Axially actuated valve for dispensing pressurized product

Abstract

An axially actuated valve for use in a pressurized container that is easily actuated and controlled by a user to dispense the amount of product desired. The valve stem is moved in an up and down direction so that when dispensing, the user can control the amount of the valve openings that are in communication with the material to be dispensed. A resilient grommet surrounds the valve stem and has a recessed portion in its base that receives the valve stem button when the valve is in the closed state. The grommet has a squared off interior annular lower corner. This provides a grommet surface that is flush with the valve stem. This design permits use of a minimum size button and also facilitates user metered dispensing. The stem may have openings partially tapered in the form of an inverted truncated pyramid to facilitate user control of the dispensing of product.

1 . In a pressurized dispensing container having an axially actuated valve assembly having a closed state and a range of dispensing states, the valve assembly including a valve member having a stem with at least one dispensing opening and a button at the lower end of the stem and also having a resilient annular sealing grommet around the stem, the improvement comprising: 
 the grommet having an annular interior surface and a lower surface, said grommet surfaces having a substantially orthogonal relationship to assure flush engagement between the grommet and the valve stem down to the button upper surface and along the button upper surface when the valve is in its closed state,    said grommet having a recess in its lower surface so that the button fits in the recess when the valve assembly is in its closed state.    
   
   
       2 . The improvement of  claim 1  further comprising an annular fillet zone having a relatively small radius of curvature at the juncture between the upper surface of the button and the outer surface of the stem.  
   
   
       3 . The improvement of  claim 1  wherein said annular grommet has an annular boot at its upper portion and said stem has an outwardly extending flange positioned to engage said boot when in the dispensing state, there being a gap between said boot and said flange when said valve is in its closed state.  
   
   
       4 . The improvement of  claim 2  wherein: said annular grommet has an annular boot at its upper portion and said stem has an outwardly extending flange positioned to engage said boot when in the dispensing state, there being a gap between said boot and said flange when said valve is in its closed state.  
   
   
       5 . The improvement of  claim 2  wherein: said fillet has a radius of curvature of ten mils.  
   
   
       6 . The improvement of  claim 4  wherein: said fillet has a radius of curvature of ten mils.  
   
   
       7 . The improvement of  claim 3  further comprising: longitudinal slots in said boot to reduce the resistance of said boot to movement of said valve from its closed state to a dispensing state.  
   
   
       8 . The improvement of  claim 4  further comprising: longitudinal slots in said boot to reduce the resistance of said boot to movement of said valve from its closed state to a dispensing state.  
   
   
       9 . The improvement of  claim 1  wherein: a portion of said valve stem opening is tapered in an approximately inverted pyramid shape.  
   
   
       10 . The improvement of  claim 2  wherein: a portion of said valve stem opening is tapered in an approximately inverted pyramid shape.  
   
   
       11 . The improvement of  claim 1  wherein: said valve button has a diameter sufficiently small so that when said nozzle bottoms out on the valve cup and is further tightened, the tightening force will overcome the friction between valve button and grommet causing the valve stem to rotate with the nozzle and avoid locking together of valve stem and nozzle due to cross-threading.  
   
   
       12 . The improvement of  claim 2  wherein: said valve button has a diameter sufficiently small so that when said nozzle bottoms out on the valve cup and is further tightened, the tightening force will overcome the friction between valve button and grommet causing the valve stem to rotate with the nozzle and avoid locking together of valve stem and nozzle due to cross-threading.  
   
   
       13 . In a pressurized dispensing container having an axially actuated valve assembly having a closed state and a range of dispensing states, the valve assembly including a valve member having a stem and a button at the lower end of the stem and also having a resilient annular sealing grommet around the stem, comprising: 
 said stem having a tapered dispensing opening;    said grommet having an annular interior surface and a lower surface, said surfaces having a substantially orthogonal relationship to assure engagement between the boot and the valve stem down to the button surface when in the sealing state, the orthogonal relationship between said surfaces providing a resistance to tilting.    said grommet having a recess in its said lower surface so that the button enters the recessed portion when the valve assembly is in its non-dispensing state.    
   
   
       14 . The improvement of  claim 13  wherein: said valve button has a diameter sufficiently small so that when said nozzle bottoms out on the valve cup and is further tightened, the tightening force will overcome the friction between valve button and grommet causing the valve stem to rotate with the nozzle and avoid locking together of valve stem and nozzle due to cross-threading.  
   
   
       15 . In a pressurized dispensing container having an axially actuated valve assembly having a closed state and a range of dispensing states, the valve assembly including a valve member having a stem with at least one dispensing opening and a button at the lower end of the stem and also having a resilient annular sealing grommet around the stem, the improvement comprising: 
 the grommet having an annular interior surface and a lower surface, said grommet surfaces having a substantially orthogonal relationship to assure flush engagement between the grommet and the valve stem down to the button upper surface and along the button upper surface when the valve is in its closed state,    said grommet having a recess in its lower surface so that the button fits in the recess when the valve assembly is in its closed state,    an annular fillet zone having a relatively small radius of curvature at the juncture between the upper surface of the button and the outer surface of the stem,    said annular grommet having an annular boot at its upper portion and said stem having an outwardly extending ledge positioned to engage said boot when in the dispensing state, there being a gap between said boot and said ledge when said valve is in its closed state,    longitudinal slots in said boot to reduce the resistance of said boot to movement of said valve from its closed state to a dispensing state,    said valve stem having a diameter sufficiently small so that when said nozzle bottoms out on the valve cup and is further tightened, the tightening force will overcome the friction between valve stem and grommet causing the valve stem to rotate with the nozzle and avoid locking together of valve stem and nozzle due to cross-threading.    
   
   
       16 . In a pressurized dispensing container having an axially actuated valve assembly having a closed state and a range of dispensing states, the valve assembly including a valve member having a stem with at least one dispensing opening and a button at the lower end of the stem and also having a resilient annular sealing grommet around the stem, the improvement comprising: 
 said valve stem opening has a portion tapered in an approximately inverted pyramid shape.    
   
   
       17 . The improvement of  claim 16  wherein: said opening has an upper edge, a rectangular zone below its upper edge, a tapered zone below said rectangular zone, and a bottom edge substantially less than its top edge.