Valve stem for a compressible valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016377231-A1
Application number	US-201514750269-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 25, 2015
Priority date	Jun 25, 2015
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A valve stem for a pressurized valve assembly. The valve stem has an open top portion, a closed bottom portion, at least one primary radial opening, and a valve stem longitudinal passageway between the open top portion and the at least one primary radial opening. A conduit extends from the valve stem at an angle relative to the valve stem longitudinal passageway, proximate to the open top portion. The conduit provides a flowpath between the valve stem longitudinal passageway at a conduit first end and a dispensing opening at a conduit second end.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A valve stem for a pressurized valve assembly, the valve stem comprising:
a. an open top portion, b. a closed bottom portion, c. at least one primary radial opening disposed proximate to the closed bottom portion; d. a valve stem longitudinal passageway between the open top portion and the at least one radial opening, and e. a conduit extends from the valve stem at an angle relative to the longitudinal passageway and proximate to the open top portion, wherein the conduit provides a flowpath between the valve stem longitudinal passageway at a conduit first end and a dispensing opening at a conduit second end.

2 . The valve stem for a pressurized valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve stem further comprises a primary flange having a top side and a bottom side disposed between the open top portion and the closed bottom portion of the valve stem.

3 . The valve stem for a pressurized valve assembly of claim 2 further comprising a positive stop between the open top portion of the valve stem and the primary flange.

4 . The valve stem for a pressurized valve assembly of claim 1 further comprising an atomizer disposed at the dispensing opening.

5 . A pressurized valve assembly for a pressurized container, the pressurized container having an open end with the valve assembly disposed inside the open end, the valve assembly comprising a valve stem according to claim 3 and further comprising a mechanical seal having an upper opening and a lower opening and longitudinal passageway therebetween, the mechanical seal longitudinal passageway has an internal diameter and is coaxial with the open end of the pressurized container, wherein the valve stem is disposed in the mechanical seal longitudinal passageway, wherein the closed bottom portion of the valve stem is in contact with the mechanical seal longitudinal passageway near the mechanical seal opening such that the mechanical seal seals the at least one primary radial opening when the valve stem is in a closed position and wherein longitudinal translation of the valve stem exposes the at least one primary radial opening to the pressurized container when the valve stem is in an open position.

6 . The valve assembly according to claim 5 wherein the mechanical seal comprises a grommet comprising a sealing portion having a sealing portion opening and a grommet longitudinal passageway, the grommet longitudinal passageway has an internal diameter and is coaxial with the open end of the pressurized container, the grommet sealing portion seals the at least one primary radial opening when the valve stem is in a closed position.

7 . The valve assembly according to claim 6 wherein the grommet includes a spring portion integral with the sealing portion and includes a spring portion opening longitudinally opposed to the sealing portion opening.

8 . The valve assembly according to claim 7 wherein the bottom side of the primary flange is in compressible contacting relationship with the grommet spring portion, wherein longitudinal translation of the valve stem primary flange results in equivalent longitudinal deflection of the spring portion exposing the at least one radial opening to the pressurized container when the valve stem is in an open position.

9 . The valve assembly according to claim 8 further comprising a valve cup disposed inside the open end of the pressurized container, the valve cup having an open top portion, a bottom portion with an opening therein and a longitudinal passageway between the open top portion and the bottom portion opening.

10 . The valve assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the grommet sealing portion is joined to the valve cup bottom portion.

11 . The valve assembly according to claim 10 wherein the open top portion of the valve cup includes diametrically opposed slots and diametrically opposed tabs that interface with the valve stem positive stop.

12 . The valve assembly of claim 5 further comprising an actuator disposed on the open top portion of the valve stem, the actuator including a plug portion sealing the open top portion of the valve stem, wherein depressing the actuator longitudinally translates the valve stem exposing the at least one primary opening to the pressurized container when the valve stem is in an open position.

13 . The valve assembly according to claim 12 wherein the actuator includes stops that interface with the open end of the pressurized container restricting the vertical travel of the valve stem.

14 . The valve assembly of claim 9 further comprising at least one secondary radial opening, wherein the at least one secondary radial opening is disposed proximate to the closed bottom portion and the at least one primary radial opening is disposed between the at least one secondary radial opening and the closed bottom portion, wherein the grommet longitudinal passageway seals the at least one secondary radial opening, when the valve stem is in a closed position and wherein longitudinal translation of the valve stem exposes the at least one primary radial opening or both the at least one primary radial opening and the at least one secondary radial opening to the pressurized container when the valve stem is in an open position.

15 . The valve assembly of claim 14 wherein the grommet sealing portion includes a primary sealing portion and a secondary sealing portion that seal the at least one primary radial opening and the at least one secondary radial opening, respectively, when the valve stem is in a closed position

16 . The valve assembly of claim 15 wherein the pressurized container comprises a dispensing structure and wherein the grommet sealing portion includes a tertiary sealing portion providing a seal between the dispensing structure and the valve cup.

17 . The valve assembly of claim 16 wherein the dispensing structure comprises a collapsible bag disposed inside the open top end of the bottle, the collapsible bag having a neck with an open neck end coaxial with the bottle open end wherein the tertiary sealing portion of the grommet provides a seal between the neck of the bag and the valve cup.

18 . The valve assembly according to claim 17 wherein the valve cup is threaded to the open neck end of the collapsible bag.

19 . The valve assembly according to claim 16 wherein the dispensing structure comprises a dip tube valve disposed inside the open top end of the bottle, the dip tube valve comprising a dip tube valve housing having an open top end coaxial with the opening in the bottom portion of the grommet.

20 . The valve assembly according to claim 19 wherein the tertiary sealing portion of the grommet provides a seal between the open top portion of the dip tube housing and the valve cup.

Assignees

• Gillette Co

Inventors

• Smith Scott Edward

Classifications

• F16K31/58

  comprising a movable discharge-nozzle · CPC title

• F16K1/30 Primary

  specially adapted for pressure containers · CPC title

• F17C13/04 Primary

  Arrangement or mounting of valves (valves per se F16K {; snap-coupling of nipples F16L37/00}) · CPC title

• B65D83/206 Primary

  comprising cantilevered actuating elements, e.g. levers pivoting about living hinges · CPC title

• B65D83/66

  initially separated and subsequently mixed, e.g. in a dispensing head · CPC title