Water bottle with self-closing valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10472140-B2
Application number	US-201515115565-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2015
Priority date	Jan 31, 2014
Publication date	Nov 12, 2019
Grant date	Nov 12, 2019

Abstract

A liquid-dispensing container comprises a housing and a valve member. The housing is adapted to hold a liquid and includes an opening defined by a wall having an inner edge and an outer edge. The valve member has a ledge engaging the outer edge and a cleat engaging the inner edge. The valve member can further include an integral gasket positioned between the ledge and the cleat and deformed in engagement with the wall. The cleat preferably includes a beveled surface. The valve member can be inserted from the outside of the housing and without the need for additional retention members. Specifically, the valve member is secured to the housing by contacting the cleat with the outer edge of the wall, moving the valve member toward the housing such that the cleat passes through the opening, and engaging the cleat with the inner edge of the wall.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid-dispensing container comprising:
a housing adapted to hold a liquid in an interior volume, the housing including an opening defined by an inner edge and an outer edge; and
a valve member defined by a first material and a second material, the valve member having a ledge engaging the outer edge and a cleat spaced from the ledge and engaging the inner edge such that the valve member is fixed to the housing;
wherein the first material is harder than the second material;
wherein the cleat is defined by the first material;
wherein the valve member includes an inner support, with an interior passage extending through the inner support, and an outer cover co-molded with the inner support;
wherein the outer cover includes an inner section and an outer section, wherein the outer cover wraps around the inner support such that the inner section contacts an inwardly-facing interior surface of the inner support, and wherein the outer section contacts an opposite, outwardly-facing exterior surface of the inner support;
wherein the inner section includes a self-closing valve disposed within the interior passage and configured to selectively block the interior passage;
wherein the inner support is made of the first material; and
wherein the outer cover is made of the second material.

2. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a bottle and a separable cap.

3. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the separable cap includes the opening.

4. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the separable cap receives the valve member.

5. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inner edge and the outer edge are defined by a wall and the valve member further includes an integral gasket positioned between the ledge and the cleat, the integral gasket being deformed in engagement with the wall.

6. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the valve member comprises multiple cleats circumferentially spaced from each other, the multiple cleats comprising the cleat.

7. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cleat includes a beveled surface that facilitates insertion of the valve member into the housing.

8. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the cleat is secured to a flexible leg to facilitate biased movement of the cleat away from the inner edge.

9. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cleat is secured to a flexible leg to facilitate biased movement of the cleat away from the inner edge.

10. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ledge is at least partially defined by the first material.

11. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inner section of the outer cover is integral with the outer section of the outer cover.

12. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the outer section of the outer cover covers at least a majority of the exterior surface.

13. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the inner section of the outer cover comprises an annular portion.

14. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inner section of the outer cover comprises an annular portion.

15. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second material is more elastic than the first material.

16. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the second material is less dense than the first material.

17. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second material is less dense than the first material.

18. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inner support comprises a tubular structure.

19. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the valve member comprises a length, and the inner support comprises a length less than the length of the valve member.

20. A liquid-dispensing container as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a portion of the inner support is positioned between the inner section of the outer cover and the outer section of the outer cover.

Assignees

• Specialized Bicycle Components Inc

Inventors

• Jones Ryan Curt

Classifications

• B65D47/2031 Primary

  the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure (B65D47/2025 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D47/04

  Closures with discharging devices other than pumps · CPC title

• B67D3/00

  Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes (separating and dispensing metered quantities of liquids G01F) · CPC title

• B65D5/42

  Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks · CPC title