Patent attributes
A bite valve (100) comprises an outer barrel (105) of low-friction, soft but durable, laterally-compressible material and a rigid axially moveable inner stem (110). Closing the valve urges the distal face of a stem-mounted gasket (115) distally against the sharpened tubular proximal end of a barrel-embedded flanged rigid sleeve (120) through which fluid passes. The stem is continually urged distally by captive compression spring (140) which pushes proximally against sleeve (120) and distally against a cap (135) mounted on the stem's distal end. When a user bites the barrel's indented exterior bite zone (150), two opposing sides of a conical surface (155) inside the barrel contact and slidably urge the stem proximally, pulling the gasket away from the sleeve end, thereby opening the valve. After drinking, a user releases their bite, allowing the spring to again move the stem distally, pushing the gasket back into a (default) sealing condition pressed against the sleeve's sharpened proximal end.
