Valve assembly for dispensing foodstuff and dispenser apparatus and lid comprising the same
There is provided a valve assembly for dispensing foodstuff. The valve assembly includes an inner valve member. The inner valve member includes a radially outwardly-extending flange with one or more circumferentially spaced-apart apertures extending therethrough. The inner valve member includes an elongate protrusion coupled to and extending axially outwards from the flange thereof. The one or more apertures are adjacent to and extend about an exterior of the elongate protrusion. The valve assembly includes an outer valve member that is more resilient than the inner valve member. The outer valve member includes a radially outwardly-extending flange shaped to couple with the flange of the inner valve member. The outer valve member includes a tubular portion which is cylindrical in outer shape and which extends about the elongate protrusion. The outer valve member includes a tapered sleeve that extends and tapers from the flange to the tubular portion.
1 . A valve assembly for dispensing foodstuff, the valve assembly comprising:
a rigid valve member having one or more apertures extending therethrough and including an elongate conduit; and
a resilient valve member including a first tubular portion which extends axially about the elongate conduit of the rigid valve member, a flange portion which extends radially outwards, a second tubular portion which operatively couples together the first tubular portion and flange portion thereof, with the second tubular portion of the resilient valve member tapering in a direction extending from the flange portion to the first tubular portion thereof, and a sealing ring coupled to and extending radially inwards from one of the tubular portions thereof so as to abut the elongate conduit of the rigid valve member, wherein the second tubular portion of the resilient valve member is radially outwardly spaced from the elongate conduit of the rigid valve member so as to define a first annular space therebetween and through which foodstuff selectively passes, wherein the first tubular portion of the resilient valve member is radially outwardly spaced from the elongate conduit of the rigid valve member so as to define a second annular space therebetween and through which foodstuff selectively passes, and wherein the sealing ring of the resilient valve member is interposed between the first annular space and the second annular space and functions to inhibit foodstuff from passing therethrough until the valve assembly is actuated.
2 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein foodstuff passes through said one or more apertures in order to exit from the valve assembly.
3 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second tubular portion of the resilient valve member is configured to be less slanted when the valve assembly is actuated.
4 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein actuation thereof causes both the first and second annular spaces to be in fluid communication with the one or more apertures of the rigid valve member.
5 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein actuation thereof causes the second tubular portion of the resilient valve member to extend axially and radially outwards.
6 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first tubular portion of the resilient valve member has a substantially constant diameter at least when the valve assembly is a non-actuated state.
7 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the elongate conduit of the rigid valve member has a substantially constant inner diameter extending from a distal end towards a proximal end thereof.
8 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first tubular portion of the resilient valve member extends substantially vertically at least when the valve assembly is in a non-actuated state.
9 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first tubular portion of the resilient valve member has a distal end and wherein the elongate conduit of the rigid valve member has a distal end which extends axially outwards from the distal end of the first tubular portion of the resilient valve member at least when the valve assembly is in a non-actuated state.
10 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein actuation of the valve assembly causes the first tubular portion of the resilient valve member to extend radially outwards from the elongate conduit of the rigid valve member.
11 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly is configured such that a required actuation pressure thereof to enable foodstuff to pass therethrough, is substantially determined by the shape of the sealing ring of the resilient valve member and the extent to which the sealing ring of the resilient valve member interfere fits about the elongate conduit of the rigid valve member.
12 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the elongate conduit of the rigid valve member has an outer diameter, and wherein the sealing ring of the resilient valve member when unassembled has an inner diameter which is 8 to 20% smaller than the outer diameter of the elongate conduit of the rigid valve member.
13 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein actuation thereof causes the sealing ring of the resilient valve member to expand radially outwards from the elongate conduit of the rigid valve member so as to selectively enable foodstuff to pass therethrough.
14 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the elongate conduit of the rigid valve member has a distal end which is open and a proximal end which is closed, and wherein the elongate conduit of the rigid valve member has an inner diameter which is substantially constant from the distal end towards to the proximal end thereof.
15 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second tubular portion of the resilient valve member has an inwardly-facing surface which acts to change a head pressure on the sealing ring of the resilient valve member and promote holding in place of the resilient valve member.
16 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the inwardly-facing surface of the second tubular portion of the resilient member functions to reduce the head pressure on the sealing ring of the resilient valve member when the valve assembly is in a non-actuated state and wherein the inwardly-facing surface of the second tubular portion of the resilient member functions to increase the head pressure on the sealing ring of the resilient valve member when the valve assembly is actuated.
17 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein actuation of the valve assembly causes the first and second annular spaces to enlarge radially outwards.
18 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing ring of the resilient valve member is positioned between a proximal end and a distal end of the elongate conduit of the rigid valve member.
19 . A valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing ring of the resilient valve member extends generally perpendicular to the first tubular portion of the resilient valve member at least in a non-actuated state.
20 . A dispenser apparatus comprising:
an enclosure;
a dispenser lid threadably coupled to the enclosure, wherein the dispenser lid is shaped to be removable from the enclosure and promote cleanability thereof; and
the valve assembly of claim 1 , the valve assembly operatively connecting to the dispenser lid, wherein the resilient valve member of the valve assembly is shaped to be removable from the dispenser lid and promote cleanability thereof.