Dispensing valve

Abstract

A dispenser valve assembly for controlling the discharge of fluid contents from a container, the container having a lid with an opening in the lid; the valve assembly comprising a valve seat and a flexible sheet, the flexible sheet having an aperture therein, the flexible sheet having an inner surface facing the valve seat and an outer surface facing the container lid, the valve seat including: (a) a floor, (b) at least one passageway through the floor for admitting the fluid contents from the container, (c) a projection member having a seating surface that cooperates with the aperture in the sheet to provide a first valve, wherein the seating surface seals the aperture and thereby closes the first valve when the contents of the container is not under pressure, and (d) at least one retainer for holding a peripheral portion of the flexible sheet in contact with the lid such that a peripheral portion of the sheet is retained in contact with the lid and another peripheral portion of the sheet is not retained in contact with the lid to provide a second valve and the portion of the sheet not retained in contact with the lid, contacts the lid and closes the second valve when the contents of the container is under pressure; wherein by applying pressure to the inner surface of the sheet, the sheet is displaced from the seating surface and the contents of the container can be dispensed through the aperture in the flexible sheet, and when the pressure on the inner surface of the sheet is less than the pressure on the outer surface, the container is vented by air that passes through the opening in the lid, between the lid and the peripheral portions of the sheet not retained in contact with the lid, and into the container through the at least one passageway in the floor of the valve seat.

1 . A dispenser valve assembly for controlling the discharge of fluid contents from a container, the container having a lid with an opening in the lid; 
 the valve assembly comprising a valve seat and a flexible sheet,    the flexible sheet having an aperture therein, the flexible sheet having an inner surface facing the valve seat and an outer surface facing the container lid,    the valve seat including: (a) a floor, (b) at least one passageway through the floor for admitting the fluid contents from the container, (c) a projection member having a seating surface that cooperates with the aperture in the sheet to provide a first valve, wherein the seating surface seals the aperture and thereby closes the first valve when the contents of the container is not under pressure, and (d) at least one retainer for holding a peripheral portion of the flexible sheet in contact with the lid such that a peripheral portion of the sheet is retained in contact with the lid and another peripheral portion of the sheet is not retained in contact with the lid to provide a second valve and the portion of the sheet not retained in contact with the lid, contacts the lid and closes the second valve when the contents of the container is under pressure;    wherein by applying pressure to the inner surface of the sheet, the sheet is displaced from the seating surface and the contents of the container can be dispensed through the aperture in the flexible sheet, and when the pressure on the inner surface of the sheet is less than the pressure on the outer surface, the container is vented by air that passes through the opening in the lid, between the lid and the peripheral portions of the sheet not retained in contact with the lid, and into the container through the at least one passageway in the floor of the valve seat.    
   
   
       2 . The dispenser valve assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet is formed from continuously extruded flexible sheet stock.  
   
   
       3 . The dispenser valve assembly in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the flexible sheet is die cut from the sheet stock.  
   
   
       4 . The dispenser valve assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet is a disc.  
   
   
       5 . The dispenser valve assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the projection is a hub.  
   
   
       6 . The dispenser valve assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the valve seat includes a plurality of retainers.  
   
   
       7 . The dispenser valve assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the valve seat includes a plurality of passageways through the floor.  
   
   
       8 . The dispenser valve assembly in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the valve seat further comprises a rim extending from the floor at the periphery of the valve seat.  
   
   
       9 . The dispenser valve assembly in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the rim is configured to snap-fit with a compatible mounting fixture on the inside of the lid.  
   
   
       10 . A dispenser assembly for controlling the discharge of fluid contents from a container comprising: 
 a lid having an opening therein,    a dispenser valve assembly for controlling the discharge of the fluid contents from the container;    the valve assembly comprising a valve seat and a flexible sheet,    the flexible sheet having an aperture therein, the flexible sheet having an inner surface facing the valve seat and an outer surface facing the container lid,    the valve seat including: (a) a floor, (b) at least one passageway through the floor for admitting the fluid contents from the container, (c) a projection member having a seating surface that cooperates with the aperture in the sheet to provide a first valve, wherein the seating surface seals the aperture and thereby closes the first valve when the contents of the container is not under pressure, and (d) at least one retainer for holding a peripheral portion of the flexible sheet in contact with the lid such that a peripheral portion of the sheet is retained in contact with the lid and another peripheral portion of the sheet is not retained in contact with the lid to provide a second valve and the portion of the sheet not retained in contact with the lid, contacts the lid and closes the second valve when the contents of the container is under pressure;    wherein by applying pressure to the inner surface of the sheet, the sheet is displaced from the seating surface and the contents of the container can be dispensed through the aperture in the flexible sheet, and when the pressure on the inner surface of the sheet is less than the pressure on the outer surface, the container is vented by air that passes through the opening in the lid, between the lid and the peripheral portions of the sheet not retained in contact with the lid, and into the container through the at least one passageway in the floor of the valve seat.    
   
   
       11 . The dispenser assembly in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the lid includes an inside surface facing the valve assembly and the portion of the lid surrounding the opening in the lid is internally beveled to provide a space into which the flexible sheet can be displaced.  
   
   
       12 . The dispenser assembly in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the lid further includes a feature to receive said valve assembly.  
   
   
       13 . The dispenser assembly in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the valve seat includes a plurality of retainers.  
   
   
       14 . The dispenser assembly in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the valve seat includes a plurality of passageways through the floor.  
   
   
       15 . The dispenser assembly in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the valve seat further comprises a rim extending from the floor at the periphery of the valve seat.  
   
   
       16 . The dispenser assembly in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the valve assembly is compatibly configured to snap-fit with the fixture on the inside of the lid.  
   
   
       17 . A dispenser comprising: 
 a container for holding fluid contents,    a lid having an opening therein,    a dispenser valve assembly for controlling the discharge of fluid contents from the container;    the valve assembly comprising a valve seat and a flexible sheet,    the flexible sheet having an aperture therein, the flexible sheet having an inner surface facing the valve seat and an outer surface facing the container lid,    the valve seat including: (a) a floor, (b) at least one passageway through the floor for admitting the fluid contents from the container, (c) a projection member having a seating surface that cooperates with the aperture in the sheet to provide a first valve, wherein the seating surface seals the aperture and thereby closes the first valve when the contents of the container is not under pressure, and (d) at least one retainer for holding a peripheral portion of the flexible sheet in contact with the lid such that a peripheral portion of the sheet is retained in contact with the lid and another peripheral portion of the sheet is not retained in contact with the lid to provide a second valve and the portion of the sheet not retained in contact with the lid, contacts the lid and closes the second valve when the contents of the container is under pressure;    wherein by applying pressure to the inner surface of the sheet, the sheet is displaced from the seating surface and the contents of the container can be dispensed through the aperture in the flexible sheet, and when the pressure on the inner surface of the sheet is less than the pressure on the outer surface, the container is vented by air that passes through the opening in the lid, between the lid and the peripheral portions of the sheet not retained in contact with the lid, and into the container through the at least one passageway in the floor of the valve seat.    
   
   
       18 . The dispenser in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the valve seat includes a plurality of retainers.  
   
   
       19 . The dispenser in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the valve seat includes a plurality of passageways through the floor.  
   
   
       20 . The dispenser in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the valve seat further comprises a rim extending from the floor at the periphery of the valve seat.  
   
   
       21 . The dispenser in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the lid includes an inside surface facing the valve assembly and the portion of the lid surrounding the opening in the lid is internally beveled to provide a space into which the flexible sheet can be displaced.  
   
   
       22 . The dispenser in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the lid further includes a feature to receive said valve assembly.  
   
   
       23 . The dispenser in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein the valve assembly is compatibly configured to snap-fit with the fixture on the inside of the lid.  
   
   
       24 . A dispenser valve assembly for controlling the discharge of fluid contents from a container, the container having a lid with an opening in the lid; 
 the valve assembly comprising a valve seat and a flexible sheet,    the flexible sheet having an aperture therein, the flexible sheet having an inner surface facing the valve seat and an outer surface facing the container lid,    the valve seat including: (a) a floor, (b) at least one passageway through the floor for admitting the fluid contents from the container, (c) a projection member having a seating surface that cooperates with the aperture in the sheet to provide a first valve, wherein the seating surface seals the aperture and thereby closes the first valve when the contents of the container is not under pressure, and (d) at least one retainer for retaining the entire periphery of the sheet in contact with the lid;    wherein by applying pressure to the inner surface of the sheet, the sheet is displaced from the seating surface and the contents of the container can be dispensed through the aperture in the flexible sheet.    
   
   
       25 . A valve assembly for controlling the discharge of fluid contents from a container, the container having a housing for a valve assembly with an opening in the housing; 
 the valve assembly comprising a valve seat and a flexible sheet, said flexible sheet having an aperture therein, an inner surface facing the valve seat and an outer surface facing the valve housing,    the valve seat including: (a) a floor, (b) at least one passageway through the floor for admitting the fluid contents from the container, (c) a projection member having a seating surface that cooperates with the aperture in the sheet to provide a first valve, wherein the seating surface seals the aperture and thereby closes the first valve when the contents of the container is not under pressure, and (d) at least one retainer for holding a peripheral portion of the flexible sheet in contact with the housing such that a peripheral portion of the sheet is retained in contact with the housing and another peripheral portion of the sheet is not retained in contact with the housing to provide a second valve and the portion of the sheet not retained in contact with the housing, contacts the housing and closes the second valve when the contents of the container is under pressure;    wherein by applying pressure to the inner surface of the sheet, the sheet is displaced from the seating surface and the contents of the container can be dispensed through the aperture in the flexible sheet, and when the pressure on the inner surface of the sheet is less than the pressure on the outer surface, the container is vented by air that passes through the opening in the housing, between the housing and the peripheral portions of the sheet not retained in contact with the housing, and into the container through the at least one passageway in the floor of the valve seat.