Disclosed valves for drinking from a portable fluid container allow for manual actuation of the valve between an open configuration that permits fluid flow and a closed configuration that substantially prevents fluid flow. Disclosed valves comprise a valve housing having inner bore fluidly coupled t
Disclosed valves for drinking from a portable fluid container allow for manual actuation of the valve between an open configuration that permits fluid flow and a closed configuration that substantially prevents fluid flow. Disclosed valves comprise a valve housing having inner bore fluidly coupled to an inflow channel and an outflow channel that are angled with respect to one another, and a reciprocating valve member that is adjustably positioned partially within the bore to open and close the fluid flow pathway through the bore from the inflow channel to the outflow channel. The reciprocating valve member is shaped such that it can prevent fluid flow when fully inserted within the bore to a closed configuration, and can allow fluid flow when the valve member is retracted from this closed position by a relatively short distance to an open configuration.
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1. A valve for a drinking container, the valve comprising: a housing and a valve member adjustably coupled to the housing;wherein the housing comprises a fluid inlet, a bore having a lower chamber and an upper chamber, and a fluid outlet;wherein the fluid inlet, the bore lower chamber, and the bore
1. A valve for a drinking container, the valve comprising: a housing and a valve member adjustably coupled to the housing;wherein the housing comprises a fluid inlet, a bore having a lower chamber and an upper chamber, and a fluid outlet;wherein the fluid inlet, the bore lower chamber, and the bore upper chamber are aligned along a central axis, and the fluid outlet extends laterally from the bore upper chamber in a direction transverse to the central axis;wherein the bore upper chamber is larger in diameter than the bore lower chamber, and the bore lower chamber is larger in diameter than the fluid inlet;wherein the bore upper chamber has an open upper end for receiving the valve member;wherein the valve member comprises a lower body having a lower sealing member sized to seal within the bore lower chamber, and the valve member comprises an upper body having an upper sealing member sized to seal within the bore upper chamber;wherein the valve member is adjustable relative to the housing in axial directions of the central axis between an open position and a closed position;wherein when the valve member is in the closed position, the upper sealing member is in sealing contact with the bore upper chamber and the lower sealing member is in sealing contact with the bore lower chamber, such that fluid entering the fluid inlet cannot flow through the bore lower chamber into the bore upper chamber or into the fluid outlet; andwherein when the valve member is in the open position, the upper sealing member remains in sealing contact with the bore upper chamber and the lower sealing member is positioned above the bore lower chamber and in the bore upper chamber, such that fluid can flow from the fluid inlet, through the bore lower chamber, through the bore upper chamber around the lower sealing member, and into the fluid outlet, but fluid is prevented from leaking through the open upper end of the bore upper chamber; andthe valve further comprising a bite valve positioned at the fluid outlet, the bite valve being operative in conjunction with the valve member to regulate fluid flow. 2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve member further comprises an arm extending from the upper body outside of the housing, and the arm is engagable with an outer surface of the housing in at least two different positions, including a first position to hold the valve member in the closed position, and a second position to hold the valve member in the open position. 3. The valve of claim 2, wherein the valve member can be moved from the open position to the closed position by pressing down on the valve member in a direction of the central axis, and the valve member can be moved from the closed position to the open position by lift or pushing up on the arm. 4. The valve of claim 2, wherein the arm and the outer surface of the housing comprise interfitting engagement features that allow the arm to engage with the housing and hold the valve body relative to the housing in the open position and the closed position. 5. The valve of claim 2, wherein the housing and the arm include interfering features that prevent the valve member from being removed from the housing absent substantial deformation of the arm or the housing. 6. The valve of claim 1, wherein the upper sealing member comprises an O-ring seated in an annular recess in the upper body, and the lower sealing member comprises an O-ring seated in an annular recess in the lower body. 7. The valve of claim 1, wherein the lower body of the valve member comprises a tapered valve disk at a lower end of the lower body, and when the valve member is in the closed position the valve disk covers an upper end of the fluid inlet at a junction between the fluid inlet and the bore lower chamber. 8. The valve of claim 1, wherein, when the valve member is in the closed position, a lateral wall of the upper body below the upper sealing member blocks the fluid outlet at a junction between the bore upper chamber and the fluid outlet. 9. The valve of claim 1, wherein the bite valve comprises a rigid stem and a flexible sheath mounted around the stem, such that the sheath seals against the stem in a natural state to block fluid flow out of the fluid outlet, and such that the sheath separates from the stem to allow fluid flow out of the fluid outlet when a user bites down on the sheath. 10. The valve of claim 1, wherein, when the valve member is in the open position, fluid flowing through the fluid outlet moves in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to fluid flowing through the fluid inlet. 11. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve member moves a first distance in the axial direction between the open position and the closed position, and the first distance is less than a radius of the bore upper chamber and less than a diameter of the bore lower chamber. 12. The valve of claim 1, wherein the fluid outlet comprises a first portion adjacent to the bore upper chamber and a second portion through which fluid exits the housing, wherein a height of the first portion in the direction of the central axis is less than a height of the second portion in the direction of the central axis. 13. The valve of claim 12, wherein the first portion of the fluid outlet has a non-circular cross-section and the second portion of the fluid outlet has a circular cross-section. 14. A valve for a drinking container, the valve comprising: a housing and a valve member adjustably coupled to the housing;wherein the housing comprises a fluid inlet, a bore having a lower chamber and an upper chamber, and a fluid outlet;wherein the fluid inlet, the bore lower chamber, and the bore upper chamber are aligned along a central axis, and the fluid outlet extends laterally from the bore upper chamber in a direction transverse to the central axis;wherein the bore upper chamber is larger in diameter than the bore lower chamber;wherein the valve member comprises a lower body having a lower sealing member sized to seal within the bore lower chamber, and the valve member comprises an upper body having an upper sealing member sized to seal within the bore upper chamber;wherein the valve member is adjustable relative to the housing in axial directions of the central axis between an open position and a closed position;wherein when the valve member is in the closed position, the lower sealing member is in sealing contact with the bore lower chamber, such that fluid entering the fluid inlet cannot flow through the bore lower chamber into the bore upper chamber or into the fluid outlet;wherein when the valve member is in the open position, the upper sealing member is in sealing contact with the bore upper chamber to prevent fluid leakage and the lower sealing member is positioned above the bore lower chamber and in the bore upper chamber, such that fluid can flow from the fluid inlet, through the bore lower chamber, through the bore upper chamber around the lower sealing member, and into the fluid outlet; andthe valve further comprises a bite valve adjacent the fluid outlet of the housing, the bite valve being operative in conjunction with the valve member to regulate fluid flow. 15. The valve of claim 14, wherein the bite valve comprises a rigid stem and a flexible sheath mounted around the stem, such that the sheath seals against the stem in a natural state to block fluid flow out of the fluid outlet, and such that the sheath separates from the stem to allow fluid flow out of the fluid outlet when a user bites down on the sheath. 16. A valve for a drinking container, the valve comprising: a housing and a valve member adjustably coupled to the housing;wherein the housing comprises a fluid inlet, a bore having a lower chamber and an upper chamber, and a fluid outlet;wherein the fluid inlet, the bore lower chamber, and the bore upper chamber are aligned along a central axis, and the fluid outlet extends laterally from the bore upper chamber in a direction transverse to the central axis;wherein the bore upper chamber is larger in diameter than the bore lower chamber, and the bore lower chamber is larger in diameter than the fluid inlet;wherein the bore upper chamber has an open upper end for receiving the valve member;wherein the valve member comprises a lower body having a lower sealing member sized to seal within the bore lower chamber, and the valve member comprises an upper body having an upper sealing member sized to seal within the bore upper chamber;wherein the valve member is adjustable relative to the housing in the directions of the central axis between an open position and a closed position;wherein when the valve member is in the closed position, the upper sealing member is in sealing contact with the bore upper chamber and the lower sealing member is in sealing contact with the bore lower chamber, such that fluid entering the fluid inlet cannot flow through the bore lower chamber into the bore upper chamber or into the fluid outlet; andwherein when the valve member is in the open position, the upper sealing member remains in sealing contact with the bore upper chamber and the lower sealing member is positioned above the bore lower chamber and in the bore upper chamber, such that fluid can flow from the fluid inlet, through the bore lower chamber, through the bore upper chamber around the lower sealing member, and into the fluid outlet, but fluid is prevented from leaking through the open upper end of the bore upper chamber;wherein the fluid outlet comprises a first portion adjacent to the bore upper chamber and a second portion through which fluid exits the housing, wherein a height of the first portion in the direction of the central axis is less than a height of the second portion in the direction of the central axis; andwherein the first portion of the fluid outlet has a non-circular cross-section and the second portion of the fluid outlet has a circular cross-section. 17. The valve of claim 16, wherein the valve member further comprises an arm extending from the upper body outside of the housing, and the arm is engagable with an outer surface of the housing in at least two different positions, including a first position to hold the valve member in the closed position, and a second position to hold the valve member in the open position. 18. The valve of claim 17, wherein the valve member can be moved from the open position to the closed position by pressing down on the valve member in a direction of the central axis, and the valve member can be moved from the closed position to the open position by lift or pushing up on the arm; and wherein the arm and the outer surface of the housing comprise interfitting engagement features that allow the arm to engage with the housing and hold the valve body relative to the housing in the open position and the closed position. 19. The valve of claim 16, wherein the lower body of the valve member comprises a tapered valve disk at a lower end of the lower body, and when the valve member is in the closed position the valve disk covers an upper end of the fluid inlet at a junction between the fluid inlet and the bore lower chamber. 20. The valve of claim 16, wherein, when the valve member is in the closed position, a lateral wall of the upper body below the upper sealing member blocks the fluid outlet at a junction between the bore upper chamber and the fluid outlet; and when the valve member is in the open position, fluid flowing through the fluid outlet moves in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to fluid flowing through the fluid inlet.
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