Valve-controlled dispensing closure

Abstract

A dispensing closure is provided for dispensing a product from a container having an opening. The closure includes a pressure actuatable dispensing valve mounted inwardly of a nozzle end wall that defines discharge apertures. Each aperture has an inner passage with an outer end communicating with an inner end of an outer passage. The inner end of the outer passage has a smaller cross-sectional flow area than the cross-sectional flow area of the outer end of the inner passage.

1 . A dispensing closure for a container that has an opening to the container interior where a product may be stored, said dispensing closure comprising:
 (A) a body for extending from said container at said opening, said body including
 (1) a product discharge passage in said body; and 
 (2) an end wall that is located across said discharge passage and that defines dispensing apertures, at least some of said dispensing apertures each having (i) an inner passage, and (ii) an outer passage extending from said inner passage wherein (a) said inner passage has an inner end and an outer end, (b) said outer passage has an inner end and an outer end, (c) said inner end of said outer passage communicates with said inner passage outer end, and (d) the flow cross section of said outer passage inner end is smaller than the flow cross section of said inner passage outer end; and 
   (B) a dispensing valve that comprises flexible, resilient material and that has a valve head defining at least one normally closed dispensing orifice which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to a pressure differential across said valve, said valve being disposed in said closure body at said discharge passage to locate said valve head inwardly of said end wall.   
   
   
       2 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which said dispensing closure body is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container around said container opening. 
   
   
       3 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which
 said body includes an outwardly projecting nozzle; and   said end wall is at the end of said nozzle.   
   
   
       4 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which said dispensing apertures are spaced apart in a circular locus in said end wall. 
   
   
       5 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which said dispensing aperture inner passage inner end functions as an entrance for product flow and includes an arcuate surface defined by a circular arc surface radius. 
   
   
       6 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which said inner passage includes a frustoconical section. 
   
   
       7 . The closure in accordance with  claim 6  in which said inner passage frustoconical section has an included conical angle of about 30 degrees. 
   
   
       8 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which said inner passage outer end includes an arcuate surface defined by a circular arc surface radius. 
   
   
       9 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which said inner passage has an outer end terminating at an annular shoulder that faces inwardly. 
   
   
       10 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which said outer passage has a frustoconical section. 
   
   
       11 . The closure in accordance with  claim 10  in which said outer passage frustoconical section has an included conical angle of about 10 degrees. 
   
   
       12 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which said outer passage outer end includes an arcuate surface defined by a circular arc surface radius. 
   
   
       13 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which each said inner passage and each said outer passage has a generally circular transverse cross section everywhere along the length of each said inner passage and outer passage, respectively. 
   
   
       14 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which said inner and outer passage of at least one of said dispensing apertures are symmetric about a common longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       15 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which
 said inner passage outer end is surrounded by, and defined at, an annular shoulder, and   said outer passage inner end is defined at said annular shoulder.   
   
   
       16 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which
 said inner passage has a frustoconical section that tapers to a smaller diameter in a direction away from said valve, and   said outer passage has a frustoconical section that tapers to a larger diameter in the direction away from said valve.   
   
   
       17 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which
 said end wall is aligned generally in registry with said valve; and   said end wall presents a solid impingement surface directly in registry with said dispensing orifice of said valve.   
   
   
       18 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which said closure body includes an internal female thread for engaging a mating male thread on a container. 
   
   
       19 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  further including a lid hingedly attached to said body for moving between (1) a closed position on top of said body, and (2) an open position in which the top of said body is exposed. 
   
   
       20 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which
 said valve dispensing orifice is defined by a plurality of slits that extend (1) through said valve head from an exterior side to an interior side, and (2) laterally from a common origin so that petals are defined by said slits whereby said orifice is capable of opening by outward deflection of said petals when the pressure in the interior of the valve exceeds the pressure on the exterior of the valve by a predetermined amount;   said slits are each generally planar;   said slits are of equal length; and   said slits define equal size petals.   
   
   
       21 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which said valve dispensing orifice is closed when the pressure on the interior of the valve is substantially the same as the pressure on the exterior of the valve. 
   
   
       22 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which
 said valve is a self-closing valve;   said valve opens outwardly when the pressure against the side of the valve facing the interior of the container exceeds the pressure acting against the side of the valve exposed to ambient atmosphere by a predetermined amount; and   said valve returns from an open condition to a closed condition after the pressure acting on the side of the valve facing the interior of the container decreases sufficiently.   
   
   
       23 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  for use with a container that has an opening and an external, male thread around said opening, and in which
 said closure is a dispensing closure that is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container around said container opening;   said closure body has a hollow, generally cylindrical base which has an internal, female thread for threadingly engaging said male thread on said container;   said body includes a deck at the top of said base; and   said nozzle extends outwardly from said deck.   
   
   
       24 . The closure in accordance with  claim 1  in which
 said valve has an annular flange;   said closure body defines a generally annular seat facing generally away from said nozzle; and   said closure further includes a retaining ring having a portion engaged with said body to retain said valve in said body with said valve annular flange clamped by said retaining against said seat in said body.   
   
   
       25 . The closure in accordance with  claim 24  in which
 said retaining ring is in a snap-fit engagement with said body;   said valve annular flange has a dovetail cross section defining a frustoconical outer surface and a frustoconical inner surface;   said body seat is a frustoconical surface engaging said frustoconical outer surface of said valve annular flange; and   said retaining ring has a frustoconical clamping surface engaging said frustoconical inner surface of said valve annular flange to clamp said valve annular flange between said retaining ring and said body seat.