MXPA97005186A

MXPA97005186A - Ja aplastable dispenser

Info

Publication number: MXPA97005186A
Application number: MXPA/A/1997/005186A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Banks Stewart
Original assignee: Sprintvest Corporation Nv
Priority date: 1995-01-09
Filing date: 1996-01-09
Publication date: 1998-11-09

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container and valve assembly for dispensing liquids when a dispensing cannula is inserted into a valve assembly, comprising: (a) a container having a throat portion and an interior; a valve assembly including a first valve member that is sealedly engaged in said throat portion and defines a channel extending therethrough, a second valve member having a channel and at least one communicating opening with said channel therein, said second valve member is restrained for sliding movement within said channel of the first valve member between a closed position when said opening is located within the channel of the first valve member whereby said throat is sealed sealed , and an open position wherein said opening is at least partially free of the first valve member in communication with the valve member. In the interior of said container, said channel of the second valve member is dimensioned to receive the dispensing cannula, and the valve assembly includes means for sealing said valve assembly with the cannula when the cannula is received within the channel of the second valve member.

Description

DISPENSER 3BON FLUSH DISPLAY FIELD OF L INVENTION The present invention relates to soap dispensers for holding and dispensing fluids such as liquid cleaning agents and the like, the specifics of which are directed to collapsible containers and valves attached thereto that do not admit air when dispensed. the liquid, so that the container collapses when the liquid is pumped out.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improved dispensers for dispensing detergents and liquid soaps from soap containers. Many types of liquid detergents for personal hygiene are provided in containers designed to be inserted in dispensers provided with manually operated pumps. The containers generally have an "apa" designed to be removed from the container when it is inserted in the dispenser, or "seal" designed to be punctured or "torn off" when the container is placed in the dispenser. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the containers may leak when removed from the dispenser thereby creating a soiling. A further problem relates to the current method of dispensing liquids from containers. Many dispensers of this type are designed so that when the liquid is pumped from the container, air flows back into the container to replace the displaced liquid. This can lead to degradation and decreased life time of the liquid soap due, for example, to oxidation. Furthermore, evaporation of the liquid occurs causing thickening of the soap and this can cause obstructions in the pumping mechanism. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a dispenser-for dispensing liquid soaps and the like having an economical and reusable valve assembly, which opens automatically when the container is coupled to the pumping mechanism and closed when the container disengages from the dispenser and that it reduces the backflow of air towards the container when dispensing the liquid from the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a container and a valve assembly for liquids comprising a plastic container having a throat portion and a plastic valve assembly. The valve assembly comprises a first valve member that is hermetically engageable in the throat portion and defines a channel extending therethrough. A second valve member is provided which has a channel and at least one opening communicating with the channel thereof. The second valve member is restricted for sliding movement within the channel of the first valve member, between a closed position where at least one opening is located within the channel of the first valve member with which the throat is hermetically closed , and an open position wherein said opening is at least partially free of the first valve member in communication with the interior of the container. The channel of the second valve member is dimensioned to receive the dispensing cannula, and the valve assembly includes means for sealing the valve assembly with the cannula when the cannula is received within the channel of the second valve member. In another aspect of the invention, a dispenser for dispensing liquid soap is provided. The dispenser-comprises a dispenser housing and manually-operated dispensing mechanism on the dispenser housing. The manually operated dispensing mechanism includes a cannula defining a fluid flow channel in communication with a discharge outlet and means for pumping-liquid from the channel to the discharge outlet. The dispenser comprises a container having an interior and a throat portion with a valve assembly mounted within the throat portion. The assembly of valve includes a first valve member that is hermetically coupled to the throat portion and has a channel extending therethrough. A second valve member is included which has a channel and at least one opening in a side wall thereof. The second valve member is slidably movable within the channel of the first valve member. The second valve member includes means for restricting sliding movement within the channel of the first valve member between a closed position, wherein said opening is located den -o the channel of the first valve member with which the throat is hermetically closed, and an open position wherein said opening is at least partially free of the first valve member in communication with the inside of the container. The channels of the first and second valve members are sized to receive the dispensing cannula so that the flow channel of the cannula is in fluid communication with the aforementioned opening. The dispenser comprises means for sealing the cannula in the channels of the first and second valve members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The following is a description, by way of example only, of the collapsible dispenser for dispensing liquids forming the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible container and part of a dispensing mechanism in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view (detached) of the throat portion of the collapsible container and part of the dispensing mechanism shown in Figure 1 with a portion of the container removed. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the assembly, with portions detached from the container and the valve insert assembly of the present invention showing a removable closure seal. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view having peeled portions of an assembled soap dispenser in use with the collapsible container and the valve in the open position. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the valve assembly and collapsible container and part of the dispensing mechanism before engaging each other. Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5 and shows the valve assembly and collapsible container and part of the dispensing mechanism partially coupled together. Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the valve assembly fully engaged with part of the dispensing mechanism; and Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 7 with the collapsible container in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring first to Figure 1, a collapsible container or container 10 made of flexible plastic is provided with vertical crease lines 12 and angular crease lines 13 on sides 15 thereof and horizontal crease lines 14 extending across the front .1.7 and the rear surfaces of the same. A throat 16 is provided for discharging the contents of the container 10 and a plastic valve assembly 18 which is inserted and attached to the throat 16. With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the plastic valve assembly 18 comprises two limbs in the form - cylindrical rod 20 and 22 and a flange 23. An externally extending flange 23 is formed integrally with the member 20. The flange 23 has a generally annular bifurcated outer flange 30 which is engaged with the ring 32 of the throat of the container. The cylindrical member 20 has a central passage 24 extending to s? through. The member 22 has a channel 25 therein and is of a size to fit within the member 20 so that it is telescopically movable relative thereto. During use, a cannula or section of a discharge pumping mechanism, generally shown at 26, engages in sections 20 and 22 of the valve assembly 18 that are described below. The container 10 is filled with the desired liquid after which the valve assembly 18 is closed by a closure member 36 (see Figure 3) that is inserted therein. The valve assembly is ultrasonically welded along the flange of the flange 30 to the collar 32 of the throat 16 to provide an airtight seal. The closure member 36 includes a cylindrically shaped section 37 that is closed in the end portion of the same. The closure member is secured in the section 22 of the valve 18 to act as a seal to prevent leakage of the container 10. The container 10 with closure member 36 located in the valve assembly 18 can be shrunk by shrinkage and distributed to the clients. More details of the valve assembly 18 and the pump section 26 of the dispensing mechanism and how they are coupled and uncoupled from each other are evident in Figs. 5. The cylindrically shaped member 22 has openings 38 through the walls thereof. They communicate with the channel 25. The end portion 28 has an external concave flange 40 which splices with an annular flange bent inwardly of the cylindrical member 22 to limit movement toward the interior of the cylinder 22. Shown in an exaggerated size in FIG. Figures 5 and 6, the cylindrical member 22 also has an annular rib 48 spaced apart from the end portion 28. At the other end of the cylindrical member 22 is an annular flange 44 projecting inwardly. The cylindrical member 22 also has an outwardly projecting shoulder 46 which extends around the exterior of the same to limit movement toward the exterior of the member, splicing against the inner surface of the inwardly bent flange 42. When the cylindrical member 22 extends telescopically within the member 20 relative to the interior of the container 10, a flow path is created from the interior of the container through the openings 38 and the channel 25. Conversely, when the cylindrical member 22 seats inside the member 20, the container 10 is sealed against leakage of the contents of the container. The rib 48 and the inwardly bent flange 42 cooperate to lock the member 22 to the member 20 in the closed position by securing the rib on the flange. In this way, the flange 42 sits within a recess 27 formed between the rib 48 and the flange 40 of the member 22 thereby sealing the container. The section 26 of the pump mechanism comprises a hollow cylindrical member 50 extending from a plate 80 and is provided with an annular groove in which a ring 52 is seated. The section 26 also includes a cylindrical member 54, of reduced diameter in comparison with the member 50, which is provided with an outer annular groove 56 together with several openings 58 in the wall thereof and a closed outer extrusion 60. The members 50 and 54 of the pump section 26 define a cannula or faucet having a liquid fluid channel 62. The collapsible container 10 is used in conjunction with a dispenser generally shown at 70 in Figure 4. The dispenser 70 includes a housing 72 which contains a pump mechanism shown at 74. The pump mechanism 7 comprises a bracket 76 including plate 80 and pump section 26. A hollow cylinder 82 is integrally formed with, and depends on, the plate 80 by means of a hollow connection 83. The connection 83 defines a channel 84 that communicates the cylinder with the flow channel 62 of the pump section 26. In this way, the flow channel 62 and the channel 84 form a flow path for the liquid to be pumped out of the container 10. through the valve 18. The container 10 is assembled with the dispenser 70 for use by first removing the closure member 36 from the valve assembly 18 and then placing the container 10 in the housing of the dispenser 72. The relative location of the container 10 and the pump section 26 before the coupling of the first to the last, is as shown in figure 5. Referring now to figures 6 and 7, the container 10 is pushed down on the pump section 26 so that the member cylindrical 54 is received within cylindrical member 22 of valve 18. Cylindrical member 54 rests on sliding cylinder 22 thereby moving it within member 20. After pushing the container 10 on the pump section 26, it causes the member 22 to be pushed into the container 10 until the shoulder 46 is spliced against the inner surface of the flange bent inwardly 42, as is best seen in the figure 7. In this postion, the rim 44 of the cylindrical member 22 is secured in the slot 56 in the cylindrical member 54 of the pump section 26 thereby securing the cylindrical section 22 with the pump section 26. In this position the openings 38 and 58, so that a liquid flow path is provided from the interior of the container 10 through the valve 18 and the channel 62, as indicated by the arrows in figure 7. The ring 0 52 It provides a seal between the cylindrical member 20 and the pump section 26 primarily to prevent backflow of air into the container 10 and also prevents leakage of the liquid from the container 10. When the container 10 is removed from the dispenser 70, it is pulled upwardly so that the movable member 22 is pulled back towards the cylindrical section 20 until its flange 40 butts against the flange 42 thereby closing the container, see figure 8. Further pulling the container 10 causes the flange 44 is secured out of slot 56 so that container 10 is disengaged from the pump mechanism and can be reused afterwards if liquid remains or recirculated if empty. Referring again to Figure 4, the pump mechanism 74 may be a normal pump for dispensing liquids and includes an L-shaped piston 90 which has a cylindrical arm 91 extending vertically and a horizontal cylindrical arm 89. A Discharge outlet 94 is located at the lower end of the arm 91. A ball valve 92 is located adjacent the discharge outlet 94 and is biased in the closed position by a spring 96. A cylindrically shaped insert 102 is located in the end of arm 89 and splices against ring shoulder 100 located on the inside of the arm. A ring 106 provides an airtight seal between the insert 102 and the end portion of the arm 89 with the cylinder 82 to prevent backflow of air into the container 10 through the pump mechanism. A spring 93 on the arm 89 acts to deflect the piston 90 in the open position shown in FIG. 4. A reciprocating valve 104 is located on the inside of the cylinder 82 and includes a circular disc 105 attached at one end thereof. The disc 105 has a plurality of holes 108 distributed around the periphery thereof. The shuttle valve 104 moves between the position shown in FIG. 4 with the disk 105 by attaching an annular shoulder 109 on the inner edge of the cylinder 82, and a position in which the reciprocating valve is moved to the left to close a opening 116 through a cap 117 mounted towards the inner end of the cylinder 82. A chamber 118 is located between the arm 89 and the push-button valve 104 on the inside of the cylinder 82. The dispenser 70 includes a manually operated lever 110 pivotally mounted to the housing 72 about a pivot shaft 111. A rod extends from the lever and has a spherically configured outer end 112 that sits in an indentation 114 in the wall of the arm 91 of the piston 90. When the lever 110 is pushed inwardly against the spring 93, the arm 89 is forced to the left, as shown, into the cylinder 82 which pushes the push-button valve 104 back to the left sealing the opening 116 and pressing the contents in the chamber 118 and the arms of the piston 90. Once the liquid content is under pressure, the ball valve 92 is forced down against the spring 94 to open the valve , thereby ejecting the liquid charge maintained in the chamber 118 and the arms of the piston 90. Upon release of the lever 110, the ball valve 92 is deviated back to the closed position by means of the spring 96 and the spring 93 returns the piston 90 to its original position which pulls back to the shuttle valve 104 to rest against the shoulder 109. This creates a partial vacuum through the dispensing mechanism 74, thereby draining liquid into the container 10 in the direction of the arrows descendingly towards the passages 62 and 84, through the openings 116 and 118 in the chamber 118 and the arms of the piston 90. In valve assembly 18 it is very advantageous because it provides a seal air tight and can be opened and closed multiple times so that the container 10 can be resealed and replaced without leakage.

To the extent that liquid such soap or detergent is dispensed from the container 10 by vacuum or suction, the air-tight seal in the valve assembly 18 prevents air from being drawn into the container 1.0 so as to crushes slowly along fold lines 12, 13 and 14 (figures 1 and 4), as the volume of liquid decreases. By reducing the exposure of the detergent to the air by crushing the container, the oxidation of the detergent decreases, which advantageously increases the life time of the detergent, fidernás, significantly reduces the evaporation of water from the detergent, which helps to avoid the thickening of the detergent and the obstruction of the dispensing mechanism is reduced. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the combination of the collapsible container 10 with the valve assembly 18 can be used with numerous types of dispensers. Therefore, although the dispenser for dispensing liquids using reclosable valve assembly and collapsible container has been described and illustrated with respect to the preferred embodiment; it will be appreciated that numerous variations can easily be made without departing from the scope of the invention described herein.

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A container and valve assembly for dispensing liquids when a dispensing cannula is inserted into a valve assembly, comprising, a) a container having a throat portion and an interior; b) a valve assembly that includes a first valve member that is sealingly engaged in said throat portion and defines a channel extending to s? through; a second valve member having a channel and at least one opening communicating with said channel therein, said second valve member being restricted for sliding movement within said channel of the first valve member between a closed position when said opening is located within the channel of the first valve member whereby said throat closes sealingly, and an open position wherein said opening is at least partially free of the first valve member in communication with the interior of said container, said The channel of the second valve member is dimensioned to receive the dispensing cannula, and the valve assembly includes means for sealing said valve assembly with the cannula when the cannula is received within the channel of the second valve member.

2. The container and the valve assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that the first valve member includes an inwardly bent flange that extends partially toward said channel therethrough, said second valve member includes a gap in which the flange is bent inwardly when said second valve member is in the closed position.

3. The container and valve assembly according to claim 2, further characterized in that the second valve member includes a closed end that has a flange portion, said flange portion is engageable with the flange bent toward inside the first valve member when it is in a closed poem.

4. The container and the valve assembly according to claim 3, further characterized in that the second valve member includes an exteriorly projecting shoulder, spaced from said closed end; the shoulder is engageable with the flange bent inwardly of said first valve member when the second valve member is in the open position.

5. The container and the valve assembly according to claim 4, further characterized in that said means for sealing the valve assembly with the cannula includes an internally directed flange extending towards said channel of the second valve member.

6. The container and the valve assembly according to claim 5, further characterized in that the second valve member includes an externally extending flange, spaced apart from said flange portion; the flange bent inwards is closed and fitted on said flange and in said recess when the second valve member is in the closed position.

7. The container and the valve assembly according to claim 6, further characterized in that the first valve member includes an externally extending flange, the throat of said container has a ring, and said flange is It extends to the outside is sealed with said ring.

8. The container and the valve assembly according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that the container is a collapsible plastic container.

9. A dispenser for dispensing liquid soap comprising: a) a dispenser housing and a manually operated dispensing mechanism on said dispenser housing, the manually operated dispensing mechanism includes an elongated cannula defining a flow channel of fluid in communication with a discharge outlet and means for pumping liquid from said channel to the discharge outlet; and b) a container having an inner and throat portion, a valve assembly mounted within said throat portion, the valve assembly includes a first valve member that is sealingly engaged in the throat portion and has a channel that is extend so? through, a second valve member having a channel and at least one opening in a side wall thereof, said second valve member is slidably movable within the channel of the first valve member, the second valve member includes means to restrict the movement of the slide within said channel of the first valve member, between a closed position wherein at least one opening is located within said channel of the first valve member with which said throat is sealingly closed, and a position open where the opening is at least partially free of the first valve member in communication with the interior of said container; the channels of the first and second valve member are dimensioned to receive said dispensing cannulas so that the flow channel of the cannula is in fluid communication with the opening; and means for sealing said cannula in the channels of said first and second valve members. The dispenser according to claim 9, further characterized in that the first valve member includes an inwardly bent flange that extends partially in said channel continuously, said second valve member includes a recess in which the bent flange sits. inward when the second valve member is in said closed position. 11- The dispenser according to claim 10, further characterized in that said second valve member includes a closed end having a flange portion, said flange portion being engageable with the flange bent inwardly of the first valve member when it is in a closed position. The dispenser according to claim 11, further characterized in that the second valve member includes a shoulder projecting outwardly from said closed end, the shoulder engagable with the flange bent inwardly from the first valve member when the second valve member is in the open position. The dispenser according to claim 12, further characterized in that said means for sealing the valve assembly to the cannula includes an internally directed flange extending into said channel of the second valve member. The dispenser according to claim 13, further characterized in that the second valve member includes a rib extending outwardly spaced from the flange portion thereof, the flange bent inwardly is fitted and secured on said rib and in said gap when the second valve member is in the closed position. 15. The dispenser according to claim 14, further characterized in that the first valve member includes a flange extending extensively, the throat of the container has a ring, and the flange extending externally is sealed to said seal. ring. 16. The dispenser according to claim 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 wherein the container is a collapsible plastic container. The dispenser according to claim 9, further characterized in that the cannulas have a first cylindrical portion of a first diameter and a second cylindrical portion of a second smaller diameter-, the flow channel of the cannula extends through the first cylindrical portion and toward the second cylindrical portion, said second cylindrical portion having a closed end, and at least one opening in the second cylindrical portion. 18. The dispenser according to claim 17, further characterized in that said second cylindrical portion includes a groove, and the second valve member includes? N flange q which extends inwardly engageable within said groove.