Patent ID: 9307852
Filing Date: 2016-04-12
CPC Classification: A47G,F16K

Claim Text:
1. A fluid dispensing valve for dispensing fluid from a container having an internal cavity containing fluid, the fluid dispensing valve comprising: a detachable cover for releasably interconnecting with the container, the detachable cover having a first surface which faces in the direction of the container internal cavity, and an opposite, second surface, the detachable cover further having a downwardly depending peripheral edge which matingly cooperates with the container; a first passageway defined in the detachable cover that communicates between the first surface and the second surface for fluid to flow therethrough, and a second passageway defined in the detachable cover spaced apart from the first passageway, that communicates between the first surface and the second surface to couple an air pressure of a surrounding ambient environment with the container internal cavity to facilitate the flow of the fluid through the first passageway; a sidewall circumscribing the second passageway, and wherein the circumscribing sidewall depends downwardly from the first surface of the detachable cover; a slit valve mounted within the downwardly depending circumscribing sidewall which selectively occludes the second passageway, and substantially impedes the passage of fluid through the second passageway, but allows the air pressure of the ambient environment to be equalized through the slit valve to allow a smooth flow of fluid from the internal cavity of the container through the first passageway; a valve housing carried on the first surface of the detachable cover concentrically oriented relative to the first passageway, and wherein the valve housing is defined, in part, by a discontinuous valve housing wall that defines a passageway therethough, and by an internal cavity; a valve control element rotatably cooperating with the valve housing to selectively dispense fluid from the internal cavity of the container, and wherein the valve control element is defined, at least in part, by a base member having an outwardly facing portion having a peripheral edge, and wherein a force applied to the outwardly facing portion permits the valve control element to be selectively rotated relative to the valve housing, and wherein the peripheral edge of the outwardly facing portion, when rotated, comes into direct frictional contact with the downwardly depending peripheral edge of the detachable cover so as to limit the rotatable movement of the valve control element to a predetermined path of travel relative to the valve housing, and wherein the valve control element further includes a partially deformable sidewall which is mounted on the base member, and the partially deformable sidewall is sized to be telescopingly received within the internal cavity defined by the valve housing, and wherein the deformable sidewall, when disposed in a juxtaposed relationship relative to the valve housing passageway defined in the discontinuous valve housing wall deforms when a vacuum is created within the valve housing, and the partially deformable sidewall has a variable thickness dimension that corresponds to a predetermined flow rate of fluid which passes through the fluid dispensing valve for delivery to the first passageway when the valve housing is exposed to the vacuum which is created by a user applying a sucking action to the first passageway, and the valve control element further includes a post which is located in spaced relation relative to the partially deformable sidewall which further limits movement of the partially deformable sidewall, and wherein the selective rotation of the valve control element along the predetermined path of travel defines a continuous range of predetermined flow rates of fluid from the internal cavity of the container, and through the first passageway; and the second passageway formed in the detachable cover, and the circumscribing sidewall carrying the slit valve are located in spaced apart relation relative to the peripheral edge of the outwardly facing portion of the valve control element, and the second passageway and the slit valve are accessible for cleaning without disassembling the valve control element from the valve housing.