Patent ID: 6059131
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: B65B,B65D

Abstract:
A Removable Pressure Releasing System comprising:a valve assembly removably mountable to the mouth of a beverage container; anda valve lid removably mountable to the valve assembly;wherein the valve assembly includes:a substantially tubular member with a gas passage therethrough, said tubular member having an internally-threaded female coupler portion on one end of said tubular member for rotatably securing to a threaded neck of a beverage container, and an externally-threaded male coupler portion on the other end of said tubular member for rotatable receiving said valve lid;an annular retaining lip located at each end of said gas passage reducing the diameter size of the gas passage at each end of said tubular member; anda spherical valve member slidably positioned within the gas passage and contained between the annular retainer lips located at each end of the gas passage,wherein said gas passage has an interior surface defining at least two positions for said spherical valve member in said passage,a first said position located adjacent to the end of said tubular member having said male coupler portion thereon, the interior surface of said gas passage at said first position being of a diameter size substantially equal to the size of said spherical valve member such that the spherical valve member in said first position resists the movement of gas between said spherical valve member and the interior surface of said gas passage and thereby substantially blocks gas and liquid movement through said valve assembly,a second said position located between said first position and the annular retaining lip at said female coupler portion end of said tubular member, the interior surface of said gas passage at said second position being of a diameter size larger than said spherical valve member such that said spherical valve member in said second position permits the movement of gas between said spherical valve member and the interior surface of said gas passage and thereby permits gas movement through said valve assembly,wherein the buildup of gas pressure in a beverage container on which said valve assembly is mounted biases said spherical valve member into said first position for blocking release of gas from said container, and wherein a user is able to apply finger force directly to the spherical valve member to move the spherical valve member from said first position into said second position to release gas from said beverage container through the gas passage in a finger controllable manner before removal of said valve assembly from a said container;wherein said spherical valve member prevents the escape of liquid from a beverage container mounted thereto when said beverage container is inverted.