally cone-shaped cavity formed on one or both surfaces at said orifice.    
   
   
       19 . A fluid dispenser comprising: 
 a pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet;    a fluid reservoir coupled to the pump inlet; and    an outlet valve assembly coupled to the pump outlet, said outlet valve assembly including: 
 a hollow dispensing nozzle including an annular sleeve portion adapted to coaxially receive the pump outlet and an annular internal stop extending inwardly into an opening defined by said annular sleeve; and  
 a resiliently deformable valve member disposed within said dispensing nozzle, said valve member including a valve head portion having one or more slits defining an orifice and a peripheral sealing ring bounding said valve head portion, said peripheral sealing ring adapted to be sealingly retained between said annular internal stop and the pump outlet.  
   
   
   
       20 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 19 , wherein said fluid reservoir includes a flexible, non-vented container.  
   
   
       21 . A method of making a fluid dispenser, comprising: 
 providing a fluid source including a pump having a pump inlet coupled to a fluid reservoir and a pump outlet; and    securing a valve assembly to said pump outlet, said valve assembly including a resiliently deformable valve member having a valve head portion with one or more slits defining an orifice and a peripheral sealing ring bounding said valve head portion, said outlet valve assembly selected from one of: 
 a hollow dispensing nozzle including an annular sleeve portion adapted to coaxially receive the pump outlet and an annular internal stop extending inwardly into an opening defined by said annular sleeve, said peripheral sealing ring adapted to be sealingly retained between said annular internal stop and the pump outlet; and  
 a hollow dispensing nozzle having an end edge surface defining an opening adapted to be coaxially received within the pump outlet, said pump outlet having an annular internal stop extending inwardly into a channel defined by the pump outlet, said peripheral sealing ring adapted to be sealingly retained between said annular internal stop and said edge surface.  
   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said fluid reservoir includes a flexible, non-vented container.