Automatic valved bottle cap for use with liquid containers

Abstract

A sports bottle cap having a pressure differential valve is provided which allows water to flow out through the bottle cap only when the bottle is inverted and squeezed or alternatively a straw may be threaded through the pressure differential valve, thereby deactivating it, and attached to the bottle cap allowing the user to draw liquid from the bottle through the straw. In operation the bottle cap of the present invention allows the user to dispense fluid from within the bottle in two different ways. The first manner of use allows liquid to be dispensed only when the bottle containing the liquid is inverted and squeezed. Squeezing causes the pressure to increase on the inside of the bottle thereby causing the pressure differential valve to open and liquid to exit; however, when the bottle is not squeezed the pressure differential valve remains in the closed position sealing bottle. The second manner of use allows the user to convert bottle cap for use as a sports mug having a straw-like tube to draw the liquid out of bottle. This configuration is accomplished simply by threading a straw through pressure differential valve thereby disengaging the pressure differential valve, and attaching the first end of the straw to a straw receptor located within the bottle cap. The bottle cap is then attached to the bottle and the user can suck liquid out of the bottle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.