RESILIENT GATE VALVE STRUCTURE

• US 3,645,497 A
• Filed: 10/14/1970
• Issued: 02/29/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert P. Nyboer
• Original Assignee: Robert P. Nyboer
• Inventors: Nyboer, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cline, William R.
• Application Number:
  US05/080,536
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 251/148,326,327,328,329,147,193,195,196 32/33
• US Class Current: 433/95
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/08 Aspiration nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/7413 by changing the cross-section of the line
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/28 with resilient valve members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/902 Suction wands

Abstract

A valve structure that includes an elongate valve body through which a longitudinal bore extends, said structure including a transversely and longitudinally movable resilient valve member for control of a flowable material through said bore. The valve structure is particularly adapted for use in the field of dentistry on aspirator instruments, but may be used equally well in the control of a flowable material from a first zone to a second enclosed zone that is maintained at a negative pressure relative to said first zone.

Claims

1. A valve structure for controlling the rate of flow of a flowable material therethrough that comprises:

a. an elongate rigid valve body that has first and second ends and through which body a longitudinal bore extends, said body having an arcuate transverse slot therein that is of greater width than the diameter of said bore and extends thereacross, said slot being defined by first and second internal surfaces of said body, said first surface merging with a third flat longitudinal surface on the exterior surface of said body, with said body including a first portion that overlies a part of said third surface and is outwardly spaced therefrom, and said first portion defining a fourth interior arcuate surface that merges with said second surface;

b. an elongate resilient valve member that slides longitudinally on said third surface and at all times slidably engages said slot, with said valve member when in a first position having a first end portion thereof extending transversely across said bore to block the latter, and said valve member when in a second position having said first portion thereof disposed outwardly from said bore to permit free flow of material through the latter;

c. first means for preventing said valve member from moving laterally relative to said third surface;

d. second means for preventing said valve member from being moved longitudinally beyond said second position; and

e. third means for moving said valve member to either said first or second position or a third position intermediate therebetween.

2. A valve structure as defined in claim 1 in which said first means includes two laterally spaced parallel first ribs that extend outwardly from the portion of said body that define said third surface.

3. A valve structure as defined in claim 2 in which said second means is a second transverse outwardly extending rib that extends between the ends of said first ribs mosT remote from said first portion of said body.

4. A valve structure as defined in claim 1 in which said third means is a handle that extends outwardly from a second end portion of said valve member, with said handle being disposed in a longitudinal opening in said first portion of said valve body when said valve member is in said first position.

5. A valve structure as defined in claim 1 in which said flowable material enters said valve body through said first end thereof and discharges through said second end, with the portion of said body defining said second end being of circular transverse cross section and having threads formed on the external surface thereof, and said second end being in the shape of a tapered ring, with said valve structure in addition including:

f. fourth means removably connectable to said threads for conveying said flowable material passing through said body to a desired location.

6. A valve structure as defined in claim 5 in which said fourth means includes:

g. a length of resilient conduit;

h. a rigid tubular connector that projects from a first end of said conduit, said connector including an outwardly projecting flange that has a tapered end surface that slidably and sealingly contacts said tapered ring; and

i. a tubular coupling that includes an internal collar disposed between first and second interior end portions of said coupling, said collar rotatably engaging said connector and said flange thereon, with said first interior end portion having first threads formed thereon that engage said threads on said valve body to hold said conduit and connector in rotatable engagement with said valve body.

7. A valve structure as defined in claim 1 in which an end portion of said valve body on which said first end is defined is angularly disposed relative to the balance of said valve body.

8. A valve structure as defined in claim 7 which in addition includes:

f. a length of resilient conduit that extends from said first end of said valve body.