Patent Abstract:
A bite valve for a hydration system includes a body, a sheath, a seal post, a first seal, and a second seal. The body includes a body channel configured to flow a fluid. The sheath is configured to attach to the body. The sheath includes a sheath channel extending from the body to a sheath opening. The seal post is positioned within the sheath channel and is configured to be movable with respect to the sheath and the body between a sealed position and an unsealed position.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
     A conventional bite valve has a resilient sheath and a main body. The sheath has an opening on one end through which liquid passing through the main body can be expelled. The other end of the sheath is affixed to the main body. Within the sheath is a seal rod and a biasing member such as a compression spring. The biasing member supplies a force that urges the end of the seal rod into the opening of the sheath. That end of the seal rod is shaped to fill that opening and provide a seal that helps prevent liquid from escaping through the bite valve. The seal rod is configured so that when a user bites down on the sheath, the sheath compresses into the seal rod forcing the seal rod into the main body. Sufficient bite pressure overcomes the biasing member. This causes the end of the seal rod to disengage from the sheath&#39;s opening, thus allowing liquid to pass through the main body and out the opening. US Pub. 2007/0164037 to Chen describes such a conventional bite valve. 
     When such a bite valve is coupled to a pressurized source, maintaining a proper seal is desirable. Through use and time, the sheath&#39;s opening can deform resulting in a poor or inoperative seal allowing undesired leaking. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are cross-sectional views of an exemplary bite valve according to an embodiment. In  FIG. 1 , the bite valve is in a closed position. In  FIG. 2 , the bite valve is in an open position. 
         FIG. 3  is a photo view of a deconstructed bite valve according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 4-8  show a reconstruction of the bite valve according to an embodiment.  FIG. 4  is a photo view of view showing the seal post inserted through the collar.  FIG. 5  is a photo view showing the o-ring placed on the seal post.  FIG. 6  is a photo view showing the biasing member coupled to the seal post.  FIG. 7  is a photo view showing the seal post, collar, o-ring, and biasing member assembly inserted in the bite valve body according to an embodiment. In  FIG. 7 , the biasing member is urging the seal post out of the bite valve main body, thus closing the bite valve according to an embodiment. In  FIG. 8 , the seal post is being urged back into the body overcoming the biasing member to open the bite valve according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It is desirable, especially when coupled to a pressurized source, that a bite valve maintain a proper seal when closed. Otherwise liquid from the pressurized source could leak from the valve. Various embodiments of the present invention assist in maintaining a proper seal in a bite valve even when that bite valve is coupled to a pressurized source. An example of a pressurized source is described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/764,620 entitled “Pressurized Hydration System.” Application Ser. No. 11/764,620 is hereby incorporated by reference. 
       FIGS. 1-8  illustrate an exemplary bite valve  10 . As shown, bite valve  10  includes body  12 , collar  14 , seal post  16 , biasing member  18 , and sheath  20 . Body  12  represents generally any structure through which fluid can flow. Referring to  FIG. 1 , body  12  includes body flow channel  22 , biasing member cavity  24 , collar support  26 , and sheath support  28 . Body flow channel  22  is a passageway though which a fluid can pass through body  12 . While not shown, body  12  can be coupled to a fluid reservoir via a drinking tube. In a manner discussed in more detail below, fluid can pass from that reservoir through that drinking tube passing through body flow channel  22 . 
     Biasing member cavity  24  represents a portion of the interior surface of body  12  within body flow channel  22  that is configured to hold or otherwise contain and support biasing member  18 . Collar support  26  represents a portion of the interior surface of body  12  to which collar  14  can be affixed, removably or otherwise. Sheath support  28  represents a portion of the exterior surface of body  12  to which sheath  20  can be affixed, removably or otherwise. 
     Collar  14  represents generally any structure configured to be affixed to collar support  24  of body  12  while allowing fluid to flow through body flow channel  22 . Collar  14  includes collar flow channel  30  and seal lip  32 . Collar flow channel  30  represents a passage through which fluid can flow through collar  14  with collar  14  affixed to body  12 . Seal lip  32  represents an interior surface of collar  14  within collar flow channel  30  that is against which a sealing component such as an o-ring can be pressed to impede the flow of fluid through body flow channel  22 . 
     Seal post  16  represents generally any structure slideable between an extended position ( FIG. 1 ) and an inserted position ( FIG. 2 ) through collar flow channel  30  of collar  14 . Seal post  16  includes o-ring  34 , o-ring groove  36 , and valve post flow channels  38 . O-ring  34  represents generally any pliable material that can fit around seal post  16  increasing a diameter of seal post  16  at a given point. O-ring groove  36  defines the point at which o-ring  34  fits around seal post  16 . Seal post channels  38  represent passageways formed when seal post  16  is inserted through collar  14 . Fluid is allowed to flow through body flow channel  22 , collar flow channel  30  and these passageways  38  when seal post is slid into the inserted position of  FIG. 2 . When in the extended position of  FIG. 1 , o-ring  34  of seal post  16  is pressed against seal lip  34  of collar  14  impeding the fluid flow. In this example, fluid is blocked from passing through collar flow channel  30  and into seal post channels  38  when seal post is extended as shown in  FIG. 1 . When seal post is slid to the inserted position shown in  FIG. 2 , fluid is allowed to pass through collar flow channel  30  and into seal post channels  38 . 
     Biasing member  18  represents generally any structure configured to apply a biasing force on seal post  16  to keep seal post  16  in the extended position shown in  FIG. 1 . Biasing member  18 , in this example, is a compression spring configured to fit within biasing cavity  24 . One end of biasing member  18  is supported by biasing member cavity  24 . The other end of biasing member  24  presses against the end of seal post  16  that is inserted through collar  14 . The biasing force of biasing member  18  is overcome by sliding seal post  16  through collar  14  and further into body  12 —that is—by compressing biasing member  18  as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the force needed to compress biasing member  18  is removed, biasing member forces seal post to the extended position shown in  FIG. 1 . The compression of o-ring  34  against seal lip  32  stops seal post  16  from being extended further and closes or seals bite valve  10 . 
     Seal post  16  is also shown to include seal post incline  40 , seal post neck  42 , and seal post tip  44 . Seal post incline  40  represents an inclined surface of seal post  40 . The incline is noticeable with respect to a longitudinal axis of seal post  16 , the longitudinal axis being an axis of seal post  16  that is parallel to the direction seal post  16  slides through collar  14 . Seal post neck  42  represents a portion of seal post  16  at the point where seal post incline has its smallest diameter. Valve post tip  44  extends from seal post neck  42  with a larger diameter. Valve post tip is configured to generally seal an opening in sheath  20  when seal post  16  is in the extended position of  FIG. 1 . 
     Sheath  20  represents generally any pliable material such as silicone configured to fit around seal post  16  and couple to sheath support  28  of body  12 . Sheath  20  includes sheath flow channel  46  and sheath opening  48 . Sheath flow channel represents a passageway through which fluid passes out of bite valve  10  through sheath opening  48 . With seal post  16  forced into the inserted position of  FIG. 2 , fluid can pass through bite valve  10  via body flow channel  22 , collar flow channel  30 , seal post flow channels  38 , sheath flow channel  46  and sheath opening  48 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , to overcome the biasing force of biasing member  18 , one bites down on sheath  20 . The pressure from the bite compresses sheath  20  against valve post incline  40 . The inclined surface of valve post incline  40  translates the pressure of the bite causing valve post  16  to slide into body  12  compressing biasing member  18  and opening bite valve  10 . If attached to a pressurized liquid source, liquid from that source is forced through bite valve  10  and into the mouth of the person biting sheath  20 . Once the person stops biting, biasing member  18  urges seal post back to the extended position closing bite valve  10 . When coupled to a pressurized source, the force from the pressurization supplements the biasing force of biasing member  18  further improving the seal between o-ring  34  and seal lip  32 . 
       FIGS. 3-8  illustrate the assembly of bite valve  10 . In  FIG. 3 , bite valve  10  is separated into its various components, body  12 , biasing member  18 , o-ring  34 , collar  14 , seal post  16 , and sheath  20 . In  FIG. 4 , seal post  16  has been inserted through collar  14 . In  FIG. 5 , o-ring  34  has be placed in o-ring groove  36  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) of seal post  16 . In  FIG. 6 , one end of biasing member  18  has been coupled to the end of seal post  16  that was inserted through collar  14 . In  FIG. 7 , the assembly of seal post  16 , collar  14 , and biasing member  18  is partially inserted in and coupled to body  12 . While not visible, biasing member is fit into biasing member cavity  24  of body  12  and collar  14  is affixed to collar support  26  of body  12 . In  FIG. 7 , biasing member  18  is holding seal post  16  in the extended position closing bite valve  10 . In  FIG. 8 , seal post is being slid into the inserted position opening bite valve  10 . While not shown, sheath  20  can then be placed around seal post  16  and coupled to body  12  completing the assembly of bite valve  10   
     The various examples discussed above provide for a bite valve with an improved sealing capability. When coupled to a pressurized source, the force from the pressurization acts to further improve that seal.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0