Breather valve
AssigneePeach Teats Limited
InventorsRobert Dymock MCINTYRE, Rex Alan PIKE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention includes a breather valve used on containers that selectively allows a flow of air through the breather valve and which may be used to regulate the flow rate of fluid from a container or nursing bottle that includes the breather valve. The invention also includes containers and nursing bottles that include the breather valve along with methods of use of the breather valve, the containers and the nursing bottles. The breather valve, the containers, the nursing bottles and the methods of use allow for the ability to adjust flow rate rapidly, provision of a breather valve that may be retrofitted or sold with a new container or nursing bottle. The breather valve is designed in a manner that is semi-permanent to fit.
Claims21
A breather valve configured to allow air flow into a container, the breather valve comprising:
- a base portion, and
- a tap portion,
- wherein the base portion comprises
- a head,
- a base, and
- a shaft section with an exterior shape configured to fit with interference into a hole in the container to which it is fitted, and
- wherein the shaft section and the head have an axial threaded cavity therein;
- wherein the tap portion comprises
- a head,
- an elongated shaft extending from the head of said tap portion,
- a thread on the elongated shaft that cooperates with the axial threaded cavity on the base portion,
- at least one recess on the elongated shaft configured to allow air flow therethrough, and
- wherein, when the tap portion is unthreaded from the base portion, the at least one recess on the elongated shaft of the tap portion is exposed allowing air to pass through the at least one recess and into the container.
A container comprising:
- an opening that allows fluid to flow from the container;
- and
- a breather valve, wherein the breather valve comprises
- a base portion, and
- a tap portion,
- wherein the base portion comprises
- a head,
- base, and
- shaft section with an exterior shape configured to fit with interference into a hole in the container to which it is fitted, and
- wherein the shaft section and head have an axial threaded cavity therein;
- wherein the tap portion comprises
- a head,
- an elongated shaft extending from the head of the tap portion,
- a thread on the elongated shaft that cooperates with the axial threaded cavity on the base portion,
- at least one recess on the elongated shaft configured to allow air flow therethrough, and
- wherein, when the tap portion is unthreaded from the base portion, the at least one recess on the elongated shaft of the tap portion is exposed allowing air to pass through the at least one recess and into the container.
A nursing bottle configured for feeding a calf, the nursing bottle comprising:
- a teat configured for a calf to suck on to obtain fluid from the nursing bottle;
- and
- a breather valve, wherein the breather valve comprises
- a base portion;
- and
- a tap portion;
- wherein the base portion comprises
- a head,
- a base, and
- a shaft section with an exterior shape configured to fit with interference into a hole in the nursing bottle to which it is fitted, and
- wherein the shaft section and head have an axial threaded cavity therein;
- wherein the tap portion comprises
- a head,
- an elongated shaft extending from the head of the tap portion,
- a thread on the elongated shaft that cooperates with the axial threaded cavity on the base portion,
- at least one recess on the elongated shaft configured to allow air flow therethrough, and
- wherein, when the tap portion is unthreaded from the base portion, the at least one recess on the elongated shaft of the tap portion is exposed allowing air to pass through the at least one recess and into the nursing bottle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.