US 7,320,336 B2
Plug incorporating pressure-sensitive valve
William Peter Herring, Rudge (United Kingdom); and James Moore, Frome (United Kingdom)
Assigned to Hornbeam Ivy Limited, Somerset (United Kingdom)
Filed on Feb. 02, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/345,515.
Claims priority of application No. 0508355.5 (GB), filed on Apr. 25, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2006/0237070 A1, Oct. 26, 2006
Int. Cl. F16K 5/10 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 137—614.17  [137/614.18; 137/540; 137/514; 251/318; 251/339] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A combination of an outlet from a vessel and a plug which is insertable into the outlet to close the vessel thereby allowing it to hold liquid, the plug having:
a conduit for locating in the outlet;
sealing means for sealing the conduit in the outlet such that liquid cannot pass through the outlet without also passing through the conduit; and
a valve located in the conduit the valve comprising a valve member biased against a base,
wherein the outlet contains a lever operably connectable to the plug, the lever being arranged to move the valve member and base between a first position in which liquid is permitted to bypass the valve and flow through the outlet and a second position in which the valve is arranged to maintain a first configuration in which the valve member is urged into sealing contact with the conduit to prevent liquid from passing therethrough unless pressure on the valve member reaches a threshold value, whereupon the valve member is arranged to move relative to the base to adopt a second configuration in which the conduit is open to allow liquid to flow therethrough.