Beverage Container Vent Mechanism Including Perforated Elastic Membrane And Support Plate
AssigneeInsta-mix, Inc., Subsidiary A (DBA UMIX, Inc.)
InventorsJames Holley, Patrick Bever
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A beverage container assembly includes a thin, silicone membrane that is perforated with multiple pinholes and is mounted on a rigid support plate defining multiple vent holes. The silicone membrane rests against an inside surface of the support plate when the pressure inside the container is equal to or greater than the surrounding environment, and the pinholes remain closed to prevent beverage leakage. When beverage is drawn from the container, the resulting pressure differential causes the membrane to bend inward, which opens the pinholes to allow venting of air into the container. The membrane is formed at the end of an elongated silicone fluid containment member that forms a liner inside a container body.
Claims18
A beverage container assembly comprising:
- a container body including an elongated wall surrounding a central chamber;
- a neck portion disposed at a first end of the elongated wall and defining a circular edge;
- a rigid support plate defining one or more vent holes disposed at a second end of the elongated wall;
- and
- a flat elastomeric membrane disposed against a flat inside surface of said rigid support plate, said membrane defining at least one pinhole.
A beverage container assembly comprising:
- a container body including a rigid support plate defining one or more vent holes, a cylindrical neck portion having a circular edge defining an opening, and a rigid member connected between the rigid support plate and the neck portion;
- and
- an elongated fluid containment member including a flat elastomeric membrane disposed adjacent to the rigid support plate, a tube-like neck portion extending through the cylindrical neck portion of the frame, and a side wall extending between the flat membrane and the tube-like neck portion,
- wherein said flat membrane defines at least one pinhole.
An assembly comprising:
- a container body surrounding a central chamber and defining a first opening;
- a first one-way vent valve disposed on the container body;
- a flexible bladder disposed in the central chamber and defining a second opening that communicates with the first opening;
- and
- a flow control assembly disposed over the first and second openings and including an outlet arranged such that a plastic material disposed in the bladder is forced through the outlet when the internal pressure is greater than the external pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.