Valve for a pressurised dispenser comprising inlet orifices being deformable by the internal pressure

Abstract

A pressurised dispenser valve ( 110 ) has a valve housing ( 111 ) with at least one fluid inlet ( 127, 128 ) though which a fluid present in an associated dispenser may pass to enter the valve housing. The at least one fluid inlet is formed at least partly by, or in a resiliency deformable portion ( 124, 125 ) of the valve housing. The deformable portion ( 124, 125 ) is arranged such that, in use when the valve is opened, it deforms from an initial resiliency biased configuration in which the fluid inlet ( 127, 128 ) has an initial cross sectional area to a deformed configuration in which the fluid inlet has an altered cross sectional area in response to a pressure differential between the interior of the housing and the exterior of the housing. The change in cross sectional area of the inlet can be made to vary independence on the pressure in the canister and can be used to control the rate of flow of the fluid through the inlet as the pressure in the canister falls during use.

1 . A pressurised dispenser valve, the valve having a valve housing with at least one fluid inlet though which a fluid present in an associated dispenser may pass to enter the valve housing, the fluid inlet being formed at least partly by or in a resiliently deformable portion of the valve housing, the deformable portion being arranged such that, in use when the valve is opened, it deforms from an initial resiliently biased configuration in which the fluid inlet has an initial cross sectional area to a deformed configuration in which the fluid inlet has a reduced cross sectional area in response to a pressure differential between the interior of the housing and the exterior of the housing when the valve is open. 
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
       3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the resiliently deformable portion is configured such that the amount by which the cross sectional area of the fluid inlet reduces when the valve is opened in use varies in dependence on the pressure in the associated dispenser. 
   
   
       5 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the resiliently deformable portion is configured such that, in use, the rate of flow of the fluid through the inlet varies in dependence on the pressure in the associated dispenser. 
   
   
       6 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the resiliently deformable portion is configured such that, in use, the rate of flow of the fluid through the inlet is maintained substantially constant as the pressure in the associated dispenser falls over its useful life. 
   
   
       7 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the resiliently deformable portion is configured such that, in use, the rate of flow of the fluid through the inlet is increased as the pressure in the dispenser falls over its useful life. 
   
   
       8 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the resiliently deformable portion is configured such that the rate of flow of the fluid through the inlet is decreased as the pressure in the associated dispenser falls over its useful life. 
   
   
       9 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the fluid inlet comprises at least one opening which is at least partly defined by or formed in the resiliently deformable portion, the, or each, opening having an initial cross sectional area when the resiliently deformable portion is in its initial resiliently biased configuration, the arrangement being such that in use, deformation of the resiliently deformable portion when the valve opens causes the, or each, opening to be partially closed so as to have an effective cross sectional area which is less than its initial cross sectional area. 
   
   
       10 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 9 , in which the housing comprises a rigid main body portion formed from a substantially rigid polymeric material, the resiliently deformable portion being formed, at least in part, by means of a resiliently deformable polymeric material over-moulded onto the rigid portion. 
   
   
       11 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the, or each, opening is formed in the resiliently deformable polymeric material. 
   
   
       12 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 11 , in which the, or each, opening is elongate. 
   
   
       13 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 11  in which the, or each, opening is in the form of a slit in the resiliently deformable polymeric material. 
   
   
       14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 9 , in which the valve is configured so that the amount by which the cross sectional area of the at least one opening reduces when the valve is opened varies suddenly when the pressure in the dispenser falls to a predetermined value such that the rate of flow of the fluid through the inlet is increased suddenly. 
   
   
       17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . (canceled) 
   
   
       29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the valve housing has two of said fluid inlets, a first fluid inlet through which a propellant gas in an associated dispenser can enter the housing to be mixed with a liquid product as it is dispensed and a second fluid inlet through which a liquid product present in the associated dispenser enters the valve housing. 
   
   
       31 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 30 , in which the gas inlet is formed at least partly in or by a first resiliently deformable portion of the housing and the liquid inlet is formed at least partly by or in a second resiliently deformable portion of the housing. 
   
   
       32 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 31 , in which the first and second resiliently deformable portions are configured such that, in use, the ratio of gas to liquid in the product as it is dispensed increases as the pressure in the dispenser falls. 
   
   
       33 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 32 , in which the first and second resiliently deformable portions are configured such that, in use, the ratio of gas to liquid in the product as it is dispensed suddenly increases when the pressure in the dispenser falls to the predetermined value. 
   
   
       34 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 31 , in which the first resiliently deformable portion comprises a side wall region of the valve housing. 
   
   
       35 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 31 , in which the valve housing has a spigot for mounting a dip tube and the second resiliently deformable portion is located at a distal end region of the spigot. 
   
   
       36 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in clam  35 , in which the second resiliently deformable portion is frusto-conical in shape, comprising one or more openings in a tapered side wall region. 
   
   
       37 . (canceled) 
   
   
       38 . A pressurised dispenser valve as claimed in  claim 30 , in which the valve has separate flow paths for the gas and liquid. 
   
   
       39 . (canceled) 
   
   
       40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . (canceled) 
   
   
       42 . (canceled) 
   
   
       43 . (canceled) 
   
   
       44 . (canceled) 
   
   
       45 . (canceled)