GB2416765A

GB2416765A - One way valve for protecting drinks

Info

Publication number: GB2416765A
Application number: GB0516144A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leon Aitken; Matthew Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-05
Filing date: 2005-08-05
Publication date: 2006-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 2025-08-05
Also published as: GB0516144D0; GB2416765B; GB0417393D0

Abstract

A one-way valve (10) for a fluid container is provided, which allows fluid flow out of the container but which prevents fluid flow into the container. The valve (10) comprises a valve body (12) having a bore therethrough and a valve means (20) located in the bore and adapted to control the fluid flow from the container. The valve means (20) is formed from an apertured support member (22) located in the bore and a membrane (24) lying along one side of the support member (22). The membrane (24) covers the apertures of the support member (22) and has at least one flap (26). The flap (26) opens in a first direction away from the support member (22) to allow fluid flow out of the container but is prevented by the support member (22) from opening in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction. This ensures fluid cannot enter the container. The present invention is particularly suited to preventing "spiking" of drinks in entertainment venues such as bars and nightclubs, with so called 'date rape' drugs and other such contaminants. The valve may be provided with a tube or straw see figure 4, to bypass the valve. The valve body may be provided with deformable flanges (16, fig 1), which may have weakening lives, which break upon removal of the valve body and provide a visual realization that the valve has been tampered with.

Description

24 1 6765

ONE-WAY VALVE

1 The present invention is directed to a one-way valve 2 for use in liquid containers and in particular, ..

' 3 although not exclusively, for use in drinks bottles 4 and similar containers.

6 An unfortunate trend which has become increasingly : 7 common in bars and nightclub environments over the ..

. 8 past two decades is drink spiking, where a drug is ë 9 added to the drink of an unsuspecting drinker. So called "date rape" drugs such as 11 Garnmahydroxybutyrate (GLIB), Rohypnol and the like l2 have become a great deal easier to obtain and 13 therefore instances of drink spiking are becoming 14 more common. As the majority of such drugs have neither an odour nor a taste, they are impossible 16 for a drinker to detect in their drink, particularly 17 if that drinker has already consumed a number of 18 alcoholic drinks. The drugs can have various 19 effects on an individual, but at the very least can leave a drinker disorientated or incapacitated for a 1 period of time. Even so-called "recreational" drugs 2 such as ecstasy, amphetamines and I,SD can have 3 harmful effects on an individual, even if they are 4 merely added to a drink in small doses for a joke.

6 At present, drinks bottles sold in bar and nightclub 7 environments usually come with either a detachable 8 screw top or bottle top fixed to the neck of the 9 bottle. When the drink is purchased, the serving staff most often open the bottle for the purchaser 11 and discard the tops. As a result, the drinker has 12 no way of covering the opening of the bottle if it 13 is left unattended when they go to the bathroom or ë 14 onto the dancefloor, for example. This makes it ..

. 15 straightforward for a drug to be added to the drink 16 whilst it is unattended. . .

18 In addition, once the top of the bottle is removed, : 19 there is no way of preventing spillage from the bottle if it is inadvertently knocked over. Given ..

21 that a lot of such bottles have relatively small 22 volumes, most of the contents can be lost before the 23 bottle is righted. Furthermore, it is also common 24 for unscrupulous licensees to refill premium brand bottles, in particular those containing spirits, 26 with inferior product once the bottle is empty.

27 Again, existing drinks bottles and containers have 28 no mechanism for preventing such an act, commonly 29 known as "tipping", and this can lead to the consumer being tricked into paying a premium price 31 for a low quality product.

1 It is an aim of the present invention to address one 2 or more of the aforementioned disadvantages with 3 existing bottles and other drinks containers.

According to a first aspect of the present invention 6 there is provided a one-way valve for a fluid 7 container, the valve comprising: 8 a valve body having a bore therethrough; and 9 a valve means located in the bore and adapted to control fluid flow therethrough, the valve means 11 comprising: 12 a support member extending across the bore and 13 having one or more apertures therein; and . 14 a membrane lying along one side of the support e.

.15 member and covering the one or more apertures; 16 wherein the membrane has at least one flap 17 portion, the flap portion being adapted to open in a - 18 first direction away from the support member but .. 19 prevented by the support member from opening in a . 20 second direction substantially opposite to the first e 21 direction.

23 The term "one-way valve" refers to a valve which 24 only allows fluid flow in one direction therethrough.

27 'I'he valve body has a first end and a second end.

28 Preferably, the valve body further comprises a lip 29 portion adjacent the first end. The lip portion is adapted to limit the longitudinal movement of the 31 valve in the fluid container.

1 Preferably, the valve body further comprises one or 2 more resilient flanges adapted to secure the valve 3 in the fluid container.

In a preferred embodiment, the one or more flanges 6 are adapted to deform in one direction only.

7 Preferably, the valve body comprises a plurality of 8 flanges extending radially outwardly from the valve 9 body. Alternatively, the valve body comprises a flange formed as a helical thread extending along at 11 least a portion of the valve body.

13 In an alternative preferred embodiment, the one or .

14 more flanges are adjacent the second end of the -.

. 15 valve body. Preferably, the flanges are biased 16 outwardly such that in a first position the diameter ë 17 of the valve across the flanges is greater than that .

18 of the valve body. Preferably, the one or more :. . 19 flanges each have one or more weakening lines ..

. 20 thereon, such that the flanges will break from the *e 21 valve body should the valve body be forceably 22 removed from the fluid container.

24 In a preferred embodiment, the valve body is also provided with an indicating means adapted to 26 indicate when the valve body has been broken.

27 Preferably, the indicating means is located between 28 the valve body and the one or more flanges. The 29 indicating means is adapted to detach from the valve body should the valve bcdy be forceably removed from 31 the fluid container.

1 Preferably, the support member has a mesh portion 2 containing the plurality of apertures. Preferably, 3 the support member is cup-shaped and the membrane 4 lies inside the cup-shaped support member.

Preferably, the membrane is fixed to an annular 6 reinforcing member. Preferably, the reinforcing 7 member is adapted to fit inside the cup-shaped 8 support member.

Preferably, the valve means further comprises a 11 guard member extending across the bore and located 12 on the opposite side of the membrane from the 13 support member. The guard member is co-axial with 14 the bore and has one or more apertures therein. ..

. 15 16 In one preferred embodiment, the valve further .

17 comprises a hollow tube adapted to permit fluid flow 18 to bypass the one-way valve. Preferably, the valve 19 means includes a second bore and the hollow tube is .

A. 20 fixed in the second bore. Preferably, the tube is ë 21 configured so as to prevent foreign bodies passing 22 therethrough. Most preferably, the tube has an S 23 bend configuration adjacent an upper end thereof.

Preferably, the hollow tube includes a concertina 26 portion adapted to allow the extension or 27 contraction of the tube.

29 Preferably, the fluid container is a drinks bottle.

Most preferably, the valve is adapted to locate in 31 the neck of a drinks bottle.

1 In one embodiment, the valve is integrally formed 2 with a closure for the container. Preferably, the 3 closure is adapted to detach from the valve upon 4 opening the container.

6 Preferably, the valve body has a plurality of first 7 channels therein, the first channels each extending 8 through the valve body and adapted to allow fluid 9 communication between the bore and the exterior of the valve body. Preferably, each first channel has 11 an inlet in fluid communication with the bore and an 12 outlet in fluid communication with the exterior of 13 the valve body, wherein the longitudinal distance - 14 between the support member and the outlet is greater .e . 15 than the longitudinal distance between the support 16 member and the inlet. .

-

18 Preferably, each of the flanges has a plurality of 19 second channels therein, each second channel e.

. 20 extending through the flange generally parallel to . a.

21 the bore. Alternatively, each of the flanges has a 22 plurality of grooves provided on the outer surface 23 thereof, the grooves adapted to form second channels 24 with an internal surface of the fluid container when the valve is in use, the second channels generally 26 parallel with the bore.

28 According to a second aspect of the present 29 invention, there is provided a fluid container including a valve in accordance with the first 31 aspect.

1 Preferred embodiments of the present invention will 2 now be described, by way of example only, with 3 reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: in 4 which: Figures l(a)-(d) show schematic representations 6 of a first embodiment of a one-way valve being 7 inserted into the neck of a bottle; 8 Figures 2(a) and (b) show schematic sectional 9 and plan views of the one-way valve of Figs l(a) (d); 11 Figures 3(a) and (b) show schematic sectional 12 and bottom views of the one-way valve of Figs l(a) 13 (d) when open; . 14 Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the one ..

. 15 way valve inserted into the neck of a bottle; 16 Figures 5(a)-(c) show third, fourth and fifth 17 embodiments of the one-way valve; ë 18 Figure 6(a) shows a sixth embodiment of the 19 one-way valve inserted into the neck of a bottle; - ., 20 Figure 6(b) shows a sectional view of the one 21 way valve shown in Fig 6(a); 22 Figure 6(c) is a table showing various 23 configurations of the components of the one-way 24 valve shown in Figs 6(a) and 6(b); and Figures 7(a) and 7(b) show sectional views of a 26 seventh embodiment of the one-way valve inserted 27 into the neck of a bottle.

29 Figures 1(a)-(d) show a first embodiment of a one way valve apparatus according to the present 31 invention being inserted into the neck of a fluid 32 container, which in this example is a drinks bottle 1 such as a bottle of beer. The valve is ideally 2 manufactured from a suitable plastics material, 3 although any other suitably resilient material may 4 be used instead. Figure l(a) shows the one-way valve 10 prior to insertion into the neck of the 6 bottle. The valve 10 has a hollow, generally 7 cylindrical valve body 12. At an upper end of the 8 valve body 12 is a lip portion 14 adapted to provide 9 a close fit between the valve 10 and the neck 8 of the bottle. At the lower end of the valve body 12 11 remote from the lip portion 14 are a plurality of 12 resilient flanges 16. Each flange 16 has a bowed, 13 or convex, profile and the flanges are splayed such 14 that the diameter B of the one-way valve 10 taken ..

. 15 across the flanges is greater than the diameter A 16 taken across the valve body 12. Any number of 17 flanges 16 can be provided on the valve 10, but in ë 18 this particular embodiment, four flanges 16 are 19 present. Inside the valve body 12 is a bore 18 . 20 across which is fitted a valve means 20, which I. 21 controls fluid flow through the valve and will be 22 described in greater detail below.

24 In Figure l(b), the valve 10 is shown partially inserted into the bottle neck 8. As the valve is 26 inserted into the bottle neck 8, the flanges 16 come 27 into contact with the inside surface 9 of the bottle 28 neck 8. This is due to the fact that the inner 29 diameter of the mouth 7 of the bottle is less than that of diameter B of the flanges 16, and also the 3l narrowest point in the bottle neck 8. As the valve 32 10 is pushed into the bottle mouth 7, the flanges 1 compress and are pushed towards the longitudinal 2 axis C of the valve body 12. At the instant shown 3 in Figure l(b), the diameter B has been reduced to 4 match diameter A of the valve body l2, thanks to the compression of the flanges 16 as they enter the 6 bottle mouth 7.

8 Figure l(c) shows the valve 10 once fully inserted 9 in the bottle neck 8. As the bottle neck 8 tapers outwards away from the bottle mouth 7, the flanges 11 16 can expand away from the longitudinal axis C once 12 past the bottle mouth 7. Hence, diameter B has 13 again grown wider than that of diameter A, where the .

14 valve body 12 has a sealing fit with the inner e.

. 15 surface 9 of the bottle neck 8. Thanks to the 16 expansion of the flanges 16, the valve 10 is now . ë 17 securely held in the bottle neck 8. Furthermore, .

18 the flanges 16 each have weakening lines (not shown) 19 such that any attempt to forcibly remove the valve . 20 10 from the bottle will result in the breaking of ..

21 the flanges 16. It will therefore be clearly 22 evident when a valve has been tampered with, and the 23 consumer can discard the bottle.

The valve 10 is prevented from travelling any 26 further down the bottle neck 8 by the lip portion 27 14, which is now flush with the bottle mouth 7. As 28 the lip portion 14 is flush with the bottle mouth 7, 29 a bottle closure 6 can now be fitted over the bottle mouth 7, as seen in Figure l(d). The closure 6 can 31 be a conventional bottle top or screw cap fitted to 1 the bottle as normal, or else it may also be 2 integrally formed with the valve 10.

4 Figures 2 and 3 show further schematic views of the valve 10 and the components of the one-way valve 20 6 in particular. Figures 2(a) and 3(a) show vertical 7 sections through the valve 10 when fitted in the 8 bottle neck 8. In these figures, the flanges 16 9 have been removed, but only for illustrative purposes. Figure 2(b) shows a horizontal section 11 through the valve 10 along line II(b)-II(b), whilst 12 Figure 3(b) shows another horizontal section through 13 the valve 10 along line III(b)-III(b). .

ë e 14 .e . 15 The valve means 20 is comprised of a support member id. 16 22 which is fixed in the bore of the valve body 12 17 and extends across the diameter of the bore. The ë 18 support member is cup-shaped in the described . .. 19 embodiment, but may be any suitable configuration.

The cup-shaped support member 22 can be fixed in the 21 bore using any suitable means or could be formed 22 integrally with the valve body 12. The support 23 member 22 has solid side walls 22a and a base 22b 24 having one or more apertures which will allow liquid from the bottle to pass through the support member 26 22 and out of the valve 10. The base 22b may have a 27 mesh which provides the apertures. The valve means 28 20 also includes a valve membrane 24, which is 29 either fixed to, or integrally formed with, the support member 22 such that it lies upon one side of 31 the support member 22. The membrane 24 is made from 32 a flexible material and has a number of cuts made 1 through it in order to form flaps 26 that can open 2 and close. The flaps 26 cover the one or apertures 3 in the support member 22. The membrane 24 can be 4 fitted directly in the support member 22 or else it can be fitted to a reinforcing ring (not shown) 6 which is then fitted in the support member 22.

7 Because the membrane lies on the support member 22, 8 the flaps 26 are prevented from opening downwards by 9 the support member 22. Instead, the flaps 26 can only open away from the support member 22, as shown 11 in Figure 3(a). The support member 22 and membrane 12 24 lie across the valve bore 18 so that any liquid 13 passing through the bore 18 must pass through them '. 14 to exit. Thus, when the valve 10 is fitted into a I'd' 15 bottle neck, liquid flowing from the bottle in the ,,.. 16 direction of arrow F will pass through the mesh base . 17 22b of the support member 22 and force open the 18 flaps 26 of the membrane in order to pass through 19 and out of the bottle neck.

21 The membrane 24 is made from a relatively resilient 22 material to ensure that a reasonable amount of force 23 is required for the liquid to push open the flaps 24 26. As a result, a bottle may be inadvertently tipped over without liquid immediately pouring out.

26 However, once flow commences through the flaps 26, 27 the flaps 26 will remain open until such time as the 28 flow stops.

As the flaps 26 of the membrane 24 cannot open 31 downwards due to the mesh base 22b of the support 32 member 22, no liquids or solids can be passed 1 downwards through the valve 10 into the bottle.

2 Thus, if anyone attempts to spike the drink in the 3 bottle with a drug in either powder or liquid form, 4 it will be clear to the bottle user due to the powder or liquid lying on the top of the valve 6 membrane 24. The bottle can then be discarded 7 without the user unknowingly taking the drug while 8 drinking from the bottle.

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the present 11 invention, which is essentially a modified version 12 of the first embodiment. As a result, the features 13 which are shared with the first embodiment have been ë 14 allocated the same reference numbers and will not be Are . 15 described further. The principal difference between 16 the two embodiments is that the valve 1' shown in 17 Figure 4 also includes a tube, or straw, 30 fixed to 18 the valve means 20'. The straw 30 is moulded or I 19 fixed into a bore provided through the one-way 2. 20 valve. Thus, the support member and membrane each 21 have been adapted in order to provide an aperture 22 for the straw 30 to pass through. The straw 30 is 23 fixed in position in the bore so that it cannot be 24 removed in an attempt to expose the bore and contents of the bottle. The straw has a lower 26 portion 32 which is at an angle to the main body of 27 the straw 30 in order that it can reach any liquid 28 left in the bottom of the bottle. Furthermore, the 29 uppermost portion 34 of the straw is separated from the main body of the straw by an S-bend portion 36.

31 The S-bend portion 36 is provided in order to 32 prevent any liquids or solids being added to the l3 1 bottle via the straw 30. Although the embodiment 2 described includes an S-bend, the bend may 3 alternatively be any shape so long as it can prevent 4 any contaminants from being administered to contents of the bottle.

7 Figures 5(a)-(c) show third, fourth and fifth 8 embodiments, respectively, of the one-way valve of 9 the present invention. The internal components of the valve, which cannot be seen in Figures 5(a)-(c), 11 are substantially the same as those used in the 12 other illustrated embodiments and will consequently 13 not be described here. The main difference between 14 the first and second embodiments in particular and ..

I' 15 the embodiments shown in Figures 5(a)-(c) is that :. 16 the third, fourth and fifth embodiments are secured A. 17 in the neck of a fluid container or bottle in a 18 different manner. The valve bodies 42,52,62 of the 19 third, fourth and fifth embodiments each have a number of integrally formed flanges 46,56,66 21 projecting radially outwardly therefrom. The 22 flanges 46,56,66 are resilient and adapted such that 23 they may bend in only one direction, as illustrated 24 by arrow B. Thanks to this arrangement, the flanges 46,56,66 allow the one-way valves to be slid into 26 the neck of a bottle in the direction illustrated by 27 arrow A, but prevent the one-way valves from being 28 removed in the direction of arrow C once inside the 29 neck of the bottle. The flanges 46,56 of the third and fourth embodiments are each identical and spaced 31 along the length of their respective valve bodies 32 42,52. However, the flanges may also be formed as 1 part of a single helical thread, as illustrated by 2 the flanges 66 of the fifth embodiment shown in 3 Figure 5(c).

The embodiments shown in Figures 5(a)-(c) also 6 illustrate ventilation means which allow air to pass 7 into the container or bottle whilst liquid is 8 passing out through the one-way valve. In each of 9 the embodiments illustrated and described herein, the lip portions of the valve bodies can be provided 11 with a number of narrow channels which allow air to 12 pass into the container through the lip portion. As 13 can be seen in Figures 5(a)-(c) by way of example, 14 the channels each have inlets 100 spaced about the internal surface of the lip portions 44,54,64, the :. 16 inlets 100 communicating with respective outlets 102 ë 17 opening on the external surface of the lip portions 18 44,54,64. This allows air to pass into the container :. . 19 from atmosphere, bypassing the seal provided by the ..

lip portion, and thereby ensuring a smooth flow of 21 liquid from the container or bottle through the one 22 way valve.

24 In the third embodiment shown in Figure 5(a), the flanges 46 are provided with narrow channels 48 26 which allow air to pass into the container through 27 the flanges 46. The channels 48 are generally 28 parallel with the bore of the valve body. In the 29 fourth embodiment illustrated in Figure 5(b), the flanges 56 are provided with grooves 58 which, when 31 the valve is placed in the bottle neck, form 32 channels with the inner wall of the bottle neck.

1 The channels formed by the grooves 58 run 2 substantially parallel with the bore of the valve 3 body. In the fifth embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 5(c), the air can flow down the channels formed by the helical thread into the container or bottle.

6 The channels in the lip portions 44,54,64 are formed 7 such that their outlets 102 are a greater 8 longitudinal distance along the valve body from the 9 valve means than their respective inlets 100. That is to say, when the valve is located in a fluid 11 container, the channels run upwards from inlet 100 12 to outlet 102. This ensures that it is not possible 13 for any contaminants to be added to a bottle via the 14 air channels. The inlets 100 of the channels are . also sufficiently small that the surface tension of 16 any liquid which is applied to the channels from 17 above will ensure that the liquid will not flow 18 through the channels into the bottle.

::.' 19 ..

' 20 Figures 6(a) and 6(b) show views of a sixth 21 embodiment of the one-way valve of the present 22 invention. Externally, as shown in Figure 6(a), the 23 sixth embodiment is substantially identical to the 24 fifth embodiment, in that the valve body 72 has integrally formed flanges 76 projecting therefrom 26 which form a helical thread around the valve body 27 72. The valve body 72 also has channels formed in 28 the lip portion 74, the channels having inlets 100 29 and outlets 102 which allow air, but not contaminants, to pass into the neck 8 of the bottle.

31 However, where the sixth embodiment differs from the 32 other embodiments described is illustrated in the 1 schematic sectional view shown in Figure 6(b).

3 As seen in Figure 6(b), fitted within the valve body 4 72 are the components which form a valve means 120.

The valve means 120 comprises a support member 122 6 having one or more apertures therein, and a valve 7 membrane 124 which lies upon, and is supported by, 8 the support member 122. The membrane 124 is cut so 9 as to form flaps that may open and close. In effect, the support member 122 and membrane 124 11 perform the same functions as the support member and 12 membrane illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. Where the 13 sixth embodiment differs is that the valve means 120 . 14 also includes a guard member 126 located in the bore of the valve body 72 on the opposite side of the :. 16 membrane 124 from the support member 122. As with ë 17 the support member 122, the guard member 126 is 18 provided with one or more apertures to allow fluid 19 flow therethrough. The guard member 126 is located . 20 in the bore a sufficient distance above the membrane 21 124 that it does not interfere with the opening of 22 the flaps in the membrane 124.

24 Figure 6(c) is a table showing examples of various configurations that the support member, membrane and 26 guard plate of the sixth embodiment may take. Row A 27 shows various configurations of the guard member 28 126, row B shows various configurations of the 29 membrane 124 and row C shows various configurations of the support member 122. The columns (i) to (iii) 31 show the most preferred combinations of guard 32 member, membrane and support member, but it will be 1 understood that other combinations of the 2 illustrated components may be used.

4 The guard member shown at A(i) in the table comprises an outer ring 200 and an inner disc 202 6 integrally formed with, and interconnected by, a 7 number of spokes 204. The guard member shown at 8 A(ii) comprises an outer ring 210 supported by a 9 number of spokes 212. The guard member shown at A(iii) is similar to that shown at A(ii) except that 11 grille or grate segments 214 are formed between the 12 spokes 212. The membranes shown at B(i) and B(ii) 13 in the table are identical and comprise two 14 perpendicular cut lines 302,304 which form a cross with four generally triangular-shaped flaps 306.

., 16 The membrane shown at B(iii) is substantially .

:. 17 identical to that shown in Figure 2(b) in that the 18 flaps 310 are formed from generally C-shaped cut 19 lines 308 made in the membrane, and the cut lines . 20 310 are arranged around the centre of the 21 substantially circular membrane. Finally, row C 22 illustrates the support members, where the support 23 member of C(i) is a ring member. The support member 24 of C(ii) is comprised of an outer ring 400 connected to an inner disc 402 by spokes 404. The support 26 member of C(iii) is substantially identical to the 27 guard member of A(iii), having an outer ring 410, 28 spokes 412 and grille segments 414 between the 29 spokes 414. Where the guard member and support member are identical, as in column (iii), one of the 31 two members is rotated relative to the other prior 32 to being fixed in the valve body. This ensures that 1 the apertures in the guard member and support member 2 are not aligned, thereby preventing any instruments 3 passing through both members via aligned apertures.

A seventh and final embodiment of the valve is 6 illustrated in Figures 7(a) and 7(b). The seventh 7 embodiment is similar to that shown in Figure 4, but 8 includes fixing flanges 86 provided on the valve 9 body 82, as also illustrated in Figures 5(a)-(c).

As in the second embodiment, the valve 80 includes a 11 tube, or straw, 90 fixed thereto. The straw 90 is 12 moulded, or fixed into, a bore provided through the 13 valve means, with the support member, membrane and *.' 14 guard member (if fitted) adapted accordingly. The ..

. 15 straw 90 is fixed in the bore and cannot be removed a-. e. 16 therefrom. The uppermost portion 94 of the straw 90 .

e 17 has an S-bend portion 96 which prevents liquids or 18 solids being poured down the straw to avoid the :.: .. 19 valve 80. As previously stated, the shape of the ..e . 20 uppermost portion 94 of the straw 90 can be an 21 alternative shape, so long as the shape still 22 prevents entry of undesired liquids or solids. The 23 uppermost portion of the straw 94 also includes a 24 concertina portion 98. The concertina portion 98 is compressed, as shown in Figure 7(a) so that the top 26 of the straw 90 sits below the cap 99 of the bottle.

27 Once the cap is removed, as shown in Figure 7(b), 28 the concertina portion 98 of the straw 90 can be 29 expanded so that the top of the straw protrudes from the neck of the bottle. The concertina porton 98 31 may be compressed by the cap 99 such that when the 32 cap is removed, the concertina portion expands 1 upwards automatically.

3 One advantage of the present invention is that it 4 can prevent the spiking of unattended drinks in bars and nightclubs, whilst still allowing the drink to 6 flow out of the bottle. By utilising a one-way 7 valve of the type described, liquid can still flow 8 out of the bottle, but the one-way valve arrangement 9 of the present invention captures any substance that is added to the bottle, be it in liquid, solid or 11 powdered form. In addition, the flaps of the valve 12 membrane are relatively resilient and thus require a 13 reasonable pressure to be applied by the liquid 14 before the flaps will open. As a result, the . 15 present invention can also prevent spillage, at 16 least temporarily, from a bottle which has been ë 17 accidentally knocked over. A yet further advantage 18 of the present invention is that the one-way valve :.: .. 19 prevents the adding of any product to the bottle . ,.. 20 when in place. Therefore, it also prevents the 21 practice of licensees re-filling empty premium brand 22 bottles with inferior product, thereby benefiting 23 the consumer.

The valve can be fitted at the bottling stage, or 26 else bar staff or the customer could fit it. If 27 installed at the bottling stage, the valvecould 28 potentially be integrally formed with the bottle 29 cap.

3l Although not shown in the figures, a visual aid may 32 be added to the valve of the present invention to 1 assist in showing when the valve has been tampered 2 with. For example, a coloured or luminous ring 3 could be fitted between the flanges and valve body, 4 so that if the flanges are broken when an attempt is made to remove the valve from a bottle, the ring 6 will drop into the bottle. This ring can then be 7 seen by the consumer and it will be clear that the 8 valve has been broken for some reason.

Although a drinks bottle has been used as an example 11 of a fluid container in the preferred embodiments 12 described above, it should be understood that the 13 present invention could be utilised with any type of . . 14 fluid container. ... e

ecee 15 :. 16 These and other modifications and improvements may - - . 17 be introduced without departing from the scope of 18 the invention. .e

Claims

CLAIMS: 1 1. A one-way valve for a fluid container, the 2 valve

comprising: 3 a valve body having a bore therethrough; and 4 a valve means located in the bore and adapted to control fluid flow therethrough, the valve means 6 comprising: 7 a support member extending across the bore and 8 having one or more apertures therein; and 9 a membrane lying along one side of the support member and covering the one or more apertures; 11 wherein the membrane has at least one flap .

12 portion, the flap portion being adapted to open in a 13 first direction away from the support member but 14 prevented by the support member from opening in a second direction substantially opposite to the first 16 direction.

:.:.. 17 me . 18 2. The valve of Claim 1, wherein the valve body 19 has a first end and a second end, and the first end includes a lip portion adapted to limit the 21 longitudinal movement of the valve in the fluid 22 container.

24 3. The valve of Claim 2, wherein the valve body has a plurality of first channels adjacent the first 26 end thereof, the first channels each extending 21 through the valve body and adapted to allow fluid 28 communication between the bore and the exterior of 29 the valve body.

1 4. The valve of Claim 3, wherein each first 2 channel has an inlet in fluid communication with the 3 bore and an outlet in fluid communication with the 4 exterior of the valve body, and wherein the longitudinal distance between the valve means and 6 the outlet is greater than the longitudinal distance 7 between the valve means and the inlet.

9 5. The valve of either Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the valve body further comprises one or more 11 resilient flanges adapted to secure the valve in the 12 fluid container. .

14 6. The valve of Claim 5, wherein the one or more flanges are adapted to deform in one direction only. :. 16

17 7. The valve of either Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein 18 the valve body comprises a plurality of flanges 19 extending radially outwardly therefrom. A.-

. 20 21 8. The valve of either Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein 22 the flange is formed as a helical thread extending 23 along at least a portion of the valve body.

9. The valve of any of Claims 5 to 8, wherein the 26 or each flange has a plurality of second channels 27 therein, each second channel extending through the 28 flange generally parallel to the bore.

1(). The valve of any of Claims 5 to 8, wherein the 31 or each flange has a plurality of grooves provided 32 on the outer surface thereof, the grooves adapted to 1 form second channels with an internal surface of the 2 fluid container when the valve is in use, wherein 3 the second channels are generally parallel with the 4 bore.

6]1. The valve of Claim 5, wherein the one or more 7 flanges are adjacent the second end of the valve 8 body, and the flanges are biased outwardly such that 9 in a first position the diameter of the valve across the flanges is greater than that of the valve body.

12 12. The valve of Claim 11, wherein the one or more 13 flanges each have one or more weakening lines 14 thereon, and the flanges are adapted to break along the weakening lines from the valve body should the 16 valve be forceably removed from the fluid container.

18 13. The valve of Claim 12, wherein the valve body ^ 19 is also provided with an indicating means adapted to e.- indicate when the flanges have been broken from the 21 valve body.

23 14. The valve of Claim 13, wherein the indicating 24 means is located between the valve body and the one or more flanges and is adapted to detach from the 26 valve body should the flanges be broken from the 27 valve body.

29 15. The valve of any preceding claim, wherein the support member has a mesh portion containing the 31 plurality of apertures.

1 16. The valve of any preceding claim, wherein the 2 support member is cup-shaped and the membrane lies 3 inside the cup-shaped support member.

17. The valve of Claim 16, wherein the membrane is 6 fixed to a reinforcing member.

8 18. The valve of Claim 17, wherein the reinforcing 9 member is adapted to fit inside the cup-shaped support member.

12 19. The valve of any preceding claim, wherein the 13 valve means further comprises a guard member 14 extending across the bore, the guard member being e located on the opposite side of the membrane from e 16 the support member and having one or more apertures I. 17 therein.

19 20. The valve of any preceding claim' further me - comprising a hollow tube adapted to permit fluid 21 from the fluid container to bypass the one-way 22 valve.

24 21. The valve of Claim 20, wherein the valve means includes a second bore and the hollow tube is fixed 26 in the second bore.

28 22. The valve of either Claim 20 or Claim 21, 29 wherein the tube is configured so as to prevent foreign bodies passing therethrough.

1 23. The valve of Claim 22, wherein the tube has an 2 S-bend configuration adjacent an upper end thereof.

4 24. The valve of any of Claims 20 to 23, wherein the hollow tube includes a concertina portion 6 adapted to allow the extension or contraction of the 7 tube.

9 25. The valve of any preceding claim, wherein the fluid container is a drinks bottle and the valve is 11 adapted to locate in the neck of the drinks bottle.

13 26. The valve of any preceding claim, wherein the . 14 valve is integrally formed with a closure for the ret.

container, and the closure is adapted to detach from 16 the valve upon opening the container.

18 27. A fluid container including a valve in I'' 19 accordance with any of Claims 1 to 26. s.

21 28. A one-way valve substantially as described 22 herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24 29. A fluid container substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.