Pierceable closure valve assembly
The present application relates to a closure assembly for connection to a spout in fluid communication with a container. The closure assembly includes a housing configured to be secured to the spout and including a fluid passageway and a piercable membrane in the fluid passageway. The closure assembly includes a retention member configured to be secured to the housing and a flexible valve that is positioned in the fluid passageway of the housing and that is secured to the housing by the retention member. The closure assembly is configured to receive a piercing element that extends into the housing such that the piercing member can pierce the valve and the membrane, and the retention member has locking elements that engage the piercing element to lock the piercing element in place with respect to the assembly.
1. A closure assembly for connection to a spout in fluid communication with a container, the closure assembly comprising:
a housing configured to be secured to the spout and including a fluid passageway and a piercable membrane in the fluid passageway,
a retention member configured to be secured to the housing,
a flexible valve that is positioned in the fluid passageway of the housing and that is secured to the housing by the retention member,
wherein the assembly is configured to receive a piercing element that extends into the housing such that the piercing member can pierce the valve and the membrane and the retention member has locking elements that engage the piercing element to lock the piercing element in place with respect to the assembly.
2. The closure assembly of claim 1 , further including a seal cap that connects to the retention member to seal the assembly.
3. The closure assembly of claim 2 , wherein the seal cap includes a hinged strap that connects the seal cap to the retention member.
4. The closure assembly of claim 1 , wherein the piercing element is retained by the retention member with a tab and bayonet fitting connection.
5. The closure assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve forms a seal on the piercer when the piercer is inserted through the valve.
6. The closure assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve is positioned between a sloped wall of the retention member and a ridge that is part of a cylindrical wall of the housing that defines the fluid passageway.
7. The closure assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes first and second concentric walls that extend from a top portion and that define an annular channel that receives a wall of the spout.
8. The closure assembly of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first and second concentric walls snapably engages the spout with a projection and detent arrangement in order to secure the spout wall in the annular channel.
9. The closure assembly of claim 7 , wherein the retention member includes a,
cylindrical wall from which extends a projection that snapably engages a detent in the second concentric wall of the housing in order to secure the retention member to the housing.
10. A system for dispensing fluid, comprising:
a flexible container including a spout connected thereto, the spout being in fluid communication with an interior region of the container;
a housing configured to be mounted to the spout to seal the spout, the housing including a fluid passageway;
a retention member configured to be secured to the housing;
a flexible valve that is positioned in the fluid passageway of the housing and that is secured to the housing by the retention member; and
a piercing element having a first end that is configured to puncture the valve and a membrane and a second end configured to be connected to a dispensing element, wherein the piercing element is inserted into the housing such that the first end punctures the membrane and valve and such that the piercing element is locked with respect to the retention member such that fluid can flow from the interior region into the piercing element.
11. The system of claim 10 , further including a seal cap that connects to the retention member.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the seal cap includes a hinged strap that connects the seal cap to the retention member.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the piercing element is retained by the retention member with a tab and bayonet fitting connection.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the valve forms a seal on the piercer when the piercer is inserted through the valve.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the valve is positioned between a sloped wall of the retention member and a ridge that is part of a cylindrical wall of the housing that defines the fluid passageway.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the housing includes first and second concentric walls that extend from a top portion and that define an annular channel that receives a wall of the spout.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first and second concentric walls snapably engages the spout with a projection and detent arrangement in order to secure the spout wall in the annular channel.
18. The closure assembly of claim 16 , wherein the retention member includes a cylindrical wall from which extends a projection that snapably engages a detent in the second concentric wall of the housing in order to secure the retention member to the housing.