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(11) | EP 0 179 535 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Hollow conical sealing member |
| (57) The invention relates to a hollow or compressible sealing member (10) which is entirely
or for the greater part in the form of a cone and consists of a flexible material.
This sealing member can be used as a non-return valve (10) or as a cock, for example
in holders for liquids or solids, or in articles such as balloons, air mattresses
and so on. |
[0001] The invention relates to a hollow or compressible sealing member which is entirely or for the greater part in the form of a cone and which, for example, can be used both in compressible and non-compressible holders for liquids or solids.
[0002] Liquids and solids which are attacked and/or will deteriorate in quality when exposed to air or by light cannot be stored and used in holders without the use of a sealing system.
[0003] The sealing systems known so far cannot be used in practice to make holders suitable for such applications because they build up too much resistance, or are too complicated or too expensive for use on a large scale.
[0004] A simple sealing system has now been found which is suitable indeed for use in articles which are manufactured in large numbers, for example, compressible or non-compressible holders for liquid and/or solids.
[0005] The sealing member according to the invention consists of a thin flexible material and has entirely or for the greater part the shape of a hollow cone as is shown in Figures 1 to 4. The sealing member operates as a non-return valve. The circumference of the open end (the base plane) of the cone should correspond accurately to the inner circumference of the pouring opening of the holder to be sealed by means of the valve. The circumference of the base plane of the cone is partly connected to the inner wall of the pouring opening. The pressure build-up caused by the valve depends on the thickness and flexibility of the material from which the valve is manufactured. All this depends on the contemplated use of the valve.
[0006] The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which a few application possibilities of the valve according to the invention are also given without restricting the invention thereto.
[0007] kelerence numeral 2u in Figure 1 denotes the pouring neck ot a compressible holaer. Non-return valve 10 accor- ning to the invention is mounted in the neck 2u. This may be aone, for example, by connecting a part of the outer edge ot the base plane of the hollow cone and optionally of the outside ot the cone itself to the inner side of the neck 20 to be sealed, for example, by means of a part of a spring ring which clamps a part of the base plane in a circumferential recess in the pouring neck. An optimum sealing is obtained by constructing the recess so as to be conical, preferably in such manner that the lower edge of said recess extenas parallel to the oblique side of the cone. In oroer to get the contents entirely or partly out ot the holaer, the contents are poured or sprayed in a receptacle by squeezing the holaer 30. As soon as the pressure in the space 11 below the valve becomes so much larger than in space 12 above the valve that the valve resistance can be overcome, the valve 10 opens in that the part 21 of the cone not connectea to the neck 20 is pushed asiae (see Figure 2). The valve closes immediately (depen- aent on the resistance of the valve material) when the pressure in 11 ana 12 becomes equal so that no ambient air is arawn in ana the contents of the holaer are not attacked. In this manner the holder can be emptied by squeezing like a tube.
[0008] Figures 3 ana 4 show a modified embodiment of the non-return valve shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this embodiment the pouring neck 20 comprises a member with which the valve can be opened trom without and in this manner gets the function of a cock. This can be done in a way known per se, for example, by means of a compression spring pin 22 which comprises a pressure plate at the end near the valve.
[0009] Another application possibility of the valve in accordance with the invention is that a so-called dispenser can be obtained by using a combination of two valves in the same holder. This can be achievea by mounting one valve in the above-aescribea manner in the pouring neck, and providing a secona valve which operates oppositely to the first in a separate air drawing-in tube beside the pouring neck. when the pouring neck is provided with a graduation, a measurea quantity ot the contents can be collected in the neck by squeezing the holder and be drained by turning the holaer upside down. Via the second valve an equal volume of, optionally filter or aried, air is drawn in. By a correct choice and dimensions or the material the resistance of the tirst valve may be so large that when the holder is turned upsiae aown the contents cannot leave the holder via this valve. By means of an above-aescribed compression spring pin 22, an excess, it any, can be made to flow back into the holaer.
[0010] Another moditied embodiment of the Figures 1 and 2 valve is shown in Figures 5 and 6. This embodiment may be used in holders which cannot be compressed, for example, glass holaers. Since the pressure below the non-return valve cannot be made larger than above the valve by squeezing such a holaer, the valve shown in Figures 1 to 4 coula not operate. The modified embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6 is suitable indeed for such an application. ln this embodiment the hollow conical non-return valve 10 has the shape ot half a cone. The other half (40) of the pouring neck 20 is now constructed so that air can be arawn in so as to enable pouring of the contents. By providing the said drawing-in aperture of neck 20 with suitable filtering material 41, contamination of the contents in holaer 30 by the drawn-in air can be prevented. Of course, the choice of the filtering material 41 depends on the ena in view, for example, filtering the C02 or H2O present in the drawn-in air.
[0011] The bent tube in the drawing-in part 40 of neck 20 and space 44 below the filter holaer 43 serve as buffer spaces ana prevent the tiltering material from contacting the contents. Tube 42 is bent so that the opening aoes not come below the level of the contents when the holder during pouring is kept in an inclined position and the drawn-in air need not overcome any resistance.
[0012] The valve according to the invention may also be used in holaers for low-boiling-point liquids which at room temperature have a considerable vapour pressure, for example, ether, or build up a vapour pressure by decomposition, tor example, hydrogen peroxide. Holders with such liquids comprising the conical non-return valve according to the invention can be stored without any danger, When the vapour pressure in the holder exceeds a certain value, a quantity ot vapour is arained via the valve. The over--pressure at which this happens, i.e. at which the valve opens, depends on the material ana/or thickness from which the valve is manutactured. The valve operates as a safety valve. In order to enable pouring, the holder should comprise a cock which can be opened and closed for drawing-in air.
[0013] Further modifications of the valve are possible to enlarge the resistance ana/or improve the mounting of the valve. For this purpose for example the base plane of the valve may comprise a cylinarical sleeve, which circumference should correspond accurately to the inner circumference of the opening to be sealed.
1. A hollow or compressible sealing member which is entirely or for the greater part
in the form of a cone and consists of a thin flexible material.
2. An article comprising one or more sealing members as claimed in Claim 1.
3. An article as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that it is a compressible holder.
4. A holder as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a means with
which the sealing member can be opened from without.
5. A holder as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that the pouring neck comprises
an air inlet tube in which a second valve as claimed in Claim 1 is mounted so that
air can be drawn in via said valve.
6. A holder as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that the pouring neck comprises
a graduation.
7. A holder as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that the pouring neck comprises
a means as claimed in Claim 4.
8. An article as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that it is a non-compressible
holder wherein the sealing member has such a shape that the base plane is a part of
a circle and the remaining part serves as an air inlet aperture which can be closed,
if desired.
9. A holder as claimed in Claim 8, characterized in that the air inlet aperture comprises
a filtering material.
10. A holder as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the pouring neck below
the filtering material comprises a sealing with an air inlet aperture which can be
elongated in the holder.
ll. An article as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that it is an article to be
filled with air or a gas.