In-line sleeve valve

• US 4,397,442 A
• Filed: 01/09/1981
• Issued: 08/09/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Inventors: Larkin, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weakley, Harold W.
• Application Number:
  US06/223,669
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 251/342, 251/347, 251/348, 251/353, 251/354, 128/213 A, 128/274
• US Class Current: 251/342
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1066 having protection means, e.g. sliding sleeve to protect connector itself, shrouds to protect a needle present in the connector, protective housing, isolating sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/14 for connecting tubes having sealed ends needle sets A61M5/162; having valves closing automatically on disconnection of line A61M39/26
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1759 Knife or cutter causes disc to break

Abstract

An improved in-line sleeve valve comprises a modular tubular port having a stationary plug concentrically supported therein and a reciprocating tubular sleeve arranged for sealing against the stationary plug. A resilient, flexible flange connects the tubular sleeve and the tubular port. The flange is sufficiently elastic to allow easy manual displacement of the sleeve from the tubular stationary plug in order to allow the flow of liquid, but is biased in a first direction so as to return the tubular sleeve to a position abutting the stationary plug upon release thereof.

Claims

1. An improved in-line sleeve valve comprising:

a modular tubular port member;

a stationary plug member affixed to and supported with said port member by a plurality of support members;

a reciprocating tubular sleeve member constructed and arranged for sealable telescopic engagement with said stationary plug member in a first position, and for the passage of liquid therethrough in a second position; and

resilient flexible flange means disposed between said reciprocating tubular sleeve and said modular tubing port member so as to seal the connection therebetween, said flange means being sufficiently elastic to allow easy manual displacement of said tubular sleeve from said stationary plug in order to allow the flow of liquid, but also being biased in a first direction so as to return said tubular sleeve to said first position abutting said stationary plug upon the release thereof;

said resilient flange means comprising an integrally formed flanged member extending from said tubular sleeve member and having a distal connecting portion connected to said tubular port and a proximal portion extending between said tubular sleeve and said connecting portion, said flange member having an integrally formed hinge between said tubular sleeve and said proximal portion, and an integrally formed hinge between said connecting portion, said integrally formed hinges comprising a weakened portion of reduced thickness adjacent to said reciprocating tubular sleeve and said modular tubular port member which facilitate reciprocating movement of said tubular sleeve member, the remainder of said resilient flange means being of greater thickness than said weakened portion so as to provide sufficient stiffness to said resilient flange so as to bias said flange in said first direction, whereby said tubular sleeve may be manually displaced from said stationary plug and returned thereto as required.