The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 06, 2005
Filed:
Apr. 25, 2002
Jack E. Elder, Rochester, MI (US);
Jack E. Elder, Rochester, MI (US);
Innatech, LLC, Rochester, MI (US);
Abstract
A closure for a liquid container, such as a sports drink bottle, includes a base component that is engaged over the mouth of the container, and a cap component engaged on the base component for movement from a closed position to an open position by pressure from the lips of the consumer. The base component includes a valve element supported on a fenestrated pedestal. The cap component includes a body defining a drinking surface for contacting the lips of the consumer and an annular sealing disc recessed below the drinking surface. The sealing disc is retained by the valve element against the force of a resiliently deformable seal disposed between the base component and the cap component. The seal has a sealing rim that is in constant contact with the base portion and provides an upward spring force to hold the sealing disc in the normally closed position. The seal includes a flexible hinge that allows the resiliently deformable seal to bow outward or bellows when the cap is depressed.