Sippy cup valve

Abstract

A spill-proof beverage dispenser comprising: (a) a container adapted to at least partially define an interior volume available for occupation by a liquid; (b) a lid adapted to be mounted to the container, the lid including a vent and a dispensing opening, and a liquid conduit having a passageway therethrough in fluid communication with the liquid within the container and selective fluid communication with the dispensing opening; and (c) a valve assembly mountable to the lid including a collapsible tower adapted to be received at least partially within the liquid conduit to selectively restrict liquid flow between the interior volume of the container and the dispensing opening, the collapsible tower being responsive to changes in pressure by collapsing at least one wall of the collapsible tower to selectively provide fluid communication between the passageway and the dispensing opening.

1 . A spill-proof beverage dispenser comprising: 
 a container adapted to at least partially define an interior volume available for occupation by a liquid;    a lid adapted to be mounted to the container, the lid including a vent and a dispensing opening, and a liquid conduit having a passageway therethrough in fluid communication with the liquid within the container and selective fluid communication with the dispensing opening; and    a valve assembly mountable to the lid including a collapsible tower adapted to be received at least partially within the liquid conduit to selectively restrict liquid flow between the interior volume of the container and the dispensing opening, the collapsible tower being responsive to changes in pressure by collapsing at least one wall of the collapsible tower to selectively provide fluid communication between the passageway and the dispensing opening.    
   
   
       2 . The spill-proof beverage dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the at least one wall of the collapsible tower spans at least partially the distance between a first arcuate wall and a second arcuate wall; and    the at least one wall is substantially linear.    
   
   
       3 . The spill-proof beverage dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the collapsible tower is closed at one end to provide a concavity therein.  
   
   
       4 . The spill-proof beverage dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the lid includes a circumferential wall extending therefrom adapted to interface with a depression within the valve assembly to mount the valve assembly to the lid, the circumferential wall and the depression at least partially defining a cavity in fluid communication with the vent.  
   
   
       5 . The spill-proof beverage dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the circumferential wall includes a flange adapted to be received within a circumferential recess within the depression to provide a snap-fit; and    the depression includes a slit therein.    
   
   
       6 . The spill-proof beverage dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the valve assembly includes at least one wing extending laterally therefrom.  
   
   
       7 . The spill-proof beverage dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the valve assembly includes a raised circumferential wall spaced from the collapsible tower to form a trench therebetween, the trench being adapted to receive at least a portion of the liquid conduit to mount the valve assembly to the lid via a friction fit.  
   
   
       8 . The spill-proof beverage dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the liquid conduit receives the collapsible tower therein to provide a friction fit therebetween;    the passageway is a radial passageway through the liquid conduit;    the radial passageway may be foreclosed, at least in part, by at least the one collapsible wall, were at least the one collapsible wall is reinforced.    
   
   
       9 . The spill-proof beverage dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the slit and the collapsible tower lie opposite one another along the valve assembly.  
   
   
       10 . A valve assembly for a lid of a container for selectively restricting a beverage within the container from passing outside of the container, thereby inhibiting undesired loss of the beverage, the valve assembly comprising: 
 a valve seat including a first orifice and a second orifice therethrough, the valve seat adapted to interact with a reinforced section of a valve body to selectively create a fluidic seal therebetween at an interface, the valve body being biased to maintain the fluidic seal at the interface and operative to displace an unaugmented section of the valve body prior to displacement of the reinforced section.    
   
   
       11 . The valve assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the valve seat is integrated into the lid of the container adapted to house the liquid therein.  
   
   
       12 . The valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the valve body comprises a resilient material adapted to be secured to the lid by at least one of a friction fit, a snap-fit, a fastener, a weld, and an adhesive.  
   
   
       13 . The valve assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first orifice is not coaxial with the second orifice.  
   
   
       14 . The valve assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the valve body comprises a collapsible tower.  
   
   
       15 . The valve assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the valve body includes a coupling adapted to secure the valve body to the valve seat.  
   
   
       16 . A complementary lid and insert for sealing a liquid within a container unitl selective extraction, the complementary closure comprising: 
 a lid adapted to be mounted to a container and provide a fluidic seal therebetween, the lid including an extraction orifice and an entrance orifice, the extraction orifice in communication with a primary conduit of the lid having a passageway therethrough; and    a collapsible tower mounted to a valve assembly and adapted to selectively restrict fluid flow through the passageway, the valve assembly having a raised projection adjacent to the collapsible tower leaving a gap therebetween adapted to receive a friction fit retainer of the lid.    
   
   
       17 . The complementary closure of  claim 16 , wherein the primary conduit of the lid comprises a wall that descends from an underneath side of the lid having a generally planar surface approximate the passageway.  
   
   
       18 . The complementary closure of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 the collapsible tower is adapted to be received within the primary conduit; and    the collapsible tower includes a reinforced section.    
   
   
       19 . The complementary closure of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the primary conduit includes a radial passageway therethrough;    the radial passageway is selectively opened and closed by the collapsible tower; and    the raised projection is a raised wall at least partially circumscribing the collapsible tower.    
   
   
       20 . The complementary closure of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the collapsible tower comprises a resilient composition; and    the reinforced section of the collapsible tower is at least partially determinative of the radial passageway being open or closed.    
   
   
       21 . The complementary closure of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 the valve assembly includes an opening therethrough adapted to be in fluid communication with the entrance orifice;    the opening includes a slit within a depression within the valve assembly;    the depression includes a recess adapted to receive a projection of a cylindrical wall of the lid to provide a snap-fit mounting the valve assembly to the lid; and    the snap-fit between the recess and the projection ensures a fluidic seal between the valve assembly and lid.    
   
   
       22 . The complementary closure of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the valve assembly includes at least one lateral wing; and    the valve assembly includes an orifice therethrough between the depression and the collapsible tower.    
   
   
       23 . A method of regulating the flow of a liquid within a beverage dispenser, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an egress point for liquid contained within a container to exit the container;    providing a displaceable valve responsive to changes in pressure approximate the egress point, the displaceable valve comprising: 
 a collapsible tower adapted to interface with a primary conduit of the container and be in fluid communication with the egress point, the collapsible tower including a first section having a first flexibility and a second section having a second flexibility, where the first flexibility is greater than the second flexibility, and where the second section selectively seals a passageway otherwise providing fluid communication between the egress point and an interior of the container;  
   siphoning approximate the egress point to collapse the first section of the collapsible tower before collapsing the second section;    siphoning approximate the egress point to collapse the second section along with the first section to open the passageway and provide direct fluid communication between the liquid within the container and the egress point.