Patent ID: 7543723

Claim:
An air-vented closure assembly for a fluid container comprising: a valve body having a docking member for connecting the closure to the container, the valve body having a first conduit and a second conduit extending longitudinally therein, the first conduit is adapted for conveying liquid and has a first liquid inlet and a first liquid outlet, the second conduit is adapted for conveying air and has a first air inlet and a first air outlet; a generally cylindrical mounting sleeve connected to the valve body having a fluid channel and a longitudinal axis therethrough extending transverse to the first and second conduits, the mounting sleeve having a first opening and a second opening at opposed ends and a third opening intermediate the first opening and the second opening; and a valve element having a generally cylindrical wall positioned coaxially within the fluid channel and having opposed first and second ends with a second liquid outlet at the first end and a second air inlet at the second end and a third opening intermediate the first and second ends, the valve element being mounted for rotational movement about the axis and reciprocating movement along the axis from a closed position where no liquid flows through the first conduit to an open position where the third opening is in fluid communication with the second conduit where liquid can flow through the first conduit and air can flow through the second conduit.