Expandable cuff assembly for lavage machines
First Claim
1. An expandable cuff assembly for closing an opening in a panel against an object inserted through such opening, said assembly including in combination:
- an expandable cuff member, formed at least in part of resilient material, and made from an elongated section of unitary material folded back on itself in a longitudinal direction to seal the opposite edges together forming a pocket between the folded over edges, with said cuff member further being rolled into a cylindrical configuration with the opposite ends thereof joined together to form an enclosed air pocket therein and one edge thereof attached to the periphery of an opening through a panel, said cuff member having a first state providing an enlarged opening therethrough and a second state in which the resilient material presses against objects of various sizes and shapes inserted through the opening, substantially restricting and sealing the opening therethrough as contrasted with said enlarged opening;
control means coupled to said cuff member for selectively causing said cuff member to attain said first and second states thereof; and
means for actuating said control means.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An expandable cuff assembly encloses a circular opening in the front panel of a lavage machine. The opening is made large enought to permit arms of a user to be inserted freely through the opening. After this is done, the expandable cuff member is filled with air to cause it to expands from a first state, having an enlarged opening through it, to a second state where it resiliently closes against the arm of the user to prevent liquid from splashing out of the lavage machine during use. After the operation of the machine is completed, the expandable cuff member returns to its first state, with a large opening therethrough to permit withdrawal of the arms of the user freely through the enlarged opening.
18 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An expandable cuff assembly for closing an opening in a panel against an object inserted through such opening, said assembly including in combination:
-
an expandable cuff member, formed at least in part of resilient material, and made from an elongated section of unitary material folded back on itself in a longitudinal direction to seal the opposite edges together forming a pocket between the folded over edges, with said cuff member further being rolled into a cylindrical configuration with the opposite ends thereof joined together to form an enclosed air pocket therein and one edge thereof attached to the periphery of an opening through a panel, said cuff member having a first state providing an enlarged opening therethrough and a second state in which the resilient material presses against objects of various sizes and shapes inserted through the opening, substantially restricting and sealing the opening therethrough as contrasted with said enlarged opening; control means coupled to said cuff member for selectively causing said cuff member to attain said first and second states thereof; and means for actuating said control means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An expandable cuff assembly for closing an opening in a panel against an object inserted through such opening, said assembly including in combination:
-
an expandable cuff member made from molded resilient elastomeric material in a frustro-conical configuration secured in the periphery of an opening through a panel, said cuff member having a first state providing an enlarged opening therethrough and a second state in which the resilient material thereof presses against objects of various sizes and shapes inserted through the opening, substantially restricting and sealing the opening therethrough as contrasted with said enlarged opening, the frustro-conical configuration of said cuff member causing draining of fluid from the interior thereof in the first state thereof; control means coupled to said cuff member for selectively causing said cuff member to attain said first and second states thereof; and means for actuating said control means. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification