Patent ID: 8646663

Claim:
A removable valve body for manually opening and closing a product exit duct communicating with the interior of a fluid container, said valve body comprising: a unitary body disposed for longitudinal movement within said duct between an open position to permit flow of fluid through said duct and unitary body from said container and a closed position to prevent flow of fluid through said duct and unitary body, said unitary body being constructed from elastic material to permit selective deformation and removal thereof from said exit duct when said unitary body is deformed and rotated relative to said duct, wherein said unitary body comprises a valve sleeve sized and shaped for positioning within said duct, said valve sleeve having an open first end adapted for positioning within said duct and a substantially closed second end adapted for positioning exterior to said duct, said second end having a central aperture therein for communicating with the interior of the container, wherein said valve sleeve further includes at least one stop member in the form of an ear projecting radially outwardly from the outer surface thereof and adapted to limit the longitudinal movement of said valve body within said duct between said open and closed positions, and wherein each said ear includes a radially disposed outer edge, a pair of upper and lower shoulders defined by said outer edge for limiting the longitudinal movement of said stop member within said duct, a pair of end shoulders for limiting rotational movement of said stop member within said duct, and a chamfered surface extending from one said end shoulder to said outer edge to form a wedge adapted for engagement against said duct in response to selective rotational force imposed on an end cap when said valve body is in its open position to assist in deforming said unitary body radially inwardly.