Patent ID: 6286730
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: B67D,Y10T

Abstract:
A valve assembly for selectively permitting a liquid to be dispensed from a container under gas pressure within said container, said valve assembly being mountable on a stationary stub surrounding an aperture in said container, said valve assembly comprising:(A) a valve seat;(B) a valve element having at least a portion which is movable between a first position in which said valve element seals against said valve seat to block pressurized gas flow into said container and a second position in which said valve element unseats from said valve seat to permit pressurized gas flow into said container and liquid flow out of said container; and(C) a valve cup which is mounted in an opening of said container and which cooperates with said valve element, wherein a releasable retainer assembly is provided on a radially and circumferentially distortable outer wall of said valve cup, said retainer assembly including a protrusion that 1) tapers radially inwardly from an upper portion thereof to a lower portion thereof so as to act as a detent that is configured to engage the stub to distort said outer wall of said valve cup radially inwardly when said valve cup is inserted into the opening from above and which thereafter prevents vertical removal of said valve cup from the opening, and 2) tapers radially outwardly from a circumferential leading portion thereof to a circumferential trailing portion thereof to act as a ramp that is configured to engage the stub and to distort said outer wall of said valve cup when said valve cup is rotated with said retainer assembly in contact with the stub, thereby permitting said valve cup to be rotated out of the stub.