초록 ▼

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 include

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.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]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 hollo

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]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; andp. 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.