Anti-free flow valve, enabling fluid flow as a function of pressure and selectively opened to enable free flow
First Claim
1. A valve that limits free fluid flow until selectively opened, comprising:
- (a) a valve body of elastomeric material having a first port and a second port;
(b) a generally planar elastomeric membrane having opposed surfaces, said elastomeric membrane being disposed within the valve body, intermediate the first and second ports, secured and supported around its periphery by the valve body;
(c) a slit disposed within said elastomeric membrane, extending between its opposed surfaces, fluid flow between the first and the second ports being enabled when the slit opens in response to a fluid pressure across the elastomeric membrane exceeding a cracking pressure;
(d) tabs that extend externally of the valve body, on opposite sides thereof, said tabs distorting the valve body when squeezed by an operator, so that the distorted valve body deforms the elastomeric membrane to force the slit to spread apart, forming a substantially unrestricted path of fluid communication through the valve, so that fluid freely flows between the first and second ports; and
(e) the tabs for selectively deforming including means for selectively latching the elastomeric membrane in a deformed state in which the slit has been forced to spread apart, allowing fluid to continuously flow freely through the valve.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bi-directional cracking valve that can be selectively opened. Bi-directional cracking valve (10, 70) is formed using an elastomeric membrane (34). Centered within the elastomeric membrane is a slit (36) that remains closed, blocking fluid flow through the device until a differential pressure across the elastomeric membrane exceeds a predefined cracking pressure, sufficient to force fluid through the slit. The elastomeric membrane is an integral part of an elastomeric cylinder (28), which is mounted in a valve carrier (12). The valve carrier includes ports disposed at opposite ends and the ports are adapted to couple to tubing. An operator can selectively enable fluid flow through the device by squeezing side tabs (40, 42) disposed on opposite sides of the elastomeric membrane together, forcing the slit open. A latch (46) is provided to keep the bi-directional cracking valve in an open state.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A valve that limits free fluid flow until selectively opened, comprising:
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(a) a valve body of elastomeric material having a first port and a second port; (b) a generally planar elastomeric membrane having opposed surfaces, said elastomeric membrane being disposed within the valve body, intermediate the first and second ports, secured and supported around its periphery by the valve body; (c) a slit disposed within said elastomeric membrane, extending between its opposed surfaces, fluid flow between the first and the second ports being enabled when the slit opens in response to a fluid pressure across the elastomeric membrane exceeding a cracking pressure; (d) tabs that extend externally of the valve body, on opposite sides thereof, said tabs distorting the valve body when squeezed by an operator, so that the distorted valve body deforms the elastomeric membrane to force the slit to spread apart, forming a substantially unrestricted path of fluid communication through the valve, so that fluid freely flows between the first and second ports; and (e) the tabs for selectively deforming including means for selectively latching the elastomeric membrane in a deformed state in which the slit has been forced to spread apart, allowing fluid to continuously flow freely through the valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. The valve of claim $, wherein the valve body is generally elongate in shape and the elastomeric membrane extends transversely across a longitudinal axis of the valve body.
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6. A valve that blocks fluid flow as a function of fluid pressure, but which can be selectively opened, comprising:
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(a) a transverse barrier formed within a valve body, said valve body having first and second ports between which the transverse barrier is disposed; (b) a slit formed in the transverse barrier, said slit being forced open to enable a fluid flow through the valve body between the first and second ports in response to a differential fluid pressure acting on the transverse barrier in excess of a cracking pressure, said cracking pressure being sufficient to enable fluid to flow through the slit; (c) a carrier for the valve body, said carrier supporting the valve body and including opposed flexible members disposed on opposite sides of the valve body, said flexible members being adapted to distort the valve body when squeezed toward each other, causing the slit in the transverse barrier to spread apart and enabling substantially free fluid flow through the valve body. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A valve that limits free fluid flow until selectively opened, comprising:
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(a) a valve body having a first port and a second port; (b) a generally planar elastomeric membrane having opposed surfaces, said elastomeric membrane being disposed within the valve body, intermediate the first and second ports; (c) a slit disposed within said elastomeric membrane, extending between its opposed surfaces, fluid flow between the first and the second ports being enabled when the slit opens in response to a fluid pressure across the elastomeric membrane exceeding a cracking pressure; (d) means for selectively deforming the elastomeric membrane to force the slit to spread apart, forming a substantially unrestricted path of fluid communication through the valve, so that fluid freely flows between the first and second ports; and (e) a carrier that supports the valve body, said means for selectively deforming comprising pliable portions of the carrier that when squeezed together, pinch the valve body, causing deformation of the elastomeric membrane to form the substantially unrestricted path through the valve. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification