Abstract:
A dosing and/or dispensing system for use with a liquid container such as a bottle or the like for dosing and/or dispensing liquid contents from the bottle. The system includes an improved venting means to ensure that the liquid being dosed or dispensed properly and accurately drains. A novel throat plug assembly is provided for insertion into the throat of the bottle. The throat plug assembly is comprised entirely of a recyclable plastic material.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This is a continuation application of the application Ser. No. 12/378,850 entitled DISPENSING AND/OR DOSING SYSTEM INCLUDING AN IMPROVED THROAT PLUG ASSEMBLY, filed Feb. 20, 2009, which is a continuation-in-part application of the application Ser. No. 11/879,163 filed Jul. 16, 2007 entitled DISPENSING AND/OR DOSING SYSTEM. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The inventions disclosed in Applicant&#39;s earlier U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,142,345, 6,986,443; 6,945,433; and 6,945,432 and the co-pending application relate to dosing and/or dispensing systems. The instant invention relates to an improved throat plug assembly for use in dispensing and/or dosing systems. More particularly, the improved throat plug assembly of the invention utilizes a plastic spring rather than a metal spring. In the preferred embodiment, the plastic spring is molded with the retainer or the throat plug assembly thereby enabling the entire throat plug assembly to be comprised of a recyclable plastic material and which also reduces the number of component parts of the throat plug assembly thereby further enhancing the assembly of the throat plug assembly. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In Applicant&#39;s earlier U.S. patents, which are identified hereinabove, dosing and/or dispensing systems are disclosed for use with a liquid container such as a bottle or the like for dosing and/or dispensing liquid contents from the bottle. Various different dosing and/or dispensing embodiments are disclosed in Applicant&#39;s earlier patents which enable the liquid to be dosed or dispensed by gravity from the container. In Applicant&#39;s earlier patents, an inverted liquid container such as a bottle or the like is screwed onto a fixture which is in communication with the open upper end of a hollow cup or bowl which normally has a predetermined volume. It is desirable to dose a predetermined volume or amount of liquid from the container into a spray bottle or the like which will be used to spray a mixture of water and the liquid chemical onto surfaces to be cleaned. Although Applicant&#39;s earlier inventions work extremely well, the invention of the co-pending application represented a further advance in the art due to the unique venting of the components of the assembly so that air locks are prevented and so that the liquid will freely flow therefrom in precise amounts. In Applicant&#39;s earlier throat plug assemblies, which were an important part in the dispensing and/or dosing systems, a metal spring was utilized to yieldably maintain the valve in the throat plug assembly in a closed position with a separate cap or retainer holding the metal spring in position. An ecological problem exists with the use of a metal spring in an otherwise completely recyclable plastic throat plug assembly since the metal spring must be removed from the throat plug assembly which is being discarded to enable the other plastic components of the throat plug assembly to be recycled. In many cases, the discarded throat plug assemblies were simply thrown into the trash due to the cost of removing the metal spring from the throat plug assembly. Further, in Applicant&#39;s earlier throat plug assemblies, the metal spring and the retainer thereof were separate pieces or parts thereby requiring separate manufacture and separate assembly into the throat plug assembly. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0007]    This invention relates to a dosing and/or dispensing system for use with an inverted liquid container such as a bottle or the like having upper and lower ends. The lower end of the container has a hollow throat extending downwardly therefrom which has interior and exterior surfaces with the exterior surface of the throat being threaded. A plastic throat plug assembly is inserted into the throat of the bottle to close the same. The throat plug assembly includes a first valve seat and a normally closed first valve which is moveable between a lower closed position to an upper open position with respect to the first valve seat. The first valve in the throat plug assembly prevents liquid from passing downwardly from the container through the first valve seat in the throat plug assembly when in its lower closed position. The first valve in the throat plug assembly permits liquid to pass downwardly from the container through the first valve seat in the throat plug assembly when in its upper open position. In the instant invention, the spring Which yieldably urges the normally closed first valve to its closed position is comprised of a recyclable plastic material and is preferably molded as a unitary piece or part with the retainer of the throat plug assembly. 
         [0008]    The system also includes a mounting ring member having upper and lower ends. The mounting ring member has first and second upstanding ring-shaped walls formed therein which have upper and lower ends and which have a bottom wall extending therebetween at the lower ends thereof to define a first channel. The bottom wall of the ring member has a plurality of vent openings formed therein. The inner face of the first wall has threads thereon which are adapted to threadably receive the throat of the container. The ring member also has a central opening formed therein inwardly of the inner face of the first wall. A ring-shaped cap is positioned on the ring member and extends over the upper ends of the first and second walls to close the upper end of the first channel. The cap is constructed of a plastic material which permits a small amount of air to pass therethrough while preventing the passage of liquid therethrough. The ring-shaped cap has a central opening formed therein which registers with the central opening in the ring member. 
         [0009]    A hollow, generally cylindrical-shaped accumulator having an open upper end and a bottom wall with the open upper end and the bottom wall defining a liquid compartment therein. The bottom wall of the accumulator has a central opening formed therein which has an annular second valve seat positioned outwardly thereof which extends therearound. The bottom wall of the accumulator has a plurality of vent openings formed therein outwardly of the second valve seat which communicate with the liquid compartment. At least some of the vent openings in the bottom wall of the accumulator have a hollow vent tube in communication therewith which extend upwardly within the liquid compartment of the accumulator. The upper ends of the vent tubes communicate with at least some of the vent openings in the bottom wall of the first channel of the mounting ring member. 
         [0010]    A dosing bowl or cup is also provided and has a dosing compartment formed therein. The upper end of the dosing bowl is secured to the lower end of the accumulator so that the dosing compartment is in communication with the central opening in the accumulator and the vent openings in the bottom wall of the accumulator. The lower end of the dosing bowl has a discharge opening and a third valve seat extending therearound. A dispensing actuator is selectively vertically moveably mounted on the lower end of the dosing bowl which is moveable between upper and lower positions with respect thereto. The actuator has an actuator rod secured thereto for movement therewith which extends upwardly therefrom through the dosing bowl, the central opening in the bottom wall of the accumulator, the central opening in the mounting ring member for selective engagement with the first valve in the throat plug assembly. The actuator rod causes the first valve to open when the actuator is moved to its upper position. The actuator rod has second and third vertically spaced valves mounted thereon for movement with the actuator. The second valve closes the second valve seat when the actuator is in its upper position and opens the second valve when the actuator is in its lower position. The third valve closes the third valve seat when the actuator is in its lower position and opens the third valve when the actuator is in its upper position. 
         [0011]    The first and second valves are vertically spaced on the actuator rod so that the second valve seat is closed before the third valve seat is open as the actuator rod is moved from its lower position to its upper position and so that the third valve seat is closed before the second valve seat is opened as the actuator rod is moved from its upper position to its lower position. 
         [0012]    It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved dosing and/or dispensing system. 
         [0013]    A further object of the invention is to provide an improved throat plug assembly for use with dosing and/or dispensing systems. 
         [0014]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a throat plug assembly for use with dosing and/or dispensing systems which is comprised entirely of a recyclable plastic material. 
         [0015]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a throat plug assembly wherein the spring for the first valve thereof is comprised of a recyclable plastic material. 
         [0016]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a throat plug assembly wherein the valve spring and the assembly retainer are molded together to form a unitary member which is comprised of a recyclable plastic material. 
         [0017]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved dosing and/or dispensing system which includes improved venting means to ensure efficient and accurate dispensing or dosing of liquid from an inverted container. 
         [0018]    These and other objects will be obvious to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a pair of the dispensing and/or dosing devices of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the dispensing and/or dosing device of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the device of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the throat plus assembly of the system of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the throat plug assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a vertical sectional view of the system of the invention wherein the throat plug assembly is in its closed position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a vertical sectional view of the system of this invention when the throat plug assembly is in its open position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the mounting ring; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the mounting ring; 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  is a bottom view of the accumulator; 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the accumulator with a portion thereof cut away to more fully illustrate the accumulator; 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the invention in its non-dispensing position; 
           [0032]      FIG. 13  is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  in its dispensing and dosing position; 
           [0033]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the improved throat plug assembly of this invention; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of the throat plug assembly of  FIG. 14 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
         [0036]    With respect to  FIGS. 1-13 , the numeral  10  refers to a conventional container such as a bottle or the like which is used for transporting, storing and dispensing liquids therefrom. The drawings illustrate the bottle  10  in an inverted dispensing position. Container  10  includes a hollow throat portion  12  which has external threads  14  and internal threads  15  provided thereon. 
         [0037]    The numeral  16  refers to a throat plug assembly or gravity flow insert which will be described as it is positioned when the bottle  10  is in the inverted position. The throat plug assembly  16  is inserted into the hollow throat portion  12  of the bottle  10  when the bottle  10  is in its upright position. For purposes of description, throat plug assembly  16  will be described as including an upper end  18  and a lower end  20 . The throat plug assembly  16  of  FIGS. 1-13  is of the type previously patented by Applicant and includes a valve seat  22  thereon which is adapted to receive a valve  24  provided on valve stem  26 . Valve  24  is normally closed and is yieldably urged to its closed position by a metal spring  28 . The throat plug assembly  16  also includes a retainer  29  which is screwed onto the throat plug  16 . 
         [0038]    Applicant&#39;s improved dosing and/or dispensing system described in the co-pending application will now be described and will be referred to generally by the reference numeral  30 . Although the assembly  30  may be attached to a mounting fixture by any of several different ways, one way of attaching the assembly to a fixture will be illustrated in the drawings and described herein. 
         [0039]    The numeral  32  refers generally to the mounting fixture which includes a horizontally disposed mounting plate  34  which is screwed to a wall, cabinet, or other supporting surface and which has offset tracks or rails  36  and  38  provided at the upper and lower ends thereof respectively. 
         [0040]    The numeral  40  refers to a mounting bracket which is selectively slidably mounted on the mounting plate  34  by brackets B 1  and B 2  and which has a shelf member  42  extending therefrom which has a circular opening  44  formed therein as well as a pair of smaller openings  46  and  48  formed therein. The mounting fixture is conventional in design. 
         [0041]    The numeral  50  refers to a mounting ring having an upper end  52  and a lower end  54 . Flange  56  extends rearwardly from ring  50  which has a pair of pegs or posts  58  and  60  extending downwardly therefrom which are received by openings  46  and  48  respectively when ring  50  is in position on bracket  40 . The upper end  52  of ring  50  has a pair of upstanding, spaced-apart ring-shaped walls  62  and  64  which have a bottom wall  66  extending therebetween to define a generally U-shaped channel  68 . Bottom wall  68  preferably has  4  larger openings  70 ,  72 ,  74  and  76  which extend therethrough. Wall  68  preferably has  4  smaller openings  78 ,  80 ,  82  and  84  formed therein which extend therethrough. Bottom  68  also has four hollow screw posts  86  extending upwardly therefrom adapted to receive screws  88  therein as will be described hereinafter. 
         [0042]    The underside of ring  50  ( FIG. 9 ) is provided with an annular recess  90  which extends upwardly therein to. The underside of ring  50  is also provided with an annular wall  92  which extends downwardly therefrom inwardly of recess  90 . The underside of ring  50  further has a cylindrical body portion  94  extending downwardly therefrom to define an inverted, generally U-shaped channel  96  which communicates with the lower ends of openings  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82  and  84 . Body portion  94  has a central opening  98  having spokes  100  extending therein. Opening  102  is provided at the inner ends of the spokes  100 . Body portion  94  also has internal threads  103 . 
         [0043]    The upper end of ring  50  is selectively closed by a ring-shaped cap  104  having a central opening  106  and  4  screw holes  108  which register with the posts  86  so that cap  104  may be attached to ring  50  by the screws  109 . The underside of cap  104  has a pair of annular walls  110  and  112  extending downwardly therefrom which are adapted to engage the inside surfaces of walls  62  and  64  of ring  50  respectively. The walls  110  and  112  define a channel  116  which registers with the channel  68  to form an annular channel designated generally by the reference numeral  118  ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0044]    The numeral  120  designates a cup-shaped or cylindrical-shaped accumulator  120  having an upper end  122  and a lower end  124 . Accumulator  120  includes an outer wall member  126  having a bottom wall  128  extending therebetween above the lower end to define an interior compartment  130 . The exterior surface of outer wall  126  has an annular shoulder or ring  132  extending therefrom below the upper end thereof. The lower exterior of wall  126  is provided with threads  134 . Bottom wall  128  has a central opening  140  formed therein. A plurality of spokes  141  extend across opening  140  and have a hub H at their inner ends which slidably receives an actuator rod as will be described hereinafter. Bottom wall  128  has openings  142 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150  and  152  extending therefrom which communicate with hollow tubes  158 ,  162 ,  160 ,  164 ,  168  and  166  respectively which extend upwardly from bottom wall  128  in the interior compartment  166  of accumulator  120 . The upper ends of tubes  158 ,  160 ,  164 , and  166  are adapted to receive screws  88  which extend downwardly through the openings  70 ,  72 ,  74  and  76  in ring  50  respectively to secure accumulator  120  to ring  50 . Tubes  158 ,  160 ,  164  and  166  do not serve as vent tubes but are merely mounting tubes for receiving screws  88 . Tubes  162  and  168  communicate with openings  144  and  150  respectively and serve as vent tubes as will be described hereinafter. An annular wall  169  extends downwardly from bottom wall  128 , the interior of which is in communication with opening  140  and which forms a valve seat  170 . 
         [0045]    The assembly also includes a dosing or dispensing cup or bowl  172  having an internally threaded upper end portion  174  which is threadably secured to the threaded portion  134  of accumulator  120 . Bowl  172  includes a conical-shaped portion  176  which extends downwardly and inwardly from upper end portion  174  to a tubular portion  178 , the upper interior end of which defines a valve seat  180  ( FIG. 7 ). The lower end of tubular portion  178  is open to form a discharge opening  182 . 
         [0046]    The lower end of tubular portion  178  has a vertically disposed slot  184  and a notch  186  defining a shoulder  187  formed therein on the opposite sides of tubular portion  178 . An actuator sleeve  188  is vertically movably mounted on the tubular portion  178  and has a central opening  190  which slidably and rotatably receives tubular potion  178 . A vertically disposable actuator rod support  192  is positioned in opening  190  and is supported by a pair of horizontally extending spokes  191  at the lower end thereof and has an open upper end which receives the lower end of an actuator rod  194  extending upwardly therefrom. Bolt or screw  195  secures the lower end of actuator rod  194  to support  192 . The slots  184  and the notches  186  are adapted to receive a spoke  191  thereon. 
         [0047]    Actuator rod  194  has a disc-shaped valve  196  mounted thereon above its lower end for movement therewith. A cylindrical valve  198  is mounted on rod  194  below valve  196  and has an outwardly extending flange  200  at its upper end. Valve  196  is adapted to be received in valve seat  170  when the actuator rod  194  is in its upper position ( FIG. 9 ). When actuator rod  194  is in its upper position, valve  198  is positioned above valve seat  180  ( FIG. 7 ). When actuator rod  194  is in its lower position, valve  198  is received within valve seat  180  and valve  196  is positioned below valve seat  170  ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0048]    The numeral  202  refers to an actuator collar which is press fitted onto the actuator sleeve  188  so as to be held in place thereon and movable therewith. Sleeve  202  has an annular knob portion  204  extending therearound. Collar  202  is tubular so as to permit liquid to flow therethrough. Sleeve  188  and collar  202  form an actuator knob  205 . 
         [0049]    The assembly and operation of the invention of the co-pending application will now be described. 
         [0050]    The mounting plate  34  is secured to a suitable support surface by screws or the like. The mounting bracket  40  is then slidably mounted on the plate  34  and held in position thereon by the screws extending into the brackets B 1  and B 2  to clamp the same onto rails  36  and  38 . If not already done so, the tubular portion  178  of bowl  172  is inserted downwardly into the central opening  190  of knob  188  so that slots  184  therein receive the spokes  191 . The lower end of actuator rod  194  is inserted downwardly through bowl  172  into actuator rod support  192  with the screw or bolt  195  preventing inadvertent separation thereof. The bowl  172 , actuator knob  205  and actuator rod  194  are moved upwardly with respect to accumulator  120  so that actuator rod  194  is received by hub H in spokes  138  of accumulator  120  and is received by opening  102  in spokes  100  in ring  50 . 
         [0051]    The threaded upper end portion  174  of bowl  172  is then threadably secured to threads  134  on the lower end of accumulator  120 . The upper end of accumulator  120  is inserted upwards through opening  44  in shelf member  42  until shoulder  132  engages the underside of shelf member  42  which limits the upward movement of accumulator  20  with respect to shelf member  42 . 
         [0052]    The mounting ring  50  is then positioned on the upper end of accumulator  120  which protrudes above shelf member  42 . Screws  88  are then inserted downwardly through openings  70 ,  72 ,  74  and  76  and are threadably secured to the upper ends of tubes  158 ,  160 ,  164  and  168  to secure mounting ring  50  to the upper end of accumulator  120  and to limit the downward movement of accumulator  120  by means of the flange  56  extending outwardly beyond opening  44  in shelf member  42 . The posts  58  and  60  are received by the openings  46  and  48  of shelf member  42  to limit the rotational movement of the accumulator  120  and attached components relative to the shelf member  42 . 
         [0053]    Cap  104  is then secured to the open upper end of mounting ring  50  by the screws  109  extending downwardly through the screw holes  108  and being threadably received by the posts  86  in channel  66  of mounting ring  50 . The assembly is now ready for use. 
         [0054]    When it is desired or dose or dispense liquids, the bottle  10  is inverted and threadably secured to the internal threads  103  in the central opening  98  of mounting ring  50 . At this time, the dispensing knob  205  and the actuator rod  194  secured thereto will be in the lowermost position ( FIG. 6 ) so that the upper end of actuator rod  194  will not cause the valve  24  to open at this time. At this time, valve  24  is closed, valve  196  is open and valve  198  is closed. There will be air in the channel  118  which is formed by the mating of the channel  68  in mounting ring  50  and the channel  116  in cap  104 . There will also be air in the accumulator  120  and in the dispensing bowl  172 . 
         [0055]    To begin the dispensing operation, the dispensing knob  205  is moved from its lower position ( FIG. 6 ) to its upper position ( FIG. 7 ) which causes the upper end of actuating rod  194  to open valve  24 . At this time, valve  196  will be closed and valve  198  will be open. During the upward movement of the knob  205  and actuator rod  194  from its lower position to its upper position, valve  196  will be closed prior to valve  198  being opened. As liquid drains into the accumulator  120  from the bottle  10  through the valve  24 , the air in the accumulator  120  will go through the liquid flowing from the bottle  10  into the bottle  10  to replace the liquid draining therefrom to prevent an airlock. The air in the accumulator  120  will also flow upwardly into the channel  118  through the two vent openings  80  and  84 . Excess air in the channel  118  will flow downwardly through vent openings  78  and  82  through the vent tubes  162  and  164  into the open bowl  172 . 
         [0056]    When the accumulator  120  has been filled with liquid and it is desired to dispense the same into the bowl  172 , the knob  205  is moved to its lower position which causes valve  24  to close, valve  196  to open and valve  198  to be closed. As the liquid flows from the accumulator  120  into the bowl  172 , the air in bowl  172  passes upwardly into channel  118  through the two vent tubes  162  and  164 . The air in the channel  118  flows through the two vent holes  80  and  84  into the interior of the accumulator  120  to replace the liquid draining from the accumulator  120  into the bowl  172 . 
         [0057]    When it is desired to dispense or dose the liquid from the bowl  172 , the dispensing knob  205  is moved upwardly which causes valve  24  to open, valve  196  to close, and valve  198  to open. As liquid drains from the bowl  172 , the liquid volume therein is replaced with air from the bottom of the two vent tubes  162  and  164  with air from the channel  118  flowing downwardly through the vent tubes. The air from the accumulator interior compartment flows into the bottle through  24  and also into channel  118  by way of the vent openings  80  and  84  between the channel  118  and the accumulator interior compartment. As this is happening, liquid flows from the bottle  10  downwardly into the accumulator  120  so that the cycle may begin again. 
         [0058]    A modified form of the system is illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . The primary differences will now be described with the reference numeral  30 ′ referring to the modified embodiment. In system  30 ′ the tubular portion  178 ′ is somewhat longer than the tubular portion  178  in system  30 . The actuator knob  205 ′ in system  30 ′ is shaped somewhat differently than the knob  205  in system  30  and the sleeve  202  is omitted from system  30 ′. The actuator rod  194 ′ is secured to the actuator rod support  192 ′ which is secured to the actuator  205 ′. Another difference is that the valve  196 ′ has a pair of wings  210  and  212  extending laterally therefrom. 
         [0059]    The vent tubes  162  and  168  in system  30  are modified in system  30 ′ so that the venting therethrough is controlled by a poppet valve as will now be described. Since only tube  162 ′ is shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , only tube  162 ′ and associated structure will be described. The lower end of tube  162 ′ has a valve seat  214  formed therein which may be closed by a poppet valve  216  which is movably mounted in tube  162 ′. Mounting ring  50 ′ has a short tube  218  extending downward from channel  118 ′ and which is received in the upper end of tube  162 ′. Spring  220  is positioned in tube  162 ′ between the lower end of tube  218  and the upper end of poppet valve  216  to normally close valve seat  214 . The lower end of poppet valve  216  is in engagement with the upper end of wing  210 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 11  illustrates valve  198 ′ open, valve  196 ′ closed and valve seat  214  closed. When the actuator rod  194 ′ is moved from its lower position of  FIG. 8  to its upper position of  FIG. 12 , valve  196 ′ moves upwardly which causes wing  210  to move poppet valve  216  upwardly to open valve seat  214  so that venting air may move upwardly from the interior of bowl  172 ′ to channel  118 ′ and vice versa. Other than the use of the poppet valve in system  30 ′, the operation of system  30 ′ is the same as described with respect to system  30 . 
         [0061]    Thus, it can be seen that a unique venting system as described in the co-pending application has been provided for a dosing and/or dispensing system which ensures that airlocks in the system will be prevented and which permits the efficient and accurate dispensing or dosing of liquid therefrom. 
         [0062]    With respect to the improved throat plug assembly of this invention, as seen in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the improved throat plug  300  is intended to replace the throat plug  16  of the co-pending application. The throat plug assembly  300  is inserted into the hollow throat portion of the bottle or container  10  when the bottle  10  is in its upright position. Throat plug assembly  300  will be described as being in position in the inverted bottle and as having a cylindrical body portion  302  with a reduced diameter upper end  304  and a lower end  306 , having a protruding rim or flange  308 . The throat plug assembly  300  includes a valve seat  310 , which is adapted to receive a valve  312  provided on valve stem  314 . Valve stem  314  has a plurality of radially spaced-apart shoulders  316  formed therein intermediate its ends. 
         [0063]    The numeral  318  refers to a retainer/spring assembly which is adapted to be snap-fitted onto the upper end  304  of body portion  302 . Retainer/spring assembly  318  includes a cap or retainer  320  having a tube  322  extending upwardly therefrom and a tube  324  extending downwardly therefrom. Retainer  320  is secured to the upper end  304  of body portion  302 . In the preferred embodiment, spring  326  is integrally molded with retainer  320  with the upper end thereof embracing tube  324  and with its lower end embracing valve stem  314 . The lower end of spring  326  engages shoulders  316 . Spring  326  yieldably urges valve  312  to its closed position in valve seat  310 . 
         [0064]    The entire throat assembly  300  is comprised of a recyclable plastic material. The fact that the spring  326  is plastic rather than metal as in Applicant&#39;s previous designs enables the entire throat assembly to be recycled without the necessity of removing a metal spring therefrom which is time consuming. Further, the fact that the retainer  320  and spring  326  are preferably of one-piece molded construction eliminates one part thereby enhancing the assembly of the throat plug assembly. 
         [0065]    Thus, it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
         [0066]    Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.