Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02309568 2000-OS-26
940-3055
FLUID DISPENSING CLOSURE
Relation Applications
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/136,152 filed on May 27, 1999.
Background Of The Invention
I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a fluid dispensing closure
for selectively dispensing fluids such as juices into a
desired container and, in particular, to a dispenser
matingly engageable with a receiving container and
including, in combination, a spring-biased dispensing valve
and a vent valve.
II. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of closures have been developed for
selective control of fluid flow from a container. The most
common closure incorporates a valve which may be rotated or
otherwise manually opened and closed to dispense fluid from
the container. The dispensing closure is typically
situated near the bottom of the container allowing gravity
to force fluid through the closure.
However, commercial beverage dispensers incorporate
mechanical dispensing means associated with the housing.
Examples include milk and juice dispensers which have
external dispensing systems. Bulk beverage containers are
internally replaced as needed. These containers must be
capable of preventing fluid leakage during transport while
also preventing contamination of the contents and
dispensing closure. In order to ensure smooth dispensing
#19248 v2 - App. for Fluid Dispensing Closure
CA 02309568 2000-OS-26
of the fluid, a venting system allowing air to replace the
dispensed liquid should be included in the dispensing
closure. The closure will cooperate with the dispensing
machine to facilitate on demand pouring of fluids such as
juice or milk.
III. Summary of the Present Invention
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of
the prior known dispensers by providing a dispensing
closure which incorporates a spring-biased dispensing valve
and vent valve within the confines of the closure.
The fluid dispensing closure of the present invention
includes a substantially cylindrical base adapted to be
threadably attached to the container. A cylindrical
dispensing spout extends from the base. The dispensing
spout is offset from the axis of the base but provides
fluid communication with the container. A valuing member
is disposed within the dispenser spout to control fluid
flow therethrough. In a preferred embodiment the valuing
member comprises a spring-biased ball seated within the
dispenser spout to control fluid flow. The dispenser spout
is offset from the central axis of the closure to
accommodate a vent valve. The vent includes a vent
passageway in communication with a vent aperture. A ball
captured within the passageway selectively closes the vent
aperture according to the position of the closure to
selectively facilitate venting of the dispensing closure.
The dispenser includes means for receiving a removable
overcap which encloses the dispensing spout and vent to
capture any potential fluid leakage. The overcap includes
a rim bead adapted to engage an annular groove extending
around the spout and vent. The cap can be simply removed
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and attached by flexing the cap. The dispenser spout is
provided with an 0-ring seal to facilitate sealing
engagement with a receiving container. Upon insertion of
the spout into the receiver container, the spring-biased
ball valve is displaced from its valve seat allowing fluid
to flow through the spout. Gravity will cause the vent
ball to close off the vent aperture thereby ensuring that
fluid flows through the spout and not the vent.
Other objects, features and advantages of the
invention will be apparent from the following detailed
description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
IV. Brief Description of the Drawing
The present invention will be more fully understood by
reference to the following detailed description of a
preferred embodiment of the present invention when read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which like
reference characters refer to like parts throughout the
views and in which:
FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of the dispensing closure
in conjunction with a fluid container and a dispensing
mechanism;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a fluid dispensing
closure embodying the present invention, and having a cut-
away section showing the internal closure construction;
FIGURE 3 is a bottom perspective view of the closure;
and
FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view thereof with the
cap removed.
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V. Detailed Description of A Preferred
Embodiment of the Present Invention
Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and 4, there is shown
a closure 10 for selectively dispensing a fluid from a bulk
container 100 into a dispensing system 110. In a preferred
embodiment, the closure 10 is designed to dispense a liquid
such as juice from a replaceable bulk container 100. The
closure 10 must prevent fluid leakage during transport and
storage of the bulk container 100 but must be compatible
with the dispensing system 110 for dispensing of the fluid
contents.
The closure 10 of the present invention includes a
housing 12 adapted to be threadably secured to a neck 102
of the container bottle 100. The housing 12 includes an
annular extension surface 14 having a plurality of
protrusions 16 to facilitate gripping during attachment to
the container 100.
Extending from the housing 12 is a fluid nozzle 18
through which the fluid is dispensed. The nozzle 18 has a
tubular configuration smaller in diameter than the housing
12 and, as shown in Figures 1-3 is off-set from the central
vertical axis of the closure 10. The nozzle 18 is
configured to matingly engage the dispensing system 110 as
will be subsequently described. The nozzle 18 includes an
inner fluid passageway 20 within which is seated a valve
assembly 22 for controlling fluid flow through the nozzle
18. The valve assembly 22 has a valve seat 24 and a
spring-biased valve ball 26 which seals within the valve
seat 24 to block fluid flow. A coil spring 28 biases the
ball 26 towards the closed position against the seat 24.
Also disposed within the housing 12 is a vent 30 which
allows air to replace the dispensed fluid within the
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container 100. The vent assembly 30 is molded directly
within the closure 10 in close proximity to the fluid
nozzle 18. The vent 30 comprises a cylindrical passageway
32 in communication with a vent throughbore 34. A vent
ball 35 is captured within the cylindrical passageway 32
for movement between a closed position seated within the
throughbore 34 and an open position allowing flow through
the vent 30. A plurality of protrusions 38 within the
passageway 32 keeps the vent ball 36 within the vent
passageway 32. The weight of the vent ball 36 serves to
close the throughbore 34 by sealing the top of the
cylindrical passageway 32. However, as fluid is dispensed
from the container 100, a vacuum builds within the housing
12 until the force is sufficient to lift the vent ball 36
from the valve seat 32. This unseating of the vent ball 36
causes air to vent through the closure 10. This enables the
fluid to dispense smoothly through the closure 10.
As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, a containment cap 40
is selectively attached to the closure 10. The closure 10
includes an annular rim 42 which encircles not only the
nozzle 18 but also the vent passageway 34. The cap 40 has
an annular bead 44 on an inside rim of the cap 40, which is
received within the rim 42. With the cap 40 positioned on
the closure 10, contaminants are kept from the dispensing
nozzle 18 prior to use. Additionally, because the cap 40
encircles both the nozzle 18 and the vent assembly 30, any
fluid leakage from either passageway will be captured
within the cap 40.
The closure 10 is designed to selectively dispense
fluid from a container 100 into a dispensing system 110.
Referring to Figure 1, the closure 10 is secured to the
container 100 upon filling of the container 100 at the
CA 02309568 2000-OS-26
supplier. During transport and storage, the cap 40 is
maintained on the closure 10. Prior to use, the cap 40 is
removed and the nozzle 18 is inserted into the dispensing
system 110. The nozzle 18 sealingly engages a receptor
112, which includes means 114 for pushing the valve ball 26
away from the seat 24. The dispensing of fluid from the
container 100 is now controlled by the dispensing system
110. Once the container 100 has been emptied, the
container 100 and its closure 10 are removed from the
dispensing system 110 allowing the valve ball 26 to seat,
thereby closing valve 22. This prevents any escaping of
residual fluid as the empty containers 100 are being
replaced with full ones.
The foregoing detailed description has been given for
clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary
limitations should be understood therefrom as some
modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art
without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended
claims.
What is claimed is:
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