Valve assembly for a bottle used in a liquid dispensing apparatus

摘要

The present invention provides for a valve assembly to include a cap which is removably secured to a spout of a water bottle. The cap further includes an aperture for receiving a hollow shank having an opened top and an opened bottom. A shaft is received in the opened bottom of the shank for permitting the shaft to slide freely and vertically within the shank. The shaft further includes at least one hole encompassing the side wall of the top area and a stop extending outwardly from an enclosed top. This stop contacts the opened top of the shank to maintain for the assembly to be in a closed position, accordingly, providing the hole to be covered by the shank. Located at the bottom of the shank is a first flange and located at the bottom of the shaft is a second flange. A locking ring is releasably attached to the shaft for maintaining the valve assembly to be in a closed position. In order to activate the valve assembly, the cap is attached to the spout of a bottle. The bottle is inverted onto the liquid dispensing device and the locking ring is released. This cause the shaft to move upward and extend beyond the open top of shank and exposes the hole, allowing the liquid to flow from the bottle and into the liquid dispensing apparatus. The movement of the shaft is stopped once the second flange on the shaft contacts the first flange of shank.