Bite valve

• US 20030173536A1
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wolfe TORY Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wolfe TORY Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Denton, Marshall T., Christensen, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,708,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/342
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/16 Water-bottles; Mess-tins; Cups
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/185 Mouthpieces
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0011 Feeding-tubes for delivery of nourishment to the mouth; Mouth pieces therefor breast-nipple shields A61J13/00; mouth pieces for drinking straws A47G21/185; straws to take medicine A61J7/0038, mouthpieces for tracheal tubes A61M16/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0092 Valves on feeding tubes tube valves A61M39/22
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/205 the valve being formed by a tubular flexible sleeve surrounding a rod-like element provided with at least one radial passageway which is normally closed by the sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1825 for check valves with flexible valve members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/02 with tubular diaphragm

Abstract

An improved bite valve for use in personal hydration devices and other water dispensing systems. The valve has a flexible conduit sealed at an end by a cap. Fluid is blocked from flowing out of the conduit by the cap. The cap provides a fluid seal as a ring around an exterior surface of the conduit. Biting an end of the conduit, near the cap, radially separates the conduit from the cap, permitting fluid to flow into a person'"'"'s mouth. The configuration of the valve permits a larger valve opening, and correspondingly improved fluid flow through the valve. A positive stop mechanism, to prevent undesired fluid flow, may also be provided in a valve.

Claims

1. A valve operable to restrict fluid flow through a conduit, said valve comprising:

a valve seal member having an inside perimeter surface oriented to circumscribe an opening of said valve, and through which opening a fluid path exiting said valve exists; and

a flexible conduit having an exterior surface at a first end adapted for a self-biased engagement with said perimeter surface to occlude said opening to resist fluid flow therethrough, wherein;

a transverse displacement of a localized portion of said exterior surface relative to a corresponding engaged portion of said perimeter surface opens said fluid path.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein said seal member and a distal portion of said flexible conduit are sized to fit within a human mouth.

3. The valve of claim 1, wherein a portion of said valve is configured for disposition inside a human mouth to enable teeth therein to effect said transverse displacement.

4. The valve of claim 3, wherein said valve is adapted to effect a transverse displacement of said flexible conduit independent of valve rotation, about a delivered fluid axis, in the human mouth.

5. The valve of claim 3, further comprising a positive stop mechanism operable to resist fluid discharge through said valve opening.

6. The valve of claim 5, wherein said positive stop mechanism comprises a bayonet lock mechanism.

7. The valve of claim 5, said positive stop mechanism comprising a sliding mechanism adapted to bring an end of said flexible conduit into engagement with an end seal.

8. The valve of claim 1, wherein:

an increase in fluid pressure in said conduit causes a corresponding increase in contact pressure between said exterior surface and said inside perimeter surface in a sealed valve, thereby further resisting fluid flow through said valve.

9. A bite valve of the type to regulate fluid delivery to a human mouth, the improvement comprising:

an inside seal member comprising a first flexible portion configured in self-biased harmony with an outside seal member such that a localized transverse displacement, directed inwardly, of said first flexible portion opens a fluid flow path through an opening formed, as a result of separation of contact between said inside and outside seal members, by said transverse displacement.

10. The bite valve of claim 9, wherein said fluid flow path is formed by a transversely inward deflection of said first flexible portion with respect to said outside seal member.

11. The bite valve of claim 9, wherein said outside seal member comprises a second flexible portion.

12. The bite valve of claim 9, in combination with a fluid delivery conduit in fluid communication with a proximal end of said bite valve.

13. The bite valve of claim 12, wherein an increase in fluid pressure in said fluid delivery conduit causes a corresponding increase in contact pressure between said outside seal member and said inside seal member in a sealed valve, thereby further to resist fluid flow through said bite valve.

14. The bite valve of claim 9, wherein said bite valve is configured to permit a transverse displacement of said first flexible portion independent of valve rotation, about a delivered fluid axis, in the human mouth.

15. The bite valve of claim 9, further comprising a positive stop mechanism operable to resist fluid discharge through said opening.

16. The valve of claim 15, wherein said positive stop mechanism is configured to occlude an end opening of said inside seal member.

17. A valve comprising:

an inside seal member comprising a transversely flexible first conduit for guiding fluid from a first end to a second end, and having a first seal surface located at an exterior perimeter of said second end;

an outside seal member configured and arranged as a cap to block distally directed fluid flow exiting said second end of said first conduit, and having a proximally directed flange forming a second conduit having an inside surface comprising a second seal surface, said first seal surface being self-biased for engagement with said second seal surface to form a fluid seal to resist fluid flow therepast; and

a support member adapted to locate said outside seal member in a functional position relative to said inside seal member, wherein;

a radially inward displacement, of a localized portion of said first seal surface relative to a corresponding portion of said second seal surface, opens a fluid path through said valve.

18. The valve of claim 17, wherein said support member comprises a post element disposed interior to said first conduit.

19. The valve of claim 17, wherein said support member comprises a post element disposed exterior to said first conduit.

20. The valve of claim 17, wherein said displacement is operable to open said fluid path through said valve independent of valve rotation about a fluid delivery axis in a human mouth.

21. The valve of claim 17, further comprising a positive stop mechanism to resist undesired fluid flow through said valve.

22. The valve of claim 21, wherein said positive stop mechanism is configured to occlude an opening at said second end of said first conduit.

23. The valve of claim 18, wherein said post element comprises an anchor disposed proximally from said outside seal member and adapted to maintain said valve in registration with a fluid supply conduit.

24. The valve of claim 23, wherein said anchor comprises a barb element.

25. The valve of claim 23, wherein said anchor comprises a fitting adapted to change an angle of fluid flow from said fluid supply conduit.

26. The valve of claim 17, said inside seal member being configured and arranged to resist formation of an hour-glass cross-section shape upon valve actuation.

27. The valve of claim 17, further comprising distal and proximal boundaries forming a preferred tooth engagement zone for valve actuation.

28. The valve of claim 27, said distal boundary being arranged to space a user'"'"'s teeth from a proximal end of said outside seal member, whereby to maintain a fluid flow path capable of a high fluid flow rate.