Dripping device and related method thereof

Abstract

A ring washer is provided at an end of the outlet of the dripping device. The ring washer has a center trough channel aligned with the outlet. A sphere is rotatably stuck at an end of the through channel of the ring washer. When the sphere is turned to a specific angle, a diametrical through channel of the sphere is substantially aligned with the through channel of the ring washer and the outlet and the fluid in the dripping device is therefore allowed to drip through. At the end of the through channel of the ring washer that interfaces with the sphere, a flexible ring element is provided that could conform to the curvature of the sphere and thereby compensate for slits that may exist between the not-so-perfectly-circular ring washer and the not-so-perfectly-round sphere.

1 . A method for controlling the open and close of an outlet of a dripping device, comprising the steps of:
 providing a ring washer at an end of said outlet, said ring washer having a first through channel aligned with said outlet, a flexible ring element positioned around the inner circumference at said end of said ring washer;   providing a sphere having a larger diameter than that of said first through channel, said sphere rotatably stuck in said end of said first through channel, said sphere having a diametrically second through channel;   turning said sphere so that said second through channel is substantially aligned with said first through channel to open said outlet; and   turning said sphere so that said second through channel is not aligned with said first through channel to close said outlet;   wherein said flexible ring element conforms to the curvature of said sphere to prevent leakage.   
   
   
       2 . A dripping device, comprising:
 a container having a cylindrical base with an outlet running vertically through the center of said base;   a ring washer having a center first through channel, said ring washer positioned in an indentation on a bottom surface of said base so that said first through channel aligned with said outlet;   a stick laterally provided beneath said base, said stick running diametrically through said base and having at least an end extended outside said base through a hole of said base, said end of said stick having a radially extended block fitted in a notch around the circumference of said hole so that said stick is turned within the confinement of said notch; and   a sphere in the center of said stick having a larger diameter than that of said first through channel, said sphere rotatably stuck in an end of said first through channel, said sphere having a diametrically second through channel;   wherein, by turning said sphere so that said second through channel is substantially aligned with said first through channel, said outlet is opened; and, by turning said sphere so that said second through channel is not aligned with said first through channel, said outlet is closed.   
   
   
       3 . The dripping device according to  claim 2 , wherein the bottom of said base has a circular flange for placing said dripping device on top of a cup. 
   
   
       4 . The dripping device according to  claim 2 , wherein at least an end of said second through channel has an enlarged opening. 
   
   
       5 . The dripping device according to  claim 2 , wherein, around the inner circumference of said end of said first through channel, a ring groove is provided to hold a flexible ring element. 
   
   
       6 . The dripping device according to  claim 2 , wherein a handle is laterally attached to the side wall of said container. 
   
   
       7 . The dripping device according to  claim 2 , wherein a cover is hinged to said container that opens or closes a top opening of said container. 
   
   
       8 . The dripping device according to  claim 7 , wherein a guide plate is vertically extended downward from the rim of said cover adjacent to where said cover is hinged to said container. 
   
   
       9 . The dripping device according to  claim 2 , where said end of said stick extended outside of said base is plugged into a knob for turning said stick. 
   
   
       10 . The dripping device according to  claim 9 , wherein said knob has an indicator radially extended from said knob specifying the orientation of said second through channel of said sphere.