Hands-free activating valve for use with liquid containers

• US 6,264,166 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2001
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian A. Bowland, Mark A. Bowland
• Original Assignee: Brian A. Bowland, Mark A. Bowland
• Inventors: Bowland, Brian A., Bowland, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): KEASEL, ERIC S
• Application Number:
  US09/801,123
• Time in Patent Office: 141 Days
• Field of Search: 222/518, 222/511, 222/175, 222/610, 222/490, 251/336, 251/342, 251/339, 251/340, 251/341, 251/348, 251/349, 251/354, 251/144, 220/703, 220/714, 224/414, 224/148.2, 224/148.4
• US Class Current: 251/144
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2062 in which the deformation raises or lowers the valve stem
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/248 the valve being opened or closed by imparting a motion to the valve stem B65D47/244, B65D47/245 take precedence

Abstract

A hands-free activating valve which permits liquid to flow and be ingested by the user. The apparatus includes a mouth portion and a mounting portion which engages to the opening of a container such as a water bottle. Embedded within the mouth portion is the hands-free activating valve which includes an elongated flexible arch shaped activating stem, where one end is fixed to a holding plate and the other end is attached to a valve. The activating stem has memory which allows the stem to return to its initial condition. The valve is seated on a valve seat of the mounting portion for blocking liquid from exiting the apparatus. In addition, there is also an elongated liquid channel which is located adjacent to the activating stem. This liquid channel extends from the holding plate to the valve and communicates to the outside for allowing the liquid to flow therethrough and be consumed by the user. To activate the hands-free activating valve, the user'"'"'s front teeth are positioned on the arch of the activating stem, where the user'"'"'s front teeth apply a downward force on the arch, thereby moving the valve inwardly to allow the valve to move away from the valve seat which in turn allows liquid to flow through the liquid channel to be sucked and consumed by the user.

Claims

1. A valve apparatus, comprising:

a. a lower sidewall which surrounds an interior hollow chamber into which a liquid can flow;

b. means for attaching said lower sidewall to an opening of a liquid container such that liquid can flow from the container into said interior hollow chamber;

c. an upper neck portion having a top surface and a neck sidewall;

d. said neck sidewall including a first upper extension and a spaced apart parallel second upper extension extending parallel to said first upper extension and separated therefrom by a first space;

e. said neck sidewall further including a gap at the location of said first space;

f. said neck sidewall further including a first lower extension opposite the location of the first upper extension, the first lower extension aligned with the first upper extension;

g. said neck sidewall further including a second lower extension opposite the location of the second upper extension, the second lower extension aligned with the second upper extension;

h. said first lower extension and said second lower extension being parallel to each other and separated by a second space;

i. said neck sidewall surrounding an interior hollow chamber which is longitudinally divided by a longitudinal dividing wall extending from said top surface and dividing the interior hollow chamber into a first longitudinal interior chamber and a second longitudinal interior chamber, both chambers being in fluid engagement with the interior hollow chamber surrounded by said lower sidewall;

j. said upper neck portion and said lower sidewall portion joined at a throat area having an interior sidewall which forms a valve seat;

k. said top surface including a solid surface through which a first opening extends and which is in fluid communication with the first longitudinal interior chamber, the top surface also including an interior ledge which extends slightly below the top surface level so as to create a gap in the top surface which is aligned with the second longitudinal interior chamber;

l. said longitudinal dividing wall extending from the top surface through most of the length of the upper neck portion to a location adjacent said valve seat;

m. an arch shaped resilient member having a hook at one end which is snap fitted into the gap in the top surface and held in place against said ledge to thereby retain the arch shaped resilient member within said second longitudinal interior chamber;

n. said arch shaped resilient member prestressed so that its arch portion is located adjacent to the interior wall of the upper neck portion at the location of the gap in said neck sidewall such that the arch portion is accessible from said first space;

o. said arch shaped resilient member terminating in a transverse valve member which is caused to abut against said valve seat to thereby seal off the first and second interior longitudinal chambers from the interior hollow chamber in the lower sidewall; and

p. said arch shaped resilient member having a sufficient memory so that when a transverse force is applied at the location of said arch portion, the arch shaped resilient member is caused to move away from said gap in the neck sidewall and move toward said dividing wall which in turn causes said transverse valve to move away from said valve seat to thereby permit liquid to pass from the hollow chamber in the lower sidewall through said first longitudinal interior chamber and through said opening in said top surface, and when said transverse force is removed, said arch portion returns to said gap in said neck sidewall and said transverse valve returns to abut against said valve seat to seal off the first and second interior longitudinal chambers.

2. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first space is of sufficient width to accommodate the width of at least one upper human tooth and said second space is of sufficient width to accommodate the width of at least one lower human tooth and said transverse force is created by a biting action of at least two oppositely disposed teeth wherein one tooth comes in contact with said arch portion to cause it to move away from said gap in said neck sidewall and open said transverse valve member.

3. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said arch shaped resilient member is made of plastic material.

4. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said arch shaped resilient member is made of nylon.

5. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said upper neck portion, said lower sidewall, said top, said ledge, said longitudinal dividing wall, said first upper extension, said first second upper extension, said first lower extension and said second lower extension are all molded as a unitary member.

6. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said lower sidewall to the opening of the liquid container is a press fit on an interior surface of the lower sidewall onto the opening of the liquid container.

7. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said lower sidewall to the opening of the liquid container are threads on an interior surface of said lower sidewall so that the lower sidewall can be threaded onto mating threads on the opening of the liquid container.

8. A valve apparatus, comprising:

a. a lower sidewall which surrounds an interior hollow chamber into which a liquid can flow;

b. means for attaching said lower sidewall to an opening of a liquid container such that liquid can flow from the container into said interior hollow chamber;

c. an upper neck portion having a top surface and a neck sidewall, the neck sidewall having a gap located adjacent to means on said neck sidewall to receive at least one tooth;

d. said neck sidewall surrounding an interior hollow chamber which is longitudinally divided by a longitudinal dividing wall attached to said top surface and extending from said top surface and dividing the interior hollow chamber into a first longitudinal interior chamber and a second longitudinal interior chamber, both chambers being in fluid engagement with the interior hollow chamber surrounded by said lower sidewall;

e. said upper neck portion and said lower sidewall joined at a throat area having an interior sidewall which forms a valve seat;

f. said top surface including a solid surface through which a first opening extends and which is in fluid communication with the first longitudinal interior chamber;

g. said dividing wall extending from the top surface through most of the length of the upper neck portion to a location adjacent said valve seat;

h. an arch shaped resilient member having means at one end to attach it to a location on said top surface so that it is retained within said interior chamber of said upper neck portion;

i. said arch shaped resilient member prestressed so that its arch portion is adjacent to the interior wall of the upper neck portion at the location of the gap in said upper neck sidewall such that the arch portion is accessible when a tooth is pressed against said gap in the neck sidewall;

j. said arch shaped resilient member terminating in a transverse valve member which is caused to abut against said valve seat to thereby seal off the first and second longitudinal interior chambers from the interior hollow chamber in the lower sidewall; and

k. said arch shaped resilient member having a sufficient memory so that when a transverse force from a tooth is applied at the location of said arch portion, the arch shaped resilient member is caused to move away from said gap in the neck sidewall and move toward said dividing wall which in turn causes said transverse valve member to move away from said valve seat to thereby permit liquid to pass from the hollow chamber in the lower sidewall through said first longitudinal interior chamber and through said opening in said top surface, and when said transverse force is removed, said arch portion returns to said gap in said neck sidewall and said transverse valve member returns to abut against said valve seat to seal off the first and second longitudinal chambers.

9. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said arch shaped resilient member is made of plastic material.

10. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said arch shaped resilient member is made of nylon.

11. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said upper neck portion, said lower sidewall, said top, said ledge, said interior dividing wall, said first upper extension, said first second upper extension, said first lower extension and said second lower extension are all molded as a unitary member.

12. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for attaching said lower sidewall to the opening of the liquid container is a press fit on an interior surface of the lower sidewall onto the opening of the liquid container.

13. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for attaching said lower sidewall to the opening of the liquid container are threads on an interior surface of said lower sidewall so that the lower sidewall can be threaded onto mating threads on the opening of the liquid container.

14. A valve apparatus, comprising:

a. a lower sidewall which surrounds an interior hollow chamber into which a liquid can flow;

b. means for attaching said lower sidewall to an opening of a liquid container such that liquid can flow from the container into said interior hollow chamber;

c. an upper neck portion having a top surface and a neck sidewall, the neck sidewall having a gap located adjacent to means on said neck sidewall to receive at least one tooth;

d. said neck sidewall surrounding at least one interior longitudinal chamber which is in fluid engagement with the interior hollow chamber surrounded by said lower sidewall;

e. said upper neck portion and said lower sidewall joined at a throat area having an interior sidewall which forms a valve seat;

f. said top surface including a solid surface through which a first opening extends and which is in fluid communication with said at least one interior longitudinal chamber;

g. an arch shaped resilient member having means at one end to attach it to a location on said top surface so that it is retained within said at least one interior longitudinal chamber;

h. said arch shaped resilient member prestressed so that its arch portion is adjacent to the interior wall of the upper neck portion at the location of the gap in said neck sidewall such that the arch portion is accessible when the at least one tooth is pressed against said gap in the neck sidewall;

i. said arch shaped resilient member terminating in a transverse valve member which is caused to abut against said valve seat to thereby seal off the at least one interior longitudinal chamber from the interior hollow chamber in the lower sidewall; and

j. said arch shaped resilient member having a sufficient memory so that when a transverse force from the at last one tooth is applied at the location of said arch portion, the arch shaped resilient member is caused to move away from said gap in the neck sidewall which in turn causes said transverse valve member to move away from said valve seat to thereby permit liquid to pass from the hollow chamber in the lower sidewall through said at least one interior longitudinal chamber and through said opening in said top surface, and when said transverse force is removed, said arch portion returns to said gap in said neck sidewall and said transverse valve member returns to abut against said valve seat to seal off the at least one interior longitudinal chamber.

15. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said arch shaped resilient member is made of plastic material.

16. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said arch shaped resilient member is made of nylon.

17. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said upper neck portion, said lower sidewall, said top, said means to receive the at least one tooth, and said valve seat are all molded as a unitary member.

18. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said means for attaching said lower sidewall to the opening of the liquid container is a press fit on an interior surface of the lower sidewall onto the opening of the liquid container.

19. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said means for attaching said lower sidewall to the opening of the liquid container are threads on an interior surface of said lower sidewall so that the lower sidewall can be threaded onto mating threads on the opening of the liquid container.

20. A valve apparatus comprising:

a. a container having a hollow elongated neck portion with a top having an opening leading to an interior chamber of the elongated neck portion, and which the elongated neck portion includes an interior wall and an exterior sidewall having a gap therein located adjacent to means on said sidewall to receive at least one tooth;

b. said container further including a lower portion having means by which the container is attached to a source of liquid;

c. said container having a hollow interior further including a valve seat;

d. an arch shaped resilient member having means at one end by which it is retained in the elongated neck portion of the container, the arch shaped resilient member prestressed so that its arch portion is adjacent to the interior wall of the elongated neck portion at the location of the gap such that the arch portion is accessible when the at least one tooth is pressed against said gap;

p1 e. said arch shaped resilient member terminating in a transverse valve member which is caused to abut against said valve seat to thereby seal off the interior chamber in the elongated neck portion from the portion of the container by which it is attached to the source of liquid; and

f. said arch shaped resilient member having a sufficient memory so that when a transverse force from the at least one tooth is applied at the location of said arch portion, the arch shaped resilient member is caused to move away from said gap which in turn causes said transverse valve member to move away from said valve seat to thereby permit liquid to pass from the source of liquid through the interior chamber in the elongated neck portion and through said opening in said top surface, and when said transverse force is removed, said arch portion returns to said gap and said transverse valve member returns to abut against said valve seat to seal off the interior chamber in the elongated neck portion.

21. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein said arch shaped resilient member is made of plastic material.

22. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein said arch shaped resilient member is made of nylon.

23. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein said elongated hollow neck portion, said lower portion, said top, said means to receive at least one tooth, and said valve seat are all molded as a unitary member.

24. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein said means for attaching said apparatus to the source of liquid is a press fitted on the lower portion onto an opening of the source of liquid.

25. The valve apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein said means for attaching said apparatus to the source of liquid is internal threads on said lower portion so that the lower portion can be threaded onto mating threads on the opening of the source of liquid.