Drinking container vent system and method

1. A vent system for a drinking container, the vent system comprising:

a single member closure member adapted and configured for mounting between an open top of the drinking container and a liquid outlet member, said closure member including:

an integrally formed tubular connecting element;

at least one air vent tube, extending from the periphery of said closure member to said connecting element and having at least one air vent tube opening in said periphery;

an air passage therethrough defined by the connecting element, said air vent tube and said at least one air vent tube opening, to allow the passage of air from outside the container to an interior of the container when a vacuum is formed inside the container; and

a one-way valve sealingly and removably coupled to said connecting element and operatively connected to said air passage, and extending into said container, for permitting passage of air from outside the container into said interior of the container through said more than one air vent tube opening, said air vent tube, said connecting element and said valve, only when a vacuum is formed inside the container and preventing flow of liquid from the interior of the container to outside the container through said vent system.

2. The vent system according to claim 1 , wherein said valve includes a circular opening adapted and configured to receive a connecting element of said closure member, said connecting element being operationally connected to said air vent tube, such that air may pass from outside the container through the air vent tube and said connecting element and through said valve.

3. The vent system according to claim 1 , wherein said closure member further comprises at least one liquid opening to allow passage of liquid from the interior of the container through said open top.

4. The vent system according to claim 1 , and further comprising an anti-bubble tube extending to nearly a bottom of portion of the container, said anti-bubble tube being releasably coupleable to said closure member and circumscribing said valve, wherein the anti-bubble tube and the valve trap a volume of air therebetween, so as to create a “diving bell” effect within the anti-bubble tube.

5. The vent system according to claim 4 , wherein said anti-bubble tube comprises a heat sensor of a thermally reactive material to indicate a temperature of a liquid in the container.

6. The vent system according to claim 4 , wherein said anti-bubble tube has a lower section and an upper section, wherein the upper section generally surrounds the valve, and wherein the lower section has a larger volume than the upper section.

7. The vent system according to claim 1 , wherein said valve further includes a connecting portion adapted and configured for sealingly engaging said connecting element on said closure member during use, sufficiently tightly to prevent inadvertent release during use, and for easy removal for cleaning.

8. The vent system according to claim 7 , wherein said valve further includes a gripping portion for ease of gripping during removal of said valve from said closure member.

9. The vent system according to claim 1 , further comprising a drinking container comprising:

a liquid outlet member; and

a collar, wherein the collar is threadably connected to the container for sealing the liquid outlet member against the closure member, wherein a threaded region of a neck of the bottle and a threaded region of the collar are adapted and configured to allow air to pass therebetween and enter said air passage.

10. A method for forming a drinking container, the method comprising:

forming a single piece closure member configured for mounting said closure member between an open top of the drinking container and a liquid outlet member, said closure member including an integrally formed tubular connecting element;

forming, in said closure member, at least one air vent tube, having more than one air vent tube opening in a periphery of said closure member;

forming an air passage, defined by the connecting element, said air vent tube and said more than one air vent tube opening, through said closure member, to allow the passage of air from outside the container to an interior of the container when a vacuum is formed inside the container; and

sealingly and removably coupling a one-way valve to said connecting element, said valve being operatively connected to said air passage, and extending into said container, for permitting passage of air from outside the container into said interior of the container through said more than one air vent tube opening, said air vent tube, said connecting element and said valve, only when a vacuum force is created inside the container and preventing flow of liquid from the interior of the container to outside the container through the closure member;

so as to form a substantially vacuum-free, non-leak drinking container.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising mounting an anti-bubble tube on said closure member circumscribing said valve, wherein said anti-bubble tube and said valve trap a volume of air therebetween so as to create a “diving bell” effect within the anti-bubble tube.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said anti-bubble tube is adapted and configured, when said container is inverted, to guide air entering the container to an air pocket formed in a bottom portion of the container, wherein the air pocket is created by partially emptying the container.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the anti-bubble tube is adapted and configured to provide passage for air directly to said air pocket, and the air is not allowed to mix with the liquid in the container or create air bubbles in the liquid.