AIR INLET VALVE AND SYSTEM FOR CLOSED DRINKING VESSELS

摘要

A one-way valve suitable for use as an air inlet valve in a drinking vessel, particularly the plastics beverage bottle, is provided. The valve comprises a tubular body (1) made of elastomeric material and having a bore (2) that is open at an inlet end (3) and closed at an outlet end (4). The body has an outwardly directed head (7) at or towards the inlet end and a circumferentially extending locating ridge (9) spaced from the head such that the locating ridge, body, and head form a neck (8) that is adapted to co-operate with the periphery of an aperture in a vessel wall (10) through which the body extends to form a seal therewith. The wall of the body converges towards the outlet end to terminate in a transverse closure wall (4) having a slit (6) therein communicating between the outside and the bore. The slit is adapted to allow the passage of fluid from the interior of the bore to the outside thereof but not in the reverse direction. The invention extends to the installation of such amounts in beverage bottles, to the bottles themselves, and to a tool for making an aperture for receiving the valve.