Patent attributes
The invention relates to a valve element (110, 310, 510, 601, 603) for allowing a user to drink from an upper rim (124, 324, 524) of a valve assembly (100, 300, 500, 600, 601) comprising a body (613) comprising a resiliently deformable portion (619) having a rim (621), the rim (621) located in a first plane, wherein at least the rim (621) of the resiliently deformable portion (619) is configured to deform substantially inwardly, to be located in a second plane, into a sealing position within a valve assembly (100, 300, 500, 600, 601), and further wherein a portion (629) of the rim (621) is configured to lift out of the second plane upon application of a suction force to an upper surface (639) of a corresponding portion (629) of the resiliently deformable portion (619). The invention also relates to a valve assembly (100, 300, 500, 600, 601) comprising a valve element (110, 310, 510, 601, 603) according to the invention.
