Patent Application
20140144870
The present invention relates generally to water bottles commonly used by cyclists for rehydration, and more specifically to poppet-style valves for such water bottles.
Water bottles are commonly used by athletes and others to hold and dispense liquids, such as water and sports drinks Water bottles commonly include a body, a cap, and a valve that is movable relative to the cap between open and closed positions. In the open position, liquid can be dispensed from the bottle, and in the closed position, liquid is inhibited from being dispensed from the bottle.
Water bottles valves are frequently in the form of poppet valves including a poppet that can be slid between open and closed positions. Such poppets usually include an engagement portion that facilitates engagement by the user to facilitate opening the valve. In addition to providing a valve function from sliding the poppet between the open and closed positions, some poppets include an additional valve that inhibits the leakage of liquid when the poppet is open. For example, the poppet can include a flexible, self-closing valve, such as the valve disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,784,652, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. These self-closing valves are commonly secured over an opening in a cap to inhibit flow of liquid from the water bottle.
A liquid-dispensing container comprising a housing (e.g., a body and a cap) adapted to hold a liquid and a poppet mounted to the housing and movable along an axis between an open position and a closed position. The poppet comprises a base portion comprising a relatively rigid material and an elastomeric portion comprising an elastomeric material having a tensile elastic modulus less than 80% (e.g., less than 50%, 25%, 10%, and most preferably less than 1%) of the elastic modulus of the rigid material. The base portion preferably comprises a tubular structure having an exterior surface that is at least partially covered by the elastomeric material and an interior surface that is at least partially exposed (e.g., at least 50% exposed and preferably at least 75% exposed). Preferably, the base portion has a length that is at least 50% (at least 70%, 85%, and most preferably about 95%) of the length of the poppet.
In one embodiment, the elastomeric portion includes an outer section engaged with an outer surface of the base portion and an inner section integrally formed with the outer section and forming a self-closing valve. In one construction, the self-closing valve includes a cylindrical section having a tapered wall thickness. Preferably, the outer section includes a circumferential seal and a circumferential clearance adjacent the circumferential seal. For example, the circumferential clearance can comprise a groove extending at least 50% through a thickness of the outer section. The circumferential seal can be positioned adjacent a lower end of the base portion, and the outer section can further include a second circumferential seal positioned adjacent a mid portion of the base portion. The outer section can further include an upper protrusion that engages an upper edge of the housing when the poppet is in the open position. The outer section can further include a retention cleat having a retention surface at an acute angle relative to the axis.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.
As shown in
The elastomeric portion 30 is co-molded with the base portion 28 using a material having a lower hardness and increased elasticity compared to the base portion 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the elastomeric portion 30 is made from in elastomeric material having a durometer of about Shore A 50 and a tensile modulus of elasticity of about 800 psi. The elastomeric portion 30 includes an inner section 38 and an outer section 40 integrally formed with the inner section 38. The elastomeric portion 30 contains openings 72, which expose portions of the base portion 28 that can be contacted in a direction parallel to the axis 26 to hold the base portion in the desired location within the tool while the elastomeric portion is being overmolded. These openings 72 are shielded from direct view parallel to the axis 26 by an overhanging feature 73.
The inner section 38 is engaged with and covers a relatively small section of the interior surface 34 of the upper end of the base portion 28. The result is that about 85 percent of the length of the interior surface 34 of the base portion 28 is exposed. This represents about 80 percent of the entire length of the poppet 14. The inner section 38 includes an annular portion 42 that is engaged with and is secured to (co-molded with) the interior surface 34 of the base portion 28. The inner section 38 further includes a self-closing valve 44 supported by the annular portion 42 and substantially blocking the interior passage 36 through the base portion 28. The self-closing valve 44 includes slits 46 that defined four flaps 48 that will open when sufficient pressure is applied to the valve 44. The self-closing valve also includes a cylindrical section with a tapered wall 71 to cause the valve to close in a consistent, progressive manner.
The outer section 40 completely covers the exterior surface 32 of the illustrated base portion 28 such that no part of the exterior surface 32 of the illustrated base portion 28 is exposed. The outer section 40 includes four retention cleats 50 that are dimensioned to slide within the elongated openings 22 of the valve seat guide 20 to guide the poppet 14 between the open and closed positions. Each retention cleat 50 includes a retention surface 52 that is positioned at an acute angle α of about 45 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis 26 of the poppet 14. Each retention cleat 50 will engage an upper edge 54 of the portion of the valve seat guide 20 that defines the corresponding elongated opening 22.
The outer section 40 further includes upper protrusions 56 and lower protrusions 58 that are adapted to act as detents to provide the user with a distinct tactile sensation when opening or closing the poppet, respectively. More specifically, referring to
The outer section 40 further includes an upper circumferential seal 62 positioned adjacent a mid-portion of the poppet 14, and a lower circumferential seal 64 positioned adjacent a lower end of the poppet 14. The upper and lower circumferential seals 62,64 each include a convex surface that will slide and seal against an inner surface 68 of the sidewall of the valve seat guide 20, as a best shown in
Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
