Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of a liquid delivery device for delivering a liquid such as water to the mouth of someone who is unable to use his or her hands or alternatively is engaged in an activity such as bicycle riding where it is much more convenient to deliver the liquid through a method which does not require the cyclist to remove his or her hands from the handlebars. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In general, the present invention involves the concept of a valve through which liquid can be dispensed for drinking which does not require the user to use his or her hands to cause the liquid to flow into the user&#39;s mouth. 
     The following seven (7) prior art patents are found to be pertinent to the field of the present invention: 
     1. U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,349 issued to Fawcett on Feb. 4, 1992 for “Resilient Valve And Dispensing System For Bicyclists” (hereafter the “Fawcett Patent”); 
     2. U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,207 issued to Paczonay on Feb. 11, 1997 for “Bite Valve Having A Plurality Of Slits” (hereafter “the &#39;207 Paczonay Patent”); 
     3. U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,933 issued to Ho et al on Dec. 23, 1997 for “Valve For A Water Dispenser For Bicyclists” (hereafter the “Ho Patent”); 
     4. U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,510 issued to Paczonay on Aug. 11, 1998 for “Self Sealing Bite Valve” (hereafter “the &#39;510 Paczonay Patent”); 
     5. U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,472 issued to Forrer on Apr. 13, 1999 for “Spout For Valve Assembly” (hereafter the “Forrer Patent”); 
     6. U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,767 issued to Gardner et al. on Jun. 6, 2000 for “Personal Hydration System With An Improved Mouthpiece” (hereafter the “Gardner Patent”); and 
     7. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 358,295 issued to Moench on May 16, 1995 for “Valve Coupling” (hereafter the “Moench Patent”). 
     The Fawcett Patent discloses a resilient valve and dispensing system for bicyclists. The Fawcett Patent discusses the concept of a hands-free activating valve. The resilient valve is an elongated body that forms a hollow structure having an open inlet end opposed to a closed outlet end. A fluid supply chamber is formed between the inlet and outlet ends, and the open end is connected to the end of a length of tubing in order to supply fluid flow to the supply chamber, while the closed end provides a closure member that normally precludes fluid flow therethrough. The body member can be deformed to move the valve into the closure member, where the slit extends through the end wall and communicates the supply chamber with fluid whenever the slit is deformed into the opened position. The slit is biased into a closed position by the fluid pressure effected on the closure member together with the memory resilient body. A liquid supply is connected to the tubing and provides a fluid source for the supply chamber and when the valve body is deformed to open the slit, fluid flows from the supply chamber and away from the valve where the contents of the chamber are made available to be ingested by the person. 
     The &#39;207 Paczonay Patent discloses a bit valve having a plurality of slits through which the liquid can be dispensed. 
     The Ho Patent discloses a valve for a water dispenser for bicyclists. 
     The &#39;510 Paczonay Patent discloses a self sealing bite valve. 
     The Forrer Patent discloses a spout for a valve assembly. 
     The Gardner Patent discloses a personal hydration system with an improved mouthpiece. 
     The Moench Patent discloses a valve coupling. 
     While the prior art of record discloses the general concept of a hands-free activating valve for delivering liquid for ingestion by the user, the devices are not efficient and are subject to leak. It is therefore desirable to provide an efficient non-leaking hands-free activation valve for delivering liquid which may be ingested by a user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of valves and more particularly to a hands-free activating valve which permits liquid to flow and be ingested by the user. 
     The apparatus includes a mouth portion and a mounting portion which can be press-fitted or threadedly engaged to the opening of a container such as a water bottle. Embedded within the mouth portion is the hands-free activating valve which includes an elongated flexible arch shaped activating stem, where one end is fixed to a holding plate and the other end is attached to a valve. The activating stem is made of resilient plastic material that has memory which allowed the stem to return to its initial condition. 
     The valve is seated on a valve seat of the mounting portion for blocking liquid from exiting the apparatus. In addition, there is also provided an elongated liquid channel which is located adjacent to the activating stem. This liquid channel extends from the holding plate to the valve and communicates to the outside for allowing the liquid to flow therethrough and be consumed by the user. 
     To activate the hands-free activating valve, the user&#39;s front teeth are positioned on the arch of the activating stem, where the user&#39;s front teeth apply a downward force on the arch, thereby moving the valve inwardly to allow the valve to move away from the valve seat which in turn allows liquid to flow through the liquid channel to be sucked and consumed by the user. As the pressure from the bite is released on the arch of the activating stem, the valve is allowed to move back into the valve seat to block off the flow of liquid in the liquid channel. 
     It has been discovered, according to the present invention, that if a resilient plastic member is formed into an arch with one end of the member being held fixed and the other end of the resilient member attached to a valve which is forced against a valve seat, then a transverse force on the arch will cause the valve to move away from the valve seat. 
     It has further been discovered, according to the present invention, that if the resilient plastic member which is formed into an arch and is mounted on the opening of a liquid container such that one end of the resilient plastic member is fixed to a plate and the other end of the resilient plastic member is attached to a valve which is caused to move into a valve seat by the prestressed state of the resilient plastic member such that a transverse force on the arch shaped portion of the resilient plastic member such as a bite from teeth will cause the valve to move away from the valve seat and permit the liquid in the container to flow through the valve. It has further been discovered that if a liquid channel is connected from the valve seat to an opening, then upon the transverse force on the resilient plastic member being effected, the valve will open and permit the liquid to flow out of the opening to be ingested by a user. It is further discovered that upon the removal of the transverse force, the prestressed nature of the resilient plastic member will once again cause the valve to move back into the valve seat and shut off the flow of liquid. 
     It has also been discovered, according to the present invention, that with an arch shaped resilient member of sufficient memory, once the transverse force on the arch shaped member is removed, the resilient member under tension will always cause the valve to close and prevent leakage of fluid from the container. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a resilient plastic member which is formed into an arch with one end of the member being held fixed and the other end of the resilient member attached to a valve which is forced against a valve seat, so that a transverse force on the arch will cause the valve to move away from the valve seat. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a resilient plastic member which is formed into an arch which in turn is mounted on the opening of a liquid container such that one end of the resilient plastic member is fixed to a plate and the other end of the resilient plastic member is attached to a valve which is caused to move into a valve seat by the prestressed tension on the resilient plastic member such that a transverse force on the arch shaped portion of the resilient plastic member such as a bite from teeth will cause the valve to move away from the valve seat and permit the liquid in the container to flow through the valve. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a liquid channel connected from the valve seat to an opening, so that upon the transverse force on the resilient plastic member being effected, the valve will open and permit the liquid to flow out of the opening to be ingested by a user. It is further object of the present invention to provide a sufficiently resilient arch shaped member so that upon the removal of the transverse force, the prestressed tension on the resilient plastic member once again cause the valve to move back into the valve seat and shut off the flow of liquid. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an arch shaped resilient member of sufficient memory so that once the transverse force on the arch shaped member is removed, the resilient member under tension will always cause the valve to close and prevent leakage of fluid from the container. 
     Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mouth and mounting portion of the present invention which can be press-fitted onto the opening of a liquid container. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1 showing the arch shaped resilient member in the closed position with the valve fitted into the valve seat thereby preventing liquid from flowing through a channel. 
     FIG. 3 is the cross-sectional view from FIG. 2 showing the arch shaped resilient member after a transverse force has been applied to it and the valve is moved away from the valve seat permitting liquid to flow through a channel. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention which can be threaded onto the opening of a liquid container, and showing the arch shaped resilient member in the closed position with the valve fitted into the valve seat thereby preventing liquid from flowing through a channel. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, and showing the arch shaped resilient member after a transverse force has been applied to it and the valve is moved away from the valve seat permitting liquid to flow through a channel. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , there is shown at  10  the present invention hands-free activated valve apparatus. The apparatus includes a lower sidewall  12  which surrounds an interior hollow chamber  16  into which a liquid  100  can flow. The first embodiment of the present invention apparatus  10  illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 is a press fit embodiment wherein sidewall  12  can be press fitted onto the opening of a container (not shown) by having the interior surface  14  of sidewall  12  press fit onto the exterior opening of a container for housing liquids. Alternatively, the interior surface of the sidewall  12  can be press fitted into the opening of the liquid container. By virtue of this press fit onto (or into) the container, the liquid  100  which by way of example can be water, juice, protein drink, etc. automatically flows from the container into the hollow chamber  16 . 
     The apparatus  10  further comprises an upper neck portion  20  which comprises a top surface  30  and a neck sidewall  40 . The neck sidewall  40  includes a first upper extension  42  and a spaced apart parallel second upper extension  44  with a space  50  between them. The opposite portion of the neck sidewall  40  includes a first lower extension  46  which is aligned with first upper extension  42  and a spaced apart parallel second lower extension  48  which is aligned with second upper extension  44 . First lower extension  46  and second lower extension  48  are parallel to each other and spaced apart by a space  52  which is the same height and width as space  50 . Spaces  50  and  52  are aligned with each other. The neck sidewall  40  surrounds an interior hollow chamber  60  which is longitudinally divided by longitudinal dividing wall  62  which divides interior hollow chamber  60  into a first longitudinal interior chamber  64  and a second longitudinal interior chamber  66 , both of which extend for most of the length of neck portion  20  and both of which are in fluid engagement with hollow chamber  16 . 
     Upper neck portion  20  and lower sidewall  12  join at a throat area  70 . The interior sidewall  22  of upper neck portion  20  forms a valve seat  72  at the throat area  70 . 
     Top surface  30  of upper neck portion  20  comprises a solid surface  32  through which a first opening  34  extends and is in fluid communication with first longitudinal interior chamber  64 . The top surface  30  also comprises an interior ledge  36  which extends slightly below the surface level so as to create a gap  38  in top surface  30 . Longitudinal dividing wall  62  is attached and in the preferred embodiment integrally formed with the interior of top surface  30 , and extends the length of the interior portion of upper neck portion  20  and ends slightly above the valve seat  72 . 
     A key point of novelty of the present invention is an arch shaped resilient member  80 . At its top end, arch shaped resilient portion  80  has a hook member  82  by which it is snap fitted into he gap  38  and held in place against ledge  36 , to thereby retain the arch shaped resilient member  80  within second interior longitudinal chamber  66 . The arch shaped resilient member  80  is prestressed so that its arch portion  84  nearly abuts the interior wall  22  of upper neck portion  20  at the location of the space  50 . Sidewall  40  contains a gap  41  at the location of space  50  so that arch shaped portion  84  fills the gap  41  and is accessible from space  50 . 
     Arch shaped resilient member  80  terminates in a transverse valve member  86  which is caused to abut against the valve seat  72  to thereby seal off interior hollow chamber  60  from interior hollow chamber  16 . 
     Therefore, in its prestressed memory condition, arch shaped resilient member  80  is affixed at one end adjacent top surface  30  and extends the length of upper neck portion  20  so that its transverse valve member  86  abuts against the valve seat  72  and its arch portion  84  is aligned with and abuts against gap  41  in sidewall  40  and is in contact with space  50 . In this initial condition, the liquid  100  in the liquid container and which extends into interior chamber  16  is sealed off from neck interior chamber  60  of neck portion  20  and the assembly is in the closed condition. When a transverse force T is applied to the arch portion  84  in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 3, the arch portion  84  is caused to move away from the gap  41  in upper neck sidewall  40  and this in turn causes transverse valve member  86  to move away from the valve seat  72  as illustrated in FIG. 3, thereby opening a passageway  90  between transverse valve member  86  and valve seat  72  so that liquid can flow from chamber  16  through first longitudinal interior chamber  64  and out opening  34  in top surface  30 . 
     For use by a person, space  50  is sized to accommodate the width of at least one human tooth (preferably a front upper tooth) and space  52  is sized to accommodate the width of at least one human tooth (preferably a front lower tooth). Therefore, when a biting action occurs such that opposite upper and lower teeth of a user are inserted into spaces  50  and  52  respectively, the transverse biting action causes arch portion  84  to move away from gap  41  and causes transverse valve member  86  to move away from the valve seat  72  so that liquid can flow from chamber  16  through passageway  90  through first longitudinal interior chamber  64  and out opening  34  so that the liquid can be ingested by the user. The transverse valve member  86  is configured such that when the valve member  86  is caused to move away from the valve seat  72 , no gap is created on the area of the second longitudinal interior chamber  66  so that no liquid can flow in the second longitudinal interior chamber  66 . 
     The arch shaped resilient member  80  has sufficient memory such that when the transverse force “T” is removed, the arch portion  84  returns to its location adjacent gap  41  and the transverse valve  86  returns to its initial position against the valve seat  72  to shut off the flow of liquid. Therefore, when the bite is completed and the teeth removed from spaces  50  and  52 , the arch shaped resilient member  80  causes the valve to close. 
     Illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The only difference in this alternative embodiment  110  is the method of attachment to a liquid container. The apparatus  110  includes a lower sidewall  112  which surrounds an interior hollow chamber  116  into which a liquid  100  can flow. The alternative embodiment of the present invention apparatus  110  illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is a threaded fit embodiment wherein sidewall  112  contains internal threads  118  so that apparatus  110  can be threaded onto the exterior threads of the liquid container. By way of example, the apparatus  110  can be sized so that the threads  118  fit conventional threads of a soda bottle or water bottle. By virtue of this threaded fit embodiment wherein interior threads  118  of sidewall  12  can be threaded onto container, the liquid  100  which by way of example can be water, juice, protein drink, etc. automatically flows from the container into the hollow chamber  116 . 
     The apparatus further comprises an upper neck portion  120  which comprises a top surface  130  and a neck sidewall  140 . The neck sidewall  140  includes a first upper extension  142  and a spaced apart parallel second upper extension  144  with a space  150  between them. The opposite portion of the neck sidewall  140  includes a first lower extension  146  which is aligned with first upper extension  142  and a spaced apart parallel second lower extension  148  which is aligned with second upper extension  144 . First lower extension  146  and second lower extension  148  are parallel to each other and spaced apart by a space  152  which is the same height and width as space  150 . Spaces  150  and  152  are aligned with each other. The neck sidewall  140  surrounds an interior hollow chamber  160  which is longitudinally divided by longitudinal dividing wall  162  which divides interior hollow chamber  160  into a first longitudinal interior chamber  164  and a second longitudinal interior chamber  166 , both of which extend for most of the length of neck portion  120  and both of which are in fluid engagement with hollow chamber  116 . 
     Upper neck portion  120  and lower sidewall  112  join at a throat area  170 . The interior sidewall  122  of upper neck portion  120  forms a valve seat  172  at the throat area  170 . 
     Top surface  130  of upper neck portion  120  comprises a solid surface  132  through which a first opening  134  extends and is in fluid communication with first longitudinal interior chamber  164 . The top surface  130  also comprises an interior ledge  136  which extends slightly below the surface level so as to create a gap  138  in top surface  130 . Longitudinal dividing wall  162  is attached and in the preferred embodiment integrally formed with the interior of top surface  130 , and extends the length of the interior portion of upper neck portion  120  and ends slightly above the valve seat  172 . 
     A key point of novelty of the present invention is an arch shaped resilient member  180 . At its top end, arch shaped resilient member  180  has a hook member  182  by which it is snap fitted into the gap  138  and held in place against ledge  136 , to thereby retain the arch shaped resilient member  180  within second interior longitudinal chamber  166 . The arch shaped resilient member  180  is prestressed so that its arch portion  184  is located adjacent to the interior wall  122  of upper neck portion  120  at the location of the space  150 . Sidewall  140  contains a gap  141  at the location of space  150  so that arch shaped portion  184  fills the gap  141  and is accessible from space  150 . 
     Arch shaped resilient member  180  terminates in a transverse valve member  186  which is caused to abut against the value seat  172  to thereby seal off interior hollow chamber  160  from interior hollow chamber  116 . 
     Therefore, in its prestressed memory condition, arch shaped resilient member  180  is affixed at one end adjacent top surface  130  and extends the length of upper neck portion  120  so that its transverse valve member  186  abuts against the valve seat  172  and its arch portion  184  is aligned with and abuts against gap  141  in sidewall  140  and is in contact with space  150 . In this initial condition, the liquid  100  in the liquid container and which extends into hollow chamber  116  is sealed off from hollow chamber  160  of neck portion  120  and the assembly is in the closed condition. When a transverse force “T” is applied to the arch portion  184  in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5, the arch portion  184  is caused to move away from the gap  141  in upper neck sidewall  140  and this in turn causes transverse valve member  186  to move away from the valve seat  172  as illustrated in FIG. 5, thereby opening a passageway  190  between transverse valve member  186  and valve seat  172  so that liquid can flow from chamber  116  through first longitudinal interior chamber  164  and out opening  134  in top surface  130 . 
     The present invention conforms to conventional forms of manufacture or any other conventional way known to one skilled in the art. The apparatus can be made from several materials. By way of example, the apparatus can be made of polypropylene material while the arch shaped resilient member can be made of nylon material. 
     Defined in detail, the present invention is a valve apparatus, comprising: (a) a lower sidewall which surrounds an interior hollow chamber into which a liquid can flow; (b) means for attaching the lower sidewall to an opening of a liquid container such that liquid can flow from the container into the interior hollow chamber; (c) an upper neck portion having a top surface and a neck sidewall; (d) the neck sidewall including a first upper extension and a spaced apart parallel second upper extension extending parallel to the first upper extension and separated therefrom by a first space; (e) the neck sidewall further including a gap at the location of the first space; (f) the neck sidewall further including a first lower extension opposite the location of the first upper extension, the first lower extension aligned with the first upper extension; (g) the neck sidewall further including a second lower extension opposite the location of the second upper extension, the second lower extension aligned with the second upper extension; (h) the first lower extension and the second lower extension being parallel to each other and separated by a second space; (i) the neck sidewall surrounding an interior hollow chamber which is longitudinally divided by a longitudinal dividing wall extending from the top surface and dividing the interior hollow chamber into a first longitudinal interior chamber and a second longitudinal interior chamber, both chambers being in fluid engagement with the interior hollow chamber surrounded by the lower sidewall; (j) the upper neck portion and the lower sidewall portion joined at a throat area having an interior sidewall which forms a valve seat; (k) the top surface including a solid surface through which a first opening extends and which is in fluid communication with the first longitudinal interior chamber, the top surface also including an interior ledge which extends slightly below the top surface level so as to create a gap in the top surface which is aligned with the second longitudinal interior chamber; (l) the longitudinal dividing wall extending from the top surface through most of the length of the upper neck portion to a location adjacent the valve seat; (m) an arch shaped resilient member having a hook at one end which is snap fitted into the gap in the top surface and held in place against the ledge to thereby retain the arch shaped resilient member within the second longitudinal interior chamber; (n) the arch shaped resilient member prestressed so that its arch portion is located adjacent to the interior wall of the upper neck portion at the location of the gap in the neck sidewall such that the arch portion is accessible from the first space; (o) the arch shaped resilient member terminating in a transverse valve member which is caused to abut against the valve seat to thereby seal off the first and second interior longitudinal chambers from the interior hollow chamber in the lower sidewall; and (p) the arch shaped resilient member having a sufficient memory so that when a transverse force is applied at the location of the arch portion, the arch shaped resilient member is caused to move away from the gap in the neck sidewall and move toward the dividing wall which in turn causes the transverse valve to move away from the valve seat to thereby permit liquid to pass from the hollow chamber in the lower sidewall through the first longitudinal interior chamber and through the opening in the top surface, and when the transverse force is removed, the arch portion returns to the gap in the neck sidewall and the transverse valve returns to abut against the valve seat to seal off the first and second interior longitudinal chambers. 
     Defined broadly, the present invention is a valve apparatus, comprising: (a) a lower sidewall which surrounds an interior hollow chamber into which a liquid can flow; (b) means for attaching the lower sidewall to an opening of a liquid container such that liquid can flow from the container into the interior hollow chamber; (c) an upper neck portion having a top surface and a neck sidewall, the neck sidewall having a gap located adjacent to means on the neck sidewall to receive at least one tooth; (d) the neck sidewall surrounding an interior hollow chamber which is longitudinally divided by a longitudinal dividing wall attached to the top surface and extending from the top surface and dividing the interior hollow chamber into a first longitudinal interior chamber and a second longitudinal interior chamber, both chambers being in fluid engagement with the interior hollow chamber surrounded by the lower sidewall; (e) the upper neck portion and the lower sidewall joined at a throat area having an interior sidewall which forms a valve seat; (f) the top surface including a solid surface through which a first opening extends and which is in fluid communication with the first longitudinal interior chamber; (g) the dividing wall extending from the top surface through most of the length of the upper neck portion to a location adjacent the valve seat; (h) an arch shaped resilient member having means at one end to attach it to a location on the top surface so that it is retained within the interior chamber of the upper neck portion; (i) the arch shaped resilient member prestressed so that its arch portion is adjacent to the interior wall of the upper neck portion at the location of the gap in the upper neck sidewall such that the arch portion is accessible when a tooth is pressed against the gap in the neck sidewall; (j) the arch shaped resilient member terminating in a transverse valve member which is caused to abut against the valve seat to thereby seal off the first and second longitudinal interior chambers from the interior hollow chamber in the lower sidewall; and (k) the arch shaped resilient member having a sufficient memory so that when a transverse force from a tooth is applied at the location of the arch portion, the arch shaped resilient member is caused to move away from the gap in the neck sidewall and move toward the dividing wall which in turn causes the transverse valve member to move away from the valve seat to thereby permit liquid to pass from the hollow chamber in the lower sidewall through the first longitudinal interior chamber and through the opening in the top surface, and when the transverse force is removed, the arch portion returns to the gap in the neck sidewall and the transverse valve member returns to abut against the valve seat to seal off the first and second longitudinal chambers. 
     Defined more broadly, the present invention is a valve apparatus, comprising: (a) a lower sidewall which surrounds an interior hollow chamber into which a liquid can flow; (b) means for attaching the lower sidewall to an opening of a liquid container such that liquid can flow from the container into the interior hollow chamber; (c) an upper neck portion having a top surface and a neck sidewall, the neck sidewall having a gap located adjacent to means on the neck sidewall to receive at least one tooth; (d) the neck sidewall surrounding at least one interior longitudinal chamber which is in fluid engagement with the interior hollow chamber surrounded by the lower sidewall; (e) the upper neck portion and the lower sidewall joined at a throat area having an interior sidewall which forms a valve seat; (f) the top surface including a solid surface through which a first opening extends and which is in fluid communication with the at least one interior longitudinal chamber; (g) an arch shaped resilient member having means at one end to attach it to a location on the top surface so that it is retained within the at least one interior longitudinal chamber; (h) the arch shaped resilient member prestressed so that its arch portion is adjacent to the interior wall of the upper neck portion at the location of the gap in the neck sidewall such that the arch portion is accessible when the at least one tooth is pressed against the gap in the neck sidewall; (i) the arch shaped resilient member terminating in a transverse valve member which is caused to abut against the valve seat to thereby seal off the at least one interior longitudinal chamber from the interior hollow chamber in the lower sidewall; and (j) the arch shaped resilient member having a sufficient memory so that when a transverse force from the at last one tooth is applied at the location of the arch portion, the arch shaped resilient member is caused to move away from the gap in the neck sidewall which in turn causes the transverse valve member to move away from the valve seat to thereby permit liquid to pass from the hollow chamber in the lower sidewall through the at least one interior longitudinal chamber and through the opening in the top surface, and when the transverse force is removed, the arch portion returns to the gap in the neck sidewall and the transverse valve member returns to abut against the valve seat to seal off the at least one interior longitudinal chamber. 
     Defined even more broadly, the present invention is a valve apparatus comprising: (a) a container having a hollow elongated neck portion with a top having an opening leading to an interior chamber of the elongated neck portion, and which the elongated neck portion includes an interior wall and an exterior sidewall having a gap therein located adjacent to means on the sidewall to receive at least one tooth; (b) the container further including a lower portion having means by which the container is attached to a source of liquid; (c) the container having a hollow interior further including a valve seat; (d) an arch shaped resilient member having means at one end by which it is retained in the elongated neck portion of the container, the arch shaped resilient member prestressed so that its arch portion is adjacent to the interior wall of the elongated neck portion at the location of the gap such that the arch portion is accessible when the at least one tooth is pressed against the gap; (e) the arch shaped resilient member terminating in a transverse valve member which is caused to abut against the valve seat to thereby seal off the interior chamber in the elongated neck portion from the portion of the container by which it is attached to the source of liquid; and (f) the arch shaped resilient member having a sufficient memory so that when a transverse force from the at least one tooth is applied at the location of the arch portion, the arch shaped resilient member is caused to move away from the gap which in turn causes the transverse valve member to move away from the valve seat to thereby permit liquid to pass from the source of liquid through the interior chamber in the elongated neck portion and through the opening in the top surface, and when the transverse force is removed, the arch portion returns to the gap and the transverse valve member returns to abut against the valve seat to seal off the interior chamber in the elongated neck portion. 
     Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated. 
     The present invention has been described in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent laws by providing full public disclosure of at least one of its forms. However, such detailed description is not intended in any way to limit the broad features or principles of the present invention, or the scope of the patent to be granted. Therefore, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Category: b