Pour flow control device
OwnerElden Williamsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve apparatus utilizes a biased flap and air hole to regulate the flow of a fluid from the orifice of a container. The biased flap progressively opens in response to increasing fluid pressure upon the flap. An additional air hole is preferably used to permit air to continuously enter the container while fluid is discharged. A substantially smoother pouring response is achieved.
Claims30
A valve apparatus sized to fit in the lip region of a neck of a container to provide flow control for a fluid exiting from said container, comprising:
- an attachment portion dimensioned to be coupled to the lip region of said container;
- a flap portion coupled to said attachment portion, said flap portion sized and positioned to substantially obstruct the flow of fluid through the lip region of the container when said flap portion is in a closed position;
- wherein said flap portion is resiliently biased with a bias selected so that said flap portion is in said closed position in the absence of fluid pressure acting on said flap portion and wherein said bias acts so that said flap portion opens a progressively greater amount in response to increasing fluid pressure against said flap portion, thereby decreasing the obstruction of said flap portion to the discharge of the fluid through said lip region as the fluid pressure against said flap portion increases;
- whereby said valve apparatus moderates pressure surges of the discharged fluid.
A valve apparatus sized to fit in the lip region of a neck of a container to provide flow control for fluid exiting from said container, comprising:
- an attachment portion dimensioned to be coupled to the lip region of said container, wherein said attachment portion is coupled to a collar dimensioned to mate with the neck of said container;
- a flap portion coupled to said attachment portion, said flap portion sized and positioned to substantially obstruct the flow of fluid through the lip region of the container when said flap portion is in a closed position;
- wherein said flap portion is resiliently biased so that said flap portion normally obstructs the flow of fluid through said lip region in the absence of fluid pressure acting on said valve apparatus but said flap portion opens a progressively greater amount in response to increasing fluid pressure against said flap portion and
- wherein said attachment portion includes a support frame, a plug disposed on said support frame, and a secondary air passage disposed in said support frame and said flap portion includes a primary air passage, said primary air passage dimensioned and positioned to mate with said plug when said flap portion is in a sealed flap position.
A valve apparatus sized to fit in the lip region of a neck of a container to provide flow control for a fluid exiting from said container, comprising:
- an attachment portion dimensioned to couple with the lip region of the neck of said container, said attachment portion including an air passage to admit air into said container;
- a flap portion connected to said attachment portion by a hinge, said flap portion sized and positioned to substantially obstruct the flow of fluid through said lip region when said flap portion is in a closed position;
- wherein said flap portion is resiliently biased with a bias selected so that said flap portion is in said closed position in the absence of fluid pressure acting on said flap portion and wherein said bias acts so that said flap portion opens a progressively greater amount in response to increasing fluid pressure against said flap portion, thereby decreasing the obstruction of said flap portion to the discharge of the fluid through said lip region as the fluid pressure against said flap portion increases;
- whereby said valve apparatus moderates pressure surges of the discharged fluid.
A valve apparatus sized to provide flow control for a fluid discharged from a lip region of a neck of a container, comprising:
- flap means for forming a movable obstruction to the flow of the fluid through the lip region of said container;
- bias means for regulating the position of said movable obstruction;
- coupling means for coupling said valve apparatus to the lip region of said container;
- wherein said flap means is resiliently biased so that the flow of the fluid though the lip region is substantially obstructed in the absence of fluid pressure acting upon said valve apparatus but becomes progressively less obstructed with increasing fluid pressure acting upon said valve apparatus;
- whereby said valve apparatus moderates pressure surges of the discharged fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.