IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0847041
(2004-05-17)
|
등록번호 |
US-7455200
(2008-11-25)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Gehl,John P.
- Ward,Jon L.
- Rademacher,Charles A.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Gehl's Guernsey Farms, Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
6 인용 특허 :
2 |
초록
▼
The present invention provides a valve configured to dispense a flowable product. The valve includes an inner valve portion having a chamber to allow an accumulation therein of the flowable product, an end wall surface, and an annular surface spaced from the end wall surface. The valve also includes
The present invention provides a valve configured to dispense a flowable product. The valve includes an inner valve portion having a chamber to allow an accumulation therein of the flowable product, an end wall surface, and an annular surface spaced from the end wall surface. The valve also includes an outer valve portion having a chamber receiving therein at least part of the inner valve portion. The outer valve portion further includes an end wall surface engageable with the end wall surface of the inner valve portion, and an annular surface spaced from the end wall surface and engageable with the annular surface of the inner valve portion. The respective end wall surfaces of the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion are engageable substantially simultaneously with engagement of the respective annular surfaces of the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A valve configured to dispense a flowable product, the valve comprising: an inner valve portion including a substantially cylindrical body defining a longitudinal axis; a chamber to allow an accumulation therein of the flowable product; an end wall surface; and an annul
The invention claimed is: 1. A valve configured to dispense a flowable product, the valve comprising: an inner valve portion including a substantially cylindrical body defining a longitudinal axis; a chamber to allow an accumulation therein of the flowable product; an end wall surface; and an annular surface spaced from the end wall surface, the annular surface extending radially outwardly from the body at an angle non-parallel to the longitudinal axis; and a one-piece outer valve portion including a chamber receiving therein at least part of the inner valve portion; an end wall surface defining a distal end of the chamber of the outer valve portion, the end wall surface of the outer valve portion engageable with the end wall surface of the inner valve portion; and an annular surface spaced from the end wall surface of the outer valve portion and engageable with the annular surface of the inner valve portion; wherein the respective end wall surfaces of the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion are engageable substantially simultaneously with engagement of the respective annular surfaces of the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion. 2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the inner valve portion is movable with respect to the outer valve portion between a first position, in which the respective annular surfaces of the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion engage and the respective end wall surfaces of the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion engage to substantially seal the inner valve portion with respect to the outer valve portion, and a second position, in which the respective annular surfaces of the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion disengage and the respective end wall surfaces of the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion disengage. 3. The valve of claim 2, further comprising: a first aperture in the inner valve portion positioned between the annular surface and the end wall surface of the inner valve portion; and a second aperture in the outer valve portion positioned between the annular surface and the end wall surface of the outer valve portion, the first and second apertures being at least partially aligned during movement of the inner valve portion with respect to the outer valve portion to dispense the flowable product accumulated in the chamber of the inner valve portion. 4. The valve of claim 1, wherein there are no O-rings between the inner and outer valve portions. 5. The valve of claim 1, further comprising a resilient member biasing the respective annular surfaces of the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion into engagement and biasing the respective end wall surfaces of the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion into engagement. 6. The valve of claim 1, wherein the chamber of the outer valve portion is substantially cylindrical, wherein the substantially cylindrical body of the inner valve portion is received by the substantially cylindrical chamber of the outer valve portion, and wherein a clearance of about 0.002 inches or less exists between an exterior surface of the body of the inner valve portion and an interior surface of the chamber of the outer valve portion. 7. The valve of claim 1, wherein at least part of the inner valve portion defines a non-circular cross-sectional portion, and at least part of the outer valve portion defines a non-circular cross-sectional portion engageable with the non-circular cross-sectional portion of the inner valve portion, and wherein the respective non-circular cross-sectional portions determine a unique orientation of the inner valve portion with respect to the outer valve portion. 8. The valve of claim 1, wherein the annular surface of the inner valve portion extends radially outwardly from the body at an angle between about 15 degrees and about 75 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body. 9. The valve of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion is made from a food-grade plastic to dispense flowable food product. 10. The valve of claim 1, further comprising an alignment groove formed on the outer valve portion, wherein the alignment groove is engageable with a wall of a dispensing device to secure the valve to the dispensing device. 11. The valve of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion is made from a food-grade plastic to dispense flowable food product, and wherein the valve is one of two identical valves packaged together with at least two packages of flowable product, the valves being initially disconnected from the respective packages, each valve being configured to couple to only one package for a single use, and each valve being disposable with the respective package without uncoupling the valve from the package. 12. A valve configured to dispense a flowable product, the valve comprising: an inner valve portion including a substantially cylindrical body defining a longitudinal axis; a chamber to allow an accumulation therein of the flowable product; an end wall surface; and an annular surface spaced from the end wall surface, the annular surface extending radially outwardly from the body at an angle non-parallel to the longitudinal axis; and an outer valve portion including a chamber receiving therein at least part of the inner valve portion; an end wall surface defining a distal end of the chamber of the outer valve portion, the end wall surface of the outer valve portion engageable with the end wall surface of the inner valve portion; and an annular surface spaced from the end wall surface of the outer valve portion and engageable with the annular surface of the inner valve portion; wherein the respective end wall surfaces of the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion are engageable substantially simultaneously with engagement of the respective annular surfaces of the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion; wherein the inner valve portion includes a projection extending from the body, wherein the outer valve portion includes an aperture, and wherein the projection extends through the aperture in the outer valve portion when the body of the inner valve portion is received within the chamber of the outer valve portion. 13. The valve of claim 12, further comprising: a first pair of opposed tabs extending from the outer valve portion; and a second pair of opposed tabs extending from the outer valve portion, wherein the first pair of opposed tabs slidably engages first respective opposite surfaces on the projection, and wherein the second pair of opposed tabs slidably engages second respective opposite surfaces on the projection. 14. The valve of claim 13, wherein the first pair of opposed tabs extends radially inwardly further than the second pair of opposed tabs. 15. The valve of claim 12, further comprising: at least one tab extending from the outer valve portion; and a button coupled to the projection, wherein the button is engageable with the at least one tab to limit movement of the inner valve portion with respect to the outer valve portion. 16. The valve of claim 12, further comprising: a button coupled to the projection; and a resilient member surrounding the projection and retained directly between the outer valve portion and the button, the resilient member biasing the respective annular surfaces of the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion into engagement and biasing the respective end wall surfaces of the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion into engagement. 17. The valve of claim 12, further comprising a button including a resilient tab extending therefrom, the resilient tab including a raised lip, wherein the raised lip of the resilient tab is engageable with a raised lip on the projection to lock the button to the projection. 18. The valve of claim 17, wherein the resilient tab is positioned in an interior space of the button and is accessible by a user to deflect the resilient tab to unlock the button from the projection. 19. The valve of claim 12, further comprising a button including a downwardly-extending lip therefrom, wherein the lip is engageable with a recess in the projection to orient the button with respect to the projection. 20. The valve of claim 12, wherein at least one of the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion is made from a food-grade plastic to dispense flowable food product, and wherein the valve is one of two identical valves packaged together with at least two packages of flowable product, the valves being initially disconnected from the respective packages, each valve being configured to couple to only one package for a single use, and each valve being disposable with the respective package without uncoupling the valve from the package.
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