MXPA00011885A - Pressure-openable valve retained with folding elements - Google Patents

Abstract

A system is provided for holding a dispensing valve (32) that has a peripheral mounting flange (78) and that is operable to discharge the contents from the interior of a container (22). The system includes a body (30) for extending from the container (22). The body (30) has a seat (68) for engaging part of the valve mounting flange (78). The body (30) has a resilient hinge (82) and a protrusion (80) that (1) extends from the hinge (82), and (2) has an abutment surface (84). The system includes a retainer (34) for mounting to the body (30). The retainer (34) has a seat (122) for engaging part of the valve mounting flange (78). The retainer (34) has a resilient hinge (132) and an engaging member (130) that (1) extends from the retainer hinge (132), and (2) has an abutment surface (136). The hinges (82, 132) accommodate deflection of the protrusion (80) and engaging member (130) as the protrusion (80) and engaging member (130) move past each other and establish abutting engagement of the protrusion abutment surface (84) with the engaging member abutment surface (136) as relative movement is effected between the body (30) and retainer (34) so as to clamp the valve mounting flange (78) between the body seat (68) and retainer seat (122).

Description

VALVE OPENED BY RETAINED PRESSURE WITH DOUBLE ELEMENTS TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a system for dispensing a product from a container. This invention relates more particularly to a system incorporating a supply valve that is especially suitable for use with a container of the compression type, wherein a product can be discharged from the container through the valve, when the container is compressed. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS PRESENTED BY PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE A variety of packaging, including containers or packing, has been developed for personal care products, such as shampoo, lotion, etc., as well as for other materials. These containers typically have a neck that defines an open upper end on which it is. assemble an assortment closure. One type of assortment closure for these kinds of containers has a self-sealing, pressure-opening and flexible supply-type slot valve mounted on the closure over the container opening. When the container is compressed, the valve groove opens and the fluid contents of the container are discharged through open slots in the valve. The valve automatically closes to block the flow of the fluid through the removal of the increased pressure - even if the container is reversed, so that the valve is subject to the weight of the contents of the container. Closure designs using these valves are illustrated in U.S. Patents. Nos. 5,271,531 and 5,033,655. Typically, the closure includes a body mounted on the neck of the container, to hold or hold the valve over the container opening. A cap can be provided to cover the valve during shipment and when the container is otherwise not in use. See for example Figures 31 to 34 of the U.S. Patent. Nos. 5,271,531. This cover can be designed to prevent leakage of the valve under certain conditions. The cap can also prevent dust and dirt from the valve and / or protect the valve from damage. In some designs for closures that incorporate a self-sealing, self-sealing, pressure-opening and flexible valve, the valve is retained within a closure body by a separate retainer, which is engaged by rapid actuation on the body of closure for coupling one side of a peripheral flange of the valve and clamping the valve flange against the closure body. These snap-fit fastening systems typically employ a notched configuration in the closure body and / or retainer parts to provide the quick-actuation coupling. While these notched configurations generally work satisfactorily, it would be convenient to provide an improved system for holding the valve. In particular, it would be convenient to provide a valve retention system, which was sufficiently robust to better support loads applied during the manufacture and assembly of the components. This improved system, preferably accepts the tolerances and variations in the dimensions of the component and will also accept slight misalignments of the components during assembly. Advantageously, this improved system should also accept the molding of the components, from a variety of thermoplastic materials, in such a way as to tolerate some amount of imperfections in the manufacturing process, including the cavitation of the molding. In addition, this improved system will also preferably accept the application of torque, as well as other loads that may be imposed during the use of the complete product or during the manufacture and assembly of the product.

This improved system must also accept designs of assortment structures, which allow to incorporate the sourcing structure as a unit piece or extension of the container and also accept designs that separately assemble the sourcing structure in the container, in a safe way. Furthermore, it would be convenient if this improved system could be provided in a sourcing structure that allows for high-volume, high-quality and efficient manufacturing techniques with a reduced reject rate of the product. Preferably, the improved sourcing structure should also allow for high-speed manufacturing techniques that generate products with consistent unit-to-unit operating characteristics with high reliability. The present invention provides an improved valve retention system and dispenser structure that can affect designs with the benefits and features discussed above. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for supporting a dispensing valve having a peripheral mounting flange and opening to discharge the contents of the interior of the container. The system includes a body to extend from the container. The body has a seat for coupling part of the flange of the valve assembly. The body has a resilient hinge and a projection that (1) extends from the hinge and (2) defines a butt confinement surface. In a preferred embodiment, the body defines an assortment passage to establish communication between the interior of the container and the exterior of the container, and the body defines a first seat around the assortment passage for coupling a first side of the valve mounting flange. . The body has a body wall around the first seat and the projection extends from the body wall. The projection has a distal end defining the butt confinement surface and the projection is connected to the body wall with the resilient hinge having an unstressed condition (as it is molded) which initially holds the projection in an orientation that extends with respect to the assortment passage at an oblique angle. The system also includes a retainer to mount the body. The retainer has a seat for coupling part of the valve mounting flange. The retainer has a resilient hinge and has a coupling member that (1) extends from the retaining hinge and (2) defines a butt confinement surface. In a preferred embodiment, the retainer defines an opening for communicating with the body spout passage, and the retainer defines a second seat around the opening for engaging a second side of the valve mounting flange. The retainer has a retainer wall around the second seat, and the coupling member extends from the retainer wall. The retainer coupling member has a distal end defining the butt confinement surface, and the coupling member is connected to the retaining wall with the resilient hinge. The resilient hinge has a non-stressed condition (as it is molded) that initially holds the coupling member in an orientation that extends outwardly away from the opening at an oblique angle. The hinges in the body and in the retainer accept the deflection of the projection and of the coupling member as the projection and the coupling member move relative to each other and establish butt confinement of the confining surface to the projection stop, with the butt confinement surface of the coupling member, when relative movement is effected between the body of the retainer, for clamping in the valve mounting flange between the body seat and the retainer seat. Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, from the claims and from the accompanying drawing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, which form part of the specification and in which like numbers are used to designate similar parts therethrough: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a system of the present invention in the shape of a dispenser closure, which incorporates a flexible valve having self-sealing grooves that open to allow through flow in response to increased pressure on the side of the valve facing the interior of the container, when the closure is mounted in the container; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but Figure 2 shows the closure with the lid in an open position; Figure 3 is a highly amplified fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken generally on the plane 3-3 in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a highly amplified fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken generally on the plane 4-4 in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the retainer shown in a condition as it is molded, with the lid open and before assembling in the body; Figure 6 is a greatly amplified cross-sectional view, generally on the plane 6-6 in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view, which is generally taken on the plane 7-7 in Figure 5; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the body in the condition as it is molded before assembling with the valve and the retainer; Figure 9 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view, which is generally taken on the plane 9-9 in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a top plan view of the self-sealing slot-type dispensing valve, which is opened by pressure, flexible, in the condition as it is molded before being assembled with the body and retainer; Figure 11 is a perspective view of the valve; Figure 12 is a side elevational view of the valve; Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 3, but Figure 13 shows the container and the assortment closure in an inverted condition with the valve in an outwardly displaced and open position to deliver the product from the interior of the container; Figure 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the body, valve and retainer and Figure 14 shows a step in assembling the retainer on the body in which the valve sits; and Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 14, but Figure 15 shows a later stage during the assembly process. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY While this invention is susceptible to modalities in many different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings describe only one specific form as an example of the invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to the method thus described, however. The scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims. For ease of description, the sourcing structure of this invention is defined in various operative positions. It will be understood however that the sourcing structure of this invention can be manufactured, stored, transported, used and sold in different orientations to the positions described. A currently preferred embodiment of the dispensing structure of the present invention is illustrated in the Figures in the form of a dispensing closure designated generally by reference numeral 20. The closure or dispensing structure 20 is provided as a separately manufactured unit for mounting the upper part of a container 22. It will be appreciated however that it is contemplated that in some applications it may be desirable that the dispenser structure 20 be formed as a unitary piece or extension of the container 22. The container 22 typically has a conventional opening or opening 24. (Figure 3) that provides access to the interior of the container and the product contained therein. The product for example can be a liquid edible product. The product may also have any other solid, liquid or gaseous substance, including but not limited to, a food product, a personal care product, an industrial or household cleaning product, a paint product, a wall patch product, or other chemical compositions (e.g. for use in activities involving manufacturing, commercial or domestic maintenance, construction, remodeling and agriculture, etc. The container typically may have a neck 26 (Figure 3) or other convenient structure extending from a body hollow 28 and defining the mouth or opening of the container 24. The neck of the container 26 may have (but does not require) a circular cross-sectional configuration and the body 28 of the container 22 may have another configuration in cross-section, such as a shape in oval cross-section, for example, the container 22 can, on the other hand, have a substantially uniform shape. RME over its entire length or height without any neck portion of cross section of reduced or different size. The container 22 typically can be a compressible container having a flexible wall or walls that can be held by the user and compressed to increase the internal pressure within the container in order to eject the product from the container through the closure 20 when the closure 20 is closed. opens. This container wall typically has sufficient inherent resiliency, such that when the compression forces are retained, the container wall returns to its normal, unstressed form. This structure is preferred in many applications, but may not be necessary or preferred in other applications. Undoubtedly, the container can be substantially rigid. A piston can be provided in this rigid container to assist in dispensing a product, especially a relatively viscous product. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the closure or assortment structure 20 includes a body or receiver 30 in which a valve 32 is placed. The closure 20 also includes a retainer 34 that holds the valve 32 in the body or receiver 30. The retainer 34 includes (1) a base 36 for seating on the closure body 30, (2) a staple 38 and (3) a hinge 40 connecting the cover 38 with the base 36. As illustrated in Figure 3, the closure body 30 defines a skirt 44 'having a conventional thread 46 for coupling a thread 48 on the neck of the container 26 to hold the closure body 30 to the neck 26 of the container 22. The closure body 30 and the container 22 can also be releasably connected with a strip and quick coupling slot or by other means. Alternatively, the closure body 30 can be permanently connected to the container by convenient quick-release coupling or by induction melting, ultrasonic fusion, adhesion or the like, depending on the materials used for the container and closure. In addition, the closure 20 in some applications can be formed as a unitary piece or extension of the container 22. As illustrated in Figures 3 and 9, the upper portion of the closure skirt 44, the closure body 30 defines a platform 50, which defines an assortment passageway 52 to establish communication between the interior and exterior of the container. Preferably, as illustrated in Figure 3, a flexible and annular "crab clamp" seal 56 projects from the interior surface of the closure body platform 50, adjacent to the upper end of the neck of the container 26. to provide a leak-tight seal between the closure body 30 and the neck of the container 26. Of course, other types of container / closure body seals may be employed. Projecting upwards from the upper surface of the closure body platform 50 is an outer annular lip 60 (Figures 3 and 9). Inside the lip 60 and concentric with it, there is an annular wall projecting towards 62 (Figures 3 and 9). Inwardly of the annular wall 62 and concentric with it, is an annular seat wall 64 (Figures 3 and 9). The seat wall 64 has an interior, cylindrical surface defining the supply passage 52, and the upper part of the seat wall 64 defines a first seat 68 (Figures 3 and 9). The first seat 68 defines a frustoconical surface for receiving a peripheral portion of the valve 32 (Figure 3). The valve 32 is of known design employing a flexible and resilient material that can be opened to supply the product. The valve 32 is molded of silicone. The valve 32 can also be molded from thermoset elastomeric materials such as natural rubber and the like or thermoplastic elastomers based on thermoplastic materials such as propylene, ethylene, urethane and styrene, including their halogenated counterparts. A valve that is similar to and functionally analogous to the valve 32 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,143. However, the valve 32 has a peripheral flange structure (described in detail below) that differs from the flange structure of the valve shown in US Pat. No. 5,439,143. The description of the valve described in US Pat. No. 5,439,143 is incorporated herein by reference in the relevant proportion and in the extent that is not inconsistent with it. As illustrated in Figures 3 and 10-12, the valve 32 includes a flexible central portion, wall or front 70, having a concave configuration (when viewed from the outside) and defining two intersecting, mutually perpendicular assortment slots. 72 of equal length. The intersecting grooves 32 define 4 fins or petals in a generally sector-like fashion in the concave central wall 70. The fins open outwardly from the intersection point of the grooves 72, in response to increasing the container pressure with sufficient magnitude in the well known form described in the US patent No. 5439.143. The valve includes a skirt 74 (Figures 3 and 12) extending outwardly from the central wall or valve face 70. At the outer (upper) end of the skirt 74, there is a thin, annular flange 76 extending peripherally. from the skirt 74 in an angled orientation. The thin flange 76 terminates in a thicker, enlarged peripheral flange 78 having a dovetail-shaped cross section in general. To accept the seat of the valve 32 in the body 30, the surface of the closure body seat 68 has the same angle as the angle of the dovetail configuration for the valve flange. This allows the bottom surface of the valve flange 78 to be placed on, and tightly clamped against, the seat of the closure body 68. The valve 32 is held in position within the closure 20 by a unique coupling relationship established between the closure body 30 and the retainer 34. The retention system allows the valve 32, the closure body 30 and the retainer 34, each to be molded separately and then subsequently assembled. The closure body 30 and the releaser 34 each are molded with projecting elements having an initial configuration, detached and during subsequent assembly, the elements are forced into a final coupling configuration. In particular, a primary structure of the closure body 30 engaging the retainer 34 is a projection 80 (Figures 8 and 9) that is formed as a unitary piece or extension of the annular wall of the closure body 62. As illustrated in FIGS. Figures 8 and 9, the projection 80 is molded as an upward, generally annular, projecting extension of the annular wall 62. The lower portion of the projections 30 is connected to the upper part of the annular wall 62 with a cross-sectional thickness of the material defining a resilient hinge 82. As can be seen in Figure 9, the cross-sectional shape of the projection 80 is not uniform. Conversely, the thickness of the projection 80 is increased from a minimum at hinge 82 to a maximum at the upper distal end, which defines a butt confinement surface 84. The exterior surface of the projection 80 defines a frusto of a cone, with the smaller diameter defined at the upper distal end on the butt confinement surface 84 and with the larger diameter defined on the bottom of the projection on the hinge 82. The hinge 82 is a resilient hinge having an unstressed condition, as molded, to initially hold the projection 80 in an orientation extending toward the axis 83 of the assortment passage at an oblique angle as illustrated in Figure 9. The retainer 34 is initially molded as illustrated in Figures 5-6. The retainer 34 is molded with the lid 38 in an open position with respect to the base 36. The hinge 40 is a quick-action hinge formed integrally with the lid 38 and the base 36 in a unitary structure. The illustrated quick coupling action hinge 40 is of the conventional type as described in US Pat. No. 5,642,824. The quick-action action hinge easily holds the lid 38 in the open position during the assortment of container contents at the application site. The lid includes a skirt 88 (Figures 5 and 6), which depends on the periphery of a circular upper wall or cover 90. At 180 ° of the hinge 40, a portion of the skirt 88 and the upper wall 90 projects outward to defining a projection 92 that serves as a surface against which a thumb or finger can be pressed to assist in lifting the cover 38 away from the closed position in the base 36. Projecting outward from the top wall or cover 90, is a partially hollow post 94 having a curved end surface or surface of Distal end convex 96. Circulating to post 94 and projecting outwardly from lid wall 90 is a ring or collar 96. Ribs 98 extend over the outer and lower portion of collar 96 and an adjacent portion of lid wall 90. The retainer base 36 includes an upper platform 100. the upper platform 100 terminates at its periphery on a recessed shoulder 102. An outer skirt 104 extends outwardly from the shoulder 102. An interior wall 106 is defined to be inside and concentric with the wall. outer 104. The inner wall 106 projects downwardly from the platform 100 and defines an opening 108 that communicates with the jet passage of the closure body 52 when the retainer 34 is mounted on the closure body 30 (as illustrated in the Figures). 3 and 4). When the lid 38 closes in the retainer base 36, the bottom of the lid skirt 88 sits on the base shoulder of the retainer 102 (as can be seen on the left hand side of Figure 3). The retainer base shoulder 102 does not extend adjacent to the hinge 40, and the cap skirt 88 is shorter adjacent to the hinge 40. In this way, when the cover 38 is closed (as illustrated in Figure 4) , the bottom of the skirt 88 adjacent to the hinge 40 rests on the upper part of the retainer base platform 100. When the lid 38 closes on the retainer base 36, a gasket is established by interference between the lid collar 96. and the retainer base interior wall 106. In particular, with reference to Figure 6, the retainer base interior wall 106 includes an inwardly projecting strip 112 for coupling an outwardly projecting strip 114 on the outer surface of the collar. 96. This provides a quick-action coupling as illustrated in Figure 3, when the cap 38 fully seats in the base of the retainer 36. The retainer base interior wall 106 includes an annular flange projecting to ia in 120 (Figures 3 and 6), having a frusto-conical surface facing downwardly defining a second seat 122. The surface or seat 122 is designed to engage the upper surface of the flange 78 of the valve 32 as illustrated in FIG. Figure 3. Preferably, the angle of the seat 122 corresponds to the angle of the upper part of the valve flange 78.

The retainer base interior wall 106 includes at least one coupling member 130 extending from the bottom end. Preferably, there is a plurality of coupling members 130 equally spaced circumferentially around the bottom of the annular wall 106. Each coupling member 130 is connected to the wall 106 with a reduced cross-sectional thickness of material, which defines a resilient hinge 132. (Figure 7). In the condition as it is molded as illustrated in Figures 5-6, the resilient hinge 132 has a non-stressed condition to initially hold the coupling member 130 in an orientation extending outwardly away from the opening 108. Each coupling member 130 It has a cross section with uniform thickness, generally constant. However, each member 130 has a width over the hinge 132 that is less than the width at the free distant end of the member 130. The distal end of each member 130 defines a butt confinement surface 136. In the condition as it was molded , each coupling member 130 can be characterized in that it has an orientation extending outwardly away from the opening 108 at an oblique angle. The retainer 34 can be easily assembled with the closure body 30 and the valve 32 positioned thereon.

Typically, the valve 32 is initially mounted in the closure body seat 68. However, the valve 32 may alternately be inserted initially into the base of the retainer 36 and then the base of the retainer 36 (with the valve 32 carried there and with lid 38 closed) can then be assembled to closure body 30. The method for assembling components is illustrated in Figures 14 and 15. Retainer 34 is placed on closure body 30. Initially, projection of closure body 80 is angled upwards as illustrated in Figure 9, and the retainer coupling members 130 are angled downwardly as illustrated in Figure 6. The retainer 34 is initially manipulated to close the cap 38 at the base of the container. retainer 36, as illustrated in Figure 14. The relative movement is then effected between the closed retainer 34 and the closure body 30, typically by moving the retainer 34 downward, in the direction indicated by the arrow 150 in Figure 14, towards the closure body 30. The downward engaging members 130 of the retainer initially contact the closure body projection at an upward angle 80. As the retainer 34 moves further down ( Figure 14), the retaining coupling members 130 are bent upwards and the projection of the closure body 80 is biased downwards. As the retainer 34 moves further downward, the retainer engaging members 130 essentially bend upwardly against the annular wall of the retainer 106 and the closure body projection 80 essentially bends down against the inside of the annular wall. of the closure body 62. To allow the inward bending of the projection 80 against the wall 62, the inner diameter of the wall 62 has a shoulder 160 (Figures 9 and 14) defining a larger diameter space on the shoulder 160 and which defines a sma diameter space below the shoulder 160. The projection 80 of the closure body 30 can be bent in the larger diameter region on the shoulder 160, as illustrated in Figure 15. The retainer coupling members 130 slide over and then beyond the bent projection 80, such that the retainer engaging members 130 are bent between the annular retainer wall 106 and? of sma diameter of the closure body wall 62 below the shoulder 160 as illustrated in Figure 15. To ensure adequate assembly, the system accepts a slight amount of "excessive travel". As illustrated in Figure 15, the retainer 34 can be pushed so far into the closure body 30 that the confining surface with the upward facing 136 of each coupling member is temporarily spaced below the descending stop confinement surface 84. This is possible due to resilience of the valve flange 78. The cap 38 moves downward in the direction of the arrow 150 with sufficient force to cause the valve flange 78 to compress sufficiently to initially accept the path of the butt confinement surface for the member. of retainer coupling 136 beyond or below the butt confinement surface with closure body projection 84. It will be appreciated that sufficient force may be exerted on the retainer 34 during assembly, because the ribs 98 around the cap collar 96 can couple the retainer base platform 100, when the downward force causes sufficient deflection of the cap 38. Initially, when the assembly force is low, the bottom surfaces of ribs 98 are spaced slightly above the upper surface of the base platform of the retainer 100 as illustrated in Figure 14. However, as the retainer 34 moves further into engagement with the closure body 30, the resistance increases and must increase. the strength of the structure. The strength of the increased structure causes the cover 38 to deviate downwardly until the bottom surfaces of the ribs of the cover 98 engage the upper surface of the base platform of the retainer 100 as illustrated in Figure 15. The load then it is completely transferred from the top of the lid 38 to the annular retainer base wall 106 and the valve flange 78. (The slight movement of the cover 38 relative to the base platform of the retainer 100 necessarily results in a slight temporary detachment of the cap. quick coupling between the strip 114 of the cap collar 96 and the slot 112 of the annular retainer base wall 106. The strength of the structure can be applied to the closed retainer 34 in the direction of the arrow 150, until the bottom of the base skirt of retainer 104 engages the platform 50 of the closure body, as illustrated in Figure 15. This engagement limits the downward movement of the retainer skirt 104. When the the structure is released, the highly compressed valve flange 78 expands somewhat, and the downward deflection of the system, including in the base platform of the retainer 100 and the retainer cover 38 is no longer maintained, and the components elastically return to a non-biased configuration wherein the butt confinement surfaces 136 of the retainer coupling members 130 engage the abutment engaging surface 84 of the closure body projection 80. This final coupling position is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. In this final coupling position, the valve flange 78 is still under some compression in order to provide a constant spring force or bypass force, which keeps the butt confinement surface 136 of the base coupling members of the valve. retainer 130 in engagement with the butt confinement surface 84 of the closure body projection 80. This coupling effectively maintains A fastening force by clamp on the valve flange 78. The assembly method described above is based on the relative movement of the retainer base 34 and the closure body 30, to effect engagement of the members 130 with the projection 80. in order to invert the members 130 and the projection 80 generally in the orientation shown in Figure 14. However, it is currently contemplated that it may be preferable in some manufacturing situations to "pre-invert" the members 130 and the 180 projection before of carrying the retainer base 34 in engagement with the closure body 30. Specifically, it is now contemplated that an assembly accessory, comprising a support, awl or other convenient mechanism, may be employed to initially engage and move the base members of retainer 130 from the downward angle orientation, as they were molded (Figure 7) to the upward angle orientation (Figure 4). Similarly, another assembly fitting, comprising a support, punch or other convenient device, can be used to couple the closure body projection 80 and invert the projection 80 from the upward angle orientation as it was molded (Figure 9). ) to the downward angle orientation (Figure 14). It will be appreciated that due to the structure of the hinge connection of the members 130 to the retainer base 36 and due to the hinge connection of the projection 80 to the closure body 30, the initial coupling with these structure accessories, will cause each of the members 130 and the projection 80 to be reversed from their angled orientation as molded, to the inverted angle orientation and remain in that reversed angle orientation in a form self-derived Subsequently, after removing the accessories from the structure of the retainer base 34 and the closure body 30, the retainer base 34, (with the members 130 in the now reversed orientation) and the closure body 30 (with the projection 80 in the now reversed orientation) can be brought together as illustrated in Figure 14, to complete the assembly process. The assembly process is completed from that point forward as previously described. The quick-release coupling on the lid 38 with the retainer base 36 (by the retainer base strip 112 and the coupling lid strip 114 (Figures 3 and 4)) creates an air tight seal. This coupling contributes to a lid retention force keeping the lid closed. Additionally, an additional cap retention force is provided by designing a small strip 172 on the front of the retainer base platform 100 to engage the interior surface of the cap skirt 88 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 14. optionally providing a slight projection or strip (not shown) on the inner surface of the lid skirt 88, to be attached by quick actuation with the retainer base strip 172. The combination of the interference fit between the front of the lid 38 and the strip 172 and interference fit between inner strips 112 and 114 define the total retention system for the lid and determine the amount of lifting force required to open the lid. The lid opening force can be adjusted by varying the size of the strips and the interference dimensions in the lid 38 with the base of the retainer 36. In use, the retainer lid 38 is first opened and the container 22 is then typically inverted. and compresses to increase the pressure inside the container 28 over the ambient outside atmospheric pressure. This forces the product into the container towards the valve 32 and forces the valve 32 from the recessed or retracted position (illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4) to the outwardly extending position (Figure 13). The outward displacement of the concave central face 70 of the valve 32 is achieved by the relatively thin flexible skirt 74. The skirt 74 moves from a projecting resting position inwards, to a pressurized position displaced outwards and this occurs through the skirt 74"which rolls on itself outwards towards the exterior of the retainer base 36 (towards the position shown in Figure 13), however, the valve 32 does not open (i.e. the slots 72 do not open ) until the central valve face 70 has moved substantially all the way to a fully extended position adjacent to or beyond the jet passage 52 (Figure 13) .No doubt, as the central valve wall 70 begins to move towards outside, the central valve wall 70 is initially subjected to compression forces directed radially inward, which tend to additionally resist the opening of the groove 72. Also, the The valve central 70 generally retains its concave configuration outwardly, as it moves outwards and even after it reaches the fully extended position. However, when the internal pressure becomes sufficiently high after the central valve wall 70 has moved out of the fully extended position, then the slots 72 of the valve 32 begin to open to supply product (Figure 13). The product is then ejected or discharged through the open slots 72. For illustrative purposes, Figure 13 shows drops 180 of a liquid product being discharged. The design of the lid 38 includes a structure to prevent discharge of the container product through the valve 32 when the lid 38 closes and the container 22 is accidentally compressed or subjected to impact forces that will increase the pressure within the container. As illustrated in Figure 3, the convex distal end surface 96 of the post 94, is generally adapted to the concave configuration of the outer surface of the central valve wall 70, when the cap 38 closes. However, even when lid 38 closes (Figure 3), the remote end surface of post 96 is spaced outwardly from the central valve wall 70 by a small amount allowing a small initial displacement outwardly of the central valve wall 70 in engagement with the end surface distant on post 96 before valve grooves 72 can open. In this way, when the closed container 22 is subjected to external forces that increase the internal pressure of the container, the central valve wall 70 is forced out against the engaging end surface 96 of the seal post 94. The coupling between the post Closed seal seal 94 and the center valve wall moving outward 70, occurs inward of the position in which the valve slots 72 first begin to open. In addition, in some applications, it may be convenient to provide an additional valve seal effect under conditions of excessive pressure. Specifically, as the central valve wall 70 moves outward, the diameter of the periphery of the central valve wall 70 and the valve skirt 74 may tend to be slightly reduced or compressed in the radially inward direction, to allow the axially outward movement of the central valve wall 70. The slight reduction in valve portion diameters 32 can be characterized as something of a "crush" movement that can occur around the distal end of the cover seal post 94 and which further facilitates the seal of the valve 32 by the lid seal post 94. The side surface of the lid seal post 94 is smooth and is ready and free of indentations or other structure that can collect unwanted product, and the surface of smooth side of seal post 94 provides a seal surface for coupling with valve 32. seal coupling between seal post 94 and seal Valve 32 serves to provide a seal that prevents undesired product assortment in the region of the closure cap. An additional relationship helps keep the valve slots 72 closed when the valve 38 is closed. Specifically, as the central valve wall 70 has been hinged or moved outward from the fully recessed position (Figure 3), to a position displaced further outwardly adjacent the lid seal post 94, air between the sealed closed lid 38 and the valve 32 is compressed, and this resists further movement of the central valve wall 70 outwardly towards the open position. The dispensing structure of the present invention allows the valve receiver or closure receiving seating region to be designed as an integrally molded part of the closure body 30. The design of the valve retainer 34 readily accepts the molding of the lid 38 as a unitary or integral part of the retainer 34, by providing a molded hinge 40 that connects the base of the retainer 36 with the lid of the retainer 38. This allows the retainer 34 with the lid 38 in the closed condition to be molded and stored in Bulk quantities before assembling into closure bodies 30. The lid portion of the retainer 34 can be constructed as a standard lid design. The retainer base 36 can also be constructed as a standard design and the upper end portion of the closure body 30 can be constructed as a standard design for receiving the standard retainer base 36. The inner bottom portion of the closure body 30, including the skirt 44 and the threads, if any, are the only portion of the closure that requires sizing specifically for a particular container. In this way, the closure retainer 34 can be made in a simple standard mold cavity. Only a portion of the mold cavity for the closure body 30 needs to be different for different containers. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the closing body projection 80 is a simple unitary structure. It will be appreciated, however, that the projection 80 may be provided as a plurality of outwardly projecting spaced segments, similar to the arrangement or arrangement of the individual retainer engagement members 130 (Figures 5 and 6). It will be readily apparent from the above detailed description of the invention and from its illustrations that numerous other variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and actual scope of the novel concepts and principles of this invention.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS 1.- A system to support a dispensing valve, which has a peripheral mounting flange and which is operable to discharge the contents of the interior of a container, the system is characterized in that it comprises: a body to extend from the container, the body has a first seat for coupling part of the valve mounting flange, the body has a resilient hinge and a projection which (1) extends from the hinge and (2) has a butt confinement surface; a retainer for mounting to the body, the retainer has a second seat for coupling part of the valve mounting flange, the retainer has a resilient hinge and a coupling member that (1) extends from the retainer hinge and (2) has a butt confinement surface; and the hinges allow deflection of the projection and the coupling member as the projection and the coupling member move past each other and establish a butt confinement of the projection confinement surface with the confinement surface to the member stop of coupling, when relative movement is effected between the body and the retainer for clamping the valve mounting flange between the first body seat and the second retainer seat.
2. 2. - The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the closure body has an annular wall around the first seat.
3. 3. - The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the retainer has a retainer wall around the second seat.
4. 4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the body projection is thinner in the hinge and thicker in the butt confinement surface.
5. 5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling member is one of a plurality of identical, circumferentially spaced coupling members. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A system for supporting a dispensing valve (32) having a peripheral mounting flange (78) and operated to discharge the contents from inside a container (22) is provided. The system includes a body (30) for extending from the container (22). The body (30) has a seat (68) for coupling part of the valve mounting flange (78). The body (30) has a resilient hinge (82) and a projection (80) which (1) extends from the hinge (82) and (2) has a butt confinement surface (84). The system includes a retainer (34) for mounting the body (30) The retainer (34) has a seat (122) for coupling part of the valve mounting flange (78). The retainer (34) has a resilient hinge (132) and a coupling member (130) that (1) extends from the retainer hinge (132), and (2) has a butt confinement surface (136). The hinges (82, 132) allow deflection of the projection (80) and the coupling member (130), as the projection (80) and coupling member (130) move relative to each other and establish confinement coupling to the top of the butt confinement surface (34), with the butt confinement surface of the coupling member (136), as relative movement is effected between the body (30) and the retainer (34) so as to clamp the valve mounting flange (78), between the body seat (68) and the retainer seat (122).