Adjustable additive delivery systems and dispensing closure valves for the same
A mixing cartridge delivery system, which mixes additive with base liquid flowing through it, utilizes a dispensing closure valve to achieve improved flow of mixed liquid from the cartridge. A closure base may include a tethered lid. A flexible valve, such as a slit valve, is supported on a valve supporting end of the closure base and retained thereon with a valve retainer that interlocks with the closure base. The system may include a one-way valve for base liquid and a mixing section defined in the cartridge. The dispensing closure valve achieves improved flow characteristics in combination with the base liquid valve. The dispensing closure valve also prevents leakage and inadvertent discharge from the cartridge system.
1 . An additive delivery system comprising:
a base for mounting the additive delivery system on a container adapted to contain a supply of base liquid;
a spout extending from the base;
a base liquid flow valve arranged to provide one-way flow through at least one base liquid flow passage; and
a dispensing closure valve assembly including a dispensing closure valve configured to close to prevent discharge of liquid from the spout in response to a pressure below a threshold pressure required to cause flow through the base liquid flow valve.
2 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing closure valve assembly comprises a closure base adapted to engage the spout, the dispensing closure valve being secured to the closure base by a valve retainer.
3 . The additive delivery system of claim 2 , wherein the dispensing closure valve is a slit valve.
4 . The additive delivery system of claim 2 , wherein the dispensing closure valve includes a flexible valve membrane having a slit, the flexible valve membrane extending to an annular valve skirt and wherein the closure base includes a closure base spout having a shoulder defined thereon for receiving the annular valve skirt.
5 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the spout includes a number of radial spokes supporting a button-shaped projection, the radial spokes defining intervening radial flow passages, wherein the dispensing closure valve includes a membrane having at least one slit, the dispensing closure valve membrane being arranged proximate the button-shaped projection.
6 . The additive delivery system of claim 5 , wherein the dispensing closure valve membrane is disposed adjacent to the intervening radial flow passages of the spout.
7 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing closure valve assembly includes a closure lid adapted to sealingly close the dispensing closure valve and further comprising a tethering strap secured to the closure lid.
8 . The additive delivery system of claim 7 , wherein the tethering strap and closure lid are configured such that when the closure lid is in a closed position, a lateral force on the tethering strap by a user causes the closure lid to move to an open position.
9 . The additive delivery system of claim 8 , wherein the dispensing closure valve assembly includes a closure base engaged with the spout, and wherein the tethering strap is attached to the closure base.
10 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the base liquid flow valve comprises a sealing member arranged to prevent backflow through the at least one base liquid passage.
11 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing closure valve assembly further comprises:
a closure base having an annular base wall and a valve retainer interlock defined therein;
a valve retainer secured to the closure base and retaining the dispensing closure valve on the closure base; and
an annular closure base spout extending from the annular base wall to a valve supporting end, wherein the dispensing closure valve is supported on the valve supporting end, the dispensing closure valve comprising a flexible membrane with at least one slit defined therein, the dispensing closure valve being configured to prevent flow therethrough below a threshold pressure.
12 . The additive delivery system of claim 11 , further comprising a closure cap secured to the closure base by a tethering strap, the closure cap, closure base and tethering strap being integrally formed as a unitary part, the tethering strap being adapted to exert a removing force on the closure cap when the closure cap is installed on the valve retainer when a force is applied to the tethering strap.
13 . The additive delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the closure cap further comprises a sealing ring adapted to engage the valve retainer or the dispensing closure valve when the closure cap is installed on the valve retainer.
14 . The additive delivery system of claim 11 , wherein the spout includes a spout cap retaining projection, which extends around an outer circumference of the spout and wherein the closure base is adapted to engage and be retained by the spout cap retaining projection.
15 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing closure valve is configured to facilitate a substantially constant proportional relationship between flow rate from the additive delivery system and pressure when the flow rate varies from 0.0 to about 10.5 ml/s.
16 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the spout includes radial spokes and radial flow passages defined between the radial spokes, wherein the dispensing closure valve assembly is adapted to hold the dispensing closure valve in close proximity to the radial flow passages.
17 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the spout includes a button-shaped projection and wherein the dispensing closure valve assembly is adapted to hold the dispensing closure valve membrane in close proximity to the button-shaped projection.
18 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing closure valve assembly includes a closure base with an annular spout engaging skirt for engaging the spout, wherein the annular spout engaging skirt has a tapered inner lower surface to facilitate installation on the spout.
19 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing closure valve assembly includes a closure base having a valve retainer interlock adapted to receive and retain a valve retainer on the closure base.
20 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing closure valve assembly includes a closure base having a valve retainer interlock adapted to receive and retain a closure valve retainer on the closure base, the additive delivery system further comprising a closure valve retainer having an annular retaining projection adapted to cooperate with the valve retainer interlock.
21 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing closure valve assembly is adapted to facilitate a substantially constant proportional relationship between the flow rate from the additive delivery system and suction pressure from about 0.07 psi to about 0.3 psi.
22 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing closure valve assembly facilitates a substantially constant proportional relationship between a flow rate from the additive delivery system and suction pressure as the flow rate varies from 0.0 to about 10.5 ml/s.
23 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the base liquid flow valve has a base liquid valve threshold pressure for flow of base liquid to occur, and wherein the dispensing closure valve has a dispensing closure valve threshold pressure for flow of mixed base liquid and additive to occur, wherein the base liquid threshold pressure is higher than the dispensing closure valve threshold pressure.
24 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the base liquid flow valve is configured to prevent flow of base liquid at a pressure coinciding with pressure on the base liquid flow valve resulting from a full inverted base liquid container.
25 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing closure valve is configured to prevent flow from the spout when the additive delivery system cartridge is inverted.
26 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing closure valve membrane further comprises two substantially orthogonal slits.
27 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing closure valve comprises a valve skirt adapted to facilitate assembly on the dispensing closure valve assembly.
28 . The additive delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing closure valve assembly is adapted to engage a spout cap retaining projection of the spout to retain the dispensing closure valve assembly on the spout.
29 . An additive delivery system comprising:
a base for mounting the additive delivery system on a container adapted to contain a supply of base liquid;
a base liquid flow valve arranged to prevent backflow through at least two base liquid flow passages;
a spout having a plurality of spokes supporting a button-shaped projection in a dispensing end of the spout, the plurality of spokes defining intervening spout flow passages; and
a dispensing closure valve assembly disposed on the spout and having a valve membrane having at least one slit, the valve membrane being arranged to extend over the button-shaped projection and intervening spout flow passages,
wherein the valve membrane is configured to close to prevent discharge of liquid from the spout in response to a pressure below a threshold pressure required to cause flow through the base liquid flow valve.