Valved cap for beverage containers

Abstract

Cap for a threaded neck beverage container. The cap is based on a rotating ball design and functions as a valve. The ball is embedded in a cylindrical hollow body configured to screw onto the neck of the beverage bottle. The top part of the hollow body will have a hemispherical central depression configured to hold the rotating ball in place, while allowing the ball to rotate about its axis (here two oppositely disposed pivot shafts). In one ball pivot angle, the ball's central fluid passage will be disposed above a body fluid so that fluids from the beverage container may travel through the body fluid port, up through the central opening, and often into the mouth of a user. At other ball pivot angles, the surface of the ball passes over the body fluid port, thus substantially preventing fluids from the beverage container from exiting the container.

1 . A valved cap for a beverage container, comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical hollow body with a substantially closed top, and an open bottom;   said substantially closed top having a hemispherical central depression with a body fluid port and two oppositely disposed pivot shaft recesses;   a pivoting spherical valve comprising a substantially spherical body comprising a substantially solid interior with a central fluid passage, and a surface with two oppositely disposed pivot shafts, an upper and a lower valve fluid port connecting to said central fluid passage, a protruding mouth bib disposed within 10 degrees of said upper valve fluid port and at least one detent disposed within 30 degrees of said upper valve fluid port;   said pivoting spherical valve mounted within the hemispherical central depression with the two oppositely disposed pivot shafts snapped into place into said two oppositely disposed pivot shaft recesses so that said pivoting spherical valve may pivot around its pivot shafts, yet remain trapped in said hollow body by mechanical force exerted by said two oppositely disposed pivot shaft recesses;   wherein at a drinking pivot angle, said pivoting spherical valve is positioned so that fluid may pass from said body fluid port, through said lower valve fluid port, through said central fluid passage, and out said upper valve fluid port and into the mouth of a user;   said protruding mouth bib being configured to help guide the passage of fluid into the mouth of a user;   wherein at said drinking pivot angle, said at least one detent prevents further pivoting of said pivoting spherical valve in one direction;   wherein at a plurality of non-drinking pivot angles, said pivoting spherical valve is positioned so that the passage of fluid from said body fluid port is blocked by the surface of the substantially spherical body of said pivoting spherical valve, thus preventing fluid from passing from said body fluid port ( 118 ), through said lower valve fluid port, and through said central fluid passage.   
     
     
         2 . The valved cap of  claim 1 , wherein the interior of said substantially cylindrical hollow body has a screw thread configured to allow said valved cap to be securely screwed onto the screw threaded neck of a beverage container. 
     
     
         3 . The valved cap of  claim 1 , wherein said substantially cylindrical hollow body further comprises an exterior loop configured to allow a user, when said valved cap is attached to a beverage container, to hold said combination valved cap and beverage container, or to attach said combination valved cap and beverage container to a hook. 
     
     
         4 . The valved cap of  claim 1 , wherein said pivot shaft recesses are at least partially disposed within the hemispherical central depression, at least one pivot shaft recess and/or being configured with a passage outside the hemispherical central depression, and a pivot shaft recess constriction, so that said after said pivoting spherical valve is snapped into place by said pivot shafts, said at least one pivot shaft recess constriction traps said pivoting spherical valve ( 200 ) in said hemispherical central depression in said hollow body. 
     
     
         5 . The valved cap of  claim 1 , wherein said hemispherical central depression additionally has a recess or tab to act to block detent from rotating further into said hemispherical central depression.