Patent ID: 8640904
Filing Date: 2014-02-04
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
1. A flow control valve for dispensing a source of fluid, comprising: a source of fluid to be dispensed, and which is enclosed within a vessel having a neck; a first portion of a flow control valve having a main body with a first end which releasably mates with the neck of the vessel, and an opposite second end, and wherein the main body further defines a lower, first cavity, and an upper, or second cavity, and wherein the first and second cavities are separated, one from the other by a separation surface, and wherein a first, second and third aperture are formed in the separation surface, and wherein the separation surface further has an elevated region which extends into the lower, first cavity of the first portion of the flow control valve, and wherein the elevated region has a ramp portion which extends downwardly from the elevated region and to the separation surface, and wherein the third aperture formed in the separation surface extends through the elevated region, and wherein the first aperture permits the source of fluid to pass therethrough, and wherein the third aperture permits ambient air to pass into the vessel when the source of fluid is poured from the vessel through the first aperture, and wherein the first portion of the flow control valve further includes a movement limiting member which is mounted on the separation surface, and which extends downwardly into the lower, or first cavity thereof; a rotatable control member having a main body with a top and bottom surface, and further having a peripheral edge, and wherein a fluid dispensing aperture is defined by the main body, and wherein a post extends downwardly from the bottom surface, and is sized so as to be received in, and extend through, the second aperture which is defined by the first portion of the flow control valve, and wherein the main body of the rotatable control member further defines a bottom cavity which matingly receives, at least in part, a portion of the first end of the first portion of the flow control valve, and wherein the bottom surface of the rotatable control member is received, at least in part, within the upper or second cavity of the first portion of the flow control valve, and wherein the rotatable control member coaxially rotates relative to the first portion of the flow control valve, and wherein the source of fluid can flow from the vessel when the fluid dispensing aperture is substantially coaxially aligned with the first aperture which is defined by the first portion of the flow control valve; a rigid locking member which releasably mates and substantially co-rotates with the post, and wherein the first portion of the flow control valve is located therebetween the rigid locking member, and the main body of the rotatable control member, and wherein the rigid locking member defines first, second, and third apertures extending therethrough, and wherein the rigid locking member engages the movement locking member upon rotation of the rotatable control member so as limit the coaxial rotation of the rotatable control member relative to the first portion of the flow control valve; and a resilient sealing and biasing member matingly coupled with, and juxtaposed relative to the rigid locking member, and located therebetween the first portion of the flow control valve, and the rigid locking member, and wherein the resilient sealing and biasing member co-rotates with the rigid locking member, and further exerts a biasing force against the rigid locking member and the separation surface of the first portion of the flow control valve so as resiliently urge the first portion of the flow control valve, and the rotatable control member together, and wherein the resilient sealing and biasing member further defines first, and second, substantially coaxially aligned, upwardly and downwardly extending, resilient fluid blocking members which are individually operable to substantially occlude the first and third apertures which are defined by the first portion of the fluid control valve when the rotatable control member is located in a given orientation relative to the first portion of the flow control valve.