초록 ▼

A cap with a way-one valve solves two distinct problems in the field of packaging materials that emit gasses, providing both a means to prevent a package from deforming under pressure built up inside the package, and a means to reseal the package. The cap comprises an inner wall extending downwardly

A cap with a way-one valve solves two distinct problems in the field of packaging materials that emit gasses, providing both a means to prevent a package from deforming under pressure built up inside the package, and a means to reseal the package. The cap comprises an inner wall extending downwardly from an inner portion of the top wall to define a cavity. An insert valve is mounted within the cavity, forming a seal with the inside wall. The upper surface of the insert valve, inner wall, and the top wall define a chamber with a gas escape path. A septum is disposed within the chamber, the septum seated on the insert valve and sealing one or more apertures in the insert valve. The septum is capable of at least partially unseating in response to force exerted by increased gas pressure acting through the apertures.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A cap for mating with a pour spout on a flexible package in order to close the package, the cap comprising:a top wall;an outer wall extending downwardly from the top wall and having a connection adapted to recloseably mate with the pour spout;an inner wall extending downwardly from an inner porti

1. A cap for mating with a pour spout on a flexible package in order to close the package, the cap comprising:a top wall;an outer wall extending downwardly from the top wall and having a connection adapted to recloseably mate with the pour spout;an inner wall extending downwardly from an inner portion of the top wall substantially concentrically with the outer wall;the inner wall and the inner portion of the top wall defining a cavity with an open bottom and a gas escape path;an insert valve mounted within a bottom of the cavity forming a seal with the inner wall, the insert valve having one or more apertures extending therethrough, a top surface of the insert valve, the inner wall, and the inner portion of the top wall defining a chamber within the cavity, the chamber being in fluid communication with the gas escape path;a septum seated flush on the top surface of the insert valve within the chamber and flush with and sealing the apertures, the septum adapted to at least partially unseat from the insert valve in response to an increase in gas pressure within the package and reseat on the insert valve when pressure on both sides of the insert valve equalizes. 2. The cap of claim 1 wherein the septum comprises a flexible member. 3. The cap of claim 2 further comprising a layer of viscous material disposed between the insert valve and the septum. 4. The cap of claim 3 wherein the viscous material is silicone oil. 5. A cap for mating with a pour spout on a flexible package in order to close the package, the cap comprising:a top wall;an outer wall extending downwardly from the top wall and having a connection adapted to recloseably mate with the pour spout;an inner wall extending downwardly from an inner portion of the top wall substantially concentrically with the outer wall;the inner wall and the inner portion of the top wall defining a cavity with an open bottom and a gas escape path;an insert valve mounted within a bottom of the cavity forming a seal with the inner wall, the insert valve having one or more apertures extending therethrough, a top surface of the insert valve, the inner wall, and the inner portion of the top wall defining a chamber within the cavity, the chamber being in fluid communication with the gas escape path;a rigid septum seated flush on the top surface of the insert valve within the chamber and flush with and sealing the apertures, the septum adapted to at least partially unseat from the insert valve in response to an increase in gas pressure within the package and reseat on the insert valve when pressure on both sides of the insert valve equalizes. 6. The cap of claim 5 further comprising a layer of viscous material disposed between the insert valve and the septum. 7. The cap of claim 1 wherein the gas escape path comprises a passage in the top wall. 8. A cap for mating with a pour spout on a flexible package in order to close the package, the cap comprising:a top wall;an outer wall extending downwardly from the top wall and having a connection adapted to recloseably mate with the pour spout;an inner wall extending downwardly from an inner portion of the top wall substantially concentrically with the outer wall;the inner wall and the inner portion of the top wall defining a cavity with an open bottom and a gas escape path;an insert valve mounted within a bottom of the cavity forming a seal with the inner wall, the insert valve comprising a base and an upwardly extending peripheral member having a frusto-conical inside surface, narrowest at the base and having one or more apertures extending therethrough, a top surface of the insert valve, the inner wall, and the inner portion of the top wall defining a chamber within the cavity, the chamber being in fluid communication with the gas escape path;a septum seated on the top surface of the insert valve within the chamber and sealing the apertures, the septum adapted to at least partially unseat from the insert valve in response to an increase in gas pressur e within the package and reseat on the insert valve when pressure on both sides of the insert valve equalizes. 9. A cap for mating with a pour spout on a flexible package in order to close the package, the cap comprising:a top wall;an outer wall extending downwardly from the top wall and having a connection adapted to recloseably mate with the pour spout;an inner wall extending downwardly from an inner portion of the top wall substantially concentrically with the outer wall;the inner wall and the inner portion of the top wall defining a cavity with an open bottom and a gas escape path;an insert valve mounted within a bottom of the cavity forming a seal with the inner wall, the insert valve comprising one or more apertures extending therethrough and an imperfection protruding upwardly from a top surface, the top surface of the insert valve, the inner wall, and the inner portion of the top wall defining a chamber within the cavity, the chamber being in fluid communication with the gas escape path;a septum seated flush on the top surface of the insert valve within the chamber and flush with and sealing the apertures, the septum adapted to at least partially unseat from the insert valve in response to an increase in gas pressure within the package and reseat on the insert valve when pressure on both sides of the insert valve equalizes. 10. A cap with a one-way de-gas valve, the cap comprising:an outer wall with a recloseable connection extending downwardly from a top wall;an inner wall extending downwardly from an inner portion of the top wall, an inside surface of the inner wall and the inner portion of the top wall defining a cavity with an open bottom and a gas escape path;an insert valve mounted within the cavity, the insert valve forming a seal with the inside surface of the inner wall and having an upper surface, the upper surface, the inside surface, and the inner portion defining a chamber in fluid communication with the gas escape path;a flexible solid septum disposed within said chamber, the septum seated flush on the insert valve and sealing one or more apertures in the insert valve; anda viscous material disposed between the septum and the insert valve, the viscous material exerting an adhesion force tending to maintain the septum seated on the insert valve such that the apertures are sealed;the septum being capable of at least partially unseating in response to gas pressure acting through the apertures and exerting a force greater than the adhesion force. 11. The cap of claim 10 wherein the gas escape path comprises a passage defined within the top wall. 12. A cap with a one-way de-gas valve, the cap comprising:an outer wall with a recloseable connection extending downwardly from a top wall;an inner wall extending downwardly from an inner portion of the top wall, an inside surface of the inner wall and the inner portion of the top wall defining a cavity with an open bottom and a gas escape path;tabs extending inwardly from the inside surface of the inner wall;an insert valve mounted within the cavity, the tabs holding the insert valve within the cavity, the insert valve forming a seal with the inside surface of the inner wall and having an upper surface, the upper surface, the inside surface, and the inner portion defining a chamber in fluid communication with the gas escape path;a flexible septum disposed within said chamber, the septum seated flush on the insert valve and sealing one or more apertures in the insert valve; anda viscous material disposed between the septum and the insert valve, the viscous material exerting an adhesion force tending to maintain the septum seated on the insert valve such that the apertures are seal;the septum being capable of at least partially unseating in response to gas pressure acting through the apertures and exerting a force greater than the adhesion force. 13. The cap of claim 10 wherein the insert valve is mounted within the cavity via a friction fit. 14. The cap of claim 10 wh erein the adhesion force is substantially uniform across a bottom surface of the septum and the insert valve comprises a base having an imperfection protruding upwardly to create an area of weakness in the otherwise substantially uniform adhesion force. 15. The cap of claim 14 wherein the insert valve further comprises a peripheral member extending upwardly from the base and having a frusto-conical inside surface, the frusto-conical surface being narrowest at the base, and the seal between the insert valve and the inside surface of the inner wall being formed with the peripheral member of the insert valve. 16. A resealable closure and package containing gas-emitting products, the closure comprising:a cap including,an outer wall extending downwardly from a top wall, the outer wall including a connection adapted to mate with a complementary connection on a pour spout,an inner wall extending downwardly from an inner portion of the top wall, the inner wall having an inside surface, the inside surface and the inner portion of the top wall defining a cavity with an open end and a gas escape path,an insert valve mounted at the open end of the cavity, the insert valve including,a base with one or more apertures extending from the open end of the cavity to outside the cavity, anda peripheral portion adapted to form a seal with the inside surface of the inner wall,the insert valve, the inner wall, and the inner portion of the top wall defining a chamber within the cavity, the chamber being in fluid communication with the gas escape path, anda septum disposed within said chamber, the septum seated flush on the base of the insert valve and sealing the one or more apertures in the base of the insert valve, the septum being capable of at least partially unseating in response to increased gas pressure outside of the chamber acting through the apertures; anda pour spout attached to the package, the pour spout including,a hollow cylindrical member protruding through an opening in the package, the cylindrical member being open to contents within the package at an inner end and open to the outside of the package at an outer end, the cylindrical member having a connection for receiving the cap at the outer end, anda flange extending radially from the inner end of the cylindrical member, the flange being adhered to the inside of the package. 17. The resealable closure and package of claim 16 wherein the escape path comprises a passage in the inner portion of the top wall. 18. The resealable closure and package of claim 16 further comprising a layer of viscous material disposed between the septum and the insert valve and providing an adhesion force therebetween. 19. The resealable closure and package of claim 18 wherein the insert valve further comprises an imperfection locally interfering with the adhesion force.