Abstract: A spill-resistant container is disclosed including a cup and a cap. The cup includes a cap-engaging portion adjacent a lip surrounding an opening, and an inwardly projecting ledge adjacent the cap-engaging portion that includes multiple spaced apart recesses. The cap includes a cup-engaging portion and a cover portion. The cap has multiple spaced apart openings extending through the cover portion, wherein each of the openings corresponds to a different one of the recesses in the ledge of the cup.

Abstract: A spill-resistant cap has an annular sidewall, a center portion, a plurality of spaced apart openings, and a plurality of baffles formed over the plurality of spaced apart openings. The annular sidewall has a lip engaging portion adapted for engaging a cup, and a lower end. The center portion closes the lower end of the annular sidewall to cover the opening of the cup, such that the annular sidewall and the center portion together form an upper reservoir. The plurality of spaced apart openings extend through the upper reservoir. Each of the plurality of baffles is formed over one of the plurality of spaced apart openings.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing valve for controlling the flow of a fluid through a through-conduit has a retainer and a dispensing valve body. The retainer has an upwardly extending plug and is adapted to be inserted into an inner surface of the through-conduit. A dispensing valve body is bounded by an exterior surface, an interior surface, a valve perimeter, and a dispensing orifice perimeter. The dispensing valve body is shaped to fit within the through-conduit such that the valve perimeter forms a sealing relationship with the inner surface, and the dispensing orifice perimeter fits securely around and seals against the upwardly extending plug.

Abstract: A check valve has a resilient diaphragm that has top and bottom surfaces that terminate in a perimeter. A curved slit is cut through both the top and bottom surfaces. A flex line is formed between the ends of the curved slit, the curved slit and the flex line together defining a valve actuation area. The curved slit is cut at an angle to form a valve seat surface under the valve actuation area, and to form a diaphragm seat surface adjacent the valve actuation area. The valve actuation area is able to flex, generally along the flex line, from a sealed position wherein the valve seat surface contacts the diaphragm seat surface and seals the check valve, to a flow position wherein valve seat surface and the diaphragm seat surface are exposed and the curved slit allows flow through the check valve.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing valve for controlling the flow of a fluid from a container has a cap, a retainer, and a dispensing valve body. The cap is adapted to engage the container and includes a spout that defines a through-conduit having a top opening, a bottom opening, and an interior spout surface shaped to receive the dispensing valve body. The retainer includes at least one flow aperture and an upwardly extending plug having a plug shoulder. The dispensing valve body is bounded by an exterior surface, an interior surface, a valve perimeter, and a dispensing orifice perimeter. When the dispensing valve body is positioned on the retainer, the dispensing orifice perimeter fits securely around and seals against the upwardly extending plug; and the valve perimeter forms a sealing relationship with the interior spout surface. The retainer engages the spout to seal the dispensing valve body within the spout.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing valve for controlling the flow of a fluid through a through-conduit has a retainer and a dispensing valve body. The retainer has an upwardly extending plug and is adapted to be inserted into an inner surface of the through-conduit. A dispensing valve body is bounded by an exterior surface, an interior surface, a valve perimeter, and a dispensing orifice perimeter. The dispensing valve body is shaped to fit within the through-conduit such that the valve perimeter forms a sealing relationship with the inner surface, and the dispensing orifice perimeter fits securely around and seals against the upwardly extending plug.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing valve for controlling the flow of a fluid from a container has a cap, a retainer, and a dispensing valve body. The cap is adapted to engage the container and includes a spout that defines a through-conduit having a top opening, a bottom opening, and an interior spout surface shaped to receive the dispensing valve body. The retainer includes at least one flow aperture and an upwardly extending plug having a plug shoulder. The dispensing valve body is bounded by an exterior surface, an interior surface, a valve perimeter, and a dispensing orifice perimeter. When the dispensing valve body is positioned on the retainer, the dispensing orifice perimeter fits securely around and seals against the upwardly extending plug; and the valve perimeter forms a sealing relationship with the interior spout surface. The retainer engages the spout to seal the dispensing valve body within the spout.

Abstract: A combination angled cap and vent for connecting a baby bottle with a nipple has an angled cap and a vent tube. The angled cap has an elbow shaped body, a proximal opening, and a distal opening. The proximal opening of the angled cap communicates with the distal opening so that liquid from the baby bottle is transmitted to the nipple. The elbow shaped body is shaped to maintain the proximal opening in non-coaxial alignment with the distal opening. The proximal opening includes an externally threaded portion adapted to threadedly receive a retaining cap that functions to lock the nipple over the proximal opening. The distal opening includes an internally threaded portion adapted to threadedly engage the baby bottle. The angled cap further includes a vent aperture through the angled cap adjacent the proximal opening.

Abstract: A tamper evident closure for use on a container has a closure overcap shaped to fit onto a dispensing cap, the dispensing cap being shaped to fit onto the container. The closure overcap is connected to a tamper evident band by fragmentable webs, and the tamper evident band attaches to the dispensing cap, as described below, so that removal of the closure overcap requires the fragmentable webs to be broken, thus providing evidence of the access. The fragmentable webs are strong enough so that it is only easy to break the fragmentable webs one at a time. The dispensing cap includes an upwardly extending cam that functions to break the fragmentable webs one at a time when the closure overcap is twisted with respect to the dispensing cap.

Abstract: A dispensing closure for controlling the flow of a fluid from a container has a conduit having an interior conduit surface partially blocked by a top retainer and a bottom retainer. The dispensing closure further includes a fluid dispensing valve that includes a resilient dome area and a seal area. The seal area extends outwardly, and preferably downwardly, from the dome perimeter to define a seal perimeter shaped to conform to the interior conduit surface to form a seal when the fluid dispensing valve is operably positioned within the conduit between the top and bottom retainers. At least one rib fixedly connects the seal area to the dome area such that deformation of the dome area is transmitted through the at least one rib to the seal area to disrupt the seal and form at least one dispensing flow path. Air pressure on an exterior seal surface of the seal area causes the seal area to deform between the at least one rib to form at least one venting flow path.

Abstract: A dispensing closure contains a foil piercing system. By opening the closure (2), the foil piercing system (6) automatically perforates the foil seal (9) to the bottle on which the closure is mounted, releasing the bottled materials to flow through the closure's dispensing orifice. The closure also includes a tamper evident strip (7) that, unless removed, inhibits opening the closure.

Abstract: A tamper evident spouted closure, contains a base (1) supporting a pivotally mounted spout (4). A tab (7) is integrally connected to a pair of frangible webs (6) and those webs are serially integrally connected to the distal end of said spout, the webs and tab extending from the spouts end. A tab seat (10) is integrally formed in the closure base and a weld permanently joins the tab to the seat. The frangible web thereby obstructs the initial movement to lift and open the spout. When the spout is pulled open, the frangible web easily breaks. The broken web serves as visual evidence that the spout was previously opened and then re-closed.

Abstract: An easy-to-operate vented leak-proof drinking cup cap for a bottle is formed by a pivotable drinking spout (3) and diaphragm arrangement (4) in the cap base (7). The drinking spout that forms the mouthpiece on the upper side of the diaphragm through which the user sucks liquid, contains a portion (3b) on the underside the diaphragm. That lower spout portion carries an elastic hose or tube (8) for immersion in the bottle's liquid when the drinking spout is in the open position, whereby the series of passages through the elastic tube and drinking spout serves as a straw. When the spout is pivoted to its closed position and latched, in one movement, the lower portion of the spout swings a portion of the elastic tube against the vent (6), closing the vent, and forces another portion of that hose into an interference surface (12), creating a bend or kink in the hose that prevents liquid passage.

Abstract: A patient fluid collection system is disclosed which includes a fluid collection reservoir, a cover for the reservoir and a liner within the reservoir comprising an enlargeable or expandable wall portion such that the wall portion may expand if the liner fills with fluid. An anti-reflux system is also disclosed as well as a new tandem tube and a new connector.

Abstract: A compression spring is formed of elastic material in a shape resembling a trumpet horn. Novel valve structures incorporate the trumpet horn spring as a component, the latter of which serves therein to make the valve self restoring and also to provide a fluid seal. One valve is principally applied to dispense pressurized fluid and the other is a simple gravity fed beverage tap.

Abstract: A resealable plastic closure formed of one piece of plastic material includes a swivelable diaphragm to allow a hinged spout to pivot between an upright dispensing position and a down closed position. To permit easier operation in closures containing diaphragms in small sizes, the diaphragm is divided by a crease, hinging the two section, and one diaphragm section is invertible and the other diaphragm section is pliable, deformable. Improved side latches for the spout are provided by flexible latch member supporting wall that may flex into an adjacent cavity on the underside of the closure base. The fabrication of those side latches is enhanced in a process that withdraws one tool to create a void behind the latch member supporting walls so that the other tool, which forms the latch member, may be withdrawn without damaging the member by forcing the walls to flex laterally as the second tool is withdrawn.