Patent ID: 7182541

Claim:
A liquid applicator comprising: a. a container for dispensable liquid, the container having an open end; b. a valve assembly including: i) a closure inserted at the open end of the container and having a portion resting on an upper, outer edge of said container, said closure having a passage extending therethrough and a partition with an opening, the partition dividing the passage into first and second communicating portions wherein the liquid applicator does not include any element in contact with an exterior side surface of the container; ii) a valve element inserted at the opening and cooperating with the opening to provide a valve as the valve element moves in said opening, the closure including a retainer through which said valve element extends at an inner end and the ink flows around rather than through the valve element and into the nib; iii) bias means disposed between the retainer and the valve element to bias the valve element against inward movement of the valve element; and c. a nib disposed in sliding relation in the first passage portion of the closure and abuts, but does not extend into, the valve element whereby the valve element is movable by pressure of the nib against the bias of the bias means to open the valve and allow liquid to flow into the nib and allow the valve to close when pressure is released.