Patent ID: 7621304

Claim:
A self-venting spout comprising: an elongated spout housing comprising: an open first end for connection to a container for liquid, an open second end for dispensing liquid, and an interior spout surface surrounding and defining an interior passageway extending between said open first end and open second end, a distal portion of the interior passageway having a longitudinal axis and a radial dimension; a sealing ridge in said interior passageway near said interior spout surface, and a stopper generally centered in said interior passageway and radially distanced from said interior spout surface and from said sealing ridge; and a slidable sleeve in said interior passageway that is slidable parallel to said longitudinal axis, said slidable sleeve comprising a generally tubular portion having an outer surface with a first annular seal and an inner surface defining a sleeve passageway and having a second annular seal; wherein, when said slidable sleeve is in a spout-closed position, said first annular seal contacts and seals against said sealing ridge of the spout housing, and said second annular seal contacts and seals against said stopper; wherein, said spout comprises partition walls dividing said interior passageway into an air-flow passageway portion and a liquid-flow passageway portion, and wherein, when the slidable sleeve is in the spout-closed position, said sealing of the first annular sleeve and the sealing ridge blocks said liquid-flow passageway portion and said sealing of the second annular seal and the stopper blocks said air-flow passageway portion; and wherein, when said slidable sleeve is slid longitudinally to a spout-open position, said first annular seal is distanced from the sealing ridge to open said liquid-flow passageway portion and said second annular seal is distanced from the stopper to open said air-flow passageway portion; and wherein the spout further comprises a spring configured to bias the slidable sleeve into the spout-closed position, and an actuation system including an external member located on, and slidable on, an outside surface of the spout, wherein the external member is operatively connected to the slidable sleeve by a connecting member, so that sliding of said external member moves said slidable sleeve inside the spout between said spout-closed and spout-open positions.