Unidirectional valve for pressurized containers

Abstract

In a nipple for a baby feeding container, a valve part is disclosed, comprising a unidirectional valve formed of a pliable material and oppositely oriented such that when attached to the container a normal fluid flow through the valve is into the container while a flow from the container to the outside is normally blocked, the valve is characterized by a plurality of normally closed non intersecting slits formed in a deformable wall which blocks the flow of liquid from the container to the outside unless when the slits become temporarily distorted by the natural mouth maneuverings of a baby. The valve is especially advantageous for use in baby feeding containers of inflatable type in which the liquid content is pressurized under the pressure exerted by the stretched elastomeric walls of the container.

1 . In a nipple for a baby feeding container a part comprising a unidirectional valve formed of a pliable material and oppositely oriented such that when attached to the container a normal flow through the valve is into the container while a flow from the container to the outside is normally blocked, the valve is characterized by at least two normally closed non intersecting slits providing for reverse liquid flow from the container to the outside upon distortion of the slits by natural mouth maneuverings of a baby. 
     
     
         2 . In a nipple for a baby feeding container a part comprising a unidirectional valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the slits are formed in a deformable curved wall wherein a convexity of the curved wall is arranged to face a container's hollow when the nipple is attached to the container. 
     
     
         3 . In a nipple for a baby feeding container a part comprising a unidirectional valve according to  claim 2 , wherein the deformable curved wall is domed or conic. 
     
     
         4 . In a nipple for a baby feeding container a part comprising a unidirectional valve according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the slits are located in respective bulged regions formed in a deformable wall of the valve. 
     
     
         5 . In a nipple for a baby feeding container a part comprising a unidirectional valve according to claim  2 , wherein the curved wall has a rotational symmetry. 
     
     
         6 . In a nipple for a baby feeding container a part comprising a unidirectional valve according to  claim 5 , wherein an axis of the rotational symmetry is substantially parallel to or being a longitudinal axis of the nipple. 
     
     
         7 . In a nipple for a baby feeding container a part comprising a unidirectional valve according to  claim 4 , wherein a plurality of slits are formed in and are angularly spaced about a center of symmetry of the deformable wall. 
     
     
         8 . In a nipple for a baby feeding container a part comprising a unidirectional valve according to  claim 7 , wherein the angular spaces are substantially equal. 
     
     
         9 . In a nipple for a baby feeding container a part comprising a unidirectional valve according to  claim 2 , wherein three non intersecting angularly spaced slits are provided, diverging from near an apex of the convexity of the curved wall towards a circumference thereof. 
     
     
         10 . In a nipple for a baby feeding container a part comprising a unidirectional valve according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein at least three non intersecting angularly spaced slits are provided for allowing liquid flow upon distortion of at least one slit by natural mouth maneuverings of a baby, the slits are diverging from near a mid point of a deformable wall towards a circumference thereof. 
     
     
         11 . In a nipple for a baby feeding container a part comprising a unidirectional valve according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least part of the slits differ in length.