Spill resistant caps and container systems

Abstract

A spill resistant cap for a container, such as a commercially available water or other beverage bottle, includes a cap body that forms a mating fit with the container and a spout having liquid dispense holes that allow fluid to flow out of the container. A removable valve is sized to fit within the cap body. The valve includes a valve mechanism that opens in response to a pressure differential applied across the valve face, such as the mouth suction applied to the spout when a person attempts to drink from the container, allowing fluid to flow through the valve and through the liquid dispense holes in the spout.

1 . A valve comprising:
 a fluid flow lumen extending from an inlet end of the valve to an outlet end of the valve;   a first valve section having an outside diameter sized to fit within a cap body;   a second valve section including a valve mechanism at the outlet end of the valve and having an outside diameter relatively smaller than the outside a diameter of the first valve section; and   a rim having a diameter relatively larger than the outside diameter of the first valve section and including an extension sized to cover a pressure relief lumen when the valve is fit within the cap body.   
     
     
         2 . The valve of  claim 1  wherein the valve comprises one of rubber, a flexible plastic, silicone, a synthetic elastomer, polyethylene, or polypropylene. 
     
     
         3 . The valve of  claim 1  wherein the valve mechanism comprises a membrane having at least one slit. 
     
     
         4 . The valve of  claim 3  wherein the valve further comprises a base at the inlet end of the valve. 
     
     
         5 . The valve of  claim 4  wherein the rim is connected between the first valve section and the base. 
     
     
         6 . The valve of  claim 1  wherein the cap body is sized to fit a container. 
     
     
         7 . The valve of  claim 6  wherein the container is a commercially available beverage bottle. 
     
     
         8 . A valve comprising:
 a fluid flow lumen extending from an inlet end to an outlet end of the valve;   a valve face covering the outlet end of the fluid flow lumen;   a valve mechanism that opens in response to a pressure differential applied across the valve face, such that when suction is applied to the valve face, the valve mechanism opens to permit fluid flow through the lumen from the inlet end and out through the valve mechanism;   a first stepped-down side wall sized to fit within a longitudinally extending lumen of a cap body;   a second stepped-down side wall at the outlet end of the valve and having an outer diameter relatively smaller than an inside diameter of the longitudinally extending lumen; and   a rim connected between the base and the first stepped-down side wall, the rim having a diameter relatively larger than the diameter of the first stepped-down side wall, the rim further including a tab-shaped extension sized to cover a pressure relief lumen in the cap body when the valve is fit within the cap body and that flexes away from the pressure relief lumen to allow air to enter into the container through the pressure relief lumen during dispensing of a fluid.   
     
     
         9 . A valve comprising:
 a fluid flow lumen extending from an inlet end of the valve to an outlet end of the valve;   a base at the inlet end of the valve;   a first valve section sized to fit within a cap body;   a second valve section including a valve mechanism at the outlet end of the valve and having a diameter relatively smaller than a diameter of the first valve section; and   a rim connected between the base and the first valve section, the rim having a diameter relatively larger than the diameter of the first valve section and including an extension sized to cover a pressure relief lumen when the valve is fit within the cap body.   
     
     
         10 . The valve of  claim 9  wherein the valve comprises one of rubber, a flexible plastic, silicone, a synthetic elastomer, polyethylene, or polypropylene. 
     
     
         11 . The valve of  claim 9  wherein the valve mechanism comprises a membrane having at least one slit. 
     
     
         12 . The valve of  claim 9  wherein the valve further comprises a base at the inlet end of the valve. 
     
     
         13 . The valve of  claim 1  wherein the cap body is sized to fit a container. 
     
     
         14 . The valve of  claim 13  wherein the container is a commercially available beverage bottle. 
     
     
         15 . A valve comprising:
 a fluid flow lumen extending from an inlet end of the valve to an outlet end of the valve;   a base at the inlet end of the valve;   a first valve section sized to fit within the longitudinally extending lumen of the cap body;   a second valve section including a valve mechanism at the outlet end of the valve and having an outer diameter relatively smaller than an inside diameter of the longitudinally extending lumen of the cap body; and   a rim connected between the base and the first valve section, the rim having a diameter relatively larger than the diameter of the first valve section and including a tab-shaped extension that covers the pressure relief lumen when the valve is fit within the longitudinally extending lumen of the cap body.   
     
     
         16 . The valve of  claim 15  wherein the valve mechanism comprises a membrane having at least one slit. 
     
     
         17 . A valve comprising:
 a fluid flow lumen extending from an inlet end of the valve to an outlet end of the valve;   a base at the inlet end of the valve;   a first valve section sized to fit within a longitudinally extending lumen of the cap body;   a second valve section including a valve mechanism at the outlet end of the valve and having an outer diameter relatively smaller than an inside diameter of the longitudinally extending lumen; and   a rim extending around a perimeter of the valve between the base and the first valve section, the rim having a diameter relatively larger than the diameter of the first valve section and including an extension sized to cover a pressure relief lumen in the cap body when the valve is fit within the longitudinally extending lumen of the cap body.   
     
     
         18 . The valve of  claim 17  wherein the extension flexes away from the pressure relief lumen to allow air to enter a container through the pressure relief lumen during dispensing of a fluid. 
     
     
         19 . The valve of  claim 17  wherein the valve mechanism comprises a membrane having at least one slit. 
     
     
         20 . The valve of  claim 17  wherein the cap body is sized to fit a commercially available beverage bottle.