Apparatus for Controlling Flow Rate from a Valve Dispenser

Abstract

A valve assembly for use with a dispensing apparatus comprises a valve, a lever arranged to open the valve to dispense product, and variable spacer means arranged to limit the travel of the lever by a variable amount according to the relative position of the lever and the variable spacer means. The variable spacer means includes a plurality of spacer portions of differing thickness, each spacer portion being arranged to limit the travel of the lever by a predetermined amount. One spacer portion may be arranged to allow a full range of travel of the lever so that by pressing the lever fully the valve is fully opened. Another spacer portion may be arranged to allow a partial range of travel of the lever so that the valve is opened to an intermediate flow setting. Further spacer portions may be arranged to provide further intermediate flow settings.

1 . A valve assembly for use with a dispensing apparatus, the valve assembly comprising:
 a valve;   a nozzle assembly; and   a collar which in use engages with a container of the dispensing apparatus with which the valve assembly is used and surrounds the nozzle assembly, the collar including variable spacer means adapted to contact the nozzle assembly when the nozzle assembly is displaced in a lateral direction and arranged to limit lateral travel of the nozzle assembly by a variable amount according to the direction in which the nozzle assembly is displaced.   
   
   
       2 . A valve assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the valve is a tilt valve including a valve stem. 
   
   
       3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . A valve assembly according to  claim 1  further including a lever, the lever being integral with the nozzle assembly. 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
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       10 . A valve assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the collar is adapted to press fit on a rolled flange of a standard pressurised container. 
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
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       14 . A valve assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the nozzle serves as a lever. 
   
   
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       18 . A valve assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the variable spacer means comprise a plurality of recessed portions of the collar of different depths, each recessed portion being adapted to contact the nozzle assembly when the nozzle assembly is displaced towards said recessed portion. 
   
   
       19 . A valve assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the variable spacer means comprises a cam surface of the collar adapted to contact the nozzle assembly when the nozzle assembly is displaced in a lateral direction and provide a limit of lateral travel, the limit of lateral travel varying with the direction in which the nozzle assembly is displaced. 
   
   
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