BITE VALVE FOR HYDRATION BLADDER

A bite valve (12) for a hydration bladder (14) includes a deformable sleeve (34) and an elongate valve body (36) that is received within the deformable slee ve. The valve body includes an inlet (28) that is coupleable by a tube (26) to recei ve fluid (16) from the hydration bladder. The inlet has a first sealing surface (56 ) in sealing engagement with an inner surface of the deformable sleeve. The inlet has a flow channel (48) therethrough defined along a first axis (50). The valve body a lso includes an outlet (30) that is in fluid communication with the flow channel. Th e outlet is defined by a bulkhead flange (72) with a second sealing surface (78) t hat is normally in sealing engagement with the deformable sleeve. The outlet is longitudinally spaced apart from the inlet by a cylindrical stem (32). The cylin drical stem has an axis (71) that is substantially aligned with the axis of the flow ch annel. Deformation of the deformable sleeve toward the stem takes the deformable sleeve out of sealing engagement with the bulkhead flange, regardless of radial orienta tion of the deformation, to permit fluid flow through the outlet.