CA1093034A - Self-closing closure utilizing a single diaphragm - Google Patents
Self-closing closure utilizing a single diaphragmInfo
- Publication number
- CA1093034A CA1093034A CA282,423A CA282423A CA1093034A CA 1093034 A CA1093034 A CA 1093034A CA 282423 A CA282423 A CA 282423A CA 1093034 A CA1093034 A CA 1093034A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tube
- stem
- closure
- planar portion
- valve
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
- B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
- B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
- B65D47/2018—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure
- B65D47/2056—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure lift valve type
- B65D47/2081—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure lift valve type in which the deformation raises or lowers the valve port
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A self-closing closure for a tube or package having a resilient wall for dispensing flowable material upon the application of pressure on the tube, utilizing a relatively stiff disc for supporting an outwardly extending centrally disposed valve stem having a closed outer surface and a diaphragm member having its periphery interconnected with the periphery of the disc to form a closure unit and its inner portion forming a valve with the valve stem. The diaphragm member is formed with a relatively thick flange substantially parallel with the walls of the tube for interconnection therewith, a relatively thin, resilient planar portion extending inwardly toward the stem, and a substantially tubular portion surrounding the stem and terminating in an open lip which makes a close, sliding fit with the outer surface of the stem.
The resilient, planar portion of the diaphragm member is normally concave, being formed with an unstressed negative angle of substantially 5° to 15° with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube. When assembled with the disc, the stem interacts with the lip of the tubular portion of the diaphragm member to reduce the negative angle by about 2° and to form a secure closure in the rest position of the planar portion. When pressure on the tube above a predetermined value is applied, the planar portion of the diaphragm member is forced outwardly by the contents of the tube to a convex shape having a positive angle not to exceed 8°, carrying the lip of the tubular portion away from the stem and opening the valve. Upon release of the pressure on the tube, the planar portion of the diaphragm member automatically returns to its rest position having a concave configuration with respect to the flange and the tube and securely closing the tube.
A self-closing closure for a tube or package having a resilient wall for dispensing flowable material upon the application of pressure on the tube, utilizing a relatively stiff disc for supporting an outwardly extending centrally disposed valve stem having a closed outer surface and a diaphragm member having its periphery interconnected with the periphery of the disc to form a closure unit and its inner portion forming a valve with the valve stem. The diaphragm member is formed with a relatively thick flange substantially parallel with the walls of the tube for interconnection therewith, a relatively thin, resilient planar portion extending inwardly toward the stem, and a substantially tubular portion surrounding the stem and terminating in an open lip which makes a close, sliding fit with the outer surface of the stem.
The resilient, planar portion of the diaphragm member is normally concave, being formed with an unstressed negative angle of substantially 5° to 15° with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube. When assembled with the disc, the stem interacts with the lip of the tubular portion of the diaphragm member to reduce the negative angle by about 2° and to form a secure closure in the rest position of the planar portion. When pressure on the tube above a predetermined value is applied, the planar portion of the diaphragm member is forced outwardly by the contents of the tube to a convex shape having a positive angle not to exceed 8°, carrying the lip of the tubular portion away from the stem and opening the valve. Upon release of the pressure on the tube, the planar portion of the diaphragm member automatically returns to its rest position having a concave configuration with respect to the flange and the tube and securely closing the tube.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INUENTION
This invention relates to a clo~ure ~or a resilient dispensing tube or package and more particularly to a self-closing closure utilizlng ~ diaphragm.
Sel~-closing closures for tubes or the like for dispensing flowable materlal upon the application of pressure upon the tube Kave been well known ~or many years. C~ntinuing efforts have been mada to develop such closures which ars inexpensive to manufacture and yet absolutely secure for cutting off the flow of material and sealing the tube upon the relaxation of pressure on the tube.
Patent No. 2,025,810 which issued December 31, 1935 to W.
Dinnes teaches a sel~-closing closure using a single diaphragm. In this device a planar diaphragm having an aperture therein is formed to have a rest position surrounding the top of a stem. Upon application o~ pressure on ths tubo, the diaphr~gm is bowed outwardly to open the ualve and upon release o~ preseure the patent states that the diaphragm returns to its rest position. Any small amount o~ pressure on the tube would tend to de~lect the diaphragm outwardly so that the clo9ure i9 not secure. This closure unit was built to be threaded onto the neck of a tube.
~; ~ Subsequently, devices were developed in which the closure became ;~ an integral part o~ the tube itsal~. In the prior art, however, these closure devices were often relatively compl~cated and expensive to make, have not been secure in their closure o~ the tube, or have had other !..
operational di8advantages.
RIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is there~ore the primary ob~ect of this invention to . ~
~mprove sel~closing closures for dispensing tubes and packages having SO at least one resilient wall.
It is another ob~ect of this invention to prouide improved self-closing closures whose diaphragms move from a cùncave to a convex position during the operation of the closure to provide adequate ~1 `~` B -2-discharge area ~or th~~substance being dispensed, and return automati~ally to a concave position to provide a tight seal when dispensing terminates.
It is a further ob~ect o~ this invention to reduce the cost and improve the closing security of tubes or the like ~or dispensing ~lowable material upon the application o~ pressure to the tube.
A still further object of ths invention is to provide a means whereby the clo~ure can be locked against opening, for example during transport.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set ~orth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice o~ the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realizsd and attainad by means o~ the instrumentalitie~ and combinations p~rticularly pointed out in the sppended clsim0.
To achieve the ~oregoing ob~ecte and in accordance with the purpoee o~ the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the selP-closing closure of this invention comprises a disc member having a peripheral portion and an outwsrdly extending valve stem having an outer surface, and a diaphragm member including a relatively thick flange portion for interconnecting with the peripheral portion of the disc to ~ ~ form a closure unit, a relatively thin resilient planar portion ; ~ ~ extending inwardly toward the valve stem, and a substantially tubular portion surrounding the stem and terminating in an open lip which makes a close~ sllding fit with the outer sur~ace of the valve stem to ~orm a valve with the stem~ the planar portion o~ the diaphragm being formed to hava an unstressed concave con~iguration with respect to the flange, and the stem pressing against the lip in the closed position ; of!ths planar portion to lift the planar portion ~rom its ~ormsd position to a stressed rest position for securing the clDsura of the vslve by reduaing the concevity of the planar portion. When the valve is opened by pressurè on the tube~ the planar portion reaches a , , ~ :
.
convex configuration, returning to the stressed concave rest position when the pressurs is releas~d.
It is preferred that the planar portion of the diaphragm member be formed with a negative angle of substantially 5 to 15 with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube and thst, when assembled with the disc, the stem interacts with the lip o~ the tubular portion of tha diaphragm membsr to reduce the negative angle by about
FIELD OF THE INUENTION
This invention relates to a clo~ure ~or a resilient dispensing tube or package and more particularly to a self-closing closure utilizlng ~ diaphragm.
Sel~-closing closures for tubes or the like for dispensing flowable materlal upon the application of pressure upon the tube Kave been well known ~or many years. C~ntinuing efforts have been mada to develop such closures which ars inexpensive to manufacture and yet absolutely secure for cutting off the flow of material and sealing the tube upon the relaxation of pressure on the tube.
Patent No. 2,025,810 which issued December 31, 1935 to W.
Dinnes teaches a sel~-closing closure using a single diaphragm. In this device a planar diaphragm having an aperture therein is formed to have a rest position surrounding the top of a stem. Upon application o~ pressure on ths tubo, the diaphr~gm is bowed outwardly to open the ualve and upon release o~ preseure the patent states that the diaphragm returns to its rest position. Any small amount o~ pressure on the tube would tend to de~lect the diaphragm outwardly so that the clo9ure i9 not secure. This closure unit was built to be threaded onto the neck of a tube.
~; ~ Subsequently, devices were developed in which the closure became ;~ an integral part o~ the tube itsal~. In the prior art, however, these closure devices were often relatively compl~cated and expensive to make, have not been secure in their closure o~ the tube, or have had other !..
operational di8advantages.
RIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is there~ore the primary ob~ect of this invention to . ~
~mprove sel~closing closures for dispensing tubes and packages having SO at least one resilient wall.
It is another ob~ect of this invention to prouide improved self-closing closures whose diaphragms move from a cùncave to a convex position during the operation of the closure to provide adequate ~1 `~` B -2-discharge area ~or th~~substance being dispensed, and return automati~ally to a concave position to provide a tight seal when dispensing terminates.
It is a further ob~ect o~ this invention to reduce the cost and improve the closing security of tubes or the like ~or dispensing ~lowable material upon the application o~ pressure to the tube.
A still further object of ths invention is to provide a means whereby the clo~ure can be locked against opening, for example during transport.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set ~orth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice o~ the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realizsd and attainad by means o~ the instrumentalitie~ and combinations p~rticularly pointed out in the sppended clsim0.
To achieve the ~oregoing ob~ecte and in accordance with the purpoee o~ the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the selP-closing closure of this invention comprises a disc member having a peripheral portion and an outwsrdly extending valve stem having an outer surface, and a diaphragm member including a relatively thick flange portion for interconnecting with the peripheral portion of the disc to ~ ~ form a closure unit, a relatively thin resilient planar portion ; ~ ~ extending inwardly toward the valve stem, and a substantially tubular portion surrounding the stem and terminating in an open lip which makes a close~ sllding fit with the outer sur~ace of the valve stem to ~orm a valve with the stem~ the planar portion o~ the diaphragm being formed to hava an unstressed concave con~iguration with respect to the flange, and the stem pressing against the lip in the closed position ; of!ths planar portion to lift the planar portion ~rom its ~ormsd position to a stressed rest position for securing the clDsura of the vslve by reduaing the concevity of the planar portion. When the valve is opened by pressurè on the tube~ the planar portion reaches a , , ~ :
.
convex configuration, returning to the stressed concave rest position when the pressurs is releas~d.
It is preferred that the planar portion of the diaphragm member be formed with a negative angle of substantially 5 to 15 with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube and thst, when assembled with the disc, the stem interacts with the lip o~ the tubular portion of tha diaphragm membsr to reduce the negative angle by about
2.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification illustrate three embodlments o~ the invention and, together with a description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Of the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a oroos sectlon of one embodiment of the closure of the invention inserted into the open end of a tube;
FIG. 2 is a cross section of the embodiment of fIG. l taken along the lines 2- -2;
FIG. 3 is a schematic representation o~ the movement of the diaphragm of FIG. l;
: ~ FIG. 4 is a cross section of a second embodiment o~ the invention;
: FIG. S is a section through a third embodiment of the invention, the closure being illu8tratad in its closed and locked position;
FIG. 6 i9 a plan view from the under ~ide of one member of the : closure of FIG, 5;
~ FIG. 7 is a plan view ~rom the under side of the second member : ~ a~.the closure of FIG. 5;
: FIG. 8 is a section through a fourth embodiment of the invention;
30 and FIG. 9 is a plan view of the closure of FIG. 8 , the diaphragm being transparent.
, :B -~ ~L093034 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMSODIMENTS
~eference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, exarnples oF which are illustra-ted in ths accompanying drawings.
Re~erring to FIG. 1J it will be seen that a closure 10 i9 inserted in the end o~ a tube 12 having a wall 14, enclosing a flowable substance 15 in the tube.
In accordance with the invention, the closure lû includes a disc member 16 and a diaphragm member 18. As embodied herein, the disc member 16 includes a support 20 and a valve stem 22. The diaphragm memoer includes a flange 24, a planar portion 26 extending inwardly toward the stem 22, and a tubular portion 28.
The support 20 of the disc 16 has a plurality of cut-out areas 21, as shown in FIG. 2, for allowing the flowable materisl dispensed by the tube 12 to be forced through the su4port member of the di~c.
Pre~erably~ the ~upport member 20 is formed with three spoke-like members 23 intersecting at the longitudinal axis of the tube on which intersection is supported the vslve stèm member 22. The support 20 ; should be of sufficient strength that ths valve stem 22 is substantially immovable as the msterial dispensed by the tube is forced through the support.
As embodied herein, the stem 22 has a circular cross-section and extends outwardly beyond the end of the tube, the surface of the stem being preFerably graduated as to its cross-sections to form a cone-like surface. Preferably, toward the outer end of the stem, a portion 30 is more steeply graduated, forming a frustum of a cone and at the end of ~` the stem a collar portion 32 9 again less steeply graduated, and may be c~Xindrical.
As embDdied herein, the Plange 24 of the diaphragm 18 is relatively thick and intsrconnects with the periphery of the support 20 o~ the disc member 16 to form a closure unit, the unit being inserted ; into the end o~ the wall 14 of the tube 12. The resilient, planaF
B
- 5 ~
portion 26 of the diaphragm mamber is formed to be concave with respsct to the wall of the tubs in the normal re~t positiun of the diaphragm member. As formed, the planar portion 26 in its unstressed concave configuration has a negative angle of about 5 to 15 with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube. The tubular portion 28, integral with the planar portion 26 and the flange 24, sxtends outwardly along and spaced from the surface of the stem 22 and terminates in an open circular lip portion 34. Lip 34 makes a close, sliding fit with the outer surface of the stem 22 in the closed position of the closure to form a value with the stem.
In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the tubular portion 28 o~ the diaphragm member 18 includas a frusto-conical portion 56 extending along and spaced ~rom the stem 22 and a more sharply inclined portion 38 terminating in the lip 34. The lip 34 is shaped to fit snugly into the lntersectlon of the mor~ sharply graduated portion 30 and the collar 32 of the stem 22.
In accordance with the invsntion, the valve stem 22 is pressed into and against the lip 34 of the diaphragm member 18 to lift the ; planar portion 26 of the diaphragm member about 2 when the diaphragmmember and the disc member are assembled into the closure unit. As a result of the pressure of the stem qgainet the lip 34, the rest position ~- of the planar portion of the diaphragm 18 when assembled forms a negative angle o~ substantially 3 to 13 with a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the tube, as shown in FIG, 3, stressing the diaphragm in its rest position.
When the disc member 16 and the diaphragm member 18 are fitted together, substantially no radial pressure should be deu~loped to avoid aQ~ adverss effect on the action of the diaphragm.
Pre~erably, in the closed position the lip 34 abuts the valve stem at the intersection of the frustum of thfl cone 30 and the cylindrical portion 32 and ia ~ormed to have a surface complementary to the intersection.
, `, C
-`' 1{~93034 The h~ight of th~ valve stem 22 may vary, as convenient, along with the height of the tubular portion 28 of the diaphragm member ~or functional and aesthetic purposes. In any case, however, the height o~ the stem and the dimension~ of the portions of ths A d aphragm member should be 80 intsrrelated that, upon a~sembly, the stem lifts the diaphragm member by an angle of about 2 ~rom its formed rest position to its assembled rest position.
- As embodied herein, under this arrangement the inherent bias of the diaphragm 18 forms a secure closure between the lip 34 of the diaphragm member 1~ and the collar and frusto-conicsl portion o~
the stem 22. Thug, a tight valve seal against leakage or post-; dispensing drippage is provided.
It is advantageous ~or the user of the tube to be able to actuate the uelve to dispense the contents o~ the tube without having to 0xert undue preseure on the tube. The ~lowability of the material to be dispensed i9 a factor which must be taken into consideration.
For ~ree-~lowing produot~:the diameter of the diaphragm member 26 may be, for sxample, 15-35 millimeters (preferably 20-35mm) and the negative, assembled rest angle of the planar portion of the ; 20 diaphragm member preferably is about 10. For pasty products, the corresponding negative angle would be about 12.
the valve diameter, i.e. the diameter o~ the diaphragm ; mumber 26, is increased the same lever arm movement is achieved by a smaller negative rest angle. For valve dismeters up to 60 millimeters, assembled negative rest angles down to 5 are normal. For practical purposes, a ~ormed negative angle o~ 5 to 15 ~or the planar portion o~ the diaphragm member 18~ with a resulting 3 to 13 assembled ~ ne~gative angle, is operative.
`~ The ~lange 24 of the diaphragm member 18 may be ~ormed with a bulging ring 40 for snap-~itting into a channel 42 in the wall of ~, the tube. If the closure 10 is snap-fitted into the tube 12, care rust be taken that pressure i~ not exerted on the diaphragm member 18 : ' ~093034 so as to affect the closure relationship of the diaphragm member la with the stem 22. It is pref~rred that no substantially radial pressure be applied to the closure member lO by the wall of the tube and, if radial pressure is developed, such pressure should not exceed that which would cause the negative angle of the diaphragm to move more than ~ 1.
It is apparsnt that the closure lO may be secured in the tube 12 by means other than snap-~itting, as known in the art, such as by soldering, thermo-setting adherents, or rolling revarse flangss.
When the olosure un~t lO is secured in the tube 12 by one o~ these alternative means, substantially no radial forces would normally be applied to the diaphragm member lB.
As embodied herein, the flange 24 o~ the diaphragm membar 18 should be relatively thick with respect to the plsnar portion 26 ln order to sustain the radial pres~res applied when the planar portion 26 i~ ~orced outwardly by pressure on rssilient portione o~
the tube 12. On the other hand, ~he planar portion 26 must be relative-ly thin with respect to the flange portion 24 to permit the de~lection o~ the planar portion as the diaphragm moves from its closed rest pos1tion to its open position.
Preferably the diaphragm member lB is ~ormed by injection :
-~9~ mo1ding plastic material such as polypropylene, but othsr ~orms of manufacturs and material can be used. The planar portion 26 o~ the diaphrsgm member 18 has a thickness of about .20 to .40 mm. It is apparent that the material ~orming the diaphragm member must be stron~
enough to avoid rupture while retaining the resiliency to deflect un\der manual pressure on thc tube.
` As embodied herein, in the open position o~ the valve the planar portion 26 o~ the diaphr~gm member ~qrms a positive angle not to exceed 8, and preferably~not to exceed 5~ with a pl~ne perpendicular to the -~ longitudinal axis of the tube. Pre~erably the positive angle is between 3 and 5.
, ::B: : ~
~1)93034 With tha specifications stated, as smbodied herein, the planar portion 26 of the diaphragm member 18 will returo to its original negative reqt position when pressure is relaased on the tube.
The opsration of applicant~ sel~-closing clo~ure is such that the action of ths disphragm is practically instantaneous both in opening and in closing the tube. Due to the built-in bias on the diaphragm member, the resiliant planar portion 26 does not deflect until a predetermined value of pressure is reached. This pressure will normally vary, depending on the valv~e dimsnsions, from about 20 to 200 millibars.
Upon the application oP opening preesure to the tube, there is a relatively large axial movement of the planar portion of the diaphragm from its negative-angle closed position to its positive-angle opened posltion. This movement li~ts the lip 34 awsy Prom the stem to an extent that a large dispensing passage for the tube contents is provided between ths stem 32 and the interior o~ the tubular portion Z8 of the diaphragm. The substance being dispensed can flow relatively j~ unrestricted pa~t the stem 22 and through open lip 34.
The valve of applicant's self-closing closure not only does ~ not leak wSIen thq tube is subjsct to prs~sure less than the .~ :
predetermined value, but cuts off cleanly the substance being dispsnsed and provides a tight se-l whsn the pressure on the tube is released and the plansr portion of bhe diaphragm returns to its negative rest position.
In the preforred smbodiment of FIG. 4,the tubular portion 28 of the diaphragm member lY is formed with a collar portion 44 having ~$~ q substantially constant diameter and a sharply inclined portion 46 Por~mjng a frustum of a cone and terminating in the lip 34. The planar portion 26 and the collar portion 44 form a stiff hinge where they interssct. In this embodiment e wider passage is provided for the Plow of material between ths stem 22 and the tubulsr portion 28 of the diaphragm member 18.
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.
.. " . , . .. ,,, . . .-,.. .. . . . . . . .
Th~ di9c member 16 and the diaphragm memb~r 18 may b~
very inexpsnsively formed, for example, of plastic by injection molding as known in the art and may be convenisntly assembled as a clo~u~s unit by snap-fitting, welding or other known methods.
Although the invention has been particularly described with respect to a tube, the self-closing closure of the invention i9 equally suited ~or any dispensing package ~ ving at least one resilient wall, in which the contents of the package are dispensed through the closure by pressure on the contents of the package by means of the resilient wall.
The poRitive and nsgative angles of the planar portions of the diaphragm have been described with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube. It is apparent tha~ the angles of the diaphragm may also be computed with respect to the longitudinal sxis of the stem with the same resultg.
The lnvention al~o lncludee a devlce for locking the closure in its closed po~ition.
Referring to FIG, 5-7, the closure member 16 hae an annular portion 47 which in one end thereof merges into a base portion 45 pro-vided w1th a periphsral profiled groove 49. The spoke-like members 23 are here substituted by a solid wall 50 but it i9 obvious that tha spoke-llke members may be used if they are covered by a separate disc preventing flow communication between the interior of the container and the interior of the closure. A number of through running openings 51 i "' ~
; ~ are provided in the annular portion 47. -In order to obtsin such openings wlthout the use of an injection moulding tool having sideways movable plates, these openings 51 are, as will be ssen in FIG. 6, shaped as gro~vès which radially terminate at the same distance from the centre ~!~
as the auter ~urface of the annular portion, and in the axisl direction r' they extend from the lower sur~ace o~ the base portion to a point .: ,,.
positioned at a higher level than the uppsr surface of th~ base ~ portion.
: ~ - ;
:~ ~ B
lû-. .: ~ ' -: ~93~34 The purpose of the profiled groove 49 is to lock the disc r~lember 16 to the diaphragm member 18 and said profiled grocvs will be further described in connection with said diaphragm member 18.
The flange 24 of the diaphragm membar 18 has i bas0 portion 62 from which projHcts a peripheral lip 53 divarging upwardly, as seen in FIG. 5. Said lip tapers towards the free end thereo~ and at lsast in said free end, it is thin walled to yield the flexibility required ~or the assembling method to be described. In tha position shown in FIG. 5, the collar 32 of stem 22 is sealingly engaging the lip 34 and, consequsntly, the closure is closed. A number of grooves 54 are provided in the inner surfaca of the annular portion or flange 24 and said grooves are preferably located at the same sngular distance from each other as the grooves 51 of the closure 16. It is understood that the grooves 54 and 51 may be brought into and out of registry wlth each other by turnlng the closure membera 16 and 18 relative to each other. In order to ~acilitate such turning movement, the diaphragm member lB has a plurality of axially projecting projections 55 in the illustrated embodiment of the invention.
As mentioned in the preamble of this description, the closure only comprises two parts and said parts or members are intended to be mutually connected by means of a snap action. To achieve this object, the profiled groove 49 is dssigned according to FIG. 5, i.e.
having two substantially parallel surfaces 49a and 49b meeting in a peripheral flange 49c. As a consequence of this design, the base portion 48 has a peripheral, outwardly diverging lip 56 defined by the surfaces 49a, 49b, 49c on the ons hand and the outer surface 49d on the othcr hand. It is thu~ posaible to connect the closure to a corr~pondingly shaped oart o~ a bottle, or the like) in a simple snap ection. It is understood that by bringing the members 16 and 18 together, the lip 53 will slide against the surface 49a. Since the maximum diameter of the lip 53 exceeds the minimum diameter of the surface 49a, said lip 53 and the corresponding lip 56 of the base .:; `' `, ~
:~ B
.
... . ~
~L093034 portion 48 will be elastically deformed, and when lip 53 passes the flange 49c, said two lips will return to their original shapes, whereby a sRaling connection is obtained bstween the members 16 and 18. In said connected position, the mernbers 16 and 1~ may be turned in relation to eclch other, but they msy not be separated. The same condition is obtainsd wherl said lip 56 of the baee portion 4~ i8 brought into engagement with a correspondingly-shaped portion of a container, such as a bottle, and, thus, it is possible to connect the two msmbers of the closure in the simpliest manner possible and to connecb the closure to a container in the same ~imple manner.
~hen the members 16 and la of the closure are in such an angular position relative to each other that the openings 51 and 54 register,there is a communication between the space 57 forming the interior of the closure and the interior of the container.
However, in order to make the closure inoperative also when the tube, or the lik~, is sub~cted to a pressure that normally would give rise to thc openlng o~ the olosure, lt is only necessary to turn the m~mber l~ 8uch that the grooves 54 thereof no longer are in register with the grooves 51 of clasure member 16. The communication between the interior ~0 of the closure and the interior of the tube is now broken and a pressurs applied to the contents of the tube is therefore no longer transmitted to the diaphragm which is not deformed or ~tressed in any way.
It i8 under~tood that it is possible to provide the closure members 16, 1~ with co-operating elements to obtaln a signal that can be sensed when the cln~ure members are in mutually-engaging locked or unlocked positions.
; In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5-9, the material ; t~ be dispensed is fed to ths interior 57 o~ the closure, similarly to tha "
embodiment described above and in a substantially radial direction, but
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification illustrate three embodlments o~ the invention and, together with a description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Of the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a oroos sectlon of one embodiment of the closure of the invention inserted into the open end of a tube;
FIG. 2 is a cross section of the embodiment of fIG. l taken along the lines 2- -2;
FIG. 3 is a schematic representation o~ the movement of the diaphragm of FIG. l;
: ~ FIG. 4 is a cross section of a second embodiment o~ the invention;
: FIG. S is a section through a third embodiment of the invention, the closure being illu8tratad in its closed and locked position;
FIG. 6 i9 a plan view from the under ~ide of one member of the : closure of FIG, 5;
~ FIG. 7 is a plan view ~rom the under side of the second member : ~ a~.the closure of FIG. 5;
: FIG. 8 is a section through a fourth embodiment of the invention;
30 and FIG. 9 is a plan view of the closure of FIG. 8 , the diaphragm being transparent.
, :B -~ ~L093034 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMSODIMENTS
~eference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, exarnples oF which are illustra-ted in ths accompanying drawings.
Re~erring to FIG. 1J it will be seen that a closure 10 i9 inserted in the end o~ a tube 12 having a wall 14, enclosing a flowable substance 15 in the tube.
In accordance with the invention, the closure lû includes a disc member 16 and a diaphragm member 18. As embodied herein, the disc member 16 includes a support 20 and a valve stem 22. The diaphragm memoer includes a flange 24, a planar portion 26 extending inwardly toward the stem 22, and a tubular portion 28.
The support 20 of the disc 16 has a plurality of cut-out areas 21, as shown in FIG. 2, for allowing the flowable materisl dispensed by the tube 12 to be forced through the su4port member of the di~c.
Pre~erably~ the ~upport member 20 is formed with three spoke-like members 23 intersecting at the longitudinal axis of the tube on which intersection is supported the vslve stèm member 22. The support 20 ; should be of sufficient strength that ths valve stem 22 is substantially immovable as the msterial dispensed by the tube is forced through the support.
As embodied herein, the stem 22 has a circular cross-section and extends outwardly beyond the end of the tube, the surface of the stem being preFerably graduated as to its cross-sections to form a cone-like surface. Preferably, toward the outer end of the stem, a portion 30 is more steeply graduated, forming a frustum of a cone and at the end of ~` the stem a collar portion 32 9 again less steeply graduated, and may be c~Xindrical.
As embDdied herein, the Plange 24 of the diaphragm 18 is relatively thick and intsrconnects with the periphery of the support 20 o~ the disc member 16 to form a closure unit, the unit being inserted ; into the end o~ the wall 14 of the tube 12. The resilient, planaF
B
- 5 ~
portion 26 of the diaphragm mamber is formed to be concave with respsct to the wall of the tubs in the normal re~t positiun of the diaphragm member. As formed, the planar portion 26 in its unstressed concave configuration has a negative angle of about 5 to 15 with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube. The tubular portion 28, integral with the planar portion 26 and the flange 24, sxtends outwardly along and spaced from the surface of the stem 22 and terminates in an open circular lip portion 34. Lip 34 makes a close, sliding fit with the outer surface of the stem 22 in the closed position of the closure to form a value with the stem.
In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the tubular portion 28 o~ the diaphragm member 18 includas a frusto-conical portion 56 extending along and spaced ~rom the stem 22 and a more sharply inclined portion 38 terminating in the lip 34. The lip 34 is shaped to fit snugly into the lntersectlon of the mor~ sharply graduated portion 30 and the collar 32 of the stem 22.
In accordance with the invsntion, the valve stem 22 is pressed into and against the lip 34 of the diaphragm member 18 to lift the ; planar portion 26 of the diaphragm member about 2 when the diaphragmmember and the disc member are assembled into the closure unit. As a result of the pressure of the stem qgainet the lip 34, the rest position ~- of the planar portion of the diaphragm 18 when assembled forms a negative angle o~ substantially 3 to 13 with a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the tube, as shown in FIG, 3, stressing the diaphragm in its rest position.
When the disc member 16 and the diaphragm member 18 are fitted together, substantially no radial pressure should be deu~loped to avoid aQ~ adverss effect on the action of the diaphragm.
Pre~erably, in the closed position the lip 34 abuts the valve stem at the intersection of the frustum of thfl cone 30 and the cylindrical portion 32 and ia ~ormed to have a surface complementary to the intersection.
, `, C
-`' 1{~93034 The h~ight of th~ valve stem 22 may vary, as convenient, along with the height of the tubular portion 28 of the diaphragm member ~or functional and aesthetic purposes. In any case, however, the height o~ the stem and the dimension~ of the portions of ths A d aphragm member should be 80 intsrrelated that, upon a~sembly, the stem lifts the diaphragm member by an angle of about 2 ~rom its formed rest position to its assembled rest position.
- As embodied herein, under this arrangement the inherent bias of the diaphragm 18 forms a secure closure between the lip 34 of the diaphragm member 1~ and the collar and frusto-conicsl portion o~
the stem 22. Thug, a tight valve seal against leakage or post-; dispensing drippage is provided.
It is advantageous ~or the user of the tube to be able to actuate the uelve to dispense the contents o~ the tube without having to 0xert undue preseure on the tube. The ~lowability of the material to be dispensed i9 a factor which must be taken into consideration.
For ~ree-~lowing produot~:the diameter of the diaphragm member 26 may be, for sxample, 15-35 millimeters (preferably 20-35mm) and the negative, assembled rest angle of the planar portion of the ; 20 diaphragm member preferably is about 10. For pasty products, the corresponding negative angle would be about 12.
the valve diameter, i.e. the diameter o~ the diaphragm ; mumber 26, is increased the same lever arm movement is achieved by a smaller negative rest angle. For valve dismeters up to 60 millimeters, assembled negative rest angles down to 5 are normal. For practical purposes, a ~ormed negative angle o~ 5 to 15 ~or the planar portion o~ the diaphragm member 18~ with a resulting 3 to 13 assembled ~ ne~gative angle, is operative.
`~ The ~lange 24 of the diaphragm member 18 may be ~ormed with a bulging ring 40 for snap-~itting into a channel 42 in the wall of ~, the tube. If the closure 10 is snap-fitted into the tube 12, care rust be taken that pressure i~ not exerted on the diaphragm member 18 : ' ~093034 so as to affect the closure relationship of the diaphragm member la with the stem 22. It is pref~rred that no substantially radial pressure be applied to the closure member lO by the wall of the tube and, if radial pressure is developed, such pressure should not exceed that which would cause the negative angle of the diaphragm to move more than ~ 1.
It is apparsnt that the closure lO may be secured in the tube 12 by means other than snap-~itting, as known in the art, such as by soldering, thermo-setting adherents, or rolling revarse flangss.
When the olosure un~t lO is secured in the tube 12 by one o~ these alternative means, substantially no radial forces would normally be applied to the diaphragm member lB.
As embodied herein, the flange 24 o~ the diaphragm membar 18 should be relatively thick with respect to the plsnar portion 26 ln order to sustain the radial pres~res applied when the planar portion 26 i~ ~orced outwardly by pressure on rssilient portione o~
the tube 12. On the other hand, ~he planar portion 26 must be relative-ly thin with respect to the flange portion 24 to permit the de~lection o~ the planar portion as the diaphragm moves from its closed rest pos1tion to its open position.
Preferably the diaphragm member lB is ~ormed by injection :
-~9~ mo1ding plastic material such as polypropylene, but othsr ~orms of manufacturs and material can be used. The planar portion 26 o~ the diaphrsgm member 18 has a thickness of about .20 to .40 mm. It is apparent that the material ~orming the diaphragm member must be stron~
enough to avoid rupture while retaining the resiliency to deflect un\der manual pressure on thc tube.
` As embodied herein, in the open position o~ the valve the planar portion 26 o~ the diaphr~gm member ~qrms a positive angle not to exceed 8, and preferably~not to exceed 5~ with a pl~ne perpendicular to the -~ longitudinal axis of the tube. Pre~erably the positive angle is between 3 and 5.
, ::B: : ~
~1)93034 With tha specifications stated, as smbodied herein, the planar portion 26 of the diaphragm member 18 will returo to its original negative reqt position when pressure is relaased on the tube.
The opsration of applicant~ sel~-closing clo~ure is such that the action of ths disphragm is practically instantaneous both in opening and in closing the tube. Due to the built-in bias on the diaphragm member, the resiliant planar portion 26 does not deflect until a predetermined value of pressure is reached. This pressure will normally vary, depending on the valv~e dimsnsions, from about 20 to 200 millibars.
Upon the application oP opening preesure to the tube, there is a relatively large axial movement of the planar portion of the diaphragm from its negative-angle closed position to its positive-angle opened posltion. This movement li~ts the lip 34 awsy Prom the stem to an extent that a large dispensing passage for the tube contents is provided between ths stem 32 and the interior o~ the tubular portion Z8 of the diaphragm. The substance being dispensed can flow relatively j~ unrestricted pa~t the stem 22 and through open lip 34.
The valve of applicant's self-closing closure not only does ~ not leak wSIen thq tube is subjsct to prs~sure less than the .~ :
predetermined value, but cuts off cleanly the substance being dispsnsed and provides a tight se-l whsn the pressure on the tube is released and the plansr portion of bhe diaphragm returns to its negative rest position.
In the preforred smbodiment of FIG. 4,the tubular portion 28 of the diaphragm member lY is formed with a collar portion 44 having ~$~ q substantially constant diameter and a sharply inclined portion 46 Por~mjng a frustum of a cone and terminating in the lip 34. The planar portion 26 and the collar portion 44 form a stiff hinge where they interssct. In this embodiment e wider passage is provided for the Plow of material between ths stem 22 and the tubulsr portion 28 of the diaphragm member 18.
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.
.. " . , . .. ,,, . . .-,.. .. . . . . . . .
Th~ di9c member 16 and the diaphragm memb~r 18 may b~
very inexpsnsively formed, for example, of plastic by injection molding as known in the art and may be convenisntly assembled as a clo~u~s unit by snap-fitting, welding or other known methods.
Although the invention has been particularly described with respect to a tube, the self-closing closure of the invention i9 equally suited ~or any dispensing package ~ ving at least one resilient wall, in which the contents of the package are dispensed through the closure by pressure on the contents of the package by means of the resilient wall.
The poRitive and nsgative angles of the planar portions of the diaphragm have been described with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube. It is apparent tha~ the angles of the diaphragm may also be computed with respect to the longitudinal sxis of the stem with the same resultg.
The lnvention al~o lncludee a devlce for locking the closure in its closed po~ition.
Referring to FIG, 5-7, the closure member 16 hae an annular portion 47 which in one end thereof merges into a base portion 45 pro-vided w1th a periphsral profiled groove 49. The spoke-like members 23 are here substituted by a solid wall 50 but it i9 obvious that tha spoke-llke members may be used if they are covered by a separate disc preventing flow communication between the interior of the container and the interior of the closure. A number of through running openings 51 i "' ~
; ~ are provided in the annular portion 47. -In order to obtsin such openings wlthout the use of an injection moulding tool having sideways movable plates, these openings 51 are, as will be ssen in FIG. 6, shaped as gro~vès which radially terminate at the same distance from the centre ~!~
as the auter ~urface of the annular portion, and in the axisl direction r' they extend from the lower sur~ace o~ the base portion to a point .: ,,.
positioned at a higher level than the uppsr surface of th~ base ~ portion.
: ~ - ;
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lû-. .: ~ ' -: ~93~34 The purpose of the profiled groove 49 is to lock the disc r~lember 16 to the diaphragm member 18 and said profiled grocvs will be further described in connection with said diaphragm member 18.
The flange 24 of the diaphragm membar 18 has i bas0 portion 62 from which projHcts a peripheral lip 53 divarging upwardly, as seen in FIG. 5. Said lip tapers towards the free end thereo~ and at lsast in said free end, it is thin walled to yield the flexibility required ~or the assembling method to be described. In tha position shown in FIG. 5, the collar 32 of stem 22 is sealingly engaging the lip 34 and, consequsntly, the closure is closed. A number of grooves 54 are provided in the inner surfaca of the annular portion or flange 24 and said grooves are preferably located at the same sngular distance from each other as the grooves 51 of the closure 16. It is understood that the grooves 54 and 51 may be brought into and out of registry wlth each other by turnlng the closure membera 16 and 18 relative to each other. In order to ~acilitate such turning movement, the diaphragm member lB has a plurality of axially projecting projections 55 in the illustrated embodiment of the invention.
As mentioned in the preamble of this description, the closure only comprises two parts and said parts or members are intended to be mutually connected by means of a snap action. To achieve this object, the profiled groove 49 is dssigned according to FIG. 5, i.e.
having two substantially parallel surfaces 49a and 49b meeting in a peripheral flange 49c. As a consequence of this design, the base portion 48 has a peripheral, outwardly diverging lip 56 defined by the surfaces 49a, 49b, 49c on the ons hand and the outer surface 49d on the othcr hand. It is thu~ posaible to connect the closure to a corr~pondingly shaped oart o~ a bottle, or the like) in a simple snap ection. It is understood that by bringing the members 16 and 18 together, the lip 53 will slide against the surface 49a. Since the maximum diameter of the lip 53 exceeds the minimum diameter of the surface 49a, said lip 53 and the corresponding lip 56 of the base .:; `' `, ~
:~ B
.
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~L093034 portion 48 will be elastically deformed, and when lip 53 passes the flange 49c, said two lips will return to their original shapes, whereby a sRaling connection is obtained bstween the members 16 and 18. In said connected position, the mernbers 16 and 1~ may be turned in relation to eclch other, but they msy not be separated. The same condition is obtainsd wherl said lip 56 of the baee portion 4~ i8 brought into engagement with a correspondingly-shaped portion of a container, such as a bottle, and, thus, it is possible to connect the two msmbers of the closure in the simpliest manner possible and to connecb the closure to a container in the same ~imple manner.
~hen the members 16 and la of the closure are in such an angular position relative to each other that the openings 51 and 54 register,there is a communication between the space 57 forming the interior of the closure and the interior of the container.
However, in order to make the closure inoperative also when the tube, or the lik~, is sub~cted to a pressure that normally would give rise to thc openlng o~ the olosure, lt is only necessary to turn the m~mber l~ 8uch that the grooves 54 thereof no longer are in register with the grooves 51 of clasure member 16. The communication between the interior ~0 of the closure and the interior of the tube is now broken and a pressurs applied to the contents of the tube is therefore no longer transmitted to the diaphragm which is not deformed or ~tressed in any way.
It i8 under~tood that it is possible to provide the closure members 16, 1~ with co-operating elements to obtaln a signal that can be sensed when the cln~ure members are in mutually-engaging locked or unlocked positions.
; In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5-9, the material ; t~ be dispensed is fed to ths interior 57 o~ the closure, similarly to tha "
embodiment described above and in a substantially radial direction, but
3`0 contra~y to the described embodiment the feeding is not accomplished from the periphery of the closure but from the central portion thereof. Further, the olosure is designed to be threaded anto a tube or the like, but despite the difference in design, the general designations from Figs 5-7 have been maintalned also in figures ~ and 9, since the function of the parts is principally the same.
. ~ .
.,, '' The closure mamber 16 has a circumf0rential flexible lip 58 to be connected to the closure member 18 by a snapping action and member 18 has,to this end, a circumferential b~ad 59 and the lip i8 pughed over said bead during as~emblage. Hereby the two closure members ars connected to ea~h other in such a rnanner that thfly ~ay be turned relative to each other. The wall 50 of the closure member 16 hae further a sleeve-Rhaped connection portion 60 which, as can be sesn, may be inwardly threaded 90 that it may be threaded onto an ordinary tube of the tooth-paste tube type. A downwardly open recess 61 is ~ormed in the stem 22 and may communicate with the interior 57 of the closure by means of openings 62. The closure member 18 is provided with a slee~e ~3 extending in a direction opposits to that of sleeve 36 and the free end thereof is guidsd in a raçess 64 provided in wall 50. The sleeve 63 has openings 65 which may be brought into and out of registry with the opqnings 62. It can be seen that in the first case, a communication is prouided between the interi~r of the closure and of the tube and that ssid communication does not exist in the latter-msntioned case and, similarly~ to the embodiment descri,~ed above, the locking of ~he clo~ure ie thus obtalne,d by turnlng the two closure membere rslative to each other. In order to limit this turning mouement and also to give an indication of the sngular positlo,n obtained, the cloaure members may have co-operating parts, such as one or several projections 66 of cloaure member 10 and recesses 67 of,suitable pqripheral extqnsion in closure member 16. The projection,is preferably 80 shaped that it efficiently prevents turning movement past the position in which the closure is closed~ i.e. with the open1ngs 62 and 65 in non-registered position and in the open poeition with ' ~ the opsnings 62 and 65 in registered position~ respectively.
'~ The lower edge portion of the flange 24 of closure member 18 may be toothed or ~erratad, 80 that said flange will be~secured to the end of the `~ tube upon threading.
;`~ It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modific~tions could be made in the self-closing closure of the invention without departing from thq scope or spirit of the invention.
. .
~ :.
~ O ~ - 13 -
. ~ .
.,, '' The closure mamber 16 has a circumf0rential flexible lip 58 to be connected to the closure member 18 by a snapping action and member 18 has,to this end, a circumferential b~ad 59 and the lip i8 pughed over said bead during as~emblage. Hereby the two closure members ars connected to ea~h other in such a rnanner that thfly ~ay be turned relative to each other. The wall 50 of the closure member 16 hae further a sleeve-Rhaped connection portion 60 which, as can be sesn, may be inwardly threaded 90 that it may be threaded onto an ordinary tube of the tooth-paste tube type. A downwardly open recess 61 is ~ormed in the stem 22 and may communicate with the interior 57 of the closure by means of openings 62. The closure member 18 is provided with a slee~e ~3 extending in a direction opposits to that of sleeve 36 and the free end thereof is guidsd in a raçess 64 provided in wall 50. The sleeve 63 has openings 65 which may be brought into and out of registry with the opqnings 62. It can be seen that in the first case, a communication is prouided between the interi~r of the closure and of the tube and that ssid communication does not exist in the latter-msntioned case and, similarly~ to the embodiment descri,~ed above, the locking of ~he clo~ure ie thus obtalne,d by turnlng the two closure membere rslative to each other. In order to limit this turning mouement and also to give an indication of the sngular positlo,n obtained, the cloaure members may have co-operating parts, such as one or several projections 66 of cloaure member 10 and recesses 67 of,suitable pqripheral extqnsion in closure member 16. The projection,is preferably 80 shaped that it efficiently prevents turning movement past the position in which the closure is closed~ i.e. with the open1ngs 62 and 65 in non-registered position and in the open poeition with ' ~ the opsnings 62 and 65 in registered position~ respectively.
'~ The lower edge portion of the flange 24 of closure member 18 may be toothed or ~erratad, 80 that said flange will be~secured to the end of the `~ tube upon threading.
;`~ It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modific~tions could be made in the self-closing closure of the invention without departing from thq scope or spirit of the invention.
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~ :.
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Claims (19)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED, ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A self-closing closure unit adapted to be connected to a pack-age having at least one resilient wall for dispensing the contents of the package upon pressure on the resilient wall, comprising:
a disc member having a peripheral portion and an outwardly extending valve stem having an outer surface; and a diaphragm member including a flange portion for interconnecting with the peripheral portion of the disc to form the closure unit, a substantially tubular portion surrounding the stem and spaced therefrom, terminating at its outer end in an open lip which makes a close, sliding fit with the outer surface of the stem to form a valve with the stem; and a relatively thin, resilient planar portion integral with and directly connected to the flange portion and the tubular portion at its inner end, the connection of the planar portion with the flange portion forming a plane and said flange portion restraining said planar portion from expanding radially, said planar portion being formed to have a concave configuration with said plane and said lip sealing against said stem when said valve is closed, and said planar portion having a flexed convex configuration when said valve is opened by pressure on the resilient wall and said planar portion is forced by said pressure through said plane, and said planar portion returning by the flexure to the concave configuration when the pressure on the resilient wall is released, said disc member having a passage for said contents.
a disc member having a peripheral portion and an outwardly extending valve stem having an outer surface; and a diaphragm member including a flange portion for interconnecting with the peripheral portion of the disc to form the closure unit, a substantially tubular portion surrounding the stem and spaced therefrom, terminating at its outer end in an open lip which makes a close, sliding fit with the outer surface of the stem to form a valve with the stem; and a relatively thin, resilient planar portion integral with and directly connected to the flange portion and the tubular portion at its inner end, the connection of the planar portion with the flange portion forming a plane and said flange portion restraining said planar portion from expanding radially, said planar portion being formed to have a concave configuration with said plane and said lip sealing against said stem when said valve is closed, and said planar portion having a flexed convex configuration when said valve is opened by pressure on the resilient wall and said planar portion is forced by said pressure through said plane, and said planar portion returning by the flexure to the concave configuration when the pressure on the resilient wall is released, said disc member having a passage for said contents.
2. The closure unit of claim 1, wherein said valve stem has a longitudinal axis and wherein said planar portion in said unstressed configuration is formed to have a negative angle of substantially 5° to 15° with a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and wherein in the assembly of said disc with said diaphragm member, the pressure of said stem against said lip reduces said negative angle by about 2°.
3. The closure unit of claim 2, wherein said planar portion of said diaphragm member in its convex position forms a positive angle not to exceed 8° with said plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said stem.
4. The closure unit of claim 3, wherein said positive angle is within the range of 3° to 5°.
5. The closure unit of claim 1, wherein said package is formed as a tube and wherein said closure unit includes means for a snap-fit into the wall of a tube and wherein the wall of the tube exerts a radial force on said closure unit for deflecting the negative angle of said diaphragm not to exceed ? 1'.
6. The closure unit of claim 1, wherein said disc includes a perforated support member and wherein said value stem includes a frustum of a cone proximate its outer end and terminates in a short, substantially cylindrical portion.
7. The closure unit of claim 6, wherein said support of said disc member is formed with intersecting radial spokes and wherein said valve stem is positioned at the intersection of said spokes.
8. The closure unit of claim 6, wherein said tubular portion of said diaphragm member is formed with an intermediate portion adjoining said planar portion and a frusto-conical portion interconnecting said intermediate portion and said lip.
9. The closure unit of claim 8, wherein said lip abuts said valve stem in the closed position of said valve at the intersection of said frustum of said cone and said substantially cylindrical section and wherein said lip is formed to have a surface complementary to said inter-section.
10. A self-closing closure unit for a tube or the like for dis-pensing the contents of the tube upon pressure of about 20-200 millibars on the tube, comprising:
a disc forming a perforated support member with a circular periphery and including a valve stem centrally located on said support member for extending outwardly beyond the wall of the tube, said valve stem including a frusto-conical portion intersecting a substantially cylindrical terminal portion; and a diaphragm member including a flange portion for fitting within the tube and for interconnecting with the periphery of the disc to form the closure unit;
a relatively thin, resilient planar portion integral with and directly connected to the flange portion and extending inwardly toward the valve stem, said flange portion restraining said planar portion from expanding radially;and a substantially tubular portion integral with the planar portion surrounding the valve stem and spaced therefrom, said tubular portion being formed with an intermediate portion adjoining said planar portion and a frusto-conical portion terminating in a circular lip to form a valve with said valve stem, said planar portion being formed to have an unstressed concave configuration with a negative angle of about 5° to 15° with a plane normal to the axis of the tube and said circular lip pressing against the intersection of said frusto-conical portion and cylindrical portion of said stem in the closed portion of said valve to stress said planar portion and reduce said negative angle by about 2°, and said planar portion having a flexed convex configuration with a positive angle of about 3° to 8° with a plane normal to the axis of the tube when said valve is opened by pressure on the tube and returning by the flexure to the stressed concave config-uration when the pressure on the tube is released.
a disc forming a perforated support member with a circular periphery and including a valve stem centrally located on said support member for extending outwardly beyond the wall of the tube, said valve stem including a frusto-conical portion intersecting a substantially cylindrical terminal portion; and a diaphragm member including a flange portion for fitting within the tube and for interconnecting with the periphery of the disc to form the closure unit;
a relatively thin, resilient planar portion integral with and directly connected to the flange portion and extending inwardly toward the valve stem, said flange portion restraining said planar portion from expanding radially;and a substantially tubular portion integral with the planar portion surrounding the valve stem and spaced therefrom, said tubular portion being formed with an intermediate portion adjoining said planar portion and a frusto-conical portion terminating in a circular lip to form a valve with said valve stem, said planar portion being formed to have an unstressed concave configuration with a negative angle of about 5° to 15° with a plane normal to the axis of the tube and said circular lip pressing against the intersection of said frusto-conical portion and cylindrical portion of said stem in the closed portion of said valve to stress said planar portion and reduce said negative angle by about 2°, and said planar portion having a flexed convex configuration with a positive angle of about 3° to 8° with a plane normal to the axis of the tube when said valve is opened by pressure on the tube and returning by the flexure to the stressed concave config-uration when the pressure on the tube is released.
11. The closure unit of claim 10, wherein said diaphragm member has a maximum diameter of about 60 millimeters.
12. The closure unit of claim 11, wherein the diameter of said diaphragm member is about 20-35 millimeters and the negative angle of said stressed planar portion of said diaphragm member is about 10° to 12°.
13. A dispensing package comprising:
a container having at least one resilient wall; and a self-closing closure for said container comprising a disc member having a peripheral portion and an outwardly extending valve stem having an outer surface; and a diaphragm member including a flange portion for interconnecting with the peripheral portion of the disc to form the closure unit, a relatively thin, resilient planar portion integral with and directly connected to the flange portion and extending intwardly toward the valve stem, the connection of the planar portion with the flange portion forming a plane and said flange portion restraining said planar portion from expand-ing radially; and a substantially tubular portion surrounding the stem and spaced therefrom, terminating in an open lip which makes a close, sliding fit with the outer surface of the stem to form a valve with the stem, saidplanar portion being formed to have an unstressed concave configuration with said plane and said lip pressing against said stem to stress said planar portion and reduce said concave configuration when said valve is closed, and said planar portion having a convex flexed configuration when said valve is opened by pressure on the tube and said planar portion is forced by said pressure through said plane, and said planar portion returning by the flexure to the stressed concave configuration when the pressure on the tube is released, said disc member having a passage for exposing said diaphragm member to said pressure.
a container having at least one resilient wall; and a self-closing closure for said container comprising a disc member having a peripheral portion and an outwardly extending valve stem having an outer surface; and a diaphragm member including a flange portion for interconnecting with the peripheral portion of the disc to form the closure unit, a relatively thin, resilient planar portion integral with and directly connected to the flange portion and extending intwardly toward the valve stem, the connection of the planar portion with the flange portion forming a plane and said flange portion restraining said planar portion from expand-ing radially; and a substantially tubular portion surrounding the stem and spaced therefrom, terminating in an open lip which makes a close, sliding fit with the outer surface of the stem to form a valve with the stem, saidplanar portion being formed to have an unstressed concave configuration with said plane and said lip pressing against said stem to stress said planar portion and reduce said concave configuration when said valve is closed, and said planar portion having a convex flexed configuration when said valve is opened by pressure on the tube and said planar portion is forced by said pressure through said plane, and said planar portion returning by the flexure to the stressed concave configuration when the pressure on the tube is released, said disc member having a passage for exposing said diaphragm member to said pressure.
14. The dispensing package of claim 13, wherein said container includes contents of flowable material.
15. The self-closing closure unit of claim 1, wherein said planar portion is formed with an unstressed concave configuration with said flange and said lip pressing against said stem to stress said planar portion and reduce said concave configuration when said valve is closed.
16. The closure of claim 1, wherein said disc member and said diaphragm member are provided to be turned relative to each other, a first one of said members having a circular portion having flow communication with the interior of the package to which the closure is to be connected, a second of said members having a portion sealingly engaging said circular portion of said first member and having openings which are in register with corresponding openings in said portion of said first member in a first mutual turning position of the closure members, whereby a communication is obtained between the interior of the closure and the package, but in a second turning position, said openings of said first and second members being brought out of register with each other, whereby no communication exists between the interior of the closure and the package.
17. The closure of claim 16, wherein the circular portion of said first member and the portion of said second member being annular, the dia-phragm projecting from the annular portion of said second member and the stem projecting from the annular portion of said first member.
18. The closure of claim 16, wherein one of the closure members has peripheral flexible lip diverging in the dispensing direction of the closure, said lip being adapted to be snapped into a circumferential groove of a flexible lip included in the second closure member, which in turn is adapted to be snapped into a groove or channel of a tube or some other package or container.
19. The closure of claim 16, wherein said annular portions are provided in the central part of the closure.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US05/703,794 US4141474A (en) | 1976-07-09 | 1976-07-09 | Self-closing closure utilizing a single diaphragm |
| US703,794 | 1976-07-10 | ||
| SE7607931-8 | 1976-07-12 | ||
| SE7607931A SE7607931L (en) | 1976-07-12 | 1976-07-12 | INTERLOCK DEVICE FOR SELF-CLOSING CLOSURES |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1093034A true CA1093034A (en) | 1981-01-06 |
Family
ID=26656729
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA282,423A Expired CA1093034A (en) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-07-11 | Self-closing closure utilizing a single diaphragm |
Country Status (11)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU516494B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1093034A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2731088A1 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK309777A (en) |
| FI (1) | FI66151C (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2357434A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1583494A (en) |
| IE (1) | IE45521B1 (en) |
| LU (1) | LU77721A1 (en) |
| NL (1) | NL7707643A (en) |
| NO (1) | NO772375L (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4478356A (en) * | 1982-06-24 | 1984-10-23 | Essex Chemical Corporation | Flexible-bag self-closing metering dispensing valve |
| US4474314A (en) * | 1982-06-29 | 1984-10-02 | Essex Chemical Corporation | Squeeze bottle self-closing viscous liquid dispensing valve having manually operated positive shut-off |
| DE4119634A1 (en) * | 1991-06-14 | 1992-12-17 | Gerd Hermann | VALVE FOR A CRUSH TANK |
| GB2258860A (en) * | 1991-08-07 | 1993-02-24 | Polytop Plastics | Valved closure |
| DE10217655B4 (en) | 2002-04-19 | 2004-05-27 | Gaplast Gmbh | One-way valve for dispensing a flowable material |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US1862662A (en) * | 1930-12-27 | 1932-06-14 | Francis J Costello | Cap for collapsible tubes |
| US2025810A (en) * | 1935-01-31 | 1935-12-31 | Dinnes William | Closure for collapsible tubes |
| US2628004A (en) * | 1951-03-15 | 1953-02-10 | Theodore F Schlicksupp | Self-closing collapsible tube |
| FR1327396A (en) * | 1962-05-29 | 1963-05-17 | Closing means for tubes and bottles | |
| DE1586519B1 (en) * | 1967-11-27 | 1970-12-23 | Robert Bihler | Automatic container closure and device for establishing the connection between the closure cap and the container lid of such a closure |
| SE384662B (en) * | 1974-04-08 | 1976-05-17 | B Nilson | INDEPENDENT CLOSURE FOR PACKAGING |
-
1977
- 1977-07-05 NO NO77772375A patent/NO772375L/en unknown
- 1977-07-05 FI FI772091A patent/FI66151C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1977-07-08 LU LU77721A patent/LU77721A1/xx unknown
- 1977-07-08 IE IE1416/77A patent/IE45521B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1977-07-08 NL NL7707643A patent/NL7707643A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1977-07-08 FR FR7721202A patent/FR2357434A1/en active Granted
- 1977-07-08 AU AU26866/77A patent/AU516494B2/en not_active Expired
- 1977-07-08 GB GB28756/77A patent/GB1583494A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-07-08 DK DK309777A patent/DK309777A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1977-07-09 DE DE19772731088 patent/DE2731088A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1977-07-11 CA CA282,423A patent/CA1093034A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| NL7707643A (en) | 1978-01-11 |
| FI66151C (en) | 1984-09-10 |
| IE45521L (en) | 1978-01-09 |
| FR2357434A1 (en) | 1978-02-03 |
| FI772091A (en) | 1978-01-11 |
| GB1583494A (en) | 1981-01-28 |
| FR2357434B1 (en) | 1983-06-10 |
| FI66151B (en) | 1984-05-31 |
| DE2731088A1 (en) | 1978-01-12 |
| IE45521B1 (en) | 1982-09-22 |
| DK309777A (en) | 1978-01-11 |
| AU516494B2 (en) | 1981-06-04 |
| AU2686677A (en) | 1979-01-11 |
| LU77721A1 (en) | 1977-10-07 |
| NO772375L (en) | 1978-01-11 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |