A closure for a liquid container, such as a sports drink bottle, includes a base component that is engaged over the mouth of the container, and a cap component engaged on the base component for movement from a closed position to an open position by pressure from the lips of the consumer. The base co
A closure for a liquid container, such as a sports drink bottle, includes a base component that is engaged over the mouth of the container, and a cap component engaged on the base component for movement from a closed position to an open position by pressure from the lips of the consumer. The base component includes a valve element supported on a fenestrated pedestal. The cap component includes a body defining a drinking surface for contacting the lips of the consumer and an annular sealing disc recessed below the drinking surface. The sealing disc is retained by the valve element against the force of a resiliently deformable seal disposed between the base component and the cap component. The seal has a sealing rim that is in constant contact with the base portion and provides an upward spring force to hold the sealing disc in the normally closed position. The seal includes a flexible hinge that allows the resiliently deformable seal to bow outward or bellows when the cap is depressed.
대표청구항▼
1. A closure for a liquid container comprising:a base component including; a skirt configured for engagement about the mouth of the liquid container; a closure portion connected to said skirt and covering the mouth of the container when the skirt is engaged thereon, said closure portion defining a n
1. A closure for a liquid container comprising:a base component including; a skirt configured for engagement about the mouth of the liquid container; a closure portion connected to said skirt and covering the mouth of the container when the skirt is engaged thereon, said closure portion defining a number of openings for the passage of the liquid therethrough; and a valve element supported by said closure portion, said valve element defining an undercut sealing surface; and a cap component including; a body defining a surface configured for contact by the lips of a consumer drinking the liquid; a sealing element connected to said body and configured to contact said undercut sealing surface in a substantially leak-proof engagement, whereby flow from said number of openings is controlled by said substantially leak-proof engagement; and a resiliently deformable seal directly connected at one end to said sealing element and disposed about said closure portion of said base component, said seal having a first sealing rim at an end opposite said one end in continuous substantially fluid-tight contact with said closure portion of said base component, whereby said resiliently deformable seal supports said cap member on said base member so that said cap member can be depressed by contact with surface of said body to move said sealing element apart from said valve element to expose said number of openings in said closure portion for liquid flow therefrom. 2. The closure for a liquid container according to claim 1, wherein said resiliently deformable seal includes a flexible hinge between an upper and a lower portion thereof.3. The closure for a liquid container according to claim 1, wherein:said closure element includes an annular plate spanning said skirt and a pedestal projecting from said plate, said pedestal supporting said valve element and defining said number of openings; and further wherein said first sealing rim is in continuous substantially fluid-tight engagement with said plate. 4. The closure for a liquid container according to claim 3, wherein:said plate defines a retention bead concentrically disposed outboard of said pedestal; and said first sealing rim is disposed between said pedestal and said retention bead. 5. The closure for a liquid container according to claim 1, wherein said resiliently deformable seal includes a cylindrical element concentrically disposed about a portion of said closure element.6. The closure for a liquid container according to claim 5, wherein said substantially cylindrical element tapers inward toward said first sealing rim.7. The closure for a liquid container according to claim 5, wherein said substantially cylindrical element includes a flexible hinge between an upper and a lower portion thereof.8. The closure for a liquid container according to claim 1, wherein said sealing element includes an annular disc having an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of said valve element.9. The closure for a liquid container according to claim 8, wherein said sealing element defines an upper sealing rim on said annular disc arranged for sealing engagement with said undercut sealing surface of said valve element.10. The closure for a liquid container according to claim 1, wherein said body is over-molded about said sealing element.11. The closure for a liquid container according to claim 1, wherein said sealing element is integrally formed with said resiliently deformable seal.12. The closure for a liquid container according to claim 1, wherein said base component includes a cylindrical flange projecting downward from said closure portion for sealing contact with the mouth of the container when said skirt is engaged on the container.13. The closure for a liquid container according to claim 1, wherein:said base component includes a guide cylinder projecting upward from said closure portion; and said body of said cap component includes a sealing skirt configured to be concentrically disposed about said guide cylinder. 14. The closure for a liquid container according to claim 1, wherein said surface of said body extends above said valve element when said sealing element is in sealing engagement with said undercut sealing surface.15. A closure for a liquid container comprising:a base component configured for engagement about the mouth of the liquid container, said base component including; a valve element defining an undercut sealing surface; and a number of openings in communication with the mouth of the container when said base component is engaged thereon; a cap body engaged on said base component between said valve element and said number of openings, said cap body including a scaling element disposed around at least a part of the base component, said cap body movable relative to said base component from a closed position in which said sealing element is in sealing contact with said undercut sealing surface, to an open position in which said sealing element is displaced away from said undercut sealing surface to expose at least a portion of said number of openings for fluid flow; and a resiliently deformable seal concentrically disposed about said number of openings between said cap body and said base component, said seal including a flexible hinge to permit deformation of said seal when said cap body is moved from said closed position to said open positions, wherein said can body and said base component cooperate to define a sealing engagement outboard of said resiliently deformable seal. 16. The closure for a liquid container according to claim 15, wherein said seal includes a substantially cylindrical element including said flexible hinge between an upper and a lower portion thereof.17. The closure for a liquid container according to claim 16, wherein said substantially cylindrical element has tapered walls.18. A closure for a liquid container comprising:a base component including; a skirt configured for engagement about the mouth of the liquid container; a closure portion connected to said skirt and covering the mouth of the container when the skirt is engaged thereon, said closure portion defining a number of openings for the passage of the liquid therethrough; and a valve element supported by said closure portion, said valve element defining an undercut sealing surface; and a cap component including; a body defining a surface configured for contact by the lips of a consumer drinking the liquid; a sealing element connected to said body and surrounding at least a part of said closure portion, said sealing element configured to contact said undercut sealing surface in a substantially leak-proof engagement, whereby flow from said number of openings is controlled by said substantially leak-proof engagement; and a resiliently deformable seal connected at one end to said sealing element and disposed about said closure portion of said base component, said seal having a first sealing rim at an end opposite said one end in continuous substantially fluid-tight contact with said closure portion of said base component, whereby said resiliently deformable seal supports said cap member on said base member so that said cap member can be depressed by contact with surface of said body to move said sealing element apart from said valve element to expose said number of openings in said closure portion for liquid flow therefrom.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (16)
Ritter Frank,DEX, Cartridge stopper with a valve function.
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