Nozzle tip with slit valve for fluid dispenser

1. An outlet valve assembly for a fluid dispenser, the fluid dispenser having a pump fluidically coupled to a fluid reservoir, said outlet valve assembly comprising:

an outlet nipple having a proximal end configured to be fluidically coupled to the pump and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the outlet nipple defining a conduit extending in a flow direction;

an outlet nozzle comprising a sleeve and an annular protrusion extending radially inwardly, the sleeve and annular protrusion cooperating to define a counterbore, said counterbore coaxially receiving at least a portion of the outlet nipple;

a resiliently deformable valve member received within said counterbore, said valve member including a valve head portion having one or more slits defining an orifice and a peripheral valve portion outward of said valve head portion, said peripheral valve portion retained between the annular protrusion of the outlet nozzle and the distal end of the outlet nipple;

said valve head portion having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, said first side being upstream of said second side in the flow direction; and

a vent-resisting member integrally formed within the conduit defined by the outlet nipple conduit, the vent-resisting member including a perforated baffle adjacent the first side of said valve head portion, wherein the baffle is positioned sufficiently close to the first side of said valve head portion so as to resist inward opening of said orifice during operation to prevent inward venting of ambient air during a dispensing operation, and wherein the first side of said valve head portion is spaced apart from said baffle.

2. The outlet valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein said vent-resisting member is comolded with the outlet nipple.

3. The outlet valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein said annular protrusion is adjacent a dispensing end of the outlet nozzle.

4. The outlet valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein said annular protrusion is axially spaced apart from a dispensing end of the outlet nozzle.

5. The outlet valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first surface of said valve head portion is generally convex.

6. The outlet valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein said valve member is formed of a material selected from silicone rubber, neoprene, chloroprene rubber, and ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM).

7. The outlet valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein said peripheral valve portion has a generally dovetailed cross-sectional shape.

8. The outlet valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein said valve peripheral portion is clamped between the annular protrusion of the outlet nozzle and the distal end of the outlet nipple to provide a sealing interference therebetween.

9. A fluid dispenser comprising a pump having a pump inlet fluidically coupled to a fluid reservoir and an outlet valve assembly, said outlet valve assembly comprising:

an outlet nipple having a proximal end fluidically coupled to the pump and a distal end, the outlet nipple defining a conduit extending in a flow direction;

an outlet nozzle comprising a sleeve and an annular protrusion extending radially inwardly, the sleeve and annular protrusion cooperating to define a counterbore, said counterbore coaxially receiving at least a portion of the outlet nipple;

a resiliently deformable valve member received within said counterbore, said valve member including a valve head portion having one or more slits defining an orifice and a peripheral valve portion around said valve head portion, said peripheral valve portion retained between the annular protrusion of the outlet nozzle and the distal end of the outlet nipple;

said valve head portion having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, said first side being upstream of said second side in the flow direction; and

a vent-resisting member integrally formed within the conduit defined by the outlet nipple conduit, the vent-resisting member including a perforated baffle adjacent the first side of said valve head portion, wherein the baffle is positioned sufficiently close to the first side of said valve head portion so as to resist inward opening of said orifice during operation to prevent inward venting of ambient air during a dispensing operation, and wherein the first side of said valve head portion is spaced apart from said baffle.

10. The fluid dispenser of claim 9 , wherein said fluid reservoir is selected from the group consisting of a flexible non-vented container, a semi-rigid non-vented container, a rigid vented container, and a semi-rigid vented container.

11. The fluid dispenser of claim 9 , further comprising:

a housing for receiving said pump and fluid reservoir; and a pump actuator on said housing.

12. The fluid dispenser of claim 9 , wherein said vent-resisting member is comolded with the outlet nipple.

13. The fluid dispenser of claim 9 , wherein said annular protrusion is adjacent a dispensing end of the outlet nozzle.

14. The fluid dispenser of claim 9 , wherein said annular protrusion is axially spaced apart from a dispensing end of the outlet nozzle.

15. The fluid dispenser of claim 9 , wherein said valve member is formed of a material selected from silicone rubber, neoprene, chloroprene rubber, and ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM).

16. The fluid dispenser of claim 9 , wherein said valve peripheral portion is clamped between the annular protrusion of the outlet nozzle and the distal end of the outlet nipple to provide a sealing interference therebetween.

17. The fluid dispenser of claim 9 , wherein said pump is selected from a tube pump and a dome pump.

18. The fluid dispenser of claim 17 , wherein said pump is a tube pump.