A novel fluid container system comprises a container having a port at an upper end through which port fluid is permitted to pass for emptying the container. A restricter is provided within the container for momentarily restricting fluid flow out of the port when the container is inverted, the restricter having a construction such that a restricted fluid flow is permitted through the port for a period of time when the container is inverted, after which period of time a substantially less restricted fluid flow is permitted through the port. A retainer retains the restricter in the vicinity of the port. The retainer is disposed on an inner surface of the upper end of the container and extends inwardly from the inner surface. The retainer can include a substantially horizontal arcuate member or a circular member. Furthermore, the retainer can comprise at least one vertical member wherein the vertical member includes an inwardly extending abutment for preventing the restricter from falling downwardly when the container is disposed in the upright position. The restricter includes a ball which is buoyant in the fluid, which ball has a diameter greater than a diameter of the container port wherein the restricter includes a device disposed on the inner surface of the container for preventing the ball from forming a fluid-tight seal over the port.
A liquid flow regulation device utilizing a cage having a passageway with an exit. The passageway includes an open web portion and a closed wall portion adjacent to one another. A floating element is confined to the passageway of the cage and is buoyant in the liquid found in a bottle. The floating element is unable to travel through the exit and obstructs the flow of liquid from the bottle when positioned adjacent a spout passage.
An improved non-spill water bottle cap is developed for preventing water spillage when a water bottle is inverted to place on a water dispenser. The improved non-spill water bottle cap comprises a cylindrical plastic tube (10), a spherical float (20) for controlling the water flow, a plastic cap head (30) integrally formed with the cylindrical plastic tube (10), an edge frame (11) disposed at the end of the cylindrical plastic tube (10) and an annular flange (13) with a plurality of peepholes (13a) disposed at the mouth of the plastic cap head (30) for retaining the spherical float (20) inside the cylindrical plastic tube (10), and an annular sealing ridge (12) for momentarily blocking the water flow path by contacting the spherical float (20) to form a seal when the water bottle is inverted.
An insert is positioned in an opening in a fluid container and between a closure member and the fluid container. The insert generally includes a funnel and an obstructive member disposed therewithin. The insert inhibits evaporative emissions from the fluid container by seating against a conical body portion of the funnel when the fluid container is in an upright or storage position. When the fluid container is in a tilted or use position, the obstructive member locates to an outlet end of the funnel to create a passage from an inlet end of the funnel to the outlet end.
