Patent ID: 7651003

Claim:
In combination with a beverage container having an outlet neck centered on an axis, a closure comprising: a mount secured to the neck; a valve body formed with an outwardly open passage extending along a passage axis generally coaxial with the outlet-neck axis and having an outwardly open outer portion and an inwardly open inner portion, a transverse partition completely blocking axial flow through the passage between the portions, and radially open inner and outer ports immediately flanking the partition in the respective portions, the mount being formed with an axially extending and radially inwardly open bypass groove level with the partition and with the ports, the body being pivotally displaceable in the mount about a valve-body axis generally coaxial with the passage axis and outlet-neck axis between an open position and a closed position and through an intermediate position, the ports being positioned so as to both open into the bypass passage in the open position and being angularly offset therefrom in the closed position, whereby the partition blocks flow through the passage in the closed position, allows free flow through the passage in the open position, and limits flow through the passage in the intermediate position.